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TLP Mains 2020

SYNOPSIS [10th June,2020] Day 1: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 2): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)

  SYNOPSIS [10th June,2020] Day 1: IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 2): UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)   1. South Indian Temples are the most beautiful architectural expressions of religion in India. Comment. दक्षिण भारतीय मंदिर भारत में धर्म के सबसे सुंदर वास्तुशिल्प अभिव्यक्ति हैं। टिप्पणी करें। Demand of the question: It expects students to write about the religious architectural expressions of south Indian temples. Introduction: Most of the art and architectural remains that survive from Ancient and Medieval India are religious in nature. Temples were decorated with the images of gods and mythical narration of Puranas which ultimately amalgamated divinity with art.  Body: South Indian temple architecture: South Indian temple architecture is called as Dravidian style of temple architecture. The significance of the Dravidian style was the balance in position of sculptures on the temple walls and stone carvings. During the Pallava era, ‘Vimana’ (inner gopuram) dominated the architecture whereas in the Chola and Nayak periods it was the Gopuram (gateway tower).  Dravidian architecture could be listed on the chronological basis with three phases — Pallava phase from 6 to 9 century, followed by Chola phase from 10 to 13 century and the later period as Vijayanagar and Nayak phase. Architectural expression of religion: Influence of Buddhism: The rock cut temple of the Pallavas emulated the Buddhist architecture, where cutting down monolithic caves was common. The Mamallapuram shore temples (Mahabalipuram) consist of narrative panels with great aestheticism and execution. It was the first structural temple where the narratives were taken from both Saivism and Vaishnavism. Bhakti tradition: The early Chola temples were more advanced in terms of technology with a well-planned design and execution. Bhakti ideology as an idiom influenced temple iconography. Temples dedicated to Vishnu had many utsava murtis of his manifestations. He was represented with his consorts and as Krishna and Rama, his incarnations in human form.   Use of Purana stories: The culmination of Dravidian style was in the Brihadeshwara and Gangaikonda Cholapuram temples. The walls surrounding the sanctum have extended mythological narratives which are depicted through painted murals and sculptures. The Pandyas continued the Dravidian style at Chidambaram and Kanchipuram. However, it was during the Vijayanagar Empire and Nayak period, the Brahmanical tradition of Sanskritism and agamas got incorporated. Bronze sculptures and Nataraja: Images were all made using mnemonic techniques, whereby the craftsmen were meant to memorise dhyana shlokas which describe the attributes of various goddesses and gods and they used the taalamana canon of measurement to essentially visualise the image and then sculpt it out of their own imagination rather than using models. They convey the spiritual fervour of the artists who made them. The numerous processional images of Siva present him in many forms. One can see him as a family man in the Somaskandha icon, with his beautiful wife Uma and child Skanda. As Bhikshatana, one can see Siva as the enchanting mendicant. As Veenadhara, one can see Siva as the lord of music. As Tripurantaka, Siva destroys the citadels of three demons. Many bronzes have also been made of Sivas consort Parvati and their sons, Ganapati and Kartikeya. Beauty of the religious expression in architecture:  These works of art are part of a divine architecture where the deity manifests in forms that awaken bliss and peace within the viewer. These fluid and subtle images were a means of expressing the beauty of the divine that is in all that one sees. The Chola artists imaged deities as graceful, languid beings. There is always a sense of repose. Minute details such as the gentle swelling of bellies bring these sculptures alive before one. It is not optical reality but the essence of living flesh that is captured in the art. Sculptures in south Indian temple architecture are also a mark of great technical achievement in the arts, where metal and stone was flawlessly moulded and carved respectively to give form to the intangible. The material never dominates the image, which moves the viewer through the perfection of its beauty. Conclusion: Temples depict the deities in human form in such a way that the divine is brought from abstraction to accessibility, and even intimacy. It takes devotee on journey towards knowledge and realisation of formless eternal.  2. The caves of ancient and medieval ages enlighten us with a lot of information of the bygone era giving us an impression of various traditions, customs and lifestyles followed by the inhabitants. प्राचीन और मध्ययुगीन युग की गुफाएं हमें बीते युग की बहुत सी जानकारी से अवगत कराती हैं, जिससे हमें निवासियों द्वारा पालन की जाने वाली विभिन्न परंपराओं, रीति-रिवाजों और जीवन शैली का आभास होता है। Demand of the question: It expects students to write about the information derived through the caves of ancient and medieval times about the traditions, customs and lifestyles of cave inhabitants.  Introduction: Ancient cave remains are a great witness to the evolution of human civilisation, through the numerous rock weapons, tools, ceramics and bones to sculptures, wall paintings and murals. More than anything else, caves both natural and manmade are the greatest wealth of our ancestors. Body: Prehistoric and early historic caves:  Community living and elements of celebration: Bhimbetka caves gives information about the intimate contact of humans with surrounding animal life. Some hunting scenes show a fear of animals, but many others show a feeling of tenderness and love for them. Paintings of mundane events of daily life in those times to sacred and royal images. These include hunting, dancing, music, horse and elephant riders, animal fighting, honey collection, decoration of bodies, and other household scenes. Mesolithic period caves and painting gives idea of hunting details. The hunting scenes depict people hunting in groups, armed with barbed spears, pointed sticks, arrows and bows. In some paintings these primitive men are shown with traps and snares probably to catch animals.  Cloths and ornaments: The hunters are shown wearing simple clothes and ornaments. Sometimes, men have been adorned with elaborate head-dresses. Women are painted both in the nude and clothed. The young and the old equally find place in these paintings. Children are painted running, jumping and playing. Depiction of women in household work and traces of family life: Women grinding and preparing food. Some of the pictures of men, women and children seem to depict a sort of family life.  Places of religious importance: Some of the paintings were made in places which do not seem to have been living spaces at all. Perhaps these places had some religious importance.  Buddhist, Jain and Hindu caves of ancient and medieval period: Since Mauryan times, India entered era of manmade rock cut caves. Lomus rishi caves of 3rd century BCE exhibit Chaitya- prayer hall of Buddhists. Buddhist caves of Viharas and Chaityas included sculptures, paintings with frescos. Sculptures in the caves gives idea of religious traditions of those times. For examples, Hinayana Buddhist caves lacked sculpture of Buddha, whereas Mahayana caves have enormous sculpture of Buddha. Caves on the trade routes give idea of economic linkages of caves to the traders, who used to give donations to the monasteries of Buddhists, Jains or Hindus. For example density of caves in the western ghat is quite high. Painting of the caves depicts stories from the Jatakas, which are based on previous births of Buddha. Ajanta caves are the most elaborated cave complex significant for painting.    Multiple religious caves in same cave complex like Ellora indicates tolerance of those times. Top down carving of monolithic Kailash temple of Ellora indicate high engineering skills of inhabitants.   Cave temples of these times have vaishnavite and saivite influence. Mural painting in Badami caves have vaishnavite affiliations. Paintings in this cave depict palace scenes. One shows Kirtivarman, the son of Pulakesi I and the elder brother of Mangalesha, seated inside the palace with his wife and feudatories watching a dance scene. Presence of Chalukya queen in court indicates the position of royal women in early medieval times.   Conclusion: These caves helped us to understand about inhabitants, their lifestyle, their food habits, their daily activities and, above all, they help us understand their mind, the way they thought. In the absence of script in prehistoric times and even during time of paucity of literary evidences, archaeological cave sites act as guide to the past.  3. The subject matter of Indian sculpture is almost invariably abstracted human forms that were used to instruct people in the truths of the Hindu, Buddhist, or Jain religions. Elucidate. भारतीय मूर्तिकला की विषय वस्तु लगभग अपरिवर्तित मानव रूप है जो हिंदू, बौद्ध, या जैन धर्मों की सच्चाइयों में लोगों को निर्देश देने के लिए उपयोग की जाती थी। स्पष्ट करें। Demand of the question: It expects students to write about role played by Indian sculptures to express the ideas of prevailing religions of those times like Hinduism, Buddhism or Jainism.   Introduction: The art of sculpture, the most highly respected medium for artists, was widely practised throughout the subcontinent, and buildings were profusely adorned with it. Indians right from the time of Indus valley civilisation used sculptures to express their ideas of truth.   Body: Sculpting in India dates back to the Indus Valley civilization (2500-1800 BCE), when small items of bronze sculpture and terracotta sculpture were produced. Female terracotta sculpture perceived by archaeologist as Mother Goddess or Shakti gives ideas about possibility of matrilineal society or ideas of faith like belief in fertility goddess.  Buddhism: Jataka stories became part of stupa decoration in post mauryan phase. Depiction of showing Queen Mayadevi’s dream; mother of Siddhartha Gautam indicates ideas of Buddhist symbolism used in sculpture. The empty seat was meant to indicate the meditation of the Buddha, and the stupa was meant to represent the mahaparinibbana. Another frequently used symbol was the wheel. This stood for the first sermon of the Buddha, delivered at Sarnath. As is obvious, such sculptures cannot be understood literally – for instance, the tree does not stand simply for a tree, but symbolises an event in the life of the Buddha. The shalabhanjika motif suggests that many people who turned to Buddhism enriched it with their own pre-Buddhist and even non-Buddhist beliefs, practices and ideas.  Various schools of Buddhist sculpture emerged in India like Mathura school in which, abhayamudra of Buddha or depiction of bodhisattvas, in Gandhara school depiction of meditated peace and in Amravati school depiction of jataka tales propagate lessons of Buddhism.   With the rise of Vajrayana Buddhism many Boddhisattva images were added as a part of the personified representations of certain virtues or qualities as propagated by the Buddhist religious principles for the welfare of the masses. Hinduism:  Vedic sanatan dharma under the influence of Buddhism adopted the art of sculpting. Sculptures of mainly Vishnu and his various forms and Shaiva mainly the lingas and mukhalingas found at Mathura. Mamallapuram sculpture of Varaha incarnation of Vishnu saving Bhudevi- mother earth indicates Hindu idea of incarnation. Nataraja sculpture identifies Shiva as god of destruction and ideas of cycle of life.  Huge Nandi sculpture in Lepakshi temple or Brihadeeshawara temple highlight relationship of ardent devotee with Shiva.  Jainism: Sculptures of Jainism can clearly give idea about the streams of Jainism as it depicts fundamental differences between Shwetambara and Digambara Naked sculptures of teerthankars indicate Digambara stream of Jainism, lack of decoration in sculpting highlight ideas of extremity. Bahubali sculpture practicing meditation in ‘Kayotsarg’ posture in Shravanbelagola. In Yogi Position sculpture of Buddha and Mahavir in Shwetambara stream may resemble similar yet the style of clothes indicate differences.     Conclusion: Indian religious sculptures used abstracted human forms to express the ideas of various religions in their urge to popularise the truth among masses effectively. Art of sculpting made it possible to realise the ideas or truth of religions into tangible physical marvels.       TLP HOT Synopsis DAY_1 PDF

Daily Static Quiz

UPSC Static Quiz - 2020 : IASbaba's Daily Static Quiz - HISTORY [Day 2]

For Previous Static Quiz (ARCHIVES) - CLICK HERE DAILY STATIC QUIZ will cover all the topics of Static/Core subjects – Polity, History, Geography, Economics, Environment and Science and technology. This is a part of our recently launched, NEW INITIATIVE IASbaba’s INTEGRATED REVISION PLAN (IRP) 2020 – Road Map for the next 100 Days! FREE INITIATIVE! We will make sure, in the next 4 months not a single day is wasted. All your energies are channelized in the right direction. Trust us! This will make a huge difference in your results this time, provided that you follow this plan sincerely every day without fail. Gear up and Make the Best Use of this initiative. Do remember that, “the difference between Ordinary and  EXTRA-Ordinary is PRACTICE!!” To Know More about the Initiative -> CLICK HERE SCHEDULE/DETAILED PLAN – > CLICK HERE Important Note After completing the 10 questions, click on 'View Questions' to check your score, time taken and solutions. Don't forget to post your marks in the comment section. Also, let us know if you enjoyed today's test :)  To take the Test - Click Here

TLP Mains 2020

IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 2): UPSC Mains Answer Writing - General Studies Paper 1 Questions[11th June,2020] – Day 2

Hello Friends, Welcome to IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 2): UPSC Mains Answer Writing - General Studies 1 Questions[11th June, 2020] – Day 2.  This is a part of our recently launched, NEW INITIATIVE IASbaba’s INTEGRATED REVISION PLAN (IRP) 2020 – Road Map for the next 100 Days! FREE INITIATIVE! We will make sure, in the next 4 months not a single day is wasted. All your energies are channelized in the right direction. Trust us! This will make a huge difference in your results this time, provided that you follow this plan sincerely every day without fail. Gear up and Make the Best Use of this initiative. We are giving 3 Mains Questions on Daily basis (unlike our regular TLP which has 5 questions) so that every student can actively participate and keep your preparation focused. Do remember that, “the difference between Ordinary and  EXTRA-Ordinary is PRACTICE!!” To Know More about the Initiative -> CLICK HERE SCHEDULE/DETAILED PLAN – > CLICK HERE   Note: Click on Each Question (Link), it will open in a new tab and then Answer respective questions! 1. How did the colonial occupation of different parts of the country by non-British European powers affect the local economy, culture and politics? Examine.   गैर-ब्रिटिश यूरोपीय शक्तियों द्वारा देश के विभिन्न हिस्सों पर औपनिवेशिक कब्जे ने स्थानीय अर्थव्यवस्था, संस्कृति और राजनीति को कैसे प्रभावित किया? जांच करें। 2. How did the Anglo-Maratha rivalry shape the contemporary politics of the Indian subcontinent? What were its long term implications? Discuss.  एंग्लो-मराठा प्रतिद्वंद्विता ने भारतीय उपमहाद्वीप की समकालीन राजनीति को कैसे आकार दिया? इसके दीर्घकालिक प्रभाव क्या थे? चर्चा करें। 3. What was the Mahalwari system? How did it impact the socio-economic conditions of peasants in India? Describe.  महलवारी प्रणाली क्या थी? भारत में किसानों की सामाजिक-आर्थिक स्थितियों पर इसका क्या प्रभाव पड़ा? वर्णन 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 :)

RSTV Video

Hong Kong National Security Law – The Big Picture – RSTV IAS UPSC

Hong Kong National Security Law Archives TOPIC: General Studies 2 India’s neighbourhood International Relations In News: Chinese authorities announced plans to bypass Hong Kong’s legislature to enact a national security law that pro-democracy campaigners say is aimed at cracking down on dissent in the city.  A motion to enable the drafting of the law—which targets secession, sedition, terrorism and foreign interference in Hong Kong—was brought before the National People’s Congress, China’s lawmaking body, at its annual meeting in Beijing last week.  The introduction of the legislation has sparked fear and outrage from pro-democracy figures in Hong Kong, who say that Beijing has fallen back on promises it made when it took back the former British colony in 1997.  But Hong Kong's leader Carrie Lam said it was a "responsible" move to protect the law-abiding majority. She denied that the law would curtail the rights of Hong Kongers. These rights - set out in the Basic Law which is Hong Kong's mini-constitution - have been in place since it was handed back to China in 1997 by the UK. The Basic Law guarantees certain freedoms to the territory, such as the right to protest, which do not exist on the mainland. The History Hong Kong was handed back to China from British control in 1997, but under a unique agreement - a mini-constitution called the Basic Law and a so-called "one country, two systems" principle. They are supposed to protect certain freedoms for Hong Kong: freedom of assembly and speech, an independent judiciary and some democratic rights - freedoms that no other part of mainland  The Basic Law is like a constitution that laid down the laws that would govern Hong Kong. It came into force in 1997, when Hong Kong was handed over to China. Hong Kong’s autonomy is guaranteed under the law, though over the years there have been changes. For instance, under Article 18, only national laws listed in Annex III, such as foreign affairs, defence and those that are related to matters outside the territory, can be applied to the territory. Under Article 23 of the Basic Law, the territory must enact its own national security laws. The local government attempted this in 2003, under pressure from Beijing, but had to face widespread opposition. What is it? Under Article 23 of Hong Kong’s Basic Law, the mini-constitution governing the territory, the Hong Kong government must enact laws to prohibit acts like treason, secession, sedition, and subversion against the Chinese government and the theft of state secrets. The local government’s failure to get such laws through the legislature is the reason that Beijing now takes matters into its own hands.  A law would make criminal any act of: Secession - breaking away from the country Subversion - undermining the power or authority of the central government Terrorism - using violence or intimidation against people Activities by foreign forces that interfere in Hong Kong When the Hong Kong government attempted to introduce national security legislation in 2003, an estimated 500,000 people turned out to protest against the bill on July 1, 2003—the largest protest the city had seen since its handover from the U.K. The bill was eventually shelved. Why pass it now? Experts say that Beijing has grown weary of waiting for the local government to enact national security legislation.  The law will act as a deterrent to further protests: The introduction of the legislation will provide the legal basis for concrete actions to check the escalation of violence in [Hong Kong], and act as a deterrent to expedite the restoration of public order. Last year’s protests have also increased Beijing’s desire to crack down in Hong Kong. The often violent demonstrations—which began over an extradition bill that would have allowed suspected criminals to face trial in mainland China—paralyzed much of the city throughout the second half of 2019. To prevent, stop and punish foreign and overseas forces using Hong Kong to conduct separatist, subversion, infiltration and damaging behavior Why the protest? The ‘one country, two systems’ will not pave way for ‘one country, one system’. The legislation will surely encroach on the freewheeling city’s freedoms, which have already been backsliding. For example, press freedom has been on the decline and several activists critical of Beijing have been denied entry to Hong Kong in recent months. Critics of the proposed law say that it will have a chilling effect on dissenting voices. People fear that this national security ordinance will be used as a tool to threaten ordinary citizens and to criminalize those who dare to voice out. Critics can be silenced, sent for ‘re-education‘, exiled, or sent to prison. High tech surveillance and facial recognition softwares allow unprecedented ability to monitor and regulate. The government has even been working on giving citizens points for patriotism, low marks will exclude you from social services like buying tickets for trains. Regulation is not just confined to citizens on the mainland but covers all Chinese living abroad as well. What is likely to happen next? Relationship between Hong Kong and USA The legislation is likely to fundamentally change Hong Kong’s relationship with the United States. In November 2019, after almost six months of pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, President Donald Trump signed into law bipartisan legislation aimed at safeguarding Hong Kong’s civil rights and freedoms. The Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act links the financial hub’s special trade status to continued autonomy from Beijing. The act requires an annual assessment for Hong Kong to continue to qualify for Washington’s favorable trading terms. The U.S. on Thursday night issued a stern warning to China against imposing the law on Hong Kong, saying a high-degree of autonomy and respect for human rights were key to preserving the enclave’s special status.  Divert Global Attention Economic growth in China is shrinking for the first time since the 1990s. And with rising unemployment, the government will be hard-pressed to meet its economic targets and deliver on its promises. The decision on Hong Kong may have been taken as a way to divert attention from this and other troubles. Connecting the Dots: China’s ‘wolf warrior’ diplomacy National security is the bedrock underpinning a country’s stability. Discuss. Does the introduction of the legislation spell the death of Hong Kong’s unique political model? Comment Essay: The question of responsibility for the pandemic has become a football in the geo-strategic game.

TLP Mains 2020

SYNOPSIS [Day 14]: IASbaba's TLP 2020-UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies) - High Ordered Thinking (HOT) Questions 

  SYNOPSIS [Day 14]: TLP 2020- UPSC Mains Answer Writing (General Studies)    1. The mass exodus of migrant labourers and the resulting economic slump have brought in focus the need to create robust institutions that can handle such crises with more deft and compassion. Discuss.  Demand of the question: It expects students to write about need of robust institution to keep track of migrant labourers to handle crisis times with more deft and compassion.  Introduction: The COVID-19 crisis for India has also become a humanitarian one involving inter-State migrants on return journeys home racked by pain and suffering and no surety of any income going ahead. For a majority of migrant labourers, migration is either a livelihood accumulation strategy or survival risk reducing strategy whichever way we define the nature of migration.  Body: Field studies indicate that the lead source States of internal migrants are Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Uttarakhand and Tamil Nadu, whereas key destination areas are Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab and Karnataka. According to a UNESCO study, Surat at 58% has the highest percentage of migrant labour population in India, while the percentage of migrant population is 43% for Mumbai and Delhi. Need of more deft and compassion towards migrant labourers: Lack of robust data about migrants in real time: According to the Census of India, 2011, more than 450 million Indians (37%) are internal migrants who change their residence within a country’s national borders. About 30% of the migrants are youth aged 15-29 years and another 15 million are children. Women migrants are less represented in regular jobs and more likely to be self-employed than non-migrant women.  Casual and informal nature of work: Domestic work has emerged as an important occupation for migrant women and girls. Facing relentless bouts of gender discrimination at home, and on the farms as wage workers, these migrant women are forced into various forms of servitude in the domestic spaces of affluent city dwellers.  Lack of social security benefits: In between migration and settlement for employment and livelihoods, footloose army of migrants are often denied welfare rights in their destination place and imposed debilitating transaction costs in case they decided to negotiate their citizenship rights. Second class citizen: Lack voting rights, own home, fear son of soil politicians and casual nature of work make them second class citizen. A long pending issue is portability of migrant workers’ voting rights. The Election Commission of India is already working, so time has come to empower migrant workers so that they gather better bargaining power and political voice in the system.  Food and job security: Another urgent issue is portability of the public distribution system (PDS) for migrant labourers and also allowing migrant labourers to use their NREGA job cards in any part of the country. This portability of NREGA will be a great relief, if any migrant labourer is in crisis like the pandemic, he or she can take up NREGA work at the destination site rather than returning home. Reforms for institutional framework for migrant labourers: The Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979 is largely a regulatory law failing to incorporate welfare rights of the migrant labourers.  The most urgent revision is to introduce a National Migrant Workers Commission at the Central level backed up by State level Migrant Workers Commissions. Also, we need to expand the definition of migrant labourer and include next generation skills like IT, mobile repair, financial services related works. Act needs to include provisions for State-supported skill training services for migrant labourers.  The proposal to establish the Migration Commission must interface with and build upon the National Migrant Information System, set up by National Disaster Management Authority, to create a robust and dynamic database for labour mobility in India. The commission must take up the registration of migrants as an urgent task. The lack of a unique worker identification number has prevented frequently mobile inter-state migrants from accessing existing social welfare mechanisms such as the Building and Other Construction Workers board (BOCW). Shramik cards used by states for identification of such workers have provided limited success. A coordinated single national ID for access to multiple benefits could introduce fiscal efficiencies as well. Migration Commission should have powers to coordinate among multiple ministries of the government of India. Deliberations of the Working Group on Migration, which submitted its report in 2017, revealed the importance of inter-ministerial coordination in resolving critical issues.  The Migration Commission must also act as a hub for inter-state negotiations in creating protocols for the safe mobility of labour back to worksites, designing portability features in social welfare and reconciling fiscal issues that arise from portability. Other laws relating to workers must be synergised with the Inter-State Migrant Workmen Act. For instance, the Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Services) Act, 1996 should be integrated into the Inter-State Migrant Workmen Act. And it needs to be implemented by the Secretary of the Migrant Workers Commission. In this digital age, we must stress more digital administrative techniques such as smart cards and leverage JAM— Jandhan/Aadhaar/mobile payment infrastructure for portability of all. Conclusion: Migrant labourers are a formidable force in India’s economic life. The government must look beyond the lure of political gestures that pacify hurt migrants and those voters outraged on their behalf. Instead, a Migration Commission is an opportunity to craft a well-planned long-term system to manage labour mobility in India. 2. What are the emerging geopolitical challenges for India during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic? How its India handling it? Examine.  Demand of the question: It expects students to write about the emerging geopolitical challenges for India during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic along with the way of dealing these challenges and solutions to it in near term.  Introduction: COVID-19 pandemic was a strategic surprise for rich and poor nations alike. The world still remains in the ‘fog of war’ phase; that the crisis will play out over a long time. It will accelerate the combination of forces that were already transforming international order and forces India to deal with challenges of emerging geopolitical environment. Body: Emerging geopolitical challenges during pandemic of COVID-19: Chinese assertion:  China’s strategy focussed on disinformation campaign designed to obfuscate its role in spreading the pandemic, control the public narrative and stoke domestic nationalism.  Thus, China peddles the tale that the source of the corona virus could be the US or Italy and the  exemplary actions of the CCP leadership have been instrumental in rapidly bringing the pandemic under control, while democratic Western nations are still floundering, thereby highlighting the superiority of its own political system. China’s current belligerence on the LAC and increased physical tussles between Indian and Chinese soldiers rightly explained as reflection of endeavour to boost domestic nationalism. China’s increasing use of wolf-warrior diplomacy as response to growing Chinese criticism is evidenced not only in combative words but aggressive actions. For example, in early April, a Chinese coastguard ship allegedly sank a Vietnamese fishing trawler near the Paracel Islands. When Vietnam protested, the Chinese foreign ministry responded by saying Vietnam’s claims to the area are illegal.  US retreat and Dynamics of Indo-Pacific: US has indicated retreat from world affairs with “leading from behind” of Obama times to  President Trump’s  “America first” and during the current crisis, the U.S.’s efforts at cornering supplies of scarce medical equipment and medicines and acquiring biotech companies engaged in research and development in allied states, show that this may mean “America alone”. Moreover, even as countries were losing trust in the U.S.’s leadership, its bungled response at home to the pandemic indicates that countries are also losing trust in the U.S.’s competence. The U.S. still remains the largest economy and the largest military power but has lost the will and ability to lead. This mood is unlikely to change, whatever the outcome of the election later this year. US retreat has become geopolitical challenge for India at multiple locations like Indo-pacific, Afghanistan and Central Asia. US continue to provide only verbal service to the increased Chinese expansion in South China Sea. ASIAN response remains fractured to Chinese pressure due to interlinked economies with China. Initiative of QUAD is yet to realise its full potential. China’s increasing footprint in the Indian Ocean remains concern for India.   Instability in India’s west and Afghanistan: Pakistan continues to indulge in cross border terrorism despite of global health crisis. Recent mischief in Sopore and Kupwara underlines it.   In Afghanistan, the peace process was already facing the difficult transition to intra-Afghan negotiations and a US drawdown.  Travel restrictions and political opportunism will make the process of negotiation difficult, adding to the difficulties of finding a sustainable peace. Pakistan will gain upper hand in the post American Afghanistan as Pakistan has always supported Taliban overtly and covertly threatens India’s interest in the region. Iran is unlikely to wilt under sustained US pressure; in fact it may be tempted to increase its activities as the US elections draw near.  The successful launch of Iran’s first military satellite on April 22, 2020 is indicative of this. Tumbling oil prices and increased US-Iran tensions: India relies both for energy and remittances from its eight million strong diaspora in west Asia, which in turn could face displacement from their jobs in the region. Rapidly changing geopolitical situation in Islamic world continues to be challenge for India at both humanitarian and economic level.  Even though, this is also a time of opportunity for India to push reforms in international order and to gain place of responsible power. Prime Minister underlined that COVID-19 had shown us the limitations of the existing international system at G-20 virtual summit. A purely economic agenda had defined globalization so far, and we had cooperated more to balance competing individual interests, rather than advance the collective interests of all human kind. He called for a new template of globalization, based on fairness, equality and humanity in the post-COVID world. India’s handling of emerging geopolitical challenges indicates India’s belief in idea of global problems demand global responses. India’s export of hydroxychloroquine drug to the various countries, rescue operation of stranded population of neighbouring countries from china, belief in strengthening independent WHO to deal with contagion.    India has responded both at military and diplomatic level to Chinese adventure in the eastern ladakh and Sikkim and continues to build robust border infrastructure.  Zero tolerance to terrorism remains India’s stated policy to cross border terrorism and India repeatedly called out bluff of nuclear overhang of Pakistan.  India remains committed to deal with every stakeholder in the Afghanistan to secure its interests.  India’s new alliance with France in Indian Ocean patrols and exercises and increasing strategic closeness with Australia indicates India’s proactive geopolitical stance in indo-pacific.  India has shown world that it is committed to fight pandemic in more responsible manner even at the cost of economic loss.  However, India’s External Affairs Minister had observed that the real obstacle to the rise of India is not any more the barriers of the world, but the dogmas of Delhi. Traditional Indian strategic mindset of an inward looking third world nation concerned more with securing its borders than with shaping the regional and global environment in its favour remains concern. A multi-polar order inevitably calls for strategic coordination, or balancing, to prevent one pole overwhelming the others, one by one. Conclusion: A vaccine for the novel corona virus, possibly by end-2020, will help deal with the global health crisis but these unfolding trends have now been aggravated by the more pernicious panic virus. Rising nationalism and protectionist responses will prolong the economic recession into a depression, sharpening inequalities and polarisations. Greater unpredictability and more turbulent times lie ahead. 3. With favourable tropical geography, huge domestic demand, and high export potential, India can be a world leader in the field of tapping and utilising solar energy. Do you agree? What are the challenges? Discuss.  Demand of the question: It expects students to write about the potential of India in the field of solar energy and challenges to realise such potential along with steps need to be taken in that direction. Introduction: India has decided to phase out fossil-based energy generation and adopt green energy. This has been instrumental in laying a path to transition towards sustainable energy. The growing need of energy perfectly aligns with the country’s green energy transition initiatives especially solar power, to satisfy future energy demands while reducing carbon footprints and burden on the country’s foreign currency reserves. Body: Potential of India to be world leader in solar power: Favourable tropical geography: Indian geography allows many regions to receive a vast amount of solar radiation throughout the year. Forecasting done throughout the country based on satellite and then authenticated by ground data shows that 500000 TWh of electrical energy is being received by India's lands, with most regions receiving 4–7 kWh/m2/day. The maximum global horizontal irradiance is received in the states of Rajasthan and Gujarat. Energy demand: India’s per capita energy consumption currently stands close to one-third of the world average. India is running renewable energy initiatives in a big way and has emerged as the second most attractive market for renewable energy equipment in the world. Export potential: India already exports electricity to Bangladesh and Nepal and plans to export energy to Nepal. Prospects of common electricity market in south Asia aids India’s aspiration to become world leader in solar power.    Ambitious target: India has already achieved cumulative 35 GW of solar electric generation capacity as of January, 2020 with another 40 GW of solar power being at different stages of bidding and installation. The transition of the energy landscape in India is inevitable with the share of renewable energy going up rapidly. India set ambitious targets for itself to achieve 100 GW of solar power by 2022. Rate of growth: India has already overtaken the US and has become the second largest solar power market in the world (in terms of solar power installations). The country currently stands with ~35 GW of grid-connected solar power capacity as compared to 9 GW in 2015. Job potential: The sector also has immense potential to create new jobs; 1 GW of Solar manufacturing facility generates approximately 4000 direct and indirect jobs. In addition solar deployment, operation and maintenance creates additional recurring jobs in the sector. India’s solar story is largely built over imported products. International initiative: With the headquarters of International Solar Alliance, India is all set to become a global leader in solar energy. ISA aims to pave the way for future solar generation, storage and technologies for Member countries’ needs by mobilizing over US$ 1000 billion by 2030. Achievement of ISA’s objectives will also strengthen the climate action in Member countries, helping them fulfil the commitments expressed in their NDCs. Financial mechanism: In 2019, ISA has taken up the role of an ‘enabler’ by institutionalizing 30 Fellowships from the Member countries with a premier institution (IIT Delhi) in the host country, and training 200 Master Trainers from ISA Member countries; of a ‘facilitator’ by getting the lines of credit worth US$ 2 Billion from EXIM Bank of India and US$ 1.5 Billion from Agence Francaise de Development (AfD), France. Challenges for solar power: Renewable energy cannot completely replace fossil based energy generation because of obvious reasons like sun’s energy not being available 24 hours a day, solar generation being highly unpredictable and technological innovations yet to develop an efficient storage solution. Though tech advancements are underway for storage, which has the potential to revolutionise this sector globally, till then dependence on fossils can be reduced by gradually increasing the share of renewable. Storage infrastructure: China has already identified energy storage opportunity and is marching ahead of India to establish large manufacturing clusters to offer storage solutions. Solar power can replace fossil-based generation only if efficient and cost-effective mass scale storage solutions are developed in India.  Challenges of rooftop solar target: Rooftop deployment has not picked up a significant pace. Relatively lower growth in rooftop segment is seen due to the lack of suitable policy initiatives. Pricing: The current solar tariffs in India, which are between Rs 2.50-2.87 per kilowatt hour (kWh), have stabilised at rates 20-30 per cent below the cost of existing thermal power in India and up to half the price of new coal-fired power, according to a latest study. As per current market conditions tariffs below Rs 2.50 per kWh are financially not viable in India’s solar sector. Dependence on China: Global supply chains of solar equipment are affected due to COVID-19 crisis. India imports about 80 percent of its solar cells and modules from China along with other equipment like inverters, prefabricated structures and raw materials. Developers of solar projects in India are concerned about project delays due to initial slowdown of manufacturing in China followed by lockdown in India. Despite of must run status to renewable energy, states like Punjab and Uttar Pradesh have stated that they are unable to procure Renewable Energy. States like Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh have mentioned their inability to pay to the generators as they are unable to collect dues from the consumers. India, in order to become a world leader in solar power, cannot just rely on large scale solar deployment by importing solar equipment. There is an immediate necessity to develop the entire value chain ecosystem to become competitive and achieve sustainable growth in the long run.  Focus on last mile connectivity in remote areas where developing transmission infrastructure is a challenge through small solar installations or solar community grids by using a domestically manufactured product with small power inverters or batteries in every home may be helpful to ensure power for all in countries like India. This will also help reduce time and cost for developing transmission infrastructure. Flexible financing options for individuals to install rooftop solar installations would also support a faster adoption of clean energy. Conclusion: Despite of pandemic generated issues like cash flow crunch, recovery of payments from distribution companies, working capital requirement, workforce availability and mainly supply chain disruptions, positive approach of government will help solar sector to cop up with situation. Rather current pandemic could act as a trigger for the Indian government, the solar industry and associated stakeholders to chart the right roadmap for achieving India’s solar energy potential.   TLP_HOT_Synopsis DAY_14 PDF

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 10th JUNE 2020

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 10th June 2020 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) North and South Korea found guilty of violating armistice agreements Part of: GS-Prelims and GS-II – International Relations In News: The UN Command, led by the United States, recently held both North and South Korea guilty of violating armistice agreements after a recent incident which involved gunfire along the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) between the two countries.  About The Korean Armistice Agreement  The agreement brought about a complete cessation of hostilities of the Korean War. It was signed on 27 July 1953 by the United Nations Command (UNC), Korean People's Army (KPA of North Korea) and the Chinese People's Volunteer Army (PVA).  It was designed to ensure a complete termination of hostilities and of all acts of armed force in Korea until a final peaceful settlement is achieved. A final peace settlement has never been achieved. It also established the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), the de facto new border between the two nations which put into force a cease-fire, and finalized the return of prisoners of war.  The DMZ runs close to the 38th parallel and has separated North and South Korea since the Agreement.  South Korea never signed the Agreement, due to its refusal to accept failure to unify Korea by force.  The UN Command oversees affairs pertaining to the DMZ, to ensure the terms of the armistice are being agreed upon by both North Korea and South Korea Image source: Click here  ‘Responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Youth’ program launched  Part of: GS-Prelims and GS-II – Welfare Schemes & GS-III – Artificial Intelligence In News: Recently, the Ministry of Electronics and IT has launched a National Program for the youth - Responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Youth.  The government has also launched India’s National Artificial Intelligence Portal.  Key takeaways  It is designed to reach out to students from Government schools pan India and provide them with an opportunity to become part of the skilled workforce in an inclusive manner. It aims to help reduce the skill gap, while enabling youth to create meaningful social impact solutions. It also intends to provide a platform for relevant AI skill-sets and access to required AI tool-sets to make youth digitally ready for the future. It is open to students of class 8th to class 12th from Central and State government-run schools (including KVS, NVS, JNV) from across the country. It will be implemented in a phase-wise manner.  In its first phase, each State will nominate 10 teachers as per the eligibility criteria. National Artificial Intelligence Portal It has been jointly developed by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM). It will work as a one stop digital platform for sharing of resources such as articles, startups, investment funds in AI etc.  Measures taken to facilitate research work in Recombinant DNA Technology Part of: GS-Prelims and GS-III – Biotechnology In News: The Department of Biotechnology has taken several measures to streamline the biosafety regulation and to facilitate researchers and industries which are undertaking research and development in Recombinant DNA Technology and Hazardous Microorganisms. Key takeaways  Operationalization of Indian Biosafety Knowledge Portal: Launched in May, 2019, it is now made fully operationalised. All new applications are being received through online portal only. The whole process has become transparent and time bound. Notification of Revised Simplified Guidelines on Import, Export and Exchange of GE Organisms and Product Thereof for R&D Purpose:   The Revised Guidelines were issued in January, 2020.  Institutional Biosafety Committee have been given authority to take decisions on applications of import, export and exchange of GE organisms and products.  Facilitation of Research and Development on COVID-19:  The Department has proactively taken several steps to facilitate researchers and industries involved in research on COVID19.  Rapid Response Regulatory Framework for COVID-19 to deal with application for development of vaccines, diagnostics, prophylactics and therapeutics.  Interim Guidance Document on Laboratory Biosafety to Handle COVID-19 Specimens has also been notified.  Rapid response regulatory framework for development of recombinant DNA COVID 19 vaccine has also been issued.  Image source: PIB Important value additions  Biosafety  It refers to policies and procedures adopted to avoid risk to human health and safety and to the conservation of the environment as a result of the use of GMOs for research and trade.  Recombinant DNA Technology It is a technology used for producing artificial DNA through the combination of different genetic materials (DNA) from different sources.  Application Gene therapy: It is used as an attempt to correct the gene defects which give rise to hereditary diseases. Clinical diagnosis  It is used in carrying out Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) test. The test detects and measures antibodies in blood. It is used in the production of Insulin. It is used to produce genetically-modified organisms such as Flavr Savr tomatoes. Letter of Intent signed between CSIR and AIM to promote Innovation Part of: GS-Prelims and GS-III – Innovation; Entrepreneurship In News: Recently, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in various sectors. Key takeaways  Major areas of mutual interest include: Supporting world class start-ups through CSIR Incubators under Atal Innovation mission initiatives.  Working together on new models of innovation including setting up of CSIR Innovation Parks. Stimulating innovation and research in the MSME industry by CSIR in collaboration with ARISE initiative of AIM. Creating problem solving mind-set across schools in India through close cooperation between Atal Tinkering Labs and CSIRs ´JIGYASA’ - a Student-Scientist connect program through which more than 3 lakhs students across the country have been exposed to science and technology. Important value additions  Atal Innovation Mission It is Government of India’s flagship initiative to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in the country.  AIM’s objectives are:  To develop new programmes and policies for fostering innovation in different sectors of the economy.  To provide platform and collaboration opportunities for different stakeholders. To create awareness. To create an umbrella structure to oversee innovation ecosystem of the country. Five major initiatives: Atal Tinkering Labs-Creating problem solving mindset across schools in India. Atal Incubation Centers-Fostering world class startups and adding a new dimension to the incubator model. Atal New India Challenges-Fostering product innovations and aligning them to the needs of various sectors/ministeries. Mentor India Campaign- A national Mentor network in collaboration with public sector, corporates and institutions, to support all the intiatives of the mission. Atal Community Innovation Center- To stimulate community centric innovation and ideas in the unserved /underserved regions of the country including Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. ARISE-To stimulate innovation and research in the MSME industry. Tiny flashes of radio light emanating from the sun discovered Part of: GS-Prelims and GS-III – Space In News: A group of scientists working at the Pune-based National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA) have recently discovered tiny flashes of radio light emanating from all over the sun.  These flashes could help in explaining the long-pending coronal heating problem. Important value additions  Coronal heating problem The solar corona is the outer layer of the Sun's atmosphere.  It is composed of extremely high temperature gas, known as plasma Its temperature could reach upto millions of degrees Celsius. It is farthest from the core where the nuclear reactions powering the Sun occur.  It would logically be expected to be the coolest part of the Sun.  However, corona is 200 times hotter than the photosphere which is the layer beneath it. This contradiction is dubbed as the coronal heating problem.  It has puzzled astrophysicists ever since the temperature of the corona was first measured over 70 years ago. Prehistoric settlements discovered through Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data Part of: GS-Prelims and GS-III – Science and technology In News: U.K.-based archaeologists have discovered Roman large embanked settlement enclosures in Tamar Valley, England by analysing images derived from Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data. Important value additions  Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) It is a remote sensing method that uses light in the form of a pulsed laser to measure ranges (variable distances) to the Earth. These light pulses, when combined with other data recorded by the airborne system, generate precise, 3-D information about the shape of the Earth and its surface characteristics. A LiDAR instrument principally consists of a laser, a scanner, and a specialized GPS receiver. Airplanes and helicopters are the most commonly used platforms for acquiring the data. It can be used to examine both natural and manmade environments with accuracy, precision, and flexibility. Two types of LiDAR are: Topographic typically uses a near-infrared laser to map the land Bathymetric uses water-penetrating green light to measure seafloor and riverbed elevations. Miscellaneous  Ananya  Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT), a Deemed University, Pune has developed a Nano-technology based disinfectant spray to combat COVID-19 by disinfecting all types of surfaces. SpaceX-NASA Dragon Demo-2 launch Recently, NASA astronauts, Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley, flew onboard a spaceship named Crew Dragon built by SpaceX, a private company.  The rocket - Falcon 9, which carried the spaceship into the orbit, was also built by SpaceX.  SpaceX became the first private company to launch people (human spaceflight) into orbit.  So far, this feat was achieved only by the US, Russia & China. Crew Dragon It is a part of the Dragon 2, a class of reusable spacecraft developed and manufactured by American aerospace manufacturer SpaceX. It is the fifth class of US spacecraft to take human beings into orbit, after the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and Space Shuttle programs. It is done under the Demo-2 Mission of NASA and SpaceX.  Contribution of such private companies is not much significant in India. The Coral Triangle Day  It is held every June 9.  It is an annual, open-sourced event.  Individuals, organizations, and establishments come together to shed light on ocean conservation and the numerous ways to protect and conserve the Coral Triangle. The Coral Triangle is the world's epicentre of marine biodiversity.  It is one of the 3 mega ecological complexes on our planet, together with the Congo Basin and the Amazon Rainforest. The triangle encompasses the seas of 6 countries (CT6 countries) in the Asia-Pacific region: Indonesia Malaysia Papua New Guinea Philippines Solomon Islands Timor Leste The region contains 76% of all known coral species and 53% of the world's coral reefs. Image source: Click here  (MAINS FOCUS) SOCIETY/ INTERNATIONAL Topic: General Studies 2: Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.  Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, The anatomy of anti-black racism in USA Context: George Floyd who was an African-American was killed by police during an arrest (neck restraining) in Minneapolis, USA on May 25th 2020. This led to widespread protest in US against Police brutality and systemic racism What is racism? In a nutshell, it is this: one can tell everything important about a person, his group, its past and future, by noting the colour of his skin. Racism is a systematic ideology, a complex set of beliefs and practices that, on the presumed basis of biology, divides humanity into the ‘higher’ us and a lower ‘them’.  Idea of race Race is considered as a group with a common biological descent.  This idea of race develops primarily due to following two reasons Specific bodily features (colour, shape of nose, eye, lips) are permanently clumped together and human beings are classified in terms of these distinct biological clusters Further, it is believed that these shared features are inter-generationally transmitted Each race is then believed to be fundamentally and permanently different from others- differences that are innate and indestructible Despite many attempts, particularly in the 1930s to demonstrate its scientific basis, race or racial classifications have virtually no scientific foundation. Anatomy of Racism The classification of humans into different races is the starting point of all racism Racism depends on two additional, deeply troublesome features.  First is linking Biology with Behaviour A given set of biological characteristics is believed to be necessarily related to certain dispositions, traits of character and behaviour.  Biological descent fixes a person’s culture and ethics Racism thus naturalises a person’s belief, character and culture. For example, being uneducated is seen not as socio-economic deprivation but a sign of inherited low IQ In USA, blacks are seen as predatory and savagery, which unless kept down by brute force from time to time, might explode and destroy civilisation. Second, these racial cultures and ethical systems are hierarchically arranged Racism considers that those on top are intrinsically superior to those at the bottom. Racism not only sustains a permanent group hierarchy but deeply stigmatises those designated as inferior.  This sense of hierarchy provides a motive for say, whites to treat blacks in cruel ways Inferior races are either considered not worthy to live with (Ex: Anti-semitism in Nazi Germany that led to Holocost) or fit only to be controlled, subordinated and enslaves (Ex: Anti-Black racism, Caste Sytem) How racism persists in USA despite several movements? Despite the civil war in US over slavery, and the civil rights movement for dignity and equality, systemic discrimination and violence against blacks persist Even though good education helps in dismantling racism but the fact remains that much of it lies hidden within the social structure, in habits, practices and institutions. Open discrimination of blacks has been replaced by another system of hidden & systemic discrimination. There now persists a racialized criminal system - one that awards unfair advantage and privilege to whites, while inflicting unmerited and unjust disadvantages on blacks For example, in a number of southern States in America, once declared a felon, a person is disqualified from voting In several States of USA, Blacks are 10 times more likely to go to prison than whites.  In U.S., between 1976-2019, black defendants sentenced to death for killing whites numbered 291, while white defendants killing blacks were only 21 Conclusion Only a peaceful movement to end institutionalised racism, with both blacks and white participants, quite like the recent protests after Floyd’s murder, can break the back of racism. Connecting the dots: Caste system in India – its features and criticism Impact of racism on Indian diaspora in US ENVIRONMENT/ GOVERNANCE Topic: General Studies 2,3: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation Flattening the climate curve Two interrelated curves began their upward trend two centuries ago with the advent of the industrial age.  The first curve was the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide (or, more generally, all greenhouse gases, GHGs)  The second was the average global temperature curve. Brief history of CO2 Curve The CO2 curve began its upward march about 18,000 years ago when it was a little under 200 parts per million (ppm) and earth was much colder. By the time it reached 270 ppm about 11,500 years ago, the warmer conditions accompanying this curve made it possible for the emergence of agriculture. Over the past million years, CO2 levels never exceeded 280-300 ppm. They always went back to 200 ppm before rising again in a cyclical fashion From mid-19th century, CO2 began to rise again as humans burnt coal & oil and erased forests to expand agriculture and settlements. From a mere 0.2 billion tonnes of CO2 emissions in 1850, annual emissions increased to 36 billion tonnes by 2018.  However, one-half of all CO2 emissions have been sanitised from the atmosphere, equally by growing vegetation on land and by absorption in the oceans Thus, the levels of CO2 in the atmosphere reached 407 ppm in 2018, a level last experienced by earth some three million years ago. Brief history of global average temperature Curve From 1850 onwards, for over a century, the global temperature showed a slight warming trend. But there was nothing suggestive of anything serious From 1975 onwards, the temperature graph has shown a distinct, upward trend.  By 2015, the globe had heated by a full degree Celsius relative to a hundred years previously.  Under the current trends of emissions, the globe will heat up by 4˚C by the end of the century. Extremely hot days (days above 35˚C), which were only five days in 2010, would increase to 15 days by 2050 and to 42 days by 2100 on average across all districts if the emissions continue at same rate Manifestation of these upward trend curves Globally there have been several extreme and frequent weather events such as hurricanes, heat waves, floods or droughts The 2003 European heat wave killed over 70,000 people.  The years 2015-19 have globally been the warmest years on record.  The Amazon fire of 2019 and the bush fires of 2019-20 in Australia were unprecedented in their scale and devastation. If global CO2 emissions continue to gallop at the present rate, then average summer temperatures would rise by 4˚C in most States of India.  Paris Climate Deal and its challenges The Paris Agreement's long-term temperature goal is to keep the increase in global average temperature to well below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels; and to pursue efforts to limit the increase to 1.5 °C. However, some of challenges to achieve this goal are Dangers of post-COVID period: The most common excuse is that the world cannot afford to curb GHG emissions for fear of slowing the economy Inadequate Spending: The wealthy nations are spending over $500 billion each year internally on projects aimed at reducing emissions.  IPCC, however, estimates that a sustained annual investment of $2.4 trillion in more efficient energy systems is needed until 2035 in order to keep warming below the more ambitious 1.5˚C relative to pre-industrial levels Inadequate Aid to Developing Countries: At the UN Climate Conference in 2009, the richest nations had pledged to provide $100 billion in aid each year by 2020 to the poorer countries for climate change mitigation and adaptation. In 2017, only $71 billion had been provided towards this purpose Change is mindset: The spectre of dangerous climate change impacting human civilizations has not yet evoked a response comparable to that seen in COVID-19 outbreak Conclusion: This is a make-or-break moment for the climate trajectory which has to be flattened within a few years if we are to avoid dangerous climate change.  (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 38th parallel often seen in news is related to which two countries?  Israel and Palestine  India and Pakistan  North Korea and South Korea  Iran and Iraq  Q.2 Consider the following statements regarding ‘Responsible Artificial Intelligence for youth’ program: It was recently launched by Ministry of Science and Technology. It is open to students of class 11th and class 12th from Central and state government Run schools all over India. Which of the above is/are correct?  1 only  2 only  Both 1 and 2  Neither 1 nor 2  Q.3 Which of the following is not the application of Recombinant DNA technology?  It is useful in gene therapy.  It is used in carrying out RT-PCR test.  It is used in production of insulin.  it is used to produce Genetically Modified Organisms  Q.4 Which of the following is not the major initiative taken under Atal Innovation Mission? Mentor India Campaign  ARISE  JIGYASA  Atal Community Innovation Centre  Q.5 Consider the following statements regarding the Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) remote sensing method:  It helps in generating information about the shape of the Earth.  It can be used to examine both natural and manmade environments. Which of the above is/are correct?  1 only  2 only  Both 1 and 2  Neither 1 nor 2  ANSWERS FOR 9th June 2020 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 A 2 B 3 D 4 C Must Read About Delhi’s decision to limit Health Services: The Hindu About expanding the autonomy of Public Universities: The Indian Express About India-Nepal relations: The Indian Express

IASbaba’s INTEGRATED REVISION PLAN(IRP) 2020 : [10th June, 2020] – Day 1

Hello Friends, Welcome to IASbaba’s INTEGRATED REVISION PLAN(IRP) 2020 : [10th June, 2020] – Day 1.  UPSC Static Quiz – 2020 : IASbaba’s Daily Static Quiz – HISTORY [Day 1] UPSC Quiz – 2020 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 1] IASbaba’s TLP (Phase 2): UPSC Mains Answer Writing – General Studies Paper 1 Questions[10th June,2020] – Day 1 IASBABA का इंटीग्रेटेड रिवीज़न प्लान (IRP) 2020 - [10th June, 2020] Day 1 The Intention behind this Initiative: IRP 2020 – Road Map for the next 100 Days!  We will make sure, in the next 4 months not a single day is wasted. All your energies are channelized in the right direction. Trust us! This will make a huge difference in your results this time, provided that you follow this plan sincerely every day without fail. Gear up and Make the Best Use of this initiative. Do remember that, “the difference between Ordinary and  EXTRA-Ordinary is PRACTICE!!” To Know More about the Initiative -> CLICK HERE विस्तृत विवरण के लिए नीचे क्लिक करें -> CLICK HERE SCHEDULE/DETAILED PLAN – > CLICK HERE Thank You IASbaba

IASBABA का इंटीग्रेटेड रिवीज़न प्लान (IRP) 2020 - [10th June, 2020] Day 1

हाल ही में UPSC द्वारा COVID-19 को देखते हुए प्रारंभिक परीक्षा-2020 के लिए नई तिथि 4 अक्टूबर, 2020 की घोषणा की गयी है। ऐसे में इन 100 दिनों का सदुपयोग सही दिशा में करना अति महत्त्वपूर्ण हो गया है। इसको देखते हुए IASBABA टीम द्वारा इष्टतम लाभ प्राप्त करने के लिए 10 जून 2020 से इंटीग्रेटेड रिवीज़न प्लान-2020 लांच किया गया है, जिससे एक बार पुनः परीक्षा से संबंधित संपूर्ण पाठ्यक्रम का समुचित रिवीज़न किया जा सके।   इंटीग्रेटेड रिवीज़न प्लान (IRP) 2020 के महत्वपूर्ण तथ्य: IRP 2020 एक निःशुल्क पहल है, जिसे आपको अगले 100 दिनों के लिए केंद्रित रखने के लिए डिज़ाइन किया गया है! कार्यक्रम 10 जून 2020 से आरंभ होगा। यह सप्ताह में 6 दिन चलेगा। रविवार को अवकाश होगा - आप इस समय का उपयोग रिवीज़न और वैकल्पिक विषय के लिए कर सकते हैं। इसमें आपकी प्रारंभिक परीक्षा और मुख्य परीक्षा दोनों की तैयारी शामिल हैं। प्रतिदिन आधार पर - प्रारंभिक परीक्षा - 5 करंट अफेयर्स संबंधी बहुविकल्पीय प्रश्न, 10 स्टेटिक भाग जैसे इतिहास, भूगोल, राजव्यवस्था, अर्थशास्त्र एवं पर्यावरण आदि संबंधी बहुविकल्पीय प्रश्न होंगे। प्रतिदिन आधार पर - मुख्य परीक्षा - TLP - 3 प्रश्न मुख्य परीक्षा संबंधी GS1, GS2, GS3 को कवर करते हुए पोस्ट किया जाएगा। इन 3 प्रश्नों में से 2 स्टेटिक भाग से और 1 करंट अफेयर्स से होंगे। GS 4 (नीतिशास्त्र) और निबंध पर विशेष जोर - प्रत्येक सप्ताह (शुक्रवार को) 3 प्रश्न पोस्ट किए जाएंगे। इसमें 2 नैतिकता सिद्धांत एवं 1 प्रश्न केस स्टडी पर आधारित होंगे। प्रत्येक शनिवार को 4 निबंध दिए जाएंगे (इसमें 2 सामान्य थीम आधारित और 2 दार्शनिक विषय पर आधारित होंगे) हिंदी माध्यम में प्रश्न शाम 5 बजे (5 PM) अपलोड किए जाएंगे। पहल के बारे में अधिक जानने के लिए -> CLICK HERE SCHEDULE/DETAILED PLAN – > CLICK HERE Do remember that, “the difference between Ordinary and  EXTRA-Ordinary is PRACTICE!!” IASbaba's Daily Static Quiz - HISTORY Q.1) निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें हड़प्पा सभ्यता नाम इसलिए पड़ा क्योंकि हड़प्पा, सिंधु घाटी सभ्यता का सबसे बड़ा स्थल है। हड़प्पाई सील कार्नेलियन (Carnelian) से बनी हुई है। ऊपर दिए गए कथनों में से कौन सा सही नहीं है / हैं? केवल 1  केवल 2  दोनों 1 और 2 न तो 1 और न ही 2 Q.2) निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें मोहनजोदड़ो में पाया गया गढ़/ दुर्ग (Citadel), निचले नगर की तुलना में बहुत बड़ा है। दुर्ग को दीवारों से घेरा गया है, जबकि निचला नगर खुला हुआ है। ऊपर दिए गए कथनों में से कौन सा सही है / हैं? केवल 1  केवल 2  दोनों 1 और 2 न तो 1 और न ही 2 Q.3) बौद्ध स्तूप के बारे में, निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें स्तूप की संरचना में, अंड हर्मिका के ऊपर स्थित था। यष्टि (Yashti) एक बालकनी जैसी संरचना है जो देवताओं के निवास का प्रतिनिधित्व करती है। ऊपर दिए गए कथनों में से कौन सा सही है / हैं? केवल 1 केवल 2  दोनों 1 और 2 न तो 1 और न ही 2 Q.4) निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें: बौद्ध मूर्तिकला में, खाली स्थान (empty Seat) महापरिनिर्वाण का प्रतिनिधित्व करने के लिए था। प्रतीक चक्र (Wheel) बुद्ध के प्रथम उपदेश को दर्शाता है। ऊपर दिए गए कथनों में से कौन सा सही नहीं है / हैं? केवल 1 केवल 2  दोनों 1 और 2 न तो 1 और न ही 2 Q.5) निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें: थोटलकोंडा का महास्तूप मध्य प्रदेश राज्य में स्थित है। धामेख स्तूप गुजरात राज्य में स्थित है। ऊपर दिए गए कथनों में से कौन सा सही है / हैं? केवल 1 केवल 2  दोनों 1 और 2 न तो 1 और न ही 2 Q.6) निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें: भारत में शिलाकृत मंदिर पल्लवों द्वारा प्रस्तुत किए गए थे। पंचपांडव रथ मंदिर पांच अलग-अलग शैलियों का प्रतिनिधित्व करने वाले एकाश्म मंदिर हैं। महेंद्रवर्मन प्रथम पल्लवों के मध्य शिला-कृत वास्तुकला के लिए अग्रणी थे। ऊपर दिए गए कथनों में से कौन सा सही नहीं है / हैं? केवल 2 और 3 केवल 3 केवल 1 और 2 कोई नहीं Q.7) नागर शैली मंदिर और द्रविड़ शैली मंदिर के बारे में, निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें? नागर मंदिरों में गर्भगृह होते हैं जबकि द्रविड़ मंदिरों नहीं होते हैं। नागर और द्रविड़, दोनों मंदिरों में मंडप पाए जाते हैं। ऊपर दिए गए कथनों में से कौन सा सही है / हैं? केवल 1 केवल 2  दोनों 1 और 2 न तो 1 और न ही 2 Q.8) भारतीय-इस्लामी वास्तुकला के बारे में, निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें मुस्लिम वास्तुकला किसी भी सतह पर किसी भी जीवित रूपों की प्रतिकृति को प्रतिबंधित करती है। कुतुब मीनार का निर्माण कुतुब-उद-दीन ऐबक, इल्तुतमिश और फिरोजशाह तुगलक द्वारा किया गया है ऊपर दिए गए कथनों में से कौन सा सही नहीं है / हैं? केवल 1 केवल 2  दोनों 1 और 2 न तो 1 और न ही 2 Q.9) निम्नलिखित में से कौन से युग्म सही ढंग से सुमेलित हैं:                  मंदिर                   :            स्थान दिलवाड़ा मंदिर         :         उत्तराखंड तुंगनाथ मंदिर           :          राजस्थान महाबलीपुरम मंदिर   :          तमिलनाडु मुंडेश्वरी देवी मंदिर    :            बिहार नीचे दिए गए कूट का उपयोग करके सही उत्तर चुनें: केवल 1 और 2 केवल 2 और 3 केवल 3 और 4 उपरोक्त सभी Q.10) वास्तुकला की वेसर शैली के बारे में, निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें: यह 'नागर' और 'द्रविड़' शैलियों का संयोजन है। बेलूर और हलेबिड में होयसल मंदिर, वेसर शैली के उदाहरण हैं। ऊपर दिए गए कथनों में से कौन सा सही है / हैं? केवल 1 केवल 2  दोनों 1 और 2 न तो 1 और न ही 2 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs Quiz Q.11) 'चैलेंजर डीप' (Challenger Deep) के संबंध में, निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें। यह पश्चिमी अटलांटिक महासागर में स्थित है। यह महासागर की औसत गहराई से लगभग तीन गुना अधिक गहरा है। सही कथनों का चयन करें केवल 1 केवल 2 दोनों 1 और 2 न तो 1 और न ही 2 Q.12) 'पर्माफ्रॉस्ट' (Permafrost) के संबंध में, निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें। पर्माफ्रॉस्ट स्वयं हमेशा जमे हुए होते हैं, जबकि सतही परत जो इसे कवर करती है, उन्हें जमे हुए होने की आवश्यकता नहीं होती है। पर्माफ्रॉस्ट का पिघलना ग्रीनहाउस गैसों को जारी कर सकता है। सही कथनों का चयन करें केवल 1 केवल 2 दोनों 1 और 2 न तो 1 और न ही 2 Q.13) ‘सेरोटोनिन' (Serotonin) निम्न में पाया जाता है जठरांत्र संबंधी मार्ग (Gastrointestinal tract -GI tract) केंद्रीय तंत्रिका तंत्र (Central nervous system- CNS) रक्त प्लेटलेट्स (Blood platelets) सही कूट का चयन करें: 1 और 2 2 और 3 1 और 3 उपरोक्त सभी Q.14) 'क्रिप्टो-जैकिंग' (Crypto-jacking) के संबंध में, निम्नलिखित में से कौन सा कथन सही है। यह क्रिप्टोकरेंसी माइनिंग में साइबर अपराधियों द्वारा आपके कंप्यूटर और उपकरणों का अनधिकृत उपयोग है। क्रिप्टो-जैकिंग स्क्रिप्ट पीड़ित के डेटा का उपयोग नहीं करते हैं लेकिन पीड़ित के सीपीयू के संसाधनों को समाप्त कर देते हैं, जो सिस्टम को धीमा कर देता है। सही कथनों का चयन करें केवल 1 केवल 2 दोनों 1 और 2 न तो 1 और न ही 2 Q.15) ‘टोसीलिज़ुमैब’ (Tocilizumab), एक दवा है, जिसका COVID-19 के गंभीर रोगियों के इलाज में उपयोग बढ़ा है। इसका मूल रूप से किसके इलाज के लिए उपयोग किया जाता रहा है मलेरिया हेपेटाइटिस बी और सी रूमेटाइड गठिया (Rheumatoid arthritis) जीका और इबोला वायरस   उत्तर डाउनलोड करने के लिए नीचे क्लिक करें  - Click Here

Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz - 2020 : IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 1]

For Previous Static 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

UPSC 2020: IASBABA का इंटीग्रेटेड रिवीज़न प्लान (IRP) 2020 - अगले 100 दिनों के लिए रोडमैप!

हाल ही में UPSC द्वारा COVID-19 को देखते हुए प्रारंभिक परीक्षा-2020 के लिए नई तिथि 4 अक्टूबर, 2020 की घोषणा की गयी है। ऐसे में इन 100 दिनों का सदुपयोग सही दिशा में करना अति महत्त्वपूर्ण हो गया है। इसको देखते हुए IASBABA टीम द्वारा इष्टतम लाभ प्राप्त करने के लिए 10 जून 2020 से इंटीग्रेटेड रिवीज़न प्लान-2020 लांच किया गया है, जिससे एक बार पुनः परीक्षा से संबंधित संपूर्ण पाठ्यक्रम का समुचित रिवीज़न किया जा सके।   इंटीग्रेटेड रिवीज़न प्लान (IRP) 2020 के महत्वपूर्ण तथ्य: IRP 2020 एक निःशुल्क पहल है, जिसे आपको अगले 100 दिनों के लिए केंद्रित रखने के लिए डिज़ाइन किया गया है! कार्यक्रम 10 जून 2020 से आरंभ होगा। यह सप्ताह में 6 दिन चलेगा। रविवार को अवकाश होगा - आप इस समय का उपयोग रिवीज़न और वैकल्पिक विषय के लिए कर सकते हैं। इसमें आपकी प्रारंभिक परीक्षा और मुख्य परीक्षा दोनों की तैयारी शामिल हैं। प्रतिदिन आधार पर - प्रारंभिक परीक्षा - 5 करंट अफेयर्स संबंधी बहुविकल्पीय प्रश्न, 10 स्टेटिक भाग जैसे इतिहास, भूगोल, राजव्यवस्था, अर्थशास्त्र एवं पर्यावरण आदि संबंधी बहुविकल्पीय प्रश्न होंगे। प्रतिदिन आधार पर - मुख्य परीक्षा - TLP - 3 प्रश्न मुख्य परीक्षा संबंधी GS1, GS2, GS3 को कवर करते हुए पोस्ट किया जाएगा। इन 3 प्रश्नों में से 2 स्टेटिक भाग से और 1 करंट अफेयर्स से होंगे। GS 4 (नीतिशास्त्र) और निबंध पर विशेष जोर - प्रत्येक सप्ताह (शुक्रवार को) 3 प्रश्न पोस्ट किए जाएंगे। इसमें 2 नैतिकता सिद्धांत एवं 1 प्रश्न केस स्टडी पर आधारित होंगे। प्रत्येक शनिवार को 4 निबंध दिए जाएंगे (इसमें 2 सामान्य थीम आधारित और 2 दार्शनिक विषय पर आधारित होंगे) हिंदी माध्यम में प्रश्न शाम 5 बजे (5 PM) अपलोड किए जाएंगे।   विस्तृत विवरण के लिए नीचे क्लिक करें- To Know More about the Initiative -> CLICK HERE SCHEDULE/DETAILED PLAN – > CLICK HERE Do remember that, “the difference between Ordinary and  EXTRA-Ordinary is PRACTICE!!”   MUST WATCH: To get more clarity on - What should be your Preparation Strategy for the next 4 Months? How to make the best use of the next 120 days? Watch this video by Mohan Kumar S Founder IASbaba. IMPORTANT UPDATES ON IASbaba: FOR PRELIMS STRATEGY: PRELIMS SIMPLIFIED SERIES (Part 1,2,3): How to crack UPSC PRELIMS- IMPORTANT TIPS & TRICKS (using Common Sense – KCT Approach) by Mohan Sir MUST WATCH – STRATEGY [VIDEO]: PRELIMS  Tips (Do’s & Don’ts) from Mohan Sir, IASbaba Founder TOPPER’S STRATEGY (PRELIMS): Muthu Somasundaram, Rank 23 Indian Forest Service (IFoS) 2019, a regular follower of IASbaba -> CLICK HERE   CURRENT AFFAIRS: Beat the Heat of Current Affairs this year (2020) –PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE: CURRENT AFFAIRS CLASSES (12 SESSIONS-By Tauseef Sir): JOIN NOW! BABAPEDIA – One Stop Destination for Current Affairs (Prelims + Mains) -> CLICK HERE   NEW INITIATIVES: NEW INITIATIVE: Prelims 2020: Babagiri-The Game Show (Season 1 Episode 1) CONNECT WITH BABA: IASbaba’s Dedicated HOTLINE for UPSC/IAS Aspirants !! LOCKDOWN & YOU – Catharsis- Unlock Your Talent & Creativity! -> CLICK HERE BRAINSTORMING THROUGH MIND-MAPS! -> CLICK HERE   MUST READ – For Motivation: Do read these articles. Mark the words/lines in your dairy. These very lines can be the driving force’ in the time of uncertainty. The ABCD of Self Management During Crisis and Uncertainty MUST READ: PRELIMS in Testing Times – Don’t Forget the ‘WHY’; IASbaba’s dedicated HOTLINE for Aspirants and Prelims Postponing Rumours [STRATEGY] MUST READ: 21 Days of Lockdown -What to do? Introspect, Ideate and Improve !! Coronavirus: Awareness, Myths, Solidarity and Message to All UPSC Aspirants by Mohan Sir Founder IASbaba   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 Team