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Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 27th December 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 27th December 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Vivekananda Rock Memorial: Golden Jubilee Celebrations Part of: GS Prelims and GS-I- Art & Culture; Modern history In Newscc Vivekananda Rock Memorial is a monument in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu at the Tri-junction of Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal and Arabian sea. It was built in 1970 in honour of Swami Vivekananda who is said to have attained enlightenment at this place in 1892, prior to his famous Chicago trip The memorial consists of two main structures, the Vivekananda Mandapam and the Shripada Mandapam. The design of the mandapa incorporates different styles of temple architecture from all over India.  BrahMos Missile: Latest upgrades Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II- International Affairs; GS-III- Security In News DRDO carried out two successful tests of the latest variant of the BrahMos missile, one from the land platform and the other from air.  BrahMos is a cruise missile, meaning it can be guided towards a pre-determined land- or sea-based target. With a capability to attain speeds 2.8 times that of sound (Mach 2.8), BrahMos is classified as supersonic cruise missile.  An amalgam of the names of the rivers Brahmaputra and Moskva, BrahMos is being produced by BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture company set up by DRDO and Mashinostroyenia of Russia in 1998. Its land-to-land, submarine-fired and now air-fired variants have been developed stage by stage A newer version under development is aimed at flying at speeds greater than Mach 5. These are called hypersonic cruise missiles.  BrahMos Air-Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM): Another test was carried out from air, using the Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter jets of the Indian Air Force as the base. The missile destroyed a target at sea Cruise Missile Vs Ballistic Missile The ballistic missile is targeted as a projectile from a single launch force with not much-added guidance. A cruise missile locates its target, or has a preset target, and navigates there. It generally consists of a guidance system, payload, and aircraft propulsion system, housed in an airframe with small wings and empennage for flight control. Good Governance Index (GGI) Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II – Governance In News Good governance can be referred as an effective and efficient process of decision making and the process by which decisions are implemented (or not implemented) keeping the amelioration of citizens as the topmost priority. Resource allocation, creation of formal establishments, setting up rules and regulations etc., are part of achieving this goal The objectives of GGI are to provide quantifiable data to compare the state of governance in all states and UTs, enable states and UTs to formulate and implement suitable strategies for improving governance and shift to result oriented approaches and administration GGI will consider 10 sectors: agriculture and allied sectors, commerce and industries, human resource development, public health, public infrastructure and utilities, economic governance, social welfare and development, judicial & public security, environment, and citizen-centric governance. These ten Governance Sectors are measured on total 50 indicators. The states and UTs are divided into three groups: a). Big States, b). North-East & Hill States and c). UTs. On the index, Tamil Nadu has got the highest score (5.62), followed by Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Chhattisgarh (5.4, 5.1, and 5.05) respectively. In economic governance ranking, Karnataka leads, followed by Maharashtra, Telangana, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu. Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya Part of: GS Prelims and GS-I- Modern History In News December 25 is the birth anniversary of Madan Mohan Malaviya, the famed Indian educationist and freedom fighter who is also called ‘Mahamana’ Malaviya is known for founding the Banaras Hindu University and for becoming one of the torchbearers of the freedom struggle — acting as a bridge between the Moderates and the Extremists in the Congress. Malaviya joined the Indian National Congress at its Calcutta session in 1886 — it had been founded a year previously at the Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College in Mumbai He became president of Congress four times — in 1909 (Lahore), in 1918 (Delhi), in 1930 (Delhi), and in 1932 (Calcutta). Malaviya was part of the Congress for almost 50 years. Malaviya was one of the early leaders of the Hindu Mahasabha, and helped found it in 1906.  He was a social reformer and a successful legislator, serving as a member of the Imperial Legislative Council for 11 years (1909–20). Malaviya espoused free and compulsory primary education, opposed the system of indentured labour in the British Empire, and supported the nationalisation of railways. In 2015, the government bestowed Malaviya with the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour, 68 years after his death. In 2016, the Indian Railways started the Varanasi-New Delhi Mahamana Express in the leader’s honour. (MAINS FOCUS) POLITY TOPIC: General Studies 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Good Governance Index: Measure governance in Indian states Context: The MoS (PP) Dr Jitendra Singh launched the ‘Good Governance Index’ at an event organized by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, on the occasion of Good Governance Day. Good Governance Day  : Good Governance Day  is observed in India annually on the 25th  December, the birth anniversary of former-Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Good Governance Day was established in 2014 to honor Prime Minister Vajpayee by fostering awareness among the Indian people of accountability in government. Good governance: Good governance is significant in public institutions to conduct and manage public affairs and resources to guarantee human rights in free of abuse and corruption, and with due regard for the rule of law. It is significant because it promises to deliver on the promise of human rights: civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights. Good governance is thus, a function of installation of positive virtues of administration and elimination of vices of dysfunctionalities. Elements of good governance: Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 27th December 2019 SRC: IASBABA Good Governance Index: GGI is a uniform tool that will help in assessing the status of governance and the impact of interventions undertaken by governments across all states and UTs. GGI had been “scientifically designed” to reflect various parameters of governance.   “Good governance can be referred as an effective and efficient process of decision making and the process by which decisions are implemented (or not implemented) keeping the amelioration of citizens as the topmost priority. Resource allocation, creation of formal establishments, setting up rules and regulations etc., are part of achieving this goal.” Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances  Objective of Good Governance Index: To provide quantifiable data to compare the state of governance in all states and UTs,  Enable states and UTs to formulate and implement suitable strategies for improving governance and shift to result oriented approaches and administration Measuring GGI: GGI will consider 10 sectors Agriculture and allied sectors,  Commerce and industries, Human resource development,  Public health,  Public infrastructure and utilities,  Economic governance,  Social welfare and development, Judicial & public security,  Environment,  Citizen-centric governance. The states and UTs have been grouped into three categories: big states, Northeast and hill categories, and UTs. On the index, Tamil Nadu has got the highest score (5.62), followed by Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Chhattisgarh (5.4, 5.1, and 5.05) respectively. Among the Northeastern and hill states, Himachal Pradesh is at the top with a score of 5.22, followed by Uttarakhand, Tripura, and Mizoram at 4.87, 4.5, and 4.41 respectively. In the list of environment rankings, West Bengal is on top, followed by Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Bihar. In economic governance ranking, Karnataka leads, followed by Maharashtra, Telangana, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu. Conclusion: Few challenges that are faced in accomplishment of good governance are weak institutions, lack of participation and democratisation, lack of social capital, corruption and other.  It is essential to address these challenges to achieve good governance that plays a paramount role in the transformation of predatory state to welfare state. Connecting the dots: Do you think Good Governance Index brings in healthy competition among the states? Whata are the challenges of Good Governance? ENVIRONMENT TOPIC: General Studies 3: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment Atal Bhujal Yojana — Why a scheme for groundwater? Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Atal Bhujal Yojana, or Atal Jal, a day after the Cabinet approved it.  Atal Jal is a World Bank-funded, central scheme aimed at improving groundwater management.  It was approved by the World Bank Board in June 2018. Background: The idea first came up in 2015, in view of depleting groundwater resources.  The government announced its intention to start a programme for management of groundwater resources in the Budget of 2016-17, with an estimated cost of about Rs 6,000 crore. Scarcity of water in India: India accounts for 16 per cent of the world’s population living in less than 2.5 per cent of the global area, and has just 4 per cent of the global water resources.  According to the Central Water Commission (CWC), the estimated water resources potential of the country, which occurs as natural runoff in the rivers, is 1,999 billion cubic metres. Of this, the estimated utilisable resources are 1,122 billion cubic metres per year — 690 BCM per year surface water and 432 BCM per year replenishable groundwater. With the population rising, demand for water will increase manifold in coming years.  According to the CWC, per capita availability in the country will decrease from 1,434 cubic metres in 2025 to 1,219 cubic metres in 2050. By CWC benchmarks, a water-stressed condition happens when per capita availability is less than 1,700 cubic metres, and a water-scarcity condition when per capita availability falls below 1,000 cubic metres.  Some river basins are facing a water-scarcity condition.( Krishna, Cauvery, Subarnarekha, Pennar, Mahi, Sabarmati and east-flowing rivers, and west-flowing rivers of Kutch and Saurashtra including Luni. ) Water scarcity is most acute in the basins of the Cauvery, Pennar, Sabarmati and east-flowing rivers, and west-flowing rivers of Kutch and Saurashtra including Luni. Groundwater situation: Water and Related Statistics 2019’, a report published by the CWC, the annual replenishable groundwater resources in India (2017) are 432 BCM, out of which 393 BCM is the annual “extractable” groundwater availability.   Jal Shakti Ministry in Parliament recently. Among the states where at least 100 wells were monitored, the highest depletion has been in Karnataka (80%), Maharashtra (75%), Uttar Pradesh (73%), Andhra Pradesh (73%), Punjab (69%). Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 27th December 2019 SRC: IE Atal Bhujal Yojana seek to address: For now, the Atal Bhujal Yojana will be implemented in seven states – Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and UP over five years from 2020-21 to 2024-25. It is expected that it will benefit about 8,350 gram panchayats in 78 districts.  According to Jal Shakti Ministry sources, if the scheme meets its objectives in water-stressed areas, it will be extended to other parts of the country. Major components of the scheme: One is institutional strengthening and capacity building for sustainable ground water management in the states including improving monitoring networks, capacity building, strengthening of water user associations.  The second component is incentivising the states for achievements in improved groundwater management practices.  Beneficiaries: Priority areas in seven states will be identified.  The seven states are Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.  The scheme is expected to benefit nearly 8,350 gram panchayats in 78 districts in these states.  How does the scheme works ? The focus will be on arresting the rate of decline of groundwater levels as well as water consumption. The scheme will seek to strengthen the institutional framework and bring about behavioural changes at community level for sustainable groundwater resource management. It envisages community-led Water Security Plans. Connecting the dots: Do you think groundwater management is a solution to agrarian crisis? Do you really think India’s Ground water is in Distress? (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note:  Correct answers of today’s questions will be provided in next day’s DNA section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers.  Comments Up-voted by IASbaba are also the “correct answers”. Q.1) Consider the following statements about Vivekananda Rock Memorial It is a monument in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu at the Tri-junction of Indian ocean, Bay of Bengal and Arabian sea. It was built in 1970 in honour of Swami Vivekananda who is said to have attained enlightenment at this place Which of the above statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2) Consider the following statements about BrahMos Missile It is a ballistic missile with a range of 3000 Kms It is being produced by BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture company set up by DRDO and Russia in 1998. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) Consider the following statements about Good Governance Index It is being designed and released by NITI Aayog in collaboration with World Bank The objective is to provide quantifiable data to compare the state of governance in all states and UTs and enable them to formulate and implement suitable strategies for improving governance Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.4) Consider the following statements about Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya He was one of the early leaders of the Hindu Mahasabha, and helped found it in 1906.  He was staunch critic of Congress and opposed its policies & working style. He founded the Banaras Hindu University for which he served as Vice-Chancellor from 1919 to 1938. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only 1 and 3 only 1,2 and 3 ANSWERS FOR 26 DEC 2019 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 A 2 B 3 B 4 D MUST READ Endless wait: on Afghanistan Presidential election The Hindu Cracks in the relic: on U.S.-Turkey relations The Hindu Future of India’s Green Fund From Coal ET CDS should have unified command ET Poverty eradication, a top priority or not? DTE

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

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

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 26th December 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Locust invasion in Gujarat Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III- Environment, Agriculture In News According to the Agriculture Ministry’s Locust Warning Organisation (LWO) in Jodhpur, locusts (species of grasshoppers) are flying in from Pakistan’s Sindh province and spreading in villages in Rajasthan and Gujarat where south western monsoon was prolonged this year. Originally, the locusts emerged in February this year from Sudan and Eritrea on Africa’s Red Sea Coast and travelled through Saudi Arabia and Iran to enter Pakistan. Locust invasions usually occurs in areas that receive less than 200 mm of rain annually. This is about 16 million sq km consisting of about 30 countries. The insects fly in during the day and settle on the farms at night, making it difficult to ward them off negatively impacting farm output. The last major upsurge in India occurred in 1993 which saw the incursion of 172 locust swarms. India has only one locust breeding season- from July to October How to tackle? Government also explored the possibility of sprinkling pesticides and chemicals through choppers in affected areas. National Strategy for Suicide Prevention under discussion Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains I- Society In News India continues to have the dubious distinction of recording the highest number, or 34% of all suicides in the world. According to provision of Section 309 of the IPC attempted suicide continues to be a criminal offence. It says that suicide attempt is punishable with simple imprisonment, which may extend up to one year. However, Section 115 of the MCHA, 2017 states that “any person who attempts to commit suicide shall be presumed, unless proved otherwise, to have severe stress and shall not be tried and punished under the said Code (Section 309 of IPC).”  After the Mental Healthcare Act (MCHA), 2017, the Section has become “redundant” but still remains in law books. Therefore, once National strategy of prepared, it is expected to remove confusion surrounding inconsistencies between IPC and MCHA Atal Bhujal Yojana (ATAL JAL) Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II – Governance; GS-III- Environment Conservation In News The Central Sector scheme aims to improve ground water management through community participation in identified priority areas in seven States, viz. Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti is the implementing agency for the scheme. Out of the total outlay of Rs. 6000 crore, 50% shall be in the form of World Bank loan, and remaining 50% shall be through Central Assistance from regular budgetary support. The entire amount shall be passed on to the States as Grants. ATAL JAL has two major components: Institutional Strengthening and Capacity Building for sustainable ground water management in the States including improving monitoring networks, capacity building, strengthening of Water User Associations, etc. Incentivising the States for achievements in improved groundwater management practices namely, data dissemination, preparation of water security plans etc. Do You know? Out of 17.87 Crore rural households in the country, about 14.6 Crore which accounts for 81.67% are yet to have household water tap connections. Government’s Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) aims to provide Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) to every rural household by 2024. Intersex Person: Call for National ban on unnecessary medical surgeries Part of: GS Prelims and GS-I- Society In News The term intersex is confused with transgender, the two in-fact have very different meanings. Individuals who identify as transgender or transsexual have a gender that is different from the one traditionally associated with the sex they were assigned at birth. Intersex refers to people born with biological or physical characteristics that are more diverse than stereotypical male or female bodies.  Intersex individuals and rights organisations have sought a national ban on unnecessary medical surgeries conducted on children with intersex traits and appealed to the Union government to protect their human rights. Call for nation-wide ban comes after the Tamil Nadu government banned normative surgeries on infants and children except in life-threatening situations after a historic judgment of the Madras High Court on April 22, 2019 WHO and the UN Human Rights Council have called upon Member States to end invasive and irreversible medical surgeries and other medical treatment on intersex children.  If adopted nationally, India could become only the third country after Malta and Taiwan, to have a legal regime which protects the rights of intersex children. Saptamatrikas: Earliest Epigraphic evidence for the cult found Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains I- Art & Culture In News The Epigraphy Branch of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has discovered the earliest epigraphic evidence so far for the Saptamatrika cult.  It is also the earliest Sanskrit inscription to have been discovered in South India as on date. Saptamatrikas are a group of seven female deities worshipped in Hinduism as personifying the energy of their respective consorts. The inscription is in Sanskrit and in Brahmi characters and was issued by Satavahana king Vijaya in 207 A.D. It was discovered in Chebrolu village in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh. So far the Nagarjunakonda inscription of Ikshavaku king Ehavala Chantamula issued during 4th century A.D. was considered the earliest Sanskrit inscription in South India Bharatnet Project: Free WiFi to all villages Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains III- Infrastructure (Digital) In News To promote uptake of the Internet in rural areas, government promised free Wi-Fi to about 48,000 villages, which are connected through the government’s flagship Bharatnet project With the BharatNet initiative, the Centre aims to connect all 2.5 lakh gram panchayats through optical fibre. Digital Village, which was conceptualised by the Common Service Centre (CSC) SPV under the Ministry of Electronics and IT, is a village where citizens can avail various e-services of the central and the State governments, as well as of private players.  These services include banking, insurance, tele-medicine, pension and e-governance services. Such villages are also equipped with LED bulb assembly unit, sanitary napkin unit, and rural-Wifi infrastructure. There were about 3.6 lakh CSCs in the country covering 2.25 lakh gram panchayats. (MAINS FOCUS) ENVIRONMENT  TOPIC: General Studies 3: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment Desertification: Another 30% of the India’s land is undergoing degradation Context: Every year during the monsoon, Hemant Waman Chowre faces a peculiar situation. On the one hand, he hopes for good rainfall to water his crops but on the other, he is scared, for even a mild shower can destroy his saplings. These are clear signs of desertification which, as per the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), is degrading 12 million ha of productive land across the world every year. This is over 80 times the size of Delhi and is enough to grow 20 million tonnes of grain. Dry lands affected by desertification not only lose their ability to support plant life, but also their ability to offer ecosystem services, such as management of water systems and storage of carbon use in global warming. Desertification has occurred throughout history. But what’s alarming is that its pace has accelerated 30 to 35 times the historical rate in the recent decades. With changing climate, prolonged droughts and increasing incidences of floods, landslides and frost heaving are in any case reducing the amount of productive land. The World Atlas of Desertification, 1997, shows overgrazing is responsible for 90 per cent of dryland degradation in Australia and 60 per cent in Africa. Deforestation has caused 40 per cent dryland degradation in South America and Europe and 30 per cent in Asia. Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 26th December 2019 SRC: U.S. Department of Agriculture map from 1998  “According to Desertification and Land Degradation of Selected Districts of India, an atlas published by the Indian Space Research Organisation’s Space Application Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad in 2018, some 96.40 million ha, or about 30 per cent of the country’s total area, is undergoing degradation” SAC mapped India’s 76 drought-prone districts and two sub-basins in Ladakh to prepare the atlas and found that in drylands, which span 228.3 million ha, or 70 per cent of the country’s total land, 82.64 million ha is under desertification. TERI’s conservative estimate shows land degradation costs $48.8 billion to the country’s exchequer annually. This is almost 2.08 per cent of India’s GDP in 2014-15 and over 13 per cent of gross value added from agriculture and forestry that year.  The economic cost of forest degradation accounts for 55 per cent of the total loss. There has been a consistent increase in the area under water erosion, said the report. State-wise plight: In Maharashtra, the timber mafia was eating into already thin forests, leading to soil erosion. More than a million trees were felled between 2005 and 2014, using permits issued by the state's forest department every year. Another 0.26 million were cut illegally. Excessive mining in Jharkhand has triggered soil erosion and aggravated water scarcity in the state. Data with the Central Ground Water Board shows that water table in the entire block has lowered from 8 m below the ground level in 2013 to about 10 m in 2017. Rampant mining and expanding urbanisation has taken a toll on Goa. Lack of planning could, further, degrade land in the state. In Nagaland, shifting cultivation (where people slash trees and burn them to prepare the land for farming), deforestation and rising population are to blame for desertification. The rapidly vanishing vegetation cover has intensified soil erosion in the state. In Andhra Pradesh, low rainfall and increased dependence on borewells have led to soil aridity, while less snow and more rainfall has deepened the desertification crisis in Himachal Pradesh. Overgrazing and encroachment of grassland for agricultural activities have affected Gujarat. On the other hand, in Rajasthan, canals, tubewell irrigation and shelterbelts have led to an increase in the green cover. Various schemes by the Government of India which are helping to reduce land degradation: Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) Soil Health Card Scheme Soil Health Management Scheme Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojna (PKSY) Per Drop More Crop Launch of a flagship project on enhancing capacity on forest landscape restoration (FLR) and Bonn Challenge in India, through a pilot phase of 3.5 years implemented in the States of Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Nagaland and Karnataka. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in partnership with The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), through this flagship project aims to develop and adapt best practices and monitoring protocols for the Indian states and build capacity within the five pilot states on FLR and Bonn Challenge. This will be eventually scaled up across the country through subsequent phases of the project. Connecting the dots: Discuss the problem of desertification. Which parts of the world are suffering from this phenomenon? POLITY TOPIC: General Studies 2: Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein. Three Capital of Andhra Pradesh : there was nothing wrong in having the capital at three places says CM Context: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy hinted in the Legislative Assembly recently that there was nothing wrong in having the capital at three places, similar to the South African model.  He hinted that the High Court could be based in Kurnool, Amaravati could continue to be the Legislative capital and Visakhapatnam the Executive capital. History of the formation of Andhra Pradesh State: The first reference of decentralisation was made in the Sri Bagh pact, which was signed by the then political leaders from Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema on November 16, 1937. According to the pact, for a balanced decentralisation, it was decided to continue with Andhra University in Visakhapatnam and the High Court and the capital be divided between the two regions. Visakhapatnam has all the settings to become a good living space. Even after Amaravati was carved out, most of the bureaucrats did not shift their families and they continued to stay in Hyderabad.  Sri Krishna panel: The advantages and qualities of Visakhapatnam to become the capital was discussed not only in the Sri Bagh pact but was also elaborately deliberated by the Sri Krishna Committee. The Sri Krishna Committee primarily took up three things for consideration — creation of single city or super city in Greenfield location, expanding existing cities and distributed development. The Committee however did not consider a single large capital city as a feasible option available to Andhra Pradesh as of then. But the State government had pushed the VGTM (Vijayawada, Guntur, Tenali, Mangalagiri) area for development. Visakhapatnam was in the radar, as it was felt that it has all the requirement. Cosmopolitan: Rapid industrialisation, the presence of Eastern Naval Command and a number of public sector units, Visakhapatnam  only city in the State that wears a cosmopolitan fabric. the presence of such culture lends peace and gives readymade quality manpower, Decentralisation: Decentralisation was elaborately described in the Sri Bagh pact.  The pact clearly defined decentralisation, for the benefit of all three main regions such as Coastal AP, Godavari and Krishna districts and Rayalaseema. Land: There is about 10,000 acres of government land.  Land is not an issue, as the requirement to set up a few new offices and quarters will not exceed 2,000 to 3,000 acres. Conclusion: Decision is a win-win situation both for the government and the city Connecting the dots: Do you think there is nothing wrong in 3 capitals ? (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note:  Correct answers of today’s questions will be provided in next day’s DNA section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers.  Comments Up-voted by IASbaba are also the “correct answers”. Q.1) Consider the following statements about Saptamatrikas They are a group of seven female deities worshipped in Hinduism as personifying the energy of their respective consorts The earliest epigraphic evidence so far for the Saptamatrika cult was recently discovered in Haryana which is also the earliest Sanskrit inscription of North India Which of the above statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2) Consider the following statements about Locust Invasion Locust invasions usually occurs in wet areas that receive more than 300 mm of rain annually India has only one locust breeding season- from July to October Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) Consider the following statements about Bharatnet Project It is being implemented by Prime Minister’s Office in collaboration with NITI Aayog It aims to connect all 2.5 lakh gram panchayats through optical fibre. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.4) Consider the following statements about Atal Bhujal Yojana It aims to improve ground water management through community participation in all states & UT of India It is a centrally sponsored scheme whereby 70% of the project cost shall be through Central Assistance and the remaining 30% through State funding. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 ANSWERS FOR 25 DEC 2019 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 B 2 C 3 B 4 C 5 C MUST READ Dangerous doublespeak: On government’s NPR-NRC talk The Hindu Double trouble: On uneven inflation and sluggish growth The Hindu Mind the gap: On gender gap The Hindu The right count IE Towards jointness IE A move to end coal imports, finally! ET Indian research quality lags quantity ET Indian agriculture is under an invisible emergency DTE

Motivational Articles

Creative Guidance: Book Review – Leviathan – Thomas Hobbes

Leviathan: Thomas Hobbes Written during the Civil War, Leviathan explores the political philosophy in a world of violence and horror. It explores ways of avoiding slipping into anarchy during times of war. This book was burnt as sedition during its time, however one cannot ignore the impact and penetrating insight it offers on the political philosophy. Leviathan explores the complex subjects of politics, religion, violence, crime and war. It spans across several centuries of human understanding and development. It also urges one to revisit some of the assumptions of our socio-political system to find solutions for current and future conflicts. Although heavy in subject matter, the style and manner of presenting helps the reader to easily grasp the complex subject at hand. Read this book to gain new insights into age old human predicaments.

AIR

All India Radio (AIR) IAS UPSC - Successful Trial of Missile Agni-II

Successful Trial of Missile Agni-II ARCHIVES Search 17th Nov, 2019 Spotlight here: http://www.newsonair.com/Main_Audio_Bulletins_Search.aspx TOPIC: General Studies 3 Developments in Science & Technology In news: India successfully conducted first night trial of its indigenously developed medium-range nuclear-capable versatile surface-to-surface medium-range nuclear-capable missile Agni-II with a strike range of 2,000 km, from a test range in its eastern state of Odisha Agni-II, an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), has already been inducted into the armed forces. The two-stage ballistic missile can carry a payload of 1,000 kg over a distance of 2,000 km. This was the first time that the sophisticated missile was test-fired at night The trial was conducted by the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) of the Indian Army. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) had successfully tested the country’s longest-range indigenously developed nuclear-capable missile Agni-V in January and short-range nuclear-capable ballistic Agni-I The entire trajectory of the trial was tracked by a battery of sophisticated radars, telemetry observation stations, electro-optic instruments and two naval ships located near the impact point in the down-range area of Bay of Bengal The two stage missile equipped with advanced high accuracy navigation system, was guided by a novel state-of-the-art command and control system and propelled by solid rocket propellant system. ‘Agni-11’ is part of the Agni series of missiles which includes Agni-I with a 700 km range, Agni-III with a 3,000 km range, Agni-IV and Agni-V both having long range capabilities. The Agni-I, on the other hand, has an operational range of 700-900 kilometers and can carry a 1,000-kilogram conventional or nuclear payload. The Agni-I, fitted with an accurate inertial navigation system, was last successfully test fired on November 22, 2017. Named for the Vedic god of fire, Agni-I is the father of the Agni family of non-nuclear and nuclear-capable missiles.

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

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

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

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

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

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