Jul 3, 2019 Important Articles

Orientation Session for POLITICAL SCIENCE by Mr. Rahul Saigaonker will be held on 6th July, 2019 (Saturday)

Orientation Session for POLITICAL SCIENCE by Mr. Rahul Saigaonker will be held on 6th July, 2019 (Saturday) 1 pm- 2.30 pm Choosing optional for Civil services mains exam is extremely crucial job. If you have decided that POLITICAL SCIENCE AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS (PSIR) is the subject for you, you have taken the right decision…!!!! If not then we can help you make an informed decision about PSIR as optional. PSIR is undoubtedly a good subject to choose as an optional. It has not only been a very popular optional but also a very safe and scoring optional. But for a beginner there is always a dilemma of how to start and if taking guidance is necessary due to the generalized nature of the syllabus. Many of them actually write their first answers in the mains exam and score below average marks as they lack guidance and proper application of concepts due to lack of due diligence. We at IASBABA are conducting an OPEN FOR ALL Orientation session on how to approach and plan for scoring high in Political science and international relations optional. The Session will be taken by Mr. Rahul Saigaonker, a topper himself in Political Science in UPSC 2016, MTech from NITK Surathkal, (MA Pol Sci). He has keen interest in 21st century Public policy issues and has 3 years of teaching experience.   KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THE ORIENTATION: Choosing right optional is very important in UPSC Mains. This orientation session will ensure You have clarity of thought before choosing optional of PSIR. Orientation will show you relevance of PSIR with reference to a career in civil services. We will explain in the orientation session on how to approach answer writing in PSIR mains to achieve high scores. Orientation will explain how PSIR has huge overlap with GS syllabus and how PSIR will help in preparation of General studies also. PSIR will also greatly help in developing better perspectives for Essay paper and Personality test. Doubt clearing session not just about PSIR but for UPSC CSE itself.   For Complete Details and Feedback of the of the Optional Classroom Programme - CLICK HERE   TIME and VENUE: The Orientation Session is OPEN FOR ALL!! 6th July, 2019 (Saturday) from 1 pm- 2.30 pm IASbaba, No. 1443/1444, Above Carzspa, 80 Ft. Main Road, Ganapathi Circle, Chandra Layout, Bengaluru- 560040   For any Queries: You can also reach us on Email id: support@iasbaba.com Mobile No.:   9205502677 / 8861246222   Thank You IASbaba

Jul 3, 2019 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

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

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 3rd July 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) U.P. move to shift 17 OBCs to SC list ‘unconstitutional’ Part of Prelims and mains GS II constitution and governance In news The Uttar Pradesh government decided to relist 17 OBCs (Other Backward Classes)in the Schedule Caste list. Union Ministry for Social Justice and Empowerment opposed the move of UP government stating it as unconstitutional. Under Article 341 sub clause (2) of the Constitution, the power to make changes in the SC list lay only with Parliament. Even the President of India does not have the power to tinker, alter or make changes in the list. Hong Kong protests undermine rule of law, social order: China Part of Prelims and mains GS II International events  In news People in Hong Kong are protesting over controversial Extradiation Bill. Beijing denies interfering, but for many Hong Kong residents, the extradition Bill is the latest step in a relentless march towards mainland control. China condemned violent protests in Hong Kong as an “undisguised challenge” to the formula under which the city is ruled. “One country two system” formula The former British colony of Hong Kong returned to China in 1997 under a “one country, two systems” formula that allows freedoms not enjoyed in mainland China, including freedom to protest and an independent judiciary. 1 July 2019 was the 22nd anniversary of the handover. About protest in Hong Kong  Millions of people have taken to the streets in the past few weeks to protest against the now-suspended extradition Bill that would allow people to be sent to mainland China to face trial in courts controlled by the Communist Party. Lawyers and rights groups say China’s justice system is marked by torture, forced confessions and arbitrary detention.  The business, diplomatic and legal communities fear the corrosion of the legal autonomy of Hong Kong and the difficulty of guaranteeing a fair trial in China. Lithium-ion giga units mooted Part of Prelims and mains GS III Science and Tech, Industry In news To push the adoption of electric mobility in the country, government think-tank NITI Aayog has proposed the establishment of giga factories in India for the manufacture of lithium-ion batteries in the next couple of years. The recommendation is part of the Aayog’s much debated proposal that only electric (lithium-ion or other advanced battery chemistry only) three-wheelers would be sold in the country after March 31, 2023, and all new sales of two-wheelers below 150cc would be electric post March 31, 2025. It is a sunrise industry and India needed to start building capabilities to become a globally competitive player in this area. (MAINS FOCUS) NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2 Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education, Human Resources. Lessons from Bhutan Introduction Bhutan has recently announced a policy wherein Bhutan’s teachers, doctors and other medical staff will earn more than civil servants of corresponding grades. This is a novel move as no other country has accorded teachers and doctors such pride of place in its government service, both in terms of remuneration and symbolism. About the policy The policy’s has been referred in Bhutan’s 12th Five Year Plan (2018-23), published by its Gross National Happiness Commission, the country’s highest policy-making body. The commission’s strategy is to achieve desired national outcomes through education. The strategy opens with the notation, “making teaching a profession of choice”. Therefore the proposal aims to achieve the country’s human developmental objectives. The decision also comes in the wake of high levels of teacher attrition. Clearly, the government has formulated the policy to put a stop to such fall in numbers of teachers. Significance As per The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) there is distinct correlation between student outcomes in a country and the status that its teachers enjoy.  Further already Bhutan spends about 7.5% of its GDP on education. The fiscal implications of the new salary structure are unclear now. OECD’s ‘Education at a Glance 2018’ report says that, “The quality of education can be a strong predictor of a country’s economic prosperity". Can India afford a similar policy? India currently spends about 3% of its GDP on education, accounting for about 10% of the Centre’s and States’ budgetary expenses and salaries of teachers and other staff constitute a large portion of this expenditure. The NITI Aayog in its report last year recommended that India raise this to 6% of GDP by 2022. Paying teachers significantly higher salaries may seem like a difficult task, but the Central and State governments could consider rationalising both teacher recruitment and allocation of funds to existing programmes. Some programmes may have outlived their purpose, while others could be better directed. In fact, improving accountability in the system could lead to reduction in cost. A World Bank study found that teacher absenteeism in India was nearly 24%, which costs the country about $1.5 billion annually. Absenteeism could be the result of many factors, including teachers taking up a second job or farming to boost incomes, providing parental or nursing care in the absence of support systems, or lacking motivation. Hence, the incentive of a desirable income with strong accountability, can help mitigate many ills that plague the system, free fiscal space and help meet important national developmental objectives. Further, implementing a policy may be easier in a smaller State such as Delhi. Education is a key focus area for the Delhi government; the State invests 26% of its annual budget in the sector (much more than the national average).  The administration has also worked on improving teacher motivation as a strategy for better educational outcomes. The base has been set.  Moreover, since the State is highly urban and well-connected, it would be easier to enforce accountability measures. Conclusion No investment that enables an educated, healthy, responsible and happy community can be deemed too high by any society. Improving teacher status by offering top notch salaries to attract the best to the profession could be that revolutionary policy-step forward, which Bhutan has shown a willingness to take. Connecting the dots: The quality of education can be a strong predictor of a country’s economic prosperity. Substantiate. NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2 Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to health, etc. Don’t blame the litchi: On deaths in Bihar Introduction Muzaffarpur in Bihar is famous for litchis and infamous for children dying due to annual seasonal brain disease outbreaks. Outbreakes  The common brain diseases in children with high mortality are meningitis, encephalitis and encephalopathy.  These three have clear-cut differences and very different treatments. Trained paediatricians know how to distinguish the three.  If diagnostic criteria are not applied for various reasons, then the three are not distinguished by doctors.  That is when an easy diagnostic term covering all three — “acute encephalitis syndrome” (AES) is used. Viral attack or Encephalopathy The disease description; Only under-nourished children are affected;  Only children between two and 10 years are affected  The onset of convulsions and unconsciousness is always between 4 am and 7 am These are clear pointers against any virus infection causing the disease. Viruses, including JE, do not respect nutritional status, age and diurnal rhythm. Encephalopathy (Brain disease) The early morning onset and frequent finding of low blood glucose level (hypoglycaemia) point to a biochemical disease related to glucose metabolism.  Several hours after food intake (early morning) is when the body tends to develop hypoglycaemia. In addition, there is brain swelling caused by toxic damage to brain cells — encephalopathy, specifically, “hypoglycaemic encephalopathy”.  If the fasting interval is longer than 6-7 hours, because some children were not given a night meal, the situation becomes more severe. Malnourished children do not have glucose reserves in the liver, which makes matters worse. Moreover, many children were referred to Muzaffarpur medical college, and the long delay in reaching there resulted in many deaths. Prevention is simple, as is treatment. Prevention is possible In 2016 and 2017, a simple intervention — all grass root health workers consistently teaching rural families not to allow children sleep without a cooked meal — had brought down the case numbers drastically. If doctors had treated the sick and unconscious children with a 10 per cent glucose infusion within four hours of onset, all the children would have recovered.  The high blood glucose level created with 10 per cent glucose actually turns off the fatty acid oxidation cycle immediately, so no more amino acids accumulate to further damage brain cells. Malnutrition and Litchies The external stimulus that blocks the fatty acid oxidation cycle for glucose synthesis is methylene cyclo-propyl glycine, present in the edible pulp of litchies.  Normally-nourished children or adults suffer no adverse effects from litchis. Only when malnutrition and skipping the night meal come together does the litchi eaten the previous day become the last straw. The socio-behavioural risk factors are the real cause of the outbreak.  Where litchi orchards and gross malnutrition are not superimposed, like in Punjab and Haryana, hypoglycemic encephalopathy is not a problem. Way forward Following interventions can reduce the impact of outbreak; Training of the doctors for immediate treatment Increase in availability of health care services within the reach of patients  Curbing malnutrition Addressing the socio-behavioral risk factors Connecting the dots: The outbreak of "acute encephalitis syndrome" in Bihar is preventable healthcare disaster. comment. (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note:  Featured Comments and comments Up-voted by IASbaba are the “correct answers”. IASbaba App users – Team IASbaba will provide correct answers in comment section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers. Q.1) “one country, two systems” formula recently seen in news is related to, North Korea and South Korea China and Tiwan China and Hong Kong  None of the above Q.2) Consider the following statements Under Article 341 sub clause (2) of the Constitution, the power to make changes in the Scheduled castes’ list lay only with Parliament. Any such changes require prior recommendations of state government Select the incorrect statements Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 MUST READ Ocean’s eleven Indian Express Reclaiming the space of non-violence The Hindu Not by wishful thinking The Hindu

Jul 3, 2019 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz - 2020 : IAS Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 18

UPSC Quiz - 2020 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 18 Archives Q.1) The terms SWEEKAR and SWAGAT is associated with Skill Development for engineering graduates National Common Mobility Card Rainwater harvesting Electric & Hybrid Vehicles  Q.2) Consider the following statements with respect to ‘Côte d'Ivoire’ It is a landlocked country in Central Africa It was never colonized by any European country Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) Consider the following statements with respect to ‘Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan’ It aims at fostering creativity and enquiry within the areas of sciences, mathematics and technology. Under Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan, government schools are mentored by Institutes like IITs/ IIMs/ IISERs and other Central Universities and reputed organisations through innovative programmes, student exchanges, demonstrations, student visits, etc. Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.4) Consider the following statements with respect to ‘fortification of foods’ It does not require any changes in eating patterns or food habits of people. It does not alter the characteristics of the food like the taste, aroma or the texture of the food. Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.5) The Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve extends across the states of Odisha Madhya Pradesh Chhattisgarh Select the correct code: 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above To Download the Solution - Click here All the Best  IASbaba

Jul 2, 2019 Important Articles

Orientation Session for SOCIOLOGY OPTIONAL by Dr. Vamshi Krishna will be held on 6th July, 2019 (Saturday)

Orientation Session for SOCIOLOGY OPTIONAL by Dr. Vamshi Krishna will be held on 6th July, 2019 (Saturday) 11 am- 12.30 noon  Sociology since the beginning has not only been a popular optional but also a very safe and scoring optional. But for a beginner there is always a dilemma of how to start and if taking guidance is necessary due to the generalised nature of the syllabus Many of them actually write their first answers in the mains exam and score below average marks as they lack guidance and proper application of concepts due to lack of due diligence. We at IASBABA are conducting an OPEN FOR ALL Orientation session on how to approach and plan for scoring high in Sociology optional. The Session will be taken by Dr. Vamshi Krishna Sir (a Topper himself in Sociology in UPSC 2014, 2015), BDS, M.A (Sociology) Working as Assistant Administrative officer at CSIR NAL. Associated with IASBABA since its inception. Dr.Vamshi writes on social issues on blogs. Regular contributor to Research gate and Academia.edu on social issues useful for researchers and social scientists.   KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THE ORIENTATION: As many of you know the importance of optional in ensuring your success in the UPSC mains This orientation session will ensure That you have complete clarity of thought regarding the importance of sociology. How to tackle sociology answer writing. How sociology can be useful in ensuring high marks in Essay, GS-1 and Ethics.(only optional with guaranteed multidimensional application) How to have a sociological bent of mind to ensure conceptual clarity so that any kind of dynamic questions can be faced. Sociology is interesting, fun and highly scoring if preparation is done in the right way.   For Complete Details and Feedback of the of the Optional Classroom Programme - CLICK HERE   TIME and VENUE: The Orientation Session is OPEN FOR ALL!! 6th July, 2019 (Saturday) from 11 am- 12.30 noon  IASbaba, No. 1443/1444, Above Carzspa, 80 Ft. Main Road, Ganapathi Circle, Chandra Layout, Bengaluru- 560040   For any Queries: You can also reach us on Email id: support@iasbaba.com Mobile No.:  7013478281/9966152157 ( Office Timings: 10 am – 5 pm)   Thank You IASbaba

Jul 2, 2019 RSTV Video

RSTV IAS UPSC – India at G20 Summit 2019

India at G20 Summit 2019 Archives TOPIC: General Studies 2: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate. Eleven years after its creation, the Group of 20 (G-20) has emerged as an important forum of most of the world’s systemically important economies. Iran is among the very few important countries left out. India made its mark within the G-20 from its very inception with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh being one of the important voices at the first three summit meetings in 2008-09. As the host of the 2022 summit, India has a stake in ensuring the continued relevance of G-20 for global policy. The G20 Summit concluded in Japan’s Osaka Saturday after two days of hectic meetings, bilateral talks and series of dialogues between leaders of top 20 economies of the world. On the final day of the summit, 19 countries committed to the Paris climate agreement, with the US reiterating President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the pact “because it disadvantages American workers and taxpayers”. After Osaka, New Delhi will become part of the troika that includes the next of set of G20 chairs - Saudi Arabia (2020), Italy (2021) and India (2022). Takeaways from the G20 Summit India-US Meet Leaders of both the countries acknowledged the breadth and depth of bilateral ties, including economic, trade, energy, defence and security, counterterrorism and space. They reiterated their commitment to provide strong leadership to address global challenges and build prosperity for their citizens in the decades to come. India on Iran: It is in India’s fundamental interest to maintain peace and stability in the region. India’s interests in the region: Indian diaspora in the region Energy requirements Economic interest in the region India’s stand on 5G and data storage: On technological issues such as data storage and 5G network, India ranged itself across the divide from Japan and the U.S., and alongside leaders of BRICS (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa). The need for framing rules on data within the WTO and not at the G-20, running counter to Japan’s initiative as the host of this year’s G-20 summit, to push for “Data Free Flow with Trust, (DFFT)”. Prime minister Modi refered data as a “new form of wealth”. On the issue of 5G technology, where the U.S. has demanded that countries ban Chinese telecom major Huawei’s 5G network because of its ability to spy on them, India had given no assurances to US. Terrorism as the biggest threat to humanity: Describing terrorism as the biggest threat to humanity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the scourge not only kills innocents but also severely affects economic development and social stability. There is a need to stop all the mediums of support to terrorism and racism. On Disaster Management: Modi also invited the G20 countries to join a global coalition on disaster resilience, saying disasters require quick and effective remedial measures as they invariably affect the poor the most. 19 countries vow support to Paris agreement: In the final communique at the G20, world leaders vowed to tackle climate change, which is showing its impact globally with rising temperatures and ever-changing weather patterns. Japan has pushed for the Osaka summit to become a landmark for progress on environmental issues, including tackling the global problem of plastic waste and recommitting to efforts to counter climate change. Tackling ocean plastic waste Group of 20 Environment Ministers agreed to adopt a new implementation framework for actions to tackle the issue of marine plastic waste on a global scale. One of the top issues was ocean plastic waste as images of plastic debris-strewn beaches and dead animals with stomachs full of plastic have sparked outrage with many countries banning plastic bags outright. The new framework is aimed at facilitating further concrete action on marine waste, though on a voluntary basis, after the G20 Hamburg Summit in Germany adopted the “G20 action plan on marine litter” in 2017. Life-cycle approach Under the new framework, G20 members will promote a comprehensive life-cycle approach to prevent and reduce plastic litter discharge to the oceans through various measures and international cooperation. They will also share best practices, promote innovation and boost scientific monitoring and analytical methodologies. US-China trade talks dominate Summit: Trump said he would not lift existing import tariffs but would refrain from slapping new levies on an additional $300 billion worth of Chinese goods – which would have effectively extended tariffs to everything China exports to America. China warns of ‘severe threats’ to global order: China also held a meeting with three African leaders and said protectionism and “bullying” were threatening the world order Three major challenges highlighted at the Summit Instability and downfall in the global economy. Unilateralism and competitiveness are overshadowing the rule-based multilateral global trade systems. The second challenge is to make development sustainable and all-inclusive. Terrorism is the third major challenge. With Saudi Arabia hosting the next G-20 in 2020, followed by Italy in 2021, all eyes will soon turn to the agenda India plans to highlight when it holds the G-20 summit in 2022. Many global challenges, such as climate change and its impact, the balance between the needs for speed and national security with 5G networks being introduced, as well as technology-driven terrorism, will become even more critical for the grouping, and the government must articulate its line. India should lead the exercise in making the G-20 more effective in dealing with some of the inequities in its system. The G-20 is an important platform to discuss pressing issues, and it must not be detracted from its original purpose of promoting sustainable growth and financial stability by grandstanding by one or two members. Brief on G20 G20: The G20 (or Group of Twenty) is an international forum for the governments and central bank governors from 19 countries and the European Union. It was founded in 1999 with the aim to discuss policy pertaining to the promotion of international financial stability. India: Member of G20 Other members: The G20, short for “Group of 20”, is made up of 19 countries: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States, plus the European Union. Spain is a permanent guest and always participates in the G20 summits. Together, the G20 members represent – Two thirds of the world population. 85% of the global gross product. 75% of international trade. 80% of global investments in research and development. Because the G-20 is a forum, its agreements or decisions have no legal impact, but they do influence countries’ policies and global cooperation. Why was the G20 created? The G20 was conceived in 1999, while the repercussions of the Asian financial crisis of 1997 still lasted. The committee’s inaugural meeting took place in Berlin in December 1999. In a meeting of finance ministers and presidents of central banks of the G7, it was decided to expand the group and make it more representative in order to generate policies that have an impact In the economy. They decided to invite a group of key emerging economies to a new forum of finance ministers and presidents of Central Banks, which would later become the G20. With the start of the global financial crisis of 2008, the G20 became the main instrument to face the debacle. And for that it was essential to involve the highest ranking officials. Thereafter, presidents and heads of state joined the G20. Note: India will chair the G20 in 2022 for the first time; coinciding with the country’s 75th anniversary of Independence. The G20 Troika: Every year, when a new country assumes the presidency (Argentina in 2018), it works hand in hand with the previous presidency (Germany) and the next presidency (Japan) in what is known as the troika. This ensures continuity in the group’s agenda. Where is the G20 headquarters? The G20 does not have permanent offices or employees. The country that presides over the group (in a year) takes care of all the organization and the logistical coordination of the meetings. Connecting the Dots: What is mandate of G20? How does it help India to achieve its bilateral objectives? Discuss. Is G20 really what the world really needs? Or is this merely a club where leaders meet annually to issue insipid and irrelevant communiqués? Examine

Jul 2, 2019 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

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

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 2nd July 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) AFSPA in Nagaland extended Part of: GS Prelims and Mains Paper II and III – Polity, Governance issues and Internal Security In News: The Ministry of Home Affairs has extended the operation Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in Nagaland for another six months.  The Centre had declared the state a “disturbed area” to extend the Act. Important Value Additions: About Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) AFSPA was enacted in 1958 to bring under control what the government of India considered ‘disturbed’ areas. The state or central government considers those areas as ‘disturbed’ by reason of differences or disputes between members of different religious, racial, language or regional groups or castes or communities. Section (3) of AFSPA empowers the governor of the state/Union territory to issue an official notification declaring the state or a region within as a “disturbed area”, after which the centre can decide whether to send in armed forces. Do you know? The AFSPA offers powers to the Army and Central forces deployed in disturbed areas to kill anyone acting in contravention of law, arrest and search any premises without a warrant.  These armed forces are immune from prosecution unless Union Government provides sanction to the prosecuting agencies. Currently, AFSPA Act, 1958 is operational in the whole of Nagaland, Assam, Manipur (excluding seven assembly constituencies of Imphal) and parts of Arunachal Pradesh. Panel of CMs to suggest agriculture reforms Part of: Main GS Paper III – Government Policies & Interventions; Agriculture In News: The Centre has set up a high powered committee of seven chief ministers, led by Maharashtra’s CM as its convenor, to suggest measures to transform Indian agriculture and raise farmers’ income. Terms of reference (ToR) of the panel The panel will suggest on modalities for adoption and time-bound implementation of two key model Acts (a) agriculture market reforms act and (b) contract farming act by the states. The panel will also examine various provisions of Essential Commodity Act (ECA),1955 and suggest a mechanism for linking of market reforms with e-NAM, GRAM and other relevant centrally sponsored schemes. The panel will also recommend policy measures to boost agricultural exports, raise growth in food processing and attract investments in modern market infrastructure, value chains and logistics. The panel will also suggest measures to upgrade agri-technology to global standards and improve access of farmers to quality seed and proposing any other relevant reforms for transformation of agriculture sector and raising farmers income. The panel will also study various proposals of the inter-ministerial committee on Doubling Farmers’ Income (DFI) which had suggested specific action points for reforms in the farm and allied sector. EWS quota: SC to hear pleas for Constitution Bench Part of: Main GS Paper II– Indian Polity – Constitution and Amendment; Fundamental Rights In News: The Supreme Court has agreed to hear plea to have a Constitution Bench to examine the validity of a constitutional amendment providing 10% economic reservation in government jobs and educational institutions. The Constitution (103rd Amendment) Act provides for 10% reservation in government jobs and educational institutions for the economically weaker section in the unreserved category.  The Act amends Article 15 and 16 to provide for reservation based on economic backwardness. Do you know? The petitioner has said that economic reservation violated the 50% reservation ceiling limit fixed by a nine-judge Bench in the Indra Sawhney case. Further,the 1992 judgment had barred reservation solely on economic criterion. The petitioner has also said that the bill violates the basic feature of the Constitution as reservation on economic grounds cannot be limited to the general category. The Centre has defended the amendment by stating that the newly inserted provisions are in conformity with the principle of affirmative action. The government said that the argument that EWS quota will breach 50% limit of reservation is not true as this limit imposed by the Supreme Court in Indira Sawhney case is not applicable after constitution amendment.  The Centre also negates the petitioners argument that reservation cannot be provided only on the basis of economic criteria. It highlighted that several Committees have been set up wherein quantifiable data has been collected highlighting the need for having reservation for the economically weaker sections of the society.  Go Tribal campaign Part of: GS Prelims and Mains Paper II – Issues Related to SCs & STs Key PT pointers: The campaign aims to create awareness and promote tribal arts and crafts as aid in socio economic welfare of over 700 Indian tribes. Central focus: The Tribal Affairs Ministry and Trifed has launched the Go tribal campaign in association with Amazon Global. The event also saw the global Launch of Tribes India through Amazon Global Selling under which Tribes India and Amazon Global Marketing will launch TRIBES India products globally. Note: The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) was established in 1987. The basic objective of the TRIFED is to provide good price to the products made or collected from the forest by the tribal peoples. International Whaling Commission (IWC) Part of: GS Prelims and Mains Paper III – Coastal Security; Environment and Biodiversity; Conservation of biodiversity In News: Japan has resumed commercial whale hunts after more than three decades.  This came after Japan has withdrawn from the International Whaling Commission in 2018. About International Whaling Commission (IWC) IWC is an international body set up under the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW). It aims to provide for the proper conservation of whale stocks and thus make possible the orderly development of the whaling industry. The main duty of the IWC is to keep under review and revise as necessary the measures laid down in the Schedule to the Convention which govern the conduct of whaling throughout the world. The commercial whaling was banned by the IWC in 1986 after some species were almost driven to extinction. IWC consists of 89 countries and all the member countries are signatories to this convention.India is a member of the IWC. Miscellaneous: Body cameras for cops  Delhi High Court asked the Centre and the Delhi government to consider the suggestion of an advocate for providing body cameras to police officials to monitor their conduct as also of the public. (Example for Police Reforms) Body cameras will help to monitor and ensure proper conduct, behaviour of officials as well as public and to ensure foolproof and transparent prosecution in case of any violation. Do you know? ‘Police brutality’ is a civil rights violation that occurs when a police officer acts with excessive force by using an amount of force with regards to a civilian that is more than necessary. App to track your carbon footprint to be launched Maharashtra government to launch app that will track citizens’ carbon footprint and reward those who achieve an emission neutral status. The move aims to reduce pollution and carbon emission in Maharashtra. The idea of the app was initiated after Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised international organisations to bring India’s pollution levels to 2005 levels by 2030.  The footprints of an individual, as per the app, will include his use of electricity, air conditioning, kitchen activities among others. Do you know? India has, as part of the Paris Summit, promised to reduce green house gas emission by 20% to 25%. (MAINS FOCUS) NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2 Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education, Human Resources.  It’s time to act, not do more research: On National Education Policy Background Government has begun to rethink of higher education policies through the draft NEP (National Education Policy) and EQUIP (Education Quality Upgradation and Inclusion Programme).  Before this draft education policy and EQUIP, there are many reports aimed at improving higher education in independent India such as Radhakrishnan Commission of 1949, the National Education Policies of 1968 and 1986, the Yashpal Committee of 2009, the National Knowledge Commission in 2007, etc. Recommendations of most of these reports are similar. Therefore the time, energy and resources that EQUIP will require can be better spent on implementing rather than further research. Challenges before Current Higher Education System Inadequate allocation of funds Higher education in India has been chronically underfunded — it spends less than most other BRICS countries on higher education. Inadequate funding is evident at all levels. The last Budget allocated only ₹37,461 crore for the higher education sector.  Other related ministries and departments such as Space, Scientific and Industrial Research, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Science and Technology, Health Research and Agricultural Research have been allocated only modest support.  Funding for basic research, which is largely a Central government responsibility, lags behind peer countries. Low enrollment and Non completion At present, India’s gross enrolment ratio is 25.8%, significantly behind China’s 51% or much of Europe and North America, where 80% or more young people enroll in higher education. India’s challenge is even greater because half of the population is under 25 years of age. It is interesting to note that while the draft NEP aims at increasing the gross enrolment ratio to at least 50% by 2035, EQUIP targets doubling the gross enrolment ratio to 52% by 2024. The challenge is not only to enrol students, but to ensure that they can graduate. Non-completion is a serious problem in the sector. Standard of quality of education It is universally recognised that much of Indian higher education is of relatively poor quality. Employers often complain that they cannot hire graduates without additional training.  Poor quality and commercial interests of private sector The private sector is a key part of the equation. India has the largest number of students in private higher education in the world. But much of private higher education is of poor quality and commercially oriented. Structure and governance of higher education system There is too much bureaucracy at all levels, and in some places, political and other pressures are immense. Professors have little authority and the hand of government and managements is too heavy. At the same time, accountability for performance is generally lacking. Way forward India needs; Dramatically increased funding from diverse sources, and the NEP’s recommendation for a new National Research Foundation is a welcome step in this direction;  Significantly increased access to post-secondary education, but with careful attention to both quality and affordability, and with better rates of degree completion;  Longitudinal studies on student outcomes;  To develop “world class” research-intensive universities, so that it can compete for the best brains, produce top research, and be fully engaged in the global knowledge economy;  To ensure that the private higher education sector works for the public good; To develop a differentiated and integrated higher education system, with institutions serving manifold societal and academic needs;  Reforms in the governance of college and universities to permit autonomy and innovation at the institutional level; Better coordination between the University Grants Commission and ministries and departments involved in higher education, skill development, and research. Connecting the dots: What are the challenges before current higher education system of India? Critically analyse in context of draft national education policy 2019. NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2 Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Human Resources, etc. Self care in India: Miles to go Introduction World Health Organization has released self-help guidelines for sexual and reproductive health.  Need of self care With the ability to prevent disease, maintain health and cope with illness and disability with or without reliance on health-care workers, self-care interventions are gaining more importance.  Millions of people, including in India, face the twin problems of acute shortage of healthcare workers and lack of access to essential health services.  According to WHO reports over 400 million across the world already lack access to essential health services and there will be a shortage of about 13 million health-care workers by 2035. About Self care Self-care would mean different things for people living in very diverse conditions.  While it would mean convenience, privacy and ease for people belonging to the upper strata who have easy access to healthcare facilities anytime, for those living in conditions of vulnerability and lack access to health care, it becomes the primary, timely and reliable form of care.  The WHO recognises self-care interventions as a means to expand access to health services. Soon, the WHO would expand the guidelines to include other self-care interventions, including for prevention and treatment of non-communicable diseases. Self care in India Pregnancy and abortion India has some distance to go before making self-care interventions for sexual and reproductive health freely available to women.  Home-based pregnancy testing is the most commonly used self-help diagnostics in this area in India. Interventions include self-managed abortions using approved drugs that can be had without the supervision of a healthcare provider. While the morning-after pills are available over the counter, mifepristone and misoprostol are scheduled drugs and need a prescription from a medical practitioner, thus defeating the very purpose of the drugs.  HIV self test The next commonly consumed drug to prevent illness and disease is the pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention. India is yet to come up with guidelines for PrEP use and include it in the national HIV prevention programme. One of the reasons why people shy away from getting tested for HIV is stigma and discrimination. The home-based testing provides privacy. WHO approved the HIV self-test to improve access to HIV diagnosis in 2016. Conclusion Self-care, which mostly happens outside the formal health system, is nothing new. India has some distance to cover before making self-care interventions freely available. Connecting the dots: Self-care interventions can act as a means to expand access to health services. Comment. (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note:  Featured Comments and comments Up-voted by IASbaba are the “correct answers”. IASbaba App users – Team IASbaba will provide correct answers in comment section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers. Q.1) With reference to Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), which of the following statements is/are incorrect? AFSPA is currently operational in Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir Section (3) of the AFSPA empowers the governor of the state or Union Territory to declare a region ‘disturbed’  Select the correct statements Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2) Consider the following statements: Index of Industrial Production (IIP) is released by the Central Statistics office. The Eight Core Industries comprise more than 60% of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) Select the correct statements Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) Consider the following statements about International Whaling Commission (IWC) India is a member of the IWC It is one of the United Nations Agencies It acts under the Law of the Sea Convention Select the INCORRECT statements 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above MUST READ Lessons from Bhutan The Hindu GST: Two years on, birth pangs have been addressed, the system has stabilised Indian Express Imitation registry: on Nagaland NRC The Hindu

Jul 2, 2019 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz - 2020 : IAS Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 17

UPSC Quiz - 2020 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 17 Archives Q.1) Consider the following statements with respect to ‘International Whaling Commission (IWC)’ It allows non-zero whaling quotas for aboriginal subsistence Japan is the only country who opposes a moratorium on commercial whaling adopted by IWC Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2) ‘Cirrochroa thais’ was in news recently. It is a State Butterfly of  Maharashtra Tamil Nadu Sikkim Arunachal Pradesh Q.3) Which of the following countries are members of ‘International Security Alliance’? United Arab Emirates France India Singapore Select the correct code: 1 and 2 Only 1, 2 and 3 2 and 3 1,2 and 4 Q.4) ‘ISALEX’ is joint security exercise of  Shanghai Cooperation organisation International Security Alliance European Union Gulf Cooperation Council Q.5) Consider the following statements with respect to ‘Strum Ataka’ It is an anti-tank missile It is being developed jointly by India and Israel Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 To Download the Solution - Click here All the Best  IASbaba

Jul 1, 2019 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 1st July 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 1st July 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) GST enters its third year Part of Mains GS III Indian Economy In news: The Goods and Services Tax (GST) has entered its third year. There is a need to ease the complexity surrounding procedures, especially with regard to registration and return filing. Addressing procedural complexities of the GST portal system, implementation concerns and making compliance easier will further accelerate ease of doing business for industry in India A key highlight of the new indirect tax system, according to trade bodies, has been the way the GST Council, the nodal body deciding rates and procedures, has addressed industry’s concerns and modified rules to make the system easier. While the proactive manner in which the GST Council has addressed concerns has put industry at ease, there are still several procedural issues that need resolution.  (MAINS FOCUS) NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 1 Changes in critical geographical features(including water-bodies and ice-caps) and the effects of such changes. General studies 3 Environmental degradation and conservation Things to do to avoid another water crisis Introduction  Chennai has been reeling under its worst water crisis in decades with its four main reservoirs nearly empty. Groundwater too has been over extracted. Background Rainwater harvesting is mandatory in Tamil Nadu since 2003. This meant that building approval for new apartments and dwellings were not to be granted by the Chennai City Corporation unless the building plan included a RWH component. The order also mandated that all existing buildings in Tamil Nadu install RWH structures. Sixteen years later, an audit by the non-governmental organisation Rain Centre has shown that most government buildings in Chennai do not have a functioning RWH structure; these include several police stations and municipality buildings.  Do you know? Rain Water Harvesting  Rain water harvesting is collection and storage of rain water that runs off from roof tops, parks, roads, open grounds, etc. This water run-off can be either stored or recharged into the ground water. Suggestions to solve water crisis Need for water governance According to a recent NITI Aayog report, 21 Indian cities will run out of groundwater by 2020 if usage continues at the current rate. Water governance in cities across India has been ad hoc.  Learning their lessons from the Chennai crisis, other metropolitan cities should now set up urban water planning and management boards, a permanent body similar to urban development authorities, that regulate the supply, demand and maintenance of water services and structures. The authorities shall monitor and regulate groundwater supply in these metropolitan areas.  Desalination plants must also be set up especially in coastal cities to increase drinkable supply of water for citizens.  Increased supply of drinking water will reduce the dependency on water tankers which in times of crisis charge exorbitant prices.  Considering opinion of experts, beds of existing lakes can be deepened for greater water storage and better water percolation.  The urban water management board should also oversee the desilting of lakes in the city on a regular basis.         Water Tariff Government can apply water tariff on the line of electricity supply especially in areas where there is extreme water crisis.  Government can apply differential pricing and cross-subsidise households based on per capita income and water usage.  Practices adopted across the world  We can benefit from best practices adopted in cities across the world facing severe water crisis. For eg. Cape Town introduced the idea of Day Zero to reduce water usage and manage water consumption as per need. Day Zero refers to when most of the city’s tap will be switched off.  Nal se Jal Scheme  Providing drinking water to all households including rural areas is an important mission for the new government and in this regard Nal se Jal scheme aims to provide piped drinking water to every rural home by 2024.  Jal Shakti Abhiyan The Centre is set to initiate the Jal Shakti Abhiyan to ramp up rainwater harvesting and conservation efforts in 255 water-stressed districts from July 1, in line with the government’s promise to focus on water. Though water is a State issue, the campaign will be coordinated by 255 central IAS officers of Joint or Additional Secretary-rank, drawn from ministries as varied as Space, Petroleum and Defence, according to a notification issued by the Department of Personnel and Training. The campaign will run from July 1 to September 15 in States receiving rainfall during the south-west monsoon, while States receiving rainfall in the retreating or north-east monsoon will be covered from October 1 to November 30.  It would aim to accelerate water harvesting, conservation and borewell recharge activities along with existing water body restoration and afforestation schemes. Progress would be monitored in real time through mobile applications and an online dashboard at indiawater.gov.in A major communications campaign on TV, radio, print, local and social media will be carried out, with celebrities mobilized to generate awareness for the campaign. Conclusion The issue with any crisis in India is the fire-fighting strategy that we adopt in response as opposed to systematised solutions. These stop-gap arrangements are soon forgotten when things temporarily go back to normal instead of making an attempt to deeply ingrain these practices in the system.  The scarcity of essential resources not only leads to economic losses but also social unrest. A sustainable governance solution to this problem along with public participation is essential to ensure that our future generations do not suffer as a result of our failures. Connecting the dots: Comment on the need of Water governance in India. NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors Development processes and the development industry Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance, applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential A digital power Introduction The visionary initiative of Digital India was launched in 2015. Digital India strives to bring inclusive growth and bridge the digital divide by leveraging technology solutions that are low cost, developmental, transformative and designed to empower ordinary Indians. Four years down the line, the success of Digital India is finding global resonance and its transformative character is being appreciated. Achievements of Digital India Internet connectivity One of the largest digital infrastructures of the world was conceived to connect all the 250,000 gram panchayats by a high-speed optical fiber network.  Today with 3.40 lakh km of optical fiber laid, Bharat Net has reached 1.29 lakh gram panchayats.  India of 2019 is recognised as a country with the second largest internet user base, and which offers internet access, data and mobile at the cheapest tariffs in the world. Aadhaar and Mobile Aadhaar-based eKYC has made it easy to open bank accounts or to get instant mobile SIMs without any paperwork.  The Aadhaar-linked universal account number (UAN) has made it a hassle free transfer of provident fund deposits. The eHospital services have made it easy to take online appointments in 322 major hospitals.  The UMANG mobile app has created a mega digital mobile platform where 362 services of 18 states and the union government can be accessed in 13 Indian languages. Online scholarships, e-Visa, soil health cards etc. have made the delivery of services faster. The trinity of Jan Dhan, Aadhaar and Mobile (JAM) has facilitated direct benefit transfers of financial entitlements of various government schemes directly into the bank accounts of beneficiaries.  This has resulted in saving of Rs 1.41 lakh crore of tax payers’ money by plugging leakages, curbing corruption and eliminating fake beneficiaries. PMGDISHA The world’s largest digital literacy programme, the Pradhan Mantri Grameen Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA), which aims to train six crore rural adults, has trained 2.21 crore beneficiaries. Common Service Centres  Retired persons can withdraw their pensions from common service centres (CSC) in villages by making a simple biometric authentication. About 3.76 lakh CSCs started offering a wide variety of digital services like banking, insurance, utility bill payment, pension, MGNREGA wage payments, ticket booking, digital skilling, public Wi-Fi in villages, tele-medicine services and are playing a key role in developing digital villages.  This has created a new breed of rural digital entrepreneurs across the country, and have created 12 lakh jobs locally. Digital payments  In March, 2019, the total number of digital payment transactions hit an all-time high of 332.34 crore. India’s home grown fin-tech innovation, BHIM-UPI, whose humble beginning in December, 2016, is scaling new heights of popularity. IT industry and BPO To promote the IT industry beyond a few big urban clusters, and to provide IT jobs to youth in semi-urban areas, a humble beginning was made under the BPO promotion scheme.  Today 202 BPO centres at 100 locations across India are giving jobs to thousands of young men and women. Electronics manufacturing Electronics manufacturing in India has doubled in last few years. India was home to only two mobile phone manufacturing units in 2014. Now, India stands tall in the global community as the second largest mobile phone manufacturer, with 268 mobile handset and accessories manufacturing units having started functioning in last five years. Future Skills  Changes in the economy due to growing digitisation will also require frequent training and retraining of human resources. Future Skills online platform has been launched for continuous skill development and upgradation of workforce. Way forward Digital initiatives like smart cities, digitisation of governance, digital villages, high speed internet in every part of India, digital inclusion and digital empowerment shall be fueled by emerging technologies like the internet of things, data analytics and artificial intelligence. The next level of digitisation in governance will strive to digitise internal processes of the government. The use of data analytics and artificial intelligence will also help in effective monitoring of performance and develop system automation for future. Besides friendly policies, the government shall strive to explore more ways to improve participation of India’s startups in the digital transformation.  India’s growing digital profile has made it a data powerhouse. A personal data protection law should be brought soon that will not only address the privacy concerns of individuals, curb misuse of personal data, but will also be an enabler for creating a vibrant data economy. Conclusion Creating a faceless, paperless, cashless and digital interface between government and citizens has immensely helped in curbing corruption, delays in service delivery and leakages. India has taken a leap towards digital transformation. Its successes in leveraging digital technologies for transforming governance and lives of ordinary Indians is being appreciated by the world. Connecting the dots: India is emerging as a data powerhouse. Comment in the light of achievements of 'Digital India'. (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note:  Featured Comments and comments Up-voted by IASbaba are the “correct answers”. IASbaba App users – Team IASbaba will provide correct answers in comment section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers. Q.1) The Jal Shakti Abhiyan mission is related to, Water harvesting and conservation. It is a mission against agencies running illegal water tankers. Checking encroachment of water bodies. None of the above Q.2) Consider the following statements about Nal se Jal scheme It aims to provide piped drinking water to households in rural areas. It aims to do so by 2024. Select the Correct statements Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 MUST READ Start with preventive care The Hindu A thumbs down to unilateralism The Hindu It’s time to act, not do more research The Hindu Be soft, smart and quite Indian Express

Jul 1, 2019 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz - 2020 : IAS Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 16

UPSC Quiz - 2020 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 16 Archives Q.1) Consider the following statements with respect to ‘PUNCH Mission’ It is a joint mission by ISRO and JAXA. It is aimed at clearing space debris around Indian and Japanese Satellites and make way for Indian workable space station. Select the correct statements 1 Only  2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2) Consider the following statements with respect to ‘United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC)’ It is legally binding in nature UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) serves as Secretariat for the UNCAC. It does not address the cross-border nature of corruption Select the correct statements 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above Q.3) Which of the following statements is/are correct? In India capital punishment is a statutory provision. The 20th Law Commission in 2015 recommended the abolition of death penalty in a swift manner except in terror related cases. Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.4) NASA’s Dragonfly mission is associated with Mars Saturn Jupiter Bennu Asteroid Q.5) ‘Aruna Sundararajan Committee’ is associated with  Groundwater Recharge Telecom Sector Interchange Fee Disaster Management Policy To Download the Solution - Click here All the Best  IASbaba

Jun 30, 2019 Motivational Articles

Creative Guidance – Logic and Belief – Inspirational Educative Articles

Logic & Belief: There certainly is no contest between knowledge that is based on logic and knowledge that is based on some belief. We have almost fully accepted the importance of knowing and believing in things that can be backed by scientific and logical evidence. But, can everything be logically proven? Is there no place for belief in our lives? Or are we simply delusional in thinking that logic has replaced our beliefs fully? Firstly, we have to understand that logic and belief are not mutually exclusive entities. They are mutually inclusive; it is impossible for logic to exist without some form of underlying belief. Even belief in logic is a form of belief. In fact, it is our ability to believe that makes any form of logic and science possible. Of course, there is an ocean of difference between blind belief that goes contrary to all logic, and belief that supports and sustains our way of life. Believing just for the sake of believing is always a serious problem, but is it really possible to live without beliefs? Just imagine living one day of your life by throwing away all your beliefs. Do you think you will be able to live even a single day without relying on any of your beliefs to make important life decisions? Even if you are able to get through such a day, what would such a day be like? How different would such a day be to your normal day? I am sure you are able to see the point – It is impossible to live without beliefs. It almost seems like; precisely because beliefs are so important to us and logical thinking is just an extension of our belief system, we tend to value logic more than belief – It’s like valuing the cherry on top of the cake and forgetting that the cherry wouldn’t be there in the first place if not for the cake. If belief is a cell phone then logic is an app that we use to make life easier; the app can never replace the cell phone! While science is modern, relevant and evolving, belief is ancient, deep and basic; both have their important places in life. The debate of logic vs belief is no longer relevant. We are rapidly moving towards a world in which it is becoming more and more difficult to believe. This is the reason for a lot of our mental stress and strife. The single biggest reason for our daily frustration is that we are no longer able to simply believe or not believe in certain things – we need a logical and empirical proof for everything. Since life at its core is a set of beliefs we hold dearly to us, we are becoming disoriented in an all too logical world that is making it difficult for us to hold on to our beliefs. The solution to this problem is quite simple. The solution lies in embracing both logic and belief as essential ingredients of life. In today’s predominantly logical and scientific world, if we have to maintain our sanity, we have to pick and choose our beliefs wisely and hold on to those beliefs that help us and discard those that don’t. “This article is a part of the creative endeavor of Inner-Revolution and IASBABA.”