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Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 14th February 2020

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 14th February 2020 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Publish criminal history of candidates, SC orders parties In news: The Supreme Court  ordered political parties to publish the entire criminal history of their candidates for the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections  The information should be detailed and include the nature of the offences, charges framed against him, the court concerned and the case number. The information should be published in a local and a national newspaper as well as the parties’ social media handles. It should mandatorily be published either within 48 hours of the selection of candidates or less than two weeks before the first date for filing of nominations, whichever is earlier.  SC also ordered political parties to submit compliance reports with the Election Commission of India within 72 hours or risk contempt of court action. This is applicable to parties both at the Central and State levels. Why ? Unimpeded rise of criminals, often facing heinous charges like rape and murder, encroaching into the country’s political and electoral realms. Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 14th February 2020 Src: The Hindu https://epaper.thehindu.com/Home/ShareImage?Pictureid=GLI7467DL.1 Govt. notifies medical devices as drugs In news: Health Ministry notified medical devices used on humans as drugs under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act Mandatory registration of such devices  The notification will make companies accountable for quality Small manufacturers making low-risk equipment would find it tough to comply with the new rules. From Prelims Point of View The Drugs and Cosmetics Act  The Drugs and Cosmetics Act the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Amendments are related to the Conditions for License / Approval  The proper name of the drug or fixed dose combination drug shall be printed or written in a conspicuous manner The name of the Drug shall be at least two font size larger than the brand name or the trade name The brand name or the trade name, if any, shall be written below or after the proper name on the label of the innermost container of the drug or every other covering in which the container is packed The first high-speed patrol boat being built for Vietnam under the $100-million Line of Credit (LoC) will be delivered  Background: In 2016, India had extended another $500 million defence LoC to Vietnam and discussions are under way to identify the equipment. India has also extended a defence LoC to Bangladesh and part of that is also for naval vessels. IASBaba’s Value Addition: Line of Credit is a ‘soft loan’ provided on concessional interest rates to developing countries, LOCs helps to promote exports of Indian goods and services, The projects under LOCs are spread over different sectors (Agriculture, Infrastructure, Telecom, Railway, Transmission/Power, Renewable Energy etc.). The Indian Development Assistance Scheme (IDEAS) (2015) includes provisions to provide better terms of credit, which will be attractive to many developing countries, who are now seeking alternative means of finance.   Trade talks between India -U.S. In news: Trade Issues :  Medical device price caps levied by India,  a rationalisation of tariffs levied by both sides,  Greater market access for U.S. agricultural and dairy products. Full restoration of GSP (Generalised System of Preferences) Full restoration of GSP (Generalised System of Preferences is unlikely at present, given the USTR’s notice that aims to treat India and a number of other countries as “developed countries”, New “health cess” (US) will impact pricing for medical devices, and the raising of tariffs on several items including electric vehicle (EV) components, dairy products, shelled walnuts, edible vegetable oils, infant foods, and soy products may also become an issue From Prelims Point of View Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) Umbrella that comprises the bulk of preferential schemes granted by industrialized nations to developing countries. Reduced Most Favored Nations (MFN) Tariffs or duty-free entry of eligible products exported by beneficiary countries to the markets of donor countries. GSP was adopted at UNCTAD in New Delhi in 1968 UNCTAD United Nation Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) is a permanent intergovernmental body established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1964. It supports developing countries to access the benefits of a globalized economy more fairly and effectively. Slapping Sec. 144 during CAA protests ‘illegal’: HC The HC said  the District Magistrate (DM) had failed to give “reasons” in order invoking Section 144  It is in contravention to the parameters laid down by the Supreme Court in the cases of Anuradha Bhasin Vs Union of India and the Ramlila Maidan Incident Vs Union of India. From Prelims Point of View Section 144 Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) of 1973 authorises the Executive Magistrate of any state or territory to issue an order to prohibit the assembly of four or more people in an area Every member of such 'unlawful assembly' can be booked for engaging in rioting. Imposed in urgent cases of nuisance or apprehended danger of some event that has the potential to cause trouble or damage to human life or property. Generally prohibits public gathering.  Maximum punishment for such an act is three years.  No order under Section 144 shall remain in force for more than two months but the state government can extent the validity for two months and maximum up to six months.  It can be withdrawn at any point of time if situation becomes normal. (MAINS FOCUS) Governance Topic: General Studies 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. 
 Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies. Medical Devices (Amendment) Rules, 2020 Context The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has notified changes in the Medical Devices Rules, 2017 to regulate medical devices on the same lines as drugs under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 Need for such rules: Faulty hip implants by pharma major Johnson & Johnson – where the company agreed in court to pay Rs 25 lakh each to the 67 people who had had to undergo revision surgeries because the implants were defective. Government’s lack of regulatory teeth when it came to medical devices.  Present Penal Provision:  Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940- Manufacture or sale of substandard items is punishable with imprisonment of at least 10 years. At present, only 23 medical devices have been classified as drugs. In India, most implantable devices are unregulated, including pacemakers, defibrillators, continuous monitoring glucose monitors, etc.  Inadequate FDI in the sector, as presently, investors shy away from an unpredictable, incomplete and incorrect regulatory environment for medical devices. Changes in Rules: Requirement of online registration of such devices with the Central Licensing Authority through an identified online portal established by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation for this purpose – generation of registration number This registration number should be mentioned on the label of medical device. Every medical device, either manufactured in India or imported, will have to have quality assurance before they can be sold anywhere in the country. The notification calls for a voluntary registration within a period of 18 months from April 2020 These rules are applicable to devices intended for internal or external use in the diagnosis, treatment, mitigation or prevention of disease or disorder in human beings or animals Objective of the rules: To regulate all medical devices so that they meet certain standards of quality.  It will also make medical device companies accountable for quality and safety of their products. What are the items covered under the Medical Device Rules? The devices used for diagnosis, monitoring, treatment, assistance for any injury or disability, investigation, replacement or modification or support of the anatomy or of a physiological process will now come within the scope of the definition of ‘Drugs’ A large number of commonly used items like hypodermic syringes and needles, cardiac stents, perfusion sets, catheters, orthopaedic implants, bone cements, lenses, sutures, internal prosthetic replacements For some items such as sphygmomanometers (used to monitor blood pressure), glucometers (to check blood sugar), thermometers, CT scan and MRI equipment, dialysis and X-ray machines, implants etc, different deadlines for compliance have been set.  Is this a sudden move? - NO In April 2019, the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) had recommended that all medical devices should be notified as “drugs” under the drug regulation law to ensure they maintain safety and quality standards.  In October 2019, the Health ministry had circulated copies of the then proposed notification for public comments following recommendations of DTAB Challenges Doubts remain about the ability of the Central Drugs and Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO) to effectively regulate both drugs and medical devices. Requiring State Cooperation (State DSCOs) in effectively ensuring the compliance of all firms manufacturing medical devices Lack of Patient Safety Medical Devices Law in India Need to reduce import dependence of medical equipment- India imports between 70 and 90 per cent of its medical devices. The changed rules will impact on the small and marginal players, largely Unorganised in the low-value high volume segment of the medical devices industry. Government should come with schemes to support such small firms (like subsidies on loans) Concerns are also raised that the rules are very rigid and any non-conformity can be treated as a criminal offence by any drug inspector under the Act at his discretion. Did You Know? Drugs Technical Advisory Board is a statutory body constituted under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. The function of DTAB is to advise the Central government and State government on technical matters related to drugs and cosmetics. As per industry estimates, the Indian medical devices market will grow to USD 50 billion by 2025 100% Foreign Direct Investment is permitted in Medical devices through the automatic route Medical Device Parks are planned across India, including Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone Limited (AMTZ), a park in Sultanpur village (Telangana) and HLL Lifecare Mediparks in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Gujarat. Connecting the dots! National List of Essential Medicines National Pharmaceutical Authority Jan Aashudi Yojana Society Topic: General Studies 1: Social empowerment Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India. Same-Sex Marriage: A marriage story for everyone Context A petition filed in the Kerala High Court by a male same-sex couple challenges the constitutionality of the Special Marriage Act on the ground that it discriminates against same-sex couples The petition seeks logical extension of the rights already recognised by the Supreme Court in Navtej Johar Case About Special Marriage Act It was enacted in 1954 which allows and facilitates the registration of inter-religious marriages. It thus acts as a legislative tool for social change, an attempt to remove a social barrier to the exercise of individual autonomy. Navtej Singh Johar vs Union of India Case. 2018 Supreme Court in this case decriminalised homosexuality by striking off parts of Section 377 of IPC which were held violative of Fundamental Rights of LGBTQ Community. SC upheld the pre-eminence of Constitutional morality in India by observing that equality before law (Article 14) cannot be denied by giving precedence to public or religious morality. SC  while stating Yogyakarta Principles upheld the right of same-sex couples to express their sexual identity. SC also upheld the LGBTQ’s right to privacy and non-interference in the conduct of their personal affairs, and the right to be recognised as full members of society. Why it is important to recognise marriages of same-sex couples? Legal Importance: Marriage carries a range of legal rights and protections, available during the marriage as well as on its dissolution by divorce (the right to seek maintenance) or death (the right to inherit property). Social Importance: Marriage continues to be the cornerstone of social legitimacy and family in India. Recognition of same-sex marriages will reduce their marginalisation and lead to wider acceptance in society Individual Importance: Marriage, commitment and family are not abstract legal concepts, but stages of human development, aspiration and give meaning to their personal lives. Political Importance: Same-sex marriage is recognised in nearly 30 countries across the world. Recognition of same in India will enrich the Democratic culture in India whereby every citizen is treated equally irrespective of their sexual orientation Conclusion The petition in Kerala High Court provides a potential first step towards making marriage, as an institution, as a legal concept, more accessible and egalitarian, less arbitrary and exclusionary. Value Addition Yogyakarta Principles recognize freedom of sexual orientation and gender identity as part of Human Rights.  They were outlined in 2006 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia by a distinguished group of International Human Right experts. After the SC judgement in Navtej Singh Case, provisions of Section 377 remain applicable in cases of non-consensual carnal intercourse with adults, all acts of carnal intercourse with minors, and acts of bestiality Naz Foundation vs. Govt. of NCT of Delhi (2009) - Delhi High Court struck off section 377, legalising consensual homosexual activities between adults Suresh Kumar Koushal Case (2013) – Supreme Court overturned the Delhi High Court Judgement in Naz Foundation case Connecting the dots! Marital rape and rights of women (Social empowerment) Reservation for Transgender (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”. Q1. Consider the following statements : Most international agencies which find Development Programme in India on intergovernmental bilateral agreements, mainly provide:  Technical assistance Soft loans which are required to be paid back with interest Grants, not required to be paid back Food assistance to be paid back Choose the options below 2 and 4 are correct 1, 2 and 3 are correct 1, 2 and 4 are correct 3 and 4 are correct Q 2. Consider the following countries:  Brazil  Mexico South Africa According to UNCTAD, which of the above is/are categorized as “Emerging Economies”? 1 only  1 and 3 only 2 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 ANSWERS FOR 13 FEB 2020 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 C 2 B 3 C Must Read About Women in Army: The Hindu About WEF and the issues associated with it : The Hindu About Pakistan’s action on Hafiz Saeed: The Hindu

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 13th February 2020

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 13th February 2020 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Mana Krishna In news: The Krishna district administration has launched ‘Mana Krishna’ (Our Krishna), a massive campaign of cleaning Krishna River canals as part of the Clean Krishna-Godavari Canals mission In the Krishna River and Godavari River basins in Andhra Pradesh.  The site is known for the D-6 block where Reliance Industries discovered the biggest natural gas reserves in India in 2003 The basin is home to olive ridley sea turtle, a vulnerable species Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 13th February 2020 Src: Uttarkhandnews Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 13th February 2020 Src: Rediff Industrial production shrinks 0.3% in December In news: The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) had grown by 2.5% in December 2018. India’s industrial production growth turned negative in December, contracting by 0.3%, mainly on account of a decline in manufacturing sector output According to the National Statistical Office (NSO) data, the manufacturing sector output contracted by 1.2% in December 2019 as against a growth 2.9% From Prelims Point of View: Index of Industrial Production  Growth rates in different industry groups of the economy in a fixed period of time. It is compiled and published monthly by the Central Statistical Organization (CSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. Composite indicator rate of industry groups classified under: Broad sectors, namely, Mining, Manufacturing, and Electricity. Use-based sectors, namely Basic Goods, Capital Goods, and Intermediate Goods. Core industries of India represent about 40% of the weight of items that are included in the IIP. Significance of IIP : IIP is the only measure on the physical volume of production. It is used by government agencies including the Ministry of Finance, the Reserve Bank of India, etc, for policy-making purposes. IIP remains extremely relevant for the calculation of the quarterly and advance GDP estimates. Coronavirus samples from Karnataka  test positive for H1N1 In news: Suspected coronavirus (nCoV) cases that tested negative for the virus have tested positive for H1N1 Although the novel coronavirus is related to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), the only difference is that the efficiency of person to person transmission is high in the novel coronavirus Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 13th February 2020 From Prelims Point of View: Coronaviruses Common in various species of animals, such as cattle, camels, bats, and cats.  Cause diseases ranging from cold to SARS. Coronaviruses can infect humans, which can then spread from person to person. Coronaviruses cause respiratory infections in humans which are generally mild, but sometimes, can be fatal. Physically large as far as viruses go (26 – 32 kilobases), having a surface of spike projections (which resembles a crown and hence the name ‘corona’). Like the influenza virus, the coronavirus spreads through both direct and indirect contact. TTD lifts restrictions on sale of big laddus In news: Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has resolved to lift restrictions on the sale of big laddus and make them easily available to devotees at its counters.  TTD the big laddus (popularly known as Kalyanotsavam laddus) were in great demand and hence were sold at exorbitant rates in the black market. Devotees can now buy the desired number of laddus at ₹200 each. From Prelims point of view: Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams India’s richest temple, the Venkateshwara (Tirupati) temple have the patent of its famous ‘laddu’ Geographical Indications Registry which also granted the laddu the status of Geographical Indicator of the Tirupati region. Bill to regulate pesticide trade In news: Cabinet approved the Pesticides Management Bill, 2020,  Bill will regulate the business of pesticides and compensate farmers in case of losses from the use of spurious agro-chemicals. From Prelims Point of View: Highlights of the Bill Provide compensation when there is farm loss due to use of low-quality pesticides.  The loss is to be paid using funds collected from the manufacturers.  The information regarding the pesticides available in the market is to be made available in digital format.  This will help farmers make the right choice. Centre clears Major Ports Authority Bill The Cabinet has given its nod to Major Ports Authority Bill that will replace a 1963 law governing country’s 12 major ports. From Prelims Point of View: Background: At present:  ports are governed by a ports law of 1963. High logistic costs owing to legacy issues including the Tariff Authority for Major Ports (TAMP)’s archaic regulatory grip. Overview of the Bill: The proposed law is aimed at enhancing the overall efficiencies of the ports. Now ‘major ports’ will get to determine the tariffs for various port-related services as well as the terms for private developers who team up with them. Every port will now be governed by a Port Authority which will have powers to fix reference tariffs for various port services. Creation of an adjudicatory board at the apex level for review of port authority’s decisions.  It will have the mandate to resolve the disputes between port authorities and the PPP operators. Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 13th February 2020 Src: The Hindu  Direct tax Bill to include DRTs In news : Direct Tax Vivad se Vishwas Bill, 2020  to increase its scope to cover litigation pending in various debt recovery tribunals (DRTs).  The aim of reducing litigation related to direct taxes. It was proposed to cover tax disputes pending at the level of commissioner (appeals), Income Tax Appellate Tribunals, high courts and the Supreme Court. From Prelims Point of View: Debt Recovery Tribunals: Debt Recovery Tribunals were established to facilitate the debt recovery involving banks and other financial institutions with their customers.  DRTs were set up after the passing of Recovery of Debts due to Banks and Financial Institutions Act (RDBBFI), 1993. At present, there are 33 DRTs and 5 DRATs functioning at various parts of the country.  In 2014, the government has created six new DRTs to speed up loan related dispute settlement. Compared to the ordinary court procedures, DRTs were able to handle large number of cases with low delay during the initial phases.  Though the DRTs have made impact on recovery front, several issues related to their performance in the background of rising volume of NPAs have appeared in later period. (MAINS FOCUS) Indian Governance Topic: General Studies 2: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health 
 Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes Nutrition and Budget’s fine print The Global Hunger Index, reported that India suffers from “serious” hunger, ranked 102 out of 117 countries, and that just a tenth of children between six to 23 months are fed a minimum acceptable diet. Malnutrition - A condition that results from eating a diet in which one or more nutrients are either not enough or are too much. There are multiple dimensions of malnutrition that include calorific deficiency, protein hunger and micronutrient deficiency.  However, there are gaps in governments policy and budgetary allocation when dealing with nutrition in India, some of these are: First calorific deficiency The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme provides a package of services including supplementary nutrition, nutrition and health education, health check-ups and referral services. ICSD tries to tackle calorific deficiency of children, pregnant and lactating mothers and adolescent girls, and key community groups. For 2019-20, the allotment was Rs. 27,584.37 crore but revised estimates are Rs. 24,954.50 crore, which points to an underutilisation of resources.  Another pathway to address hunger is the Mid-Day Meal Scheme, to enhance nutrition of schoolchildren.  Here too, the issue has been with poor expenditure. The 2019-20 Budget allocation was Rs. 11,000 crore and revised estimates are only Rs. 9,912 crore Second is protein hunger Pulses are a major contributor to address protein hunger.  However, a scheme for State and Union Territories aims to reach pulses into welfare schemes (Mid-Day Meal, Public Distribution System, ICDS) has revised estimates standing at just Rs. 370 crore against Rs. 800 crore allocation in the 2019-20 Budget. Third is Micronutrient deficiency Horticulture Mission – which can be one of the ways to address micronutrient deficiency – also has poor implementation. Revised estimates for 2019-20 stand at Rs. 1,583.50 crore against an allocation of Rs. 2,225 crore.  As millets have the potential to address micronutrient deficiencies, the momentum given to these cereals through its inclusion in NFSM (National Food Security Mission) needs to be sustained. However, the NFSM strains to implement allocation of ₹2,000 crore during 2019-20, as revised expenditures stand at ₹1,776.90 crore. Fourth is weakness in POSHAN Abhiyan Under POSHAN Abhiyaan, the National Nutrition Mission which is a major initiative to address malnutrition, focus of the bulk of the funding has been on technology, whereas, actually, it is convergence that is crucial to address nutrition. The Initiative also found on average that only 34% of funds released by the Government of India were spent from FY 2017-18 to FY 2019-20 till November 30, 2019. Impact of underspending: allocations for subsequent years will also be affected, limiting the possibility of increasing budgets Following are suggestions to move forward:  Focus on nutrition-related interventions, beyond digitisation. Intensify the convergence component of POSHAN Abhiyaan, using the platform to bring all departments in one place to address nutrition To form 10,000 farmer producer organisations with an allocation of Rs. 500 crore to nutrition-based activities Promotion of youth schemes to be directed to nutrition-agriculture link activities in rural areas Give explicit emphasis and fund allocation to agriculture-nutrition linked schemes Ensure early disbursement of funds and an optimum utilisation of schemes linked to nutrition. Conclusion Nutrition goes beyond just food, with economic, health, water sanitation, gender perspectives and social norms contributing to better nutrition. This is why implementation of multiple schemes can contribute to better nutrition. Did You Know? The link between agriculture and nutrition is important because about three-fifths of rural households are agricultural in India and malnutrition rates, particularly in rural areas are high. The Bharatiya Poshan Krishi Kosh (BPKK) which was launched in 2019 by Minister for Women and Child Development and Microsoft is a recent attempt to bridge this gap BPKK is a repository of diverse crops across agro-climatic zones in India for better nutritional outcomes Connecting the dots! Malnutrition’s impact on GDP and SDG goal 2 of ‘Zero Hunger’ by 2030. Prevalence of Obesity in India- reasons and solutions Indian Economy Topic: General Studies 3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment
 Government Budgeting. Disinvestment of LIC: Is India short-selling the family silver? The public sector in India is a picture of contradictions.  It elicits derision and ridicule in market circles. The government is apologetic about it with analysts are demanding for its dismantlement citing its irrelevance  At the same time, when markets are on a free fall, investors look at public sector entities like LIC to bail them out Despite the privatisation wave across the world, the reach and influence of state-owned  enterprises (SOEs) keeps growing. According to OECD, there are about 40 countries in the developed and developing world (excluding China) having SOEs valued at $2.5 trillion and employing nearly 10 million people In addition, governments hold minority shareholdings valued at $912 billion, employing 2.8 million people.  Finance (26 per cent), electricity and gas (21) and transport (18) are the major sectors in which SOEs have a significant presence in value terms. China’s SOEs China’s financial SOEs together hold $34 trillion of assets compared to non-financial SOEs’ $26 trillion.  They employ millions and form a large part of global GDP China SOEs are categorised into various industries for garnering revenues for the government to maintain economic stability. Key industries (defence, electricity, oil, aviation, rail, shipping, etc) Pillar industries (autos, chemicals, construction, electronics) and  Normal industries (tourism, pharma, investment)  Divestment of public sector is not something unusual in emerging markets. A host of big SOEs with large IPOs like Agriculture Bank of China ($22 billion), ICBC ($22 billion), Bank of China ($11 billion), Rosneft ($11 billion) are inspirations for many emerging economies. China has listed all its four major insurance companies. China Life, the country’s biggest insurer raised $3 billion in 2003 when the market was down; Ping An made $5 billion in 2007 at its peak; China Pacific garnered $3.1 billion in 2009. Even General Motors of the US, which pulled off the biggest IPO in 2010 at $23 billion, was 61% owned by the US government then; this fell to 33% after the share issue Large IPOs of SOEs in India such as Coal India ($3.3 billion), ONGC (2.2 billion) and GIC (1.6 billion) may look suboptimal compared to companies of similar stature and significance in other countries Concern about Disinvestment The question over disinvestment is about how and when — selling them for meeting immediate needs or after making them strong enough to attract global interest. The concern thus is whether India is able to realise the full value these companies hold or is it too hasty in cashing out. The case of LIC On the net premiums written, LIC, with $48.9 billion (December 2018), is placed 17 among the 25 top global insurers and 21st on the basis of non-banking assets (Global Insurance Market Trends, OECD 2019). On premiums written, LIC’s is $100 billion less than top ranked UnitedHealth Group of the US ($156 billion), and about $50 billion less than Ping An of China (4th rank). Premium written by Ping An is double of LIC’s In terms of non-banking assets, LIC’s $438 billion is less than half of Allianz’s $1 trillion. On the other hand, gross claims paid by India’s insurance sector at 17.2% in life and 15.9% in non-life are on the higher side when compared with those in the US (2.8/4.6 per cent) and Korea (6.9/12.3 per cent). Doubts over Utility of Listing Many public sector banks with great listing history two decades back been merged to save the banking industry Growth and stability in the regions of Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe after rampant privatisation are not substantively better when compared to Asia, which largely thrives on growth driven by a large public sector It is the active support of the state that enabled Chinese financial firms to mop up most of the new capital issuance in the world.  Conclusion A sell-off to raise quick cash won’t be such an effective way in the long run for an economy in pursuit of global leadership. Selling family silver is easy, but creating heirlooms that a family can take pride in is difficult. Connecting the dots Air India disinvestment BSNL and MTNL performance Need for Public Broadcaster in form of AIR/Doordarshan (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”. Q1. The sea coast of which one of the following states has become famous as a nesting place for the giant Olive Ridley turtles from South America?  Goa Gujarat Orissa  Tamil Nadu Q2. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:  List I (Rivers)                                                                                              List II (Dams) Cauvery                                                                                                   1. Alamatti Krishna                                                                                                     2. Mettur Narmada                                                                                                 3. Gandhi Sagar Chambal                                                                                                  4. Sardar Sarovar Codes: A-1; B- 4; C-2; D-3  A-2; B-1; C-4; D-3 A-2; B-1; C-3; D-4  A-1; B-3; C-4; D-2 Q3. In India, in the overall Index of Industrial Production, the Indices of Eight Core Industries have a combined weight of 37.90%. Which of the following are among those Eight Core Industries?  Cement Fertilizers Natural gas Refinery products Textiles Select the correct answer using the codes given below: 1 and 5 only 2, 3 and 4 only 1, 2, 3 and 4 only 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 ANSWERS FOR 12 FEB 2020 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 B 2 B 3 C Must Read About American Politics: The Hindu About Kashmir’s situation : The Hindu About Data based governance: The Hindu

IASbaba's Monthly Current Affairs Magazine

IAS UPSC Current Affairs Magazine JANUARY 2020

IAS UPSC Current Affairs Magazine JANUARY 2019 ARCHIVES Hello Friends, This is the 56th edition of IASbaba’s Current Affairs Monthly Magazine. Current Affairs for UPSC Civil Services Examination is an important factor in this preparation. An effort towards making your Current Affairs for IAS UPSC Preparation qualitative. We hope you make the best use of it! This edition covers all important current affairs issues that were in news for the month of JANUARY 2020. DOWNLOAD THE MAGAZINE- CLICK HERE

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 12th February 2020

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 12th February 2020 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Implementation of Skill India at odds with political economy Part of: GS Prelims –Polity and GS-II- Govt Policies  In news: Study by the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS) and the Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC) has revealed  The implementation of the Skill India policy has not sufficiently anchored the reality of India’s political economy The preponderance of informal service work — even in the organised sector — makes the future of the skilled service worker almost as bleak as that of the unskilled worker. From Prelims point of view Skill India Mission Skill India Mission is an initiative of the Government of India, launched by the Prime Minister on the 16th of July 2015 with an aim to train over 40 crore people in India in different skills by 2022. It includes various initiatives of the government like  National Skill Development Mission,  National Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, 2015,  Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)  Skill Loan scheme Hampi World Heritage site Part of: GS Prelims Art & Culture and GS-I- Heritage In news: The Supreme Court  confirmed the Karnataka government authorities’ decision to demolish buildings constructed in Virupapura Gaddi, an oval islet formed by the Tungabhadra and located west of the Hampi World Heritage site. The constructions were in violation of the Mysore Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act of 1961. From Prelims point of view Group of Monuments at Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in east-central Karnataka, India It became the pilgrimage cente of the Hindu religion.  It was the capital of Vijayanagara Empire in the 14th century  Hampi was a prosperous, wealthy and grand city near the Tungabhadra River, Hampi-Vijayanagara was the world's second-largest medieval-era city after Beijing, India's richest at that time,  Vijayanagara Empire was defeated by a coalition of Muslim sultanates;  its capital was conquered, pillaged and destroyed by sultanate armies in 1565, after which Hampi remained in ruins Described by UNESCO as an "austere, grandiose site"  Includes "forts, riverside features, royal and sacred complexes, temples, shrines, pillared halls, mandapas, memorial structures, water structures and othersthere is evidence of Ashokan epigraphy, and it is mentioned in the Ra Virupaksha Temple, an active Adi Shankara-linked monastery and various monuments belonging to the old city. Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 12th February 2020 SRC :Hampi Cleaning of drains & septic tanks claims 110 lives in 2019 Part of: GS Prelims –Polity and GS-II- Vulnerable section In news: Number of people who died while cleaning sewers and septic tanks in the country increased by almost 62% from 68 in 2018 to 110 in 2019, Social Justice and Empowerment (SJE)  Ministry manual scavenging is banned under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013. Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 12th February 2020 Src: The Hindu From Prelims point of view Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 The law prohibits the employment of manual scavengers, the manual cleaning of sewers and septic tanks without protective equipment and the construction of insanitary latrines. The law also provides rehabilitation of manual scavengers and alternative employment to them within the time bound manner.  From now onwards, the construction and maintenance of the insanity latrines has became an offence, therefore no one can be employed or engaged as the manual scavenger. National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK) NCSK was constituted as a statutory body under the NCSK ACT, 1993. Look into matters concerning the Safai Karamcharis’ welfare and makes recommendations to the government.  1.25 lakh to attend ‘Kem chho Trump’ show Part of: GS Prelims –International  and GS-II- International relations In news: The inauguration of the new Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium, the largest cricket stadium in the world.  Mr. Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold the “Kem chho Trump” (Howdy Trump) event at the stadium Mahatma Gandhi’s favourite hymn, “Vaishnav Jan to” will be played in the background music. From Prelims Point of view : Vaishnava Jana To Vaishnava Jana To is a Hindu bhajan, written in the 15th century by the poet Narsinh Mehta in the Gujarati language.  The poem speaks about the life, ideals and mentality of a Vaishnava jana (a follower of Vaishnavism). Received privilege motion against Minister: Speaker Part of: GS Prelims –Polity and GS-II- Parliament  In news: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla received the notice of privilege motion From Prelims Point of view : Privilege motion : Rights and immunities enjoyed by members of Parliament, individually and collectively, so that they can “effectively discharge their functions”.  When any of these rights and immunities are disregarded, the offence is called a breach of privilege and is punishable under law of Parliament A notice is moved in the form of a motion by any member of either House against those being held guilty of breach of privilege. Speaker/RS chairperson is the first level of scrutiny of a privilege motion.  The Speaker/Chair can decide on the privilege motion himself or herself or refer it to the privileges committee of Parliament (MAINS FOCUS) Indian Polity Topic: General Studies 2: Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.  LOKPAL – Six Year on but still a non-starter Lokpal (and Lokayuktas at State level) are statutory bodies established under Lokpal and Lokayukta Act, 2013  They perform the function of an "ombudsman” and inquire into allegations of corruption against certain public functionaries and for related matters. Powers of Lokpal Jurisdiction of Lokpal includes Prime Minister, Ministers, members of Parliament, Groups A, B, C and D officers and officials of Central Government. Jurisdiction of the Lokpal included the Prime Minister except on allegations of corruption relating to international relations, security, the public order, atomic energy and space. The Lokpal Act mandates that all public officials should furnish the assets and liabilities of themselves as well as their respective dependents. It has the powers to superintendence over, and to give direction to CBI. It has been vested with the powers of a civil court. It is empowered under the law to set up its own inquiry wing headed by a Director of Inquiry and its own prosecution wing headed by a Director of Prosecution Lokpal has powers of confiscation of assets, proceeds, receipts and benefits arisen or procured by means of corruption in special circumstances. Lokpal has the power to recommend transfer or suspension of public servant connected with allegation of corruption. However, the implementation of the act has been poor due to reason like Delay in appointment: For more than five years since enactment of act in 2013, the chairperson and members of the Lokpal were not appointed.  The government claimed that since no one could be recognised as the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) after the 2014 general election, the committee responsible for selecting members of the Lokpal could not be constituted.  The chairperson and members of the Lokpal were appointed only in March 2019 after a orders from the Supreme Court Actual Composition of the select committee: A truncated selection committee, without the LoP, was set up – PM, Speaker, CJI and Eminent jurist (Mukul Rohatgi – former Attorney General of India) – to constitute Lokpal in March 2019 The four-member selection committee was thus seen as having a preponderance of representatives of the ruling party. This raised doubts about the independence of the Lokpal even before it became operational. Failure to Operationalize Lokpal –  More than 10 months after constituting Lokpal, the government has not made rules prescribing the form for filing complaints to the Lokpal.  The Central government has also failed to formulate rules regarding asset disclosure by public servants The inquiry and prosecution wings of the anti-corruption ombudsman are yet to be set up.  The Lokpal has also not appointed the Director of Inquiry or Prosecution Regulations which the Lokpal was obligated to make under the law are yet to be made, including those specifying the manner and procedure of conducting preliminary inquiry and investigation. Resignation of its judicial member, Justice Dilip B. Bhosale, for undisclosed reasons has further dented the image of the institution. Veracity of Statistics on Lokpal Website: The website of the Lokpal states that it scrutinised 1,065 complaints received till September 30, 2019 and disposed of 1,000. Since necessary procedures to operationalise the law are yet to be put in place, the legal veracity of the decisions of the Lokpal could potentially be challenged in a court of law. Conclusion Lokpal was accorded a high stature and given extensive powers including the power to inquire, investigate and prosecute acts of corruption. Without the requisite rules, regulations and machinery in place, it is not surprising that the Lokpal has failed to meet expectations.  The government should take urgent measure to frame the necessary rules & regulations to give real teeth and power to Lokpal Indian Polity & Governance Topic: General Studies 3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment

 Innovation in India-  National Bio-Entrepreneurship Competition (NBEC) India is home to the third-largest congregation of startups, after the US, and China with innovators coming up with bottom-up science-based solutions to challenges India’s biggest deep science ideas platform that has succeeded in reaching 34 of 36 states/UTs - National Bio-Entrepreneurship Competition (NBEC) About NBEC It is a national platform for bio-entrepreneurs to present their innovative business ideas with significant societal impact in the life sciences domain It is a joint initiative by BIRAC (a research assistance non-profit established by the government’s department of biotechnology) and C-CAMP (Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms, India’s premier life sciences innovation hub) Ideas are encouraged from all domains of life sciences, including healthcare, agriculture, food, nutraceuticals, environment, water, and animal health. How does it help innovators? The framework of NBEC is designed such that competitors are judged solely on the merit of the idea and its societal impact. If the idea is good, supporting infrastructure is provided through a network of innovation hubs, industry, and mentorship. A big cohort of participants are invited to competition, which helps to form partnerships with industry leaders, and innovation hubs to operationalise their concepts. It thus helps idea to be translated into reality and enter the market in a sustainable manner. The value proposition lies in three broad areas— A robust framework that democratises innovation access - many NBEC ideators are women, and from tier 2-3 cities/towns of India.  Emphasis on ideas with national societal impact - connecting innovators up the idea-to-market value chain. Some of the successful indigenous technologies which are being provided the support through this platform are: Biodegradable nano-fibre carriers – That can carry the same active fertiliser dosage in a 5 g pouch as a 5 kg bag today, thereby reducing logistics costs by 1000x and increasing shelf life by 2x. This solution simultaneously revolutionises the agriculture, fertiliser, environmental, and energy sectors Miniaturised Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) detection kit – A credit card-sized test platform that can detect four major UTI pathogens in 30-60 minutes compared to the 24-48 hours it takes today in a laboratory setup, at affordable prices Image-based screening solutions for eye diseases to overcome the challenge of unavailability of specialist doctors Compostable sanitary napkins made from banana fibres Therefore, carefully structured ideas platforms like NBEC serve as ideal vehicles to effect socio-economic impact at scale across India Way Forward It is this idea-first framework that India must implement across other verticals like cybersecurity, energy, defence, urban design, health, and water management to unlock greater innovation-led entrepreneurship. With deep science ideas platforms, India can position itself as a sustainable solutions innovator, and provider. Connecting the dots! Atal Innovation Mission Challenges to Innovation – Inadequate Funding- from both private & Public, Lack of Academia-industry collaboration (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”. Q1. With reference to 'National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF)', which of the statements given below is/are correct?   Under NSQF, a learner can acquire the certification for competency only through formal learning. An outcome expected from the implementation of NSQF is the mobility between vocational and general education. Select the correct answer using the code given below: 1 only  2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q 2. With reference to Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, consider the following statements It is the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Labour and Employment. It, among other things, will also impart training in soft skills, entrepreneurship, financial and digital literacy. Select the correct answer using the code given below: 1 only  2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) Where is the famous Virupaksha temple located? Bhadrachalam Chidambaram Hampi  Srikalahasti ANSWERS FOR 11 FEB 2020 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 B 2 D 3 B Must Read About India-USA trade: The Hindu About Gandhi’s Philosophy : The Indian Express About Shaheen Bagh Protests The Indian Express

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Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 11th February 2020

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 11th February 2020 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) SuperCam In news: NASA is sending a new laser-toting robot as one of seven instruments aboard the Mars 2020 rover Called SuperCam It fires lasers to study rocks, and will look for signs of past life on Red Planet.  The robot is used for studying mineralogy and chemistry, It might help scientists find signs of fossilised microbial life on Mars. SuperCam includes a microphone so scientists can listen each time the laser hits a target. Supreme Court upholds changes to SC/ST atrocities law In news: Supreme Court upheld a 2018 amendment which barred persons accused of committing atrocities against those belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes from getting anticipatory bail. Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 11th February 2020 From Prelims point of view: Various forms of atrocities against SC/ST Caste clashes: Tensions caused between upper castes and Dalits due to the perceived upward mobility of Dalits. Cow Vigilantism: Dalits and Muslims are at the receiving end of this vigilantism. Honour Killing: extreme form of Moral Policing. (Fear of losing the caste status which brings them several benefits, people often commit this heinous crime when their son or daughter marry someone from outside their caste) Social boycott: Khap panchayat/caste panchayat ostracizing Dalits them from society.(Law Commission drafted the Prohibition of Unlawful Assembly (Interference with the Freedom of Matrimonial Alliances) Bill, 2011 that sought to declare khap panchayats unlawful). Manual scavenging: Manual scavenging is linked to a caste system where the so-called low castes were expected to perform this job. Constitutional provisions against SC/ST atrocities: Article 17 of the constitution prohibits the practice of untouchability. Article 46 promotes the educational and economic interests of SCs, STs, and other weaker sections of the society and protects them from social injustice and exploitation. Article 338 – National Commission for Scheduled Castes Investigate and monitor all matters relating to the constitutional and other legal safeguards for the SCs and to evaluate their working.  Inquire into specific complaints with respect to the deprivation of rights and safeguards of the SCs. 338-A – National Commission for Scheduled Tribes *Mains perspective will be covered in Mains section Review court can refer questions to larger Bench In news: A nine-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court upheld the decision of the five-judge Sabarimala Review Bench  To refer to a larger Bench questions on the ambit and scope of religious freedom practised by multiple faiths across the country. Bench  framed seven questions of law which it would decide now. From prelims point of view: Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 11th February 2020 Article 25 : The Article 25 states that every individual is “equally entitled to freedom of conscience” and has the right “to profess, practice and propagate religion” of one’s choice.  Practicing religion or the act of propagating it should not, however, affect the “public order, morality and health.”  The Article doesn’t put any restriction on the government when it comes to making any law to regulate “economic, financial, political or other secular” activities, which may be associated with religious practice. According to Article 25, the gates of Hindu religious institutions should be opened to every section of Hindus.  Here the term ‘Hindus’ also includes individuals who profess Sikh, Jain or Buddhist religion. The same holds true for the term ‘Hindu religious institutions. U.S. nod for air defence system sale to India In news: U.S. Department of State has approved the potential sale of a $1.867 billion Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS) to India. The Integrated Air Defence Weapon System, also known as the National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS), provides integrated air missile defence The IADWS system includes radar, launchers, targeting, and guidance systems, advanced medium-range air-to-air missile (AMRAAM) and Stinger missiles, and related equipment and support AMRAAM The AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) It is an American beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) capable of all-weather day-and-night operations fire-and-forget weapon AMRAAM is the world's most popular beyond-visual-range missile Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 11th February 2020 SRC: Click here National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System was developed by USA in partnership with Norway. NASAMS-II is an upgraded version of NASAMS of Norway called Norwegian Advanced Surface to Air Missile System. (MAINS FOCUS) Indian Polity & Governance Topic: General Studies 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. 
 Reservations in Promotions A two judge Supreme Court judgment stated that  Individuals do not have fundamental right to claim reservation in promotions.  States are not legally bound to provide reservations in promotions. If it intends to do so then it has to justify it through quantifiable data about the inadequacy of their representation in public services. Courts could not issue a mandamus directing the States to provide reservation in promotion. It shows that affirmative action programmes allowed in the Constitution flow from “enabling provisions” and are not rights as such. What was the background of the judgement? Uttarakhand High court order directing data collection on the adequacy or inadequacy of representation of SC/ST candidates in the State’s services.  However, Supreme Court struck the order on the grounds that once there is decision not to extend reservation in promotion, then question of such data is not relevant Constitutional Provisions with regard to reservations Article 16(4) - Empowers State to provide reservation for any backward classes of citizens Article 16(4a) – introduced in 1995 by 77th Constitutional Amendment Act - Empowers State to provide reservation in promotion in favour of SC and ST. Both the above provisions empower the State from making reservations if, “in the opinion of the State”, these groups are “not adequately represented” Previous Judgements on this matter In its landmark 1992 decision in Indra Sawhney vs Union of India, the Supreme Court had held that reservations under Article 16(4) could only be provided at the time of entry into government service but not in matters of promotion. On June 17, 1995, Parliament, acting in its constituent capacity, adopted the 77th Constitutional amendment by which clause (4A) was inserted into Article 16 to enable reservation to be made in promotion for SCs and STs. The Supreme Court in M. Nagaraj v. Union Of India 2006 case while upholding the constitutional validity of Art 16(4A) held that it is an enabling provision i.e. State is not bound to make such reservations in promotions. However, if it seeks to do so then it must collect quantifiable data on three parameters —  The backwardness of the class The inadequacy of the representation of that class in public employment;  The general efficiency of service would not be affected In Jarnail Singh vs Lachhmi Narain Gupta case of 2018, the Supreme Court held that reservation in promotions does not require the state to collect quantifiable data on the backwardness of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes.  The court upheld the argument that once various caste groups were listed as SC/ST, this automatically implied they were backward. Issues with the present judgement Not in the spirit of affirmative action: The government does not have to show any kind of justification in deciding not to implement reservation in promotion. This is an opaque form of functioning and appears to be going by the letter of the law, not its spirit of providing affirmative action. Also, since a 5-judge bench of the Supreme Court has already upheld reservation in promotions, it is not clear whether a two-judge bench can make an interpretation that is in variance with this It means that government is not obligated to come with affirmative action (in promotions) if the social situation that keeps some sections backward persists Conclusion  Reservation is no more seen by the Supreme Court as an exception to the equality rule; rather, it is a facet of equality. However, earlier judgments gave an impression that reservations were an entitlement for weaker sections of society but that it should be viewed only as an enabling provision. States should come up quantifiable data to monitor if reservation policies is indeed benefitting the discriminated section of society and if not then make necessary policies. Connecting the dots! Creamy layer in SC/ST  Reservation for localities- legislation brought by AP, Maharashtra Science & Tech Topic: General Studies 3: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life. Genome India Project The Genome India Project, is a collaboration of 20 institutions including the Indian Institute of Science and some IITs, whereby in the first phase the genomic data of 10,000 Indians will be catalogued By sequencing the genome, researchers can discover the functions of genes and identify which of them are critical for life. What is Genome? Every organism’s genetic code is contained in its Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid (DNA), the building blocks of life.  A genome is defined as an organism’s complete set of DNA, including all of its genes. It contains all of the information needed to build and maintain that organism. In humans, a copy of the entire genome — more than 3 billion DNA base pairs — is contained in all cells that have a nucleus. The Human Genome Project (HGP) – from 1990 to 2003 - was an international programme that led to the decoding of the entire human genome. India was also a collaborator for this programme What is need for Genome India project if HGP has mapped human genome? 95% of the genome samples available use the white, Caucasian genome as the base. Most genomes have been sourced from urban middle-class persons and are not really seen as representative and useful for India specific needs. India’s project aim is to ultimately build a grid of the Indian reference genome, to understand fully the type and nature of diseases and traits that comprise the diverse Indian population For example, if the Northeast sees a tendency towards a specific disease, interventions can be made in the region, assisting public health, which make it easier to battle the illness. Benefits/Significance of Indian Project Personalised Medicine: Propensities to disease can be mapped to variations across genomes and as a result public health interventions can be targeted better, and diseases anticipated before they develop Deeper Understanding of Ecology: Traversing from the world’s tallest mountain range to warm seas through multiple bio-zones, this project could provide much information on the interplay of species and genetic groups within them International Cooperation: The Indian project will aim to vastly add to the available information on the human species and advance the cause, both because of the scale of the Indian population and the diversity here. Challenges to the Genome India Project Medical Ethics: The project aims only to create a database of genetic information and gene modification is not a stated objective. However, the presence of such wide knowledge enhances the risk of doctors privately performing gene modification. Data & Storage: After collection of the sample, the anonymity of the data and questions of its possible use and misuse needs to be addressed especially since India has not passed the data privacy bill Fear of Scientific Racism: scientific studies of genes and classifying them could reinforce racial/caste stereotypes and allow for politics and history to acquire a racial twist. Political Misuse: In India a lot of politics is now on the lines of who are “indigenous” people and who are not. A Genome India Project could add a genetic dimension to the cauldron. Way Ahead Genome India Project provides an opportunity for India to make progress in the fields of biotechnology and healthcare. Thus, it needs to be carried with necessary safeguards about data & ethical issues. Did you know? Shenzen-based scientist helped create the world’s first gene-edited babies. He Jiankui stunned the world when he announced in 2018 that twin girls had been born with modified DNA to make them HIV-resistant Connecting the dots! Agriculture and Genetic engineering Biotechnology and issue of equity. (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) what is ‘SuperCam’, recently in the news?  Electric plane tested by NASA new laser-toting robot the Mars 2020 rover by NASA Space observatory launched by China Reusable rocket designed by ISRO Q.2  NASA’s Deep Impact space mission was employed to take detailed pictures of which comet nucleus?  Halley’s Comet  Hale-Bopp Hyakutake  Tempel 1 Q.3. Right to Privacy is protected as an intrinsic part of Right to Life and Personal Liberty. Which of the following in the Constitution of India correctly and appropriately imply the above statement? Article 14 and the provisions under the 42nd Amendment to the Constitution Article 17 and the Directive Principles of State Policy in Part IV Article 21 and the freedoms guaranteed in Part III Article 24 and the provisions under the 44th Amendment to the Constitution ANSWERS FOR 10 FEB 2020 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 C 2 B 3 A Must Read About Preventive detention: The Hindu About Coronavirus : The Hindu About agriculture vs Industry: The Hindu

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Union Budget 2020–21 – The Big Picture – RSTV IAS UPSC

Union Budget 2020–21 Archives TOPIC: General Studies 2 Indian Budget The Budget focused on raising the purchasing power by cutting income tax rates and boosting rural income. The Statistics Between 2006-2016, 271 million are out of poverty and we should be proud of it Country has moved on from over 4 per cent growth in 1950s to 7.4 per cent to 2014-19 period Total of 60 lakh new taxpayers and 105 crore e-way bills generated under GST. Average household now saves 4 percent of monthly spend due to reduced GST rates Central government debt reduced to 48.7 per cent of GDP in 2019 from 52.2 per cent. Over 6 crore farmers under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna have been insured. Key Announcements: India is now 5th largest economy in world – put out a 16-point guide to make India an aspirational economy Government to incentivise farmers to go solar. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha and Utthan Mahabhiyan (PM KUSUM) to be expanded, providing 20 lakh farmers in setting up standalone solar pumps. Railways will set up Kisan Rail through PPP model so that perishable goods can be transported quickly. Krishi Udaan scheme to transport agri products to national as well international destinations to be launched. Agri-credit target for the year 2020-21 has been set at Rs 15 lakh crore. Rs 69,000 crores for allocated for the healthcare sector Education and training: Rs 99,300 crore allocated for education in FY21. Govt will start start Ind-Sat Exam to promote study in India and a degree-level online education programme for the deprived. A total of Rs 3,000 crore will be given for skill development. Allocation for Swachh Bharat Mission for 2020-21 stands at Rs 12,300 crore. In further push to PM Modi’s ‘Nal se jaal’ scheme, govt proposes Rs 3.6 lakh crore towards piped water supply to households. National Textile Mission to be launched with a proposed Rs 1,480 crore allocation To boost infrastructure, 9,000 km of economic corridor will be set up. Chennai-Bengaluru expressway will also be started. Delhi-Mumbai expressway to be completed by 2023 550 WiFi facilities have been commissioned at railway stations. 1 lakh gram panchayats to get optical fibre link. An allocation of Rs 6,000 crore will be provided for BharatNet scheme. Allocation of Rs 27,300 crore for development of industry and commerce. Rs 20,000 crore announced for renewable energy sector in a bid to tackle pollution and climate change. A new scheme of smart meters will be launched. 100 more airports to be developed by 2025. 1,150 trains will run under the public private partnership (PPP) mode, also four stations will be redeveloped with the help of the private sector. Besides, the Tejas type trains to connect tourist destinations. An allocation of Rs 8,000 crore will be made for National Mission on Quantum Computing and Technology. Rs 35,600 crore allocated for nutritional related programme in FY21 while Rs 85,000 crore has been budgeted for the welfare of Scheduled Castes and other backward classes. Tourism promotion gets Rs 2500 crore. Women schemes, senior citizens in Budget: Enrolment ration for girls under ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao‘ is higher than boys. Gross enrollment of girls is 94.32 per cent in elementary levels, 81.32 per cent in secondary level and 59.7 per cent in higher secondary level. Further, Rs 28,600 crore will be allocated in FY21 for women-linked programmes. Allocation for senior citizens and ‘Divyang’ enhanced to Rs 9500 crore. Proposed 4,400 crore to tackle Delhi’s air pollution problem. Last year, the Supreme Court had termed the situation as “worse than Emergency” as air quality dipped to hazardous levels. Insurance cover for bank depositors raised from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. Currently, in the (unlikely) event of a bank going bust in India, a depositor has claim to a maximum of Rs 1 lakh per account as insurance cover — even if the deposit in their account far exceeds Rs 1 lakh. Depositors holding more than Rs 1 lakh in their account have no legal remedy in case of the collapse of the bank. Foreign direct investment (FDI) into the country has increased to $284 billion during 2014-19 from $190 billion in previous five years. Nirvik (Niryat Rin Vikas Yojana) scheme to provide enhanced insurance cover and reduce premium for small exporters. Focus on MSMEs: More than 5 lakh MSMEs benefited from RBI’s restructuring of loans. Government has asked RBI to consider extending window of debt structuring by one year to March 2021 for this purpose Fiscal deficit target pegged at 3.8% of GDP for FY 2019-20.  FY21 fiscal deficit target pegged at 3.5% of GDP. Fiscal deficit is considered the most important marker of a government’s financial health.  Government to sell part holding in LIC. Besides, govt to also sell stake in IDBI Bank to private investors. The government’s move is a part of efforts to push through an aggressive disinvestment and asset monetisation programme. Nominal growth of GDP for 2020-21 has been estimated at 10 per cent Proposed a new simplified tax regime soon 10% tax for income between 5 lakh-7.5 lakh 15% tax for income between 7.5 lakh to 10 lakh 20% tax for income between 10 lakh to 12.5 lakh 25% tax for income between 12.5 lakh to 15 lakh 30% tax for income above 15 lakh No income tax for those with taxable income below Rs 5 lakh Dividend Distribution Tax to be removed. Dividend shall be taxed at the hands of the recipients To boost investments and shore up the lagging economy, corporate tax for existing companies slashed to 22 per cent. Govt proposes 100 per cent tax concession to sovereign wealth funds on investment in infra projects. Moreover, concessional tax rate of 15 per cent extended to power generation companies. Extends additional Rs 1.5 lakh tax benefit on interest paid on affordable housing loans to March 2021. In another boost, a proposed tax holiday to affordable housing developers. ‘Vivad se Vishwas’ scheme announced by Sitharaman for direct tax payers whose appeals are pending at various forum. 4.83 lakh direct cases pending in various appellate forums. Under the scheme, taxpayer to pay only amount of disputed tax. They will get complete waiver on interest and penalty if scheme is availed by March 31, 2020. 15th Finance Commission has cut state share of central taxes by one percentage point to 41 per cent.

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