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Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz - 2020 : IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs Quiz 24th 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 take the Test - Click Here

TLP Mains 2020

IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 2 - ENGLISH & हिंदी): UPSC Mains Answer Writing - General Studies Paper 3 Questions[24th DECEMBER,2020] - Day 64

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE Hello Friends, Welcome to IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 2 - ENGLISH & हिंदी): UPSC Mains Answer Writing - General Studies Paper 3 Questions[24th DECEMBER,2020] - Day 64   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. Border surveillance capability is a critical component of border security. Do you agree? What is India’s preparedness on this front? Discuss. सीमा निगरानी क्षमता सीमा सुरक्षा का एक महत्वपूर्ण घटक है। क्या आप सहमत हैं? इस मोर्चे पर भारत की तैयारी क्या है? चर्चा करें। 2. Critically evaluate the evolving trend of India’s counterterrorism response in recent years. हाल के वर्षों में भारत की आतंकवाद विरोधी प्रतिक्रिया की बढ़ती प्रवृत्ति का समालोचनात्मक मूल्यांकन करें। 3. How do cross border linkages amongst terrorist and insurgent organisations create security threats? Examine. आतंकवादी और विद्रोही संगठनों के बीच सीमापार संबंध कैसे सुरक्षा खतरे पैदा करते हैं? जांच करें। 4. What are your views on the efficacy of India’s security intelligence establishment? Substantiate your views. भारत के सुरक्षा खुफिया प्रतिष्ठान की प्रभावकारिता पर आपके विचार क्या हैं? अपने विचारों की पुष्टि करें। 5. Discuss the mandate of Border Security Force (BSF)? How is it different from the roles and responsibilities of the Indian Army? Examine. सीमा सुरक्षा बल (BSF) के अधिदेश पर चर्चा करें? यह भारतीय सेना की भूमिकाओं और जिम्मेदारियों से कैसे अलग है? जांच 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 :)

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 23rd December 2020

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Indigenous Games to be a part of Khelo India Youth Games 2021 Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – Policies and Interventions In news The Sports Ministry has approved the inclusion of four Indigenous Games to be a part of Khelo India Youth Games 2021, scheduled to take place in Haryana.  The games include: Gatka, Kalaripayattu, Thang-Ta and Mallakhamba. Key takeaways  Kalaripayattu has its origin from Kerala and has practitioners all over the world. Mallakhamba has been well-known across India. Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra have been the hotspots of this sport. Gatka originates from the State of Punjab. This traditional fighting style of the Nihang Sikh Warriors is used both as self-defense and a sport. Thang-Ta is a Manipur marital art which has passed into oblivion in the recent decades.  Gastrodia Agnicellus named as the ugliest orchid in the world Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Biodiversity In news Gastrodia agnicellus, a newly discovered orchid has been named “the ugliest orchid in the world.” Key takeaways  It was found in a forest in Madagascar.  It feeds on fungi.  It has no leaves. Although assessed as a threatened species, the plants have some protection because they are located in a national park. Do you know?  Madagascar is an island country in the Indian Ocean, approximately 400 kilometres off the coast of East Africa. Madagascar is the world's second-largest island country. Chang’e 5 returns with first fresh rock samples from the moon Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Sci & Tech In news China’s Chang’e 5 lunar mission returned to Earth carrying around 2 kilograms of the first fresh rock samples from the moon in 44 years.  The spacecraft recently landed in Siziwang Banner, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Key takeaways  The probe, named after the ancient Chinese goddess of the moon, first took off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in Hainan on November 24th. Two of the Chang’e 5’s four modules landed on the moon on 1st December and collected about 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds) of samples by scooping them from the surface and drilling 2 meters into the moon’s crust. The samples were deposited in a sealed container that was carried back to the return module by an ascent vehicle. The retrieved re-entry capsule of Chang'e-5 will be airlifted to Beijing, where the capsule will be opened and the samples will be ready for analysis. With this, China became the third country after the United States and the Soviet Union, to collect lunar samples. These are also the first samples to be collected by any country after Russia in 1976. Do you know?  The samples were retrieved from a previously unvisited area of the moon. The latest samples come from a part of the moon known as the Oceanus Procellarum, or Ocean of Storms, near a site called the Mons Rumker that was believed to have been volcanic in ancient times. Mons Rumker, never sampled before, is geologically younger than the sampling areas of the U.S. and the Soviet missions. Efforts in advanced stages to set up Coastal Radar Chain Network Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Infrastructure In news Efforts are in advanced stages to set up coastal radar stations in the Indian Ocean littoral states of Maldives, Myanmar and Bangladesh. Objective: To further expand the coastal radar chain network meant to enable real-time monitoring of the high seas for threats. Key takeaways  Mauritius, Seychelles and Sri Lanka have already been integrated into the country’s coastal radar chain network. Similar plans are in the pipeline with Maldives and Myanmar and discussions are ongoing with Bangladesh and Thailand. Under Phase-I of the coastal radar chain network, 46 coastal radar stations have been set up across the country’s coastline. Under Phase-II of the project, which is currently underway, 38 static radar stations and four mobile radar stations are being set up by the Coast Guard and is in advanced stage of completion. Important value additions  Other developments The Indian Navy’s Information Management and Analysis Centre (IMAC) located in Gurugram, which was set up after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, is the nodal agency for maritime data fusion. As part of information exchange regarding traffic on the high seas, the Navy has been authorised by the government to conclude white shipping agreements with 36 countries and three multilateral constructs.  So far agreements have been concluded with 22 countries and one multilateral construct. At the Navy’s Information Fusion Centre for the Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) which is meant to promote Maritime Domain Awareness, three more International Liaison Officers (ILO) are expected to join soon.  The ILOs from France, Japan and the U.S. have joined the centre. Rehabilitation Centre For Monkeys Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Environment In news The first rescue and rehabilitation centre for monkeys in Telangana was inaugurated at Gandi Ramanna Haritavanam near Chincholi village in Nirmal district. Key takeaways  Monkeys that venture into human habitations would be caught in a phased manner, brought to the centre where they would be operated on for birth control and would be released into the forests again after the rehabilitation period. To make the rehabilitation centre a sustainable habitat for the primates, several fruit and flowering plants, a variety of trees that provide shade, and medicinal plants would be grown. It is the second such facility for the primates in the country.  The rehabilitation centre for the monkeys was also the first such facility in south India. The other facility in the country was in Himachal Pradesh. JSA II: Catch The Rain Awareness Generation Campaign Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Environment In news National Water Mission (NWM), Ministry of Jal Shakti in collaboration with Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports launched the “JSA II: Catch the Rain” Awareness Generation Campaign. Key takeaways  Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangthan will undertake the campaign covering 623 districts across the nation from December 2020 to March 2021. NWM has launched a campaign Catch the rain” with tag line “catch the rain, where it falls, when it falls” in order to nudge all stake-holders to create Rain Water Harvesting Structures (RWHS) to store rain water as rains falling in the four/five months of monsoon are the only source of water for most parts of the country. Important value additions  The objective of the National Water Mission Increase water use efficiency by 20% through regulations, differential entitlements and pricing. A considerable share of water needs of urban areas is to be met through recycling of wastewater. Water requirements of coastal cities are to be met through the adoption of low-temperature desalination technologies. Consult with states to ensure that basin-level management strategies are made to deal with variability in rainfall and river flows due to climate change. Enhance storage above and below ground, implement rainwater harvesting. Adopt large scale irrigation programmes which rely on sprinklers, drip irrigation and ridge and furrow irrigation. Preventive measures started against Shigellosis in Kerala Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – Health In news Health officials in Kozhikode district of Kerala began preventive measures after 6 cases of shigella infection and nearly 24 suspected cases were detected. Important value additions  Shigellosis, or shigella infection, is a contagious intestinal infection caused by a genus of bacteria known as shigella. The bacteria is one of the prime pathogens responsible for causing diarrhoea, fluctuating between moderate and severe symptoms, especially in children in African and South Asian regions. The bacteria, after entering the body through ingestion, attacks the epithelial lining of the colon resulting in inflammation of the cells and subsequently the destruction of the cells in severe cases. Symptoms: Diarrhoea (often bloody and painful), stomach pain, fever, nausea and vomiting. Transmission: It spreads person-to-person when the bacteria is swallowed accidentally.  Spread through contaminated food and water is the most common form of transmission across the world. Prevention: Wash hands with soap especially after dealing with a child’s diaper and before preparing/eating food. Status Of Leopards Report released Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Environment; Biodiversity In news Union Minister for Environment released the Status of Leopards report. Key takeaways  The leopard population has been estimated using camera trapping method. There are 12,852 leopards in India as of 2018 as compared to the previous estimate of 7910 conducted in 2014, an increase of 60% in 4 years. The highest concentration of the leopard in India is estimated to be in Madhya Pradesh (3,421) followed by Karnataka (1,783) and Maharashtra (1,690). Recent meta-analyses of leopard status and distribution suggest 48–67% range loss for the species in Africa and 83–87% in Asia. In India, leopards have experienced a possibly human-induced 75-90% population decline in the last ~120-200 years. In Indian subcontinent, poaching, habitat loss, depletion of natural prey and conflict are major threats to leopard populations.  All these have resulted in changing the species status from ‘Near Threatened’ to ‘Vulnerable’ by the IUCN. As for region-wise distribution, the highest number of 8,071 leopards were found in central India and eastern ghats.  In the northeast hills, there are just 141 leopards. Do you know?  The leopard was estimated across forested habitats in tiger range areas of the country but other leopard occupied areas such as non-forested habitats, higher elevations in the Himalayas, arid landscapes and majority of North East landscape were not sampled. Therefore, the population estimation should be considered as minimum number of leopards in each of the landscapes. Cattle competing one-horned rhino's in Assam's Mini Kaziranga Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Environment; Biodiversity In news Too many cattle are competing against the one-horned rhinos of Assam’s Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, referred to as ‘Mini Kaziranga’ for nutritious food. Important value additions  Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary  It is situated in the flood plains of River Brahmaputra in the district of Morigaon.  In 1987, Pobitora was declared a wildlife sanctuary. It harbors the highest density of Rhinoceros in the world and second highest concentration of Rhinoceros in Assam after Kaziranga National Park. It is an Important Bird Area and home for more than 2000 migratory birds and various reptiles. Firefly bird diverters for Great Indian Bustards Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Environment; Biodiversity In news The Ministry of Environment along with the Wildlife Conservation Society, India, has come up with a unique initiative — a “firefly bird diverter” for overhead power lines in areas where Great Indian Bustard (GIB) populations are found in the wild. Key takeaways  The GIB is one of the most critically threatened species in India, with fewer than 150 birds left in the wild. It is listed as Critically Endangered in IUCN Red List. A 2019 report by the Environment Ministry pointed out that power lines, especially high-voltage transmission lines with multiple overhead wires, are the most important current threat for GIBs in the Thar region, and are causing unsustainably high mortality in about 15% of their population. Do you know? Firefly bird diverters are flaps installed on power lines. They work as reflectors for bird species like the GIB.  Birds can spot them from a distance of about 50 metres and change their path of flight to avoid collision with power lines. The diverters are called fireflies because they look like fireflies from a distance, shining on power lines in the night. 75% districts in India hotspots of extreme climate events  Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Environment; Climate change In news Over 75% districts in India, home to more than 63.8 crore people, are hotspots of extreme climate events such as cyclones, floods, droughts, heat and cold waves, according to a study released by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW). Key takeaways  This is the first time that extreme weather event hotspots in the country have been mapped. The frequency, intensity, and unpredictability of these extreme events have risen in recent decades. While India witnessed 250 extreme climate events in 35 years between 1970 and 2005, it recorded 310 such weather events in only 15 years since then. In the last 50 years, the frequency of flood events increased almost eight times.  Events associated with floods such as landslides, heavy rainfall, hailstorms, thunderstorms, and cloudbursts increased by over 20 times. Six of India’s eight most flood-prone districts in the last decade—Barpeta, Darrang, Dhemaji, Goalpara, Golaghat, Sivasagar—are in Assam. The yearly average of drought-affected districts increased 13 times after 2005. Nearly 68% of the districts have faced droughts and drought-like situations. Drought-affected district hotspots of India in the last decade were Ahmednagar, Aurangabad (both Maharashtra), Anantapur, Chittoor (both Andhra Pradesh), Bagalkot, Bijapur, Chikkaballapur, Gulbarga, and Hassan (all Karnataka). The study also found a shift in the pattern of extreme climate events, such as flood-prone areas becoming drought-prone and vice-versa, in over 40% of Indian districts. Do you know?  Microclimatic zones, or areas where the weather is different from surrounding areas, are shifting across various districts of India.  A shift in microclimate zones may lead to severe disruptions across sectors – every 2 degrees C rise in annual mean temperature will reduce agricultural productivity by 15-20%, it has found. Reasons behind shift in microclimatic zones: Change in land-use patterns, disappearing wetlands and natural ecosystems by encroachment, and urban heat islands that trap heat locally. (Mains Focus) SOCIETY/ HEALTH/ GOVERNANCE Topic: General Studies 1,2: Social Empowerment Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health and Human Resources. Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Mental Healthcare Issues Around 15% of India’s population suffer from poor mental health – and the number of people afflicted has been increasing steadily, from 125 million in 1990 to 197 million in 2017.  Suicide ranks as the second-biggest cause of death among Indian adults of working age. India spent less than 1% of its total healthcare budget on mental health in 2017. Underutilization of funds, low prioritization of mental health by individual Indian states, and low coverage of health insurance for mental, neurological and substance use (MNS) disorders. The COVID-19 pandemic has only underscored the need for additional financing of mental health services. Way Ahead Effective and innovative mental health interventions can be scaled up quickly in order to improve mental healthcare delivery in India. Embedding the awareness and detection of mental health problems Counselling and referral into well-defined care pathways through frontline workers at the community level. Conducting behavioural change communication campaigns to destigmatize mental health issues and to present options for care for both patients and caregivers. Enabling anonymous methods of seeking help, such as helplines or apps. Improving accessibility by leveraging digital tools and technologies. Strengthening mental health service delivery at the primary and secondary care levels. Using mobile-based (digital) decision support systems to improve patient management. Improving adherence to care through psycho-social education Setting up follow-up mechanisms or changes of treatment regimen with increased adherence. India needs impact financing for mental healthcare to complement public funding and for mobilizing resources from private sector and philanthropy, to bring innovative mental healthcare delivery models to scale. (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 Gatka: Gatka originates from the state of Rajasthan.  It is used both as Self defence and a sport. Which of the above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2 Thang Ta is a martial art of which of the following state of India?  Manipur  Mizoram  Tripura  Assam Q.3 Gastrodia agnicellus is a newly discovered orchid named “the ugliest orchid in the world.” Which of the following is incorrect about it? It was found in a forest in Madagascar It feeds on insects. It has no leaves. It is regarded as a threatened species Q.4 Consider the following statements: Navy’s Information Fusion Centre for the Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) is meant to promote Maritime Domain Awareness. Mauritius, Seychelles and Sri Lanka have been integrated into India’s coastal radar chain network. Which of the above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 ANSWERS FOR 22nd December 2020 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 C 2 D 3 A 4 A

AIR

India's Role in Global Oil and Gas Value Chain - All India Radio (AIR) IAS UPSC

ARCHIVES India's Role in Global Oil and Gas Value Chain Search 26th Oct, 2020 Spotlight News Analysis here: http://www.newsonair.com/Main_Audio_Bulletins_Search.aspx   TOPIC: General Studies 3 Energy – Oil Energy Security in the times of COVID-19 India is an important player in the global Oil and gas sector being the 3rd largest consumer of crude oil and the 4th largest LNG importer. India has been drawing investments across the oil and gas value chain and other sectors even during these challenging times, and the country is a bright spot in an otherwise difficult year for the sector. India's oil and natural gas sector is likely to receive fresh investment of over $300 billion by 2030 for developing natural supply and distribution infrastructure to meet rising demand. The government aims to more than double the share of natural gas in its energy base to 15 per cent by 2030. India consumes 5 million barrels of oil equivalent per day currently. Oil & Gas sector is a key contributor to India’s economy and accounted for almost 55% of our energy mix in 2017. India is the third largest consumer of crude oil and petroleum products in the world, accounting for 4.5 per cent of global oil consumption, behind the US and China. Indian Oil and Gas companies are present in 28 countries with investments worth approximately 38 billion US dollars. National Data Repository has been set up to facilitate potential investors to take informed decisions based on the geo-scientific data of hydrocarbon resources in the country. Global energy trends favouring a big shift Prominent global trends are shaping up in this regard — for instance, the big shift in energy consumption from Europe to Asia, the United States becoming the world’s largest oil and gas producer after the shale revolution, solar energy emerging as a competitive and most sustainable energy alternative, share of natural gas in the global energy mix rising, convergence of cheaper renewable energy technologies, digital applications and the rising role of electricity forming the basis for achieving many of the world’s sustainable development goals, and countries coming together to tackle climate change, including through global collaboration such as the International Solar Alliance (ISA). India’s Way Forward Global energy producers must pursue more ‘responsible pricing’ policies and India needs ‘affordable and reliable’ energy sources India will make a strong pitch to global oil and gas companies to invest in the energy sector to realise the full potential of the Atma Nirbhar Bharat mission. This year has been challenging for the energy sector —  Demand fell by almost one third There has been price instability Investment decisions have been impacted and leading global bodies project contraction in global energy demand over the next few years also.  But these agencies project India to emerge as a leading energy consumer, which is set to double its energy consumption over the long term. During these challenging times, India has witnessed investments through the oil and gas value chain and is seeing similar signs in other sectors too. A self-reliant India, with energy security at its core, will also be a force multiplier for the global economy. After the initial effects of the pandemic and the national lockdown, India is now on the road to full recovery with petroleum products consumption returning to levels witnessed before the COVID-19 scourge. Ensuring Energy Justice: India believes that access to energy must be affordable and reliable. That is when social economic transformation can take place. We view the energy sector [as one] that empowers people and improves ease of living. Climate Concerns: India will stick to its global commitments towards climate change, while tapping more energy to improve the lives of Indians with a smaller carbon footprint. With one of the lowest carbon emission in the industrialised world, India’s energy sector will be growth-centric, industry friendly and environment-conscious. Note: NITI Aayog organizes a roundtable of global Oil & Gas CEOs annually – There is a need for India to graduate from a passive consumer to an active and vocal stake-holder in the global Oil & Gas value chain. Objective: To deliver a global platform to understand best-practices, discuss reforms, and inform strategies for accelerating investments into the Indian Oil and Gas value chain. The event also grows in stature with the rise of India, the world's third-largest energy consumer, which is likely to see over $300 billion investment by 2030 in the Oil & Gas sector to meet rising demand. Natural Gas Marketing Reforms approved  The Union Cabinet has approved ‘Natural Gas Marketing Reforms’ to move towards gas based economy. Aim of the Policy:  To provide standard procedure for sale of natural gas in a transparent and competitive manner;  To discover market price by issuing guidelines for sale by contractor through e-bidding. Advantages:  This will bring uniformity in the bidding process across the various contractual regimes and policies; Ambiguity shall be removed;  It shall contribute towards ease of doing business.  Affiliate companies can also participate in the bidding process to make it more open and transparent. The policy will also grant marketing freedom to the Field Development Plans (FDPs) of those Blocks in which Production Sharing Contracts already provide pricing freedom. These reforms in gas sector will further deepen and spur the economic activities in the following areas: The whole eco-system of policies relating to production, infrastructure and marketing of natural gas has been made more transparent with a focus on ease of doing business. These reforms will prove very significant for Atmanirbhar Bharat by encouraging investments in the domestic production of natural gas and reducing import dependence. These reforms will prove to be another milestone in moving towards a gas based economy by encouraging investments. The increased gas production consumption will help in improvement of environment. These reforms will also help in creating employment opportunities in the gas consuming sectors including MSMEs. The domestic production will further help in increasing investment in the downstream industries such as City Gas Distribution and related industries. Must Read: Natural Gas Marketing Reforms Connecting the Dots: Impact of the Pandemic on India’s future energy demand Securing supplies for India’s economic growth What does energy transition and the climate agenda mean for India? Natural gas in India’s Energy Mix: What’s the path? Refining & petrochemicals: Strategies midst surplus The pace of innovation: Biofuel, hydrogen, CCS, electric vehicles and digital transformation

RSTV Video

Gilgit-Baltistan an Integral Part of India – The Big Picture – RSTV IAS UPSC

Gilgit-Baltistan an Integral Part of India Archives TOPIC: Genral Studies 2 International Relations In News: On November 1, observed every year in Gilgit-Baltistan as “Independence Day”, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan announced that his government would give the region “provisional provincial status”. When that happens, G-B will become the fifth province of Pakistan, although the region is claimed by India as part of the erstwhile princely state of Jammu & Kashmir as it existed in 1947 at its accession to India. Gilgit-Baltistan is the northernmost territory administered by Pakistan, providing the country’s only territorial frontier, and thus a land route, with China, where it meets the Xinjiang Autonomous Region.  Currently, Pakistan has four provinces – Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and Sindh.This elevation will lead to adequate representation from the province on all constitutional bodies, including the National Assembly and the Senate. From the beginning Gilgit-Baltistan was governed as a separate entity by Pakistan and not as a part of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). Islamabad had hesitated to declare it a province of Pakistan because of its claim that J&K is disputed territory and its future must be decided by a plebiscite among all its inhabitants. One of the most mountainous regions in the world that is rich with mines of gold, emerald and strategically important minerals, and is known for its extraordinary scenic beauty, diversity and ancient communities and languages, Gilgit-Baltistan is largely an underdeveloped region. It’s home to K-2, the second tallest mountain in the world. Tourism remains restricted by many factors, including military hostility, though the region has some of the ancient Buddhist sculptures and rock edicts. It is also home to an old Shia community, which often finds itself subjected to persecution in Pakistan’s urban centres.  The water-rich region’s biggest hydroelectricity project is the Diamer-Bhasha dam, which was launched in July 2020. Why change the status now? First, the revocation of Article 370 by India and the bifurcation of the State into two Union Territories have sent a clear message that the Kashmir dispute is not only dead but also buried as far as New Delhi is concerned. Pakistan’s imminent move, transforming Gilgit-Baltistan’s de facto status into a de jure one, is a clear riposte to the Indian decision. Second, public opinion in Gilgit-Baltistan has long been in favour of full integration into Pakistan as a province as the predominantly Shia and ethnically distinct population of the region has very little in common with PoK. Islamabad feels that by declaring it a province will assuage domestic dissatisfaction on this score. Third, let us come to China – China has been encouraging Islamabad to turn Gilgit-Baltistan into a province. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) runs through Gilgit-Baltistan and China has invested heavily in the region. In view of India’s continuing claim to the area, Beijing is interested in delinking Gilgit-Baltistan formally from Kashmir so that its investment does not remain hostage to the possibility of another round of India-Pakistan hostilities over Kashmir. China also wants to repay India in its own coin following New Delhi’s decision to separate Ladakh from J&K. Beijing views the Indian move as the first step towards India attempting to enforce its claim on Aksai Chin, currently under Chinese occupation. In addition to CPEC, China considers Gilgit-Baltistan very important because of its strategic location. It is contiguous to Ladakh as well as Xinjiang and could act as a staging post against India if a major conflict erupts in Ladakh. Beijing possibly presumes that Pakistan will agree to a Chinese military presence in Gilgit-Baltistan because Islamabad would like to see India embroiled simultaneously in a two-front war — in Ladakh and Gilgit — with China. The Government will also start working on the Moqpondass Special Economic Zone (SEZ) under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). There is already substantial Chinese civilian presence in Gilgit-Baltistan related to CPEC projects. China is interested in stationing military personnel as well. Delinking the region from the Kashmir dispute would make it easier for the international community to accept Chinese presence in Gilgit-Baltistan. It would also serve Pakistan’s purpose of getting back at India for abrogating Article 370 as well as complicating India’s strategic environment by the implicit threat of turning it into a Chinese staging ground. India’s Response India had slammed Pakistan for its attempt to accord provincial status to "so-called Gilgit-Baltistan”, saying it is intended to camouflage the "illegal" occupation of the region by Islamabad.   Spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs Anurag Srivastava said India "firmly rejects" the attempt by Pakistan to bring material changes to a part of Indian territory which is under Islamabad's "illegal and forcible occupation" and asked the neighbouring country to immediately vacate such areas.  What is the region’s current status? Though Pakistan, like India, links G-B’s fate to that of Kashmir, its administrative arrangements are different from those in PoK. While PoK has its own Constitution that sets out its powers and their limits vis-à-vis Pakistan, G-B has been ruled mostly by executive fiat. Until 2009, the region was simply called Northern Areas. It got its present name only with the Gilgit-Baltistan (Empowerment and Self-Governance) Order, 2009, which replaced the Northern Areas Legislative Council with the Legislative Assembly. The NALC was an elected body, but had no more than an advisory role to the Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas, who ruled from Islamabad. The Legislative Assembly has 24 directly elected members and nine nominated ones. In 2018, the then PML(N) government passed an order centralising even the limited powers granted to the Assembly, a move linked to the need for greater control over land and other resources for the infrastructure projects then being planned under CPEC. The order was challenged, and in 2019, the Pakistan Supreme Court repealed it and asked the Imran Khan government to replace it with governance reforms. This was not done. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court extended it jurisdiction to G-B, and made arrangements for a caretaker government until the next Legislative Assembly elections. The last polls were held in July 2015, and the Assembly’s five-term ended in July this year. Fresh elections could not be held because of the pandemic. It is not clear if the provincial status will come before or after the polls. Conclusion A quick glance at a map of the region will display Gilgit-Baltistan’s incredible potential and geostrategic importance. No wonder this was the heart of the Great Game a hundred years ago. India must calibrate its response carefully because merely by turning up the rhetorical heat, it may play into Chinese and Pakistani hands and escalate the situation. Rhetoric must always be determined by a meticulous assessment of capability. Connecting the dots: Discuss the critical phases on India-Pakistan relations. Map-making in the subcontinent must come to an end. Comment.

TLP Mains 2020

SYNOPSIS [21st DECEMBER,2020] Day 61: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 2): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE   SYNOPSIS [21st DECEMBER,2020] Day 61: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 2): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)   Q.1What is your assessment of India’s recent commitment to global efforts for combating climate change? Comment.  Approach - It expects you to write about climate change and assess the India recent commitment to global efforts for combating climate change. Introduction  Climate change is the global phenomenon of climate transformation characterised by the changes in the usual climate of the planet (regarding temperature, precipitation, and wind) that are especially caused by human activities. As a result of unbalancing the weather of Earth, the sustainability of the planet’s ecosystems is under threat, as well as the future of humankind and the stability of the global economy. Body India’s recent commitments to global efforts for combating climate change: Coalition in resilient future: India is also keen on fostering international cooperation to fight climate change. Prime Minister highlighted that India along with France set up the International Solar Alliance (ISA). ISA promotes and facilitates cooperation on solar among developing countries.  Infrastructure to prevent disaster: The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure is an international organisation in the making. The coalition will work towards a common goal of establishing infrastructure which is resilient to pressures of climate change and environmental disasters. India has pledged INR 4.8 billion (Around USD 70 million) to the CDRI. Paris agreement:Ratifying the Paris Agreement in 2016, India’s pledge lays out a comprehensive approach to limit climate impacts while fostering economic growth. India is an emerging economic powerhouse. It is also the world’s third-largest energy consumer and greenhouse gas (GHG) emitter where Indian efforts to fast track Paris commitments will clearly help in speeding global efforts due its size. Sustainable Mobility:Increasing the fleet of electric vehicles and its charging infrastructure in India with FAME II will be key to improve air quality in cities, enhance energy security by reduced dependence on imported crude, and is also a key solution to fight climate change. Innovative technologies: India  is  partnering  22  member  countries  and  the  European  Union  in the  ‘Mission  Innovation’  on  clean  energy,  and  is  co-lead  in  smart  grid,  off-grid and  sustainable  biofuels  innovation challenges.    Taking leadership: India is on track to meet its Copenhagen commitments.  Such  an  effort  will  help India  take  leadership  role  in  tackling  climate  change  across  the  globe  and  thus ensuring  fast-tracking  of  global  efforts. Renewable energy commitments: UN’s  Climate  Week  in  New York this past  September,  India’s  Prime  Minister committed  to  a  target  of  450  gigawatts  (GW)  of  renewable  energy installations, likely by  2030equivalent  to  five  times  more  than  India’s  current  installed  renewable capacity (82.6  GW)  and  bigger  than  the  size  of India’s  electricity grid  size  in  2019  (362 GW). Assessment of India’s commitments to combat climate change: Per  capita,  India’s  emission  from  fossil  fuels  (in  2017)  is  by  far  the  lowest among  major  economies  at  1.83  MT  carbon  dioxide  (CO2).  Despite  its  low  per capita  emissions,  India  has  made  significant  commitments  in  its  Intended Nationally  Determined  Contribution  (NDC).  However,  to  meet  our  Paris commitments  and fully  implement our NDCs  in  a timely  manner,  India  requires Conclusion enhanced  new  and  additional  financial,  technological  and  capacity  building support,  which  has  been  missing  on the  global  front. The Green India Mission, which seeks to work towards the target is woefully underfunded and has been regularly missing its annual targets. This has rendered the fulfilment of the 2030 pledge hard if not altogether unlikely. India’s  third  NDC  commitment  is  to  create  an  additional  carbon  sink  of  2.5  to 3  billion  tons  of  carbon  dioxide  equivalent  through  additional  forest  and  tree cover  by  2030.  However,  the  progress  has  been  limited  and  the  country has  more  work  to  do  on  this  target. In its second Biennial Update Report submitted to the UNFCCC in 2019, India claimed to have reduced the emission intensity of its economy by 21 per cent by 2014. But it didn’t specify emissions data for 2005 or the GDP data series used to arrive at the conclusion. Among  the  Group  of  20  (G-20)  countries,  which  are  some  of  the  biggest  GHG emitters,  only  India  and  the  UK  rank  among  high  performers.  In  fact,  eight  of the  G-20  countries  rank  among  low  performers.  This  clearly  shows  that individual  performance  can’t  bring  about  much  change  in  global  discourse. The Climate Action Tracker website has rated India’s climate efforts as “2- degree compatible” — that can contribute to limiting warming by the end of the century to 2° Celsius; making India the only major economy to be so highly rated. This showcases the global significance of Indian efforts. Conclusion Climate change strategy needs to focus on supporting design of policies and action plans, promoting early adaptation as well as long-term strategies like directing investment towards low carbon technologies and practices and finally integrating climate change broadly into development assistance at the global, regional and national levels. Q.2. Examine the problem of groundwater contamination in India’s agrarian states. What are the possible ways to address this challenge? Discuss.  Approach - It expects students to write about ground water contamination problem in India’s agrarian states. And also highlight few possible way to address the challenge of ground water contamination problem. Introduction  Groundwater contamination occurs when man-made products such as gasoline, oil, road salts and chemicals get into the groundwater and cause it to become unsafe and unfit for human use.Materials from the land's surface can move through the soil and end up in the groundwater. For example, pesticides and fertiliserscan find their way into groundwater supplies over time as seen in India’s many agrarian states. Body Problem of Ground water contamination in Indian agrarian states: DDT, BHC, carbamate, Endosulfan, etc. are the most common pesticides used in India. But, the vulnerability of groundwater to pesticide and fertiliser pollution is governed by soil texture, pattern of fertiliser and pesticide use, their degradation products, and total organic matter in the soil. A recent study conducted by the Water Resources Ministry and a comparative analysis of the data done by The Tribune, reveals that while Haryana is on the top with regard to overall contamination of underground water, Punjab has the highest quantity of Nitrate, Cadmium and Chromium (heavy metals) among the region’s states. Indiscriminate extraction of groundwater for irrigation purposes has led to inland salinity problem in parts of Punjab, Haryana. Uranium contamination has aggravated by groundwater-table decline. Decline in groundwater table induces oxidation conditions. As a result, uranium enrichment in shallow groundwater is enhanced. A recent survey undertaken by Centre for Science and Environment from eight places in Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Haryana reported traces of heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, zinc and mercury. Shallow aquifer in Ludhiana city, the only source of its drinking water, is polluted by a stream which receives effluents from 1300 industries. Arsenic contamination is by far the biggest mass poisoning case in the world putting 20 million people from West Bengal. There are no estimates of the public health consequences of groundwater pollution as it involves methodological complexities and logistical problems. Pesticide are toxic or carcinogenic. Generally, pesticides damage the liver and nervous system. Tumour formation in liver has also been reported. Issues in Tackling Groundwater Contamination and Pollution in agrarian states: Lack of data and information: The step towards evolving measures to prevent and cure groundwater quality deterioration is generating reliable and accurate information through water quality monitoring (WQM) to understand the actual source/cause, type and level of contamination. However, there are a few observation stations in the country that cover all the essential parameters for water quality and hence the data obtained are not decisive on the water quality status. Costly water technologies: WQM involve expensive and sophisticated equipments that are difficult to operate and maintain and require substantial expertise in collecting, analysing and managing data. Since water technology is still not advanced in India, it is very likely that the available data is less reliable.  Inadequate methods: The existing methodology for WQM is inadequate to identify the various sources of pollution. Integration of data on water quality with data on water supplies, which is very important from the point of view of assessing water availability for meeting various social, economic and environmental objectives, is hardly done.  Varying results: In the absence of any stringent norms on water quality testing, results can change across agencies depending on sampling procedure, time of testing, and testing instruments and procedure. Possible ways to address thisground water contamination challenges: Bioremediation: Bioremediation of an aquifer contaminated with organic compounds can be accomplished by the biodegradation of those contaminants and result in the complete mineralization of constituents to carbon dioxide, water, inorganic salts, and cell mass, in the case of aerobic metabolism; or to methane, carbon dioxide. Recharging water table: Artificial recharge could push seawater-freshwater interface seawards. These techniques can also be used to reduce the levels of fluoride, arsenic or salinity in aquifer waters on the principle of dilution. In situ treatment: In Indian context, it is not economically viable to clean aquifers. In the case of arsenic, methods for in situ treatment have already been in used. In situ- valent, iron permeable reactive barriers (PRBs) are used in situ to remove chromium and several chlorinated solvents in groundwater and are tested successful for removing arsenic. Reverse Osmosis (RO): It is a process to get rid of all the impurities in drinking water including deadly ions and organisms and pesticide/fertiliser residues. RO systems are suitable for removing several of the toxic substances present in water in dissolved form, including fluoride, fertiliser and pesticide residues, and heavy metals. A coagulation system: Household arsenic treatment method is the ferric chloride coagulation system. This involves precipitation of arsenic by adding a packet of coagulant in 25 litres of tube well water, and subsequent filtration of the water through a sand filter. Community Aquifer Management:A more practical consideration was to use groundwater associations as agents in monitoring and enforcement of government policies and laws. The idea of groundwater organisations has a wide appeal; it was advocated to India by a British Geological Survey study.  Research in water resource: Information Systems and Resource Planning through establishing appropriate systems for groundwater monitoring on a regular basis and undertaking systematic and scientific research on the occurrence, use and ways of augmenting and managing the resource  Water user associations (WUAs): By emphasising on local-level institutions like the WUAs, the Atal BhujalYojana has signalled the Jal Shakti ministry’s inclination towards such persuasive solutions. Conclusion The livelihoods of the millions of people that rely on groundwater for drinking water and agriculture are currently at risk and this situation will worsen if unsustainable practices remain. The alluvial Indo-Gangetic plains in north-west India are particularly highly contaminated, especially in the agriculturally intensive “breadbasket” areas in Punjab and Haryana. For the long run, policies need to be focused on building scientific capabilities of line agencies concerned with WQM, water supplies, and pollution control; and restructuring them to perform WQM and enforcement of pollution control norms effectively and to enable them implement environmental management projects. Q 3. What are the key principles and objectives of environmental impact assessment (EIA)? Illustrate with the help of suitable examples. Approach: It is straightforward question where it expects students to write about - in first part write about main Principles of Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) - in second part write about various objectives of Environmental Impact Assessment. Introduction: Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a process of evaluating the likely environmental impacts of a proposed project or development, taking into account inter-related socio-economic, cultural and human-health impacts, both beneficial and adverse. Environment Impact Assessment in India is statutorily backed by the Environment Protection Act, 1986 which contains various provisions on EIA methodology and process. Body: Main Principles of Environment Impact Assessment (EIA): There are eight guiding principles that govern the entire EIA process: The principles of EIA: Participation: The process should provide appropriate opportunities to inform and involve the interested and affected publics, and their inputs and concerns should be addressed explicitly in the documentation and decision making. Appropriate/timely access for interested parties is important. Transparency: The process should have clear, easily understood requirements for EIA content, ensure public access to the information, identify the factors that are taken into account in decision making and acknowledge limitations and difficulties. Open and accessible assessment decisions are important in EIA. Efficient: The Process should impose the minimum cost burdens in terms of time and finance on proponents and participants consistent with meeting accepted requirements and objectives of EIA. Accountability: The decision maker should inform decision making and result in appropriate levels of environmental protection and community well-being. Decision makers should be responsible for their actions and decisions. Credibility: The process should be carried out with professionalism, rigour, fairness, objectivity, impartiality and balance and be subject to independent checks and verification. Cost-effective: The process should achieve the objectives of EIA within the limits of available information, time, resources and methodology. Integrated: The process should address the interrelationships of social, economic and biophysical aspects. Practicality: The process should result in information and outputs which assist with problem solving and are acceptable to and able to be implemented by proponents. Information/outputs readily usable in decision making and planning is important. Objectives of Environmental Impact Assessment: To make sure that environmental considerations are explicitly addressed and incorporated into the development decision making process. To forestall and avoid, reduce or offset the adverse significant biophysical, social and other relevant effects of development proposals. To shield the productivity and capacity of natural systems and the ecological processes which maintain their functions. To encourage development that is sustainable and optimizes resource use and management opportunities. Examples: For river valley project like Narmada river valley project EIA of mineral mines in Odisha  Conclusion: There is a need to strengthen the implementation of EIA, Independent EIA Authority is required for fair and objective decisions. There is also a need for centralised data bank for storing information and the transparency must be maintained in dissemination of all information related to projects from notification to clearance to local communities and general public. Q 4. What are the most potent ecological hazards in the coastal regions? Examine. Approach: It is straightforward question, here it expects aspirants to - start answer by defining term like ecological hazard - in main body part you need to write about various ecological hazards in coastal region and how they are impacting surrounding region. Introduction: An ecological hazard is a substance, state or event which has the potential to threaten the surrounding natural environment or adversely affect people's health, including pollution and natural disasters such as storms and earthquakes. Body: Some of the hazards include movement of barrier islands, sea level rise, hurricanes, nor'easters, earthquakes, flooding, erosion, pollution and human development along the coast.  Movement of barrier islands: They create a barrier between the mainland and the ocean. They shelter and protect the mainland from the powerful forces of wind, waves, tides, currents and the ravages of storms and hurricanes. They shelter the estuaries that form behind the barriers. Between 75% and 95% of all marine species are dependent upon these estuaries at some point in their lives. They allow marshes to build up in the quiet waters of the sound. The marshes filter the pollutants that come in from mainland rivers and when the marsh grasses die they create detritus, a valuable food source for small marine organisms. Barrier islands provide valuable habitats for mammals, shellfish and fish including many endangered species, and offer a greater variety of bird species than any other ecosystem in the continental United States. They also serve aesthetic purposes and for years, have inspired artists, poets, writers, bird watchers, boaters, picnickers, sunbathers and swimmers. Sea level rise: Landward recession or erosion of sandy shorelines. Depending on the rate and scale of sea level rise, the environmental, social and economic consequences or shoreline recession within low lying inter-tidal areas, in particular, may be significant in the medium to long term. Salt water intrusion and landward advance of tidal limits within estuaries. This may have significant implications in the medium to long term for freshwater and salt water ecosystems and development margins, particularly building structures and foundation systems within close proximity to the shoreline. Existing coastal gravity drainage, storm water infrastructure and sewerage systems may become compromised over time as mean sea level rises. Sea level rise will influence the entrance opening regimes for intermittently closed and open lakes and lagoons and alter catchment flood behaviour over time. Pollution: Coastal and estuarine ecosystems have been, and still are, heavily influenced by humans through pollution and habitat loss worldwide. Over 80% of all marine pollution originates from land-based sources which are primarily industrial, agricultural and urban. Pollution accompanies most kinds of human activities, including offshore oil and gas production and marine oil transportation. Besides altering the marine environment, pollution also causes economic losses Human development along the coast: Living organisms play an essential role in biogeochemical cycles through coastal systems. They are themselves vulnerable to rapid changes which take place in the coastal zone due to anthropogenic activities, but changes in the structure of populations of organisms will in turn affect the geochemistry of the habitat, to a point where such cycles might become dysfunctional. The consequences of such changes taking place in coastal ecosystems may have consequences at global level leading to an unbalance in fluxes of energy and minerals at the interface between land and sea. Conclusion: Solution of these issues lies in more informed preparedness for coastal flooding, tsunami inundation or maritime conditions through timely and accurate forecasts, improved approaches for managing shoreline erosion, accurate estimates of extreme event magnitudes for coastal engineering design, through to long-term planning for the impacts of coastal hazards and sea-level rise on low-lying coastal margins Q 5. What are the post disaster management strategies for combating the impact of earthquakes? Discuss. Approach: As the directive here is discuss it is necessary to cover various angles of the topic. In the first part of main body part explain earthquake and its impact. In the next half of main body part tell the post disaster management strategies to combat the impact of earthquakes. You can conclude by explaining the significance of these strategies to combat earthquake and other natural hazards.  Introduction: An earthquake is shaking of the earth caused due to the release of energy from the earth's interior, which generates waves that travel in all directions. Minor tremors caused by small vibrations occur every few minutes but great earthquakes happen because of faulting (Normal, reverse and strike-slip) cause a great number of disruptions. Body: Earthquake is characterized by suddenness, scale, and magnitude. These three characters make it extremely dangerous when it comes to life and property without any discrimination. Following are the impacts of the earthquakes:  Damage to property: The upheaval caused by an earthquake does huge damage to the property. Especially in a developed area of high population density, the damage to the property is huge. Human loss: Within the period between 1990 and 2006, around 23,000 lives were lost because of major earthquakes in India. One of the important impacts of the earthquake is the change in the river course due to blockage. Earthquakes in the ocean basin creates huge waves that strike on the coast and create huge damages. The 2004 Tsunami in Sumatra brought Tsunami to the east coast of India. Mud fountains: Due to the huge impact of the earthquake, mud and hot water may emerge on the surface. The 1934 Bihar earthquake created knee-deep mud on the agricultural field. If the earthquake happens in areas of dams, reservoirs, the damage is multiplied. Earthquake in hilly and mountain areas may cause landslides and avalanches. Earthquakes cause damage to electric property and gas pipes. Due to the havoc caused by the earthquake, it is even difficult to contain the fire. Post disaster management strategies to combat the impact of earthquakes: Disaster management, goes through different stages.  Post disaster management strategy deals with 5R's i.e. Relief, Response, Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Recovery.  Post-disaster initiatives taken in response to a disaster with a purpose to achieve early recovery and rehabilitation of affected victims and communities. The relief phase includes providing the immediate relief in terms food, medical attention, temporary shelter. It is the prime most post disaster strategy to mitigate the negative impact of earthquake.  The response phase includes the search and rescue; fulfilling basic humanitarian needs of victims; assistance by regional, national and international bodies etc. Considering  no possibility to reconstruct the area if damage is so grave, the rehabilitation phase comes in to picture. It includes rehabilitating the affected people at an  alternate site. Besides it also includes making provisions for the livelihood of people.  During reconstruction, the location or construction material of the property is considered. Recovery phase starts after the immediate threat to human life has subsided. The immediate goal of the recovery phase is to bring the affected area back to some degree of normalcy. Considering these strategies in mind Disaster management act, 2005 envisaged the creation of 'National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)', headed by the Prime Minister to implement activities of Disaster Management in India. Besides State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) headed by respective Chief Ministers to do the same at the state level. Besides, the government launched two Mobile apps, the first one is 'India Quake'– Developed by the National centre for seismology, the mobile app disseminates real-time earthquake information and the second one is 'Sagar Vani'-Intended to serve coastal communities, the mobile app disseminates ocean related information and alerts to the user community in a timely manner for their safety. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) strives to be the first responder at heritage sites, which are vulnerable to disasters such as earthquakes, floods, cyclones, and tsunami across India. In Earthquake management scenario in India, The NDMA guidelines of 2007 on earthquake preparedness are very important.  Apart from it, India is a signatory to the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction which works in disaster management in a very holistic way. India also works closely with the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR). At the international forum India has also took one step ahead to deal with such issues through the initiative of Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI). Conclusion: The UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) recently published its report titled "The Human Cost of Disasters". It enlists Earthquake as one of the highly dangerous disaster for human lives and its subsequent impact on economy. Hence, it becomes of critical importance that apart from focussing on post mitigation measures if we focus on pre-disaster strategies then it will have less impact on the lives of people and its subsequent economic impact.  TLP HOT Synopsis Day 62 PDF

Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz - 2020 : IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs Quiz 23rd 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 take the Test - Click Here

TLP Mains 2020

IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 2 - ENGLISH & हिंदी): UPSC Mains Answer Writing - General Studies Paper 3 Questions[23rd DECEMBER,2020] - Day 63

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE Hello Friends, Welcome to IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 2 - ENGLISH & हिंदी): UPSC Mains Answer Writing - General Studies Paper 3 Questions[23rd DECEMBER,2020] - Day 63   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. Is fake news the most potent threat to democracies today? Critically comment. क्या फर्जी खबर आज लोकतंत्र के लिए सबसे प्रबल खतरा है? समालोचनात्मक टिप्पणी करें। 2. What role do social media platforms play in elections nowadays? Has it affected the democratic discourse? Examine. आजकल सोशल मीडिया प्लेटफॉर्म चुनावों में क्या भूमिका निभाते हैं? क्या इसने लोकतांत्रिक प्रवचन को प्रभावित किया है? जांच करें। 3. Why is data privacy regarded sacrosanct in the 21st century? Examine from the point of view of security. 21 वीं सदी में डेटा गोपनीयता को क्यों रक्षणीय माना जाता है? सुरक्षा के दृष्टिकोण से जांच करें। 4. Should betting be legalised in India? Discuss its pros and cons.  क्या भारत में सट्टेबाजी को वैध किया जाना चाहिए? इसके सकारात्मक तथा नकारात्मक पक्षों पर चर्चा करें। 5. What are the current legal and institutional frameworks for the prevention of money laundering in India? Discuss.  भारत में मनी लॉन्ड्रिंग की रोकथाम के लिए वर्तमान कानूनी और संस्थागत ढांचे क्या 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 :)

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 22nd December 2020

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) SolarWinds Hack: A cyberattack discovered in the USA Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Cybersecurity In news The ‘SolarWinds hack’, a cyberattack recently discovered in the USA. It has emerged as one of the biggest ever targeted against the US government, its agencies and several other private companies.  It is likely a global cyberattack. Key takeaways  This is being called a ‘Supply Chain’ attack.  Instead of directly attacking the federal government or a private organisation’s network, the hackers target a third-party vendor, which supplies software to them. In this case, the target was an IT management software called Orion, supplied by the Texas-based company SolarWinds. Orion has been a dominant software from SolarWinds with clients, which include over 33,000 companies. The hackers gained “access to victims via trojanized updates to SolarWinds’ Orion IT monitoring and management software.  Once installed, the malware gave a backdoor entry to the hackers to the systems and networks of SolarWinds’ customers. India pledges a sum of USD 1 million to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)  Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – International Relations In news India has pledged a sum of USD 1 million to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) towards the agency’s scientific research budget.  It will allow WADA to develop innovative anti-doping testing and detection methods. Important value additions  The World Anti-Doping Agency  It is a foundation initiated by the International Olympic Committee to promote, coordinate and monitor the fight against drugs in sports. The agency's key activities include monitoring of the World Anti-Doping Code, whose provisions are enforced by the UNESCO International Convention against Doping in Sport. Headquarters: Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Established in: 1999. GPS-Based Toll Collection System Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Infrastructure In news The Government has finalised GPS-based (Global Positioning System) toll collection to ensure seamless movement of vehicles across the country. Ministry: Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways Key takeaways  This will ensure India becomes ‘toll booth free’ in next two years. The toll amount will be deducted directly from the bank account based on the movement of vehicles.  While now all commercial vehicles are coming with vehicle tracking systems, the Government will come up with some plan to install GPS technology in old vehicles. The Minister expressed hope that the toll collections may reach Rs 34 thousand crore by March 2021.  By using GPS technology for toll collection, the toll income in next five years will be Rs 1.34 lakh crore. Related article: About FASTag: Click here Winter session Of Parliament cancelled this year due to Covid-19  Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – Parliament; Constitution In news Due to Covid-19, the Winter session of the Parliament has been cancelled this year.  Budget Session shall be held in January, 2021. Key takeaways  The power to convene a session of Parliament rests with the government. The decision is taken by the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, which currently comprises nine ministers, including Defence, Home, Finance, and Law Ministers. The decision of the Committee is formalised by the President, in whose name MPs are summoned to meet for a session. The summoning of Parliament is specified in Article 85 of the Constitution.  This provision specified that the central legislature had to be summoned to meet at least once a year, and that not more than 12 months could elapse between two sessions. India does not have a fixed parliamentary calendar.  By convention, Parliament meets for three sessions in a year. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approves proposals to procure equipment  Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Defence & Security In news The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) in its meeting approved proposals to procure equipment worth Rs 28,000 crore. Ministry: Ministry of Defence  Key takeaways  Acquisition proposals approved include the DRDO designed and developed Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) Systems for the Indian Air Force, Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels for the Indian Navy and Modular Bridges for the Indian Army. This is the first meeting of the DAC under the new regime of Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020.  These are the first set of Acceptance of Necessity (AoNs) accorded.  Majority of AoNs are being accorded in the highest categorization of Buy Indian (IDDM). 6 of the 7 proposals for which AoNs were granted will be sourced from the Indian industry to give a boost to the “Make in India” and “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiatives of the Government. Related articles: Defence Acquisition Council: Click here Critically analyse Defence Procurement Policy: Click here Election Commission proposes to extend the facility of postal ballots to overseas and NRIs Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – Constitution In news The Election Commission of India (ECI) wrote to the Law Ministry, proposing to extend the facility of postal ballots to (eligible) overseas, non-resident Indians (NRIs) for the Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal in 2021. Key takeaways  The ECI proposed amending the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, in order to allow this facility.  The postal ballots will be sent to NRIs electronically and they will send these ballots after choosing their candidate via post. This partially electronic facility is now available for service voters (being a member of the armed Forces of the Union; or a member of a force to which provisions of the Army Act, 1950) through the Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System, or ETPBS.  Do you know?  How can overseas voters currently vote in Indian elections? Prior to 2010, an Indian citizen who is an eligible voter and was residing abroad for more than six months owing to employment, education or otherwise, would not have been able to vote in elections. After the passing of the Representation of the People (Amendment) Act, 2010, eligible NRIs who had stayed abroad beyond six months have been enabled to vote, but only in person at the polling station where they have been enrolled as an overseas elector. Related article: Election Commission: Mind map Order issued for Matru Sahyogini Samiti in MP Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – Policies and Interventions In news The Madhya Pradesh government has issued an order for the appointment of committees led by mothers to ensure better monitoring of services delivered at anganwadi or day care centres across the State. Key takeaways It will be called ‘Matru Sahyogini Samiti’ or Mothers’ Cooperation Committees, These will comprise 10 mothers at each anganwadi representing the concerns of different sets of beneficiaries under the Integrated Child Development Services, or National Nutrition Mission.  The committees will include mothers of beneficiary children as well as be represented by pregnant women and lactating mothers who are enrolled under the scheme. The Committees will also include a woman panch, women active in the community and eager to volunteer their support to the scheme, teachers from the local school, and women heads of self-help groups (SHG). These mothers will keep a watch on weekly ration distribution to beneficiaries as well as suggest nutritious and tasteful recipes for meals served to children at the centres. The move is being taken as per the mandate of the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA). Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant (FFEP) Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – International Relations In news According to satellite images, Iran has begun construction on a site at its underground nuclear facility at Fordow amid tensions with the U.S. over its atomic programme. Key takeaways  Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant (FFEP) is an Iranian underground uranium enrichment facility located 20 miles northeast of the Iranian city of Qom, near Fordow village. It is the second Iranian uranium enrichment facility, the other one being that of Natanz. Iran has not publicly acknowledged any new construction at Fordow.  Areas suitable for grassland restoration and conservation identified in Tropical Montane Grasslands (TMG) Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Environment In news Tropical montane grasslands (TMG) in the Shola Sky Islands of the Western Ghats have suffered big reductions due to invasions by exotic trees.  However, researchers have now identified areas suitable for grassland restoration and conservation to reverse the decline. Key takeaways  TMG are high elevation grasslands forming only 2% of all grasslands in the world. Function: Regulating the global carbon cycle and serving as a source of water to downstream communities. In India, TMG have been classified as wastelands in forest management plans since they are unlikely to generate revenue, contrary to the timber found in forests. Do you know?  In the Western Ghats, 23% of montane grasslands were reportedly converted into invasive exotic tree cover over a period of 44 years. B.1.1.7 Lineage: New variant of SARS-CoV-2 Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – Health In news Recently, India suspended all flights from and to the UK until December 31, amid concerns about a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 that is spreading & growing rapidly there. Key takeaways  Last week, the new SARS-CoV-2 variant was revealed to be the reason behind the rapid surge in Covid-19 cases in South and East England. It is being referred to as VUI (Variant Under Investigation) 202012/01, or the B.1.1.7 lineage. The variant is the result of multiple mutations in the spike protein of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, as well as mutations in other genomic regions of the RNA virus. Preliminary analysis suggests that it is more transmissible than previously circulating variants. However, it is not deadlier. India-Vietnam Leaders’ Virtual Summit Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – International Relations In news Indian Prime Minister held a Virtual Summit with H.E. Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister of Vietnam. Key takeaways  A ‘Joint Vision for Peace, Prosperity and People’ document was adopted during the Summit, to guide the future development of the India-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Both leaders also welcomed the signing of a Plan of Action for period 2021-2023 for further implementation of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to implement the Joint Vision. Announcements made: Implementation of the High Speed Guard Boat (HSGB) Manufacturing Project for Vietnam Border Guard Command under the US$ 100 million Defence Line of Credit extended by Government of India to Vietnam; Completion and handing over of seven Development Projects with Indian ‘Grant-in-Aid’ Assistance of US$ 1.5 million for the benefit of local community in Vietnam’s Ninh Thuan province. Enhancing the number of annual Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) from currently five to ten commencing FY 2021-2022. Three new Development Partnership projects in heritage conservation in Vietnam (F-block of Temple at My Son; Dong Duong Buddhist Monastery in Quang Nam province; and Nhan Cham Tower in Phu Yen province). Launch of bilateral project for preparing an Encyclopaedia on India - Vietnam Civilizational and Cultural Relations. Miscellaneous Winter Solstice December 21 was Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.  In the Southern Hemisphere, conversely, December 21 was Summer Solstice, the year’s longest day. The Earth’s axis of rotation is tilted at an angle of 23.5 degrees away from the perpendicular.  This tilt, Earth’s spin and orbit leads to variations in the duration of Sunlight that any location on the planet receives on different days of the year. The winter solstice or hiemal solstice or hibernal solstice occurs when one of the Earth's poles has its maximum tilt away from the Sun. It happens twice yearly, once in each hemisphere (Northern and Southern). Its opposite is the summer solstice.  Gurudwara Rakab Ganj Sahib Indian Prime Minister visited historic Gurudwara Rakab Ganj Sahib in New Delhi where the pious Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji's mortal remains were cremated. It is a historic gurudwara near Parliament House, New Delhi. It was built in 1783, after Sikh military leader Baghel Singh Dhaliwal (1730–1802) captured Delhi, on 11 March 1783. This one marks the site of cremation of the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur.  'Legion Of Merit' Award US President presented the prestigious Legion of Merit award to Indian Prime Minister.  Mr. Narendra Modi was presented with the highest degree Chief Commander of the Legion of Merit which is given only to the Head of State or Government. The US President also presented the Legion of Merit to Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. (Mains Focus) SOCIETY/ HEALTH/ GOVERNANCE Topic: General Studies 1,2: Social Empowerment Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health and Human Resources. Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Reading NFHS data Context: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) recently released the results from the first phase of the National Family Health Survey (NHFS).  What is National Health Family Survey (NHFS)? NFHS is a large-scale nationwide survey of representative households. The data is collected over multiple rounds.  Implementation Agencies: The MoHFW has designated International Institute for Population Sciences in Mumbai as the nodal agency and the survey is a collaborative effort of IIPS; ORC Macro, Maryland (US); and the East-West Center, Hawaii (US).  Funding: The survey is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) with supplementary support from UNICEF. Previous Surveys: The first four NHFS were conducted in 1992-93, 1998-99, 2005-06 and 2015-16, respectively. What data does it collect? The initial factsheet for NFHS-5 provides state-wise data on 131 parameters.  These parameters include questions such as how many households get drinking water, electricity and improved sanitation; what is sex ratio at birth, what are infant and child mortality metrics, what is the status of maternal and child health, how many have high blood sugar or high blood pressure etc. Each round of NFHS has also expanded the scope of inquiry.  In the fifth iteration, for instance, there are new questions on preschool education, disability, access to a toilet facility, death registration, bathing practices during menstruation, and methods and reasons for abortion. Why are NFHS results important? Evidence Based Policy making: The NFHS database is possibly the most important one because it not only feeds into the research needs and informs advocacy but also is central to both central and state-level policymaking.  International Comparison: NFHS survey results also provide internationally comparable results. That’s because the questions and the methodology is internationally valid. Thus, it places the results of say child malnutrition trends in Bihar in the global context. About NHFS-5 The first phase of NHFS — for which data was collected in the second half of 2019 — covered 17 states and five Union Territories. The second phase of the survey was disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic; its results are expected to come out in May 2021. The second phase will cover some of the biggest states such as Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Jharkhand.  The most important takeaway of study of first phase is that between 2015 and 2019, several Indian states have suffered a reversal on several child malnutrition parameters What has NFHS-5 found? Worsening Child Malnutrition: The most troubling finding is that on child malnutrition parameters — such as infant and child (under 5 years of age) mortality, child stunting (low height for one’s age), child wasting ( low weight for one’s height) and proportion of underweight children — several states have either been stagnant or worsened (refer above figure) In other words, children born between 2014 and 2019 (that is, 0 to 5 years of age) are more malnourished than the previous generation.  Indicates Chronic Malnutrition: The reversal in the proportion of children who are stunted is the most worrisome because unlike wasting and being underweight (which can be due to short term reasons and represent acute malnutrition), stunting represents chronic malnutrition. Reversals in stunting are unheard of in growing economies with stable democracies. Second Phase may throw worse results due to impact ofPandemic: Another cause of concern is the fact that the first phase data is pre-pandemic and it is quite likely that the second phase — which will also incorporate Covid’s impact — may throw up ever poorer results. What is the significance of these results? Malnutrition leads to poor human resources: Worsening child malnutrition, as well as rising levels of anaemia in women (especially pregnant ones), points to Indian children born in the past 5 years likely suffering from both cognitive and physical deficiencies. Initiatives on Sanitation not yielded results: Between NFHS-3 (2005-06) and NFHS-4 (2015-16), India registered its most significant reduction in child malnutrition, thanks to a flurry of interventions such nutrition missions, ICDS, MGNREGA and expansion of PDS among others. The latest results show that health-wise, India has taken a turn for the worse since 2015 despite improvements in water availability and sanitation methods. Needs further analysis: Experts say that only when the full set of raw unit-level data is available can a proper analysis of why India suffered such reversals over the past five years be done. Conclusion Health outcomes such as child malnutrition data are the result of a complex set of reasons — ranging from the state of a family’s income generation to environmental factors to government interventions. POLITY/ GOVERNANCE Topic: General Studies 2: Parliament—structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.  Increasing Parliament’s efficacy and effectiveness  Context: The only way to ensure orderly business will be to transact most of the business in committees. Committee System If the committee system has to be made effective and credible, several steps need to be taken to make their working non-partisan, some of the steps are as follow: More Transparency: Opening the deliberations of the committees to the public, to electronic, print, and digital media Civic Participation: Giving the committees assistance of NGOs and non-profit organisations in the respective fields. Channel for wider dissemination: Starting a Public Broadcasting Service channel as in the UK and USA for wider dissemination of the deliberations of the committees. Rights & Privileges: If Parliament is to transact its business through the committees, they must have all the rights and privileges of the whole House.  Greater Participation by Ministers: The Council of Ministers — as well as the Prime Minister — must be encouraged to appear before the committees.  Joint Parliamentary Committee: It is also imperative to reassert the role of the joint parliamentary committee and to restore its credibility. Best practices of parliamentary democracy in other countries Legislation must be enacted on matters pertaining to the functioning of Parliament — to lay down an annual calendar for Parliament sessions, minimum duration of sessions in a year etc, as in several countries.  A law should be enacted to regulate administration of Parliament as in the UK, Australia and New Zealand.  Steps also need to be taken to create a parliamentary budget office as in the US, UK and Canada for independent scrutiny of the budget proposals and their placement before the committees of Parliament.  The oversight of Parliament must be increased to approving international treaties and reviewing the work of intelligence and investigating agencies. Connecting the dots: What are the issues with respect to Indian Parliament?  The PMO Office has become too strong which is sidelining the Parliament? (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 Gurudwara Rakab Ganj Sahib is the site of cremation for which of the following Sikh Guru? Guru Amar Das Guru Angad Dev Guru Tegh Bahadur Guru Gobind Singh Q.2 Consider the following statements regarding Winter Solstice: It occurs when one of the Earth's poles has its minimum tilt away from the Sun. It is the shortest day of the year in both the Hemispheres. Which of the above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3 Shola Sky Islands are a part of which of the following? Western Ghats Eastern Ghats Himalayas Andaman and Nicobar Islands Q.4 ‘Matru Sahyogini Samiti’ shall be appointed in which of the following state of India? Madhya Pradesh Uttar Pradesh Rajasthan Gujarat ANSWERS FOR 21st December 2020 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 A 2 A 3 C 4 B Must Read About turmoil in Nepal: The Hindu About temporary travel ban from UK: The Hindu About impact of anti-conversion law (Love Jihad Law) on women: Indian Express

MindMaps

Mind Maps: India Bangladesh Relations - General Studies 2

Mind Maps: India Bangladesh Relations - General Studies 2 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! India Bangladesh Relations - General Studies 2 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) India Bangladesh Relations   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