UPSC Quiz - 2020: IAS Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 90 Archives Important Note Don't forget to post your marks in the comment section. Also, let us know if you enjoyed today's test :) To take the Test - Click Here
UPSC Quiz - 2020: IAS Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 89 Archives Important Note Don't forget to post your marks in the comment section. Also, let us know if you enjoyed today's test :) To take the Test - Click Here
Staying Motivated: To be able to achieve anything significant and valuable in life one has to learn the art of sustaining ones motivation levels. It is very easy to become distracted from the goal and wander here and there, more so in today’s day and age. Distractions are all around us. A lot of what we call daily entertainment is a also a form of distraction for the one pursuing a great goal. Staying motivating firstly requires understanding the amount of motivation needed to accomplish your goals. Not everybody or every goal requires the same amount of motivation. Someone who is interested in a simple and routine lifestyle of work and family life can afford to enjoy a few entertainments of life. On the contrary someone who has set his goals really high cannot afford to do the same. Understanding your individual vision and purpose of life and then arranging your lifestyle according to your specific requirements is very important. There is no one size fits all approach. Each individual is pursuing a different path of life and each path requires different levels of focus, hard work, dedication and motivation. When you look around and observe the lifestyle of people, it is very easy to assume that you also should be doing the very same things everybody is doing. For example if someone has a habit of watching 2 hours of television every day, if you don’t watch any television at all, you might feel like you are missing out on something. You might also feel the need to watch two hours of television. Similarly, each and every interaction with people around you will remind you of all the things that you are missing out on. But missing out is really a very subjective experience. Just because somebody thinks that you are not enjoying your life like they are, it doesn’t mean that you are living a dull life. Enjoyment in life is a again a very personal and subjective thing. You can find enjoyment in your work and hard work, while somebody else is finding enjoyment in watching television. Understanding your unique necessities of life and arranging your life accordingly will help you to stay motivated on your path towards your goals. This is where developing a strong sense of individuality helps. When you can look at your life and the activities in it according to your needs and requirements, you will be able to stay away from most distractions. One of the most difficult things to avoid is the crowd. There is some deep satisfaction in following and doing the very same things everybody is doing. But to achieve great things, more often than not, one has to walk a lonely path of effort and hard work. Motivation is not just about reminding yourself about your ultimate goal, it is about arranging your life in a way that everything you do supports your goals. If you can develop a unique routine of activities that are beneficial to your progress and not worry too much about all the things people are enjoying, you will have a much better chance of succeeding. Staying motivated is all about knowing your individual lifestyle fully. “This article is a part of the creative endeavor of Meditation Farm and IASBABA.”
IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 12th October 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Industrial output shrinks by 1.1% in August 2019 Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains III – Economy In News The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) contracted 1.1% from a year earlier, following a growth of 4.3% in July. Industrial output had grown 4.8% in August 2018. Industrial production slipped into a contraction in August, driven in large part by poor performances in the mining, manufacturing and capital goods sectors Within the Index, the mining sector saw growth decelerating to 0.1%, from a 4.9% expansion in July. The manufacturing sector, hampered by poor demand, witnessed a contraction of 1.2%, compared with a growth of 4.2% in July and a 5.2% expansion in the year-earlier period. About IIP IIP is a composite indicator measuring changes in the volume of production of a basket of industrial products over a period of time, with respect to a chosen base period. It is compiled and published on a monthly basis by the Central Statistical Office with a time lag of six weeks from the reference month. Coal, Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Refinery Product, Steel, Cement and Electricity are known as Core Industries. The eight Core Industries comprise nearly 37.9 % of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP). https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=161745 NOBEL PEACE PRIZE Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS-II – International Affairs In News Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali was awarded the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize for “his important work to promote reconciliation, solidarity and social justice” When Abiy became Prime Minister in 2018, Ethiopia had been locked in conflict with Eritrea for 20 years. In July that year, he stepped across the border in Eritrea and in cooperation with Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, worked out the principles of a peace agreement. Ethiopia is landlocked country, while Eritrea has a sea coast which connects the Middle East. Through the years of conflict, Ethiopia had depended heavily on Djibouti for access to the Gulf of Aden and onward to the Arabian Sea. The peace deal opened up Eritrean ports for Ethiopian use. In domestic achievements, he lifted Emergency, granted amnesty to thousands of political prisoners, discontinued media censorship, dismissed leaders suspected of corruption, and increased the influence of women in political and community life. Do you know? Ethiopia is the most populous landlocked country in the world and the second-most populous nation on the African continent. Its capital and largest city is Addis Ababa, which serves as the headquarters of the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. https://cdn.britannica.com/38/183638-050-EEF23553/World-Data-Locator-Map-Ethiopia.jpg RTI violations go unpunished Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II - Governance In News As the RTI Act marks its 14th anniversary on Saturday, a report card analysing its performance showed that government officials face hardly any punishment for violating the law by denying applicants the legitimate information sought by them. The ‘Report Card on the Performance of Information Commissions in India’ was prepared by the Satark Nagrik Sangathan and the Centre for Equity Studies. The State and Central Information Commissions, which are the courts of appeal under the Act, failed to impose penalties in about 97% of the cases where violations took place in 2018-19. The State Commissions of Tamil Nadu, Sikkim, Mizoram and Tripura did not impose penalties in any cases at all. The report showed that there were 2.18 lakh cases pending with the commissions in March 2019, in comparison with 1.85 lakh pending cases a year earlier. Any new appeal would have to wait more than one-and-a-half years for resolution. The backlog is exacerbated by the fact that four out of 11 CIC posts are yet to be filled. This destroys the basic framework of incentives and disincentives built into the RTI law, promotes a culture of impunity and exasperates applicants who seek information at a high cost and often against great odds (MAINS FOCUS) INDIA’S FOREIGN POLICY TOPIC: General Studies 2: India and its neighbourhood- relations. Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests. Mamallapuram Summit Context: Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi held “productive" talks as part of the second India-China informal summit in the southern coastal town of Mamallapuram in Tamil Nadu Modi took Xi to three iconic monuments in the historical coastal city—Arjuna’s Penance, Panch Rathas and the Shore Temple. The monuments date back to the Pallava era (4th-9th century CE). One of the reasons for choosing Mamallapuram was to highlight the contacts between the Pallava kings and China’s Fujian province where Xi served as governor once. Talks between Modi and Xi were aimed at building on the relationship reset that began in Wuhan in April last year. The broad agenda included their unresolved border dispute, trade and people-to-people contacts besides regional and global issues. Concerns: summit was clouded by a series of irritants including a statement by Xi telling Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan that he was watching the situation in Kashmir and would support Pakistan on issues related to its core interests India has termed it as its internal matter and issued a sharp response to Xi’s comments, that was also notable for its timing—less than 48 hours ahead of Xi’s arrival in India. China, on its part, has been reportedly unhappy about Indian military exercises in Arunachal Pradesh, some 100km from the undemarcated border between the two countries. China claims the whole of Arunachal Pradesh as part of its territory. The U.S. and China were in a better relationship. Beijing’s focus was entirely on economic development and “peaceful rise”. It was also the beginning of the golden age of globalisation and free trade that softened borders between big trading and investment partners. Now, U.S.-China ties have turned hostile at a time when India is steadily enhancing its strategic partnership with US. Challenges: Relations with Beijing are doubly critical for India as China is both a neighbour and a rising great power. There are structural problems in ties — the boundary dispute, the Pakistan factor, and historical mistrust. Deepen Tactical engagement further, and for that they should not allow strategic glitches dictate terms for a bilateral partnership. U.S wants India to swing to its side and join its Indo-Pacific strategy, the undeclared aim of which is to contain China’s rise. China, obviously, doesn’t want India to swing to the other side. The Pakistan factor looms large over ties. With Mr. Modi’s hyper-nationalist government taking an aggressive approach towards Pakistan and cracking down on Kashmir, China’s Pakistan card is now stronger Trade and border: Since 1990, Ind-China have decided to strengthen ties in Economy. Economy, as in the early 1990s, India, following China’s footsteps, started liberalising its economy. Trade ties between the two countries boomed over the years (it touched $95 billion last year), though it’s largely skewed towards China as the latter was fast emerging as an industrial and technological powerhouse. The border has been largely peaceful during this period. Way forward: China must make investments in India, especially in building infrastructure and fifth generation technology architecture. India, wants greater market access in China, India-China cooperation in projects in third countries. India should engage with Pakistan, which will not only calm down its borders but also weaken China’s Pakistan card Plan to take economic ties to the next level, addressing mutual concerns. Example:. In the 1950s and ’60s, the U.S. tried everything it could to weaken and isolate Mao Zedong’s China. But it didn’t stop President Nixon(U.S) from visiting China in 1972 that led to a remarkable turnaround in Sino-American ties. Conclusion: India should turn the focus to its rise and building capacities, not on conflicts and rivalries. If it’s driven by such a broader but a realist vision, India could expand the avenues of deep tactical engagement with a powerful China. Connecting the dots: Should India compete with China for dominance of Asia or should it stay focussed on its own rise in which competition with China will be a part? Analyse. A nation can pick its friends, but not its neighbours. Elucidate ECONOMY TOPIC: General Studies 3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it. Downturn in India’s economy Context: Gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the first quarter of 2019-20 at 5% was the lowest in six years, even less than the last quarter of 2018-19 at 5.8%, which was the lowest in five years. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has reduced its 2019-20 growth forecast from 6.9% to 6.1%. Moody’s Moody's Investors Service on slashed its 2019-20 GDP growth forecast for India to 5.8 per cent from 6.2 per cent earlier, saying the economy was experiencing a pronounced slowdown which is partly related to long-lasting factors. The projection is lower than 6.1 per cent that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had forecast Investment-led slowdown that has broadened into consumption, driven by financial stress among rural households and weak job creation. private investment has been relatively weak since 2012, consumption -- which makes up about 55 per cent of GDP -- had remained robust Asian Development Bank and the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development lowered 2019-20 growth forecast for India by 50 basis points and 1.3 percentage points to 6.5 per cent and 5.9 IMF: IMF said global economy now in 'synchronized slowdown' Global growth will fall to its lowest rate in this decade Slowdown is emerging markets like India and Brazil to be even more pronounced In 2019, IMF expect slower growth in nearly 90 per cent of the world. Economic activity is softening in advanced economies, such as the US, Japan and, especially, the eurozone, while in other emerging markets, such as India and Brazil, the slowdown is even more pronounced this year. China's accelerated growth is experiencing a gradual decrease Impacts on India: A prolonged period of slower nominal GDP growth constrains the scope for fiscal consolidation Keeps the government debt burden higher for longer compared with our previous expectations General government deficit, which is likely to remain wide Affected the disposable income of households, so that the increase in private consumer expenditure has witnessed a slump, dampening growth further from the demand side. The consequences for the automobile sector, which is the driver of manufacturing, and for construction, which is an important source of employment creation, are now being felt. Investment rates as a percentage of GDP are progressively lower. So are savings rates. The stagnation in the dollar value of exports continues. Criticisms: The government has been in denial mode about the slowdown. The Union budget presented in early July, was a missed opportunity, did little, Since then, as a consequence of significant changes introduced in the budget, stock markets have plummeted and business sentiment has floundered. Theory and experience both suggest that tax cuts work with a time lag and do not ever lead to an equivalent increase in investment. (Because Higher profits emanating from lower taxes could be used by firms to restructure debt and clean up their balance sheets, increase dividends paid to shareholders) Tax cut increase the fiscal deficit by 0.7% of GDP, compared with budget estimates for 2019-20. Measures taken by govt: Measures to boost the economy, Correcting for mistakes on taxation, Decriminalizing defaults on corporate social responsibility obligations, Simplifying laws related to labour, companies and the environment, Streamlining government procedures, Facilitating capital flows in financial markets The government slashed corporate income tax rates. The effective rate, including the surcharge, was reduced from 35% to 25%. Connecting the dots: Economic downturns do have political consequences. Analyse (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note: Featured Comments and comments Up-voted by IASbaba are the “correct answers”. IASbaba App users – Team IASbaba will provide correct answers in comment section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers. Q.1) Consider the following statements Right to Information Act, 2005 Non-Resident Indians can also file RTI applications under the Act to seek governance-related information from Central government The State and Central Information Commissions act as the courts of appeal under the Act Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2) Consider the following statements about Index of Industrial Production (IIP) It is released on monthly basis by Central Statistical Office The revised 2011-12 series of IIP has increased the weightage of electricity in comparison to 2004-05 series of IIP Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) Horn of Africa is home to which of the following countries? Djibouti Eritrea Kenya Ethiopia Rwanda Somalia Select the correct answer from the codes given below 2, 4, 5 and 6 1, 2, 4 and 6 1, 3, 4 and 5 1, 2, 3 and 5 MUST READ Towards an Asian Century The Hindu Warm up to the Valley: On Kashmir lockdown The Hindu The policy way out IE Unworthy Nations IE Abiy Ahmed Ali, Laureate, for Peace in Horn of Africa: What was his role? IE
Chief Guest Dr Lokesh Sir (IAS) Dear All, This is to inform you that IASbaba’s Orientation Session for TLP Connect/Plus 2020 Mentorship Programme will start from 9.45 AM tomorrow at BENGALURU CENTER. It is Pre-poned by an hour. Dr Lokesh Sir (IAS), who has served both in UP and Bengaluru and presently Special Commissioner (Finance & IT), Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palika will be the Chief Guest. Sir will take the first half of the session. Request all of you to be on time. The session is OPEN FOR ALL !! Please Note, at DELHI, the orientation session will go as per the same timings @ 11 am. For complete Details/Schedule about the TLP Connect/Plus Programme –> CLICK HERE ORIENTATION SESSION: DATE: 12th October (Saturday) @ BENGALURU TIMINGS: 9.45 AM (You should reach 10 minutes early) DATE: 12th October (Saturday) @ DELHI TIMINGS: 11 AM (You should reach 10 minutes early) VENUE : Delhi: IASbaba, 5B, PUSA Road, Opposite to Metro Pillar 110, Karol Bagh, New Delhi -110005 (Landmark: CROMA Store) Bengaluru: Chandra Layout Centre: No. 1443/1444, Above Carzspa, 80 Ft. Main Road, Ganapathi Circle, Chandra Layout, Bengaluru- 560040 Important Note: 1st Prelims test for TLP CONNECT Programme would start from 12thOctober (Saturday) 2019 followed by Orientation Session at both centres. 1st Mains test for TLP CONNECT and TLP Plus Programme would start from 13thOctober (Sunday) 2019 at 10 am Please Note, It is Mandatory for the enrolled students to attend the Orientation Session, to get clarity about the programme and know your mentors. FOR ANY QUERIES: You can reach us on Email id: support@iasbaba.com Mobile No: Bangalore – 9035077800/7353177800 ( Office Timings: 10 am – 5 pm) Delhi – 011 41678500/011 41672600 ( Office Timings: 10 am – 5 pm) Thank You IASbaba
IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 11th October 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) SURAKSHIT MATRITVA AASHWASAN (SUMAN) Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II – Health In News Union Minister for Health along with several State Health Ministers launched SUMAN initiative for Zero Preventable Maternal and Newborn Deaths. The initiative aims at assuring dignified, respectful and quality health care at no cost and zero tolerance for denial of services for every woman and newborn visiting the public health facility in order to end all preventable maternal and newborn deaths. Under it, pregnant women, mothers up to 6 months after delivery, and all sick newborns will be able to avail free healthcare benefits. The government will also provide free transport from home to health institutions. The pregnant women will have a zero expense delivery and C-section facility in case of complications at public health facilities. DHRUV Programme Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS-II – Education In News Pradhan Mantri Innovation Learning Programme – DHRUV is a 14-day learning programme launched by Ministry of HRD in ISRO HQ in Bengaluru. It aims to further sharpen innovative imagination, skills and knowledge of the students to bringsolutions to socio-economic, political and environmental issues in the country. 60 brightest and talented students from Science, Mathematics and Performing Arts have been chosen for the programme through rigorous selection process Every student to be called 'DHRUV TARA’ will be mentored by renowned experts. Invasive weeds threatening tiger habitats in Adilabad, Telangana Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III- Environment In News Invasive weeds affect population of herbivores which are prey to the big cats As a result, there is increase in influx of tigers from forests across the border in Maharashtra. It was way back in 1992 at the Rio de Janeiro Convention on Biodiversity that biological invasion of alien species of plants was recognised as the second worst threat to the environment after habitat destruction. About Invasive Species Those species whose introduction into an ecosystem successfully out-compete native organisms and harms ecosystems. Common characteristics are: Rapid reproduction and growth, High dispersal ability, Phenotypic plasticity (ability to adapt physiologically to new conditions) Assam tea estates violating labour laws Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III- Economy In News A report by Oxfam, a confederation of independent charitable organisations focussing on the alleviation of global poverty, has flagged violation of labour rights in the tea estates of Assam. The report noted that the Assam government’s commitment to increasing the minimum wages of tea plantation workers to ₹351 met with hurdles of financial viability in the sector. The researchers found that despite working for over 13 hours a day, workers earn between Rs 137-167 Tea brands and supermarkets “typically capture over two-thirds of the price paid by consumers for Assam tea in India — with just 7% remaining for workers on tea estates” Oxfam asked consumers, supermarkets and brands to support the Assam government’s move to provide living wages to workers and to ensuring more of the price paid by the consumers trickle down to them. State government is trying to increase the wages of tea plantation workers through the upcoming Occupational Health and Safety Bill. https://d39gegkjaqduz9.cloudfront.net/TH/2019/10/11/CNI/Chennai/TH/5_09/4ecf2bf6_3253037_101_mr.jpg Miscellaneous NOBEL PRIZE IN LITERATURE Austria’s Peter Handke won the 2019 Nobel Prize for Literature, and the postponed 2018 award went to Polish author Olga Tokarczuk. Austria’s Peter Handke won the 2019 prize for “for an influential work that with linguistic ingenuity has explored the periphery and the specificity of human experience”. Polish author Olga Tokarczuk won the 2018 prize – delayed by one year after a sexual assault scandal rocked the award-giving Academy – for “a narrative imagination that with encyclopaedic passion represents the crossing of boundaries as a form of life.” Olga Tokarczuk, the 15th woman to win the Nobel Literature Prize, also won the International Booker Prize in 2018. The Nobel Prize in Literature is a Swedish literature prize that is awarded annually, since 1901. It is awarded to an author from any country who has produced "in the field of literature the most outstanding work in an ideal direction". (MAINS FOCUS) LAW TOPIC: General Studies 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation Motor Vehicles bill 2019 Context: The Motor Vehicles Bill 2019 seeks to amend the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 to provide for road safety. The Act provides for grant of licenses and permits related to motor vehicles, standards for motor vehicles, and penalties for violation of these provisions. The bill suggests a new National Transportation Policy, which may replace the existing National Urban Transport Policy, 2014. Background: The past two decades have witnessed a huge rise in road accidents, fatalities and other safety concerns in India. A government committee estimated that road accidents rose by about 50% between 2005 and 2015. 2014 that the National Urban Transport Policy (NUTP) committee proposed a new legislation, incorporating all modes of transportation, multi-modal integration, road safety, etc. Following that, the Road Transport and Safety Bill was drafted in 2014. Amendment: The amendments in the Bill mainly focus on issues relating to improving road safety, citizens’ facilitation while dealing with the transport department, strengthening rural transport, last mile connectivity and public transport, automation and computerization and enabling online services. Road Safety: In the area of road safety, the Bill proposes to increase penalties to act as deterrent against traffic violations. Stricter provisions are being proposed in respect of offences like juvenile driving, drunken driving, driving without licence, dangerous driving, over-speeding, overloading etc. Vehicle Fitness: The Bill mandates automated fitness testing for vehicles. This would reduce corruption in the transport department while improving the road worthiness of the vehicle. Penalty has been provided for deliberate violation of safety/environmental regulations as well as body builders and spare part suppliers. The Bill also provides for compulsory recall of defective vehicles and power to examine irregularities of vehicle companies. Recall of Vehicles: The Bill allows the central government to order for recall of motor vehicles if a defect in the vehicle may cause damage to the environment, or the driver, or other road users. Road Safety Board : The Bill provides for a National Road Safety Board. The Board will advise the central and state governments on all aspects of road safety and traffic management Protection of Good Samaritan: To help road accident victims, Good Samaritan guidelines have been incorporated in the Bill. The Bill defines a Good Samaritan as a person who renders emergency medical or non-medical assistance to a victim at the scene of an accident, and provides rules to prevent harassment of such a person. Cashless Treatment during Golden Hour: The Bill provides for a scheme for cashless treatment of road accident victims during golden hour. Third Party Insurance : The Bill has included the driver’s attendant in 3rd Party insurance. re will be no cap on liability of insurers. There will be a 10 time increase in insurance compensation, from Rs 50, 000 to Rs 5 lakh. Motor Vehicle Accident Fund: The Bill requires the central government to constitute a Motor Vehicle Accident Fund, to provide compulsory insurance cover to all road users in India. Improving Services using e-Governance: Provision for online driving licenses, Process of Vehicle Registration, Drivers Training Taxi aggregators: The Bill defines aggregators as digital intermediaries or market places which can be used by passengers to connect with a driver for transportation purposes (taxi services). The Bill provides guidelines for Aggregators. Img:https://images.tribuneindia.com/cms/gall_content/2019/6/2019_6$largeimg26_Wednesday_2019_063819113.jpg Aftermath: All these amendments are intended to reduce traffic crashes by at least 50% by 2030 (a target set by the United Nations). Out of the many amendments proposed in the Act, the increased penalties have been implemented in many States from September 1, 2019; at the same time, many States have decided to “dilute” the suggested increase in penalties. Criticisms: The idea of higher fines as a deterrent to traffic crashes is based on the assumption that a driver is careless and that the fear of a higher penalty will encourage “careful” behaviour while on the road. This goes against current scientific understanding in reducing traffic crashes that promotes the design of a system which can forgive mistakes made by road users. Road safety experts suggest that road designs such as lane width, shoulder presence, number of lanes and median design influence driving behaviour such as operating speeds, lane changing, etc. In the past two decades, there have been major investments in expanding the national highway system in India. Yet, fatalities have continued to grow. The MVA amendments do not address the reliability of crash estimates, which form the basis of designing preventive strategies Data: A Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) report of 2018 has listed 1,51,430 fatalities. However, for the same year, the World Health Organisation estimates nearly 300,000 deaths. A government of India study by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India (‘The Million Death’ study) also reports at least a 50% under-reporting of traffic fatalities Way forward: ‘Roads themselves play an important role in road safety, and improved geometry design and infrastructure could in turn help to improve road safety. Stricter penalties and intensive driver training cannot reduce the risk of driver fatigue. However, road engineers can change the road design to reduce boredom and monotony. Recognition of human frailty, acceptance of human error, and creation of a forgiving environment and appropriate crash energy management. Conclusion: If there is to be a reduction in India in traffic crashes, it requires establishing a system or institutional structure which enables the generation of new knowledge-new road standards thereby ensuring safe highways and urban roads. Connecting the dots: In spite of the ambitious provisions in the amended Motor Vehicles law, safe road behaviour is still miles away. Analyse. CITIZENSHIP TOPIC: General Studies 2: Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure. Countrywide National Register of Citizens (NRC) Context: After rolling out the National Register of Citizens in Assam, the BJP-led government at the Centre has said it will conduct a similar exercise in the rest of the country. About: It is the register containing names of Indian Citizens. It was prepared first in 1951 after the conduct of the Census of 1951. It is used to identify who is a bona fide Indian citizen and those who fail to enlist in the register will be deemed illegal migrants. Updates in the National Register of Citizens (NRC) of Assam: To compile a list of the names of genuine Indian citizens residing in Assam and, in the process, detect foreigners (read Bangladeshis) who may have illegally entered the state after March 24, 1971. Background Pre-independence: Assam’s demographic changes date back to the introduction of the plantation economy by the colonial state in the 19th century. The colonial state brought in tribal labourers from Chota Nagpur and Bihar to work the plantations and encouraged the migration of Muslim farmers from Bengal. Post-independence: Migrations continued after Independence even as Partition solidified national identities. The ethnic, cultural and religious dimensions of the situation demanded sensitive and imaginative solutions from the political class. In 1970s, All Assam Students’ Union spearheaded a massive drive, popularly known as the Assam Agitation calling for the detection, deletion and deportation of illegal Bangladeshi migrants. In 2013, the Supreme Court finally ordered to complete the exercise by December 31, 2017, leading to the present updating of NRC in Assam. Significance of updated NRC: The publication of the updated NRC is a positive step in so far as- It is an important milestone in dealing with the influx of illegal migrants from Bangladesh into that state. It puts to rest wild speculations about the extent of the illegal migrant population in Assam and the resulting polarization that political parties have been exploiting to make electoral gains. Concerns highlighted in the process Process of adding person to NRC list is too complex and confusing – riddled with legal inconsistencies and errors. Instances of arbitrary rejection of the gram panchayat certificates. Robust non-transparent “family tree verification” process resulted in numerous instances of parents being on the draft list but children being left out. Each person who is left out will now have to prove not only his or her linkages afresh, but also the documents themselves before the appropriate forum. Faults on part of the Supreme Court Lack of proper monitoring process Failed to ensure legal clarity over the manner in which the claims of citizenship could be decided Failed to understand the implications of the results, and after effects as well as recourse that should be made available for people who have failed to be recognized as citizens of the State Inability to comprehend the further political and policy actions in case of loss of citizenship Criticisms: Without legal aid being provided to the people. Any adjudication process without legal aid for the poor is a null and void adjudication. And any adjudication on a tribunal without a judicially trained person there is a null and void adjudication. It is a terrible legal failure of the entire system in which the judiciary itself has played a very negative role, to put it mildly. The aspect of incarceration of people. That you can incarcerate stateless people is unheard of. That’s another travesty of human rights taking place. Why is it that only Assam has NRC? Indian citizenship law is such that Assam is the only place where there’s an exception. The idea that you can do an NRC on an all-India scale is bizarre. The Supreme Court saying you need it because you have an enemy invasion into Assam! It is a Supreme Court-created problem. 1.9 million people are there. And you can’t push them back at gunpoint across the border with Bangladesh. The mass insecurity and social crisis stalking the 1.9 lakh people of Assam. Many people are in stake who lives in strategic and sensitive border state. Their documents are being ambiguous. Assam has a peculiar problem of villages getting ravaged, or disappearing, due to annual floods unleashed by the fiery Brahamaputra. Documents get destroyed, geographies shift, addresses change. Several cases of transparent injustice whereby families have been divided – some declared Doubtful Voters and foreigners, others as bonafide citizens. Widespread perception that specifically linguistic and religious minorities are being targeted – namely, Bengali speaking Muslims and Hindus. Connecting the dots: The NRC process has an Assam-specific history. Extending it to the rest of the country is bizarre. Analyse. (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note: Featured Comments and comments Up-voted by IASbaba are the “correct answers”. IASbaba App users – Team IASbaba will provide correct answers in comment section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers. Q.1) Consider the following statements Assertion (A):Invasive weeds are threatening tiger populations leading to increased man-animal conflict Reason (R): Biological invasion of alien species of plants is recognised as the second worst threat to the environment after habitat destruction Select the correct answer from codes given below Both A and R are correct, and R is the correct explanation of A Both A and R are correct, and R is not correct explanation of A A is correct while R is incorrect A is incorrect while R is correct Q.2) SUMAN scheme often seen in the news is being implemented by which Ministry? Ministry of Women and Child Development Ministry of Minority Affairs Ministry of Health None of the above Q.3) Consider the following statements about Dhruv Scheme It is intended to increase the spread awareness about space and astronomy among the school children. It is being implemented by Ministry of Women and Child Development Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 MUST READ Going down together: On IMF’s slowdown warning The Hindu Do we need a countrywide National Register of Citizens? The Hindu In Mamallapuram, seeking the true north in ties The Hindu RCEP: Opportunity, fears in regional trade deal IE Let’s use cognitive science insights for better learning Live mint The efficiency promise of the Bankruptcy Code Live mint
UPSC Quiz - 2020: IAS Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 88 Archives Important Note Don't forget to post your marks in the comment section. Also, let us know if you enjoyed today's test :) To take the Test - Click Here
UPSC Quiz - 2020: IAS Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 87 Archives Important Note Don't forget to post your marks in the comment section. Also, let us know if you enjoyed today's test :) To take the Test - Click Here
ORIENTATION SESSION: IASbaba’s TLP Connect/Plus Mentorship Programme to be held on 12th October (Saturday) @ BENGALURU and DELHI -OPEN to All !! Dear All, This is to inform you that IASbaba’s Orientation Session for TLP Connect/Plus 2020 Mentorship Programme will be held on 12th October (Saturday) @ BENGALURU and DELHI. The session is OPEN FOR ALL !! Dr Lokesh IAS, who has served both in UP and Bengaluru and presently Special Commissioner (Finance & IT), Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palika will be the Chief Guest. For complete Details/Schedule about the TLP Connect/Plus Programme –> CLICK HERE ORIENTATION SESSION: DATE: 12th October (Saturday) @ BENGALURU and DELHI TIMINGS: 11 AM (You should reach 10 minutes early) VENUE : Delhi: IASbaba, 5B, PUSA road , Opposite to Metro Pillar 110, Karol Bagh, New Delhi -110005 (Landmark: CROMA Store) Bengaluru: Chandra Layout Centre: No. 1443/1444, Above Carzspa, 80 Ft. Main Road, Ganapathi Circle, Chandra Layout, Bengaluru- 560040 Important Note: 1st Prelims test for TLP CONNECT Programme would start from 12thOctober (Saturday) 2019 followed by Orientation Session at both centres. 1st Mains test for TLP CONNECT and TLP Plus Programme would start from 13thOctober (Sunday) 2019 at 10 am Please Note, It is Mandatory for the enrolled students to attend the Orientation Session, to get clarity about the programme and know your mentors. FOR ANY QUERIES: You can reach us on Email id: support@iasbaba.com Mobile No: Bangalore – 9035077800/7353177800 ( Office Timings: 10 am – 5 pm) Delhi – 011 41678500/011 41672600 ( Office Timings: 10 am – 5 pm) Thank You IASbaba
Anxiety Archives Why do we need to talk about Anxiety? Anxiety now features in more conversations than ever before, with testimonials pushing for an acceptance of what is often not acknowledged enough in modern social systems — that human beings break down, especially when exposed to growing demands of performance and success. The National Mental Health Survey of India 2015-16 found that nearly 10 per cent of the population were affected by common mental disorders, including depression, anxiety disorders and substance use disorders. It quoted a study done in Himachal Pradesh, which revealed that 15.5 per cent of the population in the age group of 15-24 years suffered from anxiety. Almost one out of five adolescents in India suffers from some level of mental morbidity, says a 2019 study conducted by the Bengaluru-based National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences. Male teenagers from urban, nuclear family backgrounds constituted the majority of its sample survey. They showed risk behaviour such as substance abuse, casual sex and speed driving and were found to be often in conflict with their family members and the law. What is Anxiety? The American Psychological Association (APA) defines anxiety as "an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts and physical changes like increased blood pressure." Knowing the difference between normal feelings of anxiety and an anxiety disorder requiring medical attention can help a person identify and treat the condition. What are the symptoms of anxiety? Anxiety feels different depending on the person experiencing it. Feelings can range from butterflies in your stomach to a racing heart. You might feel out of control, like there’s a disconnect between your mind and body. Other ways people experience anxiety include nightmares, panic attacks, and painful thoughts or memories that you can’t control. You may have a general feeling of fear and worry, or you may fear a specific place or event. Symptoms of general anxiety include: Increased heart rate Rapid breathing Restlessness Trouble concentrating Difficulty in falling asleep What is an anxiety attack? An anxiety attack is a feeling of overwhelming apprehension, worry, distress, or fear. For many people, an anxiety attack builds slowly. It may worsen as a stressful event approaches. Common symptoms of an anxiety attack include: feeling faint or dizzy shortness of breath dry mouth sweating chills or hot flashes apprehension and worry restlessness distress fear numbness or tingling When is anxiety a mental health problem? Anxiety can become a mental health problem if it impacts on your ability to live your life as fully as you want to. For example, it may be a problem for you if: your feelings of anxiety are very strong or last for a long time your fears or worries are out of proportion to the situation you avoid situations that might cause you to feel anxious your worries feel very distressing or are hard to control you regularly experience symptoms of anxiety, which could include panic attacks you find it hard to go about your everyday life or do things you enjoy. It is crucial to distinguish between plain nervousness and a disorder. Failing to do this can result in two problems – One, the medicalisation of the normal human experience of anxiety Two, the opposite effect of trivialising the anxiety disorder of a person as something ‘that everyone experiences and needs to deal with “Anxiety is essential, it facilitates our response to either fight or flee. If someone encounters a lion in a jungle, her anxiety makes her run for her life, till she is safe. But if the person cannot let go of the anxiety even when she is safe, is consistently worried and scared, that is how you understand that an anxiety disorder exists,” says Delhi-based counselling psychologist Manisha A Sharma. What’s to worry? Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD): The most common form of anxiety, it is an extreme, intense and absurd worry associated with everyday life. You will anticipate disaster about everyday things and experience fatigue, nausea, headaches, restlessness, insomnia and sweating. Panic Disorder: If you get recurring panic attacks, it is possible that you have a panic disorder. Physical symptoms include rapid heartbeat, perspiration, dizziness, hyperventilation, chest pains and crying. Social Phobia: Not to be confused with shyness. If you’re scared of being around people altogether, you might be experiencing social phobia, which is an intense fear of being in a social situation and being judged by other people. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): If you have experienced something traumatic in the past, and keep revisiting that memory, you might be going through PTSD. It can last for years, with physical effects including severe insomnia and constant fatigue. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD): If you tend to have certain thoughts or tend to do certain routines repeatedly and are unable to control them, you might be experiencing OCD. Eating only out of a particular plate may be mild OCD, but refraining from eating if that plate is not available is acute OCD. Treatments Most people with the condition try one or more of these therapies: Medication: Many antidepressants can work for anxiety disorders. Psychotherapy: This is a type of counseling that addresses the emotional response to mental illness. A mental health specialist helps you by talking about how to understand and deal with your anxiety disorder. Cognitive behavioral therapy: This is a certain type of psychotherapy that teaches you how to recognize and change thought patterns and behaviors that trigger deep anxiety or panic. There are several exercises and actions to help a person cope with milder, more focused, or shorter-term anxiety disorders, including: Stress management: Learning to manage stress can help limit potential triggers. Organize any upcoming pressures and deadlines, compile lists to make daunting tasks more manageable, and commit to taking time off from study or work. Relaxation techniques: Simple activities can help soothe the mental and physical signs of anxiety. These techniques include meditation, deep breathing exercises, long baths, resting in the dark, and yoga. Exercises to replace negative thoughts with positive ones: Make a list of the negative thoughts that might be cycling as a result of anxiety, and write down another list next to it containing positive, believable thoughts to replace them. Creating a mental image of successfully facing and conquering a specific fear can also provide benefits if anxiety symptoms relate to a specific cause, such as in a phobia. Support network: Talk with familiar people who are supportive, such as a family member or friend. Support group services may also be available in the local area and online. Exercise: Physical exertion can improve self-image and release chemicals in the brain that trigger positive feelings. Must Read: Mental Health and Insurance Mental Health Gains
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