Jul 24, 2021 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 24th July 2021

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) HC upholds CCI probe against Flipkart, Amazon Part of: GS Prelims and GS - III - Economy In news E-commerce majors Amazon and Flipkart recently lost their legal battle in the High Court of Karnataka, as a division bench upheld the Competition Commission of India’s decision to conduct an investigation into whether they had entered into anti-competitive agreements in violation of the provisions of the Competition Act, 2002. About Competition Commission of India (CCI)  It is a statutory body established in 2003 and became fully functional in 2009.  It is responsible for enforcing The Competition Act, 2002 throughout India. The Act prohibits anti-competitive agreements, abuse of dominant position by enterprises.  The Act regulates combinations (acquisition, acquiring of control and Merger and acquisition), which causes or likely to cause an appreciable adverse effect on competition within India.  Composition: CCI consists of a Chairperson and 6 Members appointed by the Central Government.  Eligibility: Person should be qualified to be a judge of a High Court, or, has special knowledge of, and professional experience of not less than fifteen years in international trade, economics, commerce, law, finance.  Functions: It is the duty of the Commission to: eliminate practices having adverse effect on competition promote and sustain competition. protect the interests of consumers. ensure freedom of trade in the markets of India.  Recent Judgements of CCI Cement companies: CCI imposed a fine of ₹63.07 billion (US$910 million) on 11 cement companies for cartelisation in June 2012.  BCCI: CCI imposed a penalty of ₹522 million (US$7.6 million) on the BCCI in 2013 for misusing its dominant position. Telecos: CCI ordered a probe into the functioning of Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) following a complaint filed by Reliance Jio against the cartelization by its rivals Bharti Airtel, Vodafone India and Idea cellular. Google: The commission ordered an antitrust probe against Google for abusing its dominant position with Android to block market rivals. News Source: TH NITI Aayog and IEA launch ‘Renewables Integration in India 2021’ Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III - Renewable Energy In news A report on “Renewables Integration in India 2021” was jointly launched by NITI Aayog & International Energy Agency (IEA) on 22nd July, 2021.  The joint report underscores IEA’s commitment to provide support to India with its clean energy transition agenda. It also provides useful suggestions for the states to consider to best manage their integration challenge. The report is based on the outcome of three states workshops held with the Governments of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Gujarat to understand the specific energy transition challenges faced by these renewable-rich states.  The report uses IEA modelling results to show the effects of different flexibility options on the power system. What are the key highlights of the report? The report highlights that India’s power system can efficiently integrate renewables (175 GW by 2022 and 450 GW by 2030), but it would require identification of resources and proper planning, regulatory, policy and institutional support, energy storage and advanced technology initiatives. Indian states need to employ a wide range of flexibility options to transition to cleaner electricity systems.  Distributed solar will play a major role in reducing integration challenges.  It is also emphasized that to absorb maximum RE power, State has shifted 70% -80% agriculture load to the day time, providing incentives to industrial consumers for consuming more electricity and increasing State share in the Green Energy Trading (now, approx. 50%).  RE integration can start with proper resources planning and better implementation of technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence, base power system management and smart grid intervention. Old regulations need to be revised and regulatory commissions need to play more proactive role.  Smart meters, Time of the Day tariff and overall demand response program would be useful for RE load management. News Source: PIB Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan Part of: GS Prelims and GS -II - Panchayati raj institutions In news The restructured Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan is being implemented with effect from 2018-19 across all States/UTs.  About the Abhiyan Launched in 2018. It is a centrally sponsored scheme  Primary aim: Strengthening of Panchayati Raj Institutions for achieving Sustainable Development Goals.  Main thrust: Convergence with Mission Antyodaya and emphasis on strengthening Panchayati Raj Institutions in 117 Aspirational districts. It is an effort in the direction of achieving “Sabka Sath, Sabka Gaon, Sabka Vikas”. The RGSA helps more than 2.55 lakh Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) to develop governance capabilities through inclusive local governance with focus on optimum utilisation of available resources. Priority will be given to subjects of national importance that affect the excluded groups the most, e.g. poverty, primary health services, nutrition, immunization, etc. This scheme extends to all States and UTs of the country and will also include institutions of rural local government in non-Part IX areas, where Panchayats do not exist. It will establish the institutional structure for capacity building of PRIs at the national, state and district level with adequate human resources and infrastructure. Panchayats will progressively be strengthened through incentivisation on the basis of nationally important criteria which will encourage competitive spirit among them. The funds are not released district-wise/Panchayat-wise under the scheme.   Under the scheme of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan there is no provision for forming new Panchayats. Formation or reorganization of Panchayats is done by the respective States/ Union Territories as per their requirement.  News Source: PIB UNESCO Delists Liverpool of Its World Heritage Status Part of: GS Prelims and GS - II - International Relations In news Recently, the city of Liverpool, England has been removed from UNESCO’s list of world heritage sites. About Liverpool The port city was included in the list for its architectural beauty and in recognition of its role as one of the world’s most important ports during the 18th and 19th centuries. It was named a World Heritage Site in 2004. The city is only the third place to be removed from the list. What are the Reasons for Delisting? The new buildings including a football stadium undermine the attractiveness of its Victorian docks and were destroying the heritage value of its waterfront. The over development would irreversibly damage the heritage of the historic port. Other Delisted Sites: Wildlife sanctuary in Oman in 2007. Reason: poaching and habitat loss. Dresden Elbe valley in Germany in 2009. Reason: A four-lane motorway bridge was built over the river. News Source: TH Gatekeeper Model to prevent Suicides Part of: GS Prelims and GS - II - Policies and interventions In news In order to prevent suicides triggered by mental health issues in prisons across the country, the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, has recommended the “Gatekeeper Model”. NIMHANS is an Institute of National Importance. The Bangalore Prison Mental Health Study has pointed to the prevalence of mental illness and substance use disorder in about 80% of the prison population. About the Gatekeeper Model Under the model, certain inmates will be selected and trained to identify prisoners who seem to be at risk of suicide. They would then refer them to treatment or supportive services. NIMHANS has issued a set of guidelines on the management of mental health issues of the prisoners and prison staff.  It was important to regularly assess Prisoners with mental disorders for severity of suicidal risk and also put on regular and supervised medication.  What did NIMHANS Advisory recommend? The NIMHANS advisory said the concept of a ‘Buddy System’ — social support through trained prisoners called “buddies” or “listeners” — was found to have a good impact on the well-being of suicidal prisoners.  Periodic telephone conversations with friends and family would also foster support. These initiatives were part of several other recommendations made by NIMHANS to effectively manage mental health issues among prisoners and staff. News Source: TH Miscellaneous SC upholds NGT ban on firecrackers The Supreme Court dismissed a challenge to a National Green Tribunal (NGT) ban on the sale and use of firecrackers during the COVID-19 pandemic in the National Capital Region (NCR) and all cities and towns where the ambient air quality is in the poor or above categories. News Source: TH (Mains Focus) INTERNATIONAL/ ECONOMY Topic: GS-2: Policies and Politics of developed and developing countries Nord Stream 2 pipeline Context: The US, which had previously imposed sanctions to prevent the completion of a major new gas pipeline between Russia and Germany, has now signalled its approval for the project. Source: The Economist What is the Nord Stream 2 pipeline? In 2015, the Russian energy major Gazprom and five other European firms decided to build Nord Stream 2, valued at around $11 billion.  The 1,200-km pipeline will run from Russia to Germany through the Baltic Sea, and will carry 55 billion cubic metres of gas per year. The under-construction pipeline will run along with the already completed Nord Stream 1 system, and the two together will supply an aggregate of 110 billion cubic metres of gas to Germany per year.  Nord Stream 2 pipeline falls in the territory of EU members Germany and Denmark, and is about 98% complete (see figure) So, why is the pipeline controversial? Since it was first planned, Nord Stream 2 has drawn criticism from the US, as it believes that the project would increase Europe’s dependence on Russia for natural gas. Currently, EU countries already rely on Russia for 40 per cent of their gas needs. Former US President Donald Trump had stated that the project could turn Germany into a “hostage of Russia”. Thus dependence of EU on Russia is going to increase which emboldens Russian leader Vladimir Putin.  The project also has opponents in eastern Europe, especially Ukraine, whose ties with Russia have seriously deteriorated in the aftermath of the Crimean conflict in 2014 Ukraine feels that once Nord Storm 2 is completed, Russia could bypass the existing Ukrainian pipeline (connecting Russia & Europe), and deprive it of lucrative transit fees of around $3 billion per year. Ukraine also fears another invasion by Russia once the new pipeline is operational. On the other hand, Germany has solidly stood behind the completion of Nord Stream 2, despite opposition from allies like US, with the German government insisting that it is a commercially beneficial project. And, why has the US position changed? In December 2019, work on the project was suspended due to the threat of US sanctions, and in January 2021, US actually carried out its threat– imposing sanctions on a Russian ship tasked with laying pipes for the project.  Many had then predicted that the punitive action could prove to be the pipeline’s death knell. In a shift from former US President Trump’s approach, Joe Biden (current US President) has gone with the softer option of threatening Russia with consequences should it use the pipeline to harm Ukraine or other countries in eastern Europe. The US-Germany deal lays out that if Russia attempts to use energy as a political weapon or commit further aggressive acts against Ukraine, then Germany will undertake actions, including sanctions, against Russia The agreement also requires Germany to “utilise all available leverage” to extend by 10 years the current Russia-Ukraine gas transit agreement, which expires in 2024. Germany should contribute at least $175 million to a new $1 billion “Green Fund for Ukraine” that aims at improving the country’s energy independence. What has the reaction been? Opposition in the USA has denounced the agreement as a generational geopolitical win for Putin and a catastrophe for the United States and allies. Critics argue that the deal empowers Russia to spread its malign influence throughout Eastern Europe. Ukraine is also unhappy and wants a “frank and vibrant” discussion with USA. Connecting the dots: European Union Europe’s Green Passport SOCIETY/ GOVERNANCE Topic: GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Dying Declaration Context: Recently, a special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court awarded two policemen life sentences for the custodial death of a murder accused on the basis of the ‘Dying Declaration’ made by the victim prior to his death. About Dying Declaration: Section-32(1) of Indian Evidence Act, 1872, defines dying declaration as a statement written or verbal of relevant facts made by a person, who is dead. It is the statement of a person who had died explaining the circumstances of his death. This is based on the maxim ‘nemo mariturus presumuntur mentri’ i.e. a man will not meet his maker with a lie on his mouth. The general rule under Section 60 of the Act is that all oral evidence must be direct - he heard it, saw it or perceived it. Rules for Admission of Dying Declaration: The grounds of admission under a dying declaration have been based on two broad rules: The victim being generally the only principal eye-witness to the crime. The sense of impending death, which creates a sanction equal to the obligation of an oath in a court. Recording Dying Declaration: Anyone can record the dying declaration of the deceased as per law. However, a dying declaration recorded by a Judicial or Executive Magistrate will add an additional strength to the prosecution case. A dying declaration may in several cases be the “primary piece of evidence to prove the genesis of occurrence”. The only requirement for such a declaration to be held perfectly accountable in court is for the victim to volunteer the statement and be of conscious mind. The person who records the dying declaration must be satisfied that the victim is in a fit state of mind. Situations Where Court Does Not Accept it as a Evidence: Though a dying declaration is entitled to great weight, the accused has no power of cross-examination. This is the reason the courts have always insisted that the dying declaration be of such a nature as to inspire full confidence of the court in its correctness. The courts are on guard to check if the statement of the deceased was a result of either tutoring, prompting or a product of imagination. Need of Corroboration (Supporting Evidence): Several judgments have noted that it is neither rule of law nor of prudence that dying declaration cannot be acted upon without corroboration. If the court is satisfied that the dying declaration is true and voluntary it can base conviction on it, without corroboration. Where a dying declaration is suspicious, it should not be acted upon without corroborative evidence because a dying declaration does not contain the details as to the occurrence. It is not to be rejected, equally merely because it is a brief statement. On the contrary, the shortness of the statement itself guarantees truth. Validity of Medical Opinion: Normally the court, in order to satisfy whether the deceased was in a fit mental condition to make the dying declaration, can look up the medical opinion. But where the eye witness has said that the deceased was in a fit and conscious state to make this dying declaration, the medical opinion cannot prevail. Do you know? CBI is the premier investigating police agency in India. It functions under the superintendence of the Deptt. of Personnel, Ministry of Personnel, Pension & Public Grievances - which falls under the prime minister’s office. (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note: Correct answers of today’s questions will be provided in next day’s DNA section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers. Q.1 Which of the following was recently removed from UNESCO’s list of world heritage sites? Liverpool Wildlife sanctuary in Oman  Dresden Elbe valley in Germany Jaipur, India Q.2 Consider the following statements about Competition Commission of India (CCI)  It is a statutory body  CCI consists of a Chairperson and 6 Members appointed by the President.  Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 only Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3 Consider the following statements regarding  Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan:  It is being implemented across all States/UTs.  The Primary aim is to Strengthen Panchayati Raj Institutions for achieving Sustainable Development Goals.  Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 only Neither 1 nor 2 ANSWERS FOR 23rd July 2021 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 C 2 D 3 C Must Read On microplastic pollution: The Hindu On MGNREGA Payment Issues: Indian Express On Sanitation Challenges in Rural & Urban Areas: The Wire

Jul 24, 2021 Motivational Articles

[MI-STORIES]MOTIVATIONAL AND INSPIRATIONAL STORIES - You can move the Earth!

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 - You can move the Earth !   Eleven-year-old Angela was stricken with a debilitating disease involving her nervous system. She was unable to walk and her movement was restricted in other ways as well. The doctors did not hold out much hope of her ever recovering from this illness. They predicted she'd spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair. They said that few, if any, were able to come back to normal after contracting this disease. The little girl was undaunted. There, lying in her hospital bed, she would vow to anyone who'd listen that she was definitely going to be walking again someday. She was transferred to a specialized rehabilitation hospital in the San Francisco Bay area. Whatever therapies could be applied to her case were used. The therapists were charmed by her undefeatable spirit. They taught her about imaging—about seeing herself walking. If it would do nothing else, it would at least give her hope and something positive to do in the long waking hours in her bed. Angela would work as hard as possible in physical therapy, in whirlpools and in exercise sessions. But she worked just as hard lying there faithfully doing her imaging, visualizing herself moving, moving, moving! One day, as she was straining with all her might to imagine her legs moving again, it seemed as though a miracle happened: The bed moved! It began to move around the room! She screamed out, "Look what I'm doing! Look! Look! I can do it! I moved, I moved!" Of course, at this very moment everyone else in the hospital was screaming, too, and running for cover. People were screaming, equipment was falling and glass was breaking. You see, it was the recent San Francisco earthquake. But don't tell that to Angela. She's convinced that she did it. And now only a few years later, she's back in school. On her own two legs. No crutches, no wheelchair. What do you think is the moral of the story?

Jul 24, 2021 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz – 2021 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 24th JULY 2021

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

Jul 24, 2021 Important Articles

[WEEK 10] ESSAY 19: Theme Based on Social Justice & Economic Prosperity | 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 Ninteenth 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 Ninteenth essay focuses on the theme, ''. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGfr6aDnWok 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 

Jul 23, 2021 TLP Mains Answer Writing

SYNOPSIS [22nd JULY,2021] Day 139: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)

  For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE   SYNOPSIS [22nd JULY,2021] Day 139: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)   1. Examine the key challenge that the horticulture sector faces in India. Also suggest measures to address those challenges.  Approach  The introduction can be based on basic definition about horticulture and including a fact on importance for Indian economy.In next part address the challenges and compliment it with the recommendations to mitigate these challenges.The conclusion can be summary oriented with future direction. Introduction Horticulture is the branch of agriculture concerned with intensively cultured plants directly used by man for food, medicinal purposes and aesthetic gratification.India is one of the largest producers of Horticultural products in world and it accounts for more than 30% of agricultural GDP of country. Wide range of climatic and physical conditions of the country support for such produces.  Body Recently, Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare released the Third Advanced Estimate (2019-20) of Area and Production of various Horticulture Crops.As per the report, the total horticulture production in the country is estimated to be 320.48 million tonnes which is 3.13 % higher than the horticulture production of 310.74 million tonnes in 2018-19. The major challenges in the path of the emerging Horticulture sector in India are as followed: The government has fixed no Minimum Support Price for Horticulture products entailing fruits such as mangoes, bananas, cucumber, pomegranate, and custard apples, and other Horticulture crops. These fruits come under the category of perishable items. Even though Horticulture farmers have raised their voices so many times, the problem still persists. As the input costs are higher in Horticulture sector in India in comparison with agricultural products such as food grains, immersing into Horticulture segment is a challenging task, especially without the local governments’ assistance to small and marginal farmers. Coping with the high price fluctuations is the tough row to hoe for the marginal farmers. Their problems are never-ending ones, and thus, small and marginal farmers are waiting for the ray of hope in their life. As there is a lack of sound transport network and scarcity of good cold chain storage, extending the life of perishable products has become a challenge. Horticultural export is one of the vital challenges that hinder the progress of the Horticulture sector in India. Limited availability of market intelligence primarily for exports makes it the hardest decision to make. As most of the machinery and equipment are obsolete and are thus providing very less value and inputs, binding the time restraints becomes a challenge in itself.  Limited availability of market intelligence, mainly for exports makes it a tougher option to choose. Measures to overcome the Challenges in Horticulture sector: Attaining science and technology-led advancement along with drafting strategies concerning the utilization of resources in the field of Horticulture would bring some amazing transformation in the Horticulture sector in India. Improvement in quality seeds & plants and bringing newly introduced cultivators that ensures quick and efficient cultivation process will eventually accelerate productivity. Imparting the meaningful education related to Horticulture to upscale youth knowledge regarding various government schemes and modern equipment and machinery must be considered by one and all. As post-harvest management is known for increasing the shelf life of fruits, people engrossed in the Horticulture sector in India must understand the value of post-harvest management. In addition to this, they should adopt post-harvest management exercises to enhance the value of fruits in the long run. Value addition in Horticulture crops has become the need of the time. Value addition is the process that meets the requirements of nutritional security. It boosts the economic value of Horticulture crops. Value-added products are gaining attention as such products integrate diversification factor in the daily diet and unlock new markets as well. Along with proper planning in the domain of Horticulture, organizing Research & Development Programmes at National level is something that must be considered. Holistic growth of Horticulture sector in India is possible only if the implementation of plans and proper formulation as well as execution of strategies would take place. Many horticultural crops such as Ber, Pomegranate, highly nutritious Aonla, Phalsa, Jamun or Black Plum, Citrus, Fig, Bael, Khejri, Field Beans, Cucurbits, and more need insect pollinators for effective and value-rich pollination) in order to reap better outcomes. The pollinators, as well as pollinizers, enliven quantitative along with qualitative traits of Horticultural crop produce.  Establishing a better long-distance transportation network should be a task of utmost importance to ensure smooth and hindrance-free transportation of fresh Horticultural produce. Putting Horticultural crops into storage would serve layers of protection to such crops. Adopting relevant management practices to eradicate nutrient imbalance and keeping nutrient dynamics under observation. Expansion of varieties to meet cultivation requirements in non-traditional spheres is a must. Preserved cultivation, hydroponic & aeroponic should get enfolded for polishing up productivity along with the quality of produce. Conclusion Horticulture entails garden cultivation and management. The horticulture sector in India shows immense potential due to the diversification factor and because it is highly remunerative compared to the agricultural sector.  In recent time, the Indian government is bringing up several schemes  such as Mission on integrated development of horticulture and making strategies to uplift the sector.This will help India to achieve the target of doubling farmers income and achieve increased exports. 2. Examine the moral hazards of agricultural loan waiver. Also comment on the efficacy of loan waivers as a measure to address agrarian distress.  Approach  Introduce with why there have been demands for loan waiver in past.In next part write about the moral hazard involved in waiving of loans.In next part address the issues with efficacy of loan waivers.In conclusion make some short term and longterm solutions to avoid such crises in future. Introduction The agrarian distress in past years have led to demands of loan waivers.The loan waiver of 2008 was a major loan waiver implemented nationwide.This have created a repeated demands for such steps.But loan waivers leads to moral hazards. The economist Paul Krugman has described moral hazard as “any situation in which one person makes the decision about how much risk to take, while someone else bears the cost if things go badly”. Body Need of loan waivers: Skewed procurement: Physical procurement by FCI is conducted only for rice and wheat leaving out other crops. Rain-fed agriculture:Around 52% farm area is still unirrigated and dependant on rainfall, while drip irrigation and sprinkler is limited to 1.6 per cent and 0.8 per cent families respectively. Informal credit disbursal:Non-institutional credit to agriculture is around 40%, which not only has exorbitant interest rates but also is exploitative resulting in reduced farm incomes and increased farmer suicides. Problem of surplus or cobweb phenomenon: After the prices of an agricultural commodity shoot during a season of scarcity, farmers resort to boosting the production on the premise of the pre-existing demand and prices, leading to a problem of plenty in the next season when prices of the same commodity are at a low. Moral hazards of agricultural loan waiver: Repayment: It will affect even the morality of people who are repaying properly.The loan waiver culture doesn’t create a responsible credit taker.It is due to this that repeated loan waivers are required. Cheating: Many people will show agricultural field and take loan even when not needed thinking it will be waived off. Financial stability: Banks thrive on its loan book to earn and profit.But with loan waivers people will start doubting financial capacity of bank and affect their share prices too if they pull out money. Honest credit culture: Loan for agriculture will start decreasing due to waiver issues and non-repayment.This will be rather a unintentional consequence of a well intentioned policy. If borrowers suspect they can get away without repaying loans in future, they will borrow even more recklessly and ignore repayments. The lender-borrower relationship, essentially built on trust, will collapse. Efficacy of loan waiver: Temporary relief: Loan waivers are a temporary relief for farmers limited to one financial year and does not address the structural problems of agriculture. Promotes credit indiscipline: Even those who can afford to pay may not repay loans in the expectation of a waiver. Farmers turn into deliberate defaulters in the hope that their loans will be waived sooner or later. Strips farmers of other benefits: Farmers defaulting in anticipation of waivers, lose out on other benefits too. For instance, accounts of many farmers anticipating waivers were sub-standard at the time of enrolment under PMFasalBimaYojana and, thus, the compulsory coverage was not extended to them. Leads to fiscal deficit: Loan waivers make a dent in the finances of the government as it has to repay banks and higher fiscal deficits in future may not be offset by higher GDP gains, as per RBI report on State Finances. Discourages banks to lend:By eroding credit discipline, loan waivers make banks wary of lending to farmers in the future, as it affects their balance sheets and affect their stocks in markets. Decreases capital expenditure:Loan waivers affect state’s capacity to invest in creation of capital assets and lead to crowding-out of private investment. Cascades indebtedness: Reduction in bank credit following waivers forces farmers to approach informal sector lenders, which increases indebtedness as such loans are expensive. Populist tool: Loan waivers are used by political parties as a tool to influence voters during elections, despite proven long-term ineffectiveness of this measure. Provides relief to few farmers only:Small and marginal farmers constitute around 86% of all farmers in India and as per Niti Aayog, among this section those who avail themselves of institutional loans, are very few, in some states about 25% only,which is also the reason behind failure of loan waivers. Loans misdirected and lack review:A NITI Aayog study highlighted that in some States, about three-fourths of the farm loans were being used for consumption instead of meeting agricultural needs, without any evidence of increase in investment and productivity of beneficiary households. Conclusion Loan waiver is an extreme step to deal with agrarian crises in important situations..But this should not become a regular affair as it hurts viability of banking sector and credit culture in the economic system.Instead short term measures such as restructuring of loans, waiving a part of loan, counselling of farmers needs to be promoted while in the long term the measures such as crop diversification , doing away with skewed MSP system and developing industries to reduce the disguised labour should be the strategy for healthy economy and ethical credit culture. 3. Agricultural insurance schemes have failed to achieve their objectives in India. Do you agree with this assessment? Comment. Also examine the factors associated with the dismal performance of this segment in India’s farm sector. Suggest measures to address the same. Approach  In introduction write what is the importance of insurance schemes in Indian agricultural sector and add historical fact on insurance schemes in India.In next part address the part on reasons for dismal performance of insurance schemes and suggest measures to mitigate these issues.In conclusion take a stand on performance of these schemes as question directly asks your opinion. Introduction Farmers in India are exposed to large agriculture risks due to vagaries of nature. One of the most effective mechanisms to mitigate agricultural risks is to have a robust insurance system. Although crop insurance has been in the country since 1972, yet it has been beset with several problems such as lack of transparency, high premium, delay in conducting crop cutting experiments and non-payment/delayed payment of claims to farmers. Realising the limitations of existing system of crop insurance, a new crop insurance scheme was launched, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), from Kharif season 2016. Body Crop Insurance schemes before Pradhanmantri Fasal Bima Yojna (PMFBY): Until recently (till March 2016), there were three crop insurance schemes operating in India – National Agriculture Insurance Scheme (NAIS), Modified National Agriculture Insurance Scheme (MNAIS) and Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (WBCIS).  The penetration of agricultural insurance was low and stagnant in terms of area insured and farmers covered. In the three year period from 2013-14 to 2015-16, the average area insured under all the schemes was 47 million hectare covering 39 million farmers.  The high premium rates of 8-10 per cent under MNAIS and WBCIS, delay in settlement of claims, which took around 6 to 12 months, inadequate sum insured and their capping under MNAIS and inadequate government support in the form of premium subsidies had left a vast majority of farmers without any significant insurance coverage Changes brought by Pradhanmantri Fasal Bima Yojna (PMFBY): Removal of capping on premium rates leading to higher amount of sum insured. Fixing premium rates at 2 percent in Kharif season and 1.5 percent in Rabi season for farmers, leading to substantial increase in premium subsidy by the government. The use of mobile based technology, smart Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs), digitisation of land record and linking them to farmers' account for faster assessment/settlement of claims are other steps required for effective implementation of the new crop insurance scheme. Factors responsible for dismal performance of these insurance schemes:  The insurers are mostly private firms who do not have a local office. This makes it difficult for the farmers to reach out to them, and mostly it is through the banks from which they took their loans. Most insured farmers have no knowledge about whom to report their losses to. They do not have any details about the insurance policy, which crop was insured, or the amount of coverage (sum insured). The helplines of the private insurers’ do not work most of the time, and when they do; the customer executives seldom follow the local language of the farmers. There has also been report of cases where a private bank sold mortgage insurance to a Telangana farmer who was made to believe it was crop insurance. Most insurers expect farmers to intimate them within 48 hours of crop damage. But in reality, 48 hours of a calamity are critical for farmers and such an outreach to the insurer is not feasible or possible. For example, in case of Kosi flooding in Bihar, most farmers reported their homes being under water for the first 48 hours. There is limited use of technology which has affected efficiency of the schemes.It made the process arbitrary in nature with less transparency. Farmers and insurers are increasingly getting caught up in a web of distrust regarding the insurance schemes. Many a times farmers lack documents and land records to avail the insurance benefit.This is due to lack of proper land records in India. Solutions to fill in the gaps in crop insurance scheme: Because the process is manual, the possibility of dispute is high and farmers are often unhappy about the choice of plots to estimate yields. Moving away from yield-based insurance to a weather-based product could offer a solution. The way ahead could also lie in extensive use of technology, such as satellite imagery and drones to estimate losses, which PMFBY has been slow to implement. Data on a host of parameters like the groundwater situation, soil moisture, irrigation, weather and remote sensing can be used to estimate yields. Crop Cutting Experiments (CCE) which is used to assess yields should only be used as a confirmation measure, so that the large burden of crop loss estimations is minimised. New technologies can be adopted for this purpose. Awareness: Spreading of awareness about Insurance schemes at gram sabha level. Credit facility: Cheap and affordable credit facility.This is necessary for farmers to reduce the informal debt. Technology: Usage of technology like satellites to take aerial pictures and give claims. Village level assessment: Assessment at village level for disaster and release of funds at once. Conclusion Between 1985 and 2012-13, the reach of India’s crop insurance schemes was modest. PMFBY made some progress in addressing in reducing insurance premiums and expanding the insurance coverage to include more crops and risk factors faced by farmers. By riding on an insurance model backed by private and public partnership along with technological advancements, the PMFBY scheme can include and protect the vulnerable farming population, by not only acting as an insurance scheme but also leading to the financialisation and formalisation of the economy.   TLP Synopsis Day 139 PDF

Jul 23, 2021 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 23rd July 2021

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Govt. Portal for Children Orphaned by COVID-19 Part of: GS Prelims and GS - II - Policies and interventions In news The government has introduced a portal to all the States and Union Territories for children orphaned by COVID-19 Any citizen can inform the administration regarding a child eligible for support under this scheme through the portal About PM-CARES for Children The Central government has announced the “PM-CARES for Children” scheme for all those children orphaned due to Covid-19. What are the features of the Scheme? Corpus of Rs. 10 Lakh: A corpus of Rs. 10 lakh will be allocated to each of these children from the PM CARES fund. It will provide a monthly stipend from 18 years of age.  On attaining 23 years, he/she will get the corpus amount. Education to the Children (under 10 years): Ensure admission to Kendriya Vidyalayas/ private schools. PM CARES will pay for the uniform textbooks and notebooks If the child is admitted in a private school the fees as per the RTE norms will be provided Education to the Children (11-18 years): The child will be given admission in any Central Government Residential School In case the child is to be continued under the care of guardian, he/she will be given admission in the nearest Kendriya Vidyalaya/private school Higher education: Provision of either a scholarship equivalent to the tuition fees/ educational loans.  Interest on the loan will be paid by the PM-CARES fund. Health Insurance: All children will be enrolled as a beneficiary under Ayushman Bharat Scheme  The premium amount will be paid by PM-CARES till a child turns 18. News Source: TH Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC): RBI  Part of: GS Prelims and GS - III - Economy In news The Reserve Bank of India is likely to soon start pilot projects to assess the viability of using digital currency to make wholesale and retail payments. The projects shall help adjust RBI’s strategy for introducing a full-scale central bank digital currency (CBDC). A high-level inter-ministerial committee set up by the Finance Ministry had recommended the introduction of a CBDC with changes in the legal framework including the RBI Act, which currently empowers the RBI to regulate issuance of bank notes. What is The Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)? It is a legal tender and liability of a nation's central bank in the digital form.  It is denominated in a sovereign currency and appears on the balance sheet of a nation's central bank.   CBDC is a digital currency which can be converted/exchanged at par with similarly denominated cash and traditional central bank deposits of a nation.  At present, central banks of various nations are currently examining the positive implications that a digital currency contributes to financial inclusion, economic growth,  technology, innovation and increased transaction efficiencies.  What are the Benefits of CBDC? Alternative to physical cash Instantaneous process: Transacting with CBDC would be an instantaneous process. The need for inter-bank settlement would disappear as it would be a central bank liability handed over from one person to another.  Reduces cost of currency management: India’s fairly high currency-to-GDP ratio holds out another benefit of CBDC. Large cash usage can be replaced by CBDC. Also, the cost of printing, transporting and storing paper currency can be substantially reduced. Need of the hour: If the private currencies gain recognition, national currencies with limited convertibility are likely to come under some kind of threat. CBDCs thus become the need of the hour. Volatility: CBDCs, being the legal tender by Central Bank, will not witness any volatility as in the case of cryptocurrencies.  Easy tracking of currency: With the introduction of CBDC in a nation, its central bank would be able to keep a track of the exact location of every unit of the currency.  Curbing Crime: Criminal activities can be easily spotted and ended such as terror funding, money laundering, and so forth Scope in Trade:  Foreign trade transactions could be speeded up between countries adopting a CBDC. What is the difference between CBDCs and cryptocurrency? Cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, are digital tokens created by a distributed network or blockchain using cryptographic tools. CBDC are legal tenders by Central Bank. While cryptocurrencies are decentralized, CBDCs are centralized Cryptocurrencies offer anonymity, CBDCs would allow central banks to know exactly who holds what.  CBDCs are also not stablecoins, which are a form of cryptocurrency that is pegged to another asset, for example, Tether. A CBDC would not be pegged to any fiat currency; it would be the fiat currency. A CBDC version of a dollar would be the same as a dollar bill. News Source: TH Honey Mission Programme launched by KVIC Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II - Policies and interventions and GS-III - Economy In news The Honey Mission programme was launched by Khadi & Village Industries Commission (KVIC), under the Ministry of MSME, during 2017-18.  Features of the Programme It is being implemented to promote Bee Keeping activities and provide self-sustaining employment opportunities among farmers, Adivasies and unemployed youth in rural India.  Under the programme, beneficiaries are provided with Bee Boxes, live bee colonies, tool kits and training.   Also, Under Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries’ (SFURTI) implemented by the Ministry of MSME, traditional beekeepers are provided with sustainable employment by organizing them into clusters, and supporting them with new machinery and training.   29 Honey clusters have been approved under the scheme which will benefit 13388 beekeepers with Government of India financial assistance of Rs.68.65 crore. It is also proposed to form 08 Self Help Groups benefitting 80 beekeepers in the Bundelkhand Region in the financial year 2021-22. About National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM) scheme  Under the National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM) scheme under the Ministry of Agriculture, scientific beekeeping is promoted for holistic growth of the sector, leading to income and employment generation, livelihood support to farm and non-farm households. News Source: PIB Adarsh Smarak Scheme Part of: GS Prelims and GS -I - Culture In news Monuments at Nagarjunakonda, Budhhist remains at Salihundam and Veerabhadra Temple at Lepakshi are identified as ‘Adarsh Smarak’ in Andhra Pradesh for providing additional facilities. About the Adarsh Smarak scheme Launched in 2014 for providing improved visitor amenities, especially for the physically challenged. Implemented by the Ministry of Culture. The civic amenities are being augmented at the protected sites under the scheme. Archaeological Survey of India had identified 100 monuments as “Adarsh Smarak” for upgradation  What are the Objectives of the Scheme? To make the monument visitor friendly. To provide interpretation and audio-video centers. To make the monument accessible to differently-abled people. To implement Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. News Source: TH Historic Urban Landscape Project Part of: GS Prelims and GS I - Culture In news Madhya Pradesh has launched UNESCO’s ‘Historic Urban Landscape’ project for Gwalior and Orchha cities of State. The development and management plan of these cities will be prepared by UNESCO. All aspects including history, culture, food, lifestyle, economic development, community development will be included in it. These places will now be jointly developed by UNESCO, Government of India and Madhya Pradesh by focusing on their historical and cultural improvement. What is the Background? Gwalior and Orchha in Madhya Pradesh were included in the list of UNESCOs world heritage cities under its urban landscape city programme in December 2020. Gwalior: It was established in the 9th century and ruled by Gurjar Pratihar Rajvansh, Tomar, Baghel Kachvaho and Scindias. Orchha: It is popular for its temples and palaces and was the capital of the Bundela kingdom in the 16th century. The famous spots in the town are Raj Mahal, Jehangir Mahal, Ramraja Temple, Rai Praveen Mahal, and Laxminarayan Mandir  About the ‘Historic Urban Landscape’ Approach: It was adopted in 2011 at UNESCO’s General Conference. UNESCO defines HUL approach as an integrated approach towards managing heritage resources found within dynamic and evolving environments. HUL acknowledges the interconnections within a city, which occur between the built and natural environments, the tangible and intangible values, as well as within the cultural and social practices of a community. The approach addresses the policy, governance and management concerns involving a variety of stakeholders, including local, national, regional, international, public and private actors in the urban development process. News Source: News On Air China-led South Asian Initiative Part of: GS Prelims and GS - II - International Relations In news Recently, Bangladesh has invited India to join the China-led South Asian initiative for Covid-19 vaccines and poverty alleviation. It includes the creation of the China-South Asian Countries Emergency Supplies Reserve, and a Poverty Alleviation and Cooperative Development Centre set up in China. About China-South Asian Initiative Members: China, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. India, Bhutan and the Maldives are the other SAARC countries that are not part of this initiative. China’s game plan: China has different kinds of strategic, maritime, political and ideological interests with different South Asian nations so it is increasing its engagements with each country on equal footing to counterbalance India. China is also building ports, roads and power stations as part of its Belt and Road Initiative. India’s Stand: Given continuing tensions over Chinese PLA aggression at the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh, India’s stand is that other bilateral relations cannot move ahead without a resolution of the boundary stand-off. Some of the India’s Initiatives for South Asia In early 2021, India - driven by its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and in its understanding of its role as the ‘net security provider’ of the region began providing Covid-19 vaccines on a priority basis to its immediate neighbours (Vaccine Diplomacy). India is also helping with the training of health workers in some of these countries and the setting up of the infrastructure to administer the shots. Recently, India, Japan and Australia have formally launched the Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI) News Source: TH (Mains Focus) EDUCATION/ GOVERNANCE Topic: GS-2: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education, Human Resources  GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. The direction that the National Curriculum Framework needs to take NCERT has tasked the State Councils of Educational Research and Training (SCERTs) to develop four State Curriculum Frameworks (SCFs). They pertain to  School Education Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Teacher Education (TE)  Adult Education (AE) The draft SCFs will feed into formulating the National Curriculum Frameworks, or NCFs, and the final version of the NCFs will be used as guiding documents to finalise the SCFs.  NCERT will provide support to the SCERTs in terms of guidance, training of personnel, and technology platforms to develop these documents. NCERTs will also provide e-templates & survey questionnaires to conduct surveys among various stakeholders. This ensures that board views from all sections of the population are taken in consideration while drafting SCFs & NCFs NCERT has to be cautious of the following while deliberating & drafting on NCF  The purpose of surveys on public opinion is to create a consensus on basic values, and the vision and the direction our education system should take.  The data collected by NCERT should be analysed in a rigorous manner to make proper sense of gathered public opinion.  Data needs to be analysed and organised in the light of the vision of the individual, society, and education inherent in the democratic ideal There has to be logical derivation of educational aims from the vision of society, curricular objectives from the aims, and content from the objectives are starkly clear.  Final NCF should be aligned with overall framework of values and future direction, current issues and problems of the education system, and public opinion.  Connecting the dots: National Education Policy, 2020 Digital Education Criticism of Board Examination System INTERNATIONAL/ SOCIETY Topic: GS-2: International Events In search of gold: On Tokyo Olympics Context: Olympics is set to begin, after a year’s delay imposed by the pandemic’s shadow.  ‘Tokyo 2020’, as the Olympics is branded for the latest edition, will commence at Japan’s capital on 23rd July while COVID-19 protocols are in place. Uniqueness of Tokyo 2020 Olympics These are also the greenest of Games — medals are made from discarded mobile phones and the cardboard beds for athletes will get recycled into paper products after the event.  The unique two flag-bearers rule — male and female — is a move towards gender parity. The inclusion of new sports like skateboarding, sport climbing and surfing at Tokyo is a watershed decision with the potential to change the way Olympians look forever. This id first global gathering since the pandemic. As many as 15,000 athletes and 5,000 plus support staff and officials from 200 countries will fly in and out of Tokyo.  Games held despite many challenges Further Postponement is unviable. International Olympic Committee fears missing out on the billions plus the scrapping of this edition might escalate the existential fear of the Olympic movement. Local approval ratings for the Games now stand at the half-way mark, a considerable improvement especially after an 83% opposition as recent as May.  The protesters are worried that with so many people coming in from different parts of the world it will increase the risk of spreading the virus further. Dangers of Coronavirus: Even two days before the start, there were whispers of cancellation as the coronavirus graph linked to the Games and to Japan revealed an upward climb.  Within the Olympics Village ecosystem of athletes, coaches, officials and volunteers, around 70 have tested positive for COVID-19.  Even if Tokyo 2020 remains secure inside the bio-bubble, the virus will remain the all-pervading protagonist of this Summer Games. India and Olympics India has a mere 28 medals to show despite turning up since 1900.  India’s initial share came from hockey but even that tap has run dry since the gold at Moscow in 1980.  Over the years and through diverse sports such as shooting, tennis, badminton, wrestling, boxing and weight-lifting, India has earned a few medals.  This time around, the pursuit to better the best-ever tally of six, gained at London in 2012, continues.  A sobering truth is that the demographic-dividend of being the second most populous nation, does not really convert into a better yield in multi-event. Conclusion For a weary world forced indoors, a successful Games will touch off hopes of a future of normalcy and the outdoors. Connecting the dots: Social Change through sports Khelo India (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note: Correct answers of today’s questions will be provided in next day’s DNA section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers. Q.1 Consider the following historical places: Ajanta Caves Lepakshi Temple Sanchi Stupa Which of the above places is/are also known for mural paintings? 1 only 1 and 2 only 1, 2 and 3 None  Q.2 Consider the following statements: Gwalior was established in the 9th century and ruled by Bundela Kingdom in 16th century  Orchha is popular for its temples and palaces and was the capital of the Gurjar Pratihar Rajvansh, Tomar, Baghel Kachvaho and Scindias. Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 only Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3 Consider the following statements regarding Central Bank Digital Currency and Cryptocurrency: While cryptocurrencies are decentralized, CBDCs are centralized Cryptocurrencies offer anonymity, CBDCs would allow central banks to know exactly who holds what.  Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 only Neither 1 nor 2 ANSWERS FOR 22nd July 2021 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 C 2 C 3 C Must Read On new e-commerce rules: The Hindu On Hong Kong Political suppression by China’s authorities: Indian Express On India’s Role in the Indo-Pacific: ORF

Jul 23, 2021 RSTV Video

Distribution of e-property cards under 'SWAMITVA scheme' – The Big Picture – RSTV IAS UPSC

Archives TOPIC: General Studies 2: Devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein.  e-governance and its applications General Studies 3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment. In News: Prime Minister, Narendra Modi launched the distribution of e-property cards under the SWAMITVA scheme on National Panchayati Raj Day through video conferencing. 4.09 lakh property owners were given their e-property cards on this occasion, which also marked the rolling out of the SVAMITVA scheme for implementation across the country.  SVAMITVA Scheme – Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas Launched as a Central Sector Scheme to promote a socio-economically empowered and self-reliant rural India Paves the way for using the property as a financial asset by villagers for availing loans and other financial benefits The Scheme will cover around 6.62 Lakh villages of the entire country during 2021-2025. The pilot phase of the Scheme was implemented during 2020–2021 in the States of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh and select villages of Punjab and Rajasthan.  The Need for this Scheme A comprehensive digital mapping of rural land categories — agricultural, residential and commons — will help raise rural productivity and incomes in various ways. Individual farmers are not able to take land on lease, or confidently lease out land. Availability of institutional credit is constrained by the absence of proper land records.  A large number of land parcels are subject to legal disputes and unclear titles make tenures insecure for the poor and vulnerable people, thus creating a sense of insecurity in the business climate, discouraging new investment, and posing a challenge to governance. The pendency of several million cases relating to land disputes in courts is partly because of the lack of comprehensive and up-to-date land records. Land-related disputes in India account for 60-70% of all civil litigation. About 25% of all cases decided by the Supreme Court involve land disputes, of which 30% concern disputes relating to land acquisition, according to National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER). According to the second edition of the NCAER Land Record Services Index (N-LRSI), the national average improved by 16.2% between the two rounds, showing considerable progress across states in digitizing records and the registration processes. The digitisation of agricultural land records has contributed to the smooth implementation of the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana. However, the provision of common amenities is impacted by the lack of demarcation of property owned in the villages. Panchayats are unable to collect their due share of property tax from residential parcels. How is a SVAMITVA property card generated? MoU with States: The framework for implementation of SVAMITVA scheme provides a multi-stage process of generating a property card, which starts with signing of a memorandum of understanding between Survey of India (SoI) and respective state governments.  Use of technology: The SoI is responsible for preparing the National Topographic database on all scales, using technology (drones, Satellite images) Setting up of Network: Once the MOU is done, a Continuously Operating Reference System (CORS) network is establishes that supports in establishing ground control points, which is an important activity for accurate Geo-referencing Public Awareness: The next step is the identification of villages to be surveyed during the pilot phase, and make people aware of the process of mapping properties.  Preparation of GIS Database: The abadi area (residential area) of the village is demarcated and each rural property is marked with limestone (chunna). Then, drones are used for large scale mapping of rural abadi areas. Based on these images, a GIS database on 1:500 scale, and village maps — Gram Manchitra — are drawn.  Verification: After creation of maps, a ground verification process by drone survey teams follows, on the basis of that corrections, if any, are made. At this stage, inquiry/objection process – conflict/ dispute resolution is completed Issuance of Property Cards: After verification, final Property Cards/Title deeds or “Sampatti Patrak” are generated. These cards will be available on digital platforms or as hard copies to the village household owners. How will the SVAMITVA property data and maps be updated in the future? The framework states, “Once the GIS database is prepared encompassing the 6.62 lakh villages, state governments will be responsible for conducting future surveys and updating the GIS database.” They will also decide the update frequency of the re-survey. Who will own the SVAMITVA data? According to the framework, the orthorectified base maps shall be jointly owned by the Survey of India, Ministry of Panchayati Raj and the state government. The GIS data will also be jointly owned by Centre and State.  However, the data related to property details will be owned by the State Revenue Department as it has the authority to mutate the Right of Records (RoRs) and update the maps.  Hence, the State Revenue Department will be the owner/host of this data and others will have a right to view What is the benefit of issuing a SVAMITVA property card? Access Credit & Benefits: It will enable rural households to use their property as a financial asset for taking loans and other financial benefits.  Tax Collection: The database will help in determination of property tax, which would accrue to the Gram Panchayats directly in states where they are empowered to collect such taxes Enhances Liquidity of assets: The cards will help increase liquidity of land parcels in the market and increase the financial credit availability to the village. Developmental Planning: The scheme will also pave the way for creation of accurate land records for rural planning. All the property records and maps will be available at Gram Panchayat, which will help in taxation of villages, construction permits, elimination of encroachments, etc. The Way Forward Engage the community from the start: Land and boundaries can be a charged topic, which more often than not discourages any policy reform. However, by involving the community, it is possible to create greater acceptance of the process and reduce potential for disputes. When the land boundaries are drawn by the people themselves, there is a high level of transparency and neighbours act as a check and balance, while building consensus on boundaries.  Protect the most vulnerable people: Land often has deep roots in social power structures, including caste and gender biases. Dalits, women, tenant farmers and tribal communities are often excluded from accessing land, even though they may legitimately have a claim. It would be important to build safeguards in the implementation process to ensure legitimate claims of the most vulnerable people are not crowded out by louder, or powerful voices. Awareness drives to familiarize people with digital land records, how to interpret and access them, also need to be built into the program to avoid information asymmetry and ensure access across user groups. Establish a grievance redressal system: Even with the best of intentions, it is possible that the process will create grievances for some people. Drawing learnings from Odisha’s Kalia and Mo Sarkaar programmes, a grievance redressal system that effectively addresses people’s concerns in a transparent and fair manner, will go a long way in smooth implementation of the program. Enable markets to work: It would be simplistic to expect that updated property records alone will make credit flow into rural areas. Credit needs marketable collateral, so it would be important to ensure there is a functional market for the underlying collateral – land. This would require states to simplify the legislative and regulatory procedures to build consumer confidence and encourage transactions in these areas. Modernising land records is one of the foundational steps towards mending and reimagining broken institutional arrangements, which are pivotal in today’s circumstances. The scheme has signaled political will at the Centre to create reliable land records, which has been long overdue.  Connecting the Dots: 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act Analyse the impact of the SVAMITVA Scheme on rural India.

Jul 23, 2021 Rapid Revision (RaRe) Series for UPSC

[Day 54]: 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-54 of RaRe Series - Click here To Register - Click here For complete details of the RaRe Series -  Click here

Jul 23, 2021 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz – 2021 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 23rd JULY 2021

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

Jul 22, 2021 TLP Mains Answer Writing

SYNOPSIS [21st JULY,2021] Day 138: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE   SYNOPSIS [21st JULY,2021] Day 138: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)   1. What are the upstream challenges faced by the cooperative model of food processing industries? Discuss. How can those be addressed? Suggest.  Approach  In introduction mention what is food processing sector and contextualise to cooperatives.In next part mention the need for cooperatives.Then address the main demand that is Upstream challenges and suggest measures to overcome these challenges.Write an optimistic conclusion. Introduction: Food Processing includes processes  under which any raw product of agriculture, dairy, animal husbandry, meat, poultry or fishing is transformed through a process in such a way that its original physical properties undergo a change and the transformed product has commercial value and is suitable for human and animal consumption.In India food processing is done trough private, cooperatives and public private partnerships. Body The food processing industry accounts for one third of the total food market in India. According to a report by Agricultural and Processed Food Products Exports Development Authority (APEDA) food processing industry accounts for 32% of India’s food market. Advantage offered by cooperatives sector in food processing  Food processing has numerous advantages which are specific to Indian context which include distribution of wealth and sharing prosperity between the producers and reducing the rile of middleman. It has capacity to lift millions out of poverty and malnutrition. Government should develop cooperative industry in a way keeping in mind the interests of small scale industry along with attracting big ticket domestic and foreign investments. The entire food value chain in India is controlled by multiple ministries, departments and laws. A comprehensive policy will ensure that various initiatives across the departments are aligned to the overall goal of ensuring availability, awareness, affordability, access, quality and safety of food.The new ministry of cooperation will be a good step in this direction for its focused attention. The target of ensuring food security for more than a billion people requires a concerted effort by all stakeholders including government and the food processing industry. In addition to private players and government, industry bodies and academia will also have a crucial role in the success of these initiatives. However, it does face certain hindrances to its growth. They are as follows: Low availability raw materials: Certain crops are seasonal, thus cause delay in the process. Certain crops like oilseeds are mainly grown by small and medium farmers. These farmers need to have capital for fertilisers, equipment etc, to increase the quality of their produce. However this is difficult as they can’t afford to do so. Certain crops are increasingly dependent on monsoons which are sometimes delayed resulting in poor or no yield. Lack of Storage Infrastructure: Many small scale food processing industries are suffering from shortage of food storage infrastructure that help in storage of raw materials. This results in increased food wastage and loss. The scarcity of space in these infrastructures account for large wastage of the agricultural produce Lack of adequate connectivity: Certain rural areas are not well connected. Thus the goods produced in these areas take a long time to reach the food processing units. Therefore increase in the connectivity by roads, railways, rivers, airways and shipping is of essence to increase the profit of the farmers and others who are involved in the process. The perishables must be sent to its destination in an efficient manner Old processes: The foods are usually inspected manually. This should cease in order to reduce human error and time wastage Technologies must be improved to stay in track with the increasing competition in the global market Ignorance and human error:  Many food items are wasted in daily basis due to carelessness of those who handle them while shifting, packaging, storing transporting etc. this needs to be reduced through efficient and stringent measures Covid 19 pandemic and its effects : The disruption caused in supply of raw materials and limited availability of labour in food process industry has been a cause of concern.The issues of following covid protocols in manufacturing, vaccination of staff, quarantine has led to increase in costs for the sector. Suggestions to further boost the sector: India cannot afford any wastage of food, according to FAO; every third malnourished child is an Indian. Several measures have been taken by the Indian government like National Food Security Act, 2013 and India Food Banking network. However, with the rapid increase in the population, it is of essence for the Indian government to improve the measures for preventing wastage of food.The cooperatives sector can help to decrease this wastage. There is a need for an integrated approach with a focus on forging backward and forward linkages, which are crucial for scaling up the economic viability of the sector. The regulatory framework for contract and corporate farming needs to be developed in this regard. Model land leasing law developed by NITI Aayog is a step in the right direction that needs to be implemented by states with suitable local adaptations and modifications. Promote the holistic development of the sector by increasing private sector participation with a well-developed framework for risk-sharing and fiscal incentives for creating infrastructure for logistics, storage, and processing. There is a need for modification in the Mega food park scheme for first-time entrepreneurs as the current cap of ten crores credit is not sufficient and has to be enhanced for the high-cost adoption of technology and enhancement of scale. The implementation architecture needs to be simplified for a complete overhaul of certifying and approval procedures. There is a crying need to get a single window scheme for the same. Ensure uniform implementation of the APMC act to increase private sector participation and also harmonisation of tax structure under GST to reduce vast fluctuations in price. There is also an urgent need to improve research and development (R&D) standards. This will meet stringent global standards and increase the scope for exports. The globalisation has increased trade across the borders and about 460 million tons of food valued at US$ 3 billion is traded annually. Hence, India has immense potential for global trade in agricultural and processed food products. The share of food processing exports in total exports was about 12% during the last few years. Between 2011 and 2015, India s exports of processed food products have been growing at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23.3%. These figures reinforce the fact that India can capitalise on the export potential of the food processing sector in the forthcoming years. There is also a need to encourage academia and industry to commence courses in food packing, processing, biotechnology, information technology so that there would be a constant supply of skilled manpower and also help India achieve global excellence in the food processing sector. Conclusion India has a rich legacy of food cooperatives such as Amul, Nandini, Lijjat papad and Mother dairy.This history and learning needs to be applied to other sectors of food economy such as fisheries, Agroprocessing etc for a widespread development of these sectors on the economies of scale.The creation of new ministry of cooperation and incentives for FPOs and agricultural reforms will go a long way in revitalising this sector. 2. What is integrated farming system? Discuss its advantages in the context of India’s agro-ecological diversity and farmers’ economic profile.    Approach  Define what is Integrated farming system in introduction.In next part address the main part of question on what are the advantages of IFS in Indian conditions.In conclusion contextualise the system with plans and goals of Indian government. Introduction: Integrated Farming System (IFS) also defined as biologically integrated farming system which integrates natural resources and regulation mechanisms into farming activities to achieve maximum replacement of off-farm inputs, secures sustainable production of high quality food and other products through ecologically preferred technologies, sustain farm income, eliminates or reduces sources of present environment pollutions generated by agriculture and sustains the multiple function of agriculture. Body Integrated farming is an alternative farming practice which was originally devised in China and now is  being supported worldwide as an all-round development of agriculture along with animal husbandry and other such occupation which is related to core agricultural practices. Integrated farming has the capability to make the agriculture sector profitable which otherwise has been proved largely as a subsistence sector and a major reason behind leaving this age old occupation and migration to cities. Advantages of Integrated Farming system in the context of India’s agro-ecological diversity and farmers’ economic profile  Productivity : Integration of crop and allied enterprises helps to increase economic yield per unit area per unit time. Intensification of cropping and allied enterprises in space and time dimension found to increase the productivity. Profitability : Produce/waste material of new enterprise can be used for other enterprise at least for crop, thus reducing the cost of production and increasing profitability per rupee investment. Sustainability:- Huge quantity of inorganic fertilisers, pesticides, herbicides are required to meet the food requirement of increasing population @ 2.2 % every year. Abundant use of such material causes soil degradation and pollution. The productivity of soil gets drastically reduced in due course of time. IFS provides an opportunity to sustain production through organic supplementation and effective utilisation of byproduct of linked components. Balanced food : IFS link varied nature of enterprises to provide nutritious food viz., vitamins, proteins, carbohydrates, fat, minerals etc. from the same area. This solves the malnutrition problem of poor peoples. Environmental Safety : Abundant use of inorganic fertilisers, pesticides, herbicides make the soil, water and environment polluted. Similarly, residues of some crops, waste material also pollute the environment after decomposition. However in IFS waste material, byproducts of one composite are effectively recycled using for other component and by-product of that component as organic manure to enrich the soil. Use of bio agent or crop protection also minimises the pesticides. Recycling of waste : By-product of the crop husbandry can be effectively recycled for preparation of compost. Some of the by-product can be used as feed. This reduces the cost of production of one enterprise at the cost of other. Thus net income of farm is increased. Saving energy : Energy crises can be served to same extent by utilising organic waste to generate biogas which can be used for cooking, lighting etc. Adoption of new technology : Big farmers are fully aware with the new technologies because of using improved varieties, package of practices. But small and marginal farmers are not able to adopt for want of money. In IFS linking of cropping with dairy, mushroom, sericulture, floriculture there is a flow of money throughout the year. Money round the year:- In conventional farming income is expected once at the end of cropping season. However, IFS provides flow of money round the year by way of disposing eggs, milk, edible mushroom, honey, cocoons of silkworm etc. Availability of fodder, fuel and timber : IFS utilises every part of land. Growing of fodder trees on border will not only provide fodder but also enrich the soil by fixing atmospheric nitrogen. In multi-storeyed cropping includes of fodder component like cowpea as second or third tier also meet the fodder crises. The current production of fuel wood is about 20 million ton which needs to be increased to eighteen folds. Employment round the year : Crop-livestock integration increase labour requirement through the year, other activities like mushroom cultivation, sericulture, apiculture also needs labor. Hence IFS provides employment to family members as well as outside labour throughout the year. Agro-industries :Linking of various components in IFS, the production definitely increased to commercial level. Surplus production leads to development of agro based side industry. Increase input efficiency : IFS provides better scope to use available inputs more efficiently. This leads to increase benefit: cost ratio. Standard of living : IFS leads to produce milk, eggs, fruits, honey, edible mushroom and generate bioenergy for farmers family and commercial purpose. There is regular flow of money at frequent interval through out the year. Avoid degradation of forest : There is a vast gap between demand and production of fuel wood and timber. Users encroaches/destroy the forest area to bridge the gap. Forest lands get degraded and eroded due to denudation of forest. IFS linked with Afforestation and provide safety against degradation of lands, besides supplementation of fuel, timber and fodder. Integrated Farming Systems suitable particularly for hilly regions of the North Eastern Region can be adopted. Some are as – Integrated Fish cum Pig farming, Integrated Fish cum Duck Farming, Integrated Fish Farming-Chicken, Integrated Fish farming-cum-Cattle farming, Integrated Fish farming-cum-Rabbit farming, Integrated Fish farming-cum-Agriculture. Sikkim being an organic state is a good example. Example from Indian scene: An Indian example of Integrated farming can best be understood by the fact that once a degraded land in Jodhpur, Rajasthan having very less crop production (and income) with the use of integrated farming practices such as plantation of improved qualities of Ber along with intercropping, honeybee keeping and a goat unit turned into a major revenue generator along with improving the quality of soil and decreased expenditure on fertiliser and pesticides, produced good quality fruits using organic farming which has high demand overseas. Conclusion Integrated farming systems seem to be the possible solution to the continuous increase of demand for food and nutrition, income stability and livelihood upliftment particularly for small and marginal farmers with little resources. Therefore it supplements well the goals India needs to achieve on doubling of farming income, Climate change, nutritious food, and augmenting rural livelihood. 3. A community-centric approach to population control in need of the hour today. Do you agree? Substantiate your views.  Approach  The question demands an introduction based on basic definition of population control and contextualise to India.In next part write in brief the issue at hand.Then go on to discuss positive side of community centric approach and disadvantages of setting population targets.In conclusion mention how India’s population is already stabilising and need for a community based approach  Introduction  Human reproduction planning is the practice of intentionally controlling the rate of growth of a human population. It has traditionally been sometimes referred to as population control. Historically, human population planning has been implemented with the goal of increasing the rate of human population growth. However, in the period from the 1950s to the 1980s, concerns about looming human overpopulation and its effects on poverty, environmental degradation and political stability led to efforts to reduce human population growth rates.India was the first country in 1952 start family planning measures to have an optimum population. Body India’s history of population control  India’s population  has exploded after Independence.This has been a cause of concern from the initial years which led to family planning measures in 1952.This policy hardly had any effect and the population continued to grow exponentially.Then came the phase of national emergency which led to forceful implementation of family planning with mass sterilisation against individual will.This led to people becoming averse to idea of family planning and government measures. Then with the development it was seen world over that coercive family planning is less effective as compared to the community approach where the plans and measures are community driven and tailored to fit diverse population. This measures have been included in Indian National population policy 2000 and similarly states have adopted similar measures such as Maharashtra, Rajasthan etc. In current context there are debates on whether population control should be strictly implemented or community driven as some states such as Uttarpradesh and Assam are bringing reward and mechanisms in the population planning.While the evidence from one child policy of China suggests that setting targets against the natural course of development can be counter productive. Focus in Community centric approach Increasing the welfare and status of women and girls, spread of education, increasing awareness for the use of contraceptives and family planning methods, sex education, encouraging male sterilisation and spacing births, free distribution of contraceptives and condoms among the poor, encouraging female empowerment, more health care centres for the poor, to name a few, can play a major role in controlling population. India’s strengths in the global world in various fields cannot be ignored, whether in science & technology, medicine and health care, business and industry, military, communication, entertainment, literature and many more. Experts are hopeful that by increasing public awareness and enlisting strict population control norms by the Government will definitely lead the way for the country’s economic prosperity and control of population. Social Measure: Population outburst is considered to be a social problem and it is intensely rooted in the civilization. It is therefore necessary to make efforts to eliminate the social iniquities in the country. Minimum age of Marriage: As fertility depends on the age of marriage therefore the minimum age of marriage should be raised. In India minimum age for marriage is 21 years for men and 18 years for women fixed by law. This law should be strongly implemented and people should also be made aware of this through promotion. Raising the Status of Women: There are prevalent biases to women. They are restricted to house. They are still confined to rearing and bearing of children. So women should be given opportunities to develop socially and economically. Free education should be given to them. Spread education: The spread of education changes the views of people. The educated men take mature decisions and prefer to delay marriage and adopt small family custom. Educated women are health mindful and avoid frequent pregnancies and thus help in lowering birth rate. Adoption: is also effective way to curb population. Some parents do not have any child, despite expensive medical treatment. It is recommended that they should adopt orphan children. It will be helpful to orphan children and children to couples. Social Security: is necessary for people. It is responsibility of government to include more and more people under-social security schemes. So that they do not depend upon others in the event of old age, sickness, unemployment with these facilities they will have no desire for more children. Economic Measures: There has to be numerous economic measures taken as a preventive measure for population explosion. Government must devise policies for more employment opportunities. It is necessary is to raise the employment opportunities in rural as well as urban areas. Generally in rural areas there is disguised joblessness. Another economic measure for population control is the development of Agriculture and Industry. If agriculture and industry are correctly developed, huge number of people will get employment. When their income is increased they would enhance their standard of living and accept small family norms. Good standard of living is a deterrent to large family norm. In order to maintain their enhanced standard of living, people prefer to have a small family. Urbanisation: process can reduce population increase. It is reported that people in urban areas have low birth rate than those living in rural areas. Urbanisation should be encouraged. Disadvantages of forceful population control measures : A very high level of population growth can create imbalances, which make the job of the state more difficult, but the way the issue is being approached is problematic and will have unintended consequences. The approach is anti-poor, as they tend to have more children than middle-class people. Further, it is an anti-democratic practice that impairs a citizen’s right to choice and his/her sexual and reproductive rights. People have more children if there is a high prevalence of socio-economic issues such as infant and child mortality. For instance, the National Family Health Survey-4 (2015-16) reveals that women who have little access to health and education and those caught in a cycle of poverty, produce more and more children India’s TFR is about to reach the net replacement rate, or NRR, of about 2.1-2.2. So, India is not being threatened by a “population explosion”. The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) and Census data show that in most states, and many urban areas, the total fertility rate (TFR) has already reached replacement levels (2.1). Challenge with the two-child policy: If the first two children are girls, one of them faces a risk to life immediately after birth, as their parents have a preference for male offspring. This will increase even more female infanticide in India. According to the 2011 census, the UP had 908 females per 1,000 males, compared to the national average of 940 females per 1,000 males. The two-child policy is bound to increase this imbalance. Population control measures address yesterday’s problem: The population control measures might end up creating difficulties for tomorrow. Attempts to address the population issue through exclusionary policies will not improve the quality of life in states. So, this creates problems in the future. Against National Human Rights Commission order: The incentives/disincentives approach has been denounced in the past by the NHRC after such measures were introduced by several States in the 1990s and 2000s. i.e., Haryana, undivided Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha. Global examples: The stricter population control policy from other countries are not effective in the long run and also tends to skew the sex ratio. China, for instance, resulted in a significant gender imbalance because of preference for a male child. Conclusion India’s TFRs have been reducing substantially across most States. To hasten the drop, States should tackle the socio-economic issues confronting India’s largely youthful demography rather than seeking neo-Malthusian approaches to population control.The focus should rather be on community driven approach of development and focusing on the human rights and fundamental rights provided in the constitution.   TLP Synopsis Day 138 PDF