Dec 14, 2020 हिन्दी Initiatives

मासिक पत्रिका अक्टूबर 2020- हिन्दी IASbaba सामयिकी

ARCHIVES Hello Friends,   Current Affairs for UPSC Civil Services Examination is an important factor in this preparation. An effort towards making your Current Affairs for IAS UPSC Preparation qualitative. We hope you make the best use of it! This Hindi edition covers all important current affairs issues that were in news for the month of अक्टूबर/OCTOBER 2020. Kindly leave your feedback in the comment section below on the new design and presentation of the magazine. We would love to hear from you 🙂 DOWNLOAD THE MAGAZINE- CLICK HERE To get Regular Updates from IASbaba, follow- TELEGRAM Channel – https://t.me/IASbabaOfficialAccount YOUTUBE  –  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChvbVdio9Wgj7Z3nQz1Q0ZQ FACEBOOK  – https://www.facebook.com/iasbaba/ Also, SUBSCRIBE to the WEBSITE Below, so that you don’t miss out on important posts! Thank You IASbaba  

Dec 14, 2020 TLP Mains 2020

SYNOPSIS [10th DECEMBER,2020] Day 52: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 2): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE   SYNOPSIS [10th DECEMBER,2020] Day 52: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 2): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)   1. Discuss the physiographic features of shields and cratons. How do they get formed? Discuss. Approach: It expects aspirants to write about various physiographic features of shields and craton. Also write about how shields and cratons formed. You can also draw diagram for better illustration. Introduction: A craton is an old and stable part of the continental lithosphere, which consists of Earth's two topmost layers, the crust and the uppermost mantle. A shield is a large area of exposed Precambrian crystalline igneous and high-grade metamorphic rocks that form tectonically stable areas. Body: Cratons: Cratons have thick lithospheric roots. Mantle tomography shows that cratons are underlain by anomalously cold mantle corresponding to lithosphere more than twice the typical 100 km thickness of mature oceanic or non-cratonic, continental lithosphere. At that depth, craton roots extend into the asthenosphere. Craton lithosphere is distinctly different from oceanic lithosphere because cratons have a neutral or positive buoyancy, and a low intrinsic isopycnic density. This low density offsets density increases due to geothermal contraction and prevents the craton from sinking into the deep mantle. Cratonic lithosphere is much older than oceanic lithosphere—up to 4 billion years versus 180 million years. The process by which cratons were formed from early rock is called cratonization. The first large cratonic landmasses formed during the Archean eon. During the early Archean, Earth's heat flow was nearly three times higher than it is today because of the greater concentration of radioactive isotopes and the residual heat from the Earth's accretion. There was considerably greater tectonic and volcanic activity; the mantle was less viscous and the crust thinner. This resulted in rapid formation of oceanic crust at ridges and hot spots, and rapid recycling of oceanic crust at subduction zones. There are at least three hypotheses of how cratons have been formed: 1) surface crust was thickened by a rising plume of deep molten material, 2) successive subducting plates of oceanic lithosphere became lodged beneath a proto-craton in an under-plating process, 3) accretion from island arcs or continental fragments rafting together to thicken into a craton. Shields:  A shield is that part of the continental crust in which these usually Precambrian basement rocks crop out extensively at the surface. Shields themselves can be very complex: they consist of vast areas of granitic or granodioritic gneisses, usually of tonalitic composition, and they also contain belts of sedimentary rocks, often surrounded by low-grade volcano-sedimentary sequences, or greenstone belts. These rocks are frequently metamorphosed greenschist, amphibolite, and granulite facies. It is estimated that over 50% of Earth's shields surface is made up of gneiss.  Conclusion: Thus Craton comprising shields both form major geological features of earth. They help in understanding the process of formation of rocks and their period of formation. Q 2. Examine the factors that lead to extremely arid conditions in the Atacama. Approach: It expects students to examine different factors like Subtropical high, Double rain shadow and Cold ocean current leads to arid conditions in Atacama. You can also draw diagram/map to explain it further. Introduction: Atacama Desert extends from the west coast of Chile and spills over the bordering nations of Argentina, Peru, and Bolivia. While it’s not truly the driest place on the whole planet, it’s the driest hot desert on Earth, receiving less than 0.6 inches of rain on average the whole year.  Body: The Atacama Desert can attribute its astoundingly low precipitation to a combination of several “drying” factors: the subtropical high, a double rain shadow, and the cold ocean current running up the west coast of South America. These factors work together to make an amazing synthesis of dry conditions that form the unique climate of the Atacama. Subtropical high: The first factor, the subtropical high, is a global wind and pressure belt that can be found around 30 degrees North or South, right around where the Atacama Desert is. This pressure belt stretches around the world at this latitude and suppresses the formation of clouds by making it difficult for air to rise. Naturally, this creates a zone of low precipitation. Many areas around the world under the subtropical high have lower rainfall levels, but none quite as low as the Atacama. That’s because there are other influences at work here. Double rain shadow: The second factor is the double rain shadow over the desert. A rain shadow is an area that receives less rainfall as a result of a nearby mountain chain. Oftentimes, a mountain will have a prevailing wind blowing into one side of it, and that receives a lot of rainfall because that wind pushes the moisture in the wind up the mountain, creating clouds and precipitation. Consequently, the other side of the mountain often has less rain because there’s much less moisture in the air. This phenomenon affects the Atacama Desert on two fronts: the Andes Mountains and the Chilean Coast Range. The desert is primarily on the leeward side of each mountain chain, which is where the rain shadow is for mountain ranges, further decreasing the amount of rain the desert gets. Cold ocean current: The third major factor that keeps the Atacama Desert so dry is the cold ocean current that runs adjacent to the coast of South America. This cold current decreases the temperature of the surrounding air, making it unable to accumulate a good deal of moisture over the ocean (since cold air can’t “hold” as much moisture as hot air). Of course, this means that the desert doesn’t have much of a chance to receive moisture from the ocean next to it, making it even drier.    Conclusion: Atacama Desert is an important desert to study because it encompasses many important aspects of climate. Not only this, but the desert impacts the well-being of the people that live in or around it. Understanding how the climate of the area came to be is important to understand how climate works, how it changes the environment, and how it impacts people in its environment.   Q 3. Why has the Aral Sea shrunk? Discuss. Approach: As the directive here is discuss, you have to cover various angles related to the topic. In the introduction you explain the location of Aral sea and then brief how it shrunk. In the main body part enlist the reasons and in brief give a way forward. Drawing a map to show the location of Aral sea or showing the extent of shrinking will be a value addition.  Introduction: The Aral was an endorheic lake lying between Kazakhstan  and Uzbekistan which began shrinking in the 1960s and had largely dried up by the 2010s. Today, the lake-which was called a sea due its sheer size and salinity-has reduced to a mere 25 per cent of its original size. The re-routing of Amu Darya river and Syr Darya river to give impetus to cotton production aggravated shrinking of the Aral Sea.  Body: In the 1960s, the depth of the lake was 68 metres. Today, it is less than 10 metres. A relatively shallow water level spread across a large surface area has led to faster evaporation. This has caused over 90 per cent loss in the volume of water in the last six decades. Following are the major reasons for the shrunk: By establishing a program to promote agriculture and especially that of cotton, Soviet government led by Khrouchtchev in the 1950s deliberately deprived the Aral Sea of its two main sources of water income, which almost immediately led to less water arriving to the sea. Layered problems: The Aral Sea is a terminal lake with no outlets. As it lies in a rain-shadow region, the rate of evaporation far outweighs the rate of precipitation as an average annual rainfall in the nearby regions is nearly 100mm.  The need to strike a balance between the river feed, precipitation, evaporation and seepage has made it difficult to ensure its survival. Any change in any of these four factors affects the quantity and quality of water, rapidly. Therefore, the reason of ongoing disaster lies beyond the northern region of Kaza-khstan and the Ustyurt Plateau region that includes the critical mass of the Aral Sea. Following figure 1 shows the drying up of the Aral sea.  There has been an increase in the abstraction of groundwater throughout the basins of the two rivers. The water is pumped out at the upstream of the Amu Darya River that feeds the Silk Route towns—Bukhara, Samarkand and Tashkent in Uzbekistan. The outflow from these towns does not balance the inflow. Increase in evaporation, coupled with reduced groundwater inflow and precipitation, has further led to salinisation and the foaming of water. Figure 1: Drying up of the Aral sea  The south-west edge of the Aral Sea has eroded, forming large canyons along the Ustyurt Plateau. These canyons were formed by a process of long-time erosion. The Ustyurt Plateau, which overlooks the western edge of the Aral Sea, is a clay and stony desert with an average elevation of 150 metres. In geological terms, it is called "Sarmatian limestones' with separated edges leading to steep slopes. The Aral Sea catastrophe exemplifies the Anthropogenic era. This human-made disaster is affecting the ecosystem for more than five decades now.  Yet, the current development paradigm is conveniently ignoring the long-term repercussions and is choosing the option of altering the water bodies to suit bigger and profitable agendas. The current state of the Aral Sea needs to be understood and its lessons be applied whenever we think of altering the course of any waterbody. In 1993, Central Asian countries-Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turk-menistan and Uzbekistan-established the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea to rehabilitate the affected region ecologically. The mission was to save the people living in Aral Sea basin by improving their living conditions.  Conclusion: In 2005, the Kokaral Dam was built in a joint collaboration between the Kazakh government and the World Bank to restore the delta and the wetland region in Syr Darya River basin. However, these sporadic efforts are not enough to revive the basin spanning seven nations. A cross-country method needs to be put in place by owning collective responsibility. Because it may take many generations to revive the lost lake back to its original glory. Q.4 Why is the Tibetan plateau called the roof of the world? How does the Tibetan plateau affect the climate in the Indian subcontinent? Discuss. Approach - It expects students to write about Tibetan plateau and how does Tibetan plateau affect the climate in the Indian subcontinent.  Introduction Highest and largest plateau in the world and hence called the 'roof of the world'. Formed due to collision of the Indo-Australian and Eurasian tectonic plates. It covers most of the Autonomous Tibetan Region, Qinghai Province of Western China, and a part of Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir. Body Tibetan plateaus affecting on climate pattern in India Subcontinent: The Tibetan Plateau is an enormous block of highland acting as a formidable barrier. Due to its protruded height it receives 2-3°C more insolation than the neighbouring areas. The plateau affects the atmosphere in two ways: (a) as a mechanical barrier, and (b) as a high- level heat sources. At the beginning of June the subtropical jet stream is completely withdrawn from India and occupies a position along 40° N (to the north of Tibetan Plateau).The plateau accentuates the northward displacement of the jet stream. Hence the burst of monsoon in June is prompted by the Himalayas and not by the thermally induced low pressure cell over Tibet. (Tibetan plateau is responsible for south-west monsoons. But it is the subtropical jet stream that facilitates sudden outburst of monsoons with its sudden northward migration) In the middle of October the plateau proves to be the most important factor in causing the advance of the jet south of the Himalayas or bifurcating it into two parts. The winter Tibetan Plateau cools rapidly and produces a high pressure cell. (Cyclonic condition over Tibet ceases and an anticyclonic condition is established). The high pressure cell over Tibet strengthens N-E monsoons. Tibet gets heated in summer and is 2°C to 3°C warmer than the air over the adjoining regions. Because the Tibet Plateau is a source of heat for the atmosphere, it generates an area of rising air (convergence)(intense low pressure cell). During its ascent the air spreads outwards in upper troposphere (divergence) and gradually sinks (subsidence) over the equatorial part of the Indian Ocean. It finally approaches the west coast of India as a return current from a south-westerly direction and is termed as equatorial westerlies. It picks up moisture from the Indian Ocean and causes rainfall in India. The snow-monsoon tele-connection works by altering this temperature gradient. There is dominant effect of the Himalaya and Tibetan plateau snow on monsoon is because of albedo, the reflectivity of snow. Increased snow cover over the Himalaya and Tibetan plateau reflects more solar radiation, resulting in less than normal warming of the land surface there. Consequently, the temperature gradient decreases and monsoon winds weaken. This means they bring less moisture to India and don’t penetrate as far north. With a much lower latitude, the ice in Tibet reflects at least four times more radiation energy per unit area into space than ice at higher latitudes. Solar heating in late spring heats the Indian subcontinent, making it warmer than the Indian Ocean. It also warms the Tibetan plateau that acts as an elevated heat source. This drives southwest monsoon winds towards the Indian landmass. Conclusion The importance of Tibet to the world’s geopolitical events is much understated. Often relegated to as the China issue, it holds enormous geopolitical and environmental significance, especially in context of Asia. As a geographical region, Tibet is a rich bed of minerals, water bodies and energy resources. It has often been referred to as the roof top of the world given that there are 10 river systems originating here, and is also considered the maker of Asian Monsoons. Therefore it needs to study well for sustainable environment. Q 5. Discuss the factors that led to the formation of the Deccan traps. Approach: It expects students to write about Deccan traps and factors leading to the formation of Deccan traps.  Introduction Deccan Trap is a thick sequence of late cretaceous basaltic lava flows. Due to erosion this basaltic lava soil has been eroded step wise which is often termed as Deccan trap. This Deccan trap is widely prevalent in Deccan plateau, covering Saurashtra, Maharashtra, Karnataka parts of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Its thickness is not uniform rather it is somewhere deep and somewhere shallow depending on the surface whether flat or sloppy. Body Factors that led to formation of the Deccan traps: Mantle plume: On the continents, mantle plumes have been responsible for extensive accumulations of flood basalts such as Deccan traps. Mantle plumes (few hundred kilometres in diameter) rise slowly towards the upper mantle. When a plume head encounters the base of the lithosphere, it flattens out and undergoes widespread decompression melting to form large volumes of basalt magma. The basaltic magma may then erupt onto the surface through a series of fissures giving rise to large igneous provinces. When created, these regions often occupy several thousand square kilometres. Plate tectonic: Most scientists believe that the Deccan Traps poured out as the Indian plate, on its northward journey after the Gondwana breakup, passed over the Reunion hotspot, a still active volcanic island located in the south-west Indian Ocean. Coeval with (or probably as a result of) this event, there was also a continental rift-drift between India and the Seychelles Islands. Indeed, flood basalts of similar age also occur on the Seychelles. Reunion Hotspot: The Reunion hotspot is a volcanic hotspot which currently lies under the Island of Reunion in the Indian Ocean. A huge eruption of this hotspot 66 million years ago is thought to have laid down the Deccan Traps and opened a rift which separated India from the Seychelles Plateau. Highly fluid lava: The lava when erupted was in a highly liquid form, which is indicated by the long distances over which the individual flows could spread. This fact also suggests that the lava might have been super-heated to reach that state of mobility. Linear fissures: Eruptions of the lava took place along linear fissures, forming fissure-type of eruption and not from any central cone-type volcanoes. This is explained by numerous flows and their remarkably consistent horizontal (or nearly so) attitude. Sub aerial environment: They were erupted in a sub-aerial environment (and not subaqueous, that is under water). This is suggested by their relation with the older rocks. Intersecting dykes: A large number of dykes that have been found occurring intersecting many lava flows might be quite younger to those flows, but some such dykes might have also been the feeder dykes for the volcanic eruptions. Seafloor spreading: Seafloor spreading at the boundary between the Indian and African Plates subsequently pushed India north over the plume, which now lies under Réunion island in the Indian Ocean, southwest of India. Conclusion Deccan trap is one of the important formation in Indian stratigraphy. The lava erupted all along the fission crack in the surface of the earth intermittently. It is the store house for many minerals and black soil important for Indian agriculture therefore studying it can help in better understanding of Indian geological set up. TLP HOT Synopsis Day 52 PDF

Dec 14, 2020 MindMaps

Mind Maps: Pressure Groups - General Studies 2

Mind Maps: Pressure Groups - General Studies 2 For Previous Important Topics (Mind Maps) - ARCHIVES Hello Friends, Recently we have come up with a NEW INITIATIVE - BRAINSTORMING THROUGH MIND-MAPS! Mind-map is an incredible powerful thinking tool, an innate human language that will have immense benefit in your preparation. The main idea is to brainstorm different aspects of an issue - think in multi-dimensions; what we call 360 degrees of an issue. The whole of this exercise will unleash your creativity to push your brain cells to recall the data learnt and to make it more relevant for your preparation. It will help you to make your Revision and Retention a far better apart from giving you more Clarity in the topics/issue at hand and improve your Concentration. You can see the drastic impact mind-maps will have in a few weeks, provided you are regular with this exercise. So here we are with Today’s TOPIC! Pressure Groups - General Studies 2 NOTE – Instructions to download Mind Maps/Images Right Click on the image and ‘Open image in new tab’ Remove/Delete the resolution part from the URL. Eg. “-1536x757” and Press Enter/Load Again Right Click and Save Image As/Download (You’ll get the maximum resolution) Pressure Groups   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 14, 2020 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz - 2020 : IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs Quiz 14th 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 14, 2020 TLP Mains 2020

IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 2 - ENGLISH & हिंदी): UPSC Mains Answer Writing - General Studies Paper 2 Questions[14th DECEMBER,2020] - Day 55

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE Hello Friends, Welcome to IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 2 - ENGLISH & हिंदी): UPSC Mains Answer Writing - General Studies Paper 2 Questions[14th DECEMBER,2020] - Day 55   We will make sure, in the next 3 months not a single day is wasted. All your energies are channelized in the right direction. Trust us! This will make a huge difference in your results this time, provided that you follow this plan sincerely every day without fail. Gear up and Make the Best Use of this initiative. We are giving 5 Mains Questions on Daily basis so that every student can actively participate and keep your preparation focused. Do remember that, “the difference between Ordinary and EXTRA-Ordinary is PRACTICE!!” To Know More about the Initiative -> CLICK HERE SCHEDULE/DETAILED PLAN – > CLICK HERE   Note: Click on Each Question (Link), it will open in a new tab and then Answer respective questions! 1. What are the challenges of governance in India’s multifaceted federal polity? Illustrate.  भारत की बहुपक्षीय संघीय राजनीति में शासन की चुनौतियाँ क्या हैं? उदाहरण देकर स्पष्ट करें। 2. How does transparency affect the efficiency in governance and public administration? Examine.  पारदर्शिता शासन और सार्वजनिक प्रशासन में कार्यनिष्पत्ति को कैसे प्रभावित करती है? जांच करें। 3. Examine the ways in which data and digital technologies are transforming governance in India? उन तरीकों की जांच करें जिन्होंने भारत में डेटा और डिजिटल प्रौद्योगिकियों को बदला है। 4. Failure to scale up successful governance models is a critical challenge in India. Do you agree? How can it be addressed? Suggest. सफल शासन मॉडल को विस्तृत करने में विफलता भारत में एक महत्वपूर्ण चुनौती है। क्या आप सहमत हैं? इसे कैसे संबोधित किया जा सकता है? सुझाव दें। 5. Effective two-way communication is the cornerstone of democratic governance. Do you agree? Substantiate. प्रभावी दोतरफा संचार लोकतांत्रिक शासन की आधारशिला है। क्या आप सहमत हैं? पुष्टी करें। P.S: The review from IASbaba will happen from the time the question is posted till 10 pm everyday. We would also encourage peer reviews. So friends get actively involved and start reviewing each others answers. This will keep the entire community motivated. All the Best :)

Dec 12, 2020 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 12th December 2020

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Peer learning exchange on fintech solutions held between India and Better Than Cash Alliance Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – International Relations & GS-III – Digital economy In news Recently, India and UN-Based Better Than Cash Alliance organized a joint Peer learning exchange on fintech solutions for responsible digital payments at the last mile. Important value addition Better Than Cash Alliance It is based at the United Nations. Created in: 2012.  Launched by: United Nations Capital Development Fund, the United States Agency for International Development, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Citigroup, the Ford Foundation, the Omidyar Network, and Visa Inc. It is a partnership of governments, companies and international organizations that accelerates the transition from cash to responsible digital payments. The Alliance has 75 members which are committed to digitizing payments. The Alliance Secretariat works to digitize payments by - Providing advisory services based on their priorities; Sharing action-oriented research and fostering peer learning on responsible practices; Conducting advocacy at national, regional and global level. Comprehensive Telecom Development Plan (CTDP) For North Eastern Region (NER) approved Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III –Infrastructure In news The Union Cabinet has approved for provision of a Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) Scheme. Under the scheme, Mobile Coverage in Arunachal Pradesh and two Districts of Assam (Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao) shall be provided under the Comprehensive Telecom Development Plan (CTDP) for North Eastern Region (NER). Key takeaways The project envisages to provide mobile coverage to around 2 thousands of uncovered villages at an estimated cost of about Rs.2,029 crore including operational expenses for five years. The project would be funded by Universal Service Obligation Fund.  The project is targeted to be completed by December, 2022. The work related to provision of 4G mobile services in identified uncovered villages will be awarded through open competitive bidding process as per extant USOF procedures. Important value addition Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) Apart from the higher capital cost of providing telecom services in rural and remote areas, these areas also generate lower revenue due to lower population density, low income and lack of commercial activity.  Thus normal market forces alone would not direct the telecom sector to adequately serve backward and rural areas.  Keeping in mind the inadequacy of the market mechanism to serve rural and inaccessible areas on one hand and the importance of providing vital telecom connectivity on the other, most countries of the world have put in place policies to provide Universal Access and Universal Service to ICT. India’s New Telecom Policy - 1999 (NTP'99) provided that the resources for meeting the Universal Service Obligation (USO) would be raised through a 'Universal Access Levy (UAL)', which would be a percentage of the revenue earned by the operators under various licenses.  The Universal Service Support Policy came into effect from 01.04.2002.  The Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Act, 2003 giving statutory status to the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) was passed by both Houses of Parliament in December 2003.  As per the Indian Telegraph Act 1885 (as amended in 2003, 2006 and 2008), the Fund is to be utilized exclusively for meeting the Universal Service Obligation. Atmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana (ABRY) approved Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III –Employment In news The Union Cabinet has given its approval for Atmanirbhar Bharat RojgarYojana (ABRY). Objective: To boost employment in formal sector and incentivize creation of new employment opportunities during the Covid recovery phase under Atmanirbhar Bharat Package 3.0. Key takeaways If EPFO-registered establishments take in new employees without EPFO registration or those who lost jobs earlier, the Yojana will benefit these employees. Beneficiaries / New Employees under the scheme would be: any new employee joining employment in EPFO registered establishments on monthly wages less than Rs.15,000 EPF members drawing monthly wage of less than Rs.15,000 who exited from employment during COVID Pandemic from 1st March to 30th September, 2020 and is employed on or after 1st October, 2020. Central Govt. will provide subsidy for two years in respect of new eligible employees engaged on or after 1st October, 2020 at following scale: Establishments employing up to 1000 employees: Employee’s contributions (12% of Wages) & Employer’s contributions (12% of wages) totalling 24% of wages Establishments employing more than 1000 employees: Only Employee’s EPF contributions (12% of EPF wages) The scheme will be effective from October 1, 2020 and operational till 30th June 2021. Related articles: Atmanirbhar Bharat 3.0 Part 1: Click here Atmanirbhar Bharat 3.0 Part 2: Click here KLI Project: Provision of Submarine Optical Fibre Cable Connectivity Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III –Employment In news The Union Cabinet has given its approval for Provision of Submarine Optical Fibre Cable Connectivity between Mainland (Kochi) and Lakshadweep Islands (KLI Project). Key takeaways The Project shall provide a direct communication link through a dedicated submarine Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) between Kochi and 11 Islands of Lakshadweep viz. Those 11 islands of Lakshadweep are: Kavaratti, Kalpeni, Agati, Amini, Androth, Minicoy, Bangaram, Bitra, Chetlat, Kiltan & Kadmat. The Project would be funded by Universal Service Obligation Fund. The project will vastly improve telecommunication facility in the Lakshadweep Islands by providing large bandwidth. The project is targeted to be completed by May 2023. Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (BSNL) has been nominated as Project Execution Agency and Telecommunications Consultant India Ltd. (TCIL) as the Technical Consultant of the Project to assist Universal Service Obligation Fund, Department of Telecommunications. The ownership of the asset under the project will rest with USOF, the funding agency, under DoT. Related article: Optical Fibre Connectivity to Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Click here Important value addition Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) Apart from the higher capital cost of providing telecom services in rural and remote areas, these areas also generate lower revenue due to lower population density, low income and lack of commercial activity.  Thus normal market forces alone would not direct the telecom sector to adequately serve backward and rural areas.  Keeping in mind the inadequacy of the market mechanism to serve rural and inaccessible areas on one hand and the importance of providing vital telecom connectivity on the other, most countries of the world have put in place policies to provide Universal Access and Universal Service to ICT. India’s New Telecom Policy - 1999 (NTP'99) provided that the resources for meeting the Universal Service Obligation (USO) would be raised through a 'Universal Access Levy (UAL)', which would be a percentage of the revenue earned by the operators under various licenses.  The Universal Service Support Policy came into effect from 01.04.2002.  The Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Act, 2003 giving statutory status to the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) was passed by both Houses of Parliament in December 2003.  As per the Indian Telegraph Act 1885 (as amended in 2003, 2006 and 2008), the Fund is to be utilized exclusively for meeting the Universal Service Obligation. Morocco Normalises Relations with Israel Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – International Relations  In news Recently, Morocco and Israel have agreed to normalise relations in a deal brokered by the USA. Key takeaways It makes Morocco the fourth Arab country, after the UAE, Bahrain (Abraham Accords) and Sudan, to normalise relations with Israel. Morocco will establish full diplomatic relations and resume official contacts with Israel.  Embassies shall open soon to promote economic cooperation between Israeli and Moroccan companies. Morocco intends to facilitate direct flights for Israeli tourists to and from Morocco. Related articles: Sudan and Israel: Click here Bahrain and Israel: Click here Abraham Accords: Click here (Mains Focus) ECONOMY/ GOVERNANCE Topic: General Studies 2,3: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources. PM WANI Scheme Context: Union Cabinet has approved Prime Minister Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI). This is being seen as an attempt by the government to elevate wireless internet connectivity in the country. Key Features of PM WANI Scheme Public Data Offices (PDOs)  — comparable to a PCO or a cybercafe — will establish, maintain, and operate only the WANI compliant Wi-Fi access points to deliver broadband services to its subscribers.These PDOs will either provide internet on their own or will lease from some other Internet Service Provider (ISP).  PDO Aggregators (PDOAs) will also be set up. These will perform the function of authorisation and accounting of the numerous PDOs. The app provider will develop the app to register users and discover PM-WANI compliant WiFi hotspots nearby.  A central registry will be set-up which will maintain details of all app providers, PDOAs and PDOs. The registry will be handled by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT). A customer wanting to access the network from a PDO's premise can do so only after an eKYC authentication. Do You Know? Service providers had in 2018 stated that they aimed to provide 5 lakh hotspots by March 31, 2019 and 10 lakh hotspots by September 30, 2019. However, these targets have not been achieved. PM WANI Scheme that enables public wi-fi data service through small retail data offices can get many more people connected, just as long-distance telephony was expanded through STD public call offices over three decades ago. Merits of PPM WANI Scheme Unleashes Wi-Fi revolution in India: According to TRAI, in most major economies, 50%-70 % of the total usage time of mobile users is through WiFi but in India, this figure is less than 10%. PM WANI will help increase Wifi usage through increased presence of Wifi hotspots. Enhances Quality of life: Internet access will connect a new wave of users not just to commercial and entertainment options, but also to education, telehealth and agriculture extension Ease of doing business: Registration for PDOs will be granted within seven days of the application, else they will be deemed registered. Also, Communications Ministry has stated that no license fee will be charged for providing broadband internet services Creates Employment and enhances Incomes: The scheme would enable small shopkeepers like tea shop owner to register online as a service provider which will boost their incomes as well as ensure our youth gets seamless internet connectivity. Strengthens Digital India mission: The vision of Digital India programme is to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. The Digital India programme is centred on three key vision areas – Digital Infrastructure as core utility to every citizen, Governance & Services on demand and Digital Empowerment of Citizens Financial Inclusion: Bringing broadband Internet to remote locations at minimum investment, and giving subscribers the option of making small, need-based payments helps increase digital financial transaction across India particularly in rural areas Boosts GDP: Three years ago, when TRAI outlined WANI plan and initiated the first pilot of a public wi-fi system on the WANI architecture, it noted that a 10% rise in net penetration led to a 1.4% increase in GDP. Bridges Digital divide: A rapid scale-up of Internet in rural India will be transformative, given the low level of penetration — 27.57 subscribers per 100 population in 2019 - and wi-fi linked to broadband fibre service is the fastest route to achieving that. Cost Effective way of Digital Expansion: Upcoming mobile technologies such as 5G may provide good quality data, but they involve high investment in new spectrum, connectivity equipment and regular subscriber fees. The WANI system offers an elegant way forward to connect low revenue consumers. Entrepreneurship Opportunities: It opens up opportunities for community organisations, libraries, educational institutions, panchayats and small entrepreneurs to tap into a whole new ecosystem, purchasing bandwidth from a public data office aggregator to serve local consumers. Challenges Ahead Clash with Mobile Telecom Firms: Public wi-fi suffered neglect in past because it was seen as a competitor to data services sold by mobile telecom firms, rather than as the complementary technology it. Safety and Security: There is huge expectation on provision of robust service, protection of data integrity, transparency on commercial use of data, and security against cyberattacks. Ensuring Free Market: The government must also ensure true unbundling of hardware, software, apps and payment gateways in the WANI system, as advocated by TRAI, to prevent monopolies. Existing public wi-fi options run on a limited scale by some entities compel consumers to pay through a single gateway app, underscoring the need for reform Conclusion Executed properly, the public data offices (PDOs) of PM WANI can do what the PCOs did for phone calls, going well beyond ‘ease of doing business’ to genuinely empower citizens. ECONOMY / GOVERNANCE Topic: General Studies 2,3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources. Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Antitrust suit against Facebook Context: Two lawsuits filed by the United States federal government and governments of 48 US states and territories have put under the scanner the acquisition by Facebook of Instagram and WhatsApp. The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC)’s lawsuit accused Facebook of eliminating competition with the acquisitions — even though the FTC itself had approved the deals. What does the FTC’s lawsuit say? The FTC has alleged that Facebook “is illegally maintaining its personal social networking monopoly through a years-long course of anticompetitive conduct”.  The lawsuit followed a “lengthy investigation” by a “coalition of attorneys general of US States”. Facebook’s 2012 acquisition of Instagram for $1 billion and the 2014 acquisition of WhatsApp for $19 billion are being cited as attempts to illegally eliminate competition. The FTC has also accused Facebook of imposing “anti-competitive conditions on software developers”. It says Facebook’s practices have harmed competition and left “consumers with few choices for personal social networking, and deprives advertisers of the benefits of competition.” The lawsuit cites how Facebook restricted its “third-party software developers’ access to valuable interconnections to its platform” by exercising strict control over its application programming interfaces or APIs. It gives the example of Twitter’s short video app Vine, which was introduced in 2013. Facebook shut down API access for Vine, effectively restricting its ability to grow. Facebook’s monopoly over social media has resulted in “staggering profits” for the company, the lawsuit says. What does the lawsuit say specifically about Facebook’s acquisition of Instagram and WhatsApp? The FTC has noted that the acquisition of Instagram came at a time when users were switching “from desktop computers to smartphones” and “increasingly embracing photo-sharing”. With WhatsApp, Facebook did the same, the FTC says. When it realised that WhatsApp was “clear global ‘category leader’ in mobile messaging,” it bought out the competition. According to the complaint, Facebook acquiring WhatsApp also meant that “any future threat will have a more difficult time gaining scale in mobile messaging”.  This has largely been true. WhatsApp dominates the mobile messaging space, and currently has over 2 billion users globally; more than 400 million in India alone. No other messaging app comes even close But FTC had approved the Instagram and WhatsApp deals. Yes – but it says its “action challenges more than just the acquisitions”. It is “challenging a multi-year course of conduct that constituted monopolization of the personal social networking market”. The FTC also says that it can – and often does – challenge approved transactions when they violate the law And what does the FTC want? The lawsuit seeks “divestitures of assets, including Instagram and WhatsApp”.  So if the FTC wins, Facebook might be forced to sell Instagram and WhatsApp, two products that are more appealing to younger users and in new geographies, and are therefore crucial to driving the company’s growth. The FTC also wants to “prohibit Facebook from imposing anti-competitive conditions on software developers”. This means Facebook will have to “seek prior notice and approval for future mergers and acquisitions”. How has Facebook responded? Facebook has called the lawsuits “revisionist history.” The company has said it is not true that it has no competition, and named “Apple, Google, Twitter, Snap, Amazon, TikTok and Microsoft”.  The lawsuits ignore the fact that users can and do move often to competing apps Facebook has also questioned the “attack” on its acquisitions, and recalled that the FTC had cleared the Instagram deal after an in-depth review.  The WhatsApp transaction had been reviewed by the European Union as well. According to Facebook, “Those hard challenges are best solved by updating the rules of the Internet.” Regarding the API restrictions, Facebook argues that it is allowed to choose its business partners. YouTube, Twitter, and WeChat have done well despite these API policies, it says. Conclusion The unfolding of the lawsuit is being watched closely by the world as it has ramifications on the Big Tech Industry and also on the evolution of digital technologies. (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 sea/ocean surround Morocco? Atlantic Ocean Mediterranean Sea Caspian Sea Both (a) and (b) Q.2 Which of the following Arab countries have recently established normal relations with Israel? Turkey Bahrain Qatar Morocco Sudan UAE Select the correct code: 1, 2, 4 and 6 only 2 and 5 only 1, 2 and 3 only 2, 4, 5 and 6 only Q.3 Lakshadweep comes under the jurisdiction of which of the following High Court? Kerala                                                                             Goa Tamil Nadu                                                                  Maharashtra ANSWERS FOR 11th December 2020 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 A 2 B 3 C Must Read About Parliamentary Scrutiny: The Hindu About reforms to curb torture: The Indian Express 

Dec 12, 2020 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz - 2020 : IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs Quiz 12th 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 12, 2020 RSTV Video

DRDO's New Procurement Manual – The Big Picture – RSTV IAS UPSC

DRDO's New Procurement Manual Archives TOPIC: General Studies 3 Defence Security In News: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh released a new version of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Procurement Manual 2020.  DAP 2020 will be applicable with effect from 01 October 2020.  The first Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) was promulgated in 2002 and has since been revised periodically. The previous Procurement Manual was modified in 2016.  Objective: To encourage more participation of Indian industry, including start-ups and micro, small & medium enterprises (MSMEs) in defence research and development DRDO's New Procurement Manual The New Category of Buy (Global – Manufacture in India) incorporates ‘manufacture of either the entire/part of the equipment or Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility for the equipment, through its subsidiary in India. Aligned with Atmanirbhar Bharat: The new rules stipulate that under some categories procurement be reserved for “Indian vendors”, which are defined as companies that are owned and controlled by resident Indian citizens with FDI not more than 49%. Aligned with Make in India: Along similar lines, the minimum indigenous content (IC) requirement for most projects has also been raised to 50%. If a defence platform is manufactured in India, it must have 60% Indian content The categories of Buy (Indian-IDDM), Make I, Make II, Production Agency in Design & Development, OFB/DPSU and SP model will be exclusively reserved for Indian Vendors meeting the criteria of Ownership and Control by resident Indian Citizens with FDI not more than 49%. A simple and practical verification process has been instituted and Indigenous Content (IC) will now be calculated on ‘Base Contract Price’. Provision for exploring options for operating base applications like Fire Control  System,  Radars,  Encryption, Communications etc. on indigenous software in Buy (Indian- IDDM) & Buy (Indian) cases has been included. A separate dedicated chapter has been incorporated in the DAP 2020 for acquisition of systems Designed and Developed by DRDO/DPSUs/OFB. Alternative route: The new rules allow the military to lease equipment from defence companies or foreign governments. This is expected to bring down acquisition time and costs (since leasing is a cheaper alternative to purchasing).  Enhanced Flexibility: Leasing would also give the Air Force, Army and Navy the flexibility of procuring systems at a time of their choosing. The Offset guidelines have been revised, wherein preference will be given to manufacture of complete defence products over components and various multipliers have been added to give incentivisation in discharge of Offsets. What is an offset clause in Defence Contract? A defence offset policy was promulgated under the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP-2005) and the first offset contract was signed in 2007 Definition: Under the offset clause, a foreign company that wins a defence deal is supposed to invest a part of the contract value in the country, thus developing skills and bringing in technology, while also generating employment. An offset provision in a contract makes it obligatory on the supplier to either “reverse purchase, execute export orders or invest in local industry or in research and development” in the buyer’s domestic industry Valuation for Offset: Under the DPP 2006, the offset value was fixed at 30% of defence deals above ₹300 crore, which was revised to ₹2,000 crore in DPP 2016 for full-import deals.  What are the objectives of Offset clauses? Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG)  Defined offsets as a “mechanism generally established with the triple objectives of:  (a) partially compensating for a significant outflow of a buyer country’s resources in a large purchase of foreign goods  (b) facilitating induction of technology and  (c) adding capacities and capabilities of domestic industry”. What has been the working of Offset Clause? Auditing the offset deals till March 2018, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) said 46 offset contracts were signed for ₹66,427 crores. Target: Till December 2018, ₹19,223 crore worth of offsets should have been discharged. Actual Implementation: The vendors have claimed discharge of only ₹11,396 crore, 59%, of the offsets.  But the Defence Ministry has accepted only ₹5,457 crore of these offset claims, while the rest were pending or rejected due to various deficiencies Pending: The remaining offset commitments of about ₹55,000 crore would be due for completion by 2024, but the rate of the offset discharge has been about ₹1,300 crore per year. Ineffective: At other times, international vendors reportedly discharged offsets that didn’t necessarily contribute to India’s defence manufacturing prowess, thereby defeating the very purpose of these deals. Will no defence contracts have offset clauses now? Only government-to-government agreements (G2G), ab initio single vendor contracts or inter-governmental agreements (IGA) will not have offset clauses anymore.  For example, the deal to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets, signed between the Indian and French governments in 2016, was an IGA. Ab initio single vendor means that when you start the process you have only one vendor According to DAP 2020, all other international deals that are competitive, and have multiple vendors vying for it, will continue to have a 30% offset clause. Why was the clause removed? To reduce procurement cost: Generally, vendors would “load” extra cost in the contract to balance the costs of offsets, and doing away with the offsets can bring down the costs in such contracts. To reduce Administrative Costs: There are “administrative costs” involved in discharging offset obligations, which the vendors pay. Criticism by CAG about Offsets:  CAG audit report “found that the foreign vendors made various offset commitments to qualify for the main supply contract but later, were not earnest about fulfilling these commitments” The CAG had also not found “a single case where the foreign vendor had transferred high technology to the Indian industry”. Conclusion Allowing leasing of equipment and liberalising the procurement process seem to be steps in the right direction. As for offsets, the evidence suggests that they incurred auxiliary costs whilst not equipping local enterprises with any knowledge or expertise. So, it was probably reasonable to have done away with them. Connecting the Dots: Does India’s Defence Procurement Policy give impetus to indigenisation? Critically examine. India’s defence sector is yet to achieve the level of indigenisation that is worthy of a developed nation. Do you agree? Substantiate. 

Dec 12, 2020 TLP Mains 2020

IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 2): UPSC Mains Answer Writing - ESSAY [12th DECEMBER,2020] – Day 54

For Previous TLP (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE Hello Friends, IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 2): UPSC Mains Answer Writing - ESSAY [12th DECEMBER,2020] – Day 54   We will make sure, in the next 3 months not a single day is wasted. All your energies are channelized in the right direction. Trust us! This will make a huge difference in your results this time, provided that you follow this plan sincerely every day without fail. Gear up and Make the Best Use of this initiative. 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 1. Is science incompatible with reason?  क्या विज्ञान कारण से असंगत है? 2. Is moral strength related to the education level of a person? क्या नैतिक शक्ति किसी व्यक्ति के शिक्षा स्तर से संबंधित है? 3. Should developed countries hold the moral responsibility of addressing global hunger? क्या विकसित देशों को वैश्विक भूख को संबोधित करने की नैतिक जिम्मेदारी लेनी चाहिए? 4. Should the state be allowed to censor the creative work of the artists?  क्या राष्ट्रों को कलाकारों के रचनात्मक कार्य को सेंसर करने की अनुमति दी जानी चाहिए? P.S: The review from IASbaba will happen from the time the question is posted till 10 pm everyday. We would also encourage peer reviews. So friends get actively involved and start reviewing each others answers. This will keep the entire community motivated. All the Best :)

Dec 11, 2020 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 11th December 2020

Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Foundation stone laid for New Parliament Building Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – Parliament In news Indian Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of the New Parliament Building recently. Key takeaways The new parliament building is a part of ₹ 20,000 crore Central Vista project. The four-story building will be triangular and its interiors will have three national symbols - the lotus, the peacock and the banyan tree - as its themes. The parliament building will be ready in 2022. The old Parliament building will be turned into a museum. The new Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha halls will have increased seating capacities. In addition, seating in the Lok Sabha hall can be expanded to 1,272 to host joint sessions. Dholpur stone will be the primary construction material and red granite may replace red sandstone in some interior sections. The building will be equipped with modern audio-visual communication systems.  It will also be fully wheelchair- and disabled-access friendly. Bills proposing death penalty for rape approved by Maharashtra cabinet Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – Policies and Interventions In news In order to curb crimes against women and children in Maharashtra, the state cabinet approved two draft bills that propose death penalty for cases of rape, acid attack and child abuse. Key takeaways The two interconnected bills are the Maharashtra Shakti Criminal Law (Maharashtra Amendment) Act 2020 and the Special Court and Machinery for Implementation of Maharashtra Shakti Criminal Law 2020. These bills are part of Shakti Act. They seek to amend relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Criminal Procedural Code (CrPC) and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. The bills also have provisions to increase the quantum of punishment, including life term, cover new categories of crimes, and propose a mechanism for speedy trials. The media is not allowed to report the name of a rape victim.  The proposed Acts will provide similar protection to victims of molestation and even acid attack. The draft bills propose to amend IPC Section 376 (rape) to increase the quantum of punishment to life term or death penalty in heinous cases where there’s adequate conclusive evidence or exemplary punishment is warranted. Karnataka’s New Anti-Cow Slaughter Bill Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – Policies and Interventions In news Karnataka passed the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill (2020) in the Assembly. Key takeaways The Bill envisages a ban on all forms of cattle slaughter and stringent punishment for offenders. ‘Beef’ is defined as the flesh of cattle in any form. The word ‘cattle’ is defined as “cow, calf of a cow and bull, bullock, and he or she buffalo below the age of 13 years”. The Bill also terms shelters established for the protection and preservation of cattle registered with the Department of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries as ‘gau shalas’. Police officers ranked sub-inspector and above or a competent authority will have the power to search premises and seize cattle and materials used or intended to use to commit the offence. Cow slaughter is termed as a cognizable offence in the bill. Violators can attract 3 to 7 years of imprisonment.  While a penalty between Rs 50,000 and Rs 5 lakh can be levied for the first offence, second and subsequent offences can attract penalties ranging between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 10 lakh. New species of Indian Muraingrasses spotted by scientists in Goa Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Environment In news A new species of Indian Muraingrasses (Genus Ischaemum) have been spotted by scientists in Goa in the Western Ghats. It is known for their ecological and economic importance, such as fodder. Key takeaways The discovered novel species was named Ischaemumjanarthanamii from plateaus of Western Ghats of Goa. It was named so in honour of Prof. M. K. Janarthanam, Professor of Botany, Goa University, for his contribution to the Indian grass taxonomy and documentation of the floristic diversity of Goa state. It grows on low altitude lateritic plateaus in the outskirts of Bhagwan Mahavir National Park, Goa.  The species has adapted to survive harsh conditions, low nutrient availability, and blossoms every monsoon. Do you know? Globally 85 species are known from Ischaemum, of which 61 species are exclusively found in India.  The Western Ghats have 40 species with the highest concentration of the genus. India attends ADMM-PLUS Meeting virtually Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – International Relations In news Indian Defence Minister recently attended the 14th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus organized online at Hanoi, Vietnam that marked the 10th anniversary of ADMM Plus. Important value addition ASEAN Defense Minister’s Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) ADMM-Plus is the only official framework of Defense Minister's meetings in the Asia-Pacific Region.  It is a platform for ASEAN and its eight Dialogue Partners to strengthen security and defence cooperation for peace, stability, and development in the region. Members: The ADMM-Plus comprises the ten ASEAN countries as well as Australia, China, Japan, India, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Russia and the United States. Established in: 2010. Related article:  India-Vietnam talks held ASEAN BSNL announces Satellite-Based Narrow Band-IoT Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Sci & Tech In news BSNL, in partnership with Skylotech India, announced a breakthrough in satellite-based NB-IoT (Narrow Band-Internet of Things). Key takeaways This is indigenously developed by Skylo. It will connect with BSNLs satellite- ground infrastructure and provide PAN-India coverage, including Indian seas. The coverage will be so vast that it will not leave any dark patch within the boundary of India. This is the world’s first satellite-based NB-IoT network. This new technology supports India’s plan of bringing indigenous IoT connectivity to India’s core sectors. This technology has already been tested successfully in Indian Railways, fishing vessels, and enabling connected vehicles across India. A small, smart, incredibly rugged box, the Skylo ‘User Terminal’ interfaces with sensors and transmits data to the Skylo Network and into people’s hands. New 'Policy on School Bag 2020' by the Ministry of Education  Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – Policies and Interventions In news According to the new Policy on School Bag, School bags should not be more than 10% of the body weight of students across classes I to X and there should be no homework till class II. Key takeaways The new Policy also recommends that the weight of the bag needs to be monitored on a regular basis in schools. They should be light-weight with two padded and adjustable straps that can squarely fit on both shoulders and no wheeled carriers should be allowed. The policy even recommends that the weight of each textbook may come printed on them by the publishers. The recommendations have been arrived based on various surveys and studies conducted by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). The 'Policy also recommended good quality mid-day meal and potable water to all the students so that they need not carry lunch boxes or water bottles. The policy said there should be no bags in pre-primary.  Public Wi-Fi Networks Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – Policies and Interventions & GS-III - Infrastructure In news The government has given its approval for setting up of Public Wi-Fi Networks by Public Data Office Aggregators (PDOAs) to provide public Wi-Fi service through Public Data Offices (PDOs) spread across the country to accelerate proliferation of Broadband Internet services through Public Wi-Fi network. Key takeaways This Public Wi-Fi Access Network Interface will be known as PM-WANI. PM-WANI eco-system will be operated by different players: Public Data Office (PDO): It will establish, maintain, and operate only WANI compliant Wi-Fi Access Points and deliver broadband services to subscribers. Public Data Office Aggregator (PDOA): It will be an aggregator of PDOs and perform the functions relating to Authorization and Accounting. App Provider: It will develop an App to register users and discover WANI compliant Wi-Fi hotspots in the nearby area and display the same within the App for accessing the internet service. Central Registry: It will maintain the details of App Providers, PDOAs, and PDOs. The Central Registry will be maintained by C-DoT. No registration would be required for PDOs. PDOAs and App Providers will get themselves registered with DoT through online registration portal (SARALSANCHAR) of DoT, without paying any registration fee. There shall be no license fee for providing Broadband Internet through these public Wi-Fi networks. The proposal will promote the growth of Public Wi-Fi Networks in the country. It will help in proliferation of Broadband Internet, enhancement of income and employment and empowerment of people. Miscellaneous Human Rights Day Human Rights Day was celebrated by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). It is celebrated on the 10th December every year to commemorate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The Declaration recognizes that the inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of mankind are the foundation of justice, freedom and peace in the world. 2020 Theme: Recover Better - Stand Up for Human Rights. National Human Rights Commission of India (NHRC) Since its inception on the 12th October, 1993, the National Human Rights Commission of India (NHRC) has endeavoured to promote a culture of human rights. The NHRC is a recommendatory body as per the Protection of Human Rights Act passed by Parliament. (Mains Focus) ENERGY/ ECONOMY/ ENVIRONMENT Topic: General Studies 3: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Railways etc. Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources,  Renewable Energy Generation: Betting on the green power market Context: India’s recently launched real-time electricity market, coupled with the green market, offers a significant opportunity to integrate renewable energy in the most efficient and competitive manner. Potential of Renewable Energy across Globe As per the International Energy Agency’s Renewables 2020 report, driven by China and the United States, net installed renewable capacity will grow by nearly 4% globally in 2020, reaching almost 200 GW.  Globally, renewables are expected to overtake coal and become the largest source of electricity generation in 2025 and may supply one-third of the world’s electricity. Do You Know? As a signatory to the Paris Climate Agreement, India is committed to increasing its share of renewable energy capacity to 450 GW by 2030.  As of September 30, India has an installed renewable energy capacity of 89 GW. During the last six years, renewable sector has attracted over Rs 4.7 lakh crore of investment, including FDI of about Rs 42,700 crore.  Growth of Renewable Energy Sector in India Doubled generation capacity: Renewable generation, at 138 billion units, has doubled in FY20, from 66 billion units in FY16.  Robust growth of sector: The country witnessed 20% CAGR growth in the renewable generation since FY16 while total electricity generation saw 4.3% growth in the same period.  Decreasing Cost: The current levelised cost of energy (LCOE) for large scale solar in India is around Rs 2.5 per kWh, compared to ~Rs 12 in 2010. In the recent bidding, it came down to Rs 2. Measures taken by government that accelerated the progress in renewable sector:  Waiver of inter-state transmission charges for the sale of solar and wind power The renewable purchase obligation (RPO) trajectories for states Focus on maintaining the sanctity of contracts Permitting FDI in the renewable sector Challenges w.r.t Renewable Energy Vulnerable to Weather Conditions: While conventional power plants—that are coal-based or large hydro—have the ability to vary the generation as per need, renewable generation is more at the mercy of nature. Nor are the buyers who are focused on commercial considerations keen to purchase renewable power. Challenges of Market Intervention: Given the seasonality and intermittency of renewable power, it is not easily susceptible to market intervention.  Weak participation in electricity exchanges: Most renewable power generation companies in India are committed to selling their power to consumers—mostly discoms and a few third-party consumers under the long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), with little prospect of excess generation to be offered on the exchange and the inability to schedule power supply It is in the above context, the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) approved trading of renewable energy contracts under Green Term Ahead Market (GTAM) on the energy exchange GTAM is an alternative new model introduced for selling off the power by the renewable developers in the open market without getting into long term PPAs Transactions through GTAM will be bilateral in nature with clear identification of corresponding buyers and sellers, there will not be any difficulty in accounting for Renewable Purchase Obligations (RPO). Positive Start to GTAM: The green market commenced trade on August 21 and in about just 90 days of commencement of trade, the market has achieved a cumulative traded volume of over 400 million units reflecting the confidence of the initiative. More Options under GTAM: The green market has now launched two more options—daily and weekly, to facilitate the market participants in buying renewable energy from three-hours to 11-days ahead.  This will further strengthen the market and allow participants to buy green energy through contracts available for trade in all the segments.  Significance and benefits of GTAM initiative: Benefit to Producer: GTAM platform will benefit renewable energy producers by providing access to pan- India market. The green market will ultimately encourage green generators to adopt multiple models of sale and trading. Benefit to Buyer: It will benefit buyers of Renewable Energy through competitive prices and transparent and flexible procurement. Incentivises State Governments: It would lessen the burden on Renewable Energy-rich States and incentivize them to develop RE capacity beyond their own RPO. Strengthens RE Market: With robust value proposition such as transparency, competitive prices, flexibility, and payment security and financial savings that the exchange market offers, a pan-India green market has the potential to make the renewable energy market robust by increasing the number of participants in the sector.  Helps achieve National Targets: The transparent platform would help in achieving RE capacity addition targets of the country. The Government has a target of 175 GW RE Capacity by 2022. Conclusion Steps like GTAM will play a crucial role in furthering sustainability goals, and ensuring that all the renewable energy generated within the country is dispatched in the most efficient manner through a pan India wide exchange-based energy 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 A new species of Indian Muraingrasses named Ischaemumjanarthanamii was recently spotted in which of the hotspots of India? Western Ghats Himalayas Indo-Burma Sundaland Q.2 Where is Bhagwan Mahavir National Park located? Kerala Goa Rajasthan Uttarakhand Q.3 Which of the following is not a dialogue partner of ADMM-PLUS? Australia China Singapore New Zealand ANSWERS FOR 10th December 2020 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 C 2 A Must Read About Iran’s dilemma in the aftermath of killing of its nuclear scientist: The Hindu About IT project managers facing an existential crisis: The Hindu