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Apr 10, 2019 RSTV Video

RSTV IAS UPSC – Sedition Law and the Debate

Sedition Law and the Debate Archives TOPIC: General Studies 2 Indian Constitution- significant provisions Functions and responsibilities of the government 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 In News: A legal opinion sought by the Centre on a Law Commission report on the British era sedition law has stated that “Section 124A - sedition as interpreted by the Supreme Court is necessary”. In short, it is unlikely that the IPC section on sedition is diluted or scrapped. What is Sedition? Sedition is a cognisable, non-compoundable, and non-bailable offence, under which sentencing can be between three years to imprisonment for life. The Indian Penal Code in Section 124A lays down the offence: “Whoever, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or otherwise, brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards the Government established by law in India, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, to which fine may be added, or with imprisonment which may extend to three years, to which fine may be added, or with fine.” History of Sedition law: The law was originally drafted by Thomas Macaulay. Since its introduction in 1870, meaning of the term, as well as its ambit, has changed significantly. Previously, it was used by the British to target nationalist leaders. Bal Gangadhar Tilak, charged twice under the law, was sentenced to six years imprisonment from 1908 to 1914 at Mandalay (present-day Myanmar). Mahatma Gandhi was also charged under the section for his articles in Young India. He famously called the defamation law the “prince” among criminal laws which thwarted free speech in the country. In 1962, the Supreme Court, while curtailing the extent of its application, upheld its constitutionality. Then Chief Justice BP Sinha, in the Kedar Nath case, observed: “Every state, whatever its form of government, has to be armed with the power to punish those who by their conduct, jeopardise the safety and stability of the state, or disseminate such feelings disloyalty as have tendency to lead to the disruption of the state or to public disorder.” Since then, the courts in the country have repeatedly observed that the section cannot be used to curb criticism of the government, and can only be used as a measure for maintaining public order. Nevertheless, successive governments have been accused of misuse – the UPA during the Anna Hazare protests in 2012, had charged anti-corruption cartoonist Aseem Trivedi. The present government’s accusing of student leaders Kanhaiya Kumar, Umer Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya has also been criticised. Turn of events: In September 2016, the Supreme Court had reiterated that a larger bench had already provided necessary safeguards that should be followed by all authorities, and “every magistrate is bound by what it said in the Kedar Nath case”. In August last year, the Law Commission submitted a “consultation paper” to the Centre on the need for changes in the law, pointing out that even the United Kingdom abolished sedition laws ten years ago saying the country did not want to be quoted as an example of one using such draconian laws. A report in the Indian Express said - while a final decision on whether to dilute the law or not is yet to be made public, but various stakeholders including state governments and law enforcement agencies, have expressed the need to retain the law without changes. Supreme Court Steps In: In a landmark judgment (Shreya Singhal v Union of India, 2015), the Supreme Court eventually struck down the restrictive provision of Section 66A of the Information Technology Act, 2000. The Supreme Court minutely examined the content of Article 19(1)(a) and the extent of restriction that could fetter this invaluable right. It held that we have the echoes of the test of “clear and present danger” enunciated by the U.S. Supreme Court in our laws as well. It was in this context that our Supreme Court held that Section 66A would not pass muster “as it has no element of any tendency to create public disorder which ought to be an essential ingredient of an offence that it creates.” What is then, Right to Dissent? The Supreme Court observed that “dissent is the safety valve of democracy”. Therefore, right to dissent and the right to not agree becomes very important aspect of any democratic institution. Citizens’ have right to disagree with, denounce, and decry a situation or state of affairs that is unjust and oppressive.This pluralism of views and liberty to express any thought process within constitutional boundaries is one of the salient features of a democracy. Recently, while hearing a petition on the ban of protest on the Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, the SC held that Right to peaceful protest is the fundamental right guaranteed under the constitution. However, this particular right is also subject to reasonable restrictions in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India, as well as public order. A distinguishing feature of any democracy is the space offered for legitimate dissent, which cannot be trampled by any executive action. Thus, the Court recognises that legitimate dissent is a distinguishable feature of any democracy. Sometime, protest strengthens representative democracy by enabling direct participation in public affairs where individuals and groups are able to: Express dissent and grievances Expose flaws in the governance Demand accountability from state authorities as well as powerful entities Tool of oppression The other major issue with the law on sedition is how it is processed in the legal system. The NCRB’s Crime in India report 2016 shows that out of 34 cases of sedition reported that year, there was only one conviction, two acquittals, while 31 cases are still pending trial. In fact, between 2014 and 2016, a total of 179 cases were lodged under the sedition law. However, by the end of 2016, no charge sheet had been filed in over 80% of cases. The trial could only begin in 10% of cases. So, in most cases, the sedition law becomes a tool of oppression, where the police don’t even file a charge sheet and people just spend time in prison. People, on whom frivolous charges of sedition have been applied, are punished with jail for a long period without a trial. This doesn’t mean that a law on sedition has no utility today. All laws can be misused. An argument can be made that the law on sedition, if applied, as interpreted by the Supreme Court, with its recommended safeguards, does act as a bulwark around the integrity of the Indian nation and discourages elements which seek to incite violence to cause public disorder and overthrow elected governments. The problem is, this is not how the law has been historically applied. The problem is the misuse of the law by an overly sensitive government and the illegal and arbitrary actions that often accompany its application. Conclusion: The course of democracy anywhere in the world is defined by events that test the resilience of democracy and also add to it. The philosophy of dissent and democracy has also inspired our freedom movement and defines India’s constitutional democracy, which is predicated on the people’s right to call state power to account, albeit within the constitutional framework. The problem of misuse of the section can be rectified by educating the law enforcement agencies and a probable suggestion is to impose penalties on the law enforcement officers who maliciously invoke sedition against journalists, members of opposition etc. Instead of ad hoc attempts to put in place loose safeguards and guidelines, the government would do well to review such outdated penal provisions. Legislation exists to deal with unlawful activities and armed movements. There is no need to criminalise words spoken or written, however strong and provocative they are in their criticism of the state. Note: Freedom of Speech The constitution under Article 19(1)(a) provides for freedom of speech and expression and also under Article 19(2) provides for reasonable restrictions on such freedom. Like other fundamental rights, it is not absolute and is subject to; Sovereignty and integrity of India Security of the state Friendly relations with foreign states Public order Decency or morality or in relation to contempt of court Defamation or incitement to an offence Mind-map: Irrelevance of Sedition Connecting the dots: Do you think that difference between dissent and sedition is diminishing day by day? Critically comment. What do understand by sedition? Do you think it is high time to reconsider the utility of IPC provisions related to sedition? Critically examine. Acts of sedition can be serious internal security threat to the country. However, the very concept of sedition needs a closer review with respect to its interpretation, scope and misuse by the state. Discuss.

Apr 10, 2019 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

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

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 10th April 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) IMF forecasts dip in global growth in 2019 Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II and III – International Organization; Economy related issues; Development and Growth In news: IMF has projected that global growth will be 3.3% in 2019, down from 3.6% in 2018 and 4% in 2017. This lower projection is due to a slower global expansion in the second half of 2018 caused by U.S.-China trade tensions, macroeconomic stress in Turkey and Argentina, tighter credit policies in China and financial tightening, apart from a normalisation of monetary policy in advanced economies. The IMF expects growth to pick up in the second half of the year driven by an accommodative policy stance in advanced economies, the prospects of an easing of trade tensions between the U.S. and China, and a ramped up fiscal and monetary stimulus by China to counter the trade war’s effects. Global growth is therefore expected to return to 3.6%, but this is subject to a rebound in Argentina and Turkey and certain emerging market risks not manifesting. Brexit uncertainties and China’s growth not being as high as expected are risks that will impact these projections. IMF on India India’s growth is projected to pick up, from 7.1% in 2018, to 7.3% in 2019 and 7.5% in 2020. Reasons – continued recovery of investment and robust consumption amid a more expansionary stance of monetary policy and some expected impetus from fiscal policy Global growth beyond 2020 According to IMF, global growth is expected to level out at 3.6% over the medium term, driven by a moderation in expansion in advanced countries (caused by a weak productivity growth and a slow labour force growth) and the stabilisation of emerging market expansion at 2020 levels. Advanced economies are expected to slow down to 1.6% growth by 2022 and remain at that rate thereafter. For emerging markets and developing countries, growth is expected to steady at 4.8% over the medium term and given that these groups are growing faster than advanced economies, their contribution to global growth is expected to increase from 76% to 85% over the next five years. China is expected to slow down to 5.5% by 2024 as it moves towards increasing private consumption and services and regulatory tightening. India’s growth is expected to stabilise at 7.75% over the medium term, driven by structural reforms and the easing of infrastructure bottlenecks. Suggestions: In terms of policy priorities, the IMF has called for a “continued implementation of structural and financial sector reforms” in order to lower public debt and aid growth. Specifically, it says a continued fiscal consolidation is needed to bring down public debt, strengthening goods and services tax compliance and lowering subsidies. Maoist-prone Odisha districts put on alert Part of: GS Mains III – Security issues; Internal Security; Extremism In news: Collectors, superintendents of police (SP) and candidates contesting elections in Maoist-prone Odisha districts have been alerted, in the wake of the Maoist landmine blast in Dantewada district that killed five persons, including a MLA. Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Nuapada and Gajapati districts have Maoist presence and border Maoist-prone regions of Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh. The Border Security Force has been entrusted with election security duty in Odisha for the first time. Jurisdiction no bar in dowry harassment case Part of: GS Mains II – Women Issue; issue with vulnerable section; Role of Judiciary In news: The Supreme Court recently held that a woman can file a case of dowry harassment under Section 498 IPC against her husband and in-laws at the place where she is currently sheltered. The above judgment is another example of court’s expansionary jurisdiction to provide relief to victims of dowry harassment. Centre denies RTI plea on CIC appointments Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – Polity and Governance issues In news: Despite a recent Supreme Court order mandating that information on CIC appointments must be made public, the Centre has denied a RTI request for the same. Do you know? The CIC is the RTI Act’s highest appellate body. SC had directed the Centre and States to pro-actively disclose all information regarding the recruitment advertisement, the particulars of the applicants, the search and selection committees and the criteria for short-listing candidates on their websites. Miscellaneous India becomes YouTube’s largest and fastest growing market With substantial growth in India’s internet coverage and data growth, the country has become YouTube’s largest and fastest growing market with 265 million Indians watching the video-sharing website every month. (MAINS FOCUS) AGRICULTURE/ECONOMY TOPIC: General studies 3 Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment Agriculture Development Major crops cropping patterns in various parts of the country, different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers Agriculture needs a shift in focus Context: Agriculture in India Agricultural development in post-independence India started as a response to food shortages. Green revolution was designed to meet this challenge. Serious efforts were taken to increase production and productivity. However, even after India became a net exporter of foodgrains, the mindset continued and food security remained central to agricultural planning. Later, major policy initiatives were introduced, for instance, expansion of the PDS, price controls, export bans and the use of Essential Commodities Act. Any adverse impact of the weather on agriculture production triggered immediate responses from the government. However, centrality of food security in policy planning took away the freedom and a substantial portion of the income due to the farmer. While some freedoms were taken away by law, others were influenced by a complex regime of financial incentives. Surpluses have become the recent worry. (For example, Sugar) The current agriculture export policy is severely limiting. It still has an underlying domestic price control bias in it. Government aims to double farmers’ income by 2022. Policy focus needs to shift from food security and pro-consumer bias to a pro-farmer bias. The time has come to make farmers’ income and prosperity the central theme of agricultural planning for the future. And this requires a paradigm shift in thinking and planning. Measures need to be taken for paradigm shift in Agriculture: Designing the agricultural policy to focus on the best returns a farmer can get from his land. Reforming the market and removing almost all restrictions: EC Act, APMC Act, movement across states, most of the export restrictions, etc. There is need to make e-NAM and the village markets deliver for the farmers. If there is an occasional shortage, we can resort to ‘calibrated’ imports. Shift from a strategy of production-chasing demand and work on a decentralised model where farmers can produce to the market, not only in terms of aggregate demand, but also in terms of the various segments, time and geographies. Creating reliable information systems on market demands. Restructuring of ICAR: Changing the main objective of ICAR to focus on ‘best returns for farmers’. ICAR has done well to increase productivity and get India out of food insecurity. However, Agri-education and Krishi Vigyan Kendras eat up most of ICAR’s budget, leaving little for futuristic research. R&D; for a new India needs to be focussed on the future. This might involve a major restructuring of ICAR and creating space for private R&D.; In order to tackle challenges posed by weather and climate variability, efforts should focus on micro-climate-based strategies and crop diversification. The subsidy regime needs to undergo major structural changes. Investments for sustainable agriculture have to take precedence over natural resource depleting subsidies. Conclusion: Less of government institutions and more of farmer-led institutions will be the key. While India’s capabilities of forecasting weather- and climate-related events have improved significantly over time, the challenge is to get more reliable forecasts at the micro level on time. Private sector has developed capabilities for doing this on the ground and from the sky. What seems to hold them back is appropriate revenue models. This needs to be fixed. New technologies can have a disruptive influence in the agri-sector. While fintech and food-tech are the frontrunners, agri-tech may play a larger role in the future. Their potential needs to be understood and space created for their effective engagement with farmers. Connecting the dots: Discuss the challenges being faced by the agricultural sector in the area of marketing of agricultural produce. Can the eNAM project address these challenges? Examine. Do you think various agricultural extension schemes make a difference for Indian farmers? Substantiate with the help of suitable examples. ECONOMY TOPIC: General studies 3 Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. How critical are household savings for the economy? Introduction: “Households” is a heterogeneous group and includes resident households, non-profit institutions, and unorganised and unregistered enterprises. The household savings rate is the difference between a household’s disposable income and expenditure. Importance of Household Savings for the Economy Households savings are very important part of macro-economy and for GDP growth as household is the only segment that is the net financial surplus sector in the economy. All other segments, namely public sector, private sector and general government, are in deficit. 8% of households’ savings in FY18 were in financial assets, followed by physical assets (48.1%) and gold/silver ornaments (1.1%). Deposits with banks are the single largest form of households’ financial assets, followed by insurance funds, mutual funds and currency. Therefore, any adverse movement in the household savings will have a significant bearing on banks, insurance companies and mutual/provident funds, who, in turn, are key investors in government securities. Concern: Declining Household Savings India’s overall savings rate has declined to 30% from 34.6% over five years. The worst dip was seen in the household sector, the largest contributor to savings in the economy, dropping to 16.3% from 23.6% over the period. Savings are indicative of how much the people of a country are likely to invest because more the savings, more the investment. Households contribute more than half the total savings in the country, followed by private corporations and the public sector. The impact of demonetisation and GST was the most on household sector as investments from MSMEs took a hit. If household savings continue to decline, it may pose a serious challenge to the GDP growth and macroeconomic stability. Conclusion: To boost savings, there needs to be an improvement in access to finance for households across the country. There is a need to make households trust financial markets so that savings can move from physical to financial assets which would generate better returns. Household savings are mostly intermediated by banking and other non-banking financial entities, which are the major source of investment funding in India. So, a further drop in household savings can impact the economy. Connecting the dots: Household savings are important for the economy. Can you suggest certain policy provisions which can be designed to achieve that end? Discuss. Why having a healthy household savings rate is essential for a developing economy. Where does India stand on this front? Examine. (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 following statements with regard to India and IMF: India is the founder member of the IMF and also among the top 10 members of IMF India was among the first five nations having the highest quota with IMF and due to this status India was allotted a permanent place in Executive Board of Directors. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both None Q.2) Which of the following agencies releases "Global Economic Prospect report"? World Bank World Economic forum IMF OECD Q.3) Which of the following Central Armed Police Force has the motto, "Duty Unto Death"? CISF CRPF ITBP BSF Q.4) Section 498A of IPC has been in the news for quite some time for its increasing misuse. It deals with which of the following cases? Domestic violence Sedition Anti-National Activity Martial Law MUST READ Technology and the unhurried mind: the saga of EVMs The Hindu Brexit and the fragility of the U.K. The Hindu Is there a problem with the 10% quota? The Hindu The right to criticise: the sedition judgment on Kishorechandra Wangkhem The Hindu The EC must uphold the country’s faith in it Livemint India’s policy plans could hold back its digital startups Livemint

Apr 10, 2019 60 Days Plan 2019 - Daily Prelims Test

60 Days Plan: UPSC IAS Prelims 2019- Economics and Current Affairs (Day 33)

60 Days Plan: UPSC IAS Prelims 2019 - Ecoomics and Current Affairs (Day 33) 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

Apr 9, 2019 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 9th April 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 9th April 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Army gets Dhanush artillery guns Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III – Defence and Security issues In news: The Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) over the first batch of six Dhanush artillery guns to the Army. Dhanush is the indigenously upgraded version of the Swedish Bofors gun procured in the 1980s. Dhanush is a 155 mm, 45-calibre towed artillery gun with a range of 36 km and has demonstrated a range of 38 km with specialised ammunition. It is an upgrade of the existing 155m, 39 calibre Bofors FH 77 gun. It is compatible with all North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) 155 mm ammunition system. Do you know? The gun is fitted with inertial navigation system with global positioning system- (GPS) based gun recording and auto-laying, an enhanced tactical computer for onboard ballistic computations, an onboard muzzle velocity recording, an automated gun sighting system equipped with camera, thermal imaging and laser range finder. All 114 guns are expected to be delivered within four years. The OFB has already undertaken capacity augmentation to manufacture over 400 barrels and 250 ordnances for large calibre weapon systems. National Institution Ranking Framework (NIRF) for 2019 Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – Education; Human Resource Development; Governance In news: IIT Madras has topped the Centre’s ranking of higher education institutions, followed by the IISc, Bengaluru, and IIT Delhi. Seven IITs appear in the top 10 list. Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi and Banares Hindu University, Varanasi, take the remaining places. Announcing the rankings, President Ram Nath Kovind said “Recent expansion in higher education has widened access and improved equity. Even so, quality remains a concern”. Do you know? Management rankings are topped by IIM-Bangalore, while XLRI, Jamshedpur, is the only institute apart from IIMs in the top 10. Delhi’s Miranda House tops the list of colleges, followed by Hindu College, Delhi, and Presidency College, Chennai. VIT, Vellore, tops the list of private or self-financed institutions. pic: https://d39gegkjaqduz9.cloudfront.net/TH/2019/04/09/CNI/Chennai/TH/5_07/f77e4e55_670782eb_101_mr.jpg Important Value Additions: About NIRF: The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) was approved by the MHRD and launched by the Minister of Human Resource Development on September 29, 2015. This framework outlines a methodology to rank institutions across the country. The methodology draws from the overall recommendations broad understanding arrived at by a core committee set up by MHRD, to identify the broad parameters for ranking various universities and institutions. The parameters broadly cover Teaching, Learning and Resources, Research and Professional Practices, Graduation Outcomes, Outreach and Inclusivity, and Perception. Sri Lanka seeks enhanced military training from India Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – India and its neighbours; International Relations In news: Sri Lanka has sought enhanced military training from India. India and Sri Lanka agreed to increase cooperation in security and defence spheres in several areas, including regional security, curbing drug smuggling and human trafficking and training of members of the security forces. Do you know? Currently, over 60% of Sri Lanka’s military personnel pursue their young officers’ course, junior and senior command courses in India, according to defence sources in Colombo. ‘Exercise Mitra Shakti’ Joint military training exercise between the Indian Army and the Sri Lankan Army 6th edition was concluded in Badulla district, in Sri Lanka’s Central Province The two-week programme is part of an initiative that began in 2013 as part of military diplomacy between India and Sri Lanka. (MAINS FOCUS) NATIONAL/POLITY TOPIC: General studies 2 Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary 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. Open up the Supreme Court About: Today’s editorial deals with the following issues – 2009 Delhi HC judgment on RTI and Judiciary Whether Judiciary (Office of the CJI) comes under the purview of RTI Act? SC’s stand on the issue – esp. concerned with – whether CJI is a public authority; disclosure of the information on judges’ assets and correspondence of the Collegium Criticism of Collegium system and need for transparency in judges appointments Context: High Court of Delhi (Justice Ravindra Bhat), in its 2009 landmark judgment, held that the Office of the Chief Justice of India (CJI) was a “public authority”, and therefore, subject to the provisions of the Right to Information (RTI) Act. Therefore, information held by the CJI (such as some context of the case or information about judges’ assets) could be requested by the public through an RTI application. However, the Supreme Court appealed against this judgment and a stay was granted. Matters remained in limbo for a few years. But recently a five-judge Bench of the court finally heard the case on merits, and reserved judgment. The issues under consideration involved – Justice Ravindra Bhat’s ruling on the status of the Chief Justice as a public authority and the disclosure of judges’ assets. Also on the question of whether the correspondence of the Collegium (the body of judges that selects and makes appointments to the higher judiciary) was subject to the RTI. The following should be our stand on some questions/areas: Does the Office of the CJI come under the purview of RTI Act? Justice Ravindra Bhat had also correctly observed in the High Court judgment that “all power— judicial power being no exception — is held accountable in a modern Constitution”. A blanket judicial exemption from the RTI Act would defeat the basic idea of “open justice”. Judiciary is one among the powerful organs of state and hence, workings of the courts have to be as transparent and open to public scrutiny as any other body. Would bringing the judiciary under the RTI Act destroy the personal privacy of judges? RTI Act itself has an inbuilt privacy-oriented protection, which authorises withholding the disclosure of personal information unless there is an overriding public interest. Can public request information related to judges’ assets? Disclosure of assets is arguably justified by an overriding public interest. On disclosure of the correspondence of the Collegium This was the hot issue during the recent hearing. Attorney-General of India, who represented the Supreme Court before the Constitution Bench, argued that disclosing the correspondence of the Collegium would “destroy” judicial independence. The CJI also seemed to agree, noting that disclosing the reasons for rejection of a judge would “destroy” his or her life or career. Do you know? The Collegium includes the five senior-most judges of the Supreme Court, who collectively constitute the selection panel for judicial appointments to the Supreme Court (and the three senior-most judges when it comes to the High Courts). India is one of the few countries where judges have the last word on judicial appointments, through the mechanism of the Collegium. The Collegium itself is not mentioned in the text of the Constitution. It arose out of a judgment of the Supreme Court, and in response to increased executive interference in judicial appointments, particularly during Indira Gandhi’s regime. Therefore, the Collegium began life as a tool to secure and guarantee the independence of the judiciary. We are aware of “National Judicial Appointments Commission”, which was suggested as an alternative to Collegium system. But NJAC was struck down by the SC in 2015. Why was NJAC struck down by the SC? SC bench had held that judicial primacy in appointments was the only constitutionally-authorised way of securing/ensuring judicial independence against an increasingly powerful political executive. However, the Collegium had come under increasing criticism, because of its opacity and perceived notion that judicial appointments were too often made in an ad hoc and arbitrary manner. SC too acknowledged the above criticism and vowed to evolve a system where concerns of transparency will be addressed. A small step towards this was made during Dipak Misra’s tenure as CJI, when the resolutions of the Collegium began to be published online. Self-serving attitude of Judiciary Collegium system was specifically put in place by the Supreme Court in order to guarantee judicial independence. Judiciary or SC’s stand that there is only one permissible method to secure judicial independence — and that is through ensuring judicial primacy in the appointments process — and then to argue that the only permissible way in which this system can work is by making it immune to transparency, seems self-serving. SC has instituted a process of appointment that makes itself the final arbiter of judicial appointments. It should be the responsibility of SC to also ensure that that same process meets the standards of accountability in a democratic republic. Conclusion: Except India, judicial appointments elsewhere suggest that transparency in appointments is integral to the process. For example – In the US, candidates for judicial appointments in the federal judiciary are subjected to public confirmation hearings by the Senate. In Kenya and South Africa, the interviews of candidates taken by judicial appointments commissions are broadcast live. The public, thus, is in a position to judge for itself the selection process. This is crucial to maintaining public faith in the impartiality of the institution. However, in India, the Collegium has immunised itself from any form of public scrutiny. The nomination process is secret, the deliberations are secret, the reasons for elevation or non-elevation are secret. This had led to extremely unhealthy climate, in which rumours become staple, and whispers about executive interference are exchanged in court corridors. In the name of transparency, one should not destroy an institution. A judiciary that is confident of itself and of its place in the democratic republic should not be worried about subjecting judicial appointments to public scrutiny. Connecting the dots: Do you think Judiciary should be exempted from the purview of the RTI Act? Elucidate your opinion. 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. The independence of judiciary is necessary for ensuring its smooth functioning but at the same time transparency in the process of appointing judges is equally vital. Critically comment. INTERNATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2 India and its neighbourhood- relations Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora. India-Maldives: Key points from the editorial – For Maldivians, the election of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in September 2018 meant a possible opening up of democratic space in the country. Former President Abdulla Yameen’s term was considered to be authoritarian and tilted towards China. India and Maldives ties were low. President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's victory in the Maldivian presidential elections has recalibrated his country’s ties with India. India-Maldives ties under Solih’s regime: Since Solih's government came to power, India-Maldives ties have undergone a dramatic change, marked by renewed cooperation, close dialogue and multiple high-level visits from both sides. Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended President Solih’s swearing-in ceremony. India’s people-oriented projects like providing fresh water, sanitation, sewerage are deeply appreciated by the people of Maldives. Building roads and moving the Male commercial harbour to Thilafushi [island west of Male] are huge projects that are going to be major symbols of cooperation between the two countries. (* Thilafushi is an artificial island created as a municipal landfill situated to the west of Malé. Thilafushi originally was a lagoon called "Thilafalhu") India-Maldives ties under previous President (Abdulla Yameen) regime - Between 2013 and 2018 As mentioned above, India and Maldives ties were low. President Yameen’s administration was seen as tilting heavily towards China amid growing tensions with India. Importance of India to Maldives: People-to-people contact: Many Maldivians live in India. At times of need, Maldives always sees India as the first respondent. For instance, on November 3, 1988, when mercenaries attacked the Maldives, India was the first to respond. In 2004, when the tsunami hit Maldives, Indian naval ships were despatched to assist them. During last year Male water crisis, within four hours Indian Navy and Air Force vessels were successful in delivering water. Why Maldives is important for India? Geopolitical location of the Maldives – Maldives is strategically located in the Indian Ocean and important to ensure uninterrupted energy supplies to countries and connectivity. Freedom of maritime trade in the Indian Ocean The Eight Degree Channel is one of the major maritime lanes of the world. A stable, mature and democratic Maldives will help to maintain peace and security in the Indian Ocean. pic: https://iasbaba.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/dna.png Connecting the dots: What significance Maldives hold for India? Discuss. Also enumerate the irritants in Indo-Maldives relations. How do you assess the present status of relationship? Discuss the political developments in Maldives in the last two years. Should they be of any cause of concern to India? (UPSC mains 2013) (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) Thilafushi island was in news. It is situated in – Mauritius Maldives Fiji Ecuador Q.2) Mission Shakti is associated with – India and Sri Lanka India and Maldives India and US None of the above Q.3) Consider the following statements with reference to The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) It is a methodology to rank institutions of higher education across India. The ranking is prepared by NITI Aayog. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 MUST READ Playing politics over the Golan Heights The Hindu Crorepatis in Parliament The Hindu US vs Europe in India Indian Express The Pune plan for China Indian Express Problems in Indian cotton need ecological understanding, not biotechnology Indian Express

Apr 9, 2019 PIB

Press Information Bureau (PIB) IAS UPSC – 1st April to 6th April - 2019

Press Information Bureau (PIB) IAS UPSC – 1st April to 6th April - 2019 ARCHIVES GS-2 Health Ministry forms a Solidarity Human Chain; reaffirms commitment towards Universal Health Care (Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare along with World Health Organization (WHO) formed a Solidarity Human Chain as part of the World Health Day celebrations to reaffirm their commitment to bridging gaps and working collaboratively towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC). World Health Day: April 7th The theme of World Health Day 2019 is Universal Health Coverage: Everyone, Everywhere. Ayushmaan Bharat – An attempt to transform India’s Healthcare Map Innovative and path-breaking scheme in the history of public health in India. It may have a transformative impact if implemented in an effective and coordinated manner. Aim: To make path-breaking interventions to address health holistically, in primary, secondary and tertiary care systems Objective: Prevention + Promotion (Health & Wellness) Full proof mechanism while allowing States to accommodate the existing schemes, keeping the flavour of Digital India intact Two major initiatives: Health and Wellness Centre: Foundation of India’s health system 1.5 lakh centres will provide – comprehensive health care, including for non-communicable diseases and maternal and child health services, provide free essential drugs and diagnostic services The budget has allocated Rs.1200 crore for this flagship programme Contribution of the private sector through CSR and philanthropic institutions in adopting these centres is also envisaged. National Health Protection Scheme: Will cover over 10 crore poor and vulnerable families (approximately 50 crore beneficiaries) Coverage of up to ₹5 lakh a family a year will be provided for secondary- and tertiary-care hospitalization (50 crore beneficiaries) Facts: Data of families will be derived from the SECC Data Increase in Health budget over the previous one: Approximately 11.50% Ayushmaan Bharat Vs. Rashtriya Swasthiya Bhima Yojana: The new scheme builds on the already existing Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna (with the entitlement of up to Rs 30,000 per annum for diseases requiring hospitalization) but has a bigger outreach plan. A well-equipped primary health care delivery system is the key to achieving universal health coverage. This will require bringing quality care closer to people; strengthening peripheral health centres with linkages to secondary and tertiary care; and equipping primary health care providers to effectively deliver a package of preventive, promotive, curative and rehabilitative services. Rise in non-communicable diseases (Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources) At the turn of the century, chronic noncommunicable diseases were not widely recognized as a barrier to development and were not included in the Millennium Development Goals. In terms of gaining attention and financial support, these diseases were overshadowed by the devastating epidemics of HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria and the large number of maternal and childhood deaths. Of all the major health threats to emerge, none has challenged the very foundations of public health so profoundly as the rise of chronic noncommunicable diseases. Heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases, once linked only to affluent societies, are now global, and the poor suffer the most. These diseases share four risk factors: tobacco use, the harmful use of alcohol, unhealthy diets, and physical inactivity. All four lie in non-health sectors, requiring collaboration across all of government and all of society to combat them. A report in The Lancet last week found that India is among the more than half the world’s countries that are unlikely to meet the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) for 2030 to reduce, by one-third, premature deaths due to four major non-communicable diseases (NCDs) — cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes. The study, led by Imperial College London researchers, found that the probability of death of one of these four NCDs between the ages of 30 and 70, in India, was 20% for women and 27% for men. In 2016, 1 million women and 1.46 million men in that age group died due to NCDs in India. The Way Ahead Decisive new action is urgently needed to halt the tsunami effect of NCDs - on people, families, communities, and economies. Over the coming decade, millions will lose loved ones to avoidable and early death. Millions more will suffer pain, disability and anguish because of lack of diagnosis and treatment. Millions more will struggle with entrenched poverty caused by catastrophic out of pocket expenditures. Actions to curb tobacco and alcohol consumption will help reduce future risk of NCD in the under-30 age group, while reducing mortality at all ages, and help create a healthier society which will yield inter-generational benefits well beyond 2030. Actions related to reduction of blood pressure, control of diabetes and provision of competent primary care supplemented by cost-effective specialist clinical care for treatable NCDs will benefit all age groups, with the highest benefits in the 30-80 age group. Energetic implementation of public health policies and NCD-inclusive health services under UHC are what the country needs. India’s efforts in these areas certainly merit the UN commendation. Actions to save lives are simple and extremely cost-effective; investing in the tried-and-tested WHO Best Buy interventions yields a seven-fold return in low and lower-middle-income countries. When it comes to NCD prevention, Best Buys interventions include taxation, regulation and legislation and the much-publicised taxes on Sugar, Tobacco and Alcohol (STAX). Implementing the 16 Best Buys worldwide would save 9.6 million lives by 2025, according to new data by WHO. Solve: Is the world sleepwalking into a sick future? Discuss. Indian Advance Pricing Agreement regime moves forward with signing of 18 APAs by CBDT (Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests) The total number of APAs entered into by the CBDT as of now stands at 271, which inter alia includes 31 BAPAs. The BAPAs entered into during the month of March 2019 were with the following treaty partners: - Australia – 1 Netherlands - 1 USA – 1 The International Transactions covered in all these Agreements, inter alia, include the following, - Contract manufacturing Provision of software development services Back office engineering support service Provision of back office (ITeS) support services Provision of marketing support services Payment of royalty for use of technology and brand Trading Payment of interest The progress of the APA scheme strengthens the Government’s resolve of fostering a non-adversarial tax regime. The Indian APA programme has been appreciated nationally and internationally for being able to address complex transfer pricing issues in a fair and transparent manner. Prelims oriented News: AUSINDEX: Australia – India Maritime Exercise Chile A South American country occupying a long, narrow strip of land between the Andes to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far south. The arid Atacama Desert in northern Chile contains great mineral wealth, principally copper. Chile is a founding member of the United Nations Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles II (FAME II) scheme For: Promotion of Electric Mobility in the country Objective of the scheme: To encourage faster adoption of Electric and hybrid vehicle by way of offering upfront Incentive on purchase of Electric vehicles and also by way of establishing a necessary charging Infrastructure for electric vehicles. The scheme will help in addressing the issue of environmental pollution and fuel security. PSLV-C45 successfully launches EMISAT and 28 customer satellites This flight marked the first mission of PSLV-QL, a new variant of PSLV with four strap-on motors. EMISAT is a satellite built around ISRO’s Mini Satellite-2 bus weighing about 436 kg. The satellite is intended for electromagnetic spectrum measurement. The 28 international customer satellites, together weighing about 220 kg, are from four countries, namely, Lithuania (2), Spain (1), Switzerland (1) and USA (24). These foreign satellites were launched as part of commercial arrangements. Quotes: The Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu On Rural Entrepreneurship Create an ecosystem for rural entrepreneurship to thrive. Entrepreneurship was valuable only if it had a multiplier effect on the prosperity of our local communities, especially in rural areas Bridging the urban rural divide essential for overall development Reinvent and re-imagine ‘Brand India’ and revive dying industries through spirited young entrepreneurs Women empowerment should not only be a national goal but a global agenda. Pointing out that women constitute only 14% of the total entrepreneurship i.e. 8.05 million out of the total 58.5 million entrepreneurs, he said there was an urgent need to encourage more women to embark on the path of entrepreneurship. There is a need to create the relevant infrastructure and impart the right skill sets for them to successfully overcome the challenges posed by the technology-dependent world. Stressed on the need for making agriculture sustainable and profitable, creating market for rural artisans, empowering woman entrepreneurs to sell their crafts by way of online platforms and ensuring access to affordable education and healthcare. MSMEs contribute 6.11 per cent of manufacturing GDP and 24.6 per cent of services GDP. These industries which are often located in rural areas play a vital role in preserving India’s traditional skills and products such as handicrafts and handlooms On Climate Change Promote new & renewable energy to ensure energy security, to protect climate & to reduce pollution Encourage environment friendly modes of transport Educate common man on the need to cut down GHG emissions & use RNE Adequate growth in renewable energy would serve dual purpose - firstly, it would contribute towards achieving energy security to the nation and it would address the environmental concerns, which need to be tackled on a war-footing Urged technologists to find new methods for tapping the huge potential in the renewable energy sector and also wanted them to educate the common man on the need to cut down GHG emissions. Pointing that connectivity and electricity were key to development, stressed upon the need to address challenges such as pilferages in transmission and distribution. There should begin a process of developing a suitable transmission and distribution system to facilitate renewable integration.

Apr 9, 2019 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

Apr 8, 2019 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.

Apr 8, 2019 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

Apr 8, 2019 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

Apr 8, 2019 Yojana

IAS UPSC YOJANA & KURUKSHETRA Magazine ‘MARCH’ 2019

Archives Friends, Here we are with the MARCH 2019, edition of Yojana and Kurukshetra. Yojana/Kurukshetra: MARCH 2019 – Download Download Mind Maps - Click here Click here Click here Click here Click here Click here

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