May 14, 2021 RSTV Video

Changes in Juvenile Justice Act – The Big Picture – RSTV IAS UPSC

Archives TOPIC: General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections. In News: The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the proposal of the Ministry of Women and Child Development to amend the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 to introduce measures for strengthening Child Protection set-up to ensure best interest of children.  What is the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children Act) 2015? Updated Legislation: It was introduced and passed in Parliament in 2015 to replace the Juvenile Delinquency Law and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children Act) 2000.  Change in nomenclature: The Act changes the nomenclature from Juvenile to child or ‘child in conflict with law’. Also, it removes the negative connotation associated with the word “juvenile”. Special Provisions for Age 16-18 years: One of the main provisions of the new Act was that juveniles charged with heinous crimes and who are between the ages of 16-18 years would be tried as adults and processed through the adult justice system. This provision received an impetus after the 2012 Delhi gangrape in which one of the accused was just short of 18 years, and was therefore tried as a juvenile. Juvenile Justice Board: The nature of the crime, and whether the juvenile should be tried as a minor or a child, was to be determined by a Juvenile Justice Board (set up in every district). Also Child Welfare Committees must be set up in every district. Both must have at least one woman member each. Adoption Related Clauses: Another major provision was that the Act streamlined adoption procedures for orphans, abandoned and surrendered children and the existing Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) has been given the status of a statutory body to enable it to perform its function more effectively Inclusion of New Offences: The Act included several new offences committed against children (like, illegal adoptions, use of child by militant groups, offences against disabled children, etc) which are not adequately covered under any other law. What are the amendments passed by the Union Cabinet? 1. The inclusion of serious crimes apart from heinous crimes It has included for the first time the category of “serious crimes” differentiating it from heinous crimes, while retaining heinous crimes. Both heinous and serious crimes have also been clarified for the first time, removing any ambiguity. What this means is that for a juvenile to be tried for a heinous crime as an adult, the punishment of the crime should not only have a maximum sentence of seven years or more, but also a minimum sentence of seven years. This provision has been made to ensure that children, as much as possible, are protected and kept out of the adult justice system.  Heinous crimes with a minimum imprisonment of seven years pertain mostly to sexual offences and violent sexual crimes. Crime like the possession and sale of an illegal substance, such as drugs or alcohol, will now fall under the ambit of a “serious crime’’. 2. Expanding the purview of district and additional district magistrates The NCPCR report pf 2019-19 had found that not a single Child Care Institution in the country was found to be 100 per cent compliant to the provisions of the JJ Act. DM and ADMs will monitor the functioning of various agencies under the JJ Act in every district. This includes the Child Welfare Committees, the Juvenile Justice Boards, the District Child Protection Units and the Special juvenile Protection Units. Amendment says that no new children’s home can be opened without the sanction of the DM. They are also responsible now for ensuring that CCIs falling in their district are following all norms and procedures (earlier the process was relaxed and lacked effective oversight) The DM will also carry out background checks of Child Welfare Committee members, who are usually social welfare activists, including educational qualifications, as there is no such provision currently to check if a person has a case of girl child abuse against him. To hasten the process of adoption and ensure the swift rehabilitation of children into homes and foster homes, the amendment further provides that the DM will also now be in charge of sanctioning adoptions, removing the lengthy court process. The challenges While the amendments have been welcomed by most, in its attempt to provide better protection to children in need of care, the challenge perceived is that of having given too many responsibilities to the DM.  The amendments, once approved by Parliament, will increase the role of district magistrates and empower them to undertake inspections of childcare institutions.

May 14, 2021 IASbaba Prelims 60 Day Plan

IASbaba’s 60 Day Plan - IAS Prelims Test Series 2021 - ECONOMY, CURRENT AFFAIRS & CSAT [Day 46]

For Previous (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE Hello Friends,  ARCHIVES OF 60 DAYS NOTE: IASbaba's 60 DAY questions  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.   ECONOMY [DAY 46] - 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 14, 2021 Important Articles

WEEKEND WITH BABA – Second Live Session on 15th May for UPSC 2022 Aspirants

Dear Students Thank you for an overwhelming response to the First Session of 'Weekend with Baba'. We hope that the video has helped you guys on how to tackle the issues which were discussed in the video. Those who are yet to watch the video can do it here - CLICK HERE The Second Session of 'Weekend with Baba' will be held live on 15th May at 6 PM. The Session will have discussions especially for freshers and beginners who are aiming for the UPSC-CSE 2022 Attempt. To Watch the First Session - CLICK HERE   Note - Please click on 'Set Reminder' so that you do not miss the video. How to make the best use of this LIVE Session? Post your queries with the #ASKBABA. In the first 20 minutes, the common questions which are shared on Disqus comment, Telegram, and email will be picked up and answered. Post that 10 minutes, Live questions posted on the YouTube chat will be answered. The time duration of this session can get extended based on the questions posted/asked. Students can post ‘any query’ related to UPSC Preparation Strategy for UPSC 2022 like planning, how to read, revision, or any other difficulties you come across when you are preparing for the exam. You can start sharing your questions/queries/doubts with #ASKBABA (related to UPSC 2022 Preparation) in disqus comment box below and Upvoting can follow. Remember maximum upvotes will be given priority. Feel free to share your queries because many of the questions that you are having, will be the same as other candidates. Your questions might help others in clarifying their doubts. Waiting to talk to you soon! P.S: 'CONNECT WITH BABA' consists of the following - Hotline, #AskBaba, Phone-a-Friend, (Monday - Friday between 10 AM to 6 PM), and 'Weekend with Baba' (Every Saturday on YouTube with Mohan Sir from 6 PM - 7 PM). To get Regular Updates from IASbaba, follow- TELEGRAM Channel – CLICK HERE YOUTUBE  –  CLICK HERE FACEBOOK  – CLICK HERE

May 13, 2021 AIR

India-China Disengagement in Eastern Ladakh - All India Radio (AIR) IAS UPSC

ARCHIVES Search 12th February, 2021 Spotlight News Analysis here: http://www.newsonair.com/Main_Audio_Bulletins_Search.aspx TOPIC: General Studies 2 India and its relations with China In News: India and China reached an agreement on disengagement of troops from the north and south banks of the Pangong Lake in eastern Ladakh. This is the first significant movement in negotiations to ease tensions in at least eight months -- disengagement in Galwan valley took place in early July 2020 but it did not progress in other areas. The Agreement Six months after PLA troops came in 8 km west of the point which India says marks the Line of Actual Control on the north bank of Pangong Tso to trigger a military standoff in Ladakh, China has proposed moving its troops back to Finger 8, and return of troops by the two sides to their original locations on the south bank of the lake. The proposal also includes moving back tanks and artillery to the depth areas on either side to reduce chances of any incident in a region where tensions are already high, and troops are battling the harsh Ladakh winter. Under the agreement, both sides will cease their forward deployments in a phased, coordinated and verified manner in these areas.  India has not conceded anything while entering into the disengagement process. However, there are some outstanding issues with regard to deployment and patrolling at some other points along the LAC in eastern Ladakh.  The Chinese side will keep its troop presence in the North Bank area to east of Finger 8. Reciprocally, the Indian troops will be based at their permanent base.  A similar action would be taken in the South Bank area by both sides.  These are mutual and reciprocal steps and any structures that had been built by both sides since April 2020 in both North and South Bank areas will be removed. This is the second attempt to disengage frontline troops to resolve the standoff that began last May. Disengagement in Galwan valley took place in early July, but it didn’t progress in other areas. India has consistently pushed for comprehensive disengagement at all friction points and restoration of the status quo ante of early April 2020. Background In June, 20 Indian soldiers were killed when the two sides clashed with iron rods and stones in the Galwan Valley, the first combat losses on the border in 45 years. China also suffered an unspecified number of casualties. Where have the incidents (army clashes) happened? The Pangong lake in Ladakh Naku La in Sikkim Galwan valley and Demchok in Ladakh Why did the face-off occur? Non-Demarcation of LAC: LAC that has never been demarcated. As a result, India and China have overlapping claim lines along LAC which leads to such clashes Non-implementation of protocols: Additionally, the Protocols agreed to in 2005 and 2013 regarding rules of engagement to prevent such incidents, have not always been adhered to. Why has not the LAC been clarified? India has long proposed an exercise to clarify differing perceptions of the LAC to prevent such incidents.  The exercise could pave the way to regulate activities in contested areas until a final settlement of the boundary dispute. Maps were exchanged in the Middle Sector, but the exercise fell through in the Western Sector where divergence is the greatest. China has since rejected this exercise, viewing it as adding another complication to the on-going boundary negotiations.  What is the state of boundary negotiations? In 2005, an agreement on political parameters and guiding principles completed the first of three stages of the talks.  The 2005 agreement said both sides “shall safeguard due interests of their settled populations in border areas”. The current, and most difficult, stage involves agreeing a framework to resolve the dispute in all sectors.  The final step will involve delineating and demarcating the boundary in maps and on the ground. What are the prospects of a settlement? The likelihood appears remote.  The main differences are in the Western and Eastern sectors.  India sees China as occupying 38,000 sq km in Aksai Chin. In the east, China claims as much as 90,000 sq km, extending all across Arunachal Pradesh.  One particular sticking point appears to involve China’s claims to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, which has been increasingly raised by China in recent years A swap was hinted at by China in 1960 and in the early 1980s, which would have essentially formalised the status quo.  Both sides have now ruled out the status quo as a settlement, agreeing to meaningful and mutual adjustments.  At the same time, the most realistic solution will involve only minor adjustments along the LAC, considering neither side will be willing to part with territory already held. What is the Strategic Calculation behind boundary dispute? India insists that its relations with China won’t improve fundamentally until the border dispute is resolved China appears to view an unsettled border as holding some leverage with India, one of the many pressure points it could use to keep India off-guard Conclusion: Any movement toward disengagement is good, but it has to be real and sustained, and verified not just in Pangong but eventually elsewhere as well. It can’t be China pretending to disengage and India pretending to believe it. Some experts opine that China must withdraw to a distance from where swift build up is not possible. De-escalation of the military build-up to a sufficient depth is more critical than disengagement. On the other hand, China is building villages on our borders. It‘s a ploy as those villages house soldiers. These areas will serve as logistics hubs to support future ingress and will minimise troop build-up signatures This will not only avoid a continued decline of Sino-Indian relations but also ease tensions along the border, and reduce the possibility of friction and conflict in the short term. Connecting the Dots: India must reset the terms of its economic reliance on China. Suggest steps. Panchsheel agreement between India & China in 1954

May 13, 2021 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 13th May 2021

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) NITI Aayog's Project for Great Nicobar Island  Part of: GS Prelims and GS - III -  Environment In news The Environment Appraisal Committee (EAC) - Infrastructure I of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has flagged serious concerns about NITI Aayog’s ambitious project for Great Nicobar Island. Key takeaways  The committee has, however, removed the first hurdle faced by the project. It has “recommended” it “for grant of terms of reference (TOR)” for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) studies, which in the first instance will include baseline studies over three months. The proposal includes an international container transshipment terminal, a greenfield international airport, a power plant and a township complex spread over 166 sq. km. (mainly pristine coastal systems and tropical forests), and is estimated to cost ₹75,000 crore. Important value additions  Galathea Bay Galathea Bay is the site of the port and the centrepiece of the NITI Aayog proposal. It is an iconic nesting site in India of the enigmatic Giant Leatherback, the world’s largest marine turtle. A number of species are restricted to just the Galathea region.  These include the critically endangered Nicobar shrew, the Great Nicobar crake, the Nicobar frog, the Nicobar cat snake, a new skink (Lipinia sp), a new lizard (Dibamus sp,) and a snake of the Lycodon species that is yet to be described. Production-Linked Incentive Scheme for The Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Battery Storage Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III - Economy  In news The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal of Department of Heavy Industry for implementation of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme 'National Programme on Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Battery Storage’. Key takeaways  Aim: To achieve a manufacturing capacity of 50 GigaWatt Hour of ACC and five Giga Watt Hour of Niche ACC with an outlay of 18,100 crore. ACCs are the new generation of advanced storage technologies that can store electric energy either as electrochemical or as chemical energy and convert it back to electric energy as and when required.  It will also give a big push to electric mobility, benefiting three-wheelers, four-wheelers and heavy vehicles. India is currently importing Battery Storage Equipment  The scheme will be helpful in making the country self-reliant (Atmanirbhar). MoU between Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and Qatar Financial Centre Authority (QFCA) Part of: GS Prelims and GS - II - International Relations  In news The Union Cabinet has approved signing of MoU between Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and Qatar Financial Centre Authority (QFCA). Key takeaways  The MoU would enhance cooperation between the Institutes to work together to strengthen the Accounting profession and entrepreneurship base in Qatar.  ICAI has an active Chapter in Doha, Qatar which was established in the year 1981 and is the oldest among the 36 overseas Chapters of the ICAI. Qatar (Doha) Chapter is amongst the most vibrant Chapters of ICAI. Important value additions  The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI)  It is a statutory body established under The Chartered Accountants Act, 1949'.  Objective: To regulate the profession of Chartered Accountancy in India. Aerial Passenger Ropeway System Between Dehradun and Mussoorie  Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III - Infrastructure  In news The Union Cabinet gave its approval to the transfer of land of Indo-Tibetan Border Police, ITBP to Government of Uttarakhand for development of Aerial Passenger Ropeway System between Dehradun and Mussoorie. Key takeaways  The proposed Ropeway is a mono-cable ropeway of 5.5 Km length between Purkul Gaon, Dehradun and Library, Mussoorie being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 285 crore. It will have a carrying capacity of 1,000 persons per hour per direction.  This will considerably reduce the traffic flow on the road route from Dehradun to Mussoorie. This will generate direct employment of 350 and indirect employment of more than 1,500 people.  It will also be a huge attraction for tourists which in turn will provide a boost to the tourism industry  Important value additions  Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) It is India's primary border patrol organization with its border with China's Tibet Autonomous Region.  It was formed in 1962 in the wake of the Sino-Indian War of 1962. The "Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force Act, 1992" provides for the constitution and regulation of the ITBP for ensuring the security of the borders of India and for matters connected therewith. (Mains Focus) INTERNATIONAL/SECURITY Topic: GS-2: India and its neighborhood- relations.  GS-3: Security challenges and their management in border areas India-China: Lessons from Ladakh Stand-off Context: After over a year, the stand-off between Indian and Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh shows no signs of resolution. Disengagement has stalled, China continues to reinforce its troops, and talks have been fruitless. Implications of the border tensions More broadly, the India-China bilateral relationship has ruptured. India has made clear that the relationship is conditional on peace on the border. Political relations are marked by hostility and distrust.  Reversing a long-held policy, India will no longer overlook the problematic border dispute for the sake of a potentially lucrative wider relationship; Even if disengagement continues, the relationship will remain vulnerable to destabilising disruptions.  Key Lessons to be learnt China is more likely to be deterred or coerced with the threat of political costs, rather than material costs. China’s defence budget is three to four times larger than India’s, and its Western Theatre Command boasts over 200,000 soldiers. The material burden of the crisis would not disrupt its existing priorities. In contrast, India successfully raised the risks of the crisis for China through its threat of a political rupture, not military punishment Indian Ocean Region is the key India should consider accepting more risk on the LAC in exchange for long-term leverage and influence in the Indian Ocean Region. At the land border, the difficult terrain and even balance of military force means that each side could only squeeze out modest gains at best.  In contrast, India has traditionally been the dominant power in the Indian Ocean Region and stands to lose significant political influence and security if it fails to answer the rapid expansion of Chinese military power in the region. The Ladakh crisis, by prompting an increased militarisation of the LAC, should not defer long-overdue military modernisation and maritime expansion into the Indian Ocean. Connecting the dots: On Pakistan’s New Map – Critical Analysis  India-Nepal Border Dispute: Kalapani and Lipulekh ECONOMY/ GOVERNANCE Topic: GS-3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development  GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.  Rural Imperative in the wake of COVID crisis Context: The main kharif planting season will begin only from mid-June with the arrival of the monsoon rains. Agricultural Sector in 2020-21 The year 2020-21 was exceptional, where the farm sector expanded by 3%, even as the Indian economy as a whole contracted by 6.5&.  Agricultural exports also grew 17.5%, despite the value of the country’s overall merchandise shipments falling by 7.2%.  Industries like tractor, FMCG and cement companies rode high on rural demand in 2020-21. The end result was that rural India provided a cushion for the economy, which suffered its worst recession since Independence and the first after 1979-80. Reasons for above scenario Low impact of Pandemic: Covid-19 cases being very low in rural areas last year and the government exempting agricultural activities from lockdown restrictions Favourable Monsoon: Another reason was excellent rains and favourable winter temperatures that helped farmers harvest a bumper crop.  Favourable Prices: There was also a spike in global agri-commodity prices from around October, the benefits of which were reaped by soyabean, mustard, groundnut, cotton, arhar, urad and chana growers.  Right interventions by government: Firstly, government undertook massive procurement of wheat, paddy, mustard and rabi pulses that were marketed post the lockdown. The second was the record 389.37 crore person-days of employment that got generated under MGNREGA during 2020-21. Along with these two, there was Rs 6,000-per-farmer cash transfer under PM-Kisan that ensured sizeable liquidity infusion into the rural economy.  What will be the scenario this year? The Indian Meteorological Department has forecast a normal southwest monsoon, while FAO’s world food price index hit an 83-month-high in April. On both these fronts — rainfall and prices — the outlook for agriculture, thus, remains favourable. The availability of cushion, provided by agricultural sector last year, is in doubt today, with the second wave of the pandemic not sparing rural areas This year, there is not much requirement for MSP procurement, barring in wheat.  The scope of MGNREGA works is also limited when Covid has made deep inroads into rural areas.  Conclusion  If the current wave subsides by planting season of Kharif, things shouldn’t turn out too bad.  The focus of government should be more on cash transfers. There’s no better time to put to use the JAM (Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile) infrastructure than now. (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 Where is Galathea Bay located?  Philippines  Japan India China Q.2 Consider the following statements regarding Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC): ACCs are the new generation of advanced storage technologies that can store electric energy either as electrochemical or as chemical energy  Implementation of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme 'National Programme on Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Battery Storage’ was recently approved. Which of the above is/are correct?  1 only  2 only  Both 1 and 2  Neither 1 nor 2  Q.3 Hill station of Mussoorie is situated in the foothills of the which of the following mountain range? Garhwal Himalayan range Aravalli Range Kaimur Range  MaiKal Range ANSWERS FOR 12th May 2021 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 D 2 A Must Read On criticism of Centre’s vaccination policy: The Hindu On pandemic & hunger: The Hindu About India-EU relations: Hindustan Times

May 13, 2021 TLP Mains Answer Writing

IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1 – ENGLISH & हिंदी): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – HOT Questions [13th May,2021] – Day 2

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE Hello Friends, Welcome to IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1 – ENGLISH & हिंदी): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – HOT Questions [13th May,2021] – Day 2 TLP (Phase 1) just got over on 8th May (Saturday) and we are extremely thankful for your active participation to make this program a success. Well, though TLP (Phase 1) got over, ‘Picture abhi baaqi hai mere dost’. There is a surprise for you. Since prelims is bound to get delayed once again this year, its not wise to leave the writing practice just now. Hence, we are extending the TLP program for a month - HOT (High Order Thinking) Questions! With the HOT initiative, we will be posting 3 questions per day (Monday to Friday). The questions will be based on Current Affairs, so that you don’t have to invest your time separately on exclusively mains oriented topics. So, keep practicing and keep improving. To Know More about TLP  -> CLICK HERE For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE Note: Click on Each Question (Link), it will open in a new tab and then Answer respective questions! 1. How have the markets for cryptocurrencies evolved in recent months? What are the regulatory concerns related to cryptocurrencies? Discuss. हाल के महीनों में क्रिप्टोकरेंसी के बाजार कैसे विकसित हुए हैं? क्रिप्टोकरेंसी से संबंधित विनियामक चिंताएँ क्या हैं? चर्चा करें। 2. Critically assess the role played by social media platforms during the ongoing COVID pandemic. चल रहे COVID महामारी के दौरान सोशल मीडिया प्लेटफार्मों द्वारा निभाई गई भूमिका का समालोचनात्मक आकलन करें। 3. RBI’s relief steps centred on small borrowers and entities in unorganised sector will go a long way in addressing the credit gap during COVID. Comment.  असंगठित क्षेत्र में छोटे उधारकर्ताओं और संस्थाओं पर केंद्रित RBI के राहत कदम को COVID के दौरान क्रेडिट गैप को संबोधित करने में एक लंबा रास्ता तय करेंगी। टिप्पणी। P.S: The review from IASbaba will happen from the time the question is posted till 10 pm every day. We would also encourage peer reviews. So friends get actively involved and start reviewing each other's answers. This will keep the entire community motivated. All the Best :)

May 13, 2021 Important Articles

UPSC Prelims Exam to be held on 10th October, 2021 - Rescheduling of the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2021

Due to the prevailing conditions caused by the Novel Corona Virus (COVID-19), the Union Public Service Commission has deferred the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2021, which was scheduled to be held on 27th June, 2021. Now, this Examination will be held on 10th October 2021. Read More - CLICK HERE

May 13, 2021 RSTV Video

PM WANI Scheme – Policy Watch – RSTV IAS UPSC

Archives Topic: General Studies 2,3: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources. In News: Union Cabinet has approved Prime Minister Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI). This is being seen as an attempt by the government to elevate wireless internet connectivity in the country. The proposal will promote the growth of Public Wi-Fi Networks in the country and, in turn, will help in the proliferation of Broadband Internet, enhancement of income and employment, and empowerment of people.  The public Wi-Fi Access Network Interface was first recommended by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India in 2017. Key Features of PM WANI Scheme Public Data Offices (PDOs) — comparable to a PCO or a cybercafe — will establish, maintain, and operate only the WANI compliant Wi-Fi access points to deliver broadband services to its subscribers.These PDOs will either provide internet on their own or will lease from some other Internet Service Provider (ISP).  PDO Aggregators (PDOAs) will also be set up. These will perform the function of authorisation and accounting of the numerous PDOs. The app provider will develop the app to register users and discover PM-WANI compliant WiFi hotspots nearby.  A central registry will be set-up which will maintain details of all app providers, PDOAs and PDOs. The registry will be handled by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT). A customer wanting to access the network from a PDO’s premise can do so only after an eKYC authentication. Merits of PPM WANI Scheme Unleashes Wi-Fi revolution in India: According to TRAI, in most major economies, 50%-70 % of the total usage time of mobile users is through WiFi but in India, this figure is less than 10%. PM WANI will help increase Wifi usage through increased presence of Wifi hotspots. Enhances Quality of life: Internet access will connect a new wave of users not just to commercial and entertainment options, but also to education, telehealth and agriculture extension Ease of doing business: Registration for PDOs will be granted within seven days of the application, else they will be deemed registered. Also, Communications Ministry has stated that no license fee will be charged for providing broadband internet services Creates Employment and enhances Incomes: The scheme would enable small shopkeepers like tea shop owner to register online as a service provider which will boost their incomes as well as ensure our youth gets seamless internet connectivity. Strengthens Digital India mission: The vision of Digital India programme is to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. The Digital India programme is centred on three key vision areas – Digital Infrastructure as core utility to every citizen, Governance & Services on demand and Digital Empowerment of Citizens Financial Inclusion: Bringing broadband Internet to remote locations at minimum investment, and giving subscribers the option of making small, need-based payments helps increase digital financial transaction across India particularly in rural areas Boosts GDP: Three years ago, when TRAI outlined WANI plan and initiated the first pilot of a public wi-fi system on the WANI architecture, it noted that a 10% rise in net penetration led to a 1.4% increase in GDP. Bridges Digital divide: A rapid scale-up of Internet in rural India will be transformative, given the low level of penetration — 27.57 subscribers per 100 population in 2019 – and wi-fi linked to broadband fibre service is the fastest route to achieving that. Cost Effective way of Digital Expansion: Upcoming mobile technologies such as 5G may provide good quality data, but they involve high investment in new spectrum, connectivity equipment and regular subscriber fees. The WANI system offers an elegant way forward to connect low revenue consumers. Entrepreneurship Opportunities: It opens up opportunities for community organisations, libraries, educational institutions, panchayats and small entrepreneurs to tap into a whole new ecosystem, purchasing bandwidth from a public data office aggregator to serve local consumers. Challenges Ahead Clash with Mobile Telecom Firms: Public wi-fi suffered neglect in past because it was seen as a competitor to data services sold by mobile telecom firms, rather than as the complementary technology it. Safety and Security: There is huge expectation on provision of robust service, protection of data integrity, transparency on commercial use of data, and security against cyberattacks. Ensuring Free Market: The government must also ensure true unbundling of hardware, software, apps and payment gateways in the WANI system, as advocated by TRAI, to prevent monopolies. Existing public wi-fi options run on a limited scale by some entities compel consumers to pay through a single gateway app, underscoring the need for reform Conclusion: Executed properly, the public data offices (PDOs) of PM WANI can do what the PCOs did for phone calls, going well beyond ‘ease of doing business’ to genuinely empower citizens. Do You Know? Service providers had in 2018 stated that they aimed to provide 5 lakh hotspots by March 31, 2019 and 10 lakh hotspots by September 30, 2019. However, these targets have not been achieved. PM WANI Scheme that enables public wi-fi data service through small retail data offices can get many more people connected, just as long-distance telephony was expanded through STD public call offices over three decades ago.

May 13, 2021 IASbaba Prelims 60 Day Plan

IASbaba’s 60 Day Plan - IAS Prelims Test Series 2021 - ECONOMY, CURRENT AFFAIRS & CSAT [Day 45]

For Previous (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE Hello Friends,  ARCHIVES OF 60 DAYS NOTE: IASbaba's 60 DAY questions  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.   ECONOMY [DAY 45] - 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 12, 2021 RSTV Video

Health Data Management Policy – Policy Watch – RSTV IAS UPSC

Archives TOPIC: General Studies 2 Issues relating to development and management of health e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential In News: The Health Ministry approved a policy under the National Digital Health Mission (NDHM) to protect and manage personal data of patients using the digital services of the scheme. The government said that this policy is to be read along with, and not in contradiction to, any applicable law, or any instrument having the effect of any law together with the Blueprint, the information security policy, the data retention and archival policy and any other policy, which may be issued for the implementation of the NDHM. Data collected across the National Digital Health Ecosystem (NDHE) will be stored in at the central level, the state or Union Territory level and at the health facility level, by adopting the principle of minimality at each point. It would also apply to any healthcare provider who collects, stores and transmits health data in electronic form, insurers, charitable institutions, pharmaceuticals and all individuals, teams, entities who collect or process personal or sensitive data of any individual as part of the NDHE. The NDHM will significantly improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and transparency of health services in India. National Digital Health Mission (NDHM) The policy acts as a guidance document across the National Digital Health Ecosystem (NDHE).  One of the main objectives of the draft policy is to provide adequate guidance and to set out a framework for the secure processing of personal and sensitive personal data of individuals who are a part of the national digital health ecosystem. This will be in compliance with all applicable laws and international standards that define the set of frameworks of consent for the collection and processing of health data by healthcare practitioners and other entities and other relevant standards related to data interoperability and data sharing. The NDHM envisages creating a national health ID for every Indian, an idea mooted by the NITI Aayog in 2018 when it recommended creating a centralised system to manage healthcare in the country.  The NDHM is part of the Centre’s National Digital Health Blueprint, which aims to enhance healthcare delivery by setting up a core e-health database of international standards and, on paper, allowing patients to have control over their health data.  With its key building blocks or applications, HealthID, DigiDoctor, Health Facility Registry, Personal Health Records, Telemedicine, and e-Pharmacy, the mission will bring together disparate stakeholders and radically strengthen — and, thus change — India’s healthcare delivery landscape. The NDHM is supposed to cover all government health programmes to begin with. This will be a huge exercise, akin to the Aadhaar project, and would require more resources than the currently allocated ₹144 crore, making private participation a necessity given the strained finances of the Centre. However, unlike Aadhar, the health ID isn’t mandatory and is only one of the components of the Mission, which the government reckons will go a long way in providing universal health coverage to over 1.3 billion people.  The core building blocks of the NDHM — the Health ID and Health Facility Registry —shall be owned, operated and maintained by the government. However, private operators will have equal opportunities to integrate with these systems and create products for the market. Such linkages across public and private players could enhance medical efficiency and improve the patient’s experience. Patients can choose the documents they would like to share, with whom and for how long. Pic source: https://factly.in/review-what-does-the-draft-national-health-data-management-policy-contain/  Merits of NDHM Creates Digital Health Ecosystem: It will reduce the existing gap between various stakeholders such as doctors, hospitals and other healthcare providers by bringing them together and connecting them in an integrated digital health infrastructure. Voluntary Scheme: The NDHM is a holistic, voluntary healthcare programme. While option of digital Health ID will be there, in case a person does not want Health ID, then also treatment needs to be provided. Data Safeguards: All products by private participants shall be as per official guidelines taking care of security, privacy and standards of the NDHM ecosystem Improves Healthcare Service Efficiency: The created Digital Health infrastructure enables users to obtain a longitudinal view of their healthcare records. Electric Medical Records will increase accountability, improves patient outcomes, and advances evidence-based policymaking.  Addresses Healthcare Challenges: The Digital Health infrastructure greatly reduces the risk of preventable medical errors and significantly increase quality of care.  Reduces Information Asymmetry: The Digital data will empower all Indians with the correct information and sources enabling them to take an informed decision to avail the best possible healthcare. Aligned with International Goals: NDHM will be a major stride towards achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3.8 of Universal Health Coverage, including financial risk protection Last Mile Connectivity Issue: The provision of promoting e-pharmacy & Telemedicine will enable people in rural areas access quality healthcare providers. Data Ownership issues addressed: The health data will reside at individual hospital servers in a federated architecture.  Citizen will own his/ her health data and would require consent to share data. All the basic registries of patients/hospital/medical professionals that enable data sharing will be owned by a government entity. Challenges Ahead Cannot be a Substitution: Digitalisation is welcome but is no substitute for inadequate human resources and infrastructure in the health sector.  Doesn’t address core concern of Health care sector: The real issue in India’s health sector is the abject lack of primary health facilities in much of India.  Digital awareness about the utility of the scheme is needed for its successful adoption by beneficiaries so that it eases the process and not  To enable seamless data exchange, all users (pharmacists, laboratories, radiology clinics, insurers and hospitals) must be incentivised to adopt a standard language of communication Prone to digital theft: Considering that the mission involves government collaboration between hospitals in both public as well as private sectors, laboratories, insurance firms, pharmacies and telemedicine, there is a risk of exposing individual healthcare data to hacking and commercial misuse.  Voluntary or involuntary: Although the NDHM is now a voluntary exercise, like the Aadhaar was at the outset, it could become mandatory for availing government health services. In such a context, ensuring the safety of individual health data becomes paramount. The government must gain the confidence of all stakeholders, including rights groups, before going ahead.  Clarity required: There should be more clarity on questions such as: who will maintain and manage the centralised repository of citizen’s health data; who will own the data — the individual or the state; whether individuals can transfer the data between service providers (which is an opaque and cumbersome exercise in the offline world today) and whether the individual has the right to erase irrelevant healthcare data and maintain ‘his or her right to be forgotten’— an issue that has raked up a controversy in the European Union.  Insurance companies should not be allowed to misuse personal data.  The NDHM must also be in compliance with the global best practices on data privacy, such as the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation. Conclusion Such centralised data, combined with real-time Big Data analytics, can become a surveillance tool. Considering the way healthcare data from wearable devices are getting mainstreamed, with healthcare providers, doctors and patients using them for diagnosis, if not for treatment, the NDHM should spell out its stand on collecting such data from individuals and integrating it with the unique health ID. The country’s data protection law — in the works for almost three years — will have to factor in such concerns, arm patients with safeguards. In the coming months and years, the government and the country’s legal, IT and medical systems will have to come together to translate the NDHM’s patient-centric vision into reality. Connecting the Dots: The potential and pitfalls of digitisation of health data How will the National Digital Health Mission change India’s health delivery landscape? Discuss.