May 23, 2019 RSTV Video

RSTV IAS UPSC – Arms Trade Treaty

Arms Trade Treaty Archives TOPIC: General studies 2 Policies of developed and developing countries and their impact on India’s interests. Bilateral and multilateral agreements and their impact on India’s interests. In News: President Donald Trump pulled the US back from an international agreement on the arms trade (signed in 2013 by then-President Barack Obama), telling the National Rifle Association the treaty is “badly misguided.” Trump made the announcement at the NRA’s annual convention, where he vowed to fight for gun rights and implored members of the nation’s largest pro-gun group — struggling to maintain its influence — to rally behind his re-election bid. He would be revoking the United States’ status as a signatory of the U.N. Arms Trade Treaty, which regulates the multibillion-dollar global arms trade in conventional weapons, from small arms to battle tanks, combat aircraft and warships. Dropping out of the treaty is part of a broader Trump administration overhaul of arms export policies to bolster a domestic industry that already dominates global weapons trade. Can the numbers speak? According to Amnesty International, more than 500 people die every day from gun violence, 44 percent of all killings globally involve gun violence, and there were over 1 million firearm-related deaths globally between 2012 and 2016. In contrast, military expenditure is on the rise. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the U.S. continues to be the top global exporter of arms and the 13th global importer (with Saudi Arabia holding the first position), with a total military expenditure in 2018 of $6.5 billion. This is more than 120 times the U.N. budget for the period 2018-2019. Origin The roots of what is known today as the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) can be traced back to the late 1980s, when civil society actors and Nobel Peace Prize Laureates voiced their concerns about the unregulated nature of the global arms trade and its impact on human security. The ATT is part of a larger global effort begun in 1997 by Costa Rican President and 1987 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Óscar Arias. In that year, Arias led a group of Nobel Peace Prize laureates in a meeting in New York to offer the world a code of conduct for the trade in arms. In 2001, the process continued with the adoption of a non-legally binding program of action at the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms. This program was formally called the "Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects" (PoA). Later put forward in 2003 by a group of Nobel Peace Laureates, the ATT was first addressed in the UN in December 2006 when the General Assembly adopted resolution 61/89 "Towards an Arms Trade Treaty: establishing common international standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional arms". The lack of an international global framework for the trade in arms was profoundly worrisome given the immense volume of the global trade in conventional arms and its potential effect in the disruption of peace and sustainable development. The Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) is a multilateral treaty that regulates the international trade in conventional weapons. Its objectives include Establish the highest possible common international standards for regulating or improving the regulation of the international trade in conventional arms; Prevent and eradicate the illicit trade in conventional arms and prevent their diversion; For the purpose of: Contributing to international and regional peace, security and stability; Reducing human suffering; Promoting cooperation, transparency and responsible action by States Parties in the international trade in conventional arms, thereby building confidence among States Parties.” Other relevant aspects of the treaty to be highlighted are: its scope includes small arms and light weapons; State Parties have the obligation to establish and maintain a national control system to regulate the export of ammunition/munitions the treaty establishes a system to conduct an assessment, including the consideration of possible mitigation measures, before authorizing an export of weapons it includes measures to prevent the diversion of arms It includes a yearly reporting mechanism of authorized or actual exports and imports of conventional arms. In a nutshell, the ATT sets out global standards to conduct legal and rightful activities in a transparent manner. This, in turn, helps to identify where and how arms are diverted into the illicit market and raises the bar regarding accountability for irresponsible transfers of arms. It entered into force on 24 December 2014. 101 states have ratified the treaty; 34 states have signed but not ratified it. Gun activists had denounced the treaty when it was under negotiation as an infringement of civilian firearm ownership, despite the well-enshrined legal principle that says no treaty can override the Constitution or U.S. laws. The treaty is aimed at cracking down on illicit trading in small arms, thereby curbing violence in some of the most troubled corners of the world. It was the first legally binding treaty to regulate the international trade in conventional arms and was overwhelmingly approved by the 193-member U.N. General Assembly in April 2013. India’s stand on ATT India abstained from voting on this UN treaty because of the following reasons: Treaty speaks about crime and genocide but does not boldly underline the diversion of weapons to terrorist and non-state actors. In past, USA and its allies have armed of rebels in Nicaragua, Syria, Libya, even, Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. Treaty is biased: puts higher responsibility on importer country than exporter. Exporting nation can stop arms-ammunition supply, citing reason of poor compliance with the treaty. This is open to misuse- during diplomatic rifts such as Devyani case. IAEA and OPCW have mechanism to check compliance. But such strong verification mechanism is absent in ATT. Does not explicitly cover drones and grenades Further, India cannot accept that the Treaty be used as an instrument in the hands of exporting states to take unilateral force majeure measures against importing states parties without consequences. India always favoured disarmament and regulations over international trade of weapons. But ATT is neither inclusive nor balanced in nature. Therefore, India has abstained. (Above section ‘India’s stand on ATT’ taken from mrunal.org to showcase how to write this answer in 150-200 words) Connecting the Dots: Discuss the salient features of Arms Trade treaty and India’s stand on it (200 words)

May 23, 2019 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 23rd May 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 23rd May 2019 Archives (MAINS FOCUS) NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2 and 3 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices Inclusive growth and issues arising from it. Shanta Kumar Committee Report: Analysis Background: A High-Level Committee (HLC) was appointed and chaired by former food minister Shanta Kumar, on restructuring of the FCI in August 2014. The HLC, in its report submitted its recommendations in January 2015. On re-structuring of FCI: The FCI hand over all procurement operations of wheat, paddy and rice to states (Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Punjab) that have gained sufficient experience in this regard and have created reasonable infrastructure for procurement. The FCI should accept only the surplus grain (after deducting the needs of the states under the National Food Security Act—NFSA) from these state governments (not millers) to be moved to deficit states. The corporation FCI should move on to help those states where farmers suffer from distress sales at prices much below Minimum Support Price (MSP), and which are dominated by small holdings, like eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, etc. Implementation: After more than four years, restructuring of the FCI remains a dream, and the corporation continues to depend on the same set of states for procurement of grains and procurement operations have not been revamped in eastern states. On PDS reform: The government should relook at the coverage (67% of the population) under the NFSA as it’s on the ‘higher’ side. Computerisation of the PDS process for checking the pilferage of PDS grains. Gradual introduction of cash transfers in the PDS, starting with large cities with more than 1 million population; extending it to grain-surplus states, and then giving an option to deficit states to opt for cash or physical grain distribution. Implementation: According to the official data, all the existing 23 crore ration cards have been digitised and most of the cards have been seeded with Aadhaar numbers and 2.75 crore ration cards have been deleted during 2013-17. Food ministry officials have often stated that deletion of ration cards has ensured better targeting of beneficiaries. The offtake of foodgrains by the states under the PDS after deletion (bogus) and digitisation of ration cards has not declined in the last five years. Rising food subsidy dues & loans: The total outstanding dues to the FCI stand at `1.85 lakh crore as on March 31, 2019, because of the mismatch between budget allocated to the corporation and the actual expenses incurred. The actual expenditure towards food subsidy has been rising because of two factors—the annual rise in MSP for paddy and wheat given to farmers for procurement, and ‘open ended’ purchase operations leading to excess grains stocks held by the FCI. On cash transfer to PDS beneficiaries, the progress has been minimal. Only Chandigarh, Puducherry and parts of the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli have opted for cash transfer in the PDS.  Rising food subsidy bill: Reluctance to increase the price of highly subsidised foodgrains supplied under the NFSA, 2013. Under the Act, the price of Rs 3/2/1 for rice, wheat and coarse grains, was capped for three years, which ended in 2016. Each rupee (per kg) increase issue price of grains could result in savings of food subsidy of over Rs 5,000 crore annually. FCI’s economic cost (procurement, distribution and storage of holding foodgrains) has been rising sharply, contributing to rising food subsidy expenses. Conclusion: The NFSA—which has the objective of providing for food and nutritional security by ensuring access to adequate quantity of quality food at affordable prices to the people to live a life with dignity—is gradually turning out to be huge financial burden on the central government. The mounting burden of the food subsidy budget is compounded by huge surplus grains, and this has put enormous pressure on the central government’s finances. Steps to tackle the issues should be taken on an immediate basis. Connecting the dots: The Shanta Kumar Committee submitted its report in 2014. Analyse how far the recommendations given by the committee were implemented. INTERNATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2 India and the World International Relations Policies of developed and developing countries and their impact on India’s interests Revitalizing IBSA Introduction: Foreign minister of India and South Africa and Brazil recently met in Kochi, India. The central goal was to develop a blueprint to rejuvenate IBSA, widely viewed as a unique voice for the Global South. Rise, fall and rise: Origin: The idea of creating a grouping composed of major democracies of three continents, Asia, Africa and South America, emerged from the disarray at the end of the 20th century, and the perceived need for developing countries to forge decisive leadership. IBSA was launched through the Brasilia Declaration in 2003. Its summits, between 2006 and 2011, gave it a special global profile. BRICS overshadowing IBSA: 2011 onwards, BRICS, the larger group comprising IBSA countries, China and Russia, started to overshadow IBSA. A new momentum: A series of events marking its 15th anniversary, held during 2018-19, have imparted new momentum to the endeavour to revitalise IBSA.  Recent successes: The three Foreign Ministers have been meeting regularly to provide a coordinated leadership to the grouping. While the India, Brazil and South Africa Facility for Poverty and Hunger Alleviation (IBSA Fund) is small in monetary terms, it has succeeded in implementing 31 development projects in diverse countries: Burundi, Guinea-Bissau, State of Palestine, Cambodia and Vietnam, among others. India has been running an innovative IBSA Visiting Fellows Programme through the Delhi-based think tank, RIS or Research and Information System for Developing Countries. A strong case exists for expanding its reach. Both South Africa and Brazil should initiate their own editions of this programme, as an investment in building intellectual capital. Importance of IBSA: IBSA is the true inheritor of solidarity among developing countries, which was nurtured from the Bandung Conference (1955) through UNCTAD and G-77 to the BAPA+40 Declaration (2018). It is the champion of South-South Cooperation, and the advocate of a coordinated response by developing economies to secure the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The glue that binds IBSA countries together is their faith in democracy, diversity, plurality, inclusivity, human rights and rule of law. Notably IBSA remains determined to “step up advocacy for reforms of global governance institutions in multilateral fora”. In particular, it is strongly committed to the expansion of the UN Security Council. Kochi Session: The IBSA Academic Forum, comprising independent experts, held its sixth session in Kochi after a hiatus of over seven years. This forum hosted a comprehensive exchange of views on the continuing relevance of IBSA; the need for a strategy to secure SDGs and cement South-South Cooperation; expanding trade cooperation; and the shared goal of enhancing academic collaboration on issues relating directly to the needs of democratic societies. Conclusion: The idea of IBSA remains valid. The special responsibilities it bears cannot be discharged by BRICS. In fact, strengthening IBSA could increase the effectiveness of BRICS and encourage it to follow a more balanced approach on key issues of interest to India, Brazil and South Africa. The current endeavors to infuse greater dynamism in IBSA are well-timed. Support by the leaders will be crucial. MUST READ Disclosing dissent The Hindu Why China changed its stand on Masood Azhar? The Hindu When the big guys fight Indian Express Short on science Indian Express Start with schools to address the prejudices in the society Livemint

May 22, 2019 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 22 May 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 22nd May 2019 Archives (MAINS FOCUS) NATIONAL/ECONOMY TOPIC: General studies 2 and 3 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.  Geography of industrial growth in a federal polity Introduction: Just six states—Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, undivided Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Bengal—account for close to two-thirds of all factories in the organized sector (64.3%) and a similar share of workers in the sector (62.2%). These states also account for over 63% of establishments and 59% of workers in the informal sector. Industrial establishments and workers are thus highly concentrated in these six states that constitute the core of industrial India. What accounts for such concentration? Differences in transport costs, economies of scale, factor mobility and market size, collectively described as “the economies of agglomeration", lead to concentrated patterns of industrial location. India is not an exception in this. Industrial agglomeration is the global norm. The pattern of industrial growth across Indian states: Industries were scattered across several states at the time of Independence, the cities of Kolkata and Mumbai alone accounted for 50% of total manufacturing output.  By 1961, manufacturing industry had spread to 89 industrial districts located mostly in Bengal, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and undivided Andhra. At the turn of the century, the same six were still the leading industrialized states, as noted earlier. However, Bengal had by now slipped to the fifth rank in share of organized sector factories and employment. Meanwhile, three new states had appeared as new industrial states with rising shares of factories and employment both in the organized and unorganized sectors—Karnataka, Haryana and Punjab.  How government policy affects industrial growth? As the capital of the British empire in India, Kolkata and its hinterland emerged as a pre-eminent industrial hub in the late 19th and early 20th century. The shift of the capital to Delhi and political independence triggered Bengal’s gradual decline. The freight equalization policy of the new national government deprived the entire eastern region of its locational comparative advantage in mineral-based industries. Then the collapse of public investment, especially in railways, killed the state’s engineering industry. In the 1960s turbulence arising from militant political movements led to a massive flight of capital, from which the state is yet to recover. Similar stories of industrial decline could be recounted for Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. At the same time, aggressive industrial development programmes pursued by state governments led to further industrial agglomeration in the old industrial states of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and undivided Andhra alongside the emergence of new industrial states such as Karnataka, Punjab and Haryana. Agglomeration and deglomeration: With increasing concentration of industries in a hub, competition drives up the cost of labour and, especially, the price of land. Crowding, traffic snarls and demand for utilities drive up congestion costs in the core of the conurbation. Beyond a point, the negative “backwash effects" outstrip the positive “spread" effects and deglomeration sets in. Industrial units progressively relocate to the periphery and eventually move to a new location altogether.  Way ahead: The Union government will play a critical role. Its spatial allocation of investment in infrastructure and its guidance to public sector financial institutions that dominate the allocation of capital among the states will be important drivers. At the same time it needs to be ensured that the Union government maintains neutrality, without tilting the playing field in favour of one state or another. One way of preserving Union government neutrality is to empower the Inter-State Council as a federal institution to oversee and ensure that financial resources flow to states transparently in accordance with reasonable criteria. The states can collectively push for its re-invention as a powerful federal body, like the GST Council. Conclusion: The political alignments that emerge after recent general elections will be an important determinant of the future geography of India’s industrial growth. Connecting the dots: Industrial establishments and workers are highly concentrated in just a few states in India. The phenomenon of the negative “backwash effects" outstripping the positive “spread" effects hasn’t worked. Comment. INTERNATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2 India and the World International Relations Policies of developed and developing countries and their impact on India’s interests Indian Economy and related issues US-China tariff war: An opportunity for India Background: A year into the US-China tariff war, its implications for India are still unfolding. India is losing its surplus with the US. It is gaining exports, and hence, narrowing its deficit with China. India can take the space vacated by the warring partners.  India hasn’t escaped unhurt: The simmering tensions between the world’s two largest economies has wrought a knock-on effect, taking down global growth, disrupting trading arrangements and production systems and, above all, injecting uncertainty into the already fragile global environment and weakening investor sentiment. India’s exports slowed to 5.5 per cent in the second half of fiscal 2019, compared with 12.7 per cent in the first half. Overall growth for the fiscal printed at 8.6 per cent on-year, lower than 10 per cent in the previous year. India’s trade surplus with the US had increased significantly since fiscal 2012. However, this surplus started to shrink in fiscal 2019, as export growth slowed to 9.5 per cent from 13.4 per cent in fiscal 2018, while import growth rose sharply to 32.6 per cent from 19.3 per cent. Protectionist measures by the US were beginning to tell on India’s exports. Key items hit by US tariffs last year were iron, steel, and aluminum. Missed opportunity: The tariff actions by US and China have been one-on-one, making imports from each other expensive. It has resulted into improved relative competitiveness of other economies exporting the same products. If this trade war continues over a longer horizon, it could even result in shift of production bases and restructuring of global supply chains. Chinese firms are already moving production to their plants in other countries. India also figures in the list of such probables. But such opportunities for growing exports have come and passed earlier too. Even before the trade war, low-end manufacturing (readymade garments, leather garments and footwear) had started moving out from China, as labour costs rose and it moved to more sophisticated manufacturing. However, India fell behind countries like Vietnam and Bangladesh in capturing export share in these sectors because of higher costs and lower incentives. What hinders India from becoming an export powerhouse? India lags in competitiveness. At 58, India still ranks below China (28) in World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Rankings for 2018. In World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index 2018, it ranks 44, below China (26) and Vietnam (39). Land and labour reforms are still pending, hindering largescale investments in export sectors. India remains a tightly regulated market. Under the World Bank’s Doing Business rankings, India ranks 77, compared with China at 46 and Vietnam at 69. India’s slow progress in drafting trade agreements impacts its ability to participate in global value chains, affecting export growth. Conclusion: India must proactively address above mentioned concerns. Reaping every opportunity that presents itself has become more crucial now, given that the global environment is in for even more challenging times. Connecting the dots: The ongoing US- China tariff war presents an opportunity for India to become an export house. Elucidate. Also mention the challenges involved. MUST READ The problem with judicial legislation The Hindu Jokowi’s balancing act The Hindu The IBSA task list The Hindu Being responsive The Hindu A one-sided justice Indian Express The EVM ball is in the election panel’s court Livemint

May 22, 2019 AIR

All India Radio (AIR) IAS UPSC - Significance of Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit

Significance of Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit ARCHIVES Search 29th April, 2019 Sptlight 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. Bishkek Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit (SCO) Date: From June 13-14 Focus: Radicalism and terrorism; this forum will also give India a chance to raise issues relating to terrorism, the stability of Afghanistan, and rising radicalism in Central Asian countries. Bishkek is the capital of Kyrgyzstan. Shanghai Cooperation Organization The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has passed a consistent path of formation and in a relatively short historical period has demonstrated an effective model of multilateral cooperation based on mutual trust, equality, harmonious coexistence of different cultures and civilizations. With the entry of India and Pakistan, the SCO has become the largest regional structure in the world, covering 60 percent of Eurasia's territory with a population of over 3.2 billion people, and the SCO member states produce almost a quarter of global GDP. Members of the SCO: Established in Shanghai in 2001 with China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan as founding members. China, Russia, India, and Pakistan and the Central Asian countries Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan whose main focus is to join hands together to fight terrorism, separatism, and extremism. Both India and Pakistan became full members of the SCO in 2017. The total size of the national economies of the SCO members is more than 20 percent of world GDP. The International Monetary Fund predicts that by 2020 it will already be 35 percent. With such an impetus, the economies of the SCO member countries may increase to 38-40 percent by 2025. This pace is impressive, given today's mixed trends in the global economy. Why does it stand out? It can be considered as the first in the history of building an equal partnership of unbalanced, multi-scale states with different economic and political potential, cultural and civilizational features via Voluntary membership Equality of participants A consensus model of decision-making The SCO’s driving philosophy — emphasises harmony, working by consensus, respect for other cultures, non-interference in the internal affairs of others, and non-alignment. A Bearing Structure for Future World Order The current global trends, the heightening of geopolitical tensions, the complex nature of threats and challenges, in fact, require collective efforts to create a more fair and polycentric model of the global structure. And SCO is becoming a bearing structure for future world order. Fight against 'three evils': Against terrorism, separatism, and extremism First of all, practical work is being conducted on the basis of the SCO Regional Antiterrorist Structure (RATS), which demonstrates significant results in countering terrorism, separatism and extremism. In order to improve practical skills, joint anti-terrorism exercises are conducted through law enforcement agencies and the armed forces. A significant place in the activities of the SCO is the problem of information security. Over the past years, in the framework of countering the use of the Internet for terrorism and extremism purposes, the RATS SCO has limited access to 80,000 Internet resources containing 500,000 materials and stopped the activities of 360 participants in Internet communities related to terrorism and religious extremism. Contribute to global anti-drug efforts: Over the past five years, the competent authorities of the SCO member states have seized about 40 percent of the total amount of heroin and marijuana confiscated throughout Eurasia Restore peace in Afghanistan: Among the topical issues on the international agenda of the SCO is to restore peace and stability in Afghanistan. In 2018, meetings of the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group were held in Moscow and Beijing, which made an important contribution to common efforts at the inter-regional and international levels. In addition to facilitating the negotiation process, member states provide substantial material and technical assistance to Afghanistan, especially with regard to infrastructure and railway construction. Besides, hundreds of Afghan students go to universities in member states. Explore the economic potential: As the key goals and objectives of the SCO economic agenda, the SCO Charter provides for the promotion of comprehensive and balanced economic growth, social and cultural development in the region. In recent years, transport, energy, e-commerce, information and communication technologies, tourism, agriculture, banking and finance are considered as priority areas for the organization, with the prospect of expanding the use of national currencies in trade and investment activities. Taking into account the unfavorable situation in the world market and growing protectionism on a global scale, it becomes clear how necessary it is to work together in the framework of the SCO. The Way Forward for India The summit provides an opportunity for the Indian and Pakistani leaders to meet informally on the sidelines of a multilateral event. The two sides are obliged to cooperate on issues of mutual interest without bringing in their bilateral disputes. Signing off on joint counter-terrorism exercises will be a new form of engagement between the two militaries. When you have complicated ties with neighbours, it makes sense to strengthen ties with your neighbours’ neighbours. The SCO’s relevance for India lies in geography, economics and geopolitics. Its members occupy a huge landmass adjacent to India’s extended neighbourhood, where India has important economic and security interests. Its Central Asian countries border Afghanistan, Pakistan and China. A narrow sliver of land separates southern Tajikistan from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. India has to carve out a political and economic space for itself in Central Asia, alongside Russia’s role as net security provider and China’s dominating economic presence. The Central Asian countries would welcome India breaking into this Russia-China duopoly. Note: SCO’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS): RATS is a permanent organ of the SCO which serves to promote cooperation of member states against terrorism, separatism, and extremism and is headquartered in Tashkent. Location and neighbouring countries: SECURE: PM Modi’s mantra that is applicable to SCO ‘S’ for security of citizens, ‘E’ for economic development, ‘C’ for connectivity in the region, ‘U’ for unity, ‘R’ for respect of sovereignty and integrity, and ‘E’ for environmental protection Connecting the Dots: The SCO summit gives India an opportunity to showcase the kind of power it wants to be. Do you agree? Explain.

May 22, 2019 60 Days Plan 2019 - Daily Prelims Test

SOLUTION/ANSWER KEY: ALL INDIA OPEN MOCK 2: PRELIMS 2019 – General Studies (Paper 1) and CSAT (Paper 2)

Hello All, Here is the detailed solution of ALL INDIA OPEN MOCK 2: PRELIMS 2019. Kindly go through it and calculate your performance. SOLUTION MOCK 2- GENERAL STUDIES (PAPER 1) SOLUTION - CSAT (PAPER 2)   Note: Corrections and Clarifications Q.76) Statement (d) should be read as - "Fort William College in Calcutta was set up by him to induct new entrants into civil services." Please replace above statement instead of earlier one which read "Fort William College in Madras"

May 21, 2019 AIR

All India Radio (AIR) IAS UPSC - Rise in exports - A Boost to Trade Scenario

Rise in exports - A Boost to Trade Scenario ARCHIVES Search 16th April, 2019 Public Speak here: http://www.newsonair.com/Main_Audio_Bulletins_Search.aspx TOPIC: General Studies 2 & 3: Indian Economy Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests Effects of liberalization on the economy Changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth In News: A marginal 2.44% increase in exports as well as lower imports of gold and petroleum products in February, significantly narrowed the country’s trade deficit to $9.6 billion, according to data released by the Commerce Ministry on Friday. March exports are at least $5 billion higher than the general trend of $26-27 billion monthly exports in the other months, with the traditional sectors of pharma, electronics, petroleum and chemicals driving the increase. Highlights: India’s exports hit a new high of $331 billion in the last financial year This was despite the country witnessing single-digit growth The growth in March was the fastest increase in five months As per the data, the drop in imports was mainly on account of sharp decline in inward shipments of gold and petroleum products. Refer: https://www.financialexpress.com/opinion/explained-indias-exports-and-challenges-ahead/1524385/ The Way Forward: Global growth, projected by the IMF, is expected to shrink to 3.3 per cent in 2019, against 4 per cent in 2017 and 3.6 per cent in 2018. Faced with headwinds from Brexit, macroeconomic stress in Argentina, Turkey and Italy, and the US-China wrangle, monetary authorities in the EU, China, US and Japan have adopted an accommodative stance. While this could revive the global economy, the challenge for India is to secure its GDP growth amidst such readjustments. Reforms to ease logistical constraints to exports should continue, rather than merely pursuing a sort of ‘race to the bottom’. India must move up from low-productivity sectors by improving the quality of its human capital. There is a need to further focus on new products like food commodity so that the growth is more resilient and sustainable. Also, it will cushion our exports from the global volatility and shocks in the long run. Must Read: Need to Remove Trade Barriers to Accelerate Country’s Economy Connecting the Dots: In an era where connectivity between men has increased, why do you think countries are opting for more protectionist policies rather than being more global? What impact can it have on India?

May 21, 2019 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 21st May 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 21st May 2019 Archives (MAINS FOCUS) NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2 Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources Issues relating to poverty and hunger  General studies 3 Inclusive growth and issues arising from it Public Distribution System and Food security  Pan-India scale up of food fortification: Steps taken and Challenges Background: India has been able to dramatically reduce the number of people living in extreme poverty from 306 million people living on less than $1.90 (on a PPP basis) a day in 2011 to 48 million today. However, a similar dynamism in record against malnutrition is not seen. The country is home to the largest number of malnourished children in the world despite major government interventions: Providing highly subsidised foodgrains to the poorest 67 per cent of the population under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). A free Mid-day Meal Scheme (MDM) that targets around 100 million students in government schools. A supplementary nutrition programme through the ICDS network.  Fighting Anaemia: Simpler strategies required Anaemia affects every second child in the country. There has been no perceptible decline in anaemia among 15 to 49-year old women; it affects around 60 per cent of them. This public health emergency needs to be addressed immediately. Poverty, gender disparity, poor sanitation, low health and nutrition service coverage and poor nutritional intake — particularly an iron-deficient diet — continue to impede our fight against anaemia. The NFSA’s focus on wheat and rice has forced millets — traditional source for iron and minerals — out of the market. The government’s iron supplementation programme to overcome IDA has led to only 30 per cent of pregnant women consuming iron and folic acid tablets. This compels us to think of simpler and effective strategies like fortification of food staples with essential micronutrients like iron and vitamin.  What is food fortification? Fortification is the addition of key vitamins and minerals such as iron, iodine, zinc, Vitamin A & D to staple foods such as rice, milk and salt to improve their nutritional content. These nutrients may or may not have been originally present in the food before processing. Food fortification: A critical strategy Food fortification is a largely-ignored, yet critical, strategy which has proved an effective, affordable, scalable and sustainable intervention in many countries. India had tested the idea when it successfully tackled the widespread problem of goitre by mandating iodised salt in 1962. As there are numerous programmes to address malnutrition, this simple idea of fortifying meals has the potential to reach every segment of the population. Policy-makers have recently begun to address this blind spot to change the country’s nutritional landscape. Comprehensive regulations and standards have been framed by the FSSAI on fortification of food. The Women and Child Development and Human Resource Development ministries have issued advisories to the states to mandatorily use fortified wheat flour and edible oil in ICDS and MDM. However, given that fortification of these staples is still relatively new in India, traction has been slow. Centrally-sponsored scheme on rice fortification in PDS: The Department of Food and Public Distribution, facilitated by the NITI Aayog, has recently launched a centrally-sponsored scheme on rice fortification in PDS. The programme is designed to cover 15 districts, initially. Rice is the staple for 65 per cent of the Indian population, most of whom are located in high malnutrition burden states. Supply of fortified rice through a network of fair price shops is a cost-effective intervention to address anaemia across all sections of the population.  Way ahead: A successful pan-India scale up of fortification will depend on many factors — The political will of state governments. Flexibility to allow states to adapt the fortification model to their procurement and distribution systems and capacity building of different stakeholders. The FSSAI’s role, its enforcement machinery and the quality control labs needs to be strengthened. Lastly and most crucially, sustainability of fortification depends on the regular consumption of fortified food by the consumers and thus a comprehensive state specific strategy should be developed to generate awareness among the consumers. Connecting the dots: India is home to the largest number of malnourished children in the world despite major government interventions. Simpler and effective strategies like fortification of food staples with essential micronutrients like iron and vitamin can play a major role. Comment. SOCIAL/WELFARE ISSUE TOPIC: General studies 1 and 2 Population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources; poverty and hunger Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation India becoming older before becoming richer Introduction: Data from the 4th National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4) 2015-16 for the survey period 2013-15 has signaled a monumental shift in modern Indian demographics. For the first time in its history, India has reached a TFR (Total Fertility Rate) of 2.18, which is below the average world replacement rate of 2.3. Population growth is past its peak: There are not enough young people coming into India to replace the current population. As can be seen in the population pyramid chart, from NFHS 4, there are fewer babies being born over the last 10 years. The population pyramid has inverted for the first time ever. This rate of decline is only expected to accelerate in the coming years. The percentage of children under the age of 15 declined from 35% in NFHS-3 (2003-05) to 29% in NFHS-4 (2013-15). In contrast, the population of those aged 60 years and older increased slightly, from 9% in NFHS-3 to 10% in NFHS-4. India is now on the verge of becoming an older country, where we can expect the country’s average age to increase over the next few decades. Pic: https://images.financialexpress.com/2019/05/1-679.jpg Will India become older before becoming richer? This demographic movement is a monumental event that will significantly shape national policies in the coming decades, necessitating the government to take some difficult decisions. Way ahead: Here are a few noteworthy measures the government will need to prioritise: 1. Increasing women’s participation in the workforce: To bolster the capacity of wealth creation of India’s working class, India must tap into the underutilised working-age women population. According to a 2018 World Bank report, the labour force participation rate among females in India was 27% in 2018 while the world average stood at 48.5%. According to IMF research, raising women’s participation in the labour force to the same level as men can boost India’s GDP by 27% and contribute additively to India’s GDP growth every year. 2. Improving social security: Incentivising investments in retirement schemes like pensions is paramount for India, given its changing demographic profile. Of every 10 Indian workers, eight are informally employed, with limited access to retirement savings accounts. Further, a growing middle-class is witnessing increasing wage rates and an improving quality of life, which will result in increased expectations for retirement income. 3. Reimagining education for tomorrow: Today’s job market is vastly different from what it was a decade back. Further, 65% of children joining primary school today will eventually work in a job that does not yet exist. To meet this skills-gap, the education curriculum and delivery across a student’s lifecycle requires a significant revamp. There is also an urgent need to reskill a large chunk of population that is stuck in legacy roles. The government must work towards reskilling workforces in industries where job requirements are expected to alter drastically because of the shift in India’s demographics. 4. Implementing tech-enabled healthcare: The use of technology in healthcare coverage will be necessitated with a growing older-aged population in India. With a doctor-to population-density of 1/1,700, the country’s dearth of quality medical talent is not a predicament that it can soon overcome. Technology can be revolutionary in delivering quality healthcare services in India by improving access, increasing efficiency of diagnosis and care, and further, reducing the cost of healthcare delivery and insurance. Conclusion: There needs to be enough wealth created by the country’s working-class population for the growing segment of longer-living senior citizens that will increasingly rely on pensions. India will need to move beyond policies for population control and towards building wealth at a brisk pace. Connecting the dots: India’s population pyramid has inverted for the first time. In such a scenario India will need to move beyond policies for population control and towards building wealth at a brisk pace. Elucidate. MUST READ The case against war on Iran The Hindu Moral ambiguity on the Rohingya The Hindu Bag a bargain Indian Express The case for informal regional diplomacy Indian Express The geography of industrial growth in a federal polity Livemint

May 21, 2019 60 Days Plan 2019 - Daily Prelims Test

ALL INDIA OPEN MOCK 2 (Both OFFLINE / ONLINE) FOR PRELIMS 2019 – General Studies 1 and CSAT (Paper 2) (OPEN TO ALL )- 60 DAYS PROGRAMME- ACTIVE NOW

IASbaba's ALL INDIA OPEN MOCK 2 (Both OFFLINE / ONLINE) FOR PRELIMS 2019 - General Studies 1 and CSAT (Paper 2) (OPEN TO ALL )- 60 DAYS PROGRAMME !!   Hi, Thanks for the overwhelming response on MOCK TEST 1 (60 Day Programme), which was conducted on 15th May 2019. Many have appreciated the quality for being of UPSC standard’s. Thank you once again! For those who missed out -> CLICK HERE  (To Access Mock Test1)   So as part of 60 Day Programme, IASbaba is conducting ALL INDIA OPEN MOCK 2 FOR PRELIMS 2019 on 21st May, 2019. This time - The there will be 2 Papers - General Studies 1 and General Studies 2 (CSAT) The Test will be available BOTH - ONLINE and OFFLINE. Things to Remember For ONLINE TEST: First Step is to REGISTER, in the link given below. Please make sure that, the entered fields are correct and valid. The Registration will close on 29th May @ 5 pm. The Test Platform will be Active on  21st May (Tuesday), 2019 @ 9.30 am . We would advice you to give  General Studies Paper 1 from 9.30 am - 11.30 am and General Studies Paper 2 (CSAT) from 2.30 pm  - 4.30 pm, this will simulate exam like scenario and you can train your mind to be active during these hours. To give enough flexibility to students, the Test Platform will be open/active till 29th May 2019 i.e, you can take the Test anytime between 21st May - 29th May, 2019. Answer Key/Solution will be updated on 21st May @ 10 pm. The Results (All India Rank ) will be announced on 22nd May @ 5 pm. Again on 29th May, combined results of ONLINE and OFFLINE will be published. However, one can see his/her results on real-time i.e, once you complete the Test, under RESULTS TAB. The Test can be taken by a Person ONLY ONCE P.S: Only students with Valid Roll numbers can take the Test and Ranks will be announced accordingly! Steps to register - Mock Test 2 - UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) Exam 2019 1. Visit https://test.iasbaba.com 2. If you already have an account, click LOGIN in the top right corner. Else click REGISTER. Once you click on Register, you need to fill in your Name, Username, Email id, Password. Make sure that only Valid details are keyed in, else you will not be able to take the Test. 3. Once you have successfully registered, an Activation Email will be sent to your Registered Email ID. Click on the Activation link to activate your account. 4. Now you can Login to the test platform, using registered email id and password. 5. Once you login, Click LEARN in the top menu. You will find Mock Test 2 - Civil Services (preliminary) Exam 2019 item, click REGISTER HERE. 6. Enter the UPSC Roll Number (Valid) and Submit. P.S: Your account will be activated 1 hour before the Exam. 21st May 2019 @ 8.30 am. Till then Kindly wait.  To REGISTER for ONLINE TEST -> CLICK HERE      Things to Remember For OFFLINE TEST: Please bring a photocopy of UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) Exam Admit card – 2019. It’s MANDATORY! There is NO NEED to REGISTER. As we are expecting many students, the Mock Tests will be conducted on 3 Days - May 21st, May 22nd and May 23rd @ 2 Centres - Vijayanagar & Chandralayout. The Test will be conducted ONLY in Bangalore. You will get the Answer Key, soon after the Test. But the Detailed Solution will be available ONLY on the Website on 21st May @ 10 pm. On 29th May, combined results of ONLINE and OFFLINE will be published. However, one can compare your results on the Test Platform under RESULTS TAB (https://test.iasbaba.com)   Venue: 2 Centres - Vijayanagar Centre: 1737/ 37, MRCR Layout, Vijayanagar Service Road, Vijayanagar, Bengaluru-5660040. Land mark - Vijayanagar Metro. Chandra Layout Centre: No. 1443/1444, Above Carzspa, 80 Ft. Main Road, Ganapathi Circle, Chandra Layout, Bengaluru- 560040 Timings:  General Studies Paper 1 : 9.30am - 11.30am General Studies Paper 2 (CSAT) : 2.30 pm  - 4.30 pm P.S: The timings will be same for all the 3 Days. Only students with Valid Roll numbers can take the Test and Ranks will be announced accordingly!   For any Queries, You can also reach us on support@iasbaba.com and 9035077800/7353177800. Office Timings: 10 am – 5 pm   How to increase your productivity in the Mock? Follow this to minimize your negatives? This is applicable to aspirants who have done decent preparation and are worried about negative marking. This is in no way applicable to aspirants who go on to score well beyond cut off every time. They do not need any advice :) Glance through the question paper from Question 1 to 100. Just look at the keywords of the questions without reading the details. It is to make sure you have some familiarity with the paper. It will boost your confidence. Irrespective of the level of the paper, you will be able to confidently solve many questions for sure (provided your preparation is decent) Divide the time into THREE rounds.  First Round: Focus only on those questions in which you have 100% confidence that X is the answer. Mark them first. Remember that these questions in the first round are based on 100% accuracy. (Tick such questions) Second Round: Since you have gone through all 100 questions in the first round, must know a number of questions in which you do not have any idea. These are the questions in which no elimination, no guesses and nothing will work. Cross mark such questions first.  Third Round: You have to spend quality time in this round. Forget about questions (Crossed Marked in 2nd Round) and never turn back to them at any cost. In this round, apply your consolidated knowledge, application of mind, elimination method, intellectual guesses and arrive at the answer.    MUST READ articles for PRELIMS - These articles are exclusively Prelims related, where the UPSC Topper's and IASbaba have shed some light on how to tackle Prelims, Elimination method, How to minimize negatives etc. Make the Best use of the articles below.    All Possible Scenarios-Where Do You Fall in Exam? Shreyans Kumat Rank 4, UPSC CSE 2018 a Regular Follower of IASbaba’s TLP shares his Exclusive PRELIMS Strategy! Final Words and Prelims Tips before the D-Day (3rd June 2018)- Vaibhava Srivastava Rank 1 IFoS and Rank 98 UPSC CSE 2017 Shivashish Kumar Rank 368, UPSC CSE 2018 who has scored 129.34 (2017) and 126.66 (2018) in his 2 attempts shares his PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE Strategy!! Topper Abhijeet Sinha, Rank 19 UPSC CSE 2017 – IASbaba’s ILP Student, who has scored 163 and 152.6 in his 2 attempts shares his Preparation Strategy with special focus on Prelims!   Example- last year, UPSC had asked, Which of the following are Sun Temples in India and the third option was Omkareshwar Temple? At first glance, this question might seem very tough for many of you. But if you remember that Omkareshwar (OM- Shiva) and hence it cannot be a SUN Temple. By eliminating option-3, you can arrive at the correct answer because out of four, three options had 3 as the number. Similarly, there are many such questions. So, focus on such questions carefully.   Your target should be minimizing negatives. And if the paper seems tough, do not over attempt. Many times senses are put to rest and you read something else while the question is something else :) This happens because of 2 Reasons. 1) You are in a hurry to complete the paper. 2) You are over-confident in a subject. So patiently read the complete question, without any assumptions. Be alert while reading the questions. Correct/Incorrect/NOT Correct should be read clearly. If you know more than 70 questions with confidence, go with it :) Last but not the least, many questions can be answered by using Common Sense, so do apply it :)   All the very best :) IASbaba  

May 21, 2019 Motivational Articles

MOTIVATION-The Problem of Benchmarking: How to avoid the most vital blunder in Civil Services Preliminary (CSP) Examination? (OPEN MOCK 2 ACTIVE)

ALL INDIA OPEN MOCK 2 (Both OFFLINE / ONLINE) FOR PRELIMS 2019 – General Studies 1 and CSAT (Paper 2) (OPEN TO ALL )- 60 DAYS PROGRAMME- Will be Active from 9.30 AM READ HERE TO REGISTER AND TAKE PART IN THE TEST- CLICK HERE How many marks are you targeting for Prelims this 2nd June? 140 or 150? Oh, is that on the higher side? Then, what was the cut off last year? Was it 100 or 110? You need to score at least 115 then; isn’t it? But what about the cut off of 2017 Prelims? Was it higher or lower? And why not talk about the cut offs in 2016 or for that matter all the preceding years? Won’t it be better if the average of the cutoffs for the years 2013 to 2018 is calculated to set a benchmark for your performance this year? Sounds logical. But there is a problem. Anyone having some knowledge of statistics would know the concept of standard deviation. If the standard deviation of a particular year is high, it can’t be relied upon as a reasonable benchmark. That’s a simple matter of fact that the community of Civil Services aspirants isn’t ready to accept. Time wasting speculations and unreasonable benchmarking have left aspirants disillusioned. Let us see how. What does a typical aspirant do two weeks before the examination? For most of the aspirants, the last two weeks before the examination are completely devoted to revision. However, since no one is at complete ease with his/ her preparation, they start doing unnecessary or rather counterproductive things. For example, they start analysing the cut off trends of the last few years. They start browsing topper’s videos to see whether attempting 90+ questions is a must in Prelims. More funnily, they also search for tips and tricks to guess answers with the help of probability and human psychology (read UPSC’s psychology). They get bewildered by the diversity of opinions. Some toppers and websites recommend attempting only those questions in which you are confident whereas many others suggest attempting at least 90. On the basis of the information that filters through different sources, a typical aspirant sets a target in his/ her mind, say to attempt at least 85 questions come what may. This target gets fossilised with the passage of time and under no circumstance, he/ she will deviate from it. What does the same aspirant do during the examination? In the examination hall, the preconceived targets haunt the aspirant. He/ she browses through the paper and immediately realises that answering more than 85 questions appears far fetched as the standard of the paper is tough. In the first round, he/ she attempts 50 questions and marks 20 to revisit them. In the first revisit, with the help of forced recall and intelligent guessing, he/she attempts 15 more. Then, the counting starts. Realising that he/ she has managed to answer only 65 i.e. 20 short of the target, he/ she then venture out in the tricky category of questions. While all this is happening, he/ she remains completely oblivious of the fact that the question paper might have been tougher this year. Even though he/ she is struggling to answer more than 65 questions, the unreasonable benchmarking (thanks to some toppers’ suggestion) makes him/ her attempt more. What if 65 questions aren’t enough. What if others have marked more than 90. What about those discussions on the forum wherein everyone unequivocally agreed that a minimum of 125 is a must this year? What about last year’s cut off? What if I lose it by one mark? What if only I am finding the paper difficult? So, by stretching the imaginations and applying the “tricks” of guessing the correct answers, he/ she manages to touch the benchmark of 85. Then greed starts kicking. Why not attempt 5 more to enter into the elite category of aspirants who must have attempted more than 90? Well, to do so, one needs to have blind faith on one’s gut feeling or intuition. Finally, the golden figure of 90 is achieved. The aspirant feels happy and satisfied. He/ she has aced the examination. But has he/ she? Let’s see. Reality Check  What might have happened in this case is that the aspirant would have sabotaged his chances by marking too many wrong answers? To leave one’s career on the mercy of sheer luck is not a good move. One must understand that each year, the examination is different and so are the questions, their level and of course the cut-off. Let us make you understand this by taking a simple example. If you have ever seen any cricket team batting first on a ground, you must have realised that they set the target by keeping in mind the pitch conditions on that day. Sometimes, even at a traditionally high scoring ground, teams have to adjust their targets because of change in pitch or weather conditions. It means there can’t be uniformity of externalities in Cricket. In fact, it is the curator who decides whether a game would be high scoring or it would benefit the bowlers. The same applies to Prelims. The paper setters in UPSC are like curators. They decide the toughness of the paper. And while your benchmark reflects the reality of last year, the conditions have changed this year. Just like a team unable to lower their target gets bowled at a below-par score in a low scoring game, you can also fall below the cut off even if it is low this year. Just like a smart cricketer, you need to read the game, in this case, Prelims, so as to set your benchmark right. You don’t have to score the highest marks; you just need to clear the cut-off. It simply means don’t mark more question just for the sake of it. You should guess mark only those questions in which you have confusion between two options. If you are taking your chances in questions involving 3 or 4 confusing options, you will repent your decision. It is simply because each wrong answer makes a dent into the scores earned by marking the correct ones. Don’t enter the examination hall with a preconceived cut off in your mind and simply focus to give your best. Don’t overstretch your imagination and commit blunders. Believe in your knowledge and be reasonable with your guessing abilities. Endnote Guessing isn’t bad. In fact, you do need to guess in many questions asked by UPSC. However, in most of the questions, the guessing is intelligent and based on judgements derived out of the information bank stored somewhere in the mind. Blind guessing, on the other hand, is fatal and stupid. Don’t overdo it. MUST READ articles for PRELIMS - These articles are exclusively Prelims related, where the UPSC Topper's and IASbaba have shed some light on how to tackle Prelims, Elimination method, How to minimize negatives etc. Make the Best use of the articles below.  All Possible Scenarios-Where Do You Fall in Exam? Shreyans Kumat Rank 4, UPSC CSE 2018 a Regular Follower of IASbaba’s TLP shares his Exclusive PRELIMS Strategy! Final Words and Prelims Tips before the D-Day (3rd June 2018)- Vaibhava Srivastava Rank 1 IFoS and Rank 98 UPSC CSE 2017 Shivashish Kumar Rank 368, UPSC CSE 2018 who has scored 129.34 (2017) and 126.66 (2018) in his 2 attempts shares his PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE Strategy!! In his 2 attempts shares his Preparation Strategy with special focus on Prelims! Thanks and all the very best IASbaba Team

May 20, 2019 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 20th May 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 20th May 2019 Archives (MAINS FOCUS) INTERNATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2 International Relations  India and the World Policies of developed and developing countries and their impact on India’s interests  Setting up of Indo-Pacific wing in the MEA Introduction: The Indo-Pacific wing was set up in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in April 2019. This wing will provide a strategic coherence to the Prime Minister’s Indo-Pacific vision, integrating the IORA, the ASEAN region and the Quad to the Indo-Pacific dynamic. Given that the term Indo-Pacific has been gaining currency and how major regional actors are articulating their regional visions, it was becoming imperative for India to operationalise its Indo-Pacific policy. Many mechanisms: India’s Act East policy remains the bedrock of the national Indo-Pacific vision and the centrality of ASEAN is embedded in the Indian narrative. India has been an active participant in mechanisms like the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), in ASEAN-led frameworks like the East Asia Summit, the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus, the ASEAN Regional Forum as well as the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation and the Mekong-Ganga Economic Corridor. India has also been convening the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium, in which the navies of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) participate. India has boosted its engagements with Australia and New Zealand and has deepened its cooperation with the Republic of Korea. Through the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation, India is stepping up its interactions with the Pacific Island countries. India’s growing partnership with Africa can be seen through the convening of mechanisms like the India-Africa Forum Summits. India’s multi-layered engagement with China as well as strategic partnership with Russia underlines its commitment to ensuring a stable, open, secure, inclusive and prosperous Indo-Pacific. India’s notion of Indo-Pacific: Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue in June 2018 underscored that for India the geography of the Indo-Pacific stretches from the eastern coast of Africa to Oceania (from the shores of Africa to that of the Americas) which also includes in its fold the Pacific Island countries. India views the Indo-Pacific as a geographic and strategic expanse, with the 10 ASEAN countries connecting the two great oceans. Inclusiveness, openness, and ASEAN centrality and unity, therefore, lie at the heart of the Indian notion of Indo-Pacific.  The term Indo-Pacific is gaining currency: The renaming of the U.S. Pacific Command to U.S. Indo-Pacific Command as well as the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act in December 2018 showcase Washington’s more serious engagement with the Indo-Pacific. The Free and Open Indo-Pacific concept was unveiled by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2016. Australia released its Foreign Policy White Paper in 2017, which details Australia’s Indo-Pacific vision centred around security, openness and prosperity.  Challenges ahead: India’s bureaucratic shift is an important move to articulate its regional policy more coherently and with a renewed sense of purpose. There are still challenges for India, especially: Integrating the Quadrilateral initiative which got revived in 2017 with its larger Indo-Pacific approach. The new MEA division to move beyond security and political issues and articulate a more comprehensive policy towards the region. Commerce and connectivity in particular will have to be prioritised if India is to take advantage of a new opening for its regional engagement. While India has been consistently emphasising “inclusiveness” in the Indo-Pacific framework, it will be challenging to maintain a balance between the interests of all stakeholders. There are differences between India’s vision and the U.S.’s strategy for the Indo-Pacific even as countries like China and Russia view the Indo-Pacific with suspicion. Security in the region must be maintained through dialogue, a common rules-based order, freedom of navigation, unimpeded commerce and settlement of disputes in accordance with international law. More connectivity initiatives impinging on respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, consultation, good governance, transparency, viability and sustainability should be promoted.  Conclusion: As geopolitical tensions rise between China and the U.S., the MEA’s new division will have its task cut out if India’s long-term political and economic interests in the region are to be preserved. A bureaucratic change was indeed needed, but going forward the challenge would be to see how effectively this change manifests itself in managing India’s growing diplomatic footprint in the Indo-Pacific. Connecting the dots: The Indo-Pacific wing set up in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) recently was much needed. There are challenges which it needs to tackle. Comment. NATIONAL/ECONOMY TOPIC: General studies 2 and 3 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.  Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it. Need to find a sustainable model of economic growth Background: Recent data from private sources on automobile sales and consumer durable sales suggest a worsening of the demand crisis despite some signs of inflation inching up. It is unlikely that the long spell of rural distress is going to end in the near future. The other issue of unemployment, particularly among the youth, is real and again requires an immediate response. The challenge is not just the need to respond to these immediate problems but also to find a sustainable model of economic growth and development for the country. The Indian economic model remains a model of crisis-driven responses rather than a coherent model based on a concrete assessment of the needs of a fast-changing economy.  Crisis-driven responses: The green revolution was an urgent intervention to tackle national food crisis in the mid-1960s. The 1991 reforms, which were a response to a fiscal and balance-of-payments crisis. The pro-poor economic strategy adopted after 2004, which was seen as a response to the rural crisis and farmer suicides between 1998 and 2004. Emanating rural crisis: The government as well as the opposition have proposed solutions of loan waivers and cash transfers. While these may provide some temporary relief, they are unlikely to prevent another crisis in the near future. The pressure to do something would involve bearing a large fiscal cost, which will have an impact on long-term investments and the sustainability of farming in the economy.  Issues: The recurrence of social and political unrest among disadvantaged and excluded groups may force some immediate relief measures from the government, but is unlikely to force a rethink of the economic model itself. Political parties are unlikely to think long-term, with elections held almost every year at the state level. Institutions such as the NITI Aayog and Reserve Bank of India have failed to act as independent watchdogs. There is unlikely to be any independent assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the economy if these institutions also start working at the behest of ruling political establishments. The statistical system also has come under criticism for compromising on its independence. Conclusion: Whatever be the outcome of the general elections, the challenge for the new government is not just to restore the economy to its path of growth and development, but also plan for the long-term sustainability of the growth process in a just and inclusive manner. A necessary condition for that is to restore the credibility of the existing institutions crucial to policymaking, and create new ones to cater to the needs of the new economy. Connecting the dots: The Indian economic model remains a model of crisis-driven responses rather than a coherent model based on a concrete assessment of the needs of a fast-changing economy. Comment. MUST READ The task of restoring democracy The Hindu Taking stock of Islamic state 2.0 The Hindu The unpeople of India Indian Express The new Supreme Court definition of merit is confusing Livemint