Jun 6, 2018 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs [Prelims + Mains Focus] - 5th June 2018

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs (Prelims + Mains Focus)- 5th June 2018 Archives (PRELIMS+MAINS FOCUS) ‘Green GDP’ and a ‘Green skilling’ programme Part of: Prelims and Mains GS Paper III – Environment and Ecology; Pollution; Environment and Development In News: Government to begin a five-year exercise to compute district-level data of the country’s environmental wealth The data will be used to calculate every State’s ‘green’ Gross Domestic Product (GDP) The government has also launched a ‘green skilling’ programme under which youth, particularly school dropouts, would be trained in a range of ‘green jobs’. Important Value Additions: World Environment Day on June 5. India is the host country for this year's celebration. The theme for the World Environment Day 2018, "Beat Plastic Pollution". About Green Skill Development Programme (GSDP) GSDP aims to get 80, 000 people imparted green skills and in filling the skill gaps in the environment sector. Green Skill Development Programme will go a long way in reaping the demographic dividend of the country; GSDP to cover nearly 5 lakh people by 2021. About Green GDP – Refer to this link (Calculating ‘Green GDP’: Developing a feasible transition path to a green economy) Article link: Centre to start measuring 'green GDP' of States Ban obscene depiction of women on Net Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – Welfare and Social issue; Women issue In news: Ministry of Women and Child Development has proposed to ban obscene depiction of women on the Internet and through SMS/MMS by amending the Indecent Representation of Women Act, 1986. Ministry has also suggested for stricter punishments for such crimes on par with those recommended under the IT Act, 2008. Ministry has proposed amendment in definition of the term ‘advertisement’ to include digital form or electronic form or hoardings, or through SMS, MMS, etc. Keeping in mind the technological advancements, it has been decided to widen the scope of the law. Laws which punishes Indecent Representation of Women The IRW Act provides for punishment of up to two years in jail for an offence committed for the first time and imprisonment of six months to five years for a second conviction. Sections 67 and 67A of the IT Act lay down a punishment of three to five years for circulating obscene material and five to seven years for circulating sexually explicit material respectively. Article link: Ban proposed on obscene depiction of women on Net - The Hindu (MAINS FOCUS) ENVIRONMENT TOPIC:General Studies 3: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment To be an environmental world power About: Impact of ecosystem destruction on life and livelihood is very high in South Asia. Distress is paramount in the northern half of the subcontinent – especially from the Brahmaputra basin to the Indus-Ganga plain. However, countries of South Asia have failed to come up with a concrete and coordinated plan to tackle this ecological ruin. Need for cross-border environmentalism Do you know? Consequences of environmental degradation do not respect national or state boundaries. Pollution can originate in one country but can cause damage in another country’s environment, by crossing borders through pathways like water or air. Pollution can be transported across hundreds and even thousands of kilometers. Wind and water too don’t respect national boundaries. One country’s pollution quickly can, and often does, become another country’s environmental and economic crisis. Examples: Bihar is helping destroy the Chure/Siwalik range of Nepal to feed the construction industry’s demand for boulders and conglomerate, even though this hurts Bihar itself through greater floods, desertification and aquifer depletion. Air pollution is strangling the denizens of Lahore, New Delhi, Kathmandu and Dhaka alike, but there is no collaboration. Wildlife corridors across States, provinces and countries are becoming constricted by the day, but we look the other way. Therefore, there is a need for South Asian people to join their hands across borders to save our common ground. As the largest nation-state of South Asian region and the biggest polluter whose population is the most vulnerable, India needs to be alert to the dangerous drift. Unfortunately, despite being a vast democracy where people power should be in the driving seat, the Indian state not only neglects its own realm, it does not take the lead on cross-border environmentalism. Big Concerns: There is a need for ecological sanity. India has to connect the dots between representative democracy and ecological sanity. India’s environment ministry is invariably the least empowered in the major countries of South Asia. Inaction of governments and weakened activism. On water, the subcontinent is running out of the resource due to the demands of industrialisation and urbanisation, and continuation of the colonial-era irrigation model based on flooding the fields. Everywhere, natural drainage is destroyed by highways and railway tracks elevated above the flood line, underground aquifers are exploited to exhaustion. Reduced flows and urban/industrial effluents have converted our great rivers into sewers. Climate change to fuel disturbances: Climate change is introducing massive disturbances to South Asia – most notable is rise of sea levels. The entire Indian Ocean coastline will be affected, but the hardest hit will be the densely populated deltas where the Indus, the Irrawaddy and the Ganga-Brahmaputra meet the sea. Yet, there is no proper mechanism and framework to deal and address the tens of millions of ‘climate refugees’, who will move inland in search for survival. Concept of ‘Atmospheric brown cloud’ and ‘Seet lahar’ Scientists are studying about ‘atmospheric brown cloud’ and its influence on excessive melting of snows in the central Himalaya. This cloud is made up of ‘black carbon’ containing soot and smog sent up by stubble burning, wood fires, smokestacks and fossil fuel exhaust, as well as dust kicked up by winter agriculture, vehicles and wind. It rises up over the plains and some of it settles on Himalayan snow and ice, which absorb heat and melt that much faster. Seet lahar – a violent type of mudflow or ground-hugging fog that engulfs the subcontinent’s northern plains for ever-extended periods in winter -  is one more concern. (observe fig below) Pic link: http://footage.framepool.com/shotimg/qf/647957811-lahar-yogyakarta-mount-merapi-ash.jpg The way forward: Environmental impact assessments have become a ritualistic farce in each country. The task of preserving the forests and landscapes has mostly been relegated to the indigenous communities. We usually see the Adivasi communities of the Deccan organising to save ancestral forests, and the indigenous Lepcha fighting against the odds to protect the upper reaches of the Teesta. The urban middle class is not visible in environmentalism, other than in ‘beautification projects’. Tomorrow’s activists must work to quantify the economic losses of environmental destruction and get local institutions to act on their ownership of natural resources. The activists must harness information technology so as to engage with the public and to override political frontiers, and they must creatively use the power of the market itself to counter non-sustainable interventions. There is need for an “environmental system” inbuilt into the infrastructure of state and society. Local government needs to be empowered and elected representatives in cities and districts must be challenged to emerge as the bulwark of environmentalism. When ‘organic environmentalism’ rises from the grassroots and makes state authority accountable, South Asia and its peoples will be protected. Connecting the dots: Discuss why India should take the lead for a clean planet? Also discuss what changes are required to keep our planet safe for the future? 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. About: The state governors of India, a product of a time long-past, have been under the scrutiny of the public eye for a long time now (especially after the high-drama which happened after recent Karnataka Elections). Yet, despite their notorious reputations, little seems to have been done. Some of the actions taken by the Governor were part of uncertain grey area of “discretion” — partisan enough to skew the process in favour of the BJP, but not illegal enough to warrant judicial intervention. In the aftermath, some have called upon the Governor to resign; others have suggested that the post of the Governor be reserved for non-political appointees and some questioned the need for office of Governor; and still others have urged the Supreme Court to lay down the law on how the Governor ought to act when an election yields a fractured verdict. (The below article is excerpt from the Hindu editorials which analyzes and answers some of these questions.) Office of Governor during colonial era and pre-independent India: It is important to understand the origins of the office in the colonial British regime. Through the course of the early 20th century, the Indian nationalist movement managed to extract gradual and incremental reforms towards responsible government from the British rulers. These reforms culminated in the Government of India Act, 1935 which established provincial legislative assemblies elected from a limited franchise. However, in order to ensure that overriding power remained with the British, the Act retained the post of Governor (a holdover from the old, “diarchy” system), and vested him with “special responsibilities” that, in essence, allowed for intervention at will. K.T. Shah (one of the most articulate members of the Constituent Assembly, or CA), wrote that the Governor would inevitably be biased in his functioning, and his actions would remain at odds with those of popularly elected Ministers. Despite the nationalist movement’s bitter experience with Governors over almost three decades, the CA chose to retain the post, and continue to vest it with discretionary power. During CA debates, it was pointed out that the Articles dealing with the powers of the Governor were almost verbatim reproductions of the Government of India 1935 Act. Defenders of the office raised two broad arguments: First, that there was a dearth of competent legislators in the States; and Second, that a certain amount of centralisation of power was necessary in a nascent state such as India. They felt that there is need for office of Governor who would stand as a bulwark against secessionism and to act as a check upon both federalism and popular democracy. Concerned members of the CA were assured that the Governor would remain only a constitutional post, and would have no power to interfere in the day-to-day administration of the State. But, even though the framers insisted that it was only a “constitutional post”, Karnataka has just been the most recent example demonstrating that the Governor has enough discretion to skew the political process in the direction that the Central government desires. Now the question arises whether the above arguments of CA serve any valid purpose in 2018 –and if not, whether it should continue to exist. Is there a need for clearly specifying the rules governing government-formation in the Constitution itself? Misuse of office and flaw in appointment process There are numerous examples of the Governor’s position being abused, usually at the behest of the ruling party at the Centre. The root lies in the process of appointment itself. The post has been reduced to becoming a retirement package for politicians for being politically faithful to the government of the day. Consequently, a candidate wedded to a political ideology could find it difficult to adjust to the requirements of a constitutionally mandated neutral seat. This could result in bias, as appears to have happened in Karnataka. The Governor has the task of inviting the leader of the largest party/alliance, post-election, to form the government; overseeing the dismissal of the government in case of a breakdown of the Constitution in the State; and, through his report, recommending the imposition of President’s rule. There are examples of the last two having been frequently misused to dismiss “belligerent” State government, but this has been checked substantially by the Supreme Court through S.R. Bommai v. Union of India. Since the Bommai verdict allows the Supreme Court to investigate claims of mala fide in the Governor’s report, a similar extension to cover mala fide in the invitation process could be a potential solution. Why the office of Governor is important? Governor: An important overseer Under the constitutional scheme, the Governor’s mandate is substantial. From being tasked with overseeing government formation, to reporting on the breakdown of constitutional machinery in a State, to maintaining the chain of command between the Centre and the State, he can also reserve his assent to Bills passed by the State Legislature and promulgate ordinances if the need arises. Further, under Article 355, the Governor, being the Central authority in a State, acts as an overseer in this regard. Governor: An important link In India, the balance in power is tilted towards the Union. Governor acts as a crucial link within this federal structure in maintaining effective communication between the Centre and a State. He is also “a mentor and a guide to the State governments”. As a figurehead who ensures the continuance of governance in the State, even in times of constitutional crises, his role is often that of a neutral arbiter in disputes settled informally within the various strata of government, and as the conscience keeper of the community. Therefore the institution of Governor has a pivotal role to play within the federal structure and constitutional framework of our country. Misuse of a position of power should not serve as a justification for removing the office altogether, unless such a position has totally lost its relevance. Connecting the dots: Governor has a constitutional obligation to preserve, protect and defend the constitution. They must not only be fair but also be seen to be fair. Elucidate. What are the functions of the Governor with regard to protecting and promoting the interests of the state concerned? Do you think governors are acting as if they are the employees of the Central government? Examine. (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Q.1) The theme of Earth Day 2018 is – “Beat Plastic Pollution” “Wetlands for a Sustainable Urban Future” “End Plastic Pollution” “Nature for Water” – exploring nature-based solutions to the water challenges we face in the 21st century Q.2) Seet lahar deals with - a type of cloud which is made up of ‘black carbon’ containing soot and smog a violent type of mudflow or ground-hugging fog that engulfs plain areas ban obscene depiction of women on the Internet and through SMS/MMS None of the above MUST READ Available, accessible, but not stable The Hindu  The rot in rehabilitation The Hindu  Mending The Frame Indian Express Abandoned at sea Indian Express Raja Mandala: Securing the littoral Indian Express

Jun 6, 2018 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs [Prelims + Mains Focus] - 4th June 2018

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs (Prelims + Mains Focus)- 4th June 2018 Archives (PRELIMS+MAINS FOCUS) Providing energy access to all: India on right track Part of: Mains GS Paper III- Energy security Key pointers: India’s efforts in providing energy access to those without it have come in for praise by the International Energy Agency (IEA). Since 2000 around half-a-billion people have gained access to electricity in India “with political effort over the last five years significantly accelerating progress”. The IEA in its World Energy Outlook 2017 reported that India’s growth was on course to achieving “access to electricity for all” by 2020, which is “a colossal achievement”. It noted that the pace had accelerated in recent years, with the country adding annually 40-million people to those with access to electricity, since 2011. Access to clean cooking fuels: Around 78-crore people in India depend on biomass for cooking, but the country is making progress. Almost 3.6-crore LPG connections have been made since the government launched the PAHAL scheme in May 2016 to provide free connections to families living below the poverty line. The World Energy Outlook 2017 report had similarly noted that “the share of the population relying primarily on biomass for cooking fell to 59 per cent in 2015 from 66 per cent in 2011. Globally, nearly 300-crore people are forced to cook using wood and other fuels that produce smoke, resulting in 28-lakh premature deaths each year – twice more than the number of deaths related to malaria and AIDS combined. (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: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Corporate Social Responsibility: A different model Introduction: The Indian Companies Act (2013) mandates that Indian corporates, public and private, must allocate at least 2 per cent of their net profits for CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility). The Act defines broadly the social framework within which companies should spend their CSR funds but beyond that, companies have the freedom to identify the projects and determine the modalities of implementation. A significant amount on eligible CSR activities has been spent over the last three years. Is the current individualistic model with every company doing its own thing, the optimal model for the utilisation of these statutorily sequestered funds? Issues with current model: Corporates have limited experience and expertise in addressing the complexities of social development. That is not their business and whilst they may be genuinely committed to social upliftment, this is not an activity they are trained to lead or manage. They do hire resources to bridge the lacuna but there are many entities with a deeper understanding of social issues and better placed to deploy CSR funds. The MCA data shows that the bulk of the CSR money (almost 75 per cent) is allocated to just three sectors — education, health (including sanitation and water) and rural poverty. These are the most pressing issues facing the country. But this focus raises questions. Is there duplication of effort? Are there inter se synergies to be garnered through cooperation? The MCA data also reveals a skew in the distribution of the CSR funds. Almost 40 per cent of the money goes to just a few relatively well-developed states — Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Reason- India’s most profitable companies (Reliance, Infosys, Wipro, ITC, IOC, HDFC) invest preponderantly in these states and Section 135(5) of the Act encourages companies to “give preference to the local area and areas around it where it operates, for spending the amount earmarked for CSR activities.” The current model, thus, aggravates rather than alleviates existing regional and social disparities. Attitudinal shift: Increasing corporate involvement in social issues Increasing number of Indian companies, especially large-cap professionally managed companies have woven social responsibility into the fabric of their corporate values. Their leaders have distanced themselves from the Friedmanite dictum (Business had a singular responsibility to their shareholders and that “the business of business was business”). They, of course, hold themselves responsible for their “business” but not to create value just for the benefit of “business”. They acknowledge a responsibility towards stakeholders that falls outside the boundaries defined by the shareholder community. A different model: Corporates can pool their CSR funds into a common “CSR trust” and allow an autonomous body to manage and disburse the funds. This body should be a confederation of corporates, NGOs, domain experts and government. CSR trust's role can be to define the CSR agenda, identify the CSR projects, select the local partners, allocate the resources and oversee implementation. Such a collaborative model would be an improvement on the present individualistic approach. Benefits: It would enable the pooling of knowledge and experience, the sharing of best practice and the leveraging of scale economies. It would provide a forum for learning from the grassroots experience of NGOs and the local community. It would facilitate back-office synergies and reduce duplication of efforts (as mentioned, CSR money is concentrated on just three sectors). It would allow for a more equitable geographic distribution of funds. It would provide a platform for the delivery of holistic solutions developed by leveraging the financial and non-financial assets of corporates and by creating development “joint ventures” between companies with complementary assets and skills. Thus , for example, a JV between Reliance JIO, TCS, Unilever and Larsen and Toubro could bring to a CSR project on education not just the hardware of a school building , tables and chairs but also Internet connectivity by Jio , IT by Wipro, marketing skills by Unilever, vocational training by Larsen and internship by all. And thereby generate sustainable income generating opportunities. Conclusion: The government is responsible for social development. Corporates cannot replace them in this role. But governments need help. Corporates can make a meaningful contribution especially if there is a platform that allows them to offer the totality of their skills, technology and resources. The above model for CSR provides such a platform. Connecting the dots: A significant amount on eligible CSR activities has been spent over the last three years as part of CSR. The individualistic model (where each company spends and implements CSR projects individually) is not an apt model. Instead a collaborative approach should be adopted. Comment. NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2: Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure. 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. General Studies 3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Terms of reference of the 15th Finance Commission: Issues Part II Introduction: A reliable system of intergovernmental fiscal transfers is the key to a viable and stable federal polity. After the abolition in 2014 of the Planning Commission, which played a critical role in the Indian transfer system, the UFC has emerged as the principal agency to handle this delicate task. Article 280(3) and its first three clauses clearly spell out the core duties of the UFC: tax devolution, grants-in-aid, and augmenting the resources of panchayats and municipalities. Concern: Over the years, the open-ended subclause, 280(3)(d), that provides for “any other matter... in the interests of sound finance”, has been exemplified in the Terms of References of recent UFCs. The Terms of Reference of the 15th FC have attracted considerable public debate. Some States even held ‘conclaves’, and six of them submitted a memorandum to the President to alter clauses which allegedly violate constitutional propriety, long-standing precedents, and the “fiscal rights” of States. Reference article: Terms of reference of the 15th Finance Commission: Issues Issues: The fiscal consolidation roadmaps that entail expenditure compression which ultimately reduce vital public spending on health, education, food security entitlements, drinking water, and so on disturb the finer fabric of India’s cooperative federalism — especially in the context of India’s lowest share of direct taxes in total taxes in the world, disreputable tax-GDP ratio, imprudent transgression into States’ autonomy, alarming growth of economic inequality etc. Transfers to local governments: The Terms of Reference of the 15th FC introduces “performance-based incentives” which inter-alia want, “Provision of grants in aid to local bodies for basic services, including quality human resources, and implementation of performance grant system in improving delivery of services.” This subclause is not constitutionally neat because grants to local governments constitute a separate core mandate. Including transfers to local governments among the “performance-based incentives”, the efforts to link local grants to the divisible pool via Article 275 are apparently ignored. The need for an integrated federal public finance that takes local governments into account in macro policymaking and in formulating strategies to ensure regional equity and for evaluating the revenue potential and fiscal capacity does not seem to have occurred to the decision-makers of the country. This omission is tantamount to tearing the web of a ‘holding together’ federation which seeks “inclusiveness” as a national goal. The Terms of Reference debate and the memorandum of the State Finance Ministers are silent on this vital issue. In mandating the 2011 population, no alternate compensatory device has been envisaged. From a larger cooperative federalism perspective, the issue of population should refer to demographic dividend, inter-State migration, ageing population, and the like. For example, Kerala reaped its demographic dividend long back in 2001 and now accommodates nearly three million migrants from places like Odisha, West Bengal and Bihar. This takes a heavy toll on the State and local government resources. Conclusion: Indian public finance needs to be restructured to focus on local governance. In preparing the Terms of Reference for a quasi-judicial body like the UFC, it is important not to use it as a platform to impose the Union government’s agenda on the States. Connecting the dots: The drawing up of a Terms of Reference of a constitutional body (Finance Commission) is a serious exercise to be handled with sagacity and skill, based on proper consultations in the true spirit of cooperative federalism. Comment. MUST READ About a small Mauritian island The Hindu An Irish vote, an Indian face Business Line Preventing a re-occurrence of Thoothukudi Business Line

Jun 4, 2018 PIB

IASbaba PIB Weekly : Press Information Bureau – 28th May to 2nd June, 2018

IASbaba Press Information Bureau 28th May to 2nd June, 2018 ARCHIVES GS-2 POCSO Act – Male child victims of sexual abuse (Topic: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections) POCSO Act is gender neutral and safeguards the interest of not only the girl child but also the male child Minister for Women and Child Development, Smt. Maneka Sanjay Gandhi, has urged the States/UTs To issue necessary directions to the concerned departments to take necessary steps for including male child victims of sexual abuse in the Victim Compensation Scheme/Fund Compensation including interim compensation may be given to the victim on time Must Read: Link 1 + Link 2 + Link 3 SevaBhojYojna Scheme (Topic: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population) For: Reimbursing the Central Government share of Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) and Integrated Goods and Service Tax (IGST) on purchase of raw items such as ghee, edible oil, atta/maida/rava/flour , rice pulses, sugar, burra/jiggery etc which go into preparation of food/Prasad/langar/bhandara offered free of cost by religious institutions Objective: To lessen the financial burden of such Charitable Religious Institutions who provide Food/Prasad/Langar (Community Kitchen)/Bhandara free of cost without any discrimination to Public/Devotees. Charitable Religious Institutions who shall be eligible Such as Temples, Gurudwara, Mosque, Church, Dharmik Ashram, Dargah, Matth, Monasteries etc. Have been in existence for at least five years before applying for financial assistance/grant Which serves free food to at least 5000 people in a month Institutions covered under Section 10 (23BBA)  of the Income Tax Act or Institutions registered as Society under Societies Registration Act (XXI of 1860) or as a Public Trust under any law for the time being in force of statuary religious bodies constituted under any Act or institutions registered under Section 12AA of Income Tax Act   India signs Loan Agreement with the World Bank for USD 21.7 Million (Topic: Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate; Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation) For: Strengthening the Public Financial Management in Rajasthan Project Objective: To contribute to improved Budget execution, enhanced accountability and greater efficiency in Revenue Administration in Rajasthan The project involves Strengthening of the Public Financial Management Framework Strengthening of Expenditure and Revenue Systems Project Management and Capacity Building Government of India and World Bank signs $500 Million Additional Financing (Topic: Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate; Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation) For: Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana Rural Roads Project (WB has supported PMGSY since its inception in 2004) Implemented by: Ministry of Rural Development – will build 7,000 km of climate resilient roads, out of which 3,500 km will be constructed using green technologies The PMGSY and the Bank’s involvement under this additional financing will emphasize on managing the rural road network through green and climate-resilient construction using green, low-carbon designs and new technologies – far beyond merely funding civil works. This will be done through the following measures: Climate vulnerability assessment during the design process to identify the critical locations affected by floods, water-logging, submergence, cloud bursts, storms, landslides, poor drainage, excessive erosion, high rainfall, and high temperatures. Special treatment for flood-affected areas through adequate waterways and submersible roads to allow easy passage of water, use of concrete block pavements, and improved drainage; Use of environmentally optimized road designs and new technologies which uses local and marginal materials and industrial by-products such as sand, local soils, fly ash, brick kiln wastes, and other similar materials in place of crushed rocks; Innovative bridges and culverts through use of pre-fabricated/pre-cast units for roads and bridges having better ability to withstand earthquakes and water forces such as continuous beams, bearing free construction, and river training works; Use of hill cutting material in hill roads ensuring its productive use and resolving its disposal problem, use of bio-engineering measures, improved drainage and other treatments for landslide prone areas and providing adequate slope protection. The Additional Financing will also fill the gender gap by creating employment opportunities for women in construction and maintenance. The earlier project had piloted community-based maintenance contracts through women self-help groups (SHGs) for routine maintenance of 200 km of PMGSY roads in Uttarakhand, Meghalaya and Himachal Pradesh. India Signs Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) in Nursing with Singapore (Topic: Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate; Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation) This is the first MRA being signed by India with any of our FTA partners. In a major gain for India, Singapore agreed to expand coverage of Indian nursing institutions by recognising seven nursing institutions in the MRA.   This has paved way for our healthcare service providers to institutionally access markets abroad.   It will further open up doors for India to enter into similar mutual recognition arrangements with other countries. Please Note: Exercise SURYA KIRAN: Between India and Nepal – The aim of exercise is joint training of troops in counter insurgency/ counter terrorism operations in both jungle & mountainous terrain and disaster management Island nation of Tuvalu: Formerly known as the Ellice Islands, is a Polynesian island nation located in the Pacific Ocean, about midway between Hawaii and Australia Note: Locate it on the World Map Leading country in coconut production and productivity: India 2019 Pravasi Bhartiya Divas: Varanasi, India Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban): Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs has approved the construction of another 1.5 lakh affordable houses for the benefit of urban poor India’s First Advanced Forensic Lab dedicated to women related cases: Chandigarh - will contribute to address the gap in forensic DNA analysis of pending sexual assault cases in the country Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has taken a decision to vaccinate all healthcare workers who are at an increased risk of acquiring Hepatitis-B infection such as those involved in conducting deliveries, giving injections and exposed to blood or blood products. Hepatitis-B Infection – Hepatitis B is a viral infection that attacks the liver and can cause both acute and chronic disease. The virus is highly contagious and is transmitted through contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person. It is transmitted when blood, semen or another body fluid from a person infected with the Hepatitis B virus, enters the body of someone who is not infected. This can happen through sexual contact; sharing needles/syringes, needle injuries; or other invasive equipment; or from mother to baby at birth. There is no specific treatment for acute Hepatitis B disease. Clinical management is based on supportive therapy and relief of symptoms. It is estimated that about 780,000 people die each year due to consequences of Hepatitis B, such as liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. PRAAPTI (Payment Ratification and Analysis in Power procurement for bringing Transparency in Invoicing of generators): To bring transparency in power purchase transactions between Generators and Discoms Allow users to know the details related to the payments made by the Discoms to the power generation company and when they were made Enable the consumers to evaluate financial performance of their Discoms in terms of payments being made to the generation companies. Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana: To “fund the unfunded” by bringing such enterprises to the formal financial system and extending affordable credit to them. Under the aegis of Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana, MUDRA has already created the following products / schemes. Shishu: covering loans upto 50,000/- Kishor: covering loans above 50,000/- and upto 5 lakh Tarun: covering loans above 5 lakh and upto 10 lakh The new cloud-enabled National Data Centre aims to offer round-the-clock operations with secure hosting for various e-governance applications of Central and State Governments and has ability to support 35,000 virtual servers. Agriculturist has been defined to mean an individual or an HUF who undertakes cultivation of land- By own labour By the labour of family By servants or wages payable in cash or kind or by hired labour under personal supervision or the personal supervision of any member of the family Refer: Link 1 Quotes The Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu Both science and religion are the tools in the hands of the people in their quest for prosperity and internal peace. Scientific advancements illuminate our understanding of the universe, whereas the religion provides answers to the unexplored universe. The issues of ‘mind and soul’ and the relentless internal unrest and lack of internal peace constitute this vast unexplored universe. It is the religion which provides some answers to these raging issues. The process of questioning and seeking solutions lies at the heart of research. Human progress is not possible without the quest for deeper understanding of the world around. Research and innovation make us grow and they transform the world we inhabit. The Indian word for education is "Vidya". This means, literally, "knowing what it is". Please note that the emphasis is on "knowing" not on being "taught" what it is. The learners must become active explorers, researchers who try to find out the truth.

Jun 2, 2018 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

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

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs (Prelims + Mains Focus)- 2nd June 2018 Archives (PRELIMS+MAINS FOCUS) PM Modi's visit to Singapore Part of: Mains GS Paper II- International relations Key pointers: Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently visited Singapore. India has formalised a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) in nursing with Singapore which would allow nurses trained in seven nursing institutions across India to gain employment in the South-East Asian country. India and Singapore concluded the second review of India-Singapore Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA). India and Singapore agreed to expand the coverage of tariff concessions, liberalise the rules of origin and incorporate new product specific rules (PSRs) to further enhance trade between the two countries. Both countires agreed to deepen their economic and defence ties as they signed eight agreements including one on logistics cooperation between their navies. Cess on sugar Part of: Mains GS Paper II- International relations Key pointers: The proposal to introduce a cess on sugar has been green-lighted by the Law Ministry. The cess will come into effect only if and when the GST Council approves it. Cess is different from GST. It used to be an additionality during the VAT (Value added Tax) regime; so it (the cess) can be applied. The Finance Ministry will now file a special leave petition in the Supreme Court as there is an interim order on a petition challenging the constitutional validity of the Goods and Services Tax (Compensation to States) Act, 2017. The proposal envisages the imposition of cess at a rate not exceeding Rs. 3 per kg on supply of sugar” (over and above GST at 5 per cent). The fund collected will be used to create a fund, which will enable the Centre to make prompt interventions to protect the interests of farmers, in view of the extreme cyclical nature of industry. Before the GST introduction, a cess was being collected under the Sugar Cess Act, 1982, as excise duty for the purpose of a Sugar Development Fund. The money thus collected was used to help the industry on various fronts, including settling farmer dues. This cess was subsumed in the GST. (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 India-ASEAN: India needs to play a bigger role in the region In news: Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Singapore recently to focus on three increasingly interconnected themes — the strategic, economic and technological. On all three, there is a new dynamism to the east of India and Singapore is at the heart of it. The Shangri La Dialogue: It is the annual conclave in Singapore that brings together the region’s defence ministers and senior military officials. The Dialogue is organised by the London-based International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) with the support of the Singapore government. For nearly two decades, the Shangri La Dialogue had provided a useful venue for the Indian defence establishment to engage its counterparts in Asia. Yet Delhi’s participation in this forum has turned out to be erratic. Rapid deterioration in US-China relations: Reacting to China’s relentless militarisation of the South China Sea, Washington has uninvited Beijing from the world’s largest maritime exercises, called RimPac, held every two years. A trade war between Washington and Beijing is also ongoing. There is no sign of an early resolution of the economic disputes between the world’s two largest economies. The current conflict is not limited to the question of trade deficits but has also enveloped the high technology sector, which has seen growing interdependence between US and Chinese companies in recent decades. On the political front, Trump has accused Beijing of sabotaging the US efforts to resolve the nuclear dispute with North Korea. China, apparently, is quite anxious of being cut out of a political settlement in the Korean Peninsula brokered by the US. The Southeast Asian region had benefited immensely from traditional security cooperation with the US and the deepening economic engagement with a rising China in recent decades. The uncertain trajectory of US-China relations has cast a dark cloud over ASEAN’s benign economic and political environment of the last three decades. Much of the region to the east of India is scrambling to adapt to the new dynamic between China and the US. India and ASEAN: Issues Since the end of the Cold War, the ASEAN has sought to draw India into the region as a stabilising force. But it has been disappointed by the tentativeness of India’s defence diplomacy in the region at the bilateral as well as multilateral levels. The government needs to bridge the gap between Delhi’s rhetoric on being a “net security provider” in the region and the lack of concrete matching actions. The Trump Administration’s approach to trade has taken the logic of globalisation for granted. As the South Asian region seeks to secure its interests through consolidation of trade agreements with other nations, it finds India a frustrating interlocutor. Delhi is widely seen in the region as a spoiler in the trade negotiations. Way ahead: The government needs to assure the South Asian region India is flexible and prepared to bring the negotiations to an early closure. Concluding the long-pending review of the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement with Singapore will send out a positive signal to its Asian partners. Formal integration of the digital payments systems of the two countries is also planned. Once it is done, Indian holders of the “RuPay” cards will be able to make financial transactions in Singapore. Similarly, residents of Singapore could use the local NETS cards to make purchases in India and its e-commerce portals. India’s overly complex regulations prevent the full realisation of the potential for digital financial connectivity between India and Singapore. They also limit the possibilities for a greater alignment between the expansive innovation ecosystem in Singapore and the technology hubs in India. India needs to significantly improve the policy environment for innovation in India and discard the bureaucratic defensiveness about global engagement on advanced technologies. Conclusion: An India that misses the current opportunities for technological advancement will inevitably diminish its ability to shape the regional economic, political and military order. The pace and effectiveness of adaptation to the current technological revolution will define the future power hierarchy in Asia. Connecting the dots: Given rapid deterioration of relations between China and USA, it is time India plays a bigger role in the Southeast Asian region. Comment. (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Q.1) Which of the following statements is/are true regarding the Shangri La Dialogue? It is the annual conclave in Singapore that brings together the region’s defence ministers and senior military officials. The Dialogue is organised by the London-based International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) with the support of the Singapore government The first meeting was held in 2002. Select the correct option 1 only 1 and 2 only 1, 2 and 3 None of the above MUST READ Anatomy of an outbreak The Hindu Unhappiest in South Asia Indian Express

Jun 1, 2018 RSTV Video

RSTV- The Big Picture : Anti-Terror Day: Combating Terror

Anti-Terror Day: Combating Terror Archives TOPIC: General Studies 3 Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime with terrorism Terrorism has time and again raised its ugly head - it is a global menace that several countries are trying to deal with on a war footing. From the USA to Asia, no continent is free from the problems of terror. New Delhi has been raising the issue with other countries bilaterally and at international forums to try and tackle the problem over the years. India has had to deal with both foreign terrorists and local elements from time to time. If there is one common agenda as far as world leaders are concerned, it is to fight terror. Thousands of lives have been lost due to terror related activities. Yet there are some nations that use it as a tool of state policy and try to further their goals. Unfortunately, we as responsible nation-states, do not even agree to a common definition of terrorism. The most worrying aspect of global terrorism is that individuals who are already on the CT machinery radar are seen committing carnage. Even with bulk interception, there is no guarantee that attacks would be prevented since analysis is not catching up with collection. Delhi Declaration of India The Delhi Declaration of India and 10 ASEAN countries mentioned, for the first time, “cross-border movement of terrorists” and made a commitment to counter the challenge through “close cooperation”. In an endorsement of the longstanding Indian view, these leaders not only agreed on a comprehensive approach to counter “foreign terrorist fighters”, but also supported efforts to target terror groups and sanctuaries. While stressing that “there can be no justification for acts of terror on any grounds whatsoever,” the Delhi Declaration on the 25th anniversary of the ASEAN-India partnership also said that they would “deepen cooperation in combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, violent extremism and radicalisation through information sharing, law enforcement cooperation and capacity building under the existing ASEAN-led mechanisms”. For the past many decades, India has been a victim of cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir. Its efforts to garner international support to diplomatically isolate Pakistan have borne fruit in recent years, particularly with the recent statements issued by the Trump administration. But other countries, whose support is critical, have not been as forthcoming in targeting Pakistan, allowing Islamabad to get away with patronising — or at least turning a blind eye towards — India-centric terror groups and leaders. This joint statement with ASEAN leaders could embolden New Delhi’s efforts to list Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Maulana Masood Azhar as a global terrorist, and pressure Pakistan to take action against Mumbai terror attack mastermind and Jamaat-ud-Dawa founder Hafiz Saeed. The Way Ahead Is our preventive machinery able to match the changing terrorist methodology? - Unfortunately, governments follow linear thinking. What appear in our discourses are lists of new special squads, better weaponry, satellite imagery, coastal radars and transponders to prevent coastal infiltration. No doubt these are relevant in certain situations but is our counter-terrorist architecture flexible enough to match or surpass the exponential thinking of terrorists? Not having any reliable record of our overseas workers who are the source of such recruitment - The former Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA), which was trying to collect such data during the UPA government’s tenure, was merged with the Ministry of External Affairs after the present NDA government took over. This was a retrograde step as a single-point high-level attention on our overseas workers that had been going on since 2004 was relegated to a minor wing of our vast diplomatic apparatus due to inter-ministerial squabbles. Empowered Soldiers: For a country that takes pride in its modern, technologically advanced military, India still relies heavily on putting more boots on the ground and on the calibre of the soldier. It is time the Defence Ministry adopted a holistic approach, making sure that the soldier is fully backed by technology and calibrated security drills. Preventing terrorists from scoring a strike is the best defence. Intelligence Sharing: To deal with the terror threat, there must be far greater sharing of intelligence among agencies worldwide. One of the major challenges that all intelligence agencies face is a qualitative understanding of the newer, and many post-modern threats. These newer generation threats, including those by terror groups and outfits, often lie “below the radar” or beyond the horizon. Anticipating such threats and their nature requires intelligence agencies to be constantly ahead of the curve. Anticipating newer threats is only partly facilitated by today’s technical advances such as new computing and communication technologies. However, these alone are not often enough to meet today’s intelligence needs. Social Media and Youth: Impressionable minds are very easily lured on the World Wide Web. Terrorism has to be fought at the level of political subversion and that's where social media plays an enormous role, both by the state and others including terrorists. So the actual fight is sometime misunderstood to be on the ground. That’s not where the fight is indeed. Fight on the ground often has a negative influence on state agencies and forces. Political subversion is the ultimate power of terrorism and that is the ultimate aim and that's where it has to be fought and political engagement therefore is important. Must Read: Link 1 + Link 2 Connecting the Dots: India has the disadvantage of being situated in close proximity to what is being described as the epicentre of global terrorism. In the light of this statement, examine the challenges to India’s internal security What is ‘state sponsored terrorism’? Give suitable examples. Is India a victim of this type of terrorism? Substantiate. Terrorist organisations and organised crime cartels have not only appropriated each other’s methodologies but have also developed a symbiotic relationship. Do you agree? Illustrate.

Jun 1, 2018 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

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

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs (Prelims + Mains Focus)- 1st June 2018 Archives (PRELIMS+MAINS FOCUS) US- Indo Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) Part of: Mains GS Paper II- International relations Key pointers: The US military has renamed its Pacific Command to US-Indo Pacific Command, underlining the growing connectivity between India and Pacific Oceans.   The symbolic move came in recognition of the growing importance of the Indian Ocean in US strategic thinking. Henceforth, the US Pacific Command, or PACOM, which was formed after World War II, will be known as the Indo-Pacific Command. Soon after coming to power, the Trump administration had renamed Asia Pacific as Indo-Pacific and identified India as one bookend of the region. America continues to invest vigorously in Indo-Pacific stability, bolstering the free and open rules-based international order that has enabled this region to grow and thrive for over 70 years. 'Mission Raftaar' Part of: Mains GS Paper III- Infrastructure Key pointers: The Indian Railways recently conducted a one-day workshop 'Mission Raftaar' in which officials discussed ways to increase the average speed of freight and passenger trains. This workshop is an exercise with the top management of the railways to brainstorm about increase in speed of freight and passenger trains. Issues such as "punctuality, rolling stock, removing bottlenecks in terms of traffic, elimination of unmanned level crossings were discussed. 'Mission Raftaar' aims at doubling the average speed of freight trains and increasing the average speed of coaching trains by 25 kmph over a five-year period. The average speed of freight trains is 24 kmph and that of passenger trains, excluding suburban trains, is 44 kmph. Increasing the average speed of trains is considered essential for reducing travel time for passengers, transit time for cargo, operational cost, and improving revenues and the railway's market share. (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 The issue of doping in sports In news: In the recently concluded Commonwealth Games at Gold Coast, Australia, the Indian contingent got rapped for alleged violations of the “No Needle Policy”. The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has decided to implement a similar policy. Zero tolerance is welcome. The culture of casual doping amongst athletes needs to change. The reasons for the malaise are many — peer pressure, irresponsible advisers and fellow athletes, unscrupulous coaches, easy availability, poorly administered federations and, of course, human fallibility. Background: India had dropped from third to sixth place on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) 2016 List of Offenders. What makes India’s position unique is that it’s too high on this list, disproportionately so to the levels of its sporting achievement. Rules in India: Indian anti-doping rules mirror the WADA code and prescribe a framework of strict liability. For this, the athlete first needs to establish how the prohibited substance entered his/her system. This burden is justifiably onerous. In reality, it disables an athlete caught in inadvertent doping. Inadvertent doping is due to contaminated or mislabelled supplements, misguided medical treatment and at worst, sabotage. Harmless food supplements like proteins or vitamins used by athletes are often from unreliable sources like private shops or online purchase. A recent initiative by the Foods and Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) to test and certify supplements is still to be fully operationalised. Way ahead: The government should create a source for safe permitted supplements. It would curb accidental doping. An athlete accused of inadvertent doping cannot get supplements tested for contamination, having no access to authorised laboratories. The National Dope-Testing Laboratory (NDTL) is accessible only to NADA or the government. Any anti-doping initiative should aggressively focus not only on detection but also on education and awareness. Athletes, support staff, federations, sports medical personnel must be equipped with well-conceived literature, consultation and workshops. Current efforts are inadequate. NADA’s efforts need to be supplemented by a cadre of indigenous anti-doping experts. No needle policy: The AFI has declared that they have drawn up a two-page protocol which would be distributed to all athletes at national camps and training centres. While we await the details, a few caveats. As a policy, this will be separate from the Anti-Doping Rules and will have to be implemented in silos. The infringement of policy can lead to a disciplinary action but not an anti-doping sanction. An impenetrable infrastructure needs to be put in place first, so that cases of sabotage (simply planting a needle in a competitor’s room) does not become rampant. Restorative, rather than simply retributive justice: A framework must be created to constructively counsel athletes to understand the real causes, degrees of fault and administrative lapses. We must recognise the socio-cultural reality of our sportspersons. Quite a few are from semi-urban or rural backgrounds. To them, sports is the only route to a better economic status. Literacy and language are serious impediments. They are subject to the whims and dictates of administrators. Amidst such intense pressure, they compete and carry our nation’s hopes. But when they err, or are accused of doing so, we disclaim all responsibility. Sports federations, more famous for politicking, must take this blame upfront. Connecting the dots: Making doping a criminal offence is an unsustainable idea which would subject athletes to an already crippled criminal justice system. Restorative, rather than retributive justice should be focused on. Discuss. NATIONAL TOPIC:General Studies 2: 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. Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation Mandatory pre-litigation mediation in commercial dispute In news: Mandatory pre-litigation mediation in commercial disputes has been introduced by the recent Commercial Courts, Commercial Division and Commercial Appellate Division of High Courts (Amendment) Ordinance, 2018, which amends the Commercial Courts Act of 2015. This amendment is expected to alter parties’ sense of responsibility in resolving disputes. Mandatory pre-litigation mediation puts the ball in the court of the parties involved, rather than looking at external agencies like courts, and urges them to engage with and resolve disputes. The meaning of mediation: The Commercial Courts Act was legislated to improve the enforcement of contracts, as part of improving the ease of doing business. The law defines “commercial disputes” to include regular commercial and business contracts, construction contracts, shareholder agreements, licensing agreements, etc. The law makes changes for reduction of timelines, tightening processes and designating special commercial courts and commercial divisions to deal with these disputes, among others. New rules: The ordinance stipulates that no suits concerning commercial disputes will be filed under this Act unless the person filing the suit exhausts the remedy of pre-litigation mediation. If an urgent interim relief is required, this pre-litigation mediation can be dispensed with. However, in all other cases, the mediation is mandatory and will be conducted within a period of three months (extendable by another two months with the consent of the parties). Any settlement arrived at through mediation will have the status of an arbitral award on agreed terms and be enforceable like a decree of court. Importantly, the time limits for filing cases will pause during the time the pre-litigation mediation is underway. Mediation: Mediation is a process of resolution of disputes by the parties to them. It involves discussion of the conflicts, moving out of the loop of allegations and counter-allegations, and assessing where interests lie in resolving the disputes. Options for settlement are explored and a settlement is worked out through joint evaluation. The process is managed by a neutral person called the mediator, who may evaluate the disputes and weigh in on options for settlement (a variant called conciliation) but has no authority to impose a settlement. Other legislations: Mediation, and mandatory mediation specifically, is not new in India. The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, makes a settlement arrived at through conciliation enforceable like a court decree. Under the Code of Civil Procedure, judges can refer cases to mediation. The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Development Act, 2006, mandates conciliation when disputes arise on payments to MSMEs. The Italian case: Mediation policies in other countries mandate mediations through various mechanisms, with good effect. Italy, which faces a high rate of pendency of cases, has adopted what is referred to as ‘opt out’ mandatory mediation. In 2010 and 2013, it introduced a law for pre-litigation mediation. Attempts to mediate were made mandatory for certain disputes (like partition and joint ownership of property) before a case was filed in court. Another approach to mediation policy has been to impose costs on disputants refusing to mediate, as is done in the U.K. Conclusion: The ordinance is an important step in mainstreaming mediation, but it is not enough. There is a need for a comprehensive policy on mediation, rather than the abbreviated and disconnected steps so far. This policy would encapsulate the process, the role and professional responsibilities of mediators, the rights and obligations of parties in the process, and the outcome of the mediation agreement. Connecting the dots: Mandatory pre-litigation mediation in commercial disputes has been introduced recently. Discuss the importance and need of having such mechanism. (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Q.1) 'Mission Raftaar' is related to which of the following? Select the correct option Cobalt (Co) Nickel (Ni) Increasing the speed of freight and passenger trains All of the above MUST READ How to be garbage free? The Hindu Achieving universal health coverage in India Livemint The agricultural core of the macroeconomic problem today Livemint DRDO is headless again Business Line

Jun 1, 2018 Motivational Articles

MOTIVATION: Final Words and Prelims Tips before the D-Day (3rd June 2018)- Vaibhava Srivastava Rank 1 IFoS and Rank 98 UPSC CSE 2017

Hello Friends, I am a Mechanical Engineer from NITK Surathkal and I worked with ITC Limited for three years before getting into Civil Services preparation. I, fortunately, found a place in the “holy PDF” this year, twice. I secured All India Rank 1 in IFS (Indian Forest Service) and All India Rank 98 in Civil Services 2017. I write to you because last year someone else’s words (Mittali ma’am) gave strength and succour to a nervous, under-confident me; and I realized the power of words. Our lives are very different, yet, there are some common strands in stories of all us aspirants. I had previously written Prelims thrice and could never clear. All my failures and the one final success has some clues and hacks about what worked and didn’t for me, which I would like to share with you. Friends, managing your time, temperament and attitude is very important for you in the next three days. Below are a few pointers which, I think, could be helpful for you - Discipline & focus in the last two days plus quick planned revision Do not lose steam now. You are almost there. Surprise yourself and work super hard now. What we revise in the last one or two days stays the freshest in our memory. If a lot is left to revise, take a judgment call, prioritise the portions you will revise in the time left and stick to it. Take up small portions of each subject and revise them in a time bound manner. The more factual topics could be done just one day before, the conceptual ones today. Fix time slots for yourself and push yourself to revise the portions within them no matter what. Move on to the next topic if you are unable to complete and come back if time permits. I truly believe we can cover the same portions in 8 hours, 4 hours, 2 hours or half an hour. It matters the urgency and the sense of purpose. Also, don’t get fixated on covering a subject in entirety now. Right now, try to increase the breadth of your revision, rather than depth. For example, revise only Spectrum for Modern India and cover another subject/topic instead of revising Bipan Chandra too. The nerve game – Before the exam So, last year three days before the prelims I decided that I am not going to write the exam. I thought I will leave home for the centre and come back without writing and not waste an attempt. I felt very ill-prepared. I had not completed a single test series. I had done IASBaba’s 60 days plan and not revised. Vision’s PT 365 I had only read once and only partially revised. Besides, I had gone through a good deal of personal turmoil and was distraught, depressed and in pain. I spoke to my best friend, Nikhil and that conversation somehow gave me solace and peace.  I gathered all the courage I could muster, kept preparing and wrote the exam. I ended up clearing cut-off for IFS too. Besides our knowledge, this exam tests our mental strength. How much we can keep moving forward against the toughest situation. If you are going through this, please know you must keep moving forward. The best way out of this is through this. Speak to the ones you love, crib your heart out and get back in the game. Just hang in there, keep faith in all you have done and know that things will change for good. And they will. At the same time, if you fall in any of the below categories, it might not be a great idea to write it after all – You want to give the exam a “try”, and haven’t studied at all (My first attempt while working) You have just recently started preparation and haven’t even covered the basic books once and are hoping for a miracle in the exam (my second attempt, two months into preparation) The baggage of failed attempts is insurmountable. Please don’t put yourself through it. Nature of the exam – Analytical paper and not a mere test of knowledge Over the last 2-3 years, especially the last year, prelims has become a completely analytical paper which needs to be ‘solved’. You cannot go with the mindset of marking only those questions that you absolutely know for sure, unless there are 70 plus such questions (which is very very rare, even the ones who score the highest marks are not 100% sure of more than 50-55 questions). Herein comes the role of various strategies like intelligent guessing and elimination. You must solve the rest of the paper, the ones that you know something about. This is also to factor in the silly mistakes that you will inadvertently make. Everybody does. Start with answering the questions which you are completely sure of. Then start solving the rest of the questions. Start with elimination and then move to intelligent guessing. You can follow a few pointers about solving the paper taking 2017 paper as the reference – Using Elimination method extensively. If you can narrow down to two options always mark that question. There will be numerous such questions and you stand to overall gain, even if some of such answers turn out to be wrong. For example, this question – Now you can tell, the statement 1 here is incorrect. So, you narrow down to (b) & (c). Then think of all that you have read and try to solve the question. Where you have eliminated only one option, your risks outweigh the gains. It is advisable to leave such questions. Use your existing knowledge to solve unrelated questions. For example –   Let us take a step back and understand the basic mandate of each of these organizations & recollect what we know about them – ASEAN – Economic & trade grouping of South East Asian nations. Never heard of any “global” initiative on their part OECD – Grouping of rich countries of the world. Rarely involved in development initiatives UNCTAD – UN Conference on Trade & Development. Principal organ of the United Nations General Assembly dealing with trade, investment, and development issues. Highly unlikely to be involved in such an infrastructure project. Now, World Bank is actually associated with development & infrastructure projects across the world, especially in developing countries where it is most needed. So, this seems to be the most logical choice. Consider another example - We know, of the various global groupings mentioned in the options, only EU is a Single Market. Hence, seems to be the most appropriate choice. Another example - We know that breaking down of heavy metals, which are essential elements is not possible by microorganisms. Hence, Statement 2 can be ruled out. Now, statement 3 could be correct. We keep hearing of microorganisms developed by Genetic Engineering for various bio-remediation purposes, example treating oil spill. Hence, (c) is the correct choice. These are just some of the ways, for every single question this can be customized. It is wise to leave the questions of which you have zero idea. Do not go by an inner voice to which an option “looks or seems correct”. For example, this question – Now, this is something very specific. And I had never heard of before. So, it is wise to not touch this one at all. The answer could practically be anything for all I know! Try to use these hacks as much as possible and maximize your attempt. But please steer clear of wild guessing.   How much anxiety is good anxiety? Friends, clearing this exam depends on two things – how you have prepared till now and how you are going to attempt the exam. The latter is more important really. Please know that in your entire life this is just one event. And you can do well only if you are at ease and composed. Please don’t let excessive nervousness and anxiety play spoilsport to your efforts. Try to be excited about the exam. Think of this as a challenge which UPSC is posing. It will be interesting to anticipate what UPSC will ask amongst the topics you have studied. To solve the paper thinking logically through each question and each option will be an interesting exercise which you will enjoy. This is the last leg of the first stage of this exam for you. Please keep faith in all that you have done so far. Your preparation is never going to be perfect. And this holds true for everyone – the guy who got the Rank 1 and the guy who unfortunately couldn’t make it. But your current level of preparation will get you past the cut off if you keep it together in the exam hall and just do your best. You might have made mistakes or have had a flawless preparation. Nevertheless, you took the plunge and chose to follow your heart, which is itself a victory over your fears and I have all the respect for you. Just a little more courage, just a little more while. And so I leave you with these words of Shri Dushyant Kumar “मंजिल मिलेगी भटक कर ही सही, गुमराह तो वो हैं जो घर से निकले ही नहीं” PS – You may reach me at vaibhava.mech.nitk@gmail.com if you are in trouble with exam preparation. IASbaba's Words of Motivation India is a cricket crazy nation. Cricket runs in India’s DNA. The probability is really high that you are also a cricket fan. But does that even matter? If you are in India, you know about the game and its stars even if you are an avid football fan! Now, try to imagine the scenes from the final match between India and Australia from the World Cup, 2003. It hurts, isn’t it? Despite having played so well throughout the tournament, our team floundered badly in the final. Not only did we lose but we lost without a fight. Why? Can you think of a reason? We had defeated teams like England, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka etc quite convincingly and yet couldn't stand the onslaught of a rampaging Australian team. Were we not prepared or did we lack the talent? The answer is an obvious NO. With the likes of Sachin, Ganguly, Sehwag, Dravid, Zaheer and Harbhajan in the team, we could have defeated any opposition on our day. You know most of the newspapers editorials and news channels ascribed this defeat to the fact that India got overwhelmed by the stakes of a World Cup Final. Indian players couldn’t come into terms with the immense pride that was involved with playing a World Cup Final. Isn’t it funny? There are things in our life that we strive to achieve and put our mind, body and soul into it and yet when the time arrives, we just FAIL. We fail not because we lack any skill or are incompetent. We failed because we couldn't sustain the pressure. In that final, players bore the expectations of millions, in our lives we bear the expectations of our family, friends and most importantly ours own. These expectations coupled with the effort one has put into a goal makes even the most mundane events challenging. Isn’t the same happening to you right now? You know that you have prepared well but then you think what if there are really few questions from Polity that you have a strong grip over? What if there are too many questions from culture that you have hardly even touched yet? What if you are unable to clear the cut-off? What if you fail in Paper II? What if another attempt is lost? What if your life ends up being an epitome of failure? If these ‘what ifs’ are bothering you, then you have let your control over your senses loosen a bit. The stakes involved in the preliminary examination has made you feel insecure. But are you alone? Not exactly. There are about half a million aspirants whose state of mind resonates with that of yours. They are equally insecure about their attempt. This examination is a level playing field not only because it throws the same questions but also because it churns the same emotional and psychological juices from all the aspirants. When you give your everything to a goal, such sentimentalities are really common. Don’t worry about it. If you have given your best during your preparation, you need not worry about the outcome. If you are in competition and feeling the pressure, so are others and in equal magnitude or scale. Now, we want you to remember the Indian team facing the mighty Australians in the quarterfinal of World Cup, 2011. We won that match and ultimately the World Cup. What changed in those 8 years? In terms of skills and strengths, this team was similar to the 2003 World Cup squad. Just like in 2003, Australia was on a winning streak. How could we defeat Australia then? The answer lies in the fact that the players had learnt the art of overcoming the anxiety that comes with big occasions. In a day, you are going to face one such huge occasion of your life. You need to soothe your senses a little bit and tell yourself these five things: I am well prepared and ready to face this challenge. I am not scared of failures as I am not so weak that an examination can decide my fate. My family and friends love me for who I am and not because they feel that one day I will qualify UPSC. Of the many challenges that life will throw at me, this is only one of them. I will give my best and won’t bother about the results.   So go there and have some fun guys! You will surely come out with flying colours.   All the Best IASbaba Team

Jun 1, 2018 AIR

All India Radio (AIR) : Ujjwala Yojana & Declining Air Pollution

Ujjwala Yojana & Declining Air Pollution ARCHIVES Search 2nd May, 2018 Spotlight here: http://www.newsonair.com/Main_Audio_Bulletins_Search.aspx TOPIC: General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. General Studies 3: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment Air pollution kills more Indians than any other risk factor with estimates ranging from 15 to 20 lakh premature deaths annually. Although outdoor air pollution garners most public attention, it is well-known in health circles that pollution from chulhas is about half of the problem because people in households are directly exposed to such pollution. It is less well-understood, however, that the two are linked: One of the reasons India has such bad outdoor air pollution is that nearly 200 million households are still burning biomass every day for cooking. Solving the household dirty fuel problem will also help reduce the outdoor air problem, although not solve it on its own. Key facts Around 3 billion people cook using polluting open fires or simple stoves fuelled by kerosene, biomass (wood, animal dung and crop waste) and coal. Each year, close to 4 million people die prematurely from illness attributable to household air pollution from inefficient cooking practices using polluting stoves paired with solid fuels and kerosene. Household air pollution causes noncommunicable diseases including stroke, ischaemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer. Close to half of deaths due to pneumonia among children under 5 years of age are caused by particulate matter (soot) inhaled from household air pollution. Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana: Targeting Forgotten Population Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana is a scheme of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas for providing LPG connections to women from Below Poverty Line (BPL) households. Mantra: Swacch Indhan, Behtar Jeevan – Mahilaon ko mila samman Under the scheme, five crore (now 8 crores) LPG connections are to be provided to BPL households. The identification of eligible BPL families will be made in consultation with the State Governments and the Union Territories. Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) aims to safeguard the health of women & children by providing them with a clean cooking fuel – LPG, so that they don’t have to compromise their health in smoky kitchens or wander in unsafe areas collecting firewood. The ambitious scheme also laid down a condition — that the LPG connections will be issued in the name of the women of the households. Current Move: Encouraged by the rapid release of connections, the central government revised the target and scope of the scheme to eight crore connections by March 2020. Under the scheme, the union government bears the connection cost of ₹1,600 per connection, and each household pays about ₹1,500 for the stove and the first LPG cylinder. Centre to raise allocation for the project to ₹4,800 crore Marks a significant shift in the government’s approach to providing access to clean cooking fuels: For the first time, it chose to aggressively pursue providing modern cooking fuels to all Indian households. This is an important step since household air pollution (HAP) arising from combustion of solid fuels for cooking is a major contributor to four of the top five causes of mortality and morbidity in India, and HAP is also a significant contributor to outdoor air pollution Recent research suggests that providing clean cooking fuels to all can be a highly cost-effective health intervention In addition, collection and use of solid fuels for cooking increases the drudgery and adversely impacts time-use by women The Way Forward: PMUY is a bold new initiative that aspires to fundamentally address one of the pressing energy–access, health and gender challenges in the country. The programme has been successful in introducing a sense of urgency into the transition to modern cooking fuels and disbursing connections. But it has been less successful in introducing a sustained change because of issues around affordability and reliability of LPG supply. Government needs to re-look at their connection focused approach, and should ensure adequate provisions for affordability, availability, and accountability. This will propel PMUY to achieve the desired objective of not only disbursing connections but making the LPG sector a real contributor to overcoming this deep-rooted challenge affecting energy access, health, and gender disparity. There needs to be a synergy in the Gas connection with the Electricity connection. Must Read: Link 1 Connecting the Dots: Does there exist a direct relation of smokeless kitchens with economic development. Discuss.

May 31, 2018 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs [Prelims + Mains Focus] - 31st May 2018

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs (Prelims + Mains Focus)- 31st May 2018 Archives (PRELIMS+MAINS FOCUS) India launches 2nd IT corridor in China Part of: Mains GS Paper II, III- International relations, Infrastructure Key pointers: India recently launched its second IT corridor in China to get access to the growing Chinese software market. It will provide market access to Indian IT firms in the huge Chinese market. The new IT corridor in Guiyang. The corridor is aimed at setting up local offices and assisting companies from Guiyang to establish software and IT units in India. Few months back NASSCOM had established its first Digital Collaborative Opportunities Plaza or SIDCOP platform in the Chinese port city of Dalian. Dalian corridor's focus was on Internet of Things- IoT but the Guiyang corridor will focus on Big Data. The platform in Guiyang intends to create online and offline presence to promote a "co-create culture" between two large neighbours in the Big Data space. Background: India IT firms have a presence in more than 70 countries in the world, generating employment for up to 12 million people worldwide. In China, Indian IT companies are present in 10 cities around the country, with a total work-force of around 25,000 employees. For India, getting access to China's IT market is important to address the massive trade deficit which has now spiralled to over USD 51 billion. India has been demanding China to provide market access to Indian IT and pharmaceutical firms for several years to reduce bilateral trade deficit. Ruthenium: Fourth single element to show ferromagnetism Part of: Mains GS Paper III- Science & Technology Key pointers: Scientists have demonstrated that the chemical element ruthenium (Ru) is the fourth single element to have unique magnetic properties at room temperature. It could be used to improve sensors, devices in the computer memory and logic industry, or other devices using magnetic materials. Ferromagnetism is the basic mechanism by which certain materials (such as iron) form permanent magnets or are attracted to magnets. Till now only three elements on the periodic table have been found to be ferromagnetic at room temperature -- iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), and nickel (Ni). GI Tag for rural crafts in W.B. Part of: Mains GS Paper III- Inclusive growth Key pointers: The Chau mask of Purulia, the wooden mask of Kushmandi, the Patachitra, the Dokras of Bengal, and Madhurkathi (a kind of mat) have been presented with the Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the Geographical Indication Registry and Intellectual Property India. GI tags for these five rural crafts will help the artisans create their own brand and will provide legal protection to artisans practising the crafts against attempts to duplicate them in other regions. GI Tags: GI tags are given on the basis of the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999. A GI tag connects the quality and authenticity of a given product to a particular geographical origin, thereby ensuring that no one other than the authorised user can use the popular product’s name. The first product to be included in the list was Darjeeling Tea. Digital literacy programme for women: Fb in partnership with NCW Part of: Mains GS Paper I- Social issues, Women empowerment Key pointers: Facebook has entered into a partnership with National Commission for Women (NCW) to launch a digital literacy programme aimed at training 60,000 women in universities across India on safe use of the Internet, social media and email in a year. Launched in collaboration with Cyber Peace Foundation, the pilot programme will enable trainees to differentiate between credible and questionable information. The training will be conducted in vernacular languages. The digital literacy programme will benefit women in universities across major cities in Haryana, Delhi-NCR, Manipur, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu. With more women going online, NCW has witnessed a surge in cyber crime related complaints registered at the Commission in the past three years. There is a need to ensure that while online, the women feel safe and secure on the Internet. (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 Cauvery Dispute: Lessons from international treaties Introduction: More than 80 per cent of Indian rivers are inter-state rivers. According to the Central Water Commission, there are 125 inter-state water agreements in India. Many of these agreements are more than 100 years old and had been executed without seriously considering socio-economic, political and geographical factors. These treaties have now become permanent sources of problems for many states. Continuous redrawing of state boundaries during the British regime and after Independence have kept the disputes alive. Basic principles: For effective settlement of these disputes, equitable sharing of benefits is more important than equitable distribution of water. The principle of downstream benefit-sharing is crucial for the successful implementation of these treaties. Water-sharing principles must be based on the size of the river basin, population growth, historical claims, efforts taken by the state governments for water conservation, rainfall and changes in cropping patterns, scientific use of water, priority for agriculture, allocation for industry and power generation, flood control and domestic uses. These issues should be given due importance in negotiations. International treaties: The water distribution agreement proposed by the World Bank in 1960 continues to be the basis of the Indus Water Treaty. The permanent Indus Commission regularly exchanges information and ensures cooperation between India and Pakistan on the use of river waters amicably. The US-Mexico International Boundary and Water Commission has been successfully implemented since 1884 with the changing course of the rivers, the Rio Grande and Colorado. This treaty has been amended more than seven times since its inception, based on the changes in irrigation uses, river boundaries, flood control, population growth, urbanisation, etc. The sharing of water during surplus and drought years is based on a five-year cycle of water flow data. The 1996 Indo-Bangladesh Treaty on Water Sharing is based on lean season water availability. The assured minimum water quota sharing between the two countries was fixed on alternate three 10-day cycles during the lean season. The joint committee decides the daily flow and in case of disputes, it will be referred to the JRC and further to the governments. The water sharing arrangements is reviewed at five-year intervals or earlier on request from either side. Based on the bilateral negotiations in 1977, 1982, 1985 and the recent one, the two countries reached an effective mechanism for water sharing. Now JRC and JCE settle water disputes between the two countries. The Indo-Bangladesh treaty can be the model for the resolution of the Cauvery dispute. The Cauvery dispute: The bone of contention between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka is about sharing water during the lean/scarce period. This dispute is alive for more than 200 years. It started between Mysore and Madras in 1807, which led to an agreement in 1892 and 1924. Though this agreement allowed for changes after 50 years, the linguistic re-organisation of states in 1956 triggered new problems. Lesson from international treaties: There is an immediate need to constitute a permanent dispute settlement body like the JRC, JCE of Indo-Bangladesh treaty, the Indus Commission, the US-Mexico International Boundary and Water Commission etc. for the Cauvery dispute. The Cauvery Management Board proposed by the Supreme Court may act like these bodies. The states can even re-negotiate the existing treaty, involving mutually agreed third parties like World Bank to arrive at a permanent settlement. Connecting the dots: There are 125 inter-state water agreements in India. These treaties have now become permanent sources of problems for many states. In this background, discuss how international treaties can be taken as an example to solve matters like Cauvery dispute. 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 Digital Interface between citizens and governement: Building trust Introduction: Trust in governments — even democratically elected ones — is dropping. Trust is the basis of all governance. It underpins the success of public schemes, the volume of public sector investment, and even institutional level compliance. The most effective measures a government can undertake to build trust is improving how its services reach and are perceived by citizens. Digital interface: Younger populations, rising smartphone access, and the private sector’s consumerisation of services are changing how people interface with government services. Digital is fast becoming the de-facto citizen-government interface, and the digital service delivery quality is therefore pivotal to overall perceptions of governance. Better designed online services improve efficiencies, reduce costs, and create more accessibility. Best practices The private sector has always excelled in forging a deeper connection with the masses. Brands have striven to build the best user experience. The National Portal of India (India.gov.in) is a notable example of a government initiative striving to meet online sensibilities. From fishery licences to tax filing, it has everything that citizens could require. Consolidating the universe of citizen-government relations, it’s also easily navigable. Considering that India’s next digital billion will have preferences shaped by sophisticated online experience, the government needs to quickly develop a change management and capacity building culture. The digital journey: More than just serving as paperwork details, citizen data should provide context to engage with government offerings. For example, geolocation can enable event recommendations, or alert people of service touchpoints. In emergencies, we can immediately be alerted of relief shelters and aid sites. For such services to develop a following, local language support can bring more citizens into the digital fold. Similarly, with greater mobile penetration, the government should use a mobile-first approach to communicate, measure, and optimise services and information dissemination. Building trust also requires transparency, which almost every major government globally has struggled with. For India, enabling citizens to benefit from government commitments is one of the simplest ways of showcasing commitment. To make development a dialogue, citizens should be able to provide feedback on service quality, and be apprised of corresponding changes, increasing belief in transparency. Governments should have a clear imperative: match technology’s march, and its ability to increase the range and quality of digital services; capture the next digital opportunities; and anticipate citizen needs and design services, moving away from traditional reactive approaches. Conclusion: The governments today need to build deeper, more personalised relationship by enriching the online experience. A digital interface, that is incredibly fluid and easily navigable, is required. Government services online must aspire to become effortless, seamless, and easy on every device. Connecting the dots: For more responsible governance, governments today must provide a more enriching digital interface with their citizens. Comment. (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Q.1) The Singchung Bugun Community Reserve has won the India Biodiversity Award 2018. Which of the following statements are true regarding the reserve? GI tags are given on the basis of the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999. A GI tag connects the quality and authenticity of a given product to a particular geographical origin, thereby ensuring that no one other than the authorised user can use the popular product’s name. The first product to be included in the GI list was Chanderi Sarees. Select the correct option 1 and 2 only 1 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 None of the above Q.2) Which of the following elements shows ferromagnetism? Select the correct option Cobalt (Co) Nickel (Ni) Ruthenium (Ru) All of the above MUST READ The federalist principle The Hindu Charting its own path The Hindu India, EU and the privacy challenge Indian Express A bureaucracy for our times Indian Express

May 30, 2018 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

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

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs (Prelims + Mains Focus)- 30th May 2018 Archives (PRELIMS+MAINS FOCUS) The Praapti Web Portal Part of: Mains GS Paper III- Infrastructure Key pointers: In a bid to rein in errant distribution companies (discoms) that delay payments to power generation companies, the Power Ministry has launched the Praapti web portal. ‘Praapti’ stands for ‘Payment ratification and analysis in power procurement for bringing transparency in involving of generators’. This portal will help power distribution companies be apprised of invoicing by generators and also bring transparency in their payments to them. The power distribution companies can clear the invoices and reply to claims raised by the generators on this portal. The portal will also compare and rank State discoms on outstanding bills and the frequency of clearing them. 'Green' cricket in India Part of: Mains GS Paper III- Environment, conservation Key pointers: The Board of Control for Cricket in India and UN Environment signed an agreement to ‘green’ cricket in India The initiative aims to reduce cricket's environmental impact by greening operations and engaging fans and cricketers in green initiatives.   The partnership aims to spread greater awareness about key environmental challenges facing the country and highlight alternate and more sustainable solutions. The partnership will also focus on phasing out single-use plastic across stadiums and cricket events in the country. #BeatPlasticPollution: As global host of World Environment Day in 2018, India is leading the global charge to #BeatPlasticPollution in the country, and around the world. It is estimated that the world uses 10 million plastic bags every minute, and much of ends up in our oceans and landfills and is ingested by marine animals and wildlife. Global Wind Energy Summit Part of: Mains GS Paper III- Environment, conservation Key pointers: The first edition of the Global Wind Summit will be held in Hamburg, Germany in September, 2018. The conference on wind is the largest and most important meeting of the wind industry worldwide. The event will provide a platform for experts from across the globe to discuss innovative and green technologies for harnessing wind energy making. The focus of the conferences would be on three major subjects. Dynamic markets, cost efficiency and smart energy. India is fourth largest country -- after China, the US and Germany -- in terms of wind energy installation capacity at around 33 GW. The government has set a target of achieving 60 GW by 2022. (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 India-Indonesia: Re-engagment Historical background: Despite their proximity, physical and cultural, the strategic distance between Delhi and Jakarta has been incredibly vast. Barring a brief moment in the mid 20th century, when anti-colonial solidarity brought them together, modern India and Indonesia have barely figured in each other’s mental maps. The Bandung conference was held in April 1955. After Bandung, India turned its back on Asia and focused on the non-aligned movement. Jakarta moved towards the minor variant of Asianism in South East Asia. Intense friendship between Delhi and Jakarta turned into mild hostility in the early 1960s. After that the two sides settled down to an extended period of mutual neglect. A variety of internal, regional and global political developments widened the political gulf between India and Indonesia. Transforming relationship: There is an increasing self-awareness in Delhi and Jakarta of their growing regional and international weight. India and Indonesia are slowly but surely breaking out of the foreign policy mindsets shaped for long by non-alignment. The new maritime impulse is shaping the worldview of Delhi and Jakarta amidst an extraordinary power shift in Asia and its waters. At the heart of this transformation is the change in their economic weight. With its GDP at $2.6 trillion, India is the fifth largest economy in nominal terms and the third biggest in PPP. Indonesia's GDP has crossed the one trillion-dollar mark last year. As its potential for a larger regional and global role comes into view, Jakarta is looking to complement the centrality of ASEAN with a larger vision of the Indo-Pacific, a geopolitical construct that India too has adopted. Both of them have begun to rediscover their long-neglected maritime destiny. Prolonged inward economic orientation and border disputes in the north west and the north meant India had no time for its seas in the 20th century. After two-and-a-half decades of reform that has globalised the Indian economy, Delhi is paying more attention to maritime issues. With thousands of islands, Indonesia is a massive archipelagic nation. But Jakarta until recently saw no reason to think maritime. The benign external environment secured by the United States meant Jakarta could devote most of its energies on internal territorial consolidation. Now, as the Asian waters open up to great power contestation, Jakarta can no longer remain sea blind. A little over three years ago, President Jokowi unveiled the ambition to turn Indonesia into a “global maritime fulcrum” by taking advantage of its special geographic position as the land bridge and sea link between the Indian and Pacific Oceans. China, the common concern: The Indonesian government has offered to grant India access to its Sabang port for the development of the port and an economic zone. Located at the mouth of the strategically important Strait of Malacca, Sabang is only 100 nautical miles from the southern tip of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. India and Indonesia share multiple common concerns, one of which is China’s growing maritime footprint in the eastern Indian Ocean. Sabang, with its naval base, naval air station, and maintenance and repair facilities, has the potential to serve as the focal point of a budding strategic partnership between the two countries. Maritime cooperation: Areas of engagement Information sharing on white shipping, and enabling India to partner Indonesia in tracking commercial cargo ships at choke points such as Malacca which are getting increasingly congested. In the past, cooperation between India and Indonesia has been limited to anti-piracy patrols, search and rescue exercises and joint hydrographic exploration. It is important for the two countries to move to a more concerted and intensive engagement. India should leverage this opportunity and seek its inclusion in the Malacca Strait Patrols programme. India’s inclusion in the programme would augment India’s existing maritime domain awareness in the region, while the eyes-in-the-sky component will allow India to jointly patrol the region with its maritime surveillance aircraft. Chinese presence in the SLOCs is well known, and India’s ability to monitor Chinese naval movements in the locale will be a great boost to the Indian Navy’s security missions. A strategic confluence needs an economic direction. The development of the port and economic zone in Sabang can serve as blueprint for a connectivity partnership between the two nations, and more importantly, provide an alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative. The proposed cruise tourism circuit between the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Sabang would further enhance such economic linkages. A partnership that includes collaboration in defence industries and maritime training and education can ensure a dynamic maritime collaboration. An opportunity: India needs to supplement efforts in Jakarta and leverage its existing strategic relations with Singapore and other like-minded regional states if it is to cement its position as a ‘net security provider’ in the Indian Ocean. A closer logistical partnership with countries such as Singapore, Australia and Indonesia can be the starting point of an extensive strategic linkage that will help establish India as a regional provider of maritime security. Conclusion: The time has come for India to realise the potential of a strategic alignment with the archipelagic state that is geo-politically positioned at the centre of the Indo-Pacific, and an upgrade in maritime relations is the logical way forward. Connecting the dots: A more concerted and intensive engagement will serve both India and Indonesia well especially with regards to maritime cooperation. Comment. ECONOMY TOPIC: General Studies 3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. General Studies 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. The Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana: An assessment Introduction: The Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), one of the flagship schemes of the present government, was launched in August 2014. The ‘J’ in JDY is the ‘J’ in ‘JAM’ (Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile) through which the Economic Survey of 2015 claimed that “every tear from every eye” could be wiped. A critical evaluation of the scheme is in order. Background: The recently released World Bank Global Findex data show that 80% of Indian adults now have a bank account, which is being celebrated as the success of the JDY. While the increase in the proportion of adults having bank accounts is indeed impressive (80% in 2017 from 53% in 2014), 48% of those who have an account in a financial institution made no withdrawal or deposit in the past one year. An analysis: Financial inclusion is not just about opening bank accounts, but also about using these accounts and providing access to formal credit. In fact, the major limitation of the JDY has been that while it has managed to get many people to open bank accounts, there is no commensurate increase in the use of these accounts, availability of formal credit, or savings in financial institutions, especially among the country’s marginalised and poorer sections. Access to formal credit: As per various data and surveys, there is no sign of increased access to formal credit that the PMJDY is supposed to have ensured for its beneficiaries. Poor households in India, in the absence of access to formal credit, have to deal with moneylenders who charge exorbitant rates of interest. This is one of their biggest worries. The Household Survey on India’s Citizen Environment and Consumer Economy, 2016 shows that while for the top 1% of the population, one in six are exposed to informal credit, within the poorest section of the population, the figure is four times as high, with two in three taking credit from informal sources. Access to bank accounts seems to have had little effect on their dependence on private money lenders. Conclusion: The precarious conditions of indebtedness that poor people find themselves in has little signs of abating as a result of the JDY. Thus, more efforts needs to be made in this direction. Connecting the dots: PMJY has failed to promote financial inclusion. Critically analyze. (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Q.1) Which of the following statements is/are true regarding the agreement to 'green' cricket in India? It has been signed between the BCCI and UN Environment. The initiative aims to reduce cricket's environmental impact by greening operations and engaging fans and cricketers in green initiatives.   The partnership will also focus on phasing out single-use plastic across stadiums and cricket events in the country. Select the correct option 1 and 2 only 1 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 None of the above Q.2) The Praapti web portal is related to which of the following: Select the correct option Power sector Women Empowerment Law and order None of the above MUST READ Green push The Hindu Data in a post truth age The Hindu Stress and disorder increasing in parliament The Hindu The importance of green skills for green job Livemint India has a major sexual assault problem Livemint