Jul 25, 2022 IASbaba's Monthly Current Affairs Magazine

[CURRENT AFFAIRS] IAS UPSC REVAMPED Current Affairs Magazine June 2022

Archives Hello Friends,This is JUNE 2022 of IASbaba’s REVAMPED Current Affairs Monthly Magazine. Current Affairs for UPSC Civil Services Examination is an important factor in this preparation.An effort towards making your Current Affairs for IAS UPSC Preparation qualitative. We hope you make the best use of it!This edition covers all Important current affairs issues that were in news for the month of MAY 2022.Kindly leave your feedback in the comment section below on the new design and presentation of the magazine. We would love to hear from you :) Download The Magazine - June 2022 Important Topics Covered In The Magazine Includes: Abortion Debate Black Swan Event AI Ethics: A New Global Standard The Role of Caste in Economic Transformation New Corals recorded from Indian Ocean And Much More.... Download The Magazine - June 2022 To get Regular Updates from IASbaba, follow-TELEGRAM Channel – https://t.me/IASbabaOfficialAccountYOUTUBE – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChvbVdio9Wgj7Z3nQz1Q0ZQFACEBOOK – https://www.facebook.com/iasbaba/Also, SUBSCRIBE to the WEBSITE Below, so that you don’t miss out on important posts!Thank YouIASbaba

Jul 23, 2022 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 23rd July 2022

Archives (PRELIMS & MAINS Focus) The Indian Antarctic Bill, 2022 Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs Mains – GS 2 (Polity & Governance); GS 3 (Environment) In News: The Indian Antarctic Bill, 2022 was cleared by the Lok Sabha in the ongoing monsoon session. The Bill seeks to give effect to the Antarctic Treaty, the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, and the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty. It also seeks to protect the Antarctic environment and regulate activities in the region. Key Features of the Bill Applicability: The provisions of the Bill will apply to any person, vessel or aircraft that is a part of an Indian expedition to Antarctica under a permit issued under the Bill. Central committee: The central government will establish a Committee on Antarctic Governance and Environmental Protection. The Committee will be chaired by the Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences. The functions of the Committee include: granting permits for various activities, implementing and ensuring compliance of relevant international laws for protection of Antarctic environment, obtaining and reviewing relevant information provided by parties to the Treaty, Convention, and Protocol, and negotiating fees/charges with other parties for activities in Antarctica. Need for permit: permit will be required for various activities such as: an Indian expedition to enter or remain in Antarctica, a person to enter or remain in an Indian station in Antarctica, a vessel or aircraft registered in India to enter or remain in Antarctica, a person or vessel to drill, dredge or excavate for mineral resources, or collect samples of mineral resources, activities which may harm native species, and waste disposal by a person, vessel or aircraft in Antarctica. Before a permit is granted by the Committee, the applicant has to carry out an environmental impact assessment of the proposed activities. Moreover, a permit must not be granted unless a waste management plan has been prepared for the expedition by the Committee. Prohibited activities: The Bill prohibits certain activities in Antarctica including: nuclear explosion or disposal of radioactive wastes, introduction of non-sterile soil, and discharge of garbage, plastic or other substance into the sea which is harmful to the marine environment. Offences and penalties: The Bill specifies penalties for contravention of its provisions. Other important provisions It also directs creating a fund called the Antarctic fund that will be used for protecting the Antarctic environment. The Bill also extends the jurisdiction of Indian courts to Antarctica and lays out penal provision for crimes on the continent by Indian citizens, foreign citizens who are a part of Indian expeditions, or are in the precincts of Indian research stations. Antarctic Treaty The Antarctic treaty remains the only example of a single treaty that governs a whole continent. The Antarctic Treaty was signed between 12 countries in Washington on 1st December 1959 for making the Antarctic Continent a demilitarized zone to be preserved for scientific research only. The twelve original signatories are Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Chile, France, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the UK and the US. It entered into force in 1961 and has since been acceded by many other nations. Currently it has 54 parties. India became a member of this treaty in 1983. Its objectives are simple yet unique in international relations. They are: to demilitarize Antarctica, to establish it as a zone free of nuclear tests and the disposal of radioactive waste, and to ensure that it is used for peaceful purposes only; to promote international scientific cooperation in Antarctica; to set aside disputes over territorial sovereignty. The Treaty parties meet each year at the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting. They have adopted over 300 recommendations and negotiated separate international agreements, of which three are still in use. These, together with the original Treaty provide the rules which govern activities in Antarctica. Collectively they are known as the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS). The three international agreements are: Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (1972) Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (1980) Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (1991). Source: Indian Express Separate religious code for Sarna tribals Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Geography In News: As demands for a Sarna religious code in Census 2021 grow in Jharkhand, many outfits are busy trying to convince the tribal people that they are Hindus. In November 2020, the Jharkhand government convened a special Assembly session to pass a resolution to recognise Sarna religion and include it as a separate code in the Census of 2021. The Sarna Religion The followers of Sarna faith believe pray to nature. The holy grail of the faith is “Jal (water), Jungle (forest), Zameen (land)” and its followers pray to the trees and hills while believing in protecting the forest areas. Jharkhand has 32 tribal groups of which eight are from Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups. While many follow Hindu religion, some have converted to Christianity — this has become one of the planks of demanding a separate code “to save religious identity”— as various tribal organisations put it. Why need Sarna Code? It is believed that 50 lakhs tribal in the entire country put their religion as ‘Sarna’ in the 2011 census, although it was not a code. Thus it is important to recognize them. Politics around the code Many of the tribals who follow this faith have later converted to Christianity—the state has more than 4% Christians most of whom are tribals. Some who still follow the Sarna faith believe the converted tribals are taking the benefits of reservation as a minority. They also believe that benefits should be given specifically to them and not those who have converted. What sense does a separate code make? The protection of their language and history is an important aspect of tribals. Between 1871 and 1951, the tribals had a different code. However, it was changed around 1961-62. Experts argue that when today the entire world is focusing on reducing pollution and protecting the environment, it is prudent that Sarna becomes a religious code as the soul of this religion is to protect nature and the environment. Source: The Hindu Previous Year Question Q.1) Consider the following statements about Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in India: (2019) PVTGs reside in 18 States and one Union Territory. A stagnant or declining population is one of the criteria for determining PVTG status. There are 95 PVTGs officially notified in the country so far. Irular and Konda Reddi tribes are included in the list of PVTGs. Which of the statements given above are correct? 1, 2 and 3 2, 3 and 4 1, 2 and 4 1, 3 and 4 Ayush Mark Certification Scheme Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs Ayush Mark Certification Scheme Operated by Quality Council of India (QCI) since 2009 A voluntary certification scheme for AYUSH products having two levels: Ayush Standard Mark and Ayush Premium Mark. The Ayush Standard Mark is based on Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) for Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani medicines (ScheduleT) as per Drugs and Cosmetic Rules, 1945. AYUSH Premium Mark is based on WHO’s GMP guidelines covering herbal medicines. For any manufacturer to qualify for AYUSH Mark Certification, compliance to the domestic regulations is a pre-requisite. The products are certified post regulatory approval given by State Licensing Authority of the state government concerned. Must Read: India’s traditional medicine + WHO and Traditional Medicine Source: PIB Previous Year Question Q.1) ‘SWAYAM’, an initiative of the Government of India, aims at (2016) promoting the Self Help Groups in rural areas providing financial and technical assistance to young start-up entrepreneurs promoting the education and health of adolescent girls providing affordable and quality education to the citizens for free Private member’s bill Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Polity In News: The Right to Health Bill, 2021, moved for consideration and passage by RJD member Manoj Kumar Jha, witnessed a spirited debate. It’s a Private Member Bill. Private Member Bill Any Member of Parliament (MP) who is not a minister is referred to as a private member. The purpose of private member’s bill is to draw the government’s attention to what individual MPs see as issues and gaps in the existing legal framework, which require legislative intervention. Thus it reflects the stand of the opposition party on public matters. Its drafting is the responsibility of the member concerned. Its introduction in the House requires one month’s notice. The government bills can be introduced and discussed on anyday, private member’s bills can be introduced and discussed only on Fridays. Its rejection by the House has no implication on the parliamentary confidence in the government or its resignation. Upon conclusion of the discussion, the member piloting the bill can either withdraw it on the request of the minister concerned, or he may choose to press ahead with its passage. The last time a private member’s bill was passed by both Houses was in 1970. It was the Supreme Court (Enlargement of Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction) Bill, 1968. 14 private member’s bills — five of which were introduced in Rajya Sabha — have become law so far. Source: Economic Times Direct Sowing of Rice (DSR) Technique Open in new  window Syllabus Prelims – Geography Mains – GS 3 (Economy – Agriculture) Context: The Punjab government has announced a Rs 1,500 per acre incentive to farmers for adopting the DSR method. But they are returning to the traditional method of puddled transplanting of rice in majority of the paddy area. Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR): In DSR, the pre-germinated seeds are directly drilled into the field by a tractor-powered machine. There is no nursery preparation or transplantation involved in this method. Farmers have to only level their land and give one pre-sowing irrigation. Transplanting Paddy: In transplanting paddy, farmers prepare nurseries where the paddy seeds are first sown and raised into young plants. The nursery seed bed is 5-10% of the area to be transplanted. These seedlings are then uprooted and replanted 25-35 days later in the puddled field. Advantage with Direct Seeding of Rice Water savings Less numbers of labourers required. Saves labour cost. Reduce methane emissions due to a shorter flooding period and decreased soil disturbance compared to transplanting rice seedlings. Drawbacks of Direct Seeding of Rice Non-availability of herbicides The seed requirement for DSR is also high, 8-10 kg/acre, compared to 4-5 kg/acre in transplanting. Further, laser land levelling is compulsory in DSR. This is not so in transplanting. The sowing needs to be done timely so that the plants have come out properly before the monsoon rains arrive. Weed management plays a big role in harvesting a successful crop in DSR. This is because the technique doesn’t require flood irrigation for three weeks after sowing, and weeds tend to grow easily, unlike the conventional method. Source: The Indian Express Indian National Flag Open in new  window Syllabus Prelims – History Context: Three-quarters of a century ago on this day, July 22, 1947, the Constituent Assembly of India adopted the National Flag. Constituent Assembly under the chairmanship of Dr Rajendra Prasad adopted the National Flag. Design: The design of the Indian tricolour is largely attributed to Pingali Venkayya, an Indian freedom fighter. He proposed a basic design of the flag, consisting of two red and green bands to symbolise the two major communities, Hindus and Muslims. Mahatma Gandhi arguably suggested adding a white band to represent peace and the rest of the communities living in India, and a spinning wheel to symbolise the progress of the country. The design of the Wheel shall be that of the Wheel (Chakra) which appears on the abacus of the Sarnath Lion Capital of Asoka. History: 1906: Arguably the first national flag of India is said to have been hoisted on 7th August 1906, in Kolkata at the Parsee Bagan Square (Green Park). It comprised three horizontal strips of red, yellow and green, with Vande Mataram written in the middle. The red strip on the flag had symbols of the sun and a crescent moon, and the green strip had eight half-open lotuses. 1907: Madame Cama and her group of exiled revolutionaries hoisted an Indian flag in Germany in 1907 — this was the first Indian flag to be hoisted in a foreign land. 1917: Dr Annie Besant and Lokmanya Tilak adopted a new flag as part of the Home Rule Movement. It had five alternate red and four green horizontal stripes, and seven stars in the saptarishi configuration. A white crescent and star occupied one top corner, and the other had Union Jack. 1931: The Congress Committee met in Karachi and adopted the tricolour (that of Pingali Venkayya) as India’s national flag. Red was replaced with saffron and the order of the colours was changed. The flag was to have no religious interpretation. Saffron on top symbolises “strength and courage”, white in the middle represents “peace and truth” and green at the bottom stands for “fertility, growth and auspiciousness of the land”. The Ashok Chakra with 24 spokes replaced the spinning wheel as the emblem on the flag. It is intended “to show that there is life in movement and death in stagnation”. The National Flag should be rectangular in shape with a length to width ratio of 3:2. Source: Indian Express Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (Agreement) Open in new  window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs Mains – GS 3 (Economy) In News: Government of India answered the question related to Agreement on Fisheries subsidies in Rajya Sabha Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (Agreement) The Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (Agreement) agreed at the recently concluded WTO Ministerial meeting will prohibit subsidies from being provided for Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing and overfished stocks. Under the Special and Differential Treatment (S&DT), Developing Countries and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) have been allowed a transition period of two years from the date of entry into force of this Agreement. The Agreement also prohibits providing subsidies for fishing on high seas, which are outside the jurisdiction of coastal countries and Regional Fisheries Management Organizations/ Arrangements (RFMO/As). As per the Agreement, no prohibition has been imposed on a WTO Member regarding granting or maintaining subsidy to its vessel or operator as long as it is not carrying out IUU. Similarly, no prohibition on providing subsidies has been imposed for fishing regarding overfished stocks as long as such subsidies are implemented to rebuild the stock to a biologically sustainable level. Significance The Agreement will eliminate the subsidies granted to fishing vessels or fishing operators engaged in IUU fishing. Such disciplining will check large-scale IUU fishing which deprives coastal countries like India of fisheries resources, thereby significantly impacting the livelihoods of our fishing communities. This Agreement also provides flexibility to extend subsidies concerning overfished stocks if measures are taken to rebuild fish stocks to a biologically sustainable level, which supports our fishing communities. Fisheries Sector in India India is the second largest fish producing country in the world accounting for 7.56% of global production and contributing about 24% to the country’s Gross Value Added (GVA) India is the 4th largest exporter of fish in the world as it contributes 7.7% to the global fish production. Currently, this sector provides livelihood to more than 2.8 crore people within the country. Nevertheless, this is a sector with untapped potential. The fisheries sector has demonstrated double-digit average annual growth of 10.87 % since 2014-15 with record fish production of 145 lakh tons during 2020-21 as per the Economic Survey for 2021-22 Indian Fisheries and Aquaculture sector registering an average annual growth of 7.53% during the last 5 years. Challenges faced by Fisheries in India The FAO points out that nearly 90% of the global marine fish stocks have either been fully exploited or overfished or depleted to the extent that recovery may not be biologically possible In the Tropical regions, multiple varieties of fishes occur, but in smaller groups, which is not good for large scale commercial exploitation. Sector suffers from Lack of a reliable database relating to aquatic & fisheries resources. Aquatic pollution, destruction of fish habitats & frequent occurrence of Dead Zones/Hypoxic zones leading to shifting or permanent loss of Fishing zone. Lack of access to quality seed & feed, inadequate availability of credit. Increased use of Fibre Reinforced plastic (FRB), & poor-quality boats leading to ill effects on marine culture Poor infrastructure such as cold storage facilities, leading to an estimated 15-20% post-harvest loss. Issue of Formalin leads to negative branding of Indian fisheries. Steps taken to improve the fisheries sector Foreseeing the vast resource potential & possibilities in the fisheries sector, a separate Department of Fisheries was created in February 2019. The Government has merged all the schemes of fisheries Sector into an umbrella scheme of ‘Blue Revolution: Integrated Development & Management of Fisheries’. Fisheries & Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) was approved with a total fund size of Rs 7522.48 crore. FIDF provides concessional finance to the eligible entities, cooperatives, individuals & entrepreneurs for development of identified fisheries infrastructure. Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) Rs 11,000 crore for activities in Marine, Inland fisheries, & Aquaculture & Rs. 9000 crores for Infrastructure – Fishing Harbours, Cold chain, Markets etc shall be provided. There are provisions of Ban Period Support to fishermen Kisan credit cards for Fishermen Kissan Credit Cards (KCC) to fishers & fish farmers to help them in meeting their working capital needs. GEMINI: Gagan Enabled Mariner’s Instrument for Navigation & Information For dissemination of information on disaster warnings, Potential Fishing Zones (PFZ) and Ocean States Forecasts (OSF) to fishermen, GOI launched GEMINI device and mobile application. GOI has issued an advisory to all coastal States & UTs to make mandatory the use of Automatic Identification System (AIS) & Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) in fishing vessels for safe navigation. Way Forward The Fishing Sector has been instrumental in sustaining the livelihoods of over 28 million people in India especially for marginalized and vulnerable communities and has contributed towards encourage socio-economic development. In order to face these above challenges, the fisheries sector must develop the capacity to build and run effective quality assurance systems to comply with increasing stringent international standards of international markets as well as extending these to the domestic markets. Similarly, it should promote efforts to improve selective fishing gears to minimize by-catches of juveniles and non-target species and to develop technologies to make economical utilization of unavoidable by-catches. India’s long coastline has the potential of becoming the strength of the economy particularly through the exploitation of the Blue Revolution. India needs to develop more scientifically its fishing system and related infrastructure aspects. Source: Pib.Gov Previous Year Question Q.1) The terms ‘Agreement on Agriculture’, ‘Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phyto-sanitary Measures’ and ‘Peace Clause’ appear in the news frequently in the context of affairs of the Food and Agriculture Organization United Nations Framework Conference on Climate Change World Trade Organization United Nations Environment Programme Role of Rajya Sabha Open in new  window Syllabus Prelims – Polity & Governance Mains – GS 2 (Polity & Governance) Context: Rajya Sabha plays a crucial role in strengthening the fundamentals of our parliamentary democracy. Origin The genesis of the Rajya Sabha can be traced to the Montague-Chelmsford report of 1918 and, consequently, the Government of India Act, 1919, which provided for a second federal chamber or the Council of States Rajya Sabha as the second chamber of the parliament intended to play certain roles as a permanent house revisionary house and offers a degree of continuity in the underlying policies of laws passed by parliament. Role of Rajya Sabha Safety Valve of India’s Federal Polity Bicameralism is necessary for a federal constitution to give representation to the units of the federation. While checks and balances usually operate between the executive, legislature and judiciary, the Council of States acts as a safety valve within the legislature itself, easing federal tensions. Review and Revaluation Role Indian constitution framers wanted to create a house that would act as a revisionary house to keep a check on the hasty legislation that could be passed by the lower house under populist pressures. Also, when the ruling dispensation has a brute majority in the Lok Sabha, Rajya sabha can prevent the government of the day exercising authoritarianism. A Deliberative Body Parliament is not only a legislative body but also a deliberative one which enables the members to debate major issues of public importance. It also empowers its members to voice resistance, dissent, or any disagreement, even if the Lok Sabha dominates as the primary stakeholder in the law-making process Representing the Vulnerable Sections Women, religious, ethnic and linguistic minority groups are not adequately represented in the Lok Sabha An indirect form of election to the Rajya Sabha, therefore, would give them a chance to get involved in the nation’s law-making process. Thus, Rajya Sabha can make a place for people who may not be able to win a popular mandate. Issues Related to Rajya Sabha No equal Representation of states In Rajya Sabha, states are represented proportionally to their relative populations. For example, the number of seats allocated in Rajya Sabha to Uttar Pradesh alone is significantly higher than that of combined north-eastern states. Bypassing the Rajya Sabha In some cases, ordinary bills are being passed in the form of a Money Bill, circumventing the Rajya Sabha and giving rise to the question about the very efficacy of the upper house of Parliament. Undermining of Federal character of Rajya Sabha A person who does not belong to a state can contest the Rajya Sabha elections from that state of which they are neither a resident nor a domicile. Thus seats in the Rajya Sabha have been used by the ruling party to get their defeated candidate in Lok Sabha, elected in Rajya Sabha. Low Participation of Nominated Members The sincerity of nominated members has been questioned in multiple instances. Once nominated, they rarely participate in the working of the house. Way Forward A federal arrangement can be devised to enable equal representation for each state, so that large states do not dominate the proceedings in the House. There is a need for a better procedure of nomination to improve the quality of discussion in the House. A cue in this regard can be taken from the UK. Checks by legislature against government circumventing Rajya Sabha under ambit of Money Bill. The Rajya Sabha has remained a vanguard for political and social values, a melting pot of cultural diversity. With Lok sabha, it is a flag-bearer of the sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic called India. Efforts should be made to enable Rajya Sabha to retain its significant role in Indian democracy. Note: Special Powers of Rajya Sabha Power to transfer a subject from the State List to Union List for a specified period (Article 249). To create additional All-India Services (Article 312). To endorse Emergency under Article 352 for a limited period when the Lok Sabha remains dissolved. Source: Indian Express Previous Year Question Q.1) Rajya Sabha has equal powers with Lok Sabha in: (2020) the matter of creating new All India Services amending the Constitution the removal of the government making cut motion Q.2) Consider the following statements: (2015) The Rajya Sabha has no power either to reject or to amend a Money Bill. The Rajya Sabha cannot vote on the Demands for Grants. The Rajya Sabha cannot discuss the Annual Financial Statement. Which of the statements given above is/ are correct? 1 only 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Daily Practice MCQs Daily Practice MCQs Q.1) Consider the following statemnets about Ayush Mark Certification Scheme It is a voluntary certification scheme for AYUSH products The Ayush Standard Mark is based on Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) for Ayurvedic medicines as per Drugs and Cosmetic Rules, 1945 AYUSH Premium Mark is based on WHO’s GMP guidelines covering herbal medicines Choose the incorrect statements: 1 only 2 and 3 2 only None Q.2) Consider the following statements about Private member’s bill Its introduction in the House requires two month’s notice Private member’s bills can be introduced and discussed only on Fridays Choose the correct statements: 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) Consider the following statements about Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (Agreement) by WTO It prohibits subsidies from being provided for Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing and overfished stocks. Under the Special and Differential Treatment, Developing Countries have been allowed a transition period of five years from the date of entry into force of this Agreement The Agreement does not prohibit providing subsidies for fishing on high seas, which are outside the jurisdiction of coastal countries Choose the correct statements: 1 only 2 and 3 1, 2 and 3 1 and 2 Comment the answers to the above questions in the comment section below!! ANSWERS FOR ’23rd JULY 2022 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs. ANSWERS FOR 22nd JULY 2022 – Daily Practice MCQs Answers- Daily Practice MCQs Q.1) – c Q.2) – c Q.3) – c

Jul 23, 2022 TLP Mains Answer Writing

IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 2): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – Essay Questions [23rd July, 2022] – Day 30

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 30 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 

Jul 23, 2022 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz – 2022 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 23rd July 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

Jul 22, 2022 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

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

Archives (PRELIMS & MAINS Focus) Retirement age of Judges of Higher Judiciary Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Polity Mains – GS 2 (Polity – Judiciary) In News: Union Minister for Law and Justice told the Parliament that there is no proposal to increase the retirement age of Supreme Court and High Court judges. The Constitution (114th Amendment) Bill was introduced in 2010 to increase the retirement age of high court judges to 65. However, it was not taken up for consideration in Parliament and lapsed with the dissolution of the 15 Lok Sabha According to Article 124(2) of the Constitution, the age of retirement for Supreme Court judges is 65. As per Article 217(1) of the Constitution, High Court judges retire at 62. Why should it be increased? Pendency of cases As of September 15, 2021, over 5 crore cases were pending across all courts in India. Of these, 87.6% cases were pending in subordinate courts and 12.3% in High Courts. The Supreme Court’s statistics show that 70,362 cases are pending with it as of April 1, 2022. Judge-population ratio The judge-population ratio in India is among the lowest with 21.03 as on December 31 2021, while In 2016, the K. had 51 judges per million people, the U.S. had 107, Australia had 41, and Canada had 75. Other appointments Moreover, legislations provide for retired High Court and Supreme Court judges to man tribunals till the age of 70 as chairman and 65 as members. There is no reason why these judges should be retired so early. Recommendations In 1974, the 58th report of the Law Commission recommended bringing parity between age of retirement of judges of High Court and Supreme Court. In 2002, Justice Venkatachaliah Report – the report of National Commission to review the working of the Constitution – also recommended that the age of retirement should be increased for judges of High Courts and Supreme Court to 65 and 68, respectively. Other countries A retirement age of around 70 for judges is commonplace in most Western liberal democracies. Some of them even opt for tenures for life. In the Supreme Court of the United States, and in constitutional courts in Austria and Greece, judges are appointed for life. In Belgium, Denmark, Ireland and Australia, the retirement age for judges is 70 years. Impacts It will address the problem of mounting arrears. It will ensure the continued presence of a strong talent pool of experienced judges. Faster delivery of justice It will render post-retirement assignments unattractive and, as a consequence, strengthen the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary. Increasing the age of Judges will certainly help in addressing many issues. The retirement age of judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts could be increased, but with the option of quitting before reaching the age of superannuation – a practice prevailing in Zimbabwe, where a top court judge is appointed to retire at 65 years but can opt to continue till 70. Source: Indian Express Previous Year Question Q.1) Consider the following statements: (2019) The motion to impeach a Judge of the Supreme Court of India cannot be rejected by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha as per the Judges (Inquiry) Act 1968. The Constitution of India defines and gives details or what constitutes ‘incapacity and proved misbehaviour’ of the Judges of the Supreme Court of India. The details of the process of impeachment of the Judges of the Supreme Court of India are given in 4 the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968. If the motion for the impeachment of a Judge is taken up for voting, the law requires the motion to be backed by each House of the Parliament and supported by a majority of total membership of that House and by not less than two-thirds of total members of that House present and voting. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 and 2 3 only 3 and 4 only 1, 3 and 4 NITI Aayog’s India Innovation Index 2021 Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs Mains – GS 3 (Economy – Growth & Development) In News: The third edition of the India Innovation Index 2021 was released by NITI Aayog. India Innovation Index Prepared by NITI Aayog and the Institute for Competitiveness, the India Innovation Index is a comprehensive tool for the evaluation and development of the country’s innovation ecosystem. It seeks to rank the states and union territories based on their relative performance of supporting innovation, and to empower them to improve their innovation polices by highlighting their strengths and weaknesses. The third edition highlights the scope of innovation analysis in the country by drawing on the framework of the Global Innovation Index. The number of indicators has increased from 36 in 2020 to 66 2021. The indicators are now distributed across 16 sub-pillars, which, in turn, form seven key pillars. Enablers Human Capital Investment Knowledge Workers Business Environment Safety and Legal Environment Performance Knowledge Output Knowledge Diffusion Rankings Karnataka (Major States), Manipur (North East and Hill States) and Chandigarh (Union Territories and City States) have topped in their respective categories in the third edition of NITI Aayog’s India Innovation Index. Source: PIB Previous Year Question Q.1) “Rule of Law Index” is released by which of the following? (2018) Amnesty International International Court of Justice The Office Of UN Commissioner for Human Rights World Justice Project River Kali Bein Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Geography Mains – GS 3 (Environment) About River Kali Bein Origin The 165-km rivulet starts from Hoshiarpur, runs across four districts and meets the confluence of the rivers Beas and Sutlej in Kapurthala. Features Odhra rivulet, and Mukerian Hydel Channel are the main source of water for Kali Bein. The ChhotiBein is a tributary of the Kali Bein. The Kanjli Wetland, a Ramsar site (a wetland site designated of international importance under the Ramsar Convention), is supported by the Kali Bein. Pollution Wastewater from cities and towns as well as industrial waste used to flow into the rivulet via a drain, turning its waters black, hence the name Kali Bein (black rivulet). In the wake of the Green Revolution, the Kali Bein became progressively polluted until it was cleaned and rejuvenated in a mass action led by Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal in the 2000s. The ‘Kali Bein Model’ was cited as the blueprint for the National Mission for Clean Ganga. Significance for Sikhs The first Guru, Nanak Dev, is said to have got enlightenment When Guru Nanak Dev was staying at Sultanpur Lodhi with his sister BebeNanki, he would bathe in the Kali Bein. He is said to have disappeared into the waters one day, before emerging on the third day. This marks the beginnings of Sikhism and the start of Nanak’s teachings. The first thing he recited was the “Mool Mantra” of the Sikh religion (Ik Onkar). Gurudwara Ber Sahib, the principal shrine at Sultanpur, is situated on the bank of the rivulet Kali Bein. It is built by the side of an old ber tree which is believed to be the one under which Guru Nanak would sit in meditation. Source: The Indian Express Previous Year Question Q.1) Consider the following rivers: (2021) Brahamani Nagalwali Subarnarekha Vamsadhara Which of the above rise from the Eastern Ghats? 1 and 2 2 and 4 3 and 4 1 and 3 World Press Freedom Index Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs Mains – GS 2 (Polity & Governance) Context: India is ranked at 150 among 180 nations in the World Press Freedom Index 2022 report. The 20th World Press Freedom Index was published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Norway (1st) Denmark (2nd), Sweden (3rd) Estonia (4th) and Finland (5th) grabbed the top positions, while North Korea remained at the bottom of the list of the 180 countries and territories ranked by the Reporters Without Borders Scoring Criteria: The Index’s rankings are based on a score ranging from 0 to 100 that is assigned to each country or territory, with 100 being the best possible score (the highest possible level of press freedom) and 0 the worst. Evaluation Criteria: RSF developed a new methodology to compile the 20th World Press Freedom Index. The new methodology defines press freedom as “the effective possibility for journalists, as individuals and as groups, to select, produce and disseminate news and information in the public interest, independently from political, economic, legal and social interference, and without threats to their physical and mental safety.” In order to reflect press freedom’s complexity, five new indicators are now used to compile the Index: the political context, legal framework, economic context, sociocultural context, and security. The Indian Government’s Response The report described India as “one of the world’s most dangerous countries for the media” and noted that “journalists are exposed to all kinds of physical violence, including police violence, ambushes by political activists and deadly reprisals by criminal groups or corrupt local officials.” Indian government does not agree with the conclusions drawn by the organisation for various reasons, including “very low sample size, little or no weightage to fundamentals of democracy, adoption of a methodology which is questionable and non-transparent”. Government is committed to ensure the right to freedom of speech and expression enshrined under Article 19 of the Constitution. The Press Council of India (PCI) has been set up under the Press Council Act, 1978 mainly to preserve the freedom of the press and improve the standards of newspapers and news agencies in the country PCI looks into the complaints filed ‘by the Press’ regarding curtailment of press freedom. Index Monitoring Cell (IMC) Set up by: Information and Broadcasting Ministry Objective: To improve India’s ranking in the World Press Freedom Index and to evolve an objective yardstick to gauge media freedom. It is a 15-member committee. It has four journalists and government functionaries. Chaired by: Kuldeep Singh Dhatwalia, Principal Director General of the Press Information Bureau Must Read: On regulation of Digital media + Section 66A Source: The Indian Express Hate Speech Open in new  window Syllabus Mains – GS 1 (Social Issues) In News: The Supreme Court the Union Home Ministry to file a report within three weeks on whether states have complied with the court’s earlier verdicts on curbing hate speech. The court was referring to earlier rulings in which, it said, it had passed “preventive, corrective and remedial” measures to deal with such situations. In a 2018 ruling, Tehseen Poonawala v Union of India, the Supreme Court had condemned the “sweeping phenomenon” of lynching and mob violence in the country. In Shakti Vahini v Union of India verdict in 2018, in which petitioners sought the court’s intervention in curbing honour killing, the top court ruled that any attempt by khap panchayats, or any other assembly, to scuttle or prevent two consenting adults from marrying is absolutely ‘illegal’. Tehseen S. Poonawalla case In July 2018 judgment in the Tehseen S. Poonawalla case, the SC gave the government full freedom to stop/curb dissemination of “irresponsible and explosive messages on various social media platforms, which have a tendency to incite mob violence and lynching of any kind.” Shakti Vahini v Union of India verdict in 2018 The judgment came on a petition filed by NGO Shakti Vahini to curb honour crimes. The court held that the consent of the family, community or clan is not necessary for marriage. This is to safeguard young couples under threat for marrying outside their caste or religion. The Court also issued a set of guidelines for the authorities, to stop interference by khap panchayats. Hate Speech (Reasons, legal provisions and way forward) Source: Indian Express In Pegasus battle, the fight for surveillance reform Open in new  window Syllabus Mains – GS 2 (Polity – Privacy); GS 3 (Cybersecurity) Context: A year has passed since the disclosures about the Pegasus Project revealed the threat to India’s democracy. A study reported that the cellphones of at least 300 Indians had been hacked with Pegasus, the spyware from the Israel-based NSO Group. The court constituted a committee, overseen by former Supreme Court judge Justice R.V Raveendran, to look into the charges and accordingly submit a report. What were the objectives of the committee? The committee was mandated to inquire, investigate and determine, among other things, if Pegasus was used to eavesdrop on phones and other devices of Indian citizens. Details were sought on whether the government had taken any action after reports emerged in 2019 about WhatsApp accounts being hacked by the same spyware and if the government had indeed acquired such a suite. What is Pegasus?  How was it used in India? At least 40 journalists, Cabinet Ministers, and holders of constitutional positions were possibly subjected to surveillance using Pegasus. Since Pegasus is graded as a cyberweapon and can only be sold to authorised government entities as per Israeli law, most reports have suggested that the governments in these countries are the clients. Surveillance Laws in India Communication surveillance in India takes place primarily under two laws Telegraph Act deals with interception of calls IT Act was enacted to deal with surveillance of all electronic communication Telegraph Act Section 5(2) of The Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, states that the government can intercept a “message or class of messages” on certain situations. Certain situations — the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the state, friendly relations with foreign states or public order, or for preventing incitement to the commission of an offence These are the same restrictions imposed on free speech under Article 19(2) of the Constitution. These restrictions can be imposed only when there is a condition precedent — the occurrence of any public emergency, or in the interest of public safety. The operational process and procedures for Interception Under Rule 419A, surveillance needs the sanction of the Home Secretary at the Central or State level, but in “unavoidable circumstance” can be cleared by a Joint Secretary or officers above, if they have the Home Secretary’s authorisation. In the K.S. Puttaswamy vs Union of India verdict of 2017, the Supreme Court further reiterated the need for oversight of surveillance, stating that it should be legally valid and serve a legitimate aim of the government.  The court also said the means adopted should be proportional to the need for surveillance, and there should be procedures to check any abuse of surveillance. Information Technology Act, 2000 Section 69 of the IT Act, 2000 deals with electronic surveillance. It facilitates government “interception or monitoring or decryption of any information through any computer resource” if it is in the interest of the “sovereignty or integrity of India, defence of India, security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States or public order” or for preventing or investigating any cognizable offence. Challenges to overcome An overhaul of surveillance laws is necessary to prevent the indiscriminate monitoring of people and entities by the state and private actors. The Information Technology Act, 2000 and the Indian Telegraph Act 1885 which empower the Government to surveil, concentrate surveillance powers in the hands of the executive, and do not contain any independent oversight provisions, judicial or parliamentary. These legislations are from an era before spyware such as Pegasus were developed, and, thus, do not respond to the modern-day surveillance industry. Lack of legislative proposals by the Union Government for surveillance reform: The proposed data protection law does not address these concerns Instead, the proposed law provides wide exemptions to the Government relating to select agencies from the application of the law; one which might be used to exempt intelligence and other law enforcement agencies. This gap in the surveillance framework has led to severe harm being caused to India’s democratic ideals. Conclusion From targeting activists and journalists for civil and political purposes, to the targeting of litigants for commercial benefits, the surveillance industry is becoming increasingly accessible, and the nature of surveillance, exponentially intrusive. In the absence of immediate and far-reaching surveillance reform, and urgent redress to those who approach authorities against unlawful surveillance, the right to privacy may soon become obsolete. Note: What is a zero-click attack? Source: The Hindu The Hindu Fake News Open in new  window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs Mains – GS (Polity & Governance) In News: Government stated that in 2021-22, the Government blocked 94 YouTube channels, 19 social media accounts and 747 uniform resource locators (URLs) engaged in anti-India activities. These actions have been taken under the Section 69A Information Technology Act 2000. Statutory and institutional mechanisms to fight fake news The Government has the statutory and institutional mechanisms in place to combat fake news. For print media, Press Council of India (PCI), a statutory autonomous body set up under the Press Council Act, 1978. PCI has framed “Norms of Journalistic Conduct” for adherence by the media, which includes specific norms to refrain print media from publication/ dissemination of fake/false news. For electronic media (television), all TV channels are required to adhere to the programme code under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995. For digital news, the government has notified the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 under the Information Technology Act, 2000. Information Technology Act, 2000 The Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000, governs all activities related to the use of computer resources. It covers all ‘intermediaries’ who play a role in the use of computer resources and electronic records. Section 69A of the IT Act: It confers on the Central and State governments the power to issue directions to intercept, monitor or decrypt any information generated, transmitted, received or stored in any computer resource. The grounds on which these powers may be exercised are: In the interest of the sovereignty or integrity of India, defence of India, the security of the state. Friendly relations with foreign states. Public order, or for preventing incitement to the commission of any cognizable offence relating to these. For investigating any offence. Process of Blocking Internet Websites: Section 69A, for similar reasons and grounds (as stated above), enables the Centre to ask any agency of the government, or any intermediary, to block access to the public of any information generated, transmitted, received or stored or hosted on any computer resource. Any such request for blocking access must be based on reasons given in writing. Fake News Fake news is news, stories or hoaxes created to deliberately misinform or deceive readers. Usually, these stories are created to influence people’s views, push a political agenda or cause confusion and can often be a profitable business for online publishers. Causes of Spread of Fake News Erosion of Media Ethics: News media is no longer seen as an arbitrator of the ‘real news’. Media is alleged to be echo-chamber of the dominant political class. Thus News Media have lost credibility due to motivated reporting, which has become a source of fake news. Social Media: The advent of social media has decentralized the creation and propagation of fake news. The vastness of the internet and social media users makes tracing the origin of fake news almost impossible. Polarization of society: Increasing divide in the society on ideological lines has made the job of spreading fake news easier. Lack of legislation: There is no specific law to deal with fake news in India. Difficult to achieve balance: The efforts to control fake news should not threaten to cramp legitimate investigative and source-based journalism or freedom of expression as guaranteed in Article 19 of the Constitution. Remedies available to tackle this menace The Press Council of India: It is created by an Act of Parliament, is a statutory body and keeps vigil on fake news. It can warn, admonish or censure the newspaper, the news agency. IPC Sections 153A and 295: Under this action can be initiated against someone creating or spreading fake news if it can be termed as hate speech. Indian Broadcast Foundation (IBF): This body was created in 1999 to look into the complaints against content aired by 24×7 channels. The Information Technology (IT) Act – Section 69A – It imposes an obligation on intermediaries such as search engine giant to remove any objectionable content pursuant to takedown notices by law enforcement agencies. Way Forward Bring out policy – The government should bring out a policy with the inputs from various stakeholders of controlling fake news. Regulatory mechanism – The PCI needs to be reformed and empowered in a way so as to enable it to strike a balance between the freedom of media and speech on the one hand, and the right to know on the other. Educating the end-users to be more discerning consumers of news by informing them of verification tools so that they can ascertain the accuracy of a news item before sharing it. De-anonymizing all social media accounts for tracking the ‘source’ of fake news. Source: Financial Express Crimes against Vulnerable sections Open in new  window Syllabus Mains – GS 2 (Governance) In News: Cases of crime against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes have risen progressively in the years between 2018 and 2020, according to figures tabled by the Ministry of Home Affairs in Lok Sabha The figures were sourced from the National Crime Records Bureau. Cases registered for crime against SCs rose from 42,793 in 2018 to over 50,000 in 2020, and of crime against STs from 6,528 to 8,272 in the same period. Source: Indian Express Daily Practice MCQs Daily Practice MCQs Q.1) India Innovation Index is published by? Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology Ministry of Corporate Affairs NITI Aayog Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Q.2) Consider the following statements about River Kali Bein It is a rivulet that starts from Hoshiarpur, Punjab and meets the confluence of the rivers Beas and Sutlej in Kapurthala. The Kanjli Wetland, a Ramsar site is supported by the Kali Bein. The first Guru, Nanak Dev, is said to have got enlightenment here. Choose the incorrect statements: 2 only 2 and 3 None 3 only Q.3) Kaliningrad region, recently in news belongs to which of the following country? Poland Lithuania Russia Ukraine Comment the answers to the above questions in the comment section below!! ANSWERS FOR ’22nd JULY 2022 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs. ANSWERS FOR 21st JULY 2022 – Daily Practice MCQs Answers- Daily Practice MCQs Q.1) – b Q.2) – b Q.3) – d

Jul 22, 2022 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz – 2022 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 22nd July 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

Jul 22, 2022 TLP Mains Answer Writing

IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 2): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – General Studies 4 Questions [22nd July, 2022] – Day 29

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 29 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 

Jul 21, 2022 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 21st July 2022

Archives (PRELIMS & MAINS Focus) Cheetah Reintroduction Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Geography & Environment In News: Cheetahs likely to arrive in Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park before August 15. India is one step closer to bringing back the world’s fastest animal, which has been extinct in the country since 1952, with an agreement that was signed between the government and the visiting Namibian Deputy Prime Minister. The agreement, which has been negotiated for some years, will prepare the ground for the relocation of the first batch of cheetahs from southern Africa to Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park, with officials trying to complete the first transfer before August 15. The MoU focused on biodiversity conservation, and the sharing of expertise between the two countries, technological applications, collaborations on climate change, pollution and waste management, and the exchange of personnel for training and education in wildlife management. While the current carrying capacity for the Kuno National Park is a maximum of 21 cheetahs, once restored the larger landscape can hold about 36 cheetahs. Kuno National Park Kuno National Park is a national park in Madhya Pradesh, India, established in 1981 as a wildlife sanctuary. State government changed the status of the wildlife sanctuary to Kuno National Park in 2018 It is part of the Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous forests ecoregion. Flora The vegetation of the protected area includes dry savanna forest and grassland and tropical riverine forest. Fauna The main predators occurring in the protected area are Indian leopard, jungle cat, sloth bear, dhole, Indian wolf, golden jackal, striped hyena and Bengal fox. Cheetah The cheetah is one of the oldest of the big cat species, with ancestors that can be traced back more than five million years to the Miocene era. The cheetah is also the world’s fastest land mammal that lives in Africa and Asia Features Asiatic Cheetah African Cheetah Physical Characteristics Smaller and paler than the African cheetah. Has smaller head and a longer neck. Usually have red eyes and they have a more cat-like appearance. Bigger in size as compared to Asiatic Cheetah.   Image Distribution Around 40-50 found only in Iran. Around 6,500-7,000 African cheetahs present in the wild. Status IUCN: Critically Endangered CITES: Appendix-I of the List IUCN: Vulnerable CITES: Appendix-I of the List Source: The Hindu Previous Year Question Q.1) Which one of the following protected areas is well-known for the conservation of a sub-species of the Indian swamp deer (Barasingha) that thrives well on hard ground and is exclusively graminivorous? (2020) Kanha National Park Manas National Park Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary Tal Chhaper Wildlife Sanctuary Law on abortion Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs Mains – GS 1 (Society); GS 2 (Governance) In News: A 25-year-old pregnant woman moved the Supreme Court seeking an abortion after the Delhi High Court declined her plea. The woman has also challenged Rule 3B of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Rules, 2003, which allows only some categories of women to seek termination of pregnancy between 20 and 24 weeks. The case has raised very important questions about the framework of reproductive rights, and recognising female autonomy and agency in India. What is India’s law on abortion? In 1971, The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act (MTP Act) was introduced to “liberalise” access to abortion. The MTP Act allowed termination of pregnancy by a medical practitioner in two stages. For termination of pregnancy up to 12 weeks from conception, the opinion of one doctor was required. For pregnancies between 12 and 20 weeks old, the opinion of two doctors was required. In 2021, Parliament amended the law and allowed for a termination under the opinion of one doctor for pregnancies up to 20 weeks. For pregnancies between 20 and 24 weeks, the amended law requires the opinion of two doctors. For the second category, the Rules specified seven categories of women who would be eligible for seeking termination. Section 3B of Rules prescribed under the MTP Act reads: “The following categories of women shall be considered eligible for termination of pregnancy under clause (b) of subsection (2) Section 3 of the Act, for a period of up to twenty-four weeks, namely: survivors of sexual assault or rape or incest; minors; change of marital status during the ongoing pregnancy (widowhood and divorce); women with physical disabilities [major disability as per criteria laid down under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 mentally ill women including mental retardation; the foetal malformation that has substantial risk of being incompatible with life or if the child is born it may suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities to be seriously handicapped; and women with pregnancy in humanitarian settings or disaster or emergency situations as may be declared by the Government.” While the law recognises change in circumstances of the relationship status between a pregnant woman and her spouse — in the case of divorce and widowhood — it does not envisage the situation for unmarried women. This is the gap in the law that the petitioner before the Supreme Court falls in. The MTP Act is a provider protection law, that seeks to shield the Registered Medical Practitioner (RMP) from criminal liability, and as such it does not centre the pregnant woman’s needs and reproductive autonomy Access to abortion is not at the will of the pregnant woman. It is a highly regulated procedure whereby the law transfers the decision-making power from the pregnant woman to the RMP and provides great discretion to the RMP to determine whether abortion should be provided or not. It is time that the legislature identifies this loophole in the present law and take the appropriate steps to uphold the reproductive rights of the women. Source: Indian Express Previous Year Question Q.1) With reference to the ‘Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act, 1988 (PBPT Act), consider the following statements: (2017) A property transaction is not treated as a benami transaction if the owner of the property is not aware of the transaction. Properties held benami are liable for confiscation by the Government. The Act provides for three authorities for investigations but does not provide for any appellate mechanism. Which of the statements .given above is/are correct? 1only 2 only 1 and 3 only 2 and 3 only Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Economy Mains – GS 3 (Growth & Development) In News: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is in the process of implementing the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) in a phased manner for wholesale and retail segments The introduction of CBDC was announced in the Union Budget 2022-23, by Finance Minister and necessary amendments to the relevant section of the RBI Act, 1934 have been made with the passage of the Finance Bill 2022 India’s official digital currency is likely to debut by early 2023, which will mirror any of the currently available private company-operated electronic wallets. The CBDC will be a sovereign-backed digital currency. Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) CBDCs are a digital form of a paper currency and unlike cryptocurrencies that operate in a regulatory vacuum, these are legal tender issued and backed by a central bank. Budget 2022-23, the Government of India announced that its central bank will issue a digital currency as early as 2022-23. The main objective is to mitigate the risks and trim costs in handling physical currency, costs of phasing out soiled notes, transportation, insurance and logistics. It will also wean people away from cryptocurrencies as a means for money transfer. Merits A Combination of Traditional and Innovative: CBDC can gradually bring a cultural shift towards virtual currency by reducing currency handling costs. Easier Cross-Border Payments: CBDC can provide an easy means to speed up a reliable sovereign backed domestic payment and settlement system partly replacing paper currency. It could also be used for cross-border payments; it could eliminate the need for an expensive network of correspondent banks to settle cross-border payments. Financial Inclusion: The increased use of CBDC could be explored for many other financial activities to push the informal economy into the formal zone to ensure better tax and regulatory compliance. It can also pave the way for furthering financial inclusion. Risks Privacy Concerns: The first issue to tackle is the heightened risk to the privacy of users—given that the central bank could potentially end up handling an enormous amount of data regarding user transactions. This has serious implications given that digital currencies will not offer users the level of privacy and anonymity offered by transacting in cash. Disintermediation of Banks: The shift to CBDC can impinge upon the bank’s ability to plough back funds into credit intermediation. Other risks are: Faster obsolescence of technology could pose a threat to the CBDC ecosystem calling for higher costs of upgradation. Operational risks of intermediaries as the staff will have to be retrained and groomed to work in the CBDC environment. Elevated cyber security risks, vulnerability testing and costs of protecting the firewalls Operational burden and costs for the central bank in managing CBDC. Way forward Robust data security systems will have to be set up to prevent data breaches. Thus, it is important to employ the right technology that will back the issue of CBDCs. The financial data collected on digital currency transactions will be sensitive in nature, and the government will have to carefully think through the regulatory design. This would require close interaction between the banking and data protection regulators. Also, the institutional mechanisms would need to ensure that there is no overlap between different regulators and chart out a clear course of action in case there is a data breach of digital currencies. Source: The Hindu Previous Year Question Q.1) With reference to ‘Bitcoins’, sometimes seen in the news which of the following statements is/are correct (2016) Bitcoins are tracked by the Central Banks of the countries. Anyone with a Bitcoin address can send and receive Bitcoins from anyone else with a Bitcoin address. Online payments can be sent without either side knowing the identity of the other. Select the correct answer using the code given below: 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Digital Banks Open in ew window Syllabus Prelims – Economy Mains – GS 3 (Economy) In News: Recently, NITI Aayog has released a Report titled- ‘Digital Banks: A Proposal for Licensing & Regulatory Regime for India’. It suggested setting up Digital Banks and a licensing and regulatory framework for such Banks. Digital Bank: It will be defined in the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, and shall have its own balance sheet and legal existence. It will be different from the 75 Digital Banking Units (DBUs) — announced by Finance Minister in Union Budget 2022-23 – which are being set up to push digital payments, banking and fintech innovations in underserved areas Digital banks will be subject to prudential and liquidity norms on a par with existing commercial banks. Findings In recent years, India has made rapid strides in furthering Financial Inclusion (FI), catalysed by the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) and India Stack. The FI has been furthered by the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), which has witnessed extraordinary adoption. The FI also resulted in Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) through apps such as PM-KISAN and extending microcredit facilities to street vendors through PM-SVANIDHI. India is at the cusp of operationalizing its own open banking framework. Creating a blueprint for digital banking regulatory framework and policy offers India the opportunity to cement her position as the global leader in Fintech at the same time as solving the several public policy challenges she faces. Recommendations Issue of a restricted digital bank licence, the license would be restricted in terms of volume/value of customers serviced and the like. Enlistment of the licensee in a regulatory sandbox framework enacted by the Reserve Bank of India Source: Pib.Gov GOAL 2.0 Open in nw  window Syllabus Prelims – Current Affairs Mains – GS 2 (Governance) In News: Recently, Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Meta have launched the second phase of the GOAL Programme (GOAL 2.0). GOAL Programme GOAL (Going Online as Leaders) was launched as a pilot project in May 2020 and it was completed by December 2021. It aimed at digital empowerment of tribal youth and women through the concept of mentor and mentee. The programme is fully funded by Meta. Trainings were provided for three pillars: Communication & Life Skills Enabling Digital Presence Leadership & Entrepreneurship GOAL 2.0 Goal 2 program will be open to all people from tribal communities. In Phase-I, the digital mentorship was provided online by attaching one mentor to 2 mentees. Objective: The program aims to upskill and digitally enable tribal youth via Facebook live sessions and Meta Business Coach, a digital learning tool. There will be special focus on more than 10 lakh members of 50000 Vandhan Self Help Groups. They will be digitally trained with regard to market demand, packaging, branding and marketing of their products. The GOAL 2 will enable maximum participation and percolation of benefits of the training within the tribal youth with provision of Chatbot, need based on line sessions from Industry experts in different fields as per requirements from the mentees. Agencies Involved: The Ministry of Tribal Affairs in coordination with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, will be providing 6 digital classes in each of the 175 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) selected under the program. The project is being implemented by The Education and Research Network, which is an autonomous organization under the MeITY. Source: Pib.Gov Previous Year Question Q.1) What is the aim of the programme ‘Unnat Bharat Abhiyan’? (2017) Achieving 100% literacy by promoting collaboration between voluntary organizations and government’s education system and local communities. Connecting institutions of higher education with local communities to address development challenges through appropriate technologies. Strengthening India’s scientific research institutions in order to make India a scientific and technological power. Developing human capital by allocating special funds for health care and education of rural and urban poor, and organizing skill development programmes and vocational training for them. Tetrapods Open in new  window Syllabus Prelims – Geography In News: Residents of two buildings on Marine Drive, the iconic 3-km promenade in south Mumbai, complained of “unusual vibrations” during high tide over the past weekend. They wrote to say that the unusual vibrations, coinciding with high-tide times, were the result of the relocation of tetrapods as part of the ongoing Coastal Road Project (MCRP). What are tetrapods? Tetra pod in Greek means four-legged. These are four-legged concrete structures that are placed along coastlines to prevent erosion and water damage. Tetrapods were first used in France in the late 1940s to protect the shore from the sea. They are typically placed together to form an interlocking but porous barrier that dissipates the power of waves and currents. These are large structures, sometimes weighing up to 10 tonnes, and interlocked tetra pods act as a barrier that remains stable against the rocks when buffeted by waves. Tetrapods, each weighing about 2 tonnes, were placed along Marine Drive in the late 1990s to break and dissipate waves and maintain the reclaimed shoreline in South Mumbai. Why were the tetrapods removed from the Marine Drive area? They were temporarily removed to help carry out reclamation for the ongoing Coastal Road Project. The corporation as agreed to re-install the structures. Source: Indian Express Hatti community Open in new  window Syllabus Prelims – Geography In News: The Centre is reported to be considering granting “tribal” status to the Trans-Giri region of Himachal Pradesh’s Sirmaur district. The demand to declare Trans-Giri a tribal area is old — and is tied up with the demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for the Hatti community which lives in the area. The community and the land The Hattis are a close-knit community who take their name from their traditional occupation of selling home-grown crops, vegetables, meat, and wool at small-town markets known as ‘haats’. Hatti men traditionally don a distinctive white headgear on ceremonial occasions. The present population of the Hattis is estimated at around 3 lakh. The Hatti homeland straddles the Himachal-Uttarakhand border in the basin of the Giri and Tons rivers, both tributaries of the Yamuna. The Tons marks the border between the two states. The Hattis are governed by a traditional council called ‘khumbli’ which, like the ‘khaps’ of Haryana, decide community matters. Requirement of ‘tribal’ area In its reply in Parliament, the government laid down the requirements for such designation, and the reason why Himachal Pradesh’s claim could not be considered It said that the Constitution provides for two types of areas: “Scheduled Areas” in terms of the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution, and “Tribal Areas” in terms of Sixth Schedule. Himachal Pradesh submitted a proposal for notifying entire Trans-Giri area of Sirmour district, Dodra Kwar Sub-Division of Shimla district, 15/20 areas of Shimla and Kullu districts as Scheduled Areas in Himachal Pradesh. The government said, for declaration of Scheduled Areas the criteria followed are: preponderance of tribal population, compactness and reasonable size of the area, a viable administrative entity such as a district, block or taluk, and economic backwardness of the area as compared to neighbouring areas. The proposal was examined in the Ministry and could not be considered due to want of requisite criteria, as mentioned above. Source: Indian Express Baba’s Explainer – Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB) Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB) Syllabus GS-2: Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies. GS-3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development Context: The government has transformed Banks Board Bureau (BBB), the headhunter for directors of state-owned banks and financial institutions, into Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB) by making some amendments. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has asked the Department of Financial Services to carry out necessary modifications in the Nationalized Banks (Management and Miscellaneous Provisions) Scheme of 1970/1980 with the approval of Finance Minister, and then notify the government resolution for establishing FSIB. Read Complete Details on Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB) Daily Practice MCQs Daily Practice MCQs Q.1) Hatti Community recently in news is residents of? Mizoram Himachal Pradesh Karnataka Manipur Q.2) Consider the following statements about GOAL program It is an initiative of NITI Aayog and Ministry of electronics and Information Technology It aims at digital empowerment of tribal youth and women through the concept of mentor and mentee Choose the correct statements: 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) Which among the following National Park is chosen by the GoI for Cheetah reintroduction? Anshi National Park Campbell Bay National Park Clouded Leopard National Park Kuno National Park Comment the answers to the above questions in the comment section below!! ANSWERS FOR ’21st JULY 2022 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs. ANSWERS FOR 20th JULY 2022 – Daily Practice MCQs Answers- Daily Practice MCQs Q.1) – c Q.2) – d Q.3) – c

Jul 21, 2022 Baba’s Explainer

Baba's Explainer - Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB)

ARCHIVES Syllabus GS-2: Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies. GS-3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development Context: The government has transformed Banks Board Bureau (BBB), the headhunter for directors of state-owned banks and financial institutions, into Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB) by making some amendments. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has asked the Department of Financial Services to carry out necessary modifications in the Nationalized Banks (Management and Miscellaneous Provisions) Scheme of 1970/1980 with the approval of Finance Minister, and then notify the government resolution for establishing FSIB. What is the importance of Public Sector Banks (PSBs)? Backbone of Indian financial architecture: Since nationalization of State Bank of India in 1955, followed by more banks in 1969 and 1980. Public Sector Banks (PSBs) are considered lifeline of Indian economy. If their health is not good, then economy at large will also suffer. The key objective of social control (PSBs) is to achieve the widest spread of banking credit, prevent misuse of banking assets, and direct larger volume of credit to priority sector to achieve economic development. Financial Inclusion: Since the 1970s, public sector banks (PSBs) have been in the forefront of mobilizing resources from far flung rural areas as well as extending banking services in the remotest parts of the country. Revenue to Government: PSBs have been paying a steady stream of dividends year on year. The government being the largest shareholder in PSBs, is the biggest beneficiary of these dividends. This is over and above the corporate taxes and other taxes that all corporate entities including PSBs have to pay. Shoulder the responsibility of Riskier lending: The general refrain of PSBs is that they operate under constraints, are not on equal footing with private financial institutions and have to lend to certain risky segments of the economy as part of priority sector lending, as well as directed lending, sometimes under political compulsions. The public and social responsibility is much higher for PSBs than what the private sector competitors have with them. The burden of social agenda has largely been shouldered by PSBs. Liquidity in market: The growth of our economy depends on PSBs ability to flow credit to the market and maintain sufficient liquidity. If that doesn’t happen, the economy as a whole will shrink. To keep economy in good health, PSBs are simply necessary. What has been the issues with Public Sector Banks? PSBs have acted as shock-absorbers for the economy, by taking over failed private banks after every major scam; PSBs have been exploited by every government for its political agenda, while never putting in place proper human resource policies and investing in training and skill development; Every crisis led to the formation of a committee which painstakingly identified issues and offered solutions which were ignored (of special significance is the report of the independent commission headed by SP Shukla and backed by bank unions); Failure of supervision by RBI was responsible for most of the scams as well as protecting large defaulters by refusing to name and shame them almost until the bankruptcy proceedings began. The problem of the government as the owner of PSBs on five fronts—appointment of top executives, the appointment of directors to their boards, the working of the board, the internal working of the banks and failure to fix accountability. Therefore, in the interest of maintaining credibility of PSBs which account for nearly 70% of banking activity in the country, there is a need to ensure professionalism, efficiency, and autonomy in its functioning (undue political interference minimized) What is Bank Boards Bureau (BBB)? The Banks Board Bureau (BBB) has its genesis in the recommendations of J. Nayak Committee to Review Governance of Boards of Banks in India, May 2014. With a view to improve the Governance of Public Sector Banks (PSBs), the Government had decided to set up an autonomous Banks Board Bureau. BBB was mandated to make recommendations for appointment of whole-time directors as well as non-executive chairpersons of PSBs and state-owned financial institutions. The Ministry of Finance has the final decision-making authority on the appointments in consultation with the Prime Minister’s Office. In 2020-21, the BBB recommended a total of 38 candidates for state-run banks, insurers and other financial institutions. The government had accepted all the recommendations. Earlier, promotions and recruitments happened at the will and mercy of the government. The BBB aimed to prevent such red-tape and promote people based on merit. BBB would also help PSBs in developing strategies and capital raising plans. Banks Board Bureau is a self-governing autonomous body of the Central Government. It is an advisory authority comprising eminent professionals and officials to improve the management of Public sector bank. It was a public authority as defined in the Right to Information Act, 2005. Banks Board Bureau comprises the Chairman, three ex-officio members i.e Secretary, Department of Public Enterprises, Secretary of the Department of Financial Services and Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, and five expert members, two of which are from the private sector. What were the issues with BBB? There were issues regarding the greater organic linkage and dialogue with the finance ministry. It was alleged that on certain crucial postings, the ministry had not taken BBB into confidence while making appointments. The average time for making the recommendations was 72 days. This weighted average time taken for recommending the positions in PSBs was 76 days, in insurers (36 days) and in FIs (189 days). Ideally, the new body should try to crunch the timelines for the appointments process, so that there is no gap in banking governance. However, the BBB’s biggest challenge was the legal hurdles over its power and jurisdiction. The Delhi High Court in 2021 ruled that the BBB couldn’t select the general managers and directors of state-run general insurers, as it was not a competent body. Subsequently, at least half a dozen newly-appointed directors of non-life insurers had to vacate their positions. More importantly, it led to uncertainties over the filing up of top posts at state-run insurers, with several appointments getting stuck in this process. This High Court’s ruling on the BBB’s jurisdiction came on a case filed by National Insurance Company general manager Ravi, who had complained that people junior to him were selected by the BBB for the position of directors in public-sector general insurers twice. Nevertheless, the Board has brought in a considerable degree of transparency and predictability to the selection process. Earlier, nobody really knew how the selection process went through; now we have a formal process of calling people, fixing eligibility, interviewing them and publishing it. To that end, the BBB has served its purpose. Many people acknowledge the role that BBB played as a centralised body carrying out analytics on senior-level HR and upgrading board-level governance. What is the Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB) that is replacing BBB? It’s a government body set up under the Department of Financial Services. The board will be entrusted with making recommendations for the appointment of full-time directors and non-executive chairman of state-run financial services institutions. It would also issue guidelines for selecting general managers and directors of public sector general insurance companies. While its main task is to play the role of head-hunter for the state-owned financial services entities, the board will also be involved in formulating and developing business strategies for state-run banks and help them in their fund-raising plans. What is the composition of FSIB? FSIB would be headed by a chairman, a central government nominee. The board would comprise the Secretaries of the DFS, the chairman of IRDAI, and a deputy governor of the RBI. Additionally, it will have three part-time members who are experts in banking and three more from the insurance sector. What is the mandate of FSIB? BBB was envisaged as a body that would efficiently corporatise and make government entities function like private players, but it didn’t make much headway on that front. With FSIB, the intent is to go beyond the man-manager role and assist the government in formulating a code of conduct and ethics for whole-time directors in these entities. It would also monitor and assess the performance of public sector banks, government-owned financial institutions and insurance companies. Mains Practice Question – In the context of the Delhi High Court order on the powers of Banks Board Bureau (BBB), government has established Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB) to replace BBB. Elaborate. Note: Write answers to this question in the comment section.  

Jul 21, 2022 TLP Mains Answer Writing

IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 2): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – General Studies 1 Questions [21st July, 2022] – Day 28

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 28 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