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Catharsis -Unlock Your Talent and Creativity

Catharsis -Unlock Your Talent & Creativity: WRITINGS by MD ABDULLAH

ARCHIVES Hello Friends, You must be aware of the term ‘catharsis’. It is the process of releasing and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions. Recently we have launched a new initiative by the name Catharsis -Unlock Your Talent & Creativity! Today's work is WRITE UP by MD ABDULLAH! Well done, Keep it up !!   क्यों खामोश हो मरकज-ए-इश्क़, तूफान हो ; खफा हो इस कदर जैसे रूठा भगवान हो , है ना? इम्तेहान हो गयी अब माशूक़ के इंतज़ार का; दिन ढलता जाए , सूरज डूबता तो नही है , है ना? वो ज़ुल्फ़ों की लहराती छटा मेरी नज़रों में दफन है; दूर  कहीं थके  राही छाँव  का  सबब  है ,   है ना? माना क़ाबिल नही मैं आपके शाहंशाही जहां के; रुबाब, इश्क़ में तर-ब-तर ढूंढता नहीं है, है ना? वो जो लबों की मुस्कुराहट दबा के रखा है मुझसे; डर        है     तुम्हे     चुरा   ना    ले   ये      सितमगर ,    है         ना ? हुस्ने जाना उनकी तरन्नुम भरी आवाज़ से कम नहीं; छुपाती     हो मुझसे ,    कहीं     इश्क़    ना     हो     जाये,    है       ना? देखो रुस्वाई अच्छी नहीं है अब हद से ज़्यादा; लोग      कहते     तो    होंगे    तुम    मुहब्बत   करती   हो   मुझसे, है ना? वक़्त तन्हाई और यादों में कुछ यूं ही कट रहा है; क़ुबूल      ना       सही ,   कुछ      तो     रहम         करोगी,     है   ना? माना हद से गुजर रहा है जद्दोजहद का आलम ; कुछ     फुरसत    से    मिलकर   इज़हार-ए-इश्क़    करोगी,   है         ना? मन के बहते गुबार का क्या है, चलो रहने दो छोड़ो भी; मेरे    संग    मेरे         हमदम         दैर-ओ-हरम          चलोगी,     है ना ? खुदा तुम्हें बनाये ही क्यों जो तुम मेरे रक़ीब के हो जाओ; मेरी     किस्मत    के    टूटे    सितारों   की    तरह    लौट आओगी, है ना? चलो इश्क़ के हर रंग तुम्हारी आँखों मे ढूंढता रहा अब तक; टूटा   ख़्वाब ,  बेरुखी   और   मयकशी   का   अंजाम   हो,     है     ना ? कौन इस तरह बिन बताये मझधार में छोड़कर जाता है; किसी     बेबसी  और   मेरे     ख़्वाब    की    तिलिस्म    हो,   है      ना  ? अब शिकायत नहीं करूंगा कभी तुमसे जो तुम ना रहे; तुम्हारे   अक़्स,    तुम्हारी   यादें,   ताउम्र   मेरे    हमसफर   हैं,    है    ना? तुम खुश रहना,वो चराग़ तुमसे ही रौशन है मेरे मन में; जो तुम टूट गईं तो आस मन का टूटे बिखर जाऊंगा मैं, है ना?                                                                                 ✍️     मोहम्मद अब्दुल्लाह हम हैं प्रण लिए खेवन का, रेत नही ये पानी है,       मानवता की सेवा भाव और राष्ट्रहित हमने ठानी है,       रैन भंग हुए, दिवा परीक्षा, यही अपनी कहानी है,       माता पिता सब बाट जोहते, इक दिन ऐसी आनी है;       विकट निकट है , हम बलिहारी, जो तू सहचर बन जायेगा,       तू अर्जन है तू सज्जन है तेरा आशीष जो पाएगा,       वो निर्जन, सृजन का पात्र, भविष्य का नायक बन जायेगा,       तू तरुवर, सरोवर, तरिणी, तू ही नैया पार लगाएगा;       रूप चंद्र हम, सूरज तू है, पथ परिवाहक तू ही है,       नभ के झिलमिल तारों सा तू, वसुधा का वाहक तू ही है,       अंधकार में दीप जलाता विपरित धारा का संवाहक तू ही है,       उज्ज्वल भविष्य और वैभवता का सुगम संपादक तू ही ही;       जो मिले ज्ञान की भाषा से मेरा तन मन प्रफुल्लित हो जाएगा,       तब धर्म वरण का भेदभाव और ईर्ष्या भी मिट जायेगा,       जो राजनैतिक बैर और असुर दुर्जनों का सत्यानाश हो जायेगा,       हम विश्व के मार्गदर्शक, भारत फिर सोने की चिड़िया कहलायेगा;       तू      तरुवर,     सरोवर,        तरिणी,   तू      ही      नैया      पार            लगायेगा।                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     ✍️    मोहम्मद अब्दुल्लाह    Be creative and find your catharsis in whichever form of creativity you are comfortable with.  It could be anything- a song, a painting, a poem, a story, a dance performance, rangolis, jokes/humor, culinary skills, mimicry and whatnot. There is no limit to creativity. Just unleash and share it with everyone! Why don’t you share your moments of catharsis with us? UPSC is not only about academics but personality as well. And your personality is shaped by the creativity that you possess.   We encourage you to keep the comment section alive by sharing your talents and also by commenting and encouraging the talent of your peers. We are also going to be a regular visitor here and will keep on posting the creative works by our talented team members and staff. NOTE- You can also nominate by tagging anyone (if you know about the talent of your friend or anyone) 🙂 You can share your talent/creativity with us on support@iasbaba.com P.S: Kindly share it in a format that can be published on the website. We believe each one of you have some hidden talent. It’s time that you explore more about yourselves and remain positive throughout this journey. Make the best use of this opportunity! Thank You IASbaba

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 13th MAY 2020

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 13th May 2020 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Increase in the the tiger count in the Sundarbans  Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Environment In News: As per the latest census conducted by the West Bengal Forest Department, the tiger count in the Sundarbans for 2019-20 has increased from 88 to 96. It is the highest annual jump reported from the Sundarbans. Estimation of the number of tigers in the Sunderbans has always been a challenge because of the difficult terrain that comprises dense mangrove forests, with creeks and rivulets, and floods twice a day during the high tides. Important value additions: Sundarbans It is a vast mangrove forest ecosystem in the coastal region of Bay of Bengal.  It is spread over India and Bangladesh on the delta of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers. It is the only mangrove forest in the world inhabited by tigers. Indian Sundarbans has been recognised as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.  It also comes under ‘Wetland of International Importance’ under the Ramsar Convention.  It is home to rare and globally threatened species, such as the Northern River Terrapin, Royal Bengal Tiger, Irrawaddy Dolphin, and the Fishing Cat. LG Polymers liable under Principle of ‘Strict Liability’ for Vizag gas leak: NGT Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – Health & GS-III – Industries; Environment In News: The National Green Tribunal's (NGT) order in the Visakhapatnam gas tragedy found LG Polymers liable under Principle of “strict liability".  It was sacked in India by the Supreme Court in 1986. However, lawyers say the term “absolute liability” should have been used. Important value additions: Strict liability principle Under this principle, a party is not liable and need not pay compensation if a hazardous substance escapes his premises by accident or by an “act of God’” among other circumstances. It was evolved in an 1868 English case which provided companies with several exemptions from assuming liability. Absolute Liability Principle The Supreme Court, while deciding the Oleum gas leak case of Delhi in 1986, found strict liability inadequate to protect citizens’ rights and replaced it with the ‘absolute liability principle’. Under this principle, a company in a hazardous industry cannot claim any exemption. It has to mandatorily pay compensation, whether or not the disaster was caused by its negligence.  It is part of Article 21 (right to life).  National Green Tribunal  It is an Act of the Parliament of India which enables creation of a special tribunal to handle the cases pertaining to environmental issues.  It draws inspiration from the Article 21 - Protection of life and personal liberty - which assures the citizens of India the right to a healthy environment. India became the third country in the world to set up a specialised environmental tribunal, only after Australia and New Zealand, and the first developing country to do so. NGT is mandated to make disposal of applications or appeals within 6 months of filing.  The NGT has five places of sittings - New Delhi and Bhopal (Principal place) Pune Kolkata Chennai The Tribunal has jurisdiction over all civil cases.  The Visakhapatnam gas leak It was an industrial accident that occurred at the LG Polymers chemical plant on the outskirts of Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India, on 7 May 2020. Preliminary investigations concluded that the accident was likely the result of improper maintenance of units storing the styrene monomer, improper storage and operation errors.  Safeguards against chemical disasters in India  Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – Health & GS-III – Disaster Management In News: The law in India provides protection to victims of chemical disasters such as the one which recently occurred in Visakhapatnam.  Important value additions: Here’s a look at some of these provisions: Bhopal Gas Leak (Processing of Claims) Act, 1985: Gives powers to the central government to secure the claims arising out of or connected with the Bhopal gas tragedy. The Environment Protection Act, 1986: Gives powers to the central government to undertake measures for improving the environment and set standards and inspect industrial units. The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991: It is an insurance meant to provide relief to persons affected by accidents that occur while handling hazardous substances. National Environment Appellate Authority Act, 1997: Under this act, the National Environment Appellate Authority (NEAA) can hear appeals regarding the restriction of areas in which any industries shall not be carried out or shall be carried out subject to certain safeguards under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. National Green Tribunal Act, 2010: Provides for the establishment of a Tribunal for disposal of cases related to environmental protection and conservation of forests.  GI tag for Jharkhand’s Sohrai Khovar painting and Telangana’s Telia Rumal  Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Intellectual Property Rights In News: Jharkhand’s Sohrai Khovar painting and Telangana’s Telia Rumal were given the GI tag recently by Geographical Indications Registry.  Important value additions: Sohrai Khovar  It is a traditional and ritualistic mural art.  It is practised by local tribal women during local harvest and marriage seasons.  Local, naturally available soils of different colours are used.  It is mainly practiced in Hazaribagh district of Jharkhand.  Image source: Sohrai Khovar  Telia Rumal  This cloth involves intricate handmade work with cotton loom displaying a variety of designs and motifs in three particular colours — red, black and white.  Image source: Telia Rumal  Geographical Indication (GI) tag  It is an indication which is definite to a geographical territory. It is used for agricultural, natural and manufactured goods. The goods need to be produced or processed or prepared in that region.  The product must have a special quality or reputation. The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 provides registration and also protection of GI goods in India. The Geographical Indications Registry for India is located in Chennai. A registered GI tag prohibits a third party to use such products.  GI is a collective intellectual property right and is thus owned by all the producers within the defined GI territory.  Patents and trademarks are owned by an individual or a business entity. (MAINS FOCUS) WELFARE/RIGHTS ISSUE Topic: General Studies 2: Fundamental Rights and Human Rights Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation Governance issues Changes to Labour laws bane for the most vulnerable  Context: Due to the lockdown amidst COVID-19 pandemic, Indian economy has suffered losses across sectors.  In order to incentivise economic activity, some of the state governments have made significant changes in the labour laws. However, the changes may affect the rights and interests of labourers, who are one of the most vulnerable sections that have been impacted by the pandemic. The editorial throws light on the following points: States that have brought changes to the labour laws  Issues related to changed labour laws What steps can be taken to to overcome the issues Which states have changed labour laws?  Madhya Pradesh has allowed business and industries to run without many of the requirements of the Factories Act. Uttar Pradesh has cleared an ordinance which exempts businesses and industries from labour laws, except for a few, for 3 years. Several other states may pursue similar measures in the coming future.  You can read more about these amendments here.  Issues related to changed Labour Laws Exploitation risk These reforms will strip the labour of its basic rights.  Wages might decrease too.  Suspending most of the provisions under the Factories Act, 1948 and the Industrial Disputes Act,1947 would deny workers of basic working facilities such as cleanliness, drinking water, etc.  From formal to informal This move will turn the existing formal workers into informal workers as they won't be any social security. They won't be able to seek grievance redressal. Fall in wages will further reduce the  demand in the economy.  Rise of forced Labour Bargaining power of labour and their right to negotiate will reduce and may turn them into Forced Labour. What steps can be taken to protect the labourers?  The government should partner with the industry and a percentage of the GDP must be allocated for sharing the wage burden and ensuring the health of the labourers. The labour codes proposed by the government should be passed by the parliament as soon as possible. These labour codes are: Labour Codes on Wages Labour Code on Industrial relations Labour Code on Occupational safety, health and working conditions Labour Code on Social Security and Welfare  Labour laws which are applicable to the formal sector should be modified so that an optimum combination of flexibility and security can be ensured.  The compliance of working conditions and regulations should be made more effective and transparent. Conclusion There is a need for comprehensive labour laws reforms, so that Indian industries grow sustainably.  Then only firms will be able to expand and interests of labourers will also be intact.  Connecting the dots: Do you think the recent amendments brought by State governments to labour laws will boost the Indian economy?  Ordinance in labour laws will cause more harm than good to the labour sector. Critically analyse?  WELFARE/RIGHTS ISSUE Topic: General Studies 2: Fundamental Rights and Human Rights Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation Governance issues Dr. B. R. Ambedkar insights on Labour Rights Context: Some state governments have recently decided to relax the application of labour laws in order to restart economic activity stalled by the coronavirus pandemic. However, such a move, even if it delivers results in the short-term, is myopic and grossly unconstitutional in nature. Note: Below editorial covers the following important dimensions - How Labour Laws emerged in India? Concerns with current labour laws in India Dr. B. R. Ambedkar insights on Labour Rights Labour laws in India Labour laws arose out of a long period of struggle.  Pre-Independence labour movements, 1931 Karachi Declaration and Bill of Rights -  expressly placed labour rights on a par with ordinary civil rights such as the freedom of speech and expression. Preamble of 1931 Karachi Declaration and Bill of Rights declared that “political freedom must include... real economic freedom of the... millions”.  Dr. B. R. Ambedkar was a long-time advocate for the rights of labour. He was instrumental in the passage of an eight-hour working day law. Role of Supreme Court - In a landmark judgment, PUDR vs. Union of India , the Supreme Court had held that the right against forced labour included the right to a minimum wage. All the above principles and laws eventually found their way into the Indian Constitution in the form of “Directive Principles of State Policy” and "fundamental rights." (Example, Article 23 - guarantees right against forced labour.) Concerns/Problems: India’s labour law structure has been criticised on multiple counts. It is argued that there is a structural inequality that enables the capitalists to “make the rules” for the labour. (which amounts to a form of “private government”) Of late, with the rise of the platform or gig economy, this inequality of power has only grown starker. It is argued that it sets up a labour bureaucracy that is prone to corruption. Adjudicatory mechanisms are inefficient. Majority of the workforce, engaged in contract labour or informal employment, has very few rights. Labour laws doesn’t represent the interests of the employees.  Many prominent labour unions prefer to arrive at an accommodation with the management, rather than represent the interests of their constituents. All these problems calls for a debate on the future of labour rights, especially in a world where the nature of work is changing rapidly.  This debate can be guided by B.R. Ambedkar’s insights that remain relevant even today, the Constitutional guarantee against forced labour. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar ideas on Labour Rights Dr. B.R. Ambedkar observed that the purpose of Constitutions has been to limit state power, in order to preserve the freedom of the individual. Ambedkar argued that fundamental rights must “eliminate the possibility of the more powerful having the power to impose arbitrary restraints on the less powerful by withdrawing from the control he has over the economic life of the people”. The purpose of labour laws should be to mitigate the imbalance of power between capitalists and labour. It should aim to secure the “rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”, in both the public and the private spheres. Conclusion: However, the recent decisions by several state governments are grossly unconstitutional as the economic power exercised by capital will be left unchecked.  An increase in working hours and a removal of minimum wages are two proposals strongly under discussion. This would be nothing other than the freedom to “increase hours of work and reduce rates of wages”.  According to Ambedkar’s words, the Constitution provides for equal freedom and that must be the yardstick from which the proposed legal changes in the shadow of COVID-19 should be measured. Connecting the dots: Bring out the significance of labour reforms for sustained economic growt and employment generation. Was labour the obstacle to the growth of the Indian economy all this while? What are the labour laws in the country, and how can such changes impact firms, their workers, and the economy? (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note:  Correct answers of today’s questions will be provided in next day’s DNA section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers.  Comments Up-voted by IASbaba are also the “correct answers”. Q.1 Consider the following statements regarding Sundarbans:  It is the only mangrove forest in the world inhabited by tigers.  It is covered under the Ramsar convention. Which of the above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2 Consider the following statements:  Under strict liability principle, a company has to pay compensation in case of accident involving hazardous substances.  Under absolute liability principle, a company does not have to pay compensation Which of the above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3 With regards to the safeguards against chemical disasters in India, consider the following:  Appeals regarding the restriction of areas in which any industries shall not be carried out are heard through National Environment Appellate Authority Act, 1997 Disposal of cases related to conservation of forests takes place under National Green Tribunal Act, 2010. Which of the above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.4 Consider the following statements: Sohrai Khovar mural art is practiced in Chhattisgarh.  Telia Rumal is manufactured in Jharkhand.  Which of the above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.5 With regard to GI tag, consider the following statements:  Geographical indications registry is located in Chennai.  GI tag is an intellectual property right owned by individuals. Which of the above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 ANSWERS FOR 12th May 2020 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 B 2 A 3 A 4 C Must Read About cooperative federalism The Hindu About India and Italy’s relationship The Hindu About systemic delivery The Indian Express About gender education The Indian Express

Catharsis -Unlock Your Talent and Creativity

Catharsis -Unlock Your Talent & Creativity: WRITE UP by VIKAS SHARMA

ARCHIVES Hello Friends, You must be aware of the term ‘catharsis’. It is the process of releasing and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions. Recently we have launched a new initiative by the name Catharsis -Unlock Your Talent & Creativity! Today's work is WRITE UP by VIKAS SHARMA! Well done, Keep it up !!   I am vikas sharma, ardent follower of IAS BABA and religiously following its initiatives for preparation. I want to share my poem for one of your initiative names as Catharsis during lock down. This poem is imagined as a conversation between a mother bird and her son who just want to flew beyond their best and want to see the world. एक चिड़िया के बच्चे की कहानी माँ मुझको भी उड़ना है जाना है नदियां के उस पार देखना है मुझे भी दूजी तरफ इंसानो की बस्ती में होता क्या है। सुना है मैंने बड़े प्यार से वो वैलेंटाइन मनाते है एक दूजे की बाहों में बाहें डाले घूमते है। आँखों ही आँखों में वो सारी दुनिया वो घूम आते है, वो आँखे मुझे भी देखना है माँ।। सुना है वहां ऊँची ऊँची मीनारों में बड़े लोग रहते जिनके जूते साफ़ करने को हरकारे लगे रहते है, वो गर नीचे भी उत्तरते है तो पाँव ज़मीन पे नही रखते है।वो मीनारे और वो पैर मुझे देखना है माँ सुना है मैंने वहां भी दो जहां बसते है उन अमीरो की सुने घरो के दूसरी और खुशहाल लोग रहते है ,जो तपती धूप में ईटें तोडा करते है,और वो ज़मीन पर बैठ कर दो निवाला खा कर जीते है।। माँ मुझे वो लोग देखने है सुना है मैंने वहाँ दो तरह की नारी बसती है एक दावतों में जिस्म परोशी करती है तो दूजी जिस्म बेच कर पेट अपनी दो जून की रोटी का इंतज़ाम करती है।। माँ मुझे वो अबला और सबला देखनी है।।   Be creative and find your catharsis in whichever form of creativity you are comfortable with.  It could be anything- a song, a painting, a poem, a story, a dance performance, rangolis, jokes/humor, culinary skills, mimicry and whatnot. There is no limit to creativity. Just unleash and share it with everyone! Why don’t you share your moments of catharsis with us? UPSC is not only about academics but personality as well. And your personality is shaped by the creativity that you possess.   We encourage you to keep the comment section alive by sharing your talents and also by commenting and encouraging the talent of your peers. We are also going to be a regular visitor here and will keep on posting the creative works by our talented team members and staff. NOTE- You can also nominate by tagging anyone (if you know about the talent of your friend or anyone) 🙂 You can share your talent/creativity with us on support@iasbaba.com P.S: Kindly share it in a format that can be published on the website. We believe each one of you have some hidden talent. It’s time that you explore more about yourselves and remain positive throughout this journey. Make the best use of this opportunity! Thank You IASbaba

RSTV Video

Vaccine Development for COVID-19 – The Big Picture – RSTV IAS UPSC

Vaccine Development for COVID-19 Archives TOPIC: General Studies 2 Global crisis – COVID-19 With confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide surpassing 2.7 million and continuing to grow, scientists are pushing forward with efforts to develop vaccines and treatments to slow the pandemic and lessen the disease’s damage. Some of the earliest treatments will likely be drugs that are already approved for other conditions, or have been tested on other viruses. The virus spreads easily and the majority of the world's population is still vulnerable to it. A vaccine would provide some protection by training people's immune systems to fight the virus so they should not become sick. This would allow lockdowns to be lifted more safely, and social distancing to be relaxed. However, it must be emphasised that because vaccines are given to large populations, safety issues are paramount. The world is dealing with an unprecedented and unimaginably serious crisis. Therefore, the speed of vaccine development is crucial. Decoding The Virus  Experts believe the genome sequencing of the new coronavirus provided by scientists in China shows it shares 79 percent of the same genetic material as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and 50 percent with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), a zoonotic coronavirus that infects humans, bats and camels. This allows developers to use groundwork already created in in research for vaccines for those viruses. Australia’s national science agency CSIRO announced earlier this month that it has begun pre-clinical tests of a vaccine developed by Oxford University, U.K. A striking feature of the vaccine development landscape for Covid-19 is the range of technology platforms being evaluated, including nucleic acid (DNA and RNA), virus-like particle, live weakened virus, and inactivated virus approaches. The Progress Research is happening at breakneck speed. About 80 groups around the world are researching vaccines and some are now entering clinical trials.  A large number of candidate vaccines based on different vaccine platforms, including delivering the virus genetic materials (RNA, DNA) or using synthetic biology to produce key viral proteins, have already been developed. Of the eight trials currently enrolling volunteers, only three are in Phase 2. Of these, only the "Oxford Trial" (a Phase 1/Phase 2 hybrid) from the United Kingdom has prevention of Covid-19 infection, rather than a laboratory result, as the primary desired outcome. The first human trial for a vaccine was announced last month by scientists in Seattle. Unusually, they are skipping any animal research to test its safety or effectiveness In Oxford, the first human trial in Europe has started with more than 800 recruits - half will receive the Covid-19 vaccine and the rest a control vaccine which protects against meningitis but not coronavirus Another vaccine jointly developed by China’s Academy of Military Medical Sciences and CanSino Biologics has reportedly been cleared for early-stage clinical trials in which more than 100 healthy volunteers are scheduled to receive the vaccine. Australian scientists have begun injecting ferrets with two potential vaccines. It is the first comprehensive pre-clinical trial involving animals, and the researchers hope to test humans by the end of April However, no-one know how effective any of these vaccines will be. Vaccine Testing Phases Vaccine testing typically begins with animal and lab testing before going on to different stages of human testing. Phase A: Phase one trials are small-scale, usually involving few participants, to assess whether the vaccine is safe for humans. Phase B: Phase two trials often involve several hundred subjects, and mainly evaluate the efficacy of the vaccine against the disease Phase C: The final phase involves thousands of people to further assess the efficacy of the vaccine over a defined period of time, and can last several months Even after the vaccine is ready, there are a lot of challenges, including whether the vaccine is effective in all populations, and if it can be used for different strains of the novel coronavirus, which might start mutating as time passes. India With the world joining hands to find a vaccine for Covid-19, all eyes are on India, the powerhouse of vaccine manufacturing.  India produces 60 per cent of the world’s vaccines and accounts for 60-80 per cent of the United Nations’ annual vaccine procurement. A number of Indian companies have also helped over the years to produce and distribute vaccines to the world. Six Indian companies are working on a vaccine for COVID-19, joining global efforts to find a quick preventive for the deadly infection spreading rapidly across the world. Nearly 70 ‘vaccine candidates’ are being tested and at least three have moved to the human clinical trial stage, but a vaccine for the novel coronavirus is unlikely to be ready for mass use before 2021. Three approaches are being taken in drug development in the country: Repurposing of existing drugs: At least four drugs are undergoing synthesis and examination in this category Development of new candidate drugs and molecules are being driven by linking high performance computational approached with laboratory verification Plant extracts and products are being examined for general anti-viral properties Several academic research institutions and start-ups have developed new tests, both for the Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) approach and for antibody detection, in diagnosis and testing. Capacity for both these tests has been enormously scaled up by linking laboratories across the country. What works in India’s favour in the race for a vaccine? An established wide global network: About 90 per cent of the company’s vaccines are sold in lower- to middle-income countries. It owns 160 global patents and sells products in over 65 countries. India is ahead of the Covid-19 curve and should take the lead in the producing the vaccine. The most immediate need and role for India to play right now is “to enable large scale manufacturing, to enable rapid approvals, guidelines, and collective wisdom to deliver the appropriate vaccine. Collaborations and partnerships: The strategic approach to vaccine development by Indian biotech companies is to collaborate with academia, universities, research organisations and virologists to develop vaccines in co-support. Once development is over, Indian companies have mastered the art of accelerating mass-production and distribution across the world.    The price factor: India has been able to achieve price affordability through the economy of scale. A classic example is the case of the Rotavac Vaccine for “rotavirus” infections. India was able to manufacture and sell at almost one-fifteenth of the then-market cost in 2013.   The Way Forward Although it is quite evident that humans mount a strong immune response and clear the viral load, the nature of the immune response and how to trigger it safely through vaccination will be key questions to address.  Some early, but limited, studies from China have suggested that monkeys can be infected with this virus but can be protected from reinfection. How long the acquired immunity in humans will last is another important question to be asked before experimental vaccines move forward. We will need to know this because if the immunity is transient, then humans will be susceptible to reinfections.  Before moving to Phase-II trials in a large number of healthy volunteers, we also have to ensure that the immune response induced by vaccination does not lead to any disease enhancement, as has been observed in cases of some experimental vaccines against the dengue virus, and in animal studies with an experimental vaccine against the SARS virus. Given the urgency of finding a cure, it is absolutely necessary to find out unequivocally what works well and what does not. For that conducting carefully controlled randomised trials is the only way to go. In a welcome move, the WHO has announced clinical trials called the ‘Solidarity Project’. Under this four drugs or drug combinations will be tested in many countries around the world. These candidates include the anti-Ebola drug, Remdesivir, Chloroquine, anti-HIV drugs, and the Ritonavir/Lopinavir combination, with or without Interferon-beta. Many countries have already signed up for these trials and all drug companies, including CIPLA from India, have agreed to supply sufficient quantity of drugs needed. Connecting the Dots: For decades, dengue fever, a viral infection common in tropical climates, has been known to cause a much more severe infection the second time certain people develop the disease. Can the vaccine end up making the infection more severe? Discuss. Essay:  The cure must not be worse than the disease The battle between pathogens and humans New technology comes with a learning curve; that learning curve has a human prize. 

VIDEO:CURRENT AFFAIRS PRELIMS (CAP) - TO THE POINT

[VIDEO] IASbaba Daily CURRENT AFFAIRS PRELIMS (CAP) - TO THE POINT! 12th May, 2020 (Prelims Topics Discussion and MCQ’s)

Dear Students, Previous PRELIMS Topics [VIDEOS] -> ARCHIVES The Prelims Video Discussions are done by Ayman Jamal, IPS 2018. She was the highest scorer (206) in the UPSC 2018 Interview. She has cleared UPSC Prelims 4 times and many other competitive exams like Bihar public service commission exam, Assistant Labour Commissioner Exam, etc. Her knowledge and experience of the competitive exam and especially UPSC Prelims will be a special value add in this series of Video Discussions.   ABOUT THE PROGRAM – CAP - TO THE POINT! A video will be uploaded Daily (Monday – Friday)covering the most important Current Affair Topics for Prelims. Daily 5 Most Important topics from Prelims perspective will be covered. The video will also include 5 MCQs on the topics discussed so that you can grasp those concepts clearly and understand the dynamics and demands of the Exam. Each Video will be of 15-20 minutes Duration. The first 12-15 minutes will be on Prelims Topics Discussion, followed by Prelims Mcq's in the last 5 Minutes. In a week we will cover 20 Topics and 20 MCQ's. Coverage will be from The Hindu, Indian Express, and PIB which are the most important sources for the Prelims Exam.   Today’s CURRENT AFFAIRS PRELIMS (CAP) – TO THE POINT, 12th May,2020 SUBSCRIBE to IASbaba’s Website (below) and our YOUTUBE Channel for the latest and most important updates!! As per the Students Demand, now you can Download the PPT of the Prelims Discussion below- TO DOWNLOAD THE PPT -> CLICK HERE   TOPICS & SOURCES IN TODAY’S VIDEO: 1. CM & PM (article in the constitution) The Hindu https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/uddhav-other-mva-leaders-file-nomination-for-mlc-polls/article31561835.ece   2. ELISA Test PIB https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1622766   3. Birth Rate, Death Rate, IMR The Indian Express https://indianexpress.com/article/india/national-infant-mortality-rate-at-32-madhya-pradesh-worst-performer-6402497/   4. NGT, Strict liability & Absolute liability  The Indian Express https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/visakhapatnam-gas-tragedy-ngt-cites-obsolete-law-in-gas-leak-case/article31537617.ece   5. Atal Pension Yojana PIB https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1622981 The Hindu https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/govt-to-allow-atal-pension-subscribers-for-partial-withdrawal-from-pf-fund-amid-covid-19-pfrda/article31300991.ece     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!   Happy learning :) All the best IASbaba

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

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

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 12th May 2020 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) A project to develop human monoclonal antibodies (hmAbs) approved Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – Health & GS-III - Science and Technology In News: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has approved a project to develop human monoclonal antibodies (hmAbs) through New Millennium Indian Technology Leadership Initiative (NMITLI) programme.  These antibodies can neutralize SARS-CoV-2 in patients. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for causing coronavirus disease (COVID-19).  Key takeaways: hmAbs shall be generated from convalescent phase of COVID-19 patients.  High affinity and neutralizing antibodies shall be selected.  The project aims to anticipate future adaptation of the virus and generate hmAbs clones that can neutralize the mutated virus and combat future SARS-CoV infections. Important value additions: New Millennium Indian Technology Leadership Initiative (NMITLI) It is the largest public-private-partnership effort within the Research & Development field in the country.  It seeks to act as a catalyst in innovation-centered scientific and technological developments.  It also aims to help Indian industry achieve a global leadership position.  Monoclonal antibodies (mAb or moAb)  They are antibodies that are made by identical immune cells that are all clones of a unique parent cell.  They can have monovalent affinity, in that they bind to the same epitope (the part of an antigen that is recognized by the antibody). COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project  Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – International Relations In News: Recently, India and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) signed a $500 million “COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project” to strengthen India's public health preparedness. The project was launched in New Delhi, India.  This is the first ever health sector support from AIIB to India. Key takeaways: This will cover all States and Union Territories across the country and  It will address the needs of:  infected people,  at-risk populations,  medical and emergency personnel and service providers,  medical and testing facilities, national and animal health agencies. It will help strengthen the country's Integrated Disease Surveillance Program and revamp infectious disease hospitals and medical colleges.  It will be implemented by: the National Health Mission (NHM) the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)  The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare will be the responsible Ministry for the program.  The project is being financed by the World Bank and AIIB: $1.0 billion - World Bank $500 million - AIIB. Important value additions: The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)  It is a multilateral development bank.  Mission: To improve social and economic outcomes in Asia by investing in sustainable infrastructure and other productive sectors.  Headquarters: Beijing.  It began operations in 2016.  Potential distribution of the Sal forest tortoise over unprotected areas Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Environment In News: According to a recent study by ecologists in the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, over 90% of the potential distribution of the Sal forest tortoise falls outside the current protected area’s network. Image source :The Hindu Important value additions: Sal forest tortoise It is a species of tortoise.  It is also known as Elongated tortoise and Yellow Tortoise.  It is found in Southeast Asia and parts of the Indian Subcontinent, particularly Northeast India. IUCN Status: Critically Endangered. It is heavily hunted for food and collected both for local use, such as decorative masks, and international wildlife trade. In china, a mixture, made by grinding up the tortoise's shell, also serves as an aphrodisiac.  Miscellaneous  Shekatkar Committee  Recently, Indian Defence Minister has approved a proposal for the abolition of numerous posts in the Military Engineering Service (MES). This was done according to recommendations of the Lt. Gen. D.B. Shekatkar (Retd.) Committee. It was appointed in 2016,  The recommendations ranged from optimising defence budget to the need for a Chief of the Defence Staff. (MAINS FOCUS) POLITY Topic: General Studies 2: Parliament and State Legislatures – structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.  Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions.   Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Is the Rajya Sabha essential? Context: Below editorial covers the following areas - Basics or key facts about Rajya Sabha Whether we need Rajya Sabha? - Arguments in favour and arguments in against Views of proponents and opponents Key facts about Rajya Sabha The Rajya Sabha is the Upper House (Second Chamber or House of Elders) and it represents the states and union territories of the Indian Union. It came into being on April 3, 1952 and held its first session on May 13 the same year.  Government of India Act of 1919 introduced, for the first time, bicameralism. Government of India Act, 1935 proposed an elaborate and improved version of the second chamber, but this never materialised. Bicameralism is a specific feature of Federal form of government and was borrowed from the British Constitution. Do we need Rajya Sabha? Arguments in favour The Rajya Sabha is required to maintain the federal equilibrium by protecting the interests of the states against the undue interference of the Centre. The second chamber enables a second and reflective expression of representative opinion.  Both the Houses check one another and hence instances of parliamentary tyranny can be avoided. In other words, it can ensure that the majoritarian thrust of the Lower House does not undermine rule of law and public institutions. Legislation is checked by members who are expected to be sober, wise and well-informed with domain knowledge. It represents the interests of the States as a federal chamber. (Promotes Federalism) It acts as a deliberative body holding high-quality debates on important issues. It helps to initiate proposals for public policy.  Rajya Sabha can be the voice of sanity, of the excluded, and of citizen rights. Arguments against  In 2006 in Kuldip Nayar v. Union of India and Others, the SC held that - Rajya Sabha has turned out to be another chamber of the Parliament akin to the Lok Sabha, except for the mode of selection of its members. The deadlock between both Houses on parliamentary matters is a major setback to India’s progress and shows the leadership of all parties in a bad light. Cronyism and patronage appointments are increasing. Only some members have the necessary qualifications that will do justice to the role of the Rajya Sabha, others do not measure up. Many parties are now using the Rajya Sabha as a backdoor to get members elected, most of whom will not be able to win a Lok Sabha election. People get in from States they are least connected with. Parliamentary logjams and stalling of legislation can be avoided. Opponents view According to Mr. Mohd. Tahir (Constiuent Assembly member) - “Upper House was not essential and viewed it as a creation of imperialism.” According to Professor Shibban Lal Saksena – “the second chamber acts as an obstruction in the wheel of progress of the nation as it doesn’t enable quick law-making.” Proponents view According to Naziruddin Ahmad – a second chamber would introduce an element of sobriety and second thought besides lending voice to the constituent units in the legislative scheme of things. According to M. Ananthasayanam Ayyangar – a second chamber would check hasty legislation and it can make place for genius people “who may not be able to win a popular mandate”. According to N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar - a second chamber will help to “hold dignified debates on important issues and to delay legislations which might be the outcome of passions of the moment until the passions have subsided and calm consideration could be bestowed on the measures which will be before the Legislature.” According to Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the first Chairman of the Rajya Sabha - Because of Rajya Sabha, Parliament is not just a mere legislative body but also a deliberative one. It enables the members to debate major issues of public importance. Lokanath Mishra described it as “a sobering House, a reviewing House, a House standing for quality and the members will be exercising their right to be heard on the merits of what they say, for their sobriety and knowledge of special problems.” Rajya Sabha largely duplicates the functions of the Lok Sabha and is unnecessary. - Abbé Sieyès Conclusion: The council of states emerged after it was subjected to serious argumentation and underdoing severe scrutiny in the Constituent Assembly. It should be our responsibility to make it an effective and time-bound contributor to India’s parliamentary system. It has the role of a watchdog, it must assert itself as a House of correction. Its function is to improve legislation passed by the Lower House and is not one of obstruction. Connecting the dots: What measures are needed to make the Council of States more effective and a deliberative body? Do you think Rajya Sabha needs reforms? If yes, why and what type of reforms are needed? Rajya Sabha is the repository of diverse intellect that ensures in depth scrutiny and wide ranging debates. Even though, it has limited functional powers, its role in India’s polity can’t be belittled. Critically comment. POLITY/GOVERNANCE Topic: General Studies 2: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and the States and the performance of these schemes. Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential Arogya Setu app: Advantages and Issues  Below editorial covers the following areas - What is arogya setu app? Its advantages Issues concerning the app How to overcome the issues Aarogya Setu It is Indian COVID-19 tracking mobile application.  It is developed by the National Informatics Centre which comes under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. Purpose:  To spread awareness of COVID-19 To connect essential COVID-19 - related health services to the people of India. It uses the smartphone's GPS and Bluetooth features to track the coronavirus infection. With Bluetooth, it determines the risk if one has been near (within six feet of) a COVID-19 - infected person, by scanning through a database of known cases across India.  Using location information, one can determine whether a particular location is one of the infected areas.  It is an updated version of an earlier app called Corona Kavach (now discontinued).  For which category of people has the installation of the app been made compulsory?  As per the directive issued under the Disaster Management Act, it is compulsory for following people to install the app: all people residing in ‘containment zones’,  all government and public sector staff,  all employees, both public and private, who are allowed to work during the lockdown,  Stranded Indians in abroad, once they landed in India through Vande Bharat Mission. Travelers who will be traveling in special passenger trains.  Image source: Click Here Advantages of the app: Individuals and authorities shall remain informed in case they have crossed paths with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus.  It works on Bluetooth-based technology. Absence of internet connectivity won't pose a problem.  The app recommends several measures such as Self Assessment Test, Social distancing, do's and don't.  It informs about the precautionary measures.  As per the statement by the Prime Minister's Office, it could also be used as an e-pass for traveling.  In case, a user is at high risk, the app will advise him/her to go for a test at a nearby testing centre and call the toll-free number 1075 immediately. The helpline number for each state is also available.  Issues with the app It is imposed through executive order without any legalisation. It is being regarded as sophisticated surveillance system.  Recently, Robert Baptiste tweeted that security vulnerabilities in Aarogya Setu allowed hackers to know who is infected or unwell in the area of his choice. He also gave details of how many people were unwell and infected at the Prime Minister's Office, the Indian Parliament and the Home Office.  The app’s Terms of Service (TOS) provides blanket limited liability on the government. Thus, there is no government accountability in case of data theft of users.  The app breaches the fundamental right to privacy. There is no legal framework to show the breach as reasonable. If users have no control over their data, it is a complete violation of their right to informational self-determination and the right to be forgotten. The closed source architecture of the app violates transparency principles.  Under the TOS, the government is obligated to delete certain personal data after a 30-day time period. However, there exists no framework to check compliance of the same.  Ever-changing rules add to the problem. Recently, the app updated its privacy policy without notifying users. Such actions do not inspire trust. There are no safeguards against data theft and other breaches.  It is not clear if the government has conducted scenario analyses of how the app can be misused or abused. This is crucial in India given how much stigmatisation has already occurred (communities refusing to bury bodies of COVID patients and an instance of the lynching of a person suspected to be positive).  There are no guidelines about how the government plans to deal with cases of false positives. There are no clear instructions to deal with people who may make wrong inference or stigmatise someone on the basis of faulty algorithms. The app is useless for the low-income non-smartphone users. There exists no alternative for them as well.  How to overcome the issues? The government must heed privacy concerns raised by the Opposition,  It should look at the experiences and experiments in other countries. The app code must be opened so that they can be audited for design and programming flaws. For example, Singapore’s TraceTogether app was made open source, thus allowing researchers and experts to test the architecture and suggest measures to correct vulnerabilities. It will help in bringing transparency and deal with bugs. India must contemplate a legal design around the app, which strikes a balance between disease containment and privacy. It should address fears among the public that it may become a permanent mass surveillance instrument. It should also ensure that there is sufficient anonymity of data and access is limited.  It must resort to methods that cause the least harm. Conclusion Across India, there are efforts to build databases of people’s health records to enable easier treatment, including through telemedicine.  If instances of misuse of the Aarogya Setu app emerge, then people will not trust other government initiatives involving health records, even if they are undertaken with due care, inclusive consultations, and respect for privacy. Connecting the dots: How well is India equipped to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic post the lockdown? Examine.  What are the controversies surrounding the Arogya Setu app? Discuss in detail.  (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 With regard to new Millennium Indian Technology Leadership Initiative Program, consider the following statements:  It is an initiative launched by private Research and Development companies of India. A project to develop human monoclonal antibodies was recently approved by CSIR through this program Which of the above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2 Consider the following statements regarding monoclonal antibodies:  They are all made by immune cells which are identical.  They have multivalent affinity to the same epitope. Which of the above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3 COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project was launched between India and which of the following organisation/Bank?  The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank  International Monetary Fund  World Health Organisation  Asian Development Bank Q.4 Consider the following statements regarding Sal forest tortoise:  It is critically endangered according to IUCN status.  It is also used as an aphrodisiac Which of the above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 ANSWERS FOR 11th May 2020 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 D 2 B 3 A Must Read About U.S – China confrontation over international trade The Indian Express About India’s first war of Independence The Indian Express About EU fiscal stimulus The Hindu About Indian states’ consensus over special trains The Hindu

60 DAYS PROGRAMME-PRELIMS 2020

IASbaba’s 60 Day Plan- IAS Prelims Test Series 2020 (COMPILATIONS-WEEK 9 & 10)

IASbaba’s 60 Day Plan- IAS Prelims Test Series 2020 (COMPILATIONS-WEEK 9 & 10) Dear Friends,  We hope that the UPSC IAS Prelims Test Series 2020: 60 Days Prelims 2020 Programme is and will be your best companion for UPSC IAS Prelims 2020. We are releasing the 9th-10th weeks of Compilations- Subject Wise, to ease your preparation.  We have some more exciting things coming up for Prelims 2020- Stay Tuned! DOWNLOAD THE COMPILATIONS CURRENT AFFAIRS- ENGLISH/HINDI ENVIRONMENT- ENGLISH/HINDI POLITY- ENGLISH/HINDI ECONOMY- ENGLISH/HINDI HISTORY- ENGLISH/HINDI GEOGRAPHY- ENGLISH/HINDI SCIENCE & TECH- ENGLISH/HINDI   PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE CURRENT AFFAIRS CLASSES (12 SESSIONS-By Tauseef Sir): JOIN NOW! Mohan Sir, Founder of IASbaba LIVE on YouTube on 8th April 2020 from 7.30 pm – 8pm   Thank You IASbaba Team!

RSTV Video

Pakistan’s anti-India propaganda exposed – The Big Picture – RSTV IAS UPSC

Pakistan’s anti-India propaganda exposed Archives TOPIC: General Studies 2 India and its neighbourhood Government policies – cyber-warfare In News: Recent media reports claim that Pakistan has launched a cyber warfare against India by spreading fake propaganda on alleged Islamophobia in India. The Hindustan Times reported that authorities in India have linked several social media posts that targeted India and Prime Minister Modi to Pakistan.  Social media witnessed a sudden increase in the number of Pakistani accounts changing their profile names to fake Arab, Christian and Hindu identities to spread misinformation and anti-India propaganda. Security agencies and independent social media users, after investigation, found that the recent hashtags like “Islamophobia in India” on Twitter, were mostly sourced to bots, trolls and people in Pakistan. Pakistan-based groups have purchased hundreds of domains with “.in” suffix. These newly bought domains will be converted to media outlets and will be used to spread fake news. Since these media outlets will have an Indian domain name, they will carry more trust value among the Indian and international readers who will visit them. The Reason: Fuel anti-India sentiments in the Gulf countries to put a strain on the ties of India with the west Asian countries India has increased its engagement with the Gulf countries since PM Modi came into power in 2014. The invitation extended to India by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to participate in the foreign ministers’ meet in 2019 was a major blow to Pakistan that has consistently opposed India’s entry into the grouping despite having the third-largest Muslim population in the world. To hurt India’s economic interests in the Gulf countries from where India received roughly $35 billion as remittance annually in 2017 from the millions of workers deployed in these countries. Earlier, Pakistan used similar tactics when certain sections of Article 370 were revoked in 2019, but failed miserably.  Pakistan’s fake anti-India social media propaganda  The Genesis The hate mongering is at its peak since the day PM Modi-led government announced its decision to scrap J&K’s special status and divided it into the two union territories. Knocked the doors of every nation, including the Gulf countries, against the India’s decision but it got a very cold response. None of the countries endorsed Pakistan’s stand and refused to intervene.  Used the stage of United Nations to spew venom against India and its leadership and launched personal attacks on PM Modi and the RSS  Threat of nuclear war that could break out between the two countries - failed to get any support A full-fledged war against India on social media Hundreds of fake accounts were activated in the neighbouring country with fake names to create hatred against the Indian leadership and to create a wedge between Hindus and Muslims in India by projecting ruling Bharatiya Janata Party as anti-Muslim. Attempts were made to project Citizenship Amendment Act as a move to eliminate Muslims from India. Govt. had to keep reiterating that CAA won’t snatch anyone’s citizenship and it has got nothing to do with the Indian Muslims. Riots in New Delhi were the eventual fall out of the provocation and the misinformation which was spread by the people with vested interests.  Many social media accounts having Hindu names spread venom against Muslims and make every possible attempt to instigate Muslims against Hindus. This entire hate machinery is being run from the neighbouring country to make us fall into this false propaganda which is aimed at creating rift and dividing our country on the basis of religion. The Miss from India’s end India’s cyber warfare is handled by the National Cyber Coordination Centre (NCCC), that comes under the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS). It is the NCCC which coordinates cyber security intelligence and handles national cyber security, and started functioning from April 2015. However, as the last two weeks’ developments show, the NCCC is failing to handle the heat that is coming from Pakistan-based cyber groups. One of the main problems that makes India vulnerable to organised cyber-attacks is the presence of too many organisations to tackle the cyber threat. In sum, there are six apex bodies, five ministries, almost 30 agencies and five coordinating agencies that make up the cyber organisation in India. India’s very own PMO was hacked in 2011. And all of them work on a ‘defensive’ mode and because of this, no one takes a proactive approach like the Pakistanis have done in the last two weeks The Way Forward Building capabilities to prevent and respond to cyber threats A new cyber security policy, to replace the existing one Action-packed and not full of words policy is required Draw lessons from Operation Glowing Symphony which was a response that was created by US Cyber Command to take on the cyber capabilities of the ISIS. It is regarded as one of the most secret, largest and longest offensive cyber operations in US military history. Connecting the Dots: Operation Glowing Symphony The religious fault lines in India were first used by Britishers and now by Pakistan. Comment. Discuss India’s lack of capabilities in executing similar “fake-news” warfare to counter these attacks. What are the main problems that make India vulnerable to organised cyber-attacks? Discuss solutions.  

PIB

PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU (PIB) IAS UPSC – 1st May to 9th May – 2020

Press Information Bureau (PIB) IAS UPSC – 1st May to 9th May – 2020 ARCHIVES GS-2 Government raises Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Minor Forest Produce (MFP) (Topic: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections) In view of the exceptional and very difficult circumstances currently prevailing in the country on  account of COVID-19 pandemic and the potential of the instant scheme to offer the much needed support to the tribal MFP gatherers and therefore has raised MSP for 49 items. The MSP for MFPs is revised once in every 3 years by the Pricing Cell constituted under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India. The Saras Collection on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal A unique initiative of GeM and the DeenDayalAntyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), Ministry of Rural Development, the Saras Collection showcases daily utility products made by rural self-help groups (SHGs) and aims to provide SHGs in rural areas with market access to Central and State Government buyers. Under this initiative, the SHG sellers will be able to list their products in 5 product categories, namely  (i) Handicrafts (ii) Handloom and textiles (iii) Office accessories (iv) Grocery and pantry (v) Personal care and hygiene Minimum Support Price for Minor Forest Produce Scheme The scheme for forest produce has been started with following objectives: To provide fair price to the MFP gatherers and enhance their income level.  To ensure sustainable harvesting of MFPs. To ensure huge social dividend for MFP gatherers, majority of whom are tribals. Earlier, the scheme was only implemented in States having Schedule areas as listed in the Fifth Schedule of the constitution of India.  Since 2016, the scheme is applicable in all States. Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED)  It came into existence in 1987.  It is a national-level apex organization.  The basic objective of the TRIFED is to provide good price of the ‘Minor Forest Produce (MFP) collected by the tribes of the country. It functions under Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Govt. of India. TRIFED has its Head Office at New Delhi.  It has a network of 13 Regional Offices located at various places in the country. Minor Forest Produce (MFP) Section 2(i) of the Forest Rights Act defines a Minor Forest Produce (MFP) as all non-timber forest produce of plant origin and includes bamboo, brushwood, stumps, canes, cocoon, honey, waxes, Lac, tendu/kendu leaves, medicinal plants etc. The definition of “minor forest produce” includes bamboo and cane, thereby changing the categorization of bamboo and cane as “trees” under the Indian Forest Act 1927. Let us revise Forest Rights Act (FRA)  Grants legal recognition to the rights of traditional forest dwelling communities, partially correcting the injustice caused by the forest laws. Makes a beginning towards giving communities and the public a voice in forest and wildlife conservation. Why is it required? India’s forests are home to crores of people, including many Scheduled Tribes, who live in or near the forest areas of the country. Since times immemorial, the tribal communities of India have had an integral and close knit relationship with the forests and have been dependent on the forests for livelihoods and existence in the form of minor forest produce, water, grazing grounds and habitat for shifting cultivation. For the first time Forest Rights Act recognises and secures community Rights or rights over common property resources of the communities in addition to their individual rights. Supporters of the Act claim that it will redress the “historical injustice” committed against forest dwellers, while including provisions for making conservation more effective and more transparent. What are the rights granted under the Act? Title rights – i.e. ownership – to land that is being fared by tribals or forest dwellers as on 13 December 2005, subject to a maximum of 4 hectares; ownership is only for land that is actually being cultivated by the concerned family as on that date, meaning that no new lands are granted. Use rights – to minor forest produce (also including ownership), to grazing areas, to pastoralist routes. Relief and development rights – to rehabilitation in case of illegal eviction or forced displacement and to basic amenities, subject to restrictions for forest protection Forest management rights – to protect forests and wildlife Right to intellectual property and traditional knowledge related to biodiversity and cultural diversity Rights of displaced communities Rights over developmental activities Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA) authorizes the States give the Gram Sabah’s power to regulate and restrict sale/consumption of liquor ownership of minor forest produce power to prevent alienation of land and restore alienated land power to manage village markets, control money lending to STs power to manage village markets, control money lending to STs and Mandatory executive functions to approve plans of the Village Panchayats, identify beneficiaries for schemes, issue certificates of utilization of funds. Impact of FRA Land Conflicts Recognition of rights will check conflict over resources Will decrease conflict among tribal and between them and outsiders Simplify land acquisition process as the rights of the individuals could be easily ascertained Social Impact Identification of land rights would create a sense of empowerment and security Decrease in alienation from land will protect tribal culture also Will strengthen democratic decentralization by empowering Gram Sabha Will check harassment by outsiders, including forest bureaucracy Economic Impact Land right would ensure tribal can economically utilize the land and would also incentivize investment on the land Right over forest produce will help in increasing their income Proper compensation would be awarded in case of acquisition of land Committees on ‘Minor Forest Produce’ A.K.Sharma Committee: The committee was set up to look in to the issues related with the ownership of the Gram Sabha, fair prices, institutional mechanism, value addition, etc. and suggest remedial measures including Ownership, Price fixation, Value addition and Marketing of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) T Haque Committee: The Ministry of Panchayati Raj had constituted a Committee under the chairmanship of Dr. T. Haque to look into different aspects of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) management in fifth schedule areas which has recommended for fixation of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for 14 MFPs in its final report. These are Tamarind, Mahuwa flower, Mahuwa seed, Tendu leaf, Bamboo, Sal Seed, Myrobalan, Chironji, Lac, Gum karaya, Honey, Seeds of Karanja, Neem and Puwad. To operationalizing the MSP for selected MFPs, the earlier Planning Commission had suggested for Central Price Fixation Commission for MFP as an autonomous body under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. All primary collectors including tribal and people living in and around the forests involved in the MFP collection will be benefitted. Solve: Implementation of the Forest Rights Act, in letter and spirit, will not only help resolve the increasing land conflicts but also help uplift the economic and social status of forest dwellers. Analyse. The Future of River Management (Topic: Government schemes and policies) The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti and National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) organized an IDEAthon on “The future of River Management’ to explore how the COVID-19 crisis can shape River Management strategies for the future. The Sustainable Development Goals which have a very definitive vision for water governance, are what governments should be aiming towards, especially given the significance of river basin management for India. It necessitates a shift towards multi-stakeholder and inter-ministerial approaches, as well as integrated information systems. NMCG is also working with GIZ in developing the River Basin Organization and also River Basin Planning and Management Cycle to develop an adaptive framework under Namami Gange for Ganga river basin management. A baseline integration of data systems acquired and accumulated by various Ministries will be helpful in better management and implementation of action plans.  Water governance of the future, will have to integrate efforts not only within the government infrastructure, but those of communities, societies, NGOs, action groups, startups and individuals as well.  Though it is very difficult to calculate economic value of intangible things but economic evaluation of the ecosystem services is also one of the areas where focus is needed for better management of natural resources.  The concept of ‘Arth Ganga’: Government expenditures on irrigation, flood control and dams, interventions like promotion of organic farming, fisheries, medical plantation, tourism and transportation and biodiversity parks are some of the proven models of Arth Ganga. There is a need of adaptive governance which should be how river management is to be approached to incorporate future challenges with collaborative partnership. Essay Topic: It is now, “not the survival of the fittest, but survival of the most adaptive.”  Launch of INR - USD Futures and Options contracts in the International Exchanges at GIFT-IFSC (Topic: Government policies related to Indian economy) Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs launched INR-USD Futures and Options contracts on the two International Exchanges, viz BSE’s India INX and NSE’s NSE-IFSC, at GIFT International Financial Services Centre  Over the last decade or so a significant market share in financial services related to India has moved to other international financial centres. Bringing this business to India is clearly beneficial in terms of economic activity and employment gains for India. The launch of INR-USD contracts at the exchanges in GIFT-IFSC is a step in this direction. This will be available 22 hours across all time zones for all global participants from GIFT IFSC. Given the world class business environment and competitive tax regime at GIFT-IFSC, it is expected that trading of INR-USD contracts may bring volumes to India. This would also bring larger global participation in India through IFSC and connect India’s IFSC globally. Government of India & AIIB sign agreement for $500 million COVID-19 support for India (Topic: India and important international bodies) The Government of India and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) signed a US$ 500 million “COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project” to help India to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthen its public health preparedness. This is the first ever health sector support from the Bank to India. This new support will cover all States and Union Territories across India and address the needs of infected people, at-risk populations, medical and emergency personnel and service providers, medical and testing facilities, and national and animal health agencies. It will also help address potential significant negative externalities in the event of a widespread COVID-19 outbreak, including comprehensive health awareness and behaviour change campaigns on hygiene practices, wearing masks, social distancing, and mental health and psychological services for vulnerable communities. The project is being financed by the World Bank and AIIB in the amount of $1.5 billion, of which $1.0 billion will be provided by World Bank and $500 million will be provided by AIIB. The project will be implemented by the National Health Mission (NHM), the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. GS-3 Launch of Kisan Sabha App (Topic: Agriculture and marketing) Aim:  To connect farmers to supply chain and freight transportation management system To provide the most economical and timely logistics support to the farmers and increase their profit margins by minimizing interference of middlemen and directly connecting with the institutional buyers.  To provide best market rates of crops by comparing nearest mandis, booking of freight vehicle at cheapest cost thereby giving maximum benefit to the farmers Features The portal connects the farmers, transporters, Service providers (like pesticides/ fertilizer/ dealers, cold store and warehouse owner), mandi dealers, customers (like big retail outlets, online stores, institutional buyers) and other related entities for timely and effective solution. The portal acts as a single stop for every entity related to agriculture, be they a farmer who needs better price for the crops or mandi dealer who wants to connect to more farmers or truckers who invariably go empty from the mandis. KisanSabha also works for people in agriculture services sector such as dealers of fertilizers/ pesticides,who can reach out to more farmers for their services. It would also prove to be useful for those associated with cold store(s) or godown(s). KisanSabha also provides a platform for people who want to buy directly from the farmers Green Gold: Bamboo (Topic: Agriculture sector (Indian Economy)) Known as green gold, bamboo is ubiquitous as it dominates rural and urban landscapes. From artifacts to sustainable architecture, bamboo remains a favourite as it’s fast to grow, low on maintenance and has versatile potential. Known as ‘poor man’s timber’, bamboo is omnipresent in tribal cultures and community living. Rural communities engage with bamboo handicrafts, textiles, artifacts, and household utilities. Examples include Tripura bamboo silks, heritage cuisines with roasted and pickled bamboo shoots, cultural symbols like the Assamese ‘Jaapi’ (made of bamboo, cane, and palm), widely popular bamboo tree houses, machans, besides modern sustainable architectural concepts and musical instruments. Government’s Efforts India is the world’s second-largest cultivator of bamboo after China, with 136 species and 23 genera spread over 13.96 million hectares, according to the State of Environment report 2018.  The National Bamboo Mission, under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, has been initiated to provide a boost to livelihood and environmental acreage.  Additionally, in 2017, Parliament ‘declassified’ bamboo as ‘a tree’ on non-forest lands. Similarly, a scheme called SFURTI (Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries) is being implemented by the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in order to boost traditional industries and bamboo artisans. Amendment has been brought about in the 100 year old Indian Forest Act brought about by the Modi government in 2017, as a result of which, home grown bamboo has been exempted from it in order to enhance livelihood opportunities through bamboo. While the total requirement of “Agarbatti” in India is about 2,30,000 per annum and the market value of it is up to Rs 5000 crore, we have been importing a large bulk of it from countries like China and Vietnam. In the Post - COVID era, it is an opportunity for the North Eastern region to help India become world competitive and self-sufficient in the changed scenario Way Forward: There is a need to work out a time bound plan for promotion of bamboo manufacturing and trade Work out feasibility of Public Private Partnership (PPP) in this sector.  Key pointers: Northeast consists 60% of India’s reserve of Bamboo. India has the world’s largest fields of bamboo. It grows on nearly 13% of the country’s forest land. The eight North-eastern States – Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura – grow 67% of India’s bamboo and have 45% of global bamboo reserves. Nearly 35 species of superior quality bamboos are found in the region. Every year, September 18 is observed as the World Bamboo Day by the World Bamboo Organisation Bamboo and culture A popular process known as ‘Do’o Brenga’, where chicken is cooked inside the hollow of a fresh, green bamboo is popular in north-eastern states. Spicy ingredients are stuffed inside the bamboo and placed on fire for distinct flavours.  Baskets, fishing nets, storage vessels, mug-handles used in ‘Longpi’ pottery from Manipur are other uses. Musical instruments like Assamese ‘Gogona’ used in Bihu dance, ‘Tirio’ (a flute made by the Santhals) of central India, and ‘Pangsi’ (a type of flute) crafted by the ‘Tiwa’ community in Assam are some rare gems made of bamboo. In 2017, Moa Subong (56), a musician from Dimapur, Nagaland was awarded the National award at the 9th National Grassroots Innovation Awards for his unique innovation ‘BamHum’, a wind musical instrument made of bamboo. ‘Jaapi’ from Assam and ‘Khumbeu’ from Mizoram are woven from bamboo and are important cultural symbols from these states. Crafted intricately with bamboo fibre, ‘Jaapi’ is a conical headgear popular in Assam, which is not only an important cultural expression but is also used by tea workers as umbrellas in the gardens. Ceremonial ‘Khumbeu’ or Mizo hats are made of bamboo and ‘hnahthial’ leaves belonging to the state of Mizoram, which has 57 percent of the geographical area under Bamboo cover (Government of Mizoram, 2017). Heritage weaves from the state of Tripura including Tripura silks, involve indigenous skills of weaving bamboo fibres after soaking them in water. It is one of the finest quality organic silks intricately woven. This art form has gained prominence after the joint agreement on handicrafts and handlooms between Japan and the Government of Tripura (2018). Bamboo Technology Parks The project for setting up three new Bamboo Technology Parks in Jammu, Srinagar and Leh would be in consonance with the National Bamboo Mission (NBM). A Bamboo Industrial Park has already been approved to be set up in the Dima Hasao district of Assam. Bamboo can be processed into multiple products, including bio-diesel and green fuel, wooden lumbers and plywood, which can change the entire face of the economy and create employment opportunities in multiple sectors. India houses immense potential to cultivate this green industry, promote sustainable production and consumption envisaged under Sustainable Development Goals (SDG#12), and contribute to ecological and cultural wealth, at the same time. Solve: Impact on lockdown on Livelihood of Tribals Study of flowering plant endemism of Northern Western Ghats highlights importance of plateaus in conservation plans (Topic: Environment) Scientists at the Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology have come up with plant data of the Northern Western Ghats which indicates that plateaus, in addition to the forests, should be prioritized for conservation of the Northern Western Ghats. It is the plateaus and the cliffs that harbour most of the endemic species, thus increasing their importance in conservation plans. A majority of the endemic species are therophytes, which complete their life cycle in a short period during monsoon. The Western Ghats of India is one of the global biodiversity hotspots owing to the endemism that is sheltered by a chain of mountains. The northern part of this biodiversity hotspot, along with the Konkan region, is considerably different from its southern and central counterparts on account of lesser precipitation and extended dry season. Technology A. COVID-19 - Scientists to culture novel coronavirus in human lung epithelial cell: To understand the molecular and pathological characteristics of the novel coronavirus, with a view of establishing a rational basis for testing potential drugs in vitro B. CSIR IGIB and TATA Sons sign an MoU for licensing KNOWHOW related to development of a kit for rapid and accurate diagnosis of COVID-19 It is a completely indigenous scientific invention and FELUDA for COVID-19 has been designed for mitigating the ongoing COVID-19 situation and cater to mass testing Its main advantages are its affordability, relative ease of use and non-dependency on expensive Q-PCR machines C. IIT Bombay Professor receives Young Career Award in Nano Science & Technology 2020 for Advanced Transistor Technologies: Professor Saurabh Lodha D. DST INSPIRE Faculty develops nanomaterials having energy storage application & optical sensors for water pollution control.  The SERS can help detect harmful molecules present in water at ultra-low concentrations. Their focus on energy and optoelectronics devices paves the way for the development of cost-effective and efficient devices, which can be used for energy storage application.  Their findings make way for materials which can be used as advanced photodetectors and also be used as optical sensors for water pollution control. E. Launch of Compendium of Indian Technologies for Combating COVID-19: This compendium will serve as a ready-reference for policy makers, industries, entrepreneurs, startups, MSMEs, research scholars, scientists and others. Categorised under 3Ts of Tracking, Testing and Treating, most of these technologies are proof-of-concept (POC) tested and can help the entrepreneurs to take the product to market faster as they do not have to reinvent the wheel. F. JNCASR scientists fabricate energy-efficient photodetector for security application:  It could help detect weak scattered light as an indication of unwanted activity The detector exhibits a rapid response of 40 microseconds and can detect low light intensities The device covers a broad spectral range from Ultraviolet to Infrared Importance: Photodetectors are the heart of any optoelectronic circuit that can detect light and are employed for a wide variety of applications ranging from controlling automatic lighting in supermarkets to detecting radiation from outer galaxy as well as security-related applications. However, the material cost and the intricate fabrication processes involved in realizing high-performance detectors make them unaffordable for day to day applications. G. CSIR through its NMITLI program approves a multi institutional project to develop human monoclonal antibodies (hmAbs) that can neutralize SARS-CoV-2 in patients: The project aims to generate hmAbs to SARS-CoV-2 from convalescent phase of COVID-19 patients and select high affinity and neutralizing antibodies. The project also aims to anticipate future adaptation of the virus and generate hmAbs clones that can neutralize the mutated virus so that could be readily used for combating future SARS-CoV infections Please Note: Operation “Samudra Setu” Indian Navy has launched Operation “Samudra Setu” - meaning “Sea Bridge”, as a part of national effort to repatriate Indian citizens from overseas. Indian Naval Ships Jalashwa and Magar are presently enroute to the port of Malè, Republic of Maldives to commence evacuation operations Soil Health Card Scheme Soil Health Cards are provided to all farmers at an interval of 2 years. these cards provide information to farmers on nutrient status of their soil along with recommendation on appropriate dosage of nutrients to be applied for improving soil health and its fertility. Deterioration of soil chemical, physical and biological health is considered as one of the reasons for stagnation of agricultural productivity in India. Soil Health Card provides two sets of fertilizer recommendations for six crops including recommendations of organic manures.  Farmers can also get recommendations for additional crops on demand.  They can also print the card as their own from SHC portal. SHC portal has farmers database of both the cycles and is available in 21 languages for the benefit of the farmers. A 2017 study by the National Productivity Council (NPC) found that the SHC scheme has promoted sustainable farming and led to a decrease of use of chemical fertilizer application in the range of 8-10%. Besides, overall increase in the yield of crops to the tune of 5-6% was reported due to application of fertilizer and micro nutrients as per recommendations available in the Soil Health Cards. ‘One Nation One Ration Card’ national portability platform: Under this scheme, eligible beneficiaries would be able to avail their entitled food grains under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) from any fair-price shop in the country. While the scheme was launched in June 2019, it was only in January 2020 that 12 states—Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Kerala, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telangana and Tripura—were integrated into the system. Consequently, last week, after the Supreme Court directed the Centre to consider whether it is feasible for it to implement this initiative at this stage, keeping in view the hardship caused by the lockdown, five more states were added to the system, taking the total integrated states to 17. These states are Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab, Daman and Diu, and Himachal Pradesh. Ration cardholders eligible for subsidized food grains can buy up to 5 kilograms of rice at Rs 3/kg, wheat at Rs 2/kg and coarse grains at Rs 1/kg per month. Low Pressure area over south Andaman Sea & adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal Fact Check: The frequency of the cyclones is lower in Arabian sea when compared to Bay of Bengal. This is because –  Bay of Bengal being a closed and a smaller water body, it has higher surface temperature compared to Arabian sea. North Western region of Pacific ocean has the highest proportion of global tropical cyclones. These cyclones which originate in the Pacific ocean start moving towards south western direction and finally reach Bay of Bengal. But by the time they reach, they almost lose their energy and only remnants of cyclones reach Bay of Bengal. Similarly the cyclones originated in Bay of Bengal reach Arabian sea but only remnants of cyclones after shedding their energy while traversing over the peninsular landmass. DAY-NRLM: DAY-NLRM aims to reduce poverty through promotion of diversified and gainful self-employment while creating skilled wage employment opportunities. The scheme supports building social capital and ensuring financial linkages to alleviate poverty and enhance the quality of the life of rural poor women. It has ambitious plans on innovations for alternate channels of financial inclusion like digital finance, creating value chains around rural products and improving market access, rural enterprise and strengthening community institutions. About GeM: Government e Marketplace (GeM) is a 100 percent Government owned Section 8 Company set up as the National Public Procurement Portal for procurement of goods and services required by Central and State Government organizations. GeM provides an online, end to end solution for procurement of goods and services for all Central Government and State Government Ministries, Departments, Public Sector Enterprises (PSEs), local bodies and autonomous organisations. The platform reduces human interventions in procurement and enables transparency, cost savings, inclusiveness and efficiency of faceless standardized public procurement. Satyajit Ray: Ministry of Culture’s Development of Museums and Cultural Spaces (DMCS) digitally launched the short film ‘A Ray of Genius’ to mark the beginning of the centenary celebrations of Satyajit Ray as motion-picture director, writer and illustrator. Satyajit Ray lives on in our memory through films like Pather Panchali, Charulata, Teen Kanya, Sonar Kella and the ‘Apu Trilogy’. With Pather Panchali (Song of the Road), Indian cinema was launched on the world stage. Jamini Roy: National Gallery of Modern Art paid tribute to the pioneering artist Jamini Roy on his 133rd Birth Anniversary year through virtual tour. This virtual tour of Jamini Roy has been represented in nine segments (Bird & Beast, Calligraphy & Sketches, Epic Myth & Folk Cults, Krishna Leela, Life of Christ, Mother & Child, Portrait & Landscapes, Santhals, Village life & Women)  showing the variations of mood in his creation, showing 203 out of 215 art works from the permanent collection of NGMA. Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore Also known by his pen name Bhanu Singha Thakur (Bhonita), and also known by his sobriquets Gurudev, Kabiguru, and Biswakabi, was a polymath, poet, musician, artist and ayurveda-researcher from the Indian subcontinent He is sometimes referred to as "the Bard of Bengal" Author of the "profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse" of Gitanjali, he became in 1913 the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature As a humanist, universalist, internationalist, and ardent anti-nationalist, he denounced the British Raj and advocated independence from Britain. As an exponent of the Bengal Renaissance, he advanced a vast canon that comprised paintings, sketches and doodles, hundreds of texts, and some two thousand songs; his legacy also endures in the institution he founded, Visva-Bharati University. Gitanjali (Song Offerings), Gora (Fair-Faced) and Ghare-Baire (The Home and the World) are his best-known works, and his verse, short stories, and novels were acclaimed—or panned—for their lyricism, colloquialism, naturalism, and unnatural contemplation.  His compositions were chosen by two nations as national anthems: India's Jana Gana Mana and Bangladesh's Amar Shonar Bangla. The Sri Lankan national anthem was inspired by his work. Tagore's Nobel Prize was stolen from the safety vault of the Visva-Bharati University, along with several other of his belongings on March 25, 2004. However, on December 7, 2004, the Swedish Academy decided to present two replicas of Tagore's Nobel Prize, one made of gold and the other made of bronze, to the Visva-Bharati University. It inspired the fictional film Nobel Chor. In the year 2011, to mark and honour Gurudev’s 150th birth anniversary, the Government of India had issued five rupee coins. It was Tagore who conferred the title of ‘Mahatma’ on MK Gandhi in 1915. Although Tagore is said to have admired Gandhi, he differed with him on certain issues. Rabindranath Tagore and Albert Einstein met four times between 1930 and 1931 and mutually revered each other for each other’s contributions. Gopal Krishna Gokhale (1866-1915) A protégé of Ranade and influenced by the British philosopher-parliamentarian Edmund Burke, Gokhale worked towards realising constitutional ideals in India for three decades and abjured the use of reactionary or revolutionary ways. Gokhale first arrived on the national scene after cross-examining British colonial expenditure at the Welby Commission of 1897 in England. Gokhale’s work earned him praise in India as he laid bare British military financing policies that heavily burdened Indian taxpayers much to the chagrin of then Viceroy Lord Curzon — regarded among the most vituperative of racists to occupy that post. In 1899, Gokhale joined the Indian National Congress, emerging as one of the main leaders of its ‘moderate’ wing, and gave up teaching three years later to work as a lawmaker for the remainder of his life. At Bombay, Gokhale opposed the British government’s onerous land revenue policies, advocated free and compulsory primary education, and asked for the creation of equal opportunities to fight against untouchability. At the Imperial legislature, Gokhale played a key role in framing the Morley-Minto reforms of 1909 and advocated for the expansion of legislative councils at both the Centre and the provinces. A critic of British imperial bureaucracy, Gokhale favoured decentralisation and the promotion of panchayat and taluka bodies. He also spoke for the Indian diaspora living in other parts of the British Empire and opposed tooth and nail the indentured labour system, raising their problems in the Imperial legislature as well as at Congress sessions. Gokhale became Congress president at its Banaras session in 1905. This was also the time when bitter differences had arisen between his group of ‘Moderates’ and the ‘Extremists’ led by Lala Lajpat Rai and Bal Gangadhar Tilak among others. Matters came to a head when the two factions split at the Surat session of 1907. Historians note that despite ideological differences, Gokhale maintained cordial relations with his opponents. In 1907, he fervently campaigned for the release of Lala Lajpat Rai, who was imprisoned that year by the British at Mandalay in present-day Myanmar. After Mahatma Gandhi’s return to India, he joined Gokhale’s group before going on to lead the independence movement. Gandhi regarded Gokhale as his political mentor, and wrote a book in Gujarati dedicated to the leader titled ‘Dharmatma Gokhale’. Solve: Compare and contrast the nationalism of Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Gopal Krishna Gokhale. Maharana Pratap The 13th king of Mewar, a region in north-western India in the present-day state of Rajasthan Rana Pratap's defiance of the mighty Mughal empire, almost alone and unaided by the other Rajput states, constitute a glorious saga of Rajput valour and the spirit of self-sacrifice for cherished principles.  Battle of Haldighati was fought between Akbar and Maharana Pratap Singh. Note: Maharana Pratap Sagar, also known as Pong Reservoir or Pong Dam Lake was created in 1975, by building the highest earthfill dam in India on the Beas River in the wetland zone of the Siwalik Hills of the Kangra district of the state of Himachal Pradesh. Named in the honour of Maharana Pratap (1540–1597), the reservoir or the lake is a well-known wildlife sanctuary and one of the 26 international wetland sites declared in India by the Ramsar Convention Solve:  Marathon of Mewar Historical significance of Battle of Haldighati and struggle led by Maharana Pratap against mughal invasion? Why isn’t Maharana Pratap called ‘the Great’ like Akbar? Think… History can be distorted, but only those who study history can be trusted with amending it. Discuss.

VIDEO:CURRENT AFFAIRS PRELIMS (CAP) - TO THE POINT

[VIDEO] IASbaba Daily CURRENT AFFAIRS PRELIMS (CAP) - TO THE POINT! 11th May, 2020 (Prelims Topics Discussion and MCQ’s)

Dear Students, Previous PRELIMS Topics [VIDEOS] -> ARCHIVES The Prelims Video Discussions are done by Ayman Jamal, IPS 2018. She was the highest scorer (206) in the UPSC 2018 Interview. She has cleared UPSC Prelims 4 times and many other competitive exams like Bihar public service commission exam, Assistant Labour Commissioner Exam, etc. Her knowledge and experience of the competitive exam and especially UPSC Prelims will be a special value add in this series of Video Discussions.   ABOUT THE PROGRAM – CAP - TO THE POINT! A video will be uploaded Daily (Monday – Friday)covering the most important Current Affair Topics for Prelims. Daily 5 Most Important topics from Prelims perspective will be covered. The video will also include 5 MCQs on the topics discussed so that you can grasp those concepts clearly and understand the dynamics and demands of the Exam. Each Video will be of 15-20 minutes Duration. The first 12-15 minutes will be on Prelims Topics Discussion, followed by Prelims Mcq's in the last 5 Minutes. In a week we will cover 20 Topics and 20 MCQ's. Coverage will be from The Hindu, Indian Express, and PIB which are the most important sources for the Prelims Exam.   Today’s CURRENT AFFAIRS PRELIMS (CAP) – TO THE POINT, 11th May,2020 SUBSCRIBE to IASbaba’s Website (below) and our YOUTUBE Channel for the latest and most important updates!! As per the Students Demand, now you can Download the PPT of the Prelims Discussion below- TO DOWNLOAD THE PPT -> CLICK HERE   TOPICS & SOURCES IN TODAY’S VIDEO: The Resistance Front, FATF, Global Terrorism Index The Hindu https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/trf-is-a-ploy-by-pakistan-to-evade-scrutiny-says-jks-dgp/article31512659.ece https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-to-raise-sheikh-saeed-case-at-fatf-after-pakistan-court-orders-his-release/article31240643.ece https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/niti-aayog-questions-australian-institutes-terror-ranking-of-india/article31455989.ece IEA - Global Energy Review 2020 The Indian Express https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/covid-19-lockdown-impact-global-energy-sector-demand-explained-6386515/ AIIB The Hindu https://www.thehindu.com/business/goi-borrows-500-million-from-aiib/article31537714.ece SECI & National Solar Mission PIB https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1622459 Shekatkar Committee  PIB https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1621750 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!   Happy learning :) All the best IASbaba

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