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Sep 15, 2021 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz – 2021 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 15th September 2021

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

Sep 14, 2021 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 14th September 2021

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Climate change could cause 216 mn to migrate: World Bank Part of: Prelims and GS III - Climate change Context World Bank has recently published Groundswell report. The report examined how the impacts of slow-onset climate change, such as water scarcity, decreasing crop productivity and rising sea levels, could result in millions of “climate migrants” by 2050 Key findings of the report Climate change could push more than 200 million people to leave their homes in the next three decades and create migration hotspots unless urgent action is taken to reduce global emissions and bridge the development gap. The report forecasts up to 216 million people moving within their own countries across the six regions analysed. Those regions are Latin America; North Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Eastern Europe and Central Asia; South Asia; and East Asia and the Pacific. In the most climate-friendly scenario, with a low level of emissions and inclusive, sustainable development, the world could still see 44 million people being forced to leave their homes. In South Asia, Bangladesh is particularly affected by flooding and crop failures, accounting for almost half of the predicted climate migrants. Findings regarding African region: Sub-Saharan Africa — the most vulnerable region due to desertification, fragile coastlines and the population’s dependence on agriculture — would see the most migrants, with up to 86 million people moving within national borders. North Africa is predicted to have the largest proportion of climate migrants, with 19 million people moving. The northeastern Tunisia, northwestern Algeria, western and southern Morocco, and the central Atlas foothills will face increased water scarcity. News source: TH NCLT can’t allow tweaks in a successful resolution plan: SC Part of: Prelims and GS II - Important statutory bodies. Context The Supreme Court on Monday held that the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) cannot permit withdrawals or modifications of a successful resolution plan, once it has been submitted to it after due compliance with the procedural requirements and timelines. Such an open-ended process for further negotiations, would have a negative impact on the corporate debtor, its creditors, and the economy at large as the liquidation value depletes with the passage of time. Background The judgment relates to the NCLT’s decision to allow Ebix Singapore Private Limited to withdraw its resolution plan submitted for Educomp Solutions. The NCLAT had, however, reversed the NCLT order, saying the latter did not have jurisdiction to permit such withdrawal. The correctness of the NCLAT decision had come up on appeal before the Supreme Court. What is NCLAT? National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) was constituted under Section 410 of the Companies Act, 2013. NCLAT is the Appellate Tribunal for hearing appeals against the orders passed by – National Company Law Tribunal(s) (NCLT) under Section 61 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC) Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) under Section 202 and Section 211 of IBC. Competition Commission of India (CCI) – as per the amendment brought to Section 410 of the Companies Act, 2013. What is NCLT? National Company Law Tribunal is a quasi-judicial body in India that adjudicates issues relating to companies in India. Established on 1st June, 2016 (Companies Act, 2013). Formed based on the recommendations of the Justice Eradi Committee. It deals with matters mainly related to companies law and the insolvency law. Term of members: Appointments will be for five years from the date of assumption of charge or till attaining the age of 65 or until further orders. News source: TH NFRA for single stakeholders’ advisory body Part of: Prelims and GS -III - Economy Context In order to enhance engagement with stakeholders, the National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) will set up a single stakeholders’ advisory group as well as a research cell to support the group. What is NFRA? National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) is an independent regulator to oversee the auditing profession and accounting standards in India under Companies Act 2013. It came into existence in October 2018. Powers & Functions: NFRA is responsible for recommending accounting and auditing policies and standards in the country, undertaking investigations, and imposing sanctions against defaulting auditors and audit firms in the form of monetary penalties and debarment from practice for up to 10 years. It can probe listed companies and those unlisted public companies having paid-up capital of no less than Rs 500 crore or annual turnover of no less than Rs 1,000 crore. (while ICAI retains jurisdiction of small listed companies). It can even investigate professional misconduct committed by members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) for prescribed classes of body corporate or persons. NFRA consists of one chairman, three full-time members and one secretary. News source: TH About NCLT and ITAT Part of: Prelims and GS II - Important statutory bodies. Context The government has appointed 31 people as judicial, technical and accountant members at the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT). Recently, the Supreme Court had flagged concerns about vacancies in various tribunals. Background: There are around 250 posts lying vacant at various key tribunals and appellate tribunals such as the NCLT, the DRT, the TDSAT and the SAT. About NCLT: It is a quasi-judicial body in India that adjudicates issues relating to companies in India. Established on 1st June, 2016 (Companies Act, 2013). Formed based on the recommendations of the Justice Eradi Committee. It deals with matters mainly related to companies law and the insolvency law. Term of members: Appointments will be for five years from the date of assumption of charge or till attaining the age of 65 or until further orders. About ITAT: It deals with income tax matters. It is a statutory body in the field of direct taxes and its orders are accepted as final, on findings of fact. ITAT was the first Tribunal to be created on 25th January, 1941 and is also known as ‘Mother Tribunal’. With a view to ensuring the highest degree of independence of the ITAT, it functions under the Department of Legal Affairs in the Ministry of Law and Justice and is kept away from any kind of control by the Ministry of Finance. The orders passed by the ITAT can be subjected to appellate challenge, on substantial questions of law, before the respective High Court Thamirabarani Civilisation: Tamil Nadu Part of: Prelims and GS I - Ancient Indian History Context The Thamirabarani civilisation in Tamil Nadu is at least 3,200 years old, reveals carbon dating done on organic material retrieved from archeological excavations in Sivakalai, Thoothukudi district. Carbon Dating: The determination of the age or date of organic matter from the relative proportions of the carbon isotopes carbon-12 and carbon-14 that it contains. About Thamirabarani River The shortest river in the state (Tamil Nadu), the Thamirabarani starts in Pothigai hills of the Western Ghats in the Ambasamudram taluk, flows through Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts and empties at Korkai (Tirunelveli district) into the Gulf of Mannar (Bay of Bengal). Significance/Consequence of the Findings: It could lead to evidence that there was a city civilisation (Porunai River (Thamirabarani) civilization) in south India as long back as 3,200 years ago, the later part of the Indus Valley Civilisation. Also, archaeological excavations would be carried out in other States and countries in search of Tamil roots. In the first phase, studies would be undertaken at the ancient port of Muziris (Pattanam) in Kerala, to establish the ancientness and culture of the Chera empire. Research would be conducted at Quseir al-Qadim and Pernica Anekke in Egypt, which were once part of the Roman empire, as well as in Khor Rori in Oman, to establish the Tamils’ trade relations with these countries. Potsherds bearing Tamil scripts have been found in these countries. Studies would also be conducted in Southeast Asian countries, such as Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam, where King Rajendra Chola had established supremacy. Do you know? The three ruling houses of Tamil India, the Pandyas, Cheras, and Cholas, fought for supremacy of southern India and Sri Lanka. These dynasties promoted early literature on the Indian subcontinent and built important Hindu temples. Sangam literature, which was written over a period of six centuries (3rd BCE – 3rd CE) contains references to various Chola, Chera and Pandya kings. 128th anniversary of the historic Chicago address of Swami Vivekananda Part of: Prelims and GS I - Modern Indian history Context On September 11, 1893, Swami Vivekananda delivered his famed speech at the ‘Parliament of the World’s Religions’, garnering a full two minute standing ovation and the moniker of ‘cyclonic monk of India’ . This year marked the 128th anniversary of the historic Chicago Address of Swami Vivekananda. What is the Significance of this event? The Chicago address had dwelt at length on Hinduism and Indian culture, and his words continue to remain resonant till date. He became popular in the western world after his famous speech at the World’s Parliament of Religions. He was considered a major force in the revival of Hinduism in India and bringing it to the status of major world religion in the late 19th century. His address in the World “Parliament of Religions” at Chicago in 1893 drew the world’s attention to the ancient Indian philosophy of Vedanta. About Swami Vivekananda: He was a true luminary, credited with enlightening the western world about Hinduism. He was an ardent disciple of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa and a major force in the revival of Hinduism in India. He pushed for national integration in colonial India, and his famous speech remains as the one that he gave in Chicago in 1893 (Parliament of the World Religions). In 1984 the Government of India declared that 12 January, the birthday of Swami Vivekananda, will be celebrated as National Youth Day. Subramaniya Bharathiyar Part of: Prelims and GS I - Indian Culture Context Indian Vice-President recently paid homage to Subramania Bharati to mark the death centenary of the poet and freedom fighter. About Subramaniya Bharathi: Born on 11th December 1882, in Ettayapuram village of Tirunelveli District in Tamil Nadu. He was a poet, freedom fighter and social reformer from Tamil Nadu. He was known as Mahakavi Bharathiyar. His songs on nationalism and freedom of India helped to rally the masses to support the Indian Independence Movement in Tamil Nadu. Literary works: “Kannan Pattu” “Nilavum Vanminum Katrum” “Panchali Sabatam” “Kuyil Pattu”. He published the sensational “Sudesa Geethangal” in 1908. Sometime in mid-1908, Bharati began to serialise Gnanaratham in his political weekly, India. In 1949, he became the first poet whose works were nationalised by the state government. Miscellaneous Manipur Kukis The Kuki tribe in Manipur on Monday observed the 28th anniversary of the massacre of Kuki civilians in Manipur, allegedly by an armed Naga group. The Kuki people are an ethnic group native to the Mizo Hills (formerly Lushai), a mountainous region in the southeastern part of Mizoram in India. The Kuki constitute one of several hill tribes within India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. In northeast India, they are present in all states except Arunachal Pradesh. Some fifty tribes of Kuki peoples in India are recognised as scheduled tribes, based on the dialect spoken by that particular Kuki community as well as their region of origin. News source: TH (News from PIB) India–Africa Defence Dialogue Part of: GS-Prelims and GS – II – International Relations In News: India has proposed to institutionalise the India Africa Defence Dialogue during successive DefExpos to be held once every two years. Institutionalisation of the India Africa Defence Dialogue will help building on the existing partnerships between African countries & India and to explore new areas of convergence for mutual engagements including areas like capacity building, training, cyber security, maritime security and counter terrorism. Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses to be knowledge partner Raksha Mantri to host Defence Ministers of African nations in next India–Africa Defence Dialogue on sidelines of DefExpo 2022 Background: India and Africa share a close and historical relationship. The foundation of India–Africa defence relations are based on the two guiding principles namely ‘SAGAR’, Security and Growth for All in the Region’ and ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, The World is One Family. Note: ‘Lucknow Declaration’: A Joint Declaration between India and Africa was adopted after conclusion of first-ever India Africa Defence Ministers Conclave (IADMC) News Source: PIB Climate Action and Finance Mobilization Dialogue (CAFMD) Part of: Prelims and GS – II – International Relations In News: India and the United States of America (USA) has launched the “Climate Action and Finance Mobilization Dialogue (CAFMD)”. The CAFMD is one of the two tracks of the India-U.S. Climate and Clean Energy Agenda 2030 partnership launched at the Leaders' Summit on Climate in April 2021, by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and US President Mr. Joseph Biden. India and the USA, will engage for a constructive engagement under the “India-US Climate and Clean Energy Agenda 2030 Partnership” .These platforms provide greater opportunities for working together for climate actions and emphasized that India stands committed to working with the US on Clean Energy. The dialogue will not only strengthen India-US bilateral cooperation on climate and environment but will also help to demonstrate how the world can align swift climate action with inclusive and resilient economic development, taking into account national circumstances and sustainable development priorities. Lauded India’s leadership role in demonstrating how economic development and clean energy can go hand in hand and stated that urgent Global Climate Action is the need of the hour. The launch was preceded by a bilateral meet where both sides discussed at length a wide range of climate issues relating to COP26, Climate Ambition, Climate Finance, Global Climate Initiatives including International Solar Alliance (ISA), Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM4C). News Source: PIB SVAMITVA Scheme Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation In News: Inauguration of a National Meet on SVAMITVA Scheme that would provide cross-learning platform for States in respect of processes of SVAMITVA Scheme The acronym SVAMITA stands for Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas. It is a Central Sector Scheme (100% by Union Government) implemented by Union Ministry of Panchayat Raj It is aimed at “providing ‘record of rights’ to village household owners possessing houses in inhabited rural areas in villages and issuance of property cards to the property owners.” The government aims to provide such property cards to each household in the next three to four years in every village across the country. The plan is to survey all rural properties using drones and prepare GIS based maps for each village. News Source: PIB (Mains Focus) ECONOMY/ GOVERNANCE GS-3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment. Dilemma of Monetary Policy Context: In the monetary policy resolution announced on August 6, 2021, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) decided to keep the policy repo rate under the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) unchanged at 4 per cent. What is the dilemma of MPC? The repo rate reverse repo rate and the marginal standing facility (MSF) rate are all kept unchanged. RBI has also decided to continue with the accommodative monetary policy stance till the economy recovers from the shock of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, there was some divergence of opinion among the MPC members who argued against the accommodative stance of the MPC because the projected inflation is beyond the target inflation rate (2%-6%). This also led to comments as to whether the RBI has deviated from its mandate of flexible inflation targeting (FIT) and started emphasising growth over inflation. Admittedly, the task of the central bank is to routinely do this tightrope walk, balancing growth and inflation (the dilemma). Depending upon whether inflation is triggered by demand-pull or cost-push factors, an appropriate decision is taken. What are the cost-push factors for Inflation? There are reasons to believe that the inflation faced by India currently is more of a supply-side problem. Due to long and uneven lockdown, the supply chains of the country have got negatively affected. At the same time, due to several reasons, international commodity prices are going up. This is seen in high prices of fuels, including crude oil and coal, metals like copper, aluminium and steel, cotton and other industrial inputs. Global container and semiconductor shortages are also adding to the problems. An uneven and deficient monsoon may also add to this price pressure of food products. The combination of all these factors has led to increase in the prices of goods & services. Is there a demand-pull inflation? Though the industrial production has shown a remarkable rate of growth on a year-on-year basis, but it was still 13.9 per cent below its May 2019 level. The RBI OBICUS survey of the manufacturing sector also indicates that the aggregate capacity utilisation is still below 70 per cent in Q4:2020-21. The latest quarterly GDP statistics shows that in real terms, many industrial and services sub-sectors have not yet reached the pre-Covid production levels. All the above shows that it is unlikely that there is a demand pressure on the economy. If there was demand-pull inflation, then it needs to be suppressed using higher interest rates. This is currently not the case in India, hence no need for rate hike. Conclusion When inflation originates from the supply side, it will be very difficult to contain it by pushing up the rate of interest. In fact, if the interest rate is raised, then cost of borrowing goes up which may lead to further price rise. Since the argument for demand-pull inflation is weak, the RBI’s decision to keep the interest rate unchanged so as to boost growth seems to be the right decision. Connecting the dots: Monetary Policy Committee Perils of Inflation Targeting ENVIRONMENT GS-3: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation Permafrost and Pandemic Context: The latest IPCC report has warned that increasing global warming will result in reductions in Arctic permafrost which is expected to release greenhouse gases like methane and carbon dioxide. What is Permafrost? It is defined as ground (soil, rock and any included ice or organic material) that remains at or below zero degree Celsius for at least two consecutive years. Permafrost is spread across an area of over 23 million square kilometers, covering about 15% of the land area of the globe. What will be the immediate effects as permafrost melts due to increasing global temperatures? Physical Infrastructure in Danger: The first impacts that are very rapid will affect countries where roads or buildings were constructed on permafrost. The Russian railways are an example. In the northwest of Canada, there is a short section of the road where it has been necessary to chill the ground (costing $4 million for 500m) to make the foundation of the road colder than it is, in order to preserve the permafrost. Greenhouse Gas Emission: If the Permafrost ground begins to thaw (melt), the organic materials frozen will become available for microbiota to break down. In some environments, the biota will release carbon dioxide and methane. What is the potential of GHG emission from Permafrost thaw? The total quantity of carbon that is now buried in the permafrost is estimated at about 1500 billion tonnes and the top three meters of the ground has about 1000 billion tonnes. The world currently emits into the atmosphere, approximately 10 billion tonnes of carbon a year. So, if the permafrost thaws and releases even only one per cent of the frozen carbon in any one year, it can nullify the measures taken by world to control industrial emissions. So, do we need more studies to understand these emissions that can happen? Yes, we do. The majority of the effort so far has been on estimating how much carbon is in the permafrost. That’s where the scientific effort has been. Currently, there is some evidence, that some permafrost regions have changed from being a carbon storehouse to being places that are net emitters of carbon. Another thing, which is to be studied is the increase in the number of forest fires. In 2021 Russia witnessed a forest fire whose total area was the size of Portugal. Usually, after a fire, we expect the forest to grow back in the next 50 years to 60 years. This restores the carbon stock in the ecosystem. But in the tundra, the peat is where the organic material is and this takes a very long time to accumulate. So if we burn peat and release it into the atmosphere, then it will take centuries to restore that carbon stock at ground level. So that’s another problem which has to be looked into. Can thawing Permafrost release new bacteria or viruses? Can it cause another pandemic? The answer is that permafrost has many secrets. Recently, mammoths were found in the permafrost in Russia. And some of these mammoth carcasses when they begin to degrade again may reveal bacteria that were frozen thousands of years ago. These bacteria & viruses may cause surprises When the permafrost was formed thousands of years ago, there weren’t many humans who lived in that region which was necessarily very cold. However, the environment now is so much more suitable than during the Ice Age for not just human life, but also the evolution or development of viruses and bacteria. Connecting the dots: IPCC’s report on Climate Change & India Paris Climate Deal: India’s Progress, Pandemic and Challenges (Vice President’s Address) GS-II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation Vice President’s Remarks A. Called upon large institutions and government organisations to adopt sustainable energy practices in their operations by using renewable energy – Suggested greater adoption of rooftop solar plants in industries and big establishments like universities and government buildings and godowns Appealed to all states and local bodies to consider adopting the model building by-laws for new buildings Advocated the need to make solar rooftop plants, solar water heaters and rainwater harvesting mandatory for large buildings and government organisations, along with ensuring sufficient light and ventilation. Highlighting the significance of rooftop solar plants in continuing the momentum of India’s ‘energy transition’, he observed that rooftop plants use empty areas on buildings, generate power close to the point of consumption and reduce transmission losses. Called for State, Central and UT governments to work together as Team India to popularise the tapping of solar energy and bring about greater awareness among people on the benefits of installing solar panels on their rooftops – massive campaigns to publicize the subsidy programmes for solar rooftop systems and the resultant electricity savings. Stressed the importance of ventilation and air circulation in buildings: Sunlight is a natural disinfectant. Our ancestors understood this – it reflected in their planning and construction of houses. B. Urged youth to develop a deeper understanding of India’s timeless traditions and rich cultural heritage and apply various dimensions of India's cultural genius to activities in contemporary life – Referring to Sri Aurobindo’s stress on India's rich spiritual tradition and cultural heritage, he said that we need to recapture this creative spirit to soar higher and scale new heights as a nation We should forge our collective will to eradicate social evils and create a truly egalitarian society. Said that the great revolutionary yogi, poet and philosopher continues to be an eternal inspiration for humanity through his vision for world unity, peace and spiritual upliftment. C. If we have to achieve the inclusive ideals of our constitution, then the role of women in the judiciary also has to be increased – Women in Judiciary: Referring to the Allahabad High Court’s historic decision to enroll India's first woman lawyer, Ms. Cornelia Sorabji in 1921, the President termed that decision a forward-looking decision in the direction of women empowerment. Last month, a new history was created of the women’s participation in the judiciary with the appointment of nine judges, including three women judges, in the Supreme Court. The presence of four women judges out of the total 33 judges appointed in the Supreme Court is the highest ever in the history of the judiciary. At present the total strength of women judges in the Supreme Court and High Courts together is less than 12 per cent. Establishment of a truly just society would be possible only when the participation of women increases in all areas including the judiciary. Judiciary of India Everyone has expectations from the judiciary, yet, generally people hesitate in taking the help of the courts. This situation needs to be changed in order to further increase the confidence of the people in the judiciary. It is the responsibility of all of us that - everyone gets justice in time, justice system should be less expensive, decisions should be in the language understood by the common man, and especially women and weaker sections should get justice in the judicial process. This would be possible only when all stakeholders associated with the judicial system bring necessary changes in their thinking and work culture and become sensitive. It is the need of the hour to continuously strive on many aspects, from expediting the disposal of pending cases to increasing the efficiency of the Subordinate Judiciary in order to boost the confidence of general public in the judiciary. Our judicial process would be strengthened with the arrangement of adequate facilities for the Subordinate Judiciary, increasing the number of working judges and providing enough resources as per the provisions of the budget. World class legal education is one of the priorities of our society and country. It is relatively easy for any institution to establish all the systems in a well thought out manner at the very beginning. Once the system is created, the process of improving it becomes complicated. D. Called upon states to promote the setting up of manufacturing plants for solar PV cells and modules to accelerate their production in India Stressed upon the importance of ‘Atma Nirbharta’ in solar energy through active participation of the states The lack of a trained force is a bottleneck in our exponential growth in the sector. He suggested investing in training and upskilling the workforce in adopting the latest technologies and cited the instance of the scheme of ‘Surya Mitras’. Suggested exploring alternative avenues to install ground-mounted PV systems. Rooftop-mounted solar plants are a sustainable option and need to be encouraged. Called upon universities to proactively take up research and projects which have a component of renewable energy. Advised educational institutions to encourage students to take up final year projects and internships in the field of renewable energy and in material sciences. This will not only improve their employment prospects but will also help in promoting innovations and improvements in our domestic solar industry. E. An enabling ecosystem for R&D is must for India to become a developed nation Urged educational institutions to have an increased interface with the industry to promote result-oriented research that addresses contemporary challenges such as climate change, pollution, health and poverty. It is the cutting-edge research in science, technology and other fields that puts developed countries ahead of the rest. He asked the students to conduct socially relevant research and come up with out-of-box ideas to make the nation strong and bring prosperity and happiness in people’s lives. Leadership teams of 45% start-ups have a woman entrepreneur; he hoped that this healthy trend will inspire more women to become entrepreneurs. Emphasizing the need to provide equal opportunities for women, he called for ending artificial barriers created in the name of caste, religion and gender. You must prepare a generation to see that all kinds of social discriminations are put to an end. Mentioning several government measures to support start-ups such as broadening the definition, simplifying regulations and providing tax exemptions, he exhorted the industry to also come forward and support young entrepreneurs by handholding, providing funds and incubating their ventures. Improved Industry-Academia Partnership has to be stepped up to give a further fillip in this direction. News Source: PIB, PIB, PIB (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note: Correct answers of today’s questions will be provided in next day’s DNA section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers. Q.1 Kuki tribes are present in which of the following states? Manipur Mizoram Arunachal Pradesh Both (a) and (b) Q.2 Consider the following statements: The Competition Act, 2002 regulates combinations (acquisition, acquiring of control and Merger and acquisition), which causes or likely to cause an appreciable adverse effect on competition within India. Competition Commission of India (CCI) is responsible for enforcing The Competition Act, 2002 throughout India. Which of the above is or are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3 Consider the following statements regarding National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA): It can probe listed companies and those unlisted public companies having paid-up capital of no less than Rs 500 crore or annual turnover of no less than Rs 1,000 crore. It cannot investigate professional misconduct committed by members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI). Which of the above is or are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 ANSWERS FOR 13th Sept 2021 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 B 2 A 3 B Must Read On Financial Inclusion: Indian Express On Shanghai Cooperation Organisation: Indian Express On US-China relations: The Hindu

Sep 14, 2021 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz – 2021 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 14th September 2021

Sep 14, 2021 IASbaba's Courses

[2 DAYS TO GO] REGISTER NOW for Baba's GURUKUL 2022 ENTRANCE TEST

Dear Students The Registrations for Baba's GURUKUL 2022 Entrance Test closes on 16th September (10 PM). Hurry Up and Register Now! REGISTER NOW - CLICK HERE DETAILS OF THE ENTRANCE TEST The entrance test will be exactly like UPSC-CSE where you will be facing a Prelims test, a Mains test, and a Personality test. Prelims and Mains exam will be on the same day and based on the merit list, students will be short-listed for the interview. The selection process will be similar to UPSC standards, comprising of one Prelims Test (75 MCQ’s – 150 marks; Syllabus will include current affairs of last six months and static GS topics + Objective CSAT questions), one Mains Test – 150 marks (it will include an essay based on Current Issues and case studies of Ethics to check the approach of candidates) and a Personality Test (it will be conducted to check the dedication of candidates and their level of understanding of Current Issues). The 1st entrance test will be held on 18th September (Saturday) at 11 AM. The test will be held ONLINE and OFFLINE (Bangalore, Delhi, and Lucknow Centres) The Results of the 1st Entrance Test will be out on the 20th of September (Monday) Interviews will be starting from 22nd September (Wednesday) Final Results will be out on 25th September (Saturday) To Know More About Baba's Gurukul 2022 - CLICK HERE For ANY QUERIES: Email ID: support@iasbaba.com Contact No. : 9169191888 (10 AM – 6 PM) Please do not make calls before or after the given timing. You can also reach us on – BENGALURU CENTRE: IASbaba Admission Centre: No.38, 3rd Cross, 1st Phase, 2nd Stage, 60 Feet Mains Road, Chandralayout, Bengaluru-560040. Landmark: Opposite to BBMP Office/ CULT Fitness DELHI CENTRE: 5B, PUSA Road, Opposite to Metro Pillar 110, Karol Bagh, New Delhi -110005 (Landmark: CROMA Store) All the best 🙂 IASbaba

Sep 13, 2021 IASbaba's Courses

[ILP 2022] How to use ILP for Late Joiners? - UPSC 2022

Dear Friends, Starting anything afresh is difficult; maintaining the momentum is even more arduous. Enthusiasm and initial vigor wane down with time. It is natural and happens with almost everyone. However, it is important that the cycle continues. For every new moon, there is a full moon. The same goes with your preparation also. The phases of low energy and inertia must be replaced by a phase of renewed vigor and determination. Ultimately, it’s not the effort that you put in your studies that matters; rather it’s your willingness to wake out of slumber and prolonged despondency that makes you successful. Our energy levels fluctuate and a dip is observed when we get bored or we have doubts in our minds. However, the worst of this lot is complacency. Even if a great player like Virat Kohli gets complacent and stops his training, he will be out of form soon. Similarly, even the legends like Sachin Tendulkar had seen the blues in his career because of doubts. We urge you to identify the cause that is creating the inertia of idleness and despondency for you. Let us remind you that the race you have decided to participate in, is a tough one and there are many contenders who are better placed and are putting their 100% right now. You have got a lot of catch-ups to do and at the same time maintain the lead that you have over others. That requires sustained efforts and the willingness to put that extra bit that will push you to reach your potential. See, preparing for the civil services examination is just like a test match. You have to be patient, alert, and consistent to build your innings. You can’t afford to be adventurous and start slogging in the middle. Of course, it takes time but the end result is sweet. At the outset, we at IASbaba would like to congratulate all our followers for making the Integrated Learning Program (ILP) a big success over the last couple of years and even bigger this year! Nothing can replace quality, passion, and pedigree for which IASBaba has become the name for! Since launching ILP-2022, we have received a couple to hundreds of emails asking for: Is it the right time to join ILP-2022? It is already September and I haven’t even started with the preparation. Should I join ILP? How will ILP be beneficial at this stage? How do I go about my preparation if I join ILP now? ILP is an intensive program having daily coverage and regular tests. I am already lagging behind. How should I go about this? We have tried to address those queries personally. However, here, we are trying to dispel the most prevalent doubts that we have received from our followers. We hope that these clarifications would make you take the right decision and you would start with a new zeal and energy. How will I cover left/missed portions of the plan if I join now? Backlog: You have to anyway cover them in the future. Isn’t it? UPSC syllabus remains the same and the examination will be common to all! Even if you intend to start now, you have to prepare for it completely. It is a psychological blockade that you are behind the plan. Though we started on 2nd August, you can designate the day you join as Day 1 of your schedule and proceed. Else you can also start with the current schedule and in parallel prepare from the previous schedule so that you pace yourself according to the plan. Two months before prelims, you will have enough time to revise everything. There are aspirants who joined our ILP with just a couple of months left for prelims last year and yet cleared prelims. Hence it is more about commitment and consistency. Our content and planning will organize you more and also let you focus on quality learning. So, we see no reason why cannot you use it to the fullest even now! Even as we speak close to half a hundred aspirants subscribe every day and start their journey. If you are starting now, then - Study the Plan carefully - Static portions are clearly given, value add notes (VAN) are also updated according to the couse plan. You can pick the value add for a particular module; cover it as early as possible. It covers almost all the important and necessary stuff; it will become an easy task for you to understand the relevant concepts. For current affairs – follow Babapedia (Prelimspedia and Mainspedia) (Folder name- JULY 2021, SEPTEMBER 2021, OCTOBER 2021). Look inside. Date-wise updates are there. You can follow the same and prepare for the test. Watch this video on How to Use Bababapedia - CLICK HERE Similarly, if you start with the ongoing plan, then also you can prepare previous tests in parallel. Go slow but learn in the process. Also, if you go through the Schedule, you’d notice that the course ends before Prelims 2022 itself. Even if you join late (September, October) half of the Mains Exclusive Modules can be covered comprehensively after the Prelims Exam. For those who are not able to catch up with the Plan What if you were not a part of ILP? Then also you had to finish everything according to the syllabus. So, with the same time at your disposal, here you are getting a well-chalked-out micro plan, quality content, and guidance. And according to the plan a well-specified source to follow, which can guide you and prevent distractions. You need to remember that proper planning is very important otherwise you will keep on wandering till the end, and then panic before the exam. Please do not give yourself the false satisfaction that you are preparing. Our suggestions At least you have quality content at your disposal. Prepare from that and revise properly. Take up the tests even if it is delayed due to personal issues. Do retrospective learning and learn all the concepts from the tests. Some Valuable Suggestions for Smart Preparation How are you revising from Tests and Babapedia? What will you do 1 month before the PRELIMS 2022 Exam? Will you sit again and download the test pdfs and start solving them again? If you do that, you will only end up doing mechanical work! We suggest the following: Make different sets of Note Books for Economy, S&T, Environment, History, Geography, and Polity - Only for Tests Suppose you are done with the first Module of the Polity Test comprising of 100 Questions from CA and Polity. 100 Questions will expose you to more than 200 related concepts. One Test - 200 Solid Concepts Write it down in Polity Note Book Do the same for all polity tests. The revision will become a cakewalk for you Since carrying this notebook will not be a problem, you can revise it anywhere and anytime. By the end of all Modules, you’ll have revised a particular subject at least thrice – 1st Reading through the Standard Book, 2nd through Value-Add Notes, 3rd through tests. And before the Prelims exam, you’ll have enough time to revise it again at least twice. (Imagine all those concepts in your respective notebook in revision friendly mode) The same way make different notebooks for current affairs from Babapedia. “Try to understand the importance of smart work” To Know More about ILP 2022 in ENGLISH (Features, Schedule, Sample Content, and FAQs) - CLICK HERE To Know More about ILP 2022 in हिन्दी (Features, Schedule, Sample Content, and FAQs) - CLICK HERE For More Queries - Write to us at support@iasbaba.com OR call us at +91 91691 91888

Sep 13, 2021 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 13th September 2021

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) NATGRID to go live soon Part of: Prelims and GS III - Defence and security Context The Indian Prime Minister is soon expected to launch the National Intelligence Grid or NATGRID that aims to provide a “cutting-edge technology to enhance India’s counter-terror capabilities”. The final “synchronisation and testing” of the ambitious electronic database is being carried out so that it can go live. What is NATGRID? NATGRID is an online database for collating scattered pieces of information from more than 20 organisations in the field of telecom, tax records, bank, immigration, etc. to enable the generation of intelligence inputs. NATGRID is a post Mumbai 26/11 attack measure. It aims to mitigate a vital deficiency — lack of real time information, which was considered to be one of the major hurdles in detecting US terror suspect David Headley’s movement across the country during his multiple visits between 2006 and 2009. NATGRID will utilise technologies like Big Data and analytics to study and analyse the data from various intelligence and enforcement agencies At least 10 central agencies like IB, R&AW and others will have access to the data for counter-terror investigations. It will also have access to the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems, including FIRs, across 14,000 police stations in India. Unlike the NCTC or the NIA which are central agencies, the NATGRID is essentially a tool that enables security agencies to locate and obtain relevant information on terror suspects from pooled data sets of various organizations and services in the country. It will help identify, capture and prosecute terrorists and help preempt terror plots. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) are two organisations established in the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks of 2008. The data recovery centre for NATGRID is at Bengaluru Do you know? NATGRID is exempted from the Right to Information Act, 2005 under sub-section (2) of Section 24. The project was supposed to go live by December 31 2020 but was postponed due to COVID-19 News Source: TH Findings of Chandrayaan-2 Part of: Prelims and GS III - Awareness in space. Context The Orbiter and other instruments of Chandrayaan-2 mission have, in two years, gathered a wealth of new information that has added to our knowledge about the Moon and its environment. What happened to Chandrayaan-2? Chandrayaan-2, India’s second mission to the Moon, had failed to make a soft-landing on the lunar surface. The lander and rover malfunctioned in the final moments and crash-landed, getting destroyed in the process. Why is this mission still relevant? Despite the failure, the mission’s orbiter and other parts have been functioning normally, gathering information. Recently, the ISRO released the information gathered by the scientific payloads till now, some of which were still to be analysed and assessed. Key information gathered from Chandrayaan-2 Presence of water molecules on moon which is the most precise information about water till date. Presence of Minor elements: Chromium, manganese and Sodium have been detected for the first time through remote sensing. Information about solar flares: A large number of microflares outside the active region have been observed for the first time. It shall help in understanding the mechanism behind heating of the solar corona. More about the Chandrayaan-2 Mission Scientists used the Solar X-ray Monitor (XSM) onboard Chandrayaan-2 in September 2019 to study the Sun. Primary objective of Chandrayaan 2: To demonstrate the ability to soft-land on the lunar surface and operate a robotic rover on the surface. The mission consisted of an Orbiter of the Moon, Vikram (after Vikram Sarabhai) – the lander and Pragyan (wisdom) – the rover, all equipped with scientific instruments to study the moon. Atmanirbhar Bharat corner for tribal products Part of: Prelims and GS -II - Policies and interventions; Law and Policy Context As part of India@75, the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation (TRIFED) is setting up an Atmanirbhar Bharat corner. About Atmanirbhar Bharat corner This corner will be an exclusive space to promote GI tagged tribal art and craft products besides natural and organic products. With the focus on “Vocal for Local” and building an “Atmanirbhar Bharat”, TRIFED is undertaking several activities, while re-dedicating its efforts towards tribal empowerment. The TRIFED has been actively collaborating with several ministries & agencies such as: Ministry of Culture. Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce. India Posts. Ministry of Tourism. Office of the Prime Minister. TRIFED is also setting up an Atmanirbhar Bharat corner in 75 Indian Missions/ Embassies across the world in the next 90 days by collaborating with Ministry of External Affairs. The first Atma Nirbhar Bharat corner has been successfully inaugurated at the Indian Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand on the occasion of Independence Day. What is TRIFED? It was established in August 1987 under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 1984 by the Government of India. Main objective: Institutionalising the trade of Minor forest products(MFP) and to provide the tribals of India a fair price for the surplus agricultural products produced by them. It is a national level cooperative body. Ministry: Ministry Of Tribal Affairs. TRIFED is mandated to bring about socio-economic development of tribals of the country by institutionalising the trade of Minor Forest Produce & Surplus Agricultural Produce (SAP) collected/ cultivated by them. Footprints of 3 Dinosaur Species: Rajasthan Part of: GS Prelims and GS- I - Important Geophysical phenomena Context Recently, in a major discovery, footprints of three species of dinosaurs have been found in the Thar desert in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer district. It proves the presence of the giant reptiles in the western part of the State. About the Discovery: The footprints belong to three species of dinosaurs - Eubrontes cf. giganteus, Eubrontes glenrosensis and Grallator tenuis. The footprints were 200 million years old. The dinosaur species are considered to be of the theropod type, with the distinguishing features of hollow bones and feet with three digits (like fingers). Theropod includes all the flesh-eating dinosaurs. The 'Age of Dinosaurs' (the Mesozoic Era - 252-66 Million Years Ago) included three consecutive geologic time periods (the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous Periods). Different dinosaur species lived during each of these three periods. About Thar Desert The name ‘Thar’ is derived from thul, the general term for the region’s sand ridges. It is also called the ‘Great Indian Desert’. Location: Partly in Rajasthan state, northwestern India, and partly in Punjab and Sindh provinces, eastern Pakistan. It is bordered by the irrigated Indus River plain to the west, the Punjab Plain to the north and northeast, the Aravalli Range to the southeast, and the Rann of Kachchh to the south. It Presents an undulating surface, with high and low sand dunes separated by sandy plains and low barren hills, or bhakars. Barchan, also spelled Barkhan, crescent-shaped sand dunes produced by the action of wind predominately from one direction are also present. Several playas (saline lake beds), locally known as dhands, are scattered throughout the region. The desert supports a relatively rich biodiversity with several large mammals, notably the blue bull, blackbuck, and Indian gazelle or chinkara. (News from PIB) Nukhai Part of: GS-Prelims and GS-I – Art & Culture Celebrated in: Western Odisha and adjoining areas of Simdega in Jharkhand. It is an agricultural festival, observed to welcome the new rice of the season. It is observed on the fifth day of the lunar fortnight of the month of Bhadrapada or Bhaadra (August–September), the day after the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. People offer the newly harvested crop called Nabanha to their respective presiding deities, as a part of the rituals News Source: PIB ‘2+2’ Ministerial Dialogue between India & Australia Part of: Prelims and GS – II – International Relations The 2+2 dialogue signifies the importance of the India – Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. India and Australia share an important partnership which is based on a shared vision of free, open, inclusive and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. As two democracies we have a common interest in peace and prosperity of the entire region. Key Highlights In-depth discussion on bilateral & regional issues Afghanistan, maritime security in Indo-Pacific, cooperation in multilateral formats & other related topics discussed Emphasis on ensuring free flow of trade, adherence to international rules & sustainable economic growth in entire region Invitation to Australia to engage in India’s growing defence industry - expand military engagements across services, facilitate greater defence information sharing and to work closely for mutual logistic support; invited Australia to engage India’s growing defence industry and to collaborate in co-production and co-development of defence equipment. News Source: PIB Saline Gargle RT-PCR technique Part of: GS Prelims In News: In a notable step forward in India’s fight against COVID-19, Nagpur-based National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) has transferred the know-how of indigenously developed Saline Gargle RT-PCR technique, used for testing COVID-19 samples. The Saline Gargle RT-PCR technology is simple, fast, cost-effective, patient-friendly and comfortable It also provides instant test results and is well-suited for rural and tribal areas, given minimal infrastructure requirements. The transfer of knowhow would enable the innovation to be commercialized and licensed to all capable parties, including private, government and various rural development schemes and departments. This will lead to commercial production in the form of easily usable compact kits in the light of the prevailing pandemic situation and probable third wave of COVID-19. News Source: PIB Subramania Bharati Part of: GS-I: Personalities in Indian national movements Context: PM pays tribute to Subramania Bharati on his 100th Punya Tithi About Subramania Bharati A Tamil writer, poet, journalist, Indian independence activist, social reformer and polyglot Popularly known as "Mahakavi Bharathi" ("Great Poet Bharathi"), he was a pioneer of modern Tamil poetry and is considered one of the greatest Tamil literary figures of all time. His numerous works included fiery songs kindling patriotism during the Indian Independence movement. He fought for the emancipation of women, against child marriage, stood for reforming Brahminism and religion. He was also in solidarity with Dalits and Muslims. News Source: PIB Acharya Vinoba Bhave Part of: GS-I: Personalities in Indian national movements Context: PM pays tributes to Acharya Vinoba Bhave on his Jayanti An Indian advocate of nonviolence and human rights Often called Acharya (Sanskrit for teacher), he is best known for the Bhoodan and Gramdaan Movement. He is considered as a National Teacher of India and the spiritual successor of Mahatma Gandhi. He was an eminent philosopher. The Gita has also been translated into Marathi language by him with the name as Geetai means mother Geeta News Source: PIB e-Shram portal – National Database on Unorganized Workers (NDUW) Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS-II- Governance In News: Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) Holds Interactions with Trade Unions and Media at Mathura refinery. What is the e-Shram portal? e-Shram portal is a portal through which the government aims to register 38 crore unorganised workers, such as construction labourers, migrant workforce, street vendors and domestic workers, among others. The workers will be issued an e-Shram card containing a 12-digit unique number, which, going ahead, will help in including them in social security schemes. Significance of e-Shram portal – National Database on Unorganized Workers (NDUW) Targeted identification of the unorganized workers was a much-needed step and the portal which will be the national database of our nation builders will help take welfare schemes to their doorstep, who are the builders of our Nation. Targeted delivery and last mile delivery, has been a major focus of the schemes of government of India and the National Database of Unorganised workers (E-Shram portal) is another key step towards that. News Source: PIB (Mains Focus) INTERNATIONAL/ SECURITY GS-2: Policies and politics of developed and developing countries U.K.’s Children’s Code Context: Recently, U.K. government brought into effect the Age Appropriate Design Code or the Children’s Code that provides a set of regulations that will make using the digital space safer for children. What is the Children’s Code? The Children’s Code is a data protection code of practice for online services likely to be used by children. It sets out 15 standards for online services, including in apps, games, toy and devices and even news services. It is rooted in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child that recognises the special safeguards children need in all aspects of their life. What are the threats to children online? Research shows that within 24 hours of a social media profile being created, children were being targeted with graphic content. It shows that services such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok are allowing children, some as young as 13 years old, to be directly targeted within 24 hours of creating an account with a stream of harmful content. Despite knowing the children’s age, the companies are enabling unasked contact from adult strangers These platforms are recommending damaging content, including material related to eating disorders, extreme diets, self-harm and suicide as well as sexualised imagery and distorted body images. Further, these recommendations are by no means ‘bugs’ or mistakes in the code. They are designed to maximise engagement, activity and followers — the three drivers of revenue. Though not intentionally designed to harm children, they are not currently creating a safe space for them to learn, explore and play Who does the Code apply to? The Code applies to “information society services likely to be accessed by children”. This includes apps; programs; search engines; social media platforms; online messaging or internet-based voice telephony services; online marketplaces; content streaming services (like video, music or gaming services); online games; news or educational websites; and any websites offering other goods or services to users on the internet. Electronic services for controlling connected toys and other connected devices are also included. The code applies to the U.K. based companies and non-U.K. companies that use data of children in the country. Will children in India benefit from the Code? It has the potential to completely transform the way that companies collect, share and use children’s data, requiring them to offer children a high level of privacy protection by default UK Code will force tech giants to make the entire architecture child-friendly, and not region-specific alone. If tech giants universalise their safety architecture, children across the world, including in India, will benefit from the Code. Conclusion It is high time that the Indian government incorporated child safety into its social media agenda. Connecting the dots: Personal Data Protection Bill New Social Media Code by India ECONOMY/ GOVERNANCE GS-3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment. GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation Account Aggregator: New Framework to Share Financial Data Context: On September 2, the RBI launched the account aggregator framework aimed at making financial data more easily accessible. Under it, a number of fin-tech entities have been granted the licence by RBI to operate as account aggregators. Eight large banks have also agreed to share various financial data about their customers with account aggregators. How will an account aggregator work? The framework will allow financial data to be exchanged between the holders of data and its users. The RBI has allowed a number of companies like PhonePe to act as account aggregators to facilitate this process. Account aggregators will act as intermediaries who will collect data from one financial entity and exchange it with another. For example, a bank which is processing a loan application from a potential borrower may want to access a variety of financial data about the borrower. The lending bank can access details of the borrower’s savings, past loan repayment record, mutual fund holdings and insurance holdings through an account aggregator. The borrower, however, will have to grant consent for the sharing of his data with the lending bank. What are its benefits? At the moment, the various financial data of an individual is scattered across the databases of several financial institutions. So a person’s savings and loans data may be with a bank, his investments data may be with a mutual fund, while his insurance data may be with another financial entity. Under the account aggregator framework, all this data can be easily collated and shared through account aggregators with the consent of the individual. Proponents of the framework believe that the easier availability of data will have significant benefits for the economy. The framework will help financial institutions make better assessment of the creditworthiness of individuals, and thus make better loan decisions. Even though mechanisms such as CIBIL already exist to assess the creditworthiness of individual borrowers, their scope is limited. An individual’s PAN number, for instance, captures only a limited number of transactions which are of value higher than a certain minimum threshold amount. It is said the framework will offer a wider array of data to financial firms, making them more willing to serve creditworthy populations that they earlier ignored. Account aggregators can also make life easier for creditworthy customers by allowing them to share their financial data digitally with ease. The availability of wider financial data may also help financial institutions offer better products tailored to the needs of individual customers. What are the safeguards provided? The issue of the security of the financial data of individuals will be a looming concern going forward, given the risk of data theft. To protect the privacy of individuals, account aggregators are supposed to receive and share financial data in an encrypted form. The RBI has also said the data ownership will reside with individuals. What happens next? More financial firms are expected to get on board the framework given the benefits of accessing data. Over time, financial institutions may also mandate data from account aggregators as a condition for individuals to receive loans and other services. Some believe an individual’s PAN number may be a better way to access his financial data as it serves as a common link between multiple accounts maintained by an individual. The eventual success of the framework, however, will depend on multiple factors. The extent to which financial firms desire extensive, micro-level financial data from their customers and the enthusiasm among customers to share their data will also play a crucial role. Connecting the dots: UPI – India’s Digital payment Revolution eRUPI & Governance (AIR Spotlight) Spotlight Sep 11: Discussion on New strides in Food processing sector https://youtu.be/Cvabhu4XUsk ECONOMY GS-3: Food Processing Food processing sector Context: India has made vast progress overtime in providing food security for its people and has become largely self-reliant in agriculture. Accordingly, the policy focus has shifted from attaining self-sufficiency to generating higher and stable income for the farming population. Food processing industry (FPI) is one area which has the potential to add value to farm output, create alternate employment opportunities, improve exports and strengthen the domestic supply chain. India, with about 11.2 per cent of total arable land in the world, is ranked first in the production of milk, pulses and jute, second in fruits and vegetables and third in cereals (Government of India, 2019). It is also the sixth largest food and grocery market in the world. Food & Grocery retail market in India further constitutes almost 65% of the total retail market in India. By 2025, India’s food processing industry is expected to be worth over half a trillion dollars. Through the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), the Government of India is taking all necessary steps to boost investments in the food processing industry in India. The government has sanctioned 41 food parks funded under the Mega Food Parks Scheme of which 38 have final approval; 22 are operational as of 1 August 2021. Potential of Food processing industry in India The importance of post-harvest management is that it has the capability to meet food requirements of a growing population by eliminating losses, making more nutritious food items from raw commodities, i.e., fruits and vegetables, and by proper processing and fortification. Employment Generation: It provides direct and indirect employment opportunities, because it acts as a bridge between Agriculture and Manufacturing. Doubling of farmers’ income: With the rise in demand for agri-products there will be commensurate rise in the price paid to the farmer, thereby increasing the income. Reduce malnutrition: Processed foods when fortified with vitamins and minerals can reduce the nutritional gap in the population. Reduce food wastage: UN estimates that 40% of production is wasted. Similarly, NITI Aayog estimated annual post-harvest losses of close to Rs 90,000 crore. With greater thrust on proper sorting and grading close to the farm gate, and diverting extra produce to FPI, this wastage could also be reduced, leading to better price realisation for farmers. Boosts Trade and Earns Foreign exchange: It is an important source of foreign exchange. For e.g. Indian Basmati rice is in great demand in Middle Eastern countries. Curbing Migration: Food Processing being a labour intensive industry will provide localized employment opportunities and thus will reduce the push factor in source regions of migration. Curbing Food Inflation: Processing increases the shelf life of the food thus keeping supplies in tune with the demand thereby controlling food-inflation. For e.g. Frozen Safal peas are available throughout the year. Crop-diversification: Food processing will require different types of inputs thus creating an incentive for the farmer to grow and diversify crops. Preserve the nutritive quality of food and prolongs the shelf life by preventing them from spoilage due to microbes and other spoilage agents, Enhances the quality and taste of food thereby bringing more choices in food basket Enhances consumer choices: Today, food processing allows food from other parts of the world to be transported to our local market and vice versa. Challenges Faced by Food Processing Industry in India Supply and Demand Side Bottlenecks Small and dispersed marketable surplus due to fragmented holdings, low farm productivity due to lack of mechanization, high seasonality, perishability and lack of proper intermediation (supply chain) result in lack of availability of raw material. This in turn, impedes food processing and its exports. Demand of processed food is mainly restricted to urban areas of India. Infrastructure Bottlenecks More than 30% of the produce from farm gate is lost due to inadequate cold chain infrastructure. The NITI Aayog cited a study that estimated annual post-harvest losses close to Rs 90,000 crore. Lack of all weather roads and connectivity make supply erratic. Informalization in Food Processing Industry The food processing industry has a high concentration of unorganised segments, representing almost 75% across all product categories. Thus, causes the inefficiencies in the existing production system. Deficiencies in the Regulatory Environment: There are numerous laws, under the jurisdiction of different ministries and departments, which govern food safety and packaging. The multiplicity of legislation and administrative delays leads to contradictions in food safety specifications and guidelines. Low-Value Exports: Further, most processing in India can be classified as primary processing, which has lower value-addition compared to secondary processing. Due to this, despite India being one of the largest producers of agricultural commodities in the world, agricultural exports as a share of GDP are fairly low in India relative to the rest of the world. The same proportion is around 4% for Brazil, 7% for Argentina, 9% for Thailand, while for India it is just 2%. Besides these, issues like mounting cost of finance, lack of skilled and trained manpower, inadequate quality control and packaging units and high taxes and duties, thwart development of FPI. The new strides to further boost the sector: India cannot afford any wastage of food, according to FAO; every third malnourished child is an Indian. Several measures have been taken by the Indian government like National Food Security Act, 2013 and India Food Banking network. However, with the rapid increase in the population, it is of essence for the Indian government to improve the measures for preventing wastage of food.The cooperatives sector can help to decrease this wastage. There is a need for an integrated approach with a focus on forging backward and forward linkages, which are crucial for scaling up the economic viability of the sector. The regulatory framework for contract and corporate farming needs to be developed in this regard. Model land leasing law developed by NITI Aayog is a step in the right direction that needs to be implemented by states with suitable local adaptations and modifications. Promote the holistic development of the sector by increasing private sector participation with a well-developed framework for risk-sharing and fiscal incentives for creating infrastructure for logistics, storage, and processing. There is a need for modification in the Mega food park scheme for first-time entrepreneurs as the current cap of ten crores credit is not sufficient and has to be enhanced for the high-cost adoption of technology and enhancement of scale. The implementation architecture needs to be simplified for a complete overhaul of certifying and approval procedures. There is a crying need to get a single window scheme for the same. Ensure uniform implementation of the APMC act to increase private sector participation and also harmonisation of tax structure under GST to reduce vast fluctuations in price. There is also an urgent need to improve research and development (R&D) standards. This will meet stringent global standards and increase the scope for exports. The globalisation has increased trade across the borders and about 460 million tons of food valued at US$ 3 billion is traded annually. Hence, India has immense potential for global trade in agricultural and processed food products. The share of food processing exports in total exports was about 12% during the last few years. Between 2011 and 2015, India s exports of processed food products have been growing at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23.3%. These figures reinforce the fact that India can capitalise on the export potential of the food processing sector in the forthcoming years. There is also a need to encourage academia and industry to commence courses in food packing, processing, biotechnology, information technology so that there would be a constant supply of skilled manpower and also help India achieve global excellence in the food processing sector. Can you answer? Integration of food processing into the agricultural production cycle will help achieve the target of doubling farmers’ income. Do you agree? Substantiate. (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note: Correct answers of today’s questions will be provided in next day’s DNA section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers. Q.1 According to ISRO, Chandrayaan-2 moon mission explored which area of the moon? Moon’s North Pole Moon's South Pole Moon's North-West part. Unexplored part of the Moon Q.2 The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation (TRIFED) comes under which of the following Ministry? Ministry Of Tribal Affairs Ministry Of Commerce Ministry of Environment None of the above Q.3 Barchans are characteristic features of which of the following regions? Amazon forest The Great Indian Desert Mediterranean region The Great Barrier Reef ANSWERS FOR 11th Sept 2021 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 C 2 B 3 B Must Read On Food Emergency in Sri Lanka: The Hindu On Gender Equity in Higher Education: Deccan Herald On Water Scarcity in NER: Down to Earth

Sep 13, 2021 Rapid Revision (RaRe) Series for UPSC

[Day 106]: UPSC PRELIMS 2021- Rapid Revision (RaRe) Series

Highlights/Features of Rapid Revision (RaRe) Series: It is a FREE initiative! Program Duration - 120 Days (31st May, 2021 to 27th September, 2021). 1. Dedicated Portal for Focused Preparation There will be a separate dedicated portal to help you stay focused and keep your preparation streamlined for the next 120 Days. The Registration link for the dedicated portal is given at the end of the post. 2. 120 Days Integrated (Prelims + Mains) Time Table This year’s RaRe Series will include Integrated Revision Plan (IRP) where we will be syncing your mains and prelims syllabus together over next 120 Days. The Revision Plan is designed by integrating IASbaba's famous flagship initiatives - 60 Day Plan and TLP Mains Answer Writing. 3. Daily RaRe Series (RRS) Videos on High Probable Topics (Monday - Friday) In video discussions, special focus is given to topics which have high probability to appear in UPSC Prelims Question Paper. Each session will be of 20 mins to 30 mins, which would cover rapid revision of 10 high probable topics (both static and current affairs) important for Prelims Exam this year according to the schedule. 4. Daily Prelims MCQs from Static (Monday - Friday) Daily Static Quiz will cover all the topics of static subjects – Polity, History, Geography, Economics, Environment and Science and technology. 10 questions will be posted daily and these questions are framed from the topics mentioned in the schedule and in the RaRe videos. It will ensure timely and streamlined revision of your static subjects. Note: Should be integrated with the 60 Days Plan 2021. This will expose you to diverse questions from the same topics. 5. Daily Current Affairs MCQs (Monday - Saturday) Daily 5 Current Affairs questions, based on sources like ‘The Hindu’, ‘Indian Express’ and ‘PIB’, would be published from Monday to Saturday. Note: Current Affairs questions covered in the 60 Days Plan and Daily Quiz Monthly Compilations should be covered retrospectively. 6. Daily CSAT Quiz (Monday - Friday) CSAT has been an achilles heel for many aspirants. Daily 5 CSAT Questions will be published. 7. Daily Mains Answer Writing (Monday - Friday) GS Mains will be covered along with Prelims in an integrated manner. Daily three Mains questions will be covered syllabus-wise according to the topics mentioned in the schedule. In total, it covers 250+ Mains Questions along with synopsis. 8. Brainstorming on Ethics & Essay (BEE) (Saturday & Sunday) Each week, Sunil Oberoi Sir (Retd. IAS) will take 3 sessions, two for Essay and one for Ethics. The two sessions earmarked for Essay will have a topic-based discussion where he will discuss the approach to write issue-based and philosophical essays. The topics will be picked from previous year question papers of UPSC and TLP initiative of IASbaba. 9. Full Mocks 3 GS Paper 1 Full Mocks will be provided along the lines of UPSC Prelims. 3 CSAT Paper 2 Full Mocks will be provided so that you are not overwhelmed during the D-Day. 10. Rapid Revision (RaRe) Notes Right material plays important role in clearing the exam and Rapid Revision (RaRe) Notes will have Prelims specific subject-wise refined notes. The main objective is to help students revise most important topics and that too within a very short limited time frame. Day-106 of RaRe Series - Click here To Register - Click here For complete details of the RaRe Series - Click here

Sep 13, 2021 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz – 2021 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 13th September 2021

Sep 12, 2021 Motivational Articles

Creative Guidance – The treasure is within – Inspirational Educative Articles

The treasure is within: Unless you meditate you will not know the uses of meditation. Unless you explore your inner life and see the kind of treasures that are hidden within you, will not know the use of them. When you dig deeper and you find a diamond, that is when you will think, “Oh, what can I do with this?” As of now, you’re not missing the diamond. You don’t need it because you’ve created a way of life in which everything is just going about. To know, to even know how deep you we are in ignorance, we need meditation. We can try and explain inner silence as much as we want, but really, it’s impossible to explain the benefits of meditation unless you have tasted it. Unless you have gone through it, it is impossible to know. At the most basic level, meditation helps you to understand your thought process. It helps you to gain control over your thoughts. As of now, your thoughts control you. Meditation reverses that process: That’s the first benefit. Then as you go deeper into it, meditation will help you to understand your emotions, which are the foundation of all your thoughts. By being aware of your emotional states you can have 100% control over how you act: Somebody else cannot make you angry, and somebody else cannot make you frustrated, once you know that it is your own emotions that are responsible for all the chaos and confusion. Once you can get to that level of understanding, then you have much better control over your life, and much better control over your present and future. “This article is a part of the creative endeavor of Nirvana Foundation and IASBABA.”

Sep 11, 2021 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 11th September 2021

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Rainfall recorded in August lowest in 12 years: IMD Part of: Prelims and GS - I - Geography and GS III - Climate change Context According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Rainfall in August, which recorded 24% deficiency, was lowest in 12 years. The Southwest Monsoon season officially commences from June 1 and lasts till September 30. What are the possible reasons for large deficient rainfall? The formation of less number of low pressure systems (LPS) and their lesser number of days compared to climatology. Absence of longer westward movements of LPS during the month of August 2021. Negative Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) over tropical Indian Ocean, unfavourable for Indian monsoon prevailed throughout the month of August. What is the Indian Ocean Dipole? The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), also known as the Indian Niño, is an irregular oscillation of sea surface temperatures in which the western Indian Ocean becomes alternately warmer (positive phase) and then colder (negative phase) than the eastern part of the ocean. A negative IOD is associated with the heating of waters of the Indian Ocean. A positive IOD is associated with droughts in Southeast Asia and Australia. It is expected that the Western Indian ocean will warm at accelerated rates due to climate change leading to an increasing occurrence of positive IODs. This is likely to result in the increasing intensity of rainfall during the short rain period over East Africa. Revamped U.S.-India Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (SCEP) launched Part of: Prelims and GS - II - International Relations and GS III - Environment Context Indian Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas co-chaired a virtual Ministerial meeting with the U.S. Secretary of Energy to launch the revamped U.S.-India Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (SCEP). The SCEP was launched in accordance with the U.S.-India Climate and Clean Energy Agenda 2030 Partnership announced by the Indian Prime Minister and USA’s President at the Leaders’ Summit on Climate held in April 2021. Key takeaways from the meeting The revitalized SCEP emphasises on electrification and decarbonization of processes and end uses, scaling up and accelerating deployment of emerging clean energy technologies, and finding solutions for hard-to-decarbonize sectors. Under the SCEP, both countries agreed to collaborate across five pillars — Power and Energy Efficiency; Renewable Energy; Responsible Oil and Gas; Sustainable Growth; and Emerging Fuels. Emerging fuels were newly added to the list of areas of cooperation Climate Action and Finance Mobilization Dialogue under the Agenda 2030 Partnership will also be launched on September 13 that builds upon the U.S. and India's bilateral energy dialogue that accelerated energy security and innovation. The two countries agreed to continue cutting edge research and development through the longstanding U.S.-India Partnership to Advance Clean Energy-Research (PACE-R), prioritizing research on emerging clean energy technologies. They will also continue to advance innovation in civil nuclear power as a net-zero solution through different collaborative programmes, including the Civil Nuclear Energy Working Group. The private sector and other stakeholders across the technical areas shall be engaged to help deploy clean technologies. India-U.S. Task Force on Biofuels was also announced to build cooperation in the biofuels sector. The electric grid in India shall be strengthened to support large-scale integration of renewables. Gas Task Force shall be rechristened to India-U.S. Low Emissions Gas Task Force, which would continue to forge collaboration between the U.S. and Indian companies on innovative projects to support India’s vision of a gas-based economy. What are Emerging Fuels? Emerging fuels are alternative fuels that are under development or already in use. Benefits: These fuels can increase energy security, reduce emissions, improve vehicle performance, and stimulate the economy. Examples include Biobutanol (Butyl Alcohol), Biofuels, Methanol, etc. UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) award Part of: Prelims and GS - II - International Relations and GS III - Tourism; Economy Context Ladhpura Khas, a village in Madhya Pradesh's Niwari district, has been nominated by The Union Ministry of Tourism in the 'Best Tourism Village' category for the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Award. Ladhpura Khas village is located near tourist town Orchha. About the 'Rural Tourism Project' The 'Rural Tourism Project' has been started in villages across Madhya Pradesh, including in Ladhpura Khas. Objective: Giving shape to the concept of village tourism by adding new dimensions. In the next five years, 100 villages will be developed from the point of view of rural tourism. Among these, suitable sites will be selected and developed around tourist places, including Orchha, Khajuraho, Mandu, Sanchi, Pachmarhi, Tamia, Panna National Park, Bandhavgarh National Park, Sanjay Dubri National Park, Pench and Kanha National Park. MP Tourism Board is also providing training to develop tourism-related products with community participation Significance: Rural tourism shall provide an opportunity to local people to learn about the interests and needs of tourists while maintaining the importance of local culture and tradition. The local community will directly benefit from the development of tourism in their area through job creation. What is the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)? United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is the United Nations specialized agency entrusted with the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism, having Its headquarters is in Madrid, Spain. It encourages the implementation of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism to maximize the contribution of tourism to socio-economic development, while minimizing its possible negative impacts. Swachh Survekshan Grameen 2021 Part of: Prelims and GS - I - Population and its dimensions and GS -II - Policies and interventions Context Swachh Survekshan Grameen, 2021 was launched recently under the Swachh Bharat Mission Phase- 2. It aims to support acceleration of ODF plus interventions and results in the country. About Swachh Survekshan Grameen (SSG), 2021 An expert agency has been hired to conduct the Survekshan 2021. As part of the Survekshan, Villages, Districts and States would be ranked using key parameters. 17,475 villages in 698 Districts across the country will be covered where schools, anganwadis, public health centres, haat/bazaars/religious places will be visited for survey. Also, citizens will be mobilised to provide feedback on sanitation related issues online using an application developed for the purpose. What is the Background of SSG? It was Commissioned by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti. It has been a vehicle for creating a Janandolan (people’s movement). Districts are ranked based on their performance on key quality and quantitative parameters. The weights to different elements of the SSG 2021 are as below: Direct Observation of sanitation at public places - 30% Citizen’s Feedback - 35% Service Level Progress on sanitation related parameters - 35% What is Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) Phase-II? SBM (G) Phase-II was approved in February 2020 by the Ministry of Jal Shakti and will be implemented from 2020-21 to 2024-25 with total outlay of Rs. 1,40,881 crores. It emphasizes the sustainability of achievements under phase I and to provide adequate facilities for Solid/Liquid & plastic Waste Management (SLWM) in rural India. The fund sharing pattern between Centre and States will be 90:10 for North-Eastern States and Himalayan States and UT of J&K; 60:40 for other States; and 100% for other Union Territories. About Open Defecation Free (ODF), ODF+, ODF++ Status (for Town and Cities) ODF: At any point of the day, not even a single person is found defecating in the open. ODF+: At any point of the day, not a single person is found defecating and/or urinating in the open, and all community and public toilets are functional and well maintained. ODF++: If the area is already ODF+ and the faecal sludge/septage and sewage are safely managed and treated Pollen calendar Part of: GS Prelims and GS- III - Environment Context Recently, Chandigarh got its first Pollen calendar, arguably the first for any city in India. What is a Pollen Calendar? Pollen calendars represent the time dynamics of airborne pollen present in a particular geographical area. They yield readily accessible visual details about various airborne pollen present throughout the year in a single picture. Pollen calendars are location-specific, with concentrations closely related to locally distributed flora. Europe, UK and the US are using regional pollen calendars in a big way to prevent and diagnose allergic rhinitis/hay fever and predict the timing and severity of the pollen season. Significance of a pollen calendar? A pollen calendar provides a clear understanding for clinicians, as well as people with allergies to identify the potential allergy triggers and help to limit their exposure during high pollen load season. The early advisories can be prepared and disseminated through media channels to the citizens About Chandigarh’s Pollen calendar The pollen calendar for Chandigarh was prepared by studying airborne pollen and its seasonal variations for about two years. The study highlights the variability of crucial pollen types in different seasons. Spring and autumn are two seasons when airborne pollen dominate. Pollen & its impact on Human health- Pollen grains are male biological structures with the primary role of fertilisation, but when inhaled by humans, they may strain the respiratory system and cause allergies. Pollen found suspended in air can cause widespread upper respiratory tract and nasobronchial allergy with manifestations like asthma, seasonal rhinitis, and bronchial irritation. About 20-30% of the population suffers from allergic rhinitis/hay fever in India, and approximately 15% develop asthma. Pollen is considered a major outdoor airborne allergen responsible for allergic rhinitis, asthma, and atopic dermatitis in humans. Trees such as palms, nettle, safeda, white mulberry (shahtoot), congress grass, pine, have a high incidence of pollen. Miscellaneous Place in news: Qeqertaq Avannarleq It is a tiny, uninhabited and previously unknown island discovered recently off the coast of Greenland. Measuring 60×30 metres and with a peak of three metres above sea level, it has now become the new northernmost piece of land on Earth. Before this, Oodaaq was marked as the Earth’s northernmost terrain. The discovery comes as a battle is looming among Arctic nations, the US, Russia, Canada, Denmark and Norway for the control of the North Pole and of the surrounding seabed, fishing rights and shipping routes exposed by melting ice due to climate change. (News from PIB) Transport and Marketing Assistance (TMA) scheme Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation In News: Centre Revises "Transport and Marketing Assistance" (TMA) scheme for Specified Agriculture Products’ Background: In February 2019, the Department of Commerce had introduced ‘Transport and Marketing Assistance (TMA) for Specified Agriculture Products Scheme’ to provide assistance for the international component of freight, to mitigate disadvantage of higher freight costs faced by the Indian exporters of agriculture products. Following major changes have been made in the revised scheme: Dairy products, which were not covered under the earlier scheme, will be eligible for assistance under the revised scheme. Rates of assistance have been increased, by 50% for exports by sea and by 100% for exports by air. Advantage: Enhanced assistance under the revised scheme is expected to help Indian exporters of agricultural products to meet rising freight and logistics costs. News Source: PIB Rice Fortification: A complementary approach to address Nutritional Anaemia Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II: Health & Governance In News: To mark the ongoing 4th Rashtriya Poshan Maah, a webinar on rice fortication was organised. Background: Prime Minister in his address on the 75th Independence Day (15th August, 2021) had made an announcement that fortified rice will be provided through all Government of India schemes by 2024. India and Malnutrition India has been taking promising steps to ensure food security and improving the nutrition outcomes of its population, it is, therefore, about time that fortification is integrated into the larger response to address malnutrition in the country with the understanding that it will reinforce, complement and support ongoing nutrition improvement programmes such as supplementation & dietary diversification. Malnutrition especially child malnutrition is a major threat to the growth and development of children. According to a National Family Health Survey report, India has the largest burden of iron-deficiency and anaemia worldwide. About 59% of children and 50% of pregnant women are anaemic in India. Child and maternal malnutrition accounts for 15% of India’s total disease burden. The country reportedly loses around 1 per cent of GDP (Rs 1.35 lakh crore) every year due to iron-deficiency anaemia. Micronutrient deficiencies or ‘hidden hunger’ also continue to pose significant public health problems in Indian populations. Therefore, the decision to fortify rice was taken to address the malnutrition and lack of essential nutrients especially among poor women and poor children. This announcement is significant because, government distributes more than 300 lakh tonnes of rice to 81 crore people under schemes covered under National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013. About Fortified Rice According to the WHO, fortification is the process of increasing the content of an essential micronutrient, such as vitamins or minerals, in a food item to improve its nutritional value and provide public health benefits at minimal cost. It has minimal effects on taste and cooking properties while at the same time adding multiple nutrients to cure multiple deficiencies. It also has minimal behaviour change, unlike supplements. For example, milk is often fortified with vitamin D, and calcium may be added to fruit juices. Rice is the fifth item to get the government’s fortification push after salt, edible oil, milk and wheat. Fortified rice is the most sustainable solution to the health issues. There is absolutely no difference between rice and fortified rice. Process of Fortification of rice According to the norms of the Food and Safety Standards Authority of India, 1 kg of fortified rice must contain iron (28mg-42.5mg), folic acid (75-125 mg) and vitamin B-12 (0.75-1.25mg). Usual milled rice is low in micronutrient content because its nutrient-rich superficial layer is removed during rice milling and polishing operations. This makes the grain taste better and visually appealing but less nutritious. Rice can be fortified by adding a micronutrient powder containing iron, folic acid and other B-complex vitamins, vitamin A and zinc, which then sticks to the grains. Way Forward: There is a need to amplify efforts to spread awareness about fortified rice and its benefits so that demand is created and acceptability for nutrient-enriched rice is better. All stakeholders must come together to create awareness campaigns using local languages. News Source: PIB All India Debt & Investment Survey NSS 77th round Part of: GS Prelims In News: The National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has conducted the latest survey on All India Debt & Investment Survey during the period January – December, 2019 as a part of 77th round of National Sample Survey (NSS). Objective: To collect basic quantitative information on the assets and liabilities of the households, as well as on the amount of capital expenditure incurred by the households under different heads, like residential buildings, farm business and non-farm business. Indicators generated from the survey of All India Debt & Investment: Average value of Assets (AVA): The average value of all the physical and financial assets owned per household. Incidence of Indebtedness (IOI): The percentage of the indebted households Average amount of Debt (AOD): The average amount of cash dues per household. Average Fixed Capital Expenditure by the households Key Findings: A. Percentage of household owning assets as on 30.06.2018 About 99.4% of the households in Rural India (100% cultivator households and 98.6% non-cultivator households) reported owning any asset (physical or financial) About 98% of the households in Urban India (99.7% self-employed households and 97.3% other households) reported owning any asset (physical or financial) Average value of asset per household was Rs. 15,92,379 in Rural India (Rs. 22,07,257 for cultivator households, Rs. 7,85,063 for non-cultivator households) Average value of asset per household was Rs. 27,17,081 in Urban India (Rs. 41,51,226 for self-employed households, Rs. 22,10,707 for other households) B. Household Indebtedness Incidence of Indebtedness was about 35% in Rural India (40.3% cultivator households, 28.2% non-cultivator households) compared to 22.4% in Urban India (27.5% self-employed households, 20.6% other households). In Rural India,17.8% households were indebted to institutional credit agencies only (21.2% cultivator households, 13.5% non-cultivator households) against 14.5% households in Urban India (18% self-employed households, 13.3% other households) About 10.2% of the households were indebted to non-institutional credit agencies only in Rural India (10.3% cultivator households, 10% non-cultivator households) compared to 4.9% households in Urban India (5.2% self-employed households, 4.8% other households) About 7% of the households were indebted to both institutional credit agencies & non-institutional credit agencies in Rural India (8.8% cultivator households, 4.7% non-cultivator households) against 3% households in Urban India (4.3% self-employed households, 2.5% other households) In Rural India, the share of outstanding cash debt from institutional credit agencies was 66% against 34% from non-institutional credit agencies. In Urban India, the share of outstanding cash debt from institutional credit agencies was 87% compared to 13% from non-institutional credit agencies. C. Capital Expenditure About 35% of the rural households reported incurring expenditure towards formation of fixed capital (45.1% cultivator households, 21.5% non-cultivator households) About 15% of the urban households reported incurring expenditure towards formation of fixed capital (25.3% self-employed households, 11% other households) The average fixed capital expenditure incurred per household was Rs. 8,966 in Rural India (Rs. 10,689 for cultivator households, Rs. 6,712 for non-cultivator households) The average fixed capital expenditure incurred per household was Rs. 10,863 in Urban India (Rs. 15,899 for self-employed households, Rs. 9,070 for other households) D. Deposit accounts in Bank About 84.4 % of the population of age 18 years and above had deposit account in Banks in Rural India (88.1% male and 80.7% female) . About 85.2 % of the population of age 18 years and above had deposit account in Banks in Urban India (89.0% male and 81.3% female). Read the Full Report here: All India Debt & Investment Survey – 2019 News Source: PIB (Mains Focus) INTERNATIONAL/ SECURITY GS-2: Policies and politics of developed and developing countries Two decades of 9/11 The events of 9/11 marked both an end of old as well as an inception of new geo-strategic currents. Implications On Terrorism: India was facing Pakistan-sponsored terrorist insurgency in Kashmir since 1989. The Islamic terror wave wasn’t treated with seriousness at international level as the West underplayed the issue. But 9/11 forced the end to this weak response and exposed the ideological extremism that was the driving these terror forces. Misuse to curb Civil Liberties: 9/11 became the pretext to start two wars (Afghanistan & Iraq), put in motion the perpetual war machine by USA in West Asia region, legitimise unaccountable exercise of executive power, institute the surveillance state that adversely impacted Civil Liberties of citizens. This weakened the US’s geopolitical credibility and authority. On US-Pak relations: Pakistan remained an important (& untrustworthy) US ally for the war on terror that commenced in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. In 2011, Osama bin Laden was eliminated by US forces on Pakistani soil, not far from the Pakistan Army’s officer training academy. On US-India relations: 9/11 was an important catalyst in bringing India and the US closer, as there was common problem of terrorism emanating from India’s western neighbourhood. Later, on the rise of China has brought India & USA much closer Unipolar to Bipolar: The two decades since 9/11 have seen the world shift from unipolarity, with China emerging as the new pole challenging the US-led world order. The pandemic-induced economic and health crisis only accelerated those trends. How has India’s tackling of terrorism changed over the years? Even in the aftermath of the heinous 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks in 2008, India chose to exercise “strategic restraint”. This was because the government was concerned that escalating it to a war level can derail the economic growth without yielding much tangible benefits. Instead, it adopted a strategy to put international pressure on Pakistan to take action against terror groups However, in the recent years there has been a change in approach with single party coming to power that has ensured Political stability & given the democratic heft needed to take strong actions. Also, India’s economy has achieved high growth and acquired heft. This has made India to expand its military and diplomatic options in the fight against cross-border terrorism, which the rest of the world has also recognised as a grave issue. For example, after the 2016 Uri attack and 2019 Pulwama attack, India proceeded with conviction and confidence to assert itself and stand up for its interests, taking military actions that have reset the strategic calculus. Today, economic growth is attracting countries who want to invest in and trade with India, adding arrows to democratic India’s diplomatic basket. Liberalisation and Economic reforms that boost growth isn’t necessary only for poverty alleviation and achieving prosperity, but arguably it is now the principal strategy for national security. Conclusion The victory of the Taliban on the 20th anniversary of 9/11 will likely create new unknown problems. However, the world should be cautious enough to make sure that terrorism doesn’t rise its ugly head again. Connecting the dots: Yemen War The Surge of Taliban India and Taliban ECONOMY/ GOVERNANCE GS-2: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education, Human Resources GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation NIPUN Bharath NIPUN stands for National Initiative for Proficiency in reading with Understanding and Numeracy. NIPUN Bharat Policy is aimed at ensuring that children in the age group of 3-9 years are provided adequate support to acquire age appropriate reading and numerical skills. Key Features of the Policy The policy has been organised into three broad goals. The first one is ‘Maintenance of Good Health and Wellbeing of Children’; The second one is ‘Children Becoming Effective Communicators’; and The third one is ‘Children Becoming Involved Learners’. The achievement of all these goals has been further divided into six stages, one each for the six years between the ages of three and nine. For all these six stages, the policy document provides for a set of learning outcomes to be achieved Two stages of assessment have been provided for in the policy The first stage is ‘School Based Assessment’ - subjective assessment where the child is evaluated on the basis of observations being made by teachers, parents, and peers. It is meant to understand the specific inclinations of the child, and to make tweaks to learning processes accordingly. The second stage is ‘Large Scale Standardised Assessment’. This will be an MCQ based assessment which will be conducted by the NCERT to gauge the achievements of the education system by evaluating students using nationally developed standards. What are the issues with NIPUN Bharat? Concerns over Inclusiveness While the policy does recognise the need for creating an inclusive learning environment, the learning outcomes highlighted in the policy are uniform, with no specific provisioning for children with disabilities. Another point on inclusion emerges where children are supposed to learn to describe themselves and others. There is no mention as to whether the children will be introduced to the idea of gender fluidity at this stage or not. Concerns over Assessments The effectiveness of school based assessment will depend a lot on the kind of investment being made in teacher training, development, and sensitisation, which requires funding. However, the policy doesn’t talk about any extra resource allocations being made for this purpose. The policy itself does not elaborate on the operating procedure for the NCERT while creating the standardized assessment. In ‘Standardised Assessment’, it may be challenging for NCERT to test proficiency in regional languages by taking inputs from regional actors. Concerns over Accountability Overall, the policy goals are to be achieved by the year 2026-27 with intermittent checks and sub-goals set as milestones. It has to be noted here that since this is just a policy, there isn’t an elaborate mechanism to seek accountability, the only recourse being writ petitions, primarily mandamus, under article 226 and article 32 of the Constitution Conclusion The policy has taken on a task crucial for the upliftment of millions of children across the country. The only issue in the formulation of the policy is its dependence on political will and sincerity for its implementation. Connecting the dots: New Education policy 2020 Right to Education Act (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note: Correct answers of today’s questions will be provided in next day’s DNA section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers. Q.1 Where is Bandhavgarh National Park located? Gujarat Tamil Nadu Madhya Pradesh West Bengal Q.2 Consider the following Statements regarding Pollen grains: Pollen grains are female biological structures with the primary role of fertilisation. Pollen found suspended in air can cause widespread upper respiratory tract and nasobronchial allergy with manifestations like asthma, seasonal rhinitis, and bronchial irritation. Select the correct statements: 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3 Qeqertaq Avannarleq Recently seen in news is associated with which of the following Southernmost crater on the moon Northernmost island in the world Deepest volcanic zone under the Pacific ocean An unknown tribal group living in the Amazon forest ANSWERS FOR 10th Sept 2021 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 B 2 D 3 C Must Read On Platform workers: Hindustan Times On Job Reservation for Locals: Hindustan Times