ARCHIVES Hello Friends This is the 42nd edition of IASbaba’s Monthly Magazine on Current Affairs for UPSC Civil Services Examination. This edition covers all important issues that were in news for the month of NOVEMBER 2018 DOWNLOAD THE MAGAZINE- CLICK HERE
IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs (Prelims + Mains Focus)- 05th December 2018 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) AgustaWestland helicopter deal bribery case Part of: GS Mains III – Indian Economy; Corruption/ Bribe; Parallel Economy In news: Agusta middleman extradited to India from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) British national Christian James Michel is wanted in the alleged ₹3,700 crore AgustaWestland helicopter deal bribery case. About the AgustaWestland scandal: In early 2013, an Indian national parliamentary investigation began into allegations of bribery and corruption involving several senior officials and helicopter manufacturer AgustaWestland surrounding the purchase of a new fleet of helicopters. The scandal has been referred to as the Chopper scam, or Choppergate. Several Indian politicians and military officials have been accused of accepting bribes from Agusta Westland in order to win the Rs 36 Billion(US$530 million) Indian contract for the supply of 12 Agusta Westland AW101 helicopters; these helicopters are intended to perform VVIP duties for the President of India and other important state officials. The AgustaWestland scandal broke in 2013 and the former Air Force Chief S P Tyagi and two other key accused have been arrested on criminal conspiracy and illegal gratification charges by the CBI (in July 2018). SNEHA Suicide Prevention Centre Part of: GS Mains II – Role of NGOs or Civil Society Organizations; Social Issue In news: Chennai-based Sneha, Tamil Nadu's sole suicide prevention centre, has helped over one lakh callers contemplating suicide to court life once again. Sneha's suicide-prevention hotline (8115050) has received over one lakh calls since its inception in 1986. Suicide status in India There has been a rapid escalation in the suicide rate in the country, particularly among people of the 15-29 age group, which is considered one of the most productive periods in one's life. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), one in three suicides committed in India is by a youth. While a suicide was attempted every 7.6 minutes in 1989, today it occurs every five minutes. Although more women than men attempt suicide, more men than women actually succumb. In India, men account for 58 per cent of the suicides. With a suicide being committed every fifth minute and about 15 attempts being made for every suicide committed, India faces a major crisis. Chennai-based SNEHA suicide prevention centre has been flooded with calls and emails from persons seeking help, not just from Tamil Nadu but from all over the country. Disabilities Act Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – Social issue; Vulnerable section – Persons with Disabilities In news: A study conducted by the Disability Rights India Foundation (DRIF) highlighted that –Implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act is very poor and ineffective. Only 10 States have notified rules under Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act. The Act which was passed in December 2016 should have been notified by all States within six months. Nearly 80% of the States had not constituted the funds for implementation of the RPWD Act. Only Tamil Nadu has taken some action with regard to providing an increased quantum of assistance for people with disabilities in social security schemes. Though 62% of the States have appointed Commissioners for Persons with Disabilities, the progress has not been substantial. Only three States have constituted Advisory Committees, comprising of experts, to assist the State Commissioners. While 58% of the States have not notified Special Courts in the districts for trying offences under the Act, 87% have not appointed a Special Public Prosecutors as mandated by the law. Pic: https://d39gegkjaqduz9.cloudfront.net/TH/2018/12/05/DEL/Delhi/TH/5_07/843c0c39_2572113_101_mr.jpg Do you know? Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 The Act replaced the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995. It fulfills the obligations to the United National Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), to which India is a signatory. The Act came into force during December 2016. Salient Features: Disability has been defined based on an evolving and dynamic concept. The types of disabilities have been increased from existing 7 to 21. It includes Speech and Language Disability, Specific Learning Disability, Acid Attack Victims, Dwarfism, muscular dystrophy. It also included three blood disorders: Thalassemia, Hemophilia and Sickle Cell disease have been added for the first time. Reservation in vacancies in government establishments has been increased from 3% to 4% for certain persons or class of persons with benchmark disability. In addition benefits such as reservation in higher education, government jobs, reservation in allocation of land, poverty alleviation schemes etc. have been provided for disabilities. The Act claims that every child with benchmark disability between the age group of 6 and 18 years shall have the right to free education. The government will fund educational institutions as well as the government recognized institutions to provide inclusive education to the children with reasonable accommodation to disables. Special Courts will be designated in each district to handle cases concerning violation of rights of PwDs. The Act provides for penalties for offences(imprisonment of 6 months to 2 years along with fine of 10000 to 5 lakh) committed against persons with disabilities and also violation of the provisions of the new law. The Act provides power to government to notify additional disabilities, a clear recognition of the need to factor in conditions that may arise as a result of an ageing population, an inevitable part of the demographic transition. The new law will not only enhance the Rights and Entitlements of Divyang-Jan but also provide effective mechanism for ensuring their empowerment and true inclusion into the Society in a satisfactory manner. India’s Bhutan 750 megawatt Mangdechhu hydropower project Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – India and its neighbours; International Relations In news: India is expected to commission a major hydropower project in Bhutan. Cooperation in the hydropower sector was a sign of strength of the time-tested ties between the two countries. Do you know? The Mangdechhu project was bagged by the Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. (BHEL) and it will be implemented on a bilateral basis. Miscellaneous Demonetisation pushed up direct tax collections: CBDT The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has proposed that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) come up with regulations to oversee collection, usage and sharing of data by payment service providers, even as the government is expediting discussions on the draft Personal Data Protection Bill. (National Cyber Security Coordinator (NCSC) also recommended for same) Galapagos giant tortoises possess genetic variants linked to DNA repair, immune response and cancer suppression — providing clues into their longevity, according to a study. Giant tortoises, which can live for over 100 years in captivity, arrived in the Galapagos region three to four million years ago. The number of patents granted by India shot up by 50% in 2017 - according to the UN’s World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). (MAINS FOCUS) NATIONAL/ECONOMY TOPIC:General studies 3 Indian economy and related issues Inclusive growth and issues arising from it Job creation at the farmer’s doorstep Introduction The government's initiative to double the farmers' income is a welcome move. However, it would benefit only the 48% of the population who are dependent on the agriculture and would not cater to non-agricultural households. Hence, in order to promote inclusive growth, we need to look at generating alternative sources of income which would benefit both the agricultural as well as non-agricultural households. Findings of NABARD Rural India’s economic situation continues to worsen. According to All India Rural Financial Inclusion Survey carried out by NABARD, the agricultural households derive only 43% of their income directly from agriculture. Further, it highlights that the agricultural households have accumulated a higher share of debt as compared to non-agricultural households. There is need to think for no-agricultural solution for doubling the farmers income by 2022. How can it be done? There is a need to promote farm diversification since it would provide additional source of income to both marginal farmers as well as landless labourers and hence more inclusive. Further, it has added benefits in terms of overcoming land constraint while enabling the farmers to withstand exogenous shock through additional income. In this regard, there is need to undertake appropriate reforms in two key areas- Livestock Sector and Migrant Population. The government has to focus on the livestock sector through national breeding policy to upgrade the best performing indigenous breeds. The feed supply, which is currently inadequate, needs to be mitigated through greater imports. There should be greater investment in preventive health care of the animals. We must also take into consideration the fact that agricultural labourers routinely seek construction-related daily wage labour to bolster their income and hence improvement in the conditions of migrant workers in the construction sector requires a multi-pronged approach. The migrant workers have to get access to government schemes and programmes. In spite of existence of multiple laws for the welfare of construction workers, the compliance is poor and hence penalties for non-compliance have to be increased. Crèche facilities at construction sites should be provided to also ensure that children are not neglected. Conclusion Hence, overall our policies must focus on creating long term, sustainable, non-farm employment options that would aid in promoting inclusive growth in India. We have so far focused on development model which required people to move away from agriculture towards cities, we now need to create jobs at their doorstep. Connecting the dots: In order to double the farmers' income, relying only on agriculture will not be sufficient. Critically examine and suggest some non-farm measures to bolster the income enhancing capabilities for farmers and agriculture labourers. NATIONAL/ECONOMY TOPIC:General studies 3 Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Make planning fashionable again Introduction Economic planning is not considered fashionable today. Nevertheless, contemporary economic debates will have much to gain by revisiting the ideas on planning, championed in particular by Jawaharlal Nehru. The Planning in India, particularly in the initial stages of development has contributed to laying down of foundation of India's diversified economic base. However, the planning in India has received less emphasis post the LPG Reforms. Government has to once again bring back the focus on planning to further promote overall growth and development of the Indian Economy. Beginning of planning in Independent India India under Nehru’s leadership inaugurated a strategy for industrialisation of the country in the early 1950s. This involved the setting up of public sector units (PSUs) in diverse areas of manufacturing; research institutions in cutting-edge technologies of the time such as space and atomic energy; and centres of higher learning, including the Indian Institutes of Technologies (IITs). All of these by a poor country, which was still struggling to find its feet amidst the multiple blows it had to endure during the early years after Independence. How Planning in India challenged the Traditional Models? The standard economic models proposed that the countries should develop industries based on their comparative advantage. According to this theory, countries such as India which have surplus labour should focus on Labour Intensive Industries such as Textiles, Leather etc. However, India challenged the then prevailing economic model by focusing on Heavy Industrialisation, Nuclear Research etc which needed comparatively more capital and technology. This has laid down strong foundation of diversified economic base. The success that India enjoys today in knowledge intensive sectors such as IT, Pharmaceutical etc can be attributed to the fact that India challenged the deeply held orthodoxy in the economic theory. This has now become the model for other developing and third world countries. Further, the debate around Indian planning has led to evolution of development economics as an important sub-discipline. Planning post LPG Reforms Post the LPG Reforms, Planning has received less emphasis in India due to decrease in the role of the state and commensurate increase in role of Private sector. The PSUs are now viewed as commercial entities rather than creators of new knowledge and technologies. Planning in a globalised world Planning is not incompatible with markets and globalisation. For a developing country trying hard to stay afloat amidst the turbulence of a global economy requires more guidance thorough industrial policies. The successes achieved by East Asian countries such as South Korea in manufacturing and Chinese achievements, owe much to the careful planning and investments made by government, particularly in the area of science and technology. The greatest challenge before India The employment challenge that India faces — close to 15 million waiting to be absorbed in the industrial and services sectors every year — is possibly bigger than that faced by any other country (except China) in the world. It cannot be resolved with the technologies that foreign companies bring into India, which tend to be labour saving. Way forward: What should India do then? India has to realise that planning is compatible with LPG reforms and Globalization. India needs technological advances that create new economic opportunities and absorb the surplus labour in India. For example, breakthroughs in biotechnology may find new commercial applications for our agricultural products, or electric vehicles and renewable energy solutions that depend less on imported material. Planning should be brought back to the centre of our economic discussions. Connecting the dots: Considering the jobless growth in Indian economy and almost stagnant Industrial and agricultural growth, there is need to bring back Planning in India. Critically analyse. (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) “Accessible India Campaign” (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan) aims to Enable persons with disabilities to gain universal access, independent living and participation in all aspects of life. Enable Senior Citizens to gain universal access, equal opportunity for development, independent living and participation in all aspects of life. Enable Vulnerable groups (Women, Children, SCs/STs) to gain universal access, equal opportunity for development, independent living and participation in all aspects of life. None of the above. Q.2) Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act was passed in India in 2016. Which of the following statements are correct regarding the Act? It fulfills the obligations to the United National Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), to which India is a signatory. The Act recognises 21 kinds of disabilities compared to the previous seven. The Act also increased the quota for disability reservation in higher educational institutions from 3% to 5% and in government jobs from 3% to 4%. Select the code from following: 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above Q.3) Mangdechhu hydropower project is associated with – India and Nepal India and Bangladesh India and Bhutan India and Tibet Q.4) India is a signatory to UN Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities Biwako Millennium Framework Select the correct code: 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.5) Consider the following statements about UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) India has signed the convention but not ratified It is monitored by one of the UN human rights charter bodies Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 MUST READ The architecture is not the force The Hindu Cutting through the smog The Hindu Shift to low carbon The Hindu Our calorie-oriented approach to agriculture is no longer sustainable: Principal Economic Adviser The Hindu Why Qatar has left OPEC, and how the decision will impact oil prices, India Indian Express Why number of hungry is rising Indian Express Lost opportunity Indian Express A new deal for the farmer Indian Express How to name it Indian Express
Relevance of Azad Hind Fauj in India's freedom struggle ARCHIVES Search 21st October, 2018 Spotlight here: http://www.newsonair.com/Audio-Archive-Search.aspx TOPIC: General Studies 1 Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present significant events, personalities, issues The Freedom Struggle – its various stages and important contributors or contributions from different parts of the country. In News: Due to the 75th Year of Establishment of Azad Hind Government The existence of the Azad Hind Government gave a greater legitimacy to the independence struggle against the British. Pertinently, the role of Azad Hind Fauj or the Indian National Army (INA) had been crucial in bequeathing a much needed impetus to India’s struggle for Independence. Prelims oriented Details Founded on: 21st October, 1943 Constituted in: The Provisional Government of Free India, or, more simply, Free India (Azad Hind), was an Indian provisional government established in occupied Singapore in 1943 and supported by the Imperial Japan, Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and their allies. Known as Arzi Hukumat-e-Azad Hind, it was supported by the Axis powers of Imperial Japan, Nazi Germany, the Italian Social Republic, and their allies. Events leading to the formation of the Fauj: An important development in the struggle for freedom during the Second World War was the formation and activities of the Azad Hind Fauj, also known as the Indian National Army, or INA. Rash Behari Bose (supreme advisor), an Indian revolutionary who had escaped from India and had been living in Japan for many years, set up the Indian independence league with the support of Indians living in the countries of south-east Asia. When Japan defeated the British armies and occupied almost all the countries of south-East Asia, the league formed the Indian National Army from among the Indian prisoners of war with the aim of liberating India from the British rule. This first INA collapsed and was disbanded in December that year after differences between the INA leadership (Mohan Singh) and the Japanese military over its role in Japan's war in Asia. It was revived under the leadership of Subhash Chandra Bose after his arrival in Southeast Asia in 1943. Role of Subhas Chandra Bose Leader of Azad Hind Government Head of State of this Provisional Indian Government-in-exile Bose was convinced that armed struggle was the only way to achieve independence for India. He had been a leader of the radical wing of the Indian National Congress in the late 1920s and 1930s, rising to become Congress president in 1938 and 1939 but was ousted following differences with Mahatma Gandhi and the Congress leadership. Subhas Chandra Bose had escaped from India in 1941 and gone to Germany to work for India’s Independence. In 1943, he came to Singapore to lead the Indian Independence league and rebuild the Indian National Army (Azad Hind Fauj) to make it an effective instrument for the freedom of India. Netaji went to the Andaman which had been occupied by the Japanese and hoisted there the flag of India. In early 1944, three units of the Azad Hind Fauj (INA) took part in the attack on the north-eastern parts of India to oust the British from India. The Azad Hind Fauj, with the slogan of ‘Delhi Chalo’ and the salutation Jai Hind was a source of inspiration to Indians, inside and outside the country. Netaji rallied together the Indians of all religions and regions, living in south-east Asia, for the cause of India’s freedom. A women’s regiment of Azad Hind Fauj was formed, which was under the command of Captain Lakshmi Swaminathan. It was called the Rani Jhansi regiment. The Azad Hind Fauj became the symbol of unity and heroism to the people of India. Bose's death was seen as the end to the Azad Hind movement. The Second World War, also ended in 1945 with the defeat of the Axis powers. “Let your battle cry be, ‘To Delhi! To Delhi! How many of us will individually survive this war of freedom, I do not know,” Bose told them. “But I do know this…our task will not end until our surviving heroes hold the victory parade on another graveyard of the British Empire – Lal Qila – of ancient India.” Last nail in the coffin of the British Empire A joint court-martial of hundreds of captured INA soldiers, led by Colonel Prem Sehgal, Colonel Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon, Major General Shah Nawaz Khan, was held during 1945- 46 at the Red Fort. Leaders of independence movement Jawaharlal Nehru, Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru, Kailashnath Katju, Bhulabhai Desai, Asaf Ali, along with Muslim league defended the comrades of Bose despite difference of ideology. However, none of the INA soldiers were later inducted in regular army of India. The famous INA trial sparked off massive unrest across the country, including the strike by the ratings (sailors) and officers of the Royal Indian Navy and Air Force -- from the ports of Mumbai and Karachi to Madras, Vishakhapatnam and Calcutta in February 1946. The airmen too stuck work at various places including Karachi and Kalaikunda (now in West Bengal). Connecting the Dots: Even in its defeat, the INA had been successful in ringing the death knell of Colonialism. Comment.
IASbaba PIB Weekly: Press Information Bureau – 26th to 2nd December, 2018 ARCHIVES GS-2 Nine Point Agenda Suggested by India to G-20 for Action Against Fugitive Economic Offences And Asset Recovery (Topic: Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate) Strong and active cooperation across G-20 countries to deal comprehensively and efficiently with the menace fugitive economic offenders. Cooperation in the legal processes such as effective freezing of the proceeds of crime; early return of the offenders and efficient repatriation of the proceeds of crime should be enhanced and streamlined. Joint effort by G-20 countries to form a mechanism that denies entry and safe havens to all fugitive economic offenders. Principles of United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime (UNOTC), especially related to "International Cooperation” should be fully and effectively implemented. FATF should be called upon to assign priority and focus to establishing international co-operation that leads to timely and comprehensive exchange of information between the competent authorities and FIUs. FATF should be tasked to formulate a standard definition of fugitive economic offenders. FATF should also develop a set of commonly agreed and standardized procedures related to identification, extradition and judicial proceedings for dealing with fugitive economic offenders to provide guidance and assistance to G-20 countries, subject to their domestic law. Common platform should be set up for sharing experiences and best practices including successful cases of extradition, gaps in existing systems of extradition and legal assistance, etc. G-20 Forum should consider initiating work on locating properties of economic offenders who have a tax debt in the country of their residence for its recovery. G-20: Founded in 1999 with the aim to discuss policy pertaining to the promotion of international financial stability An international forum for the governments and central bank governors from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, the European Union, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States. India’s Blue Economy (Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests) India has a strategic location in the Indian Ocean region, and on this basis, it endorses the growth of the Blue Economy in a sustainable, inclusive and people centred manner through the framework of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). India is developing its maritime infrastructure as well as its inland waterways and coastal shipping through the launch of the ambitious “Sagarmala Programme” which will revolutionize maritime logistics and port led developments in the country. India’s national vision about the sector is clearly articulated in the term “SAGAR”- Security and Growth for All in the Region coined by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. India’s ambitious Sagarmala programme has identified 600 plus projects entailing huge investment of around Rs 8 lakh crore (120 billion dollars) by the year 2020. This will save the country nearly six billion dollars per annum in logistics costs besides creating 10 million new jobs and boosting port capacity by 800 Million Metric Tonne per Annum (MMTPA) to an overall 3500 MMTPA. Coastal Economic Zones (CEZs) are being developed under Sagarmala with a proposed investment of 150 Million dollars per location. The CEZs will become a microcosm of the blue economy wherein industries and townships that depend on the sea and contribute to global trade through sea connectivity are envisaged. The programme is also focussing on the development of coastal communities and people through skill gap analysis, skill development centres to train coastal communities in the sustainable use of ocean resources, modern fishing techniques and coastal tourism. An investment of $1.10 Bn is planned across various coastal districts in India for this purpose. In addition to this, several green initiatives are also being taken in the coastal regions like 31 MW of captive solar power generation being planned at various ports, installation of oil spill response facilities and study to identify ways to re-use waste water at ports. Government of India and Asian Development Bank (ADB) sign $200 Million Loan (Topic: Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate) Aim: To improve State Highways in Bihar – finance widening and upgrading of about 230 Kilometers State Highways in Bihar to all-weather standards with road safety features. meet the minimum two-lane standard with better surfaces and improved road safety leading to improved connectivity. The improved roads under the Project will contribute to savings in vehicle operating cost and travel time, reduce vehicle emissions, and improve road safety. The Project will also establish a State-level Road Research Institute to improve technical and management capacity of the Road Agency Staff. The Project will also build institutional capacity of the State for road design and maintenance and incorporate appropriate new technologies in the State's road sub-sector. Government of India and Asian Development Bank (ADB) Signs $75 Million Loan to Improve Urban Services in Karnataka (Topic: Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate) Aim: To provide 24 x7 water supply in Karnataka’s four coastal towns of Kundapura, Mangalore Puttur and Udupi and improve sanitation infrastructure for Mangalore town. Improve urban water resource management in selected river basins in Karnataka through modernization and expansion of urban water supply and sanitation infrastructure and strengthening institutions to improve water use efficiency, water resource planning, monitoring and service delivery Provide continuous piped water supply to people, and promote efficient and sustainable use of water. Adopt information technology based smart water management system and undertake community awareness programs on water conservation and demand management Helping the urban local bodies to become efficient and responsive urban water utility service provider GS-3 Progress made in the Agriculture Sector (Topic: Agriculture) Foodgrain production in 2017-18 (4th Advance Estimate) stood at 284.83 million tonne as compared to 255.59 million tonne average production in 2010-14. The production of pulses also rose by 40% from 18.01 million tonne in 2010-14 to 25.23 million tonne (4th Advance Estimate) in 2017-18. Production of horticulture crops recorded 15.79% growth, fisheries production under Blue Revolution 26.86% and animal husbandry & milk production 23.80%. In order to reduce the cost of production, Soil Health Card, use of neem-coated urea and schemes related to ‘per drop more crop' are being targeted and implemented. To promote organic farming, Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) was initiated in 2014-15 and for north east Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCD-NER) was started. National Agriculture Market (eNAM), a new market mechanism has been started in order to ensure remunerative price for the farmers’ produce while advancing towards 'one nation one market'. Till March 2018, the target of integrating 585 mandis with e-NAM has been achieved. Besides this, the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) was initiated from Kharif 2016 to overcome the risks related to agriculture against disasters. This scheme covers all foodgrains, oilseeds and commercial/ horticultural crops. All risks - prior to the crop sowing, during the harvest and after harvest - are included in the scheme. Government is also promoting quality in agriculture through food processing. Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana has been started with an allocation of Rs 6,000 crore. The forward and backward linkage of agro processing clusters is being developed in order to enhance food processing capabilities. Close to 20 lakh farmers are being benefitted while also creating employment opportunities for about 5.5 lakh people. Prelims specific Notes: World AIDS Day: 1st December Hornbill Festival: Nagaland EX INDRA 2018: Indo-Russian joint military exercise Adoption of our Constitution: On November 26, 1949 Ganga Museum: To be established as an instrument for public outreach, depicting the river’s history and mythology, its importance for the livelihood of a huge population, as well as efforts for Ganga Rejuvenation. Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan: Complete ante-natal check-up facility is provided to all pregnant women across the country, including HIV testing. In 2017-18 more than 2 Crore HIV testing among pregnant women was undertaken HIV/AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act, 2017: This Act provides an enabling environment to HIV affected and infected population where they get a seamless access to services and a comprehensive grievance redressal mechanism with ombudsman at the Centre and Complaints Officer at establishments. Cumulative number of houses sanctioned under PMAY(U) now is 65,04,037. Powered India: 8 States achieve 100% household electrification under Saubhagya; total 15 States now have 100 % household electrification. Nation expected to achieve 100% household electrification by 31st December, 2018. Golden Peacock Award at the 49th International Film Festival of India (IFFI): Donbass’ directed by Sergei Loznitsa; tells the story of a hybrid war taking place in a region of Eastern Ukraine, involving an open armed conflict alongside killings and robberies perpetrated on a mass scale by separatist gangs. Launch of Digital Sky Platform: India to start registration of drones, pilots, and operators Registration portal for online permission The Drone regulations come in effect from today Nano drones in India can start flying legally from today. For micro and above categories, operators and pilots are required to register on the Digital Sky Portal Launch of Vehicle (PSLV-C43) Injected India’s Hyper-Spectral Imaging Satellite (HysIS) into a 645 km sun-synchronous polar orbit 17 minutes and 19 seconds after the lift-off. Later, 30 foreign satellites were injected into their intended orbit after restarting the vehicle’s fourth stage engines twice. HysIS is an earth observation satellite built around ISRO’s Mini Satellite2 (IMS-2) bus weighing about 380kg. The mission life of the satellite is five years. The primary goal of HysIS is to study the earth’s surface in both the visible, near infrared and shortwave infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Data from the satellite will be used for a wide range of applications including agriculture, forestry, soil/geological environments, coastal zones and inland waters, etc. PSLV is a four-stage launch vehicle with a large solid rocket motor forming the first stage, an earth storable liquid stage as the second stage, a high performance solid rocket motor as third stage and a liquid stage with engines as fourth stage. Mission Raksha GyanShakti: Aims to Provide a boost to the IPR culture in indigenous defence industry. Inculcate IP culture in Indian defence manufacturing ecosystem. Launch of Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) segment of Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP): The path-breaking initiative will provide near-real-time data to policy makers for detecting outbreaks, reducing the morbidity and mortality and lessening disease burden in the populations and better health systems. It is to strengthen early outbreak detection and informed public health response. Paisa – Portal for Affordable Credit & Interest Subvention Access” Launched Under Day-NULM: A centralized electronic platform for processing interest subvention on bank loans to beneficiaries under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) launched Effort by the government to connect directly with the beneficiaries, ensuring that there is greater transparency and efficiency in delivery of services. DBT of subvention on monthly basis under DAY-NULM will give the necessary financial support to small entrepreneurs in a timely manner Task Force for drafting a New Direct Tax Legislation: In order to review the Income-tax Act, 1961 and to draft a new direct tax law in consonance with the economic needs of the country, the Government has appointed Shri Akhilesh Ranjan, Member (Legislation), CBDT as Convenor of the Task Force. Protocol amending India-China DTAA: Updates the existing provisions for exchange of information to the latest international standards. Further, the Protocol incorporates changes required to implement treaty related minimum standards under the Action reports of Base Erosion & Profit shifting (BEPS) Project, in which India had participated on an equal footing. Besides minimum standards, the Protocol brings in changes as per BEPS Action reports as agreed upon by the two sides. E-pashuhaat portal: An effort to double farmers’ income Created and integrated with UMANG (Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance) application The portal is playing a crucial role in connecting farmers, breeders and other agencies to trade in disease-free germplasm, namely live animals, frozen semen and embryos Embryo transfer technology is extremely effective for increasing production and breed improvement Recent Reforms in Transport Sector By increasing the Axle load of trucks by 20 to 25 per cent, their load carrying capacity has increased phenomenally. It has not only added to the income of transporters, but has also resulted in lesser pollution. In view of modern technology in automobiles, fitness test requirement for commercial vehicle has been changed. In place of the earlier provision of yearly tests, now they need to get it done every two years. Total exclusion of new commercial vehicles from mandatory fitness tests has resulted in fewer visits to RTOs, saving time and money. Transporters are now free to paint their trucks in the colour of their choice, instead of the mandatory brown colour. They can now utilize this space for advertisements, etc further adding to their income. This will also bring cleanliness in trucks. All commercial vehicles are required to be kept completely covered to avoid pollution from dust etc. Mandatory fixing of fastags in all new vehicles and transport vehicles has started showing saving in time – as they do not need to stop at toll plazas, and money – as they get 5% rebate. Tracking of vehicles is now easy, and the drivers do not need to carry cash for payments etc. The system is proving beneficial for toll operators, with better collection of toll and reduced pollution. Dr Ambedkar International Centre (DAIC), 15 Janpath, New Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate and enhance research activities and policy formulation aimed at Socio-economic Transformation and Sustainable Development. It will facilitate and enhance research activities and policy formulation aimed at Socio-economic Transformation and Sustainable Development. The 24th meeting of Conference of Parties (COP-24) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC): At Katowice, Poland; it is expected to finalise guidelines for implementation of the Paris Agreement adopted in 2016. India expects that COP-24 should be able to frame guidelines, which are pragmatic and gives due consideration to challenges and priorities of developing countries inter alia different starting points as compared to developed countries, their vulnerabilities, development priorities like eradication of poverty, food security, energy access, providing health infrastructure etc. India strongly supports the objective of the Paris Agreement to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change by keeping the global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius. India considers it important from the point of view of eradicating poverty and caring for the poor and the marginalised. The Agreement also focuses on developing country parties’ need to adapt to adverse impacts of climate change, in a manner that it does not put an additional burden on them. During the COP-24, India would like to emphasise its concern for climate change and reaffirm its commitments to finalisation of the Paris Agreement Work Programme (PAWP). India would like to ensure that Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC), in the light of different national circumstances, are operationalised in all elements of the PAWP. The outcome of the PAWP should support the enhancement of ambition without backsliding. Note: The United Nations' highest environmental honour, UNEP “Champions of the Earth” award was conferred on 3rd October 2018 on the Prime Minister of India in the policy leadership category for his pioneering work in championing the ISA and for his unprecedented pledge to eliminate all single-use plastic in India by 2022. Quotes: President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind On Indian Constitution Constitution is the modern scripture of independent India. It is our suprema lex. However, it is more than just a collection of articles and clauses. For us Indians it is an inspirational and living document, an ideal of the society we are and the even better society we are striving to be. Constitution framers allowed for flexibility in amending the Constitution and were accommodative of various streams of thought. Above all, they trusted the wisdom of future generations to expand the frontiers of freedom and liberty, justice and fraternity, fairness and equality. They trusted future generations to not just amend the Constitution’s text, but to constructively re-imagine and re-interpret it for changing times. If we continue to be true to this spirit, the Constitution can serve India for all times to come. People of India are the ultimate custodians of the Constitution. It is in them that sovereignty vests and it is in their name that the Constitution was adopted. The Constitution empowers the citizen, but the citizen too empowers the Constitution – by following it, by adhering to it, by protecting it, and by persevering to make it more meaningful with words and deeds. The Constitution is nobody’s preserve – and it is everybody’s preserve. Perhaps the most moving word in the Constitution is “justice”. “Justice” is a single word. “Justice” is a complex and liberating expression. And “justice” is both the means and the goal of our constitutional and nation-building process. Justice must also be seen in a wider context – in terms of society’s evolution and its changing beliefs, lifestyles and technologies. Given the diverse history of our people, and given imbalances and hierarchies that have sometimes marked our past, social justice remains a touchstone of our nation building. At the simplest level, it implies the removal of societal imbalances and the harmonisation of rival claims and needs of different communities and groups. Social justice is about providing equal opportunities. The most tantalising influence on justice is that of technology. Technology is an enhancer of justice as well as a challenge. It calls for us to think of technology justice as a subset of economic justice. This is very true in the context of access to technology for our poorer and less-privileged fellow citizens. On saving lives from opting for Suicide A National Suicide Prevention Strategy is the need of the hour Nobody has any right to ill-treat patients with mental illness. Modern medicines and proper treatment would enable people suffering from psychiatric disorders to lead normal productive lives even if they had faced the problem for a long-term. Yoga, meditation and spiritualism will provide mental equilibrium and solace at times of depression We need to strengthen our age-old family system, which can provide support for people suffering from dispersion. At least 13.7 per cent of India's general population has been projected to be suffering from a variety of mental illnesses and 10.6 per cent of this requires immediate intervention. In all, nearly 150 million Indians are in a need of active medical intervention, according to the National Mental Health Survey 2015-2016 submitted by NIMHANS to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare India that was placed in a uniquely advantageous position because 65 per cent of the population is below the age of 35 years, the Vice President stressed the need to hugely step up our efforts to help youth who are prone to bouts of depression to get rid of the problem. Apart from strengthening public health care system, he called for including Psychiatric disorders in Medical Insurance.
UPSC Quiz- 2019 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 123] Archives Q.1) Consider the following statements with respect to ‘GenBank’ It is an open access, annotated collection of all publicly available nucleotide sequences and their protein translations. It is produced and maintained by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) as part of the International Nucleotide Sequence Database Collaboration (INSDC). Select the correct code: 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2) ‘Nassib’ is a boder crossing between Syria and Jordan Jordan and Lebanon Egypt and Israel Syria and Lebanon Q.3) Consider the following statements with respect to ‘PARIVESH’ It is under the aegis of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare It is concerned with food, education and healthcare of children between the age of 6-14 years Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.4) ‘Hebbagodi Lake’ was recently in news. Where is it located? Hyderabad Bengaluru Chennai Kozhikode Q.5) ‘Waziristan Accord’ is concerned with which of the following countries? Iraq Syria Pakistan China To Download the Solution - Click here All the Best IASbaba
UPSC Interview Discussion: Think, Rethink and Perform; (TRP)- Day 3 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 makes you happy? Do small things matter to you? Or you aspire for something great in your life and then become happy? Can the service you are aspiring for give you happiness? Is your happiness dependent on your job? Can there be other sources of happiness as well? Think about it. Set 2: Analyse the following issue: There appears to be a race for building statues in India. While there is no doubt about the enormous financial outlays being diverted to such massive projects, people argue that such projects are needed for creating brand India and paying homage to our forgotten leaders and Gods. They also argue that such projects would attract tourists and provide employment to several thousand young citizens. What is your point of view in this regard? Is it justified to invest so heavily on statues in a country that has half the stunted children population of the world? Shouldn't that money be spent on the social sector to make the lives of poor better? Think!
You are the Relationship It is impossible to manage our relationships well if we are not able to manage ourselves. It all begins with us. Our thoughts, emotions, desires and fears drive our relationships with people around us. Not knowing enough of this inner mechanism is the root cause of all our relationship problems. How often do you face the difficulty of being misunderstood, of being underestimated, of being ignored? You rely on your relationships for your psychological and emotional support and yet the very relations you rely so much on, more often than not disappoint you. Let us understand a few fundamentals of successfully handling relationships. Let us understand how to balance the desires of our personal life with the expectations of the people around. First and the most important thing to remember about relationships is that you are the only person responsible for creating, managing and breaking-up relationships. There are no good or bad people out there worthy or unworthy of your relationship. Relationships are all about you. It is of course much easier to put people into categories of good and bad and shift the responsibility of managing relationships on to others. When things get difficult, it is always the other person who is wrong, isn’t it? Managing relationships require a slightly different approach. It requires the approach of a warrior. A warrior who is willing to fight within himself for the sake of his relationships; a warrior who is willing to first recognize and identify his own negative feelings and emotions towards people and then go about fighting them. It is said that the greatest battles are fought in the deepest recesses of our hearts. It is truer in case of the relationships we handle. Managing ourselves amidst of endless maize of complex and different behaviors is the greatest of all battles. Own it; take the responsibility for all your successful and failed relationships. Face the fact that everything that has gone right and wrong with people has happened because of you. The moment you throw the blame game out of the window, you become responsible; which is the first and most important requirement for managing successful relationships. “This article is a part of the creative endeavor of The Ahamo Movement and IASBABA.”
International Convention on Terrorism Archives TOPIC: General Studies 3: Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime with terrorism In News: Calling terrorism "the worst form of violation of human rights", India has decried attempts by some countries to prevent a unified international response to the threat. Despite terrorism being acknowledged as one of the foremost global challenges, any meaningful collective response to address this menace continues to be thwarted by some. The entire South Asia region, has been impacted by the activities of terrorist organizations like Al Qaeda, Taliban, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jamat-Ud-Daawa and others. The growing interlinkages between terrorist groups, cross-border operations including terror financing networks, propagating ideologies of hatred through exploitation of modern technologies and funding arms and weapons have certainly left no country aloof from the impact of terrorism. India has thus, lamented the inability of the UN to adopt a legal framework to combat international terrorism, saying this "lacunae" is impacting enforcement efforts to destroy safe havens for terrorists and their support networks. India’s Position on Fighting Terrorism India considers that the intricate linkages and networks that unite terror groups can only be challenged through concerted international cooperation and efforts by way of extradition, prosecution, information exchange, and capacity building. There is an urgent need for the world to come together in fighting terrorism, especially financing of terror-related activities and create conditions which do not encourage such acts. The international community needs to work together to expose and destroy the linkages that exist between terrorists and their supporters. There is need also for an international mechanism to ensure accountability and justice, enhanced dialogue and broaden understanding amongst Member States. At the UN General Assembly., Ms. Swaraj said, “…On the one hand, we want to fight terrorism; on the other, we cannot define it. This is why terrorists with a price on their head are celebrated, financed and armed as liberation heroes by a country that remains a member of the United Nations. Cruelty and barbarism are advertised as heroism.” India’s Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) India had proposed to the UN a draft document in 1996 on the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) with the belief that it would provide a strong legal basis for the fight against terrorism and would be in the interest of all Member States to have a multilateral and collective dimension of counter terrorism effort. Objectives To have a universal definition of terrorism that all 193-members of the UNGA will adopt into their own criminal law To ban all terror groups and shut down terror camps To prosecute all terrorists under special laws To make cross-border terrorism an extraditable offence worldwide. Despite India’s efforts to push a global intergovernmental convention to tackle terrorism, the conclusion and ratification of the CCIT remains deadlocked, mainly due to opposition from three main blocs – the US, the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC), and the Latin American countries. All three have objections over the “definition of terrorism” (the most divisive of the issues) and seek exclusions to safeguard their strategic interests. For example, the OIC wants exclusion of national liberation movements, especially in the context of Israel-Palestinian conflict. The US wanted the draft to exclude acts committed by military forces of states during peacetime. Thalif Deen described the situation as follows: "The key sticking points in the draft treaty revolve around several controversial yet basic issues, including the definition of ´terrorism´. For example, what distinguishes a "terrorist organisation" from a 'liberation movement'? And do you exclude activities of national armed forces, even if they are perceived to commit acts of terrorism? If not, how much of this constitutes 'state terrorism'?" Although consensus eludes towards adoption of the terrorism convention, but discussions have yielded three separate protocols that aim to tackle terrorism: International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings, adopted on 15 December 1997; International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism, adopted on 9 December 1999; and International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, adopted on 13 April 2005. The definition of the crime of terrorism which has been on the negotiating table of the Comprehensive Convention since 2002 reads as follows: "1. Any person commits an offence within the meaning of this Convention if that person, by any means, unlawfully and intentionally, causes: (a) Death or serious bodily injury to any person; or (b) Serious damage to public or private property, including a place of public use, a State or government facility, a public transportation system, an infrastructure facility or the environment; or (c) Damage to property, places, facilities, or systems referred to in paragraph1 (b) of this article, resulting or likely to result in major economic loss, …when the purpose of the conduct, by its nature or context, is to intimidate a population, or to compel a Government or an international organization to do or abstain from doing any act." Latest Developments The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) has resolved to fight terrorism, separatism and extremism with a renewed vigour in the next three years, and called for a unified global counter-terrorism front under the coordination of the U.N. SCO would work to stop the spread of terrorist ideology and eliminate factors and conditions that facilitated terrorism and extremism, acknowledging that there can be no justification to any act of terrorism or extremism. Called for “effectively fulfilling” the requirements of specialised UN Security Council resolutions to counter any forms of financing of terrorism and providing material and technical support to it Talked about the growing threat from foreign terrorists who returned to their countries or find shelter in third countries to continue their terrorist and extremist activity within the bloc. The member states will work to improve the information exchange mechanisms regarding these people and their movements, and speed up procedures to extradite foreign terrorists in accordance with the national legislation of the SCO member states and boost international cooperation both on the political level and between the security services. Reaffirmed their concern about the risk of weapons of mass destruction ending up in the hands of terrorist groups SCO also discussed the special role of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure in the fight against “the three evils” — terrorism, extremism and separatism — to ensure regional security. The leaders advocated the strengthening of the international legal framework to counter this threat and support the initiative to draft an international convention against chemical and biological terrorist attacks at the Conference on Disarmament. Must Read: Link 1 + Link 2 Connecting the Dots: What are the sources of terror financing? Examine the nexus between terrorism and organised crime. What steps have been taken to stifle terror financing in India? Discuss. Terrorist organisations and organised crime cartels have not only appropriated each other’s methodologies but have also developed a symbiotic relationship. Do you agree? Illustrate.
Women’s Participation in Agriculture ARCHIVES Search 15th October, 2018 Spotlight here: http://www.newsonair.com/Audio-Archive-Search.aspx TOPIC: General Studies 1 Role of women and women’s organization, Population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, General Studies 3 Agriculture and issues related to it Women are the backbone of the rural economy, especially in developing countries. They make up almost half of the world’s farmers, and over the last few decades, they have broadened their involvement in agriculture. The number of female-headed households has also increased as more men have migrated to cities. As the primary caregivers to families and communities, women provide food and nutrition; they are the human link between the farm and the table. India’s agricultural industry, which employs 80 to 100 million women, cannot survive without their labour. From preparing the land, selecting seeds, preparing and sowing to transplanting the seedlings, applying manure/fertilisers/pesticides and then harvesting, winnowing and threshing, women work harder and longer than male farmers. Despite their hard labour in the field, women are not officially counted as farmers, and are either labelled “agricultural labourers” or “cultivators”. Agriculture can be an important engine of growth and poverty reduction. But the sector is underperforming in many countries in part because women, who are often a crucial resource in agriculture and the rural economy, face constraints that reduce their productivity. Rural women often manage complex households and pursue multiple livelihood strategies. Their activities typically include producing agricultural crops, tending animals, processing and preparing food, working for wages in agricultural or other rural enterprises, collecting fuel and water, engaging in trade and marketing, caring for family members and maintaining their homes. Many of these activities are not defined as “economically active employment” in national accounts but they are essential to the wellbeing of rural households. Critical Issues Women and unpaid household responsibilities: Women are generally less able than men to participate in economic opportunities because they face a work burden that men do not. In most societies, women are responsible for most of the household and child-rearing activities as well rearing of small livestock, although norms differ by culture and over time. This additional work burden is unpaid and limits women’s capacity to engage in income-earning activities, which often require a minimum fixed time before being profitable. Furthermore, the nature of tasks, such as caring for children and elderly household members, requires women to stay near the home, thus limiting options to work for a wage. Gender differences within Agriculture market: Intra-household inequality can also weaken a woman’s position also outside of the home (Kapadia, 1993 and 1995). Women are over-represented in jobs characterized by low wages, high job insecurity and generally poor labour standards. When women have limited decision-making ability within the household or low access to resources and household income, they are more likely to accept lower wages. Kantor (2008) notes that, for most women in northern India, labour market participation is a survival strategy for the household, not a means of improving standards of living or voice in the household. Lack of ownership of land: As many as 87 per cent of women do not own their land; only 12.7 per cent of them do. There are two primary reasons for the alarmingly low number: One, land being a state subject is not governed by the constitution under a uniform law that applies equally to all citizens but rather is governed by personal religious laws, which tend to discriminate against women when it comes to land inheritance. Second, the cultural aspect of the deep-rooted biases that hinder women’s ownership of land in patriarchal societies cannot be discounted. Women: Change Agents As the global community works toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) -- among them, SDG2, which aims to end hunger and malnutrition by 2030 -- women can be the key agents of change in agriculture, nutrition and rural development. With better access to information, training, and technology, women can alter food production and consumption so that land and resources are used sustainably. In India Of the total farmers in the country, about 14 per cent are women. A research by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) conducted in nine states shows that the participation of women is 75 per cent in the production of major crops, 79 per cent in horticulture, 51 per cent in post-harvest work and 95 per cent in animal husbandry and fisheries. In order to bring women in the agriculture mainstream, the government has allocated more than 30 per cent of funds for women under various major schemes/programmes and development related activities. Under the National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI), 38.78 lakh women have been trained in the last two years. Similarly, 6.07 lakh and 7000 women have benefited through KVKs (Krishi Vigyan Kendra's) and skill training respectively. Economic Survey 2018: Gender-specific interventions for higher productivity “With growing rural to urban migration by men, there is ‘feminisation’ of agriculture sector, with increasing number of women in multiple roles as cultivators, entrepreneurs, and labourers,” the survey noted. Women play a significant and crucial role in agricultural development and allied fields “is a fact long taken for granted,” the survey observed. Women farmers should have enhanced access to resources like land, water, credit, technology and training which warrants critical analysis in the context of India. The entitlements of women farmers will be the key to improve agriculture productivity. The differential access of women to resources like land, credit, water, seeds and markets needs to be addressed. Focus on women self-help group (SHG) to connect them to micro-credit through capacity building activities and to provide information and ensuring their representation in different decision-making bodies. The Way Forward An ‘inclusive transformative agricultural policy’ should aim at gender-specific interventions to raise productivity of small farm holdings, integrate women as active agents in rural transformation, and engage men and women in extension services with gender expertise. An increased work burden with lower compensation is a key factor responsible for their marginalisation. It is important to have gender-friendly tools and machinery for various farm operations. Most farm machinery is difficult for women to operate. Manufacturers should be incentivised to come up with better solutions. Farm machinery banks and custom hiring centres promoted by many State governments can be roped in to provide subsidised rental services to women farmers. Equalising access to productive resources for female and male farmers could increase agricultural output in developing countries by as much as 2.5% to 4%. Krishi Vigyan Kendras in every district can be assigned an additional task to educate and train women farmers about innovative technology along with extension services. Providing women with access to secure land is key to incentivising the majority of India’s women farmers. This, coupled with the need to make investments to improve harvests, will result in increased productivity and improve household food security and nutrition. Land-owning women’s offspring thus receive better nourishment and have better health indicators. Land-owning mothers also tend to invest in their children’s education. Ultimately, this is a win-win situation all around — for the farmer, her family and the larger ecosystem. With security of tenure, female farmers should be provided with the three critical driving factors — the incentive, the security, as well as the opportunity — to invest in the land they harvest. Security of land tenure also presents advantages for landlords by removing the fear of losing their land ownership. Note: 15th October: International Day of Rural Women by the United Nations, and National Women’s Farmer’s Day (Rashtriya Mahila Kisan Diwas) in India Connecting the Dots: With the ‘feminisation of agriculture’ picking up pace, the challenges women farmers face can no longer be ignored. Analyse the challenges faced by women farmers in India and suggest some measures to alleviate them.
IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs (Prelims + Mains Focus)- 04th December 2018 Archives (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS) Cow vigilantism: Cop and villager killed in Bulandshahr clashes Part of: GS Mains II – National; Issues affecting secular character and integrity In news: Protesters, including members of right-wing groups, clashed with security men and set their vehicles and a police post on fire in the three-hour rampage after reports of cow slaughter at UP’s Bulandshahr. Cow slaughter is banned in many Indian states, including Uttar Pradesh, because Hindus consider it a sacred animal. There have been multiple cases of lynchings over alleged cow slaughter and illegal cow transportation reported over the past few years from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, and other parts of North India. Over the past two years or so we have seen a rising tide of violence, mainly in northern India, against Dalits and Muslims. This has revolved around the treatment of the cow. Indians have been physically attacked by rampaging mobs accusing them of storing beef or transporting cows for slaughter. Issues: From last two years, incidents of mob justice have come to light time and again. The state response has been conspicuously lacking more often than not. The situation is deplorable both for the cumulative effect on the moral life of the nation. It sends a troubling message about the state’s abilities and prerogatives. The majoritarian nature of many of the lynchings, perpetrated by self-styled gau rakshaks. Cow protection has been a symbol in these incidents—a means of acting against the victims for reasons that have to do either with religion or caste. Muslims and Dalits have been targeted repeatedly on the flimsiest of pretexts. Do you know? Rule 3 of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Establishment & Regulation of Societies for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) Rules, 2001, empowers “civil society groups” to protect animals. According to Rule 3(5) of PCA Rules, 2001 – a State can confer powers upon “any society” in district to prevent cruelty against animals. Rule 3 is providing State accreditation to cow vigilantism. Rule also providing police powers to civil society groups to stop vehicles, search premises and seize animals. Supreme Court has expressed shock over this Rule. Qatar to quit OPEC Part of: Prelims and Mains II – International In news: Qatar will leave the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) next month in order to focus on gas production. Qatar has been a member of OPEC since 1961, and the decision to pull out after all these decades comes at a turbulent time in Gulf politics, with Doha under a boycott by former neighbouring allies, including Saudi Arabia, for 18 months. About OPEC The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) was founded in Baghdad, Iraq, with the signing of an agreement in September 1960 by five countries namely Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. They were to become the Founder Members of the Organization. These countries were later joined by Qatar (1961), Indonesia (1962), Libya (1962), the United Arab Emirates (1967), Algeria (1969), Nigeria (1971), Ecuador (1973), Gabon (1975), Angola (2007), Equatorial Guinea (2017) and Congo (2018). ‘No Road No Vote Central Committee’ (NRNCC) Part of: GS Mains – Role of Pressure Groups In news: More than 4,000 people in 24 remote villages in Arunachal Pradesh would get a proper road connectivity for the first time. Thanks to ‘No Road No Vote Central Committee’ (NRNCC) – an organisation which is spearheading the campaign for the construction of the road. Not a single vote was cast at five of the nine polling stations After the locals threatened to launch a civil disobedience movement to surrender their voter identity cards to the State government if their demand was not met, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister assured to look into the grievances. The road has been sanctioned under the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). ISRO’s 5.8-tonne GSAT-11 ready for launch Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III – Science and Technology In news: GSAT-11, heaviest Indian communication satellite, to take off from French Guiana (South America) The 5,854 kg satellite, almost double the biggest one built or launched by ISRO to date, will ride up on European launch vehicle Ariane 5 ECA. GSAT-11 is part of ISRO’s new family of high-throughput communication satellite (HTS) fleet that will drive the country's Internet broadband from space to untouched areas; the broadband domain is now ruled by underground fibre and covers partial and convenient locations. Do you know? Two high-throughput communication satellite (HTS) are already up in space – GSAT-29 (November 14) and GSAT-19 (June 2017) They are all to provide high-speed Internet data services at the rate of 100 Gbps (Gigabits per second) to Indian users. The HTSs will also be the backbone of pan-India digital or easy Internet-based programmes and services — such as Digital India, Bharat Net for rural e-governance, and commercial and public sector VSAT Net service providers. Pic: https://d39gegkjaqduz9.cloudfront.net/TH/2018/12/04/DEL/Delhi/TH/5_07/47720869_2571067_101_mr.jpg India and Bhutan Ties Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – India and its neighbours; International Relations In news: Bhutan’s Prime Minister Lotay Tshering is expected to visit India. He reiterated that India remains the cornerstone of Bhutan’s foreign policy. Bhutan aims to graduate from an LDC (least developed country) to a middle-income country by 2023. Area of focus will be – India’s revised policy on cross-border trade of electricity (CBTE) – which is expected to impact Bhutan’s ability to sell power to India. Revising BBIN (Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal) Motor Vehicles Agreement – which was opposed by Bhutanese Parliament. Bhutan’s new Foreign Minister reiterated the country’s policy of not having full relations with any permanent member of the UN Security Council, including China. Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee (PCCoSC) Part of: GS Mains III – Defence and Security In news: The three services – Army, Navy and Air Force – are taking steps to improve ‘jointmanship’ and have agreed on the appointment of a Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee. The PCCoSC is envisaged as a single-point military adviser to the government. Do you know? The permanent chairman, CoSC will be a four-star officer, who will be equivalent to chiefs of army, airforce and navy. He would look into joint issues of the services like training of troops, acquisition of weapon systems and joint operations of the services. The officer would also be in-charge of the tri-services command at Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the strategic command of nuclear weapons along with the upcoming cyber and space command. The Naresh Chandra Task Force, formed in May 2011 to review the national security management system, recommended the creation of permanent post of chairman, chiefs of staff committee (CoSC). (MAINS FOCUS) WORLD HISTORY/INTERNATIONAL TOPIC:General studies 1 and 2 World History Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests Symbol of a lost order: On George H.W. Bush Introduction The passing of George H.W. Bush, the 41st President of the United States, from 1989 to 1993, is an occasion to contextualise the current turbulence in the world, especially in liberal democracies. America’s pursuit of global dominance It was his (H. W. Bush's) predecessor, Ronald Reagan, who gave a rhetorical flourish to America’s pursuit of global dominance in the 1980s with his depiction of the Soviet Union as the “evil empire”, and his call to “break that wall”. W Bush was his Vice President and then successor. One phrase he coined, a “new world order”, turned out to be defining, initially for its triumph, and now for its decline. Do you know; what is new World Order? It refers to any period in history which experiences a dramatic change in balance of power and global governance. Such changes occurred after World War II with the formation of United Nations and such other events. New World order from 1989 onwards There was a formation of a New World Order from 1989 onwards with respect to changes in international world. Those changes were - Cause of breakup of USSR Effect of US hegemony First Gulf War Fall of Berlin Wall Conclusion Bush lived to see the unravelling of the world order and the concomitant turmoil. It is no coincidence that nationalists such as President Donald Trump define their politics as a rejection of the order that led their societies for the “last 30 years”. The new Trade war and rise of multi-polar world marks the decline of 1980’s New World Order and beginning of yet another. Connecting the dots: A New World Order which was established in late 1980s is now declining. Do you agree? (Note: For more on US hegemony, read the Third Chapter from Class XII NCERT: Contemporary world politics) INTERNATIONAL TOPIC:General studies 2 India and its neighbourhood Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests Neighbourhood First: Foreign policy shift in 2018 Introduction The current year, 2018, has marked a year of reaching out in the region by the current government in general, with a view to dialling down disagreements that otherwise marked ties with major powers such as Russia and China. But while “Wuhan summit” with Chinese President and the “Sochi retreat” with Russian President merited much attention, it is important to take stock of attempts at rapprochement in the immediate neighbourhood. Recent events of change in posture by Indian government to neighbours: Maldives PM Narendra Modi recently made his first visit to Maldives during the swearing in ceremony of the newly elected President Ibrahim Solih. The visit acted as means of support and acceptance of the new government of Maldives after having a conflicted relationship with the previous government of President Yameen. China PM Modi indulged in the 'Wuhan Summit' with Chinese President Xi Jingping that led to the process of consultation for a peaceful resolution of boundary dispute, after having been in cross-fire over the Doklam issue in 2017. Nepal India government was accused of fuelling the blockade of Nepal in 2015, apart from opposing the earlier government of K.P. Oli in Nepal. However, the re- election of K.P. Oli as PM of Nepal in 2018 led to the Indian government continuously engaging with the new government through multiple visits. Afghanistan Indian government refused to share a common regional platform with the ousted Taliban government of Afghanistan after 9/11. However, the Moscow Format held by Russia became the first regional platform that India has shared in an un-official manner with the Taliban. Pakistan India had refused to engage with the government of Pakistan after the Uri attack in 2016 and refused to also engage with the new government under Imran Khan that was elected in 2018. However, during the recent opening of the Kartarpur Corridor, India was represented by two Central Ministers in Pakistan. Bangladesh, Bhutan & Sri Lanka Indian official have always shown an inclination in support of the Sheikh Hasina political party Awami League in Bangladeshi elections as being pro- India, in comparison to the pro-Pakistan party of Khaleda Zia. However in the up-coming election in Bangladesh in December 2018, India has maintained a silenced role. Similarly with elections in Bhutan as well as the ongoing political crisis in Sri Lanka, India has chosen to make no public political statement that could be construed as interference or preference for one side over the other. Speculated causes of this Change: Sustained backlash from government in Nepal especially with support of Nepalese electorate led to a need to follow an accommodative policy. Positive changes in circumstances such as the new President in Maldives or opening of Kartarpur corridor needed to be positively accommodated rather than dismissed Pursuing both competition and cooperation with neighbours based on national interest such as seen with China. India's aggression under the Big Brother policy enhanced the attractiveness of China as a balancer in South Asia and therefore a change in posture was necessary. Conclusion A retreat to the original policy imperative of the current government; Neighbourhood First, whereby a balanced approach of both aggression and accommodation will be followed with neighbours. However, it is yet to be seen whether the change in posture is a temporary foreign policy imperative or a permanent fixture. Connecting the dots: Critically analyse the shift in India's foreign policy with regard to neighbouring countries over last few years. (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note: Featured Comments and comments Up-voted by IASbaba are the “correct answers”. IASbaba App users – Team IASbaba will provide correct answers in comment section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers. Q.1) Consider the following statements about Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) It is an intergovernmental organisation of Central and Western Asian Countries The OPEC Secretariat is located in Vienna World Oil Outlook (WOO) is published by OPEC Select the correct code: 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 2 Only Q.2) Consider the following statements with respect to Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) All the founding members were from Asia It is headquartered in Baghdad Select the correct statement(s) Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is an example of Monopoly Oligopoly Perfect Competition None of the above Q.4) Consider the following statements about GSAT-11 It is a communication satellite operated by INSAT system It will be launched from Sriharikota by PSLV C34 It will be India’s heaviest satellite till date Which of the following statements is/are correct? Only 1 1 and 3 1 and 2 All of the above Q.5) Consider the following statements about Andaman and Nicobar Command It is India's only operational tri-services command It was created in 2001 to safeguard India's strategic interests in Southeast Asia and the Strait of Malacca Select the correct statements 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 MUST READ Two Punjabs, one South Asia The Hindu Secular democracy in peril The Hindu Make planning fashionable again The Hindu Beyond binaries Indian Express Raja Mandala: Rethinking the Gulf Indian Express Corridor of uncertainty Indian Express
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