Dec 19, 2020 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 19th December 2020

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Cabinet Committee on Security approves the setting up of a new National Security Directive Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Infrastructure In news Recently, the Cabinet Committee on Security has approved the setting up of a new National Security Directive on the telecommunication sector. Key takeaways  It aims to classify telecom products and their sources under the ‘trusted’ and ‘non-trusted’ categories. It will make its decision based on approval of the National Security Committee on Telecom. It will be headed by the deputy National Security Advisor (NSA).  It will have members from other departments and ministries, independent experts and two members from the industry. The National Cyber Security Coordinator is the designated authority and will devise the methodology to designate trusted products. Eight-member committee makes Recommendations on Reservation in IITs Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – Education In news Recently, an eight-member committee, appointed by the government made recommendations for effective implementation of reservation in students’ admissions and faculty recruitment in the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).  Key takeaways  It was chaired by IIT Delhi’s Director It had representatives of secretaries of the departments of Social Justice and Empowerment, Tribal Affairs, Department of Personnel and Training, Persons with Disabilities, among others. Its report was submitted to the Ministry of Education in June 2020.  It has been made available under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005 also. Recommendations Being established and recognised as institutions of national importance, IITs should be added to the list of “Institutions of Excellence” mentioned in the Schedule to the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers’ Cadre) Act, 2019 (CEI Act). Implementation of reservation policies for all categories including Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) be restricted just to Assistant Professor Grade I and Grade II and not for levels above. Vacancies not filled in a particular year due to non-availability, be de-reserved in the subsequent year. Conduct of special recruitment drives to attract candidates from reserved categories. A system emphasising targeted goals over a period of time and not specific quotas be followed so that IITs can compete with other top institutions in the world in terms of excellence, output, research and teaching. The panel proposes a two-year Research Assistantship for students from reserved categories aspiring to join PhD programmes.  Hawker Culture in Singapore included in UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity Part of: GS Prelims and GS-I – Culture & GS-II – International relations In news Hawker Culture in Singapore has been inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity at the 15th session of the Intergovernmental Committee (IGC) that was held online. Important value additions  Hawker Culture in Singapore It is a living heritage shared by those who prepare hawker food and those who dine and mingle over hawker food in community dining spaces called hawker centres. It reflects Singapore’s multicultural identity as a people and nation, and resonates strongly with Singaporeans across all races and social strata. UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage This list is made up of those intangible heritage elements that help demonstrate diversity of cultural heritage and raise awareness about its importance. Established in: 2008 when the Convention for Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage came into effect. Intangible Cultural Heritage of India, recognized by UNESCO:  The Ministry of Culture has also launched the draft National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of India Related article: Culture related terms: Click here India’s communication satellite CMS-01 was successfully launched by PSLV-C50 Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Achievements of Indians in Sci & Tech In news India’s communication satellite CMS-01 was successfully launched by PSLV-C50 recently from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota. Key takeaways CMS-01 is envisaged to provide services in the extended-C Band of the frequency spectrum that will cover the Indian mainland, the Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands. It provides services like tele-education, tele-medicine, disaster management support and Satellite Internet access. It was India's 42nd communication satellite with a mission life of over seven years. The satellite will be placed in the specified slot in the geosynchronous orbit. Subsequently, it will function as the continuation of GSAT11 launched 11 years back. PSLV-C50 is the 52nd flight of PSLV and 22nd flight of PSLV in 'XL' configuration (with 6 strap-on motors). (Mains Focus) AGRICULTURE / GOVERNANCE/ FEDERALISM Topic: General Studies 2,3: Issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure  Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. MSP — the factoids versus the facts Context:  After the passage of the three controversial farm laws, the Minimum Support Price (MSP) — not mentioned in the laws — has gained a lot of attention.  What is Minimum Support Price (MSP)? MSP is the price set by the government to purchase crops from the farmers, whatever may be the market price for the crops. The MSP is meant to set a floor below which prices do not fall, and is announced by the government for 23 commodities. It is the price at which the government ‘promises’ to buy from farmers if market prices fall below it. MSP is declared by Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs before the sowing time on the basis of the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) Support prices generally affect farmers’ decisions indirectly, regarding land allocation to crops, quantity of the crops to be produced etc MSP assures farmers agricultural income besides providing a clear price signal to the market The major objectives are to support the farmers from distress sales and to procure food grains for public distribution.  Do You Know? Even for commodities for which MSP is announced, the proportion of sales via the mandi range is only between 10-64% The demand for the MSP originates because the prices paid outside the mandi tend to be much lower. Countrywide, sales to mandi or government procurement agencies fetched on average 13.3% higher prices for paddy and 5.8% for wheat. What are some of the misconceptions regarding MSP and arguments against it? Few (6%) farmers benefit One, the 6% figure from the NSS data 2012-13 relates to paddy and wheat alone. Even here, however, among those who sold any paddy/wheat, the numbers are higher — 14% and 16% Only farmers of Punjab and Haryana (to some extent, western UP) benefit. The Government of India has made a systematic effort to expand the reach of MSP to more States, via the Decentralized Procurement (DCP) Scheme.  Introduced in 1997-98, it was not very popular in the initial years and began to be adopted by States in earnest only around 2005.  Under the DCP scheme, the responsibility of procurement devolved to the State governments which were reimbursed pre-approved costs.  FCI data suggest that by July 2015, as many as 15 States had taken up this programme, though not all were implementing it with equal enthusiasm.  Largely on account of it, procurement began moving out of ‘traditional’ States (such as Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh).  Until 2000, barely 10% of wheat and rice was procured outside the traditional States. By 2012-13, the share of the DCP States rose to 25-35%. Chhattisgarh and Odisha contribute about 10% each to the total paddy procurement in the country. For wheat, decentralised procurement has taken off in Madhya Pradesh in a big way, accounting for approximately 20% of wheat procurement.  Only large farmers benefit Procurement has benefited the small and marginal farmers in much bigger numbers than medium and large farmers.  At the all-India level, among those who sold paddy to the government, 1% were large farmers, owning over 10 hectares of land.  Small and marginal farmers, with less than 2 hectares accounted for 70%. The rest (29%) were medium farmers (2-10 hectares). In the case of wheat, 3% of all wheat-selling farmers were large farmers. More than half (56%) were small and marginal farmers. In Madhya Pradesh, nearly half (45%) of those who sell wheat to government agencies are small or marginal farmers. Conclusion Getting the facts right is an important first step in resolving the issues facing the agricultural sector and farmers’ issues. To recap, the facts are as follows:  One, the proportion of farmers who benefit from (even flawed) government procurement policies is not insignificant.  Two, the geography of procurement has changed in the past 15 years. It is less concentrated in traditional States such as Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, as DCP States such as Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha have started participating more vigorously.  Three, perhaps most importantly — it is predominantly the small and marginal farmers who have benefited from the MSP and procurement, INTERNATIONAL / ECONOMY Topic: General Studies 2,3: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests. China’s Brahmaputra dam: Trans-boundary water governance in South Asia Context: On November 29, 2020, Chinese state media announced that Beijing will build a mega dam on the the Yarlung Zangbo river close to the Line of Actual Control in Tibet. The move could have a far-reaching impact on water security in India’s North East. South Asia and Transboundary rivers The whole of South Asia comes under ‘high’ to ‘extremely high’ water-stressed areas. This, even though it has a lot of fresh water. South Asia is separated from the rest of the continent by the Himalayas and the Hindu Kush mountain ranges.  There are some 25 major rivers in South Asia. Of the 30 major river basins of the world identified as global level priorities for the protection of aquatic biodiversity, nine are in India, which constitutes the majority of South Asia. The Brahmaputra carries a flow volume that is greater than Europe’s 20 major rivers. The river passes through the world’s deepest gorge and three of its most populous countries — China, India and Bangladesh — before merging into the Bay of Bengal. Issues Transboundary Impact: Natural resources like rivers, forests and mountains pay no attention to political boundaries. They have evolved over millions of years of natural cycles. Dams or water diversion projects in the upstream areas of rivers have a significant effect on downstream countries through which river flows.  Advantage to China: China has a clear advantage in building dams and other infrastructure to reduce or divert water flow from river systems originating in Tibet. Communities in the lower riparian areas have to accept what is being offered to them. Thus, there is a general feeling that China controls the headwaters.  Ecological threats for Himalayan Ecosystem: The glaciers and snowlines of the Himalayas are retreating. If the current warming continues, there is a projection that the waterways of the Tibetan Plateau could first flood and then dry up gradually, turning the vast landscape into a desert. Water conflicts: Discontent and conflict result from a situation where water demand is more than its supply. They can also result from asymmetric power controls over access and allocation of water between competing users or between transboundary governments. Further, the lack of a cooperative framework for managing river systems in South Asia leads to unresolved conflicts. Unsustainable Approach: The reductionist engineering approach only looks at short-term gains on a model of competitive exploitation of river water resource. The supply-centric irrigation department talks in terms of diversions, dams, barrages, canals, tunnels and turbines. They do not know the science of bringing water into the river.  Domestic Federal Issue: As water is a state subject, states assume exclusive powers over water governance. The cumulative outcomes at the national level do not inspire optimism about long-term security and sustainability. This is partly attributed to the poor devolution by states and weak institutions. Way Ahead- A change of Approach The real issue is not the scarcity of water resources. Rather, it is scarcity of ‘social resources’ and abundance of ‘power disparities’ between the riparians We have to reconsider the fluvial landscape approach to river basin management. This approach respects the integrity of the landscape and the catchments. It respects river behaviour and patterns, it respects the river’s legitimate rights to flood and cause droughts. They are inseparable parts of the hydrological cycle. The fluvial memory concept is not based on ‘solutionising’ at reach scales on an ad-hoc basis. It takes the entire flow-habitat-catchment perspective. Since the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna basin and the Himalayas are shared by all riparian states, the fluvial memory of the Brahmaputra should respected and it should be allowed to flow freely from source to mouth without any major obstructions. (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 National Security Directive recently approved by Cabinet Committee on Security: It shall classify telecom products and their sources under the ‘trusted’ and ‘non-trusted’ categories. It will be headed by the deputy National Security Advisor (NSA).  Which of the above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2 Which of the following Intangible Cultural Heritage of India which are recognized by UNESCO: Kutiyattam Yoga Nowruz Kumbh Mela Kathak dance Select the correct code: 1 and 5 only 2, 4 and 5 only 1, 2, 3 and 4 only 2 and 4 only Q.3 Consider the following statements regarding India’s recently launched satellite CMS-01: It will have frequency spectrum that will cover Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands only. It is launched in geosynchronous orbit. Which of the above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 ANSWERS FOR 18th December 2020 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 A 2 B 3 A 4 B 5 A Must Read About India- Bangladesh Virtual Summit: The Hindu About West Bengal and Home Ministry tussle: The Hindu

Dec 19, 2020 MindMaps

Mind Maps: Global Hunger Index - General Studies 1 and 2

Mind Maps: Global Hunger Index - General Studies 1 and 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! Global Hunger Index - General Studies 1 and 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) Global Hunger Index   YOUR PARTICIPATION? – VERY IMPORTANT Unlike what we were doing before, in this initiative we want students to learn and brainstorm through mind-maps (It is not necessary that you use a software/tool to design mind maps. You can prepare mindmaps using a pen and a sheet of paper). We will share the final printable mind map twice a week. We will also provide specific inputs on your mind maps to improve your skill of mind mapping.  To Know More about the initiative, Benefits and How to use a mind-map ->CLICK HERE Together we can, we will. The strength of the community is more powerful than individual effort. We have started it. You have to strengthen it” You can Start sharing Your Mind-maps (get feedback from IASbaba) & Topics of your interest in the comment section below!!   Thank You IASbaba

Dec 19, 2020 RSTV Video

Sardar Patel - The Iron Man of India – Vishesh – RSTV IAS UPSC

Sardar Patel - The Iron Man of India Archives TOPIC: General Studies 1: Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present significant events, personalities, issues The Freedom Struggle – its various stages and important contributors /contributions from different parts of the country. Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country. “By common endeavour we can raise the country to a new greatness, while a lack of unity will expose us to fresh calamities.” These pragmatic but profound remarks defined the vision and the sterling character of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the principal unifier of modern India. First Deputy Prime Minister of India Widely considered to be the architect of modern India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel played an important role in the integration of all the princely states (especially Hyderabad, Junagadh and Kashmir) into the Indian Union after the British left India in 1947. Provided good governance as an able administrator in diverse fields like modern farming and empowerment of tribal communities Organised peasants from Kheda, Borsad, and Bardoli in Gujarat in non-violent civil disobedience against the British Raj, becoming one of the most influential leaders in Gujarat. He earned the title of “Sardar” after spearheading a no-tax campaign by peasants at Bardoli in Gujarat. He also led the relief and rehabilitation operations when Gujarat was ravaged by floods and worked tirelessly during a plague outbreak in Ahmedabad. He is also remembered as the “patron saint of India’s civil servants” for having established the modern all-India services system. “A civil servant cannot afford to, and must not, take part in politics. Nor must he involve himself in communal wrangles. To depart from the path of rectitude in either of these respects is to debase public service and to lower its dignity,” he had cautioned them on April 21, 1947. India without Sardar: Subcontinent would be divided into two regions, one part a democratic India surrounded by the other part—close to 560 smaller states ruled by kings and their descendants.  Half of the Indians would be living under a democratic set-up with freedoms and the rest living under some monarchy.  The principle of Unity, Liberty, Equality enshrined in the Constitution would exist in one part and not in the other. There would be restrictions on travelling and transporting goods from one part to another. One part of India would be governed by the ideas of Justice and Liberty, whereas the other would have survived devoid of these ideas.  Chaos and anarchy would have followed, and the idea of India would have failed at the very start of its journey. Force behind unification Sardar Patel’s foresight and tactful navigation of the most turbulent period in post-Independence, and the resolve he demonstrated in integrating the more than 500 princely States into the Dominion of India is an unparalleled accomplishment in modern history. Hailing Patel’s feat, Lord Mountbatten declared the unification of India as the first great success of the new independent government. Patel was a statesman with a strong sense of realpolitik, a realist to the core and an earthy politician whose sole aim was to build a strong and united India. The princely rulers had the option at that time to either accede to India or Pakistan or remain independent. Patel’s wisdom, foresight, patriotism, tact, persuasive powers and abiding commitment to fair play enabled him to untangle a highly complex political and social problem without triggering any kind of revolt or civil unrest. Operation Polo (Hyderabad) and case of Junagarh Patel was also compelled to use coercion by launching ‘Operation Polo’ to liberate and integrate Hyderabad after the Nizam of Hyderabad entertained false hopes of either joining Pakistan or remaining independent. In a swift operation lasting five days, Hyderabad State was liberated in September 1948. It was the most critical time when the country’s political unity was in jeopardy, India found the man of the moment in Sardar Patel. He displayed amazing patience, tact and a steely determination in dealing with an intransigent ruler, who refused to see the writing on the wall and even wanted to take the issue to the United Nations. Displaying statesmanship of the highest order, Sardar Patel prevented the attempts to not only Balkanise India but internationalise the issue as well. The complicated case of Junagarh, Gujarat, was also handled with dexterity by Patel. The problem of Jammu and Kashmir may have been resolved long back had Sardar Patel been given a free hand to handle it at that time. A builder of India Patel himself termed the entire exercise as a “bloodless revolution” when he wanted the Constituent Assembly to consider privy purse settlements for the surrender by the rulers of all their ruling powers and the dissolution of the States as separate units. Patel was an ardent follower of Mahatma Gandhi and never swerved in his loyalty to his mentor, although there were occasions when he differed with him. Similarly, he did not see eye-to-eye with Jawaharlal Nehru on certain issues, including the handling of Jammu and Kashmir. But he did not allow these differences or personal ego to come in the way of protecting the larger interests of the country. He worked shoulder-to-shoulder with Nehru in building a modern India. Patel was a multifaceted personality. He was a dynamic political leader, an organiser par excellence, a competent administrator and a skilful negotiator. After coming under the influence of Mahatma Gandhi, he became his loyal follower and successfully organised peasants against the imposition of taxes by the British at Kheda and Bardoli, Gujarat, and in the process he earned the title of ‘Sardar’ for his leadership qualities. The manner in which he marshalled the peasants and the unflinching stand taken by him eventually forced the authorities to roll back the taxes. Architect of the steel frame The Iron Man of India was the chief architect of India’s steel frame — the civil services. Thus, the All India Services were seen as an important cementing force in promoting the unity and integrity of the nation. It will be relevant to recall his famous address to the civil service probationers in 1947. when Patel told them that the service will have to adopt its true role of national service without being trammelled upon by traditions and habits of the past. He said: “Your (officers’) predecessors were brought up in the traditions in which they felt out of touch and kept themselves aloof from the common run of the people. It will be your bounden duty to treat the common men in India as your own or to put it correctly, to feel yourself to be one of them.” The man of integrity and intentions of “nation first” He readily accepted the Mahatma Gandhi’s advice to withdraw his candidacy for the post of Congress President in favour of Pandit Nehru in 1946, although a majority of State Congress committees supported his candidature. It was apparent that the Congress President would become the first Prime Minister of India. It once again proved his noble intention of placing the country’s interests above self. His love for the motherland was best described by Maulana Azad when he said: “He made his choice out of two courses that come before a man, namely would he live for his country or for himself? Sardar chose his country.” Criticisms: Patel’s idea of unity was incomplete.  He may have created a united India, but this India remains full of contradictions and inequalities, both social and economic. Politically, we may be equal and united, but socially and economically we are not. Acknowledging the monumental contribution of Patel in nation building, Jawaharlal Nehru said, “History will call him the builder and consolidator of new India.” The remarks Patel made during the Quit India Movement are also relevant today. He said: “We have to shed mutual bickering, shed the difference of being high or low and develop the sense of equality and banish untouchability. We have to live like the children of the same father”. Statue of Unity On Sadhu Hill Standing at 182 meters in the middle of river Narmada at Kevadia in Gujarat’s Narmada district, the Statue of Unity is the tallest statue in the world– much taller than the 153 metre Spring Temple Buddha in China and almost twice the size of the Statue of Liberty in New York. (remember the places for Prelims) One can have a view of the Satpura and Vindhyachal mountain ranges, which also form the point where Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra meet. (Prelims centric fact) Visitors can also get a distant view of the 12-km-long Garudeshwar Reservoir (which will help ensure there is always water around the statue), which is located downstream from the Narmada dam. (Prelims centric – location of the reservoir) Man Behind the Statue: Shri Ram Vanji Sutar, the 93-year-old sculptor. Connecting the Dots: The strong man of India who made Idea of India possible was Sardar Patel—‘the Bismarck and architect of modern India’. Substantiate Discuss the contribution of Sardar Patel from unification of the country to creation of all India services.

Dec 19, 2020 AIR

India-ASEAN Summit - All India Radio (AIR) IAS UPSC

ARCHIVES India-ASEAN Summit Search 12th Nov, 2020 Spotlight News Analysis here: http://www.newsonair.com/Main_Audio_Bulletins_Search.aspx   Topic: General Studies 2: Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.  Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests. In News: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said enhancing all kinds of connectivity, including in social, digital and financial spheres, with the 10-nation ASEAN grouping is a major priority for India. He made the remarks at a virtual summit between India and the ASEAN.  The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is considered one of the most influential groupings in the region, and India and several other countries including the US, China, Japan and Australia are its dialogue partners.  The summit took place amid China’s aggressive behaviour in the disputed South China Sea as well as in eastern Ladakh. A number of ASEAN countries have territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea.  Theme: Cohesive and Responsive ASEAN The ASEAN leaders – Acknowledged India’s contribution towards promoting peace and stability in the region and welcomed India’s support to ASEAN centrality.  The Leaders also welcomed the adoption of the new ASEAN-India Plan of Action for 2021-2025. The discussions also covered regional and international issues of common interest and concern, including South China Sea and terrorism.  Both sides noted the importance of promoting a rules-based order in the region including through upholding adherence to international law, especially the UNCLOS.  The leaders affirmed the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, stability, safety and security in the South China Sea, and ensuring freedom of navigation and overflight. ASEAN and India The ties between India and ASEAN have been on an upswing in the last few years with focus being on ramping up cooperation in the areas of trade and investment as well as security and defence.  The ASEAN region along with India together comprises a combined population of 1.85 billion people, which is one fourth of the global population and their combined GDP has been estimated at over USD 3.8 trillion. ASEAN-India strategic partnership stands on a strong foundation of shared geographical, historical and civilisational ties. India’s Act East Policy, underlining ASEAN centrality, reflects the importance, India attaches to engagement with ASEAN. India was one of the first countries to welcome ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific, which has a lot in common with India’s own Indo-Pacific Vision. New Delhi wants to see a strong, unified and prosperous ASEAN playing a central role in the Indo-Pacific region. With the increasing focus on oceans as providers of resources, the reservoirs of biodiversity, the highways of global trade and the frontiers of scientific research, cooperation in the maritime domain has become increasingly important under the overall rubric of ASEAN-India cooperation. ASEAN and India share land and maritime borders, and there is a lot of scope for enhancing connectivity through land, air and sea. India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway is an ongoing effort to enhance road connectivity between Northeast India and Southeast Asia. There is good air-connectivity between India and several ASEAN countries, including Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. Last year, Indigo and Vietjet started air-services between India and Vietnam. With the Indo-Pacific gaining salience in global discourse, the partnership between India and ASEAN is poised to achieve new strengths. India –   Underlined the centrality of ASEAN in India's Act East Policy   Noted that a cohesive, responsive and prosperous ASEAN is central to India's Indo-Pacific Vision and contributes to Security And Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR).  Underscored the importance of strengthening convergence between India's Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative and the ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific, to ensure a free, open, inclusive and rules-based Indo-Pacific region.  He also invited the ASEAN countries to cooperate on various pillars of India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI). On COVID-19 Highlighted India's response and broader support to the international community, and welcomed ASEAN's initiatives to fight the pandemic.  Prime Minister announced a contribution of US$ 1 million to the COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund. On connectivity Underscored the importance of greater physical and digital connectivity between ASEAN and India Reiterated India's offer of US$ 1 billion Line of Credit to support ASEAN connectivity On trade and investment, underlined the importance of diversification and resilience of supply chains for post-COVID economic recovery. Connecting the Dots: What are India’s strategic and economic interests in the ASEAN? What measures have been taken for increasing outreach to the ASEAN countries? Examine.

Dec 19, 2020 TLP Mains 2020

SYNOPSIS [17th DECEMBER,2020] Day 58: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 2): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE   SYNOPSIS [17th DECEMBER,2020] Day 58: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 2): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)   Q1. India’s influential diaspora is a big strategic asset for India. Do you agree? Comment.  Approach - It expects students to write about Indian diaspora and highlight on whether Indian diaspora is big strategic asset for India. Introduction According to Global Migration Report 2020, India continues to be the largest country of origin of international migrants with a 17.5 million-strong diaspora across the world, and it received the highest remittance of $78.6 billion (this amounts to a whopping 3.4% of India’s GDP) from Indians living abroad.  Body Indian diaspora: The Indian migration began in large numbers during the British rule as indentured labourers to former colonies like Fiji, Kenya and Malaysia. It continued in the post-independence period with Indians from different social strata moving to countries like the United Kingdom, the United States, and Gulf countries. In India, diaspora is commonly understood to include Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI), of which PIO and OCI card holders were merged under one category — OCI — in 2015. Indian diaspora as a biggest strategic asset for India: Global labour source: With one of the largest pools of relatively low wage semi-skilled and skilled labour, India can become a critical centre of global labour sources. The past few decades has seen an upsurge of migration from India to the Gulf and, to North America. Given these emerging realities, India take advantage of these future trends to not only maximise the welfare of Indians outside the country, but also those within the country Can international migration and the Diaspora be a strategic asset for the country instead of just depleting its best and brightest. Influential Positions: From Google CEO Sundar Pichai to Nobel laurete scientist Har Gobind Khorana and Microsoft CEO Sathya Nadella to world’s one among the leading music conductors Zubin Mehta, the list of NRIs and their contribution to the world goes endlessly. The President of Singapore, Governor-General of New Zealand and prime ministers of Mauritius and Trinidad and Tobago were all of Indian descent. As a Pressure groups: The influential Indian diaspora affects not just the popular attitude, but also government policies in countries where they live, to the benefit of India. India benefits tremendously through these people in luring large multinational companies as well as entrepreneurial ventures. Example: lobbying for the US-India Civilian Nuclear Agreement Bill in 2008 Agents of change: Diaspora acts as 'agents of change' facilitating and enhancing investment, accelerating industrial development, and boosting international trade and tourism. Another tangible long-term advantage in nurturing ties with an active Diaspora is an accelerated technological sector. Soft Power:  The spread of Yoga, Ayurveda, Indian spiritualism, Bollywood, Indian cuisine across the world has made India famous. It has even led to revival of many lost relationships with many countries. Humanitarian Assistance: There are many instances where diaspora has stood up for their Indian kins in times of disaster. Example: during the recent Kerala floods, immense help in the form of men, material and money from diaspora was given. Indian diaspora residing in China’s Shanghai has contributed Rs. 32.13 lakh to the Chief Minister’s distress relief fund for Kerala floods. Political power: Many people of Indian origin hold top political positions in many countries, in the US itself they are now a significant part of Republicans and Democrats, as well as the government. The three ministers Rishi Sunak, Alok Sharma, and Priti Patel have held top roles in the UK government currently. Government initiatives to strengthen the Indian diaspora: There is a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) for implementation of the Pravasi Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PKVY). Know India Program’ (KIP) is a flagship initiative for Diaspora engagement which familiarizes Indian-origin youth (18-30 years) with their Indian roots and contemporary India. Challenges Faced by Indian Diaspora: West Asian Crisis: The volatility in West Asia, together with the fall in oil prices, has caused fears of a massive return of Indian nationals, curtailing remittances and making demands on the job market. Returning Diaspora: India must also realise that diaspora in West Asia is semi-skilled and mainly engaged in the infrastructure sector. After the infrastructure boom will get over India should be ready for the eventuality of Indian workers returning. Returning to due COVID 19 pandemic lockdown. Way forward –  Deepening links within existing Diaspora: India needs to court two important, but untapped, segments of the existing Dia-spora: the young, second generation of overseas Indians; and those approaching retirement. Diversify: Currently, Indias migration is concentrated in English-speaking countries for obvious reasons. The EU, Japan, Latin America and Russia should also be targeted over the next few decades. Also, there is greater scope for jobs at all skill levels in global transportation, health and home care. This requires major investments in specific educational services. Increase investment engagement: Diaspora should be treated at par with other Indian citizens, including the right to work, both in the private and public sectors, and the right to buy and sell property to attract talented persons into the public sector. Conclusion The Sun never sets in the Indian Diaspora. With the versatile role of Diaspora, India could fulfil its cherished dream of being a super power and it could make much head way in its international and foreign affairs. The Indian diaspora is the bridge between their nation and India where they can grow simultaneously for betterment of their citizens. The diaspora can provide the requisite strategic impulse, which makes it all the more important to unlock their potential. Q2. Indo-Japan relations have achieved greater strategic heights in recent years. Do you agree? Examine the background.  Approach - It expects aspirants to write about – in first part write about strategic ties between India-Japan – in second part write about areas of concern between two countries. Introduction “We see Japan as a natural partner in our journey of becoming a major centre of manufacturing, investments & knowledge industries” – Indian prime minister. India and Japan relation has been time tested and are major partners of development as well as defence in the Asian/indo-pacific region. Body India-Japan strategic ties: Quad grouping: Both countries have a rivalry with China and to counter its behaviour in the Indo-Pacific region the two countries formed the Quad which includes the USA and Australia too. 2+2 dialogue: Japan is only the second country (after the United States) with which India has such a dialogue format. The India-Japan 2+2 dialogue is an endorsement of the special strategic partnership between New Delhi and Tokyo. Japan is the most important partner in Indo-Pacific region. After the joint army (Dharma Guardian), navy (Malabar) and air force exercises (SHINYUU Maitri-18), the two nations are looking to allow their respective naval forces to use each other’s facilities. Both countries have a rivalry with China and to counter its behaviour in the Indo-Pacific region the two countries formed the Quad. India and Japan share robust ties with cooperation in areas of defence, science and cooperation and trade. In 2014, India and Japan upgraded their relationship to 'Special Strategic and Global Partnership'. The India-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) that came into force in August 2011 covers trade in goods, services, movement of natural persons, investments, Intellectual Property Rights, custom procedures and other trade related issues. The areas of concern between India and Japan –  Focused on countering China Both countries have border and hegemonic issues with China. So their policy stance hinges generally on China, rather than growing comprehensively. Security ties In matters of security realm, Indo-Japanese relationship has remained below potential, and that Japan does not accord due importance to India in its security calculus. Japan has offered neither military hardware nor technology to India. There seems to be a difference in perceptions about China; Japan, while highlighting its own security concerns in the East and South China Seas, is seen to play down the multiple threats that India faces from China. Trade between the two countries Today, India-Japan trade languishes at around $15 billion, while Japan-China trade is around $300 billion. Conclusion In a world where protectionism is becoming the new normal and tit-for-tat escalation is on the rise, Japan carves out a different path. As a reluctant globalist turned free trade champion, it is evident that Japan’s trade policy agenda will be an important tool to provide economic stability, growth and development in the foreseeable future. At a critical juncture when India is leaping to further greatness coinciding with the 75th anniversary of her Independence in 2022, Japan and India have so many potential areas to tap jointly. Q3. What are India’s interests in ASEAN? In this regard, what are current impediments and opportunities? Examine. Approach - It expects aspirant to write about – in first part write about Significance of ASEAN for India – in second part write about challenges related to India-ASEAN – in third part write about what further measures required. Introduction South-east Asia is a diverse and complex region where every major culture and civilisation of the world finds a place. Since 1992, ASEAN-India partnership has evolved from sectoral dialogue to strategic partnership. Body ASEAN Significance for India: Economic Significance 3 Cs–Culture, Connectivity and Commerce– will shape India’s ties with the ASEAN bloc. Connecting India's North-eastern states with ASEAN. India is part of ASEAN led RCEP which aims to create the world’s largest free trade area with more than a third of the global GDP and commerce. For the first time, bilateral trade between ASEAN and India has crossed US$ 80 billion mark. Singapore has become India’s investment and trading hub in the East. Security Significance ASEAN occupies a central place in the security architecture of the Indo-Pacific region Maritime cooperation in terms of connectivity, safety and security has gained high attention. India and ASEAN can collaborate to combat terror financing, cyber security threats, tax evasions and many more. India needs ASEAN support in achieving a rules-based regional security architecture. Geo-Strategic Significance Partnership with ASEAN nations might help India counter the growing presence of Beijing. ASEAN is seen as the most successful regional organisation next only to the EU To develop connectivity through water, ASEAN and India are working on the Kaladan MultiModal Transit Transport Project. ASEAN-India cooperation in maritime domain is one of the key focus areas for growth and development of the Indo-Pacific region. Challenges related to India-ASEAN: SMEs are a vital aspect of both Indian as well as the ASEAN economy, contributing nearly 45% to the Indian manufacturing. However, a range of factors hamper FDI inflows and SMEs collaboration between India and ASEAN countries. Some of them include: challenges in establishing a supply chain poor infrastructure bad maritime and air connectivity bureaucratic costs involved in complex tax and duty structures licensing, and other business activities Complexity - All the countries of the region have differing levels of socio-economic development, posing a challenge. The Indian SMEs have to adjust with a new set of supply-chain strategies to each country's varying regulatory requirements. Technology - The SME sector in India is hugely dependent on foreign technologies because of lack of in-house R&D. China - The CLVT countries (Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Thailand) are emerging as manufacturing hotspots for China. China is increasingly outsourcing its production to countries along the Belt and Road project, mainly ASEAN members. Given the low levels of manufacturing, these countries stand to gain from industrial capacity cooperation with China. Following steps should be taken to resolve issues: Technological upgrading is pivotal to enabling the SMEs to be more competitive in the global market. India's logistics sector and the supply-chain environment should be developed to a world-class level. The ongoing projects and arrangements for infrastructure development and connectivity should be carried on without delays. They include: India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal (BBIN) Motor Vehicles Agreement, 2016 Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project (linking the Kolkata with Myanmar’s Sittwe port) LDCs of ASEAN bloc, like Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar, are the beneficiaries of generalised system of preferences in US and EU. Indian manufacturers setting up business units here are bound to get the benefits while exporting to the US and EU markets. India must use the upcoming commemorative summit to project it as a lucrative investment destination for the ASEAN countries. Conclusion India’s geostrategic interests in the Indo-Pacific region depend on India’s bilateral and multilateral engagements with the countries in the region. Maintaining cordiality with ASEAN as an organisation and with the individual Southeast Asian countries remains crucial for India. Q4.  What are India’s most critical challenges in WTO? Discuss. What has been India’s response to those? Examine. Approach - In the introduction candidate can start by explaining historical association of India with WTO. In the first half of main body part clearly explain the kind of concerns India has with that of WTO. In the next part give how India has responded to these concerns, what measures India has adopted and what strategy it has adopted so that our concerns get addressed by WTO. Candidate can conclude by giving a brief way forward.  Introduction India has been a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) since January 1995 and also had been a member of the WTO's forerunner General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) since July 1948. As a developing country, India has played a significant role in the proceedings of the WTO, especially in voicing its own concerns and also of the entire developing world.  Body In the Doha WTO conference that took place in 2001, India emerged as the most outspoken of advocates for the developing bloc. However, there are many challenges for the Indian economy as a result of the many agreements signed as part of the WTO. Trade-Related Investment Measures (TRIMS): This agreement forbids the host country to discriminate against investments from abroad vis-a-vis domestic investment i.e. agreement requires investment to be freely allowed by nations.  Peace Clause: High subsidies are seen to be distorting global trade. The peace clause protects a developing country's food procurement programmes against action from WTO members in case subsidy ceilings are breached. India's turn towards protectionist trade policy over the past years has not gone unnoticed at the WTO and a pattern is beginning to be visible when it comes to India at the WTO. For instance, USA consistently voicing the subsidy issues at WTO.  Minimum Support Price and WTO: WTO's hard stand on agricultural procurement at minimum support price is a big concern, where India is defending its complex web of minimum support prices at the WTO amid international isolation and even opprobrium. Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS): Intellectual property rights seek to protect and provide legal recognition to the creator of the intangible illegal use of his/her creation. Since the law governing these aspects vary vastly across countries, the agreement stipulates a basic homogeneity of the law so that no infringement of rights occurred. Due to TRIPS the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries are expected to be hit the hardest. Another impact on India is expected to be in the transfer of technology from abroad. Ban on Chinese Mobile Apps: After India banned 59 mobile apps of China, they have claimed that India has violated World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. Which poses a challenge for India that it has to comply with the international trading norms.  Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Tariff Case: The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has decided to set up a dispute panel against India. The panel is being set up on the request of Japan and Taiwan. The dispute panels of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) would determine whether India's customs duties on imports of certain information and communications technology (ICT) products infringe WTO norms or not. Developed countries have been putting pressure on inclusion of non-trade issues such as labour standards, environmental protection, human rights, rules on investment, competition policy in the WTO agreements. Fisheries Subsidies: WTO members are negotiating to finalise disciplines to eliminate subsidies for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and to prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies that contribute to overcapacity and overfishing. Which is a clear threat to India's domestic fishing industry.  India's Response to WTO's challenges: India's participation in an increasingly rule based system in the governance of international trade is to ensure more stability and predictability, which ultimately would lead to more trade and prosperity.  India has an obvious interest in the liberalisation of services trade and wants commercially meaningful access to be provided by the developed countries. Since the Uruguay Round, India has autonomously liberalised its Services trade regime across the board. To comply with WTO TRIPS terms, it required some changes in the domestic laws of countries including India. As a result, India amended the Copyright Act, the Patents Act, and the Trade and Merchandise Act. Ensuring food and livelihood security is critical, particularly for a large agrarian economy like India. India is persistently demanding for a permanent solution on public stockholding subsidies at WTO. India strongly favours extension of higher levels of protection to geographical indications for products like Basmati rice, Darjeeling tea, and Alphonso mangoes at par with that provided to wines and spirits under the Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement. India has responded against any inclusion of non-trade issues that are directed in the long run at enforcing protectionist measures (based on non-trade issues, the developed countries like USA and European Union are trying to ban the imports of some goods like textile, processed food etc.), particularly against developing countries. Besides, India has sought a clear dispute settlement mechanism in the global agreement to end harmful fisheries subsidies. Conclusion The role of WTO in future is very crucial as world is going through extraordinary situations such as the protectionism, trade war (like USA & China), Covid-19 Pandemic and Brexit. Since the WTO is consensus-based, reaching an agreement on reforms among all 164 members is extremely difficult. One possibility moving forward could be a plurilateral agreement with a group of like-minded countries on a new set of rules that serve as an addendum (supplement) to the broader WTO. Q5. What are your views on the consistent decline of multilateralism in recent years? How is it impacting global affairs? Discuss. Approach: It expects students to write about multilateralism and present a viewpoint on decline declining multilateralism and its impact and its impact on global affairs.  Introduction Multilateralism has a long history, but it is principally associated with the era after World War II, during which there was a burgeoning of multilateral agreements led primarily by the United States. The organizations most strongly embodying the principle of multilateralism are to be found in trade (the World Trade Organization [WTO]), security (the North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO]) and environment (numerous multilateral environmental institutions also exist). Body Multilateralism:  Multilateralism is the process of organizing relations between groups of three or more states. Beyond that basic quantitative aspect, multilateralism is generally considered to comprise certain qualitative elements or principles that shape the character of the arrangement or institution.  Those principles are An indivisibility of interests among participants and A system of dispute settlement intended to enforce a particular mode of behavior. Consistent decline in multilateralism: Pursuing an aggressive “America first” policy, the Trump administration has relinquished the traditional role of the US as herald of the international liberal order and withdrawn from the Paris climate convention, the Iran nuclear deal, and the Trans-Pacific Partnership.  China, aiming to bend the multilateral system in its favour, is setting up parallel governance structures such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation or the China Development Bank.  The EU, a traditional champion of multilateralism, is internally divided and losing influence on the international scene. The G8 has shrunk to the G7, and a trade war is looming between the US and China. UN and its manifold agencies have been losing their lustre, criticised for their lack of efficiency, institutional sclerosis and ideological infighting.  The WTO has failed to conclude the negotiations of the Doha Agenda started in 2001, as bilateralism and protectionism are resurging worldwide, and its dispute settlement system has stalled.  The complex architecture of arms control set up at the end of the Cold War is threatened by the dismantling of the Iran nuclear deal. The governance of the internet is forfeiting its initial aspiration of a borderless knowledge society as a few private companies are hoarding data exponentially and authoritarian states are misusing it as a tool of surveillance and repression. As the current COVID crisis is illustrating, while existing multilateral mechanisms such as the WHO have excruciatingly shown their limits and shortcomings, alternative routes of unilateralism and uncoordinated action at the state levels have proven dead ends in containing the spread of the virus and are unlikely to address the global repercussions of the pandemic.  Impact of declining multilateralism on global affairs: Deadlock at WTO: The recurrence of deadlocks in the Doha Round for over the last 15 years is a clear sign of discontent from multiple stakeholders. Trump administration for the wreckage over WTO’s Appellate Body, the practice of actually blocking appointments and re-appointments of judges. UN is undermined: United Nations Security Council failed to restrict terrorism by their use of the veto. In the most recent example of this power being exercised, Russia and China voted against a draft resolution that would have condemned a crackdown on anti-government protests in Syria and called on Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian president, to step aside. China's rejection of the Permanent Court of Arbitration's decision in the South China Sea case, despite signing up to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Rise of Nationalism: Over the past decade and more, the world has been moving in direction opposite to that of multilateralism. There has been an upsurge in narrow nationalism, an assertion of parochial interests over pursuit of shared interests. There has been increased competition among states rather than embracing collaboration.  US-China Trade war, BREXIT, US coming out of Paris Climate deal, Rise of right wing parties in Europe and decline in WTO are reflection of this trend. Increasing Incidences of Lawfare: It means the misuse of existing International and national laws by several countries (via forced technology requirements, intellectual property rights violations, and subsidies), to gain an unfair advantage over other countries. For example: The imposition of extraterritorial sanction (under CAATSA) by the US has affected development in developing economies like India and China. The trade war between the US and China has challenged the existing global trade. Dual Use of Global Supply Chain: Some of the developed countries have jurisdiction and control over global supply chains. Due to growing convergence between commercial interests with strategic goals, these supply chains enables them to have vast extraterritorial influence and has created new power asymmetries. For example: China through BRI is enhancing its role in global economic governance. The internet has become a distributed system of surveillance. There are fears pertaining to dual-use (commercial viability and military application) of Industrial Revolution 4.0. Finding solutions to fix the malaise of multilateralism Four sets of additional measures will be crucial: Reconsidering past trade-offs: This means reconsidering past trade-offs and developing a new bargain on globalisation with better distributive mechanisms, both domestically and internationally.  Multilateralism will need a brand new narrative: Appealing to global public goods and the welfare of future generations are likely to prove insufficient as rationales, especially to those who feel shortchanged and are enduring economic hardships. This new narrative will need to have individual and group appeal. It will also need to work across different levels of politics local, regional, national, and global. Fundamental renegotiation of multilateral institutions is essential:  To do this effectively, it would be wise to tap into ongoing efforts of the global South (e.g., UN Security Council reform). Additionally, however, given the risks that weaponised interdependence and economic statecraft pose today, multilateral rules will have to be updated to prevent their misuse and abuse. Agreeing values: Amidst the great power competition currently underway, fractures are emerging over first-order values, such as democracy, pluralism, embedded liberalism, and rule of law.  Conclusion The current context, characterized by a weakening of multilateralism, the return of protectionism and the rise of extremist political movements, undermines the advancement of that global consensus, poses a grave challenge to the world economy and threatens the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals. Since US and West have adopted nationalistic leaning, India should step into the leadership role by advocating the multilateral approach of tackling the pandemic, climate change and terrorism. TLP HOT Synopsis Day 58 PDF

Dec 19, 2020 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz - 2020 : IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs Quiz 19th 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

Dec 18, 2020 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 18th December 2020

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) US Puts India on Currency Watchlist Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – International Relations & GS-III - Economy In news Recently, the US treasury has placed India on its currency manipulator watch list. Vietnam and Switzerland have been labelled as currency manipulators. Key takeaways USA lists those countries which it feels are engaging in unfair currency practices by deliberately devaluing their currency against the dollar. The US Department of Treasury releases the semi-annual report where it has to track developments in international economies and inspect foreign exchange rates. Lowering the value of its currency provides an unfair advantage to that particular country over others.  This is because the devaluation would reduce the cost of exports from that country and artificially show a reduction in trade deficits as a result. A country which meets two of the three criteria of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 is placed on the Watch List. This includes: (1) A significant bilateral trade surplus with the US which is at least USD 20 billion over a 12-month period; (2) A material current account surplus equivalent to at least 2% of GDP over a 12-month period; (3) Persistent one-sided in at least six out of 12 months. Inclusion in the list does not subject to any kind of penalty and sanctions but it deteriorates the global financial image of the country. Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS) Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – Policies and Interventions In news AICTE has decided to release the instalment of Rs. 20,000/- as maintenance allowance under Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS). Important value additions Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS) An Expert Group was constituted by the Prime Minister for enhancing employment opportunity among youths of J&K and Ladakh and  to formulate job opportunities in public and private sectors. Implemented by: J&K Cell of All India Council for Technical Education(AICTE), New Delhi. The scheme helps J&K Students to pursue undergraduate studies outside the Union Territory.  Aim: To build the capacities of the youths of J&K and Ladakh by Educating, Enabling and empowering them to compete in the normal course. The youths are supported by way of scholarship in two parts - academic fee and maintenance allowance. Main objectives: (1) Evolving guidelines for proper implementation; (2) To Conduct Awareness Workshops about the Scheme; (3) To Conduct Counselling for admission of candidates to different programs/courses; (4) Disbursal of Scholarship for the eligible Candidates; (5) Redressal of Grievances of PMSSS Candidates. Accelerating India's Covid-19 Social Protection Response Programme Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – Policies and Interventions; Health In news The Indian Government and the World Bank signed a $400 million project to support India’s efforts at providing social assistance to the poor and vulnerable households, severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The credit is from the International Development Association (IDA) – the World Bank’s concessionary lending arm. Key takeaways This is the second operation in a programmatic series of two.  The first operation of $750 million was approved in May 2020. The programme will strengthen the capability of state and national governments in India to provide coordinated and adequate social protection to the poor and vulnerable from the shocks triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. It will help further expand and deepen the coverage of India’s social protection systems by helping these vulnerable groups in urban and peri-urban areas. Do you know? The International Development Association is an international financial institution which offers concessional loans and grants to the world's poorest developing countries.  The IDA is a member of the World Bank Group. It is headquartered in Washington, D.C., USA Related article: World Bank’s $750 million agreement: Click here IFSCA issues consultation paper on proposed Aircraft Leasing Regulations Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Infrastructure In news International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) has issued consultation paper on proposed Aircraft Leasing Regulations. Background India is poised to become the 3rd largest aviation market in the world by 2022. In January 2019, India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation published a report, ‘Project Rupee Raftar’, that provided roadmap to developing an aircraft financing and leasing industry in India. The report identified International Financial Services Centre (GIFT city) for developing aircraft leasing and financing eco-system in the country. Key takeaways In October, 2020, on the recommendation of IFSCA, the Central Government had notified Aircraft lease which shall include operating and financial lease of aircraft or helicopter and their engines as a financial product under International Financial Services Centres Authority Act, 2019. Considering, Aircraft leasing is a relatively new industry in India and Aircraft Leasing related regulations are different across various financial centres, IFSCA has prepared draft regulations for Aircraft Leasing and in order to get inputs from stakeholders as well as public comments. Do you know? IFSCA has an objective to develop a world class FinTech hub at the IFSC in GIFT City, Gandhinagar (Gujarat). Thus, it endeavours to encourage the promotion of financial technologies (‘FinTech’) initiatives in financial products and services across the fields of banking, insurance, securities and fund management. Related articles: International Financial Services Centres Authority (Banking) Regulations, 2020 approved: Click here IFSCA Committee Report on Development of International Retail Business: Click here Framework For Regulatory Sandbox introduced: Click here National Hydrology Project reveiwed Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Infrastructure; Environment In news Review of the National Hydrology Project was carried out by Minister of Jal Shakti recently. The project is World Bank supported initiative of Ministry of Jal Shakti Important value additions National Hydrology Project (NHP) was started in the year 2016  It is a Central Sector Scheme with 100% grant to Implementing agencies on pan India basis. Budget outlay is of Rs 3680 Crore to be spent over a period of 8 years. Aim: (1) Improving the extent, reliability and accessibility of water resources information; (2) To strengthen the capacity of targeted water resource management institutions in India. Under the NHP, a nationwide repository of water resources data - NWIC has also been established. Revised Cost Estimate of North Eastern Region Power System Improvement Project (NERPSIP) approved Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Infrastructure In news The Union Cabinet has approved the Revised Cost Estimate (RCE) of North Eastern Region Power System Improvement Project (NERPSIP) at an estimated cost of Rs. 6,700 crore. Key takeaways The scheme is being implemented through POWERGRID, a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU). Ministry: Ministry of Power  Beneficiary states: Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura. The scheme is targeted to be commissioned by December 2021.  After commissioning, the project will be owned and maintained by the respective North Eastern State Utilities. Objective of the project: Economic development of North Eastern Region through strengthening of Intra - State Transmission and Distribution systems. Do you know? The Scheme was initially approved in 2014 as a Central Sector Plan Scheme of Ministry of Power. It is being funded with the assistance of World Bank fund and by the Government of India (Gol) on 50:50 basis except for the capacity building component for Rs 89 crore, which will be entirely funded by the Gol. Government of India and New Development Bank sign a loan agreement for $1,000 million to provide support to Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan through MGNREGS Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Infrastructure In news The Government of India and New Development Bank signed a loan agreement for $1,000 million to provide support to Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan through Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). Key takeaways The programme will support Government to enable economic recovery in the rural areas through Natural Resource Management (NRM) works. The programme proposes creation of durable rural infrastructure assets relating to NRM and generation of employment opportunities for rural poor, especially migrant workers who have returned from urban areas and have lost their livelihoods due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The $1 billion loan from the NDB has a tenor of 30 years, including a 5-year grace period. Do you know? The NDB was established based on the Inter-Governmental agreement among the BRICS countries (Brazil, the Russian Federation, India, China and South Africa) signed in 2014. Objective: To mobilise resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in BRICS and other emerging market economies and developing countries. Headquarter: Shanghai, China.  The first regional office of the NDB is in Johannesburg, South Africa. Proposal of Spectrum Auction approved Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Infrastructure In news The Union Cabinet has approved a proposal of the Department of Telecommunications to conduct spectrum auction through which spectrum will be assigned to the successful bidders for providing commercial mobile services. Key takeaways The auction will be for spectrum in 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz and 2500 MHz frequency bands. Spectrum will be offered for assignment for validity period of 20 years.  A total of 2251.25 MHz is being offered with total valuation of Rs. 3,92,332.70 crore (at reserve price). By winning right to use spectrum through the auction, incumbent telecom service providers will be able to augment their network capacity whereas new players will be able to start their services. Successful bidders may pay entire bid amount in one go (upfront) or may exercise an option to pay a certain amount upfront and remaining amount in a maximum up to 16 equated annual instalments, after a moratorium of two years. In addition to the bid amount, successful bidders will also have to pay 3% of the Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) excluding wireline services as spectrum usage charges for the spectrum won through this auction. India – USA MOU In Electricity Sector Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Infrastructure In news Union Cabinet has approved MoU between India and USA for exchange of information in areas of mutual interest in the electricity sector. Key takeaways Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC), India and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), United States of America (USA) will enter into a MoU for exchange of information and experiences in areas of mutual interest to both in the electricity sectors. The MoU will help in improving regulatory and policy framework for developing efficient whole sale power market and enhancing grid reliability. Under the MoU, the two sides will identify energy-related issues and develop topics and possible agendas for the exchange of information and regulatory practices in areas of mutual interest. (Mains Focus) ENVIRONMENT/ GOVERNANCE Topic: General Studies 2,3: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. A four-point action plan to improve Delhi’s air Context:  The deteriorating air quality in Delhi has led the Centre to set up the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas.  Every year, as the air quality reaches dangerous proportions, emergency measures are taken to ease the situation. However, in the absence of a long-term strategy, the problem recurs every winter.  The causes of poor air in the National Capital Region (NCR) Stubble-burning in neighbouring states Construction dust Industrial pollution Localised bonfires to meet the heating needs of the poor  Emissions from motor vehicles (on-road vehicular exhaust emissions account for nine per cent to 38% of particulate matter (PM2.5) in the atmosphere) A sustainable plan to reduce emissions from the transport sector requires a comprehensive and multi-year effort. A four-pronged approach could help.  Deployment of Clean Technologies Electric mobility is a rapidly-growing choice, globally.  India is focused on this sector, having formulated a National Electric Mobility Mission Plan and has instituted programmes that offer financial incentives for electric buses and other vehicles.  However, effective deployment requires a comprehensive and actionable road map involving all stakeholders that must cover supply- and demand-side interventions like mandating purchase of Electric Vehicles (EVs), establishing charging and swapping stations, awareness campaigns, setting standards and incentives to vehicle and component manufacturers.  Hydrogen Fuel Cell vehicles (HFCs), though not yet commercialised, are said to be a fitting complement to EVs, especially to cover long distances of freight and passenger commute. Adopting shared and non-motorised transport. The key to effecting a modal shift is to persuade people to move from personal motor vehicles to either shared modes, like buses, metro rail and shared taxis or to non-motorised modes, like cycling and walking. Unfortunately, the quality of India’s public transport systems – especially our city buses – are primarily designed for affordability, not quality thus discouraging private vehicle commuters from making a shift. Affluent commuters seek high-quality options, featuring door-to-door travel, greater comfort, less crowding, and tracking and smart ticketing choices.  They are willing to pay higher fares for such services. To earn their buy-in, public transport should incorporate a variety of premium services that ensure quality even if it means steeper ticket prices. Meanwhile, Mobility as a Service (MaaS) is an emerging concept in some European cities that allows transportation services to be available on demand and as per need, through a mobile app.  Identical to the app-based taxi services in India, MaaS cuts across modes of transport to offer multi-modal trip options based on willingness to pay, time availability and other parameters. In India, MaaS can revolutionise daily commutes and offer the much-needed solution for a modal shift. To promote non-motorised modes, NCR must invest in well-planned and safer infrastructure for cycling and walking Improving traffic flow If traffic congestion is reduced and vehicles move seamlessly, then vehicular pollution will diminish. This is because moving vehicles will disperse the emissions effectively, ensuring they don’t get locked up in one location. Staggering peak time travel could be a solution to distribute the movement of traffic over a longer period of the day. Offices and commercial establishments can adopt staggered and flexible timings for employees. Reducing travel demand Improving online delivery of public services can help reduce the average number of trips people make. Policies and supporting infrastructure that allow citizens to work from home and shop online will help this effort.  Likewise, mixed land-use planning could reduce trip lengths. Newly-developing areas should co-locate offices, commercial and residential addresses to minimise long commutes. Conclusion These actions to reduce vehicular pollution could begin the process of improving NCR’s air quality. However, the need of the hour is a focused, comprehensive, systematic and multi-year effort across sectors.  Today, Delhi looks up to the commission to develop a scientific plan with a long-term vision, be adequately resourced and empowered to implement it. This holds out a glimmer of hope that people can breathe easy in future winter seasons. INTERNATIONAL / ECONOMY Topic: General Studies 2,3: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests. Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development  Currency manipulation Context: The United States has once again included India in its monitoring list of countries with potentially “questionable foreign exchange policies” and “currency manipulation”. This comes a year after India was removed from the watchlist in the US Treasury Department’s semi-annual foreign-exchange report to the US Congress What does the term ‘currency manipulator’ mean? This is a label given by the US government to countries it feels are engaging in “unfair currency practices” by deliberately devaluing their currency against the dollar.  The practice would mean that the country in question is artificially lowering the value of its currency to gain an unfair advantage over others.  This is because the devaluation would benefit exporters as their earnings would increase What are the parameters used? An economy meeting two of the three criteria in the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 is placed on the Monitoring List. This includes: A “significant” bilateral trade surplus with the US — one that is at least $20 billion over a 12-month period. A material current account surplus equivalent to at least 2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) over a 12-month period. “Persistent”, one-sided intervention — when net purchases of foreign currency totalling at least 2 percent of the country’s GDP over a 12 month period are conducted repeatedly, in at least six out of 12 months. Once on the Monitoring List, an economy will remain there for at least two consecutive reports “to help ensure that any improvement in performance versus the criteria is durable and is not due to temporary factors,” according to the US treasury department. US administration will also add and retain on the Monitoring List any major US trading partner that accounts for a “large and disproportionate” share of the overall US trade deficit, “even if that economy has not met two of the three criteria from the 2015 Act”. Which are the other countries in the latest monitoring list? The US Department of the Treasury Office of International Affairs, in its latest report to the US Congress, has included India, Taiwan and Thailand to its Monitoring List of major trading partners that “merit close attention” to their currency practices and macroeconomic policies. Other countries in the latest list comprise China, Japan, Korea, Germany, Italy, Singapore, Malaysia. India was last included in the currency watchlist in October 2018, but removed from the list that came out in May 2019. Why is India back in the Monitoring List again? India, which has for several years maintained a “significant” bilateral goods trade surplus with the US, crossed the $20 billion mark, according to the latest report. Bilateral goods trade surplus totalled $22 billion in the first four quarters through June 2020. Based on the central bank’s intervention data, India’s net purchases of foreign exchange accelerated notably in the second half of 2019.  Following sales during the initial onset of the pandemic, India sustained net purchases for much of the first half of 2020, which pushed net purchases of foreign exchange to $64 billion–or 2.4% of GDP–over the four quarters through June 2020. Consequences of being designated as Currency manipulator The designation of a country as a currency manipulator does not immediately attract any penalties, but tends to dent the confidence about a country in the global financial markets. (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 country releases currency manipulator watch list? USA China Russia UK Q.2 Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS) is launched for which of the following Union Territories? Jammu and Kashmir Puducherry Ladakh Daman and diu Dadra and Nagar Haveli Select the correct code: 1, 2 and 5 only 1 and 3 only 1 , 3 and 4 only 3 and 4 only Q.3 International Development Association (IDA) is financial lending institution of which of the following? World bank IMF BRICS WEF Q.4 Where is International Financial Services Centre (GIFT city) situated? Delhi Gandhinagar Gurugram Lucknow Q.5 The New Development Bank is headquartered at which of the following? Shanghai Johannesburg New Delhi Moscow ANSWERS FOR 17th December 2020 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 D 2 B Must Read About Agri reforms: The Hindu About U.S.'s decision to impose sanctions on Turkey: The Hindu About Spectrum Auction: Indian Express

Dec 18, 2020 AIR

India-U.S. 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue - All India Radio (AIR) IAS UPSC

ARCHIVES India-U.S. 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue Search 27th Oct, 2020 Spotlight News Analysis here: http://www.newsonair.com/Main_Audio_Bulletins_Search.aspx Topic: General Studies 3: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.  In News: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held the third edition of the 2+2 talks with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defence Secretary Mark T Esper. Both sides were assisted by top military and security officials.  Aim: Further ramping up their overall defence and security ties and boost strategic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific at a time China is attempting to expand its economic and military clout in the region. The new framework of the ministerial dialogue was initiated in order to provide a forward-looking vision for the strategic partnership between the two countries. The first two 2+2 talks had been held in New Delhi in September 2018 and Washington DC in 2019. Both sides highlighted the need to take forward shared objectives and build capabilities across all domains so as to ensure a safe, stable and rule-based regional and global security environment. The evolving situation in the Indo-Pacific region in the wake of China’s increasing military muscle-flexing has become a major talking point among leading global powers. The U.S. has been favouring making Quad a security architecture to check China’s growing assertiveness. The two Ministers reviewed bilateral defence cooperation spanning “military-to-military cooperation, secure communication systems and information sharing, defence trade and industrial issues” and also discussed ways to take bilateral cooperation forward Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) The Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) was signed during the dialogue. The signing of the agreement would allow the US to share precision satellite and topographical data from its constellation of military satellites on a real time basis. This allows both countries to share sensitive information regarding satellite and sensor data.  Will allow for expanded geospatial information sharing between the armed forces Enhance accuracy of automated systems and weapons like missiles and armed drones. It gives access to topographical and aeronautical data and advanced products which will aid navigation and targeting. This could be key for Air Force-to-Air Force cooperation between India and the US.  The cooperation also includes sharing of high-end satellite images, telephone intercepts, and data exchange on Chinese troops and weapons deployment along the 3,488-km India-China LAC. Also seeking to expand secure communication capabilities between respective militaries as well as between the foreign defence ministries  This assumes significance as talks are taking place at a time when India is locked in a tense standoff with China in eastern Ladakh and the Trump administration's growing friction with Beijing over a host of issues including trade tariff and the Chinese military's offensive manoeuvres in the South China Sea. The situation in eastern Ladakh and China's overall aggressive behaviour including in the Indo-Pacific region are likely to figure in the talks. The Indo-US defence ties  The Indo-US defence ties have been on an upswing in the last few years. Both enjoy robust defence industrial cooperation.  Through the US- India Defense Technology and Trade Initiative, the United States and India work together on co-production and co-development of defence equipment. In June 2016, the US had designated India a "Major Defence Partner" intending to elevate defence trade and technology sharing to a level commensurate with that of its closest allies and partners. The two countries inked the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) in 2016 that allows their militaries use each other's bases for repair and replenishment of supplies as well as provide for deeper cooperation. Signed between India and the US in August 2016.  It allows the military of each country to replenish from the other’s bases: access supplies, spare parts and services from the other country’s land facilities, air bases, and ports, which can then be reimbursed. This is extremely useful for Navy-to-Navy cooperation, since the US and India are cooperating closely in the Indo-Pacific. The two countries signed another pact called COMCASA (Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement) in 2018 that provides for interoperability between the two militaries and provides for sale of high end technology from the US to India.  It allows the US to provide India with its encrypted communications equipment and systems so that Indian and US military commanders, aircraft and ships can communicate through secure networks in peace and war. COMCASA paved the way for transfer of communication security equipment from the US to India to facilitate “interoperability” between their forces — and potentially with other militaries that use US-origin systems for secure data links. What do these three pacts put together mean? While LEMOA means one partner trusts the other enough to expose its valuable assets, COMCASA means one is confident that it can rely on encrypted systems to connect the two militaries, and BECA means it can share highly classified information in real time without fear of being compromised. All this signals the level of trust that has developed between the two countries and their militaries, faced with an increasingly aggressive China. Now, with these key defence pacts in place, cooperation can happen in a more structured and efficient way, rather than episodic. In relation to the ongoing border standoff Amid the longest stand-off on the India-China border in three decades, India and the US have intensified under-the-radar intelligence and military cooperation at an unprecedented level, especially since June. Indo-Pacific In a significant move amid a Sino-India border row, India had announced Australia’s participation in the upcoming Malabar exercise along with the U.S. and Japan, effectively making it the first military-level engagement between the four-member nation grouping - the Quad. The United States will keep working with India to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific and will remain steadfast as India seeks to defend its sovereignty from external aggression. India, the U.S. and several other world powers have been talking about the need to ensure a free, open, and thriving Indo-Pacific in the backdrop of China’s rising military maneuvering in the region. In November 2017, India, Japan, the U.S. and Australia gave shape to the long-pending proposal of setting up the “Quad” to develop a new strategy to keep the critical sea routes in the Indo-Pacific free of any influence. Must Read: On the Quad, define the idea, chart a path Connecting the Dots: Bilateral Relations between India and USA Short note: Peace in Indo-pacific region

Dec 18, 2020 TLP Mains 2020

SYNOPSIS [16th DECEMBER,2020] Day 57: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 2): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE   SYNOPSIS [16th DECEMBER,2020] Day 57: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 2): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)   Q1. What are the recent trends in Indo-Bangladesh relations? Examine. What is the strategic significance of Bangladesh for India? Discuss. Approach - It expects students to write about recent trend in India Bangladesh relations. Also highlight on strategic significance of Bangladesh for India. Introduction India was the first country to recognize Bangladesh as a separate and independent state and established diplomatic relations with the country immediately after its independence in December 1971. The relationship between India and Bangladesh is anchored in history, culture, language and shared values of secularism, democracy, and countless other commonalities between the two countries. It is based on sovereignty, equality, trust, understanding and win-win partnership that goes far beyond a strategic partnership. Body Recent trends in Indo Bangladesh relations: Coastal surveillance: Both sides noted the progress made in finalization of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Establishment of Coastal Surveillance Radar System in Bangladesh. The coastal surveillance system will pave way for Indo-Bangladesh White Shipping Agreement in future. This will be useful amid growing terror threats via seas and growing presence of China in the Bay of Bengal region. Line of credit: Since 2010, India approved three Lines of Credit to Bangladesh of $7.362 billion to finance development projects. But, because of bureaucratic red tapism, just $442 million have been disbursed until December 2018. River water cooperation: Exchange of data and information to prepare a framework of interim sharing agreements for six rivers — Manu, Muhuri, Khowai and Gomati rivers of Tripura and Dharla river of Bangladesh and Dudhkumar river of West Bengal. Use of Bangladesh’s Feni river for drinking water supply in Tripura. Teesta water agreement: Failed river water sharing agreements between India and Bangladesh despite many efforts. Chief among them is the Teesta agreement which was inked in 2011 but has not moved forward because of tensions between the Central and West Bengal governments. Cooperation over pandemic related moves: Over the past months, Bangladesh has supported India’s call for a regional emergency fund for fighting Covid-19 and declared a contribution of $1.5 million. India has also provided medical aid to Bangladesh. Push to agreement on trans-shipment: The first trial run for trans-shipment of Indian cargo through Bangladesh to Northeast states under a pact on the use of Chittagong and Mongla ports took place recently. Soft power: India also grants 15 to 20 lakh visas every year to Bangladesh nationals for medical treatment, tourism, work, and just entertainment. Economic and development partnership: Bangladesh is India’s biggest trade partner in South Asia with bilateral trade growing steadily over the last decade - India’s exports to Bangladesh in 2018-19 stood at $9.21 billion, and imports from Bangladesh at $1.04 billion. Import of bulk Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) from Bangladesh. Inauguration of Vivekananda Bhaban (student’s hostel) at Ramakrishna Mission, Dhaka. Inauguration of Bangladesh-India Professional Skill Development Institute (BIPSDI) at the Institution of Diploma Engineers Bangladesh (IDEB), Khulna, Bangladesh. Strategic significance of Bangladesh to India – India and Bangladesh share 4096.7 km. of border, which is the longest land boundary that India shares with any of its neighbours. Lying some 600 miles north of the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal, with the major port of Chittagong and another, Cox's Bazaar, almost bordering its neighbour Myanmar, the country is an important littoral on our eastern seaboard. Bangladesh is India’s biggest trade partner in South Asia. India’s exports to Bangladesh for financial year 2018-19 (April-March) stood at US $ 9.21 bn and imports from Bangladesh for the same period stood at US $ 1.22 bn. Bangladesh’s economy is now one-and-a-half times as large as that of West Bengal better integration between the two would provide a huge boost for eastern India. So would provide better connectivity between India’s landlocked Northeast and Bangladesh. India has benefited from its security ties with Bangladesh, whose crackdown against anti-India outfits has helped the Indian government maintain peace in the eastern and northeast states.  Increasing importance of Bangladesh in geopolitics of Indo-Pacific due to economic success of Bangladesh is drawing attention from a range of countries in East Asia, including China, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore. Dhaka is bound to intensify in the new geopolitics of the Indo-Pacific. India will inaugurate a new railway line with Bangladesh to save its ‘Chicken’s Neck’ from China. India is also looking at fast-tracking the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India Nepal (BBIN) initiative which will boost connectivity among the South Asian neighbours through rail and road. Way ahead - Lower hanging fruits: The sides can address the less conflictual issues, as it will be difficult to address the Teesta project before the West Bengal elections due next year.  Implement its assurances in a time-bound manner: The greater attention is required to development projects in Bangladesh under the Indian Lines of Credit. Collaboration in the development of a Covid-19 vaccine: Including its trial, and looks forward to early, affordable availability of the vaccine when ready. Conclusion Both Bangladesh and India have great opportunities to resolve all the outstanding issues. India as a regional super power needs to take initiative and Bangladesh requires cooperating with India for fixing outstanding issues. Both the counties have to think for the economic ties instead of valuing the domestic politics. Central political objectives must supersede the regional or the state objectives for continuing and establishing the future relations. Q2. Examine India’s recent efforts to counter the threat of terrorism originating from Pakistan. Approach - It expects students to write about – in first part write about terrorism issue arising from Pakistan – in second part write about steps taken by India to counter threat of terrorism – in third part write way forward. Introduction Bilateral relations of India and Pakistan have been under the shadow of misunderstanding, tensions and wars since 1947.  To counter Pakistan, India has embarked upon a bi-dimensional strategy towards Pakistan. First, it has intensified its campaign to diplomatically isolate at various global forums. Secondly, it has inclined to use hard force when faced with terrorism. Body Pakistan and state-sponsored terrorism: Pakistan has been accused by neighbouring countries India, Afghanistan and Iran and other nations, such as the United States the United Kingdom, and France of involvement in terrorist activities in the region and beyond. Money is transferred to terror organization via Pakistan army. Pakistan’s tribal region along its border with Afghanistan has been described as a safe haven for terrorists by western media and the United States Defense Secretary. According to an analysis published, Pakistan was, “with the possible exception of Iran, perhaps the world’s most active sponsor of terrorist groups… aiding these groups that pose a direct threat to the United States. Pakistan’s active participation has caused thousands of deaths in the region; all these years Pakistan has been supportive to several terrorist groups despite several stern warnings from the international community The government of Pakistan has been accused of aiding terrorist organisations operating on their soil who have attacked neighbouring India. Pakistan denies all allegations, stating that these acts are committed by non-state actors Former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has admitted that Pakistan supported and trained terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in 1990s to carry out militancy in Kashmir from 1979 Pakistan was in favour of religious militancy Many organizations change names and set up other organization to frame that Pakistan is looking into it. India taken following steps to counter threat of terrorism originating from Pakistan: Government of India has created National Investigation Agency (NIA) in 2008 after Mumbai attacks which acts as a federal agency to combat terror. Multi Agency Centre (MAC) revamped after 26/11 attacks, acts as a multi-agency intelligence coordination mechanism for counter terrorism. Combating Financing of Terrorism Cell (CFT- Cell) is also created to deal with the policy matters on combating terrorist financing and Fake Indian Currency. India is also a member of FATF (Financial Action Task Force) whose aim is to establish international standards for combating money laundering and terrorist financing. Recently FATF puts Pakistan on ‘grey-list’ over global terror finance. The government has created observation posts, Border fencing, flood lighting, deployment of modern and hi-tech surveillance equipment. Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS) has replaced manual surveillance/patrolling of the international borders by electronic surveillance to enhance detection and interception capabilities. India has been supportive of all efforts, particularly in the UN to combat terrorism and has played a leading role in shaping international opinion and urging the international community to prioritize the fight against terror. India since 1996 is trying to push a global intergovernmental convention i.e. Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) to tackle terrorism. It can provide a legal framework to enhance prosecution and extradition of terrorists. Continuous dialogues with neighbouring countries have been initiated from time to time for motivating them for a strict action against terrorists breeding in their respective territories. Way Forward –  There is a need to reassess our policies on number of issues pertaining to the management of India’s international borders such as intelligence apparatus, internal security and border management. Technical solutions are necessary to augment and complement the traditional methods of border guarding. They not only enhance the surveillance and detection capabilities of the border guarding forces but also improve the impact of the border guarding personnel against infiltration and trans-border crimes. India should move in the direction of specialisation of military to fight cross-border terrorism. Military should also look at alternative means to strike at the terror camps across the LoC and LAC through mechanisms like Precision Engagement Capability. A judicious mix of properly trained manpower and affordable and tested technology is likely to yield better results. War against terrorism is a low intensity conflict or localized war and cannot be waged without the full and unstinted support of the society and can be lost easily if the morale and resolve of the society to fight against terrorism falters. Conclusion Since the remaining roots of militancy are now in Pakistan and PoK, and Pakistan is not inclined to bring to justice the leaders of terrorist organisations like the Lashkar-e-Taiba and the Jaish-e-Mohammed, terrorists they call ‘strategic assets’, they must be neutralised through strong deterrent and diplomatic and Isolation operations. Q3. What are the major irritants in Indo-Nepal relations? What are their fallouts? Examine. Approach - It expects aspirants to write about – in first part write about issues between India and Nepal – in second part write about fallout due to deteriorating relation between India and Nepal – in third part write way forward. Introduction Nepal is an important neighbour of India and occupies special significance in its foreign policy because of the geographic, historical, cultural and economic linkages/ties that span centuries. India and Nepal share similar ties in terms of Hinduism and Buddhism with Buddha’s birthplace Lumbini located in present day Nepal. Body Issues and recent deterioration of India-Nepal ties: Border issues: Nepal and India have some contentious issues relating to the border, including the two major areas of dispute at Susta and Kalapani (India-China-Nepal tri-junction). Countries agreed to start talks at the foreign secretary-level in order to resolve the problem however, only a single talk has taken place in 2015. Internal Security: Open border between India and Nepal leads to illegal migration and human trafficking threatening Indian security. Indo Nepal border is used as launch pad by Maoist, terrorist and drug traffickers. Nepal’s new constitution and its aftermath: A new constitution was promulgated in Nepal in 2015.It gave extensive political privileges to the ruling hill tribes and discriminated against the people living in plains including Madhesis. It also made obtaining citizenship by Madhesis very difficult. This issue has emerged as a contentious issue between India and Nepal that was seen in form of economic blockade including blockade of gas supply, fuel etc. by India. Big Brother attitude: There is a widespread perception in Nepal that India does not respect the country’s sovereignty and that it often intervenes in Nepal’s domestic affairs. India has been perceived to be playing a role of big brother in the region. Peace and friendship treaty: The India-Nepal treaty of 1950 has been criticised by the Nepali political elite as an unequal one. Treaty obliged Nepal to inform India and seek its consent for the purchases of military hardware from third countries. Nepal wants to change this provision. Nepal’s growing proximity to China: In recent times China’s presence has increased in Nepal that has heightened India’s security concerns. China plans to extend the Tibet railway to Kathmandu across the border in the next few years. Nepal signed the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Framework agreement with China last year. China is trying to contest Indian interests by cultivating local interest groups that could advance China’s interests in Nepal. Demonetisation: Demonetisation has badly affected Nepali nationals because those notes were legal tender in Nepal too. Nepal has time and again requested that the Indian government make arrangements for the exchange of those notes held by Nepali nationals and its central bank. Fallout due to deteriorating relation between India and Nepal: In the past, Chinese interest in Nepal was to ensure that Nepalese territory is not used by Tibetans for the breeding of discontent. However, in recent times, China has made inroads into Nepal in infrastructure, education and health sectors. Also, Nepal wants to take advantage of the BRI project built by China. India feels that the Chinese inroads into Nepal are necessarily to counterbalance the Indian influence in Nepal. However, Nepal has asserted that its relationship with China is purely economic and will not be hurting the Indian strategic interests in any way. Also, India is of the view that the rising Nepal and China cooperation would undermine Nepal’s distinction of buffer state between India and China. Kathmandu has continued its long-standing efforts to spread Nepal’s options beyond India. Multilateral development banks are by far the biggest lenders and players in the country’s development efforts. And in fact, one of Nepal’s largest aid donors is the European Union. India and China are not the only players for big projects either. A long-delayed project to pipe water into Kathmandu was with an Italian company. Major investments in the telecom sector are coming from Malaysia, and the largest international carrier in Nepal is Qatar Airways. The outward movement of students, along with the growth of institutions of higher learning at home, has meant that youngest people in Nepal, including emerging contemporary leaders in politics, business or academics, have not studied in India. This lack of common collegiate roots removes a natural bond of previous generations that had provided for better understanding and even empathy. Way Forward – Given the importance of ties with Nepal, often romanticised as one of “roti-beti” (food and marriage), India must not delay dealing with the matter, and at a time when it already has a faceoff with China in Ladakh and Sikkim. Since the free movement of people is permitted across the border, Nepal enjoys immense strategic relevance from India’s national security point of view, as terrorists often use Nepal to enter India. Therefore, stable and friendly relations with Nepal is one of prerequisites which India can’t afford to overlook. India should also try to convey to Nepal’s leadership about the congenial and friendly environment that 6 to 8 million Nepali citizens living in India enjoy. Therefore, any thoughtless erosion of this centuries old togetherness may prove difficult for both countries. The existing bilateral treaties between India and Nepal have not taken the shifting of Himalayan rivers into consideration. A primary reason for this is the lack of an approach where ecological concerns and needs of rivers are often discussed. Therefore, India and Nepal should try to resolve the boundary dispute by taking into account all shared environmental characteristics. Conclusion Centuries of social, cultural, political, strategic, and economic ties can only remain strong if they can remain relevant to changing times. The governments of India and Nepal must reset the narrative, modernize their policies, and get out of the way so that the ties between people thrives again. Q4. Has India committed a blunder by not entering the RCEP? Critically examine.    Approach - As the directive here is critically examine it is necessary to cover various angles of the issue and provide both sides views. In the introduction you can start by introducing what is RCEP and stating why India pulled itself out of RCEP. In the first half of main body part explain points in support of India's move. In the next half argue against India's decision to pull itself out of RCEP. A way forward while explaining when and how India should join the RCEP is necessary.    Introduction Described as the "largest" regional trading agreement to this day, RCEP was originally being negotiated between 16 countries-ASEAN members and countries with which they have free trade agreements (FTAs), namely Australia, China,South Korea, Japan, New Zealand and India. India had been a part of negotiations for almost nine years till it pulled out in November 2019, stating that inadequate safeguards and lowering of customs duties will adversely impact its manufacturing, agriculture and dairy sectors. Body The purpose of RCEP was to make it easier for products and services of each of these countries to be available across this region. However, India has some major concerns due to which India opted to stay out of RCEP. India's decision to stay out of RCEP is a good decision: Unfavourable Balance of Trade: India has trade deficits with 11 of the 15 RCEP countries, and some experts feel that India has been unable to leverage its existing bilateral free trade agreements with several RCEP members to increase exports. For instance, as per  paper published by NITI Aayog, India has a bilateral trade deficit with most of the member countries of RCEP. Following Table 1 shows India's trade balance with RCEP members.  Table 1: India's trade balance with RCEP members. Dumping of Chinese Goods: India has already signed FTAs with all the countries of RCEP except China. China is a major concern for India, as after signing RCEP, cheaper products from China might flood the Indian market. Auto-trigger Mechanism: In order to deal with the imminent rise in imports, India had been seeking an auto-trigger mechanism that would have allowed India to raise tariffs on products in instances where imports cross a certain threshold. However, other countries in RCEP were against this proposal. Rules of Origin issue: Rules of origin are the criteria used to determine the national source of a product. India was concerned about a "possible circumvention" of rules of origin. The deal did not have sufficient safeguards to prevent routing of the products. Protection for domestic industries:  Throughout the negotiations, the dairy industry demanded protection as the industry was expected to face stiff competition from Australia and New Zealand when the deal was signed. Similarly, steel and textiles sectors have also demanded protection. Most favoured Nation Status:  India wanted RCEP to exclude most-favoured nation (MFN) obligations from the investment chapter, as it did not want to hand out, especially to countries with which it has border disputes, the benefits it was giving to its strategic allies  No deal better than bad agreement: India's stance was based on a "clear-eyed calculation" of the gains and costs of entering a new arrangement, and that no pact was better than a "bad agreement". However, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the economic game of global powers. India is also not an exception.  Arguments for India to review its RCEP stand:  Need For Economic Realism: India should deter seeing RCEP only from the Chinese perspective. India should acknowledge that the trade bloc represents 30% of the global economy and world population, touching over 2.2 billion people, and staying out of RCEP may result in suboptimal economic growth without leveraging Asia-Pacific demand. In this regard, India can draw inspiration from Japan & Australia, as they chose to bury their geopolitical differences with China to prioritise what they collectively see as a mutually beneficial trading compact.  Strategic Need: It is not just because gains from trade are significant, but the RCEP's membership is a prerequisite to having a say in shaping RCEP's rules. This is necessary to safeguard India's interests and the interests of several countries that are too small to stand up to the largest member, China. Global Economic Stagnation due to Covid-19: With global trade and the economy facing a steep decline due to Covid-19 pandemic, RCEP can serve as a bulwark in containing the free fall of the global economy and re-energising economic activity.  Impact on India's Act East Policy: There are concerns that India's decision would impact its bilateral trade ties with RCEP member nations, as they may be more inclined to focus on bolstering economic ties within the bloc. Way forward – India, as an original negotiating participant of RCEP, has the option of joining the agreement without having to wait 18 months as stipulated for new members in the terms of the pact. A possible alternative for India is to review its existing bilateral FTAs with some of these RCEP members as well as newer agreements with potential for Indian exports. The problem is a broader one, of India's competitiveness, which has to be improved so that opening up leads to more benefits than costs, to industrialisation and not it's opposite. Conclusion of 17th ASEAN-India Virtual Summit and adoption of ASEAN-India Plan of Action for 2021-2025 proves that despite conclusion of RCEP, ASEAN countries are welcoming towards India. India must try to find out possibilities of increasing trade with ASEAN countries. Conclusion Given India's own ambitions to generate growth and jobs within, economic isolation could never be an option for India and becoming a key player and rule-maker on the world stage, India's decision to withdraw from the RCEP is debatable. Instead of sitting out and building tariff walls across sectors, it must prod and incentivise the industry to be competitive, and get inside the RCEP tent at the earliest opportune moment but it should not done at the cost of sacrifice of domestic industry in India.  Q5. How do results of recent US elections affect India’s interests? Critically analyze.  Approach – A straightforward question where in you need to critically analyze the effect of results of recent US elections on India’s interests. Introduction With Democratic candidate Joe Biden winning the US Presidential Election over the Republican candidate and incumbent President Donald Trump as their new President by a significant margin, the world is now bracing itself for the significant changes anticipated by this turn of events. This also holds true for India as not only is the USA India’s second-largest supplier of defence equipment, it is also one of India’s most important trading partner (the Indo-US trade figures exceed $100 billion). India’s bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council also makes its relationship with USA vital in strategic terms. Body Owing to India’s strategic position in the world economy, growth prospects, and availability of cheap skilled labour, and also greater domestic demand momentum, traditionally, Indo-US ties have received a bipartisan support, and this is expected to continue even through Biden’s tenure. In this regard, the effect on India’s interests can be seen from the following points: Under Biden administration, India’s trade with the US could recover from the dip since 2017-18 where over the past 20 years, India has always had a trade surplus (exports exceeding imports) with the US. Trade surplus had peaked at USD 21.2 billion in 2017-18 and has moderated to some extent. Beyond trade, over the past two decades, the US is the fifth-biggest source for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into India. Apart from FDI (or investment in the physical assets inside India), the US also accounts for one-third of all Foreign Portfolio Investments (that is, investment in financial assets) into India.  Here, Biden is likely to be less obtrusive than the current Trump administration. H1-B Visa Issue - Under President Trump, who severely curtailed the visa regime, owing to his policy of “America First”, India had suffered the most. H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows American companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. President Biden may again relax the norms for India’s benefit. A Biden presidency may also see a renewed push towards a rules-based trading system across the world — instead of outright ad-hocism as was the case under Trump — as well as a move away from the protectionist approach that has been getting strong across the world. Here, India’s exclusion from the US’ Generalized System of Preference (GSP) could come up for reconsideration under Biden where India was the largest beneficiary of the programme in 2017 with USD 5.7 billion in imports to the US given duty-free status but was terminated by President Trump. Further, under the Trump administration, the US sanctions on Iran severely limited India’s sourcing of cheap crude oil. For an economy such as India, which needs a regular supply of cheap oil to grow fast, a normalisation of US-Iran relationship (and lifting of sanctions), which President elect Joe Biden has promised, would be more than useful. On China, too, while the US apprehensions are unlikely to be fewer even under a Biden administration, it is more likely that a Biden administration will help India against China, instead of clubbing the two together. Also, Biden has promised to re-join the Paris Climate Accord, and this may help countries such as India in dealing with the massive challenges — both technical and financial — on this front. Other Issues - Other points of contention between India and US - such as the tricky issue of data localisation or capping prices of medicines and medical devices - have a chance of getting towards a resolution under a Biden Presidency. Civil Liberties and Democratic Rights in India - Although some US Congressmen and women had raised red flags on the human rights situation following the revoking of J&K’s special status under Article 370 and passage of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act alongside the proposed nationwide National Register of Citizens (NRC), the Trump administration had not taken any actions beyond making some perfunctory statements. But this may change under the Biden Presidency, which can become an issue in terms of public outreach. Further, there are many concerns related to the strategic aspects where India has some reservations in terms of Biden administration’s approach to dealing with China as well as the overall emphasis on QUAD and Indo-Pacific approach. Relations with Pakistan vis-à-vis its support to terrorism as well as tackling the Afghan issue can also become a sore point in the normally flourishing strategic relationship. Conclusion Combined with the control of Covid infections and the economic recovery, the US could yet again provide a growth impulse to the global economy that countries such as India need to boost their exports and grow where it has become clear that the outcome of the United States presidential election doesn’t affect India’s relationship with Washington as much as in earlier times where India’s ties with America find bipartisan support. TLP HOT Synopsis Day 57 PDF

Dec 18, 2020 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz - 2020 : IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs Quiz 18th 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