UPSC Quiz - 2020: IAS Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 137 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 – 16th December 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Call for Universalisation of Pradhan MantriMatruVandanaYojana(PMMVY) Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II –Women & Governance In News The Pradhan MantriMatruVandanaYojana (PMMVY) was announced on December 31, 2016 which gives a benefit of ₹6,000 to pregnant and lactating mothers for the birth of the first child. ₹5,000 would be disbursed in three installments upon meeting several conditionalities — registration of pregnancy, at least one ante-natal check-up, registration of child birth and vaccinations. The remaining cash incentive of up to ₹1,000 is to be given under a separate scheme called the Janani Suraksha Yojana so that on an “average” women get a total sum of ₹6,000. The objective is to compensate women for wage loss due to child birth. Some of the reasons which has led to exclusion of many beneficiaries under PMMVY Only for the first born Proof of address of marital home - which proves challenging for a newlywed expecting a child and often residing in her natal home during pregnancy. She is then forced to go from pillar to post to claim benefits. Minimum age of 19 years - leaves out younger brides, who hesitate in getting their marriages registered as the legal age of marriage is 18 years. Husbands Aadhar Card - Affects single women which include unwed mothers, deserted wives and widows Tedious documentation: Total 6 application forms to be filled, with total of 30 of 32 pages to be filled by the beneficiary As many as 9 IDs to be produced - Aadhaar card, voter ID card; ration card copy of bank passbook and maternal and child protection (MCP) card etc. Activists urge for a need for reviewing the scheme and making it universal by removing restrictions on the number of children as well as including all women, whether they are in the formal or informal sector, engaged in paid or unpaid work. Also, there is a demand that the sum promised should also be at least on par with minimum wages for women in self-employment, unpaid work, or working for less than minimum wages [caption id="attachment_54947" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 16th December 2019[/caption] Src: Click here Odisha students develop smart water dispenser Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III- Science & Technology In News Three students of Odisha’s KendriyaVidyalaya, Berhampur, have developed a ‘smart water dispenser’ to ensure equal distribution of drinking water through pipelines in any urban or rural habitat to combat future water crisis. In August 2019, this project was shortlisted as top 50 innovations under ‘Atal Innovation Mission’ of NitiAyog. The ‘Smart water dispenser’ is an electronic water flow controlling mechanism that can replace the water meter and provide control of amount of water supply to the authorities for equal distribution. These units will be directly connected to a central server of the local governing body by GSM or Wi-Fi. Cost of the prototype was just ₹2,000. Its main components include an easily available microprocessor, a solenoid valve and a flow sensor. About Atal Innovation Mission It is a flagship initiative set up by the NITI Aayog to promote innovation and entrepreneurship across the length and breadth of the country. Long term goals of AIM include establishment and promotion of Small Business Innovation Research & Development at a national scale (AIM SBIR) for the SME/MSME/startups and in rejuvenating Science & Technology innovations in major research institutions of the country FASTags deadline extended Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III- Science & Technology In News The government issued an order extending the deadline for FASTags to become mandatory by 30 days and requiring 25% of lanes at toll plazas to be kept open for cash transactions. FASTag is an electronic toll collection system in India, operated by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI). It employs Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology for making toll payments directly from the prepaid or savings account linked to it or directly toll owner. It is affixed on the windscreen of the vehicle and enables to drive through toll plazas without stopping for transactions. [caption id="attachment_54948" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 16th December 2019[/caption] Src: Click here Strandhogg Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III- Cyber Security In News The Union Home Ministry has sent an alert to all States warning them about the vulnerability of the Android operating system to a bug called ‘StrandHogg.’ StrandHogg allows real-time malware applications to pose as genuine applications and access user data of all kind. This malware can then potentially listen to their conversations, access photo album, read/send messages, make calls, record conversations and get login credentials to various accounts. Pop-ups asking for permission to send notifications, messages etc., are one of the main entry points for ‘StrandHogg’ to launch the attack. About Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) scheme The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has rolled out a scheme ‘Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C)’ which is a 7-Pronged Scheme to combat cyber crime in the country, in a coordinated and effective manner. Components of The I4C Scheme National Cybercrime Threat Analytics Unit (TAU) National Cybercrime Reporting Platform for Joint Cybercrime Investigation Team National Cybercrime Forensic Laboratory (NCFL) Ecosystem National Cybercrime Training Centre (NCTC) Cybercrime Ecosystem Management Unit National Cyber Research and Innovation Centre MattuGulla Part of: GS Prelims In News MattuGulla is a variety of brinjal that has Geographical Indication (GI) tag Known for its unique taste, MattuGulla is grown in Mattu, Kaipunjal and Uliyargoli villages of Udupi district inKarnataka About 200 farmers cultivate this rare variety of brinjal on about 120 acres of land from October to June. The speciality of MattuGulla, besides its taste, is that it has less seed and more pulp An export network to UAE is being planned so that MattuGulla gets exported. As a result,the demand for it will increase and farmers will get good price for it. [caption id="attachment_54949" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 16th December 2019[/caption] Src: Click here National Ganga Council (NGC) Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Environment Conservation In News The National Ganga Council (NGC), which is headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi met for the first time at Kanpur since its inception in 2016, with the proposal to save and enhance the population of the Gangetic Dolphin The council also discussed the concept of “River Cities” and an action plan to provide sewer connection to every household in towns along the Ganga and its tributaries. The council consists of chief ministers from five states along the Ganga — Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Bihar and Jharkhand along with nine Union ministers and NITI Aayog vice-chairman. The central objective of the council is to work on the “protection, prevention, control and abatement of environmental pollution in River Ganga and its rejuvenation to its natural and pristine condition and to ensure continuous adequate flow of water”. About Gangetic River Dolphins The Gangetic river dolphins were officially discovered in 1801 and are one of the oldest creatures in the world along with some species of turtles, crocodiles and sharks, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). In 2009, the Gangetic dolphins were declared India’s National Aquatic animal It is placed under the “endangered” category by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The Gangetic river dolphins can only live in freshwater and prefer deep waters They are blind and catch their prey in a unique manner, using ultrasonic sound waves. [caption id="attachment_54950" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 16th December 2019[/caption] Src: Click here (MAINS FOCUS) INTERNATIONAL 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. US and China : ‘Phase One’ agreement [caption id="attachment_54951" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 16th December 2019[/caption] Src: CNBC Context: United States and China recently announced a “Phase One” agreement With this US will reduce some tariffs in exchange for increased Chinese purchases of American farm and energy goods. Background: Donald Trump in 2018 began setting tariffs and other trade barriers on China with the goal of forcing it to make changes to what the U.S. says are "unfair trade practices" of China Among those trade practices and their effects are the growing trade deficit, the theft of intellectual property, and the forced transfer of American technology to China The trade war has brought struggles for farmers and manufacturers and higher prices for consumers. It has also caused economic damage In some countries, some countries have benefited from increased manufacturing to fill the gaps. It has also led to stock market instability. Impact of trade war on India : The US manufacturers are setting up their bases in India. For India, this will be beneficial as it would create more jobs for us. There is a possibility that China could soon start flooding excess steel and aluminium into India’s market after this raised tariffs on Chinese products by US. Mobile phones, refrigerators, washing machines, ACs, water purifiers, and possibly electric vehicles will now see increased investment flow directed towards India. The Indian consumers will get the products at a cheaper rate but the domestic producers of India will have to compete with the Chinese imports or else face loss. Indian producers will get an opportunity to fill this generated gap and penetrate in the US market. This will increase their trade and profit. There will be a short-term impact on the stock markets. Features: The US will halve its 15 per cent tariff on about $120 billion in Chinese goods China has agreed to increase its total purchases of US goods and services by at least $200 billion over the next two years. Also included is a commitment by China to increase its buying of US agricultural products Addresses unfair currency practices by committing to refrain from competitive devaluations and exchange rate targeting. “This approach will help reinforce macroeconomic and exchange rate stability and help ensure that China cannot use currency practices to unfairly compete against U.S. exporters” China have agreed not to pressure foreign companies to transfer their technology to Chinese companies. The agreement also include a dispute-resolution mechanism that will serve as the enforcement arm. Critics: It would bring only temporary relief in the over 18-month-old trade war between the US and China. Does little to resolve the United States’ biggest concerns about China’s trade practices, including its use of industrial subsidies and state-owned enterprises to dominate global industries like steel and solar panels. The deal would increase Chinese purchases of American agricultural and energy products, It limits on China’s ability to weaken its currency and provide greater protection to US companies that are operating in China. Way forward: China and the United States, the world’s two largest economies, must deal with bilateral economic and trade relations with the big picture in mind. Reaching the agreement will serve the fundamental interests of the people of the two countries and the world, It is expected to bring positive influences on areas including economy, trade, investment and the financial market Conclusion: The economic and political benefits of de-escalation in the trade war have become readily apparent. A rollback of tariffs and cancellation of new levies, makes sense for the US economy and for the World economy. Connecting the dots: Do you think Phase One” agreement make a positive impact on Indian economy? INTERNATIONAL 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. What UK poll result means for Brexit? [caption id="attachment_54952" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 16th December 2019[/caption] Src: BI Context: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson won UK election Takeaways: The likelihood of Brexit being put on the fast track. the biggest defeat of the Labour Party since 1935, A sweep of Scotland’s seats by the Scottish National Party, and its implications on the possibility of independence. What does the result mean? The size of the victory sets the stage for a Britain of Johnson’s ideological vision — nationalism, with tougher laws on immigration. Britain will also have to deal with Brexit’s effect on its economy. This includes the long process of new bilateral trade agreements with many other countries. Brexit: [caption id="attachment_54953" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 16th December 2019[/caption] Src: NYT Brexit – British exit – refers to the UK leaving the EU. Brexit is the scheduled withdrawal of the United Kingdom (UK) from the European Union (EU). As the UK parliament thrice voted against the negotiated withdrawal agreement, that deadline has been extended twice, and is currently 31 October 2019. The ‘Benn Act’ that passed in Parliament requires the government to seek a third extension if no agreement is reached before 19 October. Why is the UK leaving? A public vote - or referendum - was held on Thursday 23 June 2016, to decide whether the UK should leave or remain. Leave won by 52% to 48%. The referendum turnout was very high at 72%, with more than 30 million people voting - 17.4 million people opting for Brexit. What is the European Union? The EU is an economic and political union involving 28 European countries. It allows free trade and free movement of people to live and work in whichever country they choose. The UK joined in 1973 (when it was known as the European Economic Community). If the UK leaves, it would be the first member What after Brexit? EU will start carrying out checks on British goods. This could lead to delays at ports, such as Dover. Some fear that this could lead to traffic bottlenecks, disrupting supply routes and damaging the economy. If the pound falls sharply in response to no deal and there are significant delays at ports, like Dover, it could affect the price and availability of some foods. There are also concerns over potential shortages of medicines. Advantages and disadvantages for India Link :1 Conclusion India should re-negotiate with the UK and EU the World Trade Organization Schedules of Concessions, for both goods and services, should resume its FTA discussions with the EU, and should prepare to launch FTA talks with the UK. Connecting the dots: Do you think India will get more opportunities in Britain after BREXIT? Do you think BREXIT is Detrimental for the global economy ? (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 Phase One Agreement recently seen in news It is a trade agreement which is signed recently between USA and China The deal addresses core US demand that China curb subsidies to its state-owned firms, which has allowed China to dominate global industries like Steel & Solar panels. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2) Consider the following statements about Pradhan MantriMatruVandanaYojana (PMMVY) It is being implemented by Ministry of Women and Child Development which gives a benefit of ₹6,000 to pregnant and lactating mothers for the birth of the first child. Its objective is to compensate women for wage loss due to child birth. 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 FASTags : FASTag is an electronic toll collection system in India. It is operated by NITI Aayog in collaboration with Private IT company – Infosys Technology Ltd. Which of the above statement(s) are correct? Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.4) Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) scheme is being implemented by which Union Ministry? Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology Ministry of Home Affairs Ministry of Defence None of the above Q.5) National Ganga Council is headed by ______ Minister of Environment, Forests and Climate Change Minister of Jal Shakti Prime Minister Chief Minister of Ganga States on rotation basis ANSWERS FOR 14 DEC 2019 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 B 2 B 3 C 4 B MUST READ Many mutinies: On protests against amended citizenship law The Hindu The distinct cry of an imperilled frontier The Hindu In Britain, there’s a lot to get done The Hindu FASTag Fast Lane to Fund New Highways ET At great cost IE View From The Neighbourhood: India disappoints IE
IAS UPSC Current Affairs Magazine NOVEMBER 2019 ARCHIVES Hello Friends, This is the 54th edition of IASbaba’s Current Affairs Monthly Magazine. Current Affairs for UPSC Civil Services Examination is an important factor in this preparation. An effort towards making your Current Affairs for IAS UPSC Preparation qualitative. We hope you make the best use of it! This edition covers all important current affairs issues that were in news for the month of NOVEMBER 2019 DOWNLOAD THE MAGAZINE- CLICK HERE
UPSC Quiz - 2020: IAS Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 136 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
Accepting Pain & Pleasure: As impossible it is to eradicate pain and suffering from your life fully, that impossible it is to be happy all the time. Happiness is like a tickling sensation of the mind - It is good and enjoyable in short bursts, but becomes irritating if it is continuous. Somehow, we have built our society around the assumption that happiness is our highest goal and purpose of life. This wrong assumption is the single biggest reason why we are unhappy. We have assumed that happiness solves all our problems and that is all what we are searching for. Happiness and misery are the two legs of an individual. You need both to walk. If you choose happiness and reject misery, you will be limping all the time, and it will not look good. If you are obsessed about being happy all the time, that itself is enough to make you unhappy. If you decide that you want to be happy for one whole day, your mind will give you enough reasons to be unhappy. If you want to be miserable, then make happiness your highest goal. If happiness is the only objective, then what about those moments when you are experiencing pain and suffering? For example, what happens when you hit your toe to the chair leg? What happens when your favorite team loses the game? What happens when you genuinely have to be sad? In all these moment you go into an internal conflict because you have rejected all other emotions and you only want to be happy. This by itself is enough to cause a lot of suffering. Accepting all emotions of life and everything life can throw at you with equal-mindedness is the whole essence of being alive in the moment. Being alive in the moment is not to choose between happiness and sadness. If there is happiness, experience it; laugh and rejoice in that happiness. If there is pain and suffering, suffer in that suffering. Both pain and pleasure complement the way of life. You have to accept both equally to be able to experience life in its completeness. “This article is a part of the creative endeavor of Meditation Farm and IASBABA.”
IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 14th December 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Doorstep delivery of public services scheme Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II - Governance In News The doorstep delivery of public services scheme is implemented by the administrative reforms department of the Delhi government. The scheme offers 100 government services at the homes of citizens, helping them avoid queues, touts, bribery and multiple visits to government offices. Under the scheme, citizens can call on the number — 1076 — to avail government services. After the call, a person will visit the citizen and collect documents required for the service and process the request. Citizens can book an appointment online through www.edistrict.delhigovt.nic.in Now there are three ways to get things done at the government offices in Delhi— By visiting government offices, where the success rate is 57% and 43% of the applications get rejected; By applying online, wherein 45% of the applications get cleared while 55% get rejected; and Doorstep delivery, where the success rate is 91% and only 9% of the applications get rejected The high success rate in doorstep delivery is due to mobile Sahayaks’s intervention who ensure that all documents are complete and attached in the right order along with the applications. Fog Pass Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains III –Science & Technology In News The South Central Railway (SCR) has started supplying Fog Pass devices, a GPS-based portable equipment, to loco pilots. During the winter, when visibility is low due to fog, loco pilots face a tough challenge of ensuring safe operations of trains. They are forced to restrict the speed of the train as they are unable to sight signals The entire data of a particular section such as location of signals, stations, level-crossing gates, warning boards, curves and gradients, are mapped with GPS and fed into the device. A fog pass device displays details of at least three oncoming landmarks along with distance from the current location. An audio alert is given, around 500 metres before any approaching landmark Fog device helps in alerting the crew about upcoming landmarks or structures, during foggy weather, through audio and visual indications. Accessible India campaign Part of: GS Prelims and GS-I – Society In News Accessible India campaign aims at making public spaces friendly for persons with disabilities. The deadline for the government’s Accessible India campaign has been extended to March 2020 due to “slow progress,” the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has informed the Lok Sabha The original deadlines under the Accessible India campaign were July 2016 for conducting an accessibility audit of 25-50 of the most important government buildings in 50 cities and making them completely accessible and March 2018. Under the Rights of PwD Act, 2016, all existing and new public buildings have to follow the accessibility standardsnotified on June 15, 2017. The existing buildings were given five years to comply. National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III- Disaster Management In News The Ministry of Environment has set up the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) at It has been setup to undertake studies and research in the area of Coastal Zone Management including coastal resources and environment. The aims and Objectives of the Center are: Strive for being a World Class Knowledge Institution related to coastal zones, environment, resources and processes, To promote integrated and sustainable management of the coastal and marine areas in India for the benefit and wellbeing of the traditional coastal and island communities, and Advice the Union and State Governments and other associated stakeholder(s) on policy, and scientific matters related to Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM). For the first time, Integrated Island Management plans including holistic island development plans have been prepared by NCSCM for implementation by coastal States/ UTs. (MAINS FOCUS) SOCIETY TOPIC:General Studies 1: Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies. Andhra Pradesh Disha Bill, 2019 Context: The Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly passed the Andhra Pradesh Disha Bill, 2019 (Andhra Pradesh Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2019). Disha is the name given to the veterinarian who was raped and murdered in Hyderabad. Highlights: The bill provides for awarding death sentence for offences of rape and gangrape and expediting trials of such cases to within 21 days. At present, provision for punishing an offender in a rape case is a fixed jail term leading to life imprisonment or the death sentence. Completion of investigation in seven days and trial in 14 working days, where there is adequate conclusive evidence. Reducing the total judgment time to 21 days from the existing four months. The existing judgment period as per the Nirbhaya Act, 2013 and Criminal Amendment Act, 2018 is 4 months (two months of investigation period and two months of trial period) The AP Disha Act also prescribes life imprisonment for other sexual offences against children and includes Section 354 F and 354 G in IPC. Two years imprisonment for the first conviction and four years for second and subsequent convictions for cases of social media harassment. The Government of Andhra Pradesh prescribes life imprisonment for other sexual offences against children. At present,in cases of molestation/sexual assault on children under the POCSO Act, 2012, punishment ranges from a minimum of three years to maximum of seven years of imprisonment. Andhra Pradesh government will establish, operate and maintain a register in electronic form, to be called the ‘Women & Children Offenders Registry’. This registry will be made public and will be available to law enforcement agencies. National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) 2017 report: A total of 3,59,849 cases were reported against women in 2017.( 2016, 3.38 lakh , 3.2 lakh cases 2015) The number of cases reported has increased. Uttar Pradesh has again topped the list with 56,011 cases of crime against women, followed by Maharashtra with 31,979 cases and West Bengal at 30,002. Crimes against women constitute murder, rape, dowry death, suicide abetment, acid attack, cruelty against women and kidnapping. ‘Cruelty by husband or his relatives’ accounts for 27.9 per cent of the crimes against women. ‘Assault on women with intent to outrage her modesty’ comprise 21.7 per cent, followed by ‘kidnapping and abduction of women’ with 20.5 per cent and ‘rape’ with 7.0 per cent of reported cases. Rape data: ‘Rape’ stands with 7.0 per cent of reported cases. A total of 32,559 rapes were reported in 2017 in India. Madhya Pradesh has recorded the highest number of rape cases at 5,562 cases being reported in 2017. Uttar Pradesh is second to MP. Delhi, saw a decline in reporting of rape cases, in 2017, 13,076 were reported, which is the lowest in the last three years. 1 percent cases the accused were known to the victims. Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura can be seen as moderately safer than other states as they recorded the lowest number of cases. Conclusion: Make the criminal justice system tougher on an offender committing sexual crimes against women and children. Connecting the dots: Don’t you think acts of sexual violence are deeply traumatic for survivors, and that it takes great courage and faith in the system to report them? INTERNATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian Diaspora. Biggest parliamentary majority for Boris Johnson ( BREXIT) Context: Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson has won the biggest parliamentary majority Prime Minister has promised to quickly push through Parliament the Withdrawal Agreement giving consent to his Brexit deal. What next? Johnson’s Withdrawal Agreement Bill (WAB) will be introduced within days They will have until the deadline of January 31 to get the Bill through both Houses of Parliament. Once Parliament has passed the Bill, the European Parliament will need to ratify the Brexit deal at its end. That done, Britain will be out of the EU. A British delegation will thereafter begin talks on a trade deal that will define the UK’s future relationship with the EU. Separate delegations will begin talks on trade deals with other countries as well, including India Brexit: Brexit – British exit – refers to the UK leaving the EU. Brexit is the scheduled withdrawal of the United Kingdom (UK) from the European Union (EU). Following a June 2016 referendum, in which 51.9% of participating voters voted to leave, the UK government formally announced the country’s withdrawal in March 2017, starting a two-year process that was due to conclude with the UK withdrawing on 29 March 2019. As the UK parliament thrice voted against the negotiated withdrawal agreement, that deadline has been extended twice, and is currently 31 October 2019. The ‘Benn Act’ that passed in Parliament requires the government to seek a third extension if no agreement is reached before 19 October. What is the European Union? The EU is an economic and political union involving 28 European countries. It allows free trade and free movement of people to live and work in whichever country they choose. The UK joined in 1973 (when it was known as the European Economic Community). If the UK leaves, it would be the first member What after Brexit? EU will start carrying out checks on British goods. This could lead to delays at ports, such as Dover. Some fear that this could lead to traffic bottlenecks, disrupting supply routes and damaging the economy. If the pound falls sharply in response to no deal and there are significant delays at ports, like Dover, it could affect the price and availability of some foods. There are also concerns over potential shortages of medicines. Positive effects of Brexit in India: To reset legal terms: Brexit is an opportunity for India to reset the legal terms of its trade with the UK and EU, at the multilateral level, and through free trade agreements. Students friendly: Before Brexit, British universities were forced to offer scholarships and subsidies to the citizens of the UK and EU. Brexit frees up funds for the other students and more Indian students might be able to get scholarships. Increases tourism: Reduction in pound value will reduce travelling cost to the UK and will make it a good travel destination. Huge investment: Brexit will help strengthen our ties with Britain because India’s focus on innovation and entrepreneurship still makes it an attractive destination for outsourcing and investment. Goods and services: According to the UK’s Department for International Trade (DIT) figures, total trade in goods and services between the UK and India was 18 billion pounds in 2017, a 15 per cent increase from 2016. Current account deficit: Lower commodity prices, crude oil prices may help narrowing current account deficit (CAD) Trading partners: The UK and the EU are losing trading partners in the process. So they will both be looking for replacements. Here, India can play a crucial role. We may see enhanced cooperation in segments like technology, cyber security, defence production and finance. Negative effects of Brexit in India: Short term effects: Automobile, Pharmacy and IT might be the most affected. NASSCOM has predicted that the effect of Brexit will be felt on the $108 Billion Indian IT sector in the short term. Automobile industry: In the automobile industry, Brexit may lead to reduction in sales and companies that derive good revenues of profits from Britain could get hurt majorly. Disruptions: Indian companies would need to recalibrate European operations, like setting up an additional operating company within European Union. This means short term disruptions will have a financial impact, as also take up management time. Immigration: Because of the large number of immigrants from EU, UK has restricted immigrants from other parts of the world, which had an impact on Indians. Restrictions: Post Brexit, immigration into UK of Indians may not become easier as the UK wants to place quantitative restrictions on total number of immigrants, and only a few Indians with special skills may find it easier to work in the UK. Conclusion India should re-negotiate with the UK and EU the World Trade Organization Schedules of Concessions, for both goods and services, should resume its FTA discussions with the EU, and should prepare to launch FTA talks with the UK. Connecting the dots: Do you think UK should come back into the EU after leaving? (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 National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) It has been set up at Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh For the first time, Integrated Island Management plans including holistic island development plans have been prepared by NCSCM for implementation by coastal States/ UTs Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2) Consider the following statements about Accessible India Campaign It is being implemented by Ministry of Labour in collaboration with NITI Aayog It aims at making public spaces friendly for persons with disabilities. 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 Fog Pass It is a GPS based Portable equipment being provided to Loco Pilots It is helps in alerting the crew of train about upcoming landmarks or structures, during foggy weather, through audio and visual indications 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 Doorstep Delivery of Public Services Scheme of Delhi Government Itis made available to only people who are below poverty line. The high success rate in doorstep delivery is due to mobile Sahayaks’s intervention who ensure that all documents are complete and attached in the right order along with the applications Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 ANSWERS FOR 12 DEC 2019 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 A 2 B 3 C 4 A 5 D MUST READ The day of Boris The Hindu Twin troubles The Hindu A new Britain IE Improving Bankruptcy and Insolvency Code IE
UPSC Quiz - 2020: IAS Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 135 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 – 13th December 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) V.S. Sirpurkar Commission Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II - Polity In News The Supreme Court set up an inquiry commission led by its former judge, Justice V.S. Sirpurkar, to probe the circumstances of the police ‘encounter’ killing of four persons accused in the gang-rape and murder of a veterinarian in Hyderabad. The commission will sit in Hyderabad and has 6 months to complete investigation The apex court has, meanwhile, stayed the proceedings in the Telangana High Court and the NHRC into the incident. The four accused were taken to the scene of the crime around 60 km from Hyderabad in the early hours of December 6 for a re-construction of crime scene. Two petitions were filed in the Supreme Court claiming that the alleged encounter was "fake" and that investigating agency like police has no right to punish any accused without due process of law. Pradhan MantriUjjwalaYojana (PMUY) - Diversion of LPG Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II - Governance In News The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, in a report on the Pradhan MantriUjjwalaYojana (PMUY), has highlighted the risk of diversion of domestic LPG cylinders for commercial use, PMUY Objective: Providing clean-cooking fuel to the poor households, which are otherwise vulnerable to health hazards associated with indoor air pollution(which annually causes 10 lakh deaths in India) It is implemented by Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas through its Oil Marketing Companies (i.e., IOC, BPCL and HPCL) and their distributors network. As on 31 March 2019, the oil marketing companies had issued 7.19 crore connections, which is about 90% of the target of 8 crore connections to be achieved till March 2020. Some of the findings of the CAG report are: 1.98 lakh beneficiaries had an average annual consumption of more than 12 cylinders.The CAG said this level of consumption seemed improbable in view of the BPL (below poverty line) status of such beneficiaries. To rule out existing LPG connections in beneficiaries’ household, de-duplication was to be carried out based on Aadhaar of all family members. Data analysis also revealed that 8.59 lakh connections were released to beneficiaries who were minor as per the SECC-2011 data, which was in violation of PMUY guidelines and LPG Control Order, 2000. It also exposed a mismatch in the name of 12.46 lakh beneficiaries between the PMUY database and SECC-2011 data. The audit also highlighted the delay of more than 365 days in the installation of 4.35 lakh connections against the stipulated time period of seven days. IBM GRAF Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains III –Science & Technology In News International technology companyIBM plans to make a high-resolution weather forecast model that will also rely on user-generated data to improve the accuracy of forecasts available in India. IBM GRAF, as the forecast system is called, can generate forecasts at a resolution of 3 kilometres. This is a significantly higher resolution than the 12-kilometre models used by the India Meteorological Department to generate forecasts. For its forecasts, IBM relies on a global network of sensors — automatic weather station, data bouys and barometric pressure data from cellphones of users who’ve downloaded the application. Weather forecasts will be availableto individuals for free download and can be used by farmers. A study by IBM found that 72% Indians believed that the local economy had been disrupted by a severe weather event in the past year and 89% were concerned that climate change could negatively impact the economy. Unique Barcoding Software- Trakea Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Science & Technology In News Haryana Police has adopted a unique barcoding software — Trakea — to ensure that thousands of forensic reports that form the backbone of the criminal investigation system and subsequent trials in the courts of law, are not tampered with. Essentially, it is a forensic evidence management system that helps in automation of the entire procedure, right from the stage when forensic experts collect vital samples from the scene of crime to conducting analysis of the samples, followed by tracking casewise forensic reports electronically through barcodes. Even the selection of forensic teams is done randomly through this software. Due to the unique barcoding, only the authorised investigating officers and forensic science experts shall be able to track the crime exhibits and scientific examination reports, reducing the chances of tampering/leakage of the report at any stag Also, there will be no case details mentioned on the crime exhibits/samples/parcels except the unique bar code, that can only be read through the biometric system The roadmap for the future includes the expansion of the software on an app-based android platform for real-time online reporting of crime scene investigation visitsand its integration with the judicial system to reduce time lags and the chances of malpractices even at later stages The software was originally designed by a prisoner who was lodged in Bhondsi jail for 13 months. A software engineer by profession, the man was facing charges of having murdered his wife, but was ultimately acquitted by the trial court. Rare Earths Part of: GS Prelims and GS-I – Geography and GS-II- International Affairs In News The United States Army plans to fund the construction of a Rare Earths processing facility to secure the domestic supply of minerals that are used to make military weapons and electronics This will be the first financial investment by the US military into commercial-scale Rare Earths production since the Manhattan Project to build the first atomic bomb during World War II. The decision comes after China threatened to stop exporting Rare Earth materials to the US amid the ongoing trade war between the countries Rare Earth Elements or Rare Earth Metals are a set of 17 chemical elements in the periodic table — the 15 lanthanides, plus scandium and yttrium, which tend to occur in the same ore deposits as the lanthanides, and have similar chemical properties. These elements are important in technologies of consumer electronics, computers and networks, communications, clean energy, advanced transportation, healthcare, environmental mitigation, and national defence, among others. Scandium is used in televisions and fluorescent lamps, and yttrium is used in drugs to treat rheumatoid arthritis and cancer. Cerium, the most abundant Rare Earth element, is essential to NASA’s Space Shuttle Programme The estimated size of the Rare Earth sector is between $10 billion and $15 billion. About 100,000-110,000 tonnes of Rare Earth elements are produced annually around the world. China’s Rare Earths deposits account for 80% of identified global reserves Miscellaneous Lotus emblem on passports Opposition has questioned the government over replacement of 'Lion' with 'Lotus' symbol on Indian passports.The lotus symbol was printed inside a rectangle on the page near passport officer's signature and seal Ministry of External Affairs said that it this symbol is our national flower and was part of the enhanced security features to identify fake passports. These security features have been introduced as part of the International Civil Aviation Organisation guidelines The MEA said the measure would involve the use of other national symbols as well on rotation. (MAINS FOCUS) ECONOMY TOPIC:General Studies 3: changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth New insolvency Bill (Inslovancy and Bankruptsy Code Amendment Bill 2019) [caption id="attachment_54778" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 13th December 2019[/caption] SRC: LEX Context: The Union cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, cleared amendments to the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) Why Amendment? To ease the insolvency resolution process ( streamlining of the insolvency resolution process) Features: The licenses, permits, concessions and clearances cannot be terminated or suspended during the moratorium period for the corporate debtors Bill seeks to protect last-mile funding to corporate debtors to prevent their insolvency, in case the company goes into corporate insolvency resolution process or liquidation. Successful bidders will be provided more immunity against any risk of criminal proceedings for offences committed by previous promoters of companies concerned. Cabinet approved Partial Credit Guarantee Scheme for purchase of high-rated pooled assets from financially sound non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) - also known as shadow banks - by state-run banks. Easier lending rules are aimed at enabling NBFCs to get better access to funds. NBFCs have been key drivers of lending growth in India, with their consolidated balance sheet worth Rs 28.8 lakh crore ($400 billion) in 2018-19, according to RBI data The bill also proposes a threshold for financial creditors to prevent frivolous triggering of corporate insolvency.( bankruptcy is not invoked for small amounts) Replaces laws such as the Sick Industrial Companies Act (SICA Act) and the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Securities Interest Act (SARFAESI Act), shifting the control of recovery process to creditors from borrowers. Esp for Real estate New threshold for allowing home buyers and certain category of financial creditors for initiating corporate insolvency resolution plan (CIRP). It has been stipulated that at least 100 home buyers or 10 per cent of home buyers in a project, whichever is lower, are required for moving an insolvency petition against real estate developer Do you know? Last mile financing: is a mode of funding normally used for unlocking projects that have come to a halt due to some reason which commonly includes cash being tied up in escrow accounts. Last mile financing is increasingly becoming popular as an option for developers that have exhausted other funding options towards the closing phase of a project already under-way. [caption id="attachment_54779" align="aligncenter" width="294"] Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 13th December 2019[/caption] Src: NAPKIN Finance Merits: Approval by the cabinet to provide immunity to successful bidders under IBC is a great boost to IBC This is a positive and timely step and will increase confidence among prospective buyers of stressed assets This is expected to incentivise the provision of last mile funding to companies to prevent their insolvency, whilst at the same time provide such creditors a fall back protection of priority of payment should the company become insolvent. The amendments are aimed at providing more protection to bidders participating in the recovery proceedings and in turn boosting investor confidence in the country's financial system. Boosts Investment in financially-distressed sectors. Strengthens the country's financial sector, marred by huge bad assets and bank frauds, to support economic growth Way forward: Debts that would be eligible for this priority are to be notified. Such debt will have priority of payment in both resolution and liquidation processes under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code. Criticisms: Cross border insolvency framework did not make it to the Bill. Conclusions: This will help companies that need last mile funding to access a wider pool of capital that caters to this requirement and should also enable such funding on competitive terms. Connecting the dots: Do you think NBFCs have been key drivers of lending growth in India? PARLIAMENT TOPIC: General Studies 2: Parliament and State Legislatures - structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these. Parliament passes( 126th Amendment) bill to extend SC-ST reservation quota Context: Parliament recently passed a Constitution amendment bill to extend quota to SCs and STs in LokSabha and state assemblies by another 10 years. Govt also asserted that the Central government will never stop the reservation system Also Revoked the provision for nomination of Anglo-Indians to the LokSabha and 14 state Assemblies The bill would now be sent to the states for ratification by 50 per cent of the assemblies before it comes into force. Background Reservation for members of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs), given for the past 70 years in the LokSabha and state assemblies, is due to end on January 25, 2020. The reservation for Anglo-Indians in the form of "nomination" is set to expire on January 25 2020 as the bill does not extend the facility to the community. Amendment of the Constitution Amending the Constitution of India is the process of making changes to the nation's fundamental law or supreme law. The procedure of amendment in the constitution is laid down in Part XX (Article 368) of the Constitution of India which ensures the sanctity of the Constitution of India and keeps a check on arbitrary power of the Parliament of India. There have been conflicts between the Supreme Court and Parliament, where Parliament wants to exercise discretionary use of power to amend the constitution while the Supreme Court wants to restrict that power. This has led to the laying down of various doctrines; the most famous among them is the Basic structure doctrine as laid down by the Supreme Court in the case of Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala. Procedure An amendment of the Constitution can be initiated only by the introduction of a Bill in either House of Parliament. The Bill must then be passed in each House by a majority of the total membership of that House and by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members of that House present and voting.(special majority) There is no provision for a joint sitting in case of disagreement between the two Houses. The Bill, passed by the required majority, is then presented to the President who shall give his assent to the Bill. If the amendment seeks to make any change in any of the provisions mentioned in the provision to article 368, it must be ratified by the Legislatures of not less than one-half of the States. Although there is no prescribed time limit for ratification, it must be completed before the amending Bill is presented to the President for his assent Do you know? Parliament is free to enact any number of constitutional amendments in any given year. Although Parliament must preserve the basic framework of the Constitution, there is no other limitation placed upon the amending power, meaning that there is no provision of the Constitution that cannot be amended. Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) are among the most disadvantaged socio-economic groups in India. Hence, the Government of India has enacted progressive legislation, programmes and schemes for the development and empowerment of the SCs and STs. Article 366(2) of the Constitution Of India states: “An Anglo-Indian means a person whose father or any of whose other male progenitors in the male line is or was of European descent but who is domiciled within the territory of India and is or was born within such territory of parents habitually resident therein and not established there for temporary purposes only…” Connecting the dots: Do you think Supreme Court needs to decide whether ‘creamy layer’ norms can be extended to SCs & STs ? (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 Pradhan MantriUjjwalaYojana(PMUY) The scheme was launched in May 2016 to safeguard the health of women and children by providing them with clean cooking fuel. It is being implemented by Ministry of Women and Child Development Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2) Consider the following statements about IBM GRAF It is a Weather forecast system which can generate forecasts at a resolution of 50 kilometres. It will rely on user-generated data like from user’s phone data to improve the accuracy of forecasts available in India. 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 Gangetic dolphins They have been declared as the National Aquatic Animal of India. It is essentially blind and thus hunt by using ultrasonic sounds. 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 Trakea Itis a forensic evidence management system which aims at ensuring security and a tamperproof tracking system of forensic reports It is developed by Karnataka Police which is the first state in the country to have such unique barcoding system to make forensic reports tamperproof. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.5) Consider the following statements about Rare Earth Metals These elements are important in technologies of consumer electronics, computers and networks, communications, clean energy, advanced transportation & healthcare. Cerium, the most abundant Rare Earth element, is used in NASA’s Space Shuttle Programme. China’s Rare Earths deposits account for 80% of identified global reserves Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1 and 2only 2 and 3 only 1 and 3 only 1,2 and 3 ANSWERS FOR 12 DEC 2019 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 A 2 A 3 C 4 C 5 B MUST READ In the name of a majority The Hindu Not many lessons learnt from water planning failures The Hindu Let CAB Not Add To Societal Strife ET Welcome Move to Strengthen IBC ET Citizenship Bill makes distinctions that are reasonable, does not violate Article 14 IE
Draft Seeds Bill, 2019 Archives TOPIC: General Studies 3 Agriculture In News: Availability of good quality seeds to farmers is a necessary condition for boosting agricultural output. Seeds occupy a peculiar position in agriculture. They are at the root of big policy making, scaled agricultural outputs, while also at the top of discourses on food security, livelihood and innovation. They may seem to strengthen the quality food policy, but are integral to farmers. The draft Bill will replace the 1966 Seeds Act. Purpose: To provide for regulating the quality of seeds for sale, import and export and to facilitate production and supply of seeds of quality and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto Background In 1994, India signed the agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). In 2002, India also joined the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) Convention. Both TRIPS and UPOV led to the introduction of some form of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) over plant varieties. Member countries had to introduce restrictions on the free use and exchange of seeds by farmers unless the “breeders” were remunerated. TRIPS and UPOV, however, ran counter to other international conventions. In 1992, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) provided for “prior informed consent” of farmers before the use of genetic resources and “fair and equitable sharing of benefits” arising out of their use. In 2001, the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) recognised farmers’ rights as the rights to save, use, exchange and sell farm-saved seeds. National governments had the responsibility to protect such farmers’ rights. As India was a signatory to TRIPS and UPOV (that gave priority to breeders’ rights) as well as CBD and ITPGRFA (that emphasised farmers’ rights), any Indian legislation had to be in line with all. It was this delicate balance that the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights (PPVFR) Act of 2001 sought to achieve. The PPVFR Act retained the main spirit of TRIPS viz., IPRs as an incentive for technological innovation. However, the Act also had strong provisions to protect farmers’ rights. It recognised three roles for the farmer: cultivator, breeder and conserver. As cultivators, farmers were entitled to plant-back rights. As breeders, farmers were held equivalent to plant breeders. As conservers, farmers were entitled to rewards from a National Gene Fund. Why does India need a new Seed Bill? To enhance seed replacement rates in Indian agriculture Specify standards for registration of seed varieties Enforce registration from seed producers to seed retailers Features of the Bill All varieties of seeds for sale have to be registered. The seeds are required to meet certain prescribed minimum standards. Transgenic varieties of seeds can be registered only after the applicant has obtained clearance under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. The label of a seed container has to indicate specified information. The Bill exempts farmers from the requirement of compulsory registration. Farmers are allowed to sow, exchange or sell their farm seeds and planting material without having to conform to the prescribed minimum limits of germination, physical purity and genetic purity (as required by registered seeds). However, farmers cannot sell any seed under a brand name. Shortcomings Done away with the clause that stipulates constitution of a committee to decide on compensation to be given to affected farmers when seeds sold by companies and their agents fail to meet the promised performance under given conditions. Redressal mechanism is absent: Seed failure happens when shoddy companies sell shoddy seeds. To protect farmers against this, there are provisions within the PPVFRA to claim compensation. In the seeds bill, the farmer cannot claim compensation within the purview of the law. Here, he must approach the consumer courts under the Consumer Protection Act to claim compensation for the failed seed. This is manifestly unfair since the government has washed its hands off its responsibility and laid the burden on the farmer. He will spend his money and run around from pillar to post for years claiming compensation, which may never come. For the farmer, the redressal mechanism has to be simple, accessible and time bound. The primary onus has to be taken by the State, to get justice for farmers in case of seed quality failures. It cannot be left to individual farmers to fight it out as consumers in the market Provision to regulate prices of seeds sold - Regulation of quality of seed will no longer be enough to protect farmers’ interests unless seed prices are also regulated As per the PPVFR Act, all applications for registrations should contain the complete passport data of the parental lines from which the seed variety was derived, including contributions made by farmers. This allows for an easier identification of beneficiaries and simpler benefit-sharing processes. Seeds Bill, on the other hand, demands no such information while registering a new variety. As a result, an important method of recording the contributions of farmers is overlooked and private companies are left free to claim a derived variety as their own. The PPVFR Act, which is based on an IPR like breeders’ rights, does not allow re-registration of seeds after the validity period. However, as the Seeds Bill is not based on an IPR like breeder’s rights, private seed companies can re-register their seeds an infinite number of times after the validity period. Given this “ever-greening” provision, many seed varieties may never enter the open domain for free use. Exemption for offences committed by companies - This clause seeks to absolve company officials from any punishment for violations, saying that if they prove it happened without their knowledge, they are not liable. According to the Seeds Bill, farmers become eligible for compensation if a plant variety fails to give expected results under “given conditions”. “Given conditions” is almost impossible to define in agriculture. Seed companies would always claim that “given conditions” were not ensured, which will be difficult to be disputed with evidence in a consumer court. Definition of farmer - The given definition is that a farmer is anyone who owns cultivable land. Seed Bill, in fact, has got nothing to do with ownership of the land. The Way Ahead Strong public agricultural research systems ensure that the choices between hybrids, varieties and farm-saved seeds remain open, and are not based on private profit concerns. Even if hybrids are the appropriate technological choice, seed prices can be kept affordable. For the seed sector and its laws to be truly farmer-friendly, the public sector has to recapture its lost space. Connecting the Dots: The new draft Seed Bill will make the farmer run from pillar to post. Do you agree? Substantiate
IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 12th December 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Shore temple Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains I– Culture& Geography In News The shoreline on the northern side of the Shore Temple in Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu is facing severe sea erosion. The Public Works Department is awaiting funds to construct groynes for coastal protection at a cost of ₹95.95 crore. According to PWD, every year, nearly 4-5 m of the shoreline near the temple is declining. Groynes A groyne is a shore protection structure built perpendicular to the shoreline of the coast (or river), over the beach to reduce longshore drift and trap sediments. A groyne functions as a physical barrier by intercepting sand moving along the shore. Rock is often used as construction material, but wooden groynes, steel groynes, rubble-mound and sand-filled bag groynes, or groynes made of concrete elements can also be found. Rock groynes are generally preferred as they are more durable and absorb more wave energy due to their permeable nature. [caption id="attachment_54733" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 12th December 2019[/caption] Src: Click here River Pollution Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains III – Environment Conservation In News Samples taken from two-thirds of the water quality stations spanning India’s major rivers showed contamination by one or more heavy metals, exceeding safe limits set by the Bureau of Indian Standards. The study spanned 67 rivers in 20 river basins and was conducted by Central Water Commission (CWC) from May 2014 to April 2018. Iron emerged as the most common contaminant with 156 of the 442 sampled sites registering levels of the metal above safe limits. None of the sites registered arsenic levels above the safe limit. The other major contaminants found in the samples were lead, nickel, chromium, cadmium and copper. Source of metal pollution: Mining, milling, plating and surface finishing industries that discharge a variety of toxic metals into the environment. The presence of metals in drinking water is to some extent unavoidable and certain metals, in trace amounts, required for good health. However, when present above safe limits, they are associated with a range of disorders. Health Impact: Long-term exposure to the above-mentioned heavy metals may result in slowly progressing physical, muscular, and neurological degenerative processes that mimic Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis. [caption id="attachment_54734" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 12th December 2019[/caption] Src: Click here RISAT Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains III - Space In News India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, in its 50th flight (PSLV-C48), successfully launched RISAT-2BR1, an earth observation satellite, along with nine commercial satellites of Israel, Italy, Japan and USA from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota. These satellites were launched under commercial arrangement with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). RISAT-2BR1: It is a radar imaging earth observation satellite weighing about 628 kg. The satellite will provide services in the field of Agriculture, Forestry and Disaster Management. The mission life of RISAT-2BR1 is 5 years. It is believed that RISAT-2BR1 along with Cartosat-3, a remote sensing satellite which was launched on November 27, 2019, will also be used for military reconnaissance. Before the launch of RISAT (Remote Imaging Satellite), India relied on images provided by Canadian satellites as the current domestic remote sensing spacecraft are not equipped to capture images of the earth during cloud cover. PSLV Initially, the PSLV had a carrying capacity of 850 kg, and over the years it has been enhanced to 1.9 tonnes. The PSLV is very versatile, having various mission options.The PSLV had helped take payloads into almost all the orbits in space, including the the Geo-Stationary Transfer Orbit (GTO), the moon and mars, and would soon be launching a mission to the Sun The PSLV has failed only twice — the maiden flight of the PSLV D1 in September 1993 and the PSLV C-39 in August 2017. USMCA trade deal Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II- International Relations In News The US, Mexico and Canada have finalised the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) that will replace the 25-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). But the deal needs approval by legislatures in the three countries before it can move forward. Salient Features ofU.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) USMCA is intended to last 16 years and will be reviewed every 6 years. Agriculture: Farmers of major crops no longer have to worry about President Trump potentially pulling out of the existing Nafta and leaving them fewer major export markets. USMCA also gives dairy farmers more access to Canada.Tariffs of up to 275% have kept most foreign milk out of the Canadian market. Auto Rules: Compared with Nafta, USMCA significantly tightens the rules that the auto industry has to follow in order to trade vehicles duty free in North America. A certain proportion of a car will have to be produced by workers with higher wages, and a greater proportion of components will have to originate in North America. Pharma: The new dealremoves requirements for a 10-year exclusivity period for biologic drugs [medication derived from or containing components of biological organisms, rather than having been totally synthesized], which would have benefited large pharmaceutical companies. It also includes stronger protections for workers, tough environmental rules, updates the trade relationship to cover the digital economy and provides tougher intellectual property protections. Digital Freedom: USMCA, unlike the current Nafta, includes rules mandating the free flow of data among the three countries. Canada managed to preserve the dispute-settlement mechanism as a protection for its wood industry. It also adds provisions to prevent “manipulation” of the trade rules, including covering currency values, and controls over outside countries trying to take advantage of the duty-free market. Electric commercial aircraft Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Science & Technology In News World's first fully-electric commercial aircraft took its inaugural test flight in Vancouver, Canada. It involved a six-passenger aircraft fitted with an electric motor. Seattle-based Engineering firm magniX designed the plane's motor and worked in partnership with Harbour Air. The push to electric could help slash carbon emissions in the high-polluting aviation sector. The technology would mean significant cost savings for airlines An aircraft like the one flown in Vancouver could only fly about 160km (100 miles) on lithium battery power. Still, electric aircraft that can travel long distances remain a big challenge for the sector. The e-plane has to be tested further to confirm it is reliable and safe. In addition, the electric motor must be approved and certified by regulators. Voice over Wi-Fi (VoWiFi) Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Science & Technology In News Bharti Airtel, which recently removed its FUP (Fair Usage Policy) on calls to other networks, has introduced Voice over Wi-Fi (VoWiFi), a first for India Wi-Fi Calling makes use of high speed Internet connection, available via broadband, to make and receive high definition (HD) voice calls. Users don’t have to pay extra for these calls as it is using a Wi-Fi network. Wi-Fi Calling is aimed especially for areas where cellular networks are not strong. This is not much different from a voice call using WhatsApp or any other over-the-top messaging platform, but here the call is from one number to another, and not using an app. Wi-Fi Calling can be configured on compatible smartphones by upgrading operating systems to the version that supports Wi-Fi Calling, and enabling this in Settings. Airtel says it will soon be compatible with all broadband services and Wi-Fi hotspots, and rolled out in other locations. (MAINS FOCUS) SOCIETY TOPIC: General Studies 1: Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies. Rape and sexual crimes law in India [caption id="attachment_54735" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 12th December 2019[/caption] SRC: Human Rights watch Context: There has been an outcry for justice for the victims after the rape and murder of a veterinarian in Hyderabad and the burning of a rape survivor in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh. History of Rape law: First introduced in the Indian Penal Code in 1860. The first Law Commission under the chairmanship of Lord Macaulay decided to put the criminal law of the land in two separate codes. (Indian Penal Code & Code of Criminal Procedure ) Indian Penal Code IPC : Section 375 of the IPC made punishable the act of sex by a man with a woman if it was done against her will or without her consent. Her consent has been obtained by putting her or any person in whom she is interested, in fear of death or of hurt is considered to be Rape Sex with or without her consent, when she is under 18 years is considered rape. Exception : sexual intercourse or sexual acts by a man with his wife, the wife not being under 15 years of age, is not rape. Section 376 provided for seven years of jail term to life imprisonment Mathura custodial rape case 1972 In 1972 a young Adivasi girl named Mathura was allegedly raped by policemen in the Desai Gunj Police Station in Maharashtra. In the trial that ensued, the sessions court came to the conclusion that she had sexual intercourse while at the police station but rape had not been proved and that she was habituated to intercourse. The sessions court acquitted both the policemen, the High Court reversed the order of acquittal. When the case reached the Supreme Court, it overturned the High Court verdict saying that “the intercourse in question is not proved to amount rape”. SC 1978 verdict, said no marks of injury were found on the girl after the incident and “their absence goes a long way to indicate that the alleged intercourse was a peaceful affair”. Controversy and Criminal Law (Second Amendment) Act 1983 Controversial SC 1978 verdict sparked widescale protests across the country seeking a change in existing rape laws. This led to Criminal Law (Second Amendment) Act of 1983. Section 114A in the Indian Evidence Act of 1872 was inserted which presumed that there is absence of consent in certain prosecutions of rape if the victim says so. This applied to custodial rape cases. Section 228A was added which makes it punishable to disclose the identity of the victim in Rape case Law Commission: Law Commission in its 172th report recommended widening the scope of rape law to make it gender neutral. While the rape law in India even today remains gender specific, as the perpetrator of the offence can only be a ‘man’, the 172nd report led to the amendments in the Indian Evidence Act in 2002. Nirbhaya case in Delhi 2012 &Criminal Law (Amendment) Act in 2013 Parliament made the amendments on the recommendation of the Justice J.S. Verma Committee, which was constituted to re-look the criminal laws in the country and recommend changes. The 2013 Act, increased jail terms in most sexual assault cases and also provided for the death penalty in rape cases that cause death of the victim or leaves her in a vegetative state. It also created new offences, such as use of criminal force on a woman with intent to disrobe, voyeurism and stalking. Unwelcome physical contact, words or gestures, demand or request for sexual favours, showing pornography against the will of a woman or making sexual remarks stalking was made punishable acid attack was increased to 10 years of imprisonment. Offences against minors (Kathua Rape case in Jammu and Kashmir) Led to the passing of the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018 which for the first time put death penalty as a possible punishment for rape of a girl under 12 years; The minimum punishment is 20 years in jail. The minimum jail term for rape, which has remained unchanged since the introduction of the IPC in 1860, was increased from seven to 10 years. National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) 2017 report: A total of 3,59,849 cases were reported against women in 2017.( 2016, 3.38 lakh , 3.2 lakh cases 2015) The number of cases reported has increased. U Uttar Pradesh has again topped the list with 56,011 cases of crime against women, followed by Maharashtra with 31,979 cases and West Bengal at 30,002. Crimes against women constitute murder, rape, dowry death, suicide abetment, acid attack, cruelty against women and kidnapping. ‘Cruelty by husband or his relatives’ accounts for 27.9 per cent of the crimes against women. ‘Assault on women with intent to outrage her modesty’ comprise 21.7 per cent, followed by ‘kidnapping and abduction of women’ with 20.5 per cent and ‘rape’ with 7.0 per cent of reported cases. Rape data : ‘Rape’ stands with 7.0 per cent of reported cases. A total of 32,559 rapes were reported in 2017 in India. Madhya Pradesh has recorded the highest number of rape cases at 5,562 cases being reported in 2017. Uttar Pradesh is second to MP. Delhi, saw a decline in reporting of rape cases, in 2017, 13,076 were reported, which is the lowest in the last three years. 93.1 percent cases the accused were known to the victims. Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura can be seen as moderately safer than other states as they recorded the lowest number of cases. Way forward: Make the criminal justice system tougher on an offender committing sexual crimes against women and children. Connecting the dots: Punishments must reinforce people’s faith in the rule of law, not undermine it. Analyse DEVELOPMENT TOPIC: General Studies 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Assam protests against Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) Context: In the protests in the Northeast against the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB), 2019, the outrage has been most intense, sustained and widespread in Assam. Large parts of the other Northeastern states have been exempted from the ambit of the CAB, although there have been protests there too. On the other hand, the larger part of Assam is under CAB. Reason for protests in Assam Angst against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill rooted in a fear that illegal Bengali Hindu migrants from Bangladesh, if regularized, will threaten cultural and linguistic identities. Students, activists, writers, actors, musicians and people from all walks of life thronged the streets to voice their angst against the bill since they believe the bill will pose a serious threat to their livelihood and political destiny. Though this provision covers refugees from three nations, the people in the North-East fear that it will primarily benefit the illegal Bengali Hindu migrants from Bangladesh who have settled in "large numbers" across the region. Though the BJP has tried to hard sell the bill projecting it as a strategy to protect the Hindu identity of Assam against the influx of Muslims from Bangladesh, it failed to take into account the fear among the Assamese people of cultural hegemony of Hindu Bengalis The Assamese fear that if Bengali Hindus and Bengali Muslims join hands, Bangla speakers will easily outnumber Assamese-speaking people in the state, as it has happened in Tripura where Bengali-Hindu immigrants from East Bengal now dominate political power, pushing the original tribals to the margins. Areas which are exempted There are two categories that have been given exemption — states protected by the ‘Inner Line’, and areas covered under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. Inner Line Permit (ILP): This is a special permit that citizens from other parts of India require to enter a state protected by the ILP regime. Without an ILP granted by the state government, an Indian from another state cannot visit an state that is under the ILP regime. Sixth Schedule: The Sixth Schedule relates to special provisions in administration of certain Northeastern states. It provides special powers for Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) in these states. ADCs have powers to enact laws in areas under their jurisdiction on a variety of subjects, one of its objectives being to boost self-governance by tribal communities. State by state Assam: The state has three Autonomous District Councils, two of which are geographically contiguous. While these are protected, CAB will be in effect in a larger area. Meghalaya: This state too has three ADCs. Unlike in Assam, the ADCs in Meghalaya cover almost the entire state. Only a small part of Shillong is not covered. CAB will be effective in that part of Shillong while the rest of the state is protected. Tripura: One ADC covers around 70% of the state’s area. However, the remaining 30% holds about two-thirds of the population. CAB is effective in the smaller, more densely populated regions. Arunachal Pradesh: Entire state covered under ILP regime, protected from CAB. Nagaland: Entire state covered under ILP regime, protected from CAB. So far, only Dimapur used to be outside the regime. Now, ILP has been extended to Dimapur, too, so the whole state is now exempt. Mizoram: Entire state covered under ILP regime, protected from CAB. Additionally, the state has three ADCs that are also protected under the Sixth Schedule. Manipur: Entire state gets new ILP protection. The state was not protected under either option, but following the introduction of CAB in Parliament, the government has introduced ILP in Manipur too. Do you know? The new amendment to the Citizenship Act of 1955 aims to provide Indian citizenship to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian refugees from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan. A person belonging to any of these faiths - who entered India on or before December 31, 2014 and have lived in the country for six years - can apply for Indian citizenship. Connecting the dots: Citizenship Amendment Bill not only excludes Muslims but creates other complications. 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) Consider the following statements about VoWiFi It uses high speed Internet connection, available via broadband, to make and receive high definition (HD) voice calls. This is not much different from a voice call using WhatsApp or any other over-the-top messaging platform which requires the usage of unique app designed for the purposei.e call cannot be made from one number to another Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2) Consider the following statements about Groynes A groyne is a shore protection structure which functions as a physical barrier by intercepting sand moving along the shore. Groynes made of concrete are generally preferred as they are more durable and absorb more wave energy due to their permeable nature. 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 River Pollution The presence of metals in drinking water in trace amounts is required for good health. However, when present above safe limits, they are associated with a range of disorders. Mining, milling, plating and surface finishing industries that discharge a variety of toxic metals into the environment are the main source of metal pollution in rivers. 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 RISAT-2BR1 It is a radar imaging earth observation satellite Itis meant for applications in various fields like agriculture, forestry, disaster management support and would also serve military purposes Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.5) Consider the following statements about E-plane World's first fully-electric commercial aircraft took its inaugural test flight in Bengaluru, India The technology would mean significant cost savings for airlines and could help slash carbon emissions in the high-polluting aviation sector. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 ANSWERS FOR 11 DEC 2019 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 D 2 D 3 B 4 B MUST READ Strength in numbers: On judge vacancies The Hindu Testing judicial reforms The Hindu Brute majority IE PMJAY can help bridge the gender gap in availing of healthcare services IE Rethink the Social Security Code 2019 ET Stop Toxic Dope in Its Track and Field ET
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