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Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 17th May 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 17th May 2019 Archives (PRELIMS+MAINS FOCUS) New points-based green card system Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II - Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests, Indian diaspora. In news: U.S. President announces new points-based green card system Education, language skills to be rewarded in new proposal Do you know? The Green Card is an identification card indicating the holder’s status to live and work in the USA permanently. The easiest way to get a Green Card is by participating in the Green Card Lottery. About Green card: Green Card is the unofficial nickname for the permit allowing immigrants to permanently live and work in the United States of America. The official name of the US Green Card is “Lawful Permanent Resident Card”. Green Card holders are known as “Permanent Residents”. Those who possess a Green Card are allowed to emigrate to the USA and stay there for as long as they like. Those with a Green Card do not need to apply for an ESTA (travel authorization) or any another type of visa to enter the USA. US Green Card holders are not automatically American citizens. Green Card holders have the possibility to become American citizens after living in the USA for five years. Impact of new policy Proposal includes significant changes to the way green cards are allocated, by dramatically reducing the number of family-based green cards. It moves towards a points-based (“merit-based”) system that will reward, among other factors, education, skills and English language proficiency. The plan sought to boost border security and tighten asylum procedures. The new plan will dramatically increase the number of green cards that are given through the skills route versus the family-based route. Currently about 12% of those receiving green cards entered the U.S. based on skill-based visas (such as the H1B), while some 66% are family-based green cards. Wildlife Sanctuary in news: Balukhand-Konark Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III – Bio-diversity and Environment; Protected Areas  In news: Nearly 55 lakh trees in Balukhand-Konark sanctuary were damaged by Cyclone Fani. The effective area of the sanctuary has shrunk further due to human encroachments and ever growing anthropogenic pressures. Several institutions (educational) and small industries having come up all around this sanctuary more biotic pressure is being put on the sanctuary precincts. On an average more than 2000 people daily go inside the sanctuary for sustaining their livelihood, which results in habitat loss and degradation for the fauna residing. The animals stray into the fields of villagers in search of food by crossing the sanctuary limits which results in Man-animal conflict and road kills. The greatest threat to fauna residing in that place is the national highway connecting Puri and Konark which passes through the sanctuary. Do you know? Balukhand-Konark sanctuary The area under consideration is the marine-land mass interface belt in the Konark-Puri transition area in Odisha. The sanctuary was established on the sandy tract covered by plantation of casuarina and cashew trees, along the coast between Puri and Konark. Spotted-deer were found abound in the area but the star attraction is the rare Black-buck. Two rivers, namely the Nuanai and the Kushabhadra, which are subject to tidal influences, pass through the sanctuary and the river mouths are part of the sanctuary area. This sanctuary is stretched along the coast of Puri –Konark and is well known for spotted- deer and other wildlife. The other species found here are Black-Buck, Hare, Olive Ridley, Jackal, hyenas, Jungle cat, Monitor lizards, etc Animal in news: Slender Loris Scorching heat forces animals out Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III – Bio-diversity and Environment; Impact of climate change; Animal conservation In news: Scorching heat forces animals out of Seshachalam biosphere reserve. (Andhra Pradesh) With water and food depleting, even shy and critically endangered species are foraying into human habitations. Do you know? The summer heat touching 45 degree Celsius, wild animals in the Seshachalam biosphere spread over Chittoor and Kadapa districts are having a torrid time. The phenomenon, which is preceded by deficit rainfall in the region, is forcing the animals to enter forest fringe villages to quench their thirst. The intensity of heat this year is said to be the highest in the biosphere. Even shy and critically endangered species such as the pangolin and the slender loris (devanga pilli) are venturing out of their habitats. About Slender Loris Commonly found in the tropical scrub and deciduous forests as well as the dense hedgerow plantations bordering farmlands of Southern India and Sri Lanka. The Slender Loris is a small, nocturnal primate. It prefers to inhabit thick, thorny bushes and bamboo clumps where it can evade predators and also find insects, which is the main diet. IUCN status: Endangered They are listed under the Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act of India, 1972, according them the highest level of legal protection. WWF-India is working to protect the habitats of the Slender Loris through its wider conservation work in the Western Ghats - Nilgiris Landscape. COMCASA Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II: International Relations; India-US ties In news: The foundational agreement, Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA), which India signed last year, would enable exchange of information on threats coming from sea. Pact will aid information exchange to fight terrorism Do you know? India and the U.S. on September 6 signed the foundational or enabling agreement COMCASA on the side-lines of the inaugural 2+2 dialogue. COMCASA stands for Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement and is one of the four foundational agreements that the U.S. signs with allies and close partners to facilitate interoperability between militaries and sale of high end technology. India had signed the General Security Of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) in 2002 and the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) in 2016. The last one remaining is the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-spatial Cooperation (BECA). About COMCASA COMCASA is an India-specific version of the Communication and Information on Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA). COMCASA allows India to procure transfer specialised equipment for encrypted communications for US origin military platforms like the C-17, C-130 and P-8Is. It will enable greater communications interoperability between the militaries of India and the US. Data acquired through such systems cannot be disclosed or transferred to any person or entity without India’s consent. Miscellaneous: International Maritime Defence Exhibition (IMDEX) Three-day Asia-Pacific naval and maritime event, International Maritime Defence Exhibition (IMDEX) happened in Singapore. Two warships, INS Kolkata and INS Shakti, are participating in IMDEX as also several Indian engineering and ship-building firms, including the Larsen & Toubro and the BrahMos aerospace corporation. After IMDEX, the Indian ships along with a Navy P-8I long range maritime surveillance aircraft will participate in the 26th edition of the Singapore India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) scheduled from May 16 to 22. SIMBEX is the longest uninterrupted naval exercise that India has with any other country. (MAINS FOCUS) INTERNATIONAL/ENERGY TOPIC: General studies 2 and 3  India and the World International Relations Policies of developed and developing countries and their impact on India’s interests Indian Economy and related issues India’s rising stature in global trade: Conflict with US Introduction: US Commerce Secretary recently visited India to raise the issue of supposedly high barriers to trade erected by India.  This visit was preceded by a series of measures announced by the US against India, including - India was put on the Priority Watch List in its annual Special 301 Report. Termination of Iran’s oil sanction waivers available to India along with other countries. Highlighting of data localisation requirements in India as a key barrier to digital trade in the USTR National Trade Estimate report. Announcement to terminate India’s designation as a beneficiary developing country under the Generalized System of Preferences. Increase in H1B visa fee, which will affect Indian IT services exports to the US. America’s interests: The American tactic of announcing threatening measures is to hit economically hard and arm-twist India so as to bring it to the negotiating table, and compel India to accept the American demands of: Increased market access through reduced tariffs on dairy products, wheat and Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Removing the price caps fixed by the Indian government on medical devices of interest to US producers. Change in India’s domestic IP laws for protecting windfall monopoly profits of the US IP holders, particularly in the pharmaceutical sector. No restrictions on cross-border data flows. Roll-back measures pertaining to data localisation in financial services taken by RBI.  India is not a ‘tariff king’: The US cherry-picked data to portray India as a highly protected country and described it as ‘tariff king’. But it is contrary to the fact. The highest tariff in India is 150% on alcoholic beverages, whereas in the US the highest tariff is 350% on tobacco products. India’s highest tariff is much lower than applied by many other countries such as South Korea, Japan, Australia, to name a few. Even from the average tariff perspective, India’s average applied tariff is 13.4%, much below its average bound tariff at the WTO. Issues at WTO: The US is also apparently unhappy with India’s submission in the World Trade Organisation (WTO), cosponsored with the European Union and other WTO members on reforming the dispute settlement mechanism of the WTO. The suggested reforms in India’s cosponsored paper widely differ from the position taken by the US on the functioning of the DSB and the reforms proposed by the US. The US has been blocking new appointments to the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB), arguing over its role and leaving it with the bare minimum needed to function. Issue: The US has earlier stated that India and some other developing countries had made great development strides over the years and hence should not be allowed to take benefits of the special and differential (S&D) provisions of the WTO. While there is no denial that India and other developing countries have made progress over the years, the development divide is still very much present between developed and developing countries, and hence the need for continuance of S&D provisions. Way ahead: The US is well aware that if there is any country after China that can challenge the hegemony of the US in the future, it is India. Therefore, the US is using these threatening and other tactics to suppress the rising stature of India in the global trading system, and to curtail the potential of the country to grow economically. India should stand firm on most of the above issues in its dealings with the US bilaterally as well as at the WTO. The government response and policy formulation should be driven by domestic requirements and not by any dictate from the US. At the same time, track II economic diplomacy through chambers of commerce and industry lobby groups could be encouraged to make the US aware of the losses that will incur to both sides, if such posturing by the US against India continues. Connecting the dots: The US has been suppressing India’s rising stature in the global trading system. Comment. NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2 Constitution; Separation of powers Judiciary and its functions Judicial Review and Judicial Activism Introduction: Lawmaking is not the job of the judges, but of the legislature. The recent trend in the Supreme Court is resorting more to judicial activism rather than judicial restraint, which is problematic. Judicial review: It can be defined as the doctrine under which Legislative and Executive actions are subject to review by Judiciary. It is generally considered as a basic structure of independent judiciary (Indira Gandhi vs. Rajnarain case). It is the duty of judges to ensure that balance of power is maintained, to protect human rights, Fundamental Rights, and citizens’ rights of life and liberty. Limitations: As courts have wide powers of judicial review, these powers have to be exercised with great caution and control. The limitations of these powers are: It is only permissible to the extent of finding whether the procedure in reaching the decision has been correctly followed but not the decision itself. It is delegated to superior courts only, i.e. Supreme Court and High Courts. Cannot interfere in policy matters and political questions unless absolutely necessary. Directions given by court would be binding only till legislation is enacted, i.e. it is temporary in nature. Can interpret and invalidate a law but it cannot itself make laws. Judicial Activism It can be defined as a philosophy of judicial decision making whereby judges allow their personal views regarding a public policy instead of constitutionalism. A few cases of judicial activism in India are as follows: Golaknath case in which Supreme Court declared that Fundamental Rights enshrined in Part 3 are immutable and cannot be amended. Kesavananda Bharati case - whereby Supreme Court introduced doctrine of basic structure, i.e. Parliament has power to amend without altering basic structure of the Constitution. The Second Judges Case (1993) and Third Judges Case (1998), which created the collegium system of appointment of judges, were not based on any provision in the Constitution. Article 124, which prescribes how Supreme Court judges are to be appointed, does not talk of any collegium system. Recent instances of judicial activism: Ordering time limits to burst firecrackers on Diwali, which is a function of the legislature; Its judgment on linking rivers, for which there is no parliamentary legislation; Decisions in cases relating to freedom of speech and expression, such as Criticisms: It is often said that in the name of activism, judiciary often rewrites with personal opinions. In other words, the court can lay down anything as law according to its own subjective notions. The Theory of Separation of Powers is overthrown (Theory- Judges should not perform legislative or executive functions, and each organ of the state should remain within its own domain, in order to avoid chaos). Conclusion: There is only a thin line of separation between review and activism. While judicial review means to decide if the law/act is consistent with the Constitution, judicial activism is more of a behavioural concept of the judge concerned. The importance of judicial activism lies with position accorded to institution as a place of hope for aggrieved persons (Example- Striking down of Section 377 of the IPC). However, the Supreme Court should limit its usage of judicial activism to only the most exceptional situations, and employ restraint as far as possible. Connecting the dots: What do you understand by the term judicial activism? While judicial review is a welcome thing judicial activism isn’t. Comment. MUST READ Slippery slope The Hindu Is coalition government worse than single-party rule The Hindu Why an industrial policy is crucial The Hindu Is the future of Indian democracy secure? The Hindu Encourage citizen science The Hindu As Iran takes on US Indian Express Let’s redesign our economic model for sustainable growth Livemint

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 16th May 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 16th May 2019 Archives (PRELIMS+MAINS FOCUS) Monsoon and its forecast mechanism Part of: GS Prelims and Mains I - Indian and World Geography - Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World In news: According to India Meteorological Department (IMD) Monsoon to reach Kerala on June 6 Southwest monsoon will be “slightly delayed” over Kerala The normal onset date is June 1 The IMD forecast is in line with the one by private forecaster Skymet Do you know? The IMD has been using a customised model, since 2005, to forecast the monsoon’s onset over Kerala. This model crunches six meteorological parameters: Minimum temperatures over northwest India; Pre-monsoon rainfall peak over the south peninsula; Outgoing long wave radiation (OLR) over the South China Sea; Lower tropospheric zonal wind over the southeast Indian Ocean; Upper tropospheric zonal wind over the east equatorial Indian Ocean; OLR over the southwest Pacific region. It has a built-in error margin of 4 days. About IMD & Skymet: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) is an agency of the Ministry of Earth Sciences of the Government of India. It is the principal agency responsible for meteorological observations, weather forecasting and seismology. IMD is headquartered in Delhi and operates hundreds of observation stations across India and Antarctica. Skymet Weather Services is a private Indian company that provides weather forecast and solutions to Indians. Skymet provides wind and solar forecast for different renewable energy companies by running its own meso and micro scale NWP. Skymet along with few NGOs are closely working to improve the sustenance of farmer in different remote blocks of many states in India. Skymet also caters to different companies for marine weather forecast. State prepares to battle dengue Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II - Social/Health issue; Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.  In news: As monsoon approaches, State prepares to battle dengue Do you know? National Dengue Day, celebrated on May 16 According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the aim is to spread awareness about dengue and to increase preventive measures as well as find out ways to prevent and control the disease across the country. A viral disease caused by the dengue virus, it is transmitted by the Aedes mosquito (Aedes aegypti) bite infected with any one of the four dengue viruses. Facts about dengue Dengue is a viral disease caused by  dengue virus (DENV, 1–4 serotypes) Dengue is transmitted by bite of Aedes aegypti mosquito infected with any one of the four dengue viruses. Aedes aegepti  mosquito bites during daylight hours. Person develops symptoms 3-14 days after the infective bite. Patients who are already infected with the dengue virus can transmit the infection to other via Aedes mosquitoes during 4-5 days of onset of symptoms. Dengue prevention and control depends on effective vector control measures. National Institute of Nutrition Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections; Health and development In news: National Institute of Nutrition stands by its report on no onion, garlic in its meals The National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) said that it stands by its findings certifying mid-day meals without onion and garlic provided by the Akshaya Patra Foundation (APF) in Karnatakaschools as compliant with nutritional norms laid down by the State government. Do you know? The Akshaya Patra Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation headquartered in Bengaluru, India. The organisation strives to eliminate classroom hunger by implementing the Mid-Day Meal Scheme in the government schools and government-aided schools. Alongside, Akshaya Patra also aims at countering malnutrition and supporting the right to education of socio-economically disadvantaged children.. About National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) NIN was founded by Sir Robert McCarrison in the year 1918 as ‘Beri-Beri’ Enquiry Unit in a single room laboratory at the Pasteur Institute, Coonoor, Tamil Nadu. Within a short span of seven years, this unit blossomed into a "Deficiency Disease Enquiry" and later in 1928, emerged as full-fledged "Nutrition Research Laboratories" (NRL) with Dr. McCarrison as its first Director. It was shifted to Hyderabad in 1958. At the time of its golden jubilee in 1969, it was renamed as National Institute of Nutrition (NIN). The NIN is part of Indian Council of Medical Research, Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MAINS FOCUS) ENVIRONMENT/ECOLOGY TOPIC: General studies 3  International organisations and reports on climate change and its mitigation Climate financing The Politics of the Climate crisis and People’s movement Introduction: The atmosphere now has concentrations of over 415 parts per million (ppm) of carbon dioxide, compared to 280 ppm in pre-industrial times. Policies and commitments being made by the governments to tackle climate crises shows that most governments and businesses are not interested in dealing with the crises. In news: A recent paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the U.S.A. shows that global warming during the past half century has contributed to a differential change in income across countries. More recently, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services has reported that, worldwide, the abundance of species has reduced by at least one-fifth, about a million species are under threat of extinction in the next few decades and 85% of wetlands have been lost.  Ignorance of the challenge: The manifestos of the political parties contesting the Indian general election barely took note of questions relating to climate and environment. Instead, it is “business as usual” or “life as usual”. The Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister did not hold an emergency meeting to discuss the loss of economic output because of climate change or the effects from loss of biodiversity in India. Instances of collusion: There have been instances of elite networks taking advantage of the situation to consolidate their control. These networks often involve governments colluding with fossil fuel companies, agro-industrial elites, financial elites and other big businesses that are ignoring climate change and making a fast buck. Fossil fuel companies and politicians have funded misinformation regarding climate directly. The documentary film Merchants of Doubt describes how a handful of scientists have obscured the truth on global warming so that business profits can continue to flow. The fossil fuel industry has also funded politicians, so their words and laws are already bought. The International Monetary Fund estimates in a recent working paper that fossil fuel subsidies were $4.7 trillion in 2015 and estimated to be $5.2 trillion in 2017. Efficient fossil fuel pricing would have reduced global carbon emissions by 28%. The Arctic is melting rapidly and the recent discussions among Arctic countries suggests that even as increasing glacier melt is responsible for opening up shipping in the area, superpowers are angling to access wealth from the oil, gas, uranium and precious metals in the region. It is the poorest and those without access to power who become victims of the fallout from these situations. Example- The draft Indian Forest Act of 2019 enhances the political and police power of the forest department and curtails the rights of millions of forest dwellers. People’s movement: A large-scale movement for “planet emergency”, climate and ecology is being witnessed. Greta Thunberg has been leading this among school-going children. She is a Swedish schoolgirl who, at age 15, began protesting about the need for immediate action to combat climate change outside the Swedish parliament and has since become an outspoken climate activist. She is known for having initiated the school strike for climate movement. Extinction Rebellion is a socio-political movement which uses nonviolent resistance to protest against climate breakdown, biodiversity loss, and the risk of human extinction and ecological collapse. It been organising “die-ins” in many parts of Europe and now in Asia. People’s movements, whether made up of students or adults, cannot be ignored for long and governments will have to pay attention. Conclusion: The planet is well past that point where small fixes can help take us on a long path to zero carbon earth. We are now at a stage where we need major overhaul of our lifestyles and patterns of consumption. The U.K. Parliament became the first recently to declare a climate emergency. It remains to be seen if appropriate actions will follow this declaration. The politics of the climate crisis must undergo a radical transformation. Connecting the dots: Policies and commitments being made by the governments to tackle climate crises shows that they are not interested in dealing with the crises. In such a scenario people’s movement is the ray of hope. Comment. NATIONAL/TECHNOLOGY TOPIC: General studies 2 and 3 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.  Science and Technology - developments and their applications and effects in everyday life; indigenization of technology and developing new technology. Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers. India’s ongoing transformation towards a Digital Economy  Background: India is taking a great digital leap. Having reaped substantial rewards from building up its core digital sectors, such as information technology and business process management, the country is now seizing new digital opportunities in many more sectors, such as agriculture, education, energy, financial services, health care, and logistics. These opportunities could deliver up to $500 billion of economic value by 2025.  Fast Digitisation facilitated by both Public & Private sectors: India’s digitisation process has been the second-fastest among the 17 mature and emerging economies we studied. In the last five years alone, the number of Internet subscribers has almost doubled, reaching 560 million. Both the public and private sectors have played an important role in driving digitization. Many public services are now accessible only when linked to the government’s Aadhaar biometric digital-identification program, in which over 1.2 billion people are now enrolled. Aadhaar has thus helped to propel the development of many other digital services. About 80% of Indians now have digital bank accounts, with the vast majority of government benefits paid directly into Aadhaar-linked accounts. The Goods and Services Tax Network—a government platform for taxing wholesale and retail sales—has likewise created a powerful incentive for businesses to digitize their operations. The private sector has facilitated this process, as competition has helped to reduce data costs by 95% from 2013 to 2017 and to make smartphones affordable. Together with rapid growth in telecom infrastructure, lower costs have also helped to reduce the digital divide: in the last four and a half years, India’s middle- and low-income states have accounted for 45% of the 293 million new Internet subscribers.  Huge potential: Some of the sectors where the most value stands to be created—such as financial services, agriculture, health care, logistics, education, and energy—have not traditionally had technology at their core. Each of these sectors could create between $10 billion and $150 billion of incremental economic value in 2025. In financial services, the surge in digital payments is already enabling flow-based lending, whereby actual patterns of receipts and payments are used to evaluate potential borrowers. State Bank of India has recorded a 50% increase in lending to small and medium-size enterprises since switching to an automated flow-based system. In agriculture, farmers are not only seizing the credit opportunities created by digital financial services; they are also using digital applications to gain specialised knowhow on, say, optimizing fertilizer and pesticide inputs. Moreover, farmers are increasingly selling their produce in online marketplaces, which offer better prices. One such platform, the government’s electronic National Agriculture Market (eNAM), is available in 585 locations in 16 states, and could increase the prices realized by farmers by 15%. In health care, companies like Apollo Hospitals are using telemedicine to improve access in rural areas, where doctors are often few and far between. Telemedicine could eventually account for half of all outpatient consultations in India, giving rural citizens access to more qualified practitioners than they would be able to reach in person. In logistics, online freight-forwarding platforms are offering services like instant pricing and booking, cargo tracking, and centralized documentation. Such platforms are already reducing costs and boosting efficiency in what has historically been a highly inefficient sector.  Way forward: The benefits of digitisation may also extend to workers. This will require retraining, skills upgrading, and redeployment in many cases. By 2025, technology could eliminate between 40-45 million mostly routine jobs in areas such as clerical services and data entry. But it will also help to create some 60-65 million higher-quality jobs. Workers will need to be ready to make the shift. The government should continue to use digital technology to improve public services, while working with the private sector to develop further the country’s digital infrastructure. Making data available to entrepreneurs creating useful apps and services would also help. Enacting legal provisions for data privacy and consent-based frameworks. Improving consumer literacy regarding the risks and benefits of digital technologies.  Conclusion: Between its huge and growing Internet-consumer base and its eagerness to innovate, India seems well positioned to unleash the dynamism of a truly digital economy. In order to tap the full potential of digitisation the government and the business must work in unison. Connecting the dots: India in recent times has undergone the process of digitisation at a very fast pace. This has been facilitated by both public and private sectors. Comment. MUST READ All out at sea The Hindu The need for judicial restraint The Hindu Reforms initiated by United Front Government have not got their due Indian Express Disaster and opportunity Indian Express The Kendrapara model Indian Express Seven likely outcomes of the US-China trade war Livemint

AIR

All India Radio (AIR) IAS UPSC - Global Economic Growth – Projection by IMF

Global Economic Growth – Projection by IMF ARCHIVES Search 10th April, 2019 Spotlight here: http://www.newsonair.com/Main_Audio_Bulletins_Search.aspx TOPIC: General studies 2 & 3 Important International institutions, agencies and forums, their structure, mandate. Indian Growth & Economy Economic Developments In News: A year ago, economic activity was accelerating in almost all regions of the world. One year later, much has changed.  What has changed? The escalation of US–China trade tensions, needed credit tightening in China Macroeconomic stress in Argentina and Turkey Disruptions to the auto sector in Germany Financial tightening alongside the normalization of monetary policy in the larger advanced economies The above have all contributed to a significantly weakened global expansion, especially in the second half of 2018. The Forecast The International Monetary Fund cut its outlook for global growth to the lowest since the financial crisis amid a bleaker outlook in most major advanced economies and signs that higher tariffs are weighing on trade. The world economy will be less vibrant this year than had been expected three months ago, according to the International Monetary Fund’s new World Economic Outlook report, which projects global 2019 gross domestic product will grow 3.3 percent, 0.2 percentage point lower than in forecasts in January. For the world’s two biggest economies, the revisions moved in opposite directions of each other, with the U.S. growth forecast lowered 0.2 percentage point to 2.3 percent while China’s rose 0.1 percentage point to 6.3 percent. The global volume of trade in goods and services will increase 3.4 percent this year, weaker than the 3.8 percent gain in 2018 but reduced from the IMF’s January estimate of 4 percent. IMF is warning that risks are skewed to the downside, with a range of threats menacing the global economy, including the possible collapse of negotiations between the U.S. and China to end their trade war, and the departure of Britain from the European Union without a transition agreement, known as the “no-deal” Brexit scenario. IMF scales down India's growth projection for current fiscal to 7.3% Reasons: Continued recovery of investment Robust consumption amid a more expansionary stance of monetary policy and some expected impetus from fiscal policy Higher trade policy uncertainty and concerns of escalation and retaliation would reduce business investment, disrupt supply chains, and slow productivity growth, Suggestion by IMF: Prescribed continued fiscal consolidation in the near term to trim the country’s elevated public debt. This should be “supported by strengthening goods and services tax compliance and further reducing subsidies” Governance of Indian public sector banks needs to be enhanced and reforms to hiring and dismissal regulations would help incentivise job creation The policy response this time cannot be in the form of a fiscal easing or another stimulus. Pic: https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/incoming/xepon0/article26785348.ece/alternates/FREE_435/Growth-chart IMF said India’s growth is projected to pick up to 7.5 per cent in FY21, aided by the “continued recovery of investment and robust consumption amid a more expansionary stance of monetary policy and some expected impetus from fiscal policy”. Global growth beyond 2020 According to IMF, global growth is expected to level out at 3.6% over the medium term, driven by a moderation in expansion in advanced countries (caused by a weak productivity growth and a slow labour force growth) and the stabilisation of emerging market expansion at 2020 levels. Advanced economies are expected to slow down to 1.6% growth by 2022 and remain at that rate thereafter. For emerging markets and developing countries, growth is expected to steady at 4.8% over the medium term and given that these groups are growing faster than advanced economies, their contribution to global growth is expected to increase from 76% to 85% over the next five years. China is expected to slow down to 5.5% by 2024 as it moves towards increasing private consumption and services and regulatory tightening. India’s growth is expected to stabilise at 7.75% over the medium term, driven by structural reforms and the easing of infrastructure bottlenecks. Risks to global growth Tensions in trade policy could flare up again and play out in other areas (such as the auto industry), with large disruptions to global supply chains. Growth in systemic economies such as the euro area and China may surprise on the downside, and the risks surrounding Brexit remain heightened. Deterioration in market sentiment could rapidly tighten financing conditions in an environment of large private and public sector debt in many countries, including sovereign-bank doom loop risks. The Way Forward by IMF Policy front: Policymakers need to work cooperatively to help ensure that policy uncertainty doesn’t weaken investment. Fiscal policy will need to manage trade-offs between supporting demand, protecting social spending, and ensuring that public debt remains on a sustainable path, with the optimal mix depending on country-specific circumstances. Financial sector policies must address vulnerabilities proactively by deploying macroprudential tools (such as counter-cyclical capital buffers)—a task made more urgent by the possibility that interest rates will remain low for longer. Monetary policy should remain data dependent, be well communicated, and ensure that inflation expectations remain anchored. Need for increased Collaboration at a global level: Across all economies, the imperative is to take actions that boost potential output, improve inclusiveness, and strengthen resilience. There is a need for greater multilateral cooperation to resolve trade conflicts, to address climate change and risks from cybersecurity, and to improve the effectiveness of international taxation. Be Prelims Ready: World Economic Outlook (WEO) Publication by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Published biannually – April and October IMF Headquartered in Washington, D.C Working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world Acts as an international lender of last resort: Formed in 1944 at the Bretton Woods Conference primarily by the ideas of Harry Dexter White and John Maynard Keynes, it came into formal existence in 1945 with 29 member countries and the goal of reconstructing the international payment system. It now plays a central role in the management of balance of payments difficulties and international financial crises. Follows weighted voting and the members with higher quota get a higher voice. Gita Gopinath was appointed as Chief Economist of IMF from October 1, 2018. She received her Ph.D. in economics from Princeton University. Bretton Wood institutions: World Bank and IMF are called Bretton Wood institutions; they were established at Bretton Wood Conference in 1944 Connecting the Dots: Critically examine the reasons for slowdown in the global economy with special reference to US and China.

RSTV Video

RSTV IAS UPSC – The Revolt of 1857

The Revolt of 1857 Archives TOPIC: General studies 1 Modern Indian History Causes behind the Revolt of 1857 Economic Destruction of traditional Indian Economy Ruin of agriculture by draconian land reforms Annexation of princely states = no patronage for artisans = destruction of Indian handicrafts Loss of status for Zamindars = ashamed to work = anger against British Political Aggressive policies of Subsidiary Alliance , Doctrine of Lapse Rampant corruption and exploitation especially at lower levels of administration (police, local courts etc.) Army Restriction on wearing caste specific clothing and items, Eg. Turban Forced to travel overseas, which was forbidden in Hindu tradition Unequal pay for Indian sepoys + racial discrimination and subordination Newly introduced Enfield rifles had beef fat coatings (trigger point) Socio-Religious Racial discrimination towards native Indians (Theory of White Man’s Burden) Religious propagation by the Christian Missionaries Reforms like Abolition of Sati, Widow-Remarriage Act, and Women’s Education were seen as interference in the traditional Indian Society Taxation on mosques, temples etc. Outside Influences Crimean Wars 1854-56 Punjab Wars 1845-49 First Afghan War 1838-42 The British suffered serious losses in these wars = psychological boost for Indians Causes for the failure of Revolt 1857 It was estimated that not more than one fourth of the total area and not more than one tenth of the total population was affected. South India remained quiet and Punjab and Bengal were only marginally affected. Almost half the Indian soldiers not only did not Revolt but fought against their own countrymen. The revolt was poorly organized with no co-ordination or central leadership. Apart from some honourable exceptions like the Rani of Jhansi, Kunwar Singh and Maulvi Ahmadullah, the rebels were poorly served by their leaders. Most of them failed to realize the significance of the Revolt and simply did not do enough. The rebels represented diverse elements with differing elements with differing grievances (not common). Apart from a commonly shared hatred for alien rule, the rebels had no political perspective or a definite vision of the future. Modern educated Indians viewed this revolt as backward looking, and mistakenly hoped the British would usher in an era of modernisation. Significance of the Revolt The significance of the Revolt of 1857 lies in the fact that it voiced, through violently, the grievances of various classes of people. The British were made to realize that all was not under control in British India. Modern Nationalism was unknown in India, yet the revolt of 1857 played an important role in bringing the Indian people together and imparting to them the consciousness of belonging to one country. It had seeds of nationalism and anti- imperialism, but the concept of common nationality and nationhood was not inherent to the revolt of 1857. One may say that the revolt of 1857 was the first great struggle of Indians to throw off British Rule. It established local traditions of resistance to British rule which were to pave the way for the modern national movement. Hindu Muslim Unity Factor- During the entire revolt, there was complete cooperation between Hindus and Muslims at all levels- people, soldiers, leaders. All rebels acknowledged Bahadur Shah Zafar, a Muslim, as the emperor and the first impulse of the Hindu sepoys at Meerut was to march to Delhi, the Mughal imperial Capital. Rebel and sepoys, both Hindu and Muslims, respected each other’s sentiments. Immediate banning of cow slaughter was ordered once the revolt was successful in a particular area. Both Hindus and Muslims were well represented in leadership, for instance Nana Saheb had Azimullah, a Muslim and an expert in political propaganda, as an aide, while Laxmibai had the solid support of Afghan Soldiers. Thus the events of 1857 demonstrated that the people and politics of India were not basically communal before 1858. Changes made in the British Indian army after the Revolt of 1857 The Revolt of 1857 gave a severe jolt to the British administration in India and made its reorganization inevitable. The Government of India’s structure and policies underwent significant changes in the decades following the Revolt. Changes in Administration: By the Act of Parliament of 1858, the power to govern India was transferred from the East India Company to the British Crown. The authority over India, wielded by the Directors of the Company and the Board of Control, was now to be exercised by a Secretary of State for India aided by a Council. Provincial Administration: The British had divided India for administrative convenience into provinces, three of which- Bengal. Bombay and Madras- were known as Presidencies. The Presidencies were administered by a Governor and his Executive Council of three, who were appointed by the Crown. The other provinces were administered by Lieutenant Governor and Chief Commissioners appointed by the Governor-General. Local Bodies: Financial difficulties led the Government to further decentralize administration by promoting local government through municipalities and district boards. Local bodies like education, health, sanitation and water supply were transferred to local bodies that would finance them through local taxes. Changes in the army: The Indian army was carefully re-organised after 1858, most of all to prevent the recurrence of another revolt. Firstly, the domination of the army by its European branch was carefully guaranteed. The proportion of Europeans to Indians in the army was raised. The European troops were kept in key geographical and military positions. The crucial branches of artillery, tanks and armored corps were put exclusively in European hands. The Indians were strictly excluded from the higher posts. Till 1814, no Indian could rise higher than the rank of a subedar. Secondly, the organization of the Indian section of the army was based on the policy of ‘divide and rule’ so as to prevent its chance of uniting again in an anti-British uprising. A new section of army like Punjabis, Gurkhas and Pathans were recruited in large numbers. BE PRELIMS READY Important Leaders & Place of Revolt Mangal Pandey: Barrakpore Soldiers: Meerut Cant. Bahadur Shah Zafar: Delhi Zeenat Mahal: Delhi Bakhtawar Khan: Delhi Nana Sahib: Kanpur Tatya Tope: Kanpur Azimullah: Kanpur Maharaj Kunwar Singh: Arrah (Bihar) Khan Bahadur Khan: Bareilly Begum Hazrat Mahal: Lucknow Maulvi Ahmadullah: Faizabad Do you know? The Revolt was written about and discussed not only within the confines of India but also in England, France and Germany. Benjamin Disraeli in the House of Commons on 27 July 1857, asked, “Is it a military mutiny, or is it a national revolt?” Karl Marx in the summer of 1857 expressed the same doubt in the pages of New York Daily Tribune: “What he (John Bull) considers a military mutiny”, he wrote, “Is in truth a national revolt”. According to Marxist historians, the 1857 revolt was “the struggle of the soldier-peasant democratic combine against foreign as well as feudal bondage”. Some views such as those of L.E.R. Rees Christians or T. R. Holmes who saw in it a conflict between civilization and barbarism were also forwarded. Safety Valve Theory & 1857 Revolt It was believed that in order to avoid another political crisis like 1857, a vent was required to channelize the discontent of Indians. For this, the retired Civil Servant A O Hume, founder the Indian National Congress. This theory is called: Safety Valve Theory The concept of Safety Valve Theory says that the British had seen the political situation in the country leading to another rebellion on the lines of the Mutiny of 1857; and they wished to avoid such a situation. So, they wanted to provide a platform to the people, where they could discuss their political problems. Indian National Congress was founded by a Retired Civil Servant and not by any Indian. It was said that the INC was started by Viceroy Lord Dufferin with the help of an ex Civil Services member as a “Safety Valve” against the popular discontent. Which revolt was the first to happen, even before the revolt of 1857, and which is also known as The First War of Independence? Ans: The ‘Paika Bidroha’ (Paika rebellion) of 1817 led by Bakshi Jagabandhu [Bidyadhar Mohapatra] in Khurda of Odisha What is Paika rebellion? When the British started tinkering with the revenue system in 1803, the farming community of Odisha rose in rebellion. At that critical juncture, Bakshi Jagabandhu Bidyadhar — the military chief of the King of Khurda — led his motley army of Paikas forcing the British East India Company forces to retreat. The rebellion came to be known as Paika Bidroh (Paika rebellion). When did it take place? The rebellion, by the landed militia of Khurda called Paiks, predates the first war of independence in 1857 but did not get similar recognition. It took place when the British East India company wrested the rent-free land that had been given to the Paiks for their military service to the Kingdom of Khurda. Before 1857, there were two wars that acted as a milestone to establish English as the supreme power in India: Battle of Plassey: British (Robert Clive) Vs Siraj ud Daula(Nawab of Bengal) Battle of Buxar: British Vs. Mir Qasim (Nawab of Bengal) & Shuja ud Daula (Nawab of Awadh) Connecting the Dots: The revolt of 1857 was a desperate effort to save India in the old way and under traditional leadership. Critically comment. Was the revolt of 1857 really an effort towards independence? Critically analyse. The year of 1858 can be treated as a watershed in India’s constitutional, political and administrative history. Analyse.

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Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 15th May 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 15th 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 the NPA Crisis Background: Non-performing assets (NPAs) at commercial banks amounted to 11.2% of advances, in March 2018. The ratio of gross NPA to advances in PSBs was 14.6%. These are levels typically associated with a banking crisis. Origin of the NPA crisis During the credit boom period of the years 2004-05 to 2008-09 commercial credit (or what is called ‘non-food credit’) doubled. It was a period in which the world economy as well as the Indian economy were booming. Indian firms borrowed heavily in order to avail of the growth opportunities they saw coming. Most of the investment went into infrastructure and related areas — telecom, power, roads, aviation, steel. Businessmen were overcome with exuberance, partly rational and partly irrational. Thereafter, as the Economic Survey of 2016-17 notes, many things began to go wrong. Due to problems in acquiring land and getting environmental clearances, several projects got stalled. Their costs soared. With the onset of the global financial crisis in 2007-08 and the slowdown in growth after 2011-12, revenues fell well short of forecasts. Financing costs rose as policy rates were tightened in India in response to the financial crisis. The depreciation of the rupee meant higher outflows for companies that had borrowed in foreign currency. This combination of adverse factors made it difficult for companies to service their loans to Indian banks. As per the process of provisioning the banks estimate that a particular borrower may not be able to pay back the loan in full and hence make a provision of the amount they could lose (as in that won’t be paid back to banks). Banks start creating provisions on a loan given when the borrower starts defaulting on his repayment instalments. Higher NPAs mean higher provisions on the part of banks. Provisions rose to a level where banks, especially PSBs, started making losses. Their capital got eroded as a result. Without adequate capital, bank credit cannot grow.  Privatisation of PSBs is not the right solution: Since the problem of NPAs is more concentrated in PSBs, some have argued that public ownership must be the problem stating that public ownership of banks is beset with corruption and incompetence. The solution, therefore, is to privatise the PSBs, at least the weaker ones. There are problems with this formulation. There are wide variations within each ownership category. In 2018, the State Bank of India’s (SBI’s) gross NPA/gross advances ratio was 10.9%. This was not much higher than that of the second largest private bank, ICICI Bank, 9.9%. The ratio at a foreign bank, Standard Chartered Bank, 11.7%, was higher than that of SBI. Explanation: PSBs had a higher exposure to the five most affected sectors — mining, iron and steel, textiles, infrastructure and aviation. These sectors were impacted by factors beyond the control of bank management- Infrastructure projects were impacted by the global financial crisis and environmental and land acquisition issues. In addition, mining and telecom were impacted by adverse court judgments. Steel was impacted by dumping from China. Plans to prevent such crises: Wholesale privatisation of PSBs is not the answer to the complex problem. We need a broad set of actions, some immediate and others over the medium-term and aimed at preventing the recurrence of such crises. Resolving the NPAs. Banks have to accept losses on loans (or ‘haircuts’). They should be able to do so without any fear of harassment by the investigative agencies. The Indian Banks’ Association has set up a six-member panel to oversee resolution plans of lead lenders. To expedite resolution, more such panels may be required. An alternative is to set up a Loan Resolution Authority, if necessary through an Act of Parliament. The government must infuse additional capital needed to recapitalise banks. Over the medium term, the RBI needs to develop better mechanisms for monitoring macro-prudential indicators. It especially needs to look out for credit bubbles. Strengthening the functioning of PSBs: Actions needs to be taken to strengthen the functioning of banks in general and, more particularly, PSBs. Governance at PSBs, meaning the functioning of PSB boards, can certainly improve. One important lesson from the past decade’s experience with NPAs is that management of concentration risk — that is, excessive exposure to any business group, sector, geography, etc. — is too important to be left entirely to bank boards. Overall risk management at PSBs needs to be taken to a higher level. This certainly requires strengthening of PSB boards. We need to induct more high-quality professionals on PSB boards and compensate them better. Succession planning at PSBs also needs to improve. Despite the constitution of the Banks Board Bureau to advise on selection of top management, the appointment of Managing Directors and Executive Directors continues to be plagued by long delays. This must end.  Conclusion: The task of accelerating economic growth is urgent and acceleration in economic growth is not possible without addressing the problem of non-performing assets. There is ample scope for improving performance within the framework of public ownership. The above suggested solutions should be focused upon. Connecting the dots: Wholesale privatisation of public sector banks is not the right solution to the issue of NPAs. Comment. NATIONAL/WELFARE TOPIC: General studies 2  Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections Issues with Contract farming in India In news: PepsiCo India recently took 11 persons including farmers and traders to court for unauthorised use of its protected potato variety. Following a backlash on the social media, and criticism in the press, PepsiCo India dropped the litigation. Farmers whom PepsiCo India sued were found to be growing its FL 2027 variety, which goes by the trade name FC 5. Legal system: In India: The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights (PPVFR) Act is a uniquely Indian law enacted in 2001, which not only recognises the rights of breeders (for 15 years) in the novel varieties they have developed, but also gives entitlements to farmers. Under the Indian law, farmers virtually enjoy a licence. They can save, use, sow, re-sow, exchange, share and even sell—in unbranded packaging—the produce or seed, even of a protected variety, grown in their fields. Other countries: On the other hand, the International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants primarily protects the rights of breeders while carving out exceptions for farmers. The US, as a country that rewards innovation, has stiff protection for breeders’ rights. Its Plant Variety Protection Act prohibits a person from selling, marketing, offering, delivering, consigning, exchanging or exposing for sale a protected variety without explicit consent from the owner. Issues: Respect for IPRs is necessary for the sustainability of the processing industry. It is unfair for the company if its rivals buys produce from unauthorised growers by paying a slightly higher price because they were saving on royalty payments. India lags in both potato processing and exports, though it is the second-largest potato producer. New proprietary varieties suitable for processing and global palates will not come to India if IPR protection is weak. There is no reason why farmers should profit from intellectual property they don’t own. Importance of Contract farming: It is good for farmers as they get stable prices, better technology and new markets. At times, market prices will be higher than contracted prices but it provides a steady income. Success stories: Contract farmers like PepsiCo India, McCain and HyFun Frozen Foods have incentivised micro-irrigation and other good agronomic practices in areas like Banaskantha where food irrigation was the norm. They have encouraged mechanisation of planting, sowing and harvesting, which is both labour and cost-saving. Techniques like anti-sprouting coating have been popularised. PepsiCo India is the largest procurer of processing quality potatoes. It says it buys 3 lakh tonnes annually. That’s a transfer of Rs 300 crore to 24,000 contract farmers. Corporate involvement in agriculture is necessary for profitable and innovative agriculture. The share of corporate investment in agriculture was just 2%, that of the government was 14% and of farmers 84%.  Way ahead: Group contracts that can be beneficial for both small farmers and companies as these reduce transaction costs and improve compliance to contract terms by both parties. Governments should frame and enforce laws that protect the farmer interest adequately and are sophisticated enough to take into account the changing dynamics of contract farming. Also read: PepsiCo versus potato growing farmers https://iasbaba.com/2019/05/daily-current-affairs-ias-upsc-prelims-and-mains-exam-11th-may-2019/ Connecting the dots: The recent case of PepsiCo suing Indian farmers raises concerns about the laws framed for contract farming. Comment. MUST READ Inching closer to the brink The Hindu Implementation issues in 10% reservation The Hindu Facing the climate emergency The Hindu No apology, please Indian Express

60 Days Plan 2019 - Daily Prelims Test

UPSC PRELIMS 2019: General Studies PAPER 1 (OPEN TO ALL FULL MOCK 1)- 60 DAYS PROGRAMME

UPSC PRELIMS 2019: General Studies PAPER 1 (OPEN TO ALL FULL MOCK 1)- 60 DAYS PROGRAMME Hello Friends,  As promised, here we are with the First Full Mock. Before you proceed kindly go through the below suggestions very carefully. (Do leave your comments regarding the Standard & Quality of The Mock while uploading the OMR :) ) Things to Remember Download the Question Paper and take the exam sincerely with a stopwatch by your side. After you are done marking the OMR, take the screenshot of the OMR and upload here in the comment section. (Link: https://iasbaba.com/2019/05/upsc-prelims-2019-general-studies-paper-1-open-to-all-full-mock-1-60-days-programme/) Answer Key/Solution will be updated TONIGHT. So it's better, if you solve it TODAY and upload the OMR.  You have Full-Day (15th May) to solve this Mock and upload your OMR before Solutions are posted at 10 PM. (We are not restricting it to a particular time to have enough flexibility) Once the answer key is uploaded, fill the shared Google Form with your score. Be honest while filling the score. You will be given a LINK to fill your scorecard once ANSWER KEYS/SOLUTIONS are posted (10 PM).  How to increase your productivity in the Mock? Follow this to minimize your negatives? This is applicable to aspirants who have done decent preparation and are worried about negative marking. This is in no way applicable to aspirants who go on to score well beyond cut off every time. They do not need any advice :) Glance through the question paper from Question 1 to 100. Just look at the keywords of the questions without reading the details. It is to make sure you have some familiarity with the paper. It will boost your confidence. Irrespective of the level of the paper, you will be able to confidently solve many questions for sure (provided your preparation is decent) Divide the time into THREE rounds.  First Round: Focus only on those questions in which you have 100% confidence that X is the answer. Mark them first. Remember that these questions in the first round are based on 100% accuracy. (Tick such questions) Second Round: Since you have gone through all 100 questions in the first round, must know a number of questions in which you do not have any idea. These are the questions in which no elimination, no guesses and nothing will work. Cross mark such questions first.  Third Round: You have to spend quality time in this round. Forget about questions (Crossed Marked in 2nd Round) and never turn back to them at any cost. In this round, apply your consolidated knowledge, application of mind, elimination method, intellectual guesses and arrive at the answer.  MUST READ articles for PRELIMS - These articles are exclusively Prelims related, where the UPSC Topper's and IASbaba have shed some light on how to tackle Prelims, Elimination method, How to minimize negatives etc. Make the Best use of the articles below.  All Possible Scenarios-Where Do You Fall in Exam? Shreyans Kumat Rank 4, UPSC CSE 2018 a Regular Follower of IASbaba’s TLP shares his Exclusive PRELIMS Strategy! Final Words and Prelims Tips before the D-Day (3rd June 2018)- Vaibhava Srivastava Rank 1 IFoS and Rank 98 UPSC CSE 2017 Shivashish Kumar Rank 368, UPSC CSE 2018 who has scored 129.34 (2017) and 126.66 (2018) in his 2 attempts shares his PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE Strategy!! Topper Abhijeet Sinha, Rank 19 UPSC CSE 2017 – IASbaba’s ILP Student, who has scored 163 and 152.6 in his 2 attempts shares his Preparation Strategy with special focus on Prelims! Example- last year, UPSC had asked, Which of the following are Sun Temples in India and the third option was Omkareshwar Temple? At first glance, this question might seem very tough for many of you. But if you remember that Omkareshwar (OM- Shiva) and hence it cannot be a SUN Temple. By eliminating option-3, you can arrive at the correct answer because out of four, three options had 3 as the number. Similarly, there are many such questions. So, focus on such questions carefully. Your target should be minimizing negatives. And if the paper seems tough, do not over attempt. Many times senses are put to rest and you read something else while the question is something else :) This happens because of 2 Reasons. 1) You are in a hurry to complete the paper. 2) You are over-confident in a subject. So patiently read the complete question, without any assumptions. Be alert while reading the questions. Correct/Incorrect/NOT Correct should be read clearly. If you know more than 70 questions with confidence, go with it :) Last but not the least, many questions can be answered by using Common Sense, so do apply it :) DOWNLOAD- QUESTION PAPER DOWNLOAD-OMR SHEET ANSWER KEY/SOLUTION-CLICK HERE PLEASE UPDATE YOUR SCORES HERE - CLICK HERE NOTE: Be honest and upload the OMR sheet in the comment section. (Link: https://iasbaba.com/2019/05/upsc-prelims-2019-general-studies-paper-1-open-to-all-full-mock-1-60-days-programme/) Your honesty will let us come up with a correct rank list and cut off. Kindly leave your comments regarding the Standard of The Mock. All the very best! IASbaba

AIR

All India Radio (AIR) IAS UPSC - Supreme Court Ruling on Electoral Bonds

Supreme Court ruling on Electoral Bonds ARCHIVES Search 12th April, 2019 Spotlight here: http://www.newsonair.com/Main_Audio_Bulletins_Search.aspx TOPIC: General studies 2 Elections in India Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation In News: SC orders all political parties to disclose to EC details of every donation they receive via electoral bonds till 15th May, 2019 Election Commission had stated that it will support the electoral bond scheme only if the donor’s name is revealed, including amounts, names, and bank details of the donors. Directed the finance ministry to remove the extra five days of bond issuance introduced by the government for the months of April and May. The law allows only a 50-day spread in January, April, July, and October, during which the bonds can be bought. What are Electoral Bonds? Funding of political parties has always been under some kind of suspicion or controversy. Hence in 2017 budget, the government came out with electoral bonds for political donation. The electoral bond scheme, which was introduced through the Finance Act of 2017, allows an individual, or any “artificial juridical person,” including body corporates, to purchase bonds issued by the State Bank of India during specified days of the year. These bonds, which are in the nature of promissory notes, and which are issued in denominations extending from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1 crore, can be donated by the purchaser to a political party of its choice, and the party can then have the bonds encashed on demand. The provisions of the Representation of People Act, the Income Tax Act, the Companies Act and the Reserve Bank of India Act had been amended under the Finance Act, 2017 and Finance Act, 2016 to accommodate the scheme’s objective of keeping the donors identity and details of the political parties receiving the electoral bond anonymous. The amendments create no obligations on the political party to disclose the amount received through electoral bonds to either the poll panel or the income tax department. Purpose: To curb the use of black money in elections. Eligibility of the party to receive Electoral Bonds: Only political parties Registered under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 Has secured not less than one per cent of votes polled in the last general election to the House of the People or the Legislative Assembly of the State The scheme’s salient features included Donor anonymity Elimination of caps on corporate donations Loosening of other regulations (such as revealing donations in corporate profit and loss statements) Why is it in question? Flouts the right to freedom of expression contained in Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution: In a democratic system that does not have publicly-funded elections (such as ours), it therefore becomes crucially important for the public to know who funds political parties, in order to critically evaluate whether that party’s policies are designed to actually serve the public good, or whether they are written to benefit its funders. To break the matter down into its essentials: if a big, multinational corporation (A) donates a huge amount of money to a political party (B), and on coming to power, that political party rewrites the rules in relevant sectors (such as, for example, environmental regulations) benefiting that corporation, then that entire set of transactions must be open to public scrutiny. Secrecy in political funding ensures an asymmetry of information that goes to the root of the democratic process, and the fairness of elections. KYC would work – No, as it will provide the donor’s name but not the source of money Criticism on the judgement: The court’s own justification for its order seems to be that it is a weighty matter that requires detailed consideration. This, however, is self-serving: the challenge was filed more than a year ago, and the court had ample time to hear it in detail before the ongoing general elections, given its weightiness. Conclusion: During the Constituent Assembly debates, BR Ambedkar famously said that the Constitution must guarantee not only one man, one vote, but also, one man, one value. An electoral system that allows limitless, anonymous corporate donations to political parties skews the process irrevocably, and makes a mockery of one man, one value. Must read: IASbaba’s MINDMAP on Electoral Bonds Connecting the Dots: How can electoral bonds help in redefining the process of initiating electoral reforms? Examine. Write an essay: “One Man, One Value” Are Electoral Bonds unconstitutional? Discuss.

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 14th May 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 14th May 2019 Archives (PRELIMS+MAINS FOCUS) China – US Trade War Part of: GS Mains II and III – International affairs; Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests; Economy and related issues In news: China said it would raise tariffs on $60 billion worth of U.S. goods from June 1. The announcement comes as a retaliation for the latest round of U.S. tariff hikes and Trump adminstration's plans to target almost all Chinese imports. S. President had also ordered the start of a process to impose new duties on another $300 billion worth of Chinese items. Do you know? China imports fewer U.S. products such as agricultural products and energy, Boeing orders and service trade. Impact: The conflict is seen as a significant threat to global economic growth. The US-China trade war has been a great source of uncertainty for financial markets over the past year. Uncertainty has weighed on investor confidence around the world, and has contributed to losses. The IMF warned a full-blown trade war would weaken the global economy. In news: FCRA Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III - Economy In news: The Union Home Ministry de-registered the Infosys Foundation from the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), 2010, after a request in June 2016 following an amendment to the Act. In May 2016, the Government amended the FCRA Act with retrospective effect from 2010. Do you know? The Foreign Contribution Regulations Act or FCRA is a law enacted by Parliament to regulate foreign contribution (especially monetary donation) provided by certain individuals or associations to NGOs and others within India. The act, in its consolidating form, was originally passed in 1976 and majorly modified in 2010. The government has used the act over the years to freeze bank accounts of certain NGOs who it found were affecting India's national interest for wrong purposes. The Home ministry cancelled the registration of several US-based NGOs after it was found that they were diverting the money received into funding protests at Tamil Nadu’s Kudankulam against a nuclear power plant, an Indo-Russian joint venture. Impact: As per the FCRA Act 2010, all NGOs are required to be registered under the Act to receive foreign funding. According to terms stipulated in the FCRA, an organisation cannot receive foreign funding unless it is registered under the 2010 Act, except when it gets government approval for a specific project. Pooram Festival Part of: GS Prelims and Mains I - Indian culture and heritage; Art Forms In news: Thousands of people gathered to witness the grand opening of the famed Thrissur Pooram, considered as the mother of all temple festivals. ‘Thechikkottukavu Ramachandran’, the controversial elephant which was earlier denied permission to take part in the festivities by the authorities on health grounds, ‘opened’ the annual festival at the ancient Vadakkumnathan temple here. Marking the ritual heralding of Pooram, Ramachandran, the tallest elephant of the state, pushed open the southern entrance of the shrine. The Thrissur Pooram falls on May 13 this year. The main event of the annual ‘pooram’ begins with the 10.5 foot tall elephant pushing open the gate of the temple, with the idol of ‘neithilakkavilamma’ atop it. Key points: About Thrissur Pooram: It is an annual Hindu temple festival held in Kerala, India. It is held at the Vadakkunnathan Temple in Thrissur every year on the Pooram day – the day when the moon rises with the Pooram star in the Malayalam Calendar month of Medam. It is the largest and most famous of all poorams. ‘MANAV: Human Atlas Initiative’ Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III - Science and Technology In news: The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) launched ‘MANAV: Human Atlas Initiative’, a project for mapping every tissue of the human body to help understand better the roles of tissues and cells linked to various diseases. The Human Atlas Initiative aims at creating a database network of all tissues in the human body from the available scientific literature. The student community, who will be the backbone on assimilating the information, will be trained and imparted with skills to perform annotation and curation of information that will ultimately form the online network. Do you know? DBT has invested Rs 13 crore shared between two institutions in Pune – National Centre for Cell Science (NCCS) and Indian Institute of Science, Education and Research (IISER), Pune. Besides, Persistent Systems Limited has co-funded the project and is developing the platform, and has contributed Rs 7 crore. It is a project that involves scientific skill development for annotation, science outreach along with handling big data. The programme will involve gaining better biological insights through physiological and molecular mapping, develop disease models through predictive computing and have a wholistic analysis and finally drug discovery. CTBTO invites India to be an observer Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II - International Organization In news: The executive secretary of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) has invited India to be an observer in the CTBT. Being an observer would give India access to data from the International Monitoring System — a network which when complete will consist of 337 facilities (321 monitoring stations and 16 radionuclide labs) located in 89 countries. This system can detect even small nuclear explosions using seismology, hydroacoustics, infrasound and radionuclide technology. Important Value Additions: Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) CTBTO is the preparatory commission which establishes global verification regime to monitor compliance with the CTBT. The verification regime includes a global network of 330 plus monitoring facilities using seismic, hydroaucostic, infrasound and radionuclide technologies. Over 330 stations in 89 countries have been built to monitor for signs of nuclear explosions around the globe round the clock. International Monitoring System (IMS) The International Monitoring System (IMS) monitors the Earth’s crust, listens the atmosphere and oceans and sniffs the air for traces of radioactivity. The monitoring system produces data that have many applications, from disaster early warning to scientific research on the Earth’s inner structures, climate change or meteors, to name just a few of the potential uses. It is also making contributions to the nuclear safety field. After the March 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident, CTBTO data provided timely information on the radioactive emissions from the crippled plant and their global dispersion. DNA database coming up for Indian rhino Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III - Environment and Biodiversity; Conservation of Animals In news: The Union Environment Ministry has embarked on a project to create DNA profiles of all rhinos in the country. By 2021, the project’s deadline, the Indian rhino could be the first wild animal species in India to have all its members DNA-sequenced. The project’s proponents include World Wide Fund for Nature-India (WWF-India) and the Centre-funded Wildlife Institute of India (WII). The exercise would be useful in curbing poaching and gathering evidence in wildlife crimes involving rhinos. Do you know? There are about 2,600 rhinos in India, with more than 90% of the population concentrated in Assam’s Kaziranga National Park. The project is a subset of the Centre’s larger, ongoing rhino conservation programme. Since the 1980s, the government has been trying to move a significant number of rhinos out of Kaziranga in the interest of the species’ conservation, threats from poaching and challenges to their habitat. Outside Kaziranga, there are about 200 rhinos in West Bengal, 40 in Uttar Pradesh and 1 in Bihar. There are three species of rhinos, of which only one — the Indian rhino — is found in the country. The rhinos were once abundant and well-distributed in the country. However poaching reduced its numbers to about “200 wild animals by the end of the 20th century”. In news: Strait of Hormuz It is a strait between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. It provides the only sea passage from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean and is one of the world's most strategically important choke points. On the north coast lies Iran, and on the south coast the United Arab Emirates and Musandam, an exclave of Oman. (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. The risk of India slipping into a middle-income trap  Context: The warning by Rathin Roy, a member of an economic panel advising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, that India could be headed for a “structural crisis" has sparked a debate on whether the economy’s days of high single-digit growth rates are a thing of the past. The “middle-income trap": It is a scenario where middle-income groups in an economy who have been shouldering the domestic consumption story so far by purchasing cars, automobiles and air-conditioners, etc., gradually stop doing so on account of loss of confidence or fear of income loss. India’s growth has mostly been driven by demand generated by 100 million-odd people at the top of the country’s socio-economic pyramid. But that demand has begun to exhaust itself, and so India could slip into a “middle-income trap". This is a risk that emerging economies are said to be vulnerable to. As a country runs out of new sources of growth after an initial burst of rapid expansion, it finds itself unable to break into a higher-income league. In India right now, the relatively weak offtake of everything, from cars and apartments to suds and toothbrushes, points to a slowdown in consumption. Fall in private consumption, muted rise in fixed investment and sluggish exports have led to slowdown in the econom The World Bank's lower middle income range for countries is defined as per capita gross national income (GNI) of between $996 and $3,895. As per 2017 figures, the income of an average Indian was in the vicinity of $1,795, which placed the country well below the halfway mark. The risk runs deeper; the possibility that India will remain stuck at the middle income range has now started appearing more real. Reason behind: Wealth inequality and the hierarchical distribution of income in developing countries has long been identified as a growth barrier. The greater the gaps between strata, by this analysis, the slower the upward mobility of families that are at lower levels. Such economies typically experience lopsided expansion, with the positive fallout of an economic boom on top often failing to reach those below. Sustaining growth requires the mass mobilization of financial as well as human resources, and if inequality is acute, the latter tend to come up short. This phenomenon is exemplified by Brazil and South Africa, among a few others. These countries increased their economic output at a fast clip for several years at a stretch, but large sections of their population did not see their lives get better. They got left behind. India appears to have undergone something similar. Way ahead: The best insurance against the risk of slipping into a middle-income trap, however, would be to address mobility restraints at lower levels of the socio-economic pyramid. Improving the quality of healthcare, education and skill development for the deprived masses is much required. Policymakers must not use the trap story as an excuse for poor near-term growth. The country should do all it can for a badly needed uptick. Conclusion: Not taking action now would mean India will never be another China or South Korea but could begin replicating basket cases like South Africa or Brazil where large swathes of poor population are powering not growth, but crime. Failure at this stage could leave India stagnant in a lower middle-income bracket. If this is to be an “Asian century", India must stay in the reckoning. Connecting the dots: What do you understand by the term ‘middle income trap’? Do you think the risk of India slipping into the trap is real? Highlight the reasons behind. INTERNATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2  International Relations Policies of developed and developing countries and their impact on India’s interests The Global ‘War on Terror’: Not a right approach to fight terrorism Introduction: The world needs to be united on the issue of terrorism and resolve contradiction. The brutal attacks on Easter Sunday in Sri Lanka, for which the Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility, have reignited discussion on the global ‘War on Terror’. The attacks in Sri Lanka underline the many cracks in the concept of a global ‘War on Terror’, and raise questions on what it has achieved. The Global ‘War on Terror’: The term was coined by former U.S. President George W. Bush after the September 11 attacks in 2001. It is an international military campaign that was launched by the US government after the 9/11 attacks. Issue: The original mission that the War on Terror was named for is floundering. Not only has the coalition of about 60 countries that sent troops and offered logistical support failed to end terrorism in Afghanistan, it appears it is preparing to hand the country back to the oppressive Taliban regime that it defeated in December 2001. This, despite the fact there is no guarantee that the terror groups living in safe havens in Pakistan will not also have the run of Afghanistan once the coalition pulls out. 46 nations joined to defeat Saddam Hussein in Iraq in 2003, and 19 were a part of a coalition that ousted Muammar Qaddafi from power in Libya in 2011. The U.S. and allied countries were sidetracked by the ‘Arab Spring’ in 2011, which led them to bolster anti-Bashar al-Assad groups in Syria. This eventually paved the way for the IS to establish a ‘Caliphate’ in territories in Syria and Iraq. The next coalition was formed to fight the terror of the IS. The number of global terror attacks per year went up from 1,000 in 2004 to 17,000 in 2014. It is clear that the countries in question — Afghanistan, Syria, Libya and Iraq — are far from free of the spectre of terrorism. Rather than helping fight pan-Islamist terror groups, the War on Terror appears to help the IS and al-Qaeda more, giving them a footprint far bigger than their actual abilities. This helps them recruit and radicalise Muslim youth from around the globe, and allows them to own terrorists around the world as their own. Approaches to fighting terror: Changing the narrative of a “fight for Islam” is required. According to the Global Terrorism Database, of the 81 terror attacks in which more than 100 were killed (high casualty) since 2001, more than 70 were carried out in Islamic or Muslim-majority countries. The War on Terror thus appears to be a concept propagated mostly by pan-Islamist groups and extremists of other religions as a motive for terror attacks. Governments in countries affected by terrorism must not subscribe to this narrative blindly. It is necessary for countries fighting terrorism to learn more closely from their differences, rather than try to generalise from experience. Example 1: Comparing European states like the U.K., France and Belgium, where hundreds of immigrant Muslims have enlisted for the IS, to South Asian states like India, where Muslim populations are indigenous and only a few dozen are believed to have left for Syria, is akin to comparing apples and oranges. The world community must address contradictions in the War on Terror. For 20 years, the world has failed to agree on a common definition of terrorism at the United Nations. This has held up the passage of the Indian-sponsored proposal for a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism. Contradictions examples- Example 1- Despite the fact that Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar has been targeting Indians incessantly for years, China allowed his UN Security Council designation as a global terrorist only after mentions of his attacks in India were removed. Example 2- The U.S. is focused on billing Iran the “world’s biggest state sponsor of terrorism”, while states like Saudi Arabia and Pakistan that have funded and sheltered Islamist terror groups are still treated as “frontline allies” on terror. Conclusion: Despite all their resources and expertise, the alliance of the U.S., the U.K., Canada, Australia and New Zealand that share global intelligence was unable to see the impending threat in Sri Lanka. Unless the world is truly united on the issue and resolves such contradictions, the global War on Terror will only be as strong as its weakest link. Connecting the dots: The world needs to be united on the issue of terrorism and resolve contradiction. Comment. MUST READ Private, public and political morality The Hindu Redactive pricing audit and the GAGs duties The Hindu INS Viraat controversy threatens to disturb equipoise in civil-military relations Indian Express The Gwadar warning Indian Express Coordination as a hurdle for the #MeToo movement Livemint Geostrategic concerns complicate US China trade Livemint

RSTV Video

RSTV IAS UPSC – Chabahar Port & US Sanctions

Chabahar Port & US Sanctions Archives TOPIC: General studies 2 India and its neighborhood- 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. In News: The strategic Chabahar port project, being developed by India in Iran, is a separate exception and will not be impacted by US President Donald Trump's decision not to renew exemptions that let eight countries including India to buy Iranian oil without facing tough American sanctions. The United States has said Chabahar is exempted from sanctions to help Afghanistan’s economic development and facilitate India’s investment in the port. This exception relates to reconstruction assistance and economic development for Afghanistan. These activities are vital for the ongoing support of Afghanistan's growth and humanitarian relief The effort to build up Afghanistan's economy is also aimed at reducing Kabul's dependence on foreign aid and putting a major dent in the illicit opium trade that has been a major source of revenue for the Taliban insurgency. Iran is India's third-largest oil supplier behind Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Iran supplied 18.4 million tonnes of crude oil during April 2017 and January 2018 (first 10 months of 2017-18 fiscal). What US wants from Iran? Iran should totally give up its right to enrich uranium and close down all nuclear facilities including those engaged in research for peaceful purposes. Iran should curtail and eradicate its ballistic missile programme and radically change its west-Asia policy to fall in line with American preferences in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen. However, Iran has stood up to unprecedented sanctions for four decades and remained unbowed. What are the potential issues? Tehran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has a track record of using Iran’s air and sea ports to smuggle goods. If the past is precedent, the regime may redirect the funds generated by trade at Chabahar to its weapons programs and regional proxies. The IRGC’s ubiquitous role in the Iranian economy, combined with its well-documented history of sanctions evasion, requires India to monitor the port rigorously. If all else fails – United States can The United States can aid India’s effort in monitoring the port. For instance, Washington can provide export control and cargo inspection expertise to help New Delhi detect possible Iranian subversion. The Trump administration can also pressure India by requiring Indian companies to place funds in escrow accounts in order to make sure they can pay U.S. fines if they fail to comply with sanctions. Likewise, the Trump administration can require India to issue certifications that no IRGC affiliates are active in Chabahar. Though the U.S. would have limited means to verify or enforce such certifications independently, the requirement would force India to go on the record. In so doing, it would give Washington a political basis to take even harsher measures to pressure New Delhi, if all else fails. For example, America could threaten to revoke the Chabahar project’s exemption, thereby exposing New Delhi to U.S. secondary sanctions. America could also rescind the waiver it gave India that allows it to keep importing 300,000 barrels per day of Iranian crude despite U.S. sanctions. Chabahar Port: Crucial gateway for India’s objectives About Chabahar Port Located on the Makran coast South-eastern coast of Iran It is relatively underdeveloped free trade and industrial zone (compared to the sprawling port of Bandar Abbas further west) For India, Chabahar is of strategic importance for two reasons: First, it is the nearest port to India on the Iranian coast, which provides access to the resources and markets of Afghanistan and Central Asia. Second, it is located 76 nautical miles (less than 150km) west of the Pakistani port of Gwadar, being developed by China; this makes it ideal for keeping track of Chinese or Pakistani military activity based out of Gwadar. (See fig: http://www.joc.com/sites/default/files/resize/field_feature_image/chabahar-400×299.JPG) Conclusion: Chabahar port holds significant economic promise for India, the United States, and the region. But the lack of adequate safeguards to protect the port from IRGC activity may undermine not only U.S. sanctions on Iran, but also the U.S.-India relationship. Washington and New Delhi should work together to prevent such an outcome. Connecting the Dots: The signing of the much anticipated bilateral pact with Iran for the development of Chabahar port is a significant step towards securing India’s strategic and economic interests. Comment. How can India ensure that its relations with the US and Iran, and particularly its energy interests are not affected? Suggest. How do global sanctions operate? How does it affect India’s interests? Comment in the light of US sanctions against Iran.

PIB

Press Information Bureau (PIB) IAS UPSC – 6th May to 12th May - 2019

Press Information Bureau (PIB) IAS UPSC – 6th May to 12th May – 2019 ARCHIVES Prelims Oriented News Vietnam’s Capital: Honoi Chintan Baithak: A meeting with the stakeholders of Renewable Energy (RE) sector 9th National Voters' Day: 25th January 2019 Celebrated all over the country on January 25th every year since 2011 to mark the Foundation day of Election Commission of India (January 25, 1950) Purpose: Encourage, facilitate and maximize the enrolment What are Bye-elections? By-elections are elections conducted to fill elected offices that have become vacant between general elections. This may happen due to Resignation Death or dismissal of the person holding the office until then What are Snap Elections? A snap election is an election called earlier than expected. Generally it refers to an election in a parliamentary system that is called when it is not required either by law or convention, usually to capitalize on a unique electoral opportunity or to decide a pressing issue. It differs from a recall election in that it is initiated by politicians (usually the head of government or ruling party) rather than voters, and from a by-election in that the winners will serve an entire term as opposed to the remainder of an already established term. Since the power to call snap elections usually lies with the incumbent, they usually result in increased majorities for the party already in power having been called at an advantageous time. However, snap elections can also backfire on the incumbent and resulting in a decreased majority or even the opposition winning or gaining power. As a result of the latter cases there have been occasions in which the consequences have been the implementation of fixed term elections. India CEO Forum on Climate Change Organized by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) A pioneering initiative of the government, inviting industry representatives, exchanged views on climate change issues and discussed opportunities to collaborate in regard to fulfilling India’s national as well as international climate change commitments. India and U.S. Hold Bilateral Trade Meeting Bilateral trade in Goods and Services registering a growth of 12.6% from $ 126 billion in 2017 to $142 billion in 2018 US Trade Winds Indo-Pacific Business Forum and Mission initiative 2019: The forum will bring together distributors, representatives and partners and enable them to increase sales by taking part in business-to-business meetings US - India SME Forum: The new bilateral private sector led Small Business Interaction initiative that would pave the way for collaboration and partnership between the U.S. and Indian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the areas of manufacturing and services. Initiatives by Commerce Ministry to Boost Trade with African Countries Statistics India’s total trade with the African region during 2017-18 was USD 62.69 billion (8.15% of India’s total trade with the World). India’s share of exports to African countries as a percentage of India’s total exports to the world was of the order of 8.21% in 2017-18.   Africa region’s share in India’s total imports from the World accounted for 8.12% in 2017-18. As per the latest available estimates, the current strength of the Indian Diaspora in the African countries is 2.8 million out of those 2.5 million are PIOs and rest 220967 are NRIs. Total overseas Indians are 30.83 million of which 17.83 million are PIOs and 13 million are NRIs. (Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, 2016). Indian Diaspora in Africa constitutes 9.11% of the total Diaspora of India. Opportunities for India It has the world’s largest land mass, 54 countries, a population growing to be almost equivalent to that of India, huge mineral resources, oil wealth, a youthful population, falling poverty levels and increasing consumption patterns. Africa has a huge demand for new business models for market entry, stable market access, entrepreneurship and investments in transport, telecom, tourism, financial services, real estate and construction. The major issues highlighted by the Indian Business Community in these 11 countries are: Improving the Line of Credit system and developing a facility for an affordable and competitive funding. Setting up of Indian Banks/financial institutions in Africa Enhanced Buyers’ Credit facility for promotion of trade between the two regions Reviewing and liberalizing visa policies from both sides Need for direct flights between the India and African countries Exploring the possibility of rupee trade to address the issue of shortage of dollars in region. Creation of common database of buyer-suppliers in the two regions for facilitating matchmaking for enhancement of bilateral trade. Development of a robust trade dispute settlement mechanism More frequent and structured country/sector specific trade exhibitions in Africa Establishment of country chapters of FICCI or CII in Africa Frequent visits of policy makers, chamber of commerce and investors for familiarization with local business and investment regime for informed decisions WTO Ministerial Meeting of Developing Countries Participants: Sixteen developing countries, Six Least Developed Countries (LDC)(Argentina, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Brazil, Central African Republic (CAR), Chad, China, Egypt, Guatemala, Guyana, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Malawi, Malaysia, Nigeria, Oman, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, Uganda)and DG Purpose: To sort out issues related to multilateral rule-based-trading system by bringing together the developing countries and Least Developed Countries on a single platform and work together to address these issues. In the recent past, there have been increasing unilateral measures and counter measures by members, deadlock in key areas of negotiations and the impasse in the Appellate Body, which threaten the very existence of Dispute Settlement Mechanism of the WTO and impact the position of the WTO as an effective multilateral organisation. The current situation has given rise to demands from various quarters to reform the WTO. This meeting also provides an opportunity to the developing countries and LDCs to build consensus on how to move forward on the WTO reforms, while preserving the fundamentals of the multilateral trading system enshrined in the WTO. The deliberations will aim at getting a direction on how to constructively engage on various issues in the WTO, both institutional and negotiating, in the run up to the Twelfth Ministerial Conference of the WTO to be held in Kazakhstan in June 2020. 20th Conference of Regional Heads of Customs Administration (RHCA) of Asia Pacific Region of the World Customs Organisation (WCO)  India hosted this Conference in its capacity as Vice-Chair of the Asia Pacific Region of WCO which it assumed on 1st July, 2018 for a two-year period. Purpose: The Conference took stock of the progress made in carrying forward the programmes and initiatives of WCO to promote, facilitate and secure cross-border trade in the Region and the capacity building and technical assistance required by Member Administrations to achieve these goals. Discussions on: The strategic priorities of the Asia Pacific Region Deliberated on the work programs of the Vice-Chair, ROCB & RILO Security related issues Trade facilitation E-commerce Performance measurement Trusted trader programmes Emerging technological and logistical challenges in the fields of trade facilitation and Customs Administrations The Conference also facilitated Bilateral Meetings between the Member States. India and China sign protocol for Export of Indian Chilli Meal Both sides appreciated each other’s concerns and agreed to resolve market access issues expeditiously in order to achieve the vision of the leaders of both India and China by promoting a more balanced trade. Protocols signed between India and China on Agricultural Commodities Mango Grapes Bitter Gourd Basmati rice & Non-Basmati Rice Rapeseed meal Fish meal/ Fish oil Tobacco Leaves Chilli Meal Launch of Fourth Scorpene Class Submarine – VELA Part of the ongoing ‘Make In India’ programme, which is being actively implemented by the Department of Defence Production (MoD) The submarine was towed to Mumbai Port Trust, for separation from the pontoon, after which she will undergo rigorous trials and tests, both in harbour and at sea before delivery to the Indian Navy. The Scorpene class of submarines can undertake multifarious tasks typically undertaken by any modern submarine which include anti-surface as well as anti-submarine warfare.

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