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[ADMISSIONS OPEN] ILP 2023 - INTEGRATED LEARNING PROGRAM - The Most Comprehensive and Trusted 365 Days Plan recommended by Toppers for UPSC 2023

What constitutes a ‘Revolution’? In general understanding “a revolution is a radical change in the established order”. When we started Integrated Learning Programme (ILP) way back in 2015, our motto and vision was to make- “An effort towards assisting an aspirant sitting at the remotest part of the country to crack UPSC with a ‘single-digit rank” Back then, there was nothing in the whole sphere of UPSC preparation where one could think of not joining a conventional institution, without investing lakhs of rupees, moving out of the comfort of home and still securing a single digit rank. This was the trend that time. And now, we can proudly mention about hundreds of UPSC Toppers coming from ILP, who have made our vision so grand by creating a ‘Revolutionary’ change in the perceptive towards UPSC preparation.     This is nothing but a ‘Revolution’ that has given wings to the aspiring minds of young and dynamic candidates who do not lack ‘intelligence, aspiration, dedication, commitment, sincerity and most importantly belief that they can also do it without having access to conventional coaching and huge investment around it. “This thought itself is a radical shift from old times”. This day has always been a matter of great pride and jubilation and why not! The launch of the most ‘Comprehensive, Affordable and Sought Out’ programme, ILP, has always been special not only for us but for the UPSC aspirant community. Read Complete Details -> Click Here

SYNOPSIS [7th March,2022] Day 36: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE SYNOPSIS [7th March,2022] Day 36: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)   1. How does politicisation of appointments to constitutional posts affect democratic governance? Analyse. (10 Marks) Approach-  Candidates need to write about politicization of the Constitutional post also analyze how it is affecting the Democratic governance.  Introduction  Politicization is a practice in which the political party winning an election rewards its campaign workers and other active supporters by appointment to constitutional or government posts and with other favours it’s known as patronage system.  Body  Constitutional bodies are those bodies which are mentioned in the constitution and receive their power and authority from the constitution. For eg. UPSC, CAG etc. Politicization of appointment affect the Democratic governance: Constitutional posts are vested with such important responsibility and function which helps them in ensuring the accountability. With making the political appointment the agenda of such bodies are sacrificed. During the last few years, the governors of Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra and, of course, West Bengal have played their roles in such a way as to make them highly controversial without necessarily adding to the glory of the office.  Due to political posting there are delays in conducting the inquiry and in delivering judgements. Also, there is a perception that the Commission tends to confirm the government’s position on most cases.  National commission for SC and ST: The atrocities and backwardness of majority of people under SC are still continuing even after 70 years of independence. They have failed to secure the forest rights, welfare of ST’s which can be seen in their social indicators. For example incidents like dalit lynching in Una, Gujarat; caste related honour killings in Haryana shows that the NCSC or NCST as been ineffective in delivering.  Majority of State service commissions have been embroiled in controversies like corruption, nepotism etc. Despite playing the most important role CAG has gone through challenges due to it’s political appointment there are many task unexamined by the CAG under pressure of the government.  Election Commission being the supreme authority to conduct free and fair elections many times come under hammer of the government. For example “directive” from the PMO has raised concerns about the independent functioning of the Commission, whose autonomy successive CECs have sought to protect zealously. Conclusion Constitutional bodies are said to be of utmost importance in maintaining accountability but due to politicization as mentioned previously, they are not able to function to their fullest potential. If these issues are addressed on war footing, then they can achieve their goal as stipulated. 2. Do you think electoral code of conduct can be enforced more strictly?  Why or why not? Substantiate your views.  Approach  Students are expected to write about the electoral code of conduct substantiate your view whether it should be enforced strictly or not.  Introduction  The electoral Code of Conduct is a set of guidelines issued by the election Commission of India to regulate political parties and candidates prior to elections, in order to ensure a free and fair election. Body Purpose of Enforcing it strictly: Free and fair election is the soul of democracy. To safeguard and further strengthen our democracy code of conducts must be made legally enforceable. Election Commission of India (ECI) will get certain executive power to check unethical behavior of political parties.  It helps EC in keeping with the mandate it has been given under Article 324 of the Constitution, which gives it the power to supervise and conduct free and fair elections to the Parliament and State Legislatures. Currently MCC does not specify the type of punishment that may arise from a violation of its provisions. There is no classification of violations based on the severity of the act with statutory status there will be some development.  The absence of specific norms on exercising its powers can lead the EC to arbitrariness and individual bias. For example Mayawati was banned from public meetings by the EC for 48 hours, due to her appeal to Muslims whereas other politicians were appealing openly. Enacting a law will give EC full autonomy to take action unbiasedly. Enforcing it strictly not a good idea: Morality cannot be enforced by law. To follow code of conduct in true spirit and to not adopt any circumvention of law, one has to imbibe political morality in himself/herself.  Code of conduct can be followed only by moral conviction. For this one must have moral principles and ability to do moral analysis. Law alone will not be sufficient. Chief Justice Earl Warren once remarked: “In civilized life, law floats in a sea of ethics.” Without development of political ethics making code of conduct legally enforceable will not be sufficient.  Politicians have devised ingenious ways to circumvent the code of conduct. For instance wearing clothes of particular colour; using encrypted sentences in campaign speeches etc.  Digital companies like Facebook are run by companies located overseas. Holding them accountable has been difficult for Indian agencies.  Social media has blurred distinction between private and public. New age tools like live webcasting, making election campaign related stuff go ‘Viral’, bringing in celebrities ‘influencers’ etc. have made implementation of MCC a complex task.   Moral erosion and criminalization of politics has rendered all codes of conduct ineffective.  With enforcement of code of conduct there will be number of election litigation and election disputes it will halt the Democratic representation process.  According to EC, elections must be completed within a relatively short time or close to 45 days and judicial proceedings typically take longer, therefore it is not feasible to make it enforceable by law. Conclusion Dr. Rajendra Prasad one remarked, “The future of our nation will not depend on whether it is ruled by this law or that, but on the men who rules it.” Hence development of morality is more important than legislation.  3. Do you think India’s policy of strategic autonomy or non-alignment is just a prettified language for ducking hard choices? Critically comment.  Approach- Candidates need to comment or give his views critically (covering both positive and negative sides) about India’s policy of strategic autonomy or non-alignment being just a prettified language for ducking hard choices. Introduction India’s choice of non-alignment as the definitive feature of its foreign policy during the bipolar Cold War era arguably represented India’s intention to practice strategic autonomy, by projecting an aversion to war, alliances, and power politics. The recent unfolding geopolitical milieu has clearly prompted India to re-examine its status in the international system, and reflect upon the central undercurrent of its foreign policy orientation: the practice of strategic autonomy, whether through non-alignment in the bipolar Cold Ward era, or multi-alignment in the emerging multipolar era.  India’s policy of strategic autonomy or non-alignment is just a prettified language for ducking hard choices: critical examination The articulation of non-alignment and India’s objectives for pursuing the policy of strategic autonomy have since been subjected to varied misinterpretations.  From few callings, it “immoral” and wrongly identifying it as “neutrality,” to perceived notions of India breaking its vows of non-alignment by signing the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation with the Soviet Union in 1971, India’s ability and willingness to practice strategic autonomy through non-alignment has often come under scrutiny.  With the end of the Cold War and the coming of a brief unipolar era, non-alignment began to encounter carpers who questioned its relevance, and the lure of practicing strategic autonomy came under scrutiny as well. Through the practice of strategic autonomy, India strives for an ideal traction giving it “maximum options in its relations with the outside world.”  It is expected “to enhance India’s strategic space and capacity for independent agency,” allowing maximum flexibility and manoeuvrability to increase the options for India’s choices to promote and protect its interest.  However, the practice of strategic autonomy is bound to come under circumstantial limitations.  Strategic autonomy articulated as non-alignment during the Cold War era imbibed the idea that alliance-driven power politics in any iteration would be detrimental to the development of a newly independent nation such as India.  The transformed geopolitical environment after the Cold War saw India adapt the practice of strategic autonomy to fully exploit the opportunities the globalized world had to offer.  Ridding itself of its non-aligned past, India now espouses “alignment based on issues” rather than ideology, thereby maintaining “decisional autonomy.”  It is interesting to note that India’s non-alignment, and hence its practice of strategic autonomy, have been questioned because of both its closeness to the Soviet Union during certain phases of the Cold War, and currently its strategic congruence with the United States.  However, these foreign policy orientations on India’s part rather represent the practice of strategic autonomy, to protect India’s core interest in the face of exigent geopolitical scenarios.  Currently, India has found strategic convergence with a number of countries, which see a joint interest in managing the ramifications of a rising and aggressive China. Whether the Quad is a “concert of powers” or a budding “Asian NATO” remains in the realm of conjecture.  However, India’s alignment with like-minded countries toward evolving a “free, open, inclusive and rules based” Indo-Pacific also happens at a time when India will have to simultaneously navigate its way through its complex relationships with countries like China and Russia, and multilateral groupings like the BRICS and SCO. Conclusion India has come to “discover the benefits of working with different powers on different issues” in the multipolar world, which he likens to “having many balls up in the air at the same time and displaying the confidence and dexterity to drop none.   TLP Synopsis Day 36 PDF

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 8th March 2022

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan Scheme Part of: Prelims and GS-II Policies and interventions Context: The Union Labour and Employment Ministry launched the “donate a pension” scheme allowing any citizen to pay the premium amount on behalf of an unorganised worker under the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan Scheme. Key takeaways  “Donate a pension” scheme allows a citizen to “donate the premium contribution of their immediate support staff such as domestic workers, drivers, helpers, care givers, nurses, in their household or establishment. The donor can pay the contribution for a minimum of one year, with the amount ranging from Rs. 660 to Rs. 2,400 a year, depending on the age of the beneficiary. About Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan Scheme The pension scheme was launched in 2019. It allows unorganised sector workers between the age of 18 and 40, who earn up to Rs. 15,000 a month, to enroll by paying a premium amount between Rs. 55 and Rs. 200, depending on the age, that would be matched by the government. On reaching the age of 60, the beneficiaries would get a Rs. 3,000 monthly pension. News Source: TH SAMARTH initiative for women Part of: Prelims and GS-II Policies and interventions  Context: Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, (MSME) recently launched a Special Entrepreneurship Promotion Drive for Women - “SAMARTH” on the occasion of International Women’s Day 2022 which is celebrated on 8th March every year. Key takeaways  Through this initiative, the Ministry is focusing on providing Skill Development and Market Development Assistance to women Under the Samarth initiative, 20% seats in free Skill Development Programs organized under skill development schemes of the Ministry will be allocated for Women.  More than 7,500 women will be benefitted.  20% of MSME Business Delegations sent to domestic and international exhibitions under the schemes for Marketing Assistance will be dedicated to women owned MSMEs. The ministry is also continuously making efforts to develop entrepreneurship culture among women by offering several additional benefits for women in various schemes implemented by the Ministry.   News Source: Newsonair India-Sri Lanka Naval Exercise SLINEX Part of: Prelims and GS-II International Relations and GS-III Defence and Security Context: The ninth edition of India-Sri Lanka Naval Exercise, SLINEX, has begun at Visakhapatnam from 7th March 2022.  SLINEX aims at enhancing interoperability, improving mutual understanding and exchanging best practices and procedures for multi-faceted maritime operations between both navies. The exercise is being conducted in two phases. The Sri Lanka Navy will be represented by SLNS Sayurala, an advanced offshore patrol vessel. The Indian Navy will be represented by INS Kirch, a guided missile corvette.  News Source: Newsonair (News from PIB) Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA): Between India and Bangladesh Part of: GS-Prelims and GS-II: India’s relation with neighbours Context: India is looking to advance the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with Bangladesh. Four focus areas for strengthening India-Bangladesh relationship: Uninterrupted Supply chain is need of the hour: As H.E. Sheikh Hasina said, “Connectivity is productivity”; despite COVID-19, we maintained uninterrupted supply chain between the two countries. Also improving this connectivity further is imperative for expansion of our bilateral trade and realisation of the investment potential of Bangladesh and eastern India. Need to give more impetus to Joint Production of Defence Equipment: Our defence cooperation has not progressed, though India offered USD 500 mn line of credit.  Explore potential areas of investments, like Textiles, Jute products, Leather & Footwear, APIs for Pharmaceuticals, Medical Equipment, Digital Health & Education Services, Agribusiness, Electronics, Renewable Energy, etc. India and Bangladesh can become ‘Pharmacy of the world’: During COVID-19, vaccines produced in India, - Covaxin & Covishield created a niche for themselves as safe vaccines. Time has now come for joint manufacturing of vaccines and other medicines! NOTE: Bangladesh is India’s biggest trade partner in South Asia. Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) A free trade agreement between two countries Covers negotiation on the trade in services and investment, and other areas of economic partnership such as trade facilitation and customs cooperation, competition, and Intellectual Property Rights. CEPA also looks into the regulatory aspect of trade and encompasses an agreement covering the regulatory issues. News Source: PIB Science behind the jets of plasma Part of: GS-Prelims and GS-III: Science and Technology In News: Scientists have unravelled the science behind the jets of plasma - the fourth state of matter consisting of electrically charged particles that occur just about everywhere in the sun’s chromosphere, which is the atmospheric layer just above the Sun's visible surface. These jets, or spicules, appear as thin grass-like plasma structures that constantly shoot up from the surface and are then brought down by gravity.  The amount of energy and momentum that these spicules can carry is of fundamental interest in solar and plasma astrophysics.  The processes by which plasma is supplied to the solar wind, and the solar atmosphere is heated to a million degrees Celsius, still remain a puzzle. The plasma right below the visible solar surface (photosphere) is perpetually in a state of convection, much like boiling water in a vessel heated at the bottom. This is ultimately powered by the nuclear energy released in the hot-dense core.  The convection serves almost periodic but strong kicks to the plasma in the solar chromosphere, the shallow semi-transparent layer right above the visible solar disk. The chromosphere is 500 times lighter than the plasma in the photosphere. Therefore, these strong kicks from the bottom, not unlike alligator bellowing, shoot the chromospheric plasma outward at ultrasonic speeds in the form of thin columns or spicules. Spicules come in all sizes and speeds. The existing consensus in the solar community has been that the physics behind the short spicules is different from that of taller and faster spicules. News Source: PIB (Mains Focus) WOMEN/ GOVERNANCE GS-1: Society; Women Empowerment GS-2: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes Working women too, with a dream of good childcare Context: The theme for International Women’s Day 2022 (March 8) is ‘gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow’.  Gender equality is still a far cry for India’s female informal workforce.  According to a 2018 study by the International Labour Organization (ILO), more than 95% of India’s working women are informal workers who work in labour-intensive, low-paying, highly precarious job conditions, and with no social protection.  WHO says that “women’s informal work is central to the feminisation of poverty” The benefits under the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017 are mostly enjoyed by formal sector women workers, constituting less than 5% of the women workforce.  The act provides for paid maternity leave for women employees to 26 weeks. It made crèche facilities mandatory for establishments employing 50 or more women.  Lack of access to quality childcare services forces women workers to leave the labour force which stops their earning and exposes them to significant economic risks. This can aggravate gender and class inequalities.  Here are three ways to enable women to take up more productive paid work and improve their maternal and child health outcomes: Expansion of the ICDS The primary mandate of the Anganwadi centres under the ICDS is to provide maternal and child nutritional security, a clean and safe environment, and early childhood education, thus facilitating the ability of women to re-enter work post-childbirth. However, ICDS has two major limitations.  First, it does not cater to children under the age of three.  Second, it functions only for a few hours a day, making it inconvenient to send and pick up children during work hours  Early intake of children & extending the hours of Anganwadi centres can have dual benefits — allow mothers time for paid work and converge with the National Education Policy 2020 of providing Early Childhood Care and Education for children in the 0-6 age group However, these expansions would also require expanding the care worker infrastructure, especially the Anganwadi worker and helper, who are already overburdened and underpaid.  Revitalise the crèche scheme  The scheme has suffered diminished government funding.  Public crèches can be operated at worksite clusters such as near industrial areas, markets, dense low-income residential areas, and labour nakas.  Crèches closer to the workplace allow for timely breastfeeding and attending to emergencies The funds collected under the construction cess can be earmarked for running crèches at construction sites.  Improving maternity benefits.  Women in informal employment did not have maternity benefits until the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, entitled pregnant and lactating mothers to a cash transfer of at least ₹6,000. However, the scheme notified for this purpose, the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) limits the benefit to the first birth and has also reduced the amount to ₹5,000.  This amount under PMMVY does not match an inflation-adjusted NFSA benchmark (nearly ₹9,400 in 2022).  Various states have tried to bridge the coverage gap with their own scheme. Tamil Nadu has an expansive and ambitious scheme offering ₹18,000 in cash and kind for two live births.  Conclusion It is imperative that we consider affordable and quality childcare infrastructure as an employment-linked benefit and as a public good.  Connecting the dots: Female Leadership Role of Women in Armed Forces Women Issues ECONOMY/ INTERNATIONAL GS-3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment. GS-2: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests. Rising Oil Prices and Stagflation Context: Crude oil prices soared and touched almost $140 per barrel mark, which was around $70 a barrel in December What is the main reason for increase in oil prices? The most immediate trigger for the spike is the decision by USA to ban the purchase of Russian oil in response to the invasion of Ukraine.  Russia is the world’s second-largest oil producer and, as such, if its oil is kept out of the market because of sanctions, it will not only lead to prices spiking, but also mean they will stay that way for long. How will India be affected due to rising Oil Prices? While India is not directly involved in the conflict, it will be badly affected if oil prices move higher and stay that way. India imports more than 84% of its total oil demand and increase in oil prices is going to increase our import bill further widening the Current Account Deficit. Rise in crude oil prices will lead to increase in Prices of Petrol & Diesel, if the government doesn’t cut its taxes. Higher petro & diesel prices will further increase inflation and raise the general price level (due to increase in transportation costs). A 10% increase in crude oil prices raises wholesale inflation by 0.9% and retail inflation by 0.5%.  Higher inflation would rob Indians of their purchasing power, thus bringing down their overall demand. Private consumer demand is the biggest driver of growth in India, accounts for more than 55% of India’s total GDP. Currently, the biggest concern in India’s GDP growth story is the weak consumer demand. Higher prices will further weaken the demand & hurt our economic recovery prospects. Analysts have been revising their forecasts for India — down for growth (7.9% to 7.7%) and up for inflation (5.8% to 6.3%). Also, fewer goods and services being demanded will then disincentivise businesses from investing in new capacities, which, in turn, will exacerbate the unemployment crisis and lead to even lower incomes. One big fear is that such a sudden and sharp spike in oil prices may push a relatively vulnerable economy like India into stagflation. What is stagflation? Stagflation is an economic condition of stagnant growth and persistently high inflation.  Typically, rising inflation happens when an economy is booming — people are earning lots of money, demanding lots of goods and services and as a result, prices keep going up.  When the demand is down by the reverse logic, prices tend to stagnate (or even fall). But stagflation is a condition where an economy experiences the worst of both worlds — the growth rate is largely stagnant (along with rising unemployment) and inflation is not only high but persistently so. The best-known case of stagflation is what happened in the early and mid-1970s. The OPEC (Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries), which works like a cartel, decided to cut crude oil supply. This sent oil prices soaring across the world; they were up by almost 70%. This sudden oil price shock not only raised inflation everywhere, especially in the western economies but also constrained their ability to produce, thus hampering their economic growth.  Is there a threat of stagflation in India due to rising Oil Prices? It cannot be denied that if oil prices stay high and for long, the inflation situation will worsen considerably and this would be coming after two years of already raised prices and reduced incomes. The other requirement is stalling growth and one of the indicator is unemployment. India is facing the most acute unemployment crisis it has seen in the past five decades So, yes, unlikely as it may be, it can be argued that we could be looking at stagflation in the near future. Conclusion Ukraine Crisis and Economy  Russia-Ukraine tension  India-Russia Military alliance  Indo-US defence deals (SANSAD TV: Perspective) March 4: No Wild, No Life- https://youtu.be/OT8re5N-B4g   TOPIC: GS-3: Environment, Conservation, Climate Change No Wild, No Life Context: Humans rely on wildlife and biodiversity-based resources to meet all our needs from food to fuel, medicines, housing, and clothing. Millions of people are also dependent on nature as the source of their livelihoods and economic opportunities.  According to data from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, over 8,400 species of wild fauna and flora are critically endangered, while close to 30,000 more are understood to be endangered or vulnerable.  As per this data 239 faunal species which are known to occur in India are classified as endangered species which includes 45 species of mammals, 23 species of birds, 18 species of reptiles, 39 species of amphibians and 114 species of fishes.  India has a network of 733 Protected Areas including 103 National Parks, 537 Wildlife Sanctuaries, 67 Conservation Reserves and 26 Community Reserves covering approximately 4.89 percent of country's geographical area. Some examples of human-wildlife conflict include: Predation on livestock or domestic animals by wild animals Damage to crops and fences Wildlife strewing about residential garbage Vehicle/wildlife collisions, aircraft/bird collisions Damage caused by squirrels or bats to fruit and fruit trees Bird nesting in undesirable residential locations Reasons for man-animal conflict: Expansion of human settlements into forests – expansion of cities, industrial areas, railway/road infrastructure, tourism etc. Allowing livestock to graze in forest areas Land use transformations such as change from protected forest patches to agricultural and horticultural lands and monoculture plantations are further destroying the habitats of wildlife. Unscientific structures and practices of forest management in the country Infestation of wildlife habitat by invasive exotic weeds leads to decreased availability of edible grasses for wild herbivores Decreased prey base caused by poaching of herbivores has also resulted in carnivores moving out of forests in search of prey and to indulge in cattle lifting. India’s Conservation culture Despite a billion people India still has most of our large wildlife species- India today has the largest population of the tiger, Asian elephant, leopard, sloth bear, gaur and many others Part of Culture: People have accepted coexistence of human & animals, and incorporated it in our culture. All our deities have animals associated with them; it shows the inclusion of these animals in our mind space. The Velip community in Goa worship the tigers and this practice is done even today. Animals are viewed also as renewable resource: Unlike activities such as mining, tigers are a renewable resource. They are always going to be there, and so will the rivers and the forests, giving the local people income and development — as long as there are tigers. Innovative practices to minimise man-animal conflicts  In the Western Ghats of India, a new conservation initiative has utilized texting as an early warning system to prevent human-elephant encounters. Elephant tracking collars embedded with SMS chips automatically text nearby residents, warning them of recent elephant movements. In Canada, authorities have constructed wildlife corridors, areas of preserved native habitat in human dominated regions, providing wildlife with a safe pathway as they travel between one to another. To keep elephants at a safe distance from their farms and homes, some African villagers have turned to two unlikely, all-natural solutions: bees and hot peppers. Elephants dislike the chemical capsaicin found in chili peppers, prompting farmers in Tanzania to smother their fences with a mixture of oil and chili peppers. Tackling Man-Animal Conflict: Discouraging Unplanned Urbanization: Urbanization should take place in a planned way. Effort should be made to ensure that the wildlife habitats gets disrupted as little as possible, Considering landscape in entirety: Rather than protecting only the protected areas, the national sanctuaries or communities of the Biosphere Reserve we need to consider the landscape in entirety. This will help in not only reducing the man and animal conflict but the larger biodiversity will also be protected. Maintaining road ecology: Fragmented habitats should be reconnected by using over- or under passes that allow the safe movement of animals across roads. Fencing can also be used to direct animals to safer places to cross or prevent wildlife-vehicle collisions in areas of highest risk. Wildlife Conservation- Steps required: Wildlife Protection and enjoying wildlife should be made part of our ethos. Increasing the level of awareness: Running awareness campaigns at the state, district and local level. Awareness among people who are not so educated who are living in remote areas is low because they don’t have access to any knowledge systems so we need to have campaigns through which they can learn, understand what is biodiversity, why do we need to protect them and about the importance of biodiversity in maintaining our agricultural ecosystems. Role of civil society in creating awareness especially in remote areas is immense. Catching them young: In the school talk about environment and wildlife should be done more seriously. We need to actually take the children to the heart of biodiversity places so as to sensitise them. The school curriculum must include lessons on importance of wildlife and biodiversity and also steps required to conserve them. Amending the WPA, 1972: The Wildlife Protection Act which is under Amendment for many years. It must be amended by incorporating provisions of the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites) and enhancing the penalties for offences such as poaching. Protecting the Wildlife Corridors: It vital to protect critical wildlife corridors. Large infrastructure projects that cut across well-known wild animal passages—such as the construction of a new highway, train line or power plant—must be sanctioned after thorough scrutiny. Adopting landscape protection approach: As sixty percent of the country’s wildlife exist outside these protected areas, GOI needs to have more of a landscape protection approach rather than just concentrating and focusing on the national parks and the protected areas. *As of December 15, 2021 |  Source: Wildlife Protection Society of India *up to December 2020 Source: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; Aug 9, 2021  Conclusion We need to marry the question of biological diversity, its preservation, the protection of wildlife and healthy wellbeing for human beings all together from the level of citizenry. Conservation is not a project, but a long-term commitment and relationship to a landscape. It’s not just based on science and laws, but has a strong grounding in society.  The quality of wildlife can be improved by not only protecting them but by ensuring that the citizens actually enjoy the wildlife as something that is their heritage.   (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Q.1 Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan Scheme comes under which of the following Ministry? Ministry of Labour and Employment  Ministry of Rural development  Ministry of Social Justice  Ministry of MSME  Q.2 “SAMARTH” initiative was recently launched by which of the following Ministry?  Ministry of Rural development Ministry of Labour and Employment  Ministry of MSME Ministry of Social Justice  Q.3 SLINEX military exercise is carried out between which of the following countries? SriLanka and Thailand Australia and Japan Sri Lanka and India Australia and India ANSWERS FOR 8th March 2022 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 A 2 C 3 C Must Read On sealed cover jurisprudence: The Hindu On Ukraine’s crisis on Asia’s Nuclear Landscape: Indian Express

UPSC हिन्दी Quiz– 2021: IASbaba Daily Current Affairs Quiz 8th March 2022

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

IASbaba’s Think Learn Perform (TLP - Phase 1) 2022 - UPSC Mains Answer Writing General Studies Paper 2 Questions [8th March, 2022] – Day 37

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE Hello Everyone,  TLP being an integral formula for success for many toppers over the years including Rank 1 is no secret. In their ‘must to-do' list for the UPSC Civil Services Mains Examination, TLP by far occupies the first place. The popularity stems from the unparalleled quality of questions and synopsis posted in TLP. We strive hard to ensure that you get the real feel of UPSC standard before you write the actual Mains. You already know the features of TLP. Just to reiterate briefly, we will post 3 questions daily for a certain number of weeks (12 for this one). We follow a micro plan that is designed to give you daily targets. The questions are from the day’s syllabus and also from current affairs and you are expected to write the answers and post them on the portal. From this year we have integrated the TLP free answer writing page in the main website itself, unlike previous years. So all the answers should be posted under the questions for the evaluation. Join our bandwagon, you won’t regret it. To Know More about TLP  -> CLICK HERE Note: Click on Each Question (Link), it will open in a new tab and then Answer respective questions! 1. What are the key challenges in regulating emerging technologies like cryptocurrencies, AI and drones? Analyse. (10 Marks) क्रिप्टोकरेंसी, एआई और ड्रोन जैसी उभरती प्रौद्योगिकियों को विनियमित करने में प्रमुख चुनौतियां क्या हैं? विश्लेषण करें। 2. What are the key changes in the design of government policies that have ensured better reach of benefits to the intended populace? Explain with the help of suitable examples. (10 Marks) सरकारी नीतियों के डिजाइन में ऐसे कौन से प्रमुख बदलाव हैं, जिनसे लक्षित जनता तक लाभ की बेहतर पहुंच सुनिश्चित हुई है? उपयुक्त उदाहरणों की सहायता से स्पष्ट कीजिए। 3. What are India’s key priorities towards creating blue water navy capabilities? What have been the recent achievements on this front? Examine. (15 Marks) ब्लू वाटर नेवी क्षमताएं बनाने की दिशा में भारत की प्रमुख प्राथमिकताएं क्या हैं? इस मोर्चे पर हाल की उपलब्धियां क्या रही हैं? जांच करें। P.S: The review from IASbaba will happen from the time every day. We would also encourage peer reviews. So friends get actively involved and start reviewing each other's answers. This will keep the entire community motivated. All the Best :)

[INTERVIEW INITIATIVE] Think, Rethink and Perform (TRP) [DAY 11] 2021 for UPSC/IAS Personality Test!

ARCHIVES (of TRP) - > CLICK HERE Those who have appeared for UPSC Mains 2021, fill up the Google form given below. Students who fill the form will be added to a telegram group so that there can be healthy discussions with other students who will be appearing for the Interview/Personality Test. Also, Mohan sir, Bureaucrats and Ex-Bureaucrats will be interacting one on one with all the students who will be appearing for the same. REGISTER HERE – CLICK HERE   Interview Discussion: Think, Rethink and Perform; (TRP)- Day 11 Set 1: Ask these questions to yourself; contemplate and come out with a concrete answer (not to be discussed on this forum). Invest at least 30 minutes on this set of questions.  Do you regret any of your past actions?  What could have been done to avoid that mistake?   What lessons have you derived from that action?  Set 2: Analyse the following issue:  What are your views on the decision by India to abstain from voting on the UN resolution against Russian invasion of Ukraine? Do you think it was a prudent move? Will it not dent India’s reputation in the global community? Are these decisions motivated primarily by self interest? If yes, is that good or bad? You can also consider this question as an application of something that you have studied in GS Paper 4- ethics of international relations.  We expect you to discuss the above question (Set 2) in the comments below and come out with a balanced view of the issues. Thank You IASbaba

Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz – 2021 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 8th March 2022

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

[MOST AWAITED] 60 DAY – RAPID REVISION (RaRe) SERIES 2022 – IASbaba’s Most Trusted Initiative for UPSC IAS PRELIMS 2022- FREE Initiative!

Hello Friends, Finally, the time has arrived for the announcement of the programme which every aspirant appearing for UPSC Prelims Examination dearly waits for! Yes, indeed, we are talking about the most cherished, reliable and sincerely followed ‘60 – Days Programme’. A programme that has become synonymous with UPSC Preparation among lakhs of aspirants. You are going to compete with the “Toppers of Tomorrow” as every year almost all the toppers have been recommending the “60 Days Programme”. Like every year, the marathon has begun and it would be simply not justified to bring some sweet surprises to make your preparation enthusiastic and methodological. If you remember, last to last year, we started a Rapid Revision (RaRe) Series after the 60 – Day programme due to the extension of the Prelims date. This time we have combined the two programs and we present before you – “The 60 Days – Rapid Revision (RaRe) Series”.Click Here To Read The Complete Details

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

ARCHIVES Hello Friends, This is FEBRUARY 2022 of IASbaba’s REVAMPED Current Affairs Monthly Magazine. Current Affairs for UPSC Civil Services Examination is an important factor in this preparation. An effort towards making your Current Affairs for IAS UPSC Preparation qualitative. We hope you make the best use of it! This edition covers all Important current affairs issues that were in news for the month of FEBRUARY 2022. Kindly leave your feedback in the comment section below on the new design and presentation of the magazine. We would love to hear from you 🙂   DOWNLOAD THE MAGAZINE- CLICK HERE To get Regular Updates from IASbaba, follow- TELEGRAM Channel – https://t.me/IASbabaOfficialAccount YOUTUBE – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChvbVdio9Wgj7Z3nQz1Q0ZQ FACEBOOK – https://www.facebook.com/iasbaba/ Also, SUBSCRIBE to the WEBSITE Below, so that you don’t miss out on important posts! Thank You IASbaba  

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 7th March 2022

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) National Stock Exchange of India Limited Part of: Prelims and GS-III Economy Context: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) recently arrested Chitra Ramkrishna, former Managing Director of the National Stock Exchange (NSE), in a case registered in May 2018, to probe the alleged abuse of the NSE’s server architecture for granting preferential access of market data to a stock broker, ahead of others. Ms. Ramkrishna was NSE’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer from April 2013 to December 2016. Earlier penalty by SEBI On February 11, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) levied penalties on Ms. Ramkrishna, Mr. Subramanian, and former NSE MD Ravi Narain on account of multiple violations, including irregularities in Mr. Subramanian’s appointment as a Chief Strategic Adviser and his re-designation as the Group Operating Officer and Adviser to the then NSE MD. National Stock Exchange of India It is the leading stock exchange of India, located in Mumbai, Maharashtra.  It is the world's largest derivatives exchange in 2021 by number of contracts traded based on the statistics maintained by Futures Industry Association (FIA), a derivatives trade body.  It is under the ownership of some leading financial institutions, banks, and insurance companies. NSE was established in 1992 as the first dematerialized electronic exchange in the country.  NSE was the first exchange in the country to provide a modern, fully automated screen-based electronic trading system that offered easy trading facilities to investors of the country. News Source: TH Reconnaissance satellite Part of: Prelims and GS-II International Relations and GS-III Science and technology Context: North Korea performed data transmission and other key tests needed to develop a spy or Reconnaissance satellite. This is the second such tests in about a week, indicating the country intends to conduct a prohibited long-range rocket launch soon. North Korea has been carrying out a spate of ballistic missile launches. Experts call it an attempt to add new weapons systems to its arsenal and pressure the U.S. into making concessions amid stalled diplomacy. Reconnaissance satellite Intelligence satellite, commonly referred to as a spy satellite is an Earth observation satellite or communications satellite deployed for military or intelligence applications. Some of its Types and their uses Missile early warning: Provides warning of an attack by detecting ballistic missile launches. Earliest known are Missile Defense Alarm System. Nuclear explosion detection: Detects nuclear detonation from space. Vela is the earliest known. Optical imaging surveillance: Earth imaging satellites. Satellite images can be a survey or close-look telephoto. Corona is the earliest known. Reconnaissance satellites have been used to enforce human rights, through the Satellite Sentinel Project, which monitors atrocities in Sudan and South Sudan. To operate a reconnaissance satellite, North Korea must launch a long-range rocket to put it into orbit.  But the UN bans such a launch by North Korea because it considers that as a cover for testing its long-range missile technology. News Source: TH Indigenous aircraft trainer, HANSA-NG Part of: Prelims  Context: A first-of-its-kind indigenous aircraft trainer, HANSA-NG, has completed sea-level trials in Puducherry, a necessary condition before evaluation by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Developed by: CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (CSIR-NAL),  Key takeaways  HANSA-New Generation is reportedly one of the most advanced flying trainers. It is powered by a Rotax digital control engine with features such as a composite lightweight airframe, a glass cockpit, a bubble canopy with a wide panoramic view, and electrically operated flaps. The aircraft is designed to meet the need of flying clubs in India for trainer aircraft. It is an ideal aircraft for commercial pilot licensing due to its low cost and low fuel consumption. It is also a revamped version of the original Hansa developed three decades ago. News Source: TH (Mains Focus) SCEINCE & TECH/ GOVERNANCE GS-3: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life. GS-2: Governance A ‘settings change’ for social media Context: The years that have passed have seen an active ignoring of the concerns around social media platforms during a conflict.  Issues with Social Media Platforms Armed conflicts within and between states have played out in cyberspace for years and same dynamics play out on social media platforms where parties try to set the narrative of the events. West did little to create norms for social media as a new dimension of conflicts Ex: Ukraine war where Russia is seen as an aggressor and NATO expansion posing a security threat to Russia is subdued. Social media platforms themselves have gone by the mantra of “tech neutrality” to avoid taking decisions that may be considered political for too long.  Content moderation remains a core area of concern, where, essentially, information warfare can be operationalised and throttled.  These corporations do not have the obligation to act responsibly. Ex: Social media’s use by the Islamic State in the early 2010s and lack of effective action by platforms. Even though these big platforms create special teams to handle such content, the magnitude overwhelms the teams that are sparingly staffed.  The use of algorithms to deal with misinformation & disinformation have at times misfired thus necessitating human intervention. After years of facing and acknowledging these challenges, most social media giants are yet to create institutional capacity to deal with such situations.  World has missed the chance to have established a clear protocol on balancing the business interests of social media platforms and their intersection with global public life in critical situations. India has a role The lack of coherent norms on state behaviour in cyberspace as well as the intersection of business, cyberspace, and state activity is an opportunity for India Indian diplomats can initiate a new track of conversations here which can benefit the international community at large. It is necessary to reassess the domestic regulatory framework on social media platforms. Transparency and accountability need to be foundational to the regulation of social media platforms in the information age It is in our national interest and that of a rule-based global polity that social media platforms be dealt with more attention across spheres than with a range of reactionary measures addressing immediate concerns alone Connecting the dots: New Social Media Code New IT Rules – Guidelines for Social Media  Twitter Controversy during Farmers protest Dominance of Big tech Australia’s News Media Bargaining Code INTERNATIONAL/ ECONOMY GS-2: International Relations GS-2: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries  Humanitarian Corridors What are humanitarian corridors? They are demilitarized zones, in a specific area and for a specific time — and both sides of an armed conflict agree to them. The United Nations considers humanitarian corridors to be one of several possible forms of a temporary pause of armed conflict. What are these for? Via these corridors, either food and medical aid can be brought to areas of conflict, or civilians can be evacuated. The corridors are necessary when cities are under siege and the population is cut off from basic food supplies, electricity and water. In cases where a humanitarian catastrophe unfolds because the international law of war is being violated — for example through large-scale bombing of civilian targets — humanitarian corridors can provide crucial relief. Who sets them up? In most cases, humanitarian corridors are negotiated by the United Nations.  Sometimes they’re also set up by local groups.  Since all sides need to agree to set up the corridors, there is a risk of military or political abuse. For example, the corridors can be used to smuggle weapons and fuel into besieged cities. On the other hand, they can also be used by UN observers, NGOs and journalists to gain access to contested areas where war crimes are being committed. What corridors have been established in Ukraine? In eastern Ukraine, a five-hour cease-fire was to be in place on March 5, to allow around 200,000 to leave Mariupol and Volnovakha. But the initiative failed after a few hours where the administration said the evacuation had been “postponed for security reasons” because Russian troops continued to bomb the surroundings. Russia however said the corridors set up near Mariupol and Volnovakha had not been used.  Ukraine said that Russia had not fulfilled the promise of a corridor and that 19 vehicles with humanitarian aid had not been allowed through. Who gets access? Access to humanitarian corridors is determined by the parties to the conflict.  It’s usually limited to neutral actors, the UN or aid organizations such as the Red Cross.  They also determine the length of time, the area and which means of transport — trucks, buses or planes — are allowed to use the corridor. In rare cases, humanitarian corridors are only organized by one of the parties to the conflict. This happened with the American airlift after the Berlin blockade by the Soviet Union in 1948-1949. Where else have they been used? Humanitarian corridors have been put in place since the mid-20th century. For example, during the so-called Kindertransport from 1938 to 1939, Jewish children were evacuated to the United Kingdom from areas under Nazi control. Humanitarian corridors were also created during the 1992-1995 siege of Sarajevo, Bosnia and the 2018 evacuation of Ghouta, Syria. However, there are many wars and conflicts where calls for civilian corridors or a pause in fighting have been made in vain. In the ongoing war in Yemen, for instance, the UN has so far failed in its negotiations. Connecting the dots: Russia-Ukraine stand-off Russia- Ukraine War: Impact beyond Oil India and UNSC Vote over Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine (Down to Earth: Environment) March 1: Release of DTE’s State of India’s Environment 2022-  https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/environment/bhupender-yadav-releases-dte-s-state-of-india-s-environment-2022-81746  TOPIC: GS-3: Environment, Conservation, Climate Change Release of DTE’s State of India’s Environment 2022 Context: In the last two years, the world has seen disruption at a scale not seen before. Both COVID-19 and climate change are the result of our ‘dystopian’ relationship with nature — call this the revenge of nature. COVID-19 happened because humans had broken the barrier between wild habitats and the way humanity produced its food. Climate change was the result of emissions needed for economic growth. Both are also linked and are being exacerbated because of our mismanagement of health systems and the environment. Today, there are three extremely critical issues that confronts India — climate change, desertification and the sustainability-affordability linkage. The Down To Earth 2022 Annual State of India’s Environment has stated that India is behind on at least 17 key government targets that have a deadline in 2022. The slow progress made so far means that the deadlines are unlikely to be met. Report Card Economy: The target for the economy is to raise the gross domestic product to nearly $4 trillion by 2022-23. But by 2020, the economy has grown only to $2.48 trillion (Rs 18 trillion). In fact, the economy has largely shrunk during the COVID-19 pandemic, making it even more difficult to meet the deadline. Employment: The target is to increase the female labour force participation rate to at least 30 per cent by 2022-23; it stood at 17.3 per cent in January-March 2020. Housing: The targets are to construct 29.5 million housing units under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY)-Rural and 12 million units under PMAY-Urban; only about 46.8 per cent and 38 per cent respectively of the targets under ‘Housing for All’ have been achieved. Provision of drinking water: The target is to provide safe piped drinking water to all by 2022-23; only 45 per cent of the target has been achieved. Agriculture: The target is to double farmers’ income by 2022. While the average monthly income of an agricultural household has increased to Rs 10,218 from Rs 6,426, this increase is largely due to increase in wages and income from farming animals. The share of income from crop production in the average monthly income of an agricultural household has, in fact, dropped — to 37.2 per cent in 2018-19, from 48 per cent in 2012-13. Digitisation of land records: Another target is to digitise all land records by 2022. While states like Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Odisha have made good progress, states like Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Sikkim languish at 5 per cent, 2 per cent and 8.8 per cent digitisation of land records, respectively. Overall, the target is unlikely to be met, particularly because 14 states have witnessed deterioration in the quality of land records since 2019-20. Air pollution: The target is to bring down PM2.5 levels in Indian cities to less than 50 microgramme per cubic metre (µg/m3). In 2020, when vehicular movement was restricted due to the pandemic, 23 of the 121 cities monitored for PM2.5 exceeded 50 µg/m3. Solid waste management: The target is to achieve 100 per cent source segregation in all households. The overall progress is 78 per cent; and while states like Kerala and Union territories like Puducherry have achieved the target, others like West Bengal and Delhi are woefully behind. Manual scavenging is targeted for eradication, but India still has 66,692 manual scavengers. Increasing the forest cover: The target is to increase it to 33.3 per cent of the geographical area, as envisaged in the National Forest Policy, 1988. By 2019, 21.67 per cent of India was under forest cover. Energy: The target is to achieve 175 GW of renewable energy generation capacity by 2022. Only 56 per cent of this target has been achieved thus far. State of the states With less than a decade left to realise the SDGs (2030 is the deadline), Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are below the national average in 11 and 14 SDGs, respectively. Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Himachal Pradesh fared best. With respect to SDG 1 (poverty eradication), six of the poorest performers include Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. All these states — along with Meghalaya, Assam, Gujarat, Maharashtra and West Bengal — also feature in the list of worst performers as far as ending hunger and malnutrition is concerned (SDG 2). In water and sanitation (SDG 6), the performance of Delhi, Rajasthan, Assam, Punjab and Arunachal Pradesh is a cause for concern.  SDG 7 — related to clean and affordable energy — has seen an above average performance, with most states achieving the target. In climate action (SDG 13), 13 states and two Union territories score below the national average. Odisha tops the good performance chart, followed by Kerala; Jharkhand and Bihar bring up the rear. Conclusion The gap between the targets and the achievements once more exposes the chronic problems besetting governance in our country. We set out with high hopes and may occasionally take some bold policy decisions, but when it comes to implementation and delivery, we are found wanting. This must change. Most of these targets are quite realistic, and while the pandemic can be blamed for some of the missed deadlines, for example, regarding the GDP growth, other deadlines, like the one on reduction in air pollution, should in fact have been achieved quicker because of the pandemic-induced lockdown. We must introspect on why we fail to achieve targets that are necessary to secure a sustainable future for this country. India needs to act in its own self-interest. Our climate change strategy has to be based on the principle of co-benefits — we will do something for climate change because it is good for the world, but also because it is good for us. We need a low-carbon strategy for every sector; we must also ask the developed world to pay for and give us the high-cost options so that we can leapfrog. Can you answer the following questions? Climate change, desertification and the sustainability-affordability linkage three extremely critical issues facing India today. Share recommendations to address these issues.  (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Q.1 Consider the following statements regarding National Stock Exchange of India: It is managed under the Ministry of Finance. It is the leading stock exchange of India, located in Mumbai, Maharashtra.  Which of the above is or are correct?  1 only  2 only  Both 1 and 2  Neither 1 nor 2  Q.2 Which of the following is the use of Reconnaissance satellite?  Provides warning of an attack by detecting ballistic missile launches.  Detects nuclear detonation from space.  Optical imaging where Satellite images can be a survey or close-look telephoto.  All of the above Q.3 Which of the following is not true about HANSA-New Generation? It is the first-of-its-kind indigenous aircraft trainer of India. It is reportedly one of the most advanced flying trainers. The aircraft is designed to meet the need of flying clubs in India for trainer aircraft. It is an ideal aircraft for commercial pilot licensing due to its high cost and high fuel consumption. ANSWERS FOR 7th March 2022 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 B 2 D 3 D Must Read On need for safety net for student studying abroad: The Hindu On China & Afghanistan relations: The Hindu On Ukraine’s crisis on India’s energy sector: Indian Express