Dec 12, 2019 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 12th December 2019

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

Dec 12, 2019 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz - 2020: IAS Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 134

UPSC Quiz - 2020: IAS Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 134 Archives Important Note Don't forget to post your marks in the comment section. Also, let us know if you enjoyed today's test :)  To take the Test - Click Here

Dec 12, 2019 RSTV Video

RSTV IAS UPSC – India - Japan 2+2

India - Japan 2+2 Archives TOPIC: General Studies 2 India and its neighbours In News: Ahead of the annual summit meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in December, India and Japan held the first ever ministerial level 2+2 dialogue in New Delhi. This dialogue which involves the Defence and Foreign Ministers on both sides is seen as an endorsement of the special strategic partnership between both the Nations. Acknowledging emerging security challenges, the Ministers reiterated their commitment to advancing bilateral security cooperation based on the 2008 Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation and the 2009 Action Plan to advance Security Cooperation.  Recalling that the two sides had a shared vision of a free, open, inclusive and rules-based Indo-Pacific region in which the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity are ensured, and all countries enjoy freedom of navigation and overflight, the Ministers emphasized that further strengthening of bilateral cooperation was in mutual interest of both countries and would also help in furthering the cause of the peace, security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. Bilateral Cooperation – Defence Since last year India and Japan have initiated bilateral exercises between all three components of their defence forces.  There is a need to make continuous efforts for holding the bilateral exercises between the defence forces regularly and further expanding the same. In this regard, the Ministers welcomed the recently conducted second “Dharma Guardian-2019” and the second “SHINYUU Maitri-2019”. The Ministers also concurred to proceed with coordination for the first India-Japan joint fighter aircraft exercise in Japan. Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA): The Ministers expressed their desire for early conclusion of the negotiations and were of the view that the agreement will further contribute to enhancing defence cooperation between the two sides. Maritime Safety: Acknowledging the importance of ensuring maritime safety in achieving a free, open, inclusive and rules-based Indo-Pacific, the Ministers expressed their intention to further promote cooperation in the field of capacity building in maritime security and Maritime Domain Awareness including through cooperation with other countries. Set up of Information Fusion Centre - Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) by India in December 2018.  Commencement of exchange of information based on the Implementing Arrangement for Deeper Cooperation between the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and the Indian Navy signed last year. Defence equipment and technology: Emphasized the need to further strengthen the defence equipment and technology cooperation and looked forward to productive discussions in the fifth Joint Working Group on Defence Equipment and Technology Cooperation (JWG-DETC). In this context, the Ministers welcomed the progress on cooperative research in the area of Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV)/ Robotics. Defence Education: The Ministers appreciated the existing exchange programs between the defence educational and research institutions of the two countries and expressed their desire to continue and expand the exchange programmes. Multilateral Cooperation Expressed their satisfaction at trilateral cooperation represented by the “MALABAR 2019” held from September-October 2019 off the coast of Japan, mine-counter measures exercise (MINEX) held in Japan in July 2019 and “Cope India 2018” in which Japan participated as an observer in December 2018. Welcomed the recent Japan-India-Australia-US Foreign Ministerial consultations in New York in September 2019. Regional and International Affairs They had a frank and fruitful exchange of views on the regional issues of mutual interests particularly on the security situation in the Indo-Pacific. Reaffirmed the importance of supporting ASEAN centrality and unity for promoting peace and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific  Welcomed the adoption of “ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP)” during the 34th ASEAN Summit in Thailand in June 2019.   Reiterated their support for ASEAN-led frameworks such as the East Asia Summit (EAS), the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus).  The Japanese side appreciated India’s announcement of “Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative” at the recent 14th EAS to create a safe, secure, stable, prosperous and sustainable maritime domain and confirmed their willingness to discuss concrete cooperation based on the Initiative. India and Japan’s initiatives for realizing a free and open Indo-Pacific, including also the recent “Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative” and AOIP all strive for an Indo-Pacific region that is inclusive and open to all countries in the region.  The Indian side welcomed Japan’s “Vientiane Vision 2.0” in November 2019 as an updated initiative for defence cooperation between Japan and ASEAN. Reaffirmed the importance of realizing North Korea’s complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of all weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles of all ranges in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs) and expressed their commitment to the full implementation of the relevant UNSCRs.  Condemned North Korea’s recent launches of ballistic missiles which are clear violation of the relevant UNSCRs. The Ministers strongly urged North Korea to resolve the abductions issue at the earliest date. Took note of the negotiations of a Code of Conduct (COC) and urged that it should be effective, substantive, and consistent with international law, including the UNCLOS, ensure freedom of navigation and must not prejudice the rights and interests of the stakeholders using the South China Sea and freedoms of all states under international law. Connecting the Dots: The quadrilateral posturing by India, the US, Japan and Australia in the Indo-Pacific is critical to counter the aggression of China in the region. Comment.

Dec 11, 2019 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 11th December 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 11th December 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Appointment of judges Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II–Judiciary In News 213 names recommended for appointment to various High Courts are pending with the government/Supreme Court Collegium Supreme Court has said in a judicial order, at least the names on which the Supreme Court Collegium, the High Courts and the governments had agreed upon should be appointed within six months. The High Courts are functioning at nearly 50% of their sanctioned judicial strength. Of a total 1,079 judges sanctioned in the High Courts, there are 410 vacancies.  There were three SC judgments which made it crystal clear that the government had no option but to make the appointments if the collegium reiterated them after the government returned the names with objections. On the Supreme Court collegium clearing the recommendees, the Union Law Ministry has to put up within three weeks the recommendations to the Prime Minister who would advise the President on the appointment. However, no time limit has been prescribed for action by the Prime Minister and the President.  [caption id="attachment_54693" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 11th December 2019[/caption] Src: Click here Land Boundary Agreement Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II – International Relations In News More than four years after the historic Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) between India and Bangladesh, a report released by civil rights organisation - Masum- on the situation in erstwhile enclaves states that protest and resistance have become an essential part of their survival in India. The report says that the condition of the people is far from what they had imagined. They are yet to get land records and nothing has been done for providing them employment The report calls for a comprehensive survey should be undertaken to identify and assimilate the people whose names have been left out of the headcount previously, and all the benefits of being a citizen in India should be extended to them LBA settles land boundary dispute which dates back to colonial times as India transfers 111 border enclaves to Bangladesh in exchange for 51 enclaves. It also settles the question of citizenship for over 50,000 people in these enclaves. For more details, refer: https://iasbaba.com/2015/05/big-picture-india-bangladesh-land-boundary-agreement/ [caption id="attachment_54694" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 11th December 2019[/caption] Src : Click here Defamation Case Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II - Governance In News Supreme Court has held that internet intermediaries like Google cannot be protected from criminal defamation cases registered against them prior to October 27, 2009. It was only on October 27, 2009 that Parliament amended the Information Technology Act of 2000 to protect online intermediaries from liability for criminally defamatory content published in them by third parties. The amended Section 79 of the 2000 Act provided that “an intermediary shall not be liable for any third party information, data, or communication link made available or hosted by him.” The amendment gave almost blanket protection to intermediaries from legal action under Section 499/500 (criminal defamation) of the Indian Penal Code. In India, defamation cases can be filed under two heads. It is either civil or criminal. In civil defamation, a person who is defamed can move either the High Court or the subordinate courts and seek damages in the form of monetary compensation. There is no punishment in the form of jail sentence In criminal defamation, the person against whom a defamation case is filed might be sentenced to two years' imprisonment or fined or both.  Gandhipedia Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains I- Society In News The Government is developing ‘Gandhi Encyclopedia’ to spread awareness in the society. Ministry of Culture has approved a project for development of GandhiPaedia by National Council of Science Museums, Kolkata. The objective of the initiative is promotion of Gandhian philosophy and thoughts through social media platforms  Government is providing financial assistance of Rs. 5.25 cr for this project and has released an amount of Rs. 2.95 cr against first installment. U.S. International Commission on Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – International Affairs In News In the wake of the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) in the Lok Sabha, USCIRF has expressed concern over it and considered recommending sanctions against Home Minister Amit Shah and other top leaders. USCIRF fears that the Indian government is creating a religious test for Indian citizenship through CAB that would strip citizenship from millions of Muslims In response, the External Affairs Ministry said India had the prerogative to validate its citizenry through various policies like any other country. About USCIRF The USCIRF is   an independent, bipartisan US federal government commission- an advisory body, which advises the US Congress and the administration on issues pertaining to international religious freedom In practice, the USCIRF has little teeth in implementation, but acts as a conscience-keeper for the two branches in the US government — the legislature and the executive.  It often takes maximalist or extreme positions, and has been used by civil society groups to put pressure on US Congress members and administration officials. Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI)  Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Environment Conservation   In News CCPI measures the emissions, renewable energy share and climate policies of 57 countries and the European Union, collectively responsible for about 90% of the global GHG emissions. It is released annually after analysing four parameters - greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, renewable energy, climate policy and energy use The CCPI 2020 is released by three international NGOs – German watch, New Climate Institute and Climate Action Network India for the first time ranks among the top ten countries in the index. It has improved its ranking from 11th last year to ninth this year It found the U.S. ranks last, followed by Saudi Arabia and Australia, although several countries did report falls in emissions last year, largely due to an industry-wide fade out of coal While climate performance varied greatly, the report found that none of the countries surveyed were currently on a path compatible with the Paris climate goals. The 2015 Paris accord saw nations agree to work towards limiting global temperature rises to “well below” two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. (MAINS FOCUS) INDIA’S FOREIGN RELATION TOPIC: General Studies 2: India-Australia signed Mutual Logistics Support Agreement Context India and Australia moved closer to closing in on the Logistics Support Agreement (LSA), as the Foreign and Defence Secretaries from both countries met recently. The dialogue comes ahead of Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s scheduled January 13-16 trip to India. The first such two-plus-two meeting happened in December 2017. The LSA will be one of the key agenda points during Prime Minister Morrison’s visit. The Agreement will allow the two countries to use each other’s military bases for logistics support, including food, water, and petroleum. During their meeting, the two sides carried out a comprehensive review of their strategic engagement and the regional security scenario, which is continuously evolving given China’s military expansion and economic influence. India-Australia bilateral relations When it comes to defence, India and Australia share a common concern over China. While Australia is worried about China’s presence in the Pacific, India is worried about China’s increasing activities and influence in the Indian Ocean. Earlier this year, the Australian and Indian navies concluded a two-week-long bilateral maritime exercise code-named AUSINDEX. The exercise was conducted to strengthen and enhance mutual cooperation and interoperability between the IN (Indian Navy) and RAN (Royal Australian Navy), providing opportunities for interaction and exchange of professional views between the personnel of the two navies. From 2016-18, the armies of the countries conducted a joint military exercise dubbed “AUSTRA HIND”. Significantly, for the first time in 2017, Australia’s Foreign Policy White Paper identified India as being at the “front rank” of Australia’s international partnerships, “on par with the US, Japan, Indonesia, and China”. The Quad The informal strategic Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QSD) that was initiated by Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2007 was largely in response to China’s growing power and influence. Initially, the “Quad” members included India, Japan, the US, and Australia; however Australia chose to withdraw when Kevin Rudd was Prime Minister, since it did not want to be a part of an anti-China alliance at the time. However, Australia later rejoined the dialogue in 2017 on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit, signalling a re-ignition in Australia’s interest in the dialogue. Connecting the dots: 2+2 dialogue will further cement India-Japan strategic relations. Critically examine. POLITY TOPIC: General Studies 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Arms Amendment Bill, 2019 Context: Parliament recently approved a legislation providing for a maximum punishment of life imprisonment for manufacturing and carrying illegal arms. The Bill seeks to amend the Arms Act, 1959.  It seeks to decrease the number of licensed firearms allowed per person and increase penalties for certain offences under the Act.   It also introduces new categories of offences.  Features: License for acquiring firearms: Under the Act, a license must be obtained to acquire, possess, or carry any firearm.  A person can obtain a license for up to three firearms. The Bill reduces the number of permitted firearms from three to one. The validity of a firearm license will be from three years to five years. Ban on firearms: The Act bans manufacture, sale, use, transfer, conversion, testing or proofing of firearms without license. The Bill additionally prohibits obtaining or procuring un-licensed firearms. Increase in punishment: The Bill increases the punishment related to un-licensed firearms and various other offences to between seven years and life imprisonment, along with a fine. New offences: The Bill adds news offences.  These include: (i) forcefully taking a firearm from police or armed forces (ii) using firearms in a celebratory gunfire which endangers human life or personal safety of others. Celebratory gunfire refers to use of firearms in public gatherings, religious places, marriages or other functions to fire ammunition. Tracking of firearms: The central government may make rules to track firearms and ammunition from manufacturer to purchaser to detect, investigate, and analyse illicit manufacturing and trafficking. heirloom or heritage weapons could be kept if they have been de-activated. The bill has also accorded special status to sportsperson who need firearms and ammunition for practice and participating in tournaments. As per the bill, those who own more than two firearms will have to deposit the third one with police station concerned or authorised gun dealers. The new legislation has a provision for life imprisonment for those who snatch or loot arms and ammunition from police or other security forces. The Bill amends a Section of the Arms Act, 1959, to give punishment from the usual life term of 14 years to "imprisonment for the remainder of that person's life" for manufacturing, selling, repairing and possessing "prohibited" arms. The minimum punishment under this section will be 14 years. According to an estimate, India has a total of around 35 lakh gun licences. Thirteen lakh people have licences to carry weapons in Uttar Pradesh, followed by militancy-hit Jammu and Kashmir, where 3.7 lakh people possess arms licences, most of which were taken in the name of personal security. Punjab, which witnessed terrorism in 1980s and 1990s, has around 3.6 lakh active gun licences, most of which were issued during the two decades of strife. Connecting the dots: Arms Amendment Bill, 2019 will ensure effective control over arms and ammunition which is very important for safety and security in the country. Critically analyse. (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note:  Correct answers of today’s questions will be provided in next day’s DNA section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers.  Comments Up-voted by IASbaba are also the “correct answers”. Q.1) Constitution (100th Amendment) Act,2015 deals with which of the following provision? National Judicial Appointments Committee Goods and Services Tax Constitutional status to National Commission on Backward Classes Land Boundary Agreement between India & Bangladesh Q.2) Consider the following statements about Appointments of Judges to Supreme Court/High Court Appointment of Judges to High Court is done on the basis of recommendation by Supreme Court Collegium whereas appointment of Judges to Supreme Court is done on the basis of recommendation by National Judicial Appointments Committee. When the Supreme Court collegium clears the name for appointment as a Judge of High Court, Prime Minister & President have to act within the six months of receiving the recommendation from Supreme Court Collegium. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) Consider the following statements about Gandhipedia It is being developed by NITI Aayog in collaboration with Ministry of Culture. The objective is to promote Gandhian philosophy and thoughts in society Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.4) Consider the following statements about Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) It is released by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in Collaboration with United Nations India for the first time ranks among the top ten countries in the 2020 released index Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 ANSWERS FOR 10 DEC 2019 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 D 2 D 3 A 4 C 5 D MUST READ  Instant reward: On Karnataka defection politics The Hindu Doping to win: On Russia’s ban from global sporting events The Hindu A patently unconstitutional piece of legislation The Hindu Wholly subordinated to the majoritarian nation The Hindu Citizenship Amendment Bill continues long tradition of welcoming persecuted minorities IE Religious basis of citizenship would be a negation of secularism, liberalism, equality and justice IE

Dec 11, 2019 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz - 2020: IAS Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 133

UPSC Quiz - 2020: IAS Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 133 Archives Important Note Don't forget to post your marks in the comment section. Also, let us know if you enjoyed today's test :)  To take the Test - Click Here

Dec 11, 2019 RSTV Video

RSTV IAS UPSC – Heart Attack

Heart Attack Archives TOPIC: General Studies 2: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health September 29: World Heart Day What is Heart Attack? Death of a segment of heart muscle caused by a loss of blood supply The blood is usually cut off when an artery supplying the heart muscle is blocked by a blood clot. The blockage is most often a build-up of fat, cholesterol and other substances, which form a plaque in the arteries that feed the heart (coronary arteries). During a heart attack, one of these plaques can rupture and spill cholesterol and other substances into the bloodstream. A blood clot forms at the site of the rupture. If large enough, the clot can block the flow of blood through the coronary artery, starving the heart muscle of oxygen and nutrients (ischemia). Types of Heart Attack Rheumatic heart disease: A chronic heart condition that is caused by rheumatic fever (common heart disease in children). This disease is more prevalent in developing countries, especially in areas of poverty. Valvular heart disease: Involves one or more of the four valves of the heart (the aortic and bicuspid valves on the left side of heart and the pulmonary and tricuspid valves on the right side of heart). These conditions occur largely as a consequence of aging, but may also be the result of congenital (inborn) abnormalities or specific disease or physiologic processes including rheumatic heart disease and pregnancy. Hypertensive heart diseases: Due to High blood pressure - overburdens heart and blood vessels, causing damage Cerebrovascular heart disease: Blood circulation to the brain is affected, caused mainly due to atherosclerosis Inflammatory heart disease: Inflammation of the pericardium Bacterial or fungal infection Heart attack and myocarditis Consumption of medications that suppress immune system Radiation therapy to the chest Due to diseases such as Cancer, Leukaemia, TB, etc. Ischemic Heart Disease: Due to decreased supply of oxygen to the myocardium i.e., the muscle of the heart (also known as coronary artery disease) Symptoms A feeling of pressure, tightness, pain, squeezing Aching in the chest or arms that spreads to the neck, jaw, or back Coughing Nausea Vomiting Crushing chest pain Dizziness Shortness of breath called dyspnoea Face seeming grey in color A feeling of terror that life is ending Restlessness Feeling clammy and sweaty Shortness of breath Not all people who have heart attacks have the same symptoms or have the same severity of symptoms. Some people have mild pain; others have more severe pain. Some people have no symptoms; for others, the first sign may be sudden cardiac arrest. Risk factors Age: Men age 45 or older and women age 55 or older are more likely to have a heart attack than are younger men and women. Tobacco: This includes smoking and long-term exposure to second hand smoke. High blood pressure: Over time, high blood pressure can damage arteries that feed your heart. High blood pressure that occurs with other conditions, such as obesity, high cholesterol or diabetes, increases your risk even more. High blood cholesterol or triglyceride levels: A high level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol) is most likely to narrow arteries. A high level of triglycerides, a type of blood fat related to your diet, also ups your risk of heart attack. However, a high level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (the "good" cholesterol) lowers your risk of heart attack. Obesity: Obesity is associated with high blood cholesterol levels, high triglyceride levels, high blood pressure and diabetes. Losing just 10 percent of your body weight can lower this risk, however. Diabetes: Not producing enough of a hormone secreted by your pancreas (insulin) or not responding to insulin properly causes your body's blood sugar levels to rise, increasing your risk of heart attack. Metabolic syndrome: This occurs when you have obesity, high blood pressure and high blood sugar. Having metabolic syndrome makes you twice as likely to develop heart disease even if you don't have it. Family history of heart attack: If your siblings, parents or grandparents have had early heart attacks (by age 55 for male relatives and by age 65 for female relatives), you might be at increased risk. Lack of physical activity: Being inactive contributes to high blood cholesterol levels and obesity. People who exercise regularly have better cardiovascular fitness, including lower high blood pressure. Stress: You might respond to stress in ways that can increase your risk of a heart attack. Illicit drug use: Using stimulant drugs, such as cocaine or amphetamines, can trigger a spasm of your coronary arteries that can cause a heart attack. A history of preeclampsia: This condition causes high blood pressure during pregnancy and increases the lifetime risk of heart disease. An autoimmune condition: Having a condition such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus can increase your risk of heart attack. Complications Abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias): Electrical "short circuits" can develop, resulting in abnormal heart rhythms, some of which can be serious, even fatal. Heart failure: An attack might damage so much heart tissue that the remaining heart muscle can't pump enough blood out of your heart. Heart failure can be temporary, or it can be a chronic condition resulting from extensive and permanent damage to your heart. Sudden cardiac arrest: Without warning, your heart stops due to an electrical disturbance that causes an arrhythmia. Heart attacks increase the risk of sudden cardiac arrest, which can be fatal without immediate treatment. (Figure out the differences between heart attack and cardiac arrest) What to do if you see someone who might be having a heart attack? If you see someone who's unconscious and you believe is having a heart attack, first call for emergency medical help. Then check if the person is breathing and has a pulse. If the person isn't breathing or you don't find a pulse, only then should you begin CPR to keep blood flowing. Push hard and fast on the person's chest in a fairly rapid rhythm — about 100 to 120 compressions a minute. If you haven't been trained in CPR, doctors recommend performing only chest compressions. If you have been trained in CPR, you can go on to opening the airway and rescue breathing. Causes of Death in India due to cardiovascular diseases Low quality of health care Lower access to healthcare facilities Lack of insurance  (an affordability barrier) Busy and stressful lifestyle leading to change in eating habits Household/Indoor air pollution  PCSK9 Use of PCSK9 inhibitors (PCSK9) helps in lowering cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart attacks. The PCSK9 are a new class of injectable drugs that reportedly reduce ‘bad’ cholesterol levels by up to 60% when combined with a statin (another class of drugs prescribed to help lower cholesterol levels). The discovery of cholesterol-lowering mutations in a human gene called PCSK9 led to the development of the most promising new drugs against heart disease since statins. Do you know? Geneticist Helen Hobbs and her colleague Geneticist Jonathan Cohen, found that when people had a mutation in PCSK9, they ended up with lower levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or bad cholesterol. Through this mechanism, the mutation protected people against heart disease, seemingly without side effects. In 2016, Ms. Hobbs was awarded the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences for her work. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, abbreviated as LDL-c, is considered the ‘bad’ variant of cholesterol as it contributes to plaque deposition, leading to the hardening and narrowing of arteries or ‘atherosclerosis’ (thickening of artery walls owing to accumulation of white blood cells). Discuss on: a) Differences between cardiac arrest and heart attack b) State profile in terms of heart diseases c) Air pollution is a new tobacco; it kills more people than smoking. Substantiate. d) Consider the following statements with respect to ‘Heart Attack Rewind’ It is launched by World Health Organisation (WHO) It promotes the elimination of industrially produced trans-fat in the food supply. Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2

Dec 11, 2019 Important Articles

REGISTRATION OPEN: SUPER 30-SCHOLARSHIP MOCK TEST for IASbaba’s PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAM (PEP) 2020 to be held on 22nd December 2019 (Sunday)!!

REGISTRATION OPEN: SUPER 30-SCHOLARSHIP MOCK TEST for IASbaba’s PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAM (PEP) 2020 to be held on 22nd December 2019 (Sunday)!!   PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAM (PEP) 2020 Off late UPSC Prelims has become very unpredictable and with increased dynamism and difficulty level in UPSC Prelims, just a Test Series will not work this time. We have come up with an inclusive Prelims programme which will include Classes, Topper’s discussing their Prelims Strategy, What to Focus and What not to Read, Strategy Classes, Daily Tests, Current Affairs, Mentorship in a nut-shell. PEP is a ONE STOP DESTINATION FOR PRELIMS PREPARATION ….!!! To Know COMPLETE DETAILS and SCHEDULE of the PEP -> CLICK HERE   Details of SUPER 30- SCHOLARSHIP MOCK TEST FOR IASbaba’s PEP 2020 The Test will be held in BOTH OFFLINE and ONLINE The Test will be of OBJECTIVE type only consisting of 100 MCQs (200Marks) A separate test platform will be created for taking the Test with the timer. Please NOTE that the platform will be ACTIVE only on the day of the test. Read the instructions carefully after the login (This will be visible on the test date- 22nd December @ 11 am). SYLLABUS for Objective type (100 MCQ’s) – Current Affairs (month of October & November)/ Polity/ History/ Economics/ Geography/ Science & Technology/ Environment. OVERALL - TOP 10 (5 from ONLINE & 5 from OFFLINE (Bangalore and Delhi)) will get 100% FREE, Remaining 20 (10 from ONLINE & 10 From OFFLINE (Bangalore and Delhi)) will get 50% Discount !! Top 30 rankers (name & marks) will be announced on the website. For OFFLINE mode: Date: 22nd December 2019 (Sunday) Timings: 11 am – 1 pm (200 Marks, 2 hours) Venue : @ BENGALURU CENTRE: Chandra Layout Centre: No. 1443/1444, Above Carzspa, 80 Ft. Main Road, Ganapathi Circle, Chandra Layout, Bengaluru- 560040 @ DELHI CENTRE: 5B, PUSA road , Opposite to Metro Pillar 110, Karol Bagh, New Delhi -110005 (Landmark: CROMA Store)   For ONLINE mode: Date: 22nd December 2019 (Sunday) Timings: Test can be taken anytime between 11 am – 2 Pm (200 Marks, 1 hour Test). The Test Portal will be Active till 3 pm. NOTE: For Objective Type, timer will be fixed for 1 hour ONLY. The Test will automatically come to an end once the 1 hour slot is complete from the time you start the test.   REGISTRATION PROCESS: SUPER 30 Scholarship Mock Test (PEP) Click on the link below and go to "REGISTER" (on the menu bar) and fill the fields asked.  REGISTRATION -> CLICK HERE Important: When you Register, you will get an E-mail to ACTIVATE your account. On activating your account,  the registration process will be complete! On the Day of the Scholarship Mock Test, Click on 'Login' and key-in your E-mail ID and Password to take the Test. Please make sure that, you give valid Email ID’s and Phone numbers for any further communication.   ANNOUNCEMENT OF RESULTS: The result will be communicated via Email/Phone Call on 23rd December, 2019 (by 7pm)to all the selected candidates. OVERALL - TOP 10 (5 from ONLINE & 5 from OFFLINE (Bangalore and Delhi)) will get 100% FREE, Remaining 20 (10 from ONLINE & 10 From OFFLINE (Bangalore and Delhi)) will get 50% Discount !! To make the Test process more transparent, we have come up with ONLY Objective Type Test. Top 30 rankers (name & marks) will be announced on the website. For other students, the marks will be sent to their respective Email ID’s. The Programme will start from 2nd January, 2020. If you are clear with the Programme Details and Directly want to Enrol for the Programme (or Make Payment)  -> Click Here ** Please Note that, if you clear the Scholarship Test, the amount will be refunded!! **   FOR ANY QUERIES: You can visit any of the following centres for admissions or related enquiries: BENGALURU CENTRE: Chandra Layout Centre: No. 1443/1444, Above Carzspa, 80 Ft. Main Road, Ganapathi Circle, Chandra Layout, Bengaluru- 560040 Vijayanagar Centre: 1737/ 37, MRCR Layout, Vijayanagar Service Road, Vijayanagar, Bengaluru-5660040. Landmark : Behind Vijayanagar Metro, above Aptronix. DELHI CENTRE: 5B, PUSA road , Opposite to Metro Pillar 110, Karol Bagh, New Delhi -110005 (Landmark: CROMA Store) (OR) You can reach us on Email id: pep@iasbaba.com Contact No.:  Bengaluru: 9035077800/7353177800 ( Office Timings: 10 am – 5.30 pm) Delhi: +91 11-41678500/+91 11-41672600 ( Office Timings: 10 am – 5.30 pm)   All the Best IASbaba

Dec 10, 2019 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz - 2020: IAS Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 132

UPSC Quiz - 2020: IAS Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 132 Archives Important Note Don't forget to post your marks in the comment section. Also, let us know if you enjoyed today's test :)  To take the Test - Click Here

Dec 10, 2019 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 10th December 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 10th December 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) UN development index Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II–Development In News India ranks 129 out of 189 countries on the 2019 Human Development Index (HDI) — up one slot from the 130th position last year Human Development Report (HDR) is released by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) The HDI measures average achievement in three basic dimensions of human development — life expectancy, education and per capita income. Norway, Switzerland and Ireland occupied the top three positions in that order. Germany is placed fourth along with Hong Kong, and Australia secured the fifth rank on the global ranking Among India’s neighbours, Sri Lanka (71) and China (85) are higher up the rank scale while Bhutan (134), Bangladesh (135), Myanmar (145), Nepal (147), Pakistan (152) and Afghanistan (170) were ranked lower on the list. However, for inequality-adjusted HDI (IHDI), India’s position drops by one position to 130. The IHDI indicates percentage loss in HDI due to inequalities. Gender Inequality Index Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II – Development In News The GII is an inequality indexreleased by UNDP. It measures gender inequalities in three important aspects of human development— reproductive Health, measured by maternal mortality ratio and adolescent birth rates;  Empowerment, measured by proportion of parliamentary seats occupied by females and proportion of adult females and males aged 25 years and older with at least some secondary education; and  Economic status, expressed as labour market participation and measured by labour force participation rate of female and male populations aged 15 years and older. The GII is built on the same framework as the IHDI—to better expose differences in the distribution of achievements between women and men.  It measures the human development costs of gender inequality. Thus the higher the GII value the more disparities between females and males and the more loss to human development. In the Gender Inequality Index (GII), India is at 122 out of 162 countries. Neighbours China (39), Sri Lanka (86), Bhutan (99), Myanmar (106) were placed above India. The report forecasts that it may take 202 years to close the gender gap in economic opportunity [caption id="attachment_54521" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 10th December 2019[/caption] Src: Click here Human Rights Day Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains I – Social Issues In News Human Rights Day is celebrated on the 10th December every year to commemorate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which was adopted and proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1948. The Declaration recognizes that the inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of mankind are the foundation of justice, freedom and peace in the world. The United Nations’ theme for this year’s Human Rights Day is: “Youth Standing up for Human Rights.”  The youth will be celebrated as agents of change and encouraged to amplify their voices against racism, hate speech, bullying, discrimination, and fight for climate justice, among other issues. Since its inception on the 12th October, 1993, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has endeavoured to promote a culture of human rights.  The NHRC, like most of the human rights institutions in the world, is a recommendatory body as per the Protection of Human Rights Act passed by Parliament. An important initiative of the Commission this year has been that NHRC is proposing to set up a task force to prepare a National Action Plan on Human Rights (NAPHR) comprising the representatives of various Ministries, NGOs, Civil Society and the NHRC among the other stakeholders.  This plan will help flag the key issues of human rights for the government(s), which would require to be addressed with a targeted approach to improve the human rights situation in the country through a sustained mechanism. IS 10500:2012 Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II- Governance In News Government stated that the Bureau of Indian Standards is preparing the ground for enforcement of piped water quality standards - IS 10500:2012, in cooperation with state departments. However, it is not yet clear whether the Centre’s own flagship mission (Jal Jeevan Mission) to provide piped water to all households by 2024 will implement the BIS standard. Unlike the BIS standard for bottled water, which is mostly produced by private companies, the standard for piped water — largely supplied by government agencies — is not yet mandatory. Jal Shakti is the nodal Ministry for the Jal Jeevan Mission to provide functional household tap connections to 14.6 crore rural households by 2024. About Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) It is a statutory body established in 1987 under the BIS Act 1986. It replaced the Indian Standards Institution (ISI), a body set up under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. It works under the guidance of Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. The objective of BIS is to achieve harmonious development of the activities of standardization, certification marking and quality certification of goods. BIS is involved in various activities such as Standards Formulation, Product Certification Scheme, Hall Marking Scheme, Laboratory Services etc. 126th Constitution Amendment Bill Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – Polity In News The reservation given to SCs, STs and the Anglo-Indian community for the past 70 years is to end on January 25, 2020 The 126th Constitution Amendment Bill seeks to extend by 10 yearsreservation to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the Lok Sabha and the Assemblies The reservation has been included in Article 334 and therefore the bill seeks to amend the article. Article 334 lays down that the provisions for reservation of seats and special representation of Anglo-Indians, SC and ST will cease after 40 years. The clause was included in 1949. After 40 years, it is being amended with an extension of 10 years. A similar reservation for the Anglo-Indian community in Lok Sabha and state assemblies is not being extended, as per the provisions of the bill. According to Law Minster, there are only 296 members of the Anglo-Indian community in India. Finland gets world’s youngest PM Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – International Affairs; GS-I- Society (Women empowerment) In News The 34-year-old Finnish politician Sanna Marin, her country’s Transport Minister, will soon become the world’s youngest Prime Minister. The Transport Minister was chosen by Finland’s Social Democratic Party to succeed Prime Minister Antti Rinne who on December 3 announced he was resigning in the face of criticism over the government’s handling of a postal strike that lasted two weeks in November Prime Minister-elect Marin will be Finland’s third woman head of government. Marin will lead a five-party Centre-Left political coalition which are all led by women. Four of these women are in their early thirties. New Zealand PM JacindaArdern is 39, while Ukrainian premier Oleksiy Honcharuk is 35.  [caption id="attachment_54525" align="aligncenter" width="273"] Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 10th December 2019[/caption] Src: Click here (MAINS FOCUS) POLITY TOPIC: General Studies 2: Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019 passed the lower House test [caption id="attachment_54528" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 10th December 2019[/caption] SRC: LIVE MINT Context: The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019, that seeks to give Indian nationality to non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan passed the lower House test. Background: Amend the definition of illegal immigrant for Hindu, Sikh, Parsi, Buddhist and Christian immigrants from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, who have lived in India without documentation.  They will be granted fast-track Indian citizenship in six years. (12 years of residence has been the standard eligibility requirement for naturalisation) Eligiblity: Applies to the people  who were forced to seek shelter in India due to persecution on the ground of religion”.  The cut-off date  was December 31, 2014, which means the applicant should have entered India on or before that date.  Indian citizenship, under present law, is given either to those born in India or if they have resided in the country for a minimum of 11 years.  The Bill also proposes for the cancellation of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) registration where the OCI card-holder has violated any provision of the Citizenship Act or any other law in force. Govt stand and criticism: Centre says these minority groups have come escaping persecution in Muslim-majority nations. However, the logic is not consistent – the bill does not protect all religious minorities, nor does it apply to all neighbours.  The Ahmedia Muslim sect and even Shias face discrimination in Pakistan. Rohingya Muslims and Hindus face persecution in neighbouring Burma, and Hindu and Christian Tamils in neighbouring Sri Lanka.  The government responds that Muslims can seek refuge in Islamic nations, but has not answered the other questions. Exceptions in the bills: CAB won't apply to areas under the sixth schedule of the Constitution – which deals with autonomous tribal-dominated regions in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.  The bill will also not apply to states that have the inner-line permit regime (Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram). How is it different from NRC(National register for citizens)? The National Register of Citizens or NRC that we saw in Assam targeted illegal immigrants.  A person had to prove that either they, or their ancestors were in Assam on or before March 24, 1971.  NRC, which may be extended to the rest of the country, is not based on religion unlike CAB. Why so much opposition? The CAB discriminates Muslim identity by declaring India a welcome refuge to all other religious communities.  It seeks to legally establish Muslims as second-class citizens of India by providing preferential treatment to other groups.  This violates the Constitution’s Article 14, the fundamental right to equality to all persons. This basic structure of the Constitution cannot be reshaped by any Parliament.  Conclusion: India was not created on the basis of religion, Pakistan was. Only the Muslim League and the Hindu Right advocated the two nation theory of Hindu and Muslim nations, which led to Partition.  All the founders of India were committed to a secular state, where all citizens irrespective of religion enjoyed full membership.  Connecting the dots: Citizenship law amendment goes against non-discriminatory norms in the Constitution. Critically Analyse AGRICULTURE TOPIC: General Studies 3: Transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints New Seed Bill 2019  [caption id="attachment_54531" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 10th December 2019[/caption] Src : Krishi Jagarn Context The National Seed Association of India (NSAI), suggested some changes in the proposed Seed Bill 2019, including a more scientific definition of transgenic variety, enhanced farmer rights on seeds and enlisting the services of private firms for evaluating new varieties before seed registration. Current The Seeds Act, 1966: Only covers “notified kinds or varieties of seeds”,regulation of quality, too, is limited to the seeds of varieties that have been officially notified.  The provisions of The Seeds Act, 1966, apply only to certified seeds produced of notified varieties. New Seeds Bill, 2019 : The new Seeds Bill, 2019 provides for compulsory registration of “any kind or variety of seeds” that are sought to be sold. Even hybrids/varieties of private companies will need to be registered. Their seeds would have to meet the minimum prescribed standards relating to germination, physical and genetic purity, etc.  Breeders would be required to disclose the “expected performance” of their registered varieties “under given conditions”. If the seed of such registered kind or variety “fails to provide the expected performance under such given conditions”, the farmer “may claim compensation from the producer, dealer, distributor or vendor under The Consumer Protection Act, 1986”. Background : The 1966 legislation was enacted at the time of the Green Revolution, when the country hardly had any private seed industry.  The high-yielding wheat and paddy varieties, which made India self-reliant in cereals by the 1980s, were developed by the various ICAR institutes and SAUs. These public sector institutions have retained their dominance in breeding of wheat, paddy (including basmati), sugarcane, pulses, soybean, groundnut, mustard, potato, onion and other crops, where farmers largely grow open-pollinated varieties (OPV) whose grain can be saved as seed for re-planting. Over the last three decades or more, however, private companies and multinationals have made significant inroads, particularly into crops that are amenable to hybridisation. Today, the size of the private hybrid seeds industry is estimated at about Rs 15,000 crore.  Response of private seed industry Seed companies have welcomed the provision of compulsory registration of all varieties/hybrids, based on the results of multi-location trials for a prescribed period to establish their performance vis-à-vis the claims of the breeders concerned.  This should help minimise the risk of farmers being sold seeds of low-quality genetics, especially by fly-by-night operators taking undue advantage of the “truthful labeling” and “self-certification” processes. The industry, however, wants the process of registration to be time-bound.  Given the lack of manpower and infrastructure within the government system, the registration may be granted or refused on the basis of multi-location trials carried out by the breeder/applicant itself. But the industry’s main reservation is the provision for regulation of sale price “in emergent situations like scarcity of seeds, abnormal rise in prices, monopolistic pricing or profiteering”.  The fact that this power of fixing sale price of seed has been given both to the Centre and state governments has added to their nervousness.  Their contention is that seed accounts for not even a tenth of the total operational costs in most crops, despite the genetic information contained in it being the main determinant of grain yield and quality.  Connecting the dots: The new Seeds Bill is tilted against farmers’ interests and loaded in favour of seed companies. Critically Analyse. (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note:  Correct answers of today’s questions will be provided in next day’s DNA section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers.  Comments Up-voted by IASbaba are also the “correct answers”. Q.1) Which of the following countries are generally considered as Nordic Countries Denmark Finland Iceland Norway Sweden Select the correct answer from the codes given below. 1,2 and 3 only 2,3 and 4 only 1,2,3 and 4 only 1,2,3,4 & 5 Q.2) Consider the following statements about Constitutional Amendment Bills Prior recommendation of President is needed for introducing the constitution amendment bills When Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha differs with respect to passage of Constitutional Amendment Bill, President calls for Joint Sitting of both Houses of Parliament so as to resolve the differences and pave way for its passage. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) Consider the following statements about Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) It is a statutory body established in 1987 under the BIS Act 1986which replaced the Indian Standards Institution (ISI). It works under the overallguidance of Ministry of Corporate Affairs Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.4) Consider the following statements Human Rights Day is celebrated on the 10th December every year to commemorate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which was adopted by UN during its 1993 Rio Summit. India’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is a Constitutional Bodyestablished under Article 334 to investigate the violation of human rights or the failures of the state or other to prevent a human rights violation. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are incorrect? 1only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.5) Human Development Index is released by which organisation/body? World Economic Forum World Bank International Monetary Fund United Nations Development Programme ANSWERS FOR 09 DEC 2019 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 C 2 B 3 A 4 B 5 C MUST READ Unequal, unsecular: On Citizenship Amendment Bill The Hindu Lethal misgovernance: On Anaj Mandi fire tragedy  The Hindu A growing blot on the criminal justice system  The Hindu Climate treaty at a tipping point The Hindu China at sea: For Delhi, Shiyan incident is a reminder to invest more in maritime scientific research IE

Dec 10, 2019 Motivational Articles

Motivational Article: Embrace Change to Change Your Destiny!

Motivational Article: Embrace Change to Change Your Destiny! Things are changing around us and things are changing fast. With each passing minute, we witness a remarkable change. Changes are good, isn’t it? Imagine if the mobile sets that you use never changed in design and technology! Perhaps, you would have been playing Snakes on your Nokia 1100 handset instead of reading this article over your smartphone. Changes around us compel us to change ourselves. We become more adaptable with each change. We accept changes faster with each change. We ourselves change faster with each change.  We at IASbaba believe in the strength of change. It can ignite your minds. It can motivate you better. It can make you happy. The very philosophy behind change being a motivation has inspired us to change something- our own website, to give you a better, efficient and interactive view of the loads of information, initiatives and inspiration available therein. You must have seen and experienced those changes. Please feel to share your feedback about the new website design and let us know if you want some further improvements. We promise we would change!! Changes also inspire new beginnings. As you may have noted, IASbaba has come up with the new initiative called the Prelims Exclusive Programme (PEP). We have introduced this programme keeping in mind the special needs of an aspirant from the perspective of highly competitive Prelims examination. The details of the programme can be found here. Similarly, to cater to the needs of candidates focusing on Mains preparation, we introduced the highly effective TLP Connect programme. Now very soon, we are going to launch an elaborate initiative especially for the aspirant who would appear in the next year’s interview. In fact, we have two more surprises in store for you that we won’t reveal now. Wait for a few more days and you will witness something amazing by IASbaba.   As you can see, we are striving hard to keep pace with the changes introduced by UPSC and the expectations set by the aspirants by changing ourselves in the most intricate manner, focussing on the minute details. This has been the process of evolution for all of us. We expect the same from you. All this effort to change and adapt to changes is for you guys! Take advantage of this evolution, be an active partner in this process and change your attitude towards preparation. All we expect from you is to take three simple yet enormously important pledges for a better future. Can you take these pledges today or rather right now? I will change and I will change for the better. I will change to become a better student, a better learner, a better performer and a better human being.  I will do everything in my capacity to change my attitude towards failure and success. No success would be permanent for me. No failure would be fatal for me.  I will Inspire change around me. I will strive to make this world a better place by applying my knowledge, my intelligence and my emotions towards fellow human beings.  Take these pledges and start a fresh journey today. People say that every moment in life is a fresh beginning. Take this point of time as that fresh beginning and start the rest of your journey. In this journey, things will keep on changing except one- the presence and support of IASbaba.   All the Best IASbaba Team