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Jan 29, 2019 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 28th January 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 28th January 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Kyasanoor Forest Disease (KFD) or Monkey Fever Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – Health issue Key pointers: Kyasanoor Forest Disease (KFD) is tick-borne viral hemorrhagic fever endemic to South Asia. The virus is transmitted to human beings through parasitic ticks which latch on to monkeys. KFD was first detected in the Kyasanur forest in Karnataka in 1957. Since then, between 400 and 500 human cases are reported each year in South Asia, mainly India. The disease is caused by Kyasanur forest disease virus (KFDV), a member of the virus family Flaviviridae, which also cause yellow fever and dengue. Rodents, shrews, and monkeys are common hosts for KFDV after being bitten by an infected tick. KFDV kills most primates it infects. The symptoms in humans include fever for more than 12 days, accompanied by cough, headache, diarrhoea and vomiting. The fever is followed by mental disturbances, tremors and vision deficits. Vaccination against monkey fever is used in endemic areas of India. Additional preventative measures include using insect repellents and wearing protective clothes in areas where ticks are endemic. Odisha: Second National Bird Festival at Chilika Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III – Environment and Ecology; Tourism Key pointers: Second National Bird Festival was held at Chilika Aims to promote ecotourism and preservation of birds in the state It also aims to promote and raise awareness about Chilika being the largest repository of migratory birds in Asia Do you know? Mangalajodi, situated in the North Eastern Part of Chilika, the largest brackish water lake of Asia, is known as the "Birds Paradise of Asia" Over one million migratory birds belonging to 181 different species were spotted in the brackish water lake this year Nalabana Bird Sanctuary is in Odisha The National Chilika Bird Festival Award was awarded to Mangalajodi Ecotourism Group for their active involvement in bird protection Chilika, which lies in the Central Asian Flyway for birds, is a major stopover for migratory birds from the the Arctic and the Sub-Arctic regions in the course of their onward and return migration along the east coast Miscellaneous: 1. PM inaugurated Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd.’s Integrated Refinery Expansion Complex in Kochi . The new refinery is expected to make great contribution towards Ujjwala scheme by doubling the LPG production. The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stones of the petrochemical complex in Kochi and the second campus of the Skill Development Institute at Ettumanoor. He also opened the LPG storage facility of the Indian Oil Corporation at its Kochi bottling plant. Kerala State to invest ₹1,427 crore for the petrochemical park project. 2. Satkosia Tiger Reserve is in Odisha 3. 'RDP India 2019' Ministry of Defence had launched a mobile app 'RDP India 2019' on the Republic Day, with the intent of making available the highlights of the Republic Day event, not only to the spectators at Rajpath, but also to the general public all over the world. This app contains information about the Parade on Rajpath, New Delhi, including Order of the March, details of the tableaux presented by different States and Ministries, children cultural performances, fly past and names of recipients of Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2019. 4. ASER Report: Poor condition of toilets for schoolgirls According to ASER report – Seven northeastern States lag behind in toilets for schoolgirls. 96% schools in the eight northeastern States had usable toilets for girls in 2018 compared to 36.66% in 2016. Sikkim - best performing state with 75.7% schools having usable toilets for girls. (National average 66.4%) Do you know? Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) is prepared by NGO Pratham (MAINS FOCUS) WELFARE/ECONOMY TOPIC: General studies 3 Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices Inclusive growth and issues arising from it. General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections Tackling Agrarian Distress Introduction: Recently, there has been active discussion on the strategies addressing farm distress. ‘Interim Budget’ may also focus on the farm sector among other things. The below editorial highlights concerns and suggestions to Agrarian/Farmer Distress. Why Agrarian distress? Low agricultural prices Poor farm incomes Low productivity and related supply side factors Declining average size of farm holdings Debt Declining output prices Poor irrigation Private money lenders Crop failure Neglect by the government or policy makers Absence of an effective price support policy, farmers are faced with a loss in income Farm incomes have been squeezed by slower output growth, higher costs and increased vulnerability to a changing climate Slew of new problems resulting directly from government policies Do you know? Prices play a key role in affecting the incomes of farmers. In the last two years, inflation in agriculture was much lower than overall inflation. The consumer price index (CPI) also shows that the rise in prices for agriculture was much lower than general inflation in recent years. Market prices for several agricultural commodities have been lower than those of minimum support prices (MSP). All these trends show that the terms of trade to be moving against agriculture in the last two years. The way ahead: Schemes to address the problem of managing declining output prices when output increases significantly. ‘Price deficiency compensation’ – is one such mechanism which amounts to paying the difference between market price and the MSP. ‘Open procurement system’ – has been in vogue quite effectively in the case of rice and wheat, where procurement is open ended at the MSP. A ‘price deficiency’ scheme may compensate farmers when prices decrease below a certain specified level. However, market prices may continue to fall as supply exceeds ‘normal demand’. Therefore, alternative is the limited procurement scheme and income support schemes. ‘Limited procurement scheme’ – Under this scheme, the government will procure the ‘excess’, leaving the normal production level to clear the market at a remunerative price. Thus, procurement will continue until the market price rises to touch the MSP. ‘Income support schemes’ – Rythu Bandhu Scheme (Telangana) and the Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) scheme (Odisha) Raising the MSP, price deficiency payments or income support schemes can only be a partial solution to the problem of providing remunerative returns to farmers A sustainable solution is market reforms to enable better price discovery combined with long-term trade policies favourable to exports. Creation of a competitive, stable and unified national market is needed for farmers to get better prices. Agricultural markets need to be reformed. They are characterised by inefficient physical operations, excessive crowding of intermediaries, and fragmented market chains. Investment in infrastructure and research and development are needed. Efficiency in water management in both canal and groundwater is important. Technology can help to reduce ‘yield gaps’ and thus improve productivity. Land consolidation policies along with land development activities – to tackle the challenge of the low average size of holdings. Conclusion: To conclude, farmers’ distress is mainly due to low prices and low productivity. Suggestions are limited procurement, measures to improve low productivity, and consolidation of land holdings to gain the benefits of size, can help in reducing agrarian distress. We need a long-term policy to tackle the situation. Connecting the dots: Examine the factors behind the ongoing agrarian crisis in India. What can be its remedy? Discuss. Agrarian distress has become a serious challenge for the economy and has grave socio-political repercussions. Examine the factors that have led to this situation. Also discuss the measures taken by the government to address the same. Do loan waivers offer a sustainable solution to this problem? Critically analyse. HEALTH ISSUE TOPIC: General studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions DAMaN initiative: Model for malaria control Introduction: According to the World Health Organisation’s World Malaria Report of 2018 – India is the only country among the 11 highest-burden countries that saw substantial progress in reducing disease burden. India saw a 24% decrease in 2017 compared to 2016. India has assumed a leadership role in advancing global efforts to end malaria. The country’s success provides hope to the other highest-burden countries to tackle malaria head-on. Reasons for India’s success Outcome of concerted efforts via country-owned and country-led malaria programme. Malaria programmes were aligned with globally accepted strategies During 2015 East Asia Summit, India pledged to eliminate the disease by 2030. Following this public declaration, India launched the five-year National Strategic Plan for Malaria Elimination. (Shift in focus from malaria “control” to “elimination”) Five-year National Strategic Plan for Malaria Elimination (2017-22) provides for target of ending malaria in 571 districts out of India’s 678 districts by 2022. The current Government has pledged to eliminate malaria by 2027 and urged the states for active cooperation. Adequate investment combined with coordinated action between governments, civil society and philanthropic donors. Health is a State subject. State governments across the country shoulder a special responsibility in tackling the disease. Odisha Model for malaria control Among the States, Odisha has emerged as an inspiration in the fight against malaria. It has dramatically scaled-up efforts to prevent, diagnose and treat malaria through its Durgama Anchalare Malaria Nirakaran (DAMaN) initiative It involved accredited social health activists (ASHAs), who helped distribute approximately 11 million bed nets in 2017, which was enough to protect all the residents in areas that were at highest risk. Odisha recorded a 80% decline in malaria cases and deaths in 2017. DAMaN aims to deliver services to the most inaccessible and hardest hit people of the State. By prioritising malaria elimination, India, and especially Odisha, is showing the world the way. Connecting the dots: While India has successfully eliminated small pox and polio over time. It is time coordinated efforts are put in to eliminate malaria. Discuss the challenges associated with the same. Also, suggest measures to address these challenges. (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) Recently Kyasanur Forest Disease was in the news. Consider the following statements w.r.t it It is a viral disease also known as rodent fever It is endemic to South Asia Kyasanur forests are located in Andhra Pradesh Select the correct code Only 1 Only 2 1 and 3 2 and 3 Q.2) Which among the following is/are genetic diseases? Hemophilia Down's syndrome Sickle-cell anemia Kyasanur Forest disease (KFD) Select the correct answer using the code given below 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 All the above Q.3) Which among the following is known as "Birds Paradise of Asia"? Ranganathittu Vedanthangal Mangalajodi Kaggaladu Q.4) Which of the following statements with reference to Lake Chilika is incorrect? It is a brackish water lagoon It is the largest coastal lagoon in the World It is the largest coastal lagoon in India It is the single largest habitat of Irrawaddy dolphins in the world MUST READ Dancing around the Supreme Court The Hindu For honour’s sake: on the Bharat Ratna awards The Hindu Explained: What’s the difference between a full Budget and an interim Budget? Indian Express Whose quota is it anyway? Indian Express The Inclusive Nationalist Indian Express Faith, science and spectacle Indian Express

Jan 28, 2019 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz - 2019 : IAS Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 158

UPSC Quiz - 2019 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 158 Archives Q.1) Consider the following statements with respect to ‘Jan Shikshan Sansthans (JSSs)’ It provides vocational training to non-literate, neo-literate, as well as school drop outs by identifying skills as would have a market in the region of their establishment. Government of India funds each JSS with 40 lakhs annually Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2) What is ‘eROSITA’? Unmanned Aerial Vehicle X-Ray Telescope A new type of gene found in humans Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Q.3) Consider the following statements with respect to ‘Sarus Crane’ It is the tallest flying bird in the world It is non-migratory bird Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.4) ‘Al-Dawadmi’ was recently in news. Where is it located? Saudi Arabia Syria Libya Lebanon Q.5) ‘Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar’ is associated with Disaster Management Human Rights National Cadet Corps Naxalism To Download the Solution - Click here All the Best IASbaba

Jan 28, 2019 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 26th January 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 26th January 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) SC upholds bankruptcy code Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III – Indian Economy and issues related to it In news: Supreme Court recently upheld the constitutionality of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) The SC’s stand sends a clear message that India is no longer “the defaulter’s paradise.” Do you know? Insolvency is a situation where individuals or companies are unable to repay their outstanding debt. The term insolvency is used for both individuals and organizations. For individuals, it is known as bankruptcy and for corporate it is called corporate insolvency. Both refer to a situation when an individual or company are not able to pay the debt in present or near future and the value of assets held by them are less than liability. Important Value Additions: Lack of an insolvency and bankruptcy code had proved costly for the creditors (mainly banks). The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code seeks to create a unified framework to resolve insolvency and bankruptcy in India. The recent Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Ordinance, 2018 was promulgated on June 6, 2018. It amends the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016. The Code provides a time-bound process for resolving insolvency in companies and among individuals. India, South Africa strategic partnership agreement Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – Indian and the World; International Relations In news: We had earlier read that India, South Africa to revise 22-year-old Strategic Partnership. Three-year plan of action on security cooperation, trade and investment, tourism, harnessing the ‘blue economy’, maritime cooperation, agriculture, science and technology projects was signed recently. The three-year strategic partnership agreement is expected to boost relations. Do you know? Both the countries have strong partnership in platforms such as the BRICS, the G-20, the Indian Ocean Region Association and the IBSA Dialogue Forum. India also invited South Africa to join the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and congratulated it on securing the non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council for 2019-20. SAARC nations Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – Indian and its neoghbours; International Relations In news: South Asia region’s future lay in cooperation among the eight SAARC nations (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, the Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka). A panel of diplomats, essayists and foreign policy experts met recently. The panel felt the focus of South Asian discourse needed to shift away from the perception of India's dominance in the region. About SAARC It was founded in Dhaka (1985) Secretariat is based in Kathmandu, Nepal SAARC is regional intergovernmental organization and geopolitical union in South Asia. It promotes development of economical and regional integration. SAARC’S Stats: Region accounts for 2% of world trade and 1.7% of world FDI (foreign direct investment). Intra-regional trade is less than 6% of our global trade and intra-regional FDI accounts for only 3% of total FDI inflows In contrast, the share of intra-regional trade for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)—to which SAARC is often compared—is close to 25%. Intra-regional FDI accounts for 18% of the net FDI inflows in the ASEAN region. Miscellaneous 1. Person in news: Pranab, Deshmukh, Hazarika Award in news: Bharat Ratna In news: President Ramnath Kovind conferred the Bharat Ratna, the nation’s highest civilian honour, on – Former President Pranab Mukherjee Social activist Nanaji Deshmukh (posthumous) and Assamese musician Bhupen Hazarika (posthumous) 2. Person in news: Bipin Rawat Award in news: Param Vishisht Seva Medal In news: In a rare gesture, the Chief of the Army Staff, General Bipin Rawat, has been awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) for distinguished service on the eve of the 70th Republic Day. (MAINS FOCUS) WELFARE/ECONOMY TOPIC: General studies 3 Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices Inclusive growth and issues arising from it. General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections Examining farm loan waivers Introduction: We had earlier dealt with editorial analysis on - why farm loan waivers are not a suitable option to address the rural distress. (Avoid Loan Waivers) Fast recap: According to previous articles and editorials, farm loan waivers are not a suitable option to address the rural distress because – The share of loans (of less than ₹2 lakh), typically taken by small farmers, accounts for less than 40 per cent of total farm credit. Crop loans disbursed to agriculturists leave out tenant farmers. In addition, most of these cheap loans, taken at 4 per cent interest rate, are availed of by owners of warehouses, food processors and manufacturers of fertiliser and farm equipment. Categories under ‘Priority sector lending’ have been relaxed over the years to include a range of above mentioned sundry commercial activities. Therefore, loan waivers will merely end up aiding big farmers, commercial interest groups etc rather than small and vulnerable farmers. (Note: In today’s article, author provides divided opinion on the topic) Divided opinion Economists and bankers are sharply divided on whether farm loan waivers are desirable. Against Loan Waiver Loan waivers have “reputational consequences”; that is, they adversely affect the repayment discipline of farmers, leading to a rise in defaults in future. Earlier debt waiver schemes have not led to increases in investment or productivity in agriculture. (two nationwide loan waiver programmes in India after Independence: in 1990 and 2008) After the implementation of debt waiver schemes, a farmer’s access to formal sector lenders declines, leading to a rise in his dependence on informal sector lenders; in other words, waivers lead to the shrinkage of a farmer’s future access to formal sector credit. Do you know? Farmers are most disciplined in their repayment behaviour. In September 2018, agricultural NPAs (about 8%) were far lower than in industry (about 21%). Agricultural NPAs were on a continuous decline between 2001 and 2008. Agricultural NPAs began to rise after 2015. (Reasons - policy-induced and a direct consequence of acute agrarian distress that spread across rural India after 2015) Demonetisation of November 2016 aggravated already brewing agrarian distress by sucking cash out of the rural areas, crashing output prices and disrupting supply chains. After every waiver, banks become conservative in issuing fresh loans to beneficiaries, as they are perceived to be less creditworthy. For loan waivers: Large agrarian distress demands urgent policy attention Need for carefully designed waiver schemes that can ensure universal coverage for small, marginal and medium-sized farmers while covering both the formal and informal sources of debt. (We can add few points from above "Do You Know?" section) https://d39gegkjaqduz9.cloudfront.net/TH/2019/01/26/DEL/Delhi/TH/5_06/0072b8c0_2690801_101_mr.jpg Other alternatives needed Unless there are steps ‘to raise productivity, reduce costs of cultivation by providing quality inputs at subsidised rates, provide remunerative prices following the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission, ensure assured procurement of output, expand access to institutional credit, enhance public investment for infrastructural development, institute effective crop insurance systems and establish affordable scientific storage facilities and agro-processing industries for value addition’, farmers will continue to be bonded to low income equilibrium and repeated debt traps. Connecting the dots: Are farm loan waivers justifiable for betterment of farmers? Analyse. Loan waivers for the farms isn’t a good strategy to address the rural distress. Comment. (TLP Answer) Loan waivers have become a political tool which is inimical to the Indian economy. Critically comment. ENVIRONMENT/POLLUTION TOPIC: General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. General Studies 3 Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment An inside Problem: Tackling Household air pollution (HAP) Context: The problem of air pollution and its ill-effects on people has gained significant traction in the media. However, single largest source of air pollution — the pollution from our homes – has not gained much attention. Issues: (Outdoor air pollution) Abysmal air quality in many cities (especially in Delhi) Many Indian cities repeatedly topping global air pollution charts Emissions from transport, crop burning, road dust, burning of waste and industries large and small Issues: (Indoor air pollution) Burning of solid fuels such as firewood and dung-cakes (mainly for cooking) results in emissions of fine particulate matter Household air pollution (HAP) - single largest source of ambient air pollution (AAP) in the country 11 lakh deaths were attributable to AAP in 2015. Of these, as many as 2.6 lakh were due to HAP. According to Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s website, about 26 per cent of particulate matter AAP was caused due to combustion of solid fuels in households. HAP is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in the country on its own. Conclusion: In other words, the overall, total health impacts attributable to HAP are more than half the health impacts attributable to air pollution. Therefore, there is a strong case to be made for tackling HAP on a war footing. Way ahead: households should predominantly use fuels that burn cleanly. Ujjwala scheme which provides LPG connections recognises this challenge and represents an important first step to tackle the problem. However, addressing this challenge requires going beyond Ujjwala. In a country as large and diverse as India, LPG need not be the only solution to address this problem. Consumers should be given a wider choice of clean-burning options. This requires a coordinated strategy involving multiple government agencies and programmes. It also requires setting well-defined targets for HAP and its associated health impacts, and having systems to monitor and publish them. Connecting the dots: Does there exist a direct relation of smokeless kitchens with economic development. Discuss. Controlling Household air pollution (HAP) needs to be a key strategic objective for India. Discuss in brief. Also suggest how Household air pollution (HAP) can be controlled by adopting a strategic roadmap. (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) Which of the following countries is not a member of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)? Myanmar Maldives Afghanistan Bhutan Q.2) To check indoor air pollution caused by the use of solid biomass fuels and conventional cook stoves in the rural areas, which institute/organisation has developed a multi-fuel improved cook stove called “NEERDHUR” – DRDO- The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) CSIR- National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) CSIR- The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) DRDO- National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) Q.3) Robben Island was in news recently. It is located in North America Europe South America South Africa MUST READ Monkey Fever in Shivamogga: Kyasanur’s ticking time bomb The Hindu A lover’s quarrel Indian Express After US leaves Kabul Indian Express Volatile nation Indian Express Don’t fire from Supreme Court’s shoulder Indian Express Republic of unfreedom Indian Express

Jan 27, 2019 Motivational Articles

Creative Guidance – Don’t throw your life away – Inspirational Educative Articles

Dont throw your life away: You can very much be alive and still throw your life away if you don’t know what exactly it means to be alive. Life is not just a precious experience that has to be cherished, it is a once in a life time experience! There is no way to live this life again. If life is this precious and unique, then it has to have tremendous meaning and purpose. It is very easy to get lost in the daily mundane routine of life and forget the true meaning and essence of life. Especially in as shallow an age as this in which we are living, life is the easiest thing to lose track of. The saddest part about not knowing our true purpose is waking up one day to realize that we have wasted a perfectly beautiful life in pursuit of worthless goals. There is an ocean of difference between surviving, making a living and living. Most people are either trying to survive or are trying to make a living. Life itself is still a great mystery for most. They have confused different expressions of life for life itself. A flower is an expression of life; when you pause and watch a flower, it becomes an experience. Knowing the difference between the expression and experience of life can make all the difference to our quality of living. In our constant pursuit to make a living, we are chasing different expressions of life. There is no end to this process. We can have the whole world under our feet and still feel miserable and lost. This is because life is not an accumulation of expressions; it is an experience to be lived and enjoyed. At the end of the day, all that matters is a meaningful pause to soak in the infinite beauty of life. Life has adorned herself in all her glory to entice, intoxicate and draw us into her bosom. She is perfect in every which way. Nothing at all has to be done to enjoy her infinite beauty and wonder. You can be rich, poor, intelligent, dumb, happy, and sad; it just doesn’t matter, life will cradle you for you belong to her. You are her creation and expression. Then what is it that you are constantly searching for. May be you are confused about what you want and in that confusion you are searching in all the wrong places. May be there is another way to look at the experience of life. We are running from our own shadows. There is absolutely nothing to run from or run towards. We create our desires to run towards and we create our fears to run away from. Not knowing that life is here and now, we are darting here and there without a moments rest. We are tired of all the running around, but we cannot stop, because somewhere deep down in our mind we have concluded for ourselves that the real meaning of life is in constantly chasing something. Life waits – she has infinite patience. At any moment of your choosing you can stop running, pause and reflect on the life that is already yours. Just knowing how much life has already given you, will bring a sense of calm and serenity to your life. We have absolutely no right to be miserable when we have life on our side. Let us reflect and remember that we are not alone. This moment is life and she is always with us. Let us not ignore her and throw this precious life away. “This article is a part of the creative endeavor of Inner Revolution and IASBABA.”

Jan 26, 2019 UPSC Interview Discussion-TRP

Interview Discussion IAS UPSC: Think, Rethink and Perform (TRP)-Day 13

Interview Discussion: Think, Rethink and Perform; (TRP)- Day 13 ARCHIVES Set 1: Ask these questions to yourself; contemplate and come out with a concrete answer (not to be discussed on this forum). Invest at least 30 minutes on this set of questions. What is your idea of an ideal life partner? What qualities should she/he possess? Do you have those qualities in you first? What is your opinion about live-in relationship? Set 2: Analyse the following issue: General elections are approaching and there are chances that the atmosphere in the country will become vicious once again. Many political leaders would try to divide public opinion on the basis of caste and religion and divert the attention from developmental issues. A perception that the Indian voter is gullible seems to have creeped into the political system. What is your opinion in this regard? What a common citizen can do to dispel such notions? What can he do to make sure that development remains the focal point of political discourse? Think.

Jan 26, 2019 Motivational Articles

Creative Guidance: Book Review – A New Earth – Eckhart Tolle

A New Earth: Eckhart Tolle Eckhart Tolle is a new age spiritual guide. With his enormously successful book “The Power of Now” he introduced millions of individuals to a simple way of experiencing the inner joy of a spiritual life. In this book “A New Earth” he tackles some of the world’s most complex problems. Eckhart offers a spiritual solution to resolve communal, regional and national conflicts. His message is both profound and practical. We have always known that real change begins from within. This book gives a way to effecting that inner change. Apart from offering sound spiritual advice, this book also urges the reader to walk the talk. Very rarely a book compels us to take action. This book of Eckhart makes re-look at our understanding of the self and the world and make the necessary changes from within. The strong identification with our Ego is one of main causes of internal and external conflict. We are so attached to our personal opinions that we rarely accept different opinions and viewpoints. This has been the reason for most of our relationship problems. This book offers a practical solution to break our strong identification with the ego and re-look at our lives from a whole new perspective. If you are looking for some practical tips to transform your life, then this book is a must read.

Jan 26, 2019 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

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

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 25th January 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) South Asian Nitrogen Hub (SANH) Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III – Environment and Ecology; Pollution In news: 18 Indian institutions is part of South Asian Nitrogen Hub to study nitrogen pollution. South Asian Nitrogen Hub (SANH) – group of 50 research institutions from United Kingdom and South Asia to assess and study the quantum and impact of “nitrogen pollution” in South Asia. SANH project has secured £20 million (about ₹200 crore) from the U.K. government. Pic: https://d39gegkjaqduz9.cloudfront.net/TH/2019/01/25/BGL/Bangalore/TH/5_07/41f8b75c_4838b711_101_mr.jpg Key Pointers: Nitrogen particles make up the largest fraction of PM2.5 While Nitrogen is the dominant gas in the atmosphere, it is inert and doesn’t react. However, when it is released as part of compounds from agriculture, sewage and biological waste, nitrogen is considered “reactive”, and may pollute and even exert a potent greenhouse gas (heat trapping) effect. Agriculture remains the largest contributor to nitrogen emissions followed by sewage and organic solid wastes. Nitrous oxide (N2O) is 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide but isn’t as prevalent in the atmosphere. However, this is poised to grow. In the future, reactive nitrogen pollution will be a matter of significant global discussion. NOx emissions in India grew at 52% from 1991 to 2001 and 69% from 2001 to 2011. Report on AQIS’s growing influence In news: U.S.-based think tank report has pointed that - Growing incidents of violence against Muslims in India and attacks in the name of “cow vigilantism”, help Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) to recruit cadres. The report titled ‘AQIS — The Nucleus of Jihad in South Asia’ asserts that the rise in inter-religious clashes in India due to a changing political discourse had resulted in further divisions between Hindus and Muslims. Pic: https://d39gegkjaqduz9.cloudfront.net/TH/2019/01/25/DEL/Delhi/TH/5_13/0c2a4f8a_2689489_101_mr.jpg India and South Africa relations: Red Fort Declaration Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – India and the World; International Relations In news: India, South Africa to revise 22-year-old Strategic Partnership The Strategic Partnership between India and South Africa, called the Red Fort Declaration, was signed in March 1997 by the then South African President Nelson Mandela and former PM H.D. Deve Gowda. Three-year plan of action on security cooperation, trade and investment, tourism, harnessing the ‘blue economy’, maritime cooperation, agriculture, science and technology projects. South African defence firm Denel was barred from doing business in India since 2005. Denel was finally removed from the blacklist in September 2018 after the Central Bureau of Investigation filed a closure report and the Supreme Court subsequently dismissed corruption charges against the company. Miscellaneous: 1. Person in news: Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad Wani Award in news: Ashok Chakra In news: Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad Wani - has been posthumously awarded ‘Ashok Chakra’, India’s highest peace time gallantry award for his role in a counter-insurgency operation in Kashmir last year. He is Kashmir’s first Ashok Chakra awardee and was also awarded Sena Medal for gallantry twice in 2007 and 2018 for his acts of valour. The award to be presented by President Ram Nath Kovind to Lance Naik Wani’s wife Mahajabeen at the Republic Day parade. 2. ICICI Loan scam Part of: GS Paper III and Ethics paper – Corruption; Unethical practices by Private Sector In news: CBI booked Chanda Kochhar, the then managing director and chief executive officer of ICICI Bank, for sanction of credit facilities in violation of RBI rules, which caused a loss of ₹1,730 crore to the bank. (MAINS FOCUS) SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY TOPIC:General studies 3 Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology. Scientific Temper in India Context: There were disgraceful remarks and controversies regarding the Indian Science Congress (ISC) sessions recently. Bizarre and unscientific claims are not gone very well with scientific community. There are demands for policy change, which will include stipulating a process of selection of speakers and scrutinizing the content of their speech. Questions are raised - Whether the nation is undermining its scientific temper? Do you know? ISC has traditionally been a forum where research that is grounded in rationality has always been given a hearing. In a country where vast majority of Indian educational institutes actively discourage learning and research, ISC is the only venue where scientists meet their peers and get affirmation of their work. Scientific temper, a term first used by Nehru in 1946, is a way of life which uses the scientific method to question, observe physical reality, test, analyse and communicate. Scientific Temper @Independence After independence, the need for scientific temper was considered to be important. For Jawaharlal Nehru, scientific temper did not mean that everyone had to study science; rather, it was a way of thinking, a way to break the hold of superstitions by applying rationality and thought. Therefore, the Constitution framers even felt that scientific temper should be protected as a fundamental duty. Well-being of the common man is vested in scientific temper. The onus was on Educational structures to spearhead the transition of the nation from a people stifled by the medieval darkness of the British to a people united in the pursuit of knowledge and a search that would bring prosperity in its wake. Scientific Temper @Now Unfortunately, that vision of the giants of our freedom struggle is not being met today. Even those educated in the best institutes in the country never lost their superstitions. They studied modern science, used modern devices, achieved material prosperity and yet held the most regressive views. ‘God-men’ catering to the educated middle class have used the power of the media and social media to spread their superstitions and broadcast messages that should have been laughed at by those at the kindergarten level. Funding for science is inadequate, management of science is problematic, and the university system has failed. Teaching has become a political game in schools, with facts changing according to the government of the day. Emphasis on Science may not show immediate results, but will finally result in the upliftment of the country. India needs not only “Jai Jawan Jai Kisan (hail the soldier, hail the farmer)”, but also “Jai Vigyan (hail science) and Jai Anusandhan (hail research)”. India’s journey so far: India is among the top 10 countries for scientific research. There have been many indigenous programmes in scientific research. In space missions, India is counted among the top six in the world. India’s performance in science and technology has been impressive. The establishment of a chain of institutes and organisations such as Indian Institute of Science Education and Research and ISRO is a major indicator. Indian participation in mega projects like Large Hadron Collider and gravitational wave observatories under LIGO is noteworthy. However, India is lagging behind when it comes to investments in science proportionate to its GDP. We fare poorly when compared with developed economies. The way ahead: Science has always been universal and neutral. Pseudo-intellectuals and people with unscientific beliefs should avoid looking at science through the prism of religion and beliefs. Role of media – Media should focus on important papers rather than on unimportant issues. Revamping the education system to include more stress on science application and to develop scientific temper in children. Encouraging students to research and write scientific articles and conduct experiments and reading in their field of competence to develop their scientific abilities and increase the scientific desire to know the cause and effect of different phenomena. Connecting the dots: Essay - India needs not only “Jai Jawan Jai Kisan (hail the soldier, hail the farmer)”, but also “Jai Vigyan (hail science) and Jai Anusandhan (hail research)”. Discuss why developing a scientific temper is essential for Indian democracy to flourish? Do you think our society lack scientific temper? Examine why blind faith and superstition are so prevalent. Discuss what needs to be done to enhance the scientific temper and knowledge among citizens. DISASTER MANAGEMENT/ETHICS TOPIC:General studies 3 and 4 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Infrastructure: Energy Disaster and disaster management. Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment. Ethics - Unethical practices in private sector; Humanity and Compassion Illegal mining and related concerns Context: Official statistics indicate that there were more than 82,000 instances of illegal mining in 2010 About 30 per cent of the 374 candidates who contested the elections were either owners of mines or have stakes in the largely unregulated coal mining and transportation industry. Key Indian public institutions have broadly failed to oversee and regulate mining firms. International law obliges India’s government to protect the human rights of its citizens from abuses by mining firms and other companies. India has laws on the books that are designed to do just that, but some are so poorly designed that they seem set up to fail. Others have been largely neutralized by shoddy implementation and enforcement or by corruption involving elected officials or civil servants. The result is that key government watchdogs stand by as spectators while out-of-control mining operations threaten the health, livelihoods and environments of entire communities. Concerns: Indiscriminate mining of coal persists (especially in Meghalaya) despite April 2014 National Green Tribunal ban Ruinous effects on the environment and human life Primitive and hazardous method of mining for coal Unethical practices in private sector (lack empathy and humanity) Ecological impact: acidic discharge from the mines pollute nearby rivers (examples - three rivers in the Jaintia hills: the Myntdu, Lunar and Lukha); leaching of heavy metals; impacts drinking water and irrigation (traces of iron, manganese and aluminium) Dangerous mix of bad policies, weak institutions, and corruption Government oversight and regulation of India’s mining industry is largely ineffectual Even legal mine operators do not comply with the law and respect human rights Poor disaster preparedness: Delay in rescue operations; no one person or agency to coordinate the rescue mission Examples: Case studies of iron mining in Goa and Karnataka illustrate failed regulation, alleged corruption and community harm. Mines operating with the approval of government regulators are able to violate the law with complete impunity. The way ahead: Strict implementation of environmental laws Afforest the abandoned mines Corporate social responsibility – Construction of hospitals and schools by mine owners Regular raids/ checks by security personnel, armed guards, law and order authorities of the concerned State Government. Strict environmental clearance process by Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF) and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports Ministry of Coal has launched the Coal Mine Surveillance & Management System (CMSMS) and ‘Khan Prahari’ mobile application – for reporting, monitoring and taking suitable action on unauthorised coal mining activities. Connecting the dots: Despite NGT Ban, indiscriminate mining of coal still persists. Why? Discuss its impacts and shortcomings. (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) South Asian Nitrogen Hub is an initiative funded by – United Kingdom South Africa Nepal India Q.2) Which among the following are the major sources of Nitrogen pollution? Agriculture Sewage Vehicles Poultry Select the correct answer using code below 1 and 3 1,2 and 3 2 and 3 1,2,3 and 4 Q.3) Agriculture is one of the largest Green house gas contributors on earth. Which of the following statements are correct regarding this? Cattle rearing is responsible for release of a large amount of Methane in atmosphere. Use of manure in soil leads to production of Methane and Nitrogen oxides. Burning of crop stubble release a large amount of CO2 and soot in air Clearing space for agriculture leads to deforestation and hence global warming. Select the code from following: 1,2 and 3 2,3 and 4 1,3 and 4 All of the above Q.4) Nitrogen gas forms 78% of the earth’s environment. Which of the following statements are correct about atmospheric Nitrogen? It creates an inert environment in atmosphere. If Nitrogen is not present, Oxygen would react violently and oxidize (burn) carbon and other elements. Nitrogen adds mass to air and helps in maintaining atmospheric pressure. Nitrogen is taken up by humans through respiration from the atmosphere which helps in building of amino acids and proteins. Some plants have the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen with the help of bacteria. Select the code from below: 1,2 and 3 2,3 and 4 1,2 and 4 All of the above MUST READ Season’s worst: on the influenza outbreak The Hindu Checks and balances The Hindu An inside problem Indian Express Schools without a difference Indian Express A quiet courage Indian Express

Jan 25, 2019 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz - 2019 : IAS Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 157

UPSC Quiz - 2019 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 157 Archives Q.1) With regard to ‘International Criminal Court (ICC)’, consider the following statements It is an international non-governmental organization The Roman Statute, 2002 serves as the ICC's foundational and governing document It seeks to replace national courts of a country in crimes related to war and genocide Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only 1 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Q.2) Consider the following statements about ‘National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO)’ It is the nodal agency for inspecting the mills and granting certificates on plant health for export purposes A phytosanitary certificate for export is issued by NPPO Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) With reference to ‘Sangai deer’, consider the following statements: It is found only in Dachigam National Park It is listed as a critically endangered species by the IUCN Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.4) With reference to ‘Biodiversity Heritage sites’, consider the following statements: These are areas of rich biodiversity, which lie outside the protected area network under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 as amended. They are notified by Central Government in consultation with State Government. They are created under Biological Diversity Act, 2002. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 and 2 only 1 and 3 only 3 only 2 and 3 only Q.5) Consider the following statements about ‘International Humanitarian Law’ International humanitarian law applies to armed conflict, internal tensions or disturbances such as isolated acts of violence. A major part of international humanitarian law is contained in the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 It protects those who do not take part in the fighting, such as civilians and medical and religious military personnel. Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above To Download the Solution - Click here All the Best IASbaba

Jan 25, 2019 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

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

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 24th January 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) ISRO set to launch military satellite Part of: GS Prelims III - Science and Technology; Space Mission In news: ISRO's first mission of 2019 - military imaging satellite, Microsat-R. Microsat-R is put together by a handful of DRDO laboratories; PSLV-C44 will lift off from Sriharikota Pic: https://d39gegkjaqduz9.cloudfront.net/TH/2019/01/24/DEL/Delhi/TH/5_07/d8d930e7_2686000_101_mr.jpg Exercise Sea Vigil Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III – Defence; Security In news: Ten years after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, India conducted its largest coastal defence drill, Exercise Sea Vigil. The Exercise is aimed to test India’s preparedness along the entire 7,516.6 km-long-coastline and exclusive economic zone of the country. It aims to simultaneously activate the coastal security mechanism across all 13 coastal States and Union Territories. Do you know? Post 26/11, the Navy was designated as the agency responsible for overall maritime security, including offshore and coastal security, while the Coast Guard was designated as the agency responsible for coastal security in territorial waters. A multi-tiered patrol and surveillance mechanism with focus on technical surveillance and augmenting Maritime Domain Awareness through the coastal radar chain was adopted. National Park in news: Kaziranga National Park and Manas National Park Part of: GS Prelims III - Science and Technology; Space Mission In news: Floods in August 2016 at Kaziranga National Park displaced many Rhinos. Kaziranga National Park and Manas National Park are in Assam. Manas River and Manas National Park The Manas river flows thorough the west of the Manas National park and is the main river within it. It is a major tributary of Brahmaputra river and splits into two separate rivers, the Beki and Bholkaduba as it reaches the plains. The Manas river also serves as an international border dividing India and Bhutan. Manas National Park is a national park, UNESCO Natural World Heritage site, a Project Tiger reserve, an elephant reserve and a biosphere reserve in Assam, India. The park is well known for species of rare and endangered wildlife that are not found anywhere else in the world like the Assam roofed turtle, hispid hare, golden langur and pygmy hog. Kaziranga National Park It is a national park in the Golaghat and Nagaon districts of Assam. The sanctuary, which hosts two-thirds of the world's great one-horned rhinoceroses, is a World Heritage Site. Kaziranga is recognized as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International for conservation of avifaunal species. Kaziranga has the largest population of the Wild water buffalo anywhere accounting for about 57% of the world population. Do you know? National park is an area which is strictly reserved for the betterment of the wildlife & biodiversity, and where activities like developmental, forestry, poaching, hunting and grazing on cultivation are not permitted. Their boundaries are well marked and circumscribed. Total number of National Parks in Assam is Five (5). Kaziranga National Park, Manas National park, Orang National Park, Dibru-Saikhowa National Park and Nameri National Park. Miscellaneous: Naroda Patiya case Do you know? The Naroda Patiya massacre took place on 28 February 2002 at Naroda, in Ahmedabad during the 2002 Gujarat riots. 97 Muslims were killed by a mob of approximately 5,000 people, organised by the Bajrang Dal, a wing of the Vishva Hindu Parishad. The massacre at Naroda occurred during the bandh (strike) called by Vishwa Hindu Parishad a day after the Godhra train burning. The communal violence at Naroda was deemed "the largest single case of mass murder" during the 2002 Gujarat riots; it accounted for the greatest number of deaths during a single event. (MAINS FOCUS) NATIONAL/HEALTH TOPIC:General studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. Issues relating to poverty and hunger. Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes. India’s sluggish health spending: Moving away from 1% Key pointers: India’s health achievements are very modest compared to large and populous countries such as China, Indonesia or Brazil. India’s neighbours have better health indicators than India. (Example - Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Bhutan). They have made great strides on the development front. Important trend - “health financing transition” As countries become richer, they tend to invest more on health and share of health spending that is paid out of the pocket declines. Economic, political and technological factors move countries through this health financing transition. Concerns: Unlike other countries India has not invested in health sufficiently, though its fiscal capacity to raise general revenues increased substantially from 5% of GDP in 1950-51 to 17% in 2016-17. India currently spends a little over 1% of GDP on health, far below Singapore which has the lowest public spend on health at 2.2% of GDP among countries with significant universal health coverage service. Out-of-pocket payments push millions of people into poverty and deter the poor from using health services. Besides low public spending, neither the Central nor the State governments have undertaken any significant policy intervention, except the National Health Mission, to redress the issue of widening socioeconomic inequalities in health. National Health Mission (with a budget of less than 0.2% of GDP) is far too less to make a major impact. And worryingly, the budgetary provision for the NHM has decreased by 2% in 2018-19 from the previous year. Only ₹2,000 crore was allocated to Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana which can be ‘game-changer’ initiative if implemented effectively. Way ahead: Public policies should focus on – Expanding pooled funding to provide health care. Redistribution of resources to the less advantaged. Pre-paid financing mechanisms – such as general tax revenue or social health insurance (not for profit), collect taxes or premium contributions from people based on their income. Achieve Universal Health Care (UHC) Total government spending should increase. National Health Policy 2017 envisaged raising public spending on health to 2.5% of GDP by 2025. The rise in government health spending also depends on health spending by States as they account for more than two-thirds of total spending. Connecting the dots: Why India's health achievements are very modest and has poor health indicators compared to its neighbours? Examine. Also suggest ideas to improve the status of public healthcare in India. INTERNATIONAL TOPIC:General studies 2 Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests India and the World India-South Africa: Addressing the issue of new migrants Context: The close links between India and South Africa from the perspective of migration is well known. There is vast documentation of historical migrant streams — from the arrival of indentured labourers in Natal in 1860 to the arrival of Indian traders after 1880. Durban, in particular, is known to host one of the largest concentrations of the Indian diaspora. Data from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) show the population of Overseas Indians in South Africa in December 2018 to be over 1.5 million: 60,000 Non-Resident Indians and 15,00,000 Persons of Indian Origin. The invitation to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa as the chief guest for India’s Republic Day celebrations this year has put the spotlight on two important pillars of bilateral ties: Mahatma Gandhi’s connection to South Africa, and a large Indian diaspora. However, for India-South Africa relations to take shape, we need to move beyond Gandhi and the Indian diaspora. Focus should be on recognizing and harnessing the potential of new migratory flows. Do you know? 2019 marks – 150th birth anniversary of Gandhi 100th birth anniversary of Nelson Mandela 125 years of the Pietermaritzburg train incident (On 7 June 1893, young Mahatma Gandhi was forcibly removed from the first class, whites-only carriage of a train in Pietermaritzburg.) Gandhi spent the night at the cold railway station, and pondered over protesting against discrimination which further gave rise to Satyagraha. Focus on South Africa’s new Indian migrants Post its democratic transition, South Africa witnessed an influx of migrants from developing countries such as Mozambique, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, India, and Lesotho, who came to the country in the hope of social and economic success. Indian migrants are driven to South Africa because of cultural relatedness and the presence of networks from the home country. These new migrants have set up businesses, they are critical drivers of businesses and employment generation. However, on the other hand, not all is pleasant among the new Indian migrants and the South Africans of Indian origin. Idea of making South Africa as their ‘home’ has given rise to antagonism towards the new migrants. Indian and Chinese migrant traders have been at the receiving end of xenophobic attacks and violence. Their trading spaces have witnessed violent burglaries and break-ins. Much of this is driven by hatred stemming from the perception that migrants are taking away the jobs of local South Africans. The real story, however, is that migrants have made positive contributions to South Africa’s economy and society. In fact, cities like Johannesburg are driven by migrants. Yet, this receives little attention in mainstream policy discourse or in bilateral/multilateral relationships. Conclusion: President Ramaphosa (during African Union Summit in Kigali, Rwanda, in March 2018) urged South Africans to welcome and embrace foreign nationals from the [African] continent arguing that movement of people allows for new opportunities for business and learning. Prime Minister Narendra Modi (during informal meeting of BRICS) spoke of the need for “smooth movement of labourers worldwide” in the context of managing labour relations in global value chains. Contemporary India and South Africa need to recognise and harness the potential of new migratory flows. Only then can we realise our true strength as allies in BRICS or IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa). The emphasis on skill development, South-South cooperation, and people-to-people contact cannot be delinked from cross-border flows of people, who are rapidly transforming the employment and migration landscape in both countries. At the same time, free labour mobility on its own is not enough; we need measures to safeguard and uphold labour standards globally. Connecting the dots: Transformation from historical linkages to economic cooperation defines India-Africa relations. Analyse. Migrants who leave their countries in search of work are currently not adequately protected by international law. Do you agree? Examine. (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) Which of the following National Parks are present in Assam? Nameri National Park Kaziranga National Park Manas National Park Dibru Saikhowa National Park Select the code from below: 2 and 3 1, 2 and 3 2, 3 and 4 All of the above Q.2) The river serves as an international border dividing India and Bhutan. It is a major tributary of Brahmaputra river. It is the main river flowing within a famous national park. Dibang Lohit Manas Kameng Q.3) Consider the following statements about Kaziranga National Park It is part of the middle Brahmaputra alluvial flood plains Wild Water Buffalo is only found in Kaziranga National Park It is a World Heritage Site Select the correct statements Only 3 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above MUST READ The hard power imperative The Hindu China’s compromise The Hindu An electoral intervention that has clicked The Hindu The gap within: on inter-State disparities The Hindu Not the EVM again Indian Express Those we take for granted Indian Express Righting reservation Indian Express Equality beyond GDP Indian Express

Jan 24, 2019 AIR

All India Radio (AIR) IAS UPSC - Khelo India

Khelo India Search 9th January, 2019 Spotlight here: http://www.newsonair.com/Audio-Archive-Search.aspx TOPIC: General Studies 2 Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. Importance of Sports The importance of sports and fitness in one’s life is invaluable. Playing sports inculcates team spirit, develops strategic & analytical thinking, leadership skills, goal setting and risk taking. A fit and healthy individual leads to an equally healthy society and strong nation. Sports is an extremely important component for the overall development of our nation. India, in the last few years has made steady progress in the field of sports. This tremendous potential needs to be showcased at a global platform. It’s time we inspire young talent, give them top-notch infrastructure and training of the highest level. We need to inculcate a strong spirit of participation in sports that enables players to demonstrate their true potential. Only then can India realise its dream of becoming a sports super power. What is the issue? Resources have never been a problem for India, how it was spent is surely a problem. In comparison to other countries, India had a far worse GDP-to-medal ratio (0.03 as compared to UK (2.5) and US (0.67)). Britain, a country that lags behind India both in population and GDP, finished second in the games with 67 medals. The nation spent ₹2,437 crores over 20 sports disciplines between 2013-17. In the same period of time, the Indian government spent only ₹740 crores over as many as 67 national sports disciplines. For another comparison, the United States’ University of South California spends just over ₹640 crores per annum towards sports. Moreover, the 67 disciplines also included non-Olympic sports like cricket, golf, ball-badminton, and tug-of-war. India needs to not only revamp its spend on sports but also the way in which it was spent. Khelo India Scheme The Khelo India programme has been introduced to revive the sports culture in India at the grass-root level by building a strong framework for all sports played in our country and establish India as a great sporting nation. Ministry: Youth Affairs and Sports Khelo India Scheme aimed at providing an annual scholarship of ₹ 500,000 each for eight years to 1,000 selected athletes. For the first two years between 2017-18 and 2019-20, the program cost the government a total sum of ₹1,756 crores. The government also promised to promote 20 universities across India as hubs for sporting excellence. The bill was unanimously passed in the Union Cabinet. The revamped Khelo India Scheme was launched during the financial year 2017-18 with a view to achieving the twin objectives of Mass participation Promotion of excellence in sports Vision: To infuse sports culture and achieve sporting excellence in the country Mission: Revamped scheme is to encourage sports for all thus allowing the population across gender and all age groups to harness the power of sports through its cross-cutting influence, namely, holistic development of children & youth, community development, social integration, gender equality, healthy lifestyle, national pride and economic opportunities related to sports development. Also, the scheme aims at addressing a bigger problem, that of optimal use of resources. Source: https://kheloindia.gov.in/about Khelo India Games: The Khelo India Games has been introduced to revive the sports culture in India at the grass-root level. The aim is to build a strong framework for all the Indian sports as well as establishing India as a great sporting nation. One of the 12 objectives illustrated above, Khelo India Games programme is aimed at identifying talented players in priority sports disciplines at different levels by a high-powered committee. These young athletes would then be provided annual financial assistance of ₹5 lakh per annum each. The duration of this scholarship would be 8 years. “Padhoge Likhoge to banoge Nawab, Kheloge Kudoge to honge lajawab.” Connecting the Dots Should a developing country having the largest number of hungry and malnourished children even think of becoming a sports powerhouse? What can be the possible strategy to achieve that?

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