May 14, 2020 RSTV Video

Smart Cities & Managing COVID-19 – COVID-19: India Fights Back – RSTV IAS UPSC

Smart Cities & Managing COVID-19 Archives TOPIC: General Studies 2 Global crisis – COVID-19 Governance – Smart Cities India's Smart cities have used various technological solutions to tackle Covid-19 and manage the situation on the ground. Slowing down the spread of Covid-19 is going to require, among other things, a heavy reliance on India’s data infrastructures – providing real-time data readings for critical decision making - and its Smart Cities Mission. India launched the Smart Cities Mission in 2015 to deliver liveability, economic-ability and sustainability to its urban residents through adoption of context-specific solutions supported by robust IT connectivity, digitalization, and improved e-governance in 100 cities. India’s response to Covid-19 now depends on the successful use of its smart cities investment. Integrated Command and Control Centres (ICCCs) As of today, 45 cities have operational Integrated Command and Control Centres (ICCCs) set up under the smart cities mission, a further 31 cities are in the process of constructing theirs, and 18 more are issuing tenders.  ICCCs act as 24/7 nerve centres for city managers creating a situational awareness and real-time coordination of emergency response services.  Cities are having to creatively deploy the ICCC infrastructure - control rooms, web portals, sensors, drones, public address systems, surveillance cameras – to coordinate activities related to information, awareness, collaboration, management, predictive analysis and implementation of lockdown.  Covid-19 tracker applications, monitoring quarantine/isolation cases, apps for coordinating city departments and logistics, and telemedicine for medical appointments, are some of the manifestations of technology which stand out. Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh are among the states that are using the command centres for closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance of public places, geographic information system (GIS) mapping of Covid-19 positive cases and global positioning system (GPS) of healthcare workers. India’s response to Covid-19 spearheaded by few of its smart cities Tracing and treating the affected:  Most smart cities have leveraged their citizen engagement tools at the ICCC comprising city portals, citizen apps, variable display boards, public address systems, push notifications on mobiles from citizen database to disseminate information and create awareness amongst the citizens on the disease.  Some cities have introduced apps through which citizens can respond to 4-5 questions, based on which it can be determined whether they are at risk. If any respondent is assessed to be at risk, connects are made for digitally consulting a doctor over phone or meeting platforms and if required, guiding the person to testing centres in their locality. Accordingly, city health workers engage with the person identified at risk and guide them on isolation, quarantine or hospital facilities, which are already mapped across the city, by location. The concerned city health workers remain connected with the person and monitor & record his progress till the person is given an all clear.  The information from the app is aggregated at the ICCC for city authorities to get a city / specific location wide view of the status of persons identified at risk and determine the hotspots for further action which includes sanitizing the neighborhood, informing citizens staying in vicinity of hotspots, taking decisions on containment measures, etc. Smart cities like Pune, Surat, Bengaluru, etc. are tracking the status of the disease spread and identifying localized hotspots through integrated data analytics monitored at their respective ICCCs. Planning response through coordination amongst various state/ city authorities is being supported through the ICCC. Analysis of data integrated at the ICCC is also helping the cities with predictive analytics for containing the spread of the virus. Managing lockdown:  To get citizens to comply with lockdown, city authorities have to ensure that essential services including groceries, milk supply, medicines are made available at the citizen’s doorstep. This requires that neighborhood shops providing these goods are provided with necessary permits by city authorities for bringing in stock and citizens are aware of the stores which are operating along with timings.  The registration, permit issue, and dissemination of information to citizens is being done through the citizen portals, apps such that citizen have view only of operating stores within the vicinity of their residences.  The cameras across the city meant for traffic and safety & surveillance are being used to monitor vehicular and people movement in the lockdown areas at the ICCC. Based on incidents of lockdown violations viewed at the ICCC in particular locations, police are informed for ensuring enforcement. Some examples… Vadodara – Smart surveillance Installation of a helium balloon attached with two cameras for surveillance on lockdown violators. The balloon also has a public address system attached to it. Bengaluru – Real time dashboard Model COVID-19 War Room at Bengaluru – COVID-19 data dashboard of Karnataka inaugurated. This dashboard will be the single source of all COVID-related data which includes people under quarantine, their contacts, medical personnel on the ground, hospitals, taluk-wise & City-wise data & beyond. This real-time data is being put together with a host of software and applications Kalyan Dombivali – Social Media usage Awareness videos are published on KDMC (Kalyan Dombivali municipal corporation) Facebook page To constantly keep citizens engaged, the Facebook page has published a daily routine of activities has been designed from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm.  The city has identified local experts from different fields such as Yoga, Culinary Art, Aerobics, music, poetry, ghazal, Kathak and Bharatanatyam, philosophy and allotted time slots to each of them, in which they come live in Facebook Page of KDMC during scheduled time slots.  Agra – Tele-medicine E-Doctor Seva a tele-video consultation facility launched with medicine delivery from the Smart Health Centre-Pharmacy. Smart Health Centers established under Smart City scheme help in spreading awareness about various Do & Don’ts of Corona,  1015 sanitizers and 935 masks were distributed at subsidized rates  Launched an innovative video surveillance solution to effectively monitor the various locations in Agra city to manage the crowd and fight COVID 19. The latest in this effort is the AI-based Analytics, the first of its kind combat COVID 19 in Agra. An alert is instantly generated to help the authorities to strictly maintain social distancing in Agra. The alerts are configured through an App on the field staff Mobile phones and help the Police Administration on the ground. Agra lockdown monitor App will be available to all thana in-charges and any other police personnel as required. The Way Forward Spatial analytics, likely aided by drones and high-res satellite imagery, is critical to aid isolation strategies.  To determine wash-sites, in responding to critical patients, and to do all this in real-time and in light of the impact of the impending monsoon.  The rains will change drainage and access patterns, and soil conditions, particularly in informal settlements, and will increase the risk of other vector borne disease, such as malaria or cholera.  Spatial analytics will also be essential in planning, designing, and building urban infrastructures over the longer term. E-Governance and e-Banking will be essential in dealing with the aftermath of the lockdown.  With livelihoods on hold, and destitution in slums rising, savings are being depleted but a temporary spike in prices and a breakdown in market supply chains is expected when  lockdowns end. This means cash transfers and access to credit will be essential.  Distribution and monitoring cash transfers will need to be agile, while eGovernance infrastructures will need to be relied upon to identify and address grievances as they arise. Categories of technology-based Covid-19 proposals and ideas are emerging Contact tracing; testing and responder capacity Early warning and surveillance Quarantine and social control Research Cure Smart cities need to invest in safeguarding citizen rights and in trust building so that we emerge sager and more resilient, and avoid draconian surveillance. ICCCs can become the centres of coordination and consensus building that they were originally conceived to be. Challenges vary from one city to another and so do solutions.  Key capacities must be reserved to document best practices and for open-source platforms to share and scale up initiatives.  Lesson sharing across countries and continents will be key to the global fight against Covid-19. It is expected that the experience gained in responding to this pandemic situation will help cities further develop the capabilities of their ICCC to become responsive and resilient in any challenging situations that may be faced in future. Connecting the Dots: The Smart Cities Mission of India seeks to experiment with a new grammar in our urban governance narrative. Discuss. How was the technology infrastructure of Smart cities repurposed for containing COVID-19? The new War Room: Smart Cities Essay: Responsible residents are not asking what their city can do for them but asking what they can do for their city.

May 13, 2020 VIDEO:CURRENT AFFAIRS PRELIMS (CAP) - TO THE POINT

[VIDEO] IASbaba Daily CURRENT AFFAIRS PRELIMS (CAP) - TO THE POINT! 13th 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, 13th 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. Pangong Tso lake & dispute between India and China The Indian Express https://indianexpress.com/article/india/amid-tension-on-ladakh-lac-iaf-sent-su-30s-army-says-no-build-up/   2. India State Level Disease Burden InitiativeReport, Under 5 mortality rate & neonatal mortality rate The Hindu https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/68-of-under-5-deaths-in-india-due-to-child-maternal-malnutrition/article31570050.ece   3. Household level survey by ICMR The Indian Express https://indianexpress.com/article/india/icmr-starts-household-survey-to-gauge-prevalence-of-coronavirus-6407146/   4. CHAMPIONS Portal PIB https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=203958   5. COVID19 vaccine & Human Monoclonal Antibodies The Hindu https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/coronavirus-icmr-bharat-biotech-tie-up-for-indian-covid-19-vaccine/article31547614.ece https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/bharat-biotech-to-lead-human-monoclonal-antibodies-project/article31538128.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

May 13, 2020 MindMaps

MIND-MAPS: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS – General Studies 3

MIND-MAPS: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS – General Studies 3 For Previous Important Topics (Mind Maps) - ARCHIVES Hello Friends, Recently we have come up with a NEW INITIATIVE - BRAINSTORMING THROUGH MIND-MAPS! Mind-map is an incredible powerful thinking tool, an innate human language that will have immense benefit in your preparation. The main idea is to brainstorm different aspects of an issue - think in multi-dimensions; what we call 360 degrees of an issue. The whole of this exercise will unleash your creativity to push your brain cells to recall the data learnt and to make it more relevant for your preparation. It will help you to make your Revision and Retention a far better apart from giving you more Clarity in the topics/issue at hand and improve your Concentration. You can see the drastic impact mind-maps will have in a few weeks, provided you are regular with this exercise. So here we are with Today’s TOPIC! INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS - General Studies 3 NOTE – Instructions to download Mind Maps/Images Right Click on the image and ‘Open image in new tab’ Remove/Delete the resolution part from the URL. Eg. “-1536x757” and Press Enter/Load Again Right Click and Save Image As/Download (You’ll get the maximum resolution) INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS  YOUR PARTICIPATION? – VERY IMPORTANT Unlike what we were doing before, in this initiative we want students to learn and brainstorm through mind-maps (It is not necessary that you use a software/tool to design mind maps. You can prepare mindmaps using a pen and a sheet of paper). We will share the final printable mind map on every Wednesday and Sunday (2 times a week). We will also provide specific inputs on your mind maps to improve your skill of mind mapping.  So, Enlist the topics you feel as important for MAINS Issues in Current Affairs you find difficult to understand Share your own mind-maps on the given topics in the comment section of the post published on Wednesdays and Sundays (every week). We will provide specific inputs on your mind maps to improve your skill of mind mapping. To Know More about the initiative, Benefits and How to use a mind-map ->CLICK HERE Together we can, we will. The strength of the community is more powerful than individual effort. We have started it. You have to strengthen it” You can Start sharing Your Mind-maps (get feedback from IASbaba) & Topics of your interest in the comment section below!!   Thank You IASbaba

May 13, 2020 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

May 13, 2020 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

May 13, 2020 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

May 13, 2020 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. 

May 12, 2020 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

May 12, 2020 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

May 12, 2020 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!