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Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 28th December 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 28th December 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Somali Dervish movement: Negatives of ‘lost’ 1985 Somali epic found at NFAI Part of: GS Prelims and GS-I Decolonization In news: The negatives of an epic Somali film thought to have been lost were ‘discovered’ in the vaults of the Pune-based National Film Archive of India (NFAI). Value addition For Prelims: The Somali Dervish movement  was an armed resistance to the colonial powers – particularly the British – in the Horn of Africa, between 1899 and 1920 It was led by the Sufi Muslim poet and militant leader Sayyid Mohamed HORN OF AFRICA Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 28th December 2019 Src: Click here It is a peninsula in Africa. It consists of Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia. It extends hundreds of kilometers into the Arabian Sea and lies along the southern side of the Gulf of Aden Uighur Muslims: Indonesian Muslims protest China's treatment of Uighurs Part of: GS Prelims  In news: Nearly  thousand Muslims marched to the Chinese Embassy in Indonesia’s capital  to protest China’s treatment of its Uighur Muslims Value addition For Prelims: Uigurs, are a minority Turkic ethnic group originating from and culturally affiliated with the general region of Central and East Asia. The Uyghurs are recognized as native to the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China. China rejects the idea of them being an indigenous group Since 2016, it is estimated that over a million Uyghurs have been detained in Xinjiang re-education camps.(UN) International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), the main feature of the camps is to ensure adherence to Chinese Communist Party ideology. Non-Performing Asset:  Gross NPAs may rise to 9.9% by next Sept., says RBI report Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III Economy Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 28th December 2019 SRC: The Hindu For Mains: The gross non-performing asset (GNPA) ratio of banks may increase to 9.9% by September 2020 from 9.3% in September 2019. due to change in macroeconomic scenario, marginal increase in slippages and the denominator effect of declining credit growth. The asset quality of agriculture and services sectors, as measured by their GNPA ratios, deteriorated to 10.1% Reviving the twin engines of consumption and investment remains the key challenge even while remaining vigilant about spillovers from global financial markets. Value addition For Prelims: A non performing asset (NPA) is a loan or advance for which the principal or interest payment remained overdue for a period of 90 days. NPAs classified further into Substandard, Doubtful and Loss assets. Substandard assets: Assets which has remained NPA for a period less than or equal to 12 months. Doubtful assets: An asset would be classified as doubtful if it has remained in the substandard category for a period of 12 months. Loss assets: As per RBI, “Loss asset is considered uncollectible and of such little value that its continuance as a bankable asset is not warranted, although there may be some salvage or recovery value.” MGNREGA: fewer jobs since July, wider demand-supply gap Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III Policy Vulnerable sections In news Jobs generated under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) have shown a dip compared to last year after July. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)  is  also witnessing a deceleration of activity . 2018-19, the year that preceded the Lok Sabha elections, saw a record number of households demanding as well as being provided employment under the flagship rural public works programme. In 2018-19, demand was registered from 5.88 crore households, and 5.27 crore of them were provided work. Funds: For 2019-20, the Modi government has allocated Rs 60,000 crore towards MGNREGA. But out of this budgeted sum, Rs 9,493.80 crore would be required for clearing the liabilities of wages, material and administrative costs for previous years.  Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 28th December 2019 SRC: IE Fall in Employment due to: The fall in MGNREGA employment after July has been largely due to the onset of the southwest monsoon. Rainfall during the monsoon season (June-September) this year was 10% above the historical long-term average — the highest since 1994 — whereas it was 9.4% below average in 2018 Value addition For Prelims: PM-KISAN Scheme  It aims to extend direct income support at the rate of Rs. 6,000 per year to farmer families, having cultivable land upto 2 hectares. This income support will be transferred directly into the bank accounts of beneficiary farmers, in three equal instalments of Rs. 2,000 each. Around 12 Crore small and marginal farmer families are expected to benefit. This programme will be funded by Government of India. This programme will entail an annual expenditure of Rs.75,000 crore. PM-KISAN would pave the way for the farmers to earn and live a respectable living. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), The MGNREGA provides a legal guarantee for one hundred days of employment in every financial year to adult members of any rural household willing to do public work-related unskilled manual work at the statutory minimum wage.  The Ministry of Rural Development (MRD), Govt of India is monitoring the entire implementation of this scheme in association with state governments (MAINS FOCUS) INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS TOPIC: General Studies 2: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian Diaspora. China, Iran and Russia:  held joint naval drills in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Oman In news: China, Iran and Russia held joint naval drills in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Oman, amid heightened tension in the region between Iran and the United States. This is being seen as a response to recent US manoeuvers in the region. exercise has been launched from the port city of Chabahar (The Chabahar port, which is near Iran’s border with Pakistan, was built with Indian assistance and is operated by India) Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 28th December 2019 SRC:TOIsreal Why tensions? Last year U.S. President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with six nations and re-imposed sanctions on the country, crippling its economy. Several attacks recently on international merchant vessels, including Saudi tankers, in Gulf waters which the United States blamed on Iran. US accused Iran of carrying out drone attacks on oil fields in Saudi Arabia. The attacks had immediately reduced Saudi Arabia’s oil production by half (5% of global oil production), Since attacks US sent a number of its troops to the region, and provided Saudi Arabia with missile defence systems. Gulf of Oman: The Gulf of Oman connects the Arabian Sea with the Strait of Hormuz (through which about a fifth of the world’s oil passes), which then runs to the Persian Gulf.  It borders Iran and Pakistan, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates. Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 28th December 2019 SRC: CNN Why Indian Ocean and Gulf of Oman? The Indian Ocean and Gulf of Oman are key areas for international trade and maintaining security in the waterways is an important task Significance: The Gulf of Oman, where the exercise is being held, is a critical waterway as it connects the Arabian Sea to the Strait of Hormuz, a 33-km wide passage which opens into the Persian Gulf — located between energy producers Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman (the exclave of Musandam), and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). A fifth of the world’s oil passes through this waterway — around 30% of all sea-borne crude oil globally. Since 2019, Gulf of Oman has been a focal point of global tensions. Conclusion: The three-nation drill is expected to further provoke US It may bolster security of international maritime commerce, combating piracy and terrorism and sharing information… and experience The most significant challenge to the post-Cold War international order is the growing power of ambitious states opposed to the West. Iran, Russia, and China are taking advantage of the U.S. withdrawal from the world stage and while they seek opportunity, cooperation between them remains fragmentary. Connecting the dots: Do you think this Tri- lateral exercise is going to Impact India? What do you think will be the next step of US? POLITY TOPIC: General Studies 2: Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures. National Population Register (NPR) : The Union Government to conduct Census 2021 and update the National Population Register The Union Cabinet recently approved a proposal to conduct Census 2021 and update the National Population Register (NPR) in all the States/UTs except Assam.  To spend Rs 8,754 crore for the Census 2021 and Rs 3,941 crore for updating the NPR. Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 28th December 2019 SRC: ET National Population Register (NPR): The NPR is a register of usual residents of the country. It is mandatory for every usual resident of India to register in the NPR. It includes both Indian citizens as well as a foreign citizen.  The objective of the NPR: To create a comprehensive identity database of every usual resident in the country.  The first National Population Register was prepared in 2010 and updating this data was done during 2015 by conducting door to door survey. Also essential for providing good governance Citizenship Act: It is being prepared at the local (Village/sub-Town), sub-District, District, State and National level under provisions of the Citizenship Act 1955 and the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003. The announcement on the NPR came amid continuing protests against the recent Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), 2019, in many parts of the country Concerns: NRC or NPR exercise, in combination with the recently enacted Citizenship (Amendment) Act, or CAA, could lead to disenfranchisement and harassment of the poor and undocumented segments of the population was not born out of anyone’s imagination Criticisms The NRC, as it was rolled out in Assam, puts the burden of proof on citizens to establish that they are indeed citizens. The undocumented and the poor will bear the brunt of this approach.  The proposed format for enumerating the NPR only exacerbates this concern and adds a third axis to the ongoing confusion and turmoil. With the passage of the CAA, and the announcement of the NRIC, there is enough factual basis for doubting the government’s claim that the NPR has nothing to do with the NRIC. Way forward: If the government has a rethink on its strident position on the NRC, it must say so upfront, and at any rate desist from denigrating critics. Conclusion: The NPR is not about citizenship but only about residency. However, when additional questions such as “place of birth of father and mother”, etc are being proposed for the forthcoming exercise, the concern that this may be a prelude to the NRIC is logical. Connecting the dots: Do you think NPR creates Confusion among people? Do you think NPR NRC and CAA are Inter related? TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note:  Correct answers of today’s questions will be provided in next day’s DNA section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers.  Comments Up-voted by IASbaba are also the “correct answers”. Q.1) Consider the following statements  Increase in the Rainfall contribute to the fall in MGNREGA employment PM-KISAN aims to extend direct income support for the veterans Which of the above statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2) Consider the following statements  Somali Dervish movement was an armed resistance to the British colonial powers Somalia is a part of Horn of Africa Which of the above statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) Uyghurs community recently in news are recognized as native to_______________ China India Somalia Bangladesh ANSWERS FOR 27 DEC 2019 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 C 2 B 3 B 4 C MUST READ Fuel to the fire: On Cabinet announcement on NPR The Hindu Decisive shift: On Chief of Defence Staff The Hindu Endless wait: on Afghanistan Presidential election The Hindu The Mig-27 flies into the sunset, bringing a bitter-sweet career to an end. IE CITIZENSHIP (AMENDMENT) ACT: Don’t pander to the vote bank ET RBI’s rate advice Live mint More than 235,000 flee northwest Syria flare-up: UN TOI

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All India Radio (AIR) IAS UPSC - Successful Launch of Earth Observation Satellite

Successful Launch of Earth Observation Satellite ARCHIVES Search 27th Nov, 2019 Spotlight here: http://www.newsonair.com/Main_Audio_Bulletins_Search.aspx TOPIC: General Studies 3 Development in Space Technology In news: India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, in its forty ninth flight (PSLV-C47), successfully launched Cartosat-3 along with 13 Nanosatellites of USA from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota. Cartosat 3 is (India’s) highest-resolution (a panchromatic resolution of 0.25m) civilian spacecraft. It is also the most complex and advanced Earth observation satellite ISRO has built so far. This is the 21st flight of India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle in 'XL' configuration and 74th launch vehicle mission overall from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre.  The PSLV-C47 has 6 solid strap-on motors. The Cartosat 3 satellite will be placed at an orbit of 509 km and inclination of 97.5 degrees. The spacecraft is designed to study our planet from low-Earth orbit for at least the next five years. The CARTOSAT-3, which has an overall mass of over 1,600 kilograms, will address the increased users' demands for  large-scale urban planning rural resource infrastructure development coastal land use Land cover Among the 13 nano-satellites are FLOCK-4P, 12 in numbers, with mission objective of earth observation, and one satellite named MESHBED, whose mission objective is a communication testbed. All India Radio (AIR) IAS UPSC - Successful Launch of Earth Observation Satellite Source: Click here

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

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

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

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

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

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

Motivational Articles

Creative Guidance: Book Review – Leviathan – Thomas Hobbes

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

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

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

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

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

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

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