UPSC/IAS Daily Current Affairs Quiz Compilation - SEPTEMBER 2021
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[MI-STORIES]MOTIVATIONAL AND INSPIRATIONAL STORIES - Life!
For Previous Story -> CLICK HERE Inspirational Stories: Here is the story for this week from the new series of Inspirational and Motivational stories. One of the oldest known forms of communication is story telling. There is something primordial within us that loves stories and their tremendous impact. In this series, we aim to bring you the best of real-life stories that can inspire and motivate you. Stories always try to teach us something useful. It is one of the best ways of learning from other's mistakes and avoiding our own. Although each story has its own moral, in the comments section you can share your opinion on the moral of the story. If you are able to see something that others might have missed, you can share it for the benefit of all. Apart from just reading these awesome stories, you can also share some of the stories that have inspired you. If we find the story appropriate and useful, we will share it with all. More importantly, read these stories every week without a miss, and stay inspired. So Here is the story for this week - Life ! Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there, to serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson, or to help you figure out who you are or who you want to become. You never know who these people may be – a roommate, a neighbor, a professor, a friend, a lover, or even a complete stranger – but when you lock eyes with them, you know at that very moment they will affect your life in some profound way. Sometimes things happen to you that may seem horrible, painful, and unfair at first, but in reflection you find that without overcoming those obstacles you would have never realized your potential, strength, willpower, or heart. Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness, and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul. Without these small tests, whatever they may be, life would be like a smoothly paved straight flat road to nowhere. It would be safe and comfortable, but dull and utterly pointless. The people you meet who affect your life, and the success and downfalls you experience, help to create who you are and who you become. Even the bad experiences can be learned from. In fact, they are sometimes the most important ones. If someone loves you, give love back to them in whatever way you can, not only because they love you, but because in a way, they are teaching you to love and how to open your heart and eyes to things. If someone hurts you, betrays you, or breaks your heart, forgive them, for they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious to whom you open your heart. Make every day count. Appreciate every moment and take from those moments everything that you possibly can for you may never be able to experience it again. Talk to people that you have never talked to before, and listen to what they have to say. Let yourself fall in love, break free, and set your sights high. Hold your head up because you have every right to. Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself, for if you don’t believe in yourself, it will be hard for others to believe in you. You can make anything you wish of your life. Create your own life and then go out and live it with absolutely no regrets. And if you love someone tell them, for you never know what tomorrow may have in store. Learn a lesson in life each day that you live! Today is the tomorrow you were worried about yesterday.
DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 20th November 2021
Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Odisha's project ‘Samhati’ for tribal languages Part of: Prelims and GS II - Education Context The new National Education Policy lays emphasis on imparting teaching in mother tongue in primary classes. Thus, Odisha has launched Samhati project for imparting its various tribal languages. The project will help save endangered tribal languages. About Odisha's Samhati project According to the Odisha School Education Programme Authority (OSEPA), more than 302 textbooks and 2,500 supplementary reading materials including story books and pictures charts in 21 tribal languages have been developed. Under Samhati, all teachers of primary level would be provided functional knowledge of tribal languages. Implemented by: The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Research and Training Institute (SCSTRTI) and the Academy of Tribal Language and Culture (ATLC), Bhubaneswar Of the 21 languages, Santhali — the only language which has been included in eighth schedule of Constitution — is taught in its own ol chiki script while rest of tribal languages have Odia scripts. Do you know? Odisha is home to 62 different tribal communities including 13 particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs), making it the State with the most diverse indigenous communities in the country. Of Odisha's 21 tribal languages, Santhali — the only language which has been included in eighth schedule of Constitution — is taught in its own ol chiki script while rest of tribal languages have Odia scripts. NCRA astronomers discover rare radio stars Part of: Prelims and GS-III - Space Context A team of astronomers from the Pune-based National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA-TIFR) have used the upgraded Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (uGMRT) to discover eight stars belonging to a rare category called ‘Main-sequence Radio Pulse’ emitters or MRPs. Implications The discovery will aid in the understanding of “exotic” radio stars and stellar magnetospheres. The current notion of MRPs as rare objects may not be correct. Rather, they are probably more common but are difficult to detect. The reason for the difficult detection of MRPs was that the radio pulses are visible only at certain times and the phenomenon is mostly observable at low radio frequencies. What are MRPs? The MRPs are stars hotter than the Sun with unusually strong magnetic fields, and are much stronger than stellar winds (a continuous flow of gas from a star’s upper atmosphere). Farm laws repealed Part of: Prelims and GS-III - Economy Context India Prime Minister recently announced that the three contentious farm laws passed last year would be repealed. The process of repealing the laws — which are currently stayed by the Supreme Court — will take place in the upcoming Winter Session of Parliament. Key takeaways Repealing a law is one of the ways to nullify a law. A law is reversed when Parliament thinks there is no longer a need for the law to exist. Legislation can also have a “sunset” clause, a particular date after which they cease to exist. For example, the anti-terror legislation Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act 1987, commonly known as TADA, had a sunset clause, and was allowed to lapse in 1995. For laws that do not have a sunset clause, Parliament has to pass another legislation to repeal the law. Article 245: Parliament has the power to make laws for the whole or any part of India, and state legislatures the power to make laws for the state. A law can be repealed either in its entirety, in part, or even just to the extent that it is in contravention of other laws Laws can be repealed in two ways — either through an ordinance, or through legislation. CCI Market Study on Pharma Sector Part of: Prelims and GS-II - Health Context The Competition Commission of India (CC) in a recent report has recommended the creation of a National Digital Drugs Databank and strict enforcement of drug quality standards to boost price competition among generic drugs in India. Key takeaways of the report The market for generic drugs is driven by brand competition instead of price competition despite such drugs being functionally and chemically identical. Pharmaceuticals including generic drugs account for about 43.2% of out of pocket healthcare expenditure in India and about 62.7% of the total health spending in India. The share of online pharmacies stood at 2.8% in 2018, the online pharmacy sector’s reach has expanded during the pandemic to 8.8 million households from 3.5 million households prior to the pandemic. About Competition Commission of India (CCI) It is a statutory body established in 2003 and became fully functional in 2009. It is responsible for enforcing The Competition Act, 2002 throughout India. The Act prohibits anti-competitive agreements, abuse of dominant position by enterprises. The Act regulates combinations (acquisition, acquiring of control and Merger and acquisition), which causes or likely to cause an appreciable adverse effect on competition within India. CCI consists of a Chairperson and 6 Members appointed by the Central Government. Eligibility: Person should be qualified to be a judge of a High Court, or, has special knowledge of, and professional experience of not less than fifteen years in international trade, economics, commerce, law, finance. It is the duty of the Commission to: eliminate practices having adverse effect on competition promote and sustain competition. protect the interests of consumers. ensure freedom of trade in the markets of India. Sustainable Urban Services Program for Chennai Metropolitan Area (CMA) Part of: Prelims and GS-III - Economy Context The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has approved USD150 million loan to India for implementation of the Sustainable Urban services program for Chennai metropolitan area (CMA). India and AIIB India is the largest beneficiary of AIIB and the bank has so far approved 29 projects for India worth 6.8 billion USD. The energy and transport sectors have received the highest amount of AIIB’s financing. About Chennai Metropolitan Area project The Chennai Metropolitan Area (CMA) is home to around 11 million people and one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in Asia with its growing economic significance in India. Aim: Strengthening institutions and financing for improving the quality and sustainability of selected urban services in the CMA. Services being covered: Core urban services, including water resource management, water supply and sewerage, solid waste management. Funds: The total project cost is 701 million USD out of which AIIB and World Bank each will provide 150 million USD each. Rest of the cost will be borne by the Govt. of Tamil Nadu. (News from PIB) Geographical Information System (GIS) plans for Gram Panchayats Part of: GS Prelims In News: Ministry of Rural Development reaches an important milestone with the completion of GIS plans for 2 lakh Gram Panchayats (GPs) out of 2.69 lakh GPs under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA. GIS-based planning under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS is an initiative of the Ministry of Rural Development which helps the Gram Panchayat to ensure a scientific & holistic approach for planning at the Gram Panchayat level. It is an important tool to ensure participatory planning at the implementation level. Contributions of Mahatma Gandhi NREGS have enhanced significantly by using the GIS-Based Planning approach and impacts of which are visible at ground level CRISP-M tool will further enable the local communities to understand the impact of changing climate and make smart decisions on them Yuktdhara Geospatial Planning portal helps the other Ministries to see the geographical location of planned assets on a map, which integrates planning for works, optimises convergence plans and facilitates effective monitoring. The planning of works under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS are now carried out using advanced technologies viz. Geographical Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS). Leveraged for this purpose is the much acclaimed ‘Bhuvan’ space technology solution from the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Geographical Information System (GIS): The GIS is a computer-based tool for mapping and analyzing the geographic terrain and offers scientific choices of development works suitable to the area. This technology integrates common database operations such as query and statistical analysis with the unique visualization and geographic analysis benefits offered by the maps. News Source: PIB Rani Lakshmibai – Her Jayanti Part of: Mains GS-1: Freedom fighters Queen of the princely state of Jhansi in North India currently present in Jhansi district in Uttar Pradesh, India One of the leading figures of the Indian Rebellion of 1857 and became a symbol of resistance to the British Raj for Indian nationalists. She was named Manikarnika and was nicknamed Manu. After the death of the Maharaja in November 1853, because Damodar Rao (born Anand Rao) was an adopted son, the British East India Company, under Governor-General Lord Dalhousie, applied the Doctrine of Lapse, rejecting Damodar Rao’s claim to the throne and annexing the state to its territories. She defended Jhansi against British troops when Sir Hugh Rose besieged Jhansi on 23 March 1858. A number of patriotic songs have been written about the Rani. The most famous composition about Rani Lakshmi Bai is the Hindi poem Jhansi ki Rani written by Subhadra Kumari Chauhan. Indira Gandhi – Birth anniversary An Indian politician, stateswoman and a central figure of the Indian National Congress. She was the first and, to date, the only female Prime Minister of India. Indira Gandhi was the daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of India. She served as Prime Minister from January 1966 to March 1977 and again from January 1980 until her assassination in October 1984 (assassins blamed her for the action code-named Operation Blue Star), making her the second longest-serving Indian Prime Minister after her father. She went to war with Pakistan in support of the independence movement and war of independence in East Pakistan, which resulted in an Indian victory and the creation of Bangladesh, as well as increasing India’s influence to the point where it became the regional hegemon of South Asia. Citing fissiparous tendencies and in response to a call for revolution, Gandhi instituted a state of emergency from 1975 to 1977 where basic civil liberties were suspended and the press was censored. Widespread atrocities were carried out during the emergency. In 1980, she returned to power after free and fair elections. (Mains Focus) AGRICULTURE/ ECONOMY/ GOVERNANCE GS-3: Agriculture & issues. GS-2: Issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Farm Laws Repeal Context: Government announced the repeal of three contentious farm laws, assuring farmer groups protesting against them for the past year that the legislative process for the repeal would be completed in the upcoming Winter Session of Parliament. What was logic behind enacting new farms laws? The laws sought to reorganise India’s agriculture sector more in accordance with the principles of market economy. Moving beyond APMC mandis: It was argued that if India needs to diversify its cropping pattern into export-oriented and high-value crops, mandis need to give way to private markets, futures markets and contract farming. Incentivising Private entry: The APMC Acts discriminated against farmers by not allowing them to interact directly with the big corporate buyers and exporters. So, the APMC Acts must be amended so that any private market or rural collection centre can freely emerge anywhere without approval of the local mandi or the payment of a mandi tax, and so that contract farming can be popularised. Improving Storage infrastructure: Similarly, the advocacy for the amendment to the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 rested on the view that private corporate investment can be incentivised into storage and warehousing if stock limits are relaxed for traders. Marketing Freedom to Farmers: The Centre’s farm laws were an attempt to ensure that farmers get the right price for produce, and have the freedom to sell where they want to. Is privatisation the panacea for agricultural sector? Entry of Private players into agriculture sector has its own set of problems. Bihar’s example showed that private investment was unlikely to flow into agricultural markets even if APMC Acts were annulled. In fact, the exploitation of farmers by unscrupulous traders intensified in Bihar after 2006. Maharashtra delisted fruits and vegetables from the ambit of APMCs in 2016. Still, the inflow of private investment into agricultural markets was only marginal. Possibility of Fragmentation of market: Thus, what was likely was that a formal and regulated market (through APMC) might fragment itself into an informal and unregulated market if the APMC Acts were weakened. What were the major sore points with new farm laws? Fear of Corporate Capture: There fears that the producers and consumers would be adversely affected, to the benefit of big companies. Impact on Rural Infrastructure: Mandi taxes were used to invest in rural infrastructure in States such as Punjab. If mandis are weakened, there are uncertainty on the substitute for such investments that further impact rural infrastructure development. Structural Problems will remain unaddressed: Even if private markets emerged, the structural problem of poor farm-gate aggregation of the produce of small and marginal farmers will remain unaddressed. There is criticism that one middleman will be simply substituted by another. Criticism of Grievance Redress Mechanisms: Eradicating the power of civil courts and their substitution with a weak mechanism led by the sub-divisional magistrate threatened to be a serious impediment to a just redress of complaints. It was feared that this may benefit corporate sponsors more than the contracting farmers. Undemocratic manner of passing laws: Such fears were aggravated by the undemocratic manner in which these laws were brought about, through ordinances, and passed in Parliament without deliberations, or consultations with the States. Mishandling of Farmer protests: Efforts were made to break, divide, buy out, demean, denigrate, demonise and shame the protesters, who were conveniently branded as terrorists and Khalistanis. Violation of Federal principles: The Union government invoked Entry 33 of the Concurrent List to intervene into matters in Entry 14, Entry 26 and Entry 27 of the State List. Thus, to begin with, the farm laws were reasonably and justifiably argued to be unconstitutional. Criticism on the Direction of Farm reforms: The overall thrust of the farm laws appeared to encourage the participation of larger corporate players in agricultural markets rather than farmer-friendly organisations, such as cooperatives or Farmer Producer Companies (FPC) What is the implication of withdrawal of Farm Laws? Democratic Victory: Marks a historic victory for the farmer’s movement in India. For more than a year, thousands of farmers had barricaded Delhi, and their protests were gradually evolving into a pan-Indian movement of resistance. Repealing of farm laws has helped put an end to the protests. End of Confrontation: The repeal of the farm laws has, at least temporarily, put an end to confrontation between the Union government and the farmers. Positive Politicisation: The agitation has led to a positive politicisation of several agrarian demands, including the need for stable markets and remunerative prices. Set a precedence: A confidence has grown that committed struggles matter and even aggressive governments can be made to kneel. New rural mobilisations around demands to address the larger and persistent agrarian crisis are likely to emerge and grow. Trust is important for legitimacy of laws: Government has done well to acknowledge that laws are not as good as their enforcement by state machinery, but only as good as their capacity to win people’s trust Connecting the dots: The perils of deregulated imperfect agrimarkets How has agri-marketing policy changed over years MSP Demand and Possible solution New Farm Acts and Opposition to it Basis for MSP MSP in the age of Surplus (Sansad TV: Perspective) Nov 17: The 'Organic' Growth - https://youtu.be/w7W2czSRhPA TOPIC: GS-3: Agriculture GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation The 'Organic' Growth Context: Organic Farming is poised to become 75000 cr rupee market by 2025. The Indian organic market is expected to grow at an annual rate of more than 20%. However India's share in the global organic market is just 1%. In organic food production synthetic inputs (such as fertilizers, pesticides, hormones, feed additives etc.) are avoided and it relies upon crop rotation, crop residues, animal manures, off-farm organic waste, mineral grade rock additives and biological system of nutrient mobilization and plant protection. Organic food sector primarily aims at cultivating the land and raising crops in such a way that it keeps the soil alive and in good health by use of organic wastes (crop, animal and farm wastes, aquatic wastes) and other biological materials along with beneficial microbes (bio fertilizers) to release nutrients to crops for increased sustainable production in an eco-friendly and pollution-free environment. Strength & Potential of Organic food sector: It relies on traditional techniques such as crop rotation, green manure, compost and biological. It is accomplished by using farm agronomic, biological and mechanical methods in exclusion of all synthetic off farm inputs. It protects the long term fertility of soils by maintaining organic Matter levels and encouraging soil biological activity. It often involves vermiculture and vermi-composting too. The biological processes, driven by mycorrhiza, allow the natural production of nutrients in soil throughout growing season. Crop Rotation supports a wider range of beneficial insects, soil micro-organisms, and hence, protects species from going extinct. It improves soil health and fertility. It requires careful use of water resources hence lead to conservation of water. Sustainable and environmentally friendly production method, which has particular advantages for small-scale farmers. It helps in conserving bio-diversity and nature resources on the farm and in the surrounding area. Farmers in India’s poorest region are recording record rice yields, organic banana yields, etc. India has the 9th largest World’s Organic Agricultural Land and the largest number of producers Sikkim has become India’s first fully organic state by converting around 75,000 hectares of agricultural land into sustainable cultivation. However, the emerging threats such as climate change induced global warming; flooding, relative market demand etc. pose serious challenge for the growth & development of organic food sector. The cost of cultivation increases as it takes more time and energy to produce than its synthetic input intensive counterpart. Specialised farmer training costs, higher processing and inventory holding costs, and increased packaging, logistics and distribution costs add to the price of end products. There is low awareness at the producer level on the difference between conventional farming and organic farming. At the consumer side there is confusion between natural and organic products and limited understanding of the health benefits of organic food products. Growing demand and low supply has further created an inflationary pressure on organic food products; it leads to customer opting for non-organic cheap products. Hence, it becomes imperative to incentivise farmers for input procurement, value addition including post-harvest infrastructure creation, packaging, branding, publicity, transportation, organic fairs, etc. Some government initiatives and local level innovations can help achieve these objective in following ways: Organic farming schemes such as the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) that promotes “location specific” farming systems, it helps make agriculture sustainable. Also, Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) that promotes various organic farming models through adoption of organic village by cluster approach and PGS certification. It is critical for companies involved in the organic food business to increase awareness among consumers in non-metro cities. Creating community-supported agricultural farms or with “grow your own food” programmes. Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North East Region (MOVCD-NER) is a Central Sector Scheme, a sub-mission under National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), aims for development of certified organic production in a value chain mode to link growers with consumers and to support the development of entire value chain starting from inputs, seeds, certification, to the creation of facilities for collection, aggregation, processing, marketing and brand building initiative. Ministry of Food Processing and Ministry of Women and Child Development jointly initiated the National Organic Food Festival aimed at strengthening organic food produce in the country. It also aimed at encouraging women entrepreneurs in manufacturing organic produce Conclusion: Organic food production because of its innovative nature, less harm to environment, and cost effectiveness holds immense potential in the time of rising environmental and global market chain challenges. Hence, organic food sector can be promoted as brand for “local to global” programme besides it will also help to give boost to rural economy and increase farmers income. Can you answer the following question: No one farming system alone will safely feed the planet. Rather, a blend of organic and other innovative farming systems, will be needed for future global food and ecosystem security. Discuss. Sikkim is the first ‘Organic State ‘in India. What are the ecological and economical benefits of Organic State? (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 In which amendment to the constitution were the Bodo, Dogri, Santhali and Maithli added to the list of recognised languages? 73rd Constitution Amendment Act of 2003 92nd Constitution Amendment Act of 2003 103rd Constitution Amendment Act, 2018 101st Constitution Amendment Act, 2016 Q.2 Where is Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank headquartered? Beijing Shanghai Tokyo Gurugram Q.3 Consider the following statements regarding Competition Commission of India (CCI) It is a statutory body established in 2003. CCI consists of a Chairperson and 6 Members appointed by the President of India. Select the correct answer from the following codes: Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 ANSWERS FOR 19th Nov 2021 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 D 2 D 3 C Must Read On interpreting POCSO Act: The Hindu On taxation changes: Indian Express
UPSC हिन्दी Quiz– 2021: IASbaba Daily Current Affairs Quiz 20th November 2021
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
UPSC Quiz – 2021 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 20th November 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 2): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – Essay Questions [20th November, 2021] – Day 30
Archives Hello Students TLP has been an integral ingredient of success for many toppers is no secret. In the ‘must do’ list for the civil services exam, TLP is by far the most popular initiative. The popularity stems from the unparalleled quality of questions and synopsis posted in TLP. We strive hard to ensure that you get the real feel of UPSC standard before you write the Mains. You already know the features of TLP. Just to reiterate briefly, in the TLP initiative, we post 5 questions daily for a certain number of weeks (11 for this one). We follow a micro plan that is designed to give you daily targets. The questions are from the day’s syllabus and also from current affairs and you are expected to write the answers and post them on the portal. This year onwards TLP will have a Dedicated Portal for Focused Preparation (tlpmains.iasbaba.com). There will be a separate dedicated portal similar to (RaRe Series) which students loved and appreciated. The Portal will help you stay focused and keep your preparation streamlined. The Registration link for the dedicated portal is given at the end of the post. We are charging a token amount of 10/- for registration to the dedicated portal. We are doing it because we want to create a community of sincere aspirants who are focused and motivated till the Mains Examination. Please don’t take it otherwise. It is our honest effort to give you the best and at the same time expect students to come with the same energy and dedication to the dedicated platform specially designed for YOU! Join our bandwagon, you won’t regret it. UPSC 2022 Aspirants are encouraged to participate as well. Register Here - CLICK HERE To Know More About TLP 2022 (Phase 2) - CLICK HERE To Access Day 30 Questions - 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
DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 19th November 2021
Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Yamuna Pollution Part of: Prelims and GS III - Pollution Context Delhi’s Chief Minister has announced a six-point action plan to completely clean the Yamuna by 2025. Timelines are set for every small aspect of the project and they will be revisited every 15 to 30 days to ensure that it is completed on time. Action plan New sewage treatment plants (STP): Building new sewage treatment plants (STP), increasing capacity of existing STPs, and technology upgradation In situ treatment of major drains. Diverting industrial waste: All industrial waste will be diverted to the common effluent treating plants. There will be a crackdown on industries for not sending its waste to the treatment plants. Proper Sewer network: JJ clusters will be connected to the larger sewer network to completely stop stormwater drains from being polluted. Every household may also be connected to the sewer network. Desilting: Complete desilting of entire sewer network About Yamuna The Yamuna is a major tributary of river Ganges, Origin: Yamunotri glacier near Bandarpoonch peaks, Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand. It meets the Ganges at the Sangam in Prayagraj, UP Important Tributaries: Chambal, Sindh, Betwa, Ken, Tons, Hindon. Causes of Pollution in Yamuna Industrial Pollution Mixing of Drains Effects of Rising Ammonia First Global Innovation Summit Part of: Prelims and GS-III - Innovation; Sci and tech Context The Indian Prime Minister recently inaugurated the first Global Innovation Summit of the pharmaceuticals sector. India must think about increasing domestic manufacturing of key ingredients for vaccines and medicines Key takeaways Every aspect of healthcare has received global attention over the last two years. During the pandemic, India exported lifesaving medicines and medical equipment to over 150 countries during the initial phase. India has also exported more than 65 million doses of Covid vaccines to nearly 100 countries this year. Policy interventions are being made based on wide consultation with all stakeholders that will create An ecosystem to make India a leader in drug discovery and innovative medical devices. The Prime Minister invited the stakeholders to Ideate in India, Innovate in India, Make in India and Make for the World. The International Commission to Reignite the Fight Against Smoking Part of: Prelims and GS-II - Health Context A report on smoking was recently released by “The International Commission to Reignite the Fight Against Smoking”, which makes specific recommendations to achieve the goal of ending smoking worldwide. About the commission The commission has members from the U.S., the U.K., South Africa, Indonesia and India. It examines several important issues, including the trends in tobacco use, challenges to cessation efforts, the emergence of technological innovations, lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, etc. Key findings All countries ban marketing and direct sales of tobacco products to children, but in low-to-middle income countries these prohibitions are not rigorously enforced. Despite prohibitions in India, many schools have nearby vendors displaying tobacco products which are appealing to children and youth. An estimated 54% of the points of sale had no visible health warning. India is among countries with the lowest quit rates for smoking. The quit rates for men are less than 20%. China and India are home to more than 500 million tobacco users between the ages of 16 and 64. Tobacco prevalence in India is three times higher among men than women. India also accounts for some of the highest rates of smokeless tobacco use and oral cancer in the world. Recommendations Adopting best practices to combat misinformation Build a healthier information environment to reduce harm from tobacco. Leveraging multi-national, multi-disciplinary and participatory foresight studies. Advocating risk-proportionate regulations as a means of making it easier for smokers to switch quit CEEW Centre for Energy Finance (CEEW-CEF) Part of: Prelims and GS-III - Climate change Context According to an analysis by climate and energy research firm, CEEW Centre for Energy Finance (CEEW-CEF), in order to meet its goals of net zero by 2070, India will need close to $10 trillion (Rs. 700 lakh crore). CEEW is the Council for Energy, Environment and Water Research, a think tank in India. Key estimates by the firm Around $8.4 trillion would be needed to scale up generation from renewable energy and bring together the necessary infrastructure. Another $1.5 trillion would have to be invested in the industrial sector for setting up green hydrogen production capacity. Green hydrogen is made from renewable energy and can be used for many things, from heating to powering batteries as well as fuelling vehicles. India would require investment support of $1.4 trillion from developed economies to bridge the gap. Another study by the firm The CEEW had computed earlier that India’s total installed solar power capacity would need to increase to 5,630 gigawatts by 2070. The usage of coal would need to peak by 2040 and drop by 99% between 2040 and 2060. Crude oil consumption across sectors would need to peak by 2050 and fall substantially by 90% between 2050 and 2070. Green hydrogen could contribute 19% of the total energy needs of the industrial sector. Sexual intent is key to POCSO Act: SC Part of: Prelims and GS-I - Problems faced by children and women Context The Supreme Court quashed a Bombay High Court decision to acquit a man charged with assault under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) solely on the grounds that he groped the child over her clothes without “skin-to-skin” contact. The SC said that the act of touching a sexual part of the child’s body with sexual intent will not be undervalued. The judge had argued that the High Court order would set a “very dangerous precedent” and cripple the intention of the POCSO Act to punish sexual offenders. Salient features of the POCSO Act “Children” according to the Act are individuals aged below 18 years. The Act is gender-neutral. Different forms of sexual abuse including but not limited to sexual harassment, pornography, penetrative & non-penetrative assault are defined in the Act. The investigation process should be child-friendly and the case should be disposed of within one year from the date of reporting. The Act provides for the establishment of Special Courts for the trial of such offences and matters related to it. Section 45: The power to make rules lies with the central government. The National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and State Commissions for the Protection of Child Rights (SCPCRs) monitor the Act’s implementation. Both are statutory bodies. Section 42 A: In case of inconsistency with provisions of any other law, the POCSO Act shall override such provisions. (News from PIB) The Sydney Dialogue Part of: International forums In News: PM delivered keynote address at the Sydney Dialogue on the theme of India’s technology evolution and revolution. Five important transitions taking place in India- One, the world's most extensive public information infrastructure being built in India. Over 1.3 billion Indians have a unique digital identity, six hundred thousand villages will soon be connected with broadband and the world's most efficient payment infrastructure, the UPI. Two, use of digital technology for governance, inclusion, empowerment, connectivity, delivery of benefits and welfare. Three, India has the world's third largest and fastest growing Startup Eco-system. Four, India's industry and services sectors, even agriculture, are undergoing massive digital transformation. Five, there is a large effort to prepare India for the future. We are investing in developing indigenous capabilities in telecom technology such as 5G and 6G. India is one of the leading nations in artificial intelligence and machine learning, especially in human-centred and ethical use of artificial intelligence. We are developing strong capabilities in Cloud platforms and cloud computing India's democratic traditions are old; its modern institutions are strong. And, we have always believed in the world as one family. The international order should ensure cryptocurrencies do not end up in wrong hands. The Sydney Dialogue is an annual summit of cyber and critical technologies to discuss the fallout of the digital domain on the law and order situation in the world. News Source: PIB Guru Nanak Jayanti Part of: GS Prelims Born in 1469 in Nankana Sahib, Pakistan He advocated nirguna bhakti He firmly repudiated practices of religions around him like sacrifices, ritual baths, idol worship, austerities, and scriptures of both Hindus and Muslims. He took the god as formless which has now gender and proposed a simple way to connect to him by just remembering and repeating his name. He set up rules for congregational worship (sangat) involving collective recitation. He appointed Angad to succeed him as the Guru. He never wished to establish new religion, but after his death his followers consolidated his practices and distinguished from both Hindus and Muslims by calling themselves ‘Sikhs’. Fifth Guru Arjandev Ji compiled Guru Nanak, His successor, and other religious poets teaching in Adi Granth Sahib. Values & teaching of Guru Nanak and present social challenges — The time in which Guru Nanak lived and present time are not very different. Back then, caste system, idol worship, exploitation of poor and women, intolerance towards other religions, fraud godman, addiction of drugs and other problems were prevalent. Unfortunately, all of them are present today also. Some basic teachings of Guru Nanak were — Submission to the will of God (Waheguru) One God Goodwill for all Speaking truth Social Service Overcoming 5 evils — Ego, Anger, Greed, Attachment and Lust Adopting 5 virtues — Truth, Compassion, Contentment, Discipline and Contemplation No discrimination Stop following rituals/idol worship/superstitions Guru Nanak opined that moral principles have great value not just in thinking but also in practical orientation in society. Therefore, social philosophy of Guru Nanak was primarily based on moral philosophy with support of religious outlook. His teaching hold great value today in overcoming caste and religious discrimination, intolerance of other views, corruption, addiction of alcohol and drugs, clash of civilisations, terrorism and other social evils. Problem with today’s generation is we have limited Guru Nanak and his teaching just to Guru Granth Sahib and have not adopted it, i.e., moral philosophy is lacking. Therefore, there is a strong need to revive the values and teachings of Guru Nanak. (Mains Focus) ECONOMY/ GOVERNANCE GS-2: Indian Constitution, Issues and Challenges Pertaining to the Federal Structure. GS-3: Government Budgeting. Addressing Fiscal Worries of States Context: Centre will release over ₹95,000 crores in one stroke to States this month after Union Finance Minister met with Chief Ministers and State Finance Ministers to discuss the state of the economy and to sustain the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Implication of such an announcement The Government set aside the spate of recent confrontations with States over Revenue GST compensation concerns Fear by States about ‘encroachment’ on their powers, The measure shows that government has taken steps to initiate an economy-focused dialogue independent of Budget consultations and GST Council machinations. Its ready acceptance of States’ request to expedite the sharing of taxable revenues is a token of faith to reinforce federalism. While most States have positive cash balances, access now to double the funds than usual will help them ramp up capital expenditure. The cash flow could also help several States catch up on their capex targets, on which hinges an additional borrowing limit of 0.5% of their Gross State Domestic Product. The Finance Ministry’s clarification that the excise duty cuts on petrol and diesel shall not dent the tax pool shared with States has also soothed frayed nerves. The meeting with CMs yielded several ideas and policy proposals, including a simple demand that the Centre share leads about prospective investors and come out with a clear policy on green clearances. Challenges Ahead While the Finance Ministry believes that investments are on the verge of a take-off, public investments need to increase for several more quarters before the private sector can be expected to spur the economy’s growth. The Centre and States need to combine forces to make it an easier and swifter journey to reduce the red tape for potential investors. Commerce and Industry has said that just 10 States have joined the single window clearance system for investors, and four more may join next month. Investment facilitation was a key agenda item, so it would have been apt to include the Industry Minister in the deliberations to nudge States into joining the single window system. Way Forward We need to sustain this free-wheeling economic dialogue with States because the economy still needs collective hand-holding, Also, this economic dialogue needs a broad-basing of the framework to include key economic ministries, and occasionally, the Prime Minister too. Closing this somewhat informal channel for dialogue with the States, outside the framework of NITI Aayog and the National Development Council, would be a wasted opportunity with embedded economic costs. Connecting the dots: Cooperative and Competitive Federalism Cess Pool: On CAG report on GST GST- Critical analysis of its working Taxation and Federalism ECONOMY/ GOVERNANCE GS-3: Energy GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Tight oil (Shale Oil) Context: Cairn Oil & Gas has announced that it is partnering US-based Halliburton to start shale exploration in the Lower Barmer Hill formation, Western Rajasthan. The company is also looking to increase the recoverable reserves at its offshore assets by 10 times via enhanced use of technology, in partnership with Halliburton. What is shale oil? How does it differ from conventional crude oil? The key difference between shale oil, also called ‘tight oil’, and conventional crude is that is found in smaller batches, and deeper than conventional crude deposits. Its extraction requires creation of fractures in oil and gas rich shale to release hydrocarbons through a process called hydraulic fracking. Russia and the US are among the largest shale oil producers in the world, with a surge in shale oil production in the US having played a key role in turning the country from an importer of crude to a net exporter in 2019. A number of US shale exploration firms, including Halliburton, have faced litigation from citizens living in areas adjacent to shale production sites who have claimed that hydraulic fracking has contributed to groundwater contamination. What are the prospects of shale oil exploration in India? Currently, there is no large-scale commercial production of shale oil and gas in India. State-owned ONGC had, in 2013, started exploration and, by the end of FY21, assessed shale oil and gas potential in 25 nomination blocks, but has reduced investments over the past few years after only getting limited success in shale exploration efforts. While ONGC’s assessment found prospects of shale oil at the Cambay basin in Gujarat and the Krishna Godavari basin in Andhra Pradesh, the company concluded that “ the quantity of oil flow observed in these basins” did not indicate “commerciality” and that the general characteristics of Indian shales are quite different from North American ones. Shale oil and gas exploration faces several challenges other than environmental concerns around massive water requirements for fracking and potential for ground water contamination. Connecting the dots: Oil Price Rise Oil Market meltdown India’s GDP fall (ORF: India Matters) Nov 18: ‘Lighting up homes in villages’: Will BharatNet live up to its promise? - https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/lighting-up-homes-in-villages-will-bharatnet-live-up-to-its-promise/ TOPIC: GS-3: Internet connectivity; Infrastructure Context: BharatNet is government’s flagship rural broadband connectivity project that would eventually lead to ‘1.5 billion Indians being connected to the Internet over the next two years’. In 2014, the Narendra Modi government inherited the National Optical Fibre Network initiative that had been launched in 2011, rebranded it as ‘BharatNet’, and introduced several changes to its structure and operations. It was then given a new impetus by making it a pillar of the Digital India programme. About BharatNet The goal is to provide high-speed broadband connectivity to the 250,000-plus village panchayats spread across India’s 6,600 blocks and 640 districts. It is to act as a middle-mile network from blocks to panchayats allowing Internet service providers (ISPs), local cable operators, and other agencies to use its bandwidth and incremental fibre. In doing so, it will facilitate access to e-governance, telemedicine, e-education, and other digital services at the primary level of village administration. Since 2017, the project has also sought to provide last-mile connectivity by setting up Wi-Fi hotspots in villages. The current scenario Bharatnet has the potential to transform rural India. Unfortunately, almost since inception, its progress has been marred by operational setbacks, poor execution, incessant delays, and the lack of a coherent strategy for engaging with stakeholders. A. Quality of service: Of the 250,000 village panchayats that were to have functional broadband by 2020, roughly 70 percent has optical fibre cable (OFC) connection installed, but only around 65 percent are actually connected to the OFC. The quality of service at panchayats has come in for severe criticism. The project’s own attempts to offer last-mile connectivity via Wi-Fi have faltered—only a fraction of the expected number of hotspots has been installed, and the majority of them do not work. Panchayats across India have long complained of frequent line faults, excessive downtime, and the near-customary lack of response to service requests. B. Stakeholder engagement Until very recently BharatNet had made no serious attempt to collaborate with the private sector. Historically, it has demonstrated a clear bias towards the selection of central public sector undertakings to manage its implementation. When in June 2021— BharatNet chose to ‘course correct’ and started the process of entering into a PPP with private stakeholders, the private sector has responded with cautious interest. Companies know they are being called in to fix the failures and stasis of nearly a decade. It is not the private sector alone that has been neglected. Even state governments and BharatNet’s own state-level administrators have been left exasperated by the experience of coordinating with the project’s central command. C. Shifting deadlines BharatNet’s timelines for implementation have been in a perpetual flux. Experts concur that progress on the optical fibre network project between 2011 and 2014 was unsatisfactory. The Modi government declared that within the next 1,000 days every village in India would be connected by OFC. Eight states—including Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana—have felt compelled to create special purpose vehicles to implement the project themselves, giving rise to breakaway ‘state-led models’ of execution. The Way Forward In his book “Tools and Weapons: The Promise and the Peril of the Digital Age” (2019), Microsoft President Brad Smith describes rural broadband as ‘the electricity of the 21st century’. As Smith goes on to say, broadband is ‘fundamental to the way people work, live, and learn. The future of medicine is telemedicine. The future of education is online education. And the future of farming is precision farming. […] And that requires broadband’. To achieve this - Quality of service must be improved radically for end users at panchayats and villages. This is likely to involve an overhaul of the existing workflow for operations and maintenance, and the institution of a stringent system of oversight and accountability for suppliers. Moreover, a mechanism for regular feedback from local communities about service quality must be put in place. BharatNet must incentivise the private sector in every way possible to ensure PPPs come into effect, and private players assume the onerous task of expanding, operating, maintaining, and utilising the OFC network. It is imperative that BharatNet engage systematically with state governments and perceive them as equal partners. That would make it not just the largest initiative of its kind on the planet, but also a global model for tech infrastructure development within a federal system. An enormous amount of work lies ahead for BharatNet. But if an urgent, concerted effort is made to steer the project back on course, it could yet become the game changer for rural connectivity that it was always meant to be. Supported by strong political will, multi-stakeholder cooperation at every level, and immediate steps to weed out the accumulated inefficiencies of earlier years, BharatNet could live up to its promise of enabling a digital India. Can you answer the following question: Essay: The electricity of the 21st century (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 tributary of the river Yamuna? Chambal Sindh Betwa Beda Q.2 Which of the following is incorrect? Hydrogen produced from fossil fuels is called grey hydrogen. Hydrogen generated from fossil fuels with carbon capture and storage options is called blue hydrogen. Hydrogen generated entirely from renewable power sources is called green hydrogen None of the above Q.3 Consider the following statements regarding Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) : The Act provides for the establishment of Special Courts for the trial of such offences. The National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and State Commissions for the Protection of Child Rights (SCPCRs) monitor the Act’s implementation. Select the correct answer from the following codes: Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 ANSWERS FOR 18th Nov 2021 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 D 2 B 3 D Must Read On Climate Action: The Hindu On US China engagement: Indian Express
UPSC हिन्दी Quiz– 2021: IASbaba Daily Current Affairs Quiz 19th November 2021
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
UPSC Quiz – 2021 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 19th November 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 2): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – General Studies Paper 4 Questions [19th November, 2021] – Day 29
Archives Hello Students TLP has been an integral ingredient of success for many toppers is no secret. In the ‘must do’ list for the civil services exam, TLP is by far the most popular initiative. The popularity stems from the unparalleled quality of questions and synopsis posted in TLP. We strive hard to ensure that you get the real feel of UPSC standard before you write the Mains. You already know the features of TLP. Just to reiterate briefly, in the TLP initiative, we post 5 questions daily for a certain number of weeks (11 for this one). We follow a micro plan that is designed to give you daily targets. The questions are from the day’s syllabus and also from current affairs and you are expected to write the answers and post them on the portal. This year onwards TLP will have a Dedicated Portal for Focused Preparation (tlpmains.iasbaba.com). There will be a separate dedicated portal similar to (RaRe Series) which students loved and appreciated. The Portal will help you stay focused and keep your preparation streamlined. The Registration link for the dedicated portal is given at the end of the post. We are charging a token amount of 10/- for registration to the dedicated portal. We are doing it because we want to create a community of sincere aspirants who are focused and motivated till the Mains Examination. Please don’t take it otherwise. It is our honest effort to give you the best and at the same time expect students to come with the same energy and dedication to the dedicated platform specially designed for YOU! Join our bandwagon, you won’t regret it. UPSC 2022 Aspirants are encouraged to participate as well. Register Here - CLICK HERE To Know More About TLP 2022 (Phase 2) - CLICK HERE To Access Day 29 Questions - 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