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Baba’s Explainer

Baba's Explainer - Civil Servants and VIP Culture

ARCHIVES Syllabus GS-1: Society GS-4: Attitude of Civil Servants; Human Values 
 Context: The common man has long suffered due to Very Important Person (VIP) culture. A recent incident of a stadium being shut before time so an IAS officer could ‘walk his dog’ has brought the debate back to the fore. [su_spoiler open="no" title="What is VIP Culture and what are the reasons for it?" style="fancy" icon="chevron"] VIP culture is that of assuming self-importance wherever one can, and treating oneself as ‘superior’ & ‘entitled to special treatment’ when they hold ‘important’ positions in society. There is a sense of entitlement merely because they come from powerful sections of society. For those who belong to the elite club it means no standing in queues, preferential treatment in availing government services and even disregard of the law. The history of VIP culture in our country goes back to the British era where the masters enjoyed power and privileges over common citizens. Everyone secretly, and sometimes not so secretly, wants to be that VIP who has people opening doors for him, garlanding him, standing in queues for him and cleaning up his spilt coffee. The behaviour of Indian ‘VIP’s is not a reflection on those individuals alone, it is also a rather dim reflection on the feudal mindset of the citizenry which finds it necessary and appropriate to treat someone as so important as being above and beyond everyone else. Even people who are normally critical of such behaviour often bend over backwards when they have an opportunity to please someone holding a seemingly important office. [/su_spoiler] [su_spoiler open="no" title="Why VIP culture is criticised?" style="fancy" icon="chevron"] At the heart of VIP culture debate is ‘equality’. And by equality we mean not merely formal equality (of equality before the law and the equal protection of the laws). There is a moral facet to it as well. The argument, which has a moral force, is that in a democratic republic like ours, all citizens — rich or poor — ought to be treated alike, at least in certain respects. Bureaucratic VIP culture has impact on resource distribution and public interest. The undue bureaucratic privileges and exemptions may lead to inequality and unfair use of limited resources in the country. Such privileges cost a lot of trouble to common citizens. VIP culture by politicians & bureaucrats eventually creates a trust deficit between common citizens and the administration. It bring a bad name to the whole system and becomes a big question of integrity. [/su_spoiler] [su_spoiler open="no" title="Who are civil servants and what is their expected role?" style="fancy" icon="chevron"] In a modern democracy, a civil servant is an official in the service of the people and is recruited based on predetermined qualifications. Civil servants are bureaucrats who need to be familiar with the laws and regulations of the country and are expected to act in the best interests of the country and its citizens. 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. In the 1930s, a collection of instructions containing “do’s and don’ts” was published under the title “Conduct Rules.” [/su_spoiler] [su_spoiler open="no" title="What is code of conduct for civil servants?" style="fancy" icon="chevron"] The All India Services Rules, 1955, separated the compendium into separate rules. The Santhanam Committee (1964) recommended significantly broadening such rules, which resulted in the 1964 version. These rules were later revised to incorporate additional behavioural norms. According to the All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968, every member of the service shall maintain: Integrity and honesty; Political neutrality; Promoting of the principles of merit, fairness and impartiality in the discharge of duties; Accountability and transparency; Responsiveness to the public, particularly to the weaker section; Courtesy and good behaviour with the public. [/su_spoiler] [su_spoiler open="no" title="Is there Code of ethics for civil servants in India?" style="fancy" icon="chevron"] In India, there is no code of ethics for civil servants, though such codes exist in other countries. We have a number of conduct rules that prohibit a variety of common activities. These conduct guidelines serve a purpose, but they are not a code of ethics. While the Conduct Rules contain some general norms such as “maintaining integrity and absolute devotion to duty” and not engaging in “conduct unbecoming of a government servant,” the code of conduct is generally aimed at cataloguing specific activities deemed undesirable for government servants. There has recently been a concern that more “generic norms” should be added to the list of acceptable conduct. A draft “Public Service Bill” proposed by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions in 2007 seeks to establish a set of generic expectations of civil servants known as “values.” The following are the key “values” envisioned in the Bill: Allegiance to the various ideals enshrined in the preamble to the Constitution Apolitical functioning Good governance for the betterment of the people to be the primary goal of civil service Duty to act objectively and impartially Accountability and transparency in decision-making Maintenance of the highest ethical standards Merit to be the criteria in the selection of civil servants consistent, however, with the cultural, ethnic and other diversities of the nation Ensuring economy and avoidance of wastage in expenditure Provision of a healthy and congenial work environment Communication, consultation and cooperation in the performance of functions that is the participation of all levels of personnel in management. The draft Bill also includes provisions for a public service code and a public service management code, which define more specific duties and responsibilities. A ‘Public Service Authority’ is also envisaged to oversee the implementation of the code and the values mentioned above, as well as to provide advice on the values and the code. [/su_spoiler] [su_spoiler open="no" title="What measures can be taken to curb VIP Culture in bureaucracy?" style="fancy" icon="chevron"] Conscience should guide: There cannot be rules and regulations to guide every action. In the absence of any such laws, rules or regulations, conscience should guide a bureaucrat’s decision both in public and private life. Attitudinal change in civil servants required: The values of service, integrity, etc. should be the foundational values of a civil servant. He or she must understand that the citizen-centric governance model of which he is a part should encourage inclusivity, equality, democracy, and welfare of the common man. He or she cannot enjoy privileges and exemptions. Reward and punish- The government of the day should take action after an inquiry against the officers in cases of violation of the code of conduct. They should be held accountable for their deeds. At the same time, the government should also reward those who have done exemplary work in their service. Media and citizens- The media as the fourth pillar of democracy should be vigilant and report any incidences of VIP culture abuses so that such events are not repeated. The citizens too should be aware of their rights. Lead by example with a sense of responsibility: It is a must for leaders and administrators to lead by example. Many a time a bureaucrat is seen as a role model for society. His or her public and private life has a very thin boundary. Thus, a sense of responsibility should be realized while taking any action in public or private life. [/su_spoiler] [su_spoiler open="no" title="Has government taken any measure to curb VIP Culture?" style="fancy" icon="chevron"] Many events and incidences in the past highlight the seriousness of the issue of the VIP culture. The following are some of the examples: The Supreme Court’s first strike on VIP culture came in 2013 when it stated red beacons on government cars with “Raj mentality” and ruled that red beacon lights on vehicles can only be used by people listed as “high dignitaries”, that too only when they are on duty. AIIMS scrapped its decision to open a special counter for VIP cases. (2017) The Government banned the use of red and blue beacons equating them to the symbols of VIP culture. The supreme court in Abhay Singh v. Union of India case termed red beacons a “menace”. It said, red lights symbolise power and a stark differentiation between those who are allowed to use it and those who are not. A large number of those using vehicles with red lights have no respect for the laws of the country and they treat the ordinary citizens with contempt. [/su_spoiler] [su_spoiler open="no" title="What more needs to be done?" style="fancy" icon="chevron"] As a symbol of an assault on India’s over-reaching VIP culture, the above measures is a good beginning. But to meaningfully begin to dismantle India’s VIP culture, doing away with status symbols such as red beacons is not enough. From pat-downs avoided at the security gate at an airport to a freer passage at the toll gate on a highway, there are numerous ways in which the culture of entitlement is asserted. We must ban the habitual traffic diversions and road blocks when VIPs are on the move. Every urban commuter is familiar with the interminable wait for some minister or the other to pass by or the security personnel who push traffic to the kerb to make way for a VIP. For a country that aspires to a seat at the global high table, India would do well to emulate the relatively simple style of leaders in western democracies. Though the privileges are justifiably considered compensation for public servitude, a little less overt display of privilege would allay those negative perceptions. [/su_spoiler] [su_spoiler open="no" title="Can parenting play a role in curbing the mindset of VIP Culture in society?" style="fancy" icon="chevron"] As generations grew prosperous and were able to afford the conveniences of life, parenting styles changed. As society moved from scarcity and poverty to prosperity, parents invested less in parenting as they tried to get ahead of the pack and improve their economic prospects. Parents suddenly loosened up on basic responsibilities, hoping that schools or somebody else will do the job on our behalf even as they chased careers, luxury products, and the good life for themselves. But parents also developed a guilt trip about this and tried to make up their lack of parenting by over-indulging their children. They started giving them luxuries without their earning them. Not surprisingly, kids grew up to demand things as their right, which eventually paves way for VIP culture. As a result of which many children, especially from elite class, grow into self-indulgent, uncaring, ill-mannered kids that demand attention and instant gratification at someone else’s cost. Therefore, changing the parenting style especially amongst the rich & elite sections of society will enable get rid of “the entitlement” mindset that grows into VIP culture. Parents should teach their children the values of simplicity, humility and equality that shapes the mindset of children to view everyone as equals. The best way to pass on these values to next generation is to follow it themselves. [/su_spoiler] MIND MAP DOWNLOAD MIND MAP - CLICK HERE  

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 30th May 2022

Archives (PRELIMS & MAINS Focus) [su_box title="Gold Reserve" style="soft" box_color="#f3f3f3" title_color="#d45f07"] Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Geography Mains – GS 1 (Distribution of Key Natural Resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian sub-continent) In News: The Bihar government has decided to accord permission for exploration of the "country's largest" gold reserve in Jamui district As per a Geological Survey of India (GSI) survey, around 88 million tonnes of gold reserve, including 37.6 tonnes of mineral-rich ore, are present in Jamui district. GSI findings indicated the presence of gold in areas such as Karmatia, Jhajha and Sono in Jamui district Gold reserve in India As per National Mineral Inventory data, the total reserves/resources of gold ore (primary) in the country have been estimated at 501.83 million tonnes as of 2015 The largest reserves of gold ores are located in Bihar (44 per cent), followed by Rajasthan (25 per cent), Karnataka (21 per cent), West Bengal (3 per cent), Andhra Pradesh (3 per cent), Jharkhand (2 per cent). The remaining 2 per cent reserves are in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. Survey The Geological Survey of India (GSI) is actively engaged in geological mapping, followed by mineral exploration and surveys, of various mineral commodities with an aim to identify potential mineral rich zones and establish resources. Geological Survey of India The GSI is a government organisation in India, attached to the Ministry of Mines for conducting geological surveys and studies. It is one of the premier organisations of earth science survey and research in the world. The GSI was established in 1851 and is one of the oldest of such organisations in the world and the second oldest survey institution in the country. It is the prime provider of basic earth science information to the government, industry and the general public. Its main function is related to creation and updation of national geoscientific information and mineral resource assessment. Mining in India MMDR (Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 regulates the overall mining sector in India Categories of minerals: As per the available legislations in the country, all minerals have been classified into two categories namely. Major minerals: major minerals are minerals like agate, asbestos, barytes, bauxite, cadmium, calcite, china clay, coal. Copper lead, manganese, mica, nickel, rock phosphate, soapstone, tungsten, wollastonite, zinc, etc., as specified in second schedule appended with the mmdr act 1957. Minor minerals: the minor mineral are building stone, gravel, ordinary clay, ordinary sand and any other mineral which the central government may by notification in the official gazette declare as minor mineral. The MMDR Amendment Act of 2015 introduces Mineral Concessions Grant through auctions to bring transparency and remove discretion; The District Mineral Foundation (DMF) to address the longtime grievance of the people affected by mining; and the National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) for incentivizing regional and detailed exploration to fill the gaps in exploration in the country, and stringent measures to check illegal mining. How are Minerals regulated in India? Ownership of Mineral: The State Governments are the owners of minerals located within the boundary of the State concerned. District Mineral Foundations are statutory bodies in India established by the State Governments by notification. They derive their legal status from Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 The objective of District Mineral Foundation is to work for the interest of the benefit of the persons and areas affected mining related operations in such manner as may be prescribed by the State Government. The Central Government is the owner of the minerals underlying the ocean within the territorial waters or the Exclusive Economic Zone of India. Granting Mineral Concessions: The State Governments grant mineral concessions for all the minerals located within the boundary of the State, under the provisions of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 and Mineral Concession Rules, 1960. However, for minerals specified in the First Schedule to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 approval of the Central Government is necessary. Schedule I contains minerals such as coal and lignite, minerals of the “rare earths” group containing Uranium and Thorium. Also, the Central Government notifies certain minerals as ‘minor’ minerals from time to time for which the absolute powers for deciding on procedures of seeking applications for and granting mineral concessions, fixing rates of royalty, dead rent, and power to revise orders rest only with the State Government. Previous Year Questions (PYQs) 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 Q.2) Consider the following minerals: (2020) Bentonite Chromite Kyanite Sillimanite In India, which of the above is/are officially designated as major minerals? 1 and 2 only 4 only 1 and 3 only 2, 3 and 4 only Source: The Hindu  [/su_box] [su_box title="Provisional GDP" style="soft" box_color="#f3f3f3" title_color="#d45f07"] Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Economy Mains – GS 3 (Indian Economy and issues relating to Planning, Mobilization of Resources, Growth, Development and Employment) Why in News: On August 31, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) will release the so-called “Provisional Estimates (or PEs)” of GDP for the last financial year (2021-22). What are Provisional Estimates and what is their significance? The provisional estimates are important because they will be the first formal estimates of how India grew in the full financial year 2021-22. In the past, MoSPI has released two “advance” estimates of GDP. The first advance estimates (FAEs) were released on January 7th and they expected India’s GDP to grow by 9.2% in 2021-22. Next, in end-February, the MoSPI updated the FAEs by adding data for the third quarter (October to December). These were labelled as the second advance estimates (SAEs). The SAEs dialled down the full-year growth to 8.9%. The provisional estimates (or PEs) that will be released on August 31 will go a step further. They will add the data from the fourth quarter (January to March) and thus provide the most complete picture of how India’s economy performed in 2021-22. The GDP growth in 2021-22 will tell us the extent of India’s economic recovery. Apart from telling us how robust was India’s recovery, the provisional estimates will also set the base on which the current financial year’s GDP growth will be calculated. What to look for in provisional estimates? GDP and GVA For any financial year, the two main variables of national income are GDP and GVA (or Gross Value Added). The GDP calculates India’s national income by adding up all the expenditures in the economy while the GVA calculates the national income from the supply side by looking at the value-added in each sector of the economy. While both the variables measure national income, they are linked as follows: GDP = (GVA) + (Taxes earned by the government) — (Subsidies provided by the government). As such, if the government earned more from taxes than what it spent on subsidies, GDP will be higher than GVA. If, on the other hand, the government provided subsidies in excess of its tax revenues, the absolute level of GVA would be higher than the absolute level of GDP. This set of data is based on the SAEs. But the provisional estimates will update all these data points. GDP vs GVA GDP maps the economy from the expenditure (or demand) side — that is by adding up all the expenditures. GDP = private consumption + gross investment + government investment + government spending + (exports-imports). The Gross Value Added (GVA) provides a picture of the economy from the supply side. GVA maps the “value-added” by different sectors of the economy such as agriculture, industry and services. Gross Value Added = GDP + subsidies on products - taxes on products.  In 2015, India opted to make major changes to its compilation of national accounts and decided to bring the whole process into conformity with the United Nations System of National Accounts (SNA) of 2008. Change of base year from 2004-2005 to 2011-2012 Replacing Factor Cost with Market Prices Broadening of data pool Improved coverage of financial corporations in GDP estimation (like stock brokers, stock exchanges, asset management companies, mutual funds and pension funds). Previous Year Questions (PYQs) Q.1) Increase in absolute and per capita real GNP do not connote a higher level of economic development, if (2018) industrial output fails to keep pace with agricultural output agricultural output fails to keep pace with industrial output poverty and unemployment increase imports grow faster than exports Source: Indian Express [/su_box] [su_box title="West Nile Virus" style="soft" box_color="#f3f3f3" title_color="#d45f07"] Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Science and Technology In News: The Kerala health department is on alert after the death of a 47-year-old from Thrissur due to the West Nile Virus. Earlier in 2019, a six-year-old boy in Malappuram district had died of the same infection. The virus was first reported in the state in Alappuzha in 2006 and then in Ernakulam in 2011. West Nile Virus The West Nile Virus is a mosquito-borne, single-stranded RNA virus It is a member of the flavivirus genus and belongs to the Japanese encephalitis antigenic complex of the family Flaviviridae. WNV is commonly found in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, North America and West Asia Detection of WNV: WNV was first isolated in a woman in the West Nile district of Uganda in 1937. It was identified in birds in the Nile delta region in 1953. Before 1997, WNV was not considered pathogenic for birds. WNV outbreak sites are found along major bird migratory routes. Human infections attributable to WNV have been reported in many countries for over 50 years. Transmission: WNV is an infectious disease spread by infected mosquitoes. It spreads from birds to humans with the bite of an infected Culex mosquito. It can lead to a fatal neurological disease in humans. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds, which circulate the virus in their blood for a few days. The virus eventually gets into the mosquito’s salivary glands. During later blood meals (when mosquitoes bite), the virus may be injected into humans and animals, where it can multiply and possibly cause illness WNV can also spread through blood transfusion, from an infected mother to her child, or through exposure to the virus in laboratories. To date, no human-to-human transmission of WNV through casual contact has been documented Symptoms: The disease is asymptomatic in 80% of the infected people The symptoms include a fever, headache, body aches, skin rash, and swollen lymph glands. They can last a few days to several weeks, and usually go away on their own. If West Nile virus enters the brain, it can be life-threatening. It may cause inflammation of the brain, called encephalitis, or inflammation of the tissue that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, called meningitis. Treatment: There are no specific vaccines or treatments for human WNV disease. The best way to avoid WNV is to prevent mosquito bites. Previous Year Questions (PYQs) Q.1) Consider the following statements: In tropical regions, Zika virus disease is transmitted by ‘the same mosquito that transmits dengue. Sexual transmission of Zika virus disease is possible. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Source: Indian Express [/su_box] [su_box title="Prostitution as Profession" style="soft" box_color="#f3f3f3" title_color="#d45f07"] Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Polity Mains – GS 2 (Welfare Schemes for Vulnerable Sections of the population by the Centre and States and the Performance of these Schemes; Mechanisms, Laws, Institutions and Bodies constituted for the Protection and Betterment of these Vulnerable Sections) In News: The apex court in its order stated that sex workers are entitled to dignity and equal protection under the law. A long-standing demand of sex workers that their work be decriminalised has been partially fulfilled with the Supreme Court. What was the case about? In 2010, an appeal was filed in the SC against a 2007 order of the Calcutta High Court which upheld the life imprisonment imposed on a man named Budhadev Karmaskar, found guilty of murdering a sex worker in Kolkata’s red light area in September 1999. The court suo motu converted the case into a PIL to address the problems of sex workers. The court held that the Central and the State Governments should prepare schemes for rehabilitation for physically and sexually abused women commonly known as prostitutes through Social Welfare Boards. The Court had ruled in Budhadev Karmaskar (2011), that sex workers are also entitled to a “life of dignity” under Article 21 of the Constitution The SC also appointed a panel to make suitable suggestions on prevention of trafficking and rehabilitation of sex workers who wish to leave sex work. What did the panel say in its report? In its final report submitted in 2016, the panel noted that sex workers Found it difficult to acquire proofs of identity such as ration cards or voter cards because they lacked a proof of residence District authorities did not recognise the identities of sex workers and their children No access to schemes meant for their rehabilitation No access to credit offered by states, because the lack of documents prevented them from opening bank accounts The committee recommended that amendments should be made to The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956. Centre’s response- In 2020, the government informed the SC that a Group of Ministers has been constituted to examine the two draft legislations and the SC panel report shall be taken into consideration by the Group of Ministers. What is the recent court ruling? In 2020, the SC directed States and Union Territories to provide dry rations to sex workers identified by National Aids Control Organization (NACO) without insisting on proof of identity. Recently, the court noted that despite its assurances, the Centre was still to bring a law on the subject. The court used its extraordinary powers under Article 142 and directed that the recommendations in respect of sex workers and other connected issues be implemented by states and UTs. Recommendations to be implemented- The order listed 10 recommendations of the panel, and directed that six of them should be implemented. provision for immediate medical assistance for any sex worker who is a victim of sexual assault direction to states to do a survey of all Immoral Trafficking (Prevention) Act Protective Homes sensitising police and other law enforcement agencies to the rights of sex workers and to ensure that police treat them with dignity and should not abuse them verbally and physically ask the Press Council of India to issue appropriate guidelines for the media to take utmost care not to reveal the identities of sex workers measures that sex workers employ for their health and safety must neither be construed as offences nor seen as evidence of commission of an offence Prostitution in India It is said that prostitution is the oldest profession in the world. In India, their presence can be dated back to ancient times with scriptures mentioning the presence of three kinds of women — those who were chaste and devoted to a single man (even if the man had many wives). The second were women who kept away from men and lived as nuns. The third kind were women who had multiple lovers and were attached to no single man. In later times, such women were considered the wives of a temple deity or a Devdasi, who saw their god in all their lovers. This last kind of women has often been described in modern literature as ancient sex workers or prostitutes or sacred concubines. Laws around prostitution in India While the profession has long been prevalent in India, its legal status has always been under a cloud and many have over the years demanded that it be legalised. Currently, as per the Indian Penal Code (IPC), prostitution is not in a broad sense illegal, but several activities under prostitution are punishable by law. As per the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1986, sex workers can practice their profession but activities, including pimping and running a brothel are considered a punishable offence. It is illegal to procure, induce, or abduct a person for prostitution. The law further mentions that the practice cannot take place within a 200-metre radius of any public place. To participate in prostitution lawfully, sex-worker must choose an isolated location. This clearly puts the legality of profession of prostitution in ambiguity. While the legality of sex work is vague in India, until now, other countries across the world have legalised the profession, granting sex workers equal rights and protection. Across Europe, countries such as Germany, Netherlands, France, Greece have legalised the profession. How significant is the court order? By holding that basic protection of human decency and dignity extends to sex workers and their children, the Court has struck a blow for the rights of an exploited, vulnerable section. It has asked State governments to do a survey of protective homes to review the cases of adult women detained there and process their release in a time-bound manner. The Court’s observations shall help sensitise the police, media and society toward sex workers. Source: Indian Express [/su_box] [su_box title="Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk" style="soft" box_color="#f3f3f3" title_color="#d45f07"] Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Geography (Places in News) Mains – GS 2 (Effect of Policies and Politics of Developed and Developing Countries on India’s interests, Indian Diaspora) In News: Russia storms key city in eastern Ukraine Heavy fighting in Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk Ukrainian regional officials reported Russian forces “storming” Sievierodonetsk after trying unsuccessfully to encircle the city. Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk Sievierodonetsk, located about 143 kilometres south of the Russian border, has emerged in recent days as the epicentre of Moscow’s quest to capture all of Ukraine’s industrial Donbas region. Russia also stepped up its efforts to take nearby Lysychansk, where civilians rushed to escape persistent shelling. The two eastern cities span the strategically-important Siverskiy Donetsk river. They are the last major areas under Ukrainian control in Luhansk province, which makes up the Donbas together with neighbouring Donetsk. Previous Year Questions (PYQs) Q.1) Consider the following pairs: (2018) Regions sometimes mentioned in news         Country Catalonia            —                                  Spain Crimea      —                                 Hungary Mindanao    —                                Philippines Oromia     —                                Nigeria Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched? 1, 2 and 3 3 and 4 only 1 and 3 only 2 and 4 only Source: Times of India [/su_box] [su_box title="Misuse of Position and Power" style="soft" box_color="#f3f3f3" title_color="#d45f07"] Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Polity Mains – GS 4(Foundational Values for Civil Service; Ethics - in Private and Public Relationships) In News: An IAS couple is transferred after dog-walking incident on the tracks of Thyagraj Stadium, Delhi at a time when young athletes should have been practising on it. What rules govern the behaviour of high officials of the government? The three All India Services (IAS, IPS, Indian Forest Service) are governed by the All India Service Conduct Rules, 1968. There are 23 Rules in all The other civil services are governed by the Central Civil Services (CCS) Conduct Rules, 1964, which comprise 25 Rules By an amendment in August 2014, several points were added that may be seen as having a bearing on the conduct of the IAS officers in the recent cases. These include: Every member of the Service shall commit himself to and uphold the supremacy of the Constitution and democratic values; not misuse his position as civil servant and not take decisions in order to derive financial or material benefits for himself, his family or his friends; act with fairness and impartiality and not discriminate against anyone, particularly the poor and the under-privileged sections of society; Refrain from doing anything which is or may be contrary to any law, rules, regulations and established practices, among others things. The overarching Rule for civil servants is: Every member of the Service shall at all times maintain absolute integrity and devotion to duty and shall do nothing which is unbecoming of a member of the Service. “They shall maintain high ethical standards, integrity and honesty; political neutrality; accountability and transparency; responsiveness to the public, particularly to the weaker section; courtesy and good behaviour with the public.” Importance of values and ethics to Public Servant Public service values or civil service values are those values and ethics should be followed while carrying out their duties. Values to be followed Adhere to the Values such as Integrity, Honesty, Objectivity, Non-partisanship, Impartiality, Empathy, Compassion, Conflict of interest etc Patriotism and upholding national pride Allegiance to the Constitution and the law of the nation Objectivity, honesty, care and diligence, courtesy and transparency Maintain absolute integrity. Discharge official duties with competence and accountability; without discrimination and in accordance with the law. Ensure effective management, professional growth and leadership development. Avoid misuse of official position or information and using the public moneys with utmost care and economy. Function with the objective serving public. Public Servants are to serve as instruments of good governance and to provide services for the betterment of the public at large. Foster socio-economic development, with due regard to the diversity of the nation These values ensure an effective civil service which functions honestly, impartially and efficiently. These values empower the administrator to fill the gaps of trust deficit between the citizens and the Government. These foundational values provide lawfulness to the behavior of an administrator and make it more effective. Since civil servants have discretionary powers the values are important to give them certain guidance to prevent abuse of power. Source: Indian Express [/su_box] [su_box title="5G" style="soft" box_color="#f3f3f3" title_color="#d45f07"] Open in new window Syllabus Prelims – Science and Technology Mains – GS 3 (Science and Technology- Developments and their Applications and Effects in Everyday Life) In News: Recently, Prime Minister of India inaugurated the country’s first indigenous test bed to help support the ecosystem around 5G. Earlier this year, the Government reiterated its plans to conduct auctions for 5G spectrum in June and expected services to be rolled out by the third quarter of the year. With increased capacity, lower latency, and energy efficiency, 5G is expected to significantly improve the state of art and enable new applications 5G Radio electronics refers to a broad range of technologies that can transmit, receive and process wireless signals. While these technologies can utilize electromagnetic spectrum that goes all the way up to 300GHz, the lower frequencies of this spectrum are particularly attractive. Lower frequency signals can travel longer distances and penetrate obstacles with lesser attenuation. Electronic components (amplifiers, transmitters, receivers) operating at lower frequencies are also easier to design and manufacture. Consequently, much of the bandwidth in the lower frequencies of this spectrum has already been allocated for several applications (mobile communications currently use the spectrum from 800MHz to 2.5 GHz). New spectrum for 3GHz With the increasing demand for mobile services, the currently allocated spectrum is proving inadequate. At the simplest level, 5G represents the allocation of new spectrum to increase capacity. Since most of the spectrum at lower frequencies is already being utilised — much of this new spectrum is being allocated at higher frequencies. The first deployments in India will be around 3GHz, but will expand to 25 GHz and beyond. While operating at higher frequencies has some fundamental challenges, it offers some unique opportunities as well As 5G services evolve to occupy higher frequencies, it will significantly increase the bandwidth available for mobile services. However, at these frequencies the design of the transmitting and receiving equipment becomes more complex. Signal attenuation also increases. So, the coverage area of each cell tower will decrease which will require the towers to be more closely spaced. At higher frequencies it becomes easier to direct a signal in specific direction. So, signals transmitted from a cell tower can be more precisely directed at a specific user Intuitively, this enhanced directivity results in less interference between signals meant for different users which directly translate to increased capacity. Since much of the 5G infrastructure is being built from ground up, there is a chance to redesign the technology to make it more suitable for the evolving communication needs of the future. 5G places special emphasis on low latency, energy efficiency and standardization - Low delays between transmission and reception of messages are extremely critical to avoid accidents. For instance, Self-driving cars is an illustrative example As 5G rolls out, over the next several years the volume of data is expected to exponentially increase. To ensure that there isn’t a corresponding increase in the energy usage, 5G places a lot of importance on energy efficiency Greater attention to standardisation is another important aspect of 5G enable the rapid deployment of 5G infrastructure there is an industry-wide effort to standardise interaction between components. Thus, while operating at higher frequencies has some fundamental challenges, it offers some unique opportunities as well. Way forward There should be lot of research in both industry and academia centred around 5G. Convergence of positioning, sensing and communication - traditionally, positioning, sensing and communication have been seen as separate technologies (for e.g., GPS is used for positioning, and radar for sensing). However, all three technologies involve transmission and reception of radio signals — hence it is possible for positioning and sensing to piggy back on 5G infrastructure that is primarily meant for communication. There should be research around cost and energy efficient electronic devices that can transmit and receive high frequency signals. This involves delving into the fundamental physics of semiconductor technologies and is expected to lay the foundation for the growth of wireless technology into higher frequency bands. Previous Year Questions (PYQs) Q.1) With reference to “Blockchain Technology”, consider the following statements: (2020) It is a public ledger that everyone can inspect, but which no single user controls. The structure and design of blockchain is such that all the data in it are about cryptocurrency only. Applications that depend on basic features of blockchain can be developed without anybody’s permission. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 only 1 and 2 only 2 only 1 and 3 only Source: The Hindu [/su_box] Baba's Explainer - Sex Workers [su_box title="Sex Workers" style="soft" box_color="#f3f3f3" title_color="#d45f07"] Syllabus GS-1: Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues GS-2: Mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections. Context: In a significant order, the Supreme Court has issued a slew of directions concerning rehabilitation measures of sex workers. With the Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill yet to see the light of day, the Court invoked powers under Article 142 to issue guidelines till the legislation is in force. The directions were based on recommendations made by a panel appointed by the court in 2011 on the rehabilitation of sex workers. The panel was asked to study and make suitable suggestions on prevention of trafficking, rehabilitation of sex workers who wish to leave sex work and to create conducive conditions for sex workers to live with dignity in accordance with the provisions of Article 21. Read Complete Details on Sex Workers [/su_box] Daily Practice MCQs [su_box title="Daily Practice MCQs" style="soft" box_color="#f3f3f3" title_color="#d45f07"] Q.1) Karmatia, Jhajha and Sono regions recently in news, are related to? Conflict areas between Assam and Mizoram Disputed islands between India and Bangladesh Gold reserves in Bihar Conflict areas on Line of Actual Control Q.2) With reference to West Nile Virus, consider the following statements The West Nile Virus is a single-stranded DNA virus It spreads from birds to humans with the bite of an infected Culex mosquito Recently, WHO in collaboration with GLASS has developed vaccine to treat West Nile Virus fever Choose the incorrect statements: 1, 2 and 3 1 only 1 and 3 3 only Q.3) Consider the following statements Lower frequency signals can travel longer distances and penetrate obstacles with lesser attenuation At higher frequencies it becomes easier to direct a signal in specific direction Choose the correct statements: 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Comment the answers to the above questions in the comment section below!! ANSWERS FOR '30th MAY 2022 - Daily Practice MCQs' will be updated along with tomorrow's Daily Current Affairs. [/su_box] ANSWERS FOR 28th MAY 2022 - Daily Practice MCQs [su_box title="Answers- Daily Practice MCQs" style="soft" box_color="#f3f3f3" title_color="#d45f07"] Q.1) - a Q.2) - b Q.3) - c [/su_box]

Important Articles

[UPSC PRELIMS 2022] FREE PRELIMS OPEN MOCKS (Paper 1/GS & Paper 2/CSAT) - ENGLISH & हिंदी

Dear Students We had conducted 2 Open Mocks conducted in both Offline and Online modes. We have been getting a lot of requests to update the Question Papers on the website for those people who could not register or could not take the test. We are updating the Question Papers of Paper-1 (GS) & Paper-2 (CSAT) in both ENGLISH & हिंदी. Paper - 1 Question Paper (English) - CLICK HERE Paper - 1 Question Paper (हिंदी) - CLICK HERE Paper - 2 Question Paper (English) - CLICK HERE Paper - 2 Question Paper (हिंदी) - CLICK HERE OMR SHEET - CLICK HERE We are updating the OMR Sheets as well so that you can practice and see if you are filling up the bubbles properly for Answer keys, Names, and Roll Nos. You can update the OMR Sheets in the Comment section for accountability. Note - Answer Key & Solutions for the Mock Test will be updated tomorrow.  

Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz – 2022 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 31st May 2022

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

Baba’s Explainer

Baba's Explainer - Sex Workers

ARCHIVES Syllabus GS-1: Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues GS-2: Mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections. Context: In a significant order, the Supreme Court has issued a slew of directions concerning rehabilitation measures of sex workers. With the Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill yet to see the light of day, the Court invoked powers under Article 142 to issue guidelines till the legislation is in force. The directions were based on recommendations made by a panel appointed by the court in 2011 on the rehabilitation of sex workers. The panel was asked to study and make suitable suggestions on prevention of trafficking, rehabilitation of sex workers who wish to leave sex work and to create conducive conditions for sex workers to live with dignity in accordance with the provisions of Article 21. [su_spoiler open="no" title="What are the slew of directions given by Supreme Court?" style="fancy" icon="chevron"] The bench has directed that the following recommendations of the panel be followed by all states: Medical Assistance to Victim of Sexual Assault: Any sex worker who is a victim of sexual assault should be provided with all facilities available to a survivor of sexual assault, including immediate medical assistance, in accordance with Section 357C of the Code of Criminal Procedure Detailed Survey: State governments may be directed to do a survey of all Protective Homes established under the Immoral Traffic Prevention Act, 1956 (‘ITPA’) so that cases of adult women, who are detained against their will, can be reviewed and processed for release in a time-bound manner. Police Sensitization: It has been noticed that the attitude of the police to sex workers is often brutal and violent. It is as if they are a class whose rights are not recognised. The police and other law enforcement agencies should be sensitised to the rights of sex workers who also enjoy all basic human rights and other rights guaranteed in the Constitution to all citizens. Police should treat all sex workers with dignity, and should not abuse them, both verbally and physically, nor subject them to violence or coerce them into any sexual activity. Privacy to be maintained: The Press Council of India should be urged to issue appropriate guidelines for the media to take utmost care not to reveal the identities of sex workers, during arrests, raids and rescue operations. Besides, Section 354C of the Indian Penal Code, which makes voyeurism a criminal offence, should be strictly enforced against electronic media, in order to prohibit telecasting photos of sex workers with their clients in the garb of capturing rescue operations. Educating sex workers about their rights: The union government and the state governments, through Legal Services Authorities, should carry out workshops for educating sex workers about their rights, obligations of the police, and what is permitted and prohibited under the law. Sex workers can also be informed as to how they can get access to the judicial system to enforce their rights, and prevent unnecessary harassment at the hands of traffickers or police. Protection for safety measures: It is alleged that that at many places, the police arrested sex workers on the basis of possession of condoms in their bags. The recommendations state that measures which sex workers employ for their health and safety (for instance, the use of condoms) must neither be construed as offences nor seen as evidence of the commission of an offence. Aadhar for Sex Workers: The panel noted that sex workers found it difficult to acquire proofs of identity such as ration cards or voter cards because they lacked a proof of residence. SC therefore directed that the sex workers should be issued Aadhar cards and that there shouldn’t be any code in the Aadhar enrolment numbers that identify the card holder as a sex worker. Welfare & Rehabilitation of Sex Workers: The panel noted that district authorities did not recognise the identities of sex workers and their children, and sex workers did not have access to schemes meant for their rehabilitation. They also had no access to credit offered by states, because the lack of documents prevented them from opening bank accounts. Providing them with Aadhar identity should enable authorities to provide them with necessary rehabilitative measures. The Supreme Court had come to the rescue of the sex workers during the first wave of COVID-19, when it directed state governments to ensure that dry ration was provided to sex workers without insisting on identification proof. The court has made it clear that these recommendations will hold the field till legislation is made by Parliament in this regard. [/su_spoiler] [su_spoiler open="no" title="Which recommendations remain pending?" style="fancy" icon="chevron"] Supreme Court for the time being, has not passed any directions in relation to the four recommendations where Union government has expressed its reservation No criminal action in case of adult, consensual sex work: Sex workers are entitled to equal protection of the law. Criminal law must apply equally in all cases, on the basis of ‘age’ and ‘consent’. When it is clear that the sex worker is an adult and is participating with consent, the police must refrain from interfering or taking any criminal action. There have been concerns that police view sex workers differently from other kinds of work. When a sex worker makes a complaint of criminal/sexual/any other type of offence, the police must take it seriously and act in accordance with law. Arresting only the brothel owner and not sex workers: Whenever there is a raid on any brothel, since voluntary sex work is not illegal and only running the brothel is unlawful, the sex workers concerned should not be arrested or penalised or harassed or victimised. Participatory Governance: The union government and the State Governments must involve the sex workers and/or their representatives in all decision-making processes, including planning, designing and implementing any policy or programme for sex workers, or formulating any change/reform in the laws relating to sex work. Protection of Children of Sex workers: No child of a sex worker should be separated from the mother merely on the ground that she is in the sex trade. Further, if a minor is found living in a brothel or with sex workers, it should not be presumed that they have been trafficked. In case the sex worker claims that they are her child, tests can be done to determine if the claim is correct and if so, the minor should not be forcibly separated. SC has asked the union government to file its response to these and the other recommendations, and will hold further hearings on the matter after its summer vacation. [/su_spoiler] [su_spoiler open="no" title="What is the significance of the judgement?" style="fancy" icon="chevron"] A long-standing demand of sex workers that their work be decriminalised has been partially fulfilled with the Supreme Court. The judgement upholds that adult sex workers are entitled to dignity and equal protection under law. Notwithstanding the profession, SC noted that every individual has a right to a dignified life under Article 21 of the Constitution. It reiterated what the Court had ruled in Budhadev Karmaskar (2011), that sex workers are also entitled to a “life of dignity” By holding that basic protection of human decency and dignity extends to sex workers and their children, the Court has struck a blow for the rights of an exploited, vulnerable section. Coming down heavily on the brutal and violent “attitude” of the police toward sex workers, the Court said “it is as if they are a class whose rights are not recognised”. The Court’s general observations should help sensitise the police, media and society toward sex workers, who have generally been invisible and voiceless. The ball is in the Government’s court to draw up appropriate legislation to free consenting sex workers from stigma, and grant them workers’ rights [/su_spoiler] MIND MAP DOWNLOAD MIND MAP - CLICK HERE  

Important Articles

[VIDEO] Strategy & Mindset for UPSC Prelims 2022 Exam in the Last One Week & Last Minute tips by Mohan Sir

Dear Students In this video, Mohan Sir (Founder, IASbaba) emphasizes on the Power of Mindset How to handle anxiety Fear and strategy 1 week before the exam Do’s & Don’ts in the UPSC Prelims Exam It’s finally, You that is going to help yourself!! Believe in yourself. Stay calm. The rest will flow as you always wanted. You will do well.   All the Best  IASbaba Team

Important Articles

[RESULTS] MARKS of UPSC CSE 2021 PRELIMS & MAINS Announced!

Dear Students UPSC has come out with the Prelims and Mains Marksheet. Please find it below CIVIL SERVICES (PRELIMINARY) EXAMINATION - CLICK HERE CIVIL SERVICES(MAIN) EXAMINATION (FOR CANDIDATES NOT QUALIFIED IN WRITTEN EXAMINATION) - CLICK HERE CIVIL SERVICES(MAIN) EXAMINATION (FOR CANDIDATES QUALIFIED IN WRITTEN EXAMINATION) - CLICK HERE   In the comment section below, you can share your marks.  

UPSC हिन्दी Quiz– 2022: IASbaba Daily Current Affairs Quiz 30th May 2022

For Previous Daily Quiz (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE करेंट अफेयर्स के प्रश्न 'द हिंदू', 'इंडियन एक्सप्रेस' और 'पीआईबी' जैसे स्रोतों पर आधारित होते हैं, जो यूपीएससी प्रारंभिक परीक्षा के लिए बहुत महत्वपूर्ण स्रोत हैं। प्रश्न अवधारणाओं और तथ्यों दोनों पर केंद्रित हैं। दोहराव से बचने के लिए यहां कवर किए गए विषय आम तौर पर 'दैनिक करंट अफेयर्स / डेली न्यूज एनालिसिस (डीएनए) और डेली स्टेटिक क्विज' के तहत कवर किए जा रहे विषयों से भिन्न होते हैं। प्रश्न सोमवार से शनिवार तक दोपहर 2 बजे से पहले प्रकाशित किए जाएंगे। इस कार्य में आपको 10 मिनट से ज्यादा नहीं देना है। इस कार्य के लिए तैयार हो जाएं और इस पहल का इष्टतम तरीके से उपयोग करें। याद रखें कि, "साधारण अभ्यर्थी और चयनित होने वाले अभ्यर्थी के बीच का अंतर केवल दैनक अभ्यास है !!" Important Note: Comment अनुभाग में अपने अंक पोस्ट करना न भूलें। साथ ही, हमें बताएं कि क्या आपको आज का टेस्ट अच्छा लगा । 5 प्रश्नों को पूरा करने के बाद, अपना स्कोर, समय और उत्तर देखने के लिए ‘View Questions’ पर क्लिक करें। उत्तर देखने के लिए, इन निर्देशों का पालन करें: 1 - 'स्टार्ट टेस्ट/ Start Test' बटन पर क्लिक करें प्रश्न हल करें'टेस्ट सारांश/Test Summary'बटन पर क्लिक करें'फिनिश टेस्ट/Finish Test'बटन पर क्लिक करेंअब ‘View Questions’बटन पर क्लिक करें - यहां आपको उत्तर और लिंक दिखाई देंगे।To take the Test -Click Here

Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz – 2022 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 30th May 2022

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