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Dec 8, 2020 TLP Mains 2020

IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 2 - ENGLISH & हिंदी): UPSC Mains Answer Writing - General Studies Paper 1 Questions[8th DECEMBER,2020] - Day 50

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE Hello Friends, Welcome to IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 2 - ENGLISH & हिंदी): UPSC Mains Answer Writing - General Studies Paper 1 Questions[8th DECEMBER,2020] - Day 50 We will make sure, in the next 3 months not a single day is wasted. All your energies are channelized in the right direction. Trust us! This will make a huge difference in your results this time, provided that you follow this plan sincerely every day without fail. Gear up and Make the Best Use of this initiative. We are giving 5 Mains Questions on 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. Examine the factors responsible for the transforming locational pattern of cotton textile industry in India. भारत में सूती वस्त्र उद्योग के स्थानीय पैटर्न को बदलने के लिए जिम्मेदार कारकों की जाँच करें। 2. What are the key factors deciding the location of fertiliser industry? Discuss. उर्वरक उद्योग का स्थान तय करने वाले प्रमुख कारक क्या हैं? चर्चा करें। 3. What role does innovation and investment climate play in deciding the location of tertiary sector industries? Illustrate. तृतीयक क्षेत्र के उद्योगों का स्थान तय करने में नवाचार और निवेश की क्या भूमिका है? उदाहरण देकर स्पष्ट करें। 4. What has been India’s recent performance on the ease of doing business index? What are the key areas that require improvement? Examine. व्यापार सूचकांक की आसानी पर भारत का हालिया प्रदर्शन क्या रहा है? सुधार की आवश्यकता वाले प्रमुख क्षेत्र क्या हैं? जांच करें। 5. What are global supply chains? How do they evolve? Explain. वैश्विक आपूर्ति श्रृंखलाएं क्या हैं? वे कैसे विकसित होते हैं? समझाएं। 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 :)

Dec 7, 2020 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 7th December 2020

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) IIT-Bombay comes up with Urban Quality Of Life Index Part of: GS Prelims and GS-I – Society In news IIT-Bombay researchers have come up with an urban quality of life index which is related to real urban life in India presently. Key takeaways Top city: Mumbai The other top cities: Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai. Most women-friendly: Chennai Least women-friendly: Patna Highest crime rate against women: Jaipur Lowest crime rate against women: Chennai Widest gap in literacy rate between men and women: Jaipur (13.2%) Lowest gap in literacy rate between men and women: Kolkata (5.4%). Highest overall Literacy rate: Pune (91%) Lowest overall Literacy rate: Hyderabad (83%). Highest unemployment rate for women: Patna Gender parity was taken into consideration for the first time. According to the research, women experience cities differently. Meeting women’s needs becomes essential in promoting sustainable urban development. Also, only 36% urban households in Patna have access to treated tap water. Related articles: Development of Smart Cities and Ease of Living Index: Click here Species in news: Houbara Bustards Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Biodiversity In news Recently, houbara bustards was in the news. Pakistan has issued special permits to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and two other members of the royal family to hunt the internationally protected houbara bustards during the hunting season 2020-21. Important value addition The houbara bustard It lives in arid climates. It comes in two distinct species as recognised by the IUCN. One species resides in North Africa (Chlamydotis undulata) and the other in Asia (Chlamydotis macqueenii) which is commonly known as MacQueen's bustard. The population of the Asian houbara bustards extends from northeast Asia, across central Asia, the Middle East, and the Arabian Peninsula to reach the Sinai desert. According to the International Fund for Houbara Conservation (IFHC), roughly 33,000 Asian houbara bustards remain today. After breeding in the spring, the Asian bustards migrate south to spend the winter in Pakistan, the Arabian Peninsula and nearby Southwest Asia. Some Asian houbara bustards live and breed in the southern part of their ranges including parts of Iran, Pakistan and Turkmenistan. IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable Japan’s Hayabusa2 Mission set to return back to Earth Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Space In news Six years after Japan’s Hayabusa2 mission was launched, it is set to return back to Earth. It will be carrying samples from the Ryugu asteroid that orbits the Sun. Key takeaways The Hayabasu2 mission was launched in December 2014. The spacecraft was sent on a six-year-long voyage to study the asteroid Ryugu and collect samples. NASA’s OSIRIS-REX mission also brought back samples from asteroid Bennu late in October, 2020. According to the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), this is the first time that a probe has visited a celestial body that is less than 100 metres in diameter. Important value addition Ryugu is classified as a Potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs). It was discovered in 1999. It was given the name by the Minor Planet Center in 2015. It is 300 million kilometres away from Earth. It took Hayabusa2 over 42 months to reach it. Hayabasu2’s predecessor, the Hayabusa mission brought back samples from the asteroid Itokawa in 2010. Related article: Hayabusa2 probe: Click here Singapore Agency approves sale of Lab-Grown Meat Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Sci & Tech In news The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has approved the sale of a lab-grown meat product. This is the first time cultured meat has been cleared for sale anywhere in the world. The product approved by the SFA is cultured chicken, produced by US-based East Just. Difference between lab-grown meat and plant-based meat The latter is made from plant sources such as soy or pea protein, while cultured meat is grown directly from cells in a laboratory. Both have the same objectives: To offer alternatives to traditional meat products that could feed a lot more people, reduce the threat of zoonotic diseases, and mitigate the environmental impact of meat consumption. In terms of cellular structure, cultured meat is the same as conventional meat except that cultured meat does not come directly from animals. Benefits: (1) Cultivated meat could reduce land use by more than 95%; (2) It could reduce climate change emissions by 74-87% and nutrient pollution by 94%; (3) The risk of contamination by pathogens such as salmonella and E coli is significantly reduced; (4) It does not require antibiotics thereby reducing the threat posed to public health by growing antibiotic resistance. RBI introduces risk-based internal audit norms for NBFCs, UCBs Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Economy In news The RBI recently announced the introduction of risk-based internal audit norms for large urban cooperative banks (UCBs) and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs). Key takeaways Aim of the introduction: Improving governance and assurance functions at supervised entities. The guidelines related to the appointment of statutory auditors for commercial banks, UCBs and NBFCs in order to improve the quality of financial reporting were also laid out. The growing significance of NBFCs and their interlinkages with different parts of the financial system had made it imperative to enhance the sector’s resilience. Thus it had been decided to put in place transparent criteria for the declaration of dividends by different categories of NBFCs. Regional rural banks would be allowed to access the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF), marginal standing facility (MSF) of the RBI and call/notice money market. The RBI has proposed to issue Digital Payment Security Controls directions for the regulated entities in order to improve the ecosystem of digital payment channels with better security and convenience for users. Related articles: Know more about NBFCs: Click here RBI’s measures to boost economy: Click here Marginal Standing Facility: Click here Miscellaneous Operation Trident Every year, India celebrates December 4 as Navy Day to commemorate Operation Trident. It was a key offensive during the 1971 India-Pakistan War, when the Indian Navy inflicted heavy damage on Pakistani vessels in Karachi harbour. On December 4, under Operation Trident, the Indian Navy sank three vessels near the Pakistani port city of Karachi. The stars of the mission were the then-recently acquired Soviet Osa missile boats, fitted with 4 SS-N-2 (P-15) Styx missiles. (Mains Focus) S&T/ INTERNATIONAL/ ECONOMY Topic: General Studies 2,3: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life. Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources Space Exploration in the era of Privatisation Context: The most stunning instance of a collaboration between public enterprises and the private sector in recent times is that between NASA and SpaceX. Recent achievements by Space X The launch of the Crew Dragon spacecraft which carried to the International Space Station four astronauts. The launch of 60 more Starlink Internet relay satellites into the orbit. The total number of such satellites sent up by the company equals 955. These, and thousands more like these, are designed for the purpose of providing broadband services to people anywhere on Earth. Structural changes that are reshaping the global space activity. Through the second half of the 20th century, outer space was the sole preserve of national space programmes driven by government-funding, direction and management As military uses of space and prestige projects like Moon-landing emerged, major private sector entities already in the aviation industry won space contracts in the US but under overall guidance & control of NASA & Pentagon The last decades of the 20th century saw significant expansion of satellite-based telecommunication, navigation, broadcasting and mapping, and lent a significant commercial dimension to the space sector. As a result, private sector companies (Ex: Space X) started playing major role in the sector like independent Space launches. Hired for a resupply mission for the space station, Space X now launches more rockets every year than NASA The entry of private sector has begun to drive down the cost-per-launch through innovations such as reusable rockets. As the digital revolution in the 21st century transformed the world economy, the commercial space sector has begun to grow in leaps and bounds. The global space business is now estimated to be around $ 400 billion and is expected easily rise to at least trillion dollars by 2040. This has made private sector participation attractive and inevitable. What does the commercialisation of the space sector mean in practical terms? Space Sector Revolutionized: With its reusable rockets, large capsules to carry payloads and crew and competitive pricing, SpaceX has revolutionised the space sector. Technology has brought down the Cost: The price tag for reaching low Earth orbit has declined by a factor of 20 in a decade. NASA’s space shuttle cost about $54,500 per kg; now, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 advertises a cost of $2,720 per kg. Increased Market: According to a Bank of America Report, the $350 billion space market today will touch $2.7 trillion by 2050. In a decade, 80,000 such satellites could be in space compared to less than 3,000 at present Telecom Revolution: The aim of Starlink exercise is to provide Internet services that link any point on Earth to any other point. Targeting coverage in northern U.S. and Canada by end of 2020, the aim is to have the globe covered by 2021. This will be the new telecom revolution then, in the context of India, reaching out to rural areas as never before. What is the picture in India? Shift in Focus of ISRO: There has also been a shift from a mandated focus on utilitarian projects to those focused on exploring space and our planetary neighbours, the Moon, the Sun and so on. Increasing role of Private Players: As a result of shift in ISRO’s focus, we have seen the yielding of governmental control over the space industry bit by bit, starting from hiring of vendors and active outsourcing of rocket components to the present idea of allowing external agencies to use ISRO facilities. Would curiosity-driven science survive in the era of privatisation? The cargo version of Dragon-2 spacecraft is the upgraded version of Dragon. It is a reusable spacecraft capable of returning significant cargo to the Earth from the International Space Station. At least in the case of its launch, planned for December 5, it seems that curiosity-driven science would not only survive, but would rather be enhanced. This spacecraft is not just carrying payloads for scientific experiments, but is also sporting a new commercially owned and operated ‘airlock’. An airlock is like a doorway, and the new Nanoracks Bishop Airlock Module, built by a Texas-based company, Nanoracks LLC, is an improvement over what was used earlier. New Airlock will allow larger payloads to move in and out of the spacecraft, considerably expanding the scope of experiment design and structure. This mission also carries interesting experiments, one of which is a mixture of meteorite samples and microbes, aimed at seeing how the microbes can be used for biomining on asteroids. Another experiment aims at studying how changes in gravity can affect cardiovascular tissue So, while there is room for curiosity-driven science, there is also the aspect of utility in the event of more humans travelling to space. Connecting the dots: IN-SPACe: Growing Private Role Challenges with Outer Space: Click here POLITY/GOVERNANCE Topic: General Studies 2: Mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of vulnerable sections. Social Empowerment Tamil Nadu Commission for Case-wise Data Context: Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi K. Palaniswami has announced that a Commission would be set up to conduct a survey for collecting caste-wise data in Tamil Nadu. It is not clear if this will involve a full headcount of all members of every caste, or whether it is better described as a ‘survey’ than a ‘census’. Do You Know? The Centre conducted a ‘Socio-Economic Caste Census’ (SECC) in 2011 throughout the country, but it did not make public the caste component of the findings. In Karnataka, the outcome of a similar exercise has not been disclosed to the public. Is collection of caste details part of the census? Caste was among the details collected by enumerators during the decennial Census of India until 1931. It was given up in 1941, a year in which the census operation was partially affected by World War II, as it involved additional costs Has there been criticism of including caste in the census? The principal argument against taking caste particulars of individuals is that it tends to perpetuate the caste system. It has been alleged that the mere act of labelling persons as belonging to a caste tends to perpetuate the system. Currently, Tamil Nadu has 69 per cent reservation, including 20 per cent for MBCs, the list of which has 108 communities. What was the view after Independence? R.A. Gopalaswami, the first Indian Registrar-General of independent India, said in the 1951 report: “The 1951 census was not to concern itself with questions regarding castes, races and tribes, except insofar as the necessary statistical material related to ‘special groups’ and certain other material relating to backward classes collected and made over to the Backward Classes Commission.” ‘ Special Groups’ has been explained as referring to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Anglo-Indians and certain castes treated provisionally as ‘backward’ for the purposes of the census. This implies that BC data were collected, but not compiled or published. How have caste details been collected so far? While SC/ST details are collected as part of the census, details of other castes are not collected by the enumerators. The main method is by self-declaration to the enumerator. So far, backward classes commissions in various States have been conducting their own counts to ascertain the population of backward castes. The methodology may vary from State to State. Details available about some commissions in the public domain suggest that these panels use methods like distribution of questionnaires, meeting with representatives of stakeholders, touring relevant areas and localities In some cases, such as the J.A. Ambasankar Commission in Tamil Nadu and the Venkataswamy Commission in Karnataka, there has been door-to-door enumeration. What about SECC 2011? The Socio-Economic Caste Census of 2011 was a major exercise to obtain data about the socio-economic status of various communities. Even though there could be an overlap in the dataset of SECC 2011 with that of the census 2011 taken that year, the findings could be markedly different. The general census is conducted in a small window of a month, while the caste census is conducted over a longer period of time, and there is a good deal of revision and correction. The SECC 2011 had two components: a survey of the rural and urban households and ranking of these households based on pre-set parameters, and a caste census. However, only the details of the economic conditions of the people in rural and urban households were released. The caste data have not been released till now. Why Caste data of SECC 2011 is not yet released? While a precise reason is yet to be disclosed, it is surmised that the data were considered too politically sensitive. Fear of antagonising dominant and powerful castes that may find that their projected strength in the population is not as high as claimed may be an important reason. What is the legal imperative for a caste count? Basis for Reservation Over the last two decades, the Supreme Court has been raising questions about the basis for reservation levels being high in various States. Need Quantifiable Data: In particular, it has laid down that there should be quantifiable data to justify the presence of a caste in the backward class list, as well as evidence of its under-representation in services. Regular Revision: Supreme Court has also called for periodical review of community-wise lists so that the benefits do not perpetually go in favour of a few castes. Equitable Reservation: Many community leaders argue that knowing the precise number of the population of each caste would help tailor the reservation policy to ensure equitable representation of all of them. What are the Challenges associated with Case Census? Social Unrest: While obtaining relevant and accurate data may be the major gain from a caste census, the possibility that it will lead to heartburn among some sections and can lead to social unrest. Quota within Quota: The details of Caste can also spawn demands for larger or separate quotas from groups found to be significant in number is a possible pitfall. Caste Name Complexities: Tabulating and categorising similar-sounding caste names and deciding on whether to treat some sections as separate castes or sub-castes of a community will also be a challenging task. Conclusion The constitutional goal of social transformation cannot be achieved without taking into account changing social realities Connecting the dots: Quota within a Quota debate: Click here Domicile-based job quota (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 Recently, IIT- Bombay released Urban Quality of life index. Consider the following statements regarding the report: Literacy rate between men and women is highest in Jaipur but lowest in Patna. Economic development is highest in Mumbai and lowest in Patna. Which of the above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2 Consider the following statements regarding houbara bustard: Its IUCN status is endangered. The Asian bustards migrate south to spend the winter in Pakistan, the Arabian Peninsula and nearby Southwest Asia. Which of the above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3 Hayabusa 2 probe which recently brought back samples from asteroid Ryugu was launched by which of the following country? Japan Russia India USA ANSWERS FOR 5th December 2020 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 A 2 D 3 D Must Read About India’s stand against ‘UN’s selectivity on religions: The Hindu About RBI holding interest rates: The Hindu About need for India to forge coalition on Climate Change: The Indian Express

Dec 7, 2020 PIB

PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU (PIB) IAS UPSC – 28th November to 5th December – 2020

PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU (PIB) IAS UPSC – 28th November to 5th December – 2020 ARCHIVES GS-2 India becoming pharmacy of the world (Topic: India and COVID-19 related policies) As the world races to develop the vaccine for Covid-19, India is looking to be self-reliant in both its development and production. While at least five pharmaceutical companies of India are engaged in vaccine development, Serum Institute in Pune has been chosen for mass production of Covishield vaccine developed by Oxford –Astra Zeneca. The government has initiated a robust Covid-19 vaccine manufacturing and delivery ecosystem to meet the demand. Launch of Mission COVID Suraksha The Government of India (GOI) has announced the third stimulus package of Rs. 900 Crore for the Mission COVID Suraksha- The Indian COVID-19 Vaccine Development Mission. This grant will be provided to the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) for Research & Development of Indian COVID-19 vaccines. The COVID-19 Vaccine development Mission with end-to-end focus from preclinical development through clinical development and manufacturing and regulatory facilitation for deployment, would consolidate all available and funded resources towards an accelerated product development. This will help accelerate development of approx. 5-6 vaccine candidates and ensure that these are brought closer to licensure and introduction in market for consideration of regulatory authorities for introduction in public health systems, to combat further spread of COVID infection. The important objectives of the fund will be Accelerating pre-clinical& clinical development; licensure of COVID-19 vaccine candidates that are currently in clinical stages or ready to enter clinical stage of development, establishing clinical trial sites, and strengthening the existing immunoassay laboratories, central laboratories and suitable facilities for animal studies, production facilities and other testing facilities to support COVID-19 vaccine development. Supporting development of common harmonized protocols, trainings, data management systems, regulatory submissions, internal and external quality management systems and accreditations. Capabilities for process development, cell line development and manufacturing of GMP batches for animal toxicology studies and clinical trials will also be supported under the Mission. A key element will be development of suitable Target Product Profile so that vaccines being introduced through the mission have preferred characteristics applicable for India. Led by Department of Biotechnology and implemented by a dedicated Mission Implementation Unit at Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC),the existing activities under National Bio Pharma Mission (NBM) and Ind-CEPI Mission will provide complementary strengths to this Mission. Growing world interest in India’s pharma capability Ambassadors of 100 countries are scheduled to arrive in Pune on December 4, to visit Serum Institute of India and Gennova Biopharma. Sweden has already acknowledged India’s role as the ‘pharmacy of the world’ and is focusing on expanding bilateral cooperation in the areas of health and life sciences in view of the Coronavirus pandemic. Meanwhile, Luxembourg based company B Systems is partnering with India to produce portable vaccine refrigeration equipment, which will address the issue of vaccine distribution in India. Health Ministry’s telemedicine service e Sanjeevani completes 9 lakh consultations (Topic: Government policies and interventions) Completed 9 lakh consultations; over 7,16,000 consultations recorded on eSanjeevani OPD Telemedicine is a new modality for remote diagnosis and treatment of patients over internet. eSanjeevani enables virtual meetings between the patients and doctors & specialists from geographically dispersed locations, through video conferencing that occurs in real time. At the end of these remote consultations, eSanjeevani generates an electronic prescriptions which can be used for sourcing medicines. In order to enable delivery of outpatient services remotely during COVID-19 pandemic as many as 28 States have on-boarded the Ministry of Health’s eSanjeevani initiative. These States are aggressively working towards long term enablement of telemedicine services. This eSanjeevani platform has enabled two types of telemedicine services viz. Doctor-to-Doctor (eSanjeevani) and Patient-to-Doctor (eSanjeevani OPD) Tele-consultations The former is being implemented under the Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centre (AB-HWCs) programme. The telemedicine platform is hosting over 40 online OPDs, more than half of these are speciality OPDs which include Gynaecology, Psychiatry, Dermatology, ENT, Ophthalmology, antiretroviral therapy (ART) for the AIDS/HIV patients, Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) etc. Government constitutes High-level Ministerial Committee for implementation of Paris Agreement (Topic: Government policies and intervention) The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has constituted a high-level inter-ministerial Apex Committee for Implementation of Paris Agreement (AIPA) under the chairmanship of Secretary, MoEFCC. The purpose of AIPA is to generate a coordinated response on climate change matters that ensures India is on track towards meeting its obligations under the Paris Agreement including its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC). Senior officials from fourteen ministries will serve as Members to AIPA who will oversee the progress in implementation of India’s NDC and receive periodic information updates to monitor, review and revisit climate goals to fulfil the requirements of the Paris Agreement. Key functions of AIPA would be To operate as a National Authority to regulate carbon markets in India under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement Formulate guidelines for consideration of projects or activities under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement Issue guidelines on carbon pricing, market mechanism, and other similar instruments that have a bearing on climate change and NDCs. It will take note of the contributions of the private sector as well as multi-/bi-lateral agencies in the field of climate change and provide guidance for aligning their climate actions with national priorities. The year 2021 would mark the beginning of implementation of the Paris Agreement and constitution of AIPA is central to strengthening the national systems and institutional arrangements for implementation and monitoring of climate actions. It will also ensure that India maintains its climate leadership as one the few countries in the world whose climate actions are consistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement. WHO World Malaria Report 2020: India continues to make Impressive Gains in reduction of Malaria Burden (Topic: International Reports and India’s ranking) The World Malaria Report (WMR) 2020 released by WHO, which gives the estimated cases for malaria across the world, based on mathematical projections, indicates that India has made considerable progress in reducing its malaria burden. India is the only high endemic country which has reported a decline of 17.6% in 2019 as compared to 2018. The Annual Parasitic Incidence (API) reduced by 27.6% in 2018 compared to 2017 and by 18.4% in 2019 as compared to 2018. India has sustained API less than one since year 2012. India has also contributed to the largest drop in cases region-wide, from approximately 20 million to about 6 million. The percentage drop in the malaria cases was 71.8% and deaths was 73.9% between 2000 to 2019. India achieved a reduction of 83.34% in malaria morbidity and 92% in malaria mortality between the year 2000 (20,31,790 cases, 932 deaths) and 2019 (3,38,494 cases, 77 deaths), thereby achieving Goal 6 of the Millennium Development Goals (50-75% decrease in case incidence between 2000 and 2019). High Burden to High Impact (HBHI) initiative WHO has initiated the High Burden to High Impact (HBHI) initiative in 11 high malaria burden countries, including India. Implementation of “High Burden to High Impact (HBHI)” initiative has been started in four states i.e. West Bengal and Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh in July, 2019. A key strategy to reignite progress is the “High burden to high impact” (HBHI) response, catalyzed in 2018 by WHO and the RBM Partnership to End Malaria continued to make impressive gains in India, with 18% reductions in cases and 20% reductions in death respectively, over the last 2 years. ADB, India sign $132.8 million loan to strengthen Meghalaya’s power distribution Sector (Topic: International organisations) The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India today signed a $132.8 million loan to strengthen and modernize the distribution network and improve the quality of power supplied to households, industries, and businesses in India’s northeastern state of Meghalaya. The Benefits: The project supports the state government’s "24x7 Power for All" initiative and will help the state reduce its high technical and commercial losses through network strengthening, metering and billing efficiency improvements. Technological Improvements to the distribution network adapted to extreme weather, introduction of smart meters and online meter reading, billing, and collection systems will help improve operational efficiencies and financial sustainability of the state’s distribution system. The Issue: Though Meghalaya has achieved 100% electrification, remote rural areas in the state suffer from frequent power interruptions due to overloaded distribution networks and substations that use outdated technology, resulting in high aggregate technical and commercial (AT&C) losses. The Government of India and the state government of Meghalaya embarked on a joint 24x7 Power for All Meghalaya initiative to provide uninterrupted, quality, reliable, and affordable power supply to all electricity consumers. The project will Construct 23 substations Renovate and modernize 45 substations, including the provision of control room equipment and protection systems Install and upgrade 2,214 kilometers of distribution lines and associated facilities covering three out of the six circles in the state. Installation of smart meters will benefit about 180,000 households. The loan is proposed to be supplemented by a $2 million grant from ADB’s Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction that will finance renewable energy mini-grids for improving power quality and supporting income generation activities, especially for women and other socially disadvantaged groups in three villages and three schools. The project will help develop a distribution sector road map and a financial road map for the Meghalaya Power Distribution Corporation Limited (MePDCL). These road maps will strengthen the capacity of MePDCL to operate and manage the distribution networks. ADB, India sign $50 million loan to boost West Bengal’s digital platforms for public finance reforms (Topic: International organisations) The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India signed a $50 million policy-based loan to improve financial management procedures and operational efficiencies aimed at achieving more fiscal savings, promote informed decision making, and improve service delivery in the state of West Bengal. Integration of the state’s financial and information systems through the programme’s whole-of-government approach will help improve delivery of public services and generate fiscal savings that could help the state augment growth-enhancing development financing. Through support to interoperable e-Government platforms, the programme will ensure streamlining of social protection benefits such as pension and provident fund, facilitate gender-disaggregated data, tax payments, and revenue collection. Development projects could be better tracked and monitored with the help of a new module within the integrated financial management system (IFMS) leading to improved project management. A centre for fiscal policy and public finance will be established to deepen capacity of the state government officials on public finance management while developing a web-based grievance redress system for transport corporations and urban local bodies will provide a credible citizen-government interface. The loan builds up on past ADB policy-based programmes in 2012 and 2017, supporting the Government of West Bengal on sustainable public financial management reforms. These programmes helped develop and implement an IFMS, established successful e-Governance systems for improved revenue administration, undertook measures for expenditure rationalisation, and promoted the private sector’s involvement in service delivery. The loan is proposed to be supplemented by a $350,000 technical assistance grant for capacity building, monitoring of IFMS reforms, and strengthening the integration of social and gender aspects in reform areas. India, USA sign MoU on Intellectual Property cooperation (Topic: India and USA relations) The MoU aims at increasing IP co-operation between the two countries by way of: Facilitating exchange and dissemination of best practices, experiences and knowledge on IP among the public, and between and among the industry, universities, research and development (R & D) organizations, and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises through participation in programs and events organized singly or jointly by the Participants; Collaboration in training programs, exchange of experts, technical exchanges and outreach activities; Exchange of information and best practices on processes for registration and examination of applications for patents, trademarks, copyrights, geographical indications, and industrial designs, as well as the protection, enforcement and use of IP rights; Exchange of information on the development and implementation of automation and modernization projects, new documentation and information systems in IP and procedures for management of IP Office services; Cooperation to understand various issues related to traditional knowledge, and the exchange of best practices, including those related to traditional knowledge databases and awareness raising on the use of existing IP systems for the protection of traditional knowledge; and Other cooperation activities as may be mutually decided by the Participants. The two sides will draw up Biennial Work Plan to implement the MoU which will include the detailed planning for carrying out of the co-operation activities including the scope of action. The MoU will go a long way in fostering the cooperation between India and USA, and provide opportunities to both countries to learn from the experience of each other, especially in terms of best practices followed in the other country. It will be a landmark step forward in India’s journey towards becoming a major player in global innovation and will further the objectives of National IPR Policy, 2016. GS-3 APEDA and NABARD sign MoU to work together to synergize the activities in the interest of agriculture and allied sectors for bringing better value to the stakeholders (Topic: Agriculture) APEDA has been focusing on collaborative approach to bring synergy with number of organisations and institutions having inherent professional and specialised expertise in different areas for capacity building of various stakeholders and providing solutions for addressing some of the identified interventions for the development of Agriculture and its export enhancement, in consonance with the objectives set under Agri Export Policy announced by Government of India. The Agriculture Export Policy was framed with a focus on agriculture export-oriented production, export promotion, better price realization to farmer and synchronization within policies and programmes of Government of India. It focuses on “Farmers’ Centric Approach” for improved income through value addition at source itself to help minimize losses across the value chain. Policy therefore suggests to adopt the approach of developing product specific clusters in different agro climatic zones of the country to help in dealing with various supply side issues viz., soil nutrients management, higher productivity, adoption of market oriented variety of crop, use of Good Agriculture Practices etc. APEDA has been relentlessly engaged with State Govts. for the implementation of AEP. APEDA and NABARD have signed MoU to utilise their expertise by mutually working together to synergize the activities in the interest of agriculture and allied sectors for bringing better value to the stakeholders. Areas of Cooperation: APEDA and NABARD would jointly work towards capacity development of various stakeholders. APEDA and NABARD would jointly come towards organizing outreach programs, awareness programs and workshops for stakeholders. To enhance farmers income for doubling the farmers’ income as set out by the Government of India. Extending benefit of relevant schemes/other initiatives of NABARD & APEDA for development of FPOs. APEDA would formulate program in association with NABARD to provide technical knowhow to cooperatives/FPOs to upscale infrastructure created for post-harvest management for APEDA scheduled products to promote exports. To jointly identify clusters in various States for scaling up. APEDA will facilitate exports by the FPOs assisted/promoted by NABARD. NABARD: National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development is established as a development bank for providing credit for promotion of agriculture, small scale, cottage and village industries, handicrafts and other allied activities in rural areas, with a view to promote integrated rural development and securing prosperity of the rural areas and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. The NABARD Act, 1981, empowers NABARD to associate with various institutions for various developmental functions in the field of agriculture and rural development. NABARD has various schemes and programmes to assist farmers and has a field force spread across the country to regularly guide and support farmers. Prelims oriented News Navy Day: 4th December Passage Exercise (PASSEX): Between Russian Federation Navy and Indian Navy in Eastern Indian Ocean Region How stars explode due to neutrinos? Scientists may soon find a clue to how stars explode due to neutrinos, one of the most abundant particles in the universe. These sub atomic particles are extremely difficult to detect because of their limited interactions with matter. However, they are very important to the study of supernovas or powerful luminous stellar explosions, because they power the explosion and provide an early warning signal that allows scientists to look in the right direction before the supernova explosion takes place. AI & Robotics Technologies Park (ARTPARK) Will promote technology innovations in AI (Artificial Intelligence) & Robotics leading to societal impact by executing ambitious mission mode R&D projects in healthcare, education, mobility, infrastructure, agriculture, retail and cyber-security focusing on problems unique to India. ARTPARK, is a unique not-for-profit foundation established by Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru with support from AI Foundry in a public-private model ARTPARK will develop AI & Robotics facilities to support technology innovations as well as capacity building through advanced skills training of students and professionals in these areas. Some of these facilities will be key enablers for whole new sets of technologies, products and services. It will develop DataSetu - that will enable confidentiality and privacy-preserving framework to share data and run analytics spurring the data-sharing ecosystem and create a data marketplace, boosting AI applications and solutions. One such service will be BhashaSetu - that will enable real-time Indic language translation, both of speech to speech and speech to text. This will further unlock the economic potential of the country, and enable all Indian citizens to equitably participate in the economic progress, regardless of their language. Developing improved disease-resistant banana plants An improved understanding of Fusarium, a root pathogen infection in banana plant may soon help develop strategies to prevent the disease that causes wilting of the fruit crop that is grown in at least 5 major states of India. India is the leading producer of banana in the world and the present cultivation is vulnerable to this fungal disease which dwells in soil as a saprophyte and shifts to the parasitic mode in presence of host roots. Scientists are trying to understand the disease paradigm for developing innovative management strategies. Scientists are working towards studying the role of a protein complex that drives the expression of the effector genes required for pathogenicity. Understanding this complex regulatory network can help in improved knowledge on the basic biology of fungal infection in plants, evolution of virulent strains, lifestyle switching in Fusarium from saprophytic to parasitic mode and also investigation of banana defense responses in terms of resistance genes. 3rd Global Renewable Energy Investment Meeting and Expo (RE-Invest 2020): Theme: Innovations for Sustainable Energy Transition A 3-day conference on renewables and future energy choices, and an exhibition of manufacturers, developers, investors and innovators Aims to accelerate the worldwide effort to scale up development and deployment of renewable energy and connect the global investment community with Indian energy stakeholders. It aims to build upon the success of the first two editions held in 2015 and 2018 and provide an international forum for investment promotion in renewable energy. India: India has continued to innovate in Renewable Energy deployment by increasing capacities and adopting practical solutions, newer technologies and market mechanisms. Our adoption of floating solar, wind-solar hybrid contracts, peaking power, and venture into Round-the-Clock (RTC) procurement contracts are indications of such innovation. India’s target - 450 GW by 2030 and through reduction of prices and use of clean fuels; India has installed about 136000 mw of RE capacity with capacity addition of another 57000 mw under implementation. Increasing efficiencies in Solar PV and wind modules is bringing down prices, enhancing affordability and accessibility of energy and supporting better standards of living As a policy, India will shift to ‘Green Ammonia’ from imported Ammonia, as well as add volumes in the usage of hydrogen. Apart from 450 GW RE capacity we will also focus on building an integrated clean gas-based economy. Driving the use of biofuels and emerging hydrogen and providing digital innovations in the RE space. Biofuels is not just a science, it is a mantra. ‘One Nation, One Gas Grid’ for city gas distribution, using LPG as a social change, and using biofuels in the aviation sector One Sun One World One Grid is also a strategy that India continues to push for at an international level. India has targeted to have its Islands- A&N and Lakshadweep as Green Energy. The signing of the 5 MW PPA under the World Bank Accelerating Sustainable Private Investments in Renewable Energy (ASPIRE) project is a historic moment in the renewable energy history of the Maldives. The project is the first of its kind in scale for the Maldives and achieved a tariff of US$ 10.9 cents. This is one of the lowest tariffs for a Small Island Developing State (SIDS) like the Maldives and helps them gain the pole position in trying to achieve their RE goals. Moving ahead, the World Bank is working closely alongside the Government of Maldives through the upcoming Accelerating Renewable Energy Integration and Sustainable Energy (ARISE) project in achieving their dream for a fossil fuel free future . Global Innovation and Technology Alliance (GITA) served as a catalyst for nurturing innovation and industrial R&D by fostering bilateral academic industry and government collaborations. PPP between Technology Development Board (TDB) of the Department of Science & Technology (DST) and Confederation of Indian Industry Mandate: To stimulate industry investment in R&D and its demonstration to deliver commercialised products and services DST through GITA has been able to successfully engage in implementation of bilateral industrial R&D projects in collaboration with some of the most innovative nations of the world such as Israel, Korea, Canada, Finland, Italy, Spain, and UK First ever SCO Online International Exhibition on Shared Buddhist Heritage Launched during the 19th Meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Government (SCO CHG) This SCO online International exhibition, first ever of its kind, is developed and curated by National Museum, New Delhi, in active collaboration with SCO member countries. The exhibition deploys state of the art technologies like 3D scanning, webGL platform, virtual space utilization, innovative curation and narration methodology etc. Buddhist philosophy and art of Central Asia connects Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) countries to each other. This online international exhibition presents an excellent opportunity for visitors to access, appreciate and compare Buddhist art antiquities from SCO countries on a single platform and from the comfort of their home. Such transnational online exhibition also has potential to connect, heal and rejuvenate communities in current pandemic times. Successful Test Firing of BrahMos BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile in Anti-Ship mode was successfully test fired today at 0900 hrs against a decommissioned Ship. The test firing was carried out by Indian Navy. The missile performed highly complex manoeuvres and hit Bull’s eye of the target. BrahMos is the supersonic cruise missile jointly developed by DRDO and NPOM of Russia as a Brahmos Aerospace joint venture, which became Brahmos Aerospace Private Limited. The missile has established itself as a major force multiplier in modern-day complex battlefields with its impeccable anti-ship and land-attack capabilities with multi-role and multi-platform abilities and has been deployed in all the three wings of the Indian Armed Forces. The first launch of Brahmos took place in 2001 and till date numerous launches have taken place from various ships, Mobile Autonomous Launchers and Su-30 MKI aircraft, making it a versatile weapon. Personality in News Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar 64th Death Anniversary – 6th December - Mahaparinirvan Diwas Screening of the film “Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar”: The biopic on Bharat Ratna Dr. Ambedkar is an elaborate and analytical film on the great jurist-economist and social reformer, especially on his relentless campaign against oppression of the downtrodden and the pivotal role Dr Ambedkar played in drafting and framing the Constitution of India. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar (14 April 1891 – 6 December 1956), popularly known as Babasaheb Ambedkar, was an Indian jurist, economist, politician and social reformer who inspired the Dalit Buddhist movement and campaigned against social discrimination towards the untouchables (Dalits), while also supporting the rights of women and labour. He was independent India’s first law and justice minister, the principal architect of the Constitution of India, and a founding father of the Republic of India. Birth Anniversary: 14th April Known famously as: The Architect of Modern India His autobiography: Waiting for a Visa His books: Annihilation of Caste – It strongly criticised Hindu orthodox religious leaders and the caste system in general, and included “a rebuke of Gandhi” on the subject. Who Were the Shudras? – Ambedkar tried to explain the formation of untouchables. He saw Shudras and Ati Shudras who form the lowest caste in the ritual hierarchy of the caste system, as separate from Untouchables. Constitution of Reserve Bank of India Based on the ideas that Ambedkar presented to the Hilton Young Commission Ambedkar was trained as an economist, and was a professional economist until 1921, when he became a political leader. He wrote three scholarly books on economics: Administration and Finance of the East India Company The Evolution of Provincial Finance in British India The Problem of the Rupee: Its Origin and Its Solution Ambedkar and Untouchability While practising law in the Bombay High Court, he tried to promote education to untouchables and uplift them. His first organised attempt was his establishment of the central institution Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha, intended to promote education and socio-economic improvement, as well as the welfare of “outcastes”, at the time referred to as depressed classes. For the defence of Dalit rights, he started five periodicals – Mooknayak (the leader of the dumb, 1920) Bahishkrit Bharat (Ostracized India, 1924) Samta (Equality, 1928) Janata (The People, 1930) Prabuddha Bharat (Enlightened India, 1956) Manusmriti Dahan Din: In a conference in late 1927, Ambedkar publicly condemned the classic Hindu text, the Manusmriti (Laws of Manu), for ideologically justifying caste discrimination and “untouchability”, and he ceremonially burned copies of the ancient text. On 25 December 1927, he led thousands of followers to burn copies of Manusmrti. Thus, annually 25 December is celebrated as Manusmriti Dahan Din (Manusmriti Burning Day) by Ambedkarites and Dalits. Kalaram Temple movement: About 15,000 volunteers assembled at Kalaram Temple Satyagraha, making one of the greatest processions of Nashik. The procession was headed by a military band, a batch of scouts, women and men walked in discipline, order and determination to see the god for the first time. When they reached to gate, the gates were closed by Brahmin authorities. Poona Pact: In 1932, British announced the formation of a separate electorate for “Depressed Classes” in the Communal Award. Gandhi fiercely opposed a separate electorate for untouchables, saying he feared that such an arrangement would divide the Hindu community. Gandhi protested by fasting while imprisoned in the Yerwada Central Jail of Poona. Following the fast, Congress politicians and activists such as Madan Mohan Malaviya and Palwankar Baloo organised joint meetings with Ambedkar and his supporters at Yerwada. On 25 September 1932, the agreement known as Poona Pact was signed between Ambedkar (on behalf of the depressed classes among Hindus) and Madan Mohan Malaviya (on behalf of the other Hindus). The agreement gave reserved seats for the depressed classes in the Provisional legislatures, within the general electorate. Due to the pact, the depressed class received 148 seats in the legislature, instead of the 71 as allocated in the Communal Award earlier proposed by British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald. The text uses the term “Depressed Classes” to denote Untouchables among Hindus who were later called Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes under India Act 1935, and the later Indian Constitution of 1950. In the Poona Pact, a unified electorate was in principle formed, but primary and secondary elections allowed Untouchables in practice to choose their own candidates. Views of Dr. Ambedkar regarding the Indian Constitution Ambedkar warned – No democratic constitution can be modelled on the Hindu tradition of state and village panchayats. What is the village, Ambedkar asked, but a sink of localism, a den of ignorance, narrow-mindedness and communalism? Sets Universal values – The Constitution is a normative document, but the values it espouses are universal and ‘thin’. They do not reflect the belief system of one section of the population even if it is in a majority. Nor do these values dismiss the value systems of minority groups. On Constitutional Morality – Dr. Ambedkar talked of constitutional morality. He said citizen will have deep respect or admiration for Constitution when they realize true intent of Constitution which helps them to possess freedom and rights. When they realize Constitution composes of thin conception of ‘good’ that can hold a plural and diverse people together. Democracy is only a top-dressing for the Constitution of India For Ambedkar, democracy is only a top-dressing on an Indian soil which is essentially undemocratic. It is the institutionalisation of constitutional democracy that has changed the way Indians think of themselves in relation to each other, and in relation to the state. The Constitution has managed to inculcate democratic sensibilities and spark yearnings for more democracy, not less. Concept of Federalism: His concept of federalism meant that the State was a federation in normalcy, but unitary in emergency. Centre Was Made Strong: In the Draft Constitution Dr. Ambedkar offered more powers to the Centre and made it strong. Some members of the constituent assembly criticized him on the ground that since Dr. Ambedkar postulated – the rights and values of each individual and the development of each province and each– village, it was contradictory of his part to make the Centre strong. Justifying the provisions for a strong Central authority Dr. Ambedkar said that he made the Centre strong not only to ‘save minorities from the misrule of majority’ but also “for it is only the Centre which can work for a common end and for the general interests of the country as a whole.” Equality of Opportunity: Of all the rights, Dr. Amebedkar observed “Equality of Opportunity” as the most important one. Regarding the constitutional remedies, he characterize Article 32 as the very soul of the Constitution and the very heart of it. To him, fundamental rights would mean establishment of equality and liberty in order to reform our social system, which is so full of inequalities discriminations, and other which conflict with our fundamental rights. Directive Principles of State Policy: The Directive Principles of State Policy contained the positive obligations of the state towards its citizens. The Directives were meant to ensure social and economic democracy which was secured by the provisions of fundamental rights in a written Constitution. Dr. Ambedkar said: “What are called Directive Principles is simply another name for Instruments of instructions to the legislature and the executive…as to how they should exercise their power.” Constitution, A Dynamic Document: The Constitution is a dynamic document it should grow with the growth of the nation and should suit the changing needs and circumstance. So Dr. Ambedkar urged the necessity of amendment. Concept of Sovereignty and Suzerainty: Dr. Ambedkar’s concept of sovereignty and suzerainty and of the Indian States, i.e., integration of the native Indian Princely States which gave the shape to the rap of India as if is today, has indeed been prophetic. National Integration: In the Draft Constitution Dr. Ambedkar prescribed single citizenship, a single judiciary and uniformity in fundamental Laws to integrate Indian society which was not only divided into caste and class, but also into regions, religions, languages, traditions and cultures. Therefore, a strong Centre was indispensable to maintain territorial integrity and administrative discipline. Dr Ambedkar said – power is one thing, wisdom is quite another thing. When deciding the destiny of nations, dignities of people, dignities of leaders and dignities of parties ought to count for nothing. The dignity of the country should count for everything. Note: Dr. Ambedkar Scheme for Social Integration through Inter-Caste Marriages (dalit) Encouraging the practice of inter-caste marriages – Indian society can only develop and progress if the curse of caste inequality is removed forever. The implementation of this program is a step towards achieving this goal. Assisting young couples with money – Couples who opt for inter-caste are generally shunned by their families due to the rigidity of the caste system in India. They often face hardships, but with this grant, these couples will no longer have to worry about facing financial adversity during the initial days. Funded by the central government – All operational activities and financial requirements of this welfare scheme will be met for the coffers of central government. Money will be sent to each start or UT for its implementation. Bringing equality among all castes – The main aim of this scheme is to give a level ground to all castes. With this, the central government will be able to bring about equality among all castes, thereby eliminating caste related prejudices. Must Read: Dr. B. R. Ambedkar insights on Labour Rights Guru Nanak Born in 1469 in Nankana Sahib, Pakistan He advocated nirguna bhakti He firmly repudiated practices of religions around him like sacrifices, ritual baths, idol worship, austerities, and scriptures of both Hindus and Muslims. He took the god as formless which has no gender and proposed a simple way to connect to him by just remembering and repeating his name. He set up rules for congregational worship (sangat) involving collective recitation. He appointed Angad to succeed him as the Guru. He never wished to establish new religion, but after his death his followers consolidated his practices and distinguished from both Hindus and Muslims by calling themselves ‘Sikhs’. Fifth Guru Arjandev Ji compiled Guru Nanak, his successor, and other religious poets teaching in Adi Granth Sahib. Values & teaching of Guru Nanak and present social challenges — The time in which Guru Nanak lived and present time are not very different. Back then, caste system, idol worship, exploitation of poor and women, intolerance towards other religions, fraud godman, addiction of drugs and other problems were prevalent. Unfortunately, all of them are present today also. Some basic teachings of Guru Nanak were — Submission to the will of God (Waheguru) One God Goodwill for all Speaking truth Social Service Overcoming 5 evils — Ego, Anger, Greed, Attachment and Lust Adopting 5 virtues — Truth, Compassion, Contentment, Discipline and Contemplation No discrimination Stop following rituals/idol worship/superstitions Guru Nanak opined that moral principles have great value not just in thinking but also in practical orientation in society. Therefore, social philosophy of Guru Nanak was primarily based on moral philosophy with support of religious outlook. His teaching hold great value today in overcoming caste and religious discrimination, intolerance of other views, corruption, addiction of alcohol and drugs, clash of civilisations, terrorism and other social evils. Problem with today’s generation is we have limited Guru Nanak and his teaching just to Guru Granth Sahib and have not adopted it, i.e., moral philosophy is lacking. Therefore, there is a strong need to revive the values and teachings of Guru Nanak. Ik Onkar: Ek Onkar means “God is One”. The symbol is an emblem of the Sikh religion and is found on Gurdwaras (Sikh temples) around the world. Kartarpur corridor The four-lane “human corridor” i.e. Kartarpur corridor is hoped to pave the way for peace and greater progress of all people. The corridor will drastically cut down the journey pilgrims have to make from more than 200 km to just 6 km. The gurdwara in Kartarpur stands on the bank of the Ravi, about 120 km northeast of Lahore. It was here that Guru Nanak assembled a Sikh community and lived for 18 years until his death in 1539. The shrine is visible from the Indian side, Sikhs gather in large numbers for darshan from the Indian side, and binoculars are installed at Gurdwara Dera Baba Nanak. Access to gurdwaras in Pakistan: Sikh jathas from India travel to Pakistan on four occasions every year — for Baisakhi, the martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev, the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, and the birthday of Guru Nanak Dev. These Indian pilgrims are given access to all gurdwaras in Pakistan. Dr Rajendra Prasad The first President of India, in office from 1952 to 1962 A supporter of Mahatma Gandhi, Prasad was imprisoned by British authorities during the Salt Satyagraha of 1931 and the Quit India movement of 1942. In office from 1952 to 1962 A supporter of Mahatma Gandhi, Prasad was imprisoned by British authorities during the Salt Satyagraha of 1931 and the Quit India movement of 1942 In his speech before the Constitution was adopted, Dr Rajendra Prasad rightly noted that the successful working of democratic institutions requires willingness to respect the views of others, and capacity for compromise and accommodation. He said, [quote] “Many things which cannot be written in a Constitution are done by conventions. Let me hope that we shall show those capacities and develop those conventions.” [Unquote] Seventy years later, we have reasons to believe that the nation has lived up to his hopes to a fair degree.

Dec 7, 2020 TLP Mains 2020

SYNOPSIS [4th DECEMBER,2020] Day 47: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 2): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE SYNOPSIS [4th DECEMBER,2020] Day 47: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 2): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies) 1. The future depends on what we do in the present. Examine the relevance of this quote by Mahatma Gandhi in public life. Approach: It expects students to explain quote given by Mahatma Gandhi by giving some examples. Show how it is relevant in today's public life. Introduction: Public life is the aspects of social life which are happening in public, in the open, as opposed to more private social interaction within families, private clubs etc. Body: The above quote by Mahatma Gandhi is very relevant in today's situation in public life. Because decisions that we take today will have long-term effect on future generations. Saint Kabir has rightly said, " Kal Kare so aaj kar, aaj kare so ab, pal me parlay hoyegi, bahuri karega kab" (we don't know what the future holds for us, hence we must do the things now only). This couplet shows the importance of present and thus it is rightly said that what we do in present determines our future. Presently, people waste water and do not understand importance of saving water. Today, they do not undertake any activity like rooftop harvesting, drip irrigation etc. at a large scale, because of these actions in present time, the future of India as well as world seems bleak and that is scarcity. Unplanned and haphazard construction, encroachment of wetland etc. in present times will ultimately bring havocs in major cities around world. Picture of floods in Uttarakhand in June 2013, Mumbai Flood are still fresh in everybody's minds. King Ashoka also propagated dhamma so that people can do good work in present, so that their future will be good and sustainable. Renewable energy subsidies, formation of International Solar Agency, electrical vehicles, afforestation funds etc. successful implementation at present times will ensure India achieve its nationally determined target and SDG's, Paris Agreement in future. Conclusion: One can never change its past but he can change future by working in present. So one should work hard for the global community wellbeing. 2. How does work culture impact organisational efficiency in governments? Illustrate. Approach: As the directive here is illustrate it is necessary to support the arguments with examples. In the introduction in simple terms explain work culture. In the main body part explain the relation between work culture and organisational efficiency in governments. Support your arguments either with real life or hypothetical examples. Candidate can conclude by showing importance of work culture to improve organisational efficiency in brief. Introduction: While doing work, every organisation believes in specific ways of interaction, behaviour and functioning which is called as work culture of an organisation. For instance, in government organisations it is mandatory to address everyone in the higher levels of hierarchy as Sir whereas in software firms it is encouraged to call other persons by their name. Body: Work cultures impact on organisational efficiency: Work cultures impact on organisational efficiency is directly proportional. As good work culture contributes to better organisational efficiency, whereas bad work culture contributes to weak performance of organisational efficiency. Healthy work culture promotes transparency, innovation and discipline in an organisation. For instance, the kind of work culture followed through SAARTHI programme in Pune which facilitates better e-governance. It has increased the organisational efficiency of government. Debate, dissent and discussion are the important constituents of a healthy democracy. A good work culture promotes effective communication and helps in reducing conflicts among individuals/team during work. It thereby increases the efficiency of organisation. For instance, Team meetings are a way of promoting ideas and finding solutions. Hence, a district collector chairing a meeting with Tehsildars and promoting the culture of debate, dissent and discussion is bound to get good results. Self-organisation is the key to improve organisational efficiency of any organisation. For instance, Transparency, responsibility, unbiased are underpinnings of good work culture. These will enable individuals and teams to become self-organized which in turn improves quality and productivity. Good work culture promotes peer respect, recognition of hard work, and freedom to bring new ideas (innovation) it thereby increases the efficiency of organisation. For instance, Netflix doesn't makes it mandatory for their employees to maintain basic etiquettes of dressing. They not even made it mandatory to come in office at time. Still Netflix has expanded its viewership in multi-fold ways. To improve organisational efficiency a good vertical as well as horizontal communication is necessary. Improved communication reduces errors and increases the quality of the outcome. Thereby it increases organisational efficiency. Suppose work culture is bad, which shows partiality, favoritism, nepotism etc. as it was in earlier days for tender allocations at times, partiality in writing of ACRs sometimes it demotivates talented and hard-working people. Thereby it reduces organisational efficiency. For instance, recent Vyapam scam. A gender bias, caste bias, religion bias in an organisation is also a sign of bad work culture. These kind of biases not only hamper the organisational efficiency but also promote the social divide. For instance, recent incidences in government schools where women belonging to backward sections of society were not allowed to cook food for students. After realising the importance of work culture, Government of India came up with innovative initiatives to promote good work culture. For instance, 'Perform or Perish' is the new Mantra of the government, which aims to eliminate the insensitive work culture promoted by 'Babu's' of India. External tools such as Right to Information Act, Postal Life insurance, change in conduct rules are initiated by the government. Constitution of Sevottam Awards for best practising civil servants is one such an affirmative step. Conclusion: It is general perception that government organisation have a bad work culture and healthy work culture is associated with private organisations. However, efforts like RTI, e-governance, strict laws etc are improving the situation. Having a healthy work culture can change the perception in the eyes of public thereby improving the efficiency of government organisation. 3. How do digital technologies aid in the efficient utilisation of public funds? Examine. Approach - It expects students to briefly explain how efficient utilization of public funds is important in introduction and how digital technologies aid in efficient utilization of public funds. Introduction Efficient utilisation of public funds is necessary for judicious use of financial resources to satisfy the needs of the present society in such a way that it doesn't compromise the capability of societies of future generations to meet their own needs. Digitalization is starting to reshape this informational core of the way tax and spending policies are designed and carried out. It offers tools not only to improve the effectiveness of existing policies but also to introduce entirely new ones. Body Four principles for efficient utilisation of the public fund: Transparency −accurate records that show where money is raised and spent. Assurance − figures and processes are checked by independent experts. Accountability −decision makers are clearly identified and subject to strict rules and review of performance and outcomes. Objectivity − policies are based on accurate information and rigorous analysis. Digital technologies aids in the efficient utilisation of public funds - Biometrics: Technology that monitors and records biometric characteristics, such as fingerprints and iris scans, allows more accurate and cheaper authentication of an individual’s identity, ensuring that benefits reach only the intended recipients helping in efficient utilisation of public funds. JAM Trinity for Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT): The combination of 32.94 crore Jandhan bank Accounts, 121 Crore mobile phones and digital identity through 122 crore Aadhaar is helping the poor receive the benefits directly into their bank account leading to a saving of Rs. 90,000 crore. RuPay: In order to facilitate usage of newly-opened PMJDY bank accounts, customers were issued with RuPay debit cards to allow for ATM withdrawals and POS (point of sale) payments. The Public Finance Management System (PFMS): PFMS was conceived as an online transaction system that not only helps the government manage its funds but at any point of time also provides a comprehensive view of the flow of funds across different wings of the government. The system enables the successful delivery of payment from government treasuries and program agencies directly into beneficiaries' accounts. E-Way Bill: The e-Way Bill mechanism ensures goods are transported in accordance with GST laws and that taxes are paid for the supply of goods. Through the e-Way Bill, taxpayers, transporters, and tax officers all rely on a unified system. The implementation of the e-Way Bill has helped boost GST revenue collections, abolished post-dated checks, and increased tax compliance. Government e Marketplace (GeM): It facilitates online procurement of common use Goods & Services required by various Government Departments / Organisations / PSUs. It provides the tools of e-bidding, reverse e-auction and demand aggregation to facilitate the government users, achieve the best value for their money and manage public fund efficiently. Challenges of digital technology - Privacy and Security: A critical obstacle is the privacy and security of an individual's personal data that he/she provides to obtain government services. With the implementation of e-government projects, some effective measures must be taken to protect the sensitive personal information of the people. Authentication: It is very important to know the right user of the services or it may be misused by private competitors. Meanwhile, the digital signature plays major role in providing authenticity. Interoperability: Interoperability is the ability of systems and organizations of different qualities to work together. The e-governance applications must have this characteristic so that the newly developed and existing applications can be implemented together. Accessibility in India, there is still gap arising between users and nonusers; it is because of language barrier, inadequate infrastructure in rural areas, etc. Infrastructure: It is essentially required for implementation of digital technology as much as possible in India. Electricity, internet and poor adaptability of technology will retard the progress of digital technology. Digital Divide: Digital divide inside any country refers to inequalities mainly among individuals and households. The digital divide can exist between those living in rural areas and those living in urban areas, between the educated and uneducated, between economic classes, and on a global scale between more and less industrially developed nations. Cost: In developing countries like India, cost is one of the most important obstacles in the path of implementation of digital technologies where major part of the population is living below poverty line. These costs must be low enough so that to guarantee a good cost/benefit ratio. Conclusion To reap the full dividends of the digital revolution, India must focus on solutions that address their most pressing priorities. India struggling to identify and help vulnerable populations may for instance benefit most from biometrics, information systems, electronic payment systems and mobile technology to reduce leakages and implement social programs. But all will need to take steps to avoid the pitfalls digital exclusion, cyberattacks, fraud, privacy infringement. 4. What are the different components of quality service delivery? Discuss. How do citizen charters help in this? Approach: Students are expected to write about the different components of quality service delivery in first part, and discuss how do citizen charters help in quality service delivery in second part. Introduction: Quality service delivery ensures the service quality should match with the expectation of the stakeholder. It expects the commitment of organisations or public service providers to provide quality and high-standard services. Citizen's Charters were introduced in India in the 1990s which represents a systematic effort to focus on the commitment of the public organisation towards its Citizens in respect of Standard of Services, Information, Choice and Consultation, Accessibility and Grievance Redress. Body: “Quality in a service or product is not what you put into it. It is what the client or customer gets out of it.” – Peter Drucker. Standard principles of quality service delivery: Choice: To attain better standards in service delivery, service provider must work on the no of choices available to the customer at single place. The easier the access of services to the customer the better the implementation would be. Example – The mobile seva by Indian govt in which govt provides multiple services through mobile such as Banking, Passport, Aadhaar etc. Standards: The rapid change in the technology landscape, we see an emerging need for the Governments to review, rationalise and enhance the existing e‐Services, besides creating a new breed of services with a high speed‐to‐market. It helps to maintain the standard of the services. Value: Many times, the govt might correctly perceive the need of the citizens but it can only be work better if the service provided is in line with the expectations of the customer. Then the value of the service increases. Example: the PHC system reached in the remote area of the nation but timely availability of doctors is more important than the infrastructure. Accountability: As in an aspect of governance, it has been central to discussions related to problems in the public sector as this is the relationship between the both sides individuals. Examples – Public service guaranty act of Madhya Pradesh, which gives citizens Legal right to public services. Transparency: Transparency is the principle of allowing those affected by administrative decisions to know about results and about the process that led to decisions. Transparent governance means that government officials act openly, with citizens’ knowledge of the decisions the officials are making. Assurance: Assurance is one of the major parts in it which guaranty to the citizens that govt won’t let them down in certain unexpected situations that may occur and would be unavoidable. Example- PMKisan scheme gives assurance of Rs. 6000/- to the farmers. Responsiveness: In order to make continuous improvement in the service response of the customer through feedback is much more important. Improvisation in the quality of the service can be done through the continuous feedback mechanism. Importance of citizen charter. For Information and openness: A key attribute of citizen charter is the availability of relevant and concise information to the users at the right time and at the right place. To Choice and consultation: The Charter provide choice of services to users wherever practicable. For Courtesy and helpfulness: The Charter helps embed a culture of courteous and helpful service from public servants. In addition, small initiatives such as ‘name badges’, ‘May I help you’ counters etc. can go a long way in building customer confidence. For Grievance redressal and complaints handling: There is a strong link between the provision of quality service and effective handling of complaints. Firstly, by facilitating and responding to complaints, the causes for complaint can be reduced. Secondly, by identifying ‘trends’ in complaints, the service provider can resolve systemic and recurring problems. To improve customer service: Making administration accountable, transparent and citizen friendly it helps in adopt a stakeholder approach and save time of both Administration and the citizen. For example, sevottam model for citizen charter was proposed by the second Administrative Reforms Commission for improving the Public Service Delivery and adopted by many government offices. Challenges pertaining to quality public service delivery: Lack of public participation Red tapism Inadequate political will Policy paralysis Bureaucratic attitude Conclusion: Quality service delivery is an important component of good governance. It requires a number of reforms such as efficient utilisation of public funds, decentralisation of power, plugging legislative loopholes, strengthening the public Institutions like CVC and RTI, enhancing administrative accountability and making society more democratic. These reforms could improve public service delivery more efficiently in the long run. 5. How can institutional reforms address the challenges of corruption? Approach: It expects students to write about - in first part write about various Institutional factors behind corruption in India - in second part write how can institutional reforms address the challenges of corruption - while in third part you can write solution or way forward. Introduction: Corruption refers to the act of misuse and abuse of power especially by those in the government for personal gains either pecuniary or a favour. It promotes illegality, unethicality, subjectivity, inequity, injustice, waste, inefficiency and inconsistency in administrative conduct and behaviour. Body: Institutional factors behind corruption in India: Cumbersome administrative process leads to delay which encourages the growth of dishonest practices such as giving speed money to dishonest officials. The system of governance which lacks transparency; accountability; grievance redressed mechanisms. Weak institutions. Example: CBI suffers from lack of autonomy and is termed as ‘Caged Parrot’ by Supreme Court. Discretionary powers available to public servants. Lack of proper education and training of civil servants. Low salaries. Inadequate and insufficient supervision. Political patronage of officials. Poor public opinion. Unwillingness of people to complain against the corrupt. Institutional reforms can address the challenges of corruption by: Accountability institutions and security agencies are highly politicized. Institutional reforms can have made a huge impact which could be results in the arrest of a large number of high-profile perpetrators. Such reforms can reduce bribery and corruption to a major extent. Introduction of technological tools during the institutional reforms. The services providers can be modernized and professionalized in many areas of priority to better serve the public needs and eliminate inefficiencies in the system. Several applications and websites can be launch to implement public policies and programs. These tools can highly contribute to e-governance; they will not only be helpful in planning and decision making but also assure coordination among different agencies, public and private organizations, local and international donors with no exception to international monitoring agencies. Accountability institutions and security agencies can be authorized with more power and resources to let them feel more confident in catching high profile outlaws. Local governments can be given power and resources to further transfer it down to the village level. These initiatives can be taken to ensure the real devolution at the grass-root levels to provide them more authority and funding. Authority patterns with shared power are necessary for mutual interests and sustainable governance. Through governance, authority and power can incorporated to develop confidence, transparency and accountability mechanisms. 2nd ARC recommendations: Strengthen PCA, 1988 : Sanction for prosecution automatic for those caught red-handed expedite for other cases; Recognize and punish collusive bribery. Liability of corrupt officials: they must make good the loss caused and, in addition, be liable for damages Protection of Whistle-blowers: criminalize harassment, victimization of, or retaliation against whistle-blowers. Appointment of independent ombudsman. E-governance. Strengthen Right to Information Act. Conclusion: There is ample evidence to show that corruption has slowed down economic progress and poverty alleviation initiatives in India. It has adversely affected the national security system, too. The most affected by corruption are the poorest and the most vulnerable groups. We need sustained efforts to address this menace by strengthening institutions, laws, improving governance. TLP HOT Synopsis Day 47 PDF

Dec 7, 2020 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz - 2020 : IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs Quiz 7th Dec 2020

For Previous Daily Quiz (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE The Current Affairs questions are based on sources like ‘The Hindu’, ‘Indian Express’ and ‘PIB’, which are very important sources for UPSC Prelims Exam. The questions are focused on both the concepts and facts. The topics covered here are generally different from what is being covered under ‘Daily Current Affairs/Daily News Analysis (DNA) and Daily Static Quiz’ to avoid duplication. The questions would be published from Monday to Saturday before 2 PM. One should not spend more than 10 minutes on this initiative. This is a part of our recently launched, NEW INITIATIVE IASbaba’s INTEGRATED REVISION PLAN (IRP) 2020 – Road Map for the next 100 Days! FREE INITIATIVE! We will make sure, in the next 4 months not a single day is wasted. All your energies are channelized in the right direction. Trust us! This will make a huge difference in your results this time, provided that you follow this plan sincerely every day without fail. Gear up and Make the Best Use of this initiative. Do remember that, “the difference between Ordinary and EXTRA-Ordinary is PRACTICE!!” To Know More about the Initiative -> CLICK HERE SCHEDULE/DETAILED PLAN – > CLICK HERE Important Note: Don't forget to post your marks in the comment section. Also, let us know if you enjoyed today's test :) After completing the 5 questions, click on 'View Questions' to check your score, time taken and solutions. To the Test - Click Here

Dec 7, 2020 TLP Mains 2020

IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 2 - ENGLISH & हिंदी): UPSC Mains Answer Writing - General Studies Paper 1 Questions[7th DECEMBER,2020] - Day 49

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE Hello Friends, Welcome to IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 2 - ENGLISH & हिंदी): UPSC Mains Answer Writing - General Studies Paper 1 Questions[7th DECEMBER,2020] - Day 49 We will make sure, in the next 3 months not a single day is wasted. All your energies are channelized in the right direction. Trust us! This will make a huge difference in your results this time, provided that you follow this plan sincerely every day without fail. Gear up and Make the Best Use of this initiative. We are giving 5 Mains Questions on 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. A sustainable resource management policy should be framed in terms of availability, exhaustibility, and remaining reserves. Comment. उपलब्धता, निर्वातनीयता और शेष भंडार के संदर्भ में एक स्थायी संसाधन प्रबंधन नीति तैयार की जानी चाहिए। टिप्पणी करें। 2. Should the Chinese model of constructing massive dams like the Three Gorges Dam to tap hydroelectricity be followed in India? Critically comment. क्या भारत में पनबिजली के दोहन के लिए थ्री गोरजेस डैम जैसे बड़े बांध बनाने के चीनी मॉडल का पालन किया जाना चाहिए? समालोचनात्मक टिप्पणी करें।। 3. The Arctic region must be approached carefully for exploration and drilling? Do you agree? Substantiate your views. आर्कटिक क्षेत्र की ओर अन्वेषण और ड्रिलिंग के लिए सावधानी से बढ़ना किया जाना चाहिए? क्या आप सहमत हैं? अपने विचारों की पुष्टि करें। 4. Marine resources form the next frontier of man’s quest for development. Comment. समुद्री संसाधन विकास के लिए मनुष्य की खोज का अगला सीमांत हैं। टिप्पणी करें। 5. What are the key factors that leading to the ongoing global water crisis? Discuss. वैश्विक जल संकट के लिए कौन से प्रमुख कारक हैं? 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 :)

Dec 6, 2020 Motivational Articles

Creative Guidance – Success is not a choice – Inspirational Educative Articles

Success is not a choice: Pursuing success in life is not a choice but an inevitable fact. There is simply no other way to life. We have heard arguments on both sides of success. There are those who have said that nothing is more important than succeeding, and then there are those who have argued that being happy and contented is more important than mindlessly running behind success. Who is right? Is success really a choice? Can one be happy and contented without success? The biggest flaw in the argument against success is that it assumes that to succeed one has to sacrifice happiness and peace of mind, when in fact success itself can be a path to happiness. We fail to look at success beyond its narrow definition of achieving a goal. Success is a lot more than just achieving some goal. It is a complete way of life. Success is not just about achieving, name, fame, wealth or comfort; it is about living life on one’s own terms. More than anything else, success is about pursuit of a higher life and the freedom it offers. When we are searching for success, we are in fact searching for freedom; it could be financial freedom, intellectual freedom, social freedom etc. Success and freedom are inextricably linked. When we pursue success, we are pursuing our innermost desire to move towards a certain destination. In this sense, success is a lot more than just showing people that you are successful. It is about knowing with absolutely certainty what success actually means to you and then pursuing it. Beyond all the external factors that push us to succeed, the most important driving force for success is inbuilt within us. There is simply no way to escape this deep inner desire. We are either striving to succeed, or striving to fail; there is simply no way to simply remain stagnant. Instead of looking at success as a conflict between desires and contentment, comfort and struggle, it makes more sense to look at it as a simple and complete way of life. When we fully realize that there is simply no other way to life other than striving to succeed at something, it becomes extraordinarily easy to strive for success. “This article is a part of the creative endeavor of Meditation Farm and IASBABA.”

Dec 5, 2020 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 5th December 2020

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) maps millions of galaxies Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Space; Sci & Tech In news The Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) has recently mapped over three million galaxies in a record 300 hours during its first all-sky survey. ASKAP is a powerful telescope developed and operated by Australia’s science agency CSIRO. Key takeaways ASKAP is currently conducting pilot surveys of the sky before it can begin large-scale projects from 2021 onward. ASKAP surveys are designed to map the structure and evolution of the Universe, which it does by observing galaxies and the hydrogen gas that they contain. One of its most important features is its wide field of view. It has been able to take panoramic pictures of the sky in great detail. The telescope uses novel technology of a “radio camera” to achieve high survey speeds and consists of 36 dish antennas, which are each 12m in diameter. The present Rapid ASKAP Continuum Survey (RACS) taken by the ASKAP telescope is like a “Google map” of the Universe where most of the millions of star-like points are distant galaxies, about a million of which have not been seen before. Government approves Deputy Chief of Strategy post Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Defence & Security In news A major restructure at the Army Headquarters has finally been approved by the government. Key takeaways The government has given its nod to create the position of a third Deputy Chief of Army. He will act as a “single-point advice” person to the Vice Chief of Army on operational issues. He will head operations, intelligence, perspective and information warfare. The Directorate General of Military Operations and the Directorate General of Military Intelligence, both headed by Lieutenant General-rank officers, will be under him. Two new offices, for Perspective Planning and Strategic Communications, which will also be headed by director generals of Lt Gen-rank, will also come under the new Deputy Chief. The changes will start rolling out immediately. Current DGMO Lt Gen Paramjit Singh is likely to be appointed the first Deputy Chief (Strategy). UN Decides Cannabis Not A Dangerous Narcotic Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – Health In news The UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) recently reclassified out of the most dangerous category of drugs. Key takeaways The CND has decided to remove cannabis from Schedule IV of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. Earlier, cannabis was listed alongside deadly, addictive opioids, including heroin. Now, it is removed from the strictest control schedules that even discouraged its use for medical purposes. The removal has opened the door to recognizing the medicinal and therapeutic potential of the commonly-used but still largely illegal recreational drug. The decision could also drive additional scientific research into the plant’s long-heralded medicinal properties and act as catalyst for countries to legalize the drug for medicinal use, and reconsider laws on its recreational use. Twenty-seven of the CND’s 53 Member States — including India, the USA and most European nations — voted “Yes” on the motion to delete cannabis and cannabis resin from Schedule IV of the 1961 Convention. Under India’s Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, the production, manufacture, possession, sale, purchase, transport, and use of cannabis is a punishable offence. For further read, click the below links: Fighting Drug Menace What is India’s Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985? Click here Malayan Giant Squirrel could decline by 90% in India by 2050: Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Biodiversity In news A recent study by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has projected that numbers of the Malayan Giant Squirrel (Ratufa bicolor) could decline by 90% in India by 2050. Ministry: Ministry of Environment Key takeaways According to the ZSI, destruction of its habitat could restrict the squirrel to only southern Sikkim and North Bengal by 2050,. Only 43.38% of the squirrel’s original habitat in India is now favourable to it By 2050, the favourable zone could shrink to 2.94% of the area the species was meant to inhabit. Important value addition The Malayan Giant Squirrel is one of the world’s largest squirrel species. It has a dark upper body, pale under parts, and a long, bushy tail. IUCN Status: Near Threatened It is protected under India’s Wildlife Protection Act. Found in India: West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, and Nagaland. Other Countries: Southern China, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Burma, the Malayan Peninsula, Sumatra, and Java. It is found mostly in evergreen and semi-evergreen forests, from plains to hills at elevations of 50 m to 1,500 m above sea level. Do you know? India is home to three giant squirrel species. The other two – Indian Giant Squirrel and Grizzled Giant Squirrel – are found in peninsular India. Unlike the nocturnal flying squirrels, giant squirrels are diurnal, but arboreal (tree-dwelling) and herbivorous like the flying squirrels. HL-2M Tokamak: The Artificial Sun of China Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Sci & Tech In news China successfully powered up its “artificial sun” nuclear fusion reactor for the first time marking a great advance in the country’s nuclear power research capabilities. Key takeaways The HL-2M Tokamak reactor is China’s largest and most advanced nuclear fusion experimental research device. Name of the mission: Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST). Location: Sichuan province The reactor is often called an “artificial sun” due to the enormous heat and power it produces. It uses a powerful magnetic field to fuse hot plasma and can reach temperatures of over 150 million degrees Celsius which is approximately ten times hotter than the core of the sun. Scientists hope that the device can potentially unlock a powerful clean energy source. Important value addition Nuclear fusion is a reaction in which two or more atomic nuclei are combined to form one or more different atomic nuclei and subatomic particles (neutrons or protons). Fusion is the process by which the sun and other stars generate light and heat. It is a nuclear process, where energy is produced by smashing together light atoms. It is the opposite reaction of fission, where heavy elements like Uranium and Thorium are split apart. For a nuclear fusion reaction to occur, it is necessary to bring two nuclei so close that nuclear forces become active and glue the nuclei together. Do you know? Nuclear forces are small-distance forces and have to act against the electrostatic forces where positively charged nuclei repel each other. This is the reason nuclear fusion reactions occur mostly in high density, high-temperature environment which is practically very difficult to achieve under laboratory conditions. The 2nd Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) inaugurated Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – Health In news The Ministry of Science & Technology has inaugurated the 2nd Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) 2020 Conference. Key takeaways TCGA is a landmark project started in 2005 by the US-based National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI). The idea was to make a catalogue of the genetic mutations that cause cancer. Tumour samples and blood samples were collected from patients. They were processed using gene sequencing and bioinformatics. The TCGA has generated over 2.5 petabytes of data for over 11,000 patients. The data has been used to develop new approaches to diagnose, treat and prevent cancer. Indian Cancer Genome Atlas (ICGA) has also been initiated in India by a consortium of key stakeholders led by CSIR in which several government agencies, cancer hospitals, academic institutions and private sector partners. Aim: To improve clinical outcomes in cancer and other chronic diseases. Do you know? According to the World Cancer Report by the WHO, one in 10 Indians develops cancer during their lifetime and one in 15 dies of the disease. Place in news: Bhashan Char Island Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – International Relations In news Recently, Bangladesh has transported more than 1,600 Rohingya refugees to a low-lying Bhashan Char island in the first phase of a controversial planned relocation of 1,00,000 people. Important value addition Bhashan Char Island Bhasan Char also known as Char Piya, is an island in Hatiya, Bangladesh. The island was formed with Himalayan silt in 2006. It is underwater from June to September annually because of the monsoon, and it has no flood fences. In June 2015, the Bangladeshi government suggested resettling Rohingya refugees on the island under its Ashrayan Project. The proposal was characterized by the UN Refugee Agency as “logistically challenging”. Bhashan Char is a flood-prone island that emerged from the sea 20 years ago. Concerns: (1) It is flood-prone island; (2) Vulnerable to frequent cyclones; (3) Too small to occupy and nurture the Rohingya population; (4) Chronic overcrowding in camps. For further read, click the below links: ICJ’s ruling on Myanmar Rohingya Understanding Rohingya crisis: Click here Miscellaneous Arecibo Telescope Puerto Rico’s massive Arecibo telescope, famous for its stellar contributions to astronomy recently collapsed. It is the second-largest single-dish radio telescope in the world. Arecibo was first built in 1963. Owned by: The US National Science Foundation It was employed to observe planets, asteroids and the ionosphere. It had found prebiotic molecules in distant galaxies, the first exoplanets, and the first millisecond pulsar. In 1967, Arecibo was able to discover that the planet Mercury rotates in 59 days and not 88 days as had been originally thought. In 1993, scientists Russell Hulse and Joseph Taylor were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for their work on the observatory in monitoring a binary pulsar, providing a strict test of Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity and the first evidence for the existence of gravitational waves. (Mains Focus) SCIENCE & TECH / GOVERNANCE/ ECONOMY Topic: General Studies 3,2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources India and the geopolitics of technology Context: Splinternet, the balkanisation of the internet, digital sovereignty, and data localisation are some of the more popular terms that have come to define the debate on the future of data, and, more broadly, on the future of technology. The argument boils down to the different ways in which governments and transnational organisations (such as EU) choose to access, use, and allow data to flow across borders. Different Types of Digital Markets Digital authoritarianists: Countries that have closed their data markets to external actors — such as China — are commonly referred to as digital authoritarianists. Digital democracies: Those that are guided by judicial standards, the rule of law, and support the freer — but not always free — movement of data have come to be known as digital democracies. Digital Geopolitics and Data Diplomacy The political, ideological, and economic tensions between, and within, various categories of actors shape what might be called the geopolitics of technology This form of geopolitics is as much about competing domestic regulations, the renewed focus on anti-trust laws, and domestic standards on privacy legislations, as it is about international affairs. Greater cooperation on Artificial Intelligence (AI) or blockchain technologies, between entities in different countries, requires mediation and cooperation across borders. This is a matter of data diplomacy. At least 14 countries have appointed negotiators to shape data diplomacy. Designations such as tech ambassador, ambassador of innovations, ambassador for digital affairs, and ambassador for cyber diplomacy are becoming increasingly common. Huge Potential in India Largest Digital Democracy: All data economies want to deal with India as it the largest open data market in the world. Close to 600 million Indians currently use 4G data. Increasing Data Consumption: India also has the highest per capita consumption of data (above 10 GB per month) anywhere in the world. Challenges for India Question of Data Openness: A lot will depend on the kind of digital democracy that India aspires to be. How open or closed will it be to the movement of data across its borders, is the moot question for the fast-growing number of global “tech ambassadors”. To an extent, the question of data openness will be resolved as India’s Personal Data Protection Bill (PDPB) becomes a law, potentially in 2021. Clarity on India’s Objectives: India needs to consider what exactly it wants out of the fast-changing geopolitics around technology that goes beyond banning Chinese apps. India’s evolving domestic data architecture should support its international interests, with the clear view to benefit from the same Balancing Act: The aim of India’s Data Policy must be to negotiate its weight in data and find the right balance for India’s future between localisation and internationalisation. This balancing act has much to do with conceptualising a centralising vision, as well as with administrative organisation. Way Forward To start with, the government could consider appointing its own coordinator for technology. The aim should not be to add to the bean count of global tech ambassadors, but to appoint at least a minister of state-ranked individual to synthesise India’s pulsating story with the view to effectively shape the geopolitics of technology. ECONOMY/ GOVERNANCE Topic: General Studies 3,2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation Aatmanirbhar Bharat & Small Entrepreneurs Manufacturing The slow growth of India’s manufacturing sector has been a long-standing concern for policymakers. India’s manufacturing sector generates less than 20% of the national output, and it has been overshadowed by China. Aatmanirbhar Bharat It is aimed at addressing this deficiency. More restrictive trade will enable entrepreneurs to tap into India’s large domestic market rather than relying just on exports. The shift towards the domestic market has been fueled by the size of the domestic market, the rise of the middle-class, and India’s young demographics. Restrictive trade regime India’s expansion in the manufacturing sector came primarily from the expansion of small entrepreneurs, who account for 99% of establishments and create 80% of jobs in the manufacturing sector. Small entrepreneurs expanded in the tradable sector but contracted in the non-tradable sector. The shift towards a more restrictive trade regime may benefit a few large conglomerates, but it will harm small entrepreneurs, and slow down the pace of job creation. The entire net job growth in the manufacturing sector during the last three decades came primarily from small enterprises in the tradable sector. This trend in the expansion of jobs and small enterprises in the manufacturing sector was not observed in the non-tradable sector. Trade Liberalisation The expansion of small entrepreneurs in the tradable sector and contraction in the non-tradable sector shows that India’s trade alkanization has primarily benefitted small entrepreneurs, who became an integral part of the global supply chains. Trade alkanization played a key role in enabling small enterprises to become an integral part of the global supply chains. Trade alkanization and the rapid pace of alkanizatio boosted India’s size of the informal tradable sector. Informal Sector Young entrepreneurs in the informal sector have created more jobs compared to the large established conglomerates in the formal sector. The informal sector has remained the key driver of poverty reduction, compared to publicly funded poverty programmes. Small entrepreneurs conform much more closely to the overall contours of India’s economic geography than large conglomerates. Not all jobs in the informal economy yield paltry incomes. Many self-employed earn more than unskilled or low-skilled workers in the formal economy. There are huge horizontal and vertical linkages between large and small firms. Small firms are an important supplier of inputs to large firms. Friendly Trade Regime India’s young demographics, and limited employment generated by large industrial conglomerates, has increased the importance of a friendly trade regime for small entrepreneurs who create a majority of jobs in India. Trade flexibility and global integration has enabled millions of more women to find jobs, and better manage work-life balance. The reversal in the trade regime may break the friendship that currently exists between large and small enterprises and informal and formal sectors. (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 Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP): It studies evolution of universe by observing galaxies and the hydrogen gas that they contain. It provides very narrow field of view. Which of the above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2 India is home to which of the following giant squirrel species: Malayan Giant Squirrel Indian Giant Squirrel Grizzled Giant Squirrel Select the correct code: 1 and 2 only 1 and 3 only 1 only 1, 2 and 3 Q.3 Consider the following statements: Nuclear fusion is a reaction in which two or more atomic nuclei split apart releasing huge amounts of energy in the process. Nuclear fission is a reaction in which two or more atomic nuclei are combined together. Which of the above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 ANSWERS FOR 4th December 2020 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 C 2 D Must Read About many layers to farmers discontent: The Hindu About MSP and the need for legal guarantee: The Hindu About challenges of Vaccine in diverse country like India: The Indian Express

Dec 5, 2020 MindMaps

Mind Maps: Corporate Ownership of Banks - General Studies 3

Mind Maps: Corporate Ownership of Banks - General Studies 3 For Previous Important Topics (Mind Maps) - ARCHIVES Hello Friends, Recently we have come up with a NEW INITIATIVE - BRAINSTORMING THROUGH MIND-MAPS! Mind-map is an incredible powerful thinking tool, an innate human language that will have immense benefit in your preparation. The main idea is to brainstorm different aspects of an issue - think in multi-dimensions; what we call 360 degrees of an issue. The whole of this exercise will unleash your creativity to push your brain cells to recall the data learnt and to make it more relevant for your preparation. It will help you to make your Revision and Retention a far better apart from giving you more Clarity in the topics/issue at hand and improve your Concentration. You can see the drastic impact mind-maps will have in a few weeks, provided you are regular with this exercise. So here we are with Today’s TOPIC! Corporate Ownership of Banks - General Studies 3 NOTE – Instructions to download Mind Maps/Images Right Click on the image and ‘Open image in new tab’ Remove/Delete the resolution part from the URL. Eg. “-1536x757” and Press Enter/Load Again Right Click and Save Image As/Download (You’ll get the maximum resolution) Corporate Ownership of Banks YOUR PARTICIPATION? – VERY IMPORTANT Unlike what we were doing before, in this initiative we want students to learn and brainstorm through mind-maps (It is not necessary that you use a software/tool to design mind maps. You can prepare mindmaps using a pen and a sheet of paper). We will share the final printable mind map twice a week. We will also provide specific inputs on your mind maps to improve your skill of mind mapping. To Know More about the initiative, Benefits and How to use a mind-map ->CLICK HERE Together we can, we will. The strength of the community is more powerful than individual effort. We have started it. You have to strengthen it” You can Start sharing Your Mind-maps (get feedback from IASbaba) & Topics of your interest in the comment section below!! Thank You IASbaba

Dec 5, 2020 IASbaba's Monthly Current Affairs Magazine

IAS UPSC Current Affairs Magazine NOVEMBER 2020

ARCHIVES Hello Friends, This is the 66th edition of IASbaba’s Current Affairs Monthly Magazine. 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 edition covers all important current affairs issues that were in news for the month of NOVEMBER 2020. 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

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