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DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 11th October 2021

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) First ‘PM-WANI’ project launched in Kurnool Part of: Prelims and GS II - Policies and interventions Context The first Prime Minister’s Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI) project of Andhra Pradesh was recently launched in Kurnool district. Key takeaways As part of the project, Public Data Offices (PDOs) will work like Public Call Offices (PCOs) to facilitate users' data service at cheaper rates so that every citizen can enjoy Internet facilities. It was launched under the brand name ‘Wi-DOT’. The project is being executed by Tess and Tera Techno Solutions Private Ltd. Benefits: This move will accelerate the proliferation of public broadband services through Wi-Fi networks and it will enable local entrepreneurs such as chaiwalas, kirana stores and eateries to earn additional revenue,” About Prime Minister’s Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI) The scheme aims to bring large scale deployment of Wi-Fi hotspots through the country to drive up connectivity options and improve digital access. Ministry: Ministry of communications Benefits: Public Wi-Fi will serve as a low-cost option to reach unserved citizens and grow the economy.  It can revolutionise the tech world and significantly improve Wi-Fi availability across the length and breadth of India. The scheme envisages setting up of public Wi-Fi networks and access points by local Kirana and neighbourhood shops through public data offices As per the National Digital Communication Plan, the Central government has set a target of setting up millions of Wi-Fi hotspots by 2022 and the PM-WANI scheme will facilitate this. Hypertension higher among educated, urban residents Part of: Prelims and GS II - Health  Context “Awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in adults aged 45 years and above, and their spouses in India: A nationally representative cross-sectional study” research was conducted recently. Research was conducted by experts of the International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, and others. The study has revealed that approximately 42% of adults aged 45 and above, and their spouses had hypertension. Key findings Richness: Richer individuals with higher consumption expenditure were more likely to have hypertension.  Education: Prevalence was estimated to increase from 37% among the least educated to 51.2% among the most educated.  Urban areas: Prevalence was higher in urban areas (51.8%) than in rural areas (37.8%).  Employment: It was also higher among those not working. Prevalence, awareness and treatment of hypertension varied from state to state. States with the highest prevalence are Kerala, Goa and Delhi. Do you know? Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases that accounted for 44% of the 42 million deaths related to non-communicable diseases globally in 2019. Commercial cultivation of bamboo begins Part of: Prelims and GS - III - Agriculture Context With the threat of Yellow Leaf Disease spreading to vast tracts of arecanut plantations looming large, farmers in Karnataka’s coastal belt have now begun commercial cultivation of bamboo in a small way. About Yellow leaf disease Abnormal yellowing of leaf tissue is called chlorosis. Leaves lack the essential green pigment chlorophyll. Possible causes include poor drainage, damaged roots, compacted roots, high soil pH, and nutrient deficiencies in the plant. About Bamboo plantation Bamboo can be used in 1,500 different ways including as food, a substitute for wood, building and construction material, for handicrafts and paper. The advantage of bamboo is manifold compared to monoculture tree plantations. After planting, bamboo can become part of agroforestry practice in small land holdings. New bamboo plantations may curb the pressure from deforestation by serving as wood substitutes. Due to its versatile nature and multiple uses, it is also called ‘poor man’s timber’. It can be planted to reclaim severely degraded sites and wastelands. It is a good soil binder owing to its peculiar clump formation and fibrous root system and hence also plays an important role in soil and water conservation. It is the fastest growing canopy, releasing 35% more oxygen than trees. There are studies reporting that bamboo stands sequester 12 tonnes of carbon dioxide from per hectare. Though it grows tall like a tree, it belongs to the grass family. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Part of: Prelims and GS-II - International relations Context Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) recently upheld the Linear No-Threshold (LNT) model to prescribe radiation safety standards, ending the protracted controversy on the topic. Background Over six years ago, during February 2015, petitions were filed requesting the NRC, “to amend its regulations based on their evidence that contradicts the linear no-threshold (LNT) dose-effect model. The petitioners support “radiation hormesis,” a concept that proposes that low doses of ionising radiation protect against the deleterious effects of high doses of radiation and result in beneficial effects to humans. This was denied by the NRC. About LNT model The linear no-threshold model (LNT) is a dose-response model used in radiation protection to estimate probable health effects such as radiation-induced cancer, genetic mutations on the human body due to exposure to ionizing radiation. The LNT model helps the agencies to regulate radiation exposures to diverse categories of licensees, from commercial nuclear power plants to individual industrial radiographers and nuclear medical practices. What is Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)? It is an independent agency of the USA government tasked with protecting public health and safety related to nuclear energy.  It was established by the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974. Functions: Overseeing reactor safety and security administering reactor licensing and renewal licensing radioactive materials managing the storage, security, recycling, and disposal of spent fuel. Rohingya Crisis Part of: Prelims and GS II - International relations Context Bangladesh is planning to send more than 80,000 Rohingya refugees to a remote island- Bhasan Char- in the Bay of Bengal after sealing an agreement for the United Nations to provide help. Some 19,000 of the Muslim refugees from Myanmar have already relocated to the island, despite doubts raised by aid groups. Background Bhasan Char is an island specifically developed to accommodate 1,00,000 of the 1 million Rohingya who have fled from neighbouring Myanmar. Human rights groups have criticised the move. Who are Rohingyas? They are an Ethnic group, mostly Muslims. They were not granted full citizenship by Myanmar. They were classified as “resident foreigners or associate citizens”. Ethnically they are much closer to Indo-Aryan people of India and Bangladesh than to the Sino-Tibetans of Myanmar. Described by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as “one of, if not the, most discriminated people in the world”. OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework tax deal Part of: Prelims and GS II - International Relations  Context The two-pillar solution under the  OECD/G20 Inclusive framework will be delivered to the G20 Finance Ministers meeting in Washington DC on 13 October, then to the G20 Leaders Summit in Rome at the end of the month. Countries are aiming to sign a multilateral convention during 2022, with effective implementation in 2023. India has already joined the G20–OECD inclusive framework deal.  It seeks to reform international tax rules and ensure that multinational enterprises pay their fair share wherever they operate. 130 countries and jurisdictions, representing more than 90% of global GDP, have signed the deal. Two pillars of framework Dealing with transnational and digital companies: It ensures that large multinational enterprises, including digital companies, pay tax where they operate and earn profits. Dealing with low-tax jurisdictions to address cross-border profit shifting and treaty shopping: It seeks to put a floor under competition among countries through a global minimum corporate tax rate, currently proposed at 15%. (News from PIB) World Postal Day: 9th of October  To mark the anniversary of establishment of the Universal Postal Union in 1874.  India has been a member of the Universal Postal Union since 1876.  The purpose of World Post Day is to create awareness about the role of postal sector in the lives of people and businesses as well as contribution to the socio-economic development of countries.  The theme for this year’s World Post Day is ‘Innovate to recover’. Aryabhata Award Part of: GS Prelims In News: Conferred to Secretary DDR&D and Chairman DRDO, Dr G Satheesh Reddy A pioneer in the area of R&D of advanced avionics, navigation and missile technologies Dr Reddy is an institution builder and has set up mechanisms to establish robust defence development and production ecosystem       News Source: PIB Indian Space Association Part of: GS Prelims In News: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will launch Indian Space Association (ISpA) on 11th October, 2021 ISpA is the Premier Industry Association of Space and Satellite companies, which aspires to be the collective voice of the Indian Space industry.  It will undertake policy advocacy and engage with all stakeholders in the Indian Space domain, including the Government and its agencies.  ISpA will help in making India self-reliant, technologically advanced and a leading player in the space arena. ISpA is represented by leading home grown and global corporations with advanced capabilities in space and satellite technologies.  News Source: PIB 3rd India – UK Energy for Growth Partnership – Ministerial Energy Dialogue Part of: Mains GS-II: International Relations In News: Energy Transition was a major area of discussion in the dialogue and the Energy Ministers spoke in detail on the ongoing Energy Transition activities in their respective countries with focus on renewables, including solar, offshore wind, storage, EVs, alternative fuels, etc. The UK side presented a detailed summary of the significant ongoing work and thepast work done in the last two years under the umbrella of bilateral cooperation Welcomed the Roadmap 2030 for India-UK future relations launched by both the Prime Ministers during India-UK Virtual Summit in May and identified various future areas of collaboration in line with the Roadmap 2030. Deliberated and agreed on a Forward Action Plan on Power and Clean Transport, Renewables, Green Finance and Clean Energy Researchas part of the roadmap 2030, covering a range of topics including smart grids, energy storage, green hydrogen, charging infrastructure, battery storage and need of mobilizing investments in renewable energy along with other proposals under multilateral collaboration. The dialogue concluded with both sides underlining the importance of international cooperation insecuring affordable and sustainable energy for the worldwhile setting in motion, concrete action plans for driving the clean energy transition in Power Sector News Source: PIB Dr. Teejan Bai at GOAL program  A Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan awardee A celebrated Pandavani folk singer About Going Online as Leaders (GOAL) Program  By the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) and Facebook India  Aims to provide skilling for tribal youth with a focus on enabling digital presence in addition to strengthening core skills to drive their professional-economical upliftment.  The program intends to upskill and empower 5,000 tribal youths over the course of next five years to harness the full potential of digital platforms and tools to learn new ways of doing business, explore and connect with domestic and international markets.  It is designed to provide mentorship to tribal youth through digital mode and envisages to act as a catalyst to explore hidden talents of the tribal youth, which will help in their personal development as well as contribute to all-round upliftment of their society. News Source: PIB Miscellaneous World Mental Health Day: 10th October Multilateral Maritime Exercise Malabar 2021: Between India and the US World Wrestling Championship 2021 Winners from India Anshu Malik won Silver medal Sarita Mor won Bronze medal (Mains Focus) INTERNATIONAL/ SECURITY GS-2: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests. A ‘Taiwan flashpoint’ in the Indo-Pacific  Context: In a new incident last week, a U.S. nuclear-powered submarine reportedly ran into an “unidentified object” while in the South China Sea. China has objected to these U.S. actions vociferously. The rising confrontation between the United States and China erupts into a clash of arms, the likely arena may well be the Taiwan Strait.  Brief Background of Taiwan: Taiwan is the unfinished business of China’s liberation under the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in 1949.  The Guomindang (KMT) forces under Chiang Kai-shek lost the 1945-49 civil war to the CCP forces under Mao Zedong.  Chiang retreated to the island of Taiwan and set up a regime that claimed authority over the whole of China and pledged to recover the mainland eventually.  The CCP in turn pledged to reclaim what it regarded as a “renegade” province and achieve the final reunification of China.  Taiwan could not be occupied militarily by the newly established People’s Republic of China (PRC) as it became a military ally of the United States during the Korean War of 1950-53.  It was described as an “unsinkable aircraft carrier” underscoring its strategic significance.  This phase came to an end with the U.S. recognising the PRC as the legitimate government of China in 1979, ending its official relationship with Taiwan and abrogating its mutual defence treaty with the island.  Strategic ambiguity of US & China vis-à-vis Taiwan U.S. has declared that it will “maintain the ability to come to Taiwan’s defence” while not committing itself to do so. This is the policy of “strategic ambiguity” of USA China, on the other hand, is committed to pursuing peaceful unification but retains the right to use force to achieve the objective. This is its China’s version of strategic ambiguity.  What has been the policy of China towards Taiwan?  China has pursued a typical carrot and stick policy to achieve the reunification of Taiwan with the mainland.  It has held out the prospect, indeed preference for peaceful reunification, through promising a high degree of autonomy to the island under the “one country two systems” formula first applied to Hong Kong after its reversion to Chinese sovereignty in 1997.  According to this formula, Hong Kong would retain its free market system and its political and judicial institutions and processes for a period of 50 years, thus enabling an extended and gradual transition.  The same was promised to Taiwan, but with the added assurance that it could also retain its armed forces during the transition period. Economic Links between China and Taiwan With China itself adopting market-oriented reforms since 1978 and becoming a significant economic and commercial opportunity globally, Taiwan business entities have invested heavily in mainland China and the two economies have become increasingly integrated.  Between 1991 and 2020, the stock of Taiwanese capital invested in China reached U.S. $188.5 billion and bilateral trade in 2019 was U.S. $150 billion, about 15% of Taiwan’s GDP. By contrast the stock of Chinese capital invested in Taiwan is barely U.S. $2.4 billion China hopes that burgeoning economic relationship with Taiwan would weaken opposition to unification.  At the same time, China is capable of inflicting severe economic pain on Taiwan through coercive economic policies if Taiwan is seen to move towards an independent status. Hong Kong & impact on Taiwan Recently, China adopted a series of hardline policies in Hong Kong, abandoning the ‘One Country Two Systems’ formula.  As a result, Public opinion in Taiwan swung in favour of The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), who is more representative of the indigenous population of the island, and favours independence.  One important implication of this development is that prospects for peaceful unification have diminished. Is China prepared to carry out military operations to invade and occupy Taiwan?  In March 2021, the U.S. Pacific Commander, warned that China could invade Taiwan within the next six years as part of its strategy of displacing U.S. power in Asia. He suggested that Chinese military capabilities had been developed in order to achieve this objective. The recent initiatives of the Quad and AUKUS may act as a deterrent against Chinese moves on Taiwan. But they may equally propel China to advance the unification agenda before the balance changes against it in the Indo-Pacific.  For these reasons, Taiwan is emerging as a potential trigger point for a clash of arms between the U.S. and China. Conclusion In pursuing its Indo-Pacific strategy, India would do well to keep these possible scenarios in mind. Connecting the dots: QUAD AUKUS GOVERNANCE/ ENVIRONMENT GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation  GS-2: Environment & Conservation Forest Conservation Act & Proposed Amendments Context: The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, came into force to address deforestation.  Though the Indian Forest Act has been in force since 1927, it was geared to allow the colonial British administration to control the extraction of timber and not aimed at preserving forests or addressing deforestation. While States had already notified forest land, the FCA made it necessary to get the Centre’s permission for using such forest land for “non forestry purposes” and the creation of an advisory committee to recommend such re-classification. Has the FCA ever been amended? There have been at least two major amendments to the FCA — in 1988 and 1996.  Till 1996, State, UT & Union Government used to apply the provisions of the Act only to the forests notified under the Indian Forest Act, 1927 or any other local law.  However, what constituted a “forest” was dramatically expanded following a Supreme Court judgment in a petition filed by Godavarman Thirumulpad. Now, “forest” also included  All areas recorded as “forest” in any government record, irrespective of ownership, recognition and classification;  all areas that conformed to the “dictionary” meaning of “forest” all areas which are identified as “forest” by an expert committee constituted by the Supreme Court following the 1996 order. This judgment also paved the way for  calculating the net present value, or the economic value of the portion of forest being razed for development work that had to be paid by project proponents;  The creation of a compensatory afforestation fund;  Providing non-forestry land in lieu of the diverted forest. Why is the FCA again being amended? The essential tension in the FCA is that the state is committed to a principle of increasing forest cover, and this makes it harder to access land for infrastructure projects by States and private entities. India’s aim is to have at least 33% of India’s geographical area under forest and tree cover, and increasing the latter is a major thrust.  So far, forest cover is around 22% and because increasing core forest land is increasingly hard, the mode of expansion includes expanding the notion of what constitutes forest land.  Thus, even degraded lands, if they have been recorded anywhere as “forest” in land records count, and even commercial plantations or regions with trees of a certain canopy cover and density count as “forest”. On the other hand, with more land coming under the definition of “forest”, it’s becoming harder for State Governments or private industry to use land that falls under the definition of “forest” for non-forestry purposes.  Through the years, this has given rise to multiple instances of litigation, as well questions on the legal definition of “forest”.  States have been told to provide a definition of what constitutes a forest, but several haven’t given them because this has political consequences. All of this has led to conflicting interpretations of the FCA through the years. What is the latest amendment about? Recently, the Environment Ministry has released a “consultative paper” that spells out proposed changes. This is open to public comment.  Broadly, it proposes to exempt certain categories of infrastructure project developers from approaching the Centre for permission to use forest land for non-forestry purposes. For instance, it has proposed exempting agencies involved in national security projects, border infrastructure projects, land owned by the Railways or the Road Transport Ministry that was acquired before 1980 or when the Act came into force. India, as part of its climate change action plan, has committed to create a carbon sink to lock in 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 by 2030. This can be achieved only through planting trees on private land and the current laws pose an impediment to encouraging private landowners to grow more trees. The Ministry has proposed some provisions where the penalties of non-compliance could include jail terms, but the overall tenor of the proposal is to make it a little easier to use forest land for non-forestry purposes. However, this still requires approval by the Cabinet and possibly the Parliament. (AIR – Azadi ka Safar) Freedom fighter, revolutionary, Loknayak Jaiprakash Narayan Oct 9: Freedom fighter, revolutionary, Loknayak Jaiprakash Narayan - https://youtu.be/wWHor_8mZ74  TOPIC: General Studies 1 Indian Freedom Movement Indian freedom fighters Loknayak Jaiprakash Narayan In News: PM paid tributes to Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan on his Jayanti. Lok Nayak Jay Prakash Narayan’s birthday (11th October, 1902) is celebrated as “Save Democracy Day” for his invaluable contribution to anti-emergency agitation during 1975-76. His entire life is one of supreme sacrifice and commitment to the nation In 1921 he joined the Non-cooperation movement and was influenced by Gandhian Ideology Later he went to US, where he was deeply influenced by Marxist ideology. However, he rejected the ultimate solution of “revolution” to bring down the capitalism as being advocated by the Marxists. On the contrary, he advocated Socialism. In 1929 he joined the INC at the invitation of Jwaharlal Nehru In 1934 he formed Congress Socialist Party with the following members General Secretary: JP Narayan Ideology: Democratic Socialism He also participated in Quit India Movement in 1942. He advocated non-rebellion & non-violence During the period of emergency starting from 1975, he gave a call for “Total Revolution” or “Sampoorna Kranti” to completely transform the society. He advocated Party-less democracy Sarvodaya Rejection of Parliamentary Democracy After the death of J Nehru, JP had increasingly involved in national politics During the second half of 1960s, he involved in resolving disputes in Kashmir He also played a pivotal role in the Nagaland issue in 1960s During the Bangladesh crisis, it was JP who became India’s ambassador to persuade about the rightness of India’s cause The voice of JP favouring human rights found relevance in Hungarian crisis, Czech crisis, and Tibetan crisis during his times In 1999, he was posthumously awarded Bharat Ratna Part of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) Jayaprakash Narayan (JP), whose 117th birth anniversary falls on October 11, was among the twelve apostles of the Mahatma and had been a front-soldier during the Indian freedom struggle. In this fight, JP imbibed a combination of ahimsa and aggression. His call for ‘sampoorna kranti’ or total revolution to fight against rampant corruption, unemployment and systematic weakening of democratic institutions back in 1974, and the subsequent events, led to the imposition of the infamous Emergency. It eventually paved the way for a realignment of political forces in the country and gave a new direction to the politics of the country, with far-reaching ramifications. He firmly believed that youngsters should be in the forefront of changing the system. Those entrenched in power, the status quoists, would naturally resist any change, but only the energy and force of youth can bring about revolutionary transformation – this was his firm belief. And that’s precisely what happened in the seventies. After blessing the Nav Nirman Andolan in Gujarat, where people had risen against the corrupt state government, JP mobilised students in Bihar to fight against authoritarianism and corruption. He had such a mesmerising influence on the political scene that under his mentorship a host of splinter parties of the Congress, like Congress (O), Jana Sangh and Swatantra Party, and other socialists came together to form the Janata Party. He could have easily occupied the top post during the Janata regime. Although people clamoured for his leadership, he said that power was not his aim.  He participated in the freedom struggle and led the Quit India movement in 1942 in the absence of senior leaders. He remained detached from electoral politics after Independence, but as such was not indifferent to politics. He also took active part in Vinoba  Bhave’s Bhoodan movement. The legacy of JP is akin to that of the Mahatma and echoes him on issues that have cropped up in the post-Gandhi era.  Freedom “Freedom became one of the beacon lights of my life and it has remained so ever since… Above all it meant freedom of the human personality, freedom of the mind, freedom of the spirit. This freedom has become a passion of my life and I shall not see it compromised for food, for security, for prosperity, for the glory of the state or for anything else.” Democracy “India’s democracy is to rise storey by storey from the foundation, consisting of self-governing, self-sufficient, agro-industrial, urbo-rural local communities — gram sabha, panchayat samiti and zilla parishad—that would form the base of Vidhan Sabhas and the Lok Sabha. These politico-economic institutions will regulate the use of natural resources for the good of the community and the nation.” Development “Idea of development envisages independent India as sui generis, a society unlike any other, in a class of its own that would not follow the western pattern of mega industrialisation, urbanisation and individuation. India’s would be agro-based people’s economy that would chart out a distinct course in economic growth, which would be need-based, human-scale and balanced while conserving nature and livelihoods. Such a ‘development’ process would be democratic and decentralised.  The best development model for India is diversified, democratic decentralised and value-added agriculture as the root, manufacturing small/medium industries as trunk and branches and widespread service sector as a canopy. The almost universal tendency for a centralised political, economic model, and social system that is associated with both of them should be abandoned.” Communalism “Although almost every religious community had its own brand of communalism, Hindu communalism was more pernicious than the others because Hindu communalism can easily masquerade as Indian nationalism and denounce all opposition to it as being anti-national.” Can you answer the following questions? Despite being a huge mass movement that virtually shook the roots of the constitutional principles, JP movement is considered as a flawed movement. Critically examine the JP movement and its flaws. Emergency imposed during the 1975 is seen as a dark period in the history of post-independent India.” Give a critical account on the outcomes of emergency and what are the lessons that we have learnt from the 40 years of emergency. (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 Bashan Char Island, which was seen in the news, is located in which country?? Iran  Yemen  Bangladesh Sri Lanka Q.2 Consider the following statements regarding PM-WANI: It comes under Ministry of Urban Affairs The scheme envisages setting up of public Wi-Fi networks and access points by local Kirana and neighbourhood shops through public data offices Which of the above is or are correct? 1 only  2 only  Both 1 and 2  Neither 1 nor 2  Q.3 Linear No-Threshold (LNT) model, recently seen in news, is associated with which of the following? Black holes Radiation Carbon sequestration  Ozone hole depletion  ANSWERS FOR 9th Oct 2021 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 A 2 A 3 B Must Read On Carbon Policy for Agriculture: Indian Express On India-Japan: Deccan Herald

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 9th October 2021

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Palk Bay scheme Part of: Prelims and GS II - Policies and interventions Context The Union Government is considering increasing the unit cost of deep-sea fishing vessels under the Palk Bay scheme to make it more attractive to fisherfolk. The original unit cost of Rs. 80 lakh was “inadequate” [to meet the requirements of the fisherfolk]. About Palk Bay scheme It was Launched by the Prime Minister in July 2017. It is being financed by the Union and the State Governments with beneficiary participation. It envisages the provision of 2,000 vessels in three years to the fishermen of the State to motivate them to abandon bottom trawling.  What is bottom trawling? Bottom trawling, an ecologically destructive practice, involves trawlers dragging weighted nets along the sea-floor, causing great depletion of aquatic resources. Stubble burning Part of: Prelims and GS III - Pollution  Context The Centre-constituted Commission for Air Quality Management said in a statement that a reduction in the area under paddy cultivation in Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, and a shift away from paddy varieties that take long to mature, could see a reduction in stubble burning this year. Key takeaways  Both Central and State Governments of Haryana, Punjab and U.P. have been taking measures to diversify crops as well as to reduce the use of PUSA-44 variety of paddy.  Crop diversification and moving away from PUSA-44 variety with short duration High Yielding Varieties are part of the framework and action plan for control of stubble burning. The total paddy area in Haryana, Punjab and the eight NCR (National Capital Region) districts of UP has reduced by 7.72%. Similarly, total paddy straw generation from the non-basmati variety of rice is likely to be reduced by 12.42%.  It’s the non-basmati variety of rice, whose stalk remains, that is usually burnt off by farmers ahead of sowing wheat. What is Stubble Burning? Stubble burning is the act of setting fire to crop residue to remove them from the field to sow the next crop It is a traditional practice in Punjab and Haryana to clean off the rice chaff to prepare the fields for winter sowing It begins around October and peaks in November, coinciding with the withdrawal of southwest monsoon. On December 10, 2015, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had banned crop residue burning in the states of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab Guduchi Part of: Prelims and GS - II - Health Context The Ministry of Ayush’s advisory on the use of Guduchi, also known as Giloy, confirms that Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia) is safe to use but some similar looking plants like Tinospora crispa may be harmful. What is Guduchi? Guduchi is a popularly known herb and has been used in therapeutics since long in AYUSH systems. It is a large, glabrous, perennial, deciduous, climbing shrub of weak and fleshy stem found throughout India. It is a widely used plant in folk and Ayurvedic systems of medicine. Potential medicinal properties include anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic, antioxidant, anti-allergic, anti-stress, antimalarial, etc. Google to ban climate denial ads Part of: Prelims and GS-III - Climate change; Environment  Context Google will ban digital ads promoting false climate change claims from appearing next to other content. The restrictions will prohibit ads for content that contradicts well-established scientific consensus around climate change. It will help in limiting revenue for climate change deniers and stop the spread of misinformation on its platforms. The new policy will also apply to YouTube, which last week announced a sweeping crackdown of vaccine misinformation. G-Sec Acquisition Programme Part of: Prelims and GS III - Economy Context The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday said it was halting its bond buying under the G-Sec Acquisition Programme (GSAP). GSAP had succeeded in ensuring adequate liquidity and stabilising financial markets. What is Government Securities Acquisition Programme (G-SAP) The G-Sec Acquisition Programme (G-SAP) is basically an unconditional and a structured Open Market Operation (OMO), of a much larger scale and size. Objective: To achieve a stable and orderly evolution of the yield curve along with management of liquidity in the economy. A yield curve is a line that plots yields (interest rates) of bonds having equal credit quality but differing maturity dates. The slope of the yield curve gives an idea of future interest rate changes and economic activity. By purchasing G-secs, the RBI infuses money supply into the economy which inturn keeps the yield down and lower the borrowing cost of the Government. What are Government Securities? A G-Sec is a tradable instrument issued by the Central Government or the State Governments. Such securities are short term or long term. G-Secs carry practically no risk of default and, hence, are called risk-free gilt-edged instruments. Javan Gibbon Part of: Prelims and GS III - conservation Context Indonesia is taking steps to protect the habitat of Javan Gibbon (Hylobates moloch), which is endangered by climate change and human encroachment. The species is also hunted for both meat and pet trade. About Javan Gibbon  The silvery gibbon or Javan gibbon, is a primate. They are found in groups only, usually in a pair of two. It is endemic to the Indonesian island of Java, where it inhabits undisturbed rainforests  It helps in regenerating forest vegetation by dispersing seeds. There are around 4,000 Javan gibbons left. It was declared Critically Endangered in 2004 but since has recovered to status of Endangered as per IUCN criterion. However, the latest IUCN estimate shows that their population is decreasing. Habitat: Java, Indonesia. Protection Status: IUCN: Endangered (EN) CITES: Appendix I Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) Part of: Prelims and GS II - International relations and GS-III - Defence and security Context In the first such signal to New Delhi, visiting US Deputy Secretary of State has indicated that Washington might reconsider slapping sanctions on the Indian government when India takes delivery of five Russian-built S-400 Triumf anti-aircraft missile systems in a US$5.5 billion deal later this year. What is CAATSA? Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act (CAATSA)‘s core objective is to counter Iran, Russia and North Korea through punitive measures. Enacted in 2017. Includes sanctions against countries that engage in significant transactions with Russia’s defence and intelligence sectors. What is S-400 Triumf anti-aircraft missile systems? The S-400 Triumf is a mobile, surface-to-air missile system (SAM) designed by Russia. It is the most dangerous operationally deployed modern long-range SAM (MLR SAM) in the world, considered much ahead of the US-developed Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system (THAAD). Nobel peace prize 2021 Part of: Prelims Journalists Maria Ressa of the Philippines and Dmitry Muratov of Russia won the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for their fight for freedom of expression in countries where reporters have faced persistent attacks, harassment and even murder. Ms. Ressa in 2012 co-founded Rappler , a news website that has focused critical attention on President Rodrigo Duterte’s “controversial, murderous anti-drug campaign” in the Philippines. Mr. Muratov was one of the founders in 1993 of the independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta , which the Nobel committee called “the most independent newspaper in Russia today, with a fundamentally critical attitude towards power”. (News from PIB) MoU for Capacity Building in Faecal Sludge & Septage Management Part of: GS-Prelims and GS-II – Policies and interventions In News: National Mission of Clean Ganga (NMCG) has signed an MoU with Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Institute (WASH Institute) to conduct a series of trainings to enhance the quality of service of officials in Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).  Aim: To efficiently address and improve preparedness towards FSSM (faecal sludge and septage management) and Wastewater Management in Indian towns and cities. The project will be funded by USAID and supported by The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.  Background In India, untreated faecal sludge and urban sewage are the primary source of water pollution, particularly in the cities around Ganges. Under Prime Minister’s visionary initiative, the Swachh Bharat Mission, more than 62 lakh toilets are built. Half of these toilets rely on on-site sanitation system (OSS). Managing the waste collected from these toilets is the next big challenge for India. Considering these challenges, systematic capacity building initiatives need to be undertaken to build the skill and knowledge of the Government, Urban Local Body (ULB) officials, STP/FSTP Operators, Sanitary workers, entrepreneurs, NGO professionals and other stakeholders involved in the FSSM sector across India. Do you know? Considering the importance of FSSM solutions, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs came up with the national policy on FSSM in 2017.  More than 24 states have adopted it and 12 of them have come up with their own policies. Universal access to toilets was achieved in urban India with the construction of 66 lakh household toilets and more than 6 lakh community and public toilets. After achieving the target of ‘Open-Defecation-Free’ (ODF), India has now moved towards becoming ODF+ and ODF++.  These targets go beyond the concept of access to sanitation and aim for safely managed sanitation systems, with adequate treatment and safe disposal of toilet waste. News Source: PIB E-shram portal Part of: GS-Prelims and GS-II – Policies and interventions In News: More than 3 crore unorganized workers are now registered on E-shram portal. By Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoLE) It is the web portal for creating a National Database of Unorganized Workers (NDUW), which will be seeded with Aadhaar.  It seeks to register an estimated 398-400 million unorganised workers and to issue an E-Shram card containing a 12-digit unique number. Registered workers will be eligible for Rs 2 Lakh on death or permanent disability and Rs 1 lakh on partial disability. Significance of e-Shram portal – National Database on Unorganized Workers (NDUW) Targeted identification of the unorganized workers was a much-needed step and the portal which will be the national database of our nation builders will help take welfare schemes to their doorstep, who are the builders of our Nation. Targeted delivery and last mile delivery, has been a major focus of the schemes of government of India and the National Database of Unorganised workers (E-Shram portal) is another key step towards that. Issues Tedious Process: Given the gigantic nature of registering each worker, it will be a long-drawn process.  Data Security issues: Given the mega-size of the database, there is potential for its misuses especially in the absence of Data Protection legislation. The Union government would have to share data with State governments whose data security capacities vary.  Definitional issues: By excluding workers covered by EPF and ESI, lakhs of contract and fixed-term contract workers will be excluded from the universe of UW.  Ever-changing identities: Unorganised may have complex and ever-changing identities where they move between formal and informal sectors. Gig workers – Gig workers are included by the Labour ministry while they are excluded by the other three Labour Codes creating legal confusions over the classification of gig/platform workers. Federal Challenges: Union chalks out the plan but states have to implement it. Differences in state capacities can create hurdles in the implementation. Corruption – Middle service agencies such as Internet providers might charge exorbitant charges to register and print the E-Shram cards. Way Ahead Involvement of surveillance agencies is crucial to address the issues of corruption.  Government must publish statistics at the national and regional levels of the registrations to assess the registration system’s efficiency.  Triple linkage of One-Nation-One-Ration Card , E-Shram Card (especially bank account seeded) and the Election Commission Card can be done, for efficient and leakage-less delivery, News Source: PIB India, Croatia to collaborate: Traditional medicine systems Part of: GS-Prelims and GS-II – International Relations In News: Paving the way for academic collaboration in India’s traditional medicine systems, especially in the field of Ayurveda, between the two countries, the Ministry of Ayush has entered into an agreement with Croatia. The two sides will undertake academic activities in the field of Ayurveda in collaboration with the identified institutions.  There will be close cooperation and collaboration on research, including study design and execution, developing evidence-based guidelines for integrating Ayurvedic principles and practices with modern medicine, conducting lectures, workshops, seminars and conferences, and other such activities on Ayurveda. Both sides will also develop academic standards and courses in accordance with the needs of the institution, end users and stakeholders and develop Ayurvedic medical education guidelines for Ayurveda education in Croatia. This will promote academic research, clinical and educational activities, medical education, training, and competency building News Source: PIB (Mains Focus) POLITY/ GOVERNANCE GS-2: Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein Reflections on the ‘quasi-federal’ democracy Context: The federal structure of India’s Constitution is a democratic need of multi-cultural India, where the constituent units (states) are based on language, against competing identities such as caste, tribe or religion. The democratic structure and national integrity are therefore intrinsically interlinked.  However, operational faults of Democracy are increasingly hurting liberal institutions, undermining the federal democratic structure as recent events have underscored. Some fault lines In Parliament session, the Rajya Sabha Chairperson broke down (in August 2021), unable to conduct proceedings; yet, the House passed a record number of Bills amidst a record number of adjournments.  Recently, cross-border police firing by one constituent State against another, inflicting fatalities & putting strain on federalism. Greater criminalisation in India’s democracy, which includes over 30% legislators with criminal records,  Democratic federalism presupposes institutions to ensure equality between and among the units and the Centre so that they coordinate with each other, subordinate to the Constitution and their disputes adjudicated by an independent judiciary with impeccable professional and moral credibility. But India’s federal structure is constitutionally impacted by deficits on all these counts. There is also issue of popular voting behaviour, institutional preferences are based either on ethnic or kinship network, which emerge as fault lines in India’s Federal Structure. With ‘nation-building” as priority, the constitutional division of power and resources remains heavily skewed in favour of the Centre. India’s Constitution has nothing about States’ rights, not even their territorial boundaries. This has enabled the Centre to unilaterally alter State boundaries and create new States.  The judiciary is empowered to adjudicate on the conflicts between Federal Units, however with higher judicial appointments (an estimated 41% lying vacant), promotion and transfers becoming a central right, their operations are becoming increasingly controversial. The “all India services” and the role of Governors is distorted - transforming these constitutional authorities of a federal “link” to one of a central “agent” in the States.  The Rajya Sabha indirectly represents the States whose legislators elect it, but is overpowered by priorities of political parties at the cost of the state’s interests. Thus, the critical instruments of national governance have been either assigned or appropriated by the Centre, with the States left with politically controversial subjects such as law and order and land reforms.  Thus, most of India’s federal conflicts are structural, reinforced by operational abuses. Conclusion India’s national security deserves a functional democratic federal alternative to its dysfunctional “quasi-federal” structure, which is neither federal nor democratic but a constitutional “basic structure”. Connecting the dots: Cooperative & Competitive Federalism Upcoming Crisis in Indian Federalism POLITY/ GOVERNANCE GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation  GS-2: Rights and Freedom Refugee Law Context: According to the UN, over 82.4 million people were forced to leave their homes in 2020 and more than 20 million of them are refugees. Over 200,000 of these refugees are currently in India. India and Refugees Through its history, India has hosted people fleeing war, conflict and persecution many times — Zoroastrians from Iran, Bengalis during 1971 Bangladesh liberation, Sri Lankans in the 1980s or Afghans during varied waves of displacement. Welcoming refugees lies at the core of India’s secular, spiritual and cultural values.  India has taken part in 49 peacekeeping missions, in which more than 195,000 troops and a significant number of police personnel assisted the UN and international NGOs in conflict-ridden lands. Whatever be the considerations of refugees seeking a sanctuary — economic, demographic, security, or political — India has been adept in managing complications that result from such situations. Issues Lacks Refugee Framework: Despite being a welcoming country, India does not have a national refugee framework. Ad-Hoc Measures: Interventions on refugee assistance in India have largely depended on interim policies and administrative decisions. As a result, some groups of refugees have benefitted from holistic support and solutions, others have fallen behind.  Missing on Soft Power: India has not codified our interventions in asylum management, so that they can be showcased globally.  Not a bureaucratic Exercise: Treatment of refugees is an important national security consideration that cannot be relegated to a bureaucratic exercise as it is currently. Need for Refugee Law A sustainable refugee policy is a necessary step to intelligently manage population movements and ensure transparency and predictability in our administrative actions. A national refugee management law will be in keeping with India’s leadership role in the region and amongst developing nations.  The legislation will clarify the roles of different agencies — governmental, judicial, UN — involved in refugee protection and lay down the procedures of coordination amongst them.  It would also help avoid friction between the host country and the country of origin.  Other states would recognise the move to grant asylum as a peaceful, humanitarian and legal act, and not an arbitrary political gesture.  It will also provide a platform for dialogue on sharing responsibility and aid the search for durable solutions to the root causes of a refugee problem. Some countries provide initial help to refugees, after which they are expected to fend for themselves. A few countries have treated refugees like charity cases. Finding the right balance between the two is what a national refugee law can help achieve. Way Forward Progressive states and economic powerhouses like India, with traditional experience and values, can serve as catalysts for global humanitarian action and asylum management.  The current global refugee and economic crises present an opportunity for India to better calibrate its asylum management by enacting a national refugee law. Connecting the dots: Rohingya Refugee Problem India’s Refugee Problem Syrian Refugee Crisis  (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 Indonesia is taking steps to protect the habitat of Javan Gibbon, which is endangered by climate change and human encroachment. What is its IUCN status? Endangered  Vulnerable  Near threatened  Least concern Q.2 Consider the following statements regarding S-400 Triumf anti-aircraft missile systems: The S-400 Triumf is a mobile, surface-to-air missile system (SAM)  It is designed by Israel. Which of the above is or are correct? 1 only  2 only  Both 1 and 2  Neither 1 nor 2  Q.3 Guduchi, recently seen in news, is associated with which of the following? Jharkhand Handicraft which recently received GI tag An Ayurveda Herb Painting belonging to Chhattisgarh tribal Gujarat tribal dance ANSWERS FOR 8th Oct 2021 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 A 2 C 3 D Must Read On World Bank & IMF: Indian Express On Terror attacks in Kashmir: Indian Express

Motivational Articles

[MI-STORIES]MOTIVATIONAL AND INSPIRATIONAL STORIES - The Brooklyn Bridge!

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 Brooklyn Bridge! In 1883, a creative engineer named John Roebling was inspired by an idea to build a spectacular bridge connecting New York with the Long Island. However bridge building experts throughout the world thought that this was an impossible feat and told Roebling to forget the idea. It just could not be done. It was not practical. It had never been done before. Roebling could not ignore the vision he had in his mind of this bridge. He thought about it all the time and he knew deep in his heart that it could be done. He just had to share the dream with someone else. After much discussion and persuasion he managed to convince his son Washington, an up and coming engineer, that the bridge in fact could be built. Working together for the first time, the father and son developed concepts of how it could be accomplished and how the obstacles could be overcome. With great excitement and inspiration, and the headiness of a wild challenge before them, they hired their crew and began to build their dream bridge. The project started well, but when it was only a few months underway a tragic accident on the site took the life of John Roebling. Washington was also injured and left with a certain amount of brain damage, which resulted in him not being able to talk or walk. “We told them so.” “Crazy men and their crazy dreams.” “It’s foolish to chase wild visions.” Everyone had a negative comment to make and felt that the project should be scrapped since the Roeblings were the only ones who knew how the bridge could be built. In spite of his handicap Washington was never discouraged and still had a burning desire to complete the bridge and his mind was still as sharp as ever. He tried to inspire and pass on his enthusiasm to some of his friends, but they were too daunted by the task. As he lay on his bed in his hospital room, with the sunlight streaming through the windows, a gentle breeze blew the flimsy white curtains apart and he was able to see the sky and the tops of the trees outside for just a moment. It seemed that there was a message for him not to give up. Suddenly an idea hit him. All he could do was move one finger and he decided to make the best use of it. By moving this, he slowly developed a code of communication with his wife. He touched his wife’s arm with that finger, indicating to her that he wanted her to call the engineers again. Then he used the same method of tapping her arm to tell the engineers what to do. It seemed foolish but the project was underway again. For 13 years Washington tapped out his instructions with his finger on his wife’s arm, until the bridge was finally completed. Today the spectacular Brooklyn Bridge stands in all its glory as a tribute to the triumph of one man’s indomitable spirit and his determination not to be defeated by circumstances. It is also a tribute to the engineers and their team work, and to their faith in a man who was considered mad by half the world. It stands too as a tangible monument to the love and devotion of his wife who for 13 long years patiently decoded the messages of her husband and told the engineers what to do. Perhaps this is one of the best examples of a never-say-die attitude that overcomes a terrible physical handicap and achieves an impossible goal. Often when we face obstacles in our day-to-day life, our hurdles seem very small in comparison to what many others have to face. The Brooklyn Bridge shows us that dreams that seem impossible can be realised with determination and persistence, no matter what the odds are. What do you think is the moral of the story?

UPSC हिन्दी Quiz– 2021: IASbaba Daily Current Affairs Quiz 9th 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 9th 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

Important Articles

[WORKSHOP] By IASbaba’s TOPPERS for FUTURE TOPPERS! @ Delhi on 9th October( Saturday) - OPEN For All UPSC 2022 & 2023 Aspirants!

Hello everyone, As the tradition of IASbaba goes, every year we organise a Free Detailed Workshop to guide students on every aspect of UPSC preparation. This year also the workshop is going to be held in Delhi-NCR on 9th October 2021 (Saturday) for the students preparing for 2022 and 2023. This year, however, there is a slight change. This time all the sessions will be taken by IASbaba's Toppers of UPSC 2020.  The toppers taking the session are - DIVYA MISHRA - RANK 28 ANANT DWIVEDI - RANK 40 ASHISH KUMAR MISHRA - RANK 52 SALONI VERMA - RANK 70 AYUSH GUPTA - RANK 98 DEEPAK AGGARWAL - RANK 118 In every IASbaba workshop, we believe in providing concrete information rather than just 'gyaan' so that there is optimum utilisation of the time of the students as your time is precious. Hence, the topics discussed in the workshop will be - Understanding the demand of Exam – What UPSC wants from you? Prelims – The Art of Intelligent Guessing! Answer Writing Strategy – The Key to clear the Exam! Current Affairs – Demystified! How to Revise? Approach for Personality Test. Time Management / Daily Plan How to Make Notes? How to Approach Ethics and Essay? How to stay Motivated? Apart from all these,  toppers will be coming from different backgrounds and will be sharing their journey and success story so there will be a lot to learn for you. Not only that, after the workshop there will be a question-answer (Q&A) session where you will be able to interact with the toppers. Since the workshop, will be 4-5 hours long, lunch will be provided at the venue. Hence you'll have 'Food for Thought' and 'Food for Belly'. Now the important part, since we have to follow the covid protocol, entry will be strictly on a first come first serve basis. So if you are interested to attend the workshop, do fill the following Google Form. People who have already filled up the form need not do it again. We will close the registrations at 10 PM. REGISTER FOR THE WORKSHOP - CLICK HERE Details Regarding the Workshop Date and Time - 9th October (Saturday) at 11 AM. Venue - BFF Resto, 26, Pusa Road, Block 1, WEA, Karol Bagh, New Delhi, Delhi 110005 Landmark: Near Karol Bagh Metro Station, Above FBB Showroom For Enquiries: Email ID - support@iasbaba.com Mobile No. - 91691 91888   Thank You TEAM IASbaba  

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

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) India’s Newest Tiger Reserve in Chhattisgarh Part of: Prelims and GS III - Environment; Conservation  Context The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) approved Chhattisgarh’s proposal to declare the combined areas of the Tamor Pingla Wildlife Sanctuary and the Guru Ghasidas National Park as a Tiger Reserve. Part of Sanjay Dubri National Park originally, Guru Ghasidas Park was set up as a separate entity in Sarguja region of Chhattisgarh after the state came into being in 2001. Key takeaways  The new Reserve also borders Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh.  This will be Chhattisgarh’s fourth Tiger Reserve after the Udanti-Sitanadi, Achanakmar, and Indravati Reserves. the proposal was approved under Section 38V(1) of The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Significance Guru Ghasidas National Park is significant as the Asiatic cheetah’s last-known habitat in India.  Wildlife activists and experts believe that converting Guru Ghasidas into a Tiger Reserve is an important step as it connects Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand and provides the tigers with a corridor to move between the Palamau and Bandhavgarh reserves. On the other hand, Bhoramdeo connects Chhattisgarh’s Indravati Tiger Reserve with Madhya Pradesh’s Kanha Tiger Reserve. National Tiger Conservation Authority It was established in December 2005 following a recommendation of the Tiger Task Force which was constituted by the Prime Minister of India for reorganised management of Project Tiger and the many Tiger Reserves in India. The Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 was amended in 2006 to provide for its constitution.  It is responsible for implementation of the Project Tiger to protect endangered tigers. IIT-M study finds contaminants in Cauvery  Part of: Prelims and GS III - Pollution  Context A study done by researchers of the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras(IIT-M) has found that contaminants, including pharmaceutically active compounds, personal care products, plastics, flame retardants, heavy metals and pesticides, pollute the Cauvery. Key takeaways  This highlights the need to regularly monitor the river and its tributaries for pharmaceutical contamination. The contamination is particularly serious because India is the second largest pharmaceutical manufacturer. Harmful effects: Drug compounds, when released into water bodies even in minuscule amounts, can harm human beings and the ecosystem in the long term. The study also highlighted the need to assess the long-term impact of such contamination on human health and the ecosystem. About Cauvery River The Cauvery River (Kaveri) is designated as the ‘Dakshin Bharat ki Ganga’ or ‘the Ganga of the South’. The Cauvery River rises at Talakaveri on the Brahmagiri range near Cherangala village, Kodagu (Coorg), Karnataka. It flows through the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and descends the Eastern Ghats in a series of great falls. Before emptying into the Bay of Bengal south of Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu the river breaks into a large number of distributaries forming a wide delta called the “garden of southern India” It is bounded by the Western Ghats on the west, by the Eastern Ghats on the east and the south, and by the ridges separating it from the Krishna basin and Pennar basin on the north. Supreme Court allows girls to appear for RIMC test Part of: Prelims and GS - II - Education Context Supreme Court has allowed girls to appear in the entrance examination scheduled for December 2021 for admission to the Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC). Recently, SC had asked the armed forces to allow women to write the National Defence Academy (NDA) entrance exam in November 2021 as well. About RIMC Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC) is a military school for boys situated in Doon Valley, Dehradun in India. It was established in 1922. The RIMC is a feeder institution for the National Defence Academy, Indian Naval Academy and subsequently the Indian Armed Forces. Ram Van Gaman Tourism Circuit Part of: Prelims and GS I - Art and culture and GS-III - Tourism Context Chhattisgarh Chief Minister inaugurated the redeveloped ancient Mata Kaushalya temple, part of the “Ram Van Gaman” Tourism Circuit. He inaugurated the first phase of the project in Chandrakhuri village of Raipur district. Chandkhuri is believed to be the maternal home of Lord Ram. About Ram Van Gaman Tourism Circuit The State government is developing the tourism circuit at a cost of Rs. 137.45 crore.  Nine sites are being developed to attract tourists to the circuit, The circuit shall cover the route believed to be taken by Lord Ram during his 14-year exile. The nine sites are Sitamarhi-Harchaika (Koriya), Ramgarh (Ambikapur), Shivrinarayan (Janjgir-Champa), Turturiya (Baloda Bazaar), Chandkhuri, Rajim (Gariaband), Sihawa-Saptarishi Ashram (Dhamtari), Jagdalpur (Bastar) and Ramaram (Sukma). About Mata Kaushalya temple Mata Kaushalya temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Mata Kaushalya, mother of Lord Ram.  It is the only temple in the world dedicated to Mata Kaushalya.  It is located on Chandkhuri village 27 km away from the Raipur in Chhattisgarh The temple is believed to have been constructed in the 8th century Indian forces to carry out exercise with U.K. Part of: Prelims and GS III - Defence and security  Context India’s armed forces are scheduled to carry out an exercise with the U.K.’s Queen Elizabeth carrier strike group later this month (October). As part of training, both the Armies would familiarise with each other’s weapons, equipment, tactics, techniques and procedures for carrying out joint military operations. Other developments between India and UK The second meeting of the India-U.K. Joint Working Group (JWG) on cyber capacity-building was held recently through videoconferencing. The Army also said that the sixth edition of the India-U.K. joint company-level military training, Exercise Ajeya Warrior, had commenced at Chaubatia, Uttarakhand, and would culminate on October 20. India and the U.K. are also in talks for a bilateral logistics support agreement. Do you know? In July, India and the U.K. participated in a two-day bilateral Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with the Royal Navy Carrier Strike Group (CSG-21), led by HMS Queen Elizabeth, in the Bay of Bengal as the carrier was passing through. Nobel Prize in Literature Part of: Prelims Tanzanian novelist Abdulrazak Gurnah, 72, won the 2021 Nobel Prize in Literature “for his uncompromising and compassionate penetration of the effects of colonialism and the fate of the refugee. Mr. Gurnah is the first African writer to win the award since the Zimbabwean Doris Lessing in 2007, and only the second writer of colour from sub-Saharan Africa, after Nigeria’s Wole Soyinka, who won in 1986. His novels include Paradise, which is set in colonial East Africa during the First World War and was shortlisted for the Booker Prize for Fiction, and Desertion . (News from PIB) India Joins High Ambition Coalition (HAC) for Nature and People Part of: GS-Prelims and Mains GS-III: Climate change In News: India has joined the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, a group of more than 70 countries encouraging the adoption of the global goal to protect 30x30. Initiated at the “One Planet Summit” in Paris in January 2021, this coalition aims to promote an international agreement to protect at least 30 % the of world's land and ocean by 2030. HAC members currently include a mix of countries in the global north and south; European, Latin American, Africa and Asia countries are among the members.  India is the first of the BRICS bloc of major emerging economies (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) to join the HAC. News Source: PIB Sources of aerosols in the central Himalayan region  Part of: GS-Prelims and Mains GS-III: Climate change Sources: Mineral dust, biomass burning, secondary sulfate, secondary nitrate from northwest India and Pakistan, polluted cities like Delhi, the Thar Desert, and the Arabian Sea area, and long-range transported marine mixed aerosols. This dust transport and forest fires are the main sources of total suspended particles (TSP), particularly in pre-monsoon period (March-May) when TSP concentration peaks in the region. There was predominance of mineral dust in spring and summer and biomass burning and secondary sulfate in winter.  The transported marine mixed aerosol source was mainly associated with SW monsoon air masses during the summer season. Carbonaceous aerosols (Organic Carbon (OC) and Elemental Carbon (EC) were the maximum in winter due to the intensification of biomass burning over the Indo Gangetic Plains and the Himalayas because of domestic heating and shallower mixing layer. Background With a unique role in the Asian climate, the Himalayan region is considered a vulnerable environment. Several chemical speciation studies have been performed for carbonaceous aerosols and inorganic species over the western and central Himalayan regions during the last decade, reporting the dominance of transported aerosol plumes from the Indo-Gangetic Plains.  News Source: PIB PM Cares For Children Scheme Part of: GS-Prelims and Mains GS-II: Policies and interventions In News: The Ministry of Women and Child Development has issued the detailed guidelines for PM CARES for Children Scheme. Corpus of Rs. 10 Lakh: A corpus of Rs. 10 lakh will be allocated to each of these children from the PM CARES fund. It will provide monthly stipend from 18 years of age.  On attaining 23 years, he/she will get the corpus amount. Education to the Children (under 10 years): Ensure admission to Kendriya Vidyalayas/ private schools. PM CARES will pay for the uniform text books and notebooks If the child is admitted in a private school the fees as per the RTE norms will be provided Education to the Children (11-18 years): The child will be given admission in any Central Government Residential School In case the child is to be continued under the care of guardian, he/she will be given admission in the nearest Kendriya Vidyalaya/private school Higher education: Provision of either a scholarship equivalent to the tuition fees/ educational loans.  Interest on the loan will be paid by the PM-CARES fund. Health Insurance: All children will be enrolled as a beneficiary under Ayushman Bharat Scheme  The premium amount will be paid by PM-CARES till a child turns 18. MOU: Ministry of Textiles and GIZ Part of: GS-Prelims and Mains GS-II: International Relations In News: An MOU was signed between Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the Ministry of Textiles Govt. of India  on Implementation Agreement of Indo German Technical Cooperation Project on ‘Sustainability and Value Added  in the Cotton Economy’.  The objective of the project is `to increase the value addition from sustainable cotton production in India by focusing on sustainable cotton, and strengthening of downstream processing’.  It is focussing on 4 majorly cotton producing states- Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu  Follows "From shelf to field” approach, with the strategy to link consumers to the cotton growers in India and work along the entire supply chain.  To create the “pull” factor for improved market access by the farmers for their sustainably grown cotton – promotion of sustainable cotton cultivation methods emphasizing on implementation of good agriculture practices. Focusing on creation and promotion of transparency about the prevalence and application of internationally recognized/accepted sustainability standards and promoting measures that reduce the water footprint in cotton production. This will help reduce vulnerability of cotton sector to ever-increasing water-stress worsened by climate vagaries. GIZ project is aimed at   Increasing volume of cotton production at least on 90,000 hac  Participation of 1.50 lakh cotton farmers with yield increase by 10% This will enable capacity building of the 1.50 lakh farmers& entrepreneurs of which about 30% will be women beneficiaries. India is the largest cotton producer in the world and also the 2nd largest consumer of cotton in the world with estimated consumption of 303 lakh bales (5.15 Million Metric Tones i.e. 20% of world cotton consumption of 1505 lakh bales (25.59 Million Metric Tones). It plays a major role in sustaining the livelihood of an estimated 6 Million cotton farmers and about 50 Million people engaged in related activity such as cotton processing & trade. News Source: PIB (Mains Focus) AGRICULTURE/ GOVERNANCE GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. GS-3: Indian Economy and issues relating to it. GS-3: Agriculture Data Revolution in Indian agriculture Context: Recently, a document on “Indian Agriculture: Ripe for Disruption” was released by a private organisation Bain and Company. Key Takeaways of the report The Bain report is a data-based prediction on agri-business scenarios  It includes targeting the production of alternative proteins, and food cell-based food/ingredients and initiating ocean farming, etc.  The agriculture sector (currently worth $370 billion), is estimated to receive an additional $35 billion investment.  The two enabling conditions for such investment opportunities are  Changes in the regulatory framework, especially recent changes in the Farm Acts  Digital disruption through government initiative of IDEA – ‘India Digital Ecosystem for Agriculture’. The Indian agriculture sector in future will encompass farm to fork and pave the way for a single national market with a national platform with better connection between producer and consumers.  The report has convincingly demonstrated the business opportunity available in supply chains between farm to Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) mandi and mandi to the customer, which can be realised with the support of digital disruption and the latest agriculture reforms.  The report argues that benefiting from the huge investments into the agri-ecosystem, doubling farmers’ income targets can be achieved in near future.  Concerns or Challenges The IT industry has opposition to IDEA mainly due to the ethics of creating a Unique Farmer ID based on one’s Aadhaar number and also the potential for data misuse.  There is a general assumption that more investments into the agriculture sector will benefit farmers; ‘but how’ has not been convincingly answered in the report.  Majority of small and marginal farmers are under-educated and not technology-savvy. However, capacity building of farmers is ignored amidst these ambitious developments.  Protest of farmers against the reforms can act as a barrier or risk factor resulting in a repealing of these new farm laws.  Way Forward While agreeing on the fact that a data revolution is inevitable in the agriculture sector, given its socio-political complexities, we cannot just count on technology fixes and agri-business investments for improving farmers’ livelihoods.  There need to be immense efforts to improve the capacities of the farmers, by establishing support systems, through FPOs and other farmers associations. Considering the size of the agriculture sector of the country this is not going to be an easy task but would need a separate programme across the country with considerable investment.  Connecting the dots: New Farm Acts and opposition to it  How has agri-marketing policy changed over years IDEA- India Digital Ecosystem for Agriculture POLITY/ GOVERNANCE GS-2: Federalism and challenges GS-3: Disaster Management PRIs and Disaster Management Context: The Panchayati Raj, first adopted by Nagaur in Rajasthan on October 2, 1959, has expanded vastly. There are now 2,60,512 Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) represented by about 31 lakh elected members across India.  The People’s Plan Campaign and Vibrant Gram Sabha Dashboard, rolled out this year, aspire to strengthen the Panchayati Raj system by making gram sabhas more vibrant. People Plan campaign or “Sabki Yojana Sabka Vikas” aims to draw up Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs) in the country and place them on a website where anyone can see the status of the various government’s flagship schemes. Vibrant Gram Sabha Dashboard will help in increasing maximum participation from Panchayats through the meeting of Gram Sabha, the Standing Committee meeting of Gram Panchayat, meeting of elected Panchayat public representatives throughout the year. Crucial Panchayat Raj Institutions(PRI) during Pandemic When the traditional top-down disaster response system was compromised during the bad months of the pandemic, it was PRIs that played a remarkable role.  They helped reduce risks, responded swiftly and thus helped people recover quickly. The PRIs provided essential leadership at the local level.  They performed both regulatory and welfare functions.  For instance, during the nationwide lockdown, PRIs set up containment zones, arranged transport, identified buildings for quarantining people and provisioned food for the incoming migrants.  Moreover, effective implementation of welfare schemes like MGNREGA quickened the pace of recovery while ensuring support to the vulnerable population. Regular engagement with frontline workers like ASHA workers and Anganwadi workers through committees bridged the trust gap between the community and the officials. More recently, PRI’s role in mobilising citizens for COVID-19 vaccination is exemplary helping India move towards universal vaccination by end of the year. What measures can be taken to further improve PRIs role during disasters (like Pandemic)? The Yokohama strategy,1994 emphasised that it is important to focus on disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness rather than disaster response alone, to reduce vulnerability. In this respect, certain initiatives can be taken to build the capacity of PRIs. Legal Recognition: It is crucial to include disaster management chapters in Panchayat Raj Acts and make disaster planning and spending part of Panchayati Raj development plans and local-level committees. This will ensure citizen-centric mapping and planning of resources.  Strengthening Capacities: Conducting regular location-specific training programmes for the community will strengthen individual and institutional capacities. Sharing of best practices, assigning roles to individual members and providing them with the necessary skills can make such programmes more meaningful. Disaster Management Plans: Since the community is usually the first responder in case of a disaster, community-based disaster management plans would help.  These would provide a strategy for resource utilisation and maintenance during a disaster.  Such plans should tap the traditional wisdom of local communities which will complement modern practices.  Mobilising Funds: Financial contributions from the community should be encouraged through the establishment of community disaster funds in all gram panchayats.  Conclusion It is imperative to make disaster resilience an inherent part of the community culture now more than ever. Connecting the dots: 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act Hanumantha Rao Committee (1983), G.V.K. Rao Committee (1985), L.M.Singhvi Committee (1986) and the Sarkaria Commission on Centre-State relations (1988), P.K. Thungan Committee (1989) and Harlal Singh Kharra Committee (1990). (AIR – Perspective) Oct 6 – Cooperative and Competitive Federalism - https://youtu.be/NuyINLiSby0  ECONOMY/ GOVERNANCE GS-2: Indian Constitution, Issues and Challenges Pertaining to the Federal Structure Cooperative and Competitive Federalism Context: Federalism is a system of government in which states or provinces share power with a national government. The quasi-federal structure of the Indian nation was settled in after the country became free of colonialism and gained independence from the British. This style of federalism is responsible for the introduction of its cooperative as well as competitive variants in the country. The Constitution of India has created a strong Central government, but at the same time, it has not made the state governments weak and has not reduced them to the level of administrative agencies for the execution of policies of the Central government. Rather, the states have an independent constitutional existence.  Cooperative federalism The concept of cooperative federalism professes a horizontal relationship between the Central as well as the State governments. This essentially means that the legislature at the Union as well as the State levels cooperate to serve the larger public interest.  Such an arrangement, if executed successfully, would be a significant leap in enabling the participation of States in determining national policies. Usually cooperative federalism is seen in socialist economies where most of the resources are controlled by the government. It is being promoted in India through steps like the formation of NITI aayog, passing of GST etc. The essence of co-operative federalism is that the Centre and the State Governments should be guided by the broader national concerns of using the available resources for the benefit of the people.  Co-operative federalism encourages the Government at different levels to take advantage of a large national market, diverse and rich natural resources and the potential of human capabilities in all parts of the country and from all sections of the society for building a prosperous nation.  Co-operative federalism makes it possible to raise all the available resources by the Government at different levels in a co-ordinated way and channel them for use for the common good of the people. This requires a harmonious relationship and co-operative spirit between the Centre and the States and among the States themselves.  Co-operative federalism is intended to ensure a minimum bundle of basic services and a nationally acceptable level of living for all the people of the country. Must Read: Cooperative federalism amidst COVID-19 Competitive federalism In competitive federalism, the States share a vertical relationship with the Central government while competing amongst themselves. Essentially, States individually work towards attracting funds and investment to aid their developmental activities. This leads to the formation of a free market scenario amongst the States wherein they play the role of the sellers and the investors become the buyers. A type of Competitive federalism is seen in India where states want more funds and perks from the state government for growth. Also states can be involved in International treaties and business deals. They are also trying to woo MNCs to get more FDI. Competitive federalism follows the concept bottom-up approach as it will bring the change from the states. It ensures inclusive development in the country. It instill a spirit of positive competition and help utilization of successful models of development across many states. Thus, it helps in reducing inter-states and intra-states inequalities through development. It ensures that every limb of the whole country is developing. E.g. there are many disparities between various cities in terms of development, competitive sub-federalism reduces such disparities. It helps in instilling sense of responsibility in city administrations, ensuring no one have been left out. The policy of one-size-fit-all is replaced with different policies of various states based on the own priorities with in the state. Each state will design their own policies for development of the cities with self-fund. The concept also promotes discipline among the states. Conclusion: Cooperation as well as Competition on a national level is not a small feat to achieve and thus it requires a mutual understanding between the Central and State governments.  While prosperous States may be able to execute both policies effectively but economically backward States would require the Centre’s support to achieve their goals. Hence, there is a need for more cooperative federalism than competitive federalism in present times where states come together to help each other develop. Can you answer the following questions? Cooperative federalism is the only democratic way for the smooth functioning of Centre-State interactions. Illustrate. What is competitive federalism? Is it good for a developing country like India? Substantiate by taking suitable examples (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 Guru Ghasidas National Park was recently in news. Where is it located? Chhattisgarh  Jharkhand  Gujarat  Madhya Pradesh  Q.2 Which of the following peninsular rivers is westward flowing? Mahanadi Godavari Tapi Cauvery Q.3 Ram Van Gaman Tourism Circuit is launched by which of the following states? Karnataka Uttar Pradesh  Madhya Pradesh  Chhattisgarh ANSWERS FOR 7th Oct 2021 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 B 2 B 3 A Must Read On water scarcity: Deccan Herald On Caste Politics: Deccan Herald On evictions and development: Indian Express

UPSC हिन्दी Quiz– 2021: IASbaba Daily Current Affairs Quiz 8th 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। To take the test - Click Here