May 7, 2021 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

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

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

May 7, 2021 Motivational Articles

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

For Previous Story -> CLICK HERE Inspirational Stories: Here is the story for this week from the new series of Inspirational and Motivational stories. One of the oldest known forms of communication is story telling. There is something primordial within us that loves stories and their tremendous impact. In this series, we aim to bring you the best of real-life stories that can inspire and motivate you. Stories always try to teach us something useful. It is one of the best ways of learning from other's mistakes and avoiding our own. Although each story has its own moral, in the comments section you can share your opinion on the moral of the story. If you are able to see something that others might have missed, you can share it for the benefit of all. Apart from just reading these awesome stories, you can also share some of the stories that have inspired you. If we find the story appropriate and useful, we will share it with all. More importantly, read these stories every week without a miss, and stay inspired.   So Here is the story for this week - The Ultimate Gift ! There was once a little girl who desperately needed an emergency blood transfusion to save her life.  Her only chance of surviving would be to get a transfusion from her younger brother, who had miraculously overcome the same disease she had, and therefore had antibodies in his blood that were needed to fight the illness. The doctor explained to the little boy that it would save his sister’s life if he were to give her his blood. The boy hesitated for a moment before agreeing to give his blood if it would help his sister. At the age of 5, this was scary, but he would do anything to save his big sister’s life. As the blood transfusion was happening, he lay next to his sister in the hospital and was overcome with happiness as he saw the color coming back to her cheeks. Then he looked up at the doctor and quietly asked, “When will I start to die?” The boy had assumed that he was giving his life in order to save hers. The little boy’s parents were astonished over the misunderstanding that led the boy to think they were choosing his sister over him–and even more astonished that he had agreed to do so. The doctor replied, explaining that he was not going to die, he was just going to allow his sister to live a long, healthy life alongside him. The Moral: This is an example of extreme courage and self-sacrificing love from a young boy that we can all learn from. The love and care that he showed for his sister relays an inspiring message about selflessness. While we may not be faced with such a life or death decision, being selfless in general can help us connect with others, which is rewarding and fulfilling. Selflessness encourages you to act from your heart instead of your ego, and can help fill your life with joy.  

May 7, 2021 TLP Mains Answer Writing

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

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

May 7, 2021 IASbaba Prelims 60 Day Plan

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

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

May 6, 2021 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

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

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

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