Jun 23, 2018

IASbaba’s All India Prelims Test Series 2019: UPSC General Studies and CSAT in English & Hindi- Admissions Open Now!

PAYMENT LINK TO JOIN AIPTS 2019 Hello Friends, We are proud to announce the commencement of the ALL INDIA PRELIMS TEST SERIES (AIPTS)-2019. Our decision to come out with AIPTS stems from the fact that not everyone requires the same pedagogy. Many of our followers are already through with the syllabus and simply want to check their preparedness on a regular basis. So, there it is - AIPTS, an initiative, tailor-made for those who want to streamline their preparation and monitor their progress at regular intervals. Just like ILP, AIPTS is driven by quality. AIPTS gives you the chance to cover the syllabus of UPSC in a planned and systematic way and at the same time a platform to compete with thousands of sincere candidates. The best thing about AIPTS this year is that we have synced the AIPTS with the schedule of ILP (Hence ILP-2019 users should not join AIPTS-2019). This way you get to compete with our ILP followers as well. You will get to know other details of AIPTS in the document given below. Once you join the AIPTS, make this document your friend, philosopher and guide throughout your journey. We wish you luck and success. FINE PRINTS OF ALL INDIA PRELIMS TEST SERIES All India Prelims Test Series-2019 is available in ENGLISH and HINDI. Total Number of Tests- 40 General Studies (Paper 1) + 12 CSAT (Paper 2) Tests = Total 52 There will be a detailed solution for each test. PDFs of questions and solutions will be sent to registered email ID. It can also be downloaded after taking the tests online. To be part of All India Ranking, one has to appear for the exam as per mentioned Rank Publish Date (preferably before the next test date). For each test, there will be THREE attempts. Ranks will be calculated based on the very first attempt. There is no fixed time to take the test. It's flexible. Tests will be uploaded on the respective dates as mentioned in the plan. The validity of the tests is from July 2018 to June 2019. You have to take tests/download PDFs between the given period only. In no case, there will be any assistance from our side after the expiry of the programme. You can join AIPTS 2019 anytime. There is no deadline.  ILP 2019 users need not join AIPTS 2019.  IMPORTANT NOTE Test Platform will be activated 1 days before the first test. Activation of Test Platform- 21st July 2018 First Test Date- 22nd July 2018 DOWNLOAD THE FULL SCHEDULE - CLICK HERE FEE/SUBSCRIPTION- 5999+ 18% GST Online Payment – To make the Online Payment – Click Here NOTE: After the successful payment, please check your email (SPAM and JUNK FOLDERS TOO). You will receive an acknowledgement for the fee paid. Also, you can Download the PDF after successful payment, it contains your ID and Password. Do not try to log in before 20th July. We will notify once the platform is activated. Offline Payment Details: Please mail us the acknowledgement at ilp@iasbaba.com if making offline payment.  Bank details BANK Name CANARA BANK BANK BRANCH BANGALORE KLE SOCIETY ACCOUNT NAME IASBABA ACCOUNT NUMBER 8418201003785 IFSC CODE CNRB0008418 ACCOUNT TYPE CURRENT ACCOUNT Thank You IASbaba

Jun 23, 2018 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs [Prelims + Mains Focus] - 23rd June 2018

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs (Prelims + Mains Focus)- 23rd June 2018 Archives (PRELIMS+MAINS FOCUS) Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules Part of: GS Prelims and Mains – Environment and ecology; Pollution In news: India generates an estimated 32 million metric tonnes of packaging waste each year, of which plastic waste constitutes 16%. But only 60% of the collected plastic waste is recycled. According to the Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules, 2016, all States have to annually apprise the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on the steps taken to reign in plastic use, whether a ban is in force, and the strength and performance of a recycler and waste-processing network. We know that, The theme for the World Environment Day 2018, “Beat Plastic Pollution”. The theme of Earth Day 2018 is “End Plastic Pollution”. Important Value Additions: The Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 aim to: Increase minimum thickness of plastic carry bags from 40 to 50 microns. Expand the jurisdiction of applicability from the municipal area to rural areas, because plastic has reached rural areas also. Responsibility of local bodies and Gram Panchayat. Collect back system of plastic waste. To bring in the responsibilities of producers and generators, both in plastic waste management system and to introduce collect back system of plastic waste. Phasing out of manufacture and use of non- recyclable multilayered plastic: to be phased out in two years’ time. To promote use of plastic waste for road construction as per Indian Road Congress guidelines or energy recovery, or waste to oil etc. for gainful utilization of waste and also address the waste disposal issue; Performance (according to latest CPCB report) States’ claim on fighting plastic only strong on paper. Only 24 States and Union Territories have complied with some of the above directions. Most states’ have imposed ban only in specific towns or cities. Delhi, which reportedly generates the largest quantity of plastic waste in the country, has not provided information on its plastic management initiatives to the CPCB. The law requires that all plastic waste recyclers register themselves but there were around 312 unregistered plastic manufacturing/recycling units across India. Most of the States/UTs have not set up proper monitoring system for use of carry bags as per the specified guidelines. Maharashtra tops the list on plastic waste generation Pic link: https://d39gegkjaqduz9.cloudfront.net/TH/2018/06/23/DEL/Delhi/TH/5_05/41ffb33f_2193050_101_mr.jpg Article link: States' claim on fighting plastic only strong on paper - The Hindu India- Seychelles: Assumption island naval base project stalled Part of: GS Mains II – International Relations; India and the World In news: Seychelles National Assembly will not ratify India’s plans to build a naval base in the western Indian Ocean region. India had proposed to build a naval base on the strategically located Assumption island. Assumption Island is a small island in the Outer Islands of Seychelles north of Madagascar. Seychelles believe allowing Indian Naval base would infringe on the country’s sovereignty. Coast guard facility : Seychelles has indicated that instead of allowing India to run the base, it would like to develop a coast guard facility at the Assumption. The Indian project was to include a facility for Indian ships and an airstrip that would allow New Delhi to guard the energy lanes vital to India’s economy. Ambubachi Mela: Festival to mark the menstrual period of the goddess Part of: GS Prelims and Mains I – Culture and Indian society In news: Ambubachi Mela, a four-day fair to mark the annual menstruation of the goddess at Kamakhya temple, Assam. Kamakhya, atop Nilachal Hills in Guwahati, is one of 51 shaktipeeths or seat of Shakti followers, each representing a body part of Sati, Lord Shiva’s companion. The temple’s sanctum sanctorum houses the yoni — female genital — symbolised by a rock. Temple priests said the ritualistic fair celebrating the goddess’ period is one of the reasons why the taboo associated with menstruation is less in Assam compared to other parts of India. The attainment of womanhood of girls in Assam is celebrated with a ritual called ‘Tuloni Biya’, meaning small wedding. Indo-UN Small Satellites Programme (UNSSP): Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III – Science and Tech; Space programmes Key pointers: India to teach satellite tech to students from abroad India has thrown open its satellite-building expertise to engineering graduates chosen from other countries. ISRO’s Bengaluru-based U.R. Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) — until recently known as ISAC — will train the overseas students. Capacity-building programme was India’s contribution to the world in response to a request that the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs had made to space-faring nations last year. The countries are marking the 50th year of the first UN Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space — called UNISPACE+50. (MAINS FOCUS) INTERNAL SECURITY TOPIC:General Studies 3: Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security. Challenges to internal security through communication networks Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime with terrorism. Tackling Vigilantism and Protecting Minorities Background: In our previous article [Shifting taxonomy of violence], we read that – India is witnessing saga of violence and conflicts. The article mainly focused on incidents which caused law and order problems due to industry versus environment concerns – Sterlite’s copper smelters in Thoothukudi tanneries spewing effluents in Kanpur iron mines in Goa Bhopal Gas Tragedy of 1984, the mother of all environmental tragedies. Also adding to above list, were the escalating violence resulting from caste conflicts, such as – most recent Dalit uprising farmers’ woes across the country rape of young women and children issues revolving around tradition versus modernity outsider versus insider syndrome, especially in the Northeast All the above issues had resulted in highly complex violence (police firings, death of over a dozen individuals, etc) and needed careful attention. The article stressed the need for redefining the internal security landscape and for new methods to deal with the above new-era protests. (You can revise previous article by clicking this link - Shifting taxonomy of violence) Apart from above incidents there are other episodes of mass communal violence – recurring incidents of lynching and targeted mob violence against vulnerable groups – have been reported from various parts of the country. These recurring incidents are a direct challenge thrown by right-wing groups to political processes, especially electoral processes and the rule of law. (what we can all as ‘vigilante violence’) **Vigilantism - law enforcement undertaken without legal authority by a self-appointed group of people. Vigilantism, at its peak? South Asia has a long history of communal violence, but these were primarily big episodes of mass violence. This has now given way to a smaller-scale of conflict and vigilante violence against individuals endorsed by state inaction. According to India Spend, a data-journalism website - 86% of those killed in lynching incidents in 2017 were Muslims Supreme Court in 2017 directed all State governments to take measures to prevent vigilantism in the name of cow protection. However, public lynching or vigilante violence hasn’t subsided. Majority of attacks are due to bovine related, anti-minority attacks and hate violence around festivals. Are minorities under siege? The victims in cases of lynching are almost entirely from poor families and minorities. Minorities are continually kept under siege through targeted attacks. India has a poor record when it comes to prevention and punishment of the perpetrators of mass violence and/or lynchings. Each event of violence has hardened community boundaries and widened the divide between Hindus and Muslims. According to the Citizens Against Hate (CAH), a civil society group report - 97% of cow-related lynchings had occurred since the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) rise to political dominance in 2014. Most of these attacks were based on rumours sparked by accusations, often circulating on social media which take the shape of communal stereotypes of victims. Most actors leading the charge are suspected to belong to right-wing parties who are backed by political protection. Apart from the political reasons alluded to above, the rising trend is directly related to the ‘intensification of communal polarisation’ and ‘instrumentalisation of prejudice’ for political ends apparent in various government attempts to infuse religion into politics and education. In the event, these acts seem to have acquired a certain degree of legitimacy in the public mind. Conclusion As hate crimes grow, so does the sense of impunity or licence/freedom enjoyed by the actual perpetrators to continue such injurious crimes increases. Lack of justice for victims further reinforces the vicious cycle of impunity. The lack of public reaction to such incidents implies a degree of acceptability of violence as an expression of vengeance against ‘injustices’ suffered by Hindus in the past. The theory of ‘Hindu insecurity’ and ‘Hindu persecution’ comes at a time when political representation of Muslims in legislatures and administration and their presence in the public sphere is at its lowest since Independence. Most of the incidents are not spontaneous acts of violence; there is usually systematic planning behind them. Has active support of powerful political figures in the current establishment at the Centre and in the States has helped to build networks, gain new recruits, resources and legitimacy that right-wing groups did not have in the past? Preventing further atrocities requires respect for the rule of law and legal institutions and strong prosecutions and expeditious punishments. Unless checked, it can cause irreversible harm to the social fabric of our society and to the tenets of democracy that have shaped and sustained the idea of India. Connecting the dots: Growing hate crimes and vigilante violence needs reforms in our existing laws and legal procedures. Do you agree? Critically examine. INDIAN HERITAGE AND CULTURE TOPIC: General Studies 1: Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times. Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India. General Studies 2: Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate. UNESCO's World Heritage mission and India’s World Heritage List Introduction: Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live with today, and what we pass on to future generations. Our cultural and natural heritage are both irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) seeks to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity. This is embodied in an international treaty called the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage , adopted by UNESCO in 1972. UNESCO's World Heritage mission is to Encourage countries to sign the World Heritage Convention and to ensure the protection of their natural and cultural heritage; Encourage States Parties to the Convention to nominate sites within their national territory for inclusion on the World Heritage List; Encourage States Parties to establish management plans and set up reporting systems on the state of conservation of their World Heritage sites; Help States Parties safeguard World Heritage properties by providing technical assistance and professional training; Provide emergency assistance for World Heritage sites in immediate danger; Support States Parties' public awareness-building activities for World Heritage conservation; Encourage participation of the local population in the preservation of their cultural and natural heritage; Encourage international cooperation in the conservation of our world's cultural and natural heritage. The Criteria for Selection To be included on the World Heritage List, sites must be of outstanding universal value and meet at least one out of ten selection criteria. The World Heritage Committee, the main body in charge of the implementation of the Convention, has developed precise criteria for the inscription of properties on the World Heritage List and for the provision of international assistance under the World Heritage Fund. Selection criteria (i) to represent a masterpiece of human creative genius; (ii) to exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design; (iii) to bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared; (iv) to be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history; (v) to be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change; (vi) to be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance. (The Committee considers that this criterion should preferably be used in conjunction with other criteria); (vii) to contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance; (viii) to be outstanding examples representing major stages of earth's history, including the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features; (ix) to be outstanding examples representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals; (x) to contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation. World Heritage Convention of 1972 The World Heritage Convention of 1972, adhered to by 192 countries, aims to protect cultural and natural heritage across the world. There are presently 1,052 World Heritage sites in 165 countries, of which 814 are cultural sites, 203 natural and 35 mixed; 55 more properties are on the "in danger" list.   The WHC, however, has received flak for its bias toward Europe and North America, with these two regions being home to nearly half of all World Heritage sites. India’s World Heritage Sites India, which ratified the Convention in 1977, has 27 cultural World Heritage sites, seven natural sites and one mixed site. Among the cultural properties are the Taj Mahal, the monuments of Hampi, the churches and convents of Goa, Jaipur’s Jantar Mantar and the Mountain Railways of India, which include the Darjeeling, Nilgiri, and Kalka-Shimla railway networks. Natural sites include the Sundarbans in West Bengal, the Kaziranga and Manas National Parks in Assam, and the Western Ghats. Sikkim’s Khangchendzonga National Park, which was included this year, is the sole mixed site. While there are four times as many cultural sites in India as natural, the latter are much larger in area. India has the sixth largest number of World Heritage sites. Italy is on top with 51 sites. Connecting the dots: Does UNESCO inscription play a significant role in tourism destinations performance? Also discuss the UNESCO's role in relation to protecting the world heritage site. (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Q.1) Assumption island is located in - Madagascar Seychelles Maldives Mauritius Q.2) Ambubachi Mela, a festival to mark the menstrual period of the goddess is celebrated in – Tamil Nadu Assam Arunachal Pradesh West bengal Q.3) Ellora caves are one of the World Heritage sites in India. Which of the following statements are correct about ‘Ellora caves’? Ellora caves are rock cut caves made from top to bottom. The most famous temple of Ellora – Kailashnath temple was made by Rashtrakutas. These caves are dedicated to Hinduism only. Select the code from following: 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above Q.4) In the Constitution of India, the provision 'to value and preserve the rich heritage of the country’s composite culture' is included in the: Preamble to the Constitution Directive Principles of State Policy Fundamental Duties Fundamental Rights MUST READ At the heart of the Silk Road The Hindu Coalition Country Indian Express Redraw the Red Line Indian Express Let the elite pay Indian Express

Jun 22, 2018 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs [Prelims + Mains Focus] - 22nd June 2018

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs (Prelims + Mains Focus)- 22nd June 2018 Archives (PRELIMS+MAINS FOCUS) Trade war: US imports to attract high tariffs Part of: GS Mains Paper II- International relations In news: India notified higher tariffs on several items imported from the U.S. Agricultural products such as apples, almonds, chickpeas, lentils, and walnuts; Industrial inputs such as some grades of iron and steel products; -- to attract high tariffs Harley-Davidson motorcycles row – US tried to squeeze India to set zero import duty on Harleys US and EU European Union also began to charge import duties of 25% on a range of U.S. products in response to U.S tariffs imposed on EU steel and aluminium. The move confirms a tit-for-tat dispute that could escalate into a full trade war, particularly if U.S. President Donald Trump carries out his threat to penalise European cars. US and China China also had announced plans to hike tariffs by 25% on 106 imports from the U.S. The Chinese move was in response to a U.S. announcement of a 25% tariff on 1,333 Chinese imports. However, both the countries negotiated with an agreement not to impose tariffs on each other, pulling back from the brink of a trade war. Will US negotiate with other countries as well and make similar agreement as China’s, to not impose tariffs on each other?? UN’s Sustainable Development Goals 2018 report Part of: GS Mains Paper III- Inclusive development In news: After a prolonged decline, world hunger appears to be on the rise again. There are now approximately 38 million more undernourished people in the world, rising from 777 million in 2015 to 815 million in 2016 “CONFLICT” – main drivers of food insecurity in 18 countries. Conflict and Climate Change (drought and disasters) are among the key factors causing this reversal in progress. Pic link: https://d39gegkjaqduz9.cloudfront.net/TH/2018/06/22/DEL/Delhi/TH/5_07/8b3b8f35_2190471_101_mr.jpg Highest Economic losses was in 2017 - over $300 billion loss - owing to three major hurricanes affecting the United States of America and several countries across the Caribbean. Good news - South Asia, which includes India, has seen child marriage rates plunge Bad news – South Asian region facing high water stress levels and fast-approaching water scarcity; air pollution level is also high Electricity and sanitation deficits in south Asia are still poor About Sustainable Development Goals 17 SDGs were adopted by UN member nations in 2015. The deadline to meet them is 2030. How to remember all 17 Goals? I Can HELP Yes, “I Can HELP” is your answer I2 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure Inequality Can5 Clean water and Sanitation Clean Energy Climate Change Cities and Communities Consumption and Production H2 Hunger Health E3 Education Equality Economic Growth, Decent Work L2 Life below water Life on land P3 Poverty Peace and Justice Partnerships for the Goals Credit Guarantee Trust for Agriculture (CGTA) Part of: GS Mains Paper III- Indian Agriculture In news: Odisha CM suggests policy framework for farm loan waivers Calls for a national policy on farm loan waiver Rather than cost sharing between Centre and States, the whole issue should be removed from political considerations, since agrarian distress and addressing is beyond partisanship Suggests the setting up of a Credit Guarantee Trust for Agriculture (CGTA) on the lines of the Credit Guarantee Trust for Small and Medium Enterprises (CGTSME) Through this, collateral-free agricultural loans of up to ₹50 lakh and collateral-free crop loans of up to ₹2 lakh can be offered, backed only by the guarantee of CGTA Odisha government is creating a CGTA for the State’s farmers with a corpus of nearly ₹200 crore. Important to understand CGTSME About Credit Guarantee Trust for Small and Medium Enterprises (CGTSME) To facilitate easy flow of credit to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises CGTSME was set up to strengthen credit delivery system and facilitate flow of credit to the MSE sector. The Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGS) was launched by the Government of India (GoI) to make available collateral-free credit to the micro and small enterprise sector. Both the existing and the new enterprises are eligible to be covered under the scheme. The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, GoI and Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), established a Trust named Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) to implement the Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme for Micro and Small Enterprises. For more - https://www.cgtmse.in/About_us.aspx Trace and Track mechanism to check counterfeit drugs Part of: GS Mains Paper II- Government interventions In news: The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has proposed introduction of trace and track mechanism for top 300 drug brands that are sold in India. This mechanism will be implemented across India on a trial basis to spot out counterfeit drugs. Under this proposal, the company will print a unique number on each strip or bottle of the drug. It will also print a phone number where the customer can dial and enter the aforesaid unique number and get the name and address of the manufacturer, the batch number, manufacturing and expiry date of the medicine. Need: According to a study by the World Health Organization (WHO) in November last year, about 10 per cent of the medicines consumed in low- and middle-income countries, including India, are “substandard and falsified”. In February last year, a two-year-long nationwide survey was conducted under the supervision of the Central government, which found that around 10 per cent of the drugs in the government supply chain are “not of standard quality”. This survey found around 3 per cent of drugs in retail supply chain substandard. Taking ease of doing business to the districts level Part of: GS Mains Paper III- Inclusive development, Indian Economy In news: The Centre has begun to sharpen its focus on improving ease of doing business at the districts level, having achieved some improvement at both the Central and State levels. As a pilot, six districts in five States have been selected for development schemes that will increase district GDP by 3 per cent. Once the pilot is successful, it will be replicated pan India. By making districts a focal point of growth and increasing their GDP by 2-3 per cent, the country’s GDP will grow as districts’ growth is critical for the country’s overall growth. Under-reporting of female foeticides Part of: GS Mains Paper I- Social issues In news: The National Health Profile, 2018, exposes the gross inability of law enforcement agencies in India to crack down on female foeticide. Between 2008 and 2016, a total of just 1128 foeticides happened in the country, says the National Health Profile. Yet, the National Family Health Survey 4 shows that the sex ratio of children born in the last five years before the survey (2010-11 to 2015-16) is just 919 girls per 1,000 births (the ideal ratio is 950). NHP 2018 highlights the under-reporting of foeticides (sex-selective and otherwise) in the country. The abysmally low cases filed for foeticide expose the laxity of the law enforcement system. National Health Profile is the most comprehensive annual compilation of data on disease incidence, health infrastructure and health finance. MAINS FOCUS NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 1: Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India General Studies 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Parliament and State Legislatures- structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these. Political under-representation of women in India Introduction: B.R. Ambedkar once said that “political power is the key to all social progress”. India where women suffer substantially greater socio-economic disadvantages than Western democracies like Spain—has a cabinet that is only 22% female and a Lok Sabha that has a meagre 12% female representation. Concentration of political power tends to lead to extractive economic institutions. Inclusive economic institutions and growth—both necessary for and dependent on social empowerment—require inclusive political institutions. Effect of political representation on disadvantaged groups: Social outcomes: Observing a member of their own group in charge of a public office changes attitudes and infuses confidence in the minority group. This may be referred to as the reporting channel. For example, a public opinion survey done by the authors in Rajasthan revealed that women in villages with a head council position reserved are more likely to be willing to report crimes to the police. An increase in the responsiveness of the official towards the pleas of disadvantaged groups. For example, Gender of the village council president affects the extent of investment in public goods. Data collected in 2002 revealed that in Rajasthan and West Bengal, for instance, increased female political representation led to more investment in drinking water and roads in response to complaints by local women. Economic outcome: A study shows a strong connection between implementation of political reservations and small-scale entrepreneurship among women. The study noted “a growth in new women-owned establishments and associated employment of approximately 40% after political reservations were implemented” for the 1994-2005 period. Women representation in Indian parliament: The proportion of women in the Lok Sabha has seen only a paltry increase since independence—from 4.5% in the first Lok Sabha to the current 12% in the 16th Lok Sabha. Way ahead: The debate on the women’s reservation Bill is one aspect of the issue—but it’s not the only one. Political parties in India tend not to follow provisions in their constitutions reserving seats for women in different committees. In several instances, when women are offered party tickets, it’s a case of the Lalu Prasad syndrome—the woman being a de facto stand-in for a male relative rather than exercising power in her own right. Another hurdle is lack of education and leadership training. Additionally, since women are not integrated in any local political process initially, and, unlike men, are not part of the relevant social and power networks, women leaders are prone to inefficiencies. Given these concerns, there is a pressing need for education and leadership training to familiarize them with the local government functioning and instill in them a sense of agency. The above two problems create a vicious cycle where socio-economic disadvantages lead to reduced opportunities for women to participate in the political process, leading to weakened representation—which, in turn, retards the process of addressing those socio-economic disadvantages. It’s a cycle that has been perpetuated for seven decades. It must be broken. Connecting the dots: B.R. Ambedkar once said that “political power is the key to all social progress”, In this light discuss the socio-economic impact of poor political representation of women in India. 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, Education, Human Resources Bridge Course: Addressing human resources gaps in primary healthcare In news: A National Medical Commission (NMC) proposal in the National Medical Commission Bill and the National Health Policy 2017, proposed allowing Ayush (Ayurveda, yoga and naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and homoeopathy) practitioners to practise basic and limited allopathy on completion of a bridge course. Faced with strong opposition from allopaths, the Union cabinet in its latest amendments withdrew the proposal and passed on the responsibility to states to utilize this as a strategy for addressing human resources gaps in primary healthcare. Need of such a policy: Shortage of doctors India faces an acute shortage of allopathic doctors, with the present doctor-patient ratio at an abysmal 1:1,674. The last mile of healthcare delivery in India occurs through sub-centres and primary health centres (PHCs). But 61.2% PHCs have just one doctor, while nearly 7% are functioning without any. More than a third of them do not have a laboratory technician, a fifth of them do without a pharmacist. India’s health system clearly has an acute shortage of doctors. The country needs nearly 500,000 doctors to address this shortage. In such a milieu, unqualified medical practitioners often rule the roost. In states such as Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Bihar, a patient faces two-third chances of getting treated by a quack. Given the paucity of MBBS doctors in rural areas, it makes sense to leverage the ready availability of a large population of willing Ayush practitioners. Way ahead: With the availability of appropriate bridge courses, sound regulatory and licensing mechanisms, Ayush graduates should be given a chance to help serve India’s primary healthcare needs. In courses like Ayurveda, nursing, physiotherapy or pharmacy, the curriculum has several strands similar to that of a MBBS course; additional training in pharmacology and basics of medicine with clinical clerkships could provide them an orientation to be able to practise “limited” allopathy. The bridge course can be delivered through premier Ayush colleges, and selected district hospitals. The training and curriculum for Ayush candidates can be ring-fenced, and regulatory restrictions brought in to ensure they only practise within the allowed ambit. Examples of such programmes in the West: A physician assistant (PA) in the US comes out of such a programme, often taken up by paramedics and nurses, who can after a two-year course and passing a certifying exam become assistants to doctors. The UK model of physician associate, in a two-year training period, focuses on general adult medicine and general practice. In New Zealand, the Centre for Rural Health Development identifies PAs as “postgraduate healthcare professionals trained in a clinical role that complements both nursing and medicine and working under the supervision of a senior doctor”, who form an important cog in the wheel of rural healthcare. As of 2013 in Bangladesh, three-year training qualifies a sub-assistant community medical officer (SACMO) to practice. Incidentally, 89% of healthcare delivery in rural areas is being taken care primarily by SACMOs. Assistant doctors in China, clinical associates in South Africa, and assistant medical officers in Malaysia are all based on similar models. Importance of bridge course: The allopathic doctors’ community, led by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), should not see the move as legitimization of “quackery”. A bridge course can help bring Ayush candidates to speed on allopathic prescribing for a required set of conditions—this is not to make them half-way quacks but to actually practise base-level primary healthcare provisioning. Moreover, there are positive externalities at multiple levels in training the Ayush provider to serve a primary healthcare domain need. Such a provider can help initiate a focus on disease prevention, a dire need considering India’s continuing burden of both communicable and (rising) non-communicable diseases. For a specific set of conditions defined by the government, the Ayush provider can initiate treatment, manage follow-up, and initiate referral when needed. This would ensure that standard treatment protocols are followed. It can help address irrational medical practice, and existing rampant abuse of drugs such as antibiotics. Conclusion: While implementation can be at the state level, the design of the course, the legal framework, and a standardized plan should be the Centre’s responsibility. The proposed redesign of India’s health system (Ayushman scheme) will falter in the absence of enabling innovations like a bridge course to raise a cadre of mid-level care providers to serve our primary healthcare needs. Connecting the dots: Providing bridge courses to Ayush practitioners to enable them to practice basic and limited allopathy is not just need of the hour given abysmal doctor-patient ratio but will have multiple other benefits as well. Comment. (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Q.1) Consider the following statements about The Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGS) It was launched to make available collateral-free credit to the micro and small enterprise sector Only the new enterprises are eligible to be covered under the scheme The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, and Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), established a Trust named Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) to implement the Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme for Micro and Small Enterprises Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1 and 2 1 and 3 2 and 3 All of the above MUST READ Making children happy The Hindu How the world explains football? The Hindu 'Grow in India' before 'Make in India' Business Line

Jun 22, 2018 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz- 2019 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 7]

UPSC Quiz- 2019 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 7] Archives Q.1) Consider the following statements about ‘United Nations Human Rights Council’ The Council is made up of 47 United Nations Member States which are elected by the UN General Assembly. It checks if governments do what they agreed on at the United Nations to protect the rights of people in their countries. Select the correct code: 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2) ‘Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF)’ is associated with Brasilia Declaration New York Declaration Brazzaville Declaration Moscow Declaration Q.3) Which of the following statements about International Monetary Fund (IMF) are correct? It is a United Nations specialized agency It was founded at the Bretton Woods Conference in 1944 to secure international monetary cooperation The objective of the IMF is to stabilize currency exchange rates, and to expand international liquidity Select the correct answer using the code given below: 1 Only 1 and 2 1 and 3 All of the above Q.4) ‘Suriname’ is bordered with which of the following countries? Guyana Brazil Guatemala Select the correct code: 1 Only 1 and 2 1 and 3 All of the above Q.5) The well-known painting “Bani Thani” belongs to the Bundi School Jaipur School Kangra School Kishangarh School To Download the Solution – Click here All the Best  IASbaba

Jun 21, 2018 AIR

All India Radio (AIR) : Bilateral Relations between India and Singapore

Bilateral Relations between India and Singapore ARCHIVES Search 1st June, 2018 Spotlight Analysis here: http://www.newsonair.com/Main_Audio_Bulletins_Search.aspx TOPIC: General Studies 2: India and the World Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests. Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora. The close ties between India and Singapore have a history rooted in strong commercial, cultural and people-to-people links, with Singapore being a part of the "Greater India" cultural and commercial region. More than 300,000 people of Indian origin live in Singapore. Historical connection: India's connection with Singapore dates back to the Cholas. Modern historical connection: The more modern relationship is attributed to Sir Stamford Raffles who, in 1819, established a trading station in Singapore on the route of the Straits of Malacca which became a colony under British India, governed from Calcutta (1830-1867). The colonial connection is reflected in a similarity of institutions and practices, usage of English and the presence of a large Indian community. Present Connection: India-Singapore relations are based on shared values and approaches, economic opportunities and convergence of interests on key issues. India was one of the first countries to recognize Singapore in 1965. Singapore was one of the first to respond to India's "Look East" Policy of expanding its economic, cultural and strategic ties in Southeast Asia to strengthen its standing as a regional power. India's economic reforms in 1990s and the Look East Policy provided opportunities to recreate a new framework for cooperation, which included the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) of 2005. India and Singapore have signed the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) and strategic-relationship agreement in order to increase trade, investments and economic cooperation, and expanded bilateral cooperation on maritime security, training forces, and joint naval exercises, developing military technology and fighting terrorism. This robust relationship was elevated to a Strategic Partnership during the visit of Prime Minister Modi in November 2015 who signed a Joint Declaration on a Strategic Partnership with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Singapore is India’s second largest trading partner among the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asia Nations The 5-S Plank - Five areas of cooperation to enhance bilateral relations – 5S Plank directs the relationship towards – Scale up: Trade & Investment Speed up: Connectivity Smart Cities and Urban Rejuvenation Skill development State focus The ties between Singapore and India are getting closer, particularly when it comes to strategic cooperation. The two states inked A bilateral agreement on air force training cooperation in 2007 (and renewed the agreement in both 2012 and 2017), An army bilateral agreement in 2008, and Have held a regular bilateral maritime exercise since 1994. In 2017, India and Singapore exchanged documents on bilateral naval cooperation and agreed to increase cooperation in maritime security, increase visits to each other’s ports, and facilitate mutual logistics support. With this robust security cooperation, the city state secured an all-around security ally that could help to train Singapore’s military force and guarantee the stability of the Malacca Strait. India has formalised a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) in nursing with Singapore which would allow nurses trained in seven nursing institutions across India to gain employment in the South-East Asian country. India and Singapore concluded the second review of India-Singapore Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA). India and Singapore agreed to expand the coverage of tariff concessions, liberalise the rules of origin and incorporate new product specific rules (PSRs) to further enhance trade between the two countries. Both countries agreed to deepen their economic and defense ties as they signed eight agreements including one on logistics cooperation between their navies. In addition, economic interactions between Singapore and India are durable, based on the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) signed in 2005 and the amendment of the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement, signed in December 2016. Almost 8,000 Indian companies have registered in the city-state so far, making India the largest foreign corporate contingent in Singapore.

Jun 21, 2018 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs [Prelims + Mains Focus] - 21st June 2018

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs (Prelims + Mains Focus)- 21st June 2018 Archives (PRELIMS+MAINS FOCUS) June 21: International Day of Yoga Part of: GS Prelims Key pointers: The International Day of Yoga is marked on June 21. The theme for the 2018 celebration, organized by the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations, is 'Yoga for Peace.' The International Day of Yoga aims to raise awareness worldwide of the many benefits of practicing yoga. Governor Rule in Jammu and Kashmir Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – Indian Polity; Special provisions to Jammu and Kashmir In News: Governor N.N. Vohra took charge in J&K Vohra issued the proclamation to impose Governor’s rule under Section 92 of the Constitution of J&K, immediately after getting the President’s approval. It is important to understand difference between President’s Rule and Governor’s rule. Do you know? In all states of India, the government's failure results in President's rule. However, the process is slightly different in Jammu and Kashmir where not the President's but governor's rule is imposed. The President's rule in other states of India is imposed under Article 356 of the Constitution of India. Important Value Additions Under the provision of Section 92 of the Jammu and Kashmir constitution, governor's rule is imposed for six months, but only after the consent of the President of India. Under the governor's rule, the state assembly is either kept in suspended animation or dissolved. If it is not possible to restore the Constitutional machinery before the expiry of this six month period, the provision of Article 356 of the Constitution is extended and the President's rule is imposed in the State. Article 370 of the Constitution of India states that Parliament of India and the Union government jurisdiction extends over limited matters with respect to state of Jammu and Kashmir, and in all other matters not specifically vested in federal governments, actions have to be supported by state legislature. The government of India can declare emergency in Jammu and Kashmir and impose governor's rule under certain conditions. Matters related to defence, foreign relations, communication and finance of Jammu and Kashmir are under jurisdiction of the Constitution of India. Crux: Governor’s rule is imposed on Jammu and Kashmir only, while the President rule on the rest of India. Both these rules are imposed if the constitutional machinery fails in the state i.e. the government of state fails to run the state constitutionally. Governor’s rule is imposed for 6 months (in Jammu and Kashmir). If constitutional machinery is not restored within this period, then President rule is extended to this state too. (Therefore, even President Rule can be extended to Jammu and Kashmir) Article link: Vohra takes charge in J&K, reviews security situation Person in news: Chief Economic Adviser Arvind Subramanian resigns Part of: GS Prelims In news: Chief Economic Adviser Arvind Subramanian resigns About CEA The Chief Economic Adviser (CEA) is the economic advisor to the Government of India. The CEA is the ex-officio cadre controlling authority of the Indian Economic Service. The CEA is under the direct charge of the Minister of Finance. CEA enjoys rank and pay equivalent to that of a Secretary to Government of India. The CEA heads the Economic Division under the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA). Article link: CEA resigns, cites personal reasons - Today's Paper - The Hindu India’s first river interlinking project: Ken-Betwa project Key Pointers: Ken-Betwa interlinking Project aims to transfer surplus water from the Ken River to the Betwa basin through concrete canal to irrigate India’s worst drought-prone Bundelkhand region. On completion, the multipurpose project will benefit Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh in terms of meeting irrigation, drinking water and electricity needs of people across 6 districts in the two states. Pic link: https://d39gegkjaqduz9.cloudfront.net/TH/2018/06/21/DEL/Delhi/TH/5_07/6301c8c7_2187648_101_mr.jpg Do you know? It is India’s first inter-State river interlinking project (among the 30 linkages proposed by the water resources ministry under its national water plan). Observe fig below – for 30 river linking projects Pic link: https://img.etimg.com/photo/49209064/interlink.jpg Concerns: Environmental, financial and feasibility impediments Ken-Betwa interlinking Project will be located within tiger reserve. It will submerge about 10% of the Panna Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh which has been feted as a model tiger-conservation reserve. Land acquisition, water sharing issues impede Ken-Betwa project Pic credits: https://img.etimg.com/photo/49209347/first-table.jpg Artile link: India's first river interlinking project caught in U.P.-M.P. tussle U.S. quits UN human rights body Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – International Affairs; International institutions and fora In news: United States announced its withdrawal from the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) terming it “hypocritical and self-serving.” Under Trump's presidency, the U.S. has withdrawn from the U.N. climate treaty and the UNESCO. About UNHRC UNHRC is a United Nations body whose mission is to promote and protect human rights around the world. It is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system It meets at the UN Office at Geneva. The headquarters of UNHRC is in Geneva, Switzerland. UNHRC was established by the UN General Assembly in 2006. Then President George W. Bush was dismissive of the body. Under President Barack Obama, the U.S. joined it in 2009. Caution: Don’t get confused between UNHRC and UNCHR The United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) was a functional commission within the overall framework of the United Nations from 1946 until it was replaced by the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2006. On 15 March 2006, the UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to replace UNCHR with the UN Human Rights Council. Since the Council’s inception in 2006, Human Rights Watch has been involved in strengthening its capacity to promote and protect human rights worldwide and be more responsive to the needs of victims of rights violations. Article link: US quits UN human rights body - Today's Paper Toothpastes contribute to antibiotic resistance Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – Health; Science and Technology Do you know? According to a study, common ingredient found in toothpastes and hand washes could be contributing to the rise of antibiotic resistant bacteria. Triclosan, a compound which is used in more than 2,000 personal care products can induce multi-drug resistance. Overuse and misuse of antibiotics could create ‘superbugs’. Triclosan is an antibacterial and antifungal agent found in your soap, handwash, talcum powder and even in the wall paint. In a world obsessed with cleanliness, antimicrobial agents like triclosan have been touted as the panacea for a disease-free world. But their use remains controversial: experts say indiscriminate usage of antimicrobial agents like triclosan over the years has led to bacteria developing resistance to them, leading to the need for stronger chemicals. Article link: Toothpaste contribute to antibiotic resistance - The Hindu (MAINS FOCUS) 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 or Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. General studies 3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it. Indian startup ecosystem: Changing landscape Background: A slew of policies has been rolled out under the “Start Up India” scheme, launched in 2016. It is an effort to address the challenge of unemployment amongst educated youth, by encouraging them to become job creators — not job seekers. Changing landscape: The global start-up landscape is still dominated by the West, though a discernible shift is underway. As per the Global Start-up Eco System Report 2018, the US remains the leader with a 41 per cent share of start-ups but China is closing the gap with a 35 per cent share of the market. A Grant Thornton-Assocham report estimates that there are nearly 10,000 start- ups in India, of which 43 per cent are tech-based ventures. Annually, close to 800 start-ups are taking root in the country. Bengaluru is one of the emerging global hubs. Flipkart, Ola, PayTm are some of the start-ups that have made it big. Start-ups are now occupying the social development space as well. Key ingredients for a successful start-up ecosystem: The USP of Silicon Valley, spread around San Francisco, is that- It is home to some of the major technology companies — Apple, Facebook, Oracle, Visa, Intel, Cisco. These companies have served as anchors for new companies, a large number of which are founded by ex-employees. The anchor companies end up financing start-ups, given the lower costs of research or product development, and provide access to global markets. The area is also home to two world class universities: Stanford and the University of California at Berkeley. There is also no dearth of capital with venture capitalists (VCs) providing flexible financing options. The three key ingredients for a successful start-up ecosystem are: A thriving city, availability of talent and capital and the presence of large companies. Indian start-up ecosystem: No dearth of talent in the technology space: According to the NITI Aayog, India has 2.6 million STEM graduates ( Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), next only to China. The Department of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Human Resource Development have approved the establishment of 13 start-up centres, 16 technology business incubators and six research parks in technical institutions across the country. Access to easy low-cost finance: Under the Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana, nearly 6.5 million loans of up to Rs 10 lakh have been sanctioned this year, with disbursement of nearly Rs 30,000 crore. Bank lending for larger start-ups remains a challenge because banks are averse to taking risks and charge high interest rates. VC finance offers a good alternative. The SEBI has recently liberalised the regulatory framework for VC. SIDBI has established a “Fund of Funds for Start Ups” with an initial corpus of Rs 10,000 crore to finance alternate investment funds. Government of India has also allowed exemptions from income tax and capital gains tax up to three years for investment in start-ups. Philanthropic organisations like the Tata Trust have also stepped in to finance incubation labs. What else can be done? Identifying start-up hubs and priority sectors- Twenty Tier 2 and 3 cities, with flourishing technology ecosystems, could be declared “National Start Up Hubs” for targeted investments to build linkages between industry, academia and finance. Pioneers of the Indian IT revolution could be roped in to create a pool of start-up mentors. Technologists and entrepreneurs of the Indian diaspora in the Bay area and other parts of the world could be one of the finest resources of this movement. A platform could be created to channelise NRI investment in technology-based startups. Conclusion: A “soft touch” and responsive regulatory framework will be required to support the rapidly changing technology landscape. The policies being implemented along with the suggestions made above will be right for catalysing an Indian Start Up Revolution, which could turn India’s demography to its advantage. Connecting the dots: Discuss the potential and the challenges for the Indian startup ecosystem. The landscape of Indian startup ecosystem is rapidly changing. Critically comment. NATIONAL TOPIC General Studies 3: Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices Inclusive growth and issues arising from it. General Studies 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Zero Budget Natural Farming: A model for the future In news: In early June, Andhra Pradesh government has recently announced that the State would fully embrace Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF), a chemical-free method that would cover all farmers by 2024. With successful pilot programmes that were initiated in 2015 and partners who brought experience in different aspects needed to carry out such a transformation, Andhra Pradesh has become the first State to implement a ZBNF policy. Natural farming: Subhash Palekar, an Indian agriculturist who practiced and wrote many books about Zero Budget Natural Farming, developed the ZBNF after his own efforts at chemical farming failed. He identified four aspects that are now integral to his process: Seeds treated with cow dung and urine. Soil rejuvenated with cow dung. Cow urine and other local materials to increase microbes. Cover crops, straw and other organic matter to retain soil moisture and build humus. Soil aeration for favourable soil conditions. These methods are combined with natural insect management methods when required. How is ZBNF beneficial? In ZBNF, yields of various cash and food crops have been found to be significantly higher when compared with chemical farming. Input costs are near zero as no fertilizers and pesticides are used. Profits in most areas under ZBNF were from higher yield and lower inputs. Model ZBNF farms were able to withstand drought and flooding, which are big concerns with regard to climate change. The planting of multiple crops and border crops on the same field has provided varied income and nutrient sources. As a result of these changes, there is reduced use of water and electricity, improved health of farmers, flourishing of local ecosystems and biodiversity and no toxic chemical residues in the environment. The programme can have a positive effect on many of the sustainable development goals through improvements in soil, biodiversity, livelihoods, water, reduction in chemicals, climate resilience, health, women’s empowerment and nutrition. Different from organic farming: In early 2016, Sikkim was declared India’s first fully organic State. But organic agriculture often involves addition of large amounts of manure, vermicompost and other materials that are required in bulk and need to be purchased. These turn out to be expensive for most small farm holders. Model for other States: Over the years, Andhra Pradesh has supported and learned from its many effective civil society organisations such as the Watershed Support Services and Activities Network, Centre for Sustainable Agriculture and the Deccan Development Society. Farmer-to-farmer connections as vital to its success. Farmer’s collectives such as Farmer Producer Organisations need to be established and these would be critical to sustaining the programme. A step-by-step increase in the area covered. The scaling up relies primarily on farmers and local groups — all in all, very much a bottom-up process. The approach taken to monitor the improvements is vital to understanding the outcomes of large-scale changes that are under way; this is critical to expanding the ZBNF to other States. With its combination of delta regions, arid and hilly tribal areas, districts in Andhra Pradesh are similar to those in other parts of the country and could therefore serve as a model for replication. Conclusion: The world is at critical junctures on many planetary boundaries and establishing a system that shows promise in improving them while supporting people sustainably is surely one worth pursuing. Connecting the dots: What do you understand by 'zero budgent natural farming' (ZBNF)? Discuss its benefits over conventional form of agriculture. (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Q.1) Consider the following statements: United Nations proclaimed 21 June as the International Day of Yoga. The theme for the 2018 celebration is Yoga for Peace. Choose the correct code from below: 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2) Consider the following statements: Governor’s rule is imposed on Jammu and Kashmir only, while the President rule on the rest of India. President Rule is not extended to Jammu And Kashmir State as Governor’s rule is imposed if the constitutional machinery fails in the state. Choose the correct code from below: 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) Consider the following statements regarding the features Jammu and Kashmir Constitution It declares the State of J&K to be an integral part of India It provides for Governor’s rule as appointed by President of India It clarifies that the permanent residents of the state are entitled to all rights guaranteed under the Constitution of India Select the correct statements 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 1, 2 and 3 Q.4) Which of the following organization is responsible for the preparation of economic survey in India? Department of revenue Department of economic affairs Department of revenue Department of financial services Q.5) Consider the following statements: Ken-Betwa river inter-linking project is the first river link project by the Central government. Dhaudhan dam is built as part of the project. Surplus water in the Bundelkhand region is transferred to other areas. Select the correct answer from the following codes 1 and 2 only 2 only 2 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Q.6) Which among the following are tributaries of River Yamuna? Betwa Chambal Son Ken Choose the appropriate code: 1, 2 and 3 2, 3 and 4 1, 2 and 4 1, 2, 3 and 4 Q.7) Ken-Betwa river linking project has received the final environmental clearance. A major chunck of one of the tiger reserve/national park will get submerged. Which is the tiger reserve that we are referring to? Panna Pench Kanha Bandhavgarh Q.8) Which of the following properties is true for a tooth paste? It is acidic It is neutral It is basic It is made up of Calcium phosphate, the material of tooth enamel MUST READ Neither new nor undesirable The Hindu Beating plastic pollution The Hindu The state is taking healthcare Indian Express River, state and Centre Indian Express Going beyond lateral entry in civil services Livemint

Jun 21, 2018 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz- 2019 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 6]

UPSC Quiz- 2019 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 6] Archives Q.1) Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) is associated with which of the following organisations? BRICS SCO European Union G4 Q.2) Consider the following statements about recently launched, National Health Resource Repository (NHRR) It is a registry of authentic, standardised and updated geo-spatial data of all public and private healthcare. ISRO is the project technology partner for providing data security. Diagnostic labs and pharmacies are not covered under NHRR Select the correct statements 1 Only 1 and 2 1 and 3 All of the above Q.3) Consider the following statements In Jammu & Kashmir, governor’s rule is mentioned under Article 356 of the Indian Constitution The Governor's Rule can be imposed for six months after the consent of the President of India. Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.4) Recently, US announced eligibility review of India for the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) based on concerns related to its compliance with the Market access criterion Services and investment criterion Worker rights criterion Select the correct code: 1 Only 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 Q.5) Which of the following countries do not border the ‘Red Sea’? Ethiopia Egypt Eritrea Sudan To Download the Solution – Click here All the Best  IASbaba

Jun 20, 2018 AIR

All India Radio (AIR) : Western Disturbances & Precautionary Measures

Western Disturbances & Precautionary Measures ARCHIVES Search for 14th May, 2018 spotlight here: http://www.newsonair.com/Main_Audio_Bulletins_Search.aspx TOPIC: General Studies 1: Important Geophysical phenomena General Studies 3: Disaster management What are Western Disturbances? Low-pressure areas embedded in the Westerlies, the planetary winds that flow from west to east between 30°-60° latitude. Western disturbances are formed naturally. They originate in the Mediterranean region and travel over Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan to enter India loaded with moisture, where the Himalayas obstruct them, causing rain and snow in western Himalayas. The snow adds to the glaciers which provide water to India’s major perennial rivers. They usually bring mild rain during January-February, which is beneficial to the rabi crop. Considering that wheat is one of the most important Rabi crops, which is the staple diet of people in this region, winter showers contribute to meet India’s food security. Associated with cloudy sky, higher night temperatures and unusual rain - Excessive precipitation due to western disturbances can cause crop damage, landslides, floods and avalanches. Over the Indo-Gangetic plains, they occasionally bring cold wave conditions and dense fog. Disastrous Western Disturbances In the past few years’ western disturbances have been linked to disasters such as the cloud burst in Leh in 2010, the floods and landslide in Uttarakhand in 2013 and the excessive rain in Jammu and Kashmir in 2014. A study by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, has directly linked western disturbances to global warming. Researchers say global warming is impacting air currents and causing freak weather events. Pronounced warming over the Tibetan plateau in recent decades has increased the instability of the Westerlies and this has increased the variability of the western disturbances. According to the study, the western Himalayan region has seen a significant rise in surface temperatures since the 1950s. Observations from the area show a significant increase in precipitation in recent decades. Precautionary measures Tackle lack of Awareness Usage of Digital India programmes to let people know about the current situation and give warnings well before in hand. Social Media helps in sharing the message – making more and more people aware about the situation. Private Sector Participation Government should welcome private sector’s participation in designing and implementing policies, plans, and standards Technology backed decisions Mapping of the storms and proper dissemination of information is crucial. Community Participation A strong, aware and involved community is the first step towards disaster resilient communities. Note: There are two phenomenons responsible for winter rainfall in India – Western Disturbances and Retreating monsoon. Retreating Monson – As ITCZ shifts towards south in the winter season, the monsoon starts retreating. Retreating monsoon winds capture some moisture from Bay of Bengal and cause rainfall on Tamil Nadu coast. Connecting the Dots What are the reasons of winter rainfall in north western states of India and southern India? Examine the measures to be taken during an unforeseen disaster because of these geographic phenomena. How does western disturbance originate? What effects does it have on Indian agriculture?

Jun 20, 2018 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs [Prelims + Mains Focus] - 20th June 2018

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs (Prelims + Mains Focus)- 20th June 2018 Archives (PRELIMS+MAINS FOCUS) Air India privatisation plan shelved Part of: GS prelims and Mains III – Indian Economy; Disinvestment of Air India In news: After it failed to get any buyers for the debt-ridden national carrier, the government has decided not to proceed with the privatization plan. Last year, Union Cabinet had given its nod for the disinvestment process. Do you know? Air India came into existence in 1932 as starter airline. It was nationalised in 1953. For many years the government had been considering the option that whether Air India should be helped in coming out of its current situation or disinvested. This is not first instance. In 2000 also it was tried for disinvestment but it was not materialised due to lack of political will. At that time, the Tatas, the actual promoters of airlines, wanted to buy it back along with Singapore Airlines. In brief, the journey 1932: Founded by J.R.D. Tata as Tata Airlines – country’s first scheduled airline 1946: Tata Airlines became a public limited company under the name of Air India 1948: Government of India acquires 49% stake in the company; starts international operation under brand of Air India International 1953: Air Corporation Act enacted to nationalise all existing airline assets and Indian Airline Corporation (domestic operations) and Air India International were established 1962: Air India International named as Air India 1994: Air Corporation Act repealed to allow private airlines to operate on domestic routes; Air India, Indian Airlines converted into Limited Companies under Companies Act, 1956 2000: Previous NDA govt drops privatisation plan after deciding to sell 51% of equity of Indian Airlines and 60% of Air India 2007: Erstwhile Air India and Indian Airline were merged into single entity named as National Aviation Company of India Limited (NACIL) 2010: NACIL renamed as Air India Limited 2012: UPA govt rule out AI privatisation; Turnaround plan to infuse over Rs 30,000 crore till 2021 approved 2017: NDA govt approves in-principle approval of Air India’s disinvestment 2018 (Current): Present NDA government drops privatisation plan after it failed to get any buyers for the debt-ridden national carrier Article link: Air India privatisation plan shelved - NATIONAL ‘India for rules-based world order’; Concept of Strategic Autonomy Part of: GS Mains II – International Relations; India and the World In news: Highlights of President Kovind’s speech in Greece – Articulating the principles of Indian foreign policy, President Ram Nath Kovind said India wants to be a rule framer in a multi-polar world. President said – India is committed to an international order marked by robust, rules-based multi-lateral institutions; by multi-polarity in international governance; and by investment and connectivity projects that are viable, sustainable. President indicated that India to maintain a non-aligned attitude towards major power blocks in the world and also maintain multilateral commitments. He also expressed the aspiration to be “strategic autonomous” – the concept which was also presented by PM Modi during the recent Shangri La Dialogue in Singapore. President urged Europe to join hands with India which is a “responsible power”, to preserve globalisation. What is ‘strategic autonomy’? Strategic autonomy denotes the ‘ability of a state to pursue its national interests and adopt its preferred foreign policy without being constrained in any manner by other states’ (possessing overwhelmingly superior power). Does India possess strategic autonomy? Theoretically, only a lone superpower in a unipolar international order truly possess strategic autonomy since it is the only country that would wield overwhelming economic, industrial, military and technological capabilities and thus the power to resist pressure from all other states. Even superpowers become susceptible to the pressures exerted by their superpower peers in bipolar or multipolar orders, which means that their ability to be strategically autonomous is not absolute but only relative. It follows from this that regional powers like India are destined to be even less strategically autonomous. While they may express the aspiration to be strategically autonomous, their ability and willingness to practice it are likely to be inconsistent and variable. They will resist external pressure to change their policy or moderate their interest on core issues of national security irrespective of the costs involved. In the case of India, prominent examples of core national interests are Jammu & Kashmir and nuclear weapons. But under external pressure, regional powers like India are likely to alter their policy or moderate their interest on non-core security issues if the associated costs are calculated to be disproportionate to the benefits that may accrue from persisting with the preferred policy or interest. A good recent example in this regard was India’s decision to vote against Iran in the International Atomic Energy Agency. This decision was driven by the calculation that antagonising the United States, which was pressing India to vote against Iran, would compromise the benefits flowing from improved bilateral relations with America including in the nuclear arena. Is strategic autonomy good? While strategic autonomy is the ideal that every state aspires to, most are unlikely to either possess the necessary power capabilities or enjoy a favourable international environment to practice it. A bipolar or a multipolar order is likely to provide greater diplomatic room for manoeuvre and thus help avoid the high costs of pursuing a policy or interest. Given this reality, making strategic autonomy concrete thing could prove more harmful than beneficial. Crux: India aspires to be a rule framer and calls for rules-based world order. India wants to maintain a non-aligned attitude and also meet multilateral commitments. India also aspires to be “strategic autonomous” - pursue its national interests and adopt its preferred foreign policy without being constrained in any manner by other states. Article link: India for rules-based world order: Ram Nath Kovind US “zero-tolerance” policy on illegal immigration Part of: GS Mains II – International Relations; India and the World In news: Several people from South Asia, including many from India, have been detained by U.S. immigration authorities at a federal prison in Oregon for illegally entering the country. Trump administration’s “zero-tolerance” policy on illegal immigration has resulted in sweeping measures such as separation of children from their families. Fast recap: India US areas of concerns We have read that US not happy with India’s growing engagement with the U.S., Russia and China in equal measure. India not admitting Quadrilateral grouping or less attention given by India towards Quad. India’s closer engagement with Chinese President Xi Jinping and a relationship reset with China after the Wuhan meeting. India’s acceptance of military exercises with countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). Delay in signing of outstanding India-U.S. foundational agreements. (In previous article we covered all 4 foundational agreements) Several issues/disputes in World Trade Organisation (WTO); Trade protectionism; Disputes on the new American steel and aluminium tariffs proposed cuts in H1B professional visas and cancellation of H4 spouse visas disputes on Indian price reductions on medical devices Harley-Davidson motorcycles row - US calling for India to scrap its 75-100% tariffs India’s plans to acquire the Russian S-400 missile system UWIN — Unorganised Workers Identification Number Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II and III – Welfare and social issue; Inclusive growth; Unorganised sector In news: Union Ministry of Labour has called for tenders to design, develop and run the new UWIN — Unorganised Workers Identification Number — Platform. UWIN – is a portable smart ID card for unorganised workers. Centre has started work to create a national database and Aadhaar-seeded identification number system to facilitate welfare delivery to 40 crore workers in the sector. Do you know? The Unorganised Workers Social Security Act, 2008 had first mandated that every worker be registered and issued a smart ID card. Article link: Database on unorganised workers gets underway - The Hindu Disaster Management: FLOODS Part of: GS Mains III – Disaster Management Just know below basic procedures Tech edge: A.P. police show the way Part of: GS Mains III – Science and Technology; Role of Technology In news: Andhra Pradesh – becomes the first State to complete automation of Crime Records Bureau The IT-based web/mobile application (i-App) is a revolution in data collection as it saves hundreds of man hours i-App cloud is now helping the police access the entire information of crimes under various IPC sections. The information is available at the touch of a button on mobile phones and computers helping the police to analyse trends in crime and take necessary action. Governor’s rule in Jammu and Kashmir? J&K to come under Governor’s Rule. It is alleged that Governor’s rule would result in closer coordination among security forces. If it happens, Kashmir is likely to witness a new wave of violence.   Army is expected to increase target-specific operations, with better coordination with the police and a likely increased inflow of intelligence inputs. Police forces will now be more open in giving intelligence inputs to Army as they normally come under the State government. This will give greater impetus to target-specific operations by the Army as the force relies on the police for local intelligence and movement of terrorists. Army has resumed full-fledged anti-terror operations after the Suspension of Operations was called off by the Home Ministry. Pic link: https://d39gegkjaqduz9.cloudfront.net/TH/2018/06/20/DEL/Delhi/TH/5_11/3926a0b8_2185446_101_mr.jpg Animals in news: Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III – Biodiversity; Conservation of animals Rare species of spider found again after 150 years Rare species of spider (Chrysilla volupes) -  found in Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (WWS) located in the Western Ghats region of Kerala. The spider belonged to the family of jumping spiders (Salticidae) and scientifically named as Chrysilla volupes. The world’s oldest Sumatran orangutan dies The world’s oldest Sumatran orangutan (Puan) died in Australian Perth zoo Born in 1956, she was noted by the Guinness Book of Records as being the oldest verified Sumatran orangutan in the world. Female orangutans rarely live beyond 50 in the wild. Sumatran orangutan – IUCN Status: Critically Endangered Do you know? The non-human types of apes are divided into two groups: great apes — gorillas, bonobos, chimpanzees and orangutans — and lesser apes — gibbons and siamangs. Apes are not monkeys; they belong to different branches of the Simian infraorder, and there are several physical differences. Apes do not have tails, while most monkeys do, and apes are typically larger than monkeys. Apes' noses are short and broad, while monkeys' noses are more snout-like. Apes also have larger brains than monkeys, and they are capable of using tools and learning language. (MAINS FOCUS) INTERNATIONAL TOPIC:General Studies 2: India and its neighborhood relations, International relations. Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests. Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora. Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate. Significance of SCO for India Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Qingdao, China was the first SCO summit attended by India as a full-fledged member. Do you know? SCO grew out of the Shanghai Five grouping — of Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan — which was set up in 1996 to resolve boundary disputes between China and each of the four other members. It admitted Uzbekistan in 2001, re-christened itself the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and broadened its agenda to include political, economic and security cooperation. It admitted India and Pakistan as full members in 2017. Significance for India SCO now has about half the world’s population and a quarter of its GDP. Its boundary extends southwards to the Indian Ocean. The SCO’s relevance for India lies in geography, economics and geopolitics. India has important economic and security interests in these countries. With India having complicated ties with neighbours, it makes sense to strengthen ties with its neighbours’ neighbours. With Pakistan joining the Organisation and Afghanistan and Iran knocking on the doors for membership, the logic of India’s membership becomes stronger. Expanding opportunities for India in Central Asia: India’s relations with Central Asian countries have been constrained by lack of overland access through Pakistan and Afghanistan/Iran, because of political and/or security reasons. SCO should help in this regard. Russian and Chinese officials suggested that harmonious cooperation in the SCO may pave the way for an India-Pakistan rapprochement, recalling that SCO membership had facilitated resolution of China’s boundary disputes with Russia and Central Asian countries. Challenging areas: The SCO is expected to nudge both countries to cooperate in sensitive areas. One example is the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) of the SCO, which coordinates cooperation for security and stability, through intelligence-sharing on criminal and terrorist activities. India and Pakistan have to find ways of cooperating in the RATS. Defence cooperation is another tricky area: enhanced linkages between armed forces is an SCO objective. India has agreed to participate in the SCO’s counter-terrorism military exercises in Russia later this year, when Indian and Pakistani troops will operate together. Reconciling Indian and Pakistani perspectives in the SCO’s initiatives on Afghanistan would be yet another challenge. The challenge for India — besides that of security and defence cooperation with Pakistan — may come from increasing Chinese dominance of the SCO. The essence of a functioning multilateral framework is focusing on shared objectives and underplaying divergences. Connecting the dots: What are the benefits that India accrues upon its full membership to SCO? Also discuss the challenges faced by the country upon such membership. NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL TOPIC:General Studies 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora. Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate. Why India urgently needs a national asylum policy? Key Pointers: World Refugee Day (June 20) India is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention and has no domestic asylum law. Country has done little beyond providing asylum. There have been some attempts to introduce a refugee law – latest being the Asylum Bill 2015, which was introduced as a private member’s bill. However, none has gone the distance and the government continues to adopt an ad hoc approach towards this group. Due to their unclear legal status and lack of uniform documentation, refugees have limited access to essential services and almost no avenues for livelihood. India has reiterated its commitment towards the protection of refugees at various international fora, including the UN General Assembly. India became a signatory to the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants, which was adopted by 193 countries in September 2016. In doing so, India has expressed its solidarity with those forced to flee and agreed that protecting refugees and supporting the countries that shelter them are shared international responsibilities that must be borne more equitably. Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants has set the stage for a new framework for refugee protection — the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR). GCR is a coordinated effort to strengthen international response to protracted refugee situations and comprehensively addresses all stages of refugee protection, from reception to long-term solutions. Two of its key objectives are to ease pressures on host countries and enhance refugee self-reliance. Concern: Refugee burden borne by developing countries GCR recognised that certain refugee situations can last for decades and acknowledges that the burden is borne largely by developing countries. Do you know? Developing countries host over 80% of the refugee population in the world. Therefore, the GCR calls for support from the international community in the form of resources. (to ease pressures on host countries) It also seeks to establish forums to enable expertise-sharing to promote economic opportunities, decent work and job creation not just for refugees but also for the host community. GCR calls for States to identify gaps and opportunities for employment and income generation for refugees in a bid to enhance their self-reliance. Since the Declaration was adopted, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has been engaging with member states, UN bodies, and non-governmental organisations to develop a plan for its practical implementation; this will be finalised by the end of 2018. Conclusion: India’s commitment to refugee protection under the GCR is evident in its active participation in ongoing GCR consultations, where it has emphasised the need for a clear mechanism for the refugee response regime. Therefore this is an opportune time for India to reassess the need for a national asylum policy which is compliant with the principles laid down in the GCR. This will not only re-establish India’s place as a democratic regional power committed to core humanitarian principles but will also provide refugees a chance to give back to the country that has adopted them. Connecting the dots: Critically examine if India should have a law for refugees and asylum seekers. Recent UNICEF report presents a grim picture of condition of refugee children. What according to you should be measures taken by countries, irrespective of refugee laws, to protect the refugee children for a better future? (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Q.1) Among the following, which one is not an ape? Gibbon Gorilla Langur Orangutan Q.2) Consider the following statements Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Qingdao, China was the first SCO summit attended by India as a full-fledged member. SCO admitted India and Pakistan as full members in 2017. Select the correct statements 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) Consider the following statements India is not a signatory to the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants  and has no domestic asylum law. Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) is a new framework for refugee protection under 1951 Refugee Convention. Which of the above statement[s] is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.4) World Migration Report 2018 is released by World Economic Forum United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Amnesty International International Organization for Migration MUST READ Less talk more action The Hindu India's pivot to Eurasia The Hindu Make power supply a fundamental right Business Line (Re)presenting Indian women abroad Business Line India must lead the emerging markets Business Line

Jun 20, 2018 Topper's From IASbaba

ECONOMICS OPTIONAL Strategy by Abhijeet Sinha, Rank 19 UPSC CSE 2017

Hello everyone, I am Abhijeet Sinha and I have secured 19th Rank in the Civil Service Examination 2017, with Economics as my optional.  I graduated in Electrical Engineering (2016), but due to the interest developed in reading the Economics section of newspaper, I chose Economics as my optional :).  Over the 2 attempts, I have gained quite substantial experience in the optional, both the good as well as the bad ones. I hope dear aspirants would find something helpful out of it Last year (1st attempt - 2016) I had one of the lowest scores in Economics Optional, 89+129 = 218. And it became the single reason why I did not find my name in the final rank list. It may have been in part, because Economics as a subject was almost completely new to me. But, much more importantly, it was more down to my own structural fallacies. I had hardly written down a word before the exam, did not solve past years papers…… and had many more strategical flaws. Based on this, I modified my strategy to focus on the following in my 2017 attempt ( 2nd attempt) Solving past 5–10 years papers is the most important of all tasks, since questions are generally repeated. Since, standard answers to question are missing, one can take the help of solved Past years papers by my senior Tejasvi Rana, who is like an elder sister to me Practising drawing the diagrams. While, it is easy to appreciate and understand the Income effect and Substitution effect in a Labour Supply curve, believe me, while actually drawing, one realises it isn’t as easy as it seems. The more you practise, the easier it will become Focussing on every word of the syllabus ( for GS as well). For instance, Q 6a of this years Paper 2 simply asked to write on Poverty Schemes and their performance. The question was almost exactly like the phrase written in the syllabus. Had one prepared notes on it, he/she could have done this question very easily Making OWN notes.Last time, I just used to read from the notes of Gaurav Sir. But, now I can say that making your own notes helps to understand better, revise better and helps in writing practise. But, yeah, take the notes of Gaurav sir, Tejasvi, my own etc as a guidance For Paper 1, I tried to cover the main topics from Indian authors as well, especially key terms and definitions. For eg q 5a ( 2017) asking on Differential Tax Incidence has been elaborated in Bhatia’s book. Revising  This is more needed for Eco Paper 2, where there is a need to memorise things. As an example, I was able to revise between 4–5 times between prelims and mains, each revision being of a shorter duration than the previous one. For Answer Writing Putting a lot of data and names of Economists in my Eco Paper 2 answer Making my answers more concise and succinct, and not being verbose. See Tejasvi’s answers to appreciate this point. I tried to interlink Eco 1 and Eco 2. For eg, on the question on Gravity model of trade in Paper 1 , I quoted actual examples of India and UAE ( how UAE is small, but we have a trade of 60 billion $) Trivial changes like Using pencil and scale to draw :) Taking help from my peers, seniors and the group econsiasprep@googlegroups.comwhenever required.   Other Points worth noting For UPSC purpose, it is not important to go into the Mathematical details, what . Rarely has a question been asked from it. Instead focus on the Diagrams very well Utilise the first 5-15 minutes to identify which questions to attempt. It is better to invest time in the beginning, than to regret later, when 1 realises that he/she is short of points Stay away from negativities. People might demotivate you that Economics is not an easy optional. Maintain the confidence and resilience during moments like those. Remember that every year, there are scores of people who come in the rank list with Economics as an optional, in spite of very few people choosing economics in the 1st place   Booklist Paper 1 Micro – Primarily from Ahuja. As Tejasvi said last time, a thumb rule to find out what is important and what is not is to see past years papers. If a question is being asked from a chapter, then it is important Abhimanyu’s notes as a summary - https://reluctanteconomistblog.wordpress.com/ Macro and Money Banking Mainly Froyen Ahuja to find out any new definitons / terms International Salvatore Growth and Devleopment Thirlwall mainly Jhingan for new terms / definitions Public Finance Musgrave mainly Bhatia for new terms / definitions Paper 2 Instead of going cover to cover, I went topic by topic,browsing every word / phrase of syllabus, and making my own notes from various sources such as Gaurav Sir’s notes – Khelo India Tejasvi’s notes Riju Mam notes – Riju Bafna Mishra and Puri Uma Kapila Althoug, I've already done the hardwork and compiled the notes out of these into 1 single source :). They can be accessed here - https://1drv.ms/u/s!Am-XDyZeJwRZjJkuXjXNDxvI6uss-A   All of these did help me to improve my score from 218 to 288 this time ( 140 + 148). Although, its not an excellent score, but it was good enough to give me a good rank. And I hope and wish, it helps you as well :) For more queries and sharing of materials especially related to Economics, you could follow my blog abhijeetsinhaupsc.wordpress.com For my General Studies Strategy (watch the video) -> CLICK HERE   Thank You Abhijeet Sinha