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60 Days Plan 2019 - Daily Prelims Test

60 Days Plan: UPSC IAS Prelims 2019- History and Current Affairs (Day 32)

60 Days Plan: UPSC IAS Prelims 2019 - History and Current Affairs (Day 32) 60 Day plan has been published on the website (www.iasbaba.com - Click here). Since we have come up with the 'Quiz Format', it will not be feasible to publish it on the app. For feasibility and getting to know where you stand among your peers (we have a leaderboard which gives your marks and rank) it would be advisable to take the test on the website. All the best. make the best use of the initiative ! Before taking the Test, read the post below, ARCHIVES Hello Friends,  The most beloved 60 Days for UPSC IAS Prelims 2019  has finally begun :) Once again the time has come for the battle (Prelims). And who else than your best companion in the last preparatory phase for UPSC IAS Prelims 2019 i.e 60 days plan. It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.  Hope the message given above makes sense to you all. The productive utilization of this programme demands consistency, honesty, faith and strong determination to be in the process of learning and unlearning. You might not be fully prepared to solve all the questions but the learning and unlearning through these questions will prepare you for the real battle on 2nd June 2019. You have to unlearn your repetitive mistakes, gut feeling on which you mark doubtful questions. You have to learn new things and also those concepts that you were very sure of but somehow because of traps in the option, got it wrong. You have to learn 'how to convert knowledge into marks' (Because most of the times, after ending the exam, you regret making mistakes in known concepts).  Secondly, keep a long distance from following too many things at this point. It will always backfire. Once you are here, put complete faith and follow this initiative along with whatever you were doing. It is very important to consolidate your preparation with many revisions. Simply following many things will leave you in despair. You can cross check this with veterans. Everything that seems attractive is not productive. You should always go for productivity. Be wise! Let us pledge to make it a big game changer (better than last year) in the next 60 days of this plan! Importance of Self - Tracking: Learning from Last Year Last year, aspirants used to type/post their answers in the comment box on a daily basis. There were huge participation and discussion below the test post. Putting answers in the comment box has been very effective to self-track yourself after updating the score. In the end, you can cross check your performance through Disqus profile. It was highly effective in the last edition of 60 Days that propelled aspirants to monitor their performance and learn through discussion. Let you solve these questions with full honesty and write your result in the comment box. Interact with peers to know your mistakes. The importance of this initiative stands time-bound and aggressive reverse engineering to learn the concepts. Many of you must be busy with your own strategy but let us tell you honestly that in the last few months, it is very important to revise and consolidate your learning. Just reading won’t suffice. So, take out a few hours from your schedule and make it a revision exercise. How can you make the best use of it? Be honest to your effort and do not start competing with XYZ aspirants just for the sake of marks. It is more important for you to introspect and check your learning than focusing on others. Try to answer the questions in 25 minutes only.  Do not get into negative feeling that I don’t have enough knowledge to answer these questions. Feel like you are taking the real exam. What would be your response then? The same will be replicated in the UPSC exam. Here, you get marks only and nothing else matters. So, make effort to know the answers to all questions. Do not cheat :P DETAILED MICRO ANALYSIS MATRIX SAMPLE- is given here. You can download this and do an assessment for yourself (the excel sheet must be modified as per this years planning. The provided excel sheet is only for reference).  DOWNLOAD You can copy paste the same format/modify as per your need in Google Spreadsheet and update it on daily basis. Feedback talks about daily test results. Follow-up talks about daily target achieved from sources and the number of revisions to do/done and dates. Sources column is to ensure that aspirants do not run behind various sources and follow the same throughout. Would like to end on this quote:  Either you run the day or the day runs you.  Are you ready? Let's start! Important Note Don't forget to post your marks in the comment section. Also, let us know if you enjoyed today's test :)  You can post your comments in the given format  (1) Your Score (2) Matrix Meter (3) New Learning from the Test

RSTV Video

RSTV IAS UPSC – Productivity and Sustainability

Productivity and Sustainability Archives TOPIC: General Studies 3 Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment In News: In today's world of manufacturing raw materials are taken from the environment, turned in to new products which are then disposed after use. This is a linear process with a being and an end and in this process limited raw materials will eventually run out. Also, waste accumulated in this process incurs additional expenses related to its disposal and pollution. What is a Circular Economy? In a circular economy however, products are designed for durability, reuse and recyclability. In this process almost everything is reused, remanufactured, recycled back in to a raw material or used as a source of energy. Experts say that by embarking on a circular economy transformation, India can build a more resource efficient system even as it continues to grow and scale new heights Source: http://www.wrap.org.uk/about-us/about/wrap-and-circular-economy Circular Economy Principles Waste becomes a resource: All the biodegradable material returns to the nature and the not biodegradable is reused. Reintroduce in the economic circuit those products that no longer correspond to the initial consumers’ needs. Reuse: Reuse certain products or parts of those products that still work to elaborate new artefacts. Reparation: Find damage products a second life. Recycle: Make use of materials founded in waste. Valorisation: Harness energy from waste that can’t be recycled. Functionality economy: Circular economy aims to eliminate the sale of products in many cases to establish a system of rental property. When the product completes its main function returns to the company, where it is dismantled for reusing the valid parts. Energy from renewable sources: Elimination of fossil fuels to produce the product, reuse and recycle. Eco-design: Considers and integrates in its conception the environmental impacts throughout the life cycle of a product. Industrial and territorial ecology: Establishment of an industrial organizational method in a territory characterized by an optimized management of stocks and flows of materials, energy and services. Goal of the Paris Agreement At the heart of the Paris Agreement is a goal to keep global temperature rises well below 2˚C. The popular action area is around energy – both energy efficiency and renewable energy. Some trends are clear. There will be more people in the world, we will be a more urbanised society over time, urban societies will consume more resources per capita, many resources will be scarce and the environmental cost of creating virgin resources will soon be too much for the planet to bear. This is why a circular economy is such an appealing concept. It is a new way of life that can help the world adapt to these trends in a climate-friendly way. Is there really gold in solid waste and wastewater? It is a criminal waste of energy, effort and cost to use fresh potable water for construction, watering landscaped areas or even for flushing the toilet. Using recycled greywater (from our showers and sinks, for example) or blackwater (the water flushed from our toilets) for these applications would reduce the need for freshwater, eliminate water scarcity and ensure that our bodies of water do not continue to be dumping grounds for solid waste, treated or otherwise. The nutrient-rich fertiliser obtained in the wastewater treatment process can be used for agriculture and is a welcome by-product. Back of the envelope calculations indicate that India could save more than $1.4 billion in foreign exchange and subsidies each year only from the fertiliser obtained and also meet more than 10% of its water requirements through recycling. Who would have thought there would be? What would it mean for India? The impact of a circular economy could be massive. A 2016 report by Ellen MacArthur Foundation and the United Nations Conference for Trade and Development (UNCTAD) says that India could create as much as $218 billion in additional economic value by 2030, rising to $624 billion by 2050, by adopting circular principles across only three areas: cities and construction, food and agriculture, and mobility and vehicle manufacturing. The same report adds that circularity could cause a 23% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 rising to 44% by 2050, and a 24% reduction in the use of virgin materials in the same period (38% by 2050). Repairing is part of the DNA of developing countries. Several building blocks of circularity are deeply ingrained in Indian habits, as exemplified by the high rates of repair of vehicles and the distributed recovery and recycling of materials post-use. Often handled informally, these activities provide the only source of livelihoods to some of the world’s poorest populations. By turning these existing trends into core development strategies, India could generate significant economic savings and massively cut down on carbon emissions. Climate change has presented us with the biggest opportunity to reboot the world economy. Along with energy efficiency and renewable energy, enhancing circularity of the economy can help us pursue a low-carbon growth path. Each of the impact areas presents business opportunities that can keep the economic engine purring as we unearth gold from unlikely places. Connecting the Dots: Although all these measures have potential it’s unlikely they are enough to provoke the sort of radical changes in patterns of consumption and production required. Discuss.

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

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

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 8th April 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojna (PMUY) Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II and III - Government schemes and policies; Infrastructure: Energy About the scheme: Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana is a scheme of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas for providing LPG connections to women from Below Poverty Line (BPL) households. Under the scheme, five crore (now 8 crores) LPG connections are to be provided to BPL households. The identification of eligible BPL families will be made in consultation with the State Governments and the Union Territories. Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) aims to safeguard the health of women & children by providing them with a clean cooking fuel – LPG, so that they don’t have to compromise their health in smoky kitchens or wander in unsafe areas collecting firewood. The ambitious scheme also laid down a condition — that the LPG connections will be issued in the name of the women of the households. Do you know? The Ujjwala Yojna was launched in 2016. The scheme subsidises LPG connections for rural households by providing a free gas cylinder, regulator and pipe. Central government data shows that more than six crore households have received a connection through the scheme. In news: According to a new study from the Research Institute for Compassionate Economics (r.i.c.e) – There has indeed been a substantial increase in LPG ownership due to the scheme, with 76% of households now owning an LPG connection. However, most rural households with LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) connections still use chulhas with firewood or dung cakes. About 85% of Ujjwala beneficiaries in 4 States still use earthen stoves, due to financial reasons as well as gender inequalities. The survey found that while 70% of respondents thought the gas stove was better for the health of the cook (typically a woman), more than 86% felt that cooking on the chulha was better for the health of those eating, reflecting ignorance of the fact that ambient air pollution is harmful even to those who are not cooking the food. Study recommends that the scheme should move beyond benefits for women alone to change household behaviour. New clinical trials rules will help patients Part of: GS Mains II – Government policies and schemes; Health issues In news: The government eased the rules for clinical trials of drugs in the country. The Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules 2019 do away with the necessity to conduct local trials for drugs that have been approved to be marketed in the US, the UK, the EU, Canada, Australia and Japan. This will mean these drugs can reach patients faster than before. Data generated in these countries will be deemed acceptable. Firms introducing a drug in India that is approved in any of the six jurisdictions will only need to carry out the Phase IV clinical trial, which is a post-marketing trial that involves study of long-term effects of the drug. India might soon have the most Caesarean births Part of: GS Mains II – Government policies and schemes; Health issues In news: A new study based on the data from the National Family and Health Survey has shown that there is a significant increase in the rate of caesarean births in India. While the WHO recommends the rate of caesarean delivery to be 10-15%, the number was 17.2% for India during 2015-16. Is C-section birth bad? A 2018 report in The Lancet pointed out that the prevalence of maternal mortality and morbidity is higher after caesarean than after vaginal birth. Also, it is noted to be associated with an “increased risk of uterine rupture, abnormal placentation, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirth, and preterm birth.” There is an urgent need to monitor the deliveries in clinics and hospitals. The government should inform practitioners and women of the unnecessary risks of non-medically justified C-sections. Miscellaneous 1. AI robots may assist soldiers in the future In news: Scientists in the U.S. are developing artificial intelligence (AI) systems that could help robots assist soldiers in the battlefield in future. 2. Literary works in news: Abul Fazl : : Ain-e Akbari Jahangir : : Tuzk-e-Jahangiri Ain-i-Akbari or the "Administration of Akbar", is a 16th-century detailed document recording the administration of the Mughal Empire under Emperor Akbar, written by his court historian, Abu'l Fazl. Do you know? Abu'l Fazal, author of the Akbarnama, was one of the Nine Jewels of Akbar's royal court and the brother of Faizi, the poet laureate of emperor Akbar. Tuzuk-e-Jahangiri or Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri is the autobiography of Mughal Emperor Nur-ud-din Muhammad Jahangir. It is also referred to as Jahangirnama. (MAINS FOCUS) ENVIRONMENT/ECOLOGY TOPIC: General studies 3 Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation Need for a waste management policy Context: Following are the key points from the editorial which are important for Mains answer-writing: Concept of “Hyper-consumption” 21st century is witnessing hyper-consumption (with developing countries catching up rapidly) Humans are generating monumental amounts of waste (Example – disposable plastic bags and micro-plastics; cheaply made goods which are deliberately built to become outdated, and cheaply made manufactured goods – have lead to a "throw away" mentality.) Unprecedented consumer appetite is undermining the natural systems, it has devastating toll on the Earth's water supplies, natural resources, and ecosystems. One can add Globalization perspective to this hyper-consumption concept: Globalization is a driving factor in making goods and services previously out of reach in developing countries much more available. Items that at one point in time were considered luxuries—televisions, cell phones, computers, air conditioning—are now viewed as necessities. (Therefore, we can say Globalization lead to hyper-consumption and affect resources.) Poor waste management and other concerns: In India, less than 60% of waste is collected from households and only 15% of urban waste is processed. Billions of tonnes of garbage, including microplastics, never make it to landfills or incinerators and end up in the oceans. This garbage chokes marine life and disturbs zooplankton, which are vital to the elimination of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Landfills are seedbeds of methane and other greenhouse gases, which contribute to global warming. These toxic chemicals poison the soil and their leached run-off makes its way into the oceans. Even though waste incinerators generate energy, they also cause health issues such as cancer. In India, nearly 60% of the household waste is wet organic waste, with low calorific value. This makes options such as waste-to-energy incinerators inefficient. Segregation of waste into organic, recyclable and hazardous categories is not enforced at source. Issue of logistical contractors – They dump more garbage in landfills as their compensation is proportional to the tonnage of waste. They are also prone to illegally dump waste at unauthorised sites to reduce transportation costs. Organic farming and composting are not economically attractive to the Indian farmer, as chemical pesticides are heavily subsidised, and the compost is not efficiently marketed. The way ahead: Need to design incinerators that are suited to Indian conditions. Need to design efficient process of material recycling and composting. (For instance, efficient composting can be possible through an optimal combination of microbes and temperature to produce a nutrient-dense soil conditioner.) Need for mandatory segregation of waste into organic, recyclable and hazardous categories. Waste management should not be offered free of cost to residents. Only if residents pay will they realise the importance of segregation and recycling. Therefore, India needs a comprehensive waste management policy that stresses the need for decentralised garbage disposal practices. This will also incentivise private players to participate. Connecting the dots: If plastic waste has to be done away with, the initiation has to come from consumers. Elucidate. How are lacunas in Solid waste management responsible for underground water pollution? What are ill effects of underground water pollution? Waste generation is a severe fallout of urbanization in India. What solutions would you recommend for effective waste management? Discuss. NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2 and 3 Development processes and the development industry the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders. Indian Economy and issue Inclusive growth and issues arising from it. Why Indians are so unhappy? Introduction: According to the latest World Happiness Report (produced by prominent economists and sponsored by the United Nations) – India’s ranking, already low, slid further and stands at 140 out of 156 countries. Pakistan ranks much higher, at 67th. Finland tops the rankings, while South Sudan is at the bottom. Do you know? The main measure of “happiness” is based on responses to surveys of how individuals subjectively evaluate their life circumstances on a 0-10 scale. Various factors that determine the happiness levels of a country include life expectancy, social support, income, freedom, trust, health and generosity, amongst others. India’s score is 4.015. India’s score has decreased by over one point since 2005-06, with most of this decline coming since 2011. Why India is so unhappy? India’s performance lower than its neighbours: Even though India’s data on GDP per capita and healthy life expectancy is better than Pakistan, India’s rank in World Happiness Report is way to lower compared to Pakistan. Not just Pakistan, all of India's immediate neighbours are more joyful than Indians, despite many of them not being nearly as well-off economically or even socially. Reasons: A reasonable explanation for the puzzle is that India’s people expect better, and they are feeling disappointed. Increasing inequality and feelings of injustice or unfairness are also plausible contributing factors. In a democracy like ours, if people are unhappy about something they have the right to protest against it. So if the number of bandhs, hartals and protests were considered to be an indication of the citizens’ dissatisfaction, ours would be off the charts. Our protests, like our culture, show great diversity. Be it a film, a law, a ban, a proposed policy, loan waiver, inflation, a crime like rape, or a so-called godman or movie stars going to jail. The list is endless. In short, everyone from the class 10th students protesting paper leaks and poor farmers, to the PM is on a protest. Everyone seems to be unhappy about something or the other. Freedom of choice also makes people happier. The intervention of the state into the private matters of people such as their food, drinks, or sexual preferences doesn’t help in enhancing happiness either. (Example, prohibition imposed on consuming beef or alcohol, Sabarimala case, Triple Talaq etc.) India's paradoxes Ideally, richer countries should be happier than their poorer counterparts. If it were so then India should definitely have ranked higher than all our neighbours, as it is the fastest growing, and now the world’s sixth largest economy. (India is projected to overtake the UK by 2020 to become the fifth largest economy in the world.) Being the sixth largest economy in terms of GDP doesn’t mean that we have mastered economic growth. India accounted for the largest number of people living below the international poverty line in 2013 according to the World Bank. Unemployment is a serious issue. People are happy when they have secure jobs and a regular flow of income. We need to transform our schools and colleges from the exam factory that they become a place where students can learn to make a living. The workplace also needs to be transformed into a place where people can cooperate and enjoy their work. Comparisons leading to unhappiness Comparing your success with others will only make you miserable. Happiness comes from within it is said. Various factors ranging from corruption to banking fraud, the farmer crisis, a slow justice system, gender parity, bad infrastructure, non-existent or expensive healthcare, social disparities, and the endless stream of lies from those who represent us – can also be possible reasons. Connecting the dots: Critically analyze why Indians are unhappy despite doubled GDP and India being the sixth largest economy. (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note: Featured Comments and comments Up-voted by IASbaba are the “correct answers”. IASbaba App users – Team IASbaba will provide correct answers in comment section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers. Q.1) Consider the below statements: The World Happiness Report is an annual publication of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network. As of March 2019, Finland tops the rankings, while South Sudan is at the bottom. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both None Q.2) Who among the following Mughal emperors did not write their own biographies? Babur Akbar Humayun Jahangir Select the correct answer 1 and 2 only 2 and 4 only 1 and 4 only 2 and 3 only Q.3) Consider the following with reference to Literature of Mughal period and identify the correct statement: Shah Jahan translated Bhagavad Gita and Upanishads into Persian language Tuzuk-I-Jahangiri was a biography written by Shah Jahan Akbar Nama and Ain-I-Akbari were written by Abul Faizi None of the above Q.4) Consider the following statement: Tuzuk-i- Jahangiri is an autobiography of Jahangir. Iqbalnama-i- Jahangir was written by Abdul Qadir Badayoun. Which of the given statement/s is/are correct? Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 None of the above MUST READ If Gandhi were alive today The Hindu Capital high: foreign investment in India The Hindu ‘Digital is no panacea’ Indian Express The poverty of pedagogy Indian Express Vote-bank politics is not always bad for democracy (Important for Sociology Optional) Livemint

60 Days Plan 2019 - Daily Prelims Test

60 Days Plan: UPSC IAS Prelims 2019- History and Current Affairs (Day 31)

60 Days Plan: UPSC IAS Prelims 2019 - History and Current Affairs (Day 31) 60 Day plan has been published on the website (www.iasbaba.com - Click here). Since we have come up with the 'Quiz Format', it will not be feasible to publish it on the app. For feasibility and getting to know where you stand among your peers (we have a leaderboard which gives your marks and rank) it would be advisable to take the test on the website. All the best. make the best use of the initiative ! Before taking the Test, read the post below, ARCHIVES Hello Friends,  The most beloved 60 Days for UPSC IAS Prelims 2019  has finally begun :) Once again the time has come for the battle (Prelims). And who else than your best companion in the last preparatory phase for UPSC IAS Prelims 2019 i.e 60 days plan. It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.  Hope the message given above makes sense to you all. The productive utilization of this programme demands consistency, honesty, faith and strong determination to be in the process of learning and unlearning. You might not be fully prepared to solve all the questions but the learning and unlearning through these questions will prepare you for the real battle on 2nd June 2019. You have to unlearn your repetitive mistakes, gut feeling on which you mark doubtful questions. You have to learn new things and also those concepts that you were very sure of but somehow because of traps in the option, got it wrong. You have to learn 'how to convert knowledge into marks' (Because most of the times, after ending the exam, you regret making mistakes in known concepts).  Secondly, keep a long distance from following too many things at this point. It will always backfire. Once you are here, put complete faith and follow this initiative along with whatever you were doing. It is very important to consolidate your preparation with many revisions. Simply following many things will leave you in despair. You can cross check this with veterans. Everything that seems attractive is not productive. You should always go for productivity. Be wise! Let us pledge to make it a big game changer (better than last year) in the next 60 days of this plan! Importance of Self - Tracking: Learning from Last Year Last year, aspirants used to type/post their answers in the comment box on a daily basis. There were huge participation and discussion below the test post. Putting answers in the comment box has been very effective to self-track yourself after updating the score. In the end, you can cross check your performance through Disqus profile. It was highly effective in the last edition of 60 Days that propelled aspirants to monitor their performance and learn through discussion. Let you solve these questions with full honesty and write your result in the comment box. Interact with peers to know your mistakes. The importance of this initiative stands time-bound and aggressive reverse engineering to learn the concepts. Many of you must be busy with your own strategy but let us tell you honestly that in the last few months, it is very important to revise and consolidate your learning. Just reading won’t suffice. So, take out a few hours from your schedule and make it a revision exercise. How can you make the best use of it? Be honest to your effort and do not start competing with XYZ aspirants just for the sake of marks. It is more important for you to introspect and check your learning than focusing on others. Try to answer the questions in 25 minutes only.  Do not get into negative feeling that I don’t have enough knowledge to answer these questions. Feel like you are taking the real exam. What would be your response then? The same will be replicated in the UPSC exam. Here, you get marks only and nothing else matters. So, make effort to know the answers to all questions. Do not cheat :P DETAILED MICRO ANALYSIS MATRIX SAMPLE- is given here. You can download this and do an assessment for yourself (the excel sheet must be modified as per this years planning. The provided excel sheet is only for reference).  DOWNLOAD You can copy paste the same format/modify as per your need in Google Spreadsheet and update it on daily basis. Feedback talks about daily test results. Follow-up talks about daily target achieved from sources and the number of revisions to do/done and dates. Sources column is to ensure that aspirants do not run behind various sources and follow the same throughout. Would like to end on this quote:  Either you run the day or the day runs you.  Are you ready? Let's start! Important Note Don't forget to post your marks in the comment section. Also, let us know if you enjoyed today's test :)  You can post your comments in the given format  (1) Your Score (2) Matrix Meter (3) New Learning from the Test

Motivational Articles

Creative Guidance – Accepting Challenges – Inspirational Educative Articles

Accepting Challenges: There are so many different ways of defining the real meaning and purpose of life. One way of defining it accurately is by acknowledging the real challenges of life and accepting them fully. Now, why is it important to understand that life is a series of challenges? Why is it important to look at life as one great challenge? The reason why we need to look at life as a challenge is it helps us to put things in the right perspective. When we forget to acknowledge the sheer amount of effort it takes to achieve anything, we will be forgetting the challenges that we need to face ahead of us. By fully accepting that life is, was and always will be a challenge, we will be ready for what has to come. The single biggest mistake we can make when pursuing a great dream is to be complacent. Complacency is a natural phenomenon. We are not naturally designed to constantly keep fighting the battles of the mind. Human beings are designed to explore, experience, and enjoy life and when we are tired we simply rest. The mind and body are designed to exert themselves only in short bursts. Rest is what our mind and body crave for. Since rest is the natural desire of the mind and the body, it is extremely easy to find certain comfort zones and settle into them. When we get into our comfort zones we forget the challenges ahead and become complacent. Complacency is the killer of all great dreams. Greatness is simply a quality of constantly fighting the complacency of the mind and the body. Now, you will be able to put things in perspective. When you look at life as one big challenge, you will know instinctively when you are becoming too relaxed and complacent. The idea of challenge will help you to constantly look for problems to solve. Life is a long exercise in problem solving. As long as we are solving our problems, we will be moving forward. The moment we stop looking for, or stop solving problems actively, we lose the knack of dealing with situations. Let us fight this natural instinct to relax rest and be complacent. There is a lot of difference between positive relaxation to keep the mind calm and being idle. We should never mistake relaxation for idleness. When relaxation is chosen with full consciousness and awareness for short periods of time, it is good. The same relaxation when it becomes a means for laziness and idleness, it has to be fought. Whether we accept it or not, the fact remains unchanged. Life is a series of challenges. The one who has understood this knows that being in a state of problem solving mode is a very natural thing. By looking at life as one big challenge, you are setting yourself up for a great adventurous journey of solving problems, and making your life and the lives of people around you better. “This article is a part of the creative endeavor of Inner-Revolution and IASBABA.”

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 6th April 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 6th April 2019 Archives (PRELIMS+MAINS FOCUS) Note: None of the articles from 6th April, The Hindu, are important with respect to Prelims. (MAINS FOCUS) ECONOMY TOPIC: General studies 2 Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. India will be more growth-oriented in FY20 Context: Last six to twelve months, it has been a tough year for India: Markets have shown a lot of volatility and moved sideways. Growth momentum has started subsiding (as new reforms have impacted the normal business flow partially). Asset quality challenges have continued to exacerbate. Flows from foreign investors have dried up and overall liquidity has also been tight. As we enter FY20, key questions remain – Can India accelerate and broad-base the growth momentum? Can India re-establish itself as a premier investment destination for overseas investors? Note: In below article we will assess where India is heading? Major Reforms to be key drivers of the growth As mentioned above, new reforms impacted normal business as lot of stakeholders had to struggle adjusting to the changes and resources were wasted in transitioning. Several seminal reforms were enacted in the last few years including significant structural changes like GST, IBC and RERA. Each of these reforms have seen a fair amount of success but also thrown up some challenges which need some work. Goods and Services Tax (GST) GST has helped significantly enhance productivity and efficiency by removing barriers to goods movement across state lines and creating a seamless national market. GST has also helped bring a larger section of the society under the tax bracket. At the same time, challenges persist around the complex compliance requirements that GST entails even today. This is something which must be actively targeted. Also, despite the recent rationalisation, there is further scope to reduce the number of slabs in GST. Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) IBC has plugged a gaping loophole in the economy. The absence of a strong bankruptcy law was a glaring miss for our corporate legal framework. IBC has solved most of the shortcomings of the previous laws. Thanks to strict regime of IBC, banks are seeing promoters come up and repay loans to avoid going to NCLT. However, there are still some changes needed. The insolvency and bankruptcy regulatory ecosystem is concerned about the possible misuse of a provision of the law that allows lenders to withdraw insolvency proceedings against corporate debtor. There is a need to draw a red line after which withdrawal of insolvency proceedings should not be allowed. Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act (RERA) RERA was another significant reform undertaken over the last two years. While its impact has been seen to a lesser extent than GST and IBC, the compliance levels among developers have seen a tangible shift. As the industry goes into some consolidation, economists expect the RERA compliant, customer-centric developers to do well. All in all, the above reforms from the last few years are now taking concrete shape. They are now past the initial stage where a lot of stakeholders struggled adjusting to the changes and resources were wasted in transitioning. These reforms are expected to give required push to the economy and should be a key driver of the FY20 growth trajectory. Tackling asset quality challenges Asset quality challenges have been plaguing the economy for some years now. Most of this was an outcome of the haphazard lending followed in the post-2008 era. However, RBI’s pro-activism in getting these recognised from 2016 onwards has helped identify a large chunk of the problem. With IBC in action and banks actively providing for the assets recognised, the above challenges will be limited. As a result, bank credit is expected to start gaining traction once again as the capital can be used for growth purposes. This will help drive money to the productive sections of the economy and drive growth. Flows from foreign investors A study of FII flows over the last 20 years clearly shows that weak FII inflows/FII outflows are usually followed by bumper FII inflows as the attractive valuations become an ideal investment opportunity. (Because, FII outflows are counter-cyclical in nature.) FIIs are expected to gain traction only once the election process concludes. Economists expect a strong boost to foreign flows, particularly if a stable government takes power. Conclusion: Apart from above, the interim budgetary measure announced recently should help boost rural consumption and drive growth in the economy. Both the government and the regulator have done well to address current concerns and drive the economy towards an expansionary economic policy. An expansionary monetary and expansionary fiscal policy should give a huge fillip to growth and animal spirits. With several factors at play, all converging towards a growth booster, it is highly likely that we see a much stronger and much more growth-oriented India this year. Connecting the dots: Do you think India can re-establish itself as a premier investment destination for overseas investors? Elucidate your opinion. What is the significance of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code and Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act (RERA)? Why are they needed in India? What do you understand by the term “Expansionary policy”? How does it help in making India more growth-oriented? NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures. RTI and Judiciary Context: One of the landmark legislations in India which changed the nature of governance and brought an unprecedented transparency and accountability was the Right to Information Act (RTI) passed in 2005. Right to information has been seen as the key to strengthening participatory democracy and ushering in people centred governance - a master key to good governance. However, there are certain areas where there is a debate about whether the RTI Act should be applied or not. One such institution is the higher judiciary. Do you know? In 2010, the Central Information Commission (CIC) had ordered on a petition that, all correspondence between the collegium and government about the appointment of the three SC judges should be disclosed under the RTI Act. This order was challenged by Central Public Information Office of SC after rejecting the request of the petitioner. Ever since, the case has been pending in the apex court. Incidentally, the apex court which had initially resisted to even disclosing the assets and liabilities of the judges, later decided to make voluntary disclosures on the court’s website. Section 8(1)(j) of RTI,Act RTI is not absolute, it is balanced out with right to privacy of public servant and with necessarily check on disclosure of such information which can cause damage to national security or would cause embarrassment to the Government in its functioning or would be prejudicial to national interest. In this context, Section 8(1)(j) of RTI, Act prohibits the sharing of personal information that has no nexus to public activity or which amounts to an unwarranted invasion of privacy unless the larger public interest justifies such a disclosure. However, the Act left this power to Public Information Officer (PIO) to cancel request on this ground on its discretion with very limited accountability. Whether judges are required to publicly disclose their assets under the RTI Act? Recently, a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court has finally concluded hearing a crucial appeal, which raise questions whether judges are required to publicly disclose their assets under the RTI Act in light of Section 8(1)(j). Argument in favour for disclosure of asset by Judges: In a landmark judgments in PUCL (2003) and Lok Prahari v. Union of India (2018), the court rubbished the privacy claims of the political class while forcing them to publicly disclose not just their assets but also the sources of their income. Section 44 of the Lokpal Act, 2013, requires all public servants (this includes judges) to disclose their assets but is silent on whether the disclosure should be to the competent authority or the general public. This provision has already been the subject of an amendment in 2016. Argument against for disclosure of asset by Judges: Accountability of Judiciary and Public Servant vs Political Class: Public disclosure of political class is done with the view of the right to freedom of expression of voters under Article 19 to express their choice of vote. On the other hand judiciary and public servant are not directly accountable to public but accountable to Constitution and Laws by Parliament. Disclosure of Asset to CJI: Judges of the Supreme Court had complied with the terms of a resolution adopted in 1997, in which all judges had committed to disclosing information about their assets and liabilities to the Chief Justice of India (CJI) well before the enactment of RTI. SC held that ‘there is no question on the integrity and neutrality of the CJI. Hence transparency must not be seen as panache, it must be balanced with trust, privacy and national interest.’ In Girish Ramchandra Deshpande v. Central Information Commissioner, 2012, the Supreme Court ruled that the assets of the bureaucrat could not be revealed to an applicant under the RTI Act unless there was a showing of a larger public interest. Hence there is no blanket ban, if the person seeking such information could demonstrate a “larger public interest” such as wrongdoing or impropriety on the part of the public official, the information could be disclosed. Conclusion: The foundation of RTI is being true to power. If the purpose is to seek truth in exercise of all power then the question is not about all kinds information has to be put in public domain. Complete information in public domain does not mean good governance. It is also about the mindset and approach towards transparency. RTI is a tool through which the institutions become accountable to the people of a country. How the further actions of constitutional bench will take place is a matter of wait and watch. Connecting the dots: Has RTI been successful in bringing transparency into governance? Critically evaluate. The Judiciary must be brought under the purview of the Right to Information Act to address the lack of transparency in its processes and functioning. Do you agree? Critically examine. MUST READ Aliens in their own lands  The Hindu For the dustbin of history Indian Express Majoritarian madness Indian Express A minimum framework  Indian Express

60 Days Plan 2019 - Daily Prelims Test

60 Days Plan: UPSC IAS Prelims 2019- Environment and Current Affairs (Day 30)

60 Days Plan: UPSC IAS Prelims 2019 - Environment and Current Affairs (Day 30) 60 Day plan has been published on the website (www.iasbaba.com - Click here). Since we have come up with the 'Quiz Format', it will not be feasible to publish it on the app. For feasibility and getting to know where you stand among your peers (we have a leaderboard which gives your marks and rank) it would be advisable to take the test on the website. All the best. make the best use of the initiative ! Before taking the Test, read the post below, ARCHIVES Hello Friends,  The most beloved 60 Days for UPSC IAS Prelims 2019  has finally begun :) Once again the time has come for the battle (Prelims). And who else than your best companion in the last preparatory phase for UPSC IAS Prelims 2019 i.e 60 days plan. It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.  Hope the message given above makes sense to you all. The productive utilization of this programme demands consistency, honesty, faith and strong determination to be in the process of learning and unlearning. You might not be fully prepared to solve all the questions but the learning and unlearning through these questions will prepare you for the real battle on 2nd June 2019. You have to unlearn your repetitive mistakes, gut feeling on which you mark doubtful questions. You have to learn new things and also those concepts that you were very sure of but somehow because of traps in the option, got it wrong. You have to learn 'how to convert knowledge into marks' (Because most of the times, after ending the exam, you regret making mistakes in known concepts).  Secondly, keep a long distance from following too many things at this point. It will always backfire. Once you are here, put complete faith and follow this initiative along with whatever you were doing. It is very important to consolidate your preparation with many revisions. Simply following many things will leave you in despair. You can cross check this with veterans. Everything that seems attractive is not productive. You should always go for productivity. Be wise! Let us pledge to make it a big game changer (better than last year) in the next 60 days of this plan! Importance of Self - Tracking: Learning from Last Year Last year, aspirants used to type/post their answers in the comment box on a daily basis. There were huge participation and discussion below the test post. Putting answers in the comment box has been very effective to self-track yourself after updating the score. In the end, you can cross check your performance through Disqus profile. It was highly effective in the last edition of 60 Days that propelled aspirants to monitor their performance and learn through discussion. Let you solve these questions with full honesty and write your result in the comment box. Interact with peers to know your mistakes. The importance of this initiative stands time-bound and aggressive reverse engineering to learn the concepts. Many of you must be busy with your own strategy but let us tell you honestly that in the last few months, it is very important to revise and consolidate your learning. Just reading won’t suffice. So, take out a few hours from your schedule and make it a revision exercise. How can you make the best use of it? Be honest to your effort and do not start competing with XYZ aspirants just for the sake of marks. It is more important for you to introspect and check your learning than focusing on others. Try to answer the questions in 25 minutes only.  Do not get into negative feeling that I don’t have enough knowledge to answer these questions. Feel like you are taking the real exam. What would be your response then? The same will be replicated in the UPSC exam. Here, you get marks only and nothing else matters. So, make effort to know the answers to all questions. Do not cheat :P DETAILED MICRO ANALYSIS MATRIX SAMPLE- is given here. You can download this and do an assessment for yourself (the excel sheet must be modified as per this years planning. The provided excel sheet is only for reference).  DOWNLOAD You can copy paste the same format/modify as per your need in Google Spreadsheet and update it on daily basis. Feedback talks about daily test results. Follow-up talks about daily target achieved from sources and the number of revisions to do/done and dates. Sources column is to ensure that aspirants do not run behind various sources and follow the same throughout. Would like to end on this quote:  Either you run the day or the day runs you.  Are you ready? Let's start! Important Note Don't forget to post your marks in the comment section. Also, let us know if you enjoyed today's test :)  You can post your comments in the given format  (1) Your Score (2) Matrix Meter (3) New Learning from the Test

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 5th April 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 5th April 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) RBI monetary policy Part of: GS Prelims and Mains Paper III – Indian Economy, issues related to growth, mobilization of resources, etc.; Macro economy: Banking, Monetary Policy In news: RBI’s monetary policy committee (MPC) reduced the policy repo rate by 25 basis points (bps) to 6% to boost growth. It means that RBI aims to ease the availability of credit. Banks, however, remain non-committal about paring down their lending rates. The MPC cited concerns over growth as it lowered the GDP forecast to 7.2% for the current financial year from 7.4% projected in the February policy. RBI said the output gap remained negative and the domestic economy was facing headwinds, especially on the global front. Do you know? Output gap refers to the difference between the actual output of the economy and its maximum potential. pic: https://d39gegkjaqduz9.cloudfront.net/TH/2019/04/05/DEL/Delhi/TH/5_01/b229237e_2850233_101_mr.jpg RBI maintained the ‘Neutral stance’ Neutral stance means the RBI would have the flexibility to either increase or decrease the policy rates by taking into account the macroeconomic conditions. Under this stance, key policy rates would move in either direction. Usually, this policy is adopted when the inflation rate is stable. Many had hoped that it would soften its policy stance to “accommodative", signalling future cuts to lower the cost of loans, spur investment and spending, and shield the domestic economy from a slowdown, especially as central banks in other major economies have taken a dovish stance in response to slowing global growth. However, that didn’t happen. What is Repo rate? Repo rate is the rate at which the central bank (RBI) lends money to commercial banks in the event of any shortfall of funds. Repo rate is used by monetary authorities to control inflation. RBI increases the repo rate during inflation and decreases it during deflation. What happens when RBI decreases repo rate? In order to cure depression and lack of effective demand, central bank decreases repo rates and lends to commercial banks at a reduced rate. Because of reduced rates, commercial banks can acquire funds at a lower cost and in order to acquire new consumers and markets they pass their benefit of lower cost to consumers by decreasing their prime lending rates on loans and advances. Since, lending rates are reduced by banks, credit is cheap and this induces people to venture in new business activities and purchase of capital goods leading to increased demand for capital goods and increased employment rates. Women activists join hands against liquor use in elections Part of: GS Mains I and II – Society; Role of women; Role of NGOs/CSOs; Social issue In news: Female anti-liquor activists formed human chains in Odisha to create awareness against the use of liquor during election campaign. For the last three decades, women from the state are continuing their crusade against liquor menace under the banner of ‘Nari Mahasangh’. The women who participated in the human chains were farmers and daily wagers who are the worst sufferers of liquor addiction of men in their families. UAE’s top honour for PM Modi In news: UAE President Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has awarded Prime Minister Narendra Modi the country’s highest civilian award, ‘the Order of Zayed’. Previous recipients of the Order of Zayed include Russian President Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, British Queen Elizabeth II, and former Pakistan President Musharraf. Do you know? On the similar lines, PM Modi has been honoured with various awards and accolades since the time of taking the hold of premiership of the country in 2014. PM Narendra Modi was conferred (on January 14, 2019) with the first-ever Philip Kotler Presidential Award. (https://thewire.in/business/modi-wins-first-ever-philip-kotler-presidential-award-but-what-is-it-exactly) The Seoul Peace Prize Committee on October 24, 2018 conferred the 2018 Seoul Peace Prize on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for his contribution to international cooperation and fostering global economic growth. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on September 26, 2018 awarded with the prestigious UN Champions of the Earth Award 2018, the highest environmental honour of the United Nations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on February 10, 2018 conferred with the 'Grand Collar of the State of Palestine' by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, recognising his contributions in promoting relations between India and Palestine. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on June 4, 2016 conferred with the Amir Amanullah Khan Award, the highest civilian honour of Afghanistan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on April 3, 2016 conferred with the Saudi Arabia's highest civilian honour ‘King Abdulaziz Sash’ by King Salman bin Abdulaziz at the Royal Court of Saudi Arabia. (MAINS FOCUS) SOCIETY/ETHICS TOPIC: General studies 1 and 4 Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India Effects of globalization on Indian society Ethics in private and public relationships Human Values; Ethical concerns and dilemmas Strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance India's twisted moral compass Context: The Indian community in other countries is admired for its success. Our civilizational achievements underscore our capabilities. Yet, India lags far behind the developed world on various parameters of success. We are a nation where we have so many corrupt politicians and intelligent people defending them; where our business organizations commonly follow immoral practices and a society with twisted moral compass. Based on ancient texts that form part of the basis of Indian civilization, moral clarity ought to be our strength. The discourse between Arjuna and Krishna (in the Gita) emphasizes doing one’s duty—dharma—even if it means going to war against one’s family. In Ramayana, Ram has many dharmas—that of a king, husband and son—with a clear hierarchy among them. The dharma of a king takes priority for a king over his dharma as a husband and father. The emphasis on dharma aims to encourage principle-centric behaviour. Vibhishana followed dharma and chose the side of good over evil. He even betrayed his brother. However, today, in the hierarchy of moral values, we consider loyalty towards family, friends and society as the most important—something not entirely consistent with the teachings in our ancient texts. What are the major factors that have led to reshuffling of hierarchy of values (between ancient times and now)? Among many factors, one major factor for the above change can be attributed to “loyalty” towards the community and caste given highest value, over all others. For any society, survival is paramount. For survival, loyalty towards the community becomes critical. Over time, because of numerous invasions by external forces, loyalty must have been recognized and rewarded, which must have resulted in the consolidation of loyalty as the highest value, over all others. Only after loyalty is accounted for would other values kick in. The caste system could be one example. Though we don’t live under an existential threat any longer, our culture seems to have internalized our misplaced priorities. We see intelligent people defending the indefensible simply because the culprit happens to be their leader or from their community. For them, the good of the country comes after loyalty obligations are satisfied. Ideally, we should first root for the country and then support appropriate individuals. In the business world too, one should analyse a company’s strategy with ethical conduct as a consideration. Loyalty to the firm should come later. Concept of Ethical Fading Ethical fading occurs when the ethical aspects of a decision disappear from view. This happens when people focus heavily on some other aspect of a decision, such as profitability or winning. Ills in our society, including those in business and politics, can be traced partly to this above ethical aspect and confused hierarchy of values. Connecting the dots: Social values are more important than economic values. Discuss the above statement with examples in the context of inclusive growth of a nation. What do you mean by Ethical fading? What factors impinge on the impartial functioning and moral fibre of a public official? SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY/DEFENCE TOPIC: General studies 3 Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights. Security challenges and their management in border areas Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology. Outer Clarity: On India’s space programme doctrine Introduction: Recently, ISRO launched the country’s first electronic surveillance satellite, EMISAT. Along with it, as many as 28 small satellites of international customers were also put in space as secondary riders. With EMISAT, India just forayed into the realm of space-based electronic intelligence (ELINT). ELINT will add teeth to situational awareness of the Armed Forces as it will provide location and information of hostile radars placed at the borders. According to defence scientists, one satellite for ELINT will not suffice and the country may need to have at least three more working in tandem. And this could be the beginning of a new set of space-based military surveillance. Do you know? An estimated 150 military satellites may be hovering all over Earth right now. These satellites can locate where radars are; figure out what signals they send out in order to enable right actions; eavesdrop on radar communication; and much more. Power in space In the space era, “the forces need many things based in space, such as for electronic intelligence, signal intelligence, communication intelligence, and image intelligence.” Today, everything is in space, which adds the fourth dimension to the forces. A well-equipped satellite perched high up is an asset that can generate vast information vital for the country's defence against attacks from outside. India is assiduously putting in place a space military architecture. Over the next few months, as many as eight satellites are expected to be launched, strengthening the defence dimension. Therefore, the government should articulate much more clearly the doctrinal aspects of the space programme, as well as the deterrence sought to be achieved by it. Need for clarity or clear doctrine of the space programme New Delhi aspires to take a bigger lead in forging a global and legally binding instrument to prevent militarisation of space. It expects to play a role in the future in the drafting of international law on prevention of an arms race in space. Therefore, India must communicate its peaceful intentions just as it showcases its capabilities. A clear doctrine of its space programme would contribute to a better understanding among countries and reduce the chances of wrong inferences being drawn in crisis situations. Since, there is no global regulatory regime to address the growing militarisation in space (regulatory vacuum), India has legitimate reasons to develop deterrence for the security of its space-based assets. Connecting the dots: Can space weapons play big role in India’s grand strategy? Will India come out with an official white paper on space weapons? Space is considered to be the fourth frontier. Any effort to weaponise it would pose serious security threats to the world as whole. Do you agree? Examine India’s preparedness to tackle such threats. MUST READ Jobs or doles: which is the way forward? The Hindu Making democracy meaningful The Hindu Protecting freedoms The Hindu Making sense of NYAY Indian Express Languages and civilization Indian Express The central bank’s circular was designed to tackle India’s NPAs Livemint

RSTV Video

RSTV IAS UPSC – Eradicating Poverty

Eradicating Poverty Archives 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 Poverty and inclusive growth   In News: India may have reduced extreme poverty far more effectively than most of us are aware of. The last official data is eight years old. In 2011, 268 million people were surviving on less than $1.90 a day, the World Bank measure for extreme poverty. The next round of data on household consumption is likely to come out in June, and it may well show a drastic drop in the number of poor. According to the World Data Lab — which monitors global poverty using advanced statistical models — less than 50 million Indians may be living on less than $1.90 a day now. Economists said rapid economic growth and the use of technology for social sector programs have helped make a significant dent in extreme poverty in the country. The BJP had cited global think tank reports to say that India is moving fast towards a poverty-free situation and gave credit to policies of the Narendra Modi-led government for it. The Report The multidimensional poverty index is based on a powerful list of 10 deprivations for poor: Health, child mortality, years of schooling, school attendance, cooking fuel, sanitation, drinking water, electricity, housing and assets. The MPI measures acute poverty and people experiencing multiple deprivations, for example, those who are both undernourished and do not have safe drinking water, adequate sanitation and clean fuel. These indicators are set to minimum international agreed standards in basic functioning. “While progress has been remarkable, the country still has the largest number of people living in multidimensional poverty in the world (364 million people). If one considers the 364 million people who are MPI poor in 2015-16, 156 million (34.5 per cent) are children. In fact, of all the poor people in India, just over one in four-27.1 per cent-has not yet celebrated their tenth birthday,” it said. The reality We were very poor at the time of Independence. The per capita income (at prices then prevailing) was Rs 247. Few had jobs outside agriculture. Literacy was at 17 per cent. Life expectancy at birth was 32 years. All these indicators pointed to massive and widespread poverty. In 72 years, all indicators have improved. Millions have moved out of agriculture and hold jobs in the organised sector. The literacy rate is 73 per cent, life expectancy at birth is 68 years and per capita income at current prices (2018) is Rs 1,12,835. Two-fold Approach A two-fold approach is needed to ameliorate poverty. First, growth is important: Growth can help to reduce poverty in two ways. As growth occurs, it does affect all sections of the society. However, the extent to which the bottom deciles of the population will benefit will depend upon how fast and inclusive the growth is, and thus, composition of growth also matters. Second, composition of growth: A strong growth also increases the resources available to the public authorities and this will enable them to increase the social sector expenditures. Due to the very fact that the poverty ratio is still high means that growth by itself will not be adequate to reduce poverty. It is necessary to launch specific programmes which work towards directly helping poorer groups and vulnerable sections. A comprehensive Social Protection System When social protection schemes were created in India after Independence, most of the country was reeling from famine, de-industrialisation and multiple deprivations. Half the population was chronically poor, the country had an aggregate food deficit, financial and banking networks were underdeveloped, growth rates were weak, and technology available for program administration was rudimentary. Therefore, India’s policymakers focussed almost exclusively on anti-poverty, protective instruments. But that India no longer exists, and the country’s social protection system needs to evolve and catch up with the needs of its new demography and risk profile. A comprehensive social protection system requires three types of instruments to work together. First, promotional instruments invest in the ability of families to survive shocks on their own — by enhancing productivity, access to job opportunities and incomes through human capital infrastructure, wage legislation, labour policies, skills training and livelihood interventions. Second, preventive instruments aim to reduce the impacts of shocks before they occur by enabling households to use their savings from good times to tackle losses in tough times. This is mainly done through social insurance programs. Third, protective instruments mitigate the impacts of shocks after they have occurred through tax-financed redistribution from the non-poor to the poor. These programs would classically be called anti-poverty measures as they target social assistance or safety net programs to the poor or destitute, whether in kind or cash. It’s critical that programs help those vulnerable to poverty to anticipate and manage risks and shocks better, not only attempt to provide aid to relieve deprivations experienced by the poor. Three types of portable tools are needed to prevent the new vulnerable class from falling back into poverty and debt traps — health insurance, social insurance (in case of death, accident and other calamities) and pensions. Recent policies have taken steps in the right direction. The boost in crop insurance, new pension plans for the elderly, the rise in contributory pensions for those who have the wherewithal to save, and larger coverage of health insurance programs will help India re-balance its social protection architecture to match the needs of the rising numbers of its vulnerable people. However, the need to re-balance the mix of programs between protection and prevention may not require a dramatic change in the current umbrella social protection budget. Given the huge diversity in the economic profile of India’s states, a variety of approaches will be called for. Effective safety nets can dramatically reduce the number of poor and the likelihood that poverty will be transmitted from one generation to the next. Strengthening their delivery systems is key, while allowing state governments to choose the optimal mix of preventive and protective programs to suit their state’s needs within an umbrella social protection budget. If insurance coverage is adequate and expands, many families would not need to rely on safety net transfers in the face of old age or health crises which would otherwise push households into long-term poverty and debt traps. Thus, an increased emphasis on interventions that help anticipate risks should be expected, particularly in medium- and high-growth states. India is no longer a largely chronically poor country but a more unequal and vulnerable country with pockets of deep poverty. India’s future shared prosperity will depend to a large extent on how its social protection system evolves and catches up with its diversity and demography. Must Read: Link 1 + Link 2 Connecting the dots: In terms of poverty eradication, what are the challenges faced by India? Elucidate Poverty is a disease which engulfs prosperity if not diagnosed and treated properly. Explain. The challenges posed by poverty and lack of development can be a addressed by focussing upon the vulnerabilities of different social groups. Elucidate.

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