UPSC Quiz - 2020: IAS Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 134 Archives Important Note Don't forget to post your marks in the comment section. Also, let us know if you enjoyed today's test :) To take the Test - Click Here
India - Japan 2+2 Archives TOPIC: General Studies 2 India and its neighbours In News: Ahead of the annual summit meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in December, India and Japan held the first ever ministerial level 2+2 dialogue in New Delhi. This dialogue which involves the Defence and Foreign Ministers on both sides is seen as an endorsement of the special strategic partnership between both the Nations. Acknowledging emerging security challenges, the Ministers reiterated their commitment to advancing bilateral security cooperation based on the 2008 Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation and the 2009 Action Plan to advance Security Cooperation. Recalling that the two sides had a shared vision of a free, open, inclusive and rules-based Indo-Pacific region in which the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity are ensured, and all countries enjoy freedom of navigation and overflight, the Ministers emphasized that further strengthening of bilateral cooperation was in mutual interest of both countries and would also help in furthering the cause of the peace, security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. Bilateral Cooperation – Defence Since last year India and Japan have initiated bilateral exercises between all three components of their defence forces. There is a need to make continuous efforts for holding the bilateral exercises between the defence forces regularly and further expanding the same. In this regard, the Ministers welcomed the recently conducted second “Dharma Guardian-2019” and the second “SHINYUU Maitri-2019”. The Ministers also concurred to proceed with coordination for the first India-Japan joint fighter aircraft exercise in Japan. Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA): The Ministers expressed their desire for early conclusion of the negotiations and were of the view that the agreement will further contribute to enhancing defence cooperation between the two sides. Maritime Safety: Acknowledging the importance of ensuring maritime safety in achieving a free, open, inclusive and rules-based Indo-Pacific, the Ministers expressed their intention to further promote cooperation in the field of capacity building in maritime security and Maritime Domain Awareness including through cooperation with other countries. Set up of Information Fusion Centre - Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) by India in December 2018. Commencement of exchange of information based on the Implementing Arrangement for Deeper Cooperation between the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and the Indian Navy signed last year. Defence equipment and technology: Emphasized the need to further strengthen the defence equipment and technology cooperation and looked forward to productive discussions in the fifth Joint Working Group on Defence Equipment and Technology Cooperation (JWG-DETC). In this context, the Ministers welcomed the progress on cooperative research in the area of Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV)/ Robotics. Defence Education: The Ministers appreciated the existing exchange programs between the defence educational and research institutions of the two countries and expressed their desire to continue and expand the exchange programmes. Multilateral Cooperation Expressed their satisfaction at trilateral cooperation represented by the “MALABAR 2019” held from September-October 2019 off the coast of Japan, mine-counter measures exercise (MINEX) held in Japan in July 2019 and “Cope India 2018” in which Japan participated as an observer in December 2018. Welcomed the recent Japan-India-Australia-US Foreign Ministerial consultations in New York in September 2019. Regional and International Affairs They had a frank and fruitful exchange of views on the regional issues of mutual interests particularly on the security situation in the Indo-Pacific. Reaffirmed the importance of supporting ASEAN centrality and unity for promoting peace and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific Welcomed the adoption of “ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP)” during the 34th ASEAN Summit in Thailand in June 2019. Reiterated their support for ASEAN-led frameworks such as the East Asia Summit (EAS), the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus). The Japanese side appreciated India’s announcement of “Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative” at the recent 14th EAS to create a safe, secure, stable, prosperous and sustainable maritime domain and confirmed their willingness to discuss concrete cooperation based on the Initiative. India and Japan’s initiatives for realizing a free and open Indo-Pacific, including also the recent “Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative” and AOIP all strive for an Indo-Pacific region that is inclusive and open to all countries in the region. The Indian side welcomed Japan’s “Vientiane Vision 2.0” in November 2019 as an updated initiative for defence cooperation between Japan and ASEAN. Reaffirmed the importance of realizing North Korea’s complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of all weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles of all ranges in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs) and expressed their commitment to the full implementation of the relevant UNSCRs. Condemned North Korea’s recent launches of ballistic missiles which are clear violation of the relevant UNSCRs. The Ministers strongly urged North Korea to resolve the abductions issue at the earliest date. Took note of the negotiations of a Code of Conduct (COC) and urged that it should be effective, substantive, and consistent with international law, including the UNCLOS, ensure freedom of navigation and must not prejudice the rights and interests of the stakeholders using the South China Sea and freedoms of all states under international law. Connecting the Dots: The quadrilateral posturing by India, the US, Japan and Australia in the Indo-Pacific is critical to counter the aggression of China in the region. Comment.
IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 11th December 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Appointment of judges Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II–Judiciary In News 213 names recommended for appointment to various High Courts are pending with the government/Supreme Court Collegium Supreme Court has said in a judicial order, at least the names on which the Supreme Court Collegium, the High Courts and the governments had agreed upon should be appointed within six months. The High Courts are functioning at nearly 50% of their sanctioned judicial strength. Of a total 1,079 judges sanctioned in the High Courts, there are 410 vacancies. There were three SC judgments which made it crystal clear that the government had no option but to make the appointments if the collegium reiterated them after the government returned the names with objections. On the Supreme Court collegium clearing the recommendees, the Union Law Ministry has to put up within three weeks the recommendations to the Prime Minister who would advise the President on the appointment. However, no time limit has been prescribed for action by the Prime Minister and the President. [caption id="attachment_54693" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 11th December 2019[/caption] Src: Click here Land Boundary Agreement Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II – International Relations In News More than four years after the historic Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) between India and Bangladesh, a report released by civil rights organisation - Masum- on the situation in erstwhile enclaves states that protest and resistance have become an essential part of their survival in India. The report says that the condition of the people is far from what they had imagined. They are yet to get land records and nothing has been done for providing them employment The report calls for a comprehensive survey should be undertaken to identify and assimilate the people whose names have been left out of the headcount previously, and all the benefits of being a citizen in India should be extended to them LBA settles land boundary dispute which dates back to colonial times as India transfers 111 border enclaves to Bangladesh in exchange for 51 enclaves. It also settles the question of citizenship for over 50,000 people in these enclaves. For more details, refer: https://iasbaba.com/2015/05/big-picture-india-bangladesh-land-boundary-agreement/ [caption id="attachment_54694" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 11th December 2019[/caption] Src : Click here Defamation Case Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II - Governance In News Supreme Court has held that internet intermediaries like Google cannot be protected from criminal defamation cases registered against them prior to October 27, 2009. It was only on October 27, 2009 that Parliament amended the Information Technology Act of 2000 to protect online intermediaries from liability for criminally defamatory content published in them by third parties. The amended Section 79 of the 2000 Act provided that “an intermediary shall not be liable for any third party information, data, or communication link made available or hosted by him.” The amendment gave almost blanket protection to intermediaries from legal action under Section 499/500 (criminal defamation) of the Indian Penal Code. In India, defamation cases can be filed under two heads. It is either civil or criminal. In civil defamation, a person who is defamed can move either the High Court or the subordinate courts and seek damages in the form of monetary compensation. There is no punishment in the form of jail sentence In criminal defamation, the person against whom a defamation case is filed might be sentenced to two years' imprisonment or fined or both. Gandhipedia Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains I- Society In News The Government is developing ‘Gandhi Encyclopedia’ to spread awareness in the society. Ministry of Culture has approved a project for development of GandhiPaedia by National Council of Science Museums, Kolkata. The objective of the initiative is promotion of Gandhian philosophy and thoughts through social media platforms Government is providing financial assistance of Rs. 5.25 cr for this project and has released an amount of Rs. 2.95 cr against first installment. U.S. International Commission on Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – International Affairs In News In the wake of the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) in the Lok Sabha, USCIRF has expressed concern over it and considered recommending sanctions against Home Minister Amit Shah and other top leaders. USCIRF fears that the Indian government is creating a religious test for Indian citizenship through CAB that would strip citizenship from millions of Muslims In response, the External Affairs Ministry said India had the prerogative to validate its citizenry through various policies like any other country. About USCIRF The USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan US federal government commission- an advisory body, which advises the US Congress and the administration on issues pertaining to international religious freedom In practice, the USCIRF has little teeth in implementation, but acts as a conscience-keeper for the two branches in the US government — the legislature and the executive. It often takes maximalist or extreme positions, and has been used by civil society groups to put pressure on US Congress members and administration officials. Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Environment Conservation In News CCPI measures the emissions, renewable energy share and climate policies of 57 countries and the European Union, collectively responsible for about 90% of the global GHG emissions. It is released annually after analysing four parameters - greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, renewable energy, climate policy and energy use The CCPI 2020 is released by three international NGOs – German watch, New Climate Institute and Climate Action Network India for the first time ranks among the top ten countries in the index. It has improved its ranking from 11th last year to ninth this year It found the U.S. ranks last, followed by Saudi Arabia and Australia, although several countries did report falls in emissions last year, largely due to an industry-wide fade out of coal While climate performance varied greatly, the report found that none of the countries surveyed were currently on a path compatible with the Paris climate goals. The 2015 Paris accord saw nations agree to work towards limiting global temperature rises to “well below” two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. (MAINS FOCUS) INDIA’S FOREIGN RELATION TOPIC: General Studies 2: India-Australia signed Mutual Logistics Support Agreement Context India and Australia moved closer to closing in on the Logistics Support Agreement (LSA), as the Foreign and Defence Secretaries from both countries met recently. The dialogue comes ahead of Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s scheduled January 13-16 trip to India. The first such two-plus-two meeting happened in December 2017. The LSA will be one of the key agenda points during Prime Minister Morrison’s visit. The Agreement will allow the two countries to use each other’s military bases for logistics support, including food, water, and petroleum. During their meeting, the two sides carried out a comprehensive review of their strategic engagement and the regional security scenario, which is continuously evolving given China’s military expansion and economic influence. India-Australia bilateral relations When it comes to defence, India and Australia share a common concern over China. While Australia is worried about China’s presence in the Pacific, India is worried about China’s increasing activities and influence in the Indian Ocean. Earlier this year, the Australian and Indian navies concluded a two-week-long bilateral maritime exercise code-named AUSINDEX. The exercise was conducted to strengthen and enhance mutual cooperation and interoperability between the IN (Indian Navy) and RAN (Royal Australian Navy), providing opportunities for interaction and exchange of professional views between the personnel of the two navies. From 2016-18, the armies of the countries conducted a joint military exercise dubbed “AUSTRA HIND”. Significantly, for the first time in 2017, Australia’s Foreign Policy White Paper identified India as being at the “front rank” of Australia’s international partnerships, “on par with the US, Japan, Indonesia, and China”. The Quad The informal strategic Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QSD) that was initiated by Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2007 was largely in response to China’s growing power and influence. Initially, the “Quad” members included India, Japan, the US, and Australia; however Australia chose to withdraw when Kevin Rudd was Prime Minister, since it did not want to be a part of an anti-China alliance at the time. However, Australia later rejoined the dialogue in 2017 on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit, signalling a re-ignition in Australia’s interest in the dialogue. Connecting the dots: 2+2 dialogue will further cement India-Japan strategic relations. Critically examine. POLITY TOPIC: General Studies 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Arms Amendment Bill, 2019 Context: Parliament recently approved a legislation providing for a maximum punishment of life imprisonment for manufacturing and carrying illegal arms. The Bill seeks to amend the Arms Act, 1959. It seeks to decrease the number of licensed firearms allowed per person and increase penalties for certain offences under the Act. It also introduces new categories of offences. Features: License for acquiring firearms: Under the Act, a license must be obtained to acquire, possess, or carry any firearm. A person can obtain a license for up to three firearms. The Bill reduces the number of permitted firearms from three to one. The validity of a firearm license will be from three years to five years. Ban on firearms: The Act bans manufacture, sale, use, transfer, conversion, testing or proofing of firearms without license. The Bill additionally prohibits obtaining or procuring un-licensed firearms. Increase in punishment: The Bill increases the punishment related to un-licensed firearms and various other offences to between seven years and life imprisonment, along with a fine. New offences: The Bill adds news offences. These include: (i) forcefully taking a firearm from police or armed forces (ii) using firearms in a celebratory gunfire which endangers human life or personal safety of others. Celebratory gunfire refers to use of firearms in public gatherings, religious places, marriages or other functions to fire ammunition. Tracking of firearms: The central government may make rules to track firearms and ammunition from manufacturer to purchaser to detect, investigate, and analyse illicit manufacturing and trafficking. heirloom or heritage weapons could be kept if they have been de-activated. The bill has also accorded special status to sportsperson who need firearms and ammunition for practice and participating in tournaments. As per the bill, those who own more than two firearms will have to deposit the third one with police station concerned or authorised gun dealers. The new legislation has a provision for life imprisonment for those who snatch or loot arms and ammunition from police or other security forces. The Bill amends a Section of the Arms Act, 1959, to give punishment from the usual life term of 14 years to "imprisonment for the remainder of that person's life" for manufacturing, selling, repairing and possessing "prohibited" arms. The minimum punishment under this section will be 14 years. According to an estimate, India has a total of around 35 lakh gun licences. Thirteen lakh people have licences to carry weapons in Uttar Pradesh, followed by militancy-hit Jammu and Kashmir, where 3.7 lakh people possess arms licences, most of which were taken in the name of personal security. Punjab, which witnessed terrorism in 1980s and 1990s, has around 3.6 lakh active gun licences, most of which were issued during the two decades of strife. Connecting the dots: Arms Amendment Bill, 2019 will ensure effective control over arms and ammunition which is very important for safety and security in the country. Critically analyse. (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note: Correct answers of today’s questions will be provided in next day’s DNA section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers. Comments Up-voted by IASbaba are also the “correct answers”. Q.1) Constitution (100th Amendment) Act,2015 deals with which of the following provision? National Judicial Appointments Committee Goods and Services Tax Constitutional status to National Commission on Backward Classes Land Boundary Agreement between India & Bangladesh Q.2) Consider the following statements about Appointments of Judges to Supreme Court/High Court Appointment of Judges to High Court is done on the basis of recommendation by Supreme Court Collegium whereas appointment of Judges to Supreme Court is done on the basis of recommendation by National Judicial Appointments Committee. When the Supreme Court collegium clears the name for appointment as a Judge of High Court, Prime Minister & President have to act within the six months of receiving the recommendation from Supreme Court Collegium. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) Consider the following statements about Gandhipedia It is being developed by NITI Aayog in collaboration with Ministry of Culture. The objective is to promote Gandhian philosophy and thoughts in society Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.4) Consider the following statements about Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) It is released by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in Collaboration with United Nations India for the first time ranks among the top ten countries in the 2020 released index Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 ANSWERS FOR 10 DEC 2019 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 D 2 D 3 A 4 C 5 D MUST READ Instant reward: On Karnataka defection politics The Hindu Doping to win: On Russia’s ban from global sporting events The Hindu A patently unconstitutional piece of legislation The Hindu Wholly subordinated to the majoritarian nation The Hindu Citizenship Amendment Bill continues long tradition of welcoming persecuted minorities IE Religious basis of citizenship would be a negation of secularism, liberalism, equality and justice IE
UPSC Quiz - 2020: IAS Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 133 Archives Important Note Don't forget to post your marks in the comment section. Also, let us know if you enjoyed today's test :) To take the Test - Click Here
Heart Attack Archives TOPIC: General Studies 2: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health September 29: World Heart Day What is Heart Attack? Death of a segment of heart muscle caused by a loss of blood supply The blood is usually cut off when an artery supplying the heart muscle is blocked by a blood clot. The blockage is most often a build-up of fat, cholesterol and other substances, which form a plaque in the arteries that feed the heart (coronary arteries). During a heart attack, one of these plaques can rupture and spill cholesterol and other substances into the bloodstream. A blood clot forms at the site of the rupture. If large enough, the clot can block the flow of blood through the coronary artery, starving the heart muscle of oxygen and nutrients (ischemia). Types of Heart Attack Rheumatic heart disease: A chronic heart condition that is caused by rheumatic fever (common heart disease in children). This disease is more prevalent in developing countries, especially in areas of poverty. Valvular heart disease: Involves one or more of the four valves of the heart (the aortic and bicuspid valves on the left side of heart and the pulmonary and tricuspid valves on the right side of heart). These conditions occur largely as a consequence of aging, but may also be the result of congenital (inborn) abnormalities or specific disease or physiologic processes including rheumatic heart disease and pregnancy. Hypertensive heart diseases: Due to High blood pressure - overburdens heart and blood vessels, causing damage Cerebrovascular heart disease: Blood circulation to the brain is affected, caused mainly due to atherosclerosis Inflammatory heart disease: Inflammation of the pericardium Bacterial or fungal infection Heart attack and myocarditis Consumption of medications that suppress immune system Radiation therapy to the chest Due to diseases such as Cancer, Leukaemia, TB, etc. Ischemic Heart Disease: Due to decreased supply of oxygen to the myocardium i.e., the muscle of the heart (also known as coronary artery disease) Symptoms A feeling of pressure, tightness, pain, squeezing Aching in the chest or arms that spreads to the neck, jaw, or back Coughing Nausea Vomiting Crushing chest pain Dizziness Shortness of breath called dyspnoea Face seeming grey in color A feeling of terror that life is ending Restlessness Feeling clammy and sweaty Shortness of breath Not all people who have heart attacks have the same symptoms or have the same severity of symptoms. Some people have mild pain; others have more severe pain. Some people have no symptoms; for others, the first sign may be sudden cardiac arrest. Risk factors Age: Men age 45 or older and women age 55 or older are more likely to have a heart attack than are younger men and women. Tobacco: This includes smoking and long-term exposure to second hand smoke. High blood pressure: Over time, high blood pressure can damage arteries that feed your heart. High blood pressure that occurs with other conditions, such as obesity, high cholesterol or diabetes, increases your risk even more. High blood cholesterol or triglyceride levels: A high level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol) is most likely to narrow arteries. A high level of triglycerides, a type of blood fat related to your diet, also ups your risk of heart attack. However, a high level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (the "good" cholesterol) lowers your risk of heart attack. Obesity: Obesity is associated with high blood cholesterol levels, high triglyceride levels, high blood pressure and diabetes. Losing just 10 percent of your body weight can lower this risk, however. Diabetes: Not producing enough of a hormone secreted by your pancreas (insulin) or not responding to insulin properly causes your body's blood sugar levels to rise, increasing your risk of heart attack. Metabolic syndrome: This occurs when you have obesity, high blood pressure and high blood sugar. Having metabolic syndrome makes you twice as likely to develop heart disease even if you don't have it. Family history of heart attack: If your siblings, parents or grandparents have had early heart attacks (by age 55 for male relatives and by age 65 for female relatives), you might be at increased risk. Lack of physical activity: Being inactive contributes to high blood cholesterol levels and obesity. People who exercise regularly have better cardiovascular fitness, including lower high blood pressure. Stress: You might respond to stress in ways that can increase your risk of a heart attack. Illicit drug use: Using stimulant drugs, such as cocaine or amphetamines, can trigger a spasm of your coronary arteries that can cause a heart attack. A history of preeclampsia: This condition causes high blood pressure during pregnancy and increases the lifetime risk of heart disease. An autoimmune condition: Having a condition such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus can increase your risk of heart attack. Complications Abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias): Electrical "short circuits" can develop, resulting in abnormal heart rhythms, some of which can be serious, even fatal. Heart failure: An attack might damage so much heart tissue that the remaining heart muscle can't pump enough blood out of your heart. Heart failure can be temporary, or it can be a chronic condition resulting from extensive and permanent damage to your heart. Sudden cardiac arrest: Without warning, your heart stops due to an electrical disturbance that causes an arrhythmia. Heart attacks increase the risk of sudden cardiac arrest, which can be fatal without immediate treatment. (Figure out the differences between heart attack and cardiac arrest) What to do if you see someone who might be having a heart attack? If you see someone who's unconscious and you believe is having a heart attack, first call for emergency medical help. Then check if the person is breathing and has a pulse. If the person isn't breathing or you don't find a pulse, only then should you begin CPR to keep blood flowing. Push hard and fast on the person's chest in a fairly rapid rhythm — about 100 to 120 compressions a minute. If you haven't been trained in CPR, doctors recommend performing only chest compressions. If you have been trained in CPR, you can go on to opening the airway and rescue breathing. Causes of Death in India due to cardiovascular diseases Low quality of health care Lower access to healthcare facilities Lack of insurance (an affordability barrier) Busy and stressful lifestyle leading to change in eating habits Household/Indoor air pollution PCSK9 Use of PCSK9 inhibitors (PCSK9) helps in lowering cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart attacks. The PCSK9 are a new class of injectable drugs that reportedly reduce ‘bad’ cholesterol levels by up to 60% when combined with a statin (another class of drugs prescribed to help lower cholesterol levels). The discovery of cholesterol-lowering mutations in a human gene called PCSK9 led to the development of the most promising new drugs against heart disease since statins. Do you know? Geneticist Helen Hobbs and her colleague Geneticist Jonathan Cohen, found that when people had a mutation in PCSK9, they ended up with lower levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or bad cholesterol. Through this mechanism, the mutation protected people against heart disease, seemingly without side effects. In 2016, Ms. Hobbs was awarded the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences for her work. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, abbreviated as LDL-c, is considered the ‘bad’ variant of cholesterol as it contributes to plaque deposition, leading to the hardening and narrowing of arteries or ‘atherosclerosis’ (thickening of artery walls owing to accumulation of white blood cells). Discuss on: a) Differences between cardiac arrest and heart attack b) State profile in terms of heart diseases c) Air pollution is a new tobacco; it kills more people than smoking. Substantiate. d) Consider the following statements with respect to ‘Heart Attack Rewind’ It is launched by World Health Organisation (WHO) It promotes the elimination of industrially produced trans-fat in the food supply. Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2
REGISTRATION OPEN: SUPER 30-SCHOLARSHIP MOCK TEST for IASbaba’s PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAM (PEP) 2020 to be held on 22nd December 2019 (Sunday)!! PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAM (PEP) 2020 Off late UPSC Prelims has become very unpredictable and with increased dynamism and difficulty level in UPSC Prelims, just a Test Series will not work this time. We have come up with an inclusive Prelims programme which will include Classes, Topper’s discussing their Prelims Strategy, What to Focus and What not to Read, Strategy Classes, Daily Tests, Current Affairs, Mentorship in a nut-shell. PEP is a ONE STOP DESTINATION FOR PRELIMS PREPARATION ….!!! To Know COMPLETE DETAILS and SCHEDULE of the PEP -> CLICK HERE Details of SUPER 30- SCHOLARSHIP MOCK TEST FOR IASbaba’s PEP 2020 The Test will be held in BOTH OFFLINE and ONLINE The Test will be of OBJECTIVE type only consisting of 100 MCQs (200Marks) A separate test platform will be created for taking the Test with the timer. Please NOTE that the platform will be ACTIVE only on the day of the test. Read the instructions carefully after the login (This will be visible on the test date- 22nd December @ 11 am). SYLLABUS for Objective type (100 MCQ’s) – Current Affairs (month of October & November)/ Polity/ History/ Economics/ Geography/ Science & Technology/ Environment. OVERALL - TOP 10 (5 from ONLINE & 5 from OFFLINE (Bangalore and Delhi)) will get 100% FREE, Remaining 20 (10 from ONLINE & 10 From OFFLINE (Bangalore and Delhi)) will get 50% Discount !! Top 30 rankers (name & marks) will be announced on the website. For OFFLINE mode: Date: 22nd December 2019 (Sunday) Timings: 11 am – 1 pm (200 Marks, 2 hours) Venue : @ BENGALURU CENTRE: Chandra Layout Centre: No. 1443/1444, Above Carzspa, 80 Ft. Main Road, Ganapathi Circle, Chandra Layout, Bengaluru- 560040 @ DELHI CENTRE: 5B, PUSA road , Opposite to Metro Pillar 110, Karol Bagh, New Delhi -110005 (Landmark: CROMA Store) For ONLINE mode: Date: 22nd December 2019 (Sunday) Timings: Test can be taken anytime between 11 am – 2 Pm (200 Marks, 1 hour Test). The Test Portal will be Active till 3 pm. NOTE: For Objective Type, timer will be fixed for 1 hour ONLY. The Test will automatically come to an end once the 1 hour slot is complete from the time you start the test. REGISTRATION PROCESS: SUPER 30 Scholarship Mock Test (PEP) Click on the link below and go to "REGISTER" (on the menu bar) and fill the fields asked. REGISTRATION -> CLICK HERE Important: When you Register, you will get an E-mail to ACTIVATE your account. On activating your account, the registration process will be complete! On the Day of the Scholarship Mock Test, Click on 'Login' and key-in your E-mail ID and Password to take the Test. Please make sure that, you give valid Email ID’s and Phone numbers for any further communication. ANNOUNCEMENT OF RESULTS: The result will be communicated via Email/Phone Call on 23rd December, 2019 (by 7pm)to all the selected candidates. OVERALL - TOP 10 (5 from ONLINE & 5 from OFFLINE (Bangalore and Delhi)) will get 100% FREE, Remaining 20 (10 from ONLINE & 10 From OFFLINE (Bangalore and Delhi)) will get 50% Discount !! To make the Test process more transparent, we have come up with ONLY Objective Type Test. Top 30 rankers (name & marks) will be announced on the website. For other students, the marks will be sent to their respective Email ID’s. The Programme will start from 2nd January, 2020. If you are clear with the Programme Details and Directly want to Enrol for the Programme (or Make Payment) -> Click Here ** Please Note that, if you clear the Scholarship Test, the amount will be refunded!! ** FOR ANY QUERIES: You can visit any of the following centres for admissions or related enquiries: BENGALURU CENTRE: Chandra Layout Centre: No. 1443/1444, Above Carzspa, 80 Ft. Main Road, Ganapathi Circle, Chandra Layout, Bengaluru- 560040 Vijayanagar Centre: 1737/ 37, MRCR Layout, Vijayanagar Service Road, Vijayanagar, Bengaluru-5660040. Landmark : Behind Vijayanagar Metro, above Aptronix. DELHI CENTRE: 5B, PUSA road , Opposite to Metro Pillar 110, Karol Bagh, New Delhi -110005 (Landmark: CROMA Store) (OR) You can reach us on Email id: pep@iasbaba.com Contact No.: Bengaluru: 9035077800/7353177800 ( Office Timings: 10 am – 5.30 pm) Delhi: +91 11-41678500/+91 11-41672600 ( Office Timings: 10 am – 5.30 pm) All the Best IASbaba
UPSC Quiz - 2020: IAS Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 132 Archives Important Note Don't forget to post your marks in the comment section. Also, let us know if you enjoyed today's test :) To take the Test - Click Here
IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 10th December 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) UN development index Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II–Development In News India ranks 129 out of 189 countries on the 2019 Human Development Index (HDI) — up one slot from the 130th position last year Human Development Report (HDR) is released by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) The HDI measures average achievement in three basic dimensions of human development — life expectancy, education and per capita income. Norway, Switzerland and Ireland occupied the top three positions in that order. Germany is placed fourth along with Hong Kong, and Australia secured the fifth rank on the global ranking Among India’s neighbours, Sri Lanka (71) and China (85) are higher up the rank scale while Bhutan (134), Bangladesh (135), Myanmar (145), Nepal (147), Pakistan (152) and Afghanistan (170) were ranked lower on the list. However, for inequality-adjusted HDI (IHDI), India’s position drops by one position to 130. The IHDI indicates percentage loss in HDI due to inequalities. Gender Inequality Index Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II – Development In News The GII is an inequality indexreleased by UNDP. It measures gender inequalities in three important aspects of human development— reproductive Health, measured by maternal mortality ratio and adolescent birth rates; Empowerment, measured by proportion of parliamentary seats occupied by females and proportion of adult females and males aged 25 years and older with at least some secondary education; and Economic status, expressed as labour market participation and measured by labour force participation rate of female and male populations aged 15 years and older. The GII is built on the same framework as the IHDI—to better expose differences in the distribution of achievements between women and men. It measures the human development costs of gender inequality. Thus the higher the GII value the more disparities between females and males and the more loss to human development. In the Gender Inequality Index (GII), India is at 122 out of 162 countries. Neighbours China (39), Sri Lanka (86), Bhutan (99), Myanmar (106) were placed above India. The report forecasts that it may take 202 years to close the gender gap in economic opportunity [caption id="attachment_54521" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 10th December 2019[/caption] Src: Click here Human Rights Day Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains I – Social Issues In News Human Rights Day is celebrated on the 10th December every year to commemorate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which was adopted and proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1948. The Declaration recognizes that the inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of mankind are the foundation of justice, freedom and peace in the world. The United Nations’ theme for this year’s Human Rights Day is: “Youth Standing up for Human Rights.” The youth will be celebrated as agents of change and encouraged to amplify their voices against racism, hate speech, bullying, discrimination, and fight for climate justice, among other issues. Since its inception on the 12th October, 1993, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has endeavoured to promote a culture of human rights. The NHRC, like most of the human rights institutions in the world, is a recommendatory body as per the Protection of Human Rights Act passed by Parliament. An important initiative of the Commission this year has been that NHRC is proposing to set up a task force to prepare a National Action Plan on Human Rights (NAPHR) comprising the representatives of various Ministries, NGOs, Civil Society and the NHRC among the other stakeholders. This plan will help flag the key issues of human rights for the government(s), which would require to be addressed with a targeted approach to improve the human rights situation in the country through a sustained mechanism. IS 10500:2012 Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II- Governance In News Government stated that the Bureau of Indian Standards is preparing the ground for enforcement of piped water quality standards - IS 10500:2012, in cooperation with state departments. However, it is not yet clear whether the Centre’s own flagship mission (Jal Jeevan Mission) to provide piped water to all households by 2024 will implement the BIS standard. Unlike the BIS standard for bottled water, which is mostly produced by private companies, the standard for piped water — largely supplied by government agencies — is not yet mandatory. Jal Shakti is the nodal Ministry for the Jal Jeevan Mission to provide functional household tap connections to 14.6 crore rural households by 2024. About Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) It is a statutory body established in 1987 under the BIS Act 1986. It replaced the Indian Standards Institution (ISI), a body set up under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. It works under the guidance of Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. The objective of BIS is to achieve harmonious development of the activities of standardization, certification marking and quality certification of goods. BIS is involved in various activities such as Standards Formulation, Product Certification Scheme, Hall Marking Scheme, Laboratory Services etc. 126th Constitution Amendment Bill Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – Polity In News The reservation given to SCs, STs and the Anglo-Indian community for the past 70 years is to end on January 25, 2020 The 126th Constitution Amendment Bill seeks to extend by 10 yearsreservation to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the Lok Sabha and the Assemblies The reservation has been included in Article 334 and therefore the bill seeks to amend the article. Article 334 lays down that the provisions for reservation of seats and special representation of Anglo-Indians, SC and ST will cease after 40 years. The clause was included in 1949. After 40 years, it is being amended with an extension of 10 years. A similar reservation for the Anglo-Indian community in Lok Sabha and state assemblies is not being extended, as per the provisions of the bill. According to Law Minster, there are only 296 members of the Anglo-Indian community in India. Finland gets world’s youngest PM Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – International Affairs; GS-I- Society (Women empowerment) In News The 34-year-old Finnish politician Sanna Marin, her country’s Transport Minister, will soon become the world’s youngest Prime Minister. The Transport Minister was chosen by Finland’s Social Democratic Party to succeed Prime Minister Antti Rinne who on December 3 announced he was resigning in the face of criticism over the government’s handling of a postal strike that lasted two weeks in November Prime Minister-elect Marin will be Finland’s third woman head of government. Marin will lead a five-party Centre-Left political coalition which are all led by women. Four of these women are in their early thirties. New Zealand PM JacindaArdern is 39, while Ukrainian premier Oleksiy Honcharuk is 35. [caption id="attachment_54525" align="aligncenter" width="273"] Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 10th December 2019[/caption] Src: Click here (MAINS FOCUS) POLITY TOPIC: General Studies 2: Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019 passed the lower House test [caption id="attachment_54528" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 10th December 2019[/caption] SRC: LIVE MINT Context: The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019, that seeks to give Indian nationality to non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan passed the lower House test. Background: Amend the definition of illegal immigrant for Hindu, Sikh, Parsi, Buddhist and Christian immigrants from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, who have lived in India without documentation. They will be granted fast-track Indian citizenship in six years. (12 years of residence has been the standard eligibility requirement for naturalisation) Eligiblity: Applies to the people who were forced to seek shelter in India due to persecution on the ground of religion”. The cut-off date was December 31, 2014, which means the applicant should have entered India on or before that date. Indian citizenship, under present law, is given either to those born in India or if they have resided in the country for a minimum of 11 years. The Bill also proposes for the cancellation of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) registration where the OCI card-holder has violated any provision of the Citizenship Act or any other law in force. Govt stand and criticism: Centre says these minority groups have come escaping persecution in Muslim-majority nations. However, the logic is not consistent – the bill does not protect all religious minorities, nor does it apply to all neighbours. The Ahmedia Muslim sect and even Shias face discrimination in Pakistan. Rohingya Muslims and Hindus face persecution in neighbouring Burma, and Hindu and Christian Tamils in neighbouring Sri Lanka. The government responds that Muslims can seek refuge in Islamic nations, but has not answered the other questions. Exceptions in the bills: CAB won't apply to areas under the sixth schedule of the Constitution – which deals with autonomous tribal-dominated regions in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram. The bill will also not apply to states that have the inner-line permit regime (Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram). How is it different from NRC(National register for citizens)? The National Register of Citizens or NRC that we saw in Assam targeted illegal immigrants. A person had to prove that either they, or their ancestors were in Assam on or before March 24, 1971. NRC, which may be extended to the rest of the country, is not based on religion unlike CAB. Why so much opposition? The CAB discriminates Muslim identity by declaring India a welcome refuge to all other religious communities. It seeks to legally establish Muslims as second-class citizens of India by providing preferential treatment to other groups. This violates the Constitution’s Article 14, the fundamental right to equality to all persons. This basic structure of the Constitution cannot be reshaped by any Parliament. Conclusion: India was not created on the basis of religion, Pakistan was. Only the Muslim League and the Hindu Right advocated the two nation theory of Hindu and Muslim nations, which led to Partition. All the founders of India were committed to a secular state, where all citizens irrespective of religion enjoyed full membership. Connecting the dots: Citizenship law amendment goes against non-discriminatory norms in the Constitution. Critically Analyse AGRICULTURE TOPIC: General Studies 3: Transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints New Seed Bill 2019 [caption id="attachment_54531" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 10th December 2019[/caption] Src : Krishi Jagarn Context The National Seed Association of India (NSAI), suggested some changes in the proposed Seed Bill 2019, including a more scientific definition of transgenic variety, enhanced farmer rights on seeds and enlisting the services of private firms for evaluating new varieties before seed registration. Current The Seeds Act, 1966: Only covers “notified kinds or varieties of seeds”,regulation of quality, too, is limited to the seeds of varieties that have been officially notified. The provisions of The Seeds Act, 1966, apply only to certified seeds produced of notified varieties. New Seeds Bill, 2019 : The new Seeds Bill, 2019 provides for compulsory registration of “any kind or variety of seeds” that are sought to be sold. Even hybrids/varieties of private companies will need to be registered. Their seeds would have to meet the minimum prescribed standards relating to germination, physical and genetic purity, etc. Breeders would be required to disclose the “expected performance” of their registered varieties “under given conditions”. If the seed of such registered kind or variety “fails to provide the expected performance under such given conditions”, the farmer “may claim compensation from the producer, dealer, distributor or vendor under The Consumer Protection Act, 1986”. Background : The 1966 legislation was enacted at the time of the Green Revolution, when the country hardly had any private seed industry. The high-yielding wheat and paddy varieties, which made India self-reliant in cereals by the 1980s, were developed by the various ICAR institutes and SAUs. These public sector institutions have retained their dominance in breeding of wheat, paddy (including basmati), sugarcane, pulses, soybean, groundnut, mustard, potato, onion and other crops, where farmers largely grow open-pollinated varieties (OPV) whose grain can be saved as seed for re-planting. Over the last three decades or more, however, private companies and multinationals have made significant inroads, particularly into crops that are amenable to hybridisation. Today, the size of the private hybrid seeds industry is estimated at about Rs 15,000 crore. Response of private seed industry Seed companies have welcomed the provision of compulsory registration of all varieties/hybrids, based on the results of multi-location trials for a prescribed period to establish their performance vis-à-vis the claims of the breeders concerned. This should help minimise the risk of farmers being sold seeds of low-quality genetics, especially by fly-by-night operators taking undue advantage of the “truthful labeling” and “self-certification” processes. The industry, however, wants the process of registration to be time-bound. Given the lack of manpower and infrastructure within the government system, the registration may be granted or refused on the basis of multi-location trials carried out by the breeder/applicant itself. But the industry’s main reservation is the provision for regulation of sale price “in emergent situations like scarcity of seeds, abnormal rise in prices, monopolistic pricing or profiteering”. The fact that this power of fixing sale price of seed has been given both to the Centre and state governments has added to their nervousness. Their contention is that seed accounts for not even a tenth of the total operational costs in most crops, despite the genetic information contained in it being the main determinant of grain yield and quality. Connecting the dots: The new Seeds Bill is tilted against farmers’ interests and loaded in favour of seed companies. Critically Analyse. (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note: Correct answers of today’s questions will be provided in next day’s DNA section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers. Comments Up-voted by IASbaba are also the “correct answers”. Q.1) Which of the following countries are generally considered as Nordic Countries Denmark Finland Iceland Norway Sweden Select the correct answer from the codes given below. 1,2 and 3 only 2,3 and 4 only 1,2,3 and 4 only 1,2,3,4 & 5 Q.2) Consider the following statements about Constitutional Amendment Bills Prior recommendation of President is needed for introducing the constitution amendment bills When Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha differs with respect to passage of Constitutional Amendment Bill, President calls for Joint Sitting of both Houses of Parliament so as to resolve the differences and pave way for its passage. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) Consider the following statements about Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) It is a statutory body established in 1987 under the BIS Act 1986which replaced the Indian Standards Institution (ISI). It works under the overallguidance of Ministry of Corporate Affairs Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.4) Consider the following statements Human Rights Day is celebrated on the 10th December every year to commemorate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which was adopted by UN during its 1993 Rio Summit. India’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is a Constitutional Bodyestablished under Article 334 to investigate the violation of human rights or the failures of the state or other to prevent a human rights violation. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are incorrect? 1only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.5) Human Development Index is released by which organisation/body? World Economic Forum World Bank International Monetary Fund United Nations Development Programme ANSWERS FOR 09 DEC 2019 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 C 2 B 3 A 4 B 5 C MUST READ Unequal, unsecular: On Citizenship Amendment Bill The Hindu Lethal misgovernance: On Anaj Mandi fire tragedy The Hindu A growing blot on the criminal justice system The Hindu Climate treaty at a tipping point The Hindu China at sea: For Delhi, Shiyan incident is a reminder to invest more in maritime scientific research IE
Motivational Article: Embrace Change to Change Your Destiny! Things are changing around us and things are changing fast. With each passing minute, we witness a remarkable change. Changes are good, isn’t it? Imagine if the mobile sets that you use never changed in design and technology! Perhaps, you would have been playing Snakes on your Nokia 1100 handset instead of reading this article over your smartphone. Changes around us compel us to change ourselves. We become more adaptable with each change. We accept changes faster with each change. We ourselves change faster with each change. We at IASbaba believe in the strength of change. It can ignite your minds. It can motivate you better. It can make you happy. The very philosophy behind change being a motivation has inspired us to change something- our own website, to give you a better, efficient and interactive view of the loads of information, initiatives and inspiration available therein. You must have seen and experienced those changes. Please feel to share your feedback about the new website design and let us know if you want some further improvements. We promise we would change!! Changes also inspire new beginnings. As you may have noted, IASbaba has come up with the new initiative called the Prelims Exclusive Programme (PEP). We have introduced this programme keeping in mind the special needs of an aspirant from the perspective of highly competitive Prelims examination. The details of the programme can be found here. Similarly, to cater to the needs of candidates focusing on Mains preparation, we introduced the highly effective TLP Connect programme. Now very soon, we are going to launch an elaborate initiative especially for the aspirant who would appear in the next year’s interview. In fact, we have two more surprises in store for you that we won’t reveal now. Wait for a few more days and you will witness something amazing by IASbaba. As you can see, we are striving hard to keep pace with the changes introduced by UPSC and the expectations set by the aspirants by changing ourselves in the most intricate manner, focussing on the minute details. This has been the process of evolution for all of us. We expect the same from you. All this effort to change and adapt to changes is for you guys! Take advantage of this evolution, be an active partner in this process and change your attitude towards preparation. All we expect from you is to take three simple yet enormously important pledges for a better future. Can you take these pledges today or rather right now? I will change and I will change for the better. I will change to become a better student, a better learner, a better performer and a better human being. I will do everything in my capacity to change my attitude towards failure and success. No success would be permanent for me. No failure would be fatal for me. I will Inspire change around me. I will strive to make this world a better place by applying my knowledge, my intelligence and my emotions towards fellow human beings. Take these pledges and start a fresh journey today. People say that every moment in life is a fresh beginning. Take this point of time as that fresh beginning and start the rest of your journey. In this journey, things will keep on changing except one- the presence and support of IASbaba. All the Best IASbaba Team
Regulating News on Digital Platforms Archives General Studies 2 Governance In News: The Information & Broadcasting Ministry has proposed to introduce a new set of regulations to replace the archaic Press and Registration of Books (PRB) Act, 1867 that governs the registration of print and publishing industry in the country. Through the draft Registration of Press and Periodicals (RPP) Bill, 2019, the Ministry has proposed to Bring digital media in the new registration regulations’ ambit, Do away with prosecution provisions of imprisonment of publishers Simplify implementation of the registration process through a newly-created Press Registrar General. It has therefore proposed to remove existing requirements of furnishing of declaration by publishers and printers before the District Magistrate and its subsequent authentication. The draft Bill states that, “publishers of news on digital media shall register themselves with the Registrar of Newspapers of India”. In addition, it is proposing a simple system of registration of e-papers. It defines news on digital media as the news in digitised format that can be transmitted over the internet, computer or mobile networks and includes text, audio, video and graphics. However, it’s not clear whether the Bill applies only to web versions of print publications or to digital-only news sites as well The Reaction A. Confusion on the definition Digital publishers immediately deemed the proposed Bill unnecessary and sought clarity on whether it applies only to the web versions such as e-papers of print publications or digital-only news sites as well. The confusion arises, as the word “publication" has been defined in the draft as “anything which is printed on paper and is meant for public distribution including periodicals, newspapers and books". It is important to know if these regulations would be extended to digital media such as blogs, social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter and, basically, anybody who expresses an opinion on current affairs online. B. Attack on the Freedom Others see this as an attack on the freedom of the internet and digital-only news websites. These, they argue, have anyway always adhered to Article 19 of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech and expression while being governed by other applicable laws that maintain public order, decency, and morality. The bill proposes cancellation of such registration, if, among other reasons, the “publisher” is found to be convicted of any “terrorist act” or “unlawful activity”, or for doing anything against the “security of the state”. The bill doesn’t spell out how grave an offence must be to come under the ambit of “unlawful activity” or jeopardising the “security of the state”. Note: Registrar of Newspapers is a statutory body of the information and broadcasting ministry of the government of India, for the registration of publications such as newspapers and magazines, which regulates and monitors their printing and publication based on the PRB Act and the Registration of Newspapers (Central) Rules, 1956. In August, the Union cabinet had approved 26% foreign direct investment (FDI) in digital media, a move that was seen as restrictive by media industry experts as until then there was no clarity on FDI in digital news websites and there have been several in India with 100% foreign investment. Connecting the Dots: A digitally empowered India must also be digitally secure. Examine in the light of the emerging threats to the digital ecosystem. What is the ‘fake news’ phenomenon? Does it pose a security threat to the country? Examine. What are the threats associated with the unregulated growth of Social Media? Examine. Also discuss the ways in which Social Media should be regulated to thwart the security challenges posed by its burgeoning growth in India. Critically evaluate the efficacy of the existing legal, institutional and structural safeguards to protect the cyber ecosystem in India.
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