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Nov 12, 2018 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs [Prelims + Mains Focus] - 10th November 2018

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs (Prelims + Mains Focus)- 10th November 2018 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) India to export sugar to China Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II and III – International Relations; Bilateral ties; Economy In news: India to export sugar to China in early 2019 à major boost to sugar mills sitting on surplus stocks. (Initial contract is to dispatch 50,000 tonnes) India is also engaged in talks to finalise exports to Indonesia and Malaysia as well. Do you know? Raw sugar is the second product after non-basmati rice that China will import from India. It is a move to reduce the $60 billion trade deficit that China has with India. India’s exports to China in 2017-18 amounted to $33 billion while imports from China stood at $76.2 billion. India is the world’s largest sugar producer with a production of 32 million tonnes in 2018. However, domestic consumption is only around 25 million tonnes. Indian Army inducts its artillery gun systems Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III – Defence; Technology In news: Indian Army inducts its first artillery gun systems in three decades. M777 Ultra Light Howitzers : : from the U.S. K9 Vajra-T self-propelled artillery gun : : from South Korea Do you know? The Army last inducted an artillery gun system — the Bofors guns procured from Sweden — in the early 1980s. Attempts to buy new guns did not make progress. India signed a $737-million deal with the U.S. in November 2016 under the Foreign Military Sales Programme for 145 M777 Ultra Light Howitzers. (The first 25 guns will be imported and the rest will be assembled in India in partnership with Mahindra Group.) The M777 is a 155-mm, 39-calibre towed artillery gun. It weighs just four tonnes, making it transportable underslung from helicopters. The K9 Vajra-T is a 155-mm, 52-calibre self-propelled gun with a maximum range of 40 km. (The first 10 guns will be imported from South Korea and the rest will be made by L&T in India.) The Army’s Field Artillery Rationalisation Plan, 1999, envisages induction of 3,000 guns of various types for 220 artillery regiments. Pic: https://d39gegkjaqduz9.cloudfront.net/TH/2018/11/10/DEL/Delhi/TH/5_05/d7df3414_2514670_101_mr.jpg Miscellaneous Concept of Double Jeopardy: Article 20 (2) of the Constitution mandates that a person cannot be prosecuted or punished twice for the same offence. India continues to have the highest burden of pneumonia and diarrhoea child deaths in the world (according to ‘Pneumonia and Diarrhoea Progress Report’ released by the International Vaccine Access Centre and supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation). Globally, pneumonia and diarrhoea led to nearly one of every four deaths in children under five years of age in 2016. 10 key interventions to help protect against, prevent, and treat, pneumonia and diarrhea – breastfeeding, vaccination, access to care, use of antibiotics, oral rehydration solution (ORS) and zinc supplementation. United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal target – reduce under-five mortality to at least as low as 25 per 1,000 live births by 2030. (MAINS FOCUS) NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2 and 3 Women and related issues: female foeticide Equality, right to education Inclusive growth, regional disparity Fissures amidst growth: Female foeticide Introduction India is now among the fastest-growing large economies of the world with 7 per cent real GDP growth during October-December 2017; followed by 7.7 per cent in January-March 2018 and then 8 per cent in April to June 2018. Unless stung by some serious shocks, India should achieve an annual growth rate of around 7.5 per cent over the next few years. The issue is not inadequate growth. Far more worrisome are some serious fractures that have emerged and show no signs of healing. Four such are: Female foeticide and infanticide; Failure of education; Rising inequalities; and Huge economic differences between regions of the country. Female foeticide and infanticide: Demographers agree that the “natural” sex ratio at birth for the world is 935 girls per 1,000 boys. Given the poor state of birth registrations in many parts of India, we use the sex ratio of girls per 1,000 boys between ages zero to six. At 918 girls per 1,000 boys in 2011, India’s 0-6 sex ratio is among the poorest in the world. With an outrageously low sex ratio of 834 girls per 1,000 boys, Haryana is the vilest state, with every district faring poorer than the poor all-India average. In 2011, the 0-6 sex ratio in Punjab was 846, or 7.8 per cent below the all-India average, twenty-eight of the 33 districts of Rajasthan were worse than India, as were 47 of the 71 districts of Uttar Pradesh (UP). In 17 of the 26 districts of Gujarat, the 0-6 sex ratios were poorer than India’s. Surat, one of the country’s richest districts, had a ratio of 835 girls per 1,000 boys, ranking among the bottom 25. Ahmedabad had 857 girls per 1,000 boys, or 7 per cent lower than all-India. In Gandhinagar, the capital, the ratio was 847, or 45th from the bottom. In Maharashtra, for 22 of 35 census districts, the ratio was poorer than India’s. Simply put, much of north India, western UP, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra and the northern part of Madhya Pradesh rampantly engage in ultrasonography to detect and then illegally abort female foetuses. Despite tough laws against sex-determination and female foeticide, there is no police action to speak of. For instance, during 2001-2015, Haryana registered only 139 police cases — in a state which is unparalleled in this crime. Failure of education: In a rapidly digitising world, India is wholly unequipped to supply quality education. According to the 2011 Census, 14 per cent of men aged 25-34 years hadn’t studied beyond class 10, 11.5 per cent hadn’t progressed beyond Class 12 and only 14.6 per cent were graduates. For women, these numbers were poorer: 10 per cent stopped studying after class 10, 8 per cent after class 12 and just 11 per cent were graduates. According to the Annual Status of Education Report for 2017, 25 per cent of rural students of 14-18 years could not read basic text fluently in their own language. Over 50 per cent struggled with dividing three-digits by one-digit and 60 per cent couldn’t calculate the length of a key if placed away from the “0” mark on the ruler. These are going to be the sentinels, the demographic dividend, of our globalised knowledge economy. Rise in inequalities: Though there are over 240 million desperately poor people in the country, poverty has clearly reduced in both rural and urban India. Not so inequalities. The Gini coefficient, which ranges from 0 and 1, is an indicator of inequality with a higher Gini implying greater inequality. Based on household consumption expenditure, Gini coefficient is calculated. In 1993-94, the Gini coefficient for India as a whole was 0.301. By 2011-12, it had risen to 0.359. Urban India has shown greater increases in inequality. The urban Gini for 1993-94 was 0.319, which increased to 0.377 in 2011-12. We still don’t have frighteningly large inequalities in consumption expenditure or income, such as in Brazil, Mexico, Malaysia, South Africa and Pakistan. Wealth inequalities are becoming obviously large. Huge economic differences between regions of the country The 2001 and 2011 censuses lists household ownership and access to some basic assets and amenities. These are: Pucca house, electricity, latrine, separate bathroom, bank account, television, phone, two-wheeler and LPG connection. Based on these, one can construct a ranking of each district of India, from the “richest” to the “poorest”. The north (Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Western UP), the irrigated parts of Rajasthan, most of Gujarat, parts of Maharashtra, Goa, parts of Karnataka, most of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, all of Kerala and much of Tamil Nadu do well. The districts that fare poorly cover most of Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, central and eastern Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, parts of West Bengal, lower Assam, parts of upper North East and the tribal belts of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. If you drew a longitude somewhere between Allahabad and Varanasi you could say this: West of the line is the zone of relative prosperity; east of it lie the districts of absolute and relative misery. Conclusion In a milieu of impressive growth, India has developed some serious fractures that show no signs of cure. If these fractures are cured, India's growth will translate in true sense of development. Connecting the dots: Growth rate of India is on positive trajectory, but to develop in true sense some fractures needs to be cured. Such as Female foeticide and infanticide, Failure of education, Rising inequalities; and Huge economic differences between regions of the country. Critically comment. NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2 and 3 Public Health issues Science and technology: medical research Zika Virus: Cause to remain alert Introduction Rise in Zika virus infections in Jaipur was recently in news. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) recently announced that the Zika virus strains causing the outbreak in Jaipur, Rajasthan, cannot cause microcephaly. But there are concerns, because this announcement is based on an study on mouse. It is better to take precautions to avoid complications. Zika virus epidemic Over the last few years, the international community has banded together to quickly address a growing international public health crisis — the Zika virus epidemic. After its detection in Brazil during 2015, observant clinicians began to notice a striking increase in the rates of babies born with microcephaly, a rare neurological condition characterised by underdeveloped brains and undersized heads. Epidemiological, clinical, and experimental data has indicated that microcephaly, and a range of other birth defects (such as miscarriages and ocular disease) could be caused by the Zika virus passing from a pregnant women to her foetus. Zika Virus in India The ICMR recently announced that the Zika virus strains causing the outbreak in Jaipur, Rajasthan, cannot cause microcephaly. This conclusion was based on a genetic sequencing of viruses isolated from the outbreak. In these sequences, the ICMR did not find a Zika virus mutation linked to microcephaly that was suggested in a Science magazine study, in 2017. The problem with this conclusion is that the research was based on infection in mouse brains — not humans — and contains no epidemiological or clinical support. Numerous other studies suggest that all Zika virus strains may have the capacity to infect foetuses and cause neurological disease. More research is needed to determine if some strains are associated with a higher risk. It is also difficult to determine how extensive Zika virus outbreaks will be in India. If the Zika virus has been silently spreading in the country, as it did throughout most of Asia for the last 50 years, then enough people may be immune to the virus to prevent large outbreaks. According to the most recent updates, 159 people in Jaipur had confirmed Zika virus infections. Considering that most infections do not cause noticeable disease, and thus most infected individuals do not seek medical attention, the true number of cases may be more than 10,000. At least 50 of the infected individuals are pregnant women, but again, the true number is likely to be much higher. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the U.S., only 5-10% of Zika virus infections during pregnancies lead to Zika-associated birth defects, and the rates of microcephaly are much lower. So, while the chances for the Zika virus to cause harm to an individual baby are low, there is still a chance, regardless of the Zika virus strain in circulation. Way forward Despite the recent announcement suggesting that the Jaipur Zika virus strains cannot cause foetal microcephaly, all possible measures to control transmission and monitor pregnancies should be taken. Pregnant women and their families, including those planning to get pregnant, should take great caution to avoid mosquitoes — wear long sleeves and trousers, stay indoors when possible, use insect repellent, and remove standing water that mosquitoes use for breeding. Zika virus infection is not guaranteed upon mosquito bite, but the chances for infection rise with each new bite. Zika-associated birth defects could be a serious public health crisis in India, and, without a vaccine, all possible measures to control transmission and monitor pregnancies should be taken. Connecting the dots: Zika virus infections in India; how serious the problem is? (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) Identify the crop having the following features: It is a tropical as well as subtropical crop. It grows well in a region with temperature of 21°C to 27°C and an annual rainfall between 75 – 100 cm. Its cultivation is highly laborious. Codes: Rice Sugarcane Barley Jute Q.2) Which crop occupies the largest sown area in India? Wheat Rice Ragi Sugarcane Q.3) Which of the following group of industry does not belong to the category of core industry? Sugar Industry Natural Gas Refinery Products Fertilizers Q.4) Which of the following statements are correct with reference to the Article 20 of Constitution? It grants protection to both citizens and foreigners. A person can be compelled to be a witness against himself in case of a criminal offence, but not in case of civil offence. A civil law can be imposed retrospectively, however a criminal law cannot be. Select the correct answer using code below 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 1,2 and 3 Q.5) Consider the following statements: No person shall be prosecuted and punished for the same offence more than once. Prevention from retrospective penalties is there only in case of criminal offence and not in civil cases. No self incrimination extends only to criminal proceeding and not to civil proceedings. Which of the above statements are correct? 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above MUST READ The sepoys in Istanbul The Indian Express Demonetisation, a cautionary tale The Indian Express Retail race Business Line For affordable health Business Line

Nov 12, 2018 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz- 2019 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 106]

UPSC Quiz- 2019 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 106] Archives Q.1) Which of the following is/are correct with respect to ‘Neural Networks’? They are artificial copy of the human brain They have high computational rates than conventional computers They learn by examples Select the correct code: 1 and 2 2 Only 1 and 3 All of the above Q.2) The term ‘SpiNNaker’ was recently in news. What is it? Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Anti-Ballistic Missile developed by Israel Microprocessor developed by IIT Madras Supercomputer Q.3) Where is ‘Saqqara’ located? Egypt Jordan Greece Syria Q.4) Where is ‘Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary’ located? Tamil Nadu West Bengal Kerala Goa Q.5) Consider the following statements about ‘Atala Masjid’ of Jaunpur It was built by Sultan Sikandar Lodi The style of Atala Masjid's architecture is known as Sharqi Style 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

Nov 12, 2018 PIB

IASbaba PIB Weekly : Press Information Bureau – 4th Nov to 11th Nov, 2018

IASbaba PIB Weekly: Press Information Bureau – 4th to 11th November, 2018 ARCHIVES GS-3 India and the Republic of Korea Sign MoU for – (Topic: India and Neighbors) Strengthening cooperation in the field of Tourism The Republic of Korea is one of the leading tourists generating market for India from East Asia. The signing of Memorandum of Understanding with Korea will be instrumental in increasing tourist arrivals from this source market. The main objectives of the Memorandum of Understanding are: To expand bilateral cooperation in tourism sector To increase Exchange of information and data related to tourism To encourage cooperation between tourism stakeholders including Hotels and Tour Operators To establish exchange programmes for cooperation in Human Resources Development To encourage Investment in the Tourism and Hospitality sectors To exchange visits of Tour Operators / Media / Opinion Makers for promotion of two-way tourism To exchange experience in the areas of promotion, marketing destination development and management To encourage participation in travel fairs/exhibitions in each other’s country To promote safe, honorable and sustainable tourism MoU signed between Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of India and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Korea To establish a framework to facilitate and promote cooperation between the two countries on the basis of reciprocity and mutual benefit. The cooperation under this MoU may include areas like (a) Exchange of coaches, athletes, experts (b) Exchange of scientific and methodical materials (c) Joint training for athletes and officials (d) Participation in sports event, seminars, symposia and conferences organized by either country etc. The two countries will encourage exchanges and cooperative actions between sports authorities, sports federations and other sports bodies in the different areas of cooperation, as jointly decided. Cabinet approves Agreement between India and Morocco on Mutual Legal Assistance in Civil and Commercial Matters: Service of summons and other judicial documents or processes; taking of evidence in civil matters; production, identification or examination of documents, recordings; The execution of a Letter of Request for taking of evidence in civil matters; and Recognition and enforcement of arbitral awards Signing and ratifying the Extradition Agreement between India and Morocco: The Agreement will provide a strong legal base for the extradition of fugitive offenders who are accused of economic offences, terrorism and other serious offences in one Contracting State and found in another Contracting State. This Treaty will also strengthen bilateral relations to deal with criminal elements acting against the national interest of both India and Morocco. MoU between India and Italy for continuing training and education in the fields of Labour and Employment: The major impact of the MoU would be Up-gradation of technical capacities of both the institutions in responding to the challenges emanating from transformations in the world of work. It will enhance the technical capabilities of developing and organising international training programmes and the evolution of V.V. Giri National Labour Institute (VVGNLI) as a leading training institution in the Asia-Pacific region. Cabinet apprised of India joining as Member of Advanced Motor Fuels Technology Collaboration Programme under International Energy Agency Goals To facilitate the market introduction of Advanced motor fuels/ Alternate fuels with an aim to bring down emissions and achieve higher fuel efficiency in transport sector. AMF TCP also provides an opportunity for fuel analysis, identifying new/ alternate fuels for deployment in transport sector and allied R&D activities for reduction in emissions in fuel intensive sectors. Benefits Shared costs and pooled technical resources The duplication of efforts is avoided and national Research and Development capabilities are strengthened. There is an information exchange about best practices, network of researchers and linking research with practical implementation. Background AMF TCP is an international platform for co-operation among countries to promote cleaner and more energy efficient fuels & vehicle technologies. The activities of AMF TCP relate to R&D, deployment and dissemination of Advanced Motor Fuels and looks upon the transport fuel issues in a systemic way taking into account the production, distribution and end use related aspects. GS-3 Pilot Ganga Grams (Topic: Environment and Ecology; Biodiversity; Pollution) Ganga Gram is a concept to transform the villages on the bank of river Ganga into ideal villages with emphasis on Open Defecation Free Solid and Liquid Waste Management Water Conservation Ground Water Recharge Modern crematorium Tree plantation Organic and medicinal plants India has achieved national sanitation coverage from a lowly 39 per cent to over 95 per cent. Must Solve: It took more than 30 years to clean the Rhine river. The state of pollution in the Ganges is even more alarming. In a scenario like this, how far can the Ganga rejuvenation plan go in bringing back the river to its normal flow and purity? Discuss. Prelims oriented News 11th Nov: 100 years of First World War Must Solve: How did World War I change the balance of economic power in the world? Analyse. Write a short note on the nature of World War 1 and discuss its impact on the Women. The Indian support for British during WWI and the very nature of the war were antithetical. Do you agree? Examine. 25th edition of SIMBEX – “Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise” Bilateral cooperation between Singapore and India was first formalised when RSN ships began training with the Indian Navy in 1994. What began as a modest endeavour to exchange best practices in the field of Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), has in the recent years evolved into a complex high stakes exercise with both nations attaching premium in terms of time, complex advanced exercises and type of platforms involved. Complementing India’s ‘Act-East’ policy, there have been a number of agreements and high level visits in the recent past between the two countries. Indo-Singapore bilateral relations have been on an upswing in the recent past. India elected as a Member of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Council for another 4-year term (2019-2022) India has been an active member of the ITU since 1869, earnestly supporting the development and propagation of telecom in the global community of nations. The country has been a regular member of the ITU Council since 1952, and has played an important role in harmonizing the contributions of member States from the region, always respecting the principles of equality and consensus-building. Operation Greens Announced in the Budget speech of 2018-19 with an outlay of Rs 500 crores; on the line of “Operation Flood”, with an outlay of Rs.500 crore to promote Farmer Producers Organizations, agri-logistics, processing facilities and professional management. Aim: To stabilize the supply of Tomato, Onion and Potato(TOP) crops To ensure availability of TOP crops throughout the country round the year without price volatility The strategy will comprise of a series of measures as decided by the Ministry which include: Short term Price Stabilisation Measures NAFED will be the Nodal Agency to implement price stabilisation measures. MoFPI will provide 50% of the subsidy on the following two components: Transportation of Tomato Onion Potato(TOP) Crops from production to storage; Hiring of appropriate storage facilities for TOP Crops Long Term Integrated value chain development projects Capacity Building of FPOs & their consortium Quality production Post-harvest processing facilities Agri-Logistics Marketing / Consumption Points Creation and Management of e-platform for demand and supply management of TOP Crops Major objectives of “Operation Greens” are as under: Enhancing value realisation of TOP farmers by targeted interventions to strengthen TOP production clusters and their FPOs, and linking/connecting them with the market. Price stabilisation for producers and consumers by proper production planning in the TOP clusters and introduction of dual use varieties. Reduction in post-harvest losses by creation of farm gate infrastructure, development of suitable agro-logistics, creation of appropriate storage capacity linking consumption centres. Increase in food processing capacities and value addition in TOP value chain with firm linkages with production clusters. Setting up of a market intelligence network to collect and collate real time data on demand and supply and price of TOP crops. National Policy on Biofuels-2018 Focusses on giving impetus to R&D in field of advanced biofuels such as 2G Ethanol, Bio-CNG, biomethanol, Drop-in fuels, DME etc. These advanced fuels can be produced from various kind of wastes such as crop residues, Municipal solid waste, Industrial waste, waste gases, Food waste, plastic etc. Quotes: The Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu On Mahatma Gandhi His experience with truth & his commitment to serve the needy is an inspirational saga. Mahatama Gandhi’s vision and voice has a rare resonance in numerous hearts around the world because it springs from the timeless humanistic vision of India. Personalities in News: Acharya JB Kripalani An Indian politician, noted particularly for holding the presidency of the Indian National Congress during the transfer of power in 1947 Kripalani was a familiar figure to generations of dissenters, from the Non-Cooperation Movements of the 1920s to the Emergency of the 1970s. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad An Indian scholar and the senior Muslim leader of the Indian National Congress during the Indian independence movement. Following India's independence, he became the first Minister of Education in the Indian government. His contribution to establishing the education foundation in India is recognised by celebrating his birthday as "National Education Day" across India. Leader of the Khilafat Movement; at an age of 35, he became the youngest person to serve as the President of the Indian National Congress. He is also credited with the establishment of the Indian Institutes of Technology and the foundation of the University Grants Commission, an important institution to supervise and advance higher education throughout the country. He also worked for Hindu-Muslim unity through the Al-Hilal newspaper

Nov 11, 2018 Motivational Articles

Creative Guidance – Valuing the Present – Inspirational Educative Articles

Valuing the Present: Well, we all value a present given to us. What about the present that is always there with us; the real present, this moment. The greatest present existence has given us is this moment. Present is our greatest gift. Unless we learn how to treasure this present, we will not be able to understand ourselves and the life around us fully. Our mind is either constantly racing towards a future or running away from the past. Our mind is never in the present moment. By its very nature, the mind cannot be in the present moment. If we fully rely on our minds for our personal happiness and wellbeing, we will never be able to experience inner peace. Our greatest strength comes from the present moment. Only by being rooted in the present we can experience some sort of sanity in our lives. Otherwise, our whole life will simply be an exercise in running around. At the end of it all, we will simply be tired and exhausted and regret the fact that life could have been so much more different. Let us never forget that in spite of all our competitive spirit, our desire to accomplish something, our desire to continuously become something, the most important quality of life is living. If we are not living this moment, we are simply wasting our lives. Being in the present moment is not only about experiencing the joy and beauty of life, it is also about tapping into our creative energies. Each one of us is an ocean of creativity and intelligence. Only when we learn to be still and quiet and experience moments of deep silence, we can truly tap into our deep reservoirs of creativity. The more agitated and disturbed we are, the more busy and anxious we are, the less creative and intelligent we are. Our ability to solve complex problems and deal with different situations of life comes not from somewhere outside but from deep within us. We are the solution for all our problems. When we can put our mind and body in the best possible state, we can attain to anything. The only way to access this infinite source of wisdom and intelligence is by learning how to be here and now. ‘Here and Now’ has to be our new mantra. No other skill is more important when compared to learning how to be in the present moment. When we are in the present moment, we cannot be disturbed, we cannot be afraid; we cannot be negative and pessimistic. Negativity is simply a consequence of moving away from the present moment. This present moment is the only thing that is truly positive in our lives. Let us cherish and value it. “This article is a part of the creative endeavor of The Ahamo Movement and IASBABA.”

Nov 10, 2018

C2C Sociology Optional Mains Test Series with Value Added Notes (VAN) and Mind Maps- Online and Offline 2019

Hello Friends, We at IASBABA always strive for providing initiatives that would make it easier for you reach the goal of securing a good rank in CSE 2019. Last year we conducted Offline Sociology Test Series during the months of December to March. This test series was limited to offline students (as part of C2C initiative) and further, it was conducted on the request of students of IASBABA (Read the reviews of previous test series here) This year encouraged by the success of the test series and repeated requests of the student community, we are expanding the scope of test series to both Offline and Online platform also. So that many aspirants in the search of a comprehensive Sociology test series (reflective of recent UPSC standards) across the country can enrol in it and give tests at the convenience of their home. A Sociology test series (offline+online) is to be conducted from 2nd December 2018 by Dr. Vamshi Krishna sir who is already conducting offline classes for sociology optional at IASBABA. About the faculty: Dr. Vamshi Krishna sir (a National topper himself in Sociology in UPSC CSE 2014,2015. Attended three interviews) BDS, M.A(Sociology) Writes on social issues in blogs. A regular contributor to research gate website on social issues. Why should one join sociology test series so early? Usually, aspirants join a mains test series after Prelims but due to the anxiety of passing prelims and the vast portion of General Studies makes one neglect optional which ultimately result in poor scores and costs them a call for the personality test. We at IASbaba have tried to minimize this by starting the test series early for Mains, Along with reading the subject, application of concepts is also necessary. Practising answer writing regularly will address this. Sociology papers (especially paper-2) in UPSC are dynamic which requires practice to handle such questions. (eg- question on "me too" movement in Mains 2018, Indian v/s western patriarchy) General Features 8 sectional tests + 4 full-length Mock tests. (Based on the latest pattern) Tests would be of 3 hours duration and of 250 marks. Complete coverage of syllabus through tests. Focus on Sociological Orientation and integration of thoughts of thinkers especially in Dynamic and current affairs questions. Evaluation and personalized feedback focused on building Concepts, Clarity and Confidence to face the Complexity of optional paper. Features for Offline students Detailed evaluation and personal one on one discussion with the mentor. Synopsis with Sociological focused flowcharts and mind maps. Explanation and doubt clarification session after every test. Value Added Material would be provided at the end of the test series (consisting of case studies, sociological analysis of current affairs, dynamic questions) which would be useful as a ready reference at the time of mains. Peer group interaction and discussions for the inculcation of sociological thought process For Online students Separate platform for taking tests Detailed evaluation within 3 days of taking the test. Synopsis with Sociological focused flowcharts and mind maps. One to one feedback through scheduling of phone calls (after every test) Value Added Material would be provided at the end of the test series (consisting of case studies, sociological analysis of current affairs, dynamic questions)which would be useful as a ready reference at the time of mains. Words from the faculty and Team: Being an aspirant myself once, I always felt that there was shortage of a comprehensive test series regarding sociology optional which could tackle the evolving pattern of UPSC, especially during the months of December to March where one could focus on building in depth knowledge of optional before getting busy in prelims preparation. Recognizing the importance of optional in the selection and in achieving good rank, one must start writing early to score very good marks in Sociology. We hope that you can utilize and benefit from this initiative. Fee Details C2C Sociology Optional Mains Test Series with Value Added Notes (VAN) and Mind Maps- Online: Fee is 12k plus Tax C2C Sociology Optional Mains Test Series with Value Added Notes (VAN) and Mind Maps- Offline: Fee is 15k plus Tax Select the Programme from the Payment Link- Click Here DOWNLOAD THE SCHEDULE HERE FOR QUERIES: Office Address: No. 1737/37, MRCR Layout, Vijayanagar Service road, Vijayanagar, Bangalore – 560040. Landmark: Vijayanagar Metro station or Above Apple Showroom Office timings: 10.30 am – 4.30 pm Mail: offline@iasbaba.com Mobile No- 9966152157 Best wishes Team IASBABA

Nov 9, 2018 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs [Prelims + Mains Focus] - 09th November 2018

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs (Prelims + Mains Focus)- 09th November 2018 Archives (MAINS FOCUS) India to join Afghanistan peace talks Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – India and its neighbour; International Relations In news: Two former senior diplomats will attend talks on the Afghanistan peace process to be held in Russia. The talks, known as the “Moscow format” will include a “high-level” delegation from the Taliban as well as a delegation of Afghanistan’s “High Peace Council”, along with representatives of 12 countries. This is the first time an Indian delegation has been present at the table with the Taliban representatives based in Doha. US and Pakistan to send their representatives too. Do you know? India supports all efforts at peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan that will preserve unity and plurality, and bring security, stability and prosperity to the country. India’s consistent policy has been that such efforts should be Afghan-led, Afghan-owned, and Afghan-controlled and with participation of the Government of Afghanistan. Smoke overdose: Delhi air worsens a day after Diwali Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III – Environment concerns; Pollution In news: We had earlier read about Supreme Court's order that permitted the sale of only ‘green crackers’, which reduce particulate matter emissions by 35% at least, and specified that even these only be used between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Diwali. (especially in Delhi and NCR region) However, many regions of Delhi’s National Capital Region reported instances of crackers being burnt beyond this interval. Moreover, because such green crackers weren’t commercially available, the crackers that were burnt were likely illegal. In simple, Supreme Court restrictions on crackers were violated. Concerns: Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) in the ‘severe’ category. Some of Delhi’s pollution monitoring stations recorded particulate matter (PM) levels that exceeded 999 microgram per cubic metre. This corresponds to air quality that’s harmful to even healthy people and severely afflicts those with underlying respiratory illnesses. Tribal development and empowerment Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – Social and welfare issue; Inclusive development In news: According to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Research and Training Institute – Odisha has made significant strides in tribal empowerment and development during the past couple of decades. Comparing the status of 13 tribal-dominated districts (from 2001-02 to 2011-12), the study indicated that seven districts have climbed up, two districts have remained constant and four districts have climbed down in their respective rankings. The tribal literacy rate of Odisha was 37.37% with tribal female literacy at 23.37%, but it increased to 52.24% with female literacy at 41.20 % in the 2011 Census. Do you know? Odisha has the second highest percentage of tribal population in the country. The State has 62 Scheduled Tribes, of which 13 have been identified as particularly vulnerable groups. The scheduled area of Odisha comprises 13 districts and 119 tribal sub-plan blocks. About 60% of the total tribal population of Odisha lives within the scheduled area and the remaining 40% live outside. Animal in news: 490 Indian star tortoises seized Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III – Animal conservation In news: Customs officials seized 490 Indian star tortoises when they were about to be smuggled out of Chennai harbor. Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) prohibits the exports and imports of star tortoises. In countries like Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore, there is a huge demand for star tortoises. They are traded usually for use in traditional medicines, for food and also to be kept as exotic pets. Miscellaneous: Six airports set to be privatized: ‘In principle’ nod by Cabinet to PPP projects for ‘world-class’ non-metro airports. This will be done through the Public Private Partnership Appraisal Committee (PPPAC). National parks/Sanctuaries in news: Satkosia Tiger Reserve is in Odisha Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh From the below picture, know which persons are available for Free Legal Service https://d39gegkjaqduz9.cloudfront.net/TH/2018/11/09/DEL/Delhi/TH/5_06/211aa1e6_293788_A1_mr.jpg (MAINS FOCUS) NATIONAL TOPIC:General studies 3 Environment and Ecology: Pollution A passage to clean air Introduction Globally, rapid economic and social development has resulted in severe air pollution that kills around 7 million people every year. India is home to 14 of the world’s 20 most polluted cities. Winter came along with accompanying murmurs and hints of action to ameliorate the air quality situation in Delhi. However, to win the battle against air pollution, India needs a comprehensive action plan for the whole year. Examples of China and South Korea China had also faced severe air pollution problems. On January 12, 2013, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Beijing rose to a record 755. It was “Beyond index” on a scale where the worst level and concentration of PM2.5 reached 886 µg/m³, about 35 times the guideline set by the World Health Organisation on what is called the “Blackest Day”. In response, China acted firmly. In September 2013, the Chinese government announced an Air Pollution Action Plan with a PM 2.5 reduction target of 33 per cent in Beijing by 2017, with 2013 as the base year. The measures adopted were costly, controversial and implemented with seriousness, enabling the city to achieve its target. Along similar lines, in 2017, the South Korean government also set a target of PM 2.5 reduction by 30 per cent by 2022, with base year 2017. Based on China and South Korea’s experience, and other insights, we feel that India needs three action measures to begin its journey towards clean air. Action measures for India: The first is a comprehensive plan and setting of goals. On this count the Indian government announced a draft of the “National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)” with a framework and multiple strategies to reduce air pollution in the entire country. There was some criticism for not setting up any goals or schedule to reduce air pollution. Responding to the same, the government finally announced time-bound air pollution reduction targets at the first global conference on air pollution and health in Geneva. According to the announcement, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF) has set a target to cut down PM levels by 30 per cent in five years, with 2019 as the base year. The second corresponds to; Designating an in-charge, empowered with the due mandate. While Delhi does have the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), statutory notifications, court orders and several other measures in place, the multiplicity of the agencies involved makes the implementation everybody’s burden and nobody’s mandate. Therefore, with air quality goals clearly in place, Delhi now needs an “Air Quality Manager” with a clearly defined mandate and powers. This need is so obvious that it is conspicuous by its absence. In China, air pollution prevention and control is the responsibility of the central environmental protection inspector, and in cities where air pollution prevention and control work is ineffective, special inspections are carried out to strengthen the accountability of inspectors. There is chain of responsibilities and accountability from Ministry of Ecology and Environment till local leader. The Chinese government has established the “five-step” supervision mechanism that involves investigation, assignment, verification, interview and special inspection. The third action measure is about driving a change in perspective. A view often touted about pollution reduction plans is that they are economically and politically difficult. However, clean air programmes can actually provide significant economic opportunity in areas of technology, business, innovation, and enterprise while addressing the challenges of air pollution. Some evidence for this already exists, and some steps have already been taken. For instance, both India and China are focusing on renewable energy sources (especially solar photovoltaic) to reduce the air pollution problem. According to the NITI Aayog report on “Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs): Towards a Policy Framework”, electric vehicles could launch new business opportunities in areas such as battery charging and swapping infrastructure, service, or integrated transport. There are several other studies globally that suggest an overall positive impact on the GDP, employment, society and political economy upon introduction of EVs in fuel importing service dominated economies. In the Indian context, coupled with the generation of renewable power, the battery manufacturing industry in India can become bigger than the total amount spent on import of crude oil, thus providing a huge boost to the Indian economy. Even the loss in tax revenue corresponding to the oil sector can be potentially compensated by the tax revenue from other economic sectors. Conclusion Clean air, apart from better health and quality of life, can also bring in higher GDP, more jobs, more business, social benefits and higher tax revenues. It certainly doesn’t look like an economically or politically difficult proposition. Perhaps, a visionary leader and statesman can complete this picture and take it to the masses. Connecting the dots: To win the battle against air pollution, India needs a comprehensive action plan for the whole year. Comment. Explain the potential benefits of renewable energy technologies for economy and society along with environment. NATIONAL TOPIC:General studies 3 Information Technology Inclusive growth and equal access to resources Against the current: Access to Internet in India Introduction A new report from Internet pioneer Tim Berners-Lee’s World Wide Web Foundation has found that while the growth rate of Internet access dips worldwide, India has escaped the slide because of slashed prices. This is clearly the product of healthy market competition, but the report also attributes it to growth in infrastructure, good policymaking and the role played by TRAI, which has created an open-access system to measure quality of service. Internet accessibility in India India has had an advantage over the developed countries because it had less legacy systems to write off and could tap directly into the mobile internet boom. Competition, led by the disruptive entry of Reliance Jio, ensured that access prices fell while transparent measurements assured maintenance of quality. The WWW Foundation’s study is based on purchasing power, comparing the price of 1GB of data against average household income. India has the fastest-falling ratio, indicating a rise in affordability, but the lowest rates are found in other Asian countries like Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Vietnam. There is room for improvement, which is actually needed worldwide. Digital divide in the world Despite the global communications boom, one out of every two humans is still offline, and the majority of the disconnected are in nations that are either developing, or small, or both. This deprivation is nothing but a digital divide. The half-way mark was expected to be bridged by 2016, but it appears that it will be reached only next year. Conclusion The digital divide represents a continuation of old inequalities, is a tremendous waste of human capital and an affront to the right to hear and be heard. And it can be corrected only by making access affordable. Connecting the dots: While growth in Internet access falls worldwide, it’s surging in India. Yet the digital divide continues to be a challenge. Comment. (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) Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) consists of which of the following countries? Pakistan Afghanistan China Select the correct code: 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above Q.2) According to the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, any solid, liquid or gaseous substance [(including noise)] present in the atmosphere is considered to be a pollutant if it is harmful/injurious to Human beings Animals Plants Property Select the code from below: 1,2 and 3 2,3 and 4 1, 3 and 4 All of the above Q.3) Which of the following constitutes ‘Particulate Matter (PM)’? Nitrates Pollen Sulphates Black Carbon Fungi Select the correct code 1, 3 and 4 1, 2, 3 and 4 1, 3, 4 and 5 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 Q.4) Recently, India was awarded with CITES’ certificate for efforts in combating illegal wildlife trade. Consider the following regarding CITES CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an international organization under United Nations (UN) CITES is legally binding and once implemented overtakes national laws Which of the given statements is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both None Q.5) Consider the following matches of tiger reserves with the state they are located in. Corbett National Park : Uttarakhand Bandhavgarh National Park : Odisha Periyar Tiger Reserve : Kerala Select the correct answer using the codes below. 1 and 2 only 3 only 1 and 3 only 1 only MUST READ Independence and accountability: on RBI The Hindu What next after #MeToo? The Hindu Why the rupee’s fall is not a major worry, why intervention by govt and RBI has its limits Indian Express Consent in a man’s world Indian Express No trade-offs in healthcare Indian Express Reforming capitalism for human welfare Livemint

Nov 9, 2018 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz- 2019 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 105]

UPSC Quiz- 2019 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 105] Archives Q.1) Consider the following statements with respect to ‘External Commercial Borrowings (ECBs)’ ECBs can be raised as Loans and Capital Market Instruments ECBs cannot be used for investment in stock market DEA (Department of Economic Affairs) along with RBI (Reserve Bank of India), monitors and regulates ECB guidelines and policies. Select the correct statements 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above Q.2) ‘The Beyond Fake News project’ was launched by Reuters British Broadcasting Corporation Cable News Network Al Jazeera Q.3) Consider the following statements with respect to ‘Global IT Challenge for Youth with Disabilities (GITC)’ GITC 2018 is organised by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD). GITC 2018 is organised in collaboration with Government of Japan. Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.4) ‘Palau’ was in news recently. Where is it located? South China Sea Timor Sea Solomon Sea None of the above Q.5) Consider the following statements with respect to ‘Belmont Forum’ It is an international partnership that mobilizes funding of environmental change research Ministry of Earth Science (MoES), represents India in the Belmont Forum 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

Nov 9, 2018 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs [Prelims + Mains Focus] - 08th November 2018

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs (Prelims + Mains Focus)- 08th November 2018 Archives (MAINS FOCUS) SOCIAL ISSUE/ECONOMY TOPIC: General studies 2 and 3 Poverty and inclusive growth Poverty in all its faces Introduction Amidst the noise caused by the story of rising billionaires, the message on India’s poverty decline in the recent report of the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative has been lost. Report on Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) UNDP and Oxford University released the report on Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) 2018. This report covers 105 countries. The MPI is based on 10 indicators: Health, child mortality, years of schooling, school attendance, cooking fuel, sanitation, drinking water, electricity, housing and assets. This report has specifically discussed the case of India. The incidence of multidimensional poverty was almost halved between 2005/6 and 2015/16, climbing down to 27.5 per cent. What other national reports say? The estimates of poverty-based on consumer expenditure and using the Tendulkar committee methodology show over a seven-year period between 2004-05 and 2011-12, the number of poor came down by 137 million despite an increase in population. According to the Rangarajan Committee methodology, the decline between 2009-10 and 2011-12 is 92 million, which is 46 million per annum. For a decade, it will be larger than that of global MPI. The poverty ratios based on Tendulkar and Rangarajan Committee methodologies are lower than as estimated by global MPI. Criticism over MPI Multidimensional indicators/measures raise several issues regarding their measurability, aggregation across indicators, and of databases that provide the requisite information at reasonably short intervals. In principle, indicators should be independent. Access to safe drinking water, for example, cannot be aggregated with indicators like child mortality. One can analyse the progress of non-income indicators like education, health, sanitation, drinking water, child mortality etc. over time with income or consumption poverty. But, converting all of them into an index poses several problems. Deaton and Dreze (2014) also indicate that “it is important to supplement expenditure-based poverty estimates with other indicators of living standards, relating for instance to nutrition, health, education and the quality of the environment”. In the minds of most people, being rich or poor is associated with levels of income. The various non-income indicators of poverty are, in fact, reflections of inadequate income. Defining poverty in terms of income or — in the absence of such data — in terms of expenditure, seems more appropriate and it is this method which is followed in most countries. Of course, it can be supplemented with non-income indicators but without aggregating them into index. Inequality: in consumption, income and wealth In recent years, there has been a lot of discussion on increasing inequality. It is true that rising inequality has adverse economic and social consequences. Income and wealth inequalities are much higher than consumption inequality. Gini coefficient for consumption is 0.36 in 2011-12 in India. The Gini coefficient for consumption has shown only a small rise over a period of 10 to 12 years. Inequality in income for 2011-12 is high with a Gini coefficient of 0.55 while the Gini coefficient for wealth is 0.74 in 2011-12. Thus, the income Gini is 20 points higher than the consumption Gini, while the wealth Gini is nearly 40 points higher than the consumption Gini in India. The reasons for sharp differences between the consumption and income Gini coefficients have to be analysed. In some of the other countries, such differences are no more than 5 to 10 points. Impact of Growth on poverty The trends in poverty show that the pace of reduction was much higher in the post-reform period, particularly during the high-growth period. The impact of higher growth on poverty reduction can also be seen from the decile-wise growth in per capita consumption expenditure. A comparison of the growth rate of per capita consumption (in real terms) during the periods 1993-94 to 2004-05 and 2004-05 to 2011-12 shows that the growth rate in the latter period is higher for every decile. It was Simon Kuznets who had argued that in the early period of economic growth, distribution of income tends to worsen and that only after reaching a certain level of economic development, an improvement in the distribution of income occurs. Measuring reduction in poverty ratio is not the same as measuring inequality. The two can move in opposite directions, particularly in a period of fast growth. That is what has happened in India. The goal certainly should be to lower both. But in the early stages of development, reducing the poverty ratio must be the immediate objective. The sharp reduction in the poverty ratio and the number of people who are poor happened at a time when the growth rate was very high as shown by the consumption-based poverty and multidimensional indicator poverty. Concerns are about the current behaviour of the poverty ratio in the light of the slowing down of growth recently. Way forward Growth can help to reduce poverty. As growth occurs, it does affect all sections of the society. However, the extent to which the bottom deciles of the population will benefit will depend upon how fast and inclusive the growth is, and thus, composition of growth also matters. A strong growth also increases the resources available to the public authorities and this will enable them to increase the social sector expenditures. It is obvious that the very fact that the poverty ratio is still high means that growth by itself will not be adequate to reduce poverty. It is necessary to launch specific programmes which work towards directly helping poorer groups and vulnerable sections. Connecting the dots: The poverty ratio in India is still high means that growth by itself will not be adequate to reduce poverty. Critically analyse. ECONOMY/AGRICULTURE TOPIC: General studies 3 Agriculture economy Inclusive growth How to weaken the mandi monopoly Introduction Over a quarter of a century after the liberalization process was launched, the sector that employs the largest labour force remains perversely untouched. The Maharashtra government’s recent amendment of the Maharashtra Agricultural Produce Marketing (Development and Regulation) Act, 1963, aims to bring the state’s agricultural economy up to speed. It is a valuable experiment at a time when various states are attempting to incorporate the changes proposed by the Centre’s model Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) Act. Concerns Related Agricultural market The Dalwai Committee on Doubling Farmers’ Income, set up in 2016, has noted that farmers’ share in consumer prices range from as low as 15% to an anaemic 40%. Cartelization by middlemen and traders prevents price discovery mechanisms from functioning in mandis. Poor mandi infrastructure feeds into the problem. Only a quarter of them have common drying yards, less than a third have grading facilities and less than a tenth cold storage. The upshot is post-harvest losses in the 6-18% range. This combination of factors leads to farmers demanding higher minimum support prices (MSPs), degrading the fisc and enriching traders who are able to mop up most of the gains from higher MSPs. Need of Private players The Centre’s Model Agricultural Produce and Livestock Marketing (Promotion & Facilitation) Act, 2017 recognized this with its attempt to bring private actors into the sector in order to provide competition for APMCs. A recent study, looking at potato sales in West Bengal, found that relaying price information to farmers—a focus of various government initiatives—had “negligible average effects on farm-gate sales and revenues” in the absence of adequate competition among buyers. Agriculture reforms in Maharashtra In 2016, Maharashtra government delisted horticultural produce like fruits and vegetables from the purview of APMCs. It has now taken the next step, allowing farmers to trade in the open market for all produce and livestock. APMCs’ authority to regulate sales and levy a cess, which had earlier covered all activity in the talukas, has now been restricted to “principal market yard, sub-market yard and market sub-yard”. Criticism of recent reforms The Maharashtra government’s move will dismantle APMC monopoly and open up the state’s agricultural sector to private actors. In practice, it isn’t that simple, the rules for implementing the changes have yet to be notified. Past experience—the delisting of fruits and vegetables in 2016—doesn’t inspire confidence. Besides, the lack of basic and agricultural rural infrastructure makes farm gate sourcing and storage a costly proposition—one that may well lead private markets, companies and the like to rely on the same old middlemen cartels. Buyer licenses outside the mandi system could be another choke point and opportunity for rent extraction. The same goes for acquiring land and licenses for setting up private markets. Conclusion The Maharashtra government’s attempt at agricultural reform is welcome, but it won’t be enough. In the absence of supporting policies here, delisting all produce and livestock is likely to remain a notional reform. It makes little sense for agricultural markets to remain constrained by state boundaries when the goods and services tax has created a common market in other sectors. Connecting the dots: Even after 25 years of the economic liberalization, the sector that employs the largest labour force remains neglected. Critically analyse the agriculture market reforms in India. Note: No snippets, Must Read and MCQs (As Newspaper was not available on account of Diwali).

Nov 9, 2018 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs [Prelims + Mains Focus] - 07th November 2018

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs (Prelims + Mains Focus)- 07th November 2018 Archives (MAINS FOCUS) NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 1 and 4; Essay Personalities in India’s struggle for independence Ethics: Compassion, truthfullness and Humanity Essay He understood the pain of others: Gandhi, an inspiration Introduction Mahatama Gandhi’s vision and voice have a rare resonance in numerous hearts around the world because it springs from the timeless humanistic vision of India. His experience with truth and his commitment to serve those in need are inspirational. Martin Luther King Jr, said, “If humanity is to progress, Gandhi is inescapable. He lived, thought, and acted, inspired by the vision of humanity evolving toward a world of peace and harmony. We may ignore him at our own risk.” Indian world view and Gandhi's The Indian worldview regards the entire world as one large family. The verse from the Ramayana, encapsulates this universal vision: "Only the narrow minded categorise people as “our own” and “others”. For those who have a large heart, the entire world is just a large family." (Translation) A corollary of this view, which follows from the concept of the whole world being seen as one family, is the attitude of empathy, of sharing and caring, a sharp focus on alleviating the agony of fellow human beings. Gandhi’s life is an eloquent expression of this attitude and value system. As he himself had said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” India for Humanity The vision of service and humanism, and transforming noble thoughts to tangible action, has inspired several generations of world leaders. The Government of India has launched “India For Humanity” in order to take the message of Mahatma Gandhi to all parts of the world over the next year. It seeks to celebrate the great values of humanism, which Gandhi embodied. For this, the government has selected one of the great scientific innovations from India that has transformed, and continues to transform, numerous lives, the Jaipur Foot. It is an initiative that provides to the differently-abled persons a sense of freedom and mobility, a sense of dignity and an ability to live life fully. Mahatma Gandhi said: “I am endeavouring to see God through service of humanity for I know that God is neither in heaven, nor down below, but in everyone.” It is this spirit of service to the entire humanity without any distinction of caste, creed, race or religion which India seek to capture by launching “India For Humanity”. The Jaipur foot Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS) is a Jaipur-based non-profit organisation founded by D R Mehta. For his extraordinary contribution to humanity, the Jaipur foot, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India. BMVSS is the world’s largest organisation for equipping the differently-abled with artificial limbs, free of charge. The Jaipur Foot is lighter than other artificial limbs and has helped thousands lead a life of dignity. The first Jaipur Foot camp in the series is being launched in Africa in Malawi. It was in Africa that Gandhiji took his first steps towards becoming a Mahatma. Gandhi; an inspiration Mahatma Gandhi’s life, his message and outlook towards humanity is embodied in the hymn: Vasihnava jan to, tene kahiye je peed paraayi jaane re. The 15th century Gujarati bhajan can be translated as “a virtuous man is one who understands the pain of others”. Gandhiji was an inspiration to all mankind. He truly believed that cleansing our inner being of all evils is as important as cleansing our countries of colonialism. His deep sense of compassion and inclusiveness permeated his outlook on humanity — this included his opponents as well. Through his fight against evils of aparthied, discrimination, slavery and colonialism, he sharpened his weapons which were to ultimately liberate not just India but also inspire many other countries to gain independence from colonial rulers. The tools he employed to fight oppression and injustice were truth, non-violence and satyagraha. Conclusion Humanity, compassion,and non-violence are the virtues which will keep the Gandhi alive forever. He is the practical example of India's world view i.e. vasudhaiva kutumbakam. Connecting the dots: Write Essay on: "Gandhi’s vision of service and humanism is relevant across nations and time". NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 1 and 2 History of the world, national movement International events affecting India and its interests The forgotten million: WWI and its impacts on India Introduction One hundred years after the end of World War I, the immense sacrifice and contributions of well over a million soldiers of undivided India are being incrementally recognised and memorialised the world over. In France, the centenary celebrations of Armistice Day on November 11 will include the unveiling of the second overseas national war memorial for Indian soldiers. The first such memorial abroad, formalised in 2002, is the Menin Gate in Ypres, Belgium, which is a recognition that more than 130,000 Indian soldiers fought in WWI in Belgium. Significance These ceremonial pomp of officialdom is perhaps the most touching symbol of how much ordinary Indian men, mostly-illiterate, enlisting in the colonial government’s Army gave of their lives. The British Library in London has received 1,000 pages of war-veteran interview transcripts recorded, which include details of the inhumane treatment, including floggings, denial of home leave, and brazenly racial-discriminatory treatment that 1.5 million men from northern India faced regularly within the allied forces army. Impact of World War I on India The Indian leaders supported British war efforts during World War I. This was because, although the swadeshi movement was underway, the freedom movement was in a beginning stage. This was reciprocated by British Government through its August Declaration which stated that it is in favour of responsible government in India and called for increased association of Indians in every branch of administration. On the other hand, Revolutionaries utilized WWI to oppose British India. In response, the British India passed Defence of India Act,1915 to curb these revolutionary activities. In order to finance its war expenditure, the British imposed higher taxes leading to economic exploitation. With the enormous death toll by the end of WWI, the painful lessons were absorbed and the pressure for enlistment of Indians in the World War II effort produced an entirely different outcome — the Quit India movement and the escalation of the freedom movement. WWI also influenced the collective psyche of the government of independent India, starting with the tenets of non-alignment that came to embody a core mantra of the country’s foreign policy ethos. Conclusion India’s freedom struggle and the events happened during it, continues to shape the policies and strategies of India on global platform. While India remains wary of ‘treaty alliances’ and steers clear of combat involvement in third-party conflicts, it is the third-largest contributor of military and police personnel to UN peacekeeping missions. Connecting the dots: Analyse briefly the impacts of WWI on India's struggle for independence. Note: No snippets, Must Read and MCQs (As Newspaper was not available on account of Diwali).

Nov 8, 2018 PIB

IASbaba PIB Weekly : Press Information Bureau – 30th Oct to 3rd Nov, 2018

IASbaba Press Information Bureau 30th October – 3rd November, 2018 ARCHIVES GS-2 Launch of historic Support and Outreach Initiative for MSME sector (Topic: Mains II and III – Govt. schemes and policies; Good Governance; Indian Economy – Investment; MSME sector) 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. Solve: What is Zero Defect – Zero Effect (ZED) scheme? Examine its significance for India’s MSME sector. Must Read: New classification of the MSMEs Government exploring transport innovations that are pollution free and cost effective (Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation) Efforts are being undertaken for building a safe and efficient public transport system in the country would motivate people to shift from personal to public transport. Government is exploring Usage of new kinds of vehicles like hybrid aeroboats that combine land, water and aviation technology and can run on land, water and air at speeds greater than 80 km per hour. Looking at the possibility of using aerial transport systems like ropeways, pods etc, especially for hilly terrains and as a last mile connectivity option in congested cities. Start a campaign to promote the use of bicycles as the new expressways are being built with provisions for cycle tracks. Electric cycles will soon be in use. Taxi aggregators are being called upon to consider using bicycles for transporting single passengers. Advocating the use of alternate fuels in this sector. By use of methanol, ethanol and electric sources, the country can save huge sums on petroleum imports. Also, people in backward areas can find an additional source of income by opting to generate bio-gas from local sources in a big way. Solve: What is intelligent transportation system? What are its components? Why is it needed badly in Indian cities? Examine. What is hyper loop technology? Do you think this technology is really needed in India? Critically examine. Cabinet approves Agreement between India and Morocco on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters: The Agreement will provide a broad legal framework for bilateral cooperation between India and Morocco in investigation and prosecution of crime, tracing, restraint, forfeiture or confiscation or proceeds and instruments of crime. It aims to increase effectiveness in investigation and prosecution of crime, and in providing the necessary peaceful ambience which is a pre-requisite for the development of society as a whole. It will further be instrumental in gaining better inputs and insights in the modus operandi of organized criminals and terrorists, which in turn can be used to fine-tune policy decisions in the field of Internal Security. MoU between India and Korea for strengthening cooperation in the field of Tourism: To expand bilateral cooperation in tourism sector To increase Exchange of information and data related to tourism To encouraging cooperation between tourism stakeholders including Hotels and Tour Operators To establish exchange programmes for cooperation in Human Resources Development To encourage Investment in the Tourism and Hospitality sectors To exchange visits of Tour Operators / Media / Opinion Makers for promotion of two-way tourism To exchange experience in the areas of promotion, marketing destination development and management To encourage participation in travel fairs/exhibitions in each other's country and Promoting safe, honorable and sustainable tourism Moving a Resolution in the first Assembly of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) for amending the Framework Agreement of the ISA for opening up the ISA membership to all countries that are members of the United Nations: Will put solar energy in global agenda with the universal appeal for developing and deploying solar energy It will make ISA inclusive, whereby all member countries that are members of the United Nations could become member. Expanding membership will lead to ISA initiative benefitting the world at large. Prelims oriented news Ayurveda Day: 5th November Latest country to have decided to join the International Solar Alliance: Botswana Exercise DHARMA GUARDIAN 2018: A joint military exercise between Indian & Japanese Armies World’s tallest statue: Statue of Unity, India – a 182 metre statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel – the integration of India by Sardar Patel, has resulted today in India’s march towards becoming a big economic and strategic power. The Statue of Unity is 177 feet higher than China’s Spring Temple Buddha, which was the tallest statue till now. It is located on the river island called Sadhu Bet near Rajpipla, Gujarat. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel: Role of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in Uniting the Nation President gives assent to promulgation of the Companies Amendment (Ordinance), 2018: For Promotion of Ease of Doing Business Better corporate compliance India’s Ranks in Ease of doing Business: As per the World Bank report 2019 on Ease of Doing Business, India has taken a huge leap of 23 ranks from 100 in 2017-18 to 77 in 2018-19 indicating it is continuing its steady shift towards global standards. One of the key indices which has contributed immensely toward this growth is ‘Trading across borders’ which shows an impressive improvement from 146 rank last year to 80th rank this year. The Ministry of Shipping has been taking initiatives to improve the parameter of ‘Trading across border’ as 92% of India’s Export- Import trade by volume is handled at ports. The report mentions that this is mainly due to India’s continued reform agenda, which has made it the top-ranked economy in the region: Upgradation of port infrastructure Improvement of processes Digitization of document submission has substantially reduced Export/Import cargo handling time at ports which has significantly contributed towards improving the trading across border parameter The Government has initiated a series of steps to make India’s EXIM logistics more competitive in terms of time and cost. The focus has been on development of port infrastructure and capacity enhancement, improvement in last mile connectivity and development of multi-modal hubs to promote EXIM while reducing logistics cost and time. Under Sagarmala, port-led-development initiative of the Govt, 266 port modernization projects with an investment of more than Rs 1.45 lakh Crore has been identified for implementation over next 10 years Indian Navy’s Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV) Capability: This System has a Side Scan Sonar for locating the position of the submarine in distress at sea, providing immediate relief by way of posting Emergency Life Support Containers with the help of Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) and thereafter rescuing the crew of the submarine using the DSRV itself. With this capability, India has joined a select league of nations which have this unique capability and we are now in a position to not only provide rescue cover to our own submarines but also to other friendly nations in the IOR and beyond. Our vision is to emerge as a centre of regional excellence for Submarine Rescue Services in line with the stature of our great nation. World Cities Day: 1st November NMCG & UN Habitat organize a policy dialogue - Urban Cafe: ‘River for Habitat’ on this occasion and discussed the deep association that rivers have with various aspects of human civilization – our cities, our economy and various facets of our daily lives, the challenges to maintaining healthy river ecosystems and ways to deal with the same. Innovations such as One City One Operator, Hybrid Annuity Model, 15 year Operations & Maintenance of sewerage infrastructure projects have been introduced Other issues that are vital include managing flood plain encroachments, developing city-specific urban management plan, valuation of river services in economic terms, preserving biodiversity in Ganga, maintaining groundwater recharge, NMCG’s collaboration and convergence with all stakeholders and engaging public participation. Emphasis was laid upon – River and river basins should be seen as ‘national capital or asset’ Developing an Urban River Plan from where the river enters the city and where it exits. Emphasizing the importance of ghats, the experts further noted that not only do ghats connect river to the people but also promote safety of the river and people. Advocacy and resolve combined with public participation as vital elements for restoring our river ecosystems. India’s first ease of Mobility Index: The Index offers a source of information to aid transit agencies and urban planners to make informed decisions and align solutions with the preference of commuters. The report has been prepared by Ola Mobility Institute - Ola’s research and social innovation arm. Overall, 80 per cent of citizens believe that the transport ecosystem has improved over the last five years. 60 per cent of respondents report using public modes of commute, signalling that integrating modes of first and last mile connectivity with mass transport could lead to improved usage. In fact, 72 per cent of the respondents believe that this integration could lead to an improved public transport ecosystem. A majority of Indians are willing to adopt electric mobility and are in agreement that electrification will reshape the transportation segment. 75 per cent of respondents believe that electric vehicles could replace conventional vehicles by 2030. Additionally, results indicate that urban mobility is going digital with 55 per cent of commuters who use public transport owning smart cards, and over 40 per cent transact digitally while using public transport including Intermediary Public Transport. UDAN scheme: UDAN is an innovative scheme to develop the regional aviation market. It is a market-based mechanism in which airlines bid for seat subsidies. This first-of-its-kind scheme globally will create affordable yet economically viable and profitable flights on regional routes so that flying becomes affordable to the common man even in small towns. It will create affordable yet economically viable and profitable flights on regional routes so that flying becomes affordable to the common man even in small towns. Under it, airlines will have complete freedom to enter into code sharing with larger airlines for connectivity and they will be exempted from various airport charges. Mindmap Solve: Critically examine the significance of regional connectivity for a developing economy like India. Also discuss the features of the UDAN scheme launched by the government. Atal Pension Yojana (APY): Guaranteed Pension Scheme of Government of India administered by PFRDA. The Subscriber base under APY has crossed 1.24 crore mark. For: The unorganised sector workers who do not have sufficient and reliable old age security Earlier called: Swavalamban Yojana NPS (National Pension Scheme) Lite Objective: To encourage unorganised workers to make regular small savings during their working years towards pension benefits later Regulated by: Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) Zika virus disease: An emerging disease currently being reported by 86 countries worldwide. Symptoms of Zika virus disease are similar to other viral infections such as dengue, and include fever, skin rashes, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise, and headache. The virus causes only mild to moderate illness. The only vulnerable category is pregnant women. In India, the first outbreak was reported in Ahmedabad in January/February 2017 and second outbreak in July,2017 from Krishnagiri District in Tamilnadu. Both these outbreaks were successfully contained through intensive surveillance and vector management. The Zika Virus has been identified decades back in Uganda where there is a river named Zika, the region around which the virus was first identified. 92% MGNREGA wage payments generated on time Independent evaluation studies have indicated the success of Natural Resource Management in improving incomes, acreage, productivity, fodder availability, and water table. Similarly, independent assessment of Individual Beneficiary Schemes especially for animal resources has acknowledged their contribution in livelihood diversification and poverty reduction. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA): a demand driven and additional resources will be made available as and when required to ensure that no one is denied work on demand. Adequate steps have been taken to ensure timely payments and mobilization of additional resources when required. Reforms in the programme over the last 3 years have substantially improved the quality of durable assets and convergence for effective livelihood diversification.

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