IAS Baba

Oct 17, 2017 RSTV Video

RSTV- The Big Picture : UNSC meeting on Rohingya Crisis

UNSC meeting on Rohingya Crisis Archives TOPIC: General Studies 3 Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges General Studies 2 India and its neighbourhood- relations. In news: Myanmar cancelled visiting UNGA amidst spiraling crisis inside the country in Rakhine state. More than 3,70,000 minority Rohingyas have fled to Bangladesh to escape violence in Myanmar. The violence in Rakhine state was sparked by the series of alleged attacks on government border posts by Rohingya militants. Internal problem of Myanmar- This case has additional problem as there is long standing issue in Myanmar if the Rohingyas are actually myanmarese nationals. The Myanmaris call them Bengalis. The 1982 constitution has deprived them of their citizenship. Countries receiving immigrants- There is not going to be an easy solution because the refugee situation in other parts of the world-west Asia who have migrated to Europe are not going to be sent back. So this is the crisis which the government is finding difficult to handle. The global community looking at the problem with close scrutiny Terrorist angle- Now terrorism has got into the picture with a terrorist organization called ARSA, which is being funded by Saudi Arabia, trained in Pakistan and then they attack civil and military force in Myanmar. Myanmar has long history of ethnic clashes with its neighboring states. In last few years, diverse ethnic conflicts in Myanmar have been stabilized because of agreements come into. However, there is big burden on Bangladesh which is bearing brunt of the crisis. Bangladesh is facing huge crisis. There are certain groups that are linked to Rohingyas and people like Masood azhar have come into the debate and has called for jihad. Presence of Rohingya and India’s role There are approximately 40000 Rohingyas in India at the moment. There is little India can do at present. There are intelligence reports that the Rohingya terror groups are in contact with Pakistani based terror groups and could possibly strike in India as well. With the illegal Rohingya immigrants in India, it means that there are yet porous borders with Bangladesh and Myanmar. These shows India’s internal control in poor light. On top of it, they are settled in Jammu and Kashmir where the demographics are so sensitive. The valley Kashmiris did not tolerate the settlement of Hindu refugees of 1947 and here the Rohingyas are in thousands. India will not be able to deport these Rohingyas as nor will Bangladesh or Myanmar accept them. So India has to now see that no more Rohingyas come into India. The Rohingyas have been able to access the voter ID cards, Aadhar cards and some are even applying for passport on forge documents. They have free movement from Delhi to Karnataka and then Hyderabad. Hence, these immigrants need to be monitored. There is a need for database of all the Rohingyas and to monitor their movements. For India, along with humanitarian aspect, the national security aspect is vital. The structure of Rohingya crisis apart from humanitarian crisis and people being prosecuted is a security concern. In addition to it, India can help Myanmar financially to develop the Rakhine state. This issue has to be dealt by India with extreme caution as India has huge stakes in Bangladesh and Myanmar. Conclusion The army still controls the police, defence, home ministry and key portfolios in Myanmar. The international community doesn’t fully understand the internal politics of Myanmar and criticism of their premier is exaggerated on no steps being taken to protect the Rohingyas. Earlier it was about military prosecution of Rohingyas in 1982. However, post 2001, religious colours have been given to the issue and radicalization has been done. The other countries are funding terrorism in Bangladesh through Rohingyas. Though everybody is criticizing India and Myanmar, no one from criticizing countries is coming forward to help them either. Kofi Annan report Citizenship issues Illegal immigration between Myanmar and Bangladesh Report by International Crisis Group A new fundamentalist organization in Saudi Arabia has been formed. They are now sending the funding to Rohingyas in Myanmar and are enticing them to attack the military of Myanmar. There is a radical group dimension to this which is serious. India has the right to look at it. The census of Rohingya is going very slow. Rohingya are themselves not cooperating. On the other side, Bangladesh is worried about its security situation. Thus, Bangladesh and Myanmar need to sort out this question first. India needs to have discussion with Bangladesh and with Myanmar. India has seen that illegal immigrants from Bangladesh are liable to be used by the fundamentalists group for terrorists groups in India. So India has to take utmost care while dealing with the Rohingyas. Also, Diplomacy and talks are needed. India has to send a clear message that any refugee group in India has been extended humanitarian support liberally. But if they are going to behave in a manner that is going to affect India’s national security then India cannot compromise on it. Also read Rohingya Issue- India caught in a difficult spot Connecting the dots: India has been facing refugee challenges from Bangladesh and Myanmar. Critically examine the balancing need between national security and promoting humanitarian aid.

Oct 17, 2017 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs 17th Oct, 2017

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 17th Oct 2017 Archives DEFENCE/SECURITY TOPIC: General Studies 3: Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime with terrorism. Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security. Strengthening Border Management System Background: The Jammu sector has witnessed quite a few instances of successful infiltration by terrorists during the past couple of years as a prelude to attacks on strategic installations — prominent among these being the Pathankot and Uri terrorist attacks in 2016. These incidents have not only raised serious concerns about the efficacy of the existing border security system in thwarting such breaches but also a consequent demand for the deployment of high-tech border surveillance equipment by the BSF. A high-level committee on Security and Border Protection under the chairmanship of Madhukar Gupta, a former Home Secretary, was constituted. Besides finding gaps in the fencing and other vulnerabilities along the India-Pakistan border and strengthening manpower, the committee was explicitly tasked to recommend technological solutions to secure the international border. The Madhukar Gupta Committee has given its recommendations broadly on the issues of Threats and Border Protection, assessment of force level, deployment on the border, infrastructure and technology issues for protection of border and administrative issues. Gaps in the present system of border security: The emphasis on the use of high-tech gadgets for border security is not new. Equipments like Passive Night Vision Goggles (PNG), Night Weapon Sights (NWS), Hand Held Search Lights (HHSL), Hand Held Deep Search Metal Detectors (HHMD), etc proved to be game changers and force multipliers by enhancing the detection capabilities of BSF personnel. Despite these successes, sustained and successful attempts by infiltrators in breaching the international border continued. An in-depth assessment of the existing border management system revealed that it suffered from a number of shortcomings which hampered effective functioning. Some of the shortcomings highlighted were: The high-tech equipment being used did not provide all-round security and did not work in adverse climatic conditions. Significant gaps remained at rivers and nullahs running along the fences. Being manpower intensive, the system was not effective in providing rest and relief to BSF troops. It is not an integrated system and therefore failed to provide a common operating picture at all levels. Given these shortcomings, the BSF argued that a new, efficient and high-tech surveillance system for border guarding is urgently required to prevent infiltration by terrorists and smugglers. The CIBMS: The CIBMS is seen as a more robust and integrated system that is capable of addressing the gaps in the present system of border security by seamlessly integrating human resources, weapons, and high-tech surveillance equipment. It has three main components: New high-tech surveillance devices such as sensors, detectors, cameras, ground-based radar systems, micro-aerostats, lasers as well as existing equipment for round-the-clock surveillance of the international border. An efficient and dedicated communication network including fibre optic cables and satellite communication for transmitting data gathered by these diverse high-tech surveillance and detection devices. A command and control centre to which the data will be transmitted in order to apprise the senior commanders about the happenings on the ground and thus providing a composite picture of the international border. The purpose of the CIBMS is to eventually replace manual surveillance/patrolling of the international borders by electronic surveillance and organising the BSF personnel into quick reaction teams to enhance their detection and interception capabilities. Other factors such as power back up, training of the BSF personnel in handling the sophisticated equipment, and maintenance of the equipment are incorporated into the CIBMS project. Issues: In the case of the CIBMS, a similar dependence on vendors for designing a suitable surveillance system can be observed. This clearly demonstrates that the BSF does not have the required technical expertise to offer clear guidelines to the vendors so that they can provide suitable products. This fact is further evidenced by media reports that the two attempts at testing the system were stalled due to technical mismatch and budgetary projections. The operation and maintenance of the existing sophisticated equipment remain a problem. At present, many of the high-tech surveillance devices deployed by the BSF are not optimally utilised because the required technical expertise is not uniformly available among the force’s personnel. The high cost of the electronic devices and the lack of easy availability of spare parts act as a deterrent against their use. Besides the lack of technical expertise, erratic power supply and adverse climatic and terrain conditions in the border areas could potentially undermine the functioning of the sophisticated system. Conclusion: Technical solutions are necessary to augment and complement the traditional methods of border guarding. They not only enhance the surveillance and detection capabilities of the border guarding forces but also improve the impact of the border guarding personnel against infiltration and trans-border crimes. However, caution must be exercised while advocating the use of high-tech and high-cost electronic devices for border security. The experiences of countries such as the United States that have employed high-tech devices demonstrate that not only are the costs of such devices prohibitive but that they also fail to provide a comprehensive solution to border security problems. Instead of high-cost and innovative technological solutions that require extensive technical expertise, a judicious mix of properly trained manpower and affordable and tested technology will yield better results. Connecting the dots: High-tech and high-cost equipment will ofcourse be helpful in border management. However, to yield better results it is required that a judicious mix of properly trained manpower and affordable and tested technology is adopted. Discuss in the light of present border management system that is Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System. NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections Universal Basic Income: Is it the best way to eradicate poverty? In news: Universal Basic Income is seen by many as an alternative to the existing system of subsidies, which is often associated with systemic inefficiencies. The latest Fiscal Monitor of the IMF, in its analysis, showed that the available fiscal space can finance an annual Universal Basic Income of Rs2,600 per person, with the estimated cost at about 3% of the gross domestic product (GDP). Background: Although the basic idea of Universal Basic Income is not new for India—the erstwhile Planning Commission had worked on it in the early 1960s—it has attracted significant attention in the recent past. A large proportion of the population in India still lives below the poverty line and a number of government programmes providing subsidies and support to the poor are marred by inefficiencies. There are leakages in the system, and often, people who actually need government support are left out. Therefore, it is argued that Universal Basic Income will overcome these problems by providing a basic income to all citizens. The 2016-17 Economic Survey argued that Universal Basic Income is “...more feasible in a country like India, where it can be pegged at relatively low levels of income but still yield immense welfare gains”. Is Universal Basic Income the best way to eradicate poverty in India? There are strong economic and political reasons why India cannot opt for Universal Basic Income, at least in the present circumstances. The biggest issue is that India doesn’t have the fiscal capacity to implement Universal Basic Income. The Economic Survey calculations showed that a 75% universality rate with an annual Universal Basic Income of Rs7,620 per year at 2016-17 prices will cost about 5% of the GDP. It is often assumed that resources can be raised by rationalizing subsidies and capturing a part of the revenue forgone on account of various tax exemptions, including in the personal income tax. These may not happen. Further, politically, it will be extremely difficult to roll back subsidies in order to create fiscal space for Universal Basic Income. It is always advisable for the government to work on reducing non-merit subsidies, but the gains should be used to increase capital spending, which will help boost growth in the medium-to-long term. Universal Basic Income can create distortions in the labour market. A steady, permanent and guaranteed income without any work is likely to affect labour mobility and participation. It is also likely to increase wages, as has been witnessed after the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. Higher wages without a commensurate increase in productivity will affect India’s competitiveness. This could also have longer-term implications in terms of higher inflation and lower growth. The nature of Indian politics can create complications. It is highly likely that political parties, in order to improve their chances in elections, would want to increase the amount of Universal Basic Income or try to bring back subsidies in some form or the other, which will have fiscal implications. Way ahead: What India needs is not Universal Basic Income. Steps like rationalization of subsidies, better targeting and operational efficiency are needed. We need to move to cash transfers at an accelerated pace with the use of Jan-Dhan, Aadhaar and mobile. This will help reduce costs and spare resources for capital spending to augment growth. Conclusion: As history has shown, the best way to pull people out of poverty is sustained higher growth. Therefore, rather than creating permanent doles like Universal Basic Income for the entire population, which will be impossible to reverse in the future, the idea should be to save costs with better targeting. This will help create the necessary conditions for higher growth which will decisively lift people out of poverty. Connecting the dots: There are several constraints in adoption of universal basic income in India. Discuss these constraints and also outline how other steps like rationalization of subsidies, better targeting, cash transfers etc can go a long way in eradication of poverty. MUST READ Lessons from the Aarushi case The Hindu A dangerous proposition The Hindu Securing Somalia The Hindu Flip-flop on terror The Hindu Out of UNESCO The Hindu Misreading Sir Syed Indian Express New frontiers Indian Express Time for auto industry to go all electric Livemint Pushing evidence-based policymaking for the poor Livemint Toxicity- the bane of our food exports Business Line

Oct 17, 2017 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz- 2017 : IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 64]

UPSC Quiz- 2017 : IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 64] Archives Q.1) Consider the following statements about National e-Governance Services Ltd. (NeSL) It is India’s first information utility (IU) for bankruptcy cases under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016. It is owned and promoted by leading public institutions like State Bank of India, Life Insurance Corporation among others Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2) Consider the following statements about Trap Crops Trap crops are the plant stands that are grown to attract insects or other organisms to protect target crops from pest attack It is economical but not an environmental friendly technique Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) Consider the following statements about fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) It is a mechanism describing energy transfer between two chromophores It is known as a radiation less mechanism Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.4) Which of the following statements is/are correct? ‘Tele Law’ is a web based platform, through which interested lawyers can register themselves to volunteer pro bono services for the underprivileged litigants, who are unable to afford it. Nyaya Mitra scheme is aimed at reducing pendency of cases across selected districts, with special focus on those pending for more than 10 years. Both (a) and (b) Neither (a) nor (b) Q.5) Consider the following statements about Fjord A fjord is formed when a glacier cuts a U-shaped valley by ice segregation and abrasion of the surrounding bedrock. The longest fjord in the world is Scoresby Sund in Greenland 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

Oct 16, 2017 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs 16th Oct, 2017

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 16th Oct 2017 Archives HEALTH/NATIONAL 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 Public Health Management Cadre: Need of the hour Background: The 12th Five Year Plan and the National Health Policy, 2017 have strongly advocated establishing a public health management cadre to improve the quality of health services by having dedicated, trained and exclusive personnel to run public health facilities. Recommended by various committees: The idea of having dedicated personnel for public health management goes back to 1959 when advocated by the Mudaliar Committee, which observed that “personnel dealing with problems of health and welfare should have a comprehensive and wide outlook and rich experience of administration at the state level”. It was echoed too, in 1973, by the Kartar Singh Committee, which said that “doctors with no formal training in infectious disease control, surveillance systems, data management, community health related problems, and lacking in leadership and communication skills, with no exposure to rural environments and their social dynamics, nor having been trained to manage a facility or draw up budget estimates, were ill-equipped and misfits to work in public facilities”. In 2011, a High Level Expert Group on Universal Health Coverage recommended creation of an All India Public Health Service Cadre "that should be responsible for all public health functions starting at the block level and going up to the state and national level. This cadre should be supported by a state public health cadre. This would be akin to civil services. Why have such a cadre? The idea is on the lines of the civil service — of having dedicated, professionally trained personnel to address the specific and complex needs of the Indian health-care delivery system which is grappling with issues such as a lack of standardisation, financial management, appropriate health functionaries and competencies including technical expertise, logistics management, and social determinants of health and leadership. Doctors with clinical qualifications and even with vast experience are unable to address all these challenges, thereby hampering the quality of our public health-care system. Doctors recruited by the States and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (through the Union Public Service Commission) are to implement multiple, complex and large public health programmes besides applying fundamental management techniques. In most places, this is neither structured nor of any quality. In the absence of a public health cadre in most States, even an anaesthetist or an ophthalmologist with hardly any public health knowledge and its principles is required to implement reproductive and child health or a malaria control programme. As most states have no public health cadres, theoretically, a district medical officer, required to implement public health programmes such as vector borne diseases or TB control, could be a radiologist or an orthopaedic doctor with scanty knowledge of public health principles and management. At the Ministry level, the highest post may be held by a person with no formal training in the principles of public health to guide and advise the country on public health issues. With a public health cadre in place, we will have personnel who can apply the principles of public health management to avoid mistakes such as one that led to the tragedy in Uttar Pradesh as well as deliver quality services. This will definitely improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Indian health system. With quality and a scientific implementation of public health programmes, the poor will also stand to benefit as this will reduce their out-of-pocket expenditure and dependence on prohibitively expensive private health care. In the process, we will also be saving the precious resources of specialists from other branches by deploying them in areas where they are definitely needed. Filling the post of director general in the Health Ministry from this cadre with similar arrangements at the State level including the posts of mission directors will go a long way in improving planning and providing much-needed public health leadership. Another benefit will be the freeing up of bureaucrats and their utilisation in other much needed places. What does All India Health Cadre imply? Instituting an AIHC would imply that doctors (and other non medical personnel) desirous of working in government would require to undergo training in health policy and work in district level hospitals for a period of time as a pre-qualification for promotions. Steps being taken: Tamil Nadu took the lead in this and there has been a great difference in the way health delivery is done there vis-à-vis Uttar Pradesh. For example, in U.P., even in a tertiary hospital, according to media reports, simple record keeping of oxygen cylinders is not followed. Recently, Odisha, with the support of the Public Health Foundation of India, has notified the establishment of a public health cadre in the hope of ensuring vast improvement in the delivery of health care. Despite the creation of a public health cadre finding mention in various reports and Plan documents, such a service at the all-India level has still to translate itself into reality any time soon due to a series of complex factors. The way forward: The All India Health Cadre will need to be contextualised within a holistic and comprehensive institutional reform that must begin with making health a concurrent subject (as was done in the case of education) and restructuring the administrative ministeries into two distinct departments – one devoted to public health. and the other to medical education and long term care/hospital services. An exclusive department of public health at both the levels of the Ministry and the States is required, this will help in developing the recruitment, training, implementation and monitoring of public health management cadre. Doctors recruited under this cadre may be trained in public health management on the lines of the civil service with compulsory posting for two-three years at public health facilities. Financial support for establishing the cadre is also to be provisioned by the Central government under the Health Ministry’s budget. Conclusion: A service, on the lines of the IAS, will improve India’s health-care delivery. An all India health cadre is the need of the hour. However, it should be brought after adopting a wide consultative process and evidence – not on knee jerk or narrow political considerations. Connecting the dots: Various committees have recommended for the creation of All India Health Cadre. There are various administrative challenges being faced in the health sector which could be resolved by having a specialised cadre. Analyze. ECONOMY TOPIC: General Studies 3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Strengthening state level enterprises Background: Given the downturn in economic growth and the daunting challenge of creating jobs for those already in and those about to enter the workforce in the country, the need to boost the manufacturing sector has become exceedingly urgent. The government at the Centre is committed to reviving manufacturing with initiatives such as the “Make in India” and “Digital India” programmes. It has correctly identified burdensome regulations as a major culprit for lagging manufacturing, resulting in a focus on easing regulatory hurdles in order to improve the “ease of doing business”. Issue: The issue is that many of the regulations that affect businesses fall within the jurisdiction of State governments. For instance, starting construction of any kind requires getting no-objection certificates (NOCs) and approvals from various departments of the municipality and State government. Firms that employ more than 10 workers are subject to meeting compliance requirements under State labour laws. The task of providing adequate water and proper roads falls to respective State government departments. Thus, the ultimate responsibility for easing regulations and improving the business environment lies with States even more than the Centre. Steps taken by the state governments: State governments are making earnest efforts to improve the ease of doing business. They have undertaken reforms across different areas of doing business, such as labour, environment, setting up a business, among others, in order to reduce the time and costs of meeting compliances. A majority of States have introduced single window clearance systems along with the necessary laws to make it simpler to start a business. Many now allow self-certification as well as third-party certification for granting various permits. The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) of the Union government introduced a detailed survey of State governments and it publishes a real-time annual ranking of States. This ranking reflects the number of reforms that states have implemented. This initiative has fostered competition among States in order improve their ranking and is taken very seriously by bureaucrats and politicians alike. What needs to be done? To fully understand how business is actually done and whether reforms by States are being implemented, it is necessary to ask enterprises or firms themselves – who bear the burden of compliance – about their experience in meeting mandated requirements. This will provide direct feedback to State governments about how their actions are helping the situation on the ground. This would be a complement, not a substitute, to DIPP’s survey. Variations in performance across the states: Along the lines of these World Bank Enterprise Surveys, NITI Aayog, in collaboration with IDFC Institute, published a report based on a State-level enterprise survey of more than 3,000 manufacturing firms across India. The survey reveals a wide variation in the time taken for getting various approvals and cost of doing business across States. It also shows that although States have implemented reforms and instituted improved processes, enterprises are often unaware of them. The results shows that: States that experience high growth have a better climate for doing business, suggesting a virtuous circle between a better regulatory environment and more rapid growth. What needs to be done? Repeated surveys of enterprises at the State level will provide sufficient data to reasonably measure whether States that have a better doing business climate as reported by firms also see better outcomes over time. They will also allow States to check whether their reforms are yielding results, how far they have come, how they fare in relation to other states, and recalibrate the measures undertaken. These State level report cards could not only be a means for getting feedback but also help build political and public consensus around reforms at the State level. Conclusion: An improved doing business climate due to reforms could deliver real gains in terms of increased investment in manufacturing and creating a large number of good jobs. India needs no less if we are to jumpstart growth and eradicate poverty. Connecting the dots: Analyzing the performance of state level enterprises and working on strengthening them is required if manufacturing sector is to be given a boost as many of the regulations that affect businesses fall within the jurisdiction of State governments. Discuss. MUST READ The right to read and be read The Hindu Between disarmament and deterrence The Hindu Toxic farming The Hindu All hype on energy Indian Express A black mark Indian Express Make in India- The smart phone challenge Livemint Strengthening India's corporate bond market Livemint Is it the end of the road for tax havens Business Line

Oct 16, 2017 MindMaps

IASbaba’s MINDMAP : Issue - Civil Services - Lateral Entry

IASbaba’s MINDMAP : Issue - Civil Services - Lateral Entry Archives NOTE – Instructions to download Mind Maps/Images Right Click on the image and ‘Open in a new tab’ Remove/Delete the resolution part from the URl. Eg. “-1024×869” and Press Enter/Load Again Afterwards the URL will look something like this – “iasbaba.com/..../.../..-IASbaba.jpg” Right Click and Save As/Download (You’ll get the maximum resolution)

Oct 16, 2017 PIB

IASbaba PIB Weekly : Press Information Bureau - 8th Oct to 15th Oct, 2017

IASbaba PIB Weekly: Press Information Bureau - 8th Oct to 15th Oct, 2017 ARCHIVES GS-2 Launch of Sampoorna Bima Gram (SBG) Yojana (Topic: 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) Primary objective: Coverage of all households in the identified Sampoorna Bima Gram village Under Sampoorna Bima Gram (SBG) Yojana: At least one village (having a minimum of 100 households) will be identified in each of the revenue districts of the country, wherein endeavour will be made to cover all households of that identified village with a minimum of one RPLI (Rural Postal Life Insurance) policy each. Note: Postal Life Insurance (PLI), introduced in 1884, is one of the oldest life insurance schemes for benefit of Government and semi-Government employees. Rural Postal Life Insurance (RPLI), introduced on March 24, 1995 on recommendations of Malhotra Committee, provides insurance cover to people residing in rural areas, especially weaker sections and women living in rural areas. Low Premium and High Bonus is the unique feature of PLI and RPLI schemes. India and Water (Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation) India supports 17 per cent of the global population – but has only four per cent of the world’s water resources. Currently, 80 per cent of water in India is used by agriculture and only 15 per cent by industry. In the coming years, this ratio will change. In urban India, 40 billion litres of waste water is produced every day (vital to adopt technology to reduce the toxic content of this water, and to deploy it for irrigation and other purposes. This has to be part of any urban planning programme.) In India, 54 per cent of people are dependent on farming for their livelihood. Yet, their share of national income is only 14 per cent. To make agriculture more remunerative and to improve the prosperity of farming communities, the government has introduced many new projects. These include: ‘Har Khet ko Paani’– Water for Every Farm: This requires enhancing the supply and availability of water ‘Per Drop, More Crop’: This requires using drip irrigation and related methods to improve farm productivity, while using the same volume of water ‘Doubling Farm Incomes by 2022’: To achieve this, the government is rapidly expanding the area under irrigation, and completing 99 long-pending irrigation projects. Sixty per cent of these projects are in drought-prone areas Mindmap Must Read: Link 1 + Link 2 + Link 3 + Link 4 + Link 5 + Link 6 + Link 7 + Link 8 + Link 9 Must Solve: Link 1 + Link 2 Cabinet approves – MoC between India and Japan on the "Technical Intern Training Program (TITP)": The Technical Intern Training Program (TITP) is an ambitious program to send Indian technical interns to Japan for on the job training for a period of three to five years. It is expected that the MoC will pave the way for bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the area of skill development. Signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation between India and Japan on establishing a Liquid, Flexible and Global LNG Market: The MoC will promote bilateral relationship between India and Japan in the energy sector; will contribute to the diversification of gas supplies for India. This will strengthen our energy security and lead to more competitive prices for consumers. The MoC provides a framework to cooperate in facilitating flexibility in LNG contracts, abolition of Destination Restriction Clause and also explore possibilities of cooperation in establishing reliable LNG spot price indices reflecting true LNG demand and supply. Background: India and Japan are major consumers of energy in the world. In the LNG sector, Japan is the world's largest importer and India is the 4th largest importer. Under the Japan-India Energy Partnership Initiative signed in January 2016, the two sides had agreed to work together in promoting well-functioning energy markets and affirmed to promote a transparent and diversified Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) market through the relaxation of Destination Restriction Clause. MoU between Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and Financial Services Commission (FSC), Gibraltar for mutual co-operation and technical assistance: The MoU is likely to promote further development of economic links and cooperation between the two regulators and aims at creating conditions for an effective development of securities markets in the two countries. It would also contribute towards strengthening the information sharing framework between the two signatories. MoU between India and Belarus for Cooperation in the field of Vocational Education and Training: This is for the first time MoU for cooperation in area of vocational education, training and skill development has been signed with Eurasian country. Belarus has a large concentration of industries, mainly into manufacturing and heavy industries, which draw their strength from available skilled manpower and a highly developed skill training system. The transfer of knowledge of their skilling methodology will immensely help in our initiatives like "Make in India" and "Skill India". This MoU would pave the way for systematic transfer of their expertise and knowhow in skilling the manpower especially in manufacturing sector. MoU by Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) with Capital Markets Authority (CMA), Kuwait for mutual co-operation and technical assistance: The MoU is likely to promote further development of economic links and cooperation between the two regulators, and aims at creating conditions for an effective development of securities markets in the two countries. It would also contribute towards strengthening the information sharing framework between the two. MoU between India and Morocco on cooperation in the field of water resources: The MoU intends to enhance cooperation in the field of water resources development and management within the framework of their expertise and their respective legislations. The domains of bilateral cooperation under this MoU include Conception, realization and maintenance of the hydraulic infrastructure, notably big dams and water transfer projects; Integrated water resources management, i.e., conjunctive use of surface and ground water resources, enhancement of water use efficiency, resilience and adaptation to climate change, artificial recharge of aquifers, organisational, institutional and regulation aspects; Flood and drought management; Sustainable development and management of ground water resources including recharge augmentation; and Harvesting and valuation of rainfall water and resilience and adaptation to climate The cooperation also includes Exchange of visits and missions of experts; Exchange of information on programs, publications, expertise and results of research in the field of water resources; Develop projects in domains mentioned above, in Morocco and India: develop partnership mechanism with the socio-economic actors in the two countries; Ensure reciprocal participation of experts to the water related events and projects; Promote cooperation between Hydraulic Basin Agencies of the two countries with an aim to share the expertise on the implementation of the principles of integrated water resource management in the Hydraulic Basins. SANKALP & STRIVE Schemes to boost Skill India Mission: Skills Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion (SANKALP) and Skill Strengthening for Industrial Value Enhancement (STRIVE) – Outcome focused schemes marking shift in government's implementation strategy in vocational education and training from inputs to results. It will create a national architecture for promoting convergence, ensuring effective governance and regulation of skill training and catalysing industry efforts in vocational training space. The architecture shall help, for the first time in the history of vocational education in India, to converge the efforts of various central, state and private sector institutions thereby avoiding duplication of activities and bringing about uniformity in vocational training thus, creating better impact. SANKALP envisages setting up of Trainers and Assessors academies with self-sustainable models. SANKALP aims at enhancement of inclusion of marginalized communities including women. GS-3 Implementation of Value Engineering Programme in Highways Projects (Topic: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.) Why: To promote the use of new technologies, materials, and equipment in highways projects executed either under PPP mode or public funding mode Objective: To use innovative technology, materials and equipment to reduce the cost of projects and make them more environment friendly, while simultaneously ensuring that the roads or bridges and other assets get constructed much faster, are structurally stronger and more durable. The Value Engineering Programme is expected to Increase speed of construction, Reduce construction cost, Increase asset durability and Improve aesthetics and safety. Please Note: ImTeCHO - an innovative mobile phone application to improve performance of ASHAs Mission Indradhanush: Link 1 Vayoshreshtha Samman – a scheme of National Awards for senior citizens The population of senior citizens in our country was approximately 10.5 crore, which was about 8.5% of our total population. The average life expectancy has increased in recent decades due to improvement in health services and other reasons. It is estimated that by the year 2050, the number of senior citizens will be approximately 19% of our total population. Must Read: Link 1 + Link 2 + Link 3 PM Ujjwala Yojana: In the last 15 months, we have already provided LPG connections to over 30 million households. Secondly, we have set the target to electrify 40 million un-electrified households in the next 15 months. – Refer: Mind map; Must Read & Solve: Link 1 + Link 2 + Link 3 Paul H. Appleby Awards: For distinguished services to IIPA and the field of Public Administration in India India’s first Sewage Treatment Plant under Hybrid Annuity Mode to come up in: Haridwar and Varanasi MITRA SHAKTI 2017: The fifth India-Sri Lanka Joint Training Exercise based on Counter Terrorist Operations and an Infantry company from both the countries is participating in the same. Ayurveda Day: 17th October; The First ever All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), set up as an apex institute under the Ministry of AYUSH, will be dedicated to the nation. AIIA will bring synergy between the traditional wisdom of Ayurveda and modern diagnostic tools and technology. Nation’s first Rail coach manufacturing Company: Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML), a Public Sector Company under the Ministry of Defence and the premier manufacturer of rail products. It is the only Indian Company manufacturing State-of-the-Art Metro Cars and holds the Market share of about 50% in Metro segment competing with Global Players and is the sole supplier to Bangalore and Jaipur Metro Corporations World Post Day: Celebrated each year on 9th October with the purpose to create awareness of the role of the postal sector in people’s and businesses’ everyday lives and its contribution to the social and economic development of countries. Launch of International Tracked Packet service: Has been designed specially to meet the cross border requirements of e-Commerce sector in Asia-Pacific Region. At the beginning, the service will be available to 12 countries and gradually the whole world will be covered. This new service has many special features like Affordable price Track & trace Volume discounts Pick up facility Compensation for loss or damage and, therefore, high value for money Revise HELP policy: Link 1 + Link 2 + Link 3 + Link 4

Oct 16, 2017 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz- 2017 : IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 63]

UPSC Quiz- 2017 : IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 63] Archives Q.1) Consider the following statements about Amrabad Tiger Reserve It was part of 'Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger reserve' It is located in Telangana Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2) Mahanadi river basin extends over Odisha Chhattisgarh Jharkhand Madhya Pradesh Select the correct statements 1, 2 and 3 1, 2 and 4 2, 3 and 4 All of the above Q.3) Consider the following statements about Sampoorna Bima Gram (SBG) Yojana Under the scheme, at least one village (having a minimum of 100 households) will be identified in each districts and provide with a minimum of one RPLI (Rural Postal Life Insurance) policy for each households. All villages under the SaansadAdarsh Gram Yojana will be brought under its ambit. Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.4) Consider the following Mudaliar Committee Kartar Singh Committee The above committees are concerned with Health Railways Sino-India Border Security Economic Reforms Q.5) Which of the following statements is/are correct? Rural Postal Life Insurance (RPLI) was introduced on recommendations of Malhotra Committee Postal Life Insurance (PLI) covers employees of Central and state governments only Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Nether 1 nor 2 To Download the Solution - Click here All The Best IASbaba

Oct 15, 2017 Motivational Articles

Creative Guidance – Source of Suffering – Inspirational & Educative Articles

Source of Suffering: The root cause of suffering is ignorance. Lack of a clear understanding of what you are doing; where you are going; and who you are, is the single biggest reason for suffering. Knowledge is the light that illuminates everything. The more wider and deeper is your knowledge and understanding of life, the less pain and suffering you experience. Ignorance brings such deep suffering with it, that it penetrates every single aspect of your life. Not knowing your job, brings suffering at work; not knowing your friends, brings suffering in relationships; not knowing your family, brings suffering at home; not knowing your purpose, brings suffering to action; not knowing who you are; brings suffering to life. Everybody is suffering just one thing; it is ‘Not Knowing’. An ignorant man has never been able to find joy and happiness. Ignorance is the dark shadow of life; it plunges the soul into deep unknown dungeons of suffering. Suffering is an absolutely natural state for an ignorant mind. The only respite for an ignorant mind is the momentary joy that comes, when one ignorance triumphs another. The only resting place for an ignorant mind is that single moment when it is suspended in midair while jumping from one ignorance to another. The moment you say, Ah! I am happy now; you land yourself in another misery of ignorance. You go on hopping and skipping from one ignorance to another, momentarily laughing and living. The way out of misery is acquiring knowledge. A seeker of knowledge discards a little bit of his ignorance every day. He grows in understanding and wisdom. He learns his way out of misery. He conquers his dark demons of ignorance using his light of understanding. The seeker of knowledge brings understanding to life, work, relationships, self and the world. He moves beyond ignorance and basks in the glow of knowing. Acquire enough knowledge about how to do something; you will eventually become good at it. Acquire enough knowledge about running your business; you will become a successful businessman. Acquire enough knowledge about your friends and family; you will become successful in handling relationships. Acquire enough knowledge about the world; you will become successful in living. And acquire enough knowledge about yourself; you will become happy and peaceful. The most important thing to remember is, acquiring knowledge is not just gathering words. For most, acquiring knowledge simply means reading books. Reading is just one type of knowledge; it illuminates the intellectual dimension of life. There are other streams of knowledge one has to pursue to understand life fully. Acquiring knowledge through observing, travelling, failing, dreaming, meditating, playing, laughing, crying, all contribute to the reservoir of your knowledge. Keep learning and one day you will go beyond all suffering. “The articles are a copyright of The Ahamo Movement and IASBABA.”

Oct 14, 2017 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs 14th Oct, 2017

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 14th Oct 2017 Archives ECONOMY TOPIC: General Studies 3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it. Creating Jobs Background: For three demographic groups there is anurgent need of jobs: A growing number of better educated youth; Uneducated agricultural workers who wish to leave agricultural distress behind; and Young women, who too are better educated than ever before. India is indeed the fastest growing large economy in the world; yet with investment low, credit offtake low, capacity utilisation in industry low, agricultural growth low, plant load factor low, the job growth is low as well. What can policy-makers do to revive job growth? Industrial, trade policy: An industrial and trade policy is needed. For 20 years after economic reforms began in 1991 there was no National Manufacturing Policy, and the Policy, when it came in 2011, was not even implemented. While the DIPP is preparing the industrial policy document, it is essential that trade policy is consistent with such an industrial policy. Otherwise the two may work at cross purposes and undermine each other’s objectives. This is precisely what has happened over many years. Excessive imports have been decimating Indian manufacturing. An inverted duty structure has the following features: higher duty on intermediate goods compared to final finished goods, with the latter often enjoying concessional customs duty. As a result, domestic manufacturers face high tariffs since the last 12-15 years, leading to higher raw material cost at home, emanating from the unfavourable inverted duty structure. This has prevented many manufacturing sectors from growing since economic reforms began. This must be corrected. The automobiles sector in India faced no inverted duty structure, and has thrived. India has become in the last decade one of the largest producers of vehicles of several kinds in the world now. Electronics faced an inverted duty structure, but the Finance Minister has made changes, and slowly electronics manufacturing has grown. Special packages are needed for labour-intensive industries to create jobs. There are a number of labour intensive manufacturing sectors in India such as food processing, leather and footwear, wood manufacturers and furniture, textiles and apparel and garments. The apparel and garments sector received a package from the Government of India last year. The other labour intensive sectors have been ignored. The nature of the package will need to be individually designed for each sector. Cluster development: There should be cluster development to support job creation in micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Most of the unorganised sector employment is in MSMEs, which tend to be concentrated in specific geographic locations. There are 1,350 modern industry clusters in India and an additional 4,000 traditional product manufacturing clusters, like handloom, handicraft and other traditional single product group clusters. There is a cluster development programme of the Ministry of MSMEs, which is poorly funded and could be better designed as well. But the Ministry’s total annual budget for all programmes, including cluster development, is grossly inadequate. Spread over 6,000 clusters, it becomes even more inadequate to transform MSMEs located in clusters. Aligning urban development with manufacturing clusters to create jobs. The Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD) has a programme called AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation) aimed at improving infrastructure for small towns. Infrastructure investment by the government always creates many jobs. But the programme does not take into account whether the infrastructure investment under it is taking place in towns which have clusters of unorganised sector economic activities. Hence an engagement between the Urban Development and MSME Ministries is necessary to ensure that this is happening. It will attract more investment to industrial clusters, which is where most non-agricultural jobs are. Focus on women: Girls are losing out in jobs, or those with increasing education can’t find them, despite having gotten higher levels of education in the last 10 years. Secondary enrolment in the country rose from 58% to 85% in a matter of five years (2010-2015), with gender parity. Skilling close to clusters (rather than standalone vocational training providers), which is where the jobs are, is likely to be more successful. The availability of jobs close to where the skilling is conducted will also enhance the demand for skilling. Public investments in health, education, police and judiciary can create many government jobs. Public investment in the health sector has remained even in the last three years at 1.15% of GDP, despite the creation of the national health policy at the beginning of 2017. The policy indicates that expenditure on health will rise to 2.5% of GDP only by 2025. Preventive and public health have always been in all countries the responsibility of government. More government expenditure in health means more jobs in government and better health outcomes. Revitalise schools- Government schools also have such poor quality. The number of teachers required, at secondary and higher secondary levels, is very high, particularly in science and mathematics. Many new government jobs can be provided if more young people could be trained specially to become teachers for science and mathematics at the secondary and higher secondary levels. The same applies to the police and the judiciary. While the number of paramilitary personnel continues to grow, State governments are not filling even sanctioned posts in the policy and in the judiciary (at all levels there are vacancies). More police and a larger judiciary can both reduce crime as well as speed up the process of justice for the ordinary citizen. Conclusion: · Thus, in order to create jobs, it is crucial to align policy across sectors and upgrade the country’s social infrastructure. Above recommended steps can go a long way in boosting job growth in the country. Connecting the dots: In order to createjobs,it is crucial to align policy across sectors and upgrade the country’s social infrastructure. Analyze. ECONOMY TOPIC: General Studies 3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it. Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth. Recalibrating Industrial Policy Background: A recent report by Deloitte LLP pointed out that India’s young population will drive its economic growth to overtake China and other Asian tigers in the next few decades. The potential workforce in India is set to increase from 885 million to 1.08 billion in the next 20 years and hold above the billion mark for 50 years. This potential can only be achieved if enabling conditions for growth are created and sustained. In this context, the discussion paper on Industrial Policy 2017, released recently by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), becomes relevant. The government’s initiative on starting a discussion on a future-ready industrial policy is timely and welcome. Issues with the discussion paper: Piecemeal approach While the stated objective of the new policy is to provide “an overarching umbrella policy framework”, the document considers FDI, exports, domestic value addition, technology development, employment, etc, in a piecemeal manner. While the focus in the DP is on increasing “global strategic linkages” and there is a noteworthy call for undertaking an FDI policy review, there is no mention of the ongoing industrial slowdown and growing import dependence of Indian industry after 25 years of liberalisation of trade and FDI policies. A new industrial policy for India must necessarily discuss ideas for creating jobs for and in Unfortunately, the DIPP discussion paper does not delve into this issue. Perhaps this is the result of a conventional approach which confines the scope of industrial policy to “manufacturing enterprises”, distinct from and unrelated to agriculture (including rural non-farm sectors) and the services sectors. Any design of industrial policy must appreciate its linkages and interaction with agriculture and services policies at a granular level, and with trade, competition and sector-specific policies at a broader level. This will not be possible without a systems’ view informed by a whole-of-government approach. The policy suggests incentives to select sunrise sectors, and possibly enterprises, which could potentially disincentivize competition and innovation, and curb the growth of other sectors. Such a straitjacket sector-specific approach might result in policies soon becoming out of sync with dynamic economic developments and with our World Trade Organization (WTO) obligations. While sectoral policies can be a valuable supplement to an industrial policy, an effective industrial policy cannot be merely a collection of sectoral policies. Moreover, despite the evidence that the credit needs of MSMEs are unmet by private commercial banking and financial entities, the DP has recommended other market-based financing instruments such as peer-to-peer lending and crowd sourcing. Experiences from other countries including Brazil and China show that long-term financing needs of SMEs can be effectively supported publicly. Purely market-based mechanisms suggested by the DP may play only complementary roles. Despite the evidence that the credit needs of MSMEs are unmet by private commercial banking and financial entities, the DP has recommended other market-based financing instruments such as peer-to-peer lending and crowd sourcing. Experiences from other countries including Brazil and China show that long-term financing needs of SMEs can be effectively supported publicly. Purely market-based mechanisms suggested by the DP may play only complementary roles. trade liberalisation in most sectors has also not been aligned with development needs. This has been exacerbated by signing free trade agreements (FTAs) on the basis of an argument that participation in FTAs will enable Indian firms to become part of global value chains (GVCs) and improve their export capabilities. This has been especially reflected in the kind of tariff liberalisation that India undertook in its FTAs with Asean, Japan and South Korea, whereby the country has reduced or eliminated tariffs across the board. In the absence of active industrial policies to upgrade the domestic manufacturing and technological base, such tariff liberalisation has led to these partners achieving greater market penetration in India than what India could achieve in their markets. In light of such evidence, the DP should have recommended that more FTAs should not be signed before evaluating the existing agreements. Way ahead: Focusing on poorer hinterlands: In relation to the rising workforce, the Economic Survey 2016-17 pointed out that the richer peninsular states in India will initially witness a sharp increase in working age populations, followed by a sharp decline. In contrast, the poorer hinterland states will remain young and dynamic, characterized by a rising working age population for some time, plateauing towards the middle of the century. The poorer states in the hinterland are characterized by a substantial rural, informal economy where agriculture and allied non-farm activities are the principal sources of livelihood. For India to realize its economic potential, it is this population which needs to be tapped and provided opportunities. We need to recalibrate not just FDI policy, but equally crucially, trade policy. Simultaneously, the country requires active interventions to build and upgrade domestic entrepreneurial and technological capabilities. It would be timely for a new industrial policy document to dissociate both state support for industrial development and public-sector firms from the legacy of the excesses that were part of import-substitution industrialisation and grant them their rightful place in financing long-term investment and technological change. To ensure this, financing mechanisms must be designed in ways that preclude political leverage to avoid rent-seeking behaviour and inefficiency. Moreover, any government support must be time-bound and periodically modified based on performance monitoring. This was one of the factors that distinguished the successful industrial policy regimes of South Korea and Taiwan. Conclusion: A new forward-looking industrial policy for India must have Bharat as its soul. It must prioritize the creation of livelihoods in rural and semi-urban areas, and should recognize the importance of growth in the rural non-farm and agriculture-allied economy for industrial development. It needs to take a more holistic view on FDI, technology development and trade. Connecting the dots: A new forward-looking industrial policy for India must have Bharat as its soul. It must prioritize the creation of livelihoods in rural and semi-urban areas, and should recognize the importance of growth in the rural non-farm and agriculture-allied economy for industrial development. Discuss. MUST READ Crimea and punishment The Hindu The legal message The Hindu Looking for honesty in the wrong places Indian Express The EC disappoints Indian Express Clearing the air Indian Express

Oct 13, 2017 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs 13th Oct, 2017

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 13th Oct 2017 Archives NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2: Separation of powers between various organs , dispute redressal mechanisms and institution Structure, organization and functioning of Executive and Judiciary. General Studies 3: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation Ban on sale of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR In news: The Supreme Court has banned the sale of firecrackers in the National Capital Region (NCR) till November 1 to assess the impact on air quality and curb pollution. This means that firecrackers won’t be legally sold in Delhi and its surrounding areas during and after Diwali. The period of the ban—till 31 October—covers the festival of Diwali, which is celebrated with elaborate fireworks. Reason behind ban: The bursting of firecrackers releases a heavy dose of carcinogens in the atmosphere, presenting a public health challenge for the entire city. This is similar to smoking at public places—a regulated activity—but different from consumption of liquor, which harms the individual. A regulation is thus required as it is clear that bursting of firecrackers by one person presents a health challenge to another. Concerns raised: The decision behind ban requires weighing trade-offs, which would depend on numerous inputs from scientific organizations, regulatory institutions, public policy experts and civil society. Since a court of law does not have in-house expertise in these domains, it should leave such matters to the executive. The Supreme Court delivered its arguments in the broader framework of the “right to breathe clean air” and the “right to health.” It would hurt the right to livelihoods of thousands who depend heavily on the sale of firecrackers during Diwali. Bans are rarely effective. It is difficult to imagine that no firecracker sale will happen in the entire territory of Delhi and NCR as a result of the Supreme Court order. A Supreme Court ban which cannot be implemented in spirit would have the unfortunate effect of undermining the authority of the apex court in the eyes of the people. Given that it came just about 10 days before the festival, it will be tough to impose the ban on an industry that has already produced stocks to order. It offers too piecemeal a solution, akin to the even-odd licence number scheme of the Delhi government in 2015. Besides, while the court has admitted that other factors like stubble burning contribute to the disastrous air quality of Delhi, the focus on fireworks makes its response seem unequal. Way ahead: North India needs a more holistic solution to the toxic air that residents breathe at the onset of winter. The major sources of pollution in the NCR have been clear enough to drive policy changes. While their relative contributions are still indeterminate, these include construction dust, vehicular pollution, waste burning, generators and crop residue burning in the Indo-Gangetic plains. To tackle each of these will take decisive and persistent policy actions, not panic-driven and ill-considered bans. The elected government is in the best position to elicit scientific and economic inputs and take a call, even if it involves expending political capital. The governments at the Centre and the states should involve different agencies like the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation and the pollution control boards and invest in setting regulatory standards for the medium to long term. Conclusion: In the absence of more feasible solutions, it is unlikely a firecracker sale ban will avert the kind of health emergency that struck Delhi last year. Matters of policy and implementation are ideally left to the legislature and executive. The court has a moral obligation to step in if they are in complete dereliction of their duty to the people. Instead, the Supreme Court could have urged government to intensify its efforts to influence the public will, and the process could have played out under its cautionary eye. That would have been a better solution than to impose a ban which may be observed more in the breach. Connecting the dots: The ban on fire-cracker sale by Supreme Court in the month of November is a welcome step but falls short of providing a holistic solution to environmental problem of the capital Discuss. NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc Indian Railways- Analyzing Debroy committee's recommendations Introduction: Derailments on the tracks of Indian Railways have always been a big technical and management challenge. In recent years, there have been a spate of “derailments”. On August 19, there was an unusually bad case of the derailment of Uttaranchal Express at Khatauli. In the absence of a permitted block by the traffic department, the track repairing staff took the unacceptable risk of going ahead with the track repair instead of putting a restriction on the movement of trains in the interest of safety of passengers. The responsibility was rightly fixed on the civil engineering department staff and officials. Background: Over 90,000 km of railway track in India is, perhaps, the most sensitive asset of the railway network. Hundreds of trains hurtle across, carrying millions of passengers. The “braking distance” is no more than about two-thirds of a kilometre (against only about 200 ft on the highways). Every inch of this track is to be watched meticulously. The traffic load on the Indian Railways is ever increasing and the saturation level on its important routes is unduly high, leaving little cushion for maintenance. Furthermore, the track is under greater pressure after the increase, in 2005, of the permissible loading capacity of each wagon based on wagon axle loads. Large projects to relieve the pressure, like the construction of dedicated freight corridors, will take time. The question, at this stage is: In which direction should safety measures head? Recommendations of Debroy committee: In 2014, the government set up the Debroy Committee, whose primary terms of reference appeared to be to suggest measures to reduce the alleged phenomenon in the Indian Railway management system of “thinking in silos”. In its report of 2015, wholesale structural changes were suggested, introducing what may be called “management generalism”. Issues: The recommendations, if accepted, will remove “professionalism” from the top management level of the Indian Railways. On the other hand, this is their unique strength as this enables the views of the railway ministry to be articulated effectively by the chairman and railway board members based on their specialised experience. Incidentally, fixing of accountability, as in the case of the Khatauli accident, would not have been possible in the new system, as in that there may not be any chief civil engineer, chief operating manager or even a member civil engineering or member traffic etc available for fixing accountability and responsibility. They would be replaced by “generalists” or “quasi generalists”. Specialists versus generalists: The present “professional oriented” system for the Indian Railways was adopted from the very outset because of the size of its operations and its unique role in the economy of the country. Sometimes, there have been problems. But the question is whether these have been because of the system or despite it. A theory often propounded is that professionals are likely to have less vision. This is repudiated by various examples in science and technology management structures. The theory that specialist organisations like the Indian Railways lead to “managerial inbreeding” is also fallacious. As is well known, inbreeding — biological or managerial — takes place in small groups of similar people. The Indian Railways are a huge group of dissimilar persons in nearly 20 disciplines interacting with each other. Reducing departmentalism: The answer to the issue of departmentalism does not lie in merger of services and de-professionalisation of the Ministry of Railways. Departments must not be gagged or demolished. They must be allowed to flourish and have their say for they may be giving expression to a genuinely valid factor, which may clash with equally valid points of view of other departments. It is for the DRM, GM or the Railway Board to arrive at what may be called the “Balance of Advantage Position” (BAP), which will be in the best overall interest of the organisation. What is required is that major efforts be made towards improving the machinery for arriving at a BAP, including the use of new techniques for assessing aptitudes, capabilities etc. Connecting the dots: One of the recommendations of Debroy committee has been to remove departmentalism and introduce generalism. The idea is to solve the problem of 'thinking in silos' in Indian railways. Discuss the issue with the recommendation and why we need to encourage professionalism instead. MUST READ Will India get over its obsession with Godmen The Hindu A nobel collaboration The Hindu Saving child brides The Hindu Averting disaster The Hindu Missing a nobel chance Indian Express Willing death Indian Express Behavior tips for Swachh Bharat Indian Express Hanging intent Business Line

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