Apr 24, 2021 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

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

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

Apr 24, 2021 Important Articles

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

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

Apr 24, 2021 TLP Mains Answer Writing

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

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE Hello Friends, Welcome to IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1- ENGLISH & हिंदी): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – General Studies 4 Questions [23rd April 2020] – Day 89 We will make sure, in the next 100 days not a single day is wasted and your mains preparation is solidified. All your energies are channelized in the right direction. Trust us! This will make a huge difference in your results this time, provided that you follow this plan sincerely every day without fail. Gear up and Make the Best Use of this initiative. We are giving 5 Mains Questions on a daily basis so that every student can actively participate and keep your preparation focused. Do remember that, “the difference between Ordinary and EXTRA-Ordinary is PRACTICE!!” To Know More about the Initiative -> CLICK HERE SCHEDULE/DETAILED PLAN – > CLICK HERE Note: Click on Each Question (Link), it will open in a new tab and then Answer respective questions! 1. How does information sharing lead to better outcomes? Illustrate. जानकारी साझा करने से बेहतर परिणाम कैसे प्राप्त होते हैं? चित्रण करें। 2. Discuss the ways in which adherence to codes of ethics lead to positive behavioural changes. उन तरीकों पर चर्चा करें जिनमें आचार संहिता का पालन सकारात्मक व्यवहार परिवर्तन का कारण बनता है। 3. What are the challenges in enforcing model code of conduct during elections? Discuss. चुनाव के दौरान आदर्श आचार संहिता लागू करने में क्या चुनौतियाँ हैं? चर्चा करें। 4. What are the key elements of a good work culture? Why is it important? Analyse. एक अच्छी कार्य संस्कृति के प्रमुख तत्व क्या हैं? यह महत्वपूर्ण क्यों है? विश्लेषण करें। 5. How will you design the citizen charter of a space organisation? आप अंतरिक्ष संगठन के नागरिक चार्टर को कैसे डिजाइन करेंगे? P.S: The review from IASbaba will happen from the time the question is posted till 10 pm everyday. We would also encourage peer reviews. So friends get actively involved and start reviewing each others answers. This will keep the entire community motivated. All the Best :)

Apr 24, 2021 IASbaba Prelims 60 Day Plan

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

For Previous (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE Hello Friends,    [embed]https://https://www.youtube.com/embed/x5ldu2jV8N0[/embed] ARCHIVES OF 60 DAYS NOTE: IASbaba's 60 DAY questions will be posted around 10 AM. The solution will be released around 6 PM Daily.  Let us pledge to make it a big game-changer (better than last year) in the next 60 days!  Note- Download the OMR Sheet and attempt the questions exactly like UPSC Prelims. After you are done, please post your OMR in the comment section. Once the solution key is released (around 6 PM), cross-check the answers and, comment the marks (you scored) in the same comment thread. This will keep you accountable, responsible and sincere in days to come.  You can also take part in the discussion with peers.   ENVIRONMENT [DAY 30] - Click Here NOTE- Follow this for Comments Mention- Time Taken after solving the Test After the release of Solution, Edit your Comment to Mention-  Correct/Incorrect and Score 2 Marks for Correct/0.66 minus for Incorrect. What IMPACT can the ‘60 Day’ have on the final results? We will explain by taking a small example. Imagine you are sitting in the examination hall, appearing in Prelims Paper I. You have attempted 70 questions already but still unsure about a few. Then you stumble upon a question that was asked in 60 Day (and believe us, it has happened to hundreds of students countless times). You choose the right answer and submit your paper hoping for the best! Eventually, you go on to clear Mains as well as Personality Test and secure a good rank as well. When the cut off gets announced by UPSC, you realize that you have scored just one mark more than the cut off! Yes, that one mark can change your life (and it has done so to many of our students in the past). Now, imagine the kind of impact 60 to 80 marks can have! Isn’t that so fascinating to imagine?   One’s level of preparedness is always different for different subjects. Even within a subject, one’s comfort level may vary with topics. For example, one might be more comfortable in solving questions of Polity than Economics and within Polity also, one might be at ease with questions on fundamental rights than Parliament. The level of comfort and ease that one has with a subject/ topic gets manifested in the examination. However, there is no conscious effort by aspirants to micro analyze these aspects. Now, coming to the second aspect i.e. the mistakes that one commits in answering MCQs, it can be said that there are mainly four reasons behind incorrect responses in the OMR sheet. They are: Lack of information Lack of analytical ability Silly mistakes Excessive risk-taking Let’s analyze them one by one: Lack of information: You simply don’t know the information. You are clueless and that’s why you don’t attempt the question. For example, you may have never come across a regime called the ‘Wassenaar Agreement’ during your preparation and you can’t do much about it. The lack of information is pardonable and rectifiable. You can read more and gather more information. That is within your reach. Lack of analytical ability: You know the concept but the question is a twisted one and you are not able to apply the concept. For example, in a question asking you to identify the climate type of a region based on certain given parameters like precipitation, temperature, and air density, you might find it difficult to mark the correct option even if you are aware of all the options given in the question! That is clearly a lack of application and you can overcome it by developing a habit of framing questions in your mind while you study any topic. Silly mistakes: This habit is unpardonable. You know the concept, you become happy, you misread the question, you mark the incorrect answer and you are out of the race! Such mistakes reveal your hurriedness while answering the question. A simple mistake of reading ‘chose the incorrect option’ as ‘chose the correct option’ can destroy your chances. It means that you need to have patience and focus while attempting the paper. Excessive risk-taking: You are confused between the options and just in order to increase your attempts, you make wild guesses and try your luck only to repent eventually. Risk-taking is an art and one must be very careful while doing the guesswork in confusing questions. If you are not lucky enough, it can spoil your chances. You will realize that these problems will have different meanings for different people. For example, one might find a lack of information as the main culprit in answering wrong the questions on Culture while in Polity, lack of analytical ability is usually the culprit. The point here is that you must analyse your preparation on these yardsticks by applying them on different subjects/ topics. If one is having a headache, he/ she can’t have the same medicine for fever. Isn’t it. This is where our revamped '60 Day’ comes into the picture. It will give you an opportunity to micro analyze your preparation and perform better in the examination. Finally, it is up to you to take advantage of this framework. We are sure of only one thing- if you follow this program, assess yourself on the basis of the given framework and keep improving your weaker areas, success will be yours. We are providing you with the right platform, the right guidance, and the right competition. Do you have the right motivation to make full use of this initiative? We think you have. Come, be a part of this initiative and take the first step towards SUCCESS! Importance of self - tracking: We could have provided all of you with login id and passwords to monitor your daily performance in the 60-day program. Instead, a simple and most beautiful way which Disqus provides is profile based commenting! Yes, we have seen the most successful candidates who have taken the maximum benefit from this program monitoring themselves by commenting on their answers in the box given (Disqus comment). And reviewing their performance themselves once in 10 days on the progress meter.  DOWNLOAD THE 60 DAYS PLAN 2021 All the Best! IASbaba    

Apr 23, 2021 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

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

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

Apr 23, 2021 RSTV Video

Budget 2021: Green Energy Highlights – The Big Picture – RSTV IAS UPSC

Archives TOPIC: General Studies 3 Green Energy Environment, Climate Change In News: Budget 2021 has proposed the launch of Hydrogen Energy Mission in this fiscal year. Hydrogen energy technologies across the world have still not become commercially viable, but the energy source is seen as the next big thing as its usage would lead to zero emissions. With the announcement, India has joined the race for producing the next big energy source. The emphasis on hydrogen in the budget was in line with the technological development in the global north and with a long-term vision towards reduced dependency on minerals and rare-earth element-based battery as energy storage. Germany and many other EU countries have already set an ambitious green hydrogen policy. Even countries like UAE and Australia that are traditionally considered as the laggards of climate action have moved towards green hydrogen Hydrogen Energy Mission (Hydrogen Economy) To be launched in 2021-22 for generating hydrogen from green power sources The demand: Demand for hydrogen is at around 6 metric tonne (MT) per annum, mainly from industry sectors, such as fertilizers and refineries. This can increase to around 28 MT by 2050 mainly due to cost reductions in key technologies and a push to reduce carbon footprint. Demand will mainly grow in steel and road transport, shipping and aviation sectors. The report also projected that India would require 40 MT of green hydrogen to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2060. Production: Typically, hydrogen can be produced in one of three ways, i.e., from fossil fuels (grey hydrogen), through carbon capture utilisation & storage (CCUS) application and fossil fuels (blue hydrogen), or by using renewable energy (green hydrogen). In the case of green hydrogen, electricity generated from renewable energy is used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen in an electrolyser. This is by far the cleanest and perhaps the most expensive method of producing hydrogen at the moment. Majority of the hydrogen production in India takes place via fossil fuels and is used primarily in the chemical and petrochemical sectors. Focussing on the production of green hydrogen in India would mean significantly ramping up the current renewable energy infrastructure across the country. Importance:  Green Hydrogen Mission is not only essential to decarbonise heavy industries like steel and cement, it also holds the key to clean electric mobility that doesn’t depend on rare minerals. Hydrogen from renewable sources can play a critical role in heavy-duty, long-distance transport. While battery operated electric vehicles (BEV) will become competitive for heavy-duty transport, hydrogen production will be needed. It will also play a critical role in production of ammonia which is currently being produced from fossil-fuel based hydrogen. Green hydrogen energy is vital for India to meet its Nationally Determined Contributions and ensure regional and national energy security, access and availability. Hydrogen can act as an energy storage option, which would be essential to meet intermittencies (of renewable energy) in the future The Way Forward The rising interest in this supply option is driven by the falling costs of renewable power and by systems integration challenges due to rising shares of variable renewable power supply. The focus is on deployment and learning-by-doing to reduce electrolyser costs and supply chain logistics. This will require funding.  In terms of challenges to green hydrogen specifically, cost of renewable electricity is the major problem. Public investments need to strategised and channelled well. Policy makers should also consider how to create legislative frameworks that facilitate hydrogen-based sector coupling. Partnerships with government for carrying out research on applications in futuristic areas of the hydrogen energy mission will be critical to its success.  Government’s encouragement to prospective users of green hydrogen can also be in the form of lowering of open-access charges for renewables to address the challenge of reaching out green power from distant project locations. Connecting the Dots: Green hydrogen energy technologies come with their own problems. Is India ready? Critically examine.

Apr 23, 2021 UPSC Interview Discussion-TRP

[INTERVIEW INITIATIVE] Think, Rethink and Perform (TRP) [DAY 16] 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 16 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.  What is your idea of religion?  Should a person be religious? Why?  Are you religious? If yes, why? If not, why not?   Set 2: Analyse the following issue:  Do you think electoral democracy creates an atmosphere in which the governments are more focussed on winning elections than ensuring good governance? Does it not lead to perpetual campaigning mode for the political parties? If yes, how can this be addressed? Think of some out of the box solutions.  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

Apr 23, 2021 TLP Mains Answer Writing

IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1 – ENGLISH & हिंदी): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – General Studies Paper 3 Questions [22nd April,2021] – Day 88

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 [22nd April 2020] – Day 88 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 most potent threats to India’s marine biodiversity? Discuss. What measures have been taken to protect marine biodiversity? Examine.  भारत की समुद्री जैव विविधता के लिए सबसे प्रबल खतरे क्या हैं? चर्चा करें। समुद्री जैव विविधता की रक्षा के लिए क्या उपाय किए गए हैं? जांच करें। 2. Examine the problem of pollution of water bodies in North India. What measures would you suggest to address this problem? उत्तर भारत में जल निकायों के प्रदूषण की समस्या की जांच करें। इस समस्या के समाधान के लिए आप क्या उपाय सुझाएंगे? 3. Share your views on the suitability and sustainability of river interlinking project for addressing the issue of water scarcity and floods. पानी की कमी और बाढ़ के मुद्दे के समाधान के लिए नदी के परस्पर संपर्क की उपयुक्तता और स्थिरता पर अपने विचार साझा करें। 4. How do vaccines create immunity against viral infections? Explain with the help of suitable examples. वायरल संक्रमण के खिलाफ टीके प्रतिरक्षा कैसे बनाते हैं? उपयुक्त उदाहरणों की सहायता से समझाएँ। 5. What are the regions in India that suffer from the challenge of desertification. Explain the causative factors that lead to desertification. भारत में ऐसे कौन से क्षेत्र हैं जो मरुस्थलीकरण की चुनौती से पीड़ित हैं। उन कारकों की व्याख्या करें जो मरुस्थलीकरण की ओर ले जाती हैं। P.S: The review from IASbaba will happen from the time the question is posted till 10 pm everyday. We would also encourage peer reviews. So friends get actively involved and start reviewing each others answers. This will keep the entire community motivated. All the Best :)

Apr 23, 2021 Important Articles

[COURSE] Geography Optional - Foundation Course 2022 by Atyab Ali Zaidi Sir

Hello Everyone, We hope that you all are fine and your loved ones are safe. In this time of crisis, the best thing that you can do is to stay indoors, safe with your family, eat healthy and study hard so that you can become part of the system and help in avoiding any future crisis. As Geography is one of the most sought-after Optional Subject, we have come up with Online Geography Optional – Foundation Course. It covers Online Videos (Complete Geography Optional) Test Series Value Add Notes Live Doubt Clarification sessions Personal Mentorship Before we let you know the merits of Geography as an optional, please remove the notions and biases from your mind that might have developed as a result of your discussions on various online forums and maybe with your friends and seniors. UPSC doesn’t intentionally “butcher” a subject. All the Optional Subjects have their distinct advantages and drawbacks but by no stretch of the imagination would UPSC give preference to one optional over the other. What may happen though is that some optional subjects might have scored more than the others in a particular year but that trend gets reversed also. That is the unpredictability of the Civil Services Examination that we have to live with. In fact, till the time optional subjects remain a part of CSE, this unpredictability will remain. Also, every year there is at least one person getting a top 10 rank with the Geography optional and many who are failing by taking other optional subjects. So, learn to live with it rather than blaming it. Most of the time, the answers to one’s failure or unexpected performance lies within and not externally. So, the message is clear for all- Before blaming UPSC for its so-called “bias” for or against any optional, try to find the reasons for not doing well by looking inward! So, coming to the point, let us enumerate the merits of Geography as an optional to help you decide whether it’s the subject for you: 1.Geography is scoring: If you maintain the essence of Geography in your answers, it will definitely fetch you good marks in Mains. 2.Geography is interesting: You will have a fun ride with geography as most of the concepts relate to the physical and social environment of which you are an integral part. 3.Geography has a maximum overlap with GS syllabus: If you prepare Geography optional, more than 30-40% of your GS syllabus is automatically prepared. Moreover, you develop better perspectives for the Essay paper and interview as well. This year in GS paper 1, 110 marks were asked from geography. Also, International relations, Disaster Management, Agriculture, exports, resources, etc. are part of geography which helps in scoring well in GS 2 and GS 3. 4.Geography is logic-driven and scientific: Unlike some other humanities subjects, the study of Geography entails logic, scientific theories, and empirical evidence. This makes Geography easy to understand and apply. 5.Geography has an abundance of sources to refer to: There is no dearth of quality materials and good books in Geography. You don’t have to dig too much into bookstores to find good books on Geography. For More Details about the Geography Optional – Foundation Course – CLICK HERE

Apr 23, 2021 IASbaba Prelims 60 Day Plan

IASbaba’s 60 Day Plan - IAS Prelims Test Series 2021 - SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, CURRENT AFFAIRS & CSAT [Day 29]

For Previous (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE Hello Friends,    [embed]https://https://www.youtube.com/embed/x5ldu2jV8N0[/embed] ARCHIVES OF 60 DAYS NOTE: IASbaba's 60 DAY questions will be posted around 10 AM. The solution will be released around 6 PM Daily.  Let us pledge to make it a big game-changer (better than last year) in the next 60 days!  Note- Download the OMR Sheet and attempt the questions exactly like UPSC Prelims. After you are done, please post your OMR in the comment section. Once the solution key is released (around 6 PM), cross-check the answers and, comment the marks (you scored) in the same comment thread. This will keep you accountable, responsible and sincere in days to come.  You can also take part in the discussion with peers.   S&T [DAY 29] - 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