Jun 16, 2021 Rapid Revision (RaRe) Series for UPSC

[Day 17]: 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-17 of RaRe Series - Click here To Register - Click here For complete details of the RaRe Series -  Click here

Jun 16, 2021 TLP Mains Answer Writing

SYNOPSIS [16th JUNE,2021] Day 113: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE   SYNOPSIS [16th JUNE,2021] Day 113: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)   1. Differentiate between cyclones and tornadoes? In terms of occurrence, do you find a difference between the global distribution of cyclones and tornadoes? Examine. Approach  It expects students to compare between cyclones and tornadoes. Give the detailed account of occurrence of these phenomena in various geographical areas. Introduction  Tornadoes have historically occurred in the Bay of Bengal region mostly it’s uncommon in India but recently tornado hit West Bengal’s Hooghly district ahead of Cyclone Yaas. The weather phenomenon occurred in the Bengal shows Tropical cyclones and tornadoes are atmospheric vortices, they have little in common. Both are strong, spiralling storms that can be very destructive. Body Cyclones: Tropical cyclones are violent storms that originate over oceans, in tropical areas and move over to coastal areas bringing about large scale destruction caused by violent winds very heavy rainfall and storm surges. A cyclone consists of a low-pressure area with high pressure all around. They have large diameters. Tornadoes A tornado is a violent storm comprised of extremely strong winds spiralling around a central point in a funnel-shaped cloud. It is formed when a funnel-like column of cold air sinks down from a story cloud. They have a relatively smaller diameter. Difference between Genesis of cyclones and tornadoes: Tropical cyclones are generated in regions of near zero horizontal temperature gradient. Tropical cyclones require very low values of tropospheric vertical shear in order to form and grow. Tornadoes are produced in regions of large temperature gradient. Tornadoes require substantial vertical shear of the horizontal winds (i.e. change of wind speed and/or direction with height) to provide ideal conditions for tornado genesis. Cyclones diameter of the circulating system can vary between 150km to 250km in diameter. The system moves slowly about 300-500km per day. Tornadoes are generally narrow in diameter compared with other storms, so their destruction is confined to a narrow path. Tornadoes often occur in groups. Tornado strength is measured on the Fujita scale. Tropical cyclones are purely an oceanic phenomena - they die out over-land due to a loss of a moisture source.  Tornadoes are primarily over-land phenomena as solar heating of the land surface usually contributes toward the development of the thunderstorm that spawns the vortex and over-water tornadoes called as water sprout. Lastly, tropical cyclones have a lifetime that is measured in days. While tornadoes typically last on the scale of minutes. Difference between global distribution of cyclone and tornadoes: Tornadoes occur in many parts of the world, including Australia, Europe, Africa, Asia, and South America. Even New Zealand reports about 20 tornadoes each year. Two of the highest concentrations of tornadoes outside the U.S. are Argentina and Bangladesh.   Almost 90 percent of these storms form within 20° north or south of the Equator. Only two tropical ocean basins do not support tropical cyclones, because they lack waters that are sufficiently warm. The Peru Current in the eastern South Pacific and the Benguela Current in the South Atlantic carry cool water Equatorward from higher latitudes and so deter tropical cyclone development. Tornadoes occur most often in association with thunderstorms during the spring and summer in the mid-latitudes of both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Tornadoes have been reported on all continents except Antarctica. The United Kingdom has the most tornadoes per land size, most of them weak. On average, about 33 tornadoes are reported annually there. In absolute numbers, the United States has the most tornadoes by far (more than 1,000 per year have been reported every year since 1990). In terms of Impact: Tornadoes tends to be more destructive than cyclone for the reasons. Speed of tornadoes are typically high than cyclone. As tornadoes originate and propagate over land, the destruction level on ground is high. As the size of tornado is small, the destruction intensity is higher. The impact of cyclone is more seen in the coastal regions when compared to tornadoes, whose impact is majorly seen in hinterland. Conclusion These violent storms are the manifestation of the atmosphere’s adjustments to varying energy distribution. The potential and heat energies are converted into kinetic energy in these storms and the restless atmosphere again returns to its stable state. 2. Why do some regions in the oceans have greater density of fishes than the others? Do ocean currents play a role in this phenomenon? Explain with the help of suitable examples. Approach  Try to explain phenomenon of the major fishing grounds/zones and explain whether ocean current has any role in this phenomenon with help of suitable examples. Introduction The major fishing zones of the world are along the coastal areas where cold ocean currents flow because cold ocean currents are nutrient rich which support higher populations of phytoplankton,zooplankton,krill and Fishes. Moreover Fishing is industry is more dominant in middle latitudes because there in a single catch there is high probability of getting fishes of the same species. Body Major fishing zones of the world are: Northwest pacific region-  areas near Japan. Northwest Atlantic- areas near Canada. Southern Atlantic and northern Antarctica. Factors that govern density of fishes : Shallow continental shelf- these are the regions of high productivity. The water here is nutrient rich and sunlight is available in abundance. New found-land  coast Coastal upwelling – these areas bring nutrient rich waters from a depth. It provides plenty of oxygen for fishes to survive. Example Peru coast. Water temperature- most organisms avoid extreme temperatures and thus thus major fishing zones are confined to tropics. Mixing of ocean currents- these areas have very high biological productivity, because plankton growth is encouraged by mixing of warm and cold water. Commercial fishing requires large ships- multiple varieties of fishes caught, separated, processed for packing on the ship itself, high-tech equipment to scan fishing waters for optimal location and so on.Such vessels and technology require massive capital investment available in Europe, America but not much in Asia. Ocean currents play a major role in this phenomenon because mixing of these currents creates high fishing zones. Some of these areas are: Mixing of Labrador current and gulf stream- Canada: This region is blessed with the convergence of the Gulf Stream and the Labrador Current that enhance the fishing productivity.  The Cod, Halibut, tuna, squid, flounder, redfish, and salmon; herring and mackerel are famous fishes caught here. The South East Pacific: It stretches from Pacific Coast of South America that includes Panama to Cape Horn. The northward flowing Peru Current provides an ideal environment for the anchovy culture because it is associated with a coastal upwelling of nutrient rich colder water laden with plankton on which the anchovy feeds. Mixing of Kuroshio and oyashio- areas near Japan. Mixing of gulf stream in Arctic waters- Areas near Norway and Britain. However recently even exploitation of the areas determine the density and richness of fishes. So areas which are traditionally blessed with rich fishes are now facing depletion due to overfishing. So human exploitation is another major factor which decides why few areas are rich in fish density Conclusion Though density of fishes is determined by nature but development of fisheries industry is governed by Human technology. This is the reason why most of the major fishing areas are in Northern Hemisphere. However over exploitation of these areas had resulted in depletion of fish resources and countries such as Japan are migrating even to Antarctic ocean in search of new fishing grounds. 3. What do you understand by ‘salt budget’? Examine the factors that affect the salinity of oceans. Approach  It expects students to elaborate upon concept of salt budget along with factors influencing the salinity of oceans across the globe. It expects students to draw relevant map or diagram.  Introduction  It involves all the processes through which salt moves from the ocean into the lithosphere, to a certain extent into the atmosphere, and back into the oceans. Moving water, including groundwater, leaches minerals from the rocks through the process of surface erosion. Body Salt budget: Salt budget is movement of salt content from oceans to lithosphere to certain extent in atmosphere and back into the oceans. It can be also called as salt cycle. It deals with the extraction and addition of salt content. Salt budget: Submarine volcanism at mid oceanic ridge brings salt content into the ocean. Some of the salts in the ocean waters accumulate at the ocean bottom through the process of sedimentation turning into mineralized rocks. Over a period of millions of years, some of these rocks get raised above the ocean surface due to plate tectonics. This brings the salt content to the lithosphere in the form of minerals. Salt from the oceans also gets sprayed into the atmosphere due to the action of wind. This salt returns to the lithosphere mixed with precipitation. However, this constitutes a tiny fraction of salt moving from the land to the sea and vice versa. Moving water, including groundwater, leaches minerals from the rocks through the process of surface erosion. The mineral-laced water joins the rivers and streams which finally reach the oceans. These minerals add to the salinity levels of the ocean waters. Factors affecting salinity of oceans: The degree of concentration of the salt solution in oceans does vary in different areas expressed as salinity either as percentage or in parts per thousand. The average salinity of oceans is 35.2 parts of salt in 1000 parts of water.  But in Baltic due to dilution by fresh water of rivers and melted ice it decreases to 7 parts per thousand. However in Red sea due to high evaporation and comparatively fewer rivers to bring fresh water, the average salinity increases to 39 parts per thousand.    Ocean salinity is dependent upon several factors and it keeps varying with the place and time of measurement. The main determinants of ocean salinity include, Evaporation: In general, salinity is higher at places with high rates of evaporation. The tropical seas such as the Red Sea, Persian Gulf have the highest rates of evaporation. Consequently, the waters of these seas close to the Tropic of Cancer have some of the highest rates of ocean salinity. Temperature: Temperature and ocean salinity share a direct relationship. In general, regions with high temperatures are also the regions with high salinity.  Precipitation: Precipitation and salinity share an inverse relationship. In general, regions with higher levels of precipitation have lower levels of salinity. This is the reason why though the equatorial region is as hot as the sub-tropics; it records lower salinity than the sub-tropics since the former receives heavy precipitation in a day. Ocean Currents: They play an important role in the spatial distribution of dissolved salts in ocean waters. For instance, Gulf Stream in the North Atlantic Ocean increases the salinity of ocean waters along the western margins of the Atlantic Ocean. The North Atlantic Drift, on the other hand, increases the salinity of waters in the North Sea. The influx of Fresh Water: Salinity is relatively lower in areas where major rivers meet the oceans. For instance, at the mouths of rivers such as Amazon, Congo, Ganges the ocean surface salinity is found to be lower than the average surface salinity. Similarly, in the Polar Regions, when the glaciers melt during the summers, there is an influx of fresh water into the surrounding ocean which reduces the surface salinity. Inflow of high salinity wa-ter from the Arabian Sea into the Bay of Bengal is signif-icant and occurs after the mature phase of the southwest monsoon. Freshwater transport out of the Bay of Bengal is southward throughout the year along the eastern bound-ary of the Indian Ocean.  Low salinity water transport into the Arabian Sea occurs in the Somali Current during the southwest monsoon, closing a clockwise path of water mass transport. Only a small fraction of low salinity water is ad-vected into the eastern Arabian Sea from the Bay of Bengal. Conclusion Oceans, seas and coastal areas form an integrated and essential component of the Earth’s ecosystem and are critical to sustainable development. They cover more than two-thirds of the earth’s surface and contain 97% of the planet’s water. Salt budget needs to be studied as it’s integral nutrient in the ocean and it can contribute to poverty eradication by creating sustainable livelihoods and decent work. TLP Synopsis Day 113 PDF

Jun 16, 2021 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 16th June 2021

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) High-level Dialogue on Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought Part of: GS Prelims and GS -II - International Relations and GS III - Conservation  In news Recently, the Indian Prime Minister delivered a keynote address at the United Nations (UN) “High-Level Dialogue on Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought” via video conference. Steps Taken by India to deal land degradation  India is on track to achieve its national commitment on Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) (Sustainable Development Goal target 15.3). It is working to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030. Over the last 10 years, around 3 million hectares of forest cover has been added. India is assisting fellow developing countries to develop land restoration strategies. A Centre of Excellence is being set up in India to promote a scientific approach towards land degradation issues.  It is at Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education. What is Land Degradation and its impact?  Land degradation is caused by multiple forces, including extreme weather conditions, particularly drought and human activities that pollute or degrade the quality of soils and land utility. It creates arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas. It accelerates climate change and biodiversity loss.  It adds to droughts, wildfires, involuntary migration and the emergence of zoonotic infectious diseases. Global Efforts to Check Land Degradation United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD): Sole legally binding international agreement  The Bonn Challenge: : To bring 150 million hectares of the world’s deforested and degraded land into restoration by 2020, and 350 million hectares by 2030.  Great Green Wall: Initiative by Global Environment Facility (GEF), where eleven countries in Sahel-Saharan Africa have focused efforts to fight against land degradation and revive native plant life to the landscape. EU urged to consider its GSP+ status given to Sri Lanka Part of: GS Prelims and GS -II - International Relations and GS -III - Economy In news Recently, a resolution was adopted by the European Parliament, urging the European Union (EU) Commission to consider the temporary withdrawal of the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) status given to Sri Lanka. It is a set of EU rules allowing exporters from developing countries to pay less or no duties on their exports to the European Union. It helps developing countries to alleviate poverty and create jobs.  The EU’s GSP is widely recognised as the most progressive in terms of coverage and benefits. The EU continuously monitors and reviews GSP+ beneficiary countries’ effective implementation of the international conventions on human rights, labour rights.  The GSP was adopted at UNCTAD in New Delhi in 1968 and was instituted in 1971 The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development was established in 1964 as a permanent intergovernmental body. UNCTAD is the part of the United Nations Secretariat dealing with trade, investment, and development issues. Generalized System of Preferences  (GSP) Umbrella that comprises the bulk of preferential schemes granted by industrialized nations to developing countries. Reduced Most Favored Nations (MFN) Tariffs or duty-free entry of eligible products exported by beneficiary countries to the markets of donor countries. Southern Ocean recognised as fifth ocean by National Geographic magazine Part of: GS Prelims and GS -I - Geography  In news Recently, on the occasion of World Ocean Day (8th June), the National Geographic magazine has recognised the ‘Southern Ocean’ as the world’s fifth ocean. Other four Oceans are: Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, and Arctic Oceans. About Southern Ocean The Southern Ocean is the only ocean ‘to touch three other oceans (Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Ocean).  It is the only Ocean to completely embrace a continent rather than being embraced by them. It is also defined by its Antarctic Circumpolar Current that was formed 34 million years ago.  The current flows from west to east around Antarctica Significance of Recognition It is a step towards conservation of World’s Oceans, redirecting public awareness onto a region which needs a conservation spotlight.  Southern Ocean is getting rapidly warmed  due to global warming, industrial fishing on species like krill and Patagonian tooth fish.  Dagmara Hydro-Electric Project: Bihar Part of: GS Prelims and GS I - Geography and GS -III - Infrastructure  In news Recently, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC) Limited and Bihar State Hydroelectric Power Corporation Limited (BSHPC) for Implementation of Dagmara Hydro-Electric Project, Supaul, Bihar The project is located on Kosi river. About the Project It is a Run-of-the-River scheme. Run-of-river hydro projects use the natural downward flow of rivers and micro turbine generators to capture the kinetic energy carried by water. The project will have the total capacity of generating 130 MW energy, Significance It will be a landmark project in the power sector scenario of Bihar as far as green power is concerned. It will enhance the socio-economic and infrastructure development and  create employment opportunities. About Kosi River The Kosi is a trans-boundary river which flows through Tibet, Nepal and India. It has its source in Tibet Major tributaries: Sun Kosi, Arun and Tamur Its unstable nature causes course changes.  The Kosi carries the maximum amount of silt and sand after the Brahmaputra in India. It is also known as the “Sorrow of Bihar” due to the extreme flooding that it causes.  100% of Human Genome sequenced Part of: GS Prelims and GS III - Sci and tech; Biotechnology  In news  Researchers at the Telomere-to- Telomere Consortium, an international collaboration, have sequenced the first complete human reference genome. About Genome Sequencing and genome Genome Sequencing means deciphering the exact order of base pairs in an individual.  Genome is an organism's complete set of DNA.  Human Genome contains about 3 billion base pairs.  Benefits of Genome Sequencing Help in identifying genomic causes of rare diseases.  Improving the understanding of how virus spreads.  Identifying the genetic mutations  Various initiatives taken for genome Sequencing  IndiGen programme: Funded by the Council for scientific and Industrial Research to undertake whole genome sequences of 1000 Indian individuals representing diverse ethnic groups from India.  Genome India project by Department of Biotechnology which aims to collect 10,000 genetic samples from citizens across India  Human Genome Project: An international research to determine DNA sequence of the entire Human Genome. It began in 1999 and was completed in 2003.  Miscellaneous Raja Parba It is also known as Mithuna SanKranti.  It is a three-day festival celebrating womanhood in Odisha.  It is believed that during this period Mother Earth menstruates and prepares herself for future agricultural activities with the arrival of monsoon.  People worship goddess Bhudevi who is the wife of Lord Jagannath  Women are given a break from household work and people abstain from walking barefoot on the earth (Mains Focus) EDUCATION/ GOVERNANCE Topic: GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in Education sectors  GS-2: Issues relating to development and management of Education, Human Resources All-India Survey of Higher Education (AISHE) 2019-20 Context: The ministry of education released the findings of the All-India Survey of Higher Education (AISHE) for 2019-20 on June 10. Key Highlights of the report Total Enrolment In Higher Education 3.42 crore in 2014-15. 3.74 crore in 2018-19. 3.85 crore in 2019-20: Growth of 11.36 lakh (3.04 per cent) Out of these, nearly 85% of the students (2.85 crore) were enrolled in the six major disciplines such as Humanities, Science, Commerce, Engineering & Technology, Medical Science and IT & Computer. Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) 24.3% in 2014-15 26.3% in 2018-19 27.1% in 2019-20 GER in higher education is calculated for the 18-23 age group. It is the ratio of enrolment in higher education to the population in the eligible age group.  Gender Parity Index (GPI) GPI in Higher Education in 2019-20 is 1.01 against 1.00 in 2018-19 indicating an improvement in the relative access to higher education for females of eligible age group compared to males. Students Pursuing PhD 1.17 lakh in 2014-15. 2.03 lakh in 2019-20  Total Number of Teachers 15,03,156 comprising 57.5% male and 42.5% female Pupil Teacher Ratio in Higher Education in 2019-20 is 26. However, the report also contains enough evidence to suggest that India’s higher education sector confronts serious issues of inequality across the gender, caste, and regional axis. Headline improvement in enrolment numbers hides access to professionally rewarding courses When it comes to accessing professionally rewarding education, caste and gender seem to be major determinants. The only professional courses — among the top 10 most pursued programmes at bachelor’s and master’s level — where women do better than men are BEd and MEd, which are usually pursued by aspiring school-teachers Multi-layered social inequality among teachers in Higher Education More than 40% of the teachers in India’s higher educational institutions are non-SC-ST-OBC Hindus. Their population share, as per the findings of the 2015-16 National Family and Health Survey (NFHS), is just 17.6%. Even in Institutes of National Importance, which include institutes such as IITs, NITs, AIIMS, and IIMs, the share of non-SC-ST-OBC Hindu teachers is more than 70%. The share of women at the demonstrator/tutor position in educational institutions is 65.5%, but it falls to 27.5% at the level of associate professor/professor. Geography matters as much as sociology Access to higher education varies significantly across states.  GER is 15.8% and 13.1% for men and women in Bihar and 44.9% and 51.8% in Delhi.  Regional Distribution of Government Colleges  Only 8,565 of 39,955 colleges in India or about a fifth (21.4%) were government colleges in 2019-20. But there is wide regional variation in the share of government colleges across different states. In poorer states in the east, government colleges make up a third to half of educational institutions, while in southern and western states government colleges are less than a fifth of all colleges. Government colleges are almost as big a chunk of total colleges in Delhi (55.7%) as they are in Bihar (59.8%). This should make it clear that the public sector footprint is hardly an indicator of quality of education Connecting the dots: National Education Policy (NEP), 2020: It aims at increasing the GER in higher education to 50% by 2035. Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship (PMRF) 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. Relearning Assessment Context: The wait for a way to assess Class XII students after the cancellation of the board examinations has created immense anxiety in students and parents. On this issue, there is a need to look at both the short and long-term evaluation goals. What is assessment? Assessment is defined as a systematic review of learning, use of information collected from various experiences and consistent feedback.  Assessments should have multiple rubrics in place. This will help to gauge what learners know, measure their understanding, track progress, help in planning the next step, assign remedial work and constantly give feedback to the stakeholders.. Present day assessment system The above definition contradicts how we assess our learners because we do not give them a variety of learning experiences.  We assess them through a year-end standardised test of three hours in the national exams. What measures can be taken to reform our assessment system? Application oriented: Questions have to be application-based. Banks of case studies, without too many knowledge and memory-based tasks, should be created.  Innovative testing methods: Interesting testing systems, such as gamified tests, periodic midterms, project-based tests, should be attempted.  Subject-based Evaluation techniques: It is essential to develop a framework to evaluate more autonomously. Evaluation tools need to be changed depending on the subjects. A student cannot be evaluated in science the way she is in languages. Interdisciplinary approach: We need to create capacity-building methods where every child is equipped with a diversity of knowledge and emphasis is given to her competencies, values and attitudes, using experiential pedagogy that integrates art, play, life skills, social and emotional learning with an interdisciplinary approach. Retaining the Essence of Assessment: The purpose of assessment is to understand learning outcomes. Identifying learning, aligning it to the goal, mapping skills, designing authentic tasks through which progress can be captured should be the essence of assessment A holistic report card should be equitable, inclusive and joyful, reflecting the learner’s diverse knowledge. A combination of self, peer, teacher and parent assessment will help create students who can reconcile tensions, take on responsibilities and shape better futures. Leveraging Online Assessment: Evaluating question papers physically will become a challenge. Issues of paperwork, manpower, confidentiality, and monitoring teachers in evaluation centres, will continue to pose problems. The creation of online assessment platforms has to be explored and supported by regional centres and schools Conclusion Unless education is more contemporary and child-centric, our children will not be able to cope with the rigours of the future. We need to have alternative learning systems that are enjoyable, inclusive, progressive and holistic. Breaking the mould of rote learning will help children realise their full potential. Connecting the dots: National Education Policy mark a shift from a summative to a formative and competency-based learning system.  Criticism of Board Exams (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note: Correct answers of today’s questions will be provided in next day’s DNA section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers. Comments Up-voted by IASbaba are also the “correct answers”. Q.1 Which of the following are initiatives taken for genome Sequencing by India?  IndiGen programme  Human Genome Project  Genome India project  Select the correct code: 1 and 2 only  1 and 3 only 2 and 3 only  1, 2 and 3 Q.2 Raja Parba is a festival of which of the following state of India?  Odisha  Tamil Nadu  Assam  Punjab  Q.3 Which of the following river is known as “Sorrow of Bihar’? Ganga Yamuna Brahmaputra Kosi ANSWERS FOR 15th June 2021 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 D 2 C 3 B Must Read On Criminal Justice System: The Hindu On Electoral Bonds: The Hindu On Biodiversity: Deccan Herald

Jun 16, 2021 Important Articles

[RESULTS] Indian Forest Service (Main) Written Examination, 2020 Announced

Dear Students UPSC has announced the results of the Indian Forest Services (Main) Written Examination, 2020. Congratulations to all who have qualified for Personality Test for selection to the Indian Forest Service Examination-2020. Check the Results - CLICK HERE Those of you who are selected to appear for the Interview/PT, please register here for the Interview Mentorship Programmme (IMP) – CLICK HERE  

Jun 16, 2021 RSTV Video

Promoting Native Languages – The Big Picture – RSTV IAS UPSC

Archives TOPIC: General Studies 2: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education In News: Reaching out to the Members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu elaborated on the importance of strong foundational skills in the first language in the initial years of informal learning at home. Describing the first learned and spoken mother tongue as the ‘soul of life’, Vice President of India and Chairman of Rajya Sabha has passionately urged all the Members of Parliament to actively contribute to the cause of preservation and promotion of Indian languages. Cause of Concern  Though the use of mother languages as mediums of instruction in school and higher education has been armoured from pre-Independence times, sadly, the number of those desiring to study in English has been multiplying exponentially. This has led to the burgeoning of monolingual educational institutes governed by the English language and is creating a society that is far from sensitive, just and equitable. The nature of dominance of English over all other mother languages is allied to power, status and identity of students. Students speaking different mother languages come together to study in an educational institute where they interact with each other without any difficulties at both school and higher education level. Yet they are being taught monolingually through a foreign language that not all students are able to associate with. The whole process has led to the ignorance of mother languages and a feeling of disassociation among students. Mother Tongue Based Multi-Lingual Education (MTBMLE): It could play a key role in preserving tribal languages, claim linguistic experts. Ignoring mother tongue- based intervention in early childhood for tribal children could potentially impede the early childhood learning process. Many languages that are kept out of Eighth Schedule are in some ways more deserving to be included in the Schedule. For Example: Sanskrit, an Eighth Schedule language, has only 24,821 speakers (2011 Census). Manipuri, another scheduled language, has only 17,61,079 speakers. Similarly, many unscheduled languages have a sizeable number of speakers: Bhili/Bhilodi has 1,04,13,637 speakers; Gondi has 29,84,453 speakers; Garo has 11,45,323; Ho has 14,21,418; Khandeshi, 18,60,236; Khasi, 14,31,344; and Oraon, 19,88,350. Need to teach children in their mother tongue According to the National University of Education, Planning and Administration, the number of children studying in English medium schools in India increased by an astonishing 273% between 2003 and 2011. Their parents think they know exactly what they are doing and why: they believe that knowledge of English is key to job security and upward mobility, and they are convinced that their children’s opportunities will increase in direct proportion to their English vocabularies. They are right, but they are also totally wrong. Knowing English helps a lot in getting a good job, but only if that English is meaningful, accompanied by understanding and fundamental knowledge in all the other things children go to school to learn. The English used in most Indian schools simply does not allow for any real learning to take place. The subject is complex and fascinating. Given India’s linguistic diversity, the dream of a common language is quiet powerful. And English seems to many the only solution. Yet the results so far are abysmal. In the 2009 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), India scored 75th out of 77 countries. This is an overall indicator of how schools are performing and does not specifically implicate English as a culprit. PISA continues to rank countries around the world, but after its 2009 humiliation, India has refused to participate, citing cultural inappropriateness in the testing. Keeping its head in the sand is one approach. But India’s primary education is notorious for its rote learning, poorly trained teachers and lack of funding (India spends only 2.6% of its GDP on education; China spends 4.1 and Brazil is more than double India’s at 5.7). English as the language of instruction makes all of it worse – developmentally, it is a disaster. Consider school from the child’s perspective. Most kids are tiny when they set off from home. For the first time in their lives, they have to cope in a strange environment for many hours with a large number of other children whom they do not know. They must sit still, be quiet and speak only on command. The teacher, who is also a stranger, expects children to master completely new concepts: reading and writing; addition and subtraction; photosynthesis; the difference between a city and state and country. Other countries do not do this to their children – China, France, Germany, Holland or Spain – all countries where English is commonly mastered as a second language – and one will find primary education happening in the dominant language of the area. At the moment, only about 17% of Indian children are in English medium schools. Current trends suggest that this figure will rise exponentially in the coming decade (Bihar saw a rise of 4700% in just five years).  While the research is clear that children learn best in their own mother tongues, there are other compelling arguments as well, particularly in India. Classrooms are only as good as their teachers – in India, in 2012, 91% of the teachers currently serving in both private and government schools were unable to pass a national eligibility test. With this level of incompetence, we still expect them to teach in a language they are likely weak in themselves. Conclusion The language of instruction should simply be a vehicle, an effortless flow of grammar and words which everyone absorbs without having to puzzle it through for meaning and definition. Science, maths and literacy are hard enough as it is without adding so many layers of complexity. The country needs its next generation of leaders to master their fundas thoroughly so they can go on to practise medicine, build bridges, put in plumbing and design solar lighting systems. And children can learn second, third and fourth languages all in good time. But that will happen only if those youngsters grow up loving language, not feeling threatened and judged by it. We need them to write poetry and songs and novels. We need them to feel proud of their mother tongues, not apologetic and ashamed as if their intelligence is based on how much English they know. Must Read: Three-language formula: History and Analysis Connecting the dots: Languages are an important identity of India’s liberal and democratic society. Elaborate Why should children learn in their mother tongue? Discuss. UNESCO has created a list of endangered languages of India where 42 languages have been listed as critically endangered. In the light of above fact discuss why is it important for India to protect its regional languages? What measures can be taken to prevent the extinction of local languages?

Jun 16, 2021 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz – 2021 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 16th JUNE 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

Jun 16, 2021 TLP Mains Answer Writing

IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – General Studies Paper 1 Questions [16th JUNE,2021] – Day 113

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE Hello Friends, Welcome to IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – General Studies Paper 1 Questions [16th JUNE,2021] – Day 113 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. Differentiate between cyclones and tornadoes? In terms of occurrence, do you find a difference between the global distribution of cyclones and tornadoes? Examine.(10 Marks) चक्रवात और बवंडर में अंतर बताएं? इनके घटित होने के संदर्भ में, क्या आप चक्रवातों और बवंडर के वैश्विक वितरण के बीच अंतर पाते हैं? जांच करें। 2. Why do some regions in the oceans have greater density of fishes than the others? Do ocean currents play a role in this phenomenon? Explain with the help of suitable examples.(10 Marks) महासागरों के कुछ क्षेत्रों में अन्य क्षेत्रों की तुलना में मछलियों का घनत्व अधिक क्यों होता है? क्या इस घटना में महासागरीय धाराएँ भूमिका निभाती हैं? उपयुक्त उदाहरणों की सहायता से स्पष्ट कीजिए। 3. What do you understand by ‘salt budget’? Examine the factors that affect the salinity of oceans.(15 Marks) 'लवण बजट' से आप क्या समझते हैं? महासागरों की लवणता को प्रभावित करने वाले कारकों का परीक्षण कीजिए। 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 :)

Jun 16, 2021 UPSC Interview Discussion-TRP

[INTERVIEW INITIATIVE] Think, Rethink and Perform (TRP) [DAY 18] 2020 for UPSC/IAS Personality Test!

ARCHIVES (of TRP) - > CLICK HERE Those who have appeared for UPSC Mains 2020, fill up the Google form given below. Students who fill the form will be added to a telegram group so that there can be healthy discussions with other students who will be appearing for the Interview/Personality Test. Also, Mohan sir, Bureaucrats and Ex-Bureaucrats will be interacting one on one with all the students who will be appearing for the same. REGISTER HERE – CLICK HERE   Interview Discussion: Think, Rethink and Perform; (TRP)- Day 18 Set 1: Ask these questions to yourself; contemplate and come out with a concrete answer (not to be discussed on this forum). Invest at least 30 minutes on this set of questions.  Can a person afford to be honest in the present system?  What according to you are the factors hat force one to indulge in corrupt practices?  Would you be able to practice integrity? How?  Set 2: Analyse the following issue:  The COVID-19 pandemic has seriously hurt the economy. Many renowned economists are suggesting to print money to revive the economy. What are your views on this? Will it be prudent to print currency at this stage? Think from the perspective of inflation v/s demand conundrum. We expect you to discuss the above question (Set 2) in the comments below and come out with a balanced view of the issues. Thank You IASbaba

Jun 15, 2021 TLP Mains Answer Writing

SYNOPSIS [15th JUNE,2021] Day 112: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE   SYNOPSIS [15th JUNE,2021] Day 112: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)   1. 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. Approach  The answer should first explain the meaning of federalism. Candidates should critically examine and elaborate on how various Central government policies faces roadblocks due to federal structure and then how due to federalism there is development in various sector. Introduction  Federalism is a system of government in which the power is divided between a central authority and various constituent units of the country. Usually, a federation has two levels of government. One is the government for the entire country that is usually responsible for a few subjects of common national interest. The others are governments at the level of provinces or states that look after much of the day-to-day administering of their state. Both these levels of governments enjoy their power independent of the other. Body Federalism is a system of government where there is a division of power between a central authority and constituent political units (state). The respective authorities are considered supreme in their allotted spheres (Schedule VII). Trust deficit between Centre and States is widening. Most state governments believe the thrust on federalism is limited to lofty ideas and big talks. Many States have shown their displeasure with the way the Centre has been dealing with the States. However, such federal structure restricts the policies & implementation of Central government in various sectors like: Taxation GST Council: If the central government want to increase or decrease GST rates it has to get the support of states, which may restrict its taxation abilities. In GST Council Central government enjoys 33% vote while the states account for 66% and any major decision requires 75% support. Police reforms and Law & Order: Lack of uniformity in police procedures and lack of effective coordination amongst various State Police departments is hindering Central government’s capabilities to handle inter-state crimes which has impact on National Security. Ex Counter Terrorism Operations. Agricultural marketing Sector: Lack of unified agricultural market along with state’s reluctance to adopt Model APMC Act and their lack of enthusiasm to join e-NAM platform has restricted Centre’s capabilities to objective of doubling farmer’s income by 2022. Health Sector: Central government’s initiative of Ayushman Bharat to provide Universal health coverage is also hindered by some states refusing to join the centrally sponsored scheme New Education Policy: Central government wants Uniform standards of education across the country so as to ensure accessibility and equity in access to education across the country. However, Southern States are objecting on the issue of three-language policy mooted in NEP. Land and Labour Laws: In order to boost investment and attract FDI to increase the economic activity, Central government wants a more relaxed labour & land regulation. However, State governments frame their own laws to suit their needs & thus varies from one State to another, which negatively impacts the transaction & expansion costs of companies. Even as Indian federalism has a bias for the Union government, states have also sought to assert their interests and influence over the years, whether in times of one-party dominance or multi-party coalition politics it led to development in various sectors: The open market economy deregulated the economic interactions which were earlier strongly controlled by the Union government. Benefitted by the reforms, the state governments now got relative autonomy to initiate business endeavours and bring in foreign investments to their respective states.  This polity gave state chief ministers a political opportunity to project themselves as ‘drivers of growth and development’. The federalism phase also witnessed further decentralisation of Indian politics as the 73rd and 74th Amendments were passed in 1992 to strengthen the functioning of the third tier of Indian federalism in the Municipal and Panchayat level. This strengthened the ground for the empowerment the people at the grassroots. The most important moment for federalism in this phase is the revelation of the vital role of state governments on the ground in managing the COVID-19 crisis. After initial challenges, the Union government ceded adequate space and autonomy to the states for strengthening their healthcare facilities, managing the localised lockdowns, and implementing social security measures to mitigate the impact of the pandemic. The core objectives of Indian federalism are unity in diversity, devolution in authority, and decentralization in administration. Through federalism, the State pursues the goal of common welfare in the midst of wide diversity in socio-cultural, economic spheres. India needs a Cooperative federalism: In Cooperative federalism the Centre and states share a horizontal relationship, where they “cooperate” in the larger public interest. It is an important tool to enable states’ participation in the formulation and implementation of national policies. While all policy-makers and economists believe that “true” cooperative federalism is the way forward, they underline the need for the Centre to include states more aggressively in the decision-making process. Conclusion What is seldom recognised is that the degree of federalism in India has depended largely on two variables: the nature of political coalitions at the Centre and role of States in such coalitions (the period 1996 to 2014 for example), and the cultural diversity of regions. Hence, what is needed is a federal coalition that looks beyond the legal-constitutional aspects of federalism to preserve the idea of a plural India in terms of both culture and politics. 2. Parliament of the country is the repository of the sovereign will of the people and its successful functioning is a joint responsibility of both the government and the opposition. In this light, examine the role of the Speaker. Approach  Candidates should write about how the Indian parliament is a repository of the sovereign will of people and then examine the role of the speaker in managing parliamentary affairs with neutrality. Candidates can write challenges faced by speaker and then conclude. Introduction As K R Narayanan noted ‘Parliament is the head and front of body politik in India’. The quality of governance depends on the effective working of the parliament with the ruling and opposition working in tandem complimenting each other.  Speaker, in this light acts as a neutral umpire passing impartial decisions ensuring the smooth working of the parliament.  Body The government has to understand that the role of the opposition is of checks and balances. They must facilitate ample amount of time for discussions and deliberations and accommodate diverse views of the opposition.  On the other hand, opposition has to understand their role which includes constructive criticism, ensuring quality debates, representation of their respective constituency and help in sustainable and inclusive development. Role of the speaker: The role of speaker is vital to balance the practical functioning of government and the constructive role of the opposition. Speaker is the head of the Lok Sabha, guardian of powers and privileges of the members, the House as a whole and its committees.  He has to maintain order and decorum in the house for conducting the business and regulate the proceedings so that the parliament doesn’t become a place for wasteful discussions. For instance, the 2017 winter session was a washout as there were severe disruptions and speaker was not able to maintain decorum. He has the responsibility to ensure fair opportunity for the opposition to air their views. E.g. in the latest budget session, the speaker allotted time for every newly elected MPs. He is the final interpreter of the provisions of the Constitution of India, the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of Lok Sabha, and the parliamentary precedents within the House.  He adjourns the House or suspends the meeting in absence of a quorum. Thus, he ensures the discussions happening have maximum views including the opposition. He exercises casting vote to resolve deadlock. Also, he presides over a joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament. He can allow a ‘secret’ sitting of the House at the request of the Leader of the House and thus is responsible to maintain secrecy in sensitive matters. He decides whether a bill is a money bill or not. Objectivity in the matter is necessary failing which the opposition role is diluted and also the Rajyasabha is made a concerned spectator.  He decides the questions of disqualification of a member of the Lok Sabha, arising on the ground of defection under the provisions of the Tenth Schedule. By this function, he upholds the freedom of expression of legislators who often stay mute on party lines fearing disqualification. As ex-officio chairman of the Indian parliamentary group, he acts as a link between the parliament of India and various parliaments of the world. This also provides insight to legislators on international functioning of other legislatures and hence improve quality of the parliamentary functioning. As the appointing authority of the parliamentary committees, he ensures the detailed scrutiny of the bills, budgetary allocations etc., and hence help in holding the government accountable. The selections of members and chairman objectively are necessary. Challenges faced by speaker in handling the affairs: The office of speaker is paradoxical in nature as speaker, whether in Parliament or in State Assemblies, contests the election for the post on a party ticket. Also, the need for re-election compel speaker to favour their political party also pushes them to compromise neutrality. However, the role of the presiding officers has become increasingly politicized. Thereby creating doubts over Speaker's role vis-à-vis anti-defection law being biased, as recently seen in the Karnataka political crisis. In recent times, there are number of instances where the role of speaker has been criticized for decision on membership of MLAs under the anti-defection law and their ruling have been challenged in courts. With the increase in the multitude of parties, the time available to each party to represent its interests during discussions is reduced. The time spent on issues, which parties wish to move for discussions, increases, even when the number of sittings in Parliament has not increased proportionately. This aggravates the constraints faced by the Speaker in prioritising between matters and often faces the allegation of partisan. With no security in the continuity of office, the Speaker is dependent on his or her political party for reelection. This makes the Speaker susceptible to pulls and pressures from her/his political party in the conduct of the proceedings of the Lok Sabha. In recent time speaker uses its discretionary power to pass many important bills on day after introduction of bill without proper discussion and references. Way forward: One mechanism to increase efficiency and trust in the Speaker is to increase transparency in his decision-making process. On exercise of its power during anti defection law Speaker should act against those legislators who defy the party whip while voting on matters that impact government stability. Anyone seeking the office of the Speaker might be asked to run for election on an independent ticket. Also, Speaker should be barred from future political office, except for the post of President, while being given a pension for life. Conclusion A watchful Parliament forms the foundation of a well-functioning democracy. The presiding officers of Parliament are the key to securing the effectiveness of this institution. It is expected of a distinguished occupant of this chair now and always to guard the freedom and liberty of those from every possible danger, even from the danger of an executive incursion.  3. What are the challenges associated with India’s linguistic identity today? Analyse. Has the Constitution been able to address the potential conflicts arising out of linguistic diversity of India? Critically examine. Approach  Candidates should try to write first about Indian linguistics diversity and then write about challenges associated with it. Then critically examine whether constitution has addressed the potential conflicts. Introduction  India is a land of many languages, boasting of 22 languages accepted by the Constitution and many more languages and regional dialects. Even the States were organized on linguistic basis, making it an important part of the Indian social and political fabric. Body Challenges with India’s linguistic identity: Single Indian language for the entire country and imposition of Hindi as national language is not welcomed by all states. India has a long history of linguistic unrest, for example creation of Andhra Pradesh post-independence, separation of Maharashtra and Gujarat etc.   There is a north-south divide on the basis of language where languages of southern states are treated as their identity. This causes the regionalism feeling at large. Not all languages get due representation in the state. For example: tribal languages in the Jharkhand and other states. Demand of small states as we have seen recently in West Bengal when they imposed Bengali on the Gorkhaland people, they started agitation against the move and then the separate state agitation got ignited. Discrimination in state government and central governments in the employments, example non-marathis feel discriminated in Maharashtra government services.  Conflict over 3-language formula, where state language and English are accepted but there is no consensus over Hindi. Not everywhere education is in the native languages, especially for tribals, language is the biggest barrier for them to get educated as they do not understand mainstream languages and there is lack of tribal language teachers and translators. Exploitation of people by the politicians due to linguistic diversity, as it not only binds the masses but also divides people politically. Constitution has addressed the potential conflicts due to linguistic diversity in following ways: Article 29 and 30 provides for protection of cultural and educational rights for linguistic minorities. Article 343 provides for Hindi to be the official language of the union along with Article 351 that gives directive for development of Hindi language to fulfill aspirations of majority of the population. Under Article 345 states are free to choose their official language. Article 346 talks about use of ‘authorised’ language for communication between states and Union and on agreement Hindi may also be used. For protecting linguistic interests of minorities, Article 347, provides for special provision where President can direct a language to be the official language of the state if he is convinced that a substantial portion of population speaks the language. Special officer for linguistic minorities under Article 350-B to investigate all matters related to the safeguards provided for linguistic minorities under the Constitution. Also, eighth schedule provides for 22 recognised official languages that represent the regional and cultural diversity of the country. Despite the above provisions, Constitution has not addressed all potential conflicts: As per the People's Linguistic Survey of India (PLSI), there are 780 languages being spoken in the country. However, not all languages get due recognition and is not practical also. Imposition of majority language like Hindi and English over regional languages. No autonomy for a district/s to have its own language, if a majority of population speaks it. Such autonomy can prevent demand for smaller states. In a globalizing world where Hindi and English hold currency, mother tongues are becoming endangered. The government doesn't acknowledge they exist nor are they taught in schools. People who speak minority languages or 'mother tongues' are too old or not interested in passing them on to their kids. Other Measures to preserve linguistic diversity: Promoting universal acceptance for international domain names: According to UNESCO, Internationalised Domain Names (IDNs) can help to foster the growth of local languages online by allowing Internet users to use non-Latin scripts to access domain names. Engage indigenous people: To realise the rights and aspirations of indigenous people, it would be necessary that the government should engage and support indigenous people in determining their own development through policies that are inclusive, equitable and accessible. Awareness: The internet can be used to raise awareness about the issues of language extinction and language preservation. It can be used to translate, catalog, store, and provide information and access to languages. Conclusion Linguistic diversity has been a critical aspect of the multiculturalism that has been the defining characteristic of India through the ages. In recent years the language diversity is under threat as speakers of diverse languages are becoming rare and major languages are adopted after abandoning the mother tongues. The problem needs to be addressed at societal level, in which the communities have to take part in conservation of language diversity that is part of cultural wealth and bonds. This encourages reciprocity and secures an enriched value system of unity amongst people of different States.   TLP Synopsis Day 112 PDF

Jun 15, 2021 RSTV Video

Quad Summit - Priorities & Challenges – The Big Picture – RSTV IAS UPSC

Archives Topic: General Studies 2: Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.  Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests Background The grouping’s informal origins can be traced to 2004. In the wake of the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami, Australia, India, Japan and the US launched an ad-hoc humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) mission, which allowed them to come together operationally. Since then the four navies have worked together on several occasions. The Quad was formally initiated in 2007 at the prompting of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe. Formal Quad meetings were not possible following strong objections from China in 2007. In 2020, all four QUAD Countries - Japan, India, Australia and the USA took part in the Malabar exercise. Malabar exercise is an annual trilateral naval exercise between the navies of India, Japan, and the USA which is held alternately in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. During the meeting: During the first-ever virtual summit on Friday, QUAD ((Quadrilateral Framework) leaders discussed regional and global issues of shared interest, and exchange views on practical areas of cooperation towards maintaining a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region. A. The Quad Vaccine Partnership While ensuring that vaccines have been made available to our people, “Quad” partners will launch a landmark partnership to further accelerate the end of the Covid-19 pandemic. Together, Quad leaders are taking shared action necessary to expand safe and effective Covid-19 vaccine manufacturing in 2021, and will work together to strengthen and assist countries in the Indo-Pacific with vaccination, in close coordination with the existing relevant multilateral mechanisms including WHO and COVAX. Drawing on each of their strengths, they will tackle this complex issue with multi-sectoral cooperation across many stages of action, starting with ensuring global availability of safe and effective vaccines. Quad partners are working collaboratively to achieve expanded manufacturing of safe and effective Covid-19 vaccines at facilities in India, prioritizing increased capacity for vaccines authorized by Stringent Regulatory Authorities (SRA). Quad partners will address financing and logistical demands for production, procurement, and delivery of safe and effective vaccines. They will work to use our shared tools and expertise, through mechanisms at institutions including the United States Development Finance Corporation (DFC), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and, as appropriate, Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC), as well as others. What role will all four countries play? Australia will contribute US$77 million for the provision of vaccines and “last-mile” delivery support with a focus on Southeast Asia, in addition to its existing commitment of US$407 million for regional vaccine access and health security which will provide full vaccine coverage to nine Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste, and support procurement, prepare for vaccine delivery, and strengthen health systems in Southeast Asia. Japan will assist vaccination programs of developing countries such as the purchase of vaccines and cold-chain support including through provision of grant aid of $41 million and new concessional yen loans, ensuring alignment with and support of COVAX. The United States will leverage existing programs to further boost vaccination capability, drawing on at least $100 million in regional efforts focused on immunization. This commitment will be implemented by the launch of a senior-level Quad Vaccine Experts Group, comprised of top scientists and officials from our governments. This group will support Quad cooperation in the long term, and use science and evidence to: Design an implementation plan for the Quad COVID-19 vaccine effort; Identify hurdles impeding vaccine administration in the region; Work with financers and production facilities to monitor timely and sufficient capacity expansion that will lead to wider distribution of safe and effective vaccines; Share governmental plans to support Indo-Pacific health security and Covid-19 response, and identify practical cooperation on “last-mile” delivery for hard-to-reach communities in need; Strengthen and support the life-saving work of international organizations, including the WHO, COVAX, Gavi, CEPI, UNICEF, the G7, ASEAN, and governments, and call on other countries to do the same; Make additional concrete recommendations before the end of the year. B. The Quad Climate Working Group The climate challenge has been identified as a priority for the Quad and the Indo-Pacific region. They will establish a new Quad Climate Working Group focused on: Cooperation, both among ourselves and with other countries, to strengthen implementation of the Paris Agreement, including to keep a Paris-aligned temperature limit within reach Working together and with other countries to support, strengthen, and enhance actions globally; Committing to advancing low-emissions technology solutions to support emissions reduction; Cooperation on climate mitigation, adaptation, resilience, technology, capacity-building, and climate finance C. The Quad Critical and Emerging Technology Working Group Quad leaders recognize that a free, open, inclusive, and resilient Indo-Pacific requires that critical and emerging technology is governed and operates according to shared interests and values. In that spirit, they will convene a Critical and Emerging Technology Working Group, which will: Develop a statement of principles on technology design, development, and use; Facilitate coordination on technology standards development, including between our national technology standards bodies and working with a broad range of partners; Encourage cooperation on telecommunications deployment, diversification of equipment suppliers, and future telecommunications, including through close cooperation with our private sectors and industry; Facilitate cooperation to monitor trends and opportunities related to developments in critical and emerging technology, including biotechnology; Convene dialogues on critical technology supply chains.