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DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam (हिंदी) – 22nd JULY 2020

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) भारत में पुलिस क्रूरता और जवाबदेही (Police Brutality and Accountability in India) भाग: GS Mains II - शासन के मुद्दे; पुलिस सुधार; नीति/अधिकारों से संबंधित मुद्दे संदर्भ: हमने पुलिस की क्रूरता से संबंधित कई लेखों को देखा है - जैसे हिरासत में मौतें, फ़र्ज़ी मुठभेड़; निर्दोष लोगों या कमजोर लोगों को यातना देना और परेशान करना।  एक और उदाहरण जहां संरक्षक अपराधियों में बदल गए - 1985 में राजा मान सिंह की हत्या। समाचार में: उत्तर प्रदेश के मथुरा में बुधवार को एक अदालत ने तत्कालीन भरतपुर शाही परिवार के राजा मान सिंह की 1985 में हुई हत्या के आरोप में 11 दोषी पुलिस कर्मियों को उम्रकैद की सजा सुनाई है। पुलिस कर्मियों ने सुनियोजित साजिश के तहत राजा मान सिंह पर अंधाधुंध गोलीबारी की थी। मूल्य जैसे- "ईमानदारी, करुणा, सच्चाई और न्याय के प्रति चाह, कानून और संविधान के प्रति प्रतिबद्धता के मूल्य हमेशा स्थिर होते हैं। आपके दिमाग की दृष्टि में इनका पहला स्थान होना चाहिए जब भी आप सोचते हैं, निर्णय लेते हैं और अंत में कार्य करते हैं। प्रवासियों के लिए सामाजिक सुरक्षा संख्या (Social security numbers for Migrants) भाग: GS Mains II-सामाजिक/कल्याण के मुद्दे; श्रम मुद्दे समाचार में: श्रम पर संसदीय स्थायी समिति ने सिफारिश की है कि सरकार प्रवासी कामगारों (विशेष रूप से असंगठित क्षेत्रों के उन लोगों के लिए एक सामाजिक सुरक्षा संख्या शुरू करे जो श्रम क़ानूनों के दायरे से बाहर हैं)। सरकार को प्रवासी कामगारों के पंजीकरण के लिए एक वेबसाइट स्थापित करनी चाहिए। लाभ: सामाजिक सुरक्षा संख्या उन कठिन परिस्थितियों को टाल सकती है, जिसका सामना प्रवासियों को लॉकडाउन के दौरान करना पड़ा था। एक सामाजिक सुरक्षा संख्या प्रवासी श्रमिकों की संख्या और उनके प्रवासन प्रतिमान (पैटर्न) का पता लगाने में मदद करेगा। एड्स, टीबी और मलेरिया के लिए वैश्विक कोष (Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria- GFATM) भाग: GS Prelims and Mains II - सामाजिक/कल्याण के मुद्दे; अंतरराष्ट्रीय संगठनों और पहलों की भूमिका समाचार में: सेक्स वर्कर्स और एड्स से पीड़ित लोगों ने एड्स, टीबी और मलेरिया के लिए वैश्विक कोष (GFATM) को अपने अस्तित्व की ज़रूरतों को पूरा करने के लिए सहायता मांगने हेतु लिखा है। उन्होंने चिंता जताई कि COVID19 संबंधित आपातकालीन राहत प्रयासों में सरकार और बहुपक्षीय एजेंसियों द्वारा उनकी अनदेखी की जा रही है । जीएफएटीएम (GFATM) ने भारत के लिए 20 मिलियन डॉलर के COVID रिस्पॉन्स फंड को मंजूरी दी थी, नागरिक समाज द्वारा बार-बार साक्ष्य आधारित मांगों के बावजूद, कम से कम 1.5 मिलियन (इन कमजोर समूहों के व्यक्तियों) के लिए कोई प्रत्यक्ष समर्थन नहीं है। GFATM के बारे में GFTAM एक अंतरराष्ट्रीय वित्त पोषण और साझेदारी संगठन है जिसका उद्देश्य संयुक्त राष्ट्र द्वारा स्थापित सतत विकास लक्ष्यों की प्राप्ति में सहायता के लिए एचआईवी / एड्स, तपेदिक और मलेरिया की महामारी को समाप्त करने के लिए "आकर्षित, उत्तोलन (leverage) और निवेश करना है"। GFTAM को 2002 में विश्व के संसाधनों को एक साथ लाने तथा तपेदिक (टीबी), एक्वायर्ड इम्यूनो-डेफिशिएंसी सिंड्रोम (एड्स), और मलेरिया को महामारी के रूप में समाप्त करने के लिए कार्यक्रमों में रणनीतिक रूप से निवेश करने के लिए बनाया गया था। जी-8 ने जुलाई 2001 में अपने शिखर सम्मेलन में वैश्विक कोष के निर्माण के आह्वान का औपचारिक रूप से समर्थन किया था। GFTAM ने एड्स, टीबी, और मलेरिया की रोकथाम, उपचार, और देखभाल कार्यक्रमों का विश्व का सबसे बड़ा वित्त दाता है। जून 2019 तक, संगठन ने इन कार्यक्रमों का समर्थन करने के लिए 41.6 अरब अमेरिकी डॉलर से अधिक वितरित किए थे। भारत विचार शिखर सम्मेलन का परिणाम (Outcome of India Ideas Summit) भाग: GS Prelims and Mains II - भारत और अमेरिका के संबंध; अंतर्राष्ट्रीय संबंध समाचार में: दोनों देशों ने दीर्घकालिक योजना को दोहराया तथा एक व्यापक व्यापार समझौते की दिशा में काम किया है। आसन्न सीमित समझौते और व्यापक समझौते (मुक्त व्यापार समझौते) के बीच एक मध्यवर्ती कदम के रूप में, भारत ने एक तरजीही व्यापार समझौते का प्रस्ताव रखा जो 50 से 100 वस्तुओं और सेवाओं को कवर करेगा। भारत चाहता है कि अमेरिका की तरजीही व्यापार प्रणाली या सामान्‍य वरीयता प्रणाली (GSP) तक अपनी पहुंच बहाल करे तथा अन्य लोगों के बीच भारतीय कृषि उत्पादों की कुछ श्रेणियों के लिए बाजार पहुंच बढ़ाई जाए। भारत-अमेरिका की चिंताएं: अमेरिकी चिंताओं में शामिल है- अमेरिकी डेयरी और कृषि उत्पादों, चिकित्सा उपकरणों और सूचना और संचार प्रौद्योगिकी (ICT) के आयात शुल्क में कटौती। अमेरिका को भारत की डिजिटल व्यापार नीतियों (उदाहरण के लिए वाणिज्य में एफडीआई (FDI) और डेटा स्थानीयकरण) की भी चिंता है। सामान्‍य वरीयता प्रणाली (GSP) के बारे में GSP विकसित देशों (वरीयता देने वाले या दाता देश) द्वारा विकासशील देशों (वरीयता प्राप्तकर्त्ता या लाभार्थी देश) के लिये विस्तारित एक अधिमान्य प्रणाली है। इस प्रणाली के तहत विकासशील देशों को विकसित देशों के बाज़ार में कुछ शर्तों के साथ न्यूनतम शुल्क या शुल्क मुक्त प्रवेश मिलता है। यह दाता देश में लाभार्थी देश के सामान को प्रतिस्पर्धी बनाने में मदद करता है। विकसित देश इसके ज़रिये विकासशील देशों और अल्प विकसित देशों में आर्थिक विकास को बढ़ावा देते हैं। मंत्रालय ने N95 वेलवेटेड मास्क के इस्तेमाल के खिलाफ चेतावनी दी भाग: GS Prelims and Mains III - विज्ञान - स्वास्थ्य और चिकित्सा समाचार में: स्वास्थ्य मंत्रालय ने N95 वाल्व्ड श्वसन यंत्र/मास्क के उपयोग के खिलाफ आगाह करते हुए कहा कि यह COVID19 के प्रसार के खिलाफ वांछित सुरक्षा प्रदान नहीं करता है। वाल्वड रेस्पिरेटर N95 मास्क का उपयोग कोरोनावायरस के प्रसार को रोकने के लिए अपनाए गए उपायों के लिए हानिकारक है क्योंकि वह वायरस को मास्क से बाहर निकलने से नहीं रोकते हैं। Pic : N95 मास्क विविध: यूरोपीय संघ के नेताओं ने अर्थव्यवस्था के पुनर्निर्माण के लिए समझौता किया समाचार में: यूरोपीय संघ के नेताओं ने गहरी मंदी से निकलने के लिए € 750 बिलियन के राहत पैकेज (rescue package) पर सहमति व्यक्त की है। 'मुख्यमंत्री घर घर राशन योजना' भाग: GS Prelims and Mains II - सरकारी योजनाएं और पहल; गरीबी और कल्याणकारी योजनाएं समाचार में: दिल्ली सरकार ने 'मुख्यमंत्री घर घर राशन योजना' की घोषणा की, जिससे लाभार्थियों को राशन के घर-घर वितरण का लाभ मिल सकेगा। इस योजना में ऐसे निवासियों को पात्र किया गया है जो वर्तमान में पीडीएस (PDS) दुकानों से राशन एकत्र करते हैं, ताकि वही राशन उनके घर तक पहुंचा सके।(यह सुनिश्चित करने के लिए कि ग़रीबों को "सम्मान के साथ राशन मिले") (MAINS FOCUS) अंतर्राष्ट्रीय/ सुरक्षा विषय: सामान्य अध्ययन 2,3: भारत और उसके पड़ोसी संबंध। सीमावर्ती क्षेत्रों में सुरक्षा चुनौतियाँ और उनका प्रबंधन  चीनी-प्रतिरोधी नीति में मुख्य आधार संदर्भ- अप्रैल 2020 से लद्दाख क्षेत्र में चीन-भारत सीमा पर स्थिति तनावपूर्ण है। पूर्व राष्ट्रीय सुरक्षा सलाहकार एम के नारायणन (M.K.Narayanana) द्धारा भविष्य के लिए सुझाव दिए गए हैं। क्या जुलाई के पहले सप्ताह के दौरान एक डिसइंगेजमेंट प्रक्रिया नहीं थी? disengagement process एक ऐसी प्रक्रिया है जिसके द्वारा लोग/ संगठन/ देश धीरे-धीरे संघर्षपूर्ण स्थिति से सामान्य स्थिति की ओर बढ़ते हैं। हां, लेकिन विघटन प्रक्रिया (disengagement process) मुश्किल साबित हो रही है। कोई प्रगति नहीं: 14 जुलाई को कोर कमांडरों की नवीनतम बैठक से सेना के विघटन तथा डी-एस्केलेशन के संबंध में किसी भी तरह के प्रदर्शन में प्रगति नहीं हुई है। भारत का रुख: यह वास्तविक नियंत्रण रेखा (LAC) के साथ सैनिकों के पूर्ण विघटन को सुनिश्चित करने के लिए दोनों पक्ष दृढ़ संकल्पित हैं। चीन का आग्रह: हालांकि, चीन सीमावर्ती क्षेत्रों में विश्वास बहाली के उपायों को मजबूत करने और सीमा मुद्दों को समयबद्ध तरीके से निपटाने पर जोर दे रहा है ताकि 'मतभेदों को विवाद बनने से बचाया जा सके'। सीमा पर तनाव और डी-एस्केलेशन (युद्ध की तीव्रता कम करना) में देरी के प्रमुख परिणाम क्या हैं? शांति समझौतों को कमजोर करता है: 1993, 1996, 2005 और 2013 के सीमाबद्ध समझौतों को रद्द करने का असर सीमावर्ती तनावों पर पड़ा।  एशियाई शताब्दी दृष्टि पर नकारात्मक प्रभाव: 21 वीं शताब्दी एशियाई शताब्दी के रूप में माना जाता था, जिसमें चीन और भारत को अग्र-दल के रुप में माना गया था। हालांकि, दो एशियाई दिग्गज के स्वरूप को साकार करने की बजाय आपस में धुर विरोधी बन गये।  चीन के उद्देश्य क्या हैं? एलएसी (LAC) का पुनर्सीमांकन: चीन अपने लाभ के लिए ज़मीनी स्थिति के प्रबंधन और एलएसी (LAC) के पुनर्सीमांकन हेतु तत्पर है।  बफर जोन के विचार को स्वीकार कर लिया गया है- जो भारतीय क्षेत्र में स्थित हैं-ऐसा प्रतीत होता है कि चीन अपने उद्देश्य को प्राप्त करने की राह पर है। यदि चीन सफल हो जाता है तो यह पहली बार हो सकता है कि चीन के पास काँगका दर्रे के पश्चिम में एक तलहटी होगी। वैश्विक महाशक्ति के रूप में उभरने के लिए चीन अपनी छवि को 'यथास्थिति शक्ति' के रूप में बनाए रखने तथा अपने पड़ोस और पूरे एशिया में भू-रणनीतिक स्थान पर हावी होने का इरादा रखता है। जो संयुक्त राज्य अमेरिका को UNO में संख्या बल के आधार पर विस्थापित करने की अपनी महत्वाकांक्षा पर तैयार कर रहा है। चीन अपनी छवि में एशियाई क्षेत्र को बदलने पर तत्पर रहा है तथा साथ ही, एक महाद्वीपीय और समुद्री शक्ति बनने की इच्छा रखता है। क्या चीन, क्षेत्र को लेकर संघर्ष की तैयारी कर रहा है? भारत द्धारा चीन की क्षेत्रीय महत्वाकांक्षाओं के बारे में पश्चिमी सिद्धांतों का पालन नहीं किया जाना चाहिए। इसका कारण यह है कि चीन भली-भांति जानता है कि यह निश्चित नहीं है कि वह भारत के साथ चौतरफा संघर्ष के बाद एक विजेता के रूप में सामने आएगा या नहीं। मन में दो प्रमुख तारीखों के साथ (2025 और 2035- मेड इन चाइना 2025 और चीनी मानक 2035), चीन वर्तमान के लिए अपने भविष्य को खतरे में नहीं डाल सकता है। भारत के लिए सबक: भारत के सामरिक रणनीति-संबंधी विचारकों और योजनाकारों को इस बात को ध्यान में रखना चाहिए, जब वह पर्वतीय सीमावर्ती क्षेत्रों में चीन की हिंसक कार्रवाइयों की जांच करने की योजना बना रहे हैं। भविष्य में, भारत की क्या कार्रवाई होनी चाहिए? सैन्य विकल्प एक मजबूत सेना को बनाए रखना महत्वपूर्ण है लेकिन इसका उपयोग कब या कैसे करना है, यह समझना और भी महत्वपूर्ण है। भारत को माउंटेन स्ट्राइक कोर (Mountain Strike Corps) डिवीजनों की स्थापना की योजनाओं को तत्काल लागू करने की आवश्यकता है, जिन्हें बिना किसी कारण स्थगित कर दिया गया है। यह अत्याधुनिक हथियारों के भंडार से कहीं अधिक चीन को रोकने में सक्षम है। असैनिक साधन: चीन के मौजूदा व्यापक विरोध का लाभ लेते हुए, भारत को सीमा उल्लंघनों के संबंध में अपने समर्थन में अंतरराष्ट्रीय राय बनाने के लिए एक कूटनीतिक आक्रामक नीति की शुरुआत करनी चाहिए। भारत को सीमा उल्लंघनों के संबंध में अपने समर्थन में अंतर्राष्ट्रीय जनमत बनाने के लिए एक कूटनीतिक आक्रामक कदम उठाने चाहिए। दलाई लामा तिब्बतियों के अलावा दुनिया भर में कई लाखों लोगों के लिए आशा का एक स्थायी प्रतीक है। दलाई लामा को भारत की आधिकारिक सोच में उसी स्तर की श्रेष्ठता के स्तर पर बहाल करना, जो भारत की चीन विरोधी नीति में एक महत्वपूर्ण मुद्दा होना चाहिए। गुटनिरपेक्ष आंदोलन (NAM) का पुनःसशक्तिकरण करना भारत को अतीत में नियोजित सत्ता के एक अन्य साधन को भी पुनः सशक्त करना चाहिए, अर्थात चीन की आक्रामक नीतियों की ओर उनका विशेष ध्यान आकर्षित करने के उद्देश्य से विदेशी नेताओं को अपने साथ शामिल  करना चाहिए। गुटनिरपेक्ष आंदोलन को पुनः सशक्त करने से भारत को दुनिया का ध्यान एकत्र करने में मदद मिल सकती है। भारत के पास पहले भी एक अच्छी तरह से डिज़ाइन किए गए तकनीकी सहायता कार्यक्रम के माध्यम से एशिया और अफ्रीका के देशों की मदद करने की योजना थी। जिसे अब उन्नत स्वरूप प्रदान करने की आवश्यकता है। भारत की संदेश क्षमता का जीर्णोद्धार (Overhauling India’s messaging capacity) आज की दुनिया में प्रभावी ढंग से प्रतिस्पर्धा करने के लिए (और दुनिया भर में चीन के आक्रमण का मुकाबला करने के लिए), भारत को भी अपनी  'संदेश क्षमता तथा घोषणाओं' में रूपांतरण करना चाहिए। इस प्रौद्योगिकी का अधिक से अधिक उपयोग करना चाहिए (उदाहरण: सोशल मीडिया) दुनिया भर में अपने संदेश और विचारों को भेजने के लिए, चीन की आक्रामक नीतियों और रणनीति के विपरीत में अपने शांतिपूर्ण इरादों पर प्रकाश प्रकाश डालना चाहिए। भारत ‘हिमालयी बौद्ध धर्म’ के प्रचार-प्रसार में एक स्तम्भ की भूमिका अच्छी तरह से निभाएगा, जिसे चीन अंत तक हासिल करने के लिए इस परिस्थिति में परिवर्तन चाह रहा है। बेहतर पड़ोसी संबंध भारत पश्चिम, विशेष रूप से अमेरिका और क्वाड (Quad) जैसे निकायों के साथ अपने संबंधों को मजबूत करने पर अधिक उन्मुख हो रहा है। हालांकि, इसके लिए उपमहाद्वीप के छोटे देशों के साथ अपने संबंधों को मजबूत करने की आवश्यकता है। इसकी वजह यह है कि उन्हें लगातार अपने आंतरिक मामलों में चीन के आक्रामक हस्तक्षेप का सामना करना पड़ता है और उन्हें भारत से ज्यादा समर्थन नहीं मिला है। निष्कर्ष यहां भारत की साख चीन मुकाबले कहीं अधिक है तथा उसे उत्कृष्ट लाभांश का उत्पादन करना चाहिए। इसे भारत की 'आग्रगामी नीति' में एक प्रमुख मुद्दा बनने की आवश्यकता है। Connecting the dots: 2017 का डोकलाम मुद्दा दक्षिणी चीन सागर विवाद अर्थव्यवस्था/ शासन विषय: सामान्य अध्ययन 3: भारतीय अर्थव्यवस्था और योजनाओं, जुड़ाव, संसाधन, विकास, उन्नति तथा रोज़गार से संबंधित मुद्दे ।  सरकारी बजट।  COVID-19 राजकोषीय प्रतिक्रिया और भारत की स्थिति संदर्भ: आत्मनिर्भर भारत पैकेज की घोषणा से पहले, भारत COVID-19 राहत पैकेज उपलब्ध कराने में तुलनात्मक रूप से विकासशील देशों से काफी पीछे था। राहत पैकेज के जुड़ी चुनौतियाँ विवेकी राजकोषीय प्रतिक्रिया:राजकोषीय और मौद्रिक घटकों के बीच अंतर की अस्पष्टता को देखते हुए राजकोषीय प्रतिक्रियाओं के लिए तुलनात्मक और सटीक आंकड़े सुनिश्चित करना एक चुनौती पूर्ण कार्य है। पृथक-पृथक आंकड़े: घरेलू स्तर पर कुल आत्मनिर्भर पैकेज को जीडीपी के 10% पर निर्धारित किया जाता है। जबकि अंतर्राष्ट्रीय डेटाबेस में भारत की राजकोषीय प्रतिक्रिया के लिए शीर्षक संख्या जीडीपी का लगभग 4% है। अपर्याप्त मांग-पक्ष हस्तक्षेप:  आत्मनिर्भर भारत पैकेज में एक महत्वपूर्ण मांग-पक्ष हस्तक्षेप मनरेगा (MNREGA) के लिए अतिरिक्त परिव्यय 40,000 करोड़ रुपये था। अधिकांश अन्य मांग-पक्ष उपायों में मौजूदा धनराशि का अधिभार, समेकन या पुनरावर्तन शामिल है। उदाहरण के लिए, हाल ही में घोषित 50,000 करोड़ रुपये का गरीब कल्याण रोज़गार अभियान, जो 12 मंत्रालयों/विभागों की परियोजनाओं को समेकित (शामिल) करता है। सख्त रोकथाम (लॉकडाउन) उपायों के मद्देनज़र, पैकेज का अपर्याप्त होना:  राहत उपायों की सीमा लॉकडाउन की गंभीरता के कारण होने वाले आर्थिक व्यवधान और अव्यवस्था के अनुरूप नहीं लगती है अर्थात् राहत पैकेज का कम होना।  वियतनाम, इंडोनेशिया, पाकिस्तान और मिस्र ने प्रोत्साहन उपायों की घोषणा की है जो सकल घरेलू उत्पाद के एक हिस्से के रूप में वृहत् या अधिक महत्वपूर्ण हैं, भारत में उन देशों की तुलना में कम है। राहत पैकेज में अधिकता हेतु भारत, विश्व के अन्य देशों के किन मानकों का पालन कर सकता है? नकद हस्तांतरण नकद हस्तांतरण अन्य विकासशील देशों द्वारा समर्थन की सबसे बड़ी श्रेणी का गठन करते हैं। विश्व बैंक के 173 देशों में 621 उपायों की सूची में से आधे नकद आधारित थे। विश्व बैंक की रिपोर्ट है कि औसतन, ऐसे हस्तांतरण प्रति व्यक्ति मासिक जीडीपी के 30% तक हैं, जो निम्न-मध्यम आय वाले देशों हेतु, औसतन तीन महीने के लिए 46% तक पहुँच गया है। बांग्लादेश और इंडोनेशिया ने नकद हस्तांतरण लाभार्थियों की संख्या में क्रमश 163% और 111% की वृद्धि की है। इंडोनेशिया की नकदी योजनाओं में अब 158 से अधिक लोगों (या 60%आबादी) को शामिल किया गया है। भारत मौजूदा हस्तांतरण कार्यक्रमों (जैसे प्रधानमंत्री किसान योजना) के विस्तार या यहां तक कि नयी योजना निर्माण के बारे में निर्णय लेने में भारत इन कार्यों को ध्यान में रख सकता है। मनरेगा (MGNREGA) का विस्तार भारत अपने प्रमुख मनरेगा कार्यक्रम के साथ रोज़गार गारंटी नीतियों में अग्रणी रहा है। मेक्सिको ने 2,00,000 किसानों और लाभार्थियों को अपनी ग्रामीण स्थायी रोज़गार योजना में वृद्धि की घोषणा की है। इंडोनेशिया ने सार्वजनिक निर्माण योजनाओं के वित्तपोषण के लिए 1 अरब डॉलर (7,000 करोड़ रुपये से अधिक) आवंटित किए हैं, जिससे कम से कम 600,000 श्रमिकों को लाभ होगा। इसके अतिरिक्त, इंडोनेशिया केंद्र सरकार ने गांव के अधिकारियों को निर्देश दिया है कि वह अपने बजट को दिहाड़ी श्रमिकों और बेरोजगारों के लिए काम के लिए बजट पर ध्यान केंद्रित करें। यह मनरेगा (MGNREGA) कार्यक्रम में पात्रता का विस्तार करने के साथ-साथ इसका शहरी संस्करण पेश करने का सही समय है । मौद्रिक नीतियों के माध्यम से वित्तपोषण देश द्वितीयक बाजार में अपने प्रयोगों के माध्यम (मात्रात्मक सहजता- quantitative easing) से सार्वजनिक और निजी बॉन्ड की खरीद कर रहे हैं या सीधे प्राथमिक बाजार पर सरकारी बॉन्ड की खरीद कर रहे हैं (घाटे का मुद्रीकरण)। इंडोनेशिया और ब्राजील दोनों देशों ने अपने केंद्रीय बैंकों को सरकारी बांड खरीदने की अनुमति देने के लिए क़ानूनों में संशोधन किया है। फिलीपींस के केंद्रीय बैंक ने भी तीन महीने के पुनर्खरीद समझौते के तहत 6 बिलियन डॉलर (42,250 करोड़ रुपये) मूल्य के सरकारी बांड खरीदे हैं जो तीन महीने के बाद बढ़ाया जा सकता है। निष्कर्ष अतिरिक्त राजकोषीय परिव्यय - नकद और इस तरह के स्थानान्तरण और विस्तारित सार्वजनिक कार्य योजनाओं के रूप में - वर्तमान में जीवन और नौकरियों को सुरक्षित करेगा और एक दीर्घकालिक मंदी की स्थिति को रोकेगा। Connecting the dots: एन के सिंह (N.K.Singh) समिति की सिफारिशें राजकोषीय परिषद की आवश्यकता (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) मॉडल प्रश्न: (You can now post your answers in comment section) ध्यान दें:  आज के प्रश्नों के सही उत्तर अगले दिन के डीएनए (DNA) सेक्शन में दिए जाएंगे।  कृपया इसे देखें और अपने उत्तरों को अपडेट करें। Comments Up-voted by IASbaba are also the “correct answers”. Q.1) सामान्‍य वरीयता प्रणाली (GSP) के बारे में, निम्नलिखित कथनों में से कौन सा गलत है? यह एक प्रकार की अधिमान्य प्रशुल्क (preferential tariff) प्रणाली है। यह दो विकसित देशों के बीच संचालित होता है। इसमें लाभार्थी देशों द्वारा दाता देशों के बाजारों में निर्यात किए जाने वाले पात्र उत्पादों का शुल्क मुक्त प्रवेश शामिल है। यह लाभार्थी देश के माल को दाता देश में प्रतिस्पर्धी बनाने में मदद करता है। Q.2) 'मुख्यमंत्री घर घर राशन योजना' निम्नलिखित में से किस राज्य सरकार की एक पहल है? छत्तीसगढ़ दिल्ली हरियाणा राजस्थान Q.3) निम्नलिखित में से कौन सा "पंचशील" का सिद्धांत नहीं है? गुटनिरपेक्षता शांतिपूर्ण सह-अस्तित्व एक दूसरे की क्षेत्रीय अखंडता और संप्रभुता के लिए आपसी सम्मान एक-दूसरे के आंतरिक मामलों में पारस्परिक रूप से हस्तक्षेप न करना ANSWERS FOR 21st July 2020 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 B 2 B 3 A अवश्य पढ़ें COVID-19 वैक्सीन अन्वेषण की तीव्रता के बारे में: The Hindu री-पर्पज़्ड दवाएँ (re-purposed medicines) महंगी क्यों हैं:   The Hindu QUAD के संबंध में तथा भारत को इसे औपचारिक रूप से क्यों पुनर्जीवित करना चाहिए: The Indian Express

Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz - 2020 : IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 43]

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

Daily Static Quiz

UPSC Static Quiz - 2020 : IASbaba's Daily Static Quiz - POLITY [Day 43]

For Previous Static Quiz (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE DAILY STATIC QUIZ will cover all the topics of Static/Core subjects – Polity, History, Geography, Economics, Environment and Science and technology. 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 After completing the 10 questions, click on 'View Questions' to check your score, time taken and solutions. Don't forget to post your marks in the comment section. Also, let us know if you enjoyed today's test :)  To take the Test - Click Here

TLP Mains 2020

IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 2 - ENGLISH & हिंदी): UPSC Mains Answer Writing - General Studies Paper 2 Questions[29th July,2020] - Day 43

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE Hello Friends, Welcome toIASbaba’s TLP (Phase 2- ENGLISH & हिंदी): UPSC Mains Answer Writing - General Studies  2 Questions[29th July, 2020] - Day 43 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. We are giving 3 Mains Questions on Daily basis (unlike our regular TLP which has 5 questions) 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. Can India afford to do away with the civil services? Share and substantiate your views.  क्या भारत लोकसेवा के बगैर रह सकती है? अपने विचारों की पुष्टि करें। 2. Why is it important for a civil servant to be technologically informed? Explain with the help of suitable examples.  एक सिविल सेवक को तकनीकी रूप से सूचित रहना क्यों महत्वपूर्ण है? उपयुक्त उदाहरणों की सहायता से समझाएँ। 3. Many a times, we have witnessed civil servants getting suspended over their remarks or criticism of the Government on social media platforms. Is it justified to stifle the right to free speech of a civil servant? Critically comment.  कई बार, हमने सोशल मीडिया प्लेटफॉर्म पर सिविल सेवकों को उनकी टिप्पणी या सरकार की आलोचना करने पर निलंबित होते देखा है। क्या एक सिविल सेवक के स्वतंत्र भाषण के अधिकार को रोकना उचित है? समालोचनात्मक टिप्पणी 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 :)

INTEGRATED REVISION PLAN (IRP) 2020

[Day 42] INTEGRATED REVISION PLAN(IRP – हिंदी & ENGLISH) 2020 – PRELIMS & MAINS – [28th July, 2020]

For Previous IRP (हिंदी & English ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE   Hello Friends, Welcome to [Day 42] INTEGRATED REVISION PLAN(IRP – हिंदी & ENGLISH) 2020 – PRELIMS & MAINS – [28th July, 2020]   UPSC Static Quiz - 2020 : IASbaba's Daily Static Quiz - POLITY [Day 42] UPSC Quiz - 2020 : IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 42] IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 2 – ENGLISH & हिंदी): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – General Studies Paper 2 Questions[28th July,2020] – Day 42 [Day 42] IASBABA का इंटीग्रेटेड रिवीज़न प्लान (IRP) 2020 - [28th July, 2020]   The Intention behind this Initiative: IRP 2020 – Road Map for the next 100 Days!  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 विस्तृत विवरण के लिए नीचे क्लिक करें -> CLICK HERE SCHEDULE/DETAILED PLAN – > CLICK HERE Thank You IASbaba

हिन्दी Initiatives

[Day 42] IASBABA का इंटीग्रेटेड रिवीज़न प्लान (IRP) 2020 - [28th July, 2020]

For Previous IRP (Hindi & English ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE   हाल ही में UPSC द्वारा COVID-19 को देखते हुए प्रारंभिक परीक्षा-2020 के लिए नई तिथि 4 अक्टूबर, 2020 की घोषणा की गयी है। ऐसे में इन 100 दिनों का सदुपयोग सही दिशा में करना अति महत्त्वपूर्ण हो गया है। इसको देखते हुए IASBABA टीम द्वारा इष्टतम लाभ प्राप्त करने के लिए 10 जून 2020 से इंटीग्रेटेड रिवीज़न प्लान-2020 लांच किया गया है, जिससे एक बार पुनः परीक्षा से संबंधित संपूर्ण पाठ्यक्रम का समुचित रिवीज़न किया जा सके।   इंटीग्रेटेड रिवीज़न प्लान (IRP) 2020 के महत्वपूर्ण तथ्य: IRP 2020 एक निःशुल्क पहल है, जिसे आपको अगले 100 दिनों के लिए केंद्रित रखने के लिए डिज़ाइन किया गया है! कार्यक्रम 10 जून 2020 से आरंभ होगा। यह सप्ताह में 6 दिन चलेगा। रविवार को अवकाश होगा - आप इस समय का उपयोग रिवीज़न और वैकल्पिक विषय के लिए कर सकते हैं। इसमें आपकी प्रारंभिक परीक्षा और मुख्य परीक्षा दोनों की तैयारी शामिल हैं। प्रतिदिन आधार पर - प्रारंभिक परीक्षा - 5 करंट अफेयर्स संबंधी बहुविकल्पीय प्रश्न, 10 स्टेटिक भाग जैसे इतिहास, भूगोल, राजव्यवस्था, अर्थशास्त्र एवं पर्यावरण आदि संबंधी बहुविकल्पीय प्रश्न होंगे। प्रतिदिन आधार पर - मुख्य परीक्षा - TLP - 3 प्रश्न मुख्य परीक्षा संबंधी GS1, GS2, GS3 को कवर करते हुए पोस्ट किया जाएगा। इन 3 प्रश्नों में से 2 स्टेटिक भाग से और 1 करंट अफेयर्स से होंगे। GS 4 (नीतिशास्त्र) और निबंध पर विशेष जोर - प्रत्येक सप्ताह (शुक्रवार को) 3 प्रश्न पोस्ट किए जाएंगे। इसमें 2 नैतिकता सिद्धांत एवं 1 प्रश्न केस स्टडी पर आधारित होंगे। प्रत्येक शनिवार को 4 निबंध दिए जाएंगे (इसमें 2 सामान्य थीम आधारित और 2 दार्शनिक विषय पर आधारित होंगे) हिंदी माध्यम में प्रश्न शाम 5 बजे (5 PM) अपलोड किए जाएंगे। पहल के बारे में अधिक जानने के लिए -> CLICK HERE SCHEDULE/DETAILED PLAN – > CLICK HERE Do remember that, “the difference between Ordinary and  EXTRA-Ordinary is PRACTICE!!” IASbaba's Daily Static Quiz - POLITY Q.1) निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें: प्रत्येक राज्य के विधान परिषद के लिए प्रत्येक द्विवार्षिक निर्वाचन से पहले, राष्ट्रपति चुनाव आयोग की सहायता के लिए (चुनाव आयोग से परामर्श के बाद) प्रादेशिक आयुक्तों की नियुक्ति कर सकता है। संविधान के अनुसार, क्षेत्रीय आयुक्तों के सेवा और कार्यकाल की शर्तें राष्ट्रपति द्वारा निर्धारित नियम के अनुसार हो सकती है। उपर्युक्त कथनों में से कौन सा सही नहीं है / हैं?  केवल 1 केवल 2 1 और 2 दोनों न तो 1 और न ही 2 Q.2) निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें: किसी राज्य का विधानमंडल समय-समय पर (जहां तक संसद द्वारा निमित्त उपबंध नहीं है) विधि द्वारा, उस राज्य के विधान मंडल के किसी भी सदन में या प्रत्येक सदन के लिए निर्वाचक नामावली तैयार करने या तो विधानसभा चुनाव से संबंधित सभी मामलों के संबंध नियम बना सकती है । प्रत्येक प्रादेशिक निर्वाचन क्षेत्र के लिए, एक संसद के किसी भी सदन के चुनाव के लिए तथा एक राज्य के विधानमंडल के किसी भी सदन के चुनाव के लिए दो मतदाता सूची होगी । उपर्युक्त कथनों में से कौन-सा/से  सही है / हैं? केवल 1 केवल 2 1 और 2 दोनों न तो 1 और न ही 2 Q.3) अनुसूचित जनजातियों के राष्ट्रीय आयोग के निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें: राष्ट्रीय अनुसूचित जनजाति आयोग के पास अपनी प्रक्रिया को विनियमित करने की शक्ति है। आयोग के अध्यक्ष, उपाध्यक्ष और अन्य सदस्यों को प्रधानमंत्री द्वारा नियुक्त किया जाएगा। उपर्युक्त कथनों में से कौन-सा/से  सही है / हैं? केवल 1 केवल 2 1 और 2 दोनों न तो 1 और न ही 2 Q.4) राष्ट्रीय पिछड़ा वर्ग आयोग के बारे में निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें: सामाजिक और आर्थिक रूप से पिछड़े वर्गों के सामाजिक-आर्थिक विकास में भागीदारी सुनुश्चित करना और सलाह देना आयोग का कर्तव्य होगा। आयोग को संविधान (92 संशोधन) अधिनियम के माध्यम से एक संवैधानिक निकाय बन गया। उपर्युक्त कथनों में से कौन सा सही नहीं है / हैं?  केवल 1 केवल 2 1 और 2 दोनों न तो 1 और न ही 2 Q.5) निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें: संविधान के अनुसार, गुड्स एंड सर्विसेज टैक्स काउंसिल द्वारा अपनाई जाने वाली प्रक्रिया और कार्यों के निष्पादन का निर्धारण संसद द्वारा किया जाएगा। GST परिषद का प्रत्येक निर्णय कुल सदस्यों के तीन चौथाई बहुमत होने के बाद ही लिया जाता है। उपर्युक्त कथनों में से कौन-सा/से  सही है / हैं? केवल 1 केवल 2 1 और 2 दोनों न तो 1 और न ही 2 Q.6) निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें: किसी राज्य का राज्यपाल प्रत्येक पाँच वर्षों के बाद पंचायतों की वित्तीय स्थिति की समीक्षा के लिए एक वित्त आयोग का गठन करेगा। राज्यपाल आयोग की सिफारिशों के साथ-साथ राज्य विधायिका के समक्ष की गई कार्रवाई की रिपोर्ट प्रस्तुत करेगा  उपर्युक्त कथनों में से कौन-सा/से  सही है / हैं? केवल 1 केवल 2 1 और 2 दोनों न तो 1 और न ही 2 Q.7) निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें। अनुच्छेद 280 वित्त आयोग को अर्द्ध संघीय निकाय का रूप में प्रदान करता है। संविधान में भारत में राजकोषीय संघवाद के संतुलन चक्र के रूप में वित्त आयोग की परिकल्पना की गई है। पन्द्रहवें वित्त आयोग के अध्यक्षत श्री. एन.के.सिंह ने 1 अप्रैल, 2020 से शुरू होने वाले पांच वर्षों के लिए सिफारिशें प्रस्तुत की हैं। उपर्युक्त कथनों में से कौन सा सही नहीं है / हैं?  केवल 1 केवल 2 1 और 2 दोनों न तो 1 और न ही 2 Q.8) संघ लोक सेवा आयोग (UPSC) के संदर्भ में, निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें? राष्ट्रपति संघ लोक सेवा आयोग की संरचना का निर्धारण करता है। UPSC के क्षेत्राधिकार को संसद द्वारा बढ़ाया जा सकता है किसी पिछड़े वर्ग के नागरिकों के पक्ष में नियुक्तियों या पदों का आरक्षण करते समय UPSC से परामर्श नहीं किया जाता है उपर्युक्त कथनों में से कौन-सा/ से  सही है / हैं? केवल 1 केवल 2 1 और 2 दोनों न तो 1 और न ही 2 Q.9) निम्नलिखित में से कौन से कार्य राष्ट्रीय अनुसूचित जाति आयोग संबधित है / हैं: SC के लिए संवैधानिक और अन्य कानूनी सुरक्षा उपायों से संबंधित सभी मामलों की जांच और निगरानी और उनके काम का मूल्यांकन करना। संविधान के अनुसार, संघ और प्रत्येक राज्य सरकार अनुसूचित जातियों को प्रभावित करने वाले सभी प्रमुख नीतिगत मामलों पर आयोग से परामर्श करेगी। आयोग संसद को वार्षिक रिपोर्ट प्रस्तुत करता है। नीचे दिए गए कोड का उपयोग करके सही उत्तर चुनें: केवल 2 और 3  केवल 1 केवल 1 और 2 1, 2 और 3 Q.10) भारत में निम्नलिखित में से कौन से संवैधानिक निकाय नहीं है? राष्ट्रीय अनुसूचित जनजाति आयोग राष्ट्रीय अल्पसंख्यक आयोग राष्ट्रीय मानवाधिकार आयोग भाषाई अल्पसंख्यकों के लिए विशेष अधिकारी राज्य के महाधिवक्ता नीचे दिए गए कोड का उपयोग करके सही उत्तर चुनें: केवल 2 और 3  केवल 1, 4 और 5  केवल 2, 3 और 4  केवल 2, 3, 4 और 5  IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs Quiz Q.1) निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें: बंदी प्रत्यक्षीकरण (habeas corpus) की रिट सार्वजनिक अधिकारियों और निजी व्यक्तियों दोनों के खिलाफ जारी की जा सकती है। विधायिका या न्यायालय की अवमानना की कार्यवाही के लिए रिट जारी नहीं जा सकती है । उपर्युक्त कथनों में से कौन-सा/से  सही है / हैं? केवल 1 केवल 2 1 और 2 दोनों न तो 1 और न ही 2 Q.2) अविश्वास प्रस्ताव (No-Confidence Motion) के संदर्भ में निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें: इसे व्यक्तिगत मंत्री या मंत्रियों के समूह या मंत्रियों की पूरी परिषद के खिलाफ इस प्रस्ताव को लाया जा सकता है। इसे लोकसभा में इसके अपनाने के कारणों को बताना चाहिए। प्रस्ताव लाने के लिए कम से कम 50 सदस्यों के समर्थन की आवश्यकता होती है। उपर्युक्त कथनों में से कौन-सा/से  सही है / हैं? केवल 1 केवल 3 1 और 3 1 और 2 Q.3) नागार्जुनसागर श्रीशैलम टाइगर रिजर्व (NSTR) किस राज्य में स्थित है? कर्नाटक आंध्र प्रदेश केरल तमिलनाडु Q.4) निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें: होर्मुज जलडमरूमध्य (The Strait of Hormuz) फारस की खाड़ी और ओमान की खाड़ी के मध्य  स्थित जलडमरूमध्य (strait) है। ओमान, ईरान, संयुक्त अरब अमीरात होर्मुज जलडमरूमध्य के बेसिन देश हैं। उपर्युक्त कथनों में से कौन-सा/से  सही है / हैं? केवल 1 केवल 3 1 और 3  1 और 2 Q.5) बोत्सवाना के बारे में निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें: यह एक स्थलरुद्ध (landlocked) देश है। कर्क रेखा इसके माध्यम से गुजरती है। विश्व में हाथीयों की अधिकतम संख्या बोत्सवाना में पायी जाती है। उपर्युक्त कथनों में से कौन-सा/से  सही है / हैं? केवल 1 केवल 2 1 और 2 दोनों न तो 1 और न ही 2   उत्तर डाउनलोड करने के लिए नीचे क्लिक करें  - Click Here

RSTV Video

Senkaku-Diaoyu Islands Dispute – The Big Picture – RSTV IAS UPSC

Senkaku-Diaoyu Islands Dispute Archives TOPIC: General Studies 2 India and its neighbourhood In News: Japan and China claim the uninhabited islands, known as the Senkaku in Japan and Tiaoyu in China, as their own, but Japan has administered them since 1972.  The Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands were formally claimed by Japan in 1895. After Japan’s defeat in World War II, the island chain was controlled by the US until 1971 before its return. Since then, Japan has administered the island chains.  China began to reassert claims over the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands in the 1970s, citing historic rights to the area. However, Japan does not recognise Chinese claims.  More recently, there has been a flare up in the region. The Japanese government had protested to China regarding a set of names recently assigned by Beijing to seabed zones in the East China Sea, including the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands. Geostrategic Importance of the area The Senkaku Islands dispute, or Diaoyu Islands dispute, concerns a territorial dispute over a group of uninhabited islands located in East China Sea known as the Senkaku Islands in Japan, the Diaoyu Islands in the China.  It is roughly to east of mainland China, northeast of Taiwan, west of Okinawa Island, and north of the southwestern end of the Ryukyu Islands. They are currently controlled by Japan. But both China and Taiwan claim sovereignty over the islands. Oil and gas reserves had been identified under the seabed surrounding the islands and it makes the dispute tougher to resolve. What does Japan say? Japan approved plans to change the name of the area covering the Tokyo-controlled Senkaku Islands — known by Taiwan and China as the Diaoyus — from “Tonoshiro” to “Tonoshiro Senkaku”. China said the move is illegal and a “serious provocation”. There is a need to remove the administrative confusion with shares the name "Tonoshiro" A response to an increased Chinese presence and to protect territorial integrity. Since April, Chinese ships had been spotted by the Japanese coast guard, in the waters close to the Senakakus. The number of Chinese ships have only increased in the last few weeks with four of them sailing in the area even on the day when the bill was passed by the city council The defence treaty of Japan and USUSA with Japan boosts confidence of Japan in taking such steps because if Japanese territory is attacked by a foreign power, the United States is obligated to defend it. Source: Click here China’s Point of View Calling the islands its “inherent territories”, China has urged Japan to abide by the spirit of the four-principle consensus, avoid creating new incidents on the Diaoyu Islands issue, and take practical actions to maintain the stability of the East China Sea situation. Why does China want to control the South China Sea? Control of the South China Sea would allow China to dominate a major trade route through which most of its imported oil flows. It would also allow China to disrupt, or threaten to disrupt, trade shipments to all countries in East and Southeast Asia — as well as deny access to foreign military forces, particularly the United States. The floor of the South China Sea may contain massive oil and natural gas reserves. Sovereignty over the region could give China a level of energy security and independence far beyond what it currently possesses. Is the Senkakus island chain dispute with Japan is the only territorial and maritime dispute that China has had? It has island and maritime border disputes with Taiwan, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Vietnam in the South China Sea and its extension. The disputes include islands, reefs, banks and other features in the South China Sea including Spratly Islands (with Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Taiwan), Paracel Islands (Vietnam), Scarborough Shoal (Philippines), and Gulf of Tonkin (Vietnam). More recently… In the South China Sea, China has moved aircraft onto the man-made islands it has built up; it has sunk one Vietnamese fishing boat and rammed another; it has harassed a Malaysian-chartered survey ship and sent one of its own into waters claimed by Indonesia; in the past few weeks alone, Chinese warplanes have been warned off by Taiwanese fighters at least five times. Beijing reclassified its island claims in the South China Sea, giving the Spratly/Nansha and Paracel/Xisha islands more prominent status in the country's governmental hierarchy. Then the clash with India in Ladakh. Note: UNCLOS: The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is an international agreement which defines the rights and responsibilities of nations with respect to their use of the world’s oceans, establishing guidelines for businesses, the environment, and the management of marine natural resources. Connecting the Dots: Critically examine the impact of South China Sea dispute on India’s aspirations of being a regional super power in South Asia.

PIB

PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU (PIB) IAS UPSC – 20th July to 27th July – 2020

Press Information Bureau (PIB) IAS UPSC –20th July to 27th July, 2020 ARCHIVES GS-1 Kargil Vijay Diwas (Topic: Modern History) July 26 is celebrated as "Kargil Vijay Diwas" every year to mark the successful completion of "Operation Vijay" that ended the 3-month war along the Line of Control. Nearly 490 Indian army officers, soldiers and jawans were killed during the course of the battle. After nuclear tests of two rival countries of South Asia, India and Pakistan in 1998, Kargil was the first major conflict in 1999 which almost took the shape of bloody war with heavy losses of life and economy. This event, also known as Operation Vijay changed the course of South Asian geopolitics forever. Immediate geopolitical effects of Kargil war: International community including China, nearly unanimously convicted that Pakistan was culpable. India Confirms Its Worst Beliefs about Pakistan are true. Pakistan realised that Kargil-like operations are not viable in the current international environment. With a coup d’état, Pakistan came under military rule Long term effects on South Asian geopolitics It was beginning of international isolation of Pakistan. Aftermath of war decreased the legitimacy of Pakistan on international platforms. Close watch of international community increased over two Nuclear powers India and Pakistan to avoid any major war. Pakistan realised that Kargil-like operations are not viable in the current global environment, so it adopted other tactics such as Proxy war or terrorist activities and increased militancy. These tactics are to “calibrate” the heat of the insurgency in Kashmir and possibly pressure India through the expansion of violence in other portions of India’s territory, for example 2008 Mumbai Terror Attack. On one hand proximity between China and Pakistan increased, on the other hand relations between India and Afghanistan also reached to another level. India Strengthened its Determination to Marginalize Pakistan on Kashmir One of the major impacts of Kargil war is decline of SAARC and subsequent rise of BIMSTEC. Moral victory of India in Kargil strengthened the position of India as idol of democracy and net security provider amongst South Asian countries such as Nepal, Bhutan The Way Forward: Pakistan refused to learn the lessons but India established a review committee under K Subrahmanyam and followed up on most of the recommendations. Twenty years on, undertaking reforms in the spirit of the Kargil review committee to prepare for the challenges for the future will be the best tribute to the 527 soldiers who lost their lives on the icy heights of Kargil. Triple Talaq- Big Reform, Better Result (Topic: Women’s Rights; Judiciary) The month of August is recognised as a “Month of Revolution, Rights & Reforms” in the Indian history 08th August: Quit India Movement 15th August: Independence Day 19th August: World Humanitarian Day 20th August: Sadbhavana Diwas 5th August: Article 370 was abolished 1st August is a day which made Muslim women free from social evil of Triple Talaq;  1st August has been recorded in the country’s history as “Muslim Women Rights Day”. Triple Talaq Bill has made giving instant oral triple talaq a criminal offense with provisions of jail term up to three years. The law now gives a police officer the power to arrest the offender without requiring a warrant. However, to check misuse, the police takes cognisance only if the complaint is filed by the aggrieved woman or any of her relation by blood or marriage.  The Bill also provides for bail by a magistrate but only after hearing the aggrieved woman. The aggrieved woman is entitled to demand a maintenance for her and her dependent children under the Act There has been about 82% decline in triple talaq cases since the law against the “social evil” was put in place Do you know? In August 2017 the Supreme Court, by a majority of 3:2, set aside the practice of triple talaq in Shyara Bano Case.  The judgment held triple talaq to be unconstitutional under Article 14 read with Article 13(1) and concluded that the practice is not essential to the practice of Islam(Article 25) The practice of “triple talaq” was abolished in 38 countries including Muslim-majority countries of Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Afghanistan and Pakistan Egypt was the first Muslim nation which abolished this social evil in 1929. GS-2 Consumer Protection Act, 2019 comes into force (Topic: Government schemes and policies) The new Act will empower consumers and help them in protecting their rights through its various notified Rules and provisions like Consumer Protection Councils, Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions, Mediation, Product Liability and punishment for manufacture or sale of products containing adulterant / spurious goods. The Act includes establishment of the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) to promote, protect and enforce the rights of consumers. The CCPA will be empowered to conduct investigations into violations of consumer rights and institute complaints / prosecution, order recall of unsafe goods and services, order discontinuance of unfair trade practices and misleading advertisements, impose penalties on manufacturers/endorsers/publishers of misleading advertisements. What stands out: The Act to provide protection to buyers not only from traditional sellers but also from the new e-commerce retailers/platforms. Under this act, every e-commerce entity is required to provide information relating to return, refund, exchange, warranty and guarantee, delivery and shipment, modes of payment, grievance redressal mechanism, payment methods, security of payment methods, charge-back options, etc. including country of origin which are necessary for enabling the consumer to make an informed decision at the pre-purchase stage on its platform.   E-commerce platforms have to acknowledge the receipt of any consumer complaint within forty-eight hours and redress the complaint within one month from the date of receipt under this Act.  The New Act introduces the concept of product liability and brings within its scope, the product manufacturer, product service provider and product seller, for any claim for compensation. The process: The new Act provides for simplifying the consumer dispute adjudication process in the consumer commissions, which include, among others,  empowerment of the State and District Commissions to review their own orders, enabling a consumer to file complaints electronically and file complaints in consumer Commissions that have jurisdiction over the place of his residence, videoconferencing for hearing and deemed admissibility of complaints if the question of admissibility is not decided within the specified period of 21 days. Dispute Resolution: An Alternate Dispute Resolution mechanism of Mediation has been provided in the new Act.  This will simplify the adjudication process.  A complaint will be referred by a Consumer Commission for mediation, wherever scope for early settlement exists and parties agree for it. Mediation will be held in the Mediation Cells to be established under the aegis of the Consumer Commissions.  There will be no appeal against settlement through mediation. Price: As per the Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission Rules, there will be no fee for filing cases upto Rs. 5 lakh. There are provisions for filing complaints electronically, credit of amount due to unidentifiable consumers to Consumer Welfare Fund (CWF).  The State Commissions will furnish information to Central Government on a quarterly basis on vacancies, disposal, pendency of cases and other matters.  Punishment: The Act provides for punishment by a competent court for manufacture or sale of adulterant/spurious goods. The court may, in case of first conviction, suspend any licence issued to the person for a period of up to two years, and in case of second or subsequent conviction, cancel the licence. Other rules: Under this new Act, besides general rules, there are Central Consumer Protection Council Rules, Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission Rules, Appointment of President & Members in State/District Commission Rules, Mediation Rules, Model Rules and E-Commerce Rules and Consumer Commission Procedure Regulations, Mediation Regulations and Administrative control over State Commission & District Commission Regulations. India to strengthen its claim of Pharmaceuticals Hub in the world (Topic: Government schemes and policies under Atmanirbhar Bharat) For making India Atma Nirbhar in pharma sector, the Government of India has approved four schemes, two each for Bulk Drugs and Medical Devices parks. Scheme for promotion of Bulk Drug Parks: The scheme envisages creation of 3 bulk drug parks in the country. The grant-in-aid will be 90% of the project cost in case of North-East and hilly States and 70% in case of other States. Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for promoting domestic manufacturing of Medical Devices: The scheme intends to boost domestic manufacturing of medical devices in four target segments by giving financial incentives on sales to a maximum number of 28 selected applicants for a period of 5 years. Four target segments are:- Cancer care / Radiotherapy medical devices Radiology & Imaging medical devices (both ionizing & non-ionizing   radiation products) and Nuclear Imaging devices Anesthetics & Cardio-Respiratory medical devices including catheters of Cardio Respiratory Category & Renal Care medical devices AII Implants including implantable electronic devices Background: India is often referred to as ‘the pharmacy of the world’ and this has been proved true especially in the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic when India continued to export critical lifesaving medicines to needy countries even during the countrywide lockdown. However, despite these achievements, it is a matter of concern that our country is critically dependent on imports for basic raw materials, viz. Bulk Drugs (Key Starting Materials (KSMs)/ Drug Intermediates (DIs) and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs)) that are used to produce some of the essential medicines. Similarly in medical devices sector, our country is dependent on imports for 86% of its requirements of medical devices. These schemes will make India not only self-reliant but also capable of catering to the global demand for the selected bulk drugs and medical devices.  This is a golden opportunity for the investors since incentivisation to industry and world-class infrastructure support simultaneously will help in bringing down the cost of production significantly.  These schemes along with the liberal FDI policy in these sectors and an effective corporate tax rate of about 17% (including surcharge and cess) will give a competitive edge to India in the selected products vis-à-vis other economies. Key Accomplishments and Action Plan of Sustainable Growth Pillar under India–US Strategic Energy Partnership (Topic: India’s relation with other countries) In June 2017, both the countries reinforced the strategic importance of bilateral energy cooperation, through the announcement of a new US–India Strategic Energy Partnership (SEP) The India–US Strategic Energy Partnership has four pillars:  Oil and Gas Power and Energy Efficiency Renewable Energy Sustainable Growth The Sustainable Growth pillar is being co-chaired by NITI Aayog and USAID. Considerable progresses in all three areas of the Sustainable Growth pillar were noted as below: Energy data management: An India Energy Dashboard, which was launched in 2015, has been revamped with the provisioning of data input online and through API integration. To enrich the exercise, NITI Aayog created eight sub-groups on energy demand and supply sectors. India and US agencies will cooperate to build a robust energy dashboard. Energy modelling: Two exercises carried out on energy-water nexus and decarburization of transportation sector have highlighted key issues and provided policy advice. NITI Aayog and USAID jointly launched India Energy Modeling Forum on 2 July 2020. The forum will engage US and Indian researchers, knowledge partners, think tanks, both national and international, and government agencies and departments for modeling and long-term energy planning exercise. Low carbon technologies: Both sides agreed to engage through concerned Government, related agencies, and private players for the promotion of low carbon technologies in India. Setting the Stage for Future Partnerships Both sides will continue to strengthen the Energy Data Management system to improve energy data availability, accessibility, and consistency with more intensive collaboration with US agencies.  The Sustainable Growth pillar will support the India Energy Modeling Forum by facilitating collaborative engagement with the Modeling Forum at Stanford University and will also initiate new multi-team joint research studies to support energy and environmental decision-making under the forum. It was recognized that Covid-19 is a challenge to the human spirit and to the partnership between our countries. However, challenges always bring opportunities to devise new ways and find innovative solutions.  Both sides will adapt and continue to focus on sharing best practices and new solutions under the sustainable growth pillar for the benefit of India and the US. This has set the stage for building on the successful strategic energy partnership between India and the US. India-European Union Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation renewed for next five years (2020-2025) (Topic: India’s relation with other countries) India and European Union have renewed its Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation for the next five years (2020-2025). This has been done by exchange of Note Verbale between two sides. The Agreement was initially signed in on 23 November 2001 and renewed two times in past in 2007 and 2015. This will expand the cooperation in scientific and technological research, strengthen the conduct of cooperative activities in areas of common interest and application of the results of such cooperation to their economic and social benefit.   In the last 5 years, the level of co-investment on India-EU Research Technology Development Projects for addressing societal challenges such as affordable healthcare, water, energy, food & nutrition has been stepped up resulted in several technologies, patents development, their gainful utilization, joint research publications, sharing of research facility and, exchange of scientists and students from both sides. The cooperation has been focused on water, green transport, e-mobility, clean energy, circular economy, bio-economy, health, and ICT. Additional areas, such as climate change, sustainable urban development, manufacturing, advanced materials, nanotechnologies and biotechnology, food processing, and ocean research may also be considered in future endeavours. The EU and India are at the forefront of human development and innovation.  For India, addressing the basic needs of its people, including through frugal innovation, and excelling in high-tech markets are twin objectives.  Both areas offer mutually beneficial opportunities for EU-India cooperation. Increased exchanges between students, researchers, and professionals would benefit both sides. India and the EU share a mutual interest in reciprocal mobility of talent. The mobility of researchers and innovators would be promoted in both directions.  The EU-India cooperation should also foster innovation by promoting networking between EU and Indian innovators, start-ups, incubators, and accelerators, by setting up joint platforms, both offline and virtual, and engaging in coaching, training and staff exchanges. Highly qualified workers could be integrated into Indian and EU-led innovation systems industries and help maintain technology-based leadership and sharing of best practices, internationalization of SMEs, and contributing in the global value chain. GS-3 Kakrapar Atomic Power Plant-3 in Gujarat (Topic: Energy) This is a landmark event in India’s domestic civilian nuclear programme given that KAPP-3 is the country’s first 700 MWe (megawatt electric) unit, and the biggest indigenously developed variant of the Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR). The PHWRs, which use natural uranium as fuel and heavy water as moderator, are the mainstay of India’s nuclear reactor fleet. Until now, the biggest reactor size of indigenous design was the 540 MWe PHWR, two of which have been deployed in Tarapur, Maharashtra. The operationalisation of India’s first 700MWe reactor marks a significant scale-up in technology, both in terms of optimisation of its PHWR design — the new 700MWe unit addresses the issue of excess thermal margins — and an improvement in the economies of scale, without significant changes to the design of the 540 MWe reactor. (‘Thermal margin’ refers to the extent to which the operating temperature of the reactor is below its maximum operating temperature.) Four units of the 700MWe reactor are currently being built at Kakrapar (KAPP-3 and 4) and Rawatbhata (RAPS-7 and 8). The 700MWe reactors will be the backbone of a new fleet of 12 reactors to which the government accorded administrative approval and financial sanction in 2017, and which are to be set up in fleet mode. As India works to ramp up its existing nuclear power capacity of 6,780 MWe to 22,480 MWe by 2031, the 700MWe capacity would constitute the biggest component of the expansion plan. Currently, nuclear power capacity constitutes less than 2% of the total installed capacity of 3,68,690 MW (end-January 2020). Science and Technology A. Comet NEOWISE Comet Neowise officially known as C/2020F3 is the brightest comet that can be seen in the  sky and will be visible across the globe as it is closest to the earth these days. The Neowise, once disappears will be visible only after 6800 years. ‘Comet Neowise’ was first spotted by NASA's spacecraft mission Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (NEOWISE) on 27 March 2020 and hence the name NEOWISE. What are comets? Comet is an icy small body which consists mostly of rocky materials, dust and ice. As they come closer to the sun there is evaporation of volatile contents from these comets. When they start melting, the particles start glowing by the reflected sunlight. This makes the 'dust tail' of Comets. India also has a similar space venture Aditya-L1 mission which is due to go up in the sky, to study the corona of the Sun. B. Body fluids can provide clue for early detection of colon cancer Colorectal cancer that affects the large intestine (colon) and rectum is the 5th leading cause of cancer death in India, mainly because late detection minimizes chances of recovery.  In the last decade, the country has witnessed a rapid increase in the rate of colorectal cancer among younger people due to poor dietary habits, lack of physical activity, obesity, increased alcohol consumption, and chronic smoking.  The current detection methods need invasive biopsies, and subsequent evaluation requires special expertise. The delay in the timely detection of the disease limits access to rapid and affordable treatment. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) embody molecular information about the parent malignant tissue and hold a huge potential for convenient cancer diagnostics. The team has established that the evaluation of cancer cell-secreted EVs from body fluid (for example, blood, urine, stooletc.) and capturing clinical information without biopsying the tumour could be an effective and non-invasive alternative method of cancer detection. They used Atomic Force Microscope that utilizes a nanoscale finger to probe Hyaluronan on the EVs' surface from colon cancer cells. They have also performed spectroscopy experiments (FT-IR, CD, and RAMAN) to find the characteristic signatures of HA, and both the data sets highly correlate with each other. C. A device for long-term monitoring of cells & tissues and study drug delivery effects, tissue repair and regeneration Preservation of secondary cell lines, primary cells, and primary tissue explants outside the incubator environment for long hours and continuous monitoring of the growth and electrophysiology recording for controlled drug delivery is a major requirement. The need for monitoring of growth patterns of cells over long hours on desired substrates and the functionality of an explant-tissue in a non-vivo environment in their laboratory triggered a team from Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) an autonomous institute under the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India to come up with a suitable device. The researchers implemented a 3D-Fluidic device (3D-FD), which has an auto bubble guidance geometry which allows controlled medium exchange to maintain the metabolites without a trace of fluid leakage and bubble formation. The auto bubble guidance geometry (Helical pathway) and controlled delivery of the medium make it efficient as a drug screening platform and unique in the current scenario of Neuro-Technology. It has been accepted for publishing by the journal Biofabrication, and a patent for the device has also been applied recently. D. India-Russia Joint Technology Assessment and Accelerated Commercialization Programme The Department of Science and Technology has launched the India-Russia Joint Technology Assessment and Accelerated Commercialization Programme in partnership with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and Foundation for Assistance to Small Innovative Enterprises (FASIE) of the Russian Federation.  The programme will connect Indian, and Russian Science & Technology (S&T) led SMEs and Start-ups for joint R&D for technology development and for cross-country technology adaptation. This initiative will create an ecosystem for Indian and Russian S&T-led SMEs and startups to come together to develop new technological solutions. Over a period of two years, the Department of Science and Technology will fund up to INR 15 Crores to ten Indian SMEs/Start-ups and FASIE will provide similar funding to the Russian projects. The programme will provide access to partial public funding for jointly selected projects with the participation of at least one start-up/SME from India and one SME from Russia. The selected projects will be required to bear partial funding as well, either through own funds or alternate sources of funding. In addition to the financial support, the teams will also be supported through capacity building, mentorship and business development. E. MoES-Knowledge Resource Centre Network (KRCNet) Launched Under the Digital India initiative of Government of India, Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES)aims to develop a World-Class Knowledge Resource Centre Network (KRCNet). Establish a Total Quality Management (TQM) system by securing ISO certification for documenting MoESknowledge resources, its maintenance, easy retrieval and dissemination. Collect, collate, analyze, index, store and disseminate the intellectual resources, products and project outputs available in MoES headquarter and its institutes. Develop and maintain an up-to-date meta-data of the print & digital resources available in MoES headquarter and MoES institutes, including MoES services. Provide 24X7 access to the subscribed knowledge contents through the KRCNet portal. Application of information analytical tools & techniques like bibliometrics, scientometrics, big-data analytics, social media analytics etc., for policy formulation, report preparation and information dissemination. Periodically organize training workshops to popularize usage of electronic journals, databases, digital products, data analytics etc. Prelims oriented News: West Garo Hills: Meghalaya The “Test, Track, Treat” strategy for COVID-19 WHO has advised that a country needs 140 tests/day/ million population. Through the coordinated efforts, India’s testing per million (TPM) has increased to 10421. This has helped in early detection and timely and effective clinical management of COVID-19 cases. The State of Goa is testing highest at 1333 tests per day per million. The confirmation rate or Positivity Rate for India is continuously reducing and currently stands at 8.07%. Zoram Mega Food Park: Mizoram Under the Mega Food Park Scheme, Government of India provides financial assistance upto Rs. 50.00 Crore per Mega Food Park project. Presently, 18 Mega Food Park Projects are under implementation in various states and 19 Mega Food Parks have already become functional in the States.  6 of them are in the North eastern region. 2 MFPs in North eastern Region are operational at Assam and Mizoram. Manodarpan: An initiative under Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, to provide psychosocial support to students for their Mental Health and well-being World Class State of the Art Honey Testing Lab inaugurated: Anand, Gujarat PM-SVANidhi Scheme Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry launched the portal for a loan scheme for street vendors. Name of the loan scheme for street vendors – Pradhan Mantri Street Vendors’ AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) scheme. The portal — pmsvanidhi.mohua.gov.in — provides an “integrated end-to-end IT interface to users for availing benefits under the scheme. About - Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs launched the scheme on June 1st. The vendors can avail a working capital loan of up to Rs. 10,000. It will be repayable in monthly instalments in the tenure of one year. On timely/early repayment of the loan, an interest subsidy at 7% per annum will be credited to the bank accounts of beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer on six monthly basis.  There will be no penalty on early repayment of loan. Over 50 lakh people, including vendors, hawkers, thelewalas, etc. are likely to benefit from this scheme. Street vendors from peri- urban/ rural areas have become beneficiaries of an urban livelihood programme for the first time. MFIs/ NBFCs/ SHG Banks have been allowed in a scheme for the urban poor due to their ground level presence for the first time. 2 Mega Watt Solar Power Plant Inaugurated at Naval Station Karanja, Uran Installed at Naval Station Karanja and is one of the largest solar plants in the region. The Solar Plant comprises of 100% indigenously developed solar panels, tracking tables and inverters. The plant is grid interconnected utilising the state of art single axis sun tracking technology with computerised monitoring & control. The project is a significant step by the Indian Navy towards harnessing Solar energy and use of renewable source of energy for meeting the power supply requirement of Naval Station. India and Indonesia agree to further enhance bilateral defence cooperation The defence cooperation between India and Indonesia has witnessed an upswing in the recent years, which is in consonance with the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two sides Both the countries have agreed to further enhance the bilateral defence cooperation in mutually agreed areas.  Potential areas of cooperation in the field of defence industries and defence technology were also identified by the two countries.   Kumhar Sashaktikaran Yojana To bring back the potters’ community to the mainstream by providing potters with modern equipment and training. This will help to reconnect them with the society and revive their art.  Under the scheme, the KVIC also provides equipment like blunger and pug mills for mixing clay for making pottery products.  The machines have eliminated drudgery from the process of pottery making and resulted in higher income of potters by 7 to 8 times. The Mystical Triangle- Maheshwar, Mandu & Omkareshwar Maheshwar or Mahishmati  Madhya Pradesh - 90 kms away from Indore city The city got its name after Lord Shiva/ Maheshwara, it also finds a mention in the epics Ramayana and Mahabharatha.  The presenters described in detail the life & times of Queen Rajmata Ahilya Devi Holkar.  It was the capital of the Malwa during the Maratha Holkar reign till 6 January 1818, when the capital was shifted to Indore by Malhar Rao Holkar III.  In the late eighteenth century, Maheshwar served as the capital of the great Maratha queen Rajmata Ahilya Devi Holkar.  Baneshwar temple which is dedicated to Lord Shiva is one of the must-see temples of Maheshwar especially during sunsets. Narmada aarti is performed after sunset at Narmada ghat. Ahilya Devi invited master weavers from Surat and South India to weave sarees that are unique from the existing ones. In 1760, she sent for the famed weavers of Surat to enrich her kingdom with fine cloth - something worthy of the royal family. Under the princely state the weavers arts flourished and specialized into the present day Maheshwari cloth. Once an all-cotton weave - in the 1950's silk started being used in the wrap and slowly became the norm. Rehwa Society was founded in 1979, is a non-profit organisation working for the welfare of weavers of maheshwar. Omkareshwar Has 33 deities and 108 impressive shivling in divine form and this is the only Jyotirlinga which is situated on the north bank of Narmada.  Omkareshwar is a spiritual town in Madhya Pradesh, 78kms away from Indore.  It is also believed that Lord Shiva comes here to rest everyday considering this a special aarti called Shayan aarti is performed everyday at 8:30pm in the evening and arrange game of dice for Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi.  Mandu Located in Dhar district of State of Madhya Pradesh is also known by the name of Mandavgarh, Shadiabad (City of Joy).  The Fort in Mandu is spread over an area of 47 sq km and the fort wall is 64 kms. Mandu is mainly known for the love story of Sultan Baz Bahadur and Rani Roopmati. Once out hunting, Baz Bahadur chanced upon a shepherdess frolicking and singing with her friends. Smitten by both her enchanting beauty and her melodious voice, he begged Roopmati to accompany him to his capital. Roopmati agreed to go to Mandu on the condition that she would live in a palace within sight of her beloved and venerated river, Narmada. Thus was built the Rewa Kund at Mandu.  On knowing about Roopmati’s beauty and sweet voice, Mughals decided to invade Manduand capture both Baz Bahadur and Roopmati. Mandu was easily defeated and when Mughal forces marched towards fort, Roopmati poisoned herself to avoid capture. Baz Bahadur's Palace built in 16th-century is famous for its large courtyards encompassed by large halls and high terraces. It is situated below Roopmati's Pavilion and can be seen from the pavilion. Personality in News Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak Father of Indian Unrest Popularly known as Lokmanya, and dedicated his life for the cause of “Purna Swaraj” (complete self-rule) One of the founders of the Fergusson College in Pune One of the first advocates of Swaraj or self-rule. He gave the slogan, “Swaraj is my birth right and I shall have it.” Along with Bipin Chandra Pal and Lala Lajpat Rai, he was called the ‘Lal-Bal-Pal’ trio of extremist leaders One of the founders of the All India Home Rule League, along with Annie Besant and G S Khaparde, and served as its president and in 1916 he concluded the Lucknow Pact with Mohammed Ali Jinnah, which provided for Hindu-Muslim unity in the nationalist struggle Newspaper: Kesari in Marathi and Mahratta in English Qn: Compare and contrast the nationalism of Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Gopal Krishna Gokhale. Chandra Shekhar Azad Popularly known as ‘Azad’; It is believed that on being presented before a magistrate, he gave his name as “Azad” (The Free), his father’s name as “Swatantrata” (Independence) and his residence as “Jail”. From that day he came to be known as Chandra Shekhar Azad among the people. Became extremely popular after Kakori Rail Dacoity in 1925 and assassination of policeman John Saunders in year 1928 The Colt pistol of Chandra Shekhar Azad is displayed at the Prayagraj Museum The Jallianwala Bagh tragedy which took place in 1919 was when he decided to join the Non-Cooperation movement led by Mahatma Gandhi in 1920. He was the chief strategist of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA). Essay Topics:  “Reform is not only a Regulation, Reform is a Resolution” Role of Journalism, Media and Cinema in Nation and Generation Building

Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz - 2020 : IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 42]

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

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 28th JULY 2020

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Rajasthan crisis: Constitution on governor’s power  Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – Polity - Constitution, Governor, C-S Relations  Context:  Rajasthan Governor told the state government that an assembly session can be called at a short notice but with certain conditions -   Giving a 21-day notice for the session  Live broadcast of the floor test, if it is held  Social distancing in the assembly  From exam perspective, we should know the following -  Who has the powers to summon the House?  What the law says about a governor’s power to summon, prorogue or dissolve an assembly?  What has the Supreme Court said in the past about the Governor’s power to summon the House?  Constituent Assembly Debate on the issue  Who has the powers to summon the House?  It is the Governor acting on the aid and advice of the cabinet.   What the law says about a governor’s power to summon, prorogue or dissolve an assembly?  There are two provisions in the Constitution that deal with a governor’s power to summon, prorogue and dissolve an assembly.  Under Article 174, a governor shall summon the House at a time and place, as she or he thinks fit. Article 174 (2) (a) says a governor may from “time to time” prorogue the House and 174 (2) (b) allows her or him to dissolve the Legislative Assembly.  Article 163 says the governor shall exercise her or his functions with the aid and advice of the council of ministers. But it also adds that she or he would not need their advice if the Constitution requires her or him to carry out any function at her/his discretion.  Usually, the two Articles — 174 and 163 — are read together to outline the governor’s powers in summoning, proroguing or dissolving the House.  Article 163(1) essentially limits any discretionary power of the Governor only to cases where the Constitution expressly specifies that the Governor must act on his own and apply an independent mind.  What has the Supreme Court said in the past about the Governor’s power to summon the House?  A 2016 verdict of the Supreme Court in the Nabam Rebia case had expressly stated that a “governor can summon, prorogue and dissolve the House, only on the aid and advice of the council of ministers”.  But the court clarified that if the governor had reasons to believe that the chief minister and her or his council of ministers have lost the confidence of the House, a floor test could be ordered.  Rajasthan case:   Chief Minister has said that he has the “confidence of the House”. Hence, the governor is bound by their (council of ministers) advice to convene the legislative assembly.  Constituent Assembly Debate on Article 174  The then draft had three clauses in the provision. The first two clauses were similar to the ones mentioned in Article 174 in the present form.  The third clause allowed the governor to exercise her or his discretion to summon, prorogue and dissolve the assembly.  During the Constituent Assembly debate, it was submitted that there was no reason why the governor, in her or his discretion, should be permitted to summon or dissolve the House, when no such discretionary power was being extended to the President (with regard to summoning and dissolution of the Parliament).  Later B.R. Ambedkar moved to omit clause 3, as the same was inconsistent with the scheme of a “constitutional” governor.  Delhi government launches job portal: Rozgaar Bazaar  Part of: GS Mains II and III – Government schemes and initiatives; Economy – Growth and Development; Employment  About:  Delhi government launched a job portal - ‘Rozgaar Bazaar’  Benefits:  Helps to revive economy  Intends to bridge the gap between potential employers and employees  Helps to those who lost their jobs and businesses due to the novel coronavirus pandemic and successive lockdowns  Application – We can cite above initiative ‘Rozgaar Bazaar’ and also ‘Mukhya Mantri Ghar Ghar Ration Yojana’ which we read recently as examples or case studies of good governance and affirmative government measures, which other states can also implement or follow.  SOFI 2020 Report on Food Security Part of: GS Prelims and Mains I and II – Poverty/Health; Social/Welfare issues; Food Security  About:  State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) is a join report issued annually by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, UNICEF, the World Food Programme and the World Health Organization.  It presents the latest estimates on food insecurity, hunger and malnutrition at the global and regional levels.  SOFI 2020 Report highlights:  The 2020 edition continues to signal that significant challenges remain in the fight against food insecurity and malnutrition in all its forms.  A nutrient­-adequate diet costs $2.12  a day  A healthy diet costs more than $4.07 a day  $1.90 a day is the international poverty line threshold  The world is not on track to meet the goal of zero hunger by 2030.  Hundreds of millions of people in India above the international poverty line of $1.90 purchasing power parity (PPP) per person per day cannot afford a healthy or nutritious diet.  Place in news: Sudan’s Darfur region Ethnic community/tribe in news: Masalit community Part of: GS Prelims and Mains I and II – Map based; Human Geography; International Affairs  Why in news?  Over 60 people were massacred in Sudan’s Darfur region.  About 500 armed men targeted the Masalit community in west Darfur’s Masteri town.   Conflict between the nation’s dominant Arab rulers and the African ethnic communities demanding greater autonomy.  Link: Sudan-Darfur   Map activity – Locate the following  Khartoum, capital of Sudan  Darfur  Red Sea  Bordering countries   United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – Role of international organizations  About:  OCHA is a United Nations (U.N.) body  It was established in 1991 to strengthen the international response to complex emergencies and natural disasters   It is the successor to the Office of the United Nations Disaster Relief Coordinator (UNDRO)  OCHA's mandate was subsequently broadened to include coordinating humanitarian response, policy development and humanitarian advocacy  OCHA organized the 2016 World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul, Turkey.   It is a sitting observer in the United Nations Development Group.  The headquarters is based in two locations (New York and Geneva)  Place in news: Strait of Hormuz Part of: GS Prelims – Geography - Map based   About:  It is a strait between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.  It provides the only sea passage from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean and is one of the world’s most strategically important choke points.  On the north coast lies Iran, and on the south coast the United Arab Emirates and Musandam, an exclave of Oman.  Link: Strait of Hormuz  Place in news: Okavango Delta, Botswana  Part of: GS Prelims and Mains I and III – Geography - Map based; Conservation   Why in news?  In the past two months, hundreds of elephants have died mysteriously in Botswana’s Okavango Delta.  The cause of the deaths is yet to be established. However, poaching has been ruled out since the dead elephants were found with tusks.  Several live elephants appeared to have been weak, lethargic and skeletal, with some showing signs of disorientation, difficulty in walking or limping.  About Okavango Delta  It is one of the very few major interior delta systems that do not flow into a sea or ocean.  This delta comprises permanent marshlands and seasonally flooded plains.  The delta covers part of Kalahari Desert and owes its existence to the Okavango (Kavango) River.  It is home to some of the world’s most endangered species of large mammal, such as the cheetah, white rhinoceros, black rhinoceros, African wild dog and lion.  Link: Botswana  About Botswana:   It is a landlocked country in Southern Africa.   Its 70% territory is covered by Kalahari Desert.  Botswana has the world’s largest elephant population, estimated to be around 130,000.  It is Africa's oldest continuous democracy.  Protected Area in news: Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR)  Part of: Prelims - Conservation; Protected Areas  About:  Tiger numbers increase in Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR)  NSTR is the largest Tiger Reserve in India  The reserve spreads over five districts, Kurnool District, Prakasam District, Guntur District, Nalgonda District and Mahbubnagar district across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana  India accounts for 75% of world's tiger population  Miscellaneous  "Operation Breathing Space"  Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – India and Israel ties; International Relations  Israeli team, led by a “high ranking” research and development (R&D) defence official and DRDO to develop rapid testing for COVID­19.  The tests that the Israeli teams will be conducting trials for include an audio test, a breath test, thermal testing, and a polyamino test which seeks to isolate proteins related to COVID­19.  India-Bangladesh: Concern over Ram temple construction  Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – India and its neighbourhood relations  In news:  Bangladesh Foreign Minister flags concerns over cross-­border fallout of Ram temple construction.  He cautioned that the Ram temple construction on the site of the Babri mosque though an internal matter of India, will have an emotional impact on the people of Bangladesh  It can fracture beautiful and deep relationship both the countries enjoy.  Measures needed to re-ignite economy  Part of: GS Mains III – Measures by RBI; Economy – Growth and Development   Context:  RBI Governor tagged 5 areas to spur progress -  Targeted infrastructure push (mega infrastructure projects such as north-­south and east-­west expressway, high­speed rail corridors)  Farm  Renewables  Information & communication technology (ICT)­ start-­ups and   value supply chains  He pointed out that harnessing the potential in these could propel India to a leadership position in the league of nations.  Justice delayed is justice denied  Part of: GS Mains II – Governance; Judicial reforms  Key facts:  As many as 77 cases filed in the 1950s are still pending.  Volume of pending cases have increased with every decade.  Out of the nearly 3 crore cases pending, 2.6 crores were filed after 2010.  9 states have more than 10 lakh pending cases.  (MAINS FOCUS) INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS/ SECURITY  Topic: General Studies 2  India and its neighborhood- relations  Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.  India-Sri Lanka relations: Modern tools, age-old wisdom Context: Need for revitalizing and reinvigorating the bilateral relationship in post-COVID world  A brief background   Indo-Srilankan ties is steeped in myth and legend, and influenced by religious, cultural and social affinities.   The relationship between India and Sri Lanka is more than 2,500 years old with free exchange of ideas, trade and intellectual discourse.  The advent of Buddhism to Sri Lanka during the time of Emperor Ashoka was the result of cross-border discourse  Buddhist temples in Sri Lanka, to this day, contain shrines for Hindu deities  The colonial expansion of European maritime nations reshaped the Sri Lankan economy.   Labour from south India was brought to Sri Lanka to work in plantations which in post-independence era created tensions with indigenous communities and continues to persist till date   The Indian freedom struggle had its influence on Sri Lanka as well. There was cross-border support for the revival of culture, tradition, local languages, spiritual practices and philosophies, and education.  Both countries transformed into modern nations with constitutional and institutionalised governance under colonial rule.  The nearly three-decade long armed conflict between the Sri Lankan forces and the LTTE came to an end in May 2009. During the course of the conflict, India supported the right of the Sri Lankan Government, much to the anger of Srilankan Tamils  Trade between the two countries grew particularly rapidly after the India-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement which came into force in March 2000  Importance of Sri Lanka to India  Geopolitical Significance: Sri Lanka’s location in the Indian Ocean region as an island State has been of strategic geopolitical relevance to India’s maritime interests in region  Defence & Security Cooperation: India and Sri Lanka conducts joint Military ( 'Mitra Shakti') and Naval exercise (SLINEX). This increases synergy between both militaries thus safeguarding the common interest of countries  Economic importance: Sri Lanka is one of India’s largest trading partners among the SAARC countries. India in turn is Sri Lanka’s largest trade partner globally.  Collaboration at multilateral fora: Sri Lanka is a member of regional groupings like BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) and SAARC in which India plays a leading role.  Containing China: Among others, freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific together with a rules-based international order and peaceful settlement of disputes are of common interest, which is threatened by increasing presence of China in the subcontinent  Concerns in the relationship  Growing Closeness with China: Sri Lanka has long been in India’s geopolitical orbit, but its relationship with China has strengthened in recent years Ex: Hambantota port built by China; participation in BRI; arms supplies etc  Unresolved Tamil Issues: The rehabilitation of Tamils displaced by Sri Lankan civil war and provision of autonomy to Northern & Eastern Sri Lanka where Indian Origin Tamils are in majority, has not progressed at the required pace  Fear of Protectionism: Policies and thinking are becoming communally exclusive, localised and inward-looking.  Asymmetry in relationship: There is asymmetric in terms of geographic size, population, military and economic power, on the one hand, and social indicators and geographical location, on the other.   Trade Balance in favour of India: Exports from India to Sri Lanka in 2018 were US$ 4.16billion, while exports from Sri Lanka to India are US$ 767 million. Sri Lanka wants to reduce this imbalance and wants greater access to Indian markets  Way Ahead   While avoiding advocacy of zero sum solutions on crucial issues, both countries must seek to harmonise strategic and other interests in line with common values and socioeconomic compulsions.  Sri Lanka can encourage Indian entrepreneurs to make Colombo another business hub for them, as logistical capacities are improving in Sri Lanka  Integrating the two economies but with special and differential treatment for Sri Lanka due to economic asymmetries needs to be fast-tracked  Engagement of legislatures is also essential for promoting multiparty support.  Conclusion  With many countries receding into cocoons due to the pandemic, this is an opportunity for both countries to focus on the renewal and revitalisation of partnerships.  Connecting the dots: Belt & Road Initiative  String of Pearls Theory  DISASTER MANAGEMENT/ GOVERNANCE/ ECONOMY  Topic: General Studies 2 and 3 Disaster and disaster management.  Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.  Need for climate-resilient infrastructure Context: The recent Assam floods has caused large scale damage which makes policy makers rethink about infrastructural development  According to Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), the deluge has destroyed 2,323 villages, 110,000 hectares of crop area, disrupted transport and communication networks, healthcare systems, affecting over 2.49 million people  Are floods in Assam State recurring in nature?  Yes, it has now become an annual phenomenon, every year intense rainfall during the monsoon season cause the Brahmaputra River to overflow causing massive devastation to downstream states.  If it’s a recurring event, what steps are taken by government to reduce its impact?  Government has invested heavily in forecast technologies, designed & implemented large-scale disaster evacuation strategies and come up SOPS for effective relief operations   All these efforts by government in collaboration with Civil Society have been able to save lives, but not enough to face future challenges.  The report ‘Assessment of Climate Change over the Indian Region’ has warned that a projected rise in average temperature is likely to exacerbate such disasters with greater intensity and frequency, but India is unprepared for it  The vulnerability of India’s critical infrastructure to climate extremes would not only undermine development gains but also have severe implications for its ecosystems, economic productivity, energy and food security, and public health.  Did You Know?  Cyclone Amphan caused an estimated infrastructure damage of $13 billion in West Bengal, 1.6 times the overall economic loss caused by super cyclone Fani in 2019.   Kerala’s total recovery need due to the damage caused by 2018 floods was more than Rs 310 billion.   Mumbai suffered a loss of Rs 1.8 billion due to monsoon floods between 2005 and 2015.  In the last 20 years, India has incurred a loss of $80 billion to climate disasters.  Way Ahead - Comprehensive policy framework for climate- resilient infrastructure   India’s development policies do not lay any explicit focus on effective integration of climate resilience concerns in infrastructure building.  A comprehensive policy framework for climate resilient infrastructure could significantly reduce the socio-economic vulnerabilities by anticipating, preparing for, and adapting to changing climate conditions.   An aggressive strategy to integrate climate resilience in all aspects of infrastructure development from planning, design, construction, operation and maintenance.  India’s critical infrastructure must be built to withstand, respond to, and recover rapidly from the disruptions they cause.  The national government’s flagship schemes for infrastructure development such as the AMRUT, the Smart Cities Mission, or Pradhan Mantri Aawas Yojna (PMAY) should put greater emphasis on climate resilient standards adoption.   National Action Plan for Climate Change (NAPCC) mandates local governments to include climate adaptation and mitigation strategies into their development projects. This has to implemented in spirit at ground level  Adherence to the provisions of The Model Building Bye-laws 2016 that provides for risk classification of buildings and climate-resilient construction  Majority of states do not maintain an up-to-date record of critical infrastructure such as housing, water systems, transport network, etc. that could inform proper land use planning. States should update such data with urgency  There is a need to strengthen the technical capacity for climate modelling and projection.   India should collectively mobilise its existing institutional climate capabilities for predicting disasters. This would include ISRO, NRSA and IMD to create comprehensive map that could guide the design, plan and delivery on resilient infrastructure building.  Importance of climate resilient infrastructure  Investing in climate resilient infrastructure at an unprecedented scale would yield the triple dividend of   Saving lives and livelihoods,  Minimising economic loss and   Ensuring efficient allocation of resources for development.  Conclusion  As extreme events are becoming the ‘new normal’ in an increasingly climate-constrained world, India’s critical infrastructure must be built to withstand, respond to, and recover rapidly from the disruptions they cause  Connecting the dots: Sustainable Developmental Goals  (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note:  Correct answers of today’s questions will be provided in next day’s DNA section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers.  Comments Up-voted by IASbaba are also the “correct answers”. Q.1) Which of the following provisions of the Constitution that deals with the relationship between the governor and the Chief Minister is incorrect?  The Chief Minister shall be appointed by the governor and other ministers shall be appointed by the governor on the advice of the Chief Minister.  The chief minister of Delhi is appointed by the lt. governor.  The ministers shall hold office during the pleasure of the governor.  The Chief Minister advises the governor with regard to the summoning and proroguing of the sessions of the state legislature.  Q.2) Which article of the Indian Constitution mentions that the chief minister shall be appointed by Governor?  Article 174   Article 164   Article 163  Article 168  Q.3) State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report is released by - FAO and UN organizations  WB and WHO WHO and IMF WB and FAO Q.4) Okavango Delta is located in - South Africa  Sudan  Botswana  Darfur  Q.5) Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR) is located in - Karnataka  Kerala  Tamil Nadu Andhra Pradesh  ANSWERS FOR 27th July 2020 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1  D  2  A  3  D  4  B  5  A  6  A  Must Read About draft EIA notification The Hindu About an opportunity to reshape healthcare The Hindu About China’s assertion politics The Indian Express

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