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Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 10th June 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 10th June 2019 Archives (MAIN FOCUS) All states, union territories can now set up foreign Tribunals Part of: Prelims and Mains GS Paper II Polity In News In the backdrop of updation process of National Register of Citizen in Assam, Ministry of Home Affairs has amended the Foreigners (Tribunals) Order, 1964. Amendments: The amended order has empowered District Magistrates in all States and Union Territories to set up tribunals to decide whether a person staying illegally in India is a foreigner or not. Earlier, the powers to constitute tribunals were vested only with the Centre. The amended Foreigners (Tribunal) Order, 2019 also empowers individuals to approach the Tribunals. Do you Know? National Register of Citizens (NRC) National Register of Citizens, 1951 was a register prepared after the conduct of the Census of 1951. Any citizens whose does not find his/her name in NRC shall be considered as foreigner under Foreigner’s Act, 1946 and shall be liable for deportation. NRC regards all migrants who have come to India after March, 24, 1971 as illegal irrespective of their religion. Such illegal immigrant needs to be deported back to their home country as per Assam Accord Sportswear giant set to tap Indian firms’ PET project to cut virgin plastic use Part of: Environment and Ecology, Mains GS paper III: Environmental conservation In News: Adidas aims at eliminating the use of virgin plastics in its products by 2024. According to the United Nations, around 300 million tonnes of plastic are produced every year with eight million tonnes of plastic waste ends up in the oceans. PET bottles are the main contributors to plastic waste globally and in India. It is taking help of Polygenta Technology Limited, a Maharashtra based company which is the only one company in the country to produce yarn out of discarded PET bottles. Recycling in India; Downcycling and Upcycling PET material collection rate in India is nearly 80% — among the best in the world — but a good portion of these bottles are downcycled, eliminating the possibility of further recycling. Downcycling is reuse of waste in a manner that the recycled product is of lower value than the original material. The PET recycling by PTL uses an upcycling process which consumes 86% less water and 75% less energy than conventional manufacturing. However, it costs approximately 10% more. Miscellaneous Mula Mutha River: ₹990-crore river cleaning project, a ‘gift from the Centre’, has been fast-tracked Formalin, used to preserve fish, is harmful to human and ecosystem health NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 3: Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices Inclusive growth and issues arising from it. General Studies 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Indian Agriculture: Improving global competitiveness Background: Indian industry is today complaining that the rural demand is collapsing. Tractor sales are down by 13 per cent, two-wheeler sales are down by 16 per cent, car sales are down by similar percentage, and even FMCG (fast move consumer goods) sales are down in April 2019 over April 2018. One of the reasons is that India has never had any major agri-reforms and farmers’ incomes have remained very low. So, if industry wants to prosper, we must aim at an agri-GDP growth of more than 4 per cent. Issues: Need to raise farm productivity in a manner that can cut down unit costs and make Indian agriculture more competitive, enabling higher exports. Officials managing agri-trade need to pay heed to this massive failure as it has implications not only for overall agri-GDP growth, but also for slowing down of manufacturing growth due to sluggish demand for industrial products in rural areas. Restrictive policies constrain the private sector from building direct supply chains from farms to ports, which bypass the mandi system. This leads to a weak infrastructure for agri-exports. The net result of all this is that Indian farmers do not get full advantage of global markets. An obsessive focus on inflation targeting by suppressing food prices through myriad controls works against the farmer. Improving global competitiveness: Investment in agri-R&D. Today, India spends roughly 0.7 per cent of agri-GDP on agri-R&D and extension together. This needs to double in the next five years. The returns are enormous. Example: The meagre investments in Pusa Basmati 1121 and 1509, for example, have yielded basmati exports between $ 4 and 5 billion annually. The returns from the sugarcane variety Co-0238 in Uttar Pradesh are similarly impressive. The recovery ratio has increased from about 9.2 in 2012-13 to more than 11 per cent today. Massive investments are also needed in managing our water resources more efficiently, to produce more with less. Investment in infrastructure for agri-exports value chains. Conclusion: Augmenting productivity should be accompanied with pushing for export markets. Improving competitiveness in Indian agriculture is must if the dream of doubling farmers’ income by 2020 needs to be achieved. Connecting the dots: Indian agriculture lacks global competitiveness. Analyze critically. INTERNATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2: India and the World International Relations Policies of developed and developing countries and their impact on India’s interests Foreign Policy Challenges Background: The world looks more disorderly in 2019 than was the case five years ago. U.S. President Donald Trump’s election and the new dose of unpredictability in U.S. policy pronouncements. The trade war between the U.S. and China which is becoming a technology war. Brexit and the European Union’s internal preoccupations. Erosion of U.S.-Russia arms control agreements and the likelihood of a new arms race covering nuclear, space and cyber domains. The U.S.’s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal and growing tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Above are some of the developments that add to the complexity of India’s principal foreign policy challenge of dealing with the rise of China. Redefining neighbourhood: Pakistan: Despite good planning there is always the risk of unintended escalation as Balakot (this year) and the downing of an Indian Air Force (IAF) MiG-21 showed. In the absence of communication channels between India and Pakistan, it appears that the U.S., Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates played a role in ensuring the quick release of the IAF pilot, Wg. Cdr. Abhinandan Varthaman, thereby defusing the situation. Unless the Modi government wants to outsource crisis management to external players, it may be better to have some kind of ongoing dialogue between the two countries. Other neighbors: Translating India’s natural weight in the region into influence was easier in a pre-globalised world and before China emerged in its assertive avatar. It is preferable to work on the basis of generating broad-based consent rather than dominance. This necessitates using multi-pronged diplomatic efforts and being generous as the larger economy. It also needs a more confident and coordinated approach in handling neighbourhood organisations — SAARC, BIMSTEC, the Bangladesh, the Bhutan, India, Nepal Initiative, the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Forum for Regional Cooperation, the Indian Ocean Rim Association. Above should be preferably in tandem with bilateralism because our bilateral relations provide us with significant advantages. Managing China: China will remain the most important issue, as in 2014. The policy followed was of growing economic, commercial and cultural relations while managing the differences on the boundary dispute through dialogue and confidence-building measures, in the expectation that this would create a more conducive environment for eventual negotiations. The Doklam stand-off was a rude reminder of that the assumption behind the policy followed for three decades could no longer be sustained. The informal summit in Wuhan restored a semblance of calm but does not address the long-term implications of the growing gap between the two countries. Meanwhile, there is the growing strategic rivalry between the U.S. and China unfolding on our doorstep. We no longer have the luxury of distance to be non-aligned. Managing U.S.: A number of issues have emerged that need urgent attention. As part of its policy on tightening sanctions pressure on Iran, the U.S. has terminated the sanctions waiver that had enabled India to import limited quantities of Iranian crude till last month. The Generalised System of Preferences scheme has been withdrawn, adversely impacting about 12% of India’s exports to the U.S., as a sign of growing impatience with India’s inability to address the U.S.’s concerns regarding market access, tariff lines and recent changes in the e-commerce policy. The threat of sanctions under the Countering American Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), were India to proceed with the purchase of the S-400 air and missile defence system from Russia. The reconciliation talks between the U.S. and the Taliban as the U.S. negotiates its exit from Afghanistan raise New Delhi’s apprehensions about the Taliban’s return, constituting another potential irritant. Way forward: India lacks the ability to shape events around it on account of resource limitations. These require domestic decisions in terms of expanding the foreign policy establishment though having a seasoned professional at the top does help. We need to ensure far more coordination among the different ministries and agencies than has been the case so far. Our record in implementation projects is patchy at best and needs urgent attention. The focus on the neighbourhood is certainly desirable, for only if we can shape events here can we look beyond. However, the fact that China too is part of the neighbourhood compounds Mr. Modi’s foreign policy challenges in his second term. Employing external balancing to create a conducive regional environment is a new game that will also require building a new consensus at home. Connecting the dots: Recent developments have added to the complexity of India’s principal foreign policy challenge of dealing with the rise of China. Discuss strategies to deal with the situation. (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in the 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) Which of the following cities is/are located on Mula Mutha River? Mumbai Pune Nagpur Select the correct statements 1 and 2 2 only 1 and 3 1, 2, and 3 Q.2) Recently “Formalin” has been in news. It is, Harmful chemical used to preserve fish Antibiotic used for marine health Second line drug for drug resistant TB None of the above MUST READ Why language matters The Hindu Artificial Intelligence, the law and the future The Hindu India and the Sino-Russian relations Indian Express

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UPSC Quiz - 2020 : IAS Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 3

UPSC Quiz - 2020 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 3 Archives Q.1) Which of the following statements is/are correct? Although cyclones affect the entire coast of India the East Coast is more prone compared to the West Coast. Over 90 % of the cyclones that develop over the Arabian Sea approach the West Coast of India. Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2) Which of the following statements is/are correct with respect to ‘Tropical Cyclones’? It helps to maintain equilibrium in the Earth’s troposphere It helps maintain a relatively stable and warm temperature worldwide It helps relieve drought conditions Select the correct statements 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above Q.3) Which of the following statements with respect to ‘Leader of Opposition (LoP)’ is are correct? The first LoP was designated only in 1991 To be the LoP in Lok Sabha, the party needs to have more than 100 seats Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.4) Consider the following statements with respects ‘Pro tem Speaker’ The appointment of the Pro Tem Speaker needs no approval of the President. In absence of the Speaker, the first priority to act as a Speaker is given to the Pro Tem Speaker. Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.5) ‘VG Kannan Committee’ was in news recently. It is associated with New Education Policy ATM interchange fee Inter-creditor Agreement Country-by-Country Report To Download the Solution - Click here All the Best  IASbaba

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 8th June 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 8th June 2019 Archives (MAIN FOCUS) NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes. Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. Important aspects of governance and related issues. Creating a Welfare State Background: Housing, sanitation, gas connections (Ujjwala), direct benefit transfers (DBT), income support (PM-Kisan) —were few of the welfarist programmes launched by the last government. In their implementation, these schemes had ambitious targets, tight centralised monitoring and outreach resulting in an accelerated pace of activity. But they also brought to the fore deeply contested questions about the architecture of the welfare state, its functions and capability. The effectiveness of welfare policy will rest on the government’s willingness to invest in building state capacity. Building a competent welfare bureaucracy: Targeted programmes like PM-Kisan require bureaucrats to identify eligible beneficiaries. To do this, critical data like land records and socio-economic caste census needs to be regularly updated and disputes between claims of citizens and official records should be negotiated. Getting the DBT architecture right requires bureaucrats to engage citizens and coordinate across departments — a skill that Indian bureaucrats simply do not possess. Countries like Brazil and Mexico have invested in large cadres of social workers at the local government level to do just this. But in the rush to bypass bureaucrats through DBT and transfer cash directly into bank accounts, this crucial investment has been ignored. Solution: The success of welfare programmes in Modi 2.0 will depend on willingness to recognise that building a competent welfare bureaucracy, even if it’s only task is to move money, will require empowering local governments with skills and resources. Active citizen participation: Responsive governments require active citizen participation. Digitised efficiency risks casting citizens as passive recipients of government largesse rather than active claimants of rights. Digitised welfare systems genuinely risk closing off spaces for citizens to complain, protest and demand accountability when rights are denied. Solution: A balance needs to be struck between efficiency gains through centralised control and responsiveness through decentralised, citizen-centric governance. Health sector: With Ayushman Bharat, a significant step was taken towards an architectural shift in India’s welfare system, away from direct provisioning towards financing citizens and regulating private providers. But can a state that struggles with routine tasks regulate a sector as complex as healthcare? The staffing requirement, in Uttar Pradesh alone, would amount to 10,000 employees. Importantly, in a sector like health where predatory practices are rife, well-functioning government hospitals are a necessary check and balance. Regulation cannot be a substitute for investing in public systems. Ayushman Bharat must be complemented with a concerted focus on strengthening public hospitals. Flexibility to States: The multiplicity of central schemes has served to entrench a silo-driven, one-size-fits-all approach that is inefficient as it fails to capture state-specific needs.   Addressing overlaps and complementarities within existing schemes needs to be checked. The World Bank’s social protection analysis calls for developing a national social protection strategy with a core basket of schemes that states can adapt to their needs. Greater flexibility to states was also recommended by the Niti Aayog’s chief ministers sub committee report in 2016. Implementing these recommendations will require a radical shift in the role of the central government away from designing and controlling schemes to strategic thinking and supporting states. Resolving India’s learning crisis: The newly-released national education policy emphasises the urgent need to ensure all students achieve foundational literacy and numeracy. This needs to be adopted and implemented in mission mode. Conclusion: India doesn’t need new schemes, rather it needs consolidation and balancing between competing welfare strategies. Getting this right will require significant investments in state capacity. Connecting the dots: In order to create a welfare state it is must that the government invests in building state capacity. Elucidate. MUST READ The great Indian celebration The Hindu The only mantra Indian Express

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 7th June 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 7th June 2019 Archives (MAIN FOCUS) NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. The draft National Education Policy, 2019 In news: The draft National Education Policy, 2019 is out in the public domain, with comments sought from all stakeholders. Drawing inputs from the T.S.R. Subramanian Committee report and the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), the K. Kasturirangan Committee has produced a document that is comprehensive, far-sighted and grounded in realities. Unique features of the policy: The draft policy seeks to revamp all aspects of the sector and suggests brave new ideas. The idea that lifelong education is based on four pillars — learning to know, learning to do, learning to live together and learning to be — has inspired the committee to cover every aspect of the education sector: school, higher, vocational and adult education. It also includes the whole gamut of professional education — engineering, medicine, agriculture, law, etc. Early childhood education: In school education, the idea is to cover children of 3-18 years [instead of the present 6-14 years under the Right to Education (RTE) Act], three years under early childhood care and education (ECCE) and four years under secondary education. Restructuring the 10+2 education structure into a 5+3+3+4 structure so that the five years from ages three to seven or till the end of Std 2 are seen as one “foundational stage”. The next two stages, of three years each, are “preparatory” and “upper primary”, first ensure the acquisition of foundational skills and then their development. These stages are not only consistent with the development of children, but they are also useful to meet the overall goal of ensuring basic learning outcomes stage-by-stage. Higher education: The aim is to double the Gross Enrolment Ratio from 25% to 50% by 2035 and make universities the hubs of research. - Tier I universities/institutions devoted primarily to research and some teaching. - Tier 2 universities devoted to teaching and some research,. - Tier 3 institutions comprising mainly colleges that are to be converted gradually into degree-giving autonomous institutions. Achieve ‘universal foundational literacy and numeracy’ through initiatives like the National Tutors Programme and the Remedial Instructional Aides Programme. Introduction of school complexes, a system of modular Board Examinations to allow flexibility, setting up Special Education Zones in disadvantaged regions, recognising teachers at the heart of the system, moving teacher education into the university system, and stressing the importance of learning new languages are among the key recommendations. The policy recommends community and volunteer participation in collaboration with schools to overcome the current crisis. Schools generally work in isolation from the community they serve. The policy recognises the crucial importance of liberal arts (it recommends setting up five Indian Institutes of Liberal Arts offering four-year courses) and the study of modern and classical languages (it recommends setting up National Institutions for Pali, Prakrit and Persian). It proposes separate institutions for regulation, funding, standard setting and accreditation, a National Research Foundation, and a Rashtriya Shiksha Aayog/ National Education Commission. Vocational education, meant for 50% of the students, is sought to be integrated with school and higher education. Challenges in implementation: Doubling of public funding to 6% of the GDP and increasing overall public expenditure on education to 20% from the current 10%. This is desirable but does not appear to be feasible in the near future given that most of the additional funding has to come from the States. Though innovative financing schemes have been proposed, involving the private sector, how those schemes will shape up remains to be seen. Expanding coverage under the RTE Act is extremely important, but should be introduced gradually, keeping in mind the quality of infrastructure and teacher vacancies. The idea of regulation being brought under the National Higher Education Regulatory Authority, standard setting under the General Education Council and funding under the Higher Education Grants Council may require a revisit so that there is synchronisation with the current Bill for the Higher Education Commission of India. Language issues have to be handled sensitively in view of their emotional overtones, as witnessed recently. Conclusion: The “learning crisis” is very deep. The education system — public and private — has been deteriorating rapidly and has affected the quality of our human resources. If this trend is not reversed, the dysfunctional system will become more and more expensive but will not deliver the goods. It will require a huge commitment and conviction to make it happen. Connecting the dots: Discuss unique features of the draft National Education Policy, 2019. Also comment on the challenges in implementation of suggested recommendations. ECONOMY TOPIC: General Studies 3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. The Nandan Nilekani panel on deepening digital payments In news: The RBI constituted the five-member committee in January to review the status of digitization of payments, identify gaps in the ecosystem, and suggest ways of plugging them. It was tasked to suggest a medium-term strategy for deepening digital payments and measures to strengthen safety and security. The high-level committee on deepening of digital payments, led by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani, has recommended a reduction in costs to widen the acceptance infrastructure and improve digital financial inclusion. The report noted that while the digital payments ecosystem has made substantial progress on the issuance side, there needs to be an improvement on the demand or acceptance side of the ecosystem. Background: Per capita digital transactions stand at 22 in March 2019 and are expected to increase to 220 by March 2022, according to the committee. This will lead to an increase in the number of users of digital transactions from 100 million to 300 million. At present, India has a large currency in circulation to GDP ratio, when compared with other countries. Recommendations: Reduction in Fees & Taxes: 15-basis-point cut in the interchange fee for use of banks’ ATM networks by customers of other banks make sense. A major suggestion to increase both digital acceptance and tax compliance is that businesses be provided with tax incentives calibrated on the proportion of digital payments in their receipts. Removal of all charges on digital payment transactions for the convenience of customers. The government should continue the current scheme to refund the merchant discount rate for small value transactions (under₹2,000) beyond December 2019 for another two years. Improving ease of usage: To move away from plastic, and let the merchant use only the phone and a QR code. This will make digital payments seamless and convenient for customers. Merchants can generate their own code that will be interoperable with banks, doing away with card-swipe terminals. The panel also recommended the creation of a No-KYC wallet with a maximum value of ₹2,000 in the wallet and maximum spending capped at ₹10,000 per month, with the aim of boosting digital payments. Expanding the horizon: To expand the UPI payments platform to foreign currency remittances by the NRIs and to settle residents’ payments when they travel overseas — just as Chinese users can use WeChat — makes eminent sense. Another is that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) consider setting up an acceptance development fund, which is used to develop new merchants in poorly served areas. Creation of a digital financial inclusion index so that progress in an area can be measured along a common scale, indicating the evolution of the users and steps taken for correcting the imbalance. The government, being the single-largest participant in payments, take the lead on all aspects of digitisation of payments. Need to provide citizens with the option to pay digitally for all payments to government and public sector agencies. Improving security: The RBI and the Centre to put in place a mechanism to monitor digital payment systems and make aggregated information based on blocks and PIN codes, available to all players on a monthly basis. Conclusion: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the government must target growth in the volume of digital payments by a factor of 10 in three years, leading to doubling in value relative to gross domestic product (GDP), as per the committee. This growth will be driven by a shift from high-value, low-volume, high-cost transactions to low-value, high-volume, low-cost transactions. Connecting the dots: The digital payments ecosystem has made substantial progress in India. In this light discuss the recommendation of the Nandan Nilekani panel on deepening digital payments.

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RSTV IAS UPSC – New Govt's Thrust on Manufacturing

New Govt's Thrust on Manufacturing TOPIC: General Studies 3 Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.   In News: The Nikkei India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index declined from 52.6 in March to 51.8 in April, reflecting weakest improvement in business conditions since August 2018. In terms of growth, India’s manufacturing sector has underperformed compared to the overall GDP growth in the past decades. As a result, the share of manufacturing in India’s GDP has stagnated at 16-17%. To put this in perspective, manufacturing accounts for 29% of GDP in China and South Korea, and 27% in Thailand. Manufacturing is the backbone of an economy contributing to sustainable economic growth. According to estimates, every job created in manufacturing has a multiplier effect of 2-3x additional jobs in other sectors. In this regard, the government’s new industrial policy is a ray of hope for the manufacturing sector, as the government promises to reduce the cost of doing business in India in order to make Indian industry competitive. What are the other nations up to? China’s enviable growth has been primarily driven by the manufacturing sector, which contributes more than a quarter to the global manufacturing GDP. China’s careful planning, huge investment in infrastructure, incentives and subsidies, progressive decentralisation, and market-oriented reforms contributed to its manufacturing revolution. And its massive infrastructure upgrades. Between 2001 and 2006, China spent more money on infrastructure like roads, railway tracks, airports and critical fixed assets than had been spent in the previous 50 years put together. Now, through the Made in China 2025 strategic plan, the government is incentivising Chinese companies to leapfrog on the technology forefront by encouraging manufacturers to upgrade their factories in terms of quality, productivity and digitisation. On the other hand, South Korea has transitioned into a high-tech manufacturing country by focusing heavily on purchase of technology, and subsidies on R&D investments made by the public and private sectors. Tax incentives for R&D in South Korea are provided at every stage. Therefore, South Korea’s comparative advantage lies in technology and design. What impacts India’s industrial competitiveness? Cost and quality of power: Setting up of captive power supply for stable, concurrent and uninterrupted power is a huge cost burden for all energy-intensive manufacturing units. Cross-subsidisation has increased industrial power tariffs over the years. Additional tax burdens for heavy manufacturing industries like coal cess, RPO and PAT increase the overall energy cost. According to a NITI Aayog report, for energy-intensive manufacturing units, coal cess, RPO and PAT put together amount to a carbon tax of $9.7 per tonne of carbon dioxide emissions. As per the report, from a developing country perspective with low per capita consumption of electricity, this carbon tax seems to be excessive. Also, in terms of quality of power, India ranks 80 out of 137 countries as per World Economic Forum. According to the World Bank, access to electricity is the second-most important obstacle for manufacturing firms and is holding back corporate investment in the sector. India also faces the highest transmission and distribution losses in electric power in Emerging Asia due to low technological investment in innovations. Indian logistics costs are estimated to be of around 14-15% of GDP, almost double of the 7-8% of GDP in developed countries. In India, nearly 60% of the cargo travels by road. This is because of over-saturated railway networks, high rail freights, long transit times, inadequate port depths, high turnaround time at ports, and poor warehousing facility. India’s demographic and low labour cost advantage is eroded by growing skill mismatch and low productivity of labour. Today, 62% of India’s population is in the working age group and more than 54% of the total population is below 25 years of age. However, it is estimated that only 4.7% of India’s workforce is formally skilled, as against 52% in the US, 68% in the UK, 75% in Germany, 80% in Japan, 96% in South Korea and 24% in China. As per official estimates, India needs to train 126 million people across 34 sectors. Low expenditure on R&D: According to the Economic Survey, India’s spending on R&D as a share of GDP has been stagnant at 0.6-0.7% for the last two decades. This is much lower than the US (2.8%), China (2.1%), South Korea (4.2%) and Israel (4.3%). There is a not only a need for greater state and central government spending, but also industrial application oriented R&D and greater collaboration with the private sector. Cross-movement of researchers between public research organisations and industry is critical for facilitating transfer of knowledge and understanding each other’s needs. This is one common factor that has differentiated highly industrialised economies like South Korea and Taiwan from the not-so-industrialised. Pushes the frontier for MSMEs: They contribute nearly 32% of the GDP. There is an urgent need to bring down the cost of capital for these firms so that they stay competitive and innovative. The Economic Survey of FY18 points out that a meagre 17% of credit disbursed to industry goes to MSMEs, while the rest is garnered by the large enterprises. The average loan packet granted to these units under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana has been low (average loan size of `50,000), despite low levels of NPAs for this sector. If we want our MSMEs to innovate, export and prosper, we must create suitable conditions for them in terms of cost and provision of capital. India’s manufacturing sector needs a big push The Indian industry certainly needs to upgrade to compete globally, but without an effective and targeted policy support, the manufacturing sector will stagnate and not be able to compete with its emerging market peers. Effective collaboration between the government and the private sector is the need of the hour. Government needs to take steps to tackle the following: Unavailability or high price of raw materials Limited domestic demand Competition from foreign markets, and uncertainty about taxation Legislative and regulatory regimes Lack of digital culture and talent – to help streamline operations, which will lead to an improvement in business output The manufacturing sector expects government support in the following areas: A clear manufacturing policy – that spells out priority sectors and how we will build competitive advantage in a way that is consistent with our obligations to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Development of a long-term roadmap for educating and skilling the workforce, Access to finance and favourable tax incentives A clear and stable policy environment for long-term investment planning Facilitate fast-track implementation of these projects Refined data protection laws Refer: Mindmap Connecting the Dots; Analyse the challenges that make Indian manufacturing less competitive globally? How can India ensure a greater share in global GDP from manufacturing? With increasing policy impetus on manufacturing industries, it is imperative to create awareness about industrial disasters and also the necessary institutional mechanism to tackle such disasters. Comment. The manufacturing sector has the potential to become the driver of growth in India. The government through its interventions and policies has tried to make manufacturing a dynamic sector, one of which is the emphasis on skill development. Examine the policies and interventions in the area of skill development and also evaluate their effectiveness.

Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz - 2020 : IAS Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 2

UPSC Quiz - 2020 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 2 Archives Q.1) Which of the following statements with respect to ‘RBI’s Prudential Framework for Resolution of Stressed Assets’ is/are correct? It is applicable to Scheduled Commercial Banks Only. Banks have a review period of 2 days after a borrower defaults to decide on the resolution strategy. Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2) ‘Kunming Initiative’ is also referred to BCIM Forum ASEAN BIMSTEC BBIN Initiative Q.3) Consider the following statements with respect to ‘No Frills accounts’ The No Frills account is aimed to offer the most basic banking service to those from the low-income backgrounds. Banks cannot offer cheque book facility to the no-frills account holders. 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 ‘Lead Bank’ Scheme It was introduced during the 1991 reforms It was started for providing adequate banking and credit in rural areas through an ‘area approach’, with one bank assigned for one area Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.5) The term ‘Additive Manufacturing (AM)’ is associated with Fruit based processed food 3D Printing Generic Drugs Defence Industrial Corridors To Download the Solution - Click here All the Best  IASbaba

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RSTV IAS UPSC – India – Vietnam Relations

India – Vietnam Relations Archives TOPIC: General studies 2 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   In News: Because of the recent visit of Vice President of India M. Venkaiah Naidu Background The relations between India and Vietnam have been exceptionally friendly, and virtually free of any dissonance or friction. The ties go back to the ancient Cham civilization when people from Orissa travelled to Vietnam and found a hospitable home there, mingling cultures, customs, language and beliefs. Built on robust foundations laid down by India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Vietnam’s iconic leader Ho Chi Minh, the ties have grown exponentially over the years. Pandit Nehru travelled to Vietnam in 1954 to celebrate Vietnam’s victory in the famous Dien Bien Phu battle against the French forces. This was followed by Ho Chi Minh’s visit to India in 1958. President Rajendra Prasad visited Vietnam in 1959. The sense of the shared anti-colonial impulse and solidarity that shaped bilateral ties in post-independence years has now morphed into a multi-pronged strategic partnership, with the focus on development cooperation, sharing experiences in nation-building, expanding trade and investment and enhancing defence ties. Current Times In recent times, political contacts have strengthened as reflected in several high-level visits by leaders from both sides. India’s thrust under the ‘Act East’ policy combined with Vietnam’s growing engagement within the region and with India has paid rich dividends. India and Vietnam closely cooperate in various regional forums such as ASEAN, East Asia Summit, Mekong Ganga Cooperation, Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) besides UN and WTO. Vietnam is critical for India’s foreign policy at the regional and systemic levels. There is a need to understand how Vietnam has calibrated its domestic and foreign policy shifts and where India’s relevance can fit into these policy changes. The Recent Visit India and Vietnam expressed commitment to Enhance trade and investments Facilitate direct air connectivity to promote tourism, trade and relations Further strengthen cooperation in defence and security, peaceful uses of atomic energy and outer space, oil and gas and renewable energy Both sides reiterated the importance of building a peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific region on the basis of respect for national sovereignty and international law, and expressed full commitment to an open, transparent, inclusive and rules-based regional architecture based on freedom of navigation and overflight, unimpeded economic activities and peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law, the statement said. Vietnam’s leaders appreciated India’s long-standing development partnership engagement, especially scholarships and training programmes. They also thanked India for extending concessional Lines of Credit for defence industry cooperation and implementing other socio-cultural infrastructure projects in Vietnam under Indian grants-in-aid. The Way Ahead  Blending IT, education, Buddhism and strategy in its intricate tapestry, the relations between India and Vietnam have effortlessly blended the ancient and the modern to forge a robust contemporary partnership. In the days to come, the only way for the Delhi-Hanoi relationship is to go up, opening new vistas and opportunities for a mutually invigorating and empowering partnership. Note: Vesak, also known as Buddha Jayanti, is traditionally observed by Buddhists as ‘Buddha’s Birthday’. Vietnam is an important trade partner of India and their bilateral trade stood at nearly USD 14 billion last year having nearly doubled from USD 7.8 billion three years ago. Connecting the dots: India and Vietnam have a potential to upgrade their relationship to more strategic partnership owing to ‘ever-looming neighbour threat’. In that context, examine the importance of India-Vietnam relations. Vietnam is crucial to India’s Look East Policy. Critically comment.

PIB

Press Information Bureau (PIB) IAS UPSC – 27th May to 7th June – 2019

Press Information Bureau (PIB) IAS UPSC – 27th May to 7th June – 2019 ARCHIVES GS-2 Landmark decision taken in the first Cabinet meeting of the NDA Government offers pension coverage to crores of farmers (Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation) This is a path breaking scheme, also for the first time since independence, that such pension coverage has been envisioned for farmers. It is estimated that 5 crore small and marginal farmers will benefit in the first three years itself.  The Central Government would spend Rs. 10774.50 crore for a period of 3 years towards its contribution (matching share) for providing social security cover as envisaged under the scheme. The salient features: A voluntary and contributory pension scheme for all Small and Marginal Farmers (SMF) across the country. Entry age of 18 to 40 years with a provision of minimum fixed pension of Rs.3,000/- on attaining the age of 60 years. For example, a beneficiary farmer is required to contribute Rs 100/ - per month at median entry age of 29 years.  The Central Government shall also contribute to the Pension Fund an equal amount as contributed by the eligible farmer.  After the subscriber’s death, while receiving pension, the spouse of the SMF beneficiary shall be entitled to receive 50% of the pension received by the beneficiary as family pension, provided he/she is not already an SMF beneficiary of the Scheme.  If, the death of the subscriber happens during the period of contribution, the spouse shall have the option of continuing the Scheme by paying regular contribution. Synergy between schemes, prosperity for farmers: The farmers can opt to allow his/her monthly contribution to the Scheme to be made from the benefits drawn from the Pradhan Mantri KisanSAmman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Scheme directly. Alternatively, a farmer can pay his monthly contribution by registering through Common Service Centres (CSCs) under MeitY.  PM-KISAN Yojana extended to all farmers (Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation) PM-KISAN Scheme extension to include all eligible farmer families irrespective of the size of land holdings – The revised Scheme is expected to cover around 2 crore more farmers, increasing the coverage of PM-KISAN to around 14.5 crore beneficiaries, with an estimated expenditure by Central Government of Rs. 87,217.50 crores for year 2019-20. The key element of PM-KISAN is income support of Rs. 6000/- to the small and marginal landholder farmer families with cultivable land holding upto 2 hectare across the country. The amount is being released in three 4-monthly instalments of Rs.2000/- each over the year, to be credited into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries held in destination banks through Direct Benefit Transfer mode. New initiative to control Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Brucellosis to support the livestock rearing farmers (Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation) These diseases are very common amongst the livestock – cow-bulls, buffaloes, sheep, goats, pigs etc. If a cow/buffalo gets infected with FMD, the milk loss is up to 100% which could last for four to six months. Further, in case of Brucellosis the milk output reduces by 30%, during the entire life cycle of animal. Brucellosis also causes infertility amongst the animals. The infection of brucellosis can also be transmitted to the farm workers and livestock owners. Both the diseases have a direct negative impact on the trade of milk and other livestock products. The Central Government has decided to now bear the entire cost of the programme to ensure complete eradication of these diseases and better livelihood opportunities for all the livestock rearing farmers in the country. Draft National Education Policy (Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education) By: Dr K. Kasturirangan Committee The Government of India had initiated the process of formulating a New Education Policy to meet the changing dynamics of the requirements of the population with regard to quality education, innovation and research, aiming to make India a knowledge superpower by equipping its students with the necessary skills and knowledge and to eliminate the shortage of manpower in science, technology, academics and industry. The extant National Policy on Education, 1986 modified in 1992 required changes to meet the contemporary and futuristic needs of our large youth population. For this, the MHRD initiated an unprecedented collaborative, multi-stakeholder, multi-pronged, bottom- up people-centric, inclusive, participatory consultation process. The extensive consultations undertaken across multiple levels of online, expert and thematic, and from the grassroots ranging from Village, Block, Urban Local bodies, District, State, Zonal and the National level, provided an opportunity to every citizen to engage in this massive exercise. The Draft National Education Policy, 2019 is built on the foundational pillars of Access, Equity, Quality, Affordability and Accountability. For Ministry: The Committee has proposed to rename MHRD as Ministry of Education (MoE). For Students: In School Education, a major reconfiguration of curricular and pedagogical structure with Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) as an integral part of school education is proposed. The Committee also recommends Extension of Right to Education Act 2009 to cover children of ages 3 to 18. A 5+3+3+4 curricular and pedagogical structure based on cognitive and socio-emotional developmental stages of children: Foundational Stage (age 3-8 yrs): 3 years of pre-primary plus Grades 1-2;  Preparatory Stage (8-11 years): Grades 3-5; Middle Stage (11-14 years): Grades 6-8; and Secondary Stage (14-18 years): Grades 9-12. Schools will be re-organized into school complexes. It also seeks to reduce content load in school education curriculum. There will be no hard separation of learning areas in terms of curricular, co-curricular or extra- curricular areas and all subjects, including arts, music, crafts, sports, yoga, community service, etc. will be curricular.   It promotes active pedagogy that will focus on the development of core capacities: and life skills, including 21st century skills. For Teachers The Committee proposes for massive transformation in Teacher Education by shutting down sub-standard teacher education institutions and moving all teacher preparation/education programmes into large multidisciplinary universities/colleges. The 4-year integrated stage-specific B.Ed. programme will eventually be the minimum degree qualification for teachers. For Higher education institutes In higher education, a restructuring of higher education institutions with three types of higher education institutions is proposed- Type 1: Focused on world-class research and high quality teaching; Type 2: Focused on high quality teaching across disciplines with significant contribution to research; Type 3: High quality teaching focused on undergraduate education. This will be driven by two Missions -Mission Nalanda & Mission Takshashila. There will be re-structuring of Undergraduate programs (e.g. BSc, BA, BCom, BVoc) of 3 or 4 years duration and having multiple exit and entry options. For Governance A new apex body Rashtriya Shiksha Ayog is proposed to enable a holistic and integrated implementation of all educational initiatives and programmatic interventions, and to coordinate efforts between the Centre and States. The National Research Foundation, an apex body is proposed for creating a strong research culture and building research capacity across higher education. The four functions of Standard setting, Funding, Accreditation and Regulation to be separated and conducted by independent bodies: National Higher Education Regulatory Authority as the only regulator for all higher education including professional education; Creation of accreditation eco-system led by revamped NAAC; Professional Standard Setting Bodies for each area of professional education and UGC to transform to Higher Education Grants Commission (HEGC). The private and public institutions will be treated on par and education will remain a ‘not for profit’ activity. Other recommendations Several new policy initiatives for promoting internationalization of higher education, strengthening quality open and distance learning, technology integration at all levels of education, adult and lifelong learning  and initiatives to enhance participation of under-represented groups, and eliminate gender, social category and regional gaps in education outcomes are recommended. Promotion of Indian and Classical Languages and setting up three new National Institutes for Pali, Persian and Prakrit and an Indian Institute of Translation and Interpretation (IITI) has been recommended. The path breaking reforms recommended will bring about a paradigm shift by equipping our students, teachers and educational institutions with the right competencies and capabilities and also create an enabling and reinvigorated educational eco-system for a vibrant new India. Withdrawal of India’s Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) benefits by USA (Topic: 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) These are unilateral, non-reciprocal and non-discriminatory benefits extended by some developed countries to developing countries. India as part of the bilateral trade discussions, had offered resolution on significant US requests in an effort to find a mutually acceptable way forward. It is unfortunate that this did not find acceptance by the US. The sectors which would be impacted include most imitation jewellery, leather articles, pharmaceuticals, chemical and plastics, basic and processed agri goods. The decision undermines the objective recognised in the preamble to the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement that there is a need for ‘positive efforts’ to ensure that developing countries secure a share in their growth in international trade commensurate with the needs of their economic development The US has alleged that India is not providing equitable market access to its companies and has raised serious concerns over capping of prices of certain medical devices. It is also seeking market for its dairy products. Government of India, Government of Tamil Nadu and World Bank sign $287 million loan agreement for the Tamil Nadu Health System Reform Programme (Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests) The programme aims to improve the quality of health care, reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and fill equity gaps in reproductive and child health services in Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu ranks third among all Indian states in the NITI Aayog Health Index which is reflected in vastly improved health outcomes. The state’s maternal mortality rate has declined from 90 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2005 to 62 deaths in 2015-16 while infant mortality has declined from 30 deaths per 1000 live births to 20 in the same period. A key contribution to these achievements has been the establishment of emergency obstetric and neonatal care centres and the 108 ambulance service with previous support from the World Bank. These have ensured that no mother has to travel more than 30 minutes to access emergency obstetric and neonatal care 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Despite these impressive gains, certain challenges in health care remain, including quality of care and variations in reproductive and child health among districts. Tamil Nadu is also dealing with a growing burden of NCDs as they account for nearly 69 percent of deaths in the state. The Tamil Nadu Health System Reform Program will support the state government to: Develop clinical protocols and guidelines; Achieve national accreditation for primary, secondary, and tertiary-level health facilities in the public sector; Strengthen physicians, nurses and paramedics through continuous medical education; Strengthen the feedback loop between citizens and the state by making quality and other data accessible to the public. The programme will Promote population-based screening, treatment and follow-up for NCDs, and improve monitoring and evaluation Patients will be equipped with knowledge and skills to self-manage their conditions Lab services and health provider capacity will also be strengthened to address mental health To tackle road injuries, the programme will improve in- hospital care, strengthen protocols, strengthen the 24x7 trauma care services and establish a trauma registry. Another key aim of this programme is to reduce the equity gaps in reproductive and child health. Special focus will be given to nine priority districts, which constitute the bottom quintile of the RCH indicators in the state and have a relatively large proportion of tribal populations. Prelims Oriented News 31st May: World No Tobacco Day 5th June: World Environment Day (WED); this year’s theme is ‘Air Pollution’. India's forest cover increased by 1% in the last 5 years National Clean Air programme (NCAP) It is a mid-term 5 Year Action Plan with targets of 20-30% reduction of PM 2.5 and PM 10 concentration in 102 cities, out of which 84 cities have already submitted their action plan.   The main objective of NCAP is to control and abate air pollution across the country.   It is a multi-sectoral and collaborative approach with mainstreaming and integration. Nipah Virus Nipah Virus is an emerging infectious disease that broke out in Malaysia and Singapore in 1998 and 1999. It first appeared in domestic pigs and has been found among several species of domestic animals including dogs, cats, goats, horses and sheep. The infection is also known to affect human beings. The organism which causes Nipah Virus encephalitis is an RNA or Ribonucleic acid virus. Nipah virus infection gets its name from the village in Malaysia where the person from whom the virus was first isolated succumbed to the disease. How does Nipah spread or get transmitted? The disease spreads through fruit bats or ‘flying foxes,’ of the genus Pteropus, who are natural reservoir hosts of the Nipah and Hendra viruses. The virus is present in bat urine and potentially, bat faeces, saliva, and birthing fluids. Nipah Virus, which is a zoonotic disease, was known to affect humans in Malaysia and Singapore after coming in direct contact with the excretions or secretions of infected pigs. Symptoms of the Nipah infection: The human infection presents as an encephalitic syndrome marked by fever, headache, drowsiness, disorientation, mental confusion, coma, and potentially death. There is no specific treatment for Nipah Virus. The primary treatment for human cases is intensive supportive care. Elections People should elect their representatives on the basis of 4 Cs— Character Conduct Capacity Calibre People should not give importance to other 4 Cs— Cash Caste Community Criminality   Padma Awards Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri, are amongst the highest civilian awards of the country. Instituted in 1954, these Awards are announced on the occasion of the Republic Day every year. The award seeks to recognize ‘work of distinction’ and is given for distinguished and exceptional achievements/service in all fields/disciplines, such as, Art, Literature and Education, Sports, Medicine, Social Work, Science and Engineering, Public Affairs, Civil Service, Trade and Industry etc. All persons without distinction of race, occupation, position or sex are eligible for these Awards. Government servants including those working with PSUs, except Doctors and Scientists, are not eligible for Padma Awards. Operation Safed Sagar The code name assigned to the Indian Air Force's role in acting jointly with Ground troops during the Kargil war that was aimed at flushing out Regular and Irregular troops of the Pakistani Army from vacated Indian Positions in the Kargil sector along the Line of Control. It was the first large scale use of Airpower in the Jammu and Kashmir region since the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. The ‘Missing Man’ formation : It is an aerial salute accorded to honour the fallen comrades-in-arms. It is basically an Arrow Formation, with a gap between two aircraft in a way that the formation depicts the Missing Man. DRDO successfully test fires AKASH – MK -1S Akash Mk1S is an upgrade of existing AKASH missile with indigenous Seeker. AKASH Mk1S is a surface to air missile which can neutralize advanced aerial targets. The Akash weapon system has combination of both command guidance and active terminal seeker guidance. Seeker and guidance performance have been consistently established in both the missions. Draft Copyright (Amendment) Rules, 2019 In order to ensure smooth and flawless compliance of Copyright Act in the light of technological advancement in digital era and to bring them in parity with other relevant legislations, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Government of India has now proposed to introduce the Copyright Amendment Rules, 2019. The copyright regime is governed by the Copyright Act, 1957 and the Copyright Rules,2013. The Copyright Rules,2013 were last amended in 2016 through the Copyright Amendment Rules, 2016. Swachh Bharat has led to reduced ground water contamination: Study by UNICEF These studies, commissioned by UNICEF and the Bill and Melinda Gates, were aimed at assessing the environmental impact and communication footprint of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) respectively. The rural sanitation coverage in the country had crossed the 99% mark and that the Mission was in the final stretch of its completion with 30 States and Union Territories already having declared themselves free from open defecation. The Mission is focusing on sustaining the gains of this progress and to extend the momentum to the ODF-plus phase which includes solid and liquid waste management. The study findings indicated that these substantial reductions may potentially be attributed to the improvement in sanitation and hygiene practices, as well as supportive systems such as regular monitoring and behaviour change messaging, which have all been critical aspects of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen).

Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz - 2020 : IAS Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 1

UPSC Quiz - 2020 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 1 Archives Q.1) Which of the following species can be generally found in the Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam? Golden Langur Forest Owlet Hangul Olive Ridley Turtle Q.2) Consider the following statements with respect to ‘Nord Stream’ It is a river interlinking project to tackle global warming It is an initiative of all the Scandinavian countries Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) Which of the following statements is/are correct? Nigeria is India’s largest trading partner in Africa. Nigeria is world’s sixth largest oil exporter. Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.4) Which of the following statements is/are correct? NITI Aayog was formed via a resolution of the Union Cabinet as a premier policy ‘Think Tank’ of the Government of India to provide directional and policy inputs. Team India Hub is NITI Aayog’s creation which leads the engagement of states with the Central government. Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.5) Which of the following statements is/are correct? Ministry of Home Affairs implements the Scheme of “Development of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)” exclusively for them. PVTGs reside in all the states and Union Territories of India 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

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REGISTRATION OPEN: SUPER 50 – Scholarship Exam for TLP MAINS OFFLINE to be held on 12th and 13th June 2019!

Scholarship Exam for TLP MAINS OFFLINE 2019   For those who have missed out on our Mains Test Series, DETAILS OF TLP MAINS OFFLINE (Super 50)/ TLP PLUS (ONLINE) 2019 – CLICK HERE   DETAILS of SUPER 50 – Scholarship Exam: The Test will be ONLINE Only. The test will consist of an Essay paper (100 marks) and 2 Case Studies (50 marks). Total marks =150 marks. A separate test platform will be created for taking the Test with the timer. Please NOTE that the platform will be ACTIVE only on the day of the test. You need to write the answers, scan and upload on the test platform. Please note that, typing is not allowed! Read the instructions carefully after the login (This will be visible on the test date- 12th June @ 11 am)   Duration : 1 hour 30 minutes (Extra 15 minutes will be given to upload your Answer copy). Total time – 1 hour 45 minutes. Examination Date: The exam will be held on 2 Days, you can either take it on 12th June or 13th June. Exam Timings: 12th June Slot 1- 11 AM- 12.45 PM   Slot 2- 8 PM – 9.45 PM 13th June Slot 1- 11 AM- 12.45 PM   Slot 2- 8 PM – 9.45 PM   STEPS TO REGISTER: SUPER 50 - Scholarship Exam It is a 2 Step Registration Process: Step 1: Visit https://test.iasbaba.com If you already have an account, click LOGIN in the top right corner. Else click REGISTER. Once you click on Register, you need to fill in your Name, Username, Email id, Password. Make sure that only Valid details are keyed in, else you will not be able to take the Test. Once you have successfully registered, an Activation Email will be sent to your Registered Email ID. Click on the Activation link to activate your account. Step 2: Now you can Login to the test platform, using registered email id and password. Once you login, Click LEARN in the top menu. You will find Scholarship Test - 2019, click REGISTER HERE. Fill the Registration form (for Scholarship Test) and then submit it.   Please Note : It is MANDATORY to key in VALID UPSC ROLL NUMBER. If you have appeared for MAINS or INTERVIEW, it is MANDATORY to upload your MAINS/INTERVIEW MARKSHEET. Your account will be activated 1 hour before the Exam. You can view the instructions for the Test only when the Test Starts.   The Registration closes on 13th June @5 PM   ANNOUNCEMENT OF RESULTS: The result will be communicated via Email/Phone Call by 14th June (10 pm) to all the selected candidates. The Programme will be held in Bengaluru and Delhi ONLY.   FOR ANY QUERIES: You can reach us on Email id: support@iasbaba.com Mobile No.: 9035077800/7353177800 ( Office Timings: 10 am – 6 pm)    All the Best IASbaba