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

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Agroforestry In The Silk Sector Part of: GS Prelims and GS – III – Agriculture; Economy In news A MoU was signed between the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Central Silk Board. It is about a convergence model for the implementation of Agroforestry in the silk sector under the Sub-Mission on Agroforestry (SMAF) Scheme. Objective: Augmentation of sericulture host plants (Mulberry, Asan, Arjuna, Som, Soalu, Kesseru, BadaKesseru, Phanat) to be cultivated both as block plantations and border plantations on farmlands. Important value additions The Central Silk Board (CSB)  It is a Statutory Body. Established: 1948 Ministry: Ministry of Textiles  Headquarter: Bengaluru Sub-Mission on Agroforestry (SMAF) Scheme Implemented by: The Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare (DAC & FW) since 2016-17  This scheme is a part of the recommendation of the National Agroforestry Policy 2014. India is the first country to have such a comprehensive policy  It was launched at the World Agroforestry Congress held in Delhi in February 2014. At present, the scheme is being implemented in 20 States and 2 UTs. Aim: To encourage farmers to plant multi-purpose trees together with the agriculture crops for climate resilience and an additional source of income to the farmers. Mandatory provision of Airbags Part of: GS Prelims and GS – III – Disaster Management In news A Gazette notification has been issued regarding mandatory provision of an airbag for passengers seated on the front seat of a vehicle, next to the driver. Ministry: Ministry of Road Transport and Highways Key takeaways Vehicles manufactured on and after the April 1, 2021 (new models) and August 31, 2021 (existing models) shall be fitted with airbags. This safety feature is based on suggestions of the Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety. It is compulsory for all existing models in the M1 category — passenger motor vehicles having not more than eight seats in addition to the driver’s. Important value additions Airbags An airbag pops up as a protective cushion between the passenger and the car’s dashboard during a collision. In moderate to severe frontal crashes, front airbags are designed to inflate in order to prevent a person’s head and chest from contacting hard structures in the vehicle. Do you know? As per a recent World Bank report, India accounts for 10% of all road crash victims in the world.  Some of the other safety features in automobiles are: Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) Speed Alert System Reverse Parking Sensors Driver and passenger seat belt reminder Manual override for central locking system Air strikes on Sanaʽa Part of: GS Prelims and GS – II – International relations In news A Saudi-led military coalition mounted air strikes on Yemen’s capital Sana’a. Saudi had intercepted 10 drones launched by Houthis before the strikes. Key takeaways Sanaʽa is the largest city in Yemen. Constitutionally, Sanaʽa is the capital of Yemen.  In the aftermath of the Houthi occupation, the capital moved to Aden - the former capital of South Yemen. Aden is located next to the Sarawat Mountains of Jabal An-Nabi Shu'ayb and Jabal Tiyal, considered to be the highest mountains in the country and amongst the highest in the region. Sanaʽa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has a distinctive architectural character, most notably expressed in its multi-storey buildings decorated with geometric patterns. Conservation works of Singorgarh Fort Part of: GS Prelims and GS – I – Culture In news Foundation stone for the conservation works of Singorgarh Fort was laid down in Madhya Pradesh by the President of India.  He also inaugurated the newly carved Jabalpur Circle of Archaeological Survey of India. Important value additions Singorgarh Fort Location: Madhya Pradesh. It is a hill-fort of Gondwana Kingdom Gond ruler Sangram shah conquered the Singorgarh fort from Chandel rulers in early 16th century. It is presently in a ruined condition. CALM2 mutations Part of: GS Prelims and GS – III – Sci & Tech; Biotechnology In news In Australia, Leading scientists and medical experts are calling for the pardon of convicted child killer Kathleen Folbigg after a recent study showed that her victims (her own children) may have died of natural causes. Key takeaways Medical experts have argued that her children died due to a rare genetic defect. They inherited a genetic mutation from their mother called CALM2. CALM-2 mutations are known to cause sudden death due to cardiac arrest. Calmodulin 2 is a protein that is encoded by the CALM2 gene in humans.  Mutations in CALM2 are associated to cardiac arrhythmias. Miscellaneous Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav National Committee has been formed to commemorate 75 years of India’s independence The committee is called Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav. 5 pillars have been decided for the celebration of the 75 years. 5 Pillars: Freedom Struggle, Ideas at 75, Achievements at 75, Actions at 75 and Resolve at 75. Members of the National Committee: Governors, Union Ministers, Chief Ministers, political leaders, scientists, officials, media personalities, spiritual Leaders and eminent persons from other walks of life. (Mains Focus) ECONOMY/ GOVERNANCE Topic: GS-3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.  GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.  New Umbrella Entities (NUE) Context: The RBI has set a deadline of March 31 for firms to submit their applications for setting up new umbrella entities (NUEs) What are NUEs? As envisaged by the RBI, an NUE will be a non-profit entity that will set-up, manage and operate new payment systems, especially in the retail space such as ATMs, white-label PoS; Aadhaar-based payments and remittance services. NUE should take care of developmental objectives like enhancement of awareness about the payment systems.  NUE should operate in clearing and settlement systems, identify and manage relevant risks such as settlement, credit, liquidity and operational and preserve the integrity of the systems. In addition to this, they will develop new payment methods, standards and technologies as well as operate clearing and settlement systems. NUE can carry on any other business as suitable to further strengthen the retail payments ecosystem in the country. It is an idea floated by the Reserve Bank of India to create an alternate mechanism to the existing National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) Which players are planning to set up NUEs? Only those entities that are owned and controlled by Indian citizens with at least three years of experience in the payments segment can become promoters of NUEs.  Also, foreign investment is allowed in NUEs as long as they comply with the existing guidelines.  Several companies have either tied up banks or major tech players to apply for NUEs. What is the need for NUEs? Currently, the umbrella entity for providing retail payments system is NPCI, which is a non-profit entity, owned by banks.  NPCI operates settlement systems such as UPI, AEPS, RuPay, Fastag, etc.  Players in the payments space have indicated the various pitfalls of NPCI being the only entity managing all of retail payments systems in India.  RBI’s plan to allow other organisations to set up umbrella entities for payments systems aims to expand the competitive landscape in this area.  For the players planning to establish these NUEs, the aim is to get an even bigger share in the digital payments sector. Connecting the dots: UPI- India’s Digital Payment Revolution GOVERNANCE/ SECURITY/ SOCIETY Topic: GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation  GS-3: Awareness in the field of IT Lateral Surveillance: Cyber Crime Volunteers Program Context:  Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), launched the Cyber Crime Volunteers Program with the aim to allow citizens to register themselves as “Cyber Crime Volunteers’’ in the role of “Unlawful Content Flaggers”. The programme targets to rope in around 500 persons to flag unlawful content on the Internet. It will help law enforcement agencies in identifying, reporting and in the removal of illegal/unlawful online content. The State Nodal Officer of States/UTs also reserves the right to take legal action against the Volunteer, in case of violation of terms and conditions of the Program. Lateral Surveillance This form of surveillance, which enables citizens to “watch over” one another is called lateral surveillance. While surveillance of any kind shows an imbalance of power between the person who surveils, and the one under surveillance, lateral surveillance specifically ensures that the imbalance of power no longer exists. Concern Cause for Lateral Surveillance: Wherever the state identifies that it “cannot be everywhere”, it deploys this mechanism. The problem arises when it is organised and state-sponsored. Hurts Privacy: Lateral surveillance is used to further emotional objectives such as community building and strengthening relationships with neighbours where emotional and social factors act as a driving force, thus creating a situation where privacy may be undermined for the betterment of the community. Social Discriminatory: Surveillance technologies not only act as a tool for social control but also as a tool for social exclusion. Lateral surveillance thus makes it easier to discriminate between those who conform to the social norms of the majority. Culture of Distrust: State-sponsored lateral surveillance is harmful as it creates a culture of ‘hate’, ‘fear’ and ‘constant suspicion’ against an ‘enemy’. This culture places a duty on people to ‘keep an eye out’ for ‘their own safety’ and this heightens the fear of crime in society. Widen Faultlines in Society: Such perceived threats have a tendency to increase intolerance, prejudice, xenophobia and casteism in our society, while also violating the fundamental right to privacy, and, consequently, the expression of free speech and behaviour. Connecting the dots: New IT Rules  (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note:  Correct answers of today’s questions will be provided in next day’s DNA section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers.  Comments Up-voted by IASbaba are also the “correct answers”. Q.1 Consider the following statements regarding Sub-Mission on Agroforestry (SMAF) Scheme This scheme is a part of the recommendation of the National Agroforestry Policy 2014. India is the first country to have such a comprehensive policy  Which of the above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2 Consider the following statements regarding Central Silk Board (CSB)  It is an autonomous body. It functions under Ministry of Agriculture. Which of the above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3 Consider the following safety features: Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) Speed Alert System Reverse Parking Sensors Manual override for central locking system These are associated with which of the following? Aircrafts Seaplanes Automobiles Ships Q.4 Singorgarh Fort was recently in news. It is situated in? Rajasthan Gujarat Uttar Pradesh Madhya Pradesh ANSWERS FOR 8th March 2021 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 C 2 D 3 B Must Read On endgame in Afghanistan: The Hindu On integrity on electoral process: The Hindu On impact of new labour laws: Indian Express

[INTERVIEW INITIATIVE] Think, Rethink and Perform (TRP) [DAY 9] 2020 for UPSC/IAS Personality Test!

ARCHIVES (of TRP) - > CLICK HERE Those who have appeared for UPSC Mains 2020, fill up the Google form given below. Students who fill the form will be added to a telegram group so that there can be healthy discussions with other students who will be appearing for the Interview/Personality Test. Also, Mohan sir, Bureaucrats and Ex-Bureaucrats will be interacting one on one with all the students who will be appearing for the same. REGISTER HERE – CLICK HERE   Interview Discussion: Think, Rethink and Perform; (TRP)- Day 9 Set 1: Ask these questions to yourself; contemplate and come out with a concrete answer (not to be discussed on this forum). Invest at least 30 minutes on this set of questions.  Given a chance to change one thing in your surroundings, what will you change?  What inspires your inclination to change something?  Do you need to change something about yourself too? What would that be? Think about it.  Set 2: Analyse the following issue: You must be aware of the recent guidelines issued by the government to regulate social media and OTT platforms. What are your views on these guidelines? Is regulation a good thing? Shouldn’t social media and OTT platforms be free from any government intervention whatsoever? Don’t you think regulating the platforms would undermine the freedom of expression? Or is there a flip-side to this? Are social media platforms being misused for nefarious gains? Are OTT platforms unfit for viewing by children?  Think about all the dimensions outlined above and evolve a balanced response to the question. We expect you to discuss the above question (Set 2) in the comments below and come out with a balanced view of the issues. Thank You IASbaba

IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1 – ENGLISH & हिंदी): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – General Studies Paper 3 Questions [9th March,2021] – Day 50

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE Hello Friends, Welcome to IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1- ENGLISH & हिंदी): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – General Studies 3 Questions [9th March 2020] – Day 50 We will make sure, in the next 100 days not a single day is wasted and your mains preparation is solidified. All your energies are channelized in the right direction. Trust us! This will make a huge difference in your results this time, provided that you follow this plan sincerely every day without fail. Gear up and Make the Best Use of this initiative. We are giving 5 Mains Questions on a daily basis so that every student can actively participate and keep your preparation focused. Do remember that, “the difference between Ordinary and EXTRA-Ordinary is PRACTICE!!” To Know More about the Initiative -> CLICK HERE SCHEDULE/DETAILED PLAN – > CLICK HERE Note: Click on Each Question (Link), it will open in a new tab and then Answer respective questions! 1. What do you understand by the terms ‘forward’ and ‘backward’ integration in food processing industries? Illustrate with the help of suitable examples. आप खाद्य प्रसंस्करण उद्योगों में 'बैकवर्ड' और 'फॉरवर्ड' एकीकरण से क्या समझते हैं? उपयुक्त उदाहरणों की सहायता से चित्रण करें। 2. Do an evaluation of the potential of food processing industries in the economically underdeveloped regions of the country.  देश के आर्थिक रूप से अविकसित क्षेत्रों में खाद्य प्रसंस्करण उद्योगों की क्षमता का मूल्यांकन करें। 3. What are the main constraints in the management of supply chain of food and agri products in India? What reforms would you suggest to address these challenges? भारत में खाद्य और कृषि उत्पादों की आपूर्ति श्रृंखला के प्रबंधन में मुख्य बाधाएं क्या हैं? आप इन चुनौतियों से निपटने के लिए क्या सुधार सुझाएंगे? 4. How can digital technology help in undertaking second-generation land reforms? Discuss. दूसरी पीढ़ी के भूमि सुधारों को करने में डिजिटल तकनीक कैसे मदद कर सकती है? चर्चा करें। 5. How do fragmented and small land holdings affect agricultural productivity? How severe is this problem in India. Discuss. कैसे खंडित और छोटे भूमि जोत कृषि उत्पादकता को प्रभावित करते हैं? भारत में यह समस्या कितनी गंभीर है? चर्चा करें। P.S: The review from IASbaba will happen from the time the question is posted till 10 pm everyday. We would also encourage peer reviews. So friends get actively involved and start reviewing each others answers. This will keep the entire community motivated. All the Best :)

Ace The Prelims (ATP)

Ace The Prelims (ATP) – 2021– PRELIMS – [9th March, 2021] – Day 56

ARCHIVES Hello Friends, Welcome to IASbaba’s Ace The Prelims (ATP) – 2021 – PRELIMS & MAINS – [9th March, 2021] – Day 56   UPSC Quiz - 2021 : IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs Quiz 9th March 2021 UPSC CSAT Quiz – 2021: IASbaba’s Daily CSAT Practice Test – 9th March 2021 UPSC Static Quiz – 2021: IASbaba’s Daily Static Quiz (PYQs) – Environment and Sci & Tech [Day 56]   The way ATP molecules provide energy to every single cell of our body and help us in achieving our day to day tasks, similarly, the ‘Ace the Prelims (ATP) 2021’ Programme will help in providing energy and direction to your prelims preparation and push you beyond the cutoff of Prelims 2021. Ace the Prelims (ATP) – 2021 will include Daily Static Quiz (PYQs) Daily CSAT Practice Test Daily Current Affair Quiz 60 Days Plan (starts from 2nd week of March) To Know More about Ace the Prelims (ATP) 2021 - CLICK HERE   Thank You IASbaba

Daily Static Quiz

UPSC Static Quiz – 2021: IASbaba’s Daily Static Quiz (PYQs) – Environment and Sci & Tech [Day 56]

ARCHIVES DAILY STATIC QUIZ (PYQs) It will cover PYQs all the topics of static subjects – Polity, History, Geography, Economics, Environment and Science and technology. Daily 5 questions (Monday to Saturday) will be posted from static topics (PYQs) The questions will be in the quiz format so you will be able to answer them directly on the portal. Schedule Week 1 – Polity Week 2 – Economics Week 3 – History and Art & Culture Week 4 – Geography Week 5 – Environment and Science & Technology Same cycle will be repeated from Week 6. Make the best use of the initiative. All the best! To Know More about Ace the Prelims (ATP) 2021 - CLICK HERE 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

UPSC CSAT Quiz – 2021: IASbaba’s Daily CSAT Practice Test – 9th March 2021

ARCHIVES Daily CSAT Practice Test Everyday 5 Questions from Aptitude, Logical Reasoning, and Reading Comprehension will be covered from Monday to Saturday. Make the best use of the initiative. All the best! To Know More about Ace the Prelims (ATP) 2021 - CLICK HERE 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

Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz - 2021 : IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs Quiz 9th March 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. We will make sure, in the next 4 months not a single day is wasted. All your energies are channelized in the right direction. Trust us! This will make a huge difference in your results this time, provided that you follow this plan sincerely every day without fail. Gear up and Make the Best Use of this initiative. Do remember that, “the difference between Ordinary and EXTRA-Ordinary is PRACTICE!!” To Know More about Ace the Prelims (ATP) 2021 - CLICK HERE 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

SYNOPSIS [5th March,2021] Day 47: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE SYNOPSIS [5th March,2021] Day 47: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)   1. Empathy is about finding echoes of another person in yourself. Elucidate. Approach: Question is straight forward in its approach students are expected to explain the above quote in a detailed manner, also use of examples is important which helps in explaining points properly. Introduction: Empathy is the ability to emotionally understand what other people feel, see things from their point of view, and imagine yourself in their place. Essentially, it is putting yourself in someone else's position and feeling what they must be feeling. While people are generally pretty well-attuned to their own feelings and emotions, getting into someone else's head can be a bit more difficult. The ability to feel empathy allows people to "walk a mile in another's shoes". Body: The above quote explains empathy as If we are able to understand each other by stepping in the other person’s bubble, by diving into their beliefs, values, by being more welcoming and trying to find echoes of the other person in ourselves, we will be able to create a better understanding between each other which will help us make a better world. This helps in understanding each other’s problems and issues according to their own way of life. It allows people to build social connections with others. By understanding what people are thinking and feeling, people are able to respond appropriately in social situations. Not only people are more likely to engage in helpful behaviours when they feel empathy for other people, but other people are also more likely to help you when they experience empathy. Empathetic people care about others and show interest in and concern for them. It is the ability to non-judgmentally put into words your understanding of the other person’s perspective on the world, even if you do not agree with it, or even if you find that perspective ridiculous. There are individual differences in empathy between individuals, and there are certain conditions in which empathy is blunted or altogether absent.  Psychopaths are capable of empathic accuracy, or correctly inferring thoughts and feelings, but they have no experiential referent: a true psychopath does not feel empathy. Mahatma Gandhi lived a simple life because he was empathetic and sensitive. He renounced a luxurious life because he could listen the unheard voices in India which were suffering under the exploitative British rule. On empathy, his advice to anyone who was in doubt if an action was good or not, was to put oneself in the situation of the poorest of the poor in the country and see how a particular policy and programme will impact him or her. Empathizing with others helps us learn to regulate our own emotions. Emotional regulation is important in that it allows us to manage what we are feeling, even in times of great stress, without becoming overwhelmed. e.g., Children playing with Animals. Empathy ensures helping behaviours that come from within, rather than being forced, so that people behave in a more compassionate manner. e.g., the way animals are treated by the family strongly influences whether or not children learn to treat other living beings with kindness and respect. Empathetic people care about others and show interest in and concern for them. e.g., Many people understand the situation when an animal goes through pain of labour. Daily wagers, footpath vendors, migrant labourers have all had their only source of income snuffed out by the lockdown. To help them stay afloat, the city’s army of volunteers has stepped in, doing their bit in multiple ways. e.g., Many of organisations have come together and are helping the people by distributing food packets and other essentials. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the world to test its empathetic attributes by posing a question of survival in front of humanity. Amidst this crisis many people around the world have come together to help people besides practising attributes of empathy. Conclusion: Empathy, a term often used for a kind of concern for others is one of the most important virtues and must be developed in all of us. It has greater implications because when empathetic people see someone in pain, they feel it with them instead of feeling it for them. The matter of empathy becomes important in developing countries like India where civil servants are particularly not that empathetic towards the common people and have the sense of superiority which alienates them and severely destroys the bond of belongingness. While empathy might fail sometimes, most people are able to empathize with others in a variety of situations. This ability to see things from another person’s perspective and sympathize with another’s emotions plays an important role in our social lives. Empathy allows us to understand others and, quite often, compels us to take action to relieve another person’s suffering. 2. The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others. Do you agree? Comment. Approach The candidate needs to comment on the aspect of purpose of human life and show his/her views regarding the purpose being to serve, to show compassion and the will to help others. You can illustrate this with the help of multiple examples. You can also put points contrary to the above argument but with proper substantiation. Introduction Ever since humans have evolved, the fundamental question that has troubled them has been the quest to understand purpose of human life where many philosophers across various cultures have given different interpretations of their understanding, where the common aspect seems to be the inner urge to help others, which comes across as an important part of the question to what is the purpose of human life. Body Since human beings have developed the ability to think rationally and analyse the surroundings, we have been curious about why things are the way that they are. This holds true on both a relative level, such as when we want to know how organisms have evolved, and an absolute level, such as about purpose of life, god, and the nature of the universe. What is to be achieved through living differs from individual to individual. Personal responses to situations and the thought processes involved in handling issues and problem-solving capabilities differ from person to person. For many people, serving others helps in attaining their purpose of life which is exemplified through the multiple religious teaching which promote serving others. E.g. - People in India have been following the principle of “Paropkar param dharma” – selfless service is the greatest religion – for thousands of years. However, while helping others, one should not expect something in return; one’s intention should be to lessen other people’s misery. “Service to others should be sincere and done from the heart; only then it is fruitful.” Generally, one’s constant inner intent should be towards helping others. If you are unable to do so for any reason, you can also make sure that you do not hurt anyone. This is an indirect way to help those around you. Life can be made beautiful or can be simply led. The success ratio and personal response to challenging situations are deciding factors. Here, the purpose of life for many can be serving others compassionately, clearly displayed by Mother Theresa, who has often been referred to as an embodiment of compassion. Her selfless work for the poor and destitute till date is inspiring and spoken of. Ethics and moral values imbibed into life by the individual act as indicators. One’s the judgmental capacity of good from bad, right from wrong, legal from illegal, ethical and unethical all act as guidelines to one’s life and help him/her in leading a good purposeful or bad life depending on the choices he makes. These help in generating the will to help others. E.g. – Gautama Buddha had the will to help others attain enlightenment after gaining the knowledge himself through struggles. Further, the purpose of life is to live and let live. The societal living is possible when there are communal harmony and feeling of brotherhood among its members. Peaceful coexistence is the key to a successful life. For someone like his holiness Dalai Lama, the purpose of life is to be happy.  He considers that from the moment of birth, every human being wants happiness and does not want suffering.  Neither social conditioning nor education nor ideology affect this.  From the very core of our being, we simply desire contentment. Moreover, the pandemic has unleashed an internal churning about the purpose and meaning of life as we all pressed a pause button. It dawned on us that life cannot be on the highway all the time. Philosophical reflection was forced on us. This has also helped many in realising their own purpose of life. Conclusion Thus, it can be said that though the purpose of life can vary from individual to individual, being happy through ethical and correct means which eventually helps in serving others and society in a rightful way can be considered as a worthy purpose of life for vast sections of humanity. 3. The highest result of education is tolerance. Do you agree? Substantiate your views. Approach Candidates are expected to write about correlation between education and tolerance in introduction and then write about how education results into tolerance with proper substantiation.  Introduction Tolerance is respect, acceptance and appreciation of the rich diversity of our cultures, our forms of expression and ways of being human. It is fostered by education system where knowledge, openness, communication, and freedom of thought, conscience and belief are generated. Body Education results into the tolerance: Swami Vivekananda believed education to be the manifestation of perfection residing in the hearts of human beings and that this perfection intrinsically held tolerance. Education is said to make people more tolerant by enhancing their knowledge and reasoning skills. This helps people to see through prejudiced claims and dismiss irrational fears about those who are culturally different. It’s often said that a person’s tolerance rises with their education level. So on this basis, the higher a person’s educational attainment is, the more likely they are to accept racial or ethnic minorities. Schools and universities also enhance tolerance by emphasising it as a virtue. The longer individuals stay in the education system, the more they are exposed to tolerance as a “core value” – and the more likely they are to internalise it.  The education that a person receives in his lifetime is not just from school, but also from his family, friends, society etc. The one who really takes pages of his experience and learning will develop knowledge. We learn to respect elders, opposite gender from our parents, our friends teach us how trust is build, and our society teaches us how to stay in harmony among diversity. Studies often show that young people are also more welcoming in their attitudes to outsiders. This is thought to be largely because they have higher levels of education than older age groups. Education has only one role for any society, and that is to keep the generations moving in the ascending order of knowledge and information. If education by default can enable the character of tolerance, then education transposes to the highest level of seeking the truth. Uneducated are generally intolerant of others because they live “self-centered” lives. They simply do not possess to give them perspective of the actual facts. This can be seen in recent cases of mob lynching, honour killing etc. However, the holistic education system always gives equal importance and exposure to sports, culture and arts of which tolerance is a part. But simultaneously, social media and technological outreach have blurred the lines between information, knowledge and wisdom vis-à-vis fact, fiction and perception.  An educated mind always accepts diversity prevalent and entertains the thought/view of others with/without accepting it. Tolerance is not built within a day, but is gradual of all the learning and education that we receive. As A.P.J Abdul Kalam said “Learning gives you creativity, creativity leads to thinking, thinking provides knowledge and Knowledge makes you great”. Conclusion As Arthur C Clarke said “Civilization will reach maturity only when it learns to value diversity of character and idea”. We must always be ready to learn and respect the diversity and educate ourselves. The peaceful coexistence and mutual trust would promote humanity and development of nation. 4. “Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness”. What do you understand by this quote by Martin Luther King? Approach- Candidate can deconstruct the above quote and bring out the relevance in current situation. With the help of examples answer can be concluded with an anecdote. Introduction Martin Luther king was a champion of basic human rights and we all know his long legacy in fight for justice. He was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi and pursued a life inspired by values. In the above quote he calls out for character building. Body In this, King calls us to actively seek ways to elevate the needs of others within our society. He embodied these ideals in a life devoted to justice, and his actions as a leader reflected this creative altruism. According to Adam grant, a management analyst, "there's reason to believe that in the long run, the greatest success -- and the richest meaning -- will come to those who, instead of cutting other people down, pursue their personal ambitions in ways that lift others up." Creative altruism comes in many different forms. But it stems from a mindset of helping others whenever you can even when there is no direct benefit to you. MLK shares his epiphanies on the bliss and magnanimity of selfless creativity against the toxicity of selfish actions. He feels the onus lies on us to choose between a lives of altruism that cultivates an ambience of positivity or to lead a gloomy lifestyle painted by self-interest at the cost of fraternity. Human endeavours are limitless, provided they are charted for the welfare of others. A person driven by selfishness is bound to undermine the selfishness of other individual. Thus, there cannot be peace, prosperity and stability in the world. Every nation driven by its self interest, somehow erode the self interest of some other country. e.g., Germany strides in second world war. Talking about creative altruism, Gandhiji idea of Sarvodaya through antyodaya is prominent. Such venture ensure welfare for all with focus on most underprivileged and marginalized sections of the society. Thus, collectivism and cooperation get precedent over individualism and competition. How altruism helps us? Altruism helps us in taking ethical judgements. eg: Officer not supporting nepotism. Selflessness will help us in developing sensitivity towards other eg: Pain of Vulnerable section, bring tolerance & peace in society Helps in charity and donations. Selfless actions can build strong International relations on path of peace, mutual cooperation & sustainability. Creative altruism makes one happy internally, not having to much materialistic tendencies, and seek happiness in service, involve themselves in service of others. J.K Rolling a great writer just lost her billionaire status because she donated most of her income for welfare of children's. Being altruistic gives a sense of inner satisfaction to an individual that he/she has given something to the Society. Altruism is a light which allow individual to tread on path of empathy, sympathy, benevolence, love and compassion towards other. Altruism inculcates sense of brotherhood, harmony and fellowship, it is one of the most "Constructive" human values. Conclusion Humans are societal being. We are shaped, influenced and inspired by the environment around us. The global age of competition has brought with it many tendencies of being best and being on a top position. This environment is not rewarding for everyone and hence we see never ever witnessed level of depression and anxiety. Altruism develop a sense of brotherhood and paves way for an egalitarian society, where there is a harmony and security. 5. No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. Comment. Approach: Directive is comment which demand expressing an opinion or reaction. It is important to pick out the main points/core and give one’s opinion based on the information or the arguments originated from the reading. One should take a neutral ground and write facts and viewpoints. Introduction: “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted”, the classic quote is so true.  It doesn’t matter if you do a small act of kindness or a big act of kindness – the important thing is that you do an act of kindness and it is never a waste of time.  Being kind to someone else can change their life.  Many people believe that nobody cares about them and that their life is not important.  Just something as simple as a friendly smile or a kind word can literally ‘make their day’. Body: “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted” quote is from the famous story, the lion and the mouse wherein a small Mouse, caught by the Lion, is released rather than eaten, as a kindness. Later, the Mouse comes across the Lion, trapped in a net. The Mouse remembers the kindness done for him by the Lion, and chews through the ropes, freeing the Lion, and returning the kindness. The moral of the story is held that there is no one so lowly that they cannot be of some use, and that none should be scorned for their lowly position or life. That, in my opinion, still is true today. While most societies still have some forms of stratification, most people understand that kindness costs themselves little, and can be of great benefit to them when returned. Kindness can be contagious!  Try smiling at someone who looks unhappy or upset and see what happens.  It is simple and yet incredibly potent. A word in the right place. A smile at the right time. A simple selfless act can instantly change the dynamic of a situation and make someone else’s day a better one.  When you do something nice for someone who you could not ever imagine having the ability to help you, the feeling is quite liberating. You aren’t thinking about how much to help, or what to do, weighing it against what they could do in return. You simply do what you can, and walk away. Whether it’s putting enough change in the toll booth for the next few cars, or telling your server at the restaurant that you want to pay for someone else’s bill, it’s simply being kind. Those examples centred around money, but there are plenty of other ways to be kind to others. Imagine a world where a chain reaction of kindness was ongoing. Will it be better or worse than where we are today? Can you think of a single good reason not to help someone, some way, today? Even if it’s just a smile or a nod, acknowledging another person is a kindness too often lacking today. Conclusion: As Leo Buscaglia said “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”  Hence Every day everyone should reach out and touch someone.  People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. TLP HOT Synopsis Day 47 PDF

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Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi – Discussion Today – RSTV IAS UPSC

Archives TOPIC: General Studies 3 Agricultural Reforms and Policies In News: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has released the 7th instalment of financial benefits under the Prime Minister Kisan Samman Nidhi. Pressing a button, the Prime Minister transferred over 18,000 crore rupees to over 9 crore beneficiary farming families. He also held virtual interaction with farmers from six states. Prime Minister assured farmers on the continuation of the Minimum Support Price and government-run mandis. The Prime Minister said that through the three agri reforms, the farmers have been given better options to sell their produce by farmers. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme Under this programme, vulnerable landholding farmer families, having cultivable land, will be provided direct income support at the rate of Rs. 6,000 per year. This income support will be transferred directly into the bank accounts of beneficiary farmers, in three equal installments of Rs. 2,000 each. Objectives of PM KISAN scheme: To supplement the financial needs of small and marginal farmers for procuring various inputs related to agriculture and allied activities. To give a boost to rural consumption. To augment government efforts in aim of doubling farmers income by 2022. Features of PM KISAN Scheme: PM KISAN is a Central Sector scheme with 100% funding from Government of India Under the scheme income support of Rs.6000/- per year in three equal instalments will be provided to small and marginal farmer families  Definition of the family for the scheme is husband, wife and minor children. State Government and UT Administration will identify the farmer families which are eligible for support as per scheme guidelines. The fund will be directly transferred to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries. Significance of PM KISAN Scheme It provides support to small and marginal farmers who are largely involved in subsistence farming and struggles to invest in agriculture inputs or technology, It will boost the rural consumption and positive for agriculture and allied sectors. Poverty reduction: Cash transfer programmes are an important tool of social protection and poverty reduction. They have an immediate impact on reducing hunger and rural poverty. Better use: This can increase productive investment, increase access to markets and stimulate local economies. Income support can be used to make a repayment or at least activate a bank account which can then receive a loan. Rural development: It can serve as an important complement to a broader rural development agenda, including a pro-poor growth strategy focusing on agriculture. The intention of PM KISAN is noble but it is bound to face some impediments in its implementation. Institutional impediments: Non-existence framework for implementing it at such a large scale in such short time. Problem in identification of beneficiaries – majority of the States have incomplete tenancy records and land records are not digitized. Non-timely DBT payments as evident from other welfare schemes based on DBT. Challenges in recognition of land rights in tribal and forest areas who are among the most vulnerable people. Challenge of creating awareness in far flung areas in such short period. Infrastructural impediments: Inadequate ICT infrastructure as this scheme is based on Aadhar. Other issues related to Aadhar which are being faced in other schemes such as non-matching of fingerprints due to excessive manual labour. Last mile banking penetration issues and lack of financial inclusion of small and marginal farmers. Lack of proper grievance redressal mechanism. Incapacity of states in terms of identifying the beneficiaries in such short time. The need of the hour is to improve infrastructure in agriculture which would help farmers in getting a competitive price for their produce and access to markets. Government must focus on three things: crop insurance, better irrigation and subsidised seed and fertilisers. Conclusion PM-KISAN is an ambitious scheme that has the potential to deliver significant welfare outcomes. However, the current top-down, rushed approach of the government ignores governance constraints and therefore an alternative bottom-up strategy and well-planned implementation mechanism would allow weaknesses to be identified and rectified at the local level. Connecting the Dots: Critically examine if Kisan Nidhi would be enough to cover losses suffered due to the MSP sale. Ashok Dalwai Committee on Doubling Farmer’s Income

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

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Indian Medicines Pharmaceutical Corporation Limited (IMPCL) Part of: GS Prelims and GS – II – Health; Governance In news Indian Medicines Pharmaceutical Corporation Limited (IMPCL) has tied up with the Government e-Market (GeM) portal for selling its products online. Key takeaways GeM has created 31 categories under which IMPCL can upload medicines on the Portal. Now, the Ayurvedic and Unani medicines will figure on the portal to hundreds of government sector buyers. The prices are finalised by Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure. Do you know? IMPCL is the public sector manufacturing unit of the Ministry of AYUSH. It is the only CPSE under Ministry of AYUSH. Related articles: Ayush Export Promotion Council Ayush Wellness Centre to come under NAM  First Counter-Terrorism Dialogue Between India-Nigeria Part of: GS Prelims and GS – II – International Relations In news The First Strategic and Counter-Terrorism Dialogue was held between India and Nigeria.   Key takeaways Discussions were held on the threats and challenges faced by democratic societies from terrorism, extremism, and radicalization. Specific areas of cooperation were identified to enhance fight against terrorism. Do you know? Nigeria is a country in West Africa bordering Niger in the north, Chad in the northeast, Cameroon in the east, and Benin in the west.  Its southern coast is on the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean. It's capital is Abuja. Related articles: Towards a ‘healthy’ India-Africa partnership India - Sweden Virtual Summit Part of: GS Prelims and GS – II – International Relations In news Virtual Summit was held between India and Sweden Bilateral issues and other regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest were discussed. Key takeaways The two countries expressed satisfaction at the implementation of the Joint Action Plan and Joint Innovation Partnership  These were agreed during Indian Prime Minister’s visit to Sweden for India-Nordic Summit in 2018. Sweden’s decision to join the International Solar Alliance (ISA) was also welcomed. The growing membership the Leadership Group on Industry Transition (LeadIT) was appreciated. LeadIT was launched during the UN Climate Action Summit in September 2019 in New York. Do you know? The Nordic Region consists of Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland, as well as the Faroe Islands, Greenland, and Åland. Transgender Community Desk at Cyberabad Part of: GS Prelims and GS – I – Social issues & GS-II – Policies and interventions In news A ‘Transgender Community Desk’ was inaugurated at Gachibowli Police Station, Telangana. It is India’s first-of-its-kind gender inclusive community policing initiative. Key takeaways The desk will be managed by a police liaison officer and a transgender person who is designated as community coordinator. It will be the focal point for all grievance redressal (violence, discrimination, etc.) among the transgender community of the district.  It will also provide counselling, legal aid, soft skills training, job placements, etc. in partnership with the Department of Women and Child Welfare, and District Legal Services Authority. Related articles: Garima Greh: A Shelter Home for Transgender Persons’ e-inaugurated National Council for Transgender Persons NRI quota seats in educational institutions for OCI cardholders  Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – Education; Policies and interventions In news According to a recent gazetted notification, OCI (Overseas Citizens of India) cardholders can lay claim to “only NRI quota seats” in educational institutions based on tests such as NEET, JEE (Mains and Advanced), etc. Ministry: Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Key takeaways OCIs are not entitled to undertake any “missionary, mountaineering, journalism and tabligh activities” without prior permission of the Government of India. The notification replaces three previous notifications which did not specify the special permission required for these activities. Do you know? OCI citizens are of Indian origin.  They are foreign passport holders and are not citizens of India.  India does not allow dual citizenship but provides certain benefits through Citizenship Act, 1955 to the OCIs. Related articles: National Pension system Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Environment; Biodiversity In news A three-member panel constituted by the Orissa High Court made a field trip to the Gahirmatha marine sanctuary to assess the measures taken for the conservation of endangered olive ridley sea turtles. Key takeaways According to an environment magazine’s report, 800 olive ridley turtles died since January due to negligence of the States Forest and Fisheries department. The olive ridley turtles turn up in millions for mass nesting along the Odisha coast every year. Gahirmatha beach off Bay of Bengal coast in Odisha is acclaimed as the world’s largest nesting ground of these turtles. Chinese Dam On Brahmaputra Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – International Relations In news According to a draft of China’s Five-Year Plan (2021-2025), first dams are to be built on the lower reaches of Yarlung Zangbo river  Yarlung Zangbo river is the Brahmaputra known in Tibet before it flows into India. Key takeaways The Plan specifically mentions the building of hydropower bases which will be the priority energy projects. This marks a new chapter in the hydropower exploitation of the river. Other major projects include the construction of coastal nuclear power plants and power transmission channels. The project is also listed along with the Sichuan-Tibet railway and the national water network. (Mains Focus) GOVERNANCE/ ECONOMY Topic: GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.  Police & Prison Reform Context: Uttarakhand government recently issued a notification to post IPS officers as superintendents of prisons. Analysis Appointment of Police against Correctional Administration: The decision to appoint police officers as heads of the prison department, a practice that goes against the philosophy of correctional administration, was started in the 1980s, on grounds of strengthening security and to control corruption. Difference in Training: Police personnel are recruited and trained to detect crime and maintain law and order, while prison officers are recruited and trained to reform and rehabilitate offenders. Against Principle of Separation of powers: Appointing police officers in prisons either as superintendents or as jailors amounts to a violation of the principle of separation of powers enshrined in our Constitution.  Purview of Judicial System: The meaning of judicial custody is that the police investigation is over and the accused is now taken out of police custody and handed over to the prison custody under the supervision of the judiciary. Systemic Pressure on Prison Officials: Prison officers are a demotivated lot, often at the receiving end of a criminal justice system and the media, which is quick to highlight their misdemeanours and violations without going into the systemic reasons for the same. Specialised Force recommended: Various prison reform committee reports like the Justice Mulla Committee on Prison Reforms Report (1983) and the Justice Krishna Iyer Committee on Women Prisoners Report (1987) have advocated that prisons should be houses of reformation and rehabilitation of prisoners and their families, and have recommended the creation of a specialised All India Prison Service along the lines of the IPS or IAS Way Ahead Increased Investment: We do not invest in the prison system in terms of resources and staff. In order to improve prison administration, increased investment has to go into infrastructure and training of prison officials Involve Civil Society: We need to appoint social workers and counsellors in sufficient numbers.  Training: We need to conduct regular training in human rights and social reintegration for prison staff.  Filling up vacancies: We need to fill vacancies, which are as high as 30 to 40 per cent as per the India Justice Report 2020.  Professional Rewards: We need to create sufficient scope for upward mobility for prison officers, so that good work can be rewarded with promotions. Connecting the dots: Police Reforms ECONOMY/ GOVERNANCE Topic: GS-3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment. GS-3: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways, Telecommunications etc. Spectrum Auctions Context: Recently, government concluded its first auction of telecommunications spectrum in five years generating a revenue of ₹77,815 crore from the exercise. Key Outcomes of the auction Reliance Jio accounted for close to 60% of the spectrum bought, followed by Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea.  On offer was over 2,308 megahertz (MHz) of spectrum valued for the auction by the government at ₹3.92 lakh crore, and bids were successfully received for 37% or 855.6 MHz.  How has the industry been since the last auction? More Competitors in 2016: During 2016 auctions participants then included Tata Teleservices, Idea Cellular, Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone India, Reliance Communications and Aircel. Consolidation of Sector: In the last few years, there has been a consolidation in the industry, as a result of which there are only three major players now — Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea. Moving towards Duopoly: Jio and Bharti Airtel are, by increasing their market share, shaping the industry toward “a near two-player structure”. On the other hand, Vodafone Idea is struggling financially. Financial Stress in Sector: In recent years, while the user base has grown, the industry itself has witnessed unforeseen financial stress in the form of an important court case against it i.e. Supreme Court verdict on AGR issue Why was an auction needed now? All three players needed to renew some of their spectrum as the validity was set to expire later this year. Wasn’t this for the 5G rollout? No. The auction for that is likely to happen later. In the auction that was held on March 1 and 2, the government offered spectrum for 4G in the following bands: 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1,800 MHz, 2,100 MHz, 2,300 MHz and 2,500 MHz. What do these bands stand for? To explain this, we have to begin with the term ‘spectrum’, which, in this context, stands for the portion of the electromagnetic wave range that is suitable for communication purposes. As this is a huge economic resource, which also provides unimaginable benefits to any population, it is controlled by the government. Spectrum bands have different characteristics, and this makes them suitable for different purposes.  In general, low-frequency transmissions can travel greater distances before losing their integrity, and they can pass through dense objects more easily. Less data can be transmitted over these radio waves, however.  Higher-frequency transmissions carry more data, but are poorer at penetrating obstacles. In this context, hertz is a measure of the number of cycles per second, and 1 megahertz stands for 1 million hertz. Telecom providers cover their bases by using both low and high-frequency bands. Why did the 700 MHz band have no takers? The 700 MHz band, as also 1,800 MHz, 2,100 MHz, and 2,300 MHz bands, are seen playing an important role in the 5G rollout (the fifth generation of mobile networks that promises to connect everybody as also everything much faster and at much lower latency).  The 700 MHz band was not expected to find any takers given its prohibitive floor price.  Some see this as an opening for the government to scale down the reserve price when it comes up for bidding in future. Also, the “king” in 5G, the C-band, which is the band between 3,300 MHz and 4,200 MHz, was not on offer in this round of auctions. How did this auction compare to the last round? In 2016, about 40% of the 2,355 MHz of spectrum (at a reserve price of ₹5.6 lakh crore) was sold, giving the government ₹65,789 crore in revenue. This time, the Centre has managed to get more. The government said the revenue generated by the auction has exceeded its expectations, which was about ₹45,000 crore. The expectations were low because of the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the fact that the top three telecom players were looking to renew expiring spectrum and consolidate holdings in select bands. Connecting the dots: 2020 Economics Prize on Auction Theory (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note:  Correct answers of today’s questions will be provided in next day’s DNA section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers.  Comments Up-voted by IASbaba are also the “correct answers”. Q.1 Which of the following is/are covered under Ministry of AYUSH? Ayurveda Yoga & Naturopathy Unani Siddha  Homoeopathy Allopathy Select the correct code: 2,3,4 and 5 only 2, 3, 5 and 6 only 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 only 1, 2 and 3 only Q.2 Which of the following does not fall into Nordic region? Denmark Norway Sweden None of the above Q.3 India’s first Transgender community desk was inaugurated in which of the following state of India? Madhya Pradesh Telangana Maharashtra Gujarat  ANSWERS FOR 6th March 2021 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 D 2 C Must Read On new IT rules: The Hindu On transparency in Railways: The Hindu On digitising healthcare: Indian Express