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Sep 18, 2018 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs [Prelims + Mains Focus] - 18th September 2018

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs (Prelims + Mains Focus)- 18th September 2018 Archives (PRELIMS+MAINS FOCUS) Public sector banking reforms: Unification of state-owned banks Part of: Prelims and mains GS III- Indian economy; Banking In news Public sector banking reforms The Centre proposed the unification of state-owned banks - Bank of Baroda, Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank - to create India’s third largest bank. Merger to provide total business of more than ₹14.82 trillion. After getting in-principle approval, the banks will take steps in accordance with the law and SEBI requirements. The final scheme will be notified by the Central government in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India. The merger will be based purely on commercial considerations. Why was the decision taken? India aspiring to be the fastest growing economy has to be supported by stronger and globally competitive banks with increased choices to the stakeholders. Dena Bank has been placed under the prompt corrective action framework (It is in a bad shape with higher NPAs, higher cost to income and falling profitability). So the idea is to merge the weaker bank with stronger bank (BoB and Vijaya Bank) so that it would be a strong competitive bank with economies of scale. The entity would also be positioned for substantial rise in customer base, market reach and operational efficiency. The amalgamation is aimed at catering the massive credit requirements of the growing economy, and cutting costs as well as dependence on the government for capital infusion in the longer term. Do you know? The proposal of fewer but stronger state-run lenders was originally mooted in 1991. Narasimhan report on banking reforms had recommended merger of public sector banks to make them stronger It had envisaged a three-tier banking structure with three large banks with international presence at the top, eight to 10 national banks at tier two, and a large number of regional and local banks at the bottom. Machines will rule workplace by 2025: “The Future of Jobs 2018” report by WEF Part of: Prelims and mains GS III- Indian economy; Employment In news “The Future of Jobs 2018” report by WEF predicts that the rise of robotics will result in machines performing more tasks on the job than humans by 2025. The trend could displace 75 million jobs globally by 2022. The report surveyed executives from different industries around the world, aiming to get a look at how new technologies, like artificial intelligence, will affect the global labor force. Pic: https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/jx4v0t/article24970905.ece/alternates/FREE_615/th18machinescol Details of the report In 2018, humans performed an average of 71% of total task hours across the 12 industries spanning manufacturing, services and high tech. By 2025, that will drop to just 48%, according to the WEF. Machines will perform the remaining 52%. Globally, almost half of all companies expect automation to cut their full-time workforce in the next four years; However, new jobs will still lead to a net gain in employment opportunities if sufficient reskilling is done. In India, 54% of employees in these sectors will need reskilling by 2022 Of this 35% would need at least six months’ worth of reskilling, 10% would need more than a year of training in order to meet the demands of the new economy Significance Roles that rely on human skills, like sales, marketing and scientific-based positions, will likely see an increase in demand. The report calls on businesses and government leaders around the world to create a support system for their employees and ensure a smooth transition as the workforce evolves. Fluoride contamination in Odisha Part of: Prelims and mains GS II and GS III- Health, Environment and Pollution In news School Children in Odisha’s Nuapada district are facing the brunt of Flouride Contamination with potable water sources in as many as 54 schools and anganwadi premises testing for fluoride presence beyond permissible limits. Laboratory tests found 5.25 mg per litre fluoride content in water. Consumption of water having fluoride content above 1.5 mg per litre is considered dangerous to health. In 2018-19, drinking water sources in eight schools in Nayagarh, seven in Balangir and eight in Kalahandi districts were found to be fluoride contaminated. Health Issues Prolonged consumption of fluoride-contaminated water leads to dental and skeletal fluorosis. Mottled Teeth and crippled backbone and limbs are manifestation of the disease. Bones in children are in formation stage while fluoride tends to damage bones. Maharashtra to set up cyber varsity Part of: Prelims and Mains GS III- Technology, Security issues: cyber security In news The Maharashtra Government has taken the first step towards setting up a varsity dedicated to mitigating cyber threats. It has set aside 80 crore for the first round of its funding. What was the need? A 2015 skill gap analysis for Maharashtra by the consultancy firm KPMG had pointed to a gap of 1.5 crore professionals in 10 sectors. Of these, there was a greater shortfall in the IoT and Cyber Forensics sectors. The new varsity will bridge this skill gap The current supply of cyber professionals in the country is about a lakh while the demand hovers around 30 lakh. A cyber-attack is taking place every 10 minutes as opposed to 12 minutes previously. The varsity will remedy this. Details The new Cyber University will train 3,000 professionals to fight online space cyber-attacks, internet crimes, and conduct cyber forensics. It will also impart training in 15 other Internet of Things (IoT) areas such as Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence (AI). The government will provide different levels of training and enable affiliated colleges to impart certification for the 15 courses. The State will also supply infrastructure for training and education. Cost of courses The varsity will provide for and prepare internet professionals on the lines of the Microsoft Certified Professional Program. The courses will cost less than 5 lakh for courses in data analytics, cloud computing, blockchain, AI, cyber forensics and cyber investigations. Background Maharashtra is already in the process of setting up its version of the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team to ward off external cyber threats. In 2016, the State had even appointed a consortium of M/s C-DAC (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing) and Railtel Corporation of India for the 838-crore project. The consortium in its analysis used the same technology as GARUDA, India’s national grid computing initiative, and the Graphics and Intelligence Based Script Technology. Do you know? GARUDA (Global Access to Resource Using Distributed Architecture) GARUDA initiative is a collaboration of the Scientific, Engineering and Academic Community to carry-out research and experimentation on a nationwide grid of computational nodes, mass storage that aims to provide the distributed data and compute intensive High Performance Computing solutions for the 21st century. It will deploy a distributed networked infrastructure for universities, research labs, industry and government throughout India. Department of Information Technology (DIT) has funded the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) to deploy the nation-wide computational grid, GARUDA. It connects 45 institutions across 17 cities, with an aim to bring Grid computing to research labs, industries and academic institutions. GARUDA is part of the National Knowledge Network (NKN), an initiative to build a high-speed national network backbone with reliable quality of service (QoS) and security. Read more on: GARUDA India calling: 5G networks may be in place by 2020 Part of: Prelims and mains GS III – Economy and technology In news Having missed the bus for early adoption of latest technologies in the past, India — one of the fastest growing telecom markets in the world — is pushing for a timely roll-out of 5G technology in the country. The Indian government is aiming to commercially introduce 5G services in the country by the end of 2020, almost in line with rest of the world. The steering committee has recommended that the 5G spectrum allocation policy should be announced by the end of this year. The high-level panel has recommended that 5G programmes be also funded by the government. What is 5G? 5G is the next generation of mobile Internet connectivity that would offer much faster and more reliable networks, which would form the backbone for the emerging era of Internet of Things (IoT). Previous generations of mobile networks addressed consumers predominantly for voice and SMS in 2G, web browsing in 3G and higher speed data and video streaming in 4G. The transition from 4G to 5G will serve both consumers and multiple industries. Globally, over 150 pre-commercial 5G trials are under way around the world, including South Korea, China and the U.S., 5G trials are yet to begin in India. Challenges ahead Coverage in rural areas remains a challenge. Disrupting industries: Once commercialised, 5G is expected to disrupt not only telecom but other industries as well as. 5G is expected to see use beyond delivery of services just on “personal phone platforms.” It will also connect new devices to support a much larger range of applications and services. This comes at a time when the industry continues to reel under financial stress, weighed down by high debt. Advantages Next generation mobile Internet connectivity will offer faster, more reliable networks that will form the backbone for era of IoT. The next generation network will see usage in key government projects such as smart cities and Digital India, besides other business-to-business applications. Consumption in terms of using IoT (Internet of Things) devices such as connected refrigerators etc. It would enable revenue opportunity for Indian telecom operators by 2026. The largest opportunity would be seen in sectors like manufacturing, energy and utilities followed by public safety and health sectors. Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS): Smart fencing will end infiltration Part of: Prelims and mains GS III- Security and border management In news Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the first phase of hi-tech ‘smart fencing’ of 11 km stretch on the International Border (IB) in Jammu. CIBMS would provide for round-the-clock laser-guided surveillance of the borders. The smart fencing project will initially be implemented to cover gaps in the physical fencing. Eventually, this technology will be implemented across the entire border, The smart fencing is a web of surveillance, communication and data storage devices. It will enable surveillance during difficult weather conditions and reduce the need for physical patrolling of the borders. It will rely on thermal imaging, infra-red and laser-based intruder alarms to stop infiltration. (MAINS FOCUS) NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 1 Role of women and women’s organization Social empowerment The power of Kudumbashree: A case study on Women participation Introduction: In the month of August 2018, Kerala faced the worst disaster in a century. Now, long and tedious process of relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction process is going on. There are many heroic stories coming to surface about how people are contributing to rebuild Kerala. One of them is of contribution of Kudumbashree. What Kudumbashree is doing in disaster relief? Kumari had contracted leptospirosis while doing relief work in Kerala after the floods, away from her own home which had not been affected. She was a health volunteer and prominent member of the Kudumbashree Mission. Volunteers Zarina and Sudha said: “We saw mounds of foul-smelling black mud piled outside the houses blocking the entrances and, in some cases, partially covering the houses. There were dead animals too..... We knew we could fall ill or be stung by poisonous insects or snakes, but we were not afraid. Tribal women and members of Kudumbashree from nearby areas also joined us.” Like Kumari, Zarina and Sudha, around 4,00,000 women of Kudumbashree self-mobilised across the State to do relief work. The Kudumbashree State Mission estimates that Kudumbashree groups cleaned up 11,300 public places and two lakh houses. They provided counselling and information assistance as well as shelter to families. They also donated Rs. 7.4 crore to the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund. This scale of voluntary relief work by women is quite unprecedented by any standard. United in relief work The attention is necessary not just to accord women relief helpers like Kumari recognition and appreciation, but also to understand how such an enormous, effective and well-planned intervention could be made across the State by women through their own initiatives. Women from working class families, women from the lower middle class and middle class, Muslim women and Dalit women were present. They were a microcosm of the 2.43 lakh groups functioning across the State. Within a day or two of the deluge, the Kudumbashree members started contacting each other to discuss what they should do. They divided themselves into squads of five to six members and started relief work. They were helped by the district coordination team of five women, who were on deputation to the Kudumbashree Mission from the government. Within a short span of time, there were 7,000 women volunteers engaged in various tasks. When the situation in their district improved, some of them set out to neighbouring districts to help. Many of these women have family responsibilities, but they convinced their families of the urgency of the work at hand and set off with all the equipment required for cleaning which they themselves had collected through sponsorships. A unique model Started in 1998, it was envisioned as a part of the People’s Plan Campaign and local self-governance, with women at the centre of it. In its conceptualisation, it was markedly different from the self-help group (SHG) movements in many parts of India. While the commonality with other States was in the thrift and credit activities at the grassroots level through the formations of saving groups, the structures differed. Kudumbashree has a three-tier structure. The first is the basic unit — the neighbourhood groups (NGs). There could be several such units within a ward and they are networked through the area development societies (ADS). All ADSs are federated through the community development societies (CDS). There are core committees of elected coordinators at all three levels. Each Kudumbashree member has a vote. Direct elections for the NG coordinators are held every three years. These people, in turn, elect the coordinators of the ADS who elect the members of the CDS. A majority of the members of the coordinator groups have to belong to women below the poverty line or from comparatively poorer sections. There is reservation for Dalit and Adivasi women. At the district and State levels, employees/officers of the government are appointed on deputation to help the Kudumbashree groups. Thus, there is a socially representative leadership. This secular composition acts as a facilitator for the secularisation of public spaces. The micro-enterprises undertaken by the women NGs in Kerala also strengthen community bonds. These include organic vegetable growing, poultry and dairy, catering and tailoring. The concepts and practices have expanded over the years. Today the community farms run by Kudumbashree groups are acknowledged as a critical avenue for the rejuvenation of agricultural production in Kerala. Kudumbashree training courses are quite comprehensive and include women’s rights, knowledge of constitutional and legal provisions, training in banking practices, and training in skills to set up micro-enterprises. The Kudumbashree groups are therefore often seen as a threat by those who would like women to adhere to socially conformist roles. Conclusion: In a modern democratic India, women are still suffering to prove their existence and abilities. This case study is a proof that women are equal half in pair of human. They can significantly contribute to the society as well as economy. This model of Kudumbashree can be implemented across India, if it is done with the same secular and gender-sensitive spirit. Connecting the dots: Historically, be it the disaster of world war or floods of Kerala, time and again women proved their abilities. Critically comment in context of role of women in modern society and economy. Note: Story of Kumari, Zarina and sudha, or story of Kudumbashree can be used in Essay as well as examples in ethics (Humanitarian behaviour in the event of crisis). AGRICULTURE TOPIC: General Studies 3 Biodiversity, Environment and Climate change Agriculture and related issues Transforming agriculture Introduction India is signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity. As four of the 35 biodiversity hotspots are located in India, it is biodiversity-rich. However, climate change and development without consideration for biodiversity are leading to loss of biodiversity. Some of the issues India gave the world crops such as rice, chickpea, pigeon pea, mango and eggplant. Most keepers of these crops genetic diversity are smallholder farmers, including women. With the focus on policies that cater to market demands, its reservoir of indigenous traditional crops has dwindled. Man-animal conflicts in the fringes of Protected Areas or animal corridors Conflicts over unsustainable procurement of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) have been contentious, especially in Odisha and Uttarakhand. Green Agriculture project and its significance India’s National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP) recognises the importance of biodiversity for inclusive development. The Green Agriculture project implemented by the Indian government and the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) takes a novel approach to support the NBAP and synergise biodiversity conservation, agriculture production and development. It is being implemented in five landscapes adjoining Protected Areas/Biosphere Reserves: Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Odisha, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand. It envisages a transformation in Indian agriculture for global environmental benefits by addressing land degradation, climate change mitigation, sustainable forest management, and biodiversity conservation. The approach will be to strengthen their role as agrodiversity guardians by developing value chains for their indigenous crops such as traditional rice varieties in Odisha. Way forward A participatory and landscape approach can ensure sustainability of conservation efforts. Keeping the focus on initiatives for sustainable NTFP harvest, eradication of invasive alien species, and mitigation of wildlife conflicts is essential. Biodiversity conservation is a part of traditional wisdom. Examples include the Orans of Rajasthan and the village safety and supply reserves in Mizoram. Traditional farming systems such as jhum encouraged crop diversity. However, climate change and shortened fallow cycles are undermining jhum cultivation sustainability. The landscape approach will aim to restore traditional knowledge systems, such as the conservation of common property resources. Participatory learning tools will encourage farmers to adopt more sustainable indigenous soil conservation. Conclusion Environmental concerns are inadequately reflected in the development rhetoric. Thus, projects such as Green Agriculture are essential in equipping decision-makers with the necessary instruments to design effective and informed policies to underpin environmental concerns. Connecting the dots: Write a brief note on Green Agriculture project and India’s National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP). (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) Narasimham Committee is associated with Banking Reforms Labour Reforms Taxation Extradition Q.2) Which one of the following is a major effect of long term consumption of drinking water containing little(less than 0.5 ppm) or no fluoride? Cavity of tooth Erosion of nail Deformation of bone Mottling of tooth Q.3) Which of the following can be found as pollutants in the drinking water in some parts of India? Arsenic Fluoride Formaldehyde Sorbitol Uranium Select the correct answer using the codes given below: 1 and 2 only 2, 4 and 5 only 1, 2 and 5 only 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 MUST READ 2+2 is less than the sum of its parts? The Hindu Himalayan divide: on the drift in India-Nepal ties The Hindu Saving rivers The Hindu The progressive way The Hindu No land’s people The Hindu Rupee in a global world Indian Express Terrorised By Law Indian Express Plate to Plough: Drowning in sweetness Indian Express Raja Mandala: Two discourses on strategic autonomy Indian Express

Sep 18, 2018 Important Articles

TLP PHASE 2 UPSC MAINS 2018- COMPILATION

Hello Friends, Here we present the compilation of TLP Mains 2018-Phase 2. Hope you find it useful :) UPSC GS PAPER 1 UPSC GS PAPER 2 UPSC GS PAPER 3 UPSC GS PAPER 4 UPSC GS CURRENT AFFAIRS You can also download Phase 1- Mains 2018 Compilation- Click Here

Sep 18, 2018 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz- 2019 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 68]

UPSC Quiz- 2019 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 68] Archives Q.1) Rashtriya Garima Abhiyaan’ is a national campaign to Eradicate the practice of manual scavenging and rehabilitate the manual scavengers Rehabilitate the homeless and destitute persons and provide them with suitable sources of livelihood Release the sex workers form their practice and provide them with alternative sources of livelihood Release the bonded labourers from their bondage and rehabilitate them Q.2) Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is constituted under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 None of the above Q.3) Consider the following statements about ‘EyeROV TUNA’ It is India's first underwater robotic drone It is developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation. Select the correct code: 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.4) Boko Haram, an extremist group often in news is based in? Iraq Nigeria Lebanon Syria Q.5) ‘Mt Everest Friendship Exercise’ is held between India and Nepal Bhutan and Nepal Nepal and China BIMSTEC Members To Download the Solution - Click here All the Best IASbaba

Sep 18, 2018 RSTV Video

RSTV - HIV AIDS Act, 2017

HIV AIDS Act, 2017 Archives TOPIC:General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health In News: Announcement of implementation of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Act – The Act, which received Presidential assent on April 20 last year, prohibits discrimination against such persons in: Accessing healthcare Getting jobs Renting accommodation Admission in educational institutions, whether private or public India is the first state in south Asia to pass legislation prohibiting discrimination. By: The Ministry of Health Status of the Act: the Act received Presidential assent way back in 2017 but it was not notified. The current development has come after the Delhi High Court asked the Centre why it has not yet notified the law to prevent discrimination against HIV and AIDS patients despite the statute receiving Presidential assent in April last year. Key Statistics: India has the third largest HIV-infected population with an estimated 2 million people. The country aims to decrease new infections by 75 per cent between 2010 and 2020 and eliminate AIDS by 2030. India brought down the number of new cases and deaths by 27% and 56%, respectively, between 2010 and 2017 But even as India celebrates such progress, it is important to be mindful of the scale of the challenge. With 2.1 million cases, India is among the largest burden countries in the world. And there are critical gaps in its strategy. What is AIDS? Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a condition caused by Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), which attacks and weakens the body’s immune system. Objective of the Act: Prevention and control of the spread of the HIV/AIDS: Mandates the central government with respect to also the state governments to formulate rules and also to have laboratories in place for assisting all those people who have been suffering with HIV/AID Protection of the basic human rights of the people suffering from HIV/AIDS The act penalises discrimination against protected persons and lays down provisions for guardianship of affected minors Salient features of the Act The Act penalises "propagation of hatred" against the protected person where a violator could be punished with a minimum jail term of three months to a maximum of two years and can be fined up to one lakh rupees. As per the Act, Union and state governments shall take measures to: Prevent the spread of HIV or AIDS Provide anti-retroviral therapy and infection management for persons with HIV or AIDS Facilitate their access to welfare schemes especially for women and children, among others The government will also issue necessary guidelines with respect to protocols for HIV and AIDS-related diagnostic facilities. Anti-retroviral therapy and opportunistic infection management will also be applicable to all persons. The Act makes Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) a legal right for all HIV/AIDS patients. It has also adopted "test and treat" policy which means any person testing positive will be entitled for free treatment by the state and central government. Earlier, this was restricted by a CD4 count rate. Provides for confidentiality of HIV-related information and makes it necessary to get informed consent for undertaking HIV tests, medical treatment and research. The law makes it mandatory for state governments to appoint an Ombudsman to inquire into complaints related to the violation of the Act and the provision of health care services. If a person or an institution fails to comply with any order given by the Ombudsman within the stipulated period of time, they could be fined a maximum of Rs 10,000. A continuous failure could lead to an additional fine of up to Rs 5000 every day until they comply. The new legislation has provisions to safeguard the property rights of HIV positive people. Every HIV infected person below the age of 18 years has the right to reside in a shared household and enjoy the facilities of the household. The Way Ahead: No one should be left behind in the fight against HIV. There is an urgent need to tackle the social stigma surrounding people suffering from AIDS. Activists from the HIV community had demanded changes to the Section 14 (1) of the Bill which states, “The measures to be taken by the central or state governments under section 13 shall include measures for providing, as far as possible, anti-retroviral therapy and opportunistic management to people living with HIV or AIDS.” The HIV community and other critics demanded that the phrase “as far as possible” be removed from the Bill as it can be used as an escape route by the state governments which do not want to fulfill their responsibility. Important value addition: HIV/AIDS: First disease to be the subject of a UNSC resolution Three north eastern States emerge as new HIV hotspots – Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura; reasons being attributed to injecting drug users and unsafe sexual practices The HIV Sentinel Surveillance (HSS), a biennial study conducted by the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), is one of the largest regular studies in the world dealing with HIV in high risk groups of the population. Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) – leads to effectively suppressing the virus and reducing the transmission of HIV from the infected person. National AIDS Research Institute (NARI) target is to bring 90% of the 21 lakh people living with the HIV infection in India under ART. Pic: https://d39gegkjaqduz9.cloudfront.net/TH/2018/08/07/DEL/Delhi/TH/5_07/b3e32ce2_2302538_101_mr.jpg Connecting the Dots: What is HIV and how is it a life threatening disease? How has India battled against HIV? Critically examine.

Sep 17, 2018 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs [Prelims + Mains Focus] - 17th September 2018

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs (Prelims + Mains Focus)- 17th September 2018 Archives (PRELIMS+MAINS FOCUS) More river stretches critically polluted: CPCB Part of: Prelims and mains GS III – Environment and pollution In news Based on the recommendations of the NGT, the CPCB last month apprised the States of the extent of pollution in their rivers. Findings of CPCB The number of polluted stretches in India’s rivers has increased to 351 from 302 two years ago. The number of critically polluted stretches — where water quality indicators are the poorest — has gone up to 45 from 34. While the ₹20,000 crore clean-up of the Ganga may be the most visible of the government’s efforts to tackle pollution, but several of the river’s stretches — in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh — are actually far less polluted than many rivers in Maharashtra, Assam and Gujarat. These three States account for 117 of the 351 polluted river stretches. Mithi among the worst, from Powai to Dharavi — with a BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) of 250 mg/l, the Godavari — from Someshwar to Rahed — with a BOD of 5.0-80 mg/l; the Sabarmati — Kheroj to Vautha — with a BOD from 4.0-147 mg/l; and the Hindon — Saharanpur to Ghaziabad — with a BOD of 48-120 mg/l. In its compilation of polluted stretches in Uttar Pradesh, the Ganga with a BOD range of 3.5-8.8 mg/l is indicated as a ‘priority 4’ river. Pic: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/svd6lj/article24962439.ece/alternates/FREE_320/REV%20Troubled%20waterscol Measuring health of the rivers The CPCB, since the 1990s, has a programme to monitor the quality of rivers primarily by measuring BOD, which is a proxy for organic pollution — the higher it is, the worse the river. The health of a river and the efficacy of water treatment measures by the States and municipal bodies are classified depending on BOD, with a BOD greater than or equal to 30 mg/l termed ‘priority 1,’ while that between 3.1-6 mg/l is ‘priority 5.’ The CPCB considers a BOD less than 3 mg/l an indicator of a healthy river. A priority 1 river may show high pollution but it also means more resources for clean up, whereas a priority 4 can mean achieving a clear river with relatively fewer resources. U.P. to launch first-ever dial-FIR Part of: Prelims and mains GS II – Governance In news The Uttar Pradesh Police are set to launch a first of its kind dial-FIR scheme in the country. In this scheme, a common man can register regular crimes without going to a police station. The scheme will also prepare an online photographic dossier of criminals that will be provided to policemen on 22,000 new i-pads. Besides this, the UP Police is also expanding the counter-terror combat and response grid in the State by training over 100 fresh commandos in special skills including a maiden batch of women personnel. The aim is to enhance the strength of the ATS both qualitatively and quantitatively. Do you know? An e-FIR or dial-FIR scheme is the FIR (first information report) that sets the law into motion and to start investigation. In managing water, Surat takes lead Part of: Prelims and mains GS III – Environment; Water conservation In news India’s ‘Diamond City’ offers a lesson for the country’s ever-expanding cities on water management and the optimal use of water. Surat’s civic body is setting up state-of-the-art sewage treatment plants (STPs) to ensure every drop of waste water is treated and reused for purposes other than drinking. From March 2019, the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) will be supplying 115 MLD (million litres per day) treated water to industries located within the city, in order to meet the entire industrial requirement of water through treated or recycled water. The entire quantum of water will be treated from domestic sewerage water in tertiary treatment plants, for supplying to mainly textile factories. Surat was the first city in the country to start selling recycled water to industries in 2014. Surat’s cost effective water management system is most advantageous for its contribution towards reducing the dependency on conventional resources of water, and thus optimal use of the resource. So far, the SMC has invested ₹ 280 crore in creating tertiary water treatment facilities in the city. Pic: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/e3a30f/article24962210.ece/alternates/FREE_660/TH17%20plantcol Fact check India is facing its worst water shortage in history, according to a new report prepared by the Niti Aayog. Nearly 600 million Indians faced high to extreme water stress. About 2,00,000 people die every year in the country because of inadequate access to safe water. CIC wants break-up of how MPLADS funds are utilised Part of: Prelims and mains GS II – Governance In news Noting that ₹12,000 crore of the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) funds remains unspent, the Central Information Commission (CIC) has asked the Lok Sabha Speaker and the Rajya Sabha Chairman to come out with a legal framework to ensure its transparency and hold parliamentarians and political parties accountable for their obligations under the scheme. What is MPLADS? The MPLADS allots ₹5 crore per year to each MP to be spent on projects of their choice in their constituency. The scheme is funded and administered through the Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI). Projects are to be recommended to and implemented by the district-level administration. What CIC said? The CIC’s orders asked the leaders of the two Houses of Parliament to consider providing the “necessary legal frame” for the scheme, which would “make all Parliamentary parties and MPs answerable and accountable for MPLADS funds as public authorities under the RTI Act to prevent MPLADS irregularities.” The framework should make transparency a legal obligation, with all MPs and parties required to present the public and Parliament with a comprehensive report on the number of applications received for their constituency, works recommended, works rejected with reasons, progress of works and details of beneficiaries. Liabilities for any breach of duties should also be imposed, said the order. Further, the framework should prohibit and prevent MPs using the funds for their private works, or diverting them to private trusts or to their own relatives. District administrations must provide regular information — work-wise, MP-wise, and year-wise details on progress — which are to be compiled by the MoSPI and made available to the public. Everything you need to know: When the world collapsed around Lehman Brothers Part of: Prelims and mains GS III – Economics In news It has been ten years since the investment banking firm Lehman Brothers collapsed in mid-September 2008. Shortly after, there was a meltdown in global financial markets, including India. What triggered the crisis? From 2005 to 2007, at the height of the real estate bubble, mortgages were given to many homebuyers who could not afford them, and then packaged into securities and sold off. Lehman Brothers bought several mortgage brokerages and posted record profits. But in mid-2007, defaults on sub-prime mortgages rose exponentially. A credit crisis erupted in August 2007 with the failure of two Bear Stearns hedge funds while payment defaults triggered massive declines in banks and real estate incomes. In 2008, Lehman Brothers declared bankruptcy. Was there any ‘rescue act’ by banks? In 2008, when America’s two biggest banks Merrill Lynch and Lehman Brothers reported high losses due to huge exposure to risk assets, all triggered by sub-prime lending by banking institutions, Bank of America came to the rescue of Merrill Lynch while Lehman Brothers had to file for bankruptcy. What is a sub-prime loan? Sub-prime refers to a loan given to a borrower who does not qualify for a regular home loan because of a poor credit record, low income and lack of job security. If the customer has a poor credit record, why did banks offer a loan? The main reason was banks expected the value of the underlying security or the property to go up. So, they increased the mortgage interest rate (higher than the conventional loan) and called it a sub-prime mortgage. They could earn more with the higher mortgage interest rate and if the borrowers discontinued repayment, they could sell the property for a higher consideration due to appreciation in property prices. Was India insulated? The impact on the Indian economy was less severe due to lower dependence on exports and the fact that a sizeable contribution to the GDP came from domestic sources. Indian banks had limited exposure to the U.S. mortgage market, directly or through derivatives, and also to the failed and financially-stressed global financial institutions. (MAINS FOCUS) WELFARE/SOCIAL ISSUE TOPIC: General Studies 2 Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes Mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections Lethal filth – on manual scavenging Introduction Five young men who were employed to clean a septic tank in an upmarket residential community died during the process. Around the same time as the Delhi incident, five workers died in a septic tank in Odisha. Do you know? What is manual scavenging? Manual scavenging is a term used mainly in India for a caste-based occupation involving the manual removal of untreated human excreta from bucket toilets or pit latrines by hand with buckets and shovels. Manual scavenging has been officially prohibited by law in 1993 due to it being regarded as a dehumanizing practice (if not done in a safe manner). Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013’ came into effect from 6thDecember, 2013 replacing Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines(Prohibition) Act, 1993.This Act intends to achieve its objectives of eliminating insanitary latrines, prohibition of employment as manual scavengers etc The act says National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK)would monitor implementation of the Act and enquire into complaints regarding contravention of the provisions of the Act. What does the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 say? A violation can be punished with two years of imprisonment or fine or both. Under the provision, no person, local authority or agency should engage or employ people for hazardous cleaning of sewers and septic tanks. Mechanised cleaning of septic tanks is the prescribed norm. Issue: The law (Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013) is not being enforced, and there is no fear of penalties. The workers in Delhi were apparently asked to perform the task in violation of Section 7 of the Act; In spite of a well-funded programme such as the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in operation, little attention is devoted to this aspect of sanitation. The requirements of worker safety and provision of safety gear for rare instances when human intervention is unavoidable are often ignored. The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation in its manual of 2016 on toilet design acknowledges that in rural areas, mechanical pumps to clear septic tanks are not available. In the southern States, sanitation has expanded along with urbanisation, but it has brought with it a higher number of deaths as workers clean septic tanks manually. For instance, Tamil Nadu recorded 144 fatalities of workers engaged for septic tank cleaning in the past three years, according to official data. Toilet designs proposed by the government include those in which fully composted waste must be removed from pits every two years. In the absence of political will and social pressure, more lives could be lost because more tanks are being built in rural and urban areas as part of the drive to construct toilets. Way forward: If the law on manual scavenging is to be effective, the penalties must be uniformly and visibly enforced. It is equally important for State governments to address the lack of adequate machinery to clean septic tanks. The Centre must ensure that the proposals for new toilet design does not become a fresh avenue to oppress members of some communities who are expected to perform such work, reflecting social inequalities. Conclusion: The incident is a shocking reminder that India’s high-profile sanitation campaign has done little to alter some basic ground realities. India’s sanitation problem is complex, and the absence of adequate toilets is only one lacuna. The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan should make expansion of the sewer network a top priority and come up with a scheme for scientific maintenance that will end manual cleaning of septic tanks. The law should be enforced vigorously to eliminate manual scavenging in its entirety. Connecting the dots: Comment in brief on Manual scavenging in India. What are the steps taken by government to end this menace? ECONOMY/AGRICULTURE TOPIC: General Studies 3 Agriculture economy Farmer issues; crop insurance Use of technology in agriculture Covering the last field – On Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) Introduction Excess rains and floods in Kerala, deficit rainfall in eastern and north-eastern India, and associated large-scale crop losses have again highlighted the need for providing social protection to poor farmers. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY): A highly subsidised Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) was launched in 2016 to provide insurance to farmers from all risks. The scheme was aimed at reducing basis risk and premium burden of the farmers The scheme’s total expenses today are almost Rs. 30,000 crore. In comparison to earlier schemes, the PMFBY is more farmer friendly, with sums insured being closer to the cost of production. The scheme’s linkage with parallel programmes like the ‘Jan Dhan Yojana’ and ‘Digital India’ makes it a truly inclusive and welfare-based scheme. The scheme therefore led to increased coverage of 5.7 crore farmers in 2016 and the sum insured crossed ₹200,000 crore. However, notwithstanding its ambition and intent, the scheme since its operation has been scrutinised more for its misses than its hits. What are some of the problems inherent in the scheme: Outmoded method of crop loss assessment Inadequate and delayed claim payment High premium rates Poor execution Consequently, in 2017, the expansive coverage of the scheme suffered some setback as seen in a drop of nearly one crore farmers in enrolment (about 17%). Such shortcomings inspired recent announcements such as that of Bihar to start its own scheme, the “Bihar Rajya Fasal Sahayata Yojna”. How can the scheme be made more effective? In order to make the PMFBY a sustained developmental action for a comprehensive climate risk protection for every Indian farmer, the following action points are suggested: Faster and appropriate claim settlement: The weakness of the PMFBY is the methodology deployed for crop loss assessment: the crop cutting experiments (CCEs). Crop Cutting Experiments: are periodic exercises conducted nationwide every season to determine crop yields of major crops. Sample villages are chosen through scientifically designed surveys, and crops are physically harvested to determine yields. Improvement in the efficacy of the PMFBY: technology use must be intensified. With options available today, such as detailed weather data, remote sensing, modelling and big data analytics, the exercise of monitoring crop growth and productivity can be not only more accurate and efficient but also resource saving. Hybrid indices, which integrate all relevant technologies into a single indicator, are good ways to determine crop losses. Creation of an online portal: the whole process of monitoring can be made accessible and transparent to farmers, policy-makers and insuring agencies alike through an online portal. Universal and free coverage for all smallholders: Farmers’ awareness about the scheme and crop insurance literacy remain low in most States, especially among smallholders in climatically challenged areas in most need of insurance. To increase insurance coverage a system should be thought of whereby every farmer automatically gets insured by the state. Improved and transparent insurance scheme design: Insurance companies are supposed to calculate actuarial rates, and based on tenders, the company quoting the lowest rate is awarded the contract. Science has the capacity today to characterise risks and reconstruct reasonably long-time series of yields. The premium rates, and hence subsidy load on the government, can come down significantly if we make greater use of such proxies and appropriate sum insured levels. Conclusion: If a comprehensive social protection scheme is implemented, there would be opportunities for further rationalisation of subsidies. The government today spends more than Rs. 50,000 crore annually on various climate risk management schemes in agriculture, including insurance. This includes drought relief, disaster response funds, and various other subsidies. Climate-risk triggered farm-loan waivers are an additional expense. All these resources can be better utilised to propel farm growth. Reinvigorating the crop insurance scheme will provide better social protection to every farmer. Connecting the dots: There are enough number of schemes and programs for farmers, still large number of farming population is living in poverty. 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) Increase in Biological Oxygen demand (BOD) in a water body indicates: Increase in microbial pollution Decrease in microbial pollution Absence of microbial pollution Can’t say Q.2) The biological oxygen demand of water is reduced mainly by: Primary treatment Secondary treatment Tertiary treatment None of the above Q.3) Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) is a standard criterion for Measuring oxygen levels in blood Computing oxygen levels in forest ecosystems Pollution assay in aquatic ecosystems Assessing oxygen levels in high altitude regions Q.4) Consider the following statements about MPLADS Scheme It is a centrally-sponsored plan scheme fully funded by the government of India The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has been responsible for the policy formulation, release of funds and prescribing monitoring mechanism for implementation of the Scheme Funds from MPLADS Scheme can be converged with MGNREGA with the objective of creating more durable assets Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above Q.5) Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is constituted under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 Q.6) Which of the following are the objectives of part of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna (PMFBY)? To provide insurance coverage and financial support to the farmers in the event of failure of any of the notified crop as a result of natural calamities, pests & diseases. To stabilise the income of farmers to ensure their continuance in farming. To ensure flow of credit to the agriculture sector. Select the code from below: 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above MUST READ Where goes the rupee? The Hindu The power of Kudumbashree The Hindu Transforming agriculture The Hindu What not to post online: how Europe law proposes to protect copyright Indian Express Iran on the edge Indian Express The urban Naxal subterfuge Indian Express In Good Faith: The natural fallacy Indian Express

Sep 17, 2018 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz- 2019 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 67]

UPSC Quiz- 2019 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 67] Archives Q.1) Which of the following statements about ‘INS Karanj’ is/are correct? It is a Scorpene Class Submarine It is built by Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) in collaboration with the Russian Shipbuilding Naval Group Both (a) and (b) Neither (a) nor (b) Q.2) Coral reefs in India can be seen in which of the following areas? Gulf of Mannar Gulf of Kutch Lakshadweep islands Andaman and Nicobar islands Select the correct code: 1, 2 and 3 2, 3 and 4 1, 3 and 4 All of the above Q.3) Consider the following statements about ‘Listeria monocytogenes’ It is capable of surviving in the absence of oxygen. It is an electricity producing bacteria Select the correct code: 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.4) ‘Indian Rock Agama’ is mostly found in Rocky hills of South India Aravallis Himalayan Ranges in North East India Dhaula Dhar range Q.5) Consider the following statements about ‘BUFFALO Survey’ It is one of the missions co-ordinated by NASA to explore the origins of the earliest galaxies It is built around the six Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Frontier Fields clusters 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

Sep 16, 2018 Motivational Articles

Creative Guidance – Present Moment – Inspirational Educative Articles

Present Moment: It is so easy to get distracted and be lost in some unwanted thought process. If only we can clearly understand how easy it is to get lost in some random and useless thought process, most of what we do will change immediately. Just at the very moment of realizing that most of our thinking is simply unwanted and repetitive, a new way of looking at things will emerge. We all can without any doubt agree that our minds simply have no definite purpose of their own. The purpose of our mind changes moment to moment depending on our moods, emotions and physical condition. If only our minds had some definite purpose in life, we didn’t have to struggle so much finding our true identity in this chaotic world. Relying on our mind to show us the right way is like relying on a blind man to find our way out of the confusion of life. The more we become simply attached to our thought process and desires, the lesser we will be certain about who we are and what our real purpose is. There is another dimension of intelligence apart from thinking. We have totally ignored this dimension. There is tremendous intelligence in being in the present moment. Present moment is filled with intuition, awareness and some kind of cosmic intelligence that has the ability to point our lives in the right direction. No need to get all spiritual and other worldly to understand the importance of being in the present moment. Just a pure scientific way of looking at things will help us to understand the importance of being in the present moment. Everything in existence is in the present moment except for man. This is why he is so much in pain and suffering. When we move away from the present moment and begin to drift into the past and future of our thought process, we are stepping away from our home. How can there be any comfort to the one who has travelled very far away from home and has lost his way. There is no respite for us till we find our way back to the present moment. Our thinking has to be only one part of our life. There has to be a nurturing of intuitive intelligence through which we can understand emotions, effects of time and space around us, effects of people and places and so much more which can never be grasped by our thoughts. Without finding our way to this intuitive intelligence we will always be lost, constantly searching for meaning and purpose. Each one of us is born with this intuitive intelligence. Each one of us has the ability to access this dimension within us; all we have to do is give more importance to being in the present moment than to being lost in some random thought process. Life is a beautiful experience only in the present moment. Everywhere else, it is a pure torture. “This article is a part of the creative endeavor of The Ahamo Movement and IASBABA.”

Sep 15, 2018 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs [Prelims + Mains Focus] - 15th September 2018

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs (Prelims + Mains Focus)- 15th September 2018 Archives (PRELIMS+MAINS FOCUS) Welfare panels cant evaluate dowry complaints: SC Part of: Prelims and Mains GS II - Social issues In News The Supreme Court modified its earlier order on setting up family welfare committees to look into cases of dowry harassment. Section 498-A IPC It is a cognisable and non-bailable offence. A guilty person faces up to three years in prison and shall also be liable to fine. 2017 Order The court had ordered ‘family welfare committees’ to be set up in the districts. These committees, composed of eminent citizens, were supposed to act as a vanguard against “disgruntled wives” using the anti-dowry harassment provision of Section 498-A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) as a “weapon” against their husbands and in-laws, young and old, rather than a “shield.” Even the police could register an FIR only after the committee cleared the complaint as valid and not frivolous. SC had raised this concern over abuse of the anti-dowry law and had also said that no arrest “should be affected” without authenticating allegations as a violation of human rights of innocents can’t be swept aside. Current Judgment A bench led by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra withdrew the court’s direction from July 2017 The judges accepted that such a committee would create an extrajudicial entity not envisaged in the Code of Criminal Procedure. They also decided to remove another guideline that gave a district judge the power to dispose of proceedings if the parties in a case reach a settlement. Such a power in a non-compoundable provision such as Section 498A exclusively belongs to the High Court, the top court held It restored to the police their power to immediately register an FIR and act on a dowry harassment complaint filed by a married woman. It further says a designated police officer should be there to probe dowry complaints. It ordered the Director General of Police of every State to provide such officers rigorous training. Hindi Divas Part of: Prelims and mains GS I- CULTURE In news It is celebrated on 14 September because on this day in 1949, the Constituent Assembly of India had adopted Hindi written in Devanagari script as the official language of India. Do you know? Hindi’s Popularity in other countries Fiji: The island country in the South Pacific Ocean is the only other country, apart from India, where Hindi is designated as an official language. The migration of the language to Fiji can be traced back to the late nineteenth century, when it became a British colony and when the colonial authorities needed imported labour in order to sustain the sugarcane industry there. Today, about 37 per cent of Fiji’s population consists of Indians, a large majority of whom are the descendants of indentured labourers from India. Mauritius: The island nation on the Indian Ocean passed on as a colony from the Dutch to the French to the British over the course of three centuries. Indian presence in Mauritius can be traced back to the time when it was a Dutch colony and a large number of slaves and convicts were brought in from Bengal and South India. The trend followed during the French colonial period as well. With the British occupying the island in 1810 and the indentured labour system being established from the 1830s in order to meet the requirements of the sugarcane industry, Indian presence in Mauritius entered a whole new period. National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) study on AIDS Part of: Prelims and mains GS II- Health services and issues In news According to figures released by National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) it said it would not be an easy battle to end the disease as there are still around 21.40 lakh people living with HIV in India, with the prevalence among adults stood at 0.22 per cent. Pic: https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/z28wf5/article24951089.ece/alternates/FREE_660/14-bindu-HIVAIGT84MBSUJ1jpgjpg Why is this study important? The objective of HIV estimations is to provide updated information on the status of the HIV epidemic in India at the national and State/Union Territory level. Estimations of adult HIV prevalence, annual new infections (HIV incidence), AIDS-related mortality, and prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) needs are produced as outcomes of HIV estimations. The modelled estimates are needed because there is no direct reliable way of measuring these core indicators, which are used to track the epidemic monitor and evaluate response around the world What does the report say? This epidemic is high in some geographical regions and population groups The report has noted that the rate of decline in annual new HIV infections has been relatively slower in recent years The impact of the HIV/AIDS control programme has been significant, with more than an 80 per cent decline in estimated new infections from the epidemic’s peak in 1995. Some statistics There were around 87,000 new HIV infections and over 69,000 AIDS-related deaths (ARDs) in 2017. Around 22,675 mothers needed Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) for prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. India’s 2017 figures also do not show a significant positive shift from 2015, the previous year for which when such a survey had been carried out. In 2015, India had reported 86,000 new HIV infections. Of these, children (<15 years) accounted for 12 per cent (10,400) Remaining (75,000) were adults (15+ years). In 2015, the total number of people living with HIV in India was estimated at 21.17 lakh, while the same figure was 22.26 lakh in 2007. Way ahead There should be no place for complacency as the country aims to achieve the ambitious goal of ending AIDS in India by 2030. Doklam final report lauds government Part of: Mains GS II- INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS In news A report by the parliamentary panel on External Affairs, headed by Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, has lauded the efforts of Narendra Modi Government for the overall handling of the Doklam crisis by standing up against china but has expressed concern that Chinese infrastructure built close to the India-Bhutan-China tri-junction has not been dismantled Extracts from report The Army’s reaction to the crisis was laudable but Indian diplomacy failed to measure up to the task The panel appreciated the “brave and timely” action of security forces for checking the PLA troops from continuing with their road construction. The Committee is concerned about the multiple reports which allude to Chinese presence around Doklam plateau and the statements from Chinese authorities about chances of similar happenings in future also, even after the stand-off ended Suggestions The panel said the Indian government should not take the Chinese lightly at any point and continue to monitor the Chinese activities along the border in general and the area in particular very intensely. It also suggested that military infrastructure, especially the roads on the Indian side, need to be improved. There is also an urgent need for high-technology gear to prepare our security forces to respond befittingly. (MAINS FOCUS) NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2 Constitution, Democracy, Governance and issues related to it Polity; India and the world Government policies and issues arising Performing moderately: the state of democracy in South Asia, especially India Introduction Today, the world celebrates the 11th International Day of Democracy (15 September) in pursuance of a UN resolution. Rise of Democracy The world saw a huge wave of democratisation after World War II. The newly-liberated states in Latin America, Africa and Asia adopted democratic forms of government after centuries of colonial subjugation. Today more people live under various forms of democracy than ever before. More than 120 of the 192 countries in the world have some form of democracy — only 11 parliamentary democracies existed in 1941. This indicates the appeal of democratic ideas and systems. Current challenges Despite the democratic upsurge, there are significant challenges like poverty, inequality, gender injustice, nepotism and corruption. Elected despots and authoritarian leaders are weakening democracies across the world. Political experts have argued that democratic values are on the decline, especially in the West. People are losing faith in democracy because of corruption, nepotism and unemployment. This often leads to people disengaging with key public policy issues, which in turn makes those in power less accountable. Transparency in political processes, accountability of elected representatives, basic freedoms for all citizens, equal rights for women and minorities and high rates of voter participation are the things which contribute to the popularity of democracies. Study of state of democracy The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), an inter-country organisation, tried to evaluate the state of democracy in the world in the light of such worrying claims. The Global State of Democracy Index (GSoD) looks at the trends in democratisation from 1975 to 2017. With the help of a set of 98 indicators, IDEA aims to study the factors which threaten democracy throughout the world and those that make it strong and resilient. The study covers a variety of important indicators such as representative government, fundamental rights, checks on the government, impartial administration and participatory engagement. These have many sub indicators for an in depth indices-based analysis. Democracy in South Asia South Asia is home to 3 per cent of the world’s area and 21 per cent of the world’s population. It’s significant that 50 per cent of the world’s population living under some form of democratic rule resides in this region. When it comes to representative government, India and Sri Lanka have maintained relatively high scores. Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan have had periods of non-elected regimes. The general trend in South Asia in this respect has, however, been positive. With respect to ensuring fundamental rights, the region’s score matches that of Asia Pacific but it is slightly below the global average. At the country level, Afghanistan and Nepal have seen the most improvement. Sri Lanka and Pakistan saw a slight decline in the 1970s and 1980s. India’s score has been stable since the late 1970s. However, a decline has been observed since 2015. South Asia shows a steady improvement on the yardstick that measures gender equality with Nepal standing out. India’s score was better than the world average till 2003 but there has been a dip in the country’s performance on the gender equality yardstick since then. When it comes to checks on government, South Asia has shown a steady increase from 1975 to 1994. Afghanistan, Nepal and Pakistan have shown the most improvement. Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka have remained relatively stable with scores in line with the global average. In the yardstick on impartial administration, South Asia follows both the regional and global trends with no significant change, except in Nepal, which has seen a significant improvement. However, the “absence of corruption” sub-indice within the “impartial administration” category shows a worrying tendency in South Asia. The region has the lowest scores in the world despite a slight improvement between 2012 and 2015. A robust civil society is essential for deliberative decision making. Civil society participation has increased in India by leaps and bounds between 1978 and 2012 after which it declined drastically to fall below the average of Asia Pacific and that of the World. In 2017, it was the lowest since 1975. In 2017, the gap between the Indian score and the world average in the yardstick that measures “personal integrity and security” was the widest since 1977. This is worrying. In the past 10 years, South Asia’s scores for electoral participation are in line with the global average but slightly below the Asia Pacific average. Recently, there has been a decrease in voter participation in Bangladesh but a slight increase in India and Sri Lanka. Democracy in India The GSoD report analyses India’s performance on all the above-mentioned indicators and shows that the country has done moderately well. On yardsticks such as elected government, effective parliament and impartial administration, the country’s scores hover around the world average. In the last decade, there has been a significant dip in the country’s record on civil liberties, personal integrity and security, freedom of association, media integrity, gender equality and basic welfare. India’s performance on the yardstick to measure media integrity was better than the global and South Asian average between 1994 and 2012. However, the country’s score has fallen below the global and Asia-Pacific average in 2017. Given that a free and fair media is crucial to a meaningful democracy, this is a worrying tendency. The Election Commission has played an important role in conducting free and fair elections in the country. The Commission’s Systematic Voters Education for Electoral Participation Programme role has been crucial in this respect. An independent judiciary is another reason for the resilience of democracy in India. The apex court has given judgments that keep a check on the government and ensure a transparent and accountable system. Conclusion Democracy does not merely mean voting rights for people, it means empowering people by granting them equality. It also means the creation of mechanisms to resolve differences through dialogue and with mutual respect and understanding. India does have the highest rating among South Asian democracies. But its performances on several yardsticks makes it a flawed democracy. If we want the largest democracy to count among the world’s greatest, there must be serious introspection among all stakeholders. Connecting the dots: India is world's largest democracy but there is much more to be done to become world's greatest democracy, Comment. NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2 Constitution, Democracy, Governance and issues related to it Polity; India and the world Government policies and issues arising The Supreme Court trans-formed Introduction The decriminalisation of homosexuality in the Navtej Johar judgment holds special relevance for transgender rights. Not only was Section 377 used disproportionately against transgender persons, the legal battle also took a new and positive turn from 2014 after the Supreme Court recognised the right to gender identity in NALSA v. Union of India . Step by step When the Supreme Court in 2013 passed the Koushal judgment, overturning the Delhi High Court judgment reading down Section 377 in Naz v. Union of India 2009, the LGBTQ community faced a huge setback. The silver lining was that the LGBTQ movement on the ground was growing rapidly, with social acceptance for LGBTQ concerns increasing. Transgender persons continued to be the most marginalised and vulnerable group within the community. They were routinely arrested and harassed by police, sexually abused, and had to bear the brunt of criminal threats as they were on the streets forced into begging and sex work. This changed with NALSA. In 2014, a bench of Justices K.S. Radhakrishnan and A.K. Sikri passed a judgment holding that transgender persons have the constitutional right to self-identify their gender as male, female or transgender even without medical re-assignment. The Supreme Court held that the rights to life, dignity and autonomy would include the right to one’s gender identity and sexual orientation. NALSA judgment immediately gave new grounds and new hope, to revive the Section 377 challenge. In 2016, two fresh petitions were filed under Article 32 of the Constitution: the first by Navtej Johar and others, and the second by Akkai Padmashali, Umi and Sana, three transgender activists from Karnataka. Both petitions urged the Supreme Court to reassess the constitutionality of Section 377. This was also the first time that transgender voices were before the Supreme Court. In 2017 came another big judgment in Puttaswamy v. Union of India , in which the Supreme Court said that there is a constitutional right to privacy inherent in the right to life, equality and fundamental freedoms. It went on to hold that the right to privacy specifically includes the right to have intimate relations of one’s choice and the right to sexual orientation and gender identity, and that the Koushal judgment was incorrect. After Puttaswamy , more petitions and interventions were filed against Section 377. Finally, the Supreme Court, in a five-judge Bench led by the Chief Justice of India, unanimously held in Navtej Johar that Section 377 was unconstitutional to the extent that it criminalises consensual relationships of any kind between adults, and overruled Koushal. Different minorities The most far-reaching contribution is the elaboration on the right against non-discrimination on the basis of sex, guaranteed in Article 15 of the Constitution. The Supreme Court confirmed that as held in NALSA, ‘sex’ under Articles 15 includes discrimination on the ground of gender identity. It went even further to say that discrimination on the grounds of ‘sex’ would also include discrimination due to sexual orientation or stereotypes. This means that being gender non-conforming or not adhering to society’s ‘norms’ of gender roles, which is the main reasons for violence against trans persons, be it in the way you dress, speak or behave, cannot be a ground for discrimination. This inclusion of discrimination on the ground of sex stereotyping will go a long way in dismantling gender stereotypes not just for the LGBTQ community, but also for women. Conclusion The impact of the Navtej Johar decision is unprecedented.The ‘Navtej Johar’ judgment has created the conditions to dismantle gender biases in diverse ways. Justice D.Y. Chandrachud recognised that Section 377 had consigned a group of citizens to the margins and was destructive of their identities, and held that lesbians, gay, bisexual and transgender persons have the constitutional rights to full and equal citizenship and protection of all fundamental rights. In this way, with the Navtej Johar judgment, the court has gone far beyond the anti-sodomy judgments from around the world that were referred to it. By recognising these twin aspects of gender identity and sexual orientation, the court acknowledges the voices of the most vulnerable sexual minorities within the LGBTQ community and takes the stand that the Constitution protects the rights of all. Connecting the dots: Supreme Court verdict on Section 377 is a landmark judgement but it also will spark many more challenges to inequality, discrimination. 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) Section 498A of IPC has been in the news for quite some time for its increasing misuse. It deals with which of the following cases? Domestic violence Sedition Anti-National Activity Martial Law Q.2) Family Welfare Committee was in news related to To control population via family planning. A formal committee in each ward of urban local body to oversee implementation of government health schemes. Committee to look into complaints of dowry harassment set up by District Legal Services Authorities. Committee to oversee the functioning of primary health center. Q.3) Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is concerned with AIDS/HIV Virus Tuberculosis Blood Cancer Leprosy MUST READ India’s shrinking democratic space The Hindu Beyond recompense: on the ISRO spy case The Hindu Power games: on issues in the power sector The Hindu We, the chokers Indian Express The Ungoverned Land Indian Express Performing moderately Indian Express About false promises Indian Express

Sep 15, 2018 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs [Prelims + Mains Focus] - 14th September 2018

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs (Prelims + Mains Focus)- 14th September 2018 Archives (PRELIMS+MAINS FOCUS) Government announces measures to stabilize rupee Part of: Prelims and GS III- Indian Economy In News The Government announced a series of measures to boost market confidence, curb the widening current account deficit which touched 2.4% of gross domestic product and stabilize the rupee. Details To attract more Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPI) into the corporate debt market, the government has said it will review a couple of restrictions on their investments. So, the condition that FPIs’ investment in a single corporate entity cannot exceed 20% of its corporate bond portfolio will be reviewed. The condition that FPIs cannot invest more than 50% of an issue of corporate bonds will also be reviewed The government will review the mandatory hedging condition for infrastructure loans borrowed under the external commercial borrowing (ECB) route. Presently there is no compulsion on borrowers to hedge these loans. Manufacturing companies borrowing up to $50 million through ECBs will be able to do so only for a one-year term as against the three-year term allowed earlier. Masala bonds will be exempted from withholding tax this financial year and Indian banks will be allowed to become market makers in masala bonds including by underwriting. Masala bonds are rupee-denominated instruments issued abroad by Indian borrowers. The advantage of these bonds is that any depreciation in the rupee will not affect the borrower. The government will take necessary steps to cut down non-essential imports and increase export. SC questions ‘leprosy-free’ tag for India Part of: Prelims and mains GS II- Health services and issues In news Supreme court questioned the leprosy free tag and said the country was declared leprosy-free on December 31, 2005, the reality is “entirely different” in reference with reports of the National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) which said only 543 districts of the total 642 districts in the country had achieved the World Health Organisation-required prevalence rate of less than one case of leprosy for 10,000 persons. Details The underestimation of cases of leprosy and the declaration of elimination of leprosy has resulted in the integration of leprosy in general health services thereby leading to diversion of funds which would have otherwise been dedicated to eliminating leprosy, Concerns Patients and their families continue to suffer from leprosy and its stigma. They are denied their fundamental right to food. They are not issued BPL (Below Poverty Line) cards to claim the benefit of various welfare schemes such as the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY). They are deprived of housing, basic civic amenities, adequate sanitary facilities and rehabilitation programmes. Constitutional Principles Violated Majority of the populace afflicted with leprosy live as a marginalised section in society, deprived of even basic human rights. This manifestly results in violation of the fundamental right to equality under Article 14 and right to live with dignity under article 21. Human Development Index (HDI) Part of: Prelims and mains GS II & III- Social development and Economic development In news HDI was released by the United Nations Development Programme with the findings indicating a glaring inequality in the country though “millions have been lifted out of poverty”. Details The HDI is the composite measure of every country’s attainment in three basic dimensions: Standard Of Living measured by the gross national income (GNI) per capita Health measured by the life expectancy at birth Education levels calculated by mean years of education among the adult population and the expected years of schooling for children. Stats with reference to India India ranks a low 130 out of 189 countries The UNDP report stated that with an HDI value of 0.64 compared to 2017’s 0.636, India is categorised as a medium human development and that its rank rose one spot compared to the 2017 HDI. According to the 2018 findings, between 1990 and 2017, India’s HDI value increased from 0.427 to 0.640, an almost 50 per cent increase, which is an indicator that millions have been lifted out of poverty. At the same time, in what signals the glaring inequality in the country, the HDI value declines by more than a fourth when adjusted for inequality. The value of India’s Inequality-adjusted HDI (IHDI) falls to 0.468, a 26.8 per cent decrease, far worse than the global average decrease in the global HDI value due to inequality at 20 per cent. Do you know? In reference to Women Empowerment The report notes that in India women hold only 11.6 per cent of parliamentary seats Only 39 per cent of adult women have reached at least a secondary level of education as compared to 64 per cent men. India’s worst performance on the gender scale is with regards to its female participation in the labour market which is 27.2 per cent compared to 78.8 per cent for men even as globally 49 per cent women are part of the labour force as compared to 75 per cent men. India performs better than its neighbours Bangladesh and Pakistan, ranking 127 out 160 countries on the Gender Inequality Index Other Countries Norway at 0.95 has been ranked the highest on the HDI scale Followed by Switzerland, Australia, Ireland and Germany Niger is the bottom at 0.35. Central African Republic, South Sudan, Chad and Burundi have the lowest scores The greatest increase in HDI rank over the last five years is by Ireland This is followed by Turkey The worst decline was seen in conflict-hit countries of Syria, Libya, and Yemen. Person in News: Justice Ranjan Gogoi is next CJI of India In news: As the 46th Chief Justice of India, Justice Gogoi will have a tenure of about 13 months, till November 17, 2019. Justice Ranjan Gogoi is the first person from the Northeast to claim a top position in the Supreme Court. The President of India has appointed Justice Ranjan Gogoi (the most senior judge in the Supreme Court) as the next Chief Justice of India. (MAINS FOCUS) NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2 Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education, Human Resources Government schemes and Policies An education that is in sync Introduction Higher education in India has grown exponentially in recent years. A survey by the All India Survey on Higher Education published in July this year shows that the gross enrolment ratio (GER) was 25.8% in 2017-18, up from 10% in 2004-05. What is GER? GER is the ratio (expressed as percentage), of the total enrolment within a country in a specific level of education, regardless of age, to the population in the official age group corresponding to this level of education. GER and issues of higher education India For higher education, the survey calculates the ratio for the age group 18 to 23 years. Internationally, the age group 18 to 22 is also used. For India, the Survey gives the corresponding figure as 30%. The GER for higher education in India is still less than what it is in developed countries, the growth rate is still quite impressive. The next step is to ensure that the outcome of academic programmes by higher education institutes (HEIs) is acceptable. The debate in the media on higher education is often focussed on issues related to governance and autonomy. There needs to be a debate on other important issues, including the content of higher education in HEIs. Radhakrishnan Commission Report (RCR) (1948-49) Just after Independence, a commission comprising educationists from India, the U.K. and the U.S., and chaired by Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, was formed “to report on Indian University Education and suggest improvements and extensions that may be desirable to suit present and future requirements of the country”. The RCR recommended a well-balanced education with ‘general’, ‘liberal’ and ‘occupational’ components. Without all-round general (including liberal) education, one could not be expected to play roles expected of a citizen outside one’s immediate professional sphere. It advocated that general and specialised education should proceed together. The study of languages should be given equal importance as one communicated to the outside world only through the medium of language. Therefore, a lack of communication skills could be a handicap. The RCR drew inspiration from the emphasis on general education in universities in the U.S. It cited a lecture by Einstein (1931) where he said: “The development of general ability for independent thinking and judgement should always be placed foremost, not the acquisition of special knowledge…” The American parallel The National Academies Press (NAP) of the U.S. which represents the national academies of sciences, engineering and medicine published the report, “The Integration of the Humanities and Arts with Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in Higher Education: Branches from the Same Tree”. According to the NAP’s report, the purpose of higher education is to prepare graduates for work and life, as well as active and engaged citizenship. This can be achieved only through the acquisition of knowledge, skills and competencies related to the profession they chose to specialise in and also written and oral communication skills, ability to work as a team, ethical decision making, critical thinking, and ability to apply knowledge in real world settings. Significance of RCR and NAP Philosophical deliberations in the RCR report that are related to the content of higher education are still relevant today. Both the RCR and NAP reports attach the importance to the integration of Sciences, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine and humanities in university teaching. The RCR, in turn, talked about including general education as an essential element. But the NAP report goes much beyond what the RCR states and advocates integrating the teaching of humanities in STEM. Why inter-disciplinary approach is needed? Problems in a real-life setting are interdisciplinary and require an appreciation of related fields. The NAP report acknowledges that disciplinary specialisation has resulted in many developments but also points out that emerging problems are multi-disciplinary. This can be seen in examples: rising demand for energy, and continuing advances in technology. The use of energy on a large scale and the continued availability of energy in an environmental-friendly manner are challenges which cannot be addressed by narrow specialists. There are technical advances every day, influencing everyday life in diverse ways. This is also leading to concerns about privacy, technology-driven social and workforce changes, and the evolving need for individuals to retrain themselves to remain in employment. In such a scenario, it is important that professionals study the impact of innovations on society in a holistic manner. Scene in India Higher Education Institutions are far from integrated. As far as the inclusion of elements of general education in the curriculum for undergraduates is concerned, the situation is mixed. Several engineering, and science education and research institutes have embedded general education programmes at the undergraduate level. Such programmes are missing in most university-affiliated science colleges. Rather, there are institutions that cater to a single stream which precludes the possibility of even an informal interaction between students and faculty with different specialisations. Conclusion The concept of general education and specialised education proceeding together needs to be widely adopted in India. The focus of undergraduate education should be on classical disciplines, with enough credits for general education. Focus on specialisation can wait until the post graduate level. In 1959, C.P. Snow spoke about “The Two Cultures”. It is time to bridge the divide between the two cultures in the education system and evolve a third culture where the two sides understand and appreciate each other. Connecting the dots The quality of higher education in India requires major improvement to make it internationally competitive. Do you think that the entry of foreign educational institutions would help improve the quality of technical and higher education in the country? Discuss. (UPSC mains 2015) ECONOMY TOPIC: General Studies 3 Indian Economy, inflation, taxation Paying at the pump: On the causes and consequences of soaring fuel prices Introduction From last six months, petrol and diesel prices continuing to rise. There are many causes of it, some local and other global. Why are petrol and diesel prices continuing to rise? In June 2017, India’s state-run oil marketing companies switched to a dynamic pricing approach to set pump prices of petrol and diesel on a daily basis. The move was aimed at helping ensure a market-driven approach to fuel pricing by enabling oil firms to factor in day-to-day fluctuations in crude oil prices as well as movements in the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar to the rupee. As a result, with both crude oil and the dollar becoming significantly dearer over the last six months, petrol and diesel prices have remained on a steady upward trajectory countrywide. According to the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), petrol hit a record high of Rs. 88.26 per litre on September 11 in Mumbai, where fuel prices are the highest among India’s four major metros. At that level, the cost of petrol to consumers had climbed 8.4% in this fiscal year. Besides the cost of crude oil and the exchange rate, the incidence of Excise Duty (levied by the Centre) and VAT (charged by the respective States), along with a nominal dealer commission that the oil companies pay to fuel pump owners, ends up approximately doubling the final price consumers pay. To illustrate: a consumer in Delhi paid Rs. 79.15 for a litre of petrol that was delivered to the dealers in the city at a cost of Rs. 39.21. What are the major consequences of this trend in fuel prices? Diesel is used to transport goods and commuters and therefore has a direct pass-through impact on retail inflation. When consumers end up facing higher fuel bills for using their petrol-powered two-wheelers or cars, and are also unsure of how the overall increase in the cost of living is going to impact their monthly budgets, they are likely to curtail non-essential consumption expenditure. Thus, even as inflation accelerates, consumer spending, a key driver of economic growth, could start to soften. What can the government do to ease the situation? Given the extent to which Central and State taxes inflate the final fuel prices paid by consumers; the governments have the option of trimming excise duty and VAT. This would entail foregoing some revenue in the short-term. In the longer term, policymakers must look at more enduring structural solutions including ways to reduce the dependence on crude oil imports. Connecting the dots: Consumer goods prices and in general inflation are affected by highly volatile fuel prices. Do you think, bringing down fuel imports will stabilize prices in general? Elaborate alternatives to fuel imports. (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) Decline in interest rates: Will lead to large outflow of foreign portfolio investment Will lead to large inflow of foreign portfolio investment Will not affect foreign portfolio investment May affect or not affect portfolio investment Q.2) ‘Hot Money’ refers to Foreign Portfolio Investment Reserves with the RBI Net GDR receipts Net Foreign Direct Investment Q.3) In the context of India, Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI) relates to – Investment by non-residents in Indian securities Takeover of domestic companies by foreign companies Private remittances to foreign companies Institution established or incorporated outside India which proposes to make investments in Indian securities Q.4) Consider the following statements with reference to the Masala Bonds These can be issued outside India as well as within India. These are rupee denominated bonds. Both banks and corporate entities can issue these bonds. Which of the statements given above are correct? 1 and 2 1 and 3 2 and 3 1, 2 and 3 MUST READ When it isn’t right to forget Indian Express A higher policy burden Indian Express No right of way for the majority Indian Express

Sep 15, 2018 PIB

IASbaba PIB Weekly : Press Information Bureau – 10th Sep to 15th Sep, 2018

IASbaba Press Information Bureau 10th to 15th September, 2018 ARCHIVES GS-2 Fight against malnutrition taken up in a mission mode Increase of daily cost norms for the beneficiaries of the ICDS Programme A technology based real time monitoring system of the Anganwadi services Identification and elimination of fake beneficiaries which is an ongoing process: Eliminated approximately one crore fake beneficiaries from the system Increase the honorarium of Anganwadi: It is being increased by 1½ times from the existing amount – The Anganwadi workers will be given Rs. 4500/- instead of Rs. 3000/- Mini Anganwadi worker will be given Rs.3500/- instead of Rs.2250/- Anganwadi helper will be given Rs. 2250/- instead of Rs. 1500/- per month This will boost their morale and help improve the delivery of services by the frontline workers and will in turn help to achieve the goal of Poshan Abhiyan. Poshan Abhiyan The Rs. 9,000-crore mission will strive to reduce stunting, under-nutrition, and low birth weight by 2 per cent and anaemia (among young children, women and adolescent girls) by 3 per cent annually over the three-year mission period. The focus of the Abhiyaan is on the first 1000 days of the child and preventive care for adolescent girls, women and mothers. Home-based Care for Young Child (HBYC) would be a crucial component of the Abhiyaan. In HBYC, ASHAs supported by Anganwadi workers will visit the homes of children aged between 3 to 15 months and sensitise mothers on energy density and diet of child. Must Read: Health and Nutrition: No child left behind Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (Prevention and Control) Act, 2017 The Act safeguards the rights of people living with HIV and affected by HIV. The provisions of the Act address HIV-related discrimination Strengthen the existing programme by bringing in legal accountability Establish formal mechanisms for inquiring into complaints and redressing grievances The Act lists various grounds on which discrimination against HIV positive persons and those living with them is prohibited. These include the denial, termination, discontinuation or unfair treatment with regard to: (i) Employment (ii) Educational establishments (iii) Health care services (iv) Residing or renting property (v) Standing for public or private office (vi) Provision of insurance (unless based on actuarial studies). The requirement for HIV testing as a pre-requisite for obtaining employment or accessing health care or education is also prohibited. Cabinet approves MoU between India and South Africa on cooperation in the exploration and uses of outer space for peaceful purposes: The areas of cooperation under this MoU are the following: Remote sensing of the earth; Satellite communication and satellite-based navigation; Space science and planetary exploration; Use of spacecraft, launch vehicles, space systems and ground systems; Practical applications of space technology including geospatial tools and techniques MoU on Collaborative Research on Distributed Ledger and Block Chain Technology in the context of Development of digital economy by Exim Bank under BRICS Interbank Cooperation Mechanism Distributed Ledger/Block chain technology holds potential for solutions to various challenges being faced in the financial sector space of the BRICS nations. The MoU intends to enhance understanding of Distributed Ledger/Block Chain technology, through the joint research efforts to identify areas within respective business operations where it may have the potential for applications aimed at enhancing the operational efficiencies. MoU between India and Egypt on cooperation in the field of Agriculture & allied sectors The MoU provides for cooperation in areas of agricultural crops (especially wheat and maize), agricultural biotechnology, nanotechnology, irrigation and water management technology including water harvesting and micro-irrigation technology, management of agriculture wastes management for energy production; food security, safety and quality; horticulture; organic agriculture; livestock husbandry, livestock breeding, dairying, fisheries, feed and fodder production; animal products and value addition; sanitary and phyto-sanitary issues concerning trade in plant and animal products; agriculture machinery in small scale; agri-business and marketing; pre and post-harvest procedures; food technology and processing; integrated pest management in agriculture; agricultural extension and rural development; agricultural trade & investment; intellectual property rights issues; technical know-how and human resources in seed sector; infrastructure development and capacity building in agriculture & allied sectors and other related areas of interest that are mutually agreed upon by both Parties. Cooperation will also be effected through exchange of research scientists and experts; exchange of agricultural information and scientific publications (journals, books, bulletins, statistical data on agriculture and allied sectors); exchange of germplasm & agriculture technology; and conducting joint seminars, workshops, symposiums and other similar activities. Signing of MoU between India and Malta for strengthening cooperation in the field of Tourism To encourage the quality destination of tourism industry in both countries; To increase tourist arrivals in both countries from the entire world through the territories of India and Malta; Promoting human resource development in tourism and travel-related industries in both countries; To contribute to a new tourism, offer, particularly through the promotion of natural and tangible, and intangible cultural heritage, the development of sustainable tourism and the use of information technologies; and To recognize that tourism is a means to foster relationship between peoples of the two countries. Policy Framework to Promote and Incentivize Enhanced Recovery Methods for Oil and Gas Strategic objective of the Policy: To build a supportive ecosystem through academic and research institutes, industry- academia collaboration and to support and encourage Exploration and Production (E&P;) Contractors to deploy ER/IR/UHC Methods/ techniques. The ER includes Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) and Enhanced Gas Recovery (EGR), Unconventional Hydrocarbon (UHC) production methods include Shale oil and gas production, tight oil and gas production, production from oil shale, gas hydrates and heavy oil. Enhanced Recovery, Improved Recovery and exploration and exploitation of unconventional hydrocarbons are capital intensive, technologically complex and challenging in nature. It calls for supporting infrastructure, logistic support, fiscal incentives and enabling environment. New Umbrella Scheme “Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan” (PM-AASHA) The Scheme is aimed at ensuring remunerative prices to the farmers for their produce as announced in the Union Budget for 2018. The increase in MSP will be translated to farmer’s income by way of robust procurement mechanism in coordination with the State Governments. GS-3 Model International Center for Transformative Artificial Intelligence (ICTAI) Collaboration between: NITI Aayog, Intel, and Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) Purpose: Towards developing and deploying AI-led application-based research projects Model ICTAI aims to conduct advanced research to incubate AI-led solutions in three important areas – healthcare, agriculture and smart mobility – by bringing together the expertise of Intel and TIFR. It aims to experiment, discover and establish best practices in the domains of ICTAI governance, fundamental research, physical infrastructure, compute and service infrastructure needs, and talent acquisition. Through this collaborative effort, the model ICTAI is chartered to develop AI foundational frameworks, tools and assets, including curated datasets and unique AI algorithms – To develop standards and support policy development related to information technology such as data-storage, information security, privacy, and ethics for data capture and use. To develop AI foundational technologies to promote applied research that can scale for national impact and will lead to the creation of a vibrant and self-sustaining ecosystem. Collaboration with industry leaders, start-ups, and AI services and product companies to productize technologies and IP that are developed at the model ICTAI Support skilling and talent development for world-class AI talent Prelims Oriented News Next Chief Justice of India: Justice Ranjan Gogoi First Tribal Circuit Project under Swadesh Darshan Scheme: Jashpur- Kunkuri- Mainpat- Kamleshpur- Maheshpur- Kurdar-Sarodadadar- Gangrel- Kondagaon- Nathiya Nawagaon- Jagdalpur- Chitrakoot- Tirthgarh Apsara – U Reactor Becomes Operational: Upgraded version of the first research reactor in Asia. The reactor, made indigenously, uses plate type dispersion fuel elements made of Low Enriched Uranium (LEU). By virtue of higher neutron flux, this reactor will Increase indigenous production or radio-isotopes for medical application by about fifty percent Would also be extensively used for research in nuclear physics, material science and radiation shielding Three ‘A’s’ for successful implementation of Mission Indradhanush: ASHA Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) Anganwadi workers Nomadic Elephant-2018: Indo-Mongolia joint exercise; an annual, bilateral exercise since 2006 which is designed to strengthen the partnership between Indian Army and Mongolian Armed Forces Successful Air-to-Air Refuelling of LCA Tejas: The Air-to-Air refuelling capability for LCA is a ‘force multiplier’ for the IAF, giving the aircraft the potential to stay airborne for much longer periods of time. The enhanced range and endurance in air is expected to provide IAF a host of options in exploiting the operational potential of the LCA as well as to participate in international exercises without having to stage through several locations enroute. PM Modi, Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina, CMs of West Bengal and Tripura, jointly dedicate three projects in Bangladesh: (a) 500 MW additional power supply from India to Bangladesh, through the existing Bheramara (Bangladesh) - Baharampur (India) interconnection (b) Akhaura – Agartala Rail Link (c) Rehabilitation of the Kulaura-Shahbazpur section of Bangladesh Railways Quotes/Words to Quote Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu On India – Addressing the 2nd World Hindu Conference 2018, in Chicago, USA The extraordinary vision of ancient India encapsulates a message that is timeless and eternally relevant because it is holistic, integrated and universal. Whenever the world is faced with the threats of fragmentation, conflict, hatred and irrational prejudices, the Indian voice brings to the world the soothing, inclusive perspectives that have pervaded its cultural world for more than two millennia. We have inherited a treasure house of ideas, values and attitudes. In a world of unprecedented changes, we need a sheet anchor and a spiritual compass. India could offer those to the world. In a world that is filled with bitterness, India could provide the honey of wisdom gathered from different flowers by different bees. Words to Quote in Mains answer: On Smart Cities Leaving people with disabilities out of economic opportunities leads to a loss of 3-7%of GDP annually Divyang-friendly measures need to be integrated at planning stage for ensuring inclusive growth in Smart Cities in India In conjunction with the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), the Smart Cities Mission seeks to ensure that the most vulnerable sections of our society enjoy ‘Ease of Living’ in Indian cities. We have the Accessible India Campaign, AMRUT, HRIDAY, Swachh Bharat, Digital India and the Smart Cities Mission – and accessibility cuts across them all. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with its 17 goals and 169 targets, has given the nations of the world a very ambitious framework with the underlying theme of ‘Leave No One Behind’. “This framework is inspired by the Indian ethos of Sarvodaya through Antyodaya. On Agriculture The goal of agricultural development planning and investment in India needs to go beyond the production, productivity and acreage. Important as they are but these three are merely output indicators so far as the farmers as producers are concerned. The outcome from their perspective is to be seen in their gains in terms of profit and prosperity. As per the Fourth Advance Estimate a record production of 284.83 million tonnes during 2017-18 was achieved; which means an increase in production continuously for a second year. The challenge that such a situation of abundance puts up before us is that of maintaining food prices at levels that ensure farmers get their due profits, while not letting the general consumers remain deprived of the gains of bumper harvest. It is for this purpose that the following policy instruments help us in tacking the situation – Minimum Support Price Procurement for Public Distribution System Price Support Scheme Market Intervention Scheme The farmers face numerous problems in both managing agricultural production with the minimum possible cost and selling their produce at the maximum feasible agricultural produce prices because of serious market imperfections. The farmer faces farm input market imperfections which are handiworks of the business and industry involved in the production and distribution of these inputs. Similarly, when it comes to realizing maximum prices the agricultural produce market ground realities disable and deprive the farmers of their due prices. This shows in terms of non-availability of markets as such, and the exploitative nature of functioning of farm business and industry handling in agricultural markets. The other factors that enable farmers to profit and prosper by ideal use of their land, animal, water, and forestry resources are related to their ability to maximize their income with a focus on maximizing revenue; and earn more by enhancing their farm business acumen. This requires serious attention to use innovative farm technology and management to increase both produce and earning on the one hand and reducing uncertainties related to crop, prices, and supporting services on the other hand.

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