Sep 6, 2022 Baba’s Explainer

Baba's Explainer - IMF’s staff-level agreement with Sri Lanka

ARCHIVES Syllabus GS-2: India and its neighbourhood GS-2: Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate. GS-3: Economic challenges Context: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on September 1 announced a staff-level agreement with Sri Lanka, months after the island nation’s economic crisis intensified this year, following a serious Balance of Payments problem. What has been happening in Sri Lanka? Protests started in the capital, Colombo, in April 2022 and spread across the country. People have been struggling with daily power cuts and shortages of basics such as fuel, food and medicines. Inflation is running at more than 50%. The country doesn’t have enough fuel for essential services like buses, trains and medical vehicles, and it doesn’t have enough foreign currency to import more. This lack of fuel has caused petrol and diesel prices to rise dramatically. In late June, the government banned the sale of petrol and diesel for non-essential vehicles for two weeks. Sales of fuel remain severely restricted. Schools have closed, and people have been asked to work from home to help conserve supplies. President Rajapaksa resigned after fleeing to Singapore. Before stepping down he made Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe acting president. Mr Wickremesinghe declared a state of emergency across the country and imposed a curfew in the western province while he tries to stabilise the situation. What happens when a country runs out of money? Sri Lanka is unable to buy the goods it needs from abroad. And in May, 2022 it failed to make an interest payment on its foreign debt for the first time in its history. Failure to pay debt interest can damage a country’s reputation with investors, making it harder for it to borrow the money it needs on international markets. This can further harm confidence in its currency and economy. The country owes more than $51bn (£39bn) to foreign lenders, including $6.5bn to China, which has begun discussions about restructuring its loans. The G7 group of countries – Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK and the US – had said it supports Sri Lanka’s attempts to reduce its debt repayments. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is also in discussion for a loan. But it would require a stable government that could raise interest rates and taxes to help fund the deal. Mr Wickremesinghe had already said the government would print money to pay employees’ salaries, but warned this would be likely to boost inflation and lead to further price hikes. He also said state-owned Sri Lankan Airlines could be privatised. The country has asked Russia and Qatar to supply it with oil at low prices to help reduce the cost of petrol. What led to the economic crisis? The government blamed the Covid pandemic, which badly affected Sri Lanka’s tourist trade – one of its biggest foreign currency earners. It also says tourists were frightened off by a series of deadly bomb attacks in 2019. However, many experts blame President Rajapaksa’s poor economic mismanagement. At the end of its civil war in 2009, Sri Lanka chose to focus on providing goods to its domestic market, instead of trying to boost foreign trade. This meant its income from exports to other countries remained low, while the bill for imports kept growing. Sri Lanka now imports $3bn (£2.3bn) more than it exports every year, and that is why it has run out of foreign currency. At the end of 2019, Sri Lanka had $7.6bn (£5.8bn) in foreign currency reserves, which have dropped to around $250m (£210m). Mr Rajapaksa was also criticised for big tax cuts he introduced in 2019, which lost the government income of more than $1.4bn (£1.13bn) a year. When Sri Lanka’s foreign currency shortages became a serious problem in early 2021, the government tried to limit them by banning imports of chemical fertiliser.It told farmers to use locally sourced organic fertilisers instead. This led to widespread crop failure. Sri Lanka had to supplement its food stocks from abroad, which made its foreign currency shortage even worse. What is the latest IMF deal reached with Sri Lankan government? The IMF says it has reached a preliminary agreement with Sri Lanka on a four-year, $2.9bn bailout package aimed at restoring economic stability and debt sustainability for the crisis-ridden country. Ahead of opening negotiations with the IMF in April, Sri Lanka pre-emptively declared it would default on its $51 bn debt, of which $ 2 billion is due this year, and the rest over the next six years. The package must now be approved by the IMF’s board of directors. However, even though the IMF has agreed to support Sri Lanka, it is conditional on many factors. Sri Lanka must take a series of immediate measures that IMF has deemed necessary to fix fiscal lapses and structural weaknesses — such as raising fiscal revenue, safeguarding financial stability and reducing corruption vulnerabilities. Apart from making domestic policy changes to strengthen the economy, Sri Lanka must also restructure its debt with its multiple lenders. The approval by the IMF’s board of directors is contingent on Sri Lanka’s international creditors — commercial lenders such as banks and asset managers, multilateral agencies, as well as bilateral creditors including China, Japan, and India — agreeing to restructure its debt. Japan has offered to organise a creditors’ meeting for Sri Lanka, but China has yet to agree to the proposal. The IMF package, to be paid in tranches over the next four years, is less than what India provided to Sri Lanka over four months. But the expectation is that an IMF loan can boost the receiving country’s credit ratings, and the confidence of international creditors and investors, who may then chip in to provide further financial support. President Ranil Wickremesinghe has said it will be 2024 before the country returns to its 2018 levels of prosperity. In the period between now and then, the government will need to take several belt-tightening measures — higher prices for utilities including electricity and fuel, and higher taxes. What are the tightening measures undertaken/planned by the government? Increasing Government revenues: The government has recently presented a slew of measures in the country’s budget aimed at increasing revenue to 15 per cent of GDP by 2025 from the 8.2 per cent at the end of 2021 Mandatory Tax registration: An increase in VAT from 12 to 15 per cent, and compulsory tax registration for everyone aged 18 years and older in order to widen personal income tax collections are among the measures. Privatisation of PSUs: Some 50 state-owned enterprises are up for privatisation, apart from the big three — Ceylon Electricity Board, Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, and Sri Lankan Airlines — that are already in restructuring talks. The restructuring could yield up to $3 bn. Reducing Retirement Age: The age of retirement in government and semi-government organisations has been brought down to 60 from 65 and 62 respectively. Those beyond the age of 60 and still working are to be let go at the end of the year. This would address the unrest and the unemployment in the youth. Recapitalisation of Banks: In the banking sector, staff and depositors are to be offered 20 per cent shareholding in state banks to address recapitalisation requirements arising out of non-repayment of loans due to the economic meltdown. Review on Defence Expenditure: Through the crisis, there were calls to cut defence expenditure, which had increased under former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. While the budget is silent on cuts, there is an entry under the head of National Security 2030, proposing to “review” the defence strategy. Welfare Provisions: In a move to address fears that the country’s social welfare system might be scrapped, the budget raised welfare payments to the farmers affected by the crisis, the elderly and disabled, and some categories of patients. How is India helping Sri Lanka during this crisis period? When Sri Lanka was struggling to find a way out of the economic crisis, it turned to New Delhi for help and the government responded with financial aid and more. India has provided around $5 billion worth of assistance to Sri Lanka of which $3.8 billion has been provided in 2022. In May, Sri Lanka received its first consignment of a $16 million humanitarian aid package from India and in June 2022, it sent more supplies with 14,700 metric tonnes (MT) of rice, 250 MT of milk powder, and 38 MT of medicines. Sri Lanka is facing a severe shortage of fuel and India has been providing fuel. In February 2022, the two countries signed an agreement for a $500 million supply of petroleum products from the Indian Oil Company through a credit line. This was expanded by a further $200 million in April Two more ships of diesel and petrol to the neighbours were sent in July. Lanka has received more than 400,000 tonnes of fuel from India over three months Kerala’s Trivandrum and Kochi airports are making provisions for more than 120 Sri Lanka-bound aircraft for technical landing so that they can refuel. That’s not all. Many Sri Lankans, especially from the Tamil-dominated areas, have sought refuge in Tamil Nadu amid the crisis and their numbers are expected to increase. How Sri Lanka became closer to China? India and Sri Lanka have close cultural and economic ties that go back decades. The Tamils in Lanka have a lot in common with the people from Tamil Nadu – the cultures, religions, and practices are similar. The Rajapaksa government—elected in 2005, adopted ruthless violence to end the civil war and proposed grand plans for the post-war economic recovery. China used this opportunity to develop personal relationships with the Rajapaksas by selling them arms, providing much-needed investments, aid and infrastructure projects, and protecting them from accusations of human rights violations. This opportunism gave China significant leverage within the elites of the Sri Lankan polity. This bonhomie helped China influence, bribe, and exploit the Sri Lankan bureaucracy, media, and political elites, directly and indirectly. Also, after Mahinda Rajapaksa was elected president in 2005, Lanka started becoming close to China and depended on them for a huge infrastructure push. In 2011, the Hambantota port was inaugurated and China funded highways, ports, and airports across the country. The elite capture also came at a cost for India and other major powers—such as the US and Japan. The elites deterred influence and significant projects from other competitors at China’s behest. On multiple instances, Chinese submarines started visiting Sri Lankan harbours, and China was also offered projects and an aircraft repair base—precariously close to India. More recently in early 2021, the Sri Lankan government cancelled India and Japan’s East Container Terminal project, offered a few energy projects to China in the Jaffna peninsula, However, the shiny infrastructural projects that were built on the basis of Chinese loans have proven to be castles of sand. In 2020, Sri Lanka received another $3 billion from China, walking into what experts have called Beijing’s “debt trap” diplomacy. Beijing is Sri Lanka’s biggest creditor and makes up 10 percent of its overall debt and 20 percent of its debt stock to China—the highest amongst its bilateral lenders. Between 2000 and 2020, it extended close to $12 billion in loans to the Sri Lankan government, mostly for infrastructure projects, which the island nation could not pay off. Why has China’s response during Sri Lanka’s economic crisis been lukewarm? Ever since Sri Lanka plunged into a full-fledged economic crisis, China—the island state’s largest bilateral creditor and trade partner—has provided it with humanitarian assistance of a mere US$74 million. China is also yet to decide on Sri Lanka’s request for loan restructuring and additional financial aid worth US$4 billion. Then Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa sought Beijing’s help in December 2021 as he requested a debt restructuring in a meeting with China Foreign Minister Wang Yi. However, Beijing refused to budge. Also, China has also opposed forgoing an amount of debt as suggested by the IMF. The island nation’s default and approaching the IMF thus came at a vast cost to Chinese influence and interests. In 2018, Chinese investments in other South Asian countries equated to 16 percent of Pakistan’s GDP, 15 percent of Maldives’ GDP, and 8 percent of Bangladesh’s GDP. However, COVID-19 has taken a toll on the economy of the developing world including China. In this regard, China does not want to set a precedent for countries to bail out on BRI projects or request new loans and loan restructuring. Is India gaining over China in island nation? China’s South Asian strategy is shaped by two intertwined tactics—elite capture and extensive lending. In recent years, both of these tactics have come under severe stress given India’s attempts to win back the region, domestic compulsions and national interests of South Asian states, and the COVID-19 pandemic. By stepping up in times of crisis, India has wrested some influence from China over Sri Lanka. In January, after India provided initial credit, the two countries announced that they will jointly operate 61 giant oil tanks built during World War II in Trincomalee. India has been trying to access the British-era facility for three decades In March, New Delhi inked a deal to set up hybrid power projects on islands in northern Sri Lanka, after China said in December that it was suspending its plans to build plants on three islands due to security issues. In the same month, Colombo also scrapped an agreement with a Chinese firm to build a $12 million wind farm in the country, and instead offered the project to an Indian riva India indeed has taken significant steps to mend bridges with Sri Lanka. It’s a win-win as New Delhi regains an old friend and keeps China on its toes. What are the challenges that lie ahead for Sri Lankan Economy? Political Consensus: In order to push through the reforms without opposition, Wickremesinghe has been trying to form an all-party government but this has so far proved elusive. 12 Members of Parliament from the ruling coalition are now in opposition ranks. Geopolitical Rivalry: As India stepped up with lines of credit and other financial arrangements, it also managed to push through long pending projects in the country, such as the development of the Trincomalee oil tank farm. It is alleged that the country was becoming “the meat in an India-China sandwich”. Chinese has publicly berated a “third party”(read India) for pushing Sri Lanka to cancel a Chinese renewable energy project in three islands off Jaffna peninsula. India had raised concerns that Chinese project in close proximity to the Tamil Nadu coast can be security concern for India. However, President Wickremesinghe described India as “the net security provider in the area”, and said “all other countries can also be present as long as it doesn’t lead to rising tensions or increase rivalry between states”. Mains Practice Question – Is India regaining its foot hold in the Sri Lanka in the aftermath of the support provided to the island country during its economic crisis? Note: Write answers to this question in the comment section. table{ border: 1px solid; } table tr, table td{ border: 1px solid; }

Sep 6, 2022 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz – 2022 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 6th 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

Sep 5, 2022 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 5th September 2022

Archives (PRELIMS & MAINS Focus) Martand Temple Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – History In News: Current controversies In May this year, some pilgrims offered prayers inside the Martand Temple, an Archaeological Survey of India-protected (ASI) monument. Soon after, J&K Lieutenant Governor participated in a ‘Navgrah Ashtamangalam Puja’ on the premises. The ASI objected to this, saying no permission was granted for the ceremony. History of Martand Temple The Martand Temple was built by the Karkota dynasty king Lalitaditya Muktapida, who ruled Kashmir from 725 AD to 753 AD. Lalitaditya built his capital at Parihaspora, the ruins of which also survive to this day. About the Temple Dedicated to Vishnu-Surya, the Martand Temple has three distinct chambers—the mandapa, the garbhagriha, and the antralaya—probably the only three-chambered temple in Kashmir. The temple is built in a unique Kashmiri style, though it has definite Gandhar influences.” A major historical source for Kashmir’s history remains Rajatarangini, written in the 12th century by Kalhana, and various translations of the work contain descriptions of Martand’s grandeur. A confluence of architectural style From the ruins of the temple, it is evident that the complex originally consisted of a principle shrine at the centre of a quadrangular courtyard, flanked towards the north and south by two small structures. The central courtyard was initially filled with water supplied by a canal from river Lidar to a level which immersed almost one foot of the base of the columns. This courtyard was enclosed by a colonnade, which seem to have consisted of 84 pillars. The temple is influenced by Classical Greco-Roman, Buddhist-Gandharan, and North Indian styles. Lalitaditya is known to have subjugated the king of Kannuaj, which can be one of the reasons for North Indian workers building his temple. Destruction of Martand Temple Many historians believe Sultan Sikandar ‘Butshikan’ (iconoclast) was behind it, others blame earthquakes, faults in the temple’s masonry, and the simple passage of time in an area prone to weather excesses. One of the main sources that hold Sikandar responsible, is the work of poet-historian Jonaraja—who wrote the ‘Dvitiya’, or second, Rajatarangini. There are reports that the temple appears to have been destroyed by earthquakes, friable nature of the material used, frost and snow causing natural weathering, and improper fitting of stones at their joints. Why Harsha broke temples Three centuries after Lalitaditya and two centuries before Sikandar existed a Hindu king known for destroying and desecrating temples: King Harsha (1089 AD to 1101 AD) of the first Lohara dynasty. Harsha’s actions against the temples had nothing to do with religion—he was simply a profligate king who ran out of money and began looting temples for treasure and for the precious metals of the idols. However, Harsha appears to have spared the Martand Temple, where a few years before, his father had drawn his last breath. Source: Indian Express Previous Year Question Q.1) Which of the following is/are famous for Sun temples? (2017) Arasavalli Amarakantak Omkareshwar Select the correct answer using the code given below: 1 only 2 and 3 only 1 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Places in News Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Geography (Map) Prague In News: Over 70,000 citizens of the Czech Republic gathered at the heart of the nation’s capital Prague in a protest against their government’s failure to control soaring energy prices. The protesters also openly voiced their anger against NATO and the European Union. The demonstration held is being seen as the largest show of public discontent in recent times against the cost-of-living crisis that has deepened in Europe amid the Russia-Ukraine war. The Czech inflation is currently at its highest since 1993, and is expected to touch 20% in the coming months. A key contributor to the double-digit inflation crisis is Russia’s decision to cap gas supplies to Europe, which has sent energy costs through the roof. Russia-Ukraine war, and why Prague matters Czech Republic is a member of both the European Union and NATO. It has been one of the most strident supporters of Ukraine since the war began. It currently holds the EU’s rotating presidency, and therefore is more diplomatically noticeable in the bloc’s efforts to project unity in the time of war. Till mid-August, around 4,13,000 refugees – nearly 4% of the country’s population — had been registered in the Czech Republic. The opposition to Russian aggression also comes from the historical reference point of the Prague Spring of 1968 when Soviet tanks rolled into then-Czechoslovakia to crush an uprising demanding a rapid transition to democracy. Source: Indian Express Nano-Urea Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs In news: Despite being fast tracked for commercial application, nano-urea has yet to be fully tested. Nano-urea approval was granted in February 2021. Nano-urea is developed by the Indian Farmers and Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO) a multi-state cooperative society (based in New Delhi) and promoted by the government as a panacea to reduce farmer reliance on packaged urea. Advantages over conventional urea: In the field trials, it was claimed that a single half-litre bottle of the liquid (~ Rs 240 and is good for an acre of crop) can compensate for a 45 kg sack of urea granules (costs around ₹3,000 though it is made available to the farmer at ₹242). Apart from significantly enhancing farmers’ income by lowering input and storage costs, nano urea liquid promises to increase agricultural yield and productivity. Nano urea liquid also promises to give a long-term solution for plant nutrition by increasing crop nutrient efficiency while lowering soil, water, and air pollution. It is very efficient to use because there is no wastage in application of Nano urea. Therefore, its efficacy is more than 80 per cent , whereas the conventional urea efficacy is only 30 per cent to 40 percent. According to the Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers, by 2025, India’s domestic urea production (conventional + nano-urea) would mean India would be self-sufficient in the manufacture of urea. This means, India would no longer require the 90 lakh tons that it imported every year and would save the country close to ₹40,000 crore. Concerns expressed by agronomists about the new technology: Claim of IFFCO is unfounded: Urea is highly water soluble and already reaches the lowest form of concentration when absorbed. It is uncertain how nanoparticles can improve nitrogen uptake efficiency by being even smaller. Moreover, scientists are still unclear if the product can on its own cut farmers’ dependence on urea. Conventional urea cannot be omitted: As per the standard practice, when sowing crops such as wheat, rice, mustard, at least two 45-kg sacks of urea is used. The first is applied during the early sowing or transplantation stage of the crop. The second stage application is done when the plant has sprouted a canopy of leaves. This means that traditional packaged urea is still required throughout the initial stage of crop development as basal nitrogen. According to the findings, 50% of the top-dressed urea (second stage treatment) could be substituted but not basal nitrogen. Source: The Hindu Hyderabad Liberation Day Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs In News: The Centre has decided to mark Hyderabad State Liberation Day on September 17. The Telangana Government has decided to observe September 17 as Telangana National Unity Day. History and Significance: On September 17, 1948, more than one year after India got Independence, the erstwhile state of Hyderabad, comprising the entire state of Telangana and some districts in Maharashtra and Karnataka, got liberated from the Nizam rule. This was possible due to the swift and timely action of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel under Operation Polo. The struggles of the people of erstwhile Hyderabad state against colonialism, feudalism and autocracy are a symbol of national integration. Background Telangana rebellion The Telangana rebellion was started by a group of peasants in late 1945, against the prevalent jagirdari system where power to collect revenue and govern certain landholdings was installed in certain officers. Represented by the Comrades Association, who were affiliated with the Communist Party of India, the rebellion turned violent and clashed with the Razakars, a militia headed by Kasim Rizvi. In 1945 Nizam of Hyderabad put forward multiple conditions to join India — all of which were unacceptable to the Indian state In the meantime, Kasim Rizvi and his Razakars became increasingly dominating, difficult to ignore presence in Hyderabad. He influenced all major decisions the Nizam undertook and installed his chosen men in the government. In order to ensure that Hyderabad’s already deteriorating law and order condition did not worsen further, India signed the Standstill Agreement with Hyderabad, stating that all administrative agreements that were in place between the Nizam and the British Crown would continue between the Nizam and India. Operation Polo The signing of the Standstill Agreement, however, ensured peace for only about a year. Almost instantly, Hyderabad started violating the conditions, simultaneously the violent activities of the Razakars increased, creating an atmosphere of anarchy in the state. As a last resort, India launched ‘Operation Polo’ in September 1948 and defeated the rebel forces within five days to make Hyderabad an integral part of India. Source: The Indian Express National Legal Services Authority Open in new  window Syllabus Prelims – Polity In News: Justice D.Y. Chandrachud has been appointed as the executive chairman of National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) Justice Chandrachud takes up the position that became vacant after Justice U.U. Lalit was elevated as the 49th Chief Justice of India (CJI). The NALSA  Constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. Objective: To provide free Legal Services to the weaker sections of the society and to organize Lok Adalats for amicable settlement of disputes. While the CJI is the Patron-in-Chief, the second senior most judge of the Supreme Court of India is the executive chairperson of the Authority. In every State, State Legal Services Authority has been constituted to give effect to the policies and directions of the NALSA and to give free legal services to the people and conduct Lok Adalats in the State. The State Legal Services Authority is headed by Hon’ble the Chief Justice of the respective High Court. Constitutional Provisions: Article 39A of the Constitution of India provides that State shall secure that the operation of the legal system promotes justice on a basis of equal opportunity, and shall in particular, provide free legal aid, by suitable legislation or schemes or in any other way, to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disability. Articles 14 and 22(1) also make it obligatory for the State to ensure equality before law and a legal system which promotes justice on a basis of equal opportunity to all. Objectives of Legal Services Authorities: Provide free legal aid and advice. Spread legal awareness. Organise lok adalats. Promote settlements of disputes through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Mechanisms. Various kinds of ADR mechanisms are Arbitration, Conciliation, Judicial settlement including settlement through Lok Adalat, or Mediation. Provide compensation to victims of crime. What are Legal Services Institutions at Various Levels? National Level: NALSA was constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. State Level: State Legal Services Authority. It is headed by the Chief Justice of the State High Court who is its Patron-in-Chief. District Level: District Legal Services Authority. The District Judge of the District is its ex-officio Chairman. Taluka/Sub-Division Level: Taluka/ Sub-Divisional Legal Services Committee. It is headed by a senior Civil Judge. High Court: High Court Legal Services Committee Supreme Court: Supreme Court Legal Services Committee Who is Eligible for Getting Free Legal Services? Women and children Members of SC/ST Industrial workmen Victims of mass disaster, violence, flood, drought, earthquake, industrial disaster. Disabled persons Persons in custody Those persons who have annual income of less than the amount prescribed by the respective State Government, if the case is before any court other than the Supreme Court, and less than Rs. 5 Lakhs, if the case is before the Supreme Court. Victims of Trafficking in Human beings or begar. Source: The Hindu Previous Year Question Q.1) With reference to National Legal Services Authority, consider the following statements: (2013) Its objective is to provide free and competent legal services to the weaker sections of the society on the basis of equal opportunity. It issues guidelines for the State Legal Services Authorities to implement the legal programmes and schemes throughout the country. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator (IAD) Open in new  window Syllabus Prelims – Science & Technology In News: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) just declared that it has successfully demonstrated the new technology with Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator (IAD). What is IAD? IAD is a technique used for an atmospheric entry payload. An inflatable envelope and an inflatant (anything that inflates the envelope, like air or helium) make up the inflatable aerodynamic decelerator. While entering the atmosphere, it inflates like a balloon and decelerates the lander. The inflatant is designed to fill the inflatable envelope to a condition such that it surrounds the payload meant to enter the atmosphere of a planet or satellite and causes aerodynamic forces to slow it down. In simpler words, IAD is designed to increase drag upon entering the atmosphere of any planetary body, like Earth, Mars, or even Moon. Its shape is maintained by a closed, gas-pressured body and the inflatant gas is also generated internally. Some versions also use ram air or both. Some space agencies, including NASA, have already successfully tested advanced versions of the technology, including the supersonic and hypersonic variants. However, for near future missions of ISRO, the current version that it tested is perfect. ISRO’s IAD ISRO’s latest IAD has been designed and developed at Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre. It also has a spin rocket that is ejectable. The inflatable structure is made out of Kevlar fabric, which is a very strong synthetic fibre and also heat resistant to withstand atmospheric pressure and temperature changes. On top of it, it’s coated with polychloroprene, an oil and wax resistant rubber, which can also withstand extreme temperatures. The Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), created the pneumatic inflation system for the IAD system. In the inflation system, it uses compressed nitrogen stored in a bottle. It has consistently decreased the payload’s velocity through aerodynamic drag while maintaining the expected trajectory during the test flight. Where does ISRO intend to use it? The IAD will help ISRO in performing many space tasks effectively including recovery of spent stages of rockets, for landing payloads on missions to other planetary bodies. Source: The Hindu Timesnownews.com Previous Year Question 1) Which one of the following statements best reflects the idea behind the “Fractional Orbital Bombardment System” often talked about in media ? A hypersonic missile is launched into space to counter the asteroid approaching the Earth and explode it in space. A spacecraft lands on another planet, after making several orbital motions. A missile is put into a stable orbit around the Earth and deorbits over a target on the Earth. A spacecraft moves along a comet with the same speed and places a probe on its surface. Dark sky reserve Open in new  window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs In News: In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the Department of Science & Technology (DST) has announced the setting up of India’s first Dark Sky Reserve in Hanle, Ladakh. Hanle, which is about 4,500 metres above sea level, hosts telescopes and is regarded as one of the world’s most optimal sites for astronomical observations. A visitor centre would also be set up to inform people not only about astronomy but also the wildlife and plant life in the adjoining Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary. A Dark Sky Reserve It is a designation given to a place that has policies in place to ensure that a tract of land or region has minimal artificial light interference. The International Dark Sky Association is a U.S.-based non-profit that designates places as International Dark Sky Places, Parks, Sanctuaries and Reserves, depending on the criteria they meet. Significance: Help in boosting local tourism and economy through interventions of science and technology. To promote astro-tourism – Villages around Hanle will be encouraged to promote homestays equipped with telescopes that visitors can use to view the night sky. Villagers and residents will also be trained to help visitors with astronomical observations. Hanle: The Himalayan Chandra Telescope (HCT), High Energy Gamma Ray telescope (HAGAR), the Major Atmospheric Cherenkov Experiment Telescope (MACE) and GROWTH-India are prominent telescopes located at the Hanle observatory. Source: The Hindu Bail for women Open in new  window Syllabus Prelims – Polity Mains – GS 2 (Polity & Governance) In News: The Supreme Court allowed activist Teesta Setalvad interim bail in a case of alleged forgery and fabrication of records in connection with the 2002 Gujarat riots cases. A three-judge Special Bench led by Chief Justice of India said a case of interim bail is “evidently made out” on consideration of the facts that she is a woman who has already undergone seven days of custodial interrogation. CJI made an oral observation that under Section 437 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), a woman is entitled to favourable treatment. What does the bail provision say? Section 437 of the CrPC deals with bail in case of non-bailable offences. It says a person shall not be released on bail if there is reasonable ground to believe that he has committed an offence punishable with death or life imprisonment; or, if he has been previously been convicted for an offence punishable with death, life imprisonment, or for a term of seven years or more; or been convicted on two or more occasions on other offences with a term between three and seven years. However, it also contains exceptions in a proviso that says the court may grant bail even in these cases, “if such person is under the age of 16 or is a woman or is sick or infirm”. Are there other provisions favourable to women accused? There are several provisions in criminal law that give special consideration to women, of any age, when they are victims of offences, including sexual offences, in the way they are treated as witnesses and victims of crimes. There are also some provisions relating to women when they are made an accused, and arrested. For instance, when a police officer requires the attendance of any person who he believes is acquainted with a case under investigation, the person has to appear before the officer (Section 160). However, no woman shall be required to do so at any place other than the place in which she resides. This is understood to mean that the officer has to visit the place of residence to make enquiries. What does the CrPC say on the arrest of a woman? A police officer may arrest a person who has committed a cognisable offence without a judicial order or a warrant (Section 41). If the person does not submit to custody based on the word or action of the police, Section 46 enables the police officer to confine the person physically to effect the arrest. A proviso was introduced in the CrPC in 2009 to the effect that where a woman is to be arrested, only a female police officer may touch the woman’s person, unless circumstances otherwise require. Through a 2005 amendment, a subsection was added to Section 46 to prohibit the arrest of a woman after sunset or before sunrise. In exceptional circumstances, a woman police officer can obtain the prior permission of a judicial magistrate to make the arrest. What does it say on women who don’t appear in public? The police may seek entry into any premises where they suspect that a person who is required to be arrested is present. In a situation where any such place is an apartment in the occupancy of a female (who is not the person to be arrested) and if the woman is one who, by custom, does not appear in public, the police have to give notice to her so that she may withdraw before they enter it. It adds that they shall afford her every reasonable facility for withdrawing before they break open and enter the place. In yet another exception, a woman who intends to file a defamation case, but is one who does not appear in public according to custom, can ask someone else to file the complaint on her behalf. Source: The Hindu Previous Year Question Q.1) With reference to India, consider the following statements: (2021) Judicial custody means an accused is in the custody of the concerned magistrate and such accused is locked up in police station, not in Jail. During judicial custody, the police officer in charge of the case is not allowed to interrogate the suspect without the approval of the court. Which of the statements given above is/are correct: 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Contempt of court Open in new  window Syllabus Prelims – Polity Mains – GS 2 (Polity) In News:  Attorney General of India has declined a request for consent to initiate criminal contempt of court proceedings against Senior Advocate and Member of Parliament Kapil Sibal for certain remarks that he made during a speech on the subject of “Judicial Rollback of Civil Liberties. What is contempt of court? Around the world, “contempt of court”, or simply “contempt”, is understood as a set of legal provisions that firewall courts, and safeguard and protect their ability to dispense justice. According to The Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, contempt of court can either be civil contempt or criminal contempt. Civil contempt means “wilful disobedience to any judgment, decree, direction, order, writ or other process of a court, or wilful breach of an undertaking given to a court”. Criminal contempt, is attracted by “the publication (whether by words, spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representations, or otherwise) of any matter or the doing of any other act whatsoever which: scandalises or tends to scandalise, or lowers or tends to lower the authority of, any court; or prejudices, or interferes or tends to interfere with, the due course of any judicial proceeding; or interferes or tends to interfere with, or obstructs or tends to obstruct, the administration of justice in any other manner. Who can bring a charge of criminal contempt of court against an individual? The Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, lays down the law on contempt of court. Section 15 of the legislation describes the procedure on how a case for contempt of court can be initiated. In the case of the Supreme Court, the Attorney General or the Solicitor General, and in the case of High Courts, the Advocate General, may bring in a motion before the court for initiating a case of criminal contempt. However, the motion can be brought by a private citizen as well — and in such a case, the consent of the Attorney General (or the Advocate General, as the case may be,) is required. The motion or reference made for initiating the case will have to specify the contempt of which the person charged is alleged to be guilty. But what is the reason that the consent of the A-G is required? The objective behind requiring the consent of the A-G before taking cognizance of a complaint is to save the time of the court. The A-G’s consent is meant to be a safeguard against frivolous petitions, as it is deemed that the A-G, as an officer of the court, will independently ascertain whether the complaint is indeed valid. What if a court itself decides to bring a case of contempt? In such a situation, the A-G’s consent is not required. This is because the court is exercising its inherent powers under the Constitution to punish for contempt, and such Constitutional powers cannot be restricted because the A-G declined to grant consent. And what happens if the A-G denies consent (in the case of a private citizen)? If the A-G denies consent, the matter all but ends. The law also has a limitation period of one year for bringing in action against an individual. The complainant can, however, separately bring the issue to the notice of the court and urge the court to take suo motu (on its own motion) cognizance. Article 129 of the Constitution gives the Supreme Court the power to initiate contempt cases on its own, independent of the motion brought before it by the AG or with the consent of the AG. What is the process if the A-G does grant consent? Once the A-G gives his consent in writing, a notice under The Contempt of Courts Act is served personally on the person against whom the proceedings are sought to be initiated by the court. If the court decides not to serve the notice personally, the law requires the court to record the reasons for it. If the court is satisfied that the alleged contemnor is likely to abscond or evade judicial proceedings, it can order attachment of property of a value that it deems reasonable. The alleged contemnor may file an affidavit in support of his defence, explaining the nature and circumstances of his/her remarks. The case is required under the Act to be heard by a Bench of at least two judges. Source: Indian Express Previous Year Question Q.1) Consider the following statements : (2022) Pursuant to the report of H.N. Sanyal Committee, the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 was passed. The Constitution of India empowers the Supreme Court and the High Courts to punish for contempt of themselves. The Constitution of India defines Civil Contempt and Criminal Contempt. In India, the Parliament is vested with the powers to make laws on Contempt of Court. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 and 2 only 1, 2 and 4 3 and 4 only 3 only IMF’s Extended Fund Facility (EFF) for Sri Lanka Open in new  window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs (International Relations) Mains – GS 2 (International Relations) In News: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced a staff-level agreement with Sri Lanka, months after the island nation’s economic crisis intensified this year, following a serious Balance of Payments problem. What is the staff-level agreement? It is a formal arrangement by which IMF staff and Sri Lankan authorities agree on a $2.9-billion package that will support Sri Lanka’s economic policies with a 48-month arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF). However, even though the IMF has agreed to support Sri Lanka, the EFF is conditional on many factors. Sri Lanka must take a series of immediate measures that the Fund has deemed necessary to fix fiscal lapses and structural weaknesses — such as raising fiscal revenue, safeguarding financial stability and reducing corruption vulnerabilities. Apart from making domestic policy changes to strengthen the economy, Sri Lanka must also restructure its debt with its multiple lenders. The IMF has said that it will provide financial support to Sri Lanka only after the country’s official creditors give financing assurances on debt sustainability, and when the government reaches a collaborative agreement with its private creditors. How will IMF funds will help Sri Lanka? The package will help raise government revenue to support fiscal consolidation, introduce new pricing for fuel and electricity, hike social spending, bolster central bank autonomy, and rebuild depleted foreign reserves. Starting from one of the lowest revenue levels in the world, the bailout programme will implement major tax reforms. These reforms include making personal income tax more progressive and broadening the tax base for corporate income tax and VAT. The programme aims to reach a primary surplus of 2.3% of GDP by 2024. The IMF package, to be paid in tranches over the next four years, is less than what India provided to Sri Lanka over four months. However, an IMF loan will boost the receiving country’s credit ratings, and the confidence of international creditors and investors. What is the International Monetary Fund (IMF)? The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an organization of 190 member countries, each of which has representation on the IMF’s executive board in proportion to its financial importance, so that the most powerful countries in the global economy have the most voting power. MUST READ:    Sri Lankan Economic Crisis MUST READ:    IMF’s Lending instruments Source: The Hindu Previous Year Question Q.1) “Rapid Financing Instrument” and “Rapid Credit Facility” are related to the provisions of lending by which of the following: (2022) Asian Development Bank International Monetary Fund United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative World Bank Q.2) Recently, which one of the following currencies has been proposed to be added to the basket of IMF’s SDR? (2016) Rouble Rand Indian Rupee Renminbi Feeding humanity, Saving the Planet Open in new  window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs Mains – GS 3 (Economy-Agriculture) Context: There is increasing awareness that humans are over-exploiting this planet’s natural resource endowment. This may threaten the very existence of humanity. Consequences of over exploitation of natural resources: Degradation of lands, especially the topsoil that is crucial for providing us with food, animal feed and fibre. Groundwater is depleting and its quality is becoming poorer with the increasing use of chemical fertilisers and other industrial waste. The air pollution at an alarming rate in certain parts of the world, especially in India, where at times it is difficult to even breathe in a city like Delhi when stubble burning peaks in farmers’ fields in Punjab and Haryana. What is the real cause behind such a rapid deterioration in nature’s wealth: There is imbalance between people, our planet, and the political economy of policies. What we know is that roughly it took more than 2,00,000 years for homo sapiens to evolve into the current form of mankind. In 1804, for the first time in history, the human population touched one billion. In next billion was added in 123 years with the count touching two billion by 1927. Several major breakthroughs in medical science ensured that the next billion was added in just 33 years by 1960. The next billion was added in just 14 years with the population reaching four billion in 1974. The next billion took just 13 years (five billion in 1987), 11 years thereafter (six billion in 1998), 12 years thereon (seven billion in 2010), and another 12 years to touch eight billion in 2022. This explosive growth of population, with higher and higher aspirations, has created a huge imbalance between the demands of people and the capacity of this planet to supply them in a sustainable manner. Can this planet provide food for all through natural farming without the use of any chemical fertilisers, pesticides, modern high yielding varieties of seeds etc.? Many governments, religious organisations, and some NGOs and individuals believe that there is no option but to go back to nature and practice organic/natural farming Sri Lanka, for example, wanted to get rid of chemical fertilizers. Even in India, we have some states (like Sikkim) declared as organic states, state like Andhra Pradesh is also scaling up natural farming and many others states are attempting to do so. SAVE SOIL: A MOVEMENT THAT BEGAN 24 YEARS AGO: For three decades now, Sadhguru from ISHA Foundation has been continuously bringing the importance of soil and has said repeatedly at several international platforms: “Soil is our life, our very body. And if we forsake soil, in many ways, we forsake the planet.” These are practice are in growing phase with the expectation that they are safe for society, augment their incomes and ensure food security for the masses through ample availability of food at affordable prices. However, certain conducted studies which shows certain negative aspect of it such as Studies conducted by ICAR in India show that with the adoption of natural farming yields go down for major staple crops like wheat and rice by as much as 30 to 50 per cent. Given that India is going to be the most populous country on the planet in 2023, we need to take policy decisions with better and more scientific evidence if we want to avoid a Sri Lanka-like fiasco. Use of Modern-technological tools to enhance the crop production: AIML (Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning), GIS (Geographical Information System),which can use enormous data to bring about precision in farming. Use of sensors, drones, doves, and LEOs (low earth orbits), space technologies, cloud computing, are all bursting out to provide the basis for a revolutionary epoch. Drips, hydroponics, and aeroponics, vertical farming, are all available for mankind to get much more with very little exploitation of the planet’s natural resource endowment. Government’s initiative for sustainable agriculture: Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Regions (MOVCDNER): It is a Central Sector Scheme, a sub-mission under National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), in North-Eastern states which aims to development of certified organic production in a value chain mode to link growers with consumers and to support the development of entire value chain starting from inputs, seeds, certification, to the creation of facilities for collection, aggregation, processing, marketing, and brand building initiative. Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) : It is an elaborated component of Soil Health Management (SHM) of major project  under National Mission of Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) which promotes organic farming through adoption of organic village by cluster approach and Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) certification. Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana: The scheme has come a long way since its inception in 2007 and has been implemented across two plan periods (11th and 12th). The scheme incentivizes States to increase public investment in Agriculture & allied sectors. Therefore, there is need to address certain areas of concerns for sustainable farming Precise and efficient use of Subsidy: In India, specifically, we have the culture of free power, free water, almost 80 to 90 per cent subsidy on urea, and so on. These subsidy policies may have been good in the 1960s or the 1970s when the country was hugely food deficit. But they are continuing and even increasing. So, effective and target subsidy should be provided with ‘sunset’ timing. Thus, Precision farming needs to be promoted to get more output with less exploitation of natural resources while considering that natural resources are not exploited. This will help in sustainable food grain production which can feed the planet. Source: Indian Express Previous Year Question Q.1) In the context of India, which of the following is/are considered to be of practice(s) of eco-friendly agriculture? (2020) Crop diversification Legume intensification Tensiometer use Vertical farming Select the correct answer using the code given below: 1, 2 and 3 only 3 only 4 only 1, 2, 3 and 4 India-world’s fifth-largest economy Open in new  window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs Mains – GS 3 (Economy) Context: According to the latest calculations by Bloomberg, India has become the world’s fifth-largest economy after it overtook the United Kingdom in end-March 2022. Comparison between India and UK On an adjusted basis and using the dollar exchange rate on the last day of the relevant quarter, the size of the Indian economy in nominal cash terms in the quarter through March was $854.7 billion. On the same basis, UK was $816 billion. GDP per capita GDP per capita provides a more realistic comparison of income levels because it divides a country’s GDP by the population of that country. The income of an average Indian is far lower. Poverty levels Low per capita incomes often point to high levels of poverty. At the start of the 19th century, the UK’s share in extreme poverty was considerably higher than India’s. However, the relative positions have reversed even though India has made giant strides in curbing poverty. Human Development Index The end goal of higher GDP and faster economic growth is to have better human development parameters. The Human Development Index is a composite of health, education and standard of living parameters. Despite its secular improvement, India might still take a decade to be where the UK was in 1980. Universal Healthcare Coverage A crucial element of becoming richer as a country is the quality of life available to citizens. The Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Index is measured on a scale from 0 (worst) to 100 (best) based on the average coverage of essential services including reproductive, maternal, new born and child health, infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases and service capacity and access. While faster economic growth and the government’s policy focus on healthcare schemes since 2005 have made a distinct improvement for India, there is still a long way to go. Source: Indian Express Previous Year Question Q.1) Consider the following statements Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) exchange rates are calculated by comparing the prices of the same basket of goods and services in different countries. In terms of PPP dollars, India is the sixth-largest economy in the world. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (2019) 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 India-Australia relations Open in new  window Syllabus Mains – GS 2 (International Relations) Context: The fifth round of the bilateral Track 1.5 dialogue will set the pace for Canberra’s deepening relationship with New Delhi. India-Australia Relationship The India-Australia bilateral relationship has undergone an evolution in recent years, developing along a positive track, into a strategic partnership. Economic Cooperation: Bilateral trade between the two countries stood at about US$ 12.5 billion in FY 2020- 21 and has already surpassed US$ 17.7 billion in the first 10 months of FY 2021-22. Key imports from Australia include coal, gold and LNG while key exports to the country from India include diesel, petrol and gems and jewellery. Recently both the countries signed a historic interim Economic Cooperation And Trade Agreement (INDAUS ECTA), which will give a fillip to India’s exports in the textiles, leather, gems, and jewellery sector Down Under. Security Cooperation: India and Australia are both members of the Quad (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) along with the US and Japan. In 2009, India and Australia established a ‘Strategic Partnership’, including a Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation which has been further elevated to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2020. Science and Technology: The countries have established an Australia-India Strategic Research Fund {(AISRF) – a pillar of collaboration on science, technology and research} and successfully conducted the 2021 India Australia Circular Economy Hackathon. Australia is also supporting India’s Gaganyaan Space Program. People to People Ties: Australia is investing in India’s talented young people through a new Future Skills Initiative between education and training providers and industry. This complements the Australian government’s significant new Maitri scholarships and fellowships which gives Indian students and researchers the chance to experience Australia’s world class education system. Energy Cooperation: A Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement between the two countries was signed in 2014. The agreement came into force in 2015 and provides the framework for substantial new trade in energy between Australia and India. Regional and Multilateral Cooperation: Both the countries are part of QUAD, G20, WTO, WHO’s COVAX, ISA etc. regional and multilateral initiatives. Concerns impeding the relationship India’s stand on Russia- Ukraine crisis: Australia has criticized Russian invasion of Ukraine and sided with the U.S. and western countries. However, India has refrained from criticizing Russia over the issue. This can create differences in bilateral discourse and the functioning of QUAD. No Free Trade Agreement: Both the nations have been interacting and communicating with each other for decades but have failed to create a consensus on a Free trade agreement. China’s Discontent: China is unhappy with growing security cooperation between Australia and India. The Chinese government responded to the Quadrilateral dialogue by issuing formal diplomatic protests to its members, calling it “Asian NATO”. Lack of Uranium Supply: The progress on uranium supply has been very low, despite efforts from both sides. In 2017, Australia had sent its first uranium shipment to India but that was cited as “a small sample of uranium” transferred “purely for testing purposes”. Attacks on Indians: Increasing Racist attacks on Indians in Australia has been a major issue. Way forward: Energy: Australia is a natural partner for India in the energy sector. Australia’s long-term and secure LNG supply can help diversify India’s current highly concentrated import supplies from the Middle East. Science & Technology: India and Australia have a strong track record of collaborating in research and innovation. The $84 million Australia-India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF) is Australia’s largest. The Australian Government’s $1.1 billion National Innovation and Science Agenda present new opportunities to engage with India. The agenda resonates well with India’s ‘Start-up India’ and ‘Make in India’ campaign. This can be spread in other areas of science & technology Economic ties: Our economies are highly complementary. But trade is still very narrow. If we are to build depth to our economic relationship, we need to broaden its base. That is why negotiating a CECA will put in place the framework to support the freer flow of particularly services and investment between our countries. For India, CECA would give improved access to the world’s twelfth largest economy. Security: Regular strategic dialogue should focus on common interests, including relating to China, Pakistan, Afghanistan, terrorism and maritime security. A bilateral security declaration is needed between Australia and India. India should reciprocate Australia’s overtures to engage as a priority maritime partner. The two armies should help each other too, for example in Special Forces training. Although there are strategic divergences in the Australia–India relationship, there are more common interests. The time has come for an honest appraisal of these divergences and introspection regarding how to build a stronger bilateral strategic relationship. Last year the Australian government released an India Economic Strategy that comprehensively laid out the weaknesses of the economic relationship and identified pathways to push it forward. Similar initiatives aimed at evaluating and advancing the geopolitical relationship are needed. Source: The Hindu  Baba’s Explainer – UN Report on Xinjiang UN Report on Xinjiang Syllabus GS-2: India and its neighbourhood GS-2: Human Rights GS-2: Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate. Context: The United Nations human rights office has released a long-delayed and damning report into conditions for the Uyghurs ethnic minority in China’s northwestern Xinjiang autonomous region. The report details serious rights abuse against Uighurs and other ethnic minorities in Xinjiang and states that such treatment by China may amount to “crimes against humanity”. India is currently the third largest carbon emitter in the world, behind the US and China. Read Complete Details on UN Report on Xinjiang Daily Practice MCQs Daily Practice MCQs Q.1) Which of the following statement(s) regarding nano urea is/are correct? It is liquid urea in the form of a nanoparticle. It is developed by Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), commonly known as the Pusa Institute. Its efficacy is more than 80 per cent , whereas the conventional urea efficacy is only 30 per cent to 40 percent. Select the correct option using the code given below: 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only 1 and 3 only 1,2 and 3 Q.2) Which of the following is/are initiative of government to promote the sustainable agriculture: Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) : Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana: MOVCDNER Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only 1 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Q.3) Hanle region, recently seen in news is located in? Sikkim Jammu & Kashmir Ladakh Arunachal Pradesh Comment the answers to the above questions in the comment section below!! ANSWERS FOR ’5th September 2022 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs. ANSWERS FOR 2nd September – Daily Practice MCQs Answers- Daily Practice MCQs Q.1) – d Q.2) – d Q.3) – d table, td, th { border: 1px solid;} table {width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; }

Sep 5, 2022 Baba’s Explainer

Baba's Explainer - UN Report on Xinjiang

ARCHIVES Syllabus GS-2: India and its neighbourhood GS-2: Human Rights GS-2: Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate. Context: The United Nations human rights office has released a long-delayed and damning report into conditions for the Uyghurs ethnic minority in China’s northwestern Xinjiang autonomous region. The report details serious rights abuse against Uighurs and other ethnic minorities in Xinjiang and states that such treatment by China may amount to “crimes against humanity”. India is currently the third largest carbon emitter in the world, behind the US and China. Where is Xinjiang and why is it important to China? Xinjiang is a vast but sparsely populated region of mountains, forests and deserts in far northwestern China that borders Russia, Pakistan and several Central Asian nations. The ancient Silk Road ran through parts of it and various nationalities and Chinese empires controlled its cities and oases over the centuries, with the Communist Party taking complete control following its 1949 victory in the Chinese civil war. The region contains a wealth of natural resources, including oil, gas and rare earth minerals, but perhaps its most important value is as a strategic buffer that extends China’s influence westward. While China and Russia have largely aligned their foreign policies in recent years, Xinjiang was on the front line of their Cold War rivalry and remains important as an assertion of Chinese influence in Russia’s back yard. Who are Uighurs? Xinjiang’s Uyghurs, along with the closely related Kazakh and Kyrgyz, are predominantly Turkic Muslims who are culturally, religiously and linguistically distinct from China’s dominant Han ethnic group. Uyghurs established two short-lived independent governments in Xinjiang prior to the Communist Party’s seizure of power. Repression under Communist rule, particularly during the violent 1966-1976 Cultural Revolution, led to deep animosity in Xinjiang toward the government, aggravated further by the migration of Han to the region and their domination of political and economic life. The desire for self-rule endured and was nurtured by resentment against heavy-handed Chinese rule. A protest movement began in the 1990s and remained at a relatively low level until simmering anger exploded in a 2009 riot in the regional capital of Urumqi that left an estimated 200 people dead. More violence followed within Xinjiang prompting Chinese leader Xi Jinping to order a massive crackdown starting in 2014. What are the key highlights of the recent UN report and what is Chinese counter? Mass Detention Mass Confinement in name of tackling extremism: Beijing has enforced severe security measures in Xinjiang in recent years in what it says are efforts to combat separatism and religious extremism. As part of those operations, Beijing has been accused of confining more than one million Uighurs and other Muslim minorities in a network of detention facilities called “Vocational Education and Training Centres” (VETC) – facilities where individuals are sent for “de-radicalization” and “re-education”. Allegation of Abuse: The UN said there were credible allegations of torture, ill-treatment, and poor conditions in the VETCs and other facilities, as well as forced medical treatments and incidents of sexual and gender-based violence. The UN also called on China to release all those detained arbitrarily in VETC, prisons, and other detention sites. Legal Systems still in place: Though the Chinese government claims the VETC system has been significantly reduced in scope or retired entirely, the legal frameworks and policies that allowed for the arbitrary and mass detention of the Uighur minority remain in place, the UN said. Chinese Counter: China claims that the implementation of vocational training in Xinjiang was “in strict compliance with the laws” and with “rigorous, legal oversight”. The training was focused on de-radicalization and behavioural intervention to help trainees change their mindset, re-enter society and re-join their family. According to China, trainees at the VETCs enjoy personal freedoms in terms of movement and correspondence. Trainees return home regularly and can apply to leave the centres to attend to personal matters. Religious persecution As per UN report, state policies in Xinjiang have also placed severe restrictions on Uighur religious identity and expression. UN report also says that Chinese policies are restricting the right to privacy, freedom of movement, and violations of reproductive rights of Uighur people through discriminatory family planning and birth control policies. Elements of coercion and discrimination on religious and ethnic grounds were also evident in labour and employment schemes purportedly to alleviate poverty and prevent “extremism”. Evidence of the destruction of religious sites in the region is mentioned in the report. The authors say they analysed satellite imagery and found that many religious sites either appeared to have been removed or tampered with. The report also notes that China’s Regulations on Religious Affairs prohibit holding or organising religious activities in the centres. Those who were held, their relatives and monitoring groups describe VETCs as prison-like reeducation centers where inmates were forced to denounce Islam and their traditional culture, while swearing fidelity to the ruling Communist Party. Chinese Counter: China claims that VETCs respect freedom of religious belief, customs, traditions, and trainees can use their minority spoken and written languages. China says that trainees are, in fact, covered by pension and medical insurance, and receive free health checks Mass surveillance Surveillance of the Uighur population in Xinjiang, according to the UN report, should not infringe on the freedoms and basic rights of individuals. The UN also called on China to clarify reports of destruction of mosques, religious shrines, and cemeteries – and to suspend such activities in the meantime. Chinese Counter: China states that the installation of security cameras in rural and urban public places in Xinjiang is consistent with established international practices, and the measure is not designed to target any particular ethnic group. Rape and sexual violence Several spoke about sexual violence, including rape, at detention centres. Some interviewees said they were forced to perform oral sex during interrogation, while many were stripped naked. Some also recounted being subject to invasive gynaecological examinations The report finds credible indications of violations of reproductive rights in the region. Official figures indicate a sharp decline in birth rates in Xinjiang from 2017, with the birth rate dropping from 15.88 per thousand in 2017 to 8.14 per thousand in 2019. The report, however, adds that the lack of available official data makes it difficult to conclude the full extent of the current enforcement of these policies and associated violations of reproductive rights. Chinese Counter Beijing registered a strong opposition and denied any abuses in Xinjiang in a 122-page rebuttal. “The so-called assessment is orchestrated and produced by the US and some western forces. It is completely illegal and null and void,” China stated. It further stated that the report seriously violates the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and undermines the credibility and impartiality of the OHCHR. What will be the outcome for China? The report’s release comes despite China’s growing influence within the U.N. and its pressure campaign against critics in the human rights community. Some observers say the tide of criticism may have prompted Beijing to wind down the detentions earlier than planned to salvage its reputation among Muslim nations and in the developing world Nevertheless, China has maintained its defiance and believes its policies have been effective and should continue to de-radicalize certain sections. Chinese Foreign Ministry rejected the U.N. report, saying it was “orchestrated and produced by the U.S. and some Western forces and is completely illegal and void.” China has stated that “The UN report is a patchwork of false information that serves as political tool for the U.S. and other Western countries to strategically use Xinjiang to contain China,”. Thus, we can say that along with Taiwan, Xinjiang will become the contesting point in the tussle between US and China. Mains Practice Question – How do you analyse the recent UN report on Chinese treatment of Uyghurs in its north western Xinjiang region? Note: Write answers to this question in the comment section. table{ border: 1px solid; } table tr, table td{ border: 1px solid; }

Sep 5, 2022 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz – 2022 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 5th 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

Sep 3, 2022 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 3rd September 2022

Archives (PRELIMS & MAINS Focus) Cri-MAC Portal Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs In News: At least seven States and one Union Territory have not uploaded any data on the Centre’s online platform meant to share information and coordinate action among law enforcement agencies on serious criminal incidents, including human trafficking. Cri-MAC Portal The Crime Multi Agency Centre (Cri-MAC) was launched in 2020 by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to share information on crime and criminals 24×7 with various law enforcement agencies and ensure a seamless flow of information among them. The application run by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) aims to help in early detection and prevention of crime incidents across the country. West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Sikkim and Union Territory of Dadra, Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu have not uploaded a single alert on Cri-Mac since the portal was launched in March 2020. Delhi, Assam and Haryana uploaded the maximum number of alerts on the portal, which included information on release of a hardened criminal from jail or an incident of terror, murder, dacoity among others. As on July 1, the number of alerts uploaded on the portal stood at 35,145 though there are 16,361 police stations in the country. Source: The Hindu New Naval Ensign Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs In News: Prime Minister of India unveiled the new Naval Ensign (flag) at Kochi, which bears the seal of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, who laid the foundations of a modern navy. How does the Indian Navy identify with Shivaji (reign 1674-80) and the great Maratha admiral Kanhoji Angre (1669-1729), and how did they ensure Maratha supremacy of the seas? Shivaji and the seas Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj put great emphasis on sea-faring prowess, and laid the foundations of a modern naval force in the 17th century. The Indian Navy has named a training establishment in Lonavla as INS Shivaji and a shore based logistics and administrative hub of Western Naval Command as INS Angre after Kanhoji Angre, the acclaimed Maratha naval commander. The use of the octagonal design of the seal of Shivaji on the new Naval Ensign is a formal stamp on the umbilical ties of the Indian Navy with the navy of the Maratha empire. Extent of naval prowess Shivaji’s strategic thought ensured that a strong naval presence was established along the Konkan coast to protect the sea trade of the Maratha empire. The navy under Shivaji was so strong that the Marathas could hold their against the British, Portuguese and Dutch. Shivaji built ships in towns such as Kalyan, Bhivandi, and Goa, both for trade and to establish a fighting navy. He also built a number of sea forts and bases for repair, storage and shelter. Shivaji fought many lengthy battles with Siddis of Janjira on coastline. He started trading with foreigners on his own after possession of eight or nine ports in the Deccan. Kanhoji Angre Kanohji Angre was the commander of Maratha navy, and is credited with laying a strong naval foundation which ensured that the Marathas were a sea-faring power to reckon with. Kanhoji is credited with holding his own against the English, Portuguese and Dutch naval forces. He ensured that the merchants plying their trade for the Maratha empire were protected on the seas. He set up a base in Colaba with more bases at Suvarndurg and Vijaydurg near Ratnagiri. Siddis of Janjira Janjira State was a princely state in India during the British Raj. Its rulers were a Siddi dynasty of Habesha descent and the state was under the suzerainty of the Bombay Presidency. Janjira State was located on the Konkan coast in the present-day Raigad district of Maharashtra. Source: Indian Express SPARK Program Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Government Schemes and Policies In News: The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), has launched an initiative to support the research efforts of youth of the Country by developing the Studentship Program for Ayurveda Research Ken (SPARK) for Ayurveda (BAMS) students studying in recognised Ayurveda colleges. SPARK program is primarily developed to help students develop acumen for research and to further support and incentivise their research ideas. Source: Pib.Gov Previous Year Question Q.1) With reference to ‘Stand Up India Scheme’, which of the following statements is/are correct? (2016) Its purpose is to promote entrepreneurship among SC/ST and women entrepreneurs. It provides for refinance through SIDBI. Select the correct answer using the code given below. 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 IMF bailout Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Economy In News: Sri Lanka has reached a preliminary agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a loan of about $2.9 billion. How IMF lending helps? IMF lending aims to give countries breathing room to implement adjustment policies in an orderly manner, which will restore conditions for a stable economy and sustainable growth. IMF financing facilitates a more gradual and carefully considered adjustment. As IMF lending is usually accompanied by a set of corrective policy actions, it also provides a seal of approval that appropriate policies are taking place. Lending instruments The IMF’s various lending instruments are tailored to different types of balance of payments need as well as the specific circumstances of its diverse. All IMF members are eligible to access the Fund’s resources in the General Resources Account (GRA) on non-concessional terms. The IMF also provides concessional financial support (currently at zero interest rates through June 2021) through the Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust which is better tailored to the diversity and needs of low-income countries. Historically, for emerging and advanced market economies in crises, the bulk of IMF assistance has been provided through Stand-By Arrangements (SBAs) to address short-term or potential balance of payments problems. The Standby Credit Facility (SCF) serves a similar purpose for low-income countries. The Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and the corresponding Extended Credit Facility (ECF) for low-income countries are the Fund’s main tools for medium-term support to countries facing protracted balance of payments problems. To help prevent or mitigate crises and boost market confidence during periods of heightened risks, members with already strong policies can use the Flexible Credit Line (FCL) or the Precautionary and Liquidity Line (PLL). The Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI) and the corresponding Rapid Credit Facility (RCF) for low-income countries provide rapid assistance to countries with urgent balance of payments need, including from commodity price shocks, natural disasters, and domestic fragilities. Reflecting different country circumstances, GRA-supported programs are expected to resolve the member’s BoP problems during the program period, while PRGT programs envisage a longer duration for addressing BoP problems. Must Read: Sri Lanka’s Crisis Source: Indian Express Previous Year Question Q.1)”Rapid Financing Instrument” and “Rapid Credit Facility” are related to the provisions of lending by which one of the following? Asian Development Bank International Monetary Fund United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative World Bank INS Vikrant Open in new  window Syllabus Prelims – Science & technology – Current Affairs In News: The nation’s first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC-1) was commissioned recently to Indian Navy. The INS Vikrant – the 44,000-tonne indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC) – is the first to be designed and constructed in India. It is built by Cochin Shipyard Ltd. Features: The Vikrant stretches 262 metres in length, exceeding that of two football fields and is 62 metre wide. Around 20 aircraft can be parked in the hangar. It has a top speed of around 28 knots (more than 50 kmph) and a cruising speed of 18 knots with an endurance of about 7,500 nautical miles. Over 76 per cent of the material and equipment on board the carrier is indigenous, including 21,500 tonnes of special grade steel developed indigenously and used in Indian naval ships for the first time. The Made-in-India warship is a feather in the country’s cap, as only five or six nations have the capacity of building an aircraft carrier. It will be carrying: the Russian-made MiG-29K fighter jet, Kamov-31 early warning helicopters, the indigenously manufactured Advanced Light Helicopters and the MH-60R multirole helicopter made by the American defence major Lockheed Martin. Must Read: INS Vikrant Source: Indian Express The Hindu Previous Year Question Q.1) Which one of the following is the best description of ‘INS Astradharini’, that was in the news recently? (2016) Amphibious warfare ship Nuclear-powered submarine Torpedo launch and recovery vessel Nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) Open in new  window Syllabus Prelims – International Relations Mains – GS 2 (International Relations) Context: The Tenth Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) concluded recently. Marking 52 years of a treaty that every speaker described as the ‘cornerstone of the global nuclear order’ And after four weeks of debate and discussion, the delegates failed to agree on a final document. NPT’s success and weakness About NPT The NPT was negotiated during the 1960s to reconcile three competing objectives — Controlling the further spread of nuclear weapons beyond the P-5 countries (the U.S., the U.S.S.R., the U.K, France and China) that had already tested; Committing to negotiating reductions of nuclear arsenals leading to their elimination; and Sharing benefits of peaceful applications of nuclear science and technology. Success Over the years, the non-proliferation objective has been achieved in large measure. Despite apprehensions that by the 1980s, there would be close to 25 nuclear powers, in the last 50 years, only four more countries have gone on to test and develop nuclear arsenals — India, Israel, North Korea and Pakistan. After the end of the Cold War and the break-up of the U.S.S.R. in 1991, non-proliferation remained a shared priority for the major powers and the International Atomic Energy Agency. Weakness Progress on the other two aspects took a back seat; no meaningful discussions or negotiations on nuclear disarmament have ever taken place in the NPT framework. In fact, in the early 1980s, there was a growth in nuclear arsenals. All that the five nuclear-weapon-states party to the NPT could manage at the conference was a reiteration of the 1985 Reagan-Gorbachev declaration that ‘a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought’. The statement remains valid but clearly sounded hollow in the face of growing strategic rivalry between China, Russia and the U.S., rising nuclear rhetoric, and modernisation plans for nuclear arsenals being pursued. Concerns Nuclear modernisation USA The U.S.’s 30-year nuclear modernisation programme, intended to provide ‘credible deterrence against regional aggression’ is already underway. This has been used to justify developing and deploying more usable low-yield nuclear weapons. Russia and China Russia and China is developing hypersonic delivery systems that evade missile defences as well as larger missiles that do not need to travel over the Arctic. Also on the cards are nuclear torpedoes and new cruise missiles. Recent, satellite imagery over China revealed that at least three new missile storage sites are being developed. China is on the track to expand its arsenal from current levels of approximately 350 warheads to over 1,000 by 2030. Such a dramatic expansion raises questions about whether this marks a shift in the Chinese nuclear doctrine that has relied on a credible minimum deterrent and a no-first-use policy for the last six decades. Cyber Threat Developments in space and cyber domains are blurring the line between conventional and nuclear weapons, leading to nuclear entanglement and rendering command and control systems vulnerable. This, in turn, compresses decision-making time and creates incentives for early use, raising nuclear risk. Other treaties, their state Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons Frustrated by the absence of progress on nuclear disarmament, the nuclear have-nots successfully negotiated a Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW, also called Ban Treaty) in 2017 that entered into force in January 2021. All 86 signatories are nuclear have-nots and parties to the NPT. It is the first legally binding international agreement to comprehensively prohibit nuclear weapons, with the goal of leading towards their total elimination. Strategy: For those nations that are party to it, the treaty prohibits the development, testing, production, stockpiling, stationing, transfer, use and threat of use of nuclear weapons, as well as assistance and encouragement to the prohibited activities. For nuclear armed states joining the treaty, it provides for a time-bound framework for negotiations leading to the verified and irreversible elimination of its nuclear weapons programme. Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) was concluded in 1996 but has yet to formally enter into force because two major powers, the S. and China, have yet to ratify it. The CTBT is the Treaty banning all nuclear explosions – everywhere, by everyone. The Treaty will enter into force after all 44 States listed in Annex 2 to the Treaty will ratify it. These States had nuclear facilities at the time the Treaty was negotiated and adopted. India, North Korea and Pakistan have not yet signed the Treaty. While it is true that they do observe a moratorium on nuclear testing, modernisation plans could soon run up against the CTBT. Nobody wants a breakdown of the NPT but sustaining it requires facing up to today’s political realities. The rivalries in a multipolar nuclear world create new challenges, different from what the world faced in a bipolar era of the 1960s when the NPT was concluded. Without addressing the new challenges, the NPT will weaken and with it, the taboo against nuclear weapons that has held since 1945. Must Read: The return of nuclear weapons on the global platform Source: The Hindu Previous Year Question Q.1) Consider the following countries: (2015) China France India Israel Pakistan Which among the above are Nuclear Weapons States as recognized by the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, commonly known as the Nuclear Non-Proliferaton Treaty (NPT)? 1 and 2 only 1, 3, 4 and 5 2, 4 and 5 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 India’s cyber infrastructure Open in new  window Syllabus Prelims – Schemes and Policies Mains – GS 3 (Internal Security – Cybersecurity) Context: There has been a steady spike in cases of cybercrime in the last five years. In India, cybercrime is increasing with the increased use of information and communication technology (ICT). However, despite this alarming trend, the capacity of the enforcement agencies to investigate cybercrime remains limited. Need for Cyber Security Increasing Number of Cyber Attacks: According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), from 12,317 cases of cybercrime in 2016, there were 50,035 cases registered in 2020. One in four Indian organisations suffered a ransomware attack in 2021 — higher the the global average of 21%. Increased Digital usage Post-Covid: Critical infrastructure is getting digitised in a very fast way — this includes financial services, banks, power, manufacturing, nuclear power plants, etc. Cyber terrorism It is premeditated, politically motivated attack against information, computer systems, computer programs, and data which results in violence. For Protecting Critical Sectors: It is particularly significant given the increasing interconnectedness of sectors and proliferation of entry points into the internet, which could further grow with the adoption of 5G. There were 6.97 lakh cyber security incidents reported in the first eight months of 2020, nearly equivalent to the previous four years combined, according to information reported to and tracked by the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In). A local, state or central government maintains a huge amount of confidential data related to the country (geographical, military-strategic assets etc.) and citizens. For Individuals: Photos, videos and other personal information shared by an individual on social networking sites can be inappropriately used by others, leading to serious and even life-threatening incidents. For Businesses: Companies have a lot of data and information on their systems. A cyber-attack may lead to loss of competitive information (such as patents or original work), and loss of employees/customers’ private data resulting in complete loss of public trust in the integrity of the organisation. Challenges No procedural code There is no separate procedural code for the investigation of cyber or computer-related offences. As electronic evidence is entirely different in nature when compared with evidence of traditional crime, laying down standard and uniform procedures to deal with electronic evidence is essential. Shortage of technical staff Second, there have been half-hearted efforts by the States to recruit technical staff for the investigation of cybercrime. A regular police officer, with an academic background in the humanities and management may be unable to understand the nuances of the working of a computer or the Internet. Further, the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000 insists that offences registered under the Act should be investigated by a police officer not below the rank of an inspector. The fact is that police inspectors are limited in number in districts, and most of the field investigation is done by sub-inspectors. Lack of Infrastructure – cyber labs Third, the cyber forensic laboratories of States must be upgraded with the advent of new technologies. Offences related to crypto-currency remain under-reported as the capacity to solve such crimes remains limited. While most State cyber labs are sufficiently equipped to analyse hard disks and mobile phones, many are yet to be notified as ‘Examiner of Electronic Evidence’ to enable them to provide expert opinion on electronic records. Need for localisation Most cybercrimes are trans-national in nature with extra-territorial jurisdiction. The collection of evidence from foreign territories is not only a difficult but also a tardy process. In most social media crimes, except for the prompt blocking of an objectionable website or suspect’s account, other details do not come forth quickly from large IT firms. Therefore, ‘data localisation’ must feature in the proposed Personal Data Protection law so that enforcement agencies are able to get timely access to the data of suspected Indian citizens. Measures Taken By the Government Information Act, 2000: The Information Act, 2000 is the primary law for dealing with cybercrime and digital commerce in India. National Cyber Security Policy, 2013: The policy provides the vision and strategic direction to protect the national cyberspace. The CERT-In (Cyber Emergency Response Team – India): CERT-In has been operational since 2004. It is the national nodal agency for responding to computer security incidents as and when they occur. Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C): It deals with all types of cybercrimes in a comprehensive and coordinated manner. Cyber Swachhta Kendra: Launched in early 2017, the Cyber Swachhta Kendra provides a platform for users to analyse and clean their systems of various viruses, bots/ malware, Trojans, etc. Cyber Surakshit Bharat: Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, launched the Cyber Surakshit Bharat initiative to spread awareness about cybercrime and building capacity for safety measures for Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) and frontline IT staff across all government departments. The Cyber Warrior Police Force: In 2018, the government announced its plans to introduce CWPF. It is proposed to be raised on lines of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF). Cyber-Crime Prevention against Women & Children’ Scheme: Implemented by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the scheme aims to prevent and reduce cyber-crimes against women and children. Way forward Building capabilities: There is an urgent need to build capabilities and capacity for application, equipment and infrastructure testing. Human resource: Immediate attention has to be given to human resource development which would increase the number of experts who can effectively manage the cyber security of the country. R&D: Investments should be made on R&D to develop more innovative technologies to address increasing cyber security threats. Policy and Governance: It is important to bring a robust policy and effectively implement the same. Further, duties and responsibilities should be defined clearly for smooth functioning and better coordination among departments and stakeholders. Awareness: A periodic awareness campaign by the government and big private organizations should be conducted to aware people about cyber security threats. Strengthening Private Partnership: It is important to strengthen the public- private partnership on cyber security. Source: The Hindu Daily Practice MCQs Daily Practice MCQs Q.1) Consider the following statements about Cri-MAC Portal Cri-MAC was launched in 2020 by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The application is run by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). It aims to share information on crime and criminals 24×7 with various law enforcement agencies and ensure a seamless flow of information among them. Choose the correct statements: 1 only 1 and 3 2 and 3 1, 2 and 3 Q.2) Consider the following statements about Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act All the offences under the NDPS Act are non-bailable. The bail provision requires the court to have “reasonable grounds” to believe that the accused is not guilty. No relief can be sought by the drug convicts by termination, remission, and commutation of sentences passed. Choose the incorrect statements: 1 only 3 only 1 and 3 None Q.3) Consider the following statements about cervical cancer All cervical cancer cases are linked to certain strains of human papillomavirus (HPV), which is transmitted through sexual contact. The body’s immune system usually gets rid of the HPV infection naturally within two years. Cervavac is India’s first indigenously developed Quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus vaccine (qHPV), against cervical cancer. Choose the correct statements: 1 only 1 and 3 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Comment the answers to the above questions in the comment section below!! ANSWERS FOR ’3rd September 2022 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs. ANSWERS FOR 2nd September – Daily Practice MCQs Answers- Daily Practice MCQs Q.1) – d Q.2) – c Q.3) – a table, td, th { border: 1px solid;} table {width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; }

Sep 3, 2022 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz – 2022 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 3rd 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

Sep 3, 2022 TLP Mains Answer Writing

IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 2): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – Essay Questions [3rd September, 2022] – Day 66

Hello Students  TLP has been an integral ingredient of success for many toppers and is no secret. In the ‘must do’ list for the civil services exam, TLP is by far the most popular initiative. The popularity stems from the unparalleled quality of questions and synopsis posted in TLP. We strive hard to ensure that you get the real feel of UPSC standards before you write the Mains. You already know the features of TLP. Just to reiterate briefly, in the TLP initiative, we post 5 questions daily for a certain number of weeks (11 for this one). We follow a micro plan that is designed to give you daily targets. The questions are from the day’s syllabus and also from current affairs and you are expected to write the answers and post them on the portal. This year onwards TLP will have a Dedicated Portal for Focused Preparation (tlpmains.iasbaba.com). There will be a separate dedicated portal similar to (The RaRe Series) which students loved and appreciated. The Portal will help you stay focused and keep your preparation streamlined. The Registration link for the dedicated portal is given at the end of the post. We are charging a token amount of 10/- for registration to the dedicated portal. We are doing it because we want to create a community of sincere aspirants who are focused and motivated till the Mains Examination. Please don’t take it otherwise. It is our honest effort to give you the best and at the same time expect students to come with the same energy and dedication to the dedicated platform specially designed for YOU! Join our bandwagon, you won’t regret it. UPSC 2023 Aspirants are encouraged to participate as well. Register Here - CLICK HERE  To Know More About TLP 2022 (Phase 2) - CLICK HERE To Access Day 66 Questions - CLICK HERE  P.S: The review from IASbaba will happen from the time the question is posted till 10 pm every day. We would also encourage peer reviews. So friends get actively involved and start reviewing each other’s answers. This will keep the entire community motivated. All the Best 

Sep 2, 2022 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 2nd September 2022

Archives (PRELIMS & MAINS Focus) Cervavac Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Science and Technology Context: Cervavac, India’s first indigenously developed quadrivalent human papillomavirus (qHPV) vaccine for the prevention of cervical cancer has been developed. About the new vaccine Cervavac was developed by the Pune-based Serum Institute of India in coordination with the Government of India’s Department of Biotechnology (DBT). HPV vaccines are given in two doses and the antibodies that develop after both are administered can last up to six or seven years. Unlike Covid vaccines, booster shots may not be required for the cervical cancer vaccine. Until now, the HPV vaccines available in India were produced by foreign manufacturers at an approximate cost of Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,500 per dose. Cervavac is likely to be significantly cheaper, slated to cost approximately Rs. 200 to 400. It has also demonstrated a robust antibody response that is nearly 1,000 times higher than the baseline against all targeted HPV types and in all dose and age groups. How common is cervical cancer in India? Despite being largely preventable, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women globally, according to the WHO. Current estimates indicate that every year approximately25 lakhs women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, and over 75 thousand dies from the disease in India, and 83 % of invasive cervical cancers are attributed to HPVs 16 or 18 in India, and 70% of cases worldwide. India accounts for about a fifth of the global burden of cervical cancer, with 1.23 lakh cases and around 67,000 deaths per year. Almost all cervical cancer cases are linked to certain strains of human papillomavirus (HPV), a common virus that is transmitted through sexual contact. While the body’s immune system usually gets rid of the HPV infection naturally within two years, in a small percentage of people the virus can linger over time and turn some normal cells into abnormal cells and then cancer. Source: Pib.Gov Indian Express Previous Year Question Q1.) In the context of vaccines manufactured to prevent COVID-19 pandemic, consider the following statements: The Serum Institute of India produced COVID-19 vaccine named Covishield using mRNA platform. Sputnik V vaccine is manufactured using vector-based platform. COVAXIN is an inactivated pathogen-based vaccine. Which of the statements given above are correct? (2022) 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only 1 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Q.2) With reference to recent developments regarding ‘Recombinant vector Vaccines’, consider the following statements: Genetic engineering is applied in the development of these vaccines. Bacteria and viruses are used as vectors. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (2021) 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Iron Ore Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Geography Mains – GS 1 (Geography) In News:  The Supreme Court raised the ceiling limit of iron ore mining for some districts of Karnataka saying conservation of the ecology and environment must go hand in hand with the spirit of economic development. Ten years back SC clamped down on production and sale of iron ore in Karnataka due to prevalent of illegal mining. Iron Ore Iron ores are rocks and minerals from which metallic iron can be extracted. India has large iron ore reserves. It occurs in various geological formations but major economic deposits are found in volcano-sedimentary Banded Iron Formation (BIF) from the Precambrian age. Magnetite is the finest iron ore with a very high content of iron up to 72 percent. It has excellent magnetic qualities, especially valuable in the electrical industry. Hematite ore is the most important industrial iron ore in terms of the quantity used but has a slightly lower iron content than magnetite. The highest producer is the Odisha Jharkhand belt, Durg Bastar Chandrapur belt, Bellary-Chitradurga-Chikmagalur-Tumkur belt, and the Maharashtra Goa belt. The iron ore is found in following four types: Magnetite: It is the most important and best kind of iron ore. It contains about 72% metallic iron in it. It is found in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Goa and Kerala. Hematite: It contains about 60-70 percent metallic iron in it. It is red and brown in colour. It is found in Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh. In the western section, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa have this kind of ore. Limonite: It contains about 30 to 40 percent metallic iron in it. It is mostly yellow in colour. It is low-grade iron ore. Siderite: It has more impurities. It contains about 48 percent metallic iron content in it. It is brown in colour. It contains a mixture of iron and carbon. It is low-grade iron ore. It is self-fluxing due to the presence of lime. Reserves and distribution of iron ore About 95% of total reserves of iron ore are found in the States of Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Goa, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. India’s leading state that produces iron ore is Odisha. It accounts for more than 55% of the total production followed by Chhattisgarh producing almost 17%, this is followed by Karnataka and Jharkhand producing 14% and 11% respectively. Export of iron ore from India India is the fifth largest exporter of iron ore in the world. About 50 to 60 percent of our total iron ore production to countries like Japan, Korea, European countries, and lately to Gulf countries. Japan is the biggest buyer of Indian iron ore accounting for about three-fourths of our total exports. Major ports handling iron ore export are Vishakhapatnam, Paradip, Marmagao, and Mangalore. Source: The Hindu Previous Year Question Q.1) With reference to the mineral resources of India, consider the following pairs: (2010) Mineral         90% Natural sources in Copper: Jharkhand Nickel:     Orissa Tungsten:  Kerala Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 and 2 only 2 only 1 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Super Typhoon Hinnamnor Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Geography In News: The strongest tropical storm of 2022, dubbed Super Typhoon ‘Hinnamnor’, has been barrelling across the western Pacific Ocean. It is presently hurtling back towards the islands of Japan and South Korea, packing wind speeds of upto 241 kilometres per hour. The category 5 typhoon — the highest classification on the scale — was about 230 km away from Japan’s Okinawa prefecture (islands). Cyclones Cyclones are a type of low-pressure environment with rapid inward air circulation. In the Northern Hemisphere, air flows counter clockwise, while in the Southern Hemisphere, it circulates clockwise. Tropical Cyclones The term ‘Tropical Cyclone’ is used by the World Meteorological Organization to describe weather systems with winds greater than ‘Gale Force’ (minimum of 63 km per hour). Tropical cyclones are formed in the region between the Tropics of Capricorn and Cancer. They’re large-scale weather systems that form over tropical or subtropical oceans and coalesce into surface wind circulation. Tropical cyclones are one of the world’s most destructive natural disasters. Favorable Conditions for the Formation of Tropical Cyclone A large area of water surface with a temperature above 27° C The Coriolis force is strong enough to form a cyclonic vortex. Variations in the vertical wind speed are minor. A weak low-pressure area or low-level cyclonic circulation already exists. Above the sea level system, there should be a higher divergence. Origin of Tropical Cyclones Tropical cyclones arise over tropical oceans in late summers and have a thermal origin (August to mid-November). Because of the Coriolis effect, the powerful local convectional currents take on a whirling motion at these regions. These cyclones form and move until they reach a weak place in the trade wind belt. Developmental Stages of Tropical Cyclone Tropical cyclones can be classified into three stages throughout their development: Formation and Initial Development Stage The transport of water vapor and heat from the warm ocean to the overlying air, largely through evaporation from the sea surface, is crucial to the creation and early development of a cyclonic storm. Convection with condensation of rising air above the ocean surface stimulates the creation of huge vertical cumulus clouds. Mature Stage The air rises in powerful thunderstorms as a tropical storm intensifies, and it tends to spread out horizontally at the tropopause level. When air spreads out, a positive pressure is created at high elevations, speeding up the downward migration of air due to convection. When subsidence is induced, the air warms up due to compression, resulting in a warm ‘Eye’ (low-pressure center). A mature tropical cyclone in the Indian Ocean has a concentric pattern of highly turbulent large cumulus thundercloud bands as its principal physical feature. Modification and Decay As soon as its source of warm moist air begins to ebb or is abruptly cut off, a tropical cyclone begins to weaken in terms of core low pressure, internal warmth, and extremely fast speeds. This occurs after it reaches land or passes across chilly water. Local Names North Atlantic (including Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico): Hurricanes Eastern and Central North Pacific: Hurricanes Western Northern Pacific: Typhoons Arabian Sea/Northern Indian Ocean: Tropical Cyclones South Indian Ocean: Tropical Cyclones/Willy-Willy for southwest Australia Coral Sea/South Pacific: Tropical Cyclone. Source: Indian Express Previous Year Question Q.1) Consider the following statements: (2020) Jet streams occur in the Northern Hemisphere only. Only some cyclones develop an eye. The temperature inside the eye of a cyclone is nearly 10°C lesser than that of the surroundings. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 and 3 only 2 only 1 and 3 only Ex Vostok-2022 Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs In News: Indian Army contingent participates in Ex Vostok-2022 in Russia. The Indian Army contingent began the multilateral strategic command and staff Exercise Vostok – 2022 at the training grounds of the Eastern Military District of Russia. The armies of the other countries include the troops of China, Laos, Mongolia, Nicaragua, Syria and several ex-Soviet nations. The drills are set to master the skills of commanders and headquarters in exercising command and control of combined arms and coalition forces to repel acts of aggression, raise compatibility and interoperability of the collation forces in jointly coping with the objectives of maintaining peace, protecting interests and ensuring military security in the Eastern region. Source: Theprint.in Monsoon trough - Intense Rainfall in Karnataka and Kerala Open in new  window Syllabus Prelims – Geography In News:  Torrential rains have hit southern Karnataka and parts of Kerala. What is causing intense rain spells? In the absence of any synoptic systems, that is, low pressure systems or monsoon depression over the country, Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Jammu and Kashmir, and Himachal Pradesh have reported widespread rainfall. At present, the monsoon currents are weak as the monsoon is in its break phase. But the IMD said that the monsoon was vigorous over Kerala and active over Karnataka. The position of monsoon trough — a major contributory factor for the rainfall — is favouring rainfall over these states. Once the monsoon system gets established over the country by mid-July, the monsoon trough oscillates by 5 degrees, either to the north or south of its normal position. This oscillation is normally observed during July and August, the peak monsoon months over India. If this trough is located to the south of its normal position, strong monsoon conditions are observed over India. Central and northern areas of the peninsular India benefit in such an instance. When this trough shifts either to north of its normal position, runs to foothills of Himalayas or remains absent, then break-monsoon conditions are declared During the break phase, rainfall is largely confined to the south peninsula, and east, northeast and north India — that is the ongoing spell. The monsoon season thus comprises such wet and dry periods due to the active and break phases. Besides the trough, there is a cyclonic circulation over south Tamil Nadu, from which runs a trough till southern Madhya Pradesh. Monsoon Trough A trough is a belt of low pressure extending to large area. This trough seen during monsoon period, hence known as Monsoon trough. Monsoon trough is a part of the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) where the northern hemisphere and southern hemisphere winds meet. This is normally shown as a line connecting the location of monsoon low pressure areas. These troughs run across continents during peak monsoon periods. Source: Indian Express Previous Year Question Q.1) With reference to ‘Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)’ sometimes mentioned in the news while forecasting Indian monsoon, which of the following statements is/are correct (2017) IOD phenomenon is characterised by a difference in sea surface temperature between tropical Western Indian Ocean and tropical Eastern Pacific Ocean. An IOD phenomenon can influence an El Nino’s impact on the monsoon. Select the correct answer using the code given below: 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Goods and Services Tax (GST) Open in new  window Syllabus Prelims: Current Affairs (Economy) Mains: GS 2 (Federalism) and GS 3 (Economy) In news: India’s gross revenues from the Goods and Services Tax (GST) were ₹1,43,612 crore in August, 28% higher than a year ago. Revenues from import of goods soared 57% during the month while domestic transactions and import of services yielded 19% higher taxes than in August 2021. The gross GST revenue collected in August includes ₹24,710 crore of Central GST (CGST), ₹30,951 crore collected as State GST (SGST), and Integrated GST (IGST) of ₹77,782 crore, which comprises ₹42,067 crore collected on import of goods. GST Compensation Cess collections were ₹10,168 crore and included 1,018 crores collected on import of goods. While overall domestic GST revenues rose 19%, there were wide variations in collections across States, with 13 States seeing a higher growth in revenues, three States reporting a flat or negative growth, and 14 States, including the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir, seeing a slower uptick than 19%. Must Read – GST- Five years on Source: The Hindu  Previous Year Question Q.1) What is/are the most likely advantages of implementing ‘Goods and Services Tax (GST)’? (2017) It will replace multiple taxes collected by multiple authorities and will thus create a single market in India. It will drastically reduce the ‘Current Account Deficit’ of India and will enable it to increase its foreign exchange reserves. It will enormously increase the growth and size of the economy of India and will enable it to overtake China in the near future. Select the correct answer using the code given below: 1 only 2 and 3 only 1 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Women in Science Open in new  window Syllabus Mains: GS 2 (Governance) Case study: Gender issues, particularly gender inequality and discrimination in academia relating to higher education, perhaps came under the spotlight for the first time in India in 1937 when Professor D.M. Bose, then Professor of physics at Calcutta University, was reluctant to include Bibha Chowdhuri in his research group on the ground that he did not have suitable research projects to assign to women. Chowdhuri was unfazed and had her way. She joined Bose’s research group. Her work on cosmic rays in determining the mass of mesons is legendary. The general bias against women which arose out of suspected capability of their intelligence and their mettle in undertaking the arduous task of research was quite common in the 20th century. Things have changed and the glass ceiling has been broken. But how far have we progressed in the last 100 years in shedding this bias and ensuring that women are on a par with men in academic institutions. What is Glass Ceiling? It refers to an invisible barrier that stops the rise of women (or any other disadvantaged/ marginalised group) from reaching top positions of an organisation, polity, or society. The concept originated in corporate management sphere where it was defined as the ‘artificial barriers based on attitudinal or organizational bias that prevent qualified individuals from advancing upward in their organization into management level positions’ But ambit of the concept of glass ceiling has now been expanded to include other spheres as well, in which progress of certain individuals are hampered artificially. Glass ceiling in the corporate world: On the contrary, participation of women in leadership and decision-making positions in private enterprises (the corporate sector) is startling when compared to the reality in academics. The number of women in senior management positions in the corporate sector in India is 39%, which is higher than the global average. Number of women CEOs in Fortune 500 companies is 15% while female board members in the management of private enterprises have been growing from 15% in 2016 to 19.7% in 2022. If this trend continues, near parity will be reached by 2045, according to a forecast made by Deloitte. It is worth reflecting on the reasons for this discrepancy in female participation in higher positions in these two sectors. The mechanism of selection and promoting personnel in the private sector is mostly based on competence or merit because it is more result (market) oriented with a definite matrix than what it is in the academic institutes. Second, encouraging the participation of women in the workforce in the private sector with the adoption of various schemes for women began long ago when compared to the initiatives taken by the Government of India in recent years. Various schemes such as flexi-hour worktime, rejoining the workforce after an interim break, sections operated only by women, etc. were introduced in private enterprises as early as the 1990s with the benefits being reaped now. Causes for under-participation of women in STEM: Stereotypes: stereotypical gender roles like women work as housewives. Patriarchal and Societal Causes: biased attitudes in hiring practices or awarding fellowships and grants etc. Stressors related to marriage and childbirth, pressures to conform to societal norms and trappings of domesticity – responsibility related to running of households and elder care further hinder the representation of women in these non-conventional fields. Lack of Role Models: Organisational factors have also played a big role in preventing gender parity. Lack of women leaders and women role models may be preventing more women from entering these fields. Absence of Supportive Institutional Structure: Women leave the workforce, due to the absence of supportive institutional structures during pregnancy, safety issues in fieldwork and workplace. Poor education and healthcare access are responsible for a lesser number of women in these fields. Government’s incentives: Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions (GATI): a pilot project under the Department of Science and Technology to promote gender equity in science and technology Knowledge Involvement in Research Advancement through Nurturing (KIRAN)- a plan under the Department of Science and Technology again to encourage women scientists in science and technology and also preventing women scientists from giving up research due to family reasons, are noteworthy. One of the programmes under KIRAN called ‘Women Scientist Scheme’ — provides career opportunities to unemployed women scientists and technologists, especially those who had a break in their career. Indo-US Fellowship for Women in STEMM (WISTEMM) program– Under this bilateral agreement, Indian women scientists can now work in research labs in the US. Consolidation of University Research for Innovation and Excellence in Women Universities (CURIE) programme– It aims at improving R&D infrastructure and establishing state-of-the-art research facilities in order to create excellence in S&T in women universities. Vigyan Jyoti programme– Meritorious girl students of Class 9-12 are being encouraged to pursue higher education and career in the STEM field. However, despite all these endeavours, there is still a gender bias that persists and which has not been removed fully. Women are still an under-represented population globally in hardcore science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Way forward: Role of Science Academies: Science academies have to reflect upon their role and contributions to promote and retain women in science, thereby making science inclusive and sensitive. Bringing Behavioural Changes: Subdued gender participation emanates from social-economic issues, which can be treated by bringing behavioural change. This can be changed if more women are given leadership positions. Breaking the glass ceiling systemically: Remove the sexism and institutional obstacles that prevent more women from entering the scientific field. Affirmative action: government can examine having a policy of reservation of seats for women in all research institutions, higher education universities, laboratories, and STEM organisations. Awareness generation: Gender equality is not just an ethical imperative, but also a business priority. Organisations with greater diversity among their executive teams tend to have higher profits and greater innovation capability. By making people realise it, we can improve gender inclusivity across different sectors. It is hoped the programmes that have been initiated by the Government to empower women in the workforce will usher in gender parity by 2047, which would mark the centenary of India’s Independence- a true ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’. Must Read: Number of women scientists goes up Source:  The Hindu Code of conduct for civil servants Open in new  window Syllabus Mains – GS 4 (Ethics) Context: A senior IAS officer from Telangana, tweeted from her personal account in support of Ms. Bano (Bilkis Bano case) and questioned the Gujarat government’s decision, sparking off a row over whether she was in breach of the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules of 1964 and reviving the debate on the freedom of civil servants to express their personal views on matters of law and governance. Who are civil servants and what is their expected role? In a modern democracy, a civil servant is an official in the service of the people and is recruited based on predetermined qualifications. They are responsible for managing the resources given to them by the government and making use of them efficiently and effectively. A sound parliamentary system of government requires civil servants to maintain their integrity, fearlessness, and independence. One of the most important functions of the civil service, as stated by the head of the Canadian Public Service, is to “speak truth to power.” The crisis of ethics and accountability in civil servants exposes many issues related to the structure of the code of conduct, constitutional protection, the politician-bureaucratic nexus, and their political victimisation. To address these issues and maintain integrity and discipline amongst civil servants, various reform committees such as the Santhanam Committee (1964), Hota Committee (2004), and the most recent Second Administrative Reform Committee Report (2005) have been formed. Code of conduct for civil servants A legally enforceable code of conduct sets out the standards of behaviour expected of those working in the public service. The Civil Service code outlines the Civil Service’s core values, and the standards of behaviour expected of all civil servants in upholding these values. In India, the current set of ethical norms are the Conduct Rules, contained in the Central Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964 and analogous rules applicable to members of the All India Services or employees of various State Governments. The code of behaviour as enunciated in the Conduct Rules contain general norms like ‘maintaining integrity and absolute devotion to duty’ Freedom of speech and expression: Article 19 is recognized as a Fundamental Right which provides an individual or a community, the freedom to articulate their thoughts and opinions without the fear of a legal sanction or retaliation. Article 19(1) (a) of the Constitution of India states that “all citizens shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression”. The exercise of this right is subservient to “reasonable restrictions” being imposed under Article 19(2) of the Constitution of India. Article 19 (2) contains the grounds on which restrictions on the freedom of speech and expression can be imposed: Security of State Friendly relations with foreign states Public Order Decency or morality Contempt of Court Defamation Incitement to an offence To what extent do the Service Conduct Rules impose restrictions on the Freedom of Speech of Government employees? Freedom of speech and expression is a Fundamental Right, however, it is not absolute in nature, as there are reasonable restrictions which can be imposed. This is to ensure that the Indian bureaucracy, which has been perceived as a non-political organization, maintains neutrality. The restrictions are placed to ensure that there is space for healthy criticism. However, emotional outbursts, which could turn into criticism is governed, as these could lead to the public losing faith in the Government. Recent judgements by Tripura High court and Kerala High court gave a different direction to this debate In its judgment, the Tripura High Court has mentioned that government servants are entitled to hold and express their political beliefs, subject to the restrictions laid under Rule 5 of the Tripura Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1988. In its judgment, the Kerala High Court has mentioned, one cannot be prevented from expressing his views merely because he is an employee. In a democratic society, every institution is governed by democratic norms. Healthy criticism is a better way to govern a public institution. Restrictions applied through the service rule, that come in conflict with Article 19 (1)(a), right to free speech shall override unless the rules in question are covered under Article 19 (2), the framework that provides for reasonable restrictions. In a nutshell, any restriction imposed even through the conduct rules will have to qualify the requirements of Article 19(2). The conduct rules are flexible enough to accommodate certain kinds of expression which may not necessarily be political in nature. The right to Freedom of Speech and Expression plays a key role in the formation of public opinion on the political, social and economic matters. It is, therefore, quintessential for the functioning of democratic processes. Hence, a fair and constructive criticism is a welcome step even if it comes from the civil servant. But, the criticism should be in consonance with the principle enshrined in the Constitution of India. Source: The Hindu Baba’s Explainer – Carbon trading policy Carbon trading policy Syllabus Environmental Conservation Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation India is currently the third largest carbon emitter in the world, behind the US and China. Read Complete Details on Carbon trading policy Daily Practice MCQs Daily Practice MCQs Q.1) Consider the following Government of India Schemes: GATI KIRAN WISTEMM CURIE Which of the above are launched for the benefit of women? 1 and 2 only 2, 3 and 4 only 1, 3 and 4 only 1, 2, 3 and 4 Q.2) Consider the following statements: Large sea surface with temperature higher than 27° C Absence of the Coriolis force Small variations in the vertical wind speed Which of the above conditions are favorable for the formation of Tropical Cyclones? 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only 1 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Q.3) Durg-Bastar-Chandrapur belt and Ballari-Chitradurga-Chikkamagaluru-Tumakuru belt in India is famous for? Iron ore reserves Uranium reserves Gold reserves Coal reserves Comment the answers to the above questions in the comment section below!! ANSWERS FOR ’2nd September 2022 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs. ANSWERS FOR 31st August 2022 – Daily Practice MCQs Answers- Daily Practice MCQs Q.1) – d Q.2) – b Q.3) – a table, td, th { border: 1px solid;} table {width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; }

Sep 2, 2022 Baba’s Explainer

Baba's Explainer - Carbon trading policy

ARCHIVES Syllabus Environmental Conservation Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation India is currently the third largest carbon emitter in the world, behind the US and China. What is the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill 2022? In order to facilitate the achievement of more ambitious climate change targets and ensure a faster transition to a low-carbon economy, the government is seeking to strengthen a 20-year law, called the Energy Conservation Act of 2001, which has powered the first phase of India’s shift to a more energy-efficient future. The Bill to amend the Energy Conservation Act, 2001 – First, it seeks to make it compulsory for a select group of industrial, commercial and even residential consumers to use green energy. A prescribed minimum proportion of the energy they use must come from renewable or non-fossil fuel sources. Second, it seeks to establish a domestic carbon market and facilitate trade in carbon credits. Importantly, the amendment Bill seeks to widen the scope of energy conservation to include large residential buildings as well. Till now, the energy conservation rules applied mainly on industrial and commercial complexes. At the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) summit in November 2021, India promised to reach zero carbon emissions by 2070 and reduce its emissions by one million tonnes in the next 10 years. Establishing a carbon credit market is the first step toward this goal. Carbon Emission (CE) Occurs during the burning of carbonaceous fossil fired fuels, or in industrial manufacturing processes of cement, steel, chemicals etc. CE can be eliminated by substituting energy source/fuel- renewable solar/wind energy for thermal power; electric vehicles for petrol/diesel vehicles; and domestic electric appliances instead of kerosene/gas. However, industrial processes where the nature of chemical reaction is such that carbon dioxide is an inescapable output, such as in the production of cement clinker or iron in blast furnaces or chemicals and petrochemicals, CE can at best be reduced with better process efficiency. For example, India’s cement industry is perhaps the most efficient in the world with the emission intensity reduced to 576 kg of CO2 per tonne of cement against the global average of 634 kg but has limited potential for further process efficiency and continues to be a HtAS. What is a carbon market? Emission reductions and removals are converted into tradable assets through a carbon market. This implies that an industrial unit that surpasses the emission criteria is eligible to receive credits. Additionally, it would allow struggling units to purchase credits and demonstrate compliance. In simpler terms, a carbon market will create incentives to reduce emissions or improve energy efficiency. These commitments would drive demand for voluntary carbon credits in India. The annual demand for voluntary carbon credit in India is expected to touch 500+ million units by 2030 For example, an industrial unit which outperforms the emission standards stands to gain credits. Another unit which is struggling to attain the prescribed standards can buy these credits and show compliance to these standards. The unit that did better on the standards earns money by selling credits, while the buying unit is able to fulfill its operating obligations. Under the Kyoto Protocol, the predecessor to the Paris Agreement, carbon markets have worked at the international level as well. The Kyoto Protocol had prescribed emission reduction targets for a group of developed countries. Other countries did not have such targets, but if they did reduce their emissions, they could earn carbon credits. These carbon credits could then be sold off to those developed countries which had an obligation to reduce emissions but were unable to. This system functioned well for a few years. But the market collapsed because of the lack of demand for carbon credits. Case Study: In California, US imposes a limit on the volume of greenhouse gases that can be generated by a specific industry or area of the economy. The amount of metric tonnes of carbon dioxide that businesses can emit is then allowed. Businesses that pollute less than their allotted amount can sell the excess to other companies, encouraging everyone to reduce emissions more quickly. Industrial units in Europe have prescribed emission standards to adhere to, and they buy and sell credits based on their performance. China, too, has a domestic carbon market. A similar scheme for incentivising energy efficiency has been running in India for over a decade now. This BEE scheme, called PAT, (or perform, achieve and trade) allows units to earn efficiency certificates if they outperform the prescribed efficiency standards However, the new carbon market that is proposed to be created through this amendment to the Energy Conservation Act, would be much wider in scope. Although the details of this carbon market are not yet known. How is the price of carbon fixed? Global experience suggests that carbon pricing is initially introduced in high carbon-intensive sectors such as power, and then its scope is extended to other carbon-intensive sectors, such as cement and metals, over some time. Currently, India does not have a cap and trade policy or an explicit carbon price. The country has an implicit pricing structure defined by Internal Carbon Pricing (ICP). As per the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), ICP is a voluntarily determined price used within an organization to value the cost of one unit of CO2 emission. This reflects the carbon market price in the region where the company operates. According to a report titled ‘ESG India by Kotak Institutional Equities’, companies, especially in carbon-intensive sectors, and lower emission alternative providers will see an impact. Other than that, companies in the renewable energy sector will grow, and the revenue prospects of companies that manufacture equipment/render services which support carbon-intensive sectors and activities will also increase. Carbon markets will also open up new horizons for companies engaged in developing/consulting/trading carbon credits. On the other hand, it will be detrimental to the prospects of coal-based power generation capacities and Coal India’s growth ambitions. What are the benefits of adopting carbon trading policy? Any emission reduction is a step closer to tackle global warming and carbon trading scheme helps in the same. It achieves the objective of GHG emission reduction at low cost with caps in emissions, sanctions in the form of trade and fines as seen in Kyoto protocol. It helps in more effective way to address the global warming with the development of new technologies and technology transfer to utilize the renewable energy potential. E.g. Hydro electric project investments in countries like Bhutan by India. Emission trading provides a way of establishing rigour around emissions monitoring, reporting and verification – essential for any climate policy to preserve integrity. Emission trading results in a synergetic effect by way of integrations and collaborations and collective effort to fight the climate change. E.g. an industrial area in a third-tier town may not be able to contribute to climate change if not collaborations with global companies which is facilitated by the emission trading. What is the efficacy of carbon trading policy? The carbon trading market revolves around the presence of: (a) permissible threshold limits of CE for each industry, (b) market players’ success at decarbonisation, reducing CE to below threshold levels, and/or attained lower net CE by investing in carbon sequestration or afforestation, (c) polluting/inefficient market players whose CE exceeds the permissible threshold levels, and (d) pricing mechanism that acts as an incentive for sale of credits by efficient market players and purchase of credits by inefficient market players. According to the Paris agreement, the UN Panel on Climate change has indicated a price range of $40-80 per tonne of carbon dioxide if global warming is to be pegged within 2 degrees by 2050. The idea of a carbon market presupposes that market dynamics will enable optimum price discovery that is a deterrent for polluters and incentive for entities who invest on protecting the environment. This objective does not appear to have been realised so far. Although, these are early days, if the proposed carbon market in India does not become vibrant and robust quickly, there is a danger that HtAS will buy carbon credits at low prices and continue to increase their CE defeating the very purpose of a market linked mechanism that determines a deterrent cost for pollution. Hence, it is to be hoped that the carbon trading policy including the permissible threshold limits in each industry are carefully crafted to meet the twin objectives of growth and quality of life. What are the concerns with the carbon trading policy? It becomes ineffective if the companies have the wherewithal to invest heavily offsetting the carbon price they pay. Determining physical actions that companies must take, with no flexibility, is not guaranteed to achieve the necessary reductions. Establishing a regulated price is a policy nightmare and take years to come to a consensus and also faces a backlash. E.g. Carbon cess. As accounting the exact emissions is difficult, the issues in emission counting rendered by the developed countries has resulted in just number magic rather than actual reduction in emissions. Creating a market in something with no intrinsic value such as carbon dioxide is very difficult. The low carbon pricing mixed with politics has made the scheme ineffective where in the overall emissions have increased rather than decrease. Why Carbon Markets in significant for India? A report from Deloitte Economics Institute highlights that India must act now to prevent the country from losing $35 trillion in economic potential over the next 50 years due to unmitigated climate changes. The report also reveals how the country could gain $11 trillion in economic value over the same period by limiting rising global temperatures and realising its potential to export decarbonisation. Indian companies have already been participating in the global carbon market. This is done through one of three modes — carbon neutrality, Renewable (RE 100), and Science Based Targets (SBT). Companies participating in RE100 and SBT work to lower their emissions directly by reducing their reliance on harmful activities. Businesses that practise carbon neutrality invest in carbon offsets to achieve an equivalent decrease. Both domestic and foreign markets are sourced for the acquisition of these offsets. Though the market will largely be voluntary to begin with, once it becomes mandatory for a specific sector, the scheme will remain open for the Indian voluntary market buyer as mentioned in the Bill. This will open the market for newer avenues even as the demand for voluntary carbon credits grows exponentially in the country Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol Developing countries, particularly India, China and Brazil, gained significantly from the carbon market under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol. India registered 1,703 projects under the CDM which is the second highest in the world. Total carbon credits known as Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) issued for these projects are around 255 million amounting to S.$2.55 billion. Therefore, logically, India has a lot to gain from a thriving carbon market. However, with the ratification of the Paris Agreement, the rules of the game have changed. Unlike the Kyoto Protocol, now even developing countries are required to have mitigation targets. Developing countries are faced with a dilemma of either selling their carbon credits in return for lucrative foreign investment flows or use these credits to achieve their own mitigation targets. This has made Article 6 a highly sensitive issue that requires careful balancing of interests and expectations. While over 50% of the countries have communicated their intention of using market mechanisms to achieve NDC targets, India is not one of them as it aims to rely on domestic mitigation efforts to meet its NDC goals. It is the developed countries that would rely more on market mechanisms for achieving their climate targets as they would be comparatively low-cost options. What are the limitations of the PAT Scheme? The Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) Scheme is a programme launched by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) to reduce energy consumption and promote enhanced energy efficiency among specific energy intensive industries in the country. According to the government, the scheme has led to energy savings of about 17 million tonnes of oil equivalent and resulted in the mitigation of about 87 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. A tonne of oil equivalent is the amount of energy released by burning a tonne of crude oil. An analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a Delhi-based a public interest research and advocacy organisation, however, found that the scope of these reductions could have been far greater if industries were given higher targets and the scheme were implemented more thoroughly. For example, in the thermal industry, the CSE found that energy savings were only 3 per cent of the industry’s total annual emissions. By reducing energy consumption below a threshold limit that begets tradeable energy certificates (each certificate is for reduction of 1 MWH over a set target), an entity indirectly reduces CE and concurrently earns revenue. However, the PAT scheme does not incentivise efforts for the major direct CE reduction in ‘hard to abate sectors’ (HtAS) emanating from industrial chemical processes. Over and above improvement of energy efficiency, HtAS would entail R&D-led alternative technologies/processes, or substitution of raw materials, the technical feasibility and commercial viability of which are yet to be established. Hence, as such, there is no potential for additional benefit from the PAT scheme for most cement plants in India. Further, an integrated steel plant switching from the conventional blast furnace route to scrap based electric furnace steelmaking, may increase its electricity consumption but substantially reduce CE (by elimination of coke required for blast furnaces), would not qualify for energy certificate in the PAT scheme. The scope of the PAT scheme being limited, only 70 million tonnes CE reduction (2.5 per cent total CE) was possible at the end of PAT-II cycle in 2019-20. What is the way ahead? India is no stranger to carbon credits, which it has accumulated through participation in Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects. The strong experience in CDM projects has helped India develop projects that qualify for Voluntary Carbon Credits. However, compared to developed markets like the US, Voluntary Carbon Credits market in India is still in its infancy. There is a need for regulatory frameworks and policy guidelines that provide clear mandates on emission reductions. A new carbon trading system must be accompanied by proper pricing of credits for it to act as a check on hardcore polluters. Both the Centre and State need to figure out a way to bring large buildings under the law – since power is a subject that both states and the central government have jurisdiction over. For the changes to be truly effective, they need to be enforced by state governments at the local level Mains Practice Question –What are carbon markets? What role does carbon markets play in achieving India’s climate targets? Note: Write answers to this question in the comment section. table{ border: 1px solid; } table tr, table td{ border: 1px solid; }