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Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz – 2021 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 10th May 2021

Hello everyone, We have a piece of good news for you. We have decided that we will be resuming with our Daily Current Affairs Quiz. Even though Current Affairs questions are being posted every day with the 60-day plan, those questions are covering the monthly current affairs from the last one and a half years. Now, looking at the situation it can be inferred, that this year also, prelims will be postponed. In such a case, it is important that the students practice daily current affairs through reverse engineering i.e. through the questions. Also, aspirants preparing for 2022, who have started their preparation now, can also get benefitted from this. Daily, 5 Current Affairs Questions will be posted on the platform, covering the most relevant issues from multiple newspapers like The Hindu, Indian Express, Mint, and also PIB. Apart from imparting knowledge, these questions will also make you understand how UPSC will be framing the questions from Current Affairs. Current Affairs preparation is the most challenging frontier as far as UPSC is concerned. We hope that with the help of this initiative, you can definitely make a positive difference in your preparation. All the best IASbaba 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. 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 60 Day Plan - IAS Prelims Test Series 2021 - GEOGRAPHY, CURRENT AFFAIRS & CSAT [Day 43]

For Previous (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE Hello Friends,  ARCHIVES OF 60 DAYS NOTE: IASbaba's 60 DAY questions will be posted around 10 AM. The solution will be released around 5 PM Daily.  Let us pledge to make it a big game-changer (better than last year) in the next 60 days!  Note- Download the OMR Sheet and attempt the questions exactly like UPSC Prelims. After you are done, please post your OMR in the comment section. Once the solution key is released (around 5 PM), cross-check the answers and, comment the marks (you scored) in the same comment thread. This will keep you accountable, responsible and sincere in days to come.  You can also take part in the discussion with peers.   GEOGRAPHY [DAY 43] - Click Here NOTE- Follow this for Comments Mention- Time Taken after solving the Test After the release of Solution, Edit your Comment to Mention-  Correct/Incorrect and Score 2 Marks for Correct/0.66 minus for Incorrect. What IMPACT can the ‘60 Day’ have on the final results? We will explain by taking a small example. Imagine you are sitting in the examination hall, appearing in Prelims Paper I. You have attempted 70 questions already but still unsure about a few. Then you stumble upon a question that was asked in 60 Day (and believe us, it has happened to hundreds of students countless times). You choose the right answer and submit your paper hoping for the best! Eventually, you go on to clear Mains as well as Personality Test and secure a good rank as well. When the cut off gets announced by UPSC, you realize that you have scored just one mark more than the cut off! Yes, that one mark can change your life (and it has done so to many of our students in the past). Now, imagine the kind of impact 60 to 80 marks can have! Isn’t that so fascinating to imagine?   One’s level of preparedness is always different for different subjects. Even within a subject, one’s comfort level may vary with topics. For example, one might be more comfortable in solving questions of Polity than Economics and within Polity also, one might be at ease with questions on fundamental rights than Parliament. The level of comfort and ease that one has with a subject/ topic gets manifested in the examination. However, there is no conscious effort by aspirants to micro analyze these aspects. Now, coming to the second aspect i.e. the mistakes that one commits in answering MCQs, it can be said that there are mainly four reasons behind incorrect responses in the OMR sheet. They are: Lack of information Lack of analytical ability Silly mistakes Excessive risk-taking Let’s analyze them one by one: Lack of information: You simply don’t know the information. You are clueless and that’s why you don’t attempt the question. For example, you may have never come across a regime called the ‘Wassenaar Agreement’ during your preparation and you can’t do much about it. The lack of information is pardonable and rectifiable. You can read more and gather more information. That is within your reach. Lack of analytical ability: You know the concept but the question is a twisted one and you are not able to apply the concept. For example, in a question asking you to identify the climate type of a region based on certain given parameters like precipitation, temperature, and air density, you might find it difficult to mark the correct option even if you are aware of all the options given in the question! That is clearly a lack of application and you can overcome it by developing a habit of framing questions in your mind while you study any topic. Silly mistakes: This habit is unpardonable. You know the concept, you become happy, you misread the question, you mark the incorrect answer and you are out of the race! Such mistakes reveal your hurriedness while answering the question. A simple mistake of reading ‘chose the incorrect option’ as ‘chose the correct option’ can destroy your chances. It means that you need to have patience and focus while attempting the paper. Excessive risk-taking: You are confused between the options and just in order to increase your attempts, you make wild guesses and try your luck only to repent eventually. Risk-taking is an art and one must be very careful while doing the guesswork in confusing questions. If you are not lucky enough, it can spoil your chances. You will realize that these problems will have different meanings for different people. For example, one might find a lack of information as the main culprit in answering wrong the questions on Culture while in Polity, lack of analytical ability is usually the culprit. The point here is that you must analyse your preparation on these yardsticks by applying them on different subjects/ topics. If one is having a headache, he/ she can’t have the same medicine for fever. Isn’t it. This is where our revamped '60 Day’ comes into the picture. It will give you an opportunity to micro analyze your preparation and perform better in the examination. Finally, it is up to you to take advantage of this framework. We are sure of only one thing- if you follow this program, assess yourself on the basis of the given framework and keep improving your weaker areas, success will be yours. We are providing you with the right platform, the right guidance, and the right competition. Do you have the right motivation to make full use of this initiative? We think you have. Come, be a part of this initiative and take the first step towards SUCCESS! Importance of self - tracking: We could have provided all of you with login id and passwords to monitor your daily performance in the 60-day program. Instead, a simple and most beautiful way which Disqus provides is profile based commenting! Yes, we have seen the most successful candidates who have taken the maximum benefit from this program monitoring themselves by commenting on their answers in the box given (Disqus comment). And reviewing their performance themselves once in 10 days on the progress meter.  DOWNLOAD THE 60 DAYS PLAN 2021 All the Best! IASbaba

SYNOPSIS [4th MAY,2021] Day 98: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE   SYNOPSIS [4th MAY,2021] Day 98: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)   1. How do location of mountains and plateaus decide the climate of a region? Illustrate. Approach A simple and straightforward question where in the candidate needs to illustrate how the location of mountains and plateaus decides the climate of a region. Introduction Mountains provide freshwater to half of the world’s population and are home to half of all global biodiversity hotspots whereas plateaus provide for greater availability of same elevation land over large stretches. Climate is affected by mountains and plateaus both.  Body Impact of Mountains and Plateau on climate – The Topography of an area can greatly influence our climate. Mountain ranges are natural barriers to air movement. In California, winds off the Pacific Ocean carry moisture-laden air toward the coast. The Coastal Range allows for some condensation and light precipitation.  Mountains themselves play a major role in influencing regional and global climates. They act as barriers for wind flow, which induces enhanced precipitation on the windward side, and reduced precipitation and warmer temperatures on the leeward side.  Changes in atmospheric wind flow patterns may induce large and locally varying precipitation responses in mountain areas, which could be much stronger than average regional climate change. Mountains receive more rainfall than low lying areas because as air is forced over the higher ground it cools, causing moist air to condense and fall out as rainfall. The higher the place is above sea level the colder it will be.  This happens because as altitude increases, air becomes thinner and is less able to absorb and retain heat. That is why you may see snow on the top of mountains all year round. Normally, climatic conditions become colder as altitude increases. “Life zones” on a high mountain reflect the changes, plants at the base are the same as those in surrounding countryside, but no trees at all can grow above the timberline. Snow crowns the highest elevations. Mountain weather conditions can change dramatically from one hour to the next. For example, in just a few minutes a thunder storm can roll in when the sky was perfectly clear, and in just a few hours the temperatures can drop from extremely hot temperatures to temperatures that are below freezing. Plateaus, if sufficiently high enough, can reverse the Hadley cell convection cycles and divert the winds. For example, Tibetan plateau and monsoon winds in Indian subcontinent. Some plateaus are known for their groundwater which is under positive pressure and causes the emergence of springs called Artesian wells. For example, intermontane plateau like Colorado plateau. The higher parts of the plateaus even in tropical and sub-tropical regions have a cool climate. For example, average temperature in Bengaluru is lot cooler than that in Chennai. Conclusion Thus, it is clear that the physiology of a region affects the local climate and in the era of climate change, it is necessary to safeguard the biodiversity of the sensitive ecosystem from the ravages of human greed and materialism for a sustainable future. 2. What are sand dunes? How do they get formed? Discuss with the help of suitable examples. Approach Candidates are expected to write about sand dunes, and how they are formed with help of suitable or examples. Introduction Sand Dunes are geological depositional landforms created by action of winds. Sand dunes are heaps or mounds of sand found in deserts. Generally their heights vary from a few metres to 20 metres but in some cases dunes are several hundred metres high and 5 to 6 km long. Body Formation of sand dunes: Dunes are made of sand-sized particles, and may consist of quartz, calcium carbonate, snow, gypsum, or other materials. The upwind/upstream/up current side of the dune is called the stoss side; the down flow side is called the lee side. Sand is pushed (creep) or bounces (saltation) up the stoss side, and slides down the lee side. A side of a dune that the sand has slid down is called a slip face (or slipface). Dunes are found wherever loose sand is windblown: in deserts, on beaches, and even on some eroded and abandoned farm fields in semiarid regions, such as northwest India and parts of the south-western United States. Coastal dunes form when wet sand is deposited along the coast and dries out and is blown along the beach. Dunes form where the beach is wide enough to allow for the accumulation of wind-blown sand, and where prevailing onshore winds tend to blow sand inland. The three key ingredients for coastal dune formation are a large sand supply, winds to move said sand supply, and a place for the sand supply to accumulate. Obstacles for example, vegetation, pebbles and so on tend to slow down the wind and lead to the deposition of sand grains. Various sand dunes: Crescent shaped dunes called barchans with the points or wings directed away from wind direction i.e., downwind, form where the wind direction is constant and moderate and where the original surface over which sand is moving is almost uniform. A group of dunes moved more than 100 metres per year between 1954 and 1959 in China's Ningxia Province, and similar speeds have been recorded in the Western Desert of Egypt. The largest crescentic dunes on Earth, with mean crest-to-crest widths of more than three kilometres, are in China's Taklamakan Desert. Parabolic dunes form when sandy surfaces are partially covered with vegetation. That means parabolic dunes are reversed barchans with wind direction being the same.  Seif is similar to barchan with a small difference. Seif has only one wing or point. This happens when there is shift in wind conditions. The lone wings of seifs can grow very long and high.  Longitudinal dunes form when supply of sand is poor and wind direction is constant. They appear as long ridges of considerable length but low in height.  Transverse dunes are aligned perpendicular to wind direction. These dunes form when the wind direction is constant and the source of sand is an elongated feature at right angles to the wind direction. They may be very long and low in height.  When sand is plenty, quite often, the regular shaped dunes coalesce and lose their individual characteristics. Most of the dunes in the deserts shift and a few of them will get stabilised especially near human habitations. The Khuri Sand Dunes are situated at a distance of 40 Km to the southwest of Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. It is one of the most acknowledged and pristine beauty in the middle of the vast Thar Desert, which offers many ideal locations for tourists to get an experience of dunes in India. The Thar Desert is home to numerous sand dunes which offer tourists with options for camping and desert safari. Conclusion Dune habitats provide niches for highly specialized plants and animals, including numerous rare species and some endangered species. Due to widespread human population expansion, dunes face destruction through land development and recreational usages, as well as alteration to prevent the encroachment of sand onto inhabited areas. 3. With the help of suitable examples, discuss the differences between temperate and tropical flora. How does temperate flora shape the local economy? Explain. Approach- Question is straight forward. Candidate can give describe the temperate and tropical flora with the help of examples and discuss how temperate flora shapes the local economy in the second part. Introduction The word "flora" refers to the plants occurring within a given region as well as to the publication of scientific descriptions of those plants. Flora in Latin means the goddess of the flower. Flora is also derived from the word floral, which means relating to flowers. Therefore flora is a group of indigenous plants in an ecosystem of a geographical region. Body Temperate flora The temperate zones comprise those regions of the Earth’s surface that are located between the Tropic of Cancer and the Arctic Circle in the Northern Hemisphere and between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Antarctic Circle in the Southern Hemisphere. Temperate forests are diverse ecosystems composed of mixtures of conifers, broad-leaved evergreen and broad-leaved deciduous trees. Latitude, temperature, moisture and elevation define the distribution of various temperate forests and trees. Temperate forests Mediterranean forests- occur in areas where the climate is characterized by warm, wet winters and hot, dry summers. They are located along the western coastal regions of the continents. a canopy of holm oak (Quercus ilex) and other evergreen broad-leaved trees dominated the original forest cover. WARM TEMPERATE EVERGREEN FORESTS- These forests are found where the mean temperature is between zero and 18 degree Celsius for the coldest month of the year. A classic example is the Pacific Coast of North America, north of 36°N latitude. This forest is dominated by giant conifers including redwood, hemlock, and western red cedar.  The temperate deciduous forests- undoubtedly the best known of the various types of temperate zone forests. Restricted to the Northern Hemisphere apart from a small area at the southern tip of South America and are found where the average temperature is below 0°C for the coldest month of the year. The temperate deciduous forests of western Europe have been reduced to fragments of the original forest due to agriculture, grazing and other human activities. These forests are poorer floristically. BOREAL FORESTS- encircles the globe at the northern limits of forests and covers vast areas of North America and Eurasia. The winters are colder and longer than in the temperate deciduous forest zone and much of the region is dominated by extension. Conifer forests composed of species of Abies, Larix, Picea and Pinus or extensive areas of bog or peatlands. Tropical flora Tropical vegetation is any vegetation in tropical latitudes. Plant life that occurs in climates that are warm year-round is in general more biologically diverse that in other latitudes. Tropical forests Tropical rainforest ecosystems include significant areas of biodiversity, often coupled with high species endemism. Flora-Orchids, Philodendrons, Ferns, Bromeliads, Kapok Trees, Banana Trees, Rubber Trees, Bam- boo Trees, Cassava Trees, and Avocado Trees. Tropical seasonal forest- generally receives high total rainfall, averaging more than 1000 mm per year, but with a distinct dry season. Tropical dry broadleaf forests are territories with a forest cover that is not very dense and has often an unkempt, irregular appearance, especially in the dry season. These forests often include bamboo and teak as the dominant large tree species. Tropical grasslands, savannahs, and shrub land- are spread over a large area of the tropics with vegetation made up mainly of low shrubs and grasses, often including sclerophyll species. Economy of temperate forests Temperate forests in all regions of the globe have been significantly altered by human activities for thousands of years. Their moderate climates, fertile soils, and vegetation productivity have been favourable to human settlement and clearing for agriculture, as well as direct use of trees themselves for lumber and fuels. Agricultural and settlement activities have included development of urban areas, widespread grain and other crop (e.g., corn, vegetables) cultivation, livestock grazing, gathering of mulch, and alteration of natural water drainage. The vast majority of temperate forest land cover is in secondary forest responding to human harvest or other human-induced disturbance. They serve as the world׳s major source of timber and wood products and are perhaps the only forests with some proven potential for sustainable management. Managed forestry has maintained existing temperate forest lands by re-planting after harvest, and sustainable forestry practices are receiving increasing attention. Conclusion Temperate and tropical fauna is a rich source of livelihood for millions of people around the globe. 300 million people live in forests, including 60 million indigenous people and they are directly dependent on the forest resources. Over exploitation of the temperate forests has been done to meet the energy demands but more efforts are being done to mitigate this crisis and to build the sustainable future. 4. What are the changes being observed in the Arctic region in recent decades? How will impact the global weather pattern? Explain. Approach Since the question is asking you to explain you are supposed to expect to clarify with relevant facts and implications. Introduction  Scientists first started to see evidence of changes in Arctic climate in the 1980s. Since then, the changes have become much more pronounced. Over the past 30 years, the Arctic has warmed at roughly twice the rate as the entire globe, a phenomenon known as Arctic amplification. Most scientists agree that this rapid warming is a signal of human-caused climate change. Body  THE CHANGES BEING OBSERVED IN THE ARCTIC REGION IN RECENT DECADES The floating sea ice cover of the Arctic Ocean is shrinking, especially during summer.  Snow cover over land in the arctic has decreased, notably in spring, and glaciers in Alaska, Greenland, and northern Canada are retreating.  In addition, frozen ground in the arctic, known as permafrost, is warming and in many areas thawing.  Sea ice has also become thinner in recent decades, with arctic-wide average thickness reductions estimated at 10-15%, and with particular areas showing reductions of up to 40% between the 1960s and late 1990s. Some of the strongest warming is projected for land areas, such as northern Russia, which are adjacent to oceans in which sea ice is projected to decline sharply. Melting glaciers, decline in snow cover extent over arctic land areas, increased temperature and rising sea level all provide strong evidence of recent warming in the arctic. HOW WILL IMPACT THE GLOBAL WEATHER PATTERN Researchers say that the changes in the Arctic are worrisome, because they could lead to feedback effects that lead to further warming. For instance, when the White Sea ice melts in summer, areas of dark open water are exposed this can absorb more heat from the sun. That extra heat then helps melt even more ice.  The loss of sea ice is known to be one of the drivers of Arctic amplification. Permafrost may also be involved in feedbacks. As permafrost thaws, plants and animals that were frozen in the ground begin to decay. When they decay, they release carbon dioxide and methane back to the atmosphere that can contribute to further warming.  The changing vegetation of the Arctic also affects the brightness of the surface, which then influences warming. As the Arctic atmosphere warms, it can hold more water vapour, which is an important greenhouse gas. Some of the changes in the Arctic could also be involved in feedback effects, or effects that reduce the amount of warming. For example, if warm temperatures make the Arctic growing season longer, more plants can survive and take up more carbon from the air. However, most evidence suggests that the positive feedback effects that hasten warming outweigh the negative feedbacks. Conclusion Changes in the Arctic have effects that cascade through the food chain, from phytoplankton to marine mammals such as seals, walrus, whales, and polar bears. Changes in the Arctic climate are important because the Arctic acts as a refrigerator for the rest of the world—it helps cool the planet. Changes in the Arctic climate are important because the Arctic acts as a refrigerator for the rest of the world—it helps cool the planet and hence these changes could affect the climate in the rest of the world.  5. Discuss the anthropogenic factors causing water crisis in different parts of world. Is there a sustainable way to address it? Examine. Approach: As the directive in the question is examine students are expected to address the question directly without writing pros and cons of the issue also the question given has two parts and each part needs to be addressed equally with proper use of examples. Introduction: Water covers 70% of our planet, and it is easy to think that it will always be plentiful. However, freshwater—the stuff we drink, bath in, irrigate our farm fields with—is incredibly rare. Only 3% of the world’s water is fresh water, and two-thirds of that is tucked away in frozen glaciers or otherwise unavailable for our use. As a result, some 1.1 billion people worldwide lack access to water, and a total of 2.7 billion find water scarce for at least one month of the year. Inadequate sanitation is also a problem for 2.4 billion people—they are exposed to diseases, such as cholera and typhoid fever, and other water-borne illnesses. Two million people, mostly children, die each year from diarrheal diseases alone. According to WWF, some 1.1 billion people worldwide lack access to water, and a total of 2.7 billion find water scarcity for at least one month of the year. Body: Anthropogenic factors causing water crisis- Water pollution, the release of substances into subsurface groundwater or into lakes, streams, rivers, estuaries, and oceans to the point where the substances interfere with beneficial use of the water or with the natural functioning of ecosystems. In addition to the release of substances, such as chemicals or microorganisms, water pollution may also include the release of energy, in the form of radioactivity or heat, into bodies of water. Domestic sewage is the primary source of pathogens (disease-causing microorganisms) and putrescible organic substances. Because pathogens are excreted in faeces, all sewage from cities and towns is likely to contain pathogens of some type, potentially presenting a direct threat to public health. Putrescible organic matter presents a different sort of threat to water quality. As organics are decomposed naturally in the sewage by bacteria and other microorganisms, the dissolved oxygen content of the water is depleted. This endangers the quality of lakes and streams, where high levels of oxygen are required for fish and other aquatic organisms to survive. Sewage-treatment processes reduce the levels of pathogens and organics in wastewater, but they do not eliminate them completely. Petroleum (oil) pollution occurs when oil from roads and parking lots is carried in surface runoff into water bodies. Accidental oil spills are also a source of oil pollution—as in the devastating spills from the tanker Exxon Valdez (which released more than 260,000 barrels in Alaska’s Prince William Sound in 1989) and from the Deep-water Horizon oil rig (which released more than 4 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico in 2010). Oil slicks eventually move toward shore, harming aquatic life and damaging recreation areas. The technology of fracking has been in use since the 1940s, when liquids such as gasoline and crude oil were injected into poorly performing gas and oil wells in the central and southern United States with the aim of increasing their flow rate. Over the following decades, techniques were improved—for instance, treated water became the preferred fracturing medium, and finely graded sand or synthetic materials were adopted as a “proppant” to hold open the fractures. While fracking has increased domestic fuel supplies and has made it easier for natural gas to displace dirtier coal in electricity generation, fracking has also raised concerns about contaminated drinking water supplies, increased air pollution, toxic waste disposal, impairment of rivers and streams, and destruction of landscapes and wildlife habitat. Irrigation and drainage, artificial application of water to land and artificial removal of excess water from land, respectively. Some land requires irrigation or drainage before it is possible to use it for any agricultural production; other land profits from either practice to increase production. Some land, of course, does not need either. 70% of global water withdrawals are dedicated to agriculture. 19% of global water withdrawals are dedicated to industrial uses which puts pressure on the already stressed water sources fit for human use thus creates crisis as in India as well Industrial use of water has led to crisis in many southern states like Tamil Nadu. Ways to address the water crisis- Education There are plenty of opportunities out there that people can use to learn more about the world around them. By educating those who are not dealing with water scarcity, they can be in a position to help. Those who are dealing with it can get educated on how they can prevent the problem from becoming even worse in the future. Recycle Water There are plenty of technologies available that allow you to recycle rainwater and other water that you may be used in your home. Consider learning about how you can recycle water. Not only does it help to prevent scarcity, but it can be of financial as well. Improve Practices Related to Farming Farming and irrigation is often a huge culprit when it comes to water scarcity. Because of that, we need to improve practices so that we don’t use as much water and those who are using water are using it to its fullest potential. Technology also needs to advance in this manner. Improve water catchment and harvesting Water catchment systems are essential for areas with no other reliable water sources. Pakistan and India—two countries that contend with some of the worst effects of climate change—are overhauling rainwater harvesting systems. These efforts provide independent control of water resources. Shrink corporate water footprints Industrial water use accounts for approximately 22 percent of global consumption. The corporate footprint includes water that is directly and indirectly consumed when goods are produced. As sustainable manufacturing becomes more important, given the increasing severity of water scarcity. Climate change mitigation Climate change and water scarcity go hand-in-hand to cause some of the biggest contemporary challenges to the human race. These issues have a reciprocal relationship, identified by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), in which, “water management policies and measures can have an influence on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.” As renewable energy options are pursued, the water consumption of these mitigation tactics must be considered in producing alternatives ranging from bio-energy crops to hydropower and solar power plants. Conclusion: Water is a foundation of life and livelihoods, and is key to sustainable development. Successful water management will serve as a foundation for the achievement of many of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as for SDG 6 - which is to ‘Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all’. Despite this, water is becoming a pressing societal and geopolitical issue – in some regions, it is already of critical national concern. ‘Business as usual’ will mean the world will miss water-related SDGs by a wide margin; up to 40% of the world’s population will be living in seriously water-stressed areas by 2035; and the ability of ecosystems to provide fresh water supplies will become increasingly compromised.   TLP HOT Synopsis Day 98 PDF

Motivational Articles

Creative Guidance – Self Perfection – Inspirational Educative Articles

Self Perfection: The path of Self perfection is filled with effort and disturbance. If there is no effort and disturbance, know that you are not progressing. There is no self perfection without effort. To become good at anything, you have to put in the necessary effort and practice. Let’s say you’re playing a sport and you want to become good at it. What would you look for? Would you search for easy ways to rest and relax, or would you look for challenges and obstacles to overcome? Would you play with easy-to-handle amateurs, or would you like to face tough and experienced opponents? In sports, you only have to be slightly better than your opponent to win. In this sense, more than anything else, it is your opponents who determine your skill level and progress. This is also the case with most other endeavors of life. Your struggles, hurdles, opponents and challenges eventually shape you as a person. You grow only through disturbance, and this is no different in meditation. Meditation presents you with the greatest possible challenge. Here, the opponents are not outside you, but within you. Your own mind and body are your biggest obstacles in meditation. The entire effort in meditation is a result of constant disturbance from your mind and body. Neither the mind, nor the body is conditioned to relax and simply be. You have conditioned your mind and body for action, effort and disturbance. When you decide to walk the path of self perfection, this conditioning of the mind and body pose the biggest challenge. Naturally, meditation is a great effort. It is an effort to go beyond the constant disturbance of the mind and the body. “This article is a part of the creative endeavor of Nirvana Foundation and IASBABA.”

[LIVE] WEEKEND WITH BABA – First Session with Mohan Sir today at 6 PM

Hello Everyone The First Session of 'WEEKEND WITH BABA' will be live today at 6 PM. The Session will include discussions regarding 'Postponement of the Prelims exam', 'Strategy in the present times of Uncertainty, 'How to keep yourself motivated?' and many more..... To Watch the First Session - CLICK HERE .embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Note - Please click on 'Set Reminder' so that you do not miss the video. The Second Live Session will be held on 15th May and will have discussions especially for students who are aiming for the UPSC-CSE 2022 Attempt. You can start sharing your questions/queries/doubts with #ASKBABA (related to UPSC Preparation) in disqus comment box below and Upvoting can follow. Remember maximum upvotes will be given priority. Feel free to share your queries because many of the questions that you are having, will be the same as other candidates. Your questions might help others in clarifying their doubts. Waiting to talk to you soon! P.S: 'CONNECT WITH BABA' consists of the following - Hotline, #AskBaba, Phone-a-Friend, (Monday - Friday between 10am to 6 Pm) and 'Weekend with Baba' (Every Saturday on You-tube with Mohan Sir from 6pm - 7pm). To get Regular Updates from IASbaba, follow- TELEGRAM Channel – CLICK HERE YOUTUBE  –  CLICK HERE FACEBOOK  – CLICK HERE  

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 8th May 2021

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Strategy for Pulses Cultivation in Kharif 2021 Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III - Economy  In news In order to attain self-sufficiency in the production of pulses, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has formulated a special Kharif strategy for implementation during the Kharif 2021 season. Key takeaways  A detailed plan for both area expansion and productivity enhancement for Tur, Moong and Urad has been formulated. Under the strategy, the high yielding varieties (HYVs) of seeds will be distributed free of cost to increase area through intercropping and sole crop. It is proposed to distribute almost 10 times more seed mini kits than 2020-21 amounting to Rs. 82.01 crores.  The total cost for these mini-kits will be borne by the Central Government The Agricultural Technology Application Research Institutes (ATARIs) and Krishi Vigyan Kendras will also be roped in for effective implementation and training to the farmers. Stress Resolution Framework 2.0 for Individuals, Small Businesses and MSMEs Part of: GS Prelims and GS - III - Economy  In news RBI has announced following set of measures to relieve stress faced by most vulnerable categories of borrowers – individuals, borrowers and MSMEs. Key takeaways  Individuals, borrowers and MSMEs with aggregate exposure up to Rs. 25 crore, who have not availed restructuring under any previous frameworks, but classified as standard on 31 March, 2021, will be eligible to be considered under Resolution Framework 2.0. This can be invoked till September 30, 2021 and will have to be implemented within 90 days after invocation. For individuals and small businesses who have availed restructuring of loans under Resolution Framework 1.0, where moratorium of less than 2 years was permitted, lending institutions can now increase the period and/or extend residual tenure up to a total period of 2 years. In respect of small businesses and MSMEs restructured earlier, lending institutions are now permitted to review working capital sanction limits, as a one-time measure. Section 142 of the Social Security Code – 2020 Part of: GS Prelims GS-II – Policies and Interventions  In news Section 142 of the Social Security Code, 2020 has been notified by Ministry of Labour & Employment covering applicability of Aaadhar. Key takeaways  The notification of section will enable the Ministry to collect Aaadhar details for the database of beneficiaries under various social security schemes. National Data Base for unorganised workers (NDUW) is at an advanced stage of development by National Informatics Centre The portal is aimed at collection of data for unorganised workers including migrant workers for the purpose of giving benefits of the various schemes of the Government. An inter-state migrant worker can register himself on the portal on the basis of submission of Aaadhar alone. Exports of Organic Millets Grown in Himalayas to Denmark  Part of: GS Prelims and GS - II - International Relations & GS-III - Economy  In news In a major boost to organic products exports from India, first consignment of millets grown in Himalayas from snow-melt water of Ganges in Dev, Uttarakhand would be exported to Denmark. Key takeaways  APEDA, in collaboration with Uttarakhand Agriculture Produce Marketing Board (UKAPMB) & Just Organik, an exporter, has sourced & processed ragi (finger millet), and jhingora (barnyard millet) from farmers in Uttarakhand for exports, which meets the organic certification standards of the European Union. Millets are gaining a lot of popularity globally because of high nutritive values and being gluten free also. Do you know?  Oil cake meal is a major commodity of the organic product exports from the country followed by oil seeds, fruit pulps and purees, cereals & millets, spices, tea, medicinal plant products etc. At present, organic products are exported provided they are produced, processed, packed and labelled as per the requirements of the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP). The NPOP has been implemented by APEDA since its inception in 2001 as notified under the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulations) Act, 1992. NPOP has also been recognized by the Food Safety Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) for trade of organic products in the domestic market. Organic products covered under the bilateral agreement with NPOP need not be recertified for import in India. India – UK MoU on Migration and Mobility Partnership Part of: GS Prelims and GS - II - International Relations  In news Cabinet approves MoU between India and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on Migration and Mobility Partnership. Key takeaways  The Union Cabinet has approved the signing of MoU on Migration and Mobility Partnership between India and Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Aim: (1) Liberalising issuance of visas promoting mobility of students, researchers and skilled professionals; (2) Strengthen cooperation on issues related to irregular migration and human trafficking between the two sides. This MoU can support the innovation ecosystem in both countries by facilitating free flow of talent. Ministry of External Affairs would closely monitor the effective implementation of the MoU through Joint Working Group mechanism. (Mains Focus) INTERNATIONAL/ GOVERNANCE Topic: GS-2: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. COVID Second Wave Crisis and Indo-US Context: US had put a ban on exports of raw materials for vaccine production by arguing that it was “in the interests of the rest of the world to see Americans vaccinated”.  A storm of protests and criticism erupted in India; influential members of the US political and corporate establishment implored their government to change its position.  As a result, US acknowledged India’s assistance to the US in the early phase of the pandemic and announced package of assistance that had several elements: Reconsider Export Ban: First, the US Defence Production Act’s provisions are being reconsidered (that forms the basis of ban on export of raw materials used in Vaccine production). The authorities have agreed to approve the supply of filters needed for the manufacture of the Covishield vaccine. Surplus Vaccine doses: Second, it is estimated that the US will have 60 million surplus doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine by June, which it will not use at home. Subject to clearance by the FDA, this will be released for use by other countries that may include India. Augmenting Oxygen Production: Third, a comprehensive plan has been prepared for the supply of oxygen-related equipment, including generation systems, cylinders and setting up of field hospitals with oxygen beds. Supply of Medicines: Four, a special focus is on stepping up commercial supplies of therapeutics, especially remdesivir. Immediate shipment of 1,00,000 vials by Gilead Sciences has been arranged, with another 2,00,000 vials to be made available by end-May. QUAD’s Vax Partnership: Five, the US Development Corporation will fund the Indian vaccine firm BioE to expand its manufacturing capacity. This is covered under the Quad’s Vax Partnership, enabling India and the other three partners (US, Japan, Australia) to produce and distribute at least 1 billion doses by end-2022. Support from Business Community: Google, Microsoft and Apple — as well as others — Amazon, Proctor & Gamble and more — are coming forward to commit their resources in India’s fight against COVID second wave. Analysis Pragmatism: Support offered by US Business Community a mix of altruism and pragmatism: US tech has large valuable investments in India which need protection. Negative public sentiment could hurt their investment protection prospects Role by Diaspora: America’s turn around was due to the efforts of the Indian diaspora, backed by friendly American public figures and proactive diplomacy by India Fear of backlash: US realised that the anti-American sentiment in India (which has a long legacy), can grow and trouble the bilateral relationship if it didn’t offer help at this juncture. Changed Leadership: President Joe Biden’s “America is back” mantra —contrasted with Trump’s “America First”— re-assumed a liberal and humanitarian approach, thus indicating US eagerness for global leadership. Helping India at this need of hour shows leadership aspects of US. Conclusion When it comes to health-related cooperation, the US needs to internalise that helping India is really helping the world Connecting the dots: What went wrong with India’s vaccine diplomacy?  Vaccine Nationalism ECONOMY/ GOVERNANCE Topic: GS-3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.  GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Time for 5th generation banking reforms Context: The government recently announced new banking reforms, involving the establishment of a Development Finance Institution (DFI) for infrastructure, creation of a Bad Bank to address the problem of chronic non-performing assets (NPAs), and privatisation of public sector banks (PSBs) to ease its burden in terms of mobilising additional capital. The Indian banking sector has been evolving on a continuous basis,  Reforms Outcomes First Generation During the pre-Independence period (till 1947), the Swadeshi Movement saw the birth of many small and local banks Most failed mainly due to internal frauds, interconnected lending, and the combining of trading and banking books. Second generation (1947-1967) Indian banks facilitated resource mobilisation through retail deposits)  Banking sector got concentrated in a few business families or groups  Neglected credit flow to agriculture. Third generation (1967-1991) The government was successful in breaking the nexus between industry and banks through the nationalisation of 20 major private banks in two phases (1969 and 1980) and introduction of priority sector lending (1972).  These initiatives resulted in the shift from ‘class banking’ to ‘mass banking’ and had a positive impact on the expansion of branch network across (rural) India, massive mobilisation of public deposits and incremental credit flow to agriculture and allied sectors.  However, the banking industry experienced a decline in asset quality, financial soundness, and efficiency during this period as a result of relaxation in credit standards to meet the priority sector targets. Fourth generation (1991-2014) Indian banking saw landmark reforms such as  Issue of fresh licences to private and foreign banks Introduction of prudential norms Providing operational flexibility coupled with functional autonomy Focus on implementation of best corporate governance practices Strengthening of capital base as per the Basel norms. Since 2014, the banking sector has witnessed the adoption of the JAM (Jan-Dhan, Aadhaar, and Mobile) trinity, and issuance of licences to Payments Banks and Small Finance Banks (SFBs)  Reforms infused competition, thereby enhancing productivity as well as efficiency by leveraging technology. SFBs has helped to achieve last-mile connectivity in the financial inclusion drive.  Fifth Generation Reforms - Promoting Niche/Differentiated Banking  Niche Banking caters to the specific and varied requirements of different customers and borrowers.  Essentially, these specialised banks would ease the access to finance in areas such as RAM (retail, agriculture, MSMEs), infrastructure financing, wholesale banking (mid and large corporates) and investment banking (merchant banking and financial advisory services). The proposed DFI/niche banks may be established as specialised banks to have access to low-cost public deposits and for better asset-liability management.  Further, the existing strong local area banks and urban cooperative banks may be converted into RAM banks and be freed from dual control. They also may be encouraged to get listed on a recognised stock exchange and adhere to ESG (Environment, Social Responsibility, and Governance) framework to create value for their stakeholders in the long run. Government should establish sector-wise regulators and bestow them with more powers to deal effectively with wilful defaulters. Conclusion Given the current challenges of a burgeoning population, the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, and the West’s intention to shift its manufacturing base to India and elsewhere, it is essential to say ‘yes’ to fifth generation banking reforms. (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 Consider the following statements regarding National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP): It is implemented by APEDA It is not recognized by the Food Safety Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) for trade of organic products in the domestic market Which of the above is/are correct?  1 only  2 only  Both 1 and 2  Neither 1 nor 2  Q.2 APEDA comes under which of the following Ministry?  Ministry of Environment  Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs  Ministry of Finance  Ministry of Agriculture  Q.3 Section 142 of the Social Security Code, 2020 has been notified for which of the following?  For increasing minimum wage of unorganised workers  For increasing minimum wage of organised workers  For collecting Aaadhar details for the database of beneficiaries under various social security schemes. For collecting Aaadhar details for the database of women only who are unemployed  Q.4 Which of the following are Kharif crops: Tur Urad Cotton Wheat Select the correct code: 1, 2 and 4 only  1, 2, and 3 only  2, 3 and 4 only 2 and 3 only ANSWERS FOR 7th May 2021 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 C 2 D Must Read On patent protection: The Hindu On WTO revival and India: ORF About ramping up medical oxygen production: The Indian Express

SYNOPSIS [3rd MAY,2021] Day 97: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE   SYNOPSIS [3rd MAY,2021] Day 97: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)   1. What makes the Northeast region highly prone to earthquakes? Analyse. Approach A simple and straightforward question where in the candidate needs to analyse what makes the Northeast region highly prone to earthquakes. Introduction According to the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), our country falls in four seismic zones. The entire Northeast of our country falls in Zone V, with the highest risk, and the region has a turbulent history of 18 devastating earthquakes in the past century. In fact, Northeast India is one of the six most seismically active regions on earth along with California, Japan, Mexico, Taiwan, and Turkey. Body Seismicity is a term which expresses the frequency of occurrence of earthquake in a region in the past as well as probable occurrence in the future. Some region experience higher magnitude of earthquake, whereas some experience lower magnitude.  Depending on magnitude and frequency, we generally define a place as a region of high seismicity and low seismicity. Seismicity of a particular region depends on the tectonic condition pertaining to number and type of movement of faults in that region. Earthquake is a natural phenomenon which is responsible for continuous geological formations and modifications of Earth. Therefore assessing earthquake is necessary in terms of location, frequency, magnitude to evaluate the extent of devastation and threat that it possesses. In India, one of the most seismic hazard zones is North east part of India. This region has witnessed several major earthquakes causing large scale devastation. The main cause of this high seismicity in North East India is its unique placement of tectonic plates and their interactions.  This region consists of eastern and north-eastern Himalayas to the north, Indo-Burma ranges to the east, Bangladesh to the south and the Andaman-Sumatra region to the southeast.  This region comprising of Shillong Plateau, Mikir hills, Assam valley, Tripura fold belt and the Bengal basin (Bangladesh) is jawed in 3-ways between the three tectonic arcs. The interaction of these three uniquely placed tectonic arcs makes North East India an interlocked region of high seismicity.  Moreover, the Eastern Himalayan Syntaxes is a complex triple junction that joins the Indian and Eurasian plates with the northern end of the Burma plate where the Himalayan arc takes a sharp turn of about 900 and meets the Indo-Burma ranges. The tremors of some recent earthquakes have been attributed to the Kopili fault zone closer to Himalayan Frontal Thrust. This is a seismically active area falling in the highest Seismic Hazard Zone V. It is associated with collisional tectonics because of the Indian Plate sub-ducting beneath the Eurasian Plate. Subduction is a geological process in which one crustal plate is forced below the edge of another. The high seismicity in this region can also be attributed to the collision tectonics between the Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate in the north and subduction tectonics along with the Indo-Myanmar range (IMR) in the east Deaths and destruction during an earthquake mostly occurs due to the collapse of the buildings. North-east India has seen a significant increase in population density and also witnessed a growth of unplanned urbanization. This has caused human population and different structures to be vulnerable.  Conclusion The enormous investment outlays for strengthening the road network, rail network and air transport network for the North Eastern region proposed will have to be designed with special attention to the earthquake risk and vulnerability in the region. Simultaneously, there is a greater need to strengthen the medical preparedness and mass casualty management facilities in the region. The public awareness on earthquake risk and vulnerability will become the foundation for an enlightened multi-stakeholder initiative to launch a concerted attempt to usher in a culture of preparedness, mitigation and improved emergency response in the North Eastern Region. 2. Discuss the phenomena of landslides as an ecological hazard. Approach Candidates are expected to write about landslide and then simply discuss the phenomena of landslide as an ecological hazard. Introduction A landslide is defined as the movement of a mass of rock, debris, or earth down a slope. They are a type of mass wasting, which denotes any downward movement of soil and rock under the direct influence of gravity. The term landslide encompasses five modes of slope movement: falls, topples, slides, spreads, and flows. Body Causes of landslide: Slope movement occurs when forces acting downward (mainly due to gravity) exceed the strength of the earth materials that compose the slope. Landslides are caused due to three major factors: geology, morphology, and human activity.  Geology refers to characteristics of the material. The earth or rock might be weak or fractured, or different layers may have different strengths and stiffness. Morphology refers to the structure of the land. For example, slopes that lose their vegetation to fire or drought are more vulnerable to landslides.  Vegetation holds soil in place, and without the root systems of trees, bushes, and other plants, the land is more likely to slide away. Human activity which includes agriculture and construction increase the risk of a landslide. The research said human-triggered fatal landslides are increasing at the highest rate in India, where 28% construction-triggered landslide events occurred during the period. Landslide as ecological hazard: Every year, landslides in the region kill dozens of people and cause widespread damage to several villages such that they have now become almost unfit for habitation. They create blockades in the road network and river system, which in turn, cause floods. The terraced farm fields have been destroyed that cannot be easily renovated or made productive again. The road network remains closed for long periods causing indescribable hardship to the villagers who get their basic supplies and provisions from the neighbouring areas. Water sources are disrupted and chocked by debris from landslides. The river sediment load is increased considerably, causing irregular courses and frequent breaching of the banks- resulting into unexpected floods. The water channels are also affected due to disruption in previous channels, this leads to disturbance in water supply to dependent villagers for irrigation purposes. This then adversely affects agriculture production in the affected region. In India, this hazard affects at least 15% of the land area of the country ( approx 0.49 million square Km.) It is very frequent in geodynamical active domains in the Himalayan and Arakan- Yoma belt of the North-eastern parts of the country as well as in the relatively stable domains of the Meghalaya Plateau, Western Ghats, and Nilgiri Hills. Way Forward: Preparedness and Mitigation: The National Landslide Susceptibility Mapping (NLSM) programme of the Geological Survey of India could help assess the vulnerability of the districts and this could allow the concerned states to plan accordingly. Installing early warning systems based on the monitoring of ground conditions like slope displacement, strain in soil and rocks, groundwater levels can help warn the residents and authorities of the risks. The district and state disaster management apparatus should be ready for intervention at a short notice. Conclusion Landslides and their consequences are still a great problem for many countries, particularly in India due to rapidly increasing populations. The most recent example being that of Kerala. For this reason, landslide hazard zonation mapping serves as one of the many components in an integrated disaster management planning. 3. Discuss the landforms associated with volcanic activity in India. Approach- Question is straight forward. Student can define the volcano and landforms associated with it. Examples of volcanic landforms in India can be mentioned while defining the particular landform. Introduction Volcano refers to a place from where gases, ashes and lave escapes out. Volcanic landforms are created by cooling of magma or lava. Due to very high temperature, some rocks slowly melt and turn into a thick flowing matter known as magma. Since it is lighter than the solid rock around it, the magma rises and gets collected in magma chambers which eventually pushes through fissures and vents in the earth’s surface. Body Volcanic landforms Volcanic landforms are divided into extrusive and intrusive landforms based on weather magma cools within the crust or above the crust. Intrusive landforms The lava that is discharged during volcanic eruptions on cooling develops into igneous rocks. The cooling may take place either on arriving on the surface or also while the lava is still in the crustal portion. According to the location of the cooling of the lava, igneous rocks are categorized as plutonic rocks and volcanic rocks. The lava that cools inside the crustal portions takes diverse forms. These forms are called intrusive forms. Examples of intrusive landforms Batholiths- Batholiths are the cooled portion of magma chambers. It is a large body of magmatic material that cools in the deeper depth of the crust moulds in the form of large domes. They appear on the surface only after the denudation processes eliminate the overlying materials. Laccoliths- These are large dome-shaped intrusive bodies with a level base and linked by a pipe-like channel from below. It bears a similarity to the surface volcanic domes of the composite volcano, only these are located at deeper depths. In India the Karnataka plateau is patterned with dome hills of granite rocks. Lopolith- When the lava moves upwards, a part of the same tends to move in a horizontal direction wherever it finds a weak plane. It can get rested in various forms. If it develops into a saucer shape, concave to the sky body, it is called lopolith. Phacolith- A wavy mass of intrusive rocks, at times, is found at the base of synclines or the top of the anticline in folded igneous strata. Such wavy materials have a definite conduit to source beneath in the form of magma chambers (subsequently developed as batholiths). These are called the Phacoliths. Sills- The near horizontal bodies of the intrusive igneous rocks are called sill. The thinner ones are called sheets. Dykes- When the lava makes its way through cracks and the fissures developed in the land, it solidifies almost perpendicular to the ground. These are the most commonly found intrusive forms in the western Maharashtra area. These are considered the feeders for the eruptions that led to the development of the Deccan traps. Extrusive volcanic landforms Extrusive landforms are formed from material thrown out to the surface during volcanic activity. The materials thrown out include lava flows, pyroclastic debris, volcanic bombs, ash, dust and gases such as nitrogen compounds, sulphur compounds and minor amounts of chlorine, hydrogen and argon. Crater Lake A Crater Lake, in general, could be of volcanic origin (volcanic crater lake, volcanic caldera lake) or due to a meteorite impact (meteor crater or impact crater), or in the crater left by an artificial explosion caused by humans. Lonar Lake, also known as Lonar crater (Lonar, Buldhana district, Maharashtra) was created by a meteor impact during the Pleistocene Epoch. Conclusion Volcanic activities have a profound influence on the earth’s landforms. In India deccan traps, Karnataka plateau are some of the examples associated with the volcanic landforms as they have influences the India’s physiography and its environment.  4. How do temperate cyclones affect the local weather conditions? Illustrate. Approach Since the question is asking you to illustrate you have to demonstrate knowledge of the subject of the question and to further explain or clarify your answer with several examples. Introduction  Temperate cyclones, also called as extra tropical cyclones or wave cyclones or simply depressions are atmospheric disturbances having low pressure in the centre and increasing pressure outward. The convergence of the cold front and the warm front in the temperate latitude cyclones conducive for the development of mid-latitude cyclone. The development and strengthening of mid-latitude ware cyclone id known as cyclogenesis. They move counter clockwise in the Northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern hemisphere. The temperate cyclonic motion is generated by the pressure gradient force, the Coriolis force, and the surface friction force. Body  THE TEMPERATE CYCLONES AFFECT THE LOCAL WEATHER CONDITIONS IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS: Temperate cyclone is associated with the instability phenomenon called as western disturbance. In Himalayan region of India, the monsoon current progress east to west but western disturbance, move across north from west to east bringing moderate to heavy rain in low-lying area & heavy snow to mountain. Temperate cyclones are cold cored, and winds increase with height. They tend to have more moderate rainfall, although in extreme cases still enough to cause destructive flooding. Temperate cyclones have their strongest winds at the top of the troposphere in the core of cyclones have their strongest winds at the top of the troposphere in the core of the jet stream. A light drizzle follows temperate cyclone which turns into a heavy downpour. These conditions change with the arrival of the warm front which halts the fall in mercury level and the rising temperature. Rainfall stops and clear weather prevails until the cold front of an anticyclonic character arrives which causes a fall in temperature, brings cloudiness and rainfall with thunder. After this, once again clear weather is established. The temperate cyclones experience more rainfall when there is slower movement and a marked difference in rainfall and temperature between the front and rear of the cyclone. These cyclones are generally accompanied by anticyclones. Conclusion The temperate cyclone develops in region between 30° & 60° north and south latitude in both hemisphere and is responsible for much of the highly variable & Cloudy weather in temperate zone. It is in these latitude zones that the polar and tropical air masses meet and form polar fronts. 5. Discuss the origin and propagation of tropical cyclones. How are tropical cyclones named? Approach: Question is straight forward in its approach, it has two parts each part needs to be addressed equally also it is important to substantiate points properly with appropriate use of examples. Introduction: Tropical cyclones (TCs) plague coastal communities around the world, threatening millions of people and causing many billions of dollars in damage to infrastructure—impacts that are only increasing as coastal development continues worldwide. These impacts result in severe consequences in all ocean basins frequented by TCs, for example recent Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria (2017) and Florence and Michael (2018) in the Atlantic basin, Typhoons Hato and Damrey (2017), Tropical Storm Son-Tinh (2018) and Typhoons Mangkhut, Jebi, Soulik, and Yutu (2018) in the western North Pacific, Cyclone Debbie (2017) in the East Australian region, and Cyclone Mekunu (2018) in the northern Indian Ocean. Body: Origin and propagation- More than two-thirds of observed tropical cyclones originate in the Northern Hemisphere. The North Pacific has more than one-third of all such storms, while the southeast Pacific and South Atlantic are normally devoid of them. Most Northern Hemispheric tropical cyclones occur between May and November, with peak periods in August and September. The majority of Southern Hemispheric cyclones occur between December and April, with peaks in January and February. The formation of tropical cyclones is strongly influenced by the temperature of the underlying ocean or, more specifically, by the thermal energy available in the upper 60 metres (about 200 feet) of ocean waters. Typically, the underlying ocean should have a temperature in excess of 26 °C (about 79 °F) in this layer. This temperature requirement, however, is only one of five that need to be met for a tropical cyclone to form and develop. The other preconditions relate to the state of the tropical atmosphere between the sea surface and a height of 16 km (about 10 miles), the boundary of the tropical troposphere. All these conditions may be met but still not lead to cyclone formation. It is thought that the most important factor is the presence of a large-scale cyclonic circulation in the lower troposphere. The above conditions occur for a period of 5 to 15 days and are followed by less-favourable conditions for duration of 10 to 20 days. Once a tropical cyclone has formed, it usually follows certain distinct stages during its lifetime. In its formative stage the winds are below hurricane force, and the central pressure is about 1,000 millibars, or 750 mm (29.53 inches) of mercury. The formative period is extremely variable in length, ranging from 12 hours to a few days. This stage is followed by a period of intensification, when the central pressure drops rapidly below 1,000 millibars. The winds increase rapidly, and they may achieve hurricane force within a radius of 30 to 50 km (19 to 31 miles) of the storm centre. At this stage the cloud and rainfall patterns become well organized into narrow bands that spiral inward toward the centre. In the mature phase the central pressure stops falling and, as a consequence, the winds no longer increase. The region of hurricane-force winds, however, expands to occupy a radius of 300 km (186 miles) or more. A tropical cyclone may regenerate in higher latitudes as an extratropical depression, but it loses its identity as a tropical storm in the process. The typical lifetime of a tropical cyclone from its birth to death is about six days. Naming of tropical cyclones- Cyclones were usually not named. The tradition started with hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean, where tropical storms that reach sustained wind speeds of 39 miles per hour were given names. The practice of naming storms started in order to help in the quick identification of storms in warning messages because names are presumed to be far easier to remember than numbers and technical terms. Experience shows that the use of short, distinctive given names in written as well as spoken communications is quicker and less subject to error than the older more cumbersome latitude-longitude identification methods. The 13 names in the recent list that have been suggested by India include: Gati, Tej, Murasu, Aag, Vyom, Jhar (pronounced Jhor), Probaho, Neer, Prabhanjan, Ghurni, Ambud, Jaladhi and Vega. Next, India’s choice, Gati, will be chosen, and so on. Subsequent cyclones are being named sequentially, column-wise, with each cyclone given the name immediately below that of the previous cyclone. Conclusion: Cyclones can have an economic and emotional effect on people and property directly affected. Thousands of people have died or been displaced by them. Hundreds of homes could be destroyed causing millions of dollars’ worth of damage. Having a better understanding of cyclones can help you better prepare and perhaps minimise or prevent cyclone damage.   TLP HOT Synopsis Day 97 PDF

IASbaba’s 60 Day Plan - IAS Prelims Test Series 2021 - ENVIRONMENT, CURRENT AFFAIRS & CSAT [Day 42]

For Previous (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE Hello Friends,  ARCHIVES OF 60 DAYS NOTE: IASbaba's 60 DAY questions will be posted around 10 AM. The solution will be released around 5 PM Daily.  Let us pledge to make it a big game-changer (better than last year) in the next 60 days!  Note- Download the OMR Sheet and attempt the questions exactly like UPSC Prelims. After you are done, please post your OMR in the comment section. Once the solution key is released (around 5 PM), cross-check the answers and, comment the marks (you scored) in the same comment thread. This will keep you accountable, responsible and sincere in days to come.  You can also take part in the discussion with peers.   ENVIRONMENT [DAY 42] - Click Here NOTE- Follow this for Comments Mention- Time Taken after solving the Test After the release of Solution, Edit your Comment to Mention-  Correct/Incorrect and Score 2 Marks for Correct/0.66 minus for Incorrect. What IMPACT can the ‘60 Day’ have on the final results? We will explain by taking a small example. Imagine you are sitting in the examination hall, appearing in Prelims Paper I. You have attempted 70 questions already but still unsure about a few. Then you stumble upon a question that was asked in 60 Day (and believe us, it has happened to hundreds of students countless times). You choose the right answer and submit your paper hoping for the best! Eventually, you go on to clear Mains as well as Personality Test and secure a good rank as well. When the cut off gets announced by UPSC, you realize that you have scored just one mark more than the cut off! Yes, that one mark can change your life (and it has done so to many of our students in the past). Now, imagine the kind of impact 60 to 80 marks can have! Isn’t that so fascinating to imagine?   One’s level of preparedness is always different for different subjects. Even within a subject, one’s comfort level may vary with topics. For example, one might be more comfortable in solving questions of Polity than Economics and within Polity also, one might be at ease with questions on fundamental rights than Parliament. The level of comfort and ease that one has with a subject/ topic gets manifested in the examination. However, there is no conscious effort by aspirants to micro analyze these aspects. Now, coming to the second aspect i.e. the mistakes that one commits in answering MCQs, it can be said that there are mainly four reasons behind incorrect responses in the OMR sheet. They are: Lack of information Lack of analytical ability Silly mistakes Excessive risk-taking Let’s analyze them one by one: Lack of information: You simply don’t know the information. You are clueless and that’s why you don’t attempt the question. For example, you may have never come across a regime called the ‘Wassenaar Agreement’ during your preparation and you can’t do much about it. The lack of information is pardonable and rectifiable. You can read more and gather more information. That is within your reach. Lack of analytical ability: You know the concept but the question is a twisted one and you are not able to apply the concept. For example, in a question asking you to identify the climate type of a region based on certain given parameters like precipitation, temperature, and air density, you might find it difficult to mark the correct option even if you are aware of all the options given in the question! That is clearly a lack of application and you can overcome it by developing a habit of framing questions in your mind while you study any topic. Silly mistakes: This habit is unpardonable. You know the concept, you become happy, you misread the question, you mark the incorrect answer and you are out of the race! Such mistakes reveal your hurriedness while answering the question. A simple mistake of reading ‘chose the incorrect option’ as ‘chose the correct option’ can destroy your chances. It means that you need to have patience and focus while attempting the paper. Excessive risk-taking: You are confused between the options and just in order to increase your attempts, you make wild guesses and try your luck only to repent eventually. Risk-taking is an art and one must be very careful while doing the guesswork in confusing questions. If you are not lucky enough, it can spoil your chances. You will realize that these problems will have different meanings for different people. For example, one might find a lack of information as the main culprit in answering wrong the questions on Culture while in Polity, lack of analytical ability is usually the culprit. The point here is that you must analyse your preparation on these yardsticks by applying them on different subjects/ topics. If one is having a headache, he/ she can’t have the same medicine for fever. Isn’t it. This is where our revamped '60 Day’ comes into the picture. It will give you an opportunity to micro analyze your preparation and perform better in the examination. Finally, it is up to you to take advantage of this framework. We are sure of only one thing- if you follow this program, assess yourself on the basis of the given framework and keep improving your weaker areas, success will be yours. We are providing you with the right platform, the right guidance, and the right competition. Do you have the right motivation to make full use of this initiative? We think you have. Come, be a part of this initiative and take the first step towards SUCCESS! Importance of self - tracking: We could have provided all of you with login id and passwords to monitor your daily performance in the 60-day program. Instead, a simple and most beautiful way which Disqus provides is profile based commenting! Yes, we have seen the most successful candidates who have taken the maximum benefit from this program monitoring themselves by commenting on their answers in the box given (Disqus comment). And reviewing their performance themselves once in 10 days on the progress meter.  DOWNLOAD THE 60 DAYS PLAN 2021 All the Best! IASbaba    

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 7th May 2021

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) RBI Steps in to Ease COVID-19 Burden  Part of: GS Prelims and GS - III - Economy  In news The RBI Governor has announced a series of measures to support the nation’s fight against the second wave of COVID-19 infections. Key takeaways  Term Liquidity Facility of Rs. 50,000 crore with tenure of up to 3 years, at repo rate, to ease access to emergency health services, for ramping up COVID-related health infrastructure & services. Special Long Term Repo Operations for Small Finance Banks (SFBs): In order to provide further support to micro, small and other unorganized sector entities, 3-year repo operations of Rs. 10,000 crore at repo rate, for fresh lending up to Rs 10 lakh per borrower (till 31 October, 2021)  Lending by SFBs to MFIs to be classified as priority sector lending: In view of fresh challenges, SFBs are now permitted to regard fresh on-lending to MFIs with asset size up to Rs. 500 crore, as priority sector lending (till 31 March, 2022)  Credit flow to MSME Entrepreneurs: To incentivize inclusion of unbanked MSMEs into banking system, exemption provided in February, 2021 wherein scheduled banks were allowed to deduct credit given to new MSME borrowers from Net Time & Demand Liabilities for calculation of CRR, is now extended to December 31, 2021. Rationalization of KYC norms for enhanced customer experience: Steps being proposed include – Extending scope to video KYC for new customer categories such as proprietorship firms, Conversion of limited KYC accounts to fully KYC compliant accounts, Introduction of more customer-friendly options in KYC updating and enabling the use of KYC Identifier of Centralised KYC Registry (CKYCR) for V-CIP and submission of electronic documents as identity proof Floating Provisions and Countercyclical Provisioning Buffer: Banks can now use 100% of floating provisions held by them, as on December 31, 2020, for making specific provisions for NPAs; (till March 31, 2022)  Relaxation of overdraft facility for states: Maximum number of days of overdraft in a quarter for state governments has been increased from 36 to 50 days. Initiative to waive TRIPS protection for COVID-19 vaccines Part of: GS Prelims And GS-II - International Relations; Health  In news USA will support an initiative at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to waive Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) protection for COVID-19 vaccines. Important value additions The Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS)  It is an international legal agreement between all the member nations of the World Trade Organization (WTO). It establishes minimum standards for the regulation by national governments of different forms of intellectual property (IP) as applied to nationals of other WTO member nations. TRIPS was negotiated at the end of the Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) between 1989 and 1990 and is administered by the WTO. Unique Disability ID (UDID) Part of: GS Prelims and GS - II - Governance; Policies and interventions  In news The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Government of India has made it mandatory for all States/UTs to grant certificate of disability through online mode only using UDID portal from 1st June Key takeaways  The Central Government notified the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules, 2017 under RPwD Act, 2016 Rule 18(5) mandates the Central Government to appoint a date making it mandatory for the State/UT authorities to issue certificate of disability through online mode. The UDID project has been under implementation since 2016. It will ensure complete digitization of certification of disability from 01.06.2021, besides providing a viable mechanism for cross-checking genuineness of the certificate to achieve pan-India validity, and simplifying the process for the benefit of Divyangjan. Place in news: Dahla Dam Part of: GS Prelims GS – I - Geography & GS-II - International Relations  In news The Taliban has captured Afghanistan’s second-biggest dam after months of fierce fighting in its former bastion of Kandahar. Key takeaways  It provides irrigation to farmers via a network of canals as well as drinking water for the provincial capital  It is now under Taliban control. The dam’s capture comes after clashes erupted in neighbouring Helmand province just days after the U.S. military formally began withdrawing its remaining troops from Afghanistan. Important value additions  Dahla Dam The Dahla Dam is also known as Arghandab Dam.  It is located in the Shah Wali Kot District of Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. Constructed in: 1952 It is built on the Arghandab River. (Mains Focus) INTERNATIONAL/ ECONOMY/ GOVERNANCE Topic: GS-2: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Intellectual property waiver for Covid-19 vaccines Context: The United States recently announced support for waiving intellectual property protection for Covid-19 vaccines, saying extraordinary circumstances call for extraordinary measures. All 164 WTO members must agree on the draft, and any one member can veto it. The European Union, which had earlier opposed the waiver, has now stated its intent to discuss the US-backed proposal. What are patents and IP rights? A patent represents a powerful intellectual property right, and is an exclusive monopoly granted by a government to an inventor for a limited, pre-specified time.  It provides an enforceable legal right to prevent others from copying the invention.  Patents can be either process patents or product patents. A product patent ensures that the rights to the final product is protected, and anyone other than the patent holder can be restrained from manufacturing it during a specified period, even if they were to use a different process. A process patent enables any person other than the patent holder to manufacture the patented product by modifying certain processes in the manufacturing exercise. India moved from product patenting to process patenting in the 1970s, which enabled India to become a significant producer of generic drugs at global scale, and allowed companies like Cipla to provide Africa with anti-HIV drugs in the 1990s.  But due to obligations arising out of the TRIPS Agreement, India had to amend the Patents Act in 2005, and switch to a product patents regime across the pharma, chemicals, and biotech sectors. What does the intellectual property waiver for Covid-19 vaccines mean? Increased Production: Most production is currently concentrated in high-income countries. The IP waiver might open up space for production of Covid vaccines with emergency use authorisations (EUA) on a larger scale in middle-income countries. production by middle-income countries has been happening through licensing or technology transfer agreements.  Countries including Canada, South Korea, and Bangladesh have shown interest in making Covid vaccines if they can get a patent waiver Role by India: The US support for an IP waiver stems from a proposal by India and South Africa in the WTO last year. That proposal had, however, called for a waiver on all Covid interventions, including testing diagnostics and novel therapeutics. What are the deterrents for the waiver? Undermine R&D Investment: Pharma companies including Pfizer and AstraZeneca have opposed the proposed waiver — saying eliminating IP protections would undermine the global response to the pandemic, including the ongoing R&D efforts to tackle new variants.  Doubts on Safety from new facilities: Pharma Companies also argued that waiving IPR & opening production facilities in developing countries could also undermine public confidence in vaccine safety and create a barrier to information sharing. Besides patents, what are the other roadblocks to scaling up production? Trade barriers: Countries like the US had blocked exports of critical raw materials used in the production of some Covid-19 vaccines using regulations like the American Defence Production Act. Bottlenecks in supply chains Scarcity of raw materials and ingredients in the supply chain Unwillingness of rich countries to share doses with poorer nations. Connecting the dots: Vaccine Nationalism INTERNATIONAL/ ECONOMY/ GOVERNANCE Topic: GS-3: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. 5G Trials in India Context: The Department of Telecommunications allowed private telcos Airtel, Reliance Jio and Vi and well as state-run telco MTNL to start trials for 5G technology as well as its applications in various sectors. The trials will last for 6 months for now. What is 5G?  5G is the fifth generation cellular technology that apart from increasing the downloading and uploading speeds (speed of 1 Gbps) over the mobile network, also reduces the latency i.e. the time taken by a network to respond.  It also increases energy efficiency and offers more stable network connections.  5G is also designed to deliver signals more reliably than earlier cellular networks   5G will have a wider area in the frequency spectrum (range of frequencies) that will ensure no network congestion.  In addition, it will also ensure connectivity to a full circle i.e. everything is connected to every other thing.  5G will help facilitate the ecosystem for the Internet of Things (IoT) and to incorporate Artificial Intelligence (AI) in our daily lives and   To get the benefits of 5G, users will have to buy new phones, while carriers will need to install new transmission equipment to offer the faster service.    5G mainly works in 3 bands, namely low, mid and high-frequency spectrum — all of which have their uses and limitations. While the low band spectrum has shown great promise in terms of coverage but the maximum speed is limited to 100 Mbps. This means that while telcos can use and install it for commercial cellphone users who may not have specific demands for very high speed internet, the low band spectrum may not be optimal for specialised needs of the industry. The mid-band spectrum, on the other hand, offers higher speeds compared to the low band, but has limitations in terms of coverage area and penetration of signals. Telcos and companies, which have taken the lead on 5G, have indicated that this band may be used by industries and specialised factory units for building captive networks that can be moulded into the needs of that particular industry. The high-band spectrum offers the highest speed of all the three bands, but has extremely limited coverage and signal penetration strength. Internet speeds in the high-band spectrum of 5G has been tested to be as high as 20 Gbps (giga bits per second), while, in most cases, the maximum internet data speed in 4G has been recorded at 1 Gbps. Why are the trials for 5G technology important for telcos? Cut-throat market: The telecom market in India is left with only three private telcos so in order to increase their average revenue per user, it is imperative for telcos to start offering the new 5G technology as soon as possible. Standing Committee’s Warning to government: A standing committee of Lok Sabha on Information Technology had submitted its report on 5G and said that India will miss the 5G bus if government doesn’t take quick steps. What will 5G trials in India entail for now? In the initial phase, these trials will be for 6 months, including a 2 month period for procurement and setting up of the equipment.  In these 6 months, telcos will be required to test their set up in urban areas, semi-urban areas as well as rural areas. During this period, the telcos will be provided with experimental spectrum in various bands, such as the mid-band of 3.2 GHz to 3.67 GHz, the millimeter wave band of 24.25 GHz to 28.5 GHz, and others. Connecting the dots: Adjusted Gross Revenue Crisis in Telecom Sector (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 Consider the following statements regarding TRIPS: It is an international legal agreement between all the member nations of the World Trade Organization (WTO). TRIPS was negotiated at the end of the Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) Which of the above is/are correct?  1 only  2 only  Both 1 and 2  Neither 1 nor 2  Q.2 Where is Dahla Dam located? Pakistan Sri Lanka India Afghanistan  ANSWERS FOR 6th May 2021 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 D 2 C 3 B Must Read On MSME Sector: Hindustan Times On QUAD: Times of India About how diaspora pushed US to help in India’s COVID efforts: The Indian Express

Motivational Articles

[MI-STORIES]MOTIVATIONAL AND INSPIRATIONAL STORIES - The Ultimate Gift !

For Previous Story -> CLICK HERE Inspirational Stories: Here is the story for this week from the new series of Inspirational and Motivational stories. One of the oldest known forms of communication is story telling. There is something primordial within us that loves stories and their tremendous impact. In this series, we aim to bring you the best of real-life stories that can inspire and motivate you. Stories always try to teach us something useful. It is one of the best ways of learning from other's mistakes and avoiding our own. Although each story has its own moral, in the comments section you can share your opinion on the moral of the story. If you are able to see something that others might have missed, you can share it for the benefit of all. Apart from just reading these awesome stories, you can also share some of the stories that have inspired you. If we find the story appropriate and useful, we will share it with all. More importantly, read these stories every week without a miss, and stay inspired.   So Here is the story for this week - The Ultimate Gift ! There was once a little girl who desperately needed an emergency blood transfusion to save her life.  Her only chance of surviving would be to get a transfusion from her younger brother, who had miraculously overcome the same disease she had, and therefore had antibodies in his blood that were needed to fight the illness. The doctor explained to the little boy that it would save his sister’s life if he were to give her his blood. The boy hesitated for a moment before agreeing to give his blood if it would help his sister. At the age of 5, this was scary, but he would do anything to save his big sister’s life. As the blood transfusion was happening, he lay next to his sister in the hospital and was overcome with happiness as he saw the color coming back to her cheeks. Then he looked up at the doctor and quietly asked, “When will I start to die?” The boy had assumed that he was giving his life in order to save hers. The little boy’s parents were astonished over the misunderstanding that led the boy to think they were choosing his sister over him–and even more astonished that he had agreed to do so. The doctor replied, explaining that he was not going to die, he was just going to allow his sister to live a long, healthy life alongside him. The Moral: This is an example of extreme courage and self-sacrificing love from a young boy that we can all learn from. The love and care that he showed for his sister relays an inspiring message about selflessness. While we may not be faced with such a life or death decision, being selfless in general can help us connect with others, which is rewarding and fulfilling. Selflessness encourages you to act from your heart instead of your ego, and can help fill your life with joy.