UPSC Quiz - 2020: IAS Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 139 Archives Important Note Don't forget to post your marks in the comment section. Also, let us know if you enjoyed today's test :) To take the Test - Click Here
IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 18th December 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) First Global Refugee Forum (GRF) Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II- International Affairs In News The first Global Refugee Forum (GRF), a two-day gathering of United Nations member states, began in Geneva, Switzerland, on December 17th The Forum, jointly hosted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the government of Switzerland, Aims to debate and discuss the response of the world’s countries to the global refugee situation. The first GRF has been organised around six areas of focus: burden- and responsibility-sharing, education, jobs and livelihoods, energy and infrastructure, solutions, and protection capacity. The number of refugees has risen to over 25 million people worldwide The GRF will be held every four years at the Ministerial level. It is intended to present an opportunity for UN member states and other stakeholders to announce action plans and pledges towards meeting objectives such as easing the burden on the host country, enhancing refugee self-reliance, expanding access to third-country solutions, and supporting conditions in countries of origin for return in safety and dignity. Indian Culture Portal Part of: GS Prelims and GS-I- Culture In News Culture Minister unveiled a portal on Indian culture which brings together all the cultural resources of the country on one platform i.e. www.indianculture.gov.in The Indian Culture Portal is a part of the National Virtual Library of India project, funded by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. The portal has been created and developed by the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. Data has been provided by organisations of the Ministry of Culture (such as the National Archives of India, Gandhi Smriti and DarshanSmriti, Archaeological Survey of India and Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts) and curated by Indira Gandhi National Open University. The portal currently has details on 90 lakh items, including manuscripts, archives, research papers, audio books and folk tales with some of them dating back to 4000 years National Broadband Mission Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Economic Development In News The government announced a new ‘mission’ aimed at providing broadband access in all villages in the country by 2022, Under the mission, the government plans to lay incremental 30 lakh route km of Optical Fiber Cable, while also increasing tower density from 0.42 to 1 tower per thousand of population by 2024. The mission envisages stakeholder investment of $100 billion (Rs7 lakh crore), including Rs70,000 crore from Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) in coming years The vision of the national broadband mission is to fast-track growth of digital communications infrastructure, bridge the digital divide, facilitate digital empowerment and inclusion, and provide affordable and universal access of broadband for all Additionally, a Broadband Readiness Index will be developed to measure the availability of digital communications infrastructure within a State/UT. Unique Identification Authority of India(UIDAI) drops Monitoring agency plan Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II- Governance In News UIDAI was seeking to hire a social media agency that will employ ‘social listening’ tools to monitor and influence conversations on Aadhaar on Facebook and Twitter. However, it has informed the Supreme Court -which is hearing a plea objecting such a proposal - that it has decided to withdraw hiring Social media monitoring agency About UIDAI UIDAI was created with the objective to issue Unique Identification numbers (UID), named as "Aadhaar", to all residents of India that is (a) robust enough to eliminate duplicate and fake identities, and (b) can be verified and authenticated in an easy, cost-effective way. UIDAI is a statutory authority established under the provisions of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016. Prior to its establishment as a statutory authority, UIDAI was functioning as an attached office of the then Planning Commission (now NITI Aayog) Under the Aadhaar Act 2016, UIDAI is responsible for Aadhaar enrolment and authentication, including operation and management of all stages of Aadhaar life cycle, Developing the policy, procedure and system for issuing Aadhaar numbers to individuals and Perform authentication and To ensure the security of identity information and authentication records of individuals. It comes under the Electronics & IT ministry. No State-wise minority classification Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II - Polity In News The petition asked the Supreme Court to frame guidelines to “identify and define” religious minorities in every State, especially where Hindus are in a minority (in eight states) so as to protect their culture and interests. Articles 29 (protection of the interests of minorities) and Article30 (the right of minorities to administer educational institutions) of the Constitution deals with special provisions for minorities. However, the Supreme Court dismissed a petition stating that the States have been carved language-wise. But religion is beyond all borders, especially political borders. Religion has to be taken on a pan-India basis (MAINS FOCUS) SOCIETY TOPIC: General Studies 1: Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies Global Gender Gap Index, 2020(India has ranked 112th among 153) [caption id="attachment_55048" align="aligncenter" width="398"] Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 18th December 2019[/caption] SRC: Outlook Context: India has ranked 112th among 153 countries in the annual Global Gender Gap Index for 2020, The Report was published by the World Economic Forum (WEF) recently. Iceland, Norway, and Finland occupy the top three spots in the Report. The Global Gender Gap Index The Report benchmarks countries on their progress towards gender parity in four dimensions. The dimensions are: Economic Participation and Opportunity, Educational Attainment, Health and Survival and Political Empowerment. The Report aims to serve as a compass to track progress on relative gaps between women and men on health, education, economy and politics. It measures women's disadvantage compared to men, and is not a measure of equality of the gender gap. Through this annual yardstick, stakeholders within each country are able to set priorities relevant in each specific economic, political and cultural context. [caption id="attachment_55049" align="aligncenter" width="319"] Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 18th December 2019[/caption] Source: Indian Express Global Gender Gap Index for 2020: Key findings Globally, the average (population-weighted) distance completed to gender parity is at 68.6%, which is an improvement since last edition. The largest gender disparity is in political empowerment. Projecting current trends into the future, the overall global gender gap will close in 99.5 years, on average. There is a sharp deterioration in the economic opportunity gap, especially in women's under-representation in emerging roles, such as cloud computing, engineering and data and artificial intelligence. India’s Status India has slipped four places in the report to 112, behind neighbours China, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh, It is due to due to rising disparity in terms of women's health and participation in the economy. The country ranked 98th in WEF’s first report in 2006. Since then, it has fallen due to poor performance in three out of four indicators. India is also ranked in the bottom-five in terms of women's health and survival and economic participation. The report showed that economic opportunities for women are extremely limited in India (35.4 per cent). India also ranked among countries with very low women representation on company boards. The report highlighted abnormally low sex ratios at birth in India (91 girls for every 100 boys). On health and survival, four large countries -- Pakistan, India, Vietnam and China -- fare badly with millions of women not getting the same access to health as men. India is the only country among the 153 countries studied where the economic gender gap is larger than the political one. On a positive note, India has closed two-thirds of its overall gender gap. Way forward The Indian government needs to make sure that maternal and women’s healthcare is a top priority. It needs to increase efforts to skill more women in technology-based fields. Else, the potential of a large chunk of the population will remain unrealised. Conclusion: Supporting gender parity is critical to ensuring strong, cohesive and resilient societies around the world. Diversity forms an essential element in the global economy too. Connecting the dots: Do you agree that India badly needs to focus on improving women’s access to healthcare? What ways would you suggest to improve gender parity? ECONOMY TOPIC: General Studies 3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Indian economy is losing its growth momentum (Part 1) [caption id="attachment_55050" align="aligncenter" width="398"] Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 18th December 2019[/caption] SRC: Financial Express Context: In April, the IMF had that predicted India will grow at a rate of 7.2 per cent in FY20, but recent data indicates a falling GDP growth (4.5 per cent). The IMF particularly spoke of the “slow growth in rural incomes, domestic demand (as reflected in a sharp drop in sales of automobiles) and credit from non-banking financial companies (NBFCs)” as plausible causes. According to the World Inequality Report 2018, the top 10 per cent of India’s population got 54 per cent of all income while the bottom 50 per cent shared only 15 per cent. Low wages and income inequality have led to a fall in demand. Fundamental equation in macroeconomics: GDP = C + G + I + (NX) In other words, four drivers determine a country’s GDP. These are: C – the total expenditure (demand) by private individuals G – the total expenditure (demand) by the Government I – the total expenditure (demand) on investments made businesses in the country NX – the net effect of imports and exports Current status of Indian Economy: Indian economy is facing both structural (that is, more long-term issues related to the overall framework of the economy such as the flexibility or inflexibility of labour laws etc.) and cyclical (that is, more short-term issues such as a bad monsoon that disrupts production of food articles etc.) challenges. Since the causes are both structural and cyclical, Experts say, arresting this economic slowdown is proving to be so difficult. Two balance sheets- TBS: The two balance sheets are referred to the Indian banks (especially public sector banks or the government-owned banks) and the corporate sector, respectively. The balance sheets of Indian banks were burdened by a high proportion of non-performing loans and the balance sheet of corporate were clogged because they had over-borrowed and were unable to pay. Economic boom 2005-09: The origins of India’s TBS is credited to the economic boom that happened between 2005 and 2009. This was a period when economic prospects were rosy and the economy was growing at near double-digit growth rates. Companies borrowed heavily in the hope of making profits in the future. The banks, especially the government-owned ones, too, ignored prudential norms and lent a lot of money to companies in the hope that this would help boost economic growth. As it happened, economic prospects collapsed quite sharply after the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) and companies found that their projects were no longer viable. The end result was that the companies were left with huge loans they could not pay back in time and the banks were left with huge loans that had turned to NPA. This meant that neither the Indian companies were in position to invest nor were the Indian banks in a position to lend. Economic growth 2010-12: Economy continue to grow faster between 2010 and 2012 9% to 10% in the succeeding years (2010 and 2011). Between 2009 and 2013, companies were in no position to invest. So the “I” (total expenditure (demand) on investments made businesses in the country )component became weak. During this period There was a hit to India’s exports because of a decline in global demand. So “NX” component also weakened. But unlike in the developed world, where such companies would have been declared bankrupt and liquidated, in India, both the companies and the banks survived. Why? Because most of the struggling banks were owned by the government and so there was no risk associated with them because it was always believed that the government would bail them out. Most companies survived because banks took a call that giving these companies more time will help the companies repay and many banks lent new loans to such companies so that these companies stayed afloat. Another reason why India continued to grow fast in the immediate aftermath of the GFC. That had to do with the robust demand from the other two components – C the total expenditure (demand) by private individuals and G– the total expenditure (demand) by the Government . In particular, private consumer demand — which is quite weak these days Economy going from 2014 to 2018 Even though the TBS problem remained unsolved – in other words, the bank NPAs continued to climb and share of debt-ridden companies unable to pay interest payments continued to rise – yet, due to sharp fall in crude oil prices, Indians experienced an income boost. During 2015 and 2016, international crude oil prices fell to a third of what they were in 2014. This essentially meant that Indians could spend more and the “C” component of the equation boosted the GDP. Experts claim this gave a 1 to 1.5 percentage point boost to the GDP. 2017 and 2018 saw an uptick in world demand and a real depreciation of the rupee, resulted non-oil export growth rose from -8.6 percent in 2015-16 to 8.9 percent in 2017-18”.the “NX” component helped bump up the GDP growth. Increased government spending increased the “G” component India’s growth was boosted by a lending spree provided by non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) like IL&FS and DHFL. NBFCs took over the leading role of lending to the economy because banks were still struggling with NPAs and were largely unwilling to lend directly to businesses. T he credit provided by NBFCs fuelled both private consumption (C) and business investment (I), and through this route fuelled GDP growth. Connecting the dots: Do you think govt shouldn’t bail out Public sector banks during distress? Do you think NPA problems of the Banks can be resolved ? (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 about the First Global Refugee Forum The Forum is jointly hosted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the government of Switzerland. It aims to debate and discuss the response of the world’s countries to the global refugee situation Which of the 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 Indian Culture Portal It is a part of the National Virtual Library of India project, funded by the Ministry of Culture It is being created and developed by NITI Aayog in collaboration with Indira Gandhi National Open University. 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 Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) Money for this fund would be raised through a prescribed percentage of the revenue earned by the telecom licensees. The Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Act, 2003 gives statutory status to the fund which is to be utilized exclusively for meeting the Universal Service Obligation. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.4) Global Gender Gap Index is released by which body/organisation? World Bank International Council of Women United Nations Development Programme World Economic Forum Q.5) Consider the following statements about Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) It is a statutory body established under the provisions of the Aadhar Act, 2016 It functions under the overall guidance of Ministry of Home Affairs Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 ANSWERS FOR 17 DEC 2019 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 C 2 C 3 A 4 C MUST READ Justice for the Rohingya The Hindu Time to defend India’s secularism The Hindu Bearing the brunt of slack laws The Hindu Rationalise, not raise, rates of GST ET Protest is legitimate but violence is not ET Unfree speech IE The cost of food IE
UPSC Quiz - 2020: IAS Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 138 Archives Important Note Don't forget to post your marks in the comment section. Also, let us know if you enjoyed today's test :) To take the Test - Click Here
IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 17th December 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Hydrogen cell technology (Fuel Cell Technology) Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains III – Science & Technology In News Ahead of next July’s Tokyo Olympics, Japan is gearing up to put on its roads thousands of vehicles based on a hydrogen cell technology, also known as ‘fuel cells’. At the heart of the fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV) is a device that uses a source of fuel, such as hydrogen, and an oxidant to create electricity by an electrochemical process. Like conventional batteries under the bonnets of automobiles, hydrogen fuel cells too convert chemical energy into electrical energy. From a long-term viability perspective, FCEVs are billed as vehicles of the future, given that hydrogen is the most abundant resource in the universe. Fuel cells generate electricity through an electrochemical process, it does not store energy Relies on a constant supply of fuel and oxygen — in the same way that an internal combustion engine relies on a constant supply of petrol or diesel, and oxygen Unlike battery-powered electric vehicles, fuel cell vehicles do not need to be plugged in, and most models exceed 300 km of range on a full tank. They are filled up with a nozzle, just like in a petrol or diesel station Criticism of Hydrogen Cell Technology: The process of making hydrogen needs energy — often from fossil fuel sources. That has raised questions over hydrogen’s green credentials. Safety — hydrogen is more explosive than petrol. Sexed Semen Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains III- Science & Technology In News The Union Minister for animal husbandry, dairying and fisheries said that government plans to provide dairy farmers with ‘sexed semen’ for cattle for as cheap as Rs 100 per straw by 2020. The reproduction system of cattle is similar to humans. Cows carry XX chromosomes while bull semen carries both X and Y. Sexed semen is specially processed semen of bulls from which ‘Y’ chromosomes in sperm cells — which lead to the birth of a male calf — are either removed through a ‘sorting’ process or killed. Semen which has only ‘X’ chromosomes can ensure that a female calf is born. Sexed semen can help solve the stray cattle problem in country as male calves(and cows which has stopped giving mil) are abandoned on the roads by farmers as they do not give milk. The guarantee of a female calf being born is never 100 per cent. It can be up to 90 per cent High quality conventional semen straws are available for just around Rs 20-40 per straw only whereas sexed semen costs at least Rs 1,200 per straw without subsidy. GIMS or Government Instant Messaging System Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – Governance In News The government is testing a prototype of an Indian equivalent of popular messaging platforms, such as WhatsApp and Telegram, for secure internal use – codenamed GIMS Designed and developed by the Kerala unit of National Informatics Centre (NIC) GIMS is being packaged for employees of Central and state government departments and organisations for intra and inter organisation communications It is being developed as a secure Indian alternative without the security concerns attached with apps hosted abroad or those owned by foreign entities. Like WhatsApp, GIMS employs end-to-end encryption for one-to-one messaging Do You know? There was a WhatsApp breach through a spyware called Pegasus some Indian users’ mobile devices were targeted Pegasus code can be transmitted via Whatsapp call.It sends the targets contacts, calls and messages to its controller. It can also turn the phone into a spy device by switching on the camera or microphone. Asia’s biggest surge pool Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Economic Development In News The Stage is all set for the filling of the Asia’s biggest surge pool (open to sky) with the waters of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project The surge pool measures 92 meters deep and 56 meters diameter and would store one tmc feet of water, which would be lifted by using four motors to the Ananthagiri Reservoir. The open-to-sky Surge pool was constructed in a record time of 13 months at a cost of Rs 2,700 crore Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project It was previously known as Pranahita-Chevella Lift Irrigation Project It is multi-purpose irrigation project at the confluence point of Pranhita River and Godavari River i.e, at Kaleshwaram village in Telangana. Pranahita river in itself is a confluence of various other smaller tributaries like Wardha, Penganga and Wainganga Rivers. Under the scheme, 89 cumecs (cubic metres per second) of water will be lifted to a height of 106 metres from the Sripada Yellampalli reservoir to Medaram reservoir and will be used for irrigation and water supply in nearby drought-prone areas. Increase Lok Sabha seats Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II- Polity In News Former President Pranab Mukherjee made a case for raising the number of Lok Sabha constituencies to 1,000 from the existing 543 and for a corresponding increase in the Rajya Sabha’s strength, He argued that India has a “disproportionately large size” of electorate for elected representatives and thus needs expansion of Parliament The last time the strength of the Lok Sabha was revised was in 1977, which, he noted, was based on the 1971 census that put the total population at 55 crore. The population since then has more than doubled, and there is a ‘strong case’ to remove the freeze in the delimitation exercise. It should be ideally increased to 1,000, GST compensation Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II - Federalism In News The Centre released ₹35,298 crore to the States in Goods and Services Tax (GST) compensation, just two days before a crucial meeting of the GST Council. Earlier in Nov 2019, the Centre had written to States voicing concern that due to lower GST collections, the compensation cess might not be enough to pay for the losses arising out of the adoption of the tax system. While the government had budgeted for ₹6,63,343 crore in GST collections for the current fiscal, 2019-20, it had garnered only about 50% of its budget estimate in the first eight months. About GST Council The GST Council is a constitutional body established under Article 279A of Indian Constitution It makes recommendations to the Union and State Government on issues related to Goods and Service Tax (GST). The GST Council is chaired by the Union Finance Minister. Its other members are the Union State Minister of Revenue or Finance and Ministers in-charge of Finance or Taxation of all the States. (MAINS FOCUS) ECONOMY TOPIC: General Studies II Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019 [caption id="attachment_55002" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 17th December 2019[/caption] Src:CM Context: Protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act at Jamia Millia Islamia in Delhi and Aligarh Muslim University, followed by violent clash between students and police, have had a ripple effect across the country. Background Acquiring Indian citizenship: According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, there are four ways in which Indian citizenship can be acquired: birth, descent, registration and naturalisation. The provisions are listed under Citizenship Act, 1955. By birth: Every person born in India on or after 26.01.1950 but before 01.07.1987 is an Indian citizen irrespective of the nationality of his/her parents. Every person born in India between 01.07.1987 and 02.12.2004 is a citizen of India given either of his/her parents is a citizen of the country at the time of his/her birth. Every person born in India on or after 3.12.2004 is a citizen of the country given both his/her parents are Indians or at least one parent is a citizen and the other is not an illegal migrant at the time of birth. By registration with conditions: A person of Indian origin who has been a resident of India for 7 years before applying for registration. A person of Indian origin who is a resident of any country outside undivided India. A person who is married to an Indian citizen and is ordinarily resident for 7 years before applying for registration. Minor children of persons who are citizens of India. By descent: A person born outside India on or after January 26, 1950 is a citizen of India by descent if his/her father was a citizen of India by birth. A person born outside India on or after December 10, 1992, but before December 3, 2004 if either of his/her parent was a citizen of India by birth. If a person born outside India or or after December 3, 2004 has to acquire citizenship, his/her parents have to declare that the minor does not hold the passport of another country and his/her birth is registered at an Indian consulate within one year of birth. By naturalisation: A person can acquire citizenship by naturalisation if he/she is ordinarily resident of India for 12 years (throughout 12 months preceding the date of application and 11 years in the aggregate) and fulfils all qualifications in the third schedule of the Citizenship Act. Dual citizenship: The amended Citizenship Act of 1955 does not provide for dual citizenship or dual nationality. Any citizen of India, who by registration, naturalisation or otherwise voluntarily takes the citizenship of another country, shall upon such acquisition cease to be a citizen of India. Cases of termination or cessation of citizenship will be determined ultimately by courts of law. The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019: The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill or CAB, which grants Indian citizenship to the non-Muslims of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh(Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhist, Jains and Parsis) The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill proposes to grant citizenship to the non-Muslims Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhist, Jains and Parsis -- from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh who arrived in India before December 31, 2014. CAB paves way for Indian citizenship to lakhs of immigrants, who identify themselves with any of the given religions, even if they lacked any document to prove their residency. It also means that any immigrant who does not belong to the said communities would not be eligible for Indian citizenship Any illegal immigrant from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh who belongs to these said communities will not be deported or imprisoned if they are not carrying any valid documents for their residency in India The duration of the immigrants' residency was 11 years. The amended bill has reduced it to five years. This means that immigrants from the three countries and from the mentioned religions, who have entered India before December 31, 2014, would not be treated as illegal immigrants. Exemptions: Bill exempts certain areas in the North-East from this provision tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura as included in Sixth Schedule of the Constitution and the area covered under the Inner Limit notified under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873.(Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram along with almost whole of Meghalaya and parts of Assam and Tripura) The Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cardholders: As per the citizenship bill, a foreigner may register as an OCI under the 1955 Act if they are of Indian origin (e.g., former citizen of India or their descendants) or the spouse of a person of Indian origin. The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill entitles the OCI cardholders to benefits such as the right to travel to India, and to work and study in the country. The Citizenship Bill, which was passed in the Rajya Sabha, amends the Act to allow cancellation of OCI registration if the person has violated any law notified by the Central government. Concerns : Lack of inclusion of several non-Muslim countries around India, such as Sri Lanka,concern about the citizenship status of Tamil-speaking Hindus who were allowed to legally settle in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu due to previous discrimination on the Tibetan refugees from China are also excluded from the bill despite being an ongoing concern and being unable to acquire Indian nationality The passage of the Act caused large scale protests in India Muslim groups and secular groups have protested alleging religious discrimination, for violating the secular Constitution of India and its promise of equality under Article 14 and believe it legalises religious discrimination The people of Assam and other north-eastern states continue to protest fearing that the non-Muslim illegal immigrants in their regions would be allowed to stay. The protests stem from the fear that illegal Bengali Hindu migrants from Bangladesh, if regularised under CAB, will threaten cultural and linguistic identities of the state. Act was criticised by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Way forward: Conciliation would be the best way forward to contain violence and reassure those in need of reassurance, pending a determination by the Supreme Court on the constitutional validity of the Act. Incendiary statements and irresponsible finger-pointing on the basis of no evidence is not needed Conclusion: Preamble of India ensures equality of status and opportunity the act is evident that it violates this principle and it also violates UDHR 1948 declaration so steps must be taken to ensure this status ENVIRONMENT TOPIC: General Studies III Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment COP25: Longest climate talks end [caption id="attachment_55001" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 17th December 2019[/caption] Src: UNFCC Context: The 25th annual talks under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), referred to as the Conference of Parties (COP), was recently held in Madrid. It ended without any outcome. It was the 15th meeting of the parties for the Kyoto Protocol (CMP15), and also, it was the second meeting of the parties for the Paris Agreement. The prime objective of the conference is to complete the rule-book to the 2015 Paris Agreement that will become effective in 2020 to replace the 1997 Kyoto Protocol (comes to an end in 2020). Conference of Parties (COP) The COP is the supreme decision-making body of the Convention. All States that are Parties to the Convention are represented at the COP, at which they review the implementation of the Convention and any other legal instruments that the COP adopts and take decisions necessary to promote the effective implementation of the Convention. The first COP meeting was held in Berlin, Germany in March, 1995. Kyoto Protocol 1997 The Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty which extends the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that commits state parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, based on the scientific consensus that (part one) global warming is occurring and (part two) it is extremely likely that human-made CO2 emissions have predominantly caused it. That protocol legally bound developed countries to emission reduction targets. However, the agreement was widely believed to be ineffective because the world’s two top carbon dioxide-emitting countries, China and the United States, chose not to participate Paris Agreement, 2015 Paris Agreement or COP21 was adopted in December 2015. It aimed to reduce the emission of gases that contribute to global warming. The Paris Agreement also aimed at replacing the Kyoto Protocol(to strengthen emission reductions, in 1997) Aims of Paris Agreement The aim of the agreement is to decrease global warming, enhancing the implementation of the UNFCCC through: Holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels . Increasing the ability to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change. Making finance flows consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development This strategy involved so-called 20/20/20 targets, namely the reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 20%, the increase of renewable energy's market share to 20%, and a 20% increase in energy efficiency. COP 25: Focus Ambitions for this conference were limited because many countries were focused on narrow technical details such as the workings of the globalcarbon markets. It was hoped that countries would resolve to work on more ambitious carbon targets needed to fulfil the goals of the 2015 Paris agreement. [caption id="attachment_55000" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 17th December 2019[/caption] Src: Ethics forge Why CoP25 failed? The failure of the talks underlined starkly the massive gap between what scientists say the world’s nations need to do on climate change, and what the most powerful political leaders on the planet are prepared to even discuss. According to scientist, talks focused on some of the rules for implementing the 2015 Paris agreement, but the overriding issue of how fast the world needs to cut greenhouse gas emissions has received little official attention. Countries agreed in Paris in 2015 to revisit their climate pledges by 2020. But many countries were pushing this year for a clear call for all countries to submit more ambitious climate pledges next year. But countries such as China and Brazil opposed placing any obligation on countries to submit enhanced pledges next year, arguing it should be each country’s own decision. They instead argued the focus should be on pre-2020 action by developing countries to meet their previous pledges There was a recognition that tougher carbon targets are needed globally, but few countries came up with any and the resolve to come back next year with more ambitious plans was worded too weakly to satisfy most campaigners. India’s stance: India played a mixed role at the recently concluded 25th Conference of Parties (CoP 25) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change at Madrid. On the question of markets, India emphasised the transition of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) credits earned under the Kyoto Protocol to the Paris Agreement. Pointed out that that excessively cheap emissions reductions enabled by the CDM as well as the possibility of double counting could corrupt the process. India played a strong role in critiquing the developed world’s continuing poor record on climate action. It argued that unless a stocktaking exercise of the fulfilment of various pre-2020 commitments by developed countries ,India would not raise its climate ambition for its next round of Paris Agreement targets due in 2020. India also took a lead in calling for more finance for developing countries for climate action, (“not even 2 per cent” of the promised “$1 trillion in the last 10 years” had been delivered) Way forward It is entirely appropriate for countries such as India to insist on not taking on an even more unfair share of the global mitigation burden unless developed countries deliver on the minimal parameter of fulfilling their existing promises. It is crucial that India continue to push developed countries in this fashion as the entire global climate action framework has been put in jeopardy by the inaction of big polluters. Connecting the dots: Do you think COP25 climate summit has ended in staggering failure of leadership? Do you think Climate change is Real? (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 about Hydorgen Fuel Cell The fuel cell combines hydrogen and oxygen to generate an electric current, water being the only byproduct. Like conventional batteries, hydrogen fuel cells too convert chemical energy into electrical energy. Which of the 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 GIMS or Government Instant Messaging System It is Indian equivalent of popular messaging platforms, such as WhatsApp and Telegram, for secure internal use. It is being developed by National Informatics Centre 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 GST Council: It is a constitutional body established under Article 279A of Indian Constitution It is Chaired by Prime Minister of India Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.4) Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project is at the confluence of which two rivers? Ganga and Yamuna River Godavari and Kaveri river Pranhita River and Godavari River None of the above ANSWERS FOR 16 DEC 2019 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 A 2 C 3 A 4 B 5 C MUST READ ‘Abuse’ of RTI has led to ‘paralysis and fear’ among officials, says CJI Bobde The Hindu If India has to grow faster, States have to grow faster: BibekDebroy The Hindu ‘Extent of India's economic slowdown has surprised us at the IMF’: Gita Gopinath The news minute Climate of inaction: On UN climate change conference The Hindu CoP that flopped IE Listen to them IE
Fatty liver Archives Liver Largest organ in our body that helps process nutrients from food and drinks and filters harmful substances from your blood. The liver secretes bile, which is later stored in the gall bladder. Bile is needed for the breakdown of fats in the body. It also plays a role in burning of fat. What is Fatty Liver? Also known as hepatic steatosis It happens when fat builds up in the liver. Excess fat can cause inflammation called steatohepatitis (steato=fat + hepar=liver + itis=inflammation), although there is no relationship between the amount of fat present and the potential for inflammation. Steatohepatitis can lead to cirrhosis (fibrosis, scarring and hardening of the liver). There is also an association with liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma). Types When fatty liver develops in someone who drinks a lot of alcohol, it’s known as alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD). In someone who doesn’t drink a lot of alcohol, it’s known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). What Causes Fatty Liver? Obesity: Obesity involves low-grade inflammation that may promote liver fat storage. It's estimated that 30–90% of obese adults have NAFLD, and it's increasing in children due to the childhood obesity epidemic Excess belly fat: Normal-weight people may develop fatty liver if they are "viscerally obese," meaning they carry too much fat around the waist Insulin resistance: Insulin resistance and high insulin levels have been shown to increase liver fat storage in people with type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome High intake of refined carbs: Frequent intake of refined carbs promotes liver fat storage, especially when high amounts are consumed by overweight or insulin-resistant individuals Sugary beverage consumption: Sugar-sweetened beverages like soda and energy drinks are high in fructose, which has been shown to drive liver fat accumulation in children and adults Impaired gut health: Recent research suggests that having an imbalance in gut bacteria, problems with gut barrier function ("leaky gut") or other gut health issues may contribute to NAFLD development Symptoms of Fatty Liver Fatigue and weakness Slight pain or fullness in the right or center abdominal area Elevated levels of liver enzymes, including AST and ALT Elevated insulin levels Elevated triglyceride levels What are some lifestyle changes that can help with fatty liver disease? If you have any of the types of fatty liver disease, there are some lifestyle changes that can help: The most important part of treating alcohol-related fatty liver disease is to stop drinking alcohol. Eat healthy diet, limit salt and sugar, plus eat lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains Get vaccinations for hepatitis A and B, the flu and pneumococcal disease. If you get hepatitis A or B along with fatty liver, it is more likely to lead to liver failure. People with chronic liver disease are more likely to get infections, so the other two vaccinations are also important. Get regular exercise, which can help you lose weight and reduce fat in the liver
UPSC Quiz - 2020: IAS Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 137 Archives Important Note Don't forget to post your marks in the comment section. Also, let us know if you enjoyed today's test :) To take the Test - Click Here
IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 16th December 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Call for Universalisation of Pradhan MantriMatruVandanaYojana(PMMVY) Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II –Women & Governance In News The Pradhan MantriMatruVandanaYojana (PMMVY) was announced on December 31, 2016 which gives a benefit of ₹6,000 to pregnant and lactating mothers for the birth of the first child. ₹5,000 would be disbursed in three installments upon meeting several conditionalities — registration of pregnancy, at least one ante-natal check-up, registration of child birth and vaccinations. The remaining cash incentive of up to ₹1,000 is to be given under a separate scheme called the Janani Suraksha Yojana so that on an “average” women get a total sum of ₹6,000. The objective is to compensate women for wage loss due to child birth. Some of the reasons which has led to exclusion of many beneficiaries under PMMVY Only for the first born Proof of address of marital home - which proves challenging for a newlywed expecting a child and often residing in her natal home during pregnancy. She is then forced to go from pillar to post to claim benefits. Minimum age of 19 years - leaves out younger brides, who hesitate in getting their marriages registered as the legal age of marriage is 18 years. Husbands Aadhar Card - Affects single women which include unwed mothers, deserted wives and widows Tedious documentation: Total 6 application forms to be filled, with total of 30 of 32 pages to be filled by the beneficiary As many as 9 IDs to be produced - Aadhaar card, voter ID card; ration card copy of bank passbook and maternal and child protection (MCP) card etc. Activists urge for a need for reviewing the scheme and making it universal by removing restrictions on the number of children as well as including all women, whether they are in the formal or informal sector, engaged in paid or unpaid work. Also, there is a demand that the sum promised should also be at least on par with minimum wages for women in self-employment, unpaid work, or working for less than minimum wages [caption id="attachment_54947" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 16th December 2019[/caption] Src: Click here Odisha students develop smart water dispenser Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III- Science & Technology In News Three students of Odisha’s KendriyaVidyalaya, Berhampur, have developed a ‘smart water dispenser’ to ensure equal distribution of drinking water through pipelines in any urban or rural habitat to combat future water crisis. In August 2019, this project was shortlisted as top 50 innovations under ‘Atal Innovation Mission’ of NitiAyog. The ‘Smart water dispenser’ is an electronic water flow controlling mechanism that can replace the water meter and provide control of amount of water supply to the authorities for equal distribution. These units will be directly connected to a central server of the local governing body by GSM or Wi-Fi. Cost of the prototype was just ₹2,000. Its main components include an easily available microprocessor, a solenoid valve and a flow sensor. About Atal Innovation Mission It is a flagship initiative set up by the NITI Aayog to promote innovation and entrepreneurship across the length and breadth of the country. Long term goals of AIM include establishment and promotion of Small Business Innovation Research & Development at a national scale (AIM SBIR) for the SME/MSME/startups and in rejuvenating Science & Technology innovations in major research institutions of the country FASTags deadline extended Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III- Science & Technology In News The government issued an order extending the deadline for FASTags to become mandatory by 30 days and requiring 25% of lanes at toll plazas to be kept open for cash transactions. FASTag is an electronic toll collection system in India, operated by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI). It employs Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology for making toll payments directly from the prepaid or savings account linked to it or directly toll owner. It is affixed on the windscreen of the vehicle and enables to drive through toll plazas without stopping for transactions. [caption id="attachment_54948" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 16th December 2019[/caption] Src: Click here Strandhogg Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III- Cyber Security In News The Union Home Ministry has sent an alert to all States warning them about the vulnerability of the Android operating system to a bug called ‘StrandHogg.’ StrandHogg allows real-time malware applications to pose as genuine applications and access user data of all kind. This malware can then potentially listen to their conversations, access photo album, read/send messages, make calls, record conversations and get login credentials to various accounts. Pop-ups asking for permission to send notifications, messages etc., are one of the main entry points for ‘StrandHogg’ to launch the attack. About Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) scheme The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has rolled out a scheme ‘Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C)’ which is a 7-Pronged Scheme to combat cyber crime in the country, in a coordinated and effective manner. Components of The I4C Scheme National Cybercrime Threat Analytics Unit (TAU) National Cybercrime Reporting Platform for Joint Cybercrime Investigation Team National Cybercrime Forensic Laboratory (NCFL) Ecosystem National Cybercrime Training Centre (NCTC) Cybercrime Ecosystem Management Unit National Cyber Research and Innovation Centre MattuGulla Part of: GS Prelims In News MattuGulla is a variety of brinjal that has Geographical Indication (GI) tag Known for its unique taste, MattuGulla is grown in Mattu, Kaipunjal and Uliyargoli villages of Udupi district inKarnataka About 200 farmers cultivate this rare variety of brinjal on about 120 acres of land from October to June. The speciality of MattuGulla, besides its taste, is that it has less seed and more pulp An export network to UAE is being planned so that MattuGulla gets exported. As a result,the demand for it will increase and farmers will get good price for it. [caption id="attachment_54949" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 16th December 2019[/caption] Src: Click here National Ganga Council (NGC) Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Environment Conservation In News The National Ganga Council (NGC), which is headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi met for the first time at Kanpur since its inception in 2016, with the proposal to save and enhance the population of the Gangetic Dolphin The council also discussed the concept of “River Cities” and an action plan to provide sewer connection to every household in towns along the Ganga and its tributaries. The council consists of chief ministers from five states along the Ganga — Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Bihar and Jharkhand along with nine Union ministers and NITI Aayog vice-chairman. The central objective of the council is to work on the “protection, prevention, control and abatement of environmental pollution in River Ganga and its rejuvenation to its natural and pristine condition and to ensure continuous adequate flow of water”. About Gangetic River Dolphins The Gangetic river dolphins were officially discovered in 1801 and are one of the oldest creatures in the world along with some species of turtles, crocodiles and sharks, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). In 2009, the Gangetic dolphins were declared India’s National Aquatic animal It is placed under the “endangered” category by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The Gangetic river dolphins can only live in freshwater and prefer deep waters They are blind and catch their prey in a unique manner, using ultrasonic sound waves. [caption id="attachment_54950" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 16th December 2019[/caption] Src: Click here (MAINS FOCUS) INTERNATIONAL 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. US and China : ‘Phase One’ agreement [caption id="attachment_54951" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 16th December 2019[/caption] Src: CNBC Context: United States and China recently announced a “Phase One” agreement With this US will reduce some tariffs in exchange for increased Chinese purchases of American farm and energy goods. Background: Donald Trump in 2018 began setting tariffs and other trade barriers on China with the goal of forcing it to make changes to what the U.S. says are "unfair trade practices" of China Among those trade practices and their effects are the growing trade deficit, the theft of intellectual property, and the forced transfer of American technology to China The trade war has brought struggles for farmers and manufacturers and higher prices for consumers. It has also caused economic damage In some countries, some countries have benefited from increased manufacturing to fill the gaps. It has also led to stock market instability. Impact of trade war on India : The US manufacturers are setting up their bases in India. For India, this will be beneficial as it would create more jobs for us. There is a possibility that China could soon start flooding excess steel and aluminium into India’s market after this raised tariffs on Chinese products by US. Mobile phones, refrigerators, washing machines, ACs, water purifiers, and possibly electric vehicles will now see increased investment flow directed towards India. The Indian consumers will get the products at a cheaper rate but the domestic producers of India will have to compete with the Chinese imports or else face loss. Indian producers will get an opportunity to fill this generated gap and penetrate in the US market. This will increase their trade and profit. There will be a short-term impact on the stock markets. Features: The US will halve its 15 per cent tariff on about $120 billion in Chinese goods China has agreed to increase its total purchases of US goods and services by at least $200 billion over the next two years. Also included is a commitment by China to increase its buying of US agricultural products Addresses unfair currency practices by committing to refrain from competitive devaluations and exchange rate targeting. “This approach will help reinforce macroeconomic and exchange rate stability and help ensure that China cannot use currency practices to unfairly compete against U.S. exporters” China have agreed not to pressure foreign companies to transfer their technology to Chinese companies. The agreement also include a dispute-resolution mechanism that will serve as the enforcement arm. Critics: It would bring only temporary relief in the over 18-month-old trade war between the US and China. Does little to resolve the United States’ biggest concerns about China’s trade practices, including its use of industrial subsidies and state-owned enterprises to dominate global industries like steel and solar panels. The deal would increase Chinese purchases of American agricultural and energy products, It limits on China’s ability to weaken its currency and provide greater protection to US companies that are operating in China. Way forward: China and the United States, the world’s two largest economies, must deal with bilateral economic and trade relations with the big picture in mind. Reaching the agreement will serve the fundamental interests of the people of the two countries and the world, It is expected to bring positive influences on areas including economy, trade, investment and the financial market Conclusion: The economic and political benefits of de-escalation in the trade war have become readily apparent. A rollback of tariffs and cancellation of new levies, makes sense for the US economy and for the World economy. Connecting the dots: Do you think Phase One” agreement make a positive impact on Indian economy? INTERNATIONAL 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. What UK poll result means for Brexit? [caption id="attachment_54952" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 16th December 2019[/caption] Src: BI Context: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson won UK election Takeaways: The likelihood of Brexit being put on the fast track. the biggest defeat of the Labour Party since 1935, A sweep of Scotland’s seats by the Scottish National Party, and its implications on the possibility of independence. What does the result mean? The size of the victory sets the stage for a Britain of Johnson’s ideological vision — nationalism, with tougher laws on immigration. Britain will also have to deal with Brexit’s effect on its economy. This includes the long process of new bilateral trade agreements with many other countries. Brexit: [caption id="attachment_54953" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 16th December 2019[/caption] Src: NYT Brexit – British exit – refers to the UK leaving the EU. Brexit is the scheduled withdrawal of the United Kingdom (UK) from the European Union (EU). As the UK parliament thrice voted against the negotiated withdrawal agreement, that deadline has been extended twice, and is currently 31 October 2019. The ‘Benn Act’ that passed in Parliament requires the government to seek a third extension if no agreement is reached before 19 October. Why is the UK leaving? A public vote - or referendum - was held on Thursday 23 June 2016, to decide whether the UK should leave or remain. Leave won by 52% to 48%. The referendum turnout was very high at 72%, with more than 30 million people voting - 17.4 million people opting for Brexit. What is the European Union? The EU is an economic and political union involving 28 European countries. It allows free trade and free movement of people to live and work in whichever country they choose. The UK joined in 1973 (when it was known as the European Economic Community). If the UK leaves, it would be the first member What after Brexit? EU will start carrying out checks on British goods. This could lead to delays at ports, such as Dover. Some fear that this could lead to traffic bottlenecks, disrupting supply routes and damaging the economy. If the pound falls sharply in response to no deal and there are significant delays at ports, like Dover, it could affect the price and availability of some foods. There are also concerns over potential shortages of medicines. Advantages and disadvantages for India Link :1 Conclusion India should re-negotiate with the UK and EU the World Trade Organization Schedules of Concessions, for both goods and services, should resume its FTA discussions with the EU, and should prepare to launch FTA talks with the UK. Connecting the dots: Do you think India will get more opportunities in Britain after BREXIT? Do you think BREXIT is Detrimental for the global economy ? (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note: Correct answers of today’s questions will be provided in next day’s DNA section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers. Comments Up-voted by IASbaba are also the “correct answers”. Q.1) Consider the following statements about Phase One Agreement recently seen in news It is a trade agreement which is signed recently between USA and China The deal addresses core US demand that China curb subsidies to its state-owned firms, which has allowed China to dominate global industries like Steel & Solar panels. Which of the 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 Pradhan MantriMatruVandanaYojana (PMMVY) It is being implemented by Ministry of Women and Child Development which gives a benefit of ₹6,000 to pregnant and lactating mothers for the birth of the first child. Its objective is to compensate women for wage loss due to child birth. 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 FASTags : FASTag is an electronic toll collection system in India. It is operated by NITI Aayog in collaboration with Private IT company – Infosys Technology Ltd. Which of the above statement(s) are correct? Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.4) Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) scheme is being implemented by which Union Ministry? Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology Ministry of Home Affairs Ministry of Defence None of the above Q.5) National Ganga Council is headed by ______ Minister of Environment, Forests and Climate Change Minister of Jal Shakti Prime Minister Chief Minister of Ganga States on rotation basis ANSWERS FOR 14 DEC 2019 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 B 2 B 3 C 4 B MUST READ Many mutinies: On protests against amended citizenship law The Hindu The distinct cry of an imperilled frontier The Hindu In Britain, there’s a lot to get done The Hindu FASTag Fast Lane to Fund New Highways ET At great cost IE View From The Neighbourhood: India disappoints IE
IAS UPSC Current Affairs Magazine NOVEMBER 2019 ARCHIVES Hello Friends, This is the 54th edition of IASbaba’s Current Affairs Monthly Magazine. Current Affairs for UPSC Civil Services Examination is an important factor in this preparation. An effort towards making your Current Affairs for IAS UPSC Preparation qualitative. We hope you make the best use of it! This edition covers all important current affairs issues that were in news for the month of NOVEMBER 2019 DOWNLOAD THE MAGAZINE- CLICK HERE
UPSC Quiz - 2020: IAS Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 136 Archives Important Note Don't forget to post your marks in the comment section. Also, let us know if you enjoyed today's test :) To take the Test - Click Here
Accepting Pain & Pleasure: As impossible it is to eradicate pain and suffering from your life fully, that impossible it is to be happy all the time. Happiness is like a tickling sensation of the mind - It is good and enjoyable in short bursts, but becomes irritating if it is continuous. Somehow, we have built our society around the assumption that happiness is our highest goal and purpose of life. This wrong assumption is the single biggest reason why we are unhappy. We have assumed that happiness solves all our problems and that is all what we are searching for. Happiness and misery are the two legs of an individual. You need both to walk. If you choose happiness and reject misery, you will be limping all the time, and it will not look good. If you are obsessed about being happy all the time, that itself is enough to make you unhappy. If you decide that you want to be happy for one whole day, your mind will give you enough reasons to be unhappy. If you want to be miserable, then make happiness your highest goal. If happiness is the only objective, then what about those moments when you are experiencing pain and suffering? For example, what happens when you hit your toe to the chair leg? What happens when your favorite team loses the game? What happens when you genuinely have to be sad? In all these moment you go into an internal conflict because you have rejected all other emotions and you only want to be happy. This by itself is enough to cause a lot of suffering. Accepting all emotions of life and everything life can throw at you with equal-mindedness is the whole essence of being alive in the moment. Being alive in the moment is not to choose between happiness and sadness. If there is happiness, experience it; laugh and rejoice in that happiness. If there is pain and suffering, suffer in that suffering. Both pain and pleasure complement the way of life. You have to accept both equally to be able to experience life in its completeness. “This article is a part of the creative endeavor of Meditation Farm and IASBABA.”
