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Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 25th December 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 25th December 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Chief of Defence Staff (CDS): Union Cabinet gives approval Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III- Security In News CDS will function as the Principal Military Adviser to the Defence Minister and also as the Permanent Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) The CDS will also head the Department of Military Affairs (DMA), to be created in the Ministry of Defence, and function as its Secretary. The armed forces will be brought under the DMA The CDS will look after the jointness in operations, logistics, transport, training, support services, communications, repairs and maintenance etc of the three Services, within three years of the first CDS assuming office. CDS will be member of Defence Acquisition Council chaired by RakshaMantri and Defence Planning Committee chaired by NSA. CD will also function as the Military Adviser to the Nuclear Command Authoritychaired by the Prime Minister CDS will be a rank of a four-star General, with salary and perquisites equivalent to a service chief. CDS will not exercise any military command, including over the three Service Chiefs, so as to be able to provide impartial advice to the political leadership.  CDS would come in the ambit of ‘Right to Information Act’, in accordance with the provisions of the RTI Act, 2005. CDS would also evaluate plans “for 'Out of Area Contingencies', as well other contingencies such as Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR). Solar Eclipse Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains I- Geography In News On 26th December, the annular solar eclipse will be visible in places such as India, Australia, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, and Singapore - when the Moon will eclipses the Sun to form a “ring of fire” in the sky.  What is annual Solar eclipse? Generally, when the new Moon intersects the light of the Sun, it brings a total solar eclipse on Earth.  But it won't be the case this time as the Moon is presently quite farther than average from Earth and once it will cross the Sun, a “negative shadow” or what technically called the antumbra will become visible in the form of the ring of fire. This is known as an annular eclipse. Ophthalmologists warn against viewing the phenomenon with the naked eye or taking pictures using mobile phones or cameras. [caption id="attachment_55335" align="aligncenter" width="552"] Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 25th December 2019[/caption] Src: Click here Rohtang Pass: Strategic tunnel under it Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains I- Geography In News The Union Cabinet has decided to name the Strategic Tunnel under Rohtang Pass after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Rohtang Pass is a high mountain pass on the eastern PirPanjal Range of the Himalayas. It connects the Kullu Valley with the Lahaul and Spiti Valleys of Himachal Pradesh. The 8.8-kilometre long tunnel is the world's longest tunnel above an altitude of 3,000 metres. It will reduce the distance between Manali and Leh by 46 kilometres. It will provide all weather connectivity to remote border areas of Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh which otherwise remained cut off from the rest of the country for about six months during winters.  The decision to construct tunnel was taken during A.B.Vajpayee’s time and it is nearing completion. Hypersonic Weapons: Russia becomes the first country to deploy it Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III- Security, GS-II- International Affairs In News President Vladimir Putin said that Russia is the only country in the world that has hypersonic weapons- weapons that travel faster than Mach5 (~6174kmph) and have the capability to manoeuvre during the entire flight. The first unit equipped with the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle is set to go on duty by Dec 2019, while that the air-launched Kinzhal hypersonic missiles already have entered service. Avangardhas an intercontinental range and can fly in the atmosphere at a speed 20 times the speed of sound. Its ability to change both its course and its altitude en route to a target makes it immune to interception by the the enemy. The Kinzhal, which is carried by MiG-31 fighter jets, entered service with the Russian air force last year. The missile flies 10 times faster than the speed of sound, has a range of more than 2,000 kilometers (1,250 miles) and can carry a nuclear or a conventional warhead. It is capable of hitting both land targets and navy ships. Do You Know? Mach Number is the ratio of the speed of the body to the speed of sound in the undisturbed medium through which the body is traveling. E.g. If the body is flying at Mach 3, then its speed is thrice the speed of sound in air (which is 332 m/s or 1195 km/hr). It is named in honor of Ernst Mach (1838-1916), a physicist from Austria. Types of Aircrafts/missiles based on Mach Number: Subsonic (M < 1) Transonic (M = 1) Supersonic (1 < M < 3) High Supersonic (3 < M < 5) Hypersonic (M > 5) High Hypersonic (M ~ 25)  Indian Railway Management Service (IRMS): Railway Board Restructuring Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains III – Infrastructure; GS Mains II- Governance In News Union Cabinet approved the restructuring of the Railway Board, including a reduction in its strength as well as the merger of the different cadres into a central service called the Indian Railway Management Service (IRMS). The Railway Board started in 1905, and over a period of time, it has divided the management into several silos The Board presently consists of eight members, including the Chairman, from different service departments such as traffic, civil, mechanical, electrical and signal & telecom The newly constitutedBoard will henceforth consist of five members – Chairman, who will act as a CEO, along with four members responsible for infrastructure, operations and business development, rolling stock and finance. There will also be a DG (HR) under the Chairman. The Board will also have some independent members, who will be highly distinguished professionals. Restructuring of the board would help end “departmentalism”, while ensuring smooth functioning of the Railways and expediting the decision-making process. (MAINS FOCUS) INTERNATONAL RELATIONS 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 Brexit :Withdrawal Agreement Bill (WAB) Armed with its new majority, the Britain  government has published a revised version of its Withdrawal Agreement Bill (WAB) to ensure that it can take the UK out of the EU on 31 January. The House of Commons voted 358-234 for the Withdrawal Agreement Bill.  Key changes : First, a new clause outlaws an extension to the standstill transition period that would expire on December 31, 2020. Following the announcement, the pound slid 1.1% against the dollar relative to the gains after the election results, reviving market anxiety. Besides the £33 billion settlement contained in the withdrawal deal, any extension after next December would entail additionally about €10 billion a year. The bill dispenses with the need for parliamentary approval, for the government’s negotiating mandate as well as the final agreement on the country’s future relationship with the bloc .The provision risks sidestepping normal democratic channels for industries and trade unions to influence the shape of their future trading relations with the EU, worth an estimated £90 billion. Bill guarantees on labour rights previously included in the withdrawal bill have been removed. This vindicates sceptics’ fears about a drift to a low-tax low-regulation U.K. economy after Brexit. Brussels is wary of granting these concessions to a major economy such as Britain. Challenges ahead : Northern Ireland will continue to remain within the EU jurisdiction after Brexit.  The government will enforce customs checks for goods traded across the Irish Sea to the rest of the U.K., increasing costs for the bulk of small enterprises.  The regulatory divergence within U.K. territory is the compromise London has conceded to protect the EU’s single market.  The arrangement would maintain the existing soft border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, which has underpinned the region’s tenuous peace since the 1998 Good Friday Agreement Impact on India: Direct impact on currency as it will weaken against dollar Indian-based companies and investments in UK will suffer direct negative impact. Gateway to Europe being closed, huge trade costs to be occurred in dealing with EU separately. Lower commodity prices, crude oil prices may help narrowing CAD More investments done in safe options like gold. This has increased cash outflow and surged prices of gold Decrease in FIIs Not much impact on pharma industry as US is the bigger market However, India is not expected to be too much impacted due to its deep foreign exchange reserves, a high growth rate, somewhat restrained inflation, a not significant current account deficit and fiscal discipline maintenance. Connecting the dots: Has Brexit affected India ? How should India view Brexit? INTERNATONAL RELATIONS TOPIC: General Studies 2: Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure. Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation National Population Register (NPR) : Census will be conducted in 2021 Context: The Union Cabinet  approved a proposal to conduct Census 2021 and update the National Population Register (NPR). While the Census will be conducted in 2021, the NPR update will take place from April to September 2020 in all the States/UTs except Assam. According to the sources, the Union Cabinet has approved a proposal of the Home Ministry to spend Rs 8,754 crore for the Census 2021 and Rs 3,941 crore for updating the NPR. NPR The NPR is a register of usual residents of the country.  It is mandatory for every usual resident of India to register in the NPR.  It includes both Indian citizens as well as a foreign citizen. Objectives: To create a comprehensive identity database of every usual resident in the country.  The first National Population Register was prepared in 2010 and updating this data was done during 2015 by conducting door to door survey.  The next update of the NPR will take place next year from April to September with the House listing phase of the Census 2021.  It is being prepared at the local (Village/sub-Town), sub-District, District, State and National level under provisions of the Citizenship Act 1955 and the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003. Usual resident According to the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003, a usual resident is a person who has resided in a local area for the past 6 months or more or a person who intends to reside in that area for the next 6 months or more. Census: The Census is the enumeration of the population of the country It is being conducted at an interval of 10 years.  Census 2021 will be 16th census in the country since the first census happened in 1872 For the first time, the Census 2021 will use the Mobile App for data collection. It will also provide a facility to the public for self-enumeration. NPR connected to NRC? The Citizenship Act empowers the government to compulsorily register every citizen and maintain a National Register of Indian Citizens.  A nationwide NRC — if undertaken — would flow out of NPR.  This does not necessarily mean that an NRC must follow NPR — no such register was compiled after the previous NPR in 2010.  After a list of residents is created, a nationwide NRC — if it happens — could go about verifying the citizens from that list. [caption id="attachment_55334" align="aligncenter" width="553"] Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 25th December 2019[/caption] SRC: IE Concerns: Another debate has been about privacy.  The NPR intends to collect many details of personal data on residents. The government position is based on two grounds. One is that every country must have a comprehensive identity database of its residents with demographic details. Largely to justify the collection of data such as driving licence, voter ID and PAN, is that it will ease the life of those residing in India by cutting red tape Concerns in West Bengal and Kerala: These Opposition-ruled states are making a political point. Citizenship, aliens and naturalisation are subject matters listed in List 1 of the Seventh Schedule that fall exclusively under the domain of Parliament.  Legally, the states have no say in implementing or ruling out NPR. However, given that the manpower is drawn from the states, the defiance could potentially result in a showdown. Connecting the dots: Do you think NPR and NRC can create panic among the citizens? (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note:  Correct answers of today’s questions will be provided in next day’s DNA section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers.  Comments Up-voted by IASbaba are also the “correct answers”. Q.1) Consider the following statements with regard Kinzhal missile system It is developed by India in collaboration with Russia The missile can fly10times faster than the speed of sound and can carry a nuclear or a conventional warhead Which of the above statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2) Consider the following statements about Rohtang Pass It is a high mountain pass on the eastern PirPanjal Range of the Himalayas.  It connects the Kullu Valley with the Lahaul and Spiti Valleys of Himachal Pradesh. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) Consider the following statements about Chief of Defence Staff(CDS) CDS will exercise any military command, including over the three Service Chiefs, so as to be enable quick decision making CDS would come in the ambit of ‘Right to Information Act’, in accordance with the provisions of the RTI Act, 2005. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.4) Mach Number often seen in news deals with which of the following? Intensity of earthquakes Elasticity of material Speed of an object None of the above Q.5) Consider the following statements about Restructuring of Railway Board It will merge the different cadres within Railways into a central service called the Indian Railway Management Service (IRMS). The newly constituted Board will also have some independent members, who will be highly distinguished professionals Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 ANSWERS FOR 24 DEC 2019 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 C 2 B 3 B 4 C MUST READ Key steps to kick-starting the economy THE HINDU Strengthening grassroots democracy THE HINDU Indian research quality lags quantity ET Public enterprises as stellar successes ET CAA, combination of India’s age-old spirit and tremendous grit IE Politics of exclusion and disenfranchisement is hurting investment and India’s cooperative spirit IE

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All India Radio (AIR) IAS UPSC - Our Constitution Fundamental Duties and Rights of Citizen

Our Constitution Fundamental Duties and Rights of Citizen ARCHIVES Search 26th Nov, 2019 Spotlight here: http://www.newsonair.com/Main_Audio_Bulletins_Search.aspx TOPIC: General Studies 2 Indian Constitution Article 29(1) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: “Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.” India & Fundamental Duties: Historical Background India is one of the few countries in the world with a glorious tradition of democracy since ancient times. Eminent historian K P Jayaswal remarks that the concept of republic in ancient India is older than of the Roman or Greek republican system. The ancient republics or janpadas such as Vaishali, Kapilavastu and Mithila — and their constitutions — date back to 600 BC. These form the foundation for the constitutional democracy that India is today — as well as for the role of Indian citizens in making democracy a success in India. Traditionally, the fundamental impulse to accept responsibilities and perform duties, in every society, has been religious. Performing one’s duties with sincerity, is in fact, a worship mechanism. As a a line from the Rig Veda notes,”O, citizens of Bharat! As our ancient saints and seers, leaders and preceptors have performed their duties righteously, similarly, you shall not falter to execute your duties”. (Rig.10.191.2) The Bhagwad Gita and Ramayana also ask people to perform their duties. In the Gita, Lord Krishna ordains, “One should do one’s duties without expectation of any fruits”. Mahatma Gandhi once said, “I learnt my duties on my mother’s lap. She was an unlettered village woman… She knew my dharma. Thus, if from my childhood we learn what our dharma is and try to follow it our rights look after themselves… The beauty of it is that the very performance of a duty secures us our right. Rights cannot be divorced from duties. This is how satyagraha was born, for I was always striving to decide what my duty was.” Gandhiji further said that the true source of right is duty. He said, “If we all discharge our duties, rights will not be far to seek”. Swami Vivekananda rightly observed, “it is the duty of every person to contribute in the development and progress of India”. A very significant feature of our Constitution is that it balances citizens’ rights and duties. These are social concepts that have grown through time, tradition and usage. The citizens’ duties as enshrined in the Constitution are essentially a codification of tasks integral to the Indian way of life — they focus on tolerance, peace and communal harmony. A close scrutiny of the clauses of Article 51A of the Constitution, indicate that a number of them refer to values, which have been part of Indian tradition, mythology, religion and practices. The chapter on Fundamental Rights in the Constitution itself recognises the essence of duties. One pertains to freedom of speech but Clause 2 to 6 of Article 19 permits reasonable restrictions on the exercise of such rights in the interest of the sovereignty and integrity of India, and the security of the state, public order, decency and morality. This implies that while exercising one’s rights must remember one’s duties towards these constitutional concepts. How were Fundamental Duties incorporated in the Constitution? The Fundamental Duties were incorporated in Part IV-A of the Constitution by the Constitution 42nd Amendment Act, 1976, during Emergency under Indira Gandhi’s government. Today, there are 11 Fundamental Duties described under Article 51-A, of which 10 were introduced by the 42nd Amendment and the 11th was added by the 86th Amendment in 2002. These are statutory duties, not enforceable by law, but a court may take them into account while adjudicating on a matter. The idea behind their incorporation was to emphasise the obligation of the citizen in exchange for the Fundamental Rights that he or she enjoys. The concept of Fundamental Duties is taken from the Constitution of Russia. What are the Fundamental Duties? To abide by the constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem To cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our national struggle for freedom To uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India — it is one of the preeminent national obligations of all the citizens of India. To defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so To promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities; to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women To value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture — our cultural heritage is one of the noblest and richest, it is also part of the heritage of the Earth To protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life and to have compassion for living creatures To develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform To safeguard public property and to abjure violence To strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavour and achievement It is the one on children’s education that was added in 2002 by the 86th Amendment that provided for the Right to Free and Compulsory Education for children in the age group 6-14, with the insertion of Article 21A. It also cast an obligation on parents to provide such opportunities under Article 51A(K), between the age of six and fourteen years. Note: Apart from adding the Fundamental Duties, the 42nd Amendment also changed the Preamble to the Constitution to include the words ‘Socialist and Secular’ to describe India, in addition to its being ‘Sovereign Democratic Republic’. Conclusion Fundamental Duties must serve as a constant reminder of our national goals as well as inculcate, in all of us, a profound sense of social responsibility. It is only through the fulfillment of our duties in the most earnest way, that we can live life to our truest potential and help lead our nation towards prosperity and development. Connecting the Dots: Development of scientific temper is one of the Fundamental Duties enshrined in the Constitution of India. Comment. “Fundamental duties are only ethical or moral duties and should not form a part of the Fundamental law.” Critically comment.

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 24th December 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 24th December 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Financial Action Task Force (FATF): Grills Pakistan In News FATF has asked Pakistan more questions on the action it has taken against madrassas run by proscribed outfits. The FATF has kept Pakistan on the Grey List until February 2020 and warned that it would be put to black list (along with Iran & North Korea) if it did not take requisite actions. FATF is an intergovernmental organization founded in 1989 on the initiative of the G7 to develop policies to combat money laundering.  Its objective is to set standards and promote effective implementation of legal, regulatory and operational measures for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system US Space Force: China raises objection Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II- International Relations In News 2020 National Defence Authorization Actwas signed byU.S. President Donald Trump,which creates a new branch of the U.S. military - Space Force The Space Force will be the sixth formal force of the U.S. military, after the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard The new branch will be stood up over the next 18 months. The Space Force would comprise around 16,000 Air Force and civilian personnel. It is not intended to put troops into orbit, but will protect US assets - such as the hundreds of satellites used for communication and surveillance. China has criticised US of turning the cosmos into a battlefield and pursuing the weaponisation of outer space Sarvatra Kavach: Indigenously developed Bullet-proof jacket Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III- Security In News Major Anoop Mishra was felicitated by Army chief Gen. Bipin Rawat with the Army Design Bureau (ADB) excellence award for indigenously developing Sarvatra Kavach. Sarvatra Kavach is a bulletproof jacket that can provide protection against various ammunition including that of sniper rifles. The suit was named Sarvatra Kawach as it provides protection from neck to ankle and upper arms The project was sanctioned in June 2017 and initially the design and development of a Level IIIA soft body armour suit was sanctioned and was subsequently revised to include a Level IV hard armour panel inserts.  The ADB was set up to liaise with the industry and the academia and develop indigenous solutions for the Army  EcoClub Programme: To sensitize children about Environmental issues Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains III- Environment Conservation In News Environment Education Awareness and Training (EEAT) is acentral sector scheme of the Ministry of the Environment, Forest and Climate Change started in 1983-84  It aims to promote environmental awareness and mobilize student’s participation for environment conservation. Under the scheme, National Green Corps (NGC) ‘Ecoclub’ programme was initiated in 2001-2002 with the objective to impart knowledge to school children through hands on experience about their immediate environment, interactions within it and the problems therein. The programme aims to inculcate proper attitude towards environment and sensitize children on issues related to environment and development. It is envisaged that number of Ecoclubs shall be enhanced from about 1.5 lakh at present to 2 lakh in the ensuing year 2020-21.  Miscellaneous One-third of global coal exports come from Australia, accounting for 7% of global carbon emissions. The country is the largest exporter of coal and liquefied natural gas in the world, and the energy sector is an important employer here. Sivaramakrishnan Committee, constituted by the Central government to suggest choices for the capital of Andhra Pradesh State (post-bifurcation in 2014), did not favour one ‘super-capital’ and pitched for decentralised development. (MAINS FOCUS) POLITY TOPIC: General Studies 2: Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) of 2019: Consequences on the domestic and foreign policy Context: In India, widespread protests that began in the Northeast are now raging across the country. Two Bangladesh ministers cancelled their visit to India, the Japanese Prime Minister postponed his visit to the country and the annual India-Japan summit was cancelled. JAPAN’s Investment in North- East : As part of its Free and Open Indo-Pacific strategy, Japan has been investing in the Northeast in a big way.  Recently Japan  decided to invest Rs 13,000 crore in different projects in the Northeast.  Building Northeast road network connectivity, water supply projects and economic modernisation of the region.  It will be financing the construction of India’s longest bridge between Dhubri in Assam and Phulbari in Meghalaya.  Japan has contributed official development assistance loans for the North East Road Network Connectivity Improvement Project.  Private Japanese organisations are also financing a host of developmental projects in the region.  Impact of CAA on Japan India relations: The CAA protests and Internet shutdowns in the region have come as a huge shock to Japan and its investment plans in the region which hinge on stability and a business-friendly environment conducive. If Japan has to rethink on these development projects, it will do so keeping in mind not  only the Northeast but the rest of India too. (Japan  is involved in various big-ticket infrastructure projects in Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Odisha, etc.) The volatility of the Northeast can possibly be a setback to the collaborative efforts between India and Japan in providing an alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Japan is also a member of the Quad, which came into existence to counter Chinese economic prowess and unlock India’s potential in the Indo-Pacific.  Impact on India’s International relations: UN human rights office has described the CAA as “fundamentally discriminatory”.  The U.S., the U.K., Canada and others have issued travel advisories to those visiting the Northeast. Way forward: The government should  utilise diplomatic channels to put forth its views before the stakeholders in the international community Conclusion: The government should analyse how such a decision like CAA would affect the economic development of the Northeast. Connecting the dots: When Kashmir is already volatile, can India afford to open another frontier of vulnerability in the Northeast? What are the side effects on the country’s relationship with foreign stakeholders heavily invested in the Northeast? HEALTH TOPIC:  General Studies 2 : Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health General Studies 3 Food processing and related industries in India Centre for Science and Environment (CSE): CSE  has alleged excessive and “dangerous” level of salt Context: A new report by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has alleged excessive and “dangerous” level of salt and under reporting of transfats in various well-known packaged foods brands. The report has said the levels of salt are much higher than the thresholds set by industry body Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). Recommended dietary allowance (RDA): To calculate this, the organisation relied on the concept of the recommended dietary allowance (RDA), a daily ceiling on the amount of salt, fat, carbohydrate and trans-fat.  It says that, ideally, an adult should consume no more than 5g of salt, 60g of fat, 300g carbohydrate and 2.2 g of transfats every day.  the RDA from breakfast, lunch and dinner should not be more than 25% and that from snacks (assumed to be those munched between meals), must be no more than 10%. Thus, a snack should ideally have no more than 0.5g of salt and 6g of fat. Food Safety and Standards: Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011 only require companies to disclose energy (kilo calories), protein, carbohydrates, total fat, trans-fat and saturated fat contained per 100g or per millilitre or per serve. In 2018, the FSSAI came up with a draft law, the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2018.  The draft recommended that a packet should have clear information on how much each nutrient, such as salt, sugar, contributed to the RDA.  The draft said salt must be declared as sodium chloride for instance, and that those ingredients which breached the RDA should be marked in ‘red’. Food companies had reservations mainly because they felt ‘red’ signified danger, fearing that this would give consumers the impression that they were consuming toxic food. Draft Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2019: A  third committee was formed, headed by B. Sesikeran, a new draft (Draft Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2019) was prepared. This replaced sodium chloride with salt, total fat with saturated fat and total sugar with added sugar which CSE says, dilutes information on the health harm posed by packaged foods. The proposed law allows companies three years to adjust to the new laws. the contribution of each individual nutrient to the RDA and whether it is breaching safe limits will have to be displayed on the front of the package The CSE’s calculations are based on recommended nutritional values in the draft versions of these laws. Chile example: Chile, has a system where a black hexagon in a white border appears on the front of a package. In the hexagon is a phrase that says a product is “high in salt” or “high in trans-fat.” The more the hexagons the less desirable the product becomes for the consume Connecting the dots: Do you think companies agree  with the new law ? Do you think children are becoming more conscious about the health impact of their favourite snacks and influencing parents’ buying choices? (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note:  Correct answers of today’s questions will be provided in next day’s DNA section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers.  Comments Up-voted by IASbaba are also the “correct answers”. Q.1) Consider the following statements with regard to Financial Action Task Force FATF is an intergovernmental organization founded in 1989 on the initiative of the G7 to develop policies to combat money laundering  India is a member of FATF since 2010 Which of the above statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2) Consider the following statements about US Space Force It is intended to put US troops into orbit, particularly in International Space Station, so as to protect US Space assets China has criticised US of turning the cosmos into a battlefield and pursuing the weaponisation of outer space Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) Consider the following statements about Environment Education Awareness and Training It is a centrally sponsored scheme of the Ministry of the Environment, Forest and Climate Change started in 2014  It aims to promote environmental awareness and mobilize student’s participation for environment conservation. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.4) Sivaramakrishnan Committee recently seen in news was constituted for which purpose? Financial Inclusion Defence Indigenisation To Suggest choice for Capital of Andhra Pradesh None of the above ANSWERS FOR 23 DEC 2019 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 D 2 C 3 B 4 D 5 A MUST READ Brexit on fast-track: On passage of deal in UK Parliament THE HINDU Safeguarding constitutional morality THE HINDU A hard Brexit? THE HINDU Finally, an end to data infirmity in the offing? ET Supreme Court has not acted with urgency to protect citizens from executive excesses IE Citizenship Act is an extension of and commitment to the idea of secularism IE

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All India Radio (AIR) IAS UPSC - Constitution Day

Constitution Day ARCHIVES Search 26th Nov, 2019 Spotlight here: Click here TOPIC: General Studies 2 Indian Constitution In News: Constitution Day also known as 'Samvidhan Divas’ is celebrated in our country on 26th November every year, to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution of India.  By: The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment o Objective: The aim is to publicize the glorious and rich composite culture and diversity of our nation. Further, it aims to create awareness of Fundamental Duties as enshrined in the Indian Constitution. As citizens of our great nation, we believe firmly in Gandhian thought that ‘The true source of rights is duty. If we all discharge our duties, rights will not be far to seek’ and as said by Sardar Patel, ‘Every Indian should forget that he is a Rajput, a Sikh, or a Jaat. He must remember that he is an Indian and he has every right in his country but with certain duties’. In 2019: With the collective efforts of the Buddhist Association for the blind and the Saavi Foundation and Swagat Thorat, for the first time the constitution will be made available in Braille. As part of the joint project, the constitution will be made available in five parts in Braille for the benefit of visually challenged individuals. Timeline: On December 6, 1949 the Constitution Assembly was formed and its first meeting was held on December 9. Rajendra Prasad was appointed its President and H C Mukherjee its vice-chairman.  On August 29, 1947, the drafting committee appointed Ambedkar as its chairman and six other members — Munshi N Gopalaswami Ayyangar, Khaitan, Mitter, Muhammed Sadulla, Alladi Krishnaswamy Iyer.  The members of the Constituent Assembly signed two hand-written copies of the document (one each in Hindi and English) on January 24, 1950.  On November 26, 1949, the Constitution of India was adopted by the Assembly.  On January 26, 1950, the Constitution was enforced. The words 'secular' and 'socialist' were added to the preamble post the emergency in 1976. When the Constitution was adopted in the year 1949, there were no provisions regarding Fundamental Duties to the Citizens though there was a Part III for Fundamental Rights. The Fundamental Duties of citizens were added to the Constitution by the 42nd Amendment in 1976, upon the recommendations of the Swaran Singh Committee that was constituted by the Government. The Committee suggested that steps needed to be taken to ensure that the individual did not overlook his duties while in exercise of his Fundamental Rights. India’s constitution is the longest written constitution in the world containing 395 Articles, 22 Parts and 12 Schedules. It took around 2 years, 11 months and 17 days to complete the Constitution. At the beginning of each part of the Constitution, Nandalal Bose has depicted a phase or scene from India's national experience and history. After the Constitution was passed, the historic session of the Constituent Assembly ended with the singing of the National Anthem "Jana-gana-mana adhinayaka Jai Hey, Bharat Bhagya Vidhata," by Purnima Banerjee, a veteran freedom fighter and sister of the late freedom fighter, Aruna Asaf Ali. People of India are the ultimate custodians of the Constitution. It is in them that sovereignty vests and it is in their name that the Constitution was adopted. The Constitution empowers the citizen, but the citizen too empowers the Constitution – by following it, by adhering to it, by protecting it, and by persevering to make it more meaningful with words and deeds. The Constitution is nobody’s preserve – and it is everybody’s preserve. The Preamble to the Constitution of India “WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens: JUSTICE, social, economic and political; LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship; EQUALITY of status and of opportunity; and to promote among them all FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation; IN OUR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY this twenty-sixth day of November, 1949, do HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION.” The Constitution of India declares India a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic, assuring its citizen’s justice, equality and liberty and endeavours to promote fraternity.  Connecting the Dots: In what ways does the Indian Constitution provide the framework for an egalitarian state? Explain.   How does the Indian Constitution act as a source of ethical guidance? Explain with the help of suitable examples. The Constitution of India is a creative blending of the nationalist voice and the colonial system of governance. Elucidate.     A constitution by itself is just an inanimate object which comes to life once it is complemented by constitutional morality. Comment.

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 23rd December 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 23rd December 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) School Categorisation by Arunachal Pradesh Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II- Governance In News In Arunachal Pradesh State where teacher absenteeism has been a major issue in the public education system, schools will be marked ‘hard’, ‘soft’ and ‘medium’-— based on topography, accessibility and degrees of difficulty in staying at the place of posting Geography, lack of infrastructure and reluctance of teachers to work beyond their comfort zones are the reasons for this categorisation According to new teachers posting policy: All new recruits will be given a hard posting for a mandatory three years, inclusive of their probation period.  The next five years will be in schools with levels of medium difficulty, followed by posting in soft schools This ensures need-based distribution of teachers to protect the academic interest of students and optimise job satisfaction among the teachers in a free and transparent manner Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI): Annual Report for 2018-19 released Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains III- Economy In News Some of the highlights of the released report are: Life insurance penetration for 2018 was 2.74%, slightly lower than the 2.76% of 2017. Insurance penetration is measured as the ratio of premium (in US$) to GDP (in US$).  Life insurance penetration increased from 2.15% in 2001 to 4.60% in 2009, and has thereafter showed a generally decreasing trend. The insurance density of the life insurance sector in 2018 was $55 (same as previous year). Insurance density is measured as the ratio of premium (in US dollars) to the total population Do You Know? The IRDAI is an autonomous, statutory body established under Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999 It is tasked with regulating and promoting the insurance and re-insurance industries in India. Its headquarters is in Hyderabad, Telangana and is a 10-member body including the chairman, five full-time and four part-time members appointed by the government of India. National Mathematics Day: Tribute to S. Ramanujan Part of: GS Prelims In News December 22, the birth anniversary of India’s famed mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan, is celebrated as National Mathematics Day. Ramanujan was born in 1887 in Erode, Tamil Nadu (then Madras Presidency) in an Iyengar Brahmin family.  At age 12, despite lacking a formal education, he had excelled at trigonometry and developed many theorems by himself.  Living in dire poverty, Ramanujan then pursued independent research in mathematics. In 1914, Ramanujan arrived in Britain who worked with GH Hardy and in 1917, Ramanujan was elected to be a member of the London Mathematical Society.  His work in the number theory is especially regarded. He was recognised for his mastery of continued fractions, and had worked out the Riemann series, elliptic integrals, hypergeometric series, and the functional equations of the zeta function Ramanujan could not get accustomed to the England’s diet, and returned to India in 1919. Ramanujan’s health continued to deteriorate, and he died in 1920 at the age of 32. The Man Who Knew Infinity (2015) was a biopic on the mathematician. Core Catcher: Device to contain nuclear accidents Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains III- Energy, Infrastructure, Science & Technology In News Moscow-based Rosatom State Corporation installed a core melt localisation device (CMLD) or “core catcher” at Unit 3 of Tamil Nadu’s Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP). The device is designed to localise and cool the molten core material in case of a meltdown accident. Such an accident occurs when the nuclear fission reaction taking place inside a reactor is not sufficiently cooled, and the buildup of heat causes fuel rods to melt down In 2011, the device was first installed at the Tianwan nuclear power plant in China, which is of Russian design In 2018, a 200-tonne core catcher is being installed Rooppur 1 Nuclear Power Plant in Bangladesh (India-Russia collaboration which goes into operation in 2023) Winter Solstice: Dec 22 Part of: GS Prelims In News December 22, is Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere It is the day when the North Pole is most tilted away from the Sun. In the Southern Hemisphere, conversely, today is Summer Solstice — in places like Australia, New Zealand, or South Africa, December 22 is the year’s longest day. This situation will be reversed six months after— on June 21/22, the Northern Hemisphere will see the Summer Solstice when the day will be the year’s longest. The Earth’s axis of rotation is tilted at an angle of 23.5 degrees away from the perpendicular.  This tilt — combined with factors such as Earth’s spin and orbit — leads to variations in the duration of Sunlight that any location on the planet receives on different days of the year. Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP) Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II- Health In News Afghanistan has become the first country to formally recognize Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP). As per the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, IP is designated as the official book of standards for drugs imported and/or manufactured for sale, stock or exhibition for sale or distribution in India. The IP specifies the standards of drugs manufactured and marketed in India in terms of their identity, purity and strength. About Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC)  It is an autonomous institution of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare which sets standards (in form of IP) for all drugs that are manufactured, sold and consumed in India.  The IP Commission’s mission is to promote public and animal health in India by bringing out authoritative and officially accepted standards for quality of drugs including active pharmaceutical ingredients, excipients and dosage forms, used by health professionals, patients and consumers The Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, is the Chairperson and the Chairman-Scientific Body is the Co-Chairman of the Commission Hunar Haats: Initiative by Minority Affairs Ministry Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III- Economy In News Hunar Haat is an exhibition of handicrafts and traditional products made by artisans from the Minority communities. It is organized by Ministry of Minority Affairs. Hunar Haat is organized under USTTADscheme(Upgrading the Skills and Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development). The artisans who participate in the event will get national and international markets for their indigenous handmade products through “Hunar Haat”. It has proved to be Empowerment & Employment Exchange for master artisans and craftsmen The theme of the events to be organized between 2019 and 2020 is Ek Bharat Shresht Bharat Government has decided to organise about 100 “Hunar Haat” in the next five years across the country to provide market and employment opportunities (MAINS FOCUS) POLITY TOPIC:General Studies 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana  (UDAY): sharp spike in discom losses  Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 23rd December 2019 SRC: Panorama Context: Discom losses, which had progressively reduced in the first couple of years since the scheme’s rollout in November 2015, have rebounded in FY ’19 to nearly double the losses recorded the previous year. Book losses of discoms, which had reduced from Rs 51,562 crore in FY ’16 to Rs 15,132 crore in FY ’18, have nearly doubled this financial year to Rs 28,036 crore, Discoms have also missed the FY ’19 UDAY target to bring down their aggregate technical and commercial (AT&C) losses to 15 per cent. Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 23rd December 2019 SRC: IE Reason for failure: The primary reason for failure, as is being recognised in policy circles, is the failure of discoms to collect the full cost that they pay for power — the same issue that had led to the floundering of the previous two schemes. Solutions:  Franchise or PPP models.  The Centre is also likely to back up the new scheme by providing some grant support, which it did not do in UDAY. Problems with the Sector: The massive transmission and distribution losses can be attributed to the following reasons: Inadequate Tariff increases Poor Power purchase planning Sale of power at prices lower than the discom’s procurement costs Political Willingness Lack of timely Subsidy Payments Inefficiencies in metering and billing Illegal Connections Reckless funding by banks to loss-making Discoms Why UDAY? The UDAY Scheme (not compulsory) will pave way for the takeover of the 75 per cent of Discom liabilities by state governments over a two-to-five year period Financing of the Debt: Via bonds with a maturity period of 10-15 years Effects:  It will help relieve debt-ridden discoms It will lead to the acceptance of debts in the balance sheet of the discom while encouraging them to align tariffs to costs and ensuring the sustainable working of the same The utility of UDAY: Unsustainable borrowings should be curbed to put a stop on ever-increasing loss. Under Uday, the future losses can be permitted to finance only when a discom bond is guaranteed by the State Government, thus ensuring that the discom applies a profitable discretion With elements like the guided intervention of the State governments and the graded manner in which it needs to be taken up, the scheme assumes an all-season ongoing approach and not a one-time settlement effort. Certain conditions put across by Uday involves:  Loss reduction needs to be aided by circle-wise targets, feeder and DT Metering as well as upgrading and replacement of transformers Regions with sustained loss reduction should be incentivised (rewarded) by increased hours of supply Other initiatives that can be taken to reduce discom inefficiencies:  Laying down a specific performance-monitoring & compliance mechanism (can be incentivised by additional funding and other inputs) Monitoring of lending by banks to ensure reliable supply of investment Ensure regular tariff setting Energy auditing of feeders Metering of distribution transformers (DT) Elimination of revenue gaps Allow fuel-cost adjustments in final tariffs Reduction in short-term power purchase Liquidation of Regulatory Assets Ensuring advance payments of subsidies Attractive to States: The additional liability will not be considered for assessing fiscal responsibility limits of States The 3 to 4 percentage point reduction in interest rates will serve as a relief Issues with Uday State Subject: Electricity is not a Central subject and thus, the scheme cannot be made a compulsory one- which leaves the door open for unequal working of the Discom per State. No monetary assistance is being provided by the State though states willing to become a part of the scheme will be granted with subsidised funding in the government’s schemes and priority in the supply of coal The conversion of discom debt into bonds is not as difficult as is finding a suitable buyer for those bonds, not enjoying SLR Status additionally IASbaba’s Views: Political unwillingness needs to be fixed and mechanisms need to be strictly followed to plug the loopholes to address the debt-ridden discoms and fix the losses. This restructuring package needs to be designed in a way that it can deal with both; an unexpected tariff shock or an increased burden on the State Government, taking into due consideration the certain measures that needs to be effectively worked out (enumerated above) Connecting the Dots: Do surplus and shortages go together? Analyse In the light of the grave situation of power loss, can State prove to be a beacon of light, leading the path away from the crisis? Discuss POLITY TOPIC: General Studies 2: Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. NRC + CAA:  Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) & National Register of Citizens (NRC) Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 23rd December 2019 SRC:REDIFF Context: Widespread protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), especially in combination with the proposed all-India National Register of Citizens (NRC). Home Minister Amit Shah recently  told Parliament that a nationwide NRC is on the cards, he distinguished it from the new citizenship law and said the NRC will have no religious filter. It is unclear if the government will bring in a fresh law to mandate a nationwide NRC How does one prove citizenship? In Assam, one of the basic criteria was that the names of applicant’s family members should either be in the first NRC prepared in 1951 or in the electoral rolls up to March 24, 1971.  Other than that, applicants also had the option to present documents such as refugee registration certificate, birth certificate, LIC policy, land and tenancy records, citizenship certificate, passport, government issued licence or certificate, bank/post office accounts, permanent residential certificate, government employment certificate, educational certificate and court records. Why is it called an “updated” NRC? Witness to decades of migration from Bangladesh — formerly East Bengal and then East Pakistan — Assam already has an NRC, which was published in 1951 on the basis of that year’s Census. The only state with such a document, Assam is currently updating it to identify its citizens. The update, mandated and monitored by the Supreme Court, is a fallout of the Assam Accord of 1985, which sets March 24, 1971 as the cut-off date for citizenship. Those who entered Assam before that date are recognised as citizens. Why is Assam different? NRC update was mandated by the Supreme Court in 2013. Assam has a history that is shaped by migration, and the protests there are against only CAA, not against NRC.  The Assam Accord, signed by the governments of Assam and India, and the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and the All Assam Gana Sangram Parishad in 1985, after a six-year mass movement, essentially declared that a resident of Assam is an Indian citizen if she could prove her presence, or an ancestor’s presence, in Assam before March 25, 1971.  That is the cutoff date for NRC, which CAA extends to December 31, 2014 to non-Muslim migrants from three countries. To prove their or their ancestors’ presence before 1971, applicants in Assam had to produce any one of 14 possible documents: 1951 NRC; or Electoral roll(s) up to March 24, 1971; or Anyone of 12 other kinds of papers, such as land & tenancy records; citizenship papers; passport; Board/University certificate. Cutoff date for a nationwide NRC: According to the Citizenship Act, 1955, amended in 1986, anyone born in India up to July 1, 1987 is an Indian citizen by birth. For those born on or after July 1, 1987, the law set out a fresh condition: one of the parents must be an Indian citizen. By a 2003 amendment, for any individual born on or after December 3, 2004 to be considered an Indian citizen, one parent must be an Indian citizen while the other must not be an illegal immigrant. This does not apply to Assam, due to the cutoff of 1971. For the rest of the country, those born outside the country after January 26, 1950, and residing in India without proper documents is an illegal immigrant. Connecting the Dots: Do you think NRC + CAA are detrimental for the secular nature of the country? What do you think will be the way forward ? (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note:  Correct answers of today’s questions will be provided in next day’s DNA section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers.  Comments Up-voted by IASbaba are also the “correct answers”. Q.1) Consider the following statements Insurance penetration is measured as the ratio of premium (in US dollars) to the total population  Insurance density is measured as the ratio of premium (in US$) to GDP (in US$) Which of the given statement(s) above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2) Consider the following statements Winter Solstice is usually on December 22nd which is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere During Winter Solstice in Norther Hemisphere the North Pole is most tilted away from the Sun. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) Consider the following statements about Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission It is an autonomous institution of the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers  Its mission is to promote public and animal health in India by bringing out authoritative and officially accepted standards for quality of drugs. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.4) Hunar Haat is an initiative by which body/ministry? NITI Aayog Union Ministry of Labour Union Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Union Ministry of Minority Affairs  Q.5) A recent movie titled The Man Who Knew Infinity is based on the biography of ________ (UPSC CSE  2016) S. Ramanuja S. Chandrasekhar S. N. Bose C. V. Raman ANSWERS FOR 21 DEC 2019 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 A 2 B 3 D 4 C MUST READ Undoing harms: about criticism on Citizenship Amendment Act THE HINDU Significant reversal: On NCLAT decision on Mistry THE HINDU Ironing out the wrinkles in trade disputes adjudication THE HINDU Finally, an end to data infirmity in the offing? ET Storage facilities for rabi onions must be created on a massive scale IE

PIB

Press Information Bureau (PIB) IAS UPSC – 8th December to 15th December – 2019

Press Information Bureau (PIB) IAS UPSC – 8th to 15th December, 2019 ARCHIVES GS-2 Lok Sabha passes the Arms (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation) The Bill seeks to Enhance the punishment for existing offences like illegal manufacture, sale, transfer, etc.; illegal acquiring, possessing or carrying prohibited arms or prohibited ammunition; and illegal manufacture, sale, transfer, conversion, import, export, etc., of firearms.  Proposes to define new offences and prescribing punishment for them, such as for taking away firearms from police or armed forces, involvement in organized crime syndicate, illicit trafficking including smuggled firearms of foreign make or prohibited arms and prohibited ammunition, use of firearms in rash and negligent manner in celebratory gunfire endangering human life, etc.  Enhance the period of arms license from three years to five years and also to issue arms license in its electronic form to prevent forgery. Change in the Amendment: Ownership limit of licensed legal firearms has been increased to two instead of one in the Bill. Why is it significant? The Amendment assumes significance in recent times as Law enforcement agencies have indicated growing nexus between possession of illegal firearms and commission of criminal offences. With the advancement in technology, the fire power and sophistication of illegal firearms have increased significance over the years. The trans-border dimensions of illegal arms trafficking are causing threat to internal security and to prevent the usage of illicit firearms so trafficked has also become a prime concern. To effectively curb crimes related to or committed by using illegal firearms and to provide effective deterrence against violation of law, there is an urgent need to strengthen the existing legislative framework by making appropriate amendments in the Arms Act, 1959. Simultaneously, there is also a requirement for rationalizing and facilitating the licensing procedures for use of firearms by individuals and sports persons. Should the State governments be concerned? The Bill did not usurp the rights of states because in India's Constitution, Arms, firearms and explosives are in the Union List. Regulation of firearms is essential for a law abiding, peaceful society. History of the Act The original law was brought by the British after the Revolution of 1857, in order to prevent such an incident in the future. Gandhi ji also connected the issue of arms ownership with basic rights of Indians and demanded repeal of the Indian Arms Act, 1878, and this demand was included in the eight-point agenda that Gandhi ji presented to Lord Irwin. After independence, it was deemed that there was no need for an armed revolution, and the responsibility of the protection of people would be that of the State, which led to evolution of and amendments in the law. On the enhanced punishment under the Amendment Prison sentence for illicit trafficking of firearms and ammunition including smuggled firearms of foreign make or prohibited bore had been increased to prison time between 10 years to life imprisonment.  The theft of weapons from police or armed forces would carry a punishment of 10 years to life imprisonment Illegal manufacturing, sale, conversion, repair, import/export would attract 7 years to life imprisonment Acquiring, possessing, carrying prohibited arms and ammunition to get 7 to 14 years imprisonment Involvement in organized crime syndicate would all henceforth carry the punishment of 10 years to life imprisonment. Involvement in negligent and rash use of firearms or in celebratory firing endangering human life, would attract a fine of Rs. 1,00,000 or imprisonment for 2 years or both. Landmark ‘The Recycling of Ships Bill, 2019’ passed in Parliament (Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation) India is a leader in the global ship recycling industry with a share of over 30 per cent of the global market. With the enactment of this bill, India will set global standards for safe and sound environmentally-friendly recycling of Ships, as well as ensure adequate safety of the yard workers. This bill will pave the way for more global ships to enter into Indian Shipyards for recycling and boost employment and business opportunities also. The bill will harbinger significant increased number of global ships entering into Indian Shipyards for Recycling. Recycling of Ships will boost business & employment opportunities and strengthen India’s position in the recycling industry. It will raise the brand value of our Ships Recycling Yards located at Alang in Gujarat, Mumbai Port, Kolkata Port & Azhikkal in Kerela. 10% of country’s Secondary steel needs, as an outcome of Recycling of Ships, will be met in an eco-friendly manner. Ships Recycling facilities will become compliant to International standards and Ships will be recycled only in such authorised facilities. The tremendous growth of business activities will contribute to the country’s GDP. Cabinet approves Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Second Amendment) Bill, 2019 (Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation) The amendments aim to remove certain difficulties being faced during insolvency resolution process to realise the objects of the code and to further ease doing of business. Impact Amendments to the Code to remove bottlenecks, streamline the CIRP and protection of last mile funding will boost investment in financially distressed sectors. Additional thresholds introduced for Financial Creditors represented by an authorized representative due to large numbers in order to prevent frivolous triggering of Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP). Ensuring that the substratum of the business of corporate debtor is not lost, and it can continue as a going concern by clarifying that the licenses, permits, concessions, clearances etc. cannot be terminated or suspended or not renewed during the moratorium period. Ring-fencing corporate debtor resolved under the IBC in favour of a successful resolution applicant from criminal proceedings against offences committed by previous management/promoters. Diversion of Tribal Land for Development Projects (Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation) Nodal Ministry dealing with land acquisition matter: Ministry of Rural Development, Department of Land Resources (DoLR) Land acquisition is undertaken by the Central and State Governments under various Central and State Acts, including the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 and the provisions of the RFCTLARR Act 2013 To address the issue of Land Acquisition and displacement of tribals, Constitutional and legal provisions for safeguarding the rights of tribals to land are already in place as under: - The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, in section 4 (5) states that save as otherwise provided, no member of a forest dwelling Scheduled Tribes or Other Traditional Forest Dweller shall be evicted or removed from the Forest Land under his occupation till the recognition and verification procedure is complete. Government has enacted the RFCTLARR Act, 2013. The purpose of the said Act is to ensure, in consultation with institutions of local self-government and Gram Sabhas established under the Constitution, a humane, participative, informed and transparent process for land acquisition with the least disturbance to the owners of the land and the other affected families and provide just and fair compensation to the affected families whose land has been acquired or proposed to be acquired. Under Section 48 of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (RFCTLARR Act, 2013 in short), a National Level Monitoring Committee for Rehabilitation and Resettlement has been constituted in the DoLR vide DoLR’s Order No. 26011/04/2007-LRD dated 2nd March, 2015 for the purpose of reviewing and monitoring the implementation of rehabilitation and resettlement schemes and plans related to land acquisition under the RFCTLARR, 2013 and National Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy, 2007. By way of safeguards against displacement special provisions have been made for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes under Sections 41 and 42 of the RFCTLARR Act, 2013 which protect their interests. The RFCTLARR Act, 2013 also lays down procedure and manner of rehabilitation and resettlement. The First Schedule of the RFCTLARR Act provide for compensation for land owners. The Second Schedule provide for element of rehabilitation and resettlement for all the affected families (both land owners and the families whose livelihood is primarily dependent on land acquired) in addition to those provided in the first Schedule. Similarly, the Third Schedule provide for infrastructural amenities for a reasonably habitable and planned settlement in the resettlement area. The Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, also provides that the Gram Sabha or the Panchayats at the appropriate level shall be consulted before making the acquisition of land in the Scheduled Areas or development projects and before resettling or rehabilitating persons affected by such projects in the Scheduled Areas; the actual planning and implementation of the projects in the Scheduled Areas shall be coordinated at the State Level. Constitutional provisions under Schedule – V also provide for safeguards against displacement of tribal population because of land acquisitions etc. The Governor of the State which has scheduled Areas is empowered to prohibit or restrict transfer of land from tribals and regulate the allotment of land to members of the Scheduled Tribes in such cases. Measures taken by Government to prevent Crime against Women (Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation) The Criminal Law (Amendment), Act 2013 was enacted for effective deterrence against sexual offences. Further, the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018 was enacted to prescribe even more stringent penal provisions including death penalty for rape of a girl below the age of 12 years. The Act also inter-alia mandates completion of investigation and trials within 2 months each. Emergency Response Support System provides a pan-India, single, internationally recognized number (112) based system for all emergencies, with computer aided dispatch of field resources to the location of distress. Using technology to aid smart policing and safety management, Safe City Projects have been sanctioned in first Phase in 8 cities (Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow and Mumbai). The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has launched a cyber-crime portal on 20th September 2018 for citizens to report obscene content. MHA has launched the ‘National Database on Sexual Offenders’ (NDSO) on 20th September 2018 to facilitate investigation and tracking of sexual offenders across the country by law enforcement agencies. In order to facilitate States/UTs, MHA on 19th February 2019 launched an online analytic tool for police called ‘Investigation Tracking System for Sexual Offences’ to monitor and track time-bound investigation in sexual assault cases in accordance with the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2018. One Stop Centre (OSC) scheme is being implemented across the country since 1st April 2015 which is exclusively designed to provide integrated services such as medical aid, police assistance, legal counselling/ court case management, psycho-social counselling and temporary shelter to women affected by violence under one roof. As per available information, 728 OSCs have been approved by Government of India, 595 OSCs are operational in the country. In addition to the above-mentioned measures, MHA has issued advisories from time to time with a view to help the States/UTs to deal with crimes against women, which are available at www.mha.gov.in. India's Defence Expenditure (Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation) Government is pursuing initiatives to achieve higher levels of indigenization and self-reliance in the defence sector by harnessing the capabilities of the public and private sector industries in the country – According priority and preference to procurement from Indian vendors and liberalization of the licensing regime - Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) accords the highest priority to Buy Indian (Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured) (IDDM).   The ‘Make’ procedure has been simplified with provision for earmarking projects not exceeding development cost of Rs. 10 crores (Government funded) and Rs. 3 crores (Industry funded) for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs); and with provisions for involving private industry as production agencies and technology transfer partners.  Government has also promulgated the policy on Strategic Partnership in the Defence Sector to encourage broader participation of the private sector in manufacture of major defence platforms and equipment. GS-3 Biofuels (Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment) Bio fuels are liquid or gaseous fuels primarily produced from biomass, and can be used to replace or can be used in addition to diesel, petrol or other fossil fuels for transport, stationary, portable and other applications. Crops used to make bio fuels are generally high in sugar (such as sugarcane, sugar beet, and sweet sorghum), starch (such as maize and tapioca) or oils (such as soybean, rapeseed, and coconut, sunflower). National Policy on Biofuel Key provisions: The policy significantly expands the sources from which ethanol can be produced and also allows for blending ethanol from multiple bio feedstock — and not just ethanol produced from sugarcane, as was the case earlier — with petrol. The policy also holds significant potential gains for farmers. Under the new policy, the raw material sourcing net for ethanol is being significantly expanded to include, besides sugarcane juice, sugar beet, sweet sorghum, corn, cassava, damaged wheat, broken rice and rotten potatoes. There is also a bonus for civic administrations, since ethanol can now be produced from municipal solid waste, as well as fuels like bio natural gas. To that extent, the policy can help turn refuse into gold. The policy also envisages using rice and wheat chaff and other biomasses as feedstock for ethanol production. This opens up a large and remunerative market for products on which the farmer was bearing the losses caused by erratic weather and poor storage conditions. Beyond this, used cooking oil can also double up as a feedstock for biodiesel which is welcome since India is one of the world’s largest consumers of edible oil and generates a huge quantity of used cooking oil as waste. Execution will be a challenge: To convert India’s existing biofuel potential into reality, huge investments need to be made in creating bio refinery capacity. However, this is easier said than done. While state-owned oil marketing companies are in the process of setting up 12 bio-refineries, this can only be a base to build on. On the ground, private sector investment in this space has been hampered by financial constraints and lack of cohesive support from the Central to the local level. Creating the requisite supply chain infrastructure to source and efficiently transport low value biomass to the refineries is another challenge. Potential: Poverty reduction: Availability of energy is fundamental to intensifying agriculture, industrial development and pro-poor growth. Locally produced liquid bio fuels, e.g. biodiesel, could lead to national and local benefits such as reduced pressure on forests, reduced dependency on oil imports and limited exposure to volatile international prices. However, large scale production for export is not as likely to have these effects. Employment Opportunities: Bio fuel could offer beneficial employment opportunities, provided Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policies are implemented. Small scale production has shown promising results. Brazil’s first biodiesel cooperative, Cooper bio, involves about 25,000 families using castor bean, jatropha, sunflower and other species produced in small scale diversified systems. Opportunities for small-holders: Substituting fuel wood and dung for bio fuels could both increase local energy efficiency, decrease health risks and pressure on forests. In Mali, a community program has developed small scale jatropha plantations that provide not only liquid fuels but also electricity, heat and mechanical power for a variety of local uses. Smallholders could also increase their incomes as bio fuel crops become cash crops, but markets should be accessible, and mechanisms in place to ensure that price increases accrue farmers. Infrastructural Investment in Rural Areas: It is estimated that, one 100klpd bio refinery will require around Rs.800 crore capital investment. At present Oil Marketing Companies are in the process of setting up twelve 2G bio refineries with an investment of around Rs.10,000 crore. Further addition of 2G bio refineries across the Country will spur infrastructural investment in the rural areas. Challenges: Food prices Estimates of the role of bio fuels in the hike of food prices during 2008 have been much debated. It is estimated that 30% (International Food Policy Research Institute) to 65% (World Bank) of the increase in food prices can be attributed to the increased production of bio fuels instead of food. Tenure and Conflicts Large scale bio fuel production often competes with other land and water uses. Power imbalances make it difficult for local communities to negotiate sufficient compensation for e.g. lost land, especially if they hold no formally recognized tenure rights. Indigenous communities and women are particularly vulnerable. Environmental challenges Soil and Water: Many bio fuel crops are highly water intensive. Crops like sweet sorghum, tropical sugar beet and jatropha can grow on drier soils, but may require irrigation and fertilisers to become commercially attractive. Deforestation, climate change and ecosystem services large scale monoculture bio fuel production often leads to deforestation. Rapidly expanding oil palm plantations in South East Asia, considered one of the largest threats to tropical forests and peat lands, serve as alarming examples. These ecosystems store millions of tons of carbon which is released when they are exploited. Deforestation is in turn a major threat to biodiversity, local communities and indigenous groups dependant on biodiversity. Indian government has realised the potential advantages of bio fuel and have taken steps to promote befouls through its recent document National Bio fuel policy .This will  help in realising dreams of doubling farmers income along with reducing dependency on fuel imports . Solve: Discuss how bio-fuels can solve the problem of pollution in India. Given its potential, adequate policy push is required. Analyze. National Missions including National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Eco-system (NMSHE) – Efforts undertaken to enhance the ecological sustainability of India and address climate change (Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment) As per the Special Report on ‘The Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate’ released in September 2019 by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), since about 1950; many marine species across various groups have undergone shifts in geographical range and seasonal activities in response to ocean warming, sea ice change and biogeochemical changes, such as oxygen loss, to their habitats. This has resulted in shifts in species composition, abundance and biomass production of ecosystems, from the equator to the poles. However, in some marine ecosystems, species are impacted by both the effects of fishing and climate changes. The rate of melting varies from glacier to glacier depending on topography and climatic variability of the region. While, the glaciers in the eastern and central part of Indian Himalaya are continuously retreating, some of the glaciers in the Western part of Himalaya are reported to be stable or advancing. Studies show that the Himalayan glaciers are experiencing retreat with significant temporal and special variability. Changes in glacier extent strongly affect the seasonal availability of freshwater, especially during the summer. According to modeling studies, temperatures in the upper Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra basins are projected to increase between 1 to 2°C up until 2050, compared to the baseline period (1998– 2007). Under such conditions, the amount of glacier and snow meltwater will decrease, while the amount of rainfall-runoff will increase, for the upper basins of the Ganges and Brahmaputra. Overall, no significant decrease in runoff is projected until at least 2050 for all of the basins. The government is implementing the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) with a view to enhancing the ecological sustainability of India’s development path and address climate change in all regions of the country. NAPCC comprises, inter alia, of eight National Missions including National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Eco-system (NMSHE). National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Eco-system (NMSHE) NMSHE is aimed at evolving management measures for sustaining and safeguarding the Himalayan glaciers and mountain ecosystem.  The mission includes enhanced monitoring of the Himalayan ecosystem through establishment of the monitoring network, promoting community based management, human resource development and strengthening regional cooperation.  The Government has prepared guidelines entitled “Governance for Sustaining Himalayan Ecosystem”, (G-SHE), which has been shared with all the State Governments in the Himalayan region.  33 States and Union Territories including all Himalayan States have also prepared their respective State Action Plan on Climate Change to address the state-specific issues.  The Ministry has notified Coastal Regulation Zone Notification 2019 and the Island Protection Zone Notification 2019 to regulate high impact activities on the coast and in maintaining coastal sustainability. Various Initiatives ‘Green Good Deeds’ initiative: To promote environmental awareness and to mobilize people’s participation for conservation of environment ‘Environment Education, Awareness and Training’: Objective is to promote environmental awareness among all sections of the society and to mobilize people’s participation for conservation of environment. Through the National Green Corps programme, which is one of the components of this scheme, about one lakh fifty thousand Ecoclubs have been established in schools/colleges across the country and nearly 35 lakh students are actively involved in the programmes related to environment protection and conservation. Prelims oriented News Turbulence and Triumph – The Modi Years: Written by Rahul Agarwal and Bharti S Pradhan Special Report on ‘The Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate’: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Water: State subject Gujarat Police: 33 percent reservation for women Gandhi Encyclopedia: By National Council of Science Museums, Kolkata for promotion of appropriate Gandhian philosophy and thoughts through social media platforms under 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi commemoration Indian Culture Portal: The first government authorized portal where knowledge and cultural resources of various organizations of Ministry of Culture are now available in public domain on a single platform. From toy carts of the Indus Valley Civilisation to the charkha of Mahatma Gandhi, Indian Culture encapsulates the words of the Shastras and the finesse of Deccan court painters, from the calm on the buddha’s cisage to the battle scars on armours, from rare images of monuments, to bite sized anecdotes and detailed accounts of Indian UNESCO World Heritage Site are available on the portal. Envisioned by the Ministry of Culture Developed by a team from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay  Curation of the data by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) Sector that received the maximum CSR spent during financial year 2014-15 to 2017-18: Education Army Personnel serving in UN Peacekeeping Operations: 6,026 army personnel are currently serving in the United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping operations. During the last five years, 10 Indian personnel have laid down their lives while serving in the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations. Human Rights Day: Celebrated on the 10th December every year to commemorate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which was adopted and proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1948 as the shared standard yardstick to protect human rights across the globe.  The Declaration recognizes that the inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of mankind are the foundation of justice, freedom and peace in the world. The United Nations’ theme for this year’s Human Rights Day is: “Youth Standing up for Human Rights.” PSLV successfully launches RISAT-2BR1 and nine commercial satellites in its fiftieth flight: RISAT-2BR1 is radar imaging earth observation satellite weighing about 628 kg. The satellite will provide services in the field of Agriculture, Forestry and Disaster Management. The mission life of RISAT-2BR1 is 5 years. The nine customer satellites of Israel, Italy, Japan and USA were precisely injected into their designated orbits. These satellites were launched under a commercial arrangement with New Space India Limited (NSIL).  PSLV-C48 is the 2nd flight of PSLV in 'QL' configuration (with 4 solid strap-on motors). Besides being the 50th launch of PSLV, this launch was also the 75th launch vehicle mission from SDSC SHAR, Sriharikota. Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya National Mission on Teachers and Training (PMMMNMTT): The aim of this mission is to provide quality teachers in schools and colleges attract talented people in the education sector and improve quality in teaching. The mission aims to set the teaching standard so that an organized cadre of professional teachers can be created. The objective of this mission is to develop innovative teaching method and high level institutional facilities in all the constituent areas of education. Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs): To provide good quality modern education including a strong component of culture, inculcation of values, awareness of the environment, adventure activities and physical education to the talented children predominantly from the rural areas without regard to their family's socio-economic condition. Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure: Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MOFPI) is implementing the Scheme for “Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure” as one of the components of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana with the objective of reducing post-harvest losses of horticulture & non-horticulture produce and providing remunerative price to farmers for their produce. Rashtriya Gokul Mission: Development and conservation of indigenous bovine breeds, genetic upgradation of bovine population and enhancing milk production and productivity of bovines thereby making milk production more remunerative to the farmers. Data Bank of Farmers: The Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare have constituted a Task Force to develop a comprehensive Farmers’ Database for better planning, monitoring, strategy formulation and smooth implementation of schemes for the entire country. This Centralised Farmers Database shall be useful for various activities like issuing soil health cards, dissemination of crop advisories to the farmers, precision farming, smart cards for farmers to facilitate e-governance, crop insurance, settlement of compensation claims, grant of agricultural subsidies, community/village resource centres etc. National Institute of Animal Health: Established by erstwhile Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, GOI (now Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying) To act as a nodal institute to recommend licensing of veterinary vaccines in the country To make available facilities for quality control of veterinary vaccines and diagnostics To make available standards for veterinary biologicals and diagnostics Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY) is being implemented by D/o Social Justice and Empowerment (M/o SJ&E) with an objective to provide to senior citizens, belonging to BPL category and suffering from age-related disabilities/ infirmities, with such physical aids and assisted living devices which can restore near normalcy in their bodily functions.  Composite Water Management Index: By NITI Aayog India is undergoing the worst water crisis in its history and nearly 600 million people are facing high to extreme water stress. The report further mentions that India is placed at 120th amongst 122 countries in the water quality index, with nearly 70% of water being contaminated. As per the 5th Minor Irrigation Census (with reference year 2013-14) conducted by Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation (now Ministry of Jal Shakti), there are 20.52 million wells in the country, which includes dug wells, shallow tube wells, medium tube wells and deep tube wells.  Practices for efficient and sustainable management of water resources such as conjunctive use of surface water and ground water resources, participatory ground water practices, increasing water use efficiency amongst others need to be promoted on a large scale by involving all the stake-holders to deal with future water demand challenges. Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) - a campaign for water conservation and water security Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM): Aims at providing functional household tap connections to every rural household by 2024 at the service level of 55 litre per capita per day. This Mission will focus on integrated demand and supply side management of water at the local level, including creation of local infrastructure for source sustainability like rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge and management of household wastewater for reuse in agriculture. National Perspective Plan (NPP) for Water Resources Development which envisages transfer of water from water surplus basins to water deficit basins to improve availability of water. Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT): Under the water supply component of the Mission, projects related to rain water harvesting, rejuvenation of water bodies specifically for drinking water supply, recharging of ground water, etc., can be taken up by the States/UTs to enhance water supply in the Mission cities. Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABHY): A Rs.6,000 Crore Central Sector Scheme, for sustainable management of ground water resources with community participation.  The funding pattern is 50:50 between Government of India and World Bank. The scheme envisages active participation of the communities in various activities such as formation of Water User Associations, monitoring and disseminating ground water data, water budgeting, preparation and implementation of Gram-Panchayat wise water security plans and Information, Education & Communication (IEC) activities related to sustainable ground water management. The identified over-exploited and water stressed areas for the implementation of the scheme fall in the States of Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The States have been selected according to a number of criteria, including degree of groundwater exploitation and degradation, established legal and regulatory instruments, institutional readiness, and experience in implementing initiatives related to groundwater management. National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM), Chennai to undertake studies and research in the area of Coastal Zone Management including coastal resources and environment Strive for being a World Class Knowledge Institution related to coastal zones, environment, resources and processes, To promote integrated and sustainable management of the coastal and marine areas in India for the benefit and wellbeing of the traditional coastal and island communities, and Advice the Union and State Governments and other associated stakeholder(s) on policy, and scientific matters related to Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM). National Afforestation Programme By: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) The overall objective of the National Afforestation Programme (NAP) scheme is ecological restoration of degraded forests and to develop the forest resources with peoples’ participation, with focus on improvement in livelihoods of the forest-fringe communities, especially the poor. NAP aims to support and accelerate the on-going process of devolving forest conservation, protection, management and development functions tothe Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) at the village level, which are registered societies. The scheme is implemented by three tier institutional setup through the State Forest Development Agency (SFDA) at the state level, Forest Development Agency (FDA) at the forest division level and JFMCs at village level. The conservation and development of forest primarily involves three strategies – afforestation through natural/artificial regeneration, protection and management.  The ministry is implementing three major schemes for development of forest areas i.e. National Afforestation Programme (NAP) scheme, National Mission for a Green India (GIM) and Forest Fire Prevention & Management Scheme (FFPM).  While NAP is being implemented for afforestation of degraded forest lands, GIM aims at improving the quality of forest and increase in forest cover besides cross sectoral activities on landscape basis. The FFPM takes care of forest fire prevention and management measures. Schemes by Ministry of Women and Child Development to achieve SDG Goals (i) Anganwadi Services Scheme is a unique programme for early childhood care and development. It offers a package of six services, viz. Supplementary Nutrition, Pre-School Non-Formal Education, Nutrition and Health Education, Immunization, Health Check-Up and Referral Services. The beneficiaries under the Scheme are children in the age group of 0-6 years, pregnant women and lactating mothers. (ii) PoshanAbhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission) targets to reduce the level of stunting, under-nutrition, anemia and low birth weight babies by reducing mal-nutrition/under nutrition, anemia among young children as also, focus on adolescent girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers. (iii) Pradhan MantriMatruVandanaYojana (PMMVY) scheme provides cash incentive amounting to Rs. 5,000 in three instalments directly to the Bank/Post Office Account of Pregnant Women and Lactating Mother(PW&LM) in DBT Mode during pregnancy and lactation in response to individual fulfilling specific conditions. (iv) Scheme for Adolescent Girls aims at out of school girls in the age group 11-14, to empower and improve their social status through nutrition, life skills and home skills. The scheme has nutritional and non nutritional components which include nutrition, iron and folic acid supplementation, health check up and referral service, nutrition and health education mainstreaming out of school girls to join formal schooling, bridge course/ skill training, life skill education, home management etc, counselling/ guidance on accessing public services. (v) National Creche Scheme provides day care facilities to children of age group of 6 months to 6 years of working women. The facilities are provided for seven and half hours a day for 26 days in a month. Children are provided with supplementary nutrition, early childcare education, and health and sleeping facilities. (vi) Child Protection Services Scheme aims to contribute to the improvement in the well-being of children in difficult circumstances, as well as, reduction of vulnerabilities to situation and actions that leads to abuse, neglect, exploitation, abandonment and separation of children from parent. The Scheme aims to spread awareness regarding the ways and means to prevent all children from child abuse of any kind including child sexual abuse. (vii) Mahila Shakti Kendra scheme empowers rural women through community participation by involvement of Student Volunteers. The scheme is envisaged to work at various levels. At the national and state level, technical support to the respective government on issues related to women is provided. (viii) SwadharGreh scheme targets the women victims of unfortunate circumstances who are in need of institutional support for rehabilitation so that they could lead their life with dignity. (ix) Ujjawala is a comprehensive scheme to combat trafficking with the objective to prevent trafficking of women and children for commercial sexual exploitation, to facilitate rescue victims and placing them in safe custody, to provide rehabilitation services by providing basic amenities/needs, to facilitate reintegration of victims into the family and society, to facilitate repatriation of cross border victims. (x) Working Women Hostel aims at providing safe and affordable accommodation to working women. These hostels have Day care facility for the children of inmates too. The Ministry provides financial support for establishing such hostels by NGOs or State Governments. (xi) BetiBachaoBetiPadhao (BBBP) scheme is a tri-ministerial initiative of Ministries of Women and Child Development, Health & Family Welfare and Human Resource Development with a focus on awareness and advocacy campaign for changing mindsets, multi-sectoral action in select districts, enabling girls' education and effective enforcement of Pre-Conception & Pre Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC&PNDT) Act. The specific objectives of the scheme include preventing gender biased sex selective elimination; ensuring survival and protection of the girl child and ensuring education and participation of the girl child. (xii) One Stop Centre (OSC) facilitates access to an integrated range of services including police, medical, legal, psychological support and temporary shelter to women affected by violence. The Scheme is funded through Nirbhaya Fund. (xiii) Women Helpline – The Scheme is being implemented since 1st April, 2015 to provide 24 hours emergency and non-emergency response to women affected by violence through referral and information about women related government schemes/programmes across the country through a single uniform number (181). Quotes: On Democracy  While dissent was the basic quality of democracy, people must follow peaceful, democratic methods and function according to the spirit of the Constitution. There is right to protest in democracy but not for obstructionism The strength of a democracy depends upon the strength of each pillar and the way pillars complement each other. Any shaky pillar weakens the democratic structure – the Legislature, Executive, Judiciary and the Media. On Leaders Mahatma Gandhi once observed, “The history of the world is full of men who rose to leadership, by sheer force of self-confidence, bravery and tenacity”. On Human Rights Effective strengthening of the human rights at the ground level is a collective task of the whole society On Education Universities are great hubs of ideas, but they are not ivory towers. They are part of society and thus remain engaged with social change. The academic community should be engaged in research in areas that create not only a new knowledge base but also a knowledge base that sustains human society. Need to include Gender Studies: Education is not just for employment but also for empowerment and enlightenment of individuals and the society. This will make children respectful and sensitive towards all genders. On Justice There cannot be instant justice but there cannot be constant delays either. There is a need for undertaking court proceedings in local languages so that people can understand it. Supreme Court should have 2-3 benches across India. No constitutional amendment is required for such a move. Currently people have to come to Delhi from all over India to file their cases. They have to stay for many days in Delhi and it is expensive. There is a need to decide upon the certain category of cases in time-bound manner such as the election petitions and criminal cases against sitting MPs and MLAs. Legislative bodies should decide upon the disqualification proceedings under anti-defection law in a time-bound manner

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