Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 2nd April 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 02nd April 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) India gets surveillance satellite Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III – Science and Technology; Space Missions In news: India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C45) launched EMISAT and 28 international customer satellites from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR in Sriharikota. It is the 47th mission of the Indian Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) program. This flight marked the first mission of PSLV-QL, a new variant of PSLV with four strap-on motors. Do you know? The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)-C45 was launched with a payload of 29 satellites, including EMISAT for electronic intelligence, along with 28 customer satellites from other countries. EMISAT: EMISAT is a satellite built around ISRO’s Mini Satellite-2 bus weighing about 436 kg. The satellite is intended for electromagnetic spectrum measurement. The 28 international customer satellites, together weighing about 220 kg, are from four countries, namely, Lithuania (2), Spain (1), Switzerland (1) and USA (24). These foreign satellites were launched as part of commercial arrangements. So far, PSLV has launched 46 national satellites, 10 satellites built by students from Indian Universities and 297 international customer satellites, including the satellites launched today. In its next mission, PSLV-C46 will launch RISAT-2B in May 2019. Pic: https://d39gegkjaqduz9.cloudfront.net/TH/2019/04/02/CNI/Chennai/TH/5_07/3e03f004_2841070_101_mr.jpg What makes PSLV-C45 special? Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III – Science and Technology; Space Missions In news: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched the PSLV-C45 rocket that carried one Indian and 28 international satellites into space. It was the first time ISRO launched a rocket that injected satellites in three different orbits. The fourth and last stage of the rocket will function as a satellite itself for some time, instead of being rendered junk after ejecting its payloads. The fourth stage is what remains of the rocket after most of it is discarded — in three stages — during the flight to reduce weight, after running out of the propellant they carry. The rocket carried four strap-on motors. Do you know? Strap-ons are booster rockets attached externally to the main rocket, and provide additional thrust, or energy, by firing themselves midway during the flight. In earlier flights, ISRO has used two or six strap-on motors. The four extra-large strap-ons used this time reduced the overall weight while still delivering the power equivalent to six motors. ISRO holds the world record for carrying the number of satellites on a single launch vehicle — 104 on PSLV C-37 in February 2017. However, so far, these satellites have been ejected in two different orbits at the most. Three orbits, therefore, is a first. Significance of the achievement Reaching three different orbits gives ISRO a new technological edge. It demonstrated its capability to reuse the fourth-stage engines multiple times, and also showed that the guidance and navigation systems aboard the launch vehicle could be used for much longer times than in earlier missions. In practical terms, it will help ISRO pack its future rockets with multiple satellites even if they require to be placed in very diverse but precise orbits. Currently, this could be done only in multiple missions. Significance of using the fourth stage as a satellite The rocket, or the launch vehicle, is only a carrier.Once it places its passenger, or satellite, to its designated orbit in space, it becomes practically useless, adding to the space debris. For the last few years, ISRO had been planning to give some life to the rocket at least to the uppermost part, or the last stage which remains with the satellite till the ejection. The lower parts of the rocket are in any case discarded in the earlier stages and become junk. There is no way to put them to any use. The uppermost stage, however, can be used, at least temporarily. Previously, they would end up in some orbit to wander aimlessly and endlessly. What purpose will it serve? The fourth stage is carrying three kinds of equipment to carry out some measurements and experiments, and a solar panel to provide power to these equipments and enable communication with ground stations. One kind of instrument can be used to capture messages transmitted from ships, another can be used by amateur radio operators use for tracking and monitoring position data, and the third can study the structure and composition of the ionosphere. How long will it function? The fourth stage will not have the usual life of a satellite. It can remain alive only for a few weeks or a few months, since it is not equipped with a lot of other things that enable a satellite to exist for longer duration in outer space, like a radiation shield. However, this is still good enough time to carry out shorter duration experiments and data collection, like the three on-board instruments are meant to do. In future, such an “orbital platform”, as it is being described, can also be used to inject smaller satellites into orbits. April and May to be warmer than normal, says IMD In news: According to India Meteorological Department (IMD) – Average maximum temperatures from April to June are likely to be warmer by half a degree in several places in central and northwest India. The forecast is in line with the IMD’s position in March, when it said March-May would be “warmer” than normal. The weather office also established the development of rain busting El Nino over the Pacific Ocean which will persist till June this year. The persistence of the phenomenon could negatively impact the June to September southwest monsoon season which delivers 70% of the country’s annual rainfall. Do you know? About El Nino and La Nina El Niño and La Nina are opposite phases of what is known as the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle The ENSO is a recurring climatic pattern involving temperature changes in the waters of the eastern and central tropical Pacific Ocean, and changes in the patterns of upper and lower level winds, sea level pressure and tropical rainfall across the Pacific Basin. El Nino is often called the warm phase and La Nina is called the cold phase of ENSO These deviations from the normal surface temperatures can have a large-scale impact on the global weather conditions and overall climate El Nino refers to the large-scale ocean-atmosphere climate interaction linked to a periodic warming in sea surface temperatures across the central and east-central Equatorial Pacific. It is associated with high pressure in the western Pacific. El Nino adversely impacts the Indian monsoons and hence, agriculture in India. The cool surface water off the Peruvian coast goes warm because of El Nino When the water is warm, the normal trade winds get lost or reverse their direction Hence, the flow of moisture-laden winds is directed towards the coast of Peru from the western Pacific (the region near northern Australia and South East Asia) This causes heavy rains in Peru during the El Nino years robbing the Indian subcontinent of its normal monsoon rains The larger the temperature and pressure difference, the larger the rainfall shortage in India. Pic: https://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120813/ind7.jpg Earth Hour and World Wide Fund for Nature Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III – Environment and Climate Change; Role of international organizations In news: Famous monuments across the world went dark on March 31st night to observe the World Wide Fund for Natures Earth Hour to spark global awareness and action on nature and the environment. Since 2007, Earth Hour has been a movement to bring awareness to climate change, while promoting action to preserve the climate and environment Earth Hour 2019 with its campaign #connect2Earth aims to create awareness regarding the importance of saving nature as our lives depend on its health. Participation will mark Earth Hour by switching off unnecessary lights for the hour to symbolise a commitment to change beyond the hour. Starting as a symbolic lights out event in Sydney in 2007, Earth Hour is now the world's largest grassroots movement for the environment, inspiring millions of people to take action for our planet and nature About World Wide Fund for Nature: It is international non-governmental organization working in the field of the wilderness preservation and reduction of human impact on the environment It was formerly named World Wildlife Fund It is world's largest conservation organization with over five million supporters worldwide, working in more than 100 countries, supporting around 1,300 conservation and environmental projects. It was founded in 1961 and is headquartered in Gland Switzerland WWF aims to stop degradation of planet's natural environment and build future in which humans live in harmony with nature. Currently, its work is organized around these six areas food, climate, freshwater, wildlife, forests, and oceans. It publishes Living Planet Report every two years since 1998, based on Living Planet Index and ecological footprint calculation. Core sector growth quickens to 2.1% in Feb. Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III – Indian Economy and issues related to it; Growth and Development In news: Core sector growth accelerated in February to 2.11% from the 1.5% in January, snapping a three-month slowing trend. Growth had come in at 4.74% for October 2018, 3.38% for November and 2.64% for December. Within the Index of Eight Core Industries, the crude oil sector contracted sharply in February, by 6.16%, compared with a contraction of 4.37% in January. The natural gas sector saw growth slowing to 3.7% from 6.21% over the same period. After recording a high single-digit growth of 7.3% in July 2018, core sector has consistently recorded a growth of low single-digit indicating weakness in the industrial growth. The cement sector saw growth at 8.04% in February, lower than the 11% growth in January. The coal sector witnessed growth accelerating in February to 7.26% from 1.74% in January. The refinery products sector saw a contraction of 0.74% in February, as compared with a contraction of 2.58% in January. The fertilizer sector also saw growth slowing drastically in February to 2.54% from 10.5% in January. The steel sector’s growth slowed in February to 4.87% from 5.52% in January. Growth in the electricity sector remained flat at 0.73% in February compared with 0.8% in January. Basics: Index of Industrial Production (IIP) Prepared by the Central Statistics Office To measure the activity happening in three industrial sectors namely Mining, Manufacturing, and Electricity. It is the benchmark index and serves as a proxy to gauge the growth of manufacturing in India since manufacturing alone has a weight of 77.63 per cent in the index. Eight Core Industries Coal, Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Refinery Product, Steel, Cement and Electricity are known as Core Industries. The Eight Core Industries comprise 40.27 per cent of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP). The 8 core industries are their relative weight in IIP is as below: Coal (weight: 4.38 %) Crude Oil (weight: 5.22 %) Natural Gas (weight: 1.71 %) Refinery Products (weight: 5.94%) Fertilizers (weight: 1.25%) Steel (weight: 6.68%) Cement (weight: 2.41%) Electricity (weight: 10.32%) MUST READ Ensuring access to justice The Hindu Deepening insecurity The Hindu Taking a cue from Japan The Hindu Instead of only praising scientists, Opposition must debate policy challenges Indian Express Algeria could see a second Arab Spring Indian Express

60 Days Plan: UPSC IAS Prelims 2019- Polity and Current Affairs (Day 26)

60 Days Plan: UPSC IAS Prelims 2019 - Polity and Current Affairs (Day 26) 60 Day plan has been published on the website (www.iasbaba.com - Click here). Since we have come up with the 'Quiz Format', it will not be feasible to publish it on the app. For feasibility and getting to know where you stand among your peers (we have a leaderboard which gives your marks and rank) it would be advisable to take the test on the website. All the best. make the best use of the initiative ! Before taking the Test, read the post below, ARCHIVES Hello Friends,  The most beloved 60 Days for UPSC IAS Prelims 2019  has finally begun :) Once again the time has come for the battle (Prelims). And who else than your best companion in the last preparatory phase for UPSC IAS Prelims 2019 i.e 60 days plan. It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.  Hope the message given above makes sense to you all. The productive utilization of this programme demands consistency, honesty, faith and strong determination to be in the process of learning and unlearning. You might not be fully prepared to solve all the questions but the learning and unlearning through these questions will prepare you for the real battle on 2nd June 2019. You have to unlearn your repetitive mistakes, gut feeling on which you mark doubtful questions. You have to learn new things and also those concepts that you were very sure of but somehow because of traps in the option, got it wrong. You have to learn 'how to convert knowledge into marks' (Because most of the times, after ending the exam, you regret making mistakes in known concepts).  Secondly, keep a long distance from following too many things at this point. It will always backfire. Once you are here, put complete faith and follow this initiative along with whatever you were doing. It is very important to consolidate your preparation with many revisions. Simply following many things will leave you in despair. You can cross check this with veterans. Everything that seems attractive is not productive. You should always go for productivity. Be wise! Let us pledge to make it a big game changer (better than last year) in the next 60 days of this plan! Importance of Self - Tracking: Learning from Last Year Last year, aspirants used to type/post their answers in the comment box on a daily basis. There were huge participation and discussion below the test post. Putting answers in the comment box has been very effective to self-track yourself after updating the score. In the end, you can cross check your performance through Disqus profile. It was highly effective in the last edition of 60 Days that propelled aspirants to monitor their performance and learn through discussion. Let you solve these questions with full honesty and write your result in the comment box. Interact with peers to know your mistakes. The importance of this initiative stands time-bound and aggressive reverse engineering to learn the concepts. Many of you must be busy with your own strategy but let us tell you honestly that in the last few months, it is very important to revise and consolidate your learning. Just reading won’t suffice. So, take out a few hours from your schedule and make it a revision exercise. How can you make the best use of it? Be honest to your effort and do not start competing with XYZ aspirants just for the sake of marks. It is more important for you to introspect and check your learning than focusing on others. Try to answer the questions in 25 minutes only.  Do not get into negative feeling that I don’t have enough knowledge to answer these questions. Feel like you are taking the real exam. What would be your response then? The same will be replicated in the UPSC exam. Here, you get marks only and nothing else matters. So, make effort to know the answers to all questions. Do not cheat :P DETAILED MICRO ANALYSIS MATRIX SAMPLE- is given here. You can download this and do an assessment for yourself (the excel sheet must be modified as per this years planning. The provided excel sheet is only for reference).  DOWNLOAD You can copy paste the same format/modify as per your need in Google Spreadsheet and update it on daily basis. Feedback talks about daily test results. Follow-up talks about daily target achieved from sources and the number of revisions to do/done and dates. Sources column is to ensure that aspirants do not run behind various sources and follow the same throughout. Would like to end on this quote:  Either you run the day or the day runs you.  Are you ready? Let's start! Important Note Don't forget to post your marks in the comment section. Also, let us know if you enjoyed today's test :)  You can post your comments in the given format  (1) Your Score (2) Matrix Meter (3) New Learning from the Test

All India Radio (AIR) IAS UPSC - Effects of US Intention to Terminate Preferential Trade Terms to India

Effects of US Intention to terminate preferential trade terms to India ARCHIVES Search 5th March, 2019 Money Talk here: http://www.newsonair.com/Main_Audio_Bulletins_Search.aspx TOPIC: General Studies 2: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora. Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate. In News: Arguing that New Delhi had failed to assure America that it would provide equitable and reasonable access to its markets in numerous sectors, US President Donald Trump had informed the US Congress about his intent to terminate the designation of India and Turkey as a beneficiary developing country under the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) programme. What are Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs)? These agreements give signing nations special or preferential access to each other's markets, giving a boost to overall trade. In the US, the GSP programme - designed to promote economic growth in the beneficiary developing countries - provides duty-free entry for up to 4,800 products from 129 designated beneficiary countries and territories. The criteria for inclusion in the GSP programme include factors such as providing the US with equitable and reasonable market access, respecting arbitral awards in favour of US citizens or corporations, combating child labour, providing adequate and effective intellectual property protection, and respecting internationally recognised worker rights, among others. One of the discretionary criteria the President must (as per the GSP statute) take into account while determining the GSP eligibility is the “extent to which such country has assured the United States that it will provide equitable and reasonable access to its markets and basic commodity resources and the extent to which it has assured the United States it will refrain from engaging in unreasonable export practices.” The program accounts for some $5.6 billion of India’s exports to the U.S, making India the largest GSP beneficiary. The Trump administration, which periodically reviews the GSP eligibility launched a review last April of India’s compliance with GSP market eligibility criteria. The move is the latest push by the Trump administration to reduce US trade deficits and redress what it considers to be unfair trading relationships with other countries, starting with China. The Trade barriers in question India has implemented a wide array of trade barriers that create serious negative effects on United States commerce. India’s new e-commerce rules which have impacted American companies like Amazon and Walmart (majority owner of Flipkart) Price controls on medical devices (cardiac stents) Tariffs on ICT products like smart watches and high-end mobile phones Lack of greater market access for the U.S. dairy industry The above are some of the issues that have caused trade friction between the two countries. Impact on India GSP was in any case "meant for least-developed countries, and India has graduated out of that". In January, the International Monetary Fund had reconfirmed India's 'fastest-growing major economy' tag and predicted GDP growth at 7.5 per cent in FY20. The Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) also believes that India's exports to the US will remain unaffected by Trump's latest move since it will only have a marginal impact on a few domestic sectors such as processed food, leather, plastic, building material and tiles, engineering goods, and hand tools, among others. The removal of these duty concessions would make the above products relatively uncompetitive in terms of prices in the US market compared to exports from other developing countries. For example, the import price of most of the chemical products, which constituted a large chunk of India's exports, is expected to increase by about 5 per cent. Industry body FICCI concurs that GSP withdrawal will make the Indian industry less competitive. Indian government arguments – The impact would amount to only $190 million on the value of $5.6 billion in exports to the U.S. that fall under the GSP category. Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) has said that overall impact will amount to less than 0.4% of India’s exports to the U.S. India’s exports to the U.S. stood at $50.57 billion in 2017 with a GSP tariff advantage of only $190 million, which was less than 0.4% of total exports. According to FIEO, the sectors that will likely be significantly impacted will include processed foods, leather products other than footwear and engineering goods such as spark ignition, turbines and pipes. The export body also pointed out that the withdrawal of GSP benefits to Indian exporters will also impact the downstream industries in the U.S. that were using the cheaper inputs from India. However, the government would continue to talk to the U.S. during the 60-day period after which the GSP withdrawal would come into effect, in an effort to work out a deal. In this globally protectionist environment, it is hoped that the countries refrain from a tit-for-tat trade war like the one between the US and China.

60 Days Plan: UPSC IAS Prelims 2019- Polity and Current Affairs (Day 25)

60 Days Plan: UPSC IAS Prelims 2019 - Polity and Current Affairs (Day 25) 60 Day plan has been published on the website (www.iasbaba.com - Click here). Since we have come up with the 'Quiz Format', it will not be feasible to publish it on the app. For feasibility and getting to know where you stand among your peers (we have a leaderboard which gives your marks and rank) it would be advisable to take the test on the website. All the best. make the best use of the initiative ! Before taking the Test, read the post below, ARCHIVES Hello Friends,  The most beloved 60 Days for UPSC IAS Prelims 2019  has finally begun :) Once again the time has come for the battle (Prelims). And who else than your best companion in the last preparatory phase for UPSC IAS Prelims 2019 i.e 60 days plan. It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.  Hope the message given above makes sense to you all. The productive utilization of this programme demands consistency, honesty, faith and strong determination to be in the process of learning and unlearning. You might not be fully prepared to solve all the questions but the learning and unlearning through these questions will prepare you for the real battle on 2nd June 2019. You have to unlearn your repetitive mistakes, gut feeling on which you mark doubtful questions. You have to learn new things and also those concepts that you were very sure of but somehow because of traps in the option, got it wrong. You have to learn 'how to convert knowledge into marks' (Because most of the times, after ending the exam, you regret making mistakes in known concepts).  Secondly, keep a long distance from following too many things at this point. It will always backfire. Once you are here, put complete faith and follow this initiative along with whatever you were doing. It is very important to consolidate your preparation with many revisions. Simply following many things will leave you in despair. You can cross check this with veterans. Everything that seems attractive is not productive. You should always go for productivity. Be wise! Let us pledge to make it a big game changer (better than last year) in the next 60 days of this plan! Importance of Self - Tracking: Learning from Last Year Last year, aspirants used to type/post their answers in the comment box on a daily basis. There were huge participation and discussion below the test post. Putting answers in the comment box has been very effective to self-track yourself after updating the score. In the end, you can cross check your performance through Disqus profile. It was highly effective in the last edition of 60 Days that propelled aspirants to monitor their performance and learn through discussion. Let you solve these questions with full honesty and write your result in the comment box. Interact with peers to know your mistakes. The importance of this initiative stands time-bound and aggressive reverse engineering to learn the concepts. Many of you must be busy with your own strategy but let us tell you honestly that in the last few months, it is very important to revise and consolidate your learning. Just reading won’t suffice. So, take out a few hours from your schedule and make it a revision exercise. How can you make the best use of it? Be honest to your effort and do not start competing with XYZ aspirants just for the sake of marks. It is more important for you to introspect and check your learning than focusing on others. Try to answer the questions in 25 minutes only.  Do not get into negative feeling that I don’t have enough knowledge to answer these questions. Feel like you are taking the real exam. What would be your response then? The same will be replicated in the UPSC exam. Here, you get marks only and nothing else matters. So, make effort to know the answers to all questions. Do not cheat :P DETAILED MICRO ANALYSIS MATRIX SAMPLE- is given here. You can download this and do an assessment for yourself (the excel sheet must be modified as per this years planning. The provided excel sheet is only for reference).  DOWNLOAD You can copy paste the same format/modify as per your need in Google Spreadsheet and update it on daily basis. Feedback talks about daily test results. Follow-up talks about daily target achieved from sources and the number of revisions to do/done and dates. Sources column is to ensure that aspirants do not run behind various sources and follow the same throughout. Would like to end on this quote:  Either you run the day or the day runs you.  Are you ready? Let's start! Important Note Don't forget to post your marks in the comment section. Also, let us know if you enjoyed today's test :)  You can post your comments in the given format  (1) Your Score (2) Matrix Meter (3) New Learning from the Test

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 30th March 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 30th March 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Five varieties of Indian coffee awarded GI certification Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III – Economy and development; Intellectual Property Rights In news: Five varieties of Indian coffee have been awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) tag. The move is expected to enhance their visibility globally and allow growers to get the right value. The initiative will also help integrate farmers with markets in a transparent manner, and lead to realisation of fair prices for coffee producers. 5 varieties of Indian coffee which got GI tag Coorg Arabica coffee is grown specifically in the region of Kodagu district in Karnataka. Wayanad Robusta coffee is grown specifically in the region of Wayanad district which is situated on the eastern portion of Kerala. Chikmagalur Arabica coffee is grown specifically in the region of Chikmagalur district and it is situated in the Deccan plateau, belongs to the Malnad region of Karnataka. Araku Valley Arabica coffee can be described as coffee from the hilly tracks of Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha region at an elevation of 900-1100 Mt MSL. The coffee produce of Araku, by the tribals, follows an organic approach in which they emphasise management practices involving substantial use of organic manures, green manuring and organic pest management practices. Bababudangiris Arabica coffee is grown specifically in the birthplace of coffee in India and the region is situated in the central portion of Chikmagalur district. Selectively hand-picked and processed by natural fermentation, the cup exhibits full body, acidity, mild flavour and striking aroma with a note of chocolate. This coffee is also called high grown coffee which slowly ripens in the mild climate and thereby the bean acquires a special taste and aroma. Do you know? The Monsooned Malabar Robusta Coffee, a unique specialty coffee from India, was given GI certification earlier. Important value additions: Geographical Indication According to the World Intellectual Property Rights, “Geographical Indication is the sign used on the products that have specific geographical origin and posses’ reputation and some qualities that are due to the origin.” In India Geographical Indication tag is governed by the Geographical Indication of Goods (Registry and Protection) Act of 1999. About GI Act, 1999: GIs indicate goods as originating in a specific geographical region, the characteristics, qualities or reputation thereof essentially attributable to such region. Complying with the World Trade Organisation-Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (WTO-TRIPS) obligations, India enacted the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999 (GI Act) and has set up a registry in Chennai to register such names. Covering agricultural goods, manufactured and natural goods, textiles, handicrafts and foodstuffs, the GI Registry’s website lists popular GIs like Basmati rice, Darjeeling tea and Pashmina shawls etc. MPs reject Brexit deal for third time Part of: GS Mains II – International affairs In news: British MPs rejected Prime Minister Theresa May’s EU divorce deal for a third time. It is yet another blow to a Prime Minister who has all but lost control of her government and the Brexit process particularly after she offered to quit if MPs backed the deal. MPs fear it could leave Britain tied to the EU indefinitely with no say over its rules and no ability to strike trade deals with other countries. Do you know? Background: Brexit denotes shorthand way of saying the UK leaving the EU A referendum was held on Thursday 23 June, 2016, to decide whether the UK should leave or remain in the European Union. Leave won by 51.9% to 48.1%. Theresa May triggered this process on 29 March, 2017, meaning the UK was scheduled to leave on 29 March 2019. About European Union EU is an economic and political partnership involving 28 European countries. It began after World War II to foster economic co-operation, with the idea that countries which trade together were more likely to avoid going to war with each other. It has since grown to become a “single market” allowing goods and people to move around, basically as if the member states were one country. It has its own currency, the euro, which is used by 19 of the member countries, its own parliament and it now sets rules in a wide range of areas – including on the environment, transport, consumer rights and even things such as mobile phone charges. Ministry of Home Affairs forms Terror Monitoring Group (TMG) Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III – Security issues In news: Ministry of Home Affairs has formed a Terror Monitoring Group (TMG) to monitor terror sympathisers. TMG to take coordinated action in all registered cases that relate to terror financing and terror-related activities. The TMG will “investigate the networks of various channels being used to fund terror and terror activities and take coordinated action to stop flow of such funds. Miscellaneous: 1. Blockchain based market place app Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III - Science and Technology; Innovation; Indian Economy In news: With a view to enabling growers find better price for their produce, the Coffee Board has launched Coffee Blockchain, a marketplace app, developed in coordination with Eka Software Solutions. The pilot project has about 20 participants, including 14 coffee growers, and will run for four-to-six months. The block chain-enabled marketplace was aimed at reducing growers’ dependency on intermediaries, bring in trust and efficiency in the chain, help farmers with market access, and ensure traceability. Anyone willing to participate in the marketplace will have to register on the app and will get a smart contract number. Important Value Additions: About Blockchain technology Blockchain can be thought of as a public account ledger, an immutable, transparent and permanent one. Each transaction is recorded and stored in the ledger that is out on a public bulletin board. Every transaction adds a block to the chain of transactions and each one is evaluated by every user based on algorithms they’ve agreed upon. Rather than being kept in single location, a copy of the blockchain is stored on every user’s server so that a user cannot alter it without other users finding out. Even though blockchain was conceived for financial transactions, its characteristics make it an apt solution that can support voting systems. Due to its unique attributes of trust, transparency and immutability, such a system is expected to mitigate issues like vote manipulation in political processes. Blockchain is the backbone technology on which bitcoins run. Simply put, it is a digital public ledger that records every transaction. Once a transaction is entered in the blockchain, it cannot be erased or modified. Blockchain removes the need for using a trusted third party such as a bank to make a transaction by directly connecting the customers and suppliers. Each transaction is recorded to the ledger after verification by the network participants, mainly a chain of computers, called nodes. While the origin of the technology is not clear, it is widely believed that a person or group of people by the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto, who invented bitcoins, released the technology to support cryptocurrency. Bitcoin is just one of the applications for the technology, whose use is being tested across industries. It is witnessing a lot of traction within India, in sectors such as banking and insurance. In most of these industries, players are coming together to form a consortium to realise the benefits of blockchain at an industry level. For example, in India, there is a consortium ‘BankChain’ which has about 27 banks from India (including State Bank of India or SBI and ICICI) and the Middle East as its members. The consortium is exploring using usage of Blockchain technology to make business safer, faster and cheaper. The Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology (IDRBT), an arm of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), is developing a model platform for blockchain technology. Blockchain is expected to improve the efficiency of a transaction by eliminating the middlemen, while also reducing the cost of all transactions. It is also likely to increase transparency and bring down fraud as every transaction would be recorded and distributed on a public ledger. 2. Wildlife Sanctuary in news: Fakim Wildlife Sanctuary Person/Awardee in news: Alemba Yimchunger Why in news? Alemba Yimchunger got Earth Day Network Star or Earth Day award. The services of Alemba Yimchunger, a forest guard at the Fakim Wildlife Sanctuary in Nagaland, have been recognised with Earth Day Network Star, an award by a U.S.-based international environment organisation that engages with green groups in 195 countries. Yimchunger has played a major role in protection of forests and wild animals in and around Fakim sanctuary. (MAINS FOCUS) SOCIAL/WELFARE ISSUE TOPIC: General studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections General studies 3 Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices Inclusive growth and issues arising from it. Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG) and Poverty Context: The idea of a minimum income guarantee (MIG) has caught up with political parties. A MIG requires the government to pay the targeted set of citizens a fixed amount of money on a regular basis. Why MIG in news? Congress party recently promised MIG programme called Nyuntam Aay Yojana (NYAY), if the party was voted to power. A limited version of the MIG in the form of the PM KISAN Yojana is already being implemented by the NDA government at the Centre. State governments in Odisha and Telangana have their own versions of the MIG. About Nyuntam Aay Yojana (NYAY) NYAY promises annual income transfers of ₹72,000 to each of the poorest five crore families comprising approximately 25 crore individuals. If implemented, it will cost the exchequer ₹3.6 lakh crore per annum. Even though the case for additional spending of such a large sum on the poor is good and required, such schemes are not a good way of spending money on the poor. Why there is a strong case for MIG? Multi-dimensional poverty: Many landless labourers, agricultural workers and marginal farmers suffer from multi-dimensional poverty. According to the Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) 2011, around six crore households suffer from multidimensional poverty. Benefits of growth not percolated: Benefits of high economic growth during the last three decades have not percolated to these groups. Failure of welfare schemes: Welfare schemes have also failed to bring them out of destitution. They have remained the poorest of Indians. (Contract and informal sector workers in urban areas face a similar problem.) Unemployment: Due to rapid mechanisation of low-skill jobs in the construction and retail sectors, employment prospects for them appear increasingly dismal. Informal credit: Poor people are forced to borrow from moneylenders and adhatiyas (middlemen) at high rates of 24-60% per annum. For example, institutional lending for marginal and small farmers accounts for only about 30% of their total borrowing. Figure for landless agricultural workers is even worse at 15%. Improve nutrient intake and health: Studies show that even a small income supplement can improve nutrient intake at high levels of impoverishment. It will make the working population more productive. Improve education: It can increase school attendance for students coming from poor households. Therefore, there is a strong case for direct income transfers to these groups. The additional income from MIG can reduce their indebtedness and help them get by without falling into the clutches of the moneylender. Concerns: Concerns over the fiscal burden: Government finances cannot afford such high additional spending, as the fiscal space is limited. Withdrawal of provisions of the basic services: No government can afford MIG unless several existing welfare schemes are converted into direct income transfers, or the fiscal deficit is allowed to shoot up way above its existing level, 3.4% the GDP. No income transfer scheme can be a substitute for universal basic services. Withdrawal of beneficiaries from the labour force: Large cash transfers can result in withdrawal of beneficiaries from the labour force. Conclusion: Income transfers will surely reduce income inequalities and help bring a large number of households out of the poverty trap or prevent them from falling into it in the event of shocks such as illness or death of an earner. However, the form of an income transfer scheme should be decided carefully. The scheme should be launched in incremental steps. The poor spend most of their income, and a boost in their income will provide a boost to economic activities by increasing overall demand. On the other hand, large income transfers can be inflationary, which will hurt the poor more than the rich. Connecting the dots: Discuss the merits and challenges associated with Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG). Serious consideration must be given to the idea of a minimum income guarantee (MIG) as a more effective way to address mass poverty concern. Comment. Do you think replacing the existing public distribution system and other benefits for the BPL families with a Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG) will be a fiscally prudent decision? Critically analyse. NATIONAL/POLITY TOPIC: General studies 1 and 2   Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism. Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure. Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries The irrelevance of secularism Introduction: The below article deals with India’s unique concept of ‘secularism’ and how its definition is confusing and clearly unworkable. Unique definition of Secularism According to the founding fathers of the Constitution, “the Indian state must be equidistant from all religions while allowing religions equal space in the public sphere”. Western concept of secularism defines mutual exclusivity between state and religion. Indian concept of secularism believes in equality of all religions and respect for all religions by state. In other words, unlike western notion of secularism, here in India the state is not separated from religion rather the government is obliged to take steps so that all religions are treated equally. For several reasons this definition of secularism has created a lot of confusion as to what the term stands for. The framers of the Constitution, Nehru and B.R. Ambedkar included, failed to erect an unbreachable firewall between state and religion that would clearly prevent the intrusion of religious idioms, practices and agendas into the political arena and insulate the state from the religious sphere. The innate religious nature of Indian society and the after-effects of Partition on religious grounds precluded this option. Issues: Secularism is one of the fundamental principle meant for uniting the society, given huge religious cultural diversity. However, inspite of uniting it has led to animosity between different religious groups in following ways: No clear distinction between state and religion- State interferes in religious issues when they involve human rights, for example banning untouchability, Sabarimala judgment and passage of triple talaq bill. Vote bank politics– propounding the religious beliefs of one community over other. Ban on caw slaughter has been envisaged under DPSP, but the way it has been implemented, not keeping in mind the livelihood of many, especially the Muslims has resulted into violence. Eg- The Mohammad Akhlaq incident- he was beaten to death by a mob. Vote bank politics has resulted in minority appeasement at the cost of basic pillars of democracy. Appeasement policy of the government– Petty matters converts into riots as in Muzaffarpur because of administrative negligence. Rise of communalism- Riots, Mandir-Masjid issues keep cropping up every now and then. Uneven development among different religious groups- Political mileage has prevented necessary interventions in some communities resulting in their backwardness. The Uniform civil code debate rather than being an informed one, with an objective of improving lives of Muslim women, the debate took a turn which made it seem as majoritarianism dominating over minorities. The social gap between the OBCs, SCs and STs on one hand and the communities like Jat(Haryana), Patidars(Gujarat) has widened further because of the reservation policy. Conclusion: From above analysis it can be concluded that it is not the concept of secularism per se but the misconception around it which has resulted into polarization of Indian society hurting the growth and development of those alienated. However, in this context, to call the ideological foundation of the Constitution secularism, although the term was not explicitly included in the document until 1976, has done great harm to the concept. The formula that the state must remain equidistant from all religions, the unique Indian definition of secularism, is clearly unworkable. Connecting the dots: The formula that the state must remain equidistant from all religions is proving to be unworkable. Do you agree? Elucidate. Instead of uniting our society, secularism in India it has fomented fragmentation and alienation among our diverse religious communities. Critically Comment. “Secularism is all about erecting a wall of separation between State and Religion and thereby devaluing religion”. Critically analyze this statement in the Indian context. (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note: Featured Comments and comments Up-voted by IASbaba are the “correct answers”. IASbaba App users – Team IASbaba will provide correct answers in comment section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers. Q.1) Department for Promotion of Industrial Policy & Internal Trade is responsible for Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) relating to Geographical Indication of goods Copyrights Semiconductor integrated circuits’ layout design Select the correct code: 1 and 2 Only 2 2 and 3 All of the above Q.2) Araku Valley Arabica coffee was awarded GI certification recently. Araku Valley is located in – Kodagu district, Karnataka Wayanad district, Kerala Visakhapatnam district, Andhra Pradesh Chikmagalur district, Karnataka Q.3) With the boom of the bitcoin – a variety of cryptocurrency – the blockchain technology has come into prominence. What does this technology promise to do, even though it is still in its infancy? Help facilitate secure, online transactions in a decentralized way Keep out malware Connect servers with common reasons for existence, remotely Helps to remove inequality and promote inclusive development Q.4) Fakim Wildlife Sanctuary is located in – Telangana Arunachal Pradesh Andhra Pradesh Nagaland MUST READ A reality check: on U.S. draft resolution to blacklist Masood Azhar The Hindu A stop sign: on India's growing carbon emissions The Hindu Article 35A, in fact Indian Express From The PM, To The People Indian Express Lost in the din on jobs Indian Express No one tames Taliban Indian Express  

Creative Guidance – Dont worry about what you cannot control – Inspirational Educative Articles

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 29th March 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 29th March 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Humans can detect the earth’s magnetic fields Part of: GS Prelims and Mains I and III – Geography; Science and Technology In news: Scientists have long known that turtles, birds, honeybees and even bacteria can sense the earth’s magnetic field and use them for navigation. But this magneto-reception has hardly been tested in humans and many studies have been inconclusive. However, a team of scientists has found that the human brain is capable of detecting the Earth's magnetic field, challenging previous studies. But they are yet to decode what our brains may be using this information for. The discovery shows humans have not entirely lost the mechanism of orienting themselves using the magnetic field. Do you know what causes the Earth's magnetic field? Our planet’s magnetic field is believed to be generated deep down in the Earth’s core. Right at the heart of the Earth is a solid inner core, two thirds of the size of the Moon and composed primarily of iron. At a hellish 5,700°C, this iron is as hot as the Sun’s surface, but the crushing pressure caused by gravity prevents it from becoming liquid. Surrounding this is the outer core, a 2,000 km thick layer of iron, nickel, and small quantities of other metals. Lower pressure than the inner core means the metal here is fluid. Differences in temperature, pressure and composition within the outer core cause convection currents in the molten metal as cool, dense matter sinks whilst warm, less dense matter rises. The Coriolis force, resulting from the Earth’s spin, also causes swirling whirlpools. This flow of liquid iron generates electric currents, which in turn produce magnetic fields. Charged metals passing through these fields go on to create electric currents of their own, and so the cycle continues. This self-sustaining loop is known as the geodynamo. The spiralling caused by the Coriolis force means that separate magnetic fields created are roughly aligned in the same direction, their combined effect adding up to produce one vast magnetic field engulfing the planet. Why Earth’s magnetic field is important? Without Earth's magnetic field, solar winds — streams of electrically charged particles that flow from the sun — would strip away the planet's atmosphere and oceans. As such, Earth's magnetic field helped to make life on the planet possible, researchers have said. pic: http://www.livescience.com/images/i/000/077/565/original/earth-magnetic-shield.jpeg (MAINS FOCUS) ECONOMY/WELFARE ISSUE TOPIC: General studies 2 and 3 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections Issues related to unemployment and economy Inclusive growth and issues arising from it The shape of an urban employment guarantee Key pointers: We had read that the unemployment rate has reached a 45-year high (6.1%) in 2017-18, as per leaked data from NSSO's Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) report. According to the PLFS report – Unemployment problem is especially aggravated in India’s cities and towns India is in the midst of a massive jobs crisis Aside from unemployment, low wages and precarity continue to be widespread. Majority of the population work in the informal sector. Hence, India cannot ignore the crisis of urban employment. To handle the Urban Employment, Government Policy Framework should – Focus on skills: Both State and Central governments tend to treat towns as “engines of growth” for the economy but ignore the people who toil to make a living. Urban wage employment can be increased by properly skilling and implementing skill development schemes effectively. Focus on small and medium towns: India’s small and medium towns are particularly ignored in the State’s urban imagination. National-level urban programmes such as the Smart Cities Mission and the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) only benefit a fraction of them. Focus on Funds, Functions and Functionaries: Most ULBs are struggling to carry out basic functions because of a lack of financial and human capacity. Focus on ecology: There are many challenges associated with degradation of urban ecological commons due to untrammelled urbanization. Focus on Sustainable Employment: Government policy framework should focus on strengthening towns through sustainable employment. Solution: Employment guarantee programme (EGP) In the context of the present employment crises, it is worthwhile considering introducing an employment guarantee programme (EGP) in urban areas. EGP will help to address the concerns of underemployment and unemployment, as it can bring in much-needed public investment in towns to improve the quality of urban infrastructure and services, restoring urban commons, skilling urban youth and increasing the capacity of ULBs. EGP would give urban residents a statutory right to work and thereby ensure the right to life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution. Given the State’s relative neglect of small and medium towns and to avoid migration to big cities, EGP can cover all ULBs with a population less than 1 million. Urban informal workers with limited formal education would benefit from EGP as they can undertake standard public works such as building and maintenance of roads, footpaths and bridges for a guaranteed 100 days in a year, at ₹500 a day. Including “green jobs” under EGP would help to create, restore, rejuvenate and maintain urban commons such as green spaces and parks, forested or woody areas, degraded or waste land, and water bodies. EGP will benefit educated youth as it can focus on creation of skilling and apprenticeship programme for unemployed youth with higher education who can sign up for a contiguous period of 150 days (five months), at ₹13,000 a month for five months to assist with administrative functions in municipal offices, government schools, or public health centres, and for the monitoring, measurement, or evaluation of environmental parameters. Conclusion: An urban employment guarantee programme not only improves incomes of workers but also has multiplier effects on the economy. It will boost local demand in small towns, improve public infrastructure and services, spur entrepreneurship, build skills of workers and create a shared sense of public goods. Hence, the time is ripe for an employment guarantee programme in urban India. Connecting the dots: Discuss the merits and challenges associated with urban employment guarantee programme. Do you think introducing urban employment guarantee programme can solve India's massive jobs crisis? Critically analyse. SCIENCE AND TECH/DEFENCE TOPIC: General studies 3 Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology. Defence and Security issues Mission Shakti: India prepare to take the enemy in space Introduction: India became the fourth country (after Russia, the United States, and China) to have the capability in taking down an enemy in space. India shot down a low-orbit satellite through an Indian anti-satellite weapon A-SAT, in an operation called ‘Mission Shakti’ About Mission Shakti It was an anti-satellite missile test, from the Dr A P J Abdul Kalam Island launch complex. This was a technological mission carried out by DRDO. The ASAT comprised a Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) Interceptor developed by the DRDO. The significance of the test is that India has tested and successfully demonstrated its capability to interdict and intercept a satellite in outer space based on complete indigenous technology. India’s space programme is a critical backbone of India’s security, economic and social infrastructure. The test was done to verify that India has the capability to safeguard our space assets. It is the Government of India’s responsibility to defend the country’s interests in outer space. Pic: https://images.indianexpress.com/2019/03/capture-29.jpg Is India entering into an arms race in outer space? PM reiterated that the mission focus is to strengthen its defence and not to wage war. PM also said that India has always been against the presence of weapons in the space and this development will not change our stand. India has always maintained that space must be used only for peaceful purposes. India is against the weaponization of Outer Space and support international efforts to reinforce the safety and security of space based assets. India believes that Outer space is the common heritage of humankind and it is the responsibility of all space-faring nations to preserve and promote the benefits flowing from advances made in space technology and its applications for all. Do you know? India is a party to all the major international treaties relating to Outer Space. India already implements a number of Transparency and Confidence Building Measures(TCBMs) – including registering space objects with the UN register, pre-launch notifications, measures in harmony with the UN Space Mitigation Guidelines, participation in Inter Agency Space Debris Coordination (IADC) activities with regard to space debris management, undertaking SOPA (Space Object Proximity Awareness and COLA (Collision Avoidance) Analysis and numerous international cooperation activities, including hosting the UN affiliated Centre for Space and Science Technology Education in Asia and Pacific. India has been participating in all sessions of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. India supported UNGA resolution 69/32 on No First Placement of Weapons on Outer Space. India’s sees the No First Placement of weapons in outer space as only an interim step and not a substitute for concluding substantive legal measures to ensure the prevention of an arms race in outer space, which should continue to be a priority for the international community. India supports the substantive consideration of the issue of Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space (PAROS) in the Conference on Disarmament where it has been on the agenda since 1982. What is the international law on weapons in outer space? The principal international Treaty on space is the 1967 Outer Space Treaty. India is a signatory to this treaty, and ratified it in 1982. The Outer Space Treaty prohibits only weapons of mass destruction in outer space, not ordinary weapons. India expects to play a role in the future in the drafting of international law on prevention of an arms race in outer space including inter alia on the prevention of the placement of weapons in outer space in its capacity as a major space faring nation with proven space technology. India is not in violation of any international law or Treaty to which it is a Party or any national obligation. MUST READ Dangerous precedent: on U.S. endorsing Israel’s Golan sovereignty The Hindu What the world thinks The Hindu There’s a deep asymmetry of power in our society Indian Express Their rights to the cities  Indian Express Why the prosecution fails Indian Express A weapon that could change the game if India plays tough Livemint The fading boundary between humans and machines Livemint The world must avert an arms race in space Livemint

Creative Guidance: Book Review – Einstein – Walter Isaacson

Einstein - Walter Isaacson Once in a lifetime comes a man like Einstein. It would probably take several more centuries before a majority of the human population is able to understand the true genius of Einstein. The scientific community of course has been dumbfounded by his sheer brilliance. What is it that separated Einstein from other scientists of his time? What was his life like? What about his marriage, children and personal life? What were his triumphs and tribulations? Walter Isaacson in this beautiful and thorough book explores the life of Einstein. Einstein was a born rebel. One of his greatest qualities that separated him from the rest was his sheer lack of reverence to authority. He was able to relook at problems in ways nobody could. More importantly he had the guts to reject previously accepted scientific benchmarks. He had absolutely no problem in saying that we had got it all wrong. Einstein’s life story illuminates several different intricate dimensions of an extraordinary life. Read this book to encourage, enlighten and awaken yourself to the immense possibilities of questioning, imagining and reasoning. The genius of Einstein is an invitation to expand your ways of thinking and looking at reality. This is one adventure you don’t want to miss.

60 Days Plan: UPSC IAS Prelims 2019- Environment and Current Affairs (Day 24)

60 Days Plan: UPSC IAS Prelims 2019 - Environment and Current Affairs (Day 24) 60 Day plan has been published on the website (www.iasbaba.com - Click here). Since we have come up with the 'Quiz Format', it will not be feasible to publish it on the app. For feasibility and getting to know where you stand among your peers (we have a leaderboard which gives your marks and rank) it would be advisable to take the test on the website. All the best. make the best use of the initiative ! Before taking the Test, read the post below, ARCHIVES Hello Friends,  The most beloved 60 Days for UPSC IAS Prelims 2019  has finally begun :) Once again the time has come for the battle (Prelims). And who else than your best companion in the last preparatory phase for UPSC IAS Prelims 2019 i.e 60 days plan. It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.  Hope the message given above makes sense to you all. The productive utilization of this programme demands consistency, honesty, faith and strong determination to be in the process of learning and unlearning. You might not be fully prepared to solve all the questions but the learning and unlearning through these questions will prepare you for the real battle on 2nd June 2019. You have to unlearn your repetitive mistakes, gut feeling on which you mark doubtful questions. You have to learn new things and also those concepts that you were very sure of but somehow because of traps in the option, got it wrong. You have to learn 'how to convert knowledge into marks' (Because most of the times, after ending the exam, you regret making mistakes in known concepts).  Secondly, keep a long distance from following too many things at this point. It will always backfire. Once you are here, put complete faith and follow this initiative along with whatever you were doing. It is very important to consolidate your preparation with many revisions. Simply following many things will leave you in despair. You can cross check this with veterans. Everything that seems attractive is not productive. You should always go for productivity. Be wise! Let us pledge to make it a big game changer (better than last year) in the next 60 days of this plan! Importance of Self - Tracking: Learning from Last Year Last year, aspirants used to type/post their answers in the comment box on a daily basis. There were huge participation and discussion below the test post. Putting answers in the comment box has been very effective to self-track yourself after updating the score. In the end, you can cross check your performance through Disqus profile. It was highly effective in the last edition of 60 Days that propelled aspirants to monitor their performance and learn through discussion. Let you solve these questions with full honesty and write your result in the comment box. Interact with peers to know your mistakes. The importance of this initiative stands time-bound and aggressive reverse engineering to learn the concepts. Many of you must be busy with your own strategy but let us tell you honestly that in the last few months, it is very important to revise and consolidate your learning. Just reading won’t suffice. So, take out a few hours from your schedule and make it a revision exercise. How can you make the best use of it? Be honest to your effort and do not start competing with XYZ aspirants just for the sake of marks. It is more important for you to introspect and check your learning than focusing on others. Try to answer the questions in 25 minutes only.  Do not get into negative feeling that I don’t have enough knowledge to answer these questions. Feel like you are taking the real exam. What would be your response then? The same will be replicated in the UPSC exam. Here, you get marks only and nothing else matters. So, make effort to know the answers to all questions. Do not cheat :P DETAILED MICRO ANALYSIS MATRIX SAMPLE- is given here. You can download this and do an assessment for yourself (the excel sheet must be modified as per this years planning. The provided excel sheet is only for reference).  DOWNLOAD You can copy paste the same format/modify as per your need in Google Spreadsheet and update it on daily basis. Feedback talks about daily test results. Follow-up talks about daily target achieved from sources and the number of revisions to do/done and dates. Sources column is to ensure that aspirants do not run behind various sources and follow the same throughout. Would like to end on this quote:  Either you run the day or the day runs you.  Are you ready? Let's start! Important Note Don't forget to post your marks in the comment section. Also, let us know if you enjoyed today's test :)  You can post your comments in the given format  (1) Your Score (2) Matrix Meter (3) New Learning from the Test

All India Radio (AIR) IAS UPSC - Bilateral Relations between India and South Korea

Bilateral Relations between India and South Korea ARCHIVES Search 21st February, 2019 Spotlight here: http://www.newsonair.com/Audio-Archive-Search.aspx TOPIC: General studies 2: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests. Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora One of the major foreign policy initiatives of President Moon Jae-in of South Korea is the government’s ‘New Southern Policy’, with a goal of deepening ties with South East Asian nations as well as India and building an inclusive regional architecture in Asia. There are two primary reasons for the shift in South Korea’s outlook to India: Seoul sees India and the ASEAN countries as new economic partners: by strengthening ties with these countries, South Korea intends to reduce its over-dependence on its traditional trade allies that are China and, partially, the United States. South Korea is making a subtle move to endorse the ‘Indo-Pacific’ geopolitical construct by aligning with India and the ASEAN countries without officially saying so. Central to this shift, however, is the mitigation of its China-related risks. India and South Korea have agreed to boost bilateral trade to $50 billion by 2030 from $20 billion now. Bilateral Relations Bilateral relations between India and South Korea, officially known as the Republic of Korea, were established in 1962 and upgraded to Ambassador-level in 1973. South Korea's open market policies found resonance with India's economic liberalization, and its 'look east policy' and 'act east policy', leading to the establishment of strong bilateral relations. "India-Republic of Korea (RoK) relations has made great strides in recent years and has become truly multidimensional, spurred by a significant convergence of interests, mutual goodwill and high-level exchanges. Political relations India played an important and positive role in Korean affairs after the latter's independence in 1945. During the Korean War (1950- 53), both warring sides accepted a resolution sponsored by India. A ceasefire was declared on July 27, 1953. In February 2006, former Indian President APJ Abdul Kalam visited RoK and his visit led to the launch of a Joint Task Force to conclude a bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which was operationalized on January 1, 2010. Following this, Korean President Lee paid a visit to India as Chief Guest at India's Republic Day celebrations on January 26, 2010. That is when bilateral ties between the two countries were raised to the level of strategic partnership. Both the countries signed the Civil Nuclear Energy Cooperation Agreement in 2011 during the then President Pratibha Patil's state visit to RoK. During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to South Korea in 2015, the bilateral relationship was upgraded to 'special strategic partnership'. In a joint statement, PM Modi and President Park Geun-hye agreed to establish a '2+2' consultation mechanism at Secretary/Vice Minister of Foreign Office and Defence Ministry. Commercial relations Trade and economic relations between India and South Korea gathered momentum after the implementation of CEPA in 2010. Bilateral trade between the two countries in 2011 crossed $20.5 billion, registering a 70 percent growth over a two-year period. Indian exports to South Korea stood at $2.91 billion and imports from there stood at $8.71 billion, as at the end of July 2017. This was 26 percent and 30.1 percent higher year on year, respectively. Some of the major items that India exports to South Korea are mineral fuels, oil distillates (mainly naphtha), cereals, iron and steel. Seoul's main export items are automobile parts, telecommunication equipment, hot rolled iron products, petroleum refined products, base lubricating oils, nuclear reactors, mechanical appliances, electrical machinery and parts, and iron and steel products. Cultural relations India and South Korea established an Indian Cultural Centre (ICC) in Seoul in April 2011. Another Culture Centre was established in Busan in December 2013. In order to boost people-to-people relations and travel between the two countries, India extended the visa-on-arrival (VoA) facility for South Korean tourists in April 2014. Exchange of youth delegations between India and RoK has been taking place on an annual basis for several years now. Good air connectivity between the two countries has been established with Air India, Asiana Airlines and Korean Air operating flights. In November 2015, the bilateral civil aviation agreement of 1994 was revised to increase weekly flights between the two countries to 19. This resulted in new operations by Korean Airlines, which then started direct flights to Delhi. India’s Outlook India also looks at South Korea as an indispensable partner in its Act East Policy (AEP). The two countries are now working towards a new diplomatic mechanism in the 2+2 format. Once it is operationalised, South Korea would become the third country to hold such a dialogue with India, after Japan and the United States. India’s engagement with North Korea during the time of crisis was a carefully designed outreach. As a part of Act East Policy India must further increase its outreach to Korean Peninsula for its own strategic interests and also to provide an alternative to bi-polarization in the region. Several new initiatives are being taken to foster closer people-to-people ties through youth exchange programmes, internships, and facilitation of tourism and business through simplified visa procedures. The Way Forward: India needs to take advantage of this opportunity. South Korea can be a major economic partner in India’s economic growth. After all, South Korea, which is Asia’s fourth largest economy, has become one of the fastest growing economies in the world in recent years. South Korean companies are expanding and looking for new investment opportunities in emerging economies. They consider a rising India a good destination for their investment-related activities. Whereas existing South Korean companies in India are expanding their businesses, a large number of new companies are seeking to enter the India market as soon as possible. India must use this opportunity to enhance the presence of South Korean companies in India.