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Jun 18, 2022 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 18th June 2022

Archives (PRELIMS & MAINS Focus) [su_box title="Inter State Council" style="soft" box_color="#f3f3f3" title_color="#d45f07"] Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Polity Mains – GS 2 (Polity) In News: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister wrote to Prime Minister of India asking that at least three meetings of the Inter-State Council should be held every year to strengthen the spirit of cooperative federalism Inter-State Council Constitutional Provisions According to Article 263 of the Indian Constitution, an Inter-State Council (ISC) may be constituted “if it seems to the President at any time that the public interests would be served by the creation of a Council”. It was set up in 1990 through a presidential ordinance for the first time as per the recommendations of the Sarkaria Commission under the Ministry of Home affairs. Inter-State Council Composition Prime Minister acts as the chairman of the council. Union Ministers of Cabinet rank in the Union Council of Ministers nominated by the Prime Minister. Chief Ministers of all states Chief Ministers of Union Territories having a Legislative Assembly Administrators of UTs not having a Legislative Assembly Governors of the states being administered under President’s rule Functions of Inter-State Council Inter-State Council is a recommendatory body with duties to investigate and discuss the subjects of common interest between the Union and State(s) or among the States, making recommendations particularly for better coordination of policy and action on these subjects and deliberating upon such other matters of general interest to the States which may be referred to it by its Chairman Making suggestions on any such subject, for the better coordination of policy and action with respect to that subject Issues The Council has met only once in the last six years and there has been no meeting since July 2016. Since its constitution in 1990, the body has met only 11 times, although its procedure states it should meet at least three times every year. In 2016, the meeting included consideration of the Punchhi Commission’s recommendations on Centre-State Relations that were published in 2010 Current Stats: The Council was reconstituted recently by the Government of India Headed by the PM, the Council will comprise six Union ministers, besides the Chief Ministers of the 28 states and UTs with a legislature, and administrators of UTs without a legislature. It will also have 10 Union ministers as permanent invitees. The government has also reconstituted the standing committee of the Council, with Union Home Minister as it chairman. Source: Indian Express Previous Year Questions Q.1) Who among the following constitutes the National Development Council? (2013) The Prime Minister The Chairman, Finance Commission Ministers of the Union Cabinet Chief Ministers of the States Select the correct answer using the codes given below: 1, 2 and 3 only 1, 3 and 4 only 2 and 4 only 1, 2, 3 and 4 [/su_box] [su_box title="Pakistan remains on FATF’s grey list" style="soft" box_color="#f3f3f3" title_color="#d45f07"] Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – International Organization (Current Affairs) In News: The global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog FATF has retained Pakistan on its terrorism financing “grey list” and asked Islamabad to address at the earliest the remaining deficiencies in its financial system Pakistan has been on the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) since June 2018 for failing to check money laundering, leading to terror financing, and was given a plan of action to complete it by October 2019. The plenary recently decided against existing Pakistan from the category despite the country meeting 32 out of 34 action points Pakistan’s robust progress on its global commitments to fight financial crimes was appreciated at the concluding session Financial Action Task Force An inter-governmental body established in 1989 during the G7 Summit in Paris. Assesses the strength of a country’s anti-money laundering and anti-terror financing frameworks. Objectives: To set standards and promote effective implementation of legal, regulatory and operational measures for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system. Headquarters: Its Secretariat is located at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) headquarters in Paris. Member Countries: The FATF currently has 39 members including two regional organisations - the European Commission and Gulf Cooperation Council. India is a member of the FATF. Lists under FATF: Grey List: Countries that are considered safe haven for supporting terror funding and money laundering are put in the FATF grey list. This inclusion serves as a warning to the country that it may enter the blacklist. Black List: Countries known as Non-Cooperative Countries or Territories (NCCTs) are put in the blacklist. These countries support terror funding and money laundering activities. The FATF revises the blacklist regularly, adding or deleting entries. Currently, Iran and Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) are under High-risk Jurisdiction or black list. Sessions: The FATF Plenary is the decision making body of the FATF. It meets three times per year. Source: The Hindu, Indian Express Previous Year Questions Q.1) With Reference to the “United Nations Credentials Committee”, consider the following statements: (2022) It is a committee set up by the UN Security Council and works under its supervision. It traditionally meets in March, June and September every year. It assesses the credentials of all UN members before submitting a report to the General Assembly for approval. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 3 only 1 and 3 2 and 3 1 and 2 [/su_box] [su_box title="Ancient rock paintings" style="soft" box_color="#f3f3f3" title_color="#d45f07"] Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Ancient History In News: Volunteers have spotted rock paintings in the Bargur Hills, Erode district, Tamil Nadu The place, called Rukkal Muniyappan, is where a deity of Muneeswarar is located. It is worshipped by tribal people, including the Sholagar, the Kurumbar and the Bedagampana Lingayat. A rock, 30 feet high and 250 feet in length, has paintings in red ochre and white. A hunting scene in red displays human figures and a herd of deer standing opposite each other, while in some images, deer of various sizes are presented. An anthropomorphic painting, four feet high, was seen. It looks similar to the Mother Goddess megalithic structures - Two deer and a few animals can be seen beneath the leg of the painting, which depicts the deity blessing humans with resources for hunting. The elephant, tiger, and deer paintings are seen separately, while the middle row has the painting of a human. It comprises a man standing on a crescent-shaped object and some other symbols, and is considered to be a picture of a boat ride. The bottom layer depicts the racial conflict between people, with three warriors opposing 10. The conflict between the racial groups is depicted at three more places as ethnic groups fight to dominate or rule the region. Source: The Hindu Previous Year Question Q.1) With reference to the history of Indian rock-cut architecture, consider the following statements: (2013) The caves at Badami are the oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India The Barabar rock-cut caves were originally made for Ajivikas by Emperor Chandragupta Maurya At Ellora, caves were made for different faiths. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 and 3 only 3 only 1, 2 and 3 [/su_box] [su_box title="Solidarity-2023" style="soft" box_color="#f3f3f3" title_color="#d45f07"] Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – International Relations – Current Affairs In News: India backs China’s plan for joint border activity India has supported an initiative by China to conduct a “joint border operation” in 2023 of all member countries of SCO The border operation called “Solidarity-2023” will be organised by China The Border Security Force (BSF) hosted the 21st meeting of Experts’ Group and Border Security Conference of SCO countries At the meeting participants exchanged information reflecting assessments of the situation on the State borders of the SCO member states, trends and forecasts of its development. The results of the Joint Border Operation “Solidarity-2019-2021” carried out in 2021 by the border services of the competent authorities of the SCO member states were discussed and highly appreciated. The plan for the preparation and conduct of the Joint Border Operation “Friendship Border – 2022, this year was reviewed and approved. Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) SCO is a permanent intergovernmental international organization. It’s a Eurasian political, economic and military organization aiming to maintain peace, security and stability in the region. It was created in 2001. The SCO Charter was signed in 2002, and entered into force in 2003. Founding members: Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan were members of the Shanghai Five. Following the accession of Uzbekistan to the organization in 2001, the Shanghai five was renamed the SCO. India and Pakistan became members in 2017. Structure: Heads of State Council – The supreme SCO body which decides its internal functioning and its interaction with other States & international organizations Heads of Government Council – Approves the budget, considers and decides upon issues related to economic spheres of interaction within SCO. Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs – Considers issues related to day-to-day activities. Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) – Established to combat terrorism, separatism and extremism. SCO Secretariat – Based in Beijing to provide informational, analytical & organizational support. Official language: The official working language of the SCO Secretariat is Russian and Chinese. Source: The Hindu Previous Year Questions Q.1) Consider the following: (2022) Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank Missile Technology Control Regime Shanghai Cooperation Organisation India is a member of which of the above? 1 and 2 only 3 only 2 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 [/su_box] [su_box title="EU backs Ukraine’s European dream " style="soft" box_color="#f3f3f3" title_color="#d45f07"] Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – International Relations – Current Affairs In News: The European Union has recommended that Ukraine and Moldova become candidates for membership in EU. If the European Commission's decision is ratified as expected next week at a summit, it will be a morale boost for Kyiv This will pave a way to remove the grey zone in Eastern Europe between the EU and Russia And Russia has not opposed the move European Union The European Union is a group of 28 countries that operate as a political and economic block. The EU grew out of a desire to form a single European political entity to end centuries of warfare among European countries that culminated with World War II Governance European Council: It is a collective body that defines the European Union's overall political direction and priorities. It comprises of the heads of state or government of the EU member states, along with the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission. The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy also takes part in its meetings European Parliament: It is the only parliamentary institution of the European Union (EU) that is directly elected by EU citizens aged 18 years or older. Together with the Council of the European Union (also known as the 'Council'), it exercises the legislative function of the EU Council of the European Union: It is part of the essentially bicameral EU legislature and represents the executive governments of the EU's member states. European Commission (EC): It is an executive body of the European Union, responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the EU treaties and managing the day-to-day business of the EU. The Commission operates as a cabinet government, with 28 members of the Commission. One of the 28 members is the Commission President proposed by the European Council and elected by the European Parliament. The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU): It interprets EU law to make sure it is applied in the same way in all EU countries, and settles legal disputes between national governments and EU institutions. The European Central Bank (ECB): It is the central bank for the euro and administers monetary policy within the Euro zone, which comprises 19 member states of the European Union Membership of EU In order for a country to become part of the EU the country must meet Copenhagen Criteria The main criteria are the free-market economy, a stable democracy and the rule of law, and the acceptance of all EU legislation, including the euro. The regular procedure for EU membership consists of three stages. The first stage is when a country is granted the status of an official candidate for membership. The second stage is when membership negotiations between the EU and the candidate country start, which is a process that includes the adoption of EU law into national law, and the preparation for the implementation of this law in judicial as well as other reforms. The third stage is when the candidate country has met all accession criteria and is ready to become part of the EU. Source: The Hindu [/su_box] [su_box title="Inclusive Parliament" style="soft" box_color="#f3f3f3" title_color="#d45f07"] Open in new window Syllabus Mains – GS 1 (Social Issues) Context: In 1952, in the first parliamentary session Indian Republic had 39 strong, intelligent, and passionate women leaders in its parliament India was leading the way in the fight towards more inclusive world democracies with 5.5% women representation. But 70 years post-independence, it seems we have strayed from that path. Current stats: As per the latest Election Commission of India (ECI) data Women represent 5% of the total members of the Parliament. The scenario for women Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs) across all state assemblies in India is even worse, with the national average being a pitiable 9%. In the last 75 years of independence, women’s representation in Lok Sabha has not even increased by 10%. Reasons Lack of Political Education: Education influences the social mobility of women. Formal education such as provided at educational institutions creates opportunities for leadership, and impart leadership essential skills. Because of a lack of understanding of politics, they do not know about their basic and political rights. Stereotypes: The role of managing household activities has been traditionally assigned to women Work and Family: Uneven distribution of family care responsibilities means that women spend far more time than men in home and child-care. Lack of Resources: Because of their low proportion in the inner political party structure of India, women fail to gather resources and support for nurturing their political constituencies. Unfriendly Environment: Rise in criminalization, corruption, insecurity has driven women out of the political arena. Absence of gender-neutral language For instance - in the Rajya Sabha, the Rules of Procedure continue to refer to the Vice-President of India as the ex-officio Chairman, stemming from the lack of gender-neutral language in the Constitution of India The alarming degree of usage of masculine pronouns assumes a power structure biased towards men. Lack of gender-neutral Acts Acts have made references to women not as leaders or professionals (such as policemen), but usually as victims of crimes. Government measures Reservation for Women in Panchayati Raj Institutions: Article 243D of the Constitution ensures participation of women in Panchayati Raj Institutions by mandating not less than one-third reservation for women out of total number of seats to be filled by direct election and number of offices of chairpersons of Panchayats. Parliamentary Committee On Empowerment Of Women: The Committee on Empowerment of Women was constituted for the first time in 1997 during the 11th Lok Sabha of the Parliament for improving the status of women. Rules of Procedure of the Lok Sabha In 2014, under the leadership of the then Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Meira Kumar, and the Rules of Procedure of the Lok Sabha were made entirely gender neutral. Since then, each Lok Sabha Committee Head has been referred to as Chairperson in all documents. The Women's Reservation Bill 2008: It proposes to amend the Constitution of India to reserve 1/3rd of all seats in the Lower house of Parliament of India, the Lok Sabha, and in all state legislative assemblies for women. Way forward Bring women quotas in political parties Promoting Inner party democracy Passage of Women’s Reservation Bill Fighting stereotypes Bringing gender neutral languages The pre-requisite of inclusive society is inclusive parliament, the need of the hour is to have equal participation of all the sections of society in mainstream political activity and decision making. Source: The Hindu [/su_box] Baba's Explainer - Agnipath Recruitment Scheme [su_box title="Agnipath Recruitment Scheme" style="soft" box_color="#f3f3f3" title_color="#d45f07"] Syllabus GS-2: Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. GS-3: Security & issues Context: Just before the Covid crisis at the end of 2019-20 financial year, India had around 403.5 million employed people and around 35 million (or 3.5 crore) openly unemployed people (those who are seeking work and not finding it) in the country. Amidst this, the government has launched Agnipath recruitment scheme for soldiers that is being projected as providing employment opportunities for burgeoning youth. Read Complete Details on Agnipath Recruitment Scheme [/su_box] Daily Practice MCQs [su_box title="Daily Practice MCQs" style="soft" box_color="#f3f3f3" title_color="#d45f07"] Q.1) The term 'Solidarity-2023' recently seen in news is related to? Quad BRICS SCO NATO Q.2) Consider the following statements about Inter-State Council It was set up as per the recommendations of the Sarkaria Commission Union Home Minister acts as the chairman of the council The recommendations of the council are binding on the Union and the State Governments Choose the incorrect statements: 1 and 3 1, 2 and 3 2 and 3 2 only Q.3) Consider the following statements about Financial Action Task Force It is an inter-governmental body established in 1989 The FATF Plenary is the decision making body of the FATF Currently Pakistan, Iran and North Korea are under the blacklist of FATF Choose the correct statements: 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 only 1, 2 and 3 [/su_box] ANSWERS FOR 17th JUNE 2022 - Daily Practice MCQs [su_box title="Answers- Daily Practice MCQs" style="soft" box_color="#f3f3f3" title_color="#d45f07"] Q.1) - c Q.2) - c Q.3) - a [/su_box]

Jun 18, 2022 Baba’s Explainer

Baba's Explainer - Agnipath Recruitment Scheme

ARCHIVES Syllabus GS-2: Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. GS-3: Security & issues Context: Just before the Covid crisis at the end of 2019-20 financial year, India had around 403.5 million employed people and around 35 million (or 3.5 crore) openly unemployed people (those who are seeking work and not finding it) in the country. Amidst this, the government has launched Agnipath recruitment scheme for soldiers that is being projected as providing employment opportunities for burgeoning youth. [su_spoiler open="yes" title="What are the issues that India faces with regard to unemployment?" style="fancy" icon="chevron"] Addition of Job Seekers Every Year: Given India’s population growth, each year there are close to 20 million (or 2 crore) people who enter the working-age population of 15 to 59 years. Recovery Post Pandemic: As of January 2021, India had only about 400 million employed (pre-COVID it was 403.5 million). At one level this is good news because far more had lost jobs and many seem to have regained employment as the economy has started recovering. Steady Decline in number of Employed People: As per CMIE data since 2016, the total number of employed people in India has been steadily coming down. It was 407.3 million in 2016-17 and then fell to 405.9 million in 2017-18, and to 400.9 million at the end of 2018-19. Unemployment has larger Impact on Society: Each unemployed person is part of a larger family — implying millions of families suffering from the lack of employment opportunities. Falling Labour Force Participation rate: Even though people have skills they may not be in position to enter labour market for variety of reasons. For instance, if law and order is poor or if cultural mores can prevent women to seek work. Also, men can give up looking for work after repeated failed attempts. As a result, India’s labour force participation rate (LFPR) falls. India’s LFPR is about 40% (in most developed countries it is 60%) Jobless Growth: Typically, fast economic growth takes care of unemployment worries. However, due to distorted economic structure (service led growth) India’s growth has not translated into jobs. What was required is labour intensive manufacturing led growth providing jobs for millions Technological Advancement & Unemployment: The GDP can continue to go up as more and more companies become more productive by replacing labour with capital (machinery) but that will only deepen India’s unemployment problem. Criticism of Government’s role in Creating Jobs: The mantra of “minimum government” espoused in Union Budget for 2021-22 essentially undercuts the government’s role in directly creating new jobs. While on paper this makes sense, the timing is questionable. That’s because the Indian economy is quite weak and the private sector has already shown its preference by choosing to cut jobs and boost its profits [/su_spoiler] [su_spoiler open="no" title="Does a satisfactory system of unemployment relief exist? " style="fancy" icon="chevron"] Unlike in China, the labour laws do not expressly provide for unemployment benefits. However, India does have various initiatives that provides unemployment relief Employees’ State Insurance Act (ESIA), 1948 Under the said act, the Rajiv Gandhi Shramik Kalyan Yojana (RGSKY) provides unemployment allowance to involuntarily unemployed insured persons who have made contributions for two years to ESI. The cash relief is at the rate of 50% of the last average daily wages for the first 12 months and 25% for the next 12 months. It covers unemployment due to retrenchment, closure or permanent invalidity. It provides medical care during unemployment tenure and vocational training. Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana (ABVKY) It was introduced in 2018 under which unemployed insured persons are provided allowance at the rate of 50% of the average per day earning of the claimant. Allowance is provided for 90 days. It was launched on pilot basis for two years but was extended during the COVID-19 period. Industrial Disputes Act (IDA), 1947 Industrial establishments employing 100 or more workers must pay retrenchment compensation of 15 days of average pay for the completed years of service to workers in case of they lose jobs due to closure. Here, the burden of unemployment allowance is transferred to the employer. Employment-intensive industries like construction and services are excluded. Social Security Code (SSC), 2020 Though SSC included unemployment protection in its definition of ‘social security’, it did not provide for a scheme for the same. Government reasoned that Unemployment allowance is already provided for under the ESI Act and hence no need of separate scheme. The SSC offers the vague promise of schemes to the unorganised workers. [/su_spoiler] [su_spoiler open="no" title="Have the above schemes been successful?" style="fancy" icon="chevron"] ESIA, despite a more inclusive coverage of 10 or more workers than the Employees’ Provident Fund Act (20 or more workers), covers fewer workers due to its limited and slow expansion of districts in India. Under the RGSKY, 0.043% (13,341/3,09,66,930) of the employees availed of unemployment allowance during 2007-08 to 2019-20 Further, unemployment allowance’s share in total cash expenditure of ESIC ranged from 0.25% to 0.99%. The incredibly low off-take means that RGSKY is not successful. Under ABVKY, from July 1, 2018 to March 31, 2020, 120 claims were made, which means a meagre average daily cash relief of ₹73.33. [/su_spoiler] [su_spoiler open="no" title="What is the Agnipath scheme?" style="fancy" icon="chevron"] The government has recently unveiled its new Agnipath scheme for recruiting soldiers across the three services. The new defence recruitment reform, which has been cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security, will come into effect immediately, and the soldiers recruited under the scheme will be called Agniveers. Under the new scheme, around 45,000 to 50,000 soldiers will be recruited annually, and most will leave the service in just four years. Of the total annual recruits, only 25 per cent will be allowed to continue for another 15 years under permanent commission. The move will make the permanent force levels much leaner for the over 13-lakh strong armed forces in the country. This will, in turn, considerably reduce the defence pension bill, which has been a major concern for governments for many years. [/su_spoiler] [su_spoiler open="no" title="What is the eligibility criteria?" style="fancy" icon="chevron"] The new system is only for personnel below officer ranks (those who do not join the forces as commissioned officers). Under the Agnipath scheme, aspirants between the ages of 17.5 years and 21 years will be eligible to apply. The recruitment standards will remain the same, and recruitment will be done twice a year through rallies. [/su_spoiler] [su_spoiler open="no" title="What happens after selection?" style="fancy" icon="chevron"] Training & decent salary: Once selected, the aspirants will go through training for six months and then will be deployed for three and a half years. During this period, they will get a starting salary of Rs 30,000, along with additional benefits which will go up to Rs 40,000 by the end of the four-year service. Seva Nidhi Programme: Importantly, during this period, 30 per cent of their salary will be set aside under a Seva Nidhi programme, and the government will contribute an equal amount every month, and it will also accrue interest. At the end of the four-year period, each soldier will get Rs 11.71 lakh as a lump sum amount, which will be tax-free. Insurance: They will also get a Rs 48 lakh life insurance cover for the four years. In case of death, the payout will be over Rs 1 crore, including pay for the unserved tenure. Filtering for Career Progression: However, after four years, only 25 per cent of the batch will be recruited back into their respective services, for a period of 15 years. For those who are re-selected, the initial four-year period will not be considered for retirement benefits. [/su_spoiler] [su_spoiler open="no" title="When will the recruitment actually begin?" style="fancy" icon="chevron"] Recruitment will begin within 90 days under the scheme which will bring “all India, all class” recruitment to the services. This is especially significant for the Army, where the regiment system has region and caste bases, and with time that will be eliminated to allow anybody from any caste, region, class or religious background to become part of existing regiments. [/su_spoiler] [su_spoiler open="no" title="How will the scheme benefit the armed forces and the recruits?" style="fancy" icon="chevron"] Reduced Average Age: The average age in the forces is 32 years today, which will go down to 26 in six to seven years, the scheme envisions. Youthful Forces: A youthful armed forces will allow them to be easily trained for new technologies. Also, merit-driven selection procedure for 25 per cent of the Agniveers for permanent absorption will further improve the quality of permanent soldiers Employable Skills imparted: The government also stated that it will increase employment opportunities and because of the skills and experience acquired during the four-year service such soldiers will get employment in various fields. They will be provided with skill certificates and bridge courses. The impetus will be to create entrepreneur [/su_spoiler] [su_spoiler open="no" title="Why the scheme can help cut the rising salary, pension bill?" style="fancy" icon="chevron"] The government has either allocated or paid more than Rs. 3.3 lakh crore in defence pension since 2020. For years, because of the pension bill, the revenue component of the Ministry of Defence has been larger than the capital outlay for modernisation of the armed forces. In the Budget presented in February, the total defence budget at Rs. 5.25 lakh crore was almost 10 per cent more than last year’s allocation of Rs 4.78 lakh crore. Yet the revenue component of the budget continues to be more than capital outlay. The total revenue component allocated this year is Rs 3.65 lakh crore, of which pension accounts for Rs 119,696 crore. The previous year — 2020-21 — the actual pension Bill was even higher — Rs 1.28 lakh crore. In this year’s Budget, defence pension accounts for just under a quarter of the total defence budget, similar to many recent years. Similarly, salary paid to the forces has also been increasing over the years. The Army paid more than Rs 88,800 crore in salaries (actual) in pay and allowances in 2020-2021, which went up by Rs 10,000 crore last year. The revised estimates for Army’s pay and allowances for 2021-2022 was more than Rs 99,800 crore. In 2022-23, the government has allocated Rs 1.07 lakh crore in Army’s pay and allowances. The Army is the largest among the three forces with a strength of over 11 lakh officers and soldiers. For Navy, pay and allowances went up from Rs 6,659 crore in 2020-21 (actual) to Rs. 7,832 crore in 2021-22 (revised) to Rs 9,133 crore (budgeted) this year. Similarly, numbers for IAF have also been going up. The government has allocated Rs 18,346 crore in this year’s Budget. The total pay and allowances for the three services for this year comes close to Rs 1.35 lakh crore. Added to the Rs 1.2 lakh crore of pension, the government has allocated Rs 2.55 lakh crore for just salary and pension for FY23, which is higher than the Rs 2.33 lakh crore allocated for capital outlay, to be used for modernisation of the defence forces. Ten years ago, the government had allocated Rs 39,000 crore for defence pension, Rs 56,000 crore for pay and allowances of the services, and nearly Rs 80,000 crore for capital outlay. The total defence budget for the year was Rs 2.38 lakh crore. The Agnipath scene has been in the making for two years and has seen considerable refinement after in-house deliberations and a raging public debate led by the veterans. The basic intent of the scheme is to reduce the burgeoning pension bill for better management of the defence budget and provide a youthful profile to the armed forces. With reduction in revenue expenditure, the government can divert the funds to modernisation of defence forces with more infusion of funds into capital expenditure. [/su_spoiler] [su_spoiler open="no" title="What are the concerns expressed with the scheme?" style="fancy" icon="chevron"] Intent of bill: Politically it is being pushed by the ruling party as an employment generation scheme that clashes with the original intent of reducing the salary & pension bill. Hence, there is a political opposition that the scheme would be unjust to new recruits and will blunt the military's ability to deal with the security threats the country faces. Changing Status Quo that has worked well: The veterans have been very critical and have perceived the scheme to be impinging on the time-tested caste/religion/region-based regimental system and unit/sub-unit cohesion, which is the primary motivator in battle. Needs to be part of holistic reform: Unfortunately, the scheme is a standalone reformative decision delinked from the holistic transformation of the armed forces that must follow the time-tested sequence of a strategic review, conceptualisation of a formal national security strategy, defence policy and a time bound execution plan. The scheme also needs to be linked to other manpower management-related reforms based on optimisation/reduction of manpower and restructuring/reorganisation. Not attractive enough for success: A successful short-term engagement scheme requires adherence to two fundamentals. First, it must be financially and benefit-wise attractive both in service and post-retirement. Second, it must not appear to be exploitative in a welfare state. In its present form, the Agnipath scheme falls short on both these counts. The starting pay package of Rs 30,000 with fixed annual increments and a substantial death/disability package is reasonable, but the denial of Dearness Allowance seems to be unfair. Compared to the terms and conditions of the Central Armed Police Forces, where one can serve up to the age of 58, the Agnipath has turned out to be unattractive. Post-retirement benefits: Keeping the tenure as four years and denying gratuity (which is as per current policy is authorised after 5 years of service) will remain a sore point as also the denial of ex-servicemen status for benefits/privileges along with a health scheme. Post-retirement incentives to the Agniveers remain a grey area and the issue needs to be addressed. [/su_spoiler] Mains Practice Question - What is Agnipath scheme? Briefly elaborating on the merits of the scheme, outline the concerns expressed against it. Note: Write answers to this question in the comment section.

Jun 18, 2022 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

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

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

Jun 18, 2022 IASbaba's Courses

SOCIOLOGY OPTIONAL TEST SERIES for UPSC 2022 by Gopi Krishna Sir

Hello Everyone, The prelims exam is over and for many of you, the door of opportunity is open. As you can gauge from the level of Prelims exam, qualifying prelims is getting tougher and tougher. So, if you are qualifying for the exam, don’t leave any stone unturned to get your name on the final list. Optional plays a very important role in achieving a top rank. Many candidates find it difficult to mark the fine line between the GS and optional answers. It is important that you hone your answer writing skills and be prepared for any challenge that is thrown at you. For Sociology optional students we are starting an Optional Test Series. T Read Complete Details -> Click Here

Jun 17, 2022 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

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

Archives (PRELIMS & MAINS Focus) [su_box title="India-ASEAN conclave" style="soft" box_color="#f3f3f3" title_color="#d45f07"] Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – International Relations Mains – GS 2 (International Relations) In News: India is hosting the two-day conclave to mark the 30th anniversary of its relations with the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The foreign ministers of India and ASEAN countries to uphold multilateralism in jointly responding to the regional and global challenges They reaffirmed the commitment to multilateralism founded on the principles of the international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and other relevant UN treaties and conventions, maintain an open and inclusive regional cooperation framework, support ASEAN Centrality in the evolving rules-based regional architecture, uphold multilateralism in jointly responding to regional and global challenges Myanmar did not participate in the India-ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting ASEAN The Association of Southeast Asian Nations was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) The motto of ASEAN is “One Vision, One Identity, One Community”. Founding Members Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Brunei Darussalam (1984), Vietnam (1995), Lao PDR and Myanmar (1997), and Cambodia (1999), joined the ASEAN later. ASEAN Secretariat – Indonesia, Jakarta. Significance It is the 3rd largest market in the world It is the 6th largest economy in the world, 3rd in Asia. The Free-trade agreements (FTAs) with China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand. ASEAN-led Forums ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF): Launched in 1993, the twenty-seven-member multilateral grouping was developed to facilitate cooperation on political and security issues to contribute to regional confidence-building and preventive diplomacy. ASEAN Plus Three: The consultative group initiated in 1997 brings together ASEAN’s ten members, China, Japan, and South Korea. East Asia Summit (EAS): The summit seeks to promote security and prosperity in the region and is usually attended by the heads of state from ASEAN, Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, South Korea, and the United States. India and ASEAN India’s relationship with ASEAN has emerged as a key cornerstone of our foreign policy. The relationship has evolved from the ‘Look East Policy’ enunciated in early 1990s which led India to become a Sectoral Partner of ASEAN in 1992, a Dialogue Partner in 1996 and a Summit-level Partner in 2002. The India-ASEAN Strategic Partnership acquired a new momentum with the announcement of “Act-East Policy” in the 12th Summit in 2014. India and ASEAN already has 25 years of Dialogue Partnership, 15 years of Summit Level interaction and 5 years of Strategic Partnership with ASEAN. Economic Cooperation: ASEAN is India's fourth largest trading partner. India's trade with ASEAN stands at approx. 10.6% of India's overall trade. India's export to ASEAN stands at 11.28% of our total exports. The ASEAN-India Free Trade Area has been completed. Socio-Cultural Cooperation: Programmes to boost People-to-People Interaction with ASEAN, such as inviting ASEAN students to India, Special Training Course etc Delhi Declaration: To identify Cooperation in the Maritime Domain as the key area of cooperation under the ASEAN-India strategic partnership. Delhi Dialogue: Annual Track 1.5 event for discussing politico-security and economic issues between ASEAN and India. ASEAN-India Centre (AIC): To undertake policy research, advocacy and networking activities with organizations and think-tanks in India and ASEAN. Political Security Cooperation: India places ASEAN at the centre of its Indo-Pacific vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region. Financial Assistance Financial assistance has been provided to ASEAN countries from the following Funds: ASEAN-India Cooperation Fund ASEAN-India S&T; Development Fund ASEAN-India Green Fund Source: Indian Express Previous Year Questions Q.1) Consider the following countries: (2018) Australia Canada China India Japan USA Which of the above are among the 'free-trade partners' of ASEAN? 1, 2, 4 and 5 3, 4, 5 and 6 1, 3, 4 and 5 2, 3, 4 and 6 [/su_box] [su_box title="Kalika Mata temple" style="soft" box_color="#f3f3f3" title_color="#d45f07"] Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs In News: Prime Minister of India will inaugurate the redeveloped Kalika Mata temple atop the Pavagadh hill in Panchmahal district, Gujarat The 11th-century temple complex, housing a dargah, is an example of harmony of faiths For the first time, the temple will have a shikhara (superstructure and spire) where earlier stood the Hazrat Sadanshah Wali Peer dargah that was relocated to a space next to it in an amicable settlement during redevelopment. Kalika Mata Temple Kalika Mata Temple is a Hindu goddess temple complex and pilgrim centre at the summit of Pavagadh Hill in Panchmahal District, India, with in the Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park. It dates from the 10th or 11th centuries. The temple is the site of one of the Great holy Shakti Peethas. The temple complex is part of the Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is believed that in the 15th century, Sultan Mahmud Begda conquered Champaner where he set up his capital and destroyed the shikhara of the temple Lore goes that Sadanshah Peer, originally a Hindu Fakir, who embraced Islam to be part of Mahmud Begda’s court played a key role in saving the temple from being destroyed. The Sadanshah Peer dargah is believed to have been built around that time. Source: Indian Express Previous year Questions Q.1) With reference to Chausath Yogini Temple situated near Morena, consider the following statements: (2021) It is a circular temple built during the reign of Kachchhapaghata Dynasty. It is the only circular temple built in India. It was meant to promote the Vaishnava cult in the region. Its design has given rise to a popular belief that it was the inspiration behind the Indian Parliament building. Which of the statements given above are correct? 1 and 2 2 and 3 Only 1 and 4 2, 3 and 4 [/su_box] [su_box title="Atapaka Bird Sanctuary" style="soft" box_color="#f3f3f3" title_color="#d45f07"] Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Environment In News: Thousands of migratory birds reach the sanctuary every year for nesting. The Atapaka Bird Sanctuary at Kolleru Lake has become a safe breeding ground for many migratory species namely Grey Pelicans and Painted Storks Grey Pelican and Painted Stork both are near threatened species under IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Kolleru Lake Kolleru Lake is located between the deltas of the Krishna and Godavari rivers in Andhra Pradesh. It is an important habitat for an estimated 20 million residents and migratory birds like Grey or Spot-billed pelicans. It was notified as a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1999 under India's Wild Life Protection Act, 1972. It was declared a wetland of international importance in 2002 under Ramsar convention. Previous Year Questions Q.1) In which one of the following states is Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary located? (2018) Arunachal Pradesh Manipur Meghalaya Nagaland [/su_box] [su_box title="India-Iran" style="soft" box_color="#f3f3f3" title_color="#d45f07"] Open in new window Syllabus Mains – GS 2 (International Relations) Context: Recent Iranian Foreign Minister’s first visit to India has many implications for bilateral relations. India-Iran relation Political relation India and Iran shared a border till 1947 and share several common features in their language, culture and traditions. Independent India and Iran established diplomatic links on 15 March 1950 Economic relation Energy India-Iran commercial ties have traditionally been dominated by Indian import of Iranian crude oil. Iran has been one of the top sources of crude oil for India. The proposed Iran-Oman-India undersea gas pipeline can help India move towards clean energy Geo-Strategic/connectivity Infrastructure projects like Chahbahar Port, International North South Transport Corridor will help India to bypass the overland route through Pakistan and help in better trade relations with West and Central Asia. Geopolitical Iran would act as a gateway to Central Asia and Afghanistan India and Iran can engage each other to strengthen the demand for rule based order in Afghaistan Cultural relation A MoU was signed in 2008 on holding of “Days of Culture” in two countries. India over the years has emerged as one of the favourite tourist destinations for Iranian tourists and every year around 40,000 Iranians visit India for various purposes. Terrorism India and Iran both face the threat of terrorism by outfits like Al-Qaeda amd Islamic State. Hence both the countries can merge their interest to counter terrorism Challenges Intolerance The comments made in India on the Prophet was criticised by the 57-member Organisation for Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The controversy has overshadowed India’s other diplomatic engagements. China factor Iran is a part of China’s ambitious Belt And Road initiative. This might come in conflict with India’s interests in Iran USA Sanctions on Iran India has drastically cut its Iranian engagement due to sanctions (oil import), while Iran has looked to China for more infrastructure investment Bilateral trade dropped to just over $2 billion (2020-21) from $17 billion (2017-18). India-Israel ties Ties appeared to have been hit by New Delhi’s decision to join the Israel-India-UAE-U.S. group, portrayed as an “anti-Iran” coalition. Way forward India needs to play a balancing act between the Middle East and the west. India needs to closely watch the space created by its exit, given India's loss is an opportunity for other countries, especially China. Source: Indian Express [/su_box] [su_box title="Interest Rates hiked by US Federal Bank " style="soft" box_color="#f3f3f3" title_color="#d45f07"] Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Economy – Banking In News: The US Federal Reserve hiked interest rates by three quarters of a percentage point, its most aggressive move since 1994, in a bid to tame runaway inflation. What will be the impact on other markets, including India? A hike in rates in the US could have a three-pronged impact. When the Fed raises its policy rates, the difference between the interest rates of the two countries narrows, thus making countries such as India less attractive for the currency carry trade. A high rate signal by the Fed would also mean a lower impetus to growth in the US, which could be yet negative news for global growth Higher returns in the US debt markets could also trigger a churn in emerging market equities, tempering foreign investor enthusiasm There will be potential impact on currency markets, stemming from outflows of funds. Source: Indian Express [/su_box] [su_box title="Procedural gaps in death penalty sentencing" style="soft" box_color="#f3f3f3" title_color="#d45f07"] Open in new window Syllabus Mains – GS 2 (Judiciary) Context: Recently, the Supreme Court, in Manoj & others v. State of MP, embarked on a significant attempt to reform the administration of the death penalty. Background There has long been a judicial crisis in death penalty sentencing on account of unprincipled sentencing, arbitrariness and worrying levels of subjectivity. The crisis has been acknowledged by the Supreme Court, the Law Commission of India, research scholars and civil society groups. At the heart of this concern is the fact that death penalty sentencing has been, by and large, crime-centric. Bachan Singh (1980) The ruling of the five-judge bench in this case laid down a framework to be followed by judges who have to choose between life imprisonment and death sentence. This framework made it binding for the sentencing judges to take into account factors relating to both the crime and accused and assign them appropriate weight. Judges couldn’t decide to impose the death penalty only on the basis of the crime. The background of the accused, the personal circumstances, mental health and age were considerations a sentencing judge had to account for. Judges were required to weigh mitigating and aggravating factors to ascertain if a case was fit for the death sentence and also determine if the option of life imprisonment was unquestionably foreclosed. There is confusion across all levels of the judiciary on the requirements of this framework and its implementation. An important reason for the breakdown is that factors relating to the crime — the nature of the crime and its brutality — are often dominant considerations, and there is barely any consideration of mitigating factors A vast majority of India’s death row prisoners are extremely poor and often do not receive competent legal representation. Thus in the last four decades Bachan Singh framework has not been implemented in letter and spirit The significance Manoj & others v. State of MP It takes the lax implemetation of Bachan Singh judgment problem head-on. The judgment is clear that certain procedural thresholds must be met for sentencing to be fair and explicitly rejects the idea that death sentences can be determined solely on crime-based considerations Key points Commitment to recognising reformation as integral to the Indian criminal justice system, especially death penalty sentencing It asks the state and sentencing judges to establish that there is no probability of reformation of the accused. It recognises that aspects of the accused’s life, both pre-offence and post-offence in prison, are relevant. As practical steps in this process, the judgment asks courts to call for reports from the probation officer as well as prison and independent mental health experts. The state too must present material that speaks to a wide range of factors. The right of the accused to present mitigating factors and rebut the state, if necessary, is also recognised. Challenges The attempts to bring about procedural coherence and integrity will face significant challenges in the trial courts and the high courts it is far from certain that these reforms will be meaningfully implemented in those forums. The Supreme Court will have to provide basis for consideration of the above mentioned factors, in the absence of such foundations, death penalty sentencing will continue to be unprincipled and sentencing judges are not going to understand the need for this wide range of sentencing information. All our actions are a result of a complex web of biological, psychological, and social factors and that understanding has a very significant bearing on discussions on criminality and punishment including death penalty. Source: Indian Express [/su_box] Baba's Explainer - UK-Rwanda plan for Asylum seekers & India’s Refugee Issue [su_box title="UK-Rwanda plan for Asylum seekers & India’s Refugee Issue" style="soft" box_color="#f3f3f3" title_color="#d45f07"] Syllabus GS-2: Human Rights GS-2: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries Context: The first flight scheduled to deport asylum seekers from the United Kingdom to Rwanda as part of the UK-Rwanda plan was canceled on 14 June. Read Complete Details on UK-Rwanda plan for Asylum seekers & India’s Refugee Issue [/su_box] Daily Practice MCQs [su_box title="Daily Practice MCQs" style="soft" box_color="#f3f3f3" title_color="#d45f07"] Q.1) Consider the following statements ASEAN Plus Three - the consultative group includes India India has signed Free Trade Agreement with ASEAN Delhi Declaration is a key area of cooperation in the Maritime Domain under the ASEAN-India strategic partnership Choose the correct statements: 1 only 2 only 2 and 3 1, 2 and 3 Q.2) Atapaka Bird Sanctuary recently in news is located in? Odisha Gujarat Andhra Pradesh Maharashtra Q.3) Consider the following statements about Kalika Mata temple atop the Pavagadh hill, Gujarat It is a 7th-century temple built during the reign of Harshvardhana The temple complex is part of the Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site The temple is the site of one of the Great holy Shakti Peethas Choose the incorrect statements: 1 only 1 and 3 1, 2 and 3 3 only [/su_box] ANSWERS FOR 17th JUNE 2022 - Daily Practice MCQs [su_box title="Answers- Daily Practice MCQs" style="soft" box_color="#f3f3f3" title_color="#d45f07"] Q.1) - d Q.2) - a Q.3) - c [/su_box]

Jun 17, 2022 Baba’s Explainer

Baba's Explainer - UK-Rwanda plan for Asylum seekers & India’s Refugee Issue

ARCHIVES Syllabus GS-2: Human Rights GS-2: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries Context: The first flight scheduled to deport asylum seekers from the United Kingdom to Rwanda as part of the UK-Rwanda plan was cancelled on 14 June. The cancellation occurs just one day after a court in London crushed frantic attempts by human rights groups and campaigners to stop the British government from executing the plan. A high court judge declined to grant a temporary injunction to prevent the flight and the Court of Appeal upheld the decision. Additionally, there was second legal challenge in the high court. But that was also rejected, arguing that everyone on the flight had been provided a lawyer to challenge the UK government's decision to fly them out. A full hearing regarding the legality of the UK-Rwanda plan is due in July. [su_spoiler open="yes" title="Who is a refugee? Who is an asylum seeker?" style="fancy" icon="chevron"] Refugee, in the internationally-accepted definition of the term, embraces people who have fled their home countries and crossed an international border because of a well-founded fear of persecution in their home countries, on grounds of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion. This means that people who cross borders in quest of economic betterment, or because they are fleeing poverty, anarchy or environmental disaster, do not qualify as refugees. The risks to their safety and life were so great that they felt they had no choice but to leave and seek safety outside their country because their own government cannot or will not protect them from those dangers. Refugees have a right to international protection. An asylum-seeker is a person who has left their country and is seeking protection from persecution and serious human rights violations in another country, but who hasn’t yet been legally recognized as a refugee and is waiting to receive a decision on their asylum claim. Seeking asylum is a human right. This means everyone should be allowed to enter another country to seek asylum. [/su_spoiler] [su_spoiler open="no" title="Why was the background for UK-Rwanda deal?" style="fancy" icon="chevron"] Since 2018, there has been a marked rise in the number of refugees and asylum seekers to UK that undertake dangerous crossings between Calais in France and Dover in England. The number of such persons rose from 297 in 2018, to 28,431 in 2021. Most such migrants and asylum seekers hail from war-torn countries like Sudan, Afghanistan, and Yemen, or developing countries like Iran and Iraq. All these has caused immigration crisis for conservative UK government where there was pressure to come out with some sort of long term solution for the problem. [/su_spoiler] [su_spoiler open="no" title="What Does the Plan Say?" style="fancy" icon="chevron"] Under the UK-Rwanda deal, people who arrive in the UK "illegally" will be taken straight to Rwanda, where they will be assessed for resettlement. Rwanda will function as the holding centre where asylum applicants will wait while the Rwandan government makes decisions about their asylum and resettlement petitions in Rwand In return, the UK will pay the Rwandan government £120 million to house the migrants and integrate them into Rwandan society. Currently, the U.K. pays £4.7 million per day to accommodate approximately 25,000 asylum seekers. At the end of 2021, this amounted to £430 million annually with a projected increase of £100 million in 2022 The initial segment of the scheme is supposed to last for five years. The UK government says that the plan is mostly applicable to single, young migrants who came to the UK via "illegal, dangerous or unnecessary methods," like small boats. Rwanda will, on its part, accommodate anyone who is not a minor and does not have a criminal record. Additionally, according to the plan, Rwanda would be responsible for the migrants' access to employment and services. A migrant in the U.K. will be given five days’ notice to pursue an appeals process, failing which they will be given a one-way ticket to Rwanda and will become the responsibility of the Rwandan government. The deal is “uncapped”,e., there is no upper limit to how many migrants will be sent to Rwanda for the five years that the deal will remain in place. [/su_spoiler] [su_spoiler open="no" title="What Is the UK Government's Justification?" style="fancy" icon="chevron"] The rationale for the deal, according to the U.K., is to combat “people smugglers”, who often charge exorbitant prices from vulnerable migrants to put them on boats from France to England that often lead to mass drownings. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has thrown his full support behind the plan. PM Boris Johnson has stated that "We must first ensure... that those who tried to jump the queue or abuse our system will find no automatic path to settlement in our country but rather be swiftly and humanely removed to a safe third country or their country of origin," When asked about the plan around the same time, UK Home Secretary Priti Patel had said that the migrants "will be given the support including up to five years of training, integration, accommodation, health care, so that they can resettle and thrive." It is expected that such kind of deal is going to create deterrence to people who are crossing the border illegally & entering the country. [/su_spoiler] [su_spoiler open="no" title="What are the criticisms of the deal?" style="fancy" icon="chevron"] • Dangerous Precedent: UK is sending a very wrong message to other 'rich' countries which asylum seekers turn to for refuge. The precedent that this creates is catastrophic for a concept that needs to be shared, like asylum • Still entails financial cost: The Rwanda Deal is predicted to reduce the costs of UK by outsourcing the hosting of such migrants to a third country. However, opposition argue that the burden of such costs will eventually fall on the British taxpayer. • Protection of Rights not guaranteed: The deal doesn’t outline the economic right to work, access to healthcare or any financial support provided by the Rwandan government to relocated persons. • Doesn’t solve the problem: It remains unclear if the Rwanda Deal will solve the problem of unlawful crossings. Evidence from similar experiences indicates that such policies do not fully combat “people smuggling”. To address the problem of illegal crossings, the conflict in source countries needs to be resolved through financial aids & supportive measures. This erodes the need for fleeing away from one’s home & seeking refuge in another country. • Can be Counterproductive: People who are already vulnerable when they attempted dangerous sea-crossings will become more exposed and vulnerable under detention. • Bad Track Record: Rwanda doesn’t have remarkable human rights record. Government critics have been silenced or sentenced to prison. Further, Rwanda’s similar offshoring deal with Israel was scrapped in 2019. • Shifting & not solving of the Issue: The Rwanda Deal is an instrument that will certainly generate revenue for the Rwandan government. It just transfers a British issue onto a less developed nation in order to pander to the anti-immigrant sentiments in the U.K. [/su_spoiler] [su_spoiler open="no" title="Is the Deterrence Strategy Working?" style="fancy" icon="chevron"] • The plan was unveiled by the British government on 14 April. • Between 18 April and 5 June, however, 3,599 asylum seekers have arrived in small boats, according to the UK Ministry of Defence. • While this is less than the 4,554 people who arrived during the same time last year as per BBC, the total figure for the whole year is likely to go up when the numbers become available. • In all of 2021, 28,526 people crossed in small boats, and that number will increase in 2022, according to Border Force union officials. [/su_spoiler] [su_spoiler open="no" title="Does India have a refugee problem?" style="fancy" icon="chevron"] Myanmarese citizens, including little children fleeing from a Myanmar’s military, being turned away at the Indian border in the Northeast, during 2020-21, is the latest example of refugee tension in India. India continues to be a generous host to refugees and asylum seekers since time immemorial and many refugee communities have thrived in the country. Welcoming refugees lies at the core of India’s secular, spiritual and cultural values. Through its history, India has hosted people fleeing war, conflict and persecution many times — Zoroastrians from Iran, Bengalis during 1971 Bangladesh liberation, Sri Lankans in the 1980s or Afghans during varied waves of displacement. At present, India hosts more than two lakh refugees and is at the center of refugee movements in the South Asian region. India has been a home to refugees from neighbouring countries such as Tibet, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Myanmar, and Nepal. India spent over USD 14.2 million to cover the humanitarian needs of vulnerable individuals in 2021. This support was provided to vulnerable refugees and host communities in different forms, through monthly basic needs, cash assistance, COVID-19 emergency assistance, food, and other core relief items. Whatever be the considerations of refugees seeking a sanctuary — economic, demographic, security, or political — India has been adept in managing complications that result from such situations. In 1996, the Supreme Court of India ruled that the state has to protect all human beings living in India, irrespective of nationality, since they enjoy the rights guaranteed by Articles 14, 20 and 21 of the Constitution to all, not just Indian citizens. However, recent instances of Government’s handling of Refugees has raised concerns from certain quarters The Government expelled Myanmar two batches of Rohingya refugees in the face of a grave risk of persecution in the country they had fled. It has attempted to do the same with Chakmas in Arunachal Pradesh and Myanmarese in Mizoram. Also, Afghan students stranded in India by the takeover of their country by the Taliban have not had their visas renewed, and could find themselves in a similar situation. Because India has neither subscribed to international conventions on the topic nor set up a domestic legislative framework to deal with refugees, their problems are dealt with in an ad hoc manner. [/su_spoiler] [su_spoiler open="no" title="What are the issues with regard to India’s handling of Refugees?" style="fancy" icon="chevron"] Lacks Refugee Framework: Despite being a welcoming country, India does not have a national refugee framework. Ad-Hoc Measures: Interventions on refugee assistance in India have largely depended on interim policies and administrative decisions. As a result, some groups of refugees have benefitted from holistic support and solutions, others have fallen behind. Missing on Soft Power: India has not codified our interventions in asylum management, so that they can be showcased globally. Not a bureaucratic Exercise: Treatment of refugees is an important national security consideration that cannot be relegated to a bureaucratic exercise as it is currently [/su_spoiler] [su_spoiler open="no" title="Is there a need for Refugee law in India?" style="fancy" icon="chevron"] Having a proper legislation seeks to end a system of ambiguity and arbitrariness which, too often, results in injustice to a highly vulnerable populace It also enable the government to manage refugees with more accountability and order while balancing humanitarian concerns and security interests of the State. A sustainable refugee policy is a necessary step to intelligently manage population movements and ensure transparency and predictability in our administrative actions. A national refugee management law will be in keeping with India’s leadership role in the region and amongst developing nations. The legislation will clarify the roles of different agencies — governmental, judicial, UN — involved in refugee protection and lay down the procedures of coordination amongst them. The enactment and enumeration of refugee rights will reduce our dependence on judge-centric approaches — or the whims of Home Ministry bureaucrats, police officers and politicians. It would also help avoid friction between the host country and the country of origin. Other states would recognise the move to grant asylum as a peaceful, humanitarian and legal act, and not an arbitrary political gesture. It will also provide a platform for dialogue on sharing responsibility and aid the search for durable solutions to the root causes of a refugee problem. Some countries provide initial help to refugees, after which they are expected to fend for themselves. A few countries have treated refugees like charity cases. Finding the right balance between the two is what a national refugee law can help achieve. [/su_spoiler] [su_spoiler open="no" title="Was there an attempt to introduce refugee law in India?" style="fancy" icon="chevron"] Recently, in Feb 2022, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor introduced a Private Member’s Bill in the Lok Sabha proposing the enactment of a Refugee and Asylum law. It was made necessary as the government doesn’t recognise the international legal principle of non-refoulement — the cornerstone of refugee law, which states that no country should send a person to a place where he or she may face persecution The Bill lays down comprehensive criteria for recognising asylum seekers and refugees and prescribes specific rights and duties accruing from such status. Key Features of the bill are The proposed bill seeks to incorporate the current policy on refugees, the principles of the Constitution, and India’s international obligations. The right to seek asylum in India would be available to all foreigners irrespective of their nationality, race, religion, or ethnicity. National Commission for Asylum would be constituted to receive and decide all such applications. The principle of non-refoulement is clearly affirmed, with no exceptions, though reasons have been specified for exclusion, expulsion, and revocation of refugee status, to respect the Government’s sovereign authority but limit its discretion. Need for proper framework to make sure that refugees can access basic public services, be able to legally seek jobs and livelihood opportunities for some source of income. The absence of such a framework will make the refugees vulnerable to exploitation, especially human trafficking. However, the bill has not been passed by the Parliament. [/su_spoiler] Mains Practice Question - What are the issues with regard to India’s handling of Refugees? Is there a need for India to have a refugee law? Note: Write answers to this question in the comment section.

Jun 17, 2022 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

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

Jun 16, 2022 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

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

Archives (PRELIMS & MAINS Focus) [su_box title="5G auction" style="soft" box_color="#f3f3f3" title_color="#d45f07"] Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Science and Technology In News: The Union Cabinet has approved the auction of airwaves capable of offering fifth generation, or 5G Taking the first step towards rolling out 5G services, the government has invited bid applications for spectrum auctions starting in July after it proposal to auction over 72,000 megahertz (MHz), or 72 GHz, of airwaves with a validity period of 20 years. The auction will be held for spectrum in the frequencies of 600 MHz, 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1,800 MHz, 2,100 MHz, 2,300 MHz, 3,300 MHz and 26 GHz It is expected that the Mid and High band spectrum will be utilised by telecom service providers to roll out 5G technology-based services capable of providing speed and capacities which would be about 10 times higher than what is possible through the current 4G services 5th generation 5G is the 5th generation mobile network. It is a new global wireless standard after 1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G networks. It enables a new kind of network that is designed to connect virtually everyone and everything together including machines, objects, and devices. Internet speeds in the high-band spectrum of 5G has been tested to be as high as 20 Gbps Different Bands of 5G: 5G mainly works in 3 bands, namely low, mid and high frequency spectrum — all of which have their own uses as well as limitations. Low Band Spectrum: In terms of coverage and speed of Internet and data exchange, the maximum speed is limited to 100 Mbps Mid Band Spectrum: It offers higher speeds compared to the low band, but has limitations in terms of coverage area and penetration of signals. This band may be used by industries and specialised factory units for building captive networks that can be moulded into the needs of that particular industry. High Band Spectrum: It offers the highest speed of all the three bands, but has extremely limited coverage and signal penetration strength Source: The Hindu, Indian Express [/su_box] [su_box title="The fragile state of nuclear disarmament" style="soft" box_color="#f3f3f3" title_color="#d45f07"] Open in new window Syllabus Mains Context: The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) released its yearbook highlighting some trends of the past year in international security. Key Findings What have been the trends in military spending? During 2012-2021, military spending as a percentage of gross domestic product has largely been stable. Russia leads the charge in absolute numbers of nuclear inventory (5977 against the U.S.’s 5428), however it is the S. that has the largest number of deployed warheads (1744 against Russia’s 1588). The U.K. has 225 nuclear weapons in its inventory, while France has 290, China has 350, India has 160, and Pakistan has 165. Global arms imports Military modernisation is seen to be a global trend. India was the top weapons importer during the 2017-2021 period. Other countries to feature in the top five arms importers list include Saudi Arabia, Egypt, China, and Australia. According to SIPRI, these five nation states account for 38% of total global arms import. What are the key developments/concerns flagged by the yearbook? The yearbook mentions low level border clashes between India and Pakistan, the civil war in Afghanistan, and the armed conflict in Myanmar as some of the worrying indicators of an unstable system. It also highlighted three causes of concern trends: Chinese-American rivalry, involvement of state and non-state actors in multiple conflicts, and the challenge that climatic and weather hazards pose. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has raised some serious concern because of the continuous rhetoric from the Kremlin over them not shying away from the use of nuclear weapons. China’s recent activities surrounding construction of 300 new nuclear missile silos have also been turning heads. The report claimed that Iran’s military budget grew to $24.6 billion, growing for the first time in four years. What is the general attitude among countries about existing nuclear and arms related treaties? The leaders of the P5 countries (China, France, Russia, the U.K. and the U.S.) issued a joint statement affirming the belief that “a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought”. This highlights collective belief that bilateral and multilateral arms control agreements and commitments were indeed important. The dichotomy of this sentiment against the upward trend in absolute numbers of arms and nuclear arsenals is rather unsettling. Even with these upward trends, the nation states are making sure to remain well within the ambit of what the treaties and agreements ask for. What lies ahead? A strong political opposition would be needed to help keep the ruling dispensation in check. Furthermore, the two largest nuclear weapons holding states need to take on a more engaging role in the international arena. Nations should opt for peaceful resolution through negotiation. Source: The Hindu [/su_box] [su_box title="Section 295A of IPC" style="soft" box_color="#f3f3f3" title_color="#d45f07"] Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Polity & Governance Mains – GS 2 (Polity & Governance) In News: The debate surrounding the comments by ruling party spokespersons have put the spotlight on the law that deals with criticism of or insult to religion. Section 295A of IPC defines the contours of free speech and its limitations with respect to offences relating to religion. India does not have a formal legal framework for dealing with hate speech. However, a cluster of provisions, loosely termed hate speech laws, are invoked. Section 295A & others Section 295A defines and prescribes a punishment for deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs. It includes offences to penalise damage or defilement of a place of worship with intent to insult the religion (Section 295); trespassing in a place of sepulture (Section 297); uttering, words, etc, with deliberate intent to wound the religious feelings of any person (Section 298); and disturbing a religious assembly (Section 296). The state often invokes Section 295A along with Section 153A of the Indian Penal Code, which penalises promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc, and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony and Section 505 of the IPC that punishes statements conducing to public mischief. Supreme Court Judgment In 1957, the constitutionality of Section 295A was challenged in Ramji Lal Modi v State of Uttar Pradesh. The Supreme Court upheld the law on the grounds that it was brought in to preserve “public order”. Public order is an exemption to the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression and the right to religion recognised by the Constitution. In 1973, in Ramlal Puri v State of Madhya Pradesh, the Supreme Court said the test to be applied is whether the speech in question offends the “ordinary man of common sense” and not the “hypersensitive man” In Baragur Ramachandrappa v State of Karnataka, a 2007 decision of the Supreme Court, “a pragmatic approach” was invoked in interpreting Section 295A. Source: Indian Express [/su_box] [su_box title="Periodic Labour Force Survey" style="soft" box_color="#f3f3f3" title_color="#d45f07"] Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs Mains – GS (Economy) In News: The annual report of the Periodic Labour Force Survey for July 2020 to June 2021 was released by NSO Findings The unemployment rate of 4.2 per cent in 2020-21, the lowest since the first PLFS showed an unemployment rate of 6.1 per cent in 2017-18. According to the report, the labour force participation rate (LFPR), or those working or seeking or available for work in the labour force, was the highest in four years at 39.3 per cent in 2020-21, as was the worker population ratio (WPR) at 36.3 per cent. The unemployment rate was higher for males in rural areas than females. In rural areas, the unemployment rate was 3.9 per cent in 2020-21, while that for females was 2.1 per cent. In urban areas, the unemployment rate for females was 8.6 per cent, while that for males was 6.1 per cent. While the overall employment situation showed improvement, the rise was seen in low-quality, unpaid work. Employment in the unpaid self-employed category continued to show an increase in 2020-21 by rising to 17.3 per cent from 15.9 per cent in 2019-20. Rural unpaid employment also showed increase to 21.3 per cent in 2020-21 from 20.0 per cent in the previous year, while that for urban areas increased to 6.3 per cent from 5.7 per cent. The data shows that the share of the labour force engaged in agriculture continued to show a rise in 2020-21, increasing to 46.5 per cent from 45.6 per cent in 2019-20 and 42.5 per cent in 2018-19 — a reversal of the decades-long decline in the labour force participation in agriculture. The increase in share of agricultural employment was seen more for urban areas than rural areas. In urban areas, male employment in agriculture increased to 5.3 per cent in 2020-21 from 5.0 per cent in 2019-20, while that for females increased to 10.4 per cent in 2020-21 from 8.2 per cent. In rural areas, both males and females recorded a slight moderation in agricultural employment to 53.8 per cent and 75.4 per cent, respectively, from 55.4 per cent and 75.7 per cent in the previous year. Source: Indian Express [/su_box] [su_box title="Prithvi-II " style="soft" box_color="#f3f3f3" title_color="#d45f07"] Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Science and Technology In News: India successfully test-fired it’s indigenously developed nuclear capable Prithvi-II missile Prithvi missile Prithvi is a tactical surface-to-surface short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP). The Prithvi missile project encompassed developing three variants for use by the Indian Army, Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy. Prithvi I (SS-150) – Army version (150 km range with a payload of 1,000 kg) Prithvi II (SS-250) – Air Force version (350 km range with a payload of 500 kg) Prithvi III (SS-350) – Naval version (350 km range with a payload of 1,000 kg) Prithvi II class is also a single-stage liquid-fueled missile having a maximum warhead mounting capability of 500 kg, with an extended range of 250 km The state-of-the-art missile uses advanced inertial guidance system with manoeuvring trajectory to hit its target Source: Indian Express [/su_box] [su_box title="Supermoon" style="soft" box_color="#f3f3f3" title_color="#d45f07"] Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Geography In News: The Supermoon was seen worldwide in different time zones A supermoon occurs when the Moon’s orbit is closest to the Earth at the same time that the Moon is full. As the Moon orbits the Earth, there is a point of time when the distance between the two is the least (perigee). Also, there is a point of time when the distance is the most (apogee) Now, when a full moon appears at the point when the distance between the Earth and the Moon is the least, not only does it appear to be brighter but it is also larger than a regular full moon. In a typical year, there may be two to four full supermoons and two to four new supermoons in a row Source: Indian Express [/su_box] Baba's Explainer - 5G Technology [su_box title="5G Technology" style="soft" box_color="#f3f3f3" title_color="#d45f07"] Syllabus GS-3: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Context: The era of 5G is here! A technology that’s been talked about over the past couple of years is finally rolling out across different countries like China, US, Japan, and even South Korea. Read Complete Details on 5G Technology [/su_box] Daily Practice MCQs [su_box title="Daily Practice MCQs" style="soft" box_color="#f3f3f3" title_color="#d45f07"] Q.1) Section 295A of IPC recently in news is related to? Penalizes promoting enmity between different groups. Punishes statements conducing to public mischief. Punishment for rioting. Prescribes a punishment for deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class. Q.2) According to recent Periodic Labour Force Survey for July 2020 to June 2021 was released by NSO consider the following statements The unemployment rate in 2020-21 is the lowest since the first PLFS in 2017-18 The unemployment rate was higher for males in rural areas than for females. The unemployment rate was higher for females in urban areas than for males. Choose the correct statements: 1, 2 and 3 2 and 3 1 only 2 only Q.3) Consider the following statements Prithvi II is a tactical surface-to-surface long-range ballistic missile Prithvi II missile is a two-stage liquid-fueled missile It uses an advanced inertial guidance system with maneuvering trajectory to hit its target Choose the incorrect statements: 1, 2 and 3 2 and 3 1 and 2 1 only Comment the answers to the above questions in the comment section below!! ANSWERS FOR '16th JUNE 2022 - Daily Practice MCQs' will be updated along with tomorrow's Daily Current Affairs. [/su_box] ANSWERS FOR 15th JUNE 2022 - Daily Practice MCQs [su_box title="Answers- Daily Practice MCQs" style="soft" box_color="#f3f3f3" title_color="#d45f07"] Q.1) - a Q.2) - c Q.3) - a [/su_box]

Jun 16, 2022 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

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

Jun 15, 2022 TLP Mains Answer Writing

[MOST TRUSTED] TLP (Phase II) - ONLINE FREE Initiative for UPSC Mains 2022 – Daily Mains Answer Writing Programme- Starting from 20th June!

“You play like you practice and practice how you play.” Nothing encapsulates the importance of answer writing practice for UPSC than this quote. The tons of books that you have read, the loads of ideas that you have in mind and the numerous debates that you have won matter little if you haven’t held your pen for practice for at least 500 hours before the real Mains examination. When you practice answer writing, you tend to recreate what you are going to write in the real exam but in a less stressful setting. With hours of practice, you develop a habit – a kind of muscle memory that helps immensely in the real exam. In fact, with hours of practice in your preparation kitty, the real exam feels like another day of practice. We hope you must have understood the true essence of the quote in the context of UPSC.Now, let’s come to an important question – what makes a perfect practice for UPSC? Well, the answer is simple. You must practice questions that are either similar or at least a notch above than the UPSC standard. Then you must learn from your mistakes. But, how do you learn? You learn from high quality source of information. You also learn from expert feedback. You definitely learn from you peers. If there is any program that packs all these prerequisites of perfect practice into one, it is the Think, Learn and Perform (TLP) Flagship initiative of IASbaba We have been posting questions of unmatched quality, framed after rigorous research and analysis of evolving UPSC trends. We don’t frame questions for the sake of it. We are determined to test you the way UPSC does by posing questions that make you think hard, and connect the dots of your previous learning. Each day, you wake up to 5 high quality questions based on a pre-published micro plan. You write the answers and post them on IASbaba’s dedicated TLP platform. You get to see the answers of your peers. You also get access to meticulously prepared synopsis, a treasure trove for understanding the components you missed in your answers, and also a great source for future reference. To the extent possible, IASbaba’s expert evaluators share feedback on your answers and motivate you to continue the journey. We also encourage peer feedback. TLP as a platform, builds a strong social capital that students can leverage for their benefit. Over the years, TLP has become the most trusted program for answer writing practice for UPSC toppers. Please go through the testimonials of top rankers over the years to understand the impact that TLP has made on their preparation. What makes our initiative standout? The answer is straightforward – quality. Even though TLP is a free initiative, we never compromise on the quality of questions and synopsis that is posted on the platform. We rarely repeat or recycle the questions. In each preparation cycle, we create new questions after a lot of thought and analysis. We invest so much time and effort because we know what is at stake – your career.Therefore, come join the bandwagon. Be a part of the routine – a habit that increases your chances of success in UPSC manifold. You can’t afford to miss this. Download Schedule DEDICATED PORTAL FOR TLP This year onwards TLP will have a Dedicated Portal for Focused Preparation (tlpmains.iasbaba.com). There will be a separate dedicated portal similar to (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 Now Note: If you have issues regarding program, please mail us on support@iasbaba.com OFFLINE TLP We have been getting a lot of requests from students to start TLP Daily Mains Answer Writing in Offline Mode. So we are finally here with the TLP OFFLINE. We hope that you make the best use of it.There are two slots where you can come to the Centre and write the answer.Slot 1 – 2 PM to 3 PMSlot 2 – 5 PM to 6 PMRs.2,500/- (Including Taxes) is being charged for the complete programme (20th June to 2nd September) as logistical charges that come with the Offline Tests.Please note that Evaluation is not part of the TLP Programme. Only Question Paper and Answer Booklets will be provided.You can write at any of IASbaba’s Offline Centres (DELHI, BENGALURU & LUCKNOW) Register Now For Offline Note: Offline Students need to Register at https://tlpmains.iasbaba.com/ as well in order to access the Synopsis and Compilations. If you have issues regarding program, please mail us on support@iasbaba.com Download Schedule NOTE FOR UPSC CSE 2023 ASPIRANTSThis is the best time for 2023 to start answer writing. We would request you to write answers every day even if you are writing crappy answers. By the end of the program, you would realize that you have completed Mains Syllabus and are able to write pretty decent answers.BestIASbaba Team

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