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All India Radio (AIR) IAS UPSC - India’s Nuclear Triad INS Arihant

India’s Nuclear Triad INS Arihant ARCHIVES Search 6th November, 2018 Spotlight here: http://www.newsonair.com/Audio-Archive-Search.aspx TOPIC: General studies 3 Security challenges and their management in border areas In News: INS Arihant, the country's first indigenous nuclear submarine, completes India's nuclear triad – puts India among a handful of countries having the capability to design, construct and operate SSBNs (Strategic Strike Nuclear Submarine). The completion of the maiden deterrence patrol by India’s first indigenous nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine is a momentous development in terms of the country’s ability to defend itself in a rough neighbourhood where it faces challenges from certain inimical powers. It signals not only India’s capability, along with a handful of nations, to build and operate a SSBN or nuclear submarine armed with ballistic missiles, but is a key step towards a survivable nuclear triad, or the ability to launch a nuclear second strike from sea, air or land in view of the country’s “no first use” policy for its nuclear arsenal. The successful completion of the deterrence patrol ensures that India will have the necessary second-strike capabilities with the country's nuclear shield now complete. A nuclear response option is only feasible if the country's nuclear triad- air, land, and sea, is ready for engagement with enemy forces. India’s nuclear Triad – What is it? India earlier had the capabilities to launch nuclear weapons from the Air, mounted largely on its Mirage 2000 and Jaguar Aircraft, and by land-based missiles, ranging from its Agni 1 missile, with a range 700-900 km, to Agni 5 Missiles, with a range of 5500 km. Its aim has been to develop a “credible nuclear deterrent”, with capabilities to deliver nuclear weapons from multiple locations on land, air and sea, to all strategic areas and centres, in its two nuclear-armed neighbours —China and Pakistan. The Arihant provides India with a capability to hit either neighbour from 300 meters under the sea. The sea-based missiles envisaged for this purpose are the Sagarika with a range of 750 km and the K-4, with a range of 3500 km. While land-based missile sites can be attacked and destroyed, a submarine-based deterrent is virtually impregnable against a missile attack. India is the only country having a sea-based nuclear deterrent, which is not a Permanent Member of the UN Security Council. Image source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/as-nuclear-sub-arihant-returns-after-first-deterrence-patrol-indias-nuclear-triad-complete/articleshow/66515624.cms Image Source: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/ins-arihant-completes-indias-nuclear-triad-pm-modi-felicitates-crew/articleshow/66509959.cms Policy in place India has put in place a robust nuclear command and control structure, safety assurance architecture and strict political control, under its Nuclear Command Authority. The country remains committed to the doctrine of Credible Minimum Deterrence and No First Use. India’s nuclear doctrine stated that its nuclear weapons would only be used in retaliation against a major attack on Indian territory, or on Indian forces anywhere, in which nuclear weapons are used. India also retains the right to use nuclear weapons in the event of major attacks on its territory, or on Indian forces anywhere, in which chemical or biological weapons are used. Pakistan, on the other hand does not have a formal nuclear doctrine. China maintains deliberate ambiguity on its nuclear doctrine, when it comes to dealing with India. Many legitimately ask whether this is meant to signal to Pakistan that China will come to its aid in any nuclear exchange Pakistan has with India, even if it is initiated by Pakistan. This Chinese ambiguity only adds to India’s determination to strengthen its “Triad” of land, air and sea-based nuclear weapons. The Way Ahead While India has a well-organised, streamlined nuclear command structure headed by the Prime Minister and Cabinet Committee on Security, it needs to address serious issues on the archaic structure of its Ministry of Defence. Most importantly, the key military figure in the Nuclear Command structure is the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, who generally holds office for less than a year. This is hardly the time adequate for him to become fully familiar the complexities of our Strategic Nuclear Command. Experts believe a real sea-based deterrence requires at least three atomic-powered submarines, two of which would be on patrol along the eastern and western seaboards while one undergoes a refit at any given time. The submarines will also need to be armed with missiles with a range of up to 5,000 km to give India the wherewithal to counter regional powers; China has a force of more than 60 undersea vessels, including SSBNs. The distance between India officially unveiling its plans for a nuclear triad and the first deterrence patrol took 15 years. Other milestones in this important programme shouldn’t take as long. Connecting the dots: In the light of India’s nuclear triad, critically examine the state of India’s nuclear deterrence.

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RSTV IAS UPSC – India-Bhutan New Vistas

India-Bhutan New Vistas Archives TOPIC: General Studies 2 India and its neighbourhood- relations. Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests In News: India and Bhutan are looking to strengthen further old and time-tested ties between the two nations with the arrival of Bhutan’s new Prime Minister Lotay Tshering. In a joint statement released after the wide-ranging talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mr. Tshering... India announced Rs 4,500 crore financial assistance to Bhutan for its 12th five-year plan. Indian assistance will account for 15% of the outlay for the five-year-plan, which is the lowest proportion ever. India also contributed Rs 4,500 core for the 11th five-year plan, but it accounted for 23% of the smaller outlay. ISRO will complete building a ground station in Bhutan for the South Asian Satellite that will help the Himalayan nation in weather information, tele-medicine and disaster relief in the far-flung areas. The Bhutanese PM is on a three-day visit to India. It is his first foreign visit after taking charge as PM of the Himalayan nation last month. Modi, too, had chosen Bhutan to be his first foreign port of call after being elected India’s Prime Minister in 2014. India - Bhutan Relations Diplomatic relations between India and Bhutan were established in 1968, and the basic framework of India- Bhutan bilateral relations was the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation signed in 1949 between the two countries, which was revised in February 2007. The India-Bhutan Friendship Treaty not only reflects the contemporary nature of our relationship but also lays the foundation for their future development in the 21st century. The Golden Jubilee of the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between India and Bhutan is being celebrated in the year 2018. The India-Bhutan relationship is often characterised by the grants and aid that India has extended to the small country, principally to the hydropower plants that provide Bhutan its largest single source of revenue. The political relationship, though, precedes the hydropower projects by decades, and is best seen in the context of Tibetan issues. History After India gained independence, Bhutan was one of the first countries to reach out to the new India. Formal bilateral relations between Bhutan and India were established in January 1968 with the appointment of a special officer of the Government of India to Bhutan. The basis for bilateral relations between India and Bhutan is formed by the Indo-Bhutan Treaty of 1949. On August 8, 1949 Bhutan and India signed the Treaty of Friendship, calling for peace between the two nations and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs. However, Bhutan agreed to let India “guide” its foreign policy and decided that both nations would consult each other closely on foreign and defence affairs. The treaty also established free trade and extradition protocols. The Treaty of 2007 The treaty of 1949 between India and Bhutan was updated in 2007. The most significant change was in Article 2. Article 2 was the most important provision in the treaty, according to which, “The Government of India undertakes to exercise no interference in the internal administration of Bhutan.” On its part, the Government of Bhutan agrees to be guided by the advice of the Government of India in regard to its external relations. The point that had provoked some amount of criticism or controversy pertains to the second part of this Article since it tries to qualify Bhutan’s external relations. Bhutan’s Significance to India Geography Bhutan’s significance to India stems from its geographic location. Nestled in the Himalayas, it is sandwiched between India and China. Thus, it serves as a buffer between the two Asian giants. Bhutan’s value as a buffer soared after China annexed Tibet in 1951. As the 2017 crisis in the Doklam region revealed, India will strongly oppose, even militarily, any Chinese attempt to assert control over mDoklam. Securing Bhutan’s present borders especially its western border is clearly important for India. Doklam in the hands of a hostile power would heighten the vulnerability of India’s Siliguri Corridor, a narrow strip of land that links India to its Northeastern states. So vital is Doklam to India’s defence that India has a permanent and sizeable military contingent and an army hospital in Haa district, where Doklam is located. Economy India dominates Bhutan’s economy. It is Bhutan’s largest trade partner; around 79% of Bhutan’s total imports are from India and India provides a market for 90% of its exports. Additionally, India is Bhutan’s largest aid donor. Between 2000 and 2017, Bhutan received $4.7 billion in aid from India, the lion’s share of India’s total foreign aid. Energy, Infrastructure & Security Bhutan is a strategically important country for India due to its location, and both sides have been ramping up overall cooperation, including in areas of defence and security, and energy, over the past a few years. India’s Border Roads Organisation has completed construction of a strategically key road in Bhutan, linking the neighbouring country’s border town of Phuentshogling with its capital city of Thimphu. Under the 2007 India-Bhutan Friendship Treaty, the two sides have agreed to “cooperate closely with each other on issues relating to their national interests. Neither Government shall allow the use of its territory for activities harmful to the national security and interest of the other.” During the Doklam standoff between troops of India and China last year, Bhutan had extended support to New Delhi Conclusion This development, instead of being seen as a deviation from the norm, presents an enormous opportunity for India to seize the moment and graduate from being Bhutan’s largest developmental partner to Bhutan’s largest investor and business partner. For India, the challenge is to align with the rising expectations of an impatient people who are seemingly no longer satisfied by the philosophy of “Gross National Happiness” as concrete economic challenges of a credit crunch, high loan interest rates, unemployment and high inflation loom. Many in Bhutan feel that the country’s traditional goodwill towards India should now be linked to enhanced Indian generosity in providing it with development support. Must read: Mindmap + India-Bhutan Ties post Doklam

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs [IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam] – 4th January 2019

Daily Current Affairs [IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam] – 4th January 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Trump’s remarks on India and India’s response (with regard to role in Afghanistan) Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – India and the World; International Relations In news: At a recently held cabinet meeting, U.S. President Donald Trump said countries which are near to Afghanistan (India, Russia and Pakistan) should be fighting the Taliban instead of U.S. Trump particularly took aim at India and mocked at PM Modi for funding a "library" in Afghanistan, saying it is of no use in the war-torn country as he criticised India and others for not doing enough for the nation's security. India’s response India rejected Trump’s remark, said that developmental assistance can play a major role in transforming the war-ravaged country. India has been implementing a range of mega infrastructure projects (such as 218 km road from Zaranj to Delaram, the Salma Dam and the new Afghan Parliament building) as well as carrying out community development programmes in Afghanistan as per requirement of its people. Such assistance would go a long way in making the country economically empowered and stable. India has also been supplying military equipment to Afghanistan besides providing training to hundreds of Afghan security personnel. India plays a significant role in the country as its development partner and that the partnership is built on the specific needs and requirements worked out with the Afghan government. India seeks to build capacities and capabilities of Afghan nationals and its institutions for governance and delivery of public service, develop socio-economic infrastructure, secure lives and promote livelihood. Besides mega infrastructure projects, India is implementing 116 new ‘High Impact Community Development Projects’ in 31 provinces of Afghanistan, including in the areas of education, health, agriculture, irrigation, drinking water, renewable energy, flood control, micro-hydropower, sports infrastructure, administrative infrastructure. India does not send its armed forces abroad except under the specific mandate of UN Peacekeeping Operations. Chang’e-4 lunar probe Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III – International affairs; Science and Technology; Space Missions In news: China's Chang-e'4 lunar probe lander-rover touched down on the lunar far side. The probe, which has a lander and a rover, touched down at a targeted area near the moon’s south pole in the Von Karman Crater. The tasks of the Chang’e-4 include astronomical observation, surveying the moon’s terrain, land form and mineral make-up, and measuring the neutron radiation and neutral atoms to study the environment of its far side. Do you know? Chandrayaan-1 was India's first lunar probe. It was launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation in October 2008, and operated until August 2009. The mission included a lunar orbiter and an impactor. (Status: Partial success) Chandrayaan-2 will be India’s second moon mission. Chandrayaan-2 is scheduled to be launched in Feb/March 2019. (MAINS FOCUS) ECONOMY TOPIC:General studies 3 Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it. Government Budgeting. For achieving sustained high growth Context: 2018 has been a mixed bag, both globally and domestically. Globally, the growth rate in 2018 was high, particularly in the United States. But strong signs of a trade war emerged, dimming hopes of faster international trade. Britain is passing through the pangs of separation from the European Union. Domestically, the first quarter growth rate was high. But signs are not good for the balance of the year. (Fall in rupee, crude oil prices rose, agrarian distress accentuated) Indian context India’s growth rate in 2018-19 is forecast at 7.4% by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). However, it looks like a touch-and-go situation. More likely, it will be slightly lower.   Reasons: Even though the Goods and Services Tax (GST) has stabilised, much will depend on the pickup in the investment rate and the productivity of capital or its inverse incremental capital-output ratio. The international environment is not that conducive for growth in our foreign trade; this will have an impact on our exports and, therefore, growth. High oil prices, emerging market stress as the era of easy money draws to a close, and policy paralysis ahead of elections. The impact of higher global oil prices compounded by sharp rupee depreciation raises the cost of households’ consumption basket, and will weigh on households’ capacity for other expenditures. Borrowing costs have already risen because of tightening monetary policy. Sluggish demand, possible state spending cut pose risk to growth. Five issues that need to be addressed comprehensively if India is to achieve sustained high growth: Raising the investment ratio Putting the banking system back on the rails Employment generation through better growth Enhancing export growth to contain the CAD; and Removing agrarian distress by increasing productivity and consolidation of small landholdings. Raising the investment ratio The growth rate depends on the investment rate and the productivity of capital or its inverse incremental capital-output ratio. Productivity and ICOR depends upon a multiple number of factors such as quality of labour (education and skill development levels) and technology, which is constantly changing. Putting the banking system back on the rails An important factor affecting economic growth is the condition of our banking system. Non-performing assets (NPAs) and stressed assets should be taken care. As many as 11 public sector banks are under Prompt Corrective Action (PCA), which will restrict the lending abilities of these banks. Added to this, the non banking financial company (NBFC) system is also under stress. Recapitalisation of public sector banks will partly solve the problem. Their inability to lend affects the availability of working capital as well as capital expenditures. The growth rate in the industrial sector will depend on how quickly the banking system comes back to normalcy. Employment generation Employment in the informal sector is much larger. Jobless growth – Even though growth is around 7%, there is no corresponding growth in employment. It is growth which is led by new investment that leads to a significant increase in employment. Increase in employment seen in the period between 2004-05 and 2009-10 was because of the rapid growth of the information technology (IT) and financial sectors. The IT sector has slowed down. The financial sector is under stress. Thus, even from the point of view of employment, the key factor is the pickup in investment. Enhancing export growth India’s external sector has grown and is well integrated with the rest of the world. India’s trade in goods and services as a percentage of GDP has grown to 42% of GDP. Therefore, what happens in the rest of the world affects India’s growth very much. India’s balance of payment situation has been comfortable since liberalisation. However, there are some vulnerabilities seen in September-October 2018, when the value of the rupee suddenly plummeted when crude oil prices rose. This also led to capital outflows. RBI intervention and the subsequent fall in crude prices have restored the value of the rupee. Thus, India’s exports of goods grew by 11.6%. Strong growth in exports is a must if we have to keep the current account deficit (CAD) at a manageable level. The forecast for world trade and output is not encouraging. There are too many uncertainties – such as intensification in the trade war, protectionism etc.   Removing agrarian distress The future growth also depends on the performance of agriculture. Effective government procurement, improving financial capacity of the government to procure, adequate physical arrangements to procure and store will help. Increasing productivity and enabling farmers to achieve increased output and better prices should be the end goal. Loan waivers are at best short-term solutions. Consolidation of landholdings by small farmers, combined attack to increase productivity and improving marketing is needed to assure farmers of better income. Connecting the dots: Can the Indian economy really achieve double digit growth? Discuss what measures are needed if India has to achieve sustained high growth. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY TOPIC:General studies 3 Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology Science for Society: ‘ease of living’ through ‘ease of doing science’ Context: At the 102nd Indian Science Congress held in Mumbai in 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said – The arms of science, technology and innovation must reach the poorest, the remotest and the most vulnerable person. There should be pragmatic use of science and technology to aid growth and development in India. Promote ‘ease of living’ through ‘ease of doing science’. The key address by PM was an attempt at motivating scientists and researchers to direct their focus towards resolving the issues that disrupt the life of the common man. Outcome: The transformation in the last four-and-half years has been remarkable. From engaging with Nobel laureates to brainstorming with India’s scientific community, from interacting with young minds engaged in Hackathons to posing questions for innovators and startup founders, the PM has made science the fulcrum of New India. In the last four years, the government has tried to enhance collaboration between various scientific streams to enhance the productivity of our research and development. Government procedures and approvals for scientists and researchers have been placed online and made transparent, thereby assuring “Ease of Doing Science”. Various schemes have been introduced to improve the quality of research institutes, for the promotion of technology business incubators (Atal Incubation Centres) and research parks that promote innovative ideas until they become commercial ventures. This has opened up new opportunities for tech start-ups, propelling India to become the world’s third-largest technology start-up hub with the incorporation of 1,000 new companies in 2017. The popularisation of science has been given a strong impetus. Platforms like “Innovate India” promote and recognise innovations happening across the nation by enabling citizens to share their innovation.   Atal Tinkering Labs ensure that dedicated workspaces are created for students to innovate and develop ideas that will go on to transform India. Scholarship schemes have been revamped and new schemes introduced to inspire young researchers and students to become active members of India’s growth story. The current government used international visits to explore collaborations in various fields like clean energy, agriculture, fintech, biotechnology, medicine, healthcare and futuristic technologies, such as AI and Blockchain. India’s partnership with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Philippines was strengthened further with IRRI opening a regional centre in Varanasi. India’s collaboration with the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) in the US improved with our scientists participating in LIGO experiments. India’s quest for clean energy was cemented with our instrumental role in forging the International Solar Alliance. The quantum leap of 21 places in the Global Innovation Index in two years, has also been noticed by the international community. The Fourth Industrial Revolution, comprising of artificial intelligence, machine learning and smart robotics will create multiple opportunities for Indian scientists to create new tools that are relevant to India and are environmentally sustainable. Do you know? The key achievements of Indian science this year (2018) were: the production of aviation grade biofuel; Divya Nayan — a reading machine for the visually impaired; devices for the diagnosis of cervical cancer, TB and dengue; and a real-time landslide warning system in the Sikkim-Darjeeling region. Conclusion: Science is a continuous journey.  Ease of Doing Science will indeed be the cornerstone of Ease of Living. As more bright youngsters take to science, they shall endeavour to find solutions in areas such as nutrition, agriculture, clean energy and the environment. The results shall certainly augur well for India. Connecting the dots: Discuss how India can become a global science & technology leader. Also examine why Ease of Doing Science is as vital as Ease of Doing Business. (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) Route 606, also known as Delaram-Zaranj Highway connects which of the following countries? India and Myanmar India and Bhutan Iran and Afghanistan China and Pakistan Q.2) Salma Dam is a landmark infrastructure project undertaken by Government of India  on river Hari Rud, in Herat province of - Bangladesh Bhutan Afghanistan Nepal Q.3) Which of the following statement is incorrect regarding the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM)? Atal Innovation Scheme (AIM) is working to establish 500 ATLs in Central Universities across India. The AICs under Atal Innovation Scheme will help start-ups to expand quicker and enable innovation-entrepreneurship, in core sectors of the economy such as manufacturing, energy, transport, education, agriculture, water and sanitation, etc. Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) will provide financial support of Rs.10 crore and capacity building for setting up of each AIC. Atal Innovation Scheme (AIM) is working to establish 500 ATLs in schools across India. Q.4) Consider the following statements about ‘Online Labs’ It hosts experiments in Physical, Chemical and Biological sciences for the students from classes 9 to 12 with content aligned to NCERT /CBSE and State Board Syllabus It is funded by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology It will be established at Atal Tinkering Labs established across the country as a part of the Atal Innovation Mission Select the correct statements 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above Q.5) Consider the following statements about Atal Tinkering Laboratories (ATLs): It is part of Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) Mentor India Campaign will engage leaders who can guide and mentor students at Atal Tinkering Labs ATLs can be established in schools (Grade VI – XII) managed by Government, local body or private trusts/society. Select the correct statements 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above Q.6) Which of the following is under the aegis of NITI Aayog? Atal Pension Yojana Atal Tinkering Lab Atal Innovation Mission Select the correct code: 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above MUST READ A case of unprincipled criminalization The Hindu Dark side of the moon: on China's moon mission The Hindu Dark recesses Indian Express The country’s counsel Indian Express A judgment, a foundation Indian Express Will farm loan waiver go the way of the property tax repeal? Livemint Impending hazards: The case of farm loan waivers Livemint

Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz - 2019 : IAS Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 144]

UPSC Quiz - 2019 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 144] Archives Q.1) ‘Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI)’ is published by UNFCCC Secretariat UNEP Climate Vulnerable Forum Germanwatch Q.2) Consider the following statements with respect to ‘Black-striped mussel’ It spreads primarily through the discharge of ballast waters of ships It is native to the South and Central Americas Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) Which of the following statements is correct with respect to ‘Swap Ratio’? It is the amount by which the price of a convertible security exceeds the current market value of the common stock into which it may be converted It is the ratio at which an acquiring company will offer its own shares in exchange for the target company's shares during a merger or acquisition It is the number of common shares received at the time of conversion for each convertible security It is a financial ratio that expresses the leverage of a bond issuer Q.4) Which of the following statements is/are correct? A private member cannot introduce a constitutional amendment bill. A private members’ bill can be introduced in Lok Sabha Only Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.5) ‘Manbij’ is located in Indonesia Syria Lebanon Palestine To Download the Solution - Click here All the Best  IASbaba

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All India Radio (AIR) IAS UPSC - Outreach and Support to MSME Sector

Outreach and Support to MSME Sector ARCHIVES Search 2nd November, 2018 Spotlight here: http://www.newsonair.com/Audio-Archive-Search.aspx General Studies 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. General Studies 3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it. Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth. Credit stimulus package for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) Why: In response to twin shocks arising from demonetization and GST Demonetisation made it difficult for these units to pay their contractual labour in cash and access credit, which is again largely through informal channels. GST similarly led to an increase in compliance costs, apart from depriving them of the inherent advantages of doing business in cash without leaving a paper trail. The outstanding gross bank credit to MSMEs has shrunk — from Rs 4.71 lakh crore to Rs 4.69 crore between September 2014 and September 2018. Despite refinancing schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, this shrunk is proof of formal lending institutions being unable to fill the void either. Credit Stimulus is the policy which seeks to enhance credit flow to various critical sectors in the economy by providing loans at the cheaper rate of interest. The main idea behind the credit stimulus is to promote growth and development of the critical sectors and to reduce their dependence on informal borrowings. Five key aspects for facilitating the MSME sector: Access to credit Access to market Technology upgradation Ease of doing business A sense of security for employees 12 key initiatives which will help the growth, expansion and facilitation of MSMEs across the country were unveiled, under the 5 key aspects mentioned above – Access to credit: 59-minute loan portal to enable easy access to credit for MSMEs 2 percent interest subvention for all GST registered MSMEs, on fresh or incremental loans All companies with a turnover more than Rs. 500 crore, must now compulsorily be brought on the Trade Receivables e-Discounting System (TReDS) – will enable entrepreneurs to access credit from banks, based ontheir upcoming receivables. This will resolve their problems of cash cycle. Access to market: Public sector companies have now been asked to compulsorily procure 25 percent, instead of 20 percent of their total purchases, from MSMEs. Out of the 25 percent procurement mandated from MSMEs, 3 percent must now be reserved for women entrepreneurs. All public sector undertakings of the Union Government must now compulsorily be a part of GeM Technology upgradation: 20 hubs will be formed across the country, and 100 spokes in the form of tool rooms will be established. Ease of doing business: Clusters will be formed of pharma MSMEs – 70 percent cost of establishing these clusters will be borne by the Union Government The return under 8 labour laws and 10 Union regulations must now be filed only once a year. The establishments to be visited by an Inspector will be decided through a computerised random allotment. Under air pollution and water pollution laws, now both these have been merged as a single consent and the return will be accepted through self-certification. An Ordinance has been brought, under which, for minor violations under the Companies Act, the entrepreneur will no longer have to approach the Courts, but can correct them through simple procedures. A sense of security for employees: a mission will be launched to ensure that they have Jan Dhan Accounts, provident fund and insurance. Must Read: Mindmap 1 + Mindmap 2 + Mindmap 3 + Growth in Manufacturing Sector Connecting the Dots: Analyse the challenges that make Indian manufacturing less competitive globally? How can India ensure a greater share in global GDP from manufacturing? Do you think the micro, small and medium industries hold the key to India’s industrial growth? Examine. What is Zero Defect – Zero Effect (ZED) scheme? Examine its significance for India’s MSME sector.

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RSTV IAS UPSC – Infrastructure and North-East

Infrastructure and North-East Archives TOPIC: General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes In News: For decades, poor infrastructure and limited connectivity have acted as roadblocks hindering the socio-economic development of these states. 16 years after the commencement of work, the Bogibeel bridge over the river Brahmaputra was finally inaugurated. The Bogibeel Bridge, which was a part of the Assam Accord and sanctioned in 1997-98, is expected to play a significant role in the troop’s movement along the India-China border in Arunachal Pradesh. With a length of 4.94 km long this is now the longest rail-cum-road bridge in India and comes as a big breather for the people of northeast. The five-kilometre structure spans the waters of the mighty Brahmaputra River. The Bridge is of strategic importance for India and for the armed forces. With this bridge becoming operational distance from Dibrugarh to Rangiya will be reduced by 170 km and a train journey from Itangar, capital of Arunachal Pradesh to Dibrugarh will be only 180 km. People from Dhemaji, Jonai and North Lakhimpur who had to earlier travel the whole day to cross the Brahmaputra to reach Dibrugarh, will now cross the river within minutes. Focus on Infrastructure The north-eastern region (NER) has been placed on a pedestal for the purposes of central assistance, subsidies and exemptions. Connectivity has been the proverbial Achilles’ Heel for the Northeast. On this front, there are visible signs of change, with the rapid construction of national highways, bridges, rail and air linkages. The recently-commissioned airports at Pakyong in Sikkim and Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh have given wings to economic possibilities. Rural infrastructure and connectivity have seen a significant improvement under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana and Border Area Development Programme, though the quality of road infrastructure, especially state highways and rural roads remains quite pathetic. Torrential monsoon rains and mudslides make the task of road maintenance even more challenging. Transformation by Transportation The NE region lies on the wrong side of the narrow Siliguri corridor and comprises of eight and half states and nearly 5 cr people supported by a single road axis prone to disruptions. The isolation and neglect in mainstreaming the people mainly due to lack of connectivity and infrastructure has contributed to the various insurgencies. There is an imperative to ensure peace, stability and development in the region by providing the people the much-needed connectivity to ensure the benefits of education, health care and economic growth. This will also give a push to tourism as the NE is by far one of the most scenic and serene places in India. At the strategic level the 3488 km long India- China border remains the longest though most peaceful disputed border in the world, with the last shot in anger fired in October of 1975. However, the disputed border does remain a potential driver for conflict and given the emerging geostrategic construct with China asserting itself as a global power, it is an imperative that India build capabilities and enhance capacities, to protect its interests in all domains especially so along the disputed border. The Way Ahead It is time the government takes immediate and urgent measures to give additional impetus to build the requisite infrastructure to address the security needs as also facilitate mainstreaming of the border people and ensure development of the region. The government should amend the land acquisition bill 2014 to exclude 100 kms along our Northern Borders and 50 kms along our Western borders, required for defence needs i.e. national security. There is also a need to evolve an integrated infrastructure development plan where in the NHAI is responsible for constructing the main arteries, a revamped Border Road Organisation mandated to construct the feeder roads and the army to ensure last mile connectivity through its integral resources of operational works. In addition to the plan the government should constitute a National Infrastructure Development Board under the Niti Aayog comprising of all relevant ministries including the representatives from the Army and Indian Air Force, fully empowered and accountable to execute and monitor time bound development. China respects strength and exploits the weak. It is imperative that India build capabilities and enhances existing capacities. While India looks at these mega-bridges, roads and hydropower projects for strategic reasons, it needs to develop an inclusive model for the local inhabitants too. They lack the knowledge, the education and the formal training of engineers or semi-skilled technicians needed for these infrastructure projects. They also lack the information to take a stance over majority decisions that are eventually imposed upon them. Often, they are consulted only when there is a problem due to land acquisition aspects of such infrastructure development. Note: District Infrastructure Index (DII): In order to reduce intra-regional disparity and better targeting of schemes and projects in North Eastern States. The DII is based on seven broad indicators — transport facilities in terms of road density and road quality, energy, water supply, education, health facilities, communication infrastructure and banking facilities. North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS): The funds under the scheme, will be distributed among eight North Eastern States on the basis of well-defined criteria on certain parameters e.g. Area, Population, Human Development Index, Road density, etc. The scheme, inter alia, aims to cover the social sectors namely health and education in North Eastern Region. Read: Infrastructural Projects in North Eastern Region Developmental Projects in North Eastern States Upgradation of Airports in North East Digital North East Vision 2022 Connecting the Dots: Inaccessibility in far-flung areas would be a deterrent to the enemies. Do you agree? Examine this statement in terms of the issues prevalent in the north-east part of our country.

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs [IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam] – 3rd January 2019

Daily Current Affairs [IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam] – 3rd January 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Bill to allow voluntary use of Aadhaar ID introduced Part of: GS Mains II – National issue; Right to Privacy In news: Bill to allow voluntary use of Aadhaar ID was introduced that will provide legal backing for voluntary seeding of biometric Aadhaar ID with mobile numbers and bank accounts after the Supreme Court barred mandatory use of the 12-digit unique identifier by private firms. The proposed amendment Bill is said to be in compliance with the Supreme Court’s judgment and there would be no infringement of privacy. Committee in news: U.K. Sinha Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III – Indian Economy and related issues; Revival of MSME sector In news: The RBI has appointed an eight member expert committee headed by former SEBI chairman U.K. Sinha to comprehensively review and propose long-term solutions for revival of the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector. The MSME sector has been facing stress due to the demonetisation exercise and implementation of GST. Amalgamation of the three banks Part of: GS  Mains III – Indian Economy and related issues In news: The Union Cabinet approved the amalgamation of the three banks, with Bank of Baroda as the transferee bank, and Vijaya and Dena as transferor banks. This would mean that the merged entity would be known as the Bank of Baroda. The amalgamation will help create a strong globally competitive bank with economies of scale and facilitate realisation of wide-ranging synergies. China building ‘advanced’ warships for Pak.: report Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – International affairs; Security issues In news: China is building the first of four “most advanced” naval warships for Pakistan as part of a major bilateral arms deal to ensure among other things “balance of power” in the strategic Indian Ocean. China, an “all-weather ally” of Islamabad, is the largest supplier of weapon system to Pakistan. Both countries also jointly manufacturing the JF-Thunder, a single engine multi-role combat aircraft. Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – International affairs; Environment and Climate Change In news: Morocco has been named the second best performing country after Sweden in the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI). Morocco significantly increased the share of renewables over the past five years and increased new renewable energy capacity. The bottom five in the list are Saudi Arabia, U.S., Iran, South Korea and Taiwan. With the connection of the world’s largest solar plant to the grid, Morocco is on track for achieving its target of 42% installed renewable energy capacities by 2020. Two young women entered the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple In news: Two young women (Bindu from Kozhikode and Kanakadurga from Malappuram) entered the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple in Kerala under police cover. It triggered anti-government protests across the State. Chief priest performed rites of ‘purification’. Chief priest’s action violates Supreme Court verdict. Any form of exclusion based on concepts of ‘impurity and pollution’ amounts to untouchability. Dawn-to-dusk strike was called after the incident. This is the first time that women in the 10-50 age group have managed to enter the temple following the Supreme Court verdict of September 28. (MAINS FOCUS) SECURITY/DEFENCE TOPIC:General studies 2  Role of external state and nonstate actors in creating challenges to internal security Security challenges and their management in border areas Deterrence or danger? Context: It has been universally recognised that the sole justification for having nuclear weapons is their deterrence value. The initiation of a nuclear attack would mean utter destruction, not just for the two parties involved but also for regions far beyond. If nuclear weapons fail to deter the outbreak of war involving use of such weapons, they have disastrously failed in their deterrence mission. Second strike capability theory The theory is that if country A initiates a nuclear attack on country B in a first strike, country B must be in a position, even after absorbing the nuclear strike, to retaliate with a massive nuclear attack on the enemy country. This is called second strike capability. Concept of nuclear triad A country which is equipped with land-based, air-based and sea-based nuclear delivery systems is considered to be a nuclear triad. In the event that country A manages to destroy the land and air-based nukes of country B, country B will still have its third leg in the shape of sea-based nuclear-tipped missiles, called SLBMs or submarine-launched ballistic missiles, for use against country A because the sea-based missiles, launched from nuclear-powered submarines, would have remained undetected and hence safe from enemy attack. Thus, the rationale for the naval leg of the triad is its survivability for retaliation, rather than deterrence. Do you know? On December 5, 2018, India announced that it had achieved its nuclear triad, after the completion of its first indigenous ship submersible ballistic nuclear (SSBN) maiden deterrence patrol. The author argues that India does not gain anything by escalating the nuclear arms race in the region (especially with INS Arihant) One, because the main purpose of naval leg of the triad is its survivability for retaliation, rather than deterrence. Therefore, acquiring SSBNs or a nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine will not make our deterrent more credible. Two, if the hostilities reach the threshold where a country may consider using nuclear weapons, it would be preceded by a period of conventional warfare. Three, any conventional conflict itself will not start before several days of negotiations, including possible mediation by external powers and the UN Security Council. Even a small incident involving India and Pakistan would immediately invite big powers to rush in and mediate pull-back of forces, etc. Four, whether the external interventions succeed or not in preventing a major war, the target country would have ample time to disperse its land and air-based nuclear assets. The naval leg does not seem indispensable. HEALTH ISSUE 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, Education, Human Resources Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes Lessons from Kerala : Transforming Primary Care Introduction: Primary health care is in crisis. It is underdeveloped in many countries, underfunded in others, and facing a severe workforce recruitment and retention challenge. Half the world's population has no access to the most essential health services. Do you know? 1978 Declaration of Alma-Ata – It united health leaders and highlighted the importance of primary health care as key to delivering better health for all, and to the value of social justice, health equity, and the social determinants of health. But even after 40 years later, this vision has not been realised. Hence, world leaders declared their commitment to ‘Primary Care’ in recently held (October 2018) Declaration on Primary Health Care at Astana, Kazakhstan. Now the Sustainable Development Goals also provide new impetus to reach universal health coverage via strengthened primary health care. The Astana Declaration would “aim to meet all people’s health needs across the life course through comprehensive preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative services and palliative care”. List of primary care services According to Astana Declaration, the following services are part of PHC services – vaccination; screenings; prevention, control and management of non-communicable and communicable diseases; care and services that promote, maintain and improve maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health; and mental health and sexual and reproductive health Aardram mission of Kerala In 2016, Kerala attempted to re-design its primary care via Aardram mission. It aimed to transform health care, address the current and future epidemiological situation. In the revamped primary care, Kerala tried to provide the above provided PHC services. These services cannot be provided without adequate human resources. It is nearly impossible to provide them with the current Indian norm of one primary care team for a population of 30,000. Kerala tried to reduce the target population to 10,000. Even the reduced target turned out to be too high to be effective. Kerala’s experience suggests that providing comprehensive primary care would require at least one team for 5,000 populations. Lessons learnt from Kerala’s experience could provide insights into what needs to be done to ensure the objectives of the Astana Declaration do not remain a statement of pious intentions in India. Providing the entire set of services is beyond the capacity of medical and nursing graduates without specialised training.  Building the capacity of medical and nursing graduates will be even more of a challenge and time taking. Hence, Kerala has tried to get over this through short courses in specific areas such as management of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and depression. Conclusion: Primary Health Care is the most effective, efficient and equitable approach to enhance health, making it a necessary foundation to achieve universal health coverage (UHC). The primary care system will be effective only when the providers assume responsibility for the health of the population assigned to them and the population trusts them for their health needs. Both are linked to capacity, attitude and support from referral networks and the systemic framework. Involving private sector will help in providing good quality primary care. The private sector provides primary care in most countries though it is paid for from the budget or insurance. The private sector can provide good quality primary care if there are systems to finance care and if the private sector is prepared to invest in developing the needed capacities. (Therefore, efforts to include of Private Health Provider in Government Policy will help) Achieving Universal Health Coverage, one of the Sustainable Development Goals to which India is committed, is not possible without universal primary health care. The experience of Kerala in transforming primary care reveals the steepness of the path India will have to cover to reach the goals committed to in the Astana Declaration. Connecting the dots: Achieving Universal Health Coverage, one of the Sustainable Development Goals to which India is committed, is not possible without universal primary health care. Do you agree? Examine. (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) U.K. Sinha committee is associated with - Teacher Reforms Pension Reforms Labour Reforms MSME Reforms Q.2) Consider the following statements with regard to recent Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) Morocco has been named the second best performing country after Sweden The bottom five in the list are Saudi Arabia, U.S., India, South Korea and China. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both None Q.3) Consider the following statements with respect to ‘INS Arihant’ It belongs to Ship Submersible Ballistic Nuclear (SSBN) class It will be armed with K-15 and K-4 missiles Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 MUST READ Powering South Asian integration The Hindu  Breaking the stranglehold The Hindu A coal commission for India Indian Express  Guilty till proved innocent Indian Express Beyond temporary relief Indian Express How Ujjwala Yojana is emerging as Modi govt’s MGNREGS ahead of 2019 Livemint In an age of uncertainty, what will be the next big turn? Livemint  

Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz - 2019 : IAS Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 143]

UPSC Quiz - 2019 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 143] Archives Q.1) Consider the following statements with respect to ‘Rastriya Yuva Sashaktikaran Karyakram Scheme’ It aims to develop the personality and leadership qualities of the youth and to engage them in nation building activities. It is a Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2) Consider the following statements with respect to “Green – Ag: Transforming Indian Agriculture for global environment benefits and the conservation of critical biodiversity and forest landscapes” It is assisted by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) It is launched in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) ‘World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) report’ is published by World Economic Forum World Bank World Trade Organisation United Nations Conference on Trade and Development Q.4) Consider the following statements with respect to ‘FATCA’ It is aimed at ensuring that US persons with financial assets outside of the USA pay USA tax India has entered into information sharing agreement with the USA under FATCA Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.5) Consider the following statements with respect to ‘Yarn Bank Scheme’ It is one of the components of PowerTex India It enables power loom weavers to purchase yarn at wholesale rate and give the yarn at reasonable price to the small weavers It also has a component of free electricity to small weavers Select the correct statements 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above To Download the Solution - Click here All the Best  IASbaba

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs [IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam] – 2nd January 2019

Daily Current Affairs [IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam] – 2nd January 2019 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Animal in news: Cinereous vulture Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III – Environment and Biodiversity; Animal Conservation In news: Cinereous vulture was sighted in Jharkhand. Birdwatchers call it a rare sighting, as earlier records of this migratory bird have revealed that it comes to northern parts of India up to Rajasthan. Bird watchers and researchers were baffled to find it in Hazaribagh in Jharkhand. IUCN Red List Status: Near Threatened Do you know? India is home to nine species of vultures and with the population of these birds dwindling, the country has launched a species-recovery plan through conservation breeding centres in different parts of the country. 9 Species of Large Vultures Found Living in India Indian Vulture -Gyps Indicus. Himalayan Vulture -Gyps Himalayensis. Bearded Vulture -Gypaetus Barbatus. Slender-Billed Vulture -Gyps Tenuirostris. White-Rumped Vulture -Gyps Bengalensis. Cinereous Vulture -Aegypius Monachus. Egyptian Vulture -Neophron Percnopterus. Red-Headed Vulture -Sarcogyps Calvus. India and Pakistan: Humanitarian Gesture Part of: GS Mains II – India and its neighbours; International Relations In news: In a peace overture, India has asked Pakistan to take back dozens of Pakistani nationals who have completed jail terms here. Both the countries exchanged lists of convicts who have completed terms. India handed over a list of 249 civilian Pakistani prisoners and 98 fishermen in its custody. Pakistan shared lists of 54 civilian prisoners and 483 fishermen in its jails, who it claims are Indian. Pic: https://d39gegkjaqduz9.cloudfront.net/TH/2019/01/02/DEL/Delhi/TH/5_01/1c0b2d6f_2637321_101_mr.jpg (MAINS FOCUS) INTERNATIONAL TOPIC:General studies 2  Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's interests Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests, Indian diaspora. India and its neighbours; International Relations India and Bangladesh: The bilateral transformation Introduction: The coalition led by Bangladesh Prime Minster Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League posted a landslide victory in the recent Bangladesh elections. Bangladesh under Sheikh Hasina’s regime Under Hasina, the country has undoubtedly done well for itself. She has an enviable record of delivering record economic growth. Bangladesh is one of the ten fastest growing economies in the developing world Bangladesh’s GDP grew at a rate of 7.6% in the last quarter, making it one of the fastest growing economies in the world. World Bank’s latest report states that the economy is likely to remain resilient over the near term, with strong domestic demand and structural transformation. What Does Sheikh Hasina’s Return Mean For India? Bangladesh is important for India’s security, connectivity to its northeast region, and implementing its Act East Policy. India’s plans to forge a viable alternative to the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation rests on Bangladesh, given its location bridging South Asia and South-East Asia. Important for sub-regional groupings like BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) and the BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal) Initiative. Diplomatic relations between India and Bangladesh have grown strong steadily whenever the Awami League comes into power. India should work on strengthening its ties with Bangladesh and stress further on connecting with its people by understanding their aspirations and providing necessary support. It will be pragmatic for India to fulfill the promises made to Bangladesh – conclusion of the Teesta treaty and the pending water-sharing treaty. India should also lay emphasis on connectivity between the two countries and lend support to various infrastructure projects planned in Bangladesh. Cooperation between the two countries will contribute to the peace and prosperity of the South Asia region. Do you know? Bangladesh is India’s largest trading partner in South Asia with an annual turnover of around $9 billion plus an estimated informal trade of around $8-9 billion, across the 4,100-km-long porous border. Cooperation in connectivity, energy, security and intelligence matters has intensified. The Padma multipurpose bridge and the Akhaura-Agartala rail link will dramatically change connectivity within Bangladesh and with India. Waterways are also being revived to reduce the cost of trade. Bangladesh has provided cyber connectivity between the international gateway at Cox’s Bazar to Agartala for faster Internet connectivity in India’s northeastern States. India has also become a partner in Bangladesh’s nuclear power programme, with the beginning of construction at the Rooppur nuclear power plant. India is poised to export around 1100 MW of power to meet the energy deficit in Bangladesh. Power projects totalling more than 3600 MW are under implementation by Indian companies. In 2017, 13 agreements worth around $10 billion were signed in the power and energy sectors. To offset the economic asymmetry, India has granted Bangladesh generous lines of credit (LOCs) and grants, with commitments reaching $8 billion. While LOCs mainly cover infrastructure and connectivity projects, grants flow into social sector development. Capacity building under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation programme is an important strand in bilateral ties and people-to-people interaction. Bangladeshis are among the largest groups of tourists into India. The visa regime has been liberalised and over a million visas are issued to Bangladeshi citizens annually. Challenges: There will be setbacks in India-Bangladesh ties, like the current Rohingya issue. India should carefully examine its role in the return of the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. Bangladesh’s efforts in repatriation of the Rohingya have not been successful. Sharing of river waters will remain a challenge. With the rise of religious radicalism and terrorism, defence and security issues will require greater cooperation. Islamist organisations have been breeding grounds for religious radicals and extremist views. These forces will pose a considerable challenge for governance in Bangladesh in the future. China’s security and economic footprint has grown in South Asia and managing this will remain a challenge for both countries. Connecting the dots: Connectivity is the most vital component of Indo-Bangladesh bilateral ties. Comment. Also discuss the ongoing initiatives on this front and their potential in ensuring better regional trade and investment. Discuss all the realistic concerns that make it essential for the Indian government to provide a fair deal to Bangladesh. HEALTH ISSUE 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, Education, Human Resources Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes Plain packaging of tobacco products: the logical next step for tobacco control policy in India Introduction: In December 2012, Australia became the first country to introduce plain packaging following the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) guidelines. This year, Thailand and Saudi Arabia will join a growing club of nations introducing plain packaging of tobacco products. They are the first in the Asian and Arab regions, respectively, to adopt the tough measure in order to curb tobacco consumption. It has also been implemented in France and the United Kingdom (both 2016), Norway and Ireland (both 2017) and New Zealand and Hungary (both 2018). It will be implemented in Uruguay (2019) and Slovenia (2020). The move is under process or being considered in 14 more countries. World Trade Organisation (WTO), in June 2018, favoured plain packaging. Indian context: In India, tobacco is the cause of about one million deaths annually. India implemented larger 85% pictorial health warnings on all tobacco products from 1 April 2016. However, to remove the last bit of glamour and attraction from the tobacco packs, it must now embrace plain packaging. Plain packaging prevents tobacco packs from carrying the tobacco industry brand imagery as mobile billboards. Other than brand and product names displayed in a standard colour and font style, it prohibits the use of logos, colours, brand images or promotional information. India has taken several preparatory steps implemented by other countries like Australia and the UK that have introduced plain packaging, for example, stronger smoke-free laws, ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, increase in taxes and a report from civil society task force on plain packaging. The trade and investment agreements signed by India are also within the international trade norms relating to public health. Positive outcomes: The percentage of users in India who thought of quitting because of such warning labels increased sharply to 62% (cigarette), 54% (bidi) and 46% (smokeless tobacco users), according to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2016-2017, when compared with the survey results of 2009-2010. Likewise, tobacco use among those aged 15-24 years showed a six-percentage point reduction (18.4% in 2009-10 to 12.4% in 2016-17). The number of tobacco users dropped by eight million. Conclusion: Along with higher taxes and large pictorial warnings, plain packaging can serve as a tool to deter new users and prompt existing users to quit. Plain packaging along with other measures led to 0.55 percentage point reduction in smoking prevalence in Australia, translating into at least 1,18,000 fewer smokers. Connecting the dots: Do you think plain packaging of tobacco products and increasing excise duty can truly address the addiction of smoking and it's associated health hazards? Critically examine. (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 statements is/are correct about Vultures? They are the primary removers of carrion Vultures of genus ‘Gyps’ are called as flying fox Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2) Almost 95% of Vulture population disappeared from India. Which of the following statements are correct about Vultures? All Vulture species found in India are critically endangered. Vultures died by consuming carcasses of cattle which were tainted by a pain killer called Diclofinac. Select the code from following: 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) Consider the following statements with reference to Vulture Conservation Breeding Centers These have been established by the Central government under Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. There is at least one such center in every state. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 MUST READ Strange bedfellows in West Asia The Hindu We need a long-term strategy to address agricultural distress The Hindu People no country wants Indian Express  Raja Mandala: Integrating the island Indian Express On Rafale, facts a casualty Indian Express

UPSC Interview Discussion-TRP

Interview Discussion IAS UPSC: Think, Rethink and Perform (TRP)-Day 8

Interview Discussion: Think, Rethink and Perform; (TRP)- Day 8  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. What does success mean to you? Are you successful today? Or does qualifying UPSC mean success to you? Does your notion of success and happiness augur well with your conscience? Think about it. Set 2: Analyse the following issue: Do elections divert the focus away from governance? Don’t you think politics parties in India are always in election mode? Can’t we think of simultaneous elections at the centre and states to reduce costs and ensure that only once in five years the political parties have to campaign? Think about it and bring out the pros and cons of such move.

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