Feb 15, 2020 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 15th February 2020

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 15th February 2020 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Following SC rap, telcos asked to pay AGR dues immediately In news: The Supreme Court ordered contempt proceedings initiation against Telcom companies for failing to pay even a “single penny” to the government in Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) dues, worth ₹1.47 lakh crore, despite an October 2019 judgment. Timeline: Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 15th February 2020 SRC: The Hindu From Prelims  Point of view: Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) The usage and licensing fee that telecom operators are charged by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) divided into spectrum usage charges and licensing fees ( 3-8 %) Bone of contention:  The definition of AGR has been under litigation for 14 years. As per DoT, the charges are calculated based on all revenues earned by a telco – including non-telecom related sources such as deposit interests and asset sales. As per Telcos, insist that AGR should comprise only the revenues generated from telecom services. AGR is very Important in Mains Perspective too , it will soon be covered in Mains section  India’s position on Global Hunger Index alarming: VP In news: Vice president: India ranks 102nd on the Global Hunger Index, Despite high food production. Nutritional security requires measures to improve protein and vitamin deficiencies Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 15th February 2020 SRC: The Hindu From Prelims  Point of view: Global Hunger Index (GHI) Report Prepared by the Concern Worldwide (an Irish agency) and the Welt Hunger Hilfe (a German organization) The report is based on four GHI indicators namely, undernourishment, child stunting, child wasting, and child mortality.  India’s child wasting rate was extremely high at 20.8% - the highest India’s rank has slipped from 95th position (in 2010) to 102nd (in 2019) Child wasting Child wasting refers to the share of children under the age of five who are wasted, i.e, they have low weight with respect to their height, reflecting acute undernutrition. New structure for Military Affairs In news: The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), procurement cases will be put up as prioritised by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). Formal structure comprising civil and military officials for the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) headed by the CDS (At present, we have an interim structure, they have no financial power) The proposed DMA will have a Secretary, Transformation and Coordination, which will be the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (IDS), Additional Secretary and five Joint Secretaries. Additional Secretary will be a three-star officer while the Joint Secretaries include three officers, one from each service of the rank of Major General or equivalent ,Major Gen. From Prelims Point of view: Department of Military Affairs: The DMA will be the fifth department in the Ministry after the Department of Defence, the Department of Defence Production, the Department of Defence Research and Development and the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare.  The DMA’s mandate includes promoting jointness in procurement, training and staffing for the Services; facilitating restructuring of the military commands for optimal utilisation of resources by bringing about a jointness in operations, including through the establishment of joint/theatre commands and promoting use of indigenous equipment  The DMA would deal with  The armed forces;  The integrated headquarters of the Ministry, comprising the Army, Naval and Air and defence staff headquarters;  The Territorial Army; and  Works relating to the three services and procurement exclusive to them, except capital acquisitions Defence Acquisition Council Highest decision-making body in the Defence Ministry Decides on new policies and capital acquisitions for the three services (Army, Navy and Air Force) and the Indian Coast Guard.  Minister of Defence is the Chairman of the Council. Formed, after the Group of Ministers recommendations on 'Reforming the National Security System', in 2001, post Kargil War (1999). Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)  (Important for Mains) Link 1: https://iasbaba.com/2020/01/chief-of-defence-staff-cds-the-dual-hatted-role/ Link 2 : https://iasbaba.com/2020/01/chief-of-defence-staff-cds-gen-bipin-rawat-appointed-as-first-cds/ Indian pangolin In news: scientists have radio-tagged the Indian pangolin, an endangered  animal Tagging the animal will help understand the habits of the reclusive, nocturnal animal Radio-tagging is part of a joint project by the forest department and non-profit organisation, the Wildlife Conservation Trust (WCT). IASBaba’s Value addition Ninth ‘World Pangolin Day’ on 15th February, 2020.  Celebrated in February every year to raise awareness of pangolins and bring together stakeholders to help protect these species from extinction. From Prelims Point of view: Indian pangolin:  Has thick scaly skin  Hunted for meat and used in traditional Chinese medicine.  Pangolins are among the most trafficked wildlife species in the world.  Out of the eight species of pangolin, the Indian and the Chinese pangolins are found in India.  Both these species are listed under Schdule I Part I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. IUCN Red List Indian Pangolin: Endangered Chinese Pangolin: Critically Endangered (MAINS FOCUS) Governance Topic: General Studies 2: Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies Elections: Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act. Criminalisation of Politics Context A two Judge Bench of Supreme Court delivered a Judgment on the contempt petitions regarding non-compliance of the directions of a Constitution Bench of SC in Public Interest Foundation and Ors. v. Union of India, 2018 The 2018 Judgement had given the following pronouncements There is lack of information about rising criminalisation of Politics among the citizenry Rapid Criminalisation of Politics cannot be arrested by merely disqualifying tainted legislators but should begin by cleansing Political Parties Ordered Political Parties to publish the criminal details of their candidates in their respective websites and print as well as electronic media for public awareness. Increase in the incidence of criminals in politics Year Percentage of MPs with Criminal Cases pending against them 2004 24% 2009 30% 2014 34% 2019 43% The Court in its present judgement issued the following directions in exercise of its constitutional powers under Articles 129 and 142:  It shall be mandatory for political parties [at the Central and State election level] to upload on their website detailed information regarding individuals with pending criminal cases, who have been selected as candidates. They also have to mention reasons for such selection over people with clean background The reasons as to selection of candidates shall be with reference to the qualifications, achievements and merit of the candidate concerned, and not mere "winnability" at the polls This information shall also be published in newspaper (one local & one national) and on the official social media platforms of the political party, including Facebook & Twitter. These details shall be published within 48 hours of the selection of the candidate or not less than two weeks before the first date for filing of nominations, whichever is earlier. The political party concerned shall then submit a report of compliance with these directions with the Election Commission within 72 hours of the selection of the said candidate. Non-compliance of these directions shall be brought to notice of SC by Election Commission on the grounds of Contempt of Court Merits of the Judgement It is in line with a series of judgments aimed at preserving the purity of the election process: Asset disclosure, NOTA option, Special courts for quick disposal of cases involving elected representatives It increases the information available for Citizens which enables him to take informed choice while choosing his representative. Helps bring structural changes in electoral system which are long-term in nature Criticism of the Judgement Judicial Overreach: An election is an issue to be decided between parties, candidates and the voters. The courts should have no say in the matter, except in particular cases where the Representation of the People Act is violated Threatens autonomy of Election System: By making them enforceable under Article 142 of the Constitution – failure to produce demanded documents risks attracting Contempt of Court – SC threatens to undermine the autonomy of the system of elections and elected legislature. Infringe on ECI: Candidates are already required to file their details in affidavits with the Election Commission. This order could infringe upon the role of the poll watchdog. Selection of candidates is subjective matter: The suitability of candidates is a subjective matter, and the justification required by the SC can only be an opinion, and not an objective fact, making the court’s order effectively unenforceable.  Conclusion SC is in danger of overstepping limits and boundaries, rather it should be limiting itself to exerting moral force on political parties. De-criminalisation of politics cannot be achieved by judicial fiat alone, rather there has to be changes from within the Political parties. Connecting the dots! Internal Democracy of the Political Parties Decline in the institution of Parliament Governance Topic: General Studies 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. 
 Awareness in the fields of IT Digital ID systems and Algorithmic Governance Context For the first time in world, court in the Netherlands stopped a digital identification scheme for reasons of exclusion. This is of significance especially at a time when identity, citizenship and privacy are pertinent questions in India & worldwide What was the scheme? SyRI (System Risk Indicator) was developed by The Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs in 2014 to weed out those who are most likely to commit fraud and receive government benefits Legislation passed by Dutch Parliament allowed government agencies to share 17 categories of data about welfare recipients such as taxes, land registries, employment records, and vehicle registrations with a private company. The company, called “The Intelligence Agency”, used an algorithm to analyse data for four cities and calculate risk scores.  Elevated risk scores were sent to relevant government arms, which stores these on government databases for a maximum of two years. The government, in that time period, could open an investigation on the targeted person. What were the arguments in court? Civil society groups and NGOs launched a legal attack on this case of algorithmic governance The allegation was that the algorithm would begin associating poverty and immigrant statuses with fraud risk. The Dutch government defended the programme in court, saying it prevented abuse and acted as only a starting point for further investigation instead of a final determination. The government also refused to disclose all information about how the system makes its decisions, stating that it would allow gaming of the system. The court found that opaque algorithmic decision-making puts citizens at a disadvantage to challenge the resulting risk scores. Judgement of the Court The court ruled that SyRI was violative of principles of transparency and data minimisation laid out in their General Data Protection Regulation. While the Hague district court found using new technology to control fraud was acceptable, it held SyRI was too invasive and violative of the privacy guarantees Significance of the Judgement This decision sets a strong legal precedent for other courts to follow, especially when Digital ID systems are being rolled out at a fast pace in places like Kenya, Philippines, Nigeria, Mexico, and more This is one of the first times a court anywhere has stopped the use of digital technologies by welfare authorities on human rights grounds Impact on India Similar to the Supreme Court’s Aadhaar judgment setting limits on the ID’s usage, the Hague Court attempted to balance social interest with personal privacy. However, the Aadhaar judgment was not regarding algorithmic decision-making; it was about data collection. India’s pending data protection regulation, being analysed by a Joint Select Committee in Parliament, could learn from the judgement about the need to regulate governments use of digital technologies for welfare activities. Conclusion The ruling demonstrates that parliaments ought to look very closely at the ways in which governments use technology in the social security system, to protect the rights of their citizens. Did You know? Due to General Data Protection Regulation, European tech initiatives have been stalled, including a facial recognition system on students in Sweden and France. However, attempts to ban facial recognition in cities such as San Francisco, USA have not had the same success as in Europe due to loopholes in US regulations A system somewhat paralleling the Dutch SyRI system was a risk-scoring software being used by US court systems to establish bail times. The US Supreme Court declined to hear a related case in 2017. Connecting the dots! Justice B.N.Srikrishna Committee Report Facial recognition used on large scale by China on Uyghurs Algorithmic Governance  (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. With reference to India, which one of the following statements is NOT correct?  IPCL is India's largest petrochemical company RIL is the largest private sector company in India MTNL is listed on NYSE BSNL is the first telecom service organization in India to launch a nationwide cellular service at one time Q 2. Consider the following statements.  The number of post office in India is in excess of 1 lakh. Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) was formed in the year 2000. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) was established in the year 1997. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1, 2 and 3  1 and 2 1 only  3 only. Q3. Which of the following is/are the indicator/indicators used by IFPRI to compute the Global Hunger Index Report?  Undernourishment Child stunting Child mortality Select the correct answer using the code given below. 1 only 2 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3  1 and 3 only Q 4. Consider the following statements:  Toothless mammals such as Pangolins are not found in India. Indian Pangolin is the only species of Pangolins  found in India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 only  2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 ANSWERS FOR 14 FEB 2020 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 B 2 D Must Read About Significance of Data: The Indian Express About Fighting Corona Virus : The Hindu About growth of Asian economies: The Hindu

Feb 15, 2020 Motivational Articles

Creative Guidance: Book Review – The Analects of Confucius – Confucius

The Analects of Confucius: Confucius Confucius was one of the great spiritual teachers and philosophers of china. His teachings influenced a great spiritual movement which became Confucianism. His teachings are a treasure trove of wisdom and deep insights on life that can open up a new world of experiences to the reader. More than a philosopher, Confucius was a mystic who had deeper understanding of life and people. His wisdom came from the depths of his own inner being which made it more real and practical. The Analects of Confucius is a great collection of this parables and teachings that will offer a new understanding of your life.

Feb 14, 2020 AIR

Government Initiatives and Preparedness for Corona Virus - All India Radio (AIR) IAS UPSC

Government Initiatives and Preparedness for Corona Virus ARCHIVES Search 3rd Feb, 2020 Spotlight here: http://www.newsonair.com/Main_Audio_Bulletins_Search.aspx  TOPIC: General Studies 2 Government’s response to global emergency Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora. Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health. Corona Virus  Global death toll rises to 427 as confirmed cases reach more than 20,000 in mainland China According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Coronaviruses (CoV) are a "large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). A novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans. There is no specific medicine for treating and preventing coronavirus till now. The WHO is currently studying cures and is working with partners for better research and development. To protect yourself from coronavirus, it is important to wash hands regularly with soap and water, especially after contacting pets. Doing this can offer protection from bacteria like E.coli and salmonella. The strains of Coronavirus Coronaviruses were first discovered in the 1960s, belonging to the family of viruses called coronaviridae. They consist of a single-strand of the largest ribonucleic acid (RNA) — a macromolecule that converts the genetic information encoded by DNA into proteins — among viruses. Each virus has spike-like structures called peplomers. Under a microscope, this makes the virus resemble sketches of the sun. The name coronavirus is derived from this reference to the gas-like plasma visible around the sun during solar eclipses. The newly discovered strain is designated as 2019-nCoV and commonly referred to with the placeholder term ‘novel strain’. Before the new strain was identified, there were six other coronavirus strains — including Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). Among humans, three other strains of coronavirus continuously circulate and cause pneumonia, bronchitis, respiratory tract infections, and even common cold. Coronaviruses are zoonotic — they get transmitted from humans to animals and vice versa. SARS and MERS, for example, were transmitted from horseshoe bats to humans through an intermediary animal — civet cats and dromedary camels, respectively. These viruses are transmitted when they enter a cell and deposit the RNA genome into the cell’s fluid, called cytoplasm, which holds all the cell material. In here, a protein called ‘replicase’ enables the RNA to replicate itself, all within the respiratory tract, and spread through the body. What sets the new strain apart is its ability to spread even during the incubation period before the appearance of any symptoms. This immediately increases its risk of spreading, making it much harder to contain. When symptoms do appear, they include dry cough, fever, and breathing difficulties, but this could quickly escalate to a fatal condition. Kerala declares emergency: An emergency has been declared in the southern state of Kerala after it was confirmed that a third person had contracted China's deadly coronavirus. Steps taken so far The Indian government has suspended online visa facility for China. This was after the second case was confirmed in (Kerala) India. A second special Air India flight brought 323 Indians from Wuhan. The evacuated people have been quarantined at a special army facility in Manesar near Delhi. So far, 20,000 people from 115 flights at 7 international airports have been screened. According to the health ministry, the National Institute of Virology is fully equipped to test the virus. The government has set up a 24x7 helpline (+91-11-23978046) to attend to public queries on the virus strain which has killed 41 people and infected more than 1,300 people in China so far and is reported to be spreading to several other countries. 11 people, who returned to India from China in recent days, have been put under observation in Kerala, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad for possible exposure to the virus. Held a meeting with medical device manufacturers to check the availability of personal protective equipment including masks and gloves in India Exports of all varieties of personal protection equipment, including clothing and masks used to protect the wearer from air-borne particles, and/or any other respiratory masks or any other personal protective clothing has been prohibited. India does not manufacture examination gloves because of low value and is dependent on imports for the same. China’s coronavirus crisis is an opportunity for India to ensure epidemic preparedness: To prevent nCoV from reaching its shores or, at least, contain it there if it does, India needs to make sure its entry points—airports and ports—are fortified with screening, and quarantining facilities.  Heat scanners that can detect fever, a symptom of infection, at airports are a great start, but the first-line of medical intervention needs to be beefed up. Apart from making sure diagnostics and treatment facilities are bolstered, fighting or preventing an epidemic will require significant public awareness, on methods of transmission, handling of patients and everything in between. The frontline of the fight against communicable diseases is vaccination, and India must engage with vaccine research in a concentrated manner, more so since every warning of the climate change ramifications for India talk of a spurt in tropical, communicable diseases. Do You Know? SARS (Severe Acute respiratory Syndrome), another coronavirus that originated in China, came from bats and the civet cat, which in turn passed it on to humans. The early cases of this new infection were traced to the South China Seafood Wholesale Market. It thus emerged in China in 2002 and spread to 30 countries with 8400+ cases and nearly 800 deaths Study on bats and bat hunters in Nagaland: The government has ordered an inquiry into a study conducted in Nagaland by researchers from the U.S., China and India on bats and humans carrying antibodies to deadly viruses like Ebola. Filoviruses are a family of non-segmented negative-stranded RNA viruses, with Marburg virus and Ebola virus constituting two different species. e-Visa: The India e-Visa is an electronic authorization to travel to India for business, tourism, or medical visits. When applying for an e-Visa, it is not necessary to submit your passport or other personal documents to the consulate. The e-Visa approval will be issued in advance electronically before your departure to India. At the immigration checkpoint the actual visa will be placed inside your passport. Connecting the Dots: Elaborate: “When there is an unknown, people try to fill in the void.”

Feb 14, 2020 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz - 2020: IAS Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 180

UPSC Quiz - 2020: IAS Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 180 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

Feb 14, 2020 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 14th February 2020

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 14th February 2020 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Publish criminal history of candidates, SC orders parties In news: The Supreme Court  ordered political parties to publish the entire criminal history of their candidates for the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections  The information should be detailed and include the nature of the offences, charges framed against him, the court concerned and the case number. The information should be published in a local and a national newspaper as well as the parties’ social media handles. It should mandatorily be published either within 48 hours of the selection of candidates or less than two weeks before the first date for filing of nominations, whichever is earlier.  SC also ordered political parties to submit compliance reports with the Election Commission of India within 72 hours or risk contempt of court action. This is applicable to parties both at the Central and State levels. Why ? Unimpeded rise of criminals, often facing heinous charges like rape and murder, encroaching into the country’s political and electoral realms. Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 14th February 2020 Src: The Hindu https://epaper.thehindu.com/Home/ShareImage?Pictureid=GLI7467DL.1 Govt. notifies medical devices as drugs In news: Health Ministry notified medical devices used on humans as drugs under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act Mandatory registration of such devices  The notification will make companies accountable for quality Small manufacturers making low-risk equipment would find it tough to comply with the new rules. From Prelims Point of View The Drugs and Cosmetics Act  The Drugs and Cosmetics Act the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Amendments are related to the Conditions for License / Approval  The proper name of the drug or fixed dose combination drug shall be printed or written in a conspicuous manner The name of the Drug shall be at least two font size larger than the brand name or the trade name The brand name or the trade name, if any, shall be written below or after the proper name on the label of the innermost container of the drug or every other covering in which the container is packed The first high-speed patrol boat being built for Vietnam under the $100-million Line of Credit (LoC) will be delivered  Background: In 2016, India had extended another $500 million defence LoC to Vietnam and discussions are under way to identify the equipment. India has also extended a defence LoC to Bangladesh and part of that is also for naval vessels. IASBaba’s Value Addition: Line of Credit is a ‘soft loan’ provided on concessional interest rates to developing countries, LOCs helps to promote exports of Indian goods and services, The projects under LOCs are spread over different sectors (Agriculture, Infrastructure, Telecom, Railway, Transmission/Power, Renewable Energy etc.). The Indian Development Assistance Scheme (IDEAS) (2015) includes provisions to provide better terms of credit, which will be attractive to many developing countries, who are now seeking alternative means of finance.   Trade talks between India -U.S. In news: Trade Issues :  Medical device price caps levied by India,  a rationalisation of tariffs levied by both sides,  Greater market access for U.S. agricultural and dairy products. Full restoration of GSP (Generalised System of Preferences) Full restoration of GSP (Generalised System of Preferences is unlikely at present, given the USTR’s notice that aims to treat India and a number of other countries as “developed countries”, New “health cess” (US) will impact pricing for medical devices, and the raising of tariffs on several items including electric vehicle (EV) components, dairy products, shelled walnuts, edible vegetable oils, infant foods, and soy products may also become an issue From Prelims Point of View Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) Umbrella that comprises the bulk of preferential schemes granted by industrialized nations to developing countries. Reduced Most Favored Nations (MFN) Tariffs or duty-free entry of eligible products exported by beneficiary countries to the markets of donor countries. GSP was adopted at UNCTAD in New Delhi in 1968 UNCTAD United Nation Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) is a permanent intergovernmental body established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1964. It supports developing countries to access the benefits of a globalized economy more fairly and effectively. Slapping Sec. 144 during CAA protests ‘illegal’: HC The HC said  the District Magistrate (DM) had failed to give “reasons” in order invoking Section 144  It is in contravention to the parameters laid down by the Supreme Court in the cases of Anuradha Bhasin Vs Union of India and the Ramlila Maidan Incident Vs Union of India. From Prelims Point of View Section 144 Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) of 1973 authorises the Executive Magistrate of any state or territory to issue an order to prohibit the assembly of four or more people in an area Every member of such 'unlawful assembly' can be booked for engaging in rioting. Imposed in urgent cases of nuisance or apprehended danger of some event that has the potential to cause trouble or damage to human life or property. Generally prohibits public gathering.  Maximum punishment for such an act is three years.  No order under Section 144 shall remain in force for more than two months but the state government can extent the validity for two months and maximum up to six months.  It can be withdrawn at any point of time if situation becomes normal. (MAINS FOCUS) Governance Topic: General Studies 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. 
 Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies. Medical Devices (Amendment) Rules, 2020 Context The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has notified changes in the Medical Devices Rules, 2017 to regulate medical devices on the same lines as drugs under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 Need for such rules: Faulty hip implants by pharma major Johnson & Johnson – where the company agreed in court to pay Rs 25 lakh each to the 67 people who had had to undergo revision surgeries because the implants were defective. Government’s lack of regulatory teeth when it came to medical devices.  Present Penal Provision:  Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940- Manufacture or sale of substandard items is punishable with imprisonment of at least 10 years. At present, only 23 medical devices have been classified as drugs. In India, most implantable devices are unregulated, including pacemakers, defibrillators, continuous monitoring glucose monitors, etc.  Inadequate FDI in the sector, as presently, investors shy away from an unpredictable, incomplete and incorrect regulatory environment for medical devices. Changes in Rules: Requirement of online registration of such devices with the Central Licensing Authority through an identified online portal established by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation for this purpose – generation of registration number This registration number should be mentioned on the label of medical device. Every medical device, either manufactured in India or imported, will have to have quality assurance before they can be sold anywhere in the country. The notification calls for a voluntary registration within a period of 18 months from April 2020 These rules are applicable to devices intended for internal or external use in the diagnosis, treatment, mitigation or prevention of disease or disorder in human beings or animals Objective of the rules: To regulate all medical devices so that they meet certain standards of quality.  It will also make medical device companies accountable for quality and safety of their products. What are the items covered under the Medical Device Rules? The devices used for diagnosis, monitoring, treatment, assistance for any injury or disability, investigation, replacement or modification or support of the anatomy or of a physiological process will now come within the scope of the definition of ‘Drugs’ A large number of commonly used items like hypodermic syringes and needles, cardiac stents, perfusion sets, catheters, orthopaedic implants, bone cements, lenses, sutures, internal prosthetic replacements For some items such as sphygmomanometers (used to monitor blood pressure), glucometers (to check blood sugar), thermometers, CT scan and MRI equipment, dialysis and X-ray machines, implants etc, different deadlines for compliance have been set.  Is this a sudden move? - NO In April 2019, the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) had recommended that all medical devices should be notified as “drugs” under the drug regulation law to ensure they maintain safety and quality standards.  In October 2019, the Health ministry had circulated copies of the then proposed notification for public comments following recommendations of DTAB Challenges Doubts remain about the ability of the Central Drugs and Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO) to effectively regulate both drugs and medical devices. Requiring State Cooperation (State DSCOs) in effectively ensuring the compliance of all firms manufacturing medical devices Lack of Patient Safety Medical Devices Law in India Need to reduce import dependence of medical equipment- India imports between 70 and 90 per cent of its medical devices. The changed rules will impact on the small and marginal players, largely Unorganised in the low-value high volume segment of the medical devices industry. Government should come with schemes to support such small firms (like subsidies on loans) Concerns are also raised that the rules are very rigid and any non-conformity can be treated as a criminal offence by any drug inspector under the Act at his discretion. Did You Know? Drugs Technical Advisory Board is a statutory body constituted under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. The function of DTAB is to advise the Central government and State government on technical matters related to drugs and cosmetics. As per industry estimates, the Indian medical devices market will grow to USD 50 billion by 2025 100% Foreign Direct Investment is permitted in Medical devices through the automatic route Medical Device Parks are planned across India, including Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone Limited (AMTZ), a park in Sultanpur village (Telangana) and HLL Lifecare Mediparks in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Gujarat. Connecting the dots! National List of Essential Medicines National Pharmaceutical Authority Jan Aashudi Yojana Society Topic: General Studies 1: Social empowerment Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India. Same-Sex Marriage: A marriage story for everyone Context A petition filed in the Kerala High Court by a male same-sex couple challenges the constitutionality of the Special Marriage Act on the ground that it discriminates against same-sex couples The petition seeks logical extension of the rights already recognised by the Supreme Court in Navtej Johar Case About Special Marriage Act It was enacted in 1954 which allows and facilitates the registration of inter-religious marriages. It thus acts as a legislative tool for social change, an attempt to remove a social barrier to the exercise of individual autonomy. Navtej Singh Johar vs Union of India Case. 2018 Supreme Court in this case decriminalised homosexuality by striking off parts of Section 377 of IPC which were held violative of Fundamental Rights of LGBTQ Community. SC upheld the pre-eminence of Constitutional morality in India by observing that equality before law (Article 14) cannot be denied by giving precedence to public or religious morality. SC  while stating Yogyakarta Principles upheld the right of same-sex couples to express their sexual identity. SC also upheld the LGBTQ’s right to privacy and non-interference in the conduct of their personal affairs, and the right to be recognised as full members of society. Why it is important to recognise marriages of same-sex couples? Legal Importance: Marriage carries a range of legal rights and protections, available during the marriage as well as on its dissolution by divorce (the right to seek maintenance) or death (the right to inherit property). Social Importance: Marriage continues to be the cornerstone of social legitimacy and family in India. Recognition of same-sex marriages will reduce their marginalisation and lead to wider acceptance in society Individual Importance: Marriage, commitment and family are not abstract legal concepts, but stages of human development, aspiration and give meaning to their personal lives. Political Importance: Same-sex marriage is recognised in nearly 30 countries across the world. Recognition of same in India will enrich the Democratic culture in India whereby every citizen is treated equally irrespective of their sexual orientation Conclusion The petition in Kerala High Court provides a potential first step towards making marriage, as an institution, as a legal concept, more accessible and egalitarian, less arbitrary and exclusionary. Value Addition Yogyakarta Principles recognize freedom of sexual orientation and gender identity as part of Human Rights.  They were outlined in 2006 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia by a distinguished group of International Human Right experts. After the SC judgement in Navtej Singh Case, provisions of Section 377 remain applicable in cases of non-consensual carnal intercourse with adults, all acts of carnal intercourse with minors, and acts of bestiality Naz Foundation vs. Govt. of NCT of Delhi (2009) - Delhi High Court struck off section 377, legalising consensual homosexual activities between adults Suresh Kumar Koushal Case (2013) – Supreme Court overturned the Delhi High Court Judgement in Naz Foundation case Connecting the dots! Marital rape and rights of women (Social empowerment) Reservation for Transgender (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”. Q1. Consider the following statements : Most international agencies which find Development Programme in India on intergovernmental bilateral agreements, mainly provide:  Technical assistance Soft loans which are required to be paid back with interest Grants, not required to be paid back Food assistance to be paid back Choose the options below 2 and 4 are correct 1, 2 and 3 are correct 1, 2 and 4 are correct 3 and 4 are correct Q 2. Consider the following countries:  Brazil  Mexico South Africa According to UNCTAD, which of the above is/are categorized as “Emerging Economies”? 1 only  1 and 3 only 2 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 ANSWERS FOR 13 FEB 2020 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 C 2 B 3 C Must Read About Women in Army: The Hindu About WEF and the issues associated with it : The Hindu About Pakistan’s action on Hafiz Saeed: The Hindu

Feb 14, 2020 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 13th February 2020

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 13th February 2020 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Mana Krishna In news: The Krishna district administration has launched ‘Mana Krishna’ (Our Krishna), a massive campaign of cleaning Krishna River canals as part of the Clean Krishna-Godavari Canals mission In the Krishna River and Godavari River basins in Andhra Pradesh.  The site is known for the D-6 block where Reliance Industries discovered the biggest natural gas reserves in India in 2003 The basin is home to olive ridley sea turtle, a vulnerable species Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 13th February 2020 Src: Uttarkhandnews Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 13th February 2020 Src: Rediff Industrial production shrinks 0.3% in December In news: The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) had grown by 2.5% in December 2018. India’s industrial production growth turned negative in December, contracting by 0.3%, mainly on account of a decline in manufacturing sector output According to the National Statistical Office (NSO) data, the manufacturing sector output contracted by 1.2% in December 2019 as against a growth 2.9% From Prelims Point of View: Index of Industrial Production  Growth rates in different industry groups of the economy in a fixed period of time. It is compiled and published monthly by the Central Statistical Organization (CSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. Composite indicator rate of industry groups classified under: Broad sectors, namely, Mining, Manufacturing, and Electricity. Use-based sectors, namely Basic Goods, Capital Goods, and Intermediate Goods. Core industries of India represent about 40% of the weight of items that are included in the IIP. Significance of IIP : IIP is the only measure on the physical volume of production. It is used by government agencies including the Ministry of Finance, the Reserve Bank of India, etc, for policy-making purposes. IIP remains extremely relevant for the calculation of the quarterly and advance GDP estimates. Coronavirus samples from Karnataka  test positive for H1N1 In news: Suspected coronavirus (nCoV) cases that tested negative for the virus have tested positive for H1N1 Although the novel coronavirus is related to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), the only difference is that the efficiency of person to person transmission is high in the novel coronavirus Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 13th February 2020 From Prelims Point of View: Coronaviruses Common in various species of animals, such as cattle, camels, bats, and cats.  Cause diseases ranging from cold to SARS. Coronaviruses can infect humans, which can then spread from person to person. Coronaviruses cause respiratory infections in humans which are generally mild, but sometimes, can be fatal. Physically large as far as viruses go (26 – 32 kilobases), having a surface of spike projections (which resembles a crown and hence the name ‘corona’). Like the influenza virus, the coronavirus spreads through both direct and indirect contact. TTD lifts restrictions on sale of big laddus In news: Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has resolved to lift restrictions on the sale of big laddus and make them easily available to devotees at its counters.  TTD the big laddus (popularly known as Kalyanotsavam laddus) were in great demand and hence were sold at exorbitant rates in the black market. Devotees can now buy the desired number of laddus at ₹200 each. From Prelims point of view: Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams India’s richest temple, the Venkateshwara (Tirupati) temple have the patent of its famous ‘laddu’ Geographical Indications Registry which also granted the laddu the status of Geographical Indicator of the Tirupati region. Bill to regulate pesticide trade In news: Cabinet approved the Pesticides Management Bill, 2020,  Bill will regulate the business of pesticides and compensate farmers in case of losses from the use of spurious agro-chemicals. From Prelims Point of View: Highlights of the Bill Provide compensation when there is farm loss due to use of low-quality pesticides.  The loss is to be paid using funds collected from the manufacturers.  The information regarding the pesticides available in the market is to be made available in digital format.  This will help farmers make the right choice. Centre clears Major Ports Authority Bill The Cabinet has given its nod to Major Ports Authority Bill that will replace a 1963 law governing country’s 12 major ports. From Prelims Point of View: Background: At present:  ports are governed by a ports law of 1963. High logistic costs owing to legacy issues including the Tariff Authority for Major Ports (TAMP)’s archaic regulatory grip. Overview of the Bill: The proposed law is aimed at enhancing the overall efficiencies of the ports. Now ‘major ports’ will get to determine the tariffs for various port-related services as well as the terms for private developers who team up with them. Every port will now be governed by a Port Authority which will have powers to fix reference tariffs for various port services. Creation of an adjudicatory board at the apex level for review of port authority’s decisions.  It will have the mandate to resolve the disputes between port authorities and the PPP operators. Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 13th February 2020 Src: The Hindu  Direct tax Bill to include DRTs In news : Direct Tax Vivad se Vishwas Bill, 2020  to increase its scope to cover litigation pending in various debt recovery tribunals (DRTs).  The aim of reducing litigation related to direct taxes. It was proposed to cover tax disputes pending at the level of commissioner (appeals), Income Tax Appellate Tribunals, high courts and the Supreme Court. From Prelims Point of View: Debt Recovery Tribunals: Debt Recovery Tribunals were established to facilitate the debt recovery involving banks and other financial institutions with their customers.  DRTs were set up after the passing of Recovery of Debts due to Banks and Financial Institutions Act (RDBBFI), 1993. At present, there are 33 DRTs and 5 DRATs functioning at various parts of the country.  In 2014, the government has created six new DRTs to speed up loan related dispute settlement. Compared to the ordinary court procedures, DRTs were able to handle large number of cases with low delay during the initial phases.  Though the DRTs have made impact on recovery front, several issues related to their performance in the background of rising volume of NPAs have appeared in later period. (MAINS FOCUS) Indian Governance Topic: General Studies 2: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health 
 Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes Nutrition and Budget’s fine print The Global Hunger Index, reported that India suffers from “serious” hunger, ranked 102 out of 117 countries, and that just a tenth of children between six to 23 months are fed a minimum acceptable diet. Malnutrition - A condition that results from eating a diet in which one or more nutrients are either not enough or are too much. There are multiple dimensions of malnutrition that include calorific deficiency, protein hunger and micronutrient deficiency.  However, there are gaps in governments policy and budgetary allocation when dealing with nutrition in India, some of these are: First calorific deficiency The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme provides a package of services including supplementary nutrition, nutrition and health education, health check-ups and referral services. ICSD tries to tackle calorific deficiency of children, pregnant and lactating mothers and adolescent girls, and key community groups. For 2019-20, the allotment was Rs. 27,584.37 crore but revised estimates are Rs. 24,954.50 crore, which points to an underutilisation of resources.  Another pathway to address hunger is the Mid-Day Meal Scheme, to enhance nutrition of schoolchildren.  Here too, the issue has been with poor expenditure. The 2019-20 Budget allocation was Rs. 11,000 crore and revised estimates are only Rs. 9,912 crore Second is protein hunger Pulses are a major contributor to address protein hunger.  However, a scheme for State and Union Territories aims to reach pulses into welfare schemes (Mid-Day Meal, Public Distribution System, ICDS) has revised estimates standing at just Rs. 370 crore against Rs. 800 crore allocation in the 2019-20 Budget. Third is Micronutrient deficiency Horticulture Mission – which can be one of the ways to address micronutrient deficiency – also has poor implementation. Revised estimates for 2019-20 stand at Rs. 1,583.50 crore against an allocation of Rs. 2,225 crore.  As millets have the potential to address micronutrient deficiencies, the momentum given to these cereals through its inclusion in NFSM (National Food Security Mission) needs to be sustained. However, the NFSM strains to implement allocation of ₹2,000 crore during 2019-20, as revised expenditures stand at ₹1,776.90 crore. Fourth is weakness in POSHAN Abhiyan Under POSHAN Abhiyaan, the National Nutrition Mission which is a major initiative to address malnutrition, focus of the bulk of the funding has been on technology, whereas, actually, it is convergence that is crucial to address nutrition. The Initiative also found on average that only 34% of funds released by the Government of India were spent from FY 2017-18 to FY 2019-20 till November 30, 2019. Impact of underspending: allocations for subsequent years will also be affected, limiting the possibility of increasing budgets Following are suggestions to move forward:  Focus on nutrition-related interventions, beyond digitisation. Intensify the convergence component of POSHAN Abhiyaan, using the platform to bring all departments in one place to address nutrition To form 10,000 farmer producer organisations with an allocation of Rs. 500 crore to nutrition-based activities Promotion of youth schemes to be directed to nutrition-agriculture link activities in rural areas Give explicit emphasis and fund allocation to agriculture-nutrition linked schemes Ensure early disbursement of funds and an optimum utilisation of schemes linked to nutrition. Conclusion Nutrition goes beyond just food, with economic, health, water sanitation, gender perspectives and social norms contributing to better nutrition. This is why implementation of multiple schemes can contribute to better nutrition. Did You Know? The link between agriculture and nutrition is important because about three-fifths of rural households are agricultural in India and malnutrition rates, particularly in rural areas are high. The Bharatiya Poshan Krishi Kosh (BPKK) which was launched in 2019 by Minister for Women and Child Development and Microsoft is a recent attempt to bridge this gap BPKK is a repository of diverse crops across agro-climatic zones in India for better nutritional outcomes Connecting the dots! Malnutrition’s impact on GDP and SDG goal 2 of ‘Zero Hunger’ by 2030. Prevalence of Obesity in India- reasons and solutions Indian Economy Topic: General Studies 3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment
 Government Budgeting. Disinvestment of LIC: Is India short-selling the family silver? The public sector in India is a picture of contradictions.  It elicits derision and ridicule in market circles. The government is apologetic about it with analysts are demanding for its dismantlement citing its irrelevance  At the same time, when markets are on a free fall, investors look at public sector entities like LIC to bail them out Despite the privatisation wave across the world, the reach and influence of state-owned  enterprises (SOEs) keeps growing. According to OECD, there are about 40 countries in the developed and developing world (excluding China) having SOEs valued at $2.5 trillion and employing nearly 10 million people In addition, governments hold minority shareholdings valued at $912 billion, employing 2.8 million people.  Finance (26 per cent), electricity and gas (21) and transport (18) are the major sectors in which SOEs have a significant presence in value terms. China’s SOEs China’s financial SOEs together hold $34 trillion of assets compared to non-financial SOEs’ $26 trillion.  They employ millions and form a large part of global GDP China SOEs are categorised into various industries for garnering revenues for the government to maintain economic stability. Key industries (defence, electricity, oil, aviation, rail, shipping, etc) Pillar industries (autos, chemicals, construction, electronics) and  Normal industries (tourism, pharma, investment)  Divestment of public sector is not something unusual in emerging markets. A host of big SOEs with large IPOs like Agriculture Bank of China ($22 billion), ICBC ($22 billion), Bank of China ($11 billion), Rosneft ($11 billion) are inspirations for many emerging economies. China has listed all its four major insurance companies. China Life, the country’s biggest insurer raised $3 billion in 2003 when the market was down; Ping An made $5 billion in 2007 at its peak; China Pacific garnered $3.1 billion in 2009. Even General Motors of the US, which pulled off the biggest IPO in 2010 at $23 billion, was 61% owned by the US government then; this fell to 33% after the share issue Large IPOs of SOEs in India such as Coal India ($3.3 billion), ONGC (2.2 billion) and GIC (1.6 billion) may look suboptimal compared to companies of similar stature and significance in other countries Concern about Disinvestment The question over disinvestment is about how and when — selling them for meeting immediate needs or after making them strong enough to attract global interest. The concern thus is whether India is able to realise the full value these companies hold or is it too hasty in cashing out. The case of LIC On the net premiums written, LIC, with $48.9 billion (December 2018), is placed 17 among the 25 top global insurers and 21st on the basis of non-banking assets (Global Insurance Market Trends, OECD 2019). On premiums written, LIC’s is $100 billion less than top ranked UnitedHealth Group of the US ($156 billion), and about $50 billion less than Ping An of China (4th rank). Premium written by Ping An is double of LIC’s In terms of non-banking assets, LIC’s $438 billion is less than half of Allianz’s $1 trillion. On the other hand, gross claims paid by India’s insurance sector at 17.2% in life and 15.9% in non-life are on the higher side when compared with those in the US (2.8/4.6 per cent) and Korea (6.9/12.3 per cent). Doubts over Utility of Listing Many public sector banks with great listing history two decades back been merged to save the banking industry Growth and stability in the regions of Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe after rampant privatisation are not substantively better when compared to Asia, which largely thrives on growth driven by a large public sector It is the active support of the state that enabled Chinese financial firms to mop up most of the new capital issuance in the world.  Conclusion A sell-off to raise quick cash won’t be such an effective way in the long run for an economy in pursuit of global leadership. Selling family silver is easy, but creating heirlooms that a family can take pride in is difficult. Connecting the dots Air India disinvestment BSNL and MTNL performance Need for Public Broadcaster in form of AIR/Doordarshan (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”. Q1. The sea coast of which one of the following states has become famous as a nesting place for the giant Olive Ridley turtles from South America?  Goa Gujarat Orissa  Tamil Nadu Q2. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:  List I (Rivers)                                                                                              List II (Dams) Cauvery                                                                                                   1. Alamatti Krishna                                                                                                     2. Mettur Narmada                                                                                                 3. Gandhi Sagar Chambal                                                                                                  4. Sardar Sarovar Codes: A-1; B- 4; C-2; D-3  A-2; B-1; C-4; D-3 A-2; B-1; C-3; D-4  A-1; B-3; C-4; D-2 Q3. In India, in the overall Index of Industrial Production, the Indices of Eight Core Industries have a combined weight of 37.90%. Which of the following are among those Eight Core Industries?  Cement Fertilizers Natural gas Refinery products Textiles Select the correct answer using the codes given below: 1 and 5 only 2, 3 and 4 only 1, 2, 3 and 4 only 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 ANSWERS FOR 12 FEB 2020 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 B 2 B 3 C Must Read About American Politics: The Hindu About Kashmir’s situation : The Hindu About Data based governance: The Hindu

Feb 14, 2020 IASbaba's Monthly Current Affairs Magazine

IAS UPSC Current Affairs Magazine JANUARY 2020

IAS UPSC Current Affairs Magazine JANUARY 2019 ARCHIVES Hello Friends, This is the 56th 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 JANUARY 2020. DOWNLOAD THE MAGAZINE- CLICK HERE

Feb 13, 2020 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 12th February 2020

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 12th February 2020 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Implementation of Skill India at odds with political economy Part of: GS Prelims –Polity and GS-II- Govt Policies  In news: Study by the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS) and the Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC) has revealed  The implementation of the Skill India policy has not sufficiently anchored the reality of India’s political economy The preponderance of informal service work — even in the organised sector — makes the future of the skilled service worker almost as bleak as that of the unskilled worker. From Prelims point of view Skill India Mission Skill India Mission is an initiative of the Government of India, launched by the Prime Minister on the 16th of July 2015 with an aim to train over 40 crore people in India in different skills by 2022. It includes various initiatives of the government like  National Skill Development Mission,  National Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, 2015,  Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)  Skill Loan scheme Hampi World Heritage site Part of: GS Prelims Art & Culture and GS-I- Heritage In news: The Supreme Court  confirmed the Karnataka government authorities’ decision to demolish buildings constructed in Virupapura Gaddi, an oval islet formed by the Tungabhadra and located west of the Hampi World Heritage site. The constructions were in violation of the Mysore Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act of 1961. From Prelims point of view Group of Monuments at Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in east-central Karnataka, India It became the pilgrimage cente of the Hindu religion.  It was the capital of Vijayanagara Empire in the 14th century  Hampi was a prosperous, wealthy and grand city near the Tungabhadra River, Hampi-Vijayanagara was the world's second-largest medieval-era city after Beijing, India's richest at that time,  Vijayanagara Empire was defeated by a coalition of Muslim sultanates;  its capital was conquered, pillaged and destroyed by sultanate armies in 1565, after which Hampi remained in ruins Described by UNESCO as an "austere, grandiose site"  Includes "forts, riverside features, royal and sacred complexes, temples, shrines, pillared halls, mandapas, memorial structures, water structures and othersthere is evidence of Ashokan epigraphy, and it is mentioned in the Ra Virupaksha Temple, an active Adi Shankara-linked monastery and various monuments belonging to the old city. Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 12th February 2020 SRC :Hampi Cleaning of drains & septic tanks claims 110 lives in 2019 Part of: GS Prelims –Polity and GS-II- Vulnerable section In news: Number of people who died while cleaning sewers and septic tanks in the country increased by almost 62% from 68 in 2018 to 110 in 2019, Social Justice and Empowerment (SJE)  Ministry manual scavenging is banned under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013. Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 12th February 2020 Src: The Hindu From Prelims point of view Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 The law prohibits the employment of manual scavengers, the manual cleaning of sewers and septic tanks without protective equipment and the construction of insanitary latrines. The law also provides rehabilitation of manual scavengers and alternative employment to them within the time bound manner.  From now onwards, the construction and maintenance of the insanity latrines has became an offence, therefore no one can be employed or engaged as the manual scavenger. National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK) NCSK was constituted as a statutory body under the NCSK ACT, 1993. Look into matters concerning the Safai Karamcharis’ welfare and makes recommendations to the government.  1.25 lakh to attend ‘Kem chho Trump’ show Part of: GS Prelims –International  and GS-II- International relations In news: The inauguration of the new Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium, the largest cricket stadium in the world.  Mr. Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold the “Kem chho Trump” (Howdy Trump) event at the stadium Mahatma Gandhi’s favourite hymn, “Vaishnav Jan to” will be played in the background music. From Prelims Point of view : Vaishnava Jana To Vaishnava Jana To is a Hindu bhajan, written in the 15th century by the poet Narsinh Mehta in the Gujarati language.  The poem speaks about the life, ideals and mentality of a Vaishnava jana (a follower of Vaishnavism). Received privilege motion against Minister: Speaker Part of: GS Prelims –Polity and GS-II- Parliament  In news: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla received the notice of privilege motion From Prelims Point of view : Privilege motion : Rights and immunities enjoyed by members of Parliament, individually and collectively, so that they can “effectively discharge their functions”.  When any of these rights and immunities are disregarded, the offence is called a breach of privilege and is punishable under law of Parliament A notice is moved in the form of a motion by any member of either House against those being held guilty of breach of privilege. Speaker/RS chairperson is the first level of scrutiny of a privilege motion.  The Speaker/Chair can decide on the privilege motion himself or herself or refer it to the privileges committee of Parliament (MAINS FOCUS) Indian Polity Topic: General Studies 2: Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.  LOKPAL – Six Year on but still a non-starter Lokpal (and Lokayuktas at State level) are statutory bodies established under Lokpal and Lokayukta Act, 2013  They perform the function of an "ombudsman” and inquire into allegations of corruption against certain public functionaries and for related matters. Powers of Lokpal Jurisdiction of Lokpal includes Prime Minister, Ministers, members of Parliament, Groups A, B, C and D officers and officials of Central Government. Jurisdiction of the Lokpal included the Prime Minister except on allegations of corruption relating to international relations, security, the public order, atomic energy and space. The Lokpal Act mandates that all public officials should furnish the assets and liabilities of themselves as well as their respective dependents. It has the powers to superintendence over, and to give direction to CBI. It has been vested with the powers of a civil court. It is empowered under the law to set up its own inquiry wing headed by a Director of Inquiry and its own prosecution wing headed by a Director of Prosecution Lokpal has powers of confiscation of assets, proceeds, receipts and benefits arisen or procured by means of corruption in special circumstances. Lokpal has the power to recommend transfer or suspension of public servant connected with allegation of corruption. However, the implementation of the act has been poor due to reason like Delay in appointment: For more than five years since enactment of act in 2013, the chairperson and members of the Lokpal were not appointed.  The government claimed that since no one could be recognised as the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) after the 2014 general election, the committee responsible for selecting members of the Lokpal could not be constituted.  The chairperson and members of the Lokpal were appointed only in March 2019 after a orders from the Supreme Court Actual Composition of the select committee: A truncated selection committee, without the LoP, was set up – PM, Speaker, CJI and Eminent jurist (Mukul Rohatgi – former Attorney General of India) – to constitute Lokpal in March 2019 The four-member selection committee was thus seen as having a preponderance of representatives of the ruling party. This raised doubts about the independence of the Lokpal even before it became operational. Failure to Operationalize Lokpal –  More than 10 months after constituting Lokpal, the government has not made rules prescribing the form for filing complaints to the Lokpal.  The Central government has also failed to formulate rules regarding asset disclosure by public servants The inquiry and prosecution wings of the anti-corruption ombudsman are yet to be set up.  The Lokpal has also not appointed the Director of Inquiry or Prosecution Regulations which the Lokpal was obligated to make under the law are yet to be made, including those specifying the manner and procedure of conducting preliminary inquiry and investigation. Resignation of its judicial member, Justice Dilip B. Bhosale, for undisclosed reasons has further dented the image of the institution. Veracity of Statistics on Lokpal Website: The website of the Lokpal states that it scrutinised 1,065 complaints received till September 30, 2019 and disposed of 1,000. Since necessary procedures to operationalise the law are yet to be put in place, the legal veracity of the decisions of the Lokpal could potentially be challenged in a court of law. Conclusion Lokpal was accorded a high stature and given extensive powers including the power to inquire, investigate and prosecute acts of corruption. Without the requisite rules, regulations and machinery in place, it is not surprising that the Lokpal has failed to meet expectations.  The government should take urgent measure to frame the necessary rules & regulations to give real teeth and power to Lokpal Indian Polity & Governance Topic: General Studies 3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment

 Innovation in India-  National Bio-Entrepreneurship Competition (NBEC) India is home to the third-largest congregation of startups, after the US, and China with innovators coming up with bottom-up science-based solutions to challenges India’s biggest deep science ideas platform that has succeeded in reaching 34 of 36 states/UTs - National Bio-Entrepreneurship Competition (NBEC) About NBEC It is a national platform for bio-entrepreneurs to present their innovative business ideas with significant societal impact in the life sciences domain It is a joint initiative by BIRAC (a research assistance non-profit established by the government’s department of biotechnology) and C-CAMP (Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms, India’s premier life sciences innovation hub) Ideas are encouraged from all domains of life sciences, including healthcare, agriculture, food, nutraceuticals, environment, water, and animal health. How does it help innovators? The framework of NBEC is designed such that competitors are judged solely on the merit of the idea and its societal impact. If the idea is good, supporting infrastructure is provided through a network of innovation hubs, industry, and mentorship. A big cohort of participants are invited to competition, which helps to form partnerships with industry leaders, and innovation hubs to operationalise their concepts. It thus helps idea to be translated into reality and enter the market in a sustainable manner. The value proposition lies in three broad areas— A robust framework that democratises innovation access - many NBEC ideators are women, and from tier 2-3 cities/towns of India.  Emphasis on ideas with national societal impact - connecting innovators up the idea-to-market value chain. Some of the successful indigenous technologies which are being provided the support through this platform are: Biodegradable nano-fibre carriers – That can carry the same active fertiliser dosage in a 5 g pouch as a 5 kg bag today, thereby reducing logistics costs by 1000x and increasing shelf life by 2x. This solution simultaneously revolutionises the agriculture, fertiliser, environmental, and energy sectors Miniaturised Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) detection kit – A credit card-sized test platform that can detect four major UTI pathogens in 30-60 minutes compared to the 24-48 hours it takes today in a laboratory setup, at affordable prices Image-based screening solutions for eye diseases to overcome the challenge of unavailability of specialist doctors Compostable sanitary napkins made from banana fibres Therefore, carefully structured ideas platforms like NBEC serve as ideal vehicles to effect socio-economic impact at scale across India Way Forward It is this idea-first framework that India must implement across other verticals like cybersecurity, energy, defence, urban design, health, and water management to unlock greater innovation-led entrepreneurship. With deep science ideas platforms, India can position itself as a sustainable solutions innovator, and provider. Connecting the dots! Atal Innovation Mission Challenges to Innovation – Inadequate Funding- from both private & Public, Lack of Academia-industry collaboration (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”. Q1. With reference to 'National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF)', which of the statements given below is/are correct?   Under NSQF, a learner can acquire the certification for competency only through formal learning. An outcome expected from the implementation of NSQF is the mobility between vocational and general education. Select the correct answer using the code given below: 1 only  2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q 2. With reference to Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, consider the following statements It is the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Labour and Employment. It, among other things, will also impart training in soft skills, entrepreneurship, financial and digital literacy. Select the correct answer using the code given below: 1 only  2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) Where is the famous Virupaksha temple located? Bhadrachalam Chidambaram Hampi  Srikalahasti ANSWERS FOR 11 FEB 2020 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 B 2 D 3 B Must Read About India-USA trade: The Hindu About Gandhi’s Philosophy : The Indian Express About Shaheen Bagh Protests The Indian Express

Feb 13, 2020 Yojana

IAS UPSC YOJANA & KURUKSHETRA Magazine ‘JANUARY’ 2020

Archives Hello Friends, Here we are with the JANUARY 2020, edition of Yojana and Kurukshetra. Yojana/Kurukshetra: JANUARY 2020 – Download Download Mind Maps - Click here Click here

Feb 13, 2020 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz - 2020: IAS Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 179

UPSC Quiz - 2020: IAS Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 179 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