Jun 28, 2019 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 28th June 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 28th June 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) National mission on natural language translation soon Part of Prelims and Mains GS III Science and Tech   In news The Ministry of Electronics and IT will soon place before the Union Cabinet a proposal for Natural Language Translation — one of the key missions identified by the Prime Minister’s Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC). The national mission on natural language translation The national mission on natural language translation aims to make science and technology accessible to all by facilitating access to teaching and researching material bilingually — in English and in one’s native Indian language. To achieve this, the government plans to leverage a combination of machine translation and human translation. The IT ministry is the lead agency for implementation of the mission along with Ministry of Human Resource Development and Department of Science and Technology. Significance Translation activities can also help generate employment for educated unemployed. The mission would help not just students who find it difficult to access knowledge because of language barrier, but also teachers, authors, publishers, translation software developers and general readers. PM-STIAC The PM- STIAC is an overarching body that identifies challenges in certain areas of science and technology. Police station in Satara tops SMART police survey Part of Prelims and Mains GS II Polity and governance    In news Recently the Quality council of India, executed a survey based on the SMART police concept. In the survey , the Kalu police station in Rajasthan’s Bikaner topped the survey followed by PS in Andaman  and West Bengal. The survey was commissioned by Union Home Ministry and was executed by the Quality council of India. Do you know? About SMART Police  Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014  called for making the police a ‘SMART’ force — Strict and Sensitive, Modern and Mobile, Alert and Accountable, Reliable and Responsive, Techno savvy and Trained. About QCI Quality Council of India (QCI) was set up in 1997 by Government of India jointly with Indian Industry as an autonomous body under the administrative control of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade. Indian industry is represented in QCI by three premier industry associations namely ASSOCHAM; CII; and FICCI. (MAINS FOCUS) NATIONAL TOPIC:General studies 3 Government policies and interventions Economic Growth and Development UK Sinha Panel on MSMEs In news: The RBI-appointed U K Sinha panel on micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) has made a slew of sensible recommendations. From a new code to rid the sector of inspector raj to improving credit access and tackling distress, the report covers a lot of ground.  MSMEs: Key engine of growth The micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector in India is not only a key engine of growth, contributing more than 28% of the GDP and about 45% to manufacturing output. It is also a true reflection of economics where people really matter. Providing employment to about 111 million people, the sector’s health is crucial to the economy’s vitality and society’s well being. Multiple challenges faced by the sector includes the absence of formalisation, stilted access to credit, delayed payments and infrastructural bottlenecks. Recommendations: 13-year-old law, the MSME Development Act, 2006 — be changed to prioritise market facilitation and ease of doing business. Observing that many Indian start-ups that are at the forefront of innovation are drawn to look overseas, given the conducive business environment and the availability of infrastructure and exit policies, the committee suggest that a new law ought to address the sector’s biggest bottlenecks, including access to credit and risk capital.  Reimagining solutions to improve credit flow to MSMEs. Repurposing the Small Industries Development Bank of India. In its expanded role, it is envisaged that the SIDBI could not only deepen credit markets for MSMEs in under-served regions by being a provider of comfort to lenders including NBFCs and micro-finance institutions, but also become a market-maker for SME debt. The panel has made a case for greater adoption of technology-facilitated solutions to a plethora of problems encountered by the sector.  To address the issue of delayed payments, the mandatory uploading of invoices above a specified amount to an information utility has been recommended. The aim is to name and shame buyers of goods and services from MSMEs to expedite settlements to suppliers.  Expediting the integration of information on the Government e-Marketplace, or GeM, platform with the Trade Receivables Discounting System. The goal here  is to boost liquidity at MSMEs.  Banks should switch to cash flow-based lending, especially once account aggregators are operational and able to provide detailed data on borrowings. The report has suggested banks to base credit decisions on cash flow rather than collateral. Doubling collateral-free loans for MSMEs to Rs 20 lakh, raising the loan limit sanctioned under Mudra to Rs 20 lakh, creating a stressed asset fund of Rs 5,000 crore and a government-sponsored fund of funds of Rs 10,000 crore to support MSME equity. Conclusion: The RBI and the Centre should act on the above recommendations in order to help actualise the sector’s true economic potential. Connecting the dots: The micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector in India is a key engine of growth. In this light discuss the recommendations of UK Sinha panel. DISASTER MANAGEMENT TOPIC: General studies 3: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation Disaster and disaster management. Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment. Funding Disaster Management Background: Cyclone Fani wreaked havoc in Odisha in May last year. In the current year, more than 10 states have faced drought conditions. Natural disasters are increasingly affecting large parts of the country. The impact of these is asymmetric as the poor suffer more. Effective management of disasters is not only required for preserving growth, but equally for addressing poverty and reducing inequality. The sine qua non for effective disaster management is adequate funding. Three stages in disaster management: Disaster mitigation—taking long-term steps such as putting in place early warning systems and rainwater harvesting structures to reduce the impact of disasters.  Disaster relief—affected persons are provided assistance and essential services are restored.  Disaster reconstruction—damaged infrastructure is rebuilt.  The Disaster Management Act, 2005, requires that a disaster management plan and a mitigation plan be formulated at the district, state and national levels. Each is to be supported at every level by disaster relief and mitigation funds that must be set up. Thus, six plans and six funds are required to be created to manage disasters in India. Issue: Disaster management plans have been formulated. The National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF) and State Disaster Relief Funds (SDRF) have been set up. However, mitigation plans have not been prepared at any level. Also, the corresponding funds have not been set up. When disasters occur, states are driven to unorthodox sources of funding for following reasons.  The NDRF through which the centre assists states when they face severe calamities is available only for disaster relief and not for mitigation or restoration. A similar provision applies to the SDRF. States must meet outlays for disaster mitigation and restoration, which are as important as relief, on their own.  State governments underestimate the probability of adverse events occurring. They do not make adequate provision in their budgets for mitigation and reconstruction.  The borrowing capacity of states is constrained under the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act. Unorthodox measures adopted by states: The Kerala government levies a cess of 1% on its SGST for up to two years after approval from GST council. Such a cess will not be eligible for input tax credit and militates against the very idea of GST. Further, other states may make similar requests. No longer will it be “one tax for one nation". This option is thus not sustainable. Kerala issued rupee-denominated bonds overseas (masala bonds). Such an instrument of debt infringes Article 293(1) of the Constitution, which prohibits state governments from borrowing outside the territory of India.  Way ahead: States facing calamities of rare severity should receive additional assistance. Such assistance should be drawn from a strengthened NDRF, which is financed by the National Calamity Contingency Duty (NCCD), the proceeds of which have fallen sharply after the introduction of GST. As its own resources are limited, the centre may consider expanding the tax base of the NCCD. This is a sustainable option to fund disaster management nationally. It will enable the creation of a national disaster mitigation fund as envisaged and required. In parallel, India’s states should set up state disaster mitigation funds on their own. Connecting the dots: When disasters occur, states are driven to unorthodox sources of funding. In this light highlight the importance of funding disaster management. (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note:  Featured Comments and comments Up-voted by IASbaba are the “correct answers”. IASbaba App users – Team IASbaba will provide correct answers in comment section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers. Q.1) The national mission on natural language translation will be implemented by, Department of Science and Technology The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology Ministry of Human Resource Development All of the above Q.2) Consider the following statements  Recently the Quality council of India, executed a survey based on the SMART police concept. Quality Council of India (QCI) was set up by Government of India jointly with Indian Industry as an autonomous body. Select the Correct statements Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 MUST READ Will the idea of one nation one poll work in India The Hindu Prudent prescription The Hindu BIMSTEC, a viable option The Hindu

Jun 28, 2019 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz - 2020 : IAS Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 15

UPSC Quiz - 2020 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 15 Archives Q.1) Consider the following statements with respect to ‘Proton Therapy’ It is a treatment that uses high-energy beams to treat tumors. There is less radiation dose outside of the tumor compared to x-ray radiation 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? Housing Finance Companies are regulated by National Housing Bank. Nidhi Companies are regulated by Ministry of Corporate Affairs. Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) Consider the following statements with respect to ‘Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) It was established under the Food Safety and Standards Act It is mandated with the responsibility of export promotion and development of Guar Gum 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 ‘CAFÉ’ Regulations It is aimed at improving fuel efficiency of vehicles by lowering carbon dioxide emissions. CAFE regulations in India came into force from 2017. Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.5) Consider the following statements with respect to ‘Jal Shakti Abhiyan’ It is a time-bound, mission mode, water conservation and irrigation efficiency campaign for water security in rural India It has a component of asset creation and communication campaigns 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

Jun 27, 2019 AIR

All India Radio (AIR) IAS UPSC - Significance of SCO Summit

Significance of SCO Summit ARCHIVES Search 12th June, 2019 Spotlight News Analysis here: http://www.newsonair.com/Main_Audio_Bulletins_Search.aspx TOPIC: General Studies 2: India and its neighbourhood relations, International relations. Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests. Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora. Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate. In News: Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled to the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek to attend a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). Launched by China and Russia nearly two decades ago, the SCO has also been billed by some as the “Alliance of the East” and as a continental counter to the US and more broadly, the maritime West. SCO: Formerly the Sanghai Five and formed in 1996, the SCO has eight members today including India and Pakistan, which became part of it in 2017. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the then security and economic architecture in the Eurasian region dissolved and new structures had to come up.  The original Shanghai Five were China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan.  The SCO was formed in 2001, with Uzbekistan included. It expanded in 2017 to include India and Pakistan. Since its formation, the SCO has focused on regional non-traditional security, with counter-terrorism as a priority: The fight against the “three evils” of terrorism, separatism and extremism has become its mantra. Today, areas of cooperation include themes such as economics and culture. India’s entry into SCO While Central Asian countries and China were not in favour of expansion initially, the main supporter — of India’s entry in particular — was Russia. A widely held view is that Russia’s growing unease about an increasingly powerful China prompted it to push for its expansion. From 2009 onwards, Russia officially supported India’s ambition to join the SCO. China then asked for its all-weather friend Pakistan’s entry. 2009 SCO: New Delhi expressed its serious interest to join the grouping in 2009. Months after the Mumbai terror attacks in November 2008, Prime Ministers Manmohan Singh and Asif Ali Zardari had their first meeting in Ekaterinberg in Russia in June 2009. The occasion was the annual summit of the SCO, where both India and Pakistan were “observers”. It was the first time India had shown an interest in joining the SCO. Ten years of efforts, pushed by then Joint Secretary (Eurasia) Ajay Bisaria, who is currently India’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, fructified in June 2017, when the SCO inducted both India and Pakistan in Astana in Kazakhstan. How does membership of the SCO help India? In a world riven by geopolitical contestations, SCO membership provides India a vital counter to some of the other groupings it is a part of, balancing out its stated policy of pursuing “multi-alignments”. It is a platform also for alignments on issues such as energy security, connectivity and trade. With India indicating that it sees little use for SAARC, the SCO provides the only multilateral platform for it to deal in close proximity with Pakistan and Afghanistan. For India, two important objectives are counter-terrorism and connectivity. These sit well with the SCO’s main objective of working cooperatively against the “three evils”.  India wants access to intelligence and information from SCO’s counter-terrorism body, the Tashkent-based Regional Anti-Terror Structure (RATS).  A stable Afghanistan too is in India’s interest, and RATS provides access to non-Pakistan-centred counter-terrorism information there. Connectivity is important for India’s Connect Central Asia policy.  Energy cooperation dominates its interest – and it’s in China’s neighbourhood. But India will also have to deal with an assertive China, which will push its Belt and Road Initiative during the summit. SCO membership also bolsters India’s status as a major pan-Asian player, which is boxed in the South Asian paradigm. How does global geopolitics play out for SCO and India? The US’ power struggle with China, exit from the Iran nuclear deal JCPOA (affects India’s oil imports from Iran), and adversarial attitude towards Russia (affects India’s defence purchase like S-400) have forced India to choose sides. While Washington’s stance against Islamabad after the Pulwama attack was evidence of its support to New Delhi, India has had a strained relationship with China after the Doklam stand-off, followed by attempts to reset relations in Wuhan. In the SCO, India’s sitting down with less-than-free regimes, Russia and China has always had the West worried. India, however, has always been tactful in not aligning with these countries on governance issues. What draws India to SCO is the “Shanghai spirit”, which emphasises harmony, non-interference in others’ internal affairs, and non-alignment. The bottomline is that it helps India keep all options open in terms of international partnerships. How does it play out in the India-Pakistan or India-China relationship? In the absence of the SAARC summit, the SCO summit gives an opportunity for Indian and Pakistani leaders to meet informally, on the sidelines. Both sides have the obligation not to bring in bilateral disputes, but can cooperate on issues of mutual interest and importance. Signing off on joint counter-terrorism exercises will be a new form of engagement between the two militaries. With China, it is yet another opening, like the BRICS summit last year, to bring down tensions and ahead of the next informal summit in October in India. Note: Bishkek is the capital of Kyrgyzstan. Essay: Strategic autonomy is not just a slogan or a desire but a necessity if we are to transform India. Must Read: Bishkek Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit (SCO)

Jun 27, 2019 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 27th June 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 27th June 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) 54 nations back India for UNSC non-permanent seat Part of Prelims and Mains GS II International Relations   In news India has won the unanimous support of all countries in the 55-member Asia-Pacific Group at the United Nations in support of its bid for a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council (UNSC) for a two-year term in 2021-22. The development is particularly significant given that Pakistan and China, both countries with which India has had diplomatic challenges at the UN, supported the move. India will need the vote of two-thirds of the 193 UN General Assembly members to win a non-permanent seat on the UNSC. India has been keen to hold the seat in 2021-22 to coincide with the 75th anniversary of Independence in 2022. It will be hosting the G-20 meeting in New Delhi in 2022. India and U.S. resolve to work through their trade differences Part of Prelims and Mains GS II International Relations   In news India and the U.S. resolved to “work through” their differences.  Issues discussed were including tariffs and counter-tariffs imposed by both the countries on each other in the past year, as well as the U.S.’s specific concerns with India’s proposed laws on e-commerce and data localisation, on price caps and market access. Both sides had come away with a “better understanding” of each other’s concerns on a wide variety of issues besides trade, including energy, defence, investment concerns and people-to-people contacts, as well as the growing conflict in the Gulf with Iran and the peace process in Afghanistan. India will take its decision on the purchase of the Russian S-400 Triumf anti-missile system in its own “national interest”.  India’s concerns over growing U.S.-Iran tensions and their impact on India’s energy security were also raised. India has zeroed out all oil imports from Iran since the U.S. sanctions deadline ran out on May 2, it has maintained a cordial and close relationship with the Iranian government. 75 student satellites may fly to space as India turns 75 Part of Prelims and Mains GS III Space research  In news  Up to 75 tiny satellites built by students of Indian universities could fly to the skies between late next year and 2022 in batches. Seventy-five by 75:  This is the dream project that the Indian Technology Congress Association (ITCA) has conceived to celebrate the nation’s 75th birthday. That is also to be the year of Gaganyaan, the first trip of Indian astronauts to space. Students of participating institutions would come from different disciplines and get to build nano satellites weighing between 3 and 12 kg. They may demonstrate a novel concept, science experiment, or technology in orbit.  The ITCA, a technology promotion body based in Bengaluru, has roped in around 40 engineering colleges to form a consortium. It is also in the midst of discussing launch contracts with the Indian Space Research Organisation and working out Israeli finance for its ‘75 Student Satellites Mission 2022'. Significance For the colleges, it can mean a branding exercise and a permanent ground infrastructure on their premises.  For the students, an out-of-the-world learning experience, exposure to an elite job market, and a chance to turn entrepreneurs who can attract space majors, with frugal satellite services. Space-based solutions reach people in remote areas where many other technologies do not reach or work.  Students can learn to design small satellites that can offer simple, meaningful, and low-cost solutions to soldiers, farmers, boatsmen, forest personnel, or students. ISRO wants to offload satellite assembly to the private sector. In the last three to five years, other countries launched about 3,500 student satellites that demonstrated innovative technologies; another 2,500 could be in the offing.  Indian universities have so far built and launched only nine satellites of fleeting lifespans. Centre set to roll out ‘Jal Shakti’ scheme for water-starved areas Part of Prelims and Mains GS III Space research In news The Centre is set to initiate the Jal Shakti Abhiyan to ramp up rainwater harvesting and conservation efforts in 255 water-stressed districts from July 1, 2019. Though water is a State issue, the campaign will be coordinated by 255 central IAS officers of Joint or Additional Secretary-rank, drawn from ministries as varied as Space, Petroleum and Defence, etc. About 'Jal Shakti' campaign The campaign seems to follow the model of last year’s Gram Swaraj Abhiyan, where central officials monitored the implementation of seven flagship development schemes in 117 aspirational districts across the country. The campaign will run from July 1 to September 15 in States receiving rainfall during the south-west monsoon, while States receiving rainfall in the retreating or north-east monsoon will be covered from October 1 to November 30. The Jal Shakti Abhiyan would aim to accelerate water harvesting, conservation and borewell recharge activities already being carried out under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme and the Integrated Watershed Management Programme of the Rural Development Ministry, along with existing water body restoration and afforestation schemes being undertaken by the Jal Shakti and Environment Ministries. Progress would be monitored in real time through mobile applications and an online dashboard at indiawater.gov.in A major communications campaign on TV, radio, print, local and social media will be carried out, with celebrities mobilised to generate awareness for the campaign. (MAINS FOCUS) NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. General studies 3: Conservation, Environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment. Water Pollution, Wastewater management Tackling water-crisis being faced by India Background: Chennai has been in the news recently for its water crisis. Scuffles and suffering have been reported from different parts of the city.  Water crimes in Ranchi have also hit the headlines.  Cities in Madhya Pradesh have seen stabbings and killings over water, and the police has been called upon to guard water tankers and water sources.  Reports: The 2030 Water Resources Group on “Charting Our Water Futures” set up by the erstwhile Planning Commission in 2009 had projected that if the current demand pattern for water continues, by 2030, the available water will meet only about half of India’s demand for water.  The Niti Aayog has projected that the groundwater of 21 cities will run out by 2020 (that is, next year) and the cities include Bengaluru, Delhi, Chennai and Hyderabad. The BBC in February 2018 listed  11 cities most likely to run out of water. This list included Bengaluru. Insufficient usage of water: Water scarcity in India has come about not so much from insufficient supply as from the way in which we manage the water we have.  Agriculture uses 78 per cent of India’s water, and uses it very inefficiently. About two-thirds of water used for irrigation comes from groundwater. Huge electricity subsidies for farmers to pump groundwater and the fact that groundwater is largely unregulated have led to a steady explosion in groundwater use through tube-wells for irrigation over the past several decades.  Urban India’s inefficiency in water use arises from inadequate, old and dilapidated distribution networks, inefficient operations, inadequate metering, incomplete billing and collection, and a general state of poor governance.  Another source of inefficiency comes from not treating wastewater and using the recycled water for specialised uses such as horticulture, and also for flushing toilets. Under-pricing of urban water also contributes to wasteful use. If something is under-priced, users will use more of it. Tankers: Access to treated tap water is available to only 62 per cent of urban households (Census 2011). Those who are unconnected to the piped network have to rely on buying water from tankers at exorbitant rates. This leads to increasing but unaccounted use of groundwater by extensive digging of borewells to meet the demand deficit. Way ahead: Expanding pipeline coverage to the “unconnected” population. Expansion and renovation of the infrastructure of the distribution network.  Additional supplies of water, especially because the groundwater that is currently being used to supply this population is expected to dry up. Pricing water is important both for demand management and for economic viability of water delivery systems.  Even if the capital cost of the infrastructure is made available either through National Missions or public-private partnership, the operation and maintenance cost of running the system (and in the case of PPP, a large part of the capital cost) will have to be recovered through user charges.  Mobilising more supply of water from basic natural sources. Only then can greater connectivity result in piped water delivery to all in urban areas. The mobilisation of additional supplies poses a major challenge since the natural recharge zones are increasingly eroded because of unplanned urbanisation. Dealing with the supply constraints arising from the neglect of the rivers, lakes, ponds and other waterbodies in and around our cities that feed the reservoirs which are the bulk sources of water. These water bodies need to be protected from encroachment so that our catchment area for water storage and rainwater harvesting is not reduced. Strict vigilance on land-use planning and building permissions in our cities , warrant removal of existing encroachments will help.  An important role has to be played by the state governments concerned, including ensuring compliance with the environmental guidelines laid down by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change and the National Green Tribunal.  Above all, increased water-use efficiency in agriculture is critical to release water supply from agriculture for other uses. Issue of poor quality of water: The quality of water issue is also very significant because of its serious implications for public health.  Only about 30 per cent of the municipal waste water or sewage is treated and the rest is released untreated into the rivers and/or the ground.  Because of the density and concentration in urban areas, contamination from wastewater happens much faster.  Way ahead: Ensuring that untreated sewage is not dumped into open stormwater drains through which it is carried and discharged into water bodies.  Surveys of groundwater in recent years show higher and higher levels of microbiological contamination. It is essential to ensure that the wastewater is treated before it finds its way back into our basic source of water and contaminates it. Conclusion: Reshaping water governance will require state governments and local governments to take coordinated action in a federal system. What is needed is a political compact between the Centre and states to jointly address the challenges of saving India’s water, while actively involving local governments and engaging with the communities of water users.  Connecting the dots: The water crisis is here and it is taking its toll in rural as well as urban areas of India. Reshaping water governance is needed. Comment. 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 Issues and policies related to health Universal access to public healthcare Introduction: Government’s flagship health insurance scheme, Ayushman Bharat, officially called the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), has been widely lauded since it was launched last year. Various states are in the process of rolling it out. It aims to pick up the illness bills of 500 million of the country’s most vulnerable. The sorry picture presented by Bihar in dealing with a deadly encephalitis outbreak among children of poverty-stricken families, attention has been drawn back to the ramshackle state of public healthcare facilities. These remain abysmal in most parts of the country.  Issues: Severe shortage of medical personnel, including doctors and nurses, as well as a dearth of hospitals and hospital beds. This shortage is especially stark in rural areas.  In many places, primary health centres, community health centres, and sub-centres are located too far from people’s homes. Even in the big cities, patients often have to run from one hospital to another in search of a particular facility or a bed.  Private facilities are the preferred option for most, if only because of treatment is assured. The poor, however, typically find themselves shut out not just by steep prices—which Ayushman Bharat expects to overcome—but also invisible class barriers.  Way ahead: Free or nominally priced public services as a right Making public health services so easily accessible and of such reliable quality that only the well-off opt for the extra comfort of private sector facilities. Achieving this would be a long haul, no doubt, but several middle-income countries have done it. The government needs to upgrade healthcare infrastructure in the country at two levels.  Ensruing that the quality of public healthcare services can be trusted by everyone, regardless of socio-economic status. Quality signals are best sent out by celebrities and public representatives using these facilities themselves.  The authorities must ensure that enough healthcare centres or hospitals are operational across the country within reasonable reach of residential areas— urban and rural. Along with the number of hospitals, the number of beds also needs to rise sharply. The financial pooling of illness risks is all very well, but the wherewithal to deal with illness itself must come first. Conclusion: By budget figures of the last fiscal year, India spends just a shade over 1% of its gross domestic product (GDP) on healthcare. This includes central expenditure on the Ayushman Bharat scheme. The Interim Budget for this year upped the percentage, but only slightly. The government set a goal last year of 2.5% of GDP by 2025. For progress to be made towards that objective, however, this year’s budget need to pencil in a significant hike in the country’s health outlay. Healthcare needs to be fixed in mission mode. Every child’s life claimed by a treatable disease is one life too many. Connecting the dots: Healthcare needs to be fixed in mission mode. Ensuring universal access to public healthcare and upping the health budget is needed. (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) Project “Seventy-five by 75” is related to Health Defence  Space None of the above Q.2) Consider the following statements  In India, Water is a State subject. Jal Shakti Abhiyan will be coordinated by central IAS officers drawn from ministries as varied as Space, Petroleum and Defence, etc. Select the incorrect statements Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 MUST READ Scoring on health The Hindu Negotiating the forks in the road of diplomacy The Hindu RCEP next steps The Hindu The educations system needs change, not fine tuning The Hindu Greener pastures Indian Express Let’s politicise heatlh Indian Express

Jun 27, 2019 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz - 2020 : IAS Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 14

UPSC Quiz - 2020 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 14 Archives Q.1) ‘Exercise Garuda’ is bilateral exercise between India and  Russia France Japan United States of America Q.2) Consider the following statements with respect to ‘Impressed tortoise’ It is endemic to Western Ghats It is listed as ‘Critically Endangered’ in the IUCN Red List Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) ‘Surjit Bhalla Committee’ has recommended issue of ‘Elephant Bonds'. Consider the following statements It is meant to declare ‘undisclosed income’ with a mandatory condition to invest 50% of it in the bond. It will be utilised only for infrastructure projects. 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? The Portuguese colonised India in the 18th century Portuguese colonies in India were limited to Eastern Coast of India Select the correct code: 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.5) Which of the following statements is/are correct? UN General Assembly elects five non-permanent UNSC members out of a total of 10, for a two-year term. India has never been a non-permanent member of the Security Council. 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

Jun 26, 2019 RSTV Video

RSTV IAS UPSC – Draft National Education Policy - 3 Language Formula

Draft National Education Policy - 3 Language Formula Archives TOPIC: General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education In News: Facing pressure from Tamil Nadu against the draft National Education Policy’s recommendation for teaching Hindi in all the States, the Union government has issued a modified draft leaving out a controversial clause.   In the modified draft uploaded by the Human Resource Development Ministry, a Section, titled ‘Flexibility in the choice of languages’ has been changed, omitting any reference to ‘which’ languages students may choose. There is no mention of Hindi in the clause.  The revised policy requires proficiency in any three languages. The earlier draft education policy triggered outrage in southern states, led by Tamil Nadu, which said they will not tolerate Hindi imposition in the state that doesn't speak the language.  In the previous version of the draft policy, English and Hindi were proposed as mandatory languages in non-Hindi speaking states while a third language was mandatory in Hindi-speaking states. The formula, the opposition The three-language formula, dating back to 1968, means students in Hindi-speaking states should learn a modern Indian language, apart from Hindi and English and, in non-Hindi-speaking states, Hindi along with the regional language and English.  What is the formula? It is commonly understood that the three languages referred to are Hindi, English and the regional language of the respective States. Though the teaching of Hindi across the country was part of a long-standing system, it was crystallised into a policy in an official document only in the National Policy on Education, 1968. This document said regional languages were already in use as the media of education in the primary and secondary stages. In addition, it said, “At the secondary stage, State governments should adopt and vigorously implement the three-language formula, which includes the study of a modern Indian language, preferably one of the southern languages, apart from Hindi and English in the Hindi-speaking States.” In the ‘non-Hindi speaking States’, Hindi should be studied along with the regional language and English. It added: “Suitable courses in Hindi and/or English should also be available in universities and colleges with a view to improving the proficiency of students in these languages up to the prescribed university standards.” What is the backdrop to the Hindi imposition row? The State has been traditionally opposed to any attempt to introduce Hindi as a compulsory language of learning or administration. The origin of the linguistic row, however, goes back to the debate on official language. In the Constituent Assembly, Hindi was voted as the official language by a single vote. However, it added that English would continue to be used as an associate official language for 15 years. The Official Languages Act came into effect on the expiry of this 15-year period in 1965. This was the background in which the anti-Hindi agitation took place. However, as early as in 1959, Jawaharlal Nehru had given an assurance in Parliament that English would continue to be in use as long as non-Hindi speaking people wanted it. The Liguistic Inequality we saw The three-language formula was a prudent way to resolve the vexed issue of English and the various modern Indian languages, or bhashas. It respected the primacy of the state/regional languages, while recognising the emerging utility of Hindi as a bridge among Indian languages and that of English as a bridge to the world outside India. Sadly, the formula was never practiced in its true spirit. The Hindi belt states found ways to circumvent it. Instead of getting Hindi-speaking children to learn, say Tamil or Marathi or Bengali, they started using perfunctory teaching of Sanskrit (or, in a few cases Urdu) to meet the formality of the third language. So, in reality, the three-language formula meant that non-Hindi-speakers learnt Hindi while Hindi speakers learnt no other modern Indian language. This inequality has naturally caused heartburn. DNPE – The Step that was most awaited, because … First, it recommends multilingualism as the foundation of education in a country like ours, thus moving away from a pointless debate about what should be the national language. It recognises children’s ability to learn several languages and the cognitive advantages of multilingual education.  Second, like the previous policy documents, it reiterates the well-known pedagogic wisdom, supported by cognitive psychology, that the child’s “home language” or “mother tongue” must be her medium of instruction. This is in sharp contrast to the cognitive barbarity of the spread of English as a medium of instruction in a setting where, more often than not, the child, the parents, as well as the teachers, are innocent of this language.  Third, it celebrates the strength of Indian languages as carriers of modern education and the country’s future. It makes a strong case for teaching of and knowledge creation in these languages. The government would do well to implement the detailed suggestions for helping the growth, preservation and vibrancy of Indian languages.  Fourth, and conversely, it attests to the fact that the dominance of English language is due less to its intrinsic value and more because it is the language of the dominant elite. I call the prevailing situation a system of linguistic apartheid. The DNPE makes bold to say something that needed to be said: dominance of English needs to end. Note:  Education falls under the Constitution’s concurrent list of subjects that can be legislated upon by both the Centre and states. National Education Policy Connecting the Dots: Is the DNPE a step forward in policy thinking on the issue of language and education? Examine.

Jun 26, 2019 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 26th June 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 26th June 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) ‘Healthy States, Progressive India: Report Part of Prelims and Mains GS II Governance and public services   In news The report ‘Healthy States, Progressive India: Report on Rank of States and UTs’ has ranked states in three categories — larger States, smaller States and UTs “to ensure comparison among similar entities”. The Index ranks the States and Union Territories based on 23 health-related indicators, including neonatal mortality rate, under-five mortality rate, etc. https://epaper.thehindu.com/Home/ShareImage?Pictureid=GG462FRGM.1 Findings of the report In Union Territories Chandigarh topped the list this year with a score of 63.62, followed by Dadra and Nagar Haveli at number 2 position with a score of 56.31. Dadra and Nagar Haveli was the worst performer last time with a score of 38.64. Lakshadweep, which topped the list last time, slipped to the third position, followed by Puducherry, Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar, and Daman and Diu. Kerala continued to top the list for the best performing State in the health sector among the 21 large States, which got an overall score of 74.01, was followed by Andhra Pradesh (65.13), Maharashtra (63.99), Gujarat (63.52) and Punjab (63.01), Himachal Pradesh (62.41), Jammu and Kashmir 62.37, Karnataka (61.14) and Tamil Nadu (60.41). Uttar Pradesh continued to be at the bottom of the list with its score falling to 28.61. Other States at the bottom of the list were Bihar (32.11), Odisha (35.97) and Madhya Pradesh (38.39). The report stated that only about half the States and UTs showeds an improvement in the overall score between 2015-16 (base year) and 2017-18 (reference year). 31.4% of Indian children will be stunted by 2022: report Part of Prelims and Mains GS II Governance and public services   In news Almost one in three Indian children under five years will still be stunted by 2022 going by current trends, according to an analysis of the country’s food and nutrition security.  India must double its rate of progress to reach the target of 25% by 2022. The report, which is a baseline analysis of the country’s progress in achieving the second Sustainable Development Goal to end hunger, was prepared by the UN World Food Programme in collaboration with the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. Findings of the report: Country is self sufficient in food grain production but, unfortunately, the consumer’s access to rice, wheat and other cereals has not increased at the same rate, due to population growth, inequality, food wastage and losses, and exports. The average per capita consumption of energy among the poorest 30% of the population is 1811 kilo calories, much lower than the norm of 2155 kilo calories per day. In States like Bihar (48%) and Uttar Pradesh (46%), almost one in two children are stunted, while it is only one in five children in Kerala and Goa (20% each).  There are high rates of stunting among children in the poorest wealth quintile (51.4%), Scheduled Tribes (43.6%) and Scheduled Castes (42.5%), and children born to mothers with no education (51%). Cash in circulation fell post note ban: FM Part of Prelims and Mains GS III Economics   In news Demonetisation, coupled with increased digital transactions and the reduced cash usage in the informal economy, led to a reduction in currency in circulation by ₹3.4 lakh crore, according to Finance Ministry The level of currency in circulation as of May 31, 2019, was significantly lower than what it would have been if demonetisation had not happened. The Reserve Bank of India data shows that the number of counterfeit bank notes detected decreased from 762,072 pieces in 2016-17, to 522,783 in 2017-18 and 317,389 pieces in 2018-19 and hence “demonetisation resulted in curbing of the counterfeit currency”.  Growth of digital transactions in terms of value has increased to ₹188.07 lakh crore in September 2018 from ₹112.27 lakh crore in November 2016. Digital transactions in terms of volume have increased to 241.88 crore in September 2018 from 91.83 crore. The demonetisation led to a “significant positive impact on most theatres of violence” in the country since illegally held cash formed a major chunk of terror-funding. The note ban rendered the cash held with terrorists worthless. (MAINS FOCUS) NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2: Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary Ministries and Departments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity. 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. State of Indian prisons In news: A data-driven report, the Prison Statistics India 2016, was published by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) recently. The report raises a number of red flags signalling the rot in India’s prison system.  Who are our prisoners? The report tells us that at the end of 2016, there were 4,33,033 people in prison; of them 68% were undertrials. These are people who have yet to be found guilty of the crimes they are accused of. India’s under-trial population remains among the highest in the world. There has been rise in the number of people held under administrative (or ‘prevention’) detention laws in Jammu and Kashmir (a 300% increase), with 431 detainees in 2016, compared to 90 in 2015. Administrative, or ‘preventive’, detention is used by authorities in J&K and other States to unfairly detain persons without charge or trial and circumvent regular criminal justice procedures. The 2016 report doesn’t include demographic details of religion and the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe status of prisoners, which are crucial to understanding India’s prison population. The report of 2015, for instance, said that Muslims, Dalits and Adivasis accounted for 55% of the under-trial population even though they made up only 50% of the convict population and 38% of the total Indian population. Section 436A of the Code of Criminal Procedure: The report records the number of prisoners eligible to be released and actually released, under Section 436A of the Code of Criminal Procedure. In 2016, out of 1,557 undertrials found eligible for release under Section 436A, only 929 were released. Sec 436A allows undertrials to be released on a personal bond if they have undergone half of the maximum term of imprisonment they would have faced if convicted.  Spreading awareness- Research by Amnesty India has found that prison officials are frequently unaware of this section and unwilling to apply it. In 2017, the Law Commission of India had recommended that undertrials who have completed a third of their maximum sentence for offences attracting up to seven years of imprisonment be released on bail.  Mental health concerns: The number of “unnatural” deaths in prisons, which doubled between 2015 and 2016, from 115 to 231. The rate of suicide among prisoners also increased by 28%, from 77 suicides in 2015 to 102 in 2016. The report states that there was only one mental health professional for every 21,650 prisoners in 2016, with only six States and one Union Territory having psychologists/psychiatrists. It is an indicator of the magnitude of mental health concerns within prisons. Conclusion: The report has important information which can be used to facilitate a dialogue on improving prison policies. It is essential to uncover torture and other forms of ill-treatment, increase transparency and balance the power asymmetry in prisons.  Connecting the dots: The Prison Statistics India 2016 report published by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) presents a sorry state of Indian prisons. Discuss. 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 Data Protection: Importance, Global debate, India’s stand Introduction: The IT Ministry’s Bill on data protection is scheduled to be introduced in Parliament during the current session. Worldwide, the data flow debate is playing out at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and G20. Why is data valuable? Data is any collection of information that is stored in a way so computers can easily read it. These days, most people refer to data to mean information about their messages, social media posts, online transactions, and browser searches. Big data refers to the immense amount of data that can now be collected, stored, and analysed to find patterns. This large collection of information about people’s online habits has become an important source of profits. Your online activity can expose a lot about who you are, and companies find it valuable to use the information to target advertisements to you.  Governments and political parties have also gained interest in these data sets for elections and policymaking. What exactly about data laws are countries debating? Data is stored in a physical space. Data is also transported across country borders physically, traveling through underwater cables. These aspects of data flows — where it is stored, where it is sent, where it is turned into something useful — determines who has access to the data, who profits off the data, who taxes the data, and who “owns” the data. With these questions in mind, individual governments are developing their own domestic rules and negotiating with each other on a global stage, raising values of national security, economic growth, and privacy. Where does India’s domestic policy on data stand? India’s recent drafts and statements have strong signals for data localisation, which means that data of Indians (even if collected by an American company) must be stored and processed in India. Along with a Reserve Bank of India directive to payment companies to localise financial data, the Ministry of Commerce’s draft e-commerce policy is currently in public consultation. The IT Ministry has drafted a data protection law that will be introduced in Parliament and has also framed draft intermediary rules. China has developed similar laws, which proponents say allow for a flourishing domestic economy of data centres and data processing by blocking foreign players out. This is why Indian companies, like Reliance and PayTM, usually support data localisation. Arguments for localisation: Localisation will help law enforcement access the data. Currently, India has to use “mutual legal assistance treaties” (MLAT) with the US to get the data of Indians that are controlled by American companies. By requiring a copy of the data to be stored in India (data mirroring), the government hopes to have more direct control over these companies, including the option to levy more taxes on them. The government also argues for data localisation on the ground of national security, to prevent foreign surveillance and attacks. Counter-arguments against data localisation: The US government and companies want cross-border flow of data. It would allow companies to store the data of Indians in the most efficient place in the world. Proponents of free flow of data worry that if all countries begin to protect their data, it may backfire on India’s own companies that seek global growth. Another caution is that these laws could bring increased state surveillance, like India’s draft intermediary rules that would require WhatsApp to change its design to proactively filter messages. The company says messages are currently encrypted, meaning neither the company nor any government can see them. What is happening at the global forums? Trade tensions worldwide are escalating, giving the data flow debate new relevance at the WTO and G20. WTO member countries are negotiating rules about e-commerce, which is the buying and selling of goods and services online. Digital trade contributes more to global GDP than physical trade. India is one of the fastest growing markets, with e-commerce expecting to reach $1.2 trillion by 2021. These laws raise questions about where companies can store, process, and transport data about transactions.  In their proposals, the US and the EU have called to prohibit customs duties on online transactions while China and Pakistan have called for allowing them.  The US has also recommended not having overly burdensome data standards nor localisation requirements, while the EU wants data localisation requirements. From the G20 meeting in Tsukuba, the Ministerial Statement on Trade and Digital Economy favored cross-border flow of data.  India’s stand: India submitted a November 2017 document opposing any WTO e-commerce negotiations. The digital divide within and across nations is a serious impediment for developing countries to benefit from Digital Trade. Capacity constraints in developing countries, can be overcome, with timely support of training, and creation of digital infrastructure. This is important, for facilitating a level playing field, in the digital economy, for all countries to take equitable advantage of data free flows. Developing countries need time and policy space to build deepest understanding of the subject and formulate their own legal and regulatory framework before meaningfully engaging in e-commerce negotiations. Connecting the dots: A global debate on data protection is ongoing. Why is data valuable? Discuss arguments and counter-arguments for data localisation. Also discuss India’s stand on the same. (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) “Healthy States progressive India” report is published by Ministry of Health and Family welfare  Ministry of women and child development NITI Ayog None of the above Q.2) “Impressed” tortoise recently first recorded in India in state of, Assam Arunachal Pardesh Odisha  Karnataka MUST READ A city gone dry The Hindu Revisiting Emergency Indian Express National monetary authorities should wake up to the Libra challenge Livemint

Jun 26, 2019 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz - 2020 : IAS Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 13

UPSC Quiz - 2020 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 13 Archives Q.1) ‘Ambubachi Mela’ is associated with Kamakhya Temple Konark Temple Sabarimala Temple Mumbadevi Temple Q.2) Consider the following statements with respect to ‘Eastern Economic Forum’ It is an initiative of the ‘ASEAN + 6’ countries. It is an initiative for the purpose of encouraging foreign investment Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) Consider the following statements with respect to ‘goAML’ It is an application to combat the global financial crime including money laundering and terrorist financing It is developed by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.4) ‘Kani tribe’ was in news recently. It inhabits the state of Kerala Uttarakhand Odisha Rajasthan Q.5) Consider the following statements with respect to ‘Chaukhandi Stupa’ It is located in Hampi, Karnataka It is was built by the Vijaynagar Empire 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

Jun 25, 2019 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz - 2020 : IAS Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 12

UPSC Quiz - 2020 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 12 Archives Q.1) ‘Country of Particular Concern (CPC)’ is a designation by the United States concerning Money laundering Terror Financing Violations of religious freedom Trade Deficit Q.2) Which of the following statements is/are correct? Saudi Arabia is the only Arab country to be granted full membership of Financial Action Task Force (FATF). FATF comprises of only one regional organisation, European Union. Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) Consider the following statements with respect to ‘Mauritania’ It opens up to the Mediterranean Sea It is bordered by Senegal and Mali 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 ‘Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI)’ Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) is the parent agency of the DRI. DRI enforces provisions of the Customs Act only Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.5) Which of the following are applications of ‘Carbon quantum dots’? Bio imaging Biosensor Drug delivery Select the correct statements 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above To Download the Solution - Click here All the Best  IASbaba

Jun 25, 2019 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 25th June 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 25th June 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) ‘Defaulter count in PSBs has risen 60% since FY15’ Part of Prelims and Mains GS III Indian Economy In news The number of wilful defaulters in nationalised banks has increased by more than 60% to 8,582 to March 2019 from 2014-15.  By the end of the 2014-15 fiscal, the figure had stood at 5,349. Wilful defaulter A wilful defaulter is an entity or a person that has not paid a loan back despite the ability to repay it.A wilful defaulter is an entity or a person that has not paid a loan back despite the ability to repay it. Mortality malady Part of Prelims and Mains GS II Governance and public health   In news https://epaper.thehindu.com/Home/ShareImage?Pictureid=GU8625SDK.1 Do you Know? Some of the targets to be achieved under SDG 3: By 2030, reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per100,000 live birth By 2030, end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years ofage, with all countries aiming to reduce neonatal mortality to at least as lowas 12 per 1,000 live births and under-5 mortality to at least as low as 25 per1,000 live births  By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicablediseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health andwell-being  Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection,access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective,quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all  Terminology Infant mortality rate (IMR) is the number of deaths per 1,000 live births of children under one year of age.  Neonatal mortality rate: is the number of deaths per 1,000 live births of children under 28 days of life.  Under-Five Mortality (U5MR) or child mortality is the number of deaths per1,000 live births of children under five year of age.  Maternal mortality rate: The number of registered maternal deaths due to birth- or pregnancy-related complications per 100,000 registered live births. According to the just released SRS (Sample Registration System) bulletin, IMR of India has declined, from 37 per 1000 live births in 2015 to 33 per 1000 live births in 2017.  Reasons for high mortality rates: Which accounted for 62% of all child deaths Pneumonia Prematurity, low birth weight Diarrhoeal diseases Neonatal infections Birth asphyxia & birth trauma (MAINS FOCUS) NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2: Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein. Strengthening Fiscal Federalism Background: India’s Constitution-makers thought of India as a union of States with a centripetal bias, done, advisedly, to preserve the unity and integrity of a newly fledged nation. Since then, the Indian economy, polity, demography and society have undergone many changes. It is in this context that India’s fiscal federalism needs to be re-visited. Imbalances in India’s fiscal federalism: A vertical imbalance arises because the tax systems are designed in a manner that yields much greater tax revenues to the Central government when compared to the State or provincial governments; the Constitution mandates relatively greater responsibilities to the State governments. For example, in India, post the advent of Goods and Services Tax (GST), the share of States in the public expenditure is 60% while it is 40% for the Centre to perform their constitutionally mandated duties. The horizontal imbalances arise because of differing levels of attainment by the States due to differential growth rates and their developmental status in terms of the state of social or infrastructure capital. Traditionally, Finance Commissions have dealt with these imbalances in a stellar manner. Way ahead: Removing the imbalance Strengthening NITI Aayog: In the past, the Planning Commission used to give grants to the States as conditional transfers using the Gadgil-Mukherjee formula.  Now with the Planning Commission disbanded, there is a vacuum especially as the NITI Aayog is primarily a think tank with no resources to dispense, which renders it toothless to undertake a “transformational” intervention. On the other hand, it is too much to expect the Union Finance Commission to do the dual job. There is an urgent need for an optimal arrangement.  NITI Aayog 2.0 should receive significant resources to promote accelerated growth in States that are lagging, and overcome their historically conditioned infrastructure deficit, thus reducing the developmental imbalance. In short, the NITI Aayog should be engaged with the allocation of “transformational” capital in a formulaic manner.  NITI Aayog 2.0 should also be mandated to create an independent evaluation office which will monitor and evaluate the efficacy of the utilisation of such grants. In doing so, it should not commit the mistake of micro-management or conflicts with line departments. It must be also accorded a place at the high table of decision-making as it will need to objectively buy-in the cooperation of the richer States as their resources are transferred to the poorer ones. Ushering in decentralisation: The above perspective will have to be translated below the States to the third tier of government. This is crucial because intra-State regional imbalances are likely to be of even greater import than inter-State ones. Decentralisation, in letter and spirit, has to be the third pillar of the new fiscal federal architecture.  De jure and de facto seriousness has to be accorded to the 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments.  The missing local public finance must be birthed. One of the ways for this is through the creation of an urban local body/panchayati raj institutions consolidated fund. The Centre and States should contribute to the consolidated fund of the third tier.  Further, the State Finance Commissions should be accorded the same status as the Finance Commission and the 3Fs of democratic decentralisation (funds, functions and functionaries) vigorously implemented. This will strengthen and deepen our foundational democratic framework. Fine-tuning the GST: It is to the credit of our democratic maturity that the GST Bill was passed unanimously by Parliament; but in its present form, it is far from flawless.  It needs further simplification and extended coverage.  We need to achieve the goal of a single rate GST with suitable surcharges on “sin goods,” zero rating of exports and reforming the Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) and the e-way bill.  The GST Council should adopt transparency in its working, and create its own secretariat with independent experts aas its staff. This will enable it to undertake further reforms in an informed and transparent manner.  Conclusion: NITI Aayog can play an important role in refreshing India’s fiscal federalism. It is time we reboot the institution. Connecting the dots: India’s fiscal federalism needs to be re-visited in order to check the imbalances between the states and also between centre on one hand and states on the other. Comment. SCIENCE AND TECH/DEFENCE TOPIC: General studies 3: Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology. Defence and Security issues India as a space power Introduction: Space has undoubtedly become a military theatre. The US, Russia, China and, since March, India, have shown that they have the capability to physically destroy satellites in orbit. The post-Cold War space arms race is underway. What does it mean to be a space power? It is “the ability to use space while denying reliable use to any foe". India already has significant ability to use space. But our ability to deny its use to an adversary is, understandably, negligible. The exceptional route India took: The US, Russia, China and Europe developed space capabilities for military purposes first, and then put those technologies to civilian use. India’s space quest, on the other hand, was focused on civilian use—weather forecasting, broadcast, telecommunications and remote sensing. It was only in the mid-1980s that technology from the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (Isro) Satellite Launch Vehicle-3 was employed in the Agni ballistic missile. When it comes to satellites, India has a handful of military satellites in operation, compared to over 40 civilian ones. Our first dedicated military satellite was launched only in 2013. Rethinking our approach: Just like India was late to militarize space, it has been late to weaponize it. That’s not a bad thing, but in the changed circumstances of the 21st century, it is time to rethink our approach. India’s unstated space doctrine is to use space to promote development and the well-being and prosperity of its people. What we must do now is to include the word “security" in that sentence. In doing so, the policy goal will change from having a space presence to being a space power. Way ahead: India must protect and secure two kinds of space assets—those that belong to us and those that are crucial to our economy and national security. Future designs of satellites must certainly factor in the risk of attack by hostile forces. In order to effectively defend our space assets, India must have the most reliable and accurate capabilities to track space objects, from debris and spacecraft to celestial bodies. This crucial capability must be developed indigenously. For space defence to be effective, India must acquire a minimum, credible offensive capacity across the various types of space weapons, physical, electronic and cyber.  Our broader space policy must acquire a new seriousness in improving launch capabilities and spacecraft design. The ability to place large satellites in geostationary orbits should become highly reliable. ISRO’s budgets must be enlarged. Also, private entrants must be encouraged in everything from launches to specialized payloads.  Conclusion: The government’s decision to set up a Defence Space Agency (DSA) with command over the space assets of the Army, Navy and Air Force is the most significant development in India’s defence establishment since the operationalization of the nuclear arsenal around 15 years ago. It is time the DSA starts working on the path of making India a space power. Connecting the dots: Space has undoubtedly become a military theatre. India’s policy goal should change from having a space presence to being a space power. Discuss. (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) SDG 3 is related to Health Education  Sanitation None of the above Q.2) Consider the following statements  The Peace to Prosperity economic workshop held in Bahrain under the leadership of US. Palestine agreed to accept the peace plan to be drawn at the workshop. Select the Correct statements Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 MUST READ A sound foundation The Hindu Paving a green path Indian Express