IAS Baba

May 3, 2018 Motivational Articles

Inspiring Videos : Is the world getting better or worse – Steven Pinker

Is the world getting better or worse: Was 2017 really the "worst year ever," as some would have us believe? In his analysis of recent data on homicide, war, poverty, pollution and more, psychologist Steven Pinker finds that we're doing better now in every one of them when compared with 30 years ago. But progress isn't inevitable, and it doesn't mean everything gets better for everyone all the time, Pinker says. Instead, progress is problem-solving, and we should look at things like climate change and nuclear war as problems to be solved, not apocalypses in waiting. "We will never have a perfect world, and it would be dangerous to seek one," he says. "But there's no limit to the betterments we can attain if we continue to apply knowledge to enhance human flourishing." https://www.ted.com/talks/steven_pinker_is_the_world_getting_better_or_worse_a_look_at_the_numbers?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare

May 3, 2018 Yojana

YOJANA & KURUKSHETRA Magazine: APRIL 2018

Archives Friends, Here we are with the APRIL 2018, edition of Yojana and Kurukshetra. Yojana/Kurukshetra: APRIL 2018 – Download Download Mind Maps - Click here

May 3, 2018 AIR

All India Radio (AIR) : Significance & Analysis of Prime Minister’s Visit to Sweden and United Kingdom

Significance & Analysis of Prime Minister’s Visit to Sweden and United Kingdom ARCHIVES Search 16th, 18th and 20th April, 2018 Spotlight here: http://www.newsonair.com/Main_Audio_Bulletins_Search.aspx TOPIC: General Studies 2: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests Sweden and Nordic India’s trade with the Nordic countries totalled around USD 5.3 billion in 2016-17, with Cumulative Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to India at USD 2.5 billion. Transformational visit: Prime Minister is going to co-host the 1st India-Nordic Summit and will attend the India Sweden Bilateral Summit, after 30 years. Win-win partnership: Economic interests driving bilateral relations From Sweden Area of ICT Renewables and Green energy Smart city Waste Management Defense Nordic countries have spent money, time and effort on Innovation as well R&D Economical and technological advancement Norway: Huge pension fund and if invested in India Iceland: Fishing; trawlers are like factories of fish, right from fishing, to storing, to refrigerating, to marketing and to export – need to take a leaf out of their book to learn From India, a country can expect: Human resources Huge market - more than 160 Swedish companies are now established in India, including powerhouses like Ikea and H&M, who are both expanding in the market. The Nordic countries have globally recognized strengths in clean technologies, environmental solutions, port modernization, food processing, health, agriculture infrastructure, skill development and innovation which are also the focus areas of India’s development. These complementarities and the unique strengths of India and the Nordic countries hold the potential to further boost trade and investment from both sides. UK India and the United Kingdom share a modern partnership bound by strong historical ties. In 2004, the bilateral relationship was upgraded to a strategic partnership. UK is among India’s major trading partners. The merchandise trade between the two countries in 2017 reached $13 billion, and trade in services is around US$7.2 billion. UK is the 4th largest inward investor in India with a cumulative equity investment of US $25.31 billion, accounting for around 7% of all foreign direct investment into India. India continued to be the third largest investor in the UK and emerged as the second largest international job creator with Indian companies having created over 110,000 jobs in the UK. Britain is looking at its future as it moves out of the EU. India would like its relations with UK to prosper and grow, and it will be a great opportunity for a great bilateral trading arrangement. Areas of cooperation: Technology + Robotics +Artificial Intelligence + Cyber-Security + Terrorism + Security CHOGM: Link Huge Indian Diaspora: Significant move where PM Modi, in a transparent manner, answered all the questions on sensitive issues Ayurveda as soft power in diplomacy: Haven’t given much importance that we should have.

May 2, 2018 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs [Prelims + Mains Focus] - 2nd May 2018

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs (Prelims + Mains Focus)- 2nd May 2018 Archives (PRELIMS+MAINS FOCUS) SC directs HCs to set panels for monitoring POCSO act trials: Part of: Mains GS Paper I- Social issues Key pointers: Pic credits: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/article23742506.ece/alternates/FREE_660/TH01-SC-POCSOAG9M3TGAJ31jpgjpg Shocked by the high rate of pendency of child sexual assault cases, the Supreme Court directed High Courts to set up panels of its judges to regulate and monitor trials under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The Supreme Court, which had ordered a review of the backlog under POCSO, found that States such as Uttar Pradesh have over 30,000 cases pending despite the child protection law coming into existence as early as 2012. Many States have not yet even set up Special Courts to try POCSO cases as mandated by the law. The Bench issued a series of directions which supplement the ordinance. These include: The State police chiefs should constitute special task forces to investigate cases. High Courts should ensure that they are tried and disposed of by the designated Special Courts under the Act. POCSO judges will give no adjournments and make every effort to fast-track trial. Witnesses should be produced in court on the day of the hearing and high courts should make every effort to provide a child-friendly atmosphere in tune with the spirit of the Act. Article link: Click here Renewables overpower conventional energy Part of: Mains GS Paper III- Energy security Key pointers: For the first time in the country’s history, renewable energy has added more capacity than conventional power. Capacity addition by renewables stood at 11,788 MW in in FY18, against 9,505 MW added by conventional energy, according to data provided by the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. Capacity creation by the conventional sector fell a sharp 33 per cent in FY18. Coal-fired power units, in particular, are suddenly facing an existential crisis triggered by falling renewable tariffs, poor demand, low plant load factors and uncertainty over long-term purchase agreements with distribution companies. Article link: Click here (MAINS FOCUS) INTERNATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2: India and its neighbourhood- 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 Poor performance of SAARC: Reasons and Way ahead Introduction: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's response on the 19th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit in Islamabad, conveys that India is not keen on reviving the now-defunct SAARC. Citing cross-border terrorism perpetrated by Pakistan, Mr. Modi is reported to have indicated that it is difficult to proceed with SAARC in these circumstances. Background: The 19th SAARC Summit was originally scheduled to be held in Islamabad in November 2016. However, following the pull-out of India and three other countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Afghanistan) after the Uri terrorist attack, the Summit was postponed indefinitely. In March 2018, during his visit to Kathmandu, Pakistan Prime Minister sought the help of Nepal, the chair of SAARC, to revive the organisation by convening the pending Summit in Islamabad. Pakistan has also solicited the support of Sri Lanka in this regard. About SAARC: SAARC was founded in 1985 with seven South Asian countries — Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The membership grew to eight when Afghanistan joined in 2007. SAARC occupies a land area larger than the European Union (EU) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). In terms of population as well, it is superior with approximately 22.5 per cent of the world populace. The organisation aims to achieve peace, freedom, social justice, and economic prosperity by promoting a shared understanding, good neighbourly relations, and meaningful cooperation. Improving the quality of life in the member countries by fostering self-reliance, promoting mutual assistance, and strengthening collaboration with other regional and international organisations are its core objectives. Poor performance: The mismatch between SAARC’s ambitions and achievements has been profound. No tangible economic or political benefits have been realised by SAARC. It has failed to achieve a majority of its stated objectives. South Asia, at present, is “one of the least integrated regions” in the world. romoting intra-regional connectivity through trade is one of the primary focus areas of SAARC However, even after three decades of existence, intra-SAARC trade stands at a meagre five percent of South Asia’s total trade. Reasons behind poor performance: For the member countries, SAARC was an unwanted child. Various structural and organisational issues make SAARC not only vulnerable but reforms implausible as well. Conflict and power asymmetry among members impede it from making any progress in regional cooperation. An unwanted child: South Asia was one of the few regions that did not make any attempt to build a regional organisation until the 1980s and the idea of SAARC was borne out of this dilemma. It was not the pursuit of economic and developmental cooperation as a means to lift the region out of poverty or shared threat perception or even shared identity that pushed South Asian countries to establish a regional organisation. In the last 33 years, SAARC has held only 18 Summits, and many have been postponed or cancelled due to various issues. Further, in the last decade, the frequency of summits has also reduced compared to the first two decades. Structural problems: SAARC’s emphasis on the principle of unanimity for decision making and exclusion of contentious bilateral issues from deliberations makes the organisation fragile and vulnerable. Its Charter says: “decisions at all levels shall be taken on the basis of unanimity” and “bilateral and contentious issues shall be excluded from the deliberations.” While the unanimity clause enables any member at any time to veto any proposal, the prohibition on the raising of bilateral issues reduces the possibility of solving conflicts among, and addressing concerns of, the member states. Given the level of suspicion, power asymmetry and persistence of bilateral conflicts, it has seemingly proven hard for SAARC countries to come to a unanimous agreement on vital issues. The trans-South Asian road connectivity project is a case in point of how one member(Pakistan) could hinder a regional initiative that was supported by the rest. In the EU, one of the most successful cases of regional integration, a decision requires only 55 per cent of member states (16 out of 28) to vote in favour. Besides, to block a decision at the European Council, four members representing at least 35 per cent of the EU population is necessary. These structural characteristics not only make the decision-making process in the EU relatively easy but vetoing a decision hard as well. Conflicting interests of members: Since its inception, the regular activities of SAARC have been restrained by the tense bilateral relationships including violent conflicts among its members. When one of the constituents is too big and powerful compared to the rest, it will naturally affect the progress of cooperation. In the region, the basis of power-asymmetry is India's preponderance, which represents more than “two-thirds of the region’s area and more than three-fourths of the region’s population, GDP, and military strength.” India’s dominance causes mistrust and suspicion about its motives in the smaller South Asian countries. While India considers its neighbours as an integral part of its security system, the latter perceive it as a threat to their security. This perception among the smaller countries of South Asia has enabled external powers such as the United States and China to acquire a role in the region, which, in turn, introduces a further stumbling block for regional cooperation. The most important factor for making SAARC dysfunctional is the conflict between India and Pakistan. While SAARC has survived various Indo-Pak crises, the organisation could not isolate itself from their ill effects completely. Way ahead: India-Pakistan rivalry should not lead to formation of SAARC minus one. This could lead to serious drawbacks. First, without involving Pakistan, the possibility of integrating South Asia and resolving the economic and security challenges that the region faces will be almost impossible. The most pressing issue in the region is terrorism and Pakistan stands at its core as both perpetrator and victim. Moreover, the other members of the organisation, who have a good relationship with Pakistan, are not likely to favour the idea of a SAARC minus Pakistan. South Asian countries are beset by many inter-state and intra-state conflicts. These conflicts, especially hostile bilateral relationships, affect the regional integration process. Unless and until all members discuss bilateral disputes with an intention to resolve them, the chances of enhancing regional cooperation will remain dim. The discussion of bilateral issues at its summits should thus be allowed. Since the unanimity principle of the organisation provides veto power to each member, amending the Charter should be examined. The organisation was a product of the functionalist optimism that economic cooperation will circumvent political issues. Economic integration will lead to peace and that the ‘peace dividend’ will bring progress and development to the whole region is far from reality. The organisation should thus focus on strengthening economic cooperation. Connecting the dots: The SAARC has failed as an organisation. To revive the organsiation the member needs to rise above intra-regional rivalries and focus on economic aspects rather than political issues. Comment. MUST READ The rocky road The Hindu Power drive The Hindu The fire next time Indian Express The Modi-XI bonhomie at Wuhan Business Line Lighting up India Business Line

May 2, 2018

IASbaba’s 60 Day Plan- Prelims Test 2018 GEOGRAPHY & CURRENT AFFAIRS [Day 45]

Hello Friends, The 60 Days Training has finally begun:) Before any competition, there is a preparatory phase. That phase involves a lot of sessions on strengths and weaknesses. Throughout the preparatory phase, the athletes train in a gradual manner. In the last phase, just before the actual competition, the training is done so as to sharpen their skills. This training requires complete focus and dedication. In this phase, the athletes do not try anything new or train in a new fashion rather focus on sharpening of skills, focusing on strength and precision. Similarly, the upcoming 60 days, is like the last phase (training session), just before the actual competition. Here, the focus should be on sharpening the concepts, consolidating the knowledge base and solidifying the learning with loads and loads of revision. CLICK HERE TO READ FULL DETAILS AND SOLVE QUESTIONS

May 1, 2018 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs [Prelims + Mains Focus] - 1st May 2018

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs (Prelims + Mains Focus)- 1st May 2018 Archives (PRELIMS+MAINS FOCUS) AFSPA: Active Areas Part of: Mains GS Paper II- Internal Security Key pointers: Article link: Click here Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said AFSPA, the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, will continue in Nagaland as it is a “special case” and the “peace agreement” hasn’t been finalised there yet. Nagaland is the only State in the northeast, apart from eight police stations in Arunachal Pradesh, where ASFPA continues to be imposed by the Union Home Ministry. Nagaland, Manipur and Assam are the only three States in the northeast that continue to be under AFSPA. The Act gives powers to the Army and the Central forces deployed in “disturbed areas” to kill anyone acting in contravention of law, arrest and search any premises without a warrant and provide cover to forces from prosecution and legal suits without the Centre’s sanction. Article link: Click here White Stem Border: Hits Coffee(Arabica) estates Part of: Mains GS Paper II- Internal Security Key pointers: White stem borer (WSB) continues to wreak havoc in the country’s key coffee growing regions of Kodagu, Chikmagaluru and Hassanin Karnataka. The movement of plant, soil or manure affected by the white stem borer is being prohibited in a bid to control the spread of the pest, which mainly infests the arabica variety of coffee plants. Karnataka is the largest coffee producing State, accounting for over 70 per cent (3 lakh tonnes) of India’s 3.4-lakh-tonne output. The WSB thrives in the trunk region of arabica plants, the pest has become a menace for the growers, inflicting huge economic losses on them. With no effective solution in sight to tackle WSB, the area under arabica has been coming down over the years. Article link: Click here The definition of electrification in India Part of: Mains GS Paper III- Energy Security Key pointers: Pic credits: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/article23734161.ece/alternates/FREE_660/30NDSRN01VillaG8Q3TB4UQ1jpgjpg As per the current definition of an electrified village, a village is counted as electrified if at least 10% of its households have an electricity connection. According to the definition, in place since October 1997, a village is deemed to be electrified if basic infrastructure such as a distribution transformer and distribution lines are in place in the inhabited locality, electricity is provided to public places like schools, panchayat office, health centres, dispensaries, community centres, and at least 10% of the households in the village are electrified. As of today, the rural household electrification is about 83%. From State to State, it ranges from 47% to 100%. The government is not considering modifying the current definition. The criticism is that electrified now is about connectivity to the grid but not actual access to electricity. The Saubhagya Scheme: The government had in September 2017 launched the Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (Saubhagya), aimed at covering the last-mile connectivity of taking electricity to the household level. The target for the scheme is March 31, 2019. The Saubhagya scheme defines the electrification of a household as including a service line cable, energy meter, and single point wiring. For unelectrified households in remote areas, electrification will involve the provision of power packs of 200 to 300 W (with battery bank) with a maximum of 5 LED lights, 1 DC Fan, and 1 DC power plug. Article link: Click here (MAINS FOCUS) NATIONAL/ENVIRONMENT TOPIC: General Studies 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. General Studies 3: Conservation, Environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment. Economic growth Versus Pollution Introduction: In recent years, the pollution load has increased, sometimes beyond the carrying capacity of the environment. Though various measures have been adopted to manage pollution, significant progress has not been achieved. The environmental Kuznets curve: India’s developmental activities are affecting the environment to a considerable extent, through over-exploitation of natural resources and indiscriminate discharge of waste. This has been interpreted by the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis. The EKC hypothesis: As per the hypothesis, as per capita income grows, the increase in environmental impact hits the maximum and thereafter declines. In the initial stages of economic growth, when more resources are used, there is greater waste generation and more emissions. But when a country has achieved a certain level of development, pollution reduces with greater protection of the environment, technological improvements, diversification of the economy from manufacturing to services, and increasing scarcity and prices of environmental resources, leading to lower consumption. Where does India lies? India is on the upward part of the EKC. For achieving sustainable development, it must move to the second stage. However, it is not wise to wait for that stage. India can’t ignore the environmental consequences of its rapid growth. Environmental consequences of India's growth: Over the last few decades, water-intensive and polluting industries such as textiles, leather, sugar and paper have shifted from developed to developing countries. They withdraw huge quantities of water and discharge effluents without adequate treatment. Before 1980, countries like the U.K. and the U.S. played a vital role in textile production and export. But by 2000, their dominance had substantially reduced and the share of developing countries like India and China had increased. One of the factors attributed to this shift is that there are relatively less stringent environmental policies in developing nations. Countries like India are now manufacturing products which contribute to pollution for domestic and international markets. Impact of pollution: At the household level, the economic loss on account of pollution includes the cost of treatment and wage loss during sickness. Pollution impacts ecosystems and related economic activities like agriculture and livestock. Air pollution causes climate change. Hence, pollution leads to the real and potential loss of the overall development opportunity in an economy. Generally, pollution impacts the socially vulnerable and poor communities more due to their weak coping options. When traditional drinking water sources get contaminated, the rich can buy packaged water. But the poor cannot afford it and are hence compelled to use contaminated water. They are also less aware of the health hazards caused by pollution. Concerns: Pollution is not a disease, it is only a symptom. Hence, its root cause should be investigated. Natural resources management agencies have centralised structures and function without the consultation of multi stakeholders. Emission-based standards have not been very effective so far, since they are rarely monitored and only occasionally enforced. The ‘polluters pay’ principle is not in force. For the most part, polluters are not willing to internalise the external and social costs. Pollution is also neglected by funding agencies worldwide and by governments in budgets. Remedial measures: Economic growth is an inevitable requirement, but it need not be at the cost of health. To tackle pollution, there should be- Public awareness about its consequences. Adequate pollution-linked databases. Integration of pollution prevention policies into the development sector. Strict enforcement of pollution control policies. Eco-friendly inputs in production. Reliance on renewable energy. Introduction of market-based/economic instruments (charges/taxes/levies, tradable permits, subsidies and soft loans). Increase in ecosystem resilience through the conservation of biodiversity. Conclusion: Experiences from the U.S. and Europe reveal that pollution mitigation can yield large gains to human health and the economy. With India growing fast, we shouldn't wait for us to reach to the second stage of Kuzents curve. Sustainable economic growth is only way forward. Connecting the dots: Pollution is a challenge to developing countries like India which try to achieve rapid economic development without adequately managing the environment. This needs to change. Comment. NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2: Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein. Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. The state of local democracy in India: After 25 years of institutionalization Background: It’s been 25 years since decentralised democratic governance was introduced in India by the 73rd and 74th Constitution Amendments, which came into force on April 24 and June 1, 1993, respectively. The structural reforms that followed heralded an inclusive, responsive, participatory democracy which was tasked to deliver economic development and social justice at the grass-roots level. The creation of lakhs of “self-governing” village panchayats and gram sabhas, with over three million elected representatives mandated to manage local development, was a unique democratic experiment in the contemporary world. Parts IX and IXA of the Constitution, introduced the two Constitution Amendments, initiated a process with standardised features such as elections every five years; reservations for historically marginalised communities and women; the creation of participatory institutions; the establishment of State Finance Commissions (SFCs), a counterpart of the Finance Commission at the sub-national level; the creation of District Planning Committees (DPCs); and so on. Moving the 73rd Amendment Bill on December 1, 1992, the Minister of State in the Rural Development Ministry underscored the “duty on the Centre as well as the States to establish and nourish the village panchayats so as to make them effective-self-governing institutions.” What impact has this reform package had on democratic practices in India? Have these reforms ensured every citizen a comparable level of basic services irrespective of one’s choice of residential jurisdiction? A systemic failure: Skipping the several success stories, which are exceptions, what happened to the third tier may be hypothesised as a systemic failure. There was no perceptible hand-holding and support by the States (political class and the bureaucracy) to foster decentralised governance. (The people’s planning in Kerala is an exception.) From the beginning, whether it was postponing elections or the failure to constitute SFCs and DPCs, it became evident that States can violate the various provisions of Parts IX and IXA with impunity. There was no institutional decentralisation except in Kerala. The roles and responsibilities of local governments remain ill-defined despite activity mapping in several States. States control funds, functions and functionaries, making autonomous governance almost impossible. Most States continue to create parallel bodies (often fiefdoms of ministers and senior bureaucrats) that make inroads into the functional domain of local governments. For example, Haryana has created a Rural Development Agency, presided over by the Chief Minister, to enter into the functional domain of panchayats. Legislative approval of these parallel bodies legitimises the process of weakening decentralised democracy. Increasing allocations to Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme, or MPLADS, which started in 1993, and their State-level counterparts, known as the MLALADS, too has affected the local institutions. Fiscal weakness of village panchayats: Even after 25 years, local government expenditure as a percentage of total public-sector expenditure comprising Union, State and local governments is only around 7% as compared to 24% in Europe, 27% in North America and 55% in Denmark. The own source revenue of local governments as a share of total public sector own source revenue is only a little over 2% and if disaggregated, the Panchayat share is a negligible 0.3% (several States like Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana have abolished property taxes and others do not collect taxes). Conclusion: Local democracy in India is in deep disarray. The village panchayats have not succeeded in enhancing the well-being, capabilities and freedom of citizens. The government should thus take remedial action in the interest of democracy, social inclusion and cooperative federalism. Connecting the dots: Local democracy in India is in deep disarray. The village panchayats have not succeeded in enhancing the well-being, capabilities and freedom of citizens. Comment. Also read: Panchayati Raj System: What remains to be done after 25 years? MUST READ Korean thaw The Hindu Raja Mandala: Lessons from Korea Indian Express Big city blues Indian Express In the name of independence Indian Express

May 1, 2018

IASbaba’s 60 Day Plan- Prelims Test 2018 POLITY & CURRENT AFFAIRS [Day 44]

Apr 30, 2018 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs [Prelims + Mains Focus] - 30th April 2018

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs (Prelims + Mains Focus)- 30th April 2018 Archives (PRELIMS+MAINS FOCUS) All villages in India are now electrified Part of: Mains GS Paper II, III- Government interventions, Inclusive growth Key pointers: All villages in India have now been electrified, Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The milestone was achieved 12 days ahead of the 1,000-day deadline set by the government on August 15, 2015. Leisang in Manipur’s Senapati district became the last village to be connected to the national grid. As per official data, there were 18,452 villages without electricity when the NDA government took office in May 2014. The work of bringing power to India’s 597,464 census villages had been undertaken under the government’s Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana. According to government data, 1,236 villages are uninhabited and 35 have been notified as grazing reserves. Article link: Click here (MAINS FOCUS) NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2: Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein. Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions. Inter-State Water Dispute Inter-State frictions: Rejuvenating the Inter-State Council Background: A federal feud that has broken out over how taxes are to be shared between different states. This highlights the stark problem—India does not have adequate institutions to manage conflicts between states. The southern states have been complaining that the terms of reference of the Fifteenth Finance Commission are, in effect, punishment for their better economic performance. The government thus needs to breathe life into the moribund Inter-State Council. The Inter-State Council: It is a constitutional body that has representatives of the Union government as well as chief ministers of states. The council is chaired by the prime minister, and it also has a few Union ministers as permanent invitees. The Inter-State Council was set up in 1990 following the recommendations of the Sarkaria Commission. The constitutional roots of the council are to be found in Article 263, which recommends that the President of India set up such a council to deal with federal issues. Reasons the Constitution gives for setting up the institution are: It will be useful when it comes to “inquiring into and advising upon disputes which may have arisen between states”. To discuss subjects for which the components of the Indian union have common interests. To figure out how to coordinate policy. Issue: Most of the institutional architecture of Indian federalism is focused on relations between the Union government and the states. Even Articles 258 and 258A, which made their entry into the Constitution after the Seventh Amendment in 1957, can be seen as an attempt to provide space for state governments to legislate in areas that are usually the territory of the union, and vice versa. There is far less institutional space to settle inter-state frictions, especially since the Rajya Sabha is no longer treated as a council of states but as a parking lot for unelectable leaders of political parties. Regional divergence could lead to further inter-state tensions—and matters could get worse once the delimitation of parliamentary constituencies is unfrozen in 2026. Rejuvenating the Inter-State Council: A rejuvenated Inter-State Council will have an important role to play in the coming years, especially since its members are the political leaders of their respective states. The council is now just a discussion group, but it should have a greater say in federal coordination in the future. The GST council has an innovative voting structure, with the Union government having a third of the vote while the states share the rest equally, irrespective of the size of their population or economy. This is one option for a more empowered Inter-State Council. If the Inter-State Council is to emerge as the key institution to manage inter-state frictions, it first needs to have a regular meeting schedule. The council also has to have a permanent secretariat which will ensure that the periodic meetings are more fruitful. Conclusion: There is an institutional gap in the Indian union right now—and it needs to be filled before inter-state frictions get out of control. This gap can be fulfilled by rejuvenating the Inter-State Council. Connecting the dots: There is an institutional gap in the Indian union and it needs to be filled before inter-state frictions get out of control. This gap can be fulfilled by rejuvenating the Inter-State Council. Discuss. INTERNATIONAL TOPIC:General Studies 2: India and its neighbourhood- 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 India-China: Wuhan Summit In news: An ‘informal’ summit meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Wuhan concluded recently. Significance of the summit: The summit was a much-needed one and has added to the ongoing attempts to bring the bilateral relations between the two Asian giants back on track. The Wuhan summit has underlined the necessity of an entente cordiale between the two countries, which have become increasingly distrustful of each other. The summit was about the desire to return to the negotiating table, not about negotiating anything specific. Background: India-China relations have been under great stress in recent years. The 2017 military standoff at the Doklam tri-junction vitiated a relationship that was already reeling under a great deal of pressure. However, the recent diplomatic activities including the Wuhan summit reflects a clear change of tone in Beijing and New Delhi, reflects a positive rethink on bilateral ties and a desire to avoid future military standoffs. China is unlike India’s other neighbors. It is India’s biggest trading partner, and in many ways unavoidable from an economic and geopolitical point of view. Wuhan Summit- Outcomes: The summit’s outcomes may have been limited but are very valuable to stabilize the relationship. The most significant outcome pertains to the contested border. Mr. Modi and Mr. Xi “underscored the importance of maintaining peace and tranquility in all areas of the India-China border region. They decided to “issue strategic guidance to their militaries to strengthen communication”, essentially to avoid another Doklam-like confrontation. On the bilateral front, both sides addressed measures to better balance the ballooning trade deficit of about $52 billion (of about $84 billion bilateral trade), mostly by encouraging agricultural and pharmaceutical exports to China. Mr. Modi and Mr. Xi discussed a joint project in Afghanistan. The proposed joint economic project in Afghanistan could be instrumental in mitigating the trust deficit between the two sides. They attempted to reduce the heat over unresolved issues and so-called “irritants” in the relationship, such as China’s block on India’s NSG membership bid or the UN’s terror designation for Pakistan-based groups, and India’s opposition to the Belt and Road Initiative or its use of the Tibet issue. For this, existing mechanisms of dialogue will be strengthened, not allowing broader bilateral movement to be hit. The message from Wuhan is an overarching one: that despite bilateral and geopolitical differences, India and China can resolve differences peacefully and through prolonged dialogue. Conclusion: The Wuhan summit has recommitted India and China to managing bilateral relations in a manner that creates the conditions for the “Asian Century”, and Mr. Modi and Mr. Xi are well-placed to proceed along that path. Much will depend on whether the understanding developed can prevent skirmishes and drives both the countries toward mutual cooperation. Connecting the dots: Discuss the significance of the Wuhan Summit between India and China. MUST READ People as auditors The Hindu Saving our children Indian Express Draconian and dangerous Indian Express Unhealthy trend Business Line

Apr 30, 2018 PIB

IASbaba PIB Weekly : Press Information Bureau – 22nd April to 28th April, 2018

IASbaba Press Information Bureau 22nd to 28th April, 2018 ARCHIVES GS-2 Promulgation of Fugitive Economic Offenders Ordinance, 2018 (Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation) Fugitive Economic Offenders Ordinance, 2018 (“the Ordinance”) lays down the measures to empower Indian authorities to attach and confiscate proceeds of crime associated with economic offenders and the properties of the economic offenders and thereby deter economic offenders from evading the process of Indian law by remaining outside the jurisdiction of Indian courts. Need for the Ordinance: As there have been instances of economic offenders fleeing the jurisdiction of Indian courts, anticipating the commencement, or during the pendency, of criminal proceedings. The absence of such offenders from Indian courts has several deleterious consequences Hampers investigation in criminal cases Wastes precious time of courts of land Undermines the rule of law in India The Fugitive Economic Offenders Ordinance, 2018, inter alia provides for– Making an application before the Special Court for a declaration that an individual is a fugitive economic offender; Attachment of the property of a fugitive economic offender and proceeds of crime; Issue of a notice by the Special Court to the individual alleged to be a fugitive economic offender; Confiscation of the property of an individual declared as a fugitive economic offender or even the proceeds of crime; Disentitlement of the fugitive economic offender from defending any civil claim; and Appointment of an Administrator to manage and dispose of the confiscated property under the Act Launch of Atal New India Challenges (Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation) Why: Came into being following Prime Minister’s clarion call to bring innovations and technologies relevant to the people. Applicants showing capability, intent, and potential to productize technologies will be awarded grants up to Rs. 1 crore. This grant support will be supplemented by mentoring, handholding, incubating and other support as needed at various stages of commercialisation while generating wider deployment. Under the Atal New India Challenge, which shall be run in collaboration with five ministries, AIM will invite prospective innovators/MSMEs/start-ups to design market-ready products, using cutting edge technologies or prototypes across 17 identified focus areas, namely, Climate-smart agriculture Fog vision system for road and rail Prevention of Rail failure using emerging technologies Predictive maintenance of Rolling Stock Alternate fuel based transportation Smart Mobility Electric Mobility Safe transport Instant Portable Water Quality Testing Affordable Desalination / Recycling Technology Waste management recycling / reuse Garbage composition devices Quality of compost Decentralized composting Mixing blades for composting Waste in public spaces Dissuading public littering Launch of Van Dhan Scheme (Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation) Under: Ministry of Tribal Affairs Value addition assumes critical importance in ensuring remunerative prices to the tribals in this approach. Three stage value additions would be the corner stone for enhancing incomes of the tribals under the scheme. Under Van Dhan, 10 Self Help Groups of 30 Tribal gatherers is constituted. They are then trained and provided with working capital to add value to the products, which they collect from the jungle. Working under the leadership of Collector these groups can then market their products not only within the States but also outside the States. Training and technical support is provided by TRIFED. It is proposed to develop 30,000 such centres in the country. The establishment of “Van Dhan Vikas Kendra” is for providing skill upgradation and capacity building training and setting up of primary processing and value addition facility. This first model Van Dhan Vikas Kendra in Bijapur is being implemented for training of 300 training beneficiaries with a total outlay of Rs.43.38 lakhs for training, providing equipment’s & tools for primary level processing and infrastructure & building for housing the Kendra. This Kendra to start with will have processing facility for Tamarind brick making, Mahua flower storage facility and chironjee cleaning and packaging. The Van Dhan Vikas Kendras will be important milestone in economic development of tribals involved in collection of MFPs by helping them in optimum utilization of natural resources and provide sustainable MFP-based livelihood in MFP-rich districts. Cabinet Approves Memorandum of Understanding between India and Sao Tome and Principe: For Cooperation in the field of Traditional Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy - enhance bilateral cooperation between the two countries MoU between India and World Health Organisation: encourage cooperation between India and WHO to facilitate in improving the public health status of the people in India. MoU on cooperation in the field of regulation of medical products for human use amongst the medicine regulatory agencies of the BRICS countries - would facilitate better understanding about the regulatory aspects between the parties and could help in increasing India’s export of medical products to BRICS countries. Declaration of Scheduled Areas in respect of Rajasthan under Fifth Schedule to the Constitution of India: will ensure that the Scheduled Tribes of Rajasthan will get benefits of protective measures available under the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution of India. The Scheduled Areas were first notified in the year 1950. Restructured National Bamboo Mission under National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA): The restructured NBM strives to - To increase the area under bamboo plantation in non-forest Government and private lands to supplement farm income and contribute towards resilience to climate change. To improve post-harvest management through establishment of innovative primary processing units, treatment and seasoning plants, primary treatment and seasoning plants, preservation technologies and market infrastructure. To promote product development at micro, small and medium levels and feed bigger industry. To rejuvenate the under developed bamboo industry in India. To promote skill development, capacity building, awareness generation for development of bamboo sector Impact: Bamboo plantation will contribute to Optimizing farm productivity and income thereby enhancing livelihood opportunities of small & marginal farmers including landless and women as well as provide quality material to industry The Mission will not only serve as a potential instrument for enhancing income of farmers but also contribute towards climate resilience and environmental benefits Help in creating employment generation directly or indirectly in both skilled and unskilled segments. India signs loan agreement with World Bank for US$ 125 million for “Innovate in India for Inclusiveness Project” (Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests) Objective: To nurture indigenous innovation, foster local product development and accelerate commercialization process by bridging critical skill and infrastructure gaps to promote affordable and innovative healthcare products generation for inclusive development and increasing competitiveness in India. The project would support consortia of public, private, and the academic institutions to overcome the key market failures currently holding back the development of an innovative biopharmaceutical and medical devices industry in India. The project consists of the following parts: Strengthening of pilot-to market innovation ecosystem Acceleration of the pilot –to-market process for specific products and Project Management and monitoring & Evaluation Signing of Legal Agreements between Govt. of India and World Bank on National Biopharma Mission (Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests) Towards strengthening the emerging biotechnology enterprise in India, Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science & Technology has initiated the Mission programme entitled: Industry-Academia Collaborative Mission for Accelerating Discovery Research to Early Development for Biopharmaceuticals – “Innovate in India (i3) Empowering biotech entrepreneurs & accelerating inclusive innovation”. Implemented by Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) - a Public Sector Undertaking of Department of Biotechnology (DBT) Aim: To make India a hub for design and development of novel, affordable and effective biopharmaceutical products such as vaccines, biologics and medical devices for combating public health concerns. This Programme of DBT would strengthen Translational capability of academic researchers Empower bio-entrepreneurs and SMEs by decreasing the cost and risk during early stages of product development Elevate the innovation quotient of the industry The global experience of World Bank would be instrumental in building sustained global linkages, technical assistance and knowledge flow between public private partners for business promotion in biotech sector. GS-3 Achieving Land Degradation Neutrality by 2030 A Critical Need (Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation) Why: Nearly 24 billion tonnes of fertile soil and 27, 000 bio-species are lost every year Nearly 30 per cent of the world’s population lives in dry areas 8 out of 21 UNESCO World Heritage Sites are in drylands Schemes launched for capacity-building of the stakeholders at multiple levels to arrest Land Degradation – Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY): To provide insurance coverage and financial support to the farmers in the event of failure of any of the notified crop as a result of natural calamities, pests & diseases. To stabilise the income of farmers to ensure their continuance in farming. To encourage farmers to adopt innovative and modern agricultural practices. To ensure flow of credit to the agriculture sector. National Food Security Mission (NFSM): To bring about significant yield gain to the farmers resulting into increase in their income level; the Mission has target of additional production of 25 million tonnes of foodgrains comprising 10 million tonnes of rice, 8 million tonnes of wheat, 4 million tonnes of pulses and 3 million tonnes of coarse cereals Soil Health Card Scheme: Meant to give each farmer soil nutrient status of his/her holding and advice him/her on the dosage of fertilizers and also the needed soil amendments, that s/he should apply to maintain soil health in the long run. Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PKSY): To ensure access to some means of protective irrigation to all agricultural farms in the country, to produce ‘per drop more crop’, thus bringing much desired rural prosperity. Swacch Bharat mission: Eliminating open defecation through the construction of household-owned and community-owned toilets and establishing an accountable mechanism of monitoring toilet use. National Rural Drinking Water Programme: Ensuring provision of safe and adequate drinking water supply through hand-pumps, piped water supply etc. to all rural areas, households and persons. Desertification Addressed for the first time in 1977 in the United Nations Conference on Desertification. This was followed by the adoption of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Paris on 17th June 1994. The Convention entered into force in December 1996. It is one of the three Rio Conventions, along with United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). India became a signatory to the Convention on October 14, 1994 and ratified it on December 17, 1996. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) is the nodal Ministry to co-ordinate all issues pertaining to the Convention. Prelims oriented News: 24th April: National Panchayati Raj Day Justice Bindal Committee related to: Providing recommendations to Inter Country Parental Child Removal Disputes Resolution Authority Authority: To provide a one window solution in cases of inter country removal and retention of Children The Committee has recommended that the Authority may examine the inter country cases of removal and retention of children vis-a-vis the cultural context, merit of the case, and the best interest of the Child. Government of India and World Bank Signs Agreement to Improve Rural Road Network in Madhya Pradesh: to improve the durability, resilience and safety of the gravel surfaced rural roads and enhance the capacity of the state to manage its rural roads network. m-Awas: Mobile App (m-Awas) for allotment of General Pool Residential Accommodation (GPRA) through Automated System of Allotment (ASA) - The app will facilitate the applicants of the Central Government accommodation in Delhi as well as those who are in waiting list, to apply for allotment, view waiting list and the allotment lists. Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) granted First Licence to M/s Gujarat Alkalies and Chemicals Ltd for Liquid Chlorine on All India basis: This product is in liquid form and stored in metal containers. It is usually used as a gas obtained by evaporating the liquid from the metal container. It is used mainly in paper, pulp, textile bleaching, water sterilization and manufacture of chemicals. First city to run on 100% Renewable Energy during Daytime: Diu – Diu had been importing 73% of its power from Gujarat until last year. It has now adopted a two-pronged approach whereby a 9 MW solar park spread over 50 hectares rocky barren land has been developed besides installing solar panels on the roof tops on 79 government buildings thereby generating 1.3 MW annually. To further enhance its solar capacity, Diu offers its residents a subsidy of Rs 10, 000-50,000 for installing 1-5KW roof top solar panels. Diu is saving about 13,000 tonnes of carbon emissions every year. Due to low-cost solar energy, power tariffs have been cut in residential category by 10% last year and 15% this year. Quotes: The Vice President of India, Shri Naidu On Environment Environment protection and Economic development must go together. Fundamental principle of forest management should be based on conservation and sustainable utilization of natural resources. The symbiotic association of man and forest is deeply embedded in the religious and the socio-cultural mind set of our countrymen and it is getting disturbed in recent times due to increasing demand of natural resources and lack of understanding about Mother Nature.

Apr 30, 2018

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