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UPSC हिन्दी Quiz– 2021: IASbaba Daily Current Affairs Quiz 22nd October 2021

For Previous Daily Quiz (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE करेंट अफेयर्स के प्रश्न 'द हिंदू', 'इंडियन एक्सप्रेस' और 'पीआईबी' जैसे स्रोतों पर आधारित होते हैं, जो यूपीएससी प्रारंभिक परीक्षा के लिए बहुत महत्वपूर्ण स्रोत हैं। प्रश्न अवधारणाओं और तथ्यों दोनों पर केंद्रित हैं। दोहराव से बचने के लिए यहां कवर किए गए विषय आम तौर पर 'दैनिक करंट अफेयर्स / डेली न्यूज एनालिसिस (डीएनए) और डेली स्टेटिक क्विज' के तहत कवर किए जा रहे विषयों से भिन्न होते हैं। प्रश्न सोमवार से शनिवार तक दोपहर 2 बजे से पहले प्रकाशित किए जाएंगे। इस कार्य में आपको 10 मिनट से ज्यादा नहीं देना है। इस कार्य के लिए तैयार हो जाएं और इस पहल का इष्टतम तरीके से उपयोग करें। याद रखें कि, "साधारण अभ्यर्थी और चयनित होने वाले अभ्यर्थी के बीच का अंतर केवल दैनक अभ्यास है !!" Important Note: Comment अनुभाग में अपने अंक पोस्ट करना न भूलें। साथ ही, हमें बताएं कि क्या आपको आज का टेस्ट अच्छा लगा । 5 प्रश्नों को पूरा करने के बाद, अपना स्कोर, समय और उत्तर देखने के लिए ‘View Questions’ पर क्लिक करें। उत्तर देखने के लिए, इन निर्देशों का पालन करें: 1 - 'स्टार्ट टेस्ट/ Start Test' बटन पर क्लिक करें प्रश्न हल करें 'टेस्ट सारांश/Test Summary'बटन पर क्लिक करें 'फिनिश टेस्ट/Finish Test'बटन पर क्लिक करें अब ‘View Questions’बटन पर क्लिक करें - यहां आपको उत्तर और लिंक दिखाई देंगे। To take the Test - Click Here

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 22nd October 2021

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) NGOs and their right to foreign funds Part of: Prelims and GS II - Polity, law, fundamental rights, NGOs  Context The Centre has told the Supreme Court that NGOs have no fundamental right to receive uncontrolled foreign contributions without regulations. The Centre said the amendments were meant to ensure that foreign funds were not used to impinge upon the functioning of parliamentary institutions, political associations and other organisations in India. It was responding to petitions challenging amendments made in the Foreign Contributions Regulations law in 2020.  The background  The petitions had argued that the amendments severely restricted the use of foreign funds by the NGOs for their activities.  They found it cumbersome that the new law expected 23,000 NGOs to open accounts in the main branch of the State Bank of India (SBI) in the capital to receive their foreign funds. What is Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA)? Foreign funding of persons in India is regulated under FCRA Act and is implemented by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Act ensures that the recipients of foreign contributions adhere to the stated purpose for which such contribution has been obtained. Registered NGOs can receive foreign contributions for five purposes — social, educational, religious, economic and cultural. Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Act, 2020 Prohibition to accept foreign contribution: The Act bars public servants from receiving foreign contributions. Transfer of foreign contribution: The Act prohibits the transfer of foreign contribution to any other person not registered to accept foreign contributions. Aadhaar for registration: The Act makes Aadhaar number mandatory for all office bearers, directors or key functionaries of a person receiving foreign contribution, as an identification document. FCRA account: Foreign contribution must be received only in an account designated by the bank as FCRA account in such branches of the State Bank of India, New Delhi. Reduction in use of foreign contribution for administrative purposes: Not more than 20% of the total foreign funds received could be defrayed for administrative expenses. In FCRA 2010 the limit was 50%. Surrender of certificate: The Act allows the central government to permit a person to surrender their registration certificate. Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee Part of: Prelims and GS-III - Economy; Biotechnology Context The Central government is yet to decide on a research proposal from Scientists at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) which would allow plants to be genetically modified without the need for conventional transgenic technology. The better quality rice variety  Scientists at the IARI are in the process of developing resilient and high-yield rice varieties using gene editing techniques, which have already been approved by many countries. They hope to have such rice varieties in the hands of the Indian farmers by 2024.  This technique is equivalent to conventional breeding methods, since it does not involve inserting any foreign DNA. The proposal, however, has been pending with the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee for almost two years. Benefits:  They aim to bring precision and efficiency into the breeding process using gene editing tools such as CRISPR. It is much faster and far more precise than natural mutation or conventional breeding methods which involve trial and error and multiple breeding cycles. What is Genetic engineering appraisal committee? Regulatory Framework for approval of GM crops is covered under  the Environment protection Act 1986   Genetic engineering appraisal committee under Ministry of Environment, forest and climate change is Apex body that allows for commercial release of GM crops in India  Cartagena protocol on biosafety provides well-defined mechanism of regulation of GM crops including biosafety evaluation and environmental release. Do you know? The IARI has previously worked on golden rice, a traditional GM variety which inserted genes from other organisms into the rice plant, but ended trials over five years ago due to agronomic issues. India crosses 100 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses Part of: Prelims and GS II - Health  Context India completed 100 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccines on Thursday, in about nine months since the drive began. It has fully vaccinated about 30% (291 million) of the eligible population and 707 million have had the first dose. India aims to fully vaccinate about a billion people by the end of 2021 but experts say the drive needs to pick up pace further to meet the target. This milestone makes India the second country to reach the one billion mark - China crossed it in June.problems. Initial challenges to the vaccination drive in india  Logistical problems supply bottlenecks vaccine hesitancy  a devastating second wave of Covid-19  Which vaccines is India using? India is using three vaccines - the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab, known locally as Covishield; Covaxin by Indian firm Bharat Biotech; and Russian-made Sputnik V. India has also approved its first vaccine for those under 18. The three-dose ZyCoV-D vaccine is the world's first DNA vaccine against Covid-19. It is expected to roll out in few weeks. ZyCov-D has been developed with the support of Department of Biotechnology and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The government has also authorised Indian pharma company Cipla to import Moderna's vaccine, which has shown nearly 95% efficacy against Covid-19. But it's not clear yet how many doses will be made available to India. Several more vaccines are in various stages of approval. 100 monuments illuminated The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) also illuminated 100 monuments in the tricolour to celebrate the milestone of 100 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses. These monuments include: Delhi: Red Fort, Humayun’s Tomb and Qutub Minar  Uttar Pradesh: Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri  Tamil Nadu: Konark Temple in Odisha and Mamallapuram Rath temples  Pakistan retained on FATF’s ‘greylist’ again Part of: Prelims and GS-II - International Relations   Context  The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on Thursday retained Pakistan in the ‘greylist’ yet again. FATF observed that Pakistan needed to further demonstrate that investigations and prosecutions were being pursued against the senior leadership of UN-designated terror groups, which include the Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, al-Qaeda and the Taliban. What is Financial Action Task Force (FATF)? The FATF is an inter-governmental body set up in 1989.  Objective: To combat money laundering, terror financing and other related threats to the international financial system. Currently, it has 39 members. Pakistan has been on the grey list since June 2018. Web Based Project Monitoring Portal (WBPMP) of MES Part of: Prelims and GS-II - Governance Context Recently, the Defence Minister launched the Web Based Project Monitoring Portal (WBPMP) for Military Engineer Services (MES).  About the portal The portal was conceptualized in accordance with the Digital India Mission of the Union Government. It has been developed by Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics (BISAG-G). The newly launched unified portal is the first project management e-Governance to be implemented by the MES.  It will enable real time monitoring of projects from its inception to completion.  All stakeholders not only from MES but also Armed Forces users can gain access to the project information.  Mastitis disease Part of: Prelims and GS-III - Agriculture  Context Utilising indigenous knowledge systems shared by a farmer from Gujarat, a poly-herbal and cost-effective medicine has been developed to treat Mastitis disease. Mastirak Gel National Innovation Foundation (NIF) has identified unique herbal composition shared by a farmer from Gujarat for control of mastitis among farm animals.  A gel preparation has been developed for topical application over the affected udder surface, and a patent has been filed for this composition  It was found that the medication improve the udder health.  It reduced inflammation which is detrimental to the udder. Dairy owners in eight states of the country — Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh - have benefited by adopting Masirak-anti mastitis herbal medication.  It has reduced the use of antibiotics and helped in the cost-effective management of the disease. About Mastitis disease It is an infectious disease of dairy cattle. Bovine mastitis is a condition typified by the persistent and inflammatory reaction of the udder tissue due to either physical trauma or infections caused by microorganisms.  The most obvious symptoms of clinical mastitis are abnormalities in: The udder such as swelling, heat, hardness, redness, or pain. The milk has a watery appearance, flakes, clots, or pus. (News from PIB) India achieves the major milestone of ‘one billion’ vaccinations Recovery Rate currently at 98.15%; Highest since March 2020 18,454 new cases reported in the last 24 hours India's active caseload stands at 1,78,831 Weekly positivity rate (1.34%) less than 3% for last 118 days News Source: PIB Model Code of Conduct (MCC) Part of: Prelims and Mains GS-II- Governance, Elections  In News: In case the constituency is comprised in State Capital/Metropolitan Cities/Municipal Corporations, then MCC instructions would be applicable in the area of concerned Constituency only. Model Code of Conduct (MCC) A set of guidelines issued by the Election Commission of India for conduct of political parties and candidates during elections mainly with respect to speeches, polling day, polling booths, portfolios, election manifestos, processions and general conduct. This is in keeping with Article 324 of the Constitution, which gives the Election Commission the power to supervise elections to the Parliament and state legislatures. Philosophy: Parties and candidates should show respect for their opponents, criticise their policies and programmes constructively, and not resort to mudslinging and personal attacks. The MCC is intended to help the poll campaign maintain high standards of public morality and provide a level playing field for all parties and candidates. Comes into force immediately on announcement of the election schedule by the commission for the need of ensuring free and fair elections. At the time of the Lok Sabha elections, both the Union and state governments are covered under the MCC. The MCC is not enforceable by law.  News Source: PIB Atal Innovation Mission Digi-Book Innovations for You  Part of: Prelims In News: NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) has launched – “Innovations for You” an attempt to showcase the success stories of Atal Innovation Mission’s Startups in different domains. These startups have worked to create new, disruptive and innovative products, services, and solutions that can pave a path for a sustainable future.  The first edition of this book is focused on innovations in Health Care - are leveraging frontier technologies such as AI, IoT, ICT and others to provide socially relevant solutions to problems likeAnemia, Malaria, dental care, mental health, neonatal and child care and monitoring human vitals, among others. News Source: PIB (Mains Focus) ENVIRONMENT/ INTERNATIONAL GS-3: Science and Technology  India’s race to secure Lithium Context: First traces of Lithium in India were discovered in Karnataka’s Mandya district recently.  The discovery is being given importance at the highest levels of government. This also shows the amount of effort and investment that lithium is likely to garner in the years ahead. Why is Lithium so significant for India? Climate change mitigation: Technologies such as lithium-ion batteries are slated to play a key role in India’s plan to reduce its carbon footprint by 33-35% from its 2005 levels by 2030. Energy Transition: The transition from an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle to an electric vehicle involves the battery, which accounts for at least 30% of the vehicle’s cost.  Electric mobility: By 2030, nearly three-fourth of Indian two-wheelers and all new cars are expected to be EVs and a bulk of them will be powered by lithium-based (battery packs) in the near term. Energy security: According to the Central Electricity Authority, the country will need 27 GW of grid-scale battery energy storage systems by 2030. This will require massive amounts of lithium. What are the issues and challenges faced by India with respect  to Lithium? Negligible lithium resource base In India: Chile, Australia, Argentina, Bolivia and China have almost all the lithium reserves which have been explored so far globally.  India’s high import dependence: Almost all EVs in the country run on imported batteries, mostly from China. Between 2016 and 2019, the amount of foreign exchange spent on importing lithium batteries tripled, according to the Union science and technology ministry.  Geo-political rivalry with China: China is known to house large lithium reserves and has also secured many lithium mines across multiple countries in order to ensure steady sources of supply for both lithium and cobalt. Hence, India’s quest for energy security could be easily derailed by a hostile neighbour. What steps have been taken by govt to secure Lithium? India had recently unveiled its strategy for developing a battery storage ecosystem. It involves setting up at least 50-gigawatt hour manufacturing capacity for advanced chemistry cell batteries. ₹18,100-crore Production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme to manufacture lithium-ion cells within the country has been introduced. With the government’s PLI scheme, demand for lithium is bound to increase and it opens new opportunities for domestic exploration. Government formed Khanij Bidesh India Ltd (KABIL)— a joint venture comprising National Aluminium Co. Ltd, Hindustan Copper Ltd and Mineral Exploration Co. Ltd. it is looking to acquire cobalt and lithium mines overseas. KABIL is also exploring the direct purchase of cobalt and lithium. The government is also trying to secure government-to-government (G2G) deals. For instance, India’s bilateral agreement with Argentina for securing strategic minerals.  Lithium exploration: The Geological Survey of India has taken up seven other lithium exploration projects in Arunachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Jammu and Kashmir and Rajasthan. Role of the private sector: Several automobile majors are planning to jointly develop a manufacturing facility in Gujarat, which could eventually morph into a global export hub for lithium-ion cells. India is working on the world’s largest grid-scale battery storage programme, which includes a 13 gigawatt-hour (GWh) facility in Ladakh and a 14 GWh system in Kutch.  Way forward  Concentrate on other advanced battery technologies: As China dominates the space of lithium-ion cell manufacturing, India has to take alternative steps to avoid a repeat of how things played out with solar equipment manufacturing.  A section of experts and policymakers believe that one way to avoid a lithium conundrum and a possible Chinese trap is to concentrate on other advanced battery technologies. Aluminium-based battery technology: Aluminium-based battery technology holds great promise. India has huge bauxite reserves, which gives it access to aluminium at a cheap price. This technology, as and when it matures commercially, will insulate India from dependence on global import. Early adoption of other battery technologies: Further, India should strive to be an early adopter of other battery technologies such as hydrogen fuel cells and solid-state batteries as well.  Solid-state batteries are being explored using metals such as aluminium. India holds an upper hand with respect to the availability of different materials. Thus, the country may witness faster adoption of these alternate technologies as compared to lithium. India should also try to intensify exploration within as well and exploit the opportunity to repurpose and recycle used lithium-ion batteries. (All India Radio – Spotlight) Oct 18: Global Solar Grid - https://youtu.be/25xFKFJH4GE  TOPIC: GS-II – Global Groupings GS-III – Energy The Fourth Assembly of the ISA will deliberate on The key initiatives around the operationalisation of the OSOWOG initiative The $1 trillion Solar Investment Roadmap for 2030 Approval of a Blended Financial Risk Mitigation Facility Discuss the strategic plan of the ISA for the next five years encompassing a Country Partnership Framework, Strategy for Private Sector Engagement Discuss initiatives such as Viability Gap Financing scheme to facilitate affordable finance for solar energy projects across ISA’s membership.  Discuss the partnership with Global Energy Alliance (GEA) to scale up technical and financial support to LDCs and SIDS. ‘One Sun One World One Grid’ (OSOWOG) initiative  Proposed by India to set up a framework for facilitating global cooperation which aims at building a global ecosystem of interconnected renewable energy resources that can be easily shared Envisions building and scaling inter-regional energy grids to share solar energy across the globe, leveraging the differences of time zones, seasons, resources, and prices between countries and regions Help decarbonise energy production, which is today the largest source of global greenhouse gas emissions.  With India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, the World Bank and the ISA signing a tripartite agreement on OSOWOG, the initiative could be the world’s most important renewables catalyst. It can unlock unprecedented economies of scale in energy generation and transmission.  Rigorous assessments and modelling have confirmed the initiative’s technical and economic viability, building a strong business case.  Its commercial feasibility has been further augmented by multilateral development banks such as World Bank, which are helping create markets by driving down costs of solar power. Phase I: The first phase deals with the Middle East—South Asia—-South East Asia (MESASEA) interconnection for sharing green energy sources such as solar for meeting electricity needs including peak demand. Fostering cross-border energy trade is an important part of Modi’s South Asia-focused neighbourhood-first policy.  India has been supplying power to Bangladesh and Nepal and has been championing a South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) electricity grid minus Pakistan to meet electricity demand in the region. The initial plans also involve setting up an under-sea link to connect with Oman in the West. Phase II: MESASEA grid getting interconnected with the African power pools Phase III: Global interconnection Benefits Creation of regional and international interconnected green grids can enable sharing of renewable energy across international borders and also balancing. Such grids should work in tandem with the existing grids and will not require parallel grid infrastructure, thus requiring only incremental investment. An interconnected grid would help all the participating entities in attracting investments in renewable energy sources as well as utilizing skills, technology and finances.  Resulting economic benefits would positively impact poverty alleviation and support in mitigating water, sanitation, food and other socioeconomic challenges. The proposed integration would lead to reduced project costs, higher efficiencies and increased asset utilization for all the participating entities International Solar Alliance First international treaty-based organisation that enables co-operation among sun-rich countries lying fully or partially between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, as this is the region worldwide with a surplus of bright sunlight for most of the year, who are seeking to ramp up solar energy, thereby helping to bend the global greenhouse emissions curve whilst providing clean and cheap energy. Jointly announced by PM of India and President of France following the Paris Declaration at the UN Climate Change Conference on November 30, 2015. Vision: Promotion of solar energy for making solar energy a valuable source of affordable and reliable green and clean energy in member countries ISA Headquarter and interim Secretariat: Gurugram, India Goals and Focus Areas: The ISA has set a target of 1 TW of solar energy by 2030, which would require $1 trillion to achieve. India has set an ambitious target of 175 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2022, which includes 100 GW of solar and 60 GW of wind energy. The key focus areas of the alliance are Promoting solar technologies, new business models and investment in the solar sector, Formulate projects and programmes to promote solar applications Develop innovative financial mechanisms to reduce cost of capital build A common knowledge e-Portal to facilitate capacity building for promotion and absorption of solar technologies R&D among member countries ISA presents numerous opportunities to India like: 1) Energy security: It reduces our dependence on fossil fuels, especially imports. It also helps provide electricity to remotest parts of the country and thereby helps in improving standard of living of the inhabitants of these areas. 2) Environmental security: It reduces pollution due to burning of fossil fuels and therefore decreases both health and ecological costs. 3) Economic opportunities: India can transform itself as a Global Manufacturing hub of photo voltaic cells. Apart from earning valuable FOREX through exports, it can also boost employment and livelihood opportunities in India. Therefore, helping us to harness our valuable demographic dividend. 4) Diplomatic opportunities: It helps in solidifying India’s position as a global leader in renewable energy production; it furthers global North-South and South-South cooperation (like training SOLAR MAMAS of Nigeria) and portrays India as a climate sensitive nation. Can you answer the following question? The International solar alliance presents multiple opportunities for India. Analyse. With favourable tropical geography, huge domestic demand, and high export potential, India can be a world leader in the field of tapping and utilising solar energy. Do you agree? What are the challenges? 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 Foreign funding of persons in India is regulated by Which of the following Ministries? Ministry of Finance  Ministry of External affairs  Ministry of Home Affairs None of the above  Q.2 The world's first DNA vaccine against Covid-19 is developed by? USA China  Italy India Q.3 Mastitis disease affects Which of the following?  Poultry  Dairy cattle Bengal Tiger Great Indian Bustard ANSWERS FOR 21st Oct 2021 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 C 2 A 3 D Must Read India and China : The Hindu On Poor conditions of Police personnel: The Hindu

Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz – 2021 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 22nd 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

IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 2): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – General Studies Paper 1 Questions [22nd October, 2021] – Day 5

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 5 Questions - CLICK HERE P.S: The review from IASbaba will happen from the time the question is posted till 10 pm every day. We would also encourage peer reviews. So friends get actively involved and start reviewing each other’s answers. This will keep the entire community motivated. All the Best 

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 21st October 2021

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Global Threat Assessment report 2021 Part of: Prelims and GS I - Social issues Context The Global Threat Assessment report 2021 was recently launched by We Protect Global Alliance.  We Protect Global Alliance is a global movement of more than 200 governments, private sector companies and civil society organisations working together to transform the global response to child sexual exploitation and abuse online. Key findings underfunded: Child sexual abuse remains a chronically underfunded issue.  COVID-19 impact: COVID-19 had contributed to a significant spike in child sexual exploitation and abuse online. Highest reporting: In the past two years, the reporting of child sexual exploitation and online abuse has reached its highest level. Self-generated abuse:  The Internet Watch Foundation observed a 77% increase in child ‘self-generated’ (arising without apparent external cause) sexual material from 2019 to 2020. Tools to detect: Only 37% currently use tools to detect online grooming. Online grooming is where someone befriends a child online and builds up their trust with the intention of exploiting them and causing them harm.  Suggestions: Prioritise prevention activities against abuse, Creating safe online environments for children  Stakeholders who have a role to protect children must work together to improve the response.  India more vulnerable to heat extremes: Lancet report Part of: Prelims and GS-III - Environment; Climate change  Context The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change’ was recently launched.  It is a flagship report of the medical journal The Lancet.  It provides periodic updates on the scientific literature on the relationship between climate change and public health. The Lancet Countdown’s sixth annual report tracks 44 indicators of health impacts that are directly linked to climate change.  It shows key trends are getting worse and exacerbating already existing health and social inequities. What are its key findings?  India's vulnerability: India has become 15% more vulnerable to extremes of heat than in 1990.  Senior citizens: Chinese, Indian, American, Japanese and Indonesian senior citizens were the most affected. Loss of Work hours: 295 billion hours of potential work were lost across the globe in 2020 due to heat exposure.  Most affected developing countries: Pakistan, Bangladesh and India had the greatest losses of the working hours in their group.  These are the most populous countries in the medium-HDI (Human Development Index) group.  Heat-related mortality: Between 2018 and 2019, India and Brazil had the biggest absolute increase in heat-related mortality. Economic loss: The economic losses of climate-related extreme events were three times higher in medium-HDI countries than they are in very high HDI countries.  South-East Asia was the only region with increasing air pollution mortality costs between 2015 and 2019, relative to GDP Increase in wildfires: Populations of 134 countries have experienced an increase in exposure to wildfires.  Widespread drought: Drought is more widespread than ever before. Black Sea security ties Part of: Prelims and GS II - International Relations  Context U.S. Defence Secretary urged more defence cooperation among Black Sea allies ahead of a NATO Ministers summit. The region is vulnerable to Russian aggression. Thus, the action was needed by littoral states of the Black Sea amid Russia “militarisation” of the region.  About the Black Sea The Black Sea, also known as the Euxine Sea, is one of the major water bodies and a famous inland sea of the world. It is a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, located between Eastern Europe and Western Asia. The Black Sea is also connected to the Sea of Azov by the Strait of Kerch. The bordering countries of Black Sea are: Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania.  About North Atlantic Treaty Organization North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a military alliance established by the North Atlantic Treaty (also called the Washington Treaty) of April 4, 1949.  Established by: United States, Canada, and several Western European nations to provide collective security against the Soviet Union. Article 5: It states that if one member of the alliance is attacked in Europe or North America, it is to be considered an attack on all members. That effectively put Western Europe under the "nuclear umbrella" of the US. As of 2019, there are 29 member states, with Montenegro becoming the latest member to join the alliance in 2017. High oil prices Part of: Prelims and GS-III - Economy  Context  India has warned that high oil prices will undermine global economic recovery.  It has pushed Saudi Arabia and other OPEC nations to work towards affordable and reliable supplies. Petrol and diesel prices have hit record highs across India after continuous price increases since May. Background  Global oil prices crashed to $19 per barrel in April 2020 as demand reduced with most nations imposing lockdowns to control the spread of the novel coronavirus. Demand recovered this year as vaccination against the infection revived economies worldwide. International benchmark Brent crude has since rallied to $84 per barrel. This had made fuel expensive and was instilling fears of inflation. While the world had begun the transition towards cleaner fuels such as electric-powered vehicles and hydrogen, most nations were still dependent on oil to fuel their economies. And high oil prices would hurt the recovery in demand. India and the oil  India’s oil import bill had climbed from $8.8 billion in June 2020 quarter to $24 billion this year because of a spike in global oil prices.  India imports almost two-thirds of its oil needs from West Asia.  India is 85% dependent on imports to meet its oil needs.  It is the world’s third-largest energy consumer. About Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) The OPEC is a permanent, intergovernmental organization, It was created at the Baghdad Conference in 1960, by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela. Aim: It aims to manage the supply of oil in an effort to set the price of oil in the world market, in order to avoid fluctuations that might affect the economies of both producing and purchasing countries. It is headquartered in Vienna, Austria. OPEC membership is open to any country that is a substantial exporter of oil and which shares the ideals of the organization. 14 Member Countries: Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates(UAE), Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Libya, Nigeria, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Congo, Angola, Ecuador and Venezuela. (News from PIB) Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package Part of: Prelims and Mains GS-II- Governance In News: Insurance scheme for health workers fighting COVID-19 extended for a further period of 180 days as the Covid-19 pandemic has still not abated and deaths of health workers deployed for COVID related duties are still being reported from different States/UTs Aim: To provide comprehensive personal accident cover of Rs. 50 Lakh to 22.12 lakh health care providers including community health workers and private health workers who may have been in direct contact and care of COVID-19 patients and may be at risk of being impacted by this. News Source: PIB Mastitis, an ailment of dairy cattle Part of: Prelims In News: Utilising indigenous knowledge system shared by a farmer from Gujarat, a poly-herbal and cost-effective medicine has been developed to treat Mastitis, an infectious disease of dairy cattle. Mastitis is a common infectious disease, which affects farm productivity due to fall in milk quality, thus impacting income-generating activities.  Treatment of infected animals with antibiotics poses a public health hazard.  This medicine has reduced the use of antibiotics and helped in the cost-effective management of the disease. News Source: PIB (Mains Focus) ENVIRONMENT/ INTERNATIONAL GS-2: International Institutions & Organisations GS-3: Environmental Conservation  Carbon Markets Conundrum at COP26 Context: The success of COP26 at Glasgow, that will take place from 31 October to 12 November 2021, depends to a great extent on the conclusion of carbon markets discussions Article 6 of the Paris Agreement introduces provisions for using international carbon markets to facilitate fulfilment of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by countries.  Why Carbon Markets in significant for India?  Developing countries, particularly India, China and Brazil, gained significantly from the carbon market under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol.  India registered 1,703 projects under the CDM which is the second highest in the world. Total carbon credits known as Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) issued for these projects are around 255 million amounting to U.S.$2.55 billion. Therefore, logically, India has a lot to gain from a thriving carbon market. However, with the ratification of the Paris Agreement, the rules of the game have changed. Unlike the Kyoto Protocol, now even developing countries are required to have mitigation targets.  Developing countries are faced with a dilemma of either selling their carbon credits in return for lucrative foreign investment flows or use these credits to achieve their own mitigation targets.  This has made Article 6 a highly sensitive issue that requires careful balancing of interests and expectations. While over 50% of the countries have communicated their intention of using market mechanisms to achieve NDC targets, India is not one of them as it aims to rely on domestic mitigation efforts to meet its NDC goals.  It is the developed countries that would rely more on market mechanisms for achieving their climate targets as they would be comparatively low-cost options. What are the critical issues with Article 6 of Paris Agreement? The three critical issues that would be hotly debated in Article 6 negotiating rooms are Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Transition, Accounting rules and Share of Proceeds to the Adaptation Fund. Let us examine them one by one. CDM transition:  The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects have gone through due diligence and credits have been issued under UNFCCC oversight. Therefore, the Article 6 mechanism should honour the previous decisions  However, some countries have cast doubts on the environmental integrity of these credits and while there is greater acceptance for transition of projects/activities, the same is not the case for transition of credits.  If the decision regarding transition of CDM is not favourable, it could lead to a loss of billions of dollars worth of potential revenue to India alone. This can result in the formation of the new supervisory body under the Paris Agreement that can re-examine the validity and rigour of such credits. Accounting rules:  Article 6.4 mechanism is meant to incentivise the private sector and public entities to undertake mitigation activities for sustainable development.  Under this mechanism, a country can purchase emission reductions from public and private entities of the host country and use it to meet its NDC targets.  However, this does not automatically imply that emission reductions transferred from a host country be adjusted against its NDC targets.  It must be appreciated that these reductions represent additional efforts of the private sector or public entities to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, and in fact raise global climate ambition.  This is also in line with the provision of Article 6.5 of the Paris Agreement wherein the host country is not required to undertake corresponding adjustment for the projects outside its NDC. Therefore, such efforts will be additional to what have been committed in the NDC.  Robust accounting will ensure that there will be no double-counting of emission reductions. Share of Proceeds (SOP) to the Adaptation Fund: For developing countries, adaptation is a necessity.  However, it remains severely underfunded compared to financing for mitigation activities.  While developing countries emphasise that the SOP must be uniformly applied to Articles 6.2 and 6.4 to fund adaptation, developed countries want to restrict its application to Article 6.4.  This would disincentivise the Article 6.4 mechanism and limit voluntary cooperation to the cooperative approaches under Article 6.2 favoured by developed countries. Conclusion In a way, carbon markets allow developed countries to keep emitting greenhouse gases while developing countries benefit from the revenue generated from the sale of their carbon credits.  Central to the discussions on Article 6 is equitable sharing of carbon and developmental space. Climate justice demands that developing countries get access to their fair share of global carbon space.  As developing countries are nudged to take greater mitigation responsibilities, a facilitative carbon market mechanism that respects the principles enshrined in UNFCCC would greatly help accelerate their transition to low carbon development pathway. Connecting the dots: Paris Climate Accord  India’s Opposition to Net Zero China’s Climate Commitments INTERNATIONAL/ ECONOMY GS-2: Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.  IMF and World Economic Outlook  Context: Recently, IMF unveiled its 2nd World Economic Outlook (WEO). The IMO comes out with the report twice every year — April and October — and also provides regular “updates” to it on other occasions. Main takeaways from the report The central message was that the global economic recovery momentum had weakened due to pandemic induced disruptions. However, it is the increasing inequality among nations that IMF was most concerned about. Aggregate output for the advanced economy group is expected to regain its pre-pandemic level in 2022 while that of developing economy group (excluding China) is expected to remain 5.5 per cent below the pre-pandemic forecast in 2024. There are two key reasons for the economic divergences: large disparities in vaccine access, and differences in policy support. The report also points out that the employment growth likely to lag the output recovery. Employment around the world remains below its pre-pandemic levels, due to negative output gaps, worker fears of infection, automation in some sectors, unemployment benefits helping to cushion income losses. India As far as GDP is concerned, India’s growth rate hasn’t been revised downwards. However, the IMF has projected on employment — that the recovery in unemployment is lagging the recovery in output (or GDP) Lack of adequate employment levels would drag down overall demand and thus stifle India’s growth momentum. Also, India is witnessing a K-shaped recovery. That means different sectors are recovering at significantly different rates. Some sectors such as the IT-services sectors have been practically unaffected by Covid, while e-commerce industry is doing “brilliantly”. Also, the informal economy is struggling to recover at the same pace as some of the more visible sectors. Do You Know? According to the data available with the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), the total number of employed people in the Indian economy as of May-August 2021 was 394 million — 11 million below the level set in May-August 2019.  In May-August 2016 the number of employed people was 408 million. In other words, India was already facing a deep employment crisis before the Covid crisis, and it became much worse after it. Connecting the dots: World Bank Stops Ease of doing business World Competitiveness report  (All India Radio – Spotlight) Oct 20 Oct: Buddhist Circuits - https://youtu.be/00f6ahl1hxM TOPIC: GS-I: Ancient History; Indian Heritage Sites The Buddhist Circuit: To facilitate travel and pilgrimage experience for the approximately 500 million-strong community of Buddhists that lives across Asia and other parts of the world. Ministry of Tourism has identified the Buddhist Circuit as one of the thematic circuits for development under its Swadesh Darshan Scheme. Five projects, with a combined outlay of more than 350 crore rupees, have been sanctioned for the states of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Ministry of Tourism  CNBs Signage has been installed in Chinese language at 5 below monuments in Uttar Pradesh: Site and Stupa and monastery of the Sakyas Piprahwa- Lucknow Circle Sravasti – Lucknow Circle Ancient Buddhist site of Sarnath- Sarnath Circle Chaukhandi Stupa – Sarnath Circle Buddhist relics and Mahaparinirvana temple located at Kushinagar- Sarnath Circle. The CNBs signage in Sinhali language at Sanchi monuments in Madhya Pradesh has also been installed. Some important places –  Sarnath– The Deer Park adjoining the Archaeological Complex at Sarnath that the Buddha is believed to have delivered his first sermon after he attained enlightenment under a Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya.  The reason for choosing Sarnath was that the five men who had accompanied Buddha on his journey of asceticism, and later abandoned him had settled in Sarnath.  So when Buddha attained enlightenment, he felt that they should be the first one to know what he learned.  So he proceeded to Sarnath and preached his first teachings known as Dharmachakrapravartana Sutra. Rajgir-  It was the capital of Magadh Kingdom.  It was here that Gautama Buddha spent several months meditating, and preaching at Gridhra-kuta, (Vulture peak). He also delivered some of his famous sermons and initiated King Bimbisara of Magadha and countless others to Buddhism. It was here that Budhha delivered his famous Atanatiya Sutra. Sravasti- It was the capital of ancient Kosala kingdom and is sacred to the Buddhists because it is here that Lord Buddha performed the greatest of his miracles to confound the Tirthika heretics. These miracles include Buddha creating multiple images of himself, which has been a favourite theme of Buddhist art. Buddha showed his divine prowess to impress upon the non-believers. The Buddha passed the greater part of his monastic life in Sravasti.  Vulture peak– One of the several sites frequented by the Buddha and his community of disciples for both training and retreat. Kesariya –  Kesariya Stupa is a Buddhist stupa in Kesariya, located at a distance of 110 kilometres  from Patna, in the Champaran (east) district of Bihar, India. The first construction of the Stupa is dated to the 3rd century BCE. Kesariya Stupa has a circumference of almost 400 feet (120 m) and raises to a height of about 104 feet. Vaishali-  It is said that the Buddha visited this place thrice and spent quite a long time here. The Buddha also delivered his last sermon at Vaishali and announced his Nirvana here. Kushinagar-  Kushinagar is the centre of the Buddhist circuit, which consists of pilgrimage sites at Lumbini, Sarnath and Gaya, and one of the four sacred places of Lord Buddha. Buddha delivered his last sermon, attained Mahaparinirvana (salvation) in 483 BC and was cremated at Rambhar Stupa. Note: A famous painting of 10 headed Buddha is found in these caves: Kanheri caves are a group of caves located in Salsette Island, Mumbai. Constitution states… Under Article 49 of the Constitution, the State is under obligation to protect every monument, place or object of artistic or historic interest declared to be of national importance from spoilation, disfigurement, destruction, removal, disposal or export, as the case may be. (DPSP) Under Article 51A(f) of the Constitution, there is fundamental duty to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture. (Fundamental Duties) Swadesh Darshan Scheme It is a Central Sector Scheme launched in 2014 -15. Objective: (1) Integrated development of theme based tourist circuits in the country; (2) To position the tourism sector as a major engine for job creation The Ministry of Tourism provides Central Financial Assistance (CFA) for infrastructure development of circuits. Kushinagar International Airport The airport is expected to provide seamless connectivity to tourists from Sri Lanka, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, China, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore and so on.  The Sri Lankan contingent, led by a member of the first family, will also be present, owing to the historical importance of the place. Mural painting as a token of gift To mark the occasion, Sri Lanka will present to India photographs of two murals painted by renowned Sri Lankan artist Solias Mendis at the Kelaniya Rajamaha Vihara, a popular Buddhist temple near Colombo One of the murals depicts ‘Arahat Bhikkhu’ Mahinda, son of Emperor Ashoka delivering the message of the Buddha to King Devanampiyatissa of Sri Lanka.  The other shows the arrival of ‘Theri Bhikkhuni’ Sanghamitta, the daughter of the Emperor Ashoka, in Sri Lanka, bearing a sapling of the ‘sacred Bodhi tree’ under which Siddhārtha Gautama is believed to have attained enlightenment. Can you answer the following question? How did Buddhism spread in different parts of the world? Examine. “Buddhism was not just a religious revolution, but a social revolution too.” Comment. Essay: Buddhism and Diplomacy (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note: Correct answers of today’s questions will be provided in next day’s DNA section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers. Q.1 Which of the following was not a part of OPEC when it was created at the Baghdad Conference in 1960? Iraq Kuwait Austria Saudi Arabia Q.2 Human Development Index is Released by United Nations Development Programme  UNICEF WHO None of the above  Q.3 Which of the following is not a bordering country of Black Sea?  Russia Ukraine Georgia None of the above  ANSWERS FOR 20th Oct 2021 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 D 2 A 3 C Must Read On National Security Policy: The Hindu On extending jurisdiction of BSF: Indian Express On federalism: Financial Express

UPSC हिन्दी Quiz– 2021: IASbaba Daily Current Affairs Quiz 21st October 2021

For Previous Daily Quiz (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE करेंट अफेयर्स के प्रश्न 'द हिंदू', 'इंडियन एक्सप्रेस' और 'पीआईबी' जैसे स्रोतों पर आधारित होते हैं, जो यूपीएससी प्रारंभिक परीक्षा के लिए बहुत महत्वपूर्ण स्रोत हैं। प्रश्न अवधारणाओं और तथ्यों दोनों पर केंद्रित हैं। दोहराव से बचने के लिए यहां कवर किए गए विषय आम तौर पर 'दैनिक करंट अफेयर्स / डेली न्यूज एनालिसिस (डीएनए) और डेली स्टेटिक क्विज' के तहत कवर किए जा रहे विषयों से भिन्न होते हैं। प्रश्न सोमवार से शनिवार तक दोपहर 2 बजे से पहले प्रकाशित किए जाएंगे। इस कार्य में आपको 10 मिनट से ज्यादा नहीं देना है। इस कार्य के लिए तैयार हो जाएं और इस पहल का इष्टतम तरीके से उपयोग करें। याद रखें कि, "साधारण अभ्यर्थी और चयनित होने वाले अभ्यर्थी के बीच का अंतर केवल दैनक अभ्यास है !!" Important Note: Comment अनुभाग में अपने अंक पोस्ट करना न भूलें। साथ ही, हमें बताएं कि क्या आपको आज का टेस्ट अच्छा लगा । 5 प्रश्नों को पूरा करने के बाद, अपना स्कोर, समय और उत्तर देखने के लिए ‘View Questions’ पर क्लिक करें। उत्तर देखने के लिए, इन निर्देशों का पालन करें: 1 - 'स्टार्ट टेस्ट/ Start Test' बटन पर क्लिक करें प्रश्न हल करें 'टेस्ट सारांश/Test Summary'बटन पर क्लिक करें 'फिनिश टेस्ट/Finish Test'बटन पर क्लिक करें अब ‘View Questions’बटन पर क्लिक करें - यहां आपको उत्तर और लिंक दिखाई देंगे। To take the Test - Click here

Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz – 2021 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 21st 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

IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 2): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – General Studies Paper 1 Questions [21st October, 2021] – Day 4

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 4 Questions - CLICK HERE P.S: The review from IASbaba will happen from the time the question is posted till 10 pm every day. We would also encourage peer reviews. So friends get actively involved and start reviewing each other’s answers. This will keep the entire community motivated. All the Best 

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 20th October 2021

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) INSACOG to track SARS-CoV-2 in sewage Part of: Prelims and GS-II - Health Context The decline in daily new infections across India has prompted INSACOG, the consortium of labs focused on sequencing coronavirus variants, to “prioritise” new surveillance approaches. Key takeaways  INSACOG will prioritise developing and expanding a SARS-CoV-2 sewage surveillance program. The CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, which is also part of the INSACOG network, has since early 2020 been collecting sewage from large drains in cities to check for the presence of the virus. Reason for sewage surveillance  Because a large fraction of those afflicted by the virus are asymptomatic but are carriers of infection, their body fluids and stool often contain traces of the virus.  Finding large proportions of it in public drains can often be a precursor to a fresh outbreak, with a rise in symptomatic infections. What is Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Consortia (INSACOG)? Coordinated by: Department of Biotechnology (DBT) along with MoH&FW;, ICMR, and CSIR The consortium will ascertain the status of new variant of SARS-CoV-2 in the country.  INSACOG will have a high level Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee.  It will have a Scientific Advisory Group for scientific and technical guidance. Aim: To monitor the genomic variations in the SARS-CoV-2 on a regular basis through a multi-laboratory network. This vital research consortium will also assist in developing potential vaccines in the future.  The consortium will also establish a sentinel surveillance for early detection of genomic variants with public health implication, and determine the genomic variants in the unusual events/trends (super-spreader events, high mortality/morbidity trend areas etc.). Do you know? Delta (B.1.617.2 and AY.x) continues to be the main VOC (Variant of Concern) in India. No new VOI (Variant of Interest) or VOC are noted in India. Pig kidney transplant in human patient Part of: Prelims and GS III - Sci and tech Context For the first time, a pig kidney has been transplanted into a human without triggering immediate rejection by the recipient’s immune system. This is a potentially major advance that could eventually help alleviate a dire shortage of human organs for transplant. Key takeaways  The procedure was done at NYU Langone Health in New York City. It involved use of a pig whose genes had been altered so that its tissues no longer contained a molecule known to trigger almost immediate rejection. The genetically altered pig, dubbed GalSafe, was used as the donor. The recipient was a brain-dead patient with signs of kidney dysfunction whose family consented to the experiment before she was due to be taken off of life support. Finding: The team theorized that removing out the pig gene for a carbohydrate that triggers rejection – a sugar molecule, or glycan, called alpha-gal – would prevent the problem. Future possibility: The NYU kidney transplant experiment should pave the way for trials in patients with end-stage kidney failure, possibly in the next year or two, Like Minded Developing Countries (LMDC) Part of: Prelims and GS-II - International Relations  Context  Recently, the Union Minister for Environment Forest and Climate Change virtually participated in the Like Minded Developing Countries (LMDC) Ministerial meeting titled ‘Preparations for COP 26 on Climate Change – Expectations and Challenges’. This meeting has been hosted by Bolivia ahead of the 26th climate change conference to be held in Glasgow. A ministerial statement was endorsed by the LMDC Ministers during the meeting, expressing their full support for the COP26 Presidency. What is Like-Minded Developing Countries(LMDC) group? LMDC comprises around 25 developing countries from Asia and other regions. It organises themselves as a block of negotiators in international organizations such as the United Nations. They represent more than 50% of the world’s population. Member countries: Algeria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bhutan, China, Cuba, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Vietnam, and Zimbabwe. What is the 26th Conference of Parties (COP26)? The COP26 is the 26th United Nations Climate Change conference.  It is scheduled to be held in Glasgow, Scotland, between 31 October and 12 November 2021, under the presidency of the United Kingdom. The conference comes months after the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published its assessment report on Earth’s climate, highlighting heat waves, droughts, extreme rainfall and sea-level rise in the coming decades. The CoP comes under the United Nations Climate Change Framework Convention (UNFCCC) which was formed in 1994.  The UNFCCC was established to work towards “stabilisation of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere.” Four Goals of COP26 Secure global net-zero by mid-century and keep 1.5 degrees within reach. Adapt to protect communities and natural habitats. Mobilise finance. Work together to deliver. Anticipatory bail Part of: Prelims and GS II - Separation of powers between various organs Context The Supreme Court has held that a superior court can set aside an anticipatory bail order if there was enough material to suggest that factors like gravity of the offence and the role of the accused in the crime were not considered by the lower court. What is The concept of anticipatory bail? The provision of anticipatory bail under Section 438 was introduced when Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) was amended in 1973. As opposed to ordinary bail, which is granted to a person who is under arrest, in anticipatory bail, a person is directed to be released on bail even before arrest made. Time limit: The Supreme Court (SC) in Sushila Aggarwal v. State of NCT of Delhi (2020) case ruled that no time limit can be set while granting anticipatory Bail and it can continue even until the end of the trial. It is issued only by the Sessions Court and High Court. What is the Need for such protection? An accused, besides being an accused, may also be the primary caregiver or sole breadwinner of the family. His arrest may leave his loved ones in a state of starvation and neglect. In the 1980 Gurbaksh Singh Sibbia vs State of Punjab case, a five-judge Supreme Court bench led by then Chief Justice Y V Chandrachud ruled that 438 (1) is to be interpreted in the light of Article 21 of the Constitution (protection of life and personal liberty). Miscellaneous Dhole A recent study has identified 114 priority talukas / tehsils where habitats can be consolidated to enhance population connectivity for the dhole or Asiatic Wild Dog (Cuon alpinus). Dhole is an apex social carnivore in the tropical forests of South and South East Asia. India perhaps supports the largest number of dholes, with key populations found in three landscapes — Western Ghats, Central India and Northeast India. IUCN - Endangered  Dholes play an important role as apex predators in forest ecosystems.Besides the tiger, the dhole is the only large carnivore in India that is under IUCN’s ‘endangered’ category. CITES – Appendix II. Schedule II of wildlife act. Factors contributing to this decline: habitat loss, loss of prey, competition with other species, persecution due to livestock predation and disease transfer from domestic dogs. In 2014, the Indian government sanctioned its first dhole conservation breeding centre at the Indira Gandhi Zoological Park (IGZP) in Visakhapatnam. (News from PIB) Abhidhamma Day Part of: Prelims and Mains-I: Ancient History In News: Abhidhamma Day is being celebrated on 20th October 2021. The day marks the end of three month rainy retreat – Varshavaas or Vassa- for the Buddhist Monks and Nuns during which time they stay at one place in vihara and monastery and pray. Exposition of Holy Buddha Relic being brought from Waskaduwa Sri Subuddhi Rajvihara Temple, Sri Lanka will take place at Kushinagar, UP. These relics are accepted as real relics (Bone fragments, ashes, pieces of Jewels of the Buddha). Paintings of Ajanta Frescos, Buddhist Sutra Calligraphy, Buddhist artefacts excavated from Vadnagar and other sites in Gujarat will also be exhibited. The ancient city of Kushinagar, in the state of Uttar Pradesh is the final resting place of Gautama Buddha, where he attained Mahaparinirvana after his death. It is among the most important pilgrim spots for the Buddhists since the ancient times. The period after three month long Varshavas, observed as retreat by monks and nuns by staying in vihara during rainy season, is a time of giving, for the laity to express gratitude to Sangha. Lay Buddhists bring donations to temples, especially new robes for the monks and nuns. News Source: PIB India’s Bio-Economic Hub Part of: Prelims and Mains GS-II- Governance Context: The Eastern Himalayan Region is one of the mega-biodiversity rich zones and is among the 34 biodiversity Hotspots of the world. There is a need to put these invaluable genetic resources to use for the economic growth of the region in particular and to the nation in general, through biotechnological interventions.  The Department of Biotechnology has played a pivotal role to build capacity in the North Eastern region for carrying out biotechnology research to address issues specific to the region and implement programmes for the societal upliftment of the local communities as the North Eastern region is a genetic treasure house of plant, animal and microbial resources.   Phyto-pharmaceutical Mission of North Eastern Region aims to promote the documentation, scientific validation and evaluation of traditional healthcare practices - assumes special significance in the context of the vast plant resources and diverse traditional healthcare practices of the North-East.  The transformational approaches in developing products, processes and technologies with local bio-resources will help in development of traditional knowledge-based therapeutic agents leading to the socio-economic development of the region as well as benefits to traditional health care practitioners.  DBT has designed a programme to improve the production and productivity in Khasi Mandarin, an important fruit crop by producing quality planting material through shoot-tip grafting technology (target of producing four lakhs certifiable disease-free quality plants of Khasi Mandarin and Sweet Orange and build capacity of at least 1,000 farmers in the region) DBT has established a Biotech-KISAN Hub at Horticultural Research Station, Assam Agricultural University (AAU), Kahikuchi, for large scale production of quality planting material of Malbhog banana, which is in high demand in the state of Assam.  India’s Bio-Economy is on its way to achieve 150-billion-dollar target from the current 70 billion-dollar by 2025 and will contribute effectively to the vision of a 5 trillion-dollar economy by 2024-25. News Source: PIB (Mains Focus) INTERNATIONAL/ SECURITY GS-2: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests GS-3: Economy & Challenges Rising Fuel Prices Context: The price of crude oil is nearing its highest level since 2018, as the price of Brent Crude breached the $85 per barrel mark by Oct 15th ($42.5 per barrel a year ago). This is happening as the price of natural gas and coal are also hitting record highs, intensifying the energy shortage. Why are fuel prices rising? Economic Recovery: Global crude oil prices are rising on the back of a sharp increase in global demand as the world economy recovers from the pandemic.  Supply not increasing commensurately: In its latest round of meetings, the OPEC+ group of oil producing countries reaffirmed that they would increase total crude oil supply by only 400,000 barrels per day in November despite a sharp increase in prices.  OPEC+ had agreed to sharp cuts in supply in 2020 in response to Covid-19 global travel restrictions in 2020 but the organisation has been slow to boost production as demand has recovered. Rise in Prices of other energy resources: Supply side issues in the US including disruptions caused by hurricane Ida and lower than expected natural gas supplies from Russia amid increasing demand in Europe have raised the prices of natural gas. International coal prices have also reached all-time highs as China faces a coal shortage that has led to factories across China facing power outages.  A faster than expected recovery in global demand has pushed the price of Indonesian coal up from about $60 per tonne in March to about $200 per tonne in October. Naturally, when prices of these energy resources increase, it will have impact on prices of crude oil as well. What is the impact on India? High crude oil prices have contributed to the regular increase in prices of petrol and diesel across the country in 2021.  The price of petrol in Delhi is Rs 105.84 per litre in Oct 15th, while the price of diesel is at Rs 94.6 per litre. High fuel prices will feed into increased cost of goods & services causing inflation in the economy. The demand for diesel in India was expected to go up in the next few months with the upcoming festive season set to accelerate the economic recovery and push up diesel consumption. Diesel accounts for about 38% of petroleum product consumption in India and is a key fuel used in industry and agriculture.  Rising Fuel prices can dampen the festive consumption (travel & increased cost of goods) & hurt economic recovery prospects. The increase in gas prices has put upward pressure on the price of both Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) used as a transport fuel and Piped Natural Gas (PNG) used as a cooking fuel.  High international prices of coal have added to a coal shortage at India’s thermal power plants Way Forward India and other oil importing nations have called on OPEC+ to boost oil supply faster, arguing that elevated crude oil prices could undermine the recovery of the global economy. Connecting the dots: Rising Natural Gas Price  India’s Coal Crisis INTERNATIONAL/ SECURITY GS-2: Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.  GS-2: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests The Other Quad Context: Recently, the Foreign Ministers of India, the U.S., Israel and the UAE virtual met to discuss on exploring areas of cooperation. Significance of the new quadrilateral meeting (India, Israel, UAE & USA) It is a strong manifestation of the changes in West Asian geopolitics.  If Israel and the UAE did not even have formal diplomatic relations a year ago, their growing economic and strategic cooperation since Abraham Accords is opening up opportunities for other powers, including India. The four-nation meeting also points to India’s strategic desire to adopt a regional foreign policy strategy towards West Asia, moving beyond its bilateralist approach. Over the years, India has built vibrant bilateral ties with all the countries in the grouping. So India adopting regional approach is natural evolution of this vibrancy given that there is moderation of Israel’s policy towards Arab states. Israel is one of India’s top defence suppliers.  The UAE is vital for India’s energy security and hosts millions of Indian workers. India has deepened its relationship with US as was seen by signing foundational defence agreements and being part of another QUAD grouping. While it is too early to speak of the strategic significance of such a grouping, there are areas where it can deepen its engagement — trade, energy ties, fighting climate change and enhancing maritime security. Challenges Ahead The U.S. is clearly seeking to lessen its footprint here as part of its pivot to East Asia to tackle China’s rise, which is redrawing West Asia’s traditional equations. India should be careful not to get sucked into the many conflicts of West Asia  While the Abraham Accords made it easier for India to find common ground with the Israelis and UAE, the contradiction between this Israel and Iran remains as intense as ever. India should be mindful of this. With US withdrawing from Afghanistan, India will have to work closely with countries such as Iran to deal with the challenges emanating from a reduced American presence in the region. So the challenge before New Delhi is to retain a healthy relationship with Iran even as it seeks to build a stronger regional partnership with the U.S.-Israel-UAE bloc. Connecting the dots: QUAD (India-Australia-Japan-USA) AUKUS (Sansad TV – Perspective) Oct 15: Role of Women in Armed Forces - https://youtu.be/R0Te6oN7blY  TOPIC: GS 2: Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions (Judicial Overreach Vs Judicial activism) GS 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation Role of Women in Armed Forces In news:  India has taken a number of steps to strengthen the role of women within the security setup in general and the armed forces in particular.  Government has taken evolutionary path to ensure equal participation of women in Armed Forces. Indian Army, Air Force and Navy began inducting women as short-service commission (SSC) officers in 1992. This was the first time when women were allowed to join the military outside the medical stream.  One of the turning points for women in the military came in 2015 when Indian Air Force decided to induct them into the fighter stream.  In 2020, the Supreme Court (SC) ordered the central government to grant permanent commission (PC) to women officers in the Army's non-combat support units on par with their male counterparts.  In March 2021, the Indian Navy deployed four women officers on warships after a gap of 23 years.  Two months later in May 2021 Indian Army got its first batch of 83 women soldiers, in the Corps of Military Police.  From 2022 women will also be able to join the premier tri-service training institute, the National Defence Academy. Challenges in bringing women officers at par with their male colleagues Though women officers are now allowed as pilot of fighter jets and leader of battleships but women officers in Army are not inducted in army’s infantry and armoured divisions, due to fear of getting caught by enemy and torture. In Israel, too, women are mostly deployed in the military police and perimeter security rather than in actual combat. It is claimed that male troops, who are predominantly drawn from rural backgrounds, may be unwilling to “accept” a woman commander. Concerns are raised over physiology, motherhood and physical attributes of women officers. The differences in conditions of service for women officers and their men counterparts is perceived in favour as well as, against them. The women officers have concessions in physical standards during recruitment, in battle physical efficiency tests. Women officer appointments need extra considerations to hygiene, sensitivities and privacy issues while accommodating them. In Siachen, there are posts with only four soldiers. They sleep and share the same cramped post. Male officer’s tenures in difficult field stations have increased, in adjusting women officers for spouse postings, child care leave. The Way Forward Certain concessions given to women officers can be withdrawn, and they can be put through the field and rough appointments with troops, to be at par with male counterparts and be accepted as ‘Leaders’ and not ‘Appointed Officers’. The selection for command assignments has to merit-based irrespective of gender. The selection for the command should be done through officer’s confidential reports and closed promotion board, common for both genders, and the names and gender of the profile should be hidden from selection board More importantly, a behavioral change is the need of the hour. Can you answer the following questions? Are we witnessing a major shift in the way women’s participation in the armed forces is perceived? Critically examine. For every frontier touched or broken by women that frontier should be sustained with more and more women. Discuss  (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note: Correct answers of today’s questions will be provided in next day’s DNA section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers. Q.1 Which of the following is not a part of Like Minded Developing Countries? India Indonesia Iran Saudi Arabia Q.2 consider the following statements regarding Dhole: Key populations found in India in Western Ghats, Central India and Northeast India. Its IUCN status is Endangered.  In 2014, the Indian government sanctioned its first dhole conservation breeding centre at the Indira Gandhi Zoological Park (IGZP) in Mumbai. Which of the above is or are correct  1 and 2 only 2 only 2 and 3 only None of the above  Q.3 Which of the following is not true?  The provision of anticipatory bail under Section 438 was introduced when Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) was amended in 1973. As opposed to ordinary bail, in anticipatory bail, a person is directed to be released on bail even before arrest is made. The Supreme Court (SC) in Sushila Aggarwal v. State of NCT of Delhi (2020) case ruled that a certain time limit has to be set while granting anticipatory Bail. It is issued only by the Sessions Court and High Court. ANSWERS FOR 19th Oct 2021 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 D 2 A 3 C Must Read On Communalism: Indian Express On EU, India and the Indo-Pacific: Indian Express On India’s Foreign policy: Indian Express

UPSC हिन्दी Quiz– 2021: IASbaba Daily Current Affairs Quiz 20th 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