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

Archives (PRELIMS & MAINS Focus) Vembanad Lake Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Environment In News: Vembanad lake, is shrinking and its unique biodiversity is under threat of ecological decay despite it being declared as a Ramsar site 20 years ago. The lake is a source of livelihood for farmers of Kuttanad and the fisherfolk community, continues to undergo ecological degradation due to pollution and unauthorised constructions on its banks, with experts calling for “committed efforts” to save its wetland ecosystem. Features of the Lake: This is the largest lake in Kerala and the longest Lake in India. Vembanad Lake is also known as Vembanad Kayal, Vembanad Kol, Punnamada Lake (in Kuttanad) and Kochi Lake (in Kochi). It is bound by Alappuzha, Kottayam and Ernakulam Spanning several districts of Kerala and covering a territory of more than 2033.02 km2. The lake has its source in four rivers, Meenachil, Achankovil, Pampa and Manimala It is separated from the Arabian Sea by a narrow barrier island and is a popular backwater stretch in Kerala. Vallam Kali (i.e Nehru Trophy Boat Race) is a Snake Boat Race held every year in the month of August in Vembanad Lake. In 2002, it was included in the list of wetlands of international importance, as defined by the Ramsar Convention. It is the second-largest Ramsar site in India only after the Sundarbans in West Bengal. The Government of India has identified the Vembanad wetland under the National Wetlands Conservation Programme. The Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is located on the east coast of the lake. In 2019, Willingdon Island, a seaport located in the city of Kochi, was carved out of Vembanad Lake. Issues: Environmental Degradations: the lake is facing serious environmental degradation Causes: recurring floods, increased pollution, reduction in water spread area and increased weed growth Bunds on the lake were crumbling at certain places, making fishing difficult and on top of that the lake requires regular dredging and desilting. Tourism poses a threat to the ecology nd the water quality of the lake. Resorts and residences discharge their waste into the river and many houseboats do not have bio-toilets Solutions Inter-departmental committee to carry out a comprehensive study on checking the existing backwaters and to take further steps Local self-government departments taking action to detect and clear encroachments and demarcate the lake’s boundaries Participation of local communities including fisherfolk and farmers in lake’s revival Building an outer bund to prevent silt deposition and to regulate saline water intrusion into the freshwater lake Swaminathan Foundation report of 2011 – scientific and efficient operation of the lake Waste disposal and sewage treatment along the lake to be closely monitored. Miscellaneous: Kuttanad is known as the rice bowl of Kerela Must Read: India adds 11 more wetlands to the list of Ramsar Sites Source: The Hindu Hoysala Temples Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Art and Architecture In News: An expert team will visit the Hoysala temples at Belur, Halebid and Samanathpur this week before submitting a report to UNESCO ahead of declaring them as World Heritage Site. This includes Chennakeshava temple at Belur, The Hoysaleshwara temple at Halebid (together “The Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas”) and the 13th centure Keshava temple at Somnathpur. Criteria for declaration as World Heritage Site by UNESCO Nominated sites must be of “outstanding universal value” and must meet at least one of the following ten criteria To represent a masterpiece of human creative genius To exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design To bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living, or which has disappeared To be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history” To be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change To be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance To contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance To be outstanding examples representing major stages of earth’s history, including the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features To be outstanding examples representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals To contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation. Salient features of Hoysala form of Architecture: Hoysala temples are hybrid or vesara style temples because of amalgamation of Dravidian and Nagara styles. Multiple shrines of different deities around a central pillared hall. Stellate plan wherein the shrines are established intricately in the design of a star. Soft soapstone being the main building material. Decoration of the temple through sculptures – Both the interior and exterior walls, even the pieces of jewellery worn by the deities were intricately carved. Upraised platform known as Jagati. The walls and stairs of the temple followed a zigzag pattern. Chennakeshava temple of Somnathpur, Karnataka It is a Vaishnava Hindu temple on the banks of River Kaveri The temple was constructed in 1258 CE by Somanatha Dandanayaka, a general of the Hoysala King Narasimha III. The ornate temple is a model illustration of the Hoysala architecture. T The temple is enclosed in a courtyard with a pillared corridor of small shrines (damaged). The main temple in the centre is on a high star-shaped platform with three symmetrical sanctums (garbha-griha). The sanctums share a common community hall (sabha-mandapa) with many pillars. The outer walls, the inner walls, the pillars and the ceiling of the temple are intricately carved with theological iconography of Hinduism and display Ramayana, the Mahabharata and Bhagavata Purana International Commission on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS): It is a professional association that works for the conservation and protection of cultural heritage places around the world. Headquartered in Charenton-le-Pont, France, ICOMOS was founded in 1965 in Warsaw as a result of the Venice Charter of 1964, and offers advice to UNESCO on World Heritage Sites. Objectives: Restoration of historic buildings and protect the world’s cultural heritage threatened by wars and natural disasters under “Blue Shield”; of which ICOMOS is a partner and founding member Source: The Hindu Previous Year Question Q.1) Building ‘Kalyaana Mandapas’ was a notable feature in the temple construction in the kingdom of Chalukya Chandela Rashtrakuta Vijayanagara Acharya Vinoba Bhave Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – History Context: The Prime Minister of India has paid tributes to Acharya Vinoba Bhave on his Jayanti (September 11). About Vinoba Bhave: Vinoba Bhave (1895-1982) was an Indian nationalist and social-reform leader. Bhave’s most notable contribution was the creation of the bhoodan (land gift) movement. He was born into a high-ranking Chitapavan Brahmin family in Gagode village, south of Bombay. Bhave and Mahatma Gandhi: Vinayak Bhave was renamed with the affectionate diminutive “Vinoba” by Mahatma Gandhi. He was associated with Mahatma Gandhi in the Indian independence movement. He stayed for some time at Gandhi’s Sabarmati ashram in a cottage that was named after him, ‘Vinoba Kutir’. In 1940 he was chosen by Gandhi to be the first individual Satyagrahi (an individual standing up for Truth instead of a collective action) against the British rule. Sarvodaya and Bhoodan movement: Bhave observed the life of the average Indian living in a village and tried to find solutions for the problems he faced with a firm spiritual foundation. This formed the core of his Sarvodaya movement. Another example of this is the Bhoodan (land gift) movement started at Pochampally on 18 April 1951. He walked all across India asking people with land to consider him one of their sons and so gave him one-sixth of their land which he then distributed to landless poor. He also campaigned against the slaughtering of cows. Awards: In 1958 Bhave was the first recipient of the international Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna posthumously in 1983. Literary works: He called “Kannada” script the “Queen of World Scripts“ He wrote brief introductions to, and criticisms of, several religious and philosophical works like: the Bhagavad Gita, works of Adi Shankaracharya, the Bible the Quran. Bhave had translated the Bhagavad Gita into Marathi. His talks on the Bhagavad Gita were later published in book form, as Talks on the Gita, and it has been translated into many languages both in India and elsewhere. Source: The Hindu Previous Year Question Q.1) Who among the following was associated as Secretary with Hindu Female School which later came to be known as Bethune Female School? (2021) Annie Besant Debendranath Tagore Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar Sarojini Naidu Swami Vivekananda Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – History Context: The Prime Minister recalled the “special connection” Vinoba Bhave Jayanti on September 11 has with Swami Vivekananda, noting that the renowned spiritual figure had delivered his famous speech in Chicago on this day in 1893. About Swami Vivekananda: He was a true luminary, credited with enlightening the western world about Hinduism. He was an ardent disciple of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa, and a major force in the revival of Hinduism in India. He pushed for national integration in colonial India, and his famous speech remains as the one that he gave in Chicago in 1893 (Parliament of the World Religions). In 1984 the Government of India declared that 12 January, the birthday of Swami Vivekananda, will be celebrated as National Youth Day. Early life- contributions: Born in Kolkata on January 12, 1863 in Kolkata, Swami Vivekananda was known as Narendra Nath Datta in his pre-monastic life. He is known to have introduced the Hindu philosophies of Yoga and Vedanta to the West. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose had called Vivekananda the “maker of modern India.” In 1893, he took the name ‘Vivekananda’ after Maharaja Ajit Singh of the Khetri State requested him to do so. He formed the Ramakrishna Mission in 1897 “to set in motion a machinery which will bring noblest ideas to the doorstep of even the poorest and the meanest.” In 1899, he established the Belur Math, which became his permanent abode. He preached ‘neo-Vedanta’, an interpretation of Hinduism through a Western lens, and believed in combining spirituality with material progress. Death: He died at Belur Math in 1902. Belur Math, located in West Bengal, is the headquarters of Ramakrishna Math & Ramakrishna Mission. Books written by him: ‘Raja Yoga’, ‘Jnana Yoga’, ‘Karma Yoga’ are some of the books he wrote. Source: The Hindu G7 and Russia Open in new  window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs In News: The Group of Seven countries are working to cap the price of Russian oil in an attempt to limit Moscow’s ability to fund its invasion of Ukraine. Russian crude is priced at a discount to the international Brent benchmark and the G7 wants to keep that spread wide, to keep down Russian oil revenue. Set to begin on Dec. 5, this move will cut the price Russia receives for oil without reducing its petroleum exports to world consumers. Russia may in retaliation withhold exports to countries that enforce the cap. Russia is the world’s second-largest crude exporter, after Saudi Arabia. Who initiated the move? The G7 are hammering out details of the plan and wants to enlist other countries, including India and China, which have been snapping up heavily-discounted oil from Russia since its Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine. Even if India and China don’t join, a cap could help force down prices for Asia and other consumers. The consensus on the price cap level will be reached with the aid of a “rotating lead coordinator,” that countries in the coalition will have a temporary leadership role as the plan proceeds. What is the price cap? The level will be determined by both quantitative and qualitative reasons Coalition members with long economic and military relations with Russia could push for a higher cap, while a limit too low could take market share away from Saudi Arabia and other oil producers A $40-$60 per barrel range for crude – The upper end of that range is consistent with historical prices for Russian crude, while the lower end is closer to Russia’s marginal production cost. How the price cap be enforced? Vigilance about red flags indicating potential evasion or fraud by Russian oil buyers including evidence of deceptive shipping practices, refusal to provide requested price information, or excessively high services costs. Consequences under the domestic law of jurisdictions implementing the price cap for those who falsify documentation or otherwise hide the true origin or price of Russian oil would face. Maritime Services The plan agreed by the G7 calls for participating countries to deny Western-dominated services including insurance, finance, brokering and navigation to oil cargoes priced above the cap. To secure those services, petroleum buyers would make “attestations” to providers saying they bought Russian petroleum at or below the cap. Moscow is constrained by a small tanker fleet versus the vast scale of exports it needs to get out. If Russia doesn’t want to sell at the cap, it may have to shut in production, which could impose long-term costs on its oilfields. G7 The Group of Seven (G7) is an inter-governmental political forum for maintaining mutually close political, economic, social, legal, environmental, military, religious, cultural, and diplomatic relations. Members are the world’s largest IMF advanced economies and liberal democracies – the United States, Japan, Germany, Britain, France, Italy and Canada – and the EU Features: shared values of pluralism and representative government. As of 2020, the collective group accounts for over 50 percent of global net wealth and 32 to 46 percent of global gross domestic product including 10 percent of the world’s population. From 2022, Germany has taken over the rotating presidency of the G7, following the presidency of the United Kingdom Objectives: Discussing and coordinating solutions to major global issues, especially in the areas of trade, security, economics, and climate change. The G7 is not based on a treaty and has no permanent secretariat or office The group has been criticized for its allegedly outdated and limited membership, narrow global representation, and ineffectualness. It is also opposed by anti-globalization groups, which often protest at summits. Source: Indian Express Places of Worship Act of 1991 Open in new  window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs Mains – GS 2 (Governance) Context: The Supreme Court set the ball rolling on a series of petitions challenging the validity of the Places of Worship Act of 1991, a parliamentary law that protects the identity and character of religious places as on August 15, 1947. A slew of petitions has been filed against the Act, contending it has illegally fixed a retrospective cut-off date (August 15, 1947), illegally barring Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs from approaching courts to “re-claim” their places of worship which were “invaded” and “encroached” upon by “fundamentalist barbaric invaders”. The main objective of these petitions is to set right a “historical wrong”. The court’s readiness to test the law is significant considering the recent happenings in courts in Delhi, Varanasi, Mathura, and the Supreme Court that test the protective grip and probe the boundaries of The Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act of 1991. The Varanasi District Court dismissed the challenge by Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee against the civil suits that sought the right to worship Maa Shringar Gauri and other deities within the Gyanvapi mosque premises. Must Read:           The Place of Worship Act, 1991 Source: Indian Express Previous Year question Q.1) Other than the Fundamental Rights, which of the following parts of the Constitution of India reflect/reflects the principles and provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)?    (2020) Preamble Directive Principles of State Policy Fundamental Duties Select the correct answer using the code given below: 1 and 2 only 2 only 1 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 India-Saudi relations Open in new  window Syllabus Mains – GS 2 (International Relations) In News: Indian delegation is in Saudi Arabia, and a talk focuses on improving the relationship between India and Saudi. Union Minister of External Affairs co-chaired first ministerial meeting of the Committee on Political, Security, Social and Cultural Cooperation (PSSC) with Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud. Minister also met with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General and the two leaders signed an MoU on the mechanism of consultations between India and the six-nation regional bloc. Recent Developments: On account of remarks on Prophet Mohammad by Nupur Sharma Saudi Arabia issued a strong statement condemning the same. Covid-19 pandemic: India provided 4.5 million COVISHIELD vaccines to the Kingdom, whereas, during the second wave, the latter provided India with COVID-relief material, particularly liquid oxygen. Large-scale repatriation exercise of the community due to the pandemic, which has led to more than 8,00,000 Indians being repatriated through Vande Bharat Mission Committee on Political, Security, Social and Cultural Cooperation (PSSC): established under the framework of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council. India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council – was formed to coordinate on strategically important issues. The council will be headed by the Prime Minister and Crown Prince Mohammed and will meet every two years. It has two sub-committees – Committee on Political, Security, Social and Cultural Cooperation; and Committee on Economy and Investments. India – Saudi Arabia Relationship India and Saudi Arabia enjoy cordial and friendly relations reflecting the centuries old economic and socio-cultural ties. The year 2021-22 commemorates 75 years of India’s independence as ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’. This celebration also coincides with 75 years of establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Saudi Arabia. The establishment of diplomatic relations in 1947 was followed by high-level visits from both sides. Bilateral Trade: Saudi Arabia is India’s 4th largest trading partner and India is the 4th largest market for Saudi exports. Bilateral trade was $29.28 billion in FY22. During this time, India’s imports from Saudi Arabia were valued at $22.65 billion and exports to Saudi were $6.63 billion. More than 18% of India’s crude oil imports are sourced from Saudi Arabia. India also imports around 32% of LPG requirements from Saudi Arabia Economic cooperation: Investments: There are around 745 Indian companies registered as joint ventures/100% owned entities with investments worth approximately US$2 billion in the Kingdom (October, 2021). These companies operate in diverse sectors such as management and consultancy services, construction projects, telecommunications, information technology, financial services and software development, pharmaceuticals, etc. Saudi Investments in India, as of March 2021, amounted to US$3.13 billion. Major Saudi investment groups include ARAMCO, SABIC, ZAMIL, E-holidays, and Al Batterjee Group. Other proposed major investments include the US$44 billion ‘West Coast Refinery & Petrochemicals Project’ in Maharashtra, which is being jointly built by Saudi and India corporations. The Diaspora: The 2 million strong Indian community is the largest expatriate community in the country and is ‘most preferred’ due to their expertise, discipline, law abiding spirit and peace-loving nature. Saudi Arabia continues to be one of the most preferred destinations for Indians seeking job abroad. Hence, large numbers of remittances are received from the country equalling to $34.5 billion in 2020. In 2019, the two sides announced that India’s e-Migrate system would be integrated with the Kingdom’s e-Tawtheeq system to streamline the migration process for workers. Cultural Relations: India participated as the ‘Guest of Honour’ at the 32nd edition of the prestigious Saudi National Festival of Heritage and Culture – Janadriyah from February 07 – 28, 2018. The annual Hajj pilgrimage is another important component of Indo-Saudi bilateral relations. Yoga has also become a very popular activity in Saudi Arabia, particularly after it was recognized as a ‘sports activity’ in November 2017 On IDY 2021, an MoU on Yoga Cooperation was signed between the Saudi Ministry of Sports and India’s Ministry of AYUSH, which paved the way for the establishment of formal Yoga standards and courses in the Kingdom, marking the first time such standards were being implemented by any country in the Gulf region. The 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi was marked by a series of events that culminated on October 02, 2019 with the unveiling of the Gandhi bust at the Embassy. Way forward Need for a balance policy in terms of strategic, defence and economic partnership Diversification of trade relations beyond crude oil and LPG Collaboration on handling terrorism through sharing of military insights and increasing joint military exercises. Gulf Cooperation Council It is a political, economic, social, and regional organisation according to its charter. GCC was established by an agreement concluded in 1981 among Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE in view of their special relations, geographic proximity, similar political systems based on Islamic beliefs, joint destiny and common objectives. The structure of the GCC consists of the Supreme Council (the highest authority), the Ministerial Council and the Secretariat General. The Secretariat is located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Source: Indian Express The Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 Open in new  window Syllabus Mains – GS2 (Governance) Context: A three-judge Bench of the Supreme Court led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) U U Lalit will hear the challenge to the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). What is CAA? The CAA, 2019 amends the Citizenship Act of 1955 to make illegal immigrants who are Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan who entered India on or before December 31 2014 eligible to apply for Indian citizenship. According to the Citizenship Act of 1955, a person must have resided in India (or been in the service of the Central Government) for at least 11 years in order to be eligible for citizenship. The amended Act reduces that period to five years for all migrants from these three countries belonging to these six religious communities. The Act has been introduced ostensibly to aid refugees fleeing religious persecution in the three nations. The conspicuous exclusion of Muslims from the purview of the Act has evoked widespread condemnation. Legal challenge: The Act is unconstitutional: The law was challenged before the Supreme Court under Article 32 of the Constitution. The challenge rests primarily on the grounds that the law violates Article 14 of the Constitution that guarantees that no person shall be denied the right to equality before law or the equal protection of law in the territory of India. It is Anti-Muslim: Those challenging the law argue that if protecting persecuted minorities is ostensibly the objective of the law, then the exclusion of some countries and using religion as a yardstick may fall foul of the test. Against the basic structure of the constitution: Granting citizenship on the grounds of religion is seen to be against the secular nature of the Constitution which has been recognised as part of the basic structure that cannot be altered by Parliament. Debate of reasonable classification: In the CAA challenge, the petitioners have asked the Court to look into whether the special treatment given to “persecuted minorities” from three Muslim majority neighbouring countries only is a reasonable classification under Article 14 for granting citizenship, and whether the state is discriminating against Muslims by excluding them.  Why is the northeast against CAA? The north-eastern states have for long faced large scale migration from neighbouring countries. There were protests from indigenous residents over the strain this migration placed on the social, economic, and political fabric of the region. The protest against the provisions of the CAA in these states is against legitimisation of all immigrants from any country irrespective of their faith rather than excluding only Muslims. Exceptions to the CAA: The CAA will not apply to tribal area of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, or Tripura as included in the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution and the area covered under The Inner Line notified under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873. Apart from the above exceptions, the law shall be applicable across all states. The Chief Ministers of Kerala, Punjab, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh have stated that they will not implement the act in their respective states. However, states may not have the power to refuse implementation of the law, as it is enacted under the Union List of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution. The status of the case: The Supreme Court has developed a two-pronged test to examine a law on the grounds of Article 14. Any differentiation between groups of persons must be founded on intelligible differentia. For a law to satisfy the conditions under Article 14, it has to first create a “reasonable class” of subjects that it seeks to govern under the law. Differentia must have a rational nexus to the object sought to be achieved by the Act. Even if the classification is reasonable, any person who falls in that category has to be treated alike. The challenge has had only one substantive hearing since 2020. Source:  Indian Express State Institution for Transformation (SIT) Open in new  window Syllabus Mains: GS 2 (Federalism) Context: The NITI Aayog and the proposed SITs at the states level will play a critical role in India achieving goals set for 2047, the 100th year of independence. A plan has been chalked out by the Niti Aayog to help in the creation of teams that will examine the existing structure of state planning boards, and in the next 4-6 months conceptualise the State Institution for Transformation (SIT). Lateral entry of professionals will be encouraged in SITs to undertake high-quality analytical work and policy recommendations. The Centre has set up 10 working groups under various secretaries to set those socio-economic goals to achieve sustainable, inclusive, and job-creating high growth, while addressing carbon footprint and energy security. The NITI Aayog notes that state government’s role is crucial in improving ease of doing business, land reforms, infrastructure development, credit flow, and urbanisation, all of which are vital for sustained economic growth. Source:  Financial Express Baba’s Explainer -Europe’s Energy Crisis Tedious Process of Adoption Syllabus GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections Context: With the war between Russia and Ukraine having crossed the 200-day mark, Europe is facing a full-blown, unprecedented energy crisis, and the winter season is not too far away. Read Complete Details on Europe’s Energy Crisis Daily Practice MCQs Daily Practice MCQs Q.1) Consider the following statements Hoysala temples are in the form of Panchayatan style. Chennakeshava temple is located at Belur, Karnataka. Jagati is an architectural element that represents the tall tower. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 and 3 only 2 only 3 only 2 and 3 only Q.2) Consider the following statements about Vembanad Lake It is the longest lake in India. It is the second-largest Ramsar site in India only after the Sundarbans in West Bengal. The Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is located on the east coast of the lake. Choose the correct statements: 1 and 2 2 and 3 1, 2 and 3 1 and 3 Q.3) Who among the following chosen by Mahatma Gandhi to be the first individual satyagrahi against British rule in 1940? Jawaharlal Nehru Subhash Chandra Bose Sarojini Naidu Vinoba Bhave Comment the answers to the above questions in the comment section below!! ANSWERS FOR ’13th September 2022 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs. ANSWERS FOR 12th September – Daily Practice MCQs Answers- Daily Practice MCQs Q.1) – a Q.2) – b Q.3) – d table, td, th { border: 1px solid;} table {width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; }

Baba’s Explainer

Baba's Explainer - Europe's Energy Crisis

ARCHIVES Syllabus GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections Context: With the war between Russia and Ukraine having crossed the 200-day mark, Europe is facing a full-blown, unprecedented energy crisis, and the winter season is not too far away. What is the energy situation in Europe? Countries in the European Union (and even the United Kingdom) are “now confronted with astronomic electricity prices for households and companies, and with an enormous market volatility.” For instance, energy bills in the United Kingdom, according to the country’s energy regulator Ofgem (Office of Gas and Electricity Markets), are expected to spike by 80 percent this winter. For now, Ofgem has stepped in and put a cap on the amount of money that energy companies can charge households. A regular household’s energy bill can’t be more than £2,500 a year from 1 October (from £1,971 in the summer). Prior to this intervention, a regular household would have had to pay £3,549 per year due to the 80 percent spike. On the other hand, Germany which, before the invasion, imported around 55 percent of natural gas and more than 30 percent of its crude oil supplies from Russia, has now announced a €65 billion (£56.2 billion) relief package with respect to the rising energy costs in the country. It includes one-off payments to vulnerable businesses and tax breaks to businesses dealing mostly with energy. How much did Europe rely on Russia for energy before the invasion, and what does that reliance look like now? 90 percent of Europe’s energy needs are imported. Last year, before the war, gas deliveries from Russia to Europe were around 155 billion cubic metres (bcm). Europe relied on Russia, more than any other country, for around 40 percent of its gas. This has now come down to a mere nine percent, according to EU’s announcement. Based on the pre-invasion numbers, in absolute terms, Germany and Italy imported the largest quantities of gas from Russia, at 46 bcm and 29 bcm respectively. In proportionate terms Lithuania, Austria, and Finland imported most of their gas needs, more than 80 percent, from Russia. Germany met 55 percent of its gas needs from Russia but after the invasion, as of June 2022, that has come down to 35 percent. Italy imported 40 percent of its gas needs from Russia before the invasion. That has reportedly come down to 25 percent. France, which imports 17 percent of its gas needs from Russia, is reportedly preparing to cut itself off totally from Russian dependence. Most of this gas is supposed to be transported through two pipelines: The Yamal – Europe pipeline, which supplies gas to Poland and Germany via Belarus. The Nord Stream, predecessor to the Nord Stream 2, which supplies gas to Germany via Ukraine (NS2 bypasses Ukraine). Gas supplies from this pipeline have been cut off for the moment. How is Russia Shutting Off Gas to Europe? Russia, on 31 August, stopped the flow of gas via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline citing maintenance issues and the need to carry out repairs. The halt, Russian energy corporation Gazprom had stated, would last for three days. The suspension of the gas supply was supposed to last for three days but on 2 September, Gazprom extended that shutdown. Before the extension was announced, on the same day, the finance ministers of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Canada, and the United States had agreed on a plan to not buy Russian oil above the agreed prices. US also stated it will curtail Russia’s capacity to fund his war from oil exports by banning services, such as insurance and the provision of finance, to vessels carrying Russian oil above an agreed price cap. Russia via Gazprom had already cut flows through the pipeline to 40 percent of the original capacity in June and to 20 percent in July 2022. Russia also blamed the sanctions, imposed by western countries after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, for not resuming in full its gas supplies to European countries. How has Europe has reacted to Russia cutting its gas supplies? The Russian gas threat, therefore, forced the European Union to fill up its storage sites to an 80% target by 1 November, which is when the European heating season begins. They reached this deadline ahead of time. In the years following 2022, the target must be increased to 90 percent. Germany, which wanted to hit 85 percent storage by October, is running ahead of schedule with 88 percent storage at the moment. France is at 94 percent, and so is Denmark. The issue is with Ukraine. The country’s storage is barely at 30 percent capacity however the government could manage to reach its goal of building 19 bcm of natural gas reserves for the upcoming winter. The heating usually starts in mid-October. Gas consumption in Ukraine has plummeted by 40 percent when compared to the pre-invasion levels, but production has decreased by only five percent Ukraine stopped buying Russian gas in November 2015, a year after the annexation of Crimea to reduce its dependence, and started relying more on traders in Poland and Hungary. Ukraine’s ability to survive the winter will also depend on its international allies’ necessary financial support for it to import the amount of gas it needs. However, it also depends on whether Russia chooses to destroy the gas infrastructure in the country. In the first week of September, the Russian military launched retaliatory strikes in Ukraine (after the latter regained territory) that targeted the power grid and the heat power plant, causing an electricity blackout in Kharkiv and other areas. What are the other Europe's Alternatives? Germany has been searching for alternatives to Russian gas ever since it halted the certification of the Nord Stream 2. It could turn towards Britain, Denmark, Norway, and the Netherlands. Norway has been increasing its production levels to help the EU countries achieve their target of ending reliance on Russian fossil fuels by the year 2027. Another option is to get more gas from Algeria and Azerbaijan, which currently supply about 20 percent and 10 percent of Europe’s gas respectively. Then there is liquefied natural gas. The United States has said that it can provide 15 bcm of LNG to the EU this year. This is still far less than Russia’s 155 bcm supply last year (less than even 10 percent of it in fact). The problem here is that an increase in supply of LNG to Europe would result in a reduction of LNG supply elsewhere until production increases (constructing a new production facility for LNG takes more than two years). Reducing consumption is something that Europe has to bank on. The EU has agreed to cut gas consumption by 15 percent. At the same time, it has to manage the prices as well. Putting a cap on Russian energy prices will kill two birds with one stone – it will stop the funding of Vladimir Putin’s war machine it will lead to government-imposed price caps on how much energy companies can charge households (as seen in the UK). Main Practice Question: How is Europe trying to deal with the energy crisis in the context of Russia-Ukraine war? What are its geopolitical implications? 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 13th September 2022

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

Baba’s Explainer

Baba's Explainer - Tedious Process of Adoption

ARCHIVES Syllabus GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections Context: Concerned over the declining number of children for adoption in the country, a Parliamentary panel has expressed apprehension that this may point to an illegal child adoption market and trafficking. What were the observations of the Parliamentary Committee? In its 118th Report on Review of Guardianship and Adoption Laws, submitted to Parliament Parliamentary Standing Committee on personnel, public grievances, law and justice has noted “the paradoxical situation where on one hand there are a large number of parents willing to adopt a child, (and) on the other, there are not many children available for adoption”. The committee, noted that according to adoption statistics of Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA), the number of children adopted within the country declined from 5,693 in 2010 to 3142 in 2020-21. The number of children taken in inter-country adoption decreased from 628 in 2010 to 417 in 2020-21.This, the committee reported, “is a cause of grave concern’’. There is decline in the number of children coming to adoption agencies over the years This decline, by and large, points to trafficking or a thriving illegal child adoption market. The committee is of the view that there is a need to increase surveillance, especially on unregistered child care institutions and adoption agencies/hospitals with a past record of trafficking. The committee takes note of the paradoxical situation where on one hand there are a large number of parents willing to adopt a child, on the other, there are not many children available for adoption, all this while the 2020 World Orphan Report estimates the number of orphans in India at 31 million. What were the recommendations of the committee? In the given situation, the committee recommended that a true picture of the number of children who are orphaned/abandoned be ascertained through a district-level survey. This data should be updated regularly. There is a need to simplify the procedure further, besides bringing down the time required for placing a child in adoption to less than six months. The committee is of the view that a longer wait period often forces parents willing to adopt a child to resort to illegal adoption. What are the laws governing adoption in the country? In India, the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) is the statutory body of the Women and Child Development ministry, which functions as the nodal agency for adoption, and is mandated to monitor and regulate in-country and inter-country adoptions. The adoption of orphaned, abandoned and surrendered children are all regulated by CARA through its associated or recognised adoption agencies. Three laws govern adoption in the country: The Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act of 1956, which applies to Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs. Under this act, the adoption is irrevocable and it gives full status to the child as a natural child born to the family, it also gives the right to inherit the property. The Guardian and Wards Act of 1890, which applies to Muslim, Parsi, Christian and Jews in adoption. Under the GAWA, the relationship which is established after an adoption is only of guardian and ward respectively. Adoption under GAWA does not confer the status of the child on the adopted child; it is different from the HAMA. The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act of 2015. It replaced the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000. It applies to all Indian Citizen. It allows the adoption of two children of the same sex. It confers the status of parents & child and not guardian and ward. It also confers rights available to the child on the adopted child. In particular, it provides a comprehensive process for domestic and inter-country adoption of orphan, abandoned and surrendered children. In addition, the UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of Child) was ratified by India in 1992 and the Hague Convention on Inter-country Adoption, 1993, was ratified by the Government of India in 2003. Recent Changes brought in to monitor adoption process From September 1, District Magistrates (DM) have been empowered to give adoption orders instead of courts. All cases pending before courts have to be now transferred. Hundreds of adoptive parents in the country are now concerned that the transfer process will further delay what is already a long and tedious process. There are questions whether an order passed by the executive will pass muster when an adopted child’s entitlements on succession and inheritance are contested before a court. What do the amended rules say? How did they come about? The Parliament passed the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Amendment Bill, 2021 in July last year in order to amend the Juvenile Justice Act (JJ Act), 2015. The key changes include authorising District Magistrates and Additional District Magistrates to issue adoption orders under Section 61 of the JJ Act by striking out the word “court”. This was done “in order to ensure speedy disposal of cases and enhance accountability,” according to a government statement. The District Magistrates have also been empowered under the Act to inspect child care institutions as well as evaluate the functioning of district child protection units, child welfare committees, juvenile justice boards, specialised juvenile police units, child care institutions etc. The Act and the corresponding rules came into effect from September 1. The amendments to the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Model Rules, 2016 say, “all the cases pertaining to adoption matters pending before the Court shall stand transferred to the District Magistrate from the date of commencement of these rules.” Why is there concern over the revised rules? The revised rules have parents, activists, lawyers and adoption agencies worried as cases already before courts for the past several months will have to be transferred and the process will have to start afresh. A petition for adoption orders is filed after a parent registers for adoption, who is then assessed through a home study report, referred a child and subsequently allowed to take a child in pre-adoption foster care pending an adoption order. A delay in such an order can often mean that a child can’t get admission into a school because parents don’t yet have a birth certificate, or like in one case, parents unable to claim health insurance if a child is admitted to a hospital. The Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) says there are nearly 1,000 adoption cases pending before various courts in the country. Parents and lawyers also state that neither judges, nor DMs are aware about the change in the JJ Act leading to confusion in the system and delays. According to CARA, the Ministry of Women and Child Development is drafting a letter to be sent to State governments clarifying that where adoption orders have already been given, or will be given shortly, the DMs should consider them valid. But there are also larger concerns. Main Practice Question: Do you think the recent changes made to adoption process is beneficial for the streamlining the process of adoption. Critically comment. Note: Write answers to this question in the comment section. table{ border: 1px solid; } table tr, table td{ border: 1px solid; }

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 12th September 2022

Archives (PRELIMS & MAINS Focus) Shell Companies Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Economy In News: The Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) arrested the mastermind, named Dortse (board member of Jillian India Ltd) who incorporated multiple shell companies linked to China and provided dummy directors on their boards to run the fraudulent businesses. Pursuing this serious financial crime, Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) conducted simultaneous search-and-seizure operations at Bangalore and Hyderabad offices. What are shell companies? A shell company is a corporation without active business operations or actual assets. They exist only on paper and has no office and no employees, but may have a bank account or passive investments, etc. They can be used for legitimate reasons such as for obtaining different forms of financing, conducting a hostile takeover or issuing Initial Public Offerings. These types of corporations are not all necessarily illegal, but they are sometimes used illegitimately such as for tax evasion, tax avoidance, money laundering or anonymity. Indian laws to deal with shell companies Benami Transaction (Prohibition) Amendment Act 2016 The Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002 The Companies Act, 2013. Tax evasion vs. Tax avoidance Tax avoidance is a legal strategy to minimize the amount of income tax owed by an individual or a business by taking advantage of the loop holes and ambiguities in the legal provisions. Tax evasion is a serious financial crime that uses illegal methods to evade tax liability. It may result in hefty fines and penalties. Examples of tax avoidance like claiming deductions under chapter VIA of the Income Tax Act 1961 such as donations under section 80G Examples of tax evasion are underreporting income, window dressing of accounts, falsifying deductions, hiding money, etc. Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) As per the Companies Act 2013, SFIO is a multi-disciplinary organization under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, consisting of experts in the field of accountancy, forensic auditing, banking, law, information technology, taxation, etc. for detecting and prosecuting or recommending for prosecution white-collar crimes/frauds. The SFIO conducts investigations on receipt of a report of the Registrar or on intimation of a special resolution passed by a company, request from any department of the Central Government or a State Government or in the public interest. SFIO is headed by a Director as Head of Department in the rank of Joint Secretary to the Government of India. The Headquarter of SFIO is in New Delhi, with five Regional Offices in Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad & Kolkata. Source: Indian Express Previous Year Question Q.1) With reference to the “Tea Board” in India, consider the following statements: (2022) The Tea Board is a statutory body. It is a regulatory body attached to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. The Tea Board’s Head Office is situated in Bengaluru. The Board has overseas offices at Dubai and Moscow. Which of the statements given above are correct ? 1 and 3 2 and 4 3 and 4 1 and 4 Rabies vaccine Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Science & Technology In News: Death of a 12-year-old girl in Kerala from rabies, despite having multiple inoculations of the rabies vaccine. From 2016-18, around 300 laboratory-confirmed rabies deaths were reported in India. The WHO says India is endemic for rabies and accounts for 36% of the world’s deaths. As per available information, Rabies causes 18,000-20,000 deaths every year. About 30-60% of reported rabies cases and deaths in India occur in children under the age of 15 years, as bites that occur in children often go unrecognised and unreported, it notes. About Rabies Rabies is a disease that is caused by a family of viruses called the lyssaviruses and found in a range of mammals. The virus targets the central nervous system and is nearly 100% fatal to the host animal if it succeeds in infecting it. It is most likely to spread to people from the bite of an infected dog or a cat as they are the most common pets. Significance of Rabies vaccine The vaccine is made up of an inactivated virus that is expected to induce the body into producing antibodies that can neutralise the live virus in case of infection. There is no single-shot rabies vaccine or one that offers permanent immunity. Administering a vaccine, even after being bitten by a rabid animal, is effective because the virus is slow-moving and it can be several weeks before the disease manifests into a fatal encephalitis. A shot of rabies immunoglobulin (rabies-antibodies against the virus derived either from people or horses) followed by a four-week course of anti-rabies vaccine, is nearly guaranteed to prevent rabies. There are mainly two ways of administering the rabies vaccine – firstly, post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) which is given to persons who have been exposed via a bite to an animal suspected to be infected. The vaccines are administered either into the muscles, or into the skin. Secondly, Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) which is given ahead of time to persons who have a high risk of being infected, such as veterinarians. The advantage of a PrEP is that if bitten, one doesn’t need an immunoglobulin injection, and two subsequent shots of the vaccine will suffice for full protection, unlike the four-course prescription in the case of PEP. However, the WHO doesn’t recommend PrEP as a general preventive. Rabies vaccines in India There are at least six rabies vaccines approved for India and all contain inactivated virus made of duck, chicken or human cell cultures. They are marked as safe, efficacious and with long immunity. They are available for free in government dispensaries . Concerns Hospitals running out of vaccines Knowledge about vaccines and treatment is still inadequate in India. No centralised database of vaccine availability is maintained. Requirement of multiple shots of vaccine as well as immunoglobin makes sticking to the schedule challenging. Way forward India has committed to eliminate the disease by 2030 which requires vaccination of dogs who are deemed responsible for 99% of all rabies infections in people Hence, the government in its 2021 plan, called the ‘National Action for Plan — Rabies Elimination’, aims to vaccinate at least 70% of all dogs in a defined geographical area annually for three consecutive years. With this, a degree of herd immunity is expected leading to eventual elimination within eight years. Rather than inoculate all dogs, the plan is to identify ‘rabies hotspots’ in the country and target them. Source: The Hindu Previous Year Question Q.1) What is the importance of using \ Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines in India? (2020) These vaccines are effective against pneumonia as well as meningitis and sepsis. Dependence on antibiotics that are not effective against drug-resistant bacteria can be reduced. These vaccines have no side effects and cause no allergic reactions. Select the correct answer using the code given below: 1 only 1 and 2 only 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Kushiyara river treaty Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs In News: The Kushiyara river water agreement signed between India and Bangladesh on September 6 2022 is the first major water sharing accord between the two friendly neighbours since the Ganga water treaty in 1996. The India-Bangladesh joint river commission met in New Delhi last month after 12 years and agreed on several vital initiatives. Kushiyara river is a distributary of the Barak River which originates in the uplands of Assam and flows through it, and then on to Bangladesh. Barak River rises in Manipur and is part of Surma-Meghna River System. The agreement is aimed to benefit the southern areas of Assam in India and the Sylhet region in Bangladesh. Bangladesh will be able to withdraw 153 cusecs (cubic feet per second) of water from the Kushiyara out of the approximately 2,500 cusecs of water that is there in the river during the winter season. The water of Kushiyara will be channelled through the Rahimpur Canal project in Sylhet. Geographical insight: Bangladesh and India share a 4,096-kilometre-long (2,545 mi) international border, which is the longest land boundary that India shares with any of its neighbours. The countries share over 50 rivers such as the main branch of the Ganges known as the Padma River Hence, water management remains a contentious issue between the two countries. Significance Help in addressing the major issue of changing nature of the river which unleashes floods in Bangladesh during the monsoon and goes dry during the winter when demand of water goes up because of a crop cycle in Sylhet. Benefit to approximately 10,000 hectares of land and millions of people from the water that will flow through a network of canals in Sylhet benefiting the farmers involved in Boro rice – the rice cultivated during the dry season of December to February and harvested in early summer. To ensure steady supply of water for irrigation of agriculture fields and orchards of the subdivisions of Sylhet. Greater cooperation in flood control Strengthening mutual cooperation in combating pollution of common river Regular sharing of water-stock data Extension of the Ganga treaty beyond its expiry date of 2026 Concerns expressed: India objection to the to the Rahimpur Canal of Sylhet which was built to help the farmers access Kushiyara’s water – and claimed that the dyke and other infrastructure interfered in border security. Similar pact for Teesta River – which is a tributary of the Brahmaputra, originates in the Teesta Kangse glacier and flows through the state of Sikkim and West Bengal before entering Bangladesh; has been in the works for around a decade and is currently disputed. Impact of climate change on South Asian rivers that can affect communities and trigger migration. Bangladesh has cited low water flow in its rivers during the winter months as a matter of concern as it affects its agriculture sector Source: The Hindu Previous Year Question Q.1) With reference to river Teesta, consider the following statements (2017) The source of river Teesta is the same as that of Brahmaputra but it flows through Sikkim River Ranjeet originates in Sikkim and it is a tributary of river Teesta. River Teesta flows into Bay of Bengal on the border of India and Bangladesh. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 and 3 only 2 only 1 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Stealth frigate “Taragiri” Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Science & Tech (Defence) In News: Third stealth frigate of Project 17A Taragiri launched in Mumbai by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd. (MDL) with an estimated cost of Project being around ₹25,700 crore. Features: Indigenously designed Taragiri will have a state-of-the-art weapon, sensors, an advanced action information system, an integrated platform management system, world class modular living spaces, a sophisticated power distribution system and a host of other advanced features. It will be fitted with a supersonic surface-to-surface missile system and the ship’s air defence capability is designed to counter the threat of the enemy aircraft and the anti-ship cruise missiles would revolve around the vertical launch and long-range surface to air missile system The vessel is being launched with an approximate launch weight of 3,510 tonnes and is designed by the Indian Navy’s in-house design organisation — the Bureau of Naval Design The ship, 149.02 metre long and 17.8 metre wide, is propelled by a CODOG combination of two gas turbines and two main diesel engines which are designed to achieve a speed of over 28 knots at a displacement of approximately 6,670 tonnes. Structure: The ship has been built using integrated construction methodology which involves hull blocks construction in different geographical locations and integration/erection on slipway at MDL. The keel (the timber or steel structure along the base of a ship to increase support & stability) of Taragiri was laid on September 10, 2020, and the ship is expected to be delivered by August 2025. The steel used in the hull construction of P17A frigates is an indigenously developed DMR 249A which is a low carbon micro alloy grade steel manufactured by the SAIL. Background The second ship of P17A class Udaygiri was launched on May 17 this year and is expected to start the sea trials during the second half of 2024. The keel of the fourth and the final ship was laid on June 28. Must Read: Project 17A Frigate Source: The Hindu Exercise Parvat Prahar Open in new  window Syllabus Prelims: Current Affairs Context: Army chief General Manoj Pande visited the Ladakh sector to review Exercise Parvat Prahar. The exercise comes as India and China are undertaking disengagement from Patrolling Point-15 in eastern Ladakh. Key details: The exercise was held in the Ladakh plateau at an altitude of 14,000 feet. This exercise used newly inducted all-terrain vehicles transported by Chinook heavy lift helicopters and K9-Vajra howitzers. The exercise featured a display of operational capabilities by artillery guns and other key weapon systems. Simultaneously on the western front, Exercise Gagan Strike culminated with a fire power display of attack helicopters supporting deep operations by Strike Corps. Source:                       https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/army-chief-reviews-exercise-parvat-prahar-in-ladakh/article65876111.ece?homepage=true Previous Year Question Q.1) Siachen Glacier is situated to the (2020) East of Aksai Chin East of Leh North of Gilgit North of Nubra Valley US Startup SETU - Supporting Entrepreneurs in Transformation and Upskilling programme Open in new  window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs In News: The Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles launched the US Startup SETU. It would connect start-ups in India to US-based investors and start-up ecosystem leaders with mentorship and assistance in various areas including funding, market access and commercialization. Key details: SETU is designed to break the geographical barriers between mentors based in US that are willing to invest in entrepreneurship and sunrise start-ups in India. The interaction will be supported through the mentorship portal under the Startup India initiative the Mentorship, Advisory, Assistance, Resilience, and Growth program (MAARG), which is a single-stop solution finder for start-ups in India. MAARG is inviting applications from Mentors across the world. Till date, more than 200 mentors have been on-board on MAARG across the globe. The applications have come from distinguished individuals representing the industry and the Startup ecosystem. The core functions of MAARG are to improve ease of access, use Artificial Intelligence for Matchmaking, schedule meetings virtually, host masterclasses, provide a custom dashboard for relevant information, analytics, features, etc., host cohort-based programs that will allow Startup ecosystem enablers to be become a part of the program and enable outcome driven activities. Source: Pib.Gov India stays out of Indo-Pacific trade pillar Open in new  window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs In News: India has for now opted to stay out of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework’s (IPEF) trade pillar. The IPEF has four pillars with the member nations given flexibility to choose which pillars they want to be part of. Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) According to an insight paper on IPEF put out by the US Congressional Research Service, the IPEF is not a traditional trade agreement. Rather, it would include different modules (four pillars) covering: fair and resilient trade, supply chain resilience, infrastructure and decarbonization, and tax and anticorruption. Countries would have to sign up to all of the components within a module, but do not have to participate in all modules. India and IPEF: India decided to join three pillars of IPEF India has joined the supply chain, decarbonisation and infrastructure, and anti-tax and corruption pillars of the IPEF. However, it has decided to remain out of the trade pillar. Reasons for India not joining the trade pillar: So far, official reason has not been given. However, trade experts say India may have some genuine concerns regarding certain aspects of the trade pillar that perhaps go beyond WTO obligations. Must Read: Indo-Pacific Economic Framework Source: Indian Express Previous Year Question Q.1) ‘Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA)’, recently seen in news relates to: (2022) USA European Union SAARC ASEAN Adoption Rules Open in new  window Syllabus Mains – GS 1 (Society); GS 2 (Governance) In News: New adoption rules create confusion over implementation as they require transfer of adoption papers from courts to District Magistrates. Background: The parliament passed the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Amendment Bill 2021 and it came into effect on September 1 2021. The objective was to prevent court-related delays during adoptions because of a large no. of pending cases by transfer of adoption papers from courts to District Magistrates. This was to ensure speedy disposal of cases and enhance accountability. Adoption and its Procedures Adoption means the process through which the adopted child is permanently separated from his biological parents and becomes the lawful child of the adoptive parents with all the rights, privileges. and responsibilities that are attached to a biological child. A child can be adopted if an orphan, abandoned or surrendered (OAS) child has been declared legally free for adoption as per the provisions of the JJ (C&PC) Act 2015 a child of a relative (a relative means the child’s paternal uncle or aunt, a maternal uncle or aunt or paternal and maternal grandparents) a child or children of spouse from earlier marriage surrendered by the biological parent(s) for adoption by the step-parent Adoptions in India are governed by two laws: The Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956 (HAMA) and the Juvenile Justice Act 2015 (JJA). Both laws have separate eligibility criteria for adoptive parents Those applying under JJA, have to registers for adoption by filing application on Central Adoption Resources Authority (CARA) portal > An assessment through home study report is done > The parent(s) is then referred a child and subsequently allowed to take a child in pre- adoption foster care > Formal adoption order from the court gives a legal status to the adoption. Under HAMA, a “dattaka hom” ceremony or an adoption deed or court order is sufficient to obtain irrevocable adoption rights. Challenges: Lack of awareness among the parents, the judges and the DMs regarding the process creating confusion and delay. Delay in the transfer process to be amplified due to requirement of a fresh petition. Such a delay in the above-mentioned process implies problems in school admissions due to absence of birth certificate of the child or inability to claim health insurance, etc. There are no rules for monitoring adoptions and verifying sourcing of children and determining whether parents are fit to adopt, under HAMA. Under CARA, there are only 2188 children in its registry while there are more than 31,000 prospective parents. This leads to long wait which further allows human traffickers to take advantage of loopholes – this issue was further verified by a Parliamentary Panel “Review of Guardianship and Adoption Laws” The question of whether an order passed by DM will pass muster when an adopted child’s entitlements on succession & inheritance are contested before a court Nearly 3500 adoptions are completed every year while 1000 pending cases in limbo across the country CARA It is a specialised adoption agency and a statutory body of the Ministry of Women & Child Development. It functions as the nodal body for adoption of Indian children and is mandated to monitor and regulate in-country and inter-country adoptions. CARA is designated as the Central Authority to deal with inter-country adoptions in accordance with the provisions of the Hague Convention on Inter-country Adoption, 1993, ratified by Government of India in 2003. CARA primarily deals with adoption of orphan, abandoned and surrendered children through its associated /recognised adoption agencies. Parliamentary Panel “Review of Guardianship and Adoption Laws” In India, there are only 2,430 children available for adoption while the number of parents desiring to bring home a child is growing rapidly. There were 27,939 prospective parents registered with the Child Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) as of December 2021, up from nearly 18,000 in 2017. The waiting time for adoption has increased to three years from one year in the past five years. Must Read: Review of Guardianship and Adoption Laws Source: The Hindu Indo-Japan ministerial dialogue Open in new  window Syllabus Mains – GS 2 (International Relations) Recent context: Recently, India-Japan 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue held in Tokyo under which India’s Defence Minister and External Affairs Minister to meet their Japanese counterparts. The meeting took place against the backdrop of heightened tensions across the Taiwan Strait during which China lobbed five missiles in Japan’s exclusive economic zone which was described by Japan as “a serious problem that affects our national security and the safety of our citizens”. Major areas of discussion during the Ministerial meeting: The Ministers reaffirmed their commitment Rules-based global order that respects sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations: Indian side expressed its support to work towards enhanced security and defence cooperation with Japan on the line of Japan’s commitment to reinforce Japan’s defence capabilities . Both nations agree to launch the Joint Service Staff talks between the Japan Joint Staff and the Indian Integrated Defence Staff. building on existing bilateral and multilateral exercises including “Dharma Guardian” (ground forces), “JIMEX” and “Malabar” (navies), and, an earlier decision to conduct the inaugural India-Japan fighter exercise between the two air forces. India welcomes the Japan’s participation in multilateral exercise MILAN and the operationalization of the Agreement Concerning Reciprocal Provision of Supplies and Services (ACSA) between the Self-Defense Forces of Japan and the Indian Armed Forces in the exercise. So, MILAN 2022 will have the first-ever participation from all the Quad nations, as well as France and South Korea. Japan is expected to provide thrust to cooperation in defence equipment and technology, covering areas such as Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGV) and Robotics and manufacturing of drones where Japan has considerable strengths. Recently, Japan’s largest drone manufacturer, ACSL, has already established a joint venture in India with Delhi-based Arc Ventures. Both the nation committed to a common strategic goal of achieving a free and open Indo-Pacific, that is inclusive and resilient, based on the rule of law and free from coercion. The Ministers also reiterated their strong support for ASEAN’s unity and centrality and their full support for the “ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP)” which upholds the principles such as the rule of law, openness, freedom, transparency, and inclusiveness. Way forward: Both nations are marking the 70th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations this year which is instrumental in re-energising ties and also attributable to the long-term vision shared by the leaders on both sides such as ensuring cooperate for peace, stability and prosperity of Indo-Pacific and work together for a rules-based and inclusive world order. India’s emergence as the fifth-largest as well as the fastest-growing economy in the world will definitely ensure a further quantum leap in strategic ties with Japan. Must Read: 70 years of establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Japan Source: Indian Express Cloudbursts Open in new  window Syllabus Mains – GS 1 (Geography) and GS 3 (Disaster Management) Context: Why cloudburst forecast in India still remains elusive Forecasting of cloudbursts: While satellites are extensively useful in detecting large-scale monsoon weather systems, the resolution of the precipitation radars of these satellites can be much smaller than the area of individual cloudburst events, and hence they go undetected. The IMD’s forecasts, and in general, the weather prediction scenario, have advanced such that widespread extreme rains can be predicted two-three days in advance. Cyclones can be predicted about one week in advance. However, cloudburst forecasts still remain elusive. Multiple doppler weather radars can be used to monitor moving cloud droplets and help to provide nowcasts (forecasts for the next three hours). This can be a quick measure for providing warnings, but radars are an expensive affair, and installing them across the country may not be practically feasible. A long-term measure would be mapping the cloudburst-prone regions using automatic rain gauges. If cloudburst-prone regions are co-located with landslide-prone regions, these locations can be designated as hazardous. The risk at these locations would be huge, and people should be moved, and construction and mining in nearby regions should be restricted as that can aggravate the landslides and flash flood impacts. Climate change is projected to increase the frequency and intensity of cloudbursts As the air gets warmer, it can hold more moisture and for a longer time. We call this the Clausius Clapeyron relationship. A 1-degree Celsius rise in temperature may correspond to a 7-10% increase in moisture and rainfall. This increase in rainfall amount does not get spread moderately throughout the season. As the moisture holding capacity of air increases, it results in prolonged dry periods intermittent with short spells of extreme rains. More deeper cumulonimbus clouds form and the chances of cloudbursts also increase. Must Read:  Cloudbursts Source: The Hindu Nyukmadong community reserve forest Open in new  window Syllabus Mains: GS 2 (Governance) Case study: Residents of Nyukmadong village said Border Roads Organisation destroyed more than 80% of the 36 sq. km forest without consultations or compensation. Background: Almost 60 years after becoming collateral damage in one of the fiercest battles between Indian Army soldiers and Chinese invaders, a village in Arunachal Pradesh is fighting a war to protect a sacred forest from a project for preventing a repeat of 1962. Violation of Tribal Rights and Loss of Flora and Fauna: The place is known for a Buddhist-style war memorial on a 1.5-acre plot overlooking the site of a battle on November 18, 1962. According to the Kolkata-based South Asian Forum for Environment, the road project is an example of trespassing and ignoring the rights of a local tribal community to the land and the forest ecosystem they are dependent on. The WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) declared the patch as a community reserve forest because of its rich biodiversity. The red-listed Indian red panda is found in this area. Community representatives said the deforestation (for the road) affected their traditional holy sites, locally called phu. It could be the first test case for the new Forest Rule 2022 that seeks to rob indigenous people of their right to forest resources. The local stakeholders said much of the damage to the sacred forest cannot be reversed. “Nothing can compensate for the loss to the biodiversity, but the community as landowners should be paid for re-greening the bald patche. The other impacted areas are Gyandrabrangsa, Halftangmu, Penpeytang, Chendhuphu, Yangphu and Changphunakphu. Border Roads Organisation (BRO): The BRO is a road construction executive force in India that provides support to and is now a part of the Indian Armed Forces. BRO develops and maintains road networks in India’s border areas and friendly neighboring countries. The BRO consists of Border Roads Wing under the Ministry of Defense and the General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF). Officers are selected through the Indian Engineering Services (IES) Examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Source: The Hindu Operation Parivartan: Soft Policing Open in new  window Syllabus Mains: GS 4 (Dedication to Public Service, Emotional Intelligence) (case study) Case study: An IPS officer used soft policing to crack down on illegal hooch distilleries in Solapur. Tejaswi Satpute, SP ,Solapur Rural, launched Operation Parivartan in September 2021 a four-point action plan that combined soft policing such as counselling with a concerted crackdown on the haath bhattis. The region has acquired reputation as the primary supplier of hooch to at least nine districts in the region. A year later, nearly 80 percent of haath bhattis in Solapur rural areas have shut down and over 650 families involved in the trade have been rehabilitated which includes Banjara community as a major stakeholder. Recently, Tejaswi Satpute awarded the FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry) for smart policing special jury award for operation Parivartan. Source: Indian Express Daily Practice MCQs Daily Practice MCQs Q.1) With reference to India, Nyukmadong, Gyandrabrangsa, Halftangmu, and Penpeytang are the names of Tribal hamlets Glaciers Community reserve forests Tribal languages Q.2) Consider the following statements Tax avoidance refers to the illegal means of avoiding net tax liability by way of fraudulent financial statements and falsification of accounts Tax evasion attracts heavy fines and penalties. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both Neither Q.3) Consider the following statements Kushiyara river is a distributary of the Brahmaputra River It flows through southern Assam and Sylhet in Bangladesh. India shares the longest land boundary with Bangladesh followed by China Teesta river is a tributary of Brahmaputra River which flows through Assam and Bangladesh Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 only 1 and 2 only 3 and 4 only 2 and 3 only Comment the answers to the above questions in the comment section below!! ANSWERS FOR ’12th September 2022 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs. ANSWERS FOR 10th September – Daily Practice MCQs Answers- Daily Practice MCQs Q.1) – c Q.2) – a Q.3) – c table, td, th { border: 1px solid;} table {width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; }

Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz – 2022 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 12th September 2022

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

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 10th September 2022

Archives (PRELIMS & MAINS Focus) Subhas Chandra Bose Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – History In News: A statue of Subhas Chandra Bose was unveiled by Prime Minister at India Gate, inaugurated along with the Kartavya Path that was earlier known as Rajpath. Subhas Chandra Bose’s early life Born to an upper-class Bengali family in 1897 in Cuttack, Subhas Chandra Bose was the ninth child of Janakinath and Prabhavati Bose. In 1909, S C Bose moved to Ravenshaw Collegiate School, where he completed his secondary education. While he continued his European education throughout his life, he became less drawn to Anglicized ways than his family. Influenced by the teachings of Ramakrishna and his disciple Swami Vivekananda, as well as the themes of Bengali novelist Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in his novel Ananda Math, Subhas found what he was looking for: “his Motherland’s freedom and revival”. After school, he entered the Presidency College in Calcutta in 1913, where he studied philosophy. His earliest battle with British authority occurred while he was a student, against Professor of History E F Oaten, who had once in class spoken about England’s civilizing mission in India. Afterwards, Bose went to Cambridge University to prepare for the Indian Civil Services (ICS) exam in 1920. But later, determined to join the struggle for India’s freedom, he abandoned the project and resigned from the ICS to join the Mahatma Gandhi-led national movement. Bose’s Disagreements with Gandhi After reaching Bombay, now Mumbai, in 1921, he obtained an audience with Gandhi to get a better understanding of his plan of action. While Gandhiji was willing to wait a long time for Independence, Bose wanted immediate action, if not immediate results. Gandhiji was anti-materialistic and hostile to modern technology, Bose saw technology and mass production as essential to survival and dignity. Gandhiji wanted a decentralized society and disliked the modern state; Bose wanted a strong central government and saw the modern state as the only solution to India’s problems. And finally, Bose did not share Gandhi’s dedication to non-violence. Despite tensions between the two, Bose was well aware of the significance of a leader like Gandhi. Bose was the first to call him the “father of the nation” during an address from the Azad Hind Radio from Singapore in July 1944. The rift within the Congress Bose devoted his life to the nationalist movement, gaining considerable political influence and becoming one of the most powerful leaders in the Congress party. In 1938, he was elected Congress president in the Haripura session, where he tried to push for swaraj as a “National Demand” and opposed the idea of an Indian federation under British rule. He stood for re-election in 1939 and defeated Dr Pattabhi Sitaramayya, the Gandhiji-backed candidate. 12 of the 15 members of the Working Committee resigned from their roles Bose tried to set up another working committee, but after being unable to do so, was forced to resign and was replaced by Prasad. Within a week, he created the “Forward Bloc” within the Congress Party, in order to bring the radical-left elements of the party together. A dramatic escape Bose was arrested in 1940 before he could launch a campaign to remove the monument dedicated to the victims of the Black Hole of Calcutta, an incident when a number of European soldiers died while imprisoned in 1756. After going on a hunger strike, he was released from jail in December. He soon began his escape from India, travelling by road, rail, air and foot in various disguises to avoid British surveillance. He entered Soviet-controlled Kabul via the northwest of India and finally reached Nazi Germany, where he remained for two years. He was provided assistance to defeat the British, and Bose was allowed to start the Azad Hind Radio and was provided with a few thousand Indian prisoners of war captured by Germany. Bose soon turned his focus to South East Asia, specifically Singapore, a British stronghold that had been taken over by Japan The INA and World War II The Indian National Army was formed in 1942, consisting of thousands of Indian prisoners of war captured by the Japanese, and supported by Japanese troops. After his arrival in Singapore, Bose, issued from there his famous call, ‘Delhi Chalo’, and announced the formation of the Azad Hind Government and the Indian National Army on 21st October 1943. The headquarters of the provisional government was moved to Rangoon in January 1944, and after fighting at the Arakan Front, the INA crossed the Indo-Burma border and marched towards Imphal and Kohima in March. The Chalo Delhi campaign ended at Imphal however, as the British and British Indian armies, were able to defeat the Japanese forces and the INA and push them out of Kohima as well. After the Japanese surrendered on August 16, Bose left South East Asia on a Japanese plane and headed toward China. The plane, however, crashed, leaving Bose badly burned and dead. Source: Indian Express Previous Year Question Q.1) He wrote biographies of Mazzini, Garibaldi, Shivaji and Shrikrishna; stayed in America for some time; and was also elected to the Central Assembly. He was (2018) Aurobindo Ghosh Bipin Chandra Pal Lala Lajpat Rai Motilal Nehru Dara Shikoh Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – History In News: Vice President calls Dara Shikoh as torchbearer of social harmony. He also said that India had a glorious heritage of not only ‘tolerance’ for others’ views, but a unique culture of ‘engagement’ with all views – a culture of pluralism and syncretism. He further said that this spirit of mutual respect was exemplified by Indian kings too – from the time of the great Asoka to the crown prince Dara Shikoh. About Dara Shikoh He (1615-59) was the eldest son of Shah Jahan. He is described as a “liberal Muslim” who tried to find commonalities between Hindu and Islamic traditions. He is known as a pioneer of the academic movement for interfaith understanding in India. He had a deep understanding and knowledge of major religions, particularly Islam and Hinduism. He was inclined towards philosophy and mysticism over military pursuits in comparison to Aurangzeb. In 1655, his father declared him the Crown Prince, but was defeated by Aurangzeb, his younger brother, in 1657 after Shah Jahan fell ill. He was assassinated by Aurangzeb, in a bitter struggle for the throne on 30th August, 1659 when he was 44. Works: Connection between Hinduism and Islam: His most important works, Majma-ul-Bahrain (Mingling of Two Oceans) and Sirr-i-Akbar (Great Mystery), are devoted to the cause of establishing connections between Hinduism and Islam. Promotion of Indian Culture: He acquired proficiency in Sanskrit and Persian, which enabled him to play a key role in popularising Indian culture and Hindu religious thought. He translated the Upanishads and other important sources of Hindu religion and spirituality from Sanskrit to Persian. Through these translations, he was responsible for taking the Hindu culture and spiritual traditions to Europe and the West. Source: Pib.Gov Previous Year Question Q.1) Who among the following Mughal Emperors shifted emphasis from illustrated manuscripts to album and individual portrait? Humayun Akbar Jahangir Shah Jahan Vande Bharat Trains Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs In News: Government of India said that Indian Railways has successfully completed trials of the second generation Vande Bharat train that will come with enhanced passenger comfort and safety features. Regular production of these trains will begin from October. The Railways has set a target of rolling out 75 such trains by August 2023. About Vande Bharat Trains In the Union Budget for 2022-2023, the Finance Minister has proposed the development and manufacture of 400 new Vande Bharat trains in the next three years. These trains, dubbed as Train 18 during the development phase, operate without a locomotive and are based on a propulsion system called distributed traction power technology, by which each car of the train set is powered. The new train, which touched a speed of 180 kmph during trials, will be primarily made at Integral Coach Factory, Chennai. The train can accelerate from 0-100 kmph in 52 seconds and reach a speed of 160 kmph in 130 seconds as compared to the earlier version, which can go from 0-100 kmph in 54.6 seconds and 160 kmph in 146 seconds. The weight of the train is also lesser by 38 tonne. The new Vande Bharat has made-in-India ‘photo-catalytic ultra violet air purification system’ that will filter and clean the air, deactivating 99.9% of viruses and bacteria. The train will have higher battery back up of three hours and a better flood level. It will also offer wifi-enabled content on demand. The trains will be pre-fitted with the Kavach (the indigenously-developed train collision avoidance system). Source: The Hindu Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs Mains – GS 2 (Governance) In News: The President of India virtually launched the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan. TB in India India has a little less than 20 percent of the world’s population, but has more than 25 percent of the total TB patients of the world. Every day 1,200 Indians die of TB — 10 every three minutes. According to Health Ministry data, only 63% of the patients infected with the airborne disease are currently under treatment. Further, 1,47,000 patients are resistant to first- and second-line TB medicines. Elimination of TB According to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, all nations have set the goal of eradicating TB by the year 2030. But the Government of India has set the target of eradicating TB by the year 2025. At the current rate of progress, global targets to eliminate TB by 2030 will be missed by a 150 years. What is TB? Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis, belonging to the Mycobacteriaceae family consisting of about 200 members. In humans, TB most commonly affects the lungs (pulmonary TB), but it can also affect other organs (extra-pulmonary TB). TB is a treatable and curable disease. Infection: Infection occurs when TB bacilli are inhaled. Bacilli may stay in the lungs or travel to other organs. Infection is lifelong, with bacilli lying dormant. This phase is “latent TB”, diagnosed by a tuberculin skin test (TST). The “annual rate of TB infection” (ARTI) is about 1%. Cumulatively, 40% to 70% of us are living with latent TB. From this reservoir pool, a few progress to TB disease, one by one, 5-30 years, average 20 years, later. Transmission: TB is spread from person to person through the air. When people with lung TB cough, sneeze or spit, they propel the TB germs into the air. Common symptoms of active lung TB are cough with sputum and blood at times, chest pains, weakness, weight loss, fever and night sweats. Eight countries accounted for two thirds of the new TB cases: India, Indonesia, China, Philippines, Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh and South Africa. MultiDrug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB)is a strain of TB that cannot be treated even with the two most powerful first-line treatment anti-TB drugs. Extensively Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (XDR-TB)is a form of TB caused by bacteria that are resistant to several of the most effective anti-TB drugs. Vaccine used against TB: Bacillus Calmette–Guérin vaccine (BCG) Vaccine Initiatives by India Eliminating TB by 2025: India is committed to eliminating tuberculosis by 2025, five years ahead of the global target of 2030. National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme: To align with the ambitious goal, the programme has been renamed from the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) to National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP). Addressing all co-morbidities and goes beyond medical interventions to tackle the social determinants of TB while minimizing access barriers to diagnosis and treatment. Through the Nikshay Poshan Yojana, nutritional support is extended to all TB patients for the entire duration of their treatment. Rigorously working towards Airborne Infection Control in hospital wards and outpatient waiting areas. Introduction of Cartridge-Based Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (CBNAAT): It is a revolutionary rapid molecular test which simultaneously detects Mycobacterium tuberculosis and rifampicin drug resistance. This test is fully automated and provides results within two hours. It is a highly sensitive diagnostic tool and can be used in remote and rural areas without sophisticated infrastructure or specialised training. How to eradicate TB from the society? Spread Awareness about the Results from Treatment People have to be informed that prevention of this disease is possible. Its treatment is effective and accessible. The government provides free-of-cost facilities for prevention and treatment of this disease Eradicate the Stigma attached with the Disease Equipping the patients with vocational skills to help them join the workforce and live a prosperous and productive life. The governments, pharma / biotech companies, and foundations must increase investment in TB research, at least to the levels laid out in the UN High Level Meeting Report and make TB a central element in global pandemic response strategies. Include Private Sector in this fight. The private sector has a very crucial role to play in checking the rise of TB as it is the first place a patient from an urban area visits. We need to make them a partner in this fight. Advances in TB diagnostics, treatments and prevention need to be pursued and scaled up with the urgency they deserve. If we do not behave like TB is a global health emergency, we will continue to experience unacceptable suffering from a disease that has killed more than 20 million people in this century alone. Note: Stop TB Partnership Board Established: 2000 Objective: To eliminate Tuberculosis as a public health problem. The organization was conceived following the meeting of the First Session of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Tuberculosis Epidemic held in London in March 1998. In 1998, through the Amsterdam Declaration, it gave a call for collaborative action from 20 countries that bear the highest burden of TB. It has 1500 partner organization Secretariat: Geneva, Switzerland. Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare has been appointed Chairman of the Stop TB Partnership Board. The Minister will serve a three year term, commencing July 2021. Source: Indian Express The Hindu Pib.Gov Previous Year Question Q.1) Which one of the following statements is not correct? (2017) Hepatitis B virus is transmitted much like HIV. Hepatitis B. unlike Hepatitis C does not have a vaccine. Globally, the number of people infected with Hepatitis B and C viruses arc several times more than those infected with HIV. Some of those infected with Hepatitis B and C viruses do not show the symptoms for many years. India bans broken rice export; 20% duty on other grades Open in new  window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs Mains – GS 3 (Economy) Context: India, the world’s largest exporter of rice, has banned exports of broken rice. Key details: It has banned the exports amid a 6 per cent reduction in paddy acreage in the ongoing Kharif season and increase in rice prices. It has also imposed a 20 per cent duty on exports of various grades of rice, except basmati. Area sown under paddy has dipped by 2.2 million hectares this Kharif over the last amid a shortfall of rain in major rice-producing states like West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh. India exports 20-22 million tonne rice annually, including 4 million tonne basmati rice. Rice Growing Regions of India: The rice growing areas in the country can be broadly grouped into five regions as given below: North-Eastern Region: This region comprises of Assam and North eastern states. In Assam rice is grown in the Basin of Brahmaputra River. This region receives very heavy rainfall and rice is grown under rain fed condition. Eastern Region: It region comprises of Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. In this region rice is grown in the basins of Ganga and Mahanadi rivers and has the highest intensity of rice cultivation in the country. This region receives heavy rainfall and rice is grown mainly under rainfed conditions. Northern Region: This region comprises of Haryana, Punjab, Western Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir. The region experiences low winter temperature and single crop of rice from May-July to September- December is grown. Western Region: This region comprises of Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan. Rice is largely grown under rainfed condition during June-August to October – December. Southern Region: This region comprises of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. Rice is mainly grown in deltaic tracts of Godavari, Krishna, and Cauvery rivers and the non-deltaic rainfed area of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Why India is so crucial for global rice supply? India’s rice exports touched a record 5 million tonnes in 2021, more than the combined shipments of the world’s next four biggest exporters of the grain: Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan, and the United States. India, the world’s biggest rice consumer after China, has a market share of more than 40% of the global rice trade. High domestic stocks and low local prices allowed India to offer rice at deep discounts over the past two years, helping poorer nations, many in Asia and Africa, grapple with soaring wheat prices. India exports rice to more than 150 countries, and any reduction in its shipments would fuel food inflation. The grain is a staple for more than 3 billion people, and when India banned exports in 2007, global prices shot to new peaks. It would also allow rival suppliers Thailand and Vietnam to raise prices that are already more than 30% above Indian shipments. Other than serving Asian buyers like China, Nepal, Bangladesh and the Philippines, India supplies rice to countries such as Togo, Benin, Senegal, and Cameroon. Source: The Hindu Previous Year Question Q.1) Which of the following factors/policies were affecting the price of rice in India in the recent past? (2020) Minimum Support Price Government’s trading Government’s stockpiling Consumer subsidies Select the correct answer using the code given below: 1, 2 and 4 only 1, 3 and 4 only 2 and 3 only 1, 2, 3 and 4 Urbanisation and Urban floods Open in new  window Syllabus Mains – GS 1 (Society – Urbanization); GS 3 (Disaster Management) ( as Case study) Context: There was unprecedented flooding in India’s tech capital Bengaluru. Urban Flooding is an inundation of land in a constructed setting, particularly in densely populated areas. Previous such flooding incidents: Kochi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Chennai. Reasons Natural: Higher rainfall: As per the IMD, monsoon has become frequent and unpredictable. Storm surges (for coastal cities):g., Cyclone Amphan in 2020 flooded the streets of Kolkata. Within eastern India, the storm killed 98 people and caused $13.8 billion (2020 USD). Groundwater levels: In Chennai, the replenished groundwater table across the city after rains becomes a challenge for several buildings with basements. Anthropogenic: Encroachment on Drainage Channels: In Indian cities and towns, due to increased land prices and less availability of land in the city centre. New developments are coming up in low-lying areas, usually as encroachments over lakes, wetlands and riverbeds. A large number of wetlands that soaked up the rainwater has encroached. Bangalore had 262 lakes in the 1960s; now only 10 of them hold water. Climate Change: Exacerbated by changing climate, resulting in extreme events. The climate change has caused an increase in the frequency of short duration heavy rainfall leading to higher water run-off. Rapid and unplanned urbanization: In Bengaluru, stormwater drains were not directly connected to its water bodies. In some places, the runoff water was flowing into constructed deviation canals. CAG found that this increased the chances of flash floods. Destruction of mangroves: Mumbai lost about 40% of its mangroves between 1995 and 2005. Poor civic management of storm water drainage: CAG report (last year) pulled up Bengaluru municipality for this poor management. Lack of data: CAG also found that the Bengaluru municipality did not maintain proper records of the stormwater management funds allotted to it under the JNNURM. Lack of coordination: CAG report also noted the lack of coordination between the municipality and the Bangalore Development Authority on drainage-related matters. Steps to mitigate urban flooding: Sponge Cities Mission: The idea of a sponge city is to make cities more permeable so as to hold and use the water which falls upon them. Implementation of Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) in a planned manner. Stormwater disposal system: The Brihanmumbai Storm Water Disposal System or BRIMSTOWAD, the project to overhaul Mumbai city’s old stormwater drainage system was started after the 2005 deluge. Water-sensitive urban design (WSUD in Australia): regards urban stormwater runoff, and waste water as a resource rather than a nuisance or liability. Bioswales or ‘Rain Garden’ (New York): are landscape features that collect polluted stormwater runoff, soak it into the ground, and filter out pollution. Rainwater harvesting: People must invest heavily in rainwater harvesting. Need to make sure that collection of the rainwater as much as possible, use that to recharge our aquifers and try to design our plots and apartments and gated communities as zero rainfall discharge areas. Design on a watershed basis: Every lake is a micro or mini watershed. Authorities must understand that a watershed is a hydrological unit, understand how water flows and ensure that it is drained into channels and flows into the lake. When the lake overflows, it connects to the next downstream lake, for which they will need sluice gates that they can operate. For a city like Bengaluru, it takes a special kind of skill to mitigate floods. The city has an average elevation of 920 metres and cascades down into valleys and rivers on all sides. Unlike Chennai, Mumbai or Kolkata, this city is on a hill or a ridge line. It calls for great incompetence if the city can create floods. Therefore, there is a need to include public open spaces within the urban fabric in the form of storm management infrastructure, which could help our cities transform into water-sensitive cities. Source: The Hindu Baba’s Explainer –Single-use plastics ban Single-use plastics ban Syllabus GS-1: Effects of globalization on Indian society;  Social empowerment GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Context: In keeping with the spirit of the ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’, the country is taking steps to curb littered and unmanaged plastic waste pollution. Since July 1, 2022, India has banned the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale, and use of single-use plastic (SUP) items with low utility and high littering potential. Read Complete Details on Single-use plastics ban Daily Practice MCQs Daily Practice MCQs Q.1) Consider the following pairs: City and River Hyderabad – Musi Delhi – Yamuna Bengaluru – Arkavathi Kolkata – Hooghly How many pairs given is/are correctly matched? One pair only Two pairs only Three pairs only All four pairs Q.2) Consider the following statements regarding National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQSs): NAAQSs standards for ambient air quality set by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). NAAQSs contain 10 pollutants. Which of statements given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) Consider the following statements about Dara Shikoh He is known as a pioneer of the academic movement for interfaith understanding in India. His important works include Majma-ul-Bahrain and Sirr-i-Akbar to the cause of establishing connections between Hinduism and Islam. 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 ’10th September 2022 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs. ANSWERS FOR 9th September – Daily Practice MCQs Answers- Daily Practice MCQs Q.1) – a Q.2) – c Q.3) – c table, td, th { border: 1px solid;} table {width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; }

Baba’s Explainer

Baba's Explainer - Single-use plastics ban

ARCHIVES Syllabus GS-1: Effects of globalization on Indian society;  Social empowerment GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Context: In keeping with the spirit of the ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’, the country is taking steps to curb littered and unmanaged plastic waste pollution. Since July 1, 2022, India has banned the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale, and use of single-use plastic (SUP) items with low utility and high littering potential. Why are single-use plastics harmful? The purpose of single-use plastics is to use them once or for a short period of time before disposing of them. Plastic waste has drastic impacts on the environment and human health. There is a greater likelihood of single-use plastic products ending up in the sea than reusable ones. India has taken resolute steps to mitigate pollution caused by littered single-use plastics. A number of items are banned, including earbuds with plastic sticks, balloon sticks, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice cream sticks, polystyrene (thermocol) for decorations, plates, cups, glasses, cutlery such as forks, spoons, knives, straws, trays, wrapping or packing films around sweet boxes, invitation cards, cigarette packets, plastic or PVC banners less than 100 micron, stirrers, etc. What gas been India’s leadership role to deal with plastic pollution? Littered single-use plastic items have an adverse effect on both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. All countries face a major environmental challenge due to pollution caused by single-use plastic items. India piloted a resolution on single-use plastics pollution at the 4th United Nations Environment Assembly in 2019, recognising the urgent need for the global community to address this issue. In the recently concluded 5th session of the United Nations Environment Assembly in March 2022, India engaged constructively with all member states to develop a consensus on a resolution to drive global action against plastic pollution. However, India is not the first country to ban single-use plastics. Bangladesh became the first country to ban thin plastic bags in 2002; New Zealand banned plastic bags in July 2019. China had issued a ban on plastic bags in 2020 with a phased implementation. As of July 2019, 68 countries have plastic bag bans with varying degrees of enforcement. What are the plastic waste management rules in India? Recently, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, has notified the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021. These rules prohibit identified single use plastic items which have low utilityand high littering potential by 2022. The manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of single-use plastic, including polystyrene and expanded polystyrene,commodities shall be prohibited with effect from the 1st July, 2022. In order to stop littering due to light weight plastic carry bags, with effect from 30th September, 2021, the thickness of plastic carry bags has been increased from 50 microns to 75 micronsand to 120 microns with effect from the 31st December, 2022. Currently the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, prohibits manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of carry bags and plastic sheets less than 50 microns in thickness in the country. The plastic packaging wasteshall be collected and managed in an environmentally sustainable way through the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) of the Producer, importer and Brand owner. For effective implementation ofEPR, the Guidelines for the same being brought out have been given legal force through Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021. The Central Pollution Control Board, along with state pollution bodies, will monitor the ban, identify violations, and impose penalties already prescribed under the Environmental Protection Act. States/UTs have been requested to constitute a Special Task Force for elimination of single use plastics and effective implementation of the rules. A National Level Taskforcehas also been constituted for coordination efforts. What is the role of the manufacturer? In addition, the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change notified the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2022 on February 16, 2022. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is the responsibility of a producer for the environmentally sound management of the product until the end of its life. The guidelines provide a framework to strengthen the circular economy of plastic packaging waste, promote the development of new alternatives to plastic packaging and provide the next steps for moving towards sustainable plastic packaging by businesses. What are the challenges? The ban will succeed only if all stakeholders participate enthusiastically and engage in effective engagement and concerted actions. However, if we look back at our past, almost 25 Indian States previously banned plastic at the state level. However, these bans had a very limited impact in reality because of the widespread use of these items. Now the challenge is to see how the local level authorities will enforce the ban in accordance with the guidelines. Banned items such as earbuds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, etc., are non-branded items and it is difficult to find out who the manufacturer is and who is accountable for selling because these items will be available in the market even after the issuing of guidelines. What’s happening on the research and development front? The consumer needs to be informed about the ban through advertisements, newspaper or TV commercials, or on social media. In order to find sustainable alternatives, companies need to invest in research and development. The solution to the plastic pollution problem is not the responsibility of the government alone, but of industries, brands, manufacturers and most importantly consumers. Finding alternatives to plastic seems a little difficult, however, greener alternatives to plastic may be considered a sustainable option. For example, compostable and bio-degradable plastic, etc., may be considered as an option. While the total ban on the use of plastic sounds a great idea, its feasibility seems difficult at this hour, especially in the absence of workable alternatives. What is the Way Forward? As individuals: We can reduce our plastic pollution and be more environmentally conscious by avoiding single-use plastics (e.g. straws, cups, cutlery, etc.) and packaging materials (e.g. polybags). Instead we can use jute bags, glass bottles or jars, steel or ceramic cutleries and utensils, and paper-made tetra packs. The private sector needs to invest more in producing alternatives and biodegradable plastics and in phasing out the production of plastic. More research and technology investment and development is required to make alternatives to plastic that are economically viable and affordable. The government should play a leading role by Enacting strong policies and regulations that will encourage a more sustainable model for the design and production of plastics – Local bodies mandated under rules to ensure segregation, collection and transfer of waste to registered recyclers have spectacularly failed to fulfil their responsibilities. The State Level Monitoring Committees provided for under the rules have not been made accountable. The waste management framework is dysfunctional Technical and financial incentives from the government are instrumental for the transformation of the existing production system to a more sustainable one. Urban local bodies: Urban local bodies across states should adopt the material recovery facility (MRF) model & implement it as a public-private partnership model for sustainable management of urban plastic waste. Urban local bodies are mandated under the Municipal Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, and the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, to manage municipal solid waste and plastic waste at the city level. Essay: There is no Plan B because we do not have a Planet B. 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 10th September 2022

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

Important Articles

[MOTIVATION] Important Tips – Do’s & Don’ts – Last 1 Week Before the UPSC Mains Exam & On the D-Day of the Exam by Mohan Sir!

Dear Friends, We are in the last phase of UPSC Mains 2022 Preparation. Approximately 1 Week is left for the exam. You would be going through a range of emotions now, and quite a few questions popping up Whether what you are doing is wrong/right? We have been receiving many mails and calls on the same. So to answer all these, we have come up with this video. In this video Mohan Sir (Founder, IASbaba) discusses about how to handle the pressure, anxiety at this stage, how to stay calm and confident, the do’s and don’ts in the last 1 week and on the D-Day of the exam. Highlights: Do’s and Don’ts – in the last 1 WEEK before the Mains Exam: Importance of Full-length Mocks (FLM) – OPEN MOCKS Setting your Biological clock Mindset How to tackle Compulsory Language Papers Do’s and Don’ts – in the last 1 WEEK before the Mains Exam:Attempting the Questions Should one attempt all the 20 Questions? 10 Marker or 15 Marker – First? Importance of Common Sense How to attempt Ethics Paper? – Theory or Case Study – First? Essay Brainstorming Mindset and Attitude during the break and especially when attempting the 2nd paper of the day – GS and Optionals You can ONLY GAIN from here onwards