Apr 15, 2021 IASbaba Prelims 60 Day Plan

IASbaba’s 60 Day Plan - IAS Prelims Test Series 2021 - ECONOMICS, CURRENT AFFAIRS & CSAT [Day 22]

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.   ECONOMICS [DAY 22] - 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 14, 2021 हिन्दी Initiatives

मासिक पत्रिका फ़रवरी 2021- हिन्दी IASbaba सामयिकी

ARCHIVES Hello Friends,   Current Affairs for UPSC Civil Services Examination is an important factor in this preparation. An effort towards making your Current Affairs for IAS UPSC Preparation qualitative. We hope you make the best use of it! This Hindi edition covers all important current affairs issues that were in news for the month of फ़रवरी/FEBRUARY 2021. Kindly leave your feedback in the comment section below on the new design and presentation of the magazine. We would love to hear from you 🙂 DOWNLOAD THE MAGAZINE- CLICK HERE To get Regular Updates from IASbaba, follow- TELEGRAM Channel – https://t.me/IASbabaOfficialAccount YOUTUBE  –  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChvbVdio9Wgj7Z3nQz1Q0ZQ FACEBOOK  – https://www.facebook.com/iasbaba/ Also, SUBSCRIBE to the WEBSITE Below, so that you don’t miss out on important posts! Thank You IASbaba  

Apr 14, 2021 TLP Mains Answer Writing

SYNOPSIS [8th April,2021] Day 76: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE   SYNOPSIS [8th April,2021] Day 76: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)   1. Discuss the unique flora and fauna of Australia. What are the geographical factors that impart this uniqueness? Approach: Question is straight forward in its approach students are expected to discuss the unique geographical features of Australia and how it impacts the distribution of flora and fauna of the country cum continent.  Introduction: Australia’s geographic isolation has meant that much of its flora and fauna is very different from species in other parts of the world. Most are found nowhere else. However, some closely related species are found on the continents which once made up the ancient southern supercontinent Gondwana. Covered in rainforest and ferns 300 million years ago, Gondwana included South America, Africa, India and Antarctica. Most of Australia’s flora and fauna have their origins in Gondwana, which broke up about 140 million years ago.  Australia separated from Antarctica 50 million years ago. As it drifted away from the southern polar region, its climate became warmer and drier and new species of plants and animals evolved and came to dominate the landscape. Body: Flora Australia has a huge diversity of plants (27 700 plant species according to the last studies), due to the fact that the country is huge and the climate is different from one region to another. From the rainforests of the North Queensland to the dry vegetation of the Red Centre, from the temperate plains of the NSW to the forests of Tasmania, diversity seems to have no limit.  Even in the most arid parts of the country, sudden rainfalls can turn a desperate landscape into a field of wildflowers. Among Australia's thousands of plant species, some are more emblematic than others. One of the best known Australian tree is the Eucalyptus. More than 2 500 species of Eucalyptus are represented in Australia! On warm days, eucalyptus forests are sometimes shrouded in a smog-like haze.  The Blue Mountains, 70kms west of Sydney, take their name from this haze. Australia also has around 1 000 species of acacia, that they call "wattles. Located in North Queensland, this forest is the oldest tropical rainforest on earth, dating back 135 million years! Since 2015, most of the forest is listed as a UNESCO world natural site. The Kakadu National Park and its wetlands (also called billabongs) are another must-do for nature lovers. The Kakadu is not only Australia's largest National Park, it is also a UNESCO world natural and heritage site.  The fauna of Australia consists of a huge variety of animals. Did you know that more than 80% of mammals, nearly 90% of reptiles and more than 90% of amphibians that inhabit the continent are endemic to Australia? Mammals: Marsupials: They are certainly the most famous Australian animals! A distinctive characteristic is that most of the young are carried in a pouch. That is of course the case of kangaroos. There are in fact many species of kangaroos: Eastern grey kangaroos, Red kangaroos, Western grey kangaroos, Tree kangaroos... You might also see wallabies, which are smaller than kangaroos, and wallaroos, which are even smaller! Another emblematic species of marsupials is koalas.  Monotremes: They are probably the most exotic animals of Australia, a transitory group between mammals and reptils! You have certainly heard about the platypus, this crazy mammal with a duck beak. They are the only mammal that lay eggs instead of giving birth! The platipus is the animal emblem of the state of New South Wales.  Placentals: As stated before, there are only a few native placental mammals in Australia. Dingoes are one of them. For many Australians, the dingo is a cultural icon. They play a prominent role in the Aboriginal culture. Dingoes are the largest terrestrial predator in Australia. They play an important role as an apex predator. However, they are seen as a pest by farmers, due to attacks on animals. Reptils and Batracians:Australia is home to 140 species of snakes. Uniquely, Australia has more venomous than non-venomous species of snakes! The most dangerous are the inland taipan, the tiger snake and the common death adder. Fortunately, the snakes are shy animals that flee contact with humans. Casualties are therefore really rare. Crocodiles: Saltwater crocodiles can be find along the Northern coast of Australia. They are the largest of all living reptiles. Males can reach sizes up to 6.30m! The saltwater crocodiles are carnivorous predators, that are dangerous for humans. Signs have been displayed to inform people that crocodiles live around, but do no hesitate to ask locals for more details. Freshwater crocodiles are much smaller (2-3 meters) and are not known as man-eaters. However, they might bite if you disturb them. Fish and marine animals: About 25% of the world's species of fish can be found in the Australian waters. The Great Barrier Reef is listed as a UNESCO world natural site since 1981. Australia is home to 1700 species of corals, and is therefore a paradise for divers and snorkelers! Those that want to watch whales will also find happiness in Australia. Humback whales are the most common species. Birds: There are over 800 species of birds in Australia. Half of them are endemic. The best spots to watch them are the Broome Bird Observatory and the Kakadu National Park. Some species are really unusual. The emus, the second-largest living bird by height, are able to run as fast as horses... but cannot fly!  Unique Geographical Features of Australia  Australia is a relatively low-lying island with low relief. It is the flattest of all the continents. The various highland ranges are pronounced, but are not high in elevation. The Great Dividing Range is a mountain chain extending from Melbourne in the south to Cape York in the north. This low-lying range of highlands averages about four thousand feet and reaches an elevation of just over seven thousand feet at its highest peaks in the south. The largest river in Australia is the Darling-Murray River system that starts in the highland of the Great Dividing Range and flows inward through New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, and South Australia. The great interior of the country is home to the massive outback. Extending west from the Great Dividing Range, the outback encompasses most of the interior. This region receives less rainfall than along the coast and its terrain consists of deserts and semiarid plateaus with rough grasses and scrublands. The outback is sparsely populated, but is home to a number of aboriginal groups. Many of the school-age children in the outback have traditionally received their school lessons through television or radio broadcasts because of their isolation. Mining and some agricultural activities can be found in the outback. Alice Springs is located in the center of the continent and has been given the designation of the middle of nowhere, or the center of everything. The deserts of Australia’s interior make up a large portion of the continent. Western Australia has three large deserts: the Gibson Desert, Great Victoria Desert, and Great Sandy Desert. The Simpson Desert is located in the border region between the Northern Territory, Queensland, and South Australia. These deserts are not all sand; course grasses and various species of spinifex, a short plant that grows in sandy soil, also grow in the deserts. The Great Artesian Basin on the western edge of the Great Dividing Range receives very little rainfall. It would be classified as a desert but for its underground water resources, which support extensive farming operations. Large livestock businesses exist in Australia’s interior with massive herds of cattle and sheep. The grassy plateaus and scrublands provide grazing for domesticated livestock and even wild camels. The Great Barrier Reef, the largest barrier reef in the world, extends for 1,600 miles off the northeastern coast of Australia. It is home to a host of sea creatures and fish that draw millions of tourists each year.  Conclusion: Australia is both the flattest continent and, except for Antarctica, the driest. Seen from the air, its vast plains, sometimes the colour of dried blood, more often tawny like a lion’s skin, may seem to be one huge desert. One can fly the roughly 2,000 miles (3,200 km) to Sydney from Darwin in the north or to Sydney from Perth in the west without seeing a town or anything but the most scattered and minute signs of human habitation for vast stretches. A good deal of the central depression and western plateau is indeed desert. Yet appearances can be deceptive. The red and black soil plains of Queensland and New South Wales have long supported the world’s greatest wool industry, and some of the most arid and forbidding areas of Australia conceal great mineral wealth. 2. What is an air mass? With the help of suitable examples, illustrate the impact of air mass on weather conditions. Approach The candidate needs to explain what is an air mass in the first part of the answer and then elaborate upon the impact of air mass on weather conditions, with the help of proper examples for substantiation. Introduction An air mass is a large volume of air in the atmosphere that is mostly uniform in temperature and moisture. Air masses can extend thousands of kilometres across the surface of the Earth, and can reach from ground level to the stratosphere into the atmosphere. Body Air masses form over large surfaces with uniform temperatures and humidity, called source regions. When winds move air masses, they carry their weather conditions from the source region to a new region. When the air mass reaches a new region, it might clash with another air mass that has a different temperature and humidity. This can create a severe storm. The warm air masses form over the equator or desert areas where the solar radiation is maximum. In clear, almost cloudless days, the heat is reflected back to the atmosphere. The air becomes light and spreads. Cold air masses form near the poles where solar radiation is at a minimum. On cloudless days, the snow cover near the Poles, reflect sunlight away, preventing the earth to warm up. When this persists for a long period of time, cold air masses form over a large area. Impact of Air mass on weather conditions – In a particular area, the occurrence of particular air masses helps to ascertain the climate of that region. This in turn decides the type of flora and fauna as well as the type of crops that can be grown. For instance – Precipitation: E.g. the maritime-tropical air over Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea is a major reason for precipitation east of Rocky Mountains. It is also the cause of persistent humidity in the summer season. Temperature: Maritime polar air affects the coastal temperature in subtropical and arctic regions. Cyclones and anti-cyclones: Stormy cyclones form near the air-mass fronts. The mixing of air masses will result in rising air feeding the cyclone formations in the subtropical cyclone. Similarly, the warm maritime tropical air mass will provide the energy for tropical cyclones. Drought: they are the result of hot, dry air mass. This can destroy natural vegetation and kill trees. These regions have the increase risk of devastating wildfires. E.g. California wild fires. At the boundaries between air masses, the clash of masses of air with different characteristics can lead to dynamic weather like hail, tornadoes, high winds or ice storms. E.g. tropical cyclones formed in East China Sea. Air masses can control the weather for a relatively long time period: from a period of days, to months. Most weather occurs along the periphery of these air masses at boundaries called fronts. Conclusion Air masses spread across massive region, extending up to hundreds of kilometres and they exercise a considerable influence on the climatic conditions of the region over which they lodge and carry with them distinctive climatic features of their source region. This demonstrates their importance and the need to understand the phenomenon in a more holistic way. 3. Discuss the formation of ocean currents and their impact on coastal climate. Approach Candidates are expected to write about ocean currents and then discuss how there formation impact the coastal climate. Introduction The term "current" describes the motion of the ocean. Ocean currents are driven by wind, water density differences, and tides. Oceanic currents describe the movement of water from one location to another. Body Formation of ocean currents due to: Salinity: Waters of low salinity have lower density enabling them to flow on the surface of waters of high salinity while waters of high salinity flow at the bottom. Landmass: A land mass obstructs the direction of flow of ocean current and divides the ocean current to flow in a different direction. Influence of insolation: Heating by solar energy causes the water to expand. That is why, near the equator the ocean water is about 8 cm higher in level than in the middle latitudes. This causes a very slight gradient and water tends to flow down the slope. The flow is normally from east to west. Influence of gravity: Gravity tends to pull the water down to pile and create gradient variation. Influence of Coriolis force: The Coriolis force intervenes and causes the water to move to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere. These large accumulations of water and the flow around them are called Gyres. These produce large circular currents in all the ocean basins. One such circular current is the Sargasso Sea. Planetary winds: The planetary winds are permanent winds Trade winds, Westerlies and Polar Easterlies that blow from one pressure belt to the other.  The oceanic circulation pattern roughly corresponds to the earth's atmospheric circulation pattern. There is a change in the direction of ocean currents with a change in direction of the monsoon winds in the Indian Ocean. Currents affect the Earth's climate by driving warm water from the Equator and cold water from the poles around the Earth. It has various impact on the coastal climate: Desert formation: Cold ocean currents have a direct effect on desert formation in west coast regions of the tropical and subtropical continents. There is fog and most of the areas are arid due to desiccating effect (loss of moisture). Rains: Warm ocean currents bring rain to coastal areas and even interiors. Example: Summer Rainfall in British Type climate. Warm currents flow parallel to the east coasts of the continents in tropical and subtropical latitudes. This results in warm and rainy climates. These areas lie in the western margins of the subtropical anti-cyclones. Moderating effect: They are responsible for moderate temperatures at coasts. North Atlantic Drift brings warmness to England. Canary cold current brings cooling effect to Spain, Portugal etc. Drizzle: Mixing of cold and warm ocean currents create foggy weather where precipitation occurs in the form of drizzle [Newfoundland]. Climate: Results in Warm and rainy climates in tropical and subtropical latitudes [Florida, Natal etc.], Cold and dry climates on the western margins in the sub-tropics due to desiccating effect, Foggy weather and drizzle in the mixing zones, Moderate clime along the western costs in the sub-tropics. Tropical cyclones: They pile up warm waters in tropics and this warm water is the major force behind tropical cyclones. Navigation: Currents are referred to by their “drift”. Usually, the currents are strongest near the surface and may attain speeds over five knots (1 knot = ~1.8 km). [At depths, currents are generally slow with speeds less than 0.5 knots]. Ships usually follow routes which are aided by ocean currents and winds. Example: If a ship wants to travel from Mexico to Philippines, it can use the route along the North Equatorial Drift which flows from east to west. Fishing: Mixing of cold and warm ocean currents bear richest fishing grounds in the world. Example: Grand Banks around Newfoundland, Canada and North-Eastern Coast of Japan. The mixing of warm and cold currents help to replenish the oxygen and favor the growth of planktons, the primary food for fish population. The best fishing grounds of the world exist mainly in these mixing zones. Conclusion Ocean currents and mixing by winds and waves can transport and redistribute heat to deeper ocean layers. Ocean currents acts to neutralise the temperature difference between different areas in the oceans just like the winds do on land. Currents are also important in marine ecosystems because they redistribute water, heat, nutrients, and oxygen about the ocean. 4. How does geomorphology of a region shape the economy? Illustrate. Approach- Question is straight forward. Candidate is expected to define geomorphology and explain how it shapes economy of a particular region with the help of suitable examples. Introduction Geomorphology is the study of landforms, their processes, form and sediments at the surface of the Earth (and sometimes on other planets). Study includes looking at landscapes to work out how the earth surface processes, such as air, water and ice, can mould the landscape. The different climatic environments produce different suites of landforms. The landforms of deserts, such as sand dunes and ergs, are a world apart from the glacial and periglacial features found in polar and sub-polar regions. Body How geomorphology shapes economy of the region? Minerals: Areas with mineral deposits attract industries. Mining and industrial activities generate employment. So, skilled and semi–skilled workers move to these areas and make them densely populated. Katanga Zambia copper belt in Africa is one such good example. Landforms: People prefer living on flat plains and gentle slopes. This is because such areas are favourable for the production of crops and to build roads and industries. The mountainous and hilly areas hinder the development of transport network and hence initially do not favour agricultural and industrial development. So, these areas tend to be less populated. The Ganga plains are among the most densely populated areas of the world while the mountains zones in the Himalayas are scarcely populated. Soils: Fertile soils are important for agricultural and allied activities. Therefore, areas which have fertile loamy soils have more people living on them as these can support intensive agriculture. Availability of water: It is the most important factor for life. So, people prefer to live in areas where fresh water is easily available. Water is used for drinking, bathing and cooking – and also for cattle, crops, industries and navigation. It is because of this that river valleys are among the most densely populated areas of the world. Geomorphological factors influence industrial activities. Industrialisation: Industrial belts provide job opportunities and attract large numbers of people. These include not just factory workers but also transport operators, shopkeepers, bank employees, doctors, teachers and other service providers. The Kobe-Osaka region of Japan is thickly populated because of the presence of a number of industries. Urbanisation: Cities offer better employment opportunities, educational and medical facilities, better means of transport and communication. Good civic amenities and the attraction of city life draw people to the cities. It leads to rural to urban migration and cities grow in size. Mega cities of the world continue to attract large number of migrants every year.  Transport and communication-Demand for transport is influenced by the size of population. The larger the population size, the greater is the demand for transport. Routes depend on: location of cities, towns, villages, industrial centres and raw materials, pattern of trade between them, nature of the landscape between them, type of climate, and funds available for overcoming obstacles along the length of the route. Conclusion Geomorphological factors play central role in determining the sort of economic activities that will play out in the region. These factors determine the location of particular industry, raw material for production and place of marketing. Economy revolves around these factors and shape economy in the long run. 5. How are coral reefs formed? Discuss. What are the most potent threats to coral reefs?   Approach Discuss necessitates a debate where reasoning is backed up with evidence to make a case for and against an argument and finally arriving at a conclusion. So discuss the formation of coral reefs and then mention the most potent threats to them. Introduction A coral reef is an underwater ecosystem characterized by reef-building corals. Reefs are formed of colonies of coral polyps held together by calcium carbonate.  Body How are the coral reefs formed: Coral reefs begin to form when free-swimming coral larvae attach to submerged rocks or other hard surfaces along the edges of islands or continents. As the corals grow and expand, reefs take on one of three major characteristic structures — fringing, barrier or atoll. Classic coral reef formation change through time. They begin with a brand new tropical island (produced by an oceanic hot spot or at a plate boundary) and gradually change through thousands of years from a fringing reef, to a barrier reef, to an atoll, and finally to an extinct reef as a seamount or guyot. A fringing reef forms along the shoreline of most new tropical islands. This is because the reef building coral animal is one of the few marine organisms that can survive in the warm, nutrient-poor surface tropical waters.  A barrier reef forms as the oceanic island begins to sink into Earth’s crust due to the absence of volcanic island building forces, the added weight of the coral reef, and erosion at the surface of the island. An Atoll forms when the oceanic island sinks below the surface of the ocean but the coral reef continues to grow upward.  The most potent threats to coral reefs Coral reefs face numerous threats. Weather-related damage to reefs occurs frequently. Large and powerful waves from hurricanes and cyclones can break apart or flatten large coral heads, scattering their fragments.  Reefs also are threatened by tidal emersions. Long periods of exceptionally low tides leave shallow water coral heads exposed, damaging reefs.  The amount of damage depends on the time of day and the weather conditions. Corals exposed during daylight hours are subjected to the most ultraviolet radiation, which can overheat and dry out the coral’s tissues.  Corals may become so physiologically stressed that they begin to expel their symbiotic zooxanthelle. Increased sea surface temperatures, decreased sea level and increased salinity from altered rainfall can all result from weather patterns such as El Niño. Together these conditions can have devastating effects on a coral’s physiology. In addition to weather, corals are vulnerable to predation. Fish, marine worms, barnacles, crabs, snails and sea stars all prey on the soft inner tissues of coral polyps. In extreme cases, entire reefs can be devastated if predator populations become too high. Conclusion Coral reefs may recover from periodic traumas caused by weather or other natural occurrences. If, however, corals are subjected to numerous and sustained stresses including those imposed by people, the strain may be too much for them to endure, and they will perish. Although corals can survive a bleaching event, they will eventually die if they are under repeated stress. Outbreaks of coral disease typically follow bleaching events since stressed corals are more susceptible to infection.  TLP HOT Synopsis Day 76 PDF

Apr 14, 2021 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 14th April 2021

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Launch of Aahaar kranti Part of: GS Prelims and GS – II – Health  In news `Aahaar Kranti’ Mission was launched recently.  Ministry: Ministry of Health  Key takeaways  Aim: To spread the message of the need for a nutritionally balanced diet and to understand the importance of access to all local fruits and vegetables. Launched by: Vijnana Bharati (Vibha) and Global Indian Scientists’ and Technocrats’ Forum (GIST)  Motto: ‘Good Diet-Good Cognition’ It is designed to address the problem of `hunger and diseases in abundance’ Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)’s Pravasi Bharatiya Academic and Scientific Sampark (Prabhaas) is collaborating along with various central and state government ministries and agencies  Focus: Training teachers, who, in turn, will pass on the message to the multitudes of students, and through them to their families and finally the society at large. Such a strategy was adopted for the eradication of Polio and it turned out to be a grand success. Do you know?  Studies estimate that India produces as much as two times the amount of calories that it consumes.  However, many in the country are still malnourished.  The root cause of this strange phenomenon is a lack of nutritional awareness in all sections of our society. The United Nations has also declared 2021 as the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables  UN sustainable goal # 3 emphasizes on human well-being.  Aluminium-Air Battery Part of: GS Prelims and GS – III – Sci & tech  In news State-owned Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. has entered into a joint venture with Israel-based battery technology startup, Phinergy to develop aluminium-air technology based battery systems for electric vehicles and stationary storage, as well as hydrogen storage solutions. Key takeaways  Top automakers, including Maruti Suzuki and Ashok Leyland, have already signed letters of intent with the newly formed joint venture to commercially deploy the battery solutions produced by IOC Phinergy. Aluminium-air batteries are said to be a lower cost and more energy-dense alternative to lithium-ion batteries which are currently in widespread use for electric vehicles in India. Aluminium-air batteries utilise oxygen in the air which reacts with an aluminium hydroxide solution to oxidise the aluminium and produce electricity. Benefits Aluminium-air battery-based electric vehicles are expected to offer much greater range of 400 km or more per battery compared to lithium-ion batteries which currently offer a range of 150-200 km per full charge. The aluminium plate in an aluminium-air battery is converted into aluminium trihydroxide over time and that aluminium can be reclaimed from aluminium trihydroxide or even traded directly for industrial uses. Such batteries are also expected to be significantly cheaper than lithium-ion batteries, thereby reducing the cost of electric vehicle. Concerns They cannot be recharged like lithium-ion batteries. Therefore, large scale use of aluminium-air battery based vehicles would require the wide availability of battery swapping stations India Energy Dashboards (IED) Version 2.0  Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III - Energy sector  In news The India Energy Dashboards Version 2.0 was launched by NITI Aayog. Key takeaways  India Energy Dashboards (IED) is an endeavour to provide single-window access to the energy data for the country. Energy data published/provided by Central Electricity Authority, Coal Controller’s Organisation, and Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is compiled in the Dashboards. NITI Aayog launched the Version 1.0 in May 2017. The key features of the enhanced version, India Energy Dashboards Version 2.0, are - The IED provides time series data from FY 2005-06 until FY 2019-20; Enhanced data download – It enables easy downloading of data into convenient spreadsheet formats in a cleaner, more intuitive way; IED provides data at sub-yearly frequencies as well. This includes monthly data and API linked data from some portals maintained by the government agencies. The monthly data is sourced from the monthly reports that are regularly published for the electricity, petroleum and natural gas sectors. API linked data from Saubhagya, UJALA, PRAAPTI, and Vidyut PRAVAH has been incorporated in the portal. DGFT ‘Trade Facilitation ’ mobile App  Part of: GS Prelims and GS – III - Economy  In news DGFT ‘Trade Facilitation’ Mobile App was recently launched for promoting ease of doing business and providing quick access to information to importers/exporters. Ministry: Ministry of Commerce & Industry Minister Key takeaways  Developed by: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), as per the directions of the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). It provides:  Real-time trade policy updates, notifications, application status alert, tracking help requests Explore item-wise Export-Import policy & statistics, Track IEC Portfolio AI-based 24*7 assistance for trade queries DGFT services made accessible to all Your Trade Dashboard accessible anytime &anywhere Place in news: Thwaites Glacier  Part of: GS Prelims and GS – III – Climate change  In news Researchers at Sweden’s University of Gothenburg are now saying that fears related to the melting of Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier are worse than previously thought, owing to the supply of warm water flowing underneath at a rate underestimated in the past. Key takeaways  The Thwaites Glacier is 120 km wide at its broadest, fast-moving, and melting fast over the years. Because of its size (1.9 lakh square km), it contains enough water to raise the world sea level by more than half a metre. Studies have found the amount of ice flowing out of it has nearly doubled over the past 30 years. Today, Thwaites’s melting already contributes 4% to global sea level rise each year.  It is estimated that it would collapse into the sea in 200-900 years. Thwaites is important for Antarctica as it slows the ice behind it from freely flowing into the ocean. Because of the risk it faces — and poses — Thwaites is often called the Doomsday Glacier. Do you know?  The grounding line is the place below a glacier at which the ice transitions between resting fully on bedrock and floating on the ocean as an ice shelf. The location of the line is a pointer to the rate of retreat of a glacier. Pic courtesy: Click here  Miscellaneous Seroja (Cyclone) Tropical cyclone Seroja has ripped across a 1,000km stretch of Western Australia, leaving a trail of damage. The name Seroja means lotus in Indonesian.  (Mains Focus) GOVERNANCE/ SOCIETY Topic: GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.  Empowering Street Vendors Benefits of Street Vendors Cost benefit for Consumers: By making goods and services available at doorsteps, or at places that are conveniently accessible, street vendors reduce the transaction costs of everyday purchases for consumers.  Increased Labour Hours: Street vendors also play a significant role in increasing the labour hours of these strata.  Beneficial in Urban areas: Street vendors through their decentralized presene have a major role in reducing the cost of living in urban cities. Brings Equity in Supply Chain: The street-vending economy also ensures equitable distribution of economic gains across its production and distribution value chains. Issues Institutionalized Neglect: With urban planners focusing on building cityscapes that are attractive for investments, street vendors experience systemic and institutionalized contempt. Debt trap due to COVID-19: The pandemic exacerbated the condition of street vendors, most of whom had to exhaust their savings to survive, with many forced to enter a steep debt cycle. Harassment by administration: Traditionally, street vendors have remained a neglected lot, and have been subject to harassment by police and local governments. Patchy implementation of Policies: Ground level implementation of the Street Vendors Act, 2014 has remained patchy. Market Failure to take care of Street Vendors: There is very little institutionalized support that street vendors could get, resulting in a market failure that needed to be addressed through government intervention. Way Ahead The PM SVANidhi scheme of the Union government, under which street vendors are provided a micro-credit facility, is designed to enable them to jump-start their commercial activity. So far, 2 million vendors have availed of this credit facility, with 40% of the beneficiaries being women. Inclusion in Urban Developmental Planning: Street Vendors role needs and strengths must be factored into every aspect of urban development planning. Support from Civil Society: Indian street vendors also need robust public patronage for them to achieve their full potential. Such patronage would build a strong business case for their growth and help eliminate the market failures that mark the country’s street-vending landscape. Connecting the dots: 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 is incorrect regarding Aluminium-air battery? Aluminium-air battery-based electric vehicles are expected to offer much greater range of 400 km or more per battery. The aluminium plate in an aluminium-air battery is converted into aluminium trihydroxide over time and that aluminium can be reclaimed. Such batteries are also expected to be cheaper than lithium-ion batteries. They can be recharged like lithium-ion batteries. Q.2 UN has declared Year 2021 as the year of: Artificial Intelligence Small and Medium Industries Fruits and vegetables Non-communicable diseases Q.3 Ahaar Kranti mission aims at which of the following? Nutritionally balanced diet Access to all local fruits and vegetables Clean drinking water Both (a) and (b) ANSWERS FOR 13th April 2021 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 A 2 D Must Read On Dr. B R Ambedkar: Indian Express On abortion law amendments: The Hindu On BIMSTEC and India’s role: The Hindu

Apr 14, 2021 RSTV Video

National Voters' Day – The Big Picture – RSTV IAS UPSC

Archives TOPIC: General studies 2 Indian polity; Government laws and policies; Policy reforms  Democratic governance and society In News: National Voters' Day is celebrated all across the country on January 25 every year since 2011, to mark the foundation day of the Election Commission of India, i.e. 25th January 1950. The main purpose of the National Voters Day celebration is to encourage, facilitate and maximize enrolment, especially for new voters. Theme: ''Making Our Voters Empowered, Vigilant, Safe and Informed" Background Election Commission of India is a Constitutional Body created under Article 324 of the Constitution of India.  The first Chief Election Commissioner was appointed on 21st March 1950. Since its creation, the Commission was a single member body except for a brief period from 16th October 1989 to 1st January 1990 when it was converted into a three member body.  Subsequently, since 1st October 1993, the Commission has been a three-member body, consisting of the Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners. The National Voters’ Day celebration was initiated in India in 2011 by the then-President of India, Pratibha Devi Patil, on the 61st foundation day of Election Commission of India. The Constitution (Sixty-First Amendment) Act, 1988 had lowered the threshold voting age from 21 years to 18 years. Launch of  Election Commission of India’s Web Radio: ‘Hello Voters’ – an online digital radio service.  e-EPIC (Electronic Electoral Photo Identity Card) programme: The e-EPIC is a non-editable secure portable document format (PDF) version of the EPIC (approx. 250 KB) which can be downloaded on mobile or in a self-printable form on the computer. A voter can thus store the card on his mobile, upload it on Digi locker or print it and self-laminate it. This is in addition to physical IDs known as PVC EPIC being issued for fresh registration.  The e-EPIC will also have a secured QR code with the serial number, part number, date of poll, etc along with the image of the voter for identification. The e-EPIC initiative would be launched in two phases:- First phase- It will start from From January 25 to 31. Only new voters can apply for the voter-ID card and register their mobile numbers in Form-6 to download the e-EPIC by authenticating their mobile number. The mobile numbers should be unique and not be previously registered.  Second phase- It will start from February 1 and will be open for the general voters. People who have given their mobile numbers (linked one) they can also download their e-EPIC. As a voter.. We should always respect the valuable right to vote. The right to vote is not a simple right; people around the world have struggled a lot for this. Since independence, our Constitution has given equal voting rights to all citizens without any discrimination on the basis of merit, religion, race and caste. For this, we are indebted to the makers of our Constitution. The origin of Indian democracy, in particular the establishment of its edifice through the implementation of universal adult franchise, was an ingeniously Indian enterprise. It was no legacy of colonial rule, and was largely driven by the Indians, often by people of modest means. The turning of all adults into voters was a staggering democratic state-building operation of inclusion and scale, which surpassed any previous experience in democratic world history. This work was undertaken by Indian bureaucrats between August 1947, when the country became independent, and January 1950, when it adopted the Constitution. The fundamental problem lies in viewing voting as a transaction, the aim of which is to get some benefit for an individual or a group. But we have to recognise that voting is not like any other transaction. The duty that is inherent in the act of voting is an ethical duty, not just a constitutional one. It is the duty of having to act not for individual benefit, such as money or ideology, but for the benefit of the larger society. Such benefit for the larger society will include others benefiting as much as each one of us does through each of our votes. This duty is the ethical rationality related to voting. It is also a recognition that a democratic action like voting is primarily for the good of something larger than one’s self interests. Why is voting important for democratic countries? “Casting vote is a sacred duty and those who do not use the democratic right should feel the ‘pain’ of not exercising their franchise.” – PM Narendra Modi Voting is a basic process that helps to form a country’s government. One can choose their representatives through voting. Voting rights enables people with the right to question the government about issues and clarifications. It also provides a sense of freedom to express opinion in major decision making for the benefit of the country in a democratic nation. Costs that the voter is willing to pay, if ready to vote The costs aren’t limited to taking the time out to vote, finding your polling booth or standing in the winding queues all morning, but also acquiring information about the candidates, campaign promises, and most importantly, analysing who is good for you and your fellow constituents. Despite this, voters might like to vote to signal that they care about contributing to this public good. Numerous empirical studies have shown that a combination of a sense of civic duty, moral responsibility and social pressure brings voters to the polling booths. Once a voter has decided to turn up, then she might as well vote for the candidate that she prefers, even if it is a mild preference. That still makes her go through the cognitively demanding task. One solution is economic voting—you re-elect the party/candidate if the economy is doing well and vote them out otherwise and this can be seen from our national election data as well. Another option is to look at elections as a grade card on incumbents—reject an office holder who did not meet your expectations in general or re-elect and retain the ones who did. Then there is whole other issue – Voting remains home-bound While millions criss-cross the country for work, the vote remains homebound as there is little effort to make it possible for migrant workers to vote from where they are. After each election, parties look to the Election Commission (EC) to find out the percentage of people who voted for them. But what often gets overlooked is the number of people who did not turn up to vote — even though sometimes their number is higher than the winning margin. True, there are some who don’t vote because they couldn’t care less. But there are many who are very involved but can’t vote because they are not registered in the place where they are “ordinarily resident”. A large number of them are migrant workers, who are enrolled in their native places but have moved elsewhere for work. Section 20 of the Representation of the People (RP) Act says a person can be registered as a voter in any constituency where he is “ordinarily resident”. In case he migrates to another constituency, all he needs to do is fill up a voter enrolment form at the new place while requesting that his name be deleted from the old list. However, not many migrants, most of whom are poor and not very educated, bother to have themselves enrolled every time they move to a new place for work. The process of enrolling takes time. It requires the migrant worker to submit proof of the new residence, which is not always available. On voting day, not many migrant workers can go to their native place to vote, as their employers may not give them leave or they may not be able to afford the journey. So, they end up not voting. What they obviously need is a facility allowing them to vote from where they are. This is a facility the government wants to introduce for NRIs, with the Lok Sabha passing a bill last August to amend the RP Act for facilitating proxy voting by NRIs from their countries of residence. But there’s no such plan to facilitate voting for domestic migrants. Connecting the Dots: A voter is the bedrock of the institution of democracy. Discuss. Illustrate the contribution of Election Commission in strengthening democracy in India.   Active participation in a democracy should be voluntary. Is compulsory voting against democracy? Substantiate your answer with a critical examination of the above statement.

Apr 14, 2021 Important Articles

[CLARIFICATION] SUPER 100 Scholarship Test Results – Baba’s Foundation Course (FC) 2022

Hello Everyone, We are extremely happy and overwhelmed by the response that we got from everyone. More than 9600 students had registered for the scholarship test. This shows the love and faith which students have on us. However, we are also saddened due to the rumors that are being spread unnecessarily by the negative elements in the market. Some of them have commented that our process is not transparent. We would like to inform you that our intent to hold a scholarship test is to promote meritorious students. Even though we have already sent personal emails to the students who have been selected, we are sharing the list of selected students here also. Apart from this, since the number of registrations was way beyond our expectations (9624), we have also extended a 25% discount to students who have scored more than 100. And as a gesture of goodwill, we are extending a 15% discount to all the students who appeared for the test. You will receive a mail by end of the day. Please find the merit list of Super 100 Scholarship Test - P.S: The scores have been rounded off 1 Shyam Rathi 178 2 Suraj Paraswani 178 3 Shreya Nair 176 4 Disha Mehra 176 5 Ajay Gupta 175 6 Kranthiraj 174 7 Mukul Kumar 173 8 Kartikeya Rathore 173 9 Kashish Jain 172 10 Pranjal 170 11 Sagar Sinha 168 12 Nitin Alane 168 13 Anand Adhikari 168 14 Nilanjan 167 15 Ashish Dhiman 167 16 Pushkar Trivedi 166 17 Anshuli Vaidya 166 18 Poorva Jain 166 19 Abhijeet Vikram 165 20 Biswajit Mohanty 165 21 Ravi Chandar 164 22 Tarun 164 23 Tanya Bhatnagar 163 24 Shailendra Maheshwari 163 25 Harshal Tandale 163 26 Aashay Joshi 162 27 Rahul Patil 162 28 Himanshu Yadav 162 29 Shreel 162 30 Meet Parmar 162 31 Deepak Barhate 161 32 Danish Md. 161 33 Harpreet Singh 161 34 Shubham R Gholap 161 35 Jai Parmar 161 36 Shekhar 161 37 Piyush Singh 160 38 Akshay Karuvingal 160 39 Sandip Meharwade 160 40 Malojiraje 160 41 Nitin Vyas 160 42 Smriti Sharma 159 43 Kavyashree 159 44 Pranav Mehta 159 45 Chirag Surwade 158 46 Ashfaque Ahmed 158 47 Vitthal Shinde 158 48 Kavish Jadhav 158 49 Amit Shetake 158 50 Nitin Shende 158 51 Tushar Kataria 157 52 Sanket Garud 157 53 Manu Sharma 156 54 Susmita Dutta 156 55 Komal 155 56 SANDY 155 57 Prashant Raj 155 58 Diwan Shah 153 59 Soban Bakhtiyar 152 60 AKASH KUMAR 151 61 Ashutosh Kumar Singh 151 62 Hema Subramnian 151 63 Neelansh Srivastava 150 64 Anushka Jha 150 65 Aayush Pandey 150 66 HIMANSHU SINGH 149 67 Rohan K 147 68 Suyash Srivastava 147 69 Shivangi Singh 147 70 Somya Mishra 146 71 P R Harith Varma 145 72 Neha Chaudhary 144 73 NAVANEETH K S 143 74 VAMSHI KRISHNA KOGANTI 141 75 Akash 139 76 Aman 139 77 Ayush Anand 137 78 Pritam Singh 137 79 Pramod 137 80 MURALIDHARAN 135 81 Zala Kripalsinh 134 82 Qadeer 134 83 DHARESH 134 84 Ankur Singh Yadav 133 85 Florence 132 86 Sushil Singh 132 87 Mukulika Kedia 131 88 NISHA DHAMA 131 89 Vijayalakshmi 131 90 HARIVASANTH P 131 91 Riya balar 130 92 Sayyoni Soni 130 93 Azad 130 94 C R Anjali 129 95 bandaru venkata shyni rishitha 129 96 Santhosh reddy 129 97 Akshat Rathaur 129 98 Niveatha 128 99 Anurag Singhal 128 100 Nomadoc 127 101 Rishabh Latta 127 102 Harish Maddila 127 103 Akshay 127 104 Pankaj Yadav 126 105 Sarbjit 126 106 Malkhed Susheel 124 107 Bhavana Sharma 124 108 RAJAT KAPOOR 123 109 M Nitish Kumar 123 110 Vivek Shukla 123 111 Aniket Lathkar 123 112 Ashish Kumar 123 113 Praveer Pandey 122 114 Waseem Ahmad 122 115 Akash Mane 122 116 Partha Acharya 122 117 Rohan Pandey 121 118 Akanksha Rajput 121 119 Kesava Kumar Gajula 121 120 SNEHA G. 121 121 JITHIN RAJ 121 122 Arun 121 123 Kaustubh Sharma 120 124 Akash Rajendra Magdum 120 125 Parth 119 126 MONIKA BANSAL 119 127 VATSALA KAKKAR 119 128 Satyam Kumar 119 129 Shubham Tripathi 119 130 Chetna thakur 119 131 Chakshu Agrawal 119 132 TARENDRA KUMAR 119 133 Shubham Shaw 119 134 Himeshwari 118 135 Rakesh 118 136 AVS 118 137 Ram Singh 118 138 Prasanna Naikar 118 139 KUNWAR PRITHVI SINGH 118 140 Ash 117 141 AKASH SANSERWAL 117 142 Mahi 117 143 Burhan Zargar 117 144 AVINASH KUMAR JHA 115 145 Amisha Patel 115 146 R K 115 147 Kishan Raj 115 148 Apurva Jha 115 149 Lakshmi Kumari 115 150 Supritam 115 151 Anjali Mishra 115 152 Smitha M Rao 115 153 Musarrat Hena 115 154 V P 114 155 Mahesh Padghan 114 156 Sandeep 113 157 AMAN MANSURI 113 158 Vallala Shiva Kumar Yadav 113 159 Siddhartha 113 160 Akshay Shivananda 113 161 Akshay Tadahal 112 162 REHAN HUSAIN 111 163 RANJITHA NAGARAJ 111 164 Shashank Mittal 111 165 ARPITH P UKAMANAL 111 166 Jyotsna Arora 111 167 Abhishek kumar singh 110 168 Prashant majjagi 110 169 Pramod Bhimrao Gurav 110 170 Mehbub Hassan 109 171 VISHAL SHARMA 109 172 Mohit 109 173 Nits 109 174 Basavaraj Jeeragal 109 175 Sathya 109 176 Shanya Chaturvedi 109 177 Chakradhar Pandey 109 178 Harshitha 109 179 TanveerJahan 109 180 Kajal saini 109 181 Amrutha Premnath 108 182 Aditya 108 183 Dhanyata 107 184 Gaurav Kumar Joshi 107 185 Prem 107 186 ASHWANI LONGJAM 107 187 Pooja Singh 107 188 Ishita Bhardwaj 107 189 Manisha 107 190 Anukriti Mishra 107 191 Megha 107 192 Amogh Banashankari 107 193 Shreevatsa Pendse 107 194 ABHAY YADAV 107 195 Animesh 106 196 Vipin Srivastava 106 197 Rohan mehar 105 198 Zee 105 199 RUTHLESS 105 200 Vikas Chopra 105 201 Sandip Burnwal 105 202 Pritika 105 203 Ramet Dhage 105 204 ANKIT 104 205 N.V.V.Sireesha 104 206 Sravan 104 207 Parth Nayak 104 208 koshika praneeth 104 209 Anshuman Dubey 104 210 Nishant Garg 103 211 Pradeep 103 212 Akchhat Sharma 103 213 Deepak 103 214 Rohit S Naik 103 215 Himani Srivastava 103 216 Ganesh 103 217 Aarushi 103 218 Kiran Kumar T 103 219 Kruti Jain 102 220 GYANESH 102 221 Ashok M 102 222 Pooja H B 102 223 Sahil 102 224 Arnav 102 225 Anjali Ranjan 101 226 Vaishali 101 227 Akshay Pal 101 228 Namrita 101 229 Shivam Pandey 101 230 Piyush Pandey 101 231 Kaveesh 101 232 Shubham 100 233 Harshit 100 Students who do not find their names in the list and wish to know their marks can email us at support@iasbaba.com We wish all of you a very bright future. All the best!!   For those who have not been selected, direct admissions are open! If you are interested, you can mail us at offline@iasbaba.com and support@iasbaba.com or call us on 84296 8885 / 91691 91888 (Please call between 10 am – 6 pm ONLY) For Complete Details of Baba's Foundation Course (FC) 2021/Schedule/IASbaba’s Faculty Profile  -> CLICK HERE For any queries (Related to Babab's FC - 2022): Please fill the form with your details and our team will get back to you within 24 hours -> Fill The Form  Alternatively; Email id: offline@iasbaba.com / support@iasbaba.com Mobile No: 84296 8885 / 91691 91888 (Please call between 10 am – 6 pm ONLY) Office Address: BANGALORE CENTRE: IASbaba – Admission Centre, No.38, 3rd Cross, 1st Phase, 2nd Stage, 60 Feet Mains Road, Chandra Layout, Bengaluru – 560040. Landmark: Opposite to BBMP Office/ CULT Fitness DELHI CENTRE: IASBABA, 5B, Pusa Road, Karol Bagh, New Delhi – 110005. Landmark: Just 50m from Karol Bagh Metro Station, GATE No. 8 (Next to Croma Store) LUCKNOW CENTRE: IASBABA, B-1/66, Sector J, Aligunj, Lucknow – 226024  Landmark: Near Mr Brown / Opp to Sahu Studio All the Best IASbaba Team

Apr 14, 2021 IASbaba Prelims 60 Day Plan

IASbaba’s 60 Day Plan - IAS Prelims Test Series 2021 - ECONOMICS, CURRENT AFFAIRS & CSAT [Day 21]

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.   ECONOMICS [DAY 21] - 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 13, 2021 AIR

India Innovation Index 2020 - All India Radio (AIR) IAS UPSC

ARCHIVES Search 20th January, 2021 Spotlight News Analysis here: http://www.newsonair.com/Main_Audio_Bulletins_Search.aspx TOPIC: General Studies 3 Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development By: NITI Aayog The India Innovation Index 2020  It seeks to rank the states and union territories based on their relative performance of supporting innovation, and to empower them to improve their innovation polices by highlighting their strengths and weaknesses.  The ranking methodology is designed in a way that states can draw lessons from the national leaders in innovation.  The states and union territories have been divided into 17 ‘Major States’, 10 ‘North-East and Hill States’, and 9 ‘City States and Union Territories’, for effectively comparing their performance.  The states and union territories have been ranked on two broad categories: outcome and governance.  Overall, the framework of India Innovation Index 2020 consists of 36 indicators, which include hard data (32 indicators) and four composite indicators. India Innovation Index 2020 builds on the previous year’s methodology by introducing more metrics and providing a holistic outlook of the Indian innovation ecosystem.  The framework has been updated to include globally considered parameters for measuring innovation (such as the percentage of gross domestic product spent on research and development), while also retaining the parameters specific to the Indian economy. The index captures the trends and provides detailed analyses of the various factors that drive innovation at the country, state, and district levels. It is believed that these analyses would enable policymakers in identifying catalysts and inhibitors of innovation at the national and sub-national levels. The Results Most innovative among major states: Karnataka; The state’s success has been attributed to a high number of venture capital deals, registered GIs and ICT exports, and high FDI inflow. Most innovative Union Territory: Delhi Delhi has scored the highest on the index in the country with a score of 46.6, while Lakshwadeep has the lowest score at 11.7. Delhi recorded the highest number of trademark and patent applications, along with the establishment of new start-ups and companies in the last financial year. Four southern states – Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Kerala —occupy the top positions on the index, apart from Maharashtra. Amongst North East and hill states, Himachal Pradesh has the highest score of 25. Some observations: India spends only 0.7 per cent of its GDP on R&D, much lower than the top spenders such as Israel (4.95 per cent). There’s a North-South divide in the findings of the report, with the southern states having fared much better.  As states become more innovative, they have higher per capita GDP. The Way Forward There is a need for increased expenditure in R&D by the private sector. The Indian government is a major spender in R&D, while the investment of the private sector is very low. Compare this to Israel where private companies account for 70 per cent of private investment in R&D. In 2017-18, the Indian government had the lion’s share of investment in R&D at 41 per cent. India needs to increase its spending on R&D. Currently, India spends only 0.7 per cent of its GDP on R&D, much lower than the top spenders such as Israel (4.95 per cent).

Apr 13, 2021 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

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

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Sputnik V recommended for emergency use Part of: GS Prelims and GS – II – Health  In news Russia’s COVID-19 vaccine — Sputnik V — has been recommended for emergency use authorisation in India following a meeting of the Subject Expert Committee (SEC). Key takeaways  If approved by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI), Sputnik V would be the third vaccine to be made available in India after the Serum Institute of India’s Covishield and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin. Sputnik V is developed by Russia’s Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology It claims to be one of the three vaccines in the world with efficacy of over 90%. The vaccine supplies for the global market will be produced by the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) international partners in India, Brazil, China, South Korea and other countries. SC's judgement on Terror Financing  Part of: GS Prelims and GS – II – Judiciary & GS-III - Terrorism In news Extortion money paid to a terrorist organisation to protect one’s business is not terror funding, the Supreme Court has said in a judgment. Key takeaways  With this, Supreme Court granted bail to a Jharkhand coal transporter who had paid huge amounts to the Tritiya Prastuti Committee (TPC), a breakaway faction of the CPI (Maoist). The Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF) has made recommendations to members relating to counter terrorism financing (CTF).  It has created a Blacklist and Greylist of countries that have not taken adequate CTF action. FATF is an intergovernmental organisation founded in 1989 on the initiative of the G7 to develop policies to combat money laundering.  In 2001, its mandate was expanded to include terrorism financing. Indus and Ganges River Dolphins, two separate species Part of: GS Prelims and GS – III - Environment; Conservation; Biodiversity  In news In a recent research, detailed analysis of South Asian river dolphins has revealed that the Indus and Ganges River dolphins are not one, but two separate species. Key takeaways  Currently, Indus and Ganges River dolphins are classified as two subspecies under Platanista gangetica. But according to a new study, this classification needs a revision.  The study estimates that Indus and Ganges river dolphins may have diverged around 550,000 years ago. Conservation status The Indus and Ganges River dolphins are both classified as ‘Endangered’ species by the IUCN. The Ganges dolphin is a Schedule I animal under the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972  It has been included in Annexure – I of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Iran nuclear Programme Part of: GS Prelims and GS – II – International Relations  In news Iran has started up advanced uranium enrichment centrifuges in a breach of its undertakings under a troubled 2015 nuclear deal, days after the start of talks on rescuing the accord. Key takeaways  Iran's President Hassan Rouhani inaugurated the three cascades of 164 IR-6 centrifuges, 30 IR-5 and another 30 IR-6 devices at Iran’s Natanz uranium enrichment plant. Iran’s latest move to step up uranium enrichment follows an opening round of talks in Vienna with representatives of the remaining parties to the nuclear deal on bringing the U.S. back into it Do you know?  Vienna Talks The Vienna talks are focused on lifting crippling economic sanctions Trump reimposed on Iran.  It also focuses on bringing Iran back into compliance after it responded by suspending several of its own commitments. Iran has demanded that the U.S. first lift all sanctions imposed by Trump, which include a sweeping unilateral ban on its oil exports, before it falls back in line with obligations it suspended.  USA has demanded movement from Tehran in return Advanced Antiquities Management System (AAMS) Part of: GS Prelims and GS – I – Culture In news The Directorate of Archives and Archaeology (DAA) of the Goa government inaugurated the Advanced Antiquities Management System (AAMS).  It has claimed that it is the first such system in India for storage of antiquities. Key takeaways  The system catalogues 83 antiquities at present.  Aim: Providing quick information about an antiquity linked to the software, saving storage space and ensuring improved preservation of the objects of historical significance. AAMS is a software-driven automated storage used for the storage of various objects. So far it has been used for storage of industrial Equipment.  The AAMS will ensure safety of antiquities, clean storage space, access control and data management and also enhance utilisation of space. It is placed at Goa’s DAA in Panaji. Miscellaneous Umngot River Umngot is considered India’s clearest river. Umngot flows through Dawki, a town in West Jaintia Hills district, Meghalaya. The river is the natural boundary between Ri Pnar (of Jaintia Hills) and Hima Khyrim (of Khasi Hills). Dawki Bridge is a suspension bridge over the Umngot River.  (Mains Focus) GOVERNANCE/ SECURITY Topic: GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.  GS-2: Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies Personal Data Protection Bill Context: The pandemic has forced more people to participate in the digital economy that has brought focus into the Personal Data Protection Bill drafted by Union Government.  Unfortunately, the existing data protection regime in India does not meet this standard. Current data protection regime falls short of providing effective protection to users and their personal data. Data Protection - Issues Increasing Breaches: The number of personal data breaches from major digital service providers has increased. Robust data protection regimes are necessary to prevent such events and protect users’ interests.   Misuse of Terms & Conditions: Entities could override the protections in the regime by taking users’ consent to processing personal data under broad terms and conditions. This is problematic given that users might not understand the terms and conditions or the implications of giving consent. Data Privacy: Frameworks emphasise data security but do not place enough emphasis on data privacy. Data Processing: While entities must employ technical measures to protect personal data, they have weaker obligations to respect users’ preferences in how personal data can be processed. Entities could use the data for purposes different to those that the user consented to. Checks on Government Collection of Data: The data protection provisions under the existing IT Act also do not apply to government agencies. This creates a large vacuum for data protection when governments are collecting and processing large amounts of personal data.  The regime seems to have become antiquated and inadequate in addressing risks emerging from new developments in data processing technology. How does the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019 address above issues? It could play a big role in providing robust protections to users and their personal data. Applicable to all: The Bill seeks to apply the data protection regime to both government and private entities across all sectors. Covers Data Privacy: The Bill seeks to emphasise data security and data privacy. While entities will have to maintain security safeguards to protect personal data, they will also have to fulfill a set of data protection obligations and transparency and accountability measures that govern how entities can process personal data to uphold users’ privacy and interests. Autonomy to Users: The Bill seeks to give users a set of rights over their personal data and means to exercise those rights. Independent Regulator: The Bill seeks to create an independent and powerful regulator known as the Data Protection Authority (DPA). The DPA will monitor and regulate data processing activities to ensure their compliance with the regime. More importantly, the DPA will give users a channel to seek redress when entities do not comply with their obligations under the regime. Concerns with the Bill Several provisions in the Bill create cause for concern about the regime’s effectiveness. These provisions could contradict the objectives of the Bill by giving wide exemptions to government agencies and diluting user protection safeguards. Central government can exempt any government agency from complying with the Bill. Government agencies will then be able to process personal data without following any safeguard under the Bill. This could create severe privacy risks for users. Users could find it difficult to enforce various user protection safeguards (such as rights and remedies) in the Bill. The Bill threatens legal consequences for users who withdraw their consent for a data processing activity. This could discourage users from withdrawing consent for processing activities they want to opt out of. Additional concerns also emerge for the DPA as an independent effective regulator that can uphold users’ interests. (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 Umngot river: It is India’s clearest river. It is situated in Arunachal Pradesh. Which of the above is or are correct? 1 only  2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2 Which of the following is incorrect regarding Ganges Dolphins? Ganges River dolphins are classified as ‘Endangered’ species by the IUCN. It is a Schedule I animal under the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972  It has been included in Annexure – I of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). None of the above ANSWERS FOR 12th April 2021 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 B 2 A 3 B 4 C Must Read India and the great power triangle of Russia, China and US: Indian Express On Nepal’s Democracy: The Hindu On U.S. and Iran resolving nuclear crisis: The Hindu

Apr 13, 2021 PIB

PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU (PIB) IAS UPSC – 4th April to 11th April – 2021

ARCHIVES GS-1 Heat Waves in the country (Topic: Geophysical phenomena) A Heat Wave is a period of abnormally high temperatures, more than the normal maximum temperature that occurs during the summer season in the North-Western parts of India. Heat Waves typically occur between March and June, and in some rare cases even extend till July. If the average global temperature rose by more than one degree Celsius from the present, India could “annually” expect conditions like the 2015 heat wave that killed at least 2,000, according to the ‘Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C,’ commissioned by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Heat wave is not notified in the list of twelve disasters eligible for relief under National/ State Disaster Response Fund norms. However, a State Government may use up to 10 per cent of the funds available under the SDRF for providing immediate relief to the victims of natural disasters that they consider to be “disasters” within the local context in the State. Heat wave is declared under these circumstances: An increase of 5°C to 6°C when the normal maximum temperature is less than or equal to 40°C.  An increase of 7°C or more from the normal temperature is considered as severe heat wave condition. An increase of 4°C to 5°C when the normal maximum temperature of a station is more than 40°C.  An increase of 6°C or more is considered as severe heat wave condition.  If the actual maximum temperature remains 45°C or more irrespective of normal maximum temperature. Threat posed by heat waves: The health impacts of Heat Waves typically involve dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and/or heat stroke. The Lancet Countdown 2018 report sounds a warning that rising temperatures will enable the dengue virus and malaria to spread farther and faster. Lancet Countdown 2018 report also mentions that India lost nearly 75 billion hours of labour due to heat waves in 2017. The agriculture sector is more vulnerable compared to the industrial and service sectors because workers there are more likely to be exposed to heat. This has worrying implications for rural employment and the well-being of a large section of the population (nearly 49%) that depends on farming. Food insecurity due to lowering of productivity due to extreme temperatures. It may further intensify the water scarcity and could lead to increased water disputes. First Aid for heat stroke: While waiting for the paramedics to arrive, initiate first aid with the aim to lower the body temperature. Move the person to an air-conditioned environment or at least a cool, shady area and remove any unnecessary clothing. Fan air over the patient while wetting his or her skin with water from a sponge or garden hose. Apply ice packs to the patient’s armpits, groin, neck, and back because these areas are rich with blood vessels close to the skin, cooling them may reduce body temperature. Do not use ice for older patients, young children, patients with chronic illness, or anyone whose heat stroke occurred without vigorous exercise. Way Forward Increased exposure to heatwaves needs a policy response, nationally and globally. Long term measures should be taken to address the issue in the wake of global warming and climate change: Establish Early Warning System and Inter-Agency Coordination to alert residents on predicted high and extreme temperatures Capacity building / training programme for health care professionals at local level Public Awareness and community outreach to protect against the extreme heat-wave through print, electronic and social media and Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials. Collaboration with non-government and civil society Afforestation drives to increase green cover. A further reduction in the share of coal in the energy mix through sustained support for renewable energy, particularly solar photovoltaic, must form the cornerstone of national policy It is vital that India gets more ambitious about cutting back on carbon emissions, even as it presses for the fulfillment of the climate finance obligations of developed countries under the Paris Agreement of the UNFCCC. This must be matched by a shift away from use of fossil fuels for transport, and the induction of more electric vehicles. Must Read: Heat Stroke (Hyperthermia) Non-uniformity of Himalayas foresees significantly large earthquake events (Topic: Geophysical phenomena) Scientists have found that the Himalayas are not uniform and assume different physical and mechanical properties in different directions – a property present in crystals called anisotropy which could result in significantly large earthquake events in the Himalayas. The NW region of India, an area covering Garhwal and Himachal Pradesh, has been hit by four destructive moderate to great earthquakes since the beginning of the 20th century -- the Kangra earthquake of 1905, the Kinnaur earthquake of 1975, the Uttarkashi earthquake of 1991, and the Chamoli earthquake of 1999. These seismic activities manifest large-scale subsurface deformation and weak zones, underlining the need for deeper insights into the ongoing deformation beneath these tectonically unstable zones. The major contribution of the anisotropy is mainly because the strain induced by the Indo-Eurasia collision (going on since 50 million years) and deformation due to the collision is found to be larger in the crust than in the upper mantle. The inhomogeneity along the Himalayas influences the stressing rate is because of variation in the geometry of the Main Himalayan Thrust (MHT) system, and it controls the rupture size during the earthquake. This lack of homogenous physical and mechanical properties of the Himalayas could help explore new perspectives about deformations taking place at the Himalaya-Tibet crustal belt involved in the formation of the Himalayan Mountains. GS-2 Launch of Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP), the revised next generation Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) digital platform (Topic: Health) Considered to be a new chapter in India’s public health trajectory, with the launch of IHIP, India is the first country in the world to adopt such an advanced disease surveillance system. IHIP will provide health information system developed for real time, case-based information, integrated analytics, advanced visualization capability. It will provide analyzed reports on mobile or other electronic devices. In addition, outbreak investigation activities can be initiated and monitored electronically. It can easily be integrated with other ongoing surveillance program, while having the feature of addition of special surveillance modules. The new version of IHIP will house the data entry and management for India’s disease surveillance program. In addition to tracking 33 diseases now as compared to the earlier 18 diseases, it shall ensure near-real-time data in digital mode, having done away with the paper-mode of working The world's biggest online disease surveillance platform, is in sync with the National Digital Health Mission and fully compatible with the other digital information systems presently being used in India. The refined IHIP with automated -data will help in a big way in real time data collection, aggregation & further analysis of data that will aid and enable evidence-based policy making. India’s information system for precision public health is essential for delivering the right intervention at the right time, every time to the right population. National Policy for Rare Diseases, 2021  (Topic: Health) By Ministry: Ministry of Health  Aim:  To lower the high cost of treatment for rare diseases with increased focus on indigenous research; To strengthen tertiary health care facilities for prevention and treatment of rare diseases through designating 8 health facilities as Centre of Excellence (CoEs). Vision: Creation of a national hospital based registry of rare diseases so that adequate data about rare diseases is available.  Focus: Early screening and prevention through primary and secondary health care infrastructure such as Health and Wellness Centres and District Early Intervention Centres (DEICs) and through counselling for the high-risk patients.  Key Pointers: National Consortium shall be set up to provide the required help  Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare will be its convenor. Screening will also be supported by Nidan Kendras set up by Department of Biotechnology. CoEs will also be provided one-time financial support of up to Rs 5 crores for upgradation of diagnostics facilities. A provision for financial support up to Rs. 20 lakhs under the Umbrella Scheme of Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi is proposed for treatment of those rare diseases that require a one-time treatment (diseases listed under Group 1 in the rare disease policy). Envisages a crowdfunding mechanism in which corporates and individuals will be encouraged to extend financial support through a robust IT platform for treatment of rare diseases. Funds so collected will be utilized by Centres of Excellence for treatment of all three categories of rare diseases as a first charge and the balance financial resources can also be used for research. Do you know? In India, Haemophilia, Thalassemia, Sickle cell anaemia and Primary Immuno Deficiency in children, auto-immune diseases, Lysosomal storage disorders such as Pompe disease and Gaucher’s disease are in the rare diseases list. Spices Board India and UNDP India's Accelerator Lab sign MoU (Topic: Collaboration with International organisations) Aim: To develop blockchain-powered traceability Interface for Indian spices to enhance transparency in supply chain and trade UNDP and Spices Board India are working towards integrating the Blockchain Traceability Interface with the e-Spice Bazaar portal developed by Spices Board India for connecting spices farmers with markets. The project will be piloted with over 3,000 farmers engaged in chilli and turmeric farming in select Districts of Andhra Pradesh. Blockchain is a decentralized process of recording transactions on an open and shared electronic ledger. This allows for ease and transparency in data management across a complex network, including, farmers, brokers, distributors, processors, retailers, regulators, and consumers, thus simplifying the supply chain.  It will allow farmers just as all other members of the supply chain to access the information which further makes the entire supply chain more efficient and equitable. Enhance consumer confidence and facilitate sourcing of spices for exports as well as for local value addition and use. Spices in India India is the largest exporter, producer and consumer of spices in the world.  India’s spices export crossed a milestone of 3 Bn USD during 2019-20.  Spices Board is the agency responsible for export promotion of Indian spices in the world markets About Spices Board: Spices Board is one of the five Commodity Boards functioning under the Ministry of Commerce &Industry. It is an autonomous body responsible for the export promotion of the 52 scheduled spices and development of Cardamom (Small & Large). The main functions of the Spices Board are the following:  (i) Research, Development and Regulation of domestic marketing of Small & Large Cardamom;  (ii) Post-harvest improvement of all spices;  (iii) Export promotion of all spices and assisting exporters in technology upgradation, quality management, brand promotion, research & product development;  (iv) Development of spices in the North East;  (v) Regulation of quality of spices for exports through its quality evaluation services; etc. About UNDP: UNDP works across 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty while protecting the planet. We help countries develop strong policies, skills, partnerships, and institutions so they can sustain their progress. UNDP has worked in India since 1951 in almost all areas of human development, from systems strengthening to inclusive growth and sustainable livelihoods, as well as sustainable energy, environment, and resilience. UNDP’s programmes continue to integrate a global vision for catalytic change with India’s national priorities. With over 30 projects on the ground in almost every state, today, it works to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by transforming traditional models to do development differently. Atal Innovation Mission joins hands with CIPS for innovations in public systems (Topic: Government policies in skill development and entrepreneurship) Aim: To reinforce the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem in India by developing a database of innovations in public systems for improving public services Will help startups to access and promote their innovations to grassroot levels by synergizing with the local administration. The challenges faced by the local administration in delivering the services to the citizens can be addressed through the start-ups by drafting a plan of action with the support of CIPS mentors. AIM and CIPS will jointly organize round tables involving the district and local level administration officials tocreate awareness about innovative products and solutions and help them understand standard processes and policies around procurement so that procurement and implementation of relevant innovative solutions can be expedited. The need of the hour is to ensure capacity building of teachers/mentors at grassroot levels to promote innovative learning among the students. This can be achieved by jointly creating an Innovation Learning Management System (iLMS). The partnership will also help promote the programs launched by AIM at state and district level and liaison with the states. It will strengthen the AIM Mentor of Change program through larger participation of government officers at district level. There is growing evidence that multi-actor collaboration in networks, partnerships and inter-organisational teams can spur public innovation. The involvement of different public and private actors in public innovation processes may improve the understanding of the problem or challenge at hand, bring forth new ideas and proposals, and build joint ownership of new and bold solutions. MoU between India and Japan for Academic and Research Cooperation and Exchange (Topic: India and Japan) The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, is apprised of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between National Atmospheric Research Laboratory (NARL), Dept of Space, Government of India and Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere (RISH), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan for Academic and Research Cooperation and Exchange Objectives This MoU shall enable NARL and RISH to continue their cooperation in areas of atmospheric science and technology, collaborative scientific experiments/campaigns and related modelling studies utilising the research facilities of RISH and NARL, exchange of scientific materials, publications and information, joint research meetings and workshops, exchange of faculty members, students and researchers. This MoU would lead to mutual utilization of facilities such as the Middle and Upper atmosphere (MU) radar in Shigaraki, Japan, the Equatorial Atmosphere Radar (EAR) in Kototabang, Indonesia and complementary instruments available from RISH, and the Mesosphere-Stratosphere-Troposphere (MST) radar and complementary instruments available at NARL. Background NARL and RISH have been collaborating in the area of atmospheric science and technology as well as exchange of scientists. This arrangement was formalised in 2008 through an MoU. The above MoU was renewed in the year 2013. A fresh MOU to promote collaborative research, as per the new guidelines, was signed in November 2020 by both sides and exchanged. NARL scientists worked as resource persons in the international school on atmospheric radar conducted by RISH. A team of Professors and Researchers of Kyoto University visited NARL and conducted focused workshop to strengthen cooperative research being carried out by the two institutes. Cabinet approves Production Linked Incentive scheme 'National Programme on High Efficiency Solar PV Modules' The Cabinet has approved the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy's proposal for implementation of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme 'National Programme on High Efficiency Solar PV (Photo Voltic) Modules' for achieving manufacturing capacity of Giga Watt (GW) scale in high efficiency solar PV modules with an outlay of Rs.4,500 crore. Solar capacity addition presently depends largely upon imported solar PV cells and modules as the domestic manufacturing industry has limited operational capacities of solar PV cells and modules. The National Programme on High Efficiency Solar PV Modules will reduce import dependence in a strategic sector like electricity. It will also support the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. Solar PV manufacturers will be selected through a transparent competitive bidding process. PLI will be disbursed for 5 years post commissioning of solar PV manufacturing plants, on sales of high efficiency solar PV modules. Manufacturers will be rewarded for higher efficiencies of solar PV modules and also for sourcing their material from the domestic market. Thus, the PLI amount will increase with increased module efficiency and increased local value addition. The outcomes/ benefits expected from the scheme are as follows: Additional 10,000 MW capacity of integrated solar PV manufacturing plants, Direct investment of around Rs.17,200 crore in solar PV manufacturingprojects Demand of Rs.17,500 crore over 5 years for 'Balance of Materials', Direct employment of about 30,000 and Indirect employment of about1,20,000 persons, Import substitution of around Rs.17,500 crore every year, and Impetus to Research & Development to achieve higher efficiency in solar PV modules. GS-3 MoU Signed between Ministry of AYUSH and Department of Animal Husbandry for research on new formulations in quality drugs for veterinary science (Topic: Animal Husbandry) An Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Ministry of AYUSH and Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying for research on new formulations in quality drugs for veterinary science through medicinal herbs. The initiative involves capacity building in related areas through training, exploring marketing possibilities for herbal veterinary medicines on a sustainable basis and providing for services including cultivation, preservation and conservation of medicinal plants. The Ministry of AYUSH will support Department of Animal Husbandry for   Developing curriculum and courses for AYUSH herbal veterinary education programs, Identifying potential medicinal plant species used in veterinary medicine and provide their standards, training and awareness program on Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs)& Good Field Collection Practices (GFCPs) etc.,  Development of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) for manufacturing of AYUSH/herbal veterinary medicines,  Skill development and capacity building,  Facilitate and render financial assistance for plantations and nursery development for medicinal plants,  Facilitate standardizing norms for medicinal plants,  Assist establishing research and testing centers as per scope of the Scheme. The Department of Animal Husbandry will support Ministry of AYUSH for its expert technical opinion for essentiality, desirability and feasibility with respect to Ayurvedic medicines.  The Department will create awareness with support of NDDB among dairy farmers and agro-farmers about utilization and importance of herbal veterinary medicine and cultivation of medicinal herbs,  Develop course curriculum for Ayurveda and its allied subjects in veterinary medicine,  Identify list of priority livestock and poultry diseases of economic importance with respect to research activity or application of veterinary Ayurveda and allied streams,  Support farmers for undertaking cultivation and conservation of medicinal plants and related activities,  Support identify opportunities for scientific and technological collaboration to research institute (Veterinary Colleges and ICAR research institutes). Union Cabinet approves Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for White Goods (Air Conditioners and LED Lights) (Topic: Indian Economy) The prime objective of the PLI scheme is to make manufacturing in India globally competitive by removing sectoral disabilities, creating economies of scale and ensuring efficiencies. It is designed to create complete component ecosystem in India and make India an integral part of the global supply chains. The scheme is expected to attract global investments, generate large scale employment opportunities and enhance exports substantially. The PLI Scheme for White Goods shall extend an incentive of 4% to 6% on incremental sales of goods manufactured in India for a period of five years to companies engaged in manufacturing of Air Conditioners and LED Lights. Selection of companies for the Scheme shall be done so as to incentivize manufacturing of components or sub-assemblies which are not manufactured in India presently with sufficient capacity. Mere assembly of finished goods shall not be incentivized. Companies meeting the pre-qualification criteria for different target segments will be eligible to participate in the Scheme. Incentives shall be open to companies making brown field or green field Investments. Thresholds of cumulative incremental investment and incremental sales of manufactured goods over the base year would have to be met for claiming incentives. The Scheme is expected to be instrumental in achieving growth rates that are much higher than existing ones for AC and LED industries, develop complete component eco-systems in India and create global champions manufacturing in India. They will have to meet the compulsory BIS and BEE Quality standards for sales into domestic market and applicable standards for global markets. It will also lead to investments in innovation and research and development and upgradation of technology. Copyright (Amendment) Rules, 2021 (Topic: Economy) In India, the copyright regime is governed by the Copyright Act, 1957 and the Copyright Rules, 2013. The Copyright Rules, 2013 were last amended in the year 2016. The amendments have been introduced with the objective of bringing the existing rules in parity with other relevant legislations. It aims to ensure smooth and flawless compliance in the light of the technological advancement in digital era by adopting electronic means as primary mode of communication and working in the Copyright Office. A new provision regarding publication of a copyrights journal has been incorporated, thereby eliminating the requirement of publication in the Official Gazette. The said journal would be available at the website of the Copyright Office. In order to encourage accountability and transparency, new provisions have been introduced, to deal with the undistributed royalty amounts and use of electronic and traceable payment methods while collection and distribution of royalties. To reinforce transparency in working of copyright societies a new rule has been introduced, whereby the copyright societies will be required to draw up and make public an Annual Transparency Report for each financial year. The amendments have harmonised the Copyright Rules with the provisions of Finance Act, 2017 whereby the Copyright Board has been merged with Appellate Board. The compliance requirements for registration of software works have been largely reduced, as now the applicant has the liberty to file the first 10 and last 10 pages of source code, or the entire source code if less than 20 pages, with no blocked out or redacted portions. The time limit for the Central Government to respond to an application made before it for registration as a copyright society is extended to one hundred and eighty days, so that the application can be more comprehensively examined. Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Pre-packaged Insolvency Resolution Process) Regulations, 2021 (Topic: Economy)  The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021 promulgated on 4th April, 2021 provides for pre-packaged insolvency resolution process (PPIRP) for corporate debtors classified as micro, small and medium enterprises. The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India notified the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Pre-packaged Insolvency Resolution Process) Regulations, 2021 (PPIRP Regulations) today to enable operationalisation of PPIRP. The PPIRP Regulations detail the Forms that stakeholders are required to use, and the manner of carrying out various tasks by them as part of the PPIRP. These provide details and manner relating to: Eligibility to act as resolution professional, and his terms of appointment; Eligibility of registered valuers and other professionals; Identification and selection of authorised representative; Public announcement and claims of stakeholders; Information memorandum; Meetings of the creditors and committee of creditors; Invitation for resolution plans; Competition between the base resolution plan and the best resolution plan; Evaluation and consideration of resolution plans; Vesting management of corporate debtor with resolution professional; Termination of PPIRP. India emerging a leader in supercomputing (Topic: Science and Technology) India is fast emerging a leader in high power computing with the National Super Computing Mission (NSM) boosting it to meet the increasing computational demands of academia, researchers, MSMEs, and startups in areas like oil exploration, flood prediction as well as genomics and drug discovery. Computing infrastructure has already been installed in four premier institutions and installation work is in rapid progress in 9 more. Completion in of Phase II of NSM in September 2021 will take the country’s computing power to 16 Petaflops (PF). MoUs have been signed with a total of 14 premier institutions of India for establishing Supercomputing Infrastructure with Assembly and Manufacturing in India. These include IITs, NITs, National Labs, and IISERs. The National Supercomputing Mission was launched to enhance the research capacities and capabilities in the country by connecting them to form a Supercomputing grid, with National Knowledge Network (NKN) as the backbone.  The NSM is setting up a grid of supercomputing facilities in academic and research institutions across the country. Part of this is being imported from abroad and part built indigenously.  The Mission is being jointly steered by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and implemented by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Pune, and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru. PARAM Shivay, the first supercomputer assembled indigenously, was installed in IIT (BHU), followed by PARAM Shakti, PARAM Brahma, PARAM Yukti, PARAM Sanganak at IIT-Kharagpur IISER, Pune, JNCASR, Bengaluru and IIT Kanpur respectively. Supernova explosion traced to one of the hottest kind of stars (Topic: Space) Indian astronomers have tracked a rare supernova explosion and traced it to one of the hottest kind of stars called Wolf–Rayet stars or WR stars.   The rare Wolf–Rayet stars are highly luminous objects a thousand times that of the Sun and have intrigued astronomers for long. They are massive stars and strip their outer hydrogen envelope which is associated with the fusion of Helium and other elements in the massive core. Tracking of certain types of massive luminous supernovae explosion can help probe these stars that remain an enigma for scientists. A team of astronomers from Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital an autonomous institute under the Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of India with international collaborators have conducted the optical monitoring of one such stripped-envelope supernova called SN 2015dj hosted in the galaxy NGC 7371 which was spotted in 2015. They calculated the mass of the star that collapsed to form the supernovae as well as the geometry of its ejection. The scientists also found that the original star was a combination of two stars – one of them is a massive WR star and another is a star much less in mass than the Sun. Supernovae (SNe) are highly energetic explosions in the Universe releasing an enormous amount of energy. Long-term monitoring of these transients opens the door to understand the nature of the exploding star as well as the explosion properties. It can also help enumerate the number of massive stars. Dozen rare quadruply imaged quasars discovered can help determine expansion rate of the universe (Topic: Space) A group of astronomers have discovered a dozen quasars that have been warped by a naturally occurring cosmic "lens" and split into four similar images. This rare discovery increases the number of known quasars or quads by about 25 percent and can help determine the expansion rate of the universe and help address other mysteries. Quasars are extremely luminous cores of distant galaxies that are powered by supermassive black holes. Quadruply imaged quasars are rare, and the first quadruple image was discovered in 1985. Over the past four decades, astronomers had found about fifty of these “quadruply imaged quasars” or quads for short, which occur when the gravity of a massive galaxy that happens to sit in front of a quasar splits its single image into four. The study by Gaia Gravitational Lenses Working Group (GraL) of astronomers, which included scientists from Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital, an autonomous institute of Department of Science and Technology, spanning only a year and a half, demonstrates the power of machine-learning to assist astronomers in their search for these cosmic jewels. Cosmological Dilemma In recent years, a discrepancy has emerged over the precise value of the universe's expansion rate, also known as Hubble-Lemaître’s constant. Two primary means can be used to determine this number: one relies on measurements of the distance and speed of objects in our local universe, and the other extrapolates the rate from models based on distant radiation left over from the birth of our universe called the cosmic microwave background. The problem is that the numbers do not match. The quasars lie in between the local and distant targets used for the previous calculations. The new quasar quads, which the team gave nicknames such as "Wolf's Paw" and "Dragon Kite," will help in future calculations of Hubble-Lemaître’s constant and may illuminate why the two primary measurements are not in alignment. Prelims-oriented News World Health Day: 6th April World's highest Railway Bridge: Chenab Bridge in Jammu & Kashmir by Indian Railways Exercise La Perouse: Led by French Navy World Homoeopathy Day: 10th April – observed to commemorate the birth anniversary of the founder of Homoeopathy, Dr. Christian Fredrich Samuel Hahnemann. FDI inflows in India India Attracts total FDI inflow of US$ 72.12 billion during April, 2020 to January, 2021; Computer Software & Hardware emerged as top sector with 45.81% of total FDI Equity inflow Japan leads the list of Investor countries with 29.09% of the total FDI Equity inflows during January, 2021 Launch of NanoSniffer, a Microsensor based Explosive Trace Detector World’s first Explosive Trace Detector using microsensor technology NanoSniffer is a 100% Made in India product in terms of research, development & manufacturing Will reduce our dependency on imported explosive trace detector devices Home-grown Explosive trace detector device (ETD) - NanoSniffer can detect explosives in less than 10 seconds Launch of 'मधुक्रान्तिपोर्टल' & 'Honey Corners' An initiative of National Bee Board (NBB), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare under National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM) This portal is being developed for online registration to achieve traceability source of Honey and other beehive products on a digital platform. The portal enables consumers to know the source of honey and assure quality of the products Honey Mission will lead to increase in income of farmers, employment generation and increase in exports National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM) was approved by Government of India for Rs. 500.00 crores allotted under Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Announcement for overall promotion and development of scientific beekeeping & to achieve the goal of “Sweet Revolution”.  NBHM is implemented through National Bee Board (NBB). The scheme has three Mini Missions (MM-I, II & III) under which main thrust is given on awareness, capacity building/trainings, focus on women empowerment through beekeeping, setting up of requisite infrastructural facilities, viz.; Integrated Beekeeping Development Centres (IBDCs), Honeybees Disease Diagnostic Labs, Setting up of/upgradation of Honey Testing labs, Beekeeping Equipment Manufacturing Units, Custom Hiring Centres, Api therapy Centres, Development of Quality Nucleus Stock Centres & Bee Breeders, etc., Digitization/online  registration, etc. under MM-I, processing, value addition, market support, etc. under MM-II and R&D under MM-III. Minister of State for Education to attend consultation meeting of Education Ministers of E9 countries E9 initiative: Scaling up digital learning to accelerate progress towards SDG4 The initiative aims to accelerate recovery and advance the Sustainable Development Goal 4 agenda by driving rapid change in education systems in three of the 2020 Global Education Meeting priorities:  (i) Support to teachers;  (ii) Investment in skills; and  (iii) Narrowing of the digital divide E9 Countries: Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria, and Pakistan India –  Spoke about the One Nation-One Digital Platform -DIKSHA, One Nation-One Channel programme of -SWAYAM PRABHA, SWAYAM MOOCS and radio broadcasting were used to take education to the remotest part of the country. The online education was imparted to differently-abled children, and launched PM e-VIDYA to provide multi-modal access to education which benefitted nearly 250 million school-going children across India. The pandemic has demonstrated amply that digital and multi-modal education is a must to ensure affordable education for all. This requires strengthening digital infrastructure, developing tools and digital skills. It also requires teacher training, data security and privacy, funding, and assessment tools.  Government is setting up National Digital Education Architecture to deliver a ‘digital first’ approach to support teaching and learning. India-Sri Lanka Police Chiefs’ Dialogue (PCD): While appreciating each other’s ongoing action against the drug traffickers and other organised criminals exploiting the narrow sea route between the two countries, the two sides emphasized the need for sharing of real time intelligence and feedback. Both sides also agreed to work jointly against the terrorist entities including the Global Terrorist Groups and fugitives, wherever they are present and active. As the way forward, it was decided to strengthen the existing cooperation mechanisms, as also designate ‘nodal points’ for timely and effective handling of existing as well as emerging security challenges. India-Netherlands Virtual Summit It was the first high level Summit attended by Netherlands’ PM Mark Rutte after the general elections held in March 2021.  During the Summit, the two leaders exchanged views on further expanding the relationship in trade and economy, water management, agriculture sector, smart cities, science & technology, healthcare and space. The two Prime Ministers also agreed on instituting a ‘Strategic Partnership on Water’ to further deepen the Indo-Dutch cooperation in the water related sector, and upgrading the Joint Working Group on water to Ministerial-level. Netherlands’ Indo-Pacific Policy was also welcomed. 92% target achieved in the 1st phase of Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana – Gramin Under PMAY-G with the introduction of certain implementation reforms, the Government has aimed at improving the speed and quality of houses construction, ensuring timely release of funds to beneficiaries, direct transfer of funds to beneficiaries’ account, technical assistance to beneficiaries, stringent monitoring through MIS-AwaasSoft and AwaasApp. The Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana – Gramin (PMAY-G) is one of the flagship programmes of the Government of India which is driven by the noble objective of providing “Housing for All” by the year 2022.  It is a social welfare program through which the Government provides financial assistance to houseless beneficiaries identified using SECC 2011 data to help them construct a house of respectable quality for their personal living.  The Scheme envisaged constructing 2.95 crore PMAY-G houses with all basic amenities by the year 2021-22.  The scheme envisioned providing other facilities to make it an aspirational home for the beneficiaries through convergence with other schemes like Swachh Bharat Mission, PM Ujjwala Yojana for providing LPG connection and unskilled wage component of 90-95 days under MGNREGS.  Significant progress has been made in this direction since the launch of the scheme by the Prime Minister in November 2016. Babu Jagjivan Ram Babu Jagjivan Ram, who was affectionately known as Babuji, was born on the 5th of April, 1908. He was much more than a politician where he dedicated his life fighting for the freedom of the country and bringing the voices of the oppressed communities of the country.  Crusader of Social Justice Being a Dalit leader himself, his contributions as a social reformer were immense apart from his other influences.  He was a member of the First Cabinet of Jawaharlal Nehru’s interim Government where he was the youngest Minister and a member of the Constituent Assembly of India.  Babu Jagivan Ram was among the few who gave a very strong emphasis on the importance of the principles of social justice that was cherished in the Indian Constitution.  Babu Jagjivan Ram as a crusader of social justice was instrumental in the establishment of the All Indian Depressed Classes League in the year 1935. This organization primarily sought to provide welfare and equality for the untouchables in the caste ridden societies.  He is also well known for the mass organization of movements that were dedicated for the welfare of the rural labour after he became a member of the Legislative Assembly of Bihar in the year 1937.  Babu Jagjivan Ram went on to be a prominent member of the Indian National Congress where he worked whole heartedly for the party for over forty years in a wide range of port folios after which he also became the Deputy Prime Minister of India from 1977 to 1979. He was the Defence Minister of India during the Indo-Pak war of 1971, which resulted in the creation of Bangladesh.  His contribution to the Green Revolution in India and modernising Indian agriculture, during his two tenures as Union Agriculture Minister are still remembered, especially during 1974 drought when he was asked to hold the additional portfolio to tide over the food crisis. Babu Jagjivan Ram went to convince Mahatma Gandhi to join Constituent Assembly as his guidance was required. This was when Gandhi ji gave him what is popularly known as Gandhi ji’s Talisman. Dandi March The salt movement led by Gandhi started on March 12 in 1930, from Sabarmati Ashram to the coastal village of Dandi (240 miles). The Salt March is also known as the Dandi March and the Dandi Satyagraha. Objective:  To produce salt from the seawater in the coastal village of Dandi, as was the practice of the local populace until British officials introduced taxation on salt production and deemed their sea-salt reclamation activities illegal. It was a direct-action campaign of tax resistance and nonviolent protest against the British salt monopoly under the 1882 British Salt Act.  The march directly followed the Poorna Swaraj declaration of sovereignty and self-rule by the Indian National Congress on 26 January 1930.  The then Viceroy, Lord Irwin was hardly perturbed by the threat of a salt protest and the government did nothing to prevent the salt march from taking place. The salt tax accounted for 8.2% of the British Raj revenue from tax. When Gandhi broke the salt laws on 6 April 1930, it sparked large scale acts of civil disobedience against the British Raj salt laws by millions of Indians.   As per the Gandhi-Irwin Pact Indians were allowed to make salt for domestic use. National Salt Satyagraha Memorial: In Dandi, Gujarat; Dandi memorial encapsulates the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi- Agrah for Swadeshi, Swatchagrah and Satyagraha One can view statues of Mahatma Gandhi and 80 Satyagrahis who had marched with him during the historic Dandi Salt March in 1930 to make salt from sea water against the British law. The memorial also has 24-narrative murals depicting various events and stories from the historic 1930 Salt March. Solar trees are installed to meet the energy requirements of the memorial complex. Guru Tegh Bahadur (1621–1675) – 400th Birth Anniversary (Prakash Purab) The period of history in India in the last four centuries cannot be imagined without the influence of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Sikh Guru. Guru Tegh Bahadur was the ninth of ten Gurus of the Sikh religion. Born at Amritsar in 1621, was the youngest son of Guru Hargobind. One hundred and fifteen of his hymns are in Guru Granth Sahib. There are several accounts explaining the motive behind the assassination of Guru Tegh Bahadur on Aurangzeb’s orders. He stood up for the rights of Kashmiri Pandits who approached him against religious persecution by Aurangzeb. He was publicly killed in 1675 on the orders of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in Delhi for himself refusing Mughal rulers and defying them. Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib and Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib in Delhi mark the places of execution and cremation of his body. Impact of his martyrdom: The execution hardened the resolve of Sikhs against religious oppression and persecution. His martyrdom helped all Sikh Panths consolidate to make the protection of human rights central to its Sikh identity. Inspired by him, his nine-year-old son, Guru Gobind Singh Ji, eventually organized the Sikh group into a distinct, formal, symbol-patterned community came to be known as Khalsa (Martial) identity. Sri Sri Harichand Thakur Harichand Thakur, sometimes known as Shri Shri Harichand Thakur worked among the untouchable people of Bengal Presidency. He formed the Matua sect of Hindus. According to historian Sekhar Bandyopadhyay, Thakur "experienced atma darshan or self revelation, through which he realized that he was the incarnation of God himself, born in this world to bring salvation to the downtrodden". Thakur, whose family were Vaishnavite Hindus, founded a sect of Vaishnavite Hinduism called Matua. This was adopted by members of the Namasudra community, who were then also known by the pejorative name of Chandalas and considered to be untouchable. The sect was opposed to caste oppression and, according to Sipra Mukherjee "[inspired] the community towards education and social upliftment". It has subsequently attracted adherents from other caste communities that were marginalised by the upper castes, including the Chamars, Malis, and Telis. Mahatma Jyotiba Phule  Given the title of Mahatma on May 11, 1888 Work: eradication of untouchability and caste system, emancipation and empowerment of women, reform of Hindu family life Along with his wife, Savitribai Phule, he is regarded as pioneers of women’s education in India. Both Savitribai Phule & her husband Jyotirao Phule went on to found India’s first school for girls called Bhide Wada in Pune in 1848. Later started schools for children from the then untouchable castes such as Mahar and Mang. The Phules started the Satyashodhak Samaj (Society for Truth-Seeking), through which they wanted to initiate the practice of Satyashodhak marriage, in which no dowry was taken. The Phules also started the Literacy Mission in India between 1854-55 In 1863, he opened a home for pregnant Brahmin widows to give birth in a safe and secure place. Opened an orphanage home to avoid infanticide. In this regard, he is believed to be the first Hindu to start an orphanage for the unfortunate children. Savitribai Phule: Savitribai Phule, the social reformer who is considered to be one of India’s first modern feminists, was born on January 3, 1831 A crusader for women empowerment, she broke all stereotypes and spent her life promoting the noble cause of women’s education Savitribai was married at a very young age of 9 to social reformer Jyotirao Phule. Jyotirao was 12 years old at the time of marriage. It was Jyotirao who helped her learn how to read and write. He helped her attain high levels of education and live her life with her head held high. Savitribai set up India’s first women’s school from different castes in Bhidewada, Pune and became first woman teacher in the country. In her lifetime she built 18 such schools in the region. She also worked towards preventing female infanticide and set up a home, Balhatya Pratibandhak Griha, to prevent the killing of widows. She also campaigned against child marriage and sati pratha, which undermined the existence of women. As part of the Satyashodhak Samaj, the Phule couple organised marriages without a priest, without dowry, and at a minimum cost. The wedding vows in these marriages were the pledges taken by both the bride and the bridegroom. In 2014, the Maharashtra government in a tribute to Savitribai Phule renamed Pune University in her name.