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May 31, 2019 AIR

All India Radio (AIR) IAS UPSC - Awareness and Cure for Haemophilia

Awareness and Cure for Haemophilia ARCHIVES Search 17th April, 2019 Spotlight here: http://www.newsonair.com/Main_Audio_Bulletins_Search.aspx TOPIC: General studies 2 Health 17th April: World Haemophilia Day What is hemophilia? Haemophilia is a mostly inherited genetic disorder that impairs the body's ability to make blood clots, a process needed to stop bleeding. This results in people bleeding longer after an injury, easy bruising, and an increased risk of bleeding inside joints or the brain. Because of the genetics involved in the way the sex of a child is determined, men are more vulnerable to haemophilia than women. It cannot be caught or transmitted except through inheritance but can sometimes occur when there is no family history of Hemophilia. About one third of new cases are caused by a new mutation of the gene in the mother or the child. In these cases, there is no previous history of hemophilia in the family. Women who have the hemophilia gene are called carriers, and they can pass it on to their children. If not diagnosed early, the repeated bleeding into joints, bones muscles may lead to synovitis, arthritis and permanent joint deformities. The bleeding itself can lead to wasting and atrophy of muscles. Boys and girls The sex of an individual is determined by a pair of “sex chromosomes” (a chromosome is a DNA molecule that contains genetic information). Females are identified with an XX pair of sex chromosomes, and males with an XY pair. When an X chromosome from the mother pairs up with the father’s X chromosome, the offspring is XX (female); when an X chromosome from the mother pairs up with the father’s Y chromosome, the offspring in XY (male). Haemophilia is caused by a defect in the X chromosome. If a girl is born with one defective X chromosome, her other X chromosome can compensate for it. In such a case, she is a carrier of haemophilia but will not suffer from the condition herself. Only if both her X chromosomes are defective will she suffer from haemophilia herself. On the other hand, if a boy is born with a defective X chromosome, he does not have the second X chromosome to compensate for it, and will suffer from haemophilia. That is the reason haemophilia is more common among men. Haemophilia in India It is a rare disorder worldwide — one type, called Haemophilia A, occurs in about 1 in 5,000 births, while Haemophilia B is even rarer at about 1 in about 20,000 births. A vast number of cases, however, are believed to go unreported, particularly in India. According to the World Federation of Haemophilia’s Annual Global Survey 2017, released in October 2018, there were over 1.96 lakh persons living with haemophilia across the world in 2017. In the country-wise data, India emerges with the highest count at nearly 19,000. 80% cases go unregistered, so that the actual count is close to 2 lakh. Diagnosis India is fast progressing in the field of hemophilia treatment but the core problem is of diagnosis. Tests for diagnosing Hemophilia are not expensive and can be done at district hospitals. There are two types of tests – Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT) Test and Prothrombin Time (PT) Test. The PT and APTT screenings are blood tests that show if the blood is clotting properly. Currently the only challenge is about screening which has a huge gap in the rural parts of India. Management The key to leading a better life with hemophilia is early detection and condition management and the responsibility for that lies with the parents. There is no cure for haemophilia, only management. The disorder can be managed by infusion of clotting factor, using medicines to promote clots and healing, avoiding bleeding, exercising regularly, avoiding contact sports, maintaining good dental hygiene and following safe practices. Medical management of the condition includes infusing blood clotting factor concentrates into the body to prevent bleeding. This is called prophylactic therapy and is administered on the basis of the patient’s weight. It also entails giving injections to the patient whenever they bleed, also called on demand prophylactic therapy. The efficacy of the medicine, contained in vials, is measured in units. Note: ‘Royal disease’: Britain’s Queen Victoria (1819-1901) is the world’s most widely known carrier of haemophilia. From her, the condition spread among a number of European royal families, which is why haemophilia was once known as the “royal disease”. Victoria passed on a defective X chromosome to three of her children. Her son Prince Leopold died at age 30 as a result of loss of blood after injury. Leopold’s daughter, Princess Alice of Albany, was a carrier whose son inherited haemophilia and died at age 21. von Willebrand disease (vWD) is another genetic bleeding disorder in which patients are prone to frequent bleeding such as nosebleeds, bleeding gums, and excessive menstrual periods. Unlike hemophilia, vWD affects men and women equally. Like hemophilia, the severity of vWD depends upon the level of the blood protein. The lower the level of protein in the blood, the more severe is the bleeding.

May 31, 2019 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

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

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 31st May 2019 Archives (MAINS FOCUS) NATIONAL/POLITY TOPIC: General studies 2 Refugee issue; Citizenship Amendment Bill. 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. Bill of Rights Background: Towards the end of the previous government’s tenure, a number of controversial bills were introduced in Parliament. In the social sphere, the government introduced the Transgender Bill, the Surrogacy Bill, and the Trafficking Bill. In each of the cases, the draft legislation was — correctly — introduced with the aim of addressing an existing lacuna in the legal landscape. However, when it came to the content of these bills, consultation with impacted communities was effectively eschewed, and the result was a set of drafts that, far from protecting rights, actively harmed them. Unsurprisingly, therefore, the draft bills were met with a spate of objections and protests. The Transgender Bill: It did away with the fundamental and non-negotiable principle — and one recognised by the Supreme Court in its NALSA judgment — of the right to self-determination of gender identity. Instead, it placed such decisions in the hands of government-appointed committees, extending state control over gender identities rather than liberating or emancipating them. It also contained deeply suspect provisions on gender reassignment surgery. The Surrogacy Bill: It excluded LGBT individuals from its ambit (despite their recognition as equal citizens under the Constitution by the Supreme Court). It imposed discriminatory age restrictions upon men and women. Also entirely outlawing “commercial” surrogacy (instead of regulating it with appropriate safeguards) opened up space for underground and unreported exploitation of women, effectively creating a black market. The Trafficking Bill: It criminalised begging without providing any manner of effective alternatives and failed to distinguish between non-consensual trafficking and consensual sex work. It thus opened the door to criminalising livelihoods on the basis of what was effectively a set of narrow, moral objections. The Citizenship Bill: Advertised as a measure for benefiting the vulnerable and the marginalised, the bill would have granted fast-track to citizenship to persecuted minorities from neighbouring countries, who were Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, and Christians — but not Muslims. This was, at a very basic level, illogical and self-contradictory, apart from being clearly discriminatory on grounds of religion: the examples of the Ahmadiyyas and the Baloch in Pakistan make it clear that, just like any other identity, there are communities of Muslims in neighbouring countries who face persecution on the basis of their religious beliefs. Strong movements in the northeastern States — concerned both about the demographic consequences and the anti-secular nature of the bill — ultimately forced the government to not go through with the legalisation. National Register of Citizens: It presumes that the people living in India are interlopers, unless they prove otherwise. The last government was planning to implement it pan-India. Such a move would be a nightmare of administration and implementation, as the example from Assam has shown. There has been considerable — and continuing — confusion over the methods and form of identity that one can use to “prove” one’s citizenship (including “family trees”, which have been found to have a disproportionate impact upon vulnerable and minority claimants). The overlapping functions of the NRC process and the Foreigners Tribunals have added to the confusion. Core problem: Each of the bills dealt with intimate subjects such as individuals’ decisions of what to do with their body, personal dignity and autonomy, and gender identity. They concerned the rights of some of the most vulnerable and marginalised members of our society. They were drafted without adequately consulting with, or listening to, the members of the communities who were impacted. Instead of guaranteeing and securing the rights of these communities to be free from state interference, they extended the state’s control and domination. They were met by extensive and widespread protests from the communities themselves. What lies ahead? While the government is entitled to frame policies, and draft and implement legislation to enact those policies, there are certain constraints upon how it should go about that task. At the minimum, the voices of those who will be directly impacted by the policy should be listened to and engaged with in good faith. The basic constitutional principles and values ought to be respected. Connecting the dots: In the social sphere, the Transgender Bill, the Surrogacy Bill, and the Trafficking Bill were introduced by the last government. Discuss basic issues with each one of them. Also highlight the importance of engaging with the stakeholders and following basic constitutional principle before re-drafting these bills. NATIONAL/ECONOMY TOPIC: General studies 3 Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Measuring Employment in India Introduction: Modi 2.0 presents a new window of opportunity to usher in some fundamental reforms for the Indian economy. A modern dynamic economy requires a robust statistical system to provide precise and real time estimates of several critical indicators. One of these is unemployment — which has been at the heart of prolonged acrimonious public debate in India for several years. Now is the time to move beyond the politics of unemployment to the real and pressing issue of measurement of unemployment. Way ahead: Measurement of economic indicators, for example the unemployment rate, is an apolitical issue that requires statistical expertise of the highest standards. Before the release of any figure, it is imperative to discuss, debate and deliberate the methodological issues around the measurement. For example, to measure the unemployment rate, it is practically impossible to conduct a periodic census of all citizens above 15 years. Therefore, we have to rely on the second-best option of conducting sample surveys, and the natural question is then about the size of the sample survey. Therefore, there can be no credible discussion on changes in unemployment from one period to another in the absence of a paper that outlines in detail the underlying sampling methodology. Even if the sample size issue is addressed to minimise what statisticians call sampling errors (the sample size might not be large enough to address the question of interest), there are issues relating to non-sampling errors. For example, suppose there is a job boom in the economy and the employed overwhelmingly refuse to participate in such surveys or do not answer all questions, then it is possible for the survey to indicate high unemployment. Therefore, non-participation is an important issue and methodological rigour requires for a survey to have transparent strategies to prevent or minimise these errors. Having local and real time socio-economic indicators: India is a large, complex and diverse economy that is undergoing structural transformation. Hence, we are moving towards precision policy-making which requires local and real time socio-economic indicators. The nature and incidence of unemployment, for example, differs from state to state. This requires local measures of unemployment so that economic policies can be tailored depending on local conditions. For instance, unemployment is a rural phenomenon in several states, while in others it is concentrated in urban areas. Involving state governments: The state governments will have to participate along with the central government to have comparable uniform measures of periodic unemployment. Unfortunately, at present, several state governments do not have the capacity to conduct regular surveys. Robust statistical systems will require that we begin to create such local capabilities urgently. It is time to move beyond one-size-fits-all solutions to more inclusive solutions that take into account local conditions. Conclusion: Any figure should be accompanied with a wise and reasoned account of its liability to systematic and fluctuating errors. For a figure as important as the employment-unemployment data, which is to serve as the basis of many important decision, the accompanying account becomes important than the figure itself. To enhance India’s statistical capabilities, India move beyond the politics of it and focus on measuring with precision. Connecting the dots: There is neither credible evidence of a job crisis in India, nor credible evidence of the absence of it. The problem requires a serious effort by the government to address issues of measurement. Comment. MUST READ Capital buffers The Hindu Changing the Earth The Hindu We need a quality revolution in public-policy decision making Livemint

May 30, 2019 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 30th May 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 30th May 2019 Archives (MAINS FOCUS) NATIONAL/ECONOMY TOPIC: General studies 3 Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Merger of NSSO with CSO: Integrity of data In news: The government has recently decided to merge the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) into and under the Central Statistics Office (CSO). About NSSO: The National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) headed by a Director General is responsible for conduct of large-scale sample surveys in diverse fields on All India basis. Primarily data are collected through nation-wide household surveys on various socio-economic subjects, Annual Survey of Industries (ASI), etc. Besides these surveys, NSSO collects data on rural and urban prices and plays a significant role in the improvement of crop statistics through supervision of the area enumeration and crop estimation surveys of the State agencies. Budget allocations and personnel of the NSSO have always been under the Department of Statistics. The present system: Every year various departments of government send a list of subjects that they would like to be investigated by the NSSO. The requests are sent to the National Statistical Commission (NSC). The proposals are discussed at length keeping in view the budget allocations, availability of trained field staff and supervisors. The tasks of sampling design, the scope and content of information to be collected, design of schedules and protocols of field work are left to be decided by special working groups. These groups are chaired by experts from academia, and senior officials of the CSO and the NSSO, State government representatives as well as select non-official experts. Once the field work is over, the groups decide the detailed tabulation programme, and the tables to be prepared for publication. The tabulated results are discussed in detail by the NSC and are published after its approval. Importance of NSSO data and reports: The government decided some years back to put all tabulations and the primary data on open access, especially to academic and other interested users. This stimulated and facilitated the use of these data for intensive analyses by numerous researchers. They have been used extensively for monitoring of trends and critical assessment of several important aspects of the economy and society, such as poverty and inequality, consumption patterns, employment, household savings and investment, and health-seeking behaviour. They have spawned intense as well as creative controversies over survey methodology, quality of data, and interpretation of structure and trends. These have played an important role in shaping policy and in improving the surveys. Issue: The NSSO surveys command wide respect among academics, State governments and NGOs as the most reliable and comparable basis for discussions in the public, policy and even political arenas. This is based on their well-earned reputation for professionalism, independence and integrity. The existing institutional arrangement in which the NSC, as a professional body independent of government, has not only functioned smoothly but also commands confidence and respect both within the country and abroad must be maintained. Widespread apprehensions that the proposed absorption of NSSO into the CSO could compromise the surveys by subjecting their review and publication to government approval must therefore be addressed. Scope for improvement: It is widely recognised that there is scope for improvement in the functioning of the NSSO and the way data are collected. Following problems are well known: The NSSO doesn’t have adequate budgetary allocations. There is an acute shortage of trained field staff. The scale of surveys is un-manageably large mainly because the users demand a degree of detail in content and regional disaggregation of estimates. The solutions call for action by the institutions responsible for gathering data by investing in continuing research on improving sampling design, field survey methods and validation of data. Correcting these deficiencies is entirely in the domain of government. Conclusion: Increasing the role of CSO officials in running the NSSO will not solve the above mentioned problems, but they can help by providing funds for specialised research on survey design and methodology. The necessity and importance of such research calls for far greater attention and resources than they receive at present. Connecting the dots: In light of recent merger of NSSO with CSO, explain the importance of maintaining the integrity of NSSO and hence of data. INTERNATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2 India and the World International Relations Policies of developed and developing countries and their impact on India’s interests Indian Economy and related issues India-Japan Strengthening relationships Introduction: Japan and India are already blessed with warm friendship and solid trust. With the continuation of the Modi administration, Japan and India have been given a valuable chance to elevate the relationship to “greater heights”, as Prime Minister Modi assured Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Focus areas: Japan and India has teamed up for India’s economic and social development through combination of Japan’s official development assistance (ODA) and private sector engagement. Japan has been the largest supporter of India in terms of ODA. Big infrastructure projects such as Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail as well as metros in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad and Bengaluru are few examples. Bettering the lives of Indian people, including at the grass roots level: Under Swachh Bharat Mission, Japan is assisting efforts to clean the Ganga, to construct sewage treatment plants, and to ensure better sanitation through reliable and affordable toilets. Japan is also determined to support projects related to rural development, sustainable forest conservation and disaster risk reduction. A vibrant private sector is an indispensable ingredient to collaboration. Japan is already one of the largest investors in India and more Japanese companies are expected to invest and operate. The Indian government needs to continue its economic reform efforts to make the Indian market more investment and business friendly. The window of business collaboration is wide open along with manufacturing for digital, IT, AI and telecommunications. India’s incredible IT talents complement Japan’s technological vigour. The partnership between Japan and India carries increasing weight for the peace and prosperity of a wider region. The Special Strategic and Global Partnership is special as it is supported by shared values such as democracy, freedom, and the rule of law. Working with other like-minded countries, including the US, ASEAN members and Australia, Japan and India for this direction is important. Japan and India are collaborating on development projects in countries, in regions as diverse as South Asia and Africa, to translate this vision into a reality. Quality infrastructure holds the key to enhancing connectivity in the region, providing long-term and sustainable benefits. The most recent effort includes a joint collaboration with Sri Lanka to develop the Colombo South Port and make it a shipping hub of the Indian Ocean. Japan’s commitment to the development of and better connectivity in India’s Northeast is a part of joint efforts for regional stability and prosperity. Japan and India can be true partners on the global stage, closely collaborating in such areas as the SDGs, United Nations reform, including Security Council reform, global warming mitigation and free and open multilateral trading systems. A meaningful conclusion of the RCEP negotiations by the end of this year will be helpful. Conclusion: India could become the most populous country in the world by the end of the new government’s tenure, with its economy on a steady ascent. Japanese Prime Minister Abe stresses that “A strong India is in Japan’s interest, and a strong Japan is in India’s interest”. In a world where uncertainties and unpredictability are pervasive, a firm Japan-India relationship exemplifies a strong force that promises stability. Connecting the dots: A strong India is in Japan’s interest, and a strong Japan is in India’s interest. Critically analyse. MUST READ Breaking out of the middle-growth orbit The Hindu An election of trust Indian Express

May 30, 2019 AIR

All India Radio (AIR) IAS UPSC - Successful Launch of guided Missile Destroyer 'INS Imphal'

Successful Launch of guided Missile Destroyer 'INS Imphal' ARCHIVES Search 21st April, 2019 Spotlight here: http://www.newsonair.com/Main_Audio_Bulletins_Search.aspx TOPIC: General Studies 3 Defence and Security issues Science and Technology The Indian Navy on launched its third state-of-the-art warship – guided missile destroyer as part of its Project 15B, which is aimed at adding state-of-the-art warships to the naval fleet. The launch marks yet another significant milestone in the annals of the indigenous warship design and construction programme of India. 1st: INS Vishakhapatnam 2nd: INS Mormugao 3rd: INS Imphal 4th: INS Porbandar Project 15B Project 15B ships feature cutting edge advanced technology and are comparable to the best ships of similar class anywhere in the world. These ships have been designed indigenously by the Indian Navy’s Directorate of Naval Design. With significant indigenous content, these ships are an example of the ‘Make in India’ philosophy. Design & Specifications Each warship spans 163 metres in length and 17.4 metres at beam, and displaces 7300 tonnes. These ships will be propelled by four gas turbines to achieve speeds in excess of 30 knots. The P15B destroyers incorporate new design concepts for improved survivability, sea keeping, stealth and ship manoeuvrability. Enhanced stealth features have been achieved through shaping of hull and use of radar transparent deck fitting, which make these ships difficult to detect. P 15B ships will be equipped to carry and operate two multiple role helicopters. The ships are packed with an array of state-of-the-art weapons and sensors, including multi-functional surveillance radars and vertically launched missile system for long-distance engagement of shore, sea-based and air targets. How does Indian Navy name its vessels? The new Visakhapatnam-class destroyer INS Imphal is the first Indian Navy ship to be named after a city in the Northeast. The name 'INS Imphal' was chosen to commemorate the Indian soldiers who fought the 1944 Battle of Imphal and Kohima during the Second World War. A memorial in the middle of Manipur’s capital city Imphal stands proof of the bloody war between the invading Japanese forces and the allied army. The Internal Nomenclature Committee (INC) at the Ministry of Defence is responsible for naming ships and submarines. The Assistant Chief of Naval Staff heads the INC, and other members include representatives from the historical section of the ministry and the archaeology department of the human resource development ministry. It is a tradition to name the ships and submarines after the various aspects of the Indian republic. Naming ships in this fashion allows them to address the diversity of India. To maintain uniformity among vessels of a certain type, the INC adheres to certain policy guidelines. For instance, aircraft carriers get abstract names, frigates are named after mountain ranges, rivers or weapons, and corvettes are named after personal arms. Destroyers: All the destroyers of the Indian Navy are named after important cities, or historical Indian warriors, or rivers. Frigates and cruisers: Both the frigates and cruisers are named after mountain ranges, rivers or personal weapons. Submarine fleet: The submarines of the Indian Navy are named after predatory fish or abstract names associated with the ocean. India’s nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine is called INS Arihant, and belongs to the Arihant class. The nuclear-powered attack submarine is called INS Chakra and belongs to the Chakra class. Note: India’s only active aircraft carrier that belongs to the Kiev class: INS Vikramaditya

May 29, 2019 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 29th May 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 29th May 2019 Archives (MAINS FOCUS) INFRASTRUCTURE TOPIC: General studies 3 Economics: Growth and development Inclusive growth Infrastructure: Cities and amenities Empowering Indian Cities Background: The scale of the challenge in fixing Indian cities is massive whether we look at the availability of clean drinking water, unpolluted air, quality of public transport, traffic management and parking, integrated planning of transport and land use, law and order, management and safe disposal of solid waste that is generated, treatment of waste water and effluents, and affordable housing. In short, the state of public service delivery in our cities is abysmal and the cities are financially broke and cannot address these problems on their own. UN projections suggest that India’s urban population will increase from 461 million in 2018 to 877 million in 2050, with India contributing the largest share of global urban population growth from 2018 to 2050. Cities as drivers of economic growth: Rapid economic growth in any country is associated with a decline in the share of agriculture and increase in the shares of manufacturing and services in its GDP, and this involves greater urbanisation. India’s experience in the last two decades has been no different, except that the urbanisation associated with rapid growth has been largely unplanned. Going forward, as we try to achieve rapid growth which is necessary to provide growing employment opportunities for our young work-force, we need to position our cities as drivers of the structural transformation of the Indian economy. Present system: In our federal system, a state government has the power to notify when an area is to have a statutory urban local government and what form it would take — a municipal corporation, a municipal council or a nagar panchayat (when an area is in transition from rural to urban). The 74th Constitutional Amendment of 1992 gives the state governments the power to transfer a set of 18 legitimate municipal functions to the municipal governments and also devolve finances to them to enable them to perform these functions and organise the delivery of the public services. State governments devolved most, though not all, of the 18 functions to the urban local governments. Action on devolution of funds to urban local governments has been unpredictable and hopelessly inadequate. Issue: In fiscal devolution, the talk of cooperative federalism stops at the level of the state government. Over the years, the state governments have claimed and successfully obtained a larger share in the joint revenues of the Centre and the states. The Fourteenth Finance Commission increased the share of states in the revenue pool from 32 per cent to 42 per cent. By contrast, municipal revenues/expenditures in India have been stagnating at around 1 per cent of GDP for over a decade. This is much lower, for example, than the municipal revenues/expenditures in Brazil which account for 7.4 per cent of GDP and 6 per cent in South Africa. A major failing of the national missions (JNNURM, PMAY, AMRUT, Smart Cities Mission, Housing for All) has been that they have not addressed the issues of empowerment and devolution to the third tier. Following needs to be done: State governments have the principal responsibility for urban development. But in order to deliver, they can and should ensure that city governments are sufficiently empowered to get the job done. Our cities will have to provide much better quality of life if we want to create a climate which will attract investment. For this, we not only need more and better urban infrastructure but also significantly better institutions, which can manage the infrastructure and deliver public services of high quality. This requires strengthening the finances of city governments, building their capacity to take on the new challenges that urbanisation brings, and providing an enabling environment through legislative and administrative support. Way ahead: Introducing an incentive grant system whereby states which devolve funds to some desired degree get to top up the financial grant from the Centre. This should be limited to second-tier cities, which are crucial to a new urbanisation thrust. Prime Minister Modi at the present juncture is in a unique position of having to work with a large number of BJP-controlled state governments. It is a valuable opportunity to get the states to go for empowerment of the third tier and also strengthen their finances through assured devolution. Essentially, co-operative federalism needs to go deeper, below the state level. Conclusion: There are no shortcuts to improving the state of our cities. The state governments need to decentralise, devolve and empower the cities. Connecting the dots: The state of public service delivery in our cities is abysmal and the cities are financially broke and cannot address these problems on their own. The state governments need to decentralise, devolve and empower the cities. Comment. SOCIAL/WELFARE ISSUE TOPIC: General studies 2 and 3 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections. Social justice and Empowerment of vulnerable sections of the society. Constitution: Fundamental rights Caste-based discrimination continues: Tadvi case and Thorat Committee In news: Recently, a young doctor from Mumbai, Payal Tadvi of the BYL Nair Hospital committed suicide. She was allegedly facing persistent caste-based harassment from her seniors at the hospital. Tadvi had taken admission through the caste-based quota. Tadvi joins a host of underprivileged scholars who have committed suicide for exactly the same reason — Madari Venkatesh, Rohith Vemula, Senthil Kumar and Pulyala Raju to name just a few. Thorat Committee: In 2007 a committee was formed under the chairmanship of Sukhadeo Thorat to look into the harassment of Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students. The Committee report eventually served as a milestone in efforts to identify caste-based discrimination in higher educational institutes. It revealed that about 69 per cent of the SC/ST students reported that they did not receive adequate support from teachers. About 76 per cent of students mentioned that their papers were not examined properly and 88 per cent mentioned that they got fewer marks than they expected. More than 80% of these students mentioned that evaluation in practical and viva was unfair and they didn’t receive enough time with the examiners, as compared to higher caste students. Besides, a large chunk experienced social isolation and discrimination during their stay in the hostels at AIIMS. The report also delineated the discrimination felt by SC/ST faculty members employed at AIIMS, Delhi. Recommendations by Thorat Committee: The educational institutions are required to undertake remedial coaching for SC and ST students to improve their language skill and also remedial courses in the basic courses so that they are able to cope up with the regular course. Undertake measures to make the faculty more sensitive towards the problems faced by the SC/ST students and develop cordial relations with them, so that the students regain their confidence in their teachers. It appears to the Committee that at present, there is lack of positive and supportive relationship and a relationship of confidence between the SC/ST students and the faculty. The examination system may be reform in which the component of objective questions may be increased significantly and subjective elements in evaluation be reduced to the minimum. This should be for all examinations. Internal evaluation through practical and viva should be done in more transparent and open manner so that there is limited scope for bias. Setting up a joint committee, comprising of students, residents and faculty to examine and study the social atmosphere in campus and understand the reasons and also develop an insight for the social division that has emerged over a period of time. Conclusion: Caste continues to be the horrific reality of Indian society. Casteism spills over into our offices, hospitals, factories, business establishments and even educational institutions. Caste-based discrimination in institutions of higher education needs to be addressed urgently. Educational institutions have been the preserves of the upper caste and the rich. With affirmative action in the form of caste-based reservations, this hegemony has been challenged to a significant extent, and hence the urgency to bring back “order” through harassment, disgrace and coercion. Connecting the dots: Caste-based discrimination in institutions of higher education needs to be addressed urgently. In this light discuss the recommendations made by Thorat Committee. MUST READ The key agenda must be to accelerate growth The Hindu Eastward course Indian Express Savarkar, the refromer Indian Express

May 28, 2019 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 28th May 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 28th May 2019 Archives (MAINS FOCUS) INTERNATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2 India and the World International Relations Policies of developed and developing countries and their impact on India’s interests Indian Economy and related issues Putting Taiwan on India’s diplomatic priority Background: The new government in Delhi should put Taiwan on its diplomatic priority. It might offend Chinese political sensitivities. But productive engagement with Taiwan is not about abandoning India’s “One-China” policy or playing some kind of a “card”. India has been rather careful in respecting China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. In 2014, the then External Affairs Minister vented the frustration that Beijing does not reciprocate with a “One-India policy”. Given the stakes in a sensible relationship with China, the government rightly chose to stay the course on the “One-China policy”. Steady progress in the relationship: Since the establishment of formal channels of contact in the mid-1990s, there has been steady progress in the relationship. Annual bilateral trade has reached $7 billion last year and the hope is to raise it to $20 billion in the next few years. There has been a rise in Taiwan’s investments in India and a steady growth in exchanges between the two societies. During the last five years, the government has taken steps to enhance the relationship. These include: The upgradation of the bilateral investment agreement. Promotion of major Taiwanese investments. Expanding parliamentary exchanges. Facilitating track-two dialogues on regional issues. Need of engaging with Taiwan: Delhi should take a fresh look at Taiwan and replace its current incrementalism with a more ambitious policy. Geopolitical importance: The delicate three-way political compromise between US, China and Taiwan crafted in the 1970s appears to be breaking down, thanks to rising China’s regional assertiveness, the renewed threat of forceful reunification of Taiwan and Beijing’s relentless pressure tactics against Taipei. In Washington, as part of the belated push-back against China under the Trump Administration, the “deep state” is determined to strengthen ties with Taiwan. In reinforcing its security commitment to Taiwan, the Trump Administration has begun to send its naval ships through the Taiwan Straits more frequently than before. Meanwhile, divisions within Taiwan on the future ties with Beijing have deepened. Great strategic significance of Taiwan as it straddles the sea lines of communication in the Western Pacific and is a stone’s throw from China’s mainland. If there is one piece of real estate that holds the key to the geopolitics of East Asia, it is Taiwan. The unfolding dynamic around Taiwan will have significant consequences for India’s Act East Policy and its emerging role in the Indo-Pacific Region. Geo-economic importance: The unfolding trade war between the US and China is compelling Taiwan to accelerate its plans to move its large manufacturing bases away from China to Southeast Asia and India. Taiwan announced the “New Southbound Policy” in 2016. The objective is to strengthen ties with the 10 countries of the ASEAN as well as Australia, New Zealand and India. As the structure of industrial production in East Asia undergoes a profound transformation, amidst the prospect of an economic decoupling between the US and China, India has once-in-a-generation opportunity to boost its own manufacturing sector. For the government’s agenda of promoting industrial production and creating jobs in India, the Taiwan connection with its impressive small and medium enterprises is more than opportune. Talent and technology: Taiwan has embarked on a big mission to attract skilled workers. With a declining birth rate and growing emigration, Taiwan’s industry, education, and technology development could do with Indian engineers and scientists. At present, there are barely 2,000 Indians working in Taiwan. There is no shortage of ideas for the transformation of India’s relations with Taiwan. An agreement on comprehensive economic cooperation is one of those. The synergy in human resources provides the basis for massive collaborations between the universities, research institutions and technology enclaves in the two countries. Way ahead: The bilateral relationship now needs a high-level political attention in Delhi to make things happen and quickly. Expanding the engagement with Taiwan should be an important part of Delhi’s effort to come to terms with all corners of Greater China that looms so large over India’s future. Conclusion: Most major nations have significant cooperation with Taiwan without extending it diplomatic recognition. India, however, has too many self-imposed constraints on its Taiwan policy. It is now time to lift many of them. Taiwan’s GDP is about $600 billion and twice the size of Pakistan’s economy. And few entities in the international system are today as eager and capable of boosting Modi’s domestic economic agenda. Prioritizing Taiwan in our international policies is thus a need of the hour Connecting the dots: Productive engagement with Taiwan without abandoning India’s “One-China” policy is the need of the hour. Comment. NATIONAL/ECONOMY TOPIC: General studies 2 and 3 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it. Structural Reforms in various sectors Introduction: The strong mandate received by the new government grants the new government an opportunity to focus on a structural, as opposed to a project-based, economic agenda. Here are the priorities it must go after. Statistics: The government must commit to making India’s economic statistics modern, world-class and immune to political interference. The first thing about “fixing" the economy is to measure it right and without “bias". India is home to many truly world-class statisticians, and this is one area where we could use significant lateral entry to upgrade our talent. Steps taken: The ministry of statistics has recently announced the merger of the Central Statistics Office and National Sample Survey Office into a single entity, the National Statistical Office (NSO). Going forward: The NSO should report to Parliament in order to de-politicize economic statistics. An apolitical, high-quality NSO will serve as a strong foundation as we go about necessary structural reforms. Employment: Jobs are the most significant economic and political priority for the coming decade. The two major foundational pillars for job growth for the medium and long term are - An industrial-strength apprentice and vocational training system in India and a quantum jump in the quality of our school education. India’s vocational streaming and training system delivered primarily through a chain of Industrial Training Institutes (ITI) is broken. Revamping this broken system—from streaming high-school youth into the vocational path to improving the quality and relevance of vocational education, and also creating an apprentice supply chain from these institutes into the workforce- will help. Beyond this long-term fix, it is time for India’s “Green New Deal". This New Deal should focus on employment generation for environmentally sustainable infrastructure projects funded by the government. Resources for this New Deal can only come from higher productivity and structural GDP growth, so undertaking structural reforms can become a self-fulfilling project. Banking reform: Structural reforms require three forms of capital—talent/governance, equity and debt. The government cannot fully fix the problems of public sector banks with capital if it is not accompanied by governance reforms. The government must immediately transfer its ownership in public sector banks to an empowered agency in the form of an exchange traded fund (ETF). This new agency must be empowered to delink these banks from all forms of governmental interference. The government must fully privatize IDBI Bank—the only public sector bank set up as a private limited company. With the advantage of time and an electoral majority, the centre should insist on accountability in the governance of all public sector banks. Agriculture reform: For decades, Indian governments have largely failed in their attempt to improve agricultural productivity and provide alternative occupational paths for rural households. Focus should be on structural fixes that include access to better seeds and technology, drip irrigation and crop planning for the farmer, an easier path from farms to markets for products, a steadier offtake of farm products and a reduction in middleman costs. A direct cash transfer to the marginal farmer can and should cushion this reform process. Conclusion: The new government has an unprecedented mandate to transform India into a middle-income country with widely inclusive prosperity. It is time the opportunity is seized. Connecting the dots: Structural reforms are required to boost employment, agricultural and banking sector. Comment. MUST READ Global implications of the mandate The Hindu Farmer’s issues were not centre stage The Hindu Note to the minority Indian Express The process of governance matters more than policies Livemint

May 28, 2019 RSTV Video

RSTV IAS UPSC – Venezuela Political Crisis

Venezuela Political Crisis Archives In News: A woman was shot dead and dozens injured in the Venezuelan capital Caracas, in clashes between opposition supporters and pro-government forces. Tear gas and water cannon were fired by the military amid rival demonstrations. A slow-simmering political crisis that has gripped Venezuela for months appeared to be coming to a head this week as opposition politicians issued a direct challenge to the authority of President Nicolás Maduro. The leader of the opposition, Juan Guaidó, called for a military and popular uprising to oust Mr. Maduro from office, triggering a day of protest that turned violent but later fizzled. Mr. Maduro characterized the action as unconstitutional, while Mr. Guaidó maintained it was a necessary move to restore legitimacy to the presidency. Why is the presidency disputed? Nicolás Maduro was first elected in April 2013 after the death of his socialist mentor and predecessor in office, Hugo Chávez. At the time, he won by a thin margin of 1.6 percentage points. During his first term in office, the economy went into freefall and many Venezuelans blame him and his socialist government for the country's decline. Mr Maduro was re-elected to a second six-year term in highly controversial elections in May 2018, which most opposition parties boycotted. Many opposition candidates had been barred from running while others had been jailed or had fled the country for fear of being imprisoned and the opposition parties argued that the poll would be neither free nor fair. Mr Maduro's re-election was not recognised by Venezuela's opposition-controlled National Assembly. Why is it all coming to a head now? After being re-elected, Mr Maduro announced he would serve out his remaining first term and only then be sworn in for a second term on 10 January. It was following his swearing-in ceremony that the opposition to his government was given a fresh boost. The National Assembly argues that because the election was not fair, Mr Maduro is a "usurper" and the presidency is vacant. This is a line that is being pushed in particular by the new president of the National Assembly, 35-year-old Juan Guaidó. Who is Juan Guaidó? Citing articles 233 and 333 of Venezuela's constitution, the legislature says that in such cases, the head of the National Assembly takes over as acting president. That is why Mr Guaidó declared himself acting president on 23 January. Since then, he has been organising mass protests and calling on the military to switch allegiance. What has the reaction been? More than 50 countries have recognised Mr Guaidó as the legitimate president, among them the US and many nations in Latin America. But Russia and China among others have stood by President Maduro. Within Venezuela, those opposed to the government celebrated Mr Guaidó's move, while government officials said they would defend the president from "imperialist threats". While Mr Guaidó counts with the support of many international leaders, he does not have much power in practical terms. He is the president of the National Assembly, but this legislative body was largely rendered powerless by the creation of the National Constituent Assembly in 2017, which is exclusively made up of government loyalists. How did Venezuela get this bad? Some of the problems go back a long time. However, it is President Maduro and his predecessor, the late President Hugo Chávez, who find themselves the target of much of the current anger. Their socialist governments have been in power since 1999, taking over the country at a time when Venezuela had huge inequality. But the socialist polices brought in which aimed to help the poor backfired. Take price controls, for example. They were introduced by President Chávez to make basic goods more affordable to the poor by capping the price of flour, cooking oil and toiletries. But this meant that the few Venezuelan businesses producing these items no longer found it profitable to make them. Critics also blame the foreign currency controls brought in by President Chávez in 2003 for a flourishing black market in dollars. Since then, Venezuelans wanting to exchange bolivars for dollars have had to apply to a government-run currency agency. Only those deemed to have valid reasons to buy dollars, for example to import goods, have been allowed to change their bolivars at a fixed rate set by the government. With many Venezuelans unable to freely buy dollars, they turned to the black market. What are the biggest challenges today? Hyperinflation The annual inflation rate reached 1,300,000% in the 12 months to November 2018, according to a study by the opposition-controlled National Assembly. By the end of 2018, prices were doubling every 19 days on average. This has left many Venezuelans struggling to afford basic items such as food and toiletries. The price of a cup of coffee in the capital Caracas doubled to 400 bolivars ($0.62; £0.50) in the space of just a week last December, according to Bloomberg. The International Monetary Fund predicts that Venezuela’s inflation rate will reach 10 million percent in 2019, becoming one of the worst cases of hyperinflation in modern history. Experts say government mismanagement and corruption is the source of the country’s economic woes; Mr. Maduro blames damaging United States sanctions. Oil reserves leading to collapse Venezuela has the largest proven oil reserves in the world, and the country’s economy is largely tied to its oil wealth. This oil wealth once made the nation one of the richest in Latin America and helped stabilize its democracy although the riches were not equally shared. But the past few years have seen the economy spiral toward collapse. Humanitarian crisis In the once prosperous nation, people now find themselves unable to provide for their most basic needs. Hunger is widespread and children are dying of malnutrition. The country’s public health care system has collapsed and prolonged electricity outages are common. The crisis has also triggered a vast regional migration as Venezuelans flee the country’s dire conditions, straining the resources of neighboring nations. Some 3.4 million people have left Venezuela since 2014, according to the United Nation’s immigration authority, the majority settling in Colombia, Peru, Chile and Ecuador. And as the political stalemate continues, little has been done to rectify the situation for everyday Venezuelans. Know more about the country Located on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and a large number of small islands and islets in the Caribbean Sea. Capital: Caracas The continental territory is bordered on the north by the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Colombia, Brazil on the south, Trinidad and Tobago to the north-east and on the east by Guyana. Has habitats ranging from the Andes Mountains in the west to the Amazon basin rain-forest in the south via extensive llanos plains, the Caribbean coast and the Orinoco River Delta in the east. Has the world's largest known oil reserves and has been one of the world's leading exporters of oil. The colors of the Venezuelan flag are yellow, blue, and red: the yellow stands for land wealth, the blue for the sea that separates Venezuela from Spain, and the red for the blood shed by the heroes of independence.

May 27, 2019 PIB

Press Information Bureau (PIB) IAS UPSC – 19th May to 25th May - 2019

Press Information Bureau (PIB) IAS UPSC – 19th May to 25th May – 2019 ARCHIVES Ongole: Indigenous cattle breed 20th May: World Metrology Day; the Metre Convention was signed by representatives of seventeen nations on May 20, 1875. The Convention set the framework for global collaboration in the science of measurement and in its industrial, commercial and societal applications. 22nd May: International Day of Biological Diversity Vayoshreshtha Samman: National Awards for Senior Citizens ‘Not all animals migrate by choice’ campaign launched Aim: To raise awareness on illegal wildlife trade By: Campaign launched by Wildlife Crime Control Bureau of India and UN Environment aimed at airports across India. Featured Animals: Tiger, Pangolin, Star Tortoise and Tokay Gecko – are highly endangered due to illegal trading in International markets Tiger is traded for its skin, bones and body parts Pangolin, the most illegally traded wild mammal on the planet is trafficked for its meat and its scales are used in traditional medicines Star Tortoise for meat and pet trade Tokay Gecko in traditional medicine mostly into South East Asia and particularly Chinese Markets. Why: In India, illegal trade in wildlife has seen a sharp rise in recent years. Illegal wildlife trade is driving species to the brink of extinction. A thriving industry with organized wildlife crime chains spreading across the world, in India, illegal trade in wildlife has seen a sharp rise. The campaign ‘Not all animals migrate by choice’ aims at creating awareness and garnering public support for the protection and conservation of wildlife, prevention of smuggling and reduction in demand for wildlife products. The campaign also complements worldwide action on illegal trade in wildlife through UN Environment’s global campaign, Wild for Life. There is an urgent need for awareness, action and stringent enforcement of laws to put an end to all illegal wildlife trade threatening biodiversity and conservation in the wild. This campaign is an important step forward in creating much-needed awareness on wildlife trafficking which threatens the very survival of these species. About Wildlife Crime Control Bureau It is a statutory multi-disciplinary body established by the Government of India under the Ministry of Environment and Forests, to combat organized wildlife crime in the country. Under Section 38 (Z) of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, it is mandated to collect and collate intelligence related to organized wildlife crime activities and to disseminate the same to State and other enforcement agencies for immediate action so as to apprehend the criminals To establish a centralized wildlife crime data bank; co-ordinate actions by various agencies in connection with the enforcement of the provisions of the Act Assist foreign authorities and international organization concerned to facilitate co-ordination and universal action for wildlife crime control Capacity building of the wildlife crime enforcement agencies for scientific and professional investigation into wildlife crimes and assist State Governments to ensure success in prosecutions related to wildlife crimes Advise the Government of India on issues relating to wildlife crimes having national and international ramifications, relevant policy and laws. It also assists and advises the Customs authorities in inspection of the consignments of flora & fauna as per the provisions of Wild Life Protection Act, CITES and EXIM Policy governing such an item. Redefined units of measurement of kilogram, Kelvin, mole and ampere This decision has now enabled scientists and researchers to base the SI units entirely on fundamental properties of nature, which will ensure their ongoing refinement and improvement for years to come. The fundamental constants are invariants of time and space and successfully replaced the artifact based units, and aptly opened up the new era for quantum world by linking all seven base units to fundamental constants/quantum standards. Kilogram: SI unit of weight Kelvin: SI unit of temperature Mole: SI unit of amount of substance Ampere: SI unit of current Pulses in India Besides serving as an important source of protein for a large portion of the global population, pulses contribute to healthy soils and climate change mitigation through their nitrogen-fixing properties. Area, Production and Productivity India is the largest producer (25% of global production), consumer (27% of world consumption) and importer (14%) of pulses in the world. Pulses account for around 20 per cent of the area under food grains and contribute around 7-10 per cent of the total food grains production in the country. Though pulses are grown in both Kharif and Rabi seasons, Rabi pulses contribute more than 60 per cent of the total production. Availability vis-à-vis nutritional and sustainability aspects Per capita net availability of pulses in India, however, has reduced from 51.1 gm/day (1971) to 41.9 gm/day (2013) as against WHO recommendation of 80gm/day. This raises question about the nutritional aspect as pulses are considered to be ‘poor man’s protein’. It is estimated that pulses contain 20-25 per cent of protein by weight and have twice the protein available in wheat and thrice that is present in rice. In addition to its nutritional advantage, pulses have low carbon and water footprints which make them an integral part of the sustainable farming system. As per estimates, water footprints for producing one kilogram of meat are five times higher than that of pulses. Further, one kilogram of legume emits 0.5 kilogram in CO 2 equivalent whereas one kilogram of meat produce 9.5 kilogram in CO 2 equivalent. Competition Commission of India (CCI) Competition is the best means of ensuring that the ‘Common Man’ or ‘Aam Aadmi’ has access to the broadest range of goods and services at the most competitive prices. With increased competition, producers will have maximum incentive to innovate and specialize. This would result in reduced costs and wider choice to consumers. A fair competition in market is essential to achieve this objective. Our goal is to create and sustain fair competition in the economy that will provide a ‘level playing field’ to the producers and make the markets work for the welfare of the consumers. The Competition Act: The Competition Act, 2002, as amended by the Competition (Amendment) Act, 2007, follows the philosophy of modern competition laws. The Act prohibits anti-competitive agreements, abuse of dominant position by enterprises and regulates combinations (acquisition, acquiring of control and M&A), which causes or likely to cause an appreciable adverse effect on competition within India. Competition Commission of India The objectives of the Act are sought to be achieved through the Competition Commission of India, which has been established by the Central Government with effect from 14th October 2003. CCI consists of a Chairperson and 6 Members appointed by the Central Government. It is the duty of the Commission to eliminate practices having adverse effect on competition, promote and sustain competition, protect the interests of consumers and ensure freedom of trade in the markets of India. The Commission is also required to give opinion on competition issues on a reference received from a statutory authority established under any law and to undertake competition advocacy, create public awareness and impart training on competition issues. PSLV-C46 successfully launches RISAT-2B India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C46) successfully launched the RISAT-2B satellite from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. RISAT-2B is a radar imaging earth observation satellite weighing about 615 kg. The satellite is intended to provide services in the field of Agriculture, Forestry and Disaster Management. Successful Firing of BrahMos Air Launched Missile from Su-30 MKI Aircraft The air launched BrahMos missile is a 2.5 ton supersonic air to surface cruise missile with ranges of close to 300 km, designed and developed by BAPL. The IAF became the first Air Force in the world to have successfully fired an air launched 2.8 Mach surface attack missile of this category on a sea target on 22 Nov 17. It was the second such live launch of the weapon. The integration of the weapon on the aircraft was a very complex process involving mechanical, electrical and software modifications on aircraft. The IAF has been involved in the activity from its inception. The BrahMos missile provides Indian Air Force a much desired capability to strike from large stand-off ranges on any target at sea or on land with pinpoint accuracy by day or night and in all weather conditions. The capability of the missile coupled with the superlative performance of the Su-30MKI aircraft gives the IAF the desired strategic reach. Central government bans Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh or Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen India or Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Hindustan and all its manifestations The notification states that the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh and its formations like Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen India or Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Hindustan and their manifestations have committed acts of terrorism, promoted acts of terrorism and have been engaged in radicalisation and recruitment of youth(s) for terrorist activities in India.

May 27, 2019 RSTV Video

RSTV IAS UPSC – Heat Stroke (Hyperthermia)

Heat Stroke (Hyperthermia) Archives TOPIC: General Studies 2: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health What leads to Heat Stroke? The human body usually can regulate its temperature. When the body gets too hot, it uses several strategies to cool down, including sweating. But if a person spends too much time in the heat without taking in enough fluids, the body's cooling processes can't work properly. When the body becomes dehydrated, it can no longer cool itself by sweating. When this happens, body temperature can rise high enough to make the person sick. Heat Exhaustion: The first symptoms of heat illness occur as the body temperature climbs above normal, and can include headache, nausea, vomiting, muscle cramps and fatigue. These early symptoms sometimes are called heat exhaustion. If steps are not taken to reduce body temperature, heat exhaustion can worsen and become heat stroke. What is Heat Stroke? Heat stroke is a serious, potentially life-threatening form of heat illness. The body temperature rises to 105 degrees Fahrenheit or higher and you develop neurological changes, such as mental confusion or unconsciousness. At these high temperatures, body proteins and the membranes around the cells in the body, especially in the brain, begin to be destroyed or malfunction. The extreme heat can affect internal organs, causing breakdown of the heart muscle cells and blood vessels, damage to internal organs, and death. There are two main causes of heat stroke: Exertional heat stroke occurs when someone is vigorously active in a hot environment, such as playing sports on a hot summer day or participating in military training activities. It typically strikes young, otherwise healthy people, those least likely to be concerned about the effects of heat on their health. Because of the lack of concern, early symptoms may be dismissed or ignored. Non-exertional heat stroke tends to occur in people who have a diminished ability to regulate body temperature, such as older people, very young children or people with chronic illnesses. High heat in the surrounding environment, without vigorous activity, can be enough to cause heat stroke in these people. Factors that can contribute to heat stroke include: Dehydration from not drinking enough water Wearing bulky or heavy clothing, such as firefighting gear, in the heat Being overweight, which causes the body to generate more heat and reduces the body's ability to cool down Sleep deprivation, which can decrease the rate of sweating Being unaccustomed to the heat, such as moving from a cooler climate to a warmer climate Some medications, most commonly antihistamines (taken for allergies), diuretics (taken for high blood pressure or leg swelling), laxatives (taken to relieve constipation), calcium channel blockers (one type of blood pressure or heart medicine), medicines for Parkinson's disease, some diarrhea treatments and tricyclic antidepressants Being confined to a poorly ventilated or non-air-conditioned living space Having had heat stroke in the past Use of illicit drugs, including cocaine, heroin, amphetamines and ecstasy (MDMA) Symptoms Heat stroke can come on suddenly, but warning symptoms often appear first. They include: Abdominal cramps Muscle cramps Nausea Vomiting Headache Dizziness Weakness Heavy sweat or a lack of sweat When heat stroke starts, neurological symptoms can include: Odd or bizarre behavior Irritability Delusions Hallucinations Seizures Coma Prevention Most cases of heat stroke can be prevented. When the temperature outside is especially high: Drink lots of water throughout the day. Stay indoors in an air-conditioned area whenever you feel too warm. Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing, preferably with a loose-weave material that lets air get to your skin. Avoid strenuous activity in the hottest part of the day (between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.). If you must participate, take frequent breaks, limit the time that you wear a helmet by taking it off between activities, and avoid wearing heavy uniforms or equipment. Drink less caffeine and alcohol, which can contribute to dehydration. Treatment The first step in treating heat stroke is to reduce body temperature by cooling the body from the outside. This can be done by removing tight or unnecessary clothing, spraying the person with water, blowing cool air on the person, or wrapping the person loosely in wet sheets. If these methods do not lower body temperature enough, a doctor may try to lower temperature from the inside by flushing the stomach or rectum with cold water. Severe cases may require cardiopulmonary bypass, in which the person's blood is diverted from the heart and lungs into a collection machine, cooled, and then returned to the body. In some cases, anti-seizure or muscle-relaxing medications may be given to control convulsions and shivering. Aspirin and acetaminophen (Tylenol) do not help lower body temperature when a person has heat stroke, and these medications should be avoided if heat stroke is suspected. People with heat stroke generally need to be hospitalized so they can be tested for complications that may appear after the first day. One common complication is muscle breakdown caused by the heat. In this condition, called rhabdomyolysis, by-products of the muscle breakdown appear in the bloodstream and can damage the kidneys. If medical help is sought quickly, heat stroke almost always is treated successfully. Having had heat stroke in the past increases your risk of heat stroke in the future, so you will have to take extra precautions in hot weather. Delaying treatment can have serious consequences, including kidney or liver damage, congestive heart failure or heart arrhythmias, coma or death.

May 27, 2019 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 27th May 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 27th May 2019 Archives (MAINS FOCUS) AGRICULTURE/ECONOMY TOPIC: General studies 2 and 3 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies Achieving the target of doubling farmers’ income Background: In 2016, the government set a target of doubling farmers’ real incomes by 2022-23. At that time, the time frame for that task was seven years and it required a growth rate of 10.4 per cent per annum. Three years have passed and one does not see any acceleration in farmers’ incomes compared to the trend line of 3.7 per cent during 2002-03 to 2015-16. So, in the remaining four years, the new government has to increase the farmers’ real incomes by 13 to 15 per cent per annum. Agri-marketing reforms, therefore, should be the top priority in the government’s agriculture agenda. Way ahead: Ensuring that the Model Agricultural Produce and Livestocks Marketing Act of 2017 is implemented by all the states, in letter and spirit. Recent attempts to implement the Act in Maharashtra show how strong the opposition to it is by mandi commission agents and other vested interests. Setting up an Agri-marketing Reforms Council (AMRC), on the lines of the GST Council, to carry out agri-marketing reforms in states in a synchronised manner. This council will also have to review and prune the Essential Commodities Act of 1955, revamp the livestock marketing and the warehouse receipt systems and revitalise the agri-futures markets. The AMRC should be led by the Union agriculture minister, who should be supported by the chief ministers of the agriculturally-important states. The experience gained in implementing the GST reforms should be tapped. The agri-vision for New India should be based on building competitive and inclusive value chains for several products, on the lines of AMUL’s model for milk. Food processors, organised retailers and agri-exporters should be encouraged to bypass the mandi system and buy directly from farmers’ groups. The agriculture portfolio should be given to someone who is well respected for his understanding of farm-related matters and can also carry his voice in the Cabinet. The only sustainable and efficient way to ensure remunerative prices for farmers is through structural reforms in agri-marketing. The path of higher minimum support prices (MSPs) has serious limitations because it bypasses the demand side of the equation. The grain stock with the Food Corporation of India and NAFED is already higher than the buffer stock norms of these commodities. Lessons from China: After 2008, China increased the MSPs of key commodities such as rice, wheat, corn and cotton significantly. China’s list of MSP commodities is smaller than ours (we have 23 commodities under MSP). The stocks of grain with the government system in China touched almost 300 million tonnes, leading to massive inefficiency. From 2016 onwards, China set out to reform its agri-pricing support system. First, the MSP support for corn was withdrawn, then the government’s cotton procurement was reduced and now the MSP for wheat has been reduced. Interestingly, and simultaneously, China moved from price support operations to direct income support on a per acre basis. In 2016-17 alone, China gave direct income support of 21 billion dollars to its farmers. Conclusion: The recent move by the government towards a direct income support scheme for farmers is a step in the right direction. Ensuring that the shift is one from price policy to income policy and reforms the current agri-marketing system, it will effect a fundamental structural reform in agriculture with high pay offs in the years to come. Connecting the dots: Achieving the target of doubling farmers’ real incomes by 2022-23 needs structural overhaul in agri-marketing reforms. Comment. ECONOMY TOPIC: General studies 2 and 3 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it. Focusing on fundamental reforms Introduction: India’s economy is facing a slowdown. The new government needs to focus on fundamental reforms. Reforms in past: While the bankruptcy code, shift in the indirect tax regime and inflation-control brief to the central bank qualified as moves in that direction, other measures seemed to betray a lack of conviction. Import tariffs rose, disinvestment made questionable progress, and fiscal consolidation did not result in expected outcomes. Way ahead: The need of the hour is to focus on fundamental reforms. Easing land acquisition and labour rules could attract new business projects, revive mass recruitment and lift the economy’s growth capacity to a new level. A reliable social security net would help bring down resistance to relaxing rules that deter companies from multiplying their payrolls. With added assurances of state support, a relatively flexible labour market could be achieved. Less risky but more complex would be capital market reforms. On these, the government should start with the banking sector, which remains overly state-dominated and needs market oversight to stop good money from being thrown after bad. The state needs to either withdraw from other fields of business or turn public sector enterprises uniformly profitable. The autonomy of institutions, such as the Reserve Bank of India and Election Commission, should be guaranteed via devices that are open to public scrutiny. Independent regulation would assure all participants fair treatment and check legislative and market forces that could imperil the economy and our democracy. Conclusion: The current ruling party's scale of victory is the largest in three decades. The government can push ahead with politically difficult reforms. A state-led economic model has yielded poor results in the past. Market reforms should be given another chance. Connecting the dots: India’s economy is facing a slowdown. The new government needs to focus on fundamental reforms. Comment. MUST READ Keep the faith Indian Express How new military bases could seed new cities and create jobs Livemint

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