May 5, 2019 Motivational Articles

Creative Guidance – How To Stay Motivated – Inspirational Educative Articles

How to stay motivated? Why is it difficult to stay inspired and motivated all the time? What is it in the nature of life that makes it so hard to be motivated all the time? Let us try and understand the science of motivation. More importantly let us try and understand why we lose the ability to stay motivated all the time as we grow up. There is no debate in the argument that we were a lot more motivated during our younger days. Irrespective of our age now, we can all reflect back on the time when we had more energy and enthusiasm. We can all recollect a time from our past when were a lot more inspired and motivated. So what is it that makes it difficult for us to stay inspired as we grow up? One important reason is our changing understanding of life. As we grow, our understanding of life changes and accordingly our attitude towards what inspires and motivates us changes. Since the very definition of growing up is a process of changing, staying motivated all the time is a big challenge. This does not mean that there is no way for us to stay inspired and motivated all the time. The trick to staying inspired all or rather most of the time lies in our mind. Our mind holds the key to the secret of our motivation. If we are able to understand the nature of our minds clearly, we will be able to learn how to keep ourselves motivated. As far as the mind is concerned, motivation is simply a state. In fact our mind does not understand motivation at all. The only thing it understands and recognizes is different states of our mind. Mainly, it recognizes positive and negative states. For the mind, being in a positive state of mind corresponds to being motivated. Similarly being in a negative state of mind corresponds to demotivation and lack of enthusiasm. It is amazing how much time, money and effort is spent in trying to motivate people. One of the biggest challenges every organization faces is keeping its people inspired and motivated. Most people understand motivation as a surge of energy; hence fall into the age old trap of instant energizing, only to lose their energy all too quickly. We cannot approach our personal motivation as a quick surge of energy. Rather, we have to understand it is a way of keeping our mind in a positive state of mind. The biggest secret to motivation is knowing the difference between a negative state of mind and a positive state of mind. When we know what triggers a negative or a positive state of mind, it becomes possible for us to control our motivation levels. The easiest way to stay motivated is by listening to continuous conversation of our minds and not encouraging negative conversation. This sounds too simplistic to work, but it works brilliantly. Just by listening to our thoughts we can weed out negative and unnecessary conversations and cultivate an internal atmosphere of positivity and energy. “This article is a part of the creative endeavor of Inner-Revolution and IASBABA.”

May 4, 2019 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

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

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 4th May 2019 Archives (PRELIMS+MAINS FOCUS) Only 10 of 100 Ganga sewage projects completed Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III – Environment and Biodiversity; Conservation; Pollution; Government schemes and programmes; Governance issues In news: The NDA government has only finished 10 of the 100 sewage infrastructure projects commissioned after 2015 under the Namami Gange mission, according to records. Nearly ₹23,000 crore has been sanctioned of the ₹28,000 crore outlay for sewage management work. Commissioning of sewage treatment plants (STP) and laying sewer lines are at the heart of the mission to clean the Ganga. However, river-front development, cleaning ghats and removing trash from the river, which are just the cosmetic side of the mission make up about for ₹1,200 crore of the mission outlay. Do you know? The bulk of the projects completed were those commissioned before the Ganga mission began work in earnest under programmes such as the Ganga Action Plan-1 and Ganga Action Plan-2, which began in 1987 and 1996 respectively. Asia-Pacific to grow 5.7% this year: ADB Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II and III – Economy; International Affairs In news: According to Asian Development Bank – Asia-Pacific region is expected to power ahead growing at 5.7% this year The bank’s lending grew to a record $21.6 billion in 2018, 10% higher compared to 2017. Strategy 2030 plan of ADB It focuses on six key areas – operational and action plans for the private sector, addressing remaining poverty and inequality, accelerating progress in gender equality, continuing to foster regional cooperation and integration, expanding private sector operations and using concessional resources effectively (MAINS FOCUS) HEALTH ISSUE TOPIC: General studies 2 Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health. Welfare schemes, mechanisms, laws, institutions and bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections General Studies 3 Inclusive growth and issues arising from it Why capping stent prices is no cure Context: Healthcare in India is in urgent need of a paradigm shift. In the recent past, the sector has seen some significant policy announcements, with the government trying to finally make healthcare accessible and affordable. Price capping of medical devices has been at the forefront of these announcements. India heavily relies on medical device imports to meet its healthcare needs. Therefore capping of medical devices is an important policy announcement. Benefits of capping stent prices: Price control is necessary under the failed and exploitive market system characterised by exorbitant, irrational and restrictive trade margin. India, in order to achieve its long-term goal of Universal Healthcare Coverage, it needs better equipment, skill development and policies that support medical innovations. Price capping will minimise the expenditure in the health sector and allow more people to benefit from it. Coronary artery disease (CAD) in India has become a major public health problem. (incidence of high morbidity and mortality). Therefore, price cap on coronary stents have helped a larger number of patients from lower-income groups undergo life-saving angioplasty since their number went up sharply after the price-regulation move. It also allows transparency and better government control and audit ease. Why capping stent prices is no cure? India is still battling healthcare challenges like availability of adequate infrastructure, trained professionals, rapidly changing disease burden and catastrophic out-of-pocket expenses. (Needs comprehensive reforms in other areas too) The medical device market in India is under-penetrated, and access to quality and affordable medical service remains a challenge. For instance, there has been a drastic fall in the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the medical device sector (according to recent reports). Drug-eluting stents are mostly manufactured by medical-device MNCs and after capping stent price many have either pulled out their state-of-the-art stents from the Indian market or have announced plans to do so. Now, at this point, where India imports 70% of its medical devices, the industry is dependent on the global community for the inflow of technology and innovation. While the domestic industry finds its feet in this market, the access of these devices to patients cannot be paused. If a high-quality stent by a global manufacturer becomes inaccessible to the patients, it can have severe implications on the health of millions. Do you know? The capping slashed the price of drug-eluting stents by as much as 70%. Top-rung MNCs pulling their products out of the Indian market also has serious implications for patients in the country. Conclusion: Well-considered price control is a positive step, but more needs to be done. Government is progressing towards increasing access and adoption, improving quality, and lowering healthcare delivery costs in the country. However, healthcare policies are not about what serves the short-term purpose, but what works for the people in the long run. Critics argue that subsidising stents at public hospitals based on income could have been better alternative in order to solve the problem of lower-income patients, who are more likely to opt out of life-saving procedures because of high stent costs. The lack of pricing freedom in medical devices sends out signals to the international investing community that regulatory action in India could be a potential threat. Connecting the dots: Indian healthcare framework needs a comprehensive regulatory framework that goes beyond price control. Other key elements of healthcare- insurance coverage, healthcare infrastructure etc.- must be stressed upon. Analyze. Without pharmaceuticals’ market reform, Universal Healthcare Coverage will be a distant dream. Elucidate. The recent measure of price control on medical devices is seen as anti-market practice. Critically discuss the need for such measures in a welfare state like India. Will it inhibit innovation in the field? Justify. 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. For a simpler GST Introduction: The collections from the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in April for economic activity in March scaled a new high. The GST inflows of ₹1,13,865 crore in April are the highest recorded since the tax regime was introduced in July 2017. This is the second consecutive month of GST mop-up topping Rs 1 lakh crore-mark and 10 per cent higher than Rs 1.03 lakh crore collected in April 2018. However, the unorganised sectors, especially the small traders and producers, are the ones facing adverse impacts. The large and medium-scale producers who are expected to benefit the most from GST are confused since hundreds of changes have been announced from the time it was launched. Even chartered accountants and lawyers who are to help businesses cope with GST are often left befuddled. More and more cases are being filed in courts due to lack of clarity and varying interpretations. Do you know? The government suspended the more difficult parts of the GST provisions — like e-way bill, GSTR2 form — for a while. Government recently raised the limit for registration under GST from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 40 lakh and for the composition scheme from Rs75 lakh to Rs 1.5 crore to exempt most small businesses. Many tax rates have been brought down. But the problems persist because they are structural and not just a result of poor implementation. The way ahead: The proponents of GST believe that the problems are temporary and that structural changes take time to give dividends. GST is the biggest reform in India, no matter what the difficulties, they maintain that eventually all will be well. GST needs a structural change with effective implementation. In order to encourage greater compliance, there must be efforts to make it easier for small firms to remain in the tax net by cutting down the time and energy required to fill myriad tax returns. Connecting the dots: How will GST impact the economy of India in short term. Critically analyse. Do you think the present GST tariff structure addresses the generally regressive nature of indirect taxes? Critically examine. Enumerate the salient features of proposed new GST law. Discuss the challenges to be faced due to GST implementation. MUST READ An image makeover of the Belt and Road Initiative The Hindu A new fault line in post-war Sri Lanka The Hindu  False dawn: On India’s crucial security challenge Indian Express A rashomon election Indian Express Will China Export its Illiberal Innovation? Financial Express/Tribune

May 3, 2019 IASbaba's OFFLINE CLASSES

ADMISSIONS OPEN: IASbaba's OPTIONAL OFFLINE CLASSROOM PROGRAMME 2019-2020 – SOCIOLOGY, GEOGRAPHY, ANTHROPOLOGY, KANNADA LITERATURE, POLITICAL SCIENCE

IASbaba's OPTIONAL OFFLINE CLASSROOM PROGRAMME 2019-2020   Choosing the right optional is just like choosing the perfect spouse. Yes! You read it right. Love, compatibility and trust are the most important factors when you choose your life partner. You must also choose your optional based on these factors. You must love your optional, manning you should have interest in the subject. You can’t be feeling burdened because of of your optional. The textbooks must attract you so much so that you can’t live without them a single day! Then you must have compatibility with the subject. What it means is that you can’t afford to get irritated or perplexed by the requirements of your optional. For example, if you are an engineering graduate and you have always detested abstract theories, Philosophy isn’t be the subject for you. If you are pathetic in drawing, you should stay away from Geography. If you aren’t good with memorising facts, stay away from History. Similarly, if you have always appreciated poetry and love reading literature, you can think of taking one of the languages as your optional. If you have a mathematical bent of mind, you can think of taking the science subjects as your optional. If you like to know about nature, places and people, you must think of Geography as your go to subject. Finally you must have never ending trust on your optional. You must repose your complete faith in your optional and only then it will pay dividends to you. It simply means that you need to put in maximum effort, internalise the essence of the subject, master the art of writing answers and leave it to the subject to pay you back in the form of handsome marks. You can’t prepare your optional with inhibitions and doubt. So, if you haven’t tested your optional on these there parameters, please go back and spend some time to do the same. Come back with a strong conviction about the optional that you have finally chosen and only then start your journey. Please Note that all the OPTIONAL'S will have Test Series included and One-One Mentorship with the Respective Faculties!! SOCIOLOGY OPTIONAL  We will be starting off with SOCIOLOGY OPTIONAL OFFLINE CLASSES from 4th August 2019 (Sunday). ORIENTATION Class will be held in the month of July (2nd Week). The classes will be taken by Dr. Vamshi Krishna Sir (a Topper himself in Sociology in UPSC 2014, 2015), BDS, M.A (Sociology) Working as Assistant Administrative officer at CSIR NAL. Associated with IASBABA since its inception. Dr.Vamshi writes on social issues on blogs. Regular contributor to Research gate and Academia.edu on social issues useful for researchers and social scientists. You can read REVIEWS of his classes - Link 1, Link 2 FEATURES OF THE PROGRAMME: The duration of the program would be from August 2019 to February 2020 (7 MONTHS) Notes will be dictated in easy answer writing format and value-added notes (VAN) would be provided. (Includes contemporary case studies, extra concepts, Govt. Schemes etc.) 10 Mains tests with a mix of sectional and Full length including discussion, evaluation and feedback Complete coverage of topics with focus on contemporary trends to inculcate Sociological Imagination necessary to tackle any type of Question in the examination. The focus will be on paper 2 where the majority of students face a problem [lack of material, application of paper 1 concepts, dynamic part (current affairs). One on One discussion with mentor with focus on Answer writing improvement. The focus will be on building sociological concepts and answer writing especially for first time aspirants with focus on competing with experienced candidates on equal footing in Mains 2020.   Duration of the Class: August 2019 to February 2020 (7 MONTHS) Timings: Classes will be held on WEEKENDS ONLY (to facilitate even working professionals). Initially it will be held only on Saturday's, once students get acclimatized with the classes, it will be Saturdays/Sundays (10am-5pm) MODE OF ADMISSION : Interested students can fill up the registration form (below). Once registered you will get an invite, with the payment link. Once the payment is done, send the acknowledgement to offline@iasbaba.com. This confirms your enrollment to the program.  (OR) You can directly come to the office and make the payment and confirm your admission. The Office address and Contact details are mentioned @ the end of the post. REGISTRATION FORM –> CLICK HERE   GEOGRAPHY OPTIONAL  We will be starting off with GEOGRAPHY OPTIONAL OFFLINE CLASSES from 3rd August 2019 (Saturday). ORIENTATION Class will be held in the month of July (2nd Week). The purpose of this write up is twofold- to help you understand the merits of Geography as an optional and share the details of the comprehensive Geography Offline Classroom Programme. But before we let you know the merits of Geography as an optional, please remove the notions and biases from your mind that might have developed as a result of your discussions on various online forums and maybe with your friends and seniors. UPSC doesn’t intentionally “butcher” a subject. All the optionals have their distinct advantages and drawbacks but by no stretch of imagination would UPSC give preference to one optional over the other. What may happen though is that some optionals might have scored more than the others in a particular year but that trend gets reversed also. That is the unpredictability of the Civil Services Examination that we have to live with. In fact, till the time optionals remain a part of CSE, this unpredictability will remain. So, learn to live with it rather than blaming it. Most of the times, the answers to one’s failure or unexpected performance lies within and not externally. So the message is clear for all the sceptics- before blaming UPSC for its so called “bias” for or against any optional, try to find the reasons of not doing well by looking inward! So coming to the point, let us enumerate the merits of Geography as an optional to help you decide whether it’s the subject for you: 1. Geography is scoring: If you maintain the essence of Geography in your answers, it will definitely fetch you good marks in Mains. 2. Geography is interesting: You will have a fun ride with geography as most of the concepts relate to the physical and social environment of which you are an integral part. 3. Geography has maximum overlap with GS syllabus: If you prepare Geography optional, more than 30-40% of your GS syllabus is automatically prepared. Moreover, you develop better perspectives for Essay paper and interview as well. 4. Geography is logic driven and scientific: Unlike some other humanities subjects, study of Geography entails logic, scientific theories and empirical evidences. This makes Geography easy to understand and apply. 5. Geography has abundance of sources to refer: There is no dearth of quality materials and good books in Geography. You don’t have to dig too much into bookstores to find good books on Geography. Now, having discussed the merits, let us tell you what we have in store for your optional preparation. If you have already decided to choose Geography as your optional, we are pleased to offer 14 weeks of complete end to end guidance for Geography optional in the form of our comprehensive Offline Guidance Programme. The basic features of the programme are: It will be a classroom based program spanning 3 to 4 months. In a week, total number of classroom sessions conducted will be 6 (sessions/week). Each session will be of 3 hours Duration. Classes will be conducted on 4 days (2 days on the weekdays & 2 days on the weekends) Perspective driven classroom sessions. Each session will comprise of intensive conceptual learning, discussion on previous year questions, quizzes, discussions etc. Master the technique of using the 6 tools of Geography to score really high in Mains. Value add notes(VAN) and Synopsis on selected topics. You can download the Tentative SCHEDULE - CLICK HERE   Duration of the Class: August 2019 to November 2019 (4 MONTHS) MODE OF ADMISSION : Interested students can fill up the registration form (below). Once registered you will get an invite, with the payment link. Once the payment is done, send the acknowledgement to offline@iasbaba.com. This confirms your enrollment to the program.  (OR) You can directly come to the office and make the payment and confirm your admission. The Office address and Contact details are mentioned @ the end of the post. REGISTRATION FORM –> CLICK HERE   ANTHROPOLOGY OPTIONAL  We will be starting off with ANTHROPOLOGY OPTIONAL OFFLINE CLASSES from 3rd August 2019 (Saturday). ORIENTATION Class will be held in the month of July (2nd Week). The classes will be taken by P. Vishnu Vardhan sir (M.Ain ANTHROPOLOGY) . He has an experience of teaching Anthropology since last 8 years at various Reputed institutes at Hyderabad and also teaches at Unacademy Plus. Under his guidance several civil aspirants have cleared with flying colours with anthropology optional. Attended UPSC Interview three times with anthropology as optional and scored high marks (324/500) in 2014 year.   Why Anthropology as Optional? Anthropology subject is not new to students because the topics present in the syllabus are the things which we observe in our daily life like marriage, kinship, family etc. Hence the subject will be interesting and  the syllabus will be connected to everybody. Since last 5 to 6 years the 8-10% of the students who cleared CSE is from Anthropology Optional. 80% of the Preparation will be static and 20% will be Dynamic, hence High scoring. The track record from the previous results also proved that anthropology is high scoring optional. The questions in the final mains exam will be direct and there won’t be any round tripping of questions, hence any average student can answer the questions easily. There is proper availability of material and resources in the market. MOST IMPORTANT, It covers 30% of General studies syllabus as well.   FEATURES OF THE PROGRAMME: The duration of the program would be from August 2019 to November 2019 (4 MONTHS COURSE) Class Notes will be given and regular Hand outs will be distributed  10 Mains tests with a mix of sectional and full length including discussion, evaluation and feedback. Each and every word in the syllabus will be covered comprehensively. Special emphasis on Applications (anthropological thinkers/theories) and Current affairs  Special emphasis will be on PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY. Special care will be taken on Non science background students for physical anthropology The focus will be on Interaction and not on Monologue. One on One discussion with mentor with focus on Answer writing improvement. The focus will be on building concepts and answer writing especially for first time aspirants with focus on competing with experienced candidates on equal footing in Mains 2020. ANTHROPOLOGY SYLLABUS PAPER 1 1)BIOLOGICAL EVOLUTION AND CULTURAL EVOLUTION OF MAN - 1st UNIT 2) SOCIO CULTURAL EVOLUTION (2,3,4,5 UNITS) 3) ANTHROPOLOGICAL THOUGHT (6,7,8 UNITS) 4) PHYSICAL CHAPTERS(9-12) PAPER 2 1)BIOLOGICAL EVOLUTION AND CULTURAL EVOLUTION OF MAN  IN INDIA- 1st UNIT 2)INDIAN SOCIETY(2-5) 3)TRIBAL  CHAPTERS(6-9)   Duration of the Class: August 2019 to November 2020 (4 MONTHS) Timings: Classes will be held on WEEKENDS ONLY (to facilitate even working professionals). Saturdays/Sundays (9am to 1pm and 2.30pm to 6.30pm.) MODE OF ADMISSION : Interested students can fill up the registration form (below). Once registered you will get an invite, with the payment link. Once the payment is done, send the acknowledgement to offline@iasbaba.com. This confirms your enrollment to the program.  (OR) You can directly come to the office and make the payment and confirm your admission. The Office address and Contact details are mentioned @ the end of the post. REGISTRATION FORM –> CLICK HERE   KANNADA LITERATURE OPTIONAL  The Kannada Literature OPTIONAL classes will be conducted by a renowned faculty Dr.Rakesh.E.S MSc, PhD. (a Topper himself in Kannada Literature in UPSC 2008, 2010). He has been guiding, teaching and mentoring students since 2010. Famously called by the students fraternity as a one-stop destination for Kannada literature Optional subject. His rich experience in teaching, his depth of understanding the subject and his interpretation skills in literary context has helped many students to get into the All India Services, Central Services and State Civil services. The one-one discussion sessions of Dr.Rakesh is well appreciated across by the students fraternity because of its fruitfulness with respect to doubt solving nature. His list of successful students includes Sachin.K (AIR-652, 2018) Ashok (AIR-711, 2019) Chanappa IPS, GuruPrasad IRS, Anoop Shetty IPS, Vishnu Gowda IRPS, Dyamappa IRS and many more! We will be starting off with KANNADA LITERATURE OPTIONAL OFFLINE CLASSES from 1st August 2019 (Thursday). ORIENTATION Class will be held in the month of July (2nd Week).   Key Highlights of the Class guidance Programme: 1) The optional subject Kannada literature will be taught in the philosophical and Literary context to ensure,the students develop the critical analytical ability while writing answers. 2) The techniques of answer writing in the PAPER-2 by utilising the principles and ideologies mentioned in the PAPER-1 will be taught in the class room sessions. 3) Since many students  from  non literary backgrounds (Science & Commerce graduates) are opting for kannada literature for in depth understanding of the subject in a comprehensive way and to solve the doubts, the class room teaching involves discussions and debates. 4) The study materials(Notes) issued in the class room includes the • Critical analysis of the best books • Notes of the Mysore University • Model answers of the selected candidates of UPSC. 5) Unit Tests will be conducted after completion of each unit of the syllabus (Total 8 tests from both the Paper's will be conducted).To enhance the answer writing capability of the students discussion sessions are held after evaluating the papers. 6) Since Personality test is a part of the examination process to infuse philosophies &  thoughts through literature, guest lecturers will be taken by senior writers and intellectuals. 7) Interaction sessions with the successful candidates (Topper’s) of the UPSC exam is part of the class room teaching programme. MODE OF ADMISSION : Interested students can fill up the registration form (below). Once registered you will get an invite, with the payment link. Once the payment is done, send the acknowledgement to offline@iasbaba.com. This confirms your enrollment to the program.  (OR) You can directly come to the office and make the payment and confirm your admission. The Office address and Contact details are mentioned @ the end of the post. REGISTRATION FORM –> CLICK HERE   POLITICAL SCIENCE and INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS (PSIR) OPTIONAL  Choosing optional for Civil services mains exam is extremely crucial job. If you have decided that POLITICAL SCIENCE AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS is the subject for you, you have taken the right decision…!!!! The classes will be taken by Mr. Rahul Saigaonker, a topper himself in Political Science in UPSC 2016, MTech from NITK Surathkal, (MA Pol Sci). He has keen interest in 21st century Public policy issues and has 5 years of teaching experience. PSIR is undoubtedly a good subject to choose as an optional. We have few things to reinforce your faith in your decision. You may like to read the following points that will strengthen your conviction about PSIR: PSIR is highly relevant and interesting subject with reference to a career in civil services. PSIR is also a high scoring subject in UPSC mains. PSIR has huge overlap with GS syllabus. For instance, Paper I part B of PSIR totally overlaps with Indian polity and governance. Paper II of PSIR will help one in preparing for IR for general studies. Various political thinkers we study in PSIR will help immensely in ethics paper also. PSIR will greatly help in developing better perspectives for Essay paper and Personality test. We will be starting off with POLITICAL SCIENCE OPTIONAL OFFLINE CLASSES from 1st August 2019 (Thursday). ORIENTATION Class will be held in the month of July (2nd Week). FEATURES OF THE PROGRAMME: Complete coverage of UPSC Syllabus of PSIR in just 4.5-5 Months. Special focus on coverage of contemporary theories and commentaries especially in Paper-1 Part-A and Paper-2 Part-A. Weekly Tests and dedicated focus on answer writing. Discussion of previous year UPSC question papers. Optional Test Series including 10 Tests (6 Sectional & 4 Mock). To Download the Schedule (Tentative) -> CLICK HERE OUR APPROACH: This course has been specially designed for those who are interested in opting Political Science as optional. (No need of prior academic background of the subject). We will provide comprehensive study material as class lecture notes and there will, also be printed notes of basic material of the subject. The course will put exclusive focus on understanding basic notions and theories in PSIR clearly. Our classes will help students, in connecting and correlating different concepts and theories which is extremely necessary in UPSC mains. There will be extraordinary attention on answer writing with continuous feedback and improvement. There will be weekly One on One discussion with mentor. The focus will be on bringing conceptual clarity and answer writing especially for first time aspirants so that they can compete with experienced candidates on equal footing in Mains 2020. Duration of the Class: August 2019 to December 2019 (4.5-5 MONTHS) Timings: Classes will be held on Weekdays. (Timing will be notified). MODE OF ADMISSION : Interested students can fill up the registration form (below). Once registered you will get an invite, with the payment link. Once the payment is done, send the acknowledgement to offline@iasbaba.com. This confirms your enrollment to the program.  (OR) You can directly come to the office and make the payment and confirm your admission. REGISTRATION FORM –> CLICK HERE Please Note that all the OPTIONAL'S will have Test Series included and One-One Mentorship with the Respective Faculties!!   OFFICE ADDRESS : Admission can be done at 2 Centres ! Vijayanagar Centre: 1737/ 37, MRCR Layout, Vijayanagar Service Road, Vijaynagar, Bengaluru-5660040 Landmark: Vijayanagar Metro station or Above Apple Showroom Chandra Layout Centre: No. 1443/1444, Above Carzspa, 80 Ft. Main Road, Ganapathi Circle, Chandra Layout, Bengaluru- 560040 FOR QUERIES: You can also reach us on Email: offline@iasbaba.com Contact No.: 9035077800/7353177800 (10 AM to 5.30 PM)   Thank You IASbaba

May 3, 2019 IASbaba's OFFLINE CLASSES

QUICK UPDATE: POLITICAL SCIENCE AND KANNADA LITERATURE - IASbaba’s OPTIONAL OFFLINE CLASSROOM PROGRAMME 2019-2020

POLITICAL SCIENCE AND KANNADA LITERATURE - IASbaba’s OPTIONAL OFFLINE CLASSROOM PROGRAMME 2019-2020    To know about SOCIOLOGY, GEOGRAPHY, ANTHROPOLOGY -> CLICK HERE   Please Note that all the OPTIONAL'S will have Test Series included and One-One Mentorship with the Respective Faculties!! POLITICAL SCIENCE AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS (PSIR) OPTIONAL Choosing optional for Civil services mains exam is extremely crucial job. If you have decided that POLITICAL SCIENCE AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS is the subject for you, you have taken the right decision…!!!! The classes will be taken by Mr. Rahul Saigaonker, a topper himself in Political Science in UPSC 2016, MTech from NITK Surathkal, (MA Pol Sci). He has keen interest in 21st century Public policy issues and has 5 years of teaching experience. PSIR is undoubtedly a good subject to choose as an optional. We have few things to reinforce your faith in your decision. You may like to read the following points that will strengthen your conviction about PSIR: PSIR is highly relevant and interesting subject with reference to a career in civil services. PSIR is also a high scoring subject in UPSC mains. PSIR has huge overlap with GS syllabus. For instance, Paper I part B of PSIR totally overlaps with Indian polity and governance. Paper II of PSIR will help one in preparing for IR for general studies. Various political thinkers we study in PSIR will help immensely in ethics paper also. PSIR will greatly help in developing better perspectives for Essay paper and Personality test. We will be starting off with POLITICAL SCIENCE OPTIONAL OFFLINE CLASSES from 1st August 2019 (Thursday). ORIENTATION Class will be held in the month of July (2nd Week). FEATURES OF THE PROGRAMME: Complete coverage of UPSC Syllabus of PSIR in just 4.5-5 Months. Special focus on coverage of contemporary theories and commentaries especially in Paper-1 Part-A and Paper-2 Part-A. Weekly Tests and dedicated focus on answer writing. Discussion of previous year UPSC question papers. Optional Test Series including 10 Tests (6 Sectional & 4 Mock). To Download the Schedule (Tentative) -> CLICK HERE OUR APPROACH: This course has been specially designed for those who are interested in opting Political Science as optional. (No need of prior academic background of the subject). We will provide comprehensive study material as class lecture notes and there will, also be printed notes of basic material of the subject. The course will put exclusive focus on understanding basic notions and theories in PSIR clearly. Our classes will help students, in connecting and correlating different concepts and theories which is extremely necessary in UPSC mains. There will be extraordinary attention on answer writing with continuous feedback and improvement. There will be weekly One on One discussion with mentor. The focus will be on bringing conceptual clarity and answer writing especially for first time aspirants so that they can compete with experienced candidates on equal footing in Mains 2020. Duration of the Class: August 2019 to December 2019 (4.5-5 MONTHS) Timings: Classes will be held on Weekdays. (Timing will be notified). MODE OF ADMISSION : Interested students can fill up the registration form (below). Once registered you will get an invite, with the payment link. Once the payment is done, send the acknowledgement to offline@iasbaba.com. This confirms your enrollment to the program.  (OR) You can directly come to the office and make the payment and confirm your admission. The Office address and Contact details are mentioned @ the end of the post. REGISTRATION FORM –> CLICK HERE   KANNADA LITERATURE OPTIONAL The Kannada Literature OPTIONAL classes will be conducted by a renowned faculty Dr.Rakesh.E.S MSc, PhD. (a Topper himself in Kannada Literature in UPSC 2008, 2010). He has been guiding, teaching and mentoring students since 2010. Famously called by the students fraternity as a one-stop destination for Kannada literature Optional subject. His rich experience in teaching, his depth of understanding the subject and his interpretation skills in literary context has helped many students to get into the All India Services, Central Services and State Civil services. The one-one discussion sessions of Dr.Rakesh is well appreciated across by the students fraternity because of its fruitfulness with respect to doubt solving nature. His list of successful students includes Sachin.K (AIR-652, 2018) Ashok (AIR-711, 2019) Chanappa IPS, GuruPrasad IRS, Anoop Shetty IPS, Vishnu Gowda IRPS, Dyamappa IRS and many more! We will be starting off with KANNADA LITERATURE OPTIONAL OFFLINE CLASSES from 1st August 2019 (Thursday). ORIENTATION Class will be held in the month of July (2nd Week). Key Highlights of the Class guidance Programme: 1) The optional subject Kannada literature will be taught in the philosophical and Literary context to ensure,the students develop the critical analytical ability while writing answers. 2) The techniques of answer writing in the PAPER-2 by utilising the principles and ideologies mentioned in the PAPER-1 will be taught in the class room sessions. 3) Since many students  from  non literary backgrounds (Science & Commerce graduates) are opting for kannada literature for in depth understanding of the subject in a comprehensive way and to solve the doubts, the class room teaching involves discussions and debates. 4) The study materials(Notes) issued in the class room includes the • Critical analysis of the best books • Notes of the Mysore University • Model answers of the selected candidates of UPSC. 5) Unit Tests will be conducted after completion of each unit of the syllabus (Total 8 tests from both the Paper's will be conducted).To enhance the answer writing capability of the students discussion sessions are held after evaluating the papers. 6) Since Personality test is a part of the examination process to infuse philosophies &  thoughts through literature, guest lecturers will be taken by senior writers and intellectuals. 7) Interaction sessions with the successful candidates (Topper’s) of the UPSC exam is part of the class room teaching programme. MODE OF ADMISSION : Interested students can fill up the registration form (below). Once registered you will get an invite, with the payment link. Once the payment is done, send the acknowledgement to offline@iasbaba.com. This confirms your enrollment to the program.  (OR) You can directly come to the office and make the payment and confirm your admission. REGISTRATION FORM –> CLICK HERE Please Note that all the OPTIONAL'S will have Test Series included and One-One Mentorship with the Respective Faculties!! To know about SOCIOLOGY, GEOGRAPHY, ANTHROPOLOGY -> CLICK HERE   OFFICE ADDRESS : Admission can be done at 2 Centres ! Vijayanagar Centre: 1737/ 37, MRCR Layout, Vijayanagar Service Road, Vijaynagar, Bengaluru-5660040 Landmark: Vijayanagar Metro station or Above Apple Showroom Chandra Layout Centre: No. 1443/1444, Above Carzspa, 80 Ft. Main Road, Ganapathi Circle, Chandra Layout, Bengaluru- 560040 FOR QUERIES: You can also reach us on Email: offline@iasbaba.com Contact No.: 9035077800/7353177800 (10 AM to 5.30 PM) Thank You IASbaba

May 3, 2019 Topper's From IASbaba

TOPPER'S STRATEGY/MOTIVATION: Namita Sharma, Rank 145 UPSC CSE 2018 –a regular follower of IASbaba, A Working Professional cracks the exam in her Last Attempt!!

TOPPER'S STRATEGY/MOTIVATION: Namita Sharma, Rank 145 UPSC CSE 2018 –a regular follower of IASbaba, A Working Professional cracks the exam in her Last Attempt!! "Would you like me to give you a formula for success? It's quite simple, really: Double your rate of failure. You are thinking of failure as the enemy of success. But it isn't at all. You can be discouraged by failure or you can learn from it, so go ahead and make mistakes. Make all you can. Because remember that's where you will find success." -- Thomas J. Watson Hello Friends, This is Namita Sharma, Rank 145 UPSC CSE 2018 (My final attempt). I would be sharing my strategy in 2 Parts. In the 1st Part, I will be discussing only about Prelims, Mains and Interview Preparation will be discussed in the 2nd Part. MARKSHEET: MAINS MARKSHEET: PRELIMS A brief background about myself: I am presently working as Tax Assistant in Central GST. Previously I have worked in IBM as a software engineer. I am engineer by graduation. I started giving all government exams since I passed graduation and in this while I had exhausted my initial 3 attempts at UPSC without even knowing about the exam. I failed in 2016 prelims despite preparing alot, but not in right direction. CSE 2017 was my 5th attempt where I cleared Prelims for the first time and reached till interview, missing out the final list by a small margin. CSE 2018 being my last attempt, gave me this opportunity today to share my experience with you all. I am thankful to almighty and each and every person who made me stand where I am today. I have shared my marksheet for my last 2 attempts – Click Here Now talking about the upcoming D-Day 2nd June 2019 I hope you are doing awesome with your preparation as prelims is just 30 days away. You must be feeling mix up of anxiety and excitement. It may be first attempt for you or may be last attempt. The target is same for everyone right now - To clear this hurdle of prelims and get a chance to write mains and finally see your name shining in the holy PDF. First of all, we must feel grateful to have got this opportunity to realise our dream through this exam. The first stage being the toughest in the sense of being filtering stage where the serious and well prepared candidates get a chance to qualify for the next phase of examination. I am not sharing any booklist or strategy for prelims as everyone has their own sources to prepare. Whatever the sources may be just make sure you have covered the syllabus given by UPSC in a comprehensive manner to able to qualify each stage of examination.   My learnings from UPSC and how to do best in Prelims: For the next few weeks before examination- 1) REVISE. REVISE. REVISE. No alternative to thorough revision of both static and current affairs. Important to boost confidence and to increase accuracy in solving questions in the exam. 2) Practice from Mock Tests - AIPTS . Preferably in the 9-12 morning window. Revision tests (IASBaba 60 day challenge), full tests and sectional tests are helpful to practice questions and improve on accuracy and reduce negative marking. Prepare your strategy of solving the paper - how many questions to attempt, how to make intelligent guesses, how to eliminate options, and to maximise the score in real exam. Please pay attention to this - Don’t get bogged down by low marks in mock tests, purpose is to gain knowledge, make strategy as to how to attempt your paper and not to score high in mocks 3) Try to give 15 minutes daily to MAP reading and revising factual information. 4) Don’t ignore CSAT Paper-2. Practice atleast few past year papers and see if you are managing to score enough. 5) Staying calm is the key to sail through this journey. Practice meditation, yoga or some physical exercise to keep yourself pumped up and positive to tackle the anxiety of approaching exam. 6) Health is wealth. Eat healthy - no/minimise outside food and proper sleep helps to maintain good health. A healthy mind resides in a healthy body. Don’t compromise on your health. Keep yourself hydrated. 7) LAST 1 WEEK should be left solely to revise and keep calm. No solving, no reading new, no analysing of your performance. Only staying composed and focused. On the D- Day: 1) Have faith in your hardwork and blessings of parents and mentors. 2) Go through the paper quickly, try to mark the questions which you know 100% and move on. Solve the paper in 3 readings - it helps to recollect few facts which you may not be able to remember in first go. 3) Even if you don’t know many questions in first reading, keep calm you will do good only if you hold your nerves in those 2 hours. SELF-CONFIDENCE is the key. 4) Keep sufficient water with yourself. Chocolates if you like them are true friends always :) 5) Keep an eye on the Clock. (this practice should be followed in the mock sessions to utilise the 2 hours in best possible manner). Please remember we don’t have to top the prelims paper, we just have to clear it, jump this hurdle to write MAINS EXAM - which is the real game to see yourself in the final list. Just focus on each day to improve yourself. YOU are your only competition. Each day become better and better. Be confident that THIS is your attempt. Prelims is just the starting of this long war ahead which you shall win :) My Best wishes - hope we meet again for Mains preparation. Jindagi ki asli udaan abhi baaki hai Jindagi ke kai imtehan abhi baaki hai Abhi to naapi hai mutthi bhar zamin humne Abhi to sara aasman baaki hai…   Thank You Note: "I want to thank IAS baba team for the contribution in helping me achieve this rank in my last attempt.  I have followed iasbaba website at various stages of exam. I am really thankful to the team for providing guidance to aspirants through online material."  - Namita Sharma

May 3, 2019 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

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

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 3rd May 2019 Archives (PRELIMS+MAINS FOCUS) Cyclone Fani: Odisha evacuates over 11 lakh Part of: GS Prelims and Mains I and III – Geography; Natural Hazards; Disaster Management In news: Odisha state government evacuated over 11 lakh people from low-lying areas in 15 districts. The administration of coastal states of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu are bracing up to tackle the "extremely severe cyclone". Have you been wondering how do Cyclones get their names? World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has a process in which countries give a list of name suggestions from time to time. Countries like India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan and Thailand submit a list of names to the regional tropical cyclone committee for the cyclones developing in the North Indian Ocean. All the eight countries have suggested eight names for naming future cyclones. The name Fani for this cyclone was suggested by Bangladesh. Fani means snake. Do you know? Cyclone Titli which caused damage in Andhra Pradesh and parts of Odisha last year was named by Pakistan. Cyclone Ockhi hit Kerala and parts of Tamil Nadu in 2017. It was named by Thailand. (MAINS FOCUS) WOMEN/SOCIAL ISSUE TOPIC: General studies 1 Role of women and women’s organization, women related issues, Social empowerment General studies 2 and 3: Mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections Indian economy and employment; Gender parity; Women participation in workforce Factors responsible for poor participation of women in the workforce Women participation in workforce in India Currently, the participation of women in the workforce in India is one of the lowest globally. The female labour force participation rate (LFPR) in India fell from 31.2% in 2011-2012 to 23.3% in 2017-2018. This decline has been sharper in rural areas. Reasons for this poor performance: low social acceptability of women working outside the household lack of access to safe and secure workspaces widespread prevalence of poor and unequal wages dearth of decent and suitable jobs engaged in subsistence-level work in agriculture in rural areas, and in low-paying jobs such as domestic service and petty home-based manufacturing in urban areas rising levels of education for women (as women are refusing to do casual wage labour or work in family farms and enterprises) Education and work Social scientists have long tried to explain poor female labour force participation because of rising levels of education for women. Studies revealed a strong negative relationship between a woman’s education level and her participation in agricultural and non-agricultural wage work and in family farms. Women with moderately high levels of education do not want to do manual labour outside the household which would be perceived to be below their educational qualifications. Women prefer salaried jobs as their educational attainment increases, but such jobs remain extremely limited for women. Unpaid work Women devote a substantial amount of their time to work which is not considered as work, but an extension of their duties, and is largely unpaid. This includes unpaid care work such as childcare, elderly care, and household work such as collecting water. The burden of these activities falls disproportionately on women, especially in the absence of adequately available or accessible public services. The way ahead: Any government which is serious about ensuring women’s economic empowerment and equal access to livelihoods must address the numerous challenges that exist along this highly gendered continuum of unpaid, underpaid and paid work. Policies should facilitate women’s access to decent work by providing public services, eliminating discrimination in hiring, ensuring equal and decent wages, and improving women’s security in public spaces. It must also recognise, reduce, redistribute, and remunerate women’s unpaid work. Gender-responsive public services such as free and accessible public toilets, household water connections, safe and secure public transport, and adequate lighting and CCTV cameras to prevent violence against women in public spaces and increasing their mobility, will help. Fair and decent living wages and appropriate social security including maternity benefit, sickness benefit, provident fund, and pension are other important areas. Policies should also ensure safe and dignified working and living conditions for migrant workers. Recognition as farmers In addition, women have strongly articulated the need to enumerate and remunerate the unpaid and underpaid work they undertake in sectors such as agriculture and fisheries. Their fundamental demand is that women must be recognised as farmers in accordance with the National Policy for Farmers. Thereafter, their equal rights and entitlements over land and access to inputs, credit, markets, and extension services must be ensured. Unless policymakers correctly assess and address the structural issues which keep women from entering and staying in the workforce, promising just more jobs is unlikely to lead to the socio-economic transformation India needs. Connecting the dots: Discuss the various factors responsible for poor participation of women in the workforce in India. Also discuss what measures are needed to improve the same. Currently, the participation of women in the workforce in India is one of the lowest globally. How can we reverse that trend? Discuss. Discuss some of the important initiatives needed to be taken to create gender parity in the economy. SECURITY TOPIC: General studies 3 Challenges to internal security Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security Lost lives: on Gadchiroli naxal attack Introduction: The death of 15 security personnel in a landmine attack in Gadchiroli, Maharashtra, is another grim reminder of the Indian state’s continued failure to crush naxalism. Less than a month ago, a legislator and some security personnel lost their lives in a similar attack in the neighbouring State of Chhattisgarh ahead of polling. The Gadchiroli incident shows not only the audacity of the perpetrators but also the unpreparedness of the security forces. The attack comes a year after Maharashtra police gunned down 40 suspected Maoists in the same region. Clearly, the Maoists want to sent out a message that they still posses the firepower to take on the security forces and establish territorial dominance. The Gadchiroli attack makes it clear that Maoists continue to pose a significant challenge to the country’s internal security. Do you know? The Maoist movement or CPI (Maoist), born out of splits in the communist movement in the 1960s, has reinvented itself many times to become an influential militarist political group. Its cadre base too has shifted from peasants in the 1960s to tribals in the 1990s and thereafter. However, a decade since the then prime minister, Manmohan Singh, described them as the gravest internal security threat, the ultra-left political movement is now restricted to pockets of Central India. A focussed and co-ordinated effort by security agencies could further limit its footprint and finally end its violent run. That’s both a political and administrative challenge. In the Arthashastra, Kautilya wrote that a state could be at risk from four types of threats – internal, external, externally-aided internal, and internally-aided external He advised that of these four types, ‘internal threats’ should be taken care of immediately. According to him, “internal troubles, like the fear of the lurking snake, are far more serious than external threats. The most dangerous enemy is the enemy within”. Conclusion: Synergy is essential to deal with India’s complex internal security operations. We need a comprehensive centre-state strategy to deal with different insurgencies. It should include broad-based domains of national and state policies including accelerated economic development and social justice, security and media policies. Most importantly, it should address dedicated and effective governance through good administration, prompt and fair judiciary and a law and order machinery that inspires public confidence. Connecting the dots: What are the current strategies to deal with the problem of naxalism? How effective have they been? Examine. What is the threat perception of naxalism in India? Why naxalism has succeeded to widen its reach? MUST READ Is India doing enough to combat climate change? The Hindu Don’t give in to polarization The Hindu  Making every vote count: Time for a change in manner we elect our MPs, MLAs? Indian Express Namami Gange is still far from its touted goals Financial Express How solar energy can catalyse India’s agricultural energy transition Financial Express Asia as the new ground zero for Islamist terror Livemint The persistence of caste despite years of rapid economic growth Livemint

May 2, 2019 AIR

All India Radio (AIR) IAS UPSC - World Water Day

World Water Day ARCHIVES Search 22nd March, 2019 Current Affairs here: http://www.newsonair.com/Main_Audio_Bulletins_Search.aspx TOPIC: General Studies 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. General Studies 3: Conservation, Environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment. Water Pollution, Wastewater management Theme: Leaving no one behind; This is an adaptation of the central promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: as sustainable development progresses, everyone must benefit. Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) aims to ensure availability and sustainable management of water for all by 2030. By definition, this means leaving no one behind. What is the problem? Today, billions of people are still living without safe water – their households, schools, workplaces, farms and factories struggling to survive and thrive. Marginalized groups – women, children, refugees, indigenous peoples, disabled people and many others – are often overlooked, and sometimes face discrimination, as they try to access and manage the safe water they need. What does ‘safe water’ mean? ‘Safe water’ is shorthand for a ‘safely managed drinking water service’: water that is accessible on the premises, available when needed, and free from contamination. Access to water underpins public health and is therefore critical to sustainable development and a stable and prosperous world. We cannot move forward as a global society while so many people are living without safe water. Human right to water? In 2010, the UN recognized “the right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation as a human right that is essential for the full enjoyment of life and all human rights.” The human right to water entitles everyone, without discrimination, to sufficient, safe, acceptable, physically accessible and affordable water for personal and domestic use; which includes water for drinking, personal sanitation, washing of clothes, food preparation, and personal and household hygiene. Why are people being left behind without safe water? People are left behind without safe water for many different reasons. The following are some of the ‘grounds for discrimination’ that cause certain people to be particularly disadvantaged when it comes to accessing water: Sex and gender Race, ethnicity, religion, birth, caste, language, and nationality Disability, age and health status Property, tenure, residence, economic and social status Other factors, such as environmental degradation, climate change, population growth, conflict, forced displacement and migration flows can also disproportionately affect marginalized groups through impacts on water. In India India is suffering from ‘the worst water crisis’ in its history with about 60 crore people facing high to extreme water stress and about two lakh people dying every year due to inadequate access to safe water, NITI Aayog said in a report on Thursday. The report, titled ‘Composite Water Management Index’ further said the crisis is only going to get worse. 600 million people in India face high to extreme water stress in the country. About three-fourth of the households in the country do not have drinking water at their premise. With nearly 70% of water being contaminated, India is placed at 120th amongst 122 countries in the water quality index. 75% of households do not have drinking water on premise. 84% rural households do not have piped water access. Major Issue: Data and centre-state and inter-state cooperation are some of the key levers that can help address the crisis. Data systems related to water in the country are limited in their coverage, robustness, and efficiency. Limited coverage: Detailed data is not available for several critical sectors such as for domestic and industrial use, for which data is only available at the aggregate level and lacks the level of detail required to inform policies and allocations. Unreliable data: The data that is available can often be of inferior quality, inconsistent, and unreliable due to the use of outdated methodologies in data collection. For example, estimates on groundwater are mostly based on observation data from 55,000 wells, while there are 12 million wells in the country. Limited coordination and sharing: Data in the water sectors exists in silos, with very little inter-state or centre-state sharing, thereby reducing efficiencies. How will climate change hit supply? While growth in urban population is leading to increased water demand, climate change will make supply more variable. In some places, it will lead to a reduction of availability. In future, one in six large cities is likely to be at the risk of water deficit. Increased demand for urban water supply will put pressure on groundwater resources. We investigated urban groundwater stress by calculating the urban groundwater footprint of regional aquifers. Climate change and socio-economic factors like urbanisation will lead to an increasing urban groundwater footprint. Historically, many cities in less developed countries had systems that were inadequate to provide 24X7 water access to its people, a goal that will become even harder to reach in the future. Solutions: Need to make “every drop count” Expanding water supply Increasing storage This will ensure that cities survive under drought. This can be done by Long-distance water transfers, but can also come from groundwater or desalination. When cities appropriate more water, they impact the freshwater ecosystem. Sometimes urban water usage is more than in agriculture. Society should make more efficient use of water. Putting in place an efficient piped supply system has to be top on the agenda of policymakers and planners. Steps must be taken to make farmers efficient in use of irrigation water. Water reuse is an option too. Both in urban and rural areas, digging of rainwater harvesting pits must be made mandatory for all types of buildings. Nature-based solutions can address overall water scarcity through “supply-side management,” and are recognised as the main solution to achieving sustainable water for agriculture. Environmentally-friendly agricultural systems like those which use practices such as conservation tillage, crop diversification, legume intensification and biological pest control work as well as intensive, high-input systems. The environmental co-benefits of nature-based solutions to increasing sustainable agricultural production are substantial as there are decreased pressures on land conversion and reduced pollution, erosion and water requirements. Constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment can also be a cost-effective, nature-based solution that provides effluent of adequate quality for several non-potable uses (irrigation) and additional benefits that include energy production. Watershed management is another nature-based solution that is seen not only as a complement to build or “grey” infrastructure but also one that could also spur local economic development, job creation, biodiversity protection and climate resilience. Three areas that need urgent measures are Efficiency in Agriculture: The agricultural sector consumes over 85 per cent of the available water today in India, and there is enormous scope to save water here through improved efficiency. Shifting cropping pattern from water-intensive to less water consuming crops can save significant amount of water. Micro-irrigation method (drip and sprinkler) of rice cultivation promises to enhance water use efficiency with increased crop productivity. Rainwater harvesting is one of the cheapest and easiest ways of augmenting water stock. Investing and promoting water-recycling technologies and storm water capturing schemes should also be given utmost emphasis. The proposed water conservation fee on groundwater extraction is definitely a right step in the direction of regulating water use. Strict pollution control enforcement: User-centric approach to water management, especially in agriculture Decentralisation of irrigation commands, offering higher financial flows to well-performing States through a National Irrigation Management Fund Steady urbanisation calls for a new management paradigm – augmenting sources of clean drinking water supply and treatment technologies that will encourage reuse. Rethink water management Creative and imaginative governance in the form of building larger storage dams which can store excess water in lesser time is the need of the hour. People should be sensitised about the judicious use of water and educated about water-retention dams and other conventional structures such as eari, bawli, talab, anict, dam etc. to store water. The old practice of rainwater harvesting should also be popularised. Tamil Nadu has made mandatory installation of water harvesting structures in every house and this must be replicated in other States as well. Investing and promoting water-recycling, storm-water capturing technologies and micro-irrigation techniques in crop cultivation can also solve the problem of water scarcity. The cost effective method of reviving the traditional small water bodies under the age old practice of Kudimaramath should be given top priority. The Way Forward: The corrective measures that we need to take are not only in the areas of storage, but also in efficiency in managing supply, demand and use. Conscious efforts need to be made at the household level and by communities, institutions and local bodies to supplement the efforts of governments and non-governmental bodies in promoting water conservation. Sustained measures should be taken to prevent pollution of water bodies, contamination of groundwater and ensure proper treatment of domestic and industrial waste water. Reduce, reuse, and recycle must be the watchwords if we have to handover a liveable planet to the future generations. Note:  Water is a State subject. ‘Composite Water Management Index’: This index is an attempt to budge States and UTs towards efficient and optimal utilization of water and recycling thereof with a sense of urgency.The Index and this associated report are expected to: Establish a clear baseline and benchmark for state-level performance on key water indicators Uncover and explain how states have progressed on water issues over time, including identifying high-performers and under-performers, thereby inculcating a culture of constructive competition among states Identify areas for deeper engagement and investment on the part of the states. The Composite Water Management Index (CWMI) is a major step towards creating a culture of databased decision-making for water in India, which can encourage ‘competitive and cooperative federalism’ in the country’s water governance and management. Must Read: Link 1 Connecting the Dots: Why has water become a stressed resource in many parts of the world? Analyse. To solve the growing water crisis, the solution that is proposed and pushed by world bodies such as WTO and IMF through international agreements is privatisation of water. Do you think India should also privatise its water? Critically analyse. Many parts of the country are facing severe water crisis and drought conditions. There are many traditional water harvesting and conservation practices in various parts of India which can be employed locally to fight the ongoing crisis. Can you identify few such practices? Also mention the states where they are more prevalant. Addressing the deepening drought, agrarian distress and water-management are critical not just for our governments to survive but for us to survive our governments. Comment.

May 2, 2019 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 2nd May 2019

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 2nd May 2019 Archives (PRELIMS+MAINS FOCUS) UN Security Council designates Masood Azhar as global terrorist Part of: GS Mains II and III – Role of UNSC, international organization; Security/Terrorism related issues In news: Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar was listed as a designated terrorist by the UN Security Council 1267 Committee. The listing would mean a travel ban, arms embargo and asset freeze on Azhar. The listing is a victory for India in a decade-old diplomatic battle waged primarily by it and supported by its friends at the UNSC. Do you know? S. circulated a draft resolution (to sanction Azhar) among the UNSC members, i.e., outside the 1267 Committee, presumably to pressure China into either supporting the listing or having to take a stand in open proceedings and risk being seen as supporting terror. Pic: https://d39gegkjaqduz9.cloudfront.net/TH/2019/05/02/DEL/Delhi/TH/5_01/75aab137_2909570_101_mr.jpg India’s second moon mission: Chandrayaan-2 Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III - Science and Technology; Space Missions; Achievements of India In news: India’s much-delayed second lunar mission, Chandrayaan-2, has got yet another launch window. The mission is now set to be launched any time between July 5 and July 16 this year. According to the ISRO, the moon landing is likely to be around September 6, 2019, nearly two months after the launch, close to the lunar South Pole. Do you know? The lunar South Pole is believed to contain ice and other minerals. NASA is planning to land astronauts there by 2024, while China reportedly plans to build a scientific research station on the lunar South Pole within the next decade. About Chandrayaan-2 It is a fully-indigenous mission that comprises three modules — an Orbiter, a Lander named ‘Vikram’, and a Rover named ‘Pragyan’ — and will be launched on board a GSLV-MkIII rocket. The GSLV-MkIII is a three-stage heavy lift launch vehicle that has been designed to carry four-tonne class satellites into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). The Chandrayaan-2 weighs around 3,290 kg, according to ISRO. It would orbit around the moon and carry out remote sensing of the moon. The Chandrayaan-1 mission was launched on board a PSLV. Miscellaneous: Iraq remains top oil supplier to India In news: Iraq has, for the second year in a row, become India’s top crude oil supplier. Saudi Arabia has traditionally been India’s top oil source, but it was for the first time dethroned by Iraq in 2017-18 fiscal year. The Persian Gulf nation, Iran, was the third largest crude oil supplier to India. The U.S., which began selling crude oil to India in 2017, is fast becoming a major source. (MAINS FOCUS) HEALTH/NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2  Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health The cost of antimicrobial resistance Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become a global threat and developing countries like India are at the epicentre of this problem. AMR does not respect political boundaries. Of course, the country that stands to lose the most from antibiotic resistance is India, given that its burden of infectious disease is among the world’s highest. Concerns: According to a groundbreaking report titled “No Time to Wait: Securing The Future From Drug Resistant Infections”, by the UN Ad hoc Interagency Coordinating Group on Antimicrobial Resistance – If no action is taken, drug-resistant diseases could cause 10 million deaths each year by 2050 and damage to the economy as catastrophic as during the 2008-2009 global financial crisis. By 2030, antimicrobial resistance could force up to 24 million people into extreme poverty. Currently, at least 700,000 people die each year due to drug-resistant diseases, including 230,000 people who die from multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. In the worst-case scenario, the world will lose 3.8% of its annual GDP by 2050, while 24 million people will be pushed into extreme poverty by 2030. India’s actions against AMR India first published almost nine years ago the broad contours of a plan to fight AMR. The difficulty has been in implementing it, given the twin challenges of antibiotic overuse and underuse. Poorly regulated pharmaceutical industries have led to easy availability of antibiotics for those who can afford them. Steps which can be initiated right away: Phasing out critical human-use antibiotics in the animal husbandry sector, such as quinolones. A multi-stakeholder approach, involving private industry, philanthropic groups and citizen activists is needed. Private pharmaceutical industries must take it upon themselves to distribute drugs in a responsible manner. Philanthropic charities must fund the development of new antibiotics, while citizen activists must drive awareness. India is yet to introduce standards for antibiotics in waste water, which means antibiotic discharge in sewage is not even being monitored regularly. Conclusion: Only way to postpone resistance is through improved hygiene and vaccinations. It is a formidable task as India still struggles with low immunisation rates and drinking water contamination. But it must consider the consequences of a failure. Given the complex nature of the problem, no individual nation has the capacity to address this problem independently and thus a global cooperation is required. Connecting the dots: India needs to strengthen and implement regulations on antibiotic misuse. Critically evaluate the steps taken by government. INTERNATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2  India and the world 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 India-Canada: Concerns and Potential Introduction: In recent times there has been resurgence in anti-India activities by emboldened Khalistani elements in Canada. India-Canada ties have deteriorated in recent years, especially given the view that the current Justin Trudeau administration is soft on individuals and organisations that support the demand for Khalistan, a separate Sikh homeland. India has been consistently accusing the Canadian government of giving safe refuge to Sikh separatists, even though the Khalistan movement has long fizzled out because of lack of mass support. Trudeau received the cold shoulder from Punjab Chief Minister during his India visit in February 2018, as their discussion was on the Khalistan issue, rather than on areas of mutual cooperation. Recently, Mr. Trudeau drew the ire of the Indian government when a report on terror threats avoided the words ‘Khalistani extremism’. Concerns: The Indian government is reportedly concerned over the unity of Sikhs in Britain, US, and Canada and their coming to positions of power which could, in turn, pose a threat by challenging the abuse of civil rights of the Sikhs in India. The Indian government has also raised concerns over the revival of Sikh militancy, however the same has been termed as an exaggeration by many. While so far there hasn’t been any concerning act of separatism, the Indian elite remains alert as it sees the demands by Sikh as a sign of separatism. India-Canada cooperation: Potential Canada has truly been a land of opportunity for the Indian diaspora and higher education: They have earned the affection and respect of Canadians, who are very inclusive. Indian diaspora comprising 3.6% of the Canadian population is well-educated, affluent and politically suave. For the year 2017, Indian students received well over 25% (over 80,000) of the available study permits. In 2017, well over 40% of the 86,022 people who received invitations for permanent residency in Canada were Indians. During 2018, this rose by a staggering 13% to 41,000. Economic relations: There has been a spike in investments by the well-endowed Canadian Pension Funds like CPPIB and CDPQ into India. Together, Canadian companies have pumped in some $12-15 billion Canadian in India in sectors including real estate, financial services, distressed assets, modern logistics facilities and e-commerce. Conclusion: There exists enough potential for stepping up cooperation in areas like information technology, science and technology, clean and green tech, aviation and outer space, cold-climate warfare, cybersecurity, counterterrorism and tourism. The need of the hour is to strengthen mutual trust and confidence, by taking a long-term view of the relationship. By focusing only on the Khalistan issue, India risks alienating the Sikh diaspora. India should instead reach out to the Sikh diaspora in a year when Sikhs and all other followers of Guru Nanak will be commemorating his 550th birth anniversary. Connecting the dots: Discuss the potential of India-Canada relationship. Also analyze how Khalistan issue in recent times has impacted our bilateral ties. MUST READ The smokescreen of an infiltrator-free India The Hindu The Court’s conscience Indian Express PepsiCo vs farmers: Whose right is it anyway? Indian Express India’s tale of extended infanticide Financial Express India’s exports: Are there signs of recovery? Financial Express The people of India and the country’s great space race Livemint

May 2, 2019 Topper's From IASbaba

TOPPER’S STRATEGY: Anya Das, Rank 60 UPSC CSE 2018-IASbaba’s ILP Student!

TOPPER’S STRATEGY: Anya Das, Rank 60 UPSC CSE 2018-IASbaba’s ILP Student! With Special Emphasis on PRELIMS STRATEGY! "Two roads diverged in a yellow wood And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveller long I stood.. " When I had to decide how would I like to spend the next 30- 40 years of my life I had many options .But I could only  traverse a single path. I chose the vocation of a Civil Servant. And lo and behold today I am one. I am Anya Das ,AIR 60 in CSE 2018. In this post I would like to share my journey and if this sharing turns to be of some help to aspirants it would be great.   Background: I belong to Jamshedpur ,Jharkhand .I did my graduation in English literature from Ravenshaw University ,Cuttack.   Tryst with UPSC: I completed my graduation in May 2016 and I gave my first attempt the very same year.  I secured AIR 579 and was allotted IRPS.   What I did in the first attempt? Only constant thing I did was reading newspapers I followed a sectional approach. Chunk of the prelims preparation was done  after May and GS preparation was done primarily after prelims. I began my Optional Sociology only after prelims, spending around 2 and half hours everyday in optional coaching class.Its syllabus is comparatively less and therefore I could complete it in three months time. I could not complete the  syllabus but due to my decent writing skills and Essay marks- 162 and decent Optional score -267, I could sail through In 2017 I gave my second attempt but couldn't clear prelims for 1 mark :(   From dreaming to becoming- getting into IAS For my 3rd attempt I started from January 2018 as till December I was doing my foundation course.   Strategy: Prelims- Revising and giving Test series is the key. I gave IASbaba 60 Days test. I made notes out of these tests and revised them frequently. I have mentioned more about Prelims Strategy @ the end of this Post Mains-My focus was on improving my GS score, as in my first attempt my total GS score was 382. This time it is 417 (GS Marks). For this,I  jotted down keywords in the syllabus, went through books, study material, internet and created crisp notes. Revision of these notes frequently ,with focus on maps, diagrams helped. One must go through previous year's questions and try to solve them. Focus on areas from where most questions are asked, for example in GS 1 Paper monsoon is a favourite topic.   How to deal with the Grey areas? Art and culture- apart from reading NCERT and CCERT text, doing history section thoroughly helps. For mains, practicing diagrams can help-eg stupa, Harappan pottery. Science and technology- Read one basic material for science and tech . I referred to Vajiram's yellow book and kept an eye on the current developments. Rajya Sabha TV episodes on certain topics help.   Role of Iasbaba in my Preparation: I was a regular reader of Daily Current Affairs it greatly helped me to reduce the time that I gave to newspapers. I was an Integrated Learning Programme (ILP) student and VAN of History section was of much help.   My Motivation: It's a long exam, demanding a lot of mental energy. I meditated every morning and used to read motivational quotes in the internet. One needs to do the positive self talk everyday to stay motivated. Remember you have chosen this glorious road- of hard work,of contributing to the society. You will certainly feel someday-   "Two roads diverged in a wood ,and I  I took the less traveled by , And that has made all the difference"   Scores: PRELIMS -112 MAINS Since Prelims is round the corner, I would like to emphasis what to do in the next 1 month I am sure you all must be working hard at this point to crack this holy grail.The 2018 Prelims Paper  was a challenge. Although I cleared prelims with 112 marks, after giving the paper I was not sure that I will clear this exam.  Prelims paper has become quite challenging because- a) questions being asked from details-such as on RTE, Aadhar in 2018 b) analytical bent of questions -polity questions in 2017 c) questions from the static part have become more complex- eg history d) factual questions-eg if India is 3rd largest in the world in the manufacture of silicon wafers used in PV cells (2018) e) bouncer questions-if GST is applicable on cooked chicken eggs(2018) The right approach for prelims invariably includes frequent and multiple revisions and practicing tests.I am providing few tips which I think will be helpful Master the static portion-Economics, Polity,history must be read multiple times. Revise Laxmikant, Spectrum many times) the question on exports from Bengal in the middle of 18th century which included cotton, Silk saltpetre ,opium,can be found in Spectrum Focus on Science and Technology -Last year this section had high number of questions from IRNSS to GM Mustard. While reading Science and Technology, focus on the facts is also important .Eg-Area covered by IRNSS satellite Tackling Polity-In polity, understand the concepts clearly. eg-difference between a constitutional and legal right(2017) Acing Environment-This part has  become  tricky as direct questions from the book are less. Focus on-National parks, environment organisations, reports,wetlands,UNESCO world heritage sites. Few pages at the back of Shankar IAS environment book will be immensely helpful. Focus on certain topics such as international organisations, reports, North East flora fauna, Andaman Nicobar , rivers, GI tags, Western Ghats,government schemes,  which have been a hot favourite of UPSC. Diligently solve test papers and analyse it. IASBaba's 60 days tests will be quite helpful. I used to read the test syllabus and then attempt the test. I then made a note of my mistakes.This helped to prepare areas which I hadn't prepared earlier-eg defence assets of India Summarize and shorten your notes-It will help in revising just a few days before the exam.For polity,  I pasted sticky notes in the Laxmikant to have crisp,short notes. One week  before the exam, give mocks at the same time during which Prelims exam will be conducted. It will condition your brain to be most efficient during that period. Number of questions to attempt-There are many candidates who attempt above 90 questions and clear prelims. I attempted 73 questions this time and still cleared the exam by getting 112. Practise during the mocks to know your attempt threshold. Attempting the paper -In the first round solve the questions which you know well .In the second round solve the questions which you are less sure of. Go for the third round to solve remaining questions. Remember success in prelims does not depend on knowledge per se,  but on the application of that knowledge. One will be able to do this only when one is calm and confident. Go into the exam hall with a positive mindset and trust the hours of hard work you have put in for this day. All the best!! Anya Das

May 2, 2019 60 Days Plan 2019 - Daily Prelims Test

60 Days Plan: UPSC IAS Prelims 2019 - Geography and Current Affairs (Day 52)

60 Days Plan: UPSC IAS Prelims 2019 - Geography and Current Affairs (Day 52) 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