Posts

[CURRENT AFFAIRS] IAS UPSC REVAMPED Current Affairs Magazine DECEMBER 2021

ARCHIVES Hello Friends, This is DECEMBER 2021 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 DECEMBER 2021. 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  

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

Daily Prelims CA Quiz

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

मासिक पत्रिका नवंबर 2021- हिन्दी IASbaba सामयिकी

ARCHIVES Hello Friends, 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 Hindi edition covers all important current affairs issues that were in news for the month of नवंबर/NOVEMBER 2021. 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 January 2022

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Hypersonic missile Part of: Prelims and GS-II -International Relations and GS-III Defence and security Context North Korea has successfully tested a hypersonic missile, in the first major weapons test by the nuclear-armed nation this year. This was the second reported test of hypersonic gliding missiles, as it pursues the sophisticated technology despite international sanctions and condemnation What are hypersonic weapons? They are manoeuvrable weapons that can fly at speeds in excess of Mach 5, five times the speed of sound.  The speed of sound is Mach 1, and speeds upto Mach 5 are supersonic and speeds above Mach 5 are hypersonic.  Ballistic missiles, though much faster, follow a fixed trajectory and travel outside the atmosphere to re-enter only near impact.  On the contrary, hypersonic weapons travel within the atmosphere and can manoeuvre midway which combined with their high speeds makes their detection and interception extremely difficult. This makes them very powerful. This means that radars and air defences cannot detect them till they are very close and have little time to react. There are two classes of hypersonic weapons: hypersonic glide vehicles (HGV) and hypersonic cruise missiles (HCM). HGVs are launched from a rocket before gliding to a target while HCMs are powered by high-speed, air-breathing engines, or scramjets, after acquiring their target. Place in news: Horn of Africa Part of: Prelims and GS-II International Relations Context China would appoint a special envoy to the Horn of Africa, signalling China’s intention to play a greater role in the conflict-torn region. The Horn of Africa or HOA It is a peninsula situated in the northeast of the African continent. The HOA extends out into the Arabian Sea for hundreds of kilometres and is located along the south of the Gulf of Aden. This region is the easternmost projection of Africa. In ancient and medieval periods, the area was called Bilad al Barbar meaning land of the Berbers.  The countries included in the HOA are Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti. Trincomalee oil tank farm Part of: Prelims and GS-II - International Relations Context  Marking a major milestone in a strategic project in Sri Lanka, Indian Oil Corporation subsidiary Lanka IOC, Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and the Government of Sri Lanka have signed three lease agreements on jointly developing the Trincomalee oil tank farm in eastern Sri Lanka. Key takeaways  The move firms up India’s role in the project discussed since the time of the Indo-Lanka Accord of 1987. Trincomalee is home to 3.7 lakh Muslim, Tamil and Sinhala people  In Sri Lanka's post-war years, it has emerged a favoured destination for surfers from around the world, gradually transforming with plush resorts and restaurants dotting its coast. At the same time, with its fine natural harbour and crucial location, Trincomalee remains in spotlight as a potential transit point for international trade routes, particularly drawing India which has known strategic interests there. Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Part of: Prelims and GS II - International Relations Context A Moscow-led military alliance dispatched troops to help calm mounting unrest in Kazakhstan as the police said dozens were killed trying to storm government buildings. Background  Energy-rich Kazakhstan is facing its biggest crisis in decades after days of protests over rising fuel prices escalated into widespread unrest. Kazakhstan has been regarded as one the most stable of the ex-Soviet republics of Central Asia. Under increasing pressure, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev appealed to the Russia-dominated Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) to combat “terrorist groups”. Do you know? The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) is an intergovernmental military alliance in Eurasia that consists of select post-Soviet states. Membership: Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan. Headquarters: Moscow, Russia. (News from PIB) Anamalai Tiger Reserve:  Tamil Nadu; lies South of the Palakkad gap in the Southern Western Ghats Anamalais, a bio-diversity hotspot in Western Ghats is a home for six different indigenous people viz. Malasar, Malai malasars, Kadars, Eravallars, Pulayars and Muduvars, and is fit to be designated as an anthropological reserve. Malai Malasars are a primitive tribal group endemic to Anamalais alone. India’s first Open Rock Museum: Hyderabad Displays around 35 different types of rocks from different parts of India with ages ranging from 3.3 Billion years to around 55 Million years of the Earth’s history Represent the deepest part of the earth up to 175 kms of distance from the surface of the earth. “Big Earth data” occupies the strategic high ground in the era of knowledge economies and India is fully exploiting this new frontier contributing to the advancement of Earth science. News Source: PIB Cabinet Approves MOU between India and Various Countries A. MoU between India and Turkmenistan on Cooperation in the field of Disaster Management: Seeks to put in place a system, whereby both India and Turkmenistan will be benefited from the Disaster Management mechanisms of each other and it will help in strengthening the areas of preparedness, response and capacity building in the field of Disaster Management. Monitoring and forecasting emergencies and assessment of their consequences; Exchange of experts and experiences in disaster management; Providing assistance, as mutually agreed, in emergency response. B. Agreement between India and Spain on Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in Customs Matters:  Will help in making available, reliable, quick and cost-effective information and intelligence for the prevention and investigation of Customs offences and apprehending of Customs offenders. Provide a legal framework for sharing of information between the Customs authorities of the two countries and help in the proper administering of Customs laws and detection and investigation of Customs offences and the facilitation of legitimate trade. C. MoU between India and Nepal for construction of bridge over Mahakali River at Dharchula (India) – Dharchula (Nepal) Intra-State Transmission System – Green Energy Corridor Phase-II  Part of: Prelims and Mains GS-III: Infrastructure, Energy In News: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the scheme on Green Energy Corridor (GEC) Phase-II for Intra-State Transmission System (InSTS) for addition of approximately 10,750 circuit kilometres (ckm) of transmission lines and approx. 27,500 Mega Volt-Amperes (MVA) transformation capacity of substations.  Will facilitate grid integration and power evacuation of approximately 20 GW of Renewable Energy (RE) power projects in seven States namely, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. Will help in achieving the target of 450 GW installed RE capacity by 2030. Contribute to long term energy security of the country and promote ecologically sustainable growth by reducing carbon footprint.  Generate large direct & indirect employment opportunities for both skilled and unskilled personnel in power and other related sectors. News Source: PIB (Mains Focus) INTERNATIONAL/ SECURITY GS-2: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests GS-2: India and its neighbourhood The status of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty  Context: On January 3, five global nuclear powers, China, Russia, U.S., U.K., and France, pledged to prevent atomic weapons from spreading and avoid nuclear conflict.  The joint statement was issued after the latest review of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which first came into force in 1970, was postponed from its scheduled date of January 4 to later in the year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  What has been the goal of the NPT? The primary goals of NPT has been Cessation of the nuclear arms race  Working towards not just more peaceful uses of nuclear energy  Complete nuclear disarmament. The NPT is joined by the Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT), the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT I and SALT II), the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaties (I and II), the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) among others. There’s clearly no dearth of treaties and agreements, and yet the situation hasn’t improved considerably. While the objectives of NPT may seem easy on paper, it has been anything but. While the ‘what’ and ‘why’ are fairly straightforward aspects of the treaty, the ‘how’ is where the real challenge lies.  Nuclear competition among major powers could encourage states without nuclear weapons to acquire their own. An ideal way to solve this would be for all nuclear states to abandon their nuclear stockpile. This certainly hasn’t been the case.  A more practical solution, which for the longest time did work, but now seems to be waning, is to go for nuclear deterrence among large powers and provide a nuclear umbrella to non-nuclear states.  What is the new danger to NPT? The hegemonic rise of China and its debt trapping tactics in order to gain access to the other country’s key infrastructure projects has led other countries within China’s immediate sphere of geographical influence to decide if they need to acquire or develop strategic capabilities to safeguard their security. Australia, through AUKUS, seems to be on a path to acquire nuclear capabilities for its naval fleet, in a bid to counter China. While this may seem like an effective counter to China’s aggressiveness in the Indo-Pacific, the ramifications could be severe as it sets a terrible precedent. What do the numbers tell us?  The optics within P5, while looking promising on paper, paint a different picture in reality.  China’s current stockpile stands at around 350 France’s at around 290 Russia’s at around 6,257 U.K.’s at around 225 U.S.’s at around 5,600.  While the difference between U.S.’s and Russia’s may look considerable, the operational stockpile of Russia is about 1,600 and for the U.S. it is about 1,650.  Outside the P5,  Pakistan possesses about 165 India possesses about 160,  Israel and North Korea either possess or have enough fissile material to build approximately 90 and approximately 45 weapons respectively.  The world’s stockpile peaked during the 1980s and started to reduce considerably up until 2005.  Since then, most of the reduction has come from the dismemberment of the retired stockpile.  Development in technologies also means that the world keeps seeing new ways to deploy these nuclear weapons which is another worrying trend. What lies ahead?  With Australia already on the road to acquire nuclear capabilities, it stands to reason that other nations would work towards developing or acquiring nuclear weapons. This could, in principle, also re-ignite another arms race.  The chequered history of nuclear weapons gives the impression that the NPT has not been entirely successful—but it hasn’t been an abject failure either.  The impetus is on the major powers to stay on the path which the NPT has paved (even if a winding one) and signal commitment through its actions towards putting an end to the arms race and hopefully complete disarmament. Connecting the dots: Indo-US nuclear deal AUKUS and India Nuclear Supplier Group & India INTERNATIONAL/ ECONOMY GS-2: India and its neighbourhood GS-3: Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources Sri Lanka’s looming economic crisis Context: Sri Lanka’s external reserves dropped to $1.6 billion in November 2021, triggering alarm in different quarters. Foreign reserves draining so rapidly could only mean that a sovereign default is imminent.  American credit rating agency Fitch downgraded the island nation to a ‘CC’ rating, which is the lowest rating prior to default.  Despite its mounting foreign debt over the years, Sri Lanka has never defaulted until now.  The current economic meltdown – marked by a persisting dollar crisis, soaring living costs, and a possible food shortage this year – is threatening to dent that record.  What is the Sri Lankan Government’s response?  Last week, the Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka said the country’s foreign reserves stood at $3.1 billion at year-end, apparently including the $1.5 billion currency swap cleared by China earlier this year.  On January 5, 2022, Governor said the Central Bank has earmarked $500 million to repay an international sovereign bond maturing on January 18.  The Rajapaksa administration has expressed confidence about being able to meet its debt obligations this year, despite its Balance of Payments problem.  Meanwhile, Finance Minister on January 4 announced a $1.2 billion package for “economic relief” that includes a special allowance for government employees.  The Government almost entirely blames the pandemic for the current crisis.  It is true that all major revenue earning sectors of Sri Lanka – exports [mainly garments, tea and spices], tourism and inward worker remittances – were severely impacted by the pandemic, but some commentators argue that the pandemic only exacerbated an older crisis, didn’t create one.  What are the immediate challenges?  Contrary to popular narratives, Sri Lanka’s external debt is dominated not by Chinese loans, but by market borrowings, by way of international sovereign bonds, which amount to nearly half of the country’s total foreign debt.  Following the $500 million that the Government is preparing to repay later this month, another $1 billion is due for repayment in June.  Meeting the repayment deadlines this year would mean that Sri Lanka might be left with no dollars to import essentials —be it food, fuel, or medical supplies.  That too when the country may have to import more food this year, if agricultural production drops by half, as paddy farmers and tea growers widely predict, following the Government’s overnight switch to organic farming in May 2021.  Already, there are frequent instances of consumers not finding milk powder – which is largely imported - and other essentials in the stores.  A shortage of LPG cylinders persists, following a spate of explosions reportedly owing to a change in the chemical composition of the gas.  What are the options before Sri Lanka?  The main political opposition, think tanks and most mainstream economists are advocating that Sri Lanka negotiate a programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), restructure its external debt, and mobilise bridging finance for the interim.  But the Government maintains it can tide the crisis without resorting to an IMF loan and is counting on other options.  IMF agreements usually come with specific conditions for the borrower, including greater transparency on how the money is spent. Transparency has never been a strong point of a Rajapaksa regime, as per critics.  Those opposing the IMF route, argue that such a deal invariably entails austerity measures that will target social services and welfare programmes, further aggravating poverty that is growing since the pandemic.  Can India help?  Sri Lanka has repeatedly sought financial assistance from India since the pandemic struck – by way of a debt freeze, a currency swap and more recently, emergency Lines of Credit for importing essentials.  Government has reiterated that India “has always stood by” the Sri Lankan people, and Sri Lanka is an important part of India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy.  Connecting the dots: India’s 1991 Balance of Payment Crisis Currency Swap Agreements (Down to Earth: Agriculture) Jan 3: Food security policy formulation: What can India learn from other countries? - https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/agriculture/food-security-policy-formulation-what-can-india-learn-from-other-countries--80936  TOPIC: GS-2- Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors GS-3- Agriculture Food security policy formulation: What can India learn from other countries? Context: The Indian food grain scenario has drastically changed in the last five-six decades: India was a food-deficit country in the 1960sand had to import food grain to feed its people. The situation was ship-to-mouth: The food grain unloaded from the ship at the port had to be sent to consumers in the shortest time possible.  The situation is, however, no longer the same; there has been a substantial increase in food grain production. Both state and Union governments have enhanced access to food for vulnerable sections of the population with reasonable success.  But this is not it – we need to learn from international experiences to avoid falling into the same trap again. In this case, we should also learn what not to do. Learnings from Pakistan To overcome the food crisis in Pakistan, a suggestion was made to people to reduce their consumption of wheat and sugar.  Such advice is not feasible when it is made to people suffering from malnutrition and hunger.  At best, it can be considered as a short-term measure and not a long-run solution. Learnings from Sri Lanka Chemical fertilisers have played a key role in boosting agricultural production. However, this dependence has serious long-term implications which needs to be reduced in a phased manner. The Government, without taking the required measures, recently decided to shift to organic farming. It decided to replace chemical fertiliser, being used by 90 per cent of farmers in the country, with organic manure. The ban on the import of chemical fertilisers led to a sharp decline in food grain production and severe inflation in their prices. As a result, the price of rice touched Rs 115 / kg and that of wheat Rs 100 / kg. At the same time, the price of liquefied petroleum gas cylinder crossed Rs 2,500 per unit mark. The countries whose economies depend excessively on tourism need to be careful in using their foreign reserves. There has been a sharp decline in the number of foreign tourists visiting Sri Lanka and consequent decline in foreign reserves during the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The scarce foreign reserves were used to clear the government’s debts. The ban on the import of food items and agricultural inputs has affected the agricultural sector. In short, hasty and irrational decisions have led to food shortages and inflation in the country. Learnings from Venezuela and Zimbabwe Irrational policies may lead to economic disasters even in resource-rich countries.  The economy of Venezuela, an oil-rich country, was severely affected due to its irrational policy of distributing highly subsidised food grains and providing unemployment relief, as a result of which people preferred to remain idle. The foreign entrepreneurs left the country due to the non-availability of workers and remunerative prices.  The decline in food imports due to the depletion of foreign reserves led to food inflation.  To appease the people, the government started printing currency notes recklessly, which led to hyperinflation. Zimbabwe experienced similar hyper-inflation due to the reckless printing of currency notes. Learnings from Uruguay Providing food security to people implies not merely providing major cereals but a balanced food basket as well. Some countries have diversified their agriculture to this end. Uruguay, for instance, focuses on enhancing dairy products along with traditional crops. The population of the country is only 3.3 million, but it has 12 million cows. There are about four cows for every person. To monitor their movement, every cow has an electronic chip in its ear. Dairy products like milk, curd, butter and ghee are exported in large quantities. In older days, India’s wealth was measured in terms of herds of cattle owned by a household. Cattle are important in a tropical country with a pastoral culture. It may be disastrous for a household having only land if rains fail in a monsoon-dependent country. But, for a household having some cattle along with land can easily survive. Learnings from Morocco Some analysts have cautioned against excessive dependence on chemical fertilisers. Phosphorous is an important input in the production of chemical fertilisers. About 70-80 per cent of known world resources of phosphorous are available only in Morocco.  The country may control the production of fertiliser by manipulating the price of phosphorous. The Way Forward – Soil Conservation The method of cultivation must be environment-friendly and sustainable in the long run. There must be three-six per cent organic content in the soil. Unfortunately, in a state like Punjab that has a high food grain production, the organic content is below 0.5 per cent. Low organic content in soil reduces it to sand. At least a quarter of cultivated land in India is likely to become desert in 10-15 years if this process continues.   The organic content in the soil can be enhanced by adding leaves from tree or animal waste. It may become difficult to increase the organic content in the soil if trees are cut and animals slaughtered. Therefore, there must be a mandate to maintain a certain proportion of area under trees. To have environmentally friendly and sustainable agriculture, excessive dependence on chemical fertilisers has to be reduced in a phased manner. To prevent desertification, the organic content in the soil has to be maintained according to the scientific norms by having an adequate number of trees and an adequate number of cattle herds. Can you answer the following questions? India and its economic disasters - Food shortage, inflation, irrational polices Food security policy formulation in India (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Q.1 Consider the following statements regarding hypersonic weapons: They are manoeuvrable weapons that can fly at speeds in excess of Mach 5.  Hypersonic weapons travel outside the atmosphere and can manoeuvre midway which makes their detection and interception extremely difficult. 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 not a member of Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO): Austria  Belarus Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Q.3 Horn of Africa does not consist of which of the following country? Ethiopia Eritrea  Djibouti Sudan  ANSWERS FOR 7th Jan 2022 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 A 2 A 3 D Must Read On the politics of a Minimum Support Price:   The Hindu On increasing the age of marriage of women to 21: The Hindu On breach of PM’s security in Punjab: Indian Express

UPSC Question Papers

[UPSC Mains 2021] ESSAY PAPER- UPSC CIVIL SERVICES MAINS EXAM (CSE) 2021

[UPSC Mains 2021] ESSAY PAPER- UPSC CIVIL SERVICES MAINS EXAM (CSE) 2021 SECTION A 1) The process of self-discovery has now been technologically outsourced. 2)  Your perception of me is a reflection of you; my reaction to you is an awareness of me. 3) Philosophy of wantlessness is Utopian, while materialism is a chimera. 4)  The real is rational and the rational is real SECTION B 1) Hand that rocks the cradle rules the world 2)  What is research, but a blind date with knowledge! 3) History repeats itself, first as a tragedy, second as a farce. 4)  There are better practices to 'best practices'.

UPSC हिन्दी Quiz– 2021: IASbaba Daily Current Affairs Quiz 7th January 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

Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz – 2021 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 7th January 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

[UPSC PRELIMS 2022] - WEBINAR on 9th January (SUNDAY) @ 4 PM

So, you cried when Sandeep Bhaiya from TVF Aspirants failed? Completely drenched in rain when he stared into nothingness, you felt a pinch. What if this becomes the story of your life? If you are a serious aspirant and you are on a mission to crack the toughest examination of India, this thought must have crossed your mind at least once. And naturally so! You are putting your life on hold and taking a leap of faith to put in years and years of effort, just to see your name in the final list while the world moves on at its own pace. But can this phase be intense yet enjoyable? We see you raising your eyebrow?! You are not sure. You have never seen one experience something like this. You would so love it but you are scared if this will even work. Okay, let us future pace ourselves a bit… You are sitting in the examination hall attempting Prelims for the 2nd or 3rd time. You look around. Some are busy figuring out the answer, pulling the reins of all the memory horses that they can manage. Some are staring away from the paper. Some are vigorously reading and ticking. Reading and ticking. Going back. Erasing. Ticking again. How many do you think will qualify for Mains? Same old habit. Same old seriousness. Same notes of famous classes.  Same NCERT. Same standard books. Same memorization techniques. Of yours and everyone else sitting in the hall. How many will clear it? Less than 1000 out of lakhs of aspirants, sitting across the country. Relax! Now let us come back to the present now where you still have time to make a decision and to still be in the possible realm of landing amongst those 1000 aspirants. To be in the top 1000, first, you need to be in the top 10000 by clearing Prelims. A decision that can change the course of your preparation. A decision that will back your strong resolution, insane efforts, and positive outlook towards the examination itself. A decision that will set you on the path of clear-cut success in cracking UPSC Prelims 2022. All you have to do is SHOW UP FOR THE WEBINAR and we will show you how it’s POSSIBLE! See you at 4:00 PM on 9th January (SUNDAY) to show you a different and enjoyable way to be successful in PRELIMS! But…are you ready? Webinar: How to Crack UPSC Prelims 2022 Without Fear of Failure? Webinar Date & Time: 9th January (Sunday) at 4:00 PM ONLY 100 SEATS ARE AVAILABLE HURRY NOW!!! DON’T LET THE TIME ON YOUR SIDE SLIP AWAY BECAUSE YOU DID NOT TAKE A TIMELY DECISION. YES! I AM READY TO CRACK UPSC PRELIMS 2022WITH IASBABA (REGISTER HERE) - CLICK HERE

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 6th January 2022

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Chilika Lake Part of: Prelims and GS-III -Conservation Context Chilika Lake saw a million birds, including the uncommon Mongolian gull, visiting the waterbody this year. Last year, the count in the Chilika was over 12 lakh. The decrease is attributed to high water level and presence of water in cultivated fields in adjoining areas. Water birds love to flock to large mudflats. Chilika Lake Chilika is Asia's largest and world's second largest lagoon. It is the largest wintering ground for migratory birds on the Indian sub-continent and is home to a number of threatened species of plants and animals. In 1981, Chilika Lake was designated the first Indian wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. Major attraction at Chilika is Irrawaddy dolphins which are often spotted off Satpada Island. The large Nalabana Island (Forest of Reeds) in the lagoon area was declared a bird sanctuary in 1987. Kalijai Temple - Located on an island in the Chilika Lake. Chilika Lake hosts birds migrating from thousands of miles away from the Caspian Sea, Lake Baikal, Aral Sea, remote parts of Russia, Mongolia, Central and Southeast Asia, Ladakh and the Himalayas. Protection of Women from Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act Part of: Prelims and GS-II Policies and interventions Context A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court challenging guidelines issued by the Bombay High Court in cases under the Protection of Women from Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act, which include a blanket bar on parties and advocates from sharing records, including orders and judgments, with the media. The Protection of Women Against Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act, 2013 The Act defines sexual harassment at the workplace and creates a mechanism for redressal of complaints. It also provides safeguards against false or malicious charges. Every employer is required to constitute an Internal Complaints Committee at each office or branch with 10 or more employees. The Complaints Committees have the powers of civil courts for gathering evidence. The Complaints Committees are required to provide for conciliation before initiating an inquiry if requested by the complainant. Penalties have been prescribed for employers. Non-compliance with the provisions of the Act shall be punishable with a fine. Repeated violations may lead to higher penalties and cancellation of license or registration to conduct business. The State Government will notify the District Officer in every district, who will constitute a Local Complaints Committee (LCC) so as to enable women in the unorganised sector or small establishments to work in an environment free of sexual harassment. Free trade agreement (FTA) Part of: Prelims and GS-II - International Relations Context  Recently, the Union minister for Commerce & Industry has said that India is looking to have a free trade agreement (FTA) with 5 countries – UAE, UK, Australia, Canada and Israel. What is a free trade agreement (FTA)? FTA, also called Regional Trade Agreement (RTA) is a pact between two or more nations to reduce barriers to imports and exports among them. Under a free trade policy, goods and services can be bought and sold across international borders with little or no government tariffs, quotas, subsidies, or prohibitions to inhibit their exchange. The concept of free trade is the opposite of trade protectionism or economic isolationism. FTA is implemented by means of a formal and mutual agreement of the nations involved. However, a free-trade policy may simply be the absence of any trade restrictions. There are two types of trade agreements – bilateral and multilateral. FTA is an example of a Bilateral trade agreement. Multilateral trade agreements are agreements among three or more countries, and are the most difficult to negotiate and agree. FTAs determine the tariffs and duties that countries impose on imports and exports with the goal of reducing or eliminating trade barriers, thus encouraging international trade. Nai Talim Part of: Prelims and GS I - History Context Recently, the Vice President of India said that the New Education Policy follows the ‘Nai Talim’ of Mahatma Gandhi by giving importance to the mother tongue as the medium of instruction at the school level. About Nai Talim- Nai-Talim, also known as Buniyadi Shikshan, means basic education. It is also called Experiential Learning. It had laid emphasis on making mother tongue as the medium of instruction in addition to free compulsory education and skill training to the students. It is essentially a mass education approach due to its centrality of socially useful work and was expected to create a National System of Education. Mahatma Gandhi gave his scheme of Nai Talim (New Education) in a well-formulated approach to education in 1937 in his newspaper ‘Harijan’. (News from PIB) Smart cities and Academia Towards Action & Research (SAAR) Part of: Prelims In News: The Smart Cities Mission, MoHUA has launched “Smart cities and Academia Towards Action & Research (SAAR)” program A joint initiative of MoHUA, National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) and leading Indian academic institutions of the country. Under the program, 15 premier architecture & planning institutes of the country will be working with Smart Cities to document landmark projects undertaken by the Smart Cities Mission. The documents will capture the learnings from best practices, provide opportunities for engagement on urban development projects to students, and enable real-time information flow between urban practitioners and academia. News Source: PIB Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All (UJALA)  Part of: Prelims and Mains GS-III: Energy In News: UJALA completes 7 years of energy-efficient and affordable LED distribution. In a short span, the programme has evolved to be world’s largest zero subsidy domestic lighting programme that addresses concerns like high electrification cost and high emissions that result from inefficient lighting. 78 crore LEDs distributed across the country under UJALA Saved 47,778 Million kWh energy per annum 3,86 crore tonnes of reduction in CO2 emissions made possible Gave impetus to the domestic lighting industry Provided economies of scale to manufacturers through regular bulk procurement Readily adopted by all the states, UJALA helped in reducing annual household electricity bills Garnered attention from top management schools of India; now a part of Leadership case study in Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad. Furthermore, it is also under consideration for being included in the curriculum of Harvard Business School News Source: PIB Code of Practice for securing consumer Internet of Things (IoT) Part of: Prelims In News: In order to secure Consumer Internet of Things (IoT) devices, Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC), under Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications, has released a report “Code of Practice for Securing Consumer Internet of Things (IoT)” as a baseline requirement aligned with global standards and best practices. Help in securing consumer IoT devices & ecosystem as well as managing vulnerabilities. Intended for use by IoT device manufacturers, Service providers/ system integrators and application developers etc. Internet of Things (IoT) is one of the fastest emerging technology across the globe, providing enormous beneficial opportunities for society, industry, and consumers. It is being used to create smart infrastructure in various verticals such as Power, Automotive, Safety & Surveillance, Remote Health Management, Agriculture, Smart Homes and Smart Cities etc, using connected devices. IoT is benefitted by recent advances in several technologies such as sensors, communication technologies (Cellular and non-cellular), AI/ ML, Cloud / Edge computing etc. It is expected that around 60% of 5 billion i.e. 3 billion connected devices may exist in India by 2022. In view of the anticipated growth of IoT devices, it is important to ensure that the IoT end points comply to the safety and security standards and guidelines in order to protect the users and the networks that connect these IoT devices. The hacking of the devices/networks being used in daily life would harm companies, organisations, nations and more importantly people, therefore securing the IoT eco-system end-to-end i.e. from devices to the applications is very important. News Source: PIB (Mains Focus) INTERNATIONAL/ SECURITY GS-2: India and its neighbourhood China’s bridge over Pangong Tso Context: China is building a bridge across the Pangong Tso within its territory connecting the North and South Banks which will significantly reduce the time for moving troops and equipment between the two sides. This is part of the overall infrastructure build up by China on its side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) to address deficiencies it noticed since the standoff began in May 2020. What is the status on the ground in Eastern Ladakh? The two countries are working out details for the 14th round of Corps Commander talks to take forward the disengagement that has stalled after two phases of disengagement. The 13th round of Corps Commander talks remained inconclusive with the two sides releasing sharp statements on the outcome. At the same time, the two Armies had prepared to keep over 1 lakh soldiers on both sides deployed through the extreme winter in the high altitude region. Since May 2020, the two sides have been holding regular military to military talks on the ground and also diplomatic level talks in addition to the 13 rounds of Corps Commander level talks to resolve the standoff. The two sides have so far undertaken two phases of disengagement, from both banks of Pangong Tso last February and from Gogra in August in addition to Galwan after the violent clash. Other friction areas yet to be resolved are Hot Springs, Demchok and Depsang. The two sides had also agreed on a moratorium on patrolling in the disengaged areas and set up buffer zones until a resumption is discussed by both sides through diplomatic and military talks. India has insisted on comprehensive de-escalation of the situation in Eastern Ladakh which includes disengagement from all friction points, de-escalation and working out of new protocols. What is the importance of the bridge over Pangong Tso? The bridge over Pangong Tso is located around 25 kms ahead of the LAC in Chinese territory and will significantly reduce the time for movement of Chinese on the North Bank and the South Bank, a distance of around 200 kms. The initial tensions as the standoff began in May 2020 were on the North Bank of Pangong Tso with PLA troops moving upto Finger 4 and building permanent structures. However, tensions had flared up on the South Bank in August 2020. The Indian Army gained tactical advantage over the PLA on the south bank in end August by occupying several peaks lying vacant since 1962 gaining a dominating view of the Spanggur gap and Moldo area. During this, the two sides had also deployed tanks at heights of over 15,000 feet and shots were fired in the air on the LAC for the first time in decades. This has prompted China to build deep alternate roads behind the friction points away from the line of sight, officials said. There has been massive construction of accommodation for housing of troops closer to the LAC and also road infrastructure for movement of troops and mechanised forces, officials say. Earlier, PLA had to take a round about between the two sides of the Pangong lake which takes around 12 hours but the new bridge, around 500m long, would cut down the time to 3-4 hours. India holds one third of the 135 km long boomerang shaped lake located at an altitude of over 14,000 feet. How is India responding to developments on the ground? The bridge is well within Chinese territory, officials say while stating the implications of this new bridge will have to be factored in the Indian Army’s operational planning for the future. On its part, over the last few years India has been focusing on infrastructure development in forward areas and improving connectivity to the forward areas. Large scale construction of roads, bridges and tunnels is underway all along the LAC. Ahead of the winter, the Army had completed advanced winter stocking for the troops in forward areas, including rations, specialised fuel and ammunition among others as well as repair and upgrade of habitat and infrastructure. While the process of disengagement and de-escalation stretches on, the two armies are geared to remain in the high altitude areas. ECONOMY/ GOVERNANCE GS-3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.  GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation Digital Banks Context: NITI Aayog, in a recent discussion paper titled Digital Banks: A Proposal for Licensing & Regulatory Regime for India, floated the idea of setting up full-stack digital banks.  What are digital banks? Digital banks or DBs are defined in the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. These entities will issue deposits, make loans and offer the full suite of services that the Banking Regulation Act empowers them to. They will principally rely not on physical branches but on the internet and other proximate channels to offer their services. Digital Banks helps in following ways Helps overcome financial inclusion challenges in the country Helps reduce cost of transactions Useful for utilisation of the JAM trinity Helps reduce banking-inequality Helps make India as the global leader in Fintech  What is the status of banking sector in India? Over the past few decades, banking-licence categories have grown in number. Today, the banking sector includes Public sector banks Private sector banks (21) Small finance banks (12) Payments banks (6) Regional rural banks (43) Foreign banks (44) Local area banks (3) Financial institutions (4) Urban cooperative banks (1,531) Multi-state cooperative societies & banks (1,130)  What is the suggestion of Niti Aayog? The paper also suggests a two-stage approach: Granting of a digital business bank license Granting of a digital (universal) bank licence after gaining experience as the former Even with the Digital Business Bank license, it recommends a carefully calibrated approach comprising of issue of a restricted digital business bank license (in terms of volume/ value of customers serviced and the like). It recommends the enlistment of the licensee in a regulatory sandbox framework enacted by the RBI. It also suggests the issuance of a "full-stack" Digital Business Bank license based upon the satisfactory performance of the licensee in the regulatory sandbox. It further suggested that minimum paid-up capital for a restricted digital business bank operating in a regulatory sandbox may be proportionate to its status as restricted. As per the illustration, upon progression from the sandbox into the final stage, a full-stack digital business bank will be required to bring in Rs. 200 crore (equivalent to that required of the Small Finance bank).  What are the challenges? RBI’s experience with private sector banks licensing over the past isn’t all rosy given that RBI had to step in to contain damage in the case of private sector banks like Yes Bank and LVB. While RBI has a “bank under repair” sign-board in its PCA framework, it has not said anything about the efficacy of the various other banking categories such as payments banks or SFBs. Some of the banking categories as well as the older licence categories seem to have no visibility of viability and have not been able to showcase their significance in terms of the intended objective. Until legislation catches up, regulation has to adapt to ensure that the financial system absorbs digital innovation in a non-disruptive manner. RBI like other central bankers of world also has concerns over the ownership of banks. Global regulators have worries about the ultimate ownership of banks preferring resident in their jurisdiction which could be a challenge for many aspirants of digital-only bank licences. The challenge for digital banks will be to show that they can raise a liability pool, instead of just using large equity capital as a debt-funding source. In terms of consumer protection, everything related to cyber security or digital data security or privacy rights is a concern. Even stable NBFCs with large capital bases are not allowed to use the word “bank” in describing themselves in any consumer communication, whereas many new-age fintech platform has named itself a neo bank. (Down to Earth: Governance) Jan 5: How India‘s flagship health insurance scheme failed its poorest during a pandemic - https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/governance/myth-of-coverage-how-india-s-flagship-health-insurance-scheme-failed-its-poorest-during-pandemic-80988 TOPIC: GS-2- Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors GS-2- Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health  How India‘s flagship health insurance scheme failed its poorest during pandemic Context: Two research institutes, Public Health Foundation of India and Duke Global Health Institute, United States have revealed that India’s flagship health insurance scheme, dubbed the world’s largest fully government-subsidised scheme, has  failed to deliver when it was needed the most. Released in July this year, the report showed that the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), launched in 2018 with a promise to provide an annual insurance coverage of Rs 5 lakh per family to the poorest 40 per cent of the population, provided cushion to only 14.25 per cent of people hospitalised for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), between April 2020 and June 2021. Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Mansukh Mandaviya in a reply to the Lok Sabha also acknowledged that PM-JAY paid for only 0.52 million COVID-19 hospitalisations across the country. Though no official data is available on total COVID-19 hospitalisations in the country, the share is negligible keeping in mind that the scheme claims to cover 165 million beneficiaries across the country. Observations that support the report When DTE team visited nine states where hospitalisation rates were high during the pandemic, they found that while the government insurance schemes did not cover all the target groups and eligible individuals, even those enrolled under insurance schemes were forced to fight the pandemic on their own and cough up large amounts of money to avail treatment. Hospitals demand cash during admission Hospitals insist on a signed declaration that PM-JAY would not be used for ICU Private hospital says PM-JAY covers surgeries, not hospitalisation; expenses never get reimbursed. Officials have even rejected some applications without giving them a clear reason Finding an empanelled hospital is a futile exercise in areas where hospitals are few and far between. This has remained a major problem, particularly in smaller towns and villages, where hospitals are few and far between. Many have been left out of the insurance scheme’s ambit despite being eligible. PM-JAY, which aims to provide insurance coverage to the poorest 40 per cent of the population, has not only left out individuals, but also certain communities. Thousands of sex workers in Pune’s Budhwar Peth zone, for example, fought a solitary battle against the pandemic. Several ragpickers interacted with in Pune’s Shivajinagar area also said they were not enrolled under the scheme. This is despite the PM-JAY manual stating that ragpickers are covered under the scheme, along with people who survive on alms and other similar categories. The cost of ICU hospitalisation of a COVID-19 patient on an average is equivalent to what a casual worker (someone who is employed from time to time according to exigencies of work) earns in almost 1.5 years.  The Way Forward Raise the percentage of GDP allocated to health Government hospitals need infrastructure and machinery up-gradation, which can be done by the earnings of public hospitals under PMJAY. A larger share of India’s public health expenditure to be allocated to preventive care. The prime objective of PM-JAY is to reduce catastrophic out-of-pocket health expenditure by improving access to quality health care for its underprivileged population. More work needs to be put to deal with this. The scheme directs that complaints of denial of treatment by an empanelled hospital need to be resolved within six hours. This will also require major intervention. Ensuring adaptive price setting, third-party monitoring, strict regulation, and quality improvements in public sector hospitals. PMJAY will need a gamut of skilled manpower as facilitators and administrative staffs at various levels. Ensuring adaptive price setting, third-party monitoring, strict regulation, and quality improvements in public sector hospitals. PMJAY will need a gamut of skilled manpower as facilitators and administrative staffs at various levels.  Can you answer the following questions? The novel coronavirus has not only turned the world upside down, it has also served as a lens through which we are able to see ourselves, our planet and even our policies with a new and shocking clarity. Discuss. What is your assessment of the Pradhan Mantri jan Arogya Yojana? Has it been able to bring in positive transposition in people’s lives? Comment. (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Q.1 Consider the following statements regarding Chilika Lake: 1. Chilika is the world's largest lagoon. 2. In 1981, Chilika Lake was designated the first Indian wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. Which of the above is/are correct? a) 1 only b) 2 only c) Both 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2 Consider the following statements regarding Free Trade Agreement: 1. FTA is a pact between two or more nations to reduce barriers to imports and exports among them. 2. The concept of free trade gives rise to trade protectionism or economic isolationism. Which of the above is/are correct? a) 1 only b) 2 only c) Both 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3 Philosophy of ‘Nai Talim’ was given by Which of the following Historian? a) Raja Rammohan Roy b) Abul Kalam Azad c) Mahatma Gandhi d) Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan ANSWERS FOR 6th Jan 2022 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK)   1 B 2 A 3 C Must Read On national law universities:   The Hindu   On India-Nepal relations: The Hindu On SC hate speech: Indian Express