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Oct 27, 2021 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

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

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Mudumalai Tiger Reserve Part of: Prelims and GS III - Conservation related issues; Context Steps will be taken to open a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre in the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve. Reason for the step: Animals, captured or rescued recently in the Nilgiris, needed to be taken to the Arignar Anna Zoological Park in Chennai or the Mysore Zoo for treatment. Mudumalai Tiger Reserve Mudumalai Tiger Reserve is located in the Nilgiris District of Tamil Nadu state at the tri-junction of three states, viz, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It is a part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (1st Biosphere Reserve in India) along with Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala) in the West, Bandipur National Park (Karnataka) in the North, Mukurthi National Park and Silent Valley in the South. Flora: The Reserve has tall grasses, commonly referred to as ‘Elephant Grass'. Bamboo of the giant variety, valuable timber species like Teak, Rosewood, etc. There are several species of endemic flora. Fauna: Flagship Species: Tiger and Asian Elephant. Other Tiger Reserves in Tamil Nadu Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR) Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR) Mobile hospitals under PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission Part of: Prelims and GS II - Health Context Recently it was highlighted by the Union Health minister that under recently launched PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission, various tests would be done for free at the district level, which will reduce expenses and unnecessary travel for the poor. Key takeaways For the first time in Asia, two container-based hospitals, equipped with comprehensive medical facilities, will be stationed in Chennai and Delhi and kept at the ready to be swiftly mobilised by rail or air to respond to any calamity or disaster in the country. Objective: To fill critical gaps in public health infrastructure, especially in critical care facilities and primary care in both the urban and rural areas. Strengthening of points of entry will ring-fence India’s borders against the import of new infectious diseases and pathogens. Development of critical care hospital blocks in districts shall make the districts self-sufficient in providing comprehensive treatment for infectious diseases Every district shall have at least one medical college as well. Matrilineal Meghalaya to give land rights to men Part of: Prelims and GS I - Society Context Matrilineal Meghalaya is set to break the tradition of parents hand down a major share of parental property to the khatduh, which means the youngest daughter in the Khasi language. The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) is scheduled to introduce the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Khasi Inheritance of Property Bill, 2021, for equal distribution of parental property among siblings, both male and female. The bill will enable equitable distribution of property among the heirs irrespective of gender. The Bill also has a provision for denying share of property to any ward who marries a non-tribal and accepts the culture and tradition of his or her spouse. About the tradition of the Khasis Khasis – who account for Meghalaya’s largest ethnic community – are one of the last existing matrilineal societies in the world. Here, children receive their mother's last name, husbands move into their wife's home, and the youngest daughters inherit the ancestral property. Khasi is used as an umbrella phrase to refer to many subgroups in Meghalaya who have distinguishing languages, rites, ceremonies, and habits, but share an ethnic identity as Ki Hynniew Trep (The Seven Huts). Unmanned Traffic Management Service Providers (UTMSP) Part of: Prelims and GS III - Aviation Context The Ministry of Civil Aviation has notified a traffic management policy framework for drones, which envisages private, third-party service providers for ensuring safe operations. Key takeaways Major role: Under the framework, these Unmanned Traffic Management Service Providers (UTMSP) will extend automated, algorithm-driven software services instead of voice communication as in the traditional Air Traffic Management (ATM) systems. Responsibility: They will be responsible for segregating and separating a drone from other drones and manned aircraft in the airspace below 1,000 feet in the country. Supplementary Service Providers (SSPs): The traffic management providers will be assisted by Supplementary Service Providers (SSPs), who will maintain data about terrain, weather, location of manned aircraft and provide services such as insurance, data analytics and drone fleet management. Law enforcement and security agencies will also have access to some information in the UTM ecosystem on a need-to-know basis. Levy of Service fee allowed The policy also allows UTMSPs to levy a service fee on users, a small portion of which will also be shared with the Airports Authority of India. In order to implement this policy, the government is likely to carry out UTM-based experiments in the country and then float a request for proposal for onboarding UTMSPs. Following which an evaluation process will be undertaken and successful participants will be awarded regions for establishment of UTM services. Digital safety principles of G7 Part of: Prelims and GS II - International Relations Context G7 nations recently agreed on a joint set of principles to govern cross-border data use and digital trade. The deal sets out a middle ground between highly regulated data protection regimes used in European countries and the more open approach of the United States. Key provisions of the G7 Digital Trade Principles Open Digital Markets: Digital and telecommunications markets should be competitive, transparent, fair, and accessible. Cross Border Data Flows: To harness the opportunities of the digital economy, data should be able to flow freely across borders with trust Safeguards for Workers, Consumers and Businesses: Labour protections must be in place for workers who are directly engaged in or support digital trade. Digital Trading Systems: To cut red tape and enable more businesses to trade, governments and industries should drive forward the digitisation of trade-related documents. Fair and Inclusive Global Governance: Common rules for digital trade should be agreed upon and upheld at the World Trade Organization (WTO). Data Encryption: Businesses should not be required or coerced to transfer technology or provide access to source code or encryption keys as a condition of market access. About G7 G7 stands for “Group of Seven” industrialized nations. It used to be known as the G8 (Group of Eight) until 2014 when Russia was excluded because of its annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. Countries: United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Japan, France and Italy. The G7 does not have a formal constitution or a fixed headquarters. It is an informal bloc and The decisions taken by leaders during annual summits are non-binding. Generally every member country hosts the summit once every 7 years Miscellaneous Dadasaheb Phalke Award It is the country’s highest film honour conferred for “Outstanding contribution for the growth and development of Indian cinema”. Dadasaheb Phalke Award was introduced by the government in 1969 and it was awarded for the first time to Devika Rani, “the first lady of Indian cinema”. Dadasaheb Phalke directed India’s first feature film Raja Harischandra (1913). He is known as “Father of Indian Cinema”. 51st Dadasaheb Phalke Award was recently presented to Rajinikanth. (News from PIB) Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD) Part of: Prelims and Mains GS-II: Global groupngs Context: First conducted in 2018, the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD) is the apex international annual conference of the Indian Navy, and is the principal manifestation of the navy’s engagement at the strategic-level. Aim: To review both opportunities and challenges that arises within the Indo-Pacific. Theme: Evolution in Maritime Strategy during the 21st Century: Imperatives, Challenges, and, Way Ahead – Evolving Maritime Strategies within the Indo-Pacific: Convergences, Divergences, Expectations and Apprehensions. Adaptive Strategies to Address the Impact of Climate Change upon Maritime Security. Port-led Regional Maritime Connectivity and Development Strategies. Cooperative Maritime Domain Awareness Strategies. Impact of the Increasing Recourse to Lawfare upon a Rules-based Indo-Pacific Maritime Order. Strategies to Promote Regional Public-Private Maritime Partnerships. Energy-Insecurity and Mitigating Strategies. Strategies to Address the Manned-Unmanned Conundrum at Sea. News Source: PIB India’s TB Elimination Programme Part of: Prelims and Mains GS-II: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health In News: WHO South-East Asia Region (SEAR) High-Level Meeting held for renewed TB response co-chaired by India. India’s contribution towards eliminating TB Eliminating TB by 2025: India is committed to eliminating tuberculosis by 2025, five years ahead of the global target of 2030. National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme: To align with the ambitious goal, the programme has been renamed from the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) to National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP Addressing all co-morbidities and goes beyond medical interventions to tackle the social determinants of TB while minimizing access barriers to diagnosis and treatment. Through the Nikshay Poshan Yojana, nutritional support is extended to all TB patients for the entire duration of their treatment. Rigorously working towards Airborne Infection Control in hospital wards and outpatient waiting areas. Has the provision of chemoprophylaxis against TB disease in pediatric contacts of TB patients and PLHIV patients. The process is ongoing for expanding TB preventive treatment for the adult contacts too. ‘TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan’ has been launched as a people’s movement for TB elimination in India. India remains committed to supporting countries in its neighbourhood with possible technical support and assistance. Indi appreciated the South-East Asia Region (SEAR) for demonstrating the highest-level political commitment towards ending tuberculosis and increasing investments towards ending TB. Tuberculosis (TB) Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Transmission: TB is spread from person to person through the air. When people with TB cough, sneeze or spit, they propel the TB germs into the air. Symptoms: Cough with sputum and blood at times, chest pains, weakness, weight loss, fever and night sweats. TB is a treatable and curable disease. Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a form of TB caused by bacteria that do not respond to isoniazid and rifampicin, the 2 most powerful, first-line anti-TB drugs. It is treatable and curable by using second-line drugs. Extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) is a more serious form of MDR-TB caused by bacteria that do not respond to the most effective second-line anti-TB drugs, often leaving patients without any further treatment options. Reports say According to the India TB report, in 2020, there were 18.05 tuberculosis notifications, which was a fall of 24% from 2019 due to the disruptions caused by the pandemic. According to the 2021 Global TB report released recently by the World Health Organization (WHO), for the first time in over a decade, Tuberculosis (TB) deaths have increased globally. WHO modelling projections suggest that the number of people developing TB and dying from the disease could be much higher in 2021 and 2022. News Source: PIB (Mains Focus) ENVIRONMENT/ INTERNATIONAL GS-2: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests GS-3: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation Why India shouldn’t sign on to net zero Context: The top three emitters of the world — China, the U.S. and the European Union — even after taking account of their net zero commitments and their enhanced emission reduction commitments for 2030, will emit more than 500 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide before net zero. With these committed emissions, there is no hope of “keeping 1.5°C alive.” The target is dead-on-arrival. Why India shouldn’t sign on Net Zero? Not part of any Protocols: Neither the Paris Agreement nor climate science requires that net zero be reached individually by countries by 2050. Paris accord requires only global achievement of this goal “in the second half of the century” Net Zero Ignores Equity: Claims that the world “must” reach specific goals by 2030 or 2050 are the product of specific economic models for climate action. These are designed to achieve the Paris goals by the “lowest cost” methods, foregoing equity and climate justice. Against Historical Responsibility: Less than a fifth of the world has been responsible for three-fifths of all past cumulative emissions, the U.S. and the EU alone having contributed a whopping 45%. For India to declare net zero now is to accede to the further over-appropriation of the global carbon budget by a few. India’s Commitment won’t alter much: India’s contribution to global emissions, in both stock and flow, is so disproportionately low that any sacrifice on its part can do nothing to save the world. Bad Precedence of West: The failure of the developed world to meet its pre-2020 obligations along with its refusal to acknowledge this provides little confidence for India with regard to commitments announced by West. What India must do India’s emissions story cannot be bracketed with the top three. India is responsible for no more than 4.37% cumulative emissions of carbon dioxide since the pre-industrial era, even though it is home to more than a sixth of humanity. India’s per capita emissions are less than half the world average, less than one-eighth of the U.S.’s, and have shown no dramatic increase like China’s post 2000. The allocation of property rights (Carbon Budget), without grandfathering, is essential to ensure equitable access to any global commons. The global carbon budget has been subject to no such restriction allowing the developed countries to exploit it fully, in the past and the present. India, in enlightened self-interest, must now stake its claim to a fair share of the global carbon budget. The absence of such a claim only eases the way for the continued over-exploitation of the global commons by a few. Such a claim by India provides it greater, and much-needed long-term options. It enables the responsible use of coal, oil and gas, to develop, eradicate poverty, hunger and malnutrition for good. Even if India were to enhance its short-term Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement, it should do so while staking a claim to its share of the global commons. Connecting the dots: Paris Climate Deal China’s Climate Commitments INTERNATIONAL/ SECURITY GS-2: India and its neighborhood- relations GS-3: Challenges in managing the borders China’s new land border law and Indian concerns Context: On October 23, China passed a new land law for the “protection and exploitation of the country’s land border areas” which will come into effect from January 1. The law is not meant specifically for the border with India; however, the 3,488-km boundary remains disputed, and some experts feel it could create further hurdles in the resolution of the 17-month-long military standoff. Do You Know? China shares its 22,457-km land boundary with 14 countries including India, the third longest after the borders with Mongolia and Russia. Unlike the Indian border, however, China’s borders with these two countries are not disputed. The only other country with which China has disputed land borders is Bhutan (477 km). The Chinese law It states that “the sovereignty and territorial integrity of China are sacred and inviolable”, and asks the state to “take measures to safeguard territorial integrity and land boundaries and guard against and combat any act that undermines it”. The state can take measures “to strengthen border defence, support economic and social development as well as opening-up in border areas, encourage and support people’s life and work there and promote coordination between border defence and social, economic development in border areas”. In effect, this suggests a push to settle civilians in the border areas. However, the law also asks the state to follow the principles of “equality, mutual trust, and friendly consultation, handle land border related-affairs with neighbouring countries through negotiations to properly resolve disputes and longstanding border issues” Implications on India The announcement of a law that makes China’s borders “sacred and inviolable” at a time of prolonged ongoing discussions to resolve the standoff in eastern Ladakh, may create further hurdles in arriving at lasting solution. The PLA is now “bound to protect the integrity, sovereignty of the border”, and saying “that PLA is going to pull out from A, B, C, D areas, will make this much more difficult”. Overall, it will make negotiations a little more difficult, a pullout from balance areas less likely. China has been building “well-off” border defence villages across the LAC in all sectors. China is trying to change the facts on the ground not only through military but also civilian presence. The “dual civil and military use” of border villages is a concern for India. Some experts think the law is just words — what has impacted the ties is not domestic Chinese legislation, but their actions on the ground. Connecting the dots: India-China, a year after Galwan India-China Border flare-up Galwan Valley Clashes in 2020 (Sansad: Perspective) Oct 25: Boosting Health Infrastructure- https://youtu.be/S1n9j-grD2k TOPIC: GS-II: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health Boosting Health Infrastructure In News: Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission has been launched which will be one of the largest pan-India scheme for strengthening healthcare infrastructure across the country. The government will spend Rs 64,180 crore on the scheme from the financial year 2021-22 to 2025-26. To address three critical gaps in India’s public health sector: Augmenting health facilities for treatment Setting up of Integrated Public Health labs for diagnosis of disease Expansion of existing research institutions that study pandemics Component 1: Establish comprehensive surveillance of infectious diseases At the district level, Integrated Public Health laboratories in all 730 districts will be set up. At the state level, five regional branches and 20 metropolitan units of the National Centre for Disease Control. At the national level, an Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP) will be established. Component 2: Creation of comprehensive diagnostics and treatment facilities At the district level, 17,788 new rural health and wellness centres will be set up; 11,024 new urban health and wellness centres will be set up; critical care hospital blocks will be established in each of 602 districts, with a population of more than 5 lakh. At the state level, 15 health emergency operation centres will be set up. At the national level, two container-based mobile hospitals will be set up; and critical care hospital blocks in 12 Government of India hospitals will be set up — which will also act as mentor institutions for training and capacity building. Component 3: Comprehensive pandemic research At the district level, strengthening of existing 80 viral diagnostics and research labs will be undertaken. At the state level, 15 new bio-safety level III laboratories will be operationalised. At the national level, four new regional national institutes for virology will be operationalized and a regional research platform (digital) for WHO southeast Asia Region will also be set up. Why is the scheme significant? India has long been in need of a ubiquitous healthcare system. A study (‘State of Democracy in South Asia (SDSA)–Round 3’) by Lokniti-CSDS in 2019 highlighted how access to public health care remained elusive to those living on the margins. The study found that 70 per cent of the locations have public healthcare services. However, availability was less in rural areas (65 per cent) compared to urban areas (87 per cent). In 45 per cent of the surveyed locations, people could access healthcare services by walking, whereas in 43 per cent of the locations they needed to use transport. The survey also found that proximity to healthcare services is higher in urban localities: 64 per cent of the enumerators in urban areas observed that people can access healthcare services by walking, while only 37 per cent in rural areas can do so Note: Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) is a flagship digital initiative involving the creation of not just a unique health ID for every citizen, but also a digital healthcare professionals and facilities registry. Can you answer the following questions? Ayushman Bharat is one of the most ambitious health schemes ever launched in India. What can be the key challenges in proper implementation of this scheme? Right to health – A Fundamental Right (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 Where is Mudumalai Tiger Reserve located? Karnataka Tamil Nadu Kerala All of the above Q.2 Consider the following statements regarding PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission: For the first time in Asia, two container-based hospitals will be stationed in Mumbai and Delhi and kept at the ready to be swiftly mobilised by rail or air to respond to any calamity or disaster in the country. The Objective of the scheme is to fill critical gaps in public health infrastructure Points of entry shall be strengthened that will ring-fence India’s borders against the import of new infectious diseases and pathogens. Which of the above is or are correct? 1 and 2 only 2 only 2 and 3 only 1, 2 and l3 Q.3 Which of the following nations is not a part of G7? Italy Japan Russia USA ANSWERS FOR 26th Oct 2021 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 B 2 B 3 D Must Read On WTO and India: Tribune India On Polar Silk Road and India: IDSA

Oct 27, 2021 हिन्दी - Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC हिन्दी Quiz– 2021: IASbaba Daily Current Affairs Quiz 27th 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

Oct 27, 2021 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

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

Oct 27, 2021 TLP Mains Answer Writing

IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 2): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – General Studies Paper 2 Questions [27th October, 2021] – Day 9

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 9 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

Oct 26, 2021 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

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

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) CO2 emissions in 2020 above decadal average Part of: Prelims and GS III - Conservation related issues; Climate change Context A report from the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) said the increase in CO2 from 2019 to 2020 was slightly lower than that observed from 2018 to 2019. However, it is higher than the average annual growth rate over the past decade. Updated data shows that the pandemic disruption in 2020 didn’t significantly dent overall greenhouse gas emissions. Key Findings The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Annual Greenhouse Gas Index (AGGI) shows that from 1990 to 2020, radiative forcing (warming effect) by long-lived greenhouse gases (LLGHGs) increased by 47%, with CO2 accounting for about 80% of this increase. Methane: The increase from 2019 to 2020 was higher than that observed from 2018 to 2019 and also higher than the average annual growth rate over the past decade. Nitrous oxides: The increase was higher and also than the average annual growth rate over the past 10 years. Carbon dioxide (CO2): It reached 413.2 parts per million in 2020 and is 149% of the pre-industrial level. Roughly half of the CO2 emitted by human activities today remains in the atmosphere. The other half is taken up by oceans and land ecosystems. Concerns raised WMO has flagged concern that the ability of land ecosystems and oceans to act as ‘sinks’ may become less effective in future, thus reducing their ability to absorb CO2 and act as a buffer against larger temperature increases. It has also pointed out that At the current rate of increase in greenhouse gas concentrations, we will see a temperature increase by the end of this century far in excess of the Paris Agreement targets of 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) Part of: Prelims and GS III - Aviation industry Context The United States’ aviation watchdog, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) started its five-day audit of India’s safety regulator, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Key takeaways Under its International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) program, the FAA determines whether another country’s oversight of its airlines that operate to the U.S. or have a codeshare agreement with a U.S. airline comply with safety standards laid down by the global aviation watchdog International Civil Aviation Organisation. About Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) It is a statutory body of the Indian Central Government to regulate civil aviation in India. It was Formed under the Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, 2020. Functions: It investigates aviation accidents and incidents, maintains all regulations related to aviation and is responsible for issuance of licenses. Anti-diabetic medicines get price caps Part of: Prelims and GS II - Health Context Drug price regulator National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has fixed the ceiling prices for 12 anti-diabetic generic medicines, including glimepiride tablets, glucose injection and intermediate acting insulin solution to make it possible for every Indian to afford medical treatment. About The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) It is a government regulatory agency that controls the prices of pharmaceutical drugs in India. It was constituted in 1997 as an attached office of the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP), Ministry: Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers What is diabetes? Diabetes is a Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin (a hormone that regulates blood sugar, or glucose), or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. Type I diabetes: It mostly affects children of age 14-16 years. This type occurs when the body fails to produce sufficient insulin. They must take artificial insulin daily to stay alive. Type 2 diabetes: While the body still makes insulin, unlike in type I, the cells in the body do not respond to it as effectively as they once did. The population with 45 and above age group is the most affected with it. This is the most common type of diabetes and it has strong links with obesity. Diabetes affects the five major organs – Kidney, Heart, Blood vessels, Nervous System, and Eyes (retina). Responsible factors: Unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity, harmful use of alcohol, overweight/obesity, tobacco use, etc. International Snow Leopard Day Part of: Prelims and GS III - Conservation related issues. Context Oct 23 is recognised as International Snow Leopard Day. The day came into being with the adoption of the Bishkek Declaration by 12 countries on the conservation of snow leopards. About Snow Leopard Habitat: Snow leopards live in the mountains of Central Asia. There are only between 3,920 and 6,390 snow leopards left in the wild. Range extends through twelve countries: Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Conservation Status: Snow leopards were considered endangered species until 2017 but the status was changed to vulnerable later in the year. India is home to about 450-500 snow leopards which can be spotted in the upper Himalayan regions of the country. Conservation efforts by India India has been conserving snow leopards and their habitats through the Project Snow Leopard (PSL). India has also been part of the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection (GSLEP) Programme since 2013. India has identified three large landscapes, namely, Hemis-Spiti across Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh; Nanda Devi – Gangotri in Uttarakhand; and Khangchendzonga – Tawang across Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. Snow Leopard is in the list of 22 critically endangered species for the recovery programme of the Ministry of Environment Forest & Climate Change. SECURE Himalaya: Funded by Global Environment Facility (GEF)-UNDP for conservation of high-altitude biodiversity. This project is now operational in four snow leopard range states - J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Sikkim. Community volunteer programme “HimalSanrakshak” to protect snow leopards. Global Conservation efforts In 2013, the Bishkek Declaration set a goal of protecting at least 20 snow leopard landscapes with viable snow leopard populations by 2020. It led to the formation of the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Program (GSLEP). Challenges to their conservation Increased habitat loss and degradation poaching conflict with communities. Pulsating White Dwarf Part of: Prelims and GS III - Sci and Tech Context A team of astronomers, using NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) have reported a unique phenomenon in a white dwarf about 1,400 light years from Earth. They saw the white dwarf lose its brightness in 30 minutes. About white dwarf A white dwarf is what stars like the Sun become after they have exhausted their nuclear fuel. Near the end of its nuclear burning stage, this type of star expels most of its outer material, creating a planetary nebula. Only the hot core of the star remains. This core becomes a very hot white dwarf, with a temperature exceeding 100,000 Kelvin. The white dwarf cools down over the next billion years or so. A pulsating white dwarf is a white dwarf star whose luminosity varies due to non-radial gravity wave pulsations within itself. It’s switch on and off mode As per scientists,in this system the donor star in orbit around the white dwarf keeps feeding the accretion disk. An accretion disk is a structure formed by diffuse material in orbital motion around a massive central body. The central body is typically a star. As the accretion disk material slowly sinks closer towards the white dwarf it generally becomes brighter(on mode). During the ‘on’ mode, the white dwarf feeds off the accretion disk as it normally would. Suddenly and abruptly the system turns ‘off’ and its brightness plummets. When this happens the magnetic field is spinning so rapidly that a centrifugal barrier stops the fuel from the accretion disk constantly falling on to the white dwarf. The new discovery will help the astronomers understand the physics behind accretion – how black holes and neutron stars feed material from their nearby stars. About Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) TESS is a space telescope for NASA’s Explorers program, designed to search for exoplanets using the transit method in an area 400 times larger than that covered by the Kepler mission. It was launched in 2018 by Falcon rocket system. Using the Hubble Space telescope and TESS, astronomers have identified several white dwarfs over the years. Miscellaneous Konkan Shakti 2021 Recently, India and the UK started Konkan Shakti 2021, the first-ever tri-services joint exercise. It started off the west coast of India. Aim: To derive mutual benefits from each other’s experiences and also showcase the continuing cooperation between the two countries. It is also aimed at training troops in the conduct of Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief Operations by coalition forces in an opposed environment. Other Joint Exercises between India and UK: Navy: Konkan Air Force: Indradhanush Military: Ajeya Warrior (News from PIB) NIPUN Bharat Mission Part of: Prelims and Mains GS-II: Government schemes related to Health In News: Government sets up National Steering Committee for implementation of the National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy (NIPUN) Bharat Mission By: The Department of School Education and Literacy Aim: To achieve the goal of universal proficiency in foundational literacy and numeracy for every child by grade 3, as envisaged by National Education Policy 2020. Responsibilities- To oversee the progress of National Mission on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy and provide guidance on policy issues. To arrive at the target to be achieved nationally in 2026-27. To disseminate tools for measurement of yearly progress in the form of guidelines. To prepare and approve a National Action Plan (based on the State’s Action Plans) with KRAs for every State/UT vis-à-vis factors attributable for the gaps (i.e., lack of Fund, Vacancies, Teachers, Demography, Local issues, Need of Training for teachers, Curriculum & pedagogy related). To review programmatic and financial norms periodically to ensure they are synchronised with targets to be achieved. To develop methodology of assessment to analyse the progress and provide feedback to States/UTs. News Source: PIB Green Day Ahead Market (GDAM) Part of: Prelims and Mains GS-III: Energy In News: India is the only large electricity market in the world to implement a Green Day Ahead Market (GDAM) exclusively for renewable energy. Will operate in an integrated way with the conventional day-ahead market. The Exchanges will offer the market participants to submit bids together for both conventional and renewable energy through the separate bidding windows. The clearance will take place in a sequential manner - renewable energy bids will be cleared first in accordance with the must run status of the renewables, followed by conventional segment. This mechanism will allow renewable energy sellers to subsequently bid in the conventional segment should their bids remain uncleared in the green market. There will be separate price discoveries for the both the conventional and renewables. The introduction of GDAM is expected to create a domino effect that will lead to a gradual shift from PPA based contract to market-based models which will build and deepen the markets to the next level, paving the way for India to meet its ambitious target of 450 GW green capacity by 2030. Will deepen the green market and will provide competitive price signals, besides offering an opportunity to the market participants to trade in green energy, in the most transparent, flexible, competitive, and efficient manner. The market-based competitive prices will provide another option to renewable generators to sell power as well as accelerate the renewable capacity addition towards the Government’s vision of building India as a sustainable and efficient energy economy. Reduction of curtailment of green power, unlocking untapped renewable energy potential, ensuring instant payment to RE generators ie on the day of delivery itself. Enable Energy Transition: Energy transition is happening across the world and India is also committed to energy transition from fossil fuel to non-fossil fuel. Accordingly, the dynamics of the power market is changing. The buyer’s behavior is shifting from long term contracts to short term contracts and also towards the power market. News Source: PIB (Mains Focus) INTERNATIONAL/ SECURITY GS-2: India and its neighbourhood GS-2: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests Fisherman Crisis: India- Sri Lanka Context: A fisherman from Tamil Nadu reportedly died after falling into the sea when his boat collided with a Sri Lankan naval vessel. Two other fishermen on the boat were detained by Sri Lankan naval personnel on the charge of crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL). Tamil Nadu fishermen’s associations have accused the Sri Lankan Navy of brutally attacking the fisherman which led to his drowning & death, while Sri Lanka has denied the allegations. What is the reason for conflict between Indian Fishermen & Sri Lankan Navy? Indian boats have been fishing in the troubled waters for centuries and had a free run of the Bay of Bengal, Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar until 1974 and 1976 when treaties were signed between the two countries to demarcate International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL). Indian Fishermen often risk their lives and cross the IMBL for better fish catch, but the Sri Lankan Navy is on alert, and have either arrested or destroyed fishing nets and vessels of those who have crossed the line. Unresolved Conflict The problem has existed for more than a decade now, from the time Sri Lanka’s 30 year-long civil war ended in 2009. That was when the Sri Lankan northern Tamil fishermen, who were displaced and barred access to the sea, began returning to their old homes & started to engage in fishing for their livelihood. This has spurred a competition between Indian & Sri Lankan fishermen for marine resources with Sri Lankan Navy safeguarding their waters & marine resources. In Tamil Nadu, daily wage fishermen’s income depends on the catch they bring back. Using the bottom trawling fishing method, they drag large fishing nets along the seabed, scooping out a huge quantity of prawns, small fishes and virtually everything else at one go. Constant bottom trawling along the coast of Tamil Nadu over the years has meant that the fishermen are drawn to the relatively resource-rich Sri Lankan waters. Indian fishermen therefore take their mechanised trawlers further away from Indian waters often crossing IMBL & illegally entering into Sri Lankan waters. The relentless trawling by Indian vessels has caused huge losses to northern Sri Lankan fishermen. Their catch has fallen drastically and they count vanishing varieties of fish. The Sri Lankan state’s response to the problem has been largely a military and legal one, tasking its Navy with patrolling the seas and arresting “encroachers”, banning trawling (as it is ecologically destructive), and levying stiff fines on foreign (Indian) vessels engaged in illegal fishing in its territorial waters. At the heart of the conflict is a tale of competing livelihoods in a narrow stretch of the sea, amid a looming environmental threat, and a glaring asymmetry of power — be it in numbers, equipment, or political backing — between two Tamil-speaking fishing communities. Has there been an attempt at arriving at a solution? India and Sri Lanka have held many rounds of bilateral talks in the last decade between government officials as well as fisher leaders. The outcomes have mostly ranged from deadlocks, with Tamil Nadu refusing to give up bottom trawling, with India seeking a “humanitarian response” from Sri Lanka and Sri Lankan authorities adopting legal & military means to solve the problem. The Indian government’s attempt to divert fishermen to deep sea fishing has not taken off as was envisaged. Way Ahead As the first step, Tamil Nadu must consider a moratorium on bottom trawling in the Palk Strait. Such a move must be accompanied by both India & Sri Lanka substantially supporting their respective fishing communities to cope with the suspension of trawling on the Tamil Nadu side and the devastating impact of the pandemic on both sides. The time must be used for evolving a lasting solution. Connecting the dots: Charting a New Trajectory in India-Sri Lanka Relations India- Sri Lanka Colombo Port SCIENCE & TECH/ ECONOMY GS-3: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life. GS-3: Indian Economy & its challenges. Crypto Asset Regulation Context: Countries are in various stages of banning, un-banning, re-banning and regulating crypto assets. Will Crypto assets make finance more inclusive and decentralized? India already has the world’s largest financial inclusion programme in Jan Dhan. In the past seven years, 430 million bank accounts have been created for the under-banked. A majority, 55%, of them are women. There are 45,000 chit funds (and many more unregistered ones). These chit funds are the world’s largest decentralized finance applications. Crypto can’t match that scale. So, financial inclusion is not the main reason to embrace crypto assets in India. But there are three compelling India-specific reasons to embrace crypto assets. Establish India as an integral part of the new financial ecosystem: Large global financial institutions and investors are adding crypto assets to their portfolios. Domestic crypto markets in India and the global opportunities are synergistic. Finance firms, banks, fintech and crypto startups can tap into the huge growth of the industry. Software technology parks (STPs) and special economic zones (SEZs) enabled the IT services boom. Creative ‘crypto export zone’ schemes can create world-class financial services firms and unicorns. Capitalize on new technology and services opportunities: Banking, financial services and insurance customers form the biggest chunk of India’s IT services. Blockchain application development, its scalability, security and analytics are their next growth opportunities. To cater to this demand, there is a need for a large talent pool with expertise in the crypto tech stacks. Gain optionality on financial innovation: There is a burst of technology innovation and business models around blockchains. There are several interesting applications, but new killer apps will emerge. The impact of new technologies is overestimated in the short term, but underestimated in the long term. However, there are three key regulatory concerns about crypto assets. Investor protections: Crypto assets are seen as high-risk, speculative assets. Investor education, guidelines against misselling and other safeguards are needed. Crypto assets are now better understood as digital assets, instead of as digital currencies. Regulating them like commodities and clarifying their tax treatment is a win-win. The government’s tax revenues go up. It can also increase the number of tax filers (only 64 million in FY20) and the number of taxpayers (14 million). Sidestepping current regulations: Some crypto assets may allow individuals to bypass securities issuance laws. That’s a potential risk to capital markets. Crypto assets may be used to avoid capital controls. That’s a potential risk to macroeconomic stability. If crypto holders have to declare their holdings above a particular level in their tax forms, such concerns can be mitigated Illicit transfers: Anonymous transfers of crypto assets may weaken anti-money laundering laws or combating the financing of terrorism rules. That’s a potential national security issue. Robust know-your-customer (KYC) norms are the solution here. Also, a blockchain may bring more transparency for financial transfers as all its transactions can be examined. India is a part of the G20 Financial Action Task Force (FATF), and the crypto industry players should adhere to FATF’s recommendations. Conclusion In summary, a smart regulatory approach considers both the potential upside and downside. It fosters financial innovation, safeguards investors and unshackles the Indian crypto ecosystem. Connecting the dots: Blockchain Technology and Voting Cryptocurrency & RBI China’s Digital Currency (Down to Earth – News and Views) Oct 25: CoP 26: Greening of polar ice should be top agenda; here’s why – https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/climate-change/cop-26-greening-of-polar-ice-should-top-agenda-here-s-why-79839 GS-II – Global Groupings GS-III – Climate Change Greening of Polar ice In News: The 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP26, is the 26th United Nations Climate Change conference. It is scheduled to be held in the city of Glasgow, Scotland, between 31 October and 12 November 2021, under the co-presidency of the United Kingdom and Italy. Greening of polar ice Climate change affects the polar ice caps that are the thermostats of the planet with their high albedo. Albedo of a surface is the fraction of sunlight it reflects back. Greening will convert the ‘net reflective’ ice caps to ‘net absorptive’, tampering with the global energy balance and accelerate polar ice melting. For the past several decades, the Arctic has been warming twice as quickly as the rest of the world and undergoing tremendous transformation. Arctic Sea ice reduced by around 39 per cent in the last 38 years. Over the same period, ice in Antarctica also reduced by 6.2 per cent. Researchers have observed extensive greening around Alaska and Canada, which were snow-covered lands. This is occurring because Arctic summers are getting warmer every decade and this can be clearly explained by the positive feedback loop. Sea ice has a bright surface — about 80 per cent of the sunlight that strikes it is reflected into space. The sea ice melts and exposes the deep, dark ocean water because of rising temperatures. Now, instead of reflecting 80 per cent of the sunlight, the ocean absorbs 90 per cent of the solar radiation. The seawater heats up and Arctic temperatures rise further, amplifying the rate of warming. The region, as a result, turns greener with the habitable climate provided by warmer air and soil temperatures. Rapidly rising temperatures in the Arctic have led to longer growing seasons and shifting soils for the plants. Scientists have observed the grassy tundra transitioning to scrublands and shrubs becoming larger and denser. The Arctic faced several other adverse impacts in its zone because of climate-induced greening. What about Antarctica? The Antarctic is also equally greening because of the irreversible melting of sea ice, which is green in colour. In 2016, it was discovered that marine ice has 500 times more iron than the ice above it. This iron comes from the rocks under the Antarctic ice sheet which, when glaciers pass over them, are ground into a fine powder. The ice-bound iron oxidizes in contact with seawater. The resulting iron oxide particles take on a green hue as light scatters through them. The green ice only becomes visible when an iceberg capsizes and flips over from excessive melting and is disjointed from the main body. Conclusion Rapidly melting permafrost in the poles is also releasing trapped greenhouse gases like methane into the atmosphere. Thawing of permafrost is releasing ancient methane in places like Siberia, which can turn the coldest place on earth into a temperate zone. The IPCC report says that the world must also deliver rapid and drastic reductions in methane emissions, in addition to slashing carbon dioxide emissions, to mitigate the climate crisis. Rather than looking at profitable goals, we should try to focus on the shift to sustainable standards of development in the economies. In this period, instead of rushing into business as usual, the primary investments that are to be made by these world leaders ought to be climate-conscious to determine a low-carbon future. The effects of climate change (greening of the poles) are transboundary in nature. Thus, the only solution could be integrated international negotiations and frameworks. These are required to set standards for nations and businesses to achieve global average temperature standards at the earliest, before the warming crosses the tipping point. The reasons discussed above are why the greening of poles cannot be dismissed or ignored, and should be at the top of the agenda for the upcoming CoP26. Can you answer the following question? Climate change risks give rise to several geopolitical problems. 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. Comments Up-voted by IASbaba are also the “correct answers”. Q.1 Konkan Shakti, the first tri service exercise is conducted between India and which of the following nation? USA United Kingdom Japan Russia Q.2 White dwarf, recently seen in news, is associated with which of the following? New variant of COVID-19 Stars that lose their fuel New dwarf planet of our Solar system New fish species found in Meghalaya Q.3 Which one of the following is not a critically endangered species of India? White-bellied heron Great Indian bustard Baer's pochard None of the above ANSWERS FOR 25th Oct 2021 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 None of the above. 2 A 3 D Must Read On flood disasters: Tribune India On India’s Neighbourhood: Deccan Herald On Gender inclusion and sustainable sanitation: Firstpost

Oct 26, 2021 हिन्दी - Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC हिन्दी Quiz– 2021: IASbaba Daily Current Affairs Quiz 26th October 2021

Oct 26, 2021 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz – 2021 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 26th October 2021

Oct 26, 2021 TLP Mains Answer Writing

IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 2): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – General Studies Paper 2 Questions [26th October, 2021] – Day 8

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 8 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

Oct 25, 2021 IASbaba's Courses

[COURSE] KANNADA LITERATURE Optional – Foundation Course 2022 by Kiran Kumar B Sir

Dear Aspirants, Hope you’re all are in good health and doing well. T.E Lawrence once said “All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds, wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible.” The best way to make your dream true is to wake up. If you don’t build your dream, someone else will hire you to help them build theirs. Nobody can beat the person who never gives up. It’s time you start your journey of thousand miles with us taking a single step at a time. It’s time to construct your IAS dream. Preparing for UPSC Civil Service Examination is a strenuous task for every aspirant. The vastness of the syllabus, relentless competition, and the wrong choice of the optional subject adds many hurdles to reach the goal. It is imperative to pay attention to the choice of the optional subject for IAS mains. As Confucius correctly said Choose a job you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life, in the same way, choose an optional based on your interest, passion, and aptitude so that you need not mug up the concepts to produce the same in the answers. Fine-tune your UPSC preparation with IAS Baba’s Foundation Course of Kannada Literature starting from 29th OCTOBER 2021. For More Details about the Kannada Literature Optional – Foundation Course – CLICK HERE For more inquiries please reach us at – kirankumarbtsg@gmail.com and 8310859495

Oct 25, 2021 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 25th October 2021

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) National Fund to Control Drug Abuse Part of: Prelims and GS II - Policies and interventions Context The Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry has recently recommended that the National Fund to Control Drug Abuse be used to carry out de-addiction programmes, rather than just policing activities. Key takeaways The fund was created in accordance with a provision of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, and had a nominal corpus of Rs. 23 crore. The Fund shall be applied by the Central Government to meet the expenditure incurred in connection with the measures taken for combating illicit traffic in, or controlling abuse of, narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances for all or any of the purposes specified in sub-section (1) of section 71. About The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 It is also known as the NDPS Act. It prohibits any individual from engaging in any activity consisting of production, cultivation, sale, purchase, transport, storage, and/or consumption of any narcotic drug or psychotropic substance. About psychotropics and Narcotics From a medical point of view, psychotropics designate chemical substances that act upon the mind, that is on the conscious or unconscious mental life of an individual. Narcotics include substances that cause stupor (unconscious), muscular relaxation and a reduction or elimination of sensitivity. Amended Technology Up-gradation Fund Scheme (ATUFS) Part of: Prelims and GS III - Economy Context Union Minister of Textiles reviewed the Amended Technology Up-gradation Fund Scheme (ATUFS) to boost the Indian textile industry by enabling the ease of doing business, bolstering exports and fuelling employment. Key takeaways The Ministry of Textiles had introduced Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (TUFS) in 1999 as a credit linked subsidy scheme. Objective: modernization and technology up-gradation of the Indian textile industry, promoting ease of doing business, generating employment and promoting exports. Since then, the scheme has been implemented in different versions. The ongoing ATUFS has been approved in 2016 and implemented through the web based iTUFS platform. Capital Investment Subsidy is provided to benchmarked machinery installed by the industry after physical verification. ATUFS was approved for a period from 2015-16 to 2021-22 with an allocation of Rs. 17,822 crore The scheme is administered with a two stage monitoring mechanism by Technical Advisory-cum-Monitoring Committee (TAMC) and Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee (IMSC). In 2019, IMSC decided to introduce physical verification of machinery and computation of subsidy before releasing committed liability under previous versions of the schem Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) Part of: Prelims and GS-III - Economy Context An acute shortage of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) in Haryana has seen desperate farmers pelting stones at the police, blocking roads in protest. Why is DAP important for farmers? Diammonium phosphate (DAP) is the world’s most widely used phosphorus fertilizer. DAP fertilizer is an excellent source of Phosphorus and nitrogen (N) for plant nutrition. It’s highly soluble and thus dissolves quickly in soil to release plant-available phosphate and ammonium. A notable property of DAP is the alkaline pH that develops around the dissolving granule. Being a basic nutrient for Rabi crops, the DAP fertiliser has to be sprinkled at the time of sowing crops like mustard and wheat. Any delay in its supply could adversely impact the sowing of crops. Non-agricultural uses DAP also acts as a fire retardant. For example, a mixture of DAP and other ingredients can be spread in advance of a fire to prevent a forest from burning. It then becomes a nutrient source after the danger of fire has passed. DAP is used in various industrial processes, too, such as metal finishing. It’s commonly added to wine to sustain yeast fermentation and to milk to produce cheese cultures. Melioidosis Part of: Prelims and GS-II - Health Context A made-in-India aromatherapy spray is being pulled off Walmart’s shelves in the United States after a medical investigation linked it to melioidosis. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), The spray was reported to contain a bacterium, Burkholderia pseudomallei, that causes a rare but deadly disease called melioidosis. What is Melioidosis? Melioidosis, also called Whitmore’s disease, is an infectious disease that can infect humans or animals. The disease is caused by the bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei. It is predominately a disease of tropical climates, especially in Southeast Asia and northern Australia where it is widespread. The bacteria causing melioidosis are found in contaminated water and soil. It is spread to humans and animals through direct contact with the contaminated source. Most people infected with B. pseudomallei experience no symptoms, but those who do experience symptoms have signs and symptoms that range from mild, such as fever, skin changes, pneumonia, and abscesses, to severe with inflammation of the brain, inflammation of the joints, and dangerously low blood pressure that causes death. Georissa mawsmaiensis Part of: Prelims and GS-III - Environment Context Recently, researchers have discovered a micro snail species named Georissa mawsmaiensis in Mawsmai Cave in Meghalaya. About the new snail species These snails are so small in size that an adult measures less than 2 millimetres in length. It has been discovered after 170 years. It was in 1851 that Georissa saritta, a member of the same genus as the latest find, was collected and described from the Musmai (Mawsmai today) valley near Cherrapunjee. The members of the Georissa genus are widely distributed across and reported from Africa, Asia, and the Pacific. However, they are confined to microhabitats consisting of limestone caves or karst landscapes formed by the dissolution of limestone. Georissa is found in soil or subterranean habitats in lowland tropical forest as well as high altitude evergreen forests or on rock surfaces rich in calcium. The new species is different in its shell morphology, starting from shell size variation to the presence of four very prominent spiral striations on body whorls of the shell. Until now, five snail species have been found from the caves of Meghalaya. Mawsmai cave It is situated in the small village of Mawsmai, around four km from Cherrapunjee (Sohra) in the East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya. The term ‘Mawsmai’ means ‘Oath Stone’ in the Khasi language. The Khasi people use the local term ‘Krem’ for the cave. Mawsmai cave indirectly influenced by the streams of the Kynshi river originating from the East Khasi Hills. Three new species of fish of genus Aborichthys Part of: Prelims and GS-III - Environment Context Recently, the Department of Zoology of Dera Natung Government College of Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh has discovered three new species of fish of genus Aborichthys of family Nemachelidae. About three new species of fish The species have been named Aborichthys uniobarensis, Aborichthys barapensis and Aborichthys palinensis. They are distributed in streams like Senki, Barap and Palin, which are the tributaries of Brahmaputra river system. Genus Aborichthys Aborichthys is an elongate and slender-bodied bottom dwelling freshwater stone loach that inhabits the moderate-to-fast flowing water of mountain rivers, streams and drainages of the Brahmaputra river basin. They are freshwater, benthic (bottom-dwelling) fish. The species is characterised by narrow oblique bars on the body. It is endemic to the eastern Himalayas. Eastern Himalaya is endemic to more than 20 per cent fauna of India, including the fish species. These species are vulnerable to climate change as it leads to their habitat alteration. (News from PIB) PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission Part of: Prelims and Mains GS-II: Government schemes related to Health In News: PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission will be one of the largest pan-India schemes for strengthening healthcare infrastructure across the country. It will be in addition to the National Health Mission. Objective of PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission: To fill critical gaps in public health infrastructure, especially in critical care facilities and primary care in both the urban and rural areas. Targets to build an IT enabled disease surveillance system by developing a network of surveillance laboratories at block, district, regional and national levels, in Metropolitan areas. Integrated Health Information Portal will be expanded to all States/UTs to connect all public health labs. Work towards building up trained frontline health workforce to respond to any public health emergency. It will provide support for 17,788 rural Health and Wellness Centres in 10 High Focus States. Further, 11,024 urban Health and Wellness Centres will be established in all the States. News Source: PIB India’s First Banni Buffalo IVF Calf Born Part of: Prelims In News: With the birth of first IVF calf of a Buffalo breed namely Banni in the country, India’s OPU - IVF work has reached to next level. This first IVF Banni calf is born out of 6 Banni IVF pregnancies established at the doorsteps of a farmer. Banni buffalo is known for its resilience and higher milk producing capacity in an arid environment. The process was carried out to enhance the number of genetically superior buffaloes to increase milk production Both the government and the scientist fraternity see a great potential in the field of IVF of buffaloes and are striving hard to improve cattle wealth in the country. India has more than 109 million buffaloes that are 56 per cent of the world's buffalo population. News Source: PIB Indian Telegraph Right of Way (Amendment) Rules, 2021 Part of: Prelims In News: The Central Government has notified the Indian Telegraph Right of Way (Amendment) Rules, 2021. Aim: To incorporate the provisions related to nominal one-time compensation and uniform procedure for establishment of Overground Telegraph Line in the Indian Telegraph Right of Way Rules, 2016. Ease Right of Way related permission procedures for establishment and augmentation of Digital Communications Infrastructure across the country. With a robust pan India digital infrastructure, the digital divide between rural-urban and rich-poor will be bridged; e-governance and financial inclusion will be strengthened; doing business will be easy; information and communication needs of citizens and enterprises will be fulfilled; and ultimately the dream of India’s transition to a digitally empowered economy and society will be translated into reality. News Source: PIB Anniversary of the formation of Azad Hind Government Part of: Prelims and Mains GS-I: The Freedom Struggle In News: As part of Amrit Mahotsav celebrations, events have been organized in the run up to and on 21st October in India and South East Asia to commemorate the Anniversary of the formation of Azad Hind Government by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. The existence of the Azad Hind Government gave a greater legitimacy to the independence struggle against the British. Pertinently, the role of Azad Hind Fauj or the Indian National Army (INA) had been crucial in bequeathing a much needed impetus to India’s struggle for Independence. Founded on: 21st October, 1943 Constituted in: The Provisional Government of Free India, or, more simply, Free India (Azad Hind), was an Indian provisional government established in occupied Singapore in 1943 and supported by the Imperial Japan, Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and their allies. Known as Arzi Hukumat-e-Azad Hind, it was supported by the Axis powers of Imperial Japan, Nazi Germany, the Italian Social Republic, and their allies. Events leading to the formation of the Fauj: An important development in the struggle for freedom during the Second World War was the formation and activities of the Azad Hind Fauj, also known as the Indian National Army, or INA. Rash Behari Bose (supreme advisor), an Indian revolutionary who had escaped from India and had been living in Japan for many years, set up the Indian independence league with the support of Indians living in the countries of south-east Asia. When Japan defeated the British armies and occupied almost all the countries of south-East Asia, the league formed the Indian National Army from among the Indian prisoners of war with the aim of liberating India from the British rule. This first INA collapsed and was disbanded in December that year after differences between the INA leadership (Mohan Singh) and the Japanese military over its role in Japan’s war in Asia. It was revived under the leadership of Subhash Chandra Bose after his arrival in Southeast Asia in 1943. News Source: PIB Miscellaneous RK Laxman: 100th Birth Anniversary - an Indian cartoonist, illustrator, and humorist. He is best known for his creation The Common Man and for his daily cartoon strip, You Said It in The Times of India, which started in 1951. Gorias Indigenous Muslims in northern Assam’s Darrang district are now facing the threat of being evicted from the banks of the Brahmaputra. Goria is ethnic group of Assam. Apart from the religious aspect, no Muslim in India and the world has any cultural, linguistic and traditional similarities with the Goria. (Mains Focus) INTERNATIONAL/ SECURITY GS-2: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests India’s Central Asian outreach Context: External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar was on three-nation Eurasian tour - Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Armenia with an aim to further expand bilateral ties in the backdrop of Taliban taking over Afghanistan after US withdrawal. Do You Know? Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Armenia are all members of Russia-led Eurasian security alliance CSTO that has held numerous drills in recent months to deter any spillover of terrorism from Afghanistan. Key Takeaways from the visit In Kyrgyzstan, India extended a credit line of $200 million for the support of development projects and signed an memorandum of understanding (MoU) on High-Impact Community Development Projects (HICDP). In Kazakhstan, India’s EAM attended the 6th Foreign Ministers’ Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA). At CICA, India targeted China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). India said while greater connectivity was essential for the promotion of regional stability, it must not be pursued for parochial interests. India also confronted Pakistan for its support towards cross-border terrorism. The CICA meet among other issues discussed the possibilities of providing humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan. Mr. Jaishankar has become the first Indian External Affairs Minister to visit Armenia India and Armenia agreed to enhance trade and cultural exchanges to boost bilateral relations. During the visit, Mr. Jaishankar also supported efforts for a peaceful solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia under the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s (OSCE) Minsk group. India’s Evolution of Relationship with Central Asia After the breakup of the Soviet Union and the formation of the independent republics in Central Asia, India reset its ties with the strategically critical region. India provided financial aid to the region and established diplomatic relations. India signed the Strategic Partnership Agreements (SPA) with Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan to stimulate defence cooperation and deepen trade relations. In 2012, India’s ‘Connect Central Asia’ policy aimed at furthering India’s political, economic, historical and cultural connections with the region. However, India’s efforts were stonewalled by Pakistan’s lack of willingness to allow India passage through its territory. China took advantage of the situation and unveiled the much-hyped BRI in Kazakhstan. China, India and Central Asia The growing geostrategic and security concerns regarding the BRI’s China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and its violation of India’s sovereignty forced India to step up its game in the region. Soon after assuming office, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited all the Central Asian countries in July 2015. Eventually, Central Asia became the link that placed Eurasia in India’s zone of interest. India signed MoUs with Iran in 2015 to develop the Chabahar port that was in plans from 2003. Most of the Central Asian leaders view India’s Chabahar port as an opportunity to diversify their export markets and control China’s ambitions. China’s ill-treatment of their Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang province of China has created social discontent among Central Asian Leaders (Muslim majority countries) Central Asian countries have been keen to have India as a partner as they have sought to diversify their strategic ties. They have admitted New Delhi into the Ashgabat Agreement, allowing India access to connectivity networks to facilitate trade and commercial interactions with both Central Asia and Eurasia, and also access the natural resources of the region. Conclusion Rising anti-Chinese sentiments within the region and security threats from the Taliban allow India and Central Asia to reimagine their engagement. India should not lose any time to recalibrate its engagement with Central Asia. Connecting the dots: Belt & Road Initiative Shanghai Cooperation Organisation ECONOMY/ INTERNATIONAL GS-2: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests GS-3: Economy, Taxation etc. Global Minimum Corporate Tax Context: As many as 136 countries entered into an agreement earlier this month to redistribute taxing rights and impose a global minimum corporate tax on large multinational corporations. Why do governments want a global minimum corporate tax rate? Large multinational corporations have traditionally been taxed based on where they declare their profits rather than where they actually do business. This allowed several large companies to avoid paying high taxes in countries where they do most of their business by shifting their profits to low-tax jurisdictions. So, an American company like Apple, for instance, can avoid paying high taxes in the United States by declaring its profits as belonging to a subsidiary company in Ireland, where tax rates are lower. This practice of profit shifting has affected the tax revenues of governments and forced them to act. Why now? Governments have actually been deliberating on the idea of a global minimum corporate tax for a while. Global corporate tax rates have steadily declined since the 1980s when the then U.S. President Ronald Reagan and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher enacted significant tax cuts to boost their economies. The average global corporate tax rate was over 40% in the early 1980s and dropped to well below 25% in 2020 as governments competed against each other to lower their tax rates in order to attract businesses. This “race to the bottom” has forced losing governments to wake up. The most immediate trigger for the current tax agreement may be the COVID-19 pandemic, which has severely impacted economies and affected the tax revenues of governments. What does the new agreement say? The new global tax agreement consists of two pillars, of which the second is about Global Minimum Corporate Tax rate. Countries will legislate a global minimum corporate tax rate of at least 15%. If companies have earning that go untaxed or lightly taxed in one of the world’s tax havens, their home country will impose a top-up tax that will bring the rate up to 15%. So, if an American company pays only 5% taxes on profits that it declares as that of its subsidiary in Ireland, the U.S. government will now be able to impose a 10% additional tax on these profits. It is expected to add about $150 billion in additional annual revenues to the budgets of governments. The first pillar of the agreement has to do with the basis on which taxes should be collected. Traditionally, companies have been taxed based on where they declare their profits rather than based on where they do business. Today, with many large technology companies carrying out a huge share of their business in foreign countries, many countries have begun to demand a share of their profits. So, pillar one of the new agreement ensures that 25% of residual profits, which is defined as profits in excess of 10% of revenue, is allocated to the relevant foreign country to tax. This is expected to help shift the right to tax profits worth over $125 billion to countries where MNCs actually earn their profits. Will it help the global economy? Helps stop the “race to the bottom” where countries compete against each other to cut taxes to attract businesses. It will increase tax revenues and help governments invest in social development. Others, however, have not been impressed. Non-profit organisation Oxfam International has criticised the deal, arguing that the minimum corporate tax rate of 15% is in fact too low. It has also argued that most of the tax collected under the new setup will go to rich countries and widen inequality between countries. Other critics believe that the global minimum corporate tax may kill the various economic benefits that come with tax competition among countries. (Sansad TV – Perspective) Oct 20: Enhancing Cooperation in West Asia - https://youtu.be/zD0KEjR4oJ0 TOPIC: GS-II – Global Groupings Enhancing Cooperation in West Asia In News: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had a "fruitful" first quadrilateral meeting with his counterparts from the US, Israel and the UAE on ways to expand economic and political cooperation in the Middle East and Asia, including through trade, infrastructure, combating climate change, energy cooperation, and enhancing maritime security. The new “Quad" meeting comes on the back of the momentum created by the Abraham Accords. And it follows a meeting in Washington between Blinken, Lapid and Sheikh Abdullah that reviewed the progress of normalization of Arab-Israeli ties. India, Israel and the UAE have already established trilateral cooperation—in trade and investment—since the Abraham Accords. In May, India, Israel and the UAE had clinched their first trilateral partnership under which an Israeli company was to produce robotic solar cleaning technology in India for a project in the UAE. Main discussion points People-to-people ties in technology and science, and how to support global public health in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic Shared issues of concern in the region and globally, and the importance of expanding our economic and political collaboration Support for public health at the time of the covid-19 pandemic Israel – The most important thing to look out for is synergy - synergy which will help us work together in all the areas that preoccupies us. Around this table we have a unique set of capabilities, knowledge and experiences that can be used to create a network that we all want to create The key to achieving what they were aiming at was quickly moving from government-to-government to business-to-business. Emphasised on the need for this quadrilateral grouping to quickly put adequate mechanisms in place to translate efforts into real businesses around the globe. USA – Highlighted trade, climate change, energy, maritime security as the core points of debate, along with generally expanding economic and political cooperation in the region. In September last year Israel, UAE and Bahrain had signed Abraham Accords brokered by the US which has subsequently led to normalising of relations between Israel and a number of Arab Gulf countries. Continues to be the most important strategic and defence partner for Israel, UAE and India. India New Delhi and Abu Dhabi have cultivated a deep and strategic allignment from diplomacy to military affairs. India and Israel elevated bilateral relations to a strategic partnership during the historic visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Israel in July 2017. Since then, the relationship between the two countries has focused on expanding knowledge-based partnership, which includes collaboration in innovation and research, including boosting the 'Make in India' initiative. India has also welcomed the Abraham Accords. At the end of the conversation, it was decided that each minister will appoint senior-level professionals to a joint working group that will formulate options for cooperation in the areas identified by the ministers. The intention is to hold an in-person meeting of the ministers in the coming months at Expo 2020 in Dubai. The Way Forward for India The new “Quad" gives India the flexibility to engage more freely with Israel and India’s partners in the Gulf region. Israel is a key security partner with defence trade between the two countries seen as valued at about $1 billion annually. Some of the Gulf countries with whom India has developed close are seen as key interlocutors on Afghanistan, Qatar being a case in point. The UAE has been an interlocutor for India when it comes to Pakistan. Cooperation with Iran is a key element of its strategy for Afghanistan given that Tehran has ties with the Taliban and is also crucial for the implementation of the Chabahar port. Increasing security congruence with the U.S. could enable growing cooperation in fields significant for India’s transformation: energy, trade, investment, education and health. Other areas in which India and the U.S. could increase cooperation are: climate change and energy, on tech solutions for renewable energy, and on digital cooperation. Can you answer the following questions? Non-Alignment 2.0 Essay: India’s Path to Power; Strategy in a World Adrift Essay: Asia, the Nuclues - Cockpit of geopolitical rivalries How can India ensure that India’s role and influence abroad continue to serve the task of transforming India? 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 Senki, Barap and Palin are tributaries of Which of the following rivers? Yamuna Barak Gumti River Myntdu River Q.2 Melioidosis, recently seen in news, is caused by which of the following? Bacteria Virus Fungi Protozoa Q.3 Which one is the largest tribal group in Meghalaya? Garo Jaintias Karbi Khasis ANSWERS FOR 23rd Oct 2021 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 B 2 B 3 A Must Read On Basic Structure and unwritten Constitutional Principles: The Leaflet On EWS Reservation Scheme: The Leaflet On transition from rice to maize: Indian Express

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