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RSTV IAS UPSC – Livestock Census 2019

Livestock Census 2019 Archives TOPIC: General Studies 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. General Studies 3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment In News: The provisional data of the 20th Livestock Census released by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying showed that the livestock population increased by 4.6 per cent, from 512.06 million in 2012. The total number for livestock was pegged at around 536 million. Conducted periodically since 1919-20 The census shows a further decline in the indigenous cattle population.  It also shows that the cow belt of the country has shifted eastwards with West Bengal emerging as a state with the largest cattle population, leaving behind Uttar Pradesh. For the latest round of census, more than 80,000 personnel were in the field collecting data from more than 27 crore households and non-households using tablets. According to the official statement, this was a unique attempt to digitise household level data transmitted directly from the field. Released by: Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying What is the livestock census? Under the livestock census, various species of animals possessed by households, household enterprises or non-household enterprises and institutions are counted at site — both in rural and urban areas. In other words, it covers all domesticated animals in a given period of time. India has been conducting livestock censuses periodically since 1919-20. This is the 20th one, started in October 2018. The last livestock census was conducted in 2012. Key results and changes since the last census The population of cows in the country has risen by 18 per cent in the last seven years, while that of oxen dipped by 30 per cent. A spectacular 16.8 per cent increase in the poultry population in the country to 851.81 million, mainly on account of a 46 per cent rise in backyard poultry birds, whose numbers have gone up to 317 million. Assam had registered the largest (71.63%) growth in poultry population. The number of female cattle is 145.12 million, which is 18 per cent over the 122.98 million in 2012. The number of male cattle, on the other hand, dropped to 47.4 million as against 67.92 million in 2012. Significantly the male to female cattle ratio in the 2019 survey dropped to 1:3 from 1:1.8 in the 2012 livestock survey. There is a 6 per cent decline in the total number of indigenous cattle over the previous census. On the contrary, the population of total exotic/crossbred cattle has increased by 26.9 per cent in 2019 as compared to previous census. Due to continuous fall in productivity, indigenous breeds of cattle have become liabilities for farmers, forcing them to desert the unproductive cows. Farmers find other animals such as buffaloes, goats and sheep much more productive.  Unlike cows, if these animals become unproductive, they can be sold and slaughtered for further processing. Experts believe this could have long term health and environmental impacts because the milk of indigenous breed has higher nutritional value than that of crossbreeds.  Moreover, there is a danger of losing these indigenous breeds, which have been developed and sustained by generations from time immemorial. As compared to the previous census, the percentage of sheep and goats has increased whereas the percentage of cattle, buffaloes and pigs has marginally declined. State Report Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of livestock of 67.8 million (68.7 million in 2012) Rajasthan: 56.8 million (57.7 million) Madhya Pradesh: 40.6 million (36.3 million) West Bengal: 37.4 million (30.3 million) Significance of livestock rearing The livestock species play very important economic, social and cultural roles or functions for rural households once they contribute to improve income and wellbeing of the farm family. Livestock has an important contribution for food supply of rural and urban areas and contributes to the family nutrition, supplying animal protein. Cry of Distress: The NSSO Situation Assessment Survey of Agricultural Households (2013) shows that 52% of farming households are indebted, with rates as high as 89-92% in some States. The distress is mainly due to lack of compensation during drought and disasters, the failures of the crop insurance scheme, and the deficit due to prices falling below the announced Minimum Support Prices. Diversification of sources of income for farmers is one of the few suggested solutions. Here, livestock plays an important role for a distress farmer. Labour: A distress farmer cannot afford mechanised farming. For him cattle provide the service of labour. They help in very crude form of mechanised farming for small and marginal farmers. Reliable source of income: Unlike farm crops, livestock do not easily suffer from monsoon failure or such other natural calamity. They continue to provide milk, eggs, etc. in almost all weather conditions. Every part of livestock carries economic importance such as leather, wool, meat, etc. Reduces input cost: Dung and other remnants of livestock act as green manure, a substitute to fertilisers. They also help in weed control without using chemicals or others costly and hazardous methods. An asset: Livestock are important asset for a distress farmer which can be encashed at any moment and may help him to come out of debt trap. Nutritional security: For a distressed farmer’s family, food provided by livestock is the only source of nutrition required for survival. However, we face issues like – Poor Quality breeds Shrinking pasteur land Low productivity of dairy- which could be improved by using scientific method There is a huge deficit of good quality fodder Spread of disease among the cattle There is an excessive number of unproductive animals which compete with productive dairy animals in the utilisation of available feeds and fodder. Late maturity, in most of the Indian cattle breeds, is a common problem. The calving interval is on the increase resulting in a reduction in efficiency of animal performance. Veterinary health care centres are located in far off places. The ratio between cattle population and veterinary institution is wider, resulting in inadequate health services to animals. (Foot and Mouth disease) Many cattle owners do not provide proper shelter to their cattles leaving them exposed to extreme climatic conditions. Unsanitary conditions of cattle shed and milking yards, leads to mastitis conditions Lack of proper farmer-industry connectivity A low number of APEDA-approved abattoir High export duty on raw salted hides Lack of R&D in the sector Way forward A national breeding policy is needed to upgrade the best performing indigenous breeds. Buffalo breeding ought to be given more attention, while poultry breeding should be focused on conservation. State governments should be encouraged to participate in national breeding policy implementation. Geographical information system-based analysis must be utilised to map production systems. Animal health care should become a priority, with greater investment in preventive health care. Private investment must also be encouraged. The government needs to create better incentive structures for investment in livestock. State governments should sponsor research and assessment of the market, along with highlighting investment potential. Conclusion:  The growth in the livestock sector is demand-driven, inclusive and pro-poor. The extent to which the potential of livestock can be harnessed would depend on how technology, institutions, policies and financial support address the constraints of the sector.  The growth of the livestock sector would have more effect on poverty reduction and will contribute to Doubling farmer income by 2022. Note: Salient features of National Livestock mission Sustainable growth and development of livestock sector, including poultry Increasing availability of fodder and feed to substantially reduce the demand –supply gap through measures which include more area coverage under quality fodder seeds, technology promotion, extension, post – harvest management and processing in consonance with diverse agro -climatic condition. Accelerating production of quality fodder and fodder seeds through effective seed production chain (Nucleus – Breeder –Foundation – Certified-Truthfully labelled, etc.) with active involvement of farmers and in collaboration with the dairy / farmers cooperatives, seed corporations, and private sector enterprises. Establishing convergence and synergy among ongoing Plan programmes and stakeholders for sustainable livestock development. Promoting applied research in prioritized areas of concern in animal nutrition and livestock production. Capacity building of state functionaries and livestock owners through strengthened extension machinery to provide quality extension service to farmers. Promoting skill based training and dissemination of technologies for reducing cost of production, and improving production of livestock sector Promoting initiatives for conservation and genetic upgradation of indigenous breeds of livestock (except bovines which are being covered under another scheme of the Ministry) in collaboration with farmers / farmers’ groups / cooperatives, etc. Encouraging formation of groups of farmers and cooperatives / producers’ companies of small and marginal farmers / livestock owners. Promoting innovative pilot projects and mainstreaming of successful pilots relating to livestock sector. Providing infrastructure and linkage for marketing, processing and value addition, as forward linkage for the farmer’s enterprises. Promoting risk management measures including livestock insurance for farmers. Promoting activities to control and prevent animal diseases, environmental pollution, promoting efforts towards food safety and quality, and supply of quality hides and skins through timely recovery of carcasses. Encouraging community participation on sustainable practices related to animal husbandry, involvement of community in breed conservation and creation of resource map for the states. Must read: Mindmap Connecting the Dots: Livestock wealth is central to rural economy In India. Discuss the importance of livestock as a means of sustainable rural development. Also discuss the salient features of the National Livestock Mission. Suggest a roadmap to tap India’s real potential in the livestock sector. Identify key focus areas to achieve the same.  Dairy farming can’t sustain itself without a vibrant livestock processing industry. Comment. For the rural economy, animal rearing can become a cushion in times of distress. Don you agree? Substantiate.

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

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 25th October 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) KARTARPUR SAHIB CORRIDOR AGREEMENT Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II–International Relations In News India and Pakistan signed an agreement to operationalise the Kartarpur corridor that will facilitate pilgrims from India to visit the Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan. The corridor is being built to connect Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur with Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, the final resting place of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak, to commemorate his 550th birth anniversary celebrations on November 12. Indian pilgrims of all faiths and persons of Indian origin can use the corridor. The travel will be Visa Free; Pilgrims need to carry only a valid passport The Pakistan side has assured India to make sufficient provision for ‘Langar’ and distribution of ‘Prasad’. However, there has been no progress on resolving the disagreement over a $20 fee that Pakistan intends to levy on each traveller. Pilgrims would be allowed to carry kirpans (dagger), one of the five articles of faith worn by Sikhs. Pic: https://images.indianexpress.com/2018/11/kartarpur1.jpg A.P. likely had a flourishing port 2,000 years ago Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains I – Culture In News The first round of excavation at the site near the banks of the Swarnamukhi river in Andhra Pradesh’s Gottiprolu, about 80 km from Tirupati and Nellore,unearthed a huge settlement surrounded by a brick enclosure (fortified settlement) A maritime trade centre based out of a fortified settlement may have had a trade guild with its own army to protect its interests around 2,000 years ago, according to Archaeological Survey of India officials involved in the excavation of the site. The excavation unearthed brick-built structures in elliptical, circular and rectangular shapes. The size of bricks (43 to 48 cm) can be compared to those in the Satavahana/Ikshvaku period structures in the Krishna valley, according to the ASI. This means the site may date back to 2nd century to 1st century BCE. A four-armed 2-metre tall sculpture of Vishnu was unearthed at the site that can be dated back to the Pallava period (8th Century CE), looking at its features like head gear and drapery. The excavation also unearthed a series of broken terracotta pipes that fit into each other, pointing towards a form of drainage. ASI had excavated about 10% of the site and would start on the second round of excavations in November or December, when more evidence was likely to be unearthed. Commission for Protection of Child Rights Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II - Polity In News  The Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights wants the Department of Primary and Secondary Education to ban schools from assigning homework to students in classes I to V. This proposal is made on the grounds that the move will ease the pressure on young minds. Commissions for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005 provided for establishment of Commissions for Protection of Child rights both at National level and State level. About National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) NCPCR is country’s apex child rights body. Objective of this commission is to protect, promote and defend the child rights in India including the rights adopted in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Children, 1989, ratified by India in 1992. The Chairperson of NCPCR should be a person of eminence who has done outstanding work on promoting the child rights. The Commission’s Mandate is to ensure that all Laws, Policies, Programmes, and Administrative Mechanisms are in consonance with the Child Rights perspective as enshrined in the Constitution of India and also the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Do you know? The Child is defined as a person in the 0 to 18 years age group. DOING BUSINESS REPORT 2020 Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains III –Economy In News The World Bank released its latest Doing Business Report (DBR, 2020). India ranks at 63rd among 190 countries, moved 14 places from the previous year (77th rank in 2018). The DBR ranks countries on the basis of Distance to Frontier (DTF), a score that shows the gap of an economy to the global best practice. This year, India’s DTF score improved to 71.0 from 67.23 in the previous year. The report assess improvement in ease of doing business environment in Delhi and Mumbai. In the last 5 years, India’s ranking has improved 79 places - to 63 in 2019 from 142 in 2014. Significant improvements have been registered in ‘Resolving Insolvency’, 'Dealing with Construction Permits', ‘Registering Property’, ‘Trading across Boards’ and ‘Paying Taxes’ indicators Recovery rate under resolving insolvency has improved significantly from 26.5% to 71.6%. The time taken for resolving insolvency has also come down significantly from 4.3 years to 1.6 years. India continues to maintain its first position among South Asian countries. It was 6th in 2014. Jailed Uighur intellectual wins EU rights award Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II – Human rights In News The European Parliament has awarded the Sakharov Prize for human rights to Uighur intellectual Ilham Tohti, who has been sentenced to life imprisonment in China for “separatism”. The outspoken former Professor of economics at a Beijing university was sentenced in 2014. By awarding this prize, European Parliament strongly urge the Chinese government to release Tohti and calls for the respect of minority rights in China Who are Uighurs? The Uighurs are a minority Turkic ethnic group originating from and culturally affiliated with the general region of Central and East Asia. The Uighurs have been recognized as native to only one region, the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China 2 out of 3 wild poliovirus strains have been eradicated Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains III - Health In News In an announcement by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on World Polio Day (October 24), an independent commission of experts declared that wild poliovirus type 3 (WPV3) has been eradicated worldwide. This follows the eradication of smallpox and wild poliovirus type 2. Efforts are being taken to eliminate the wild poliovirus type 1. This virus remains in circulation in just two countries, Afghanistan and Pakistan. There are three individual and immunologically distinct wild poliovirus strains: wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1), wild poliovirus type 2 (WPV2) and wild poliovirus type 3 (WPV3). Symptomatically, all three strains are identical, in that they cause irreversible paralysis or even death. But there are genetic and virological differences, which make these three strains three separate viruses that must each be eradicated individually. There is no cure for polio, it can only be prevented. Polio vaccine, given multiple times, can protect a child for life. Two polio vaccines, are used throughout the world to provide immunity to poliovirus. One uses inactivated (dead) poliovirus and the other uses attenuated (weakened) poliovirus. (MAINS FOCUS) ECONOMY TOPIC: General Studies 3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment World Bank's ease of doing business ranking (India 63rd Rank) Context: India hiked 14 places to the 63rd position on the World Bank's ease of doing business ranking India is  among the top 10 performers on the list for the third time in a row New Zealand, Singapore and Hong Kong topped World Bank applauded the reform efforts undertaken by the India in its report India is the first country of its type to jump this year by 14 position. Pic: https://static.toiimg.com/img/71732579/Master.jpg Journey from 140 to 63: In 2014 India was at 140th. 100th position in 2018 77th position in 2019 63rd now Policies that helped : 'Make in India' campaign focused on attracting foreign investment, boosting the private sector (manufacturing in particular) and increasing the country's overall competitiveness In 2015, the government's goal was to join the 50 top Rank in the ease of doing business ranking by 2020. successful implementation of the Insolvency And Bankruptcy Code(Before the implementation of the reform, it was very burdensome for secured creditors to seize companies in default of their loans) Improvements were registered in starting business(start up India scheme), dealing with construction permits and trading across borders. Govt made starting a business easier by abolishing filing fees for the SPICe (Simplified Proforma for Incorporating a Company Electronically) company incorporation form, electronic memorandum of association, and articles of association Trading across borders made easier by enabling post clearance audits, integrating trade stakeholders in a single electronic platform, upgrading port infrastructures, and enhancing the electronic submission of documents. Ease of doing business report: The report was introduced in 2003 by world bank to provide an assessment of objective measures of business regulations and their enforcement across 190 economies on ten parameters affecting a business through its life cycle Starting a business Dealing with construction permits Getting electricity Registering property Getting credit Protecting investors Paying taxes Trading across borders Enforcing contracts Resolving insolvency Implications: First, the Doing Business indicators provide a snapshot of a country’s red tape; they have no pretension of providing a comprehensive picture of the investment climate. As the World Bank makes clear, the indicators are not designed to comment on macroeconomic indicators or prospects for growth. Second, there exists a wide divergence between de jure and de facto realities in most economies. What firms actually encounter “on the ground” is perhaps more important, but there are limitations to our ability to measure and interpret those experiences without bias. The Way Ahead: While we can truly be proud of the extent of India’s macro-policy reforms, it is time we started to focus on the micro-policies of enforcement. Top down macro reforms can only be effective if they are twinned with bottom-up micro reforms. Unless the day-to-day experience of doing business improves, we will continue to under-perform relative to our true potential. To secure changes in the remaining areas will require not just new laws and online systems but deepening the ongoing investment in the capacity of states and their institutions to implement change and transform the framework of incentives and regulation facing the private sector. India’s focus on ‘doing business’ at the state level may well be the platform that sustains the country’s reform trajectory for the future Conclusion: The Ease of doing business rankings thus, should not be seen as the ultimate marker of the ruling party’s reform success. Likewise, investors who are considering the prospects for investment in India should recognize what the rankings do and do not tell us. While India has made tremendous progress in various categories, it is the depth of these reforms which needs to be worked in the next few years to bring up India into the Top 50 ranking. Connecting the dots: The change in Ease of doing business ranking is fully acknowledged by the growth in Foreign Direct Investment into India. Analyse. Mind map Pic: https://iasbaba.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Ease-of-Doing-Business.jpg INTERNATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2: India and its neighbourhood- relations. 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. Operationalisation of the Kartarpur Corridor Context India and Pakistan signed agreement on Kartarpur corridor. The agreement relates to the modalities for operationalisation of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor at Zero Point, International Boundary, Dera Baba Nanak. Indian pilgrims of all faiths and persons of Indian origin can use the corridor and the travel will be Visa Free Pilgrims need to carry only a valid passport and the Corridor is open from dawn to dusk Pilgrims travelling in the morning will have to return on the same day. Pic: https://d39gegkjaqduz9.cloudfront.net/TH/2018/11/23/DEL/Delhi/TH/5_01/88722918_2544650_101_mr.jpg Current status: Currently pilgrims from India have to take a bus to Lahore to get to Kartarpur, which is a 125 km journey although people on the Indian side of the border can physically see Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur on the Pakistani side. An elevated platform has also been constructed for the same on the Indian side, where people use binoculars to get a good view Concern: Under the agreement, Pakistan will charge a very nominal USD 20 from every Indian Sikh pilgrim for a single trip India continues to urge this issue with the Government of Pakistan to reconsider its insistence on levying the fee. Indian pilgrims who enter Pakistan through the Kartarpur corridor will not be allowed to visit other gurdwaras in the Punjab province of that country. They would have to go via the normal route, after applying for a visa, and paying the requisite fees. Concerns about the pilgrims being exposed to the propaganda of pro-Khalistan elements.   Pic: http://www.samacharnama.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/kartarpur-corridor-map-1.png Why levy? Pakistan has spent about Rs 1,000 crore on the Kartarpur corridor infrastructure. It would be providing langar to the pilgrims who visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib. It would also be providing e-rickshaws to ferry the pilgrims from Dera Baba Nanak on the Indian side. The fee has triggered a political controversy within India, and Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has called the fee a “jazia” tax on pilgrims. Gurdwara in Kartarpur The gurdwara in Kartarpur is located on the bank of river Ravi in Pakistan It is about four km from the Dera Baba Nanak shrine, and about 120 km northeast of Lahore It was here that Guru Nanak assembled a Sikh community and lived for 18 years until his death in 1539 The shrine is visible from the Indian side, as Pakistani authorities generally trim the elephant grass that would otherwise obstruct the view Indian Sikhs gather in large numbers for darshan from the Indian side, and binoculars are installed at Gurdwara Dera Baba Nanak The gurdwara was opened to pilgrims after repairs and restoration in 1999, and Sikh jathas have been visiting the shrine regularly ever since Sikh jathas from India travel to Pakistan on four occasions every year- for Baishakhi, the martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev, the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, and the birthday of Guru Nanak Dev. Significance First proposed in 1999 by the prime ministers of India and Pakistan, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Nawaz Sharif, respectively, as part of the Delhi–Lahore Bus diplomacy Implemented as an integrated development project with Government of India funding. The development comes ahead of the 550th Prakash Purab or 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak in 2019. Until now, most Indian devotees have had to contend with a darshan using binoculars installed at Dera Baba Nanak Sahib. This can be considered a big development since despite the India-Pakistan deadlock in talks, both India and Pakistan have been able to form a consensus on the issue. Way forward: India must work to secure its border from the threat even as it opens the gates for thousands of pilgrims to travel to Pakistan. National security must get priority there must be an effort by all stakeholders in India — the Centre, the State government and the leadership of the BJP, the Akalis and the Congress — to resist scoring political points against one another. Modalities and technical issues, such as on the numbers, eligibility and identity proof required for the trip to Kartarpur Sahib, should be ironed out by both governments. India must negotiate with the Government of Pakistan to reconsider its insistence on levying the fee. Conclusion: It will be unfortunate if Pakistan uses the Kartarpur Corridor to fish in troubled waters and cause instability for its political ends Connecting the dots: Security concerns are high-priority, but blocking work on the corridor is not right. Justify. (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note:  Featured Comments and comments Up-voted by IASbaba are the “correct answers”. IASbaba App users – Team IASbaba will provide correct answers in comment section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers. Q.1)Uighur problem sometimes seen in the news is predominantly related to which of the following country? Afghanistan Iran Yemen China Q.2)Consider the following statements Wild poliovirus type 2 and type 3 has been eliminated world wide Wild Polio Virus Type 1 virus remains in circulation in just two countries, Afghanistan and Pakistan. There is no cure for polio, it can only be prevented. Which of the statements given above are correct? 1 and 2 1 and 3 2 and 3 1, 2 and 3 Q.3)Consider the following statements with reference to the National commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) It is a statutory body established under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. It defines a Child as a person in the 0 to 18 years age group. The commission works under the administrative control of the Ministry of Women & Child Development. Which of the statements given above are correct? 1 and 2 1 and 3 2 and 3 1, 2 and 3 Q.4)Consider the following statements about Doing Business report (DBR) It is released by International Monetary Fund The DBR ranks countries on the basis of Distance to Frontier (DTF), a score that shows the gap of an economy to the global best practice. The report assess improvement in ease of doing business environment in all Capital cities of States of India. Which of the statements given above are incorrect? 1 and 2 1 and 3 2 and 3 1, 2 and 3 MUST READ Good report card: On ease of doing business The Hindu Two elections and a dent to a jingoistic edifice The Hindu Putin takes centre stage in Syria The Hindu Legislation against mob lynching must be accompanied by effective policing Indian Express

AIR

All India Radio (AIR) IAS UPSC - Incentives to Boost Housing Sector

Incentives to Boost Housing Sector ARCHIVES Search 15th September 2019 Spotlight here: http://www.newsonair.com/Main_Audio_Bulletins_Search.aspx   TOPIC:  General Studies 1 Social Issues, Urbanization, their problems & remedies General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes. Housing is a fundamental requirement of human existence. The requirement of shelter is so basic that in common parlance in India, it is clubbed together with food and clothing as the troika of basic human needs of roti, kapda, and makaan. It is no wonder that housing is a key social demand, and a priority area for governments, both at the Centre and the states. Real estate developers are expected to deliver over 4.5 lakh affordable housing units in the coming 15 months, claims a research report by PropTiger.com. With the vision of providing housing for all by 2022, the new government has rolled out various measures to boost the sector in the last few months.  Notably, during the union budget announcement, the government increased the tax deduction limit on the interest paid on home loans by Rs.1.5 lakh to Rs.3.5 lakh annually, in cases where the unit price does not exceed Rs.45 lakh. To boost affordable housing in urban India, the Union budget earlier this year proposed a new model tenancy law - an attempt to handle the currently fragmented rental housing market. PMAY (U) envisages to be implemented during 2015-2022 through assistance from the Centre to urban local bodies or other state-level agencies. The execution is done through four verticals — rehabilitation of existing slum dwellers using land as a resource through private participation, credit-linked subsidy, affordable housing in partnership, and subsidy for beneficiary-led individual house construction or enhancement. Under PMAY (Gramin), the target number of houses to be constructed by the year 2021-22 is 2.95 crore. In the first phase, one crore houses were taken up for construction in three years between 2016 and 2019. In the second phase, 1.95 crore houses are targeted for construction between 2019 and 2022. The government provides Rs 1.5 lakh to each eligible beneficiary to construct a house under PMAY (G). [caption id="attachment_51769" align="aligncenter" width="523"] All India Radio (AIR) IAS UPSC - Incentives to Boost Housing Sector[/caption] How pricey is India’s urban rental market today, and how does affordability vary across major cities? A Mint analysis of rental housing data across India’s top six metros (Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru) shows that Hyderabad has the cheapest rents on average ( ₹11,000) and Mumbai has the most expensive rents ( ₹38,200). These values are for a 650 sqft apartment, the rough size of a one bedroom-hall-kitchen (BHK) apartment. One reason why this has not become a major political issue yet is that tenants are still a minority across India’s largest cities. Across Delhi (including all districts of the city), Mumbai (including Mumbai and Mumbai Suburban districts), Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru, 60% of residents live on properties they own, according to the 2011 census. What are the challenges? Low participation from private real estate development Increasing construction cost on account of lack of bulk sourcing of materials Unavailability of land in prime areas The faulty bidding mechanism The government will need another ₹1 lakh crore in three years to build one crore houses, as disbursements under PMAY-U show a huge lag. A ramp-up in fund-raising and utilisation is crucial. The success of the housing schemes depends largely on how active the states and urban local bodies are. The Union government provides the funds and they are spent by the states and urban local bodies. Some states are active and some may not be very enthusiastic about it because of political reasons Right now, the challenge before the government is to double the speed of construction in order to complete the remaining 6.6 million houses before March 2019. To achieve this target, the Centre has to nudge states such as Assam and Bihar, which have been lagging behind in implementing the scheme. Social Disconnect: Among the reasons mentioned above, it is observed from studies that the feel of disconnect and loss of social connections is a major reason for the beneficiaries to reject the housing provided by the government. Psychological Support: The relocation under housing schemes leads to a feeling of isolation. Social relations and community provides them a sense of support and comfort for the troubled days. Those residing in slums seek and provide a lot of psychological and material support from each other which the State cannot provide. Financial Comfort: Slum dwellers rely on each other for their borrowing needs in a regular manner. Moving to new areas also impacts their earning capacity and labour force participation. Socio-Economic Development: There is a greater need to understand what the individuals moving to a new place will gain or lose and what will be there response to the shift. This is because it is mentioned as a result of studies that benefits give the best results only if the people are made to relocate at an early age. Hence, a targeted approach is very important. What are the solutions? Roping in the private sector under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model: Among other initiatives, the government needs to Grant infrastructure status to the entire real estate industry making long-term financing easy for the industry Fix GST rate for all types of housing at 6% Revise carpet area to 60 sq. mt including in metro cities (to qualify for subsidy) Make land available at subsidized rates in metros and tier 1 cities so that the projects can be viable; Reduce premium on additional FSI (floor space index) to encourage affordable housing within metro cities Reduce time taken and cost of permissions and clearances Work on the mass housing model, bringing economies of scale into the picture Reward developers for last mile connect Availability of land in cities at affordable pricing is one of the major challenges. The government could facilitate the development of affordable housing by making surplus land held by PSUs (Public Sector Undertakings) available for affordable housing projects. Also, local government’s property that is no longer useful can be monetised by selling to developers. The central government should guide the states on programmes to allocate and incentivise the usage of land for affordable housing, while also incentivising state governments to facilitate engagement and implementation. It is also recommended to incentivise developers for infrastructure and last mile connectivity development in semi-urban centres. It can be in the form of an increase in FSI or reduction in stamp duty or tax, and others. Infrastructure upgrading precedes the FSI increase to ensure that existing households are not adversely impacted due to the new development Note: Land: State subject [caption id="attachment_51772" align="aligncenter" width="402"] All India Radio (AIR) IAS UPSC - Incentives to Boost Housing Sector[/caption] Refer: Mindmap Connecting the Dots: A house is a security that allows every individual to flourish under a sense of dignity. Elucidate. Also examine the significance of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana in ensuring the social dignity of an individual. Providing affordable housing to all in India seems to be an ambitious target to achieved by 2022. Discuss the challenges and the way out. Government schemes do not only face implementation or structural challenges but are also subject to social challenges. Discuss. Suggest a strategy for overcoming social challenges in policy making and implementation. Is the PPP model in housing infrastructure viable option? Critically analyse.

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

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 24th October 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Rabi crop MSP to be hiked Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II and III – Government policies; Economy; Farmer’s welfare; Agriculture In news: Union Cabinet decides to hike the minimum support price (MSP) for rabi crops (for 2020-21 marketing season) Considered to be one of the important and progressive steps towards doubling farmers’ income by 2022 and improving farmers’ welfare. What aspirants need to know for exam? What is MSP? Who announces MSPs? MSP List (i.e. crops covered under MSP)   Basics: Minimum Support Price (MSP) It is a market intervention by the Government to insure agricultural producers against any sharp fall in farm prices. MSPs are announced by the Government of India on the basis of the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP). Major objective – Support the farmers from distress sales To procure food grains for public distribution Crops covered Government announces MSPs for 22 mandated crops and fair and remunerative price (FRP) for sugarcane. The mandated crops are 14 crops of the kharif season, 6 rabi crops and two other commercial crops. 14 kharif crops 6 rabi crops 2 commercial crops 1.      paddy 1. wheat 1. jute 2.      jowar 2. barley 2. copra 3.      bajra 3. gram 4.      maize 4. masur(lentil) 5.      ragi 5. rapeseed/mustard 6.      arhar 6. safflower 7.      moong 8.      urad 9.      groundnut-in-shell 10.  soyabean 11.  sunflower 12.  sesamum 13.  nigerseed 14.  cotton Air Quality Index (AQI), Ambient Air Quality Standards and SAFAR Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II and III – Government schemes and policies; Environment and Biodiversity; Pollution   National Air Quality Index’ (AQI) Was launched in 2014 to disseminate information on air quality Initiative under Swachh Bharat Mission The measurement of air quality is based on eight pollutants AQI has six categories of air quality. These are: Good, Satisfactory, Moderately Polluted, Poor, Very Poor and Severe. AQI is considered as ‘One Number- One Colour-One Description’ for the common man to judge the air quality within his vicinity. 8 pollutants measured by AQI Particulate Matter (size less than 10 µm) or (PM10), Particulate Matter (size less than 2.5 µm) or (PM2.5), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Ozone (O3), Ammonia (NH3), and Lead (Pb) 6 categories of air quality Pic: https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2014-09/aqiguidepm.png   National Ambient Air Quality Standards National Ambient Air Quality Standards are the standards for ambient air quality set by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) The CPCB has been conferred this power by the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. Ambient Air Quality Standards contains 12 pollutants (8 pollutants contained in AQI and 4 others given below) Benzene Benzo(a)Pyrene (BaP) Arsenic Nickel   System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) Initiative introduced by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) to measure the air quality of a metropolitan city Indigenously developed by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune and is operationalized by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). It gives out real-time air quality index on a 24x7 basis with color-coding (along with 72 hours advance forecast). SAFAR is an integral part of India’s first Air Quality Early Warning System operational in Delhi. Objective: increase awareness among the general public regarding the air quality in their city helps the policy-makers to develop appropriate mitigation measures and systematic actions Pollutants monitored by SAFAR 5 PM10 Ozone Carbon Monoxide (CO) Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) Benzene Toluene Xylene Mercury ISRO’s PSLV missions Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III – Economy; Science and Technology; Space; India’s achievement in Science and Technology In news: ISRO bags orders from four international customers 3 PSLV missions - C47, C48 and C49 - scheduled to launch in November and December 2019 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre Pic: https://d39gegkjaqduz9.cloudfront.net/TH/2019/10/24/DEL/Delhi/TH/5_09/1fede5a5_3279878_101_mr.jpg Benefits from Launching of Foreign Satellites Reduces the cost of launching Indian satellites along with other foreign satellites. Helps in growth of space sector. Employment generation. Has led to New Space start-ups. Do you know? India took a step into space business with National Space India Limited, which will be the new commercial arm of the department of space. The NSIL will help boost commercialization of India's space research. Value Additions Differences between GSLV and PSLV Both PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) and GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) are the satellite-launch vehicles (rockets) developed by ISRO. PSLV is designed mainly to deliver the “earth-observation” or “remote-sensing” satellites with lift-off mass of up to about 1750 Kg to Sun-Synchronous circular polar orbits of 600-900 Km altitude. The GSLV is designed mainly to deliver the communication-satellites to the highly elliptical (typically 250 x 36000 Km) Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). The satellite in GTO is further raised to its final destination, viz., Geo-synchronous Earth orbit (GEO) of about 36000 Km altitude (and zero deg inclination on equatorial plane) by firing its in-built on-board engines. Peritoneal dialysis under Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Program (PMNDP) Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – Government schemes and programmes; Health issue; Social/Welfare issue In news: Government to provide kidney dialysis at home under PMNDP. In other words, the Centre plans to establish peritoneal dialysis services across states to provide door-step dialysis services for kidney patients. Aim: With home-based peritoneal dialysis service, the Centre seeks to – bring down the overall cost of treatment achieve equity in patient access bring in consistency of practice develop a clinically-safe and effective programme Do you know? Every year about 2.2 Lakh new patients of End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) get added in India resulting in additional demand for 3.4 Crore dialysis every year. ESRD continues to be a result of existing and emerging burden of non-communicable disease. The burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) has been alarmingly increasing and was flagged in the special UN convention for Health. What aspirants need to know for exam? What is Peritoneal dialysis? About PMNDP scheme   Peritoneal dialysis Peritoneal dialysis is a process to remove excess fluid, correct electrolyte problems and remove toxins using the lining of the abdomen, or peritoneum, in patients suffering from renal failure. About Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Program It was rolled out in 2016 as part of the National Health Mission(NHM) for provision of free dialysis services to the poor. 19th Non Aligned Movement (NAM) summit Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – India and the World; International Relations In news: 19th Non Aligned Movement (NAM) summit to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan. PM Modi skips NAM summit again (for 2nd time) PM’s absence indicates a decisive move away from past practice at the 60-year-old organisation that India was a founding member of. Do you know? Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu will represent India at the 19th NAM summit. 18th NAM Summit (which was held in Venezuela) was represented by then Vice-President Hamid Ansari. Since NAM was inaugurated in 1961, the Indian Prime Minister has always attended the NAM summit, except in 1979, when Chaudhury Charan Singh was the caretaker PM and hence missed it, and in 2016. What aspirants need to know for exam? NAM- past and present Five principles of NAM NAM: Policies and ideology   NAM: Background The Non-Aligned Movement is a Movement of 115 members representing the interests and priorities of developing countries and against blindly following any power block during the cold war era. NAM was a result of the war between the two blocks during the cold war. The movement began with the “Bandung Process” in 1956 by India, Indonesia, former Yugoslavia, Egypt and other countries. First meeting of the NAM was held in Belgrade in 1961 by Yugoslavia. Five principles of NAM Mutual respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. Mutual non-aggression. Mutual non-interference in domestic affairs. Equality and mutual benefit. Peaceful co-existence. Policies and ideology: The Non-Aligned Movement is unified by its declared commitment to world peace and security. The Non-Aligned Movement espouses policies and practices of cooperation, especially those that are multilateral and provide mutual benefit to all those involved. The Non-Aligned Movement has played a major role in various ideological conflicts throughout its existence, including extreme opposition to apartheid governments and support of guerrilla movements in various locations, including Rhodesia and South Africa. The Non-Aligned Movement has become a voice of support for issues facing developing nations and it still contains ideals that are legitimate within this context.  NAM: Present scenario India, which clung to non-alignment as its international identity sinceimage Independence, slowly deviated from it after the big LPG reforms, 1991. Since the end of the Cold War and the formal end of colonialism, the Non-Aligned Movement has been forced to redefine itself and reinvent its purpose in the current world system. India no longer wants to be isolated from the western power blocs. India wants its voice to be heard at the global level. However, India still maintains that “It remains committed to the principles and objectives of the Non Aligned Movement”. Miscellaneous: 'Sycamore,' Google's Quantum Computer Part of: GS Prelims – Science and Technology In news: Scientists have finally claimed to reach quantum supremacy, a landmark in an industry that could change the world. A team of experts working on Google’s Sycamore machine said their quantum system had executed a calculation in 200 seconds that would have taken a classic computer 10,000 years to complete. India plans first-ever snow leopard survey Part of: GS Prelims – Animal Conservation; Environment and Biodiversity In news: India to commission it’s first-ever survey to estimate the population and geographical range of the snow leopard. About Snow Leopard: The snow leopard is a large cat native to the mountain ranges of Central and South Asia. Snow leopards inhabit alpine and subalpine zones at elevations from 3,000 to 4,500 m (9,800 to 14,800 ft). The snow leopard is found along the upper reaches of the Himalayan range and, in India, it is reported to have a presence in Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. Do you know? The snow leopard is found in 12 countries — India, Nepal, Bhutan, China, Mongolia, Russia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. IUCN Status: Vulnerable Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection (GSLEP) programme is being organised by Union Environment Ministry. (MAINS FOCUS) CLIMATE CHANGE TOPIC: General Studies 3: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment A ray of hope for the ozone layer Context: During September and October, the ozone hole over the Antarctic has been the smallest observed since 1982, NASA and US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) scientists have reported. The annual ozone hole reached its peak extent of 16. 4 million sq km on September 8, then shrank to less than 10 million sq km for the remainder of September and October, satellite measurements show. NASA has described it as great news for the Southern Hemisphere. Pic: https://media.nature.com/w800/magazine-assets/d41586-019-02837-5/d41586-019-02837-5_17295302.png Background: In 1985, Joe Farman, Brian Gardiner and Jonathan Shanklin reported unanticipated and large decreases in stratospheric ozone levels over the Antarctic. ozone levels began dropping in the austral spring months around the late 1970s . By 1984, the stratospheric ozone layer over Halley in October was only about two-thirds as thick as that seen in earlier decades — a phenomenon that became known as the Antarctic ozone hole. Farman suggested a link to human use of compounds called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), often used in aerosol cans and cooling devices such as fridges. Their findings transformed the fields of atmospheric science and chemical kinetics, and led to global changes in environmental policy. Concern: Ozone depletion has generated worldwide concern over increased cancer risks and other negative effects. The ozone layer prevents most harmful UV wavelengths of ultraviolet light (UV light) from passing through the Earth's atmosphere. These wavelengths cause skin cancer, sunburn and cataracts, which were projected to increase dramatically as a result of thinning ozone, as well as harming plants and animals. These concerns led to the adoption of the Montreal Protocol in 1987, which bans the production of CFCs, halons and other ozone-depleting chemicals.(amend Kaigili 2016 added HFC) Effect of Policy: The ban came into effect in 1989. Ozone levels stabilized by the mid-1990s and began to recover in the 2000s. The ozone hole is expected to reach pre-1980 levels by around 2075. The Montreal Protocol is considered the most successful international environmental agreement to date Science behind ozone formation: Three forms (or allotropes) of oxygen are involved in the ozone-oxygen cycle: oxygen atoms (O or atomic oxygen), oxygen gas (O2 or diatomic oxygen), and ozone gas (O3 or triatomic oxygen). Ozone is formed in the stratosphere when oxygen molecules photo dissociate after absorbing ultraviolet photons. This converts a single O2 into two atomic oxygen radicals. The atomic oxygen radicals then combine with separate O2 molecules to create two O3 These ozone molecules absorb ultraviolet (UV) light, following which ozone splits into a molecule of O2 and an oxygen atom. The oxygen atom then joins up with an oxygen molecule to regenerate ozone. This is a continuing process that terminates when an oxygen atom recombines with an ozone molecule to make two O2 The total amount of ozone in the stratosphere is determined by a balance between photochemical production and recombination. OZONE depletion: Ozone can be destroyed by a number of free radical catalysts; the most important are the hydroxyl radical (OH·), nitric oxide radical (NO·), chlorine radical (Cl·) and bromine radical (Br·). especially chlorofluorocarbons, which can travel to the stratosphere without being destroyed in the troposphere due to their low reactivity. Once in the stratosphere, the Cl and Br atoms are released from the parent compounds by the action of ultraviolet light. Ozone is a highly reactive molecule that easily reduces to the more stable oxygen form with the assistance of a catalyst. Cl and Br atoms destroy ozone molecules through a variety of catalytic cycles. In the simplest example of such a cycle, a chlorine atom reacts with an ozone molecule (O3), taking an oxygen atom to form chlorine monoxide (ClO) and leaving an oxygen molecule (O2). The ClO can react with a second molecule of ozone, releasing the chlorine atom and yielding two molecules of oxygen. A single chlorine atom would continuously destroy ozone (thus a catalyst) for up to two years (the time scale for transport back down to the troposphere) were it not for reactions that remove them from this cycle by forming reservoir species such as hydrogen chloride (HCl) and chlorine nitrate Pic: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/28/Ozone_cycle.svg/800px-Ozone_cycle.svg.png Why it’s small this year? There have been abnormal weather patterns in the atmosphere over Antarctica. In warmer temperatures like this year, fewer polar stratospheric clouds form and they don’t persist as long, limiting the ozone-depletion process. While it is good news, NASA has cautioned it is important to recognise that what we are seeing this year is not a sign that atmospheric ozone is suddenly on a fast track to recovery. Conclusion: We must ensure that our development goals are sustainable and do not hinder this movement. Our future depends on it. Connecting the dots: The beauty of treaties such as Montreal is that the onus of compliance remains on the country while the environmental effects remain global, pushing countries to do their best .Justify. Efforts to replace chemicals with less harmful ones like hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) have begun to pay off. Substantiate. POLITY TOPIC: General Studies 2: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. Issues relating to poverty and hunger. Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures. 25 years of National Family Health Survey (NFHS) Background: The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) is a large-scale, multi-round survey conducted in a representative sample of households throughout India. International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) is nodal agency. Funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) {United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) support} First  National Family Health Survey (NFHS-1): Conducted in 1992-93. Survey collected extensive information on population, health, and nutrition, with an emphasis on women and young children. The Second National Family Health Survey (NFHS-2) Conducted in 1998-99 added features on the quality of health and family planning services, domestic violence, reproductive health, anemia, the nutrition of women, and the status of women. The Third National Family Health Survey (NFHS-3) carried out in 2005-2006. The National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) and the National AIDS Research Institute (NARI) are providing technical assistance for the HIV component. The Fourth National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4) was carried out in 2014-2015. The first of the NFHS series that collects data in each of India’s 29 States and all 7 Union Territories. Also, NFHS-4, for the first time, will provide estimates of most indicators at the district level Salient findings of NFHS-4: Fewer children are dying in infancy and early childhood – (51 deaths per 1,000 live births) Infant mortality rates range from a low of 10 in Andaman and Nicobar Islands to a high of 51 deaths per 1000 live births in Madhya Pradesh. (variability) Better care for women during pregnancy and childbirth contributes to reduction of maternal deaths and improved child survival Almost all mothers have received antenatal care for their most recent pregnancy More and more women now give birth in health care facilities and rates have more than doubled in some States in the last decade. (9 in 10 in some states) The total fertility rates, or the average number of children per woman, range from 1.2 in Sikkim to 3.4 in Bihar. Full immunization coverage among children age 12-23 months varies widely (At least 6 out of 10 children have received full immunization in 12 of the 15 States / Union Territories). There has been an increase in the use of modern family planning methods only in the States of Meghalaya, Haryana, and West Bengal. The decline is highest in Goa followed by Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Fewer children under five years of age are now found to be stunted(previous survey, it is found that in Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Meghalaya more than 40% of children are stunted) Wasting is still very high by international standards in all of the States/Union Territories. Anaemia has also declined, but still remains widespread. Over-nutrition continues to be a health issue for adults. Over two-thirds of households in every State/Union Territory have access to an improved source of drinking water, and more than 90% of households have access to an improved source of drinking water More than 50% of households have access to improved sanitation facilities Use of clean cooking fuel, which reduces the risk of respiratory illness and pollution, varies widely among (18% of households in Bihar to more than 70% of households in Tamil Nadu and more than 80% of households in Puducherry and Goa) Lack of HIV awareness in Indian adults - Nearly 82 % women and nearly 70 % men in the 13 States lacked comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS and safe sex practices. Tobacco use among men has fallen from 50 per cent in 2005-06 to 47 per cent in 2015. Alcohol consumption among men has fallen from 38 per cent to 34 per cent. Concern: Difficulties in obtaining reliable, high quality data Solution: Set realistic goals and use creative strategies. Adapt to changing institutional and technological environment for data collection. Conclusion: This is the data that guides the policies affecting millions of Indians and must be faithfully collected. Unless we pay systematic attention to the data infrastructure, we are likely to have the national discourse hijacked by poor quality data as has happened in the past with a measurement of poverty or inconsistent data on GDP. Also read: Link 1 : https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/minding-the-gaps-in-indias-data-infrastructure/article29779725.ece Connecting the dots: Can India’s existing data infrastructure support high quality data collection or whether deteriorating data quality will lead evidence-based policy development astray? Examine. (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note:  Featured Comments and comments Up-voted by IASbaba are the “correct answers”. IASbaba App users – Team IASbaba will provide correct answers in comment section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers. Q.1) MSP is form of agricultural market intervention undertaken by Central Government in order to insure agricultural producers are protected against any sharp fall in farm prices. Which of the following statements are correct regarding MSP? It is announced for all the crops by Central Government prior to sowing season. Its purpose is to incentivize cultivators to adopt modern technology and raise productivity and overall production in line with the emerging demand pattern in the country. The Prices are decided by Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA). Select the code from following: 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above Q.2) Which of the following are the objectives of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP)? To stabilize agricultural prices. To ensure meaningful real income levels to the farmers. To protect the interest of the consumers by providing essential agricultural commodities at reasonable rates through public distribution system. Choose the correct option: 1, 2 and 3 1 and 2 only 1 and 3 only 3 only Q.3) Assertion (A):  The market price of a crop does not fall below its minimum support price (MSP). Reason (R): Minimum support price (MSP) is the price at which the government guarantees to buy unlimited quantity of an agricultural commodity. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A Both A and R are true but R is not a correct explanation of A A is true but R is false A is false but R is true Q.4) Which of the following are Rabi crops? Rice Maize Wheat Barley Select the correct code: 1, 2 and 3 3 and 4 2 and 3 1 and 4 Q.5) Which of the following statement [s] is/are correct with reference to India’s Air Quality Index (AQI)? The index is launched under Swacch Bharat Abhiyan PM10 , PM 2.5 and Lead are considered in calculating the value of Air Quality Index Both Central Pollution Control Board and State Pollution Control Board administer National Air Monitoring Program Choose the appropriate code 2 only 1 and 2 only 1, 2 and 3 None of the above Q.6) Which among the following atmospheric gases are normally considered in calculating the value of Air Quality Index in India? Carbon dioxide Carbon monoxide Nitrogen dioxide Sulfur dioxide Methane Select the correct answer using the code given below. 1, 2 and 3 only 2, 3 and 4 only 1, 4 and 5 only 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 Q.7) Government of India has introduced SAFAR system in important metropolitan cities of India for Forecasting the condition of roads in different weather Providing precise Indian navigation system Providing location specific information on air quality in near real time Providing details of tourist places and hotels in and near the cities Q.8) Consider the following statements about The Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Program (GSLEP) It is world’s first joint initiative that aims to conserve the snow leopard. All 12 snow leopard range countries are a part of this initiative. The initiative aims to secure at least 20 snow leopard landscapes by 2020. Which of the statements given above are correct? 1 and 2 1 and 3 2 and 3 1,2 and 3 Q.9) Consider the following statements about ‘Snow Leopard’ It is listed as ‘Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Brazzaville declaration deals with the Conservation of the Snow Leopard It is protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 Select the correct statements 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 3 Only MUST READ Need for balance: On web content regulation The Hindu A case against judicial recusal The Hindu  Treading cautiously on the final Naga peace agreement  The Hindu

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RSTV IAS UPSC – Veer Savarkar

Veer Savarkar Archives TOPIC: General Studies I Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues. In News: The Maharashtra BJP's manifesto for the October 21 assembly elections had said the party will ask the NDA government at the Centre to confer India's highest civilian award on Veer Savarkar and social reformers Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule. Savarkar is considered to be among the prominent ideologues of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Addressing an election rally in Akola district in Maharashtra, PM Modi said, "It is due to Savarkar's sanskar (values) that we put nationalism as the basis for nation-building." Speaking at an event in Varanasi, Amit Shah said, "Had it not been for Veer Savarkar, the rebellion of 1857 would not have become history, we would have seen it from the point of view of Britishers. Veer Savarkar was the one who named the 1857 rebellion as the first independence struggle." Reactions Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, at a press conference in Mumbai last week, had said, "We are not against Savarkar ji, but we are not in favour of the Hindutva ideology that Savarkar ji patronised and stood for either." The Congress said it wants to know if it also plans confer the country's highest civilian award (Bharat Ratna) on Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse. Congress spokesman Manish Tewari said the BJP-led government needs to seriously think about the path it wants to take on the issue in the 150th year of Mahatma Gandhi's birthday. He said Savarkar was tried (and later acquitted) in the Mahatma Gandhi assassination case and an inquiry commission had found that possibly he and some of his colleagues had prior knowledge of the plot. Vinayak Damodar Savarkar  Period: 28 May 1883 – 26 February 1966 Cause of Death: Fasting (Sallekhana Prayopavesa) He was commonly known as Veer Savarkar ("brave" in his native Marathi language) An Indian independence activist, politician, lawyer, writer, and the formulator of the Hindutva philosophy Championed atheism and rationality and also disapproved orthodox Hindu belief. In fact, he even dismissed cow worship as superstitious. Savarkar was a radical and his Hindutva too was a radical break in the Hindu thought: anti-caste, reformist, modernist and futuristic. It was a modern Hindu response to the modern world Organised a youth group named 'Mitra Mela' In London, Veer Savarkar inspired his fellow Indian students and formed an organisation 'Free India Society' to fight against Britishers for freedom. Was against foreign goods and propagated the idea of Swadeshi. In 1905, he burnt all the foreign goods in a bonfire on Dussehra. Provided legal defence to Madan Lal Dhingra, who was accused in a murder case of a British Indian army officer named Sir William Hutt Curzon Wyllie. Veer Savarkar also founded the two-nation theory in his book ‘Hindutva’ calling Hindus and Muslims two separate nations. In 1937, Hindu Mahasabha passed it as a resolution. In 1937, he also became the president of 'Hindu Mahasabha'. A fierce critic of the Indian National Congress (INC) and Mahatma Gandhi; opposed the 'Quit India Movement' and later objected to INC's acceptance of Indian partition. He proposed the co-existence of two nations in one country. Hindutva The main challenge thrown by the British rule and colonial modernity under the pale of capitalism was for Hindus to justify their existence as a society. Who were they? Could Hindus survive in a modern world dominated by the expansionist organised religions, nations and nation-state? Savarkar responded to these challenges. The coming together of various pagan traditions as Hinduism to meet the challenge of the Abrahamic monotheism is a centuries-old process. Savarkar consolidated it under a new ideological construct. He wielded it into a coherent political construct, Hindutva that aimed to answer the challenges of the modern world, especially the charge of the colonialists that India is not a nation and hence unworthy of self-rule. For India to be able to resist imperialism, a nation had to be born. For Savarkar, that nation was a Hindu Rashtra. Only a Hindu nation transcending caste, regional and linguistic barriers was capable of resisting imperialism. No longer would invading armies roam around the countryside; no longer would India be a playground for colonial powers; no longer would its people and cities be pulverised by warlords for they would have to face a powerful Indian state created on the foundation of a Hindu nation. And the foundation of this Hindu nation was Hindutva. Savarkar was a radical and his Hindutva, too, was a radical break in Hindu thought: anti-caste, reformist, modernist and futuristic. It was a modern Hindu response to the modern world. 50 years of imprisonment – Kaala Paani Savarkar wrote a book titled "The History of the War of Indian Independence"- wrote about the guerilla warfare tricks used in 1857 Sepoy Mutiny.  While the book was banned by Britishers, Madama Bhikaji Cama published the book in Netherlands, Germany and France, which eventually reached many Indian revolutionaries. Savarkar was arrested in 1909 on charges of plotting an armed revolt against the Morle-Minto reform. He also tried to escape by diving in the water but was arrested. He was sentenced to two life sentences i.e. 50 years in the cellular jail of Andamans, also known as Kala Pani, in 1911. Death - 1964: Savarkar declared his wish to attain Samadhi and started hunger-strike on February 1, 1966 and passed away on February 26, 1966. He believed that his purpose of life is solved as India has gained Independence. In 2002, Port Blair airport at Andaman and Nicobar's Island was renamed after Veer Savarkar International Airport. [caption id="attachment_51757" align="aligncenter" width="552"] RSTV IAS UPSC – Veer Savarkar[/caption]

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RSTV IAS UPSC – Nobel 2019 Winners for Chemistry, Physics & Physiology or Medicine

Nobel 2019 Winners for Chemistry, Physics & Physiology or Medicine Archives TOPIC: General Studies 3 New development in Science & Technology The 2019 Nobel Prize  In Chemistry has been awarded to John B. Goodenough, M. Stanley Whittingham and Akira Yoshino for the development of lithium-ion batteries Lithium-ion batteries have revolutionised the world of technology. The batteries power everyday products such as smartphones, laptops and even electric vehicles. Through their work, this year's Chemistry Laureates have laid the foundation of a wireless, fossil fuel-free society The work of this year's Chemistry Nobel laureates led to the development of "a lightweight, hardwearing battery that could be charged hundreds of times before its performance deteriorated." The advantage of lithium-ion batteries is that they are not based upon chemical reactions that break down the electrodes, but upon lithium ions flowing back and forth between the anode and cathode In Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to William G. Kaelin Jr, Sir Peter J. Ratcliffe and Gregg L. Semenza “for their discoveries of how cells sense and adapt to oxygen availability” The discoveries made by the three men "have fundamental importance for physiology and have paved the way for promising new strategies to fight anemia, cancer and many other diseases." Their research established the basis for the understanding of how oxygen levels affect cellular metabolism and physiological functions Oxygen sensing is central to a large number of diseases, it said. Intense ongoing efforts in academic laboratories and pharmaceutical companies are now focused on developing drugs that can interfere with different disease states by either activating, or blocking, the oxygen-sensing machinery. In Physics has been awarded to Canadian-American cosmologist James Peebles and Swiss scientists Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz for revealing the wonder of the evolution of the universe and discovering planets orbiting distant suns. Using theoretical tools and calculations, Peebles was able to interpret trace radiation from the infancy of the universe and so discover new physical processes Mayor and Queloz announced the first discovery of a planet outside our own solar system, a so-called "exoplanet", starting a revolution in astronomy. Over 4,000 exoplanets have since been found in the Milky Way. With numerous projects planned to start searching for exoplanets, we may eventually find an answer to the eternal question of whether other life is out there [caption id="attachment_51671" align="aligncenter" width="300"] RSTV IAS UPSC – Nobel 2019 Winners for Chemistry, Physics & Physiology or Medicine[/caption] For Peace has been awarded to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali for his efforts to achieve peace and international cooperation, and in particular for his decisive initiative to resolve the border conflict with neighbouring Eritrea.  The prize is also meant to recognise all the stakeholders working for peace and reconciliation in Ethiopia and in the East and Northeast African regions. Ethiopia is Africa’s second most populous country and has East Africa’s largest economy. A peaceful, stable and successful Ethiopia will have many positive side-effects, and will help to strengthen fraternity among nations and peoples in the region. In Ethiopia, even if much work remains, Abiy Ahmed has initiated important reforms that give many citizens hope for a better life and a brighter future. He spent his first 100 days as Prime Minister lifting the country’s state of emergency, granting amnesty to thousands of political prisoners, discontinuing media censorship, legalising outlawed opposition groups, dismissing military and civilian leaders who were suspected of corruption, and significantly increasing the influence of women in Ethiopian political and community life. He has also pledged to strengthen democracy by holding free and fair elections. In Literature, has been awarded to Peter Handke "for an influential work that with linguistic ingenuity has explored the periphery and the specificity of human experience." NOBEL PRIZE The Nobel Prize in Chemistry is awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and is one of the five Nobel Prizes that were established by the will of Alfred Nobel, a businessman, chemist, engineer, inventor, and philanthropist.

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Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 23rd October 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 23rd October 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) 2019  ozone hole is the smallest on record Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains III–Environment In News The ozone hole over Antarctica is the smallest observed since 1982, due to abnormally warm temperatures in the upper atmosphere that dramatically limited ozone depletion in September and October this year, according to NASA Ozone is a molecule that is composed of three oxygen atoms. It is responsible for filtering out harmful ultraviolet radiation from the Sun. The gas is constantly being made and destroyed in the stratosphere, about 20-30km above the Earth. In an unpolluted atmosphere, this cycle of production and decomposition is in equilibrium. But chlorine and bromine-containing chemicals released by human activity have unbalanced the process, resulting in a loss of ozone that is at its greatest in the Antarctic spring in September/October. Nearly 200 countries agreed to ban the chemicals most damaging to the ozone under the Montreal Protocol of 1987. Ramgarh dam Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains III –Environment Conservation In News An agitation for protection of catchment area of the historic Ramgarh dam , once considered the lifeline of Jaipur, has revived with the villagers and farmers of the region staging a sit-in near the dam demanding immediate removal of encroachments. Its construction was completed in 1904 during the reign of erstwhile Jaipur ruler Sawai Madho Singh II. The dam, which earlier supplied drinking water to the city, has dried completely in the last decade There is a suggestion that the Chambal river water be supplied to the dam through the proposed Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project so as to revive the dam Rise in stubble burning cases in Punjab Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains III – Environment Conservation In News Over 3,300 cases reported till October 21 as against 2,564 incidents in corresponding period last year Stubble burning, close to the autumn season every year, has been a key contributing factor of pollution in the air and breathing problems among people across the northern region, including New Delhi The reason behind the higher number of fire cases has been the decision to advance the date of paddy sowing this season, a week earlier than the scheduled date of June 20 due to early arrival of monsoon this year. Consequently, harvesting of the crop has also started early this time. And because of this, the number of farm fires this year, as against the corresponding period last year, is higher. For management of paddy straw without burning, the Centre and the State government are providing subsidised agro-machines and equipment to farmers and cooperative societies. Yet farmers continue to burn crop residue claiming lack of alternatives. The ban and action against people burning crop residue is regulated under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. In 2016, Punjab witnessed 84,000 incidents of stubble fire while in 2017, a dip was seen with the number of cases at 46,000. In 2018, the fire incidents were close to 50,000, according to the government data. Hover-taxis Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains III - Infrastructure In News German firm Volocopter tests its battery-operated, two-seater heli-taxi vehicle in Singapore The 18 propeller vehicle— resembling small helicopters but powered by drone-like technology — can fly autonomously but there was a pilot aboard during the test for safety reasons. Earlier in October 2019, Volocopter unveiled the “VoloPort”, a flying taxi port at the Singapore’s Marina Bay with a landing and takeoff pad as well as a passenger terminal.  Many Asian mega-cities are notorious for monster traffic jams, which leave millions of commuters facing long journeys, and can delay executives trying to dash to airports or reach important meetings on time. Volocopter says that such innovation in air transport is going to reduce traffic congestion and revolutionize urban mobility Freedom of Press Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II –Polity In News On 21st Oct 2019, Australian newspaper readers had an unexpected experience — no matter which paper they picked up, the front page carried text that was blacked out — as if it had been redacted by the government. The decision to ‘censor’ the front page was carried out by a media coalition across print, TV, radio and online portals, called the “Right to Know” Australia’s Right to Know coalition includes Nine, News Corp, the ABC, SBS, The Guardian, and journalists’ union the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance. The move was in response to the progressive hardening of national security laws over the past two decades by successive governments that have not only undermined investigative journalism but also criminalised it A central demand of the Right to Know coalition is that the government exempts journalists and whistleblowers from a counter-espionage law that was introduced last year Van Allen Probes mission Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains III –Science & Technology In News NASA recently decommissioned its 7-year-old Van Allen Probes mission. It comprised of two satellites that were placed in Van Allen belts which studied how these radiation rings acquire and lose electromagnetic particles Understanding space weather is important as it interferes with our on-ground power grids, navigation communications satellites in orbit and health of astronauts Both the satellites will exist in the orbit for approximately 15 years during which they are going to slowly come towards the atmosphere and get destroyed in the orbit. Van Allen radiation belts are giant swaths of magnetically trapped, highly energetic charged particles that surround earth. James Van Allen, a physicist at the University of Iowa, discovered these radiation belts in 1958. [caption id="attachment_51656" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 23rd October 2019[/caption] https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_feature/public/images/730056main_20130228-radiationbelts-orig_full.jpg (MAINS FOCUS) CRIME TOPIC: General Studies 3: Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; money-laundering and its prevention Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime with terrorism Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate Crime in India report Context The 2017 Crime in India report, released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB),   30% jump in cases recorded as “offences against the State For the first time, the NCRB has introduced categories of cyber crimes against women and children. The NCRB has also recorded cases of disproportionate assets against public servants besides introducing new crime heads such as abetment, criminal intimidation, simple hurt, credit/debit card and online frauds, Internet crimes through online gaming and kidnapping for begging among others. [caption id="attachment_51657" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 23rd October 2019[/caption] Img:https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/qkx7fd/article29771115.ece/ALTERNATES/FREE_960/TH23NCRB-datacol Facts: Crime against SC /ST  More than half of all offences registered under The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act where victims were Dalits, were related to insult and humiliation heaped on them.(Karnataka, UP and Bihar) The highest rates of crimes against Dalits (number of incidents per 1,00,000 population) were in Madhya Pradesh (52), Bihar (41), and Rajasthan (35). Corruption: A new trend in cases of corruption: “traps” involving lower-level government officials are increasing at the cost of criminal misconduct involving senior officials. (This could mean either reduced corruption at higher levels, or increased enthusiasm among law enforcement to go after small offenders) Registration of corruption cases has fallen by over 20% since 2015. “Trap” cases have spiked. “Trap” cases, in which bribery is caught red-handed, generally involve lower-level officials who accept gratification in cash. Criminal misconduct cases generally involve higher officials; pecuniary gains in these case are rarely made in cash. Cyber crime: The number of cyber crimes increased dramatically in 2017 as compared to 2016,  Nearly every fifth cyber crime in 2017 was committed against a woman. More than half the incidents of cyber crime in 2017 were motivated by fraud The number of cyber crimes committed per 1,00,000 population — in 2017 was 1.7, the report shows.  The most cyber crimes per 1,00,000 population were committed in Karnataka 5% in 2017; Telangana was next, with a rate of 3.3%, followed by Maharashtra (3) and Uttar Pradesh (2.2%) UP, the most populous state, registered the largest number of cyber crimes The cyber crimes against women were related to cyber blackmail or threats, cyber pornography or hosting or publishing obscene sexual materials, cyber stalking or cyber bullying of women, defamation, or morphing and indecent representation of women, etc Crime against women and children: In the case of women and children, the NCRB has this time recorded data for “murder with rape”.  In 2017, as many as 33,885 women were reported to have been raped across the country. Of these, 227 were murdered after the rape.  As many as 28,152 children were raped with cases registered under IPC and the POCSO Act. Of these, 151 were killed after being raped. Majority of juveniles in conflict with law apprehended under IPC and SLL crimes were in the age group of 16 years to 18 years. [caption id="attachment_51658" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 23rd October 2019[/caption] Img: https://indiatribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Crime.jpg Justice: Police delayed charge sheets in 40% of cases. In certain cases such as rioting, which includes communal riots, police delayed filing of chargesheets in 60% of the cases(90 days as per law).  There are more than 3 lakh cases pending investigations for more than one year. 40% of cases in fast-track courts have taken more than three years to finish the trial 3,384 cases committed to fast-track courts, the trial was finished in more than 10 years. 2,71,779 cases were pending trial at the end of 2017.(In total) Criticism: The report omits data on mob lynchings, khap killings, murder by influential people and killings for religious reasons. Data on farmer suicides after 2015 not published. Do you know? The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), is an Indian government agency responsible for collecting and analysing crime data as defined by the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Special and Local Laws (SLL).  Part of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India. It was set up based on the recommendation of the Task force,1985 and National Police Commission,1977 by merging the Directorate of Coordination and Police Computer (DCPC), Inter State Criminals Data Branch of CBI and Central Finger Print Bureau of CBI Conclusion: The NCRB data on crime hide significant variances in case registration of serious crimes such as rapes and violence against women across States, which make it difficult to draw State-wise comparisons. Connecting the dots: The 2017 report shows that the States in the northeast and others in the rest of the country with a significant tribal population (Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha) have relatively higher murder rates and this is a cause of worry. Analyse TRADE 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. Eighth Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) ministerial meeting Context: Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is in Bangkok for the eighth Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) ministerial meeting. The meeting, which is likely to be the last one at this level, is expected to work out the unresolved issues in the negotiations on the mega trade deal that is to be concluded later this year. RCEP: The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is a trade deal that is currently under negotiation among 16 countries — the 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and the six countries with which the ASEAN bloc has free trade agreements (FTA). The ASEAN, which includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, has FTAs with India, Australia, China, South Korea, Japan and New Zealand. Img: https://images.indianexpress.com/2019/10/rcep.jpg?w=759&h=413&imflag=true Purpose: The purpose of RCEP is to create an “integrated market” spanning all 16 countries, making it easier for products and services of each of these countries to be available across this region. ASEAN says the deal will provide “a framework aimed at lowering trade barriers and securing improved market access for goods and services for businesses in the region”. The negotiations are focussed on areas like trade in goods and services, investment, economic and technical cooperation, intellectual property, competition, dispute settlement, e-commerce, and small and medium enterprises. Milk issue of India: Milk is the India’s largest “crop”.  In 2018-19, the estimated production of milk, at 187.75 million tonnes (mt). The value of milk output (Rs 5,63,250 crore at an average farm-gate rate of Rs 30/kg)  Milk is a source of liquidity for farmers, as it is sold daily and generates cash to take care of routine household expenses, unlike other crops that are marketed only once or twice a year. Concern: Milk matters equally to consumers in India, because it meets the animal protein/fat requirements of a significant portion of the population that is vegetarian. As incomes rise, the demand for milk goes up even more. If dairy products are covered under an RCEP deal, India may have to allow members of the bloc greater access to its market, whether through phased duty reductions or more liberal tariff rate quotas (TRQs).  There is an already existing TRQ for milk powder, which enables import of up to 10,000 tonnes per year at 15% customs duty, and quantities beyond that at the regular rate of 60%. The Indian dairy industry is resisting any enhanced TRQs or other import concessions, even if extended only to RCEP countries, as opposed to the US or European Union. Other Issues: India’s trade deficits with nations have always widened after signing free-trade-agreements (FTAs) with them, citing the cases with ASEAN, Japan, Korea, and Singapore, most of which are RCEP nations. It has also been pointed out that India’s vulnerable agriculture and dairy sectors, which are not in positions to compete with Australia and New Zealand, will be exposed to vagaries of global trade. Indian manufacturing is not competitive enough to face the vagaries of a free trade regime. Even after 27 years of liberalisation, inefficiency prevails due to a host of unimplemented reforms in the product and the factor markets. On the factor side, labour market reforms are incomplete. Labour productivity in manufacturing is still one of the lowest in the world with spatially fragmented labour laws are escalating the costs of doing business. Given this, Indian industry is hardly in a position to compete in the level-playing ground in a free-trade region. Way forward Despite all the concerns, the government must take into account that either slowing down India’s RCEP engagement or walking out of the talks at this stage would cut India out of the rules-making process for the RCEP and give China further space in the regional trade and security architecture. At a time when the U.S. has broken from the global consensus on multilateral trade agreements, an Indian walkout would endanger the united message that RCEP countries, which represent 40% of the global GDP, would wish to send out. It would also be a sharp departure from India’s “Act East” slogan and its extended outreach to ASEAN. Conclusion: RCEP could perhaps end up doing to dairy what the free trade agreement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) did in palm oil, fear many in the industry in India.  At a time of global uncertainties and challenges to multilateralism and the international economic order, a negative message on RCEP would undermine India’s plans for economic growth. Connecting the dots: India cannot afford to fall out of the free trade agreement negotiations. Analyse (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note:  Featured Comments and comments Up-voted by IASbaba are the “correct answers”. IASbaba App users – Team IASbaba will provide correct answers in comment section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers. Q.1)Van Allen beltsometimes seen in the news is related to which of the following? Belt of volcanoes surrounding Pacific Ocean Belt of asteroids between Mars and Jupiter Magnetic belt surrounding Earth None of the above Q.2)Ramgarh Damsometimes seen in news is located in which state ? Uttar Pradesh Uttarakhand Rajasthan Gujarat Q.3)Consider the following statements Ozone is a molecule that is composed of three oxygen atoms. It is responsible for filtering out harmful ultraviolet radiation from the Sun. The gas is constantly being made and destroyed in the stratosphere, about 20-30km above the Earth. Nearly 200 countries agreed to ban the chemicals most damaging to the ozone under the Paris Protocol of 2015. 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 MUST READ Can China break shackles of its old economic systems, scale greater heights? IE Should Indian Railways move towards a market-oriented allocation of train paths? IE Leaving the door open to a border settlement The Hindu Asia’s remarkable economic transformation The Hindu Firm steps to ease the fiscal federalism tension The Hindu

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TOPPER’S STRATEGY[VIDEO]: Rahul Sharanappa Sankanur, Rank 17 IAS UPSC CSE 2018 shares his Prelims, Mains, Interview Preparation Strategy in an Interaction Session with IASbaba students

TOPPER’S STRATEGY [VIDEO]: Rahul Sharanappa Sankanur, Rank 17 IAS UPSC CSE 2018 shares his Prelims, Mains, Interview Preparation Strategy in an Interaction Session with IASbaba students Hi, Haling from Hubli town in Karnataka, Rahul Sharanappa Sankanur secured Rank 17 in his 4th attempt (he had been to Interview twice, before clearing the exam). His Optional was Anthropology. It’s been an inspirational journey with many up’s and down’s throughout his upsc preparation. In this Interaction Session with IASbaba student's, Rahul has shared his complete Preparation Strategy (Prelims, Mains, Interview) - on making Notes for Current Affairs, What to Read and What not to Read, Strategy for each GS Papers, Special Emphasis on Ethics and Essay and Strategy for Anthropology Optional. It’s very rare to see an aspirant performing equally well in all the 3 phases of UPSC Preparation. Watch the video and make the best use of his experience, guidance and do’s and dont’s in this unpredictable journey called Upsc. UPSC Prelims 2018 was considered to be one of the toughest, but he was way ahead of the cut off scoring 133.34 in GS and 148.33 in CSAT. In Mains, he was one of the top scorer in Essay(137 Marks), Ethics (119 Marks) and in Interview (193 Marks). MARKSHEET - MAINS MARKSHEET - PRELIMS Thank You IASbaba

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