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60 Days Plan: UPSC IAS Prelims 2019 - Science & Technology and Current Affairs (Day 17)

60 Days Plan: UPSC IAS Prelims 2019 - Science & Technology and Current Affairs (Day 17) 60 Day plan has been published on the website (www.iasbaba.com - Click here). Since we have come up with the 'Quiz Format', it will not be feasible to publish it on the app. For feasibility and getting to know where you stand among your peers (we have a leaderboard which gives your marks and rank) it would be advisable to take the test on the website. All the best. make the best use of the initiative ! Before taking the Test, read the post below, ARCHIVES Hello Friends,  The most beloved 60 Days for UPSC IAS Prelims 2019  has finally begun :) Once again the time has come for the battle (Prelims). And who else than your best companion in the last preparatory phase for UPSC IAS Prelims 2019 i.e 60 days plan. It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.  Hope the message given above makes sense to you all. The productive utilization of this programme demands consistency, honesty, faith and strong determination to be in the process of learning and unlearning. You might not be fully prepared to solve all the questions but the learning and unlearning through these questions will prepare you for the real battle on 2nd June 2019. You have to unlearn your repetitive mistakes, gut feeling on which you mark doubtful questions. You have to learn new things and also those concepts that you were very sure of but somehow because of traps in the option, got it wrong. You have to learn 'how to convert knowledge into marks' (Because most of the times, after ending the exam, you regret making mistakes in known concepts).  Secondly, keep a long distance from following too many things at this point. It will always backfire. Once you are here, put complete faith and follow this initiative along with whatever you were doing. It is very important to consolidate your preparation with many revisions. Simply following many things will leave you in despair. You can cross check this with veterans. Everything that seems attractive is not productive. You should always go for productivity. Be wise! Let us pledge to make it a big game changer (better than last year) in the next 60 days of this plan! Importance of Self - Tracking: Learning from Last Year Last year, aspirants used to type/post their answers in the comment box on a daily basis. There were huge participation and discussion below the test post. Putting answers in the comment box has been very effective to self-track yourself after updating the score. In the end, you can cross check your performance through Disqus profile. It was highly effective in the last edition of 60 Days that propelled aspirants to monitor their performance and learn through discussion. Let you solve these questions with full honesty and write your result in the comment box. Interact with peers to know your mistakes. The importance of this initiative stands time-bound and aggressive reverse engineering to learn the concepts. Many of you must be busy with your own strategy but let us tell you honestly that in the last few months, it is very important to revise and consolidate your learning. Just reading won’t suffice. So, take out a few hours from your schedule and make it a revision exercise. How can you make the best use of it? Be honest to your effort and do not start competing with XYZ aspirants just for the sake of marks. It is more important for you to introspect and check your learning than focusing on others. Try to answer the questions in 25 minutes only.  Do not get into negative feeling that I don’t have enough knowledge to answer these questions. Feel like you are taking the real exam. What would be your response then? The same will be replicated in the UPSC exam. Here, you get marks only and nothing else matters. So, make effort to know the answers to all questions. Do not cheat :P DETAILED MICRO ANALYSIS MATRIX SAMPLE- is given here. You can download this and do an assessment for yourself (the excel sheet must be modified as per this years planning. The provided excel sheet is only for reference).  DOWNLOAD You can copy paste the same format/modify as per your need in Google Spreadsheet and update it on daily basis. Feedback talks about daily test results. Follow-up talks about daily target achieved from sources and the number of revisions to do/done and dates. Sources column is to ensure that aspirants do not run behind various sources and follow the same throughout. Would like to end on this quote:  Either you run the day or the day runs you.  Are you ready? Let's start! Important Note Don't forget to post your marks in the comment section. Also, let us know if you enjoyed today's test :)  You can post your comments in the given format  (1) Your Score (2) Matrix Meter (3) New Learning from the Test

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

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 21st March 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Nipah virus alert in Tripura Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II- Government internventions in key sectors; Health issue In news: The Tripura government sounded an alert after the death of five members of a family in Nipah virus attack in a Bangladesh village bordering West Bengal. Key pointers: About Nipah virus Nipah Virus is an emerging infectious disease that broke out in Malaysia and Singapore in 1998 and 1999. It first appeared in domestic pigs and has been found among several species of domestic animals including dogs, cats, goats, horses and sheep. The infection is also known to affect human beings. The organism which causes Nipah Virus encephalitis is an RNA or Ribonucleic acid virus. Nipah virus infection gets its name from the village in Malaysia where the person from whom the virus was first isolated succumbed to the disease. Pic: https://iasbaba.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/PIB.png How does Nipah spread or get transmitted? The disease spreads through fruit bats or ‘flying foxes,’ of the genus Pteropus, who are natural reservoir hosts of the Nipah and Hendra viruses. The virus is present in bat urine and potentially, bat faeces, saliva, and birthing fluids. Nipah Virus, which is a zoonotic disease, was known to affect humans in Malaysia and Singapore after coming in direct contact with the excretions or secretions of infected pigs. Symptoms of the Nipah infection: The human infection presents as an encephalitic syndrome marked by fever, headache, drowsiness, disorientation, mental confusion, coma, and potentially death. There is no specific treatment for Nipah Virus. The primary treatment for human cases is intensive supportive care. ‘Rights of children caught in parental conflict need focus’ Part of: GS Mains II – Social/Children issue In news: Supreme Court expressed its “deepest concerns” about the plight of children caught in the emotional roller-coaster of their parents’ divorce and custody battles. The rights of children caught in the middle of an ugly divorce or a custody battle between parents need specific articulation, the SC said. Innocent child ultimately suffer due to legal and psychological war waged between the parents. SC calls for negotiated settlement between petitioners. (MAINS FOCUS) INTERNATIONAL/SECURITY ISSUE TOPIC: General Studies 2 and 3 Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security Security challenges and their management Governance issues Countering Islamophobia Context: The massacre at Christchurch in New Zealand show Islamophobia is real, deadly and spreading around the world. The incident has forced many countries (esp. European) into deep introspection. People are being asked to look at the reality of increasing malice and hatred against Muslims in particular and immigrants in general. Islamophobia Islamophobia is the fear, prejudice and hatred of Muslims and people perceived to be Muslim that leads to provocation, hostility and intolerance. It is motivated by institutional, ideological, political and religious hostility, and can merge with racism to target the symbols and markers of a being a Muslim. A string of attacks targeting Muslims The past few years have seen a number of deadly Islamophobic attacks in Europe and North America. India, home to the second largest population of Muslims in the world, has also witnessed attacks on mosques — Malegaon, Mecca Masjid, Ajmer Sharif etc. Such attacks, therefore, not be dismissed as the act of one deranged person acting alone but as a manifestation of deep-seated hatred against Muslims among some segments of societies. Roots of Islamophobia: There are several factors – Acts of terrorism carried out by extremist Muslim groups against innocent civilians. Attacks on 9/11 and other similar acts in London, Madrid, Orlando, Mumbai and elsewhere have augmented the feeling against the “barbaric” world of Islam. Historical depiction of the Muslim world as the definitive “other” in the Orientalist literature produced from the eighteenth to the twentieth centuries by European authors. Perception of Muslims has traditionally been highly negative in character. Muslims were perceived to be racially and militarily inferior and at the same time as perpetually rebellious subjects against colonial rule. Since many rebellions adopted the religious idiom of “jihad” to garner popular support they were perceived in the metropolitan countries as wars between Islam and the West. Exclusivist Wahhabi ideology that preaches hostility toward non-Muslims as well as Muslims who refuse to accept its narrow and insular interpretation of Islam. Clashes between exclusivist ideologies – White supremacy and Islamist radicalism. Hundreds and thousands of column inches of hatred printed in the press, many Muslim-hating politicians and unchecked social media bigotry. Policy makers and implementers unabashedly express their Islamophobia under cover of national security. The way ahead: It is important that the people work constantly to identify Islamophobia in all forms and demand action against those who promote it. Only education that emphasizes anti-racism and acceptance of cultural and religious diversity will eventually be able to do counter the above mentioned factors encouraging Islamophobia. The ultimate goal in countering Islamophobia should be to create a fair and just society for all, one that values and safeguards the citizenship of its members. Connecting the dots: The past few years have seen a number of deadly Islamophobic attacks around the world. Critically examine what factors are leading to the proliferation of Islamophobia and what measures/strategies are needed to counter Islamophobia. How did the 9/11 attack in the United States change the world? Discuss. SECURITY ISSUE TOPIC: General Studies 3 Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security Security challenges and their management Governance issues Countering Terrorism Context: Terrorism has no place in a civilised world and is completely contrary to all religious tenets. India has emerged as one of the world’s most consistent targets of Islamist militants. Thousands of civilians (including the armed forces, paramilitary forces and the police) have died in India in terrorist strikes. How to counter terrorism in a manner far more effective than what has been done by governments so far? The country suffers from a fragmented and inefficient bureaucracy, far fewer resources than developed countries even though it faces a higher threat level, and a political elite focused primarily on electoral politics. There have been absences of accountability and repeated failures by intelligence agencies, the police, the Army, and bureaucrats and politicians who frame and implement policies. Counterterrorism and intelligence units, especially local police, are often poorly trained and equipped. In addition to these organizational challenges, many of the security institutions at all levels of government are understaffed, undertrained, and technologically backward. Lives and productivity of people is dependent on the quality and efficiency of public services. Conclusion The government must act swiftly and let citizens know that it means business when it says it will fight against terrorism. It is not enough to remember the dead, hold prayer meetings, and compensate families. True homage can only be paid when action is taken against those responsible for failures. For instance, attacks in Pathankot and Uri in 2016 revealed chinks in India’s armour. However, apart from taking action against a few, no large-scale accountability was fixed by the Modi government. Godhra tragedy in 2002: No responsible officer from the civil or police administration in Gujarat was held accountable for failing to save the lives (even after intelligence inputs of a possible attack in Godhra were available). The fight against terrorism can never succeed without holding those in power responsible for costly lapses. The process of bolstering Indian counterterrorism capabilities will be long and difficult, and is unlikely to bring any sudden successes, but it is nevertheless essential. Connecting the dots: Examine how to counter terrorism in a manner far more effective than what has been done by governments so far? What strategy should India adopt in order to deal with proxy-wars from the neighbouring countries? MUST READ A short history of data The Hindu Reality of impunity, rhetoric of human rights The Hindu For a healthy planet The Hindu A misunderstood scheme Indian Express It's the economy, stupid Indian Express Justice and the manifesto Indian Express

60 Days Plan: UPSC IAS Prelims 2019 - Geography and Current Affairs (Day 16)

60 Days Plan: UPSC IAS Prelims 2019 - Geography and Current Affairs (Day 16) 60 Day plan has been published on the website (www.iasbaba.com - Click here). Since we have come up with the 'Quiz Format', it will not be feasible to publish it on the app. For feasibility and getting to know where you stand among your peers (we have a leaderboard which gives your marks and rank) it would be advisable to take the test on the website. All the best. make the best use of the initiative ! Before taking the Test, read the post below, ARCHIVES Hello Friends,  The most beloved 60 Days for UPSC IAS Prelims 2019  has finally begun :) Once again the time has come for the battle (Prelims). And who else than your best companion in the last preparatory phase for UPSC IAS Prelims 2019 i.e 60 days plan. It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.  Hope the message given above makes sense to you all. The productive utilization of this programme demands consistency, honesty, faith and strong determination to be in the process of learning and unlearning. You might not be fully prepared to solve all the questions but the learning and unlearning through these questions will prepare you for the real battle on 2nd June 2019. You have to unlearn your repetitive mistakes, gut feeling on which you mark doubtful questions. You have to learn new things and also those concepts that you were very sure of but somehow because of traps in the option, got it wrong. You have to learn 'how to convert knowledge into marks' (Because most of the times, after ending the exam, you regret making mistakes in known concepts).  Secondly, keep a long distance from following too many things at this point. It will always backfire. Once you are here, put complete faith and follow this initiative along with whatever you were doing. It is very important to consolidate your preparation with many revisions. Simply following many things will leave you in despair. You can cross check this with veterans. Everything that seems attractive is not productive. You should always go for productivity. Be wise! Let us pledge to make it a big game changer (better than last year) in the next 60 days of this plan! Importance of Self - Tracking: Learning from Last Year Last year, aspirants used to type/post their answers in the comment box on a daily basis. There were huge participation and discussion below the test post. Putting answers in the comment box has been very effective to self-track yourself after updating the score. In the end, you can cross check your performance through Disqus profile. It was highly effective in the last edition of 60 Days that propelled aspirants to monitor their performance and learn through discussion. Let you solve these questions with full honesty and write your result in the comment box. Interact with peers to know your mistakes. The importance of this initiative stands time-bound and aggressive reverse engineering to learn the concepts. Many of you must be busy with your own strategy but let us tell you honestly that in the last few months, it is very important to revise and consolidate your learning. Just reading won’t suffice. So, take out a few hours from your schedule and make it a revision exercise. How can you make the best use of it? Be honest to your effort and do not start competing with XYZ aspirants just for the sake of marks. It is more important for you to introspect and check your learning than focusing on others. Try to answer the questions in 25 minutes only.  Do not get into negative feeling that I don’t have enough knowledge to answer these questions. Feel like you are taking the real exam. What would be your response then? The same will be replicated in the UPSC exam. Here, you get marks only and nothing else matters. So, make effort to know the answers to all questions. Do not cheat :P DETAILED MICRO ANALYSIS MATRIX SAMPLE- is given here. You can download this and do an assessment for yourself (the excel sheet must be modified as per this years planning. The provided excel sheet is only for reference).  DOWNLOAD You can copy paste the same format/modify as per your need in Google Spreadsheet and update it on daily basis. Feedback talks about daily test results. Follow-up talks about daily target achieved from sources and the number of revisions to do/done and dates. Sources column is to ensure that aspirants do not run behind various sources and follow the same throughout. Would like to end on this quote:  Either you run the day or the day runs you.  Are you ready? Let's start! Important Note Don't forget to post your marks in the comment section. Also, let us know if you enjoyed today's test :)  You can post your comments in the given format  (1) Your Score (2) Matrix Meter (3) New Learning from the Test

RSTV Video

RSTV IAS UPSC – Elections and Women Card

Elections and Women Card Archives General Studies 1 Role of women and women’s organization, women related issues, Social empowerment General studies 2 Mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections. Parliament and State Legislatures, structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these. In News: The biggest festival of democracy that is General Elections has begun in India and almost 50 per cent of the total 90 crore voters this time are women. The turnout of women voters has seen a rapid increase over the last few years with the highest being at 65.5 per cent in the previous Lok Sabha elections. However, the scenario is entirely different when we talk about political equality to women. According to a study conducted by Association of Democratic Reforms less than 10 per cent of the candidates who contested elections in the recent past are women. This is a far cry from the demand to give 33 per cent reservation to women in political parties and government. For the General election this time, so far two regional parties have announced reservation for women in ticket distribution - Biju Janta Dal in Odisha has given 33 percent and Trinamool Congress in West Bengal has given 41.5 per cent of its tickets to women candidates. Current Status across the World India ranks 153 out of 190 nations in the percentage of women in the lower house of world parliaments. According to a list compiled by the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Rwanda ranks first with 61% of its lower house representatives being women. As a region, Nordic countries are leaders with an average of about 40%. The UK and the US are relative laggards with 32% and 23%, respectively. The United States’ current tally, though still moderate, is bolstered by a very strong showing by women in the recent congressional elections. Even Pakistan with 20% participation from women is ahead of India. India had 65 women out of 545 members of Parliament (MPs) elected to the 16th Lok Sabha in May 2014, for a 12% representation. Only the 15th and 16th Lok Sabha changed a previously stagnant representation of under 9% recorded by Indian women MPs since Independence. How does it matter? The Indian system has electoral representation to the Lok Sabha based on population. Thus, Uttar Pradesh with a population of over 200 million people has 80 MPs, Bihar with a population of 100 million has 40 seats and Maharashtra with a population of 114 million has 48. Four of the north-eastern states—Nagaland, Mizoram, Meghalaya and Sikkim—have only one seat each. Uttar Pradesh shows a better than national average representation of 17.5% (14 MPs) by women, while Maharashtra has the national average of 12.5% (6 seats) and Bihar is much below the national average at 7.9% (3 seats). While we allocate total seats to states by population, the resultant women’s representation at 12% is far below the actual population of women. There is documented evidence both at the international level and at the gram panchayat (village) level to suggest that a greater representation of women in elected office balances the process and prioritizations that elected bodies focus on. In an influential paper, Esther Duflo and Raghabendra Chattopadhyay (NBER Working Paper 8615) show that in a randomised trial in West Bengal, women pradhans (heads of village panchayats) focus on infrastructure that is relevant to the needs of rural women, suggesting that at least at the local level outcomes can be different. What needs to be done to have more women in Parliament? Quotas for women in Parliament - The 73rd and 74th amendments to the Indian Constitution reserve one-third of local body seats for women. Reservation for one-third of the seats for women in the Lok Sabha has been tabled as a bill several times until as recently as 2008. Each time the bill has lapsed (requires a constitutional amendment). Implementation is complex as constituencies may have to be rotated and/or we may need dual member constituencies. Reservation for women in political parties Awareness, education and role modelling that encourage women towards politics Conclusion There needs to be an Election Commission-led effort to encourage reservation for women in political parties in India to atleast set the ball rolling in a more meritocratic manner. Having more female legislators in parliament will drive the country's development at a faster pace as a new talent pool will be available. Reservation in political parties will also require education, encouragement, and role-modelling for women to aspire to a political role as it is in the party’s interest to ensure that their candidate wins. It is also important to understand that political reservation for women should not be confused with reservation for other reasons—caste, class or religion—as this complicates and derails the discussion. Note: Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay was the first Indian woman to contest an election. Connecting the Dots: Parties field fewer women because voters lack faith in women leaders’ abilities — a vicious cycle we need to break. Discuss. By undermining the agency of women, a society does great disservice to itself. Elucidate. Constitutional guarantee for gender equality remains vacuous independent of complementary value systems. Comment.  

AIR

All India Radio (AIR) IAS UPSC - Bilateral Relations of India and Saudi Arabia

Bilateral Relations of India and Saudi Arabia ARCHIVES Search 20th February, 2019 Spotlight here: http://www.newsonair.com/Audio-Archive-Search.aspx TOPIC: General studies 2: 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 During the Cold War the relations between India and Saudi Arabia were largely shaped by the Pakistan factor which in turn inhibited both sides from exploring the importance and value of one another. As a result, the relations were largely transactional and marginal. The end of the Cold War coincided with two interesting developments, namely, significant growth in India’s economic power and influence and the de-hyphenation of Pakistan from its Middle East policy. This resulted in greater political engagements between India and Saudi Arabia and was strengthened by the growing energy trade ties. Saudi Arabia is a unique country at least in two specific details – Possesses more than a quarter of the global oil reserves and has been the largest oil producer for over half-a-century (plus the only country with a spare production capacity). The holiest Islamic shrines are located in Makkah and Medina, placing the country in the epicentre of the Muslim sacred space. Trade has been the dominant factor in India's relationship with Saudi Arabia, with the import of oil being a major component. In 2013 India had already become the third largest energy consumer in the world. Such a condition has always directed India to the Middle East, which is both geographically close and strategically important. India views Saudi Arabia as a country with which it can forge security ties in order to deal with terrorism, piracy and criminal elements. Diplomatically, it could be a gateway for India into the wider Arab and Islamic world. In recent years, Saudi Arabia has reciprocated India's initiatives relating to issues of mutual interest. India’s Saudi policy, however, face many challenges most importantly the regional instability, the Iran factor, low oil price and the international dynamics. Although some hurdles remain, it is time for both countries to work towards building a strong strategic partnership. India and Saudi Arabia have more opportunities today to tap into than ever before. Trade Story The bilateral trade for 2017-18, in excess of $27 billion, will accelerate as Saudi Arabia and India engage in a host of new areas such as information and communications technology (ICT), health care, defence, biotechnology, education and infrastructure among others. India is one of the top countries on the Kingdom’s preferred list with great potential for investment in organic and food processing industries. Energy partnership As of October 2018, Saudi Aramco has nearly $2 billion in material-service sourcing with Indian companies, and investing in India’s value chain from oil supply, marketing and refining to petrochemicals and lubricants is a key part of its global downstream strategy. The $44 billion integrated refinery and petrochemicals complex at Ratnagiri in Maharashtra, being jointly developed by Saudi Aramco, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and a consortium of Indian public sector units (PSUs) consisting of Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), is yet another milestone. Expansion of trade and investment: Saudi has shown interest in expanding trade and investment in India and collaboration in the energy sector. India could likely absorb $100 billion in Saudi investment. Ratnagiri refinery and petrochemicals complex joint venture: Saudi Aramco is set to partner with the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company in developing an integrated refinery and petrochemicals complex at Ratnagiri in Maharashtra, a $44 billion joint venture with Indian public sector involvement. Largest supplier of oil: Saudi Arabia is already one of the three largest suppliers of oil to India. Strategic Partnership Council: Both the countries have a strong independent strategic partnership and it will be further strengthened with the launching of the Strategic Partnership Council. People-to-people relations: There were announcements of the release of 850 Indians from Saudi jails, a hike in the quota for Indians making the Haj pilgrimage and an annual upscaling of airline seats to and fro. Comprehensive security dialogue and counter terrorism: A comprehensive security dialogue between the national security advisers of the two nations has been announced, besides a joint working group on terrorism. Inaugural joint naval exercises soon: Both agreed to hold their inaugural joint naval exercises at the earliest. The Saudi-India-Pakistan triangle The Saudi Foreign Minister’s statement in Islamabad during MBS’s visit that Riyadh is committed to “de-escalating” tensions between India and Pakistan over Kashmir must not be read as an endorsement of the Indian stand but as an attempt to intervene in the dispute rather than accept its bilateral nature. New Delhi should, therefore, not be overly optimistic that growing Saudi-Indian relations in the economic sphere will succeed in prying Riyadh away from Islamabad. Pakistan is far too important to Saudi Arabia for internal security reasons for Riyadh to sacrifice its stake in Islamabad in order to appease New Delhi. The Pakistan Army has more than once acted as the Saudi rulers’ praetorian guard and given the uncertain hold of MBS on his country, despite impressions to the contrary, he may need the services of Pakistani mercenaries in the near future. Afghanistan has been a point of strategic convergence for Pakistan and Saudi Arabia going back to the 1980s when the Saudis used Pakistan as a conduit for material assistance to the Islamist forces fighting the Soviet Union and its proxy government in Kabul. With U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and the consequent expansion of Taliban influence very much on the cards, Pakistan’s strategic value as the Taliban’s patron has grown exponentially. Saudi Arabia is interested in curbing Iranian influence in Afghanistan and needs Pakistan to contain Tehran’s ability to influence events in that country after the American withdrawal through its Tajik and Hazara allies. One of the most important pillars for India’s great power aspiration is widened strategic influence. New Delhi has to increase the bandwidth of its foreign policy and find more areas of mutual interest and strategic convergence in the Middle East without disrupting the balance it has created in the region in terms of both bilateral and multilateral engagements. Connecting the Dots: India should take advantage of any benefit that accrues from India’s economic relations with Saudi Arabia but should not pin much hope on Riyadh in the political-strategic sphere. Discuss. India’s “Link West” policy has seen both continuity and change. Comment.

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

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 20th March 2019 Archives (MAINS FOCUS) NATIONAL/EDUCATION TOPIC: General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes. Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. Important aspects of governance and related issues. Transforming education outcomes Context: The education department has the largest share of employees. Besides the frontline service providers (teachers), there are a number of other officials and administrators who form an important part of the educational set-up. Therefore, given the size of the education department, any effort to introduce education reforms must ensure that the incentives of all stakeholders are aligned throughout the system to ensure their participation. A successful example of implementing such a road map can be seen in Haryana, which has created a race among its administrative blocks to be declared as ‘Saksham’ (which means abled/skilled) i.e. have 80% or more students who are grade level competent. The Haryana Case Study: Saksham programme After a string of poor results in the board exams, the Annual Survey of Education Report (ASER) and the National Assessment Survey (NAS), Haryana decided to go for systematic transformation and a Quality Improvement Programme was launched from 2014 to 2017. The Saksham Haryana programme was started in 2017 on a mission mode. How Saksham scheme has brought transformation? Student assessment tests In the new scenario, the state conducts student assessment tests (SAT) for all classes every two months. The State Council of Education Research and Training prepares the tests. The performance at the level of a school and a teacher can be monitored online through a dashboard to which District Education Officers, teachers, and school heads have access. The tests are both objective and subjective. Saksham Ghoshna Under this campaign, State officials nominate their block for the ‘Saksham Ghoshna’ once they are reasonably confident that their block has achieved the 80% target — as a result of remedial programmes, teacher training and internal assessments. This self-nomination is then followed by rigorous rounds of third party assessments to vet their claims. Third party assessment On the basis of the performance in SAT, schools are nominated for the Saksham test conducted by a third party, again every two months. A scientific sampling method is used to choose schools, which offer best representation of rural, urban, boys, girls, primary and secondary schools. Remedial teaching Under the Learning Enhancement Programme (LEP), remedial teaching is done for all classes for an hour in the morning. Under the Digital Learning Enhancement Programme (DigiLEP), 28,000 primary teachers have been connected through 145 WhatsApp groups. Videos of subject experts are shared on these chat groups. Monitoring The Saksham programme is reviewed by the SDM at the block level and by the Deputy Commissioner at the district level every month while at the state level it is reviewed by the Chief Minister quarterly. Then the Additional Chief Secretary Education conducts a bi-monthly check with Deputy Commissioners every month. Do you know? According to the latest third party assessment in February 2019, 94 blocks out of a total of 119 in Haryana have been declared ‘Saksham’ and overall grade competence has been assessed at 80%, which is a giant leap in learning outcomes when compared to the overall grade competence of 40% in 2014. Given these early successes, many other States are also embarking on such programmes. NITI Aayog has developed the State-level ‘School Education Quality Index’ (SEQI). It gives scores to States based on their educational performance and puts this data out in the public domain. About ‘School Education Quality Index’ (SEQI) The SEQI is a composite index that will report annual improvements of States on key domains of education quality, conceptualized and designed by NITI Aayog and the MHRD. SEQI seeks to make improvements in learning outcomes a focal point of governance. The SEQI uses three data sources – including the National Achievement Survey (NAS) In order to precisely report the quality of education imparted across India, the SEQI is divided into two categories: Outcomes and Governance & Management. NITI Aayog’s Aspirational Districts programme It was launched in early 2018 This landmark programme recognises the disparities in development across states and districts It focuses on transforming 115 districts across 28 states that have witnessed the least progress along certain development parameters. Here, 112 under-served districts across the country compete with each other in order to achieve targets in five crucial sectors; these include education, which has among a weightage of 30%. These districts are monitored real-time and ranked on the basis of their progress. Conclusion: The valuable lesson from all this is that inducing competition among administrative units helps invigorate key stakeholders to work in tandem in order to achieve intended outcomes. Competition also makes abstract goals such as ‘learning outcomes’ more real. Further, with encouragement from above, such campaigns lead to a shift in the mindset of a State’s education administrators, many of whom otherwise believe that high learning outcomes are almost unachievable. Political commitment to improving the quality of education backed by strong review and monitoring mechanisms can spur meaningful activity in States. Improvement in learning outcomes is an immediate goal for India to fulfil its aspirations of playing a greater role in the global economy and a systemic transformation is the best solution that we have so far. Connecting the dots: The Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) is a radical departure from the country’s previous development strategies in its scale, scope and ownership. Analyze. Improvement in learning outcomes is an immediate goal for India. Discuss recent measures taken by the government to meet that goal. NATIONAL/POLITY TOPIC: General Studies 2 Functions and responsibilities of the Government; Separation of powers between various organs Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Governance issues RBI governor bats for permanent status to Finance Commission According to RBI governor Shaktikanta Das – While it is important to adhere to fiscal deficit targets (fiscal consolidation roadmap), it is equally important to undertake robust expenditure planning to address the socio-economic challenges. Geopolitical risks have necessitated higher expenditure on defence and internal security. Natural calamities and disasters have called for higher expenditure on relief and rehabilitation. However, in order to fulfill the aspirations of people and the country as a whole, the government needs to spend more on developmental programmes. RBI governor on Finance Commission According to Das, finance commissions have over the past several decades adopted different approaches with regard to principles of tax devolution, grants to be given to states and fiscal consolidation issues. He called for framework where the focus is on fresh and innovative thinking by every finance commission. There is a need to ensure broad consistency between finance commissions so that there is some degree of certainty in the flow of funds, especially to the states. RBI Governor also said that there is a need to give permanent status to the Finance Commission and constitution of State Finance Commissions every five years. According to him, a commission can function lean till the next finance commission is set up in a full-fledged manner. Conclusion: India’s great wealth rests in its diversity. To recognise this diversity is also to recognise that States will follow diverse paths of development. The Finance Commission must facilitate diversity and a democratic path of development by respecting principles of equity and fairness in allocating resources between the Centre and States in India. Connecting the dots: Examine the significance of Finance Commission in the post GST era. The concept of cooperative federalism has been increasingly emphasised in recent years. Highlight the drawbacks in the existing structure and extent to which cooperative federalism would answer the shortcomings. (UPSC mains 2015) There must be recognition of the potential of State Finance Commissions in building regional equity. Critically examine the present status of fiscal federalism at state-local government level. (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note: Featured Comments and comments Up-voted by IASbaba are the “correct answers”. IASbaba App users – Team IASbaba will provide correct answers in comment section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers. Q.1) ‘Transformation of Aspirational Districts’ is under the aegis of Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs NITI Aayog Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Q.2) Which article of Indian Constitution lays down that a Finance Commission (FC) should be constituted “…within two years from the commencement of this Constitution and thereafter at the expiration of every fifth year or at such earlier time as the President considers necessary…”? Article 180 (1) Article 280 (1) Article 380 (1) Article 80 (1) Q.3) Consider the following statements with reference to Finance Commission It is a quasi-judicial body. The chairman of the commission is not eligible for reappointment. The qualifications of the members of commission are not specified in the Constitution. Which of the statements given above are correct? 1 and 2 1 and 3 2 and 3 1, 2 and 3 MUST READ Ayodhya and mediation: the dome to protect is the Constitution The Hindu What has changed post-Balakot? The Hindu A parallel chessboard Indian Express What is and is not history  Indian Express Economic data: Fact vs fiction Indian Express Big data economists and their role in shaping the future Livemint

60 Days Plan: UPSC IAS Prelims 2019 - Geography and Current Affairs (Day 15)

60 Days Plan: UPSC IAS Prelims 2019 - Geography and Current Affairs (Day 15) 60 Day plan has been published on the website (www.iasbaba.com - Click here). Since we have come up with the 'Quiz Format', it will not be feasible to publish it on the app. For feasibility and getting to know where you stand among your peers (we have a leaderboard which gives your marks and rank) it would be advisable to take the test on the website. All the best. make the best use of the initiative ! Before taking the Test, read the post below, ARCHIVES Hello Friends,  The most beloved 60 Days for UPSC IAS Prelims 2019  has finally begun :) Once again the time has come for the battle (Prelims). And who else than your best companion in the last preparatory phase for UPSC IAS Prelims 2019 i.e 60 days plan. It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.  Hope the message given above makes sense to you all. The productive utilization of this programme demands consistency, honesty, faith and strong determination to be in the process of learning and unlearning. You might not be fully prepared to solve all the questions but the learning and unlearning through these questions will prepare you for the real battle on 2nd June 2019. You have to unlearn your repetitive mistakes, gut feeling on which you mark doubtful questions. You have to learn new things and also those concepts that you were very sure of but somehow because of traps in the option, got it wrong. You have to learn 'how to convert knowledge into marks' (Because most of the times, after ending the exam, you regret making mistakes in known concepts).  Secondly, keep a long distance from following too many things at this point. It will always backfire. Once you are here, put complete faith and follow this initiative along with whatever you were doing. It is very important to consolidate your preparation with many revisions. Simply following many things will leave you in despair. You can cross check this with veterans. Everything that seems attractive is not productive. You should always go for productivity. Be wise! Let us pledge to make it a big game changer (better than last year) in the next 60 days of this plan! Importance of Self - Tracking: Learning from Last Year Last year, aspirants used to type/post their answers in the comment box on a daily basis. There were huge participation and discussion below the test post. Putting answers in the comment box has been very effective to self-track yourself after updating the score. In the end, you can cross check your performance through Disqus profile. It was highly effective in the last edition of 60 Days that propelled aspirants to monitor their performance and learn through discussion. Let you solve these questions with full honesty and write your result in the comment box. Interact with peers to know your mistakes. The importance of this initiative stands time-bound and aggressive reverse engineering to learn the concepts. Many of you must be busy with your own strategy but let us tell you honestly that in the last few months, it is very important to revise and consolidate your learning. Just reading won’t suffice. So, take out a few hours from your schedule and make it a revision exercise. How can you make the best use of it? Be honest to your effort and do not start competing with XYZ aspirants just for the sake of marks. It is more important for you to introspect and check your learning than focusing on others. Try to answer the questions in 25 minutes only.  Do not get into negative feeling that I don’t have enough knowledge to answer these questions. Feel like you are taking the real exam. What would be your response then? The same will be replicated in the UPSC exam. Here, you get marks only and nothing else matters. So, make effort to know the answers to all questions. Do not cheat :P DETAILED MICRO ANALYSIS MATRIX SAMPLE- is given here. You can download this and do an assessment for yourself (the excel sheet must be modified as per this years planning. The provided excel sheet is only for reference).  DOWNLOAD You can copy paste the same format/modify as per your need in Google Spreadsheet and update it on daily basis. Feedback talks about daily test results. Follow-up talks about daily target achieved from sources and the number of revisions to do/done and dates. Sources column is to ensure that aspirants do not run behind various sources and follow the same throughout. Would like to end on this quote:  Either you run the day or the day runs you.  Are you ready? Let's start! Important Note Don't forget to post your marks in the comment section. Also, let us know if you enjoyed today's test :)  You can post your comments in the given format  (1) Your Score (2) Matrix Meter (3) New Learning from the Test

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 19th March 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 19th March 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) West Nile Virus In News: As per the media reports, a seven-year-old boy from Malappuram District of Kerala is suffering from a West Nile Virus (WNV), a mosquito-borne disease, mostly reported in the continental United States. West Nile fever is spread by Culex mosquitoes and the infection could be confirmed only if the second samples test positive. Symptoms include fever, headache, tiredness, and body aches, nausea, vomiting, occasionally with a skin rash on the trunk of the body, and swollen lymph glands. The World Health Organisation (WHO) says West Nile virus transmits to humans through bites from infected mosquitoes. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds. Do you know? West Nile virus can cause a fatal neurological disease in humans. Approximately 80% of West Nile virus infections in humans have few or no symptoms. WNV is found in temperate and tropical regions of the world. The virus was discovered in Uganda in 1937 and was first detected in North America in 1999. Pic: https://iasbaba.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/PIB.jpg Repeat MPs’ assets rose 142% Part of: GS Paper II and III – Corruption in Politics; Social issue; Polity In news: The average financial assets of 153 re-elected Lok Sabha MPs grew by 142%, from ₹5.5 crore in 2009 to ₹13.32 crore in 2014, according to an analysis by National Election Watch and the Association for Democratic Reforms. Financial details of 153 sitting re-elected MPs fielded by various political parties have been taken from the recently filed affidavits by these MPs and the values of these financial assets have been compared to the corresponding values of the assets that the MPs showed in their affidavits from the previous elections. Pic: https://d39gegkjaqduz9.cloudfront.net/TH/2019/03/19/CNI/Chennai/TH/5_07/f35bdcaa_2808643_101_mr.jpg Male reaffirms its ‘India first’ policy Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – International relations; India and the World In news: India-Maldives highlights: Requests for a cricket stadium, renewable energy projects and a thousand additional slots for Maldivian students in Indian courses were the highlights of the discussions during India’s External Affairs Minister recent visit to the Maldives, as the island nation reaffirmed its “India first” policy. Three agreements were signed during the visit, which officials called the first “full-fledged substantive bilateral” engagement at a political level with the new government in Male. One of the agreements is for visa exemption for diplomats and another for MoUs for development projects. Maldives reiterated that it would remain sensitive towards India’s security and strategic concerns. India on the brink of a dry eye disease epidemic, says study Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II - Social Justice/Health In news: For the first time, a large-scale, hospital-based study in India involving over 14.5 lakh patients had found the incidence (number of new cases occurring each year) of dry eye disease to be 21,000 (1.46%). At over 12,500 cases, the incidence in urban areas was higher than in rural areas (over 8,700 cases). With a large ageing population, growing middle-class and chronic nature of the disease, India is on the verge of a dry eye disease epidemic, says the study. The prevalence of dry eye disease will be about 40% of the urban population by 2030. Since the disease tends to be progressive with age, once corneal damage becomes irreversible it can lead to visual impairment and even blindness. Early diagnosis and treatment is therefore important. Do you know? The disease is hugely underdiagnosed in India. The study was undertaken across 200 locations in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Karnataka between 2010 and 2018. The results were published in The Ocular Surface. The study found the onset of dry eye disease is early in men than in women. In men, the age of disease onset is early 20s and 30s compared with 50s and 60s in women. Hormonal imbalance could be a likely reason for higher cases in women in their 50s and 60s. This is first study that has shown an age-based gender risk for the disease. Low tear production Age, urban residence, occupation and socio-economic affluence were found to be high risk factors for developing the disease. Dry eye disease could occur due to inadequate tear production (aqueous deficient), tear film instability due to evaporation or mixed type. Over 20.5% had dry eye disease caused by inadequate tear production, 35.5% due to tear film instability (evaporative) and 40% being mixed. As tears are not produced sufficiently in people who are aqueous deficient, it is a more dangerous form of dry eye disease. They have severe clinical disease. There is a possible underlying autoimmune disease, which is causing inadequate tear production and this has to be investigated. (MAINS FOCUS) NATIONAL/POLITY TOPIC: General Studies 2 Functions and responsibilities of the Government; Separation of powers between various organs Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Governance issues Lokpal and its functions In news: In previous day DNA, we read about Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose, is to become the first Lokpal (or first anti-corruption ombudsman). C. Ghose, Chairman of national anti-corruption ombudsman selected. This comes five years after the President had given assent to the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013. The government was prompted to make the selection after the Supreme Court set the February-end deadline. Now that the Lokpal has been chosen, victims of corruption have a viable avenue of redress. Do you know? The concept of an institutional mechanism, or an anti-corruption ombudsman, has been around for over 50 years. It (Lokpal) was finally enacted as a law in 2013, and came into effect on January 16, 2014. (Thanks to Anna Hazare’s movement) Under the 2013 Act, the Lokpal should consist of a chairperson and such number of members, not exceeding eight, of whom 50% should be judicial members. Appointment system: two-stage process A search committee has to be formed, which will recommend a panel of names to the high-power selection committee. High-power selection committee comprises the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, the Leader of the Opposition, the Chief Justice of India (or his nominee) and an eminent jurist. The selection panel has to choose from a short-list consisting of names for the posts of Lokpal chairperson, and judicial and non-judicial members. What happens after these selections to anti-corruption ombudsman? Lokpal helps to fight corruption in high places, as it probes corruption complaints against top functionaries and public servants, including the Prime Minister and the Chief Ministers. The Lokpal will set about creating its various wings: It will have an “Inquiry Wing, headed by the Director of Inquiry, for the purpose of conducting preliminary inquiry into any offence alleged to have been committed by a public servant punishable under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988”. It will also have a “Prosecution Wing, headed by the Director of Prosecution, for the purpose of prosecution of public servants in relation to any complaint by the Lokpal under this Act”. Once the other members of the Lokpal are appointed, the process for more appointments will start: Secretary, Director of Inquiry and Director of Prosecution and other officers and staff of the Lokpal. What kind of public servants will come under the purview of these wings? Wide range of public servants — from the Prime Minister, ministers and MPs, to groups A, B, C and D employees of the central government. The Act does not allow a Lokpal inquiry if the allegation against the Prime Minister relates to international relations, external and internal security, public order, atomic energy and space. Also, complaints against the Prime Minister are not to be probed unless the full Lokpal bench considers the initiation of an inquiry and at least two-thirds of the members approve it. Such an inquiry against the Prime Minister (if conducted) is to be held in camera and if the Lokpal comes to the conclusion that the complaint deserves to be dismissed, the records of the inquiry are not to be published or made available to anyone. The Act also includes the Lokpal’s own members under the definition of “public servant”. It shall apply to public servants in and outside India, the Act states. It clarifies that “a complaint under this Act shall only relate to a period during which the public servant was holding or serving in that capacity.” Connecting the dots: Is the office of the Lokpal independent of the government and others whom it is mandated to scrutinise? Examine. What is an ombudsman? Discuss its efficacy as an institutional measure to curb corruption. What are the institutional mechanisms to curb corruption? Are they effective? What role can Lokpal play in curbing corruption? Analyse. INFRASTRUCTURE/DISASTER TOPIC: General Studies 3 Infrastructure Disaster and disaster management Need for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure Key pointers: As the world is urbanising at an unprecedented pace, need for resilient infrastructure is very important. The term “resilient” refers to the ability of such infrastructure systems (including their interconnected ecosystems and social systems) to absorb disturbance and still retain their basic function and structural capacity. Around 34% of India’s population lives in cities and this demographic cohort is expected to grow in the years ahead. This growing rate of urbanisation and the subsequent increase in population density is bringing massive new investments in infrastructure. Bridges, roads, dams, power stations and electrical grids are just some of the services and facilities that need to be built to serve burgeoning urban populations. Concerns: Unprecedented growing rate of urbanization and increasing population density. Half of the infrastructure needed in Asia by 2050 is yet to be built. Globally, $6 trillion needs to be invested in infrastructure every year until 2030 to meet current demands. Disasters in heavily populated urban areas can lead to high numbers of human casualties. Economic losses from disasters that damage infrastructure can reach huge proportions. (According to World Bank estimates, annual disaster losses are already close to $520 billion) The way ahead: New infrastructure is to be made resilient to withstand future shocks, including those brought by a changing climate. Ensuring that all new investments in infrastructure are made in a risk-sensitive way can play a significant role in reducing economic losses from disasters. Do you know? Second International Workshop on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure is being hosted this month (March 2019) under the initiative of the Indian government and with support from the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. It aims to create global coalition for resilient infrastructure and ensure that new risks are not created, as enshrined in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. Conclusion: Money saved from relief and rebuilding costs can be invested in development objectives, such as education, health care or improved transportation, helping countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Such international cooperation and shared commitment are needed to “future-proof” our cities and lock-in resilience for generations to come. Connecting the dots: Define the term “Resilient Infrastructure”? Discuss the significance of Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure. (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note: Featured Comments and comments Up-voted by IASbaba are the “correct answers”. IASbaba App users – Team IASbaba will provide correct answers in comment section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers. Q.1) Consider the following statements about West Nile fever It is a mosquito-borne infection West Nile Virus (WNV) was first identified in Uganda Select the correct statements Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 MUST READ The death penalty: a fatal margin of error The Hindu National Insecurity Indian Express A model problem Indian Express Foreign hand returns Indian Express When horror goes live on the web and fools fail the world  Livemint Look beyond unconditional transfers for social security Livemint

RSTV Video

RSTV IAS UPSC – Challenges in Telecom Sector

Challenges in Telecom Sector Archives TOPIC: General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation In News: The Department of Telecommunications has asked the finance ministry to offer some GST-related relief to telcos and to bring down import duties of network equipment, but the ministry is not considering any other company specific relief measures as sought by Vodafone Idea. What is the issue? Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, telecom secretary Aruna Sundararajan said the industry needs to speak in a cohesive voice while seeking further financial relief. The industry body Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) had written to telecom minister Manoj Sinha, urging that the Rs 35,000 crore input tax credit due to telcos from the government be adjusted against spectrum payments and levies as a measure to help carriers overcome financial distress. But, the letter added, that Jio has a dissenting view on the matter. The industry had also called for a rollback of the basic customs duty increase on several telecom equipment in October 2018 and the duties imposed on printed circuit boards used in them in a bid to curb non-essential imports and address its current account deficit as well as encourage the ‘Make in India’ initiative. Indian Telecom Sector The Indian telecom sector has witnessed a paradigm shift—crossing the billion-user mark and rolling out new technologies along with other leading markets. With BharatNet, EoDB, GST, easier M&A rules and the draft National Digital Communications Policy 2018, the overall situation has remained forward-looking. Telcos are also investing heavily to meet the government’s ambitious targets—universal broadband coverage (50Mbps), 10Gbps at all gram panchayats, 10 million public Wi-Fi hotspots by 2022. Other challenges straining an already stressed sector, including poor rural connectivity and lack of adequate spectrum for service providers, are also being taken care of. Connecting all citizens, and thereby laying a strong foundation for Digital India, is at the top of the government’s priority. Telcos’ inclusive approach led to increased teledensity, from 75% in June 2014 to 93% in March 2018, with 305 million new subscribers. The mobile internet subscriber base doubled from 233 million in March 2014 to 425 million in December 2017, clocking 75% rise in overall internet coverage. Data usage has also grown in tandem. Broadband access has grown seven times, from 61 million subscribers in March 2014 to 412 million subscribers in March 2018. To achieve its targets, robust telecom infrastructure is critical. For this, the industry ensured doubling of the aggregate telecom infrastructure over the last four years. Under BharatNet, 1 lakh gram panchayats were connected with high-speed optical fibre cable by December 2017. The plan is to connect all 2.5 lakh gram panchayats by March 2019. A 17% increase in internet traffic in 2015-16 resulted in an absolute increase of $103.9 billion in India’s GDP during the year. Mobile payments more than doubled from 168 million in November 2016 to 380 million in December 2017, moving towards a cashless digital ecosystem. The draft National Digital Communications Policy 2018 has set ambitious targets. It aims to make broadband connectivity ubiquitous while facilitating digital sovereignty, adding 4 million new jobs and increasing the sector’s contribution to GDP to 8% from the current 6%. But despite this, the sector is currently facing its worst phase ever and needs the government to step in. The sector is currently finding it increasingly difficult to manage its cumulative debt of almost ₹5 lakh crore, with revenues of less than ₹ 1.8 lakh crore, and steadily falling. Much of the ambitious plans of the government like Digital India and Smart-cities are dependent on the sector and its sound financial health. Government must address the sector’s needs of lower taxes & levies to ease financial stress. Formation of the Inter-ministerial Group (IMG) To look into the deteriorating health of the telecom sector. The suggestions included lowering levies such as annual licence fee and spectrum usage charges (SUC) as well as the goods and service tax (GST) to a level apt for an essential service like telecom. The telecom service providers pay as much as 30 per cent of their revenues in taxes and levies for spectrum and operating licences. Of this, around half was the tax component. Under the Goods and Service Tax regime (GST), this has gone up to 18 per cent, making the services more expensive at a time when it should have been reduced. Essential services have either got a nil GST rate or the lowest slab of 5 per cent. There is an immediate need for relief on licence fees and spectrum usage charges as recommended by the telecom regulator. Unless these issues are not resolved, the industry will continue to struggle financially. The fact is money made from spectrum auctions should be seen as adequate and the annual charges should just be used to cover administrative expenses. The Way Ahead An essential service and not a revenue generator: The need of the hour is for the government to see the sector as an essential service and not a revenue generator. Deloitte, in a report on the economic impact of mobile phones, estimates that for a given level of mobile penetration, a 10 per cent substitution from 2G to 3G increases GDP per capita growth by 0.15 percentage points. Similarly, doubling of data use leads to an increase in GDP per capita growth rate of 0.5 percentage points. And further, a 10 per cent increase in penetration of increases total factor productivity in the long run by 4.2percentage points. Telecom is the second highest revenue earner for the government, after income tax: The sector is expected to contribute as much as 90 per cent of the government’s non-tax revenue. Digital India programme is also almost completely dependent on the telecom sector. The roll-out of broadband and Internet services requires enormous investments to the tune of ₹2.5 lakh crore over the next 3-5 years for spectrum, technology, equipment and fibre-optics backbone. Therefore, the financial health of the telecom industry has to be safeguarded. A significant change in the lives of Indians: Mobility services have brought significant changes to the lives of people. Farmers and fishermen are able to get produce to markets better and secure better prices. The sector employs as many as 4 million people, more than half of which are indirectly employed. Improved policies and regulations: There is an urgent needs for a regulatory environment which facilitates innovation and investment, and addresses the financial woes of the sector. Connecting the Dots: The dismal scenario in the telecom industry is largely due to the gap between intent and execution. Examine the statement in detail. Communication is critical to national security.’ In light of this statement, critically analyse the importance telecom sector in India.

60 Days Plan: UPSC IAS Prelims 2019 - Polity and Current Affairs (Day 14)

60 Days Plan: UPSC IAS Prelims 2019 - Polity and Current Affairs (Day 14) 60 Day plan has been published on the website (www.iasbaba.com - Click here). Since we have come up with the 'Quiz Format', it will not be feasible to publish it on the app. For feasibility and getting to know where you stand among your peers (we have a leaderboard which gives your marks and rank) it would be advisable to take the test on the website. All the best. make the best use of the initiative ! Before taking the Test, read the post below, ARCHIVES Hello Friends,  The most beloved 60 Days for UPSC IAS Prelims 2019  has finally begun :) Once again the time has come for the battle (Prelims). And who else than your best companion in the last preparatory phase for UPSC IAS Prelims 2019 i.e 60 days plan. It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.  Hope the message given above makes sense to you all. The productive utilization of this programme demands consistency, honesty, faith and strong determination to be in the process of learning and unlearning. You might not be fully prepared to solve all the questions but the learning and unlearning through these questions will prepare you for the real battle on 2nd June 2019. You have to unlearn your repetitive mistakes, gut feeling on which you mark doubtful questions. You have to learn new things and also those concepts that you were very sure of but somehow because of traps in the option, got it wrong. You have to learn 'how to convert knowledge into marks' (Because most of the times, after ending the exam, you regret making mistakes in known concepts).  Secondly, keep a long distance from following too many things at this point. It will always backfire. Once you are here, put complete faith and follow this initiative along with whatever you were doing. It is very important to consolidate your preparation with many revisions. Simply following many things will leave you in despair. You can cross check this with veterans. Everything that seems attractive is not productive. You should always go for productivity. Be wise! Let us pledge to make it a big game changer (better than last year) in the next 60 days of this plan! Importance of Self - Tracking: Learning from Last Year Last year, aspirants used to type/post their answers in the comment box on a daily basis. There were huge participation and discussion below the test post. Putting answers in the comment box has been very effective to self-track yourself after updating the score. In the end, you can cross check your performance through Disqus profile. It was highly effective in the last edition of 60 Days that propelled aspirants to monitor their performance and learn through discussion. Let you solve these questions with full honesty and write your result in the comment box. Interact with peers to know your mistakes. The importance of this initiative stands time-bound and aggressive reverse engineering to learn the concepts. Many of you must be busy with your own strategy but let us tell you honestly that in the last few months, it is very important to revise and consolidate your learning. Just reading won’t suffice. So, take out a few hours from your schedule and make it a revision exercise. How can you make the best use of it? Be honest to your effort and do not start competing with XYZ aspirants just for the sake of marks. It is more important for you to introspect and check your learning than focusing on others. Try to answer the questions in 25 minutes only.  Do not get into negative feeling that I don’t have enough knowledge to answer these questions. Feel like you are taking the real exam. What would be your response then? The same will be replicated in the UPSC exam. Here, you get marks only and nothing else matters. So, make effort to know the answers to all questions. Do not cheat :P DETAILED MICRO ANALYSIS MATRIX SAMPLE- is given here. You can download this and do an assessment for yourself (the excel sheet must be modified as per this years planning. The provided excel sheet is only for reference).  DOWNLOAD You can copy paste the same format/modify as per your need in Google Spreadsheet and update it on daily basis. Feedback talks about daily test results. Follow-up talks about daily target achieved from sources and the number of revisions to do/done and dates. Sources column is to ensure that aspirants do not run behind various sources and follow the same throughout. Would like to end on this quote:  Either you run the day or the day runs you.  Are you ready? Let's start! Important Note Don't forget to post your marks in the comment section. Also, let us know if you enjoyed today's test :)  You can post your comments in the given format  (1) Your Score (2) Matrix Meter (3) New Learning from the Test