Apr 26, 2021 IASbaba Prelims 60 Day Plan

IASbaba’s 60 Day Plan - IAS Prelims Test Series 2021 - GEOGRAPHY, CURRENT AFFAIRS & CSAT [Day 31]

For Previous (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE Hello Friends,    [embed]https://https://www.youtube.com/embed/x5ldu2jV8N0[/embed] ARCHIVES OF 60 DAYS NOTE: IASbaba's 60 DAY questions will be posted around 10 AM. The solution will be released around 6 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 6 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.   GEOGRAPHY [DAY 31] - 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    

Apr 25, 2021 Motivational Articles

[MI-STORIES]MOTIVATIONAL AND INSPIRATIONAL STORIES - Making a difference!

For Previous Story -> CLICK HERE Inspirational Stories: Here is the story for this week from the new series of Inspirational and Motivational stories. One of the oldest known forms of communication is story telling. There is something primordial within us that loves stories and their tremendous impact. In this series, we aim to bring you the best of real-life stories that can inspire and motivate you. Stories always try to teach us something useful. It is one of the best ways of learning from other's mistakes and avoiding our own. Although each story has its own moral, in the comments section you can share your opinion on the moral of the story. If you are able to see something that others might have missed, you can share it for the benefit of all. Apart from just reading these awesome stories, you can also share some of the stories that have inspired you. If we find the story appropriate and useful, we will share it with all. More importantly, read these stories every week without a miss, and stay inspired.   So Here is the story for this week - Making a difference! There was once a man who walked his dog every Sunday morning around a lake near his house. Week after week, he saw the same elderly woman sitting at the edge of the water with a small metal cage next to her. The man’s curiosity finally got the best of him and he approached the woman one day. He noticed that the cage was actually a small trap and she had three small turtles in it. In her lap, there was a fourth turtle that she was carefully wiping down with a sponge. The man greeted her and said, “If you don’t mind my asking, what do you do with these turtles every week?” She smiled and explained to him that she was cleaning their shells because any algae or scum that builds up on a turtle’s shell reduces its ability to absorb heat and slows down their swimming. It can also corrode their shell and weaken it over time. The man was impressed as the woman continued, “I do this every Sunday morning to help the turtles.” “But don’t most turtles live their entire lives with algae on their shells?” the man asked. The woman agreed that was true. He replied, “Well then, you’re kind to do this, but are you really making a difference if most turtles don’t have people around to clean their shells?” The woman laughed as she looked down at the small turtle on her lap. “Young man, if this little turtle could talk, he would say I’m making all the difference in the world.'” What do you think is the moral of this story?

Apr 25, 2021 TLP Mains Answer Writing

IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1 – ENGLISH & हिंदी): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – ESSAY [24th APRIL,2021] – Day 90

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE Hello Friends, Welcome to IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1 – ENGLISH & हिंदी): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – ESSAY [24th  APRIL,2021] – Day 90 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. 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 1. Social justice is the surest guarantor of peace in the world. सामाजिक न्याय दुनिया में शांति का सबसे बड़ा गारंटर है। 2. When you're fighting for economic and social justice, you're always fighting for the minority.  जब आप आर्थिक और सामाजिक न्याय के लिए लड़ रहे हैं, तो आप हमेशा अल्पसंख्यक के लिए लड़ रहे हैं। 3. If the civil society is not transparent, honest, and accountable, then you cannot be a champion of social justice. यदि नागरिक समाज पारदर्शी, ईमानदार और जवाबदेह नहीं है, तो आप सामाजिक न्याय के चैंपियन नहीं हो सकते। 4. A woman simply is, but a man must become. एक महिला बस है, लेकिन एक आदमी बनना पड़ता है ।  

Apr 25, 2021 Motivational Articles

Creative Guidance – Wait before you react – Inspirational Educative Articles

Wait before you react: There are always exceptions to any rule, but generally speaking it is always better to wait before we react. There is a natural inbuilt instinctive mechanism in us that urges us to quickly respond to things happening around us. Although this mechanism to quickly react and respond is extremely useful in protecting ourselves in a natural set up, such as living in a wilderness, it is totally useless and detrimental in a modern civilized set up. It is important to realize that we are not living in a jungle anymore but almost 90% of our biological survival mechanism is designed for living in the wilderness. If we fail to recognize this, we will very easily fall prey to our own inbuilt survival habits. Education and learning play a big role in channeling our instinctual and biological responses. They help us slow down, rationalize, evaluate, analyze and think before reacting, but more often than not we readily give in to our impulsive habits. The ability to wait before reacting is one of the most important qualities one can develop to better navigate the modern landscape of life. Instead of reacting immediately to anything and everything, be it what’ shown in the media, what someone tells you, what you read somewhere, it is better to first wait and take time to process the information. The easiest way to develop this habit is by practice. By consciously pausing for even just a few minutes before responding to things helps in developing this habit. It is amazing how much of a difference this small quality can make to your life. Try it, and see its magic for yourself. “This article is a part of the creative endeavor of Nirvana Foundation and IASBABA.”

Apr 24, 2021 TLP Mains Answer Writing

SYNOPSIS [19th April,2021] Day 85: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE   SYNOPSIS [19th April,2021] Day 85: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)   1. How does e-governance lead to better performance and efficiency in administration? Explain with the help of suitable examples. Approach- Question is straight forward. Candidate can define e-governance and state the benefits with the help of appropriate examples. Introduction Electronic governance or e-governance can be defined as the usage of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) by the government to provide and facilitate government services, exchange of information, communication transactions and integration of various stand-alone systems and services. In other words, it is the use of technology to perform government activities and achieve the objectives of governance.  Through e-governance, government services are made available to citizens and businesses in a convenient, efficient and transparent manner. Body E governance and better performance in administration e-Governance is basically a move towards SMART governance implying: simple, moral, accountable, responsive and transparent governance. Simple — implies simplification of rules and regulations of the government and avoiding complex processes with the application of ICTs and therefore, providing a user-friendly government. Moral — meaning the emergence of a new system in the administrative and political machinery with technology interventions to improve the efficiency of various government agencies. Accountable — develop effective information management systems and other performance measurement mechanisms to ensure the accountability of public service functionaries. Responsive — Speed up processes by streamlining them, hence making the system more responsive. Transparent — providing information in the public domain like websites or various portals hence making functions and processes of the government transparent. Interactions in e-Governance, There are 4 kinds of interactions in e-governance  G2C (Government to Citizens) — Interaction between the government and the citizens. This enables citizens to benefit from the efficient delivery of a large range of public services. Expands the accessibility and availability of government services and also improves the quality of services. The primary aim is to make the government citizen-friendly. G2B (Government to Business): It enables the business community to interact with the government by using e-governance tools. The objective is to cut red-tapism which will save time and reduce operational costs. This will also create a more transparent business environment when dealing with the government. The G2B initiatives help in services such as licensing, procurement, permits and revenue collection. G2G (Government to Government)- Enables seamless interaction between various government entities. This kind of interaction can be between various departments and agencies within government or between two governments like the union and state governments or between state governments. The primary aim is to increase efficiency, performance and output. G2E (Government to Employees)- This kind of interaction is between the government and its employees. ICT tools help in making these interactions fast and efficient and thus increases the satisfaction levels of employees. Benefits/ Outcomes of E-Governance Enhanced Transparency and Accountability. Expanded reach of Governance. Improved Public Administration. Enables Environment for Promoting Economic development. Improved service delivery in the form of better access to information and quality services to citizens. Initiatives under e-governance A National Task Force on Information Technology and Software Development was set-up in 1998. The Ministry of Information Technology was created at the Centre in 1999. A 12-point agenda was listed for e-Governance for implementation in all the central ministries and departments. The National e-Governance Plan (NeGP), provides a holistic view of e-Governance initiatives across the country. Bhoomi Project (Karnataka): Online Delivery of Land Records- Bhoomi is a self-sustainable e-Governance project for the computerized delivery of 20 million rural land records to 6.7 million farmers of Karnataka. e-Seva (Andhra Pradesh)- Designed to provide ‘Government to Citizen’ and ‘e-Business to Citizen’ services. All the services are delivered online to consumers /citizens by connecting them to the respective government departments and providing online information at the point of service delivery. e-Courts- Launched by the Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice. The Mission Mode Project (MMP) aims at utilizing technology for improved provisioning of judicial services to citizens. Conclusion With the penetration of technology in the hands of a layman, e-governance aims to empower citizens with service delivery without time delay and in effective manner. India is emerging as the country with highest monthly internet usage. The more steps need to be taken to increase the penetration of services in effective and efficient manner.  2. What are the limitations of digital governance in India? Examine. Approach Since the question is asking you to examine, you have to probe deeper into the topic and understand the topic in detail. Here you are expected to investigate and establish the key facts and issues related to the question. Introduction  Digital Governance can be defined as the application of communication and information technology for providing government services, exchange of information, transactions, integration of previously existing services and information portals. Governments all over the world are initiating steps to involve IT in all governmental processes due to the rapid rise of the internet and digitization. Body  THE LIMITATIONS OF DIGITAL GOVERNANCE IN INDIA  E-governance uses IT technology to provide basic facilities to deliver government services. Its limitations are: Universal public Internet access and dynamic IT applications-oriented literacy is a far-fetched theory. Literacy in India is a key for social-economic progress, and the literacy rate is currently 74.04%.This literacy rate is the reason that acts as a challenging task for the government to implement e-governance in the country. Reliability of the digitally published information when rules, regulations, and requirements get changed on daily basis remains questionable. Inequality of Income plays an important role in proving as a challenge of digital governance. this imbalance of income will act as a major challenge for the government because there is still a very large part of the whole population that cannot even afford to spend money on satisfying their hunger; ‟ then how can we expect them to go digital. The absence of interpersonal communication with and by the governmental agencies can leave many stakeholders unattended and disappointed. The Indian population is a bunch of diversified cultures and emotions that do not always goes in the same direction. This may play a part as a hindrance while implementing e-governance. It has no concrete solution to deal with a complex relationship between personal privacy and big data which could have implications for both higher surveillance and monitoring and the breach of the right to privacy. Complex issues are difficult to address and resolve through e-governance. Before Internet literacy, Internet infrastructure to interconnect computers and users on the Internet is an essential requirement. This infrastructure includes physical hardware, transmission media, and software; without this, e-governance is a remote service. A personal internet infrastructure is needed to avoid giving personal data to a third party. Implementing, maintaining, and optimizing e-governance incurs regular costs, perhaps, this necessitates an e-governance budget. Its inaccessibility to the underprivileged is a serious concern. A prerequisite for e-governance is the full integration of e-services across administrative boundaries, which has more political implications. The lack of ICT skills is one of the major challenges to e-governance service delivery. Conclusion The e-governance applications allow citizens, trades and government entities to access available government information round the clock including every second and make the delivery of government services more effective and reachable across various government domains. The potential which e-governance has makes public administration responsive and effective, and can truly involve citizens in the process of governance by broadening their scope of interacting with policymakers throughout the policy cycle for the social and economic growth of the nation. 3. What are the recent steps announced by the government for improving digital literacy? Discuss. Approach: The question demands to explain the current measures of transparency in the policy making in the country. The answer should mention about the CBI, CVC, Lokpal and RTI as main parts and also include social audit and CAG as other accountability and transparency measures.  Introduction: Digital India is a campaign launched by the Government of India in order to ensure the Government's services are made available to citizens electronically by improved online infrastructure and by increasing Internet connectivity or making the country digitally empowered in the field of technology. The initiative includes plans to connect rural areas with high-speed internet networks. It consists of three core components: the development of secure and stable digital infrastructure, delivering government services digitally, and universal digital literacy. Body: Digital India was launched by the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi on 1 July 2015, with an objective of connecting rural areas with high-speed Internet networks and improving digital literacy. The vision of Digital India programme is inclusive growth in areas of electronic services, products, manufacturing and job opportunities. It is centred on three key areas – digital infrastructure as a utility to every citizen, governance and services on demand, and digital empowerment of citizens. Aadhaar identity platform is one of the key pillars of ‘Digital India’, wherein every resident of the country is provided with a unique identity or Aadhaar number. The largest biometrics based identification system in the world, Aadhaar is a strategic policy tool for social and financial inclusion, public sector delivery reforms, managing fiscal budgets, increase convenience and promote hassle-free people-centric governance. Bharat Broadband Network Limited is a special purpose vehicle set-up under Companies Act by the Government of India with an authorized capital of Rs. 1000 cr. It has been mandated to create the National Optical Fiber Network (NOFN) in India. A total of around 2,50,000 Gram Panchayats spread over 6,600 Blocks and 641 Districts are to be covered by laying incremental fiber. The Digital Saksharta Abhiyan or National Digital Literacy Mission (NDLM) Scheme has been formulated to impart IT training to 52.5 lakh persons, including Anganwadi, ASHA workers and authorised ration dealers in all the States/UTs across the country. The initiative aims at training non-IT literate citizens to become IT literate to enable their active and effective participation in the democratic, developmental process, and enhance their livelihood too. DBT was initiated with the aim to reform government delivery system by re-engineering the existing process in welfare schemes for simpler and faster flow of information/funds and to ensure accurate targeting of the beneficiaries, de-duplication and reduction of fraud. DBT will bring efficiency, effectiveness, transparency and accountability in the Government system and infuse confidence of citizen in the governance. Use of modern technology and IT tools will realize the dream of MAXIMUM GOVERNANCE MINIMUM GOVERNMENT. Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS) is a plan scheme conceived in the light of experience of a non-plan scheme namely - Common Integrated Police Application (CIPA). CCTNS aims at creating a comprehensive and integrated system for enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of policing through adopting of principle of e-Governance and creation of a nationwide networking infrastructure for evolution of IT-enabled-state-of-the-art tracking system around 'Investigation of crime and detection of criminals'. e-Granthalaya is an Integrated Library Management Software developed by National Informatics Centre, (NIC), Department of Electronics & Information Technology. The application is useful for automation of in-house activities of libraries and to provide various online member services.  eBiz is being implemented by Infosys Technologies Limited (Infosys) under the guidance and aegis of Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India. The focus of eBiz is to improve the business environment in the country by enabling fast and efficient access to Government-to-Business (G2B) services through an online portal.  National Agriculture Market (NAM) is a pan-India electronic trading portal which networks the existing APMC (Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee) mandis to create a unified national market for agricultural commodities. The NAM Portal provides a single window service for all APMC related information and services. This includes commodity arrivals and prices, buy and sell trade offers and provision to respond to trade offers, among other services. Conclusion: Several academic scholars have critiqued ICTs in development. Some take issue with technological determinism, the notion that ICTs are a sure-fire antidote to the world's problems. Instead, governments must adjust solutions to the specific political and social context of their nation. Others note that technology amplifies underlying institutional forces, so technology must be accompanied by significant changes in policy and institutions in order to have meaningful impact. 4. How can e-governance initiatives help in increasing farmers’ income? Illustrate. Approach A simple and straightforward question where in the candidate needs to illustrate how e-governance initiatives can help in increasing farmers’ incomes with suitable examples and substantiation. Introduction Agriculture’s importance in India is difficult to overemphasize where it accounts for about 13 percent of the country’s GDP and employs about 45 percent of its workforce. Digital applications can play a critical role in improving yields — as well as reducing costs and increasing the market value of crops — by making it easier for farmers to obtain finance, optimize agricultural inputs, and increase direct access to markets.  Body A Centrally Sponsored Scheme namely National e-Governance Plan in Agriculture (NeGPA) was initially launched in 2010-11, which aims to achieve rapid development in India through use of Information & Communication Technology (ICT) for timely access to agriculture related information. In 2014-15, the scheme was further extended for all the remaining States and 2 UTs. Realizing the significance of new digital & emerging technologies, the Committee on Doubling Farmers’ Income (DFI) has recommended further expanding and augmenting of the digital agriculture initiatives of Government of India.  The report focused on modern management of agriculture viz. Remote Sensing; Geographical Information System; Data Analytics and Cloud Computing; Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning; Internet of Things; Robotics, Drones & Sensors and Block-chain. E-governance initiatives helping in increasing farmers’ income can be seen from the following points – Enabling digital financing and insurance pay-outs by facilitating consolidated information, credit scoring models, and yield forecasting models using satellite and weather data. For example, Digital applications are making crop insurance system faster and more accurate. The timely availability of right information: The timely information and practical solutions of the agricultural problems allows the farmers to adopt good agricultural practices, make better choices of inputs and to plan the cultivation properly. Its proper utilisation is indispensable for agriculture. Ex: Kisan Call Centres, M-Kisan etc.  Introducing precision agriculture using data analytics, with an integrated agricultural data platform across all existing and new data sources. This initiative could raise farm productivity by 15 to 20 percent. For example, Real-time agricultural data can help to increase yields and decrease costs. Implementing online agricultural marketplaces linked to a unified, nationwide market with a set of institutional market facilitators and common assaying and grading standards. Such e-marketplaces could cover 40 to 60 percent of agricultural produce sold in India, leading to 15 percent farmers’ price gains, as demonstrated by pilots. For example, Technology is bringing transparency to India’s agricultural markets. The e-Choupal model has been specifically designed to tackle the challenges posed by the unique features of Indian agriculture. 'e-Choupal' also unshackles the potential of Indian farmer who has been trapped in a vicious cycle of low risk-taking ability > low investment > low productivity > weak market orientation > low value addition > low margin > low risk-taking ability. Government Initiatives – Kisan Suvidha, a Digital India initiative, is a mobile app providing information to farmers. Farmers can be informed on the weather alerts, market prices, availability of seeds and fertilisers, agro advisories etc. Pusa Krishi is an app designed for farmers to use in the fields. It provides information on the weather so that farmers can take measures to save crops.  mKISAN is a mobile based advisory service linked to call centres connected to research centres. Knowledge is disseminated to farmers that is timely, specific, holistic and needs based. Soil Health Card promotes integrated nutrient management through the use of chemical fertilisers and organic manures. Provides soil test based recommendations and ensures quality control of fertilisers.  National Agriculture Market (eNAM) is a pan-India electronic trading portal creating a national market for agricultural commodities through a government platform. It includes commodity arrivals and prices.  AgMarknet provides agricultural market information and price trends through a government platform.  Conclusion It is essential to mobilise States and UTs to own and target stipulated goals with the help of concerted and well-coordinated efforts in terms of e-governance initiatives and their implementation for the Country to achieve the goal of doubling farmers’ income by the year 2022. 5. Do a critical assessment of the Digital India initiative. Approach: Candidates are expected to write about digital India initiative, and then do critical assessment of the digital India initiative.  Introduction The Digital India initiative has been launched with an aim of transforming the country into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. The Digital India would ensure that Government services are available to citizens electronically. It would also bring in public accountability through mandated delivery of government’s services electronically. Body There are major nine pillars of Digital India that are mentioned below: Broadband Highways Universal Access to Mobile Connectivity Public Internet Access Programme e-Governance e-Kranti Information for All Electronics Manufacturing IT for Jobs Early Harvest Programmes Progress and Impact of Digital India Programme: Overall 12000 rural post office branches have been linked electronically. Increased in electronic transactions related to e-governance as it is estimated that there are more than 100 cr mobile phones in India. 2, 74,246 km of optical fiber network has connected over 1.15lakh Gram Panchayats under the Bharat Net programme. Critical assessment of Digital India initiative: Less co-ordination among various departments: As we know it is very large project that consist of many departments. So, timely and strong support of departments is very important for properly and timely completion of the projects. Implementation Cost is very high: As shown above still very high amount is required to implement the Digital India plan. Infrastructure: Robust and large data centre (used to store large data of entire country) are other supportive infrastructure require for National Optic Fibre Network (NOFN) project. It is planned to build for high speed broadband highway. The biggest challenge faced by ‘Digital India’ is the slow and delayed infrastructure development. Spectrum availability in Indian metros is about a tenth of the same in cities in developed countries. Excess time: Project like NOFN has been delayed several times and taken almost 2 year so, it has also delayed other related projects. The project will be successful when it completed on time. Contribution of Private Players: Many regulations as well as very long and delayed projects are inhibiting the entry of private organization in Digital India programme. Private organization will play a necessary role in its success. Rural area problem: Many people in rural areas have no Internet connection, and also the content in regional languages is not sufficient to keep the readers engaged. Only 15% of the households can access the Internet, and few people can access mobile broadband. This scenario is despite the increasing affordability of ICT environment in the country. Digital illiteracy: According to World Economic Forum (WEF) 2016 report, nearly 33% of Indian population is functionally illiterate, one-third of youth do not attend secondary education. There are vast differences in urban centers such as metropolitan cities and remote rural areas, where an even basic service for example electricity is unavailable to run the Digital India program. Cyber security: India’s growing economy and digital push have caught the attention of hackers and an increasing wave of cyber attacks could soon badly impact the country. Conclusion The Digital India initiative is the beginning of a digital revolution, once properly implemented; it will create numerous new opportunities for the citizens. However, the Digital India program success will associate with the regulatory framework. The Government completely ensures that these regulations create such an environment in which private organizations come in, work together and create efficient ecosystems. The Government role should be line with administration that is Maximum role of Governance and Minimum role of Government, With these efforts India will be digitally ready within three years.   TLP HOT Synopsis Day 85 PDF

Apr 24, 2021 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

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

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Special Task Force to Monitor J&K Government Employees  Part of: GS Prelims and GS – II - Policy and Governance  In news The J&K government constituted a Special Task Force (STF) for identifying and scrutinising the government employees who are involved in any cases related to posing threat to the security or anti-national activities. Key takeaways  The STF will have the ADGP, (CID), J&K, as its chairman and the IGP, representatives of the Home Department; Department of Law, Justice Member and Parliamentary Affairs and the concerned department as its members. The STF will scrutinise cases of employees suspected of activities requiring action under Article 311(2)(C) of the Constitution. The STF has been tasked to compile records of such employees and engage with other members of the Terror Monitoring Group (TMG) for identifying such other employees. The move comes as a number of government employees in the past were found expressing their political opinion in public space on the Kashmir conflict. Important value additions  Article 311(2) in The Constitution Of India, 1949 No such person as aforesaid shall be dismissed or removed or reduced in rank except after an inquiry in which he has been informed of the charges against him and given a reasonable opportunity of being heard in respect of those charges. Provided further that this clause shall not apply: where a person is dismissed or removed or reduced in rank on the ground of conduct which has led to his conviction on a criminal charge; or where the authority empowered to dismiss or remove a person or to reduce him in rank ins satisfied that for some reason, to be recorded by that authority in writing, it is not reasonably practicable to hold such inquiry; or where the President or the Governor, as the case may be, is satisfied that in the interest of the security of the State, it is not expedient to hold such inquiry 5th session of Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH) Part of: GS Prelims and GS –III - Economy  In news The Fifth session of Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH), began virtually.  Host: India  Secretariat of Committee: Spices Board India  CCSCH is established under Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) Important value additions  Codex Committee On Spices And Culinary Herbs (CCSCH) Objective: To develop and expand worldwide standards for spices and culinary herbs Formed in: 2013  It was formed with support of more than a hundred countries Host: India  Secretariat of Committee: Spices Board India  Since its inception, the CCSCH has been successful in developing harmonised global Codex standards for spices and herbs. In its past four sessions, the committee developed and finalized standards for four spices, viz. dried or dehydrated forms of black/white/green pepper, cumin, thyme, and garlic.  Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) Set up in: 1963.  It is an intergovernmental body Established jointly by: UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), within the framework of the Joint Food Standards Programme  Objective: To protect the health of consumers and ensure fair practices in the food trade. Appointment of retired judges as ad-hoc judges in High Courts Part of: GS Prelims and GS – II - Constitution; Judiciary In news The Supreme Court cleared the way for appointment of retired judges as ad-hoc judges in High Courts (HCs) under Article 224A of the Constitution to deal with mounting backlog of cases. Around 57 lakh cases in HCs are pending This will be applicable for two to three years to clear the backlog. Important value additions  Article 224A  It deals with appointment of ad-hoc judges in High Courts. It is used rarely  It says “the Chief Justice of a High Court for any State may at any time, with the previous consent of the President, request any person who has held the office of a Judge of that Court or of any other High Court to sit and act as a Judge of the High Court for that State”. Russia’s space agency hopes to launch its own orbital station Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III Sci & tech; Space  In news Russia’s space agency (Roscosmos) hopes to launch its own orbital station in 2025 as it considers withdrawing from the International Space Station programme to go it alone. Key takeaways  Work had begun on the first module of a new station.  The announcement came with tensions soaring with the West. Russia lost its monopoly for manned flights to the ISS last year after the first successful mission of U.S. company Space X. Do you know?  ISS was launched in 1998 and involves Russia, USA, Canada, Japan, and the European Space Agency  It is one of the most ambitious international collaborations in human history. Miscellaneous Earth Day  Earth Day was celebrated on April 22. It is an international event celebrated around the world to pledge support for environmental protection. Theme: ‘Restore Our Earth’.  The theme focuses on natural processes, emerging green technologies, and innovative thinking that can restore the world’s ecosystems. This year, seven major climate-related events are taking place in parallel on April 22, including the Leaders’ Summit on Climate hosted by the USA and the Exponential Climate action Summit on Financing the Race to Zero emissions. Earth Day was first observed in 1970, when 20 million took to the streets to protest against environmental degradation.  The event was triggered by the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill, and other issues such as smog and polluted rivers. In 2009, the United Nations designated April 22 as ‘International Mother Earth Day’. (Mains Focus) GOVERNANCE/ ECONOMY/ SOCIETY Topic: GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Urban Housing  Issues Growth of Slums: The long-existing problem of shortage of affordable formal housing in India has pushed 40% of people to move to overcrowded informal and unauthorised colonies and slums. Harassment by authorities: Slum-dwellers live in congested and insecure localities, in constant danger of eviction and displacement. Substandard Quality of Life: Over 65 million people live in urban slums or informal settlements with poor living conditions, inadequate access to safe water and sanitation, overcrowding and insecure residential status.  Why addressing Housing Issue is important? Socio-Economic Development: Security of land tenure and stable access to housing have the potential to unlock massive economic and social value for India’s poorest.  Multiplier Effect: Addressing ‘housing poverty’ in India can be a simultaneous weapon against many other developmental issues — better physical safety and public health, sanitation, livelihoods, dignified living and human development. Way Ahead Sustainable approach: Government need to make the process of urbanisation more equitable and sustainable. Empowering Migrants: Maximising transparency in the rural-to-urban migration decisions and thus, empowering the otherwise vulnerable migrant workers. Civil Society Contribution: Entrepreneurs, nonprofits, philanthropists and policy-makers need to collectively develop meaningful interventions for the economically and socially disadvantaged. Leveraging innovation & digital technologies for inclusivity: Innovations in housing fabrication like use of Recycled material makes urbanization more sustainable, Open data solutions connecting the government, and a more focused economic push for property rights of women and facilitation rights of vulnerable populations/ tribals Institutional Welfare measures: Insurance facility, Legal aid, awareness, and dispute resolution; Innovations for affordable housing; Access to welfare schemes and financial services. Connecting the dots: PM Awas Yojana PM SVANidhi Scheme (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note: Correct answers of today’s questions will be provided in next day’s DNA section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers. Comments Up-voted by IASbaba are also the “correct answers”. Q.1 Which of the following article deals with appointment of ad-hoc judges in High Courts? Article 26  Article 330 Article 224A Article 32 Q.2 What was the theme of this year’s Earth Day?  Environmental and climate education Restore Our Earth End Plastic Pollution Protect Our Species. Q.3 Consider the following statements regarding Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) It was established by WHO alone.  Its objective is to To protect the health of consumers and ensure fair practices in the food trade. Which of the above is/are correct?  1 only  2 only  Both 1 and 2  Neither 1 nor 2  Q.4 Consider the following statements regarding Codex Committee On Spices And Culinary Herbs (CCSCH): India is the host country.  The committee has developed and finalized standards for dried or dehydrated forms of black/white/green pepper, cumin, thyme, and garlic in its last four session Which of the above is/are correct?  1 only  2 only  Both 1 and 2  Neither 1 nor 2  ANSWERS FOR 23rd April 2021 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 B 2 A Must Read On the Election Commission’s COVID-19 curbs: The Hindu On Pandemic’s second wave: Indian Express

Apr 24, 2021 Important Articles

[COURSE] Sociology Optional - Foundation Course 2022 by Dr. Vamshi Krishna Sir

“The most comprehensive programme to equip yourself for Sociology Optional”  - Sanjita Mohapatra  IAS, AIR -10 CSE-2019  “The dynamic questions asked in the practice tests mirrored the questions asked in the exam due to which I could answer them confidently in the mains examination”                                                                                                                                                                               -Vikram Dahiya                                                                                                                                                                                     IPS, 2019 After the tremendous response to the eCLP Sociology Optional Program 2021 with over 250 enrollments and with demands from the aspirant community to start the program for 2022. We have come with an improved and updated program “Sociology Optional Foundation Course-2022” The entire ecosystem of the Sociology Foundation Course 2022 is designed in such a way that even a first-time student with no specialized knowledge in the subject will be able to compete and outdo even the experienced candidates and face the questions with utmost confidence. For More Details about the Sociology Optional – Foundation Course – CLICK HERE For more enquiries please reach us at - sociology@iasbaba.com and 6366456458/8429688885

Apr 24, 2021 TLP Mains Answer Writing

IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1 – ENGLISH & हिंदी): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – General Studies Paper 4 Questions [23rd April,2021] – Day 89

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE Hello Friends, Welcome to IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1- ENGLISH & हिंदी): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – General Studies 4 Questions [23rd April 2020] – Day 89 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 does information sharing lead to better outcomes? Illustrate. जानकारी साझा करने से बेहतर परिणाम कैसे प्राप्त होते हैं? चित्रण करें। 2. Discuss the ways in which adherence to codes of ethics lead to positive behavioural changes. उन तरीकों पर चर्चा करें जिनमें आचार संहिता का पालन सकारात्मक व्यवहार परिवर्तन का कारण बनता है। 3. What are the challenges in enforcing model code of conduct during elections? Discuss. चुनाव के दौरान आदर्श आचार संहिता लागू करने में क्या चुनौतियाँ हैं? चर्चा करें। 4. What are the key elements of a good work culture? Why is it important? Analyse. एक अच्छी कार्य संस्कृति के प्रमुख तत्व क्या हैं? यह महत्वपूर्ण क्यों है? विश्लेषण करें। 5. How will you design the citizen charter of a space organisation? आप अंतरिक्ष संगठन के नागरिक चार्टर को कैसे डिजाइन करेंगे? 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 :)

Apr 24, 2021 IASbaba Prelims 60 Day Plan

IASbaba’s 60 Day Plan - IAS Prelims Test Series 2021 - ENVIRONMENT, CURRENT AFFAIRS & CSAT [Day 30]

For Previous (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE Hello Friends,    [embed]https://https://www.youtube.com/embed/x5ldu2jV8N0[/embed] ARCHIVES OF 60 DAYS NOTE: IASbaba's 60 DAY questions will be posted around 10 AM. The solution will be released around 6 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 6 PM), cross-check the answers and, comment the marks (you scored) in the same comment thread. This will keep you accountable, responsible and sincere in days to come.  You can also take part in the discussion with peers.   ENVIRONMENT [DAY 30] - 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    

Apr 23, 2021 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

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

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) India Should Be a ‘Country of Particular Concern ’: U.S. Panel  Part of: GS Prelims and GS – II - International Relations; Fundamental Rights In news The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), an independent bi-partisan commission, has recommended for the 2nd year in a row that the State Department put India on a list (‘Countries of Particular Concern’ or CPCs) for the worst violations of religious freedoms in 2020. Key takeaways  The USCISRF recommended that the administration impose targeted sanctions on Indian individuals and entities for “severe violations of religious freedom”. A second recommendation was for the administration to promote inter-faith dialogue and the rights of all communities at bilateral and multilateral forums “such as the ministerial of the Quadrilateral [the Quad]”. Another recommendation was to raise issues in the U.S.-India bilateral space, such as by hosting hearings, writing letters and constituting Congressional delegations. Do you know?  The USCIRF recommendations are non-binding.  The key concerns of the 2021 report include the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. RESPOND Programme of ISRO Part of: GS Prelims and GS – III - Sci & tech; Space In news IIT, Delhi said that the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced that it will support eight joint research projects mooted by the Space Technology Cell (STC), IIT-Delhi. Key takeaways  The ISRO will support the projects under its RESPOND programme with varying duration of 1-3 years.  STC was set up at IIT, Delhi under an MoU signed between the ISRO and IIT-D in November 2019.  Aim of STC: To strengthen the research collaboration between the two organisations and to carry out focused research projects in the space technology domain with specific deliverables. Since then, eight collaborative research projects have been announced. Some of the projects include developing a system for drought and flood forecasting and understanding land-atmosphere interactions. Main objectives of the RESPOND Programme: To establish strong links with premiere academic institutions in India to carry out research and developmental projects which are of relevance to Space and derive useful outputs of such R&D to support ISRO programmes. Production of Urea through coal gasification Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III Economy  In news Union Cabinet has given its approval for the proposal of the Department of Fertilizers.  It had proposed for the formulation of a subsidy policy for Urea produced through coal gasification by Talcher Fertilizers Limited (TFL). Key takeaways  Considering the strategic energy security and urea self-sufficiency of India and looking into vast coal reserves, it has been decided to go ahead with TFL plant based on coal gasification technology. The project shall improve availability of fertilizer to farmers thereby boosting development of eastern region and will save transport subsidy for supply of urea in the region. It would assist in reducing Urea imports to the tune of 12.7 LMT per annum leading to savings in foreign exchange. Do you know?  Talcher Fertilizers Ltd. (TFL) is a Joint Venture Company of four PSUs namely Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers (RCF), GAIL (India) Ltd. (GAIL), Coal India Ltd. (CIL) and Fertilizer Corporation of India Ltd. (FCIL) which was incorporated on 13th November, 2015. Important value additions Coal gasification  It is the process of producing syngas—a mixture consisting primarily of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, natural gas, and water vapour —from coal and water, air and/or oxygen. India on U.S.'s Currency Watchlist Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II International Relations  In news The U.S. Treasury Department recently retained India on a watchlist for currency manipulators submitted to the U.S. Congress, citing higher dollar purchases (close to 5% of the GDP) by RBI.  Key takeaways  Another trigger for the inclusion on the currency watchlist is a trade surplus of $20 billion or more. India’s trade surplus with the U.S. grew by about $5 billion to $23 billion in 2020-21 as imports fell more sharply than exports in the COVID-affected year. According to India, the RBI had been taking necessary steps to maintain stability in the financial markets and not accumulating forex reserves.  It is a mandate of the central bank to provide stability in the currency as a result of which central banks buy and sell foreign currency.  India's overall reserves have been fairly steady at $500 billion to $600 billion. Boao Forum for Asia  Part of: GS Prelims and GS –II - International Relations  In news Boao Forum was held recently.  Important value additions  Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Headquarter: China It is an international organization jointly initiated by 29 member states. It holds its annual conference in Boao, Hainan, China on a regular basis. Founding purpose: To promote economic integration in Asia.  Mission: To pool positive energy for the development of Asia and the world. First conference: Feb. 26-27, 2001  It is modelled on the World Economic Forum held annually in Davos, Switzerland. (Mains Focus) HEALTH/ GOVERNANCE Topic: GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Covid-19 Vaccination: Challenges, Chinese Model & Way Forward Context: Eight months ago, India had begun a decline in daily Covid-19 infections to the extent that many experts believed that a devastating second wave was unlikely in India. However, the second wave of Covid-19 has brought health infrastructure to a near collapse Moreover, India’s options for containing the pandemic are narrowing as it can ill-afford another lockdown now. In this context, the combination of panic, public pressure, and the magnitude of the crisis has prompted the Union Government to authorize vaccines to anyone above 18 and give states more control over procurement. Issues with Accelerated Rollout of the Vaccine Vaccine Shortage: Problems in scaling up production, and in the supply and management of vaccines continue amid the surge in cases. At the optimistic rate of three million doses a day, it would take at least 260 days from April for every adult to get at least a single shot. Changing Vaccination Policy: The processes initiated by the government in early January 2021 to expand India’s manufacturing capacity were under the assumption that it would be at least August before vaccines could be fully opened up for all. Given the shortage of vaccines, India cannot afford to have a single or universal policy and needs to make it more targeted. Weak Bargaining Power of States: Leading international vaccinators such as Pfizer and Moderna have supply commitments already tied up and it is unclear if merely the policy move of liberalising vaccine supply will leave States in India with the finances and negotiating power to procure enough stocks of vaccines.  Unequal Access between States: Leaving states to their own means will only increase policy incoherence and unequal access between states with different fiscal capacities and healthcare infrastructure Shortage of Raw Material: The inability of getting the much-needed raw materials from the United States – bags, vials, cell culture media, single-use tubing, specialized chemicals, etc. that have now been banned for export has disrupted the vaccine production in India. Balancing Global Commitments: Another issue is concerning international obligations. Of the 38 million doses the global alliance program Covax has so far distributed to 84 countries, 28 million doses were from India. That obligation may have to be followed up perhaps as they would need for their second dose. How China Contained COVID-19 Virus? – Stellar role by Residential Committees At the grassroots, the most critical role was played by the residential committees (RCs). Though officially not part of the state and defined as institutions of self-governance, these committees are the instruments of the communist party for effective governance and political control.  They are mandated to perform administrative tasks, implement policy, mediate local disputes, and assist government agencies with maintaining public surveillance, health and sanitation, care for the elderly, etc. At the outbreak of the epidemic, after the initial days of confusion and voluntary action by individuals, the RCs soon took charge. In Wuhan, for example, all 7,148 communities were closed off. Community workers strictly enforced rules of entry and exit. They also made calls to residents asking about family members’ health and status, knocked on residents’ doors to conduct regular temperature checks, gathered information about travel history, provided home delivery of daily food necessities to people in self-quarantine and elderly residents, helped in contact tracing and transferring sick persons to community health centres. etc. Central leadership made provisions for the benefit of the workers like subsidies, provision of health equipment, insurance, publicity, and other institutional support. Clear channels were established by Central Leadership to pass down resources and authority from central to local organisations. Way Ahead Massive Multimedia Campaigns: If fresh lockdowns are to be avoided, we need to enforce masks by investing in massive multimedia campaigns for information, education, and communication, like it was done for polio and HIV. Strengthening VaccineSupply Chain: Enhancing Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network (eVIN) system will enhance real-time information on vaccine stocks and storage temperatures across all country’s cold chain points. Boosting Domestic Production: Government should provide necessary financial packages for ramping up domestic production of vaccine manufacturers for expanding their production facilities and improving upon their supply chains. Learning from China’s RC Model: Many urban areas have residential associations and local governments that can undertake similar mobilisation as RCs in China. However, this cannot be done without a centralised plan of action, which is the key aspect of this model.  Centralised Leadership & Support to states: Given the nature of this pandemic, the need of the hour is for the central leadership to step up and coordinate policy measures across the country. INTERNATIONAL/ ECONOMY/ GOVERNANCE Topic: GS-2: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests. GS-3: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life  Data and A New Global Order Digital Data Revolution – Strategic Implications Military and civilian systems are symbiotic due nature and pervasiveness of digital data Cybersecurity is national security, and this requires both a new military doctrine and a diplomatic framework. Massive amounts of data generated by people & economic activities give a sustained productivity advantage to Asia. Data streams are now at the centre of global trade and countries’ economic and national power.  India, thus, has the capacity to negotiate new rules as an equal with the U.S. and China. China and Digital Sector Innovation based on data streams has contributed to China’s rise as the second-largest economy and the “near-peer” of the U.S. China’s digital technology-led capitalism is moving fast to utilise the economic potential of data, pushing the recently launched e-yuan and shaking the dollar-based settlement for global trade. China has a $53-trillion mobile payments market and it is the global leader in the online transactions arena, controlling over 50% of the global market value. China formed a joint venture with SWIFT for cross-border payments and suggested foundational principles for interoperability between central bank digital currencies at the Bank for International Settlements. Dynamics With Asia at the centre of the world, major powers see value in relationships with India.  India fits into the U.S. frame to provide leverage. China wants India, also a digital power, to see it as a partner, not a rival.  And China remains the largest trading partner of both the U.S. and India despite sanctions and border skirmishes. India alone straddles both U.S. and China-led strategic groupings, providing an equity-based perspective to competing visions.  India must be prepared to play a key role in moulding rules for the hyper-connected world, facing off both the U.S. and China to realise its potential of becoming the second-largest 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 Consider the following statements regarding RESPOND programme: It is a program by DRDO. To establish strong links with premiere academic institutions in India is one of the objectives of the programme.  Which of the above is/are correct?  1 only  2 only  Both 1 and 2  Neither 1 nor 2  Q.2 Headquarter of Boao Forum is situated in?  China Philippines  Vietnam  Japan ANSWERS FOR 22nd April 2021 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 A 2 D 3 A Must Read On Tribunalisation of Justice: The Hindu On Election rallies amidst Pandemic: The Hindu On Pandemic’s impact on informal Sector: Indian Express