Posts

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 25th June 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 25th June 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) ‘Defaulter count in PSBs has risen 60% since FY15’ Part of Prelims and Mains GS III Indian Economy In news The number of wilful defaulters in nationalised banks has increased by more than 60% to 8,582 to March 2019 from 2014-15.  By the end of the 2014-15 fiscal, the figure had stood at 5,349. Wilful defaulter A wilful defaulter is an entity or a person that has not paid a loan back despite the ability to repay it.A wilful defaulter is an entity or a person that has not paid a loan back despite the ability to repay it. Mortality malady Part of Prelims and Mains GS II Governance and public health   In news https://epaper.thehindu.com/Home/ShareImage?Pictureid=GU8625SDK.1 Do you Know? Some of the targets to be achieved under SDG 3: By 2030, reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per100,000 live birth By 2030, end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years ofage, with all countries aiming to reduce neonatal mortality to at least as lowas 12 per 1,000 live births and under-5 mortality to at least as low as 25 per1,000 live births  By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicablediseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health andwell-being  Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection,access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective,quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all  Terminology Infant mortality rate (IMR) is the number of deaths per 1,000 live births of children under one year of age.  Neonatal mortality rate: is the number of deaths per 1,000 live births of children under 28 days of life.  Under-Five Mortality (U5MR) or child mortality is the number of deaths per1,000 live births of children under five year of age.  Maternal mortality rate: The number of registered maternal deaths due to birth- or pregnancy-related complications per 100,000 registered live births. According to the just released SRS (Sample Registration System) bulletin, IMR of India has declined, from 37 per 1000 live births in 2015 to 33 per 1000 live births in 2017.  Reasons for high mortality rates: Which accounted for 62% of all child deaths Pneumonia Prematurity, low birth weight Diarrhoeal diseases Neonatal infections Birth asphyxia & birth trauma (MAINS FOCUS) NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2: Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein. Strengthening Fiscal Federalism Background: India’s Constitution-makers thought of India as a union of States with a centripetal bias, done, advisedly, to preserve the unity and integrity of a newly fledged nation. Since then, the Indian economy, polity, demography and society have undergone many changes. It is in this context that India’s fiscal federalism needs to be re-visited. Imbalances in India’s fiscal federalism: A vertical imbalance arises because the tax systems are designed in a manner that yields much greater tax revenues to the Central government when compared to the State or provincial governments; the Constitution mandates relatively greater responsibilities to the State governments. For example, in India, post the advent of Goods and Services Tax (GST), the share of States in the public expenditure is 60% while it is 40% for the Centre to perform their constitutionally mandated duties. The horizontal imbalances arise because of differing levels of attainment by the States due to differential growth rates and their developmental status in terms of the state of social or infrastructure capital. Traditionally, Finance Commissions have dealt with these imbalances in a stellar manner. Way ahead: Removing the imbalance Strengthening NITI Aayog: In the past, the Planning Commission used to give grants to the States as conditional transfers using the Gadgil-Mukherjee formula.  Now with the Planning Commission disbanded, there is a vacuum especially as the NITI Aayog is primarily a think tank with no resources to dispense, which renders it toothless to undertake a “transformational” intervention. On the other hand, it is too much to expect the Union Finance Commission to do the dual job. There is an urgent need for an optimal arrangement.  NITI Aayog 2.0 should receive significant resources to promote accelerated growth in States that are lagging, and overcome their historically conditioned infrastructure deficit, thus reducing the developmental imbalance. In short, the NITI Aayog should be engaged with the allocation of “transformational” capital in a formulaic manner.  NITI Aayog 2.0 should also be mandated to create an independent evaluation office which will monitor and evaluate the efficacy of the utilisation of such grants. In doing so, it should not commit the mistake of micro-management or conflicts with line departments. It must be also accorded a place at the high table of decision-making as it will need to objectively buy-in the cooperation of the richer States as their resources are transferred to the poorer ones. Ushering in decentralisation: The above perspective will have to be translated below the States to the third tier of government. This is crucial because intra-State regional imbalances are likely to be of even greater import than inter-State ones. Decentralisation, in letter and spirit, has to be the third pillar of the new fiscal federal architecture.  De jure and de facto seriousness has to be accorded to the 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments.  The missing local public finance must be birthed. One of the ways for this is through the creation of an urban local body/panchayati raj institutions consolidated fund. The Centre and States should contribute to the consolidated fund of the third tier.  Further, the State Finance Commissions should be accorded the same status as the Finance Commission and the 3Fs of democratic decentralisation (funds, functions and functionaries) vigorously implemented. This will strengthen and deepen our foundational democratic framework. Fine-tuning the GST: It is to the credit of our democratic maturity that the GST Bill was passed unanimously by Parliament; but in its present form, it is far from flawless.  It needs further simplification and extended coverage.  We need to achieve the goal of a single rate GST with suitable surcharges on “sin goods,” zero rating of exports and reforming the Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) and the e-way bill.  The GST Council should adopt transparency in its working, and create its own secretariat with independent experts aas its staff. This will enable it to undertake further reforms in an informed and transparent manner.  Conclusion: NITI Aayog can play an important role in refreshing India’s fiscal federalism. It is time we reboot the institution. Connecting the dots: India’s fiscal federalism needs to be re-visited in order to check the imbalances between the states and also between centre on one hand and states on the other. Comment. SCIENCE AND TECH/DEFENCE TOPIC: General studies 3: Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology. Defence and Security issues India as a space power Introduction: Space has undoubtedly become a military theatre. The US, Russia, China and, since March, India, have shown that they have the capability to physically destroy satellites in orbit. The post-Cold War space arms race is underway. What does it mean to be a space power? It is “the ability to use space while denying reliable use to any foe". India already has significant ability to use space. But our ability to deny its use to an adversary is, understandably, negligible. The exceptional route India took: The US, Russia, China and Europe developed space capabilities for military purposes first, and then put those technologies to civilian use. India’s space quest, on the other hand, was focused on civilian use—weather forecasting, broadcast, telecommunications and remote sensing. It was only in the mid-1980s that technology from the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (Isro) Satellite Launch Vehicle-3 was employed in the Agni ballistic missile. When it comes to satellites, India has a handful of military satellites in operation, compared to over 40 civilian ones. Our first dedicated military satellite was launched only in 2013. Rethinking our approach: Just like India was late to militarize space, it has been late to weaponize it. That’s not a bad thing, but in the changed circumstances of the 21st century, it is time to rethink our approach. India’s unstated space doctrine is to use space to promote development and the well-being and prosperity of its people. What we must do now is to include the word “security" in that sentence. In doing so, the policy goal will change from having a space presence to being a space power. Way ahead: India must protect and secure two kinds of space assets—those that belong to us and those that are crucial to our economy and national security. Future designs of satellites must certainly factor in the risk of attack by hostile forces. In order to effectively defend our space assets, India must have the most reliable and accurate capabilities to track space objects, from debris and spacecraft to celestial bodies. This crucial capability must be developed indigenously. For space defence to be effective, India must acquire a minimum, credible offensive capacity across the various types of space weapons, physical, electronic and cyber.  Our broader space policy must acquire a new seriousness in improving launch capabilities and spacecraft design. The ability to place large satellites in geostationary orbits should become highly reliable. ISRO’s budgets must be enlarged. Also, private entrants must be encouraged in everything from launches to specialized payloads.  Conclusion: The government’s decision to set up a Defence Space Agency (DSA) with command over the space assets of the Army, Navy and Air Force is the most significant development in India’s defence establishment since the operationalization of the nuclear arsenal around 15 years ago. It is time the DSA starts working on the path of making India a space power. Connecting the dots: Space has undoubtedly become a military theatre. India’s policy goal should change from having a space presence to being a space power. Discuss. (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) SDG 3 is related to Health Education  Sanitation None of the above Q.2) Consider the following statements  The Peace to Prosperity economic workshop held in Bahrain under the leadership of US. Palestine agreed to accept the peace plan to be drawn at the workshop. Select the Correct statements Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 MUST READ A sound foundation The Hindu Paving a green path Indian Express

PIB

Press Information Bureau (PIB) IAS UPSC – 16th June to 23rd June – 2019

Press Information Bureau (PIB) IAS UPSC – 16th June to 23rd June – 2019 ARCHIVES GS-2 Janani Suraksha Yojana (Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health) A safe motherhood intervention under the National Rural Health Mission (NHM) Objective: Reduce maternal and infant mortality by promoting institutional delivery among pregnant women Janani Suraksha Yojana, a conditional cash transfer scheme- was launched in 2005 as part of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) to improve maternal and neonatal health by promotion of institutional deliveries (childbirth in hospitals). The aim was to improve India’s infant and maternal mortality rates through institutional deliveries. Under JSY, pregnant women choosing to deliver at the hospital and the health worker who motivated her to take the decision get cash incentives- Rs.1,400 for the woman and Rs.600 for the Accredited Social Health Activist in rural areas and Rs.1,000 and Rs.200 respectively in urban areas. The motto of cash incentive was to reduce financial barriers to accessing institutional care for delivery. Increased hospitalisation The researchers of the study ‘Health and Morbidity in India: 2004-2014’, based on analysis of the 60th and 71st round of NSSO data, found a causal link between JSY and increase in hospitalisation, even for non-childbirth-related ailments. While the fertility rates in Indian women have steadily declined from 2.88% in 2004 to 2.4% in 2014, JSY has impacted overall hospitalisation of women in India. It has led to 15% increase in institutional childbirth with a commensurate decline in deliveries at home. Also, there is tremendous increase of 22% in deliveries in government hospitals. This is due to 8% decline in childbirth at private hospitals and a 16% decline in childbirth at home. The scheme has increased the probability of woman being hospitalised by 1.3% which has resulted in 2% overall increase in hospitalisation of women in India. Though this increase might appear marginal but it is very significant as women in rural India are known to delay in seeking health interventions. Positive changes This scheme has led to enhancement in utilisation of health services among all groups especially among the poorer and underserved sections in the rural areas. This has reduced prevalent disparities in maternal care. Previous studies on JSY had shown reduction in maternal mortality rates. But there was no evidence if it had reduced socio-economic inequalities, i.e. difference in access to maternal care between individual people of higher or lower socioeconomic status. In the IHDS study, three key services of maternal care were used for the analysis: Full antenatal care (full ANC) Safe delivery Postnatal care Major findings Services used Increase in utilisation of all three maternal healthcare services between the two rounds was remarkably higher among illiterate or less educated and poor women. This shows the effect of JSY scheme where women with little or no education were motivated to utilise maternal health care services. Reduced disparities The usage of all three maternal healthcare services by the OBC, Dalit, Adivasi and muslim women increased between the surveys. There was narrowing of gap between the less educated and more educated women and between the poorer and richer women. It was also found that women in their early twenties were more likely to avail of each of the three maternal health care services as compared to their older women. Also, the incidence of women availing maternal healthcare services decreases with the increase in the number of children they have delivered. Inequality persists There still exists inequality in the access to maternal care. Though there is gap in access to healthcare between the marginalised group of women and those who are financially better-off, it has declined since the advent of the JSY program. There is still high incidence of maternal mortality rate in India. As per the latest series on maternal health, India accounted for 15% of the total maternal deaths in the world in 2015 — second only to Nigeria — with 45,000 women dying during pregnancy or childbirth. Support of other schemes Percentage of women reporting sick has also increased partially due to result of other health insurance schemes like Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana. Having insurance is associated with a 17% increase in probability of being hospitalized in a government facility and an 8% increase in the probability of hospitalization in a private hospital. Challenge to tackle Though the economic significance of 2% increase is little, it has to be understood that JSY was not to increase overall hospitalisation. It was only to reduce maternal and infant mortality. But now it is seen that women are going for childbirth and are also coming in for other ailments to the hospitals. This has however raised concerns about quality of care with increasing number of caesarean sections and hospital-acquired infections. Increased hospitalisation for deliveries in public sector is an achievement. But this has also increased the dangers of decreased health care quality. Here, the health outcomes are not aligned with public health goals. Anaemia in women (Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health) According to National Family Health Survey (NFHS)–IV (2015-16), the prevalence of anaemia among women aged 15 to 49 years is 53%. According to National Family Health Survey (NFHS)–IV (2015-16), the prevalence of anaemia among adolescent girls aged 15-19 years is 54%. Under the National Health Mission (NHM), the steps taken to tackle anaemia  are: Anaemia Mukt Bharat(AMB) has been launched in the year 2018 as part of Intensified National Iron Plus Initiative (NIPI)Program for accelerating the annual rate of decline of anaemia from one to three percentage points. The target groups for AMB are Children 6-59 months, 5-9 years, Adolescent Girls & Boys of 10-19 years, Women of Reproductive Age (15-49 years), pregnant Women and Lactating mothers. Weekly Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation (WIFS) Programme is being implemented to meet the challenge of high prevalence and incidence of anaemia amongst adolescent girls and boys. The intervention under WIFS include supervised weekly ingestion of Iron Folic Acid (IFA) tablet (each IFA tablet contains 100mg elemental iron and 500µg folic acid) for 52 weeks in a year.To control worm infestation biannual de-worming with Albendazole 400mg is done, six months apart. Health management information system & Mother Child tracking system is being implemented   for reporting and tracking the cases of anaemic and severely anaemic pregnant women. Universal screening of pregnant women for anaemia is a part of ante-natal care and all pregnant women are provided iron and folic acid tablets during their ante-natal visits through the existing network of sub-centers and primary health centers and other health facilities as well as through outreach activities at Village Health & Nutrition Days (VHNDs).  These women are also counselled for dietary habits. Pradhan MantriSurakshitMatritvaAbhiyan (PMSMA) has been launched to focus on conducting special ANC check up on 9th of every month with the help of Medical officers/ OBGYN to detect and treat cases of anaemia. Every pregnant woman is given iron and folic acid, after the first trimester, to be taken 1 tablet daily for 6 months during ante-natal and post-natal period each.  Pregnant women, who are found to be clinically anaemic, are given two tablets daily. To address anaemia due to worm infestation, deworming of pregnant women is done after first trimester preferably in second trimester of pregnancy. Operationalization of   Blood Bank in District Hospitals and Blood Storage Unit in Sub district facilities such as Sub-Divisional Hospital/ Community health Centers is being taken to tackle complications due to severe anaemia. To tackle the problem of anaemia due to malaria particularly in pregnant women and children, Long Lasting Insecticide Nets (LLINs) and Insecticide Treated Bed Nets (ITBNs) are being distributed in endemic areas. Health and nutrition education through IEC & BCC to promote dietary diversification, inclusion of iron folate rich food as well as food items that promotes iron absorption. MCP Card and Safe Motherhood Booklet is being distributed to the pregnant women for educating them on dietary diversification and promotion of consumption of IFA. Information, Education and Communication (IEC) material in the form of posters, hoardings, wall-writings and audio-visuals have been developed & disseminated to the States/UTs to promote prevention of anaemia. Advisory to all Private Satellite TV Channels for appropriate representation of children in dance based Reality Shows Several dance based reality TV shows portray young children performing dance moves originally done by adults in movies and other popular modes of entertainment. These moves are often suggestive and age-inappropriate. Such acts may also have distressing impact on children, impacting them at a young and impressionable age. All private satellite TV Channels are expected to abide by the provisions contained in Programme & Advertising Codes prescribed under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 and rules framed. As per the rules, no programme should be carried on TV which denigrates children, and further that programmes meant for children should not contain any bad language or explicit scenes of violence. The Ministry has accordingly issued an Advisory to all private satellite TV channels to avoid showing children in indecent, suggestive and inappropriate manner in dance reality shows or other such programmes. The channels have been further advised to exercise maximum restraint, sensitivity and caution while showing such  reality shows and programmes. GS-3 Employment Generated Through Textile Sector (Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment) The Textile industry is one of the largest source of employment generation in the country with over 45 million people employed directly and another 6 crore people in allied sectors, including a large number of women and rural population. Government has launched several important schemes for employment generation and providing livelihood in handloom, handicraft, powerloom for all the segments of the textile sector. SAMARTH—Skill development and capacity building scheme. Amended Technology Up-gradation Fund Scheme (ATUFS) for technology upgradation of the textile industry, purpose being to attract investment and boost employment. National Handloom Development Programme, Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development Scheme, Handloom  Weaver Comprehensive Welfare Scheme and Yarn Supply Schemesfor promotion of handloom sector and employment generation . Comprehensive Handicraft Cluster Development Scheme. PowerTex India for powerloom weavers. Silk Samagra—an integrated Scheme for development of silk industry Integrated Wool Development Programme. Scheme for Integrated Textile Parks Scheme for Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies (RoSCTL) was recently approved by the Government to rebate all embedded state as well as central taxes/levies up to 31st March 2020 to promote ease of doing business and avoid procedural delays, rebate of taxes /levies embedded in manufacturing. This applies to Made-Ups and Apparels. Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Update (Topic: Agriculture) To provide claims against the crop yield losses due to natural risks/calamities, adverse weather conditions, pests & diseases etc. two major crop insurance schemes namely – Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY): PMFBY provides comprehensive risk coverage from pre-sowing to post harvest losses against non-preventable natural risks.   Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS): The RWBCIS provides indemnification for likely crop losses due to deviation in weather indices.   Further, to provide adequate risk coverage the sum insured has been equated to Scale of Finance at minimum uniform fixed premium rate payable by farmers i.e. maximum 2% for Kharif crops, 1.5% for Rabi Crop and 5% for annual commercial/horticultural crops, with balance of actuarial/bidded premium being shared by the Central and State Government on 50 : 50 basis;  lowering of unit area of insurance to village/village panchayat level for major crops and to individual farm level for localised risks of hailstorm, landslide and inundation and post-harvest losses thereby promoting more realistic assessment of losses. In addition, assistance is also provided to farmers through other schemes namely, PM KISAN (for regular income), PM ASHA (Price support), National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for relief due to natural calamities etc. Ban on Crop Residue Burning: The National Green Tribunal in the order passed in 2015, directed and prohibited agricultural residue burning in any part of the NCT of Delhi, State of Rajasthan, State of Punjab, State of Uttar Pradesh and State of Haryana. Paddy Stubble burning is mainly practiced in Indo-gangetic plains of the States of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to clear the fields for Rabi Crop sowing. Modernization of Technology to Double the Income of Farmers: Development of Kisan Suvidha mobile application to facilitate dissemination of information to farmers on the critical parameters viz., Weather; Market Prices; Plant Protection; input Dealers (Seed, Pesticide, Fertilizer) Farm Machinery;  Soil Health Card; Cold Storages & Godowns, Veterinary Centres and Diagnostic Labs. With market information, Farmers are better informed about markets to sell produce, prevailing market prices and quantity demanded in the market. Thus, they can make informed decisions to sell produce at the right price and right time. The Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) has also compiled more than 100 mobile apps developed by ICAR, State Agricultural Universities  and Krishi Vigyan Kendras and uploaded on its website. These mobile apps developed in the areas of crops, horticulture, veterinary, dairy, poultry, fisheries, natural resources management and integrated subjects,  offer valuable information to the farmers, including package of practices, market prices of various commodities, weather related information, advisory services, etc. Development of  mKisan Portal (www.mkisan.gov.in) for sending advisories on various crop related matter to the registered farmers through SMSs. Launching of e-National Agriculture Market initiative to provide farmers an electronic online trading platform. Implementation of  Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure, sub-scheme of Integrated Scheme of Agricultural Marketing, in order to improve/create scientific storage capacity for storing farm produce, processed farm produce and to reduce post-harvest storage loss. Introduction of Soil Health Card Scheme to assist State Governments in providing Soil Health Cards to all farmers across the country once in a cycle of 2 years Soil health card provides information to the farmers on nutrient status of their soil along with recommendations on appropriate dosage of nutrients to be applied for improving crop productivity and soil fertility. Providing subsidies under National Food Security Mission (Oil Seeds and Oil Palm) to farmers on seed components, transfer of technologies, production inputs and water carrying devices. Financial assistance is also being provided under this scheme for block demonstration, frontline demonstration, farmers training to educate farmers to adopt modern techniques of farming to yield good crop economically. Use of  space technology for various programmes/ areas such as Forecasting Agricultural Output using Space, Agro-meteorology and Land-based Observations project,  Coordinated programame on Horticulture Assessment and Management using geo-informatics project, National Agricultural Drought Assessment and Monitoring System, Rice-Fallow Area Mapping and intensification, geo tagging of infrastructure and assets created under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana,  and Crop Insurance.  Using machine learning process along with different computer algorithm for crop classification and area estimation. The Government has also set up 713 Krishi Vigyan Kendras and 684 Agricultural Technology Management Agencies at district level for dissemination of technologies among farm community. In addition, farmers are  provided information  through Focused Publicity Campaigns, Kisan Call Centres, Agri-Clinics and Agri-Business Centres of entrepreneurs, Agri Fairs and exhibitions, Kisan SMS Portal, etc. India will lead by example in combating desertification (Topic: Environment) With about 30% of country’s total geographical area being affected by land degradation; India has high stakes and stands strongly committed to the Convention. Various schemes by the Government of India which are helping to reduce land degradation: Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) Soil Health Card Scheme Soil Health Management Scheme Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojna (PKSY) Per Drop More Crop Launch of a flagship project on enhancing capacity on forest landscape restoration (FLR) and Bonn Challenge in India, through a pilot phase of 3.5 years implemented in the States of Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Nagaland and Karnataka. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in partnership with The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), through this flagship project aims to develop and adapt best practices and monitoring protocols for the Indian states and build capacity within the five pilot states on FLR and Bonn Challenge. This will be eventually scaled up across the country through subsequent phases of the project. Please Note: World Day to combat desertification and drought: 17th June Slogan: ‘Let’s Grow the Future Together’ A unique occasion to remind global community that desertification can be effectively tackled, that solutions are possible, and that key tools to this aim lay in strengthened community participation and cooperation at all levels. Achieving land degradation neutrality will help provide a solid base for several important issues, ranging from poverty reduction, food & water security and climate change mitigation and adaptation Protecting and restoring land – and better using it – can reduce forced migration, improve food security and spur economic growth. It can also help us to address the global climate emergency. On this World Day, let us recognize the imperative of combating desertification as part of our efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The Bonn Challenge is a global effort to bring 150 million hectares of the world’s deforested and degraded land into restoration by 2020, and 350 million hectares by 2030.At the UNFCC Conference of the Parties (COP) 2015 in Paris, India also joined the voluntary Bonn Challenge pledge to bring into restoration 13 million hectares of degraded and deforested land by the year 2020, and additional 8 million hectares by 2030. India’s pledge is one of the largest in Asia. United Nations has 3 Rio Conventions – United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD): Established in 1994, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the only legally binding international agreement linking environment and development issues to the land agenda. In 1994, the United Nations General Assembly declared 17 June the "World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought" to promote public awareness and the implementation of the UNCCD in the desertification affected countries. India is hosting the Fourteenth session of Conference of Parties (COP - 14) from 29th August - 14th September 2019. One of the primary functions of the COP is to review reports submitted by the Country Parties detailing how they are carrying out their commitments. India will take-over the COP presidency from China for two years until the next COP is hosted in 2021. Prelims oriented News: World Food India 2019: 1st -4th November, 2019 Newly-elected Lok Sabha Speaker: Shri Om Birla Archery World Championship: India won one silver and two bronze medals at the event, making it the best-ever medal haul in an Archery World Championship. India had won two silver medals in the same event in 2015, which is the country’s second best performance at the Championship. The Indian men’s recurve team comprising Atanu Das, Tarundeep Rai and Pravin Jadhav won a silver medal at the Championships. NABCB secures international equivalence for personnel certification: The National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB), India’s national accreditation body, secured international equivalence for its accreditation programme for personnel certification bodies. NABCB signed the Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) of the Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (APAC) for its accreditation programme based on international standard, ISO/IEC 17024. ISO/IEC 17024: Conformity assessment - General requirements for bodies operating certification of persons specifies criteria for the operation of a Personnel Certification Bodies (also known as a certification body for persons). The standard includes requirements for the development and maintenance of the certification schemes for persons upon which the certification is based. With the above recognition, NABCB hopes to facilitate export of Indian services and skills into the world market by attesting that persons are certified following international standards by the certifying bodies. Personnel Certification would support many professionals in India, especially thosewho do not have formal education or certificate programme. Any person carrying ISO/IEC 17024 certificate with NABCB logo will be recognized internationally. It can also be used by regulators for establishing confidence in certified personnel for different activities. Note: NABCB, a constituent Board of the Quality Council of India, an autonomous body attached to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, is responsible for accreditation of certification/inspection bodies as per applicable international standards under an international system of equivalence. This signifies that the accreditation of personnel certification bodies by NABCB is now accepted as equivalent at international level. Accreditation reduces risk for business and its customers by assuring that accredited Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) are competent to carry out the work they undertake within their scope of accreditation. Dispute Resolution Mechanism for solar/wind sector: To consider the unforeseen disputes between solar/wind power developers and SECI/NTPC, beyond contractual agreement. It will give further fillip to the smooth implementation of solar/wind energy projects in India. A three member Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) will be set up with the approval of Hon’ble Minister (NRE), consisting of eminent persons of impeccable integrity. The upper age for the DRC members shall be 70 years. The Committee members of DRC shall be chosen from the eminent persons located in NCR of Delhi so as to avoid expenditure on Air Travel & accommodation. The selection of DRC Members would be such that there is no conflict of interest involved. The mechanism of Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) will be applicable for all solar/ wind Schemes/ Programmes/ Projects being implemented through/ by SECI/ NTPC. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to remove requirement of minimum educational qualification for transport vehicle drivers: Under Rule 8 of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989, a transport vehicle driver needs to have passed class 8. However, there are large numbers of unemployed persons especially in rural areas of the country, who may not have a formal education, but are otherwise literate and skilled. The move will benefit skilled persons in economically backward areas Stress to be on competent drivers training and stringent skill testing to ensure safety Nipah Virus Nipah Virus is an emerging infectious disease that broke out in Malaysia and Singapore in 1998 and 1999. It first appeared in domestic pigs and has been found among several species of domestic animals including dogs, cats, goats, horses and sheep. The infection is also known to affect human beings. The organism which causes Nipah Virus encephalitis is an RNA or Ribonucleic acid virus. Nipah virus infection gets its name from the village in Malaysia where the person from whom the virus was first isolated succumbed to the disease. How does Nipah spread or get transmitted? The disease spreads through fruit bats or ‘flying foxes,’ of the genus Pteropus, who are natural reservoir hosts of the Nipah and Hendra viruses. The virus is present in bat urine and potentially, bat faeces, saliva, and birthing fluids. Nipah Virus, which is a zoonotic disease, was known to affect humans in Malaysia and Singapore after coming in direct contact with the excretions or secretions of infected pigs. Symptoms of the Nipah infection: The human infection presents as an encephalitic syndrome marked by fever, headache, drowsiness, disorientation, mental confusion, coma, and potentially death. There is no specific treatment for Nipah Virus. The primary treatment for human cases is intensive supportive care. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (2016 - 2020): To encourage and promote skill development for the youth throughout the country. The scheme aims to benefit 10 million youth over the period of four years (2016- 2020).  The three Corporations under Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment namely National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC), National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporations (NBCFDC) and National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC)  also implement Skill Development Training Programmes for the socio-economic development of persons belonging to target groups i.e. Scheduled Castes (SCs), Other Backward Caste (OBCs) /Economically Backward Class (EBC) /De-notified Nomadic Tribe (DNT)/Senior citizens including women, Safai Karamcharis/Manual Scavengers/Waste Pickers. The India International Skill Centres (IISC) program was launched as a pilot operational in 14 centres in the country. A total of 583 students were trained in these centres. The IISCs at present and is the form of a future-network model have the following as their focus: Counselling and guidance along with Foreign Employment Support for employment opportunities in the overseas market, information on the required skill set, minimum wages etc. to the potential emigrants. Skill Testing & certification aligned with employer standards Incremental skill training & Pre-Departure Orientation Training (PDOT) To focus on emerging opportunities in all regions of the world Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) control programme: The programme envisages 100% vaccination coverage of cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats and pigs at six months interval in the entire country. Further, animals will be identified using unique animal identification ear tags. The programme also includes de-worming of targeted population of livestock twice a year as one of its activities. Brucellosis control programme: The programme envisages 100% vaccination coverage of female cattle and buffalo calves (4-8 months of age) once in a life time.

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 24th June 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 24th June 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Scientists decode genome of ‘miracle plant’ Part of Prelims and Mains GS III Science and Technology In news ‘Arogyapacha’ (Trichopus zeylanicus) is endemic to the Agastya hills, and is known for its medicinal properties. This ‘miracle plant’ is known for its traditional use by the Kani tribal community to combat fatigue. Studies have also proven its anti-oxidant, aphrodisiac, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumour, anti-ulcer, hepatoprotective and anti-diabetic properties. Do you know? Kani is a tribe living in the Western Ghats area of Kerala, India. Their use of the forest plant arogyapacha (trichopus zeylanicus) as a key ingredient in a herbal remedy called Jeevani was noted by visiting scientists. ILS develops antibodies against Chikungunya infection Part of Prelims and Mains GS III Science and Technology: Health In news The Institute of Life Sciences (ILS), which functions under the Department of Biotechnology, has entered into a non-exclusive license for product commercialisation after having successfully developed antibodies against the Chikungunya viral (CHIKV) infection. Significant impact It will help researchers unravel myriad aspects of virus pathogenesis. Moreover, with greater light shed upon the CHIKV infection biology using these antibodies, research communities are now a step closer to developing efficacious antivirals and other control strategies against the Chikungunya virus. Ambubachi Mela, Assam Part of Prelims and Mains GS I Art and culture   In news A floating replica of the historic Kamakhya Temple, installed on the Brahmaputra river on the occasion of the annual four-day Ambubachi Mela at Amingaon, near Guwahati.PTI https://epaper.thehindu.com/Home/ShareImage?Pictureid=G2V625R7S.3 Do you know? The Ambubachi Mela is an annual Hindu mela held at Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati, Assam. This yearly mela is celebrated during the monsoon season that happens to fall during the Assamese month Ahaar, around the middle of June . It is the celebration of the yearly menstruation course of goddess Kamakhya. It is believed that the presiding goddess of the temple, Devi Kamakhya, the Mother Shakti, goes through her annual cycle of menstruation during this time stretch. Cabinet nod for wage code Bill likely Part of Prelims and Mains GS III Labour laws In news Looking to bring in a fresh wave of labour reforms, the Labour Ministry is likely to seek Cabinet approval for the Code on Wages Bill. The wage code Bill is one of four codes envisaged by the government which would subsume 44 labour laws with certain amendments. The four codes will deal with wages, social security, industrial safety and welfare, and industrial relations. (MAINS FOCUS) INTERNATIONAL TOPIC:General studies 2 and 3: India and the World International Relations Policies of developed and developing countries and their impact on India’s interests Weathering the incoming geopolitical storm Introduction: The nature and dynamics of Southern Asian geopolitics are undergoing a radical transformation, slowly, steadily and in an irrevocable manner. Is New Delhi adequately prepared to weather the incoming geopolitical storm? Growing uncertainty in Southern Asian geopolitics: There is a sharp power competition in the region. The U.S. is caught between its reluctance to part with its fading glory on the one hand and unwillingness to do what it takes to maintain its regional influence on the other. When challenged by China and Russia in the regional geopolitical landscape, the U.S.’s superpower instinct is to push back, often leading to short-sighted decisions and confused policies. Russia and China are jointly and individually challenging the U.S.’s pre-eminence and drafting smaller countries of the region into their bandwagon/s. The resultant geopolitical competition for space, power and influence in the regional scheme of things is undoing the traditional geopolitical certainties in Southern Asia. The China pivot: While, Washington’s role as the regional pivot and power manager is becoming a thing of the past with Beijing increasingly able and willing to assume that role. Regional geopolitics, from Iran to Central Asia and from the South China Sea to the Indian Ocean region, is increasingly being shaped by China. China is the new regional hegemon with states in the region jumping on its bandwagon without much resistance. When new powers are on an ascendance, its neighbours tend to recalibrate their policies and old partnerships and alliances. Regional holdouts and challengers such as India will need to balance themselves tactfully to steer clear of the rising hegemon’s ire. The presence of an extreme trust deficit among the various actors in the region. India and Pakistan, or China and India do not trust each other. Aa trust deficit exists between even seemingly congenial partners such as the U.S. and India, Russia and China, and among traditional partners such as Iran and India, and Russia and India. The varying degrees of trust deficit when combined with other factors such as unresolved conflicts, misunderstandings or the occurrence of a crisis could easily push the region towards more conflict and friction, and obviously less cooperation and regional integration. The rising war talk in the region: The possibility of a military conflict between Iran and the U.S., which in turn would draw many more countries in the region into it leading to widespread instability, potential for India-Pakistan border skirmishes and possible escalation, an escalating China-U.S. trade war, and the many proxy and cold wars in Afghanistan and West Asia will keep the temperature high in the region for the foreseeable future. In sum, a power transition in the Southern Asian sub-system, an extreme trust deficit and the escalating war talk pose ominous signs for the region. Way ahead: India needs to adopt a slew of balancing acts in order to weather the incoming geopolitical storm. India would need to balance its innate desire to get closer to the U.S. with the unavoidable necessities of not excessively provoking China both in the maritime and continental domains. Clearly, getting too close to the U.S. will provoke China, and vice versa. Driving India’s West Asia policy: Taking care of its energy and other interests (including the Chabahar project) with Iran and not alienate the U.S., Saudi Arabia and Israel by doing so. While Iran’s share in India’s energy imports is steadily decreasing, alienating Iran might not suit India’s strategic interests in the longer run. Dealing with the Russia-China partnership: It will be crucial for India’s continental strategy, be it with regard to arms sales, the Afghan question or checking Chinese dominance of the region. New Delhi should be clever enough to exploit the not-so-apparent fissures between Beijing and Moscow. A related concern should be the growing relationship between Pakistan and Russia which must be dealt with by smart diplomacy rather than outrage. Srategic partnership between Pakistan and China: China, being a rising superpower and an already status quoist power in the region, could potentially be persuaded to check Pakistan’s revisionist tendencies. This again requires a great deal of subtle effort from New Delhi to convince Beijing that it has great stakes in regional strategic stability. What must be noted is that both Beijing and New Delhi, despite their sharp differences and unavoidable strategic competition, share a stake in the region’s stability. Therefore even a small measure of rapprochement between them, as it seemingly exists today, could stabilise the region to a great extent. Handling Afghanistan: If India is serious about having a say in Afghanistan’s future, it would need to enact several balancing acts there: between Russia and China, China and Pakistan, the Taliban and Kabul, and the Taliban and Pakistan. In a constantly changing Afghan geopolitical landscape, the contents of India’s interests should also evolve. Conclusion: A benign unipolarity or a balanced multipolarity with some amount of great power concert is generally better than unbalanced multipolarity. Unbalanced multipolarity when combined with a situation of power transition in the regional sub-system, as is perhaps the case today, might prove to be destabilising. New Delhi should be careful to avoid getting caught in a nutcracker geopolitical situation in the region. Engaging in a delicate balancing game is undeniably the need of the hour. India needs to see through many balancing acts to deal with regional tensions. Connecting the dots: A power transition in the Southern Asian sub-system, an extreme trust deficit between regional players and the escalating war talk pose threatening signs for the region. In such a scenario, India needs to adopt balancing acts. Discuss. SOCIAL/ECONOMY TOPIC: General studies 1 and 2: Women empowerment Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. General studies 3: Indian economy and employment; Gender parity; Women participation in workforce Women Empowerment in New India Background: As the government plans actions to transform India — and politics — it needs to pay more heed to women’s field-voices and needs. For the first time ever, a critical-half of voters constituted women, near-parity to male numbers with many exhibiting independent decision-making in vote-casting. This outpouring — despite 20 million women claimed as missing from voters’ lists — testifies to the maturity of women’s political agency. It is a self-propelled contribution to nation-building, notwithstanding lack of adequate support to women’s political contestation from any major political party. The 17th Lok Sabha has the highest tally of women since Independence — 78. This still amounts to a mere 14 per cent of 543 members. Further, as a recent study highlights, with the current rate of increase it will take 40 years for women to reach 33 per cent participation in Parliament/legislatures. (Thirty-three percent being the minimum threshold for critical-mass enabling gender impact.) Way ahead: The Women’s Reservation Bill: Demands to revive and pass the Women’s Reservation Bill are already making the rounds. The vision of 21st century New India needs women-leaders as harbingers of harmony and progress; gender-parity not fractional reservation. New India also needs to urgently put in place measures to reverse the massive drop in women’s work-participation and threats to freedom of movement. A major issue identified by many pre-election surveys, perhaps a key propelling factor for voting in such large numbers, was the concern about physical security and safety. The plummeting work-force participation in past years, the resonating #MeToomovement, highlight growing insecurity for women in coming out onto the streets, in workplaces/public places, which are their birthright to access. Besides emphasising women’s fundamental and constitutional right to dignity and security, bridging the gender gap in work-participation, according to a McKinsey estimate, would add $770 billion to the Indian economy by 2025. Naya India cannot be built unless women hold-up-half-the-sky. There is growing threat to women’s personal and bodily integrity within homes and neighbourhoods. Building home-toilets was one key step towards women’s physical security and it resonated. But cleansing the Internet and social media platforms of the pornography invading homes and turning fathers, brothers, sons, neighbours and of course, strangers into predators, is a burning issue yet left untracked. This is a national security-threat that requires prioritised strategic-action. Attention to women’s issues, including equitable political representation, could spearhead other vital democratic reforms desperately required to cleanse the system of the unabashed growth of money-and-muscle-power, a principal inhibiting factor for women-contestants – and equally, less-muscular-moneyed-men — in the electoral process. Conclusion: Women’s rights are fundamental human rights, not to be examined in silo fashion. A holistic, interconnected and intrinsically Indian vision cross-cutting sectors and issues needs articulation with time-bound implementation deadlines as a major national priority. It could become the global exemplar. Connecting the dots: As the government plans actions to transform India — and politics — it needs to pay more heed to women’s field-voices and needs. 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) Which of the following is correct about ‘Jeevani’ It is a health program of Akashvani It is a herbal remedy Health assistance program of Odisha None of the above Q.2) Consider the following statements ‘Arogyapacha’  is endemic to the Agastya hills, and is known for its medicinal properties. ‘Arogyapacha’ is known for its traditional use by the Kani tribal community to combat fatigue. Select the incorrect statements Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) Consider the following statements about Ambubachi Mela, It is an annual Buddhist mela celebrated during the monsoon season. It is the celebration of the yearly menstruation course of goddess Mother Shakti. Select the correct statements Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 MUST READ Walking a diplomatic tight rope The Hindu A dialogue of civilisations The Hindu

Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz - 2020 : IAS Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 11

UPSC Quiz - 2020 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 11 Archives Q.1) ‘Hormozgan’ was in news recently. Where is it located? Syria Afghanistan Iran Yemen Q.2) ‘Washi’ is a traditionally handmade paper that uses strands from three plants to create sheets known for their textures, warmth and absorption. Inscribed on UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage list, washi paper finds use in everyday things like clothing, art, printing and décor, to religious rituals and creating statues of Buddha. It is associated with which of the following countries? China Japan Kazakhstan India Q.3) ‘Article 87 of the Constitution of India’ deals with the Special address by the President to both Houses of Parliament during Commencement of the first session after each general election Commencement of the first session of each year Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.4) Consider the following statements with respect to ‘ICANN’ It is a global civil society coalition working to promote adherence to and full implementation of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. India has formally endorsed the ICAN Humanitarian Pledge. Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.5) Which of the following statements with respect to is/are correct? ‘Bering Sea’ is a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean. The Bering Strait divides Eurasia and The Americas. Both (a) and (b) Neither (a) nor (b) To Download the Solution - Click here All the Best  IASbaba

Motivational Articles

Creative Guidance – Are you emotionally intelligent – Inspirational Educative Articles

Are you emotionally intelligent? When we talk about emotional intelligence, we’re talking about a higher form of intelligence. It is not only higher when compared to other animals, it also has a hierarchy within the human race itself. Most people actually don’t exercise this ability to watch their emotions and direct them in a certain way. When you are in control of your emotions, when you are observing your emotions, when you can direct your emotions in a certain direction, you can see the impact of emotions on your life. Emotions are the glue that binds two thought processes together. Two thoughts have no relationship with each other except through some emotion. If you take away emotion, then two thoughts are simply random thoughts. If you don’t connect the clouds and the rain with the body, there is really no emotional connection at all. All these are random processes: Someone is mowing, a flower is blooming, a bird is singing somewhere; life is happening all around us. If you were to take away the emotional glue that connects you to this process, everything is simply a momentary process: There’s no life here. Life is a connection. If you take away connection, then it’s just a painting with no meaning. That’s what life is: It’s colorful, it’s changing, it’s a three-dimensional painting and everyone is painting, but there is no connection to the painting, and there’s no relationship to the painting. Emotion is what binds everything. Emotion is what gives us meaning. Emotion is what helps us to reflect on our place in this whole scheme of things. Most people don’t even know that they have all these emotions. Most of us think that We are victims of our emotions; we don’t have any control over our emotions. When anger takes over us, we simply have to react in an angry manner. We don’t have the choice to stop that anger. Emotional intelligence is the power to exercise your choice to stop an emotion and channel it in any direction you want. This is not a totally alien concept, because a lot of us actually know what this is. Some of us actually use it but a lot of us know what it is. A situation happens, you get angry, and immediately some other force subsides that anger; it helps you to control that anger, and immediately a sort of intelligence comes in–a sort of thought process comes in–where you say, “Oh, I’m getting angry. Why am I getting angry?” The moment you start interpreting your emotions, you are choosing to be intelligent. Because emotion is a force, it just happened to you. When you are able to pause that emotion, when you are able to say, “Now I’m getting angry, now I need to do something about it,” or “I want to see why this is happening.” Whatever it is that you do with that moment of anger (except for totally bursting out in anger) is a sign of emotional intelligence. When you burst out in anger without exercising any control over it, that is the sign of lack of emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence is a fancy term we use, as if it is something totally separate; as if it is something that we need to acquire. It is within us. We are all emotional creatures and we think we are right. We actually think that logic and reasoning and systematic approach is our whole life, but in reality it isn’t. In reality our life is shaped by our emotions. Knowing how to direct these emotions in a certain direction is emotional intelligence.  “This article is a part of the creative endeavor of Inner-Revolution and IASBABA.”

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 22nd June 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 22nd June 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Kaleshwaram project inaugurated in Telangana Part of: Prelims and Mains GS III Infrastructure In news The Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP), claimed to be the world’s largest multi-stage and multi-purpose lift irrigation scheme, was inaugurated on June 21, 2019. It is meant to irrigate over 37 lakh acres of new and existing ayacuts and supply drinking water to Hyderabad and villages en route. Do you Know? Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project is a multi-purpose irrigation project on the Godavari River in Kaleshwaram, Telangana, India. This project starts at the confluence point of Pranahita River and Godavari River i.e, at Kaleshwaram village in Telangana. Pranahita river in itself is a confluence of various other smaller tributaries like Wardha, Penganga and Wainganga Rivers. Over 12,000 suicide deaths by farmers in three years: Maharashtra Part of: Prelims and Mains GS III Farmers’ issues   In news In Maharashtra, despite spending over ₹19,000 crore on farm loan waiver, a total of 12,021 farmers have died in the State due to suicide between 2015 and 2018. First three months of this year (2019) saw 610 deaths of farmers. Steps taken by Maharashtra government Over 50 lakh farmers would benefit from the loan waiver scheme and ₹24,000 crore will be spent for this. Of the total number, 43.32 lakh farmers have actually received benefits worth ₹19,000 crore. Out of 12,021 farmer suicides, a total of 6,888 cases qualified for compensation as per the norms. Out of these, kin of farmers in 6,845 cases have been paid ₹1 lakh aid. Despite the loan waiver scheme and increasing expenditure on the agriculture sector, the farmer deaths in the state have not stopped. FATF warns Pak., but keeps it off the blacklist Part of: Prelims and Mains GS II International Relations    In news Pakistan has avoided being placed on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) blacklist during the multilateral financial watchdog’s plenary meetings in Orlando, Florida held from June 16 to 21. The FATF expresses concern that not only did Pakistan fail to complete its action plan items with January deadlines, it also failed to complete its action plan items due May 2019. The FATF strongly urges Pakistan to swiftly complete its action plan by October 2019 when the last set of action plans are set to expire. Otherwise, the FATF will decide the next step at that time for insufficient progress. The mention of transnational terrorist financing is significant in light of India’s efforts to isolate Pakistan on the international stage in the context of its support for terror in Kashmir. Background In June 2018, Pakistan was placed on a FATF greylist of countries whose laws do not adequately deal with money laundering and terrorist financing and agreed to a 10-point action plan to strengthen its anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism and proliferation regime. Blacklist, greylist criteria To stay off of the FATF blacklist, the support of at least three of a total of 36 (excluding two regional organisations) FATF members is required. Fifteen members need to support a country’s move off of the greylist, as per the FATF charter. Currently Iran and North Korea are in the Blacklist. India placed on ‘Tier 2’ in Human trafficking report Part of: Prelims and Mains GS II International reports, Policies affecting weaker sections of the society   In news The U.S. State Department has released its 2019 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report, highlighting the need for action against domestic trafficking. The national nature of trafficking (Based on ILO data): In 77% of the cases, victims are trafficked within their own countries of residence, rather than across borders. Victims of sex trafficking were more likely to be trafficked across borders while victims of forced labour were typically exploited within their own countries. The report categorises countries into three groups based on the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), U.S. legislation, based on efforts to meet minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking viz. Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3. India continued to be placed in Tier 2 on the country trafficking scale. Recommendations for India Amend the definition of trafficking in Section 370 of the Penal Code to include forced labour trafficking and ensure that force, fraud, or coercion are not required to prove a child sex trafficking offence. Establish Anti-Human Trafficking Units in all districts with funding and clear mandates. Miscellaneous NITI Aayog had recommended special assistance of ₹19,205 crore to Mission Bhagiratha, intended to supply piped drinking water to every household, and ₹5,000 crore to Mission Kakatiya, meant to restore over 45,000 tanks in the State. Mission Bhagiratha: It is a project for safe drinking water for every village and city household in Telangana State. Mission Kakatiya: It is a programme for restoring all the minor irrigation tanks and lakes in Telangana State. (MAINS FOCUS) NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources India and its neighbourhood- relations Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests Developing a shared vision for SDGs in South Asia Background: South Asia covers only about 3.5% of the world’s land surface area but hosts a fourth of its population, making it a region of significant importance for international development. In spite of the geographic proximity countries in this region enjoy and their common socio-cultural bonds, this is one of the world’s least integrated regions. Intra-regional trade is a meagre 5% of the total trade these countries do globally, while intra-regional investment is less than 1% of the region’s overall global investment. South Asia’s average GDP per capita is only about 9.64% of the global average. Accounting for more than 30% of the world’s poor, the region faces myriad economic and environmental challenges. Lack of initiatives: While the countries share a host of common development challenges, economic cooperation remains less than adequate. While, A few noteworthy regional initiatives such as the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC ) and the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) Initiative have been undertaken to bring the countries closer together, economically and socially, there is scope for much more. For a region with common development challenges of inequality, poverty, weak governance and poor infrastructure, a shared vision of attaining the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provides enormous opportunities for cooperation, collaboration, and convergence (3C). Need of shared vision: The 17 goals and their 169 targets under SDGs are inter-connected and cannot be implemented by countries working in isolation. Many are transnational in nature and require regional efforts. South Asian countries could benefit a lot by adopting a regional framework of cooperation that can support, strengthen and stimulate the SDGs. In the SDG Index 2018, which is an assessment of countries’ progress, among 156 countries only two South Asian countries, Bhutan and Sri Lanka, are in the top 100. India is ranked 112th. Varying performances & Similarities: A closer look at the country-level data shows that India is performing well in Goal 1 (no poverty), Goal 6 (clean water and sanitation), Goal 12 (sustainable consumption and production), Goal 13 (climate action) and Goal 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions) while doing poorly in goal 2 (zero hunger), Goal 5 (gender equality) and Goal 9 (industry, innovation and infrastructure). There are a lot of similarities among these three big economies(India, Pakistan and Bangladesh) of South Asia with respect to achieving some specific SDGs as well as exhibiting poor performance in some common goals. Challenges: Most South Asian countries have made good progress in ending extreme poverty, but they face persistent challenges to goals related to industry, innovation and infrastructure, zero hunger, gender equality, education, sustainable cities and communities and decent work and economic growth. These apart, most of South Asia continues to be vulnerable to climate change and climate-induced natural disasters. Way ahead: A regional strategic approach to tackle common development challenges can bring enormous benefits to South Asia. SDGs related to energy, biodiversity, infrastructure, climate resilience and capacity development are transnational, and here policy harmonisation can play a pivotal role in reducing duplication and increasing efficiency. Bangladesh has undertaken exemplary initiatives for analysing its available resources and additional funding requirements for SDG implementation, suggesting that the country requires an additional $928 billion to fully implement the SDGs. The study identifies five possible sources for SDGs financing: public sector, private sector, public-private partnership, external sector and non-government organisations. Similarly, India has formulated some pragmatic plans and initiatives to improve food and nutrition security from which many of the neighbouring countries can benefit. To address institutional and infrastructural deficits, South Asian countries need deeper regional cooperation. On financing the SDGs in South Asia, countries can work towards increasing the flow of intra-regional FDI. The private sector too can play a vital role in resource mobilisation. Conclusion: If the countries of South Asia, the fastest growing region of the world, can come to a common understanding on regional integration and cooperation in achieving the SDGs, it can unleash a powerful synergistic force that can finally make South Asia converge. A convergence towards achieving a common socio-economic agenda gives hope that no one in South Asia will be left behind in the journey towards eradicating poverty and enduring dignity to all. Connecting the dots: For the South Asia region, which has common development challenges of inequality, poverty, weak governance and poor infrastructure, a shared vision of attaining the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provides enormous opportunities for cooperation, collaboration, and convergence (3C). Comment. NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2 : Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions Issues and policies related to health The debate on Bihar tragedy: Reasons behind In news: While Bihar loses hundreds of children to AES(Acute Encephalitis Syndrome) every year, there were sharp spikes in 2012 and 2014, when 395 and 372 children, respectively, lost their lives. Through the years, AES cases have been reported from several districts in Bihar: Gaya, Patna, Aurangabad, Saran, East Champaran, Sitamarhi and Vaishali. Encephalitis refers to an inflammation in the brain due to a viral or bacterial attack. It causes fever and almost never a drop in blood sugar. In the current epidemic, as well as in previous ones in Muzaffarpur, the doctors have marked cases of and deaths by hypoglycaemia (drop in blood sugar), which is unusual. Possible reasons behind: Ongoing heat wave: It could be the ongoing heatwave — several parts of Patna, Gaya and even Muzaffarpur have recorded temperatures in excess of 4-5°C over what’s normal for this time of the year. At least 80 people have succumbed to the heatwave. The added heat and humidity could have made young children particularly susceptible to dehydration. Debating the litchi link: Spike in AES cases and in fatalities can be a result of malnourished children suffering brain damage after eating litchis, particularly unripe or overripe ones. In 2016, a detailed investigation, published in The Lancet Global Health by the National Centre for Disease Control, India, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, found “confirmation” that litchis contained a chemical called methylene cyclopropyl glycine (MCPG). These are naturally occurring toxins that cause hypoglycaemia and metabolic derangement in children. When a child is malnourished, her body, having exhausted its reserves of glucose from the digestive tract and the liver, typically turns to fatty acids in biochemical desperation to supply blood sugar to the brain. MCPG, the theory goes, blocked this mechanism. This can send the brain into hypoglycaemic shock triggering convulsions and, if unaddressed, even death. Virus or biological agent: Several parents of the ailing children have been categorical that their children did not eat litchis. If malnutrition and litchi consumption were the causes, then there ought to have been a fairly constant number of deaths every year. This has not been observed. “A peak and an ebb in cases and deaths is what we see. And that’s more typical of a biological agent.” Poor health record: Irrespective of whether a biological agent or malnutrition is to blame, Bihar’s poor track record in ensuring that the poorest have access to adequate nutrition and distrust in the public health care system are major causes for the deaths. Doctors in several primary health care centres are “afraid” of doing anything beyond the bare minimum to rescue a child. “Because the primary health care centres and health centres are located in a village or community, there’s a greater chance of violence in case a child dies. Over the years, this has led to a lack of trust among people in their nearest health facility and they opt for tertiary care. Bihar’s position at the bottom of national health indices makes novel diseases harder to detect and known diseases harder to treat. According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) of 2015-2016, 48% of children in Bihar were stunted, compared to the national average of 38%. Bihar also performed poorly in terms of its ability to spend and implement schemes that provided nutritious food to children and expectant mothers. Two-thirds of eligible children did not get healthy meals, the NHFS report noted. Way ahead: In 2016, a government-constituted committee prescribed guidelines: Children shouldn’t be allowed to skip their evening meal, they should avoid stepping out in the heat. Local public healthcare centres must stock up on anti-convulsion drugs as well as dextrose. These were adhered to in 2017 and 2018. And that’s why there were relatively fewer reports of AES. Treating it as a disaster: The NDMA (National Disaster Management Authority) which was set up in 1999 has its brief to co-ordinate the response to “man-made and natural disasters”. Muzaffarpur is facing a disaster which is partly natural and certainly aggravated by being man-made. But it does not qualify. “Disaster”. Floods and earthquakes elicit immediate response, but not long epidemics or drought. Muzaffarpur is a national tragedy, as much as the Gujarat earthquake was, or the Kerala floods and it should be treated as one. Conclusion: The debate on the underlying reason for so many deaths is an ongoing one. With a spike in deaths every year it is clear that the State has failed Muzaffarpur’s children. It is time a scientific study is carried out and steps be taken accoridnly. Connecting the dots: Bihar loses hundreds of children to AES (Acute Encephalitis Syndrome) every year. Discuss the possible reasons behind. Also comment on the challenges involved in tackling the issue. (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, Mission Bhagiratha Mission Kakatiya Polavaram Project Kaleswaram Lift Irrigation Project Which of the above are associated with State of Telangana? 1 and 2 only 1,2 and 3 only 1,2 and 4 only All of the above Q.2) Consider the following statements The Financial Action Task Force(FATF)is an intergovernmental organization founded on the initiative of the G20. Pakitan, Iran and North Korea are three countries in the Blacklist of FATF. Select the incorrect statements Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 MUST READ A stable planet The Hindu The most off-track of them all Indian Express

RSTV Video

RSTV IAS UPSC – Decoding Employment Data

Decoding Employment Data Archives 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. In News: India’s unemployment rate stood at 6.1% in FY18. As per the PLFS, which covered 4.3 lakh people across 1.02 lakh households, the unemployment rate among urban workforce was 7.8 per cent, while the unemployment rate for the rural workforce was 5.3 per cent. The unemployment rate of males on all-India basis was 6.2 per cent, while it was 5.7 per cent in case of females. In the organised manufacturing sector, though the number of jobs has grown, there has also been an increase in the share of contract work, which offers lower wages and less job security, according to the study. Labour productivity in the sector is six times higher than it was 30 years ago; however, managerial and supervisory salaries have only tripled in the same period, while production workers’ wages have grown a measly 1.5 times. Women’s participation in the paid workforce is still low, but the situation is unequal across States. In Uttar Pradesh, only 20 women are in paid employment for every 100 men, while that figure jumps to 50 in Tamil Nadu and 70 in Mizoram and Nagaland. With regard to earnings, the caste gap is actually larger than the gender gap. Dalits and Adivasis are over-represented in low-paying occupations, and severely under-represented in higher-paying ones, the study reveals. They earn only 55-56% of upper caste workers’ earnings, the data shows. The Issue The data isn’t comparable with that of past years, the government contended, in effect seeking to refute previous leaked reports that said they showed the unemployment rate was at a 45-year high. The Periodic Labour Force Survey of the National Sample Survey Office released on Friday showed the unemployment rate in the country in FY18 was at 5.3% in rural India and 7.8% in urban India, resulting in overall unemployment rate of 6.1%.   The joblessness among males on all India basis was 6.2 per cent, while it was 5.7 per cent in case of females. Inference: First, while the unemployment rate is a frequently used measure of poor performance of the economy, under conditions of rising school and college enrolment, it paints an inaccurate picture. Second, the reported unemployment rate is dominated by the experience of younger Indians who face higher employment challenges and exhibit greater willingness to wait for the right job than their older peers. Third, the unemployment challenge is greatest for people with secondary or higher education, and rising education levels inflate unemployment challenges. These three conditions, taken together, suggest that part of India’s unemployment challenge lies in its success in expanding education while not expanding formal sector jobs. Source: http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2019/may/20/no-magic-wand-to-ward-off-growing-job-crisis-in-india-1979292.html Rural Numbers Indicating a shift towards rise in self-employment over the last eight years in rural areas, the Periodic Labour Force Survey 2017-18 shows that the percentage of self-employed in rural India went up across both male and female as against that seen in 2009-10 While the percentage of salaried employees in rural areas also witnessed a rise during this period, there has been notable drop in the percentage of casual labour in rural areas as they moved away from agricultural labour to self-employment and salaried jobs. While the percentage of rural self-employed stood at 53.5 per cent in 2009-10 among men, that in 2017-18 stood higher at 57.8 per cent. Similarly, in case of rural women, the percentage of self-employed rose from 55.7 per cent to 57.7 in the same time period. On the contrary, the percentage of men casual labour in rural areas went down from 38 per cent in 2009-10 to 28.2 per cent in 2017-18, percentage of women casual labour in rural areas fell from 39.9 per cent to 31.8 per cent in the same time period. Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/lost-in-the-din-on-jobs-nsso-survey-gdp-growth-5649339/ Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) As the domestic labour market is becoming increasingly sensitive to national and global economic factors, policymakers felt the need to construct labour statistics at more frequent intervals. To fulfil this objective, the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) was initiated by the NSSO beginning April 2017. This initiative followed the recommendations of the Task Force on Improving Employment Data. The PLFS is a continuous survey for generating estimates of labour force indicators on a quarterly basis for urban areas and on an annual basis for both rural and urban areas. Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/need-for-an-employment-policy-to-solve-jobless-growth/article25041745.ece The Way Forward Unemployment rate among persons with higher secondary education and above ranges between 7.4 per cent and 16.3 per cent: This clearly suggests that the problem of unemployment among educated youth cannot be ignored. However, the real issue at hand is not solely of job creation but also of the creation of quality jobs. In the din generated by the PLFS survey, this critical issue has escaped attention. The problem can be assessed from a demand and supply side perspective. On the one hand, higher growth has raised the youth’s aspirations for more meaningful jobs, thereby leading to a mismatch between jobs offered and jobs that educated youth are looking for. On the other hand, in today’s era of the fourth Industrial Revolution, young people need to be equipped with necessary skills to work with new technologies. As we have a larger than ever population of educated unemployed, India does not need jobs per se but meaningful, remunerative jobs that align with the aspirations of the youth and skills demanded by the industry. The problem is not unique to India. As per an IMF report, youth inactivity rate for India, at 30 per cent is similar to 25-30 per cent youth inactivity rates in other emerging and developing countries. Obtaining a reliable estimate of informal employment, which constitutes about 80 per cent of our labour force, remains a challenge: The unemployment story will never be complete until we are able to accurately capture performances across all segments of the labour market for meaningful inference. At the same time, we must recognise that perceptions about earnings and jobs are changing fast in the wake of rapid technological advances. The true meaning of being a worker is shifting towards having stable, productive and remunerative employment. This aspect must be captured both at the stage of collection of labour data, and while interpreting and analysing the same for evidence-driven policy-making. Need for an employment-oriented economic policy: Even as we shift towards macroeconomic policies that maintain the level of aggregate demand, we can assist the unemployed by strengthening the employment programme we already have, namely the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). Three actions may be taken towards this end. First, there have been reports that though the budgetary allocation for the scheme may have increased, workers face delay in payment. This is unacceptable, especially in this digital era when beneficiary identification and money transfer are cheap and reliable. Second, as has been suggested, there is a case for extending the MGNREGS to urban India for there is unemployment there. Of course, some rationalisation of existing public expenditure would be needed to generate the fiscal space needed, but we may yet expect a positive sum outcome when this is done imaginatively. Measurement of Unemployment Numbers Monthly measurement of the unemployment rate is one of the requirements of the Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS) of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The SDDS — India was one of the early signatories —was established in 1996 to help countries access the international capital markets by providing adequate economic and financial information publicly. India complies with many requirements of the SDDS, but it has taken an exception with respect to the measurement of unemployment. The Government of India does not produce any measure of monthly unemployment rate, nor does it have any plans to do so. Official plans to measure unemployment at an annual and quarterly frequency is in a shambles. This does not befit India’s claims to be the fastest growing economy and as the biggest beneficiary of a famed demographic dividend. Creating jobs for an increasingly educated workforce and ensuring that the new workers are well equipped to enter the labour force are twin challenges that deserve greatest priority. Slowing job growth can be disastrous for society. It will not only widen the economic gap within society, but it will also deepen social friction and cause tears in our social fabric, possibly leading to greater violence and political chaos. The new government will have to focus on an economic agenda without much loss of time. The two most pressing issues are growth acceleration, and creation of productive employment. Note: PM ordered the formation of two new Cabinet committees that will focus on employment and economic growth, respectively The Cabinet Committee on Employment and Skill Development constitutes of 10 members including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, Union Ministers Narendra Singh Tomar, Ramesh Pokhriyal, Dharmendra Pradhan, Mahendra Nath Pandey, Santosh Kumar Gangwar, and Hardeep Singh Puri. The Cabinet Committee on Investment and Growth comprises of five members including Amit Shah, Nirmala Sitharaman, Nitin Gadkari, and Piyush Goyal. Consumer Pyramids Household Survey (CPHS): The CPHS is comprehensive, surveying its entire sample every four months. Each survey is a wave. The CPHS is also a continuous survey, and so, for example, three waves are completed in a year. The CMIE’s CPHS thus has a much larger sample and is conducted at a much higher frequency than the NSSO’s. Further, the CPHS is conducted as face-to-face interviews necessarily using GPS-enabled smartphones or tablets. Intense validation systems ensure high fidelity of data capture. All validations are conducted in real-time while the teams are in the field. The data capture machinery ensures delivery of high quality data in real time obviating the need for any further “cleaning”, post field operations. Once the data is collected and validated in real-time, it is automatically deployed for estimations without any human intervention. In 2016, the Centre for Monitoring India Economy (CMIE) added questions regarding employment/unemployment to the CPHS. Since then, the CMIE has been generating labour market indicators regularly and making these freely available for public use. Difference between the CPHS and the NSSO surveys: The reference period of the employment status of a respondent. While the NSSO tries to capture the status for an entire year and for a week, the CPHS captures the status as on the day of the survey. This could be as one of four factors: employed; unemployed willing to work and actively looking for a job; unemployed willing to work but not actively looking for a job, and unemployed but neither willing nor looking for a job. Since the recall period in the CPHS is of the day of the survey (or the immediate preceding day in the case of daily wage labourers) and the classification is elementary, the CPHS has been able to capture the status fairly accurately with no challenges of the respondent’s ability to recall or interpret the status. In contrast, the NSSO’s system is quite complex. Connecting the Dots: Is there really a need for National Employment Policy? Discuss.

Important Update: ILP 2020: 10 Days to Go-The time to join is NOW!!

Dear Friends, We all want to be invincible. We strive to get the best training and the best resources to acquire the necessary skills. What skills do you require to become invincible in the game called ‘Civil Services Examination’? How do you get the right guidance and the relevant resources to stay ahead in the race? Well, the answer to this question is with us! We have been doing what it takes to make you stay ahead and stay updated. Yes, you guessed it right! We are talking about IASbaba’s flagship Integrated Learning Programme (ILP). The number of successful candidates that ILP has produced in the very first 3 years of its launch bears testimony to its effectiveness. ILP has been one of the most potent tools of the toppers’ in the last 3 years. You can read the testimonials of successful ILP candidates here. The month of June usually represents a phase of introspection. With the Preliminary examination getting over, candidates spend their time mulling over cutoffs! Those who want to kickstart their preparation look out for institutions, programmes and initiatives to begin their journey. The veterans strategise for the next attempt. So, altogether, it is the month of June that should give a fillip to your preparation. This is the time when you should join the bandwagon with the thousands of other candidates who have already boarded the coach for 2020. With about 10 days remaining for ILP 2020 to kickstart, we thought to give you a gentle reminder that the most trusted and the most sought after online initiative for CSE 2020 is ready to take off. At the same time, we also want to clear the air that there is no time limit to join ILP-2020. You can join this programme at any time. However, it is important and desirable that you join the initiative now. If you join now, you won’t have any backlog in the coming months. In fact, you will be able to compete and participate with thousands of other candidates from Day 1 itself. It will give you greater bandwidth to grow and perform better. So what are you waiting for? Come and join the most trusted and the most anticipated journey.  NOTE- We will update on Hindi very soon.    ILP 2020 Details - Click Here Payment Link- Click Here PS - ILP Platform will be IP protected to curb piracy. Do not share your ID and content of ILP  with anyone. Anyone found sharing its content will be removed without notice.

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 21st June 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 21st June 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) India’s first solar cruise vessel to be rolled out soon Part of: Prelims and mains GS III infrastructure, environment and pollution In news: Kerala is gearing up for the launch of the country’s premier solar-powered cruise boat by December 2019. The hybrid vessel will be powered by a motor that can source energy from solar panels, battery, and generator, Solar vessels do not create air and noise pollution. The double-deck, double-engine catamaran-type vessel adheres to norms specified by the Indian Registry of Shipping (IRS). The initiative comes from the State Water Transport Department (SWTD), whose solar ferry Aditya in the Vaikom-Thavanakadavu route has proved to be a success. Navy to build 6 submarines Part of Prelims and mains GS III Defence and security   In news: The Navy issued an ‘Expression of Interest’ for shortlisting potential strategic partners for the construction of six P-75 (I) submarines. This is the second project being undertaken under the latest Strategic Partnership (SP) Model, with the first being the procurement of 111 naval utility helicopters (NUH) This will provide a major boost to the indigenous design and construction capability of submarines in India, in addition to bringing in the latest submarine design and technologies as part of the project. The SPs have been mandated to set up dedicated manufacturing lines for these submarines in India with an aim to make India the global hub for submarine design and production. Do you know? Strategic Partnership (SP) Model Strategic  Partnership Model  aims to revitalise defence industrial ecosystem and progressively build indigenous capabilities in the private sector to design, develop and manufacture complex weapon systems for the future needs of the Armed Forces. It lays emphasis on incentivisation of transfer of niche technology and higher indigenous content Global Majors, who in collaboration with Indian Partners are ready to make India a Regional / Global manufacturing hub for the platform will also be incentivized. This will give a major fillip towards encouraging self-reliance and aligning the defence sector with the 'Make in India ' initiative of the Government. Pompeo to pave way for Modi-Trump meet Part of Prelims and mains GS II International Relations In news U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s visit from June 25 to 27 will give a boost to the engagement between the political leaderships of India and the U.S. The bilateral trade between India and US had grown over the years to about $150 billion. Major concerns to be discussed during meetings and on the sideline of G20 summit Difficult issues on trade such as Generalised system of preferences, etc. 5G telecommunications;  U.S. concerns about Chinese company Huawei’s participation in the 5G roll-out in India on the economic and security aspects. India’s planned purchase of the Russian S-400 anti-missile systems and US offer of high-technology hardware such as the F-35 combat aircraft. U.S. concerns on data localisation and a possible quid pro quo with H-1B visas for IT professionals. The Iran sanctions and India’s concerns on energy security ‘Iran made a very big mistake by shooting down U.S. drone’- Trump Part of Prelims and mains GS II International relations and Current events of national and international importance In news Iranian state media said the “spy” drone was brought down over the southern Iranian province of Hormozgan whereas according to a U.S. official the drone had been downed in international air space over the Strait of Hormuz. Rising tensions in the Gulf https://epaper.thehindu.com/Home/ShareImage?Pictureid=GCP61OKL5.1 Do you know? Strait of Hormuz lies between Iran and Oman. About a third of the world’s seaborne oil exits the Gulf via Strait of Hormuz. Himalayan glaciers are melting twice as fast since 2000: study Part of: Prelims and mains GS III Environment and Ecology In news: Comparing data obtained by Cold War-era spy satellites with images from modern stereo satellites, scientists have shown that Himalayan glaciers have lost more than a quarter of their ice mass since 1975, with melting occurring twice as fast after the turn of the century as average temperatures rose. Background In the 1970s, at the height of the Cold War, the U.S. had deployed spy satellites that orbited the globe and took thousands of photographs, using a telescopic camera system, for reconnaissance purposes. More than four decades later, scientists are using those same images to show the devastating impact of a warming Earth on the Himalayan glaciers. The study goes on to assert that rising temperatures are responsible for the accelerating loss. WHO writes new prescription to prevent misuse of antibiotics Part of: Prelims and mains GS II Health GS III environmental concerns In news: WHO estimates that more than 50% of antibiotics in many countries are used inappropriately for treatment of viruses, when they only treat bacterial infections, or are the wrong choice of antibiotic (broader spectrum), thus contributing to the spread of antimicrobial resistance. ‘Access, Watch and Reserve’ WHO has suggested the adoption of ‘Access, Watch and Reserve’, an approach that specifies which antibiotics to use for the most common and serious infections, which ones ought to be available at all times in the healthcare system, and those that must be used sparingly, or reserved and used only as a last resort. This approach will reduce the spread of antimicrobial resistance, adverse events and costs. The new campaign aims to increase the proportion of global consumption of antibiotics in the ‘Access’ group to at least 60%, and to reduce use of the antibiotics most at risk of resistance. Using ‘Access’ antibiotics lowers the risk of resistance because they are ‘narrow-spectrum’ antibiotics (that target a specific microorganism rather than several). They are also less costly because they are available in generic formulations. In India, the Health Ministry has made it mandatory to display a 5mm-thick red vertical band on the packaging of prescription-only drugs to sensitise people to be cautious while buying these medicines that are widely sold without prescriptions. (MAINS FOCUS) NATIONAL/ECONOMY TOPIC: General studies 3: Inclusive growth and issues arising from it Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Creating a valuable economy Introduction: At the meeting of the Governing Council of the NITI Aayog last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the target of a $5 trillion economy for India by 2024. What we would hope to find once we have reached our destination is the question. A quantum leap in the size of the economy cannot be achieved easily. It will require design, funding and governance. In this path the pursuit should be to create a valuable economy. Characteristics of a valuable economy: Indians should feel empowered by the economy. India is placed very low in the United Nations’ World Happiness Report. Happiness, best understood as a sense of well-being, is directly related to empowerment, or being able to undertake the functionings we value. This is, in the first instance, related to being educated and experiencing good health. We are in India facing an education sector that is broken down and the majority are battling with almost non-existent public health infrastructure. The private sector has some worthy initiatives in these areas but they await an effective public presence on a gigantic scale. So, the first attribute of the valuable economy would be access to quality health and education for all. Equality of opportunity: For over three decades now income inequality has been rising in India. Now some part of inequality of opportunity is related to unequal distribution of income but a part of it is not. Gender inequality manifested as women having less opportunity in life is not going to go away with a re-distribution of income along class lines or across social groupings. India is a serious outlier in this regard, and becoming richer as a society may do little to change the status quo. Shockingly, a sex ratio, already unfavourable to women, has shown a secular worsening since 1947. Inequality in India can only be ended by equalising capabilities across individuals. Concerted public action via education is the means to this outcome. Income transfers, pushed relentlessly by policy entrepreneurs, evade the issue altogether. Conserving nature An economy, whatever its size, cannot be meaningfully evaluated independently of the extent of presence in it of natural capital. Two-thirds of the world’s most polluted cities are in India, when we accept less than a fifth of its population. Air pollution shortens lives and lowers productivity, reducing the capacity to earn a living when alive. The poor are the most affected as they cannot afford to live in gated communities that somehow manage to commandeer scarce natural resources. Conclusion: Any improvement in the life of the majority would require a re-alignment of the growth process so that it is less damaging. This would very likely require that we have slower growth but the process can be configured to channel more of it towards poorer groups. We may end up in a situation of less tangible goods in the aggregate than otherwise but one in which more people are happier than in the past. Such an economy is more valuable. Connecting the dots: The economy must be evaluated in terms of how much it contributes to the ease of our living. The pursuit should be to create a valuable economy. Comment. NATIONAL/SOCIAL ISSUES TOPIC: General studies 1: Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India. General studies 2: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector or Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. Issues relating to poverty and hunger. Importance of Yoga Introduction: As over 170 countries around the world celebrate the fifth International Yoga Day on June 21. Recognising that “yoga provides a holistic approach to health and well-being” and also that wider dissemination of information about the benefits of practising yoga would be beneficial for the health of people all over the world, the UN proclaimed June 21 as the International Day of Yoga via Resolution 69/131. Quite appropriately, the theme of the 2019 International Yoga Day is “Climate Action”. Establishment of the first India-China Yoga College at the Yunnan Minzu University in Kunming in China and the India-Turkmenistan Centre for Yoga and Traditional Medicine in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan are a few of the important first steps in the efforts to spread the benefits of yoga. What is yoga? Practised in various forms around the world and continuing to grow in popularity, yoga is essentially an ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in India possibly around the 5th century BC. The word yoga comes from Sanskrit and means “to join” or “unite”. The science of yoga joins different facets of human existence. The word was first mentioned in the Rigveda , but its philosophy, science and grammar were first provided by Patanjali in his magnum opus, Patanjali Yoga Sutra . Importance of yoga: Much more than a workout: It is a comprehensive approach to achieve wellness. It recognises the vital connection between the body and the mind. It aims for balance and equanimity, peace, poise and grace. It is a sublime expression of the quest for excellence, for synthesis and harmony. Maintaining the balance: We are living in times of great challenges, of unprecedented change in unpredictable directions. The way we live, learn, work and enjoy is changing rapidly. Lifestyles are getting transformed through technology. However, as the global community started drafting its development agenda in 2015, it realised that we have been missing a big component of “development”. There was a need for balance. Need for caring for the poor. Need for caring for the planet. Need to look for gross national happiness in addition to gross national product. Need to avoid excesses, avoid reckless exploitation of nature, avoid excessive consumption. Our individual lifestyles and patterns of global governance needed to be rebooted. Sustainability has become the new mantra. “Balance” is at the heart of sustainability. And that “balance” in all spheres starting with physical well-being is what yoga is all about. Yoga is an approach to life that focuses on physical balance, mental equilibrium and working towards a harmonious synthesis of diverse elements including the protection of the environment. Effective ground for sustainability: Yoga is a way of thinking, a way of behaving, a way of learning and a way of problem-solving. It is a unique way of connecting ourselves with the external environment and generating positive synergies of thought and action. It creates stability, enhances ability and promotes conviviality. It can serve as an effective ground for sustainability. All is one : Yoga is something beyond physical health and material wealth. The human persona is not only a body; it is also a mind, an intellect, and a soul. Yoga attempts to harmonise all of them. Yoga means to join. Its ultimate goal is to experience the unity of individual and universal consciousness. Yoga teaches us to recognise the fundamental unity between human beings and humankind, humans and the environment, and ultimately recognise a total interconnectedness of everything. The essence of this realisation is to experience that all is one. There is no ‘us’ and ‘they’ — everything is us. This is an integral or holistic approach. Conclusion: Apart from emphasising the normal benefits of yoga, International Yoga Day should be utilised to think about how a peaceful transition can be achieved for peace, harmony and happiness. Connecting the dots: Yoga is much more than a workout. 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) ‘Access, Watch and Reserve’ policy recently seen in news is related to, Conservation of petroleum reserves Conservation of natural resources   Policy to avoid unnecessary use of antibiotics   None of the above Q.2) Consider the following statements about Strait of Homruz Strait of Hormuz lies between Iran and Yemen. About a third of the world’s seaborne oil exits the Gulf via Strait of Hormuz. Select the incorrect statements Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) Consider the following statements about Strait of Homruz Strategic Partnership Model will help in aligning the defence sector with the 'Make in India ' initiative of the Government. Strategic Partnership Model lays emphasis on incentivisation of transfer of niche technology and higher indigenous content from Indian partner to foreign partner. Select the correct statements Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 MUST READ Misplaced priorities The Hindu Is India overestimating its economic growth? The Hindu

Website
Terms and Conditions Privacy Refund Policy Learning Management System by Testpress