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[WEEK 2] ESSAY 4: Theme – Customary Morality cannot be a guide to modern life | BRAINSTORMING ON ETHICS & ESSAY (BEE) by Sunil Oberoi Sir

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

WEEKEND WITH BABA

[WEEKEND WITH BABA] Fourth Live Session - Geography Optional by Atyab Ali Zaidi Sir today at 5 PM

Dear Students The session on Geography will be taken by Atyab Ali Zaidi Sir on 30th May (Sunday) from 5 PM - 6 PM. Zoom Session Details  Topic: Why to Choose Geography as an Optional Time: May 30, 2021 05:00 PM Join Zoom Meeting - https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83685739522?pwd=OXpqSmZjOXg0aXlpOU90WUZFV1Nrdz09 Meeting ID: 836 8573 9522 Passcode: 205578 Note The Zoom link will be active only on the scheduled time and date. Students will be allowed to participate in the session on a 'first come first serve' basis. To Watch Previous 'Weekend With Baba' Sessions - CLICK HERE P.S: 'CONNECT WITH BABA' consists of the following - Hotline, #AskBaba, Phone-a-Friend, (Monday - Friday between 10 AM to 6 PM), and 'Weekend with Baba' (Every Saturday on YouTube from 6 PM - 7 PM). To get Regular Updates from IASbaba, follow- TELEGRAM Channel – CLICK HERE YOUTUBE  –  CLICK HERE FACEBOOK  – CLICK HERE

Motivational Articles

Creative Guidance – Emotional Wellbeing – Inspirational Educative Articles

Emotional Wellbeing: External comforts such as a house, a car, and a job, can ease the constant struggles of life, in terms of survival and basic necessities. You can satisfy your physical body, to a certain extent, by pursuing these worldly desires. You can make people think, “Oh, he is in a much better position in life than me. He is enjoying his life a lot more than I am.” The true measure of your life, however, is in how you look at yourself, and what you are in your own eyes. Fortunately, our inner being cannot be satisfied by what we accomplish in the outer world. No matter how much we achieve in the outer world, a part of us keeps reminding us that we need to seek something different. That part of us reminds us that there is something more to the journey of life, and there is something more to us. Someone who has fully embraced a worldly lifestyle needs an emotional path because they have paid no attention to the most important thing - themselves. They haven’t tried to understand who they are, the nature of their mind, or the nature of their body. Not everyone who is successful lacks an understanding of their mind and body, but that is usually how it is. Only a few rare individuals take care of their emotional needs before achieving their worldly success. Those people are the happiest, because they have succeeded for themselves first, in their own eyes, and in their own understanding. They have understood clearly, “This is who I am, and this is what I want to do with my life.” “This article is a part of the creative endeavor of Nirvana Foundation and IASBABA.”

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 29th May 2021

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) 43rd GST Council Part of: GS Prelims and GS -III - Economy  In news The 43rd GST Council met under the Chairmanship of Union Finance Minister recently. Key takeaways  The GST Council has made the following recommendations: As a COVID-19 relief measure, a number of specified COVID-19 related goods such as medical oxygen, oxygen concentrators and other oxygen storage and transportation equipment, etc., have been recommended for full exemption from IGST. In view of rising Black Fungus cases, the exemption from IGST has been extended to Amphotericin B. To support the LympahticFilarisis (an endemic) elimination programme being conducted in collaboration with WHO, the GST rate on Diethylcarbamazine (DEC) tablets has been recommended for reduction to 5% (from 12%). GST on MRO services in respect of ships/vessels shall be reduced to 5% (from 18%). Amnesty scheme for small GST taxpayer's was also announced, allowing filing of returns with reduced late fees. Annual return filing has also been simplified.  The Council has recommended amending the CGST Act to allow for self-certification of reconciliation statements, instead of getting it certified by Chartered Accountants.  Related articles: Major Global energy companies ask Indian Government to bring natural gas under the GST regime  Centre to Borrow on Behalf of States to meet the GST shortfall  Srinagar Leh Transmission System transferred to POWERGRID Part of: GS Prelims and GS -III - Infrastructure; Economy  In news Union Ministry of Power has transferred the 220 kV Srinagar-Drass-Kargil-Khaltsi-Leh Transmission System to Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID), a Maharatna CPSU of Government of India. Key takeaways  The transmission system was commissioned in February 2019.  It connects the Ladakh region to the national grid, ensuring quality and reliable power supply. It is built at a height of around 3000-4000 meters and 335-km long  The project was executed by POWERGRID on consultancy basis under Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Plan (PMRP) Scheme. Monetary assistance as component of Mid-day-Meal (MDM) Scheme Part of: GS Prelims and GS -II - Welfare schemes In news Ministry of Education has approved the proposal to provide monetary assistance to 11.8 Crore students through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) of the cooking cost component of the Mid-Day-Meal Scheme, to all eligible children, as a special welfare measure. Key takeaways  This will give a fillip to the Midday Meal programme.  Government of India had also announced distribution of free-of-cost food grains @ 5 Kg per person per month to nearly 80 Crore beneficiaries under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY). Important value additions  The National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education (NP-NSPE) was launched as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme in 1995.  Objective: To enhance enrolment, retention and attendance and simultaneously improve nutritional levels among children.  In 2001 it became a cooked Mid Day Meal Scheme. The Scheme covers children of classes I-VIII studying in government, government-aided schools, special training centres (STC) and madarsas/ maqtabs supported under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA).  It is the largest school feeding programme in the world. It is covered by the National Food Security Act, 2013.  Bangladesh approves currency swap facility to Sri Lanka Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II - International Relations & GS-III - Economy  In news Bangladesh’s central bank has approved a $200 million currency swap facility to Sri Lanka.  It will help Sri Lanka in its foreign exchange crisis. Key takeaways  A currency swap is effectively a loan that Bangladesh will give to Sri Lanka in dollars, with an agreement that the debt will be repaid with interest in Sri Lankan rupees.  For Sri Lanka, this is cheaper than borrowing from the market. The period of the currency swap will be specified in the agreement. This may be the first time that Bangladesh is extending a helping hand to another country.  It is also the first time that Sri Lanka is borrowing from a SAARC country other than India. Sri Lanka didn't approach India because  India-Sri Lanka relations have been tense over Sri Lanka's decision to cancel a valued container terminal project at Colombo Port. Last July, RBI had extended a $400 million credit swap facility to Sri Lanka, which was settled in February.  The arrangement was not extended.  RBI has a framework under which it can offer credit swap facilities to SAARC countries within an overall corpus of $2 billion.  The SAARC currency swap facility came into operation in November 2012. Related articles India looks to secure Dollar Swap Line Miscellaneous International ENI award 2020 Bharat Ratna Professor C.N.R. Rao has received the International Eni Award 2020 for research into renewable energy sources and energy storage.  It is also called the Energy Frontier award. The official ceremony will be held at the Quirinal Palace in Rome.  The award has become internationally recognized over the years in the field of energy and environmental research.  It aims to promote better use of energy sources and encourage new generations of researchers in their work. This is considered to be the Nobel Prize in Energy Research.   (Mains Focus) GOVERNANCE/ ECONOMY Topic: GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors GS-3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources Protests over Lakshadweep Administration Proposals Context: Over the last few weeks, public anger has been simmering in the Lakshadweep islands over a number of controversial proposals floated by the Union Territory Administrator. Some of the proposals include: Cow slaughter & beef PROPOSAL: An order from the Administration seeks to ban the slaughter of cow, calf, bull and buffalo without a certificate from a competent authority. It prohibits the sale, transport and storage of beef and beef products. Penalties include a jail term up to one year and a fine of Rs 10,000. The Administration has not provided an explanation on why the rule was brought in. PROTEST: Residents view the rule as a direct infringement on their culture and eating habits. They allege the rule was decided without consultation with local bodies. Two-child policy PROPOSAL: Under the Draft Panchayat Regulation 2021, the Administration aims to bar people with more than two children from becoming a member of the gram panchayat. For those who already have more than two children, the regulation does not disqualify them provided they do not have further children after the date on which the rule comes into effect. PROTEST: Locals have questioned the motive. The NCP and the Congress too have opposed the move. Serving liquor to tourists PROPOSAL: The Administration has decided to allow liquor to be served at resorts on inhabited islands. Currently, prohibition is in place on all inhabited islands, with liquor served only at resorts on the uninhabited Bangaram island. Collector S Asker Ali clarified that liquor permits would be given only to resorts for tourists, not for locals. PROTEST: Residents have alleged that the move will lead to a proliferation of liquor sales on the island, which had been observing near-prohibition until now. Land acquisition powers PROPOSAL: The Administration brought in a draft Lakshadweep Development Authority Regulation (LDAR) to oversee development of towns on the islands, with sweeping changes in the way land can be acquired and utilised. It talks of declaration of ‘planning areas’ and constitution of ‘planning and development authorities’ for preparing a land use map and register, ostensibly for large projects. PROTEST: Residents have protested against the way it was prepared and pushed through without consultation. They fear large infrastructure and tourism projects can destabilise the ecology, and that the notification gives powers to the Administration to remove small landholdings of ST residents. Covid-19 SOPs PROPOSAL: For a year, Lakshadweep did not record any case of Covid-19 , thanks to stringent quarantine protocols and testing of inbound travellers. Last December, Covid-19 SOPs were diluted by doing away with mandatory quarantine for travellers at Kochi and Kavaratti. Instead, anyone with a negative RT-PCR certificate issued in the previous 48 hours could travel to Lakshadweep. The Administration said the SOPs were changed in accordance with Home Ministry rules and to allow for reopening of the economy. PROTEST: The change led to the island losing its ‘green zone’ tag and a spurt in infections in subsequent months. As of May 28, the Union Territory has reported over 7,300 cases and 28 deaths. Islanders blame the Administration for mismanagement in handling of the pandemic. Conclusion While the UT Administration has said Patel’s proposals are aimed at ensuring safety and well-being of residents along with promoting the islands as a tourist destination on par with the Maldives, residents view them as ripping the social and cultural fabric of the islands. INTERNATIONAL/ SECURITY Topic: GS-2: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests. GS-2: India and its neighborhood- relations.  Myanmar Political Instability Context: The February 1 military coup in Myanmar (third such coup in Myanmar’s History) has led to countrywide civil disobedience movement against ruling military power. Military regained power because they feared that after the resounding electoral victory, Aung San Suu Kyi may move to curb the military’s powers. Did You Know? The 2008 Constitution of Myanmar secures a special place to the military, in that 25% of the seats in parliament and local legislatures are reserved for them, as indeed key ministries like Home, Defence and Border Affairs.  The Constitution also disqualifies persons with foreign spouses from becoming president. Implications of the Coup for India Erodes Progress made in last decade: The quasi-democratic experiment that Myanmar had started a decade back has now been aborted. India was champion of Democracy in Myanmar and had provided guidance in its Democratic transition.  Rise of China: The growing international isolation of Myanmar government led by the Army could once again push the country into dependence on China. Obstacles in Foreign Policy Agenda: Recent developments in Myanmar pose a serious policy challenge to India. Myanmar is an important element for the success of India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’, ‘Act East’, and ‘Indo-Pacific’ policies Border & Regional Security: The political instability in the post-coup period is expected to divert the attention of the Myanmar Army from its periphery and its borders. This may create tensions at border areas in India (refugees, insurgents, illegal movements) Delayed Connectivity Projects: Peace in Chin and Rakhine states of Myanmar is essential for the completion of the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project and the Trilateral Highway project. The political instability slows down these connectivity projects further delaying the sub-regional integration Refugee Issue: The refugee influx from Myanmar to Manipur and Mizoram (due to common ethnic links and family ties) is a matter of concern for India due to Political instability in Myanmar India’s Stance India expressed its concerns that the democratic gains made by Myanmar over the previous decades should not be undermined.  India reiterated its “support to the process of democratic transition” and assured that India’s developmental and humanitarian efforts in Myanmar aimed at the socio-economic development of the country will continue. India’s envoy to UN told to UNHRC that the rule of law and democratic processes in Myanmar must be upheld and the detained political leaders released Conclusion As a non-permanent member of the UNSC during 2021-2022, India can play an important role with other partners like Vietnam in building international opinion, given that Vietnam is also a UNSC non-permanent member this year. If a supportive international environment is built up through the UN and ASEAN, the military in Myanmar could be encouraged to return to the democratic road map. (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note:p Correct answers of today’s questions will be provided in next day’s DNA section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers. Comments Up-voted by IASbaba are also the “correct answers”. Q.1 Which of the following is exempted from GST: Fresh fruits and vegetables  Coffee beans (non roasted)  Betel leaves Charcoal  Select the correct code: 1, 2, and 3 only  2 and 4 only  1 and 2 only  1, 2, 3 and 4 only  Q.2 Consider the following statements regarding mid day meal scheme: The Scheme covers children of classes 1st-12th studying in government, government-aided schools, special training centres (STC) and madarsas/ maqtabs supported under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA).  It is not covered under by the National Food Security Act, 2013.  Which of the above is or are correct?  1 only  2 only  Both 1 and 2  Neither 1 nor 2  Q.3 Consider the following Benefits of currency swap agreements: These swap operations carry no exchange rate or other market risks, as transaction terms are set in advance.  It reduces the risk of volatility against the third currency. It does away with the charges involved in multiple currency exchanges. It would discourage speculative attacks on the domestic currency. Which of the above is or are correct?  1, 2, and 3 only  2 and 4 only  1 and 2 only  1, 2, 3 and 4 only  ANSWERS FOR 28th May 2021 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1  A 2  A 3 A Must Read On RBI's fund transfer: The Hindu On Tokyo Olympics: The Hindu About India-Nepal relation amidst Political turmoil in Nepal: Indian Express

RSTV Video

Impact of Australia's new media code – The Big Picture – RSTV IAS UPSC

Archives TOPIC: GS-2: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests GS-2:  Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. GS-3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment In News: For two decades, global news outlets have complained internet companies are getting rich at their expense, selling advertising linked to their reports without sharing revenue. Now, Australia is joining France and other governments in pushing Google, Facebook and other internet giants to pay.  Australian PM Morrison has launched a global diplomatic offensive to drum up support for Australia’s proposed law (News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code Bill 2020). The bill mandates a bargaining code that aims to force Google and Facebook to compensate media companies for using their content. That might channel more money to a news industry that is cutting coverage as revenue shrinks. But it also sets up a clash with some of the tech industry’s biggest names.  Google, a unit of Alphabet Inc., has announced agreements to pay publishers in Australia while Facebook said it has blocked users in the country from viewing or sharing news.  Facing a proposed law to compel internet companies to pay news organizations, Google has announced deals with media houses.  Australia’s proposed law would be the first of its kind, but other governments also are pressuring Google, Facebook and other internet companies to pay news outlets and other publishers for material.  In Europe, Google had to negotiate with French publishers after a court last year upheld an order saying such agreements were required by a 2019 European Union copyright directive. France is the first government to enforce the rules, but the decision suggests Google, Facebook and other companies will face similar requirements in other parts of the world. Australia’s legislation – Voluntary Mechanism was not the solution Back in 2017, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) recommended a voluntary code with an aim to address the negotiating skew between major digital platforms and media businesses Based on these recommendations, the Australian government in 2019 asked various stakeholders and the ACCC to develop this voluntary code. The ACCC, however, pointed out in April 2020 that the businesses were not likely to reach an agreement voluntarily. This paved way for drafting a mandatory code. The provision of mandatory code requiring Google & FB to enter into payment negotiations with media companies — with an arbiter mandated to adjudicate if no agreement is reached — or face heavy fines, has met with resistance.  The arbiter is deemed important mainly for smaller publishers who may face a negotiation skew with the platforms. European authorities have specifically linked payments to copyright, without putting a forcing device into the agreements.  Australia’s code, on the other hand, is almost entirely focused on the bargaining power of news outlets vis-à-vis the tech majors, and has some coercive features as well. What is the core issue between Tech Giants and Regulators? While links to news may not be direct advertising money-spinners for Facebook or Google, both see the presence of news as an important aspect of audience engagement with their products. Google and Facebook are two of the largest and most profitable companies in history – and each holds far more bargaining power than any news publisher. The news media bargaining code sets out to undo this imbalance. The fight in Australia is in fact, centred on how much control these companies would be able to retain on their payout process — operational aspects such as deciding the quantum of payments for news feed sources, and having to reveal changes in their algorithm Response by Tech Giants Threatens: In January 2021 when bill was being introduced, Google threatened to remove its search engine from Australia, and Facebook warned it could block Australian users from posting or sharing news links. Arguments of Google & FB: They say that the media industry was already benefiting from traffic routed to them by the digital platforms, and that the proposed rules would expose the Internet companies to “unmanageable levels of financial and operational risk”. Conciliatory position of Google: Google has backtracked and has moved ahead to sign a deal with one of the News Corporation Retaliation by FB: However, Facebook— which has 17 million users in Australia — retaliated with a news blackout, blocking all news links on its platform. Consequences of FB’s actions: In the process, FB also ended up silencing some emergency services, and reportedly removed posts from Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology, state health departments, fire and rescue services, charities, and emergency and crisis services. The Debate in India According to a FICCI-EY report for 2020, there are 300 million users of online news sites, portals and aggregators in the country — making up approximately 46% of Internet users and 77% of smartphone users in India at the end of 2019. With 282 million unique visitors, India is the second largest online news consuming nation after China.  In India, digital advertising spends in 2019 grew 24% year-on-year to Rs 27,900 crore and are expected to grow to Rs 51,340 crore by 2022. A substantial discussion on the impact of intermediary platforms on the health of news media outlets is yet to begin in any meaningful way. Impact of Australia's new media code It still seems likely that, eventually, Facebook and the Government will come to an agreement and things will go back to normal in the Australian market.  Talks with Facebook are ongoing, while Facebook has said that the ball is now in the Government's court, and that it won't be changing its stance on the Media Bargaining Code. But the blockage will put increased pressure on media businesses, at a time when many are still struggling to maintain cash flows. That will subsequently put pressure on the Government to make a deal, and while it's not certain that this will happen, it seems like there will be an agreement at some stage. But it's an interesting case study either way, and it could set a new precedent for Facebook's negotiations on similar proposals moving forward. Now, other nations know that Facebook will go so far as blocking certain sites if it has to, that its claims are not a bluff. That will mean that anyone looking to push The Social Network will also have to consider the expanded impacts of such shifts.     

Motivational Articles

[MI-STORIES]MOTIVATIONAL AND INSPIRATIONAL STORIES - Colonel Sanders !

For Previous Story -> CLICK HERE Inspirational Stories: Here is the story for this week from the new series of Inspirational and Motivational stories. One of the oldest known forms of communication is story telling. There is something primordial within us that loves stories and their tremendous impact. In this series, we aim to bring you the best of real-life stories that can inspire and motivate you. Stories always try to teach us something useful. It is one of the best ways of learning from other's mistakes and avoiding our own. Although each story has its own moral, in the comments section you can share your opinion on the moral of the story. If you are able to see something that others might have missed, you can share it for the benefit of all. Apart from just reading these awesome stories, you can also share some of the stories that have inspired you. If we find the story appropriate and useful, we will share it with all. More importantly, read these stories every week without a miss, and stay inspired.   So Here is the story for this week - Colonel Sanders !     Once, there was an older man, who was broke, living in a tiny house and owned a beat up car. He was living off of $99 social security checks. At 65 years of age, he decide things had to change. So he thought about what he had to offer. His friends raved about his chicken recipe. He decided that this was his best shot at making a change. He left Kentucky and traveled to different states to try to sell his recipe. He told restaurant owners that he had a mouthwatering chicken recipe. He offered the recipe to them for free, just asking for a small percentage on the items sold. Sounds like a good deal, right? Unfortunately, not to most of the restaurants. He heard NO over 1000 times. Even after all of those rejections, he didn’t give up. He believed his chicken recipe was something special. He got rejected 1009 times before he heard his first yes. With that one success Colonel Hartland Sanders changed the way Americans eat chicken. Kentucky Fried Chicken, popularly known as KFC, was born. Remember, never give up and always believe in yourself in spite of rejection.

Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz – 2021 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 29th May 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

THANK YOU NOTE: LAST DAY - IASbaba’s 60 Day Plan - IAS Prelims Test Series 2021 - ENVIRONMENT, CURRENT AFFAIRS & CSAT [Day 60]

ARCHIVES OF 60 DAYS THANK YOU NOTE: LAST DAY - IASbaba’s 60 Day Plan Hello Everyone, Its been an awesome journey in the last two months. We at IASbaba want to thank you all for the dedication and commitment with which you participated. Now that we have four months for preliminary examination, it is an extremely crucial period for the UPSC aspirants. A proper strategy during this period can see you through the first, screening stage and enable you to reach the next frontier- the main examination. We request you to revise every single concept and spend most of your time in consolidating the learning. The best way is to revise, revise and revise! We would like to tell you that a lot of thought process and research goes in picking up right topics and framing questions for this program. We have tried our best to align the questions with the UPSC trend and predicting the probable questions for the upcoming examination. We suggest that before prelims you must have multiple revisions of the subject-wise 60 Day compilations that have been shared with you. The remaining compilations will be uploaded soon.  Also in the past couple of months, we have come up with a series of programs for the Prelims and Mains stages of the Civil Services Examination. All these carefully curated programs are designed to keep you on your toes to ensure that you make full use of the ongoing lockdown. FREE INITIATIVES: Rapid Revision (RaRe) Series 2021: A separate dedicated portal and an integrated program for Prelims and Mains to help you utilise the next 120 days, due to extension of exam dates by UPSC. For more information about the initiative Click Here. 60 Day Plan 2021: IASbaba’s Most Trusted Initiative for UPSC Prelims 2021 Click Here. TLP+ 2021 (Phase 1) Compilations: GS Mains Answer Writing Program Click Here. Brainstorming On Ethics And Essay (BEE):  By Sunil Oberoi Sir (Retd. IAS) - A Youtube Initiative! Each week, Oberoi Sir will take 3 sessions, two for Essay (Issue-based & Philosophical) and one for Ethics. Click Here. Connect with Baba - Hotline, Phone-a-Friend: A dedicated helpline that allows you to talk to IASbaba’s top mentors and clarify your preparation strategy doubts. For more information about the initiative Click Here. Weekend with Baba: A couple of hours on the weekends where Mohan Sir (Founder, IASbaba), IASbaba faculty, eminent personalities come live on Youtube to interact with and answer to your preparation queries. For more information about the initiative Click Here. Daily Current Affairs: An initiative aimed at upgrading your current affairs preparation where you can add immense value to your knowledge by investing minimal time. For more information about the initiative Click Here. PAID PROGRAMS: Prelims Exclusive Program (PEP) 2021:‘One Stop Destination for Prelims Preparation'. It includes Discussion Classes, Strategy Classes, Hand-outs, Tests, Mentorship. For more information about the initiative Click Here. TLP+ 2021: A mentorship-based online answer writing initiative for Mains. For more information about the initiative Click Here. BABAPEDIA – Your 'One Stop Destination for Current Affairs (Prelims + Mains)'. For more information Click Here. Integrated Learning Program (ILP) 2021: IASbaba’s most famous flagship initiative for UPSC. An integrated & Self-Study Program. For more information about the initiative Click Here. All India Prelims Test Series(AIPTS) 2021: A high quality test series for Prelims. For more information about the initiative Click Here.  IASbaba’s Foundation Course For Fresher's 2022: A comprehensive mentorship-based online classroom programme for end to end preparation for the Civil Services Examination. For more information about the program Click Here.  Optional Test Series 2021 & Optional Foundation Course 2022: To Know More Information Click Here.    ENVIRONMENT [DAY 60]  Q.1) With reference to Microplastics, consider the following statements: Microplastics are fragments of any type of plastic less than 5 mm in length. Microplastics are ingested directly by zooplanktons. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is entirely made up of microplastics.   Which of the above statements are correct? 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only 1 and 3 only 1 , 2 and 3 Q.2) Consider the following statements with reference to light pollution: Light pollution is an unwanted consequence of excessive or misdirected artificial lighting and includes such effects as sky glow, light trespass and glare. It severely reduces the visibility of stars and other celestial objects. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) Which of the following are migratory birds to India? Siberian Crane Amur Falcon Bar-headed Goose Great white Pelican Choose appropriate option: 1 only 1, 2 and 3 only 2, 3 and 4 only 1, 2 , 3 and 4 Q.4) Consider the following statements: Bioassay is a test in which organisms are used to detect the presence or the effects of any other physical factor, chemical factor, or any other type of ecological disturbance. Keystone species is a dominant primary producer in an ecosystem both in terms of abundance and influence. Which of the above given statements is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.5) Which of the following methods are being suggested to treat Air pollution from Thermal Power Plant? Gravitational settling chamber Using electrostatic precipitator Fluidised Bed Combustion Choose appropriate option: 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only 1 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Q.6) Consider the following statements in context of Wildlife census In India, Only Tiger and Elephant census is done at National level periodically. According to the 4th Tiger census, Karnataka has highest tiger Populations. Only critically endangered species are included Recovery programmes for saving critically endangered species. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 and 3 only 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Q.7) Consider the following statements: Usage of Diclofenac for treatment of domestic animal was the major cause of decrease of Vulture Population in India. Red-headed vulture is on critically endangered list of IUCN but not listed under Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.8) Which of the following is a plant succession limited by water availability? Xerosere Hydrosere Psammosere Lithosere Q.9) Global Environment Outlook is published by IPCC World Bank UNEP UNDP Q.10) “It is a second largest contagious protected area network and is largest high altitude reserve in India. It has highest density of Snow Leopard in the World and it lies in rain shadow area of Himalayas.” Which of the protected area is being discussed here? Namdampha National Park Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve Kanchenjunga National Park Hemis National Park Q.11) Consider the following statements about Sunderban Delta: It is the only mangrove forest inhabited by Tigers. It is both Ramsar Site and World Heritage site. Which of the above statements is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.12) Consider the following statements about Montreux Record: It is register of wetland sites on the List of Wetlands of International Importance. It is maintained as a part of Ramsar List. Currently Chilika Lake and Kaledeo National Park from India is listed under it. Which of the above statements is/are correct? 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Q.13) Consider the following statements about International Renewable Energy Agency: It is an intergovernmental organisation that supports countries in their transition to a sustainable energy. IRENA is the first international organisation to focus exclusively on the issue of renewable energies. IRENA is an official United Nations observer. Which of the above statements is/are correct? 1 only 2 and 3 only 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Q.14) Recently which of the following has become the first state or UT to launch Carbon Watch, a mobile application to assess the carbon footprint of an individual? Karnataka Madhya Pradesh Chandigarh Delhi Q.15) Recently two wetlands have been declared as Ramsar site, of which Kabartal wetland is located in? Uttarakhand Uttar Pradesh Bihar Tamil Nadu Q.16) Which of the following farming practices contribute to Carbon sink? Reduction in tillage Reducing fallow periods Planting shrubs and trees as shelterbelts Adding synthetic manures and Pesticide Select the correct option: 1 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 only 2, 3 and 4 only All of the above Q.17) Consider the following about Convention on Biological Diversity: It is a legally binding convention. It does not cover genetic resources. Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety is one of its Supplementary agreement. Select the correct statements: 1 and 2 only 3 only 1 and 3 only All of the above Q.18) Consider the following statements about National Board for Wildlife: It is a statutory body chaired by Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate change. No alternation of boundaries in wildlife sanctuaries can be done without approval of the National Board of Wildlife (NBWL). Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.19) Consider the following statements about Great Green wall Project: It is a project to address desertification, land degradation and climate change in Sahel Region of Africa. It is led by African Union and aims to grow 8,000-kilometre-long and 15-km-wide mosaic of trees, grasslands, vegetation and plants. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both None Q.20) Consider the following statements about Coral Bio-Triangle Region: The Coral Triangle is a marine area located in the western Pacific Ocean Due to its importance it is known as Amazon of the seas. Select the correct statements: 1 only 2 only Both None Q.21) Consider the following statements about the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS)’: It is an international legal agreement between all the member nations of the World Trade Organization (WTO). TRIPS Agreement is also described as a “Berne and Paris-plus” Agreement. TRIPS was negotiated at the end of the Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). Which of the above statements is/are correct? 1 and 2 only 3 only 2 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Q.22) Recently which of the following country started first space military exercise called ‘AsterX’? USA France China Japan Q.23) Consider the following statements about ‘Mucormycosis’: It is an aggressive and invasive bacterial infection. The disease often manifests in the skin and also affects the lungs and the brain. It mainly affects people who are on medication for health problems that reduces their ability to fight environmental pathogens. Select the correct answer using the code given below: 1 and 2 only 1 and 3 only 2 and 3 only All of the above Q.24) Consider the following statements about the species of Pangolins found in India: Indian Pangolin is endemic to India. Chinese Pangolin is critically endangered while Indian Pangolin is endangered under IUCN list. Both these species are protected and are listed under the Schedule I Part I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 Which of the above given statements is/are incorrect? 1 only 1 and 2 only 2 only 2 and 3 only Q.25) Consider the following statements about “Adoptions provisions in India” Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) functions as the nodal body for adoption of Indian children and is mandated to monitor and regulate in-country and inter-country adoptions In India Adoption is governed by the Adoption Regulations 2017 and in accordance with the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. India has ratified Hague Convention on Inter-country Adoption. Which of the above given statements is/are correct? 1 and 2 only 2 only 2 and 3 only 3 only Q.26) Consider the following statements regarding ‘export of organic products’ – At present, organic products are exported provided they met the requirements of the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP). Organic products covered under the bilateral agreement with NPOP need not be recertified for import in India. Which of the above statements is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.27) Consider the following statements about ‘Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA): It is a statutory body under Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare. APEDA is mandated with the responsibility of export promotion and development of scheduled products such as Fruits, Vegetable, Meat, Poultry Products. APEDA has been entrusted with the responsibility to monitor import of sugar. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 and 2 only 1 and 3 only 2 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Q.28) Which of the following agency conducts consumer confidence survey? FICCI RBI Department of Financial services NSO Q.29) Consider the following statements about ‘India’s engagement with the Arctic region’ India is member of Arctic council since 2013. India has a permanent research station in the Arctic called Bharati. The research in the Arctic region from India is coordinated, conducted, and promoted by Ministry of Earth Sciences. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 and 2 only 1 and 3 only 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Q.30) Consider the following statements about ‘Asian Development Bank’: It was established by members of ASEAN Countries in Manila. India is one of its founding members. It was modelled closely on the World Bank, and has a similar weighted voting system. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 only 1 and 2 only 2 only 2 and 3 only Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow each passage. Your answer to these questions should be based on passage only. Passage 1 The forest fire in Tamil Nadu’s Theni hills that claimed the lives of 11 trekkers and severely injured many others is a heart-rending tragedy, with many of them being women who were out to celebrate International Women’s Day. Questions are naturally being asked whether the Forest Department failed to stop treks during the February-June fire season, and whether the response to the early distress alerts was slow. It appears that the difficult terrain gave many of those caught in the fire line little chance, and proved challenging for the State’s rescue operation launched in coordination with the Central government. The residents of the hills played a commendable role in aiding the effort. Yet, several families are left scarred as they try to cope with the loss of loved ones. The tragedy has highlighted the lack of emphasis on safety in the way such events are organised. Indeed, if there is any lesson that can be learnt from the episode, it is that such adventures should place safety above everything else, and that the government has a key role to play in evolving the protocols. In a country with rich landscapes and forests, the wish to briefly leave the urban life behind and take to the outdoors is but natural. Q.31) Which of the following best describes the central theme of the given passage? The fatal incident of women who struck in forest fire while celebrating International Women’s Day Heroic role played by the residents of the hills in rescuing the fire incident victims Lack of emphasis on safety while going outdoors None of the above Passage 2 There is strong evidence that alcohol causes cancer at seven sites in the body and probably others. Current estimates suggest that alcohol-attributable cancers at these sites make up 5.8% of all cancer deaths world-wide. Confirmation of specific biological mechanisms by which alcohol increases the incidence of each type of cancer is not required to infer that alcohol is a cause. Q.32) What is the stated relation between alcohol consumption and the occurrence of the cancer? There is no evidence to show any correlation between the two. Strong evidence is available to show that they are directly correlated atleast for the seven sites into discussion. Which of the following is/are correct? Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Passage 3 I’ve been following the economic crisis for more than two years now. I began working on the subject as part of the background to a novel, and soon realized that I had stumbled across the most interesting story I’ve ever found. While I was beginning to work on it, the British bank Northern Rock blew up, and it became clear that, as I wrote at the time, “If our laws are not extended to control the new kinds of super-powerful, super-complex, and potentially super-risky investment vehicles, they will one day cause a financial disaster of global-systemic proportions.” I was both right and too late, because all the groundwork for the crisis had already been done—though the sluggishness of the world’s governments, in not preparing for the great unravelling of autumn 2008, was then and still is stupefying. But this is the first reason why I wrote this book: because what’s happened is extraordinarily interesting. It is an absolutely amazing story, full of human interest and drama, one whose byways of mathematics, economics, and psychology are both central to the story of the last decades and mysteriously unknown to the general public. We have heard a lot about “the two cultures” of science and the arts—we heard a particularly large amount about it in 2009, because it was the fiftieth anniversary of the speech during which C. P. Snow first used the phrase. But I’m not sure the idea of a huge gap between science and the arts is as true as it was half a century ago—it’s certainly true, for instance, that a general reader who wants to pick up an education in the fundamentals of science will find it easier than ever before. It seems to me that there is a much bigger gap between the world of finance and that of the general public and that there is a need to narrow that gap, if the financial industry is not to be a kind of priesthood, administering to its own mysteries and feared and resented by the rest of us. Many bright, literate people have no idea about all sorts of economic basics, of a type that financial insiders take as elementary facts of how the world works. I am an outsider to finance and economics, and my hope is that I can talk across that gulf. My need to understand is the same as yours, whoever you are. That’s one of the strangest ironies of this story: after decades in which the ideology of the Western world was personally and economically individualistic, we’ve suddenly been hit by a crisis which shows in the starkest terms that whether we like it or not—and there are large parts of it that you would have to be crazy to like—we’re all in this together. The aftermath of the crisis is going to dominate the economics and politics of our societies for at least a decade to come and perhaps longer. Q.33) According to the passage, the author is likely to be supportive of which one of the following programmes? An educational curriculum that promotes economic research. An educational curriculum that promotes developing financial literacy in the masses. The complete nationalisation of all financial institutions. Economic policies that are more sensitively calibrated to the fluctuations of the market. Q.34) All of the following, if true, could be seen as supporting the arguments in the passage, except: The story of the economic crisis is also one about international relations, global financial security, and mass psychology. Economic crises could be averted by changing prevailing ideologies and beliefs. The failure of economic systems does not necessarily mean the failure of their ideologies. The difficulty with understanding financial matters is that they have become so arcane. Q.35) Three partners shared the profit in a business in the ratio 4:6:8. They had partnered for 12 months, 8 months and 6 months respectively. What was the ratio of their investments? 4:6:8 4:7:8 4:8:16 4:9:16 NOTE- Follow this for Comments Mention- Time Taken after solving the Test After the release of Solution, Edit your Comment to Mention-  Correct/Incorrect and Score 2 Marks for Correct/0.66 minus for Incorrect. What IMPACT can the ‘60 Day’ have on the final results? We will explain by taking a small example. Imagine you are sitting in the examination hall, appearing in Prelims Paper I. You have attempted 70 questions already but still unsure about a few. Then you stumble upon a question that was asked in 60 Day (and believe us, it has happened to hundreds of students countless times). You choose the right answer and submit your paper hoping for the best! Eventually, you go on to clear Mains as well as Personality Test and secure a good rank as well. When the cut off gets announced by UPSC, you realize that you have scored just one mark more than the cut off! Yes, that one mark can change your life (and it has done so to many of our students in the past). Now, imagine the kind of impact 60 to 80 marks can have! Isn’t that so fascinating to imagine?   One’s level of preparedness is always different for different subjects. Even within a subject, one’s comfort level may vary with topics. For example, one might be more comfortable in solving questions of Polity than Economics and within Polity also, one might be at ease with questions on fundamental rights than Parliament. The level of comfort and ease that one has with a subject/ topic gets manifested in the examination. However, there is no conscious effort by aspirants to micro analyze these aspects. Now, coming to the second aspect i.e. the mistakes that one commits in answering MCQs, it can be said that there are mainly four reasons behind incorrect responses in the OMR sheet. They are: Lack of information Lack of analytical ability Silly mistakes Excessive risk-taking Let’s analyze them one by one: Lack of information: You simply don’t know the information. You are clueless and that’s why you don’t attempt the question. For example, you may have never come across a regime called the ‘Wassenaar Agreement’ during your preparation and you can’t do much about it. The lack of information is pardonable and rectifiable. You can read more and gather more information. That is within your reach. Lack of analytical ability: You know the concept but the question is a twisted one and you are not able to apply the concept. For example, in a question asking you to identify the climate type of a region based on certain given parameters like precipitation, temperature, and air density, you might find it difficult to mark the correct option even if you are aware of all the options given in the question! That is clearly a lack of application and you can overcome it by developing a habit of framing questions in your mind while you study any topic. Silly mistakes: This habit is unpardonable. You know the concept, you become happy, you misread the question, you mark the incorrect answer and you are out of the race! Such mistakes reveal your hurriedness while answering the question. A simple mistake of reading ‘chose the incorrect option’ as ‘chose the correct option’ can destroy your chances. It means that you need to have patience and focus while attempting the paper. Excessive risk-taking: You are confused between the options and just in order to increase your attempts, you make wild guesses and try your luck only to repent eventually. Risk-taking is an art and one must be very careful while doing the guesswork in confusing questions. If you are not lucky enough, it can spoil your chances. You will realize that these problems will have different meanings for different people. For example, one might find a lack of information as the main culprit in answering wrong the questions on Culture while in Polity, lack of analytical ability is usually the culprit. The point here is that you must analyse your preparation on these yardsticks by applying them on different subjects/ topics. If one is having a headache, he/ she can’t have the same medicine for fever. Isn’t it. This is where our revamped '60 Day’ comes into the picture. It will give you an opportunity to micro analyze your preparation and perform better in the examination. Finally, it is up to you to take advantage of this framework. We are sure of only one thing- if you follow this program, assess yourself on the basis of the given framework and keep improving your weaker areas, success will be yours. We are providing you with the right platform, the right guidance, and the right competition. Do you have the right motivation to make full use of this initiative? We think you have. Come, be a part of this initiative and take the first step towards SUCCESS! Importance of self - tracking: We could have provided all of you with login id and passwords to monitor your daily performance in the 60-day program. Instead, a simple and most beautiful way which Disqus provides is profile based commenting! Yes, we have seen the most successful candidates who have taken the maximum benefit from this program monitoring themselves by commenting on their answers in the box given (Disqus comment). And reviewing their performance themselves once in 10 days on the progress meter.  DOWNLOAD THE 60 DAYS PLAN 2021 All the Best!  IASbaba  

WEEKEND WITH BABA

[WEEKEND WITH BABA] Fourth Live Session - Sociology Optional by Dr. Vamshi Krishna today at 5 PM

Dear Students The session on Sociology will be taken by Dr. Vamshi Krishna sir on 29th May (Saturday) from 5 PM - 6 PM. Zoom Session Details  Topic: Why to Choose Sociology as an OptionalTime: May 29, 2021 05:00 PM Join Zoom Meeting - https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81841944104?pwd=ajZyNk9BTVd6VFRlaXJpVnFjQXdpZz09 Meeting ID: 818 4194 4104Passcode: 753428 Note The Zoom link will be active only on the scheduled time and date. Students will be allowed to participate in the session on a 'first come first serve' basis. To Watch Previous 'Weekend With Baba' Sessions - CLICK HERE P.S: 'CONNECT WITH BABA' consists of the following - Hotline, #AskBaba, Phone-a-Friend, (Monday - Friday between 10 AM to 6 PM), and 'Weekend with Baba' (Every Saturday on YouTube from 6 PM - 7 PM). To get Regular Updates from IASbaba, follow- TELEGRAM Channel – CLICK HERE YOUTUBE  –  CLICK HERE FACEBOOK  – CLICK HERE

IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1 – ENGLISH & हिंदी): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – HOT Questions [29th May,2021] – Day 8

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE Hello Friends, Welcome to IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1 – ENGLISH & हिंदी): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – HOT Questions [29th May,2021] – Day 8 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 for a month - HOT (High Order Thinking) Questions! With the HOT initiative, 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. Discuss the factors that cause cyclones across India’s east coast.  भारत के पूर्वी तट पर चक्रवात पैदा करने वाले कारकों की चर्चा कीजिए। 2. Why was Lakshadweep in news recently? What are your views on the issue? Discuss.  हाल ही में लक्षद्वीप खबरों में क्यों था? इस मुद्दे पर आपके क्या विचार हैं? चर्चा करें। 3. Discuss the pros and cons of monetary easing to reverse the economic slowdown during COVID. COVID के दौरान आर्थिक मंदी को दूर करने के लिए मौद्रिक विस्तारवाद के पक्ष और विपक्ष पर चर्चा करें। 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 :)