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Creative Guidance – Slow Down – Inspirational Educative Articles

Slow Down: Life is not all about how far we go, how many things we do, or how much we achieve; life is simply a measure of how deeply we live. This is why there are as many ways of living as there are people on this planet. There is no one right way of living and there certainly is no one definition of life. Rarely do we talk about the experience of being in the moment. Most of the time we are so busy skimming off the surface of life, darting from one point to another, we simply forget that there is enormous depth to the present moment. The present moment is a single moment only from the point of view of the past and the future. From the point of view of the present, this moment is eternity. It has a depth beyond comprehension. Our fears, worries and anxieties are simply a result of not knowing how to experience the depth of the present moment where life is brimming with joy and completeness. Happiness is not an experience; it is simply the depth of our being. The deeper we are able to get to the depths of our being, the happier we will be. One of the easiest ways to reach the depths of the present moment is by learning to slow down. Yes, the simple act of slowing down tremendously increases our ability to experience the present moment. Just a conscious choice to slow down will make an ocean of difference as to how we perceive and experience life. Slowing down doesn’t mean that your life has slowed down; slowing down means you are more aware of and alert to what is happening around you. Just reflect on this for a moment; aren’t all our daily frustrations a result of our mind racing fast, hop-skipping from one thought to another, not knowing how to slow down, pause or stop? We know this from experience; the faster our thought process is, the more agitated and disturbed we become. There is a direct correlation between speed of thought and stress, isn’t there? Contrary to the understanding that slowing down will not allow you to complete important tasks in time, slowing down, in fact, increases your ability to complete your tasks in time. In the name of finishing something fast, more often than not, we make a lot of mistakes which make it more difficult to finish the task in time. Slowing down and doing things more consciously will not only add more meaning and depth to your life, it will also help you to avoid unnecessary mistakes, avoid doing things again and again, and you will be able to enjoy life as it comes, moment-by-moment. “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 – 25th May 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 25th May 2019 Archives (MAINS FOCUS) 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. Resolving NPA Crisis: II Introduction: In order to put the slowing economy back on track economic reforms needs to be taken. Reforms in banking must surely be top priority. Banks were forced by the RBI and the central government2 to disclose evergreened loans and provision for them. A new Bankruptcy Code was legislated to allow lenders to take charge of the resolution process. Issues remain: Operational issues at public sector banks (PSBs). Putting in tax payers’ money to keep them afloat. Investors and depositors have very little assurance that a similar NPA crisis will not recur in future. Going forward: To prevent repetition of the NPA crisis, structural reforms at PSBs are imperative on three counts. Poor credit appraisal and risk management systems: It led banks concentrating their loans in a handful of borrowers. This need drastic overhaul. RBI recently imposed tighter curbs on the group-level and firm-level exposures of banks, capping them at 40 per cent and 20 per cent respectively of Tier-1 capital. But such limits cannot substitute for the PSBs’ lack of in-house talent in credit and project appraisal, which needs urgent fixing. RBI needs to work on internal early warning systems that leverage analytics to head off credit bubbles too. Increasing accountability: While mis-judgement can be condoned, strict enforcement action needs to be taken against bankers who willingly colluded with corporate borrowers to evergreen loans. There’s also need for a thorough overhaul of recruitment policies at PSBs, greater accountability from their top managements and Boards and performance-linked compensation. Governance reforms: Political interference has played an egregious role in diverting bank funds to crony capitalists. Fixing this issue requires deep-rooted governance reforms that distance the management and Boards of PSBs from their promoter — the Central government. A roadmap for the transfer and gradual dilution of the government shareholding in PSBs is now critical, as is the strengthening of the toothless Bank Boards Bureau. RBI on its part needs to work through recent setbacks to the IBC process to put it back on its feet. Conclusion: Resolving NPA crisis would help bring back the Indian public’s and depositors’ confidence in banks. Connecting the dots: In order to put the slowing economy back on reforms in banking must surely be top priority. Comment. Also read: Resolving the NPA crisis https://iasbaba.com/2019/05/daily-current-affairs-ias-upsc-prelims-and-mains-exam-15th-may-2019/ Note: No must read (because of election results and politics related news editorials)

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

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

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 24th May 2019 Archives (MAINS FOCUS) 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. PMJDY: Analysis Introduction: Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) seems to be delivering well on its financial inclusion objectives without placing undue burden on bank. The aggregate deposits in the PMJDY accounts have grown ten-fold from the first phase of the scheme in January 2015.  The PMJDY has delivered financial inclusion: It has contributed to financialisation of savings by giving lower income households access to a safe investment product. In the last four years, deposits in these accounts have expanded ten-fold even as the number of account holders is up only three-fold, showing that existing depositors in JDY regularly top up their balances. With 13.5 crore beneficiaries enrolling for the low-cost accident insurance cover and 5.5 crore for the life cover, the account is giving disadvantaged folks services of other financial products as well. With 27.7 crore account holders now armed with Rupay debit cards, their transition to electronic payments has increased as well.  Going forward: Offering other financial services: The Centre must nudge the banks to offer much-needed loan products to the Jan Dhan account holders. This is critical to wean them away from the grip of usurious money lenders who extract a heavy price on their finances when emergencies strike. Generating awareness: The Centre and the RBI need to make sure that these first-time adopters are treated well at bank branches, know the grievance redressal mechanisms and are aware of, and protected from, the consequences of fraud or misuse of their accounts. Changing strategy: The sharp spike in the JDY account balances during the note ban months was a red flag. Rather than persisting with account opening or deposit targets for banks on JDY, regulators must now ratchet up their education efforts to make sure that JDY holders are aware of their rights and don’t fall prey to benami holders or money-launderers seeking to exploit their banking access. Conclusion: The PMJDY is delivering on inclusion, but awareness among account holders must rise. Apart from awareness the banks need to avail most of Connecting the dots: PMJDY has come a long way in promoting financial inclusion. Critically analyse. Note: No must read (because of election results and politics related news editorials)

RSTV Video

RSTV IAS UPSC – National Green Aviation Policy

National Green Aviation Policy Archives TOPIC: General Studies 3: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports and Railways etc. Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment. In News: The civil aviation ministry is creating a simplified regulatory regime to speed up clearances for airport development and other aviation projects while taking due care of environment sustainability. What do we mean by Green Aviation? Reductions in noise, greenhouse gas emissions and fuel usage – It involves activities to Improve aircraft fuel efficiency Develop the next generation of efficient air traffic control Develop new technologies and systems engineering processes to reach the future of carbon-neutral air transportation Objectives of Aviation Policy To support sustainable and inclusive growth of the Indian civil aviation sector and align it with ICAO’s Vision and Mission. To make Indian aviation one of the most resource efficient sectors without compromising environment and ecological protection while considering the need of water, energy & fuel conservation by implementing environment friendly measures etc. To enable and promote development and maximum usage of solar and other renewable energy in the civil aviation ecosystem of India. To ensure implementation of Environmental Management System (EMS) approach across aviation units to provide a foundation for enhancing the integration of environmental sustainability and regulatory requirements into the planning, decision-making, approvals and operations of Airports, Airlines, Air Navigation Services, Ground Support System etc. Enhance the aviation systems from conventional to advanced environment friendly, resource efficient infrastructure/system with reliable and sustainable alternatives such as green building concept, etc. To reduce GHG and other gaseous emissions in line with national and global frameworks by considering use of fuel efficient fleets, advanced air navigation system with flexible use of airspace, integrated A-CDMs, emission free ground support equipment, use renewable energy and other sustainable fuels like bio fuels etc. Enhance competency on environmental sustainability for all aviation professionals with dedicated functions, roles and responsibilities in each individual aviation units such as Airports, Airlines, Air Navigation Services, Ground Support System etc. Create a favorable regulatory regime for clearances of aviation projects to meet the anticipated growth of Indian Civil Aviation, with due care to environment sustainability. What is happening in India? India is one of the fastest growing domestic aviation markets and is projected to become the world's third largest air passenger market in 10 years. As part of the proposed green aviation policy, the DGCA would assess and understand emissions from all aviation related sources and their contribution to the local air quality. The ministry is committed to inclusive and sustainable growth of the civil aviation sector in the country while mitigating its negative impacts on environment at the same time – Aviation regulator DGCA would work with other government agencies for making bio-jet fuels commercially viable. Besides, the watchdog would assess and understand emissions from all aviation related sources, their contribution to the local air quality and their effect on compliance with local air quality regulations. There would be a special provision and timelines that would be worked out in collaboration with central and state government bodies, environment ministry, pollution control boards and the DGCA to speed up the developmental activities with due care environment sustainability. Airports would adopt local air quality monitoring system and programs to monitoring the air quality around airport. The stakeholders would work closely with government agencies, local bodies for effective waste management around the airport to ensure reduced bird hazards and safe airport operation. A centre of excellence for green aviation has also been proposed, that would focus on identifying environment friendly solutions, research, competency and skill developments and aviation programmes, among others. Connecting the Dots: Examine the Green Civil Aviation Policy of India? Will it able to achieve the objective set out by the Ministry?

RSTV Video

RSTV IAS UPSC – Arms Trade Treaty

Arms Trade Treaty Archives TOPIC: General studies 2 Policies of developed and developing countries and their impact on India’s interests. Bilateral and multilateral agreements and their impact on India’s interests. In News: President Donald Trump pulled the US back from an international agreement on the arms trade (signed in 2013 by then-President Barack Obama), telling the National Rifle Association the treaty is “badly misguided.” Trump made the announcement at the NRA’s annual convention, where he vowed to fight for gun rights and implored members of the nation’s largest pro-gun group — struggling to maintain its influence — to rally behind his re-election bid. He would be revoking the United States’ status as a signatory of the U.N. Arms Trade Treaty, which regulates the multibillion-dollar global arms trade in conventional weapons, from small arms to battle tanks, combat aircraft and warships. Dropping out of the treaty is part of a broader Trump administration overhaul of arms export policies to bolster a domestic industry that already dominates global weapons trade. Can the numbers speak? According to Amnesty International, more than 500 people die every day from gun violence, 44 percent of all killings globally involve gun violence, and there were over 1 million firearm-related deaths globally between 2012 and 2016. In contrast, military expenditure is on the rise. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the U.S. continues to be the top global exporter of arms and the 13th global importer (with Saudi Arabia holding the first position), with a total military expenditure in 2018 of $6.5 billion. This is more than 120 times the U.N. budget for the period 2018-2019. Origin The roots of what is known today as the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) can be traced back to the late 1980s, when civil society actors and Nobel Peace Prize Laureates voiced their concerns about the unregulated nature of the global arms trade and its impact on human security. The ATT is part of a larger global effort begun in 1997 by Costa Rican President and 1987 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Óscar Arias. In that year, Arias led a group of Nobel Peace Prize laureates in a meeting in New York to offer the world a code of conduct for the trade in arms. In 2001, the process continued with the adoption of a non-legally binding program of action at the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms. This program was formally called the "Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects" (PoA). Later put forward in 2003 by a group of Nobel Peace Laureates, the ATT was first addressed in the UN in December 2006 when the General Assembly adopted resolution 61/89 "Towards an Arms Trade Treaty: establishing common international standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional arms". The lack of an international global framework for the trade in arms was profoundly worrisome given the immense volume of the global trade in conventional arms and its potential effect in the disruption of peace and sustainable development. The Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) is a multilateral treaty that regulates the international trade in conventional weapons. Its objectives include Establish the highest possible common international standards for regulating or improving the regulation of the international trade in conventional arms; Prevent and eradicate the illicit trade in conventional arms and prevent their diversion; For the purpose of: Contributing to international and regional peace, security and stability; Reducing human suffering; Promoting cooperation, transparency and responsible action by States Parties in the international trade in conventional arms, thereby building confidence among States Parties.” Other relevant aspects of the treaty to be highlighted are: its scope includes small arms and light weapons; State Parties have the obligation to establish and maintain a national control system to regulate the export of ammunition/munitions the treaty establishes a system to conduct an assessment, including the consideration of possible mitigation measures, before authorizing an export of weapons it includes measures to prevent the diversion of arms It includes a yearly reporting mechanism of authorized or actual exports and imports of conventional arms. In a nutshell, the ATT sets out global standards to conduct legal and rightful activities in a transparent manner. This, in turn, helps to identify where and how arms are diverted into the illicit market and raises the bar regarding accountability for irresponsible transfers of arms. It entered into force on 24 December 2014. 101 states have ratified the treaty; 34 states have signed but not ratified it. Gun activists had denounced the treaty when it was under negotiation as an infringement of civilian firearm ownership, despite the well-enshrined legal principle that says no treaty can override the Constitution or U.S. laws. The treaty is aimed at cracking down on illicit trading in small arms, thereby curbing violence in some of the most troubled corners of the world. It was the first legally binding treaty to regulate the international trade in conventional arms and was overwhelmingly approved by the 193-member U.N. General Assembly in April 2013. India’s stand on ATT India abstained from voting on this UN treaty because of the following reasons: Treaty speaks about crime and genocide but does not boldly underline the diversion of weapons to terrorist and non-state actors. In past, USA and its allies have armed of rebels in Nicaragua, Syria, Libya, even, Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. Treaty is biased: puts higher responsibility on importer country than exporter. Exporting nation can stop arms-ammunition supply, citing reason of poor compliance with the treaty. This is open to misuse- during diplomatic rifts such as Devyani case. IAEA and OPCW have mechanism to check compliance. But such strong verification mechanism is absent in ATT. Does not explicitly cover drones and grenades Further, India cannot accept that the Treaty be used as an instrument in the hands of exporting states to take unilateral force majeure measures against importing states parties without consequences. India always favoured disarmament and regulations over international trade of weapons. But ATT is neither inclusive nor balanced in nature. Therefore, India has abstained. (Above section ‘India’s stand on ATT’ taken from mrunal.org to showcase how to write this answer in 150-200 words) Connecting the Dots: Discuss the salient features of Arms Trade treaty and India’s stand on it (200 words)

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 23rd May 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 23rd May 2019 Archives (MAINS FOCUS) NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2 and 3 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices Inclusive growth and issues arising from it. Shanta Kumar Committee Report: Analysis Background: A High-Level Committee (HLC) was appointed and chaired by former food minister Shanta Kumar, on restructuring of the FCI in August 2014. The HLC, in its report submitted its recommendations in January 2015. On re-structuring of FCI: The FCI hand over all procurement operations of wheat, paddy and rice to states (Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Punjab) that have gained sufficient experience in this regard and have created reasonable infrastructure for procurement. The FCI should accept only the surplus grain (after deducting the needs of the states under the National Food Security Act—NFSA) from these state governments (not millers) to be moved to deficit states. The corporation FCI should move on to help those states where farmers suffer from distress sales at prices much below Minimum Support Price (MSP), and which are dominated by small holdings, like eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, etc. Implementation: After more than four years, restructuring of the FCI remains a dream, and the corporation continues to depend on the same set of states for procurement of grains and procurement operations have not been revamped in eastern states. On PDS reform: The government should relook at the coverage (67% of the population) under the NFSA as it’s on the ‘higher’ side. Computerisation of the PDS process for checking the pilferage of PDS grains. Gradual introduction of cash transfers in the PDS, starting with large cities with more than 1 million population; extending it to grain-surplus states, and then giving an option to deficit states to opt for cash or physical grain distribution. Implementation: According to the official data, all the existing 23 crore ration cards have been digitised and most of the cards have been seeded with Aadhaar numbers and 2.75 crore ration cards have been deleted during 2013-17. Food ministry officials have often stated that deletion of ration cards has ensured better targeting of beneficiaries. The offtake of foodgrains by the states under the PDS after deletion (bogus) and digitisation of ration cards has not declined in the last five years. Rising food subsidy dues & loans: The total outstanding dues to the FCI stand at `1.85 lakh crore as on March 31, 2019, because of the mismatch between budget allocated to the corporation and the actual expenses incurred. The actual expenditure towards food subsidy has been rising because of two factors—the annual rise in MSP for paddy and wheat given to farmers for procurement, and ‘open ended’ purchase operations leading to excess grains stocks held by the FCI. On cash transfer to PDS beneficiaries, the progress has been minimal. Only Chandigarh, Puducherry and parts of the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli have opted for cash transfer in the PDS.  Rising food subsidy bill: Reluctance to increase the price of highly subsidised foodgrains supplied under the NFSA, 2013. Under the Act, the price of Rs 3/2/1 for rice, wheat and coarse grains, was capped for three years, which ended in 2016. Each rupee (per kg) increase issue price of grains could result in savings of food subsidy of over Rs 5,000 crore annually. FCI’s economic cost (procurement, distribution and storage of holding foodgrains) has been rising sharply, contributing to rising food subsidy expenses. Conclusion: The NFSA—which has the objective of providing for food and nutritional security by ensuring access to adequate quantity of quality food at affordable prices to the people to live a life with dignity—is gradually turning out to be huge financial burden on the central government. The mounting burden of the food subsidy budget is compounded by huge surplus grains, and this has put enormous pressure on the central government’s finances. Steps to tackle the issues should be taken on an immediate basis. Connecting the dots: The Shanta Kumar Committee submitted its report in 2014. Analyse how far the recommendations given by the committee were implemented. INTERNATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2 India and the World International Relations Policies of developed and developing countries and their impact on India’s interests Revitalizing IBSA Introduction: Foreign minister of India and South Africa and Brazil recently met in Kochi, India. The central goal was to develop a blueprint to rejuvenate IBSA, widely viewed as a unique voice for the Global South. Rise, fall and rise: Origin: The idea of creating a grouping composed of major democracies of three continents, Asia, Africa and South America, emerged from the disarray at the end of the 20th century, and the perceived need for developing countries to forge decisive leadership. IBSA was launched through the Brasilia Declaration in 2003. Its summits, between 2006 and 2011, gave it a special global profile. BRICS overshadowing IBSA: 2011 onwards, BRICS, the larger group comprising IBSA countries, China and Russia, started to overshadow IBSA. A new momentum: A series of events marking its 15th anniversary, held during 2018-19, have imparted new momentum to the endeavour to revitalise IBSA.  Recent successes: The three Foreign Ministers have been meeting regularly to provide a coordinated leadership to the grouping. While the India, Brazil and South Africa Facility for Poverty and Hunger Alleviation (IBSA Fund) is small in monetary terms, it has succeeded in implementing 31 development projects in diverse countries: Burundi, Guinea-Bissau, State of Palestine, Cambodia and Vietnam, among others. India has been running an innovative IBSA Visiting Fellows Programme through the Delhi-based think tank, RIS or Research and Information System for Developing Countries. A strong case exists for expanding its reach. Both South Africa and Brazil should initiate their own editions of this programme, as an investment in building intellectual capital. Importance of IBSA: IBSA is the true inheritor of solidarity among developing countries, which was nurtured from the Bandung Conference (1955) through UNCTAD and G-77 to the BAPA+40 Declaration (2018). It is the champion of South-South Cooperation, and the advocate of a coordinated response by developing economies to secure the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The glue that binds IBSA countries together is their faith in democracy, diversity, plurality, inclusivity, human rights and rule of law. Notably IBSA remains determined to “step up advocacy for reforms of global governance institutions in multilateral fora”. In particular, it is strongly committed to the expansion of the UN Security Council. Kochi Session: The IBSA Academic Forum, comprising independent experts, held its sixth session in Kochi after a hiatus of over seven years. This forum hosted a comprehensive exchange of views on the continuing relevance of IBSA; the need for a strategy to secure SDGs and cement South-South Cooperation; expanding trade cooperation; and the shared goal of enhancing academic collaboration on issues relating directly to the needs of democratic societies. Conclusion: The idea of IBSA remains valid. The special responsibilities it bears cannot be discharged by BRICS. In fact, strengthening IBSA could increase the effectiveness of BRICS and encourage it to follow a more balanced approach on key issues of interest to India, Brazil and South Africa. The current endeavors to infuse greater dynamism in IBSA are well-timed. Support by the leaders will be crucial. MUST READ Disclosing dissent The Hindu Why China changed its stand on Masood Azhar? The Hindu When the big guys fight Indian Express Short on science Indian Express Start with schools to address the prejudices in the society Livemint

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

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

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 22nd May 2019 Archives (MAINS FOCUS) 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.  Geography of industrial growth in a federal polity Introduction: Just six states—Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, undivided Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Bengal—account for close to two-thirds of all factories in the organized sector (64.3%) and a similar share of workers in the sector (62.2%). These states also account for over 63% of establishments and 59% of workers in the informal sector. Industrial establishments and workers are thus highly concentrated in these six states that constitute the core of industrial India. What accounts for such concentration? Differences in transport costs, economies of scale, factor mobility and market size, collectively described as “the economies of agglomeration", lead to concentrated patterns of industrial location. India is not an exception in this. Industrial agglomeration is the global norm. The pattern of industrial growth across Indian states: Industries were scattered across several states at the time of Independence, the cities of Kolkata and Mumbai alone accounted for 50% of total manufacturing output.  By 1961, manufacturing industry had spread to 89 industrial districts located mostly in Bengal, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and undivided Andhra. At the turn of the century, the same six were still the leading industrialized states, as noted earlier. However, Bengal had by now slipped to the fifth rank in share of organized sector factories and employment. Meanwhile, three new states had appeared as new industrial states with rising shares of factories and employment both in the organized and unorganized sectors—Karnataka, Haryana and Punjab.  How government policy affects industrial growth? As the capital of the British empire in India, Kolkata and its hinterland emerged as a pre-eminent industrial hub in the late 19th and early 20th century. The shift of the capital to Delhi and political independence triggered Bengal’s gradual decline. The freight equalization policy of the new national government deprived the entire eastern region of its locational comparative advantage in mineral-based industries. Then the collapse of public investment, especially in railways, killed the state’s engineering industry. In the 1960s turbulence arising from militant political movements led to a massive flight of capital, from which the state is yet to recover. Similar stories of industrial decline could be recounted for Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. At the same time, aggressive industrial development programmes pursued by state governments led to further industrial agglomeration in the old industrial states of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and undivided Andhra alongside the emergence of new industrial states such as Karnataka, Punjab and Haryana. Agglomeration and deglomeration: With increasing concentration of industries in a hub, competition drives up the cost of labour and, especially, the price of land. Crowding, traffic snarls and demand for utilities drive up congestion costs in the core of the conurbation. Beyond a point, the negative “backwash effects" outstrip the positive “spread" effects and deglomeration sets in. Industrial units progressively relocate to the periphery and eventually move to a new location altogether.  Way ahead: The Union government will play a critical role. Its spatial allocation of investment in infrastructure and its guidance to public sector financial institutions that dominate the allocation of capital among the states will be important drivers. At the same time it needs to be ensured that the Union government maintains neutrality, without tilting the playing field in favour of one state or another. One way of preserving Union government neutrality is to empower the Inter-State Council as a federal institution to oversee and ensure that financial resources flow to states transparently in accordance with reasonable criteria. The states can collectively push for its re-invention as a powerful federal body, like the GST Council. Conclusion: The political alignments that emerge after recent general elections will be an important determinant of the future geography of India’s industrial growth. Connecting the dots: Industrial establishments and workers are highly concentrated in just a few states in India. The phenomenon of the negative “backwash effects" outstripping the positive “spread" effects hasn’t worked. Comment. 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 US-China tariff war: An opportunity for India Background: A year into the US-China tariff war, its implications for India are still unfolding. India is losing its surplus with the US. It is gaining exports, and hence, narrowing its deficit with China. India can take the space vacated by the warring partners.  India hasn’t escaped unhurt: The simmering tensions between the world’s two largest economies has wrought a knock-on effect, taking down global growth, disrupting trading arrangements and production systems and, above all, injecting uncertainty into the already fragile global environment and weakening investor sentiment. India’s exports slowed to 5.5 per cent in the second half of fiscal 2019, compared with 12.7 per cent in the first half. Overall growth for the fiscal printed at 8.6 per cent on-year, lower than 10 per cent in the previous year. India’s trade surplus with the US had increased significantly since fiscal 2012. However, this surplus started to shrink in fiscal 2019, as export growth slowed to 9.5 per cent from 13.4 per cent in fiscal 2018, while import growth rose sharply to 32.6 per cent from 19.3 per cent. Protectionist measures by the US were beginning to tell on India’s exports. Key items hit by US tariffs last year were iron, steel, and aluminum. Missed opportunity: The tariff actions by US and China have been one-on-one, making imports from each other expensive. It has resulted into improved relative competitiveness of other economies exporting the same products. If this trade war continues over a longer horizon, it could even result in shift of production bases and restructuring of global supply chains. Chinese firms are already moving production to their plants in other countries. India also figures in the list of such probables. But such opportunities for growing exports have come and passed earlier too. Even before the trade war, low-end manufacturing (readymade garments, leather garments and footwear) had started moving out from China, as labour costs rose and it moved to more sophisticated manufacturing. However, India fell behind countries like Vietnam and Bangladesh in capturing export share in these sectors because of higher costs and lower incentives. What hinders India from becoming an export powerhouse? India lags in competitiveness. At 58, India still ranks below China (28) in World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Rankings for 2018. In World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index 2018, it ranks 44, below China (26) and Vietnam (39). Land and labour reforms are still pending, hindering largescale investments in export sectors. India remains a tightly regulated market. Under the World Bank’s Doing Business rankings, India ranks 77, compared with China at 46 and Vietnam at 69. India’s slow progress in drafting trade agreements impacts its ability to participate in global value chains, affecting export growth. Conclusion: India must proactively address above mentioned concerns. Reaping every opportunity that presents itself has become more crucial now, given that the global environment is in for even more challenging times. Connecting the dots: The ongoing US- China tariff war presents an opportunity for India to become an export house. Elucidate. Also mention the challenges involved. MUST READ The problem with judicial legislation The Hindu Jokowi’s balancing act The Hindu The IBSA task list The Hindu Being responsive The Hindu A one-sided justice Indian Express The EVM ball is in the election panel’s court Livemint

AIR

All India Radio (AIR) IAS UPSC - Significance of Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit

Significance of Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit ARCHIVES Search 29th April, 2019 Sptlight here: http://www.newsonair.com/Main_Audio_Bulletins_Search.aspx TOPIC: General Studies 2: India and its neighbourhood relations, International relations. Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests. Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora. Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate. Bishkek Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit (SCO) Date: From June 13-14 Focus: Radicalism and terrorism; this forum will also give India a chance to raise issues relating to terrorism, the stability of Afghanistan, and rising radicalism in Central Asian countries. Bishkek is the capital of Kyrgyzstan. Shanghai Cooperation Organization The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has passed a consistent path of formation and in a relatively short historical period has demonstrated an effective model of multilateral cooperation based on mutual trust, equality, harmonious coexistence of different cultures and civilizations. With the entry of India and Pakistan, the SCO has become the largest regional structure in the world, covering 60 percent of Eurasia's territory with a population of over 3.2 billion people, and the SCO member states produce almost a quarter of global GDP. Members of the SCO: Established in Shanghai in 2001 with China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan as founding members. China, Russia, India, and Pakistan and the Central Asian countries Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan whose main focus is to join hands together to fight terrorism, separatism, and extremism. Both India and Pakistan became full members of the SCO in 2017. The total size of the national economies of the SCO members is more than 20 percent of world GDP. The International Monetary Fund predicts that by 2020 it will already be 35 percent. With such an impetus, the economies of the SCO member countries may increase to 38-40 percent by 2025. This pace is impressive, given today's mixed trends in the global economy. Why does it stand out? It can be considered as the first in the history of building an equal partnership of unbalanced, multi-scale states with different economic and political potential, cultural and civilizational features via Voluntary membership Equality of participants A consensus model of decision-making The SCO’s driving philosophy — emphasises harmony, working by consensus, respect for other cultures, non-interference in the internal affairs of others, and non-alignment. A Bearing Structure for Future World Order The current global trends, the heightening of geopolitical tensions, the complex nature of threats and challenges, in fact, require collective efforts to create a more fair and polycentric model of the global structure. And SCO is becoming a bearing structure for future world order. Fight against 'three evils': Against terrorism, separatism, and extremism First of all, practical work is being conducted on the basis of the SCO Regional Antiterrorist Structure (RATS), which demonstrates significant results in countering terrorism, separatism and extremism. In order to improve practical skills, joint anti-terrorism exercises are conducted through law enforcement agencies and the armed forces. A significant place in the activities of the SCO is the problem of information security. Over the past years, in the framework of countering the use of the Internet for terrorism and extremism purposes, the RATS SCO has limited access to 80,000 Internet resources containing 500,000 materials and stopped the activities of 360 participants in Internet communities related to terrorism and religious extremism. Contribute to global anti-drug efforts: Over the past five years, the competent authorities of the SCO member states have seized about 40 percent of the total amount of heroin and marijuana confiscated throughout Eurasia Restore peace in Afghanistan: Among the topical issues on the international agenda of the SCO is to restore peace and stability in Afghanistan. In 2018, meetings of the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group were held in Moscow and Beijing, which made an important contribution to common efforts at the inter-regional and international levels. In addition to facilitating the negotiation process, member states provide substantial material and technical assistance to Afghanistan, especially with regard to infrastructure and railway construction. Besides, hundreds of Afghan students go to universities in member states. Explore the economic potential: As the key goals and objectives of the SCO economic agenda, the SCO Charter provides for the promotion of comprehensive and balanced economic growth, social and cultural development in the region. In recent years, transport, energy, e-commerce, information and communication technologies, tourism, agriculture, banking and finance are considered as priority areas for the organization, with the prospect of expanding the use of national currencies in trade and investment activities. Taking into account the unfavorable situation in the world market and growing protectionism on a global scale, it becomes clear how necessary it is to work together in the framework of the SCO. The Way Forward for India The summit provides an opportunity for the Indian and Pakistani leaders to meet informally on the sidelines of a multilateral event. The two sides are obliged to cooperate on issues of mutual interest without bringing in their bilateral disputes. Signing off on joint counter-terrorism exercises will be a new form of engagement between the two militaries. When you have complicated ties with neighbours, it makes sense to strengthen ties with your neighbours’ neighbours. The SCO’s relevance for India lies in geography, economics and geopolitics. Its members occupy a huge landmass adjacent to India’s extended neighbourhood, where India has important economic and security interests. Its Central Asian countries border Afghanistan, Pakistan and China. A narrow sliver of land separates southern Tajikistan from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. India has to carve out a political and economic space for itself in Central Asia, alongside Russia’s role as net security provider and China’s dominating economic presence. The Central Asian countries would welcome India breaking into this Russia-China duopoly. Note: SCO’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS): RATS is a permanent organ of the SCO which serves to promote cooperation of member states against terrorism, separatism, and extremism and is headquartered in Tashkent. Location and neighbouring countries: SECURE: PM Modi’s mantra that is applicable to SCO ‘S’ for security of citizens, ‘E’ for economic development, ‘C’ for connectivity in the region, ‘U’ for unity, ‘R’ for respect of sovereignty and integrity, and ‘E’ for environmental protection Connecting the Dots: The SCO summit gives India an opportunity to showcase the kind of power it wants to be. Do you agree? Explain.

60 Days Plan 2019 - Daily Prelims Test

SOLUTION/ANSWER KEY: ALL INDIA OPEN MOCK 2: PRELIMS 2019 – General Studies (Paper 1) and CSAT (Paper 2)

Hello All, Here is the detailed solution of ALL INDIA OPEN MOCK 2: PRELIMS 2019. Kindly go through it and calculate your performance. SOLUTION MOCK 2- GENERAL STUDIES (PAPER 1) SOLUTION - CSAT (PAPER 2)   Note: Corrections and Clarifications Q.76) Statement (d) should be read as - "Fort William College in Calcutta was set up by him to induct new entrants into civil services." Please replace above statement instead of earlier one which read "Fort William College in Madras"

AIR

All India Radio (AIR) IAS UPSC - Rise in exports - A Boost to Trade Scenario

Rise in exports - A Boost to Trade Scenario ARCHIVES Search 16th April, 2019 Public Speak here: http://www.newsonair.com/Main_Audio_Bulletins_Search.aspx TOPIC: General Studies 2 & 3: Indian Economy Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests Effects of liberalization on the economy Changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth In News: A marginal 2.44% increase in exports as well as lower imports of gold and petroleum products in February, significantly narrowed the country’s trade deficit to $9.6 billion, according to data released by the Commerce Ministry on Friday. March exports are at least $5 billion higher than the general trend of $26-27 billion monthly exports in the other months, with the traditional sectors of pharma, electronics, petroleum and chemicals driving the increase. Highlights: India’s exports hit a new high of $331 billion in the last financial year This was despite the country witnessing single-digit growth The growth in March was the fastest increase in five months As per the data, the drop in imports was mainly on account of sharp decline in inward shipments of gold and petroleum products. Refer: https://www.financialexpress.com/opinion/explained-indias-exports-and-challenges-ahead/1524385/ The Way Forward: Global growth, projected by the IMF, is expected to shrink to 3.3 per cent in 2019, against 4 per cent in 2017 and 3.6 per cent in 2018. Faced with headwinds from Brexit, macroeconomic stress in Argentina, Turkey and Italy, and the US-China wrangle, monetary authorities in the EU, China, US and Japan have adopted an accommodative stance. While this could revive the global economy, the challenge for India is to secure its GDP growth amidst such readjustments. Reforms to ease logistical constraints to exports should continue, rather than merely pursuing a sort of ‘race to the bottom’. India must move up from low-productivity sectors by improving the quality of its human capital. There is a need to further focus on new products like food commodity so that the growth is more resilient and sustainable. Also, it will cushion our exports from the global volatility and shocks in the long run. Must Read: Need to Remove Trade Barriers to Accelerate Country’s Economy Connecting the Dots: In an era where connectivity between men has increased, why do you think countries are opting for more protectionist policies rather than being more global? What impact can it have on India?

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