Mar 30, 2021 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 30th March 2021

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Heart of Asia – Istanbul Process (HoA-IP) Part of: GS Prelims and GS – II – International Relations  In news India will attend the 9th Ministerial Conference of Heart of Asia - Istanbul Process on Afghanistan. Location – Tajikistan Important value additions  The Heart of Asia – Istanbul Process (HoA-IP) is an initiative of Afghanistan and Turkey, which was officially launched at a conference hosted by Turkey in Istanbul in 2011. Since then, Afghanistan supported by 14 Participating Countries of the Heart of Asia Region, 16 Supporting Countries beyond the region and 12 Regional and International Organizations are leading and coordinating this Process. It is a platform for promoting regional security, economic and political cooperation centred on Afghanistan through dialogue and a set of Confidence Building Measures (CBMs). De facto Secretariat: The Directorate General for Regional Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan The geographical area covering the 15 Participating Countries of the HoA-IP is defined as the Heart of Asia Region.  It is one of the biggest regions in the world with a collective geographical area covering around 27% of the land area of the Earth. Do you know?  As the lead country for Trade, Commerce and Investment Confidence Building Measure under HoA-IP, India has made concerted efforts for strengthening regional connectivity for the greater economic integration of Afghanistan with the region. A dedicated Air Freight Corridor between cities of India and Afghanistan and operationalisation of Chabahar Port in Iran are steps in that direction. External affairs minister also visited the Dushanbe-Chortut Highway Project and lauded the work being done by Border Roads Organisation under Indian grant assistance.  The 8-lane highway will decongest Dushanbe. India delivers COVID-19 vaccines for the United Nations Peacekeeping Force (UNPKF)  Part of: GS Prelims and GS – II – International Relations  In news India delivered on its promise of 2,00,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines for the United Nations Peacekeeping Force (UNPKF) worldwide, sending a shipment bound for Copenhagen. Important value additions  UN Peacekeeping Force (UNPKF)  UN peacekeepers provide security and the political and peace building support to help countries make the difficult, early transition from conflict to peace. Principles: (1) Consent of the parties; (2) Impartiality; (3) Non-use of force except in self-defence and defence of the mandate Present status: There are currently 12 UN peacekeeping operations deployed. Do you know?  For its services, UN Peacekeeping has also received the Nobel Peace Prize. UN peacekeepers are often referred to as Blue Berets or Blue Helmets because of their light blue berets or helmets. India abstains from voting on Resolution 46/L1  Part of: GS Prelims and GS – II – International Relations  In news India abstained from voting on a resolution in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) that makes a wide-ranging and damaging commentary on the human rights situation in Sri Lanka. Key takeaways  Resolution 46/L1 has decided, among other things, to “strengthen” the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights to collect evidence and develop possible strategies for future accountability processes for gross violations of human rights in Sri Lanka. It refers to “persistent” lack of accountability for rights abuses committed through the years by “all parties” in Sri Lanka.  Most seriously, it expresses a lack of confidence in the ability of the present government to address the shortcomings. Among the 14 countries that abstained were Japan, Indonesia, Bahrain and Nepal.  Among the 11 that voted against were China, Cuba, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Russia, and Venezuela. Do you know?  This is the 8th resolution on Sri Lanka at the Human Rights Council since the end of the war against the LTTE in 2009. India’s record of voting on these resolutions shows the ups and downs of New Delhi-Colombo relations, the pressures on coalitions in India, the influence of politics and parties in Tamil Nadu, and the ebb and flow of regional and international geopolitics. MICE Roadshow - Meet in India'; Chhatrasal Convention Centre  Part of: GS Prelims and GS – I – Culture  In news The ‘Chhatrasal Convention Centre at Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh was recently inaugurated Inaugurated by: Ministry for Tourism and Culture and Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh   Developed under: Swadesh Darshan Scheme of Ministry of Tourism. Key takeaways  The Ministry of Tourism has framed ‘Development of Iconic Tourist Destinations Scheme’ a Central Sector Scheme for development of nineteen identified iconic destinations in the country following a holistic approach. They will also launch “MICE Roadshow – Meet in India” Brand and Roadmap for the Promotion of India as MICE Destination (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh. Miscellaneous Indo-Korean Friendship Park  India’s First Indo-Korean Friendship Park was jointly inaugurated by Republic of Korea and India at Delhi Cantonment.  It is in Delhi Cantonment. The park is significant for it being a symbol of strong India-South Korea friendly relations.  It is also a monument to India’s contributions as part of 21 countries which participated in Korean war 1950-53, under the aegis of the UN.  One of the pillars in the park encompasses Nobel Laureate Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore’s narration of Korea as “The Lamp of the East” which was published in Korean daily “Dong-A-llbo” in 1929.  (Mains Focus) EXECUTIVE/ GOVERNANCE Topic: GS-2: Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive  GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation Reforms in the bureaucracy A look at Defence Bureaucracy reform - CDS Nearly 20 years after the recommendation of the Kargil Review Committee on higher defence management, Prime Minister announced the decision to create the post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) in 2019 The decision was not so simple as many within the defence establishment were opposed to the idea of concentrating military decision-making in one person. General Bipin Rawat was appointed as the first CDS for three years on January 1, 2020 and was also made Secretary of the newly-created Department of Military Affairs (DMA) CDS was tasked with delivering on military reforms through transparent need-based hardware acquisition and creation of theatre commands for better synergy among the land, air and sea-based forces The idea was to cut through bureaucratic red-tape and speed up decision-making in the defence ministry.  What are the major concerns with Indian bureaucratic system?  Lacks Result Orientation: The Indian bureaucracy continues to be driven by process rather than the outcome. Lacks sensitivity & responsiveness to Public’s needs: The disconnect between the common man and the bureaucracy has not reduced as the bureaucrats are more interested in keeping the file perfect Colonial Hangover: The bureaucracy still continues its legacy of British imperial past as officers sometimes function as part of an occupying power without any awareness of the position on the ground.  Lacks Domain Expertise: In the age of AI and multi-formatted information, bureaucrats generally have inadequate domain knowledge of their areas of work often leading to inefficient policy making. Status-quoist in their attitude: Serving bureaucrats resist infusion of fresh blood and ideas to guide them in their emerging roles and have inadequate communication especially with the Indian youth.  Challenges even with existence of Political Will: Many ministers say they find their bureaucrats behaving like the permanent opposition, determined to tire out the political executives through excessive reliance on procedures & process.  For ex: It took more than one year for the government’s human resource manager, the department of personnel and training, to make key appointments to the department of military affairs.  Way Ahead Appoint Third ARC: It is time for government to appoint the third administrative reforms commission to institute cutting-edge reforms in the Indian bureaucracy. And this time, government should make sure that the recommendations are actually implemented - and not just on paper like the second administrative reforms Incentivize better performing civil servants: It is time for government to separate the wheat from the chaff by incentivising deserving senior officials through an alternative fast-track career progression channel. This will also lower the age profile of the top officials.  Alternate System of Promotion: The government should also consider promotions to higher levels, that is additional secretary or secretary-level posts from a pool of four to five batches together and not on a year-by-year basis as is done now. This will give the government a larger pool of officials to make their selection.  Contractual Appointments System: Perhaps, appointments at additional secretary or secretary-level could also be offered on a contract basis for five to ten years with compensation for premature separation or termination on each side. This will ensure accountability in terms of delivery on the ground. Expand Lateral Entry: While the government has inducted officers through lateral entry at joint secretary levels or below, this should be encouraged at an additional secretary or secretary-level as a laggard top official will ensure that the lateral entrant has no work Conclusion India should have a new result-oriented bureaucracy when the nation celebrates the 75th year of Independence as the present architecture needs to be torn down and rebuilt Connecting the dots: Mission Karmayogi POLITY/ GOVERNANCE Topic: GS-2: Working of Executive & Parliamentary Accountability Parliamentary Committees Context: India’s Parliament recently passed the National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021, which significantly increases the powers of the Lieutenant-Governor (L-G) of Delhi Despite the nature of the sweeping changes this bill proposed, it was not sent to a parliamentary committee, and there was no formal consultation with stakeholders, civil society, or experts before it was quickly rushed through both Houses of Parliament Importance of Committees Thorough analysis of issues: Most MPs are generalists who rely on advice from experts and stakeholders before taking decisions. Therefore, committees are meant to help MPs seek expertise and give them time to think about issues in detail.  Ensures all parties voice their opinion: All committees have MPs representing different parties, in roughly the same proportion as their strength in Parliament Feedback from multiple stakeholders: When bills are referred to these committees, they are examined closely and inputs are sought from various external stakeholders, including the public. Less burden of populistic posture: By virtue of being closed-door and away from the public eye, discussions in committee meetings are also more collaborative, with MPs feeling less pressured to posture for media galleries. Put pressure on government: Although committee recommendations are not binding on the government, their reports create a public record of the consultations that took place and put pressure on the government to reconsider its stand on debatable provisions. Issues Referring bills to committees is not mandatory: In the Indian system, unfortunately, it is not mandatory for bills to be sent to committees. It’s left to the discretion of the Chair — the Speaker in the Lok Sabha and Chairperson in the Rajya Sabha Worrying Trend of sidelining Parliamentary Committees: Sidelining committees is increasingly becoming the norm in India. Only 25% bills were referred to committees in the 16th Lok Sabha (2014-2019) as compared to 60% in the 14th (2004-2009) and 71% in the 15th Lok Sabha (2009-14). Risk of weakening Parliament: In the constitutional scheme of things, Parliament is supposed to maintain oversight on the government and keep its power in check. By circumventing due diligence in Parliament, we run the risk of weakening democracy. Direct discussion not a substitute for committee deliberation: The 16th Lok Sabha (2014-19) worked for over 1,615 hours, 20% more than the previous Lok Sabha, and passed 133 bills, 15% more than the 15th Lok Sabha. Thus, MPs are spending more time on direct deliberations on the floor of the House. However, these cannot be a substitute for committee deliberations as floor discussion lacks thorough analysis and also most MPs are not subject-matter experts.  Brute Majority: By giving discretionary power to the Chair to decide whether the bill has to be sent to committee or not, the system has been especially rendered weak in a Lok Sabha where the ruling party has a brute majority. Way Forward Sweden Model: In countries such as Sweden and Finland, all bills are sent to committees. In Australia, a selection of bills committee, which includes members from the Opposition, is tasked with identifying the bills that should go to committees. Need to uphold quality Governance & Parliament relevance: Scrutiny by Parliamentary Committees is necessary to uphold the quality of legislation, and by extension, the quality of governance in the country. A strong committee system is probably the only way to ensure Parliament’s relevance in the law-making process.  (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 Heart of Asia - Istanbul process is an initiative of which of the following countries? Afghanistan and Tajikistan  Afghanistan and India  Turkey and India  Afghanistan and Turkey Q.2 Resolution 46/L1, recently seen in news, is associated with which of the following? Human Rights abuse in Sri Lanka  Myanmar coup  Saudi Arabia's resolution against Houthis  United Nations’ resolution to fight covid-19 Q.3 Chhatrasal convention centre was recently inaugurated in which of the following state of India?  Madhya Pradesh  Uttar Pradesh  Rajasthan  Chhattisgarh ANSWERS FOR 29th March 2021 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 B 2 C Must Read On Mumbai’s COVID-19 surge: The Hindu On water crisis and sustainable agriculture: Indian Express

Mar 30, 2021 IASbaba Prelims 60 Day Plan

IASbaba’s 60 Day Plan - IAS Prelims Test Series 2021 - GEOGRAPHY, CURRENT AFFAIRS & CSAT [Day 8]

For Previous (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE Hello Friends,  [embed]https://[/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.   GEOGRAPHY [DAY 8] - 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. 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. PLAN 2021 All the Best! IASbaba

Mar 30, 2021 TLP Mains Answer Writing

IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1 – ENGLISH & हिंदी): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – General Studies Paper 3 Questions [29th March,2021] – Day 67

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE Hello Friends, Welcome to IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1- ENGLISH & हिंदी): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – General Studies 3 Questions [29th March 2020] – Day 67 We will make sure, in the next 100 days not a single day is wasted and your mains preparation is solidified. All your energies are channelized in the right direction. Trust us! This will make a huge difference in your results this time, provided that you follow this plan sincerely every day without fail. Gear up and Make the Best Use of this initiative. We are giving 5 Mains Questions on a daily basis so that every student can actively participate and keep your preparation focused. Do remember that, “the difference between Ordinary and EXTRA-Ordinary is PRACTICE!!” To Know More about the Initiative -> CLICK HERE SCHEDULE/DETAILED PLAN – > CLICK HERE Note: Click on Each Question (Link), it will open in a new tab and then Answer respective questions! 1. What are rare earth metals? What are their applications? What are the issues with its extractions? Discuss दुर्लभ पृथ्वी धातुएँ क्या हैं? उनके उपयोग क्या हैं? इसके खनन के साथ क्या मुद्दे हैं? चर्चा करें 2. With the help of suitable examples, discuss the applications of robotics in agriculture. उपयुक्त उदाहरणों की सहायता से, कृषि में रोबोटिक्स के अनुप्रयोगों पर चर्चा करें। 3. What are the potential applications of artificial intelligence in the field of medicine? Discuss. चिकित्सा के क्षेत्र में कृत्रिम बुद्धिमत्ता के संभावित अनुप्रयोग क्या हैं? चर्चा करें। 4. How do cryptocurrencies work? What are the issues with their regulation? Comment. क्रिप्टोकरेंसी कैसे काम करती है? उनके विनियमन के साथ क्या मुद्दे हैं? टिप्पणी करें। 5. What are sounding rockets? How do they function? Discuss their applications. ध्वन्यात्मक रॉकेट क्या हैं? वे कैसे कार्य करते हैं? उनके अनुप्रयोगों पर चर्चा करें। P.S: The review from IASbaba will happen from the time the question is posted till 10 pm everyday. We would also encourage peer reviews. So friends get actively involved and start reviewing each others answers. This will keep the entire community motivated. All the Best :)

Mar 29, 2021 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 29th March 2021

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) NASA and ISRO collaborate on satellite NISAR Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II - International Relations & GS-III - Space In news NASA and ISRO are collaborating on developing a satellite called NISAR.  It will detect movements of Earth's surface as small as 0.4 inches over areas about half the size of a tennis court. Key takeaways  It is an SUV-sized satellite.  The name NISAR is short for NASA-ISRO-SAR.  SAR here refers to the synthetic aperture radar that NASA will use to measure changes in the surface of the Earth. Also, SAR refers to a technique for producing high-resolution images. Because of the precision, the radar can penetrate clouds and darkness, which means that it can collect data day and night in any weather. NASA will provide one of the radars for the satellite, a high-rate communication subsystem for science data, GPS receivers and a payload data subsystem. Do you know? ISRO will provide the spacecraft bus, the second type of radar (called the S-band radar), the launch vehicle and associated launch services. The satellite will be launched in 2022 from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, India, into a near-polar orbit. It will scan the globe every 12 days over the course of its three-year mission of imaging the Earth’s land, ice sheets and sea ice to give an “unprecedented” view of the planet. India-Bangladesh Relations Part of: GS Prelims and GS – II – International Relations  In news India and Bangladesh signed 5 MoUs in the fields of Disaster Management, trade, NCC, ICT and setting up of sports facilities recently.  Key takeaways  Foundation stone was laid for infrastructure development for power evacuation facilities from the Rooppur Nuclear power plant. The Bangladesh leg of the Banagabandhu-Bapu Digital Exhibition was inaugurated by the two Prime Ministers.  It will be taken to other parts of the world including the UN. Both the leaders also unveiled the foundation stone for the construction of a memorial at Ashuganj honoring the martyrs of Indian armed forces in the 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh. India gifted 109 life support ambulances to Bangladesh and also 1.2 million doses of the Covishield vaccine. Three border haats were also opened along the India-Bangladesh border. Other announcements made: A direct passenger train named ‘Mitali Express’ will run between Dhaka and New Jalpaiguri. Indian Prime Minister invited 50 young entrepreneurs from Bangladesh to connect with India’s start up ecosystem 1000 Subarno Jayanti Scholarships were announced for the Bangladeshi students to study in India at the Undergraduate and postgraduate levels. A Bangabandhu Chair will be established at Delhi University to facilitate Bangladesh studies. Both countries agreed to start a new area of cooperation in the Civil nuclear and space sectors. Following places were visited by Indian Prime Minister on his Bangladesh visit: Birthplace of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Tungipara.  Jeshoreshwari temple in Satkhira.  Harimandir in Orakandi and addressed the representatives of the Matua community. China and Iran Sign 25-Year ‘Strategic Pact’ Part of: GS Prelims and GS – II – International Relations  In news China and Iran signed a 25-year “strategic cooperation pact” recently.  Key takeaways  It includes “political, strategic and economic” components. This document can be very effective in deepening relations It would establish a blueprint for “reciprocal investments in the fields of transport, ports, energy, industry and services”. The agreement comes amid a major push from China to back Iran as it deals with the continuing weight of sanctions China is its largest trading partner.  Do you know?  China and Russia called for the U.S. to “unconditionally return to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) as soon as possible and revoke the unilateral sanctions against Iran. In this context, they proposed “the establishment of a regional security dialogue platform to converge a new consensus on resolving the security concerns of countries in the region”. Hypnea Indica; Hypnea Bullata: Two new species of seaweed Part of: GS Prelims and GS – III –  Biodiversity  In news Two new species of seaweed have been discovered by a group of marine biologists from Central University of Punjab, Bathinda. Key takeaways  Named Hypnea indica (after India) and Hypnea bullata (because of the blisterlike marks on its body – bullate), the seaweeds are part of the genus Hypnea or red seaweeds. Hypnea indica was discovered in Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, and Somnath Pathan and Sivrajpur in Gujarat.  Hypnea bullata was discovered from Kanyakumari and Diu island of Daman and Diu. They grow in the intertidal regions of the coast, namely the area that is submerged during the high tide and exposed during low tides. The genus Hypnea consists of calcareous, erect, branched red seaweeds.  (Mains Focus) INTERNATIONAL/ SECURITY Topic: GS-2: Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions (Judicial Overreach Vs Judicial activism) GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation Permanent Commission for Women The story so far:  Secretary, Ministry of Defence vs. Babita Puniya Case: The Supreme Court in February 2020 directed the government to ensure that women officers in the Army be granted permanent commission (PC) as well as command postings in all services other than combat. Appeal by Women questing implementation: Later, questioning the compliance of the Army with the directions in the judgment, around 80 women short service commission officers approached the Supreme Court challenging the arbitrary process, including unjust medical standards, applied to deny permanent commission to women officers Lt. Col. Nitisha vs. Union of India Case: On 25th March  2021, the Supreme Court held that the Army’s selective evaluation process discriminated against and disproportionately affected women officers seeking permanent commission. Brief Background of issue of Permanent Commission- Click here What did the Supreme Court observe? SC observed that the pattern of evaluation inherently caused economic and psychological harm to women short service commission officers.  The judgment said the evaluation criteria set by the Army constituted “systemic discrimination” against the petitioners. SC found several deviations in the standards adopted by the Army for evaluating women officers.  The court observed that the reliance placed on the women officers’ ACR [annual confidential reports] evaluation for determining the grant of permanent commission was unfair. What is the procedure for granting permanent commission? In 1992, the Union Government issued a notification making women eligible for appointment as officers in select non-combat branches.  In 2008, the government extended the permanent commission to women in two branches — Judge Advocate General (JAG) and Army Educational Corps (AEC). In a long legal battle for equality, 322 women officers had approached the top court for granting permanent commission, and the Supreme Court delivered its landmark verdict in February 2020.  In July 2020, the Defence Ministry issued the government sanction letter, specifying grant of permanent commission to women officers in all streams in which they are presently serving  How did the Army respond to the sanction letter? Following the sanction letter, the Army constituted a special selection board for screening women officers for grant of permanent commission who joined the service through the Women Special Entry Scheme (WSES) and Short Service Commission Women (SSCW).  Of the 365 optee officers who were considered fit for permanent commission by the Selection Board, 277 women short service commission officers (WSSCOs) were granted permanent commission after medical scrutiny.  However, some petitioners said the process followed was arbitrary and challenged it in the top court. What are the fresh directives? Benchmarking against male batch is irrational: The Supreme Court noted that the Army process of benchmarking women officers against the officers lowest in merit in the corresponding male batch is “irrational and arbitrary”, and said this requirement should be removed.  Criteria for grant of Permanent Commission: All women officers who have fulfilled the cut-off grade of 60% in the Special Selection Board held in September 2020 shall be entitled to the grant of permanent commission, the judgment said, subject to their meeting the prescribed medical criteria and receiving disciplinary and vigilance clearance. Equality upheld: SC stated that in the spirit of true equality with their male counterparts in the corresponding batches, the WSSCOs must be considered medically fit for grant of PC by reliance on their medical fitness, as recorded in the 5th or 10th year of their service. Case of petitioners to be reconsidered: Other than “non-optees”, the cases of all WSSCOs, including the petitioners who have been rejected on medical grounds, shall be reconsidered within a month and orders for the grant of permanent commission must be issued within two months Also, for the Babita Puniya case, the court held that for officers within the service bracket of 10 to 14 years who have been denied permanent commission, it has allowed them to continue in service till they attain 20 years of pensionable service. GOVERNANCE/ SECURITY Topic: GS-2: Working of Executive & Federal Challenges Bihar Special Armed Police Bill, 2021 Context: The Bihar legislature witnessed noisy disorder inside and outside the Assembly on March 23-24 as Opposition parties opposed the government’s attempt to pass the Bihar Special Armed Police Bill, 2021. Protesting Opposition lawmakers were forcibly ousted by marshals and additional police forces called in by the Speaker’s office, with many injured in the scuffle that followed. However, the contentious Bill, was passed in both the Houses. What is the new Bihar Special Armed Police Bill, 2021?  Special Armed Force: The contentious bill proposes to set up a special armed force to maintain public order and combat any threat to security or extremism. It apparently seeks to arm the Bihar Military Police, rename them, and empower it on the lines of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). Power to arrest people on mere suspicion: Section 7 of the Bill gives the force the power to arrest people on the basis of mere suspicion of disrupting state government functions, or attempting to conceal their presence with the aim to commit a crime or cognizable offence. No requirement of warrant: The forces wouldn’t need a warrant from a magistrate to carry out an arrest or to search their premises, and the provisions to search under Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 will be applied. Check on arrest power: The only check in place for this is that it would allow any Special Armed Police Officer, not below the notified rank to carry out an arrest. The officer must take the suspect to a nearby police station to get a report lodged detailing the arrest. Role of Courts & Government Sanction: The Special Armed Forces personnel cannot be taken to court for any proceeding against them unless authorised by the government. What is the Government Saying? The Bill says it will be for maintenance of public order, combating extremism, ensuring the better protection and security of specified establishments. The Bihar government cited that the Bihar Military Police, with its distinct organisational structure, has been handling industrial security, such as that in airports and Metros, and needs a separate identity as Special Armed Forces to fulfil the changing needs of the state’s security. Chief Minister has stated that the specially trained force will strengthen internal security. Why is the Opposition protesting?  The Opposition has termed the Bill “draconian and unconstitutional” and an attempt by the government to enforce “Police Raj” in the State.  The joint Opposition statement said the Bill will “effectively transform the police force into an armed militia to throttle the voice of the people, academics, activists, journalists, political opposition and those who would dare to speak the truth”. There is also criticism of the bill on the grounds of separation of power. Section 15 of the Bill says even if a person is shot, the inquiry will be done not in the court or by the magistrate but by the police.  Through this Act, it has been alleged by opponents that the BMP will function as National Investigating Agency (NIA) (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 NISAR, which was recently in news: It will be jointly developed by ISRO and Japanese space agency, JAXA It will detect movements of Earth's surface as small as 0.4 inches over areas about half the size of a tennis court. Which of the above is or are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2  Q.2 Consider the following statements: Newly discovered Hypnea Indica and Hypnea Bullata grow in the intertidal regions of the coast.  The genus Hypnea consists of calcareous, erect, branched red seaweeds.  Which of the above is or are correct? 1 only  2 only  Both 1 and 2  Neither 1 nor 2  ANSWERS FOR 27th March 2021 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 B 2 B 3 A Must Read On Islamophobia: The Hindu On crisis facing borrowers during the pandemic: The Hindu On jobless growth: Indian Express

Mar 29, 2021 RSTV Video

Role of Indian Diaspora in Making India Self-Reliant – The Big Picture – RSTV IAS UPSC

Archives   TOPIC: General Studies 2 Indian Diaspora In News: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 16th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas convention.  Addressing the event, he told Indians across the world that they are connected in minds because of 'Maa Bharti' and lauded the efforts of the overseas Indians in fighting the challenges last year.  He assured the Indian diaspora that the country always stands with them, while mentioning that over 45 lakh people were repatriated under the Vande Bharat mission during the pandemic.  The Prime Minister said the lessons learnt by India during the pandemic have become an inspiration for the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, and this movement for self-reliance is meant to help others as “Made in India” products and solutions will benefit the world.  In this regard, he spoke about the two “Made in India” coronavirus vaccines. He said India will continue to play its role as the world’s pharmacy and protect humanity from Covid-19, adding that the world is not only waiting for India’s vaccine, but everyone is watching how India runs the world’s largest vaccination programme.  Role of Indian Diaspora There are close to 32.1 million NRIs and PIOs residing outside India. They are huge reservoirs of talent and potentiality that India needs to draw upon. The Indian diasporic community are “unnamed ambassadors” promoting and maintaining the rich Indian culture and interests on foreign lands. Indian diaspora as a biggest strategic asset for India: Global labour source: With one of the largest pools of relatively low wage semi-skilled and skilled labour, India can become a critical centre of global labour sources. The past few decades has seen an upsurge of migration from India to the Gulf and, to North America. Given these emerging realities, India take advantage of these future trends to not only maximise the welfare of Indians outside the country, but also those within the country Can international migration and the Diaspora be a strategic asset for the country instead of just depleting its best and brightest. Influential Positions: From Google CEO Sundar Pichai to Nobel laurete scientist Har Gobind Khorana and Microsoft CEO Sathya Nadella to world’s one among the leading music conductors Zubin Mehta, the list of NRIs and their contribution to the world goes endlessly. The President of Singapore, Governor-General of New Zealand and prime ministers of Mauritius and Trinidad and Tobago were all of Indian descent. As a Pressure groups: The influential Indian diaspora affects not just the popular attitude, but also government policies in countries where they live, to the benefit of India. India benefits tremendously through these people in luring large multinational companies as well as entrepreneurial ventures. Example: lobbying for the US-India Civilian Nuclear Agreement Bill in 2008 Agents of change: Diaspora acts as ‘agents of change’ facilitating and enhancing investment, accelerating industrial development, and boosting international trade and tourism. Another tangible long-term advantage in nurturing ties with an active Diaspora is an accelerated technological sector. Soft Power:  The spread of Yoga, Ayurveda, Indian spiritualism, Bollywood, Indian cuisine across the world has made India famous. It has even led to revival of many lost relationships with many countries. Humanitarian Assistance: There are many instances where diaspora has stood up for their Indian kins in times of disaster. Example: during the recent Kerala floods, immense help in the form of men, material and money from diaspora was given. Indian diaspora residing in China’s Shanghai has contributed Rs. 32.13 lakh to the Chief Minister’s distress relief fund for Kerala floods. Political power: Many people of Indian origin hold top political positions in many countries, in the US itself they are now a significant part of Republicans and Democrats, as well as the government. The three ministers Rishi Sunak, Alok Sharma, and Priti Patel have held top roles in the UK government currently. Measures taken by the Government to help the distressed diaspora during COVID-19 Vande Bharat Mission was the biggest evacuation exercise to bring back Indian citizens stranded abroad amidst the coronavirus-induced travel restrictions. It was also considered as the largest exercise to bring back Indian citizens since the evacuation of 177,000 from the Gulf region in the early 1990s at the start of hostilities between Iraq and Kuwait during the first Gulf War. The mission has given priority to Indian citizens with “compelling reasons to return” – like those whose employment have been terminated, those whose visas have expired and not expected to be renewed under the present circumstances and those who have lost family members in recent times. The program named Samudra Setu by Indian navy entails to bring back around two thousand Indians in two ships during the first phase of evacuation. INS Jalashwa and INS Magar are being operated as part of efforts to repatriate Indian nationals from foreign shores. Way forward –  Deepening links within existing Diaspora: India needs to court two important, but untapped, segments of the existing Dia-spora: the young, second generation of overseas Indians; and those approaching retirement. Diversify: Currently, Indias migration is concentrated in English-speaking countries for obvious reasons. The EU, Japan, Latin America and Russia should also be targeted over the next few decades. Also, there is greater scope for jobs at all skill levels in global transportation, health and home care. This requires major investments in specific educational services. Increase investment engagement: Diaspora should be treated at par with other Indian citizens, including the right to work, both in the private and public sectors, and the right to buy and sell property to attract talented persons into the public sector. The Indian diaspora is the bridge between their nation and India where they can grow simultaneously for betterment of their citizens. With the versatile role of Diaspora, India could fulfil its cherished dream of being a super power and it could make much head way in its international and foreign affairs. The diaspora can provide the requisite strategic impulse, which makes it all the more important to unlock their potential. Connecting the Dots: To view the diaspora only through the looking glass of remittances and financial flows is to take a myopic view. Not all expatriates need to be investors and their development impact measured only in terms of financial contributions to the home country is to miss the larger picture. Comment. Indian Diaspora is India’s asset in disguise. Elaborate with suitable examples.

Mar 29, 2021 IASbaba Prelims 60 Day Plan

IASbaba’s 60 Day Plan - IAS Prelims Test Series 2021 - GEOGRAPHY, CURRENT AFFAIRS & CSAT [Day 7]

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 7 PM Daily.  Let us pledge to make it a big game-changer (better than last year) in the next 60 days! Note- Download the OMR Sheet and attempt the questions exactly like UPSC Prelims. After you are done, please post your OMR in the comment section. Once the solution key is released (around 5 PM), cross-check the answers and, comment the marks (you scored) in the same comment thread. This will keep you accountable, responsible and sincere in days to come.  You can also take part in the discussion with peers.   GEOGRAPHY [DAY 7] - 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. 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. PLAN 2021 All the Best! IASbaba

Mar 28, 2021 Important Articles

[VIDEO] UPSC INTERVIEW WORKSHOP (Part of IMP 2020-21) and DAF Analysis by Sunil Sir (Retd. IAS) and Mohan Sir (Founder IASbaba)

Interview Workshop  is a part of IASbaba's Interview Mentorship Program (IMP) 2020-21. The Session was taken by Sunil Oberoi Sir (Retd. IAS) and Mohan Sir (Founder IASbaba).  Sunil Oberoi Sir has worked on Civil Services Reforms in India with UNDP and DoPT. He was a government nominee in interview boards and an examiner in various government exams. He was also associated with induction training of new entrants of Civil Services and In-Service training of Senior Civil Servants. Key-Takeaways of the WORKSHOP: What it takes to score above 200+ in the UPSC CSE Interview DAF Analysis Do's and Dont's in an interview How to answer and what to answer on controversial issues? What should be the Right Attitude? Framework on how to analyze the mind of interviewers How do they frame questions based on your DAF? How many Mocks to give? What assumptions do they make about you? [VIDEO] Interview Workshop and DAF Analysis [embed]https://https://www.youtube.com/embed/TJ_ZvvxWNRQ[/embed] To Book your Slots for MOCK INTERVIEW contact: Call us on 8549000077 (Bangalore)/ 8506910969 (Delhi) or mail us on support@iasbaba.com   To REGISTER & Know more about IASbaba’s INTERVIEW MENTORSHIP PROGRAMME (IMP) -> CLICK HERE UPSC/IAS Interview Tips by the Topper’s is a part of IASbaba’s INTERVIEW MENTORSHIP PROGRAMME (IMP) -> CLICK HERE   If you don’t want to miss out on Important Updates @ IASbaba, Follow us on- 👉 TELEGRAM Channel - https://t.me/IASbabaOfficialAccount 👉 YOUTUBE - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChvbVdio9Wgj7Z3nQz1Q0ZQ 👉 FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/iasbaba/

Mar 28, 2021 Motivational Articles

Creative Guidance – Importance of Letting Go – Inspirational Educative Articles

Importance of Letting Go: A lot of times our single biggest problem is not knowing how to or when to let go of something. If only we can develop the ability to let go of things, we can solve innumerable problems of life very easily. Here is a beautiful story that illustrates this point. The little boy meandered into the room where his mother was sitting at her desk writing. She glanced down at him and saw that he was carrying a precious vase that her grandmother had given her. Almost absentmindedly she said to him, “Robert, go put the vase down before you drop it and break it.” “I can’t,” he replied, “I can’t get my hand out.” “Of course you can,” she said, “you got it down there.” He said, “I know mom, but it won’t come out.” The neck of the vase was very narrow and his hand had fit neatly inside and it was now up to his wrist. He continued to insist that he could not get it out. Growing a little concerned, his mother called out to his dad. Dad calmly took control and began gently pulling the arm trying to extract the hand from the vase. He tried loosening it up with soapy water. Still nothing. He then got some vegetable oil from the kitchen and poured it around the wrist and let it seep into the vase. He wiggled it some. It still did not budge. “I give up,” the dad said in desperation. “I’d give a dollar right now to know how to get it out.” “Really?” little Robert exclaimed. Then they heard a clinking sound and his hand slid right out of the vase. They turned the vase upside down and a penny plopped out. “What’s this?” they said in unison. “Oh, that’s the penny I put inside. I wanted to get it out so I was clutching it in my hand. But when I heard Dad say he would give a dollar to have the vase free, I let go.” “This article is a part of the creative endeavor of Meditation Farm and IASBABA.”

Mar 27, 2021 TLP Mains Answer Writing

SYNOPSIS [25th March,2021] Day 64: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE   SYNOPSIS [25th March,2021] Day 64: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 1): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)   1. Why is child labour so prevalent in India? Discuss. What are the institutional measures in place to prevent the exploitation of children? Approach Candidates are expected to write about the child labour and why it’s so much prevalent in India. Then highlight the institutional measures to prevent the exploitation of children. Introduction According to data from Census 2011, the number of child labourers in India is 10.1 million of which 5.6 million are boys and 4.5 million are girls. Across India child labourers can be found in a variety of industries: in brick kilns, carpet weaving, garment making, domestic service, food and refreshment services (such as tea stalls), agriculture, fisheries and mining.  Body Child labour – The term “child labour” is defined by ILO as work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development. It refers to work that mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous and harmful to children and/or interferes with their schooling by depriving them of the opportunity to attend school, obliging them to leave school prematurely or requiring them to attempt to combine school attendance with excessively long and heavy work. Child labour prevalent in the India due to – Poverty is one of the main causes of child labour. Due to poverty, illiterate and unemployment parents are unable to send them to schools, instead the children were asked to help them in running a family so that the poor parents send their children for work in inhuman conditions at lower wages. The indebtedness to money lenders during emergency situation find themselves difficult in paying back the debts and interest, as a result the debtors were made to work for money lenders and then debtors drag their children too in assisting them so that the debts could be paid off. There are some industries such as the bangle making industry, where delicate hands and little fingers are needed to do very minute work with extreme excellence and precision. An adults hands are usually not so delicate and small, so they require children to work for them and do such a dangerous work with glass. For example Kashmir, the carpet weaving industry employs small girls in back-breaking work for fine hand embroidery children are required to maintain the same posture for long hours and strain their eyes often leads to permanent physical deformities and eye damage. In and around Surat (Gujarat), boys in their early teens are engaged in large numbers in diamond-cutting operations which causes irreparable damage to the eyes.  In the tea gardens of Assam where employment of children below 12 years is prohibited, girls who bring food to their working mothers are encouraged to stay back and help with the work. Children, mostly boys, have an important role to play in mining operations. While men do the digging inside the pits, boys carry coal to the surface.  An expectation that children should contribute to the socio-economic survival of the family and community, as well as the existence of large families, contribute to the prevalence of child labour. Children mostly take up family’s traditional work from an early age. For instance, a Goldsmith’s son takes to gold-smithery, or a carpenter’s child takes up carpentry from an early age.  There is a strong correlation between India’s differentiated social structure and child labour. The majority of child labourers in India belong to the so called lower castes, nomadic, tribal and Muslim religious minority. Due to large unorganised sector in India Child labour can be easily spotted and hired as cheap labour and fast workers in tea shops, dhabas, small shops, and as personal servants and errand boy. After the unorganised agriculture sector, it is the unorganised, informal sector which is the biggest child labour employer. Institutional Measures in place to prevent exploitation of the children – No child below the age of 14 years shall be employed to work in any factory or in any hazardous employment Article 24. The two Core Conventions directly related to child labour are that of ILO Convention 138 (Minimum age convention) and 182 (Worst forms of Child Labour Convention). India has ratified both the Core Conventions of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions. Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act, 1986 to prohibit the engagement of children in some employment and to regulate the conditions of work of children in certain other employment. The government has launched a dedicated pencil platform viz. pencil.gov.in to ensure effective enforcement of child labour laws and end child labour. Many NGOs like Bachpan Bachao Andolan, ChildFund, CARE India, Talaash Association, Child Rights and You, Global march against child labour, RIDE India, Child line, Kailash Satyarthi Children Foundation etc. have been working to eradicate child labour in India. Conclusion There are many laws and regulatory departments for child labour, yet it is ineffective in controlling ongoing child labour. This is possible only when there is a cooperation of all the sections of the society and the law enforcement agencies and by removing or minimizing the causes of child labour. The main thrust should be on controlling the population of the country, education of the children and providing sufficient funds for rehabilitation. 2. Homelessness is a critical challenge in urban India Comment. What are the vulnerabilities faced by homeless people? Is there any mechanism for the welfare of the homeless? Examine. Approach  Candidate is expected to define homelessness, severity of problem in urban setting and problems faced by homeless people. With the help of some examples and government schemes a way forward can be suggested for making urban spaces more accommodative and inclusive.  Introduction India has a population of 1.3 billion and is the second most populated country in the world. While it has a booming economy and democratic government, it has nonetheless struggled with containing its population growth and maintaining an equal distribution of wealth. India’s GDP is worth $2.8 trillion, but so many remain side-lined by their country’s overpopulation and are struggling to find a roof over their heads. Body India is the second most unequal country in the world, with 55 percent of income going to the top 10 percent of its population. Since India’s population increased exponentially, many cities ran out of space to contain the growing population. According to the Homeless World Cup, there were about 1.8 million homeless individuals living in India as of 2019. Homelessness and urban India – Homelessness is a major issue in urban India. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights defines 'homeless' as those who do not live in a regular residence due to lack of adequate housing, safety, and availability. India defines 'homeless' as those who do not live in Census houses, but rather stay on pavements, roadsides, railway platforms, staircases, temples, streets, in pipes, or other open spaces. There are 1.77 million homeless people in India, or 0.15% of the country's total population, according to the 2011 census consisting of single men, women, mothers, the elderly, and the disabled. Homelessness is in part a direct result of families migrating from rural to urban cities and urbanization. Migration to urban areas can occur for a variety of reasons ranging from loss of land, need for sustainable employment, lack of clean water and other resources. Once reaching cities, homeless attempt to create shelters out of tin, cardboard, wood, and plastic. Slums can provide an escape, yet individuals often cannot afford them. Homeless individuals may experience abuse, maltreatment and lack of access to schools and healthcare. Policymakers attribute the following factors as the main causes of homelessness: drug abuse, mental illness, relationship failures, and domestic abuse. These place responsibility and blame directly on the homeless. Policies related to ‘deinstitutionalization of care for mentally ill people and subsequent abandonment of a family member with mental illness by the family’ have also increased the number of people living without a roof over their heads. Challenges faced by homeless people – One challenge the homeless face is the inaccessibility to shelters. Although shelters are available for the homeless in certain cities, many homeless people choose to not utilize them and live on the streets instead due to various different reasons. One reason is that homeless individuals who are affected by mobility issues cannot access them and are unsure about how shelters function. Another is that sometimes shelters are located in unreachable areas and have “camouflaged architecture and poor layouts of the interiors”. Shelters often lack funding and resources to make them more attractive for the homeless population. Shelters also demand a small fee per night, immediately rendering them inaccessible for many homeless. Another challenge faced by the homeless is exposure to extreme weather in summer and winter. A study found that between January 2005 and December 2009, seven homeless individuals passed away every day in Delhi. Their deaths were not recorded by the police and they also did not receive a funeral. Homeless people also suffer from bad health and extremely limited access to medical facilities. Some of the reasons include: lack of proper identity documents required by medical facilities, cost, and inclination of health care providers to outright reject them. What can be done? The Government of India has formed new policies for affordable housing and shelters in urban areas in the past few decades. However, shelters provide a temporary solution as they are not permanent and do not replace the right to housing. To improve infrastructures in slums, the government mandated a new mission known as the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission. Pradhan mantri awas yojana urban can be an effective step to tackle this challenge. Government’s dream project is providing housing for all by 2022. the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), plans to provide homes to 18 million households in urban India. The Government has approved only 1.88 million urban houses and roughly 103,000 have been built till last april. The progress of PMAY’s implementation has been disappointing. Accelerating the implementation can be a way forward. Improving land property records, utilising vacant houses (in India in 2011 50 million houses were vacant), providing no eviction guarantee to individuals who don’t have legal titles and providing them security tenure. Including housing for all in priority list of urban planning, for example MHADA was instrumental in providing shelter to many homeless at affordable prices as the implementation is done by local bodies. Conclusion India aims to become a fastest growing economy in next decade, for that we need urban centres as engines of growth, more than 45% of India’s population will be living in urban areas in 2030, for that we have to create a flexible mechanism and create infrastructure at lightning speed for homeless. Shelter is a basic human right, denying the same is denying human dignity. India can utilise its human resources only if we provide them with basic shelter. 3. What are the typical life cycle vulnerabilities of a girl child in India? Discuss the schemes and programs meant for addressing those vulnerabilities.  Approach  Since the question is asking you to discuss, it 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. Introduction Like most cultures across the world, Indian society has deeply entrenched patriarchal norms and values. Patriarchy manifests itself in both the public and private spheres of women’s lives in the country, determining their ‘life chances’ and resulting in their qualitatively inferior status in the various socio-economic spheres. It permeates institutions and organisations and works in many insidious ways to undermine women’s right to dignified lives. There are similarities in women’s lived experiences due to such gendered existences. Body  The typical life cycle vulnerabilities of a girl child in India – The discrimination against the girl child is systematic and pervasive enough to manifest in many demographic measures for the country. For the country as a whole as well as its rural areas, the infant mortality rate is higher for females in comparison to that for males. Usually, though not exclusively, it is in the northern and western states that the female infant mortality rates are higher, a difference of ten points between the two sex specific rates not being uncommon.  The infant mortality rate is slightly in favour of females in the urban areas of the country (as a whole) but then, urban India is marked by greater access to abortion services and unwanted girl children often get eliminated before birth. It has been commented in the context of women’s health that sustainable well-being can be brought about if strategic interventions are made at critical stages. The life cycle approach thus advocates strategic interventions in periods of early childhood, adolescence and pregnancy, with programmes ranging from nutrition supplements to life skills education. Such interventions attempt to break the vicious intergenerational cycle of ill health.  The vulnerability of females in India in the crucial periods of childhood, adolescence and childbearing is underscored by the country’s sex wise age specific mortality rates. From childhood till the mid-twenties, higher proportions of women than men die in the country. In rural India, higher proportions of women die under thirty.  Health is socially determined to a considerable extent. Access to healthcare, is almost fully so. This being so, the ‘lived experiences’ of women in India are replete with potential risk factors that have implications for their lives and well-being. The multiple roles of household work, child rearing and paid work that women carry out has implications for their physical and mental health. In recent years, studies on domestic violence in the country have systematically debunked the myth of the home as a safe haven. Violence against women in India cuts across caste, class and other divides. In general, women in India are restricted in matters of decision making, freedom of mobility and access to money, though wide variations exist depending on the socio- demographic context. The schemes and programs meant for addressing those vulnerabilities: The following policy recommendations are offered to address the situation – Adopt comprehensive and gender sensitive primary healthcare to address women’s diverse health needs and to overcome the many limitations that they experience in accessing healthcare. Strengthen public healthcare. For the poor and the marginalised, the public sector is the only sector that can potentially provide qualified and affordable care. In the rural interiors of the country, it is usually the only sector having qualified personnel. Regulate the private sector. For a sector that is the dominant provider of curative services in the country, it is indeed surprising that it operates with so little accountability. The private sector should be subject to controls with regards to the charges levied, minimum acceptable standards for practice, geographical dispersal of services, etc that would make access to the sector more equitable for groups across this vast country. Equitable distribution of services is a non-negotiable and will greatly facilitate access. Make the health systems gender sensitive. Health systems should be sensitised to the multiple and interrelated health needs of women and the gendered nature of their existences. A gender sensitive health system will not only encourage women to seek care but will also respond to their needs appropriately. Institute community health insurance schemes that would be bulwarks against catastrophic health events. It is imperative that such schemes be need based and cover vulnerable groups in the country and not be a privilege of a few. In a society where resources can be so inequitably distributed within and outside the family, it needs to be emphasised that community health insurance schemes should protect the interests of women. Strengthen civil society initiatives that advance women’s ‘practical’ and ‘strategic’ interests, for the two are intricately intertwined in women’s lives. Conclusion It is indeed unfortunate that a welfare state, founded on the principles of equality, social justice and democracy should display such inequities in health and access to health care. It is the ‘usual suspects’- rural India, the poor, the lower castes (especially the Scheduled Castes), the Scheduled Tribes, the less developed states and regions of India that show poor health status and restricted access to healthcare. In fact, with the considerable weakening of the public healthcare system and the gradual entrenchment of the market economy, differentials among socio-economic groups are widening. Any programme that aims to address women’s health needs should therefore be sensitive to such complexities in women’s lives being staged on a social terrain of remarkable inequities. 4. India’s demographic profile and state of joblessness imparts severe vulnerabilities to the young population. Do you agree? Substantiate. Approach Question is straight forward in its approach students are expected to write about the  Demographic profile and state of joblessness imparting vulnerabilities to young population in India also it is important to substantiate points with facts and statistics as well. Introduction India has 62.5% of its population in the age group of 15-59 years which is ever increasing and will be at the peak around 2036 when it will reach approximately 65%.These population parameters indicate an availability of demographic dividend in India, which started in 2005-06 and will last till 2055-56. According to Economic Survey 2018-19, India’s Demographic Dividend will peak around 2041, when the share of working-age,i.e. 20-59 years, population is expected to hit 59%. Also India’s unemployment rate in October rose to 8.5%, the highest level since August 2016. Urban unemployment rate at 8.9%, is more than the rural unemployment rate of 8.3%. CMIE findings are in line with the findings of the latest Periodic Labour Force Survey, which had estimated an unemployment rate of 6.1% between July 2017 and June 2018, the worst in 45 years. Body Demographic profile and state of joblessness imparting vulnerabilities to young population – India has just 2% of the world’s landmass and 16% of the global population. Between the Census of 2001 and 2011, the country added 18% more people to its population — translating to around 181 million. It is the second most populous country in the world with an estimated population of around 1.37 billion by 2019.According to the Population Division of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, India’s population is expected to add nearly 273 million people in the next three decades and surpass China’s population within the next 7 years. Poverty and illiteracy also contribute immensely in the population explosion. In particular, children in rural areas are considered as assets, who will take care of parents at old age, while in poorer families, more children mean more earnings hands. On the other hand, the level of female education has a direct impact on fertility, as it is evidenced that the fertility rate of illiterate women tends to be higher than those who are literate. Lack of education prevents women from having full knowledge about the use of contraceptives, of the consequences of frequent childbirth as well as of their reproductive rights. On the other hand, educated women understand their rights and choices of contraception, are often vocal against early marriage and choose not to have many children. In India, female (39%) illiteracy was almost twice than their male counterparts in 2011.  India has the highest number of youth population in the world, i.e. around 28% of the total population. Every year around 25 million people enter the workforce, but only 7 million are able to secure jobs, resulting in huge unemployment rates. Around 18% of the youth labour force is unemployed in the country today, and around 33% of the total youth are not in employment, education and training (NEET), which is highest in the world. The unemployment problem is affecting large numbers of young people and a growing number of those have attended school. According to the recently released Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2018, 97% of children in the age group of 6-14 years are now enrolled in school. Many of those who attended school have gone on to obtain college degrees. The length of the waiting period for proper jobs and what the young unemployed and underemployed do during that time is perhaps of some significance. Their mental makeup, their behaviour and their actions in their period of waiting are influenced by a varied set of factors. For example, it matters how their families treat them – which to some extent may depend on their financial status. Some recent surveys show that young people are not very hopeful about their employment prospects. It is not obvious whether their frustration or anger will simply translate into votes against the government, anti-government protests or something else and more. What is clear is that the unemployed and underemployed become available as a ‘resource’ for political parties and other organisations which are looking to mobilise larger numbers of people for one reason or another, whether for anti- or pro-government protests, ethnic mobilisation or something else. In India, where differences based on ethnicity, including caste, language and religion, remain relevant and quite defined, perhaps more than class differences, the resentment and anger of young college-educated people may, rather than turn against the government or the state, instead turn against communities or social groups they perceive as privileged or as benefiting from government policies or even the status quo, including reservations. Conclusion There are number of labour intensive manufacturing sectors in India such as food processing, leather and footwear, wood manufacturers and furniture, textiles and apparel and garments. Special packages, individually designed for each industry are needed to create jobs. There  is a need for National Employment Policy (NEP) that would encompass a set of multidimensional interventions covering a whole range of social and economic issues affecting many policy spheres and not just the areas of labour and employment. The policy would be a critical tool to contribute significantly to achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 5. What are your views on the draft scrapping policy for vehicles? What are its intended benefits? Discuss. Approach A simple and straightforward question where in the candidate needs to give his/her views with regards to the draft scrapping policy for vehicles in the first part of the answer while discussing its intended benefits in the second part. Introduction Recently, the much-awaited draft policy on vehicle scrappage was released, which outlined the criteria for defining end-of-life vehicles and scrapping them. This is an important step forward towards building infrastructure for organised and scientific scrapping of old vehicles. Body A scrappage policy is a government-funded programme to promote the replacement of old vehicles with modern ones and is expected to help in the reduction of pollution by scrapping older vehicles as well as create jobs in the auto sector. It also refers to the provision of financial incentives to the owners of vehicles to get them to scrap outdated models and replace them with newer vehicles. One of the provisions of the vehicle scrappage policy is to mandate fitness tests for commercial vehicles after 15 years. In case of failure to pass the fitness tests, the policy proposes de-registering commercial vehicles, which would then make it illegal to use these vehicles in the country.  The policy also proposes that all vehicles used by the Central government, state governments, municipal corporations, panchayats, state transport undertakings, public sector undertakings, and autonomous bodies with the union and state governments be also de-registered and scrapped after 15 years from their date of registration. But the draft policy also misses an opportunity of designing an effective stimulus programme for green recovery in a post pandemic economy for the sector to achieve air quality benefits.  Further, there is no stated commitment in the policy towards fiscal stimulus for renewal of ageing vehicles with BS-VI norms or linking with the electrification of vehicles. It places the onus of incentivising vehicle scrapping on state governments, which are already fiscally strained. According to a study by International Council on Clean Transportation, in Germany, replacing old cars with newer ones powered with internal combustion engine did not provide much effective emissions gains as replacing them with electric vehicles.  Therefore, limiting the numbers of personal vehicles that can qualify for incentives and linking their voluntary replacement with electric vehicles can contribute towards accelerating the target of 30-40 per cent electrification by 2030. But overall, the draft scrapping policy for vehicles has many intended benefits, some of which are discussed below – The policy is aimed at taking off the roads old, fuel-guzzling vehicles whose roadworthiness may be in doubt and replacing them with new ones in a potential boost to automobile sales and their manufacturers.  The post-Budget observations indicated that the broad outline of the policy expects to stimulate investment of Rs10,000 crore and create 50,000 jobs. The policy will help in encouraging fuel-efficient, environment-friendly vehicles, thereby reducing vehicular pollution and the oil import bill as vehicles would undergo fitness tests in automated centres after 20 years in the case of personal vehicles, and after 15 in the case of commercial vehicles. With India becoming an automobile hub, the industry turnover is expected to more than double in the years to come. The policy, it is being claimed, will boost new technologies with better mileage and promote green vehicles, strong hybrids, electric vehicles, and those running on alternative fuels like CNG/ethanol, etc.  It is estimated that one crore vehicles will be scrapped for harvested material like steel, plastic, rubber and aluminium used in the manufacturing of automobile parts, thereby reducing their cost by 30 to 40 per cent. The other tangible benefits from the policy are scientific disposal and recovery of waste. Recycle and reuse can contribute towards import substitution and improve India’s balance of payments. Way Forward – More effective leveraging of the policy is possible if the Government allows GST cuts for replacement vehicles including electric ones, and considers direct incentives for targeted fleet renewal of most polluting old trucks and buses based on BS6 standards. Conclusion Clearly, this first ever formal scrappage policy in India is urgently needed to help build infrastructure for safe disposal and material recovery to minimise environmental hazards. But India would be adopting scrappage policy during these unprecedented pandemic times, so it is necessary to leverage this targeted fleet renewal with well-designed central support for post-pandemic green deal. TLP HOT Synopsis Day 64 PDF

Mar 27, 2021 Important Articles

[REMINDER] INTERVIEW WORKSHOP - DAF ANALYSIS, OPEN MOCKS @ Bengaluru and Delhi on 28th March 2021 (Sunday) @ 11 AM

Dear Students, IASbaba invites you to their Interview Workshop 2020-21 on 28th March (Bengaluru and Delhi) at 11 AM. The Session will be taken by Sunil Oberoi Sir (Retd. IAS), an IRS officer and Mohan Sir (Founder IASbaba).  Sunil Oberoi Sir has worked on Civil Services Reforms in India with UNDP and DoPT. He was a government nominee in interview boards and an examiner in various government exams. He was also associated with induction training of new entrants of Civil Services and In-Service training of Senior Civil Servants. P.S. : Get a print out of your DAF (mandatory) for OPEN MOCKS!   To Know More about IMP and Workshop -> CLICK HERE REGISTRATION FOR WORKSHOP/MOCK INTERVIEW -> CLICK HERE BENGALURU CENTRE:: DATE & TIME: 28th March, 2020 @ 11 AM VENUE: Chandra Layout Centre (TLP Centre): No. 1443/1444, Above Carzspa, 80 Ft. Main Road, Ganapathi Circle, Chandra Layout, Bengaluru– 560040 Email id: support@iasbaba.com Contact No.: Bengaluru: 8549000077 ( Office Timings: 10 am – 6 pm)   DELHI CENTRE:: DATE & TIME: 28th March, 2020 @ 11 AM VENUE: IASBABA, 5B, PUSA road, Karol Bagh, New Delhi -110005 (Landmark: Just 50m from Karol Bagh Metro Station, GATE No.8 (Next to CROMA Store). Email id: support@iasbaba.com Contact No.: DELHI: 8506910969 ( Office Timings: 10 am – 6 pm) MOCK INTERVIEW: 1st Slot of Mock Interview: 3rd April (Saturday)  2nd Slot of Mock Interview: 4th April (Sunday) It will be held both in Bengaluru and Delhi.  More details will be announced soon. To Register for Mock Interview click on the above link.   IMPORTANT NOTE: Students, who have filled the Registration Form, can use the DISCUSSION ROOMS at both Delhi and Bangalore Centres. The Discussion Rooms will be specially reserved for interview purpose. Also, to make the discussion more streamlined, a mentor will oversee the discussions. For further queries with regard to interview, you can mail us on support@iasbaba.com or call us on 8549000077 (Bangalore)/ 8506910969 (Delhi) Thank You IASbaba