May 18, 2018 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

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

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs (Prelims + Mains Focus)- 18th May 2018 Archives (PRELIMS+MAINS FOCUS) Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) plan Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III – Indian Economy; Monetary Policy; RBI reforms; NPA issue What is Prompt Corrective Action? To ensure that banks don't go bust, RBI has put in place some trigger points to assess, monitor, control and take corrective actions on banks which are weak and troubled. The process or mechanism under which such ac tions are taken is known as Prompt Corrective Action, or PCA. In News: Eleven of India’s 21 listed government-owned banks were placed under the Reserve Bank of India’s watch due to large bad loans, weak capital levels and low return on assets. (during Jan 2018) The Centre has expressed that it will ensure every possible support to strengthen the resolve of these banks to come out of the PCA framework as quickly as possible. Indiscriminate lending of the past has caused this distress the banking sector is facing. Do you know? RBI had come out with ‘Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) Framework’ for banks (in Apr 2017). Earlier, the PCA framework was applicable only to commercial banks and not extended to co-operative banks, non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) and FMIs. However, in May 2017, RBI issued revised PCA framework , which could be applicable to all banks operating in India including small and foreign banks. PCA is aimed at improving banks’ health. It also helps to contain NPAs. Recently, National Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) has come out with a ‘Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) Framework’ for regional rural banks (RRBs). Urbanization issues Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III – Indian Economy; Urbanization issues In News: UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA) has released its 2018 Revision of the World Urbanization Prospects Highlights: Forecasting for the year 2050, the UN agency estimates that the percentage of urban residents in India would be 52.8, compared to 34 today. Delhi would be world’s most populous city by 2028. India, China and Nigeria are expected to lead other countries and account for 35% of the projected growth in urban population by mid-century. Concerns with Urbanization Report says – ‘Even with only a third of the population living in cities, civic anarchy is rampant in the country’. Rapid increase in the number of slums; lack of enforcement of building norms; heavily congested metros; poor investment in public transport; unsustainable levels of private vehicle use – are some of the issues. Recent data released by the World Health Organisation show – 14 Indian cities among the top 20 worldwide with the worst air quality profiles (especially with regard to PM 2.5) Most cities are also unable to collect and dispose municipal waste scientifically, and simply dump them in the suburbs. Integrating green spaces, open commons and wetlands will make cities cleaner and aesthetically richer. (MAINS FOCUS) NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL TOPIC:General Studies 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. India and its neighbourhood- relations. Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests. Refugee Issue: Unanswered Aadhar Services In News: Supreme Court is currently hearing a petition against the government’s order which sought to deport/expel Rohingya refugees. Why this case is important? At current, India lacks a refugee specific legislation or a clear domestic asylum law. India currently hosts 32,000 refugees fleeing war, violence and severe persecution in countries such as Afghanistan, Myanmar, Somalia, Iraq, etc. This is in addition to the 175,000 long-staying refugees from Tibet and Sri Lanka who have been given asylum over decades. With conflicts around the world having intensified, fresh arrivals of refugees are only expected to increase. However, India is yet to enact a coherent and uniform law addressing the issue of asylum. In fact, the term “refugee” finds no mention under domestic law. Therefore, this case offers a great opportunity for the Court to lay down basic principles on refugee recognition and protection that reflect India’s constitutional values and its international commitments. Key issues to be solved: There is a need for a coherent asylum and refugee policy. There is a need for providing access to essential services to the refugees during their stay in India. Most of the facilities and services to refugees are now ineffective owing to the linking of these services to Aadhaar. The question of Aadhaar for refugees still remains unanswered. Aadhar’s true intention Aadhaar was primarily conceived as a tool for socio-economic inclusion. Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has designed a simple enrolment system that accepts a wide range of documents as proof of identity and residence so as to make it easy to procure an Aadhaar. For example, for those without any documents, UIDAI accepts a “Letter of Introduction” from a wide set of people who are pre-designated as introducers. In the interest of inclusiveness — UIDAI did not link Aadhaar to citizenship. The Aadhaar Act states that any individual who has resided in India for at least 182 days in the year immediately preceding the date of application is eligible for Aadhaar. UIDAI has clarified that foreigners fulfilling the above requirement can obtain an Aadhaar, subject to the submission of the prescribed documents. No access to Aadhaar nor essential services: Thus, based on the above, it would follow that refugees, who are registered with the government and/or the UN Refugee Agency (and are thus not “illegal immigrants”), should be issued Aadhaar if they meet both the residence and the documentation requirements. However, most Aadhaar centres are not clear about whether refugees are eligible to apply for Aadhaar. Refugees from the Afghan, the Burmese and the Congolese communities living in New Delhi report that they are being turned away by local centres due to the lack of clarity on the issue. Further, the documents held by them are not being recognised as valid proof of identity or residence. Many eligible refugees have also been scared to apply for Aadhaar due to the fear of being wrongly prosecuted as local authorities often incorrectly equate them with illegal immigrants. In recent months, with Aadhaar increasingly being enforced as a precondition to access any service, refugees are not even being able to avail of services that they once had. Many refugees report facing day-to-day difficulties like getting a SIM card, opening a bank account, renting accommodation, seeking livelihood opportunities or even accessing private hospitals. This is resulting in refugees being steadily excluded from mainstream systems and leaving them extremely vulnerable to exploitation. Such problems of exclusion of Aadhaar are being faced by many Indians as well. Way ahead: Government should consider issuing uniform documentation to refugees so as to confirm their status as legal residents and UIDAI must adhere to its commitment to inclusion by allowing more flexibility to refugees so as to establish their identity. Further, officials must be sensitised about refugees, and the existing systems to establish identity (like establishing identity through introducer systems etc.) must be extended to this group. Connecting the dots: Why there is a need for India to have a robust refugee policy? What actions can India take to provide hassle-free basic services to refugees? 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-Nepal relations: A new beginning Background: During the just-concluded visit to Nepal, termed “historic” by Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself, he and his host, Nepalese Premier KP Sharma Oli, reiterated their resolve to effectively implement the bilateral initiatives proposed during Prime Minister Oli’s recent visit to India, including in “agriculture, railway linkages and inland waterways development”. The visit reflected the realisation that the relationship had deteriorated in recent years and there was an urgent need to arrest the slide. Key takeaways: Mr. Modi described it as a visit by the ‘Prime Pilgrim’. With prayers offered in Janaki Mandir, Muktinath and Pashupatinath, the focus was on religious and cultural commonalities. A bus service between Janakpur and Ayodhya was inaugurated. Only one of the earlier commitments, the 900 MW Arun III hydel project, has progressed and both Prime Ministers jointly laid its foundation stone. The joint statement is short. It prioritises cooperation in agriculture, inland water-ways, a survey for a railway line from Raxaul to Kathmandu and increasing air connectivity. The “catalytic role of connectivity”: The two sides specially emphasised the “catalytic role of connectivity”. With cross-border connectivity being a crucial factor to “enhance people-to-people linkages and promote economic growth and development”, the two leaders lent a renewed dynamism to several infrastructural schemes and projects. The two Prime Ministers jointly inaugurated an integrated check post at Birgunj in Nepal to facilitate cross-border movement of people and cargo. The ground-breaking of the Motihari-Amlekhgunj pipeline done for petroleum supplies from India to Nepal. Decided to develop “cost-efficient”, economical movement of cargo through inland waterways, besides providing sea-connectivity to landlocked Nepal. India commands the centre-stage in South Asia, with 51 per cent of the region’s surface area, 71 per cent of population, and 40 per cent of GDP. Most of its neighbours share borders not only with India, but also in most cases with one more country in the region. They perforce depend on India for region-wide connectivity. Bilateral rail connectivity (Raxaul-Katmandu): A game-changer The most momentous project ever contemplated by India for its close neighbour was the joint pronouncement “to construct a new electrified rail line, with India’s financial support”, to connect Raxaul to Kathmandu, for which a preparatory survey will be conducted within one year. While assuring that Phase I cross-border rail lines (Jayanagar-Janakpur/Kurtha and Jogbani-Biratnagar) will be completed in 2018, the ongoing final location survey for the three additional rail links (New Jalpaiguri-Kakarbitta, Nautanwa-Bhairahwa, and Nepalgunj Road-Nepalgunj) will also be expedited. Challenge: India’s bureaucratic sloth What particularly irks India’s neighbours is lack of progress in implementing even minor projects. India doesn’t deliver on promises made even at the highest levels. For example, the 15-km missing rail link between Agartala on the Indian side and Akhaura rail-head in Bangladesh, that has been languishing since Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina graciously responded to India’s long-pending request for its construction during her visit in January 2010. Likewise, Myanmar is the only ASEAN country sharing a land border with India. For long, India has talked of improving road and rail connections and a new port on Myanmar’s Arakan coast, but the progress is minimal. In sharp contrast, China: China shares land borders with five SAARC countries and has a long border with Myanmar. China has for long wanted to fill the South Asian space that nature gifted to India. China views Nepal and Pakistan to be critically important for its security and territorial integrity in Xinjiang and Tibet. It is busy building a web of road and rail links, also ‘String of Pearls’ in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Way ahead: Now that India has shown rare vision and courage to proceed towards building the Raxaul-Kathmandu rail link, it should seize the occasion to build its self-confidence and among its neighbours by completing the project in record time. The Raxaul-Kathmandu rail link has the potential of having a ‘transformational impact’ on the region. Conclusion: A new beginning based on the principles of “equality, mutual trust, respect and mutual benefit”, phrases that Mr. Oli now insists on including in every joint statement, has started and will require time. Sustained effort by India in ensuring implementation of long-pending economic cooperation projects is required and must be given priority. Connecting the dots: A new beginning has been initiated in India-Nepal relations. Sustained effort by India in ensuring implementation of long-pending economic cooperation projects is required and must be given priority. Comment. (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Q.1) Consider the following statements with regard to ‘Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) Framework’, which was in news recently. Identify the correct statement – RBI has come out with this framework in order to contain NPAs of Public Sector Banks only. NABARD has come out with this framework for regional rural banks (RRBs). Ministry of Home Affairs has come out with this framework for directing all NGOs and entities receiving foreign fundings. Lodha Panel has come out with this framework that will sort out the mess in sports once and for all. Q.2) World Urbanization Prospects is released by – WEF IMF UN WB MUST READ Should we do away with IB ministry The Hindu The east Asian reset The Hindu Growing cities The Hindu Identity in exile Indian Express This moment in the valley Indian Express Electric vehicles don't need a government Livemint Existential crisis for public sector banks Business Line 

May 18, 2018 RSTV Video

RSTV- The Big Picture : Pollution Alert

Pollution Alert Archives TOPIC: General Studies 3: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment In News: The World Health Organization (WHO) in its pollution report ranked 14 Indian cities among world’s 15 most polluted cities in the world. Air Pollution: National Health Crisis Kanpur is the most affected based on PM2.5 levels in 2016. While Gwalior stood second in the chart, other cities like Delhi, Varanasi Kanpur, Faridabad, Gaya, Patna, Agra, Muzaffarpur, Srinagar, Gurgaon, Jaipur, Patiala and Jodhpur also featured in the list. The study ranked 4,300 cities in 108 countries across the world. 9 out of 10 people or 90 per cent of people in the world breathe air containing high levels of pollutants. The estimations revealed an alarming death toll of 7 million people every year caused by ambient (outdoor) and household air pollution. More than 90 per cent of air pollution-related deaths occur in countries with low-and-middle income Around three billion people — more than 40 per cent of the world's population — still do not have access to clean cooking fuels and technologies in their homes, the main source of household air pollution. The WHO report, however, praised India's Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana Scheme for providing some 37 million free liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) connections in the past two years that help promoting the use of clean household energy. India targets to reach 80 million households by 2020. WHO recognises air pollution as a critical risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), causing an estimated 24 per cent of all adult deaths from heart disease, 25 per cent from stroke, 43 per cent from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and 29 per cent from lung cancer. India needs to take urgent but calculated steps – Urgent intervention is needed for implementing the National Clean Air Action Plan with a strong compliance strategy to meet the clean air standards in all cities. Real-time air quality monitoring, especially that of PM2.5, will have to be expanded significantly to assess air quality in all cities with sizeable population. India needs massive energy transition across industries and households, mobility transition to public transport, walking and cycling, and effective waste management to control this run-away pollution. If Indian cities are to cut their own air pollution levels, the change and planning has to happen at the city level and state level, instead of depending on the overall climate control goals and programmes set at the union level. There should be a formation of holistic strategy in which Centre and states including UTs should have equitable involvement with same sense of commitment and accountability so that pollution levels are brought down with suggested a road map in place. The solutions are not particularly complicated - but it depends on political will and the ability to reduce corruption at the planning in monitoring level. Again, these are not insolvable problems. But fixing them requires dedicated work, and enforcing pollution norms strictly. The problem with the air pollution control of Indian cities has to be tackled at the city governance level - not at the central level. Note: In a paper published Monday in the American Heart Association's journal Hypertension, researchers reported that children of mothers who were exposed in their third trimester to higher levels of fine particulate pollution — the tiny airborne matter that causes haze in many cities around the world — were at a 61 percent higher risk of elevated blood pressure. Do Read: Link 1 + Link 2 + Link 3 Connecting the Dots: A failure to act will not reflect well on our use of the environment, for which there is no replacement. Examine the statement in the light of the recent WHO Report. Be Prelims-Ready What is PM2.5? PM2.5: Includes pollutants, such as sulfate, nitrates and black carbon, which pose the greatest risks to human health. PM2.5 is a particulate matter in the atmosphere that has a diameter of 2.5 micrometres, which is around three per cent the diameter of a human hair. These particulate matters reduce visibility and even cause respiratory problems. Owing to its small size, it can easily pass through a person’s nose and throat and cause chronic diseases such as asthma, heart attack, bronchitis and other respiratory problems by making way the circulatory system. National Clean Air Programme (NCAP): A long-term, time-bound, national-level strategy to tackle the increasing air pollution problem across the country in a comprehensive manner. The total tentative cost of NCAP is estimated at Rs 637 crore. Objective: Comprehensive management plan for prevention, control and abatement of air pollution, besides augmenting the air quality monitoring network across the country. Focuses on: Collaborative and participatory approach covering all sources of pollution and coordination between relevant central ministries, state governments, local bodies and other stakeholders Intensive awareness, training and capacity-building drive, with specific impetus on augmentation of manpower and infrastructure facilities of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the state pollution control board (SPCBs) A credible, transparent and accountable data collection and monitoring system that is available for timely swift action is to be ensured Increasing the number of monitoring stations, data dissemination, public participation on planning and implementation Setting up of air information centre for data analysis, resource apportionment studies, national inventory and rural monitoring stations, besides guidelines for indoor air pollution LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging): Being used to vertically monitor the air quality of Delhi-NCR To track the evolution of a pollutant over time To detect leakage of organic pollutants in storage facilities and industrial plants, such as oil refineries To observe the structure and height of mixing layers To measure the transport and diffusion of plumes or clouds of particulates To remotely determine smoke-plume opacity Climate & Clean Air Coalition Unites governments, civil society and private sector, committed to improving air quality and protecting the climate in next few decades by reducing short-lived climate pollutants (SLCP) across sectors By the governments of Bangladesh, Canada, Ghana, Mexico, Sweden and the United States, along with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Objective: To address short-lived climate pollutants. Initial focus on: Methane, black carbon, and HFCs National Air Quality Index (AQI) Would measure Particulate Matter 2.5 Ozone Carbon monoxide Ammonia Lead Nitrogen oxide Sulpher dioxide PM 10 Six AQI categories  AQI  Associated Health Impacts Good (0–50)  Minimal Impact Satisfactory (51–100)  May cause minor breathing discomfort to sensitive people. Moderately polluted (101–200)   May cause breathing discomfort to people with lung disease such as asthma, and discomfort to people with heart disease, children and older adults. Poor (201–300)   May cause breathing discomfort to people on prolonged exposure, and discomfort to people with heart disease Very Poor (301–400)   May cause respiratory illness to the people on prolonged exposure. Effect may be more pronounced in people with lung and heart diseases. Severe (401-500)   May cause respiratory impact even on healthy people, and serious health impacts on people with lung/heart disease. The health impacts may be experienced even during light physical activity.

May 18, 2018

IASbaba’s 60 Day Plan- Prelims Test 2018 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY AND CURRENT AFFAIRS [Day 57]

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 17, 2018 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

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

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs (Prelims + Mains Focus)- 17th May 2018 Archives (PRELIMS+MAINS FOCUS) Karnataka Governor invites BJP to form government Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III – Polity; Appointment of chief minister and role of Governor Key Pointers: Appointment of chief minister The Constitution does not contain any specific procedure for the selection and appointment of the Chief Minister. Article 164 only says that the Chief Minister shall be appointed by the governor. However, this does not imply that the governor is free to appoint any one as the Chief Minister. In accordance with the convections of the parliamentary system of government, the governor has to appoint the leader of the majority party in the state legislative assembly as the Chief Minister. But, when no party has a clear majority in the assembly, then the governor may exercise his personal discretion in the selection and appointment of the Chief Minister. In such a situation, the governor usually appoints the leader of the largest party or coalition in the assembly as the Chief Minister and ask him to seek a vote of confidence in the House within a month. Do you know? Situational discretion (i.e., the hidden discretion derived from the exigencies of a prevailing political situation) of Governor. Governor can use situational discretion in the following cases: Appointment of chief minister when no party has a clear-cut majority in the state legislative assembly or when the chief minister in office dies suddenly and there is no obvious successor. Dismissal of the council of ministers when it cannot prove the confidence of the state legislative assembly. Dissolution of the state legislative assembly if the council of ministers has lost its majority. Concept of ‘Political ethics’ and Bommai judgment Former Supreme Court judge, Justice K.T. Thomas, said it is “political ethics” for the Governor to first invite the single largest party to form a “stable government.” Justice Thomas refers to the Bommai judgment of 1994 to support his argument. The Bommai judgment endorses the Sarkaria Commission report of the 1988. The Commission recommends that in case of no pre-poll alliance among parties, the Governor should give first preference to the single largest party. However, the Bommai judgment also mentions that the Governor can either invite the “single largest party/group.” Place in news: Kishanganga hydroelectric project at Bandipore Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II In News: Prime Minister Narendra Modi to open the Kishanganga hydroelectric project at Bandipore in north Kashmir Important Value Additions: The Kishanganga Hydroelectric Plant is part of a run-of-the-river hydroelectric scheme that is designed to divert water from the Kishanganga River to a power plant in the Jhelum River basin. Pic link: http://images.indianexpress.com/2018/04/kishanganga-project.jpg Do you know? Construction on the Kishanganga hydroelectric project began in 2007 and was expected to be complete in 2016. Construction on the dam was temporarily halted by the Hague's Permanent Court of Arbitration (CoA) in October 2011 due to Pakistan's protest of its effect on the flow of the Kishanganga River (called the Neelum River in Pakistan). However, in 2013, the CoA ruled that India could divert all the water leaving a minimum amount of water to the downstream of the dam on Kishanganga River for the purpose of environmental flows. About Hague's Permanent Court of Arbitration (CoA) It is an intergovernmental organization, located at The Hague in the Netherlands. The PCA is not a court "in the traditional sense" but provides services of arbitral tribunal to resolve disputes that arise out of international agreements between member states, international organizations or private parties. The cases span a range of legal issues involving territorial and maritime boundaries, sovereignty, human rights, international investment, and international and regional trade. The organization is not a United Nations agency, but PCA is an official United Nations Observer. Article Link: Centre halts security ops in J&K Vulture Conservation: Critically endangered vultures Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III – Environment and Biodiversity; Animal Conservation In news: Palarapu cliff vulture habitat in Telangana. Forest Department officials  from Palarapu cliff vulture habitat visited Jatayu Conservation Breeding Centre (JCBC), Pinjore, Haryana, to study the methods and status of conservation. Vulture Safe Zone (VSZ) initiative of the Pinjore JCBC to be implemented in Telangana. The project envisages elimination of the probability of consumption of the drug diclofenac through animal carcasses by the vultures within a radius of 100 km which is considered to be the range of the habitat. Important Value Additions: Of the 9 species found in India, 4 have been listed as critically endangered. Remember only critically endangered vultures Indian White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis) -- Critically endangered Long-billed Vulture or Indian Vulture (Gyps indicus) -- Critically endangered Slender-billed Vulture (Gyps tenuirostris) -- Critically endangered Red-headed Vulture (Sarcogyps calvus) -- Critically endangered Article link: Cliff habitat needs a vulture safe zone ‘Swachh Survekshan 2018’: Swachh rankings are out Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III – Environment and Ecology; Biodiversity; Pollution Key Pointers: Swachh Survekshan survey is released by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs ‘Swachh Survekshan 2018’ Rankings: State-wise Ranks City-wise Ranks Jharkhand Indore Maharashtra Bhopal Chhattisgarh Chandigarh State-wise: Jharkhand emerges as best performing State. Maharashtra stood second, while Chhattisgarh was at the third position in the category of ‘best-performing States’. City-wise: Indore gets cleanest city tag; followed by Madhya Pradesh capital Bhopal, while Union Territory of Chandigarh stands at the third place Mysuru has been ranked the cleanest medium-sized city in the country. Mysuru has been ranked the cleanest among cities with a population of between 3 lakh and one million. Mangaluru has been ranked the best city in solid waste management. Article Link: Swachh rankings are out, Indore gets cleanest city tag - NATIONAL ... New Bio-Fuel Policy Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III – Environment and Ecology; Biodiversity; Pollution In news: Union Cabinet approved a national policy on biofuels. Key pointers: The new policy seeks to help farmers dispose of their surplus stock in an economic manner and reduce India’s oil-import dependence. Scope of raw material for ethanol production expanded The policy expands the scope of raw material for ethanol production by allowing use of – sugarcane juice sugar containing materials like sugar beet, sweet sorghum starch containing materials like corn, cassava damaged food grains like wheat, broken rice rotten potatoes [that are] unfit for human consumption Policy allows use of surplus food grains for production of ethanol for blending with petrol with the approval of National Biofuel Coordination Committee. The policy provides for a viability gap funding scheme for second generation (more advanced) ethanol bio-refineries in addition to tax incentives and a higher purchase price as compared to first generation biofuels. Important Value Additions: A biofuel is a fuel that is produced through contemporary biological processes, such as agriculture and anaerobic digestion, rather than a fuel produced by geological processes such as those involved in the formation of fossil fuels, such as coal and petroleum, from prehistoric biological matter. Earlier Bio-fuel policy had proposed indicative target of 20% blending of biofuels, both for bio-diesel and bio-ethanol, by 2017. Ethanol run bus launched in Nagpur under ‘Green Bus’ Project Article link: Cabinet approves new biofuels policy - The Hindu Banned ozone-destroying chemical on rise: scientists In News: The 1987 Montreal Protocol banned industrial aerosols such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) that were chemically dissolving ozone, especially above Antarctica. Measurements at remote sites, including the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii, of the chemical, known as CFC-11, point to East Asia as the source or renewed production. All-women crew of INSV Tarini to return Part of: GS Prelims – Defence/Science In news: INSV Tarini, the naval sail ship with an all-women crew circumnavigating the globe for the past nine months, will return to India this week after successful completion of the ambitious mission. The expedition is named as ‘Navika Sagar Parikrama’ Important Value Additions: INSV Tarini is almost identical to her illustrious predecessor, the iconic Mhadei which has sailed over 115000 nautical miles in the past eight years. About Tarani and Mhadei The boat draws her origin from the famous Tara-Tarini temple of Orissa’s Ganjam district. The word Tarini means a Boat and is also a Sanskrit word for Saviour. Tara-Tarini is a patron deity for sailors and merchants and is worshipped for safety and success at sea. Tara-Tarini of Orissa is known to have historical linkages with the river Goddess Mhadei- the exclusive boat deity of the Mhadei river of Goa. Both the deities Tarini and Mhadei have sculptural similarities. Article Link: Crew of INSV Tarini to return Newest frog: Mangaluru narrow-mouthed frog Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III – Environment and Biodiversity In News: The latest addition to India’s frog fauna is the Mangaluru narrow-mouthed frog The new frog is christened Microhyla kodial after the city of Mangaluru (called kodial in the Konkani language) The frog is found only in a small industrial space in the city Article Link: Newest frog for India from Karnataka (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. General Studies 3: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment India on its path to becoming an Electric Vehicle hub Background: Over the past 12 months, the government has been steadfastly advocating a move to phase out petrol and diesel cars completely and transforming the country into an all-electric market by the year 2030. Action plans have been formulated. The question remains, however, is India on the right track to becoming an EV hub? Benefits of shifting to EV: Cut down on fuel bills. Reduce emissions. Cut the escalating demand for road infrastructure. Above all, it will change the face of the automotive industry and transform India into the leading electric vehicle market in the region and perhaps the world. Opportunities: All eyes remain on India to excel in this space, not only due to the strong presence of many of the world’s leading automotive brands, but also the government’s clearly voiced support. Malaysia has announced recently that it plans to lean on Indian expertise in developing its own auto industry. Many leading companies are already gearing up for EVs. Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai announced their plans to introduce their first electric vehicles in India by 2020 and 2019, respectively. Challenges: With more than half of the automotive suppliers in India based on engine-and-transmission systems, the industry is likely to take a hit. Strong government support will be required to help transform these companies. The risk falls on the industry in determining the market readiness of electric vehicles. Charging infrastructure: While the EV fleet and charging networks across the world have grown concurrently, it has led to the emergence of different charging standards in different regions. Every car has a different charging system. All models of different manufacturers cannot be charged at any station. At present, there are very few charging stations in India, which makes long-distance travel almost impossible. Given that more than 80 per cent of car owners in India state that they have only one car for their household, this limitation has always been a big hurdle to accepting EVs. Government incentives such as offering subsidised electricity tariffs and promoting public awareness will help in developing the infrastructure. The recent government initiative to set up EV charging stations at parking lots of railway stations is likely to generate greater interest and acceptability. Other focus areas: Platforms to develop battery cell technologies and pack, innovative software, and telematics — whereby detailed data about the areas in a city that have the most number of EVs at any point in time, should be developed. The strategic placement of charging points at coffee shops, restaurants, and malls — will help in easing the potential hiccups faced by the prospect of charging EVs outside key hub spots. Increased energy generation: There are opportunities for energy and renewable energy firms to leverage on the eventual increased demand for electricity (by the EVs). Addressing the increased energy needs hand-in-hand should thus go hand in hand with discussions surrounding the EV sector. India’s largest power generation utility, NTPC, is currently seeking a pan-India licence to set up charging stations. In order to increase the momentum of electrification development, an innovative and pragmatic approach should be adopted to address energy supplies. Govt support: Short-term incentives such as cash subsidies, lowering road taxes and cutting GST for EVs, along with other measures such as tax rebates, would help to project a stronger long-term committed strategy. The industry awaits further clarity on the government’s position on electric vehicles (EVs) regarding: Availability of charging infrastructure. Investment and incentive guidelines. The role of state governments to support the launch of EVs. China example: China has already shown the way on how to support growth in this sector. Besides offering EV owners generous subsidies, China has also introduced a preferential vehicle licensing system, whereby EV buyers get their license plates free and with least delay. China is focusing investments into EV charging stations. These measures have culminated in a boom for the industry with sales of electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles up 53 per cent in 2016. If India can look to replicate at least some of these measures, the EV industry would respond positively. Conclusion: India’s automotive industry is headed for an inflection point. To make India an EV hub setting up the required infrastructure is most crucial. Also, keeping the industry and its customers at the core of all relevant smart mobility plans is crucial to ensure that India stays on the right track to becoming an EV hub. Connecting the dots: India’s automotive industry is headed for an inflection point. To make India an EV hub setting up the required infrastructure is most crucial. Discuss. (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Q.1) In which of the following cases, Governor can use situational discretion? During appointment of chief minister when no party has a clear-cut majority in the state legislative assembly. When the chief minister in office dies suddenly and there is no obvious successor. Dismissal of the council of ministers when it cannot prove the confidence of the state legislative assembly. Dissolution of the state legislative assembly if the council of ministers has lost its majority. Choose appropriate code: 2 and 3 only 1, 3 and 4 1, 2 and 3 1, 2, 4 and 4 Q.2) Consider the following statements Constitution does not contain any specific procedure for the selection and appointment of the Chief Minister. According to the Indian Constitution, in case of no pre-poll alliance among parties, the Governor should give first preference to the single largest party. Governor has provision to exercise his/her personal discretion in the selection and appointment of the Chief Minister, when no party has a clear majority in the assembly. Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1 and 2 1 and 3 2 and 3 All of the above Q.3) The oath of office and secrecy is administered to the Chief Minister by Speaker of Legislative Assembly Governor Chief Justice of the High Court Senior most Member of Legislative Assembly Q.4) ‘Navika Sagar Parikrama’ is a voyage of circumnavigation of Globe by an India crew. What is special about it? It is first ever attempt to circumnavigate the globe by an Indian crew. It is the first time an indigenous ship is being used to circumnavigate the globe. This is the first-ever Indian circumnavigation of the globe by an all-women crew. This is the first ever circumnavigation of globe attempted in History. Q.5) Pakistan has objected over the India’s 330 MW Kishanganga hydroelectric project in kishanganga river, Kishanganga is a tributary of which river? Jhelum Indus Chenab None of the above Q.6) Consider the below statements in reference to Permanent Court of Arbitration (CoA) It is an intergovernmental organization, located at The Hague in the Netherlands. The organization is not a United Nations agency, but PCA is an official United Nations Observer. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.7) Jatayu Conservation Breeding Centre (JCBC) is part of – Telangana’s vulture conservation programme Haryana’s vulture conservation programme Maharashtra’s vulture conservation programme Madhya Pradesh’s vulture conservation programme Q.8) Vultures are considered to be declining in population mostly due to consumption of carcasses of livestock and cattle injected with Ketoprofen Diclofenac Both (a) and (b) Neither (a) nor (b) Q.9) Consider the below statements with regard to Swachh Survekshan 2018’: Swachh Survekshan survey is released by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Mysuru has been ranked the best city in solid waste management. Indore gets cleanest city tag; followed by Madhya Pradesh capital Bhopal, while Union Territory of Chandigarh stands at the third place. Which of the following statements are correct? 1 and 2 1 and 3 2 and 3 All of the above Q.10) Which among the following can be used as raw material for ethanol production? Sugarcane sugar beet broken rice rotten potatoes corn Choose appropriate answer: 1, 2 and 5 1, 2, 4 and 5 1, 2 and 4 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 MUST READ A pilgrimage to Nepal The Hindu Anything but green The Hindu New vistas for India The Hindu One man's meat... Indian Express Doklam, Wuhan meet and the road ahead Business Line Bite the bullet Business Line

May 17, 2018 Topper's From IASbaba

Apurva Pandey, Rank 39 UPSC CSE 2017: HIGHEST MARKS IN ESSAY (175)-ESSAY STRATEGY (IASbaba's ILP Student)

ESSAY STRATEGY-APURVA PANDEY RANK 39   Hello everyone, Ever since UPSC declared marks for CSE Mains 2017, I have been flooded with requests to write a strategy on the essay. But honestly, I never really had a mechanical strategy for the essay. During my mock tests, essay was that one paper where the examiner appeared satisfied and so I sort of shifted my focus to GS and optional. That said, I do have a few pointers that I think worked for me and I will be more than happy to share it with you all. I will also try to answer some FAQs regarding essay preparation. FAQs   1) Where do I get the content for my essay? I never studied separately for the essay. I used whatever I had studied for GS and optional. But then again, I was lucky to have PSIR for my optional and from there, I often picked up concepts, thinkers, ideologies etc. to make my point. However, one must be careful to not use one's knowledge of their optional to such an extent that the essay stops being general. If reading your essay is becoming extra work for the examiner, then that might not be good news for your marks. 2) Do I need to use very flowery language? Every essay strategy I read during my preparation suggested using simple  English and rightly so. Sometimes, in our quest to put our vocabulary to use, we end up inserting complicated words forcefully in our sentences. Not only does it make the sentence difficult to understand, but also gives it an awkward sound when read. But that does not mean that we stop getting creative with language. Using metaphors, similes, idioms etc breaks the monotony and makes our essay look attractive. Here again, usage must not appear forced. This comes with a careful reading of good texts and of course, practice. 3) Should I write in simple paragraphs or subheadings? I don't think it really matters. I wrote with subheadings in one of my mock tests and got good feedback. But in the final exam, I wrote in simple paragraphs which worked out perfectly fine for me. 4)How do I choose my topic? For me, comfort triumphs every other factor. I have always had a certain discomfort, more of a mental barrier for topics related to science, technology, economy etc. But with topics that have a socio-political background, I feel very much at ease, even when the topic is relatively unprepared and may require a certain brainstorming. I personally feel that if we are comfortable with the topic, our expression has a more natural flow. I wrote the essay on women this time around, knowing full well how popular the topic was and how well prepared people must be. But I was not only comfortable but also very passionate about that topic, and everything I wrote came straight from the heart. I have a strong feeling that it is this very essay that helped me secure such high marks in essay. But more on that, later. 5)Do I really need to practice essay? OF COURSE! No matter how confident you are in your writing skills, practicing a few essays beforehand is never a bad idea. If you can get some feedback on it then even better. Even if you have good content and are good at expressing yourself, you might be making other mistakes like writing very long paragraphs, diverting from the topic, not putting in sufficient examples and so on. Therefore, please practice a few essays and get those reviewed. Now a few pointers on the specific things I did that may have helped me score good marks:   1) Start solid: Somebody once told me that an examiner will probably read hundreds of essays on the same topic, and is likely to get bored after some time. As such, our beginning must be interesting so as to capture his/her imagination at the very outset. In a strategy article that she wrote, Mittali Sethi mam mentioned how she began her essay with a poem she had written herself. I did the same in my NAM essay. Wrote a couplet on the idea of standing for truth, and then began my essay by explaining NAM as India's way of standing for truth. Similarly, for my essay on "Fulfilment of new woman in India is a myth", I started off with a story where I talked about Meena, the new age Indian woman, who is well educated, financially independent, working at a big corporate firm and married to the man of her choice. And then I began to expose the myth by explaining how Meena still takes care of household chores and the kids even when her work hours are same as her husband's, how sexism still exists for her at workplace where she is asked to take care of the hospitality of important clients while her male peers get to engage with them business-wise, how she quit a previous higher paying job to escape sexual harrassment at workplace, how her family keeps telling her to quit so as to take better care of her children and so on. I hope you got the idea. 2) Having strong opinions: I am sure you can guess by now how opinionated my essay on women must have been. And I really think having strong opinions and being passionate about the topic helps. But your opinion must be supported by examples or facts. For instance, in my essay on women, I wrote that while a woman defence minister in Nirmala Sitharaman may reinstate the myth of the new Indian woman, we must not forget that women Parliamentarians in India have never crossed the 12% mark. So while keeping balanced views might be the popular advice, I personally think that my strong opinions on certain things helped me score well. Of course, I was worried about this before the results because I really thought that this could work both ways. I played the gamble and was rewarded generously. :) 3) Positivity: Even when you are writing passionately and pointing out everything you think is wrong, you must end on a positive note. Again coming to the women essay, my last few paragraphs were about how things have drastically changed over the years, and while there might not be a fulfilled new Indian woman as of now, she is slowly but surely emerging. 4) Flow: If there is flow in our essay, it will keep the examiner engaged throughout. Abruptly jumping from one dimension of the essay to another must be avoided. For good flow in your essay, you can plan beforehand by devoting the initial half hour to deciding the structure and content of your essay. Also, practice helps. 5) Some important but oft-repeated points: Try to cover as many dimensions as possible. Mittali Sethi mam and Chandramohan Garg sir mention the SPECLIH technique( Social, Political, Economic, Cultural, Linguistic/Local, International, Humanistic dimensions) in their strategies. You can use it for more diverse content. Avoid writing very long paragraphs. Use examples, facts, data, current developments, anecdotes, anything and everything to substantiate your point. I did not use a lot of statistics because I could never learn it up, but examples I used liberally. Read the topic carefully and do not divert from it. For instance, the topic "Has NAM lost its relevance in a multipolar world?" does not require us to explain the entire history of NAM although you may talk about it a little in your introduction. If in your essay you are writing all that you know about NAM without delving on its relevance in a multipolar world, then you might not get good marks. Similarly, if you talk about the relevance of NAM but completely ignore the multipolar world-part of the topic, you are very much on your way to committing a blunder. So read the topic very carefully, underline the keywords and ensure that you do not divert. I always knew essay was a scoring subject, but never knew that it would so crucially influence my selection and rank. And so once again, I will ask you all to definitely practice a few essays before the final exam, no matter how good you are with it. Trust me, it will be highly rewarding. I will also suggest you go through Chandramohan Garg sir's strategy which many have found helpful. Best wishes, Apurva Pandey

May 17, 2018

IASbaba's 60 Day Plan 2018- UPSC Prelims FULL MOCK 1-ANSWER KEY/SOLUTION

Hello Friends,    Here is the detailed solution of Mock 1. Kindly go through it and calculate your performance. We have given a link to google form. Kindly fill it after the calculation of the score. Based on the entries till tonight, the Rank List and Cut Off will be announced tomorrow morning. DOWNLOAD THE SOLUTION- CLICK HERE FILL THE GOOGLE FORM- CLICK HERE NOTE- If you have not taken the Mock, Please take it from here- Click Here

May 17, 2018 RSTV Video

RSTV- The Big Picture : India-Nepal-China Corridor

India-Nepal-China Corridor Archives TOPIC: General Studies 2 India and its neighbourhood- relations. Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's interests In News: China proposes construction of a trans-Himalayan trilateral economic corridor – India-Nepal-China economic corridor, an ambitious plan that seeks to connect the two countries and Nepal. China and Nepal have reached consensus on the co-construction of the Belt and Road [Initiative], for which connectivity is one of the top priorities. China and Nepal are willing to gradually promote cooperation in the areas of railways, highways, aviation, electricity and telecommunications. This will create conditions and provide convenience for the trilateral economic corridor of China, Nepal and India, which is likely to be built in the future. Traditional Motivation: To insulate Tibet from the South – to ensure China’s rule to remain uncontested especially from India China sees the trilateral corridor with Nepal and India as a way to expand exports of cheap goods. It is a way to exert their economic hegemony and OBOR is a part of it. What exactly is OBOR? Focuses on: Improving connectivity and cooperation as well as enhance land as well as maritime routes Backed by extensive China led funding, the infrastructure runs through the continents of Asia, Europe and Africa, connecting the vibrant East Asia economic circle at one end and developed European economic circle at the other. The project has two components — the Silk Road Economic Belt (SREB) that would be established along the Eurasian land corridor from the Pacific coast to the Baltic Sea, and the 21st century Maritime Silk Road (MSR).    The policy is significant for China since it aims to boost domestic growth in the country. Experts have noted that OBOR is also a part of China’s strategy for economic diplomacy. India’s reservations need to be looked at from the sovereignty perspective Lack of Trust and Transparency: For India to accept such a project, there would need to be an overall environment of trust and transparency, which, in the case of China, is lacking. India would prefer to focus on strengthening bilateral connectivity projects with Nepal. China Pakistan Economic Corridor: India’s Achilles’ heel is the China Pakistan Economic Corridor, popularly known as CPEC. The CPEC is seen as a part of the Belt and Road initiative although it started much earlier. In fact, when the Chinese entered into an agreement with Pakistan in 1963 to build the Karakoram Highway in the Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) region, India had vociferously objected to it on the very question of sovereignty. The region through which the highway was to pass belonged to India and has been under the illegal occupation of Pakistan. The Chinese side, thus, has full knowledge of India’s concerns about the region. The CPEC today passes through the same region of PoK called Gilgit Baltistan (GB). India has time and again raised its concerns over Chinese activity in the region, the latest being in 2011 when information came out about the presence of thousands of Chinese troops in the region. China’s Trade Policy: China has already been using countries such as Thailand, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh to dump their products in India, and there is a huge bilateral trade deficit between China and India. India is not keen on this, especially because of a lack of structures in terms of customs and other clearances on border areas. While China wants to use third country routes to supply its products to India, it does not allow Indian services or certain other products access to its own market. Way Ahead As pointed out by The Economist magazine, China today talks not in terms of the China Model or the Beijing Consensus as it used to. The terminology used these days is “China solution” and “guiding globalisation”. Its initiatives, including OBOR, need to be viewed from the perspective of these newly coined phrases. But, countries need to understand that connectivity initiatives must be based on "universally recognized international norms, good governance, rule of law, openness, transparency and equality, and must be pursued in a manner that respects sovereignty and territorial integrity. India should also not simply sit out the project. It must actively engage with China to have its particular grievances addressed, articulate its concerns to other partner countries in a more productive manner, and take a position as an Asian leader, not an outlier in the quest for more connectivity. If the Chinese are looking at India’s support, they should look at India’s support in the areas near South China Sea or for that matter, Vietnam. But the Chinese do not want India in their neighbourhood. India must not interfere in the decisions made by Nepal. As we want our sovereignty to be safeguarded, we should let the Nepal government also consider the pros and cons and take a decision. Must Read: Link 1 + Link 2 Connecting the Dots: India today seems to be sceptical about one belt one road (OBOR) initiative of china. Explain the reasons for the same and what should be the future course of action by India towards OBOR initiative. The 21st century is witnessing a changing world order. Discuss how India and China can make the best of these changes and define the 21st Century as the “Asian Century”. “Only by respecting the sovereignty of countries involved, can regional connectivity corridors fulfill their promise and avoid differences and discord,” Critically examine Be Prelims-Ready: Locate on the Map: Karakoram Range

May 17, 2018

IASbaba’s 60 Day Plan- Prelims Test 2018 ENVIRONMENT & CURRENT AFFAIRS [Day 56]

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 16, 2018

IASbaba's 60 Day Plan- UPSC Prelims 2018 General Studies FULL MOCK 1

Hello Friends,  As promised, here we are with the First Full Mock. Before you proceed kindly go through the below suggestions very carefully. Things to Remember Download the Question paper and take the exam sincerely with a stopwatch by your side. After you are done marking the OMR, take the screenshot of the OMR and upload here in the comment section. Answer Key/Solution will be updated tomorrow morning. So better you solve it by tonight and upload the OMR  Once answer key is uploaded, fill the shared Google form with your score. Scores filled till 7 pm tomorrow will be taken into consideration. Be honest. Rank List and Cut Off- Tomorrow night.  Match your answers and update your score in the google form that will be provided with the release of Answer Key/Solution. How to increase your productivity in the Mock? Follow this to minimize your negatives? This is applicable to aspirants who have done decent preparation and are worried about negative marking. This is in no way applicable to aspirants who go on to score 140 Plus every time. They do not need any advice :) Glance through the question paper from Question 1 to Question 100 within 10 minutes. Just look at the keywords of the questions without reading the details. Irrespective of the level of the paper, you will be able to confidently solve close to 50 questions for sure (since your preparation is decent) Focus only on those 50 (or more) questions in which you have 100% confidence that X is the answer. Mark them. After finishing all 100 questions through this, count the number of questions that you marked with 100% confidence. If the count is plus 50, you will have more confidence. Remeber that, in those 50 questions, you should not include questions done through elimination or educated guesses. These 50 questions (or more) are the ones, in which you knew the correct answer right away. While going through the second round, you must chalk down the number of questions in which you have no idea. (Nothing means nothing). Leave them as it is. Elimination and educated guess will work in a few questions through which you will get the right answer. Example- last year, UPSC had asked, Which of the following are Sun Temples in India and the third option was Omkareshwar Temple? At first glance, this question might seem very tough for many of you. But if you remember that Omkareshwar (OM- Shiva) and hence it cannot be a SUN Temple. By eliminating option-3, you can arrive at the correct answer because out of four, three options had 3 as the number. Similarly, there are many such questions. So, focus on such questions carefully. Your target should be minimizing negatives. And if the paper seems tough, do not over attempt. With the acquired knowledge and experience, you can solve around 15 plus questions provided using your senses/skills correctly. Yes, many a times senses stop working and you read something else while the question is something else :) Be alert while reading the questions. Correct/Incorrect/NOT Correct should be clear to you. If you know more than 70 questions with confidence, go with it :) DOWNLOAD- QUESTION PAPER DOWNLOAD-OMR SHEET NOTE: Be honest and upload the OMR sheet in the comment section. Your honesty will let us come up with a correct rank list and cut off. All the very best! IASbaba  

May 16, 2018 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs [Prelims + Mains Focus] - 16th May 2018

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs (Prelims + Mains Focus)- 16th May 2018 Archives (PRELIMS+MAINS FOCUS) Tiger Reserve in News: Satkosia Tiger Reserve Part of: GS Prelims (Environment and Biodiversity) In news: Six tigers from M.P. to be relocated to Odisha’s Satkosia Tiger Reserve Odisha government plans to revive big cat population in the protected forest. According to the 2016 tiger census, Odisha had 40 Royal Bengal Tigers - 13 males, 24 females and three calves. Important Value Additions: There are 50 tiger reserves in India which are governed by Project Tiger which is administrated by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). India is home to 70 percent of tigers in the world. In 2006, there were 1,411 tigers which increased to 1,706 in 2011 and 2,226 in 2014. Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (Andhra Pradesh) is the largest tiger reserve in India. Bor becomes smallest tiger reserve in India with four tigers. Bor Wildlife Sanctuary, located in the valley of the Wardha river in the Wardha district of Maharashtra has been given the status of a tiger reserve, making it the smallest such reserve in the country. Marsupials antechinus Part of: GS Prelims (Environment and Biodiversity) In News: Two marsupial species – tiny black-tailed dusky antechinus and silver-headed antechinus – have been put on Australia’s endangered list. These marsupial species discovered in 2013 and found in wetter, higher-altitude regions of Queensland state — are known for suicidal mating habits that include up to 14-hour sex sessions. Earlier we had studied about another Marsupial native to Australia which was vulnerable - Koalas Important Value Additions: Do marsupials only live in Australia? Most people think of Australia when they think of marsupials, because the most well known of the marsupials—koalas and kangaroos—live there. But opossum species, which are also marsupials, live in North, Central, and South America. Article link: Excess of lovemaking puts Marsupials at risk - The Hindu (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 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Cauvery issue: draft Cauvery water management scheme In News: Yesterday, we read that Centre had submitted a draft Cauvery water management scheme in the Supreme Court which proposes for an independent authority. The new authority is to monitor implementation of the Cauvery Tribunal’s final award. About the proposed Authority: It will be a two-tier structure, with an apex body charged with the power to ensure compliance with the final award, and a regulation committee that will monitor the field situation and water flow. The powers and functions of the authority are fairly comprehensive. Its powers would extend to apportionment, regulation and control of Cauvery waters, supervision of operations of reservoirs and regulation of water releases. The draft makes the authority’s decisions final and binding. However, there is an ambiguous clause: if the authority finds that any one of the States is not cooperative, it can seek the Centre’s help, and the Centre’s decision will be final and binding. This can be seen either as an enabling clause to resolve the situation when there is a stand-off, or as one that gives scope to the Centre to intervene on behalf of one State. There may be a possibility of Centre acting in a partisan manner, therefore it would be better if it is not given the final say, but mandated to help in the implementation of the Tribunal’s award at all times. Important Value Additions: Constitutional provisions to solve water sharing disputes: Schedule VII – State List and Union List States have power to legislate (under State list) with respect to water (water supplies, irrigation and canals, drainage and embankments, water storage and water power). Union list – Regulation and development of inter-State rivers and river valleys. Article 262 Adjudication of disputes relating to waters of inter-State rivers or river valleys. It makes two provisions: Parliament may by law provide for the adjudication of any dispute or complaint with respect to the use, distribution and control of waters of any inter-state river and river valley. Parliament may also provide that neither the Supreme Court nor any other court is to exercise jurisdiction in respect of any such dispute or complaint. River Boards Act (1956) and the Inter-State Water Disputes Act (1956) In exercise of the power conferred by article 262 of the Constitution, Parliament has enacted the above two acts. River Boards Act provides for the establishment of river boards for the regulation and development of inter-state river and river valleys. Inter-State Water Disputes Act empowers the Central government to set up an ad hoc tribunal for the adjudication of a dispute between two or more states in relation to the waters of an inter-state river or river valley. The decision of the tribunal would be final and binding on the parties to the dispute. Neither the Supreme Court nor any other court is to have jurisdiction in respect of any water dispute which may be referred to such a tribunal under this Act. Article 263 contemplates the establishment of an Inter-State Council to effect coordination between the states and between Centre and states. Why Centre has submitted a draft Cauvery water management scheme and proposes for a new independent authority? The above provisions or the mechanisms are not adequate and there are some lacunas, because of several reasons: The most prominent problem faced by it is that it does not have any effective authority for the implementation of the order of the tribunal. The Tribunal can only give an award but cannot enforce its implementation. It has not been clothed with powers of punishment for ‘contempt’. In the event of non-implementation of an ISWD Tribunal’s award by a state government, the central government can (failing persuasion) issue a direction to the erring state and then invoke Article 356, but that seems an extreme step; besides, when a popular government comes back it may once again refuse to implement the award. There is no easy answer to this problem. The tribunal also lacks the power of enforcement of its decision which Supreme Court is endowed with. Thus such matters which involves public importance should be guided and decided by the court. (Cauvery water dispute case is a classic example showcasing complicated scenario of river water management and governance in India. When there is shortage, when developmental projects grow, and riparian States do not enjoy equal access to the source, inter-state problems are bound to rise in sharing.) Conclusion: Therefore, the Centre plans to enact a more comprehensive parliamentary legislation to deal with Inter-State Water Disputes and also proposes for a new independent authority is to monitor implementation of the Cauvery Tribunal’s final award. Connecting the dots: What are the constitutional provisions to solve water sharing disputes? Are they adequate? Give your opinion on draft Cauvery water management scheme which proposes for an independent authority to monitor implementation of the Cauvery Tribunal’s final award and the Centre’s decision to be final and binding. NATIONAL TOPIC:General Studies 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation Development processes and the development industry- the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders. Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections. MGNREGA analysis: A triple blow to job guarantee scheme About: Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme, one of the most ambitious schemes aimed at removing poverty and biggest social welfare programmes in the world, aims at guarantying 100 days of work to people in rural areas. The programme has arguably lifted lakhs of people out of poverty however there are few lacunas that needs to be addressed. Among those lacunas, lack of sufficient funds, rampant payment delays and abysmal wage rates act as triple blow to the job guarantee scheme. Lack of sufficient funds The program has made fundamental difference for people who could now do much better than before. The issue of finance has to be addressed properly. On one side we have a set of a states performing extremely well, on the other side there are states that are performing very low due to paucity of funds. There is an urgent need for the centre to address the issue of finance for effective implementation of scheme. Budget allocation over the years has been insufficient. The real budget of 2018-19 is much lower than that of 2010-11 (after adjusting for inflation). In August 2017, the Ministry of Rural Development demanded a supplementary MGNREGA budget of ₹17,000 crore, but the Ministry of Finance approved only ₹7,000 crore, that too in January 2018. Rampant payment delays The scheme is meant to be demand-driven in the sense that the government is mandated to provide work within 15 days of a worker seeking work. Otherwise the worker is entitled to an unemployment allowance. A second key provision of the Act pertains to payment of wages within 15 days of completion of work, failing which a worker is entitled to a delay compensation of 0.05% per day of the wages earned. However, both these provisions have been routinely violated. Lack of funds has led to a subverting of these provisions in letter and spirit. The total amount of wages pending under the MGNREGA scheme for the whole country (2016-17) was around ₹11,000 crore. Only 21% of payments in 2016-17 and 32% of payments in the first two quarters of FY17-18 were made on time. The principal reasons for payment delays were “infrastructural bottlenecks, (un)availability of funds and lack of administrative compliance”. Abysmal wage rates The third issue is about stagnating MGNREGA wages. Delinking of MGNREGA wage rates from the Minimum Wages Act (MWA), 1948 has contributed to this. MGNREGA wages are a less lucrative option for the marginalised, being lower than the minimum agricultural wages in most States. This can push primary beneficiaries of the Act, women, Dalits and Adivasis to choose more vulnerable and hazardous employment opportunities as they get paid more than MGNREGA work. Such contravention of the MWA is illegal. Conclusion: All the above lacunas reflect that there is only a legal and moral crisis created by the Centre. The poor are paying a heavy price for this throttling of funds by the Centre. The fight is not even for a living wage but one for subsistence. Connecting the dots: Lack of sufficient funds, rampant payment delays and abysmal wage rates have acted as triple blow to the job guarantee scheme. Do you agree? Critically analyze. Examine the issues that needs to be addressed properly for effective implementation of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme. (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Q.1) Satkosia Tiger Reserve was in news recently. It belongs to which state? Karnataka Maharashtra Madhya Pradesh Odisha Q.2) Consider the following statements National Tiger Conservation Authority is a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change. Prime Minister is the Chairperson of NTCA. Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve is the largest and Bor Tiger Reserve is the smallest tiger reserve in India. Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1 and 2 1 and 3 2 and 3 All of the above Q.3) Which of the following statements regarding Marsupial mammals are correct? Marsupial females have a pouch to carry and protect their babies. The young ones are born premature and the embryo climbs from the mother’s birth canal to the nipple. They have a longer gestation period as compared to placental mammal of the same size. Select the code from below: 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above Q.4) Consider the following related to position of ‘Water’ in Indian Constitution. The provision for water being in the Union, State and Concurrent List is the major bone of contention in present day Inter-Water dispute. Article 262 deals with adjudication of disputes relating to waters of inter State Rivers or river valleys Indian Constitution explicitly grants parliament the right to legislate over the matters in Entry 56, and also gives it primacy over the Supreme Court. Which of the above statements is/are correct? 1 and 3 only 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only All the above Q.5) Consider the following statements with reference to MGNREGA. At least one-third beneficiaries are to be women. Use of heavy machinery is allowed for expediting the work. It provides work for skilled workers in the rural areas. Which of the above statements is incorrect? 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only 1 and 3 only None of the above