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IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 2): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – General Studies Paper 3 Questions [2nd November, 2021] – Day 14

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 14 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 

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[MAINS TEST SERIES] TLP+ Crack UPSC Mains in 60 Days! Answer Writing & Mentorship Program for UPSC 2021 – New Batch Starts from 7th November!

THINK LEARN PERFORM (TLP+) 2021 This is one of the Most Intensive and Comprehensive Answer Writing Program of IASbaba, designed with some unique features exclusively for UPSC Mains 2021 keeping the paucity of time between Prelims and Mains in mind. MOST COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM – is a MAINS Mentorship-Based Answer Writing Program for those appearing for UPSC Mains 2021. There are 22 Full-Length Tests (8 Full-Length Sectional Tests and 8 Full-Length Mock Tests and 6 Essay Tests). All the Tests are for 250 Marks, 3 hours Duration and these tests are flexible! ONE-ON-ONE MENTORSHIP – One-to-One personal guidance and feedback. Each evaluated copy is discussed in detail by your mentor, who will help you in identifying your strengths and weakness and give you the right direction. DETAILED EVALUATION OF ALL TESTS & RANKING – Detailed and Timely Evaluation and Ranking to be done and list to be published for both Online and Offline Combined. If Answer Copies are submitted on the same day or within 24 hours of the exam, it will be evaluated and given before the next test. For others, copies will be given within a maximum of 7 Days. DETAILED SYNOPSIS – How to Approach the questions based on the demand of the question will be mentioned in the Synopsis. There will be a special emphasis on approach to analytical questions and alternative introductions one can come up with, to the same question. All the important pointers will be given along with value addition. DISCUSSION SESSIONS/VIDEOS – Every Test will be followed by a discussion session/video where all the questions will be discussed. MAINSPEDIA – Mainspedia is a  one of its kind initiatives where we declutter the most important editorials across national dailies to bring you relevant and ready ‘Introductions’, ‘Conclusions’, ‘facts’, ‘data’ in tabular form. The Mainspedia Articles in the Answer Writing Format (Introduction, Body, Conclusion). SEPERATE PLATFORM (ONLINE STUDENTS) – A Separate platform has been designed for ONLINE students. Tests will be uploaded on this Platform on the day of the exam and you will be given a time domain to write and upload your answer sheets. Evaluated answer sheets will be uploaded back on your profile before the next scheduled test, provided you are submitting the Answer copies within 24 hours. This will help us in timely evaluation and publication of Offline + Online Ranking. SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON ETHICS and ESSAY – A special focus will be given on ESSAY and ETHICS through discussion videos so that you are confident enough to tackle any question in the exam hall. More than 12 Essay Themes (Philosophical, Environment, Women etc.) will be discussed. A Total of 24 Essays will be discussed across all themes. NOTE – The Program will start from 7th November, 2021 (Sunday). This program is available in both ONLINE and OFFLINE (DELHI, BANGALORE, LUCKNOW) mode.For Complete Details -> Click Here 

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 1st November 2021

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Climate Equity Monitor Part of: Prelims and GS III - Climate change  Context India has officially endorsed a website, Climate Equity Monitor, made by Indian climate experts. The website lists the historical carbon dioxide emissions of developed countries. The website was conceptualised and developed by the Climate Change Group at the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai, and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Department at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru, with other independent researchers. Key takeaways  It is aimed at monitoring the performance of Annex-I Parties under the UNFCCC (developed countries) based on the “foundational principles” of the Climate Convention. It aims to highlight the disparity between the emissions of developed and developing countries. Countries such as the USA, Canada and Australia and those in Western Europe are shown as having a net carbon debt while developing countries such as India and China have net credit. It highlights that it is only fair that developed countries must commit to steeper targets towards curbing emissions than developing countries. Implications:  Its focus on equity & climate action from a data and evidence-based perspective will encourage vigorous discussion on the crucial issue and engage experts from all nations. The website shall debunk the narrative provided by many developed countries, and global NGOs that focus attention continually on what developing countries must do, constantly demanding greater commitment and action from them. Status of India as Carbon emitter India is the third largest emitter of carbon emissions annually but the sixth largest when historical emissions are considered. When accounting for the size of its population it is among the lowest per capita emitters.  This underlines India’s demands for climate justice being at the heart of negotiations at COP26 and its reluctance to agree to a fixed time frame.  Project-15B stealth guided missile destroyers Part of: Prelims and GS-III - Defence and security  Context The first ship of the four Project-15B state-of-the-art stealth guided missile destroyers, Visakhapatnam, being built at the Mazgaon Docks Limited (MDL), was delivered to the Navy recently. The four ships are named after major cities from all four corners of the country — Visakhapatnam, Mormugao, Imphal and Surat. Key takeaways  The 163-metre-long warship has a full load displacement of 7,400 tonnes and a maximum speed of 30 knots.  It has approximately 75% indigenous content . These ships are equipped with BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and long-range Surface-to-Air missiles (SAM). The induction would enhance the maritime prowess in the Indian Ocean Region. Certain enhanced stealth features of the ships make them difficult to detect  These ships are propelled by four gas turbines in Combined Gas and Gas (COGAG) configuration About BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles Carried out by: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) from Balasore in Odisha. BrahMos surface-to-surface supersonic cruise missile features indigenous Booster and Airframe Section along with many other ‘Made in India’ sub-systems. The BrahMos Land-Attack Cruise Missile was cruising at a top speed of Mach 2.8. Shrinking of Informal sector in 2020-21 Part of: Prelims and GS III - Economy Context According to the SBI in a research report, there has been a greater shift towards formalisation of the economy. The share of the informal sector in overall economic activity has reduced sharply in 2020-21 even as informal workers continue to bear the brunt of the pandemic’s adverse effects. The informal sector consists of “own-account” or unorganised enterprises employing hired workers, with the highest share of such unorganised activity being in agriculture where holdings are small and fragmented. Key takeaways  The share of the informal economy may have shrunk to about 20% of the economic output from about 52% in 2017-18. It has been termed as positive development amid the pandemic. Besides, an IMF policy paper earlier this year estimated that the share of India’s informal economy in the Gross Value Added (GVA) was at 53.9% in 2011-12 and improved only marginally to 52.4% in 2017-18. As per a National Sample Survey (NSS) of 2014, around 93% of the workforce earned their livelihoods as informal workers. Census of Indus River dolphin Part of: Prelims and GS III - Conservation; Biodiversity  Context The census of one of the world’s most threatened cetaceans, the Indus river dolphin ( Platanista gangetica minor ) — is all set to commence as part of the Centre’s pan-India project.  Punjab’s wildlife preservation wing shall also protect the dolphins and their natural habitat. The project is to be implemented over five years. Key takeaways  Engage the community: Alongside research, importance will be on engaging the riparian (relating to wetlands adjacent to rivers and streams) communities by encouraging community-led biological monitoring.  Model villages: Villages around the hot spot sites of dolphin occurrence will be developed as models for community-led conservation.  ‘Beas-Dolphin Mitras: Extension programmes will be held to develop a group of dedicated individuals, called ‘Beas-Dolphin Mitras’ of the river Beas.  Dolphin eco tourism: The project also will embark on dolphin eco tourism.  Adopting participatory process: Participatory process shall be adopted to address various water conservation-related issues, including protection of freshwater habitats and species About Indus dolphin It is a freshwater dolphin  IUCN status: Endangered  Until recently, it was believed that these dolphins were endemic to Pakistan.  But in 2007, a remnant but viable population of Indus dolphins was discovered in Punjab’s Harike wildlife sanctuary and in the lower Beas river.  Since its discovery, research is being done by Punjab’s Department of Forests and Wildlife Preservation in partnership with WWF-India providing an understanding of current distribution, habitat use and population abundance.  Indus river dolphin was declared the State aquatic animal of Punjab in 2019. UNESCO World Heritage Forests Part of: Prelims and GS-III – Environment  Context As per UNESCO’s assessment on World Heritage forests, India’s Sundarbans National Park is among five sites that have the highest blue carbon stocks globally. Key findings of the new study It is the first ever scientific assessment of the amounts of greenhouse gases emitted from and absorbed by forests in UNESCO World Heritage sites during 2001 and 2020. The assessment involved the researchers from UNESCO, World Resources Institute (WRI) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). As a whole, UNESCO World Heritage forests in 257 separate sites, absorbed the equivalent of approximately 190 million tons of CO2 from the atmosphere each year. However, ten forests released more carbon than they sequestered due to pressure from human activity and climate change, which is alarming. They also store substantial amounts of carbon.  The study described blue carbon as organic carbon that is mainly obtained from decaying plant leaves, wood, roots and animals and is captured and stored by coastal and marine ecosystems. Factors responsible for this emission According to UNESCO’s findings, at some sites the clearance of land for  agriculture caused emissions to be greater than sequestration.  The increasing scale and severity of wildfires, often linked to severe periods of drought, was also a predominant factor in several cases. Other extreme weather phenomena, such as hurricanes  contributed at certain sites.   World Heritage forests As of today, more than 200 World Heritage sites harbor unique forest ecosystems. World Heritage forests, whose combined area of 69 million hectares is roughly twice the size of Germany, are biodiversity-rich ecosystems. (News from PIB) Dairy Sahakar scheme Under Dairy Sahakar, financial support will be extended by NCDC to eligible cooperatives for activities such as bovine development, milk procurement, processing, quality assurance, value addition, branding, packaging, marketing, transportation and storage of milk and milk products,  exports of dairy  products within the overall objectives of "Doubling the farmers income" and "Atmanirbhar Bharat.   There will also be a convergence with various schemes of Government of India  and / or of State Government/UT Administration/ Development agencies/ bilateral/multilateral assistance/ CSR mechanism is encouraged Climate Equity Monitor Part of: Prelims and Mains GS-III: Climate Change An online dashboard for assessing, at the international level, equity in climate action, inequalities in emissions, energy and resource consumption across the world, goes LIVE. Its focus on equity and climate action from a data and evidence-based perspective will encourage a vigorous discussion on this crucial issue and engage experts from all countries. The equitable sharing of the global carbon budget is the fundamental equity principle that will underpin the assessments that will progressively appear on the website. Aimed at monitoring the performance of Annex-I Parties under the UNFCCC (developed countries) based on the foundational principles of the Climate Convention, namely equity and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities (CBDR-RC). The performance and policies of the Non Annex-I Parties (developing countries) will be also provided for comparison. The website is expected to be a valuable tool for policy makers, public institutions, researchers, academics, students, and the general public from developing countries to keep equity and climate justice considerations clearly in view in their perspective. News Source: PIB Italy-India Strategic Partnership in Energy Transition Part of: Mains GS-II: India’s relationship with Italy Acknowledged significant progress in bilateral relations since the adoption of the Action Plan for an enhanced Partnership between India and Italy (2020 –2024)  Expressed their resolve to strengthen cooperation in the strategic sectors addressed by the Action Plan, including the cross-cutting issue of accelerating the clean energy transition to fight climate change, central to both the G20 Leaders Summit in Rome and the COP26 in Glasgow Both sides agreed on the utmost importance of cost effective integration of a growing amount of renewable energy into their respective power systems, as a key asset for an effective clean transition that generates jobs, GDP growth, reinforces universal energy access while eradicating energy poverty. In order to promote their partnership in energy transition, Italy and India will: Task the "Joint Working Group” established by the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the field of Energy, to explore cooperation in areas such as: Smart Cities; mobility; smart-grids, electricity distribution and storage solutions; gas transportation and promoting natural gas as a bridge fuel; integrated waste management ("waste-to-wealth”); and green energies (green hydrogen; CNG & LNG; bio-methane; bio-refinery; second-generation bio-ethanol; castor oil; bio-oil –waste to fuel). Initiate a dialogue to support the development and deployment of green hydrogen and related technologies in India. Consider working together to support a large size green corridor project in India to capitalize on India’s target to produce and integrate 450 GW of renewable energy by 2030. Encourage Italian and Indian companies to develop joint projects in natural gas sector, technological innovation for decarbonisation, Smart Cities and other specific domains (i.e.: electrification of urban public transport). Encourage joint investments of Indian and Italian companies in energy transition-related fields. Share useful information and experiences especially in the field of policy and regulatory framework, including possible means to facilitate the transition to cleaner and commercially viable fuels/technologies, long-term grid planning, incentivizing schemes for renewables and efficiency measures, as well as with regard to financial instruments for accelerating clean energy transition. News Source: PIB Amendment to Energy Conservation Act, 2001 Part of: Prelims and Mains GS-III: Energy Context: Amidst the growing energy needs and changing global climate landscape, the Government has identified new areas to achieve higher levels of penetration of Renewable energy by proposing certain Amendments to Energy Conservation Act, 2001.  Objective: Enhance demand for renewable energy at the end- use sectors such as Industry, buildings, transport etc. The proposal includes  Defining minimum share of renewable energy in the overall consumption by the industrial units or any establishment.  There will be provision to incentivise efforts on using clean energy sources by means of carbon saving certificate.  The proposed amendments would facilitate development of Carbon market in India and prescribe minimum consumption of renewable energy either as direct consumption or indirect use through grid. This will help in reduction of fossil fuel based energy consumption and carbon emission to the atmosphere. Background: India stands at the forefront of addressing the climate change and has committed to an ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) of reducing emission intensity by 33-35% in 2030 against the levels of 2005.  India is committed to achieve more than 40 percent cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil-fuel energy resources by 2030.  By adopting energy efficiency measures, India holds a potential to reduce about 550 MtCO2 by 2030.  The proposed changes to the EC Act will boost the adoption of clean technologies in various sectors of economy. The provisions would facilitate promotion of green Hydrogen as an alternate to the existing fossil fuels used by the Industries. The additional incentives in the form of Carbon credits against deployment of clean technologies will result in private sector involvement in climate actions.  The proposal also includes expanding the scope of Act to include larger Residential buildings, with an aim to promote Sustainable Habitat. News Source: PIB Pan-India Legal Awareness Programme for Women Part of: Prelims and Maing GS-II: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services  In News: The National Commission for Women (NCW), along with National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) has launched a pan-India Legal Awareness Program for Women, "Empowerment of Women through Legal Awareness” to impart practical knowledge about legal rights and remedies provided under various women related laws, thereby making them fit to face the challenges in real life situations. Aims to cover all the States and Union Territories across the country through regular sessions to make women aware of the various machineries of the justice delivery system available for redressal of their grievances.  The project will sensitize women and girls about their rights as provided under the various laws including the Indian Penal Code. The project will also make them aware of the procedure of approaching and utilizing various channels available for the redressal of grievances, i.e., the Police, the Executive and the Judiciary. News Source: PIB Miscellaneous Indology: The academic study of the history and cultures, languages, and literature of India and as such is a subset of Asian studies. Rashtriya Ekta Divas- National Unity Day: October 31; to pay tributes to veteran freedom fighter Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who was also the country's first home minister whose contribution in convincing many of the princely states to join the Union of India after Independence remains especially notable. (Mains Focus) FEDERALISM/ WATER GS-2: Issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure Mullaperiyar Dam Controversy Context: Recently, Supreme Court considered a public interest litigation petition filed by a Kerala physician, Joe Joseph and two former local body representatives on the operation of the Mullaperiyar dam over which Kerala and Tamil Nadu have been contesting for long.  Why is Mullaperiyar dam a sore point? The Maharaja of Travancore signed a 999-year Periyar Lake lease agreement with the British government on October 29, 1886, for the construction of the Mullaperiyar dam across the Periyar in the present Idukki district of Kerala. The dam became a reality nine years later.  Water was supplied from it through a tunnel to the water-scarce southern region of Tamil Nadu, especially the Vaigai basin. On an average, 22 thousand million cubic feet (tmc ft) of water is diverted, irrigating about 2.20 lakh acres and meeting the drinking water requirements of people in the region.  Concerns over the safety of the gravity dam built using lime-surkhi (burnt brick powder) mortar came to the fore in 1979.  In November 1979, a tripartite meeting chaired by the then chairman of the Central Water Commission (CWC), decided that the level had to be brought down from the full reservoir level of 152 feet to 136 feet to enable Tamil Nadu, which owns and maintains it, to carry out dam strengthening works.  By the mid-1990s, Tamil Nadu started demanding restoration of the level. What happened in the legal battles? The Central Government set up an expert committee in 2000 to look into the dam's safety. The committee recommended raising the level to 142 feet, which was endorsed by the Supreme Court in February 2006.  Kerala sought to restrict the level to 136 feet by way of an amendment to the Kerala Irrigation and Water Conservation Act, prompting the Tamil Nadu Government to move the Supreme Court.  In February 2010, the court constituted an empowered committee to study the whole gamut of issues concerning the dam.  Based on the committee’s finding that the dam was “structurally and hydrologically safe”, the court, in May 2014, struck down Kerala’s Act and allowed Tamil Nadu to maintain the level at 142 feet.  Supreme Court also asked the Central Government to set up a three-member Supervisory Committee to monitor dam safety. Why is it a social issue? Commissioned by the Kerala Government in the latter part of the 2000s, a study by IIT-Roorkee raised questions about the survival of the dam, located in seismic zone-3, in the event of an earthquake of a fairly high magnitude.  A series of tremors felt in the area in 2011 caused alarm.  Subsequently, the floods of 2018 and the erratic nature of annual monsoons ever since brought the focus back on the 126-year-old dam. Why is the case in the Supreme Court again? A petition was filed in the Supreme Court in 2020 contending that the Supervisory Committee had abdicated its responsibilities to a sub-committee constituted at the direction of the court for water management in the dam.  They also urged the court to ask the CWC to fix the ‘rule curve’, ‘instrumentation scheme’ and ‘gate operation schedule’ of the dam.  Massive landslides had devastated the hilly regions in central Kerala and weather prediction was worrying when the court’s attention was drawn to a report prepared by the United Nations University-Institute for Water, Environment and Health, which cited “significant structural flaws” in the dam and said it “may be at risk of failure”.  “Leaks and leaching are also concerning, as the methods and materials used during construction are considered outdated, compared to the current building standards,” UN University has said in its report. The Kerala Government, a respondent, argued for lowering the full reservoir level to 139 feet as the ageing dam was in a ‘deteriorating condition’. In the event of a dam failure, it would result in human tragedy and submitted a case for decommissioning the dam, in whose place a new dam could be built to cater to Tamil Nadu's water needs.  However, Tamil Nadu, relying on the Supreme Court’s two judgments, has been opposing any suggestion for lowering the level from 142 feet, apart from rejecting the idea of a new dam.  Tamil Nadu says it is taking steps to complete the remaining works to strengthen the dam, including those meant for the ‘baby dam,’ situated alongside the main dam, for which clearances from the Kerala and Central Governments are required. What’s on the cards? Design of a new dam by Kerala’s Irrigation Design and Research Board is in the final stages. However, without Tamil Nadu on board, this is not going to be a reality.  Meanwhile, in the backdrop of bad weather forecast, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan wrote to Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin, urging him to draw maximum quantum of water from the dam through the tunnel so that a large volume release would be avoided altogether.  Assuring Kerala CM of all support, Tamil Nadu CM informed him that the level in the dam was being closely monitored and the current storage was well within the level permitted by the Supreme Court.  A meeting between the Chief Ministers to discuss the issue is being planned in December. Connecting the dots: Cauvery Waters Authority INTERNATIONAL/ GOVERNANCE GS-2: International events Post-Brexit fishing row between France and the UK In News: A row between the UK and France has erupted over post-Brexit fishing rights, with France saying that it could stop British boats from landing if the dispute wasn’t resolved by early next week.  In fact, late 2020, these fishing rights were one of the sticking points in the post-Brexit negotiations between the EU and the UK What is this row about? As the UK became an “independent coast state” after December 31, 2020, Britain’s fishing industry, which makes up less than 0.1 per cent of the national economy, has been demanding greater access to the fishing grounds it currently shares with the EU. This has been vehemently resisted by EU What has triggered the row now? This week, France seized a British boat from French waters, a move that was objected by the UK, which also threatened to undertake retaliatory action. During the post-Brexit trade negotiations that were finalised days before the transition period ended on January 1, 2021, the fishing aspect was overlooked because “other aspects of trade are simply much more important for the economies of both the UK and the EU.” At the moment, France is maintaining that Britain has not granted France enough licenses to operate in Britain’s water, while Britain is saying that it is issuing licenses to vessels that meet their criteria. France has also said that if the talks between the two countries did not make any progress, France will put sanctions including extra customs checks on British goods from November 2. France now wants that all the provisions that are set out within the Trade and Cooperation Agreement are applied fully. How were fishing rights shared before Brexit? Fisheries in the EU – which included the UK until December 31, 2020 – are governed by the bloc’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). Under the CFP, fleets from every EU member state can fish in the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of all the other members, meaning the part of the sea that stretches up to 200 nautical miles from a nation’s coast, excluding its territorial waters – which end at 12 nautical miles from the coast. The EU as a bloc, and not individual countries, decides every December the volume of fish from each species that can be caught from the combined EEZs of its members, which are together considered a common resource. Fishing rights are then divided as per national quotas. As long as the UK remained a part of the EU, the CFP has allowed fleets from the rest of the bloc to trawl in British waters, which are considered to be very rich. How will the fishing rights be shared after Brexit? Regaining control over UK waters was a key part of the Leave campaign in 2016.  EU boats will continue to fish in UK waters for some years to come But UK fishing boats will get a greater share of the fish from UK waters That shift in the share will be phased in between 2021 and 2026, with most of the quota transferred in 2021 After that, there'll be annual negotiations to decide how the catch is shared out between the UK and EU The UK would have the right to completely exclude EU boats after 2026 But the EU could respond with taxes on exports of British fish to the EU or by denying UK boats access to EU waters Connecting the dots: BREXIT and India UK-Japan: A deal for the post-Brexit era? (Sansad TV: Perspective) Oct 30: 16th G-20 Summit: People, Planet & Prosperity - https://youtu.be/6B2Ao2sBBlc  TOPIC: GS-II: International relations 16th G-20 Summit: People, Planet & Prosperity Context: The 16th G-20 Summit is very significant in view of COVID-19 pandemic.  With the theme- ‘People, Planet, Prosperity’ discussions are being held on  Recovery from the pandemic & strengthening global health governance Economic recovery & resilience Climate change & energy transition  Sustainable development & food security About G20 G20 has emerged as the premier global forum for international cooperation. The grouping represents  80% of the world's GDP 75% of global trade 60% of the world's population Italy is holding the Presidency of the G20 this year and India will take on the G20 Presidency during 1 Dec, 2022-30 Nov 2023 term. Key Points to Note On Climate Change & energy transition Made a commitment to reach carbon neutrality “by or around mid-century”; G20 will ‘put an end to the provision of international public finance for new unabated coal power generation abroad by the end of 2021’ Called for “meaningful and effective” action to limit global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius (no reference to a specific 2050 date to achieve net-zero carbon emissions; Net zero means reducing greenhouse gas emissions as much as possible, until a country is absorbing the same amount of emissions from the atmosphere that it is putting out. ) This is the first time that G20 has identified sustainable and responsible consumption and production, along with the provision of finance and technology as “critical enablers” for achieving climate goals of keeping 1.5 degrees within reach. On Economic recovery & resilience Endorsed a landmark global agreement that seeks to block large corporations from shifting profits and jobs across borders to avoid taxes - An initiative to stop companies from sheltering profits in tax havens, where tax rates are low and corporations often maintain little physical presence beyond an official headquarters. On Recovery from the pandemic & strengthening global health governance Indicated they are against premature withdrawal of support measures initiated by the various countries to boost Covid-hit economy. Committed themselves to work together to monitor and address challenges facing the global economy and take steps to support stability. Vowed to take steps to boost its supply in developing nations and remove relevant supply as well as financing constraints for advancing toward the global goal of vaccinating at least 40 per cent of the population in all countries by the end of 2021 and 70 per cent by mid-2022. Leaders are still unsure about… Removed references in a previous draft to the target to “reduce emissions significantly”. Instead, it stated that it recognises that the reduction of emissions is one of the quickest, most feasible and most cost-effective ways to limit climate change. Did not touch upon the dispute over vaccine patent waivers States current national plans on how to curb emissions will have to be strengthened “if necessary” and includes a pledge to halt financing of overseas coal-fired power generation by the end of this year. However, the communique set no target for phasing out coal domestically, a clear nod to top carbon polluters China and India. Coal is still China’s main source of power generation, and both China and India have resisted attempts for a G-20 declaration on phasing out domestic coal consumption. India’s Stand India fully supports the priority areas of this summit and G -20 has also acknowledged India’s Leadership on global concerns and has supported views of India on wide array of issues.  PM Modi –  On Recovery from the pandemic & strengthening global health governance Underlining the need to address vaccine inequity across the world, especially in developing countries, told G-20 leaders that India is ready to produce over 5 billion vaccine doses by the end of next year. Used the opportunity to convey that the early emergency approval to Covaxin by WHO will facilitate India’s efforts to help other countries. Emphasized on vaccine research, manufacturing and innovation.  Spoke about facilitating international travel and spoke about the mechanism of mutual recognition of vaccine certification as a means of achieving this. Highlighted India’s contribution in the fight against Covid-19. In this regard, mentioned India’s medical supply to over 150 countries, and India’s vision of “One Earth One Health”, or the need for a collaborative approach in the international domain in the fight against the pandemic.  On Economic recovery & resilience Stressed on the need for resilient global supply chains and invited G-20 countries to make India their partner in economic recovery and supply chain diversification. Expressed “satisfaction” over the G-20’s decision to come up with a 15-per cent minimum corporate tax to make the global financial architecture “more just and fair” (ensures that companies don’t go to the lowest possible tax haven in order to minimise their tax burden, and that the large multinational corporations pay their share of taxes to countries that they are located in.) On Climate Change & energy transition Introduces Action Language to Reach Climate Goals On Sustainable development & food security India pushed for and was able to obtain a commitment from G20 nations on improving livelihoods for small and marginal farmers. The focus of the members will now be on the marginal farmers rather than just the prosperous ones Can you answer the following questions? Essay: 'If Glasgow fails, the whole thing fails' The figure 1.5°C is at the heart of any discussion on climate change. Discuss. (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 if the following is not an endangered species as per IUCN? Tiger Indus River dolphin Ganges dolphin Four-toed Terrapin  Q.2 Consider the following statements: The highest share of informal activity is in agriculture. Recent report has shown that the share of the informal sector has increased sharply due to COVID-19. Which of the above is or are correct?  1 only  2 only  Both 1 and 2  Neither 1 nor 2  Q.3 What is blue carbon? Carbon captured by oceans and coastal ecosystems Carbon sequestered in forest biomass and agricultural soils Carbon contained in petroleum and natural gas Carbon present in the atmosphere ANSWERS FOR 30th Oct 2021 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 B 2 D 3 D Must Read On Joe Biden’s social security and climate change plan: The Hindu On case for Energy Ministry: Indian Express

UPSC हिन्दी Quiz– 2021: IASbaba Daily Current Affairs Quiz 1st 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

Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz – 2021 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 1st 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 3 Questions [1st November, 2021] – Day 13

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 13 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 

Motivational Articles

Creative Guidance – Why can't we sit quiet? – Inspirational Educative Articles

Why can't we sit quiet? We are afraid to face the real questions of our existence, and our easiest escape from facing those important questions of life is to get busy. We are contented to busy ourselves to accomplish as many things as possible, instead of taking some time to reflect in silence and solitude about the nature of life and our place in it. This is why one of the most difficult things to do is to simply sit quiet. This is also why meditation is such a difficult proposition for many - not because meditation is inherently difficult, but because we have become too accustomed to losing ourselves in the various activities of life. This is why watching a movie, meeting friends, going on a vacation, or planning for the future is infinitely easier when compared to sitting quiet in meditation. The very fact that sitting quiet is difficult should tell us something very important. It tells us that there is a lot of pain within us that we don’t want to see. We prefer to be distracted by some external activity because we are afraid to face the reality of our inner nature. We are afraid of discovering something about ourselves that we don’t already know. It is almost like we are afraid of ourselves. Why else should sitting quiet be such a big problem? “This article is a part of the creative endeavor of Nirvana Foundation and IASBABA.”  

UPSC हिन्दी Quiz– 2021: IASbaba Daily Current Affairs Quiz 30th October 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

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 30th October 2021

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) Part of: Prelims and GS II - Policies and interventions Context According to its own financial statement, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme shows a negative net balance of Rs. 8,686 crore. The Centre’s flagship rural employment scheme has run out of funds halfway through the financial year, and supplementary budgetary allocations will not come to the rescue for at least another month when the next Parliamentary session begins. Key takeaways  The scheme’s 2021-22 budget was set at just Rs. 73,000 crore. The Central government argued that the nationwide lockdown was over, and that supplementary budgetary allocations would be available if the money ran out.  However, as on October 29, the total expenditure, including payments due had already reached Rs. 79,810 crore. 21 States show a negative net balance, with Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal faring the worst. What is Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)? Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) was notified in 2005. Goal – To improve the livelihood security of people in rural areas. It is a universal scheme guaranteeing 100 days of wage employment in a year to every rural household that expresses a demand.  It aims to guarantee the ‘Right to Work’. Every registered household receives a Job Card (JC) to track their work completed. The scheme is implemented by the gram panchayat. The failure of provision for employment within 15 days of the receipt of a job application will result in the payment of unemployment allowance to the job seekers. Employment is to be provided within 5 km of an applicant’s residence Employment under MGNREGA is a legal entitlement Sale of toxic crackers Part of: Prelims and GS II - Health and GS-III - Pollution Context The Supreme Court on Friday said Chief Secretaries and top administrative and police officials will be held personally liable if banned varieties of firecrackers are found to be used in any of the States. Key takeaways  SC said that Nobody can be permitted to play with the life of others, more particularly that of senior citizens and children. Only those firecrackers are banned which are found to be injurious to health and affecting the health of citizens. Any lapse on the part of the State Governments/ State Agencies and Union Territories shall be viewed very seriously. If it is found that any banned firecrackers are manufactured, sold and used in any particular area, the Chief Secretary of the State(s), the Secretary (Home) of the State(s) and the Commissioner of Police of the area, District Superintendent of Police of the area and the SHO/police officer in-charge of the police station shall be held personally liable. The court had allowed the use of ‘green’ or environment-friendly crackers made without toxic ingredients. Do you know? Firecrackers use fuel and oxidisers to produce a combustion reaction, and the resulting explosion spreads the material in a superheated state. The metal salts in the explosive mix get ‘excited’ and emit light. Many studies show, the burning of firecrackers is an unusual and peak source of pollution, made up of particles and gases. Pollution from firecrackers affects the health of people and animals, and aggravates the already poor ambient air quality in Indian cities.  This has resulted in court cases calling for a total ban on firecrackers, and court finally deciding to restrict the type of chemicals used as well as their volume. UIDAI seeks indemnity from Data Bill Part of: Prelims and GS II - Governance Context The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has asked for exemption from the Personal Data Protection (PDP) Law. In an interaction with the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Data Protection Bill 2019, UIDAI functionaries said the authority is already being governed by the Aadhaar Act and there cannot be duplicity of laws. About Personal Data Protection (PDP) Law The law is a comprehensive piece of legislation that seeks to give individuals greater control over how their personal data is collected, stored and used.  The Bill also establishes a Data Protection Authority for the same. Genesis of the Bill  The genesis of this Bill lies in the report prepared by a Committee of Experts headed by Justice B.N. Srikrishna. The committee was constituted by the government in the course of hearings before the Supreme Court in the right to privacy case (Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India). Contentious section 35 Section 35, which invokes “sovereignty and integrity of India,” “public order”, “friendly relations with foreign states” and “security of the state” to give powers to the Central government to suspend all or any of the provisions of this Act for government agencies. About UIDAI UIDAI was created with the objective to issue Unique Identification numbers (UID), named as “Aadhaar”, to all residents of India that is: robust enough to eliminate duplicate and fake identities can be verified and authenticated in an easy, cost-effective way. It is a statutory authority established under the provisions of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016. Under the Aadhaar Act 2016, UIDAI is responsible for Aadhaar enrolment and authentication Developing system for issuing Aadhaar numbers  Perform authentication  To ensure the security of identity information  Ministry: Electronics & IT ministry. Pneumococcal 13-valent Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) drive launched Part of: Prelims and GS II - Health  Context Union Health Minister launched a nationwide expansion of Pneumococcal 13-valent Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) under the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) as a part of ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’. It was for the first time in the country that PCV would be available for universal use.  Pneumonia was a leading cause of death among children under five, globally and in India. About Pneumonia  A variety of organisms, including bacteria, viruses and fungi, can cause pneumonia. Pneumonia caused by pneumococcus is the most common cause of severe pneumonia in children.  Around 16% of deaths in children occur due to pneumonia in India.  The nationwide roll-out of PCV will reduce child mortality by around 60% symptoms of pneumonia: Chest pain when you breathe or cough, changes in mental awareness, Cough, which may produce phlegm, Fatigue, Fever, chills, etc. Treatments include antibiotics, antivirals and anti fungal medications. Healthy diet, hygiene, vaccinations are some of the ways to prevent pneumonia. Data Disclosure Framework Part of: Prelims and GS-II – health and GS-III – Linkage of organised crime with Terrorism  Context The UN Office on Drugs and Crime and the Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate have launched Data Disclosure Framework. It is a tool that outlines the practices developed for responding to data requests from foreign criminal justice authorities for counter-terrorism investigations. About United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime It was established in 1997 and was named as a United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in 2002. It acts as the Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention by combining the United Nations International Drug Control Program (UNDCP) and the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Division of the United Nations Office at Vienna. (News from PIB) Mission Samudrayan It is India’s First and Unique Manned Ocean Mission India joins the elite club of nations such as USA, Russia, Japan, France and China to have such underwater vehicles for carrying out subsea activities Will help in carrying out deep ocean exploration of the non-living resources such as polymetallic manganese nodules, gas hydrates, hydro-thermal sulphides and cobalt crusts, located at a depth between 1000 and 5500 meters The underwater vehicles are essential for carrying out subsea activities such as high resolution bathymetry, biodiversity assessment, geo-scientific observation, search activities, salvage operation and engineering support. 15th India-Israel Joint Working Group Part of: Prelims and Mains GS-II: Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate. Context: India-Israel Joint Working Group (JWG) on Bilateral Defence Cooperation has agreed to form a Task Force to formulate a comprehensive Ten-Year Roadmap to identify new areas of cooperation.  Reviewed the progress made in Military to Military engagements including exercises and industry cooperation.  Appraised on the progress made by the Sub Working Groups (SWG) on Defence Procurement & Production and Research & Development.  It was also decided to form a SWG on Defence Industry Cooperation - would enable efficient utilisation of bilateral resources, effective flow of technologies and sharing industrial capabilities About India-Israel Joint Working Group (JWG): The JWG is the apex body between the Ministry of Defence of India and Israel’s Ministry of Defence to comprehensively review and guide all aspects of Bilateral Defence Cooperation.  News Source: PIB (Mains Focus) INTERNATIONAL/ SECURITY GS-2: India and its neighborhood- relations.  Myanmar Crisis Context: Recently, ASEAN excluded Myanmar’s military junta from its annual summit held on October 26-28. It is a major setback for the Generals’ attempts to gain regional legitimacy for their regime. What is happening in Myanmar? Ever since it seized power by toppling the democratic government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February, the Military junta has unleashed a reign of terror claiming an estimated 1,000 lives. Ms. Suu Kyi, who had been the State Councillor for five years from 2015 heading the quasi-democratic government, has been in detention since the coup. She is facing various charges, including violating the country's official secrets act, possessing illegal walkie-talkies and publishing information that may "cause fear or alarm". Months after the seizure of power, the Military junta, led by Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, is still struggling to restore order  If in the past the National League for Democracy (NLD), Ms. Suu Kyi’s party, had upheld non-violence even in the face of repression, this time, NLD leaders have called for a “revolution”. In cities, protests slid into armed fighting between pro-democracy protesters and security personnel, while in the jungles, anti-junta groups joined hands with rebels for military training.  The situation has become so grave that the UN Special Envoy warned this month that Myanmar had descended into a civil war. Most recent reports suggest that the junta has been systematically torturing political prisoners. Regime violence, political crises and strikes and counter-attacks by protesters have all pushed Myanmar to the brink of collapse.  According to the UN, some three million people are in need of life-saving assistance because of “conflict, food insecurity, natural disasters and COVID-19”.  What role is ASEAN playing in this crisis situation? One of the regional groupings with some leverage over the Myanmar’s Military junta is ASEAN.  In April, Gen. Min Aung Hlaing was invited to Jakarta for emergency talks with ASEAN members. The bloc asked him to immediately end violence and start the reconciliation process  ASEAN requested Myanmar Military Junta to allow a regional special envoy to meet with all stakeholders, including Ms. Suu Kyi.  A special envoy was appointed as part of the ASEAN plan, but he was not allowed to meet Ms. Suu Kyi. Recent decision of ASEAN to not admit Myanmar Junta during its summit is a reminder that continuing violence could cause regional isolation of the regime, which could worsen the crisis.  Conclusion Violence might allow Myanmar Military to hold on to power for now, but that is not sustainable. The international community should continue to put pressure on the junta and urgently start a reconciliation process. Connecting the dots: Myanmar Coup POLITY/ GOVERNANCE GS-2: Elections Political Parties Registration in India Context: Former Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh announced that he will be forming his own political party in Punjab which will be registered with the Election commission. What is the procedure for registering political parties? According to the Election Commission, any party seeking registration has to submit an application to the Commission within a period of 30 days following the date of its formation Article 324 of the Indian Constitution and Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 has conferred power to the Election Commission to prescribe guidelines for registration of parties. The applicant has to publish a proposed party name in two national daily newspapers and two local daily newspapers. The notice for publication is also displayed on the website of the Election Commission.  To register a political party, an application for registration has to be sent by registered post or presented personally to the Secretary to the Election Commission within 30 days following the date of formation of the party in the format prescribed.  The application must be accompanied by a demand draft for Rs.10,000. It also needs to include a printed copy of the memorandum, rules and regulations or constitution of the Party. It should contain provisions regarding organizational elections at different levels and the periodicity of such elections and terms of office of the office-bearers of the party. It also needs to have the latest electoral rolls in respect of at least 100 members of the party to show that they are registered electors.  The application would also need an affidavit duty signed by the President or General Secretary of the party and sworn before a First Class Magistrate/Oath Commissioner)/ Notary Public.  Individual affidavits from at least 100 members of the party would also be needed to ensure that they are not a member of any other political party registered with the Commission. Why registering with the EC is important? To be clear, it is not mandatory to register with the Election Commission but registering as a political party with the EC has its advantage in terms of intending to avail itself of the provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, (relating to registration of political parties). The candidates of registered political party will get preference in the matter of allotment of free symbols vis-à-vis purely independent candidates. These registered political parties can get recognition as a ‘state party’ or a ‘national party’ subject to the fulfilment of the conditions prescribed in the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968. How EC recognises a political party as a state or national party? Several conditions are followed by the Election Commission to recognise the parties as a state or national party. State Party – The registered party has to satisfy any of the 5 conditions. Secure at least 6% of the valid vote & win at least 2 seats in a State Assembly General Election Secure at least 6% of the valid vote & win at least 1 seats in a Lok Sabha General Election Win at least 3% of the seats or at least 3 seats , whichever is more, in a State assembly General Election Win at least 1 out of every 25 seats from a state in a Lok Sabha General Election Secure at least 8% of the total valid vote in a State Assembly or a Lok Sabha General Election There are over 60 regional parties and more than 2,000 registered but unrecognised parties in the country. National Party - The registered party has to satisfy any of the 3 conditions. Secure at least 6% of the valid vote in an Assembly or a Lok Sabha General Election in any four or more states and win at least 4 seats in a Lok Sabha General Election from any State or States Win at least 2% of the total Lok Sabha seats in a Lok Sabha General Election and these seats have to be won from at least 3 states The party is recognized as a State Party in at least four states. As on 2019, India had seven national parties (All India Trinamool Congress, Bahujan Samaj Party, Bharatiya Janata Party, Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Indian National Congress and Nationalist Congress Party)  These conditions have to be fulfilled by the parties before every Lok Sabha and Assembly elections to make sure they don’t lose their status. What are the perks of recognition as a state or national party? A party recognized as a state party gets a reserved symbol within the state wheareas for a national party, the reserved symbol can be used across the country by its contesting candidates. Such parties need only one proposer for filing the nomination. They are entitled to broadcast/telecast facilities over Doordarshan during the general elections. They are also entitled for two sets of electoral rolls free of cost. There are also other advantages to the recognized parties like subsidized land for party offices etc. Connecting the dots: Challenges by Election Commission Block Chain Technology and Voting HEALTH/ GOVERNANCE GS-2: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Human Resources GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Health Insurance for India’s Missing Middle In News: NITI Aayog recently released a comprehensive report titled Health Insurance for India’s Missing Middle, which brings out the gaps in the health insurance coverage across the Indian population and offers solutions to address the situation. Key highlights from the Report: Low Public Expenditure Low government expenditure on health has constrained the capacity and quality of healthcare services in the public sector.  It diverts the majority of individuals—about two-thirds—to seek treatment in the costlier private sector. However, low financial protection leads to high out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE).  Missing Middle India’s population is vulnerable to catastrophic spending, and impoverishment from expensive trips to hospitals and other health facilities.  Around 20% of the population is covered through social health insurance, and private voluntary health insurance primarily designed for high-income groups.  The remaining 30% of the population, devoid of health insurance, is termed as the “missing middle”. The missing middle contains multiple groups across all expenditure quintiles and is spread across both urban and rural areas. The 30% of the population, or 400 million individuals—called the missing middle in this report—are devoid of any financial protection for health. Low Insurance Penetration Significant challenges will need to be overcome to increase the penetration of health insurance. The government and the private sector will need to come together in this endeavor. Private sector ingenuity and efficiency is required to reach the missing middle and offer compelling products.  The government has an important role to play in increasing consumer awareness and confidence, modifying regulation for standardized product and consumer protection, and potentially offering a platform to improve operational efficiency. The Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana—a flagship scheme towards Universal Health Coverage, and State Government extension schemes—provides comprehensive hospitalization cover to the bottom 50% of the population. Way Ahead: There is a need for designing a low-cost comprehensive health insurance product for the missing middle. The government can partially finance or provide health insurance. The government can expand Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) coverage to the poorest segments of the missing middle population, and leverage the scheme’s infrastructure to offer a voluntary contributory enrolment. The government can provide its data and infrastructure as a public good to reduce operational and distribution costs of insurers. For example, it can share government data (after taking consent) which aids identification and outreach to customers. It can also offer PMJAY’s IT platform and network to reduce operational costs.  A combination of implementation pathways—starting with commercial insurers and progressing to leveraging government risk-pooling schemes for voluntary insurance—phased in at different times, will ensure coverage for the missing middle population. The initial thrust and focus should be on expanding private voluntary contributory insurance through commercial insurers. Prepayment through health insurance emerges as an important tool for risk-pooling and safeguarding against catastrophic expenditure from health shocks. Prepaid pooled funds can also improve the efficiency of healthcare provision. In the medium term, once the supply-side and utilization of PMJAY and ESIC is strengthened, their infrastructure can be leveraged to allow voluntary contributions to a PMJAY-plus product offered by NHA, or to ESIC’s existing medical benefits.  The participation of NHA and ESIC will increase competition in the contributory voluntary insurance market, reducing premiums, and improving quality of care provided. In the long-term, once the low-cost, voluntary contributory health insurance market is developed, expansion of PMJAY to the remaining uncovered, poorer segments of the missing middle can be considered. Connecting the dots: PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission  Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission Ayushman Bharat PMJAY (ORF: Experts Speak) Oct 27: Liberalisation of private schools is necessary for all Indian children to be educated - https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/liberalisation-of-private-schools/  TOPIC: GS-II: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education, Human Resources. Liberalisation of Private Schools Context: India’s development trajectory is critically linked to the investments in social infrastructure, thus, liberalisation of private education will allow higher investments in human capital and inclusive growth. Issues: Nearly 12 crore of the 25 crore Indian children study in private schools. Of these 12 crore children, 70 percent of the students study in private schools that charge less than INR 1,000 per month.  Yet, the narrative on India’s private schools is centered around a few elite schools instead of the low budget schools where most private school students actually study. For all Indian children to be well educated in a way that they are prepared for 21st century jobs and challenges, not only do children need to have great foundational learning but they also need to learn skills that will help them succeed. However, learning outcomes in budget private schools are only slightly better than those in government schools. The National Education Policy 2020  Doesn’t address the weak state capacity to deliver quality education in public schools, and it doesn’t liberate private schools from the philanthropic mandate.  The policy recognises the “severe learning crisis” in public schools but fails to address the accountability issue that’s at the centre of the severe learning crisis in public and budget private schools. For private schools, the policy does recommend that the norms to regulate private schools should change from input-based ones to outcome-based ones. However, the policy fails to recognise that this alone will not be enough to allow low-cost schools to deliver high-quality 21st-century education to 8.4 cr children. However, irrespective of where these students study, learning outcomes that were poor to begin with, have fallen rapidly due to the pandemic. Also, there is very little evidence that either public schools or lowbudget private schools, under the current regulatory setup, have the capability to deliver high-quality education at the scale that India needs. The Case being - The ideological imperative that being a noble cause, education must remain not-for-profit is especially bewildering when compared to the evergreen coaching industry and the more recent EdTech sector. The huge influx of capital and people that’s seen in these two sectors is a clear indication of the huge latent demand for quality education in schools as well. Liberalisation of India’s private schools  It has to include both a rationalisation of the regulations as well as the removal of the philanthropic mandate.  The plethora of regulations currently imposed by state and the centre need to be rationalised into a regulatory framework that focuses mainly on learning outcomes and essential safety norms rather than inputs such as infrastructure requirements, teacher qualifications, and fee caps.  Additionally, schools can be required to publish information regarding other important matters including admission process, fees structure, teacher quality without being required to meet norms which impose prohibitory costs on school owners.  To ensure that parents are well aware of a school’s performance, standardised census assessments of learning outcomes should be published for all schools, both private and public.  As the NEP proposes, an independent regulator separate from state bodies that manage public schools should be set up at each state level to ensure compliance to the limited regulation to act as an ombudsman. Removing the philanthropic mandate means allowing schools to operate for profit with autonomy on all matters. Currently state and central boards of education require schools to be non-profit entities such as a Trust, Society, or Section 25 Company to affiliate with them. This requirement should be removed, allowing schools to make a choice.  Schools run by philanthropic organisations can continue to operate with their current legal status. However, schools wanting to move to a profit status may do so by declaring their intent. One major objection against this will be that this will allow schools to raise their fees indiscriminately. While in the long run, competition is the only force that can keep prices genuinely low while keeping the quality high, in the short term, schools may not charge more than say 10-12 percent increment—which most fee regulation acts anyway allow for—to any existing parent. Schools can, however, charge any fees to new parents by declaring the fees for as long as the student can be in school (for the next 12-15 years). India already spends an average of INR 30,000 per annum per student in public schools where accountability is poor in general. If this sum, or a significant part of it, were to be made available to parents directly through education vouchers or direct benefit transfers, it would spur a huge supplyside response by spurring huge investment into schools of all kinds. Conclusion The 21st century requires not just literacy but much higher-quality education and higher-order skills than being able to read, write, or add alone.  India can’t afford to make incremental safe changes and expect radically different outcomes. Radical changes are necessary.  The only realistic way that all Indian students can get education that actually prepares them for the 21st century is to liberalise India’s private schools and fund students directly. Must Read: Japanese education spells holistic development  (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 Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) comes under which of the following Ministry/agencies? Ministry of rural development  Ministry of Electronics and IT NITI Aayog DRDO  Q.2 Consider the following statements regarding Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme: The failure of provision for employment within 15 days of the receipt of a job application will result in the payment of unemployment allowance to the job seekers. Employment is to be provided within 5 km of an applicant’s residence Employment under MGNREGA is a legal entitlement Which of the above is or are correct?  1 and 2 only  2 only  2 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Q.3 Pneumonia is caused by Which of the following?  Bacteria Virus Fungus All of the above ANSWERS FOR 29th Oct 2021 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 B 2 B 3 C Must Read On Dual Character of India’s Federalism: Deccan Herald On India–Russia Cooperation in the Arctic: IDSA