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UPSC Interview Discussion-TRP

Interview Discussion IAS UPSC: Think, Rethink and Perform (TRP)-Day 12

Interview Discussion: Think, Rethink and Perform; (TRP)- Day 12  ARCHIVES Set 1: Ask these questions to yourself; contemplate and come out with a concrete answer (not to be discussed on this forum). Invest at least 30 minutes on this set of questions. Do you  believe in God? What makes you believe or not believe in God? Can faith and logic coexist? What would you choose? Set 2: Analyse the following issue: Upon entering the civil services, an honest person is often left with two alternatives. On one hand, one can keep a tight vigil on all the happenings in the system and make sure that no corrupt or illegal practices are perpetrated by any individual. The idea is to cleanse the system and make it corruption free. On the other hand, one can maintain personal integrity while turning a blind eye towards everything else. Most of the civil servants start with the first option, get demotivated midway due to stubbornness of the system to change and finally reconcile themselves with the second alternative. What are your views in this regard? What would you do when you enter the civil services? Comment.  

AIR

All India Radio (AIR) IAS UPSC - 1984 Riots

1984 Riots ARCHIVES Search 17th December, 2018 Spotlight here: http://www.newsonair.com/Audio-Archive-Search.aspx TOPIC:   General studies 1 Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India. Communalism General Studies 3 Internal Security In News: The Delhi High Court Wednesday upheld the conviction of 70 out of the 89 people who were awarded five-year jail term by a trial court for rioting, burning houses and violation of curfew during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The court noted that the 1984 anti-Sikh riots were a "dark chapter" in the history of independent India as the "law and order machinery had broken down". What happened in the 1984 riots? The 1984 anti-Sikh riots, also known as the 1984 Sikh Massacre, was a series of organised pogroms against Sikhs in India in response to the assassination of Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards. Independent sources estimate the number of deaths at about 8,000 - 17,000 whilst government estimates project that about 2,800 Sikhs were killed in Delhi. Why did her bodyguards attack her? Violence continued in the early 1980s due to the armed Sikh separatist Khalistan movement which sought independence from India. In July 1982, the Sikh political party Akali Dal's President Harchand Singh Longowal had invited Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale to take up residence in Golden Temple Complex to evade arrest. Bhindranwale later on made the sacred temple complex an armoury and headquarters. In the violent events leading up to the Operation Blue Star since the inception of Akali Dharm Yudh Morcha, the militants had killed 165 Hindus and Nirankaris, even 39 Sikhs opposed to Bhindranwale were killed. The total number of deaths was 410 in violent incidents and riots while 1,180 people were injured. Operation Blue Star Operation Blue Star was an Indian military operation carried out between 1 and 8 June 1984, ordered by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to remove militant religious leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and his armed militants from the buildings of the Harmandir Sahib complex in Amritsar, Punjab. Bhindranwale died and militants were removed from the temple complex. The military action in the temple complex was criticized by Sikhs worldwide who had interpreted it as an assault on Sikh religion. Four months after the operation, on 31 October 1984, Indira Gandhi was assassinated in vengeance by her two Sikh bodyguards, Satwant Singh and Beant Singh. Investigations Ten commissions or committees have been formed to investigate the riots, the most recent being headed by Justice G. T. Nanavati. The investigation only picked up in 2005 after it was handed over to the CBI on the recommendation of the Justice Nanavati Commission. After 34 years and numerous commissions of inquiry, one of the key players in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in Delhi has been sentenced to life imprisonment. Sajjan Kumar’s jail term will bring some measure of bleak comfort to the families of the riot victims whose doggedness reminds us that while memory is a sense of loss, it also sustains us through unbearable agony. The landmark 203-page high court ruling affirms what has been common knowledge for years. The bench accepted the testimony of complainant Jagdish Kaur, who had witnessed Kumar (then the Outer Delhi MP) instigating rioters. What is the learning here? The Sajjan Kumar judgment should be a learning moment. It tells us that mass crimes like 1984 are not spontaneous, nor are they committed in the spur of the moment, in a rush of passions blinding people and turning them into mobs. There is a mind, individual or collective, that plans, organises and gets the crime executed. The judgment reads: “The riots in early November 1984 — in which in Delhi alone 2,733 Sikhs and nearly 3,350 all over the country were brutally murdered [official figures], was neither the first instance of a mass crime nor, tragically, the last […] there has been a familiar pattern of mass killings in Mumbai in 1993, in Gujarat in 2002, in Kandhamal, Odisha in 2008, in Muzaffarnagar in UP in 2013 to name a few. Common to these mass crimes were the targeting of minorities and the attacks spearheaded by the dominant political actors being facilitated by the law enforcement agencies.” Nellie, Bhagalpur etc. can be added to this list. The term - Genocide The court has used the term, genocide, carefully — there cannot be any hierarchies while comparing genocides. According to the UN convention, genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group: Killing members of the group; causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; and, forcibly transferring children of the group to another group. It is neither the method used in killing nor the number which makes a crime a genocide, but the intent. When the law holds a person who himself has not committed murders or lootings responsible for what others did, it underlines a simple fact that scholars of genocide like Daniel Jonah Goldhagen have repeatedly asserted — genocidal violence is not spontaneous, there is no inevitability about it and that it is a matter of choice. The choice is made by three kinds of people at three levels: The political leaders who plan and organise, the actors who participate in the violence, and those who watch and not come forward to stop it. Lacunae in administration As the Delhi High Court points out, there were multiple failures in the administration of justice after the 1984 violence – Repeated failure to file FIRs Abetment of the crimes committed by the mobs Failure to prosecute or gather material evidence Lack of a credible witness protection programme in India, which hampers the willingness of witnesses to come forward or to maintain consistency Conclusion: The 1984 riots changed Delhi — where its impact was the largest — as it applied a blow-torch to the most delicate of adhesives that bind people in our cities: Trust, neighbourliness and an acceptance of social diversity. It also produced a lost generation whose life chances were affected through the inability to access education and other sources of social and economic mobility. They were consumed by the after-effects of the trauma they had experienced. Riots and violence only divide people and never unite them. It is politicians who capitalize on these fissures. Members of every political party have to share the blame for this. Political hatred isn’t spread only along communal, caste and regional lines. It unwittingly spreads to engulf ordinary people. Need to urgently pay heed to the suggestions by the High Court: Amending the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952 and the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 to entrust such bodies with the responsibility of taking note of cognisable offences committed in communal riots, investigate through special investigating teams (SITs) under their control and oversee prosecution through Special Public Prosecutor(s) engaged by them. On law on the subject of communal riots: It cannot be a complete answer to the challenge unless it also establishes special courts with suitable amendments to the general criminal law procedure as indeed the rules of evidence Both print and electronic -- were the fourth pillar of democracy, press reports supported by photographic material and video footage may be utilised as evidence in trials of criminal cases arising out of communal riots. Connecting the dots: The Sajjan Kumar judgment breaks the cycle of impunity. Examine.

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 22nd January 2019

Daily Current Affairs IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 22nd January 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) How a CBI Director is appointed? Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – Indian Polity; Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies In news: After the high-power committee ousted Alok Verma as CBI Director, now the committee is set to select the agency’s Director. The CBI draws its legality from the 1946-Delhi Special Police Establishment Act (DSPE). Before the Lokpal Act was legislated, the CBI director was appointed by the DSPE Act. Now, the Lokpal Act governs the appointment of the CBI director. Centre appoints the CBI The CBI director is appointed by the Centre on the basis of the recommendation of a search committee comprising of the Prime Minister as the chairperson, the Chief Justice of India and the Leader of Opposition. Above Selection committee was constituted under The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013. The process of selecting the CBI director begins in the Home Ministry, which prepares a list of IPS officers, who are eligible for the post on the basis of their seniority and experience in the field of probe. The MHA list goes to the Department of Personnel, which prepares the final list on the basis of "seniority, integrity and experience in the investigation of ant-corruption cases". The search committee examines the names and sends its recommendation to the government for the appointment of CBI director. Earlier, under the DSPE Act, the CBI director was appointed on the basis of the recommendation by a panel comprising the Central Vigilance Commission as chairperson, other vigilance commissioners, Home Secretary and Secretary (Co-ordination and Public Grievances the Cabinet Secretariat). Do you know? The Chief Justice of India can nominate a Supreme Court judge if he does not attend the search committee meeting. In the absence of a formal Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, the leader of the floor of the largest opposition party takes part in the search committee meetings. Centre proposes to hike pensions Part of: GS Prelims II – Social/Welfare issue; Social Security Schemes; Govt policies and schemes In news: Union Rural Development Ministry has proposed to increase the monthly pensions of the elderly poor, disabled and widows from ₹200 to ₹800. For those above the age of 80, the proposal is to increase the pension from ₹500 to ₹1,200 a month. If implemented, it would lead to additional annual cost implication of ₹18,000 crore to the Finance Ministry. Pic: https://d39gegkjaqduz9.cloudfront.net/TH/2019/01/22/DEL/Delhi/TH/5_01/df6c754c_2681458_101_mr.jpg Do you know? Rural Development Ministry administers the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP). A study has been launched to consider doubling the number of people covered by the scheme, a promise originally made in last year’s Budget. Discussions are also being held with the State governments on a proposal to merge the Central and State pension schemes. About National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) It came into effect from 15th August,1995 It represents a significant step towards the fulfillment of the Directive Principles in Article 41 of the Constitution. It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme. It provides financial assistance to the elderly, widows and persons with disabilities in the form of social pensions. It is a welfare programme being administered by the Ministry of Rural Development. However, this programme is being implemented in rural areas as well as urban areas. NSAP at present, comprises of Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS), Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS), Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS), National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS) and Annapurna. ‘Plastic waste imports to India go up’ Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III – Environment and Biodiversity; Pollution In news: In spite of a ban on the import of plastic waste into India, the influx of PET bottles has quadrupled from 2017 to 2018 (due to legal loophole) Indian firms are importing plastic scraps from China, Italy, Japan and Malawi for recycling. To incentivise domestic plastic recycling units, the government had banned the import of plastic waste, particularly PET bottles in 2015. In 2016, an amendment allowed such imports as long as they were carried out by agencies situated in Special Economic Zones. It’s this loophole that’s been exploited. Do you know? Government and industry estimates suggest that India consumes about 13 million tonnes of plastic and recycles only about 4 million tonnes. A lack of an efficient waste segregation system and inadequate collection is the root cause for this wide gap. Miscellaneous: ‘Bihar outgrew others in FY18 GDP’ In news: According to Crisil report – Bihar and Andhra Pradesh led the pack among States in terms of GDP growth in financial year 2017-18. Bihar registered 11.3% and Andhra Pradesh registered 11.2% growth, compared with the national GDP growth of 6.7% for the year. 12 of the 17 general category States grew faster than the national growth rate. However, the report noted that this growth was not equitable, with the gap between the per capita incomes in low-income and high-income States widening over the last five years. Jharkhand, Kerala, and Punjab are at the bottom. China’s 2018 growth slows to 28-year low In news: China’s economy shows growing signs of weakness. Its growth slows to 28-year low. Reasons: Weak domestic demand, bruising U.S. tariffs drag economy China to roll out more stimulus to avert a sharper slowdown. Slowdown has fuelled anxiety about global risks. 19 amphibian species are critically endangered: ZSI list In news: According to an updated list of Indian amphibians (released by Zoological Survey of India) – 19 amphibian species are being treated as critically endangered and 33 species as endangered. The list prepared by ZSI notes whether the species are in danger, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). In 2009, the total number of species listed was 284. In 2010 it was 311, in 2011 it was 314, in 2012 and 2013 it was 342, in 2015 it was 384 and in 2017 it was 405 species. IUCN Status The current list bears the names of 432 amphibian species from India, the year of discovery and their IUCN ‘red list’ conservation status. Among the amphibians listed, 19 species are treated as critically endangered and 33 species as endangered. The list describes 19% of amphibians as data deficient species and 39% as not assessed by the IUCN. Therefore, it is high time that IUCN status for the Indian ‘not assessed’ amphibians (169 species) are assessed. Tribal meet held in Rajasthan In news: Rajasthan tribal meet stresses on preserving indigenous practices. It laid emphasis on re-establishing their links with the livestock, local herbs, traditional foodgrain and indigenous agricultural practices as a safeguard for protecting their culture. Subjects of agriculture and health care discussed. The tribal farmers took a pledge to preserve the fertile soil in their areas for ensuring food security. Person in news: Shivakumara Swami Why in news? Shivakumara Swami, the 111-year-old seer of Siddaganga Mutt, Karnataka passed away. He was popularly known as “Nadedaduva Devaru” (Walking God). The Lingayat seer was known for his humanitarian work in education. https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSwt2Bwu4T7Jis-4b1DgHp90r7uub8q_-GrPeddT_0qsOpYSKzj A Padma Bhushan awardee, the seer founded over 125 institutions and was a follower of the Virakta Lingayat tradition. He had followers across caste and religious barriers. He became a seer of the mutt in 1941, had a long stint of 78 years. (MAINS FOCUS) NATIONAL TOPIC:General studies 2 Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation Need for strong judiciary in a market economy like India Introduction Since the 1991 economic reforms, India has improved tremendously in almost all economic indicators, and is now one of the fastest growing nations in the world. Various economic policies of the current government have enabled the economy to move faster than ever before. These include tax reforms leading to the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax, reforms making India more competitive in the ‘Ease of Doing Business’ index, and implementation of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code. But it has never been more important to also strengthen the quality of the material which makes up the engine of the economy, i.e. India’s institutions. An inefficient Judiciary As a democracy, India has an advantage: the roots of all its institutions are strong. However, they have simply failed to grow with the growing population and with increasing demands. (An inefficient judiciary) The judicial system, in particular, is far from reaching the pace required for efficient functioning. Importance of the judiciary in a market economy Three things are crucial for the market economy to function efficiently: transparency in information, efficient dispute settlements, and contract enforcement in a time-bound manner powered by an effective judiciary. In a market economy, the government has little role to play in transactions among players. However, it plays an effective role by setting up efficient dispute settlement mechanisms, so that the costs of transactions are minimal. In such an economy, the judiciary plays the pivotal role by enforcing contracts in the case of disputes through minimal costs. Concerns: Over the years, and with the advent of the Internet, India has taken a leap towards transparency of information. However, little progress has been made in the case of dispute settlement mechanisms due to an inefficient judiciary. Economic Survey of 2017-18 had also pitched for the need for ‘Timely Justice’. Poor working capacity of Supreme Court and High Courts; Huge numbers of pending cases; Poor GDP expenditure on administration of justice are some of the major issues. Conclusion: The focus on the judiciary should increase for better. If the official dispute settlement mechanism does not deliver justice in a time-bound manner, the market players try to bypass the system by paying rents to government officials, a system that became customary in the License Raj. Strong institutions are the key to move India up the economic ladder. Otherwise, India will remain a land of crony capitalists. Connecting the dots: Critically analyse the reasons behind justice delivery being delayed in India and the associated effects on a market economy like India. The judicial system has simply failed to grow with the growing population and with increasing demands. Do you agree? What can be the practical solutions to this problem? Discuss. NATIONAL/SOCIAL TOPIC: General studies 1 and 2 Social Empowerment Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes Middle class, redefined Context: The below article provides the definition of “middle class” and the current government’s policies or measures taken towards them.   Some critics have raised questions whether the government is doing enough for the middle class. Definition of Middle Class: A formal definition of the term "Middle Class" does not exist, though some efforts to provide an outline have been made. One view considers individuals earning US $2 to $13 a day (i.e. an income of roughly Rs 50,000 to Rs 3.2 lakh per annum) as middle class. Another view takes into account consumption pattern to identify middle class. As per this, individuals/families who own basic lifestyle goods such as a fridge, two-wheeler, colour television, etc. can be called middle class. A middle class family can therefore be envisioned as one where one or more members is gainfully employed and they may own some basic lifestyle goods such as those stated above. Further, it is reasonable to consider that this class is liable to pay income taxes (that is, earns at least Rs 2.5 lakh per annum). Has government failed to target this middle class? Considering the above definition, one can notice that the Union government has rolled out a clear development strategy targeting the middle class. Government’s strategy has three broad components. The first involves implementing measures that put more money into the pockets of the middle class, helping them save more. The second relates to creating an environment that reduces their day-to-day hassles and stresses, thus simplifying their daily lives. And the last pertains to empowering them and creating suitable development opportunities. Increased savings for the middle class Inflation brought down: The government has deftly brought down double-digit inflation (that persisted before May 2014) to around 3-5 per cent. This has reduced the day-to-day expenses incurred by the middle class, but has also reduced interest amounts paid by them for various loans. Low interest rates: Cost of most loans such as home loans, auto loans, education loans is less compared to that before May 2014. Tax sops: several changes were also made in the income tax structure – tax exemption limit was increased from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh and from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 3 lakhs for senior citizens. increase in deduction limit under Section 80C from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh reduction in tax rate (from 10 per cent to 5 per cent) for individuals earning less than Rs 5 lakh per annum. Together, all these measures increased savings for the middle class to a substantial extent. Making day-to-day life simple for the middle class Physical connectivity: On a daily basis, a majority of the middle class ends up spending hours on personal/office-related commute. To reduce this daily stress, faster and more comfortable transit modes such as metros are being provided. Besides intra-city/town connectivity, inter-city/town connectivity is also being augmented by expanding roads and highways, railways, aviation and waterway networks. General services: Government has taken measures to offer public services in a simple and cost-efficient manner. Today, it is considerably easier and faster to get a passport made or to get income tax issues resolved. Senior citizens can submit life certifications digitally. Empowerment of Middle Class and create development opportunities Increased credit flow: A host of initiatives are being taken to simplify the regulatory environment for businesses and entrepreneurs. (Stand-Up India, MUDRA, etc) Impart necessary technical skills to youth. Capacities of higher educational institutes have been increased considerably. Conclusion: Today’s middle class is aspirational. It is financially prudent but at the same time willing to take risks. What it needs is an enabling ecosystem to realise its full potential. The current government has attempted to do this through its various initiatives. Connecting the dots: Define the term "middle-class". Discuss the recent measures taken by the government which has enabled conducive ecosystem to realise its full potential. (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note: Featured Comments and comments Up-voted by IASbaba are the “correct answers”. IASbaba App users – Team IASbaba will provide correct answers in comment section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers. Q.1) Which of the following is/are related to CBI? Balwantray Mehta committee Vineet Narain case Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act of 1946 Choose the correct option 3 only 1 and 3 only 2 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Q.2) The Central Bureau of investigation (CBI) was established by the resolution of Ministry of Home Affairs in 1963. Which of the following statements regarding CBI are correct? It is a statutory body. It derives its powers from Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946. It is an independent body and does not come under government’s control. Select the code from following: 1 and 2 2 only 2 and 3 All of the above Q.3) Consider the following about the appointment of CBI Director: CBI director is appointed by the Centre. CBI director is appointed on the basis of the recommendation by a panel comprising the Central Vigilance Commission as chairperson, other vigilance commissioners, Home Secretary and Secretary. Lokpal Act governs the appointment of the CBI director. Which among the following is/are correct? 1 and 2 1 and 3 2 and 3 1,2 and 3 Q.4) The National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) is a social security programme comprised of different sub-schemes targeted at different deprives sections of population. Which of the following schemes come under NSAP? Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS) Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS) National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS) Select the code from following: 1,2 and 3 2,3 and 4 1,3 and 4 All of the above Q.5) The National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) is a social security programme comprised of different sub-schemes targeted at different deprives sections of population. Which of the following statements are correct regarding NSAP? The scheme is administered by Ministry of Rural Development. The program is being implemented in rural as well as urban areas. For getting benefits under NSAP the applicant must belong to a Below Poverty Line (BPL) family. Select the code from following: 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above MUST READ Why EVMs must go The Hindu The ambiguity of reservations for the poor The Hindu The fault lines of diplomatic recrimination The Hindu Death by design: on jallikattu The Hindu View from city’s margins Indian Express The afterlife of Section 377 Indian Express Raja Mandala: Capital and digitalpolitik Indian Express

Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz - 2019 : IAS Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 155

UPSC Quiz - 2019 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 155 Archives Q.1) ‘Test and Treat Policy’ is associated with which of the following diseases? Tuberculosis Leprosy Malaria and Dengue HIV/AIDS Q.2) Which of the following are cold currents? Kuroshio current Aughulas current Benguela current Labrador current Select the correct answer using the code given below. 1 and 2 only 1 and 3 only 3 and 4 only 2 and 4 only Q.3) Solar energy has the potential to reduce the effects of Climate change but the efficiency and cost of solar cells are very high in comparison to other sources. In context of it, which of the following ways researchers are seeking to drive down the cost of solar photovoltaic cells? Using new thinner materials Use of solar ink Removing impurities in Silicon Choose the correct option 1 and 2 only 1 and 3 only 2 and 3 only All of the above Q.4) A post-graduate degree holder working as a clerk in an office is an example of? Structural Unemployment Underemployment Frictional Unemployment Disguised Unemployment Q.5) Bankim Chandra Chatterjee’s work ‘Anandmath’, one of the most important novels in the history of Bengali and Indian literature, was set in the background of – Ramosi Uprising Santhal Rebellion Sannyasi-Faqir Rebellion Sawantwadi Revolt To Download the Solution - Click here All the Best  IASbaba

PIB

Press Information Bureau (PIB) IAS UPSC – 14th Jan to 20th Jan - 2019

Press Information Bureau (PIB) IAS UPSC – 14th Jan to 20th Jan - 2019 ARCHIVES GS-1 Phase 2 begins: SĀNJHI –MUJH MEIN KALĀKĀR (Topic: Art forms of India – Indian culture and its significance) By: Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA) the National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama The Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA) is the nodal agency of the Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India to coordinate the matters related to Intangible Cultural Heritage and various UNESCO Conventions addressing Cultural Diversity and promotion and dissemination of multifarious cultural traditions and expressions of the country. Aim: An initiative to document and promote the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) and diverse cultural traditions of the country by direct public-participation. This is a unique talent search where the participant will showcase their talent in the fields of music, dance, drama, puppetry, folk and tribal arts, culinary skills, painting, sculpture etc. The literal meaning of the term SĀNJHI is “to share” and “to partner”, and the cultural traditions of our country has developed and prospered on the notions of harmony. Second phase of this campaign: Has its main focus area- the folk, traditional, customary, socially events and ritualistic art forms- woven as a cultural fabric around the harvest festival season of January. It is celebrated all across the country, known as various nomenclatures like Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Lohri, Bhogali Bihu, Torgya, Uttarayan, Attukkal Pongal etc. It intends to bring forth such forms that are aligned with the domains of intangible cultural heritage as per the Convention of Safeguarding the ICH under UNESCO: Oral traditions and expressions, including language as a vehicle of the intangible cultural heritage; Performing arts; Social practices, rituals and festive events; Knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe; Traditional craftsmanship GS-2 The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Act, 2019 (Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes) The amendment: Does away with the no-detention policy mentioned in the law. The existing policy under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, prohibits schools from detaining students till they complete elementary education. The no-detention policy banned the practice of making under-performing children repeat classes in elementary school to ensure they do not drop out. It was meant to reduce the emphasis on year-end examinations and replace it with a form of evaluation that would track students’ progress through the year. Post amendment: Now, states can choose to hold a regular examination either at the end of Classes 5 and 8, or both. Students who fail this test will receive additional instructions and the opportunity to appear for a re-examination within two months of the declaration of the result. If the students still do not pass the exam, the state government may decide to detain them. However, if states choose, they can continue the no-detention policy till Class 8. No child can be expelled from school before they complete elementary education, the amendment bill states. Note: The House also passed the National Council for Teacher Education (Amendment) Bill. Year-end Review: Ministry of Women & Child Development Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) It is a tri-ministerial, convergent effort of Ministries of Women and Child Development, Health & Family Welfare and Human Resource Development with focus on Awareness and Advocacy Campaign; Effective enforcement of Pre-Conception and Pre Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC&PNDT) Act and Enabling girls' education. The scheme is envisaged to bring an improvement in Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) in the short term while Child Sex Ratio (CSR) with manifestation of over-all development such as improved health & nutrition, gender parity in education, better sanitation, opportunities and removal of asymmetries between the genders is endeavored in the long term. Encouraging trends are visible as per the latest HMIS data of MoHFW for 161 BBBP districts for the time period between April-March, 2015-16 & 2016-17 indicating that, an improving trend in Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) is visible in 104 districts, 119 districts have reported progress in first trimester registration against the reported Anti Natal Care registrations and 146 districts have reported improvement in institutional deliveries. In addition, as per Unified District Information System for Education (U-DISE) 2015-16, the girl’s enrolment in secondary education has increased to 80.97% against 76% in 2013-14. Construction of girl’s toilets in every school in selected districts has been achieved. One Stop Centre: For facilitating access to an integrated range of services including police, medical, legal, psychological support and temporary shelter to women affected by violence The Scheme is funded through Nirbhaya Fund. So far, 279 OSCs have become operational. These centres have offered support to over 1.93 Lakh women. Sexual Harassment at Workplace: The Sexual Harassment at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 covers all women, irrespective of their age or employment status and protects them against sexual harassment at all workplaces whether organized or unorganized. Students, apprentices, labourers, domestic workers and even women visiting an officer are included in the Act. In order to ensure the effective implementation of the Act, MWCD has developed an online complaint management system titled Sexual Harassment electronic–Box (SHe-Box) for registering complaints related to sexual harassment at workplace. SHe-Box portal offers the facility of making online complaints of sexual harassment at workplace to all women employees in the country, including all government and private employees. Training of Elected Women Representatives: The Ministry has taken up the training of elected women representatives (EWRs) in panchayats to empower them to govern their villages effectively and develop into grassroots changemakers. The programme aims at improving the leadership qualities and managements skills of EWRs for better implementation of various schemes, impart knowledge on important legislations and monitor asset creation and public works. First phase of the training (2017-18) trained 18,578 EWRs covering 414 Districts across 14 States. The second phase (started in Sept, 2018) is to train 13,950 EWRs covering 310 Districts across 19 States. Grievance Redressal Cell: The Grievance Redressal Cell of the Ministry deals with the online grievances that are received on issues related to women and children. The cell has processed close to 39,347 complaints in the one year since its inception. Scheme for Adolescent Girls: Government is implementing Scheme for Adolescent Girls to improve the nutritional and health status of out of school adolescent girls of age 11-14 years and to upgrade their skills. In addition to providing nutritional support to the adolescent girls, the scheme aims to motivate out of school girls to go back to formal schooling/ skill training. Swadhar Greh - Krishna Kutir, Home for Widows at Vrindavan: With a capacity of 1000 beds to provide safe and secure place of stay, health services, nutritious food, legal and counseling services to widows. Ujjawala Scheme: A scheme of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas for providing LPG connections to women from Below Poverty Line (BPL) households. POSHAN Abhiyaan aims to reduce mal-nutrition from the country in a phased manner, through the life cycle concept, by adopting a synergised and result oriented approach. The Abhiyaan ensure mechanisms for timely service delivery and a robust monitoring as well as intervention infrastructure. Target of Abhiyaan is to bring down stunting of the children in the age group of 0-6 years from 38.4% to 25% by the year 2022. More than 10 crore people will be benefitted by this programme. POSHAN Abhiyaan ensures convergence with various programmes i.e Anganwadi Services, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, Scheme for Adolescent Girls of WCD Ministry; Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), National Health Mission (NHM) of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare; Swachh Bharat Mission of Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation (DW&S); Public Distribution System (PDS) of Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution (CAF&PD); Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) of Ministry of Rural Development (M/o RD); Drinking Water & Toilets with Ministry of Panchayati Raj and Urban Local Bodies through Ministry of Urban Development. One of the key activities of Abhiyaan is implementation of ICDS-Common Application Software. As on 30th November, 2018, ICDS-CAS has been rolled-out in 64 districts across 9 States/UTs. Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana: Pan-India implementation of Maternity Benefit Programme to eligible pregnant women and lactating mothers. Rashtriya Mahila Kosh: An apex micro-finance organization established in 1993 under the aegis of Ministry of Women & Child Development (MWCD) to meet the credit needs of poor and asset less women in the informal sector for various livelihood support and income generating activities at concessional terms in a client-friendly procedure to bring about their socio-economic development. Mahila E-haat: A unique direct online e- marketing platform to support Women entrepreneurs/SHGs/ NGOs. This is first of its kind direct online marketing platform for women to strengthen the socio-economic empowerment of women by way of mobilizing and providing avenue for their products & services. Mahila Shakti Kendra (MSK) Scheme: To empower rural women through community participation and to create an environment in which they realize their full potential. It aims to provide an interface for rural women to approach the government for availing their entitlements and also empowering them through training and capacity building. Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT): With the aim of reforming Government delivery system by re-engineering the existing process in welfare schemes for simpler and faster flow of benefits and services and to ensure accurate targeting of the beneficiaries, de-duplication and reduction of fraud, Government of India has started Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) using Aadhaar as the primary identifier of beneficiaries in its schemes. Use of Aadhaar ensures that benefits go to individuals’ bank accounts electronically, minimising tiers involved in fund flow and thereby reducing delay in payment, ensuring accurate targeting of the beneficiary and curbing pilferage and duplication. Khoya-Paya Portal: In order to bring citizen participation for protecting children, a citizen based portal Khoya Paya has been launched in June, 2015, which enables posting of information of missing or sighted children. E-Box for Children who have suffered sexual abuse: Children are often unable to complain about sexual abuse. In order to provide them with a safe and anonymous mode of making a complaint, an internet based facility, POCSO  e-Box, has been provided at NCPCR website where the child or anyone on his/her behalf can file a complaint with minimal details. Gender Budgeting (GB) Why: Women face various forms of vulnerability and discrimination throughout their life cycle. It was recognized that budgets are an important way to significantly reduce these vulnerabilities. Under the scheme of Gender Budgeting (GB): Steps are being taken to ensure the institutionalisation of GB from policy formulation to outcome achievement in the Centre and across State Governments. The scheme has three main focus areas: Advocacy and guidance to Gender Budget Cells Training and capacity building of stakeholders Facilitating Gender Budget analysis and performance audit MWCD provides financial support to Central/ State Government Institutes for imparting training to different stakeholders to strengthen the process of gender budgeting. Cabinet approves MoU between India and Australia on the safety in Mines, Testing and Research Station: The MoU will help in establishing a partnership between DGMS and SIMTARS for: implementation of risk based safety management system, providing training, organising, conference, seminar and other technical meetings, setting up occupations safety and health academy and national mine disaster centre, and Modernising R&D laboratory of DGMS Ex-post facto approval for Agreement on the facilitation of visa arrangements signed between India and Maldives: The Visa Facilitation Agreement signed during the visit of Maldivian President to India aims to further deepen people to people exchanges between the two countries making it easier for Maldivian and India nationals to travel to each other’s' countries for tourism, medical treatment, education as well as business and employment. The Agreement provides for 90-day visa free travel for tourism, medical and limited business purpose and also provides for easy conversion of such visa free entry to medical visa as well as visas for dependents of students and those pursuing employment in each other's territories. Recapitalisation of Export-Import Bank of India: Exim Bank is the principal export credit agency for India. The infusion of capital into Exim Bank will enable it to augment capital adequacy and support Indian exports with enhanced ability. The infusion will give an impetus to anticipate new initiatives like supporting Indian textile industries, likely changes in Concessional Finance Scheme (CFS), likelihood of new LoCs in future in view of India's active foreign policy and strategic intent. Prelims oriented News: Sree PadmanabhaSwamy Temple: Thiruvananthapuram Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas -2019: Varanasi Swadesh Darshan Scheme: Under the Swadesh Darshan scheme, 13 thematic circuits have been identified, for development namely: North-East India Circuit, Buddhist Circuit, Himalayan Circuit, Coastal Circuit, Krishna Circuit, Desert Circuit, Tribal Circuit, Eco Circuit, Wildlife Circuit, Rural Circuit, Spiritual Circuit, Ramayana Circuit and Heritage Circuit. Ministry of Tourism provides Central Financial Assistance (CFA) to State Governments/Union Territory Administrations for infrastructure development of circuits. First-ever Philip Kotler Presidential award presented to: Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India National Museum of Indian Cinema (NMIC): Mumbai; aims to take its visitors through an absorbing journey of over a century of Indian cinema in a story telling mode with the help of visuals, graphics, artifacts, interactive exhibits and multimedia expositions. Voter Awareness Forums will be set up in Ministries, Government Departments, Non-Government Departments and other Institutions to promote electoral awareness. VAF is part of the Electoral Literacy Club programme of ECI Launched on the 8th National Voters Day WAQF properties will be utilized for Socio-Economic Empowerment of the needy sections of the society: Central Waqf Council is providing financial help to state waqf boards for digitalisation of waqf records so that state waqf boards can complete digitalisation work within decided timeframe as 90 per cent waqf properties already have been digitised. Remaining waqf properties will also be digitised soon. GIS mapping work of Waqf properties in the country have also been started. Pradhan Mantri Rozgar Protsahan Yojana Achieves one crore milestones: For: Employment Generation Implemented by: Ministry of Labour and Employment through the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) Under the scheme Government is paying full employers’ contribution of 12% (towards Employees’ Provident Fund and Employees’ Pension Scheme both), for a period of 3 years in respect of new employees who have been registered with the EPFO on or after 1st April 2016, with salary up to Rs. 15,000 per month. PMRPY has a dual benefit i.e. on the one hand, the employer is incentivised for increasing the employee base in the establishment through payment of EPF contribution of 12% of wage, which otherwise would have been borne by the employer and on the other hand, a large number of workers find jobs in such establishments. A direct benefit is that these workers have access to social security benefit through Provident Fund, Pension and Death Linked Insurance. Launch of UNNATI – Unispace Nanosatellite Assembly & Training programme of ISRO: A capacity building programme on Nanosatellite development, is an initiative by ISRO to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first United Nations conference on the exploration and peaceful uses of outer space (UNISPACE-50). The programme provides opportunities to the participating developing countries to strengthen in assembling, integrating and testing of Nanosatellite. Govt. to launch an end-to-end prediction system for predicting thunderstorms/lightning by April 2019: Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) and IMD are developing prediction tools for thunderstorm/lightning. IITM Pune has already installed 48 lightning sensors around the country which can locate the thunderstorm/lightning activities on real time. IITM Pune also developed a Mobile App called “DAMINI” to give alerts on impending lightning activity over the area. The Gandhi Peace Prize for the years 2015,2016,2017 and 2018 has been conferred on the following 2015: Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari for the year 2015 for their contribution in Rural Development, Education , Development of natural resources. 2016: Jointly to AkshayaPatra Foundation for its contribution in providing mid-day meals to millions of children across India and Sulabh International for its contribution in improving the condition of sanitation in India and emancipation of manual scavengers. 2017: EkalAbhiyan Trust for their contribution in providing Education for Rural and Tribal Children in remote areas pan India, Rural Empowerment, Gender and Social Equality 2018: Shri YoheiSasakawa for his contribution in Leprosy Eradication in India and across the world. Womaniya on GeM: Government e Marketplace [GeM] has launched it to enable women entrepreneurs and women self-help groups [WSHGs] to sell handicrafts and handloom, accessories, jute and coir products, home décor and office furnishings, directly to various Government ministries, departments and institutions. The initiative seeks to develop women entrepreneurship on the margins of society to achieve gender-inclusive economic growth. India has approximately 500 million Internet users and nearly 54 percent of them are more than 25 years of age with higher discretionary income and likely to transact more online, half of internet users reside in small towns and present new opportunities for e-commerce and most importantly women constitute 33 percent or 143 million Internet users and control 44 percent of household spending in India. Womaniya on GeM will spur hyper-local economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs and address goals and objectives under United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. Government e Marketplace is a 100 percent government owned company setup under the aegis of Ministry of Commerce and Industry for procurement of common use goods and services by Government ministries, departments and CPSEs. GeM was setup in 2016 and has 731,431 product categories, with 180,862 registered sellers and 32,114 government buyers. Since inception, GeM has processed 1,171,761 orders worth Rs. 16,976 crores in gross merchandise value. Govt. Launches two National level Initiatives in the field of science communication: The Department of Science and Technology (DST) along with Doordarshan (DD), Prasar Bharati today launched two science communication initiatives, DD Science and India Science .While DD Science is an one-hour slot on Doordarshan National channel, which will be telecast Monday to Saturday from 5 pm to 6pm, India Science is a internet-based channel, which is available on any internet-enabled device, and will offer live, scheduled play and video-on-demand services. To elevate science into a celebration and bring it close to everyday life. DST and DD aim to make them jewels in the crown of the country for serving humanity for the furtherance of science. The two channels will have science-based documentaries, studio-based discussions, and virtual walkthroughs of scientific institutions, interviews and short films and will be completely free to access. MoU signed for Inter-Ministerial Cooperation for Promotion and Facilitation of Agricultural Biotechnology Research and Education: In order to leverage the efforts, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has entered into Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for much-needed emphasis on multi-disciplinary R&D activities and nurturing innovations in Agricultural Biotechnology Research and Education. Five to ten focused programmes both short, medium and long term will be developed and implemented. The collaborations also encompass to promote agri-innovations and start-ups, through the well-established BIRAC mechanism. This flagship synergistic approach would be taken-up in mission mode through networking with the elite institutions in the country. Objectives To plan and implement jointly the mutually agreed major National programmes through joint funding and sharing of resources in the priorities areas of agricultural biotechnology To form common think tank of experts from ICAR and DBT and others to formulate policies; To establish National platform/centres for services related to genomics, genotyping, data banking, agriculture bioinformatics, GM food detection, validation of technologies such as vaccines, diagnostics of veterinary/ fisheries use, molecular markers in crop and animal breeding To formulate and introduce courses/training programmes in the area of IPR, biosafety, biodiversity conservation and germ plasm exchange, genomic selection and breeding for faculty and students through appropriate mechanisms and Research prioritization with other ministries and foreign collation like Indo-UK SIC, BRICS, African countries and ‘Look East’ programme in relation to agricultural biotechnology.

Motivational Articles

Creative Guidance – Recreating Your Life – Inspirational Educative Articles

Recreating Your Life: Here is a practical reflection on how you can transform your life using meditation from a sincere student of life. I am the spark of aliveness that is making this body move–the spark that will never die. Once I began meditating, certain things started making sense–real sense, as in “why didn’t I see this before now?” sense.  The basic piece of information I’ve discovered is that “I” am not my body nor my thoughts.  “I” am the spark of aliveness that is making this body move–the spark that will never die.  “I” am that same spark of aliveness that is in everything that is alive; plants, birds, fish, animals…. everything! “I” am just a brief visitor to Earth and I need a body to be able to experience this life.  How we exactly get our bodies is still something I’m learning, but I totally accept the fact that “I” am a spiritual being and my body is part of the Earth. It will perish some day and return to the Earth, but “I” will go on…. WOW! My mind is also part of my Earthly being, although it’s not part of my body.  It seems to want to go its own way most of the time. Think about it: you’re just cruising along, having a wonderful day when all of a sudden !!!!****** @@@ your mind decides it wants to start a horror show, without your permission, of course! Does this sound like something you have control over? Nope. Thoughts have a mind of their own. The only way we can gain any control over our thoughts is to watch them.  Watch them and laugh at the ridiculousness of the parade.  Thoughts move in an endless parade, you know, moving from one to another to another with seamless precision. Only when we recognize that thoughts don’t belong to us will we be able to have a peaceful mind. I find it interesting that when I started meditating, thoughts were rampant and I could barely stand to close my eyes and be quiet. Once I started observing the thoughts it seemed like they were embarrassed to come out–really! It truly works. (I know these things seem a little “pie in the sky”, but sometimes you’ve just got to trust that there’s something out there that you don’t know already.) How to get past the parade of thoughts? Sit very still and be very quiet. It can be called meditation, but it’s really just the method to still your mind. Observe your thoughts, observe your body, and actually, everything you know should become your objects of observation from now on, from this moment on. If you know your body, then it is not you — you should just observe it. Deep down you should keep telling yourself, “This is not me”. If you observe your mind, if there is a thought that comes, immediately observe it and say, “That is not me, it is external.” Everything that is happening in your mind, in your body, in your thoughts, emotions–everything is external to you. So now, identify everything that is external to you. Use a pen and paper if you want. Just make a note of everything you can say that is not you. Spend some time with your body. Sit quiet, watch it. Don’t just intellectually watch it. Spend some time. Observe the body. This takes something more than just a “glossed-over” effort, but it’s reallyimportant, so it’s worth the genuine effort. When you come to the conclusion, “Okay, I have no control over this body and it is not me,” it will take some time, then you write down body. Then observe your thoughts. Just see if those thoughts are you, or are they just simply happening. And then make a note — thoughts. Similarly, everything external that you observe, just keep watching. Eventually all you will have left is “you”. Then life begins. “This article is a part of the creative endeavor of Inner Revolution and IASBABA.”

RSTV Video

RSTV IAS UPSC – India's Role in Afghanistan

India's Role in Afghanistan Archives TOPIC: General studies 2 Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests In News: US President Donald Trump had taken a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over funding of a "library" in the war-ravaged country, saying it is of no use in the war-torn country. Trump criticised India and others for not doing enough for the nation's security, and asked India, Russia, Pakistan and other neighbouring countries to take responsibility for Afghanistan's security as he defended his push for the US to invest less overseas. Indian Army boots in Afghanistan The foremost driver of India’s Afghanistan policy is its desire to strike a strategic balance between Afghanistan and Pakistan. This is an ambitious desire given the continuing, likely irreversible, and enormous power differential between Pakistan and Afghanistan. In practical terms, it means that India wants to ensure that Pakistan does not manipulate the terms of reconciliation between the Afghan Taliban and Kabul. India could easily spare tens of thousands of soldiers for Afghanistan from its 1.4 million-strong military. But the United States has discouraged India from sending troops or weaponry to Afghanistan. It is because Pakistan insists that if the Taliban are to be persuaded to join peace talks over Afghanistan and the supply lines through Pakistan to the United States forces are not disrupted or stopped, the United States must not allow an Indian security presence in Afghanistan. In the early years after the fall of the Taliban, Indian policy makers were miffed at being prevented from putting a security presence on the ground. In 2011, India signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement with Afghanistan, which enabled India to provide direct military support — initially trainers but potentially combat troops if the need arose. Indian presence in Afghanistan Since the Taliban was evicted in 2001, India has confined itself to managing a $2 billion humanitarian aid program that is only Afghanistan’s fifth largest but reputedly the most focused and effective dollar for dollar. But the Indian presence in Afghanistan rests on deeper cultural foundations than United States support. Afghans avidly consume Hindi language soap operas and Bollywood films. Paradoxically, the physical distance between India and Afghanistan brings their people even closer in their common dislike of Pakistan, which separates them geographically. Sustaining this priceless Afghan affection for India is the fact that Indian troops have never spilled Afghan blood — not in the anti-Soviet jihad in the 1980s, nor the civil war in the 1990s, nor through the insurgency after 2002. The combat-weary Afghans associate India’s presence with Kabul’s biggest children’s hospital and medical missions in their major cities that treated hundreds of thousands until some Indian doctors who manned them were killed in Kabul in 2010. India may be building small libraries as part of the community development initiative, but most of its investments in Afghanistan were on mega infrastructure projects including the 218 km road from Zaranj to Delaram, the Salma Dam and the new Afghan Parliament building. India has also been supplying military equipment to Afghanistan besides providing training to hundreds of Afghan security personnel. India has financed and built Afghanistan’s Parliament, Kabul’s most prestigious high school, the transmission lines that light up Kabul and the buses that ferry commuters in the capital. India funded and helped rebuild the hydroelectric Salma Dam in western Herat province. India also built a 133-mile highway linking Afghanistan to Iran. Hundreds of Afghan diplomats, administrators and soldiers are sent to India for professional training. While public impact was a key consideration in selecting these aid initiatives, the most striking examples of good-will creation are the approximately 300 “small development projects” (S.D.P.s) that India has financed, dovetailing them closely with Kabul’s own development priorities. Those projects benefit remote border villages that large aid donors seldom target because of the prevailing insecurity. Each project allocates up to a million dollars for a health, education or rural development project — such as building an irrigation channel for a village to bring water from a mountain stream to its fields. India merely selects and finances the project and provides technical oversight; the local community takes ownership of the project and executes the work on the ground. The wave of good will for India generated by the S.D.P.s has encouraged New Delhi to allocate a larger share of Indian development aid to these projects. The Way Ahead: The Afghan conflict not only drains resources of Western powers directly involved in it, but also limits growth of the adjacent region. Instead of thinking of short-term gains vis-à-vis Pakistan, then, New Delhi needs to think of a long-term strategy on how to end the Afghan conflict by supporting a genuine social reconciliation process. For India to be able to support any form of reconciliation process and to help reduce the need for violence as a mode of communication in Afghanistan requires it to be open to the idea of the Afghan Taliban entering mainstream political life with or without Pakistan’s support — and eventually resolve its own bilateral issues with its western neighbour. The appetite in India for military involvement is very small; there is no consensus about the military footprints New Delhi should have in Afghanistan. But there is a consensus that New Delhi’s security cooperation with Kabul should be extended and should be robust and that is what India is doing. Connecting the Dots: What do you think about India’s ambitions of ‘Afghan-led and Afghan-owned’ peace process? Critically analyse. A stable Afghanistan is key to India’s policy towards Central Asian countries. Comment. Also examine the associated challenges. India has its own developmental needs and priorities, but for the world’s seventh-largest economy, there is scope for stepping up its game in Afghanistan. Comment.

Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz - 2019 : IAS Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 154

UPSC Quiz - 2019 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 154 Archives Q.1) ‘Lothal’ is one of the cities of the ancient Indus Valley Civilization. Where is it located? Rajasthan Gujarat Punjab Sindh Q.2) ‘Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO)’ was launched by ISRO NASA ESA JAXA Q.3) Which of the following uses ‘Electroreception’? Bats Bees Sharks Select the correct code: 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above Q.4) ‘Section 124-A’ of the ‘Indian Penal Code’ deals with Offences against the State Cruelty by Husband or Relatives of Husband Offences Relating to Marriage Offences relating to Religion Q.5) Consider the following statements about ‘National Testing Agency (NTA)’ It is a Society registered under the Indian Society Registration Act, 1860 It is chaired by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 To Download the Solution - Click here All the Best  IASbaba

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

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

Daily Current Affairs IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 21st January 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) CIC selection arbitrary Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – Governance issues In news: RTI activists have termed the recent appointment of former Law Secretary Suresh Chandra as a Central Information Commissioner an “arbitrary process” as he had not applied for the position. According to files recently made public by the Department of Personnel and Training, he was not on the list of 280 applicants. But he was among the 14 short-listed. Shortlisting has been done outside the list of applicants, in violation of procedure laid out by the department in their own affidavit to the Supreme Court. About Central Information Commission Central Information Commission (CIC) is set up under the Right to Information Act. It is a quasi judicial body and designated statutory authority to receive and inquire into complaint from any person. CIC hears appeals from information-seekers who have not been satisfied by the public authority, and also addresses major issues concerning the RTI Act. It is plays important role in maintaining transparency in system of governance essential for healthy democracy. Such kind of transparency check aims to curb corruption, nepotism, oppression and misuse or abuse of the authority. Flamingo festival held at Pulicat lake in Andhra Pradesh Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III – Conservation of animals and biodiversity; Tourism In news: Three-day annual Flamingo Festival was held at Pulicat lake and Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh. Flamingo Festival is held every year to promote tourism. As over 90,000 birds have come from far away places to the lake this year. About Pulicat lake The lake is the second largest brackish water ecosystem in the country after the Chilika lake in Odisha. It is located on border of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu with over 96% of it in Andhra Pradesh and 4% in Tamil Nadu situated on Coromandal Coast. The lake encompasses Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary. Miscellaneous: ‘Operation Kabaddi’ Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III – National; Defence and Security challenges In news: ‘Operation Kabaddi’ was aimed at preventing cross-border infiltration, in the post-Kargil scenario. The objective [of Operation Kabaddi] was to change the geography of the LoC with access to tactical points there, which would then help the Army tackle the infiltration of militants by the Pakistani side. Kumbh will generate ₹1.2 lakh crore revenue In news: The mega Kumbh Mela, which began on January 15 and will continue till March 4, is expected to generate a revenue of ₹1.2 lakh crore for Uttar Pradesh, according to apex industry body Confederation of Indian Industry. Global festival: The Mela attracts a massive number of tourists from various countries like Australia, the U.K., Canada, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, New Zealand, Mauritius, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, the Kumbh is a festival of the world. RailWire WiFi The Indian Railways has one of the world’s largest public WiFi networks in RailWire WiFi. The network, provided by RailTel, a ‘Mini Ratna’ central PSU (Public Sector Undertaking) under the Ministry of Railways, is not only one of the largest but also one of the fastest public WiFi networks. Free WiFi services to commuters are being provided under ‘RailWire’, RailTel’s retail Broadband initiative. Aadhaar is now passport to Nepal and Bhutan In news: Aadhaar cards are now valid travel documents for Indians under 15 and over 65 travelling to Nepal and Bhutan, according to a Home Ministry communique. Indian citizens going to Nepal and Bhutan don’t need a visa if they have a valid passport, a photo identity card issued by the government of India or an election ID card issued by the Election Commission. Earlier, persons over 65 and under 15 could show their PAN card, driving licence, Central Government Health Service (CGHS) card or ration card, but not the Aadhaar, to prove their identity and visit the two countries. (MAINS FOCUS) NATIONAL TOPIC:General studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation Development processes and the development industry- the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders. Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections. MGNREGA: Fabrication and Falsification Introduction Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme, one of the most ambitious schemes was initiated with the objective of "enhancing livelihood security in rural areas by providing at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year, to every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work". The programme has arguably lifted lakhs of people out of poverty however there are few lacunas that needs to be addressed. Among those lacunas, lack of sufficient funds, rampant payment delays and abysmal wage rates act as triple blow to the job guarantee scheme. Key pointers: Many vulnerable people (especially women and widows) are sceptical of working under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) because of delays in payment and the lack of support facilities for their children at worksites. In recent years, there have been at least 74 reported starvation deaths, with 60 cases having occurred in the last two years across parts of India; a lot of them have been in Jharkhand. Concerns: Poor implementation of MGNREGA: If implemented the proper way, MGNREGA, among other measures, can go a long way in improving the life and the livelihoods of rural people. Hiding the reality: The current government and some of the State governments are covering up realities by deliberately manipulating and fabricating information to suit its false narrative.   Ethical and legal violations: Manipulation of information and perpetrating falsehoods lead to ethical and legal violations Unemployment allowance rarely implemented: We know that, MGNREGA is a demand-driven programme, i.e., work must be provided within 15 days of demanding work failing which the Centre must pay an unemployment allowance (UA). A UA report is generated but rarely implemented. UA report is intentionally suppressed to avoid paying delay compensation. Poor Management Information System: A web enabled Management Information System (MIS) has been developed for NREGA to make its data transparent and available in the public domain to be equally accessed by all. However, field functionaries (to prepare MIS) do not even enter the work because of a funds crunch. Poor work demand: During 2017-18 the employment generated was about 33% lower than the registered work demand, and during 2016-17, about 30% lower. Lack of fund: 99% of the original allocation got exhausted before three months. Centre has revised additional allocation. Despite these revisions, 16 States still show a negative balance which shows the continued lack of funds.  Allocation does not honour work demand. Delayed payments: Contrary to the Central government’s claims of there being more than 90% payments on time, a recent study shows only 21% payments were made on time in 2016-17. Such falsification and a manipulation of information by the government remind one of Václav Havel’s essay “The Power of the Powerless”. While the government is busy falsifying realities, starvation and agrarian distress, the slow death of the MGNREGA continues. Connecting the dots: MIS avails transparency but accountability is equally important. With regards to MGNREGA, examine the importance of transparency as well as accountability with suitable examples. Lack of sufficient funds, rampant payment delays and abysmal wage rates have acted as triple blow to the job guarantee scheme. Do you agree? Critically analyze. Examine the issues that needs to be addressed properly for effective implementation of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme. NATIONAL/SOCIAL ISSUE TOPIC: General studies 1 and 2 Social Empowerment Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes The missing women Introduction According to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) India Index Baseline Report by NITI Aayog – India’s employment generation in the last five years has remained weak. 64 per 1,000 persons appear to be unemployed in the working age group of 15-59. The problem of unemployment has become more acute for youth and women. According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) report of 2016, Youth are three times as likely as adults to be unemployed. Sustainable Development Goal 8 says – Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all By 2020 there should be a substantial reduction in the proportion of youth in the category of Not in Education, Employment and Training. As per ILO estimates, 27.5% in India are in this category, of which 8% are men and 49.3% are women. Status of women in India In India, majority of women work under the category of “housewives”. Unfortunately, in India’s economy, neither their contribution nor their presence gets counted in the GDP. Women have a low enrolment rate in secondary and higher education. The percentage of women not in education, employment and training in all age groups is low compared to men. The way ahead: It is important to understand the causes and consequences of not being in education, employment and training and affirmative actions should follow. For example, to promote girls’ education, the major schemes which function at the pan-India level are Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao and Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana. These schemes should focus on recognising the contributions of the youth, particularly the younger cohort of women. The patriarchal mindset of the society needs to be changed. This leads to lack of inheritance rights, denial of participation in decision making, poor workforce participation, lack of empowerment and continued financial dependency on male members of the family. Policies have to focus on affirmative actions which could pave the way for genuine progress towards Sustainable Development Goals. As the global community works toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — among them, SDG2, which aims to end hunger and malnutrition by 2030 — women can be the key agents of change in agriculture, nutrition and rural development.  With better access to information, training, and technology, women can alter food production and consumption so that land and resources are used sustainably. Connecting the dots: Real empowerment of women lies in ensuring their economic liberty. Do you agree? Substantiate. Examine the current employment scenario of women in India. Discuss why it is crucial to create more formal employment for women. (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note: Featured Comments and comments Up-voted by IASbaba are the “correct answers”. IASbaba App users – Team IASbaba will provide correct answers in comment section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers. Q.1) Consider the following about Central Information commission: The Central Information Commission has been constituted under the Right to Information Act, 2005. The jurisdiction of the Commission extends over all Central Public Authorities. The commission submits its report to the President of India. Which among the following is/are correct? 1 and 2 1 and 3 2 and 3 1,2 and 3 Q.2) Central Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners are appointed by the president on the recommendations of a nomination committee. Who of the following is not a member of this nomination committee? Prime Minister A Union Minister Nominated by Prime Minister Speaker of Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Q.3) Which of the following statements are NOT correct regarding Central Information Commission? It is a statutory body. It consists of four members with one Chief information Commissioner and three Information Commissioners. It has a jurisdiction over Central Government Bodies, PSU and MNCs working in India. Select the code from following: 1 only 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above Q.4) Consider the following statements regarding Central Information Commission (CIC): It was constituted through an Official Gazette Notification under the provisions of the Right to Information Act (2005). It entertains complaints and appeals pertaining to offices, financial institutions, public sector undertakings, etc., under the Central Government, State Government and the Union Territories. Which of the above statements is/are INCORRECT? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.5) Which of the following bird species are migratory in nature? Pelican Flamingo Northern Duck Amur Falcon Select the correct answer using the code given below. 1 and 3 only 1 and 4 only 2, 3, and 4 only 1, 2, 3 and 4 Q.6) Consider the following statements about Pulicat lake The lake is the second largest brackish water ecosystem in the country after the Chilika lake in Odisha. It is located on border of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Select the correct code: Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 MUST READ Steel frame or steel cage? The Hindu This is not the future we want The Hindu Simply put: The search for a Lokpal Indian Express What the farmer is owed Indian Express Struggling to be rich   Indian Express The dancer and the dance Indian Express

UPSC Interview Discussion-TRP

Interview Discussion IAS UPSC: Think, Rethink and Perform (TRP)-Day 11

Interview Discussion: Think, Rethink and Perform; (TRP)- Day 11  ARCHIVES Set 1: Ask these questions to yourself; contemplate and come out with a concrete answer (not to be discussed on this forum). Invest at least 30 minutes on this set of questions. Which profession is the noblest of all in your opinion? What makes a profession noble? Can a civil servant be noble? How? Set 2: Analyse the following issue: In a democratic political system, no one is a permanent friend or foe. Do you agree? Is it moral on part of ideologically incoherent parties to form an alliance to defeat another political party? Or is it justified in the name of larger public interest? Think and respond.

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