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Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 6th February 2020

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 6th February 2020 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Trust formed Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II - Polity In news: Cabinet had approved construction of a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya  Setting up an autonomous trust, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra,  There would be 15 trustees, out of which one would always be from the Dalit society. [caption id="attachment_56878" align="aligncenter" width="551"] Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 6th February 2020[/caption] CPCB pulls up 14 coal plants Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II - Polity In news: Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has pulled up 14 thermal power plants for not complying with a December 31, 2019 deadline to limit sulphur dioxide emissions. From Prelims Point of view : CPCB : CPCB has the power to impose steep fines or shut a unit under the provisions of the Environment Protection Act. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) of India is a statutory organisation under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC). Established in 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. CPCB is also entrusted with the powers and functions under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 PM pitches for boost to defence exports Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II - Polity In news: India became the world’s largest arms importer as it did not utilise its capacities to full potential after Independence. India was looking to achieve defence exports worth ₹35,000 crore in the next five years. From Prelims Point of vew: DefExpo The DefExpo is biennial event organized by Ministry of Defence. The 11th edition of the event promises to bring in new technological solutions.  Defence Ministers from 40 countries are attending the event. Navy will have its third Scorpene sub this year Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II - Polity In news: The third Scorpene submarine, Karanj, will be delivered to the Indian Navy by December and all six submarine deliveries would be completed by 2022 The first Scorpene, Kulvari, was commissioned in 2018.  The second Scorpene Khanderi was inducted in September last year. From Prelims Point of vew: Scorpene-class submarines: These are a class of diesel-electric attack submarines jointly developed by the French Direction des Constructions Navales (DCN) and the Spanish company Navantia, and now by Naval Group. It features diesel propulsion and an additional air-independent propulsion (AIP) ‘LIC IPO will certainly happen next year’ Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II - Polity In news: The Centre has indicated that it may need to push through an amendment in the LIC Act, 1956 before the stake sale.  Currently, the government owns 100% of LIC, the country’s largest insurer.  Opposition parties have objected to the divestment plan, while LIC’s employee unions have claimed that it would be “against national interest.” Life Insurance Corporation: Life Insurance Corporation of India (abbreviated as LIC) is an Indian state-owned insurance group and investment corporation owned by the Government of India. The Life Insurance Corporation of India was founded in 1956 when the Parliament of India passed the Life Insurance of India Act that nationalised the insurance industry in India.  Over 245 insurance companies and provident societies were merged to create the state-owned Life Insurance Corporation of India. As of 2019, Life Insurance Corporation of India had total life fund of ₹28.3 trillion. The total value of sold policies in the year 2018-19 is ₹21.4 million.  Life Insurance Corporation of India settled 26 million claims in 2018-19. It has 290 million policy holders. (MAINS FOCUS) Indian Polity & Federalism Topic: General Studies 2: Constitutional bodies and their responsibilities Topic: General Studies 3 Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment. 
 Government Budgeting 

 Fifteenth Finance Commission (15th FC) Context  15th FC (Chair N.K.Singh) constituted by the President of India under Article 280 of the Constitution on November 27, 2017 was given an extension and recently submitted its first report The commission was required to submit two reports, one for 2020-21 and the second covering the period of five years from 2021-22 to 2025-26 Basis for extension First, the abolition of Statehood to Jammu and Kashmir required the Commission to make an estimation excluding the Union Territory.  Second, the deceleration in growth and low inflation has substantially slowed down the nominal GDP growth making projections for medium term risky.  Finally, poor revenue performance of tax collection and more particularly Goods and Services Tax combined with the fact that the compensation agreement to the loss of revenue to the States was effective only two years of the period of 15FC posed uncertainities If not for extension, making medium-term projections in the current scenario would have entailed serious risks.  Key Recommendations include: Devolution of taxes to states: The share of states in the centre’s taxes is recommended to be decreased from 42% during the 2015-20 period to 41% for 2020-21.  The 1% decrease is to provide for the newly formed union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh from the resources of the central government. Criteria for Devolution   Criteria 14th FC 2015-20 15th FC 2020-21 Income Distance 50.0 45.0 Population (1971) 17.5 - Population (2011) 10.0 15.0 Area 15.0 15.0 Forest Cover 7.5 - Forest and Ecology (share of dense forest of each state in the aggregate dense forest of all the states) - 10.0 Demographic Performance (based on Total Fertility rate) - 12.5 Tax Effort - 2.5 Total 100 100 Grants-in-aid In 2020-21, the following grants will be provided to states: Revenue deficit grants: In 2020-21, 14 states are estimated to have an aggregate revenue deficit of Rs 74,340 crore post-devolution.  The Commission recommended revenue deficit grants for these states (see Table 4 in the annexure). Special grants: In case of three states, the sum of devolution and revenue deficit grants is estimated to decline in 2020-21 as compared to 2019-20.  These states are Karnataka, Mizoram, and Telangana.  The Commission has recommended special grants to these states aggregating to Rs 6,764 crore. Sector-specific grants: The Commission has recommended a grant of Rs 7,375 crore for nutrition in 2020-21. Performance-based grants: Guidelines for performance-based grants include: (i) implementation of agricultural reforms, (ii) development of aspirational districts and blocks, (iii) power sector reforms, (iv) enhancing trade including exports, (v) incentives for education, and (vi) promotion of domestic and international tourism.  The grant amount will be provided in the final report. Grants to local bodies: The total grants to local bodies for 2020-21 has been fixed at Rs 90,000 crore (4.31% of divisible pool), of which Rs 60,750 crore is recommended for rural local bodies (67.5%) and Rs 29,250 crore for urban local bodies (32.5%). The grants will be divided between states based on population and area in the ratio 90:10. The grants will be made available to all three tiers of Panchayat- village, block, and district.  Disaster Risk Management: For 2020-21, State Disaster Risk Management Funds have been allocated Rs 28,983 crore, out of which the share of the union is Rs 22,184 crore.  The National Disaster Risk Management Funds has been allocated Rs 12,390 crore. Recommendations on fiscal roadmap Centre should, in the coming year, rationalise centrally sponsored schemes  Centre and states should fully reveal the extent of their off-budget borrowings, leading to accumulation of extra-budgetary liabilities Statutory framework for public financial management: The Commission recommended forming an expert group to draft legislation to provide for a statutory framework for sound public financial management system. Tax capacity: In 2018-19, the tax revenue of state governments and central government together stood at around 17.5% of GDP. India’s tax capacity largely remained unchanged since 1990s. The Commission recommended: (i) broadening the tax base, (ii) streamlining tax rates, (iii) and increasing capacity and expertise of tax administration in all tiers of the government. GST implementation: The Commission observed that the continuing dependence of states on compensation from the central government (21 states out of 29 states in 2018-19) for making up for the shortfall in revenue is a concern.  Hence needed to have relook into the structure of GST. Separate defence and national security fund:It was mentioned in the terms of reference. However, 15 FC intends to constitute an expert committee to study such a proposal and will come out with its suggestions in second report. Connecting the dots Concerns raised by Southern States with regard to considering 2011 population numbers, has it been addressed? FRBM changes recommended by N.K.Singh Committee. (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. Which one of the following was probed by the Liberhan Commission?  Test Cricket Match Fixing Best Bakery Case Tehelka Tapes Case Demolition of the disputed structure at Ayodhya Q 2. How is the National Green Tribunal (NGT) different from the Central Pollution Control Board The NGT has been established by an Act whereas the CPCB has been created by an executive order of the Government. The NGT provides environmental justice and helps reduce the burden of litigation in the higher courts whereas the CPCB promotes cleanliness of streams and wells, and aims to improve the quality of air in the country. Which of the statements given above is/are correct: 1 only  2 only Both 1 and 2  Neither 1 nor 2 ANSWERS FOR 05 FEB 2020 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 D 2 B MUST READ About Speaker’s Office: The Hindu About Solution to Economic Crisis: The Hindu About Corona Virus: The Hindu

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 5th February 2020

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 5th February 2020 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) T.N. MLAs’ disqualification Part of: GS Prelims –Polity and GS-II- Constitution In news: The Supreme Court gave Tamil Nadu Speaker a week’s time to inform when he will take cognisance of the disqualification petitions filed under the Tenth Schedule (anti-defection law) for voting against the confidence motion moved by Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami in February 2017. From Prelims  Point of view: Tenth Schedule (anti-defection law) The law is necessary because when a voter decides to cast his/her vote for a candidate, he/she is considers not only the candidate but also the party that the candidate stands for and the manifesto the party presented. Hence, when the defection takes place, it's the electorate that is let down, making a mockery of democracy. That is why in the year 1985, amendment to the constitution was effected and Xth schedule was introduced.  The amendment and the schedule are connected to Article 102 and Article 191 of the Constitution. Both the articles pertain to disqualification for membership. The purpose of this mini-legislation within the constitution is to create a deterrent for any kind of defections and it prescribes disqualification for doing so. ‘Healing Christ’ statue enters URF book of world records Part of: GS Prelims –Art & Culture  and GS-I- Art & Culture In news: Healing Christ, in Thiruvalla Kerala has entered the Universal Records Forum’s (URF) book of world records. From Prelims  Point of view: Healing Christ: The statue was sculpted with an alloy of zinc, copper, and velutheeyam  Velutheeyam is an alloy of tin and aluminium Universal Records Forum Universal Records Forum encourage every record holder and give them the deserved platform to showcase their talent, stamina, endurance and achievement in front of the world. NGT cancels eco-clearance to high-rise near Kaikondrahalli lake Part of: GS Prelims –Environment and GS-III Conservation In news: Eco Clearance was a ‘breach of environment norms, violation of municipal laws and buffer zone regulations’.  The EC was granted in January 2018 by the Karnataka State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA). From Prelims  Point of view: Kaikondrahalli Lake, a small urban lake in Bengaluru National Green Tribunal : Set up under the National Green Tribunal Act (2010)  Effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources. India became the third country in the world to set up a specialised environmental tribunal, (Australia and New Zealand)  Disposal of applications or appeals finally within 6 months of filing of the same. 7 in 100 Anganwadi beneficiaries in cities In news: For every 100 anganwadi beneficiaries in the country, only seven are in urban areas. Impact: because of a severe lack of anganwadis in cities, leading to poor coverage of the government’s flagship programme in early childhood development. From Prelims  Point of view: Anganwadi Anganwadis or day-care centres are set up under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) by the Women and Child Development Ministry to provide a package of six services.  The services include supplementary nutrition; pre-school non-formal education; immunisation, nutrition and health education; as well as referral services. The aim of the scheme is to reduce infant mortality and child malnutrition.  Beneficiaries include children in the age group of six months to six years, and pregnant women and lactating mothers. Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS): Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) is an Indian government welfare programme which provides food, preschool education, and primary healthcare to children under 6 years of age and their mothers. These services are provided from Anganwadi centres established mainly in rural areas and staffed with frontline workers. (MAINS FOCUS) Indian Polity & Federalism Topic: General Studies 2: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests 

 International Maritime Organization (IMO) & India Context  IMO mandates that merchant ships should not burn fuel with Sulphur content more than 0.5% beginning January 1, 2020. India’s negligible presence and interventions in IMO have been affecting its interests. About International Maritime Organization It was established by UN convention in Geneva on 17 March 1948 and met for the first time in January 1959. IMO is responsible for measures to improve the safety and security of international shipping and to prevent pollution from ships. It is also involved in legal matters, including liability and compensation issues and the facilitation of international maritime traffic It currently has 174 Member States. India joined in 1959. Role of IMO The IMO is not responsible for enforcing its policies. There is no enforcement mechanism to implement the policies of the IMO. The IMO, like any other UN agency, is primarily a secretariat, which facilitates decision-making processes on all maritime matters through meetings of member states. The binding instruments are brought in through the conventions — to which member states sign on to for compliance  The Third IMO GHG Study 2014 estimated that international shipping emitted 796 million tonnes of CO2 in 2012, accounting for about 2.2% of the total global anthropogenic CO2 emissions for that year,  Also, IMO states that emissions from international shipping could grow between 50% and 250% by 2050 mainly due to the growth of the world maritime trade. IMO regulations to reduce sulphur oxides (SOx) emissions from ships first came into force in 2005, under the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL Convention). Since then, the limits on sulphur oxides have been progressively tightened. Significance of latest decision by IMO Previous Sulphur Limit was 3.5%, which was applicable to most parts of the world. If global shipping were a country, it would be the sixth largest producer of greenhouse gas emissions, therefore cleaner fuel will help reduce SOx emissions which reduces pollution. The new regulations will have major health and environmental benefits for the world, particularly for populations living close to ports and coasts. Impact of new rules by IMO limiting Sulphur content Redesigning refineries including those in India so as to produce cleaner fuel- this entails capital investment and thus increased cost of fuel Increased freight costs due to increased cost of fuel which will have a cascading effect on retail prices of goods. Structural changes to Ships: Very-low-sulphur fuel would be incompatible with the engines and other vessel equipment. There have been instances of ships having been stranded after fine particles separated out from the fuel, damaging equipment and clogging up devices.  Dominance of Developed Countries in IMO To ensure that their maritime interests are protected, the European countries move their proposals in unison and voting or support are given en bloc. The European Union has a documented procedure on how to influence the IMO Prominent maritime nations have their permanent representatives at London (HQ) and are supported by a large contingent of domain experts from their maritime administration, seafarers and industry associations during the meeting These countries ensure that they have representation in every sub-committee, working group and even correspondence groups so that they are aware of the developments. Inadequate Participation by India in IMO India's permanent representative post in the IMO has remained vacant for the last 25 years. Representation at meetings is often through a skeletal delegation. The number of submissions made by India in the recent past has been few and not in proportion to India’s stakes in global shipping. There have also been obstacles in pushing issues which are of importance to India. A classic case was the promulgation of “High Risk Areas” by IMO in Arabian sea which led to increased insurance costs for shipping industry There was also great difficulty in introducing the indigenously designed NavIC in the worldwide maritime navigation system. The agenda and interventions pushed by the developed countries are not entirely pragmatic from the point of view of India’s interests with efforts to push products & companies based in West Issue of High Risk Area IMO demarcated ‘High-Risk Areas’ when piracy was at its peak particularly by Somalian pirates. The IMO’s demarcation resulted in half the Arabian Sea and virtually the entire south-west coast of India being seen as piracy-infested, despite the presence of the Indian Navy and Coast Guard. The “Enrica Lexie” shooting incident of 2012, off the coast of Kerala, was a direct fallout of the demarcation. It took great efforts by India to revoke the promulgation. Way forward IMO also needs to reduce nitrogen oxides (NOx) and ozone-depleting gases. At the earliest, India should fill the vacant post of the permanent representative at the IMO. India should have well-laid-out procedure and agenda to deal with procedures of IMO to further its interests. Promulgate new policies which makes the shipping industry in India adopt greener technologies Connecting the dots Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships a.k.a Hong Kong Convention Montreal Protocol (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. Which one of the following schedules of the Constitution of India contains provisions regarding anti-defection Act?  Second Schedule  Fifth Schedule Eighth Schedule  Tenth Schedule Q 2.  Velutheeyam is  a new species of snake found recently  an alloy of tin and aluminium Classical dance of Kerala None of these  ANSWERS FOR 04 FEB 2020 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 A 2 D 3 C MUST READ About Navy: The Hindu About NRC’s Administrative burden: The Hindu About West Asia Political developments: Indian Express

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 7th February 2020

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 7th February 2020 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Repo rate kept unchanged Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III- Economy In news: The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) decided to keep the interest rates unchanged in the wake of a rise in inflation. Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 7th February 2020 SRC: Hindu From Prelims Point of view: Monetary Policy Committee (MPC): MPC is a six-member committee constituted by the Central Government  Section 45ZB of the amended RBI Act, 1934 Once in every six months, the Reserve Bank is required to publish a document called the Monetary Policy Report to explain: (1) the sources of inflation and(2) the forecast of inflation for 6-18 months ahead. The committee comprises six members - three officials of the Reserve Bank of India and three external members nominated by the Government of India. The Governor of Reserve Bank of India is the chairperson ex officio of the committee. REPO Rate: REPO denotes Re Purchase Option – the rate by which RBI gives loans to other banks. In other words, it is the rate at which banks buy back the securities they keep with the RBI at a later period. Lucknow Declaration Adopted at the 1st India-Africa Defence Ministers Conclave, 2020 Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II- Defence  In news: The first India-Africa Defence Ministers’ Conclave held in Lucknow adopted the Lucknow Declaration Highlights : To deepen cooperation to combat the growing threat of terrorism  Preserve maritime security by sharing information, intelligence and surveillance From Prelims Point of view: DEFEXPO The DefExpo is biennial event organized by Ministry of Defence. The 11th edition of the event promises to bring in new technological solutions.  Defence Exhibition Organisation is an autonomous organisation of the Indian Government established in 1981. The organisation was established to promote export potential of the Indian defence industry.  The agency is responsible for organising international exhibitions such as DEFEXPO and Indian participation at overseas exhibitions. India to work with Russia on copters Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II- Defense , India’s Foreign relations In news: Production Localisation of Ka-226T light utility helicopters (Defexpo 2020) Russian Helicopters (RH) signed a road map with IRHL for localisation of Ka-226T helicopter production in India. IRHL is a joint venture between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Russian Helicopters (RH), which will assemble the Ka-226T helicopters in India. From Prelims Point of view: Ka-226T: The Ka-226T is a design of Russia's famed Kamov design bureau. It is a light helicopter, with a maximum take-off weight of over 3.5 tonnes and can carry a payload of up to 1 ton. Defence Acquisition Council (DAC):  highest decision-making body in the Defence Ministry for deciding on new policies and capital acquisitions for the three services (Army, Navy and Air Force) and the Indian Coast Guard. The Minister of Defence is the Chairman of the Council. It was formed, after the Group of Ministers recommendations on 'Reforming the National Security System', in 2001, post Kargil War (1999) Uniform Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II- Health sector In news: Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP), which comes under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, has yet again “requested companies to abide by UCPMP” Uniform Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices From Prelims Point of view: Uniform Code of Pharmaceuticals Marketing Practices, ("UCPMP Code")  voluntary code issued by the Department Of Pharmaceuticals relating to marketing practices for Indian Pharmaceutical Companies and as well medical devices industry. (MAINS FOCUS) Indian Economy Topic: General Studies 3 Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment. 
 Science & Technology UPI- India’s Digital Payment Revolution Context  Google writing a letter to the US Federal Reserve two months ago asking them to learn from Indian digital payments Also, digital payment transactions on the Universal Payment Interface (UPI) platform rose from 0.1 million in October 2016 to 1.3 billion in January 2020  Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 7th February 2020 India’s payment revolution comes from  A clear vision - shifting the system from low volume, high value, and high cost to high volume, low value, low cost A clear strategy -regulated and unregulated private players innovating on top of public infrastructure (UPI)  Trade-offs balanced by design -regulation vs innovation, privacy vs personalisation, and ease-of-use vs fraud prevention About UPI It is a common platform through which a person can transfer money from his bank account to any other bank account in the country instantly using nothing but his/her UPI ID. Launched in 2016 as Mobile First digital payments platform Immediate money transfer through mobile device round the clock 24*7 and 365 days based on the Immediate Payment Service (IMPS) platform. UPI is completely interoperable and as such, it is unique in the world, where you have an interoperable system on the ‘send’ and ‘receive’ side Developed by: National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) under the guidance from RBI Significance of UPI It created interoperability between all sources and recipients of funds (consumers, businesses, fintechs, wallets, 140 member banks),  Settled instantly inside the central bank in fiat money – Convenience to consumers and merchants and  Blunted data monopolies -big tech firms have strong autonomy but weak fiduciary responsibilities over customer data). UPI offers the following policy lessons.  First, the India stack — interconnected yet independent platforms or open APIs — are a public good that lowers costs, spurs innovation, and blunts the natural digital winner-takes-all..  Second, collaboration can create ecosystems that overcome existing obstacles— the execution deficit of government, the trust deficit of private companies, and the scale deficit of nonprofits.  Third, complementary policy interventions are important. Demonetisation and GST acted as a catalyst for the transition to digital payments .  Fourth, human capital and diversity matter. This revolution needed career bureaucrats to partner with academics, tech entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, global giants and private firms.  However, more needs to be done The central government must deadline digitising all its payments.  The RBI must implement the 100-plus action items (outlines in RBI’s Vision 2021 document) and the recommendations of Nandan Nilekani Committee for Deepening Digital Payments.  RBI should make use of RuPay and UPI to tap the remittances market – which presently stands at 70billion USD and is largely in informal domain RBI must replicate the core design of UPI — fierce but sustainable private and public competition — in bank credit to increase our present 50% Credit-to -GDP ratio to atleast 100%(OECD level) Conclusion This experience shows that India doesn’t need to be Western or Chinese to be modern. If our policymakers had copied Alipay or US banks, we wouldn’t have witnessed this digital payments revolution Replicating similar model in education, healthcare, and government services will help in achieving the socio-economic goals outlined in our Constitution Connecting the Dots UPI 2.0 launched on August 2018 Nandan Nilekani Committee for Deepening Digital Payments. More about NPCI Governance Topic: General Studies 2 - Mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections(women) Abortion – Amendments to Medical Termination of Pregnancy(MTP) Act -Mixed bag Context  Union Cabinet’s approval of the amended MTP Bill 2020 which included changes demanded by women’s groups and courts, including the Supreme Court.  Background Under the 1971 MTP Act, a pregnancy can be terminated until 20 weeks after conception if it will harm the mother, if the pregnancy was the result of rape, if the child will be born with serious physical or mental defects, or in case of contraceptive failure.  If the pregnancy has gone over 20 weeks, then women has to seek legal course to terminate the pregnancy. The slow judicial process is thus pushing her to depend on illegal service providers for termination of unwanted pregnancies According to the ministry of health and family welfare, abortion deaths constitute 8% of all maternal deaths per year in India The Bill seeks to extend the termination of pregnancy period from 20 months to 24 months, making it easier for women to safely and legally terminate an unwanted pregnancy. The proposed amendments will definitely reduce the burden on the judiciary. The Court cases are broadly of two types. Let us critically analyse both these types Type 1 -Pregnancies that extend beyond 20 weeks of gestation as a result of rape, incest or of minor women. The new Act rightly addresses these by extending prescribed period abortion to 24 weeks.  However, such cases form a minuscule proportion of the total number.  For such cases, even the 24-week cap can be done away with, provided the abortions can be safely done. Type 2- Pregnancies that become unwanted after congenital foetal anomalies are found upon testing With advancement in prenatal foetal screening/diagnostic technologies –like Ultrasonography-  more such cases are being filed in courts The extension to 24 weeks seems to give cover to these cases for abortion services, thus opening up the possibility for any congenital anomaly to be used as grounds for abortion. These foetal anomalies would involve some which are compatible with life and some which are incompatible with life. What constitutes an anomaly and whether it is life compatible or not depending on medical advancement and what is considered as socially desirable This raises concerns that raising children with disability can become “socially undesirable” Conclusion With congenital anomalies as a ground for abortion, the eugenic mindset of having socially desirable children could push more women into risky late abortions.  The approach of medical boards advising courts in cases of late abortions under this Act will be critical to balancing women’s right to choose with risk to the woman and the motives for abortion. Other Salient feature of the bill are: Requirement of opinion of one registered medical practitioner (RMP) for termination of pregnancy up to 20 weeks of gestation – Earlier two RMP Requirement of opinion of two RMPs for termination of pregnancy of 20 to 24 week Raising the upper gestation limit from 20 to 24 weeks for special categories of women, including include rape survivors, victims of incest, differently-abled women and minors Name and other particulars of a woman whose pregnancy has been terminated shall not be revealed, except to a person authorised in any law Extend the contraceptive-failure clause for termination to include “any woman or her partner” from the present provision for “only married woman or her husband”. Connecting the dots! Reproductive rights of a women vs Rights (if any) of an unborn child (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note:  Featured Comments and comments Up-voted by IASbaba are the “correct answers”. IASbaba App users – Team IASbaba will provide correct answers in comment section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers. Q 1. From which one of the following did India buy the Ka 226 T light helicopter?  Israel France Russia  USA Q 2. What is "Luknow declaration ", sometimes seen in the news? An Israeli radar system collaboration with India   India's indigenous anti-missile Programme An American anti missile system A defence collaboration between India  and Africa Q 3. Which one of the following can be the most likely reason for the Central Bank for such an action? Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 7th February 2020 Encouraging foreign investment Increasing the liquidity Encouraging both public and private savings Anti-inflationary stance Must Read About India-Srilanka ties: Indian Express About Bodoland issue: Indian Express Analysis of Taxation reform mooted in Union Budget 2021-22: The Hindu About India’s electric Vehicle system: Livemint

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MUST FOR PRELIMS: SAMPLE NOTES, TESTS, FEEDBACK - IASbaba’s PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAM (PEP), Mentorship Based – UPSC PRELIMS 2020!   Dear Students, It’s been a month since we launched our PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAM (PEP) 2020. And it has been a huge success!! We have been receiving great feedback/suggestions from our students. Thank you for the positive and encouraging feedback. Below, you can find Sample Current Affairs, Geography, Economics Test, Hand-outs, Feedback of PEP Classes.   PEP - PRELIMS TEST, HAND-OUTS CURRENT AFFAIRS HANDOUTS- DOWNLOAD  CURRENT AFFAIRS PRELIMS TEST- DOWNLOAD  CURRENT AFFAIRS PRELIMS SOLUTION- DOWNLOAD  CURRENT AFFAIRS PRELIMS PPT- DOWNLOAD  GEOGRAPHY HANDOUTS- DOWNLOAD  GEOGRAPHY PRELIMS TEST- DOWNLOAD  GEOGRAPHY PRELIMS SOLUTION- DOWNLOAD  ECONOMICS HANDOUTS- DOWNLOAD  ECONOMICS PRELIMS TEST- DOWNLOAD  ECONOMICS PRELIMS SOLUTION- DOWNLOAD  FEEDBACK on PEP from the Students!!     [VIDEO]FEEDBACK:IASbaba's GEOGRAPHY & ECONOMICS CLASS, Prelims Exclusive Program (PEP) for UPSC Prelims 2020 [embed]https://www.youtube.com/embed/6nHxDAoBUDo[/embed]   [VIDEO]FEEDBACK: IASbaba's PRELIMS STRATEGY CLASS,part of Prelims Exclusive Program (PEP)-UPSC Prelims 2020 [embed]https://www.youtube.com/embed/YULyqLoEsPM[/embed]   [VIDEO - CLASSES] PRELIMS STRATEGY CLASS and CURRENT AFFAIRS BACKGROUND CLASS -> CLICK HERE [VIDEO - CLASSES] PEP GEOGRAPHY CLASS -> CLICK HERE   If you fear Prelims, feel directionless or wish to crack Prelims in this attempt, then PEP is the program for you! You can join the programme even now, you will be able to access the previous classes and attend the remaining classes OFFLINE or take the entire program ONLINE. Please call the below number or visit the respective centres (given @ the end of the post) and get enrolled.   To KNOW MORE/ ENROLL For PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAM (PEP) -> CLICK HERE NOTE: TLP PLUS MAINS (MENTORSHIP-BASED Answer Writing Program from June 2020 to September 2020 will be FREE) 2020 will be FREE for all students joining the ENTIRE PEP-2020 program (not for students joining PEP-subject wise or on À la carte basis)   For any Queries : Mail us on pep@iasbaba.com BENGALURU CENTRE: Chandra Layout Centre: No. 1443/1444, Above Carzspa, 80 Ft. Main Road, Ganapathi Circle, Chandra Layout, Bengaluru- 560040 Vijayanagar Centre: 1737/ 37, MRCR Layout, Vijayanagar Service Road, Vijayanagar, Bengaluru-5660040. Landmark: Behind Vijayanagar Metro, above Aptronix. Contact No.: 9035077800/7353177800    DELHI CENTRE: IASBABA, 5B, PUSA road, Karol Bagh, New Delhi -110005 (Landmark: Just 50m from Karol Bagh Metro Station, GATE No.8 (Next to CROMA Store). Contact No.: +91 11-41678500/+91 11-41672600    If you don’t want to miss out on Important Updates @ IASbaba, Follow us on- TELEGRAM Channel – https://t.me/IASbabaOfficialAccount YOUTUBE  –  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChvbVdio9Wgj7Z3nQz1Q0ZQ FACEBOOK  – https://www.facebook.com/iasbaba/   Thank You IASbaba    

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Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 4th February 2020

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 4th February 2020 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Religious practices of various faiths Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II – Secularism In news: Whether certain essential religious practices of various faiths, including Islam and Zoroastrianism, should be constitutionally protected? In past: Women devotees of menstruating age were not permitted to worship here, out of respect to the celibate nature of the deity in this temple. 1991 : A Kerala high-court judgement had legalized this Ban , and forbade women from entering the temple  In 2018 : The Constitution bench of the Supreme Court held that any exception placed on women because of biological differences violates the Constitution - that the ban violates the right to equality under Article 14, and freedom of religion under Article 25 From Prelims Point of View: Article 14 : State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India.  Article 14 of our constitution provides that no one is above the law of the land.  Rule of the Law derived from Article 14 of the constitution.  The article 14 aims to establish the “Equality of Status and Opportunity” as embodied in the Preamble of the Constitution. Article 25 : No discrimination against anyone on grounds of faith, Separation of religion from politics, Acceptance of religion as purely and strictly private affairs of individuals having nothing to do with the State. Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 4th February 2020 SRC: The Hindu nCoV outbreak declared a State calamity in Kerala Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II – Secularism In news: A high-level group of Ministers has been constituted on the directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to review the management of the outbreak. From Prelims Point of View: Novel coronavirus 2019-nCoV : coronavirus is a large family of viruses that are often the source of respiratory infections, including the common cold. According to the World Health Organization, during previous outbreaks due to other coronaviruses, human-to-human transmission occurred through droplets or objects making contact, suggesting that the transmission mode of the 2019-nCoV can be identical. Symptoms may include fever, cough and shortness of breath.  Antibiotics do not work against such viral pneumonia and there are no vaccines against them. Virus is contagious even during incubation, that is even before a patient exhibits any symptoms. This characteristic amplifies transmissibility. NCRB study on Missing Women & Children  Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II – Secularism In news: In 2019, the Supreme Court had directed the NCRB to “analyse the data on missing persons [especially on women and children], so that areas prone to persons being trafficked can be identified”. Report says that The highest number of women and children who go missing in the country are from Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh respectively. Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 4th February 2020 SRC: The Hindu From Prelims Point of View: National Crime Record Bureau  HQ in New Delhi, set-up in 1986 under the Ministry of Home Affairs To function as a repository of information on crime and criminals so as to assist the investigators in linking crime to the perpetrators. It was set up based on the recommendations of the National Police Commission (1977-1981) and the MHA’s Task Force (1985). NCRB brings out the annual comprehensive statistics of crime across the country (‘Crime in India’ report). The report serves as a crucial tool in understanding the law and order situation across the country. If tap water meets BIS norms, RO systems will be banned Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II – Health In news: Union Environment Ministry has published a draft notification that effectively prohibits users from installing membrane-based water purification, (RO), systems in their homes if the water has been sourced from a supply that meets the Bureau of Indian Standards’ (BIS) drinking water norms. From Prelims Point of View: Membrane-based water purification (Osmosis) : Osmosis is the naturally occurring tendency for two solutions of differing salinities to want to neutralize.   Reverse Osmosis utilizes pressure to overcome the natural tendency and to force pure water through a semi-permeable membrane while concentrating salts and other dissolved solids on the feed side of the membrane.   It is commonly used to  generate clean drinking water from brackish groundwater. Bureau of Indian Standards: National Standard Body of India for the harmonious development of the activities of standardization, marking and quality certification of goods. BIS has been providing traceability and tangibility benefits to the national economy in a number of ways by: Providing safe reliable quality goods. Minimizing health hazards to consumers. Promoting exports and imports substitute. Control over proliferation of varieties etc through standardization, certification and testing. (MAINS FOCUS) Indian Polity & Federalism Topic: General Studies 2: Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure
 Bodo Issue Context  The signing of Historic Comprehensive Bodo Settlement Agreement (third Bodo Accord in three decades) in Jan 2020 between Government of India (Ministry of Home Affairs), Government of Assam and Bodo representatives. Bodo representatives included: Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), All Bodo Students Union (ABSU), United Boro People Organization (UBPO), National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) factions  Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 4th February 2020 Pic Source: Yahoo news Who are Bodos? Bodos are the single largest tribal community in Assam, making up over 5-6 per cent of the state’s population. They have controlled large parts of Assam in the past A timeline of Bodo Conflict  Although the Bodo agitation has a long history that dates back to the pre-Independence era, the movement gained momentum in the late 1980s, when calls were made for the bifurcation the state of Assam. 1929 - Bodo leader Gurudev Kalicharan Brahma submits a memorandum to the Simon Commission asking for reservations in the Legislative assembly, and for a separate political entity for his people. His efforts go in vain 1960s and 1970s - There are calls from Bodos and other tribes for a separate state of 'Udayachal' as immigrants are accused of illegally encroaching on Bodo-inhabited lands Late 1980s - Calls for a separate state for Bodos - Bodoland - and for Assam to be divided "50-50" are raised. The demand was primarily led through peaceful methods by All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) and its leader Upendranath Brahma Also during this time armed separatist group - The National Democratic Front of Bodoland is founded (1986).  Why the demand for separate Bodoland? For centuries, they survived sanskritisation without giving up their original ethnic identity. However, in the 20th century, they had to tackle a series of issues such as illegal immigration, encroachment of their lands, forced assimilation, loss of language and culture.  The Bodos have thus not only become an ethnic minority in their own ancestral land but have also been struggling for their existence and status as an ethnic community. The movement peaked in 1980s primarily due to Assam movement and its culmination with the Assam Accord which addressed the demands of protection and safeguards for the “Assamese people”. This lead the Bodos to launch a movement to protect their own identity. Progress made by government for resolution of Bodo issue First Accord – Feb 1993  The Bodoland Autonomous Council (BAC) is constituted after the Centre, the Assam government and the ABSU sign a tripartite agreement. The BAC was given power over 38 subjects, with a 40-member General Council, including 5 members nominated by the state government, while rest of the seats were reserved for ST. But, soon a section of Bodo people rejected the accord, and claimed it was “inadequate” to meet the long-cherished political aspirations of the people.  The Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT), an armed insurgent group, formed in June 1996, launched its armed movement for a separate Bodoland state. Second Accord- Feb 2003 After six years of subversive activities, BLT signed a tripartite agreement with the Centre and Assam government. The second Bodo accord led to the formation of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) under the provisions of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, which had more political power than the BAC A large number of the BLT cadres were absorbed in the CRPF. The area under the BTC jurisdiction is officially called the Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD) comprising of 3,082 villages in four districts— Kokrajhar, Chirang, Udalguri and Baska. However, ABSU continued with its movement of separate Statehood and different factions of NDFB continued to carry out hit-and-run operations, and disturbed peace.   Third Accord – Jan 2020 The 2020 agreement has the following provisions: Renaming: From BTAD to Bodoland Territorial Region. A commission (representative of ABSU, BTC & State) under Section 14 of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India, which will recommend the inclusion or exclusion of tribal population residing in villages adjoining BTAD areas. Redrawing Boundaries: Villages dominated by Bodos that were presently outside the BTAD would be included and those with non-Bodo population would be excluded Bodoland territorial Council (BTC)- The agreement would lead to more legislative, executive, administrative and financial powers of the BTC including increase in seats from 40 to 60 Bodos living in the hills would be granted Scheduled Hill Tribe status. Bodo language with Devnagri script will become associate official language for entire of Assam and a separate directorate for Bodo medium schools will be set up. Development Package of ₹1500 crore by the Centre for the development of Bodo areas Bodo-Kachari Welfare Council for focused development of Bodo villages outside BTAD The agreement also involved rehabilitation of members of National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) factions- over 1500 armed cadres will abjure violence and join the mainstream Implication of the Third Accord The agreement is hailed as a permanent solution to a conflict, which has taken over 4,000 human lives.  Home Minister stated that Assam’s territorial integrity is assured with this agreement, as every single Bodo group has come on board. Enhanced focus by Union government on tackling the issues of North-East so as to usher development in the region.  This is reflected in Bru-Reang agreement signed on January 16, 2020 to end the humanitarian crisis in Meghalaya and Tripura, recent surrender of 644 armed cadres in Assam and surrender of 88 armed NLFT cadres in Tripura to bring them to mainstream. Conclusion The peace in Bodoland Territorial Region will depend on the evolving relationship between the Bodos, the dominant but not the majority in the BTR and other communities. It also depends on the final implementation of the accord and the ability of the state to rehabilitate the militants so as to prevent them from taking up anti-social activities. (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note:  Featured Comments and comments Up-voted by IASbaba are the “correct answers”. IASbaba App users – Team IASbaba will provide correct answers in comment section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers. Q 1. One of the implications of equality in society is the absence of ? Privileges  Restraints Competition  Ideology No Right is absolute, exclusive or inviolable. The Right of personal property, similarly, has to be perceived in the larger context of its assumed legitimacy. The Right of personal property should unite the principle of liberty with that of equality, and both with the principle of cooperation. Q2. In the light of the argument in the above passage, which one of the following statements is the most convincing explanation? The Right of personal property is a Natural Right duly supported by statutes and scriptures. Personal property is a theft and an instrument of exploitation. The Right of personal property is therefore violative of economic justice. The Right of personal property is violative of distributive justice and negates the principle of cooperation. The comprehensive idea of economic justice demands that the Right of each person to acquisition of property has to be reconciled with that of others. Q 3. In India, if a religious sect/community is given the status of a national minority, what special advantages it is entitled to?  It can establish and administer exclusive educational institutions. The President of India automatically nominates a representative of the community to Lok Sabha. It can derive benefits from the Prime Minister’s 15-Point Programme. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ? 1 only  2 and 3 1 and 3 1, 2 and 3 ANSWERS FOR 03 FEB 2020 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 D 2 B 3 C MUST READ Centre vs states Indian Express  Exile and return Indian Express 

RSTV Video

National Voters' Day - The Power of Vote – Desh Deshantar – RSTV IAS UPSC

National Voters' Day - The Power of Vote Archives TOPIC: General studies 2  Indian polity; Government laws and policies; Policy reforms  Democratic governance and society National Voters Day is mark of the power of every individual vote. Historically… The origin of Indian democracy, in particular the establishment of its edifice through the implementation of universal adult franchise, was an ingeniously Indian enterprise. It was no legacy of colonial rule, and was largely driven by the Indians, often by people of modest means. The turning of all adults into voters was a staggering democratic state-building operation of inclusion and scale, which surpassed any previous experience in democratic world history. This work was undertaken by Indian bureaucrats between August 1947, when the country became independent, and January 1950, when it adopted the Constitution. Philosophically… The fundamental problem lies in viewing voting as a transaction, the aim of which is to get some benefit for an individual or a group. But we have to recognise that voting is not like any other transaction. The duty that is inherent in the act of voting is an ethical duty, not just a constitutional one. It is the duty of having to act not for individual benefit, such as money or ideology, but for the benefit of the larger society. Such benefit for the larger society will include others benefiting as much as each one of us does through each of our votes. This duty is the ethical rationality related to voting. It is also a recognition that a democratic action like voting is primarily for the good of something larger than one’s self interests. Politically… Participation in the democratic and electoral processes is integral to the successful running of any democracy and the very basis of wholesome democratic elections. A voter is the bedrock of the institution of democracy. Tata Institute of Social Sciences had the following suggestions for EC to increase voter participation at polls: The “ordinarily resident” clause for enrolling as a voter should be treated as multi-local identity for internal migrants. EC says one has to be “ordinarily resident of the part or polling area of the constituency” where they want to be enrolled, which means one’s residential address is tied to the place of voting Political parties should debate the suitability of multiple voting mechanisms like postal, proxy, absentee, early and e-voting The short-term/seasonal migrants should be identified, especially among workers belonging to the poor and disadvantaged sections The Contract Labour and The Inter-state Migrant Workmen (Regulation Of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979, needs effective implementation. The Act aims to regulate the employment and safeguard interests of inter-state migrant workers, and as such requires registration of establishments employing them. That would provide a database of migrants for improving voter participation Voter ID and Aadhaar number should be merged to aid portability of voting rights A common, singlepoint, one-time voluntary registration system should be introduced at the destination place for migrant workers Electoral support services should be provided for migrants at the source and destination areas EC should organise campaigns to raise awareness about voting rights among domestic migrants Helplines should be opened for migrants at their destination place, with staff speaking different languages Facts The National Voters' Day celebration was initiated in India in 2011 by the then-President of India, Pratibha Devi Patil, on the 61st foundation day of Election Commission of India. Established in 1950, the Election Commission of India is an organisation aims to increase the participation of number of voters and to encourage the newly eligible voters. The Constitution (Sixty-First Amendment) Act, 1988 had lowered the threshold voting age from 21 years to 18 years. 2020 theme of National Voters’ Day is - ‘Electoral Literacy for Stronger Democracy’. Two Books Launched Belief in the Ballot-II: An anthology of 101 human stories from across the nation about elections. The Centenarian Voters: Sentinels of Our Democracy: Enumerates the stories and experiences of 51 centenarians across India, who braved difficult terrain, poor health and other challenges to come out and vote. Connecting the Dots: A voter is the bedrock of the institution of democracy. Discuss. Active participation in a democracy should be voluntary. Is compulsory voting against democracy? Substantiate your answer with a critical examination of the above statement.

RSTV Video

Pornography - Impact on Children & Society – The Big Picture - RSTV IAS UPSC

Pornography - Impact on Children & Society Archives TOPIC: General Studies 1: Problems faced by children and women In News: The Adhoc Committee of the Rajya instituted by Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu has made 40 far reaching recommendations to prevent sexual abuse of children and to contain access to and transmission of child pornography content on social media.  Expressing concern over the seriousness of the prevalence of the horrific social evil of child pornography, the Committee has recommended important amendments to the Protection of Children From Sexual Offences Act, 2012 and the Information Technology Act, 2000 besides technological, institutional, social and educational measures and state level initiatives to address the alarming issue of pornography on social media and its effects on children and the society as a whole. Forty recommendations have been made by the Adhoc Committee to deal with the issue.  Pornography has significant effects during all stages of family life. For a child exposed to pornography within a family setting, pornography causes stress and increases the risk for developing negative attitudes about the nature and purpose of human sexuality.For adolescents who view pornography, their attitudes toward their own and others' sexuality change, and their sexual expectations and behavior are shaped accordingly. Noting that the purveyors of child pornography seem always to be one step ahead of the regulators, the Committee stressed on the need for implementation of its recommendations as an integrated package of measures and not piecemeal to have any value and impact. The Committee urged the Prime Minister to take up the subject of child pornography and the measures required to combat it in one of his forthcoming 'Man Ki Baat' broadcast besides taking the lead in building up a global political alliance to combat child pornography on social media like the International Solar Alliance initiative. The Committee has broadly sought to address two main issues viz.,  Access of children to pornographic material on social media Circulation of pornographic material on social media in which children are abused Legislative measures The Committee has recommended some important amendments to the POCSO Act, 2012 and the IT Act, 2000 with corresponding changes to be carried out in the Indian Penal Code; A clause to be inserted in the POCSO Act, 2012 under which advocating or counseling sexual activities with a person under the age of 18 years through any written material, visual representation or audio recording or any characterization is made an offence under the Act; Another clause to be inserted in the POCSO Act, 2012 prescribing a Code of Conduct for intermediaries (online platforms) for maintaining child safety online, ensuring age appropriate content and curbing use of children for pornographic purposes; Under the POCSO Act, 2012, school management should be responsible for safety of children within schools, transportation services and any other programmes with which the school is associated; National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal shall be designated as the national portal under reporting requirements in POCSO Act in case of electronic material; A new section be included in the IT Act 2000, providing for punitive measures for those providing pornographic access to children and also those who access, produce or transmit Child Sexual Abuse Material(CSAM); Union Government shall be empowered through its designated authority to block and/or prohibit all websites/intermediaries that carry child sexual abuse material; IT Act to be modified making intermediaries responsible for all measures to proactively identify and remove CSAM as well as report it to Indian authorities as well besides the foreign authorities. Gateway Internet Service Providers (ISP's) must bear a significant liability to detect and block CSAM websites. Intermediaries shall also be responsible to report to the designated authority, IP addresses/identities of all those searching/accessing child porn/CSAM key words; Technology measures Law enforcement agencies be permitted to brake end to end encryption to trace distributors of child pornography. Apps that help in monitoring children's access to pornographic content shall be made mandatory on all devices sold in India. Such Apps or similar solutions to be developed and made freely available to ISP, companies, schools and parents; Ministry of Electronics and IT and Ministry of Home Affairs shall coordinate with Blockchain analysis companies to trace identities of users engaging in crypto currency transactions to purchase child pornography online. Online payment portals and credit cards be prohibited from processing payments for any pornographic website; ISPs shall be required to provide family friendly filters to parents at the point of sign up to regulate children's access to internet content; All social media platforms should be mandated with minimum essential technologies to detect Child Sexual Abuse Material besides regular reporting to law enforcement agencies in the country; On-streaming platforms like Netflix and social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook etc. should have separate adult section where under- aged children could be disallowed; Social media shall have mechanism for age verification and restricting access to objectionable/obscene material; Institutional measures The Committee recommended an upgraded and technologically empowered National Commission for Protection of Child Rights(NCPCR) to be designated as the nodal agency to deal with the issue of child pornography. NCPCR should have necessary technological, cyber policing and prosecution capabilities; The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) shall mandatorily record and report annually cases of child pornography of all kinds. A national Tipline Number should be created where child sexual abuse as well as distribution of child pornographic material can be reported by concerned citizens; Social and Educational measures Ministries of Women and Child Development and Information and Broadcasting shall launch campaigns for greater awareness among parents to recognize early signs of child abuse, online risks and improving online safety for their child. Schools shall undertake training programmes for parents at least twice a year, making them aware of hazards for children of free access to smart phones, internet at an early age. Based on the experiences of other countries, a proper practicable policy for restricting use of smart phones by under aged kids needs to be considered; State level implementation The committee recommended that each State and Union Territory shall have empowered State Commission for the Protection for Child Rights mirroring capabilities and capacities of the NCPCR. E-safety Commissioners be appointed at state level to ensure implementation of social media and website guidelines relating to removal of pornographic content, age verification, issuing warnings etc.

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