May 6, 2021 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  

May 6, 2021 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    

May 5, 2021 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

May 5, 2021 TLP Mains Answer Writing

IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1 – ENGLISH & हिंदी): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – General Studies Paper 2 Questions [5th MAY,2021] – Day 99

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 [5th MAY, 2020] – Day 99 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. What has been the recent trend of Indo-Nepal relations? Discuss. What are the major irritants creating problems for the relationship? हाल ही में भारत-नेपाल संबंधों में क्या रुझान आया है? चर्चा करें। रिश्ते के लिए समस्याएं पैदा करने वाले प्रमुख मुद्दे क्या हैं? 2. In your opinion, what is the most suitable strategic response to China’s confrontationist policy towards India? Substantiate your views. आपकी राय में, भारत के प्रति चीन की टकराव की नीति के लिए सबसे उपयुक्त रणनीतिक प्रतिक्रिया क्या है? अपने विचारों की पुष्टि करें। 3. For India’s trade to flourish, strengthening ties ASEAN must become a priority. Comment. भारत के व्यापार को फलने-फूलने के लिए, आसियान के साथ सम्बन्ध को मजबूत करना एक प्राथमिकता होनी चाहिए। टिप्पणी करें। 4. How has the COVID pandemic affected global trade? Illustrate. What course corrections would be required in the post pandemic world? COVID महामारी ने वैश्विक व्यापार को कैसे प्रभावित किया है? चित्रण करें। महामारी के बाद की दुनिया में कौन से सुधार की आवश्यकता होगी? 5. What is vaccine passport? Explain its need and associated issues.  वैक्सीन पासपोर्ट क्या है? इसकी जरूरत और इससे जुड़े मुद्दों के बारे में बताएं। 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 :)

May 5, 2021 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 5th May 2021

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) India -UK Virtual Summit Part of: GS Prelims And GS-II - International Relations  In news Indian Prime Minister and the UK Prime Minister held a Virtual Summit. Key takeaways  ‘Roadmap 2030' To elevate bilateral ties to a ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’.  It will pave the way for a deeper and stronger engagement over the next ten years in the key areas of people to people contacts, trade and economy, defence and security, climate action and health. ‘Enhanced Trade Partnership’ (ETP)  It sets an ambitious target of more than doubling bilateral trade by 2030.  As part of the ETP, India and the UK agreed on a roadmap to negotiate a comprehensive and balanced FTA, including consideration of an Interim Trade Agreement for delivering early gains. India-UK ‘Global Innovation Partnership’  It aims to support the transfer of inclusive Indian innovations to select developing countries, starting with Africa A comprehensive partnership on migration and mobility  It will facilitate greater opportunities for the mobility of students and professionals between the two countries. Do you know? Both sides agreed to enhance cooperation on new and emerging technologies, including Digital and ICT products, and work on supply chain resilience. They also agreed to strengthen defence and security ties, including in the maritime, counter-terrorism and cyberspace domains. The UK is India's second largest partner in research and innovation collaborations.  5G Technology and Spectrum Trials Part of: GS Prelims and GS - III - Infrastructure  In news The Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Government of India approved permissions to Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) for conducting trials for use and applications of 5G technology. Key takeaways  The applicant TSPs include Bharti Airtel Ltd., Reliance JioInfocomm Ltd., Vodafone Idea Ltd. and MTNL. The duration of the trials, at present, is for a period of 6 months. Each TSP will have to conduct trials in rural, semi-urban settings and urban settings so that the benefit of 5G Technology proliferates across the country.  Objective: Testing 5G spectrum propagation characteristics especially in the Indian context; model tuning and evaluation of chosen equipment and vendors; testing of indigenous technology; testing of applications; and to test 5G phones and devices. 5G technology is expected to deliver improved user experience in terms of data download rates (expected to be 10 times that of 4G), up to three times greater spectrum efficiency, and ultra low latency to enable Industry 4.0. Do you know?  5Gi technology The TSPs are encouraged to conduct trials using 5Gi technology in addition to the already known 5G Technology. International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has also approved the 5Gi technology as it facilitates much larger reach of the 5G towers and Radio networks. The 5Gi technology has been developed by IIT Madras, Centre of Excellence in Wireless Technology (CEWiT) and IIT Hyderabad. Used Cooking Oil (UCO) Based Bio-Diesel  Part of: GS Prelims and GS – III - Sci & tech  In news Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas flagged off the first supply of UCO (Used Cooking Oil) based Biodiesel blended Diesel under the EOI Scheme from Indian Oil’s Tikrikalan Terminal, Delhi. Key takeaways  To create an eco-system for collection and conversion of UCO into Biodiesel, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas had initiated Expressions of Interest (EOI) for “Procurement of Bio-diesel produced from Used Cooking Oil” on the occasion of World Biofuel Day on 10th August 2019. It is a landmark in India’s pursuance of Biofuels which will have a positive impact on the environment. Important value additions  Biodiesel is an alternative fuel, similar to conventional or ‘fossil’ diesel. It can be produced from vegetable oils, animal fats, tallow and waste cooking oil. A significant advantage of Biodiesel is its carbon-neutrality, i.e. the oilseed absorbs the same amount of CO2 as is released when the fuel is combusted in a vehicle. Also, Biodiesel is rapidly biodegradable and completely non-toxic. Related article How biofuels can double farm incomes Production Linked Incentive scheme (PLI) for IT Hardware Part of: GS Prelims and GS - III - Economy  In news A total of 19 companies have filed their application under the Production Linked Incentive Scheme (PLI) for IT Hardware. Key takeaways  Production Linked Incentive Scheme (PLI) for IT Hardware was notified recently.  The PLI Scheme extends an incentive of 4% to 2%/ 1% on net incremental sales (over base year of FY 2019-20) of goods under target segments that are manufactured in India to eligible companies, for a period of four years (FY 2021-22 to FY 2024-25). The target IT hardware segments under the proposed Scheme include Laptops, Tablets, All-in-One Personal Computers (PCs) and Servers. The scheme proposes production linked incentives to boost domestic manufacturing and attract large investments in the value chain of these IT Hardware products. Benefits: Over the next 4 years, the Scheme is expected to lead to total production of about INR 1,60,000 crore.  The scheme is expected to promote exports significantly.  Out of the total production, more than 37% will be contributed by exports.  It will bring additional investment in electronics manufacturing to the tune of INR 2,350 crore. It will generate approximately 37,500 direct employment opportunities and indirect employment of nearly 3 times the direct employment. Domestic Value Addition is expected to grow from the current 5-12% to 16-35%. Miscellaneous Moorhen Yoga Mat  A biodegradable and compostable yoga mat was recently developed from water hyacinth from the fishing community in Assam.  The mat is called ‘Moorhen Yoga Mat’  It will soon be introduced to the world market as a unique product. The intervention was triggered through an initiative by North East Centre for Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR), an autonomous body under Department of Science & Technology (DST) to involve the entire women community associated with a collective called ‘Simang’ meaning dream, led by the 6 girls to create wealth from water hyacinth plants. Water hyacinth is considered as a nuisance since it does not benefit the fishing community and harms their occupation. Deepor Beel Deepor Beel is a permanent freshwater lake in Assam.  It is recognised as a Ramsar Site and a bird wildlife sanctuary. (Mains Focus) GOVERNANCE Topic: GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. GS-3: Disaster Management Frequent Hospital Fires in India Context: As many as 93 people, most of them Covid-19 patients, died in 24 incidents of fire in hospitals in India since August 2020. More than half these fires occurred in March and April, when rising Covid-19 cases snowballed into a second wave. Why are these fires taking place regularly, despite the hospitals having passed fire checks and audits? Overstressed ICUs, ACs Hospitals are increasing beds, equipment and staff to admit more Covid patients, but it has not been possible to immediately expand the electrical wiring system.  The ventilator, equipment, air conditioners are working 24 x 7 now. ideally air conditioners need to run for 15-16 hours and then need a cooling period. This has put a pressure on the entire system Medical equipment or wires carrying current beyond their capacity can overheat leading to fires. More inflammable material In Gujarat, fire officials have noted that ICUs lack cross-ventilation – this is the case with all ICUs as they are sealed for the purpose of keeping them sterile. In addition, due to Covid, there has been an increase of inflammable material in Hospitals – sanitiser spills and vapour, higher oxygen content in the air, and PPE kits, which are made of synthetic materia Highly inflammable material such as these spread fire quickly and leave very little time for a response A high oxygen percentage and sanitiser fumes in the ICU at times led to a flash fire reducing the time to respond. Way Ahead Hospitals must install sprinklers. If temperature rise to 78°C, sprinkler automatically starts dispensing 35 litres per minute. They can become first form of response, To further reduce response time, government should give preliminary training to staff in hospitals,  There is a need to augment deputation of more fire officials in major Covid hospitals  Regular auditing once a week or two is required in densely populated hospitals Connecting the dots: Frequent accidents in fireworks INTERNATIONAL/ ECONOMY Topic: GS-2: Bilateral Relations; Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries India-UK Ties Context: Virtual Summit scheduled between Indian PM Modi and his UK Counterpart Boris Johnson The virtual summit will witness the roll-out of a new “Enhanced Trade Partnership” that is expected to pave the way for a future free trade agreement. Irritants in India-UK relationship Colonial History: If the anti-colonial resentment against Britain is always seething barely below the surface among the Indian political and bureaucratic classes, London has found it difficult to shed its own prejudices about India Divergence on Pakistan: The bitter legacies of the Partition and Britain’s perceived tilt to Pakistan have long complicated the engagement between Delhi and London. Growing anti-Indian sentiments: Delhi’s problems have been accentuated by the British Labour Party’s growing political negativity towards India & Indian migrants in UK. Ironically, it was the same party that supported Nationalists during freedom struggle.  Why India and Britain need each other? Need for Economic Partnerships: Britain has walked out of EU and India has refused to join RCEP. Although both will continue to trade with their regional partners, they are eager to build new global economic partnerships. Changing Geopolitics: The centre of international politics has shifted from Atlantic to Indo-Pacific. India is a natural ally for Britain in Indo-Pacific. India which is witnessing rise of China in Indo-Pacific, needs as wide a coalition as possible to restore a semblance of regional balance. Climate Change: Both sides are committed to finding common ground on climate change. Health Cooperation: The issues of immediate relief supplies of oxygen & other medical equipment, resilient medical supply chains have potential for bilateral strategic cooperation in the health sector and contributions to the global war on the virus. (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 bio-diesel: It can be produced from vegetable oils, animal fats, tallow and waste cooking oil. Biodiesel is rapidly biodegradable and completely non-toxic. Which of the above is/are correct?  1 only  2 only  Both 1 and 2  Neither 1 nor 2  Q.2 Deepor Beel is a Ramsar Site in which of the following state of India? Assam  Nagaland Meghalaya Manipur ANSWERS FOR 4th May 2021 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 A 2 D 3 A Must Read On COVID blot on India’s foreign policy: The Hindu On India’s Vaccination Strategy: The Indian Express

May 5, 2021 RSTV Video

Biden's China Policy – The Big Picture – RSTV IAS UPSC

Archives TOPIC: General Studies 2 International Relations In news: Describing an "aggressive" China as the "most serious competitor" to the US, President Joe Biden has said that his administration will take on the challenges posed by Beijing directly, but will not hesitate to work with it when it is in America's interest to do so.  Realising that a rising and more assertive China as one of his biggest foreign policy challenges, Biden stressed on the importance of allies in responding to the strategic competition posed by Beijing.  Among his most daunting challenges will be to lay the foundation for decades of peaceful, constructive relations between the United States and China — on terms favorable to the U.S. and partner nations, and ultimately for China and the global community. Getting there will require bounding, and sustainably balancing, Beijing’s growing power. If the United States and its partners fail on that score, a future of Chinese hegemony could well lie ahead. As Trump leaves, Biden will inherit an American polity still more divided and dysfunctional than the one that elected Trump in 2016; tattered relations with capable European allies; and, in Beijing, a rival on heightened alert, its confidence bolstered by a quick rebound from COVID-19 and the Trump trade war. The Background: Biden and China If there has been one decisive shift in the Trump era, it has been the change in China’s status from a friend to a peer competitor and, indeed, adversary. This has not come about with any great planning. It began with a seemingly whimsical policy of equalising the trade balance between the two countries, but morphed into a technology war that saw the US pass increasingly restrictive rules against high-tech trade with China. Then, mixed with the Xinjiang and Hong Kong issues, it has brought relations between the two countries to a new Cold War. Biden’s political life has spanned an era in which there was consensus in US politics and business that the goal of American policy was to integrate China into the US-led world order. He was an early champion of China joining the WTO and argued that it was in America’s self interest to have China prosper. But neither he nor his contemporaries of either party addressed the currency manipulation, the forced transfer and the outright theft of technology that China used to get ahead, issues that hurt America grievously. It was only towards the end of the Obama presidency that the US began to raise the issue of cyber theft, tightening restrictions on Chinese investments in the US, challenging China in the South China Sea. The Present: Biden’s Policies Instead of the whimsical, go-it-alone Trump style, the Biden administration could make it far more effective by roping in allies and building a consensus. The US now realises that the competition with China is not just over the South China Sea; there is an all-round competition involving technology, ideology and the economy. It’s a big task, and Biden and his advisers are savvy enough to realise that this is best handled by taking allies along, something that Trump disdained. The hard choices for Biden will include deciding whether to maintain about $360 billion worth of tariffs on Chinese imports that have raised costs for U.S. businesses and consumers, or whether to relax those levies in exchange for concessions on economic issues, or other fronts, like climate change. Beyond policies and personalities, there will be larger trends influencing America’s China policy in the post-Covid world. There are shifts in global trade and industrial techniques which will bring supply chains closer home. Biden has said it will encourage this through policy, and possibly even subsidy. The second leg of this policy will be a government-backed campaign to take on China in high-tech areas like AI, quantum computing, 6G and so on. The emphasis will be on making the US more competitive, rather than on blackballing China. Actually, China’s economic strength, the reforms in its financial sector will emerge as a strong magnet for Wall Street and US corporates who will push to moderate any hardline position. What Xi thinks matters… Beijing is sending some positive signals. At the virtual Davos summit on Jan. 25, in his first speech since Biden’s inauguration, Xi called on the world to abandon an “outdated Cold War mentality,” adding that “confrontation will lead us to a dead end.” And there are ways Biden and Xi can at least tamp down tensions. Xi will probably be open to cutting small deals to achieve specific ends. For instance, he could offer Biden a few concessions on trade or market access for U.S. companies to get remaining Trump tariffs on Chinese goods lifted. He may also find more avenues of engagement with Biden than Trump—for example, a shared concern about climate change. But Xi has pursued a much more aggressive policy abroad, on just about every front. He has flexed China’s new muscle in a quest for greater influence over, and respect from, the rest of the world. With his pet diplomatic project, the infrastructure-building Belt and Road Initiative, he’s expanding China’s clout across Eurasia and beyond. He’s sought heftier sway within international institutions such as the World Health Organization. What Beijing considers core interests have been pursued with extra gusto, whether its contentious claim to almost all of the South China Sea or the sensitive issue of Taiwan. Xi’s controversial policies at home—the detention of untold numbers of minority Uighurs and the crackdown on Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement—and he’s as responsible for the dangerous deterioration in U.S. relations as Trump. Improving those ties will require changes in Xi’s policies as well as Washington’s. The new urgency with which he is pressing for “self-sufficiency,” most of all in key technologies such as chips, indicates that he aims to limit China’s reliance on the U.S. and Biden’s influence over the Chinese economy. Xi’s new economic catchphrase, “dual circulation,” places more stress on domestic development and thus may shift the focus of policy inward, That, too, could heighten tensions with the U.S. if Xi substitutes imports with homegrown products or further discriminates against American companies. The Way Forward Architecting a preferable future will depend on Biden leading and negotiating with urgency in three interdependent contexts: at home, with partner governments, and with Beijing. He needs to persuade Americans that the United States has no choice but to become the best, most unified version of itself. Without greater national unity and a recommitment to truth and objective reality, the U.S. won’t merely lose the competition with China; it will likely default to merely muddling along, as a bizarre hybrid of superpower and failed state. The White House should be steadfast in keeping global commons issues like climate change as separate as possible from negotiation in the bilateral rivalry domain. Because this will transfer too much leverage to Beijing, which, in entertaining the White House’s demands on climate, will seek concessions on other issues central to the Sino-American rivalry. Neither of these vital policy agendas should be sacrificed for the other. Prioritize building a sustainable, favorable balance of power via coalition — more so than setting new rules of international order. Revert to the respectful tone toward Beijing that it has earned by performance. Respectful interactions won’t create the desired meeting of minds between Washington and Beijing, but incendiary, disrespectful rhetoric can block what may otherwise have been possible. Connecting the Dots: Joe Biden's China policy and its impact on India-US relations.

May 5, 2021 IASbaba Prelims 60 Day Plan

IASbaba’s 60 Day Plan - IAS Prelims Test Series 2021 - HISTORY, CURRENT AFFAIRS & CSAT [Day 39]

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 39] - 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    

May 4, 2021 TLP Mains Answer Writing

SYNOPSIS [29th April,2021] Day 94: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE SYNOPSIS [29th April,2021] Day 94: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)   1. Discuss the locational factors for the pharmaceutical industry. Examine the challenges posed to the pharmaceutical sector during the COVID pandemic. Approach Candidates are expected to write about location factors related to pharmaceutical industry explain with Indian examples. Also examine the challenges posed to the pharmaceutical sector during COVID pandemic. Introduction India is the largest provider of generic drugs globally. Indian pharmaceutical sector supplies over 50% of global demand for various vaccines, 40% of generic demand in the US and 25% of all medicine in the UK. India enjoys an important position in the global pharmaceuticals sector. Body Pharmaceutical industry: The pharmaceutical industry discovers, develops, produces, and markets drugs or pharmaceutical drugs for use as medications to be administered (or self-administered) to patients, with the aim to cure them, vaccinate them, or alleviate the symptoms. Location factors for the pharmaceutical industry – Supply of labour: Labour is one of the most important inputs in any industrial enterprise. India has a regular and cheap supply of labour, specifically the skilled labour. Also, as there is adequate supply of local labour/unskilled labour, then naturally it will be available at cheaper rates. Suitability of land and climate: Climatic conditions viz humidity, temperature and other atmospheric conditions are favourable for the pharma industry. For example, humid atmosphere is not suitable for the formation of pharmaceuticals. Stable growth in domestic market consumption: Despite recent headwinds, the Pharmaceutical industry in India has grown rapidly. India is likely to become one of the top 3 Pharmaceutical industries by 2030. Large pool of scientists and engineers with a potential to steer the industry ahead to greater heights. Presently, over 80% of the antiretroviral drugs used globally to combat AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) are supplied by Indian pharmaceutical firms. And within India, if there is one destination that all of them are making a beeline for it is Hyderabad. The city has the capacity to churn out well over a third of the global vaccine supply. Be it India’s first indigenous Covid-19 vaccine candidate Covaxin or Russia’s Sputnik V, Johnson & Johnson’s Ad26. Cov2.S, FluGen’s CoroFlu or even Sanofi’s under development vaccine candidates, all have a Hyderabad connect. Whether a successful Covid-19 vaccine is developed in India or not, a vaccine developed anywhere in the world will be churned out of Hyderabad and Pune. The city-based pharma companies are actively involved in manufacturing lifesaving Covid-19 drugs including Remdesivir, Hydroxychloroquine, Favipiravir, etc Three more pharma companies from Hyderabad are actively engaged in the efforts to develop and manufacture Covid-19 vaccine. One of the first ICMR approved RT-PCR kits in India was from Hyderabad and Pune since then, a number of companies have developed PCR kits, rapid test kits, viral transport mediums, reagents, tech-based diagnostics solutions etc. There is no doubt that Hyderabad and Pune has played a critical role in the Indian pharmaceutical revolution which made the country not only self-sufficient in the medicine manufacture but also made it as the pharmacy capital of the world. Challenges to the pharmaceutical industry in COVID pandemic – Disrupted Supply Chain: Over the globe, supply chains have been broken, disrupted, and some have even come to a grinding halt because of the nation-wide lockdowns, closed borders, and halted air travel. Need for Agility and Transparency: With the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been immense interest in the Pharma sector’s workings by almost all social hierarchies. There is an increased need for faster, accurate, and transparent operations across the board. Workforce optimisation and Controls: During COVID-19, Pharma manufacturing companies made many adjustments to modus operandi. That includes accommodating remote workforce, social distancing when in person, wearing masks and gloves, and avoiding any possibility of spreading the coronavirus. Humongous Data Collation and Analysis: The research and clinical trials for potential drug treatments and vaccines for coronavirus worldwide generate unprecedented amounts of data and information. Paramedical experts and scientists in the Pharma industry look at agile tools to collate and manage data while generating insights. Conclusion While these changes and concerns are bound to affect the pharmaceutical industry’s workings, proper management, technology, and software to navigate these challenging times will enable the pharmaceutical sector to rise to the occasion. The Covid-19 pandemic has brought forward existing and new challenges for the Pharma sector. However, it has given a chance to create opportunities and get transformations that can have a positive impact on the pharmaceutical industry. 2. Discuss the challenges being faced by India’s civil aviation sector. What measures have been taken recently to address those? Discuss. Approach  Candidate can give brief facts about aviation industry and its potential in the introduction and state challenges faced by the sector. With the help of new government schemes and initiatives, way ahead can be given. Introduction The civil aviation industry in India has emerged as one of the fastest growing industries in the country during the last three years. India has become the third largest domestic aviation market in the world and is expected to overtake UK to become the third largest air passenger market by 2024. Body Size of Indian aviation industry – India had the world's third-largest civil aviation market in 2017, with the number of passengers growing at an average annual rate of 16.3% between 2000 and 2015. It recorded an air traffic of 131 million passengers in 2016. Despite this growth, much of the country's aviation potential remains untapped. The Ministry of Civil Aviation is responsible for civilian aviation, through regulatory oversight by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Challenges faced by the sector – Paramount amongst all issues is the one of air safety. In the past few years, there have been a number of fatal accidents snuffing out hundreds of innocent lives. Many of these accidents could have been avoided if as the planners, managers and regulators had a better understanding of the dynamics of the man-machine interface. The airspace in India is going to see an increase in the number of aircraft flying. Hence, flying operations, air space management, arrivals and departures at airports, must be made more efficient for safe operations. The next most important issue is one of finance. We at times are hesitant to acknowledge that financial viability is essential for all concerned. Once this is accepted, optimisation of resources will become the normal way of life, as would competence and efficiency. Aviation turbine fuel (ATF) is one of the important sections of the industry. Indian government didn’t not reduce the jet fuel prices in proportion to the fall in international crude oil prices. But, when there is a rise in crude prices, it increases in the fuel cost would eventually increase the operation of the airline. Frequent government intervention is proving to a great obstacle for the growth of Aviation industry. Several aviation experts have pointed out that India government should follows aviation industry free from policy hurdles like regulating airfares and slash taxes, including jet fuel. High Airport (aeronautical) Charges levied by Airport Authority of India are higher. These charges payable at the International airports are higher than those payable at the airports designated as Domestic airports. As a result, the domestic airlines in India are incurring additional costs at the international designated airports without deriving any extra facilities. There is a cut throat competition faced by the top airline due to ticket pricing. Established Airlines are threatened by low cost carriers, which are eating up their market share. Measures taken to address these issues – There is a need to complete the ongoing projects under the UDAN initiative in a time-bound manner. In addition, the existing capacity of international airports should be augmented under the International UDAN initiative. Government intention to make India a global hub for Aircraft Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services will result in saving costs and creating liquidity for airline companies. National Civil Aviation Policy 2016 and National Civil Aviation programme 2018 can help India to become a major civil aviation market in the world. The development of more airports under the PPP model with a view to improving the aviation infrastructure without the government having to pump in additional funds. With 100% FDI allowed under automatic route, aviation sector is likely to witness US$15 billion worth of investment in the next five years. New airports like Jewar Airport in Uttar Pradesh are being built under the NABH Nirman initiative based on (1) fair and equitable land acquisition, (2) long-term master plan for airport and regional development and (3) balanced economics for all stakeholders. This leads to growth in housing and real estate sector, construction, building materials, tourism, etc. With a new terms and conditions to divest Air India, government is trying to give positive signal making level playing field for small players. Conclusion Pandemic brought the aviation sector worldwide to a standstill. Industry witnessed many big players filing for bankruptcy after hitting a blow. Indian aviation sector is still booming and is expected to be third largest in the world by 2024. India needs relaxation in some harsh regulatory measures and liberalisation policy for exit of an airline. With more private sector investment, tier II and tier III cities will also see new infrastructure development as envisaged in civil aviation policy of 2016. 3. Why do certain pockets in South India have high concentration of the automobile and ancillary industries? Examine. Approach Since the question is asking you to examine so you have to probe deeper into the topic and understand the topic in detail. Introduction  Auto and its ancillary industry is one of the key sectors in the Indian economy. The auto industry can be broadly divided in four sub sectors: (a) Four Wheelers (4W) (b) Two wheelers or 2Ws (c) Commercial vehicles and (d) Three wheelers (3W). The Automobile Industry, due to its very nature, has grown in clusters. Body  WHY CERTAIN POCKETS IN SOUTH INDIA HAVE HIGH CONCENTRATION OF THE AUTOMOBILE AND ANCILLARY INDUSTRIES: Out of the registered Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEMs) many are located in the southern states of the country. Almost one third of the concentration of the auto industries in India is in the four Southern states only.  The certain pockets in South India have high concentration of the automobile and ancillary industries due to following reasons – The well-developed port facilities in the Tamil Nadu State encourage the industries to tap the export markets.  The key raw material—rubber—can be sourced from Kerala and Kanyakumari or imported. These places offer transparency and good governance for automotive companies, such as during recalls on certain vehicles, etc. Availability of reliable and reasonably priced utilities in these areas is another reason. These southern state’s Site access confirm acceptable ingress and egress for employees, inbound raw materials and outbound finished product. These southern pockets offer Size, shape, topography and room for future expansion. These sites act as buffer that provide protection from residential and commercial neighbours.  Presence of Industrial parks often provide good locations for multiple users with similar buffer and utility requirements. Conclusion The automobile industry is supported by various factors such as availability of skilled labour at low cost, robust R&D centres, and low-cost steel production. The auto industry was already facing financial headwinds before the pandemic, and the impact of COVID-19 has only accelerated many of those concerns. In the short-term, the automotive companies like those in other industries fear the unforeseen effects of the second wave of COVID-19. The industry will require more government help in the form of reforms and incentives.  4. With the help of suitable examples, discuss the evolving global trends for the location of tertiary sector? Approach Question is straight forward in its approach students are expected to write about evolving global trends for the location of tertiary sector with suitable examples. Introduction Industrial locations are complex in nature. These are influenced by the availability of many factors. Some of them are: raw material, land, water, labour, capital, power, transport, and market. Tertiary sector refers to the commercial services that support the production and distribution process, e.g. insurance, transport, advertising, warehousing and other services such as teaching and health care. The chain of production shows interdependence: firms rely on other businesses in different sectors for raw materials, components or distribution. Body Evolving trends for the location of tertiary sector – Tertiary sector was mainly focussed on Information technology and other services industries like transportation etc. location of the same industries was mainly based on availability of cheap and skilled labour through business process outsourcing e.g. in India Information Technology reached to its peak through the process of business outsourcing.  Outsourcing has witnessed a massive boom over the past few decades, with the number of service providing companies increasing every year. The year 2018 is going to be no different when it comes to keeping up with this exponential growth in the outsourcing trend. IT outsourcing trends, this year, have seen a constant growth and this trend will continue to grow in the coming years. Technological advancement will become a main factor in the location of tertiary sector in coming times. Robotic process automation and intelligent automation will continue to flourish in the coming years. This is expected to disrupt the existing commercial outsourcing model and drive down costs considerably, resulting in supplier margin expansion. Furthermore, enterprise buyers will also have opportunities to save more, as the supplier margins expand. With the use of self-service tools and automated chat-bots becoming highly prevalent among many companies, the demand for call centers is expected to decrease drastically. As virtual agents can work on numerous clients at the same time, these automated contact centers will be able to handle higher volumes with less number of agents. Therefore, we will see various tech-enabled contact centers replacing the traditional call centers, few years down the line. Companies are expected to look out for service providers who add value to their business rather than those who just provide services at lower costs. Therefore, outsourcing companies will partner with service providers who offer innovative services, equipped with best infrastructure and thorough industry knowledge. This will become a disrupting factor in the already existing pattern of location of tertiary sector. With covid-19 pandemic making a broad based change Telecommuting is one trend which has changed the way outsourcing companies operate over the years and this trend is here to stay. Companies find it very easy to interact with other team members and integrate seamlessly through remote meetings and use different types of real-time monitoring tools to deliver quality services. Analysts are predicting that the industry will continue to fight short-term cost pressures, and that there will be pressure on service providers for more flexible pricing contracts. Many small alliances, focused on increased operational efficiencies, better quality control and reduced back office costs, are being set up. This trend is going to continue. Brazil and Russia will make their presence felt in the global outsourcing market and China will continue to move ahead. Conclusion India continues to be the major destination for outsourcing because it has been able to evolve with changing needs. NASSCOM, (National Association of Software & Service Companies) the apex body of India's premier IT software and service (IT & BPO) companies, reported that India's share in the global outsourcing market rose from 51% in 2009 to 55% in 2010. India still stands out for its customer service and efficiency, so its future is bright. Today, customers are not only looking at cost-effective solutions for their outsourced business but also for skilled staff, enhanced productivity, service quality and business process excellence. India, with its large population and multiple-skilled people, would continue to be preferred for both back-end and front-end outsourcing. 5. Discuss the factors responsible for the location of agribusinesses. Why is the agribusiness sector underdeveloped in India? Approach The candidate needs to address the question in two parts where the first part discusses the factors responsible for the location of agribusinesses while in the second part, the reasons for agribusiness sector’s underdevelopment in India are elaborated upon. Introduction Agribusiness is a combination of the words "agriculture" and "business" and refers to any business related to farming and farming-related commercial activities where agribusiness involves all the steps required to send an agricultural good to market, namely production, processing, and distribution. Body Agribusiness involves all the steps required to send an agricultural good to market, namely production, processing, and distribution. This industry is an important component of the economy in countries with arable land since agricultural products can be exported. In this regard, the factors responsible for the location of agribusinesses include – Raw Materials: The moisture requirements of the plant vary according to the heat received, rich soil in plant food is the chief requirement of successful agriculture, and topography affects agriculture as it relates to soil erosion, difficulty of tillage and poor transportation facilities. Market: Relation to market generally determines the character of agribusiness, for the cost of transport to the market will generally affect the competitive power of the agribusiness output. Places away from the market will generally grow such things which can afford cost of transport to market. Labour: Labour supply determines the character of agribusiness. Agribusiness is essentially labour-intensive and exemplifies the human pressure. Capital: The modern mechanised agribusiness has become capital-intensive to a large extent. The entrepreneur has to invest large amount of capital in agriculture because he has to buy machinery. Social Factors: Social factors affect farming in a number of ways. The type of agribusiness practiced is always related to regional social structure. Social factors can also affect the type of crops that are grown, thus affecting the raw material supply. Changes in consumer taste alter what products are grown and raised. For example, a shift in consumer tastes away from red meat may cause demand—and therefore prices—for beef to fall, while increased demand for produce may shift the mix of fruits and vegetables that farmers raise.  Climate change has placed intensifying pressure on many companies in the agribusiness industry to remain relevant, and profitable, while adapting to the threats posed by large-scale shifts in weather patterns. Reasons for Underdevelopment of Agribusiness sector in India include – Shortage of material and power: There is acute shortage of basic raw materials required by agro units. Agro industries are face shortage of power due to this problem; they are unable to make full utilization of plant capacity.  Lack of adequate finance: All business firms require sufficient funds to meet their fixed capital and working capital requirements. Credit facilities for agri business organizations are inadequate. Outdated technology: Majority of the agro based units uses old techniques of production and outdated machinery or equipment’s. They cannot afford new latest and costly machines and equipment’s due to lack of poor financial conditions and unknown about technological aspects.  Inadequate marketing facilities: An agri business unit has to face several difficulties in the marketing and distribution of agricultural products because they have not their own marketing network.  Weak organization and management: Agri business firms are generally managed by the owner who does not have professional qualification and required skills for efficient management of enterprises. There is lack of proper division of work and specializations.   Lack of trained personnel: Agro business firms find it too difficult to recruit, retain, and motivate to the managerial and technical skilled personnel in the organization as they look for better opportunities.  Research and development: Lack of research and development in agribusiness sector are a major problem in successful running and development of agro based industries in India. There is also lack of research about consumer habits, demands and what they prefer in consumption.  Lack of infrastructure facilities: Lack of transportation, communication, warehouses and other essentials facilities are common hurdles in the path of development of agribusiness sector in India. Agricultural produce such as fruits and vegetables are wasted about 30 per cent of total production per annum due to perishable nature and lack of proper transportation. Seasonality of products: Most of agricultural produce are seasonal in nature. Due to this nature there is no continuous and stability in the supply of primary raw materials, which are necessary for industrial production process.  Conclusion Improving agribusiness can increase added value of raw materials, strengthening local rural economies, food security, and improving the quality of life in many homes at risk of exclusion and vulnerability. Policies, incentives and regulatory frameworks that safeguard and promote agro-industries need to be focussed upon for lifting rural populations out of poverty in India.   TLP HOT Synopsis Day 94 PDF

May 4, 2021 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 4th May 2021

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI) Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III - Economy  In news The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has launched an online portal for ‘Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry’(PLISFPI). Key takeaways  Government of India has approved a new Central Sector Scheme namely‘ Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry’ for implementation during 2021-22 to 2026-27 with an outlay of Rs. 10,900 crore. Objective: To support creation of global food manufacturing champions commensurate with India's natural resource endowment and support Indian brands of food products in the international markets. Ministry of Food Processing Industries is inviting applications for availing sales based incentives and grants for undertaking Branding & Marketing activities abroad under the scheme from three categories of Applicants: Category-I: Applicant under this category could undertake Branding & Marketing activities abroad also and apply for grant under the scheme with a common application. Category-II: SMEs Applicants manufacturing innovative/ organic products who apply for PLI Incentive based on Sales. Category-III: Applicants applying solely for grant for undertaking Branding & Marketing activities abroad Converting Nitrogen Plants to Oxygen Plants  Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II - Health & GS – III - Sci & tech  In news Considering the requirement of medical oxygen amidst the COVID-19 pandemic situation, the Government of India explored the feasibility of conversion of existing nitrogen plants to produce oxygen. Key takeaways  Potential industries, wherein existing nitrogen plants may be converted for production of oxygen, were identified. In the nitrogen plants Carbon Molecular Sieve (CMS) is used whereas Zeolite Molecular Sieve (ZMS) is required for producing oxygen. Therefore, by replacing CMS with ZMS and carrying out few other changes such as oxygen analyzer, control panel system, flow valves etc. existing nitrogen plants can be modified to produce oxygen. A nitrogen plant modified for the production of oxygen can be either shifted to a nearby hospital.  In case it is not feasible to shift the plant, it can be used for on-site production of oxygen, which can then be transported to hospital through specialized vessels/cylinders. India invited as guest to G7 meeting Part of: GS Prelims and GS - II - International Relations  In news India has been invited to the G7 meeting as a guest country. Important value additions  The G-7 or ‘Group of Seven’  Formed in: 1975 Countries: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK, and USA. Meetings are presided over by leaders of member countries on a rotational basis.  It is an informal annual gathering of two days, in which member countries discuss a wide range of global issues. It does not have a formal constitution or a fixed headquarters The decisions taken during summit are non-binding. Do you know?  The G-7 was known as the ‘G-8’ after the original seven were joined by Russia in 1997.  The Group returned to being called G-7 after Russia was expelled as a member in 2014 following the latter’s annexation of the Crimea region of Ukraine. Computed Tomography Scan Part of: GS Prelims and GS – III - Sci & tech  In news CT scans have been in news since several Covid positive patients with mild to moderate Covid symptoms, and some with negative RT-PCR reports having Covid symptoms are coming for the test  Important value additions  CT scan  It is also known as computed tomography scan. It is a medical imaging technique used in radiology to get detailed images of the body noninvasively for diagnostic purposes. CT scanners use a rotating x-ray tube and a row of detectors placed in the gantry to measure X-ray attenuations by different tissues inside the body. The multiple X-ray measurements taken from different angles are then processed on a computer using reconstruction algorithms to produce tomographic (cross-sectional) images (virtual "slices") of a body. The use of ionizing radiations sometimes restricts its use owing to its adverse effects. Place in news: Taiwan Part of: GS Prelims and GS - I - Geography & GS-II - International Relations  In news India recently received assistance from Taiwan, including oxygen concentrators and cylinders, with more batches of medical equipment set to follow. Important value additions  Taiwan is officially known as the Republic of China (ROC). It is a state in East Asia with China to its west, Japan to the north-east, and the Philippines to the south. The East China Sea lies to its north, the Philippine Sea to its east, the Luzon Strait directly to its south and the South China Sea to its southwest. The Taiwan Strait separates the island of Taiwan from mainland China.  Taipei is the capital. Taiwan is no longer a member of the UN, having been replaced by China in 1971.  Taiwan is claimed by China, which refuses diplomatic relations with countries that recognise the ROC. Taiwan maintains official ties with 14 out of 193 UN member states and the Holy See. The bilateral relations between India and Taiwan have improved since the 1990s despite both nations not maintaining official diplomatic relations. (Mains Focus) ECONOMY/ GOVERNANCE Topic: GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. GS-3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources. Climate Change & Natural Gas Sector Context: Policy wonks, climate negotiators, academicians, corporates and NGOs are currently fixated on the concept of “net zero carbon emissions” and the appropriate target year for achieving it.  Scholars have argued that rather than focus only on the endgame of decarbonisation, India must first “green” its fossil fuel energy basket via Natural Gas i.e. think of taking a short first step in the right direction than strive for a longer but unsteady stride. Why increasing the Natural Gas share is significant? The increase will not generate the headwinds (challenges) that the alternative of shutting down coal mines might It will not require industries to invest heavily in retrofitting their systems  It will allow the government to meet its objective of providing secure and affordable energy to everyone without degrading the environment.  Furthermore, it can be achieved through executive ordinance and without the need for legislative approval What Steps are needed to make natural gas the “next stop” in India’s energy journey? Authorities must prioritise natural gas. Government must recognise its potential & versatility.  Natural Gas is Competitive fuel; abundantly available in Asian/ME subcontinent; multiple uses and  “greenest” of all fossil fuels. Authorities must correct the current disincentivising policy distortions-   Pricing of Natural Gas is complex. There are multiple price formulae- one for gas produced domestically by PSUs, one for gas produced by private companies, one for production from deep waters etc Taxation is also comparably regressive - Cascading structure - Customers located at a distance from the source of gas pay a higher price than those closer to the source. Authorities should revamp the structure of the industry The Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL) is currently engaged in the production, transportation and marketing of gas.  This dominance allows GAIL to misuse its gas pipelines network to deny its competitors access to the market.  Most countries have tackled this conflict-of-interest situation by separating the upstream (production/import) and downstream (marketing) interests from transportation. Institutional mechanism should be created to enable better coordination between the central & state governments Centre-state differences have delayed the construction of import facilities and the creation of gas markets.  A way has to be found to take these issues off the political table and brought within the frame of an integrated decision-making process. Connecting the dots: Paris Climate Deal INTERNATIONAL/ ECONOMY Topic: GS-2: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries GS-3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment. USA’s COVID rescue plan & lessons for India Context: During Joe Biden’s first joint address to the US Congress as President, he outlined a new paradigm for the US developmental pathway. Key Features of Joes Biden’s Plan Blue Collar Job Creation: Biden stated that “Nearly 90% of the infrastructure jobs created in the American Jobs Plan do not require a college degree. 75% don’t require an associate’s degree. The American Jobs Plan is a blue-collar blueprint to build America” Strengthen Workers Right: To further boost the bargaining ability of the working class, he called on Congress to pass the Protect the Right to Organize Act, which will support the right to unionise. Gender Parity & Increasing Minimum Pay: Biden argued in favour of raising the minimum wages in US and providing equal pay to women. He said “let’s raise the minimum wage to $15. No one working 40 hours a week should live below the poverty line”. Access to good education: Here, Biden wants to increase universal public education from 12 to 16 years as well as give increase grants and invest in historical Black colleges and universities, tribal colleges, minority-serving institutions because these institutions don’t have the endowments. Quality, affordable child care: The new plan aims to guarantee that low- to middle-income families will pay no more than 7% of their income for high-quality care for children up to the age of 5. 12 weeks of medical leave: Paid medical leave makes sure that no one should have to choose between a job and taking care of themselves or their loved one Addressing Child Care Poverty: Another element in Biden’s plan puts money directly into the pockets of millions of Americans by expanding tax credits for every child in a family — aimed at helping more than 65 million children and cutting child care poverty in half. Affordable Healthcare: Biden proposed to bring down the healthcare premiums and the price of prescription drug. He stated that “Health care should be a right, not a privilege, in America” Bottom up/Middle out economics instead of “Trickle down” economics: To finance these plans, Biden junked the long-held notion of “trickle down” economics (TDE) that advocated tax cuts for wealthy people. He announced that wealthiest 1 per cent of Americans need to begin to pay their fair share. So, what is the significance of Biden’s speech for India’s economy? Moving away from Neoliberalism: Biden’s strategy — big government spending push as well as focusing on raising revenues from the rich and the business class to rebuild the economy — is in stark contrast to neoliberal approach of minimum government strategy adopted by Union government since 2014. Growing Inequality is the problem: The middle class in India was likely down by one-third in 2020 and around 75 million were pushed below the poverty line even as India became the country with the third-most billionaires in the world. Similar type of growing inequality is sought to be addressed by Biden’s strategy of redistribution of wealth by increased governmental intervention. Connecting the dots: Capitalism Vs Socialism Vs Mixed Market Economy (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 The Luzon Strait is the strait between:  Taiwan and Luzon island of the Philippines. China and Luzon island of the Philippines. Japan and Luzon island of the Philippines. Singapore and Luzon island of the Philippines. Q.2 Which of the following is not a member country of G-7? France  Japan Italy RUssia Q.3 Consider the following statements: Carbon Molecular Sieve (CMS) is used whereas Zeolite Molecular Sieve (ZMS) is required for producing oxygen. It is not feasible to shift nitrogen plant after converting it to an oxygen-producing plant. Which of the above is/are correct?  1 only  2 only  Both 1 and 2  Neither 1 nor 2  ANSWERS FOR 3rd May 2021 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 C 2 C 3 A Must Read On One-Health approach: The Hindu On GST inflows: The Hindu On India-UK relationship: The Indian Express

May 4, 2021 TLP Mains Answer Writing

IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1 – ENGLISH & हिंदी): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – General Studies Paper 1 Questions [4th MAY,2021] – Day 98

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE Hello Friends, Welcome to IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1- ENGLISH & हिंदी): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – General Studies 1 Questions [4th MAY, 2020] – Day 98 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 location of mountains and plateaus decide the climate of a region? Illustrate.   पहाड़ों और पठारों का स्थान एक क्षेत्र की जलवायु कैसे तय करता है? चित्रण करें। 2. What are sand dunes? How do they get formed? Discuss with the help of suitable examples. रेत के टीले क्या हैं? वे कैसे बनते हैं? उपयुक्त उदाहरणों की सहायता से चर्चा करें। 3. With the help of suitable examples, discuss the differences between temperate and tropical flora. How does temperate flora shape the local economy? Explain. उपयुक्त उदाहरणों की सहायता से, समशीतोष्ण और उष्णकटिबंधीय वनस्पतियों के बीच के अंतरों पर चर्चा करें। समशीतोष्ण वनस्पतियां स्थानीय अर्थव्यवस्था को कैसे आकार देती हैं? स्पष्ट कीजिए। 4. What are the changes being observed in the Arctic region in recent decades? How will impact the global weather pattern? Explain. हाल के दशकों में आर्कटिक क्षेत्र में कौन से बदलाव देखे जा रहे हैं? वैश्विक मौसम पैटर्न पर क्या प्रभाव पड़ेगा? स्पष्ट कीजिए। 5. Discuss the anthropogenic factors causing water crisis in different parts of world. Is there a sustainable way to address it? Examine. दुनिया के विभिन्न हिस्सों में जल संकट पैदा करने वाले मानवजनित कारकों पर चर्चा करें। क्या इसे हल करने का एक स्थायी तरीका है? जांच 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 :)