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Creative Guidance – Believe in Yourself – Inspirational Educative Articles

Believe in Yourself: It is impossible for anybody else to believe in you. The reason for this is because nobody else knows your thoughts, dreams and desires. Even if you try to explain exactly what is it that you want in life, still it is next to impossible to make anybody else understand your life’s true vision. So why waste time trying to expect someone else to believe in our dreams. The moment we drop this expectation from people around us, we become strong and practical. It is extremely unscientific and impractical to expect someone else to believe in us and our dreams. Trying to explain to people your deepest desires is like banging your head against a wall, there is absolutely nothing that is going to come out of it. You have to believe in yourself and there is no other way out. This is why life is such a difficult experience. There is nothing else that makes life so challenging other than the fact that you alone are responsible for everything that happens in your life. When the strength of your inner belief reduces, you become confused and lost. Lack of personal conviction and belief in something is the root cause of all pain and suffering. Each human being is an island, cut off from everything else. All our experiences and personal visions are restricted to this island. Once in a while we can invite a few people and give them a tour of our island, but it is impossible to make them understand why our island is the way it is? Each life is so unique and different that only the experiencing self knows what it really wants. This is why it is so important to invest considerable time and energy to understand your mind, body and yourself. The more you know about yourself, the clearer your path becomes. Knowing yourself is the way to eliminate unnecessary doubts and confusions. A person who knows himself enough does not need any external support mechanism like someone else’s belief. His belief is enough. Also, knowing that you are the only person who can see your dreams makes it extremely easy to understand different and contrary opinions of people. How much of our time is wasted in trying to explain to people what is it that we exactly want? How much of pain and suffering do we experience in being rejected and ridiculed by people around us. Self-belief will put an end to all this. Self-belief removes all other false comforts and helps you to stay focused on what you want. When the necessity to please everybody drops, it becomes that much easier to focus on working towards your dreams. You will not be unnecessarily troubled by negative criticism and distractions. Most people give up on their dreams not because they do not possess the necessary skills to get to their goals. They give up because they pay too much attention to opinions of people around them. Once an individual becomes clear about what he wants and makes a firm decision to belief in it fully, then the opinions of people around won’t matter much. “This article is a part of the creative endeavor of The Ahamo Movement and IASBABA.”

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

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

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs (Prelims + Mains Focus)- 08th September 2018 Archives (PRELIMS+MAINS FOCUS) SAHI - India's future mobility Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III – Infrastructure; Transportation In news: SAHI – Safe, Adequate, Holistic Infrastructure PM Modi recommends for SAHI at Global Mobility Summit (held in New Delhi) As fuel prices soar, PM Modi’s push for public transport at global summit got attention. NITI Aayog report also called for efficient and convenient public transport to answer the twin problems of pollution and congestion. PM Modi elaborated on ‘7Cs’ for the future of mobility — common, connected, convenient, congestion-free, charged, clean and cutting-edge. Absence of good public transport system led to rapid rise in private vehicle ownership. In crux - Public transport must be the cornerstone of India’s mobility initiatives. Cow Vigilantism and Lynching: Rule 3 of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – National; Issues affecting secular character and integrity In news: Rule 3 in the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Establishment & Regulation of Societies for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) Rules, 2001, empowers “civil society groups” to protect animals. According to Rule 3(5) of PCA Rules, 2001 – a State can confer powers upon “any society” in district to prevent cruelty against animals. Rule 3 is providing State accreditation to cow vigilantism. Rule also providing police powers to civil society groups to stop vehicles, search premises and seize animals. Supreme Court expresses shock over this Rule. Swachh Bharat catch-up Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – Government schemes and Policies; Health issue About: This October marks four years into the Swachh Bharat programme. This mission emphasized on making India an ODF (Open Defecation Free) country by the 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi (2nd October 2019). Key facts: Bihar is the second worst performing State, lagging behind with almost 66% coverage. Odisha, with 62.5% coverage, fares worse. In news: In order to become open defecation free (ODF), Bihar takes new route. It has given up on a model of only allowing community-based incentives for toilet construction. The State has switched to allowing individual household-based incentives. Do you know? Under the Swachh Bharat programme, States were given freedom to tweak the way the scheme was implemented. Every household building a toilet was eligible for an incentive of ₹12,000. Person in news: Hima Das In news: Hima Das, India’s newest sprint star was nicknamed ‘Dhing Express’ after the little-known town that was the cultural and literary hub of Assam till the 1950s. Hima bagged a gold and two silver medals in the recently concluded Asian Games. Assam state govt. awards ₹1.6 crore to ‘Dhing Express’. Miscellaneous India-Iran Ties: Iran to proceed with handing over the responsibility of running the port to an Indian company in a month. (India- US ties) COMCASA to help keep a watch over Indian Ocean: As a consequence of CISMOA, India will get access to Combined Enterprise Regional Information Exchange System, or CENTRIXS, which is the secure communication system network of the US. (MAINS FOCUS) NATIONAL/ECONOMY TOPIC: General Studies 2 and 3 Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures. Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Indian Economy – Financial Inclusion and Inclusive Growth All about India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) Introduction: Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) IPPB will act as a financial service provider that will operate under the country’s age-old postal department. The new India Post Payments Bank can hasten financial inclusion. Benefits: The primary rationale behind the launch of IPPB is to help in the government’s goal of achieving financial inclusion, especially to the rural and unorganised sectors of the economy. (In short it will help in bringing the unbanked into the banking system). It will also help reinvigorate the postal system, which has a wide network of branches across India. (Holders of postal savings accounts are worth over ₹85,000 crore.) IPPB will also have a digital platform that is expected to make financial services more accessible even from remote locations. IIPB will also focus on providing basic payments services such as social security payments, utility bill payments and money transfers. It will also provide access to third-party financial services such as mutual funds, insurance, pension, and loan products. Do you know? IPPB has been set up as a 100% Government of India owned Public Limited Company under the Department of Posts. It will initially have 650 branches and 3,250 access points in post offices across the country. What are Payment Banks? Payments Banks are banks with the following features: They will provide a limited range of products such as acceptance of demand deposits and remittances of funds. They will not perform the function of lending money in the form of loans. These banks will have a wide network of access points particularly in remote areas. They will supplement their own network with business correspondents and even depend on network provided by others. Technology will be extensively used to add value. Important Features of IPPB: IPPB is offering 4% interest to its savings account customers. IPPB is currently not offering its customers an ATM or debit card. IPPB account holders will be issued a QR Card with a unique QR code. The QR card in an ATM since it is not an ATM card. The QR code will be used to identify India Post Payments Bank account holders through smartphones or micro-ATMs. Further, after verification using biometric data, the customer is paid in cash. According to RBI guidelines, one can hold a maximum of Rs 1 lakh in a savings account of a payments bank. Funds exceeding Rs 1 lakh in the regular savings account can be transferred to the account holder’s linked Post Office Savings Account (POSA). There is no cap on the number of withdrawals in a month. You can make unlimited deposits in a month, subject to the Rs 1 lakh limit. Cheque book facility is not available. There are no cash deposit or withdrawal charges. But for doorstep banking services, India Post Payments Bank will charge Rs 15 for digital transactions and Rs 25 for cash-based transactions. Account holders can also use the mobile banking app for checking balance, statement, bill payments and for online transfers. How India Post Payments Bank savings account differs from post office savings account? Post Office Savings Account (POSA) offer ATM facility. Cheque facility is available. (Min. balance 500rs) For non-cheque facility account, the minimum balance of Rs 50 has to be maintained. POSA offers 4% interest to account holders. At least one transaction of deposit or withdrawal in three financial years is necessary to keep the POSA active. Key challenges: Whether it can manage to earn the profits required to survive as a standalone business entity, given the severe restrictions imposed by the Reserve Bank of India on how payments banks in general can employ their funds. The first wave of new payments banks that commenced business last year — Airtel, Paytm and Fino — have not exactly set the market on fire. IPPB plans to charge nominal fees on money transfers and other financial services while investing idle customer deposits in safe government securities in order to earn interest. Whether this will be sufficient to cover interest and operational costs remains to be seen. IPPB is also likely to face stiff competition from private companies, which are generally more nimble in adapting to business realities and far more customer-friendly compared to the government-owned behemoths. Areas of Caution Two areas where a cautious approach needs to be adopted are the understanding of the business model as well as the objective of financial inclusion that they seek to achieve. However, if it succeeds, the new payments bank could usher in a new era of rapid financial inclusion across rural India. Connecting the dots: Payment Banks are the next big thing for the government’s success in financial inclusion. Comment. Highlight the hurdles in the way of their success and their integration with the existing banking system. INTERNATIONAL/SECURITY TOPIC: General Studies 2 and 3 Important International institutions, agencies and fora; their structure, mandate Defence and Security For a world free of chemical weapons Introduction The Chemical Weapons Convention Act was enacted in 2000 to give effect to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction signed by the government on January 14, 1993. Do you know? The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) is a multilateral treaty that bans chemical weapons and requires their destruction within a specified period of time. CWC negotiations started in 1980 in the UN Conference on Disarmament. The convention opened for signature on January 13, 1993, and entered into force on April 29, 1997. The CWC is open to all nations and currently has 193 states-parties. Israel has signed but has yet to ratify the convention. Three states have neither signed nor ratified the convention (Egypt, North Korea and South Sudan). The CWC is implemented by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which is headquartered in The Hague. The OPCW receives states-parties’ declarations detailing chemical weapons-related activities or materials and relevant industrial activities. After receiving declarations, the OPCW inspects and monitors states-parties’ facilities and activities that are relevant to the convention, to ensure compliance. OPCW won the 2013 Nobel peace prize. Features of the Chemical Weapons Convention Act of 2000 The Act defines chemical weapons as toxic chemicals, including munitions and devices, specifically designed to cause death or other harm. The definition includes in its ambit “any equipment” specifically designed for employing chemical weapons. It empowers the Centre to set up a National Authority to act as the “national focal point” for effective liaison with organisations and other state parties on matters relating to the Convention and for fulfilling the obligations of the country. Section 19 of the Act gives full power of inspection of any person who is engaged in the production, processing, acquisition, consumption, transfer, import, export or use of any toxic chemical or discrete organic chemical. Inspections extend to any place where any chemical weapon, old chemical weapon, or abandoned chemical weapon is located, or where a chemical weapon production facility exists. The Act allows inspections teams to conduct “challenge inspections” of chemical facilities in the company of an Observer. An enforcement officer under the Act shall also accompany the team. In 2010, the Act was amended to widen the scope of Section 9 to give the Centre power to appoint any of its own officers, other than those of the National Authority, as enforcement officers. Section 16 has also been amended to provide that no person shall transfer to, or receive from, a state which is not a party to the Convention any toxic chemicals. Functions of National Authority Regulation and monitoring the development, production, processing, consumption, transfer or use of toxic chemicals or precursors as specified in the Convention, among others. Issue directions and even close down facilities which violate the Convention. It can liaise with other countries to seek or give assistance and protection against the use of chemical weapons. Conclusion: Use of chemical weapons in ongoing Syrian civil war, and Salisbury attack are some of the recent examples, which increases the importance of CWC and OPCW. This convention should be not only ratified and implemented globally but also there should be stringent international mechanism to control its violations. Connecting the dots: Use of chemical weapons in civil wars is brutal crime against humanity. Analyse the global scenario in the light of CWC. Also comment on India's measures on the line. (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note: Featured Comments and comments Up-voted by IASbaba are the “correct answers”. IASbaba App users – Team IASbaba will provide correct answers in comment section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers. Q.1) Consider the below statements: The Animal Welfare Board of India comes under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate change. Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Rules empowers “civil society groups” to protect animals. Which of the statements above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both None Q.2) With reference to Animal Welfare Board of India, consider the following statements: It is a statutory body created under Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. It can order the Central government to make a new law to prevent cruelty on Animals. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) Global Mobility Summit was recently held in - Singapore India Nepal Japan   MUST READ For all that we may become: on the Section 377 verdict The Hindu  2+2 = ?: On India-US defence relationship The Hindu Punjab’s new addicts: on the rise of female drug addicts The Hindu  Rights over wrong Indian Express Clashing With Kabul Indian Express

RSTV Video

RSTV- India Post Payments Bank

India Post Payments bank Archives TOPIC:General Studies 2 and 3 Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures. Indian Economy – Financial Inclusion and Inclusive Growth In News: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 1 September, 2018 launched the payments bank of Indian postal department. What is Payments Bank: A payments bank is like any other bank, but it operates on a smaller scale without involving any credit risk. Purpose: It will take banking to the doorstep of every citizen through an unmatched network of post offices and almost 3 lakh postmen and 'Grameen Daak Sewaks'. Why: Financial Inclusion still a challenge. The idea of financial inclusion, particularly in developing markets, has always met with challenges pertaining to accessibility and affordability. The RBI and the Government have tackled these challenges in numerous ways and have made substantial progress. But problems remain in reaching out to those who are most vulnerable, namely, the illiterate, low-income and rural population. As of 2017, 37 per cent of the Indian adult population remain excluded from the formal financial system; 21 per cent of those included do not actively use their bank accounts. According to World Bank’s FINDEX 2017 report, primary reasons why the unbanked chose not to transact through banks was: They do not have enough money to start banking The cost and distance from bank branches were an impediment They do not have an account because a family member already has one Lack of documentation and distrust in the financial system Will it be beneficial both ways? The existing familiarity with post offices could help them overcome the hesitation of going to bank branches and dealing with bank personnel. If rural savings begin moving into the banking system, it will hasten the shift from physical assets such as real estate and gold to financial assets. Freeing the farmers and other residents of rural India from the clutches of moneylenders will be yet another positive. Besides these, India Post, which has been recording losses due to high operational expenditure and falling revenue, will get a fresh lease of life. The real estate that is owned by India Post can be leveraged for a more sustainable revenue stream. Salient Features: India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) will be like any other bank but its operations will be on a smaller scale without involving any credit risk. It will carry out most banking operations like accepting deposits but can't advance loans or issue credit cards. Offers three types of savings accounts—regular, digital and basic. IPPB savings accounts are zero-balance accounts. The freshly-minted payments bank will Accept deposits of up to Rs 1 lakh – Open a post office savings account and link it with your IPPB account. Any balance in excess of Rs 1 lakh will be transferred to your post office account, which is a regular savings bank account. Offer remittance services, mobile payments/transfers/purchases and Offer other banking services like ATM/debit cards, net banking and third-party fund transfers. The government owns 100 per cent in IPPB, which has been set up under the aegis of the Department of Posts, and will offer products and services through multiple channels such as counter services, micro ATMs, mobile banking app, messages and interactive voice response. Is there a need to revamp India Post? The creation of the India Post Payments Bank is a good step but there is a need to revamp Indian Post services if we want India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) to achieve its desired objective - The number of post offices has come down. The employees on the rolls appears to be in line with the declining volume of business, which has come down by around 7 per cent. The handling of the savings pie has increased. It consists of small savings that is contributed more by the middle-and lower-income groups with a strong rural bias. However, here too the compound growth rate of around 6.8 per cent is much lower than bank deposits which have grown at almost double the rate. The losses of the department have increased by over nine times. The department has been running as an essential service which is primarily used by the weaker sections especially in the rural areas. As a result it becomes very difficult for the government to increase the postage rate given that it is uniform across the country. The losses have been mounting as several costs like administration, maintenance, salary, etc. move with inflation while transportation costs keep moving up more than proportionately. Therefore, with the volume of each business coming down, these fixed costs increase the cost per unit of business. The Way Forward: There is considerable scope to leverage the present strengths of India Post to not just make it financially sustainable but also maximise the utilisation of the infrastructure to link it with other goals of the government to create a virtuous cycle. But there are reforms that should be implemented for better services – The pricing structure has to be revamped as heavy losses cannot be sustained. Differential pricing based on location can be considered with the rural areas getting a subsidy. The other centres would have to be made to pay the full cost. Post office spaces should be leveraged to earn rent. As financial inclusion includes non-banking products also, these can be sold in post offices by the mutual funds or their agents. The existing staff can be trained to sell financial products like insurance and mutual funds in rural areas and a commission earned by the department. The post offices can be integrated with the eNAM initiative where terminals can be kept in these offices for use by farmers. Further, dak sewaks can be used to also form a link with the agricultural markets (eNAM) as they have direct interface with farmers and can be given the responsibility of spreading awareness as well as be the link with the market prices. Connecting the Dots: IPPB has the potential to be a game-changer in financial inclusion. Discuss.

PIB

IASbaba PIB Weekly : Press Information Bureau – 27th Aug to 1st Sep, 2018

IASbaba Press Information Bureau 27th Aug to 1st September, 2018 ARCHIVES GS-2 Launch of Innovation Cell and Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements (ARIIA) (Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources) By: M/o HRD Aim: Systematically foster the culture of innovation in Higher Education Institutions The primary mandate of Innovation Cell is to encourage, inspire and nurture young students by exposing them to new ideas and processes resulting in innovative activities in their formative years fostered through Network of Innovation clubs in Higher Educational Institutions. Decade 2010-20: ‘Decade of Innovation’, to unleash the creative potential of every Indian. India has improved on global stage in terms of Innovation ranking from 86th place, 5 years ago, to 57th place this year. Cabinet approves Signing of MoU between India and Bulgaria in the field of tourism: Bulgaria is a potential tourism markets for India (India received approximately 5288 tourists from Bulgaria in 2017). The main objectives are: To expand bilateral cooperation in the tourism sector To exchange information and data related to tourism To encourage cooperation between tourism stakeholders including Hotels and Tour operators, To establish exchange programme for cooperation in Human Resource Development To exchange visits of Tour Operators / Media /Opinion Makers for promotion of two way tourism To exchange experiences in the areas of promotion, marketing, destination development and management Foster bilateral cooperation through film tourism for promoting the two countries as attractive tourism destinations and To promote safe, honourable and sustainable tourism Signing of Air Services Agreement between India and Morocco: The Air Services Agreement signifies an important landmark in the civil aviation relations between India and Morocco and has the potential to spur greater trade, investment, tourism and cultural exchanges between the two countries.  It will provide enabling environment for enhanced and seamless connectivity while providing commercial opportunities to the carriers of both the sides ensuring greater safety and security. Trade Cooperation Framework between India and Rwanda: will facilitate better trade and economic relations Memorandum of Understanding between India and USA in insurance regulatory sector: The MoU provides a framework for cooperation and coordination, including for the exchange of information and research assistance with respect to each Authority’s overview and other lawful responsibilities.  Under the agreement, both the countries intend to share their experiences on various regulatory functions and to provide mutual assistance including training activities. India andUSA have also agreed to continue to facilitate cooperation on international standard-setting activities, financial stability and the development and implementation of consumer protection through sound prudential regulation of the insurance sector. Umbrella scheme “Ocean Services, Technology, Observations, Resources Modelling and Science (O-SMART)” of Ministry of Earth Sciences: The important deliverables during the next 2 years envisage include Strengthening of Ocean Observations and Modelling Strengthening of Ocean Services for Fishermen Setting up Marine Coastal Observatories for monitoring marine pollution in 2018 Setting up Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Plant (OTEC) in Kavaratti Acquisition of 2 Coastal Research Vessels for Coastal research Continuation of Ocean Survey and Exploration of Minerals and Living Resources Technology Development for Deep Ocean Mining- Deep Mining System and Manned Submersibles Setting up Six Desalination Plants in Lakshadweep MoU between India and United Kingdom and Northern Irelandon the Cooperation in the fields of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries: Aims to develop bilateral cooperation in the field of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries for the purpose of increasing production and productivity of Indian livestock and fisheries. Government of India and the World Bank sign $300 Million Agreement to help scale-up India’s Energy Efficiency Program (Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation) To be implemented by: Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) Will help scale-up the deployment of energy saving measures in residential and public sectors, strengthen EESL’s institutional capacity, and enhance its access to commercial financing. The investments under the Program are expected to avoid lifetime greenhouse gas emissions of 170 million tons of CO2, and contribute to avoiding an estimated 10 GW of additional generation capacity. This would be over 50 percent of the National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency target of 19.6 GW indicated in India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Accord. The Program will help tackle the financing, awareness, technical and capacity barriers faced by new energy efficiency programs and support the UJALA program of the Government of India. Key Components of the Operation include: Creating sustainable markets for LED lights and energy efficient ceiling fans Facilitating well-structured and scalable investments in public street lighting Developing sustainable business models for emerging market segments such as super-efficient air conditioning and agricultural water pumping systems Strengthening the institutional capacity of EESL Increase private sector participation in energy efficiency, including through private sector energy service companies The Government of India, Government of Rajasthan and World Bank sign a $250 Million Agreement to Support Electricity Distribution Sector Reforms in Rajasthan (Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation) Aim: To support the Government of Rajasthan in improving the performance of its Electricity Distribution Sector under the State’s 24x7 Power for All program The key areas that the program will support include: Strengthening Governance in the Distribution Sector in the State by establishing Annual Performance MoUs between the DISCOMs and the State Government Putting in place a Performance Management System Providing incentives to employees for improving performance Financial Restructuring and recovery in the Sector by transferring considerable amounts of the DISCOMs debt to the State Bringing in more discipline in the revenue requirements of DISCOMs Taking initiatives in reducing the costs of energy procurement Improving the operational performance of the DISCOMs through initiatives like publishing feeder level energy audits and increased usage of IT among others. GS-3 Regulations for Drones (Topic: Security; Science and Technology) Drones are a technology platform which has wide-ranging applications from photography to agriculture, from infrastructure asset maintenance to insurance. Drones range in size from very small and those that can carry multiple kilograms of payload. The preparation of these drone regulations through a Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) has taken multiple years because: Drone technologies have been evolving very rapidly Many countries are still experimenting with their drone regulations and no ICAO stands have been developed India’s security environment necessitates extra precautions Instead of simply digitizing a paper-based process for registering and operating drones, India has formulated an all-digital process – The Digital Sky Platform The first-of-its-kind national unmanned traffic management (UTM) platform that implements “no permission, no takeoff” (NPNT) Users will be required to do a one-time registration of their drones, pilots and owners. For every flight (exempted for the nano category), users will be required to ask for permission to fly on a mobile app and an automated process permits or denies the request instantly. To prevent unauthorized flights and to ensure public safety, any drone without a digital permit to fly will simply not be able to takeoff. The UTM operates as a traffic regulator in the drone airspace and coordinates closely with the defense and civilian air traffic controllers (ATCs) to ensure that drones remain on the approved flight paths. Launch of National Mission on GeM (Topic: Major crops cropping patterns in various parts of the country, different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers) What: National Mission on Government e Marketplace (GeM) to accelerate the adoption and use of GeM by major central Ministries, State Governments and their agencies – provides online, end to end solution for procurement of commonly used goods and services. Aim: Promote inclusiveness, transparency and efficiency in public procurement Achieve cashless, contactless and paperless transaction This will increase overall efficiency and lead to cost saving on government expenditure in procurement. Release of India’s National REDD+ Strategy (Topic: Environment and Conservation of Biodiversity) REDD+: (a) Reducing emissions from deforestation; (b) Reducing emissions from forest degradation; (c) Conservation of forest carbon stocks; (d) Sustainable management of forests; (e) Enhancement of forest carbon stocks. Was first negotiated: Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2005, with the objective of mitigating climate change through reducing net emissions of greenhouse gases through enhanced forest management in developing countries. Forest Carbon Partnership Facility: Assists the countries in their ‘REDD+ (Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation+)’ efforts by providing them with financial and technical assistance India & REDD+: India has communicated in its Nationally Determined Contribution under Paris Agreement, that it will capture 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of Carbon dioxide through additional forest and tree cover by 2030. The Strategy builds upon existing national circumstances which have been updated in line with India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change, Green India Mission and India’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to UNFCCC. The strategy seeks to address drivers of deforestation and forest degradation and also developing a roadmap for enhancement of forest carbon stocks and achieving sustainable management of forests through REDD+ actions. Refer: Link 1 Prelims Qn (2016) Proper design and effective implementation of UN-REDD+ Programme can significantly contribute to Protection of biodiversity Resilience of forest ecosystems Poverty reduction Select the correct answer using the code given below a) 1 and 2 only b) 3 Only c) 2 and 3 only d) 1, 2 and 3 (Solution) Prelims oriented News: Neeraj Chopra: Won Gold in the Men’s Javelin Throw Final Arpinder Singh: Won Gold in Men’s Triple Jump event India’s First Standardised Modern Ship Design for Ganga: By Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) This marks attaining of a critical milestone in the growth of the country’s Inland Water Transport (IWT) sector as it will help overcome the unique navigation challenges river Ganga throws due to its complex river morphology, hydraulics, acute bends, shifting channels, meanders and current. It will serve as an enabler for domestic shipbuilding industry working on inland vessels and open huge possibilities for cargo and passenger movement on National Waterway-1. India’s first Indian human mission will be launched by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) – `Gaganyaan — India's maiden human spaceflight programme': 2022 (75th year of Indian independence) Will make India the fourth nation in the world to launch a Human Spaceflight Mission. So far, only the USA, Russia and China have launched human spaceflight missions. GSLV Mk-III launch vehicle, which has the necessary payload capability for this mission, will be used to launch Gaganyaan. Objectives of the Mission as: Enhancement of science and technology levels in the country A national project involving several institutes, academia and industry Improvement of industrial growth Inspiring youth Development of technology for social benefits Improving international collaboration India’s first biofuel powered flight: The Spicejet flight, featuring a latest generation Q400 aircraft Developed indigenously by CSIR Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 15 percent and sulfur oxides (SOx) emissions by over 99 percent Provide indigenous jet fuel supply security Possible cost savings as feedstock availability at farm level scales up Superior engine performance and reduced maintenance cost for the airline operators RCEP: Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) An ASEAN-centred proposal for a regional free trade area. Between: 10 ASEAN states: (Brunei, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam) CLIMBB-PSTV + Six states with which ASEAN has existing FTAs (Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand) JACSIN Launched in: November 2012 at the ASEAN Summit in Cambodia Viewed as: Alternative to the Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade Agreement Why RCEP? Purpose: ASEAN+6 RECP—aimed at transforming the region by higher economic growth through more cross-border trade and investment. Objective:  To achieve a modern, comprehensive, high-quality and mutually beneficial economic partnership agreement that will cover trade in goods, trade in services, investment, economic and technical co-operation, intellectual property, competition, dispute settlement and other issues. ASEAN has emerged as the second largest trade partner of India in 2017-18 with bilateral trade valued at US$ 81.33 billion, comprising 10.58% of India’s total trade with the world. Refer: Link 1 + Link 2 BIMSTEC Summit BIMSTEC: Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation BIMSTEC member states— Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan, and Nepal —are among the countries dependent on the Bay of Bengal When: 1997 Permanent secretariat: Dhaka Year of BIMSTEC Tourism: 2015 Country to host the first military exercise of the group focussing on counter-terrorism: India Refer: Link 1 + Link 2 Solve (Mains): “Compared to the South Asian Trade Area (SAFTA), the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multisectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation Free Trade Area (BIMSTEC FTA) seems to be more promising.” Critically evaluate. India seems to be giving prominence to BIMSTEC owing largely to the failed narrative of SAARC. Comment. Also examine the potential of BIMSTEC as a bridge between South Asia and Southeast Asia. MoU signed between Department of Biotechnology and International Energy Agency on Enhancing Innovation for the Clean Energy Transition The MoU seeks to deepen co-operation in support of clean energy innovations to accelerate the research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) of clean energy technologies in India and will help support the generation of data for policymaking and improve knowledge of good policy practices for innovation in India and around the world. The MoU will ensure cooperation for sharing of energy policies on RD&D and sharing of best practices on data collection and analysis. This MoU also has a provision for activities such as training and capacity building and accelerating energy innovation by identifying sources of finance. MOVE: India’s First Global Mobility Summit 2018 The Summit will constitute three designated components – The Conclave, Digital Exhibition, and Featured Events. It will help drive the government’s goals for vehicle electrification, renewable energy integration and job growth and also speed up India’s transition to a clean energy economy. Krishna Kutir: Home for 1000 widows at Vrindavan, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh India Post Payments Bank (IPPB): Has been envisioned as an accessible, affordable and trusted bank for the common man, to help speedily achieve the financial inclusion objectives of the Union Government. It will leverage the vast network of the Department of Posts, which covers every corner of the country with more than 300,000 Postmen and Grameen Dak Sewaks. IPPB will hence significantly augment the reach of the banking sector in India. The launch of IPPB marks another significant milestone in the Union Government’s endeavour to take the benefits of a rapidly developing India to the remotest corners of our country. Quotes Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu On Rural India Planners, Parliamentarians and Press must have a bias towards rural India We cannot afford to have “Two Indias” Encourage Rural Innovators & remove bottlenecks regarding infrastructure, funds, connectivity Government and private sector must come together in a big way to promote innovative rural technologies and transform the rural economy Self-help groups should be involved in the development as it not only brings down the income gap but also encourages Women Empowerment India, with its youth potential, must strive to become a technology power house. There is a need to create innovation labs with the focus on ‘Design for Tomorrow’s India’. Five I’s crucial for transforming rural economy: Irrigation Infrastructure Reduced Interest rates Insurance Innovation Massive migration from villages to cities due to 5 E’s – Education Employment Entertainment Enhanced medical facilities Economic opportunities On cyber warfare The era of New Age cyber warfare, and the new enemy can be combated only through the power of knowledge. The BPR&D should evolve best practices, policies and procedures in policing to combat emerging new age National Security threats. Knowledge and competence of our police forces and the ability to innovate, improvise and implement will be critical in strengthening national security. We need a “Surakshit Bharat” as much as a “Samruddh Bharat” and we cannot have a “Surakshit Bharat” without a “Saksham Bharat”. The set up for combating the new enemy in Cyber Space can no longer be housed within the walls of a seemingly secure single government agency. Called for a reorientation of the existing paradigm and said that all security agencies must work in close coordination and also with the private sector manning to establish a foolproof ecosystem. Government & private sector must establish joint mechanisms to protect the police a force against the future challenges, including, the threats of modern warfare. All police forces of the country have to equip themselves with the cyber forensic techniques and knowledge to counter a cyber-attack or investigate a cyber-crime.

Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz- 2019 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 61]

UPSC Quiz- 2019 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 61] Archives Q.1) Consider the following statements about Battle of Haifa It is considered as one of the bravely-contested battles of World War I 15th (Imperial Service) Cavalry Brigade helped liberate Haifa from the clutches of the Turkish-German forces Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2) Consider the following statements about Asia–Europe Meeting (ASEM) It was officially established on 1 March 1996 at the first summit in Bangkok India joined ASEM in 2008 European Union and the ASEAN Secretariat are the regional organisations involved in ASEM Select the correct code: 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above Q.3) UNSC Resolution 2334 is concerned with? Resolving the constitutional crisis that followed the Gambian presidential election of 2016 United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti Israel settlements in Palestine Q.4) Consider the following statements about World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) It is recognised as a reference organisation by the World Trade Organization (WTO) The World Assembly of Delegates is the highest authority of the OIE Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.5) Consider the following statements about ‘FOXSI mission’ It is a sounding rocket mission It built specially to image high-energy X-rays from the Sun by directly focusing them It is collaboration between NASA and the European Space Agency Select the correct statements 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above To Download the Solution - Click here All the Best  IASbaba

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

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

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs (Prelims + Mains Focus)- 07th September 2018 Archives (PRELIMS+MAINS FOCUS) SC decriminalises consensual gay sex Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – Social issue; Vulnerable Section In news: A five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court unanimously decriminalised part of the 156-year-old colonial law under Section 377 of the IPC which criminalises consensual unnatural sex. The apex court struck down Section 377 as being violative of right to equality. The judgment set aside its own verdict in the Suresh Kaushal case. The Apex Court, however, said other aspects of Section 377 of IPC dealing with unnatural sex with animals and children shall remain in force. Sexual act without consent continues to be a crime under Section 377. Do you know? Section 377 discriminated against a minority based solely on their sexual orientation. It violated the right of the LGBTQ community to “equal citizenship and equal protection of laws.” Choice of a partner was part of the fundamental right to privacy. India signs COMCASA with U.S. Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – International Relations In news: India and the US sealed the landmark Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) The move will lead to a new generation of bilateral military partnership. Both sides called on Pakistan to stop terrorist strikes on “other countries” and urged for maritime freedom in the Indo-Pacific region. COMCASA will facilitate access to advanced defence systems and enable India to optimally utilise its existing U.S.-origin platforms. India and the U.S. will also hold a first-ever tri-service joint exercise on the east coast of India in 2019. Do you know? India has concluded three of the four foundational agreements with the U.S. that had been planned for years. India has already signed two of them — General Security Of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) in 2002 and the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) in 2016. The GSOMIA allows sharing of classified information from the U.S. government and American companies with the Indian government and defence Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) but not with Indian private companies. Core concerns We know that - India’s core concerns are steel and aluminum tariffs levied by the US and US proposal to review the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). About GSP Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) is a preferential tariff system extended by developed countries (also known as preference giving countries or donor countries) to developing countries (also known as preference receiving countries or beneficiary countries). It involves reduced MFN Tariffs or duty-free entry of eligible products exported by beneficiary countries to the markets of donor countries. Benefits of GSP to India Indian exporters benefit indirectly - through the benefit that accrues to the importer by way of reduced tariff or duty free entry of eligible Indian products Reduction or removal of import duty on an Indian product makes it more competitive to the importer - other things (e.g. quality) being equal. This tariff preference helps new exporters to penetrate a market and established exporters to increase their market share and to improve upon the profit margins, in the donor country. For more, refer - https://www.eicindia.gov.in/Knowledge-Repository/Certification/Generalised-System-of-Preferences.aspx Role of CSIR in Disaster Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III – Disaster Management; Science and Technology In news: A seven-member team led by Sanjay D.Patil, senior scientist, from the Central Salt and Marine Chemical Research Institute (CSMCRI) under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) developed a mobile Reverse Osmosis (RO) plant 10 years ago, at an estimated cost of ₹1 crore. The Reverse Osmosis (RO) plant was developed for supplying drinking water to natural calamity-hit areas. The unit fitted to a bus can produce 3,000 litres of potable water an hour at an operating cost of just 60 paise a litre. Govt. grants ‘trust’ status to ‘Bharat Ke Veer’ initiative Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – Role of NGO/CSOs The government has granted the status of a trust to ‘Bharat Ke Veer’, a private initiative promoted by actor Akshay Kumar, which aids families of paramilitary personnel killed in action. Contributions to Bharat Ke Veer have been exempted from Income Tax. (MAINS FOCUS) SECURITY TOPIC: General Studies 3 Security challenges and their management in border areas Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate Integrated Theatre Command: All for one, one for all? Introduction There has been much discussion in the media recently on the integrated military theatre commands. There are apprehensions that the creation of integrated commands would seriously hamper the effective application of air power, particularly because of the limited resources available with the Air Force. Do you know? Kargil committee report and Naresh Chandra Committee report focused on restructuring of higher defence organisation with an aim to improve synergy among different tools of state crafts such as bureaucracy, Military, R&D, intelligence and internal security mechanisms, etc. Through all these reports, for such synergy a regular concept emerged as Integrated Theatre Command, also known as Unified Command. An integrated theatre command envisages a unified command of the three Services, under a single commander, for geographical theatres that are of security concern. The commander of such a force will be able to bring to bear all resources at his disposal — from the IAF, the Army and the Navy — with seamless efficacy. The integrated theatre commander will not be answerable to individual Services, and will be free to train, equip and exercise his command to make it a cohesive fighting force capable of achieving designated goals. The logistic resources required to support his operations will also be placed at the disposal of the theatre commander so that he does not have to look for anything when operations are ongoing. Initial steps Moving ahead towards integrated commands without any meaningful restructuring in the higher defence organisation is premature. The initial steps should have been an integration of the Ministry of Defence and the appointment of a Chief of the Defence Staff. This would have put in place structures and practices that would encourage a jointness among the three services and perhaps pave the way in future towards integrated organisations. Differences among three Arms of military Keeping in view the character of future wars, Air force officers are opposing the idea of integrated command, considering the importance of air force. The Army and the Navy challenge this assertion with their opinions on the importance of land and sea power. The real problem lies in the fact that all three services have their own vision of how future conflicts could unfold and the primacy of their own arm in winning wars. The start point is therefore a common understanding between the services on the nature and character of wars that India could fight in the future. Nature and character of future wars According to Carl von Clausewitz, the nature of war does not change; it is the character of war that undergoes transformation. The enduring elements of the nature of war are its violent character, a clash of wills between two opponents, and political primacy. There is no war without these elements. The character of war, on the other hand, is related to how a war will be fought. This depends on our military capabilities, economy, technology, political considerations, civil-military relations, and the opponent’s aim and strategy. Political purpose will decide the start and termination of wars, and the manner in which they will be fought. The services have made their operational plans based on a proactive (cold start) strategy, with the assumption that the war will be short and swift. Maximum combat power is to be harnessed and applied across the border in a series of strikes that will rapidly degrade the military potential of the enemy. The weakness with this strategy is that it seldom takes political objectives into consideration. Examples of the recent past where military force was used or contemplated to be used by the Indian state The Kargil conflict broke out in 1999. The Pakistan Army had clearly committed an act of war by occupying territory on the Indian side of the Line of Control (LoC). While the complete military was poised to strike Pakistan by land, sea and air, the political leadership decided to restrict the conflict to only the Kargil sector and to our own side of the LoC. Only a small fraction of the Indian Amy was applied while the Air Force was restricted to bombing posts that had been occupied by Pakistan Army soldiers. Despite this, Kargil was a resounding political, diplomatic and military victory. The attack on the Indian Parliament in December 2001. Operation Parakram was launched and the Indian Army mobilised for an impending war against Pakistan. The Army remained deployed along the borders for almost one year. The Mumbai attack, November 2008 was the biggest terror strike launched from Pakistan. There was outrage in the country and calls for retaliation against Pakistan. The simple answer to why India did not immediately attack Pakistan is that after examining the options at the highest levels of government, the decision-makers concluded that more was to be gained from not attacking Pakistan than from attacking it. Lessons learned/ Way forward Apart from emphasising the need to synergise political and military objectives, another major lesson from these examples is that the importance of a military force lies in its utility to achieve the national aims, and not in the numbers of divisions, ships and aircraft squadrons. It is necessary for the three services to sit together and find realistic answers to questions of character and nature of future wars. India must be prepared for a whole range of options from non-contact warfare to a full-scale war. It is only after these discussions crystallise that we will be able to arrive at a common understanding of how future wars could possibly play out and the kind of joint structures that are required to best fight this conflict. We may not get everything right but each service extolling its own importance is not helping our ability to prepare for the future. Connecting the dots: What is an Integrated Theatre Command (ITC)? Do you think it can strengthen India’s military muscle? NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2 Public Distribution System; objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; Issues of buffer stocks and food security; Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life. Food Grain Stocks: Steps to stop the rot Introduction India stores about 30.52 million tonnes of rice, wheat, maize, gram and sorghum in such structures at Food Corporation of India godowns and hired spaces. Most grain in India, which is procured from farmers by the government, is stored using the CAP, or cover and plinth method. Very cheap and easy to make, it is described in the preceding paragraph. There are many concerns and health hazards related to CAP storage method of FCI. A comparison In other parts of the world, grain is stored in silos. Here, stored grain is kept dry and aired so as to prevent fungal and insect attacks. When the North American mid-west came under the plough during the 19th and 20th centuries, the first thing that was done was to build large grain silos and a railway system to export the grain. Today, the U.S. has a permanent storage capacity nearly equivalent to its annual grain production. But in India, the government has considered only four silos to be sufficient for the nation’s needs — one each in Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai and Hapur-Ghaziabad. The last one, in Uttar Pradesh, is the most modern with a storage capacity of 500 tonnes, according to a recent paper. The remainder of government-procured grain is stored in conditions so shoddy that it is estimated that there is a 10% loss of harvested grain, of which 6% (around 1,800,000 tonnes) is lost in storage. In order to export basmati rice, Punjab has, in a public-private partnership, built modern, temperature-controlled grain silos with a storage capacity of 50,000 tonnes — but this is not for the Indian market. Invitation to illness According to a World Health Organisation paper, titled “Mycotoxins”, mycotoxins, which are found in mouldy grain/foods, are associated with human disease and produce aflatoxins (cancer-causing), trichothecenes, ochratoxins, citrinin and other toxins. The paper says: “Aflatoxicosis causes abdominal pain, vomiting, hepatitis and (sometimes) death after acute exposure to high concentrations in food. Chronic low dose exposure to aflatoxin can result in impaired growth in children.” The government is aware of the deadly consequences of grain with mycotoxins. Although there are regulations in place to prevent the purchase of mouldy grain from farmers, there do not seem to be any published studies on the extent of mould infection in grain stored using the CAP method. Conclusion Given the weather conditions during the monsoon months, it is not acceptable that our foodgrains, which the public pays to procure, are stored in the open under tarpaulins. Even though foodgrain production has been encouraged and increased, there no effort being made to ensure that grain being procured annually is stored properly. There is an abundance of steel, cement and other building materials, money and the technological know-how, the government should move on a war footing to store food grains in the proper manner. Connecting the dots: India is one of the largest food grain producer countries, housing largest number of hungry people. Critically analyse the paradox. (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note: Featured Comments and comments Up-voted by IASbaba are the “correct answers”. IASbaba App users – Team IASbaba will provide correct answers in comment section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers. Q.1) Which of the following statements is/are true? Suresh Kaushal case deals with Section 377 Puttaswamy v Union of India case deals with Right to Privacy Choose correct answer: 1 only 2 only Both None Q.2) Which among the following is/are outcome(s) of India and US recently concluded 2+2 Dialogue? Signing of Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement. Signing of Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) Signing of three of the four foundational agreements with the U.S. that had been planned for years. Choose the correct code: 1 only 1 and 2 2 only 1,2 and 3 Q.3) Consider the following statements: India and the US have agreed to hold their first joint tri services exercise at the inaugural 2+2 dialogue. This will be the first such exercise to be carried out by India with another nation. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 MUST READ For all that we may become: on the Section 377 verdict The Hindu Sexual equality affirmed: on the Section 377 verdict The Hindu  Is Punjab’s proposed blasphemy law retrograde? The Hindu Ending TB The Hindu  Freedom’s second coming  Indian Express A victory, a new battle Indian Express A nation’s moment of reckoning Indian Express

Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz- 2019 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 60]

UPSC Quiz- 2019 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 60] Archives Q.1) Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats (CSS-IDWH) consists of Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Project Tiger (CSS-PT) Development of Wildlife Habitats (CSS-DWH) Project Elephant (CSS-PE) Select the correct code: 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above Q.2) Consider the following statements about ‘Nai Talim’ It is a principle which states that knowledge and work are not separate. An educational curriculum based on this pedagogical principle was promoted by the Mahatma Gandhi Select the correct code: 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) Consider the following statements about ‘Hope Mission’ It is a space exploration probe mission to Mars It is set to be launched by the Brazil in 2020 Select the correct code: 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.4) Consider the following statements about Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Most OECD members are high-income economies with a very high Human Development Index (HDI) and are regarded as developed countries All the members of BRICS are members of OECD Tax Information Exchange Agreements (TIEAs) was developed by the OECD Global Forum Working Group on Effective Exchange of Information Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1 Only 1 and 3 1 and 2 2 and 3 Q.5) Koodiyattam, a Sanskrit theatre form performed in the state of Karnataka Kerala Tamil Nadu Andhra Pradesh To Download the Solution - Click here All the Best  IASbaba

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs [Prelims + Mains Focus] - 06th September 2018

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs (Prelims + Mains Focus)- 06th September 2018 Archives (PRELIMS+MAINS FOCUS) India and US: ‘2+2’ talks Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – International Relations In news: Inaugural two-plus-two dialogue to be held in New Delhi. Let us understand few basics – What is the ‘2+2’ format? What is special about this round of ‘2+2’? Which other countries does the US have ‘2+2’ talks with? What issues will India and the US focus on? What is the ‘2+2’ format? It is a format of dialogue where the defence and foreign ministers or secretaries meet with their counterparts from another country. India holds such talks with select nations. With Japan and Australia, the talks are at the foreign secretary and defence secretary level. A similar dialogue with South Korea has been announced. India holds ministerial-level talks only with the US. The talks were announced when Prime Minister Narendra Modi met US President Donald Trump last June 2017 in Washington. What is special about this round of ‘2+2’? The dialogue represents an upgrade in ties, as it is seen as a platform for both sides to discuss issues of strategic importance. It is seen as an acknowledgment of India’s rise as a economic and strategic power. Which other countries does the US have ‘2+2’ talks with? Apart from India, the United States holds such ministerial dialogues only with Australia and Japan. What issues will India and the US focus on? The focus will be on possible US sanctions on India, if it does not cut down import of Iranian crude oil and Russian defence equipment. Other issues likely to be discussed are efforts to boost IndoPacific cooperation, finalizing a pact on encrypted defence technologies, terrorism, the Trump administration’s decision to make changes in the H1B visa programme and co-development of military platforms. Core concerns between India and the US Trump administration has sought formal commitment of additional purchases of $10 billion annually for the next three years India has a surplus of $23 billion in trade with America, and the U.S. wants to wipe that off by forcing more imports by New Delhi. India’s core concerns are steel and aluminum tariffs levied by the US and US proposal to review the GSP. (We shall cover about GSP tomorrow) Pic:https://d39gegkjaqduz9.cloudfront.net/TH/2018/09/06/DEL/Delhi/TH/5_01/9deba70d_2371405_101_mr.jpg Pic: https://d39gegkjaqduz9.cloudfront.net/TH/2018/09/06/DEL/Delhi/TH/5_11/2a0c3670_2371451_101_mr.jpg Gutkha scam Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III and IV – Indian Economy and associated issues; Anti-corruption & Bribery in India; Ethics In news: CBI searches houses of T.N. Ministers and police chiefs in connection with the gutkha scam. It is alleged that they had received bribes from a leading gutkha manufacturer to allow the sale of the banned tobacco products in Chennai. Do you know? Laws and Provisions in India to tackle Corruption Indian Penal Code, 1860 The Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 – PCA The Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act, 1988 India and the United Nations Convention against Corruption 2003 (UNCAC) - provides for international co-operation and mutual legal assistance in investigating cases of corruption and recovery of assets. India signed the UNCAC in December 2005. Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002 (Article 23 of the UNCAC) - PMLA Foreign Exchange Management Act 1999 – FEMA Right to Information Act 2005 – RTI Cases referred by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and the Chief Vigilance Officers (CVOs) of other Government Departments Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the state Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Freezing, Seizure and Confiscation of Properties – The Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance, 1944 (Article 31 of UNCAC) Creation of an independent ombudsman (the Lokpal and the Lokayuktas) - to investigate and prosecute cases of corruption by Public Officials (including Ministers) Service Rules of Government Officials Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, 2010 – FCRA Companies Act 2013 Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act, 2015 Even in 4th century B.C., ‘Corruption’ had been a key theme as reflected in Kautilya’s Arthashastra, an ancient Hindu treatise on statecraft, economic policy and military strategy penned during the time. Role of CCI and ‘unfair pricing’ of private hospitals Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III and IV – Indian Economy and associated issues; Ethics In news: Competition Commission of India (CCI) widens probe into ‘unfair pricing’ by Delhi pvt. Hospitals. CCI has directed its investigative arm, the Director General, to probe into alleged violation of provisions of Section 3 and 4 of the Competition Act, 2002, relating to imposition of unfair prices by private super-speciality hospitals. According to DG, Huge profit margins are being earned by sale of products to the locked-in in-patients to the detriment of such patients. Important Value Additions Role of Competition Commission of India (CCI) CCI is a statutory body of the Government of India responsible for enforcing The Competition Act, 2002 throughout India and to prevent activities that have an appreciable adverse effect on competition in India. Goal of CCI is to create and sustain fair competition in the economy that will provide a ‘level playing field’ to the producers and make the markets work for the welfare of the consumers. Competition Act – The Act prohibits anti-competitive agreements, abuse of dominant position by enterprises and regulates combinations (acquisition, acquiring of control and M&A), which causes or likely to cause an appreciable adverse effect on competition within India. SC extends compensation plan to minor rape survivors In news: Supreme Court ordered that minor survivors of rape or sexual assault will get compensation on par with women victims. The apex court extended to minor children the National Legal Services Authority’s (NALSA) compensation scheme for women rape and sexual assault survivors. The NALSA scheme would be made applicable to minor victims from October 2 until the Centre frames compensation guidelines under the POCSO. Important Value Additions: Compensation Scheme for Women Victims/Survivors of Sexual Assault/Other Crimes-2018 It is scheme, proposed by the National Legal Services Authority, for compensating victims of sexual assault and acid attack. Supreme Court has now extended the scheme to make it applicable to child victims of such assaults. About the scheme: As per NALSA’s scheme, victim of gangrape in any part of the country would now get a minimum compensation of Rs 5 lakh and up to a maximum of Rs 10 lakh. Similarly, in case of rape and unnatural sexual assault, the victim would get a minimum of Rs 4 lakh and maximum of Rs 7 lakh as compensation. The scheme also says that victim of acid attacks, in case of disfigurement of face, would get a minimum compensation of Rs 7 lakh, while the upper limit would be Rs 8 lakh. In acid attack cases, if the injury was more than 50 per cent, a minimum compensation of Rs 5 lakh would be given, while the maximum would be Rs 8 lakh. Misuse of office/power Part of: GS Mains Paper IV – Ethics In news: Former IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt arrested in connection with a 1996 narcotics case in which a Rajasthan-based lawyer, Sumer Singh Rajpurohit, was allegedly framed. Bhatt, who was then Banaskantha DSP, had arrested a man over possession of 1 kg of drugs. A probe later revealed that the man was falsely implicated to compel him to transfer a disputed property. Miscellaneous: Typhoon Jebi hit Japan west coast 34% Indians not active enough: WHO – Insufficient activity puts people at greater risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and dementia. Ambitious action on climate change could contribute an extra $26 trillion to the world economy by 2030. Dynamic action on climate could also generate “over 65 million new low-carbon jobs” by 2030 and avoid over 7,00,000 premature deaths due to air pollution. (According to International Experts) Quote in news: Voltaire’s quote –  “I may disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” The above quote can be used in topics dealing with - free flow of ideas in a democracy; Right to freedom of speech and expression; Essay and Ethics answers. (MAINS FOCUS) NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2 Constitution, Social justice Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. GS Paper 1 - Essay The nature of dissent Introduction Recent arrests of activists in certain states of India, started a debate on importance of Dissent in Democracy. General trait of Dissent or disagreement Disagreeing with each other is a fundamental human trait. There is not a single individual who does not disagree with something or the other all the time. Philosophers argue that a baby meaningfully attains its sense of the self — its recognition of ‘I’ and the concept of ‘mine’ — when it first begins to say ‘no’. At a primordial level, we become individuals only through this act of stating our disagreement. There is no family without dissent between parents and the children, or between the siblings. A family which learns to deal with dissent rather than authoritatively dismissing it is a more harmonious family. A way of being We dissent at home, with our friends and with our colleagues in the places we work. It is through these ways of dissenting that we establish a relationship with them. Our relations with our friends and family are based as much on how we learn to live with our disagreements as on other things. If our friends and family consist only of those who agree with us all the time, then we will not have any friends and family. Learning to live with others, the first requisite for a social existence is about learning how to live with them when they disagree with us. Dissent is so ingrained in us that we don’t even need others to disagree. We argue with our own selves all the time as if each one of us is an individual made up of many selves. Social dissent and Democracy Dissent is thus a condition of existence and the real problem is not dissent but silent assent. When we agree collectively, we are silently assenting, agreeing with what is being said and done. This is really not the existential characteristic of a human being but only that of a ‘bonded mind’. However, some might say that assent is the way societies come together, and it is needed for a stable society. But this is plain wrong. We will have a stronger identity of what our society and nation are through forms of dissent. Dissent, paradoxically, is the glue which makes a decent society possible. A group made up of people who agree to everything all the time is not really a society but an oligarchy. A mature society is one which has the capacity to manage dissent since members of a society will always disagree with each other on something or the other. No society has survived without making changes to what was present earlier. New knowledge and new ways of understanding the world, for good or bad, has always been part of every society. Democratic societies are the best of the available models in managing dissent with the least harmful effect on the dissenter. This is the true work of democracy; elections and voting are the means to achieve this. Dissent is progressive in nature Academics and research are two important activities where dissent is at the core. Many new ideas arise by going against earlier established norms and truths. Science, in its broadest meaning, is not possible without dissent since it is by finding flaws with the views of others that new science is created. No two philosophers agree on one point, and no two social scientists are in perfect harmony with each other’s thoughts. Artists are constantly breaking boundaries set by their friends and peers. Buddha and Mahavira were dissenters first and philosophers next. The Ramayana and Mahabharata are filled with stories of dissent and responsible ways of dealing with it. Thus, when academics dissent, it is part of their job expectation to do so! Dissent is not just about criticism, it is also about showing new perspectives. The scientific community does not imprison scientists for dissenting, so do the same applies to social scientists and artists. They should not be targeted in the name of dissent. Why Dissent is necessary? It is not that dissent is necessary only for democracy — it is necessary for the survival of the human race. Any society which eradicates dissent has only succeeded in eradicating itself. We cannot afford to forget the examples of Nazi Germany or Stalinist Russia. A sustainable, harmonious society can only be formed from practices which deal with dissent respectfully and ethically. Ethics of dissent There are two ethical principles associated with dissent. First, its relation to non-violence (Satya Graha), a principle which is so integral to the unique Indian practices of dissent from ancient times to Gandhi and Ambedkar. Second, dissent is an ethical means of protecting those who are worse off than others (Gandhi's Talisman). Dissent is not mere complaint which all of us, however privileged we are, indulge in. Social dissent is a necessary voice for all those who are oppressed and are marginalised for various reasons. This is the only thing they have in a world which has denied them the basic dignity of a social life. This is the truly ethical principle that can sustain a mature society. Thus, when we hear the voices of dissent from the oppressed and the marginalised, it is ethically incumbent upon those who are better off than them to give them greater space and greater freedom to dissent. Conclusion Dissent and disagreement is part of human nature, suppressing it may lead to destruction of society and democracy. Connecting the dots Write an essay; "For Democracy to succeed, Dissent is a key" Note: For better understanding, read this article along with, "Protecting the Dissenters", mains focus, IASbaba current affairs, 4 September 2018. NATIONAL/DISASTER MANAGEMENT TOPIC: General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. General studies 3 Environment and Disaster Management Addressing soil loss Introduction As the rains abate in Kerala and parts of Kodagu district in Karnataka, the loss of lives and the devastation of infrastructure and crops is apparent. However, as rebuilding is planned, what is often ignored is the soil that has been washed away. While roads and houses will be rebuilt, and crop losses compensated partially through insurance, the gradual loss of soil productivity can have a lasting impact on the local economy. Soil degradation due to flooding is a serious concern. A 2014 review of soil degradation in India by multiple institutions shows that an estimated 14 million hectares suffer soil degradation due to flooding annually. The impact of floods on soil was also studied in detail following the 2009 floods in North Karnataka, Which caused the loss of thousands of crore. Researchers from the National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (NBSS&LUP) and other institutes estimate that 13 flood-hit districts lost 287 million tonnes of top soil and soil nutrients across 10.75 million hectares of farmland. Under market prices, the replacement of nutrients such as nitrates, phosphates and iron would have cost Rs. 1,625 crore, while another Rs. 853 crore would have been spent on replenishing organic material lost. To recover and replace the lost would take a long time, and a steadfast programme of recovery. Nine years later, there is no comprehensive scheme for recovery, and the effect of the floods is still visible on the ground. A soil profile of a few affected districts, done under the State’s integrated watershed scheme, shows large swathes of these areas having “shallow or very shallow” soil depth, organic carbon deficiency, and low productivity of land. In the case of Kerala and Kodagu, the undulation and force of the water would have led to severe soil and land erosion. Soil, which has taken thousands of years to form through natural processes and through recent inputs by farmers, is being swept away, to be dumped in reservoirs or in the sea. Soil, a blessing from floods Not all floods are bad for the soil, as seen in the oft-occurring floods along the banks of the Ganga, Kosi, Brahmaputra and other rivers taking birth in the Himalayas. There, the gushing river emanating from the mountains carries with it loosened alluvial soil (Khadar), and not only washes over farmlands, but also replenishes flood plains with fertile soil. Conclusion Soil erosion has grave impact on economy of the affected area. Thus there is a need for Disaster Management in India to take this issue into account. Assessment of Soil and environment degradation should be part of Relief and Rehabilitation under the framework of Disaster management. Connecting the dots: The Disaster management in India fails to take into account the Soil and Environment degradation, and predominantly focuses on construction and rehabilitation. Critically comment. (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note: Featured Comments and comments Up-voted by IASbaba are the “correct answers”. IASbaba App users – Team IASbaba will provide correct answers in comment section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers. Q.1) Consider the following about Compensation Scheme for Women Victims/Survivors of Sexual Assault/Other Crimes-2018 It is scheme announced by the Centre in 2013 after the December 16, 2012 gangrape and murder case in Delhi to support the initiatives on women’s safety across the country. The scheme is for compensating women victims of sexual assault and acid attack. Choose the correct answer: 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2) Consider the following about Central Bureau of Investigation: The CBI was initially setup to investigate cases of bribery and corruption during World war-II. The jurisdiction of the CBI extends only over Central government Employees. The agency comes under the jurisdiction of Department of Personnel and Training. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 and 3 1 and 2 2 and 3 1,2 and 3 Q.3) To check corruption and redress citizens’ grievances in India which of the following are included in the existing legal and institutional framework? Railway Services (Conduct) Rules, 1966 Anti-corruption bureaus in states Parliament and its committees Central Bureau of Investigation, 1963 Which of the above statements are true? 2, 3 and 4 only 2 and 4 only 1 and 3 only 1, 2, 3 and 4 Q.4) Match the following: Tropical Cyclones Place of Occurrence 1.     Typhoons a) North Western Australia 2.     Hurricanes b) Guinea lands of West Africa 3.     Tornadoes c) China Sea 4.     Willy-Willies d) West Indian Islands in the Caribbean Choose the correct codes from the below given options: 1-c,2-d,3-b,4-a 1-a,2-b,3-c,4-d 1-c,2-b,3-d,4-a 1-a,2-c,3-b,4-d Q.5) With regard to the objectives of the Competition Commission of India, consider the following statements. To prevent practices having adverse effect on competition. To prevent monopolistic activities and to promote oligopolistic cartels. To protect the interests of consumers. To ensure freedom of trade. Which of the above options is/are correct? 1, 2 and 3 only 2, 3 and 4 only 1, 3 and 4 only All the above Q.6) Consider the following statements about Competition Commission of India (CCI) It is a quasi-judicial body. It is responsible for enforcing Competition Act, 2002 throughout India. It works to protect the interests of consumers. Which of the statements given above are correct? 1 and 2 1 and 3 2 and 3 1, 2 and 3 MUST READ All for one, one for all? The Hindu Steps to stop the rot The Hindu An assault on the right to privacy The Hindu  Why Dalits want to hold on to Dalit Indian Express Will you tell me who I am? Indian Express  

Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz- 2019 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 59]

UPSC Quiz- 2019 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 59] Archives Q.1) Consider the following statements about ‘Coffee Krishi Tharanga’ It is an IVR based Digital Mobile Extension Service aimed at maximizing the reach of the Board’s services to increase productivity and environmental sustainability It is jointly developed by Coffee Board and Precision Agriculture for Development India Foundation (PADIF) Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2) Consider the following statements about ‘IOWave18’ It is a major Indian ocean-wide tsunami mock exercise. It is organised by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO. Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) The ‘kafala system’ governs Marriages Water sharing between GCC countries Public assassination Migrant Labourers Q.4) The ‘Khanjar’ an annual joint military exercise is held between India and Kazakhstan Turkmenistan Kyrgyzstan Uzbekistan Q.5) Partha Mukhopadhay Committee is concerned with Migrants Digital Economy Education Health To Download the Solution - Click here All the Best  IASbaba

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