May 29, 2019 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 29th May 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 29th May 2019 Archives (MAINS FOCUS) INFRASTRUCTURE TOPIC: General studies 3 Economics: Growth and development Inclusive growth Infrastructure: Cities and amenities Empowering Indian Cities Background: The scale of the challenge in fixing Indian cities is massive whether we look at the availability of clean drinking water, unpolluted air, quality of public transport, traffic management and parking, integrated planning of transport and land use, law and order, management and safe disposal of solid waste that is generated, treatment of waste water and effluents, and affordable housing. In short, the state of public service delivery in our cities is abysmal and the cities are financially broke and cannot address these problems on their own. UN projections suggest that India’s urban population will increase from 461 million in 2018 to 877 million in 2050, with India contributing the largest share of global urban population growth from 2018 to 2050. Cities as drivers of economic growth: Rapid economic growth in any country is associated with a decline in the share of agriculture and increase in the shares of manufacturing and services in its GDP, and this involves greater urbanisation. India’s experience in the last two decades has been no different, except that the urbanisation associated with rapid growth has been largely unplanned. Going forward, as we try to achieve rapid growth which is necessary to provide growing employment opportunities for our young work-force, we need to position our cities as drivers of the structural transformation of the Indian economy. Present system: In our federal system, a state government has the power to notify when an area is to have a statutory urban local government and what form it would take — a municipal corporation, a municipal council or a nagar panchayat (when an area is in transition from rural to urban). The 74th Constitutional Amendment of 1992 gives the state governments the power to transfer a set of 18 legitimate municipal functions to the municipal governments and also devolve finances to them to enable them to perform these functions and organise the delivery of the public services. State governments devolved most, though not all, of the 18 functions to the urban local governments. Action on devolution of funds to urban local governments has been unpredictable and hopelessly inadequate. Issue: In fiscal devolution, the talk of cooperative federalism stops at the level of the state government. Over the years, the state governments have claimed and successfully obtained a larger share in the joint revenues of the Centre and the states. The Fourteenth Finance Commission increased the share of states in the revenue pool from 32 per cent to 42 per cent. By contrast, municipal revenues/expenditures in India have been stagnating at around 1 per cent of GDP for over a decade. This is much lower, for example, than the municipal revenues/expenditures in Brazil which account for 7.4 per cent of GDP and 6 per cent in South Africa. A major failing of the national missions (JNNURM, PMAY, AMRUT, Smart Cities Mission, Housing for All) has been that they have not addressed the issues of empowerment and devolution to the third tier. Following needs to be done: State governments have the principal responsibility for urban development. But in order to deliver, they can and should ensure that city governments are sufficiently empowered to get the job done. Our cities will have to provide much better quality of life if we want to create a climate which will attract investment. For this, we not only need more and better urban infrastructure but also significantly better institutions, which can manage the infrastructure and deliver public services of high quality. This requires strengthening the finances of city governments, building their capacity to take on the new challenges that urbanisation brings, and providing an enabling environment through legislative and administrative support. Way ahead: Introducing an incentive grant system whereby states which devolve funds to some desired degree get to top up the financial grant from the Centre. This should be limited to second-tier cities, which are crucial to a new urbanisation thrust. Prime Minister Modi at the present juncture is in a unique position of having to work with a large number of BJP-controlled state governments. It is a valuable opportunity to get the states to go for empowerment of the third tier and also strengthen their finances through assured devolution. Essentially, co-operative federalism needs to go deeper, below the state level. Conclusion: There are no shortcuts to improving the state of our cities. The state governments need to decentralise, devolve and empower the cities. Connecting the dots: The state of public service delivery in our cities is abysmal and the cities are financially broke and cannot address these problems on their own. The state governments need to decentralise, devolve and empower the cities. Comment. SOCIAL/WELFARE ISSUE TOPIC: General studies 2 and 3 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections. Social justice and Empowerment of vulnerable sections of the society. Constitution: Fundamental rights Caste-based discrimination continues: Tadvi case and Thorat Committee In news: Recently, a young doctor from Mumbai, Payal Tadvi of the BYL Nair Hospital committed suicide. She was allegedly facing persistent caste-based harassment from her seniors at the hospital. Tadvi had taken admission through the caste-based quota. Tadvi joins a host of underprivileged scholars who have committed suicide for exactly the same reason — Madari Venkatesh, Rohith Vemula, Senthil Kumar and Pulyala Raju to name just a few. Thorat Committee: In 2007 a committee was formed under the chairmanship of Sukhadeo Thorat to look into the harassment of Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students. The Committee report eventually served as a milestone in efforts to identify caste-based discrimination in higher educational institutes. It revealed that about 69 per cent of the SC/ST students reported that they did not receive adequate support from teachers. About 76 per cent of students mentioned that their papers were not examined properly and 88 per cent mentioned that they got fewer marks than they expected. More than 80% of these students mentioned that evaluation in practical and viva was unfair and they didn’t receive enough time with the examiners, as compared to higher caste students. Besides, a large chunk experienced social isolation and discrimination during their stay in the hostels at AIIMS. The report also delineated the discrimination felt by SC/ST faculty members employed at AIIMS, Delhi. Recommendations by Thorat Committee: The educational institutions are required to undertake remedial coaching for SC and ST students to improve their language skill and also remedial courses in the basic courses so that they are able to cope up with the regular course. Undertake measures to make the faculty more sensitive towards the problems faced by the SC/ST students and develop cordial relations with them, so that the students regain their confidence in their teachers. It appears to the Committee that at present, there is lack of positive and supportive relationship and a relationship of confidence between the SC/ST students and the faculty. The examination system may be reform in which the component of objective questions may be increased significantly and subjective elements in evaluation be reduced to the minimum. This should be for all examinations. Internal evaluation through practical and viva should be done in more transparent and open manner so that there is limited scope for bias. Setting up a joint committee, comprising of students, residents and faculty to examine and study the social atmosphere in campus and understand the reasons and also develop an insight for the social division that has emerged over a period of time. Conclusion: Caste continues to be the horrific reality of Indian society. Casteism spills over into our offices, hospitals, factories, business establishments and even educational institutions. Caste-based discrimination in institutions of higher education needs to be addressed urgently. Educational institutions have been the preserves of the upper caste and the rich. With affirmative action in the form of caste-based reservations, this hegemony has been challenged to a significant extent, and hence the urgency to bring back “order” through harassment, disgrace and coercion. Connecting the dots: Caste-based discrimination in institutions of higher education needs to be addressed urgently. In this light discuss the recommendations made by Thorat Committee. MUST READ The key agenda must be to accelerate growth The Hindu Eastward course Indian Express Savarkar, the refromer Indian Express

May 28, 2019 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

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

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 28th May 2019 Archives (MAINS FOCUS) 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 Putting Taiwan on India’s diplomatic priority Background: The new government in Delhi should put Taiwan on its diplomatic priority. It might offend Chinese political sensitivities. But productive engagement with Taiwan is not about abandoning India’s “One-China” policy or playing some kind of a “card”. India has been rather careful in respecting China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. In 2014, the then External Affairs Minister vented the frustration that Beijing does not reciprocate with a “One-India policy”. Given the stakes in a sensible relationship with China, the government rightly chose to stay the course on the “One-China policy”. Steady progress in the relationship: Since the establishment of formal channels of contact in the mid-1990s, there has been steady progress in the relationship. Annual bilateral trade has reached $7 billion last year and the hope is to raise it to $20 billion in the next few years. There has been a rise in Taiwan’s investments in India and a steady growth in exchanges between the two societies. During the last five years, the government has taken steps to enhance the relationship. These include: The upgradation of the bilateral investment agreement. Promotion of major Taiwanese investments. Expanding parliamentary exchanges. Facilitating track-two dialogues on regional issues. Need of engaging with Taiwan: Delhi should take a fresh look at Taiwan and replace its current incrementalism with a more ambitious policy. Geopolitical importance: The delicate three-way political compromise between US, China and Taiwan crafted in the 1970s appears to be breaking down, thanks to rising China’s regional assertiveness, the renewed threat of forceful reunification of Taiwan and Beijing’s relentless pressure tactics against Taipei. In Washington, as part of the belated push-back against China under the Trump Administration, the “deep state” is determined to strengthen ties with Taiwan. In reinforcing its security commitment to Taiwan, the Trump Administration has begun to send its naval ships through the Taiwan Straits more frequently than before. Meanwhile, divisions within Taiwan on the future ties with Beijing have deepened. Great strategic significance of Taiwan as it straddles the sea lines of communication in the Western Pacific and is a stone’s throw from China’s mainland. If there is one piece of real estate that holds the key to the geopolitics of East Asia, it is Taiwan. The unfolding dynamic around Taiwan will have significant consequences for India’s Act East Policy and its emerging role in the Indo-Pacific Region. Geo-economic importance: The unfolding trade war between the US and China is compelling Taiwan to accelerate its plans to move its large manufacturing bases away from China to Southeast Asia and India. Taiwan announced the “New Southbound Policy” in 2016. The objective is to strengthen ties with the 10 countries of the ASEAN as well as Australia, New Zealand and India. As the structure of industrial production in East Asia undergoes a profound transformation, amidst the prospect of an economic decoupling between the US and China, India has once-in-a-generation opportunity to boost its own manufacturing sector. For the government’s agenda of promoting industrial production and creating jobs in India, the Taiwan connection with its impressive small and medium enterprises is more than opportune.  Talent and technology: Taiwan has embarked on a big mission to attract skilled workers. With a declining birth rate and growing emigration, Taiwan’s industry, education, and technology development could do with Indian engineers and scientists. At present, there are barely 2,000 Indians working in Taiwan. There is no shortage of ideas for the transformation of India’s relations with Taiwan. An agreement on comprehensive economic cooperation is one of those. The synergy in human resources provides the basis for massive collaborations between the universities, research institutions and technology enclaves in the two countries. Way ahead: The bilateral relationship now needs a high-level political attention in Delhi to make things happen and quickly. Expanding the engagement with Taiwan should be an important part of Delhi’s effort to come to terms with all corners of Greater China that looms so large over India’s future. Conclusion: Most major nations have significant cooperation with Taiwan without extending it diplomatic recognition. India, however, has too many self-imposed constraints on its Taiwan policy. It is now time to lift many of them. Taiwan’s GDP is about $600 billion and twice the size of Pakistan’s economy. And few entities in the international system are today as eager and capable of boosting Modi’s domestic economic agenda. Prioritizing Taiwan in our international policies is thus a need of the hour Connecting the dots: Productive engagement with Taiwan without abandoning India’s “One-China” policy is the need of the hour. Comment. NATIONAL/ECONOMY TOPIC: General studies 2 and 3 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it. Structural Reforms in various sectors Introduction: The strong mandate received by the new government grants the new government an opportunity to focus on a structural, as opposed to a project-based, economic agenda. Here are the priorities it must go after. Statistics: The government must commit to making India’s economic statistics modern, world-class and immune to political interference. The first thing about “fixing" the economy is to measure it right and without “bias". India is home to many truly world-class statisticians, and this is one area where we could use significant lateral entry to upgrade our talent. Steps taken: The ministry of statistics has recently announced the merger of the Central Statistics Office and National Sample Survey Office into a single entity, the National Statistical Office (NSO). Going forward: The NSO should report to Parliament in order to de-politicize economic statistics. An apolitical, high-quality NSO will serve as a strong foundation as we go about necessary structural reforms. Employment: Jobs are the most significant economic and political priority for the coming decade. The two major foundational pillars for job growth for the medium and long term are - An industrial-strength apprentice and vocational training system in India and a quantum jump in the quality of our school education. India’s vocational streaming and training system delivered primarily through a chain of Industrial Training Institutes (ITI) is broken. Revamping this broken system—from streaming high-school youth into the vocational path to improving the quality and relevance of vocational education, and also creating an apprentice supply chain from these institutes into the workforce- will help. Beyond this long-term fix, it is time for India’s “Green New Deal". This New Deal should focus on employment generation for environmentally sustainable infrastructure projects funded by the government. Resources for this New Deal can only come from higher productivity and structural GDP growth, so undertaking structural reforms can become a self-fulfilling project. Banking reform: Structural reforms require three forms of capital—talent/governance, equity and debt. The government cannot fully fix the problems of public sector banks with capital if it is not accompanied by governance reforms. The government must immediately transfer its ownership in public sector banks to an empowered agency in the form of an exchange traded fund (ETF). This new agency must be empowered to delink these banks from all forms of governmental interference. The government must fully privatize IDBI Bank—the only public sector bank set up as a private limited company. With the advantage of time and an electoral majority, the centre should insist on accountability in the governance of all public sector banks. Agriculture reform: For decades, Indian governments have largely failed in their attempt to improve agricultural productivity and provide alternative occupational paths for rural households. Focus should be on structural fixes that include access to better seeds and technology, drip irrigation and crop planning for the farmer, an easier path from farms to markets for products, a steadier offtake of farm products and a reduction in middleman costs. A direct cash transfer to the marginal farmer can and should cushion this reform process. Conclusion: The new government has an unprecedented mandate to transform India into a middle-income country with widely inclusive prosperity. It is time the opportunity is seized. Connecting the dots: Structural reforms are required to boost employment, agricultural and banking sector. Comment. MUST READ Global implications of the mandate The Hindu Farmer’s issues were not centre stage The Hindu Note to the minority Indian Express The process of governance matters more than policies Livemint

May 28, 2019 RSTV Video

RSTV IAS UPSC – Venezuela Political Crisis

Venezuela Political Crisis Archives In News: A woman was shot dead and dozens injured in the Venezuelan capital Caracas, in clashes between opposition supporters and pro-government forces. Tear gas and water cannon were fired by the military amid rival demonstrations. A slow-simmering political crisis that has gripped Venezuela for months appeared to be coming to a head this week as opposition politicians issued a direct challenge to the authority of President Nicolás Maduro. The leader of the opposition, Juan Guaidó, called for a military and popular uprising to oust Mr. Maduro from office, triggering a day of protest that turned violent but later fizzled. Mr. Maduro characterized the action as unconstitutional, while Mr. Guaidó maintained it was a necessary move to restore legitimacy to the presidency. Why is the presidency disputed? Nicolás Maduro was first elected in April 2013 after the death of his socialist mentor and predecessor in office, Hugo Chávez. At the time, he won by a thin margin of 1.6 percentage points. During his first term in office, the economy went into freefall and many Venezuelans blame him and his socialist government for the country's decline. Mr Maduro was re-elected to a second six-year term in highly controversial elections in May 2018, which most opposition parties boycotted. Many opposition candidates had been barred from running while others had been jailed or had fled the country for fear of being imprisoned and the opposition parties argued that the poll would be neither free nor fair. Mr Maduro's re-election was not recognised by Venezuela's opposition-controlled National Assembly. Why is it all coming to a head now? After being re-elected, Mr Maduro announced he would serve out his remaining first term and only then be sworn in for a second term on 10 January. It was following his swearing-in ceremony that the opposition to his government was given a fresh boost. The National Assembly argues that because the election was not fair, Mr Maduro is a "usurper" and the presidency is vacant. This is a line that is being pushed in particular by the new president of the National Assembly, 35-year-old Juan Guaidó. Who is Juan Guaidó? Citing articles 233 and 333 of Venezuela's constitution, the legislature says that in such cases, the head of the National Assembly takes over as acting president. That is why Mr Guaidó declared himself acting president on 23 January. Since then, he has been organising mass protests and calling on the military to switch allegiance. What has the reaction been? More than 50 countries have recognised Mr Guaidó as the legitimate president, among them the US and many nations in Latin America. But Russia and China among others have stood by President Maduro. Within Venezuela, those opposed to the government celebrated Mr Guaidó's move, while government officials said they would defend the president from "imperialist threats". While Mr Guaidó counts with the support of many international leaders, he does not have much power in practical terms. He is the president of the National Assembly, but this legislative body was largely rendered powerless by the creation of the National Constituent Assembly in 2017, which is exclusively made up of government loyalists. How did Venezuela get this bad? Some of the problems go back a long time. However, it is President Maduro and his predecessor, the late President Hugo Chávez, who find themselves the target of much of the current anger. Their socialist governments have been in power since 1999, taking over the country at a time when Venezuela had huge inequality. But the socialist polices brought in which aimed to help the poor backfired. Take price controls, for example. They were introduced by President Chávez to make basic goods more affordable to the poor by capping the price of flour, cooking oil and toiletries. But this meant that the few Venezuelan businesses producing these items no longer found it profitable to make them. Critics also blame the foreign currency controls brought in by President Chávez in 2003 for a flourishing black market in dollars. Since then, Venezuelans wanting to exchange bolivars for dollars have had to apply to a government-run currency agency. Only those deemed to have valid reasons to buy dollars, for example to import goods, have been allowed to change their bolivars at a fixed rate set by the government. With many Venezuelans unable to freely buy dollars, they turned to the black market. What are the biggest challenges today? Hyperinflation The annual inflation rate reached 1,300,000% in the 12 months to November 2018, according to a study by the opposition-controlled National Assembly. By the end of 2018, prices were doubling every 19 days on average. This has left many Venezuelans struggling to afford basic items such as food and toiletries. The price of a cup of coffee in the capital Caracas doubled to 400 bolivars ($0.62; £0.50) in the space of just a week last December, according to Bloomberg. The International Monetary Fund predicts that Venezuela’s inflation rate will reach 10 million percent in 2019, becoming one of the worst cases of hyperinflation in modern history.  Experts say government mismanagement and corruption is the source of the country’s economic woes; Mr. Maduro blames damaging United States sanctions. Oil reserves leading to collapse Venezuela has the largest proven oil reserves in the world, and the country’s economy is largely tied to its oil wealth. This oil wealth once made the nation one of the richest in Latin America and helped stabilize its democracy although the riches were not equally shared. But the past few years have seen the economy spiral toward collapse. Humanitarian crisis In the once prosperous nation, people now find themselves unable to provide for their most basic needs. Hunger is widespread and children are dying of malnutrition. The country’s public health care system has collapsed and prolonged electricity outages are common. The crisis has also triggered a vast regional migration as Venezuelans flee the country’s dire conditions, straining the resources of neighboring nations. Some 3.4 million people have left Venezuela since 2014, according to the United Nation’s immigration authority, the majority settling in Colombia, Peru, Chile and Ecuador. And as the political stalemate continues, little has been done to rectify the situation for everyday Venezuelans. Know more about the country Located on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and a large number of small islands and islets in the Caribbean Sea. Capital: Caracas The continental territory is bordered on the north by the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Colombia, Brazil on the south, Trinidad and Tobago to the north-east and on the east by Guyana. Has habitats ranging from the Andes Mountains in the west to the Amazon basin rain-forest in the south via extensive llanos plains, the Caribbean coast and the Orinoco River Delta in the east. Has the world's largest known oil reserves and has been one of the world's leading exporters of oil. The colors of the Venezuelan flag are yellow, blue, and red: the yellow stands for land wealth, the blue for the sea that separates Venezuela from Spain, and the red for the blood shed by the heroes of independence.

May 27, 2019 PIB

Press Information Bureau (PIB) IAS UPSC – 19th May to 25th May - 2019

Press Information Bureau (PIB) IAS UPSC – 19th May to 25th May – 2019 ARCHIVES Ongole: Indigenous cattle breed 20th May: World Metrology Day; the Metre Convention was signed by representatives of seventeen nations on May 20, 1875. The Convention set the framework for global collaboration in the science of measurement and in its industrial, commercial and societal applications. 22nd May: International Day of Biological Diversity Vayoshreshtha Samman: National Awards for Senior Citizens ‘Not all animals migrate by choice’ campaign launched Aim: To raise awareness on illegal wildlife trade By: Campaign launched by Wildlife Crime Control Bureau of India and UN Environment aimed at airports across India. Featured Animals: Tiger, Pangolin, Star Tortoise and Tokay Gecko – are highly endangered due to illegal trading in International markets Tiger is traded for its skin, bones and body parts Pangolin, the most illegally traded wild mammal on the planet is trafficked for its meat and its scales are used in traditional medicines Star Tortoise for meat and pet trade Tokay Gecko in traditional medicine mostly into South East Asia and particularly Chinese Markets. Why: In India, illegal trade in wildlife has seen a sharp rise in recent years. Illegal wildlife trade is driving species to the brink of extinction. A thriving industry with organized wildlife crime chains spreading across the world, in India, illegal trade in wildlife has seen a sharp rise. The campaign ‘Not all animals migrate by choice’ aims at creating awareness and garnering public support for the protection and conservation of wildlife, prevention of smuggling and reduction in demand for wildlife products. The campaign also complements worldwide action on illegal trade in wildlife through UN Environment’s global campaign, Wild for Life. There is an urgent need for awareness, action and stringent enforcement of laws to put an end to all illegal wildlife trade threatening biodiversity and conservation in the wild. This campaign is an important step forward in creating much-needed awareness on wildlife trafficking which threatens the very survival of these species. About Wildlife Crime Control Bureau It is a statutory multi-disciplinary body established by the Government of India under the Ministry of Environment and Forests, to combat organized wildlife crime in the country. Under Section 38 (Z) of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, it is mandated to collect and collate intelligence related to organized wildlife crime activities and to disseminate the same to State and other enforcement agencies for immediate action so as to apprehend the criminals To establish a centralized wildlife crime data bank; co-ordinate actions by various agencies in connection with the enforcement of the provisions of the Act Assist foreign authorities and international organization concerned to facilitate co-ordination and universal action for wildlife crime control Capacity building of the wildlife crime enforcement agencies for scientific and professional investigation into wildlife crimes and assist State Governments to ensure success in prosecutions related to wildlife crimes Advise the Government of India on issues relating to wildlife crimes having national and international ramifications, relevant policy and laws. It also assists and advises the Customs authorities in inspection of the consignments of flora & fauna as per the provisions of Wild Life Protection Act, CITES and EXIM Policy governing such an item. Redefined units of measurement of kilogram, Kelvin, mole and ampere This decision has now enabled scientists and researchers to base the SI units entirely on fundamental properties of nature, which will ensure their ongoing refinement and improvement for years to come. The fundamental constants are invariants of time and space and successfully replaced the artifact based units, and aptly opened up the new era for quantum world by linking all seven base units to fundamental constants/quantum standards. Kilogram: SI unit of weight Kelvin: SI unit of temperature Mole: SI unit of amount of substance Ampere: SI unit of current Pulses in India Besides serving as an important source of protein for a large portion of the global population, pulses contribute to healthy soils and climate change mitigation through their nitrogen-fixing properties. Area, Production and Productivity India is the largest producer (25% of global production), consumer (27% of world consumption) and importer (14%) of pulses in the world. Pulses account for around 20 per cent of the area under food grains and contribute around 7-10 per cent of the total food grains production in the country. Though pulses are grown in both Kharif and Rabi seasons, Rabi pulses contribute more than 60 per cent of the total production. Availability vis-à-vis nutritional and sustainability aspects Per capita net availability of pulses in India, however, has reduced from 51.1 gm/day (1971) to 41.9 gm/day (2013) as against WHO recommendation of 80gm/day. This raises question about the nutritional aspect as pulses are considered to be ‘poor man’s protein’. It is estimated that pulses contain 20-25 per cent of protein by weight and have twice the protein available in wheat and thrice that is present in rice. In addition to its nutritional advantage, pulses have low carbon and water footprints which make them an integral part of the sustainable farming system. As per estimates, water footprints for producing one kilogram of meat are five times higher than that of pulses. Further, one kilogram of legume emits 0.5 kilogram in CO 2 equivalent whereas one kilogram of meat produce 9.5 kilogram in CO 2 equivalent. Competition Commission of India (CCI) Competition is the best means of ensuring that the ‘Common Man’ or ‘Aam Aadmi’ has access to the broadest range of goods and services at the most competitive prices. With increased competition, producers will have maximum incentive to innovate and specialize. This would result in reduced costs and wider choice to consumers. A fair competition in market is essential to achieve this objective. Our goal is to create and sustain fair competition in the economy that will provide a ‘level playing field’ to the producers and make the markets work for the welfare of the consumers. The Competition Act: The Competition Act, 2002, as amended by the Competition (Amendment) Act, 2007, follows the philosophy of modern competition laws. The Act prohibits anti-competitive agreements, abuse of dominant position by enterprises and regulates combinations (acquisition, acquiring of control and M&A), which causes or likely to cause an appreciable adverse effect on competition within India. Competition Commission of India The objectives of the Act are sought to be achieved through the Competition Commission of India, which has been established by the Central Government with effect from 14th October 2003. CCI consists of a Chairperson and 6 Members appointed by the Central Government. It is the duty of the Commission to eliminate practices having adverse effect on competition, promote and sustain competition, protect the interests of consumers and ensure freedom of trade in the markets of India. The Commission is also required to give opinion on competition issues on a reference received from a statutory authority established under any law and to undertake competition advocacy, create public awareness and impart training on competition issues. PSLV-C46 successfully launches RISAT-2B India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C46) successfully launched the RISAT-2B satellite from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. RISAT-2B is a radar imaging earth observation satellite weighing about 615 kg. The satellite is intended to provide services in the field of Agriculture, Forestry and Disaster Management. Successful Firing of BrahMos Air Launched Missile from Su-30 MKI Aircraft The air launched BrahMos missile is a 2.5 ton supersonic air to surface cruise missile with ranges of close to 300 km, designed and developed by BAPL. The IAF became the first Air Force in the world to have successfully fired an air launched 2.8 Mach surface attack missile of this category on a sea target on 22 Nov 17. It was the second such live launch of the weapon. The integration of the weapon on the aircraft was a very complex process involving mechanical, electrical and software modifications on aircraft. The IAF has been involved in the activity from its inception.  The BrahMos missile provides Indian Air Force a much desired capability to strike from large stand-off ranges on any target at sea or on land with pinpoint accuracy by day or night and in all weather conditions. The capability of the missile coupled with the superlative performance of the Su-30MKI aircraft gives the IAF the desired strategic reach. Central government bans Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh or Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen India or Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Hindustan and all its manifestations The notification states that the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh and its formations like Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen India or Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Hindustan and their manifestations have committed acts of terrorism, promoted acts of terrorism and have been engaged in radicalisation and recruitment of youth(s) for terrorist activities in India.

May 27, 2019 RSTV Video

RSTV IAS UPSC – Heat Stroke (Hyperthermia)

Heat Stroke (Hyperthermia) Archives TOPIC: General Studies 2: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health What leads to Heat Stroke? The human body usually can regulate its temperature. When the body gets too hot, it uses several strategies to cool down, including sweating. But if a person spends too much time in the heat without taking in enough fluids, the body's cooling processes can't work properly. When the body becomes dehydrated, it can no longer cool itself by sweating. When this happens, body temperature can rise high enough to make the person sick. Heat Exhaustion: The first symptoms of heat illness occur as the body temperature climbs above normal, and can include headache, nausea, vomiting, muscle cramps and fatigue. These early symptoms sometimes are called heat exhaustion. If steps are not taken to reduce body temperature, heat exhaustion can worsen and become heat stroke. What is Heat Stroke? Heat stroke is a serious, potentially life-threatening form of heat illness. The body temperature rises to 105 degrees Fahrenheit or higher and you develop neurological changes, such as mental confusion or unconsciousness. At these high temperatures, body proteins and the membranes around the cells in the body, especially in the brain, begin to be destroyed or malfunction. The extreme heat can affect internal organs, causing breakdown of the heart muscle cells and blood vessels, damage to internal organs, and death. There are two main causes of heat stroke: Exertional heat stroke occurs when someone is vigorously active in a hot environment, such as playing sports on a hot summer day or participating in military training activities. It typically strikes young, otherwise healthy people, those least likely to be concerned about the effects of heat on their health. Because of the lack of concern, early symptoms may be dismissed or ignored. Non-exertional heat stroke tends to occur in people who have a diminished ability to regulate body temperature, such as older people, very young children or people with chronic illnesses. High heat in the surrounding environment, without vigorous activity, can be enough to cause heat stroke in these people. Factors that can contribute to heat stroke include: Dehydration from not drinking enough water Wearing bulky or heavy clothing, such as firefighting gear, in the heat Being overweight, which causes the body to generate more heat and reduces the body's ability to cool down Sleep deprivation, which can decrease the rate of sweating Being unaccustomed to the heat, such as moving from a cooler climate to a warmer climate Some medications, most commonly antihistamines (taken for allergies), diuretics (taken for high blood pressure or leg swelling), laxatives (taken to relieve constipation), calcium channel blockers (one type of blood pressure or heart medicine), medicines for Parkinson's disease, some diarrhea treatments and tricyclic antidepressants Being confined to a poorly ventilated or non-air-conditioned living space Having had heat stroke in the past Use of illicit drugs, including cocaine, heroin, amphetamines and ecstasy (MDMA) Symptoms Heat stroke can come on suddenly, but warning symptoms often appear first. They include: Abdominal cramps Muscle cramps Nausea Vomiting Headache Dizziness Weakness Heavy sweat or a lack of sweat When heat stroke starts, neurological symptoms can include: Odd or bizarre behavior Irritability Delusions Hallucinations Seizures Coma Prevention Most cases of heat stroke can be prevented. When the temperature outside is especially high: Drink lots of water throughout the day. Stay indoors in an air-conditioned area whenever you feel too warm. Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing, preferably with a loose-weave material that lets air get to your skin. Avoid strenuous activity in the hottest part of the day (between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.). If you must participate, take frequent breaks, limit the time that you wear a helmet by taking it off between activities, and avoid wearing heavy uniforms or equipment. Drink less caffeine and alcohol, which can contribute to dehydration. Treatment The first step in treating heat stroke is to reduce body temperature by cooling the body from the outside. This can be done by removing tight or unnecessary clothing, spraying the person with water, blowing cool air on the person, or wrapping the person loosely in wet sheets. If these methods do not lower body temperature enough, a doctor may try to lower temperature from the inside by flushing the stomach or rectum with cold water. Severe cases may require cardiopulmonary bypass, in which the person's blood is diverted from the heart and lungs into a collection machine, cooled, and then returned to the body. In some cases, anti-seizure or muscle-relaxing medications may be given to control convulsions and shivering. Aspirin and acetaminophen (Tylenol) do not help lower body temperature when a person has heat stroke, and these medications should be avoided if heat stroke is suspected. People with heat stroke generally need to be hospitalized so they can be tested for complications that may appear after the first day. One common complication is muscle breakdown caused by the heat. In this condition, called rhabdomyolysis, by-products of the muscle breakdown appear in the bloodstream and can damage the kidneys. If medical help is sought quickly, heat stroke almost always is treated successfully. Having had heat stroke in the past increases your risk of heat stroke in the future, so you will have to take extra precautions in hot weather. Delaying treatment can have serious consequences, including kidney or liver damage, congestive heart failure or heart arrhythmias, coma or death.

May 27, 2019 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

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

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 27th May 2019 Archives (MAINS FOCUS) 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 Achieving the target of doubling farmers’ income Background: In 2016, the government set a target of doubling farmers’ real incomes by 2022-23. At that time, the time frame for that task was seven years and it required a growth rate of 10.4 per cent per annum. Three years have passed and one does not see any acceleration in farmers’ incomes compared to the trend line of 3.7 per cent during 2002-03 to 2015-16. So, in the remaining four years, the new government has to increase the farmers’ real incomes by 13 to 15 per cent per annum. Agri-marketing reforms, therefore, should be the top priority in the government’s agriculture agenda. Way ahead: Ensuring that the Model Agricultural Produce and Livestocks Marketing Act of 2017 is implemented by all the states, in letter and spirit. Recent attempts to implement the Act in Maharashtra show how strong the opposition to it is by mandi commission agents and other vested interests. Setting up an Agri-marketing Reforms Council (AMRC), on the lines of the GST Council, to carry out agri-marketing reforms in states in a synchronised manner. This council will also have to review and prune the Essential Commodities Act of 1955, revamp the livestock marketing and the warehouse receipt systems and revitalise the agri-futures markets. The AMRC should be led by the Union agriculture minister, who should be supported by the chief ministers of the agriculturally-important states. The experience gained in implementing the GST reforms should be tapped. The agri-vision for New India should be based on building competitive and inclusive value chains for several products, on the lines of AMUL’s model for milk. Food processors, organised retailers and agri-exporters should be encouraged to bypass the mandi system and buy directly from farmers’ groups. The agriculture portfolio should be given to someone who is well respected for his understanding of farm-related matters and can also carry his voice in the Cabinet. The only sustainable and efficient way to ensure remunerative prices for farmers is through structural reforms in agri-marketing. The path of higher minimum support prices (MSPs) has serious limitations because it bypasses the demand side of the equation. The grain stock with the Food Corporation of India and NAFED is already higher than the buffer stock norms of these commodities. Lessons from China: After 2008, China increased the MSPs of key commodities such as rice, wheat, corn and cotton significantly. China’s list of MSP commodities is smaller than ours (we have 23 commodities under MSP). The stocks of grain with the government system in China touched almost 300 million tonnes, leading to massive inefficiency. From 2016 onwards, China set out to reform its agri-pricing support system. First, the MSP support for corn was withdrawn, then the government’s cotton procurement was reduced and now the MSP for wheat has been reduced. Interestingly, and simultaneously, China moved from price support operations to direct income support on a per acre basis. In 2016-17 alone, China gave direct income support of 21 billion dollars to its farmers. Conclusion: The recent move by the government towards a direct income support scheme for farmers is a step in the right direction. Ensuring that the shift is one from price policy to income policy and reforms the current agri-marketing system, it will effect a fundamental structural reform in agriculture with high pay offs in the years to come. Connecting the dots: Achieving the target of doubling farmers’ real incomes by 2022-23 needs structural overhaul in agri-marketing reforms. Comment. ECONOMY TOPIC: General studies 2 and 3 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it. Focusing on fundamental reforms Introduction: India’s economy is facing a slowdown. The new government needs to focus on fundamental reforms. Reforms in past: While the bankruptcy code, shift in the indirect tax regime and inflation-control brief to the central bank qualified as moves in that direction, other measures seemed to betray a lack of conviction. Import tariffs rose, disinvestment made questionable progress, and fiscal consolidation did not result in expected outcomes. Way ahead: The need of the hour is to focus on fundamental reforms. Easing land acquisition and labour rules could attract new business projects, revive mass recruitment and lift the economy’s growth capacity to a new level. A reliable social security net would help bring down resistance to relaxing rules that deter companies from multiplying their payrolls. With added assurances of state support, a relatively flexible labour market could be achieved. Less risky but more complex would be capital market reforms. On these, the government should start with the banking sector, which remains overly state-dominated and needs market oversight to stop good money from being thrown after bad. The state needs to either withdraw from other fields of business or turn public sector enterprises uniformly profitable. The autonomy of institutions, such as the Reserve Bank of India and Election Commission, should be guaranteed via devices that are open to public scrutiny. Independent regulation would assure all participants fair treatment and check legislative and market forces that could imperil the economy and our democracy. Conclusion: The current ruling party's scale of victory is the largest in three decades. The government can push ahead with politically difficult reforms. A state-led economic model has yielded poor results in the past. Market reforms should be given another chance. Connecting the dots: India’s economy is facing a slowdown. The new government needs to focus on fundamental reforms. Comment. MUST READ Keep the faith Indian Express How new military bases could seed new cities and create jobs Livemint

May 26, 2019 Motivational Articles

Creative Guidance – Slow Down – Inspirational Educative Articles

Slow Down: Life is not all about how far we go, how many things we do, or how much we achieve; life is simply a measure of how deeply we live. This is why there are as many ways of living as there are people on this planet. There is no one right way of living and there certainly is no one definition of life. Rarely do we talk about the experience of being in the moment. Most of the time we are so busy skimming off the surface of life, darting from one point to another, we simply forget that there is enormous depth to the present moment. The present moment is a single moment only from the point of view of the past and the future. From the point of view of the present, this moment is eternity. It has a depth beyond comprehension. Our fears, worries and anxieties are simply a result of not knowing how to experience the depth of the present moment where life is brimming with joy and completeness. Happiness is not an experience; it is simply the depth of our being. The deeper we are able to get to the depths of our being, the happier we will be. One of the easiest ways to reach the depths of the present moment is by learning to slow down. Yes, the simple act of slowing down tremendously increases our ability to experience the present moment. Just a conscious choice to slow down will make an ocean of difference as to how we perceive and experience life. Slowing down doesn’t mean that your life has slowed down; slowing down means you are more aware of and alert to what is happening around you. Just reflect on this for a moment; aren’t all our daily frustrations a result of our mind racing fast, hop-skipping from one thought to another, not knowing how to slow down, pause or stop? We know this from experience; the faster our thought process is, the more agitated and disturbed we become. There is a direct correlation between speed of thought and stress, isn’t there? Contrary to the understanding that slowing down will not allow you to complete important tasks in time, slowing down, in fact, increases your ability to complete your tasks in time. In the name of finishing something fast, more often than not, we make a lot of mistakes which make it more difficult to finish the task in time. Slowing down and doing things more consciously will not only add more meaning and depth to your life, it will also help you to avoid unnecessary mistakes, avoid doing things again and again, and you will be able to enjoy life as it comes, moment-by-moment. “This article is a part of the creative endeavor of Inner-Revolution and IASBABA.”

May 25, 2019 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

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

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 25th May 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. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it. Resolving NPA Crisis: II Introduction: In order to put the slowing economy back on track economic reforms needs to be taken. Reforms in banking must surely be top priority. Banks were forced by the RBI and the central government2 to disclose evergreened loans and provision for them. A new Bankruptcy Code was legislated to allow lenders to take charge of the resolution process. Issues remain: Operational issues at public sector banks (PSBs). Putting in tax payers’ money to keep them afloat. Investors and depositors have very little assurance that a similar NPA crisis will not recur in future. Going forward: To prevent repetition of the NPA crisis, structural reforms at PSBs are imperative on three counts. Poor credit appraisal and risk management systems: It led banks concentrating their loans in a handful of borrowers. This need drastic overhaul. RBI recently imposed tighter curbs on the group-level and firm-level exposures of banks, capping them at 40 per cent and 20 per cent respectively of Tier-1 capital. But such limits cannot substitute for the PSBs’ lack of in-house talent in credit and project appraisal, which needs urgent fixing. RBI needs to work on internal early warning systems that leverage analytics to head off credit bubbles too. Increasing accountability: While mis-judgement can be condoned, strict enforcement action needs to be taken against bankers who willingly colluded with corporate borrowers to evergreen loans. There’s also need for a thorough overhaul of recruitment policies at PSBs, greater accountability from their top managements and Boards and performance-linked compensation. Governance reforms: Political interference has played an egregious role in diverting bank funds to crony capitalists. Fixing this issue requires deep-rooted governance reforms that distance the management and Boards of PSBs from their promoter — the Central government. A roadmap for the transfer and gradual dilution of the government shareholding in PSBs is now critical, as is the strengthening of the toothless Bank Boards Bureau. RBI on its part needs to work through recent setbacks to the IBC process to put it back on its feet. Conclusion: Resolving NPA crisis would help bring back the Indian public’s and depositors’ confidence in banks. Connecting the dots: In order to put the slowing economy back on reforms in banking must surely be top priority. Comment. Also read: Resolving the NPA crisis https://iasbaba.com/2019/05/daily-current-affairs-ias-upsc-prelims-and-mains-exam-15th-may-2019/ Note: No must read (because of election results and politics related news editorials)

May 24, 2019 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 24th May 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 24th May 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. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it. PMJDY: Analysis Introduction: Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) seems to be delivering well on its financial inclusion objectives without placing undue burden on bank. The aggregate deposits in the PMJDY accounts have grown ten-fold from the first phase of the scheme in January 2015.  The PMJDY has delivered financial inclusion: It has contributed to financialisation of savings by giving lower income households access to a safe investment product. In the last four years, deposits in these accounts have expanded ten-fold even as the number of account holders is up only three-fold, showing that existing depositors in JDY regularly top up their balances. With 13.5 crore beneficiaries enrolling for the low-cost accident insurance cover and 5.5 crore for the life cover, the account is giving disadvantaged folks services of other financial products as well. With 27.7 crore account holders now armed with Rupay debit cards, their transition to electronic payments has increased as well.  Going forward: Offering other financial services: The Centre must nudge the banks to offer much-needed loan products to the Jan Dhan account holders. This is critical to wean them away from the grip of usurious money lenders who extract a heavy price on their finances when emergencies strike. Generating awareness: The Centre and the RBI need to make sure that these first-time adopters are treated well at bank branches, know the grievance redressal mechanisms and are aware of, and protected from, the consequences of fraud or misuse of their accounts. Changing strategy: The sharp spike in the JDY account balances during the note ban months was a red flag. Rather than persisting with account opening or deposit targets for banks on JDY, regulators must now ratchet up their education efforts to make sure that JDY holders are aware of their rights and don’t fall prey to benami holders or money-launderers seeking to exploit their banking access. Conclusion: The PMJDY is delivering on inclusion, but awareness among account holders must rise. Apart from awareness the banks need to avail most of Connecting the dots: PMJDY has come a long way in promoting financial inclusion. Critically analyse. Note: No must read (because of election results and politics related news editorials)

May 24, 2019 RSTV Video

RSTV IAS UPSC – National Green Aviation Policy

National Green Aviation Policy Archives TOPIC: General Studies 3: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports and Railways etc. Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment. In News: The civil aviation ministry is creating a simplified regulatory regime to speed up clearances for airport development and other aviation projects while taking due care of environment sustainability. What do we mean by Green Aviation? Reductions in noise, greenhouse gas emissions and fuel usage – It involves activities to Improve aircraft fuel efficiency Develop the next generation of efficient air traffic control Develop new technologies and systems engineering processes to reach the future of carbon-neutral air transportation Objectives of Aviation Policy To support sustainable and inclusive growth of the Indian civil aviation sector and align it with ICAO’s Vision and Mission. To make Indian aviation one of the most resource efficient sectors without compromising environment and ecological protection while considering the need of water, energy & fuel conservation by implementing environment friendly measures etc. To enable and promote development and maximum usage of solar and other renewable energy in the civil aviation ecosystem of India. To ensure implementation of Environmental Management System (EMS) approach across aviation units to provide a foundation for enhancing the integration of environmental sustainability and regulatory requirements into the planning, decision-making, approvals and operations of Airports, Airlines, Air Navigation Services, Ground Support System etc. Enhance the aviation systems from conventional to advanced environment friendly, resource efficient infrastructure/system with reliable and sustainable alternatives such as green building concept, etc. To reduce GHG and other gaseous emissions in line with national and global frameworks by considering use of fuel efficient fleets, advanced air navigation system with flexible use of airspace, integrated A-CDMs, emission free ground support equipment, use renewable energy and other sustainable fuels like bio fuels etc. Enhance competency on environmental sustainability for all aviation professionals with dedicated functions, roles and responsibilities in each individual aviation units such as Airports, Airlines, Air Navigation Services, Ground Support System etc. Create a favorable regulatory regime for clearances of aviation projects to meet the anticipated growth of Indian Civil Aviation, with due care to environment sustainability. What is happening in India? India is one of the fastest growing domestic aviation markets and is projected to become the world's third largest air passenger market in 10 years. As part of the proposed green aviation policy, the DGCA would assess and understand emissions from all aviation related sources and their contribution to the local air quality. The ministry is committed to inclusive and sustainable growth of the civil aviation sector in the country while mitigating its negative impacts on environment at the same time – Aviation regulator DGCA would work with other government agencies for making bio-jet fuels commercially viable. Besides, the watchdog would assess and understand emissions from all aviation related sources, their contribution to the local air quality and their effect on compliance with local air quality regulations. There would be a special provision and timelines that would be worked out in collaboration with central and state government bodies, environment ministry, pollution control boards and the DGCA to speed up the developmental activities with due care environment sustainability. Airports would adopt local air quality monitoring system and programs to monitoring the air quality around airport. The stakeholders would work closely with government agencies, local bodies for effective waste management around the airport to ensure reduced bird hazards and safe airport operation. A centre of excellence for green aviation has also been proposed, that would focus on identifying environment friendly solutions, research, competency and skill developments and aviation programmes, among others. Connecting the Dots: Examine the Green Civil Aviation Policy of India? Will it able to achieve the objective set out by the Ministry?