Jun 6, 2019 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 4th June 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 4th June 2019 Archives (MAINS FOCUS) ECONOMY TOPIC: General studies 3 Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Structural reforms for tackling economic slowdown Background: Economic slowdown: Official estimates released recently show GDP growth slowed to a five-year low of 6.8% in 2018-19, even as the unemployment rate rose to a 45-year high of 6.1% in 2017-18. Agriculture gross value added (GVA) growth is estimated at negative 0.1% and manufacturing GVA growth at 3.1% in the January-March quarter. The economy is struggling with an investment and a manufacturing slowdown, rural distress, unremunerative farm incomes, stagnating exports, a banking and financial mess and a jobs crisis. Sales figures from fast moving goods makers and continuing production cuts at car manufacturers confirm that consumption spending have slowed. The economic priority for the new government ought to be credible course correction in policy — its formulation, articulation and the setting of goals. Reforms taken in past: Structural reforms — spanning an overhaul of labour and land policies and a much-needed manufacturing push, ‘Make In India’, for absorbing the slack from the farms — had been abandoned by the end of 2015. The initial energy and enthusiasm gave way to misadventures such as demonetisation and the poorly designed rollout of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime. The decrepit public banking system and the problems of the financial sector received little policy attention. Even the insolvency and bankruptcy reform, a sound economic reform, that got rolled out rather gradually and tentatively is already in danger of getting diluted. The Constitution was hurriedly amended for rolling out reservations based on economic criteria and that fiscal giveaways for middle class Indians and farmers dominated the Interim Budget presented in February without considering the magnitude of the challenge on the economic front. Way ahead:  Generating sustainable livelihoods: Public provision of toilets, cooking gas connections and dwellings or Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) wage jobs and income supplement schemes are temporary sources of relief. They are not an economic growth model or strategies for reducing poverty. They can help the poor survive by providing meagre resources for subsistence. Reducing poverty needs economic growth to generate sustainable livelihoods for the poor. And this cannot be remedied by redistributive taxation policies alone. The government’s ‘Make In India’ strategy was a step in the right direction, and needs to be revived. Done right, it can absorb the slack from the farms. Few organised sector jobs get generated in India because industries prefer capital-intensive production despite the economy’s relative abundance of low-wage labour. If production were less capital-intensive, more organised sector jobs would be created. Plus, labour’s bargaining power would improve. The government needs to take up the backlog of economic reforms pending since the first burst in the 1990s. For the role they play in jobs creation, smaller firms ought to be incentivised with easy credit and taxation norms. Data collection Lastly, no evolution of the policy paradigm will be possible if the crisis of credibility in the collection, estimation and presentation of official statistics is not addressed appropriately. Conclusion: The new government must leverage the public trust voters have placed in it to get the economy on track. Structural reforms with meticulous planning and proper implementation will help. Connecting the dots: Official data shows India is facing an economic slowdown. Structural reforms ensuring more job creation will help. Elucidate. NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2  Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation Development processes and the development industry- the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders. Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections. NREGA 3.0: Part I Background: In the run up to the elections, a plethora of redistributive programmes, including farm loan waivers, cash transfers and minimum income guarantees came to the forefront as campaigners sought to suggest solutions for rural distress. Amongst these is a proposal to launch a revised NREGA 3.0, in which 150 days of employment would be guaranteed to the rural poor. Almost 15 years after it was enacted, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) its time we analyse its impact on the poor. What does the NREGA intend to do? Enacted as a legal right, the NREGA’s primary goal is social protection for the most vulnerable. India has had relative success with workfare, with the Maharashtra Employment Guarantee Scheme being the most important precursor to the NREGA. The primary advantage of workfare programmes over farm loan waivers, cash transfers and minimum income programmes is that the poor self-select themselves into the programme, thus reducing the identification costs. The ability of a programme to parsimoniously target the ultra-poor without elaborate means testing is critical for its long-term success, particularly when fiscal resources are scarce. Crucially, the most basic tenet of the NREGA — its self-targeting mechanism — does work. Poorer and disadvantaged households are more likely to seek NREGA work. Issue of demand-supply gap: In practice, however, not all those who demand NREGA work receive it. In 2009/10, almost half the households in rural India wanted NREGA jobs but only a quarter received them, according to estimates by Liu and Barrett (2016). More recently, employment provided under NREGA in 3,500 panchayats in 2017/18 was a third less than that demanded. Impact of NREGA on poverty: Three available national counterfactual-based studies show modest increases in household per capita expenditures and consumption in the first few years of the programme, the picture is entirely different for marginalised groups, who have benefited greatly due to NREGA. A study shows Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe recipients increased their real monthly per capita expenditure by 37 per cent in the lean season of 2008, cutting poverty by almost half. Likewise, state-level studies show NREGA favours the most disadvantaged. The poorest SC/ST households and those with a disabled member saw higher growth in consumption and nutritional intake in the short-run, and in the medium-term, substantially increased their non-financial assets. In Bihar, a study estimates that NREGA reduced poverty by roughly 1 percentage point in 2009. Reducing vulnerability: Aside from its impact on the poorest, NREGA also plays a critical role in reducing vulnerability. Research indicates that NREGA provides employment after an adverse rainfall shock, enables workers to smoothen their consumption with variations in rainfall, and reduces risk during the lean season. Conclusion: Despite been severely rationed, NREGA acts, as per its mandate, as a very desirable social protection mechanism amongst the most disadvantaged classes. Compared to other proposals on the table, NREGA efficiently allows the most disadvantaged to spur their consumption in times of rural distress. As a new administration weighs policy options at a time of rural unemployment and weakening consumption, pre-monsoon, it would be prudent to substantially ramp up NREGA so all those who demand jobs, receive them. Connecting the dots: NREGA provides a vital safety net and the dignity of rightful employment to those who are most vulnerable. MUST READ The sum and substance of job data The Hindu  Crisis defused The Hindu A rocky road for strategic partners The Hindu The changing idea of a university The Hindu The sum and substance of the job data The Hindu

Jun 5, 2019 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 3rd June 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 3rd June 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. Making India energy robust Introduction: India faces a variety of challenges related to energy and environment. Below are some initiatives that the next government could contemplate early on its term. Initiatives to make India energy robust: (On the policy front) Integrating energy and environment policy: This will help doing away with the current siloed approach to energy policy and enable the new government to view the sector through an integrated and holistic lens. It could more easily track and evaluate the systemic implications of changes in any one or more component variable. An “Energy and Environment Security Act” should be passed at the earliest possible opportunity. The objective of such an act should be to bring energy and environment into the national narrative; to set out the road map for managing and mitigating the emergent challenge of balancing economic development and energy demands with the goal of environmental protection; and, to mobilise public support for the policy and regulatory changes required to hasten the transition to a non-fossil fuel based energy system. Decarbonisation, demand management and efficiency should be the watchwords of the new government’s energy policy. The focus should be on generating electricity from solar and wind, incentivising electric vehicles, curtailing diesel consumption in agriculture, enforcing standards and emission norms, redesigning buildings and factories to make them carbon neutral and influencing behavioural change towards energy conservation. The “clean energy fund” which is currently funded through a cess on coal production should be augmented through the issuance of “green bonds” and a clean energy tax. This is to intensify research and development on clean energy technologies (battery storage, carbon capture and sequestration, hydrogen, coal gasification, modular nuclear reactors, etc.) and to fund the transmission and distribution infrastructure required for absorbing the flow of clean energy. The fund is currently managed by the ministry of finance. It should be managed by those who have domain expertise. Energy data is scattered across various government departments. This hinders policy and investment. The new government should establish an integrated energy data centre, whose data should be regularly updated and made available to all players on commercial terms. On International front: Energy diplomacy: The levers of energy and, in particular, oil policy, are today in the hands of autocratic leaders. The local actions of leaders now have global, supply-related ramifications. The new government should, therefore, look to develop a specialised cadre of “energy diplomats.” Unshackling the energy public sector units from intrusive bureaucratic oversight will enable their management to respond with agility to unexpected market developments. Establishing strong personal relations with the leaders of oil exporting states. Increasing domestic capabilities: Intensifying exploration and enhancing recovery: The government should replace the current revenue-sharing model with a production-sharing model for new exploration. It should link investment in the marginal and smaller discovered fields with access to the domestic retail market. It should contemplate bidding out Mumbai High and other major producing oil and gas fields to international players with proven enhanced oil recovery technologies. The current recovery rates of production from these fields are well below the global average. Increasing competition: Coal India Limited (CIL) is a major producer of coal but faces huge legacy issues (labour unions, mafia, politics and organisation) which constrain its ability to fully and efficiently harness the country’s indigenous coal reserves. The new government can allow private sector companies into commercial coal mining. The consequent pressure of competition will bear positively on the performance of CIL. Natural gas: Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) should be unbundled into a monopoly gas pipeline company. It should be divested of its upstream (production/ re-gassification of LNG) and downstream (petrochemicals) operations. The “common access” principle must be fairly enforced. Every player, private or public, must have equal access to gas pipelines. The price of gas should be determined on the basis of market and competitive principles. A gas trading hub should be expeditiously established. Special energy courts should be established to expedite adjudication of disputes and ensure sanctity of contracts. Connecting the dots: India faces a variety of challenges related to energy and environment. In order to make India energy robust actions needs to be taken on policy front. 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 India and RCEP Background: India’s participation in the mega-trade agreement, Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) has long been debated. If finalised, the RCEP will result in the largest free trade bloc in the world accounting for 25 per cent of global GDP and 30 per cent of world trade. Issues: India’s trade deficits with nations have always widened after signing free-trade-agreements (FTAs) with them, citing the cases with ASEAN, Japan, Korea, and Singapore, most of which are RCEP nations. It has also been pointed out that India’s vulnerable agriculture and dairy sectors, which are not in positions to compete with Australia and New Zealand, will be exposed to vagaries of global trade. Indian manufacturing is not competitive enough to face the vagaries of a free trade regime. Even after 27 years of liberalisation, inefficiency prevails due to a host of unimplemented reforms in the product and the factor markets. On the factor side, labour market reforms are incomplete. Labour productivity in manufacturing is still one of the lowest in the world with spatially fragmented labour laws are escalating the costs of doing business. Given this, Indian industry is hardly in a position to compete in the level-playing ground in a free-trade region. Differences: India apprehends that, given its $60-billion trade deficit with China, the RCEP demand to reduce tariffs on 90 per cent of the traded goods to zero will have a disastrous effect on its already struggling MSME sector. India is especially apprehensive about Chinese goods swamping its market, forcing domestic producers to cut production or shut down. India has expressed its reservations over inclusion of e-commerce in the RCEP talks. The RCEP draft is opposed to data localisation, while India fears the monopoly power of digital giants which includes the likes of Tencent and Alibaba. ASEAN+3: India could be out of the mega trade deal (RCEP). China has started pushing for a free trade pact between ASEAN + 3 (which includes the ten-member ASEAN, China, Japan and South Korea). This would effectively mean that among the 16 countries negotiating the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), all except India, Australia and New Zealand would get included in the proposed pact. China may be trying to push for an ASEAN + 3 arrangement to speedily create a new order in the region with itself at the helm to counter the challenge posed by the US with which it is engaged in a trade war. Conclusion: India’s trade diplomacy needs to be reviewed, with both the US and China applying pressure to secure access to its markets. The earlier multilateral consensus has collapsed. India must support exporters through WTO-compatible means in these uncertain times. Connecting the dots: India’s participation in the mega-trade agreement, Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) has long been debated. Discuss the issues around it. MUST READ Why minorities feel alienated in India The Hindu As demand slows down Indian Express

Jun 5, 2019 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 1st June 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 1st June 2019 Archives (MAINS FOCUS) 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. Economic Reforms 2.0 Introduction: The BJP now has an overwhelming majority in the Lok Sabha, hopes have picked up again of a radical reorganisation of the economy that improves the “collective good”. There is a long list of reforms that often appear on wish-lists, each discussed for decades. For example, the problems of the railways have been repeatedly documented, their criticality for the economy highlighted, and suggestions for ending the government’s monopoly, splitting it, corporatising it, listing it or privatising it have been made. Administrative reforms were first discussed more than five decades ago. India’s laggard manufacturing has similarly dominated economic literature and the voices of commentators for a long time. The challenges of power distribution: Notoriously inefficient state-government monopolies; or on agriculture, where India’s workforce remains disproportionately large. Moving towards conclusion: There are a few areas where significant background work has been done, and the process needs to move towards conclusion. Labour reforms: More than 40 laws with often contradictory clauses are to be replaced by four new laws (or codes); The first of these (the code on wages) now needs to be legislated. The code on labour could be next. There are some long-standing issues like urban infrastructure and affordable housing where intent has been shown and efforts made, but with limited success so far: Continued focus would be of the essence. The realisation in the past few years that there is scope for significant improvement in the abysmally low direct tax to GDP ratio also needs to see some follow-through. Recent challenges: India’s growing dependence on imported energy: One cannot grow economically without consuming more dense forms of energy, and India either does not have domestic sources of dense energy, or does a poor job in extracting and using them. As a result, import dependency is rising, creating growth risks. PSUs dominated financial systems: The government tried to privatise PSUs by selling the shares to private banks and NBFCs. This had worked (even if unintentionally) in airlines and telecom, but once the NBFCs growth slowed due to a funding crunch, the problems in this approach have become obvious. The recent economic slowdown is perhaps worsened by a lack of financial capacity in the system: A decisive approach on the financial architecture in India is necessary. Slowing foreign capital inflows: Total capital inflows as a share of GDP last year fell back to 2002 levels, and can become a cap on economic growth. The objective should not just be to attract more foreign capital, as it can cause undesirable volatility, but to prudently assess which risks are worth taking, given the changing domestic and global environments. Better measurement and transparency: Everyone being on the same page on where our fiscal deficits are, where our growth is, and if we are creating enough jobs, is important. Even if some of the distrust on growth metrics is politically generated, there is no doubt that the Indian economy is very hard to measure, and that the time spent debating whether the economy is growing or not is a waste. Challenges: Reforms are disruptive, and the more radical ones almost by definition involve uncertainty. Issues in execution can imperil even the best intended changes. Given that reforms use up political capital, or goodwill of the masses, it is tempting to target incremental improvement. Even steps that improve the “collective good” have interest groups that would lose economic power. The losers can exert more pressure in the near term than the beneficiaries whose gains can be more diffuse. Conclusion: Spending the political capital earned by the new government to push through some long pending decisions will act as a stimulus for our economy. Connecting the dots: Various economic reforms have been taken in recent times; the process needs to move towards conclusion. In the same light the recent challenges need to be tackled with in order to make Indian economy robust. Comment. AGRICULTURE/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. Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies Agri Reforms 2.0 Background: Series of reforms such as e-NAM and the price deficiency payments scheme to deal with farmers’ distress over falling prices were introduced by the last government. The Centre, taking a leaf out of States such as Telangana and Odisha, introduced income support, indicating a paradigmatic shift in the direction of farm support policy. Key Issues and Solutions: Issues of overproduction: A statistical analysis points out that farming has become drought-resilient, with food and horticulture output rising since 2015-16, despite a succession of below-normal or deficient monsoons. The output of milk, fish and eggs have increased sharply over the last decade. Farmers’ income has not improved because of- The absence of demand. Absence of supply chain that can ensure viable farm gate prices while reaching the produce in time to the consumer. Solutions: Agri-marketing reforms need to be foregrounded, going beyond the e-NAM initiative. Measures to promote self-sufficiency in crucial crops such as pulses from a nutritional point of view need to be kept up. Pulses are a big plus for soil fertility and for their low water requirements. The sharp spurt in horticulture output should be sustained by improvements in marketing channels as well as in crop insurance. It is possible to introduce product differentiation in crop insurance schemes. Cold storages need more attention than ever before with rising horticulture potential. The state of food processing parks needs to be reviewed. It should also be ensured that all States implement the Model Agricultural Produce and Livestocks Marketing Act, 2017, and encourage investments in agri-processing. Doing away with APMC yards, without anything to take their place, is not a good idea as Bihar’s experience has shown. Low export growth: Despite record-high food production, policy mis-management has seen agri imports growing at 9.8 per cent CAGR in the last five years while exports growth has been muted at 1.1 per cent CAGR. Institutional reforms such as creation of farmers’ producers organisations can help in breaking credit, logistics and marketing bottlenecks. Centre should come up with long-term policies on exports and imports that help producers deal with non-tariff barriers. Inappropriate crop choices: Subsidies for paddy and cane in rainfed regions, such as free electricity, have led to inappropriate crop choices. The Centre must adopt a holistic approach towards water management and agriculture. Haryana’s incentive scheme for shifting away from paddy is worth emulating. Conclusion: The Centre is on the right track in its farm policies; its policy mix needs to be fine-tuned. Continuity in income support and workable agri-marketing policies are called for. Connecting the dots: While multiple reforms have been taken keep agricultural sector as a priority, more needs to be done. Comment. MUST READ Outlining the first 100 days The Hindu A recipe for growth Indian Express

Jun 2, 2019 Motivational Articles

Creative Guidance – Passion & Success – Inspirational Educative Articles

Passion & Success: Success and failure are two interwoven threads that make up the fabric of life. It is impossible to succeed without failing and it is impossible to fail without aiming to succeed. Success and failure are two faces of the same coin; one cannot exist without the other. If failure is such an integral part of life, then what makes it easier to handle failures? It is said that real failure is when you quit. As long as one is striving, there is always a possibility of success. So in this sense failure is simply the moment when one decides to quit. There should be something integral in the attitude of an individual that makes him accept failure as a part of life and keep striving; the differentiating integral factor is passion. When an individual is passionate about doing or achieving something, failure is simply a minor distraction. When your vision is absolutely crystal clear and you are passionate about achieving it, then failures simply become stepping stones to move on. Most people fail not because they are uniquely disadvantaged with failure; they fail because they didn’t have enough passion to pursue a certain path to its completion, irrespective of multiple failures. If we do not accept failure as a part of life and invest our passions in what we are doing, we will always be intimidated by failures. There is no other bigger differentiating factor between two individuals pursuing a certain path other than passion. Passion is the most important invisible force that shapes a life. It is passion that helps us to solve problems and think creatively. It is passion that gives us the strength to jump over obstacles. It is only passion that can keep us going on a longer run. Without passion, you can achieve some momentary success just as a matter of luck. But without a burning passion to do something, you will never be able to sustain yourself on a longer run. Success is not a sprint, it is a marathon and passion is the fuel that can keep you going. Invest in a long term approach where you are motivated and passionate about achieving something. Spend as much time as possible in revisiting your passion and keeping it alive. One of the most difficult things to do is maintaining the same level of energy and enthusiasm even after repeated failures. There is no rocket science to success. The formula is very simple. Passion multiplied by effort is equal to success. The more the passion, the lesser is the effort needed to succeed. When passion and effort come together, then success is an absolute certainty. “This article is a part of the creative endeavor of Inner-Revolution and IASBABA.”

Jun 1, 2019 Motivational Articles

MOTIVATION And ALL INDIA MOCK TEST 2 RESULT: It’s just another Sunday!

MOTIVATION And ALL INDIA MOCK TEST 2 RESULT: It’s just another Sunday!   Finally the day has come. Tomorrow you will enter the examination hall with high hopes, riding on your preparation, with an intention to make every moment count. Tomorrow is the day when your intellect, wisdom and skills are tested by UPSC. As your friend, mentor and guide, IASbaba has few suggestions for you:   Don’t get overwhelmed by the occasion. For everyone else, it’s just another Sunday. Your destiny won’t depend on this day alone. Take the exam just like you did in your school days when you hardly bothered about the results. Enjoy the process, give your best and hold no expectation. Please don’t overthink. At the end of the day, it’s another exam. You need to answer what is asked and not get too involved into the thinking of the paper setter behind the questions. If you have prepared well, your first instinct would be correct most of the times. Just because it’s an exam conducted by UPSC, it doesn’t mean that the questions HAVE to be tricky and confusing. Condition your mind and soul. Relax, take rest and meditate to attain a calm state of mind. Don’t be overexcited or over enthused. A stable and calm mind performs better than a highly anxious or excited one. Condition your body. Take proper sleep tonight, drink a lot of water (since its burning heat in most of India), take light food and wear comfortable clothes. Even the most brilliant of minds can’t perform if the body isn’t in proper shape. Don’t think about the cut off during the examination. Give your best and let UPSC decide the cut off. Go to the exam hall with a neutral mindset (without any assumptions). Never discuss the paper during the break. You will have ample time after the second paper to discuss the soul out of the papers.   What you are today is the aggregate of your efforts and hard work that you have put in during the last few months. This is the best version of you, until of course it is overtaken by a better version of yours in the days to come. However, let your present version take on the challenge with full vigour and confidence. It simply means, don’t doubt yourself. If you doubt yourself today, it will count as a betrayal to your self esteem and sincerity. You and only you have the ability to crack this examination and therefore, trust your preparation, have faith in your instincts and let your intelligence perform without any pressure.   MUST READ (MOTIVATION : PRELIMS 2019) – All Possible Scenarios-Where Do You Fall in Exam? The Problem of Benchmarking: How to avoid the most vital blunder in Civil Services Preliminary (CSP) Examination?   ALL INDIA MOCK TEST 2 (Civil Services Exam (Preliminary) Exam 2019 RESULTS -  CLICK HERE (Total students who gave GS test – 5 ,138; CSAT - 1,003. Ignore the marks with 180+)   All the best ! IASbaba Team

Jun 1, 2019 Motivational Articles

Creative Guidance: Book Review – A New Earth – Eckhart Tolle

A New Earth: Eckhart Tolle A New Earth is a fascinating vision of Eckhart Tolle for the future of humanity. A vision filled with hope, inclusive consciousness, oneness and awakening. The world needs this book now more than ever before. In times of decreasing trust and increasing conflicts, this book is an eye opener. Eckhart Tolle is a spiritual teacher with a mission and purpose to help individuals awaken to their true purpose. His books are educative and fascinating to read. After the phenomenal success of “Power of Now” “A New Earth” is his new offering in nudging the world a little closer towards spirituality. Eckhart is in a way a new age guru. A real spiritual teacher is one who offers a message that is true and beneficial to people. Eckhart Tolle might not look like a typical spiritual teacher but his message is extraordinarily relevant. A New Earth will open a new world of possibilities for your inner spiritual journey. All of us at some point in time should look inward to understand our lives better. This book will certainly help you in your self introspection.

May 31, 2019 AIR

All India Radio (AIR) IAS UPSC - Awareness and Cure for Haemophilia

Awareness and Cure for Haemophilia ARCHIVES Search 17th April, 2019 Spotlight here: http://www.newsonair.com/Main_Audio_Bulletins_Search.aspx TOPIC: General studies 2 Health 17th April: World Haemophilia Day What is hemophilia? Haemophilia is a mostly inherited genetic disorder that impairs the body's ability to make blood clots, a process needed to stop bleeding. This results in people bleeding longer after an injury, easy bruising, and an increased risk of bleeding inside joints or the brain. Because of the genetics involved in the way the sex of a child is determined, men are more vulnerable to haemophilia than women. It cannot be caught or transmitted except through inheritance but can sometimes occur when there is no family history of Hemophilia. About one third of new cases are caused by a new mutation of the gene in the mother or the child. In these cases, there is no previous history of hemophilia in the family. Women who have the hemophilia gene are called carriers, and they can pass it on to their children. If not diagnosed early, the repeated bleeding into joints, bones muscles may lead to synovitis, arthritis and permanent joint deformities. The bleeding itself can lead to wasting and atrophy of muscles. Boys and girls The sex of an individual is determined by a pair of “sex chromosomes” (a chromosome is a DNA molecule that contains genetic information). Females are identified with an XX pair of sex chromosomes, and males with an XY pair. When an X chromosome from the mother pairs up with the father’s X chromosome, the offspring is XX (female); when an X chromosome from the mother pairs up with the father’s Y chromosome, the offspring in XY (male). Haemophilia is caused by a defect in the X chromosome. If a girl is born with one defective X chromosome, her other X chromosome can compensate for it. In such a case, she is a carrier of haemophilia but will not suffer from the condition herself. Only if both her X chromosomes are defective will she suffer from haemophilia herself. On the other hand, if a boy is born with a defective X chromosome, he does not have the second X chromosome to compensate for it, and will suffer from haemophilia. That is the reason haemophilia is more common among men. Haemophilia in India It is a rare disorder worldwide — one type, called Haemophilia A, occurs in about 1 in 5,000 births, while Haemophilia B is even rarer at about 1 in about 20,000 births. A vast number of cases, however, are believed to go unreported, particularly in India. According to the World Federation of Haemophilia’s Annual Global Survey 2017, released in October 2018, there were over 1.96 lakh persons living with haemophilia across the world in 2017. In the country-wise data, India emerges with the highest count at nearly 19,000. 80% cases go unregistered, so that the actual count is close to 2 lakh. Diagnosis India is fast progressing in the field of hemophilia treatment but the core problem is of diagnosis. Tests for diagnosing Hemophilia are not expensive and can be done at district hospitals. There are two types of tests – Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT) Test and Prothrombin Time (PT) Test. The PT and APTT screenings are blood tests that show if the blood is clotting properly. Currently the only challenge is about screening which has a huge gap in the rural parts of India. Management The key to leading a better life with hemophilia is early detection and condition management and the responsibility for that lies with the parents. There is no cure for haemophilia, only management. The disorder can be managed by infusion of clotting factor, using medicines to promote clots and healing, avoiding bleeding, exercising regularly, avoiding contact sports, maintaining good dental hygiene and following safe practices. Medical management of the condition includes infusing blood clotting factor concentrates into the body to prevent bleeding. This is called prophylactic therapy and is administered on the basis of the patient’s weight. It also entails giving injections to the patient whenever they bleed, also called on demand prophylactic therapy. The efficacy of the medicine, contained in vials, is measured in units. Note: ‘Royal disease’: Britain’s Queen Victoria (1819-1901) is the world’s most widely known carrier of haemophilia. From her, the condition spread among a number of European royal families, which is why haemophilia was once known as the “royal disease”. Victoria passed on a defective X chromosome to three of her children. Her son Prince Leopold died at age 30 as a result of loss of blood after injury. Leopold’s daughter, Princess Alice of Albany, was a carrier whose son inherited haemophilia and died at age 21. von Willebrand disease (vWD) is another genetic bleeding disorder in which patients are prone to frequent bleeding such as nosebleeds, bleeding gums, and excessive menstrual periods. Unlike hemophilia, vWD affects men and women equally. Like hemophilia, the severity of vWD depends upon the level of the blood protein. The lower the level of protein in the blood, the more severe is the bleeding.

May 31, 2019 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 31st May 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 31st May 2019 Archives (MAINS FOCUS) NATIONAL/POLITY TOPIC: General studies 2 Refugee issue; Citizenship Amendment Bill. Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes. Bill of Rights Background: Towards the end of the previous government’s tenure, a number of controversial bills were introduced in Parliament.  In the social sphere, the government introduced the Transgender Bill, the Surrogacy Bill, and the Trafficking Bill. In each of the cases, the draft legislation was — correctly — introduced with the aim of addressing an existing lacuna in the legal landscape. However, when it came to the content of these bills, consultation with impacted communities was effectively eschewed, and the result was a set of drafts that, far from protecting rights, actively harmed them. Unsurprisingly, therefore, the draft bills were met with a spate of objections and protests. The Transgender Bill: It did away with the fundamental and non-negotiable principle — and one recognised by the Supreme Court in its NALSA judgment — of the right to self-determination of gender identity. Instead, it placed such decisions in the hands of government-appointed committees, extending state control over gender identities rather than liberating or emancipating them. It also contained deeply suspect provisions on gender reassignment surgery.  The Surrogacy Bill: It excluded LGBT individuals from its ambit (despite their recognition as equal citizens under the Constitution by the Supreme Court). It imposed discriminatory age restrictions upon men and women. Also entirely outlawing “commercial” surrogacy (instead of regulating it with appropriate safeguards) opened up space for underground and unreported exploitation of women, effectively creating a black market.  The Trafficking Bill: It criminalised begging without providing any manner of effective alternatives and failed to distinguish between non-consensual trafficking and consensual sex work. It thus opened the door to criminalising livelihoods on the basis of what was effectively a set of narrow, moral objections. The Citizenship Bill: Advertised as a measure for benefiting the vulnerable and the marginalised, the bill would have granted fast-track to citizenship to persecuted minorities from neighbouring countries, who were Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, and Christians — but not Muslims. This was, at a very basic level, illogical and self-contradictory, apart from being clearly discriminatory on grounds of religion: the examples of the Ahmadiyyas and the Baloch in Pakistan make it clear that, just like any other identity, there are communities of Muslims in neighbouring countries who face persecution on the basis of their religious beliefs. Strong movements in the northeastern States — concerned both about the demographic consequences and the anti-secular nature of the bill — ultimately forced the government to not go through with the legalisation. National Register of Citizens: It presumes that the people living in India are interlopers, unless they prove otherwise. The last government was planning to implement it pan-India.  Such a move would be a nightmare of administration and implementation, as the example from Assam has shown. There has been considerable — and continuing — confusion over the methods and form of identity that one can use to “prove” one’s citizenship (including “family trees”, which have been found to have a disproportionate impact upon vulnerable and minority claimants). The overlapping functions of the NRC process and the Foreigners Tribunals have added to the confusion. Core problem: Each of the bills dealt with intimate subjects such as individuals’ decisions of what to do with their body, personal dignity and autonomy, and gender identity. They concerned the rights of some of the most vulnerable and marginalised members of our society. They were drafted without adequately consulting with, or listening to, the members of the communities who were impacted. Instead of guaranteeing and securing the rights of these communities to be free from state interference, they extended the state’s control and domination. They were met by extensive and widespread protests from the communities themselves. What lies ahead? While the government is entitled to frame policies, and draft and implement legislation to enact those policies, there are certain constraints upon how it should go about that task. At the minimum, the voices of those who will be directly impacted by the policy should be listened to and engaged with in good faith. The basic constitutional principles and values ought to be respected. Connecting the dots: In the social sphere, the Transgender Bill, the Surrogacy Bill, and the Trafficking Bill were introduced by the last government. Discuss basic issues with each one of them. Also highlight the importance of engaging with the stakeholders and following basic constitutional principle before re-drafting these bills. NATIONAL/ECONOMY TOPIC: General studies 3 Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Measuring Employment in India Introduction: Modi 2.0 presents a new window of opportunity to usher in some fundamental reforms for the Indian economy.  A modern dynamic economy requires a robust statistical system to provide precise and real time estimates of several critical indicators. One of these is unemployment — which has been at the heart of prolonged acrimonious public debate in India for several years. Now is the time to move beyond the politics of unemployment to the real and pressing issue of measurement of unemployment. Way ahead: Measurement of economic indicators, for example the unemployment rate, is an apolitical issue that requires statistical expertise of the highest standards. Before the release of any figure, it is imperative to discuss, debate and deliberate the methodological issues around the measurement. For example, to measure the unemployment rate, it is practically impossible to conduct a periodic census of all citizens above 15 years. Therefore, we have to rely on the second-best option of conducting sample surveys, and the natural question is then about the size of the sample survey. Therefore, there can be no credible discussion on changes in unemployment from one period to another in the absence of a paper that outlines in detail the underlying sampling methodology. Even if the sample size issue is addressed to minimise what statisticians call sampling errors (the sample size might not be large enough to address the question of interest), there are issues relating to non-sampling errors. For example, suppose there is a job boom in the economy and the employed overwhelmingly refuse to participate in such surveys or do not answer all questions, then it is possible for the survey to indicate high unemployment. Therefore, non-participation is an important issue and methodological rigour requires for a survey to have transparent strategies to prevent or minimise these errors. Having local and real time socio-economic indicators: India is a large, complex and diverse economy that is undergoing structural transformation. Hence, we are moving towards precision policy-making which requires local and real time socio-economic indicators. The nature and incidence of unemployment, for example, differs from state to state. This requires local measures of unemployment so that economic policies can be tailored depending on local conditions. For instance, unemployment is a rural phenomenon in several states, while in others it is concentrated in urban areas. Involving state governments: The state governments will have to participate along with the central government to have comparable uniform measures of periodic unemployment. Unfortunately, at present, several state governments do not have the capacity to conduct regular surveys. Robust statistical systems will require that we begin to create such local capabilities urgently. It is time to move beyond one-size-fits-all solutions to more inclusive solutions that take into account local conditions. Conclusion: Any figure should be accompanied with a wise and reasoned account of its liability to systematic and fluctuating errors. For a figure as important as the employment-unemployment data, which is to serve as the basis of many important decision, the accompanying account becomes important than the figure itself. To enhance India’s statistical capabilities, India move beyond the politics of it and focus on measuring with precision. Connecting the dots: There is neither credible evidence of a job crisis in India, nor credible evidence of the absence of it. The problem requires a serious effort by the government to address issues of measurement. Comment. MUST READ Capital buffers The Hindu Changing the Earth The Hindu We need a quality revolution in public-policy decision making Livemint

May 30, 2019 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 30th May 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 30th May 2019 Archives (MAINS FOCUS) NATIONAL/ECONOMY TOPIC: General studies 3 Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Merger of NSSO with CSO: Integrity of data In news: The government has recently decided to merge the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) into and under the Central Statistics Office (CSO). About NSSO: The National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) headed by a Director General is responsible for conduct of large-scale sample surveys in diverse fields on All India basis. Primarily data are collected through nation-wide household surveys on various socio-economic subjects, Annual Survey of Industries (ASI), etc. Besides these surveys, NSSO collects data on rural and urban prices and plays a significant role in the improvement of crop statistics through supervision of the area enumeration and crop estimation surveys of the State agencies. Budget allocations and personnel of the NSSO have always been under the Department of Statistics. The present system: Every year various departments of government send a list of subjects that they would like to be investigated by the NSSO. The requests are sent to the National Statistical Commission (NSC). The proposals are discussed at length keeping in view the budget allocations, availability of trained field staff and supervisors. The tasks of sampling design, the scope and content of information to be collected, design of schedules and protocols of field work are left to be decided by special working groups. These groups are chaired by experts from academia, and senior officials of the CSO and the NSSO, State government representatives as well as select non-official experts. Once the field work is over, the groups decide the detailed tabulation programme, and the tables to be prepared for publication. The tabulated results are discussed in detail by the NSC and are published after its approval. Importance of NSSO data and reports: The government decided some years back to put all tabulations and the primary data on open access, especially to academic and other interested users. This stimulated and facilitated the use of these data for intensive analyses by numerous researchers. They have been used extensively for monitoring of trends and critical assessment of several important aspects of the economy and society, such as poverty and inequality, consumption patterns, employment, household savings and investment, and health-seeking behaviour. They have spawned intense as well as creative controversies over survey methodology, quality of data, and interpretation of structure and trends. These have played an important role in shaping policy and in improving the surveys. Issue: The NSSO surveys command wide respect among academics, State governments and NGOs as the most reliable and comparable basis for discussions in the public, policy and even political arenas. This is based on their well-earned reputation for professionalism, independence and integrity. The existing institutional arrangement in which the NSC, as a professional body independent of government, has not only functioned smoothly but also commands confidence and respect both within the country and abroad must be maintained. Widespread apprehensions that the proposed absorption of NSSO into the CSO could compromise the surveys by subjecting their review and publication to government approval must therefore be addressed. Scope for improvement: It is widely recognised that there is scope for improvement in the functioning of the NSSO and the way data are collected. Following problems are well known: The NSSO doesn’t have adequate budgetary allocations. There is an acute shortage of trained field staff. The scale of surveys is un-manageably large mainly because the users demand a degree of detail in content and regional disaggregation of estimates. The solutions call for action by the institutions responsible for gathering data by investing in continuing research on improving sampling design, field survey methods and validation of data. Correcting these deficiencies is entirely in the domain of government. Conclusion: Increasing the role of CSO officials in running the NSSO will not solve the above mentioned problems, but they can help by providing funds for specialised research on survey design and methodology. The necessity and importance of such research calls for far greater attention and resources than they receive at present. Connecting the dots: In light of recent merger of NSSO with CSO, explain the importance of maintaining the integrity of NSSO and hence of data. 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 India-Japan Strengthening relationships Introduction: Japan and India are already blessed with warm friendship and solid trust. With the continuation of the Modi administration, Japan and India have been given a valuable chance to elevate the relationship to “greater heights”, as Prime Minister Modi assured Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Focus areas: Japan and India has teamed up for India’s economic and social development through combination of Japan’s official development assistance (ODA) and private sector engagement. Japan has been the largest supporter of India in terms of ODA. Big infrastructure projects such as Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail as well as metros in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad and Bengaluru are few examples. Bettering the lives of Indian people, including at the grass roots level: Under Swachh Bharat Mission, Japan is assisting efforts to clean the Ganga, to construct sewage treatment plants, and to ensure better sanitation through reliable and affordable toilets. Japan is also determined to support projects related to rural development, sustainable forest conservation and disaster risk reduction. A vibrant private sector is an indispensable ingredient to collaboration. Japan is already one of the largest investors in India and more Japanese companies are expected to invest and operate. The Indian government needs to continue its economic reform efforts to make the Indian market more investment and business friendly. The window of business collaboration is wide open along with manufacturing for digital, IT, AI and telecommunications. India’s incredible IT talents complement Japan’s technological vigour. The partnership between Japan and India carries increasing weight for the peace and prosperity of a wider region. The Special Strategic and Global Partnership is special as it is supported by shared values such as democracy, freedom, and the rule of law. Working with other like-minded countries, including the US, ASEAN members and Australia, Japan and India for this direction is important. Japan and India are collaborating on development projects in countries, in regions as diverse as South Asia and Africa, to translate this vision into a reality. Quality infrastructure holds the key to enhancing connectivity in the region, providing long-term and sustainable benefits. The most recent effort includes a joint collaboration with Sri Lanka to develop the Colombo South Port and make it a shipping hub of the Indian Ocean. Japan’s commitment to the development of and better connectivity in India’s Northeast is a part of joint efforts for regional stability and prosperity. Japan and India can be true partners on the global stage, closely collaborating in such areas as the SDGs, United Nations reform, including Security Council reform, global warming mitigation and free and open multilateral trading systems. A meaningful conclusion of the RCEP negotiations by the end of this year will be helpful. Conclusion: India could become the most populous country in the world by the end of the new government’s tenure, with its economy on a steady ascent. Japanese Prime Minister Abe stresses that “A strong India is in Japan’s interest, and a strong Japan is in India’s interest”. In a world where uncertainties and unpredictability are pervasive, a firm Japan-India relationship exemplifies a strong force that promises stability. Connecting the dots: A strong India is in Japan’s interest, and a strong Japan is in India’s interest. Critically analyse. MUST READ Breaking out of the middle-growth orbit The Hindu An election of trust Indian Express

May 30, 2019 AIR

All India Radio (AIR) IAS UPSC - Successful Launch of guided Missile Destroyer 'INS Imphal'

Successful Launch of guided Missile Destroyer 'INS Imphal' ARCHIVES Search 21st April, 2019 Spotlight here: http://www.newsonair.com/Main_Audio_Bulletins_Search.aspx TOPIC: General Studies 3 Defence and Security issues Science and Technology The Indian Navy on launched its third  state-of-the-art warship – guided missile destroyer as part of its Project 15B, which is aimed at adding state-of-the-art warships to the naval fleet. The launch marks yet another significant milestone in the annals of the indigenous warship design and construction programme of India. 1st: INS Vishakhapatnam 2nd: INS Mormugao 3rd: INS Imphal 4th: INS Porbandar Project 15B Project 15B ships feature cutting edge advanced technology and are comparable to the best ships of similar class anywhere in the world. These ships have been designed indigenously by the Indian Navy’s Directorate of Naval Design. With significant indigenous content, these ships are an example of the ‘Make in India’ philosophy. Design & Specifications Each warship spans 163 metres in length and 17.4 metres at beam, and displaces 7300 tonnes. These ships will be propelled by four gas turbines to achieve speeds in excess of 30 knots. The P15B destroyers incorporate new design concepts for improved survivability, sea keeping, stealth and ship manoeuvrability. Enhanced stealth features have been achieved through shaping of hull and use of radar transparent deck fitting, which make these ships difficult to detect. P 15B ships will be equipped to carry and operate two multiple role helicopters. The ships are packed with an array of state-of-the-art weapons and sensors, including multi-functional surveillance radars and vertically launched missile system for long-distance engagement of shore, sea-based and air targets. How does Indian Navy name its vessels? The new Visakhapatnam-class destroyer INS Imphal is the first Indian Navy ship to be named after a city in the Northeast. The name 'INS Imphal' was chosen to commemorate the Indian soldiers who fought the 1944 Battle of Imphal and Kohima during the Second World War. A memorial in the middle of Manipur’s capital city Imphal stands proof of the bloody war between the invading Japanese forces and the allied army. The Internal Nomenclature Committee (INC) at the Ministry of Defence is responsible for naming ships and submarines. The Assistant Chief of Naval Staff heads the INC, and other members include representatives from the historical section of the ministry and the archaeology department of the human resource development ministry. It is a tradition to name the ships and submarines after the various aspects of the Indian republic. Naming ships in this fashion allows them to address the diversity of India. To maintain uniformity among vessels of a certain type, the INC adheres to certain policy guidelines. For instance, aircraft carriers get abstract names, frigates are named after mountain ranges, rivers or weapons, and corvettes are named after personal arms. Destroyers: All the destroyers of the Indian Navy are named after important cities, or historical Indian warriors, or rivers. Frigates and cruisers: Both the frigates and cruisers are named after mountain ranges, rivers or personal weapons. Submarine fleet: The submarines of the Indian Navy are named after predatory fish or abstract names associated with the ocean. India’s nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine is called INS Arihant, and belongs to the Arihant class. The nuclear-powered attack submarine is called INS Chakra and belongs to the Chakra class. Note: India’s only active aircraft carrier that belongs to the Kiev class: INS Vikramaditya