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Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 4th November 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 4th November 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) NRC exercise Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II - Federalism In News Chief Justice of India said that the Assam National Register of Citizens (NRC) process, meant to identify illegal migrants was “neither a new or novel idea” but only an attempt to update the 1951 list. The court’s intervention led to the publication of the final citizenship list on August 31. Over 19 lakh out of the 3.29 crore applicants in Assam were excluded from the final NRC list. These people face uncertain days ahead trying to prove their Indian citizenship through appeals filed in foreigners’ tribunals. NRC is the register containing names of Indian Citizens. It was prepared first in 1951 after the conduct of the Census of 1951. It is used to identify who is a bona fide Indian citizen and those who fail to enlist in the register will be deemed illegal migrants. For more details on NRC issue, refer https://iasbaba.com/2019/09/all-india-radio-air-ias-upsc-national-register-of-citizens/ Lone wolf attacks Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Security In News A high alert has been issued to security forces across the country by central intelligence agencies, warning of possible ‘lone wolf’ attacks by Islamic State (IS) operatives A "lone wolf" is a terrorist who carry out attacks alone without having any direct contact with any organisation. Home Ministry has noted the reported nexus between home-grown terror outfits and Pakistan-based extremist organisations in terms of procurement of weapons, technology and training has added a new dimension to the threat scenario. The recent withdrawal of special status to Jammu and Kashmir under Articles 370 and 35A and the earlier pre-emptive air strike on non-military targets inside Pakistan by Indian Air Force had considerably enhanced the threat from terror outfits DUSTLIK-2019 Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Security In News Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Uzbekistan counterpart presided over the Curtain Raiser of the first-ever India-Uzbekistan Joint Exercise - Dustlik-2019. The joint military exercise focused on counter-terrorism starts on November 4 and will continue till November 13, at Chirchiq Training Area near Tashkent. The exercise will enable sharing of best practices and experiences between the Armed Forces of the two countries and would lead to greater operational effectiveness. India and Uzbekistan also concluded an MoU on cooperation in the field of Military Medicine between the Armed Forces of the two countries. GAGAN - GPS aided geo-augmented navigation Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – Federalism  In News About 500 passenger locomotives of the South Central Railway (SCR) have been fitted with the newly developed Real-time Train Information System (RTIS) to monitor precise speeds and movement throughout the journey It has been developed by the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CIRE) with the help ofGAGAN system The new system has facilitated automatic transmission of details on speed and movement of trains to the central control office. About GAGAN GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation (GAGAN), developed by ISRO and Airports Authority of India(AAI) is a regional Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS). The GAGAN’s goal is to provide a navigation system to assist aircraft in accurate landing over the Indian airspace and in the adjoining area and applicable to safety-to-life civil operations.  GAGAN is inter-operable with other international SBAS systems. GAGAN covers the area from Africa to Australia and has expansion capability for seamless navigation services across the region. GAGAN makes airline operations more efficient and effective, increase air safety, and fuel efficiency. Dhanush regiment Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains III - Security In News The Army, which began inducting the indigenously upgraded Dhanush artillery guns, will have the first regiment in place by March 2020 and will get all 114 guns by 2022 Dhanush is the indigenously upgraded variant of the Swedish Bofors gun imported in the 1980s. Dhanush is a 155 mm, 45-calibre towed artillery gun with a range of 36km and has demonstrated a range of 38 km with specialised ammunition.  It is fitted with an inertial navigation system having global positioning system-based gun recording and auto-laying, an enhanced tactical computer for on-board ballistic computations, an on-board muzzle velocity recording, an automated gun sighting system equipped with camera, thermal imaging, and laser range finder. NavIC Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS-III – Science & Technology In News ISRO and its commercial arm Antrix Corporation Ltd. are poised to commercialise India’s regional navigation satellite system, NavIC. Antrixhas recently floated two separate tenders to identify industries that can develop dedicated NavIC-based hardware and systems. NavIC (Navigation in Indian Constellation) is the Indian system of eight satellites that is aimed at telling business and individual users where they are, or how their products and services are moving.  The indigenous positioning or location based service (LBS) works just like the established and popular U.S. Global Positioning System or GPS, but within a 1,500-km radius over the sub-continent. The early set of commercial NavIC users would potentially be transporters of resources such as mined ore, coal and sand in various States, who are presently using GPS system In 2018, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways mandated that all national-permit vehicles must have such tracking devices. As a pilot, many fishing boats have been fitted with these devices that have a unique texting facility. Positive developments ISRO announced that Qualcomm Technologies Inc., a leading producer of semiconductor chips, had developed and tested NavIC-friendly chipsets across its user bases and that it would add NavIC to them. Certification of the Indian NAVIC system by the 3GPP (The 3rd Generation Partnership Project), a global body for coordinating mobile telephony standards. (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. Telecom sector and (Adjusted gross revenue) AGR Context: On October 24, the Supreme Court upheld the Department of Telecom (DoT)’s interpretation of “adjusted gross revenue” (AGR), which came as a huge blow to telecom service providers.  Following the order, the telcos are now staring at dues of an estimated Rs 1.4 lakh crore, which needs to be paid to the government within three months.  Most industry players and analysts have argued that the payout of the huge amount could be the finishing touch for the already distressed sector. Adjusted Gross Revenue  AGR: Adjusted Gross Revenue refers to gross income adjusted for standard deductions.  In India, AGR has specifically become important for telecom companies since the payment made to the government is on the basis of the AGR.  Crux: The definition of AGR has been under litigation for 14 years. The telecom companies currently argue that AGR should include income only from telecom operations and not include income from other activities such as rent, sale etc.  As per DoT, the charges are calculated based on all revenues earned by a telco – including non-telecom related sources such as deposit interests and asset sales. Telcos, on their part, insist that AGR should comprise only the revenues generated from telecom services. Currently, telecom operators pay 8% of the AGR as licence fee, while spectrum usage charges (SUC) vary between 3-5% of AGR. Current status: The total amount to the government is to be paid  by about 15 operators. 10 of them have either closed operations or are undergoing insolvency proceedings in the last 14 years. So the government is unlikely to recover the entire amount of dues owed to it. Telecom stress: The telecom industry is under a debt of over Rs  4 lakh crore  Seeking a relief package from the government. Way forward: The government recently announced setting up of a Committee of Secretaries to examine the financial stress in the sector, and recommend measures to mitigate it. The Committee of Secretaries, headed by Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba, will have Secretaries of Ministries of Finance, Telecommunication and Law, among others as members and look at “all aspects” of the financial stress.  It will also consider some of the long-standing demands of the industry, including granting a delay in payment of dues for spectrum for the next two financial years (2020-21 and 2021-22).  The committee will also look at demand of a reduction in the SUC and universal service obligation fund levy. What if no relief? If the government does not announce any relief measures for the sector, Vodafone Idea would be in a “precarious situation”, adding that there is a strong possibility that the Indian telecom market could eventually have only two private players. Connecting the dots: Supreme Court order backing the Department of Telecom’s definition of adjusted gross revenue hit the telcos. Critically Analyse ENVIRONMENT  TOPIC: General Studies 3: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment  Air pollution in Delhi (part 2) Context: All schools in Delhi will be shut until  (November 5) ,after the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) ordered a complete shutdown of construction in Delhi, Noida, Gurgaon, Ghaziabad and Greater Noida. Causes of poor air quality Lack of active monitoring  Motor vehicle emissions wood-burning fires, fires on agricultural land, exhaust from diesel generators, dust from construction sites, burning garbage. The Badarpur Thermal Power Station, a coal-fired power plant, is another major source of air pollution in Delhi.  In view of the detrimental effect to the environment, the power plant has been permanently shut down since 15 October 2018   The drift/mist emissions from the wet cooling towers is also a source of particulate matter as they are widely used in industry and other sectors for dissipating heat in cooling systems. 10% of Delhi population uses wood, crop residue, cow dung, and coal for cooking. (Census-India, 2011}  Agricultural stubble burning    Heavy metal rich fire-crackers Effects: Nearly 2.2 million children in Delhi have irreversible lung damage due to the poor quality of the air.   Pollution can lower children's immune system and increase the risks of cancer, epilepsy, diabetes and even adult-onset diseases like multiple sclerosis Poor air quality is a cause of reduced lung capacity, headaches, sore throats, coughs, fatigue, lung cancer, and early death. Control measures: All Delhi schools will remain shut for few days No construction and demolition work for next few days All diesel generator sets banned for the next few days, except at hospitals and in emergencies.  The coal-based Badarpur power plant shut down.     The Environment Department will launch an app to monitor the burning of leaves Vacuum cleaning of roads  Water sprinkling.    Significant incident  In December 2017 during a test match between Sri Lankan and Indian cricket teams in New Delhi, Sri Lanka players began to feel breathing problems and several players vomited both in the rest rooms and in the field and had to use face masks until the match was stopped. Connecting the dots: Urgent correctives are needed, or lethal winter pollution will become the new normal. Justify (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note:  Featured Comments and comments Up-voted by IASbaba are the “correct answers”. IASbaba App users – Team IASbaba will provide correct answers in comment section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers. Q.1) Consider the following statements about GAGAN – GPS Aided geo-augmented navigation. It was developed by ISRO and Airports Authority of India(AAI)  It covers the area from Africa to Australia and has expansion capability for seamless navigation services across the region. It makes airline operations more efficient and effective, increase air safety, and fuel efficiency. Select the correct statements 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above Q.2) Consider the following statements about NaVIC It is India’s own Regional Navigation Satellite System It is designed to provide accurate position information service to users in India as well as the region extending up to 1500 km from its boundary Select the correct statements Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) Consider the following statements about Dhanush artillery gun It is the indigenously upgraded variant of the Swedish Bofors gun imported in the 1980s. It has a range of nearly 150 kms Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.4) DUSTLIK is join military exercise conducted between India and _________ Kazakhstan Turkmenistan  Uzbekistan Mongolia Q.5) Consider the following statements about National Register of Citizens (NRC) NRC is the register containing names of Indian Citizens. It was prepared first in 1963 after the conduct of the Census of 1961. Over 19 lakh out of the 3.29 crore applicants were excluded from the updated NRC list (in Assam) published in August 2019. Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 MUST READ Pegasus misadventure: On WhatsApp snooping scandal The Hindu Intransigence as villain of the peace? The Hindu Privatisation is not the question The Hindu The trouble with business IE Amending and updating the 1981 Air Act will help in the battle against pollution. IE

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All India Radio (AIR) IAS UPSC - The World Economic Forum's 33rd India Economic Summit

The World Economic Forum's 33rd India Economic Summit ARCHIVES 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. Theme: Innovating for India: Strengthening South Asia, Impacting the World The World Economic Forum and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) jointly organised the 33rd India Economic Summit in Delhi on October 3 and 4, 2019. The influential attendees convened to address issues of significance including geopolitical shifts, inclusive growth, digitisation, climate change, automation and Industry 4.0, innovation and entrepreneurship among others. The discussions at the summit ranged from India-US trade relations, to India’s economic reforms, to the digital divide in the internet economy to more pressing issues such as healthcare innovation, sustainable mobility, skill development and the economic slowdown. The programme also underlined South Asia's relationship with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and highlight how the two regions, defined by their demographic and digital dividends, will shape the world's collective future. Key takeaways WEF’s Drone Delivery India Pilot To Begin In 2020: The government of Telangana in collaboration with Apollo Hospitals and the World Economic Forum has formalised the plan for a six-month pilot called ‘Medicines from the Sky’, starting in 2020.  The project aims to explore the use of drones to increase access to healthcare for communities across the Telangana state. To create an ecosystem for drone applications, WEF has collaborated with multiple drone startups which also include Indian startups such as Marut Drones, India Flying Labs, Asteria, Adani, Aarav Unmanned Systems, IO Techworld, and Ideaforge. Marut Drones, India Flying Labs and GEN India are specifically contributing to the ‘Medicines from the Sky’ project. India Needs To Find More Balance In Ecommerce Policy: US Secy Wilbur Ross – India needs to bring in more balance in its ecommerce policy and consider the timing of the changes in regulations. I think it is the question of how rapidly things change. It is a question of proportionality, question of timing, and a question of balance.  Responding to the US administration’s comments on FDI in ecommerce rules and that India needs to reconsider them, India’s commerce minister Piyush Goyal said that because of India’s market conditions, the government has to be very clear on creating ecommerce regulation to protect smaller retailers.  Small retail affects the livelihoods of about half the Indian population when one considers the families impacted, he added. Corporate Tax Cut Alone Cannot Revive Economy: India Inc While the government’s corporate tax cuts were welcomed by companies, the summit saw many corporate leaders expressing their views on how corporate cut alone would not be enough to revive the economy. Reduction in corporate tax rate would be good but personal tax rate should also be cut down as the slowdown in demand is now clearly visible.  The government should provide more stimulus even if it means increasing the fiscal deficit. Sequoia, Kalaari Partners Urge Govt to Allow Startup IPOs Even without Profitability: Sequoia Capital India’s Shailendra Singh said that many Indian tech unicorns are at a very big disadvantage because the Indian public markets are designed to reward only profit-making companies. Whereas, a global company such as Uber or Lyft has the opportunity to go public and tap global markets, despite not showing profits. Interestingly in a separate session, Vani Kola of Kalaari Capital also brought up the need for structural reforms in how the startups access capital, especially in the context of public and private capital. India’s DPIIT Secy Hopes To Have 1 Lakh Startups By 2024: Guruprasad Mohapatra, secretary at the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade of India (DPIIT) said that there are 50,000 registered startups in India, and there will be 50K more by 2024 at this pace. Mohapatra said this change has been accelerated since 2015-16 when a new policy came into effect. Further, he said that the government is committed to spreading its startup mission to Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities in the next five years.  The government is working on providing technology startups with room to experiment and develop without setting tight regulatory boundaries, as it did with the IT sector and the aviation sector earlier, he added. Amitabh Kant Says Govt. Working To Ensure Funding For Indian Startups: NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said that the government is pushing for public sector disinvestment and asset monetisation in a radical way. He also mentioned how the government is working to ensure that startups are never starved for funding in India. And one of the ways could be to allow public participation in Indian startups. Beyond the Startup India initiative and funding, Kant also emphasised on the need for startups in India to have the courage to enter the international market and take risks. India To Become World’s Largest EV Market: WEF-Ola Mobility Survey Giving a breather to the electric vehicle (EV) industry players and their concerns of market adaptability of the electric cars, the World Economic Forum has released a report stating that Indian has the potential to become the largest EV market in the world. The role of government is crucial for accelerating adoption. Right now, the uptake of electric vehicles is slow due to the high upfront cost and range anxiety, but a long-term investment in research and development (R&D) will create sustained growth. WEF Survey Found Indians Most Optimistic About Tech Globally: According to an opinion poll by the World Economic Forum (WEF), people from India are among the world’s most optimistic about technology. The opinion poll was prepared and commissioned by SAP and Qualtrics in conjunction with this year’s India Economic Summit.  With more than 10,000 respondents from 29 countries, the poll found that Indian respondents are exceptional in terms of their optimism.  They are also some of the least sceptical in the world about the motives of technology companies. In fact, more than two-thirds don’t feel that technology companies only want to make money. Note: The India Social Entrepreneurs of the Year 2019: Shanti Raghavan & Dipesh Sutariya of EnAble India EnAble India changed the mindsets of 729 businesses and built frameworks for inclusion in universities and government agencies for the employment of persons with disabilities in formal and informal sectors across India. World Economic Forum Established in 1971 as a not-for-profit foundation Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland It is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation and engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. Confederation of Indian Industry CII is a non-government, not-for-profit, industry-led and industry-managed organization, playing a proactive role in India's development process. Founded in 1895, it has around 9000 members, from the private as well as public sectors, including SMEs and MNCs, and an indirect membership of over 300,000 enterprises from around 276 national and regional sectoral industry bodies. It works to create and sustain an environment conducive to the development of India, partnering industry, Government, and civil society, through advisory and consultative processes. Connecting the Dots: ‘The entire neighbourhood, minus one, has been a fairly good story for regional cooperation.’ Discuss.

Motivational Articles

Creative Guidance – Lost in Thoughts – Inspirational Educative Articles

Lost in Thoughts: There are two states in which we can live in: We can either be lost in our thoughts or we can be aware of what we are doing. Being lost in thought is the more common of the two. Just take a walk in the city and “people-watch” for five minutes. Interpret nothing, and don’t look for anything in particular - just watch people. If you observe closely, you will see that no one is aware of what they are doing - No one! People are walking, but they are not aware of their walking. People are talking, but they are not aware of their talking. So much life is happening around you, and yet the very life that is going through the process of living is totally oblivious of the fact that it is alive. Everyone is simply lost in thoughts. We are all, in one sense, sleepwalkers. To understand this a little better, let us reflect on the process of sleeping. When you go to sleep—you become unconscious of your body and drift into thoughts. As long as you are asleep, you are not aware of your body; you are just lost in thoughts. Now think about the wakeful state. During daytime, when you’re supposedly awake, something triggers a thought process and for the next 15 or 20 minutes you drift in your thoughts, becoming unaware of your body. Now, going by the definition of sleep, this is also sleep. Remember, sleep is not unconsciousness. Sleep is a state where you are unconscious of your body. You don’t recognize drifting in thoughts during the day as sleep because it’s kind of scary to think this way. But in reality, you drop your body consciousness when you drift into thoughts, which is nothing but the process of going into sleep. The only time you aren’t asleep is when you are in the present moment, being fully awake to what is happening around you. “This article is a part of the creative endeavor of Meditation Farm and IASBABA.”

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All India Radio (AIR) IAS UPSC - Merger of Banks

Merger of Banks ARCHIVES Search 3rd September 2019 Spotlight here: http://www.newsonair.com/Main_Audio_Bulletins_Search.aspx     TOPIC: General Studies 3: Bank merger and issues related to it. Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. In News: Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced the consolidation of 10 state-run lenders into four bigger banks. The merger announcement was followed by a move to infuse equity of Rs 55,250 crore in these banks to enable them grow their loan book. Instead of privatising some of these banks or bringing in strategic investors, the government decided that amalgamation is the “best route” to achieve banking sector scale and to support the target of achieving a $5-trillion economic size for India in five years The earlier merger of Bank of Baroda, Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank led to enhanced customization and rationalization of operations without any retrenchment. CASA (current and savings account) growth is 6.9% in the June quarter; retail loan growth is 20.5%, while profitability is around ₹710 crore. PNB, Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC) and United Bank of India (UBI) will be merged to form the second-largest state-run bank in the country, with a business of ₹17.95 trillion (loans plus deposits) and will be at least 1.5 times that of PNB. The other merger will be between Canara Bank and Syndicate Bank, which will make the fourth-largest bank, with ₹15.2 trillion business. Also, Union Bank will be merged with Andhra Bank and Corporation Bank to build India’s fifth-largest public sector bank with ₹14.59 trillion in business. Indian Bank will be merged with Allahabad Bank to make India’s seventh-largest PSB with a business of ₹8.08 trillion. India’s PSB count has now come down from 27 in 2017 to 12.  Logic behind the Merger The government’s move to merger state-owned banks aims to cut operational costs and achieve global scale to support fresh investments, revive growth and meet the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA’s) target to become a $5 trillion economy in the next five years. The proposed mergers of public sector banks initiated by the government will be a win-win for the account holders as they will be able to avail benefit from the best practices of all three lenders. The mergers should help create stronger institutions thereby leading to efficiencies of scale and stronger balance sheets.  Large banks will entail cost advantages by way of economies of scale such as centralised back office processing, elimination of branch overlap, eliminating redundancies in administrative infrastructure, better manpower planning, optimum funds management, and savings in IT and other fixed costs. Large banks will also be able to finance large projects on their own even while staying within the prudential lending norms imposed by the regulator. Some of the concerns Integration of information technology platforms: Integration of technology platform is a crucial factor towards merger of any bank. Punjab National Bank (PNB) currently uses software Finacle 10, while the two other banks use Finacle 7. Management attention and bandwidth of the entities being merged could get split impacting the loan growth and reduce focus on strengthening asset quality in the short term. Unlikely to revive credit flow: The merger of 10 public sector banks (PSBs) into four entities is unlikely to revive credit growth or have meaningful cost synergies, said a report by Credit Suisse. The merger is also unlikely to meaningfully revive the flow of credit to the liquidity pressed non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) as given the already high share of NBFC exposure in constituent banks, all four merged entities will have more than 10% of their loan exposure towards NBFCs. Too big to fail: The financial sector is all inter-connected and a risk in any part of the system is a risk to the entire system. If a large bank were to fail, it could bring down the whole financial sector with it, as was evident from the near death experience following the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008, which triggered the global financial crisis. No country can therefore afford the failure of a big bank. The tacit knowledge that the sovereign will be forced to rescue it encourages irresponsible behaviour by big banks. The administrative and logistic challenges of mergers might end up diverting the mind space of bank managements away from their most pressing task at the moment — of managing the NPAs and aggressively looking for lending opportunities. Conclusion: We will become a $5-trillion economy not by growing at our current potential growth rate but by raising it. That requires structural reforms. Structural measures will take time to work their way through the system.  Connecting the Dots: The origin of PSU banking in India was political through an ordinance, its evolution has been political and its future will perhaps be determined by political and economic considerations. Discuss. The nexus between businessmen and politicians is based on a classic exchange of favours: The former help the latter to get access to credit in return for funds for election campaigns. Comment. What are the structural reforms that the Government needs to take to ensure that India reaches the $5-trillion mark? Enumerate.

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 2nd November 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 2nd November 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Health emergency declared in the Capital Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Environment In News The Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority declared a public health emergency in the Capital as pollution levels entered the ‘severe plus’ category According to the data provided by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the overall AQI score of Delhi was 504 which prompted the authorities to consider it as public health emergency as it will have adverse health impacts on all, particularly our children The deterioration in air quality is due to a combination of accumulated toxins because of local pollution, further spiked by bursting of crackers on Deepavali, stubble burning and extremely adverse weather conditions. People are facing symptoms associated with pollution like irritation in the eyes and throat, dry skin, skin allergies, chronic cough and breathlessness EPCA is a Supreme Court-mandated body that has over a dozen members. It was notified in 1998 by the Union Environment Ministry under the Environment Protection Act. Mekedatu Reservoir Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – Federalism  In News The Mekedatu Reservoir project envisages building a balancing reservoir in Cauvery River with storage of 67 tmcft. It would also supply drinking water to Bengaluru and Ramanagaram districts, besides generating power. The proposal received the Karnataka Cabinet’s approval in February 2017 and the feasibility report was submitted to the Central Water Commission (CWC). CWC has allowed Karnataka to go ahead with the project with the prerequisite that it should get No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA). After obtaining NOC from CWMA, the proposal will be considered by Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Jal Shakti, whose concurrence is mandatory for a project on any inter-State river. Karnataka has been contending for the project to help store excess water in Monsoon surplus year. Tamil Nadu has been opposing the project that it would effectively prevent the flow in the Cauvery, the lifeline for agriculture in delta districts, besides being a major drinking water source for several districts. About Cauvery Water Management Authority The CWMA, under the Cauvery Water Management Scheme, 2018, was established one June 1, 2018, under Section 6A of the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956.  Mandate of CWMA:  To give effect to the decision of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal as modified by the Supreme Court vide its Order, dated 16th February, 2018 Storage, apportionment, regulation and control of Cauvery waters, supervision of operation of reservoirs and regulation of water release. CHAVANG KUT Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains I - Culture In News Chavang Kut, the post-harvest festival of the Kuki-Chin-Mizo communities is being celebrated across North-Eastern states with traditional gaiety and enthusiasm. The festival marks the Anglo-Kuki war centenary year. Chavang stands for ‘autumn’ and Kut mean ‘harvest’. The festival is observed to mark the end of the harvesting season and also to thank deities for a good harvest season. In Manipur, Mizoram and Assam and other parts of country, the festival is organized every year on the first day of November month. It is a state holiday in Manipur. Manipur is home to 29 tribes and it celebrates a number of traditional festivals. Such events not only highlight the vibrant colors of the region, but also play an important role in strengthening bonds between different tribes INDIA GERMANY RELATIONS Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS-II – International relations In News German Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel visited India from 31 October - 1 November 2019 for the fifth round of Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC). Chancellor Merkel and PM Modi reiterated that the Indo-German Strategic Partnership is based on the common values and principles of democracy, free and fair trade and rules-based international order. They welcomed the success of the ‘Make in India Mittelstand’ (MIIM) Programme which has helped facilitate over 135 German Mittelstand and family-owned companies They acknowledged the successful work under the German Indian Startup Exchange Program and welcomed the introduction of a new German Accelerator (GA) programme "Next Step India”, which could lead to a full programme for German Startups in India. Agreements/MOUs signed Joint Declaration of Intent on: Consultations for the period 2020-2024; Indo-German Partnership for Green Urban Mobility; Cooperation in R&D on Artificial Intelligence; cooperation in the field of prevention of marine litter and Cooperation within the International Smart Cities Network. MoU for Cooperation in Inland, Coastal and Maritime Technology MoU on Establishment of an Academic Collaboration in Ayurveda, Yoga and Meditation. MoU between National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management MANAGE and the German Agricultural Academy DEULA in the city of Nienburg on collaboration in agricultural technical and professional training. Women to be inducted in Army by end-2021 Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS-I- Society (Women Empowerment) In News The first batch of 100 women will start training for the Corps of Military Police (CMP) in December and will be inducted by end-2021 Women will be inducted in a graded manner to eventually comprise 20 per cent of total Corps of Military Police and their role will range from probing crime cases to assisting the army in field operations wherever required. So far, women were being inducted only as officers and this is the first time they would be joining the Army as the soldiers or “personnel below officer rank” The Army plans to induct 1700 women Military Police over 17 years Inducting women in combat roles came up in 2015 after Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that the government has taken a "historic" decision to induct women in the Military Police with an aim to enhance their representation in the three services. According to government data, the Army has 3.80 per cent of its workforce as women, the Air Force has 13.09 per cent and the Navy six per cent. TRAI fixes ring timings for mobiles, landlines Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS-III – Infrastructure (Communications) In News In a new regulation, the Telecom Regulatory  Authority of India (TRAI), has fixed the ring time for calls made to mobiles at 30 seconds, and those made to landlines at 60 seconds While this is a matter which directly impacts the experience of a mobile phone user, the reduction in ringing time also affects the revenue of the operator.  The operators pay each other an interconnection charge (currently 6 paise/min). The charge is paid by the operator whose customers make a call to the operator whose subscribers receive a call.  In case of a shorter ringing time, a user may miss the call and may need to call the other user back. Hence, making the operator with a ‘shorter ringing time’ gain in interconnection charges. Last month, Bharti Airtel had cut the ringing time for calls made by its subscribers to 25 seconds from about 45 seconds, in retaliation to a similar move by rival Reliance Jio. The rules by TRAI bring to an end a face-off between two major operators Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) It is a statutory body set up by the Government of India under section 3 of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997. TRAI is an independent regulator of Telecom Business in India. Aims to regulate telecom services, including fixation/revision of tariffs for telecom services which were earlier vested in the Central Government. It also regularly issues orders and directions on various subjects such as tariffs, quality of service, interconnections, Direct To Home (DTH) services and mobile number portability. Telecommunications Dispute Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) The TRAI Act was amended by an ordinance, effective from 24 January 2000, establishing a TDSAT to take over the adjudicatory and disputes functions from TRAI. TDSAT was set up to adjudicate any dispute between a licensor and a licensee, between two or more service providers, between a service provider and a group of consumers, and to hear and dispose of appeals against any direction, decision or order of TRAI Joblessness rises to 3-year high Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS-III – Economy In News India’s unemployment rate in October rose to 8.5%, the highest level since August 2016, according to data released by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE)  According to CMIE, the urban unemployment rate for October 2019 stood at 8.9%, slightly higher than the rural unemployment rate of 8.3%. Among States, Tripura and Haryana saw unemployment levels of more than 20% (the highest), while the unemployment was the lowest in Tamil Nadu at 1.1% The CMIE’s figures are in line with the findings of the latest Periodic Labour Force Survey, which had estimated an unemployment rate of 6.1% between July 2017 and June 2018, the worst in 45 years. While employment has been declining, the number of working age people who are “Not in Labour Force, Education and Training” has continued to increase — from about 84 million in 2011-12, it has now crossed 100 million About CMIE It is a leading business information company (privately owned). It was established in 1976, primarily as an independent think tank. CMIE has a presence over the entire information food-chain - from large scale primary data collection and information product development through analytics and forecasting. Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) Earlier, the NSSO used to conduct labour surveys quinquennially (5-year).Moreover, the five-yearly surveys used to come with a lag of over one or two years, thus reducing the possibility of timely analysis As the domestic labour market is becoming increasingly sensitive to national and global economic factors, policymakers felt the need to construct labour statistics at more frequent intervals. To fulfil this objective, the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) was initiated by the NSSO beginning April 2017. The PLFS is a continuous survey for generating estimates of labour force indicators on a quarterly basis for urban areas and on an annual basis for both rural and urban areas. Electoral bonds Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS-II – Elections In News Electoral bonds worth ₹232 crore were sold in October, taking the total number of bonds sold from March 2018 till October 2019 to 12,313 and the total value to ₹6,128 crore, according to data shared by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) After the Lok Sabha election in May, bonds worth ₹45 crore and ₹232 crore were sold in July and October, respectively. In the run-up to the Lok Sabha election, bonds worth ₹822 crore, ₹2,256 crore and ₹1,366 crore were sold in May, April and March, Mumbai had the highest amount of bonds at ₹1,880 crore, followed by Kolkata at ₹1,440 crore, Delhi at ₹919 crore and Hyderabad at ₹838 crore, while all other cities accounted for ₹1,051 crore from March 2018 till October 2019, Notified in January 2018, the scheme has been offered in 12 tranches from March 2018 till October 2019. The bonds are sold by the State Bank of India and can be bought by Indian citizens or companies. Political parties can then redeem the bonds, which work as anonymous donations For mindmap on Electoral bonds, refer https://iasbaba.com/2018/01/iasbabas-mindmap-issue-electoral-bonds/ (MAINS FOCUS) POLITY TOPIC: General Studies 2: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests  Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Context: Deadline approaches for the  negotiations on the final agreement under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) as the RCEP countries are expected to finalise in November 2019 The final ministerial meeting prior to that concluded recently, but with no final agreement in place.  The Leaders Summit, in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi is taking part, will to be held on November 4 in Bangkok, Thailand. [caption id="attachment_52107" align="aligncenter" width="420"] Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 2nd November 2019[/caption] Img: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/RCEP.png/500px-RCEP.png Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP): The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between the ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam) and its six FTA partners (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand). RCEP negotiations started in November 2012 at the ASEAN Summit in Cambodia. RCEP member states accounted for a population of 3.5 billion people with a total (GDP) of $49.5 trillion, approximately 39 percent of the world's GDP RCEP will be the world's largest economic bloc. Potential benefits: Brings stability to trade relations  Open up markets of each of the partner countries to the others Disadvantages: At a time when the U.S. and China are involved in a trade war, a trade grouping with China would mean that the other countries, including India, would be forced to take China’s side against the U.S. US and India are currently in talks on a bilateral trade deal, which could be put at risk India’s issues with RCEP: RCEP  would give China greater access to India markets.  Cheap imports from China have already been impacting India’s domestic industry India, under the agreement may reduce duties on 80% of items imported from China. Under this agreement, India would have to cut duties on 86% of imports from Australia and New Zealand India would have to cut duties on 90% for products from ASEAN, Japan and South Korea. There is the fear that companies might be forced to transfer huge royalty sums to foreign partners, instead of paying dividends to Indian shareholders. India would not be able to pursue its data localisation plans. Way forward: India should make clear its stance and stick to it. If it is joining, it should say so and reassure other countries, which would possibly reduce friction during negotiations.  If India is not going to join the group, experts say it should stick to the decision and not change its mind later. Connecting the dots: RCEP will be the world's largest economic bloc, covering nearly half of the global economy. Analyse ENVIRONMENT  TOPIC: General Studies 3: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment  Air pollution in Delhi (part 1) Context: All schools in Delhi will be shut until  (November 5) ,after the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) ordered a complete shutdown of construction in Delhi, Noida, Gurgaon, Ghaziabad and Greater Noida. The action is part of a series of incremental steps to be taken under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Why? PM 2.5 concentration breached the 300 micrograms per cubic metre mark in the morning. PM( particulate matter): Mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air.  Some particles, such as dust, dirt, soot, or smoke, are large or dark enough to be seen with the naked eye.  Others are so small they can only be detected using an electron microscope. Particle Matter  includes:     PM10 : inhalable particles, with diameters that are generally 10 micrometers and smaller; and     PM2.5 : fine inhalable particles, with diameters that are generally 2.5 micrometers and smaller. [caption id="attachment_52108" align="aligncenter" width="436"] Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 2nd November 2019[/caption] Img: https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-09/pm2.5_scale_graphic-color_2.jpg Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP): It was approved by the Supreme Court in 2016, and notified in 2017.  It comprises a series of measures that come into force incrementally as pollution increases. GRAP is an emergency measure. When the air quality moves from the ‘Poor’ to the ‘Very poor’ category, the measures listed under both categories (‘Poor’ as well as ‘Very poor’) have to be followed.  If air quality reaches the ‘Severe+’ stage, GRAP mandates that schools must be shut down, and the odd-even road-space rationing scheme must be implemented. Air pollution in India: Estimated to kill 1.5 million people every year India has the world's highest death rate from chronic respiratory diseases and asthma, according to the WHO.  Air pollution in Delhi: In Delhi, poor quality air irreversibly damages the lungs of 2.2 million or 50 percent of all children The air quality in Delhi, according to a WHO survey of 1600 world cities, is the worst of any major city in the world. Air quality index of Delhi is generally Moderate (101-200) level between January to September, and then it drastically deteriorates to Very Poor (301-400), Severe (401-500) or Hazardous (500+) levels in three months between October to December, due to various factors including stubble burning, fire crackers burning during Diwali and cold weather Connecting the dots: Nation's capital is called as a "gas chamber". Critically analyse (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note:  Featured Comments and comments Up-voted by IASbaba are the “correct answers”. IASbaba App users – Team IASbaba will provide correct answers in comment section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers. Q.1) Consider the following statements about ‘Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA)’ It was constituted with the objective of ‘protecting and improving’ the quality of the environment and ‘controlling environmental pollution’ in the National Capital Region. It was constituted at the behest of the Supreme Court. It is mandated to enforce Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) as per the pollution levels. Select the correct statements 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above Q.2) CHAVANG KUT is a festival celebrated predominantly in which regions/state of India? Jammu & Kashmir Manipur Rajasthan None of the above Q.3) Mekedatu project often seen in news is being planned across which river? Godavari Narmada Barak Cauvery Q.4) Consider the following statements about Electoral Bonds It can be purchased from any of the Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs) Interest will be given by the banks on these bonds. Electoral bonds will be valid till next Lok Sabha elections from the date of purchase. Which of the following statements is/are not correct? 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only 1 and 3 only 1,2 and 3 Q.5) Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) is conducted by which body/organisation? NITI Aayog CMIE (Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy) NSSO (National Sample Survey Office) None of the above MUST READ From bad to worse: On core sector output The Hindu The perils of post-370 diplomacy The Hindu In WhatsApp breach, follow the money trail The Hindu Bill for speedy resolution of water disputes should factor in recent SC verdicts IE On socio-economic indicators, Muslim youth fare worse than SCs and OBCs IE

Motivational Articles

Creative Guidance: Book Review – Jerusalem – James Carroll

Jerusalem: James Carroll Perhaps, there is no other place in history that is as steeped in religious, political and historical significance as Jerusalem. Considered as the birth place of three of the world’s largest Abrahamic religions, Judaism, Islam and Christianity, Jerusalem and its history, in some ways, is the history of the world’s greatest religions. James Carroll illuminates the complex past of Jerusalem as a city, spiritual and religious destination, and a political conflict zone for generations. This book is thorough and filled with immaculate details about some of the most important events in world history. The core conflict between the three monotheistic religions, Judaism, Islam and Christianity has its common roots in the history of Jerusalem. This book helps one to understand the primary reason for conflict, the splitting up of the religions and the spiritual and political motivations behind them. Jerusalem is steeped in mystery and shrouded in conflicting stories and ideologies. James Carroll does a stupendous job of unraveling the mystery of this place layer by layer. If one is interested in knowing more about the origin of conflict in religions, situations and circumstances responsible for the conflict, one has to read Jerusalem.

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

Incentives to Boost Export ARCHIVES Search 15th September 2019 Spotlight here: http://www.newsonair.com/Main_Audio_Bulletins_Search.aspx TOPIC: General Studies 3 Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. In News: Incentives announced by the government will help in boosting the country's exports at a time when there are signs of worsening global economic conditions and it will help in boosting outbound shipments, according to exporters. The new measures announced for the sector in form of incentives and refund of taxes will not only go a long way in enhancing the growth prospects in the short-term but will also give it a much needed boost in the medium-term and long-term. There are two big roadblocks to expansion of global trade today – Lack of easy availability of working capital Inefficiencies and delay The government is focusing to provide solution for both these issues. The usage of technology to reduce the time to export and make export more seamless is a good initiative that would help make our exports more competitive What has been introduced? Giving three months lead time till 31st December to the existing incentive scheme MEIS (Exports from India Scheme) will remove the uncertainty creeping in the minds of the exporters and will greatly help to finalise their export orders Extending the scheme of reimbursement of taxes and duties for export promotion Fully automated electronic refund for Input Tax Credits (ITC) in GST; aimed at quick and automated refunds of ITC. Revised priority sector lending norms for exports Export Credit Guarantee Corporation (ECGC) will expand the scope of export credit insurance service (ECIS) to offer higher insurance cover to banks lending working capital for exports, is a step that should help MSMEs facing liquidity issues for exports. India to host Dubai-like shopping fest to boost exports: A Dubai-like mega shopping festival will facilitate exchange between global producers and consumers Scheme for Remission of Duties or Taxes on Export Product (RoDTEP) An inter-ministerial working group has also been formed to monitor export finance. The announcement comes in the backdrop of India's merchandise exports declining by 6.05 per cent to USD 26.13 billion in August compared to the year-ago month. Accordingly, the scheme for Remission of Duties or Taxes on Export Product (RoDTEP) was announced which will replace Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS) for textiles.  In effect, RoDTEP will more than adequately incentivise exporters than existing schemes put together. The new scheme of Remission of Duties or Taxes on Export Products (RoDTEP) with revenue burden of up to Rs 50,000 crore for the government, looks attractive as it will neutralise all duties and levies suffered by the export products. The new scheme will benefit the exporters, especially MSME exporters as well as encourage first time exporters to explore global opportunities Conclusion: The government must draw on its political capital to push through contentious reforms that address the deeper structural issues plaguing the economy. Even in the midst of a slowdown in global trade, India, which accounts for around 2 per cent of global trade, should look aggressively to expand its share. After all, in the current economic environment of subdued domestic demand and investment, exports could provide the much needed boost to growth. Connecting the Dots: Examine the impediments that have constrained the growth of exports in India. Suggest policy measures to address the same. .

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 1st November 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 1st November 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) PEGASUS Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III- Cyber Security In News It has been reported that the popular messaging platform WhatsApp was used to spy on journalists and human rights activists in India earlier this year.  The surveillance was carried out using an Israeli spyware tool called Pegasus. Most of those targeted in India were journalists, Dalit and human rights activists and lawyers. It has been developed by the Israeli cyberarms firm, NSO Group. The NSO Group is a Tel Aviv-based cyber-security company that specialises in “surveillance technology” and claims to help governments and law enforcement agencies across the world fight crime and terrorism.  How does Pegasus come to your phone? The code is transmitted via WhatsApp call. The code enters the phone even if the call is not answered. What does it do? It sends the targets contacts, calls and messages to its controller. It can also turn the phone into a spy device by switching on the camera or microphone. BAMBOO TECHNOLOGY PARKS Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains I - Geography In News Union Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) announced that Bamboo Technology Parks would be set up in the two new Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. The Cane and Bamboo Technology Centre (CBTC) under North Eastern Council (NEC) will implement the project. the model for bamboo cultivation, harvesting and utilisation currently existing in the North Eastern Region shall be replicated in the two new Union Territories to give a fillip to the sector.  The project for setting up three new Bamboo Technology Parks in Jammu, Srinagar and Leh would be in consonance with the National Bamboo Mission (NBM). A Bamboo Industrial Park has already been approved to be set up in the Dima Hasao district of Assam. Cyclone Maha Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS-I - Geography In News The Lakshadweep Islands and, to a relatively lesser extent, the coastal districts of Kerala bore the brunt of Cyclone Maha, which continues to cut a furious swathe across the Arabian Sea. The depression that had developed in the Comorin Sea intensified into a cyclonic storm and will move along India's western coast without making landfall.  IMD has advised fishermen not to venture out to the southeast and the east-central Arabian Sea during the period This is one of the rare occasions when there were two back-to-back cyclones in the Arabian Sea.  Kyarr which was the strongest cyclone in the Arabian Sea in 12 years weakened into a ''severe cyclonic storm'' as it continues its movement towards the Oman coast. Do you Know? Kanyakumari was called Cape Comorin during British rule in India.  Comorin is a ‘rocky mainland‘ on the Indian Ocean in the State of Tamil Nadu and located at the Southern Most tip of the Indian Subcontinent. Many call it KOODAL meaning it is situated at the Confluence of three oceans Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean. UNESCO Creative City Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS-II – International Affairs In News Two Indian cities has now been officially designated as a Unesco Creative City– Hyderabad in Gastronomy category, Mumbai in Film category. It is among the 66 new cities named by the Unesco in the list of new Creative Cities, which aims at pushing the Sustainable Development Goals through innovative thinking and action. The designation of Hyderabad in the creative cities’ list would bring new opportunities and turn the focus on the city’s rich culinary heritage and tradition. The industry employs 12% of the Hyderabad city’s population either directly or indirectly. UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) UCCN was created in 2004 to promote cooperation with and among cities that have identified creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development.  The 180 cities which currently make up this network work together towards a common objective: placing creativity and cultural industries at the heart of their development plans at the local level and cooperating actively at the international level. National Health Profile (NHP) 2019 Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS-II – Health  In News NHP is an annual publication of the Central Bureau of Health Intelligence (CBHI) The NHP covers demographic, socio-economic, health status and health finance indicators, human resources in the health sector and health infrastructure. It is also an important source of information on various communicable and non-communicable diseases that are not covered under any other major programmes. Some of the key findings of the report are: Sex ratio (number of females per 1,000 males) in the country has improved from 933 in 2001 to 943 in 2011. In rural areas the sex ratio has increased from 946 to 949. The corresponding increase in urban areas has been of 29 points from 900 to 929.  Kerala has recorded the highest sex ratio in respect of total population (1,084), rural population (1,078) and urban (1,091). The lowest sex ratio in rural areas has been recorded in Chandigarh (690) The estimated birth rate reduced from 25.8 in 2000 to 20.4 in 2016 while the death rate declined from 8.5 to 6.4 per 1,000 populations over the same period.  The total fertility rate (average number of children that will be born to a woman during her lifetime) in 12 States has fallen below two children per woman and nine States have reached replacement levels of 2.1 and above. The total number of registered allopathic doctors (up to 2018) is 11,54,686. Number of dental surgeons registered with Central/State Dental Councils of India was 2,54,283. About Central Bureau of Health Intelligence (CBHI) CBHI is the National Nodal agency for Health Intelligence in the Directorate General of Health Services (Dte.GHS), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, and Government of India. CBHI is committed to build an integrated health informatics platform which can provide reliable, accurate, and relevant national health information and enable evidence based policy formulation and decision making. Dharma Guardian-2019 Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS-III – Security In News The second edition of the bilateral annual military exercise 'Dharma Guardian-2019' between Indian and Japanese Army culminated on October 31 at the Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School (CIJWS) at Vairengte in Mizoram. The primary focus of the exercise was to train and equip the contingents in counter-insurgency and counter- terrorism operations in mountainous terrain As part of the exercise, lectures, demonstrations and drills related to counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations were conducted Besides fostering mutual understanding and trust, the joint exercise marks reaffirmation of India and Japan to further bolster bilateral security and defence cooperation MPs grill officials on DNA Bill Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS-II – Health  In News A parliamentary panel headed by MP Jairam Ramesh began hearing the contentious DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill, 2019 with members grilling officials from the Department of Biotechnology on scope for violations of privacy in the proposed DNA data bank. The Bill seeks to create a national data bank, and regional data banks which will have DNA samples of undertrials, suspects, missing persons and unknown deceased persons.  It has proposed DNA sampling and profiling of citizens accused of crime or reported missing, and storing their unique genetic information for administrative purposes. For more details on the bill, refer:  https://iasbaba.com/2019/07/rstv-ias-upsc-dna-technology-bill/ (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  Merger of  BSNL and MTNL Context: The government decided to merge BSNL and MTNL In order to revive loss-making telecom PSUs BSNL and MTNL Revival package includes raising sovereign bonds, monetising assets and voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) for employees, MTNL will be merged with BSNL.  Government wants to make the two state-owned telecom companies more competitive by putting in Rs 29,937 crore. Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL):  State-owned telecommunications company headquartered in New Delhi.  Incorporated on 1 October 2000  BSNL  is the fourth largest mobile telephony provider in India  BSNL is India's oldest communication service provider and its history can be traced back to the British era. After the bifurcation of post and Telegraph department in 1980s, the creation of Department of Telecom by 1990s eventually led to the emergence of the State owned telegraph and telephone company BSNL.  BSNL shut down telegraph services on 15 July 2013. Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL): MTNL is a state-owned telecommunications service provider in the metro cities of Mumbai and New Delhi in India and in Mauritius in Africa.  The company had a monopoly in Mumbai and New Delhi until 1992 "Transparency makes us different" is the motto of the company The Government of India currently holds 57% stock in the company The company's shares are listed on Bombay Stock Exchange, London Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange. As of January 2019, it has 6.71 million subscribers Revival reasons: Telecom sector is facing financial stress due to stiff competition and reduction in tariffs.  The competition in the mobile segment, high employee costs and absence of 4G services in the data-centric telecom market has eroded the competitive strength of BSNL and MTNL. Financial position of BSNL & MTNL: Losses continuously since 2009-10.  BSNL has 1.65 lakh employees across India, and MTNL has 22,000.  BSNL’s provisional loss was Rs 4,859 crore in 2015-16, Rs 4,793 crore in 2016-17, Rs 7,993 crore in 2017-18.  The loss is estimated to grow  to Rs 14,202 crore in 2018-19. Way forward: The Cabinet proposal clears the way for the administrative allotment of spectrum for 4G services to BSNL and MTNL, to enable them to provide broadband and other data services. The telecom companies will be able to deliver 4G services and compete in the market. Connecting the dots: Will merging BSNL and MTNL pull the two companies out of their problems? Analyse. POLITY TOPIC: General Studies 1: The Freedom Struggle – its various stages and important contributors /contributions from different parts of the country. Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country. Rashtriya Ekta Diwas Context: To mark the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, National Unity Day will be celebrated on 31st October The official statement for Rashtriya Ekta Diwas by the Home Ministry cites "will provide an opportunity to re-affirm the inherent strength and resilience of our nation to withstand the actual and potential threats to the unity, integrity and security of our country” Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel  born on 31 October 1875 Served as the first Deputy Prime Minister of India.  Senior leader of the Indian National Congress  Organised peasants from Kheda, Borsad, and Bardoli in Gujarat in non-violent civil disobedience  Founding father of the Republic of India  Played a leading role in the country's struggle for independence He was appointed as the 49th President of Indian National Congress,  Promoted the Quit India Movement.  He acted as Home Minister during the political integration of India and the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947 As the first Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of India, Patel organised relief efforts for refugees fleeing to Punjab and Delhi from Pakistan and worked to restore peace. Patel persuaded almost every princely state to accede to India.  His commitment to national integration in the newly independent country was total and uncompromising, earning him the sobriquet "Iron Man of India".  He is also remembered as the "patron saint of India's civil servants" for having established the modern all-India services system.  He is also called the "Unifier of India".  The Statue of Unity, the world's tallest statue, was dedicated to him on 31 October 2018 which is approximately 182 metres (597 ft) in height in Gujarat India without sardar: Subcontinent would be divided into two regions, one part a democratic India surrounded by the other part—close to 560 smaller states ruled by kings and their descendants.  Half of the Indians would be living under a democratic set-up with freedoms and the rest living under some monarchy.  The principle of Unity, Liberty, Equality enshrined in the Constitution would exist in one part and not in the other. There would be restrictions on travelling and transporting goods from one part to another. one part of India would be governed by the ideas of Justice and Liberty, whereas the other would have survived devoid of these ideas.  Chaos and anarchy would have followed, and the idea of India would have failed at the very start of its journey. More about Sardar: He was completely vested in the idea of India, and all his efforts were initially focused on the attainment of its independence.  Once that had been achieved, he relentlessly followed the idea of uniting and integrating the nation at a time when it was suffering from partition, communalisation and the refugee crisis.  He was determined to commit himself towards building one India by uniting 562 princely states (constituting 48% of area). Criticisms: Patel’s idea of unity was incomplete.  He may have created a united India, but this India remains full of contradictions and inequalities, both social and economic. Politically, we may be equal and united, but socially and economically we are not. Connecting the dots: The strong man of India who made Idea of India possible was Sardar Patel—‘the Bismarck and architect of modern India’. Substantiate (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note:  Featured Comments and comments Up-voted by IASbaba are the “correct answers”. IASbaba App users – Team IASbaba will provide correct answers in comment section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers. Q.1) Dharma Guardian is military exercise conducted between India and which other country? USA Srilanka Japan None of the above Q.2) National Health Profile is released which body/organisation? NITI Aayog WHO in collaboration with Ministry of Statistics & Programme implementation Central Bureau of Health Intelligence  None of the above Q.3) Consider the following statementsabout the proposed DNA Technology The Bill seeks to create a national data bank, and regional data banks which will have DNA samples of undertrials, suspects, missing persons and unknown deceased persons.  It has proposed DNA sampling and profiling of citizens accused of crime or reported missing, and storing their unique genetic information for administrative purposes 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 UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) UCCN was created in 2004 to promote cooperation with and among cities that have identified creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development Hyderabad and Bengaluru has now been officially designated as a UNESCO Creative City Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.5) Consider the following statements about Kanyakumari It was called Cape Comorin during British rule in India.  Many also call it as Koodal as it is situated at the confluence of three oceans Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 MUST READ Substance across the Arabian Sea The Hindu Deciphering Greta’s climate message The Hindu Cleaning up the Kashmir mess The Hindu Warning in the Valley IE Nagas may not gain from I-M’s push for own constitution Live Mint

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