Sep 8, 2021 TLP Mains Answer Writing

SYNOPSIS [3rd September,2021] Day 170: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE SYNOPSIS [3rd September,2021] Day 170: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)   1. What are the major international financial institutions? Discuss their organisational structure and mandate. Approach  Define what are international financial institutions and what is their role in introduction.In next part mention the various organisations and their structure and mandate simultaneously.In conclusion make some reformative suggestions. Introduction  International economic institutions are vital for the growth of international trade and financial stability maintenance. These institutions aim to provide a level playing field for all the countries to develop their full potential and get concessional loans, direction for development of a nation and neighbourhood region.For example: India recently got loans from Asian development bank, World bank and New Development bank for tackling the Corona virus pandemic. Body Major international financial institutions. 1)International Monetary Fund  The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an organization of 189 member countries, each of which has representation on the IMF's executive board in proportion to its financial importance, so that the most powerful countries in the global economy have the most voting power. Mandate of IMF The IMF promotes monetary cooperation and provides policy advice and capacity development support to preserve global macroeconomic and financial stability and help countries build and maintain strong economies.  The IMF also provides short- and medium-term loans and helps countries design policy programs to solve balance of payments problems when sufficient financing cannot be obtained to meet net international payments obligations.  IMF loans are funded mainly by the pool of quota contributions that its members provide. IMF staff are primarily economists with wide experience in macroeconomic and financial policies. Structure of IMF 24 member executive board chaired by a managing director. Joint IMF-World Bank development committee responsible for development project assistance. Subsidiary bodies including Area development boards, Functional and special service departments, office of budget and planning etc. 2) World Bank Mandate  of world bank The World Bank promotes long-term economic development and poverty reduction by providing technical and financial support to help countries reform certain sectors. Implement specific projects—such as building schools and health centre’s, providing water and electricity, fighting disease, and protecting the environment. World Bank assistance is generally long term and is funded both by member country contributions and through bond issuance. World Bank staff are often specialists on particular issues, sectors, or techniques. Structure of world bank Together, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and International Development Association (IDA) form the World Bank, which provides financing, policy advice, and technical assistance to governments of developing countries. While the World Bank Group consists of five development institutions. International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) provides loans, credits, and grants. International Development Association (IDA) provides low- or no-interest loans to low-income countries. The International Finance Corporation (IFC) provides investment, advice, and asset management to companies and governments. The Multilateral Guarantee Agency (MIGA) insures lenders and investors against political risk such as war. The International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) settles investment-disputes between investors and countries.  Governance of IBRD: IBRD Boards of Governors: The Boards of Governors consist of one Governor and one Alternate Governor appointed by each member country. The office is usually held by the country's minister of finance, governor of its central bank. The Board of Governors delegates most of its authority over daily matters such as lending and operations to the Board of Directors. IBRD Board of Directors: The Board of Directors consists of currently 25 executive directors and is chaired by the President of the World Bank Group. Executive Directors are appointed or elected by the Governors. Executive Directors select the World Bank President, who is the Chairman of the Board of Directors. Executive Directors are authorised for daily matters such as lending and operations. 3) Asian Development Bank Mandate: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) envisions a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty in the region. Despite the region's many successes, it remains home to a large share of the world's poor: 263 million living on less than $1.90 a day and 1.1 billion on less than $3.20 a day. ADB assists its members, and partners, by providing loans, technical assistance, grants, and equity investments to promote social and economic development. ADB maximises the development impact of its assistance by facilitating policy dialogues, providing advisory services, and mobilising financial resources through cofinancing operations that tap official, commercial, and export credit sources. Structure of ADB The highest decision making tier at ADB is its Board of Governors, to which each of ADB’s 67 members nominate one Governor and an Alternate Governor to represent them. The Board of Governors meets formally once a year at an Annual Meeting held in a member country. The Governors’ day to day responsibilities are largely delegated to the 12-person Board of Directors, which performs its duties full time at ADB’s Head Quarters in Manila. The ADB President, under the Board’s direction, conducts the business of ADB. The President is elected by the Board of Governors for a term of five years and may be re-elected. The world bank, IMF and Asian development bank were all the institutions which were developed in the post war era.These were developed mainly by USA, European countries and mostly were dominated by the developed countries.These institutions while serving the needs of developing countries were also directing policies and interfering the policy making of the nation.To overcome this the developing countries came together to launch their own banks which would not interfere in any nations decision making.Thus. AIIB was launched by China and predominantly Asian developing nations and NDB was launched by the BRICS  nations. 4)Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank Mandate To foster sustainable economic development, create wealth and improve infrastructure connectivity in Asia by investing in infrastructure and other productive sectors. To promote regional cooperation and partnership in addressing development challenges by working in close collaboration with other multilateral and bilateral development institutions. To promote investment in the public and private capital for development purposes, in particular for development of infrastructure and other productive sectors. To utilise the resources at its disposal for financing such development in the region, including those projects and programs which will contribute most effectively to the harmonious economic growth of the region; To encourage private investment in projects, enterprises and activities contributing to economic development in the region when private capital is not available on reasonable terms and conditions. Structure of AIIB AIIB shares its overall governance structure with many other MDBs, with a common hierarchy of three governance levels: Board of Governors, Board of Directors and President. The Board of Governors is the Bank’s highest authority, composed of one Governor appointed by each member, meeting annually. The Board of Directors is responsible for the direction of the general operations of the Bank and is composed of Directors elected by one or more Governors representing particular members, meeting at least quarterly. The President, elected by the Board of Governors, conducts the current business of the Bank, under the direction of the Board of Directors. 5)New development bank Mandate: The bank aims to contribute to the development plans established nationally through projects that are socially, environmentally and economically sustainable. Taking this into account, the main objectives of the NDB can be summarised as follows Promote infrastructure and sustainable development projects with a significant development impact in member countries. Establish an extensive network of global partnerships with other multilateral development institutions and national development banks. Build a balanced project portfolio giving a proper respect to their geographic location, financing requirements and other factors. Structure of NDB The Agreement on the New Development Bank entered into force in July 2015, with the official declaration of all five states that have signed it. The five founding members of the Bank include Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Bank's Articles of Agreement specify that all members of the United Nations could be members of the bank, however the share of the BRICS nations can never be less than 55% of voting power. Expanding the NDB's membership is considered by some experts to be crucial to its long-term development by helping boost the bank's business growth.[25] According to the Bank's General Strategy: 2017–2021, the NDB plans to expand membership gradually so as not to overly strain its operational and decision-making capacity. Conclusion The international financial institutions have played a major role in aiding development in developing countries on various issues such as poverty alleviation, Sanitation, public distribution system, irrigation, sustainable development gaols and so on which have been helpful to alleviate the socioeconomic indicators in last decades.Further the goal should be to reform these institutions especially the IMF, World bank and Asian development bank to do away with dominance of major countries and prescription of rules which interfere in domestic policy making.Further the current crises of post Covid economic depression needs to be tackled by all institutions collectively for a better and prosperous world. 2. What is the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)? What are its objectives and mandate?  Discuss. Approach  Make a general introduction on FATF and contextualise to India.In next part write its objectives and Mandate.Further add information on the Indian relations with FATF. Write a summary based conclusion and add information on current context. Introduction The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is an intergovernmental organisation that was established by the G7 nations in 1989 during a summit in Paris, France. The task force was created in response to the difficulties nations experienced in trying to cooperate and enforce an effective global Anti-Money-Laundering (AML) policy.Recently it has been in news do to its constant vigil on terrorist funding and keeping Pakistan on grey list. Body Information about FATF The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is the global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog. The inter-governmental body sets international standards that aim to prevent these illegal activities and the harm they cause to society. As a policy-making body, the FATF works to generate the necessary political will to bring about national legislative and regulatory reforms in these areas. With more than 200 countries and jurisdictions committed to implementing them.  The FATF has developed the FATF Recommendations, or FATF Standards, which ensure a co-ordinated global response to prevent organised crime, corruption and terrorism. They help authorities go after the money of criminals dealing in illegal drugs, human trafficking and other crimes.  The FATF also works to stop funding for weapons of mass destruction. The FATF reviews money laundering and terrorist financing techniques and continuously strengthens its standards to address new risks, such as the regulation of virtual assets, which have spread as cryptocurrencies gain popularity.  The FATF monitors countries to ensure they implement the FATF Standards fully and effectively, and holds countries to account that do not comply. Objective of FATF The objectives of the FATF are to set standards and promote effective implementation of legal, regulatory and operational measures for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system.  Starting with its own members, the FATF monitors countries’ progress in implementing the FATF Recommendations; reviews money laundering and terrorist financing techniques and counter-measures; and, promotes the adoption and implementation of the FATF Recommendations globally. Mandate of FATF The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) was established in July 1989 by a Group of Seven (G-7) Summit in Paris, initially to examine and develop measures to combat money laundering.  Click here to see the Economic Declaration from that G-7 Summit. In October 2001, the FATF expanded its mandate to incorporate efforts to combat terrorist financing, in addition to money laundering.  In April 2012, it added efforts to counter the financing of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Since its inception, the FATF has operated under a fixed life-span, requiring a specific decision by its Ministers to continue.  Three decades after its, creation, in April 2019,  FATF Ministers adopted a new, open-ended mandate for the FATF.  The objectives of the FATF are to set standards and promote effective implementation of legal, regulatory and operational measures for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system. Starting with its own members, the FATF monitors countries' progress in implementing the FATF Recommendations; reviews money laundering and terrorist financing techniques and counter-measures; and, promotes the adoption and implementation of the FATF Recommendations globally. The FATF's decision making body, the FATF Plenary, meets three times per year. FATF and India India plans to share more evidence with the key FATF members on the narco-terror cases linked to Pakistan-based syndicates, through which funds are allegedly being supplied to the terrorists operating in Jammu and Kashmir. The Enforcement Directorate and the National Investigation Agency have been probing several such cases. Conclusion Thus FATF played an import role of acting as a standard body to put pressure on terrorism funding and money laundering. Any blacklisting of a country cuts the lifeline of terrorist activity supported by the state through blockage of funds. Thus FATF act as a pressure group helping in combating terrorism and money laundering.Further in the COVID-19 aftermath and the collapse of Afghanistan its role becomes more important to curb the terror financing and money laundering. 3. In terms of objectives and foundational philosophies, discuss the similarities and differences between the World Bank and The IMF? Approach  Make a general introduction defining what are IMF and world bank.In next part mention their similarities and differences.To add value write criticisms of these institutions ,In conclusion take a balanced view and contextualise to current economic situation. Introduction  The World Bank (WB) is an international organisation which provides facilities related to “finance, advice and research to developing nations” in order to bolster their economic development. It plays a stellar role in providing financial and technical assistance to developing countries across the globe. It is a unique financial institution that provides partnerships to reduce poverty and support economic development. While,The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an international organisation that aims to promote global economic growth and financial stability meant to encourage international trade and reduce poverty. It is working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, and promote high employment and sustainable economic growth. Body Similarities between the WB and IMF Both the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank were formed together at Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, in July 1944. They are called Brettonwoods twins. Both were created to support the world economy in their own unique ways. Both are headquartered in Washington D.C, the U.S.A. They have the same membership as no admission to the World Bank is possible without the IMF membership. The management structure of the World Bank is largely similar to that of the IMF. Voting rights in these institutions depend primarily on capital contribution of the member countries. Differences between the WB and the IMF Despite similarities, however, the Bank and the IMF remain distinct. Following differences exist between them: The World Bank is primarily a development institution but the IMF is a cooperative institution that seeks to maintain an orderly system of payments and receipts between nations. The IMF exists to preserve an orderly monetary system whereas the World Bank performs an economic development role. Both have different purposes. The IMF supervises the economic policies of its members and expects them to allow free exchange of national currencies. To keep this financial order, the IMF also acts as a provider of emergency loans to members who run into difficulties, in exchange for a promise from the member to reform its economic policies. The World Bank finances economic development among poorer nations by funding specific and targeted projects, aimed at helping to raise productivity. The World Bank consists of two organisations: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA). The IBRD lends to developing nations at preferential interest rates, while the IDA only lends to the poorest nations, on an interest-free basis. They have different funding sources. The IMF raises its money through membership fees, known as quotas. Each member country pays a quota based on its relative economic size so that the larger economies pay more. The World Bank raises most of its money through borrowing by issuing bonds to investors. It also receives grants from donors. The IMF exists primarily to stabilise exchange rates, while the World Bank’s primary goal is to reduce poverty. Criticism of the WB and the IMF The International Monetary Fund promotes monetary cooperation internationally and offers advice and assistance to facilitate building and maintaining a country’s economy. The IMF also provides loans and helps countries develop policy programs that solve balance of payment problems. However, the loans offered by the IMF are loaded with conditions. Critics are concerned about the ‘conditionalities’ imposed on borrower countries. The World Bank and the IMF often attach loan conditionality’s based on what is termed the ‘Washington Consensus’, focusing on liberalisation—of trade, investment and the financial sector—, deregulation and privatisation of nationalised industries. Often the conditionality’s are attached without due regard for the borrower countries’ individual circumstances. Additionally, the prescriptive recommendations by the World Bank and IMF fail to resolve the economic problems within the countries. Both the WB and the IMF have been accused of coercing poor countries to undertake structural adjustment programmes (SAPs) under the aegis of economic globalisation. Sometimes, this has led to under-development of these economies bringing severe domestic crisis in multiple dimensions. This contributes to a yawning economic gap between different countries across the globe. The World Bank’s role in the global climate change finance architecture has also caused much controversy. Civil society groups see the Bank as unfit for a role in climate finance because of the conditionality’s and advisory services usually attached to its loans. The WB has been accused of financing unsustainable carbon-intensive developmental projects. Hence, there is an increasing call from environmental activists that the WB and IMF should finance only carbon-neutral sustainable development projects. There are also concerns related with the accountability of the projects run by them especially in the Third World countries. The WB and the IMF have also been criticised for being western-dominated undemocratic bodies. Decisions are made and policies implemented by leading industrialised countries because they represent the largest donors without much consultation with poor and developing countries. The IMF has quota system which is yet to give adequate weightage to the emerging economies like India, China and Brazil despite their increased economic importance in contemporary times. The global economic centre of gravity has shifted from the “global North” to the “global south”. But these Brettonwoods institutions are yet to realise that even though there has been the formation the BRICS bank and the AIIB. There are also ethical issues related to the funding of types of projects by the World Bank. For example, the funding of hydroelectric dams in some countries by the WB has resulted in massive displacement of the indigenous peoples. The WB’s propensity to privilege the private sector and market forces has brought about justifiable concerns regarding the sovereign decision-making capabilities of states getting tied funds from the World Bank. The Bank’s private sector lending arm – the International Finance Corporation (IFC) – has also been criticised for its business model, the increasing use of financial intermediaries such as private equity funds and funding of companies associated with tax havens. Critics of the World Bank and the IMF are also apprehensive about the role of the Bretton Woods institutions in shaping the development discourse through their research, training and publishing activities. Their views and prescriptions may undermine or eliminate alternative perspectives on development. Conclusion Many of the criticisms aimed against the WB and IMF are historical and may not hold true in contemporary times. The two institutions are trying to reorient themselves as per the changed geo-economic realities and changing developmental requirements. The internal assessment has also been catalysed by the geopolitical and geo-economic impact of the BRICS bank and the AIIB as a challenge to the Bretton Woods institutions.Therefore in the present economic situation there is need for both these institutions to come together and help in funding for vaccination, medical supplies, to the developing and African countries. TLP Synopsis Day 170 PDF

Sep 8, 2021 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

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

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Local sales by SEZ units without import tag Part of: Prelims and GS - III - Economy  Context The government is considering a proposal to allow producers in Special Economic Zones (SEZs) to sell their output to the domestic market without treating them as imports. It is also reviewing the exclusion of export-oriented units (EOUs) and SEZs from the recently notified tax refund scheme for exports. It was also emphasised recently that despite the rise in freight rates and input costs, SEZ and EOU units had not been given benefits under the Remission of Taxes and Duties on Export Products (RoDTEP) scheme.  What is the RoDTEP Scheme? The Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) Scheme was announced in 2019 by the Government of India and it became effective on 1 January 2021. It allows exporters to receive refunds on taxes and duties that are not exempted or refunded under any other scheme. Aim: To boost the export of goods that were poor in volume. It replaces the Merchandise Export from India Scheme (MEIS). It is a combination of the MEIS and the Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies (RoSCTL). Under this scheme, refund would be claimed as a percentage of the Freight On Board (FOB) value of exports. What are Special Economic Zones (SEZ)? It is a specifically delineated duty-free enclave, deemed to be foreign territory for the purposes of trade operations and duties and tariffs.  Goods and services going into the SEZ area from Domestic Tariff Area (whole India except SEZ) shall be treated as exports and goods coming from the SEZ area into DTA shall be treated as imports.  SEZ units may be set up for manufacture of goods and rendering of services.  The business and trade laws are different from the rest of the country.  SEZs are located within a country’s national borders. Their aims include increasing trade balance, employment, increased investment, job creation and effective administration The present rule governing SEZ units is that SEZ units may import/procure goods and services from DTA without payment of import duty. But when SEZs are selling goods into DTA then Import/Customs Duty is imposed. News Source: TH  Cairn Energy to end tax dispute with India Part of: Prelims and GS - III - Economy  Context The U.K.-based Cairn Energy is working with the Government of India to expedite “documentation and payment of refund” of $1.06 billion of retrospective taxes. In its half-yearly report, Cairn said it plans to return $700 million to the shareholders through special dividends and buybacks, out of the expected tax refund from the Indian government. Recent Amendment to I-T laws by the Indian government  The government recently amended the income tax laws to scrap the retrospective tax provisions introduced in 2012-13, under which Cairn was taxed in 2014 for a corporate restructuring undertaken in 2006-07. The tax department subsequently froze the firm’s shares as part of the proceedings and sold them off to recover the claimed tax dues. The changes propose to refund the taxes levied retrospectively if the affected taxpayers drop all pending litigation and forego any interest and damages claims. Tribunal verdict An international arbitration tribunal, scrutinising the tax dispute, last year ruled in Cairn’s favour and awarded $1.2 billion in damages to the company. While the government has filed an appeal against the verdict, Cairn has filed lawsuits in several overseas jurisdictions to enforce the tribunal’s award. Background  The year in reference, 2006-07, was one in which big corporate changes and developments took place in Cairn Energy.  It was the year in which it not only undertook a corporate reorganisation, but also floated an Indian subsidiary, Cairn India, which in early 2007 got listed on the Indian bourses.  Through the corporate reorganisation process, Cairn Energy had transferred all of its India assets, which were until then held by nine subsidiaries in various countries, to the newly-formed Cairn India. But the tax authorities claimed that in the process of this reorganisation, Cairn Energy had made capital gains worth ₹24,500 crore. This, the department asserted, was the basis of the tax demand of 1.6 billions USD. In 2011, the U.K.-based Vedanta Resources bought a nearly 60% stake in Cairn India. In fact, four years after this, Cairn India received a tax notice for not withholding tax for the gains ascribed to its former parent company. News source: TH  CSCs and Passport Services Part of: Prelims and GS - II - Policies and interventions  Context The Common Services Centres (CSC) has received approvals to manage and operate Passport Seva Kendra kiosks in rural areas. Key takeaways  The village-level entrepreneurs (VLEs), who operate the CSCs, will be entrusted with collecting documents, photographs and other details necessary for the passport process as well as the initial non-police verification. A nominal fee of up to Rs 100 could be charged for the same. The pilot for the programme was launched at a few CSCs in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.  Full-fledged services will be rolled out nationwide soon What is CSC? The CSC is a special purpose vehicle of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). CSCs are physical facilities for delivering Government of India e-Services to rural and remote locations where availability of computers and Internet was negligible or mostly absent. They are multiple-services-single-point models for providing facilities for multiple transactions at a single geographical location. Current function of CSCs At present, CSCs are allowed only to fill and upload application forms for others, pay an applicable fee on an applicant’s behalf, and schedule an appointment for them. It has over the past three years tied up with partners, both in the public and private sector, across domains by leveraging their presence across the country. They have done tie-ups with domestic and multinational corporations as well such as Tata, PepsiCo, Unibic foods, etc. During lockdown, VLEs also opened up Grameen e-store for easy delivery of essential and non-essential items in villages, gram panchayats and other rural areas. News source: IE UAE's Green Visa Part of: GS Prelims and GS- II -  International Relations  Context The United Arab Emirates has announced a new class of visas intended to ease the restrictions faced by foreigners in pursuing employment opportunities in the country, referred to as “green visa”. Key features of the new visa Under the green visa, foreigners will be allowed to work in the UAE without being sponsored by an employer. The green visa will enable visa holders to sponsor their parents.  It will increase the cap on the age of children who can be sponsored by the holder from 18 to 25. The program will also allow the holder a grace period of up to three months to look for a new job if they lose their old one. News source: IE Oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico Part of: GS Prelims and GS- III -  Environment  Context Clean-up crews and the US Coast Guard are trying to locate the source of an oil spill spotted in the Gulf of Mexico after deadly Hurricane Ida. Recent satellite photos by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) showed the slick about two miles (3km) off Port Fourchon, Louisiana. What is the source of the spill? The source of the miles-long oil spill was believed to be in the Bay Marchand area of the Gulf of Mexico. It appears to be coming from a source underwater at an offshore drilling site Damaged pipelines in the Bay are possible reasons for the spill. Gulf of Mexico  The Gulf of Mexico is an ocean basin and a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, largely surrounded by the North American continent. What is an oil spill? An oil spill refers to any uncontrolled release of crude oil, gasoline, fuels, or other oil by-products into the environment.  Harmful effects of oil spill Oil spills can pollute land, air, or water. It prevents sufficient amounts of sunlight from penetrating the surface. It also reduces the level of dissolved oxygen. Oil-coated birds and marine mammals may die from hypothermia Ingested oil can be toxic to affected animals, and damage their habitat and reproductive rate. Cleanup of Oil Spill:  Containment Booms: Floating barriers, called booms are used to restrict the spread of oil and to allow for its recovery, removal, or dispersal. Skimmers: They are devices used for physically separating spilled oil from the water’s surface. Sorbents: Various sorbents (e.g., straw, volcanic ash, and shavings of polyester-derived plastic) that absorb the oil from the water are used. Dispersing agents: These are chemicals that contain surfactants, or compounds that act to break liquid substances such as oil into small droplets.  Biological agents: Nutrients, enzymes, or microorganisms such as Alcanivorax bacteria or Methylocella silvestris that increase the rate at which natural biodegradation of oil occurs are added News source: IE (News from PIB) Poshan Vatika for alleviation of malnutrition Part of: GS Prelims and GS -II – Health In News: The Ministry of Ayush and Ministry of Women and Child Development jointly organised a webinar on the importance of ‘Poshan Vatika’ (Nutri Garden) for alleviation of malnutrition. About POSHAN Vatika Rural areas have ample space and establishing a Nutri garden/Poshan Vatikas is far simpler as farm families are involved in agriculture. Plantation of nutritional and herbal trees under PoshanVatika would reduce external dependency and make communities Atmanirbhar for their nutritional security. The Ministry of Ayush will collaborate with 3,000 Aanganwadis to take forward the campaign of establishing Nutri Garden and will also decide the nutritional and herbal trees that will be planted there. Plants such as Moringa, Guava, Banana and Tulsi are great candidates to plant in a Poshan Vatika as they deal with problems of malnutrition in women and children. Significance of Poshan Vatika Poshan Abhiyaan aims to encourage convergence among various Ministries to tackle the problem of malnutrition. Aanganwaadi covers 50% of the people who are poor and don't get proper nutrition while Poshan Abhiyaan covers the other 50% who might not be poor but need information about proper nutrition Can play an important role in enhancing dietary diversity by providing micronutrients through constant supply of fruits and vegetables sufficient to meet the family’s requirements, which can prove to be a sustainable model for providing food security and diversity to combat malnutrition at the household or community level. The Ministry of Ayush:  AYUSH is the acronym for Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Sowa, Rigpa and Homeopathy, (Sowa and Rigpa added later). The Ministry aims to develop education and research in the above fields.  Originally formed in 1995 as Department of Indian Medicines and Homeopathy (IM&H;), it was renamed to AYUSH in 2003 and given a separate ministry in Nov' 2014. POSHAN Abhiyaan: POSHAN (Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nutrition) Abhiyaan It is Government of India’s flagship programme to improve nutritional outcomes for children, adolescent girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers.  Ministry: Ministry of Women & Child Development  Mission Poshan 2.0 (Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0) has been announced in the Budget 2021-2022 as an integrated nutrition support programme.  Objectives: To strengthen nutritional content, delivery, outreach and outcomes, with a focus on developing practices that nurture health, wellness and immunity to disease and malnutrition.  Target: Reducing stunting, under-nutrition, anemia (among young children, women and adolescent girls) and low birth weight by 2%, 2%, 3% and 2% per annum respectively. Poshan Gyan: A national digital repository on health and nutrition Must Read:Important Portals in the Ayush sector News Source: PIB Parkash Purab of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Part of: GS Prelims and GS-1  In News: The Prime Minister has greeted the people on the sacred occasion of the Parkash Purab of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.  The occasion marks the completion of the holy book of Sikhs, Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, under the supervision of the fifth Guru Arjan Dev Ji in 1604 at Gurdwara Ramsar Sahib. About Parkash Purab of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji The first Prakash Purab Utsav marked the installation of Guru Granth Sahib in Harmandir Sahib, also known as the Golden temple, in 1604. After the death of Guru Gobind Singh, his hymns and other writings were compiled into a book known as the Dasam Granth. Kartarpur Sahib Corridor: Most celebrated project of Sikhs of India and Pakistan in recent times Facilitates pilgrims from India to visit the Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan. The corridor is being built to connect Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur with Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, the final resting place of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak. Indian pilgrims of all faiths and persons of Indian origin can use the corridor. The travel will be Visa Free; Pilgrims need to carry only a valid passport Pilgrims would be allowed to carry kirpans (dagger), one of the five articles of faith worn by Sikhs. Gatka: A traditional Sikh martial art News Source: PIB Coal based Hydrogen Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III-Energy In News: Ministry of Coal has constituted two Committees, one to oversee the program and another of experts to give guidance to the Ministry. This is aimed for contributing to PM’s agenda of a hydrogen-based economy in a clean manner. Producing Hydrogen through Coal Coal is one of the important sources of hydrogen making (Brown Hydrogen) apart from Natural Gas (Grey hydrogen) and renewable energy (Green Hydrogen) through electrolysis. In case of renewable energy (Green Hydrogen) surplus solar power is used to electrolyze water into hydrogen and oxygen.  The global emphasis is on substituting liquid fuels with hydrogen (as fuel in vehicles), storage of surplus renewable power as hydrogen (as power cannot be stored at a cost effective price), and cutting down emission. However, Coal has not been encouraged elsewhere because of the fear that while extracting hydrogen via coal (from the moisture embedded in coal) there may be carbon emission. Almost 100% of Hydrogen produced in India is through Natural Gas. The Challenges Production of hydrogen from coal will have challenges in terms of high emissions and ‘carbon capture, utilisation and storage’ (CCUS) will play an important role. However, when the carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide formed during coal to hydrogen process are trapped and stored in an environmentally sustainable manner (CCUS), then, Indian coal reserves could become a great source of hydrogen. For every tonne of brown hydrogen produced, we get – at a minimum – between 10 and 12 tonnes of CO2. That’s not even including the CO2 produced by the energy source driving the process, or the CO2 produced in transporting the hydrogen to the customer. In all, production and transport of brown hydrogen is very bad for the environment. In steel making, lots of work has been done on production of steel by use of Hydrogen. However, iron reduction through hydrogen is an endothermic reaction and will require lot of heat. This heat can be generated in DRI plants due to presence of CO in syn Gas being produced from coal gasification process. News Source: PIB (Mains Focus) AGRICULTURE/ GOVERNANCE GS-3: Major crops-cropping patterns in various parts of the country,  GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Significance of Millet Farming Context: UN General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring 2023 the International Year of Millets, as proposed by India to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).  About Millets Millets are coarse grains and a repository of protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals.  They include jowar (sorghum), ragi (finger millet), korra (foxtail millet), arke (kodo millet), sama (little millet), bajra (pearl millet), chena/barr (proso millet) and sanwa (barnyard millet). Millets were one of the oldest foods known to humans. But they were discarded in favour of wheat and rice with urbanization and industrialization India is their largest global producer, with a 41% market share, and a compound annual growth rate of 4.5% is projected for the global millet market in the coming decade.  What are the advantages with Millets? Climate Resilience Being hardy crops, they can withstand extreme temperatures, floods and droughts.  They also help mitigate the effects of climate change through their low carbon footprint of 3,218-kg CO2 equivalent per hectare, as compared to wheat and rice, with 3,968kg and 3,401kg, respectively, on the same measure. Restoration of ecosystems and sustainability:  Land degradation has been a major problem in India, causing massive economic losses year after year. Drought-tolerant crops, like millets, with low dependence on chemical inputs would put far less pressure on ecosystems. The inter-cropping of millets with other crops is especially beneficial because the fibrous roots of millet plants help in improving soil quality, keep water run-off in check and aid soil conservation in erosion-prone areas, thereby restoring natural ecosystems. Biofuel and Ethanol Blending In June 2021, government set a target of achieving 20% ethanol blending with petrol by 2025. Most bio-ethanol in India is produced using sugar molasses and maize.  However, a study conducted among farmers in Madhya Pradesh showed that bio-ethanol can be created using sorghum (jowar) and pearl millet (bajra), and that this fuel could bring down carbon emissions by about half. Estimates also suggest that millets can deliver greater returns than maize, while using 40% less energy in processing. Millets also offer a significant cost advantage over maize as a feedstock for bio-ethanol production. A cultural connection:  The cultivation of millets is deep-rooted in Indian culture.  Organizations like Deccan Development Society have formed women’s collectives in Telangana and are promoting millets through a culture-centric approach.  Such crop sensitization has filtered into urban settings too. In 2018, the #LetsMilletCampaign in Bengaluru saw the use of millets in dishes such as risotto and pizza by restaurateurs.  Helps address Sustainable DGs:  Millets can play a role in India’s sustainability policy interventions. Contemporary research developments have shed light on the influence of millets on energy optimization, climate resilience and ecosystem restoration.  Millet farming has led to women’s empowerment, too. The Odisha Millet Mission, for example, saw 7.2 million women emerge as ‘agri-preneurs’. What are the concerns with Millets growth? A rise in incomes and urbanization has reduced the demand for millets Inadequate government policies. Unjust pricing for farmers due to intermediaries. Lack of input subsidies and price incentives. Procurement and subsidised supply of rice & wheat through the PDS has made farmers shift from millets to these crops. Millets being used for various purposes other than for consumption.  Way Forward Incentivizing the adoption of inter-cropping with millets (two or more crops planted side by side) and providing crop insurance and support for storage facilities will foster income and food security.  Brimming with potential, millets can act as a vital cog in the country’s sustainable development wheel if backed by policies that promote their production, incentivize farmers and strengthen market linkages. Connecting the dots: National Mission on Edible Oil- Oil Palm Organic Farming INTERNATIONAL/ GOVERNANCE GS-2: Indian Neighbourhood GS-2: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests. Taliban and China Context: China is filling the power vacuum created by abrupt US withdrawal from Afghanistan & Taliban taking over the country. Do You Know? Since 2001, the U.S. has spent $2.26 trillion in Afghanistan, out of which $1.53 trillion was spent on defence.  The Afghan economy did not flourish, with 90% of its population still living below poverty line, with less than $2 a day.  China and Taliban The return of the Taliban is seen as a victory of Chinese diplomacy and a failure for the USA. China (also, Russia) have kept their embassies running in Kabul while the western embassies have disappeared. Afghanistan has rare-earth metals and huge deposits of copper. The Chinese are interested in these resources as they have the technology to excavate them. Also, China is engaging with the Taliban, to ensure success of Belt & Road Initiative (BRI). This being a huge investment requires many years of successful operation to yield profit. Therefore, Taliban support is necessary for China. What are the intentions of China’s investment strategy in BRI (more particularly in CPEC)? The cost of production is lower in this region and therefore Chinese firms could gain by shifting their production bases from China to these regions. Investing in these regions meant access to bigger markets for Chinese firms  It also enables more uniform regional development for China (western underdeveloped part of China can emerge as economic hub) Chinese firms could evade high-tariff & non-tariff measures targeted at Chinese goods when they begin exporting from here. Investing in Africa and Asia has also reduced some of China’s energy requirements, enabling China to access cheaper foreign energy (oil and power) and minerals.  Challenges for China No businesses can flourish in the presence of terrorism. With Taliban gaining power, there is concern of resurgence of terrorist groups such as al Qaeda, Daesh, and the Islamic State.  Taliban is also known to have a soft corner for the East Turkestan Islamic Movement — a militant group active in the Uighur province of China (Muslim majority province).  There are doubts on the economic capability to repay Chinese granted loans or projects. Pakistan is unable to repay a China-funded energy project, built under the BRI.  The Taliban ruling groups are far from united, making it impossible to make any reliable domestic and international policy predictions. This doesn’t fit with the stable autocracy like China. Rebellions, factional wars, will be the likely events in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. These issues will spread to Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, and other essential rings in the BRI chain. Hence, the cash flow into the BRI will constantly face a risk of interruption Conclusion In a game of chess, the U.S. move of vacating Afghanistan may in fact prove costly for China. Can you answer this question now? Chinese presence in Afghanistan with an all-weather ally Pakistan may sound trouble for India. Discuss. (250 words, 15 marks). (AIR Spotlight) Spotlight Sep 7: Discussion on BRICS Summit 2021: Expectations and Challenges. https://youtu.be/BtdKqMW95ls  GOVERNANCE/ ECONOMY GS-2: Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.  GS-2: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests. BRICS Summit 2021 Context: As part of India’s ongoing Chairship of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) in 2021, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi (2nd time) will chair the 13th BRICS Summit on 9 September 2021 in virtual format.  The theme for the Summit is ‘BRICS@15: Intra-BRICS cooperation for continuity, consolidation and consensus’. India had outlined four priority areas for its Chairship. These are – Reform of the Multilateral System Counter Terrorism: Cooperation for continuity, consolidation and consensus Using Digital and Technological Tools for achieving SDGs Enhancing People to People exchanges In addition to these areas, the leaders will also exchange views on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and other current global and regional issues. India will be hosting the BRICS Summit for the 3rd time.  Expectations from the Summit Afghanistan Issue: Apart from business and economic issues, the summit is expected to see extensive discussions on the Afghanistan crisis and BRICS leaders may also issue a joint statement on the latest situation in the country. Framework for greater cooperation in services trade: May promise easier movement of professionals across BRICS nations. This is expected to eventually lead to discussions on movement of natural persons, such as independent professionals (called Mode 4 services trade) and Mode 1, the cross- border supply of services, sources said. While broad level consensus has been achieved so far, it is expected to slowly open doors to Indian professionals moving freely within BRICS economies as well as expand on services trade in the region. Pledge to establish a common approach towards the multilateral trading system, keeping in mind the upcoming 12th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation to be held in Geneva in December 2021. This is expected to bring the BRICS countries on an unprecedented common platform on matters of global trade policy. While India and China have often advocated for developmental goals and policies, leading poor and developing nations at the global fora, significant differences exist among BRICS nations with regards to trade policy. A new move towards papering over these differences will prove to be the biggest achievement in India's trade diplomacy. The government has said that despite numerous challenges and constraints, India was successful in building consensus for new areas of work and cooperation among BRICS countries. As a result, for the first time, a common understanding has arisen amongst BRICS countries on a wide range of areas. These include new declarations related to consumer protection, e-commerce, genetic resources and traditional knowledge. Trade push: The Commerce Department is currently giving the final touches to its internal reports that pinpoint the areas where trade can be quickly ramped up. This comes after a push by the Prime Minister’s Office on the issue. Barring trade with China, India's trade with the 15-year-old grouping has not expanded nearly as much as New Delhi had earlier hoped for. India hopes to fix this through a combination of targeted exports, based on demand in these markets, easing of rules of customs, trade and standards and a greater political will. India’s total trade with the BRICS countries in 2020-21 stood at $110 billion in 2019-20, which rose to $113.3 billion in 2020-21, despite COVID-19. India's trade figures for the grouping is heavily dictated by its trade with China ($86.4 billion in FY21). The latest rise was also majorly due to a rise in trade with China. Conclusion The idea of BRICS – a common pursuit of shared interests by the five emerging economies from four continents – is fundamentally sound and relevant.  It is still possible that the BRIC grouping could become as large as the G7 within the next generation. The governments have invested huge political capital in pushing the BRICS experiment forward. Therefore, the strains in the grouping needs to be addressed to keep alive the relevance of it. Can you answer this question now? The grouping succeeded up to a point but it now confronts multiple challenges. Do you agree? Discuss. (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note: Correct answers of today’s questions will be provided in next day’s DNA section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers. Q.1 Which of the following are correctly matched? Typhoons: China Sea and Pacific Ocean. Hurricanes: Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean. Willy-willies: In north-western Australia  Tropical Cyclones: In the Indian Ocean Region. Select the correct answers: 1 and 2 only 2 only 3 and 4 only 1, 2, 3 and 4 Q.2 Consider the following statements regarding Common Service Centers: The CSC is a special purpose vehicle of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). CSCs are physical facilities for delivering Government of India e-Services to rural and remote locations where availability of computers and Internet was negligible or mostly absent. Select the correct statements: 1 only  2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3 Which of the following countries has recently launched Green visa for its workers? USA Japan UAE Israel ANSWERS FOR 8th Sept 2021 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 C 2 B 3 B Must Read On Economic Reforms: The Hindu On Reservation Policy: The Hindu On Tribunals: Financial Express

Sep 8, 2021 Rapid Revision (RaRe) Series for UPSC

[Day 101]: 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-101 of RaRe Series - Click here To Register - Click here For complete details of the RaRe Series -  Click here

Sep 8, 2021 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz – 2021 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 8th September 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

Sep 7, 2021 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

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

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Karnataka's ASER report Part of: Prelims and GS - II - Education  Context The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER), which was drawn up in March 2021 in only Karnataka this year, found a huge drop in learning levels in both reading and numeracy, especially for primary classes.  For the current report, Pratham surveyed 18,385 children between the age of five and 16 from 13,365 households across 24 districts. This was done earlier this year, the first since the COVID-19 pandemic set in. Major findings of the report The report stated that there was a slight shift in enrolment from private to government schools across all age groups. The survey reported nearly a year of ‘learning loss’ among students across the State. The decline in foundational skills is visible throughout the elementary grades, among students enrolled in government and as well as private schools. It found that 56.8% of class I students surveyed could not read letters.  In comparison, the 2018 report stated that 40% of class I students were unable to read letters. This is a drop of over 16 percentage points. 66% of the class VIII students were able to read a standard II text, compared to 70% in 2018. The study noted that only 9.8% of the class III students were able to read a standard II level text. In 2018, however, 19.2% of the students in the same category were able to read a class II level text.  There is a similar drop in learning level in reading skills in class V as well as class VIII. The decline in learning levels is steeper in the arithmetic skills of the students.  Nearly half, 42.6% of students in class I, were unable to recognise numbers one to nine.  What is ASER?  ASER stands for Annual Status of Education Report.  It is the largest citizen-led survey in India facilitated by Pratham NGO.  This is an annual survey, conducted every year since 2005,  that aims to provide reliable estimates of children’s enrolment and basic learning levels for each district and state in India.  It is also the only annual source of information on children’s learning outcomes available in India today ASER is a household-based rather than school-based survey. This design enables all children to be included – those who have never been to school or have dropped out, as well as those who are in government schools, private schools, religious schools or anywhere else. Indian PM to attend BRICS, SCO, Quad meets in September Part of: Prelims and GS - II - International Relations  Context  Indian Prime Minister shall be attending important meetings of BRICS, SCO and Quad this September.  BRICS SCO QUAD Full form Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa  Shanghai Cooperation Organisation  Quadrilateral Security Dialogue  Countries Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa  China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan Uzbekistan  USA, Japan, Australia and India  Location/Headquarter  Shanghai, China Chaoyang District, Beijing  - Mandate/Aims/Objectives  It seeks to deepen, broaden and intensify cooperation within the grouping and among the individual countries for more sustainable, equitable and mutually beneficial development. It was established as a multilateral association to ensure security and maintain stability across the vast Eurasian region, join forces to counteract emerging challenges and threats, and enhance trade, as well as cultural and humanitarian cooperation The main aim is to enable a regional security architecture for the maintenance of a rules- based order. It seeks to contain a 'rising China' and work against its predatory trade and economic policies Poshan Jagrukta Abhiyan organised under POSHAN Maah Part of: Prelims and GS - II - Health; Policies and interventions  Context Poshan Jagrukta Abhiyaan (nutrition awareness campaign) programmes were recently organised by the Union Ministry for Women and Child Development and Union Ministry for Minority Affairs for women from minority communities.  During the day-long programme, the ministers interacted with Women belonging to Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, Parsi, Jain and Sikh communities and from poor and backward areas  These programmes were organised under “Poshan Maah”.  About POSHAN Abhiyaan POSHAN (Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nutrition) Abhiyaan is Government of India’s flagship programme to improve nutritional outcomes for children, adolescent girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers.  Launched by the Indian Prime Minister on the occasion of International Women’s Day on 8 March, 2018.  The Abhiyaan seeks to address the issue of malnutrition in mission-mode. Mission Poshan 2.0 (Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0) has been announced in the Budget 2021-2022 as an integrated nutrition support programme.  Objectives: To strengthen nutritional content, delivery, outreach and outcomes, with a focus on developing practices that nurture health, wellness and immunity to disease and malnutrition. About POSHAN Maah 2021 As India celebrates the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav in 2021, POSHAN Maah 2021 is being observed in a thematic fashion. Objective: To ensure speedy and intensive outreach   The entire month of September 2021 has been subdivided into weekly themes, for focused and assimilated approach towards improving holistic nutrition.  The Ministry of Women and Child Development has planned a series of activities throughout the month in tandem with states and union territories Initiatives to ensure good health and well-being of girls and women: Poshan Abhiyaan Beti Bachao Beti Padhao  Mission Indradhanush  Swachh Bharat Mission  Ujjwala Yojana GST Appellate Tribunal Part of: GS Prelims and GS- III -  Economy  Context The Supreme Court has warned that the government has no option but to constitute the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Appellate Tribunal. The GST tribunal has not been constituted even four years after the central GST law was passed in 2016. Section 109 of the GST Act mandates the constitution of the Tribunal What is GST Appellate Tribunal? The GST Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT) is the second appeal forum under GST for any dissatisfactory order passed by the First Appellate Authorities. The National Appellate Tribunal is also the first common forum to resolve disputes between the centre and the states. Being a common forum, it is the duty of the GSTAT to ensure uniformity in the redressal of disputes arising under GST. It holds the same powers as the court and is deemed Civil Court for trying a case. Constitution of the GST Appellate Tribunal National Bench: The National Appellate Tribunal is situated in New Delhi, constitutes a National President (Head) along with 2 Technical Members (1 from Centre and State each) Regional Benches: On the recommendations of the GST Council, the government can constitute (by notification) Regional Benches, as required. As of now, there are 3 Regional Benches (situated in Mumbai, Kolkata and Hyderabad) in India. State Bench and Area Bench What is the Goods and Services Tax (GST)?  The GST is a value-added tax levied on most goods and services sold for domestic consumption. It was launched on 1st July 2017. It subsumed almost all domestic indirect taxes under one head. The GST is paid by consumers, but it is remitted to the government by the businesses selling the goods and services. GST is levied at four rates - 5%, 12%, 18% and 28%.  The GST to be levied by the Centre is called Central GST (CGST) and that to be levied by the States is called State GST (SGST). Import of goods or services would be treated as inter-state supplies and would be subject to Integrated Goods & Services Tax (IGST) in addition to the applicable customs duties. IUCN updates the Red list of species Part of: GS Prelims and GS- III -  Environment  Context International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has updated the Red list of species at the World Conservation Congress in Marseille, France held on September 4, 2021. Key updates: The 30% of the species (38,543) that it assessed (138,374) face the threat of extinction. Some 902 species are officially extinct. Some 80 species are extinct in the wild, 8,404 are critically endangered, 14,647 are endangered, 15,492 are vulnerable and 8,127 are near threatened.  Four of the seven most commercially fished tuna species have shown signs of recovery. The world’s largest living lizard, the Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis), has been moved from vulnerable to endangered. The species is endemic to Indonesia and occurs only in the World Heritage-listed Komodo National Park and neighbouring Flores. 37% of the world’s shark and ray species were threatened with extinction.  About IUCN Red List of Threatened Species It was established in 1964, by the IUCN and has evolved to become the world’s most comprehensive information source on the global extinction risk status of animal, fungus and plant species. The IUCN Red List is a critical indicator of the health of the world’s biodiversity.  It uses a set of quantitative criteria to evaluate the extinction risk of thousands of species.  It provides information about range, population size, habitat and ecology, use and/or trade, threats, and conservation actions that will help inform necessary conservation decisions. It is used by government agencies, wildlife departments, conservation-related NGOs, natural resource planners, educational organisations, students, and the business community. The Index is available for five groups: birds, mammals, amphibians, corals and cycads. e-ILP platform launched in Manipur Part of: GS Prelims and GS- III -  Security  Context Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh recently launched electronic Inner Line Permit (ILP) counters  Key takeaways  Imphal, Jiribam and Mao Centers have been inaugurated. Under the portal, a person from outside the state can apply online for ILP and get the permit from issuing centres after onsite verification.  The e-ILP tracking system has been developed to mend the loopholes in the procedures adopted to issue the permit and its tracking system. It has a comprehensive dashboard system that would actively show information such as number of people entering the state on a particular date and time and graphical break-up based presentation of people visiting through different entry gates. The system is also enabled with automated generation of a defaulted list of people who have overstayed beyond the permitted number of days as per the permit. The ILP system came into effect in Manipur on January 1, 2020. What is Inner Line Permit system? ILP is an official travel document issued to allow inward travel of an Indian citizen into a protected area for a limited period.  It is obligatory for Indian citizens from outside those states to obtain a permit for entering into the protected state.  Currently, Protected Areas are located in the following States: Whole of Arunachal Pradesh Parts of Himachal Pradesh Parts of Jammu & Kashmir Whole of Manipur Whole of Mizoram Whole of Nagaland Parts of Rajasthan Whole of Sikkim (partly in Protected Area and partly in Restricted Area) Parts of Uttarakhand Any person is entitled to renew his permit every six months if he is not a native in these states despite the fact that he/she is a long-term resident. It also regulates the movement to certain areas located near the international borders of India. It is issued by the concerned states coming under the protection of ILP. (News from PIB) President of India Presents Colour to Indian Naval Aviation Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III – Defence In News: The President of India presented Colour to Indian Naval Aviation, a recognition of its exceptional service rendered to the Nation, in peace and war. About Presidents colour: The President’s Colour is the highest honour bestowed on a military unit in recognition of its exceptional service to the nation.  The Indian Navy was the first amongst the Indian Armed Forces to be awarded the President’s Colour on 27 May 1951 by Dr Rajendra Prasad, the then President of India.  About Indian Naval Aviation: Indian Naval Aviation came into being with acquisition of the first Sea land aircraft on 13 Jan 1951 and commissioning of INS Garuda, the first Naval Air Station, on 11 May 1953.  Arrival of the armed Firefly aircraft in 1958 added an offensive punch, and the naval aviation steadily expanded its inventory to become an integral part of a formidable Navy.  Today, Indian Naval Aviation boasts of nine air stations and three naval air enclaves along the Indian coastline and the in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.  Over the past seven decades, it has transformed into a modern, technologically advanced and highly potent force with more than 250 aircraft comprising Carrier-borne fighters, maritime reconnaissance aircraft, helicopters and remotely piloted aircraft (RPA).  The Fleet Air Arm can support naval operations in all three dimensions and will remain the first responder for maritime surveillance and HADR in the Indian Ocean Region. Recent strides by Indian Naval Aviation Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations: Provided relief to fellow citizens like the rescue operations off Mumbai during Cyclone Tauktae in May 2021 and crucial assistance to several neighbouring countries and nations in the Indian Ocean Region. Furthered India’s diplomatic engagements: The Indian Navy has invested significant effort in meeting all regional commitments and furthering India’s diplomatic engagements with friends and partners in the Indo-Pacific. With missions like Operation ‘Samudra Setu’ and ‘Mission Sagar’, the Navy was a key instrument of India’s COVID outreach, delivering assistance and support to India’s maritime neighbours and partners in the Indian Ocean Region.  Indigenization efforts: The Indian Navy has actively taken up indigenisation which is well reflected in its current and future acquisition plans. With resounding progress in aviation technology, naval aircraft are being installed with modern, state of the art indigenous, weapons, sensors and Data Link suites. The recent inductions of Advanced Light Helicopters as well as Dornier and Chetak aircrafts manufactured indigenously by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited highlight the march towards ‘Atma-nirbharta’ in defence sector. The prompt and effective deployment of the Indian Navy in the time of crisis, has underscored India’s vision of being the ‘Preferred Security Partner’ and ‘First Responder’ in the Indian Ocean Region.  News Source: PIB AUSINDEX Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III- Security In News: Indian Navy Task Group is participating in the 4th edition of AUSINDEX by Royal Australian Navy (RAN). About AUSINDEX Commenced in 2015 as a bilateral IN-RAN maritime exercise, AUSINDEX has grown in complexity over the years  The 3rd edition of the exercise, held in 2019 in the Bay of Bengal, included anti-submarine drills for the first time. The exercise will provide an opportunity for both Navies to further bolster inter-operability, gain from best practices and develop a common understanding of procedures for Maritime Security Operations. The conduct of this exercise despite COVID restrictions is also a testimony of existing synergy between the participating Navies. This exercise is aligned with the '2020 Comprehensive Strategic Partnership' between the two nations and aims to further consolidate shared commitment to regional and global security challenges promoting peace, security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.  This edition of AUSINDEX includes complex surface, sub-surface and air operations between ships, submarines, helicopters and Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft of the participating Navies. The participating Indian Naval Ships Shivalik and Kadmatt are the latest indigenously designed and built Guided Missile Stealth Frigate and Anti-Submarine Corvette respectively.  News Source: PIB Unlocking Huge Potential of Mineral Exploration Part of: GS-3: Infrastructure: Energy In News: The Geological Survey of India has delineated 100 geologically potential mineral blocks for auction.  Handing over of these 100 Reports to the State Governments will ensure continuous supply of minerals in the country and more revenue to the State Governments by bringing more number of mineral blocks under auction. The MMDR Amendment Act, 2021 The MMDR Amendment Act, 2015 ushered in transparency in the allocation of mineral concessions in terms of Prospecting License and Mining Lease.  In this continuous endeavour, the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, has been further liberalized in March 2021.  The recent amendment is expected to increase employment and investment in the mining sector, increase the revenue to the States, increase production and time bound operationalization of mines, maintain continuity in mining operations after change of lessee, increase the pace of exploration and auction of mineral resources. News Source: PIB (Mains Focus) INTERNATIONAL/ SECURITY GS-2: Policies and politics of developed and developing countries  Foreign Policy Doctrine of Biden Context: The Afghanistan war has formally ended. Its end has led to a new foreign policy doctrine for the US. In his recent speech US President Biden laid out the principal components of the doctrine. What are the criticisms of Biden Afghan Policy? When Biden decided to withdraw US military from Afghanistan, he did it abruptly without providing preparing the Afghan Military and Afghan Government. The frustration was about how the military withdrawal was executed, not about the withdrawal per se. Critics argue that US had the option of keeping a small force in Afghanistan and maintaining air support for the Afghan National Army. It would have at least kept the stand-off going, and not handed a victory to the Taliban.  Also, the Afghanistan intervention was a NATO-supported military enterprise. It is not clear that Biden consulted European allies before deciding to withdraw. Biden’s unilateral withdrawal doesn’t sit well with his support for multilateralism. Thousands of Afghan allies were left behind in a situation all too vulnerable to the Taliban’s aggression. This is bound to create great uneasiness in Taiwan and Japan. Taiwan’s security functions under an American umbrella. Given the US withdrawal from Afghanistan and its tiredness with war, there are doubts in Taiwan whether US will provide firm support to it in the face of Chinese aggression. What are the key Components of the new Doctrine? Containing China and Russia will be the focus of US foreign policy under him.  Cyber security is a new mode of warfare and must be given prime attention.  America’s counter-terrorism project will not be pursued via soldiers on the ground. Instead, “over the horizon” capabilities, meaning satellites and unmanned drones, will be the predominant instruments.  External military deployment will not have the purpose of Nation-making or democracy-building. It at all it is deployed, it will have clear and achievable goals strictly limited to security, not extending to larger politics.  Security will not include counter-insurgency, meaning long-term military involvement in a civil war.  Democracy and human rights will continue to be key drivers of foreign policy, but economic tools and diplomacy will be the main methods for achieving such goals. Countries cannot be forced to be free & democratic via military means. How is the doctrine different from that of previous President Donal Trump? For Donald Trump, bringing the US military back home, withdrawal from alliances and unilateralism were important goals. The Present President Biden would strengthen alliances, but bring the armed force back from areas where they have ceased to serve “vital national interest”. This implies that American military deployment in Japan and South Korea will continue, for these are aimed at balancing China. Connecting the dots: Taliban Takeover, Sharia & Afghan Women  April 2021: Final Biden’s Plan of US Exit from Afghanistan The Surge of Taliban India and Taliban ECONOMY/ GOVERNANCE GS-3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.  Analysis of Q1 Growth Data Context: Recently, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation released the GDP (gross domestic product) and GVA (gross value added) data for the first quarter of the Financial Year 2021-22. The government used the Year-on-Year (Y-o-Y) comparison method — which showed that the GDP grew by 20% in Q1 this year as against the Q1 last year — to claim that India was witnessing a V-shaped recovery. Critics however, showed the economy contracted by 17% in Q1 this year as against Q4 (January, February and March) of the last financial year (2020-21) — to claim that the economy was fast losing momentum. Engines of Demand 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 Private Final Consumption Expenditure (PFCE) 17,83,905 18,89,008 20,24,421 14,94,524 17,83,611 Government Final Consumption Expenditure (GFCE) 3,63,763 3,93,709 3,92,585 4,42,618 4,21,471 Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF) 9,89,620 10,82,670 12,33,178 6,58,465 10,22,335 Net Exports —1,44,175 — 1,22,238 — 1,70,515 34,071 — 62084   Total GDP* (an L-shaped recovery) 31,62,537 33,59,162 35,66,708 26,95,421 32,38,020 GDP for a V-shaped recovery 31,62,537 33,59,162 35,66,708 26,95,421 40,07,553 Table 1: GDP (at 2011-12 Prices) in Q1 (April-June) of 2021-22 falls back to levels last seen in 2018 (In Rs Crore)  Analysis of the government Claim Table 1 shows that private consumption demand — the biggest driver of India’s GDP (accounting for more than 55% of all GDP) — is almost exactly back to where it was in 2017-18. However, the reduction in government spending pulled down the overall economic growth rate in Q1. If the government continues to believe that India has already staged a V-shaped recovery, it may not spend more, therefore creating a drag on future growth. Essentially, a V-shaped recovery means the economy quickly reverts to the trend of absolute GDP. Refer the graph given below. So if India’s GDP was growing at 6% before the pandemic and we assume that it would have grown at 6% in 2020-21 and 2021-22 without the Covid disruption, then the Q1 GDP should have been Rs 40,07,553. In reality, it is only Rs 32,38,020. In other words, the actual GDP was in Q1 is 24% lower the expected trend level if it was V-shaped recovery. Assuming 7% (year-on-year) growth, it is estimated that Q1 data would take another 3 years to achieve the levels so as to claim V-shaped recovery. The reality — a Q1 GDP of Rs 32,38,020 — points more towards an “L-shaped” recovery instead of a “V-shaped” one. The story is equally worrisome when one looks at the GVA data. Industry 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing 4,04,433 4,27,177 4,49,390 4,65,280 4,86,292 Mining & Quarrying 95,928 88,634 82,914 68,680 81,444 Manufacturing 5,03,682 5,61,875 5,67,516 3,63,448 5,43,821 Electricity, Gas, Water Supply & Other Utility Services 67,876 74,998 79,654 71,800 82,042 Construction 2,42,588 2,49,913 2,60,099 1,31,439 2,21,256 Trade, Hotels, Transport, Communication & Services related to Broadcasting 5,63,038 6,09,330 6,64,311 3,45,099 4,63,525 Financial, Real Estate & Professional Services 7,28,068 7,57,850 8,02,241 7,61,791 7,89,929 Public Administration, Defence & Other Services* 3,57,203 3,87,589 3,99,148 3,58,373 3,79,205 Total GVA (L-shaped Recovery) 29,62,815 31,57,366 33,05,273 25,65,909 30,47,516 GVA for a V-shaped recovery 29,62,815 31,57,366 33,05,273 25,65,909 36,44,063 Table 2: GVA (at 2011-12 Prices) in Q1 of 2021-22 (in Rs Crore)  For some sectors that create the most jobs in India — such as Construction and Trade, Hotels, Transport, Communication & Services etc. — the picture is much depressing as the GVA levels have fallen back to 2017-18. Again, even if GVA grows by 7% (Y-o-Y) from here on, it will take another three years just to cross the level that marks a V-shape recovery this year. What is the point of this analysis? The point of this analysis is to correct the misconception about the shape and form of the economic recovery so that the government can make smarter policy choices going forward. For instance, if there is a consensus that India suffers from weak consumer demand (as shown by the Private Final Consumption Expenditure (or PFCE) component in the GDP data table), then the government can boosting its spending through a cut in GST rates or taxes on petroleum products or providing tax relief.  Increased money with people increases demand and boosts economic growth. Government should not make the mistake which it committed in 2020, when the economy was experiencing slowdown (India’s annual growth fell sharply from over 8% in 2016-17 to just about 4% in 2019-20.) The reason for the slowdown was weak demand (Private consumption). Instead of boosting people’s purchasing power by cutting taxes, government announced Corporate Tax cuts to boost supply. This did not help in revival of economy.  Wrong analysis of situation & wrong solution is the mistake which the government should not commit this time. Connecting the dots: Current Challenges of Indian Economy  Employment & Recovery of Indian Economy Recession in India (AIR Spotlight) Spotlight Sep 6: Discussion on Initiatives for Doubling the Farmer's Income. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBE2ia0YifY AGRICULTURE/ GOVERNANCE GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. GS-3: Agriculture and allied activities Initiatives for Doubling the Farmer's Income Context: Huge distress has hit the Agricultural sector due to environmental impacts, policy paralysis, debt trap etc. has led to large amount of farmer suicides across the country particularly in the Deccan plateau.  Brief Background Past strategy for development of the agriculture sector in India has focused primarily on raising agricultural output and improving food security.  The net result has been a 45 per cent increase in per person food production, which has made India not only food self-sufficient at aggregate level, but also a net food exporting country. The strategy did not explicitly recognise the need to raise farmers’ income and did not mention any direct measure to promote farmers welfare. The net result has been that farmers income remained low, which is evident from the incidence of poverty among farm households. Indian agriculture suffers from low productivity, low quality awareness and rising imports. Issues Majority of Farmers are marginal: 70% of India’s farmers have small and marginal land holdings, operating below one hectare.  Unrewarding livelihood: On an average, smaller holdings lose money as their household costs are higher than their earnings. According to the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), the average income of farmers owning up to two hectares is Rs 5,240 a month Subsistence Farming: The smallest farms are afloat since they don’t pay for labour, relying entirely on the family, and they consume much of what is produced. Irregular Income: Farming is a seasonal affair, not a full-time job Doubling Farmer’s Income by 2022 The vision of doubling agricultural income can’t be achieved only through farm activities. It requires an integrated approach that clubs livestock rearing, other non-farm activities and the cooperative model into the income package of farmers. Doubling farmers’ incomes include three themes: A. Enabling digital financing and insurance payouts by facilitating consolidated information, credit scoring models, and yield forecasting models using satellite and weather data. Example: Digital applications are making crop insurance system faster and more accurate. Central government launched a Kisan pilot programme in 2015 to see if satellite and drone-based imaging and other geospatial technology could produce timely and accurate crop-yield data. Study is also being conducted to evaluate a remote sensing based index for index-based insurance Pilot study carried out in rice and cotton fields in four districts during the kharif season in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh. It was also conducted during the 2015–16 rabi season in eight districts in the same states to assess crop yields of rice, wheat, and sorghum B. Introducing precision agriculture using data analytics, with an integrated agricultural data platform across all existing and new data sources (such as the 158.7 million Soil Health Cards dispatched). Based on pilots, this initiative could raise farm productivity by 15 to 20 percent. Example: Real-time agricultural data can help to increase yields and decrease costs. Soil Health Card: Ministry of Agriculture launched soil health card in 2015, the scheme tests soil samples to encourage judicious use of inputs such as fertilizer mKisan: Ministry of Agriculture launched mKisan in 2013 to increase the information available to farmers on crucial aspects of farming such as weather & soil health mKRISHI: mKRISHI is a technology platform for Indian farmers. Tata Consultancy Services designed it to enable farmers in remote areas to access real-time agricultural information, best practices, and market and weather information MyAgriGuru (Mahindra): The app connects experts and farmers and enables exchange of ideas and information to create an empowering agriculture ecosystem in the country C. Implementing online agricultural marketplaceslinked to a unified, nationwide market with a set of institutional market facilitators and common assaying and grading standards. Such e-marketplaces could cover 40 to 60 percent of agricultural produce sold in India, leading to 15 percent farmers’ price gains, as demonstrated by pilots.  Together, these changes could add $50 billion to $70 billion of economic value in 2025.  Example: Technology is bringing transparency to India’s agricultural markets eNam: Ministry of Agriculture in 2015 launched eNam, the electronic National Agriculture Market, to connect the 7,000 APMC mandis across India to promote transparency in agricultural markets Buyer Seller Platform: Ministry of Agriculture launched Buyer Seller platform / mKisan for farmers to receive local buyer prices over SMS. It connects farmers with buyers (farmer producer organisations, exporters, traders, and processors). The Way Forward Most of the development initiatives and policies for agriculture are implemented by the States. States invest much more than the outlay by the Centre on many development activities, like irrigation. Progress of various reforms related to market and land lease are also State subjects. Therefore, it is essential to mobilise States and UTs to own and achieve the goal of doubling farmers’ income.  Technology adoption has proved that it has potential to improve agricultural efficiency by improving farmers knowledge, access to credit, and agriculture output in many ways. Hence, technology adoption can help the farm product to reach from “local to global” market in an efficient way.  To convert the image of  Indian “Peasant farmer” in to an “Entrepreneur farmer”, we need to address – low usage of farm equipments, mechanise the industry and bridge the lack of literacy and digital literacy. Must Read:  Ashok Dalwai committee on doubling farmers’ incomes New Farm Laws Can you answer these questions now? How feasible is the target to achieve the motive of doubling farmer’s income by 2022? Discuss. What are the steps that the government has taken in the last few years towards this objective? (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 The world’s largest living lizard, the Komodo dragon is endemic to Which of the following countries?  India  Bhutan  Indonesia  Australia  Q.2 Consider the following statements regarding Inner Line Permit: Any person is entitled to renew his permit every one year if he is not a native in these states despite the fact that he/she is a long-term resident. It also regulates the movement to certain areas located near the international borders of India. It is issued by Ministry of Home Affairs  Select the correct statements: 1 and 2 only 2 only 1 and 3 only  1, 2 and 3   Q.3 Consider the following statements on President’s Color The President’s Colour is the highest honour bestowed on a military unit in recognition of its exceptional service to the nation.  The Indian Air Force was the first amongst the Indian Armed Forces to be awarded the President’s Colour on 27 May 1951 by Dr Rajendra Prasad, the then President of India.  Which of the above statement(s) is/are incorrect? 1 Only  2 Only Both 1 and 2  Neither 1 nor 2 ANSWERS FOR 6th Sept 2021 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 D 2 A 3 B Must Read On Federalism and Consultations: The Hindu On Taliban and China: The Hindu On India’s Digital Infrastructure: Livemint

Sep 7, 2021 Rapid Revision (RaRe) Series for UPSC

[Day 100]: 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-100 of RaRe Series - Click here To Register - Click here For complete details of the RaRe Series -  Click here

Sep 7, 2021 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz – 2021 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 7th September 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

Sep 6, 2021 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 6th September 2021

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Nipah Virus Part of: Prelims and GS – III- Health & Diseases Context: After a gap of over three years, a case of the zoonotic Nipah virus infection was reported in Kerala, with the death of a 12-year-old boy at a private hospital. About Nipah Virus The first outbreaks of the Nipah virus among humans was reported from Malaysia (1998) and Singapore (1999).  The virus takes its name from the village in Malaysia where the person in whom the virus was first isolated died of the disease. It is a zoonotic virus, meaning it has been transmitted from animals to human beings.  Fruit bats, commonly known as flying fox, are considered to be a natural reservoir of the virus. Fruit bats are known to transmit this virus to other animals like pigs, and also dogs, cats, goats, horses and sheep. Humans get infected mainly through direct contact with these animals. The virus can also be passed on through food contaminated by saliva or urine of these infected animals or directly from person-to-person.  Symptoms include acute encephalitis and respiratory illnesses. The Nipah virus is known to spread far more slowly than SARS-CoV-2. However, it is its ability to kill that is the biggest concern Inspiration4 Part of: Prelims and GS – III- Space Context: SpaceX announced that ‘Inspiration4’, its first all-civilian, non-governmental spaceflight, is on track for launch on September 15. About Inspiration4 Inspiration4 is the world’s first all-civilian mission to orbit. The flight will be privately operated by SpaceX (US Private Space Company) using a previously-flown Crew Dragon capsule launched to low Earth orbit.  Inspiration4 will blast off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on September 15. The mission involves circling the Earth for three days, and then splashing down into the Atlantic Ocean. Inspiration4 will orbit the Earth at 575km, higher than the International Space Station (408km) and the Hubble space telescope (547km).  This will be the farthest distance travelled by a crewed mission since 2009, when astronauts last went to repair the Hubble. The mission will raise awareness and funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in US. Do You Know? SpaceX company's Ax-1 mission, also planned for the end of 2021, hosts a crew of four private astronauts paying $55 million each for an eight-day trip to the ISS. In 2018, Elon Musk also announced Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa will take a ride around the moon on SpaceX's new rocket system Starship, which is under development. Falcon 9 is a reusable, two-stage rocket designed and manufactured by SpaceX for the reliable and safe transport of people and payloads into Earth orbit and beyond. Account Aggregator (AA) Part of: Prelims and GS – III- Economy Context: Recently, eight of India’s major banks — SBI, ICICI, Axis, IDFC First Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, HDFC Bank, IndusInd Bank and Federal Bank — joined the Account Aggregator (AA) network that will enable customers to easily access and share their financial data.  The framework, which has been under discussion since 2016 and in the testing phase for some time, will now be open to all customers. About Account Aggregator According to RBI, an Account Aggregator is a non-banking financial company engaged in the business of providing the service of retrieving or collecting financial information pertaining to its customer.  It is also engaged in consolidating, organising and presenting such information to the customer or any other financial information user as may be specified by the bank. An Account Aggregator is a financial utility for secure flow of data controlled by the individual. It will compile all the digital footprints of the customer at one place and make it easy for lenders to access it.  The licence for AAs is issued by the RBI, and the financial sector will have many AAs. Significance of AA:  It reduces the need for individuals to wait in long bank queues, use Internet banking portals or share their passwords to access and share their financial documents. It is an addition to India’s digital infrastructure as it will allow banks to access consented data flows and verified data. This will help banks reduce transaction costs & offer more tailored products and services to customers.  It will also help us reduce frauds and comply with upcoming privacy laws. What is AA Framework? The AA framework was created through an inter-regulatory decision by RBI and other regulators including SEBI, IRDAI, and PFRDA through and initiative of the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC).  The AA framework allows customers to avail various financial services from a host of providers on a single portal based on a consent method, under which the consumers can choose what financial data to share and with which entity. Can an AA see or store data? Data transmitted through the AA is encrypted. AAs are not allowed to store, process and sell the customer’s data. No financial information accessed by the AA from a Bank should reside with the AA.  It should not use the services of a third-party service provider for undertaking the business of account aggregation.  User authentication credentials of customers relating to accounts with various Banks shall not be accessed by the AA. Logistics agreement with Russia Part of: Prelims and GS – II- International Relations Context: India is all set to conclude the bilateral logistics agreement with Russia soon while the agreement with the U.K. is in the final stages of conclusion. Key Takeaways The Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Agreement (RELOS) is likely to be signed by Indiain next two months The agreement is an administrative arrangements facilitating access to military facilities for exchange of fuel and provisions on mutual agreement  This cooperation simplifies logistical support and increases operational turnaround of the military when operating away from India. India has signed similar logistics agreements with all Quad countries, France, Singapore and South Korea beginning with LEMOA with the U.S in 2016. About LEMOA: The Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement  It was signed between India and the US in August 2016. It allows the military of each country to replenish from the other’s bases: access supplies, spare parts and services from the other country’s land facilities, air bases, and ports, which can then be reimbursed.  This is extremely useful for Navy-to-Navy cooperation, since the US and India are cooperating closely in the Indo-Pacific. To put this simple words, it is like going to a friend’s garage and workshop to refuel one’s car and getting repairs done. But, by doing this, one is also exposing one’s car and technology to the friend, and that requires trust. If signing LEMOA needed trust, its application enhances the trust. It took almost a decade to negotiate LEMOA.  Read More on Indo-US Defence Deals Brahmani River Part of: Prelims and GS – I- Geography Context: Environmentalists have expressed concern over the massive diversion of fresh water from the Brahmani river basin, which could pose a grave threat to the famous mangrove vegetation in Odisha. The Talcher-Angul coal mines, steel and power plants as well as the Kalinganagar steel and power hub are drawing enormous quantities of fresh water from the Brahmani river. About: The Brahmani is a major seasonal river in the Odisha state of eastern India.  The Brahmani is formed by the confluence of the Sankh and South Koel rivers. Together with the river Baitarani, it forms a large delta before emptying into the Bay of Bengal at Dhamra. Bhitarkanika — a notified Ramsar wetland — is spread over 195 sq. km and is home to 62 mangrove species.  Proportionate fresh water flow from the Brahmani river basin and the Kharasrota river keep the salinity level of the water along the shore down. (News from PIB) SIMBEX Part of: GS Prelims  In News: The 28th edition of Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) was conducted from 02 to 04 Sep 21. About SIMBEX Initiated in 1994 Indian Navy’s longest uninterrupted bilateral maritime exercise with any foreign navy i.e., Singapore Significance of bilateral defence ties between both countries Sustained the continuity of this significant engagement despite the challenges of the ongoing pandemic  Despite these constraints during the planning stages, both navies could achieve seamless and safe execution of several challenging evolutions including live weapon firing and advanced naval warfare serials, including anti-submarine, anti-air and anti-surface warfare drills.  The scale and complexity of the drills is ample testimony to the interoperability achieved between both Navies. News Source: PIB V. O. Chidambaram Pillai Part of: GS-1: Personalities in Indian national movement In News: The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has remembered freedom fighter V. O. Chidambaram Pillai on his 150th birth anniversary. About V. O. Chidambaram Pillai Born on September 5, 1872, Pillai is popularly known as ‘Kappalottiya Tamizhan’ or "The Tamil Helmsman" He is best remembered for the venture he ran against tremendous odds, the Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company, to challenge the monopoly of the British in sea trade. He launched the first indigenous Indian shipping service between Tuticorin and Colombo with the Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company (SSNC), competing against British ships. Pillai’s ambitions were high—though services were restricted to Tuticorin and Colombo, Swadeshi aimed to “popularize the art of Navigation" among “Nations of the East", to employ “Asiatics", to open dockyards, and do whatever it could to revitalize India’s maritime traditions. Tuticorin Port Trust, one of India's thirteen major ports, is named after him. Play on V. O. Chidambaram Pillai: Desabhaktar Chidambaranar Film on his life: Kappalottiya Tamizhan News Source: PIB (Mains Focus) GOVERNANCE/ SOCIETY GS-1: Indian Society & its challenges GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors The key to revitalising India’s reservation system Context: Introducing reservations for OBCs in the All India Quota of National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) examinations. Why Reservations? In deeply unequal and oppressive social order of Indian Society, some sort of state support (like reservations) is needed to promote inclusive development. Through reservations, marginalised groups — which have suffered generations of oppression and humiliation — would be able to find place in the power sharing and decision-making processes.  However, reservation has not translated into an equalisation of life chances for many groups in our heterogeneous society. Issues Intra-Group Demands: There is now a strong demand to revise the policy, from those who have not been able to enjoy the benefits of reservations from within the marginalised sections Asymmetrical distribution of reservation: 97% of central OBC quota benefits go to just under 25% of its castes. As many as 983 OBC communities — 37% of the total — have zero representation in both central government jobs and admissions to central universities. (G.Rohini Commission report) Insufficiency of Data: There is hardly any legible data on the socio-economic conditions of varied social groups at State & local level. Also, we do not know what liberalisation has done to castes which remained tied to more traditional sources of income. Way Forward:  There is a need for an institution alike the Equal Opportunities Commission of the USA or UK which can undertake the following:  Make a deprivation index by using the data from the socio-economic-based census of different communities and rank them to make policies specific to each deprived community. Undertake an audit on performance of employers and educational institutions on non-discrimination and equal opportunity provided. Issue codes of good practice in different sectors. Connecting the dots: Reviewing Reservations ‘Creamy layer’ and exclusion from reservation Andhra Pradesh Locals First Policy Madhya Pradesh domicile based quota Reservation is not a fundamental right INTERNATIONAL/ ECONOMY GS-2: India and its neighbourhood. GS-3: Economic Challenges Srilankan Economic Crisis Context: Sri Lanka’s government declared an economic emergency amid rising food prices, a depreciating currency, and rapidly depleting forex reserves.  President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has called in the army to manage the crisis by rationing the supply of various essential goods. Why is Sri Lanka’s economy in trouble? A number of factors have led to the current economic crisis in Sri Lanka. The tourism industry, which represents over 10% of the country’s GDP and brings in foreign exchange, has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.  As a result, forex reserves have dropped from over $7.5 billion in 2019 to around $2.8 billion in July 2021.  With the supply of foreign exchange reducing, the amount of money that Sri Lankans have had to shell out to purchase the foreign exchange necessary to import goods has risen. So the value of the Sri Lankan rupee has depreciated by around 8% so far this year.  Sri Lanka depends heavily on imports to meet even its basic food supplies. So the price of food items has risen in tandem with the depreciating Sri Lankan rupee. The government’s ban on the use of chemical fertilisers in farming (to make the country 100% organic) has further aggravated the crisis by reducing agricultural production It is predicted that the forced push towards organic farming could halve the production of tea and other crops and lead to a food crisis that is even worse than the current one What has been the government’s response to the crisis? The Sri Lankan government has blamed speculators for causing the rise in food prices by hoarding essential supplies and has declared an economic emergency under the Public Security Ordinance.  The army has been tasked with the duty of seizing food supplies from traders and supplying them to consumers at fair prices.  It has also been given the powers to ensure that forex reserves are used only for the purchase of essential goods.  The government has refused to end its aggressive push for complete organic farming claiming that the short-term pain of going organic will be compensated by its long-term benefits. It has also promised to supply farmers with organic fertilisers as an alternative.  Further, Sri Lanka’s central bank in early 2021 prohibited traders from exchanging more than 200 Sri Lankan rupees for an American dollar and stopped traders from entering into forward currency contracts. Will the government’s response help the economy? The President’s drive to make Sri Lankan agriculture fully organic is likely to lead to a significant drop in domestic food production and cause a further rise in prices.  Also, the various steps taken by the government to tackle the crisis may actually make things worse.  The capping of food prices, for instance, can lead to severe shortages as demand exceeds supply at the price fixed by the government.  People have already had to queue up to buy essential goods due to rising shortages. The strong-arm tactics of the army can also have unintended consequences. When supplies are seized from traders, there is lesser incentive for them to bring in fresh supplies to the market. This can lead to a further drop in supplies and even higher prices for essential goods.  Conclusion Government has to take necessary remedial measures so as to prevent the economic crisis turning into socio-political crisis. Connecting the dots: India-Sri Lanka Ties Sri Lanka’s India First Policy Colombo Security Conclave (AIR Spotlight) Spotlight Sep 5: DISCUSSION ON “KARBI ANGLONG PEACE ACCORD https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwjuab8k1mc POLITY/ SECURITY GS-2: Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure GS-3: Internal Security Karbi Anglong Peace Accord IIn News: A historic Karbi Anglong Agreement to end the decades old crisis ensuring Assam’s territorial integrity was signed. With the signing of the agreement, the union government said that those who shun violence will be “brought into the mainstream” and the government will “talk to them even more politely and give them more than their demands”. The Agreement  A Special Development Package of Rs. 1000 crores over five years will be given by the Union Government and Assam Government to undertake specific projects for the development of Karbi areas. Ensure greater devolution of autonomy to the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, protection of identity, language, culture, etc. of Karbi people and focussed development of the Council area, without affecting the territorial and administrative integrity of Assam. The Karbi armed groups have agreed to abjure violence and join the peaceful democratic process as established by law of the land. The Agreement also provides for rehabilitation of cadres of the armed groups. The cadre of the armed forces would be encouraged to take part in various employment generation activities of the government and other government benefits. The Government of Assam shall set up a Karbi Welfare Council for focused development of Karbi people living outside KAAC area. The Consolidated Fund of the State will be augmented to supplement the resources of KAAC. Overall, the present settlement proposes to give more legislative, executive, administrative and financial powers to KAAC. Army, paramilitary forces and police shall organise a special drive for the recruitment of the Karbi youth. Cases filed against the armed groups which are non- heinous in nature shall be withdrawn by the Assam government in accordance with the law and as far as heinous cases are concerned a call will be taken on a case-to-case basis. The Assam government will provide financial compensation of Rs 5 lakh to each of the next of kin of persons who lost their lives in agitations related to autonomous State demand and have not yet been compensated in any manner. Background Apart from the Bodoland movement and the one led by ULFA for a sovereign Assam, the Karbi insurgency — for a separate state of Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills — is one of the several insurgencies that Assam has faced over the years. The Karbi have been demanding a separate state since 1946. Later, their movement took the shape of an insurgency which intensified in the 1990s. The Centre signed various ceasefire agreements with different groups but there were always breakaway factions that continued armed struggle. In February 2021, just ahead of the Assam assembly polls, 1,040 militants of five Karbi outfits surrendered before then Chief Minister Sonowal. The current accord is a result of negotiations with the five groups since then. The tripartite MoU was signed twice in 1995 and 2011, but these agreements had failed to establish peace in Karbi-Anglong. The recent agreement is the result of several rounds of talks between the central government and representatives of the Karbi and Kuki organisations in an effort to find a comprehensive and final solution to the demands of the Karbi group, while upholding the territorial integrity of Assam. This agreement hopes to put that in the past. Karbi Anglong  Located in central Assam, Karbi Anglong is the state’s largest district and a melting pot of ethnicities and tribal groups — Karbi, Dimasa, Bodo, Kuki, Hmar, Tiwa, Garo, Man (Tai speakers), Rengma Naga.  It is an autonomous district under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution and is divided into two parts — East Karbi Anglong (EKA) and West Karbi Anglong (WKA) — with its administrative headquarters at Diphu town in EKA. The Karbi Anglong District Council (KADC), which safeguards the rights of the tribal people, was upgraded to Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) in April 1995. Its diversity also spawned different outfits and fuelled an insurgency that did not allow the region to develop. Discuss: An Insurgency-free prosperous Northeast (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 The Karbi Anglong insurgency often seen in the news is associated with which of the following state? Nagaland Arunachal Pradesh Mizoram Assam Q.2 Consider the following statements about Account Aggregators (AAs) It will compile all the digital footprints of the customer at one place and make it easy for lenders to access it.  The licence for AAs is issued by the Ministry of Finance  Select the Correct statements: 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3 SIMBEX is bilateral exercise between India and __________  Seychelles Singapore  South Korea South Africa ANSWERS FOR 3rd Sept 2021 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 C 2 C 3 A Must Read On Judicial role in lawmaking process: The Hindu On Nutrition and Sanitation: Indian Express On ADM Jabalpur Case & Right to Life (useful for PSIR Students): The Leaflet

Sep 6, 2021 Rapid Revision (RaRe) Series for UPSC

[Day 99]: 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-99 of RaRe Series - Click here To Register - Click here For complete details of the RaRe Series -  Click here

Sep 6, 2021 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz – 2021 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 6th September 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