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IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs [Prelims + Mains Focus] - 20th June 2018

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs (Prelims + Mains Focus)- 20th June 2018 Archives (PRELIMS+MAINS FOCUS) Air India privatisation plan shelved Part of: GS prelims and Mains III – Indian Economy; Disinvestment of Air India In news: After it failed to get any buyers for the debt-ridden national carrier, the government has decided not to proceed with the privatization plan. Last year, Union Cabinet had given its nod for the disinvestment process. Do you know? Air India came into existence in 1932 as starter airline. It was nationalised in 1953. For many years the government had been considering the option that whether Air India should be helped in coming out of its current situation or disinvested. This is not first instance. In 2000 also it was tried for disinvestment but it was not materialised due to lack of political will. At that time, the Tatas, the actual promoters of airlines, wanted to buy it back along with Singapore Airlines. In brief, the journey 1932: Founded by J.R.D. Tata as Tata Airlines – country’s first scheduled airline 1946: Tata Airlines became a public limited company under the name of Air India 1948: Government of India acquires 49% stake in the company; starts international operation under brand of Air India International 1953: Air Corporation Act enacted to nationalise all existing airline assets and Indian Airline Corporation (domestic operations) and Air India International were established 1962: Air India International named as Air India 1994: Air Corporation Act repealed to allow private airlines to operate on domestic routes; Air India, Indian Airlines converted into Limited Companies under Companies Act, 1956 2000: Previous NDA govt drops privatisation plan after deciding to sell 51% of equity of Indian Airlines and 60% of Air India 2007: Erstwhile Air India and Indian Airline were merged into single entity named as National Aviation Company of India Limited (NACIL) 2010: NACIL renamed as Air India Limited 2012: UPA govt rule out AI privatisation; Turnaround plan to infuse over Rs 30,000 crore till 2021 approved 2017: NDA govt approves in-principle approval of Air India’s disinvestment 2018 (Current): Present NDA government drops privatisation plan after it failed to get any buyers for the debt-ridden national carrier Article link: Air India privatisation plan shelved - NATIONAL ‘India for rules-based world order’; Concept of Strategic Autonomy Part of: GS Mains II – International Relations; India and the World In news: Highlights of President Kovind’s speech in Greece – Articulating the principles of Indian foreign policy, President Ram Nath Kovind said India wants to be a rule framer in a multi-polar world. President said – India is committed to an international order marked by robust, rules-based multi-lateral institutions; by multi-polarity in international governance; and by investment and connectivity projects that are viable, sustainable. President indicated that India to maintain a non-aligned attitude towards major power blocks in the world and also maintain multilateral commitments. He also expressed the aspiration to be “strategic autonomous” – the concept which was also presented by PM Modi during the recent Shangri La Dialogue in Singapore. President urged Europe to join hands with India which is a “responsible power”, to preserve globalisation. What is ‘strategic autonomy’? Strategic autonomy denotes the ‘ability of a state to pursue its national interests and adopt its preferred foreign policy without being constrained in any manner by other states’ (possessing overwhelmingly superior power). Does India possess strategic autonomy? Theoretically, only a lone superpower in a unipolar international order truly possess strategic autonomy since it is the only country that would wield overwhelming economic, industrial, military and technological capabilities and thus the power to resist pressure from all other states. Even superpowers become susceptible to the pressures exerted by their superpower peers in bipolar or multipolar orders, which means that their ability to be strategically autonomous is not absolute but only relative. It follows from this that regional powers like India are destined to be even less strategically autonomous. While they may express the aspiration to be strategically autonomous, their ability and willingness to practice it are likely to be inconsistent and variable. They will resist external pressure to change their policy or moderate their interest on core issues of national security irrespective of the costs involved. In the case of India, prominent examples of core national interests are Jammu & Kashmir and nuclear weapons. But under external pressure, regional powers like India are likely to alter their policy or moderate their interest on non-core security issues if the associated costs are calculated to be disproportionate to the benefits that may accrue from persisting with the preferred policy or interest. A good recent example in this regard was India’s decision to vote against Iran in the International Atomic Energy Agency. This decision was driven by the calculation that antagonising the United States, which was pressing India to vote against Iran, would compromise the benefits flowing from improved bilateral relations with America including in the nuclear arena. Is strategic autonomy good? While strategic autonomy is the ideal that every state aspires to, most are unlikely to either possess the necessary power capabilities or enjoy a favourable international environment to practice it. A bipolar or a multipolar order is likely to provide greater diplomatic room for manoeuvre and thus help avoid the high costs of pursuing a policy or interest. Given this reality, making strategic autonomy concrete thing could prove more harmful than beneficial. Crux: India aspires to be a rule framer and calls for rules-based world order. India wants to maintain a non-aligned attitude and also meet multilateral commitments. India also aspires to be “strategic autonomous” - pursue its national interests and adopt its preferred foreign policy without being constrained in any manner by other states. Article link: India for rules-based world order: Ram Nath Kovind US “zero-tolerance” policy on illegal immigration Part of: GS Mains II – International Relations; India and the World In news: Several people from South Asia, including many from India, have been detained by U.S. immigration authorities at a federal prison in Oregon for illegally entering the country. Trump administration’s “zero-tolerance” policy on illegal immigration has resulted in sweeping measures such as separation of children from their families. Fast recap: India US areas of concerns We have read that US not happy with India’s growing engagement with the U.S., Russia and China in equal measure. India not admitting Quadrilateral grouping or less attention given by India towards Quad. India’s closer engagement with Chinese President Xi Jinping and a relationship reset with China after the Wuhan meeting. India’s acceptance of military exercises with countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). Delay in signing of outstanding India-U.S. foundational agreements. (In previous article we covered all 4 foundational agreements) Several issues/disputes in World Trade Organisation (WTO); Trade protectionism; Disputes on the new American steel and aluminium tariffs proposed cuts in H1B professional visas and cancellation of H4 spouse visas disputes on Indian price reductions on medical devices Harley-Davidson motorcycles row - US calling for India to scrap its 75-100% tariffs India’s plans to acquire the Russian S-400 missile system UWIN — Unorganised Workers Identification Number Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II and III – Welfare and social issue; Inclusive growth; Unorganised sector In news: Union Ministry of Labour has called for tenders to design, develop and run the new UWIN — Unorganised Workers Identification Number — Platform. UWIN – is a portable smart ID card for unorganised workers. Centre has started work to create a national database and Aadhaar-seeded identification number system to facilitate welfare delivery to 40 crore workers in the sector. Do you know? The Unorganised Workers Social Security Act, 2008 had first mandated that every worker be registered and issued a smart ID card. Article link: Database on unorganised workers gets underway - The Hindu Disaster Management: FLOODS Part of: GS Mains III – Disaster Management Just know below basic procedures Tech edge: A.P. police show the way Part of: GS Mains III – Science and Technology; Role of Technology In news: Andhra Pradesh – becomes the first State to complete automation of Crime Records Bureau The IT-based web/mobile application (i-App) is a revolution in data collection as it saves hundreds of man hours i-App cloud is now helping the police access the entire information of crimes under various IPC sections. The information is available at the touch of a button on mobile phones and computers helping the police to analyse trends in crime and take necessary action. Governor’s rule in Jammu and Kashmir? J&K to come under Governor’s Rule. It is alleged that Governor’s rule would result in closer coordination among security forces. If it happens, Kashmir is likely to witness a new wave of violence.   Army is expected to increase target-specific operations, with better coordination with the police and a likely increased inflow of intelligence inputs. Police forces will now be more open in giving intelligence inputs to Army as they normally come under the State government. This will give greater impetus to target-specific operations by the Army as the force relies on the police for local intelligence and movement of terrorists. Army has resumed full-fledged anti-terror operations after the Suspension of Operations was called off by the Home Ministry. Pic link: https://d39gegkjaqduz9.cloudfront.net/TH/2018/06/20/DEL/Delhi/TH/5_11/3926a0b8_2185446_101_mr.jpg Animals in news: Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III – Biodiversity; Conservation of animals Rare species of spider found again after 150 years Rare species of spider (Chrysilla volupes) -  found in Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (WWS) located in the Western Ghats region of Kerala. The spider belonged to the family of jumping spiders (Salticidae) and scientifically named as Chrysilla volupes. The world’s oldest Sumatran orangutan dies The world’s oldest Sumatran orangutan (Puan) died in Australian Perth zoo Born in 1956, she was noted by the Guinness Book of Records as being the oldest verified Sumatran orangutan in the world. Female orangutans rarely live beyond 50 in the wild. Sumatran orangutan – IUCN Status: Critically Endangered Do you know? The non-human types of apes are divided into two groups: great apes — gorillas, bonobos, chimpanzees and orangutans — and lesser apes — gibbons and siamangs. Apes are not monkeys; they belong to different branches of the Simian infraorder, and there are several physical differences. Apes do not have tails, while most monkeys do, and apes are typically larger than monkeys. Apes' noses are short and broad, while monkeys' noses are more snout-like. Apes also have larger brains than monkeys, and they are capable of using tools and learning language. (MAINS FOCUS) INTERNATIONAL 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. Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate. Significance of SCO for India Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Qingdao, China was the first SCO summit attended by India as a full-fledged member. Do you know? SCO grew out of the Shanghai Five grouping — of Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan — which was set up in 1996 to resolve boundary disputes between China and each of the four other members. It admitted Uzbekistan in 2001, re-christened itself the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and broadened its agenda to include political, economic and security cooperation. It admitted India and Pakistan as full members in 2017. Significance for India SCO now has about half the world’s population and a quarter of its GDP. Its boundary extends southwards to the Indian Ocean. The SCO’s relevance for India lies in geography, economics and geopolitics. India has important economic and security interests in these countries. With India having complicated ties with neighbours, it makes sense to strengthen ties with its neighbours’ neighbours. With Pakistan joining the Organisation and Afghanistan and Iran knocking on the doors for membership, the logic of India’s membership becomes stronger. Expanding opportunities for India in Central Asia: India’s relations with Central Asian countries have been constrained by lack of overland access through Pakistan and Afghanistan/Iran, because of political and/or security reasons. SCO should help in this regard. Russian and Chinese officials suggested that harmonious cooperation in the SCO may pave the way for an India-Pakistan rapprochement, recalling that SCO membership had facilitated resolution of China’s boundary disputes with Russia and Central Asian countries. Challenging areas: The SCO is expected to nudge both countries to cooperate in sensitive areas. One example is the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) of the SCO, which coordinates cooperation for security and stability, through intelligence-sharing on criminal and terrorist activities. India and Pakistan have to find ways of cooperating in the RATS. Defence cooperation is another tricky area: enhanced linkages between armed forces is an SCO objective. India has agreed to participate in the SCO’s counter-terrorism military exercises in Russia later this year, when Indian and Pakistani troops will operate together. Reconciling Indian and Pakistani perspectives in the SCO’s initiatives on Afghanistan would be yet another challenge. The challenge for India — besides that of security and defence cooperation with Pakistan — may come from increasing Chinese dominance of the SCO. The essence of a functioning multilateral framework is focusing on shared objectives and underplaying divergences. Connecting the dots: What are the benefits that India accrues upon its full membership to SCO? Also discuss the challenges faced by the country upon such membership. NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL TOPIC:General Studies 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora. Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate. Why India urgently needs a national asylum policy? Key Pointers: World Refugee Day (June 20) India is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention and has no domestic asylum law. Country has done little beyond providing asylum. There have been some attempts to introduce a refugee law – latest being the Asylum Bill 2015, which was introduced as a private member’s bill. However, none has gone the distance and the government continues to adopt an ad hoc approach towards this group. Due to their unclear legal status and lack of uniform documentation, refugees have limited access to essential services and almost no avenues for livelihood. India has reiterated its commitment towards the protection of refugees at various international fora, including the UN General Assembly. India became a signatory to the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants, which was adopted by 193 countries in September 2016. In doing so, India has expressed its solidarity with those forced to flee and agreed that protecting refugees and supporting the countries that shelter them are shared international responsibilities that must be borne more equitably. Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants has set the stage for a new framework for refugee protection — the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR). GCR is a coordinated effort to strengthen international response to protracted refugee situations and comprehensively addresses all stages of refugee protection, from reception to long-term solutions. Two of its key objectives are to ease pressures on host countries and enhance refugee self-reliance. Concern: Refugee burden borne by developing countries GCR recognised that certain refugee situations can last for decades and acknowledges that the burden is borne largely by developing countries. Do you know? Developing countries host over 80% of the refugee population in the world. Therefore, the GCR calls for support from the international community in the form of resources. (to ease pressures on host countries) It also seeks to establish forums to enable expertise-sharing to promote economic opportunities, decent work and job creation not just for refugees but also for the host community. GCR calls for States to identify gaps and opportunities for employment and income generation for refugees in a bid to enhance their self-reliance. Since the Declaration was adopted, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has been engaging with member states, UN bodies, and non-governmental organisations to develop a plan for its practical implementation; this will be finalised by the end of 2018. Conclusion: India’s commitment to refugee protection under the GCR is evident in its active participation in ongoing GCR consultations, where it has emphasised the need for a clear mechanism for the refugee response regime. Therefore this is an opportune time for India to reassess the need for a national asylum policy which is compliant with the principles laid down in the GCR. This will not only re-establish India’s place as a democratic regional power committed to core humanitarian principles but will also provide refugees a chance to give back to the country that has adopted them. Connecting the dots: Critically examine if India should have a law for refugees and asylum seekers. Recent UNICEF report presents a grim picture of condition of refugee children. What according to you should be measures taken by countries, irrespective of refugee laws, to protect the refugee children for a better future? (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Q.1) Among the following, which one is not an ape? Gibbon Gorilla Langur Orangutan Q.2) Consider the following statements Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Qingdao, China was the first SCO summit attended by India as a full-fledged member. SCO admitted India and Pakistan as full members in 2017. Select the correct statements 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) Consider the following statements India is not a signatory to the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants  and has no domestic asylum law. Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) is a new framework for refugee protection under 1951 Refugee Convention. Which of the above statement[s] is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.4) World Migration Report 2018 is released by World Economic Forum United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Amnesty International International Organization for Migration MUST READ Less talk more action The Hindu India's pivot to Eurasia The Hindu Make power supply a fundamental right Business Line (Re)presenting Indian women abroad Business Line India must lead the emerging markets Business Line

Topper's From IASbaba

ECONOMICS OPTIONAL Strategy by Abhijeet Sinha, Rank 19 UPSC CSE 2017

Hello everyone, I am Abhijeet Sinha and I have secured 19th Rank in the Civil Service Examination 2017, with Economics as my optional.  I graduated in Electrical Engineering (2016), but due to the interest developed in reading the Economics section of newspaper, I chose Economics as my optional :).  Over the 2 attempts, I have gained quite substantial experience in the optional, both the good as well as the bad ones. I hope dear aspirants would find something helpful out of it Last year (1st attempt - 2016) I had one of the lowest scores in Economics Optional, 89+129 = 218. And it became the single reason why I did not find my name in the final rank list. It may have been in part, because Economics as a subject was almost completely new to me. But, much more importantly, it was more down to my own structural fallacies. I had hardly written down a word before the exam, did not solve past years papers…… and had many more strategical flaws. Based on this, I modified my strategy to focus on the following in my 2017 attempt ( 2nd attempt) Solving past 5–10 years papers is the most important of all tasks, since questions are generally repeated. Since, standard answers to question are missing, one can take the help of solved Past years papers by my senior Tejasvi Rana, who is like an elder sister to me Practising drawing the diagrams. While, it is easy to appreciate and understand the Income effect and Substitution effect in a Labour Supply curve, believe me, while actually drawing, one realises it isn’t as easy as it seems. The more you practise, the easier it will become Focussing on every word of the syllabus ( for GS as well). For instance, Q 6a of this years Paper 2 simply asked to write on Poverty Schemes and their performance. The question was almost exactly like the phrase written in the syllabus. Had one prepared notes on it, he/she could have done this question very easily Making OWN notes.Last time, I just used to read from the notes of Gaurav Sir. But, now I can say that making your own notes helps to understand better, revise better and helps in writing practise. But, yeah, take the notes of Gaurav sir, Tejasvi, my own etc as a guidance For Paper 1, I tried to cover the main topics from Indian authors as well, especially key terms and definitions. For eg q 5a ( 2017) asking on Differential Tax Incidence has been elaborated in Bhatia’s book. Revising  This is more needed for Eco Paper 2, where there is a need to memorise things. As an example, I was able to revise between 4–5 times between prelims and mains, each revision being of a shorter duration than the previous one. For Answer Writing Putting a lot of data and names of Economists in my Eco Paper 2 answer Making my answers more concise and succinct, and not being verbose. See Tejasvi’s answers to appreciate this point. I tried to interlink Eco 1 and Eco 2. For eg, on the question on Gravity model of trade in Paper 1 , I quoted actual examples of India and UAE ( how UAE is small, but we have a trade of 60 billion $) Trivial changes like Using pencil and scale to draw :) Taking help from my peers, seniors and the group econsiasprep@googlegroups.comwhenever required.   Other Points worth noting For UPSC purpose, it is not important to go into the Mathematical details, what . Rarely has a question been asked from it. Instead focus on the Diagrams very well Utilise the first 5-15 minutes to identify which questions to attempt. It is better to invest time in the beginning, than to regret later, when 1 realises that he/she is short of points Stay away from negativities. People might demotivate you that Economics is not an easy optional. Maintain the confidence and resilience during moments like those. Remember that every year, there are scores of people who come in the rank list with Economics as an optional, in spite of very few people choosing economics in the 1st place   Booklist Paper 1 Micro – Primarily from Ahuja. As Tejasvi said last time, a thumb rule to find out what is important and what is not is to see past years papers. If a question is being asked from a chapter, then it is important Abhimanyu’s notes as a summary - https://reluctanteconomistblog.wordpress.com/ Macro and Money Banking Mainly Froyen Ahuja to find out any new definitons / terms International Salvatore Growth and Devleopment Thirlwall mainly Jhingan for new terms / definitions Public Finance Musgrave mainly Bhatia for new terms / definitions Paper 2 Instead of going cover to cover, I went topic by topic,browsing every word / phrase of syllabus, and making my own notes from various sources such as Gaurav Sir’s notes – Khelo India Tejasvi’s notes Riju Mam notes – Riju Bafna Mishra and Puri Uma Kapila Althoug, I've already done the hardwork and compiled the notes out of these into 1 single source :). They can be accessed here - https://1drv.ms/u/s!Am-XDyZeJwRZjJkuXjXNDxvI6uss-A   All of these did help me to improve my score from 218 to 288 this time ( 140 + 148). Although, its not an excellent score, but it was good enough to give me a good rank. And I hope and wish, it helps you as well :) For more queries and sharing of materials especially related to Economics, you could follow my blog abhijeetsinhaupsc.wordpress.com For my General Studies Strategy (watch the video) -> CLICK HERE   Thank You Abhijeet Sinha

Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz- 2019 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 5]

UPSC Quiz- 2019 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 5] Archives Q.1) “Kra Canal’ will connect which of the following? Celebes Sea and Sulu Sea Gulf of Thailand and Andaman Sea Yellow Sea and Sea of Japan Sea of Marmara and Black Sea Q.2) Why was a plant called ‘Moringa oleifera’ recently mentioned in news? Its extract is widely used in cosmetics Its extract is used in the synthesis of pesticides It tends to reduce the widely biodiversity in the area in which it grows It can help effectively purify water in developing nations at a low cost Q.3) Consider the following statements about WHO’s International Classification of Diseases (ICD) It lists both mental and physical disorders Inclusion of a disorder in ICD is a consideration which countries take into account when making decisions on provision of health care and allocation of resources for prevention, treatment and rehabilitation Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.4) ‘NABH Nirman’ is in sync with which of the following? Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana Q.5) ‘Asian Premium’ is associated with which of the following organisations? WTO OPEC WEF ASEAN To Download the Solution – Click here All the Best  IASbaba

VERY IMPORTANT UPDATE- REGARDING HINDI MEDIUM-IASbaba’s Integrated Learning Programme (ILP)- 2019

Hello Friends,  Few days before we announced about our Integrated Learning Programme, ILP-2019. We had promised to provide all the Prelims GS and CSAT Tests in both English and Hindi. Since then we have received hundreds of emails requesting us to provide something more for Hindi medium aspirant. We understand that there is a dearth of quality guidance for our Hindi medium aspirants who have to work really hard for quality content development. Looking at their enthusiasm to be part of ILP-2019 and our resource capacity we hereby announce the following assistance to be given under ILP-2019 for Hindi medium aspirants.  Prelims General Studies Tests and its detailed solution-Hindi Medium CSAT Tests and its detailed solution- Hindi Medium Mains Mocks and its detailed synopsis in Hindi Medium.  Kindly note that, apart of above three mentioned things, all other things will strictly be in English only. Kindly read the details carefully before joining the programme. Slowly we are trying to provide the best possible support for Hindi Medium aspirants depending on the availability of resources at our end. We request all Hindi Medium aspirants to spread the word and let fellow aspirants preparing from Hindi medium also get benefitted from this programme. FOR FULL DETAILS OF ILP-2019-CLICK HERE   P.S- All India Prelims Test Series-2019, details will be announced on Thursday  Thank You IASbaba  

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs [Prelims + Mains Focus] - 19th June 2018

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs (Prelims + Mains Focus)- 19th June 2018 Archives (PRELIMS+MAINS FOCUS) Mass nesting of olive ridleys at Odisha’s Rushikulya Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III – Animal Conservation; Environment and Biodiversity Mass nesting of olive ridleys at Odisha’s Rushikulya rookery. Olive ridley eggs incubate on their own by the heat of the sand under which they are buried. The hatchlings come out in 45 to 50 days and after that the covering of the eggs decompose and mix with the sand. Do you know? Only two species of marine turtles display a unique mass nesting behavior. This behavior is known as an 'arribada'. Arribada- Spanish term meaning arrival; a mass nesting behavior. An arribada is a unique nesting phenomenon common to both the Olive ridley and the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle. This reproductive phenomenon was first observed by the scientific community in 1961. By producing large numbers of offspring most organisms like sea turtles can insure their survival even after predation occurs. The Olive ridley is endemic to the Pacific coasts of Mexico, Central America, and India. It is known to be a nocturnal nester. The Kemp’s ridley is endemic to the Gulf of Mexico. It ranges from Galveston, Texas to Tampico, Mexico. Kemp’s ridley turtles display unique diurnal arribadas. Olive Ridley: IUCN Status-Vulnerable Animals in news: Fast Recap Australian Koalas (IUCN Status: Vulnerable) - an arboreal herbivorous marsupial native to Australia Walrus (IUCN status: Vulnerable) - a large flippered marine mammal; "keystone species" in the Arctic marine regions Rare Butterflies – Black windmill and Siren butterfly spotted in Arunachal Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh respectively. Frosted duskywing was spotted in Arunachal Pradesh. Two marsupial species – tiny black-tailed dusky antechinus and silver-headed antechinus – have been put on Australia’s endangered list. Olive Ridley and Kemp’s ridley sea turtle (in today’s news) India and US: four foundational agreements Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – International Relations; India and the world Key focus areas: India and US to conclude the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA), one of the four foundational agreements that helps the U.S. to intensify its defence cooperation with a partner nation. The four foundational agreements are - Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA), COMCASA, General Security Of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) and Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-spatial Cooperation (BECA). The U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) was recently renamed Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), symbolic of the significance U.S. attaches to India in the region. Apart from the foundational agreements, the U.S. is also keen on a broad based intelligence-sharing agreement with India as the two countries have vastly expanded their counter-terror cooperation. (needs signing of BECA) As part of improving high tech cooperation, India and the U.S. announced the ambitious Defence Technology and Trade Initiative and India was designated a major defence partner. But it has not made any progress. Important Value Additions: Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA)  : Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) is fine tuned version of Logistics Support Agreement (LSA) is an agreement on sharing of military logistics between India and the American forces and will facilitate support such as refuelling and berthing facilities for each other’s warships and aircrafts on a reimbursable basis. A formal agreement, when inked, will access supplies, spare parts and services from each other’s land facilities, air bases and ports, which can then be reimbursed. An agreement in principle on logistics would move India closer to [the] US as a strategic partner Communications and Information Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA): Signing the CISMOA would enable India to get encrypted communications equipment and systems allowing military commanders to communicate with aircraft and ships through a secure network. Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) for geospatial intelligence: BECA would provide India with topographical and aeronautical data and products, which will aid navigation and targeting. https://d39gegkjaqduz9.cloudfront.net/TH/2018/06/19/DEL/Delhi/TH/5_11/2d2e188a_2183360_101_mr.jpg Do you know? COMCASA and BECA are the two foundational agreements that India is yet to sign. It has already signed the General Security Of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) and the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA). The most significant of them is LEMOA, which gives both nations access to each other’s military facilities. But it does not make it automatic or obligatory. The U.S. has been engaging India since 2002 on the foundational agreements, but successive governments have been wary of giving in to the U.S. demands. Operation Hodeidah: Arab coalition reaches out to India for its support Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – International Relations; India’s Energy Security In news: Arab coalition which is fighting to secure the strategic Yemeni port of Hodeidah is planning to reach out to India for its support. Operation at Hodeidah - main target is to fight terrorism that is a common enemy of both India and the UAE. Arab coalition expects that the operation will force the Houthi rebels in Yemen to sit down for a negotiated settlement of the conflict that has caused a major humanitarian disaster in Yemen. Pic credits:https://i1.wp.com/www.worshipmedia.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/saudi-led-coalition-makes-gains-in-fighting-south-of-key-yemeni-port-city-hodeida.jpg?w=780 Do you know? In Yemen - the Houthis began as a theological movement preaching peace, but now find themselves at the centre of an international conflict. Houthis are Shia rebels. Yemen’s port of Hodeidah was under the control of the Houthi rebels who are believed to be drawing support from Iran. The Arab coalition, led by Saudi Arabia and the UAE, claims that the Iranian military has used the port to supply the Houthis with weapons and ammunition. Houthis are also being alleged of supporting pirates in the western Indian Ocean region. India and Italy: to revitalise bilateral ties Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – International Relations; India and the world In news: India and Italy agreed to boost cooperation in counter-terrorism and cybersecurity Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation (JCEC) to be held in India - to augment collaboration in areas of mutual benefit Italy is partner country at the Tech Summit in India (to be held in Nov 2018) - would boost cooperation in technology and innovation. The year also marks the 70th year of establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. India and China: China pushes “5 C” approach Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – International Relations; India and its neighbours In news: China’s Ambassador to India suggested a “5 C” approach to bettering India-China ties with more “communication, cooperation, contacts, coordination, and control (and management of differences)”. China to import more sugar, non-Basmati rice and high-quality medicines from India to reduce trade imbalance. A new bilateral target has been set for $100 billion by 2022. India agreed to facilitate the establishment of Bank of China branch in Mumbai. National Testing Agency (NTA) to conduct exams Part of: GS Prelims – Government schemes and Social/Welfare policies In news: HRD minister has proposed to set up National Testing Agency, to relieve the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) of the burden of conducting multiple examinations. NTA would act as a robust system for the conduct of examinations. The new body will take over all examinations from the CBSE, except the 10th and 12th board examinations. Among the examinations that will be transferred to the NTA are the prestigious Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) for admission to engineering colleges like the IITs and NITs and the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) for admission to all medical colleges in the country, except AIIMS and JIPMER, Puducherry. (MAINS FOCUS) NATIONAL/ECONOMY TOPIC: General Studies 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Structure, organization and functioning of the Judiciary General Studies 3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Judiciary versus Economy: Contentions in Judiciary Adjudications Introduction: With an expanding economy, the number of legal disputes involving property, contract, labour, tax and corporate laws is bound to increase. How these disputes are adjudicated by the courts will have direct consequences for the disputants and also shapes the behaviour of individuals and entities involved in production, commerce and banking. Judicial findings also influence decision-making of government agencies, which are major actors in a developing economy. Yet, the Indian judiciary doesn’t seem to fully appreciate the economic consequences of its judgments. (The below article provides some case studies highlighting how judiciary has failed in economic reasoning in its adjudication and in turn failed to provide economic justice.) Important cases: Case 1: Power Producers Association of India v. Union of India and Ors. May 31, 2018 order of the Allahabad High Court ruled that bankruptcy proceedings cannot be started against a power company unless the company is a wilful loan defaulter. It did not factor in the issue of viability of the project. As such, the ‘wilfulness’ condition is hard to prove. Nonetheless, the ruling is one of the less problematic ones. Case 2: Rameshwar and Ors v. State of Haryana and Ors (2018) In this case, the dispute involved 688 acres of land for which the then Haryana government had issued an acquisition notification in 2007. As soon as the notification was issued, builders and developers started approaching owners to buy their land. Since the official compensation was going to be meagre, many owners sold their land at throwaway prices. Later, the government decided to drop the acquisition plan. Supreme Court held the State’s decision a fraud, acted out through an unholy nexus between the officials and the builders. As the owners sold their land under duress and on unconscionable terms, the land should have been restored to them by declaring the deals infructuous. However, the SC handed over the land to the State government. Case 3: Uddar Gagan Properties Ltd v. Sant Singh & Ors (2016) In this case, at dispute were 280 acres of land under acquisition in 2005. The land was illegally transferred to developers through dubious deals approved by the then Haryana government. Here too, the SC handed over the land to the official agency that was an active partner in the fraud. Farmers were forced to accept paltry compensations. Crux: Through such judgments, the judiciary has failed not only to protect the legitimate rights of owners, but also to provide economic justice enshrined in Article 38 of the Constitution. Moreover, the court has transferred land, a precious economic resource, from those who own, need and use it to governments who do not need it by their own accord. It is due to the perverse incentives created by such judgments that government agencies abuse laws and are sitting on a massive stock of unused land, which would have been put to more productive use by its owners. Judicial intervention in infrastructure projects Similarly, several infrastructure projects are being held up due to judicial interventions in the bidding process. Courts have failed to realise that the quality of infrastructure assets and the technical capability of contractors to deliver them are serious issues. The mere difference in prices demanded by the bidder may or may not be a decisive factor. Court’s intervention has led to delay in project, escalating its cost far more than any possible gains from ruling in favour of the lowest price bidder. There are instances where Judiciary didn’t opt for help of experts to assess the construction and maintenance cost rather it went on to interpret a contract and cut into its terms if found not right or reasonable. Such judicial interventions can undermine the sense of security that comes from signing competitive bidding contracts, thereby discouraging investment. A public good The adjudication process can serve as a public good. However, casual and unpredictable adjudication has the opposite effect. Shivashakti Sugars Limited v. Shree Renuka Sugar Limited and Ors (2017) In this landmark judgment, Judiciary admitted the role of economic reasoning in adjudication. It also pushed for the inter-discipline between law and economics to serve the developmental needs of the country. In situations where alternative views are possible or wherever discretion is available, the associated judges have argued for the view which subserves the country’s economic interest. They have exhorted the courts to avoid outcomes which can have adverse effects on employment, growth of infrastructure, the economy or the revenue of the State. The way ahead: Economic analysis of the law and disputes is a welcome move; however courts should not go overboard. Treating economic growth and the revenue of the state as public purposes is walking on a slippery slope. While adjudicating such cases, judiciary should consider a cost-benefit analysis of a different kind. Infringement of individual rights should be considered only if it is absolutely necessary. The situation should be such that public purpose cannot be achieved without putting limitations on individual rights. Moreover, the degree of infringement should be minimum to realise the purpose. It should not cut too deep. Finally, infringement should follow the proportionality principle — the social benefit must be commensurate with the seriousness of the infringement. Connecting the dots: Judicial intervention in infrastructure projects and bidding process has led to delays and sense of insecurity, discouraging investment. Do you agree? Elucidate. Indian judiciary doesn’t seem to fully appreciate the economic consequences of its judgments. Do you agree? Give your opinion illustrating through examples. NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 1: Social Issues General Studies 2: 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. The Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance, 2018: An analysis- Part II In news: In April, India made world news with the introduction of the death penalty for child rapists. It is unfortunate how it takes tragic incidents such as the rape of minors to remind us that the laws of the country need serious reconsideration. The last time a major overhaul in the rape law was thought of was as a consequence of the Delhi 2012 rape and murder case. Before that, the Vishaka incident was a catalyst for the law on sexual harassment. The ineffectiveness of reactionary lawmaking can be seen in the recently proposed amendments in the Criminal Law and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO), 2012, that were a result of the Unnao and the Kathua cases which shook the country’s conscience. New reforms proposed to the Indian Penal Code, which shall further apply to the POCSO are: If a person rapes a minor girl below the age of 12 years then the punishment shall be rigorous imprisonment of at least 20 years which, shall be extendable to life imprisonment or death. Previously the punishment for the same was rigorous imprisonment for at 10 years or life imprisonment, along with fine. If a person rapes a girl who is below 16 years, then the punishment is rigorous imprisonment of at least 20 years, extendable to life imprisonment. The punishment for this as per the 2013 criminal amendment is rigorous imprisonment, not less than 10 years and which may extend to life imprisonment. The ordinance has suggested a few more changes, such as time-bound investigations, appeals and prior sanction from the courts for prosecution of government servants. The main change it suggests is in introducing the death penalty for the rape of a minor below the age of 12. Poor implementation of the POCSO Act: A major provision in the POCSO is that of setting up a Special Juvenile Police unit in-charge of investigating cases of child abuse. This was conceived of as a protection against the police intimidating children, either intentionally or unintentionally. Yet, no mention of a special juvenile police unit can be found in many cases. Similarly, with various provisions for the security and the care of the victim under the POCSO — such as the statement of a child should be taken at the residence of a child or a place where he or she is comfortable, by a lady police officer — there’s massive oversight when it comes to enforcement. In the Kathua case, for instance, the name of the victim was highlighted and essentially advertised on all the media channels even though this is strictly prohibited both under the POCSO Act as well as the IPC under section 228 A. Issues with death penalty: The prospect of harsh punishments, such as the death penalty, can, in fact, be a threat to the victim. NCRB data reveals that in more than 96 per cent of child sex abuse cases, the perpetrator is a close relative or a member of the family. This is why children often find it difficult to confess. Parents often try to resolve matters of abuse themselves due to the stigma that is associated with such crimes. Harsher punishments for the perpetrator can quickly become harsher threats for the victim, as the accused may go to any extent to protect themselves. Worried for their own safety, children may choose not to provide testimony. Reference article: The Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance, 2018: An analysis Way ahead: For the POCSO Act to be effective in protecting children who are sexually abused, it should go beyond relying on the death penalty as a deterrent. It should focus on stricter enforcement of protections for the abused children. Punish half-hearted investigations. Do away with intimidating procedures. Improving the overall sluggishness in the legal system. Conclusion: Justice is more than a punitive, knee-jerk reaction to the perpetrator of injustice. It’s important to look at the systemic failures that allow child abuse to happen, prevent children who are abused from speaking up. Punishment alone is not a complete solution by any means. Connecting the dots: Introducing death penalty for child rapist is a knee-jerk reaction which may hurt the victims. Way ahead instead must be to check the systemic failures. Comment. (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Q.1) Consider the following statements Olive ridley and Kemp ridley are the only two species of marine turtles that display a unique mass nesting behaviour 'arribada'. They are endemic to the Pacific coasts of Mexico, Central America, and India. Select the correct statements 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2) LEMOA, GSOMIA, COMCASA and BECA are often in news. It deals with - Four foundational agreements that helps the U.S. to intensify its defence cooperation with a partner nation. Super Computers developed by NASA. Trade Agreements that help India and Italy to augment collaboration in areas of mutual benefit. 4 approaches suggested for India-China ties. Q.3) Consider the following statements India and the US recently signed Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) was recently renamed Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) Which of the above statement[s] is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.4) The Houthi rebels are from China Yemen Syria Ukraine MUST READ Heart of the matter The Hindu Power crisis The Hindu A crisis in plain sight Indian Express Falling behind on Digital Skill Road Indian Express Roof for all The Hindu

Topper's From IASbaba

Mohd Nooh Siddiqui AIR 326, UPSC CSE 2017, part of IASbaba's Team shares his Preparation Strategy - His mistakes and learnings in the UPSC journey!

An amazing story of Mohd Nooh Siddiqui could not clear in 4 attempts but in his 5th attempt secures AIR 326, CSE 2017. He has been working with IASbaba since 2 Years, part of Core TLP Mains Answer Reviewing team.   Sitaron Se AageJahaanAurBhiHain Other worlds lie beyond the stars AbhiIshqKeImtihanAurBhiHain Still more test of passion, love is remaining   All the success stories hold some values underlined which helped them achieve their goals,for me it was my determination and unyielding faith in hardwork that finally paid the dividend.   Hello friends, I am Mohd Nooh Siddiqui, secured AIR 326 in CSE 2017 in my 5th Attempt and 3rd Mains. I belong to a humble background from the city of Aurangabad,Maharashtra. I did my schooling from Burhani National Urdu School and Higher secondary from Maulana Azad college,both in Aurangabad. I have completed B Tech. in Food technology in year 2011 from Marathwada Agriculture University,Parbhani Maharashtra. For nearly 1 year I was involved in my family business of bakery and after my completion of B Tech. I did not pursue and further degree or any formal job which was a big risk. Since 2012 October I started preparing for civil services with a clear objective of appearing in UPSC CSE Exam only, not for state PSC,SSC or any other examination. So I did not appear in any other examination till date. I have been working with IAS baba as part of their evaluation team in Think Learn Perform (TLP initiative, that helped me a lot in my Mains Answer writing). Due to my Urdu schooling background I opted for Urdu Literature as an Optional subject in all the attempts. My reason for changing track and appearing in UPSC Examination is bit different from the general observations. Generally it is the Student who admire, aspire or dream of becoming an IAS officer for me before 2012 this term was unknown.I personally planned to go abroad for further studies which was supported by my family initially but later on they did not allow me to go due to some reasons. It was my father in 2012 who advised me to go for UPSC CSE. The reasons why I obliged to my father’s advice and stayed for so long in preparation mode are -I realized UPSC provide best opportunity for personal growth and community welfare both simultaneously which is absent in any other job or service -It provides better opportunity to know the country,to know the systems and to realize how a country functions -It put very large resources at a person’s disposal which can be utilized to achieve greater good for the greater numbers in very short time. As this was my 5thattempt, third mains and first interview I would like to provide brief history of my failures(Building blocks) till the achievement of AIR 326 this year.   First attempt 2013- Failed to Qualify Prelims Second Attempt 2014 - Appeared in mains and scored 50 marks less than cutoff, Scored 273 in Urdu Literature Optionalwhich was highest that year at All India level in this subject. Third Attempt 2015 - Failed to Qualify Prelims again Fourth Attempt 2016 - Appeared in mains and was 20 marks short of Interview call cutoff, Scored 292 in Optional again highest that year in that subject. Fifth Attempt 2017 - Secured AIR 326 in CSE 2017   As you can see,I could not go through Prelims twice due to lack of test writing practice and low level of confidence.I personally feel Prelims is 50% Knowledge and 50% Confidence I failed to work on the later part during these two attempts which I realized and worked upon to ensure free sail through prelims in later attempts.For this I started solving as many as tests usually 70 tests in last 30 days to get enough confidence,while eliminating the chances of minute errors in solving objective questions. Candidates usually read Prelims material till  the end without doing enough test practice which results in failure despite having solid knowledge base. For Mains, I realized that one size fit for all approach will not work in general studies papers as it was fetching me poor marks in my first and second mains appearances.For essay as well I needed to rework on my strategy as I scored poorly only 70 marks in 2014 and respectable 133 in 2016 mains examination. As I was getting very handsome marks in optional subject (273 and 292) I needed to work on my general studies and essay to balance the marksheet and to appear as a victor.With improvised strategy, rigorous answer writing and smart work this year I managed to increase my GS by 80 marks and scored 143 in Essay which were enough to secure place in the final pdf.   So how was I able to increase my marks? First, we need to have clear picture of whole syllabus in our mind, it should be imprinted so that we are able to connect one part of syllabus with other for integrated preparation of General Studies papers. For example while reading world history in paper 1 of GS you should be able to take examples from history and use them in ethics paper for leadership,emotional intelligence etc Second, have clear idea of What UPSC is asking and what is the trend. For this go through last 5 years GS papers and find the link between the question or try to understand the shift from Conceptual/static part to more informative and current affairs oriented questions. Third,Try to prepare your own notes for every topic in the syllabus of mains examination and do not rely on single printed material resource.You need to appear different and write few extra points which will be possible only from your personal notes.Also this helps in revision and last time recollection of information. Fourth,For Individual papers chalk out a different strategy and collect data and information accordingly.   Paper 1- This paper requires recollection of information,cover every bit of provided syllabus though very briefly to gain confidence and have some idea about each of the topics.You can refer to diverse source of material from books to notes of coaching institutions as per your liking. Paper 2- Focus more on current affairs and try to link static part with current affairs for better formation of answer. Compile Second ARC recommendations, Law commission report pointers,Important judgements and cases, Article numbers and constitutional provisions at one place and try to put them in every answer.For International relations refer to any video lecture series on IR for updated info on the events and focus more on future course of action. Paper 3- Here again cover each topic from varied sources and prepare your own notes.Focus more on economic survey, budget speech, government schemes, and committee recommendations and most importantly statistics or current data.This paper will be more current oriented for this take  out important issues and try to cover all related aspects of it for example GST or Artificial intelligence. Paper 4- Have clear understanding of each topic provided in the syllabus especially the terms Aptitude,attitude and emotional intelligence etc. Try to have your own definition of them. Read any one good source either Lexicon or Subbarao for better understanding of concepts and prepare your own notes of it.Try to collect more and more examples from various sources(newspaper, Personallife, Historical figures, sports, movies etc ) for better elaboration of your answers. Refer to IASbaba TLP compilation of previous years for Paper 4 to get fair idea of how to approach the questions. Essay- Find your comfortable areas,for me I was never good in writing essays on Economy,Polity,Environment etc.So I focused more on Social issues,Women,Education,sports, Cybersecurity, Social Media etc .Collect every possible data,facts,quote or even paragraphs to garnish your essays and to serve them better.Write as many as 15 essays before going to final examination.   Fifth, Write as much as possible.The reason for increase in my marks from previous attempts was more rigorous writing practice. Start by reading best answers online on IASbaba TLP to get the fair idea of how to approach the question.Try writing 2 answers daily on your own and compare it with the best answers.Try to remove fear of writing from the mind.Join any good test series for mains (preferably IASbaba) to check your progress and to have better idea of national competition. Sixth, Prepare diaries containing data,facts,schemes,diagrams,examples,quotes,SDGs,reports,rankings and any other important information which you can carry anywhere and can be revised in very short time.Prepare separate diaries for paper2, paper3, Diagrams, general data  etc.  Use this information wherever and whenever possible in each paper. Seven,Take benefit of group prepartion, share information,notes and strategies.This will eventually benefit all the stakeholders involved in the group.For us me and my roommate both got selected this year due to the positive competition we had and ours ranks also came very close to each other 326 and 339.   OPTIONAL PREPARATION: Regarding Optional subject preparation,I will be sharing specific details separately through video series in coming days. But for general understanding few most important points in optional preparations are, -Opt for optional in which you can write well or which suits to your temperament. Your interest playes a vital role in optional selection. -Read thoroughly all the topics and subtopics given in the syllabus,focus on previous year papers and prepare your own notes of every bit of syllabus -Take out the topics from last 5 year question papers and write answers of them; interestingly this will cover 80% of the upcoming paper in next examination of UPSC   To last longer focused on the same objective for years and years require very strong emotional and personal management. Few habits that differentiate the successful candidates from striving candidates that I have observed and followed during my preparation are, Habit of sitting for long duration -10-12 hrs daily that too on fixed time table Group work and healthy competition Writing more tests and working on mistakes rather than increasing information Use of internet,video/Audio resources,Websites,Youtube channels etc Ability to overcome failure through extracurricular activities,prayers,talking to friends and family and through strong inner motivation.The failure in UPSC is temporary and the success last very long. Positive attitude- maintaining distance from negative people   During the last two attempts of UPSC exam IASbaba played very important role in my preparation.I have been following IASbaba 60 days plan before prelims very ardently in last 3 attempts. In 2016 I followed IAS baba monthly magazine during mains preparation.This year I relied heavily on IASbaba TLP 2017 Mains program for my mains preparation. As I worked for IASbaba being part of review team provided me the opportunity to get into the mind of examiner and realize what examiner wants from the answer.This helped me to score very good marks especially in Paper 2 and Paper 3 of general studies. Support of whole IASbaba team during my course of preparation and especially of Mohan Sir and Atyabbhai worked as a catalyst for me. For this I am thankful to them and to whole IASbaba team!   Last but not the least,This examination has become more dynamic due to more focus on Current affairs.These days this exam is more about Information management than information gathering. It requires clear focus and extra push to get through good ranks. As those not getting into list are scoring 19/20 and those in the list 20/20,so the difference is very thin.I wish you all the very best for your endeavor and wish you succeed in very least attempt in this examination. Here is a couplet for you   HarEkMaqam Se AgayMaqamHaiTera Your destination is ahead of all the destinations Hayat Zauq-e-Safar KeSiwaKuchAurNahin Life is nothing but the joy of journey, travel   Thank You Nooh Siddiqui

Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz- 2019 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 4]

UPSC Quiz- 2019 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 4] Archives Q.1) Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) is associated with European Union Shanghai Cooperation Organisation North Atlantic Treaty Organization None of the above Q.2) Trade in Value Added (TiVA) database is launched by WTO WEF NAFTA IMF Q.3) Consider the following statements about European Free Trade Association (EFTA) It operates in parallel with the European Union (EU) The member states participate in the European Single Market All the Nordic countries are members of the EFTA Select the correct statements 1 Only 1 and 2 2 and 3 1, 2 and 3 Q.4) Consider the following statements about Convention on Supplementary Compensation (CSC) It aims to increase the amount of compensation available in the event of a nuclear incident through public funds to be made available by the Contracting Parties on the basis of their installed nuclear capacity and UN rate of assessment India is yet to sign the Convention, because its nuclear liability law is not in conformity with CSC requirements Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.5) Consider the following statements about Transformative Carbon Asset Facility (TCAF) It was launched by Germany, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland in collaboration with the World Bank Group It supports developing countries in establishing and implementing market-based climate change mitigation mechanisms by providing results-based financing for proven emission reductions achieved at sectoral level 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  

PIB

IASbaba PIB Weekly : Press Information Bureau – 10th June to 16th June, 2018

IASbaba Press Information Bureau 10th June to 16th June, 2018 ARCHIVES GS-2 To be launched: Solar Charkha Mission (Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation) By: Ministry of Micro Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) The Mission will cover 50 clusters and every cluster will employ 400 to 2000 artisans 15 new state-of-the-art technology centers are being set up all over the country including North-East Work being done by the Ministry has promoted Ease-of-Doing-Business with the setting up of 4 portals: ‘MSME Sambandh’, MSME Samadhaan, Udyog Aadhaar and Udyam Sakhi To be launched: Composite Water Management Index (Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation) NITI Aayog has come up with the Composite Water Management Index as a useful tool to assess and improve the performance in efficient management of water resources. This index is an attempt to inspire States and UTs towards efficient and optimal utilization of water, and recycling thereof with a sense of urgency. The index can be utilised to formulate and implement suitable strategies for better management of water resources. Cabinet approves Agreement between India and Peru: The agreement aims to establish the basis for a cooperative institutional relationship to encourage and promote technical bilateral cooperation on new and renewable issues on the basis of mutual benefit equality and reciprocity. Repositioning of North Eastern Council: Has approved the proposal of Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) for the nomination of the Union Home Minister as ex-officio Chairman of North Eastern Council (NEC) - a statutory body with Governors and Chief Ministers of all the eight North Eastern States as its Member The Cabinet also approved that Minister of State (Independent Charge); Ministry of DoNER would serve as Vice Chairman of the Council. Under the new arrangement with Home Minister as Chairman and Minister of DoNER as Vice Chairman, NEC and all the Governors and Chief Ministers of North Eastern States as Member would provide a forum for discussing inter-state matters more comprehensively and also consider common approaches to be taken in future. NEC can now also perform the tasks undertaken by the various Zonal Councils to discuss such inter-State issues as drug trafficking, smuggling of arms and ammunition, boundary disputes etc. Background: NEC was established under the North Eastern Council Act, 1971 as an apex level body for securing balanced and coordinated development and facilitating coordination with the States. Proposal for enactment of Dam Safety Bill, 2018: It will help all the States and Union Territories of India to adopt uniform dam safety procedures which shall ensure safety of dams and safeguard benefits from such dams. This shall also help in safeguarding human life, livestock and property. The Bill provides for proper surveillance, inspection, operation and maintenance of all specified dams in the country to ensure their safe functioning. The Bill provides for constitution of a National Committee on Dam Safety which shall evolve dam safety policies and recommend necessary regulations as may be required for the purpose. The Bill provides for establishment of National Dam Safety Authority as a regulatory body which shall discharge functions to implement the policy, guidelines and standards for dam safety in the country. The Bill provides for constitution of a State Committee on Dam Safety by State Government. Background: Due to lack of legal and institutional architecture for dam safety in India, dam safety is an issue of concern. Unsafe dams are a hazard and dam break may cause disasters, leading to huge loss of life and property. The Dam Safety Bill, 2018 address all issues concerning dam safety including regular inspection of dams, Emergency Action Plan, comprehensive dam safety review, adequate repair and maintenance funds for dam safety, Instrumentation and Safety Manuals. It lays onus of dam safety on the dam owner and provides for penal provisions for commission and omission of certain acts. MoU between the ICMR and INSERM, France: The MoU aims at cooperation in areas of common interest within the medical, life sciences and health research fields. Based on scientific excellence on both sides, the parties have agreed to have a specific focus upon: Diabetes and Metabolic disorders; Bio-ethics with focus on Ethics and regulatory issues of Gene editing techniques; Rare diseases Three Year Action Plan of Agricultural Education Division & ICAR Institutes The scheme is aimed to generate quality human resources from the institutions of higher agricultural education. It encompasses several new initiatives including, steps to attract talented students, reducing academic inbreeding and addressing faculty shortage.   It will also take care of green initiatives, mitigating faculty shortage, international ranking, alumni involvement, promoting innovations, inspired teacher network, reducing inbreeding, academia interface, technology enabled learning, Post-doctoral Fellowships, Agriculture Education Portal, Scientific Social responsibility etc. for quality assurance ranking of the agricultural universities has been linked to the financial support under the scheme along with accreditation. Support for strengthening and modernization of infrastructure related to student and faculty amenities and capacity building of both faculty and students in cutting edge areas through Niche Area of Excellence programme will improve teaching and encouraging holistic development of the students. Please Note: Exercise SURYA KIRAN-XIII: Joint military training exercise between India & Nepal India is one of the largest importers and in 2017; it imported nearly 150 Million US Dollar worth Li-Ion batteries. The auto mobile sector of India is one of the largest in the world and accounts for over 7.1 % of India’s GDP and contributes nearly 22 % of India’s manufacturing GDP. Faster Adoption Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles in India (FAME) Launched in 2015; is proposed to be implemented over a period of 6 years till 2020 22 Original Equipment Manufacturers with 80 models are registered for availing demand incentive Lithium-ion batteries can power any electrical application without the need of physical wires-means wireless. Li-Ion batteries have applications in Energy Storage System – From hearing aid to container sized batteries to power a cluster of villages Electric Vehicles (2-wheeler, 3-wheeler, 4-wheeler and Bus) Portable electronic sector Grid Storage Telecom and Telecommunication Towers Medical Devices Household and Office Power Back (UPS) Powering Robots in Processing Industry UTTAM App has been launched for ensuring transparency and efficiency in coal quality monitoring process. Scheme for Harnessing and Allocating Koyala Transparently in India (SHAKTI), for auction and allotment of coal linkages, will lead to affordable power and transparency in allocation of coal. Maternal Mortality Rate: India has registered a record 22% reduction in MMR since 2013, which is the highest percentage decline so far when compared to all the previous reductions in MMR as per the previous rounds of SRS. India has met the MDG target for MMR of 139/lakh live births by achieving 130 by 2015. The Quarterly Employment survey (New Series) is an enterprise based survey, carried out with an objective to measure relative change in employment situation over successive quarters for the establishments having 10 or more workers. India’s First National Rail & Transportation University: Vadodara Atal Tinkering Labs: By NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) For nurturing innovation and entrepreneurial spirit among secondary school children across India ATLs will soon be established in every district of India, seeking to enable an innovation ecosystem, which will facilitate transformational change in technological innovation and pedagogy. Atal Innovation Mission of NITI Aayog The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) is the Government of India’s flagship initiative to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in the country. AIM is mandated to create an umbrella structure to oversee innovation ecosystem of the country and revolutionizing the innovation eco-system - touching upon the entire innovation life cycle through various programs. The Atal Tinkering Laboratories (ATLs) create innovators, Atal Incubation Centres and support to Established Incubation Centre ensure that innovations are taken to the market and help create enterprises around these innovations. National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd. (NAFED) – to promote co-operative marketing of Agricultural Produce to benefit the farmers. Procures pulses, oilseeds and onion from farmers Procured 31.91 lakh metric tonnes of pulses and oilseeds in 2017-18 thereby benefitting over 20 lakh farmers; money was directly transferred to farmers’ accounts. Swajal scheme: Aim to provide villages with piped water supply powered by solar energy. The scheme will train hundreds of rural technicians for operation and maintenance of Swajal units. Ayushman Bharat – National Health Protection Mission (AB-NHPM): 20 States sign MoU for implementing the scheme National Tribal Museum & National Level Tribal Research Institute: Proposed to be set up at Delhi Host of European Union Film Festival: India - organized by the Directorate of Film Festivals, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, and European Union Ten new Swachh Iconic Places (SIP) launched under Swachh Bharat Mission Raghavendra Swamy Temple (Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh) Hazardwari Palace (Murshidabad, West Bengal) Brahma Sarovar Temple (Kurukshetra, Haryana) Vidur Kuti (Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh) Mana village (Chamoli, Uttarakhand) Pangong Lake (Leh-Ladakh, J&K) Nagvasuki Temple (Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh) Ima Keithal/market (Imphal, Manipur) Sabarimala Temple (Kerala) Kanvashram (Uttarakhand) Quotes: The Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu Development & Environment Development and environment need not be antithetical to each other, but must foster a complementary and symbiotic relationship. All scientific endeavors must aim at finding solutions to the problems faced by the society. Science has no meaning if it does not the touch the lives of the people. Scientists and technocrats cannot remain in ivory towers. Peace & Development Both beyond and within the boundaries is crucial for rapid development of our country. India believes in resolving differences through negotiations in an atmosphere of trust and good will and added that no problem or issue is beyond solution if the intentions are right. Atal Mission will help Arunachal address infrastructure issues relating to water supply, septage management and sewer networks, storm water drains, non-motorised urban transport and open spaces and parks. New energy, new resolve, new hope, new approaches and new thinking are driving this change.

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs [Prelims + Mains Focus] - 18th June 2018

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs (Prelims + Mains Focus)- 18th June 2018 Archives (PRELIMS+MAINS FOCUS) Highlights of NITI Aayog’s fourth governing council meeting Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II and III – Indian Polity and Economy; C-S relations In news: Prime Minister calls for widespread consultation on simultaneous elections in the country, keeping in view aspects such as the resulting financial savings and better utilisation of resources. There were no signs of amending Terms of reference (ToR) of 15th Finance Commission Important value additions About 15th Finance Commission’s ToR Terms of reference of 15th Finance Commission – has become a major item which has led to the controversy. It deals with distribution of revenue collected to states. The ToR of 15th Finance Commission has drawn protests from many states, especially from southern ones. They allege that the ToR was in contradiction to the principles of Federalism enshrined in the Constitution and also would result in revenue loss to performing states. They oppose the ToR recommendation to use the 2011 census to calculate population for allocation of union tax revenue in place of 1971 census, which was used by previous Finance Commissions. Do you know? Fifteenth Finance Commission (FCC) is headed by NK Singh. Finance Commission is constitutionally-mandated body established once every five years by President to devise a formula for distributing net tax proceeds between centre and states as well as among states and local bodies. The recommendations of 15th Finance Commission (FFC) will come into effect from 1 April 2020. Dhanush a.k.a Desi Bofors Key points: Dhanush - indigenously upgraded artillery gun It is ready for induction into the Army Developed by the Jabalpur-based Gun Carriage Factory (GCF) Dhanush is an upgraded version of the Swedish Bofors gun procured by India in the mid-1980s. (The design is based on Bofors, therefore Dhanush is aka Desi Bofors) Pic credits: https://d39gegkjaqduz9.cloudfront.net/TH/2018/06/18/DEL/Delhi/TH/5_07/b6e1ba4a_2181033_101_mr.jpg Fast recap: We had read about AH-64 Apache attack helicopters; Chinook heavy-lift helicopters; C-130J Hercules ; Howitzers; Harpoon anti-ship missile system -- (India US deal) S-400 Triumf; Mi-25 and Mi-35 attack helicopters – (India and Russia) SPYDER – (India and Israel) Article link: Battle ready: Dhanush artillery gun clears final trials Centre State Relations: Andhra Pradesh versus Centre Pending issues between Andhra government and the Centre – bifurcation-related Special Category Status (SCS) construction of a capital city Polavaram project revenue deficit and pull back of ₹350 crore relating to the backward areas development fund. Other areas of contention Establishment of a greenfield crude oil refinery and petrochemical complex Railway zone Increase of seats in the Assembly Resolving anomalies in the taxation matters Construction of a steel plant at the YSR Kadapa district Establishment of the Vizag-Chennai Industrial Corridor the Visakhapatnam and the Vijayawada metro rail, the Dugarajapatnam port and establishment of a Greyhound Training Centre Just know the following pointers - Polavaram project and Dugarajapatnam port is associated with Andhra Pradesh Special Category Status (SCS) is granted by National Development Council (NDC), a NITI Aayog body SCS is granted to States that are disadvantaged as compared to the others 1st State to be granted the status: Jammu and Kashmir Other States having the SCS status: Assam, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Sikkim, Tripura, and Uttarakhand Set of parameters that determine the decision: Hilly and difficult terrain Low population density or the presence of sizeable tribal population Strategic location along international borders Economic and infrastructural backwardness Non-viable nature of state finances Assistance provided to the States with Special Category Status: Receive preferential treatment in the form of 30 percent of the Centre’s budget Concession on excise duty and other tax breaks to attract industries and investment Option to avail benefits of debt swapping and debt relief schemes In central government-sponsored schemes and external aid, the states get it as 90 percent grants and 10 percent loans. Other states receive only 30 percent of their funds as grants. (MAINS FOCUS) INTERNATIONAL TOPIC:General Studies 2: India and its neighbourhood- 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 Countering China in the Indo-Pacific Introduction: Security cooperation between Japan, India, the US and Australia is on the rise. At the recently concluded Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the defence ministers of Japan, the US and Australia reiterated their shared commitment to the Indo-Pacific region. It was closely followed by Japan-India-US Malabar exercises in Guam. Japan, India, the US and Australia will also join Rimpac (Rim of the Pacific) exercises. Turning Indo-Pacific security cooperation into a “counter China strategy”: There are three possible ways- Focusing on the link between Indo-China border area and the East China Sea. If India cooperates with Japan and the US, it will not need to deal with all the Chinese fighter jets at once, because China is likely to keep some of its fighter jets to defend its eastern front. Japan and the US are willing to support India’s efforts to modernize its defence in the Indo-China border area. The US has already exported transport planes, attack helicopters, heavy-lift helicopter, ultra-light howitzers and carbines for Indian forces. Since 2014, Japan has invested in India’s strategic road project in the North-East region. There is a high possibility that in the near future India will be the most influential sea power in the Indian Ocean Region. Japan, the US and Australia will then be able to deploy more military force in the East China Sea and South China Sea to maintain the military balance against China. Therefore, these three countries should share the know-how related with anti-submarine capabilities and enhance India’s military preparedness. Developing infrastructure in countries of the region. Bangladesh has already chosen Japan’s Martabali port project instead of China’s Sonadia port project. If the Trincomalee port project—involving Japanese assistance—in Sri Lanka succeeds, then the importance of China’s Hambantota port will decline. Similarly, the Chabahar port project in Iran can mitigate the importance of the Chinese Gwadar port in Pakistan. The Asia-Africa Growth Corridor (AAGC), a result of Indo-Japanese cooperation, will also counter China’s growing influence in Africa. Japan, India, the US and the Australia can collaborate to support South-East Asian countries in the South China Sea. The South-East Asian countries need to beef up their military power. Japanese investment in India’s strategic road project in the latter’s North-East region will help increase India-South-East Asia trade. There is a possibility that growing India-South-East Asia trade could reduce China’s influence in South-East Asia. Conclusion: Security cooperation among Japan, India, the US and Australia is increasingly reasonable. The time has come to proactively further this cooperation to ensure prosperity and stability in the whole of Indo-Pacific. Connecting the dots: Security cooperation among Japan, India, the US and Australia can help counter China in the Indo-Pacific region. Comment. ENVIRONMENT TOPIC: General Studies 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. General Studies 3: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment NITI Aayog ‘Composite Water Management Index’ and Mihir Shah Committee on water management Introduction: In earlier article we had read about NITI Aayog report ‘Composite Water Management Index’ (CWMI) dealing with water crisis. NITI Aayog had released the results of a study warning that India is facing its “worst” water crisis in history, which had implications for the health of the entire population. Outcome of Composite Water Management Index According to the CWMI developed by Niti Aayog, 70% of the water resources are identified as polluted. If the water accessible to millions is contaminated, the problem is infinitely worse than that of availability. Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Punjab and Telangana have initiated reforms for judicious water use, while populous ones such as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have failed to respond to the challenge. Tamil Nadu, which has a middling score, does well on augmentation of water sources, but is abysmally poor in ensuring sustainable use for farming. As per the report, CWMI the crisis is only going to get worse. By 2030, the country’s water demand is projected to be twice the available supply, implying severe water scarcity for hundreds of millions of people and an eventual 6 per cent loss in the country’s GDP. Indices considered for ratings – States were rated on the basis of – performance in augmenting water resources and watersheds investing in infrastructure providing rural and urban drinking water encouraging efficient agricultural use Need of the hour: Two areas that need urgent measures are augmentation of watersheds that can store more good water, for use in agriculture and to serve habitations, and strict pollution control enforcement. Mihir Shah Committee In order to meet the above demands, Committee on Restructuring the Central Water Commission and the Central Ground Water Board (chaired by Mihir Shah) was constituted. Mihir Shah Committee has called for a user-centric approach to water management, especially in agriculture. User-centric approach Mihir Shah Committee advocates decentralisation of irrigation commands, offering higher financial flows to well-performing States through a National Irrigation Management Fund. It also calls for awarding an index rank, which would help States feel the need to be competitive. It will also foster “competitive and cooperative federalism”. The Committee suggests for robust data collection to understand groundwater extraction patterns, as less than 5% of about 12 million wells are now under study. The Committee highlights that the growing pace of urbanization calls for a new management paradigm, augmenting sources of clean drinking water supply and treatment technologies that will encourage reuse. Pollution can be curbed by levying suitable costs. Conclusion: Therefore, all these forward-looking changes would need revamped national and State institutions, and updated laws. A legal mandate will work better than just competition and cooperation; it would make governments accountable. Connecting the dots: What India needs is not interlinking of rivers but something else to achieve water, agriculture and livelihood security. Critically analyze. (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Q.1) Consider the following statements about Polavaram Project It implements Godavari-Krishna link under National River Linking Project It has been accorded national project status by the central government The dam is across the Krishna River Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above Q.2) Consider the following statements The Chairman of the Finance Commission is the Cabinet Secretary Setting up of Finance Commission is a Constitutional obligation under Article 280 of the Constitution of India Select the correct statements 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) Consider the following statements with reference to Finance Commission It is a quasi-judicial body. The chairman of the commission is not eligible for reappointment. The qualifications of the members of commission are not specified in the Constitution. Which of the statements given above are correct? 1 and 2 1 and 3 2 and 3 1, 2 and 3 Q.4) Consider the following and find the correct match Dhanush is the surface-to-surface missile and a naval variant of Prithvi missile Dhanush is an upgraded version of the Swedish Bofors gun procured by India Select the correct one 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.5) Fifteenth Finance Commission (FCC) is headed by – Preetham Reddy Y V Reddy NK Singh Mihir Shah Q.6) Committee on Restructuring the Central Water Commission and the Central Ground Water Board is chaired by – Preetham Reddy Y V Reddy NK Singh Mihir Shah MUST READ India's Dutch disease Indian Express Creating more jobs in India Business Line Wanted, a national rubber policy Business Line

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