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

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Covishield-Covaxin mix gives better protection: ICMR Part of: GS Prelims and GS- II - Health  In news According to a study conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the combination of an adenovirus vector platform-based vaccine (Covishield) followed by an inactivated whole virus vaccine (Covaxin) was safe and also elicited better immunogenicity than two doses of the same vaccine. More about the study and its findings It has not yet been peer reviewed. To conclusively prove these findings, a multicentre Research Trial needs to be carried out because the sample size & follow up period (60-70 days) for this study was small Significance: The findings have an important implication for the COVID-19 vaccination programme wherein heterologous immunisation will pave the way for induction of improved and better protection against the variant strains of Covid-19. Such mixed regimens will also help to overcome the challenges of shortfall of particular vaccines and remove hesitancy around vaccines in people’s mind.  Vaccine COVISHIELD COVAXIN About It is the name given to an Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine candidate which is technically referred to as AZD1222 or ChAdOx 1 nCoV19. India’s only indigenous Covid-19 vaccine Produced by It is a version of the vaccine developed by the University of Oxford in collaboration with Swedish-British drugmaker AstraZeneca. Serum Institute of India (SII) is the manufacturing partner in India. Bharat Biotech, Hyderabad in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research’s National Institute of Virology, Pune Constituents and Action It is based on a weakened version of a common cold virus or the adenovirus that is found in chimpanzees. This viral vector contains the genetic material of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (protrusions) present on the outer surface of the virus that help it bind with the human cell. The body’s immune system is supposed to recognise this protein as a threat, and work on building antibodies against it. It is an inactivated vaccine which is developed by inactivating (killing) the live microorganisms that cause the disease. This destroys the ability of the pathogen to replicate, but keeps it intact so that the immune system can still recognise it and produce an immune response. It is expected to target more than just the spike protein. It also aims to develop an immune response to the nucleocapsid protein (the shell of the virus that encloses its genetic material). Significance It had triggered an immune response in humans against the novel coronavirus in early trials  COVAXIN is more likely to work against newer variants of the virus, including the UK variant, as it contains immunogens (epitopes) from other genes in addition to those from Spike protein. Do you know? Immunogenicity is the ability of a foreign substance, such as an antigen, to provoke an immune response in the body of a human or other animal. ICMR, New Delhi is the apex body in India for the formulation, coordination, and promotion of biomedical research. It is funded by the Government of India through Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. The Governing Body of ICMR is presided over by the Union Health Minister News Source: TH Wildfires ravage Greek island Part of: GS Prelims and GS I - Geography and GS - III - Climate change  In news Wildfires on the island of Evia have charred vast areas of pine forest, destroyed homes and forced tourists and locals to flee. Evia lies just northeast of the capital Athens.  Euboea or Evia is the second-largest Greek island in area and population, after Crete. It is separated from Boeotia in mainland Greece by the narrow Euripus Strait.  Greece and Turkey have been battling devastating fires for nearly two weeks as the region suffered its worst heatwave in decades, which experts have linked to climate change. It is always difficult to determine forthwith the impact of climate change on extreme weather patterns, but scientific studies indicate that extreme weather events are likely to become more frequent or more intense with rising anthropogenic climate change. What is Heat wave?  It is a period of abnormally high temperatures, more than the normal maximum temperature that occurs during the summer season in the North-Western and South Central parts of India. Heat waves typically occur between March and June.  Heat wave is declared under these circumstances: An increase of 5°C to 6°C when the normal maximum temperature is less than or equal to 40°C.  An increase of 7°C or more is considered as severe heat wave condition. An increase of 4°C to 5°C when the normal maximum temperature of a station is more than 40°C.  An increase of 6°C or more is considered as severe heat wave condition.  If the actual maximum temperature remains 45°C or more irrespective of normal maximum temperature.  News Source: TH Adoption Not Limited by Religion: Delhi HC Part of: Prelims and GS - II - Government policies and interventions In news The Delhi High Court has ruled that a person interested in adopting a child was not limited by his or her religion, if adoption was sought under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act. What’s the case? The court was hearing a case where Christian couple had adopted a child in 2014 under the Hindu law.  The adoptive parents had moved the court seeking directions to the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) to issue a ‘No Objection Certificate’ (NOC) to enable them to take their ‘adopted child’ to the U.S. The CARA had submitted that the couple had not validly adopted the minor, therefore, it could not issue the NOC. The argument was that Christian and Muslim couples could not adopt a Hindu child under the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act (HAMA). What is the Legal Framework Governing Adoption Laws in India? In India, adoption falls under the ambit of personal laws, and due to the incidence of diverse religions practised in our country, mainly two different laws operate. Muslims, Christians, Parsis and Jews are governed by the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890, as formal adoption is not allowed in these religions. Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains, on the other hand, follow the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act (HAMA), 1956. Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act also deals with adoption. What was the judgement? The High Court said the personal law of the Hindus recognised adoption. “Therefore, the adoption ceremony known as ‘Datta Homam’, where the biological parents voluntarily surrender and hand over the child to the recipient, following religious ceremonies, was considered sufficient to result in a valid and legal adoption,” However, this right to adopt had been brought under the HAMA which laid down certain limitations on adoption. HAMA was applicable only to Hindus, and specifically provided that it applied to “any other person who is not a Muslim, Christian, Parsi or Jew by religion”, the court clarified. However, Court said that a person interested in adopting a child was not limited by his or her religion, if adoption was sought under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act. Since the child was being well taken care of by the foster parents and their family, the court said there is no cause to remove the child from their charge and custody. To avoid further delay in the adoption process, the High Court directed the CARA to issue the requisite NOC to the couple. What is the procedure for adoption? All prospective parents irrespective of nationality have to register with the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA). CARA is a statutory body of the Ministry of Women and Child Development which functions as a nodal body for the adoption of Indian children and is mandated to monitor and regulate in-country and inter-country adoption. Then, the appropriate local authorities are called for a home study. Subsequently, registration with the ‘Child Adoption Resource Information and Guidance System’ is done. After registration, children are assigned by turn, and foreign couples are treated at par with Indian ones. Countries that are signatories to the ‘Hague Adoption Convention’ have standardised and streamlined such processes. Do you know? Currently, adoption procedure involves a seal of approval by the Civil Court, which passes the final adoption order. The JJ Amendment Bill 2021 provides that instead of the court, the District Magistrate (including Additional District Magistrate) will issue such adoption orders, both for intra-country and inter-country adoptions. News Source: TH Koraput tribals Part of: GS Prelims and GS - I -  Culture and GS- III - Economy In news Coffee producing company Tata Coffee is set to buy coffee beans grown by tribal people in Koraput district of Odisha. It is likely to give confidence to tribal coffee growers for continuing their beverage plantation. Major Tribes of Koraput district Tribes Features GADABA Gadabas belong to the Munda group of tribes  They speak Gutab and Desia dialect of the Austro-Asiatic language family.  Extensively practice shifting cultivation and they cultivate a mix variety of millets, pulses and niger.  Fond of dance and music.  Famous for their typical Dhemsa dance which is performed by the women wearing saree called Kereng OMANATYA Mostly depends on agriculture for their livelihoods. Adorn a black bead of necklace worn around the neck.  Their popular dances include Junia Nach and Chera Chera Nach. PAROJA Parojas are one of the largely populated tribes of this region. Their artistic talents find expression in Dhemsa, Dungdunga dances and in laga songs. SAURA The Sauras are one of the most ancient tribes in Odisha mentioned in Hindu myths and classics, notably the Purans. They have the habit of always carrying an axe over their shoulder Their primitive occupation of hunting & living on the spoil of chase They speak an ancient Mundari dialect of their own called ‘Sora’. It belongs to the Austric family of languages News Source: TH (News from PIB) Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK) to be discontinued Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II -  Policies and interventions In news The Government has decided to close down RMK as it has lost its relevance and utility in the present scenario with substantial alternative credit facilities becoming available to women through various governmental initiatives and efforts such as Jan Dhan Yojana, PM Mudra Yojana etc and also to avoid duplicacy of efforts. The Government had set up Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK) in 1993 as a national level autonomous body for socio-economic empowerment of women, especially those in the rural and unorganized sector, by providing them concessional, collateral free micro-credit. The operating model followed by RMK has been of extending loans to Intermediary Micro-Finance Organizations (IMOs) which further on lend for entrepreneurial activities of women. However, the Government decided to close down RMK as it has lost its relevance and utility in the present scenario with substantial alternative credit facilities becoming available to women through various governmental initiatives and efforts such as Jan Dhan Yojana, PM Mudra Yojana etc and also to avoid duplicacy of efforts. News Source: PIB The world’s first Bio Bank of Ayurveda at AIIA Part of: GS Prelims and GS-2: Health & Education In news: Ayush Minister assure all help in establishing the world’s first Bio Bank of Ayurveda at All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) About The All-India Institute of Ayurveda  It has been conceived as an Apex Institute for Ayurveda.  It aims at bringing a synergy between Traditional Wisdom of Ayurveda and Modern tools and technology.  Established in 2015, AIIA is a public Ayurveda medicine and research institution located in New Delhi. It is an autonomous institute under the Ministry of AYUSH. The institute would offer postgraduate and doctoral courses in various disciplines of Ayurveda  It will focus on fundamental research of Ayurveda, drug development, standardization, quality control, safety evaluation and scientific validation of Ayurvedic medicine.  The Institute will also help in boosting medical tourism in India and showcasing strengths of Ayurveda.  News Source: PIB UJJWALA 2.0 Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III- Economy In news: PM Modi will launch Ujjwala 2.0 (Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana - PMUY) by handing over LPG connections, at Mahoba Uttar Pradesh on 10th August, 2021. The journey from Ujjwala 1.0 to Ujjwala 2.0 Ujjwala 1.0  It is implemented by Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas Ujjwala 1.0 was launched in 2016, during which a target was set to provide deposit-free LPG connections to 5 crore women members of BPL households.  Subsequently, the scheme was expanded in April 2018 to include women beneficiaries from seven more categories (SC/ST, PMAY, AAY, most backward classes, tea garden, forest dwellers etc).  EMI facilities will be given for stove and refill cost (Interest-free loan). The scheme is complementary to the Prime Minister’s ‘Give It Up Campaign’ through which a huge number of middle-class families have voluntarily surrendered their cooking gas subsidy. The target was revised to 8 Crore LPG connections and this target was achieved in August 2019, seven months ahead of the target date.  Ujjwala 2.0 In the Union budget for FY 21-22, provision for an additional one crore LPG connection under the PMUY scheme was announced.  This one crore additional PMUY connections (under Ujjwala 2.0) aim to provide deposit-free LPG connections to those low-income families who could not be covered under the earlier phase of PMUY. Along with a deposit free LPG connection, Ujjwala 2.0 will provide first refill and hotplate (stove) free of cost to the beneficiaries.  Also, the enrolment procedure will require minimum paperwork.  In Ujjwala 2.0, migrants will not be required to submit ration cards or address proof.  A self-declaration for both ‘family declaration’ and as a ‘proof of address’ will suffice. Ujjwala 2.0 will help achieve the Prime Minister’s vision of universal access to LPG. News Source: PIB (Mains Focus) ENVIRONMENT/DISASTER GS-3: Disaster and disaster management.  GS-3: Environmental Conservation & Climate Change Slowing down of Atlantic Ocean Current System Context: A study published in Nature Climate Change notes that the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is losing its stability What is AMOC? The AMOC is a large system of ocean currents.  It is the Atlantic branch of the ocean conveyor belt or Thermohaline circulation (THC), and distributes heat and nutrients throughout the world’s ocean basins. AMOC carries warm surface waters from the tropics towards the Northern Hemisphere, where it cools and sinks.  It then returns to the tropics and then to the South Atlantic as a bottom current.  From there it is distributed to all ocean basins via the Antarctic circumpolar current. What happens if AMOC collapses? Gulf Stream, a part of the AMOC, is a warm current responsible for mild climate at the Eastern coast of North America as well as Europe. Without a proper AMOC and Gulf Stream, Europe will be very cold. Modelling studies have shown that an AMOC shutdown would cool the northern hemisphere and decrease rainfall over Europe.  It can also have an effect on the El Nino. There will be sea ice increases over the Greenland-Iceland-Norwegian seas and to the south of Greenland, and a significant southward rain-belt migration over the tropical Atlantic Previous models overestimated the AMOC’s stability as it did not look at freshwater influence. Freshwater from melting Greenland ice sheets and the Arctic region can make circulation weaker as it is not as dense as saltwater and doesn’t sink to the bottom. Has the AMOC weakened before? AMOC and Thermo-haline Circulation strength has always been fluctuating, mainly if we look at the late Pleistocene time period (last 1 million years).  The extreme glacial stages have seen weaker circulation and slowdown in AMOC, while the glacial terminations have shown a stronger AMOC and circulation. But the changes we experience in the last 100-200 years are anthropogenic, and these abrupt changes are destabilising the AMOC, which could collapse the system In February, researchers noted that AMOC is at its weakest in over a millennium.  The study results suggest that AMOC has been relatively stable until the late 19th century. With the end of the little ice age in about 1850, the ocean currents began to decline, with a second, more drastic decline following since the mid-20th century Why is the AMOC slowing down? Climate models have long predicted that global warming can cause a weakening of the major ocean systems of the world. Melting of Arctic: Researchers noted that a part of the Arctic’s ice called “Last Ice Area” has melted. The freshwater from the melting ice reduces the salinity and density of the water. Now, the water is unable to sink as it used to and weakens the AMOC flow. Indian Ocean Warming: As the Indian Ocean warms faster and faster, it generates additional precipitation. With so much precipitation in the Indian Ocean, there will be less precipitation in the Atlantic Ocean, leading to higher salinity in the waters of the tropical portion of the Atlantic. This saltier water in the Atlantic, as it comes north via AMOC, will get cold much quicker than usual and sink faster. This would act as a jump start for AMOC, intensifying the circulation If other tropical oceans’ warming, especially the Pacific, catches up with the Indian Ocean, the advantage for AMOC will stop. Conclusion If we continue to drive global warming, the Gulf Stream System will weaken further – by 34 to 45 percent by 2100 according to the latest generation of climate models We urgently need to reconcile our models with the presented observational evidence to assess how far or how close the AMOC really is to its critical threshold. Connecting the dots: El-Nino Floods in Europe ECONOMY/ GOVERNANCE GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors  GS-3: Indian Economy and challenges with regard to resource mobilization Electricity amendment bill 2021  Context: The Central government is facing opposition to the Electricity Amendment Bill 2021 even before it is introduced in Parliament. West Bengal CM has written to PM requesting that the Bill not be brought before Parliament claiming it was “anti-people” and would promote crony capitalism.  What are the key changes in the Electricity Act that the amendment seeks to bring? The Amendment is bringing in provisions to de-license power distribution allowing private sector players to enter the sector and compete with state-owned power distribution companies (discoms). The move would allow consumers to choose between power distribution companies.  Finance Minister had announced in the union budget that the government would bring a framework to allow consumers to choose between power distribution companies. Power distribution in most of the country is currently controlled by state-owned distribution companies with some cities including Delhi, Mumbai and Ahmedabad being exceptions where private players operate power distribution. Discoms are however struggling with high levels of losses and debt. What is are the objections to delicensing of power distribution? States have highlighted concerns that allowing the entry of private players could lead to “cherry-picking”, with private players providing power to only commercial and industrial consumers and not residential and agricultural consumers.  Tariffs for power currently vary widely in India with commercial and industrial players cross subside the power consumption of rural residential consumers and agricultural consumers by paying far higher tariffs. There is fear that the amendment would lead to “a concentration of private, profit-focussed utility players in the lucrative urban-industrial segments while poor and rural consumers would be left to be tended by public sector discoms.” This would make it difficult for existing Public sector discoms to continue to operate if all their industrial commercials are taken over by the private sector Also, earlier plans to introduce private sector players had also envisaged a gradual reduction in cross-subsidy levels which have not materialised. Other key concerns that states have raised are higher penalties for failure to meet Renewable Energy Purchase Obligations (RPOs)  Also, States are objecting the requirement that Regional Load Dispatch Centres and State Load Dispatch Centres follow instructions by the National Load Dispatch Centre. This proposed amendment is criticised as being the spirit of federalism Way Forward A universal service obligation in which any private player will be required to provide power supply to all consumers including residential and agricultural consumers may help address the issue of cross-subsidy Minimum area to be covered by private sector competitors needs to be defined in a manner to include an urban rural mix, a universal service obligation, and elements of cross-subsidy in the ceiling tariff. Connecting the dots: Draft Electricity Amendment Bill COVID-19: Opportunity for energy sector reforms UDAY Scheme  (AIR – SPOTLIGHT) Spotlight 24 (July): AIR NEWS EXCLUSIVE- Interview with Union Steel Minister RCP Singh  ECONOMY/ GOVERNANCE GS-2: India Economy  GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Changes in Insolvency Act Context: The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill, 2021 was introduced in Lok Sabha on July 26, 2021.  It amends the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016.   Insolvency is a situation where individuals or companies are unable to repay their outstanding debt. The Bill replaces the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021, which was promulgated on April 4, 2021. The Code provides a time-bound process for resolving the insolvency of corporate debtors (within 330 days) called the corporate insolvency resolution process (CIRP).   The debtor himself or its creditors may apply for initiation of CIRP in the event of a default of at least one lakh rupees.   Under CIRP, a committee of creditors is constituted to decide on the insolvency resolution.  The committee may consider a resolution plan which typically provides for the payoff of debt by merger, acquisition, or restructuring of the company.   If a resolution plan is not approved by the committee of creditors within the specified time, the company is liquidated.  During CIRP, the affairs of the company are managed by the resolution professional (RP), who is appointed to conduct CIRP. What exactly does this amendment do?  The Bill introduces an alternate insolvency resolution process for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), called the pre-packaged insolvency resolution process (PIRP). It creates a framework for small enterprises to be a part of insolvency process. The current corporate insolvency resolution process that is there for MSME is very a well worked but rather expensive and given the size and scale of MSME it’s not required hence the government has come up with the pre-packaged insolvency resolution process (PIRP). Application for initiating PIRP may be filed in the event of a default of at least one lakh rupees. The central government may increase the threshold of minimum default up to one crore rupees through a notification. PIRP may be initiated in the event of a default by a corporate debtor classified as an MSME under the MSME Development Act, 2006.   Currently, under the 2006 Act, an enterprise with an annual turnover of up to Rs 250 crore, and investment in plant and machinery or equipment up to Rs 50 crore, is classified as an MSME.   For initiating PIRP, the corporate debtor himself must apply to the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).  The authority must approve or reject the application for PIRP within 14 days of its receipt. Rationale of the need behind the pre-packaged insolvency resolution process (PIRP) Unlike CIRP, PIRP may be initiated only by debtors.  The debtor should have a base resolution plan in place.  During PIRP, the management of the company will remain with the debtor. This allows faster mode of resolution from both sides (debtor and creditors). Hence it has the advantage of providing speedy resolution and not choking the capacity of the existing system. Unlock land labour and capital and cleaning up sheet of the books of the bank by fastening the resolution process. Help the MSME sector which is recovering from the pandemic shock. How will the pre-packaged insolvency resolution process (PIRP) work? For applying for PIRP, the debtor must obtain approval of at least 66% of its financial creditors (in value of debt due to creditors) who are not related parties of the debtor.   Before seeking such approval, the debtor must provide creditors with a base resolution plan (RP).   The debtor will submit the base resolution plan to the RP within two days of the commencement of the PIRP.   A committee of creditors will be constituted within seven days of the PIRP commencement date, which will consider the base resolution plan.   The committee may provide the debtor with an opportunity to revise the plan.  The RP may also invite resolution plans from other persons.   Alternative resolution plans may be invited if the base plan:  is not approved by the committee, or  is unable to pay the debt of operational creditors (claims related to the provision of goods and services). A resolution plan must be approved by the committee (with at least 66% of the voting shares) within 90 days from the commencement date of PIRP.   The resolution plan approved by the committee will be examined by the NCLT.  If no resolution plan is approved by the committee, the RP may apply for the termination of PIRP.   The authority must either approve the plan or order termination of PIRP within 30 days of receipt.  Termination of PIRP will result in the liquidation of the corporate debtor. During PIRP, the debtor will be provided with a moratorium under which certain actions against the debtor will be prohibited.  These include filing or continuation of suits, execution of court orders, or recovery of property.  During PIRP, the board of directors or partners of the debtor will continue to manage the affairs of the debtor.  However, the management of the debtor may be vested with the RP if there has been fraudulent conduct or gross mismanagement. At any time from the PIRP commencement date but before the approval of the resolution plan, the committee of creditors may decide (with at least 66% of the voting shares) to terminate PIRP and instead initiate CIRP. How the IBC act has performed so far? Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016, (IBC) in a span of four years, has turned out to be the proverbial giant in the annals of Indian corporate law.  The legislation catapulted India in World Bank’s Doing Business rankings from a lowly 142 in 2014 to 63 in 2019.  Jurisprudence of any legislation takes time to evolve and IBC was no exception. Covid-19 disrupted IBC’s stellar run as filings under IBC were suspended. An opportunity to reduce the backlog amidst Covid-19 was missed, which would have been possible, with better infrastructure, more members, and expeditious hearings. Can you attempt this question now? Discuss the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill, 2021.  (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note: Correct answers of today’s questions will be provided in next day’s DNA section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers. Q.1 Which of the following tribal group is Famous for their typical Dhemsa dance which is performed by the women wearing saree called Kereng?  Godaba Gond  Paroja Omanatya Q.2 Which of the following Act does not deal with adoption?  Guardians and Wards Act, 1890   Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956. Juvenile Justice Act  Both (b) and (c Q.3 Kunduz, Sar-e-Pul and Taloqan cities, recently seen in news, are located in which of the following country?  Syria Lebanon Afghanistan  Pakistan  ANSWERS FOR 7th August 2021 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) D D C C D D Must Read On shutting down of old power plants: The Hindu On Police Brutality: Indian Express On Secure Indian Ocean: Indian Express

[Day 71]: UPSC PRELIMS 2021- Rapid Revision (RaRe) Series

Highlights/Features of Rapid Revision (RaRe) Series:  It is a FREE initiative! Program Duration - 120 Days (31st May, 2021 to 27th September, 2021). 1. Dedicated Portal for Focused Preparation There will be a separate dedicated portal to help you stay focused and keep your preparation streamlined for the next 120 Days. The Registration link for the dedicated portal is given at the end of the post. 2. 120 Days Integrated (Prelims + Mains) Time Table This year’s RaRe Series will include Integrated Revision Plan (IRP) where we will be syncing your mains and prelims syllabus together over next 120 Days. The Revision Plan is designed by integrating IASbaba's famous flagship initiatives - 60 Day Plan and TLP Mains Answer Writing. 3. Daily RaRe Series (RRS) Videos on High Probable Topics (Monday - Friday) In video discussions, special focus is given to topics which have high probability to appear in UPSC Prelims Question Paper. Each session will be of 20 mins to 30 mins, which would cover rapid revision of 10 high probable topics (both static and current affairs) important for Prelims Exam this year according to the schedule. 4. Daily Prelims MCQs from Static (Monday - Friday) Daily Static Quiz will cover all the topics of static subjects – Polity, History, Geography, Economics, Environment and Science and technology. 10 questions will be posted daily and these questions are framed from the topics mentioned in the schedule and in the RaRe videos. It will ensure timely and streamlined revision of your static subjects. Note: Should be integrated with the 60 Days Plan 2021. This will expose you to diverse questions from the same topics. 5. Daily Current Affairs MCQs (Monday - Saturday) Daily 5 Current Affairs questions, based on sources like ‘The Hindu’, ‘Indian Express’ and ‘PIB’, would be published from Monday to Saturday. Note: Current Affairs questions covered in the 60 Days Plan and Daily Quiz Monthly Compilations should be covered retrospectively. 6. Daily CSAT Quiz (Monday - Friday) CSAT has been an achilles heel for many aspirants. Daily 5 CSAT Questions will be published. 7. Daily Mains Answer Writing (Monday - Friday) GS Mains will be covered along with Prelims in an integrated manner. Daily three Mains questions will be covered syllabus-wise according to the topics mentioned in the schedule. In total, it covers 250+ Mains Questions along with synopsis. 8. Brainstorming on Ethics & Essay (BEE) (Saturday & Sunday) Each week, Sunil Oberoi Sir (Retd. IAS) will take 3 sessions, two for Essay and one for Ethics. The two sessions earmarked for Essay will have a topic-based discussion where he will discuss the approach to write issue-based and philosophical essays. The topics will be picked from previous year question papers of UPSC and TLP initiative of IASbaba. 9. Full Mocks 3 GS Paper 1 Full Mocks will be provided along the lines of UPSC Prelims. 3 CSAT Paper 2 Full Mocks will be provided so that you are not overwhelmed during the D-Day. 10. Rapid Revision (RaRe) Notes Right material plays important role in clearing the exam and Rapid Revision (RaRe) Notes will have Prelims specific subject-wise refined notes. The main objective is to help students revise most important topics and that too within a very short limited time frame. Day-71 of RaRe Series - Click here To Register - Click here For complete details of the RaRe Series -  Click here

Important Articles

[WEEK 12] ESSAY 24: "A good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge" | BRAINSTORMING ON ETHICS & ESSAY (BEE) by Sunil Oberoi Sir

Dear Students, As part of our new initiative, BRAINSTORMING ON ETHICS & ESSAY (BEE), here we have come up with the Twenty-Fourth session. BEE is a FREE ONLINE (YOUTUBE) initiative, exclusively for Essay and Ethics curated by IASbaba’s renowned faculty member, Shri Sunil Oberoi Sir (former IAS Officer). The Twenty-Fourth essay focuses on the theme, ''. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GINIMjN0so0 Sunil Oberoi Sir has worked on Civil Services Reforms in India with UNDP and DoPT. He was a government nominee in interview boards and Examiner in various govt. exams. He was also associated with induction training of new entrants of Civil Services and In-Service training of Senior Civil Servants. To Know More about BEE Initiative -> CLICK HERE Download the schedule: Click Here For Any Queries: Email ID: support@iasbaba.com Mobile No: 91691 91888 (Please call between 10 AM – 6 PM ONLY)   Thank You IASbaba 

SYNOPSIS [5th August,2021] Day 149: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE SYNOPSIS [5th August,2021] Day 149: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)   1. In the last few years, many new airports have come up in India, whereas, the older ones have got upgraded. The overall performance of these airports has been praiseworthy. What in your opinion, have been the prime movers of this welcome change? Analyse.  Approach  Introduce what have been the recent progress made by Aviation sector.In next part write what have been the prime movers of this progress.Also mention the recent measures taken by Indian government to revitalise the sector after Covid induced lockdowns.In conclusion summarise the body part and mention future prospects. Introduction The civil aviation industry in India has emerged as one of the fastest growing industries in the country during the last three years. India has become the third largest domestic aviation market in the world and is expected to overtake UK to become the third largest air passenger market by 2024.But the pandemic has caused halt on this sector in view of travel restriction by various countries and also internal lockdowns being announced by Indian government. Body In an increasingly globalised economy, air transport is a vital element of the country’s transport infrastructure. By itself, the Civil Aviation Sector contributes significantly to the process of development by generating employment opportunities directly and indirectly besides facilitating enhancement of productivity and efficiency in the movement of goods and services. Civil Aviation is a key infrastructure sector that facilitates the growth of business, trade and tourism, with significant multiplier effects across the economy. Prime movers of Indian aviation sector in last few years : Rising domestic Gross Domestic Product (GDP):Growth rate of the economy has been steadily rising. For instance, in the period 1990-91 to 2003-04, the CAGR of India’s GDP works out to 5.7% which then rose to 8.6% during 2004-05 to 2010-11. The growing economic activity resulted in greater business travel24 by professionals and greater leisure travel by individuals. Expanding middle-income group :These income groups drive the consumption pattern in India and are primarily concentrated in urban areas. NCAER analysis reveals that the middle income group population in 2010 stood at 160 million individuals i.e. 13.3% of the total population, which is expected to rise to 547 million in 2025 (i.e. 37.2% of the total population) Demographic dividend : 62% of the population is in the working age group of 15-60 years and this proportion is set to increase in future indicating a larger employee base, greater business travel and greater economic activity.26 Rising urban population : McKinsey Global Institute’s projections state that India’s urban population will be 590 million by 2030 i.e. about 40 percent of the total population of India. The number of million plus cities will increase to 68 by 2030 of which 13 cities will have more than 4 million and six cities will have more than 10 million persons. Significant market developments : Low Cost Carrier (LCC) model which made air travel affordable for common man got established firmly in the domestic market since 2004. This stimulated the pent up demand for air travel. LCCs along with the LCC brand of Full Service Carriers (FSCs) constituted 63.3% of the market share in 2009.This has increased further over the years. Investments in Airport and related infrastructure : Opening up of the airport infrastructure to private sector participation fuelled the growth of the air traffic in India. Total investment made by private airport operators in the last five years was to the tune of Rs 30,000 crores spread across Greenfield development of Hyderabad and Bengaluru international airports and modernization of Delhi and Mumbai international airports.  Growing tourism : In line with the trend observed in growth of India’s GDP, the tourism sector has displayed stellar performance during the last decade. During the period from 2001 to 2010, the average annual growth rate of foreign tourist arrivals in to India and Indian National departures from India grew by 9.2% and 11.5% respectively.  Thrust on Remote area Connectivity : In areas with difficult terrain, air transport offers the fastest mode of connectivity to remote and inaccessible regions. Given the thrust of the Government of India to enhance connectivity in remote and inaccessible regions of the country and concerted efforts of some State governments in this respect, there is a strong likelihood of demand emanating from these areas in future.The schemes such as UDAN has connected airports of hinterland to increase the choices of passengers . Untapped market potential : The air traffic density can be measured by linking Urban Per capita income with air passengers. Taking 1000 passengers per Million Urban Capita32, a recent study has arrived at a comparative picture. Air traffic density in India using this measure is very low at 72 as compared to China (282), which is 4 times higher; Brazil (231), which is 3 times higher; Malaysia (1225) is 17 times higher, U.S.A. (2896) is 40 times higher and Sri Lanka (530), which is 7 times higher This indicates the untapped market potential given the projected burgeoning young population and rising disposable income levels in future.  Global integration of businesses : Greater economic activity and the consequent greater integration of businesses globally would mean greater business travelers across national boundaries. Also, the growing trend of outbound Mergers and Acquisitions (M & A) i.e. Indian firms acquiring International firms in order to capture markets and resources abroad, where the M & A transaction value for the year 2020 touched almost $ 50 billion34 and is set to grow further in future implies greater business related travel. Shift in traffic : Global air traffic is seen shifting to Asia Pacific region during the last few years. This is on account of the slowdown in Europe and North America.  International Market Access : Open Sky Agreements between nations forge greater competition in the International air travel segment. Increasingly it is recognised that Nation States need to evolve viable mechanism by which they all stand to achieve trade gains and efficiency in international market access in as far as Air traffic rights are concerned.  Measures to tackle Covid slowdown Efficient Airspace Management : Route dispersal guidelines (RDG), mandates airlines to fly a certain percentage of flights in smaller, unprofitable air routes. The government announced that these restrictions on the utilisation of Indian airspace will be eased.This will lead to optimal utilization of airspace and reduction in fuel use. Airports Development through PPP : In addition to the existing ones (e.g. Airports at Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad), six more airports will be auctioned under the Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) model for their development. Global Hub for Aircraft Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul : The government intends to make India a global hub for Aircraft Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services.Also, the convergence between the Defence sector and the civil MROs will be established to bring down the maintenance cost of airlines. Conclusion The triad of reforms announced by the government to lift the domestic aviation sector are good long-term auguries, and will help it get back on its growth trajectory once the Covid-19 pandemic eases. In the decade through fiscal 2019, India was among the fastest-growing aviation markets with a compound annual growth rate of more than 11%.Thus it is just a matter of time when Indian aviation sector will be back on high growth trajectory and build over the success of New civil aviation policy of 2016 and UDAN scheme. 2. Discuss the prominent investment models that are operational in India’s infrastructure sector. Also, assess their performance.   Approach Define what is investment and introduce basic models in investment.In next part write each model in detail with examples.Further write what are advantages and limitations of these investment models. Write a reform based conclusion. Introduction Investing is the act of allocating resources, usually money, with the expectation of generating an income or profit. For an economy to grow there has to be constant investment in infrastructure for the further growth.There are three basic models of investment which are Public investment, Private investment and Public Private Investment (PPP).Depending on the type of project and urgency in its implementation various investment models are utilised by a nation to build infrastructure. Body Public Investment Model: In this model Government requires revenue for investment that mainly comes through taxes.Properly targeted public investment can do much to boost economic performance, generating aggregate demand quickly, fueling productivity growth by improving human capital, encouraging technological innovation, and spurring private-sector investment by increasing returns. Private Investment Model: For a country to grow and increase its production investment is required. Presently tax revenue of India is not adequate to meet this demand so government requires private investment.Private investment can be source from domestic or international market.From abroad private investment comes in the form of FDI or FPI. Private investment can generate more efficiency by creating more competition, realisation of economies of scale and greater flexibility than is available to the public sector. Public-Private Partnership Model: PPP is an arrangement between government and private sector for the provision of public assets and/or public services. Public-private partnerships allow large-scale government projects, such as roads, bridges, or hospitals, to be completed with private funding. In this type of partnership, investments are undertaken by the private sector entity, for a specified period of time. These partnerships work well when private sector technology and innovation combine with public sector incentives to complete work on time and within budget. As PPP involves full retention of responsibility by the government for providing the services, it doesn’t amount to privatization. There is a well defined allocation of risk between the private sector and the public entity. Private entity is chosen on the basis of open competitive bidding and receives performance linked payments. PPP route can be alternative in developing countries where governments face various constraints on borrowing money for important projects. It can also give required expertise in planning or executing large projects. Models of Public Private Partnership (PPP) BOT: Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) It is conventional PPP model in which private partner is responsible to design, build, operate (during the contracted period) and transfer back the facility to the public sector.  Private sector partner has to bring the finance for the project and take the responsibility to construct and maintain it. Public sector will allow private sector partner to collect revenue from the users. The national highway projects contracted out by NHAI under PPP mode is a major example for the BOT model. BOO: Build-Own-Operate (BOO) In this model ownership of the newly built facility will rest with the private party. On mutually agreed terms and conditions public sector partner agrees to ‘purchase’ the goods and services produced by the project. BOOT: Build-Own-Operate Transfer(BOO) In this variant of BOT, after the negotiated period of time, project is transferred to the government or to the private operator. BOOT model is used for the development of highways and ports. BOLT:  Build-Operate-Lease-Transfer (BOLT) In this approach, the government gives a concession to a private entity to build a facility (and possibly design it as well), own the facility, lease the facility to the public sector and then at the end of the lease period transfer the ownership of the facility to the government. DBFO: Design-Build-Operate-Transfer (DBFOT) In this model, entire responsibility for the design, construction, finance, and operation of the project for the period of concession lies with the private party. LDO:lease develop operate In this type of investment model either the government or the public sector entity retains ownership of the newly created infrastructure facility and receives payments in terms of a lease agreement with the private promoter.  It is mostly followed in the development of airport facilities. Various advantages of public-private partnership (PPP): Access to private sector finance: India has a very large infrastructure need and an associated funding gap. PPPs can help both to meet the need and to fill the funding gap. PPP projects often involve the private sector arranging and providing finance. This frees the public sector from the need to meet financing requirements from its own revenues (taxes) or through borrowing. Better infrastructure: They provide better infrastructure solutions than an initiative that is wholly public or wholly private. By shifting the responsibility for finance away from the public sector PPPs can enable more investment in infrastructure and increased access to infrastructure services. Increased transparency in the use of funds: A well-designed PPP process can bring procurement out from behind closed doors. The PPP tender and award process based on open competitive bidding following international best practice procedures lead to transparency. Less delays: They result in faster project completion and reduced delays on infrastructure projects by including time-to-completion as a measure of performance and therefore of profit. Risk distribution: Transfer of risks is the most important advantage of PPP projects. In PPP projects, there is a possibility to transfer most or all of the risks to the private entity. The private entities explore opportunities, even though they involve risks. Constant cash flow: The state budget is formed of fixed budgets for each ministry. Major investments are temporary modifications of the budget of a ministry, and this problem can be difficult to deal with within the budgetary process. Avoiding major investments by having a constant cash flow is an important driver when the state looks at the advantages of PPP. Various issues related to public-private partnership (PPP) in India: Uncertainties: PPPs often cover a long-term period of service provision (eg. 15-30 years). Any agreement covering such a long period into the future is naturally subject to uncertainty. If the requirements of the public sponsor or the conditions facing the private sector change during the lifetime of the PPP, the contract may need to be modified to reflect the changes. This can entail large costs to the public sector. Policy and regulatory gaps: Inadequate regulatory framework and inefficiency in the approval process have been considered as serious disincentives for developers and contractors. For example, more than two years were needed for the Gujarat Pipavav port project to receive the necessary clearances after achieving financial closure. Moreover, most of the large projects involve dealings with various ministries where coordination remains inefficient. Crony capitalism: In many sectors, PPP projects have turned into conduits of crony capitalism. It is worth noting that a large chunk of politically connected firms in India are in the infrastructure sector, which have used political connections to win contracts in the past. Renegotiation: While private firms accept stringent terms of PPP contracts initially, they lose no opportunity for renegotiating contracts, in effect garnering a larger share of public resources than originally planned. Rather than being an exceptional clause, renegotiation has become the norm in PPP projects in India. Conclusion The success of Public-Private Partnership to a large extent depends on optimal risk allocation among stakeholders, the environment of trust and robust institutional capacity to timely implementation of PPP projects. To foster the successful implementation of a PPP project, a robust PPP enabling ecosystem and sound regulatory framework is essential.For this it’s necessary to implement Kelkar committees report to revitalise PPP as it is strategic imperative for developing country like India. 3. What are the key provisions of the Airports Economic Regulatory Bill? What are going to be its intended benefits?  Approach  Mention what is the bill which is being referred.In next part write its provisions.Further write what might be possible benefits of this bill in future.In conclusion mention what is larger target of all these reforms in aviation sector over the years. Introduction  Recently, the Lok Sabha passed the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA) Amendment Bill, 2021.It was first introduced in March 2021 and subsequently referred to a parliamentary standing committee on transport, tourism and culture, which approved it without any changes.It seeks to amend the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India Act, 2008. Body Provisions of Airports Economic Regulatory (Amendment) Bill Definition:It proposes to amend the definition of major airport to include a group of airports.The 2008 Act designates an airport as a major airport if it has an annual passenger traffic of at least 35 lakh.The central government may also designate any airport as a major airport by a notification. Tariff: It will allow AERA to regulate tariff and other charges for aeronautical services for not just major airports with annual passenger traffic of more than 35 lakh, but also a group of airports. Profitable Clubbing:The government will be able to club profitable and non-profitable airports as a combination/package to bidders to make it a viable combination for investment under PPP (Public-Private Partnership) mode. Benefits of New Amendment to AERA bill : The change in definition of major airports will grant Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India to frame tariff policies for small airports as well as group of airports.This will bring all the airports in parity to receive investment and have a good administrative oversight. The clubbing of airports with profit making being clubbed with smaller and non profit making airports will attract investors to the smaller non viable airports and improve infrastructure and management of these airports. The new investment would flow to Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities which will give boost to regional development, increase tourism and increase faster movement of goods and services across India. Government of India with power to designate any airport as major airport could direct the flow of investments in this sector. These provisions will give rise to new employment in backward regions which will be away from bigger cities.This will help India achieve equitable regional development. The growth in new infrastructure at smaller airports will increase the capacity to handle more flights and increase the passenger traffic.This will make airlines profitable which is missing after the arrival of pandemic. It will help in expanding the air connectivity to relatively remote areas and as a result, expediting the UDAN regional connectivity scheme. It will bring foreign direct investment in Airports infrastructure in India. Conclusion India has over the last years focused to make air travel possible for common man with schemes like UDAN(Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik).Therefore the new amendments to the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India act will further this goal with incentivising development of smaller airports in mofussil towns which were not until on the aviation map of India.Further it will help India achieve the targets of National civil aviation policy 2016.   TLP Synopsis Day 149 PDF

Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz – 2021 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 9th August 2021

For Previous Daily Quiz (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE The Current Affairs questions are based on sources like ‘The Hindu’, ‘Indian Express’ and ‘PIB’, which are very important sources for UPSC Prelims Exam. The questions are focused on both the concepts and facts. The topics covered here are generally different from what is being covered under ‘Daily Current Affairs/Daily News Analysis (DNA) and Daily Static Quiz’ to avoid duplication. The questions would be published from Monday to Saturday before 2 PM. One should not spend more than 10 minutes on this initiative. Gear up and Make the Best Use of this initiative. Do remember that, “the difference between Ordinary and EXTRA-Ordinary is PRACTICE!!” Important Note: Don't forget to post your marks in the comment section. Also, let us know if you enjoyed today's test :) After completing the 5 questions, click on 'View Questions' to check your score, time taken, and solutions. To take the Test - Click Here

IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – General Studies Paper 2 Questions [9th August,2021] – Day 151

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE Hello Friends, Welcome to IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – General Studies Paper 2 Questions [9th August,2021] – Day 151 TLP (Phase 1) just got over on 8th May (Saturday) and we are extremely thankful for your active participation to make this program a success. Well, though TLP (Phase 1) got over, ‘Picture abhi baaqi hai mere dost’. There is a surprise for you. Since prelims is bound to get delayed once again this year, its not wise to leave the writing practice just now. Hence, we are extending the TLP program  We will be posting 3 questions per day (Monday to Friday). The questions will be based on Current Affairs, so that you don’t have to invest your time separately on exclusively mains oriented topics. So, keep practicing and keep improving. To Know More about TLP  -> CLICK HERE For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE Note: Click on Each Question (Link), it will open in a new tab and then Answer respective questions! 1. What are your views on the provisions of compulsory retirements for civil servants under 56J? Don’t you think such provisions affect the morale of bureaucracy? Critically comment. (10 Marks) 56 जे के तहत सिविल सेवकों के लिए अनिवार्य सेवानिवृत्ति के प्रावधानों पर आपके विचार क्या हैं? क्या आपको नहीं लगता कि इस तरह के प्रावधान नौकरशाही के मनोबल को प्रभावित करते हैं? समालोचनात्मक टिप्पणी करें। 2. Examine the provisions that safeguard various constitutional posts from executive interference. (10 Marks) उन प्रावधानों की जांच करें जो कार्यकारी हस्तक्षेप से विभिन्न संवैधानिक पदों की रक्षा करते हैं। 3. Should Delhi be granted full statehood? Share your views. (15 Marks) क्या दिल्ली को पूर्ण राज्य का दर्जा दिया जाना चाहिए? अपने विचार साझा करे। AWARE ( Answer Writing REdefined) Series - 7 Steps to Master Answer Writing Skills by Mohan Sir - CLICK HERE P.S: The review from IASbaba will happen from the time the question is posted till 10 pm every day. We would also encourage peer reviews. So friends get actively involved and start reviewing each other's answers. This will keep the entire community motivated. All the Best :)

Important Articles

[WEEK 12] ESSAY 23: Patriarchy is least noticed yet most significant structure of social inequality | BRAINSTORMING ON ETHICS & ESSAY (BEE) by Sunil Oberoi Sir

Dear Students, As part of our new initiative, BRAINSTORMING ON ETHICS & ESSAY (BEE), here we have come up with the Twenty-Third session. BEE is a FREE ONLINE (YOUTUBE) initiative, exclusively for Essay and Ethics curated by IASbaba’s renowned faculty member, Shri Sunil Oberoi Sir (former IAS Officer). The Twenty-Third essay focuses on the theme, ''. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjEDw1fIjMY Sunil Oberoi Sir has worked on Civil Services Reforms in India with UNDP and DoPT. He was a government nominee in interview boards and Examiner in various govt. exams. He was also associated with induction training of new entrants of Civil Services and In-Service training of Senior Civil Servants. To Know More about BEE Initiative -> CLICK HERE Download the schedule: Click Here For Any Queries: Email ID: support@iasbaba.com Mobile No: 91691 91888 (Please call between 10 AM – 6 PM ONLY)   Thank You IASbaba 

[REVAMPED INITIATIVE] DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS and MONTHLY MAGAZINE in NEW AVATAR

Hello Everyone, We hope that you are fine and your preparation is going in full swing. As an institute, we have always tried to keep the interest of students at the forefront. In that quest, we have tried to devise new methods and techniques to make the preparation simpler and streamlined. This is the reason why we have the most loved and followed programs like Integrated Learning Program (ILP) and the Foundation Course (FC). Apart from these, students have shown a lot of trust in our free initiatives like THINK LEARN PERFORM (TLP), Rapid Revision Series (RaRe), 60 days Plan and many more. However, there is always a scope for improvement and we try to supersede our own expectations in terms of content and presentation of our material. Trying to abide by this same idea we are bringing the biggest reform in the most sought-after pillar of UPSC preparation. Yes, we are talking about Current Affairs. We are overhauling the entire current affairs segment of IASbaba in terms of Presentation and quality. Following changes have been made to make your preparation easier – Now all the Current Affairs content including Daily Current Affairs, All India Radio debate summary, PIB, RSTV debate will be available at the same place in one click. We will make sure that you have all the relevant current affairs in one place. We won’t be dumping whatever there is just for the sake of it. The more the better apprehension is wrong as far as Current Affairs is concerned. The Current Affairs will be updated before 5 PM from Monday (9th August). We request you to follow the initiative sincerely and on a daily basis. Why we say that is, even if miss one news item (which we try not to), we cover it the next day after the topic evolves and becomes a matter of discussion in the news so that you’ll get a bigger picture of understanding, rather than bits and pieces. A topic will be covered from all the sources so that repetition can be avoided. This will make your content less bulky. Topics will be provided in a very concise format so that you won’t have to read long paragraphs and comprehend things from them. You will be able to just read the important points. One of the biggest problems with Current Affairs is that students read a lot of content but they don’t know how to use that information in the answers. So in the new material, we will be telling you what type of questions can be asked from those topics and how/where you can use that information. To top it off we have revamped the Monthly Current Affairs Magazine as well. Please have a look at the JULY 2021 MAGAZINE – CLICK HERE All these things are going to make the site more student-friendly and it will also give you the confidence that you are not missing out on any topic. We hope that our efforts are going to help you in streamlining your efforts towards that top rank. Please share your feedback on the Monthly Magazine in the comment section below.  All the best IASbaba

Important Articles

[WEEK 12] ETHICS THEORY & CASE STUDIES | BRAINSTORMING ON ETHICS & ESSAY (BEE) by Sunil Oberoi Sir

Dear Students, As part of our new initiative, BRAINSTORMING ON ETHICS & ESSAY (BEE), here we have come up with the Twelfth session. BEE is a FREE ONLINE (YOUTUBE) initiative, exclusively for Essay and Ethics curated by IASbaba’s renowned faculty member, Shri Sunil Oberoi Sir (former IAS Officer). The Twelfth session focuses on the theme, 'ETHICS THEORY & CASE STUDIES'. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxHGwkkzXD0 Sunil Oberoi Sir has worked on Civil Services Reforms in India with UNDP and DoPT. He was a government nominee in interview boards and Examiner in various govt. exams. He was also associated with induction training of new entrants of Civil Services and In-Service training of Senior Civil Servants. To Know More about BEE Initiative -> CLICK HERE Download the schedule: Click Here For Any Queries: Email id: offline@iasbaba.com / support@iasbaba.com Mobile No: 91691 91888 (Please call between 10 am – 6 pm ONLY) Thank You IASbaba 

Motivational Articles

Creative Guidance – Art of Being – Inspirational Educative Articles

Art of Being: If, for whatever reason, you decide that I’m going to stop desiring for a few minutes – just remember that it’s only temporary, and you can always go back to your desires. You’re not going to lose them; they’re always floating around. Make a conscious decision and say, “For the next ten minutes I’m not going to desire anything.” If you’re able to stay in that zone of no desire, you will hear your existential desires loud and clear: The desire to be, not to become. The desire to experience and not just entertain - the desire to feel life pulsing through you and not just contemplate on it. The desire to accept yourself without any judgments, because all judgments come from the mind – comes from the thought process. That’s when you realize there is something beautiful happening right here. I can recognize it as life, as aliveness, as consciousness, as my being. Maybe that is the solution to all my problems. Maybe my fundamental desire is simply to be. What else can be the objective of life? If being is not the objective of life, then why are you perceiving yourself as a being? Why do we call ourselves human beings, and why do we call existence exist-ence? The whole purpose the game of life is about being and to move in that dimension, experiencing a few other things. But the fundamental purpose is to be. You can be an artist, you can be a dancer, you can be a cook, you can be a mom, you can be a friend. Being is the most important thing. “This article is a part of the creative endeavor of Nirvana Foundation and IASBABA.”