Sep 5, 2019 RSTV Video

RSTV IAS UPSC – Innovation Index 2019

Innovation Index 2019 Archives TOPIC: General Studies 3 Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development In news: India improved its ranking in Global Innovation Index, 2019 by five notches to 52nd position in a survey of innovative capacity among 129 countries by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). India also outperformed on innovation relative to its GDP per capita for nine consecutive years, only matched by three other countries. (Vietnam, Republic of Moldova, and Kenya) While Switzerland continued to top the ranking, Israel (10) was the only new entrant in the top 10 ranking, China further improved its ranking to 17th position from 20th last year. India has improved its innovation ranking from 29 spots in last five years from 81th position in 2014 to 52th position in 2019. In comparison, India’s rank in World Bank’s Doing Business survey has improved 65 spots to 77th position in 2018. In Detail India improved its ranking in four out of seven pillars of GII, such as knowledge and technology outputs (up 11 spots to 32nd), market sophistication (up 3 spots to 33rd), human capital and research (up 3 spots to 53rd), institutions (up 3 spots to 77th). By contrast, in business sophistication (65th), infrastructure (79th), creative outputs (78th), it lost one, two and three spots respectively. The Jumps In the “knowledge and technology outputs" pillar, which saw the highest 11 spot jump, India’s ranking improved for IP-related variables, notably patents by origin (52nd) and PCT patents by origin under Patent Cooperation Treaty (51st), and IP receipts (50th). In this pillar, India maintained its top position in ICT (information and communications technology) services exports, where it ranks 1st in the world, and in labor productivity growth with 4th position. India ranks 2nd among the middle-income economies, with top positions in quality of universities and in quality of scientific publications. Indian Institute of Technology situated in Bombay, Bengaluru and Delhi occupied the 8th, 9th and 10th rank respectively among the top 10 universities in the middle income countries. In “Human capital and research" pillar, two important variables have improved for India: Gross expenditure on R&D; (50th) and expenditure by global R&D; companies (15th) which is a relative strength for the country. “India is consistently among the top in the world in innovation drivers such as ICT services exports, Graduates in science & engineering, the quality of universities, Gross capital formation—a measure of economy-wide investments—and Creative goods exports. India also stands out in the GII ranking of the world’s top science and technology clusters, with Bengaluru, Mumbai, and New Delhi featuring prominently among the global top 100 clusters. Given its size—and if progress is upheld—India will make a true impact on global innovation in the years to come," the report said. The lows Among the sub-pillars, where India lost relative strength to other countries, the largest drops are found in logistics performance (down 9 spots to 43rd), Females employed with advanced degrees (down 10 spots to 103rd) and Printing and other media (down 12 spots to 88th). “While India improved in the GII ranking, some relative weaknesses still persist. These include Environmental performance (125th), New businesses (100th), and Entertainment and media market 60th)," the report said. The Way Forward Improvement in innovation index is great, but India must do more. India needs to boost its innovation ecosystem by intertwining among various stakeholders like the government, industry, academia and society to transform India as an attractive innovation destination.  Although the STEM talent pool in India is large, a large section of this pool may not be of high-quality. Moreover, the GER at the tertiary education level in India is a low 26% meaning, a vast reserve of potential research talent is lost. Thus, while India is within touching distance of breaking into the top-50 innovator countries in the world, it is still quite far from a China, which filed, for instance, 53,345 patent applications with the WIPO in 2018 versus India’s 2,013. India is an odd juxtaposition of stellar successes like the Chandrayaan and digital payments and a large number of unemployable engineering graduates and institutes that have virtually no autonomy. Take lessons from Israel Israel has entered into the top 10 list — first by any country from the Northern Africa and West Asia region. It was not an easy journey for the ‘Startup Nation’ which has given the world innovations such as drip irrigation, USB drive, firewall (cyber security) and precision farming to name a few. Israel, which came into being around the same time as India in 1948, has a lot of lessons to offer for its ally — especially when it comes to converting challenges into a competitive advantage. With a population of just 8.5 million, it has a very small domestic market. Its policy-makers decided early to invest in human intellectual capital and create a knowledge-based economy. By doing so they hoped that Israel could become home to technology focussed industries that do not depend on natural resources that their country sorely lacks while, at the same time, offering products that could be easily exported (despite an unfriendly neighbourhood) to meet the demand anywhere in the world. They began by investing in a strong education system. Today, Israel spends 7 per cent of its GDP on education. Over 45 per cent of its adults complete tertiary education. Its investment in R&D; is the highest in the world (4.2 per cent of its GDP) with a third of that going into universities. Israel has the largest number of hi-tech startups per capita than any other country in the world. Tel Aviv houses the second largest startup eco-system after Silicon Valley. Not surprising that, hi-tech exports accounts for 45 per cent of its overall exports. To tackle the security issue that comes from being surrounded by enemies and constantly fighting terrorism, the country invested heavily in cutting-edge technologies. Today, the Israeli military is a national incubator and a significant catalyst for innovation. Faced with adversities, Israeli’s are never happy with status quo and constantly try to improve things. This has given birth to a trait they call ‘chutzpah’. Failure is accepted in the society and you are encouraged to try again. It helps that mentoring is a deeply entrenched habit. Like Israel, India needs to invest heavily in education and R&D.; Our investment in R&D; is a paltry 0.7 per cent of GDP. Very little of this goes to universities considering that a bulk of public R&D; goes into space, energy and defence sectors. China, another large economy, has managed to up its R&D; investment from 1.3 per cent in 2006 to 2.18 per cent in 2018. So size is not an issue here. It is just the intent. Many experts have faulted India’s innovation that focusses on getting products and services to people at an affordable cost, rather than aiming for global leadership. They are wrong. Solving India’s challenge will eventually open opportunities for Indian enterprises globally. That is exactly what Israel did. Note The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has been orchestrating initiatives towards creating and fostering innovation among the Indian industry and encouraging entrepreneurial ventures. Global Innovation Index The GII has been jointly developed by the WIPO, Cornell University and Paris-based business school Insead and includes more than 80 indicators exploring a broad vision of innovation, including political environment, education, infrastructure and business sophistication. This year’s GII theme “Creating Healthy Lives: The Future of Medical Innovation” is important and relevant for India because we would need a strong focus on medical innovation towards the goal of bringing healthcare and its delivery to all Indians. This year, India is hosting the launch of the 2019 edition of the GII. India is also currently engaged in opening WIPO-supported Technology and Innovation Support Centers (TISCs) in the country, which will help local innovators and creators research and market their products. In 2016, India created a high-level Task Force on Innovation to improve its innovation system based on the GII metrics. In collaboration with WIPO, the first India Innovation Index — focusing on ranking Indian States — was released in 2018.

Sep 4, 2019 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

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

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 4th September 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Mussels Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Environment Conservation In News Mussels are a small, edible sea animal that has a dark shell with two parts that close tightly together As they pump and filter the water through their gills in order to feed and breathe, mussels store almost everything else that passes through.  Mussels thus act as 'super-filters', taking in phytoplankton for nourishment along with microplastics, pesticides and other pollutants Scientists are deploying mussels across the oceans to absorb microplastics and other pollutants in the fight against water pollution. Mussels have long been used as "bio-indicators" of the health of the seas, lakes and rivers they inhabit. A recent report by WWF said that humans ingest an average of five grams of microplastics a week, about the weight of a credit card. Secondary market for corporate loans Part of GS Prelims and Mains GS-II - Economy In News A task force set up by RBI and headed by Canara Bank chairman T.N. Manoharan submitted its report on the development of a secondary market for corporate loans The committee noted that factors that impeded development of this market were absence of a systematic loan sales platform, lack of standardisation in documentation and legal factors and lack of active participants. Some of the suggestions made by task force are: Setting up of a self-regulatory body (SRB), which will oversee the proposed secondary market. SRB’s role will be to standardize loan documentation and covenants, standardization of practices, and promote growth, liquidity, efficiency and transparency of the proposed secondary market  The SRB may be set up as an association of market participants, and may be incorporated as a Section 8 company under the Companies Act, 2013. Setting up a central loan contract registry Setting up of an online loan sales platform to conduct auctions of secondary market loans.  Amendments in regulations issued by SEBI, IRDA and PFRDA to enable participation of non-banking entities such as mutual funds, insurance companies and pension fund. Do You Know? Section 8 Company is a company registered under the Companies Act, 2013 for charitable or not-for-profit purposes. In India, banks sell their stressed loans to the asset reconstruction companies, and has practically no other alternatives. However, globally, there is a healthy secondary market for corporate loans where banks can offload their loans to a willing investor at appropriate price. Ethanol Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains III - Economy In News The CCEA, chaired by PM, has given its approval for “fixing higher ethanol price derived from different raw materials" under the ethanol blended petrol (EBP) programme for the forthcoming sugar season 2019-20 The price of ethanol from C heavy molasses route be increased from Rs.43.46 per lit to Rs.43.75 per litre The price of ethanol from sugarcane juice/sugar/sugar syrup route be fixed at Rs.59.48 per litre, Remunerative price to ethanol suppliers will help in reduction of cane farmer’s arrears, in the process contributing to minimizing difficulty of sugarcane farmers. Increased ethanol blending in petrol has many benefits including reduction in import dependency, support to agricultural sector, more environmental friendly fuel, lesser pollution and additional income to farmers. Do You Know? Differential price of ethanol based on raw material (started in 2018) has significantly improved the supply of ethanol to Public Sector OMCs – from 38 crore litre in 2013-14 to over 200 crore litre in 2018-19. India, the world’s third-largest oil importer, witnessed a 25% year-on-year increase in its oil import bill in FY18 to $109 billion. In March 2015, India has set a target of lowering import dependence in oil by 10 percentage points to 67% by 2022. In July, the Union cabinet had approved the creation of a buffer stock of 4 million tonnes sugar at an estimated cost of ₹1,674 crore.  This was aimed at increasing the wholesale prices of sugar and improving cash flow to sugar mills, which in turn would help mill owners to clear the dues of farmers. REPLAN (Reducing plastic in Nature) Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS-III – Environmental Conservation In News Khadi and Village Industries Commission’s (KVIC) REPLAN project has completed one year. REPLAN project aims to remove existing waste plastic material from nature. In this project, the waste plastic is collected, chopped, cleaned, beaten and treated for softness. After that, it is mixed with paper raw material i.e. cotton rags pulp in ratio of 80 % (pulp) and 20% (plastic waste) The project was launched in September 2018 as part of KVIC’s commitment to Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan and has so far sold over 6 lakh handmade plastic mixed carry bags KVIC manufactures plastic-mixed handmade paper at its Kumarappa National Handmade Paper Institute (KNHPI) in Jaipur, Rajasthan.  KVIC is statutory body established under the Khadi and Village Industries Commission Act of 1956.  KVIC works under Union Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MAINS FOCUS) INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS  TOPIC: General studies 2 Policies of developed and developing countries and their impact on India’s interests. Bilateral and multilateral agreements and their impact on India’s interests. Putting the skids under border trade Context: The India-Pakistan face-off is having more repercussions than intended, with border economies the worst hit Concerns: In February 2019, in the wake of the Pulwama attack, India decided to withdraw the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to Pakistan; subsequently, it imposed 200% customs duty on all Pakistani goods coming into India In April, India suspended trade across the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir citing misuse of the trade route by Pakistan-based elements More recently, post the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, Pakistan cut off diplomatic and economic ties with India — expelling the Indian envoy, partially shutting airspace and suspending bilateral trade. The impact : In 2018-19, bilateral trade between India and Pakistan was valued at $2.5 billion — India’s exports to Pakistan accounted for $2.06 billion and India’s imports from Pakistan were at $495 million.  India’s decision vis-à-vis withdrawal of MFN status and imposition of 200% duty has hurt Pakistan’s exports to India, falling from an average of $45 million per month in 2018 to $2.5 million per month in the last four months. The quantum of loss that has been incurred by traders in both India and Pakistan has varied according to the nature of trade and the trade route Example: Amritsar is land-locked, is not a metropolis and traditionally has no significant industry. Hence, any decision on India-Pakistan trade has a direct impact on the local economy and the people of Amritsar. Since February, according to estimates on ground, 5,000 families have been directly affected in Amritsar because of breadwinner dependence on bilateral trade. Traders and their staff members, customs house agents (CHAs), freight forwarders, labour force, truck operators, dhaba owners, fuel stations, and other service providers are closing shop and going out of business. With Pakistan deciding to completely suspend bilateral trade, exports of cotton from India to Pakistan are expected to be affected the most, eventually hurting Pakistan’s textiles; The lawn industry which will now have to source pricier cotton from alternative markets in the United States, Australia, Egypt or Central Asia There is a high possibility that Indian cotton, along with other products, will be routed through third countries such as the United Arab Emirates and Singapore, thereby increasing the share of indirect trade which is estimated to be more than double the direct trade between India and Pakistan. Conclusion: While the overall economies of the two countries may very well manage to stay afloat despite the suspension of economic ties, it is the local economies that will suffer the most and are already perishing. In this connection, there has been a loss in business, rise in prices, lack of alternative sources of livelihood, as well as an expected increase in bank defaults.  In the spirit of nationalism, the trade fraternity on both sides, by and large, has stood by their respective governments. But locals in border economies on both sides have mouths to feed, which calls for a solution. Connecting the dots: Discuss the impact of recent bilateral suspension of trade ties between India and Pakistan? What is the ‘Most Favoured Nation’ status? Should India revoke the MFN status given to Pakistan? Critically examine. (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) Who among the following headed the task force constituted by RBI for development of Secondary market for corporate loans? Subhash Chandra Garg Bimal Jalan T.N. Manoharan  None of the above Q.2) Consider the following statements Scientists are deploying mussels (sea animal that has a dark shell) across the oceans to absorb microplastics and other pollutants in the fight against water pollution. Mussels have been used as "bio-indicators" of the health of the seas, lakes and rivers they inhabit. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) Consider the following statements  KVIC is statutory body established under the Khadi and Village Industries Commission Act of 1956. KVIC works under Union Ministry of textiles Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 MUST READ: India faces higher mortality from cardiovascular diseases The Hindu The world’s most happening place Indian express In ethanol, government’s sugar solution  Indian express In Japan, Rajnath discusses Indo-Pacific cooperation The Hindu

Sep 4, 2019 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz - 2020 : IAS Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 63

UPSC Quiz - 2020 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 63 Archives Q.1) ‘ANDREX Project’ was in news recently. What is it associated with? Cryptocurrency Antarctic Arctic Mining Andes Mountain Range Q.2) Consider the following statements with respect to ‘AIDA Mission’ It is a joint international collaboration of the European Space Agency (ESA) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) It aims to deflect the smaller part of a double asteroid dubbed Didymos. Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) ‘Khadi and Village Industries Commission’ is under the aegis of which of the following ministries? Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Ministry of Commerce and Industry Ministry of Jal Shakti Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment Q.4) Lake Urmia is located in Armenia Azerbaijan Iraq Iran Q.5) Which one of the following groups of items is included in India's Foreign Exchange Reserves? Foreign-currency assets, gold holdings of the RBI and Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) Foreign-currency assets, Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) and loans from foreign countries Foreign currency assets, loans from the World Bank and Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) Foreign currency assets, gold holdings of the RBI and loans from the World Bank To Download the Solution - Click here All the Best  IASbaba

Sep 3, 2019 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 3rd September 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 3rd September 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) INTERNATIONAL TOPIC:General studies 2 and 3: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests;  Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests Arctic Region: Recent developments & India’s position Introduction: Recent developments US President Donald Trump’s recent offer to buy Greenland is an indicative of the emerging geopolitics of the Arctic region, where climate change and China are fast destabilizing the status quo, throwing up political, security, legal, and environmental challenges. Rising global temperatures are causing the frozen Arctic ocean to melt, opening up new sea routes and opportunities to extract hydrocarbons and minerals from the seabed and the newly exposed land surfaces.  Countries of the Arctic are jockeying to take advantage of these opportunities. At the same time, China declared itself a “near Arctic" country and is making determined efforts to extend its footprint in the polar region. Chinese firms have tried to purchase large tracts of land in Iceland, Norway and Denmark. Chinese investments in Greenland’s natural resource economy might persuade the local population to secede from Denmark, creating a Laos-like Chinese satellite state between North America and Europe. Taking into account emerging technology—where autonomous vehicles and robots can populate uninhabitable regions—the next few decades could see the Arctic emerge as a hotspot of great power competition. As the Arctic region witnesses an unprecedented rate of ice-melt because of global warming, new routes are being opened, paving the way for untapped hydrocarbon and mineral resources to be exploited. Unlike the Antarctic, however, the Arctic is not considered a ‘global commons’ and the principle of sovereignty prevents external players from exacting significant gains in the region. About Arctic Council: The Arctic Council is a high-level intergovernmental body set up in 1996 by the Ottawa declaration to promote cooperation, coordination and interaction among the Arctic States together with the indigenous communities and other Arctic inhabitants.  The Council has the eight circumpolar countries (Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Denmark (Greenland and Faroe Islands), Canada, US and Russia) as member states.  Observer status is open to Non-governmental organizations, Non-littoral states as well as to Intergovernmental and Inter-Parliamentary organizations.  India has an observer status in the council. Two issues underlying Arctic politics: How should the region be shared among the eight Arctic countries (Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the US), as there are overlapping territorial claims among them.  Should these countries be allowed to assert territorial claims at all? They have formed the Arctic Council to institutionalize their self-assigned rights, but many in China, the European Union, India and elsewhere are against conceding sovereignty to the Arctic countries. Arctic Council members: Russia—the most important Arctic country—is both building up its military capabilities in the region and promoting the Northern Sea Route (NSR) as a new artery of global shipping.  Moscow recently announced that it will impose rules on commercial and naval vessels using the route.  China has declared that it wants to be a polar great power.  India’s position: India is one of the very few countries to set up a permanent station (named Himadri) in the Arctic for the purposes of scientific research. The station has been used to carry out a variety of biological, glaciological and atmospheric and climate sciences research projects in the last one decade. So far, Indian involvement in the Arctic has centered around scientific and environmental studies, mostly in partnership with Norway. Indian and Russian energy companies have signed agreements worth billions of dollars on exploration and joint production.  Way ahead: India must ensure that the environment is strongly considered at the center of all debates at the Arctic Council.  India can take the lead in pursuing scientific research in the region, to understand in particular the correlation between the Arctic ice-melt and Indian monsoons. The Russians are well aware of the Chinese risk and is therefore keen for India to get involved in the Russian Far East and the Arctic. Recent developments include liberalizing visa procedures for India to enter Vladivostok. India must explore this opportunity. Conditions are favorable for private Indian investors to explore fresh pastures in the Siberia and further North. Conclusion: While India has been active in the Arctic for over ten years, it has not fully made use of its Observer status, and it must give new energy to its activities in the region. Connecting the dots: While India has been active in the Arctic for over ten years, it has not fully made use of its Observer status, and it must give new energy to its activities in the region. Comment. Must Read If it is not tackled in time, land degradation can trigger conflict  Hindustan Times Raja Mandala: Reaching out to Europe Indian express Price controls can do more harm than good Live mint

Sep 3, 2019 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz - 2020 : IAS Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 62

UPSC Quiz - 2020 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 62 Archives Q.1) Which of the following is not a compulsory provision of 73rd amendment of the constitution? Providing reservation of seats (both members and chairpersons) for backward classes in panchayats at any level Reservation of one-third seats (both members and chairpersons) for women in panchayats at all the three levels. Indirect elections to the post of chairperson of panchayats at the intermediate and district levels. Constitution of a State Finance Commission after every five years to review the financial position of the panchayats. Q.2) What does Hague Code of Conduct represents? Against Ballistic Missile Proliferation which are capable of delivering Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil aspects of International child abduction Amendment of the Warsaw Convention  International registration of industrial designs Q.3) Consider the following statements regarding ‘Karewas’: Karewas are found in the Western Ghats  They are famous for areca nut and litchi production. Which of the above statements are correct? 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.4) Which of the following Biosphere reserves in India is the latest addition under UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves? Achnakmar Amarkantak Agasthamalai Nandadevi Khangchendzonga Q.5) Bangkok Agreement, which was signed in 1975 as an initiative of ESCAP, has been rechristened as – ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) BIMSTEC Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA) BBIN Corridor To Download the Solution - Click here All the Best  IASbaba

Sep 2, 2019 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

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

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 2nd September 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) KALIMANTAN Part of: GS Prelims and GS-I - Geography In News Indonesian President Joko Widodo announced that the nation’s capital will be moved from Jakarta on the island of Java to a yet-to-be-built city in East Kalimantan on the island of Borneo. The main reason to move the capital is to ease congestion Kalimantan is the Indonesian part of Borneo, an island shared with Malaysia and Brunei. Jakarta is crowded with home to more than 10 million people – and has some of the world’s worst air pollution and traffic congestion- estimated to cost 100 trillion rupiah (S$9.73 billion) a year due to lost productivity Poor urban planning in Jakarta, as well as unregulated draining of aquifers, has left 40% of the city below sea level.  The move is part of a broader strategy to decentralise Indonesia’s economic growth – Jakarta is home to 60% of the country’s population and accounts for over half of its economic activity. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/image/11669408/0x0/1600/900/8672b8af994452f5a57e4617d6f09ec/jf/indonesia-explores-new-capital.png Do You Know? In 2005, Myanmar moved its capital from Yangon to Naypyidaw, which was also purpose built as a new capital.  In 1960, Brazil moved its capital from Rio de Janeiro to Brasília, another planned city.  Malaysia has also moved its administrative centre to Putrajaya, south of the capital Kuala Lumpur Uranium Corporation of India limited (UCIL) Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS-I - Geography In News The Andhra Pradesh government has ordered an inquiry into a number of complaints about groundwater pollution caused by the uranium mining and processing project of UCIL in Kadapa district of AP UCIL was incorporated in 1967 as a Public Sector Enterprise under the Department of Atomic Energy, for uranium mining and uranium processing.  Do You Know? Jaduguda in Singhbhum Thrust Belt (in the state of Jharkhand) is the first uranium deposit to be discovered in India in 1951. Only 3% of power in India is provided by Uranium. Largest viable deposits of Uranium are found in Australia, Kazakhstan, and Canada. http://www.ucil.gov.in/pdf/myth/Emerging%20trend%20in%20U%20mining.pdf Ek Bharat, Vijayi Bharat Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains I - Society In News Kanyakumari-based Vivekanand Kendra and its state units will launch a year-long nation-wide contact programme to spread the messages of Swami Vivekananda The mass contact programme, titled “Ek Bharat Vijayi Bharat”, coincides with the 50th foundation year of Vivekanand Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari The programme will focus on spreading the messages of Swami Vivekananda, making people aware of the inspiring story of Vivekanand Rock Memorial and the activities of Vivekanand Kendra. Vivekananda Rock Memorial is a monument in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu at the Tri-junction of Indian ocean, Bay of Bengal and Arabian sea. It was built in 1970 in honour of Swami Vivekananda who is said to have attained enlightenment at this place in 1892, prior to his famous Chicago trip The memorial consists of two main structures, the Vivekananda Mandapam and the Shripada Mandapam. The design of the mandapa incorporates different styles of temple architecture from all over India.  Vivekananda Kendra works in the field of yoga, education, rural development, youth motivation, natural resource development, cultural research among other areas. Mamallapuram Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS-II- International Relations In News The historic coastal town of Mamallapuram in Tamil Nadu will be the venue for the second India-China informal summit between PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, scheduled in October this year.  The first informal summit between them was held in Wuhan in China in April 2018. Mamallapuram also hosted the Defence Expo 2018 or known as Defexpo, the Union Defence Ministry’s annual event with international participation. Do You Know? Mamallapuram was one of two major port cities by the 7th century within the Pallava kingdom.  The town has a collection of 7th and 8th century religious monuments that has been declared as a UNESCO World Heritage site.  Some important structures include: Thirukadalmallai, Descent of the Ganges or Arjuna's Penance, Varaha Cave Temple and Pancha Rathas (Five Chariots).  (MAINS FOCUS) INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES TOPIC: General studies 2 Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian Diaspora. Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate. Red notices Context: Home Minister Amit Shah has conveyed to Interpol Secretary-General Jurgen Stock that India would like the international police agency to expedite its process of publishing Red Notices Concern: As many as 18 requests for RNs from India are pending with Interpol. What is an RED NOTICE? Criminals or suspects often flee to other countries to evade facing justice. An RN alerts police forces across the world about fugitives who are wanted internationally. Interpol describes an RN as “a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action”. RNs contain information that helps identify wanted persons, such as their names, dates of birth, nationality, and physical attributes such as the colour of their hair and eyes, as well as pictures and biometric data such as fingerprints, if they are available. RNs also mention the crime(s) they are wanted for. An RN is published by Interpol at the request of a member country. The fugitives may be wanted for prosecution or to serve a sentence. The country issuing the request need not be the home country of the fugitive; Interpol acts on the request of a country where the alleged crime has been committed. Number of Red Notices The Interpol says some 58,000 RNs are currently valid, of which around 7,000 are public. Most RNs are restricted to law enforcement use only. In cases where the help of the public is needed to locate an individual, or if those individuals pose a threat to public safety, a public extract of the RN is published on the Interpol’s website. In 2018, Interpol issued 13,516 RNs Importance of RNs RNs are issued to simultaneously alert police in all member countries about internationally wanted fugitives An RN can help bring a fugitive to justice, sometimes many years after the crime was committed. However, because an RN is not an arrest warrant, action against a fugitive frequently rests on the diplomatic clout that the country making the request has with the country where the fugitive is located. Key notes about Interpol: Interpol is global police co-operation agency and a non-governmental organization (NGO). It was established as the International Criminal Police Commission (ICPC) in 1923. Its headquartered is located at Lyon, France. It is the world’s largest international police organization, with 194 member countries (including India). It is second-largest international organization after United Nations in terms of international representation. Its work focuses on public safety and battling terrorism, crimes against humanity, genocide, war crimes, environmental crime etc. It seeks to facilitate international police cooperation even where diplomatic relations do not exist between particular countries. It ensures that police around world have access to tools and services necessary to do their jobs effectively. It also provides targeted training, expert investigative support, relevant data and secure communications channels. It primarily uses its police expertise and capabilities for these three types of crimes. 1. Counter-Terrorism 2. Organized crime 3. Cyber Crime Interpol works in conjunction with all member countries and international organizations like the United Nations and European Union to combat international crime. India’s membership: India has been a member since 1956. Like any member nation, India maintains a National Central Bureau which serves as the national platform for cooperation between domestic law enforcement units and the international police community. The NCB is the designated contact point for the Interpol. India has collaborated with the Interpol in tackling a myriad of organised crimes such as poaching, wildlife trafficking, spurious drugs and fake medicine rackets, among others. Connecting the dots: What is Interpol’s Red notice and extradition? Explain how it works and what happens if there would be no extradition treaty? CLIMATE CHANGE/ENVIRONMENT TOPIC:General Studies 3: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment Climate Change and Nationalist Ideology In news: Brazil’s Amazon forests are ablaze with dozens of fires, most of them set intentionally by loggers and others seeking greater access to forest land. At this scale the fires are paving the way for a global climate catastrophe.  Meanwhile, many cities in Europe and elsewhere have seen high temperatures never before experienced.  Heat waves have also accelerated melting of glaciers in Greenland at a rate that was not anticipated. Nationalism and climate change: The Brazilian President has stated that the Amazon forest fires is an internal matter. The American President Donald Trump has withdrawn from the Paris Climate Agreement stating that it is against the national interests of the U.S. Across the Atlantic. British Prime Minister has received funding from climate science denial groups while saying that he would lobby the U.S. to take climate change more seriously. The burning of the world’s largest forest reserves, the withdrawal of the world’s leading polluter from a major international treaty and the U.K.’s isolationist policies may appear to be the triumph of nationalist ideology. But these actions have consequences that far transcend national boundaries and impact all creatures that share life on the planet. Way ahead: Better land use: Changes in land use pattern and climate change: While energy and transport are mainly responsible for the accumulation of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere, changes in land use patterns too have made significant contributions.  Deforestation, industrial agricultural systems and desertification are major drivers of climate change.  Agriculture, forestry and other land use activities accounted for a little less than a quarter (23%) of the total net anthropogenic emissions of GHGs between 2007-2016. A recent report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report makes it clear that unless land is managed in a sustainable manner, climate change can’t be tackled. Solution: Managing land better for farming would entail implementing more sustainable agricultural practices. It would mean, for instance, reducing chemical input drastically, and taking the practice of food production closer to natural methods of agroecology, as these would reduce emissions and enhance resilience to warming.  The IPCC report calls for avoiding conversion of grassland to cropland, bringing in equitable management of water in agriculture, crop diversification, agroforestry and investment in local and indigenous seed varieties that can withstand higher temperatures.  It also recommends practices that increase soil carbon and reduce salinisation. An inclusive land use policy: To make these significant changes and reduce inequality and poverty, land use policy should incorporate better access to markets for small and marginal farmers, empower women farmers, expand agricultural services and strengthen land tenure systems.  Sustainable land management can reduce multiple stressors on ecosystems and societies. It will also help societies adapt better to warmer climates and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Establishing sustainable food systems: Reducing food waste, which is estimated to be a quarter of the food produced. It also necessitates eating locally grown food and cutting meat consumption. Alongside these changes, it is important to put an end to deforestation, while conserving mangroves, peatland and other wetlands. Addressing the transnational challenges of climate change and land: The narrow lens of nationalism is no longer serving us. We need a new planetary ethics that supports alternative systems for the future, for a sustainable earth. Focus has to be on the following: Gowth of ecological sensibilities. Supporting pluralism. Enhancing quality of life. Shifting values away from consumerism. Creating new identities and cultures that transcend conventional boundaries. Conclusion: Viewing the transnational challenge of climate change through the narrow lens of nationalism will only spell disaster. A sense of solidarity across boundaries needs to be created, instead of building fortress worlds, will contribute to the path we build. Connecting the dots: Viewing the transnational challenge of climate change through the narrow lens of nationalism will only spell disaster. 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) The descent of the Ganges and Arjuna's Penance are portrayed in which of the following India’s heritage site Ajanta Caves Ellora Caves  Mahabalipuram None of the above Q.2) Uranium deposits are located at which among the following places in India Mahadek Basin in Meghalaya Singhbhum belt in Jharkhand Bhima basin in Karnataka Aravallis in Rajasthan Select the correct answer from the codes given below. 1,2 and 3 only 2,3 and 4 only 1,2 and 3 only 1,2,3 and 4 Q.3) Consider the following statements  Ministry of Culture is lauching “Ek Bharat Vijayi Bharat”, a mass-contact programme to spread the teachings of Swami Vivekananda  Vivekananda Rock Memorial is a monument in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu at the Tri-junction of Indian ocean, Bay of Bengal and Arabian sea. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.4) Which of the following is geographically closest to Great Nicobar? Sumatra Borneo Java Sri Lanka Must Read: A misguided stimulus plan to revive our economic growth Live Mint A new ethics for a sustainable planet The Hindu Redesigning medical education  The Hindu Nation’s orphans Indian express Irresponsible rhetoric The Hindu

Sep 2, 2019 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz - 2020 : IAS Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 61

UPSC Quiz - 2020 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 61 Archives Q.1) ‘Jaduguda Mine is known for Bauxite Uranium Gold Mica Q.2) ‘Punnamada Lake’ was in news recently. Where is it located? Kerala Odisha Rajasthan Goa Q.3) ‘Automatic Exchange Of Information (AEOI)’ is associated with ASEAN OECD CITES INTERPOL Q.4) The ‘Sudeten Crisis’ is associated with which of the following countries? Sudan South Korea Germany Brazil Q.5) ‘Corruption Perception Index’ is published by Transparency International World Economic Forum World Bank International Monetary Fund To Download the Solution - Click here All the Best  IASbaba

Sep 2, 2019 Yojana

IAS UPSC YOJANA & KURUKSHETRA Magazine ‘JULY’ 2019

Archives Friends, Here we are with the JULY 2019, edition of Yojana and Kurukshetra. Yojana/Kurukshetra: JULY 2019 – Download Download Mind Maps - Click here Click here Click here

Sep 1, 2019 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 31st August 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 31st August 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Angikaar campaign Part of: GS Prelims In News The Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry has launched the 'Angikaar campaign'. The campaign aims for social behaviour change, focusing on issues such as water & energy conservation, waste management, health, tree plantation, sanitation and hygiene for beneficiaries of completed houses under PMAY (U). The campaign will include door to door activities, ward and city level events. For this purpose, the campaign will converge with schemes and Missions of other Ministries dealing with these subjects, especially Ujjwala yojana for gas connection and Ayushman Bharat for health insurance. It will be initiated in all target cities on 2nd October 2019 and culminate on the occasion of Human Rights Day, 10th December, 2019. Do You Know? PMAY- Urban envisions provision of Housing for All by 2022, when India completes 75 years of its Independence The scheme has following four verticals Slum rehabilitation of Slum Dwellers with participation of private developers using land as a resource. Promotion of Affordable Housing for weaker section through credit linked subsidy. Affordable Housing in Partnership with Public & Private sectors. Subsidy for beneficiary-led individual house construction /enhancement. Fit India Movement Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS-II – Issues relating to Health In News Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Fit India Movement on the occasion of National Sports Day. The campaign is aimed at encouraging people to integrate physical activity and sports in their everyday lives. Technology has contributed to a sedentary lifestyle which has led to increase in lifestyle diseases like diabetes & hypertension, thus fitness is the need of the hour. The 28-member government committee headed by Sports Minister has been formed to take the movement forward.  National Sports Day is celebrated on 29th August, the birth anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand. On this Day, President confers the National Sports Awards, National Adventure Awards, Arjuna Award, Khel Ratna, Dronacharya Award and Dhyanchand Award to recognise the exceptional achievements of Indian sportspersons. https://static.toiimg.com/img/70891964/Master.jpg UN Population report Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains I - Society In News The World Population Prospects 2019 which gives global population estimates and projections was released by United Nations The world’s population is expected to increase from 7.7 billion currently to 9.7 billion in 2050 and the overall growth rate will continue to fall. The countries expected to show the biggest increase in population are India, Nigeria and Pakistan Also, fertility rates are falling worldwide from 3.2 in 1990 to 2.5 in 2019, and is projected to fall further to 2.2 births by 2050. In 2018, for the first time, persons aged 65 years or over worldwide outnumbered children under age five.  By 2050, the number of persons aged 65 or over will also surpass the number of adolescents and youth aged 15-24. Life Expectancy (LE): Although overall LE will increase (from 64.2 years in 1990 to 77.1 years in 2050), LE in poorer countries is projected to continue to lag behind.  Sex ratio: Males are projected to continue to outnumber females until the end of the century, but the gap will close https://images.indianexpress.com/2019/06/one.jpg Do You know? Early marriage, absence of reproductive and sexual rights has a major and negative repercussions on Indian women’s education, income, safety and their overall empowerment.  India’s Maternal mortality ratio in 2015 was 174 deaths per lakh live births (down from 448 in 1994) while the global MMR in 2015 was 216.  While 28 of every 1,000 Indian adolescent women (age 15-19) gave birth between 2006 and 2017, the global adolescent birth rate was at 44 per 1,000.  India’s fertility rate in 2019 is 2.3 births per woman, compared to 2.5 worldwide Mergers of Public sector banks(PSB) Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS-III - Economy In News Government announced mega bank amalgamation plan that merged 10 PSBs into four larger entities Banks have been merged on the basis of likely operating efficiencies, better usage of equity, geographical synergies and their technological platform There are four new sets of mergers  Punjab National Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce and United Bank of India to merge to form the country’s second-largest lender. These three banks are technologically compatible as they use Finacle Core Banking Solution platform. Canara Bank and Syndicate Bank to amalgamate;  Union Bank of India to acquire Andhra Bank and Corporation Bank;  Indian Bank (Strong presence in South India) to merge with Allahabad Bank (strong presence in East & North India) – To maximise geographical synergies. Government also announced to infuse 55,250 crore in these banks to enable them to grow their loan book The government also unveiled governance reforms in PSB, providing their boards greater autonomy, flexibility to fix sitting fee of independent directors, longer term to directors at management committee of boards etc. Do You Know? Out of the 10 banks that the government has decided to merge to create four, nine have net non-performing assets (NPAs) of over 5%. Government had merged Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank with Bank of Baroda on January 2019, creating the third-largest bank by loans in the country. With these series of mergers, the number of state-owned banks is down to 12 from 27. Narasimham Committee of 1998 had proposed a three-tier banking structure for India - Three large banks of international size, eight to 10 national banks and a large number of regional banks. https://www.thehindu.com/business/5vg8pr/article29302645.ece/alternates/FREE_615/REV-Banking-on-mergerscol (MAINS FOCUS) ECONOMY TOPIC: General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. The public sector bank merger Context: The Centre Friday announced a mega amalgamation plan, the third in a row, that merged ten public sector banks into four larger entities, alongside board level governance reforms aimed at improving their financial health and enhancing their lending capacity to support growth. The public sector bank merger The merger announcement was followed by an equity infusion move of Rs 55,250 crore in these banks to enable them to grow their loan book. With these series of mergers, the number of state-owned banks is down to 12 from 27. There are four new sets of mergers —  Punjab National Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce and United Bank of India to merge to form the country’s second-largest lender; Canara Bank and Syndicate Bank to amalgamate;  Union Bank of India to acquire Andhra Bank and Corporation Bank; and  Indian Bank to merge with Allahabad Bank. The biggest merger out of the four was Oriental Bank of Commerce and United Bank merging into Punjab National Bank to create a second largest state-owned bank with Rs 17.95 lakh crore business and 11,437 branches. These three banks are technologically compatible as they use Finacle Core Banking Solution (CBS) platform The merger of Syndicate Bank with Canara Bank will create the fourth largest public sector bank with Rs 15.20 lakh crore business and a branch network of 10,324 branches. Canara Bank will get capital infusion of Rs 6,500 crore. Andhra Bank and Corporation Bank’s merger with Union Bank of India will create India’s fifth largest public sector bank with Rs 14.59 lakh crore business and 9,609 branches. The government announced capital infusion of Rs 11,700 crore for the Union Bank of India. The merger of Allahabad Bank with Indian Bank will create the seventh largest public sector bank with Rs 8.08 lakh crore business with strong branch networks in the south, north and east of the country. Indian Bank will get equity infusion of Rs 2,500 crore. The logic behind the mergers According to the government, banks have been merged on the basis of likely operating efficiencies, better usage of equity and their technological platform.  But the move marks a departure from the plan to privatise some of the banks or bringing in a strategic investors to usher in reform in the sector.  The government, after consultations, decided that amalgamation is the “best route” to achieve banking sector scale and to support the target of achieving a $5 trillion economic size for India in five years Previous bank mergers Last year, the government had merged Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank with Bank of Baroda, creating the third-largest bank by loans in the country. Earlier, the State Bank of India had acquired its associate banks How this move will help? The Banking sector as a whole will get strengthened due to obvious efficiencies and will lead to enhanced productivity and better results thereby leading to better lending too The mergers should help create stronger institutions thereby leading to efficiencies of scale and stronger balance sheets.  It will help rationalize costs across many areas including branches, people, technology etc. The branch network would become larger so access to bank branches would become easier provided the merged entity does not shut down all branches of merging banks  Connecting the dots: More than banks, it is the operation of banks is what creates the financial inclusion. Discuss the impact on banking sector with merging Why is the government keen on consolidating the banks? Are there any merits of merging the banks to create banking behemoths? Critically evaluate (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 Merging of Public Sector banks will improve operating efficiencies, lead to better usage of equity, enhance geographical synergies and helps tackle rising NPA problem. With the recent mergers of Public sector banks, the number of state-owned banks is reduced from 27 to 12. Narasimham Committee of 1998 had proposed a two-tier banking structure for India - Three large banks of international size and eight to 10 national banks Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1and 2 only 2 and 3 only 1 and 3 only 1,2 and 3 Q.2) Consider the following statements  The World Population Prospects 2019 which gives global population estimates and projections is released by World Economic Forum India’s present Maternal Mortality ratio and adolescent birth rate is higher than the corresponding global ratio/rate. India’s fertility rate in 2019 is 2.3 births per woman, compared to 2.5 worldwide Which of the statement(s) given above is/are incorrect? 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only 1 and 3 only 1,2 and 3 Q.3) Consider the following statements  Fit India movement is aimed at encouraging people to integrate physical activity and sports in their everyday lives.  National Sports Day is celebrated on 29th August, the birth anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.4) Angikaar campaign is being implemented by which Union Ministry? Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment Ministry of Tribal affairs Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry None of the above Must Read GDP growth contracts to 5%, slowest in six years; Govt says more boosters coming  Indian express Liberalism runs into national populism The Hindu Hope and hurt in Ladakh The Hindu What’s Boris Johnson’s Brexit strategy? The Hindu

Sep 1, 2019 Motivational Articles

Creative Guidance – Out of the box thinking – Inspirational Educative Articles

Out of the box thinking: How often have we heard people talk about the importance of out of the box thinking and yet how often have we actually given it any serious consideration. We know that there is such a thing called as out of the box thinking – people talk about it as a way of problem solving and yet why is it that we know so little about how exactly it works. Whatever the reason might be for us to ignore the concept of out of the box thinking, we cannot deny its usefulness. Out of the box thinking is more important than we think it is. It helps us to get out of difficult situations, it helps us to understand life better, it helps us to break out of fixed limiting mindsets, and it helps us to solve important problems and so much more. So let us see what exactly is out of the box thinking. Well, the fact is almost all our thinking is sought of out of the box. We have fixed boxes of ideas, which we use to pull out ideas from. The box is made up of our emotions, circumstances, people etc. There is really no independent thought process, all our thoughts are based on a particular situation and context. When all our thinking is out of the box, there is a particular type of thinking that can be categorized as out of the box thinking. It is the ability to completely disassociate oneself from the situation and circumstances around and re-look at a problem or a situation by using the power of imagination. Imagination is the key differentiating factor between ordinary thinking and out of the box thinking. While everybody, including some of the famous scientists of his time was thinking in a fixed and narrow way, Einstein was able to think out of the box and that is what made him a genius. The difference between ordinary thinking and out of the box thinking is the difference between everybody else and Einstein. Some of the greatest minds of the world have used the power of imagination to re-imagine a situation to find solutions nobody else was able to see. Most often we are simply unable to see solutions because we are blinded by our circumstances and conditioning. Out of the box thinking by using imagination helps you to go beyond all conditioning and apply a thought purely to solve problems, sometimes unsolvable problems even. Out of the box thinking can be used in handling relationships, managing work, solving problems, be creative and inventive, and so much more. In its simplest sense, out of the box thinking is creative thinking by using the power of imagination. When people had hardly contemplated on the properties of light, Einstein used his power of imagination to travel on a light particle and look at reality from a completely different perspective. That ability to say let me see what might happen if I travel on a light particle at the speed of light! – Now that is pure genius, or rather simply out of the box thinking. All great inventions have come about mainly because of an individual’s ability to think out of the box. It is one of the greatest skills you can possess. If you feel you are stuck in life and you are unable to do certain things, try and step away from the circumstance, clear out your mind and re-imagine the problem completely. More often than not, out of the box thinking will give you the solutions you are looking for. “This article is a part of the creative endeavor of Meditation Farm and IASBABA.”