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DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 10th March 2021

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Trishul Military Airbase under UDAN scheme  Part of: GS Prelims and GS – III – Infrastructure In news The First flight from Delhi to the newly upgraded Trishul Military Airbase, Bareilly Airport, Uttar Pradesh, was recently flagged off. Ministry: Ministry of Civil Aviation Key takeaways  The up gradation has been done under the Regional Connectivity Scheme – Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (RCS-UDAN). Trishul Military Airbase, Bareilly belongs to the Indian Air Force and the land was handed over to the Airport Authority of India for construction of the interim civil aviation operations.  Alliance Air was awarded the Delhi - Bareilly route under the UDAN-4 bidding process last year. Related articles: Direct flight between Kalaburagi to Tirupati UDAN Calls for objective assessment & transparency of scheme Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) Scheme Part of: GS Prelims and GS – III – Energy Resources In news Lok Sabha was informed about SATAT scheme. Ministry: Ministry for Petroleum Important value additions  SATAT scheme was launched on October 01, 2018 Oil and Gas Marketing Companies (OGMCs) are inviting Expression of Interest (EoI) from potential entrepreneurs to procure Compressed Bio Gas (CBG). Provisions under scheme: (1) Assured price for offtake of CBG with long term agreements by OGMCs; (2) Inclusion of bio manures produced from CBG plants as Fermented Organic Manure (FOM) under Fertilizer Control Order 1985; (3) Inclusion of CBG projects under Priority Sector Lending by RBI  9 CBG plants have been commissioned and have started supply of CBG.  These plants are located in Andhra Pradesh (1 No.), Gujarat (3 No.), Haryana (1 No.), Maharashtra (3 No.) and Tamil Nadu (1 No.). These plants are set up by entrepreneurs and private companies who have raised financial resources to develop these plants.  Programmes To Promote Women Entrepreneurship Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – Policies and Governance & GS – III – Entrepreneurship In news Several schemes have been launched by the Indian Government to promote Women Entrepreneurship. Some of them have been discussed below. Pradhan Mantri YUVA (PM YUVA) Yojana Ministry: The Ministry of Skill Development  Objective: Creating an enabling ecosystem through entrepreneurship education, training, advocacy and easy access to entrepreneurship network. ‘Economic Empowerment of Women Entrepreneurs and Startups by Women’  Ministry: Ministry of Skill Development in collaboration with Deutsche Gesellschaftfür Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) Germany. Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) Ministry: Ministry of MSME  It has the target to generate self-employment opportunities through establishment of micro enterprises for non-farm sector. Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETIs)  Ministry: Ministry of Rural Development  It is Skill development program It involves enabling a trainee to take Bank credit and start his/her own Micro-enterprise. Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) Ministry: Ministry of Rural Development  Aim: Eliminating rural poverty through promotion of multiple livelihoods for each rural poor household. Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP)  Under this Sub-scheme of DAY-NRLM, a total of 194,144 enterprises have been set-up up to 31st January, 2021. India’s list of World Heritage Sites  Part of: GS Prelims and GS – I – Culture In news Lok Sabha was informed about the Declaration of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. Ministry: Ministry of Culture and Tourism Key takeaways  At present, India has 38 World Heritage Properties.  All the sites are conserved as per ASI’s Conservation Policy. India has 42 sites listed under Tentative List which is a prerequisite condition for inscription as World Heritage Site. ‘Dholavira: A Harappan City’ has been submitted for nomination of World Heritage Site in 2019-2020. Nomination dossiers of ‘Santiniketan, India’ and ‘Sacred Ensemble of Hoysalas’ have been submitted to UNESCO for the year 2021-22 cycle. Sites are selected on the basis of their potential for fulfilling criteria under Operational Guidelines and demonstration of Outstanding Universal Value. Related articles: Hampi World Heritage site Rakhigarhi (Mains Focus) SOCIETY/ GOVERNANCE Topic: GS-1: Social empowerment GS-2: Mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.  Gender and Sanitation Context: The sustainable development goals (Target 6.2) require India “by 2030, to achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations. Women, Sanitation and Swachh Barat Abhiyan Gender sensitive objective: The Swachh Bharat Grameen Phase I guidelines (2017) state that “requirements and sensitivities related to gender, including dignity and safety issues, are to be taken into account at all stages of sanitation programmes from planning to post-implementation.” Guidelines w.r.t gender dimension: The department of Drinking Water and Sanitation released the guidelines, recognising the gender dimensions of sanitation in India. It emphasised not only the need for women’s participation in planning and implementation of sanitation interventions but also “their leadership in SBM-G committees and institutions”. Guidelines to States: The states were accordingly expected to ensure adequate representation of women in the village water and sanitation committees (VWSCs), leading to optimal gender outcomes. The SBM-Grameen guidelines (Phase I) specifically recommended that 50 per cent of the members of VWSCs should be women. Women for behavioural change: The government has also very effectively used over 8 lakh swachhagrahis, mainly women, who for small honorariums work to push through behavioural change at the community level. Challenges Involved in Gender and Sanitation Risks Involved with Open Defecation: Women face threats to their life and feel unsafe while seeking a toilet facility or while going out for open defecation. This leads to the consumption of less food and water by the women to minimize the need to exit the home to use toilets. Disproportionate burden on women: The desire for privacy during bathing and defecation is different in the case of girls and women than men. Thus, the non-availability of proper sanitation facilities creates a helpless situation for females and leads to the risk of faucal-orally transmitted diseases, urogenital tract infections, urinary incontinence, and chronic constipation. Weak Participation and Proxy for men: In practice, the promoters of swachhta rarely encourage women to participate in water and sanitation committees, which does not guarantee their participation. There were inevitably cases where women were fronts for spouses. Way Ahead Continued Behavioural Change: Information, education, and communication, which aims at behaviour change of the masses, is key to the success Swachh Bharat Mission 2 .0 . The mission speaks of sustained behavioral change while embarking on the newer agendas of sustainable solid waste management and safe disposal of wastewater and reuse. Financial and Livelihood Linkage: There is need to interlink Sanitation & Hygiene with Livelihood: The India Sanitation Coalition has helped link micro-finance with self-help groups run by women for sanitation needs.  Tracking Gender Outcomes: Gender analysis frameworks in development practice supports design, implementation, and measurement that can bridge the gender equality gap in sanitation. A national monitoring and evaluation system to track and measure gender outcomes in SBM is necessary. Gender Sensitization & Training: There is a need for effective communications and training programs to build the capacity of stakeholders on gender targeting, both on the supply and demand sides of interventions. Involving Civil Society: Besides the government, the role of non-state actors, including that of institutions like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Unicef and several NGOs, must be lauded as we pursue sustainable sanitation using a powerful gender lens.  Conclusion There is no doubt that women can help to drive change and bring about lasting change as the jan andolan for swachhta, health and sanitation gains momentum. INTERNATIONAL/ SECURITY Topic: GS-2: Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.  GS-2: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests QUAD Challenges Context: The Quad, which comprises the U.S., Japan, Australia and India been described by the U.S. as having “essential momentum and important potential”. India’s engagement with QUAD China’s action: India’s engagement with the Quad goes back to China’s expanding footprint in South Asia and the Indian Ocean Region over the last few years. China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative was viewed as encroachments into India’s strategic space. India’s reaction: India responded with an upgradation of its naval capabilities and enhancement of ties with the Indian Ocean Region littoral states and other major powers in the region. Shared Concern with USA: Largely as a result of their shared concerns relating to the rise of China, India has been deepening its security ties with the U.S. focused on interoperability of defence equipment and training based on defence purchases, frequent land and sea exercises. How has the grouping evolved over time? Initial Reluctance: India’s involvement with the Quad was initially cautious due to its reluctance to join an overt anti-China coalition.  Expanded the scope: Since November 2017, the joint naval exercises of Quad members are being supplemented by extensive consultations on security issues. Elevation to Ministerial level: In September 2019, India agreed to elevate the Quad platform to ministerial level.  Possibility of Summit level: It is reported Quad would soon meet at summit level in 2021 thus signalling the importance attached to this grouping by the US administration.  Concerns for India Pulled into ambit of Indo-Pacific: The U.S.’s focus on the west Pacific due to aggressive Chinese maritime activity gradually pulled India into the ambit of the Indo-Pacific that views the western Pacific and the Indian Ocean as an integrated geopolitical space. India’s Security concerns ignored: By affiliating with the U.S.-led maritime coalition, India ignored the principal areas of its security concerns in northern borders. Recently with border clashes, China has given India a rude reminder that India’s security concerns lie in its northern borders, not the west Pacific. Divergence with US: New Delhi and Washington see eye to eye on maritime strategy, but not on what to do on the Asian mainland. Structural Issues due to QUAD’s pivot to US: The Quad has a core structural problem as well in that it pivots around the U.S. The U.S. is a super-power with global interests, but it is also self-centred in defining and pursuing its interests, even as its policies experience major shifts due to government change or domestic lobbies Doesn’t have strategic vision: Despite rhetoric relating to the promotion of a ‘rules-based’ world order (the rules being most frequently violated by the U.S. itself), the Quad neither shares a strategic vision nor is it animated by a shared agenda.  Conclusion India’s foreign policy has often been ad hoc, reactive and short term, reflecting the absence of a broad strategic culture. As the global scenario gets more complex and India’s ambitions increase, a cohesive strategic vision would give substance and drive to India’s pursuit of its interests over the long term. Connecting the dots: China’s Belt and Road Initiative Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Reviving SAARC to deal with China (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 among the following is the most unique feature of Dholavira site of the Indus Valley Civilization?  Its cities were horizontally divided in multiple parts Its cities were unevenly divided Its cities were divided into 3 parts None of these Q.2 Which of the following is the prime objective of UDAN scheme? To make flights run on time. To increase number of international flights from India To make flights affordable for common man To provide hygienic and affordable food to flight passengers. Q.3 SATAT scheme has been launched by which of the following Ministry? Ministry of MSMEs Ministry of Petroleum Ministry of textiles Ministry of Education ANSWERS FOR 9th March 2021 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 C 2 D 3 C 4 D Must Read On agri-regulatory system: The Hindu On judicial patriarchy: The Hindu On UK-Japan relations: Indian Express

IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1 – ENGLISH & हिंदी): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – General Studies Paper 1 Questions [10th March,2021] – Day 51

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE Hello Friends, Welcome to IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1- ENGLISH & हिंदी): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – General Studies 1 Questions [10th March 2020] – Day 51 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 are the historical factors responsible for the prevalence of inequalities in the Indian society? Discuss. भारतीय समाज में असमानताओं की व्यापकता के लिए कौन से ऐतिहासिक कारक जिम्मेदार हैं? चर्चा करें। 2. How are social media platforms changing societal norms and values? Explain with the help of suitable examples.  सोशल मीडिया प्लेटफॉर्म सामाजिक मानदंडों और मूल्यों को कैसे बदल रहे हैं? उपयुक्त उदाहरणों की सहायता से समझाएँ। 3. What role have caste based political parties played in Indian politics? Have their activities and movements led to real upliftment and empowerment of the caste groups represented by them? Critically examine. भारतीय राजनीति में जाति आधारित राजनीतिक दलों की क्या भूमिका रही है? क्या उनकी गतिविधियों और आंदोलनों ने उनके द्वारा प्रतिनिधित्व किए गए जाति समूहों का वास्तविक उत्थान और सशक्तिकरण किया है? समालोचनात्मक जांच करें। 4. Is embracing western culture detrimental to India’s rich social diversity? Critically comment.  क्या पश्चिमी संस्कृति भारत की समृद्ध सामाजिक विविधता के लिए हानिकारक है? समालोचनात्मक टिप्पणी करें। 5. Comment on the tribal diversity of India. Is it possible to modernise tribal societies without affecting their traditional values and customs? Discuss. भारत की जनजातीय विविधता पर टिप्पणी करें। क्या उनके पारंपरिक मूल्यों और रीति-रिवाजों को प्रभावित किए बिना आदिवासी समाज को आधुनिक बनाना संभव है? चर्चा 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 :)

Ace The Prelims (ATP)

Ace The Prelims (ATP) – 2021– PRELIMS – [10th March, 2021] – Day 57

ARCHIVES Hello Friends, Welcome to IASbaba’s Ace The Prelims (ATP) – 2021 – PRELIMS & MAINS – [10th March, 2021] – Day 57   UPSC Quiz - 2021 : IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs Quiz 10th March 2021 UPSC CSAT Quiz – 2021: IASbaba’s Daily CSAT Practice Test – 10th March 2021 UPSC Static Quiz – 2021: IASbaba’s Daily Static Quiz (PYQs) – Environment and Sci & Tech [Day 57]   The way ATP molecules provide energy to every single cell of our body and help us in achieving our day to day tasks, similarly, the ‘Ace the Prelims (ATP) 2021’ Programme will help in providing energy and direction to your prelims preparation and push you beyond the cutoff of Prelims 2021. Ace the Prelims (ATP) – 2021 will include Daily Static Quiz (PYQs) Daily CSAT Practice Test Daily Current Affair Quiz 60 Days Plan (starts from 2nd week of March) To Know More about Ace the Prelims (ATP) 2021 - CLICK HERE   Thank You IASbaba

Daily Static Quiz

UPSC Static Quiz – 2021: IASbaba’s Daily Static Quiz (PYQs) – Environment and Sci & Tech [Day 57]

ARCHIVES DAILY STATIC QUIZ (PYQs) It will cover PYQs all the topics of static subjects – Polity, History, Geography, Economics, Environment and Science and technology. Daily 5 questions (Monday to Saturday) will be posted from static topics (PYQs) The questions will be in the quiz format so you will be able to answer them directly on the portal. Schedule Week 1 – Polity Week 2 – Economics Week 3 – History and Art & Culture Week 4 – Geography Week 5 – Environment and Science & Technology Same cycle will be repeated from Week 6. Make the best use of the initiative. All the best! To Know More about Ace the Prelims (ATP) 2021 - CLICK HERE Important Note: Don't forget to post your marks in the comment section. Also, let us know if you enjoyed today's test :) After completing the 5 questions, click on 'View Questions' to check your score, time taken and solutions. To take the Test - Click Here

UPSC CSAT Quiz – 2021: IASbaba’s Daily CSAT Practice Test – 10th March 2021

ARCHIVES Daily CSAT Practice Test Everyday 5 Questions from Aptitude, Logical Reasoning, and Reading Comprehension will be covered from Monday to Saturday. Make the best use of the initiative. All the best! To Know More about Ace the Prelims (ATP) 2021 - CLICK HERE Important Note: Don't forget to post your marks in the comment section. Also, let us know if you enjoyed today's test :) After completing the 5 questions, click on 'View Questions' to check your score, time taken and solutions. To take the Test - Click Here

Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz - 2021 : IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs Quiz 10th March 2021

For Previous Daily Quiz (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE The Current Affairs questions are based on sources like ‘The Hindu’, ‘Indian Express’ and ‘PIB’, which are very important sources for UPSC Prelims Exam. The questions are focused on both the concepts and facts. The topics covered here are generally different from what is being covered under ‘Daily Current Affairs/Daily News Analysis (DNA) and Daily Static Quiz’ to avoid duplication. The questions would be published from Monday to Saturday before 2 PM. One should not spend more than 10 minutes on this initiative. We will make sure, in the next 4 months not a single day is wasted. 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 Ace the Prelims (ATP) 2021 - CLICK HERE Important Note: Don't forget to post your marks in the comment section. Also, let us know if you enjoyed today's test :) After completing the 5 questions, click on 'View Questions' to check your score, time taken and solutions. To take the Test - Click Here

SYNOPSIS [8th March,2021] Day 49: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE   SYNOPSIS [8th March,2021] Day 49: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)   1. How is rural society integrated with the livestock economy in India? Explain with the help of suitable examples. Approach: Question is straight forward in its approach students are expected to explain the above question with the use of examples to explain the points properly. Introduction: Livestock sector contributes around 28% to agriculture GDP of the country which is more than food grains and 5% to overall GDP. India has world's largest no of buffalo and second largest no of cattle and goats. About 20.5 million people depend upon livestock for their livelihood. It also provides employment to about 8.8 % of the population in India. Livestock plays an important role in Indian economy. India has vast livestock resources. Livestock sector contributes 4.11% GDP and 25.6% of total Agriculture GDP. Body: HOW IS RURAL SOCIETY INTEGRATED WITH THE LIVESTOCK ECONOMY IN INDIA Livestock contributing 16% to the income of small farm households as against an average of 14% for all rural households, livestock provides livelihood to two-third of rural community. It plays crucial role in rural development as gives additional income, living banks for rural families and is also crucial in benefitting the women, illiterate and unskilled people of rural society. The rural women play a significant role in the rearing of livestock and are responsible for most of the operations relating to feeding, breeding, management and health care of the livestock. The rapidly increasing demand for livestock products creates opportunities for the empowerment of women. when 90% farmers are small and marginal, livestock as an allied activity assumes important role to provide livelihood in rural areas and drive Indian economy towards development.  Livestock improves food and nutritional security by providing nutrient rich food products, generate income and employment and act as a cushion against crop failure, provide draught power and manure inputs to the crop subsector and contribute to foreign exchange through exports Diversification of income and employment portfolio is crucial for sustainable rural livelihoods. Livestock sector can play an important role in poverty alleviation, income enhancement and risk reduction for poor rural households.  Livestock is one of the fastest-growing subsectors of agriculture and allied activities.  Dalit or Scheduled Caste (SC) households, being at the lowest rung of social strata, is one of the most socially marginalised, resource-poor and economically vulnerable groups in India. Rural Poverty is largely concentrated among the landless and the marginal households comprising about 70 percent of rural population. livestock rearing has significant positive impact on equity in terms of income and employment and poverty reduction in rural areas. Livestock generates a continuous stream of income and reduces seasonality in livelihood patterns particularly of the rural poor. A large number of people in India being less literate and unskilled depend upon agriculture for their livelihoods but agriculture being seasonal in nature could provide employment for a maximum of 180 days in a year. The landless and small farmers having less land holdings depend upon livestock sector during lean agricultural season. Around 70 percent of the population living in rural areas depend on agriculture and allied activities for livelihood hence, there is a need for a subsidiary occupation like poultry, sheep and goat farming. Conclusion: Livestock helps in women empowerment and provides livelihood to many marginal farmers. Both the national economy as well as the socio-economic growth of rural India is backed by the livestock sector. So, in general we can clearly mention that the role of livestock is immortal and immense in today’s scenario and in the coming future. It is going to pump up the socio- economic status of the rural families and hence secure the national food and economic security. Livestock is already catering the various employment opportunities and the day is not far when livestock will be an essential asset for every agricultural farmer. 2. Integration of food processing into the agricultural production cycle will help achieve the target of doubling farmers’ income. Do you agree? Substantiate. Approach: Students are expected to write about how integration of food processing into agricultural production cycle will help in doubling famers income and substantiating the same with proper examples and it is also important to mention the issues in the process of integration as well. Introduction: Food Processing includes process under which any raw product of agriculture, dairy, animal husbandry, meat, poultry or fishing is transformed through a process (involving employees, power, machines or money) in such a way that its original physical properties undergo a change and the transformed product has commercial value and is suitable for human and animal consumption. It also includes the process of value addition to produce products through methods such as preservation, addition of food additives, drying etc. with a view to preserve food substances in an effective manner, enhance their shelf life and quality. The Indian food and grocery market is the world’s sixth largest, with retail contributing 70 per cent of the sales. The Indian food processing industry accounts for 32 per cent of the country’s total food market, one of the largest industries in India and is ranked fifth in terms of production, consumption, export and expected growth. It contributes around 8.80 and 8.39 per cent of Gross Value Added (GVA) in Manufacturing and Agriculture respectively, 13 per cent of India’s exports and six per cent of total industrial investment. The Indian gourmet food market is currently valued at US$ 1.3 billion and is growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 20 per cent. India's organic food market is expected to increase by four times by 2022. Body: Current status of food processing industry in India- India is the world's second largest producer of fruits & vegetables after China but hardly 2% of the produce is processed. In spite of a large production base, the level of processing is low (less than 10%). Approximately 2% of fruits and vegetables, 8% marine, 35% milk, 6% poultry are processed. Lack of adequate processable varieties continues to pose a significant challenge to this sector. India's livestock population is largest in the world with 50% of the world's buffaloes and 20% of cattle, but only about 1% of total meat production is converted to value added products. Agricultural produce is an important factor for sustaining food processing activities. Due to seasonal availability of certain crops, the sector faces delays in production resulting in low supply. For oil production, the majority of oilseed producers are small and marginal farmers with poor access to resource bases such as fertilizers, manure, etc. Hence, oilseeds grown by such farmers have low yield. Rabi crops like wheat, barley and mustard are sown around mid-November and harvested in April or May. These food grains are dependent on forces of nature, which are rather unpredictable. Seasonal scarcity and high cost of raw materials constitutes one of the major constraints affecting the growth of small-scale food processing enterprises. This scenario results in scarcity and higher pricing of raw materials. How will integration help in doubling farmers income- Since doubling of income will warrant high growth rate of production year after year, there would a need for robust post-production activities and hence’ investment in storage and transportation’ inducing cold chain logistics and food processing. This will reduce post-harvest losses in high value crops such as fruits, vegetables, fish, etc. How to reduce post-harvest losses in high value crops is an important issue. Wastages in fruits, vegetables, fish, etc.need to be reduced by creating storage, cold chain, and market infrastructure. Farmers’ inclusive growth would require a shift fromproduction-based agriculture to profit based farming. Small and marginal farmers, who constitute around 85 per cent of total farming population are last to reap the benefits of agro-based enterprises; as they end up fighting distress sale and post-harvest losses. The farm harvest price i.e. average wholesale price at which the commodity is disposed off by the producer to the trader at the village site during the specified harvest period provides us a clear picture of farmers’ condition. Agro processing generates employment opportunities within sector and more opportunities in service sector. Agro processing centre (APC) in the production catchment has twin obvious advantages of enhanced income through value addition to the farm produce and reduction in post-harvest losses as a means to provide gainful rural employment. These APCs consist of two or more machines for processing at farm/village level. However, the requirement of machinery depends upon the crops to be processed, level of processing and scale of processing. Small farmers will be associated and incentivised to form commodity groups/processor companies for better earning profits. Women can be given training in the area of processing and can go for value addition through mango pulp processing, guava products processing such as guava leather, guava nectar and various carbonated and fresh fruits beverages. Integration of agricultural cycle with food processing industry will increase demands of agri produce thus ensure the enhanced income to farmers.  It will also enable farmers to go for contract farming which will ensure continuous and non disrupted supply throughout the year thus will save them from fluctuating market prices. It will incentivise farmers to go for integrated and mixed farming approach as well because of demand for diverse agri produce thus will help in stabilizing skewed cropping pattern already existing because of implementation of MSP. Integration will also help in bringing end to black marketeering   and hoarding of agri produce which were affecting the income of farmers very badly through lack of demand on seasonal basis examples include onion and tomato prices. Conclusion: Food processing has numerous advantages which are specific to Indian context. It has capacity to lift millions out of poverty and malnutrition. Government should develop industry in a way keeping in mind the interests of small scale industry along with attracting big ticket domestic and foreign investments. The entire food value chain in India is controlled by multiple ministries, departments and laws. A comprehensive policy will ensure that various initiatives across the departments are aligned to the overall goal of ensuring availability, awareness, affordability, access, quality and safety of food. The target of ensuring food security for more than a billion people requires a concerted effort by all stakeholders including government and the food processing industry. In addition to private players and government, industry bodies and academia will also have a crucial role in the success of these initiatives. 3. What role does the corporate sector play in the development of the agricultural sector? Is it possible to envisage a prosperous agrarian economy without the participation of the corporate sector? Critically comment. Approach The candidate needs to address the question two parts where the first part highlights the role of corporate sector could play in the development of the agricultural sector while in the second part you need to critically comment on the aspect of whether it is possible to envisage a prosperous agrarian economy without the participation of the corporate sector.  Introduction Agriculture is the primary source of livelihood for about 58% of India’s population. Gross Value Added (GVA) by agriculture, forestry and fishing was estimated at Rs. 19.48 lakh crore in FY20. The current private corporate investment in agriculture as a percentage of the total annual investment in agriculture is about 2%, which is very less and thus showing agriculture’s high reliance on the Government. Body Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for increased participation of the private sector in agriculture, especially in research and development. In this background, the role of corporate sector in development of the agricultural sector can be seen from the following points – The concept of a free market in agriculture will pave the way for corporate sector and make it more efficient. The emergence of private investment is expected to revamp the sector by driving productivity, adopting new technology, and integrating supply chain “from farm to fork”. There is a need to improve the existing underdeveloped marketing system for better access. The Dalwai committee report (2017) estimates that the country requires 10,130 agriculture markets based on population, production, and geographical area. Currently, there are 6,676 markets in the country and thereby have a space for additional 3,568 markets.  The recent farm acts create an opportunity for the private sector to intervene and invest in separate modernised trading platforms. Further, electronic trading platforms are also as crucial as physical trading platforms. The private sector can also help in developing post-harvest facilities like warehouses and cold storages. Given that production cycle is limited to few months, ensuring round-the-clock supply requires sufficient inventories the whole year in cold storages and warehouses.  In this regard, earlier, private players were reluctant to invest in post-harvest facilities due to abrupt stock limits imposed through Essential Commodities Act. The new bill on “Essential Commodities (Amendment)” will now envisage investment in storage and warehouses by the corporate sector. A well-developed process of marketing along with informed cropping decisions by farmers can go a long way in reducing the price volatility and will enable transparent price discovery. With the entrance of private players, it is plausible that existing mandis will reinvent themselves by reducing the prevalence of licence raj, loosen the entry barriers for the traders, lowering the market fees, and investing in modern facilities. At the same time, there are many voices for ensuring prosperity in agrarian economy without the participation of corporate sector where – Agriculture being the dominant sector, bringing it into the profit oriented world of corporates can prove harmful. For example, many farmers in the USA suffered after unhinged corporatisation of farm sector. Corporate sector involvement many a times leads to monopoly, which could be economically disastrous for the farm sector. This monopolistic tendencies are evident from the example of telecom sector. Further, India has millions of small farmers, who cannot be left at the mercy of corporates, who are driven by profit. This will aggravate the already grim agrarian crisis in the country. But the experience of past several decades in the form of socialism has led to the realisation that involvement of corporate sector can have immense significance to make agriculture sustainable and profitable and making it a tool to overcome poverty. Following points can be considered in this regard – According to an ADB report, "growth in agriculture supports the subsequent growth of industry", not the other way round that India pursued. This clearly necessitates the need for corporate sector involvement in agrarian economy. India invests very little in agriculture research and education (R&E), which Prof. Gulati claimed to have the "highest impact" on agri-GDP growth and poverty alleviation. Further, India's investment in agriculture has seen a fall. Agriculture's share of gross capital formation (GCF) fell from 8.5% of the total GCF of economy in FY12 to 6.5% in FY19, mainly due to a fall in private investment - according to the Agricultural Statistics at a Glance, 2019. These statistics point to the limited governmental capacity in ensuring proper development of agrarian economy and need for private sector involvement. Also, the example of dairy and milk sector in India is a proof to the benefits of private sector involvement where farmers involved in dairy sector have seen substantial growth in income as well as made India, the largest milk producer in the world. The three agriculture laws brought by the government seek to create the architecture for such investment and make agriculture a success story like the milk sector where government agencies compete with the private sector, farmers get good price and consumer also gains in the process. Contract farming under India’s new agri laws would lead to the establishment of large farms and the development of state-of-the-art infrastructure by clubbing landholdings of small, marginal and poor farmers, who have less than five acres and constitute 86 per cent of the farmers. Conclusion For India to achieve the ambitious goal of doubling farm income by 2022, there is a need to bring in proper synergy between the public and private sector in agrarian economy where government has the required regulations to avoid the pitfalls of corporate sector involvement but also focusses on harnessing the benefits of corporate participation in agriculture to ensure prosperity of farmers in ‘New India’ 4. What are the key factors that reduce the competitiveness of India’s farm produce in the global export market? Discuss. What immediate measures can be taken to address the same? Suggest. Approach Candidates are expected first to write about Indian agri exports and factors responsible for reducing India’s competitiveness it’s farm produce at global platforms. And then in second part suggest the measures that can enhance India’s farm produce competitiveness. Introduction Agricultural export constitutes 10% of the country’s exports and is the fourth-largest exported principal commodity. However in the global trade, the share of India is only close to 2%. To achieve the true potential and export a greater share of what is being produced in India, there is an immediate need to address the export challenges. Body Indian agri export: During April-August 2017, exports of agricultural and processed food products summed up to US$ 7.26 billion. During the period, export of cereals and animal products accounted for 45.62 per cent of the total exports, followed by livestock products (23.78 per cent), other processed foods (17.92 per cent), fresh fruits and vegetables (7.45 per cent), processed fruits and vegetables (6.25 per cent) and floriculture and seeds (1.15 per cent). Export surplus from the country’s agricultural trade is higher than the corresponding figure achieved by the manufacturing sector. Factors responsible that reduce India’s farm produce competitiveness in global market: Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures: In the year 2016, the India’s share in EU’s imports of fresh and processed food products was 2.9 per cent, which was lower than that of other developing countries including Brazil (7.8 per cent), China (4.9 per cent), Turkey17 (4.5 per cent) and Vietnam (3.4 per cent). Border rejections as a percentage of total notifications raised are the highest for India, when compared to other developing countries. Lack of synergy between the state and central government as agriculture is a state subject, while the state’s role for exports is undefined. Low Automation and processing of food: only ~ 10% of the food is processed. This leads to lots of wastage and reduces export capacity. The long-distance affects the viability of export shipments due to high transport costs and quality losses. Hence, this time efforts were made for reducing the transit time by using refrigerated rail containers (freight transport that is refrigerated for the transportation of temperature-sensitive cargo). High Tariffs and Protectionist Policies: India has the highest average applied tariff of any G20 country and among the highest bound tariff rates in the WTO. The problem is that Indian industries do not invest time and money in innovation and research. There is a serious knowledge gap between Indian industries and the international market.  The government pro-consumer bias in India’s farm policy is unfair in putting export restrictions on important food items to prevent inflationary pressures in the domestic economy.  The policy deprives farmers of higher prices in the international market and also adds an element of income uncertainty. If the government is going to impose export restrictions when international prices peak, farmers would lose part of the incentive to cultivate exportable crops. Increasing agri – exports will help increase India’s export basket and would also expand farmers’ incomes and amend farm distress. Measures to make Indian farm produce globally competitive: This objective is achievable, provided there is a paradigm shift in policy-making from being obsessively consumer-oriented to according greater priority to farmers’ interests. Recently, the APEDA along with Government of Andhra Pradesh has dispatched the first shipment of high-quality bananas from Anantpur to JNPT in Mumbai for exports to international markets. India government should take such case studies as reference to formulate policies. To boost agriculture exports, the government and business promoting agencies should focus on the use of technology and innovation, he said, adding, the government should support only those who are willing to invest in research.  If India has to promote agri-exports, the country’s policymakers must build global value-chains for some important agri-commodities in which the country has a comparative advantage.  Stimulating agri – exports would require infrastructure and institutional support — connecting export houses directly to farmer producer organizations (FPOs), sidestepping the APMC-regulated mandis, removing stocking limits and trading restrictions. The country has a great potential to export fish and seafood, bovine meat, and fruits, nuts and vegetables. These are the commodities to focus on in order to stimulate agri-exports. On lines of the ‘Make In India’ campaign, the report urged the government to launch ‘Grow In India’ campaign aiming for substantial gains in agri-exports with a single authority to monitor India’s international agricultural trade-both exports and imports.  Conclusion A “farm-to-foreign” strategy, improving agri-trade surpluses by promoting agri-exports, and most importantly create more jobs and bring prosperity to rural areas can sure be a go ahead. 5.What are the factors responsible for food inflation in India? How does food inflation impact the farmers? Examine. Approach- Question is straight forward. Candidate can define inflation and reasons of food inflation in first part and then discuss impact of food inflation on farmers with the way ahead. Introduction Food inflation is volatile. Agricultural prices tend to fluctuate because demand and supply are both inelastic and supply can vary due to the weather. However, despite the usual volatility, food prices seem to be showing a strong upward movement, reaching record highs in recent years. Body In India, a booming economy has GDP expanding at 9% a year. Official inflation is around 7%, but, headline food inflation is more than double at 17.8%. Some key reasons for Inflation: High demand and low production or supply of multiple commodities create a demand-supply gap, which leads to a hike in prices. Excess circulation of money leads to inflation as money loses its purchasing power. With people having more money, they also tend to spend more, which causes increased demand. Spurt in production prices of certain commodities also causes inflation as the price of the final product increases. This is called cost-push inflation. Increase in the prices of goods and services is also a factor to consider as the involved labour also expects and demands more costs/wages to maintain their cost of living. This spirals to further increase in the prices of goods. Food Inflation is a major cause of inflation in India today, reasons for inflation Untimely rains, drought in some regions and crop losses due to local factors did contribute to supply shocks. Transmission of global food prices, which have shown a rising trend in the last half-year, also is the reason for food inflation. The government policy of untimely imports in pulses flooded the markets and contributed to lower price realization last year. This led to lower production of pulses this year. The government had procured 34 million tonnes of wheat in 2019, on top of the 36 million tonnes procured in 2018. These are the highest procurement levels since 2012-13. However, it failed to distribute the wheat through the public distribution system. This has created an artificial scarcity that has led to Inflation. How does food inflation impact farmers? Increasing food demand and price could be the best opportunity to lure farmers back to farms. But today there is a pressing concern, particularly for a country like India, which has the world’s largest number of poor. Going by recent studies and anecdotal field reports, food inflation has impacted the health of the poor the most. It is an irony that while globally the fight against malnutrition is intensifying, food inflation may be impeding it within the country. Given that an average household in India spends nearly 50 per cent of its earning on food—the poor spend more than 60 per cent—price rise will precipitate a crisis. Going by the survey findings, the impacts will be severe in India. As inflation increases, prices paid by farmers for various inputs increase faster than the prices they receive for their products, thereby the terms of trade for farmers deteriorate as the rate of inflation rises. Farmers have flexible money incomes. Therefore, theoretically at least, they should benefit from an unanticipated increase in the rate of inflation. Empirical studies however, have not found this connection. On the other hand, higher marketing margins due to imperfections in the agricultural markets, stirred up by higher wages and various other marketing costs, reduce the demand for farm output at the farm level. Also the inflation targeting in India has adverse effect on food prices. Since food items have a large weight in the consumer price index, any effective strategy of inflation containment seeks to keep food prices low. This is sought to be achieved through measures that keep farm-gate prices low. These penalize the agricultural sector by leading to a reduction in subsidies and a decline in investment, both of which contribute to raising input costs. The real cost of inflation-targeting is therefore borne by farmers, who are deprived of remunerative prices. Though the inflation takes more out of the pocket from the common man, it does not benefit farmers much. The middlemen are the real beneficiaries. Conclusion With food accounting for two-thirds of household budgets, higher prices will worsen demand for non-food goods. At a time when consumption expenditure data shows rising poverty along with declining wages, climbing inflation will only lead to increased vulnerability, while making an economic recovery harder and the situation worsening for farmers. TLP HOT Synopsis Day 49 PDF

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 9th March 2021

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Agroforestry In The Silk Sector Part of: GS Prelims and GS – III – Agriculture; Economy In news A MoU was signed between the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Central Silk Board. It is about a convergence model for the implementation of Agroforestry in the silk sector under the Sub-Mission on Agroforestry (SMAF) Scheme. Objective: Augmentation of sericulture host plants (Mulberry, Asan, Arjuna, Som, Soalu, Kesseru, BadaKesseru, Phanat) to be cultivated both as block plantations and border plantations on farmlands. Important value additions The Central Silk Board (CSB)  It is a Statutory Body. Established: 1948 Ministry: Ministry of Textiles  Headquarter: Bengaluru Sub-Mission on Agroforestry (SMAF) Scheme Implemented by: The Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare (DAC & FW) since 2016-17  This scheme is a part of the recommendation of the National Agroforestry Policy 2014. India is the first country to have such a comprehensive policy  It was launched at the World Agroforestry Congress held in Delhi in February 2014. At present, the scheme is being implemented in 20 States and 2 UTs. Aim: To encourage farmers to plant multi-purpose trees together with the agriculture crops for climate resilience and an additional source of income to the farmers. Mandatory provision of Airbags Part of: GS Prelims and GS – III – Disaster Management In news A Gazette notification has been issued regarding mandatory provision of an airbag for passengers seated on the front seat of a vehicle, next to the driver. Ministry: Ministry of Road Transport and Highways Key takeaways Vehicles manufactured on and after the April 1, 2021 (new models) and August 31, 2021 (existing models) shall be fitted with airbags. This safety feature is based on suggestions of the Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety. It is compulsory for all existing models in the M1 category — passenger motor vehicles having not more than eight seats in addition to the driver’s. Important value additions Airbags An airbag pops up as a protective cushion between the passenger and the car’s dashboard during a collision. In moderate to severe frontal crashes, front airbags are designed to inflate in order to prevent a person’s head and chest from contacting hard structures in the vehicle. Do you know? As per a recent World Bank report, India accounts for 10% of all road crash victims in the world.  Some of the other safety features in automobiles are: Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) Speed Alert System Reverse Parking Sensors Driver and passenger seat belt reminder Manual override for central locking system Air strikes on Sanaʽa Part of: GS Prelims and GS – II – International relations In news A Saudi-led military coalition mounted air strikes on Yemen’s capital Sana’a. Saudi had intercepted 10 drones launched by Houthis before the strikes. Key takeaways Sanaʽa is the largest city in Yemen. Constitutionally, Sanaʽa is the capital of Yemen.  In the aftermath of the Houthi occupation, the capital moved to Aden - the former capital of South Yemen. Aden is located next to the Sarawat Mountains of Jabal An-Nabi Shu'ayb and Jabal Tiyal, considered to be the highest mountains in the country and amongst the highest in the region. Sanaʽa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has a distinctive architectural character, most notably expressed in its multi-storey buildings decorated with geometric patterns. Conservation works of Singorgarh Fort Part of: GS Prelims and GS – I – Culture In news Foundation stone for the conservation works of Singorgarh Fort was laid down in Madhya Pradesh by the President of India.  He also inaugurated the newly carved Jabalpur Circle of Archaeological Survey of India. Important value additions Singorgarh Fort Location: Madhya Pradesh. It is a hill-fort of Gondwana Kingdom Gond ruler Sangram shah conquered the Singorgarh fort from Chandel rulers in early 16th century. It is presently in a ruined condition. CALM2 mutations Part of: GS Prelims and GS – III – Sci & Tech; Biotechnology In news In Australia, Leading scientists and medical experts are calling for the pardon of convicted child killer Kathleen Folbigg after a recent study showed that her victims (her own children) may have died of natural causes. Key takeaways Medical experts have argued that her children died due to a rare genetic defect. They inherited a genetic mutation from their mother called CALM2. CALM-2 mutations are known to cause sudden death due to cardiac arrest. Calmodulin 2 is a protein that is encoded by the CALM2 gene in humans.  Mutations in CALM2 are associated to cardiac arrhythmias. Miscellaneous Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav National Committee has been formed to commemorate 75 years of India’s independence The committee is called Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav. 5 pillars have been decided for the celebration of the 75 years. 5 Pillars: Freedom Struggle, Ideas at 75, Achievements at 75, Actions at 75 and Resolve at 75. Members of the National Committee: Governors, Union Ministers, Chief Ministers, political leaders, scientists, officials, media personalities, spiritual Leaders and eminent persons from other walks of life. (Mains Focus) ECONOMY/ GOVERNANCE Topic: GS-3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.  GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.  New Umbrella Entities (NUE) Context: The RBI has set a deadline of March 31 for firms to submit their applications for setting up new umbrella entities (NUEs) What are NUEs? As envisaged by the RBI, an NUE will be a non-profit entity that will set-up, manage and operate new payment systems, especially in the retail space such as ATMs, white-label PoS; Aadhaar-based payments and remittance services. NUE should take care of developmental objectives like enhancement of awareness about the payment systems.  NUE should operate in clearing and settlement systems, identify and manage relevant risks such as settlement, credit, liquidity and operational and preserve the integrity of the systems. In addition to this, they will develop new payment methods, standards and technologies as well as operate clearing and settlement systems. NUE can carry on any other business as suitable to further strengthen the retail payments ecosystem in the country. It is an idea floated by the Reserve Bank of India to create an alternate mechanism to the existing National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) Which players are planning to set up NUEs? Only those entities that are owned and controlled by Indian citizens with at least three years of experience in the payments segment can become promoters of NUEs.  Also, foreign investment is allowed in NUEs as long as they comply with the existing guidelines.  Several companies have either tied up banks or major tech players to apply for NUEs. What is the need for NUEs? Currently, the umbrella entity for providing retail payments system is NPCI, which is a non-profit entity, owned by banks.  NPCI operates settlement systems such as UPI, AEPS, RuPay, Fastag, etc.  Players in the payments space have indicated the various pitfalls of NPCI being the only entity managing all of retail payments systems in India.  RBI’s plan to allow other organisations to set up umbrella entities for payments systems aims to expand the competitive landscape in this area.  For the players planning to establish these NUEs, the aim is to get an even bigger share in the digital payments sector. Connecting the dots: UPI- India’s Digital Payment Revolution GOVERNANCE/ SECURITY/ SOCIETY Topic: GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation  GS-3: Awareness in the field of IT Lateral Surveillance: Cyber Crime Volunteers Program Context:  Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), launched the Cyber Crime Volunteers Program with the aim to allow citizens to register themselves as “Cyber Crime Volunteers’’ in the role of “Unlawful Content Flaggers”. The programme targets to rope in around 500 persons to flag unlawful content on the Internet. It will help law enforcement agencies in identifying, reporting and in the removal of illegal/unlawful online content. The State Nodal Officer of States/UTs also reserves the right to take legal action against the Volunteer, in case of violation of terms and conditions of the Program. Lateral Surveillance This form of surveillance, which enables citizens to “watch over” one another is called lateral surveillance. While surveillance of any kind shows an imbalance of power between the person who surveils, and the one under surveillance, lateral surveillance specifically ensures that the imbalance of power no longer exists. Concern Cause for Lateral Surveillance: Wherever the state identifies that it “cannot be everywhere”, it deploys this mechanism. The problem arises when it is organised and state-sponsored. Hurts Privacy: Lateral surveillance is used to further emotional objectives such as community building and strengthening relationships with neighbours where emotional and social factors act as a driving force, thus creating a situation where privacy may be undermined for the betterment of the community. Social Discriminatory: Surveillance technologies not only act as a tool for social control but also as a tool for social exclusion. Lateral surveillance thus makes it easier to discriminate between those who conform to the social norms of the majority. Culture of Distrust: State-sponsored lateral surveillance is harmful as it creates a culture of ‘hate’, ‘fear’ and ‘constant suspicion’ against an ‘enemy’. This culture places a duty on people to ‘keep an eye out’ for ‘their own safety’ and this heightens the fear of crime in society. Widen Faultlines in Society: Such perceived threats have a tendency to increase intolerance, prejudice, xenophobia and casteism in our society, while also violating the fundamental right to privacy, and, consequently, the expression of free speech and behaviour. Connecting the dots: New IT Rules  (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 Sub-Mission on Agroforestry (SMAF) Scheme This scheme is a part of the recommendation of the National Agroforestry Policy 2014. India is the first country to have such a comprehensive policy  Which of the above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2 Consider the following statements regarding Central Silk Board (CSB)  It is an autonomous body. It functions under Ministry of Agriculture. Which of the above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3 Consider the following safety features: Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) Speed Alert System Reverse Parking Sensors Manual override for central locking system These are associated with which of the following? Aircrafts Seaplanes Automobiles Ships Q.4 Singorgarh Fort was recently in news. It is situated in? Rajasthan Gujarat Uttar Pradesh Madhya Pradesh ANSWERS FOR 8th March 2021 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 C 2 D 3 B Must Read On endgame in Afghanistan: The Hindu On integrity on electoral process: The Hindu On impact of new labour laws: Indian Express

[INTERVIEW INITIATIVE] Think, Rethink and Perform (TRP) [DAY 9] 2020 for UPSC/IAS Personality Test!

ARCHIVES (of TRP) - > CLICK HERE Those who have appeared for UPSC Mains 2020, fill up the Google form given below. Students who fill the form will be added to a telegram group so that there can be healthy discussions with other students who will be appearing for the Interview/Personality Test. Also, Mohan sir, Bureaucrats and Ex-Bureaucrats will be interacting one on one with all the students who will be appearing for the same. REGISTER HERE – CLICK HERE   Interview Discussion: Think, Rethink and Perform; (TRP)- Day 9 Set 1: Ask these questions to yourself; contemplate and come out with a concrete answer (not to be discussed on this forum). Invest at least 30 minutes on this set of questions.  Given a chance to change one thing in your surroundings, what will you change?  What inspires your inclination to change something?  Do you need to change something about yourself too? What would that be? Think about it.  Set 2: Analyse the following issue: You must be aware of the recent guidelines issued by the government to regulate social media and OTT platforms. What are your views on these guidelines? Is regulation a good thing? Shouldn’t social media and OTT platforms be free from any government intervention whatsoever? Don’t you think regulating the platforms would undermine the freedom of expression? Or is there a flip-side to this? Are social media platforms being misused for nefarious gains? Are OTT platforms unfit for viewing by children?  Think about all the dimensions outlined above and evolve a balanced response to the question. We expect you to discuss the above question (Set 2) in the comments below and come out with a balanced view of the issues. Thank You IASbaba

IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1 – ENGLISH & हिंदी): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – General Studies Paper 3 Questions [9th March,2021] – Day 50

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE Hello Friends, Welcome to IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1- ENGLISH & हिंदी): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – General Studies 3 Questions [9th March 2020] – Day 50 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 do you understand by the terms ‘forward’ and ‘backward’ integration in food processing industries? Illustrate with the help of suitable examples. आप खाद्य प्रसंस्करण उद्योगों में 'बैकवर्ड' और 'फॉरवर्ड' एकीकरण से क्या समझते हैं? उपयुक्त उदाहरणों की सहायता से चित्रण करें। 2. Do an evaluation of the potential of food processing industries in the economically underdeveloped regions of the country.  देश के आर्थिक रूप से अविकसित क्षेत्रों में खाद्य प्रसंस्करण उद्योगों की क्षमता का मूल्यांकन करें। 3. What are the main constraints in the management of supply chain of food and agri products in India? What reforms would you suggest to address these challenges? भारत में खाद्य और कृषि उत्पादों की आपूर्ति श्रृंखला के प्रबंधन में मुख्य बाधाएं क्या हैं? आप इन चुनौतियों से निपटने के लिए क्या सुधार सुझाएंगे? 4. How can digital technology help in undertaking second-generation land reforms? Discuss. दूसरी पीढ़ी के भूमि सुधारों को करने में डिजिटल तकनीक कैसे मदद कर सकती है? चर्चा करें। 5. How do fragmented and small land holdings affect agricultural productivity? How severe is this problem in India. Discuss. कैसे खंडित और छोटे भूमि जोत कृषि उत्पादकता को प्रभावित करते हैं? भारत में यह समस्या कितनी गंभीर है? चर्चा 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 :)