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TLP Mains Answer Writing

SYNOPSIS [3rd MAY,2021] Day 97: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE   SYNOPSIS [3rd MAY,2021] Day 97: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)   1. What makes the Northeast region highly prone to earthquakes? Analyse. Approach A simple and straightforward question where in the candidate needs to analyse what makes the Northeast region highly prone to earthquakes. Introduction According to the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), our country falls in four seismic zones. The entire Northeast of our country falls in Zone V, with the highest risk, and the region has a turbulent history of 18 devastating earthquakes in the past century. In fact, Northeast India is one of the six most seismically active regions on earth along with California, Japan, Mexico, Taiwan, and Turkey. Body Seismicity is a term which expresses the frequency of occurrence of earthquake in a region in the past as well as probable occurrence in the future. Some region experience higher magnitude of earthquake, whereas some experience lower magnitude.  Depending on magnitude and frequency, we generally define a place as a region of high seismicity and low seismicity. Seismicity of a particular region depends on the tectonic condition pertaining to number and type of movement of faults in that region. Earthquake is a natural phenomenon which is responsible for continuous geological formations and modifications of Earth. Therefore assessing earthquake is necessary in terms of location, frequency, magnitude to evaluate the extent of devastation and threat that it possesses. In India, one of the most seismic hazard zones is North east part of India. This region has witnessed several major earthquakes causing large scale devastation. The main cause of this high seismicity in North East India is its unique placement of tectonic plates and their interactions.  This region consists of eastern and north-eastern Himalayas to the north, Indo-Burma ranges to the east, Bangladesh to the south and the Andaman-Sumatra region to the southeast.  This region comprising of Shillong Plateau, Mikir hills, Assam valley, Tripura fold belt and the Bengal basin (Bangladesh) is jawed in 3-ways between the three tectonic arcs. The interaction of these three uniquely placed tectonic arcs makes North East India an interlocked region of high seismicity.  Moreover, the Eastern Himalayan Syntaxes is a complex triple junction that joins the Indian and Eurasian plates with the northern end of the Burma plate where the Himalayan arc takes a sharp turn of about 900 and meets the Indo-Burma ranges. The tremors of some recent earthquakes have been attributed to the Kopili fault zone closer to Himalayan Frontal Thrust. This is a seismically active area falling in the highest Seismic Hazard Zone V. It is associated with collisional tectonics because of the Indian Plate sub-ducting beneath the Eurasian Plate. Subduction is a geological process in which one crustal plate is forced below the edge of another. The high seismicity in this region can also be attributed to the collision tectonics between the Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate in the north and subduction tectonics along with the Indo-Myanmar range (IMR) in the east Deaths and destruction during an earthquake mostly occurs due to the collapse of the buildings. North-east India has seen a significant increase in population density and also witnessed a growth of unplanned urbanization. This has caused human population and different structures to be vulnerable.  Conclusion The enormous investment outlays for strengthening the road network, rail network and air transport network for the North Eastern region proposed will have to be designed with special attention to the earthquake risk and vulnerability in the region. Simultaneously, there is a greater need to strengthen the medical preparedness and mass casualty management facilities in the region. The public awareness on earthquake risk and vulnerability will become the foundation for an enlightened multi-stakeholder initiative to launch a concerted attempt to usher in a culture of preparedness, mitigation and improved emergency response in the North Eastern Region. 2. Discuss the phenomena of landslides as an ecological hazard. Approach Candidates are expected to write about landslide and then simply discuss the phenomena of landslide as an ecological hazard. Introduction A landslide is defined as the movement of a mass of rock, debris, or earth down a slope. They are a type of mass wasting, which denotes any downward movement of soil and rock under the direct influence of gravity. The term landslide encompasses five modes of slope movement: falls, topples, slides, spreads, and flows. Body Causes of landslide: Slope movement occurs when forces acting downward (mainly due to gravity) exceed the strength of the earth materials that compose the slope. Landslides are caused due to three major factors: geology, morphology, and human activity.  Geology refers to characteristics of the material. The earth or rock might be weak or fractured, or different layers may have different strengths and stiffness. Morphology refers to the structure of the land. For example, slopes that lose their vegetation to fire or drought are more vulnerable to landslides.  Vegetation holds soil in place, and without the root systems of trees, bushes, and other plants, the land is more likely to slide away. Human activity which includes agriculture and construction increase the risk of a landslide. The research said human-triggered fatal landslides are increasing at the highest rate in India, where 28% construction-triggered landslide events occurred during the period. Landslide as ecological hazard: Every year, landslides in the region kill dozens of people and cause widespread damage to several villages such that they have now become almost unfit for habitation. They create blockades in the road network and river system, which in turn, cause floods. The terraced farm fields have been destroyed that cannot be easily renovated or made productive again. The road network remains closed for long periods causing indescribable hardship to the villagers who get their basic supplies and provisions from the neighbouring areas. Water sources are disrupted and chocked by debris from landslides. The river sediment load is increased considerably, causing irregular courses and frequent breaching of the banks- resulting into unexpected floods. The water channels are also affected due to disruption in previous channels, this leads to disturbance in water supply to dependent villagers for irrigation purposes. This then adversely affects agriculture production in the affected region. In India, this hazard affects at least 15% of the land area of the country ( approx 0.49 million square Km.) It is very frequent in geodynamical active domains in the Himalayan and Arakan- Yoma belt of the North-eastern parts of the country as well as in the relatively stable domains of the Meghalaya Plateau, Western Ghats, and Nilgiri Hills. Way Forward: Preparedness and Mitigation: The National Landslide Susceptibility Mapping (NLSM) programme of the Geological Survey of India could help assess the vulnerability of the districts and this could allow the concerned states to plan accordingly. Installing early warning systems based on the monitoring of ground conditions like slope displacement, strain in soil and rocks, groundwater levels can help warn the residents and authorities of the risks. The district and state disaster management apparatus should be ready for intervention at a short notice. Conclusion Landslides and their consequences are still a great problem for many countries, particularly in India due to rapidly increasing populations. The most recent example being that of Kerala. For this reason, landslide hazard zonation mapping serves as one of the many components in an integrated disaster management planning. 3. Discuss the landforms associated with volcanic activity in India. Approach- Question is straight forward. Student can define the volcano and landforms associated with it. Examples of volcanic landforms in India can be mentioned while defining the particular landform. Introduction Volcano refers to a place from where gases, ashes and lave escapes out. Volcanic landforms are created by cooling of magma or lava. Due to very high temperature, some rocks slowly melt and turn into a thick flowing matter known as magma. Since it is lighter than the solid rock around it, the magma rises and gets collected in magma chambers which eventually pushes through fissures and vents in the earth’s surface. Body Volcanic landforms Volcanic landforms are divided into extrusive and intrusive landforms based on weather magma cools within the crust or above the crust. Intrusive landforms The lava that is discharged during volcanic eruptions on cooling develops into igneous rocks. The cooling may take place either on arriving on the surface or also while the lava is still in the crustal portion. According to the location of the cooling of the lava, igneous rocks are categorized as plutonic rocks and volcanic rocks. The lava that cools inside the crustal portions takes diverse forms. These forms are called intrusive forms. Examples of intrusive landforms Batholiths- Batholiths are the cooled portion of magma chambers. It is a large body of magmatic material that cools in the deeper depth of the crust moulds in the form of large domes. They appear on the surface only after the denudation processes eliminate the overlying materials. Laccoliths- These are large dome-shaped intrusive bodies with a level base and linked by a pipe-like channel from below. It bears a similarity to the surface volcanic domes of the composite volcano, only these are located at deeper depths. In India the Karnataka plateau is patterned with dome hills of granite rocks. Lopolith- When the lava moves upwards, a part of the same tends to move in a horizontal direction wherever it finds a weak plane. It can get rested in various forms. If it develops into a saucer shape, concave to the sky body, it is called lopolith. Phacolith- A wavy mass of intrusive rocks, at times, is found at the base of synclines or the top of the anticline in folded igneous strata. Such wavy materials have a definite conduit to source beneath in the form of magma chambers (subsequently developed as batholiths). These are called the Phacoliths. Sills- The near horizontal bodies of the intrusive igneous rocks are called sill. The thinner ones are called sheets. Dykes- When the lava makes its way through cracks and the fissures developed in the land, it solidifies almost perpendicular to the ground. These are the most commonly found intrusive forms in the western Maharashtra area. These are considered the feeders for the eruptions that led to the development of the Deccan traps. Extrusive volcanic landforms Extrusive landforms are formed from material thrown out to the surface during volcanic activity. The materials thrown out include lava flows, pyroclastic debris, volcanic bombs, ash, dust and gases such as nitrogen compounds, sulphur compounds and minor amounts of chlorine, hydrogen and argon. Crater Lake A Crater Lake, in general, could be of volcanic origin (volcanic crater lake, volcanic caldera lake) or due to a meteorite impact (meteor crater or impact crater), or in the crater left by an artificial explosion caused by humans. Lonar Lake, also known as Lonar crater (Lonar, Buldhana district, Maharashtra) was created by a meteor impact during the Pleistocene Epoch. Conclusion Volcanic activities have a profound influence on the earth’s landforms. In India deccan traps, Karnataka plateau are some of the examples associated with the volcanic landforms as they have influences the India’s physiography and its environment.  4. How do temperate cyclones affect the local weather conditions? Illustrate. Approach Since the question is asking you to illustrate you have to demonstrate knowledge of the subject of the question and to further explain or clarify your answer with several examples. Introduction  Temperate cyclones, also called as extra tropical cyclones or wave cyclones or simply depressions are atmospheric disturbances having low pressure in the centre and increasing pressure outward. The convergence of the cold front and the warm front in the temperate latitude cyclones conducive for the development of mid-latitude cyclone. The development and strengthening of mid-latitude ware cyclone id known as cyclogenesis. They move counter clockwise in the Northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern hemisphere. The temperate cyclonic motion is generated by the pressure gradient force, the Coriolis force, and the surface friction force. Body  THE TEMPERATE CYCLONES AFFECT THE LOCAL WEATHER CONDITIONS IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS: Temperate cyclone is associated with the instability phenomenon called as western disturbance. In Himalayan region of India, the monsoon current progress east to west but western disturbance, move across north from west to east bringing moderate to heavy rain in low-lying area & heavy snow to mountain. Temperate cyclones are cold cored, and winds increase with height. They tend to have more moderate rainfall, although in extreme cases still enough to cause destructive flooding. Temperate cyclones have their strongest winds at the top of the troposphere in the core of cyclones have their strongest winds at the top of the troposphere in the core of the jet stream. A light drizzle follows temperate cyclone which turns into a heavy downpour. These conditions change with the arrival of the warm front which halts the fall in mercury level and the rising temperature. Rainfall stops and clear weather prevails until the cold front of an anticyclonic character arrives which causes a fall in temperature, brings cloudiness and rainfall with thunder. After this, once again clear weather is established. The temperate cyclones experience more rainfall when there is slower movement and a marked difference in rainfall and temperature between the front and rear of the cyclone. These cyclones are generally accompanied by anticyclones. Conclusion The temperate cyclone develops in region between 30° & 60° north and south latitude in both hemisphere and is responsible for much of the highly variable & Cloudy weather in temperate zone. It is in these latitude zones that the polar and tropical air masses meet and form polar fronts. 5. Discuss the origin and propagation of tropical cyclones. How are tropical cyclones named? Approach: Question is straight forward in its approach, it has two parts each part needs to be addressed equally also it is important to substantiate points properly with appropriate use of examples. Introduction: Tropical cyclones (TCs) plague coastal communities around the world, threatening millions of people and causing many billions of dollars in damage to infrastructure—impacts that are only increasing as coastal development continues worldwide. These impacts result in severe consequences in all ocean basins frequented by TCs, for example recent Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria (2017) and Florence and Michael (2018) in the Atlantic basin, Typhoons Hato and Damrey (2017), Tropical Storm Son-Tinh (2018) and Typhoons Mangkhut, Jebi, Soulik, and Yutu (2018) in the western North Pacific, Cyclone Debbie (2017) in the East Australian region, and Cyclone Mekunu (2018) in the northern Indian Ocean. Body: Origin and propagation- More than two-thirds of observed tropical cyclones originate in the Northern Hemisphere. The North Pacific has more than one-third of all such storms, while the southeast Pacific and South Atlantic are normally devoid of them. Most Northern Hemispheric tropical cyclones occur between May and November, with peak periods in August and September. The majority of Southern Hemispheric cyclones occur between December and April, with peaks in January and February. The formation of tropical cyclones is strongly influenced by the temperature of the underlying ocean or, more specifically, by the thermal energy available in the upper 60 metres (about 200 feet) of ocean waters. Typically, the underlying ocean should have a temperature in excess of 26 °C (about 79 °F) in this layer. This temperature requirement, however, is only one of five that need to be met for a tropical cyclone to form and develop. The other preconditions relate to the state of the tropical atmosphere between the sea surface and a height of 16 km (about 10 miles), the boundary of the tropical troposphere. All these conditions may be met but still not lead to cyclone formation. It is thought that the most important factor is the presence of a large-scale cyclonic circulation in the lower troposphere. The above conditions occur for a period of 5 to 15 days and are followed by less-favourable conditions for duration of 10 to 20 days. Once a tropical cyclone has formed, it usually follows certain distinct stages during its lifetime. In its formative stage the winds are below hurricane force, and the central pressure is about 1,000 millibars, or 750 mm (29.53 inches) of mercury. The formative period is extremely variable in length, ranging from 12 hours to a few days. This stage is followed by a period of intensification, when the central pressure drops rapidly below 1,000 millibars. The winds increase rapidly, and they may achieve hurricane force within a radius of 30 to 50 km (19 to 31 miles) of the storm centre. At this stage the cloud and rainfall patterns become well organized into narrow bands that spiral inward toward the centre. In the mature phase the central pressure stops falling and, as a consequence, the winds no longer increase. The region of hurricane-force winds, however, expands to occupy a radius of 300 km (186 miles) or more. A tropical cyclone may regenerate in higher latitudes as an extratropical depression, but it loses its identity as a tropical storm in the process. The typical lifetime of a tropical cyclone from its birth to death is about six days. Naming of tropical cyclones- Cyclones were usually not named. The tradition started with hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean, where tropical storms that reach sustained wind speeds of 39 miles per hour were given names. The practice of naming storms started in order to help in the quick identification of storms in warning messages because names are presumed to be far easier to remember than numbers and technical terms. Experience shows that the use of short, distinctive given names in written as well as spoken communications is quicker and less subject to error than the older more cumbersome latitude-longitude identification methods. The 13 names in the recent list that have been suggested by India include: Gati, Tej, Murasu, Aag, Vyom, Jhar (pronounced Jhor), Probaho, Neer, Prabhanjan, Ghurni, Ambud, Jaladhi and Vega. Next, India’s choice, Gati, will be chosen, and so on. Subsequent cyclones are being named sequentially, column-wise, with each cyclone given the name immediately below that of the previous cyclone. Conclusion: Cyclones can have an economic and emotional effect on people and property directly affected. Thousands of people have died or been displaced by them. Hundreds of homes could be destroyed causing millions of dollars’ worth of damage. Having a better understanding of cyclones can help you better prepare and perhaps minimise or prevent cyclone damage.   TLP HOT Synopsis Day 97 PDF

IASbaba Prelims 60 Day Plan

IASbaba’s 60 Day Plan - IAS Prelims Test Series 2021 - ENVIRONMENT, CURRENT AFFAIRS & CSAT [Day 42]

For Previous (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE Hello Friends,  ARCHIVES OF 60 DAYS NOTE: IASbaba's 60 DAY questions will be posted around 10 AM. The solution will be released around 5 PM Daily.  Let us pledge to make it a big game-changer (better than last year) in the next 60 days!  Note- Download the OMR Sheet and attempt the questions exactly like UPSC Prelims. After you are done, please post your OMR in the comment section. Once the solution key is released (around 5 PM), cross-check the answers and, comment the marks (you scored) in the same comment thread. This will keep you accountable, responsible and sincere in days to come.  You can also take part in the discussion with peers.   ENVIRONMENT [DAY 42] - Click Here NOTE- Follow this for Comments Mention- Time Taken after solving the Test After the release of Solution, Edit your Comment to Mention-  Correct/Incorrect and Score 2 Marks for Correct/0.66 minus for Incorrect. What IMPACT can the ‘60 Day’ have on the final results? We will explain by taking a small example. Imagine you are sitting in the examination hall, appearing in Prelims Paper I. You have attempted 70 questions already but still unsure about a few. Then you stumble upon a question that was asked in 60 Day (and believe us, it has happened to hundreds of students countless times). You choose the right answer and submit your paper hoping for the best! Eventually, you go on to clear Mains as well as Personality Test and secure a good rank as well. When the cut off gets announced by UPSC, you realize that you have scored just one mark more than the cut off! Yes, that one mark can change your life (and it has done so to many of our students in the past). Now, imagine the kind of impact 60 to 80 marks can have! Isn’t that so fascinating to imagine?   One’s level of preparedness is always different for different subjects. Even within a subject, one’s comfort level may vary with topics. For example, one might be more comfortable in solving questions of Polity than Economics and within Polity also, one might be at ease with questions on fundamental rights than Parliament. The level of comfort and ease that one has with a subject/ topic gets manifested in the examination. However, there is no conscious effort by aspirants to micro analyze these aspects. Now, coming to the second aspect i.e. the mistakes that one commits in answering MCQs, it can be said that there are mainly four reasons behind incorrect responses in the OMR sheet. They are: Lack of information Lack of analytical ability Silly mistakes Excessive risk-taking Let’s analyze them one by one: Lack of information: You simply don’t know the information. You are clueless and that’s why you don’t attempt the question. For example, you may have never come across a regime called the ‘Wassenaar Agreement’ during your preparation and you can’t do much about it. The lack of information is pardonable and rectifiable. You can read more and gather more information. That is within your reach. Lack of analytical ability: You know the concept but the question is a twisted one and you are not able to apply the concept. For example, in a question asking you to identify the climate type of a region based on certain given parameters like precipitation, temperature, and air density, you might find it difficult to mark the correct option even if you are aware of all the options given in the question! That is clearly a lack of application and you can overcome it by developing a habit of framing questions in your mind while you study any topic. Silly mistakes: This habit is unpardonable. You know the concept, you become happy, you misread the question, you mark the incorrect answer and you are out of the race! Such mistakes reveal your hurriedness while answering the question. A simple mistake of reading ‘chose the incorrect option’ as ‘chose the correct option’ can destroy your chances. It means that you need to have patience and focus while attempting the paper. Excessive risk-taking: You are confused between the options and just in order to increase your attempts, you make wild guesses and try your luck only to repent eventually. Risk-taking is an art and one must be very careful while doing the guesswork in confusing questions. If you are not lucky enough, it can spoil your chances. You will realize that these problems will have different meanings for different people. For example, one might find a lack of information as the main culprit in answering wrong the questions on Culture while in Polity, lack of analytical ability is usually the culprit. The point here is that you must analyse your preparation on these yardsticks by applying them on different subjects/ topics. If one is having a headache, he/ she can’t have the same medicine for fever. Isn’t it. This is where our revamped '60 Day’ comes into the picture. It will give you an opportunity to micro analyze your preparation and perform better in the examination. Finally, it is up to you to take advantage of this framework. We are sure of only one thing- if you follow this program, assess yourself on the basis of the given framework and keep improving your weaker areas, success will be yours. We are providing you with the right platform, the right guidance, and the right competition. Do you have the right motivation to make full use of this initiative? We think you have. Come, be a part of this initiative and take the first step towards SUCCESS! Importance of self - tracking: We could have provided all of you with login id and passwords to monitor your daily performance in the 60-day program. Instead, a simple and most beautiful way which Disqus provides is profile based commenting! Yes, we have seen the most successful candidates who have taken the maximum benefit from this program monitoring themselves by commenting on their answers in the box given (Disqus comment). And reviewing their performance themselves once in 10 days on the progress meter.  DOWNLOAD THE 60 DAYS PLAN 2021 All the Best! IASbaba    

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

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

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) RBI Steps in to Ease COVID-19 Burden  Part of: GS Prelims and GS - III - Economy  In news The RBI Governor has announced a series of measures to support the nation’s fight against the second wave of COVID-19 infections. Key takeaways  Term Liquidity Facility of Rs. 50,000 crore with tenure of up to 3 years, at repo rate, to ease access to emergency health services, for ramping up COVID-related health infrastructure & services. Special Long Term Repo Operations for Small Finance Banks (SFBs): In order to provide further support to micro, small and other unorganized sector entities, 3-year repo operations of Rs. 10,000 crore at repo rate, for fresh lending up to Rs 10 lakh per borrower (till 31 October, 2021)  Lending by SFBs to MFIs to be classified as priority sector lending: In view of fresh challenges, SFBs are now permitted to regard fresh on-lending to MFIs with asset size up to Rs. 500 crore, as priority sector lending (till 31 March, 2022)  Credit flow to MSME Entrepreneurs: To incentivize inclusion of unbanked MSMEs into banking system, exemption provided in February, 2021 wherein scheduled banks were allowed to deduct credit given to new MSME borrowers from Net Time & Demand Liabilities for calculation of CRR, is now extended to December 31, 2021. Rationalization of KYC norms for enhanced customer experience: Steps being proposed include – Extending scope to video KYC for new customer categories such as proprietorship firms, Conversion of limited KYC accounts to fully KYC compliant accounts, Introduction of more customer-friendly options in KYC updating and enabling the use of KYC Identifier of Centralised KYC Registry (CKYCR) for V-CIP and submission of electronic documents as identity proof Floating Provisions and Countercyclical Provisioning Buffer: Banks can now use 100% of floating provisions held by them, as on December 31, 2020, for making specific provisions for NPAs; (till March 31, 2022)  Relaxation of overdraft facility for states: Maximum number of days of overdraft in a quarter for state governments has been increased from 36 to 50 days. Initiative to waive TRIPS protection for COVID-19 vaccines Part of: GS Prelims And GS-II - International Relations; Health  In news USA will support an initiative at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to waive Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) protection for COVID-19 vaccines. Important value additions The Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS)  It is an international legal agreement between all the member nations of the World Trade Organization (WTO). It establishes minimum standards for the regulation by national governments of different forms of intellectual property (IP) as applied to nationals of other WTO member nations. TRIPS was negotiated at the end of the Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) between 1989 and 1990 and is administered by the WTO. Unique Disability ID (UDID) Part of: GS Prelims and GS - II - Governance; Policies and interventions  In news The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Government of India has made it mandatory for all States/UTs to grant certificate of disability through online mode only using UDID portal from 1st June Key takeaways  The Central Government notified the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules, 2017 under RPwD Act, 2016 Rule 18(5) mandates the Central Government to appoint a date making it mandatory for the State/UT authorities to issue certificate of disability through online mode. The UDID project has been under implementation since 2016. It will ensure complete digitization of certification of disability from 01.06.2021, besides providing a viable mechanism for cross-checking genuineness of the certificate to achieve pan-India validity, and simplifying the process for the benefit of Divyangjan. Place in news: Dahla Dam Part of: GS Prelims GS – I - Geography & GS-II - International Relations  In news The Taliban has captured Afghanistan’s second-biggest dam after months of fierce fighting in its former bastion of Kandahar. Key takeaways  It provides irrigation to farmers via a network of canals as well as drinking water for the provincial capital  It is now under Taliban control. The dam’s capture comes after clashes erupted in neighbouring Helmand province just days after the U.S. military formally began withdrawing its remaining troops from Afghanistan. Important value additions  Dahla Dam The Dahla Dam is also known as Arghandab Dam.  It is located in the Shah Wali Kot District of Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. Constructed in: 1952 It is built on the Arghandab River. (Mains Focus) INTERNATIONAL/ ECONOMY/ GOVERNANCE Topic: GS-2: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Intellectual property waiver for Covid-19 vaccines Context: The United States recently announced support for waiving intellectual property protection for Covid-19 vaccines, saying extraordinary circumstances call for extraordinary measures. All 164 WTO members must agree on the draft, and any one member can veto it. The European Union, which had earlier opposed the waiver, has now stated its intent to discuss the US-backed proposal. What are patents and IP rights? A patent represents a powerful intellectual property right, and is an exclusive monopoly granted by a government to an inventor for a limited, pre-specified time.  It provides an enforceable legal right to prevent others from copying the invention.  Patents can be either process patents or product patents. A product patent ensures that the rights to the final product is protected, and anyone other than the patent holder can be restrained from manufacturing it during a specified period, even if they were to use a different process. A process patent enables any person other than the patent holder to manufacture the patented product by modifying certain processes in the manufacturing exercise. India moved from product patenting to process patenting in the 1970s, which enabled India to become a significant producer of generic drugs at global scale, and allowed companies like Cipla to provide Africa with anti-HIV drugs in the 1990s.  But due to obligations arising out of the TRIPS Agreement, India had to amend the Patents Act in 2005, and switch to a product patents regime across the pharma, chemicals, and biotech sectors. What does the intellectual property waiver for Covid-19 vaccines mean? Increased Production: Most production is currently concentrated in high-income countries. The IP waiver might open up space for production of Covid vaccines with emergency use authorisations (EUA) on a larger scale in middle-income countries. production by middle-income countries has been happening through licensing or technology transfer agreements.  Countries including Canada, South Korea, and Bangladesh have shown interest in making Covid vaccines if they can get a patent waiver Role by India: The US support for an IP waiver stems from a proposal by India and South Africa in the WTO last year. That proposal had, however, called for a waiver on all Covid interventions, including testing diagnostics and novel therapeutics. What are the deterrents for the waiver? Undermine R&D Investment: Pharma companies including Pfizer and AstraZeneca have opposed the proposed waiver — saying eliminating IP protections would undermine the global response to the pandemic, including the ongoing R&D efforts to tackle new variants.  Doubts on Safety from new facilities: Pharma Companies also argued that waiving IPR & opening production facilities in developing countries could also undermine public confidence in vaccine safety and create a barrier to information sharing. Besides patents, what are the other roadblocks to scaling up production? Trade barriers: Countries like the US had blocked exports of critical raw materials used in the production of some Covid-19 vaccines using regulations like the American Defence Production Act. Bottlenecks in supply chains Scarcity of raw materials and ingredients in the supply chain Unwillingness of rich countries to share doses with poorer nations. Connecting the dots: Vaccine Nationalism INTERNATIONAL/ ECONOMY/ GOVERNANCE Topic: GS-3: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. 5G Trials in India Context: The Department of Telecommunications allowed private telcos Airtel, Reliance Jio and Vi and well as state-run telco MTNL to start trials for 5G technology as well as its applications in various sectors. The trials will last for 6 months for now. What is 5G?  5G is the fifth generation cellular technology that apart from increasing the downloading and uploading speeds (speed of 1 Gbps) over the mobile network, also reduces the latency i.e. the time taken by a network to respond.  It also increases energy efficiency and offers more stable network connections.  5G is also designed to deliver signals more reliably than earlier cellular networks   5G will have a wider area in the frequency spectrum (range of frequencies) that will ensure no network congestion.  In addition, it will also ensure connectivity to a full circle i.e. everything is connected to every other thing.  5G will help facilitate the ecosystem for the Internet of Things (IoT) and to incorporate Artificial Intelligence (AI) in our daily lives and   To get the benefits of 5G, users will have to buy new phones, while carriers will need to install new transmission equipment to offer the faster service.    5G mainly works in 3 bands, namely low, mid and high-frequency spectrum — all of which have their uses and limitations. While the low band spectrum has shown great promise in terms of coverage but the maximum speed is limited to 100 Mbps. This means that while telcos can use and install it for commercial cellphone users who may not have specific demands for very high speed internet, the low band spectrum may not be optimal for specialised needs of the industry. The mid-band spectrum, on the other hand, offers higher speeds compared to the low band, but has limitations in terms of coverage area and penetration of signals. Telcos and companies, which have taken the lead on 5G, have indicated that this band may be used by industries and specialised factory units for building captive networks that can be moulded into the needs of that particular industry. The high-band spectrum offers the highest speed of all the three bands, but has extremely limited coverage and signal penetration strength. Internet speeds in the high-band spectrum of 5G has been tested to be as high as 20 Gbps (giga bits per second), while, in most cases, the maximum internet data speed in 4G has been recorded at 1 Gbps. Why are the trials for 5G technology important for telcos? Cut-throat market: The telecom market in India is left with only three private telcos so in order to increase their average revenue per user, it is imperative for telcos to start offering the new 5G technology as soon as possible. Standing Committee’s Warning to government: A standing committee of Lok Sabha on Information Technology had submitted its report on 5G and said that India will miss the 5G bus if government doesn’t take quick steps. What will 5G trials in India entail for now? In the initial phase, these trials will be for 6 months, including a 2 month period for procurement and setting up of the equipment.  In these 6 months, telcos will be required to test their set up in urban areas, semi-urban areas as well as rural areas. During this period, the telcos will be provided with experimental spectrum in various bands, such as the mid-band of 3.2 GHz to 3.67 GHz, the millimeter wave band of 24.25 GHz to 28.5 GHz, and others. Connecting the dots: Adjusted Gross Revenue Crisis in Telecom Sector (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note: Correct answers of today’s questions will be provided in next day’s DNA section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers. Comments Up-voted by IASbaba are also the “correct answers”. Q.1 Consider the following statements regarding TRIPS: It is an international legal agreement between all the member nations of the World Trade Organization (WTO). TRIPS was negotiated at the end of the Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) Which of the above is/are correct?  1 only  2 only  Both 1 and 2  Neither 1 nor 2  Q.2 Where is Dahla Dam located? Pakistan Sri Lanka India Afghanistan  ANSWERS FOR 6th May 2021 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 D 2 C 3 B Must Read On MSME Sector: Hindustan Times On QUAD: Times of India About how diaspora pushed US to help in India’s COVID efforts: The Indian Express

Motivational Articles

[MI-STORIES]MOTIVATIONAL AND INSPIRATIONAL STORIES - The Ultimate Gift !

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 - The Ultimate Gift ! There was once a little girl who desperately needed an emergency blood transfusion to save her life.  Her only chance of surviving would be to get a transfusion from her younger brother, who had miraculously overcome the same disease she had, and therefore had antibodies in his blood that were needed to fight the illness. The doctor explained to the little boy that it would save his sister’s life if he were to give her his blood. The boy hesitated for a moment before agreeing to give his blood if it would help his sister. At the age of 5, this was scary, but he would do anything to save his big sister’s life. As the blood transfusion was happening, he lay next to his sister in the hospital and was overcome with happiness as he saw the color coming back to her cheeks. Then he looked up at the doctor and quietly asked, “When will I start to die?” The boy had assumed that he was giving his life in order to save hers. The little boy’s parents were astonished over the misunderstanding that led the boy to think they were choosing his sister over him–and even more astonished that he had agreed to do so. The doctor replied, explaining that he was not going to die, he was just going to allow his sister to live a long, healthy life alongside him. The Moral: This is an example of extreme courage and self-sacrificing love from a young boy that we can all learn from. The love and care that he showed for his sister relays an inspiring message about selflessness. While we may not be faced with such a life or death decision, being selfless in general can help us connect with others, which is rewarding and fulfilling. Selflessness encourages you to act from your heart instead of your ego, and can help fill your life with joy.  

TLP Mains Answer Writing

IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1 – ENGLISH & हिंदी): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – General Studies Paper 2 Questions [6th MAY,2021] – Day 100

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE Hello Friends, Welcome to IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1- ENGLISH & हिंदी): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – General Studies 2 Questions [6th MAY, 2020] – Day 100 We will make sure, in the next 100 days not a single day is wasted and your mains preparation is solidified. All your energies are channelized in the right direction. Trust us! This will make a huge difference in your results this time, provided that you follow this plan sincerely every day without fail. Gear up and Make the Best Use of this initiative. We are giving 5 Mains Questions on a daily basis so that every student can actively participate and keep your preparation focused. Do remember that, “the difference between Ordinary and EXTRA-Ordinary is PRACTICE!!” To Know More about the Initiative -> CLICK HERE SCHEDULE/DETAILED PLAN – > CLICK HERE Note: Click on Each Question (Link), it will open in a new tab and then Answer respective questions! 1. How do travel bans imposed by different countries in the light of COVID situation affect India’s interests? Examine. विभिन्न देशों द्वारा COVID स्थिति के आलोक में लगाए गए यात्रा प्रतिबंध भारत के हितों को कैसे प्रभावित करते हैं?  जांच करें। 2. India has a glorious track record in helping the diaspora in distress. Do you agree? Substantiate with the help of suitable examples.   भारत ने संकट में प्रवासी लोगों की मदद करने में एक शानदार ट्रैक रिकॉर्ड बनाया है। क्या आप सहमत हैं? उपयुक्त उदाहरणों की सहायता से प्रतिस्थापित करें। 3. What is the mandate of the World Health Organisation (WHO)? Assess the  role played by WHO during the global COVID pandemic. विश्व स्वास्थ्य संगठन (WHO) का जनादेश क्या है? वैश्विक COVID महामारी के दौरान WHO द्वारा निभाई गई भूमिका का आकलन करें। 4. Where does India stand in its struggle to find a permanent place in the UNSC? What will be the benefits of a permanent UNSC membership? Discuss. UNSC में एक स्थायी स्थान खोजने के लिए भारत अपने संघर्ष में कहाँ खड़ा है? स्थायी UNSC सदस्यता के क्या लाभ होंगे? चर्चा करें। 5. What are your views on the issue of cancelling patents for COVID vaccines? Will it set a wrong precedent? Critically comment. COVID टीकों के पेटेंट को रद्द करने के मुद्दे पर आपके क्या विचार हैं? क्या यह एक गलत मिसाल कायम करेगा? समालोचनात्मक टिप्पणी करें। P.S: The review from IASbaba will happen from the time the question is posted till 10 pm everyday. We would also encourage peer reviews. So friends get actively involved and start reviewing each others answers. This will keep the entire community motivated. All the Best :)

IASbaba Prelims 60 Day Plan

IASbaba’s 60 Day Plan - IAS Prelims Test Series 2021 - SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, CURRENT AFFAIRS & CSAT [Day 41]

For Previous (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE Hello Friends,  ARCHIVES OF 60 DAYS NOTE: IASbaba's 60 DAY questions will be posted around 10 AM. The solution will be released around 5 PM Daily.  Let us pledge to make it a big game-changer (better than last year) in the next 60 days!  Note- Download the OMR Sheet and attempt the questions exactly like UPSC Prelims. After you are done, please post your OMR in the comment section. Once the solution key is released (around 5 PM), cross-check the answers and, comment the marks (you scored) in the same comment thread. This will keep you accountable, responsible and sincere in days to come.  You can also take part in the discussion with peers.   S&T [DAY 41] - Click Here NOTE- Follow this for Comments Mention- Time Taken after solving the Test After the release of Solution, Edit your Comment to Mention-  Correct/Incorrect and Score 2 Marks for Correct/0.66 minus for Incorrect. What IMPACT can the ‘60 Day’ have on the final results? We will explain by taking a small example. Imagine you are sitting in the examination hall, appearing in Prelims Paper I. You have attempted 70 questions already but still unsure about a few. Then you stumble upon a question that was asked in 60 Day (and believe us, it has happened to hundreds of students countless times). You choose the right answer and submit your paper hoping for the best! Eventually, you go on to clear Mains as well as Personality Test and secure a good rank as well. When the cut off gets announced by UPSC, you realize that you have scored just one mark more than the cut off! Yes, that one mark can change your life (and it has done so to many of our students in the past). Now, imagine the kind of impact 60 to 80 marks can have! Isn’t that so fascinating to imagine?   One’s level of preparedness is always different for different subjects. Even within a subject, one’s comfort level may vary with topics. For example, one might be more comfortable in solving questions of Polity than Economics and within Polity also, one might be at ease with questions on fundamental rights than Parliament. The level of comfort and ease that one has with a subject/ topic gets manifested in the examination. However, there is no conscious effort by aspirants to micro analyze these aspects. Now, coming to the second aspect i.e. the mistakes that one commits in answering MCQs, it can be said that there are mainly four reasons behind incorrect responses in the OMR sheet. They are: Lack of information Lack of analytical ability Silly mistakes Excessive risk-taking Let’s analyze them one by one: Lack of information: You simply don’t know the information. You are clueless and that’s why you don’t attempt the question. For example, you may have never come across a regime called the ‘Wassenaar Agreement’ during your preparation and you can’t do much about it. The lack of information is pardonable and rectifiable. You can read more and gather more information. That is within your reach. Lack of analytical ability: You know the concept but the question is a twisted one and you are not able to apply the concept. For example, in a question asking you to identify the climate type of a region based on certain given parameters like precipitation, temperature, and air density, you might find it difficult to mark the correct option even if you are aware of all the options given in the question! That is clearly a lack of application and you can overcome it by developing a habit of framing questions in your mind while you study any topic. Silly mistakes: This habit is unpardonable. You know the concept, you become happy, you misread the question, you mark the incorrect answer and you are out of the race! Such mistakes reveal your hurriedness while answering the question. A simple mistake of reading ‘chose the incorrect option’ as ‘chose the correct option’ can destroy your chances. It means that you need to have patience and focus while attempting the paper. Excessive risk-taking: You are confused between the options and just in order to increase your attempts, you make wild guesses and try your luck only to repent eventually. Risk-taking is an art and one must be very careful while doing the guesswork in confusing questions. If you are not lucky enough, it can spoil your chances. You will realize that these problems will have different meanings for different people. For example, one might find a lack of information as the main culprit in answering wrong the questions on Culture while in Polity, lack of analytical ability is usually the culprit. The point here is that you must analyse your preparation on these yardsticks by applying them on different subjects/ topics. If one is having a headache, he/ she can’t have the same medicine for fever. Isn’t it. This is where our revamped '60 Day’ comes into the picture. It will give you an opportunity to micro analyze your preparation and perform better in the examination. Finally, it is up to you to take advantage of this framework. We are sure of only one thing- if you follow this program, assess yourself on the basis of the given framework and keep improving your weaker areas, success will be yours. We are providing you with the right platform, the right guidance, and the right competition. Do you have the right motivation to make full use of this initiative? We think you have. Come, be a part of this initiative and take the first step towards SUCCESS! Importance of self - tracking: We could have provided all of you with login id and passwords to monitor your daily performance in the 60-day program. Instead, a simple and most beautiful way which Disqus provides is profile based commenting! Yes, we have seen the most successful candidates who have taken the maximum benefit from this program monitoring themselves by commenting on their answers in the box given (Disqus comment). And reviewing their performance themselves once in 10 days on the progress meter.  DOWNLOAD THE 60 DAYS PLAN 2021 All the Best! IASbaba    

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

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

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) New framework for implementation of the SVAMITVA Scheme Part of: GS Prelims And GS-II - Policies and interventions  In news Union Minister for Panchayati Raj released the new framework for implementation of the SVAMITVA Scheme to mark the nationwide roll-out of the SVAMITVA Scheme. It provides a detailed roadmap and guidelines for the various States in terms of the Scheme objectives, coverage, various components involved, year-wise funding pattern, survey approach and methodology, stakeholders involved and their roles and responsibility, monitoring and evaluation, and deliverables. Important value additions  SVAMITVA It is a Central Sector Scheme.  Ministry: Ministry of Panchayati Raj  It was nationally launched by the Prime Minister on the occasion of National Panchayati Raj Day on 24th April 2021 after successful completion of the pilot phase of the Scheme in 9 States. Aim: To provide property rights to the residents of rural inhabited areas in India by using Drone survey and CORS Networks which provides mapping accuracy of 5 cms. In the States, the Revenue Department/Land Records Department will be the Nodal Department and shall carry out the scheme with the support of State Panchayati Raj Departments. Asiatic lions test positive for SARS-CoV2 virus in Hyderabad zoo Part of: GS Prelims and GS - III - Biodiversity; Sci & tech; Conservation  In news Based on reports by CCMB-LaCONES, it has now been confirmed that eight Asiatic lions housed in Nehru Zoological Park (NZP), Hyderabad have tested positive for SARS-CoV2 virus. Important value additions LaCONES or Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species, is a Council of Scientific and Industrial Research lab located in Hyderabad. It is a part of CCMB (centre for cellular and molecular biology). It was conceptualised by Lalji Singh. It is India's only research facility engaged in conservation and preservation of wildlife and its resources.  This lab strives to promote excellence in conservation biotechnology and serve for conservation of endangered wildlife in India. It was established in 1998 with the help of Central Zoo Authority of India, CSIR and the government of Andhra Pradesh. It was dedicated to the nation in 2007 by then President of India APJ Abdul Kalam. Asiatic Lion It is a Panthera leo population in India. Its current range is restricted to the Gir National Park and environs in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is one of five pantherine cats inhabiting India. Others are: Bengal tiger Indian leopard  Snow leopard  Clouded leopard It is also known as the “Indian lion” and the “Persian lion”.  Status:  Listed in Schedule I of Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 Appendix I of CITES Endangered on IUCN Red List. It is slightly smaller than African lions. The most striking morphological character is a longitudinal fold of skin running along the belly of Asiatic Lions. VINCOV-19 Part of: GS Prelims and GS – III - Sci & tech; Biotechnology  In news The CSIR- Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology has developed, possibly the first specific drug for COVID-19 treatment, which contain therapeutic antibodies. Key takeaways  The Drug Controller General of India (DGCI) has given its approval for human trials, Phase-I and Phase-II for the VINCOV-19 and expected to be tried in Delhi and Rajasthan soon. The VINCOV-19 is a collection of antibodies from Horses after they got injected with inactivated Corona virus. The approval for its emergency use is expected once the results of phase I and II are declared. It works best when given during early stage of infection. "Cooperation for a Resilient Future” seminar - Part of ADB’s annual meeting  Part of: GS Prelims and GS - II – International relations In news Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs and Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Governor for India Nirmala Sitharaman participated in the Governor’s Seminar on “Cooperation for a Resilient Future”, held as part of ADB’s annual meeting 2021. Important value additions  Asian Development Bank (ADB) It was conceived in the early 1960s when a resolution was passed at the first Ministerial Conference on Asian Economic Cooperation held by the United Nations Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East in 1963. The institution was opened in 1966 at Manila, Philippines with 31 initial members. Headquarters: Manila, Philippines Members: It has 67 members—of which 48 are from within Asia and the Pacific and 19 outside.  India is one of the founding members. Objective: A financial institution that would be Asian in character and foster economic growth and cooperation in one of the poorest regions in the world. ADB provides loans, technical assistance and grants. Working: The ADB was modelled closely on the World Bank, and has a similar weighted voting system where votes are distributed in proportion with members' capital subscriptions. As of 31 December 2016, Japan and USA hold the largest proportion of shares (15.607%), China holds 6.444%, India holds 6.331%, and Australia holds 5.786% ADB is an official United Nations Observer. (Mains Focus) GOVERNANCE Topic: GS-2: Issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure  GS-2: Parliament and State legislatures—structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these Supreme Court’s Maratha quota verdict Context: A five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court has struck down the Maharashtra law granting reservation to the Maratha community in admissions and government jobs in the state. Background of the issue 2018 Maharashtra law gave 16% reservation to the Maratha community in jobs and admissions by terming them socially and educationally backward class in the state.  This law got past the scrutiny of the Bombay High Court in June 2019 but the quantum of reservation stood reduced to 12% in admissions and 13% in jobs. With the introduction of this Act, the reservation benefits in the state exceeded 50 per cent. The court had framed six questions of law on the issue; it unanimously agreed on three of those issues, while the verdict was split 3:2 on the other three. Issue 1: On revisiting the Indra Sawhney ruling The nine judge SC bench when looking into Constitutional validity of OBC reservations in Indra Sawhney Case had laid down two important precedents  First, the criteria for a group to qualify for reservation is “social and educational backwardness”.  Second, reservations should not exceed 50% so as to ensure “efficiency” in administration. However, this limit can be breached in “exceptional circumstances.” State Government Argument: Indra Sawhney verdict must be referred to a 11-judge Bench for reconsideration since it laid down an arbitrary ceiling which the Constitution does not envisage.  SC Verdict: The court held that there is no need to revisit the case. The court said that the 50% ceiling, although an arbitrary determination by the court in 1992, is now constitutionally recognised. Exceeding the ceiling limit above 50% without exceptional circumstances violates Article 14. Issues 2&3: On whether the Maratha law can be saved under the exception Since the 50% ceiling is held valid, the court looked into whether the Maratha quota law falls under the exceptional circumstances contemplated in Indra Sawhney’s case. The court also looked into the Maharashtra State Backward Commission report that the Maharashtra government had relied on while granting reservations. State Government Argument: Since the population of backward class is 85% in Maharashtra State and reservation limit is only 50%, an increase in reservation limit would qualify as an extraordinary circumstance. SC Verdict: All five judges disagreed with the above argument. The bench also found that the M.G. Gaikwad Commission too did not articulate any exceptional circumstances to justify the excess quota. SC held that Marathas are dominant forward class and are in the main stream of National life. The above situation is not an extra-ordinary. Issues 4, 5 & 6: On state’s power to identify SEBCs, and 102nd Amendment 102nd Constitutional Act, 2018 gives constitutional status to the National Backward Classes Commission.  The Amendment also gives the President powers to notify backward classes.  State government argument: It raised questions on the interpretation of the Amendment and argued that the Power of President to notify BC curtails their powers of States (violation of spirit of Federalism) SC Verdict: The Bench unanimously upheld the constitutional validity of the 102nd Amendment but differed on the question whether it affected the power of states to identify socially and economically backward classes (SEBCs). Majority Verdict with regard to Power of President & States Final Say with President: Three judges on the bench held the view that final say with regard to inclusion or exclusion (or modification of lists) of SEBCs is firstly with the President, and thereafter, in case of modification or exclusion from the lists initially published, with the Parliament”. Space for States: They also said that while the identification of SEBCs will be done centrally, state governments retain power to determine the extent of reservation and make specific policy in the spirit of “cooperative federalism”. Fresh SEBC List: The majority opinion by Justice Bhat essentially says that now the National Backward Classes Commission must publish a fresh list of SEBCs, both for states and the central list. Dissenting View: Justice Bhushan and Justice Nazeer, however, preferred a textual reading of the Amendment and said it does not take away the state’s powers to identify SEBCs. Critical Analysis of the above Judgement Crossing 50% limit can perpetuate Caste: SC observed that “To change the 50% limit is to have a society which is not founded on equality but based on caste rule". Equality Upheld: The SC held that to dilute the 50% benchmark further, would be to effectively destroy the guarantee of equality, especially the right not to be discriminated against on the grounds of caste (under Articles 15 and 16). Slippery Slope: SC also observed that if the reservation goes above 50% limit it will be slippery slope and the political pressure will make it difficult to reduce the same. Similar Laws will be scrutinised: The ruling is likely to have an impact on several laws passed by various state assemblies reserving in excess of the 50% ceiling under the category of “extraordinary circumstances”.  Impact on EWS reservation: The ruling may also have an impact on the reservations for economically weaker sections (EWS), introduced by the Central government through 103rd Constitutional Amendment Act, in excess of the 50% ceiling. Read Related Articles Andhra Pradesh Locals First Policy Madhya Pradesh domicile based quota Reservation is not a fundamental right (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note: Correct answers of today’s questions will be provided in next day’s DNA section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers. Comments Up-voted by IASbaba are also the “correct answers”. Q.1 SVAMITVA Scheme comes under which of the following Ministry?  Ministry of Environment  Ministry of Finance  Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs  Ministry of Panchayati Raj  Q.2 Consider the following statements regarding Asiatic lions: It is Listed in Schedule I of Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 It is categorised as Endangered on IUCN Red List. Which of the above is/are correct?  1 only  2 only  Both 1 and 2  Neither 1 nor 2  Q.3 Consider the following statements regarding Asian Development Bank (ADB) Its headquarters is in Shanghai. India is one of its founding members. Which of the above is/are correct?  1 only  2 only  Both 1 and 2  Neither 1 nor 2  ANSWERS FOR 5th May 2021 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 C 2 A Must Read On caution to be exercised regarding CT Scan for COVID: The Hindu On sudden death of IPL 2021: The Hindu About critical analysis of India’s Covid vaccination claim: The Indian Express

IASbaba's Courses

[COURSE] KANNADA LITERATURE Optional - Foundation Course 2022 by Kiran Kumar B Sir

Dear Aspirants, Hope you’re all are in good health and doing well. T.E Lawrence once said “All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds, wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible.” The best way to make your dream true is to wake up. If you don’t build your dream, someone else will hire you to help them build theirs. Nobody can beat the person who never gives up. It’s time you start your journey of thousand miles with us taking a single step at a time. It’s time to construct your IAS dream. Preparing for UPSC Civil Service Examination is a strenuous task for every aspirant. The vastness of the syllabus, relentless competition, and the wrong choice of the optional subject adds many hurdles to reach the goal. It is imperative to pay attention to the choice of the optional subject for IAS mains. As Confucius correctly said Choose a job you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life, in the same way, choose an optional based on your interest, passion, and aptitude so that you need not mug up the concepts to produce the same in the answers. Fine-tune your UPSC preparation with IAS Baba’s Foundation Course of Kannada Literature starting from 5th July 2021. For More Details about the Kannada Literature Optional – Foundation Course – CLICK HERE For more enquiries please reach us at - kirankumarbtsg@gmail.com and 8310859495  

IASbaba Prelims 60 Day Plan

IASbaba’s 60 Day Plan - IAS Prelims Test Series 2021 - HISTORY, CURRENT AFFAIRS & CSAT [Day 40]

For Previous (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE Hello Friends,  ARCHIVES OF 60 DAYS NOTE: IASbaba's 60 DAY questions will be posted around 10 AM. The solution will be released around 5 PM Daily.  Let us pledge to make it a big game-changer (better than last year) in the next 60 days!  Note- Download the OMR Sheet and attempt the questions exactly like UPSC Prelims. After you are done, please post your OMR in the comment section. Once the solution key is released (around 5 PM), cross-check the answers and, comment the marks (you scored) in the same comment thread. This will keep you accountable, responsible and sincere in days to come.  You can also take part in the discussion with peers.   HISTORY [DAY 40] - Click Here NOTE- Follow this for Comments Mention- Time Taken after solving the Test After the release of Solution, Edit your Comment to Mention-  Correct/Incorrect and Score 2 Marks for Correct/0.66 minus for Incorrect. What IMPACT can the ‘60 Day’ have on the final results? We will explain by taking a small example. Imagine you are sitting in the examination hall, appearing in Prelims Paper I. You have attempted 70 questions already but still unsure about a few. Then you stumble upon a question that was asked in 60 Day (and believe us, it has happened to hundreds of students countless times). You choose the right answer and submit your paper hoping for the best! Eventually, you go on to clear Mains as well as Personality Test and secure a good rank as well. When the cut off gets announced by UPSC, you realize that you have scored just one mark more than the cut off! Yes, that one mark can change your life (and it has done so to many of our students in the past). Now, imagine the kind of impact 60 to 80 marks can have! Isn’t that so fascinating to imagine?   One’s level of preparedness is always different for different subjects. Even within a subject, one’s comfort level may vary with topics. For example, one might be more comfortable in solving questions of Polity than Economics and within Polity also, one might be at ease with questions on fundamental rights than Parliament. The level of comfort and ease that one has with a subject/ topic gets manifested in the examination. However, there is no conscious effort by aspirants to micro analyze these aspects. Now, coming to the second aspect i.e. the mistakes that one commits in answering MCQs, it can be said that there are mainly four reasons behind incorrect responses in the OMR sheet. They are: Lack of information Lack of analytical ability Silly mistakes Excessive risk-taking Let’s analyze them one by one: Lack of information: You simply don’t know the information. You are clueless and that’s why you don’t attempt the question. For example, you may have never come across a regime called the ‘Wassenaar Agreement’ during your preparation and you can’t do much about it. The lack of information is pardonable and rectifiable. You can read more and gather more information. That is within your reach. Lack of analytical ability: You know the concept but the question is a twisted one and you are not able to apply the concept. For example, in a question asking you to identify the climate type of a region based on certain given parameters like precipitation, temperature, and air density, you might find it difficult to mark the correct option even if you are aware of all the options given in the question! That is clearly a lack of application and you can overcome it by developing a habit of framing questions in your mind while you study any topic. Silly mistakes: This habit is unpardonable. You know the concept, you become happy, you misread the question, you mark the incorrect answer and you are out of the race! Such mistakes reveal your hurriedness while answering the question. A simple mistake of reading ‘chose the incorrect option’ as ‘chose the correct option’ can destroy your chances. It means that you need to have patience and focus while attempting the paper. Excessive risk-taking: You are confused between the options and just in order to increase your attempts, you make wild guesses and try your luck only to repent eventually. Risk-taking is an art and one must be very careful while doing the guesswork in confusing questions. If you are not lucky enough, it can spoil your chances. You will realize that these problems will have different meanings for different people. For example, one might find a lack of information as the main culprit in answering wrong the questions on Culture while in Polity, lack of analytical ability is usually the culprit. The point here is that you must analyse your preparation on these yardsticks by applying them on different subjects/ topics. If one is having a headache, he/ she can’t have the same medicine for fever. Isn’t it. This is where our revamped '60 Day’ comes into the picture. It will give you an opportunity to micro analyze your preparation and perform better in the examination. Finally, it is up to you to take advantage of this framework. We are sure of only one thing- if you follow this program, assess yourself on the basis of the given framework and keep improving your weaker areas, success will be yours. We are providing you with the right platform, the right guidance, and the right competition. Do you have the right motivation to make full use of this initiative? We think you have. Come, be a part of this initiative and take the first step towards SUCCESS! Importance of self - tracking: We could have provided all of you with login id and passwords to monitor your daily performance in the 60-day program. Instead, a simple and most beautiful way which Disqus provides is profile based commenting! Yes, we have seen the most successful candidates who have taken the maximum benefit from this program monitoring themselves by commenting on their answers in the box given (Disqus comment). And reviewing their performance themselves once in 10 days on the progress meter.  DOWNLOAD THE 60 DAYS PLAN 2021   All the Best! IASbaba    

TLP Mains Answer Writing

SYNOPSIS [30th April,2021] Day 95: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE   SYNOPSIS [30th April,2021] Day 95: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)   1. Is it the duty of the state to provide free vaccination to the population? Comment in the light of the ongoing debate over COVID vaccines. Approach Candidates are expected to write about vaccination, analyse whether state must provide free vaccinations. Also comment on ongoing debate over COVID vaccine. Introduction The Prime Minister of India said that India is entering a decisive phase of vaccination in the fight against COVID-19, with the approval of two made-in-India COVID-19 vaccines. The PM has also said that two vaccines are more cost-effective than any other in the world and that India’s vaccine production & delivery capacity will be used to help all humanity in fighting this crisis. Body Duty of state to provide free vaccination – In the United States, the United Kingdom and Europe, vaccines are likely to be entirely free and administered publicly. However, given the tight fiscal situation, the Indian government faces the dilemma of whether to finance vaccinations publicly or privately. The government provided free vaccines to most prioritised beneficiaries including 1 crore healthcare and 2 crore frontline workers, in the first phase of covid-19 vaccination. Vaccinating everyone above 18 in the phase III of the inoculation drive will cost only about 0.36 per cent of the GDP, ratings agency India Ratings and Research said. In a move to boost the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination programme in the country, Finance Minister announced that Rs 35,000 crore (4.7 billion USD) will be provided towards the vaccines. However, it is unclear whether the vaccines will be provided free of cost to all citizens. The vaccine is being offered for free in order to encourage the community to take the vaccine and remove any financial impediment. Given the vaccine’s huge impact on public health, it is reasonable to expect that the government makes it available free for all. While a free vaccine sounds appealing and should indeed be a government’s prerogative in a pandemic, there are other responsibilities that also need to be taken care of India is staring at a zero or even negative growth rate through 2020. Lockdowns and slew of social distancing measures have also accelerated job losses, with CMIE reporting a loss of over 6 million jobs. Another fiscal stimulus is warranted and even recommended by IMF, with a focus on support for vulnerable groups, and support for businesses. While the option of doling out a free vaccine remains with the government, this promise cannot be made in a silo. Enough doses of any vaccine will not be immediately available and vaccination would require prioritisation of recipients.  Last mile delivery of vaccines has to be assured and will require investment. Post-market monitoring of vaccine performance has to be designed to quickly respond to any adverse events.  Current scenario – The Centre during the first three phases procured the entire quantity of vaccines from the manufacturers Covishield and Covaxin and distributed it to states. During the initial three phases, healthcare workers, frontline workers, and those above the age of 45 were vaccinated. Now India is all set to begin its third phase of vaccination drive from May 1, including everyone aged 18 and older. The fourth phase, however, will incorporate several changes in vaccine policy. The many state government has decided to give Covid-19 vaccine free of cost to all those aged 18 and above in government centres.  Conclusion Vaccine manufacturers have to be incentivised to ramp up vaccine supply to stay apace with vaccine demand. A free vaccine promise by itself is futile, unless accompanied by a transparent and evidence-based vaccine deployment plan. Therefore, instead of playing on people’s fears, we need a transparent vaccination strategy, continued insistence on social distancing measures and monetary support for those vulnerable. 2. Why do state led services falter in quality and efficiency? Critically analyse. Approach  Candidate can give reasons why the state led service delivery is poor in quality and efficiency. In the second half measures to tackle the same can be given with suitable examples. Introduction Governing bodies often refuse to listen the voice of those they govern and take refusing to take accountability for their actions leads to bad governance. By ignoring the voice of those being governed, their opinions are no longer heard or taking into consideration by the governing body. This top down approach is reflected in poor service delivery and bad governance. Body Why state led services are bad in quality and efficiency? Democratic governments focus on accountability as a method to ensure the public understands what´s happening and provides them a way to proceed when things go wrong. Weak accountability in turn causes a distrust between the two parties and government is no longer accountable to people to whom they are catering. This distrust and uncertainty creates an unfavourable relationship between the parties. As there is no incentive for the state to provide better services in absence of accountability quality of services is compromised. Bad Governance, is often considered to come hand in hand with corruption. Corruption occurs in many sectors ranging from political to economic environments. The existence of corruption within a governing body causes bad governance as the officials places their personal gains over others. Corruption creates a monopoly of few over others. As a result welfare schemes and services and the benefits coming out of it are exploited by few. In India security of tenure to government employees give them no incentive to perform better and get rewarded. The hierarchy of bureaucracy and the rigid steel frame put civil servants in a category where they are usually detached from ground reality. As opposed to private sector where constant feedback mechanism, continuous improvement on better service delivery, large pool of talented working professionals continuously work for improving quality and efficiency of service delivery over other players in the market. For state, there is no competitor and hence no motivation to improve. What can be done? For better service delivery, Accountability, transparency, responsiveness, effectiveness and efficiency, equitability, participation, consensus-oriented, inclusiveness and rule of law should be stressed on. Right to Information Act, 2005 marked a significant shift in Indian democracy. Besides providing legal access to the information to citizens it also improved the responsiveness of the government to community needs. Citizen's Charter is a document which represents a systematic effort to focus on the commitment of the Organisation towards its Citizens in respects of Standard of Services, Information, Choice and Consultation, Non-discrimination and Accessibility, Grievance Redress, Courtesy and Value for Money. To ensure this Sevottam model was proposed by the 2nd ARC (Administrative Reforms Commission) which provides a quality management framework applicable to public service delivery organisations and in all its departments. To make all government services accessible to the common man in his locality, through common service delivery outlets and ensure efficiency, transparency and reliability of such services at affordable costs, the National e-Governance Plan (NeGP) has been initiated by the Government of India. The public service delivery reforms should be complemented by Police & legal reforms, financial inclusion, improvement in social infrastructure, etc. Conclusion State is a biggest machinery to bring development and to reduce the inequality. So when government fails to deliver on the delivery of services, it is the poor who suffers the most. Continuous reforms and constant update in the model of service delivery with transparency and accountability will ensure the better and efficient service delivery. 3. Transparency is the key to restore people’s faith in the appropriate utilization of public funds. Substantiate. Approach Since the question is asking you to substantiate, it requires you to substantiate already proven point and not debating between the various points.  Introduction  Transparency is an attribute of corporate culture that's revealed through the behaviours of an organization's leaders, employees, and stakeholders. It's how values are embodied and demonstrated on a day-to-day basis. It shows in the degree of openness of meetings, events, and interactions within the organization.  Body  TRANSPARENCY IS THE KEY TO RESTORE PEOPLE’S FAITH IN THE APPROPRIATE UTILIZATION OF PUBLIC FUNDS – Transparency is one of the four principles underpinning trust in public finances. Effective public financial management requires that decision-makers, citizens and other stakeholders, are able to ‘follow the money’ to see how taxes were raised, why decisions to spend it were made, how the money was actually spent and what was bought. Effective public financial management demands that people and organisations are held accountable for their action. True accountability demands transparency, especially with respect to how the resources are raised, managed and used or how those responsible for governance evaluate performance and, if necessary, sanction individuals who fall short of standards. For the public to believe that public officials will do the right thing, a range of controls to promote integrity and ethical behaviour and to tackle fraud and corruption which require transparency are required. Strong public financial management requires transparency in how resources are raised, managed and used, together with accountability to install confidence and promote continuous improvement. Conclusion With the public sector making up nearly half of the global economy, effective public financial management is a critical factor in the economic success of each and every country. Building trust about public money is about putting in place comprehensive mechanisms to demonstrate to citizens that it is being spent for the public good. Transparency is the need of the hour to ensure government has the capability to undertake the financial management of large public bodies in a complex stakeholder environment. 4. How does corruption aggravate the challenge of poverty? Illustrate. Approach Question is straight forward in its approach students are expected to write how corruption aggravates the challenge of poverty, also it is important to explain points using appropriate examples. Introduction Corruption in the public sector -- the misuse of public office for private gain -- is often viewed as exacerbating conditions of poverty (low income, poor health and education status, vulnerability to shocks and other characteristics) in countries already struggling with the strains of economic growth and democratic transition. Alternatively, countries experiencing chronic poverty are seen as natural breeding grounds for systemic corruption due to social and income inequalities and perverse economic incentives. Body How corruption aggravates poverty – The Economic Model postulates that corruption affects poverty by first impacting economic growth factors, which, in turn, impact poverty levels. Economic theory and empirical evidence both demonstrate that there is a direct causal link between corruption and economic growth. Corruption impedes economic growth by discouraging foreign and domestic investment, taxing and dampening entrepreneurship, lowering the quality of public infrastructure, decreasing tax revenues, diverting public talent into rent-seeking, and distorting the composition of public expenditure. In addition to limiting economic growth, there is evidence that corruption also exacerbates income inequality; regression analysis has shown a positive correlation between corruption and income inequality. Explanations for this link are that corruption distorts the economy and the legal and policy frameworks allowing some to benefit more than others; there is unfair distribution of government resources and services; corruption reduces the progressivity of the tax system; corruption increases the inequality of factor ownership; and lower income households (and businesses) pay a higher proportion of their income in bribes than do middle or Upper-income households. The Governance Model asserts that corruption affects poverty by influencing governance factors, which, in turn, impact poverty levels. First, corruption reduces governance capacity, that is, it weakens political institutions and citizen participation and leads to lower quality government services and infrastructure. The poor suffer disproportionately from reduced public services. When health and basic education expenditures are given lower priority, for example, in favour of capital intensive programs that offer more opportunities for high-level rent taking, lower income groups lose services on which they depend. Corruption is consistently correlated with higher school dropout rates and high levels of infant mortality. Secondly, impaired governance increases poverty by restricting economic growth and, coming full circle, by its inability to control corruption. Thirdly, corruption that reduces governance capacity also may inflict critical collateral damage: reduced public trust in government institutions. As trust -- an important element of social capital -- declines, research has shown that vulnerability of the poor increases as their economic productivity is affected. When people perceive that the social system is untrustworthy and inequitable, their incentive to engage in productive economic activities declines. In 1985, on a visit to drought-affected Kalahandi district in Odisha, Rajiv Gandhi had said that of every rupee spent by the government, only 15 paise reached the intended beneficiary. In its 157-page judgement, the apex court said Aadhaar can take care of malaise of duplicate beneficiaries reaping the fruits of welfare schemes meant for the genuine deprived class. Conclusion “In human society to much wealth or too much poverty is a great impediment to the higher development of the soul. It is from the middle classes that the great ones of the world come. Here the forces very equality adjusted and balanced.” – Vivekanda Popular belief suggests that corruption and poverty are closely related to developing country. Corruption has been a constant obstacle for countries trying to bring out the political, economic and social changes desired for their development. Across different country contexts, corruption has been a cause and consequence of poverty. 5. How does participation of the private sector lead to better outcomes in public projects? Discuss. Approach A simple and straightforward question where in the candidate needs to discuss how participation of the private sector leads to better outcomes in public projects, where proper and relevant substantiation needs to be provided. Introduction The private sector is a key stakeholder in both urban and economic development, being a major contributor to national income and the principal job creator and employer. The private sector provides around 90% of employment in the developing world, delivers critical goods and services and contributes to tax revenues and the efficient flow of capital. Body Private partnerships allow large-scale government projects, such as roads, bridges, or hospitals, to be completed with private funding. Economists note that when private sector technology and innovation combine with public sector incentives to complete work on time and within budget. Private sector leads to better outcomes in public projects, as is evident from the following points – Private participation in public projects is a natural extension of mixed economic systems. Governments are increasingly aware of their own inefficiencies, and many run into budgeting or financing problems when executing projects.  Partnerships between private companies and the government provide advantages to both parties. Private-sector technology and innovation, for example, can help provide better public services through improved operational efficiency.  The public sector, for its part, provides incentives for the private sector to deliver projects on time and within budget. In addition, creating economic diversification makes the country more competitive in facilitating its infrastructure base and boosting associated construction, equipment, support services, and other businesses.  Public-private partnerships in India have integrated public infrastructure with the superior financing and maintenance provided by private enterprises. The synergistic collaborations between the public sector and private firms and companies have led to the generation of resources and knowledge transfer. Joint ventures and partnerships between the leading companies and the government have been very successful in generating jobs as well as growth in key economic sectors. Innovation and excellence characterize the public-private partnerships that have emerged across the years in India. These ventures are ensuring the effective utilization of state assets in a manner that is productive as well as profitable. However, economists are mixed as to the net benefit of private participation in public projects on economic growth. Historically, public-private partnerships have been contractual or memorandum-driven agreements between public offices and private enterprises.  Some analysts contend that by diverting resources (money and labour) from market-driven ends to politically driven ends, Private participation harm growth.  Critics of public-private alliances say that public goods could be provided much more effectively by the private sector alone if it weren't for the crowding-out effect of public distortions in the capital markets. Further, there are risks for private enterprise as well, which include cost overruns, technical defects, and an inability to meet quality standards. Combining the professionalism of the corporate sector with the welfare objectives of the state has resulted in projects such as the Mumbai airport which are known for their world class facilities and advanced amenities. Conclusion India has one of the fastest growing populations in the world. Using the finances of the private firms to complete the Public ventures has led to conservation of national and governmental resources and have also contributed towards the growth and development of the Indian economy in multiple ways. TLP HOT Synopsis Day 95 PDF

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