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TLP Mains Answer Writing

IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – General Studies Paper 1 Questions [14th JULY,2021] – Day 133

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE Hello Friends, Welcome to IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – General Studies Paper 1 Questions [14th JULY,2021] – Day 133 TLP (Phase 1) just got over on 8th May (Saturday) and we are extremely thankful for your active participation to make this program a success. Well, though TLP (Phase 1) got over, ‘Picture abhi baaqi hai mere dost’. There is a surprise for you. Since prelims is bound to get delayed once again this year, its not wise to leave the writing practice just now. Hence, we are extending the TLP program  We will be posting 3 questions per day (Monday to Friday). The questions will be based on Current Affairs, so that you don’t have to invest your time separately on exclusively mains oriented topics. So, keep practicing and keep improving. To Know More about TLP  -> CLICK HERE For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE Note: Click on Each Question (Link), it will open in a new tab and then Answer respective questions! 1. What are grasslands? Discuss their global distribution. Also examine their ongoing desertification by taking the Sahel region as the case in point. (10 Marks) घास के मैदान क्या हैं? उनके वैश्विक वितरण पर चर्चा करें। मामले के रूप में सहेल क्षेत्र को लेकर उनके चल रहे मरुस्थलीकरण की भी जांच करें। 2. What are producer services? Discuss their global distribution pattern. (10 Marks) उत्पादक सेवाएं क्या हैं? उनके वैश्विक वितरण पैटर्न पर चर्चा करें। 3. Section 66A of the IT Act was in news recently. Why? What are your views on this issue? (15 Marks) आईटी एक्ट की धारा 66ए हाल ही में चर्चा में रही थी। क्यों? इस मुद्दे पर आपके क्या विचार हैं? AWARE ( Answer Writing REdefined) Series - 7 Steps to Master Answer Writing Skills by Mohan Sir - CLICK HERE P.S: The review from IASbaba will happen from the time the question is posted till 10 pm every day. We would also encourage peer reviews. So friends get actively involved and start reviewing each other's answers. This will keep the entire community motivated. All the Best :)

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 13th July 2021

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Soil-less agriculture Part of: GS Prelims and GS -III - Sci and tech  In news A former naval officer who is an expert in soil-less agriculture has been carrying out campaign, ‘Mission Turmeric 2021’  It aims to begin an “orange revolution” by teaching people to cultivate turmeric in shade houses in grow bags (large porous containers made of high density polyethylene) packed with coco-peat (made from the pith of the coconut husk) instead of soil.  The method resulted in better yield with higher Curcumin content. Curcumin is a bright yellow phenolic compound in Turmeric known for its potential to fight cancer. What is soil-less agriculture?  In soil-less agriculture, such as hydroponics, micro and macro nutrients that have been pre-mixed into a water reservoir, along with high levels of oxygen, are delivered efficiently to the plant roots.  Advantages of Soilless Agriculture Faster growth Extreme decrease in water and nutrient use Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA): CEA is a method of agriculture that optimizes the temperature, humidity, airflow, and light within the growing environment of a farm.  Location: The farm is closer to the consumer, decreasing the carbon footprint of delivery and increasing the freshness of the product.  Requires less space to grow Challenges Soil-less agriculture cannot be treated as a magic solution. Besides the high initial investment, the method requires practice in order to succeed.  Growers need to manage the various parameters more meticulously as compared to soil-based cultivation.  And despite the good results, there is no premium pricing for the produce from hydroponics News Source: TH APEDA inks MoU with NAFED Part of: GS Prelims and GS -III - Economy In news the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED). About the MoU Objective of the MoU: For harnessing exports potential of agricultural and processed food products of cooperatives and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) The key areas of cooperation include facilitating APEDA registered exporters getting assistance under all the schemes implemented through NAFED.  The MoU shall ensure sustainability and growth of exports by Cooperatives by addressing issues such as technology, skill, quality products and market access. It will also facilitate participation of Farmers’ Cooperatives in global trade What is Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)? It is an apex body under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry responsible for the export promotion of agricultural products.  It was established under the APEDA Act of 1985. Functions  Promotion of exports of agricultural and processed food products.  Promotion of export oriented production and development of the Scheduled products. To make Improvement in areas such as packaging Setting standards and specifications for the scheduled products  Financial assistance, reliefs and subsidies to the related industries. Provide training in the related areas What is National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED)? It is an apex organization of marketing cooperatives for agricultural produce in India. It was founded on 2nd October 1958. It is registered under the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002. NAFED is now one of the largest procurement as well as marketing agencies for agricultural products in India. Objectives:  (1) To organize, promote and develop marketing, processing and storage of agricultural, horticultural and forest produce;  (2) To distribute agricultural machinery, implements and other inputs;  (3) To act and assist for technical advice in agricultural production News Source: PIB Retail Direct Gilt Accounts (RDG) scheme of RBI Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III -Economy In news The RBI has announced a scheme under which retail investors will be allowed to open retail direct gilt accounts (RDG) directly with the central bank. As part of continuing efforts to increase retail participation in government securities, ‘the RBI Retail Direct’ facility was announced in February 2021. A “Gilt Account” means an account opened and maintained for holding Government securities, by an entity or a person. What are the features of the scheme? Objective: For improving ease of access by retail investors through online access to the G-secs market – both primary and secondary – along with the facility to open their gilt securities account (‘Retail Direct’) with the RBI. This account can be opened through a dedicated online portal, which will provide registered users access to primary issuance of government securities (G-secs) and to NDS-OM. NDS-OM means RBI’s screen based, anonymous electronic order matching system for trading in government securities in the secondary market. This will provide one-stop solution to facilitate investment in G-secs by individual investors. No fee will be charged for opening and maintaining the account with the RBI. Non-Resident retail investors eligible to invest in government securities under Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 are also eligible under the scheme. Do You Know? When Government issues its securities first time (Primary Market) then authorized  institutions are allowed to purchase G-secs. These institutions are called Primary dealers which include banks and finance related companies.  Once these have purchased the G-secs, other institutions such as RBI, Banks, NBFCs can purchase these securities in the secondary market  Few years back, RBI allowed  individuals (retail investors) to participate in primary market as well as secondary market but not directly rather through other institutions. Till now, Govt. securities was traded in a lot size of minimum Rs. 5 crore and by the institutional investors (banks, NBFCs etc., RBI) but now with the participation of retail investors, this lot size will be reduced and retail investors will be able to buy/sell govt. securities easily.  If a retail investor is able to sell his govt. securities easily (even of small value) that means more and better liquidity facility. What is Government Security (G-sec)? G-secs are debt instruments issued by the government to borrow money. Like bank fixed deposits, g-secs are not tax-free. They are generally considered the safest form of investment because they are backed by the government. So, the risk of default is almost nil. However, they are subject to fluctuations in interest rates. So, they are not completely risk-free. Such securities are short term (treasury bills having maturity period of 91 day, 182 day and 364 day) or long term (Government bonds with maturity of one year or more). In India, the Central Government issues both treasury bills and bonds or dated securities while the State Governments issue only bonds or dated securities, which are called the State Development Loans (SDLs). Inflation remains above 6% in June 2021 Part of: GS Prelims and GS -III - Economy In news Inflation remained above 6% in June at 6.3%. Growth impulses remained fragile with the second COVID-19 wave hurting the recovery momentum. Experts opine that lack of policy support from government (Ex: Cutting oil taxes) to bring down inflation could make RBI reverse its growth supporting approach (low interest rates) Consumer durables and capital goods stood out as the worst affected sectors in May Important findings with regard to output/production industries (For May 2021) Manufacturing Decreased to 9.5%  Electricity  Decreased to 7% Mining  Increased slightly by 0.6% Inflation in different sectors (June 2021) Fuel and light  12.7%  Oils and fats Increased by 34.8% Eggs Increased by 19.4%  Do you know? There are different indices in India like Wholesale Price Index(WPI), Consumer Price Index(CPI) etc which measure inflation rates in India.  But what we generally find in headlines as inflation rate in India is Inflation rate based on CPI. The Difference between WPI and CPI Context WPI CPI Definition Amounts to the average change in prices of commodities at the wholesale level. Indicates the average change in the prices of commodities at the retail level. Publishing office Office of Economic Advisor (Ministry of Commerce & Industry) Central Statistics Office (Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation) & Labour Bureau Commodities Goods only Goods and Services both Base Year 2011-12 2012 Note: Base Year to be revised. Published Monthly Monthly News source: TH Naga Peace Talks Part of: GS Prelims and GS -II - North East insurgency; Centre state relations In news Recently, the Nagaland Government appealed to all Naga political groups and extremist groups to cooperate in establishing unity, reconciliation and peace in the region. The peace process between the central government and two sets of the Naga extremist groups has been delaying for more than 23 years. What is the background of Naga Insurgency? The Naga Hills became part of British India in 1881. The effort to bring scattered Naga tribes together resulted in the formation of the Naga Club in 1918. The club metamorphosed into the Naga National Council (NNC) in 1946. Under the leadership of Angami Zapu Phizo, the NNC declared Nagaland as an independent State on 14th August, 1947, and conducted a “referendum” in May 1951 to claim that 99.9% of the Nagas supported a “sovereign Nagaland”. Nagaland achieved statehood in December 1963 In 1975, under the Shillong Accord, some factions of NNC agreed to give up arms. Some members led by Thuingaleng Muivah refused to accept the Shillong Accord and formed the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) in 1980. In 1988, the NSCN split into NSCN (IM) and NSCN (K) after a violent clash. The NSCN (IM) came to be seen as the “mother of all insurgencies” in the region. Ceasefire Agreement (1997): Signed between NSCN-IM and the government to stop attacks on Indian armed forces. In return, the government would stop all counter-insurgency offensive operations. Framework Agreement (2015): The Indian Government recognised the unique history, culture and position of the Nagas. Recently, the State government decided to prepare the Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland but later due to pressure from various fractions, the decision was put on hold What are the demands of Naga Groups? Key demand: Greater Nagalim (sovereign statehood) i.e redrawing of boundaries to bring all Naga-inhabited areas in the Northeast under one administrative umbrella. It includes parts of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Assam and Myanmar. The demand also includes the separate Naga Yezabo (Constitution) and Naga national flag. News Source: TH NASA’s VIPER Mission Part of: GS Prelims and GS - III -Space In news NASA has announced that it will launch its Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) in 2023  About the mission VIPER stands for Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover. It is a mobile robot. Objectives: To explore the Moon’s South Pole region. Help create lunar resource maps. Evaluate the concentration of water as well as other potential resources on its surface. To understand if it is possible for human life to sustain there, by using locally available resources. It is the first resource mapping mission on any other celestial body. NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) will be providing the launch vehicle and lander for what’s going to be a 100-day mission. Significance: VIPER’s findings will inform “future landing sites under the Artemis program by helping to determine locations where water and other resources can be harvested” to sustain humans over extended stays. About Artemis Program During the Artemis program, NASA will land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon, using innovative technologies to explore more of the lunar surface than ever before.  NASA will collaborate with other commercial and international partners and establish sustainable exploration for the first time.  Then, the learning from Moon exploration will enable NASA to take the next giant leap – sending astronauts to Mars. News Source: TH Businessline (Mains Focus) EDUCATION/ GOVERNANCE Topic: GS-2: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education, Human Resources  GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Prioritising school reopening on the road to recovery Context: Most schools in India have been closed since the national lockdown started in March 2020.  Criticism of Prolonged School Closures  Foreign Nations kept their schools running: Various regions around the world have kept their schools, especially primary schools, mostly open. This includes various European countries such as Portugal, France, the Netherlands, etc.  Discriminatory Treatment to education: On the other hand in India, schools have mostly been shut even as other businesses have opened. Widening Learning Gap: The bottom half of children passing Class 10 are about two years behind in terms of skills. Prolonged school closure has already widened this gap. The poorest families living in dense urban slums, who bore the brunt of the first wave are the ones suffering the most from school closures. Increased Vulnerability to dropout: A survey across 10 States in India in November 2020 estimated that nearly two-thirds of children in rural India may drop out of school, a staggering statistic which is likely to have worsened with continuing closure. Erosion of Socail Progress made: Prolonged school shutdown has severely set back India’s fight against ills such as child labour and child marriage. Malnutrition: Due to the shutdown of schools, mid-day meal schemes have been disrupted; even as early as June 2020, it was estimated that about 800,000 additional children would face underweight and wasting. Given the costs of prolonged school shutdown, there is a need to probe deeper into the risks of opening schools in the context of COVID-19. Assessing the risk factor we must realise, and be grateful that the risk of COVID-19 for children is much lower than for adults. A study among the nearly two million children in Sweden (where schools have been open throughout), found that there was not a single child death due to COVID-19  As per Mumbai’s dashboard data, the COVID-19 IFR (Infection Fatality Rate) for under-19 is minuscule: about 0.003% . In comparison, the infant mortality rate in India is about 3% (1,000 times greater)  In other words, school-age children are at a negligibly lower risk from COVID-19 when compared to other threats which we consider normal. Teachers as ‘essential’ staff To reduce the concern among teachers about virus spread, the Government must treat them on a par with essential workers, and offer them prioritised vaccination. Vaccines for children There are suggestions about tying school reopening to vaccines for children.  Any medical intervention, especially for children, must be based on a careful risk-benefit analysis.  It is pertinent to note that there are growing concerns in the U.S. of a potential link between heart inflammation and the mRNA vaccine, among adolescents Conclusion We cannot let our children suffer for that long, by further prolonging school closures. Policymakers must make evidence-based decisions toward school reopening.  Connecting the dots: New National Education Policy, 2020 Online Education during Pandemic SOCIETY/ GOVERNANCE Topic: GS-1: Population and associated issues,  GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.  Family mis-planning: UP’s New Population Policy Context: A new population policy released by Uttar Pradesh’s CM has stated that it not only aims to bring fertility levels down, but also, notably, to “ensure there is a population balance among various communities” The policy comes at a time when The Uttar Pradesh State Law Commission has prepared a proposed draft bill for population control. Do You Know? India has just 2% of the world’s landmass and 16% of the global population. The current Total Fertility Rate (TFR) of Uttar Pradesh was 2.7. India’s TFR is declining. It is now 2.2 per woman, nearing the replacement rate of 2.1, according to the latest government data. TFR indicates the average number of children expected to be born to a woman during her reproductive span of 15-49 years. UP’s Population Policy aims at: Decreasing the total fertility rate from 2.7 to 2.1 by 2026 and 1.7 by 2030. Increase modern contraceptive prevalence rate from 31.7% to 45% by 2026 and 52% by 2030. Increase male methods of contraception use from 10.8% to 15.1% by 2026 and 16.4% by 2030. Decrease maternal mortality rate from 197 to 150 to 98, and infant mortality rate from 43 to 32 to 22, and under 5 infant mortality rate from 47 to 35 to 25. The State’s policy also aims at increasing the life expectancy from 64.3 to 69 by 2030 and child sex ratio (0-6 years) from 899 to 919 by 2030. Draft Population Control Bill under which a two-child norm would be implemented and promoted has the following incentives: Upon voluntary sterilisation of self or spouse after the second child, a government servant can receive two additional increments during the period of service, subsidy on property purchase from government bodies, housing loans at softer terms, rebates on utility charges, maternity/paternity leave of 12 months, 3% additional contribution from government (as employer) to NPS.  For sterilisation post one-child, there is free healthcare and insurance for the child, free education up to graduation, scholarship if the child is a girl, etc. For those who are not government employees and still contribute towards keeping the population in check, benefits like rebates in taxes on water, housing, home loans etc. will be provided BPL couples adopting the one-child policy will get lumpsum money from the government. It proposes that any citizen who “violates” a two-child policy not only be barred from contesting local bodies polls  Other Key Provisions of the Proposed Bill Awareness: State government to introduce population control as compulsory subject in all secondary schools. Awareness and extensive programmes would be held among those communities, cadres and geographical areas that have a higher fertility rate Applicability: The provision of this legislation shall apply to a married couple where the boy is not less than 21 years of age and the girl is not less than 18. Non-Coercive: The policy will be voluntary – it will not be enforced upon anyone Dedicated Fund: The Uttar Pradesh government plans to set up a state population fund to implement the measures. Issues and concerns associated with the Bill: A policy or law that arms governments with more powers over citizens is erroneous for a fundamental reason: India is not being threatened by a “population explosion”. Rather, India is naturally witnessing Population decline. TFR has declined from 3.4 in 1994 to 2.2 in 2015. Even in populous UP, the TFR has fallen an impressive 1.1 points to 2.7 in the span of a decade — without the state’s coercive measures Experts have advised caution against any population policy that puts women’s health and well being at risk. Given that the burden of contraception and family planning disproportionately falls on women, it is likely that female sterilisation will increase further. Stringent population control measures can potentially lead to an increase in these practices and unsafe abortions given the strong son-preference in India, as has been witnessed in a few states in the past. The success of India’s southern states in containing population growth indicates that economic growth as well as attention to education, health and empowerment of women work far better to disincentivise larger families than punitive measures.  Conclusion Any government interested in supporting fertility decline, then, must go to work on the education and empowerment of women and respecting their choice. Connecting the dots: Population Worry Population Stabilization (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note: Correct answers of today’s questions will be provided in next day’s DNA section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers. Comments Up-voted by IASbaba are also the “correct answers”. Q.1 Agricultural and processed food products export Development Authority comes under which of the following Ministry?  Ministry of agriculture Ministry of Urban Affairs Ministry of commerce and industry Ministry of fertilizers Q.2 Consider the following statements regarding advantages of soilless agriculture It leads to Extreme decrease in water and nutrient use.  It helps in decreasing the carbon footprint of delivery and increases the freshness of the product Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3 Consider the following statements regarding WPI and CPI WPI is published annually while CPI is published monthly. WPI is published by Ministry of Commerce and industry while CPI is published under Ministry of statistics and programme implementation. Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 ANSWERS FOR 12th July 2021 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 D 2 A 3 C Must Read On Regional Powers and Afghanistan: Indian Express On Population Explosion: Financial Express On Tracing the decline of US Power: The Hindu

TLP Mains Answer Writing

SYNOPSIS [12th JULY,2021] Day 131: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE   SYNOPSIS [12th JULY,2021] Day 131: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)   1. Do you think making the poll promise of free electricity to the electorate is an economically viable idea? Critically comment  Approach  The question is based on recent announcements of free electricity by political parties.The candidate needs to keep electricity as a centripetal force around which the answer needs to be written.In introduction write need of electricity.Then proceed to write positive and negative effects of free electricity.In last take a balanced view. Introduction  Electricity is an essential commodity especially in 21st century when each and every every work which individual or processes in various industries depend upon availability of reliable source of electricity.The per capita consumption of electricity has become a mark of gauging development of a country.In this context the promise  of free electricity by political parties has started a discussion on the viability of the idea and essentiality in the face of growing  reliance of electricity. Body  The government of Delhi has implemented its scheme of free electricity upto 200 units and 50% subsidy on units 200-400. The scheme has been successfully implemented and now the ruling party is promising such policy in other states.India already has provisions of free electricity for farm sector in various states such as Karnataka, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu etc.Thus the increasing trend of giving free electricity has raised the quest economic viability of such promises. Arguments in support of Free electricity and its viability:  In the modern world, access to electricity is the gateway to prosperity. It is not the end result but rather the means to achieve anything. From the basic comfort of an electric fan needed for a good sleep to using a computer which provides basic employability skills, access to electricity is all the more important. The free lifeline electricity scheme essentially addresses power requirements of the least privileged section of the society. Under Article 21 of the Constitution, Right to Life means the right to lead a meaningful, complete and dignified life. In today’s era one can not even think of a dignified life without access to electricity and therefore providing free electricity for most essential services like a tube light and electric fan becomes a duty of any welfare state.  Access to electricity is a defining element in determining one’s prospects, therefore, this scheme would go miles in filling the gap between the haves and have not. The farmers who are marginal in nature and are not covered by canal irrigation needs to be compensated by giving free electricity as otherwise they will not be able to cultivate and give rise to poverty. India is one of the lowest consumer of electricity which is a parameter for development.This incentive can provide a much needed push for economic growth and development. Free electricity will create new opportunities for working class and reduce wastage due to ceiling in subsidy. Power  Discoms have not been able to meter all the power consumers.The free electricity can lead to universal metering and that can stop leakages in future  Free electricity scheme is unviable economically because:  Depleted aquifers due to overexploitation of groundwater.Thus as the ground water recedes further it increases the cost of pumping and need farmers need to dig more deeper wells.This increases the cost of farming and also works against marginal farmers who don’t possess resources.This leads to further marginalisation. Massive waste of power due to large unmetered connections.Free electricity leads to irresponsible behaviour.The consumers may get the electricity free but still there is cost of production and distribution which the government needs to pay for.In a fiscally stressed country like India this takes away essential resources away from government.The present subsidy bill for free electricity is 33,000 crore. Huge financial burden on state governments.The state finances which were already in precarious situation before pandemic have been stressed further.Therefore instead of capital infrastructure the extra burden from free electricity will be irrational. Deteriorating financial health of the electricity distribution companies (DISCOMs).It is the discoms who have to besr the burden of free electricity as state delay their payments.This has led to distribution sector being debt ridden which has stopped innovation and growth  Increased cross-subsidy burden on industrial and commercial consumers.The free electricity will increase burden on other sectors of economy such as commercial sector.In the pandemic battered economy it would not be a prudent strategy. Promotes unsustainable agriculture: free availability of electricity to farmers promotes growth of crops not suitable to agro-climatic zones like rice in Maharashtra etc.This actually hurts economic viability by avoiding diversification and making India dependent on commodities like pulses and oil seeds while there are extra buffer stocks of wheat and rice. Solutions to address the issue of viability as well as essentially of electricity: There needs to be targeted subsidy rather than universal subsidy.This can be done trough socioeconomic caste census data of 2011.This will ensure equity and limit the state expenditure. The subsidy further provided need to be trough direct benefits transfer as said by union government.This will avoid inefficiencies and avoid over inclusion. A policy paper need to be introduced in state legislature on impact of free electricity and its outcome.This will make state governments accountable and avoid poll promises which go against the interest of state exchequer. There should be 100% metering and further focus on reducing wastage trough transmission by a unified grid.This will reduce the cost of electricity. Conclusion Electricity is a basic necessity in modern world and it’s the states responsibility to provide it to the citizens for betterment livelihood.But this should not mean to avoid prudence in fiscal and economic sense as it would lead to burdening of future generations for todays poll promises.Therefore rather than universal free electricity declaration a targeted approach with further reforms in discoms and governance should be the way forward. 2. How has the successful launch of Agni P strengthened India’s deterrence capabilities? Comment. What cue can other indigenous programs take from the success of Agni P? Discuss.   Approach  Introduce with recent development on Agni prime missile.In next part mention points on how it adds to deterrence capabilities of forces and in last part write what lessons can be learned from here on. Introduction  Agni-P or Agni-Prime is a medium-range ballistic missile being developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) as a successor for Agni-I and Agni-II missiles in the operational service of Strategic Forces Command.It was launched recently from the Odisha coast and is a latest addition to India’s defence capabilities.It shows India’s growing research and indigenisation of the sophisticated technology. Body  Agni P strengthened India’s deterrence capabilities:  The missile comes with its own unique technology giving it more accuracy while making it difficult to intercept.With a range of 1,000-2,000 kilometres, the deadly missile is capable of covering vital targets all across Pakistan. Agni P is part of the Agni series of missiles with new modern features which makes it very manoeuvrable and increases the accuracy.p The Agni P, initially named Agni-1P, is said to weigh 50 per cent less than Agni 3 and is the lightest and smallest of the Agni series because of technological advancements.This makes it easy to transport and carry from one location to other. The missile comes with new composites, propulsion systems, innovative guidance and control mechanisms, besides the latest navigation systems. Adding to the usefulness of the missile is that it is a canisterised system. This means that the movement and launch options increase for the Strategic Forces Command, which oversees India’s nuclear arsenal.The missile can be launched from rail or road and can be transported to various parts of the country. The two-stage and solid-fuelled weapon system comes with new propulsion systems, composite motor casings, and inertial navigation systems based on advanced ring-laser gyroscopes. Gyroscopes show the location of the missile and the trajectory it is taking. The ring-laser gyroscopes are more accurate. The missile can even be manoeuvred at one point if need be.This feature, which is usually not available in a ballistic missile, makes it more difficult to intercept.  A notable feature of the Agni-P (Prime) is four delta fins for terminal maneuver indicating maneuvering warheads that can defeat not only ballistic missile defense system but also be used as an Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile (ASBM) when a new variant is developed based on the Agni-P (Prime).  According to experts it will be developed as an Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile (ASBM) system that adds another dimension to the threat to Chinese carrier battle group. Lessons indigenous programs can take from the success of Agni P Indigenisation of the defence capabilities is essential for self reliance in changing power dynamics and also to avoid controversies in defence procurement.Thus the high level technology achieved in Agni P should be inspiration to achieve similar success in fighter jets. The pace at which Agni P was achieved should be a lesson for development of aircraft carriers and indigenous Arjun tanks which has taken more than 25 years to develop. Upgradation is essential element in defence and therefore the past glories is not answer to future threats.Therefore there is need to upgrade technologies in submarines and anti aircraft technology for better counter attacks. The focus on the new war scenario should be to achieve flexibility and mobility this component needs to be catered in other defence technologies. The primary adversary is now no longer Pakistan and therefore the focus showed in making technology advancements to counter China should be a lesson for other arms of defence forces. Conclusion Therefore Agni Prime is a welcome addition to the overall defence capabilities of India.It will diversify the options and increase the precision with which nuclear and traditional attacks can be carried out.Further it also shows India’s intention to invest in research and to focus on China as an eminent threat in the neighbourhood. 3. What according to you is the best economic tool to revive demand? Substantiate your views.  Approach  In introduction write the current condition of the Indian economy and contextualise to need for demand.In next part write reasons for demand collapse and finally provide solutions to revive this demand. Introduction  India is going through a phase of unprecedented economic crisis due severe disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.For the first time in decades India is experiencing negative growth rate, unemployment is at record high, poverty is increasing.This has had a disastrous effect on the overall demand which can further lead to more unemployment and a viscous cycle.Therefore it becomes imperative to revive the demand in economy for reviving manufacturing and services sector and overall economy. Body  Collapse of demand in Indian economy and its problems  First, there has been a secular decline in growth since the first quarter of 2018-’19. Gross domestic product growth declined from 7.1% during the first quarter of 2018-’19 (even prior to Covid-19) to 1.6 % during the fourth quarter of 2020-’21 leaving aside the negative growth of the first (-24.4%) and the second (-7.4%) quarters of 2020-’21. With declining growth, the per capita income slumped to the level of Rs 99,694 in 2020-’21 from Rs 1,00,268 in 2017-’18. In fact, India’s per capita GDP is now what it used to be in 2016-’17 – the year when the slide started. Second, Covid-19 has severely impacted not only GDP growth but also several other macro aggregates that have caused a huge demand deficiency. Lockdown to contain Covid-19 has led to massive job losses due to the closure of various commercial and industrial as also all contact service establishments including Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. The Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy estimated job loss at around 50 lakh by March 2020. A recent estimate on June 17 has put job loss at 2.53 crore since January 2021. The 30-day moving average unemployment rate as of June 6 stood at 13% as compared to 5.5% in June 2018. The labour participation rate has fallen to 39.7 % in June 2021 from 42.9% in June 2018. Third, a study, State of Working India 2021: One year of Covid-19 by Azim Premji University has brought out that 23 crore individuals have fallen below the national minimum wage of Rs 375 as recommended by the Anoop Satpathy Committee. This means an increase of the income poverty rate by 15% in rural areas and nearly 20% in urban areas. What is more, while coping with the distress that Covid-19 unleashed a large number of families has fallen into indebtedness and made distress sale of assets; many families were forced even to reduce food intake leading to nutritional distress as evidenced by the survey conducted by Rapid Rural Community Response to Covid-19, a coalition of civil society organisations that have come together to respond to the pandemic. Fourth, as is widely recognised, the Indian economy is highly unequal. As per the World Inequality Database, the share of the top 10% in India’s national income was 56%, much higher than that in comparable countries like Indonesia (41%), Vietnam (42%) and even China (41%). A study by Azim Premji University has found that in April and May 2020 the poorest 20% of the households lost their entire incomes while the richer households lost less than a quarter of their pre-pandemic incomes. With falling income across the board, household consumption has necessarily plunged. Obviously, the recovery among poorer households would be slower because they were forced to sell productive assets and/or to borrow to survive the crisis. Further, Pew Research Centre has reported that the first wave of Covid-19 has witnessed a shrinkage of India’s middle class which has the capacity to consume and save to 6.6 crore from 9.9 crore.The impacts of second wave will add further to this crises. For all the above, the private consumption as a proportion of GDP at constant prices has plummeted to 55.4 in the fourth quarter of 2020-’21 from 56.2 during the first quarter of 2018-’19. Private consumption has been the major driver of India’s GDP. All this clearly suggests that the Indian economy is suffering from a huge demand deficiency. Its immediate turning around, therefore, critically depends on demand push. However, policy instruments to provide immediate demand push could also be combined with policy measures that would contribute to raising the productivity of the economy that is required for sustainable growth. Scheme of the following type, in addition to what the Centre has already introduced, would give demand push for growth recovery: Release of the three instalments of dearness allowance to the central government employees amounting to around Rs 37,500 crore in the form of expenditure voucher could be considered. A total of 1,737 Central sector projects (including delayed projects) costing Rs 150 crore and above with about Rs-26.71 lakh core anticipated completion cost (425th Flash Report by Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation) and those proposed in Budget 2020-’21 should be executed on a fast-track basis.   Households steeped into indebtedness due to Covid-19 hospitalisation should be given full relief of the burden.   Households that have lost earning member should be provided with a basic income of Rs 5,000 per month.   Migrant labours who have lost jobs should be given a basic income of Rs 5,000 per month for six months.   Urban micro-entrepreneurs and daily wage earners who have lost their livelihood should be given a basic income of Rs 5,000 per month for four to six months. Similar schemes inducing private consumption could also be thought of.   One can clearly signal to the bureaucracy the green signal to take bold actions, even if some outcomes can potentially be challenged in a court. These can include the idea that officers will not be held responsible for bonafide acts. Conclusion Indian economy is going trough one of the worst crises seen in a century and therefore the measures also need to be out of the box to overcome this crises.The government needs to focus on fiscal measures by transferring funds directly in the hands of households to boost the disposable income.This will help India to bring back demand  and revive the economy .   TLP Synopsis Day 131 PDF

Rapid Revision (RaRe) Series for UPSC

[Day 44]: 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-44 of RaRe Series - Click here To Register - Click here For complete details of the RaRe Series -  Click here

Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz – 2021 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 13th JULY 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

TLP Mains Answer Writing

IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – General Studies Paper 2 Questions [13th JULY,2021] – Day 132

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE Hello Friends, Welcome to IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – General Studies Paper 2 Questions [13th JULY,2021] – Day 132 TLP (Phase 1) just got over on 8th May (Saturday) and we are extremely thankful for your active participation to make this program a success. Well, though TLP (Phase 1) got over, ‘Picture abhi baaqi hai mere dost’. There is a surprise for you. Since prelims is bound to get delayed once again this year, its not wise to leave the writing practice just now. Hence, we are extending the TLP program  We will be posting 3 questions per day (Monday to Friday). The questions will be based on Current Affairs, so that you don’t have to invest your time separately on exclusively mains oriented topics. So, keep practicing and keep improving. To Know More about TLP  -> CLICK HERE For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE Note: Click on Each Question (Link), it will open in a new tab and then Answer respective questions! 1. Do you think the Representation of People’s Act (RPA) needs to be strengthened further? What suggestions would you give in this regard? (10 Marks) क्या आपको लगता है कि जनप्रतिनिधित्व कानून (आरपीए) को और मजबूत करने की जरूरत है? इस संबंध में आप क्या सुझाव देंगे? 2. The civil services in India function as an instrument of the welfare state. Illustrate. (10 Marks) भारत में सिविल सेवाएं कल्याणकारी राज्य के एक उपकरण के रूप में कार्य करती हैं। चित्रण करें। 3. Do you think the federal political structure in India creates roadblocks in the Central Government’s policies and interventions for development in various sectors? Critically examine. (15 Marks) क्या आपको लगता है कि भारत में संघीय राजनीतिक संरचना केंद्र सरकार की नीतियों और विभिन्न क्षेत्रों में विकास के लिए हस्तक्षेप में बाधाएं पैदा करती है? समालोचनात्मक जाँच करें। AWARE ( Answer Writing REdefined) Series - 7 Steps to Master Answer Writing Skills by Mohan Sir - CLICK HERE P.S: The review from IASbaba will happen from the time the question is posted till 10 pm every day. We would also encourage peer reviews. So friends get actively involved and start reviewing each other's answers. This will keep the entire community motivated. All the Best :)

AIR

Discussion on India-Netherland’s Strong Relationship - All India Radio (AIR) IAS UPSC

ARCHIVES Search 10th April, 2021 Spotlight here: http://www.newsonair.com/Main_Audio_Bulletins_Search.aspx TOPIC: General Studies 2 India and Netherlands In News: India and the Netherlands have a strong and steady relationship, nurtured by the shared values of democracy, rule of law and respect for human rights and the historic bonds of friendship between the two countries.  Indo-Dutch relations date back to more than 400 years when the Dutch East India Company began trading in India. Diplomatic relations between India and Netherlands were established in 1947. Since then, the two countries have established strong relations, based on foundation of shared democratic ideals, pluralism, and rule of law. India’s economic growth provides opportunities for Dutch innovation and technologies. We also see that apart from new companies entering the market, the existing ones are also keen on expanding. Dutch companies like Unilever, Philips, Shell and DSM have been here for a long time and are increasing their presence in India. These companies value the talents of their Indian staff too: Abhijit Bhattacharya currently is the CFO of Philips, while Sanjiv Mehta is a board member of Unilever. India and the Netherlands have been working jointly on innovative solutions to global challenges in healthcare, water and agriculture for many years. The cleaning of the Barapullah drain in Delhi is an example. Both countries have joined hands to generate safe water from sewage streams for reuse in agriculture, thereby relieving the water scarcity in the city — and making the river clean. Global sustainable challenges represent market opportunities for companies able to develop innovative solutions. India and the Netherlands can and should work together to redirect public and private investment towards the global challenges. The Virtual Summit Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Netherlands counterpart Mark Rutte held a Virtual Summit recently and reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral engagements. It was the first high level Summit attended by Netherlands’ PM Mark Rutte after the general elections held in March 2021.  During the Summit, the two leaders exchanged views on further expanding the relationship in trade and economy, water management, agriculture sector, smart cities, science & technology, healthcare and space. The two Prime Ministers also agreed on instituting a ‘Strategic Partnership on Water’ to further deepen the Indo-Dutch cooperation in the water related sector, and upgrading the Joint Working Group on water to Ministerial-level. Netherlands’ Indo-Pacific Policy was also welcomed. Going Forward The Dutch delegation consists of businesses, knowledge institutions and government, travelling to India to scout for opportunities in the field of horticulture, healthcare, water and maritime resilience and high-tech. With the complementary talents, knowledge and resources of both countries are optimally positioned to create cross-cutting public-private-partnerships (PPPs), boost business and foster innovation-driven growth. Dutch water management companies are increasingly active in India’s ‘Clean Ganga’ project — using the Dutch system of organising water treatment as a best practice. Affordable healthcare is another field that companies from the Netherlands are keen on exploring. India is great at cost-effective innovation and that expertise is vital to ensure the sustainability of healthcare systems globally as they are under increasing pressure due to increases in healthcare costs. Collaboration is required not only to further develop our respective economies, but also to achieve the SDGs. Note: Dutch Indian Water Alliance For Leadership Initiative (DIWALI) Dutch Indian Water Alliance For Leadership Initiative (DIWALI) was established recently between India and Netherlands  Objective: To find solutions for water related challenges  The experts from both counties would explore the potential and sustainability of Dutch Solutions to resolve challenges in specific water-challenged sites in India. Scalable, sustainable, and affordable solutions shall be given importance.  Led by: Dutch consortia titled “Water for Change. Integrative and Fit-for-Purpose Water Sensitive Design Framework for Fast-Growing Livable Cities” and IIT Roorkee as the lead and other consortia members – MANIT, Bhopal; CEPT University, Ahmedabad; IIT Gandhinagar; CWRDM, Calicut. Indians in the Netherlands: The first Indian to settle in the Netherlands is likely to have been Gerrit Mosopatam, who is believed to have made the journey with Philip Baldaeus in 1666 – he is portrayed in the Rijksmuseum, in Indian clothing and a turban. Other notable visitors come under the spotlight, including philosopher and monk swami Vivekananda who came in 1896 and commented on the ‘strange appearance of the Dutch cities with canals instead of streets’. Poet Rabindranath Tagore, the first Asian to win the Nobel prize for literature, visited in 1920 and, the ambassador writes, his mainly female audience was ‘utterly spellbound’ by his readings. Connecting the Dots: Indo-Dutch cooperation in the water related sector Historical ties between India and Netherlands

RSTV Video

India-Russia Partnership – The Big Picture – RSTV IAS UPSC

Archives TOPIC: General Studies 2 India and Russia In News: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s visit to Delhi saw both he and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar reaffirming traditional India-Russia ties, but there were signs that those ties are being tested. Mr. Lavrov’s trip was to make preparations for the upcoming visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin for the annual summit — it was postponed last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.  Current Relations between India and Russia On the bilateral front, both sides appeared to make progress on strategic cooperation, cooperation in energy, nuclear and space sectors, and on talks on a free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). Also discussed were more agreements on military-technical cooperation for the joint production of India-made Russian weapons, with Mr. Lavrov highlighting Russia being the only partner supplying India “cutting-edge military technology”.  While neither side referred to the upcoming delivery of the $5 billion S-400 missile defence system directly, they reaffirmed their commitment to their defence partnership, as well as avenues for more investment in connectivity including the International North-South Transport Corridor and the Chennai-Vladivostok Eastern Maritime Corridor.  The areas of divergence  Over their worldview specific reference to the “rebalanced nature” of international relations. Mr. Lavrov’s praise of Russia-China ties was clearly not shared by Mr. Jaishankar. While he referred repeatedly to India’s “Indo-Pacific” strategy, Mr. Lavrov preferred the more continental reference to the “Asia-Pacific” region.  Mr. Lavrov’s derisive indirect reference to the Quad as an “Asian NATO” was significant, although he said both sides agreed that military alliances in Asia were inadvisable and counterproductive.  On Afghanistan as well, the Russian push for bringing the Taliban into a power-sharing arrangement in Kabul seemed to come up against India’s consistent push for a “democratic Afghanistan”. Unlike in 2012, Mr. Lavrov this time said that Russia was ready to strengthen Pakistan’s counterterrorism efforts with the supply of “relevant equipment”, which will raise eyebrows in Delhi. While in Pakistan, Lavrov said Russia sees Pakistan as an “important friend”, seeks to continue exercises called ‘friendship druzhba’ and is willing to supply Pakistan high-tech or specialised military equipment to fight terrorism. Beyond these divergences, Lavrov also did not get an audience with PM Modi on the pretext that the former was campaigning in West Bengal. India’s reliance on Russia for military supplies Over 80 per cent of India’s military hardware is still Russian. In fact, if India goes to war with anybody right now, all the tanks will be regimes that will be T-72s and T-90s. Two-thirds of combat Indian Air Force will be of Russian origin which are Sukhois and the various MiGs. India’s dependence on Moscow for weapons is a vulnerability that the Indian decision makers need to take more seriously. Although a nuclear-powered submarine has been routinely leased to India by Russia, the growing India-France relationship for military supplies may change this. Meanwhile, Russia’s dependence on China now is extreme as China is a market for a lot of Russian military technology. Moscow’s political compulsion to support China is a warning that New Delhi should heed. Moscow has increasingly leaned on China both for support as well as a way to undermine American power. The military relationship between the two has become increasingly close: in addition to conventional weapons, Russia is also helping China set up its missile early warning system, one of the most sensitive bits of technology for any nuclear power. Particularly striking is what has primarily been an arms supply relationship has become increasingly broader, at least from Moscow’s perspective. The Way Forward While there is no denying divergences in the relationship, both sides still have significant areas of cooperation — in the bilateral, regional and global arenas — which must be harnessed. Thus, taking a long-term view of the situation, as India develops ties with other like-minded powers to deal with the rise of China, it must also strengthen its special, privileged strategic partnership with Russia. While both India and Russia will continue to pursue their respective trajectories in world affairs, coordination on mutually beneficial issues will be vital in this period of flux in the global system. In this regard, India shared its views on the Indo-Pacific, where Russia has significant reservations. While differences persist, a frank discussion offers the opportunity to avoid misinterpretation of intentions and allows for exploration of potential areas of cooperation. Looking at the broader context of Russian foreign policy and pragmatically assessing the bilateral ties offers India a chance to focus on promoting mutual interests. Conclusion While India and Russia have successfully addressed divergences between them, even deep, traditional and “time-tested relations” of the kind they have shared for decades cannot be taken for granted, and the two sides should move quickly, if they desire to dispel the notion that those ties are under any strain. The lack of Russian understanding of and appreciation for India’s security concerns especially in the wake of the Galwan crisis will continue to be an issue. That Russia fails to demonstrate any sensitivity to India’s security concerns about China and that it continues to bat for Beijing has been surprising. Like all international partnerships, including India-Russia relations, the China-Russia partnership is one of convenience. But the conditions that gave rise to it are unlikely to change in the near future. Indian policy should acknowledge this and adjust accordingly. Connecting the Dots China is likely to continue as a sore spot in the India-Russia relationship. Critically examine.

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 12th July 2021

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) India's First Private LNG Facility plant Part of: GS Prelims and GS -III - Conservation In news Minister for Road Transport and Highways inaugurated the country’s First Private LNG Facility plant at Nagpur. The Ministry emphasized on the importance of alternate biofuels for diversification of agriculture towards the energy and power sector. It has designed a policy that encourages development of imports to substitute cost effective pollution free and indigenous ethanol,  bio CNG, LNG and hydrogen fuels.  The ministry is constantly working on different alternative fuels where the focus is on preventing surplus in rice , corn and sugar from going to waste. What are Biofuels? Any hydrocarbon fuel that is produced from an organic matter (living or once living material) in a short period of time is considered a biofuel. Biofuels may be solid, liquid or gaseous in nature. These can be used to replace or can be used in addition to diesel, petrol or other fossil fuels.  Also, they can be used to generate heat and electricity. Main reasons for shifting to biofuels: Rising prices of oil, benefits farmers and can be locally produced that helps cut down on import dependence of crude oil.  What are the Categories of Biofuels? First generation biofuels: Made from food sources such as sugar, starch, vegetable oil, or animal fats using conventional technology. Examples: Bioalcohols, Biodiesel, Vegetable oil, Bioethers, Biogas. Second generation biofuels: Produced from non-food crops or portions of food crops that are not edible, e.g. stems, husks, wood chips, and fruit skins and peeling. Examples: Cellulose ethanol, biodiesel. Third generation biofuels: Produced from micro-organisms like algae. Example- Butanol Fourth Generation Biofuels: Produced from crops that are genetically engineered to take in high amounts of carbon and then harvested as biomass. These fuels are considered as carbon negative as their production pulls out carbon from the environment in excess of the amount that they emit during combustion. What are the Recent Initiatives by India? Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana, 2019: To create an ecosystem for setting up commercial projects and to boost Research and Development in 2G Ethanol sector. Ethanol blending: To reach 20% ethanol-blending and 5% biodiesel-blending by the year 2030. The Government has reduced GST on ethanol for blending in fuel from 18% to 5%. GOBAR (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources) DHAN scheme, 2018: It focuses on managing and converting cattle dung and solid waste in farms to useful compost, biogas and bio-CNG Reduction in GST: The Government has also reduced GST on ethanol for blending in fuel from 18% to 5%. Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT): The scheme aims to set up Compressed Bio-Gas production plants and make CBG available in the market for use as a green fuel. Repurpose Used Cooking Oil (RUCO) launched by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) aims for an ecosystem that will enable the collection and conversion of used cooking oil to biodiesel. National Policy on Biofuels, 2018 News source: PIB Jal Jeevan Mission Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II -Policies and Interventions In news Central grant to Odisha under the Jal Jeevan Mission in the year 2021-22 has been increased to Rs. 3,323.42 Crore. With Four-Fold Increase in Allocation, Centre Supports Odisha to Become ‘Har Ghar Jal’ State by March, 2024. What is Jal Jeevan Mission? It is envisioned to provide safe and adequate drinking water through individual household tap connections by 2024 to all households in rural India.  It envisages supply of 55 litres of water per person per day to every rural household through Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) by 2024. It also includes functional tap connection to Schools, Anganwadi centres, GP buildings, Health centres, wellness centres and community buildings The programme will also implement source sustainability measures as mandatory elements, such as recharge and reuse through grey water management, water conservation, rain water harvesting.  JJM focuses on integrated demand and supply-side management of water at the local level. The Mission is based on a community approach to water. It looks to create a jan andolan for water, thereby making it everyone’s priority. It promotes and ensure voluntary ownership among local community by way of contribution in cash, kind and/ or labour and voluntary labour. Parent Ministry: Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti Funding Pattern: The fund sharing pattern between the Centre and states is 90:10 for Himalayan and North-Eastern States, 50:50 for other states, and 100% for Union Territories. Four-tier implementation & monitoring of the scheme at National, State, District & village level. The following components are supported under JJM Development of in-village piped water supply infrastructure to provide tap water connection to every rural household Development of reliable drinking water sources and/ or augmentation of existing sources to provide long-term sustainability of water supply system Wherever necessary, bulk water transfer, treatment plants and distribution network to cater to every rural household Technological interventions for removal of contaminants where water quality is an issue  Retrofitting of completed and ongoing schemes to provide FHTCs at minimum service level of 55 lpcd; Greywater management. (Grey water — wastewater from kitchen sinks, showers and laundry fixtures) Support activities, i.e. Information Education & Communication (awareness of water conservation), Human Resource training, development of utilities, water quality laboratories, water quality testing & surveillance, R&D, knowledge centre, capacity building of communities, etc. News Source: PIB Kanchenjunga Biosphere Part of: GS Prelims and GS -III - Biodiversity In news: In a recent publication by the Botanical Survey of India (BSI), it was reported that  Sikkim, the smallest State with less than 1% of India’s landmass, is home to 27% of all flowering plants found in the country. Sikkim is a part of the Kanchenjunga biosphere landscape About Kanchenjunga Biosphere Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve which is located in Sikkim is one of the highest ecosystems in the world, reaching elevations of 1, 220 metres above sea-level. The biosphere has different altitudinal ecosystems, varying from sub-tropic to Arctic, as well as natural forests in different biomes, that support an immensely rich diversity of forest types and habitats.  World’s third highest peak, Mt. Khangchendzonga, is situated within the Park.  Numerous lakes and glaciers, including the 26 km long Zemu Glacier are a part of the Biosphere reserve. Khangchendzonga National Park (KNP) was designated a World Heritage Site in 2016 under the ‘mixed’ category (Mixed heritage sites contain elements of both natural and cultural significance). The Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve in Sikkim, surrounding the world’s third highest peak Mount Khangchendzonga, has been added to UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves, making it the 11th biosphere in India to be included in the network. Its location – bordering Nepal, Tibet (China) and in close proximity of Bhutan – offers unique opportunities for joint collaboration and conservation of biodiversity with neighbouring countries. Increasing unregulated tourism, lack of awareness about the landscape and shortage of staff are some of the key challenges in maintaining the reserve’s sanctity. Other Biosphere reserves of India Year Name State Key fauna 1 1986 Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka Nilgiri tahr, tiger, lion-tailed macaque 2 1988 Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve Uttarakhand Snow leopard, Himalayan black bear 3 1989 Gulf of Mannar Tamil Nadu Dugong 4 1988 Nokrek Meghalaya Red panda 5 1989 Sundarbans West Bengal Royal Bengal tiger 6 1989 Manas Assam Asiatic elephant, tiger, Assam roofed turtle, hispid hare, golden langur, pygmy hog 7 1994 Simlipal Odisha Gaur, royal Bengal tiger, Asian elephant 8 1998 Dihang-Dibang Arunachal Pradesh Mishmi takin, musk deer 9 1999 Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve Madhya Pradesh Giant squirrel, flying squirrel 10 2005 Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh Four-horned antelope, Indian wild dog, sarus crane, white-rumped vulture, sacred grove bush frog 11 2008 Great Rann of Kutch Gujarat Indian wild ass 12 2009 Cold Desert Himachal Pradesh Snow leopard 13 2000 Khangchendzonga National Park Sikkim Snow leopard, red panda 14 2001 Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve Kerala, Tamil Nadu Nilgiri tahr, Asian elephant 15 1989 Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve Andaman and Nicobar Islands Saltwater crocodile 16 1997 Dibru-Saikhowa Assam White-winged wood duck, water buffalo, black-breasted parrotbill, tiger, capped langur 17 2010 Seshachalam Hills Andhra Pradesh Slender loris 18 2011 Panna Madhya Pradesh News source: TH National Green Tribunal: All five Zones are equal Part of: GS Prelims and GS III - Environment  In news The Madras High Court disapproved 2017 Central notification, which termed the National Green Tribunal's North Zone bench in Delhi as a principal bench.  It added that if a procedure of transferring cases to Delhi is adopted, it will amount to denied access to justice.  It observed that all five zonal benches of the NGT are equally powerful and their orders are applicable across India  The zonal benches are Central zone - Bhopal, East zone - Kolkata, South Zone - Chennai, West Zone - Pune and North Zone - New Delhi What is NGT? It is a statutory body established in 2010, as per the National Green Tribunal Act.  It is a specialised judicial body equipped with expertise solely for the purpose of adjudicating environmental cases in the country.  The chairperson of the NGT is a retired judge of the Supreme Court  It shall not be bound by the procedure laid down under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 but shall be guided by principles of natural justice.  Tribunal’s orders are binding and it has power to grant relief in the form of compensation and damages to affected persons. Related Article: NGT on Brahmaputra News source: TH Onion Export Ban Dispute at WTO Part of: GS Prelims and GS - II -International relations In news USA and Japan have dragged India to the World Trade Organisation over the frequent ban it imposes on onion Exports. Both countries have alleged that the export Ban without prior notice create problems for importing countries.  Also, onion growers in India demanded that the centre draft a comprehensive policy on the import and export of onion instead of taking Ad Hoc decisions.  Need for a comprehensive policy on onion  To curb demand supply mismatch in the domestic market to aid exports  Onion growers have suffered heavy losses due to the erratic ban on onion exports  Ban on onion exports is becoming irritant in the bilateral trade relationship with countries like Bangladesh  Pakistan has started competing with Indian onions share in the Gulf market in the last couple of years  Do You Know? India is second largest onion producing country after China In FY21, India exported $378 million worth of onions, 15% higher than the previous year  The top exporting destinations were Bangladesh Malaysia, UAE and Sri Lanka Indian Government initiatives for onion exports Merchandise export incentive scheme to promote exports during surplus onion harvest Operation Greens to maintain the supply - demand match and price fluctuation of onion  Also, low cost onion storage structures are built with 50% subsidy to farmers under the mission integrated development of horticulture (MIDH) News source: TH Businessline Miscellaneous Lemru Elephant Reserve It is a proposed Elephant Reserve in Chhattisgarh. Lemru is one of two elephant reserves planned to prevent human-animal conflict in the region, with elephants moving into Chhattisgarh from Odisha and Jharkhand. The area proposed under the reserve is part of the Hasdeo Aranya forests, a very diverse biozone that is also rich in coal deposits.  Do You Know? Badalkhol Tamorpingla, the other elephant reserve measuring 1048.30 sq km, was notified in September 2011.  Tamorpingla wildlife sanctuary exists in the state but no work on the elephant reserve has begun.  Chhattisgarh has two national parks, three tiger reserves, eight sanctuaries, and one biosphere reserve covering 11,310.977 sq km, which is 8.36% of its geographical area and 18.92% of its total forest area. (Mains Focus) FEDERALISM/ GOVERNANCE Topic: GS-2: Issues relating to development and management of Water GS-2: Issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure Mekedatu Dam Project Context: On July 6, Karnataka Chief Minister said in Bengaluru that his government would go ahead with the long-pending Mekedatu dam project. The Mekedatu multi-purpose project involves building a balancing reservoir across the Cauvery River near Kanakapura in Ramanagaram district. It envisages supplying drinking water to Bengaluru and Ramanagaram districts, besides generation of power. What do the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal and the Supreme Court say? The Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, in its final order on February 2007, made allocations to all the riparian States — Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, apart from the Union Territory of Puducherry.  It also stipulated “tentative monthly deliveries during a normal year” to be made available by Karnataka to Tamil Nadu. Aggrieved over the final order for different reasons, the States had appealed to the Supreme Court. In February 2018, the court, in its judgment, revised the water allocation and increased the share of Karnataka by 14.75 thousand million cubic feet (tmc ft) at the cost of Tamil Nadu. The enhanced quantum comprised 4.75 tmc ft for meeting drinking water and domestic requirements of Bengaluru and surrounding areas. What is Karnataka planning? Encouraged by the Supreme Court verdict, Karnataka, which sees the order as an endorsement of its stand, has set out to pursue the Mekedatu project. Originally proposed as a hydropower project, the revised Mekedatu dam project has more than one purpose to serve.  Estimated to cost ₹9,000 crore, the project envisages the construction of a reservoir of 67.16-tmc ft capacity, which will come up about 4 km away from the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border.  A hydropower plant of nearly 400 MW has also been proposed. The Karnataka government has argued that the proposed reservoir will regulate the flow to Tamil Nadu on a monthly basis, as stipulated by the Tribunal and the Supreme Court.  Karnataka contends that the project will not affect the interests of Tamil Nadu farmers. Why is Tamil Nadu opposed to it? Tamil Nadu feels that Karnataka, as the upper riparian State has adequate infrastructure even now to address the water needs of Bengaluru, there is no need for the Mekedatu project. The Mekedatu project also does not find mention in the Tribunal’s final order or the Supreme Court judgment.  Besides, given the unpleasant experiences that it has had with Karnataka in securing its share of the Cauvery water over the years, Tamil Nadu is wary of the assurances of the other side. What happens next? Tamil Nadu’s petitions against the project are pending with the Supreme Court.  The project is yet to get environmental clearance from the Centre.  A way out can be found if the two parties agree to the idea of a joint execution, operation and maintenance of the project or a third party’s participation Connecting the dots: Inter-State River Water Disputes(Amendment) Bill Cauvery Waters Authority SC 2018 Cauvery Verdict INTERNATIONAL/ GOVERNANCE/ ENVIRONMENT Topic: GS-2: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India  GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation GS-3: Environmental Conservation Right to Repair Context:  In recent years, countries around the world have been attempting to pass effective ‘right to repair’ laws.  What is right to repair movement? When electronic appliances become old or face issues, consumers are left at the mercy of manufacturers who make repairs inaccessible for most, by dictating who can fix your device and making it an inordinately expensive affair. The tech giant has long been criticised for allowing repairs of its devices only by authorised technicians and not providing spare parts or manuals on how to fix its products Also, Corporates are promoting the culture ‘planned obsolescence’ — which means that devices are designed specifically to last a limited amount of time and to be replaced In this backdrop, activists and organisations around the world have been advocating for the right of consumers to be able to repair their own electronics and other products as part of the ‘right to repair’ movement.  The movement traces its roots back to the very dawn of the computer era in the 1950s. The goal of the movement is to get companies to make spare parts, tools and information on how to repair devices available to customers and repair shops to increase the lifespan of products and to keep them from ending up in landfills. The Right to Repair electronics refers to government legislation that is intended to allow consumers the ability to repair and modify their own consumer electronic devices, where otherwise the manufacturer of such devices require the consumer to use only their offered services. Benefits of Right to Repair Avoids wastage of resources: Without Right to Repair, there will be wastage of natural resources causing immense pressure on the environment. It will help reduce the vast mountain of electrical waste (e-waste) that piles up each year on the continent. Boosts Local Economy: Right to repair advocates also argue that this will help boost business for small repair shops, which are an important part of local economies. Reduces Prices of Repair: If a manufacturer has monopoly on repairs, then prices rise exponentially and quality tends to drop. Repair manual in the market will bring down the cost of offering such a service. Circular Economy: It will contribute to circular economy objectives by improving the life span, maintenance, re-use, upgrade, recyclability and waste handling of appliances. Durable devices:  Some believe manufacturers of electronic devices may even start making their products more durable and long lasting. But why do electronic manufacturers oppose this movement? Large tech companies, including Apple, Microsoft, Amazon and Tesla, have been lobbying against the right to repair.  Misuse & compromise on safety: Their argument is that opening up their intellectual property to third party repair services or amateur repairers could lead to exploitation and impact the safety and security of their devices. Tesla, for instance, has fought against right to repair advocacy, stating that such initiatives threaten data security and cyber security. These companies are constantly claiming that they are working towards greater durability themselves, hence there is no need of such legislations. Do You Know? Earlier this month, the UK government introduced right-to-repair rules with the aim of extending the lifespan of products by up to 10 years.  Manufacturers of products like washing machines, TVs and refrigerators are required to make spare parts available to people purchasing electrical appliances.  The new legislation gives manufacturers a two-year window to make the necessary changes to abide by the new legislation. However, it does not cover all electrical appliances. It includes dishwashers, washing machines, refrigeration appliances and televisions. Smartphones and laptops, however, have been excluded. Connecting the dots: Circular Economy E-Waste Problem  (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note: Correct answers of today’s questions will be provided in next day’s DNA section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers. Comments Up-voted by IASbaba are also the “correct answers”. Q.1 Jal Jeevan Mission comes under which of the following Ministry?  Ministry of Environment Ministry of Urban Affairs Ministry of rural development Ministry of Jal Shakti Q.2 Consider the following statements regarding Biofuels: Biodiesel is an example of first generation biofuel. Fourth generation biofuels are produced from microorganisms such as algae. Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3 Which of the following was the first Biosphere Reserve to be recognised ? Dibru-Saikhowa Nokrek Nilgiri Kutch ANSWERS FOR 10th July 2021 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 A 2 C 3 D Must Read On India-Japan-Italy trilateral relationship: The Hindu On Demographic Dividend: The Hindu On Judiciary’s role during Pandemic: Indian Express

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