UPSC Quiz - 2020: IAS Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 111 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
Archives Friends, Here we are with the OCTOBER 2019, edition of Yojana and Kurukshetra. Yojana/Kurukshetra: OCTOBER 2019 – Download
Virtue of Silence: Waking up to our true nature is simply to realize that we are dreaming all the time. Dream is not some isolated phenomenon of life; dream is life. Everything we dearly call life is a part of our dream. The reason why it is so difficult to see this is because we are deeply invested in this dream. Since we have lived for such a long time in this dream state, it has become our reality. We have fully accepted this feeling of being in a dream as our physical and only reality, although we are constantly reminded that we cannot be here forever. We are afraid to face the real questions of our existence and our easiest escape from facing those all important questions of life is to get busy. We are a lot more contented in constantly running around, trying to accomplish as many things as possible and get busy, as opposed to taking some time off to reflect in silence and aloneness about the nature of life and our place in it. This is why one of the most difficult things to do is to simply sit quiet. This is also why meditation is such a difficult proposition for many of us. Not because meditation is inherently difficult, it’s because we have become too accustomed to losing ourselves in various activities of life. This is why watching a movie, meeting friends, going on a vacation, or planning for the future is infinitely easier when compared to sitting quiet in meditation. The very fact that sitting quiet is difficult should tell us something very important. It tells us that there is a lot of pain within us that we don’t want to see. We prefer to be distracted by some external activity because we are afraid to face the reality of our inner nature. We are always afraid of discovering something about ourselves that we don’t already know. It is almost like we are afraid of ourselves. Why else should sitting quiet in silence be such a big problem. “This article is a part of the creative endeavor of Meditation Farm and IASBABA.”
IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 9th November 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) SAMUDRA SHAKTI Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III- Security In News Samudra Shakti is a Bilateral Naval Exercise between Navies of India and Indonesia. The second edition of this joint exercise includes manoeuvres, Surface Warfare exercises, Air Defence exercises, Weapon firing drills, Helicopter Operations and Boarding Operations. The aim of the exercise is to strengthen bilateral relations, expand maritime co-operation, enhance interoperability and exchange best practices. The strategic partnership between India and Indonesia was elevated to ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’ during the visit of Prime Minister of India in May 2018 and Defence co-operation has been a significant pillar in this partnership. Gender Equality Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II - Society In News The Punjab Assembly unanimously passed a resolution urging the Akal Takht and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee to allow Sikh women to sing hymns in the sanctum sanctorum of the Golden Temple in Amritsar. Only Sikh men perform ‘kirtan’ at the Golden Temple as of now. The resolution passed states that “Guru Nanak Dev had visualised a society in which there would be no place for discrimination or distinction on the basis of caste or creed, social status or gender, a society that is to be based upon the principle of egalitarianism and committed to welfare of all” Do You Know? The Supreme Court had struck down a rule that disallowed girls and women in the 10-50 age group from entering the Sabarimala temple in Kerala. The rules which mandate the ban were listed in Kerala Hindu Places of Public Worship (Authorisation of Entry) Rules of 1965. Chief Justice Dipak Misra-headed Constitution bench in a 4-1 verdict said the temple rule violated their right to equality and right to worship NH-766 Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains III – Environmental Conservation In News The Kerala Assembly passed a resolution demanding the Union government to lift the travel restrictions on NH-766 linking Kerala and Karnataka and safeguard the right of the people of north Kerala to move freely. The 9 p.m.to 6 a.m. travelon this main artery passing through the Bandipur National Park had been banned since 2009 in the name of protecting wildlife. The NH 766 is a survival route for the people of Wayanad, which lacks rail and connectivity and water routes. Bandipur Tiger Reserve: Spread over 990.51 sq km, Bandipur Tiger Reserve is part of interconnected forests that include Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu), Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala) and Nagarhole National Park (Karnataka). A large variety of wildlife including the elephant moves from one stretch to another, cutting the states. Do You Know? Night traffic would affect behaviour biology such as breeding and parental care of animals, disrupt their life cycle and make them stray to human habitats. Dhrupad Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains I - Culture In News Dhrupad maestro and Padma Shri awardee Ramakant Gundecha, 56, is no more. Dhrupad is a genre in Hindustani classical music. It is one of oldest forms of compositions in classical Indian music. Dhrupad is a Sanskrit name, derived from words dhruva (permanent) and pad (verse) and in combination it means “pillar”. The roots of Dhrupad are ancient and it is mentioned in Natyashastra (200 BCE – 200 CE). It is also described in other ancient and medieval Sanskrit texts, such as Bhagavata Purana (~800–1000 CE). The nature of Dhrupad music is spiritual and does not seek to entertain, but to induce feelings of peace and spirituality in the listener. It is primarily a form of worship, in which offerings are made to the divine through sound or Nada. Dhrupad was initially sung only in the temples, the singer facing the Lord. From this early chanting, it evolved into a sophisticated classical form of music. One significant characteristic of Dhrupad is the emphasis on maintaining purity of the Raga. Maternal death rate declining Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II -Health In News India’s Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) has seen a decline from 130 per 1 lakh live births in 2014-2016 to 122 per 1 lakh live births in 2015-2017. The figure has declined from 167 in 2011-2013 to 130 in 2014-2016 and to 122 in 2015-17, registering a 6.15 per cent reduction since the last survey figures of 2014-2016. This is good news for India as nearly 2,000 maternal deaths have been averted per year While Karnataka has shown the highest percentage decline in MMR, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh have shown an increase by 15 points each in MMR. Retaining its first position, Kerala has reduced its MMR from 46 in 2014-2016 to 42 in 2015-2017. Likewise, Maharashtra retained its second position with 55 (down from 61) and Tamil Nadu its third position with 63 (down from 66). The decline is important for India as 11 States have achieved the National Health Policy target of MMR 100 per lakh live births well ahead of 2020. This has been possible in view of the gains made in institutional deliveries and focused approach towards aspirational districts and inter-sectoral action to reach the most marginalised and vulnerable mothers Public health initiatives under the National Health Mission such as LaQshya, Poshan Abhiyan, Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan, Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram, Janani Suraksha Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana have contributed to this decline, Do You Know? India is now committed to ensuring that not a single mother or newborn dies due to a preventable cause and move towards zero preventable maternal and newborn deaths through the recently launched Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan Initiative (SUMAN). The WHO had last year lauded India’s progress in reducing the MMR, saying the progress puts the country on track towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of an MMR below 70 by 2030. Norms eased for onion imports Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains III – Economy In News To keep a lid on rising retail prices of onion which have skyrocketed up to Rs 100 per kg, the Centre decided to import "substantial" quantity of onions from Dubai and other countries to augment the domestic availability. The government is also trying to facilitate import of onion through private traders from Egypt, Iran, Turkey and Afghanistan, for which phytosanitary and fumigation norms have been liberalised till November 30 NAFED had a 55,000-tonne buffer stock. The continued high prices have resulted in this buffer dwindling to 1,500 tonnes The tight supply was caused mostly by late rains destroying the early kharif harvest and disrupting storage and transport, even as last season’s rabi stocks ran out. National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd.(NAFED), It was established in 1958, is registered under the Multi State Co-operative Societies Act. Composition: Agricultural farmers are the main members of Nafed, who have the authority to say in the form of members of the General Body in the working of Nafed. The objectives of the NAFED shall be to organize, promote and develop marketing, processing and storage of agricultural, horticultural and forest produce, distribution of agricultural machinery, implements and other inputs, undertake inter-state, import and export trade etc. It functions under Ministry of Agriculture. NAFED is now one of the largest procurement as well as marketing agencies for agricultural products in India. In 2008, it had established, National Spot Exchange, a Commodities exchange as a joint venture of Financial Technologies (India) Ltd. (FTIL). (MAINS FOCUS) INTERNAL SECURITY TOPIC:General Studies 3: Linkages between development and spread of extremism. Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security. Rise and Fall of ISIS (PART 2) Context: President Donald Trump declared that ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was dead after a US military raid in northwest Syria over. The President said a US special operations forces mission went after the ISIS leader and there were no US deaths during the operation. The death of Baghdadi marks the culmination of a years-long hunt to find one of the most wanted terrorists in the world and the man who declared a so-called Islamic caliphate in Iraq and Syria in 2014. ISIS and Sharia Law ISIS rule spread quickly throughout Iraq and Syria. The group focused on creating an Islamic state and implementing sharia law—a strict religious code based on traditional Islamic rules and practices. In 2014, ISIS took control of Falluja, Mosul and Tikrit in Iraq, and declared itself a caliphate, which is a political and religious territory ruled by a leader known as a caliph. ISIS fighters attacked a northern town in Iraq that was home to the Yazidis, a minority religious group, in August 2014. They killed hundreds of people, sold women into slavery, forced religious conversions and caused tens of thousands of Yazidis to flee from their homes. The attack sparked international media coverage and brought attention to the brutal tactics employed by ISIS. Also in 2014, al Qaeda broke ties with ISIS, formally rejecting the group and disavowing their activities. One Group, Many Names: ISIL: This acronym stands for “Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.” The Levant is a broad geographical region that includes Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Israel and Jordan. IS: The shortened “IS” simply means “Islamic State.” In 2014, the militant group announced they were officially calling themselves IS because their goals for an Islamic state reached beyond the areas identified in other titles. Daesh: Many Middle Eastern and European governments have used this Arabic acronym for “al-Dawla al-Islamiya fi al-Iraq wa al-Sham,” which translates to “Islamic State of Iraq and Syria,” to address the group. However, ISIS doesn’t approve of the name, and in 2014, threatened to cut out the tongue of anyone who called them Daesh in public. India and ISIS: The Paris terror attacks by ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria)in 2015 have quite naturally fueled concerns about the threat posed by this group to India. The concerns deepen given the backdrop that India has been the target of various terror outfits in different geographies for nearly thirty years. A recent report by the Global Terrorism Index 2018 (GTI) ranked India 7th out of 162 nations most affected by terrorism in 2018. First, in mid 2014, Daeesh ISIS showed its interest in the Indian sub-continent when it issued a map depicting the western part of the India to be a part of the Islamic State of Khorasan. Second, Mehdi Biswas, a resident of Bengaluru was arrested in December 2014 on account of evangelising for the Islamic State through his twitter account @Shamiwitness. Third and most recently, an assessment by security agencies revealed that there are close to 23 Indians fighting with the terror group in Syria and Iraq. At the same time, we have also witnessed widespread opposition to the ISIS ideology and barbarity. For instance, the Maulana of Jama Masjid in Bengaluru and several other clerics have repeatedly issued alerts to the Muslim community to be wary of the ISIS. India’s concerns: India becoming a recruiting ground for ISIS to conduct its operations in India and elsewhere in the world. The threat perception for this level is medium to high. The reason being that India has more than 350 million people who are connected to the internet and it is likely that some of them will fall prey to ISIS’ ingenious ways of luring Muslim youths through their online propaganda. The biggest threat that ISIS poses to India is that it will act as a totem for local Indian terror outfits. Such groups would want to claim association with ISIS regardless of whether they agree or know about the ISIS ideology. The biggest threat to India’s national security still comes from the jihadi elements of the Pakistani military-jihadi complex. Way forward: It would be appropriate to keep a close watch and monitor developments. Tackling the challenge of local Indian terror outfits seeking an ISIS badge would essentially require India to eradicate the discontent amongst Muslims in India Dismantling the military-jihadi complex in Pakistan and putting an end to majoritarianism back home will ensure that foreign terror outfits, whether Pakistani or Arabs, will find it difficult to challenge the idea of India. Conclusion: The death of its “Caliph” is certainly a blow to the terrorist group. But the IS is ideologically stronger to survive the fall of its leader, and the geopolitical conditions that led to the rise of the group remain more or less intact Connecting the dots: Religious indoctrination via digital media has resulted in Indian youth joining the ISIS. What is ISIS and its mission? How can ISIS be dangerous for the internal security of our country?(UPSC 2015) POLITY TOPIC: General Studies 2: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership(contd....) Context: India decided to hold the signing off of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) until “significant outstanding issues” were resolved, when all other 15 countries involved in the negotiations stated that they were ready to sign the mega trade deal in 2020. PM narendra modi’s statement: “When I measure the RCEP Agreement with respect to the interests of all Indians, I do not get a positive answer. Therefore, neither the Talisman of Gandhiji nor my own conscience permit me to join RCEP,” . Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP): [caption id="attachment_52365" align="aligncenter" width="403"] Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 9th November 2019[/caption] Img: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/RCEP.png/500px-RCEP.png The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between the ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam) and its six FTA partners (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand). RCEP negotiations started in November 2012 at the ASEAN Summit in Cambodia. RCEP member states accounted for a population of 3.5 billion people with a total (GDP) of $49.5 trillion, approximately 39 percent of the world's GDP RCEP will be the world's largest economic bloc. Trade deficits : [caption id="attachment_52366" align="aligncenter" width="429"] Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 9th November 2019[/caption] Img : sent by mail India runs large trade deficits with at least 11 of the 15 RCEP members China accounts for $53 billion of India’s $105 billion trade deficit with these. China – India & RCEP: At a time of escalating Sino-U.S. trade tensions, China was keen to see a successful conclusion of the RCEP summit and had been vigorously pushing for that. This is where the problem for India lay as well. India’s demands at the RCEP negotiations included shifting the base year for tariff cuts from 2014 to 2019 Avoiding a sudden surge in imports from China by including a large number of items in an auto-trigger mechanism Calling for stricter rules of origin to prevent dumping from China A better deal in services. The China factor, , was key to India’s assessment of costs and benefits. China’s clout has been growing in the region ASEAN member states have tried to keep the U.S. engaged in the region as well. But with the Trump administration giving mixed signals about US’s commitment towards the region, ASEAN has been looking at India with a renewed sense of anticipation. Concerns: India’s decision to keep away from the RCEP will, cause concerns about its larger game plan vis-a-vis the region. India’s entire Indo-Pacific strategy might be open to question if steps are not taken to restore India’s profile in the region China set to dominate the Indo-Pacific, which may not be good news for the region and India. Way forward: India will have to prepare itself more fully to take advantage of such pacts. Domestic reforms will be the need of the hour. China’s rise has to be tackled both politically and economically. Conclusion: India needs a strategy that brings together the economic and political aspects of its strategic thinking at this time where global economy is in challenge Connecting the dots: Economic isolation is not an option for India and It must move towards bilateral trade pacts. Analyse. (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) NH 766 often seen in news passes through which of the following States of India? Assam and Arunachal Pradesh Gujarat and Maharashtra Karnataka and Kerala None of the above Q.2) Consider the following statements about National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd.(NAFED), It was established during the 1991 economic reform period so as to give impetus to agriculture production and marketing. It functions under Ministry of Agriculture. It is now one of the largest procurement as well as marketing agencies for agricultural products in India. 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 Q.3) SAMUDRA SHAKTI is a bilateral naval exercise between India and ___________ Malaysia Indonesia Mauritius Sri Lanka Q.4) Consider the following statements India’s Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) has seen a decline from 130 per 1 lakh live births in 2014-2016 to 122 per 1 lakh live births in 2015-2017. The progress puts the country on track towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of an MMR below 70 by 2030. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.5) Consider the following statements about Dhrupad It is a genre in Carnatic classical music. The nature of Dhrupad music is spiritual and does not seek to entertain, but to induce feelings of peace and spirituality in the listener Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 ANSWERS FOR 08 Nov 2019 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 d 2 b 3 b 4 b 5 c MUST READ Thumbs down: On Moody’s negative rating The Hindu At the altar of national security The Hindu ‘Unwriting’ history, creating myths The Hindu Revisiting the Berlin Wall: Political and economic divisions continue to haunt Germany IE Water finally gets priority it deserves ET A reasonable reconciliation is necessary Live mint
The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Ordinance, 2019 Archives TOPIC: General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. In News: In recent times, the use of e-cigarettes has become a popular alternative to cigarettes. The difference between the two is that e-cigarettes do not contain tobacco and therefore are not regulated under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003. Rising concerns on the health risks posed by e-cigarettes have led to the promulgation of an Ordinance banning their production, export, advertisement, and storage in India. Electronic-cigarettes Electronic-cigarettes are battery-operated devices that produce aerosol by heating a solution containing nicotine, which is the addictive substance in combustible cigarettes. These include all forms of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems, Heat Not Burn Products, e-Hookah and the like devices. These novel products come with attractive appearances and multiple flavours and their use has increased exponentially and has acquired epidemic proportions in developed countries, especially among youth and children. [caption id="attachment_52361" align="aligncenter" width="463"] RSTV IAS UPSC – The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Ordinance, 2019[/caption] Implementation Upon promulgation of the Ordinance, any production, manufacturing, import, export, transport, sale (including online sale), distribution or advertisement (including online advertisement) of e-cigarettes shall be a cognizable offence punishable with an imprisonment of up to one year or fine up to Rs. 1 lakh or both for the first offence; and imprisonment of up to three years and fine up to Rs. 5 lakh for a subsequent offence. Storage of electronic-cigarettes shall also be punishable with an imprisonment up to 6 months or fine up to Rs 50,000 or both. The owners of existing stocks of e-cigarettes on the date of commencement of the Ordinance will have to suomoto declare and deposit these stocks with the nearest police station. The Sub-Inspector of Police has been designated as the Authorized Officer to take action under the Ordinance. The Central or State Governments may also designate any other equivalent officer(s) as Authorized Officer for enforcement of the provisions of the Ordinance. [caption id="attachment_52359" align="aligncenter" width="551"] RSTV IAS UPSC – The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Ordinance, 2019[/caption] Expected Impact The decision to prohibit e-cigarettes will help protect population, especially the youth and children, from the risk of addiction through E-cigarettes. Enforcement of the Ordinance will complement government’s efforts for tobacco control Will help in reduction of tobacco use Help in reduction in associated economic and disease burden Background The current decision has come on the back of an advisory issued by the Government in 2018 to all States to consider banning e-cigarettes. 16 States and 1 UT have already banned e cigarettes in their jurisdictions. Notably, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), in a recent white paper on the subject, also recommended a complete ban on e-cigarettes based on currently available scientific evidence. The WHO has also urged member countries to take appropriate steps including prohibiting these products. These products are usually marketed as being safer alternatives for conventional cigarettes but such notions of safety are false. On the other hand, available literature suggests that these products may act as gateway products to induce non-smokers, especially youth and adolescents, to nicotine-use, leading to addiction and subsequent use of conventional tobacco products. Considering the Highly addictive nature of nicotine; Safety concern of flavours in combination with nicotine; Risk of use of other psychoactive substances through these devices; Initiation of nicotine or psychoactive substances by non-smokers, especially adolescents and youth; Dual use of e-cigarettes and conventional cigarettes; Scant scientific evidence for use of e-cigarettes as effective tobacco cessation aids; Threat to country’s tobacco control efforts; Hindrance in achieving the targets envisaged under Sustainable Development Goals, National Monitoring Framework for Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases and National Health Policy, 2017; and in overall interest of public health as envisaged under Article 47 of the Constitution of India, …the decision has been taken to prohibit/ban e-cigarettes including all forms of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems [ENDS), Heat Not Burn Products, e-Hookah and the like devices.
UPSC Quiz - 2020: IAS Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 110 Archives Important Note Don't forget to post your marks in the comment section. Also, let us know if you enjoyed today's test :) To take the Test - Click Here
IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 8th November 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Office of Profit Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II - Polity In News The Punjab Assembly passed a legislation excluding the six ruling Congress MLA appointed as advisers to the Chief Minister from the office of profit category. It was opposed by members of opposition that the law was against the 91st amendment to the Constitution, which stated that the total number of Ministers should not exceed 15% of the total strength of the State Assembly. What the law says? Article 102(a) says a person shall be disqualified from being a member of either House of Parliament if he holds any Office of Profit, among other grounds. Article 191(1) contain a similar provision for MLA and MLCs in the states. Article 103 say that if a question arises whether a member has incurred such disqualification, it will be referred to the President’s decision. The President shall obtain the Election Commission’s opinion and act accordingly. Office of profit’ (OoP) is not clearly defined in the Constitution. But deriving from the past judicial pronouncements, five tests have been laid down to check if an office is an OoP or not.They are: whether the government makes the appointment whether the government has the right to remove or dismiss the holder whether the government pays remuneration what the functions of the holder are does the government exercise any control over the performance of these functions In all, the word ‘profit’ has always been treated equivalent to or a substitute for the term 'pecuniary gain' (financial gain). BIMSTEC Ports’ Conclave Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III- International Affairs In News The first ever BIMSTEC Conclave of Ports is being held at Vishakhapatnam on 7-8 November, 2019. The conclave aims at providing a platform to strengthen maritime interaction, port-led connectivity initiatives and sharing best practices among member countries. Providing Connectivity is one of the key priorities among BIMSTEC countries Three Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) have been signed between Ranong Port (Port Authority of Thailand) and the Port Trusts of Chennai, Vishakhapatnam and Kolkata during the Conclave.These MoUs will enhance economic partnership by cutting down the sea travel time between India and Thailand from 10- 15 days to 7 days Do You Know? BIMSTEC which links five countries from south Asia (Bangladesh, India, , Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Nepal) and two from South East Asia (Myanmar & Thailand) . The BIMSTEC region brings together 167 billion people together 22% of world population and a combined GDP of US $3.71 Trillion. Four BIMSTEC Summits have been held so far, the earlier ones at Kathmandu on 30-31 August 2018 (earlier summit were 2004 (Bangkok), 2008 (New Delhi), 2014 (Nay Pyi Taw). A ‘BIMSTEC Outreach Summit and Leader’s summit’ was held in Goa in 2016. The BIMSTEC Leaders had also participated in the swearing -in ceremony of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at New Delhi on 30th May 2019 Bru refugees Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II - Federalism In News Protesting Mizoram Bru refugees in north Tripura withdrew their indefinite road blockade after the Tripura State government announced its decision to restore ration in relief camps. Bru Tribe: Residence: The Brus, also referred to as the Reangs, are spread across the north-eastern states of Tripura, Assam, Manipur, and Mizoram. Culture: They speak the Reang dialect of Kokborok language which is locally referred to as Kau Bru. Their Hojagiri folk dance is well known all over the world. 'Buisu', not 'bihu' is the most popular festival of Reang tribes. Conflict in Mizoram: In 1995, Mizos, the majority tribe of the state, demanded that Brus be left out of the state’s electoral rolls as they contended that they are not indigenous to Mizoram. In 1997, ethnic violence forced the Brus to flee the state in large numbers to neighbouring Tripura. Currently, around 35,000 (more than 5,000 families) Bru refugees living in Tripura camps. Multiple efforts have been made since then to repatriate them. The Ministry of Home Affairs had on September 2018 signed an agreement with the Mizoram Bru Displaced People’s Forum (MBDPF) and the Mizoram and Tripura governments for repatriation ofnearly 33,000 Bru refugees, currently living in camps in Tripura, to Mizoram. Under the agreement, each family will get ₹5,000 per month along with free ration for two years, besides financial assistance for house-building, education, security etc. Telugu Ganga project Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II – Federalism (Inter-State river water sharing) In News Chennai city, which grappled with severe drinking water shortage, can be assured of its full quota of Krishna water from Andhra Pradesh this season, as major reservoirs in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh have comfortable storage. Telugu Ganga Project is an inter-state Project formulated to irrigate 5.75 lakh acres in drought prone areas of Rayalaseema and uplands of Nellore District in Andhra Pradesh by utilising 29 TMC of Krishna flood flows and 30 TMC of Pennar flood flows. Further with a view to provide drinking water to the Chennai city, the three Krishna basin states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra have agreed to spare 5 TMC each from their respective shares of Krishna waters totalling to 15 TMC to meet the requirements. This number was revised down to 12 TMC in 1983 after accounting seepage and evaporation loses. Water is drawn from the Srisailam reservoir (in AP) and diverted towards Chennai through a series of inter-linked canals, over a distance of about 406 kilometres (252 mi), before it reaches the destination at the Poondi reservoir near Chennai. India Justice Report Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II – Polity In News Maharashtra has topped the list of 18 large-medium States in the overall ranking of Indian States on justice delivery, followed by Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Punjab and Haryana. This is according to the India Justice Report 2019 by the Tata Trusts in collaboration with Centre for Social Justice, Common Cause, and Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, among others. The report is based on publicly available data from different government entities on the four pillars of justice delivery — police, judiciary, prisons and legal aid. Some of the findings of the report are: Even the best performing States scored less than 60% in their performance on capacity across the police, judiciary, prisons and legal aid. The country has about 18,200 judges with about 23% sanctioned posts vacant Women are poorly represented in these pillars, constituting just 7% of the police. Prisons are over-occupied at 114%, where 68% are undertrials awaiting investigation, inquiry or trial. India’s per capita expenditure on free legal aid is 75 paise per annum Regarding budgets, most States are not able to fully utilise the funds given to them by the Centre, while the increase in spending on the police, prisons and judiciary does not keep pace with the overall increase in State expenditure, [caption id="attachment_52334" align="aligncenter" width="410"] Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 8th November 2019[/caption] https://d39gegkjaqduz9.cloudfront.net/TH/2019/11/08/CNI/Chennai/TH/5_09/451792d4_3305946_101_mr.jpg Kerala on its way to achieve 100% Internet penetration Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains III – Economy (Digital India) In News Kerala Fibre Optic Network project, pegged at ₹1,548 crore, would provide Internet to every household in the State The project is slated for completion by December 2020, whereby for 20 lakh BPL households internet will be free However, going by data in a recent report by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), Kerala is already halfway to its goal of 100% coverage. According to the report, titled ‘India Internet 2019,’ the State’s Internet penetration rate is the second highest in the country (54%), next only to Delhi NCR with 69% penetration. The Internet penetration rate is defined as number of individuals aged above 12 per 100 population who accessed the Internet in the last month. Internet penetration rate was the lowest in Odisha (25), Jharkhand (26) and Bihar (28). However, Kerala is among the States with a huge gap between the number of rural and urban Internet connections. This is also the case in Delhi and Himachal Pradesh. [caption id="attachment_52332" align="aligncenter" width="403"] Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 8th November 2019[/caption] https://d39gegkjaqduz9.cloudfront.net/TH/2019/11/08/CNI/Chennai/TH/5_09/451792d4_3305950_101_mr.jpg 3 years since DeMo, cash is back Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains III – Economy In News Three years since demonetisation, the level of cash with the public has grown faster than the GDP growth of the country However digital payments — especially those on the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) platform — have seen robust growth. Reserve Bank of India data show that the public held ₹20.49 lakh crore in cash as of September 2019 The data show that the cash held by the public made up 96% of the money in circulation, with most of the rest deposited in banks In December 2016, one month after demonetisation and the enforced deposits in banks, this percentage stood at 83%. According to the RBI’s annual report, the number of UPI payments in 2018-19, at 535 crore, for the first time surpassed the number of debit card transactions (441 crore). Miscellaneous "Swachhta Tax" On Tourists Taking Photos The Parra panchayat in North Goa had started levying tax on clicking pictures or shooting videos in its jurisdiction. Parra is best known for its scenic road lined with coconut trees, often serves as a backdrop in several Bollywood films, including the Shahrukh Khan-starrer 'Dear Zindagi'. The idea behind the tax was not to earn revenue for the village panchayat, but to deter tourists and photographers from holding up traffic along the narrow road during their shoots and throwing garbage around the place The tax had also irked travel and tourism industry stakeholders in Goa, who had expressed concern that such a tax may be emulated in other coastal villages, which would deter tourists from visiting the areas As a result, the Panchayat announced withdrawal of a tax (MAINS FOCUS) INTERNAL SECURITY TOPIC: General Studies 3: Linkages between development and spread of extremism. Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security. Rise and Fall of ISIS (PART 1) Context: President Donald Trump declared that ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was dead after a US military raid in northwest Syria over. The President said a US special operations forces mission went after the ISIS leader and there were no US deaths during the operation. The death of Baghdadi marks the culmination of a years-long hunt to find one of the most wanted terrorists in the world and the man who declared a so-called Islamic caliphate in Iraq and Syria in 2014. ISIS origin: IS can trace its roots back to the late Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a Jordanian. In 2004, a year after the US-led invasion of Iraq, Zarqawi pledged allegiance to Osama Bin Laden and formed al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI). After Zarqawi's death in 2006, AQI created an umbrella organisation, Islamic State in Iraq (ISI). ISI was weakened by the US troop and the creation of Sahwa (Awakening) councils by Sunni Arab tribesmen who rejected its brutality. Baghdadi, a former US detainee, became leader in 2010 and began rebuilding ISI's capabilities. IS also joined the rebellion against President Bashar al-Assad in Syria, setting up the al-Nusra Front. In April 2013, Baghdadi announced the merger of IS forces in Iraq and Syria and the creation of "Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant" (Isis). In June 2014, Isis overran the northern city of Mosul, and then advanced southwards towards Baghdad, massacring its adversaries and threatening to eradicate the country's many ethnic and religious minorities. Area under control: [caption id="attachment_52333" align="aligncenter" width="440"] Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 8th November 2019[/caption] What does IS want? The establishment of a "caliphate" - a state governed in accordance with Islamic law, or Sharia, by God's deputy on Earth, or caliph. It has demanded that Muslims across the world swear allegiance to its leader - Ibrahim Awad Ibrahim al-Badri al-Samarrai, better known as Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi - and migrate to territory under its control. IS has also told other jihadist groups worldwide that they must accept its supreme authority. The group justifies its attacks on Muslims and non-Muslims alike by drawing on extreme interpretations of Islamic texts. Funds: ISIS is the world's wealthiest militant group. Wealthy private donors and Islamic charities in the Middle East keen to oust Syria's President Assad. Self-funding. The US Treasury estimates that in 2014 IS may have earned as much as several million dollars per week, or $100m in total, from the sale of crude oil and refined products to local middlemen, who in turn smuggled them in Turkey and Iran, or sold them to the Syrian government. To be contd in the next part.............. Connecting the dots: What is ISIS and its mission? How can ISIS be dangerous to the internal security of our country.(UPSC 2015) POLITY TOPIC: General Studies 2: Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary Collegium system and NJAC (Part -2) Context: A nine-judge Bench of the Supreme Court has dismissed a petition seeking a review of its 1993 verdict in the Second Judges Case, which is widely understood to be instrumental in establishing the “collegium system” of appointing judges in India’s higher judiciary. Read Part 1 : https://iasbaba.com/2019/11/daily-current-affairs-ias-upsc-prelims-and-mains-exam-7th-november-2019/ National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Body responsible for the appointment and transfer of judges to the higher judiciary in India. 99th Constitutional Amendment Act-2014 passed on 2014 A new article, Article 124A, has been inserted into the Constitution. The NJAC would have replaced the collegium system for the appointment of judges The National Judicial Appointments Commission Act, 2014, was also passed by the Parliament of India to regulate the functions of the National Judicial Appointments Commission. The NJAC Act and the Constitutional Amendment Act came into force in 2015. The Constitution Bench of Supreme Court by 4:1 Majority upheld the collegium system and struck down the NJAC as unconstitutional Justice Chelameswar. argued that the proposed composition of the NJAC would not be a constitutional issue, and that it could have acted “as a check on unwholesome trade-offs within the collegium and incestuous accommodations between Judicial and Executive branches.” Need for NJAC : The Appointment of Judges by the Collegium system was completely opaque and there was no procedure for checking the reasonableness of appointment. There was a complete lack of accountability on the part of Judiciary. The Second Administrative Reforms Commission, under the Chairmanship of Mr. Verappa Moily, had also noted that, "Perhaps in no other country in the world does the judiciary have a final say in its own appointments. In India, neither the executive nor the legislature has much say in who is appointed to the Supreme Court or the High Courts." The major reason for the vacancy in the courts and in turn pendency of cases. The collegium system was widely considered to be unconstitutional as the Constitution provided for the appointment by the President in consultation with the judiciary and not vice versa. Composition: Chief Justice of India (Chairperson, ex officio) Two other of senior judges of the Supreme Court next to the Chief Justice of India - ex officio The Union Minister of Law and Justice, ex-officio Two eminent persons These (two) eminent persons would have been nominated by a committee consisting of the Chief Justice of India, Prime Minister of India, and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Functions: Recommending persons for Appointment as Chief Justice of India, Judges of the Supreme Court, Chief Justices of High Courts and other Judges of High Courts Transfer of Chief Justices and other Judges of High Courts from one High Court to any other High Court. After math: In 2015 the SC told that it is open to bringing greater transparency in the collegium system To make collegium transparent The fixing of the eligibility criteria for a person to be considered suitable for appointment as a judge A process to receive and deal with complaints against judges without compromising on judicial independence Debate on whether a separate secretariat is required, and if so, its functioning, composition and powers Connecting the dots: How NJAC is unconstitutional? Substantiate. (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 Office of Profit It is clearly defined in the Constitution in Article 102(a) If a question arises whether a member (of Parliament) has incurred disqualification on Office of Profit grounds, it will be referred to the Speaker/Chairman of the House decision. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2) Consider the following statements about India Justice Report It is released by NITI Aayog The report is based on publicly available data from different government entities on the four pillars of justice delivery — police, judiciary, prisons and legal aid. Maharashtra has topped the list of 18 large-medium States in the overall ranking of Indian States on justice delivery 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 Q.3) Which of the following countries are member countries of BIMSTEC Srilanka Malaysia Nepal Bangladesh China Select the correct answer from codes given below 1, 2,3 and 4 Only 1,3 and 4 Only 1,2 and 3 Only 1,2,3,4 and 5 Q.4) Consider the following statements As of Nov 2019, cash held by the public made up 36% of the money in circulation, with most of the rest deposited in banks indicating success of demonetisation The number of UPI payments in 2018-19 for the first time surpassed the number of debit card transactions. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.5) Consider the following statements about Bru Tribes They also referred to as the Reangs, are spread across the north-eastern states of Tripura, Assam, Manipur, and Mizoram. Hojagiri folk dance is performed by Bru people which entails women and young girls, about 4 to 6 members in a team, singing, balancing on an earthen pitcher and managing other props such as a bottle on the head,while only the lower half of the body is moved Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 ANSWERS FOR 07 Nov 2019 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 a 2 c 3 d 4 c 5 b MUST READ Should online political advertising be regulated? The Hindu Changing the status quo The Hindu Real estate shelter: On Alternative Investment Fund The Hindu Junking fast food: On norms against food rich in fat, sugar and salt The Hindu Agriculture urgently needs higher resource allocation, policy support IE Kyoto Protocol’s emission trading mechanisms could become redundant after 2020 IE Comprehensive employment, industrial policies are necessary to address jobs crisis IE
Fight against malnutrition Archives General studies 1 Population and associated issues Poverty and developmental issues General studies 2 Issues relating to poverty and hunger In News: In a bid to tackle malnutrition, government is developing an Atlas to map the crops and food grains grown in different regions of the country so that nutritious protein rich food in local areas can be promoted. According to the World Bank Global Nutrition Report – 2018, malnutrition costs India at least $10 billion annually in terms of lost productivity, illness and death and is seriously retarding improvements in human development and further reduction of childhood mortality. Who is working on it? The Ministry of Women and Child Development in association with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Deendayal Research Institute is developing a POSHAN atlas under POSHAN Abhiyan. The POSHAN atlas will map the crops and food grains grown in different regions of the country because the solution to tackling malnutrition lies in promoting regional cropping patterns and embracing local food that are rich in protein POSHAN Abhiyan: POSHAN Abhiyan is government's multi-ministerial convergence mission with the vision to ensure attainment of malnutrition free India by 2022. It is focusing on ensuring the nutrition of children, women, and pregnant mothers in impoverished areas and the government seems to be looking at community management of the problem. Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2019 While India is tagged as a country with ‘serious’ levels of hunger, climate change will further worsen its undernutrition levels, the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2019, a report jointly published by Concern Worldwide, an Irish aid agency, and Welthungerlife, a German NGO has highlighted. India in terms of hunger rankings has slipped from 95th rank in 2010 to 102nd in 2019. India’s poorer neighbours — Bangladesh, Nepal, and even Pakistan — have overtaken India in the battle against hunger. Because of its large population, India’s GHI indicator values have an outsized impact on the indicator values for the region. India’s child wasting rate is extremely high at 20.8%—the highest wasting rate of any country in this report for which data or estimates were available Its (India) child stunting rate, 37.9%, is also categorized as very high in terms of its public health significance. In India, just 9.6% of all children between 6 and 23 months of age are fed a minimum acceptable diet The Way Forward In India, to combat the malnutrition levels both immediate and long term interventions are needed. There is still a need for a more humane-cum-holistic approach and this can only be achieved by an active multi-sector approach, reinforced with a new set of national-level policies or guidelines around the usage of a community-based approach of addressing acute malnutrition in India. To end hunger, food producers must be supported to receive adequate remuneration. There is a need for sound measures to protect farmer incomes, including income transfers to farmers, minimum support-price guarantees and crop insurance, and a massive expansion of farm credit. For farm workers, a refocus on land reforms is called for, and, a greatly expanded and effectively managed rural employment guarantee programme with attention to land and watershed development, small irrigation and afforestation. There must also be an urgent and comprehensive shift to sustainable agricultural technologies less dependent on irrigation, chemical fertilisers and pesticides, to reverse our agri-ecological crisis. Hunger can’t be combated without addressing the burgeoning job crisis. It also entails labour reforms which protect job security, fair work conditions and social security of all workers. The time has come for an urban employment guarantee programme, to help build basic public services and infrastructure for the urban poor — especially slum and pavement residents, and the homeless. This should also include employment in the care economy, with services for child-care, children and adults with disability and older persons. The Public Distribution System must be universalised (excluding income tax payees), and should distribute not just cereals but also pulses and edible oils. Further, we need to reimagine it as a decentralised system where a variety of crops are procured and distributed locally. Both pre-school feeding and school meals need adequate budgets, and the meals should be supplemented with nutrient-rich foods such as dairy products, eggs and fruits. Social protection also entails universal pension for persons not covered by formal schemes, universal maternity entitlements to enable all women in informal work to rest and breast-feed their children, a vastly expanded creche scheme, and residential schools for homeless children and child workers. Malnourishment results not just from inadequate food intakes, but also because food is not absorbed due to frequent infections caused by bad drinking water, poor sanitation and lack of healthcare. India’s nutrition failures are also because of persisting gaps in securing potable water to all citizens, and continued open defecation despite optimistic official reporting. There is an urgent requirement for a legally enforceable right to healthcare, with universal and free out-patient and hospital-based care, free diagnostics and free medicines. Focusing on adolescent girls, before they become mothers, is critical to break India’s intergenerational cycle of malnutrition. There is a need to provide impetus on aspects such as compulsory breastfeeding, adequate complementary feeding, immunization practices, hidden hunger (micronutrients) among malnourished women which leads to babies being born with low birth weight (LBW) (for example, a single bout of diarrhea can push an LBW baby towards acute malnutrition), energy-dense nutritious food (necessary for recovery of SAM children), and access to clean water and sanitation (WASH) for families. Ending hunger and undernutrition in a changing climate demands large-scale action to address the inequities exacerbated by climate change while minimizing environmental changes that could prove catastrophic to human life. It requires us to better prepare for and respond to disasters, support resilience and adaptation among the most vulnerable groups and regions, address global inequalities, mitigate climate change without compromising food and nutrition security, make financing for climate action fair and effective, and radically transform food systems. Having a clear cut, state specific, contextual community based solution to address acute and chronic malnutrition is the need of the hour Must Read: Link 1 Note: The 2019 GHI measured hunger in 117 countries where the assessment is most relevant and where data on all four component indicators are available. These indicators are proportion of underweight, and undernourished, mortality rate, stunted children under 5 years of age. Connecting the Dots: Climate justice is a transformative concept. Discuss. The Prime Minister has framed Poshan Abhiyaan as a Jan Andolan. That makes Malnutrition a collective problem. Comment. Despite rapid economic growth, hunger and malnutrition remain a challenge in many districts of India. Why? Analyse.
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IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 7th November 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III - Economy In News Government would set up an alternative investment fund (AIF) worth Rs 25,000 crore to provide relief to developers with unfinished projects to ensure delivery of homes to buyers It provides for last-mile funding for stalled affordable and middle-income housing projects across the country The fund size will initially be Rs 25,000 crore with the government providing ₹10,000 crore and the SBI and LIC providing the balance The funds will be set up as Category-II AIF registered with the SEBIand will be managed by SBICAP Ventures Limited. According to the government’s estimates, there are more than 1,600 housing projects in which 4.58 lakh crore units are stalled. Housing projects that have been classified as non-performing assets (NPA) and that are under National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) proceedings also to be eligible for financing. The AIF is expected to pool investments from other government-related and private investors, including public financial institutions, sovereign wealth funds, public and private banks, domestic pension and provident funds, global pension funds and other institutional investors. The fund is therefore expected not only to support the sector but also generate commercial return for its investors Besides, revival of the sector will also lead to demand of cement, iron & steel industries giving further impetus to generate more employment National Green Tribunal(NGT) Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II - Polity In News NGT has given a “last opportunity” to the Union Environment Ministry to issue notifications pertaining to prohibition on the use of RO (reverse osmosis) systems, which result in wastage of almost 80% of the water. Further provision must be laid down for recovery of water up to 75% and use of such RO reject water for purposes such as utensil washing, flushing, gardening, cleaning of vehicles and mopping, About NGT National Green Tribunal was established in 2010 under National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 to dispose of cases having environmental ramification. The Act provides for a Chairperson and a minimum of 10 Expert Members and equal number of Judicial Members. Powers of NGT: Recommend penalties and fine Recommend policies for environment protection Enforcement of any legal right relating to environment Giving relief and compensation for damages Has power of civil courts Significance Helps reduce burden on higher courts Faster resolution of cases Specialised member brings efficiency to justice Less expensive than courts Second Judges case Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II - Judiciary In News A nine-judge Bench of the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice of India RanjanGogoi, has dismissed a bunch of petitions seeking a review of the court’s judgment in the Second Judges case in 1993. The judgement in the case led to the collegium system of appointment of judges. Article 124- The judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President. The CJI is appointed by the President after consultation with such judges of the Supreme Court and high courts as he deems necessary. Appointment of Chief Justice from 1950 to 1973: The practice has been to appoint the senior most judge of the Supreme Court as the chief justice of India (CJI) This established convention was violated in 1973 when A N Ray was appointed as the CJI by superseding three senior judges. Again in 1977, M U Beg was appointed as the CJI by superseding the then senior-most judge. This discretion of the government was curtailed by the Supreme Court in the Second Judges Case (1993), in which the Supreme Court ruled that the senior most judge of the Supreme Court should alone be appointed to the office of the CJI Also, the Court reversed its earlier ruling (of First Judges case of 1982) and changed the meaning of the word consultation to concurrence thus establishing the collegium system for appointment of Judges to higher judiciary. Do You Know? In the Third Judges case (1998), the Court opined that the consultation process to be adopted by the CJI requires ‘consultation of plurality judges’.He should consult a collegium of four senior most judges of the Supreme Court and even if two judges give an adverse opinion, he should not send the recommendation to the government. The 1993 judgment was the basis on which a five-judge Constitution Bench declared the National Judicial Appointments Commission Act (NJAC) and the Constitutional (Ninety-Nine Amendment) Act, 2014 as unconstitutional in 2015. In Dec 2018, five-judge Bench led by Chief Justice Gogoi dismissed a review petition against the judgment in the NJAC case. Paris climate pact Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains III – Environment In News China and France stated thatthe Paris climate pact was “irreversible”, showing a united front after Washington formally withdrew from the accord this week. About Paris Climate deal The deal unites all the world's nations in a single agreement on tackling climate change for the first time in history. To keep global temperatures "well below" 2.0C (3.6F) above pre-industrial times and "endeavour to limit" them even more, to 1.5C To limit the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by human activity to the same levels that trees, soil and oceans can absorb naturally, beginning at some point between 2050 and 2100 To review each country's contribution to cutting emissions every five years so they scale up to the challenge For rich countries to help poorer nations by providing "climate finance" to adapt to climate change and switch to renewable energy. For impact on US withdrawal from the deal, refer https://iasbaba.com/2017/09/india-radio-air-implications-us-withdrawal-paris-climate-accord/ SACEP Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II – International Relations In News The 15th meeting of the Governing Council of South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP) is going to be organised in Dhaka, Bangladesh. SACEP is an inter-governmental organization, established in 1982 by the governments of South Asia. Member countries include Afghanistan , Bangladesh , Bhutan , India , Maldives , Nepal , Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The objective is to promote and support protection, management and enhancement of the environment in the region SACEP acts as the Secretariat for the South Asian Seas Programme, which comes under the purview of UNEP’s Regional Seas Programme. India has signed a MoU with SACEP for cooperation on the response to Oil and Chemical Pollution in the South Asian Seas Region. Miscellaneous ICEDASH and ATITHI These two initiatives were launched by the Ministry of Finance. ICEDASH is an Ease of Doing Business monitoring dashboard of the Indian Customs helping the public see the daily Customs clearance times of import cargo at various ports and airports. ICEDASH dashboard hasbeen developed by Central Board of Indirect taxes and Customs in collaboration with National Informatics Centre (NIC). The ATITHI app will facilitate hassle-free and faster clearance by Customs at the airports and enhance the experience of international tourists and other visitors at the airports. Passengers can use this app to file declaration of dutiable items and currency with the Indian Customs even before boarding the flight to India. China launches Sudan’s first satellite Sudan’s first satellite for conducting research in military, economic and space technology has been launched by China In 2013, the then-Sudanese government led by President Omar al-Bashir established the Institute of Space Research and Aerospace (ISRA) as part of an overall plan to develop space technologies. Al-Bashir was removed by the army in April following a nationwide protest movement against his 30-year rule. The protests were triggered by the economic crisis led by an acute shortage of foreign currency and high inflation. (MAINS FOCUS) TECHNOLOGY TOPIC: General Studies 3: Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights Cyber security (Part-1) Context: Recently a user on VirusTotal identified a DTrack data dump linked with the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant indicating that a system (or more) in the plant had been breached by malware. The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) confirmed the breach. WhatsApp sued the Israel-based NSO Group for the use of its ‘Pegasus’ spyware on thousands of WhatsApp users in the lead-up to the general elections.. DTrack DTrack, is used by hackers to attack financial and research centres in India. It was designed to be planted on the victim’s ATMs, where it could read and store the data of cards that were inserted into the machines A version of it was used to attack the banking system in South Korea as well as for the infamous WannaCry ransom worm attacks across the globe. Researchers have identified that the malware which infected the computer at Kudankulam nuclear power plant was DTrack. Pegasus Pegasus is a spyware developed by the Israeli cyberarms firm, NSO Group It can be installed on devices running certain versions of iOS, Apple's mobile operating system, Pegasus is capable of reading text messages, tracking calls, collecting passwords, tracing the location of the phone, accessing the target device's microphone(s) and video camera(s Apple released version of its iOS software to fix the vulnerabilities. News of the spyware got significant media attention. It was called the "most sophisticated" smartphone attack ever. Concerns: Doubts on the Indian claims to being a legitimate power in cyberspace. Vulnerability of its critical information infrastructure Blatant disregard for the fundamental rights of Indian citizens onlineI’ Indian govt Fails to secure its strategic infrastructure from sophisticated cyberattacks The Indian military announced that it will modernise its nuclear forces, which includes the incorporation of Artificial Intelligence and other cybercapabilities, the apparent absence of robust cybersecurity capability is a serious cause for concern. The surveillance of Indian citizens through WhatsApp spyware in the lead-up to the general elections depicts the government’s disregard for cybersecurity. Way forward: India needs to get serious about cybersecurity, both for its political interests and for its citizenry. “security by obscurity” for India’s nuclear power plants Cutting-edge malware reserved for spying on citizens. Connecting the dots: Recent cyber attack incidents cast serious doubts on the Indian state’s claims to being a legitimate power in cyberspace. Critically analyse POLITY TOPIC: General Studies 2: Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary Collegium system (Part -1) Context: A nine-judge Bench of the Supreme Court has dismissed a petition seeking a review of its 1993 verdict in the Second Judges Case, which is widely understood to be instrumental in establishing the “collegium system” of appointing judges in India’s higher judiciary. Three Judges Cases: Article 124 and Article 217 respectively includes to the procedure of appointment of judges to the SC and HCs Judges of the Supreme Court shall be appointed by the President in consultation with the Chief Justice of India (CJI) and other judges of the Supreme Court and the High Courts as the President of India may deem necessary. Judges of the High Courts are appointed by the President in consultation with the CJI, the Governor of the concerned state, and the Chief Justice of that High Court. The Supreme Court of India's collegium system, appoints judges to the nation's constitutional courts, has its genesis in, and continued basis resting on, three of its own judgments which are collectively known as the Three Judges Cases. S. P. Gupta v. Union of India – 1981 In the First Judges Case (1981), the apex court held (4-3) that in the appointment of a judge of the Supreme Court or the High Court, the word “consultation” in Article 124(2) and in Article 217(1) of the Constitution does not mean “concurrence”. In the event of a disagreement, the “ultimate power” would rest with the Union Government and not the CJI Supreme Court Advocates-on Record Association vs Union of India – 1993 In the Second Judges Case (1993), the court (7-2) overruled the First Judges Case, holding that in the event of conflict between the President and the CJI with regard to appointments of Judges, it was the Chief Justice of India whose opinion would not only have primacy, but would be determinative in the matter. the SC not only regained its powers from the government but also gave itself the upper hand over the other two branches. verdict also gave birth to the Collegium System. In re Special Reference 1 of 1998 Finally, in the Third Judges Case (1998), the SC reaffirmed its 1993 judgement and expanded the Collegium to include the CJI and the four most-senior judges of the court after the CJI. Criticism : The Collegium system, finds no mention in the Constitution A mechanism put in place by the SC itself, personifies the democratic deficit The members of the Collegium, enjoy the fierce independence of the judiciary Exemplify the behind-the-door dealings of the judicial branch that lacks accountability and public scrutiny. The lack of transparency has ignited fears of nepotism Elevation of judges based on personal relationships and past favours instead of merit or seniority. Aftermath: Many contend that the judiciary has no choice but to fill the gap left by the other two branches of government. The most pronounced attempt at reforming the Collegium System was probably the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC). Connecting the dots: Whether the judicial activism that collegium entails is permitted by the Constitution – or if it is healthy for a democracy . comment (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 ICEDASH initiative It was launched by the Ministry of Finance. It is for improved monitoring and pace of Customs clearance of imported goods. It has been developed by NITI Aayog in collaboration with World’s Customs Union Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1and 2 Only 2 and 3 Only 1 and 3 Only 1,2 and 3 Q.2) Consider the following statements about South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP) It is an inter-governmental organization established in 1982 by South Asian Countries. SACEP also acts as the Secretariat for the South Asian Seas Programme, which comes under the purview of UNEP’s Regional Seas Programme. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) Which of the following objectives are a part of Paris Climate Deal 2015 To keep global temperatures "well below" 2.0C (3.6F) above pre-industrial times and "endeavour to limit" them even more, to 1.5C To review each country's contribution to cutting emissions every five years so they scale up to the challenge For rich countries to help poorer nations by providing "climate finance" to adapt to climate change and switch to renewable energy. Select the correct answer from codes given below 1 and 2 Only 2 and 3 Only 1 and 3 Only 1,2 and 3 Q.4) The judgement in Second Judges case led to which of the following outcome? Gave birth to Doctrine of basic structure of Constitution Declaring NJAC Act (National Judicial Appointments Commission) as unconstitutional Establishment of Collegium system of appointment of judges. None of the above Q.5) Consider the following statements about National Green Tribunal It is established under Environment Protection Act, 1986 It has the power of enforcement of any legal right relating to environment Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 MUST READ Judges for lawyers: On clash with police The Hindu Maulana’s march: On the anti-Imran protests The Hindu After RCEP opt-out, the challenge of a shape-up The Hindu An unwanted booster dose for vaccine hesitancy The Hindu A farmer knows about the pollution crisis. But we also need to know his problems IE China remains wary of the Quad and its future contours IE
