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PIB

IASbaba PIB Weekly : Press Information Bureau – 8th Oct to 14th Oct, 2018

IASbaba Press Information Bureau 8th – 14th October, 2018 ARCHIVES GS-2 Launch of National Health Resource Repository (NHRR) (Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health) Country’s first ever national healthcare facility registry of authentic, standardized and updated geo-spatial data of all public & private healthcare establishments Vision: Strengthen evidence-based decision making and develop a platform for citizen and provider-centric services by creating a robust, standardized and secured IT-enabled repository of India’s healthcare resources. Key expected outcomes: Provide comprehensive data on all health resources including private doctors, health facilities, chemists, and diagnostics labs Establish a National Health Resource Repository for evidence based decision making – aligned with Digital India mission Enhance the coordination between central and state government for optimization of health resources, making ‘live’ and realistic state PIPs and improving accessibility of data at all levels, including State HODs, thus, decentralize the decision making at district and state level. Key benefits of the NHRR project: Create a reliable, unified registry of country’s healthcare resources showing the distribution pattern of health facilities and services between cities and rural areas Generate real-world intelligence to identify gaps in health and service ratios, and ensure judicious health resource allocation and management. It shall identify key areas of improvement by upgrading existing health facilities or establishing new health facilities keeping in view the population density, geographic nature, health condition, distance, etc. The result shall be enhanced center and state government coordination to ensure intelligent use of health resources to ensure superior health access, service delivery and improve transparency & accountability for effective centre-to-state funding. The project shall improve the visibility of Private providers to enable Public-Private Partnerships. It shall also provide access to information on health service providers to the citizen of India for improved health outcomes and enable mass outreach with all stakeholders such as hospitals, laboratories, private & public doctors, blood banks, pharmacies, etc. National Health Profile-2018: The National Health Profile covers demographic, socio-economic, health status and health finance indicators, along with comprehensive information on health infrastructure and human resources in health. CBHI has been publishing National Health Profile every year since 2005. Cabinet approves MoU between India and Lebanon for cooperation in the field of agriculture and allied sectors: Promote understanding of best Agricultural practices in the two countries and will help in better productivity at farmer fields as well as improved global market Increase agriculture production and productivity by getting access to best practices and market worldwide Lead to innovative techniques for increasing production and productivity, leading to strengthening of food security. Memorandum of Understanding between India and Romania in the field of tourism: To expand bilateral cooperation in the tourism sector To exchange information and data related to tourism To encourage cooperation between tourism stakeholders including Hotels and Tour operators Investment in the Tourism and Hospitality sectors To exchange visits of Tour Operators / Media /Opinion Makers for promotion of two way tourism To exchange experiences in the areas of promotion, marketing, destination development and management Foster bilateral cooperation through film tourism for promoting the two countries as attractive tourism destinations To promote safe, honourable and sustainable tourism Facilitate the movement of tourism between the two countries Memorandum of Cooperation between India and Finland on Environmental Cooperation Air and water pollution prevention and purification, remediation of contaminated soils Waste management including hazardous wastes, and waste-to-energy technologies Promotion of circular economy, low-carbon solutions and sustainable management of natural resources including forests Climate change Environmental and Forest monitoring and data management Conservation of Marine and Coastal Resources Integrated water management of Oceanic/Sea Islands GS-3 Strengthening Forest Fire Management in the Country (Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation) Fire has been a part of India’s landscape since time immemorial and can play a vital role in healthy forests, recycling nutrients, helping tree species regenerate, removing invasive weeds and pathogens, and maintaining habitat for some wildlife. Occasional fires can also keep down fuel loads that feed larger, more destructive conflagrations, but as populations and demands on forest resources have grown, the cycle of fire has spun out of balance. Large areas of degraded forest are now subject to burning on an annual or semi-annual basis. As these fires are no longer beneficial to forest health, India is increasingly wrestling with how to improve the prevention and management of unwanted forest fires. Tackling forest fires is even more imperative in India as the country has set ambitious policy goals for improving the sustainability of its forests. As part of the National Mission for Green India under India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change, the government has committed to increase forest and tree cover by 5 million hectares and to improve the quality of forest on another 5 million hectares. Relatedly, under its NDC, India has committed to bringing 33 percent of its geographical area under forest cover and to create additional sinks of 2.5 billion to 3 billion tons worth of CO2 stored in its forests by 2030. Yet, it is unclear whether India can achieve these goals if the prevention and management of forest fires is not improved. Recommendations: Developing a National Forest Fire Prevention Management Plan as an open, consultative and a time-bound process Institute standard management practices Adapt technology to local conditions, as well as scale up the best practices Increase engagement with local communities to ensure that big fire is used in a responsible way Give communities a greater say in decision-making process The National FFPM Action Plan should delineate the roles and responsibilities of the MoEFCC, state forest departments, communities and disaster agencies. There is a need to support forest fire management through improved data, and research to fill critical knowledge gaps. A national forest fire information database, bringing together satellite-based remote sensing data, and field-reported data, will be instrumental for assessing longer-term trends across states and regions and for planning fire prevention and response.   In addition, defining a national research agenda for fire management and provision of funding opportunities for scientific research would help to establish formal cooperation between members of the research community and the forest department. Prelims oriented News World Bank’s Human Capital Index Broader theme of the World Development Report (WDR) this year is “The Changing Nature of Work”. World Bank has launched a Human Capital Project (HCP) – The HCP programme is claimed to be a program of advocacy, measurement, and analytical work to raise awareness and increase demand for interventions to build human capital. There are three components of HCP- A cross-country human capital measurement metric called the Human Capital Index (HCI) A programme of measurement and research to inform policy action A programme of support for country strategies to accelerate investment in human capital The HCI has three components: Survival, as measured by under-5 mortality rates; Expected years of Quality-Adjusted School which combines information on the quantity and quality of education (quality is measured by harmonizing test scores from major international student achievement testing programs and quantity from number of years of school that a child can expect to obtain by age 18 given the prevailing pattern of enrolment rates across grades in respective countries); Health environment using two proxies of (a) adult survival rates and (b) the rate of stunting for children under age 5. Note: UNDP constructs Human Development Index (HDI) The HCI uses survival rates and stunting rate instead of life expectancy as measure of health, and quality-adjusted learning instead of merely years of schooling as measure of education. HCI also excludes per capita income whereas the HDI uses it. Two significant changes from HDI are exclusion of income component and introduction of quality adjustment in learning. Exclusion of income element and introduction of quality adjustment makes HCI far less representative of Human Capital Development than the Index claims it to be. Monitoring of Zika Virus Disease cases in Rajasthan: The Zika Virus has been identified decades back in Uganda where there is a river named Zika, the region around which the virus was first identified. The symptoms of the people affected with Zika are fever, red eyes, body aches, head ache, nausea etc. The virus causes only mild to moderate illness. The only vulnerable category is pregnant women. The peculiarity of the Zika virus vector i.e. Aedes Aegypti mosquito is active only during the day time and it can fly only up to 200m. Hence, it can be easily contained. Section 151A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 mandates the Election Commission to fill the casual vacancies in the Houses of Parliament and State Legislatures through bye elections within six months from the date of occurrence of the vacancy, provided that the remainder of the term of a member in relation to a vacancy is one year or more. Cyclonic storm ‘TITLI’ and ‘LUBAN’ ‘TITLI’: over the Bay of Bengal ‘LUBAN’: over the Arabian sea Foundation stone for development of Ghagra River as National Waterway (NW)-40 in U.P Ghaghara, also called Karnali, is a perennial trans-boundary river originating on the Tibetan Plateau near Lake Manasarovar. Cuts through the Himalayas in Nepal and joins the Sharda River at Brahmaghat in India. Together they form the Ghaghara River, a major left bank tributary of the Ganges. Longest river in Nepal Largest tributary of the Ganges by volume and the second longest tributary of the Ganges by length after Yamuna Lower Ghaghara is also known as Sarayu river and finds mention in Ramayana. Ayodhya is situated on its right bank. Battle of Ghaghra, fought in 1529, was a major battle for the conquest of India by the Mughal Empire. Quotes President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind Countering Radicalization: Challenges before Modern Society The battle against terrorism, extremism and radicalism must be fought, first and foremost, in the minds of people, between those who believe in peace, love and humanity and those who feed on hatred, death and destruction. It is a battle of opposing ideas, of humanity on one hand and a make-belief world on the other. Talking to the youth, our future; and scholars, our guide and pathfinders, therefore, becomes essential. Our society has always believed in the power of ideas derived from our history, civilization and culture. Our age-old values of Sufism, of humanism have shielded us against dark and ugly designs. The call of our revered Sufi saint Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya,– “Almighty holds dear those who love Him for the sake of human beings, and those who love human beings for the sake of Almighty”  binds our social fabric. The great Indian poet Mirza Abdul Qadir Bedil, who is remembered fondly in the lands of Amu and Syr Dariya wrote : चिस्त इंसान? कमाले कुदरते इश्क मानिये काएनातो सूरते इश्क Meaning - What is human being? Perfect expression of love. He is the true meaning of universe and face of love. If we instill this love for humanity in ourselves and spread the same to others, peace and love will prevail in our hearts, in our minds and in our world.

RSTV Video

RSTV - Law and Child Abuse

Law and Child Abuse Archives TOPIC: General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes In News: The Supreme Court has directed special courts to award compensation to sexually abused children on the lines of the NALSA scheme for victims of sexual assaults and acid attacks, till the Centre finalises the rules. Details The bench took into account the fact that the Centre had not framed any rules under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act on the basis of which special courts could award compensation to minor victims, and directed that NALSA scheme be used as a guiding factor for the purpose. The National Legal Services Authority had framed the 'Compensation Scheme for Women Victims or Survivors of Sexual Assault and Other Crimes-2018', which the top court has accepted. The guidelines have come into force across the country and it would be gender neutral. The special courts would take into consideration the POCSO Act, which is gender neutral, as well as the circumstances of the cases while awarding interim compensation to the minor victims of sexual assaults. The special courts will also consider that interim compensation thus awarded was not misused or misutilised. Wide publicity should be given to the scheme as well as the apex court order on a regular basis till the rules are finalised. National Legal Services Authority’s (NALSA) compensation scheme Gives compensation slabs for victims of sexual assault, acid attacks and even loss of foetuses, and earmarks a minimum Rs 5 lakh and Rs 7 lakh respectively for women who go through a crisis after sexual or acid attacks. A minimum of Rs 5 lakh is to be paid in case of loss of life or gang rape and maximum of Rs 10 lakh. A minimum of Rs 4 lakh is to be paid in case of rape or unnatural sexual assault, with the maximum fixed at Rs 7 lakh. In case of victims of burning and acid attacks, the minimum compensation will be Rs 7 lakh for total disfigurement, with a maximum of Rs 8 lakh. Rs 5 lakh has been fixed in case of 50 per cent burns, while the upper limit is Rs 8 lakh. For loss of limb or body part resulting in 80 per cent permanent disability, Rs 2 lakh is to be given, with Rs 2 lakh in case of grievous physical injury. The scheme provides that in case of pregnancy on account of rape, the victim will get between Rs 3 lakh and Rs 4 lakh, while for miscarriage or loss of fertility due to such assaults, the amount will be between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 3 lakh. Why this decision – An analysis This is a true innovation of the social justice delivery system, enforcing the law of the land in such an innovative manner to deliver waves of social justice. What therefore is important is the mindset of the judiciary, the legal prosecution system, the criminal justice system itself. We need to understand how trained are our public prosecutors that are handling the cases under these laws, because after all, the compensation that the judge is going to award is going to be as good as the case that the public prosecutor is going to argue in the court before him. We cannot put a price on the trauma that someone has really gone through. But at least with this kind of a compensation people will talk more about it. Earlier what was happening was in the society people were not reporting the crime – the girl was unmarried normally as the parents used to get scared of reporting thinking that maybe she may not be able to get married or what will the society think. Unfortunately, in our society, the victim is always the person who has always been blamed for one reason or the other. Now, what will happen is that atleast people will start reporting. Awareness generation on the issue of sexuality and sexual abuse has to become a part of daily discourse in schools, as part of curriculum. We have to start talking about gender rights, equality and sexuality.  We've got to start talking about body parts and we've got to look at it as not something that the person should be ashamed of. We have to create an atmosphere where if any part of the body including a private part is hurt we actually seek out treatment. It shouldn't be a taboo but a natural course ahead. It is a cultural change which should begin from one’s home. We need to pay equal attention to the families of the victims because often it's the families that are perpetrating the same mindset. There is absolutely zero communication as parents on their own will assume certain things and do certain things, not with the bad intention but with the intention to protect their child; but end up with actions that are detrimental to the child’s understanding and overall growth and development. And this inaction turns out to be very expensive for both the child and parents. For that matter, even the online abuse of children is on the rise whether it is cyberbullying or any kind of stalking or depression symptoms –people are trying to attack the children and involve them in financial crimes inflicting psychological harm. This is a huge area of concern. There is a need to provide children with the right education on how to safeguard themselves online – what kind of games the children are playing today, are the parents able to monitor these online activity, how many parents are actually able to filter out the content or read the browsing history. We need to start conversations around these issues.

Motivational Articles

Creative Guidance – Know Your Strengths and Weaknesses – Inspirational Educative Articles

Know Your Strengths and Weaknesses: Not all of us are capable of doing everything. Just by the sheer nature of our different learning and upbringings we would have developed different strengths and weaknesses. Without knowing our strengths and weakness, we will simply be leaving our future to chance. Most of us don’t even enquire into the nature of our strengths and weakness. Strengths and weaknesses are almost looked at as job interview questions; we reflect on them only when enquired about it by someone else. Very rarely do we by our own choice reflect on our strengths and weaknesses. The main reason for not enquiring into our real strengths and weaknesses is fear. Most of us are simply not ready to accept our weaknesses. Because of this, a lot of our weaknesses disguise themselves as strengths. A lot of our shortcomings as individuals are hidden under pretty labels that we conveniently create for ourselves. It takes courage to enquire objectively into our real strengths and weaknesses. When we are able to find this courage, we tap into a source of strength and understanding like no other. Once we have developed the ability to clearly see our strengths and weaknesses, we become totally different individuals. We become capable of dealing with situations and circumstances, infinitely better. Just think about it. How often do we choose a certain path and pursue it blindly before realizing that we have chosen a wrong path. The path we have chosen might be right for someone else. It might even be a right path for a majority of people. But it might be an absolutely wrong path as far as your learning, upbringing and conditioning is concerned. Each one of us is unique in our ability to pick and choose what works best for us. The moment we forget our individual strengths and weaknesses and simply follow a herd mentality, we end up regretting our decisions. More often than not, we fail because we were simply following someone else’s approach. Just because an approach has worked for someone else doesn’t mean that it has to work for you. This doesn’t mean that we cannot learn from others. The most important quality of learning is in knowing how to tailor the learning to our individual strengths. Only when the learning is personalized, internalized and analyzed based on our own individual experiences, does it become relevant and useful. It is never too late to pause and reflect on your true abilities. Look at yourself from a certain distance. Put some space between you and your ideas of life. This space will help you to look at your strengths and weaknesses without any prejudice. Your whole perspective of life changes when you can clearly see your strengths and weaknesses. “This article is a part of the creative endeavor of The Ahamo Movement and IASBABA.”

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs [Prelims + Mains Focus] - 13th October 2018

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs (Prelims + Mains Focus)- 13th October 2018 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS SNIPPETS) Panel to study issues raised by #MeTooIndia Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – Women issue; Government policies and laws dealing with sexual harassment In news: Ministry for Women and Child Development to constitute group of legal experts to examine the existing legal and institutional framework to deal with complaints of sexual harassment at the workplace The expert committee is expected to advise the Ministry to strengthen the existing framework Do you know? The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 is a legislative act in India that seeks to protect women from sexual harassment at their place of work. The Act came into force from 9 December 2013. This statute superseded the Vishakha Guidelines for prevention of sexual harassment introduced by the Supreme Court of India. The Act will ensure that women are protected against sexual harassment at all the work places, be it in public or private. This will contribute to realisation of their right to gender equality, life and liberty and equality in working conditions everywhere. The sense of security at the workplace will improve women's participation in work, resulting in their economic empowerment and inclusive growth. Silver Jubilee celebrations of NHRC Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – Role of Constitutional and Non Constitutional Bodies; Government schemes and policies; Welfare issue In news: PM Modi inaugurated Silver Jubilee celebrations of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) PM said NHRC has an important role to play in government's efforts to achieve sustainable development goals. Govt committed to improve lives of people by ensuring their rights Mr Modi cited Ayushman Bharat, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Swachh Bharat, Saubhagya Yojana as schemes aimed towards providing dignified life for all. He said government is moving ahead with the aim of employment for all, education for all and health care for all. The Prime Minister stated that, government brought triple talaq bill to ensure the rights of Muslim women. He said the government also worked for rights of persons with disabilities. He said social media can play a big role in spreading awareness about human rights. He also hailed the Ayushmaan Bharat scheme, saying 50,000 people have benefited from it within two and a half weeks of its launch. PM on NHRC Prime Minister said NHRC has acted as the voice of the weaker sections and played an important role in the nation-building. During the last four years, serious efforts have been made to raise the dignity of the oppressed section of the society.  He said, during the dark period of emergency, human rights were violated but people of the country worked hard to regain these rights. Do you know? The NHRC was set up on the 12th October, 1993 under the Protection of Human Rights Act, passed by Parliament. India Elected To UN Human Rights Council With Most Number Of Votes Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – International Affairs; Role of India - country's standing in the international community In news: India got elected to the United Nations’ top human rights body for a period of three years beginning January 1, 2019. India got 188 votes in the Asia-Pacific category, the highest number of votes among all candidates. The 193-member UN General Assembly held elections for new members to the UN Human Rights Council. The 18 new members were elected by absolute majority through a secret ballot. Countries needed a minimum of 97 votes to get elected to the Council. India's win reflects the country's standing in the international community. Pic: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/4pq728/article25209709.ece/alternates/FREE_660/14th-unhrc Do you know? India had previously been elected to the Geneva-based Human Rights Council for the 2011-2014 and 2014-2017 term. Its last tenure had ended on December 31, 2017 and in accordance with the rules, it was not eligible for immediate re-election since it had already served two consecutive terms. Overhaul GDP norms: MPs Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III – Indian Economy and issues associated with it In news: Report by Estimates Committee of Parliament says – The current manner in which the GDP is measured needs an overhaul as it provides an incomplete estimation of economic activity. The current GDP and Gross Value Added measures have also been questioned by Opposition leaders and economists alike. The Opposition even accused the Narendra Modi government of fudging the figures. The committee noted that the GDP calculation did not measure the depletion of natural resources, a point several economists, including former Chief Economic Adviser Arvind Subramanian, have pointed out. The report said the current measure of GDP did not incorporate the economic contributions of women in running households and maintaining accounts; nor did it have any measure of whether an increase in GDP resulted in an increase in happiness. Pic: https://d39gegkjaqduz9.cloudfront.net/TH/2018/10/13/DEL/Delhi/TH/5_09/9a2e7e22_2455643_101_mr.jpg Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (STIAC) Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III – Science and Technology; Role of Technology in Health Sector; Health issue In news: Prime Minister’s Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (STIAC) held its first meeting. Key decision announced – India is planning a major mission to sequence the genes of a “large” group of Indians — akin to projects in the U.K., China, Japan and Australia — and use this to improve the health of the population. The Health and Family Welfare Ministry and the Biotechnology Department will be closely associated with the project. Do you know? Ever since the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research in 2009 announced that it had sequenced the genome of an Indian, then making India one of six countries to achieve such a feat, several research labs have analysed genes from Indians for disease susceptibility. However, no compendium of genes that differentiate Indian populations from, say, Caucasian or African genomes exist. A group of Indian scientists and companies are involved with a 100k GenomeAsia project, led by the National Technological University (NTU), Singapore, to sequence the whole genomes of 100,000 Asians, including 50,000 Indians. Important Value Additions: About GenomeAsia 100k: GenonieAsia 100k is a non-profit consortium with a mission to generate genomic information for Asian populations and to promote genetic understanding of Asian populations to support research and discovery for healthy living and longevity. GenomeAsia 100k, announced an ambitious plan to sequence 100,000 individuals. It is intended to initially include populations from 12 South Asian countries and at least 7 of North and East Asian countries. Key goal of the consortium is to accelerate precision medicine applications for Asian patients. It will also build advanced analytical capabilities to parse ‘big-data' sets, leveraging advances in data science and artificial intelligence. C-section use doubled in India: Lancet report Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – Health issue In news: The use of caesarean section increased from 9% of births in 2005-6 to 18.5% in 2015-16 in India. While the surgery is still unavailable for many women and children in low-income countries and regions, the procedure is overused in many middle-and high-income settings Globally, C-section use has increased by 3.7% each year between 2000-2015 — rising from 12% of live births (16 million of 131.9 million) in 2000, to 21% of live births (29.7 million of 140.6 million) in 2015, researchers said. Do you know? C-section is a life-saving intervention for women and newborns when complications occur, such as bleeding, foetal distress, hypertensive disease, and babies in abnormal position. However, the surgery is not without risk for mother and child, and is associated with complications in future births. It is estimated that only 10-15% of births medically require a C-section due to complications, suggesting that average C-section use should lie between these levels. Concern: In at least 15 countries, C-section use exceeds 40%, researchers said. Given the increasing use of C-section, even when medically not required, there is a crucial need to understand the health effects on women and children (MAINS FOCUS) NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2 Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education, Human Resources The Higher Education: Reading between the rankings Introduction Two recent developments draw our attention to the state of India’s universities. The first is the release of the annual ranking of the world’s universities by the Times Higher Education (THE). The other is an announcement by the Prime Minister, as reported in the press, which has an even closer bearing on the future of higher education here. THE Ranking: The newcomers’ signal The universities placed at the top all have breadth in the range of disciplines offered and have been recognised as centers of knowledge production for decades, if not for centuries. In the ranking of India’s universities, while the Indian Institute of Science topped, the list of Indian institutions that made it to the global top one thousand, three very new ones improved their ranking considerably. These are IIT Indore, which finished ahead of most of its ‘founding five’ sisters, the JSS University, Mysuru and the Amrita University, Coimbatore. To get a definite idea of what contributed to the higher rankings of these universities we would need to study the indicators chosen by the THE. And the reasons that, though located in smaller cities, they could lead the three universities of Calcutta, Madras and Mumbai, set up in the mid-1800s and with a large number of students on their rolls. It would seem that there is something these three institutions in question are doing which leaves them ahead of a very large number of much older Indian universities. ‘Conference on Academic Leadership on Education for Resurgence’ There was held in Delhi the ‘Conference on Academic Leadership on Education for Resurgence’, jointly organised by University Grants Commission, All India Council for Technical Education and the Indian Council for Social Science Research, among other institutions. This event was attended by over 350 Vice Chancellors and representatives of the universities. This is a powerful grouping indeed. Delivering the inaugural address, the Prime Minister announced that the government would make available Rs. 1 lakh crore for infrastructure in higher education by 2022. The Prime Minister is also reported to have emphasised the importance of the Indian Institutes of Management Bill of 2017 granting autonomy to the IIMs. He correctly pointed out that this meant that the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) will no longer dictate their curricula. Somewhat earlier the government had announced a list of ‘institutions of eminence’, the idea underlying which was that they are now free to set their own rules and regulations. While the freeing of universities from external control and increasing their resource base is for the better, the question is whether these moves can by themselves raise higher education in India to the desirable global level. State of higher education in India There are two aspects that need acknowledgement from a survey of the state of higher education in India. First, the rankings, though imperfect, suggest that Indian universities are lagging in their research output. Another aspect, namely the migration overseas even at the undergraduate level, suggests that not even the dissemination of knowledge here is considered good enough by Indians. The estimated flow of income overseas due to fees paid to foreign universities is around $2 billion. Surely, resources cannot be the barrier to providing world-class teaching in India? University teachers are paid well enough and the availability of material is no longer a problem, with highly affordable Indian editions of the best international textbooks. University culture vs Excellence and autonomy The crucial factor is the absence of the norms internal to the Indian university that enable desirable outcomes with respect to teaching and research. Among these norms would be an expectation of excellence from both teachers and students and the assurance of autonomy to the former. This autonomy, it may be asserted, is to be expected not only in relation to external agencies such as the UGC or the MHRD but also within the university, including from peers.0 In India the culture of university pervades beneath the mushroom cloud of UGC regulations, governing everything from hours to assessment. There are no norms making for the attainment of excellence or the empowerment of faculty so that they deliver to their highest potential. On the other hand, one often encounters established practices that reward mediocrity and restrict autonomy of the faculty. It needs to be emphasised that this ‘culture’ is mostly owed to the university itself; it is not something that is imposed upon it. The autonomy of a teacher is both a value in itself and designed to contribute to the larger goal of excellence in the production and dissemination of knowledge. In India this value receives little recognition and its crystallisation is thwarted, irrespective of the ideological persuasion of the regime governing the university. It is not as if the idea of the university as a space of freedom and intellectual responsibility has received universal acceptance globally. However, the best regarded universities of the world today yet harbour some of the norms which ensure that they remain ahead. Culture may be difficult to measure but when its meaning is reduced to norms as the rules of the game, it is easy for us to see what is missing here. Conclusion No amount of display of concerns over India’s place in the world university rankings or pumping resources into infrastructure building can help if the culture is not conducive to creativity. Its culture is a university’s most valuable resource. Feeding a repressive culture is a bad omen for the future of our universities and, therefore, India’s place in the world of knowledge. Rightly we regret the fact that Nalanda, an international university that had flourished in India over a millennium ago, was destroyed through foreign invasion. Today our universities may be being destroyed by our own short-sightedness. Connecting the dots: Autonomy and excellence are directly proportional, for competitive university education outcomes, do you agree? Elucidate with examples. (MAINS FOCUS) INTERNATIONAL TOPIC:General Studies 3 Economics, Growth and development Environment and climate change Science and Technology Nobel in Economics: An economics fix Introduction American economists William D. Nordhaus and Paul M. Romer were jointly awarded the 50th economics Nobel prize this week in recognition of their work on economic growth and its long-run sustainability. Contribution of these two economists The Nobel committee noted that the duo’s work “brought us considerably closer to answering the important question of how we can achieve sustained and sustainable economic growth”. The committee’s praise is fitting as both economists devoted their careers to the study of the various “externalities” or “spillovers” that affect economic growth in a market economy. Mr. Nordhaus, for one, has been a pioneer in the movement towards quantifying the impact of economic growth on the climate and, in turn, the impact of climate change on economic growth. To correct this problem, he recommended imposing appropriate carbon taxes to curb pollution that was detrimental to growth in the long run. Mr. Romer, on the other hand, studied the importance of technology in achieving economic growth. He proposed the endogenous growth model where technological progress is seen as the outgrowth of businesses and other entities investing in research and development. At the same time, he recognised ways in which the market economy may undersupply technological innovations. Consequently, he recommended the use of subsidies, patents and other forms of government intervention to encourage economic growth through increased investment in technology. In essence, the Nobel committee’s decision is recognition of economic research concerning market failure. Criticism It may often be impossible to arrive at an objective measure of the carbon tax rate or the ideal amount of pollution to allow in a developing economy. It is equally troublesome when one needs to determine how much subsidy, or other forms of government support, should be allotted towards research and development. Even though mathematical models have been devised to address these problems, they are only as good as the data fed into them. Further, such decisions regarding the perfect carbon tax rate or the ideal subsidy allocation are likely to be determined by political considerations rather than simply pure economics. So the threat of government failure may have to be taken as seriously as the effects of market failure. These concerns lead to questions about the real-world impact of the policies supported by the pair. Conclusion Nonetheless, many would argue that Mr. Nordhaus and Mr. Romer’s works are an improvement from the past in that they try to use the market mechanism itself to address its failures.0 The Nobel committee has done well to recognise important work on issues that are particularly relevant to the developing world. Connecting the dots: The environmental “externalities” or “spillovers” that affect economic growth in a market economy are greatest problems before developing countries like India. 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) Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act 2013, was passed to protect women from sexual harassment. Which of the following statements are correct regarding this act? It is compulsory for an organization with atleast 100 or more employees to set up an internal complaints committee for addressing complaints of sexual harassment. It covers all kinds of work places including non – traditional ones as well as transport provided for work. It includes, unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of sexual nature, showing pornography, physical contact or advances, and making sexually-coloured remarks. Select the code from following: 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above Q.2) The Women and Child Development Ministry launched an e – portal, SHe – box. The platform has been made to register Complaints of Central Government women employees regarding maternity facilities in offices. Complaints regarding gender discrimination in work and payment. Complaints related to workplace related sexual harassment. Complaints against domestic violence and abuse. Q.3) Consider the following with regard to National Human Rights Commission: It is a non-statutory and non-constitutional body. It can intervene in any proceeding involving allegation of violation of human rights pending before a court. The commission is not empowered to inquire into any matter after the expiry of one year from the date on which the act constituting violation of human rights is alleged to have been committed. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 only 1 and 3 only 2 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Q.4) Which among the following statements is/are correct in regard to Protection of Human Rights Act? It provided for the constitution of a National Human Rights Commission and also Human Rights Courts. It made it mandatory for the State Governments to constitute State Human Rights Commission. Choose the correct answer from the code given below: 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.5) Consider the following statements about National Human Rights commission: NHRC is central authority for Human rights enforcement established by Parliament in 1993. The Chairman of the commission should be a retired Chief Justice of India. The Commission can take cognizance of complaints against any individual but only within the territory of India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? Only 1 1 and 2 Only 2 1,2 and 3 Q.6) Consider the following statements about Universal Periodic Review (UPR) It is established by the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council (HRC) It is a process in which human rights record of each of the UN’s member countries is peer-reviewed every four or five years The recommendations accepted at the UPR in HRC are binding in nature Select the correct statements 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above Q.7) Which of the following statements about Prime Minister’s Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC) is/are correct? It will be chaired by Prime Minister. It is set to act as a high-level advisory body to several ministries and execute mission-oriented programmes for these ministries. Select the correct codes from the given options: Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 None of the above Must Read Reading between the rankings The Hindu As the rupee spins downwards The Hindu In Kolar, a parched land in a sea of sewage The Hindu Bank as a trustee Indian Express The river’s flow Indian Express Erasing caste from hate crime Indian Express The agrarian reformer Indian Express

Motivational Articles

Creative Guidance: Book Review – Ishmael – Daniel Quinn

Ishmael: Daniel Quinn Ishmael, a novel by Daniel Quinn is a beautiful narrative about man and his place on this planet. The originality and thought provoking nature of this novel will surely leave you both wondering and impressed. There is something wrong about the way we are dealing with our planet and this novel brings home this point in a unique and interesting way. Ishmael is both an engaging and an enraging novel. You will encounter several moments in the novel when you will feel like screaming into someone’s ear – you see, this is what we are doing to this planet and this is what we need to do in order to save it! Ishmael all along the way makes us question our relationship with this planet. It makes us reflect on our actions in a way that is both stimulating and disturbing. There are hardly any dull moments in this beautifully crafted work of art. You will fall in love with Ishmael and this world after reading this book. Very rarely comes a book that can make you think about the nature of life all around you as much as Ishmael. This is a must read for all nature and animal lovers. More importantly this book is a must read for all those who still believe that humanity can learn from its mistakes and move in a different direction.

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs [Prelims + Mains Focus] - 12th October 2018

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs (Prelims + Mains Focus)- 12th October 2018 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS SNIPPETS) Global Hunger Index 2018 Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – Health issue In news: 1 in 5 Indian children under the age of five are ‘wasted’, which means they have extremely low weight for their height, reflecting acute under-nutrition. Overall, India has been ranked at 103 out of 119 countries in the Index, with hunger levels in the country categorised as “serious”. Main indicators Four main indicators are used to calculate hunger levels in the report – Undernourished population (1/3rd weight), Child wasting (1/6th weight), Child stunting (1/6th weight) and (iii)Child stunting (1/6th weight) and Infant mortality rate (1/3rd weight). India has shown improvement in three of the indicators during 2013-2017 The percentage of undernourished people in the population has dropped from 18.2% in 2000 to 14.8% in 2018. The child mortality rate has halved from 9.2% to 4.3%, while child stunting has dropped from 54.2% to 38.4% over the same period. However, the prevalence of child wasting has actually worsened in comparison to previous reference years. It stood at 17.1% in 2000, and increased to 20% in 2005. In 2018, it stands at 21%. Do you know? The only country with a higher prevalence of child wasting is the war-torn nation of South Sudan. (28%) Child wasting is high across South Asia, constituting a “critical public health emergency”, according to UN organisations. Reports highlights the importance of attention to birth outcomes and breastfeeding. Pic: https://d39gegkjaqduz9.cloudfront.net/TH/2018/10/12/DEL/Delhi/TH/5_07/4aea9a5c_2453252_101_mr.jpg Illegal sale of antibiotics to grow farm animals - raise superbug risk Part of: GS Mains II and IV – Health issues; Ethics; Unethical practices In news: Zoetis, the world’s biggest animal drugs company, has been accused of double standards and of exposing consumers in India to “higher levels of risk” by selling antibiotics for purposes now banned in Europe and the U.S. Zoetis is supplying Indian farmers with antibiotics to help their animals grow faster. The practice should be banned worldwide, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), because it increases the prevalence of resistant bacteria that can infect humans and cause deadly and untreatable infections. Zoetis publicly supported new laws in the U.S. banning this abuse of antibiotics as part of its “continued commitment to antibiotic stewardship”. However, Zoetis continues to sell antibiotics directly to Indian farmers with claims on the company’s Indian website that they will make animals grow bigger and faster. This is not currently against Indian law although the government has called for it to end and Maharastra banned the indiscriminate use of antibiotics in agriculture. Do you know? WHO, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) have called for a worldwide ban on the use of antibiotics to fatten farm animals — a practice already banned in the EU and U.S. — in an attempt to stem the rising threat of resistance. Person in news: G.D. Agarwal In news: ‘Save Ganga’ crusader G.D. Agarwal dead He was on a fast to save the river; died of heart attack Formerly a professor in the civil engineering department at IIT-Kanpur who had adopted the name Swami Gyan Swaroop Sanand, the environmentalist was vocal on disallowing hydroelectric projects in Uttarakhand along the Ganga. Agarwal’s key demands included a special law to deal with pollution and encroachment on the Ganga, and maintaining the environmental flow of the river to prevent pollution. Miscellaneous Indians top list of overstayers in U.K. – India accounts for the largest number of individuals staying in the U.K. illegally, and the number of those subjected to forced returns to India has fallen by 50% in three years Hurricane Michael in Panama City (MAINS FOCUS) NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2 & Essay Judiciary, legislature and executive: Powers and functions Separation of powers The great Indian abdication “Unless… philosophers become kings in the cities… there can be no cessation of evils… for cities nor, I think, for the human race.” — Plato, The Republic Introduction After the slew of verdicts by the Supreme Court, on triple talaq, Section 377, adultery, and the Sabarimala temple, the judiciary seems to have taken up the mission of deepening democracy and protecting social freedoms. India, at present, is going through a deep crisis in which the mission of deepening democracy, and protecting and advancing social freedoms is placed solely upon the judiciary. On the one hand there is a complete abandonment of the role of the legislature, and on the other there is a dichotomy between social morality and judicial morality (Or constitutional morality). A divide The Supreme Court verdicts have curiously become a spectator sport on primetime television with a great amount of anticipation about the judgments in pending cases. The same curiosity is missing about parliamentary bills/debates, which are absolutely vital to a parliamentary democracy. One example would suffice. Earlier this year, the government amended the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act to retrospectively legalise political donations from foreign companies and individuals since 1976. This move, with potentially catastrophic effects for Indian democracy, was pushed through without discussion in Parliament and hardly any debate in the public sphere. If the judiciary has assumed the role of the single most important pillar of India’s parliamentary democracy, built on separation of powers, it is mainly because of the degradation and abuse of the roles of the legislature and the executive. Parliament’s erosion Parliament, the supreme venue representing the people, has become a shadow of what it should be. If the Lok Sabha met for an average of 127 days in the 1950s, in 2017 it met for a shocking 57 days. If 72 Bills were passed in a year in the first Lok Sabha, the number was 40 in the 15th Lok Sabha (2009-14). The Budget session for this fiscal year saw a scarcely believable usage of 1% of its allotted time in the Lok Sabha, and the Budget, the most vital cog of a national’s material basis, itself passed without discussion through the guillotine process. The basic minimum that could have been done amidst mounting allegations in the Rafale fighter aircraft deal was to institute a probe by a Joint Parliamentary Committee, but even that is not forthcoming. Parliament, instead of representing the highest democratic ethos, panders to electoral majorities, leaving it incapable of challenging barbaric social/religious practices enforced by dominant interests. That is why it took 70 years for Section 377 to be partially struck down, then it is not surprising that the Supreme Court steps into this dangerous void left by the executive and the legislature. But the task of democratising society cannot be left to the judiciary, an unelected body, the higher echelons of which self-appoint their members through the collegium system. Instead, it must be through social and political struggles from the bottom, and not through judicial diktats from above (even if the latter can be useful). State of the judiciary More importantly, the judiciary does not exist in a vacuum. Even when it attempts to correct regressive social practices, it is still a reflection of our society. Nothing could be more illustrative of this than the serious lack of diversity and representation, especially in the higher judiciary. In 1993, it was estimated that less than 4% of judges in the higher judiciary were from Dalit and tribal communities, and less than 3% were women. This led former President K.R. Narayanan to recommend that candidates from marginalised communities be considered as Supreme Court judges. Since Independence, only four Dalits have become Supreme Court judges, including one Chief Justice of India. Even in the lower judiciary, the story is not starkly different. Data from 11 States show that the representation of Other Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes judges ranged from 12% to 14%. It took 42 years for a woman judge to be appointed to the Supreme Court, and there have been only eight women judges in the Supreme Court so far. While representation can become tokenistic and essentialist; democracy is absolutely hollow without it. Case backlog The abdication of responsibility by the legislature is even more damaging considering that the judiciary is groaning under the weight of a mammoth 3.3 crore pending cases. The backlog of cases in the High Courts and the Supreme Court is 43 lakh and 57,987 respectively. What could be more unjust in a democracy than thousands of innocent undertrials languishing in jails for a lifetime awaiting justice? A staggering 67% of India’s prison population awaits trial; 55% of these undertrials are Dalits, tribals, and Muslims. In this context, should the valuable time of the judiciary be spent in entertaining and delivering verdicts on Public Interest Litigations (PILs), seeking, to take a couple of instances, a ban on pornography or making the national anthem mandatory in cinema halls? The PIL, a unique and powerful tool to seek justice for the weakest sections, has now degenerated. Witness the recent example of one having been filed seeking segregated seats for vegetarian and non-vegetarian passengers in trains. Overworked courts cannot become a one-stop solution for performing legislative/executive tasks such as banning fire crackers/loud speakers and enforcing seat belt/helmet wearing rules. Some more examples are solving theological/civil society questions such as what the essence of Hinduism is or whether a mosque is integral for namaz (going beyond whether religious practices violate constitutional norms). Some apprehensions The process of abolishing religious or secular injustices cannot become deep-rooted if it is merely judicial or legal. Take the Supreme Court’s recent directive urging new legislation to curb lynching. Politically-motivated lynchings targeting a community do not happen because of the absence of laws. They happen because of a willful subversion of laws by the executive backed by mobs riding on electoral majorities. Conclusion The irony of democracy is such that the task of completing the world’s largest democracy’s political and social revolution cannot be laid only at the doorstep of the wise men and women in robes. Connecting the dots: The judiciary alone cannot take forward the mission of deepening democracy and protecting social freedoms. Elucidate. NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2 & Essay Social justice and empowerment of vulnerable sections of the society Government policies and issues arising out of their design and implementation Silent and suffering Introduction One manual scavenger dies every five days, according to official data. Recently, the Delhi High Court gave the authorities two months to identify manual scavengers in the national capital. Some Provisions of Act The act had endeavoured to eliminate not only dry latrines but also “insanitary latrines”; Prohibit the employment of manual scavengers for the hazardous manual cleaning of sewers and septic tanks; Conduct a time-bound survey; Take measures for the rehabilitation of manual scavengers. The definition of ‘manual scavengers’ was widened to cover those involved in cleaning not only dry latrines but other insanitary latrines. The statute made offences under the act cognisable and non-bailable. They now attract stringent penalties. The act called for the setting up of vigilance/monitoring committee at sub-division, district, State and Central levels. The National Commission for Safai Karamcharis was given the responsibility of implementation. Poor implementation To eliminate open defecation, the act also called for the construction of an adequate number of sanitary community latrines in urban areas within three years from the date of commencement of the statute. The poor implementation of the act may have been because States and Union Territories have been slow in identifying insanitary latrines and manual scavengers. In 2014, many States denied even the existence of insanitary latrines in the Supreme Court. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment said that rehabilitation of manual scavengers has been slow because they are mostly illiterate and have no exposure to any work other than sanitation-related activities. Many of them are old. They also do not have opportunities to avail of any skill development training. A lack of opportunities has also resulted in hesitation on the part of manual scavengers to come out into the open and demand jobs, making them a silent, suffering population in the country. Conclusion The Delhi HC order proved two things; One, manual scavenging is a social reality despite its abolition by Parliament through the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013; Two, the government itself, directly or indirectly, employs manual scavengers. Therefore there is an urgent need to examine the ground realities, and provide alternatives to those who are involved in this occupation. First step should come from government by mechanizing all such manual activities, and providing social security benefits to those who are not in condition to acquire new skills and jobs. Connecting the dots: Manual scavenging remains a social reality despite 2013 act calling for its abolition, 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) Government of India started a program to distribute iron and folic acid tablets in schools. This was done to tackle the problem of: Vitamin deficiency Mental development Stunted growth Anaemia Q.2) Global Hunger Index is released by World Economic Forum World Health Organization World Bank International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) Q.3) Which of the following terms associated with the different forms of malnutrition is/are correctly matched? Child stunting: Low Weight for Height. Adult Obesity: Carrying excess body fat with a body mass index > 30. Child Wasting: Low Height for age. Choose the appropriate option: 1, 2 and 3 1 and 3 Only 2 1 and 2 Q.4) Consider the following statements about Global Hunger Index (GHI) It is jointly published by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and World Health Organisation (WHO). According to the recent index, India has a child-wasting prevalence over 20%. Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Must Read The great Indian abdication The Hindu #MeToo: Not without her consent The Hindu Has the SC missed a chance to keep criminals out of polls? The Hindu The health transition Indian Express The new non-alignment Indian Express Are cryptocurrencies and blockchain just scams? Livemint Turning dirty coal into clean energy Livemint Will India seize the wave of disruptive technology? Livemint

Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz- 2019 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 86]

UPSC Quiz- 2019 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 86] Archives Q.1) Transformative Carbon Asset Facility (TCAF) was launched by? World Bank UNEP Green Climate Fund (GCF) Vulnerable Twenty (V20) Q.2) Consider the following statements about Carbon Initiative for Development (Ci-Dev) It is under the aegis of World Bank Group It is aimed at low-income countries 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 ‘India for Humanity' initiative It was launched by the Ministry of External Affairs part as of 150th Birth Anniversary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi It will feature a year-long series of artificial limb fitment camps in a number of countries spanning the globe 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 ‘Tylosin’ It is used in veterinary medicine to treat bacterial infections in a wide range of species It has been banned for use as a growth promoter in the EU Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.5) Common Risk Mitigating Mechanism (CRMM) is concerned with UNFCCC ISA ASEAN WTO To Download the Solution - Click here All the Best  IASbaba

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs [Prelims + Mains Focus] - 11th October 2018

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs (Prelims + Mains Focus)- 11th October 2018 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS SNIPPETS) India-Japan ties Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – International Relations; India and the World In news: PM Modi to visit Japan and hopes are high for a greater synergy on security and connectivity issues Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzō Abe views India as the pivotal state in the Indian Ocean. A strong India is in Japan’s interest, just like a strong Japan is beneficial for India – according to Abe. The Abe administration is focusing attention on two critical areas — maritime security and strategic connectivity. Do you know? The 21st edition of exercise “Malabar” was held in the Bay of Bengal in July 2017. Malabar is an annual military exercise between the navies of India, Japan and the U.S. held alternately in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Japan’s growing role in Asia During the 2017 exercise, the Japanese Navy deployed a maritime surveillance aircraft and a submarine, demonstrating a readiness for a strategic role in Asia’s sensitive littorals. In a bid to raise its Indian Ocean profile, Japan recently deployed its state-of-the-art helicopter carrier-destroyer, Kaga, to South Asia. India-Japan on balancing Chinese power Tokyo is keen that its military exchanges with India also include Army and Air Force exchanges. An Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement — on the lines of the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) with the U.S. — is in the offing, and there is also talk of joint collaboration in unmanned armoured vehicles and robotic systems. Japan also wants to assist India in improving the state of maritime domain awareness in the Indian Ocean, where India is keen to set up an ‘information fusion centre’. Tokyo and New Delhi have been working together on infrastructure projects in the Northeast. They are also building the Asia-Africa Growth Corridor, whose four pillars — developmental projects, quality infrastructure, capacity building, and people-to-people partnership — make it an effective counterpoint to China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Trust and quality - Unlike China’s Belt and Road projects, Japanese infrastructure initiatives are environmentally friendly and financially sustainable, with project managers laying particular stress on life cycle costs and asset resilience. Not only has Japanese development aid produced demonstrable results on the ground, Tokyo’s insistence on transparency has generated enormous trust. Convergence of interest – India’s ‘Act-East’ outreach fit well with Mr. Abe’s vision for a ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific’. Regional order based on rules – Both countries want a regional order based on rules. However, neither country is keen to antagonise China. Japanese and Indian policymakers recognise the importance of balancing Chinese power in the Indo-Pacific. However, to deter China’s maritime aggression in their strategic backwaters, Japan and India have upped their defence engagement. International Day of Girl Child being observed today Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – Role of international organisation; Women Empowerment In news: International Day of the Girl Child is being celebrated today. The theme of this year's International Day of Girl Child is 'With Her: A Skilled Girl Force'. The day is celebrated annually on 11 October. The main aims of the day are to promote girl's empowerment and fulfilment of their human rights while also highlighting the challenges that girls all over the world face. PM unveils statue of Sir Chhotu Ram in Sonipat, Haryana Person in news: Sir Chhotu Ram Part of: GS Prelims and Mains I – Famous personalities and their contriubution In news: PM unveiled the statue of farmer leader Sir Chhotu Ram. About Sir Chhotu Ram Rai Richhpal better known as Sir Chhoturam was born on 24 November 1881 in a small village called Sampala in Rohtak. This great personality was a Messiah for farmers. He not only fought for the country's independence in the Quit India movement, but also for the rights of farmers. He played an instrumental role in empowering farmers during British rule and laid the foundation stone of a Railway Refurbishing Factory in Rohtak. He also played a huge role in motivating youngsters to join the forces during the first world war. Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, he led several movements against the British rule. In 1937 he became the Revenue minister of Punjab province. Note: For more info about Sir Chhotu Ram, please CLICK ON below link Simply Put: Why Sir Chhotu Ram matters (MAINS FOCUS) INTERNATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2 Bilateral, regional and global agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests India and Russia: Salvaging a strategic partnership Introduction The India-Russia annual summit held recently, where both countries signed various strategic and trade agreements. The shadow of America again loomed over the summit, in New Delhi. This time, it was closer, larger and more menacing. Assertion of autonomy The question that dominated the meet was whether or not the deal for the Russian air defence missile system, the S-400, would go through. The U.S. has been publicly warning for months that this purchase could attract provisions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). CAATSA authorises the U.S. government to impose sanctions on entities for “significant” defence transactions with Russia. The state-of-the-art S-400 deal, at a little over $5 billion, would naturally qualify as “significant”. The sanctioned entity would be cut off from all business in the U.S. and with U.S. companies. India's decision to go ahead with the S-400 deal was a clear assertion of autonomy of Indian decision-making on Russia. Outlook on neighbourhood There is a general perception that Indian and Russian perspectives today differ on key issues in India’s neighbourhood — Pakistan, Afghanistan and China — and on India’s strategic linkages with the U.S., including on the Indo-Pacific. India asserted that there were detailed discussions on “all international issues of mutual interest”, specifically citing “common interests” on terrorism, Afghanistan and the Indo-Pacific. On Pakistan, one might note the nuance that the Joint Statement mentions cross-border terrorism, which some earlier Joint Statements did not. On Afghanistan, India expressed support for the “Moscow format”, in which Russia involves regional countries and major powers in an effort to draw the Taliban into negotiations with the Afghan leadership. The U.S. has boycotted this initiative, but has initiated its own dialogue with the Taliban. A U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan is now touring Afghanistan, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia to generate help in bringing the Taliban to the negotiating table. Trade and et al The Joint Statement has the list of priority areas of cooperation, including infrastructure, engineering, natural resources, space and technology. It expresses the commitment to raise trade and investment to a level more commensurate with the potential. There has been some recent action in this direction, with Commerce and Industry Minister of India leading business delegations to major Russian economic forums. Mr. Modi and Mr. Putin also addressed a well-attended business summit in Delhi. Business despite sanctions There are obvious opportunities for cooperation between Russia, which is natural resources-rich, and India, which is resource-hungry. Whether they are exploited would depend on how well India’s economic ministries, banks and business community understand the ground realities of doing business with Russia. Even before CAATSA, there was confusion in India about sanctions against Russia. The U.S. and European sanctions between 2014 and 2016 are sector- and currency-specific. They affect entities operating in Europe and the U.S., and transactions in euro or dollar currencies. They are not applicable to other geographies or currencies. This remains the case, even post-CAATSA, for all sectors other than defence and energy. Therefore, with proper structuring of business deals, trade and investment exchanges with Russia are possible, and without losing business with Europe and America. This explains how the economic engagement of major European countries with Russia has actually grown in 2017 and 2018, despite the sanctions. European and American corporate lawyers with expertise on sanctions have enabled this. Indian business needs to tap into this expertise. Conclusion The threat to India-Russia defence cooperation extends well beyond the suspense over the S-400 deal. Every potential India-Russia defence deal could be subjected to a determination on applicability of sanctions. Actually imposing sanctions would hurt U.S. defence sales to India, defeating one of the principal objectives of the legislation. The India-U.S. strategic partnership is based on a strong mutuality of interests, but it was not intended to have the exclusivity of an alliance. India should not have to choose between one strategic partnership and another. The India-Russia dialogue should not get inextricably entangled in the India-U.S. dialogue. Connecting the dots: New challenges confront India and Russia in their bilateral relationship which requires India to tread cautiously. Examine. INTERNATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2 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 The power of non-alignment Introduction The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and its precursor, the Bandung Afro-Asian conference in 1955, were examples of soft balancing by weaker states towards great powers engaged in intense rivalry and conflict. As they had little material ability to constrain superpower conflict and arms build-ups, the newly emerging states under the leadership of India’s Jawaharlal Nehru, Egypt’s Gamal Abdel Nasser and Indonesia’s Sukarno, and later joined by Yugoslavia’s Josip Broz Tito, adopted a soft balancing strategy. They aimed at challenging the superpower excesses in a normative manner, hoping for preventing the global order from sliding into war. The founders of the NAM, if alive today, could have taken solace in the fact that in the long run some of their goals were achieved due to a radical change in the  policies of the Soviet Union under Mikhail Gorbachev. Understanding a movement The NAM is often not given credit for what it deserves, also It is not theorised by scholars properly. By the 1970s, some of the key players, including India, began to lose interest in the movement as they formed coalitions with one or the other superpower to wage their conflicts with their neighbours. The Western countries often portrayed non-alignment as pro-Soviet or ineffective and the general intellectual opposition was the result of the Western scholarly bias against a coalitional move by the weaker states of the international system. The international system is hierarchical and the expectation is that the weaker states should simply abide by the dictates of the stronger ones. It is often forgotten that when the Bandung meeting took place, the world was witnessing an intense nuclear arms race, in particular, atmospheric nuclear testing. The remnants of colonialism were still present, the fear of a third world war was real. The NAM and the Afro-Asian grouping acted as a limited soft balancing mechanism by attempting to delegitimise the threatening behaviour of the superpowers, particularly through their activism at the UN and other forums such as the Eighteen Nation Committee on Disarmament, as well as through resolutions. The “Naming” and “shaming” were their operational tools. They worked as norm entrepreneurs in the areas of nuclear arms control and disarmament. They definitely deserve partial credit for ending colonialism as it was practised, especially in the 1950s and 1960s in Africa, parts of Asia and the Caribbean through their activism at the UN General Assembly which declared decolonisation as a key objective in 1960. Impact on N-tests The non-aligned declarations on nuclear testing and nuclear non-proliferation especially helped to concretise the 1963 Partial Test Ban Treaty. They also helped create several nuclear weapon free zones as well as formulate the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty. The tradition of ‘non-use of nuclear weapons’, or the ‘nuclear taboo’, was strengthened partially due to activism by the non-aligned countries’ at the UN. The non-aligned could find solace that it took a few more decades for a leader like Mr. Gorbachev to emerge in one of the contending superpowers, and that many of their policy positions were adopted by him, and later partially by the U.S. The current global scenario and the future The great powers are once again launching a new round of nuclear arms race and territorial expansion and militarisation of the oceans A renewed activism by leading global south countries may be necessary to delegitimise their imperial ventures, even if they do not succeed immediately. If these states do not act as cushioning forces, international order could deteriorate and new forms of cold and hot wars could develop. China, the U.S. and Russia need to be balanced and restrained and soft balancing by non-superpower states has a key role to play in this. If the present trends continue, a military conflict in the South China Sea is likely and the naval competition will take another decade or so to become intense, as happened in earlier periods between Germany and the U.K. (early 1900s), and Japan and the U.S. (1920s and 1930s). The U.S. as the reigning hegemon will find the Chinese takeover threatening and try different methods to dislodge it. The freedom of navigation activities of the U.S. are generating hostile responses from China, which is building artificial islets and military bases in the South China Sea and expanding its naval interests into the Indian Ocean. Smaller states would be the first to suffer if there is a war in the Asia-Pacific or an intense Cold War-style rivalry develops between the U.S. and China. Nuclear weapons need not prevent limited wars as we found out through the Ussuri clashes of 1969 and the Kargil conflict in 1999. The Challenge before smaller states What can the smaller states do? Can they develop a new ‘Bandung spirit’ which takes into account the new realities? They could engage in soft balancing of this nature hoping to delegitimise the aggressive behaviour of the great powers. The rise of China and India, with their own ambitious agendas, makes it difficult that either will take the lead in organising such a movement. China’s wedge strategy and its efforts to tie Afro-Asian states through the Belt and Road Initiative have limited the choices of many developing countries. However, despite the constraints, many have been able to keep China off militarily by refusing base facilities and also smartly bargaining with India and Japan for additional economic support. They thus are already showing some elements of strategic autonomy favoured by the NAM. The way forward More concrete initiatives may have to rest with emerging states in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) grouping. Engaging China and India more intensely while restraining the U.S. and Russia from aggravating military conflict in Asia-Pacific can be the effort of the developing countries. Norm entrepreneurship has it value, even if it does not show immediate results. The alternative is to leave it to the great powers to engage in mindless arms race and debilitating interventions, which rarely create order in the regions. Restraining the established and rising powers through institutional and normative soft balancing may emerge as an option for developing countries in the years to come. They still need a leader like Jawaharlal Nehru to bring them together. Connecting the dots: The NAM and the Afro-Asian grouping acted as a limited soft balancing mechanism by attempting to delegitimise the threatening behaviour of the superpowers. In present time of rising conflicts between global powers, there is a need of NAM 2.0. Critically 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) Where are Senkaku Islands located? Tasman Sea South China Sea East China Sea Bering Sea Q.2) Exercise MALABAR is a joint military exercise between which of the following given countries? India, USA, and Indonesia India, Japan and USA Japan, India, and Sri Lanka India, USA and France Q.3) Consider the following statements with regard to International Day of the Girl Child It is celebrated annually on 11 October. The theme of this year's International Day of Girl Child is 'With Her: A Skilled Girl Force'. Which of the above statements is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both None Must Read Next steps after the 377 judgment The Hindu The power of non-alignment The Hindu Farewell to South Asia Indian Express The Importance Of Listening Indian Express More teeth for NHRC Indian Express Exploring a nation’s natural wealth Livemint Tackling farm distress through technology Livemint

Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz- 2019 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 85]

UPSC Quiz- 2019 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 85] Archives Q.1) Consider the following statements about ‘The Sexual Harassment of Women At Workplace Act, 2013’ The Act is for any woman who is harassed in any workplace Under the Act, the victims can directly approach the court It replaced the guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court in the Vishakha case judgment Select the correct code: 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above Q.2) Consider the following statements Tripuri Kingdom merged with India before Independence The state of Tripura came into existence in 1972 along with Meghalaya and Manipur Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) India is home to which of the following species of Otters? Eurasian Otter Smooth-coated Otter   Small-clawed Otter Select the correct code: 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above Q.4) Consider the following statements about ‘Solicitor General of India’ He/She is the Indian government's chief legal advisor. He/She is appointed for the period of 3 years. Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.5) Consider the following statements with respect to India’s first ever ‘National Environment Survey’ It will assess carbon sequestration potential of the districts across the country. It will be carried through Environmental Information System (ENVIS). 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

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs [Prelims + Mains Focus] - 10th October 2018

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs (Prelims + Mains Focus)- 10th October 2018 Archives (PRELIMS+MAINS FOCUS) China to sell 48 armed drones to Pakistan Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II and III – India and its neighbours; International Relations; Defence and Security In news: China to sell 48 high-end armed drones to its “all-weather ally” Pakistan Drone name - Wing Loong II It is a high-end reconnaissance, strike and multi-role endurance unmanned aerial system, capable of being fitted with air-to-surface weapons. It is roughly equivalent to the American MQ-9 Reaper drone. Do you know? China is the largest supplier of weapon system to the Pakistan Army. Both countries also jointly manufacture JF-Thunder a single engine multi-role combat aircraft. The Trump administration has agreed to sell sell 22 Sea Guardian drones to India. India has received 10 advanced Heron drones from Israel as well. India-Italy ties: India-Italy Technology Summit 2018 Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – International Relations; India and the World In news: Prime Minister of Italy Prof. Giuseppe Conte to visit India He will participate in the 24th edition of the DST-CII India-Italy Technology Summit 2018. The Technology Summit is organized by the Department of Science and Technology (DST). This edition of the Summit will focus on seven areas—Clean tech, Renewable, ICT, Healthcare, Aerospace, Education and Cultural Heritage. The objective of the Summit is to facilitate technology transfers, joint ventures, Research and Development, and market access between industry and research institutions in India and Italy. The visit will be part of the ongoing celebrations to commemorate 70th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Italy. 17th CHG meeting of SCO to be held Tajikistan Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – International Relations; India and the World In news: 17th Council of Heads of Government (CHG) meeting of SCO to be held Dushanbe, Tajikistan. This will be the second CHG meeting since India became a full member of SCO in June 2017. Last year, CHG meeting was held in Sochi, Russia. The SCO CHG meeting is a forum that enables India to engage with SCO member countries and Observer states of Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran and Mongolia. It is the first major meeting since Kyrgyzstan took over as chair of the Organisation. The leaders will be discussing prospects for further development of SCO and will exchange in-depth views on current international and regional issues. National Nutrition Mission soon to become mass movement in India Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – National/Health issue; Govt policies and schemes In news: NITI Aayog member, Dr Vinod Kumar Paul expressed the hope that the National Nutrition Mission will soon become a mass movement in the country. September 2018 was celebrated as Rashtriya Poshan Maah under POSHAN Abhiyaan. POSHAN Abhiyaan is India's flagship programme to improve nutritional outcomes for children, adolescents, pregnant women and lactating mothers by leveraging technology, a targeted approach and convergence. The Ministry of Women and Child Development is the concerned ministry. Do you know? POSHAN Abhiyaan was launched on 8th March 2018 by the Prime Minister. The Abhiyaan targets to reduce stunting, under-nutrition, anemia (among young children, women and adolescent girls) and reduce low birth weight by 2%, 2%, 3% and 2% per annum respectively. The target of the mission is to bring down stunting among children in the age group 0-6 years from 38.4% to 25% by 2022. (MAINS FOCUS) NATIONAL/INFRASTRUCTURE TOPIC: General Studies 2 and 3 Indian Government policies and issues arising out of their design and implementation Infrastructure: Energy Amendments to Electricity Act 2003; Power politics at play Introduction The Central government has proposed a set of changes to the Electricity Act 2003. The amendments seek to enable a market transformation in electricity. The amendments include many other provisions, making the Act more up to date including with regard to renewable energy, which is a worthy objective. PROPOSED AMENDMENTS Competition and choice Bringing in competition and choice in supply for the final consumer has long been an aim of electricity reform and remains central to these amendments. The idea is that while a single public utility will run the wires through which electricity flows, multiple supply licensees (both public and private) will be allowed to compete for consumers. The intent is that the discipline of competing for customers will lead to improved supply and lower bills. An earlier reform effort proposed mandatory and time-bound implementation of these reforms, and therefore was resisted by States. The current amendment allows them discretion on the timing of implementation. Concerns India could have an electricity distribution sector with pockets of competition for wealthy consumers in a sea of monopoly inhabited by the poorest. Private suppliers could cherry-pick profitable locations and consumers. The state-owned incumbent supplier will be left with the obligation to serve low-paying consumers. Cross subsidy India has among the highest electricity tariffs for industry, which bears the burden of low-performance and losses among other consumers, impacting their global competitiveness. The amendment (along with changes in the National Tariff Policy) aims to get the price right, by capping cross-subsidies and eliminating them within three years. The cross-subsidy surcharge on open access customers would be eliminated within two years, leaving the only possibility of direct support from States. Subsidies will not be allowed across consumer categories like industry and agriculture, but will be allowed across consumption categories — big consumers can subsidise small ones. Concerns If transfers from state are not forthcoming, or late, the cash-starved incumbent supplier will be locked into a cycle of poor quality of service for its customers who have no ‘exit’ option, leading to more bill evasion, and further financial deterioration. These shifts could be highly disruptive if the profit-making side is allowed to flee, without devising a transition pathway for the loss-making side of electricity. Because of these political sensitivities, the proposed approach to eliminating cross-subsidies is complicated. The abolition of the cross-subsidy surcharge, which will open the flood gates for large consumers to migrate through ‘open access’ to cheaper sources and avoid paying any subsidy. OTHER POSITIVE PROVISIONS AND THEIR IMPACTS Collective responsibility of centre and states The proposed legislation makes subsidy to the poor the collective responsibility of the States and the Centre, which has so far been only the responsibility of each State. The Centre may have access to enhanced tax revenues from electricity because it stands to gain from additional tax revenue from profitable new wires companies and private suppliers. Thus, the Centre could become a new kingpin of redistribution from wealthy areas in wealthy States, to needy customers that are concentrated in a few States. While this may be a pragmatic fiscal strategy allowing redistribution across States, it also has undeniable political implications. Pump priming generation Many generating companies have been in the news recently due to decreasing demand for their power and consequently their stranded assets. The amendments potentially provide comfort to them at the expense of distribution companies. Specifically, they mandate that suppliers sign power purchase agreements (PPAs) to meet the annual average demand, ostensibly to ensure 24x7 power for all, which will be subject to review and compliance measures. OTHER NEGATIVE PROVISIONS AND THEIR IMPACTS Centralising dimensions It provides greater control to the Centre and limits the States’ and regional political parties’ capability to make electoral use of electricity pricing. In an electoral context where the battle lines may be drawn between the ruling coalition and strong regional parties, the politics of power prices will shift from sub-national to national electoral politics. The amendment proposes a re-formulation of the selection committee for State regulators, from a majority of State representatives to a majority of Central representatives. The Centre will also gain more oversight on capacity addition, through the requirement of detailed project report submission to the Central Electricity Authority. There is no doubt that State performance has been poor on both fronts. But the amendments reflect a clear choice of solution: re-direct responsibility to the Centre instead of fixing the process in the States. Challenges remains The amendment recognises the need to subsidise the poor, but mandates this be done through direct benefit transfers. Identifying and targeting beneficiaries remains a challenge. With these changes, the mechanism of support for poorer customers will shift from the electricity customer to the taxpayer. The challenge of low demand for existing power is an issue. The disincentives to serve poor customers rather than availability of power is the real obstacle to 24x7 power. The gain to generators could come at the cost of customers, who have to ultimately bear the risk of uncertain load growth, prices and migration. Conclusion There is no doubt the status quo is unsatisfactory; India’s electricity sector remains beset with problems. Yet, the amendments leave quite unclear what happens to those left behind by distribution reforms and by efforts to help out generators. Disruptive change in Indian electricity may be needed, even inevitable. But the amendments risk placing the cost of disruption on the backs of the poorest, and shifts the potential for remedial measures to the hands of the Centre, rather than the States. Connecting the dots: Draft Electricity Amendment Act, 2018 proposes a slew of measures to bring transparency in power generation market. Discuss. ENVIRONMENT/ECOLOGY TOPIC: General Studies 3 International organisations and reports on climate change and its mitigation Climate financing Another warning on warming Introduction The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has just released a special report on global warming of 1.5°C, over pre-industrial temperatures. It provides details on how the global response to climate change needs to be strengthened within the broader context of sustainable development and continuing efforts to eradicate poverty. The impacts of 1.5°C of warming and the possible development pathways by which the world could get there are its main focus. Background In 2015, at the Paris climate conference, the global community made a pact to pursue efforts to limit warming to within 1.5°C — half a degree below the previous target of 2°C. With the increase in extreme events and the very survival of small islands at stake, the lower limit was greeted then with surprise and enthusiasm. What is the difference: 1.5°C and 2°C? For most people, the difference between 1.5°C and 2°C may seem trivial when daily temperatures fluctuate much more widely. However, the reference here is to global average temperatures. Different regions of the earth will warm at different rates. For instance, the Arctic is already experiencing warming that is many times higher than the global average. Half a degree of warming makes a world of difference to many species whose chance of survival is significantly reduced at the higher temperature. At 1.5°C warming, ocean acidification will be reduced (compared to 2°C warming), with better prospects for marine ecosystems. There will likely be less intense and frequent hurricanes, not as intense droughts and heat waves with smaller effects on crops, and the reduced likelihood of an ice-free Arctic in summers. Studies conservatively estimate sea levels to rise on average by about 50 cm by 2100 in a 2°C warmer world, 10 cm more than for 1.5°C warming. But beyond 2100, the overall assurance of much higher sea level rise is greater in a 2°C world. The risks to food security, health, fresh water, human security, livelihoods and economic growth are already on the rise and will be worse in a 2°C world. The number of people exposed to the complex and compounded risks will also increase and the poorest, mostly in Asia and Africa, will suffer the worst impacts. Adaptation, or the changes required to withstand the temperature rise, will also be lower at the lower temperature limit. The danger of crossing tipping points, or thresholds beyond which the earth’s systems are no longer able to stabilise, becomes higher with more warming. Such tipping points include melting of Greenland ice, collapse of Antarctic glaciers (which would lead to several metres of sea level rise), destruction of Amazon forests, melting of all the permafrost and so on. Pathways and polices: The IPCC report identifies two main strategies. The first stabilises global temperature around the 1.5°C mark with limited overshoot and the second permits temperatures to exceed 1.5°C temporarily before coming back down. The consequences of the temporary overshoot would cause worse impacts than the first approach. To limit warming to around 1.5°C with no or limited overshoot, global net carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions need to decline by about 45% from 2010 levels by 2030 and reach net zero around mid-century. In comparison, to limit warming to just below 2°C, the reductions needed are about 20% by 2030 and reach net zero around 2075. There are several mitigation pathways illustrated to achieve these reductions and all of them incorporate different levels of CO2 removal. Emissions need to peak early within the next decade or so, and then drop. These different methods will themselves involve various risks, costs and trade-offs. But there are also many synergies between achieving mitigation targets and fulfilling Sustainable Development Goals. To stay below 1.5°C, the transitions required by energy systems and human societies, in land use, transport, and infrastructure, would have to be rapid and on an unprecedented scale with deep emission reductions. Challenges ahead How is the remaining carbon budget, that is the room available in the atmosphere to safely contain more CO2, going to be shared among different countries? This is a difficult question to address, given the contentious nature of the negotiations. For instance, that the U.S. has been obstructionist in the deliberations in Incheon, South Korea, at the recent meeting to determine the final text of the report. The U.S. also reiterated its intent to pull out of the Paris Agreement. Contributions from the U.S. and other rich countries to the Green Climate Fund and other funding mechanisms for the purpose of mitigation and adaptation are vital even to reach the goals of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Even if all the NDCs are implemented, the world is expected to warm by over 3°C. Conclusion Disputes over the implementation of the Paris Agreement at numerous meetings depict the deep divides among rich countries, emerging economies and least developed countries. This special report poses options for the global community of nations, which they will have to contend with in Poland — the next Conference of the Parties. Each will have to decide whether to play politics on a global scale for one’s own interests or to collaborate to protect the world and its ecosystems as a whole. Connecting the dots: Disputes over the implementation of the Paris Agreement depict the deep divides among countries but the window of opportunity to take action is very small and closing fast. Comment in the light of IPCC report on keeping warming to under 1.5°C as compared to pre-industrial times. (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) Names like Wing Loong II, Sea Guardian, Heron are in news. they are associated with - Tropical Cyclones Hurricanes Drones Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft Q.2) TAPI Pipeline passes through which of the following? Tajikistan Afghanistan Pakistan Iran Select the correct statements 2 and 3 1, 2 and 3 1, 3 and 4 1, 2 and 4 Q.3) Consider the following statements with regard to POSHAN Abhiyaan: It is India's flagship programme to improve nutritional outcomes for children, adolescents, pregnant women and lactating mothers. Ministry of Women and Child Development is the nodal ministry. Under POSHAN Abhiyaan, September was celebrated as the Rashtriya Poshan Maah or National Nutrition Month. Which of the above statements is/are correct? 1 and 2 only 1 and 3 only 1 only 1, 2 and 3 Q.4) Which of the following are beneficiaries of National Nutrition Mission (NNM)? Children from 0-6 years Adolescent Girls Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers Select the correct code: 1 Only 1 and 3 1, 2 and 3 1 and 2 MUST READ India and Russia: Salvaging a strategic partnership The Hindu  We need a pro-liberty judicial approach The Hindu  When a woman is harassed at work Indian Express  Herstory Indian Express The right to mental health Indian Express  The uncaring state Indian Express A minimum wage raise’s effect on employment Livemint

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