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DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 27th July 2021

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) National Institutes of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management Bill, 2021 Part of: GS Prelims and GS - II - Education In news Parliament has passed the National Institutes of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management Bill, 2021.  The Bill has been passed in both the houses and will become act once the President gives his assent to it. Through the bill, the two educational institutes, under the Ministry of Food Processing Industries became Institutions of National Importance (INI). National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM), Kundali (Haryana)  Indian Institute of Food Processing Technology(IIFPT), Thanjabur (Tamil Nadu)  The bill will provide these Institutes Greater Autonomy, so that they can start new and innovative courses, as well as help them to attract excellent faculty and students. Global standards can also be adopted in academic and research work. What is the Meaning of Institute of National Importance? The Central Government grants the status of ‘Institute of National Importance’ to premier higher educational institutions in India through an act of the Parliament. According to the Ministry of Education, an institute of national importance is an institute that “serves as a pivotal player in developing highly skilled personnel within the specified region of the country/state”. Such institutes get special funding and recognition from the Government of India. The first reference to ‘institute of national importance’ is given in the Constitution of India, Seventh Schedule. They are largely supervised and funded by the Government of India through the Education Ministry (formerly the Ministry of Human Resources Development). Currently, there are 130 institutions with the INI tag. Some of the benefits that INIs enjoy are listed below: Functional autonomy to enhance efficiency, quality and accountability. Increased funding. Have a better quality of education imparted, and improved research facilities. Faster decision-making capabilities. Minimal interference from the political executive. Such institutions might be able to provide more scholarships to the students. They can also provide more sports facilities, seminars, etc. News Source: PIB Kandla becomes first Green SEZ Part of: GS Prelims and GS - III - Economy In news Kandla, Gujarat has become the first Green SEZ. It has Achieved CII’s IGBC ( Indian Green Building Council) Green Cities Platinum Rating. What is Indian Green Building Council? The Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), part of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) was formed in the year 2001.  Vision: "To enable a sustainable built environment for all and facilitate India to be one of the global leaders in the sustainable built environment by 2025". The council offers a wide array of services such as developing new green building rating programmes, certification services and green building training programmes. The council also organises Green Building Congress, its annual flagship event on green buildings. The council is committee-based, member-driven and consensus-focused.  All the stakeholders of the construction industry participate in the council activities through local chapters.  The council also closely works with several State Governments, Central Government, World Green Building Council, bilateral multi-lateral agencies in promoting green building concepts in the country. India to explore Indigenous Deposits of Phosphatic rock Part of: GS Prelims and GS - III - Economy Key Takeaways  Currently we are dependent on other countries for raw materials to produce DAP (Di-ammonium Phosphate) and (Single superphosphate) SSP primarily.  India needs to reduce its dependencies on imports. In order to achieve that goal, India shall explore indigenous deposits of Phosphatic rock and Potash and make it available to indigenous industries. Rock Phosphate is the key raw material for DAP and NPK fertilizers.  Currently, India is 90% dependent on imports for this raw material.  Volatility in international prices affects domestic prices of fertilizers.  Import dependence also hinders the progress and development of the agriculture sector in the country and puts extra pressure on our farmers. News Source: PIB First-of-its-kind “Centre of Excellence” in the Northeast Part of: GS Prelims and GS - II - Policies and interventions In news The Ministry of Science & Technology is to set up a first-of-its-kind “Centre of Excellence” in the Northeast. The project for establishing “Centre for Bio-Resources and Sustainable Development as a Centre of Excellence” was sanctioned by the Department of Biotechnology and is complete for formal inauguration shortly.  It is located in Arunachal Pradesh  About Centre of Excellence in North East With the setting up of the Bio-Resource Centre by the Department of Biotechnology Ministry of Science & Technology, the entire North Eastern Region will be able to use its fruit and organic food potential to the maximum extent.  Besides, this will also help in exploring many vast areas and to find hitherto lesser known or unknown new species including diverse habitats and diverse flora.  This will have a bearing on improving the cultural, social and economic status of the people of the entire North Eastern Region. The central government has also called for utilising latest technology for infrastructural development and value addition to the ongoing projects. The proposed Centre of Excellence is aimed to address this objective. Besides, many projects have been undertaken recently through optimum utilisation of technologies, including the Space Technology and Satellite Imaging. There is also in place a mechanism to speed up the process of sanctioning projects through e-Office and other electronic means. News Source: PIB Steel Scrap Recycling Policy Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III - Industries In news The Steel Scrap Recycling Policy provides a framework to facilitate and promote establishment of metal scrapping centers in India for scientific processing & recycling of ferrous scrap generated from various sources.  What are the features of the Policy? The policy framework provides standard guidelines for collection, dismantling and shredding activities in an organized, safe and environmentally sound manner.  It enumerates responsibilities for setting up collection, dismantling centre and scrap processing centre, and the roles of aggregators and responsibilities of the Government, manufacturer and owner.  It does not envisage setting up of scrap centres by the Government.  The role of Government is to be an enabler and provide a framework to facilitate the eco-system of metal scrapping in the country.  The decision to set up scrap centres is of entrepreneurs based on commercial considerations.  The Scrapping Centres are approved and monitored by the authorized agencies of the State/Union Territory Governments.  The Policy does not envisage any additional monitoring mechanism thereby ensuring that there is no additional compliance burden. News Source: PIB G20 Energy and Climate Meet Part of: GS Prelims and GS -III - Climate change In news At the recent G20 Climate Meet, India urged the group having per capita greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions above the global average to bring it down to the world average, thereby vacating ‘some' carbon space for developing nations. This will support the developmental aspirations of the developing nations. Presently, Italy holds the G20 Presidency and the Climate Meet is being seen as a prelude to the UN Climate Change COP 26 meeting in Glasgow, Scotland in November 2021. What is India's Stand? There is a need to cut absolute emissions rapidly while taking into account the Paris Agreement which emphasized on Respective historical responsibilities, Delivery of promised climate finance and technologies at low cost keeping in perspective per capita emissions, etc. India noted the pledges made by some countries to achieve Net Zero GHG emissions (Carbon Neutrality) by or around 2050 which may not be adequate to prevent fast depleting available carbon space. It stressed on Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR) to combat climate change. Mentioned its plans of implementing various initiatives under Urban Climate Action. What are India’s initiatives under Urban Climate Action? Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework (CSCAF): It intends to inculcate a climate-sensitive approach to urban planning and development in India. National Mission on Sustainable Habitat is one of the eight missions under national climate change action plan and aims to make cities sustainable through improvements in energy efficiency in buildings, management of solid waste & shift to public transport. Climate Practitioners India Network (CPIN): It is first-of-its-kind network developed by Climate Centre for Cities (C-Cube) to support Cities and Practitioners across India. Urban Forestry: The government of India in 2020 launched the Nagar Van Scheme. The Nagar Van (Urban Forests) aims to develop 200 Urban Forests across the country in the next five years. Do you know? Carbon neutrality: A balance between emitting carbon and absorbing carbon from the atmosphere in carbon sinks. Carbon space: The amount of CO2 that can be put into the atmosphere without this leading to a level of warming that can be considered dangerous or otherwise undesirable. News Source: TH Gross Environment Product (GEP) Part of: GS Prelims and GS III - Environment In news Recently, the Uttarakhand government has announced that it will initiate valuation of its natural resources in the form of ‘Gross Environment Product’ (GEP). It is along the lines of GDP.  What is GEP? It was established back in 1997 by ecological economists like Robert Costanza at the global level. It is an assessment system to measure ecological status. It is considered as the product and service value that the ecosystem provides for human welfare and economic and social sustainable development, including provisioning, regulating and cultural ecosystem services. Overall, GEP accounts for the economic value of the ecosystem in providing products and services, and it is one of the components of green GDP. Green GDP is an indicator of economic growth with environmental factors taken into consideration. It factors biodiversity losses and costs attributed to climate change. Ecosystems that can be measured include natural ecosystems such as forests, grassland, wetland, desert, freshwater and ocean, and artificial systems  What is the need for Uttarakhand for such an initiative? The state has over 71% area under forests. Uttarakhand, through its biodiversity, gives services to the tune of Rs 95,112 crore per year to the nation. It is also home to the Himalayas and also is the origin point of rivers like Ganga, Yamuna and Sharada as well as home to wildlife reserves like Corbett and Rajaji Tiger Reserves. Uttarakhand is a state which provides a lot of environment services and in continuity as a result of which, there is a natural degradation in those services. News Source: DTE Essential Defence Services Bill Part of: GS Prelims and GS III - Defence and Security In news The Essential Defence Services Bill was recently introduced by the Parliament. It is aimed at preventing the staff of the government-owned ordnance factories from going on a strike.  What are the Highlights of the Bill? It is meant to “provide for the maintenance of essential defence services so as to secure the security of nation and the life and property of public at large and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto”. The Bill empowers the government to declare services mentioned in it as essential defence services. It also prohibits strike and lockouts in “any industrial establishment or unit engaged in essential defence services”  What are the latest changes? The Ordnance Factory Board was directly under the Department of Defence Production and worked as an arm of the government. But, in June 2021 the government announced its corporatisation. As per this plan, 41 factories ammunition and other equipment to the armed forces will become part of seven government owned corporate entities. The government has claimed that the move is aimed at improving the efficiency and accountability of these factories. However, following this, many federations announced the launch of indefinite strikes. This was countered by the Essential Defence Services Ordinance which was promulgated on June 30, 2021.  Who will it affect? It has a direct bearing on around 70,000 employees of the 41 ordnance factories around the country, who are unhappy with the corporatisation of OFB, fearing that it will impact their service and retirement conditions.  What is the need?  The ordnance factories form an integrated base for indigenous production of defence hardware and equipment, with the primary objective of self-reliance in equipping the armed forces with state of the art battlefield equipment. Therefore, there is a need to provide for the maintenance of essential defence services so as to secure the security of nation and the life and property of public at large and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. News Source: IE (Mains Focus) DISASTER MANAGEMENT/ ENVIRONMENT/ Topic: GS-3: Disaster and disaster management.  GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Wounded mountains: on Himachal landslide tragedy In news China’sRecent tragic death of nine tourists in a landslip in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh. Reason: Extraordinarily heavy rains in the State recently, left the hill slopes unstable and causing floods in built-up areas Do You Know? The parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy during 2018-19 noted that the Himachal Pradesh State could more than double its existing harnessed hydropower potential of 10,547 MW.  Uttarakhand too has seen its share of natural disasters this year, starting with the massive flash flood in Chamoli in February that killed more than 80 people. Issues Himalayan landscape is susceptible to landslides. Formed due to the collision of Indian and Eurasian plates, the northward movement of the former puts continuous stress on the rocks, rendering them weak and prone to landslides and earthquakes (high seismicity region). This, combined with steep slopes, rugged topography, high seismic vulnerability, and rainfall, make a deadly cocktail.  Reckless exploitation of resources: Big hydroelectric projects (source of green power) and large-scale construction activity involving destruction of forests and damming of rivers in this region alter several aspects of ecology rendering the region vulnerable to the effects of extreme events such as cloudbursts, flash floods, landslides and earthquakes.  Bitter Reality: Himalayan States may be entering a phase of irreversible decline because of losses to their ecology and frequent disasters may become inevitable. Administration Neglect: Relaxation of COVID protocols led to restarting of Tourist activities in Himachal Pradesh State. Unfortunately, there was not enough vigil against travel to risky areas Way Ahead The mishap shows the fragility of the ecology of the Himalayan States.  Governments cannot continue to disregard for the fragile topography and climate-sensitive planning is important to have early warning and better weather forecast systems, and a trans-boundary coalition of Himalayan countries to share and disseminate knowledge about the mountains.  Also, it is critical to review the area’s present status and draw up a sustainable plan that respects the specific requirements of this fragile region and the impact of the climate crisis. Connecting the dots: National Landslide Susceptibility Mapping (NLSM) programme Uttarakhand Glacier disaster FEDERALISM/ POLITY Topic: GS-2: Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure. Assam-Mizoram border dispute Context: Recently, at least five Assam Police personnel were killed after the old boundary dispute between Assam and Mizoram exploded in violent clashes at a contested border point. In October last year, residents of Assam and Mizoram had clashed twice in the space of a week over territory, in which at least eight people were injured. The violence spotlights the long-standing inter-state boundary issues in the Northeast, particularly between Assam and the states that were carved out of it. What is the genesis of Assam-Mizoram boundary dispute? The boundary between present-day Assam and Mizoram, 165 km long today, dates back to the colonial era, when Mizoram was known as Lushai Hills, a district of Assam. The dispute stems from a notification of 1875 that differentiated the Lushai Hills from the plains of Cachar, and another of 1933, that demarcates a boundary between the Lushai Hills and Manipur. Mizoram believes the boundary should be demarcated on the basis of the 1875 notification, which is derived from the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR) Act, 1873. Mizo leaders have argued in the past against the demarcation notified in 1933 because Mizo society was not consulted.   Assam government follows the 1933 demarcation, and that was the point of conflict. According to an agreement between Mizoram and Assam, status quo was to be maintained in the no man’s land in the border area. Recent Clashes In February 2018, there was violence when students’ union MZP (Mizo Zirlai Pawl) built a wooden rest house for farmers on land that was claimed by Assam and which was demolished by Assam Police. Again, in October 2020, clashes erupted twice in a week over construction of huts in Lailapur (Assam) on land claimed by Mizoram. Are there other boundary issues in the northeast? Assam has had boundary problems with all its north-eastern neighbours, except Manipur and Tripura that had existed as separate entities.  State Reorganisation Post Independence: The primary reason is that the other States, which were all part of Assam during the British rule, have contested the boundaries since they separated from Assam and became full-fledged States over a period of time (Nagaland Statehood in 1963; Meghalaya, Tripura & Manipur Statehood in 1971; Arunachal Pradesh & Mizoram Statehood in 1987) Constitutional Solution Vs Historical grounds: Assam has accepted several recommendations of border commissions set up by the Supreme Court, but other States have been sticking to “historical boundaries” that go back to the period before 1826, when the British annexed undivided Assam and included the hills as its provinces.  Issue of Nagaland: The Nagaland government has been insisting that a 16-point agreement of 1960, which led to the creation of Nagaland, also included “restoration” of all Naga territories that had been transferred out of the Naga Hills after the British annexed Assam in 1826. Issue of Meghalaya: Meghalaya has challenged the Assam Reorganisation Act of 1971, claiming that two blocks in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district belonged to the erstwhile United Khasi and Jaintia Hills created in 1835.  Assam’s point of view: Assam says its neighbours have encroached upon more than 75,000 hectares of land. Revenue records of the Assam government say Nagaland has encroached upon 19,819.62 hectares, Arunachal Pradesh 5,756.02 hectares and Meghalaya 65.62 hectares since 2001. Way Forward Burden borne by common man: The border residents will continue to bear the brunt of the unrest unless an acceptable solution is arrived at. Joint patrolling by police personnel of both the States with Central forces along the inter-State border.  Maintaining Peace & Order: Apart from drawing up the standard operating procedure for guarding the contentious boundary, state governments need to strengthen coordination between the Superintendents of Police of the border districts for prompt action against criminals and anti-social activities that add to the border tension. Connecting the dots: Naga issue (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 The first-of-its-kind 'Centre for Bio-Resources and Sustainable Development as a Centre of Excellence' is located in which of the following state of Northeast India? Assam Arunachal Pradesh  Mizoram Manipur Q.2 Consider the following statements about Institutions of National Importance (INI): Such institutes get special funding and recognition from the Government of India. The first reference to ‘institute of national importance’ is given in the Constitution of India, Seventh Schedule. Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 only Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3 Where is Rajaji Tiger Reserves located? Ladakh Sikkim Uttarakhand  Gujarat  ANSWERS FOR 26th July 2021 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 D 2 C 3 C Must Read On Evaluating India’s options in Afghanistan: The Hindu On Critical analysis of new Emigration Bill: The Hindu On Surrogacy: Financial Express

RSTV Video

Agri Exports Maintain Healthy Trend – The Big Picture – RSTV IAS UPSC

Archives Topic: General Studies 3: Indian economy and mobilization of resources; Agriculture Sector   In News: Though the coronavirus pandemic hit all the sectors of the economy in the country, the growth in the export of agricultural commodities continues in the country.  The export of Agri and allied commodities during Apr,2020 - Feb,2021 was worth 2.74 lakh crore as compared to Rs. 2.31 Crore in the same period last year indicating an increase of 18.49%. The commodities which posted significant positive growth in exports were wheat,Other Cereals,Rice (other than Basmati), Soya meal, Spices, Sugar, Raw Cotton, Fresh Vegetable, Processed Vegetables, and Alcoholic Beverages. There was a recovery in global prices — due to a combination of  Demand revival from unlockdowns (opposite to what happened in April-May) Continuing supply chain disruptions (including from a shortage of shipping containers) Chinese stockpiling (in anticipation of a fresh corona outbreak during the winter) Dry weather in producer countries such as Thailand, Argentina, Brazil and Ukraine How Agriculture exports have the potential to transform Indian farm sector? In India, we are more constrained on the demand side than on the production side. And it is demand that’s also driving farmers’ income. There are two sources of creating demand for agri commodities — domestic and global. Given the innate vagaries of the domestic value chain and subdued consumption sentiment, it is important to focus on the exports value chain. India now fares miserably compared to its global peers here. We are the world’s second largest farm producer, but the country doesn’t figure in the ranks of the top 10 exporters. India has, moreover, not leveraged its position as the second largest horticulture producer. Smaller countries such as Thailand and Egypt fare better than India in horticulture exports. There’s a need to come up with a new model of growth through focused value chains. When it comes to exports, there are several key issues that affect the various stakeholders concerned. The most crucial are our farmers, who cultivate fractured landholdings and are often not updated on the global demand trends, whether it pertains to the varieties to grow or quality and the safety standards to be maintained. Further, even when they are, investing in post-harvest processing, cold chain or branding requires capital, which isn’t tenable for a small farmer. Thus, there is an imperative to bring scale to agricultural operations through, say, farmer producer groups or organisations (FPO). Ways to further boost the Agri-Exports  A ‘Public-Private-Farmer Group Partnership’ model could be the way ahead for pushing agri exports from India. This model can receive a boost through establishing crop-specific councils with representation from the Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, the ministries of agriculture and commerce, big FPOs, corporates and SMEs, with some experience and interest in developing agri value chains. These councils need to be adequately funded by the government for carrying out market research, building strong brands and setting up common infrastructure (the Basmati Export Development Foundation is a good model). Majority of India’s agri-exports are low value, raw or semi-processed products. Therefore, the agri-export strategy should include integration of value-added agri-produce with global value chains (GVC), by adopting best agricultural practices involving productivity gains and cost competitiveness. It’s also imperative for India to reconsider joining the RCEP at an opportune time, and to enter into FTAs with the EU, the US and the UK. In order to boost exports of dairy products and make the dairy sector globally competitive, the central government needs to consider development of dairy export zones (DEZs) in collaboration with state governments. This could immensely benefit small dairy farmers, organised as farmer producer organisations (FPOs)/farmer producer companies (FPCs)/cooperatives, for supplying milk, and also for contract production of dairy products on behalf of major dairy producing companies, leading to cost efficiency and higher export revenue to dairy companies as well as significantly higher income to farmers. Linking of FPOs through contract farming arrangements with export-oriented food processing units of food parks created under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana, for producing processed cereals, fruits, vegetables, fish and marine products, would boost exports of processed food and raise income of small and marginal landholders and small fish farmers. With global trade in organic products estimated to be around $90 billion, there is a huge opportunity for exports of value-added organic products from India, which exported $689 million worth of organic food in 2019-20. Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, the North Eastern Region (NER), Uttarakhand and Goa are major producers of organic products. It’s desirable to create Organic Product Export Zones (OPEZs) in these states and the NER, with common infrastructure for processing, standardisation, storage, logistics, and connectivity to ports and airports. Branding of products and registration as GI could further facilitate exports of value-added organic products. FPOs of organic farmers could be formed and linked to the OPEZs, to ensure higher income for farmers. Economic diplomacy and promotion of Brand India can play an effective role in increasing agri-exports. The AEP has recommended the establishment of Agriculture Export Zones (AEZs), to facilitate value addition of agri-commodities for increasing exports in a WTO-compatible manner. In order to ensure higher income for farmers, FPOs need to be linked to AEZs to supply SPS-compliant agri-products. Higher investments in R&D and technology, viz. the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence and blockchain, for improving agricultural productivity, resource-use efficiency and export competitiveness. Linking farmers/FPOs to the export market and skilling of surplus farmers for their absorption in agri-export value chains could be an important strategy to sustainably raise farmers’ income. Conclusion Concerted efforts by the central and state governments, Indian embassies, APEDA, EXIM Bank, NABARD, and all other stakeholders in the agri-export value chains are needed to address a whole range of issues pertaining to promotion of agri-exports, which could potentially propel India into the top bracket of agricultural exporters, and in the process facilitate doubling of farmers’ income within a reasonable time-frame. Connecting the dots: By setting a goal to gradually open up all agri-produce to exports, the country can set an inspiring and exciting new horizon for itself. Do you agree? Elucidate. In India, organic farming has got huge export potential. Do you agree? Comment. 

[Day 58]: 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-58 of RaRe Series - Click here To Register - Click here For complete details of the RaRe Series -  Click here

Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz – 2021 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 27th JULY 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

IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – General Studies Paper 2 Questions [27th JULY,2021] – Day 142

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE Hello Friends, Welcome to IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – General Studies Paper 2 Questions [27th JULY,2021] – Day 142 TLP (Phase 1) just got over on 8th May (Saturday) and we are extremely thankful for your active participation to make this program a success. Well, though TLP (Phase 1) got over, ‘Picture abhi baaqi hai mere dost’. There is a surprise for you. Since prelims is bound to get delayed once again this year, its not wise to leave the writing practice just now. Hence, we are extending the TLP program  We will be posting 3 questions per day (Monday to Friday). The questions will be based on Current Affairs, so that you don’t have to invest your time separately on exclusively mains oriented topics. So, keep practicing and keep improving. To Know More about TLP  -> CLICK HERE For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE Note: Click on Each Question (Link), it will open in a new tab and then Answer respective questions! 1. What role can the Inter State Council play in the era of cooperative federalism? Illustrate with the help of suitable examples. (10 Marks) सहकारी संघवाद के युग में अंतर्राज्यीय परिषद क्या भूमिका निभा सकती है? उपयुक्त उदाहरणों की सहायता से स्पष्ट कीजिए। 2. What are quasi judicial bodies? What purpose do they serve? Discuss. How successful have quasi judicial bodies been to address the problem of excessive litigation? Critically examine. (10 Marks) अर्ध न्यायिक निकाय क्या हैं? उनसे कौन सा उद्देश्य पूरा होता है? चर्चा करना। अर्ध न्यायिक निकाय अत्यधिक मुकदमों की समस्या का समाधान करने में कितने सफल रहे हैं? समालोचनात्मक जाँच करें। 3. What role should India be playing in the evolving geopolitics in Afghanistan? What can be the possible fallouts of India’s active engagement in Afghanistan? Discuss. (15 Marks) अफगानिस्तान में उभरती भू-राजनीति में भारत को क्या भूमिका निभानी चाहिए? अफगानिस्तान में भारत की सक्रिय भागीदारी के संभावित परिणाम क्या हो सकते हैं? चर्चा करें। AWARE ( Answer Writing REdefined) Series - 7 Steps to Master Answer Writing Skills by Mohan Sir - CLICK HERE P.S: The review from IASbaba will happen from the time the question is posted till 10 pm every day. We would also encourage peer reviews. So friends get actively involved and start reviewing each other's answers. This will keep the entire community motivated. All the Best :)

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[MOCK INTERVIEW – UPSC 2020-21] New Time Slots for ONLINE MOCKS Open Now & ONE-ONE MOCKS with Mohan Sir!

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DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 26th July 2021

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Databank of migrant workers Part of: GS Prelims and GS - II - Policies and interventions In news For the first time in India, Tamil Nadu will soon create a digital databank of migrant workers employed in industries, particularly the Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises and hospitality sectors, across the State. The enumeration of workers, along with their profile, will help weed out illegal immigrants and anti-social elements It will also help in building a data portal on the industry-wise employment scenario. The real-time data management system could be of immense use in the event of an emergency as well. News Source: TH North Eastern Space Applications Centre Part of: GS Prelims and GS - III - Sci and tech In news NESAC (North Eastern Space Applications Centre) Society Meeting was recently held at NESAC, Shillong, Meghalaya.  NESAC has released North Eastern Spatial Data Repository (NeSDR) with about 950 datasets.  These datasets are related to infrastructure, land and water resources, disaster management support inputs.  All the States are to take advantage of these data sets by signing MoUs with NESAC for specific activities such as detecting encroachments, and epidemic planning.  What are the focused areas of NESAC? Activities of NESAC are focused on the practical applications of space technology in agriculture, and allied fields like silk farming where it can help in early detection of diseases, What are the achievements of NESAC? NESAC (North Eastern Space Applications Centre) has enabled the States to address issues and challenges of North Eastern region with the support of space technology. The organisation can also provide the required strategic inputs for the entire region for its overall development and strategic planning. NESAC has helped preserve forests by assessing forest fires and protecting endangered wildlife such as rhinos by studying the changing land cover.  NESAC has used satellite communication for telemedicine, and tele-education  NESAC has helped in weather prediction, and forecasting thunderstorms, lightning, and providing early flood warning. Do you know? Union Home Minister is the President of the NESAC Society and the Chairman of the North Eastern Council (NEC). News Source: PIB NITI AAYOG -TRIFED join hands for successful implementation of  Van Dhan Yojana Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II - Policies and Interventions In news Keeping in line with “Atmanirbhar Bharat” aligned to the slogan of “Be Vocal for Local Buy Tribal”, towards realizing the goal of “SabkaSaath, SabkaVikas”, TRIFED is collaborating with NITI Aayog to implement the Van Dhan Yojana in the districts that have been identified as aspirational districts by NITI Aayog. The Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana (PMVDY) It was launched in 2018. The scheme is run by the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED). It is an initiative targeting livelihood generation for tribals by harnessing the wealth of forest i.e. Van Dhan.  The programme aims to tap into traditional knowledge & skill sets of tribals by adding technology & IT to upgrade it at each stage.  The initiative shall provide enhanced livelihood to about 45 lakhs tribal gatherers in one year.  Tribal community owned Minor Forest Produce (MFP)-centric multi-purpose Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (the Kendra) are set up. Essential Features of the PMVDY: The State Nodal Department will have the flexibility to appoint any State Implementing Agency / District Implementing Unit for implementation of the PMVDY in the State and District levels.  The Kendras would act as common facility centres for procurement cum value addition to locally available MFPs.  A typical Van Dhan Vikas Kendra shall constitute of 15 tribal Van Dhan Self Help Groups (SHG) Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED)  It came into existence in 1987.  It is a national-level apex organization.  The basic objective of the TRIFED is to provide good price of the ‘Minor Forest Produce (MFP) collected by the tribes of the country. It functions under Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Govt. of India. TRIFED has its Head Office at New Delhi.  It has a network of 13 Regional Offices located at various places in the country. News Source: PIB UNESCO declares Kakatiya Ramappa Temple a World Heritage site Part of: GS Prelims and GS -I - Culture In news UNESCO has recently declared Kakatiya Ramappa Temple a World Heritage site. About Kakatiya Ramappa Temple  The Ramappa Temple showcases the craftsmanship of Kakatiya dynasty.  It also known as the Rudreshswara (Lord Siva) temple  It lies in a valley in Palampet village of Venkatapur Mandal of Mulugu district, Telangana.   The temple is a Sivalayam, where Lord Ramalingeswara is worshipped.  Marco Polo, during his visit to the Kakatiya Empire, allegedly called the temple "the brightest star in the galaxy of temples" The hall in front of the sanctum has numerous carved pillars that have been positioned to create an effect that combines light and space wonderfully.  The temple is named after the sculptor Ramappa, who built it, and is perhaps the only temple in South India to be named after a craftsman who built it. Columns of the temple are carved as mythical animals or female dancers or musicians, and are "the masterpieces of Kakatiya art, notable for their delicate carving, sensuous postures and elongated bodies and heads.” About UNESCO World Heritage Site  A World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by UNESCO for its special cultural or physical significance.  The list of World Heritage Sites is maintained by the international 'World Heritage Programme', administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. UNESCO seeks to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity. This is embodied in an international treaty called the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted by UNESCO in 1972. India now has 39 world heritage sites  News Source: PIB National Security Council (NSC) Part of: GS Prelims and GS –III- Security In news: Amid the Pegasus Controversy, it was reported that the Union Government’s expenditure on the National Security Council secretariat (NSCS) increased ten fold in 2017-18 to Rs 333 crores from Rs 33 cr. in 2016-17. About NSC of India is a three-tiered organization that oversees political, economic, energy and security issues of strategic concern. It was formed in 1999, where all aspects of national security are deliberated upon. The National Security Advisor (NSA) presides over the NSC, and is also the primary advisor to the prime minister.  NSC comprises the three tier structure-  Strategic Policy Group (SPG) National Security Advisory Board (NSAB)  National Security Council Secretariat. The SPG chaired by the Cabinet Secretary is the principal forum for inter-ministerial coordination and integration of the relevant inputs. The NSAB undertakes long-term analysis and provides perspectives on issues of national security. Functions: It operates within the executive office of the prime minister of India, liaising between the government’s executive branch and the intelligence services, advising leadership on intelligence and security issues. Members: The Ministers of Home Affairs, Defence, External Affairs and Finance  PLI Scheme For Specialty Steel Part of: GS Prelims and GS –II- Governance; GS-III- Economy In news: Recently, the Union Cabinet approved the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme (Central Sector Scheme) for manufacturing Speciality Steel (SS) with a budgetary outlay of Rs 6,322 crore over a period of five years from 2023-24. About Speciality Steel It is value-added steel, which is made by processing normal finished steel. It is done by converting normal finished steel into high value-added steel by way of coating, plating and heat treatment. Apart from the automobile sector and specialised capital goods, they can be used in various strategic applications such as defence, space, power etc. SS are categorized in various types such as, coated/plated steel products, high strength/wear resistant steel, speciality rails, alloy steel products and steel wires, electrical steel etc. About PLI Scheme It is a scheme that aims to give companies incentives on incremental sales from products manufactured in domestic units.  The scheme invites foreign companies to set up units in India, however, it also aims to encourage local companies to set up or expand existing manufacturing units and also to generate more employment  It aims to cut down the country’s reliance on imports from other countries. It was launched in April 2020, for the Large Scale Electronics Manufacturing sector, but later towards the end of 2020 was introduced for 10 other sectors.  It gave incentives of 4-6% to electronic companies, manufacturing electronic components like mobile phones, transistors, diodes, etc.  This scheme was introduced in line with India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat campaign. The government aims to make India an integral part of the global supply chain and enhance exports And Rs. 1.97 lakh crores have been allocated for this scheme from Financial Year 2022 (Mains Focus) GOVERNANCE/ SECURITY Topic: GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation  Surveillance Laws in India Context: A global collaborative investigative project has discovered Israeli spyware Pegasus was used to target thousands of people across the world. In India, at least 300 people are believed to have been targeted. The government says that, contrary to what the Pegasus report alleges, existing laws in India make it impossible for authorities to put politicians, journalists and activists under illegal surveillance.  What do Indian laws outline? Communication surveillance in India takes place primarily under two laws Telegraph Act deals with interception of calls IT Act was enacted to deal with surveillance of all electronic communication, Telegraph Act Section 5(2) of The Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, states that the government can intercept a “message or class of messages” on certain situatinos Certain situations — the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the state, friendly relations with foreign states or public order, or for preventing incitement to the commission of an offence.  These are the same restrictions imposed on free speech under Article 19(2) of the Constitution. Significantly, even these restrictions can be imposed only when there is a condition precedent — the occurrence of any public emergency, or in the interest of public safety. The operational process and procedures for Interception The procedures appear in Rule 419A of the Indian Telegraph Rules, 1951.  Rule 419A was added to the Telegraph Rules in 2007 after the verdict in the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) vs Union of India case in 1996, in which the Supreme Court said telephonic conversations are covered by the right to privacy, which can be breached only if there are established procedures.  Under Rule 419A, surveillance needs the sanction of the Home Secretary at the Central or State level, but in “unavoidable circumstance” can be cleared by a Joint Secretary or officers above, if they have the Home Secretary’s authorisation. In the K.S. Puttaswamy vs Union of India verdict of 2017, the Supreme Court further reiterated the need for oversight of surveillance, stating that it should be legally valid and serve a legitimate aim of the government.  The court also said the means adopted should be proportional to the need for surveillance, and there should be procedures to check any abuse of surveillance. Information Technology Act, 2000 Section 69 of the IT Act, 2000 deals with electronic surveillance. It facilitates government “interception or monitoring or decryption of any information through any computer resource” if it is in the interest of the “sovereignty or integrity of India, defence of India, security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States or public order” or for preventing or investigating any cognizable offence. The procedure for electronic surveillance as authorised by Section 69 is detailed in the 2009 rules which are broader in its scope. Section 69 the IT Act adds another aspect that makes it broader — interception, monitoring and decryption of digital information “for the investigation of an offence”. Significantly, it dispenses with the condition precedent set under the Telegraph Act that requires “the occurrence of public emergency of the interest of public safety” which widens the ambit of powers under the law. Conclusion So, for a Pegasus-like spyware to be used lawfully, the government would have to invoke both the IT Act and the Telegraph Act. Connecting the dots: Shreya Singhal Judgement New Social Media Code INTERNATIONAL/ SECURITY Topic: GS-2: India and its neighborhood- relations.  China’s President visits Tibet In news China’s President Xi Jinping became the first Chinese leader in many years to visit Tibet as well as its southeastern border region with India. Important places that he visited He landed at the airport in Nyingchi, located near the border with India's Arunachal Pradesh.  He visited Nyang river bridge to inspect the Yarlung Zangbo river/Brahmaputra river He also visited Nyingchi’s railway station to inspect the newly built Sichuan-Tibet railway.   He visited the Potala Palace — the traditional home of the Dalai Lamas — and Drepung monastery. Do you know? The Lhasa-Nyingchi rail is one among several major infrastructure projects recently completed in Tibet’s southern and southeastern counties near the Arunachal border.  Last month, China completed construction of a strategically significant highway through the Grand Canyon of the Yarlung Zangbo river, the “second significant passageway” to Medog county that borders Arunachal. Tibet and China: Background Tibet at various points of time in History has remained autonomous & also under the reign of Chinese rule. Tibet had traditionally served as a buffer zone between India and China. In the wake of independence from British Colonial rule, China sent in thousands of troops to enforce its claim on the region in 1950.  With Indian support, Tibetan delegates signed 17 point agreement in May 1951 recognizing PRC sovereignty but guaranteeing that the existing political and social system of Tibet would continue (autonomy & non-interference in internal affairs) But the agreement was never honoured by China. Also, China was accused of suppressing cultural and religious freedom in Tibet, which forced Tibetans to rise up against the Chinese authority. Besides, the agreement has been rejected by the Dalai Lama ( Politico-Spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhists), who said the Communist Party had both forced it on Tibet and subsequently violated its commitments, leading him to eventually flee to India in exile in 1959. Chinese government denies the accusations and says Tibet has developed considerably under its rule. In a nutshell, Tibetans wants autonomy while Chinese want complete authority over it. What is the background of India’s Tibet Policy? For centuries, Tibet was India’s actual neighbour, as most of India’s boundaries is with the Tibetan Autonomous Region, and not the rest of China. In 1914, Tibetan representatives, along with the Chinese signed the Simla convention that delineated boundaries. After China’s full accession of Tibet in 1950, China rejected the convention and the McMahon line. In 1954, India signed an agreement with China, agreeing to recognize Tibet as “Tibet region of China”. In 1959, following the Tibetan uprising, the Dalai Lama and many of his followers fled to India. Former Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru gave him and Tibetan refugees shelter, and helped in setting up the Tibetan government in exile.  This led to suspicion among Chinese that India is trying to meddle in its internal affairs by giving refuge to Dalai Lama. This still remain an area of distrust between India and China. The official Indian policy is that the Dalai Lama is a spiritual leader of Tibet, and the Tibetan community in India, with more than a lakh exiles, is not allowed to undertake any political activity. Connecting the dots: India-China relations, a year after Galwan  India-China Border flare-up Galwan Valley Clashes in 2020 (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 Which of the following is not a UNESCO’s world heritage site of India? SunTemple Ramappa temple Taj Mahal Red Fort Q.2 Consider the following statements about TRIFED: It functions under Ministry of Tribal Affairs. TRIFED has its Head Office at New Delhi.  Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 only Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3 Where is Drepung monastery located? Ladakh Sikkim Tibet Bhutan ANSWERS FOR 24th July 2021 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 A 2 A 3 C Must Read On India’s Food Security: The Hindu On Fake News: The Hindu On China & World order: Reddit

AIR

Leaders Summit on Climate - All India Radio (AIR) IAS UPSC

ARCHIVES Search 22nd April, 2021 Spotlight here: http://www.newsonair.com/Main_Audio_Bulletins_Search.aspx TOPIC: General Studies 3 Climate Change In News: The Summit is a part of a series of global meetings focusing on climate issues, being held in the run up to COP26 in November 2021. Launch of the India-US Clean Energy Agenda 2030 Partnership The Partnership will proceed along two main tracks: the Strategic Clean Energy Partnership and the Climate Action and Finance Mobilization Dialogue, which will build on and subsume a range of existing processes.  Through this collaboration, India and the United States aim 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. The US Pledged to cut emissions by 50 to 52 per cent of its 2005 levels by 2030. This is double the 2015 goal set by former President Barack Obama. The US rejoined the Paris Agreement three months ago, after former President Donald Trump’s decision to leave the multilateral forum made it the only country in the world to do so. Biden’s announcements re-assert the US’s commitment in the run-up to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in November in Glasgow. US will double its public climate financing development to developing countries and triple public financing for climate application in developing countries by 2024. China We must be committed to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities… Developing countries now face multiple challenges to combat Covit-19, grow the economy, and address climate change. We need to give full recognition to developing countries’ contribution to climate action and accommodate their particular difficulties and concerns. Developed countries need to increase climate ambition and action. At the same time, they need to make concrete efforts to help developing countries strengthen the capacity and resilience against climate change, support them in financing, technology, and capacity building, and refrain from creating green trade barriers, so as to help developing countries accelerate the transition to green and low-carbon development. Promoted China’s “green Belt and Road Initiative” and announced efforts to “strictly control coal-fired power generation projects” and phase down coal consumption.  China, the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, has pledged that its emissions will peak by around 2030. From that point, the country will then aim to get down to net zero emissions by 2060. China has also laid out some concrete targets, such as getting one-quarter of its electricity from low-carbon sources like wind, solar or nuclear power; planting vast new forests; and curbing the use of hydro-fluorocarbons, a powerful greenhouse gas used as a refrigerant. Britain Britain was first country to pass legislation for net zero, have the biggest offshore wind capacity of any country in the world. The country is halfway to net zero. The UK had announced a target of 78 per cent emission reductions by 2035 (compared to 1990 levels). Germany The country wants to reduce emissions by 55 per cent by 2030 as compared to 1990 levels. PM Modi – “Together we will help mobilise investments, demonstrate clean technologies, and enable green collaborations… India’s per capita carbon footprint is 60 per cent lower than the global average. It is because our lifestyle is still rooted in sustainable traditional practices. Today, I want to emphasize the importance of lifestyle change in climate action. Sustainable lifestyles and guiding philosophies and back to basics must be an important feature of our economy in the post-Covid era,” Modi said. “We in India are doing our part. Our ambitious renewable energy target of 450 gigahertz by 2030 shows our commitment. Despite our development challenges, we have taken many bold steps on clean energy, energy efficiency, deforestation, and biodiversity. That is why we are among the few countries whose NDCs are 2 degrees Celsius compatible.” Emphasized India’s encouragement of global initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster Resilience Infrastructure. Note:  Nationally Defined Contributions (NDCs) are each country’s goals towards achieving the Paris Agreement target of limiting rising temperatures to less than 2 degrees Celsius. Currently, the United States uses far more fossil fuels per person than almost any other country in the world, although China is quickly narrowing the gap.

RSTV Video

India-US clean energy partnership – The Big Picture – RSTV IAS UPSC

Archives Topic: General Studies 2: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests. In News: Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India and the US are launching a clean energy Agenda 2030 partnership to mobilise investments and enable green collaborations. Addressing the virtual summit on climate, hosted by US President Joe Biden and attended by 40 global leaders, PM Modi pitched for concrete action at a high speed and on a large scale globally to combat climate change. He asserted that India has taken several bold steps on clean energy, energy efficiency and bio-diversity despite its development challenges, adding that the country’s carbon footprint is 60% lower than the global average. The Prime Minister said as a climate-responsible developing country, India welcomes partners to create templates of sustainable development in India, and these can help other developing countries as well who need affordable access to green finance and clean technologies. Launch of the India-US Clean Energy Agenda 2030 Partnership – A Green Partnership The Partnership will proceed along two main tracks: the Strategic Clean Energy Partnership and the Climate Action and Finance Mobilization Dialogue, which will build on and subsume a range of existing processes.  The partnership will aim to mobilise finance and speed clean energy deployment; demonstrate and scale innovative clean technologies needed to decarbonise sectors including industry, transportation, power and buildings; and build capacity to measure, manage and adapt to the risks of climate-related impacts Through this collaboration, India and the United States aim 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. Led by Prime Minister Modi and President Biden, the partnership will represent one of the core venues for India-US collaboration and focus on driving urgent progress in this critical decade for climate action. Both countries have also agreed to prioritise greater collaboration in the clean energy sector, such as biofuels, carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS), hydrogen production and carbon sequestration, through technology exchange, joint research and development (R&D) through Partnership to Advance Clean Energy Research (PACE-R) as part of the strategic partnership. The Way Forward Both the US and India have taken important strides together to advance their strategic partnership in the domain of climate action and policy. However, existing efforts continue to rely mainly on an incremental approach to tackling climate change. Such measures are welcome but insufficient. As the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, we are reminded of the human and economic costs associated with weak international cooperation, delayed action, and the lack of investments in important infrastructure and capabilities. Climate-induced disasters may make the current pandemic look meek, and the world could ignore this risk at its own peril. Thus, it is vital for India and the US to double down on efforts to drive structural change, hurdle institutional barriers, and overcome the inertia inhibiting green growth and development.  Must Read: Under Biden, the future of US-India ties Connecting the Dots: India-US Clean Energy Agenda 2030 Partnership Sustainable lifestyles and a guiding philosophy of ‘back to basics’ must be an important pillar of our economic strategy for the post-Covid era. Discuss.

[Day 57]: 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-57 of RaRe Series - Click here To Register - Click here For complete details of the RaRe Series -  Click here