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Nov 3, 2018 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs [Prelims + Mains Focus] - 3rd November 2018

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs (Prelims + Mains Focus)- 3rd November 2018 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Iran oil: India to get U.S. sanctions waiver Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – India and the World; International Relations In news: Eight countries will be given exemptions, once U.S. sanctions against Iran kick in on November 5. India — for whom Iran is the third largest source of oil after Iraq and Saudi Arabia — is expecting to be on the list. Loans for MSMEs in 59 minutes Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II and III – Govt schemes and policies; Good Governance; Indian Economy – Investment; MSME sector In news: PM Modi announced 12 measures to boost the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector, including a portal that would enable the units to get a loan in just 59 minutes and interest subvention of 2%. Small businesses can use the ‘59-minute’ portal to avail loans of up to Rs 1 crore. Small enterprises registered under the goods and services tax will also get a 2 percent tax rebate on incremental loans of up to Rs 1 crore. More than 72,000 loans worth over Rs 23,852 crore have been sanctioned. The portal is set up by the Small Industries Development Bank of India. MSMEs can register and apply for a loan. The prime minister unveiled 12 initiatives for MSMEs, which he called “Diwali gifts”. They are: Loans for MSMEs up to Rs 1 crore can be granted in 59 minutes, which can also be availed through goods and services tax portal. A 2 percent interest subvention will be given on incremental and new loans to GST-registered MSMEs. For exporters who receive loans in pre- and post-shipment period, an increase in interest rebate has been given from 3-5 percent. All public-sector companies and corporates with turnover exceeding Rs 500 crore will have to mandatorily register on Trade Receivables Electronic Discounting System portal. This will improve the cash cycle for MSMEs as it will enable entrepreneurs to access credit from banks, based on their upcoming receivables. Public-sector undertakings will have to buy their 25 percent of their inputs from MSMEs from 20 percent earlier. Of the 25 percent, 3 percent of procurement will have to done by women entrepreneurs or women-led MSMEs. All central public sector enterprises will have to come on board of Government e-Marketplace so that they can procure goods from MSMEs listed on the portal. Technology upgradation support will be given to MSMEs. About 20 technological centres will be made as hubs and 100 centres as tool rooms will be created at the cost of Rs 6,000 crore. Clusters will be created for pharma MSME companies so that they can reach customers directly. About 70 percent of the cost for creating these clusters will be borne by the central government. MSMEs will have to file only one return under eight labour laws and 10 central rules against two returns earlier. Inspection would be done based on computerised random allotment and report of inspection will have to be submitted within 48 hours on the reporting portal. This will free MSMEs from Inspector Raj (regime), Modi said. Process of environmental clearance has been simplified, and MSME will require only one approval for “environmental clearance” and “consent to establish” under Air and Water Act. Ordinance has been approved for simplifying levy of penalty for minor offences under Companies Act. This will avoid unnecessary harassment to small business owners, and they won’t have to approach courts, but can correct minor violations through simple procedures. China Pakistan: Growing Ties Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II –International Relations In news: Pakistan is expected to receive a $6 bn aid package from China during PM Imran’s visit. Pakistan’s Prime Minister has reinforced Islamabad’s bonds with Saudi Arabia, and has kept the door open for the re-entry of West-backed International Monetary Fund (IMF) into his country. Analysts point out that China needs Pakistan’s full support to make the CPEC a success. China has billed the $62 billion project as the flagship undertaking of its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). NASA’s historic Dawn mission comes to an end Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III – Science and Technology; Space mission In news: Earlier we read about retirement of NASA’s Kepler space telescope mission. Now NASA’s pioneering Dawn spacecraft — which orbited the two largest objects in the asteroid belt — has run out of fuel, ending a 11-year mission that unravelled many mysteries of our solar system. The $467 million Dawn mission, launched in 2007 to study the protoplanet Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres, missed scheduled communications sessions with NASA’s Deep Space Network on October 31 and November 1. The astounding images and data collected from Vesta and Ceres are critical to understanding the history and evolution of our solar system. (MAINS FOCUS) NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2 Governance Government policies and interventions A catalogue of all that’s valuable Introduction In the recent times there has been growing incidents loss of artefacts, historical idols and antiquities in the state of Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu is rich feeding ground for idol thieves and smugglers because of the sheer number of temples within its borders. Madras HC on this issue The Madras High Court constituted a special bench to hear cases relating to idol theft. The court raised the concerns related to the lack of coordination between departments responsible for custodianship of cultural heritage and law enforcement agencies. HC also noted that the department has not computerised the stock, provided adequate ICON Centres with surveillance to keep safe custody of the valuable idols in the Centre and in the temples. Madras HC also raised concerns related to the management of the historical artefacts in India, importantly about lack of coordination and lack of surveillance measures. Because of these concerns the Madras HC ordered the state government to go for computerisation of the stock of the idols. Steps taken by the government The parliament of India passed an Act, the Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972, focussing mainly the objectives of prevention of smuggling, prevent illegal sale, regulate export trade in antiquities and compulsory acquisition of antiquities and art treasures. National mission on monuments and antiquities (NMMA) has been launched. One of the main components of this NMMA is to create a national register of these antiquities. Nodal agency for implementation of NMMA is Archaeological survey of India. Concerns still remain The problem of non-coordination and lack of information among government departments as highlighted by the Madras High Court still remain a concern across India. While the Ministry of Culture’s annual report for 2017-18 states that a mammoth 15.2 lakh registered antiquities have been documented through the NMMA, the Register only provides information for about 4.7 lakh of these. Way forward Thus, different states needs to co-ordinate their effort in terms of identification and then preservation of such artefacts National register for antiquities must be updated for these valuables artefacts. Also, there is a need for timely action to be taken by the concerned government departments for identification and preservation of our cultural heritage. Connecting the dots: State and public initiatives to compile registers of antiquities must be closely coordinated to control the smuggling and theft. Elucidate NATIONAL TOPIC:General studies 3 Government policies and interventions Economic Growth and Development Serious business Introduction India’s ranking in the latest edition of the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index has jumped 23 spots to 77 among 190 economies. It is a substantial improvement over the last couple of years. Analysis of Index and India's performance The Index seeks to measure 11 areas of business, among them the procedures, timelines and cost related to construction, protection of minority investors, payments of tax, time and cost to export a product or import it and to resolve commercial dispute, the quality of the judicial process and time taken and the cost for resolution or insolvency. India’s score was boosted this time because of the strides in cross-border trading with the streamlining of paper work and documentation — the country’s score has moved up from 146 last year on this count to 80 this time. The scores should improve further next time with recognition of the laws on GST and more companies taking the resolution route under the insolvency. The other area of improvement is in construction permits. All these underline the importance of supply-side reforms. The other important take away from the Index is that what is common among the top-ranked economies is the pattern of continuous reform. India has considerable ground to cover on this front: When it comes to enforcing contracts, the country’s score has barely moved in the latest ranking. What more needs to be done? The lesson here is the absence of judicial reforms, bureaucratic and legal hurdles are hurting the economy. In a federal structure like India, cutting the red tape or easing procedures across states is not easy. However, the signs are that many states have recognised the need to remove hurdles to attract industry. Businessmen complain about the steep cost of doing business and the constraints they face in translating ideas into viable commercial ventures. As the World Bank points out, economies with better business regulations are the ones that create more job opportunities and the countries with more transparent and accessible information have lower levels of corruption. Conclusion It is good to benchmark the country’s progress on various counts of starting a business, but it is also important not to lose sight of the fact that this does not measure macro stability policies and development of the financial sector. The boost to ranking has come at a time when investment activity is far from vibrant. The key is a revival in demand, but removing systemic constrains would help business and industry become more competitive. Connecting the dots: Supply-side reforms boost India’s profile, but red tape and opaque systems continue to pull back growth. Comment. (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) From the following, identify the categories which are included under Priority Sector Lending: MSMEs Export Credit Renewable Energy Social Infrastructure Select the correct answer using the codes given below: 1, 2 and 3 1, 3 and 4 2, 3 and 4 1, 2, 3 and 4 Q.2) Consider the following statements about Dawn spacecraft It was launched as a part of NASA's New Frontiers program It was launched with the mission of studying two of dwarf planet of the asteroid belt, Vesta and Ceres Select the correct statements Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 MUST READ How not to choose among allies The Hindu A judgment and its aftermath The Hindu Green crackers make Sivakasi see red The Hindu Whose RBI is it? The Indian Express Plain tales from the hills The Indian Express

Nov 3, 2018 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs [Prelims + Mains Focus] - 2nd November 2018

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs (Prelims + Mains Focus)- 2nd November 2018 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) 461 elephants electrocuted in country in 8 years since 2009 Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III – Animal Conservation; Man-Animal Conflict In news: More than a dozen elephants were electrocuted between August to October 2018. Human-elephant conflict remains a major concern for policy makers and conservationists. Electrocution of elephants is turning out to be a critical area in the management of India’s elephant population. Do you know? Every year, about 50 elephants have died on average due to electrocution. A total of 461 elephant deaths due to electrocution occurred in the eight years between 2009 and November 2017. The States with the highest elephant population are Karnataka (6,049), followed by Assam (5,719) and Kerala (3,054). Pic: https://d39gegkjaqduz9.cloudfront.net/TH/2018/11/02/DEL/Delhi/TH/5_07/6fbb3850_291611_9_mr.jpg Concerns: Karnataka, which has the highest population of elephants, has recorded the highest casualties by electrocution, numbering 106. In Odisha, 90 elephants died of electrocution. 70 elephants died of electrocution in Assam; 48 elephants in West Bengal; and 23 elephants in Chhattisgarh. Solution: Need for greater surveillance and protection of elephant corridors. Need for greater coordination between the Forest Department and different agencies, including the Power Department, as well as continuous monitoring of electrical wires passing through areas of elephant movement. Stop illegal electrical fencing, and having proper guidelines for maintaining the height of high tension electrical wires. Come up with a proper zone-wise management plan for different elephant landscapes — where to allow elephants and where to restrict their movement. The legacy of NASA’s Kepler Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III – Science and Technology; Space mission In news: NASA’s Kepler space telescope, which retired after running out of fuel, is being widely described as the most prolific planet-hunting machine in history. By June 2017, it had discovered more than 4,000 planet candidates and 2,300 confirmed planets. Below are 10 landmark findings: DOUBLE SUNSET: The Star Wars franchise showed the planet Tatooine as part of a double-star system, hence two sunsets. Kepler showed that double sunsets do exist; it discovered Kepler-16b, the first known planet (mostly likely a gas giant) around a double-star system. EARTH-LIKE PLANETS: Kepler found planets near in size to Earth and orbiting at a distance where liquid water could pool on the surface. Kepler-62f, for example, is about 40% bigger than Earth and is likely rocky. PLANET CANDIDATES: Many of the planet candidates are likely to have small rocky cores enveloped by a thick atmosphere of hydrogen and helium, and some are thought to be ocean worlds. That doesn’t necessarily mean the oceans are full of water. LIFE CANDIDATES: Kepler’s survey has made it possible to measure the number of Earth-size habitable zone planets in the galaxy. Scientists hope to determine how many planets like Earth exist. SIZE CLASSIFICATION: Kepler’s discoveries showed that a lot of planets are either approximately 1.5 times the size of Earth or just smaller than Neptune. They are, therefore, called Super Earths and mini-Neptunes. ‘LAVA WORLD:’ Kepler-10b has a year that lasts less than an Earth day, and density so high that it is probably made of iron and rock. One of Kepler’s early discoveries, the first solid evidence of a rocky planet outside the Solar System. LIGHT & ‘ALIENS’: Kepler detected fluctuating light from “Tabby’s Star”, triggering mass speculation of an alien megastructure. Astronomers, however, have since concluded that it is probably an orbiting dust cloud. ‘CANNIBAL’ STAR: What happens when a solar system dies? Kepler discovered a white dwarf, the compact corpse of a star in the process of vaporising a planet. EXPLODING SUPERNOVA: Kepler recorded a sped-up version of a supernova called a “fast-evolving luminescent transit” that reached its peak brightness at breakneck speed. It was caused by a star spewing out a dense shell of gas that lit up when hit with the shockwave from the blast. SOLAR SYSTEM COUSIN: In 2014, scientists using data from Kepler discovered seven planets orbiting Kepler-90, a Sun-like star located 2,500 light-years away. Later, an eighth planet was identified in this planetary system, tying it with our own Solar System in having the highest number of known planets. India, China and Pakistan: India protests China-Pakistan bus via PoK Part of: GS Mains II – India and its neighbours; International Relations In news: India reiterates its opposition to a proposed luxury bus service between Pakistan and China that would pass through parts of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan — territory that India claims — terming it “a violation of India’s sovereignty. China says move part of ‘China-Pakistan Economic Corridor’ (CPEC), doesn’t reflect Beijing’s position on Kashmir. Miscellaneous NRIs deposits surge as rupee slides and oil prices rise. The UAE is the top source of inward remittances into India, with Kerala receiving the maximum funds sent from abroad, according to the RBI’s survey of inward remittances for 2016-17. According to their most recent assessment this month, scientists from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said that the world’s oceans have absorbed 90% of the temperature rise caused by man-made carbon emissions. (MAINS FOCUS) NATIONAL TOPIC:General studies 2&3 Social justice Economic development and inclusive growth Support for lives on the move Introduction Though migration is expected to enhance consumption and lift families out of absolute poverty at the origin, it is not free from distress. This distress is due to unemployment or underemployment in agriculture, natural calamities, and input/output market imperfections. Factors of internal migration Migration is driven by push-pull factors. Distress has been a push factor from rural areas. The desire for better employment in urban areas has been a pull factors in internal migration in India. Data show that employment-seeking is the principal reason for migration in regions without conflict. The problems of migration At the destination, a migrant’s lack of skills is a major hindrance in entering the labour market. The modern formal urban sector has often not been able to absorb the large number of rural workers entering the urban labour market. This has led to the growth of the ‘urban informal’ economy, which is marked by high poverty and vulnerabilities. The ‘urban informal’ economy is wrongly understood in countries such as India as a transient phenomenon. It has, in fact, expanded over the years and accounts for the bulk of urban employment. Most jobs in the urban informal sector pay poorly and involve self-employed workers who turn to petty production because of their inability to find wage labour. Then there are various forms of discrimination which do not allow migrants to graduate to better-paying jobs. Migrant workers earn only two-thirds of what is earned by non-migrant workers, according to 2014 data. Further, they have to incur a large cost of migration which includes the ‘search cost’ and the hazard of being cheated. Often these costs escalate as they are outside the state-provided health care and education system; this forces them to borrow from employers in order to meet these expenses. Frequent borrowing forces them to sell assets towards repayment of their loans. Employment opportunities, the levels of income earned, and the working conditions in destination areas are determined by the migrant’s household’s social location in his or her village. The division of the labour market by occupation, geography or industry (labour market segmentation), even within the urban informal labour market, confines migrants to the lower end. Often, such segmentation reinforces differences in social identity, and new forms of discrimination emerge in these sites. The benefits of migration Despite these issues, internal migration has resulted in the increased well being of households, especially for people with higher skills, social connections and assets. Migrants belonging to lower castes and tribes have also brought in enough income to improve the economic condition of their households in rural areas and lift them out of poverty. Data show that a circular migrant’s earnings account for a higher proportion of household income among the lower castes and tribes. This has helped to improve the creditworthiness of the family members left behind — they can now obtain loans more easily. Thus, there exists a need to scale-up interventions aimed at enhancing these benefits from circular or temporary migration. Interventions targeting short-term migrants also need to recognise the fact that short-term migration to urban areas and its role in improving rural livelihoods is an ongoing part of a long-term economic strategy of the households. Local interventions by NGOs and private entrepreneurs also need to consider cultural dimensions reinforced by caste hierarchies and social consequences while targeting migrants. Why a national policy? According to a study, less than 20% of urban migrants had prearranged jobs and nearly two-thirds managed to find jobs within a week of their entry into the city. The probability of moving to an urban area with a prearranged job increases with an increase in education levels. Access to information on employment availability before migrating along with social networks tend to reduce the period of unemployment significantly. Social networks in the source region not only provide migrants with information on employment opportunities, but are also critical as social capital in that they provide a degree of trust. While migrants interact with each other based on ethnic ties, such ties dissipate when they interact with urban elites to secure employment. In India, the bulk of policy interventions, which the migrants could also benefit from, are directed towards enhancing human development; some are aimed at providing financial services. As government interventions are directed towards poverty reduction, there is a dearth of direct interventions targeted and focussed on regions. Policies on this could be twofold. The first kind could aim at reducing distress-induced migration and the second in addressing conditions of work, terms of employment and access to basic necessities. Policy interventions have to consider the push factors, which vary across regions, and understand the heterogeneity of migrants. Way forward There is a need to distinguish between policy interventions aimed at ‘migrants for survival’ and ‘migrants for employment’. Continued dynamic interventions over long periods of time would yield better results compared to single-point static interventions, especially in the context of seasonal migrants. Local bodies and NGOs which bring about structural changes in local regions need to be provided more space. Interventions aimed at enhanced skill development would enable easier entry into the labour market. We also need independent interventions aimed specifically at addressing the needs of individual and household migrants because household migration necessitates access to infrastructure such as housing, sanitation and health care more than individual migration does. Various interventions must complement each other. For instance, government interventions related to employment can be supported by market-led interventions such as microfinance initiatives, which help in tackling seasonality of incomes. Another important example is, mproved financial infrastructure to enable the smooth flow of remittances and their effective use require more attention from India’s growing financial sector. Connecting the dots: A national policy for internal migration is needed to improve earnings and enable an exit from poverty. Comment. ENVIRONMENT/POLLUTION TOPIC:General studies 3 Sustainable development Environment and ecology, pollution Choked by smog Introduction Air pollution is choking several cities in the northern States once again, as changes in temperature and slowing winds trap soot, dust and fine particulate matter. Causes of air pollution in northern states The National Capital Region is badly hit, as the burning of agricultural residue in Punjab and Haryana is releasing large volumes of smoke containing, among other pollutants, highly damaging fine particulates, or PM2.5. Farm stubble burning is a major contributor to the problem, and its footprint may be growing because of wider use of mechanical harvesters that is producing more waste. The problem is aggravated by the burning of urban waste, diesel soot, vehicular exhaust, road and construction dust, and power generation. With the steady growth in the population of the capital and other cities, the trauma is set to worsen. Effects of air pollution The UN Environment Programme’s recent report titled ‘Air Pollution in Asia and the Pacific: Science-Based Solutions’ has sounded a warning, pointing out that only 8% of the population in the countries of the region get to breathe air of acceptable quality. One study of degradation of Delhi’s air over a 10-year period beginning 2000 estimated premature mortality to have risen by as much as 60%. Lack of consistent actions Although India has nine of the 10 most polluted cities in the world, it has not taken consistent action on pollution. Tens of millions live with ambient air quality that is well short of even the relaxed parameters the country has set for fine particulates, compared with those of the World Health Organisation. This year’s ‘severe’ air quality rating for Delhi and poor conditions prevailing in other cities in the Indo-Gangetic Plain should compel a decisive shift in policy. Way forward India should give high importance to the WHO warning about air pollution being the new tobacco. The Centre and the State governments need to get into crisis mode to dramatically reduce emissions. They must address the burning of carbon, which is a direct source, and emissions with oxides of nitrogen and sulphur from vehicles that turn into fine particulates through atmospheric reactions. An innovative approach could be to use climate change funds to turn farm residues into a resource, using technological options such as converting them into biofuels and fertilizers. From an urban development perspective, large cities should reorient their investments to prioritise public transport, favouring electric mobility. The World Bank has said it is keen to enhance its lending portfolio to tackle air pollution, opening a new avenue for this. Governments should make the use of personal vehicles in cities less attractive through strict road pricing mechanisms. Sharply escalated, deterrent parking fees can be implemented. Conclusion The critical issue of pollution control needs immediate attention. Failure to take sustainable and urgent measures will inflict long-term harm on public health, affecting children even more by putting them at higher risk for diseases. Connecting the dots: What are the causes and factors responsible for winter pollution in northern states of India. Critically analyse the steps taken by central and state governments. (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) Government of India launched ‘Hathi Mere Sathi’ Campaign to improve conservation prospects of elephants. Consider the following statements regarding that: Campaign was launched by Ministry of Environment and Forest in partnership with the wildlife Trust of India. It was launched during Elephant – 8 Ministerial Meeting, attended by delegates from countries representing 2/3rd of wild elephant population. Elephant is India’s National Heritage Animal. Which of the above statements are correct? 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above Q.2) Which of the following efforts have been taken for Elephant Conservation in India? Elephant Corridors Elephant Census Elephant Reserves Select the correct answer using code below 1 and 2 1 and 3 2 and 3 1,2 and 3 Q.3) Consider the following statements regarding the Project Elephant: It was launched in 1973 to protect elephants, their habitats and migration corridors. Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are home to about 55% of the total elephant population in India. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.4) Asian Elephants are Endangered Critically Endangered Extinct Vulnerable MUST READ Always a fine balance The Hindu Has the CBI’s credibility been compromised? The Hindu What ails the NBFC sector Indian Express Serious business Indian Express A darkening horizon Indian Express A Matter of Dignity Indian Express Winning the neighbourhood Indian Express RBI’s independence needs to be protected Livemint Process turbulence and macroeconomic stability Livemint

Nov 2, 2018 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz- 2019 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 101]

UPSC Quiz- 2019 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 101] Archives Q.1) The Report ‘Air Pollution in Asia and the Pacific: Science-based solutions’ is published by Climate and Clean Air Coalition United Nations Environment Programme Asia Pacific Clean Air Partnership Select the correct code: 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above Q.2) Consider the following statements with respect to ‘Climate and Clean Air Coalition’ It was launched by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) India is one of the founding partners of the CCAC Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) Consider the following statements with respect to ‘'Utsonmobile' App It enables booking and cancellation of unreserved air tickets It is launched by the Ministry of Civil Aviation Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.4) Consider the following statements with respect to ‘ReUnite’ App It is a post-disaster family reunification app that enables users to report and search for missing or found person information It is developed by the Ministry of Earth Sciences aftermath of 2013 Uttarakhand Floods Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.5) Consider the following statements about ‘VAHAN’ It is the flagship e-Governance application under National Transport Project The purpose of VAHAN was to automate the RTO operations related to Vehicle Registration, Permit, Taxation, and Enforcement in the whole country Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 To Download the Solution - Click here All the Best IASbaba

Nov 1, 2018 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs [Prelims + Mains Focus] - 1st November 2018

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs (Prelims + Mains Focus)- 1st November 2018 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Ease of Doing Business Index: India jumps to 77th rank Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III - Indian Economy; Inclusive growth and issues arising from it. About: Ease of doing business: This index is an aggregate figure that includes different parameters which define the ease of doing business in a country. The index ranks 190 countries based on 10 indicators across the life-cycle of a business, from “starting a business” to “resolving insolvency.” (observe figure below) In news: India jumped 23 ranks in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index 2019 to 77 (for 2018). In the 2018 report, the country was ranked 100 (for 2017). India became the top ranked country in South Asia for the first time and third among the BRICS. In the last two years the country has climbed 53 notches, a performance matched in the past only by Bhutan. The biggest gain was in construction permit where India climbed 129 ranks to 52nd place on the back of targeted government effort to remove hurdles. Pic: https://d39gegkjaqduz9.cloudfront.net/TH/2018/11/01/DEL/Delhi/TH/5_01/a85c539d_2496872_101_mr.jpg SC: live-in partner can seek maintenance Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – Government schemes and policies; women violence In news: According to a recent Supreme Court order – A live-in partner can seek maintenance under the Domestic Violence Act. The 2005 Act provides an “efficacious remedy” for maintenance even if the victim is not a legally wedded wife. About the Domestic Violence Act, 2005 The function of the law was to be simple—address violence against women within the home. It is considered a landmark Act because for the first time, an act stepped inside the home and dealt with private spaces of individuals—something the law had avoided doing until then. The Act defined domestic violence for the first time – The definition includes not just physical abuse, which is more identifiable and is easier to prove (for example, using medical records), but also aspects like emotional and sexual abuse. It even includes threat of violence as part of the definition. One of the main objectives of DVA was to secure residence for a woman; it was immaterial that she didn’t have title or ownership of such a shared household. The Act provides for four fold support system to women who have suffered violence at home: Residence orders, custody orders, protection orders and monetary relief from a respondent. Miscellaneous: Deal inked for biofuel research: Department of Biotechnology (DBT) inks ₹11 crore deal with The Energy and Research Institute (TERI) to set up a centre to produce “advanced biofuels and bio-commodities.” This is the fifth such dedicated centre for bioenergy-research and development set up by the Department. Section 7 of the RBI Act: Section 7 of the RBI Act empowers the central government to issue directions to the RBI in public interest. This section has, however, never been invoked by the government so far. NASA’s Kepler Mission: It was launched by NASA to discover Earth-size planets orbiting other stars. The Kepler space telescope has run out of fuel and will be retired after a nine-and-a-half year mission, in which it detected thousands of planets beyond our solar system and boosted the search for worlds that might harbour alien life. (MAINS FOCUS) NATIONAL TOPIC:General studies 2&3 Human Resource development; Education Science and Tech: Issues related to IPR Universities and patents Introduction: India witnessed significant changes in IPRs since the introduction of the National IPR Policy in 2016. There was a 32% increase in the number of patents granted in 2017-18 compared to the earlier year. While the disposal rate has increased, the filing rate for patents has not changed significantly. In 2016-17, the Patent Office reported a dip of 3.2% in filing compared to the previous financial year. To create entrepreneurial universities, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked all universities in India to set up Intellectual Property (IP) Centres. Reasons behind increase in Patent disposal rate: Reforms in Patent office The Patent Office increased its workforce with the inclusion of new examiners and is on the lookout for more. The timeline for filing responses to official objections for patents has been reduced by half. Intellectual Property and Universities Patents help universities to improve their ranking, establish an innovation ecosystem, incubate knowledge-based start-ups, earn additional revenue and measure research activity. The number of patents applied for, granted and commercialised by universities and institutes is factored in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) rankings. The top ranked engineering institutes in India are also the leading filers of patents. The National Assessment and Accreditation Council awards up to 24 points to an institute which sets up an innovation ecosystem and has a facility for identifying and promoting IPRs. The problem: Dearth of IP professionals Despite the policy push to have more IP, we simply do not have enough IP professionals in the country. The rising dearth of IP professionals is due to various international treaties and trade agreements, along with the legal-centric approach where law schools and colleges are the only institutions which mandate teaching these subjects. India has a poor patent agent density, with only about 2,000 registered patent agents currently in practice. The last time when the Patent Office conducted the patent agent exam, in 2016, around 2,600 candidates took it, a paltry number if one looks at the ambitious goals set by the IPR Policy. Qualifications for an IP professional: Patent exam The Central government conducts the only competitive examination in the country to check a person’s proficiency in IP. This year, the government conducted the competitive examination to test proficiency in patent law, a type of intellectual property right (IPR), after a gap of two years. Any Indian citizen with a bachelor’s degree in science or technology can take the examination. Upon clearing it the person is entitled to practise before the Patent Office as a registered patent agent. Qualifying the exam allows science graduates to draft, file and procure patents from the Patent Office on behalf of inventors. Centres in universities The new policy has pushed universities to file more patents. Kindled by the call to have more IPRs, the higher education sector has witnessed many reforms. The UGC’s call to universities has come after a series of policy directives to introduce awareness about IP in higher educational institutions. The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) model curriculum for its member institutions lays emphasis on the need for IPR education in technical institutes. The lack of IP professionals to teach IP was one of the reasons the institutes of higher education do not have the mandatory IP courses. Online courses on IPR are available on the National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning platform. Though thousands register every year, much needs to be done to build capacity on IP in universities. Despite the infrequent manner in which the examination has been conducted, the private sector does give good weightage to the examination as it is considered to be the de facto IP qualification today. Way ahead The ambitious goal set by India’s IPR Policy will be realised only when the examination becomes the foundation for making a career in IPR. Fine-tuning the patent agent examination to cater to the growing IP needs of the country can be a successful way to build a band of professionals and create career opportunities. In a dynamic field such as intellectual property, in order to create a band of qualified IP professionals there should be a push towards post-qualification continuous education as well. To achieve this, the format, membership, syllabus and the frequency of the patent agent examination will need to be addressed. This will not only increase the number and quality of IP professionals in the country but also become a new career choice for graduates with a degree in science and technology. Connecting the dots: The ambitious goal set by India’s IPR Policy rests on how universities embrace patents. Critically analyse the state of innovations in Indian higher education institutes. INTERNATIONAL 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 Define ‘strategic partners’: India-U.S. Relations Introduction The U.S. President Donald Trump has turned down an invitation from India to attend next year’s Republic Day parade as the chief guest even though India is a purported U.S. strategic partner. India and U.S. differ on what constitutes as being 'Strategic' in their relationship. Transformation in India US relationship For more than a decade, a bipartisan consensus in Washington had supported India’s entry into an exclusive club of the U.S.’s strategic partners. Along with India, only Israel, the U.K., Australia, Japan, South Korea and Saudi Arabia enjoy the “strategic” or “special” relationship designation. The former U.S. President Barack Obama shifted the date of his State of the Union address so that he could come to India in January 2015. The U.S.’s relationship with India, and the broader world, is drastically different now, amid the revolution in its foreign policy since Mr. Trump’s arrival in the White House. Today, U.S. officials pay lip service to notions of a strategic partnership with India; the Trump administration, led by its businessman-in-chief, is transactional to the core. What is Strategic relationship? India currently does not define Strategic relationship. Its usage in international diplomacy signifies a bilateral relationship more important than others, but stops short of an actual alliance. The term “strategic” further implies a future convergence of interests in areas that are vital: security, defence and investment. However the term is now being used in a loose sense, with India having strategic relationship with over 50 countries ranging from US to Rwanda. Where do India & US differ? India expects technology transfers, intelligence sharing in defence cooperation, however the US still consider India as importer of defence equipment and not co-developer of defence equipment. US expects operational cooperation with India such as through LEMOA, however cooperation under these foundational defence agreement is yet to move forward on the ground. Both countries are yet to have a common understanding with regards to Rise of China and terrorism from Pakistan. India-US relationship is largely a transactional relationship under Donald Trump that focuses on achieving a set of objectives but may not be considered as a priority that a strategic relationship entails. Conclusion To fully take advantage of the relationship’s repositories of trust and goodwill, and of its enduring shared interests — from China’s rise to terrorism — these fundamental questions must be addressed. Connecting the dots: Critically examine the "Strategic Partnership" between India and US. (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) Which of the following reports are published by IMF? World Economic Outlook The Fiscal Monitor Global Financial Stability report Ease of Doing Business Select the code from following: 1 and 3 2 and 4 1,2 and 3 All of the above Q.2) Which of the below are part of NASA's series of Four Great Observatories satellites, designed to examine a specific wavelength/energy region of the electromagnetic spectrum (gamma rays, X-rays, visible and ultraviolet light, infrared light) using very different technologies? Hubble Spitzer Kepler Chandra Compton Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) Select the correct answer: 1, 2, 3 and 5 1, 2, 3 and 6 1, 2, 4 and 5 1, 2, 3 and 5 Q.3) Ease of Doing Business Index is released by World Bank International Monetary Fund World Trade Organization World Economic Forum MUST READ Adrift on stormy seas The Hindu Support for lives on the move The Hindu Strategies for autonomy The Hindu Not a holy book Indian Express Cure In Progress Indian Express My MeToo, our WeToo Indian Express An imaginary friend Indian Express Global trade takes the hit for bad global financing Livemint

Nov 1, 2018

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Invitation and Procedure of Scholarship Exam for IASbaba's Offline C2C Mains-2019 on 3rd November

Hello Friends, We have sent emails to all interested aspirants of Scholarship Exam to be held on 3rd November for Offline Mains Answer Writing Programme, C2C 2019. Kindly check your registered email/spam and junk folders in case. FOR DETAILS OF C2C MAINS OFFLINE/ONLINE- CLICK HERE Do not worry if you didn't receive the mail. Kindly Note the below details regarding the process of the examination. Examination Date- 3rd November 2018 Timing Slot 1- 11 AM- 12.40 PM Slot 2- 8 PM - 9.40 PM Kindly follow this URL to Register and Create your Username and Password - Click Here EXAM URL: Click Here After the registration, you will be getting an email for activation. Upon activation, you can log in and take the test on the test day, i.e 3rd November as per the timings mentioned above. Kindly Note- The result will be communicated by 7th November to all the selected candidates. The Programme will be held in Bengaluru. If selected, you have to relocate to Bengaluru. Read the instructions carefully after the login (This will be visible on the test date) Thank You and All the Best.

Nov 1, 2018 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz- 2019 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 100]

UPSC Quiz- 2019 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 100] Archives Q.1) Consider the following statements about Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) The Chairman of the FSDC is the Finance Minister of India Heads of SEBI, IRDA, RBI, and PFRDA are members of the FSDC Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2) What is ‘Salwa Judum’? A terrorist outfit in Nigeria Drug cartels of Medijin and Cali A militia that was mobilised and deployed as part of anti-insurgency operations in Chhattisgarh None of the above Q.3) ‘Taiwan Strait’ connects which of the following? East China Sea South China Sea Philippines Sea Yellow Sea Select the correct code: 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 1 and 4 Q.4) Consider the following statements with respect to ‘World Water Development Report (WWDR)’ World Water Council UN-Water International Water Resource Association Water Aid Q.5) ‘MILAN naval exercise’ is associated with which of the following groupings? The Quad IOR-ARC BIMSTEC None of the above To Download the Solution - Click here All the Best IASbaba

Oct 31, 2018 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs [Prelims + Mains Focus] - 31st October 2018

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs (Prelims + Mains Focus)- 31st October 2018 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) WWF report on India’s declining soil biodiversity and pollinators population Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III – Environment and Biodiversity In news: According to the Global Soil Biodiversity Atlas prepared by the European Commission Joint Research Centre – India among nations whose soil biodiversity faces the highest level of risk. India, Pakistan, China, several countries in Africa and Europe, and most of North America - have been coloured red on the Atlas Pic: https://d39gegkjaqduz9.cloudfront.net/TH/2018/10/31/DEL/Delhi/TH/5_07/1a73f8d1_2494995_101_mr.jpg Do you know? Soil biodiversity encompasses the presence of micro-organisms, micro-fauna (nematodes and tardigrades for example), and macro-fauna (ants, termites and earthworms). The ‘risk index’ for the globe — indicates threats from loss of above-ground diversity, pollution and nutrient over-loading, over-grazing, intensive agriculture, fire, soil erosion, desertification and climate change. According to the Living Planet Report (LPR) 2018 prepared by the World Wide Fund for Nature – Human activities pushing the planet to the brink. There has been a 60% decline in the size of populations of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians in just over 40 years. There has been drastic decline in populations of pollinators. (For instance, while 150 million bee colonies were needed to meet the pollination requirements of about 50 million hectares of agricultural land in India, only 1.2 million colonies were present.) The above two recent studies have focused on the dramatic reductions in bee and other pollinator numbers and on the risks to soil biodiversity, critical to sustain food production and other ecosystem services. The two key drivers of biodiversity loss were the over exploitation of natural resources and agriculture. While India’s per capita ecological footprint was less than 1.75 hectares/person (the lowest band among countries surveyed), its high population made it vulnerable to an ecological crisis, even if per-capita consumption remained at current levels, the WWF warned. Do you know? The majority of flowering plants are pollinated by insects and other animals. It has been estimated that the proportion of animal-pollinated wild plant species rises from an average of 78% in temperate-zone communities to 94% in tropical communities. World Wildlife Fund “Living Planet” report 2018 Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III – Environment and Biodiversity The WWF Living Planet Index tracks more than 4,000 species spread across nearly 17,000 populations. Below are the key findings: Crashing populations From 1970 to 2014, the number of animals with a backbone — birds, reptiles, amphibians, mammals and fish — plummeted across the globe, on average, by about 60%. For freshwater vertebrates, losses topped 80%. Geographically, South and Central America have been hit hardest, with 89% less wildlife in 2014 than in 1970. Disappearing species The index of extinction risk for five major groups — birds, mammals, amphibians, corals and an ancient family of plants called cycads — shows an accelerating slide towards oblivion. Depending on which categories are included, the current rate at which species are going extinct is 100 to 1,000 times greater than only a few centuries ago, when human activity began to alter the planet’s biology and chemistry in earnest. By definition, this means that Earth has entered a mass extinction event, only the sixth in half-a-billion years. Breaching boundaries In 2009, scientists weighed the impact of humanity’s expanding appetites on nine processes — known as Earth systems — within nature. Each has a critical threshold, the upper limit of a “safe operating space” for our species. The do-not-cross red line for climate change, for example, is global warming of 1.5°C, according to a new U.N. report. So far, we have clearly breached two of these so-called planetary boundaries: species loss, and imbalances in Earth’s natural cycles of nitrogen and phosphorous (mainly due to fertiliser use). For two others, climate and land degradation, we have one foot in the red zone. Ocean acidification and freshwater supply are not far behind. As for new chemical pollutants such as endocrine disruptors, heavy metals, and plastics, we simply don’t know yet how much is too much. More generally, the marginal capacity of Earth’s ecosystems to renew themselves has been far outstripped by humanity’s ecological footprint, which has nearly tripled in 50 years. Shrinking forests Nearly 20% of the Amazon rainforest, the world’s largest, has disappeared in five decades. Tropical deforestation continues unabated, mainly to make way for soy beans, palm oil and cattle. Globally, between 2000 and 2014, the world lost 920,000 sq. km of intact or “minimally disturbed” forest, an area roughly the size of Pakistan or France and Germany combined. Satellite data shows the pace of that degradation picked up by 20% from 2014 to 2016, compared with the previous 15 years. Depleting oceans Since 1950, our species has extracted 6 billion tonnes of fish, crustaceans, clams, squids and other edible sea creatures. Despite the deployment of increasingly sophisticated fishing technologies, global catches — 80% by industrial fleets — peaked in 1996 and have been declining since. Climate change and pollution have killed off half of the world’s shallow water coral reefs, which support more than a quarter of marine life. Even if humanity manages to cap global warming at 1.5°C — which many scientists doubt is possible — coral mortality will likely be 70 to 90%. Coastal mangrove forests, which protect against storm surges made worse by rising seas, have also declined by up to half over the last 50 years. Statue of Unity In news: The Statue of Unity, a tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, is 177 feet higher than China's Spring Temple Buddha, which was the tallest statue till now. It is located on the river island called Sadhu Bet near Rajpipla, Gujarat. India and Italy: Defence Meeting Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – India and the World; International Relations In news: India invited Italy to participate in the defence sector under the ‘Make in India’ scheme. India and Italy held the 9th Military Group Meeting earlier in October in which they agreed on cooperation in 2019. Both countries sign agreement to curb terror financing. First time the two countries have agreed on joint defence production since the AugustaWestland case exploded in 2013. (MAINS FOCUS) NATIONAL TOPIC:General studies 1 & 2 Persons in the history, modern Indian history Governance and administration The unifier of modern India Introduction “By common endeavour we can raise the country to a new greatness, while a lack of unity will expose us to fresh calamities.” These pragmatic but profound remarks defined the vision and the sterling character of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the principal unifier of modern India. Force behind unification Sardar Patel’s foresight and tactful navigation of the most turbulent period in post-Independence, and the resolve he demonstrated in integrating the more than 500 princely States into the Dominion of India is an unparalleled accomplishment in modern history. Hailing Patel’s feat, Lord Mountbatten declared the unification of India as the first great success of the new independent government. Patel was a statesman with a strong sense of realpolitik, a realist to the core and an earthy politician whose sole aim was to build a strong and united India. The princely rulers had the option at that time to either accede to India or Pakistan or remain independent. Patel’s wisdom, foresight, patriotism, tact, persuasive powers and abiding commitment to fair play enabled him to untangle a highly complex political and social problem without triggering any kind of revolt or civil unrest. Operation Polo (Hyderabad) and case of Junagarh Patel was also compelled to use coercion by launching ‘Operation Polo’ to liberate and integrate Hyderabad after the Nizam of Hyderabad entertained false hopes of either joining Pakistan or remaining independent. In a swift operation lasting five days, Hyderabad State was liberated in September 1948. It was the most critical time when the country’s political unity was in jeopardy, India found the man of the moment in Sardar Patel. He displayed amazing patience, tact and a steely determination in dealing with an intransigent ruler, who refused to see the writing on the wall and even wanted to take the issue to the United Nations. Displaying statesmanship of the highest order, Sardar Patel prevented the attempts to not only Balkanise India but internationalise the issue as well. The complicated case of Junagarh, Gujarat, was also handled with dexterity by Patel. The problem of Jammu and Kashmir may have been resolved long back had Sardar Patel been given a free hand to handle it at that time. A builder of India Patel himself termed the entire exercise as a “bloodless revolution” when he wanted the Constituent Assembly to consider privy purse settlements for the surrender by the rulers of all their ruling powers and the dissolution of the States as separate units. Patel was an ardent follower of Mahatma Gandhi and never swerved in his loyalty to his mentor, although there were occasions when he differed with him. Similarly, he did not see eye-to-eye with Jawaharlal Nehru on certain issues, including the handling of Jammu and Kashmir. But he did not allow these differences or personal ego to come in the way of protecting the larger interests of the country. He worked shoulder-to-shoulder with Nehru in building a modern India. Patel was a multifaceted personality. He was a dynamic political leader, an organiser par excellence, a competent administrator and a skilful negotiator. After coming under the influence of Mahatma Gandhi, he became his loyal follower and successfully organised peasants against the imposition of taxes by the British at Kheda and Bardoli, Gujarat, and in the process he earned the title of ‘Sardar’ for his leadership qualities. The manner in which he marshalled the peasants and the unflinching stand taken by him eventually forced the authorities to roll back the taxes. Architect of the steel frame The Iron Man of India was the chief architect of India’s steel frame — the civil services. Thus, the All India Services were seen as an important cementing force in promoting the unity and integrity of the nation. It will be relevant to recall his famous address to the civil service probationers in 1947. when Patel told them that the service will have to adopt its true role of national service without being trammelled upon by traditions and habits of the past. He said: “Your (officers’) predecessors were brought up in the traditions in which they felt out of touch and kept themselves aloof from the common run of the people. It will be your bounden duty to treat the common men in India as your own or to put it correctly, to feel yourself to be one of them.” The man of integrity and intentions of "nation first" He readily accepted the Mahatma Gandhi’s advice to withdraw his candidacy for the post of Congress President in favour of Pandit Nehru in 1946, although a majority of State Congress committees supported his candidature. It was apparent that the Congress President would become the first Prime Minister of India. It once again proved his noble intention of placing the country’s interests above self. His love for the motherland was best described by Maulana Azad when he said: “He made his choice out of two courses that come before a man, namely would he live for his country or for himself? Sardar chose his country.” A tribute The 182-metre-tall ‘Statue of Unity’ is being unveiled on his birth anniversary at the Narmada dam site in Gujarat, in a tribute and recognition of Patel’s stupendous role in integrating and ensuring India’s unity. We must try to emulate his qualities and work towards realising his dream of providing ‘Suraaj’ in a new and prosperous India. Connecting the dots: Sardar Vallabh Patel rightly named as Iron Man of India. Comment. NATIONAL TOPIC:General studies 2 & 3 Right to privacy Information technology National and global data protection regime Facebook leaks redux: Data protection Introduction Barely six months after the Cambridge Analytica-Facebook data theft scandal, the world’s largest social network hit the headlines once again. Facebook announced that it had discovered a security breach that had compromised nearly 50 million accounts. The figure was subsequently revised to 30 million. It is also unclear how much personal data have been stolen, and how that data may end up being used in ways that could harm Facebook users. This announcement came after implementation of European Union General Data Protection Rules in May 2018. Do you know? What is GDPR? The law is a replacement for the 1995 Data Protection Directive, which has until now set the minimum standards for processing data in the EU. GDPR will significantly strengthen a number of rights for individuals as well as regulators. Individuals will find themselves with more power to demand companies reveal or delete the personal data they hold; Regulators will be able to work in concert across the EU for the first time, rather than having to launch separate actions in each jurisdiction; Enforcement actions will have real teeth, with the maximum fine now reaching the higher of €20m (£17.5m) or 4% of the company’s global turnover. These rules aim to create more consistent protection of consumer and personal data across the European Union. EU-GDPR mandates a baseline set of standards for companies that handle the EU citizens' data to better safeguard the processing and movement of citizens' personal data. India's draft bill on data protection, which has been created on the suggestions of B.N Srikrishna committee recommendations, also draws inspirations from EU-GDPR. Some highlights of EU-GDPR Requiring consent of the subject for data processing Anonymising the data collected to protect the privacy Providing data breach notifications Safely handling the transfer of data across the border Impact of the EU-GDPR The European Union (EU)’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) forced Facebook to go public with the breach so promptly, even before the full extent of the damage could be assessed. The GDPR’s stringent guidelines require companies to make such events known within three days of their discovery. EU-GDPR has ensured not only awareness of such data breach, but also prompt corrective measures with respect to data security which institutions need to ensure. Many Tech giants such as Google and facebook also changed their privacy terms and conditions, to be agreed by users. Conclusion In general, citizen-consumers have had to choose between two equally unsatisfactory options: either resign themselves to a post-privacy world or be perpetually scrambling to reskill themselves in order to be able to safely navigate the complicated and ever-evolving (mine)field of data privacy and safety. If data security for ordinary users is to become something more than a seminar topic, then an equitable regulatory regime such as the GDPR must become the universal norm, in force beyond the EU jurisdiction as well. Connecting the dots: Regulatory regime such as the General Data Protection Regulation must be in force beyond the EU. Elucidate. (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) Global Soil Biodiversity Atlas is prepared by - International Union for Conservation of Nature European Commission Joint Research Centre World Economic Forum United Nations Environment Programme Q.2) Living Planet Report (LPR) is published by – World Wide Fund for Nature International Union for Conservation of Nature World Economic Forum United Nations Environment Programme Q.3) Who referred to Public Sector Units (PSUs) as ‘temples of modern India’? Abdul Kalam Azad Sardar Vallabbhai Patel Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru C. Rajagopalachari Q.4) Consider the following regarding Sardar Vallabhai Patel National Unity Day observed on 30th October every year is to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhai Patel. By profession, he was an economist. He was the first Deputy Prime Minister of India. Which of the given statements are INCORRECT? 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only 1 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Q.5) Consider the following statements about General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) It is designed by International Telecommunications Union (ITU) It has been designed to protect the personal data from some open, unsecured Wi-Fi networks across the globe Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.6) In order to protect its citizen’s data, General Data protection regulation (GDPR) has been passed in which of the following? Canada Australia European Union Norway MUST READ Universities and patents The Hindu Define ‘strategic partners’ The Hindu Insurance, false assurance Indian Express India has few options in the Sri Lanka crisis Livemint Chinese cooperation on countering terrorism Livemint India’s neglected groundwater crisis Livemint

Oct 31, 2018 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz- 2019 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 99]

UPSC Quiz- 2019 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 99] Archives Q.1) Which one of the following mountain ranges is spread over only one State in India? Satpura Aravalli Sahyadri Select the correct code: 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 None of the above Q.2) Consider the following statements about Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) The zone experiences low precipitation The zone experiences high humidity Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) The term ‘Iffy Quotient’ was in news recently. What is it related to? Real Estate Equalisation Levy Fake News Open Market Operations Q.4) Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) is associated with which of the following organisations? BRICS G4 European Union SCO Q.5) A place called ‘Umru’ was in news recently. Where is it located? Ladakh Odisha Pondicherry None of the above To Download the Solution - Click here All the Best IASbaba

Oct 31, 2018 RSTV Video

RSTV - Challenges for working mothers

Challenges for working mothers Archives TOPIC: General studies 1: Role of women and women’s organization, women related issues, Social empowerment General studies 2: Mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections. In News: Like any other day, Archana Jayant was present along with her six-month-old daughter, Anika, in the police station in Uttar Pradesh's Jhansi district, but was clicked by someone and her picture went viral on social media last week. The Deputy Inspector General of Police applauded the dedication of Archana who also has a 10-year-old daughter. Woman is an integral part of the society. According to census 2011, females contribute to 48.5% of the Indian population. Traditionally, Indian women had been home makers. In late decades, with the spread of education and better awareness, along with increasing cost of living, women have shifted from home to career. Like many other countries, India has provided a stage for growth and development for women. However, women in India are still seen as the family manager back home. This attitude of the society has put dual responsibilities on women: pursuing a career and economic independence, while continuing, to bear the stress of household work. It can eventually take a toll on women’s physical and mental health. The plight of scores of other working mothers is no different from Archana's. Lack of proper infrastructure means mothers have to suffer to be bread winners or support their families. Several other mothers give up on their careers and lifestyle due to lack of adequate facilities. Those in the un-organised sector however, don't even have that option, their plight is far worse. The biggest challenge to work as women in this country and then when you are a mother it adds to your challenges. Lack of infrastructure not only in physical infrastructure but the sensitivity that should be present across the companies, across government towards a lactic mother or any other mother To be able to be approachable for her specific needs or be considerate for her needs like flexible working hours For some, it is easy to say that now after becoming a mother, take a break and come after a few years. What happens therefore is when she is back after a gap she doesn't get the job she deserves and thus, another set of challenges and struggles are set for her. Some of the solutions that can be incorporated: At policy level: Every establishment which is engaging more than 10 women must have a creche and must have good facilities for the women An amendment in the maternity Act was also introduced that is all women in this country who are working are entitled to avail the facility of 26 weeks of maternity leave so that they can take care of their infant. At an organisation level: Crèche on campus Mother’s resting and feeding room Performance rating for new and entrant mothers will not be affected by their absence from work during maternity. Performance appraisal guidelines from CEO and HR must clearly communicate that maternity, long leave and special leaves are given appropriate ratings, and should be transparently communicated and implemented across the organization. Active support from the team manager or business leader, to organize the workload of expectant mothers going on maternity leave, while ensuring continued performance of the team in their absence. “On-ramping” of women employees who return from maternity—re-skilling and re-integrating as a key priority to engage them back to work. Flexi-time work policies for new and entrant mothers during for the first year of their return from maternity. This can be equally applied by manufacturing, finance, banking, IT-related, pharma, hospitality, telecommunications—and all sectors of the economy. Options to work from home during maternity—especially if this is part of the medical advise to expectant mothers. Gender sensitization and awareness training programs for other employees and managers. Grievance Redressal Council—especially for women employees who have resumed post maternity. Congratulatory triggers should be sent to those who have applied for maternity and paternity leave. This practice is usually very well received and has tremendous emotive appeal. Conclusion: We, as a society, are in deep slumber on these issues concerning women. I think it's time that we started talking about equal partnerships at home with her husband. But what does she do when she leaves the confines of her home and goes to a workplace – you can't negotiate from a position of weakness. Even the working father should be able to demand a crèche. It should not be just the responsibility of a mother to raise the child. A tragic question to ponder upon as we struggle as a country to benefit from the demographic dividend that we are blessed with! Connecting the Dots: A World Bank study suggests that female labor force participation has been declining since 2004 in comparison to other developing countries as far as India is concerned. How do we reverse that trend really? Discuss.

Oct 30, 2018 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs [Prelims + Mains Focus] - 30th October 2018

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs (Prelims + Mains Focus)- 30th October 2018 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) India-Japan: 13th annual summit Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – India and the World; International Relations Key highlights: Both the countries outlined a vision for strengthened bilateral relations. Main focus - enhanced strategic and defence cooperation. Unwavering commitment towards “free and open Indo-Pacific”. Invest in upholding the rule of law and democratic values. Both countries to “expand concrete cooperation with the U.S. and other partners”. Announced the start of negotiations on an Acquisition and Cross-servicing Agreement, a logistics-sharing pact, that would allow Japanese ships to get fuel and servicing at Indian naval bases. A new Foreign and Defence Ministerial Dialogue, termed 2+2, was also announced to supplement an already formidable array of bilateral dialogue mechanisms that include the Annual Defence Ministerial Dialogue, Defence Policy Dialogue and the National Security Advisers Dialogue. On the economic front, the two countries have agreed to a Bilateral Swap Arrangement that would allow their central banks to exchange local currencies for up to $75 billion. Freedom of navigation Both the countries also referred to the necessity of ensuring the freedom of navigation and the importance of upholding the UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea), a set of conventions that China has been accused of flouting in the South China Sea. 10th SCO meet: disaster prevention Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – India and its neighbours; International Relations In news: India to host 10th SCO meeting on handling urban disaster. National Disaster Response Force to host the preparatory meeting for the “Joint mock exercise on urban earthquake search and rescue” to be held next year in India. Pakistan accepts India invite to SCO meet. The exercise will provide an opportunity to member countries to validate their preparedness and resilience to address the various disaster related challenges. Children under 15 at serious risk from polluted air: WHO Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II and III – Health issue; Pollution and Environment concerns In news: According to WHO – Every day about 93% of the world’s children under the age of 15 (1.8 billion children) breathe polluted air. Children could suffer neuro-development deficits. Air pollution also impacts neuro-development and cognitive ability and can trigger asthma, and childhood cancer. Children exposed to high levels of air pollution may be at greater risk for chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease later in life, the WHO said. Pic: https://d39gegkjaqduz9.cloudfront.net/TH/2018/10/30/DEL/Delhi/TH/5_07/e458b022_2492820_101_mr.jpg Do you know? Delhi tops national charts in bad air quality. Fourteen out of the 20 most polluted cities in the world are in India. The report says India faces the highest air pollution-related mortality and disease burden in the world. (MAINS FOCUS) INTERNATIONAL 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. India, China and the INF Treaty Introduction US President Donald Trump’s recently announced about American plans to withdraw from the three-decade-old missile treaty with Russia. The decision marks the end of an era of disarmament that India was so engaged with since its Independence. As one of the nine known nuclear-weapon powers, India has to adapt to the erosion of traditional methods of managing arms races. Geopolitical developments, emergence of new technologies and the declining domestic political support among the great powers are contributing to the demise of arms control. Implications of this withdrawal are important for Indian security — especially on the military balance with China, its traditional defence cooperation with Russia and the new possibilities for high-technology cooperation with the US, Europe and Japan. The INF treaty The Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty concluded in 1987 by Presidents Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev. It has been hailed as one of the most important arms control agreements between both the countries. Under the INF treaty, the US and Soviet Union agreed not to develop, produce, possess or deploy any ground-based ballistic and cruise missiles that have a range between 500 and 5,500 km. It exempted the air-launched and sea-based missile systems in the same range. The agreement came in the wake of huge public outcry in Europe in the 1980s at the Russian deployment of the SS-20 ballistic missiles and the US response with Pershing-2 rockets. The INF treaty helped address the fears of an imminent nuclear war in Europe. It also built some trust between Washington and Moscow and contributed to the end of the Cold War. Drawbacks of the treaty The treaty had loopholes that have now come to haunt America and Russia. This bilateral treaty left the other nuclear weapon powers free to develop ground-based intermediate range forces. Since then, many countries have developed missiles in the range of 500 to 5,500 km, including India, Pakistan and North Korea. It is China that has dramatically expanded its missile arsenal in the last three decades. According to American officials, nearly 90 per cent of China’s vast missile armoury — estimated at around 2,000 rockets — is in the intermediate range and would be illegal if Beijing were to be a part of the INF treaty. Reasons behind withdrawal Although the US cites Russian violations of the INF treaty as the immediate cause for the withdrawal, coping with China’s massive rocket force appears to be the more important reason for the decision. According to S.'s national security adviser, even without the alleged Russian violations, the INF treaty was a bad idea since it left China and North Korea free to undermine the security of the US and its allies in Asia. The expansive Chinese land-based intermediate range missile forces threaten the American naval ships deployed in the Western Pacific and target US military bases in Japan. The vulnerability of American military presence in the Pacific to Chinese missiles, in turn, undermines the credibility of American security commitment to its Asian allies. The US military leadership has long sought to lift the limitations imposed by the INF treaty on US missile forces in Asia. Is there any possibility of revival of INF treaty? In announcing the intent to withdraw, Trump said the only way to sustain the treaty is for Russia to stop the violations and China to join the INF treaty. Many arms control activists have long called for a genuinely universal INF treaty — that is all countries will give up intermediate range missiles. China has already rejected the proposition. It has always refused to join the US-Russian arms control agreements. If the US deploys a new INF in Asia, to enhance its capacity to deter China, Beijing is bound to react. The focus of a potential new arms race appears to be less on traditional nuclear armed missiles, but precise hypersonic missiles (which travel at least five times the speed of sound) equipped with conventional warheads. Moscow and Beijing have already invested in the development of hypersonic systems. India’s Position India too will have little interest in joining a treaty that would take away its current nuclear deterrent in the form of medium-range Agni missiles. India’s problem is less with the arms control diplomacy than the nature of its missile programme. While it has no reason to shed tears for the INF treaty, it will have to seriously examine the implications of the next steps by the major powers. India has an effort underway on hypersonic missiles — part indigenous and part in collaboration with Russia to build on the supersonic Brahmos missiles that travel more than twice as fast as sound. As the US conflict with Russia deepens, India’s partnership with Russia on advanced military systems will come under increasing scrutiny and pressure. The recent controversy over the acquisition of S-400 from Russia is just the beginning of a trend. Russia’s increasing military relations with China also casts a shadow over defence ties between India and Russia. Conclusion India has to think long and hard about its missile programme by focusing on the urgent need to ramp up the domestic effort as well as diversify its international collaboration on hypersonic weapons. India needs a significant force of hypersonic missiles to better control escalation to the nuclear level if there is another Doklam-like military confrontation with China. Delhi will also have to cope with the inevitable proliferation of hypersonic systems in its neighbourhood. Connecting the dots: The US withdrawal from the three-decade-old disarmament pact with Russia presents both a challenge and opportunity for India. Analyse. NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2 and 3 Public Services; Health Science and Tech, Indigenisation of technologies More potent healers Introduction In 2017, tuberculosis (TB) affected over 10 million and killed more people than HIV/AIDS — an estimated 1.3 million fatalities worldwide. With a quarter of TB cases and deaths, India’s efforts are critical for the global push to ending the epidemic by 2030. The problem Well-executed programmes that screen and effectively treat potential patients can stop TB in its tracks (China halved its TB prevalence rate between 1990 and 2010), but most such programmes rely on a top-down public healthcare system. A largely unregulated private sector treats two-thirds of India's patients. Some solutions In 2014, the Central TB Division, in partnership with local governments and two NGOs (PATH and World Health Partners), put in place a new programme in Patna and Mumbai that sought to improve the quality of TB diagnosis and treatment in the private sector. A critical part of the programme was first understanding how the private sector treated patients and the problems they faced. A team initiated the world’s largest surveillance of TB care quality, using the gold-standard method of standardised patients (SPs). SPs were trained professionals, recruited from local communities, who presented as patients with a pre-determined set of symptoms and responses to questions the doctors may ask. The standardisation of the case meant that the care they received could be benchmarked to standards of care, and accurately compared across providers. Findings of the surveillance The programme showed three key features characterised the “market” for TB care in these cities. First, only 35 per cent of patients choosing a healthcare facility at random would have been treated in a manner consistent with national and international guidelines. Penalising providers for unnecessary (potentially harmful) tests and medications reduces that fraction to below 10 per cent. Second, these numbers reflect the tremendous quality variation in both cities (Mumbai and Patna). Part of this variation is due to qualifications: Close to half the providers in both cities were AYUSH or informal, with MBBS providers correctly managing 46 per cent of the cases compared to 23.5 per cent for AYUSH and informal providers. Within both groups, there were always some providers who managed every SP correctly and some who got every case wrong. Third, it has been told again and again that the private sector over-medicates. This is evident in data, but with some nuance. The good news is that anti-TB medications were almost exclusively given by providers with the appropriate qualifications, and only after obtaining the necessary lab confirmations. Neither pharmacists nor informal or AYUSH providers abuse anti-TB medications — a major concern in past TB control efforts. The bad news is the frequent use of antibiotics and, more worryingly, classes of drugs known as fluoroquinolones and steroids, both of which can mask the symptoms of TB and make diagnoses harder. Enhanced steps In 2014-2015, the programmes incorporated these features of the market in their scale-up plans. Since then, both Mumbai and Patna have seen significant improvements in TB notification rates among private sector providers, with greater use of microbiological tests and improved treatment completion rates. Preliminary analysis on new data after the programme was in place suggests substantial improvements in case management. The government, supported by The Global Fund, is expanding this model of private sector engagement to several cities through its Joint Effort for Elimination of Tuberculosis. It is likely that they will face a comparable situation, with high-quality, dedicated doctors practicing amidst many indifferent and mediocre providers. Way forward: A proposed strategy A strategy called IFMeT is proposed, that may be key to successful private-public partnerships to fight TB with four components: Identification, focusing, messaging and testing (IFMeT). The strategy identifies “champion” high quality providers early in the programme to get quick and large returns by connecting patients with champion providers. Focusing investments and training on this smaller provider group, while leaving lower volume/quality providers untouched. This “provider focusing” approach decreases the scale of the programme while retaining virtually all its benefits. The third component is targeted messaging. Complex financial incentives that are hard to untangle in the private sector complicate efforts to reduce unnecessary medications. An alternate approach concentrates on one or two key behaviors. At this point, messaging only on the overuse of fluoroquinolones and steroids can have substantial impact on the patient’s health. Finally, under-testing is the key problem in the private sector. Doctors need to increase testing with more X-rays, sputum tests and GeneXpert tests for patients presenting with symptoms consistent with TB. The doctors given better diagnostic information like test results, made more appropriate decisions and gave fewer unnecessary medicines. Thus, IFMeT could take a large and seemingly intractable problem and reduce it to a series of actionable, manageable steps that can help end an epidemic that kills millions of Indians. Connecting the dots: TB is still one of the major cause of deaths across the world. To eliminate this epidemic, understanding the private sector and designing the corresponding strategies is one of the important solutions. Elucidate. (Note: For more on TB, Click here: https://iasbaba.com/2018/03/india-radio-air-tuberculosis-free-india/) (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) Which of the following statements regarding TB are correct? TB is a chronic viral disease. Once infected a person cannot be permanently cured. TB is spread through air when infected person cough, sneeze, spit or speak. Select the code from below: 1 and 2 2 and 3 3 only None of the above Q.2) Consider the following with regard to Multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by Virus MDR-TB is a type of tuberculosis which is unresponsive to at least two of the first line of anti-TB drugs isoniazid and rifampicin Bedaquiline is a medication used in the treatment of MDR-TB Choose the appropriate code 2 only 2 and 3 1 and 3 1, 2 and 3 Q.3) Recently the SC has put a ban on selling of crackers because of its harmful impact on air pollution level and public health. Which of the following get emitted from the crackers? Smoke Chemicals Toxic dust Choose the appropriate option 1 only 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only All of the above Q.4) Consider the following regarding National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) National Disaster Response Force consist of 12 battalions Assam Rifles and CISF are the two most specialized battalions of NDRF NDRF is under the control of Ministry of Home Affairs Which of the given statement/s is/are correct? 1 and 3 Only 3 2 and 3 1, 2 and 3 MUST READ The great game in West Asia The Hindu Stop the war The Hindu Who pays taxes and who doesn’t The Hindu The right identity Indian Express Where India, Japan ties stand now and what is planned for the future Indian Express The WTO: Is it all over or can something be done? Livemint

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