Feb 19, 2018 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs [Prelims + Mains Focus] - 19th February 2018

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs (Prelims + Mains Focus)- 19th February 2018 Archives (PRELIMS+MAINS FOCUS) State of women in India: Caste and rural-urban divide Part of: Mains GS Paper I- Social Issues Key pointers: According to a report released by the United Nations, the caste of a women in India can increase her exposure to mortality due to various factors like inadequate healthcare and poor sanitation. Caste disparity- It has been reported that women belonging to Dalit caste dies 14.6 years younger than women from other castes at an average. Rural-Urban disparity- The report also brings out how it is more likely for a woman from rural household to get married under the age of 18, and become an adolescent mother as compared to women from urban households. It also points to how it is less likely for a rural household woman to go to school as compared to those from urban areas. About the report: The report released is called Turning promises into action: gender equality in the 2030 Agenda. The UN report covers 89 countries and has been released two years after the adoption of UN’s 2030 Agenda. The report examines through a gender lens the progress and challenges in the implementation of all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It emphasises on how the progress of a woman is essential for an overall development to be achieved. It focuses on the importance of providing benefits and services to one and all and is complemented with a pledge to leave no one behind on the journey to sustainable development. The report states that strategies should be built by creating a sense of solidarity through redistribution, risk sharing, and universal services, to ensure no one is left behind on the path of development. Article link: Click here Geo-tagging of MGNREGS assets in Kerala Part of: Mains GS Paper III- Infrastructure Key pointers: Kerala is soon to get assets generated under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme geo-tagged and perhaps become the first State to achieve this distinction. Geo-tagging is being done under the GeoMGNREGA, a software solution, to photo geotag all completed assets under the MGNREGS using space technology and to integrate the details of wage and materials into public domain to ensure transparency and accountability, according to the MGNREGS website. The objective of GeoMGNREGA is to create Geographical Information System solution to explore the data of assets created under the MGNREGA. It essentially enables to view such assets across India on a map. Article link: Click here Hyperloop between Mumbai and Pune Part of: Mains GS Paper III- Infrastructure Key pointers: The Virgin Group, a British multinational corporation, has signed an ‘intent agreement’ with the Maharashtra government on to build a hyperloop transportation system between Mumbai and Pune. The hyperloop route will be a fully electric system that can travel at up to 1,000 kmph. Benefits of the hyperloop: The hyperloop is expected to reduce travel time between the cities to 20 minutes, from the present three hours. With easier access to airport gates, the loop will be able to ferry 15 crore passengers every year. The proposed hyperlink system will transform the transportation system and make Maharashtra a global pioneer in the space. The socio-economic benefits of the project is $55 billion, and will create thousands of jobs. Article link: Click here (MAINS FOCUS) INTERNATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2: India and its neighborhood and International – relations. Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora. India and It's Neighbors Introduction: India’s salience in global matters has grown over time. The presence of 10 leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at India’s Republic Day celebrations. The visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to India Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s latest visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman and Palestine. India now need to contemplate and reflect deeply on what is happening in our immediate neighbourhood. In the vicinity: Far more than East, South-east Asia, or West Asia, it is India’s immediate neighbourhood that directly impacts it geopolitically, geo-strategically and geoeconomically. Whatever be the ambit of India’s reach elsewhere, India’s principal focus should be on its neighbourhood. In West Asia: India still possesses enough leeway to engage in skilful manoeuvre around contentious issues in West Asia. India successfully handled an Israeli Prime Minister’s visit to India just prior to Mr. Modi’s visit to Palestine, and yet avoid a negative fallout. Mr. Modi, during his Palestine visit concluded as many as six agreements and express the hope that Palestine would soon emerge as a sovereign independent country in a peaceful manner without having to specifically refer to a “united” and “viable” Palestine. With the UAE, trade and economic ties along with counter-terror aspects have improve over time. With Oman, an established friend, the option of closer naval co-operation and of reaching an agreement to give the Indian Navy access to Duqm port should be explored. In South Asia: Nepal and Bangladesh: India needs to contemplate ways to deal with a new government in Nepal (comprising the Left Alliance of the CPN-UML and the CPN-Maoist Centre). India also needs to now contemplate the prospect of prolonged unrest and possibly violence, both communal and terror-related, in neighbouring Bangladesh, prior to scheduled elections in 2019. Dealing with both Nepal and Bangladesh will need closer monitoring. In Maldives: An imminent challenge for India is to sort out the imbroglio in the Maldives which is threatening to spill out of control. India cannot afford not to be directly engaged in finding a proper solution. Relations between India and the Maldives have undergone significant changes since the days of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. After the Maldivian Democratic Party, headed by former President Mohamed Nasheed, came to power, for the first time anti-Indian forces within the Maldives gained some support. Under the current President, Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, anti-Indian tendencies have steadily increased and there has been a pronounced tilt in favour of China. The free trade agreement that the Maldives signed recently with China has been providing China with an excellent opportunity to enhance its influence and retain de facto possession of the Southern Atolls in the Maldivian archipelago. With the U.S. taking a step back, China has begun to display a great deal of interest in the area. The Maldives today occupies a crucial position along the main shipping lanes in the Indian Ocean. India cannot, hence, afford to remain idle and must come up with an answer soon enough that is consistent with its strategic interests. Reference article: Maldives in the midst of deep political crisis Across the border: Pakistan and Afghanistan, similarly demand our focussed attention. India should act with a sense of responsibility expected of a regional superpower. Pakistan: India is facing a daily haemorrhaging of human lives due to cross border firing and terrorist violence from Pakistan. In spite of its internal political crisis, and U.S. President Donald Trump’s threatening Pakistan with dire consequences if it failed to amend its ways, Pakistan shows no sign of altering its anti-India trajectory. Afghanistan: Issues- The daily massacre of innocents, men, women and children, civilian officials and military personnel, experts from several countries and diplomats, marks the start of the complete collapse of a system of governance. Despite periodic optimistic forecasts of the Taliban being in retreat, terrorists under check, and that the Afghan government is still in charge, Afghanistan’s position today is the worst ever since the 1970s. This January, the capital city of Kabul witnessed one of the worst ever incidents of violence anywhere, in which over 100 civilians were killed following a series of terror strikes. The prolonged period of chaos demonstrates that the Afghan state has virtually disintegrated. As a regional power, India has significant stakes in Afghanistan. New Delhi has spent over $2 billion in providing humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan. India’s true stake lies in sustaining the future of the Afghan state. Absence of peace in Afghanistan will only revive memories of the worst days of the Afghan jihad in the 1980s and 1990s. If Afghanistan were to cease to exist, its civilisational links with India would also evaporate. For a variety of reasons, therefore, India cannot allow Afghanistan to collapse or cease to exist as a state in the modern sense. This is something that demands India’s critical attention, and specially for a display of its leadership skills. Conclusion: The outcome of the Israel-Palestine conflict, the turmoil in the East and South China Seas, or other big-ticket issues across the world are important, but it is South Asia and the neighbourhood that demands our concentrated attention. Only after India actively involves in ensuring that the region is at peace and functions in conformity with its world view, the claims to its leadership will sound justifiable. Connecting the dots: For India to gain leadership position in global affairs, it is required that our foreign policy is reframed so as to priorities our neighborhood. Analyze. NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 3: Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices Inclusive growth and issues arising from it. General Studies 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. 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 Operation Greens Background: The finance minister announced Operation Greens, on the lines of Operation Flood, with a seed capital of Rs 500 crore in his speech on February 1. Three days later, the Prime Minister said farmers are his TOP priority — T is for tomatoes, O for onions, and P for potatoes. Operation flood: Operation Flood changed the face of milk production in India, making the country the largest producer of milk in the world — in 2016-2017. Key lessons- Operation Flood was driven largely by smallholders. The AMUL model ensured that 75-80 per cent of the price paid by milk consumers goes to the farmers. Operation Greens wants to replicate that success story in fruit and vegetables, starting with tomatoes, onions and potatoes. Objectives of Operations Greens: The main objective of this project is to reduce price volatility in these commodities, thereby helping farmers augment incomes on a sustainable basis. It also aims to provide these vegetables to consumers at affordable prices. Overall the scheme aims to check the booms and busts in prices. India is the second largest producer of vegetables in the world with about 180 MMT. But China produces four times more vegetables than India. Checking prices collapse with rise in production: Issue: The problem with vegetables is that their prices collapse when their production rises sharply. Reason behind: The country lacks modern storage facilities and the links between processing and organised retailing are very weak. As a result, farmers often end up receiving less than a fourth of what consumers pay in major cities. Way out: Operation Greens needs to ensure that farmers receive at least 60 per cent of what consumers pay. In the case of milk, the producers get more than 75 per cent of what consumers pay. The basic principles of Operation Flood would be useful to operationalise Operation Greens as well. What needs to be done? Linking major consumption centres to major production centres with a minimal number of intermediaries. One needs to map mega consuming centres and link their retail networks with the producing centres of each commodity. Farmers can be organised in farmer producer organisations (FPOs). The Agricultural Produce Market Committee Act will have to be changed to allow direct buying from FPOs, and giving incentives to these organisations, private companies and NGOs to build back end infrastructure as was done in the case of milk. The announcement of tax concessions to FPOs for five years is a welcome step in that direction, if it encourages building such critical infrastructure. Investment in logistics, starting with modern warehouses, that can minimise wastage should be done. An example is of cold storage for onions, where wastage is reduced to less than 10 per cent, compared to the 25-30 per cent wastage in traditional storage facilities on farmers’ fields. Linking the processing industry with organised retailing. On an average, about one-fourth of the produce must be processed. India is way behind on this curve compared to most Southeast Asian countries. Dehydrated onions, tomato puree and potato chips should become cheap, so that an average household can use them. Processing industry adds value and absorbs surpluses. In this light, the government’s announcement of increasing the allocation for the food processing industry by 100 per cent is a welcome step. Conclusion: By developing forward and backward linkages under Operation Greens, the government can ease large price fluctuations, raise farmers’ share in the price paid by the consumer and at the same time, ensure lower prices for the consumers — a win-win situation for all. Connecting the dots: The government announce Operation Greens this year. Discuss its objectives. Also suggest measures to meet desired objectives. MUST READ Me too Indian Express Parting the waters Indian Express Building maritime capacity in SouthEast Asia Livemint Healthy competition Business Line

Feb 19, 2018 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz- 2018 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 145]

UPSC Quiz- 2018 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 145] Archives Q.1) Consider the following statements about Tomara dynasty They ruled parts of present-day Delhi and Haryana They were displaced by the Chauhan (Chahamana) kingdom Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2) Forest owlet is found in which of the following states? Maharashtra Kerala West Bengal Punjab Q.3) Consider the following statements about ‘Darshak’ app It allows real-time museum visitors gather all details about objects or artefacts simply by scanning a QR code placed near the object It is developed by Centre for Development for Advanced Computing (C-DAC) Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.4) Consider the following statements about Atal Bhujal Yojana It is conceived to arrest the rampant overuse of groundwater in India It is supported by the Word Bank It is a sub-scheme under National Groundwater Management Improvement Scheme (NGMIS) Select the correct statements 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above Q.5) Consider the following statements about Malacidins They are a class of chemicals made by bacteria found in soil They target only gram-negative bacteria Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 To Download the Solution – Click here All the Best  IASbaba

Feb 19, 2018 PIB

IASbaba PIB Weekly : Press Information Bureau – 4th Feb to 17th Feb, 2018

IASbaba Press Information Bureau 4th Feb to 17th Feb, 2018 ARCHIVES GS-2 Efforts of the Government towards Affordable Housing (Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation) Government has granted infrastructure status to affordable housing which will enable these projects to avail the associated benefits such as lower borrowing rates, tax concessions and increased flow of foreign and private capital. Provision has been made to include rural areas falling within the notified   Planning/Development areas, under ambit of PMAY (U). It would leverage availability of additional land at cheaper cost for construction of affordable houses. Responding to the demand and supply gap in affordable housing the Government of India launched Pradhan MantriAwas Yojana (PMAY)-Urban in 2015. The larger goal is to fulfill the housing need of homeless urban poor and enable them to own decent pucca houses with basic infrastructure facilities by 2022. Based on demand assessment at the state level, the nation has the mammoth task of constructing about 12 million houses under EWS/LIG segment of the society in order to achieve the goal of Housing for All Steps that are going to be effective in spurring the housing and construction activities, providing huge relief to real estate developers. Also, these would attract private and foreign investments in the housing sector, having a positive multiplier effect on GDP and labor market. Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 (RERA) Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Amendment Act 2016 Higher tax breaks on home loans Goods and Services Tax (GST) Land related reforms Optimizing development control rules Rationalizing of the stamp duty and registration charges Digitalization Digital Gender Atlas (Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation) Digital Gender Atlas has been developed to identify the low performing geographic pockets for girls, particularly from marginalised groups such as scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and Muslim minorities, on specific gender related education indicators. The Atlas is designed around the two broad areas of performance of girls' education and vulnerabilities visualized in the following five sections: Comparative Composite Index based Quartile Ranking grouped under categories of access, infrastructure, teachers and outcome indicators and based on 25 indicators pertaining to primary, upper primary and secondary level which can be visualized at State, district and block level. A Trend Analysis of the performance status of 25 individual indicators can be visualised at State, district and block levels over three years viz 2011-12, 2012-13 & 2013-14. Spatial Distribution of Special Focus Districts. These are districts with a population of 25% and above of people belonging to Schedule Tribes (109 districts), Schedule Castes (61 districts), Muslims  (88 districts with a muslim population of more than 20%), minority community (121 districts as identified by Ministry of Minority Affairs under PM’s 15 PPP), Left Wing Extremist affected districts (88 districts identified by Ministry of Home Affairs), Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) districts (161 districts) and Educationally Backward Blocks (3479 blocks). Vulnerability status of an area based on a composite index of 3 broad indicators (i) rural female literacy (ii) percentage girls/boys married below the legal age of marriage and (iii) working children can be visualized. Separate visualisations are given for working children for the following sub-indicators: disaggregation by gender and age for the 5-9 years, 10-14 years and 15-19 years age groups as well as for marriage below the legal age. These maps are available up to the district level. Children with Disabilities: The performance status of six individual indicators can be visualized at state and district level across three years i.e. 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14.This Digital Gender Atlas can be accessed at website www.rmsaindia.gov.in® Gender Atlas. All the states have been mapped in the Digital Gender Atlas. The states have been using it as a planning tool to come up with strategies for inputs for the state SSA and RMSA annual plans. Launch of Startupindia Ranking Framework (Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation) The Ranking Framework will measure the impact of each step initiated at the local level for building a strong Startup ecosystem. The Ranking Framework will also enable continuous learning through the dissemination of good practices. Aim: To act as catalysts to help the Startup India initiative to drive India’s economic growth and to encourage States and UTs to take proactive steps towards strengthening the Startup ecosystems at the local level. The tools are: State and Union Territory Startup Ranking Framework Compendium of Good Practices for Promoting Startups in India Startup India Kit New Consumer Protection Bill (Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation) Establishment of an executive agency to be known as the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) to promote, protect and enforce the rights of the consumers and will be empowered to investigate, recall, refund and impose penalties Provision for product liability action in cases of personal injury, death, or property damage caused by or resulting from any product Provision for mediation as an Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) making the process of dispute adjudication simpler and quicker and simplification of the process of adjudication by the Consumer Fora. GS-3 World Sustainable Development Summit 2018 (Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment) Theme: Partnerships for a Resilient Planet Aim: Seeks to create action frameworks to resolve some of the most urgent challenges facing developing economies in the backdrop of climate change - combating land degradation, effective waste management mechanisms to make cities free of landfills free, combat air pollution effectively, measures to increase resource and energy efficiency, facilitate transition to clean energy and create financial mechanisms to enable effective climate change mitigation About: WSDS is the flagship forum of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and seeks to bring together on a common platform, global leaders and thinkers in the fields of sustainable development, energy and environment sectors. Please Note: Police + Prisons + Public Order: State subjects The Health Index (Healthy States, Progressive India): First attempt to establish an annual systematic tool to measure and understand the heterogeneity and complexity of the nation’s performance in Health. It is a weighted composite Index, which for the larger States, is based on indicators in three domains: Health Outcomes (70%) Governance and Information (12%) Key Inputs and Processes (18%), with each domain assigned a weight based on its importance. 3. Making school education qualitative: Shagun portal: To create a repository of best practices in school education and to monitor the implementation of SSA Swachh Vidyalaya Campaign: For the provisions of separate toilets for girls and boys in every school Padhe Bharat Badhe Bharat: To ensure that students of classes I & II are able to read with comprehension as well as basic numeracy skills; Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan: To motivate children of the age- group of 6-18 years in study of Science, Mathematics and technology; The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act has been amended to include reference on class-wise, subject-wise Learning Outcomes to ensure that all children acquire appropriate learning level; E-pathshala webportal: To disseminate e-resources including e-books developed by NCERT, SCERT/ SIEs, State boards etc Shaala Siddhi: A comprehensive instrument for school evaluation leading to school improvement Automated Monitoring System at the school level under Mid Day Meal Scheme has been introduced for real time monitoring of the scheme 4. ISRO sets up 473 Village Resource Centres for rural development through satellite technology: To demonstrate the potential of satellite technology for development of rural areas; VRCs have provided various space technology enabled services such as tele-healthcare, tele-education, natural resources information, advisories related to agriculture, career guidance to rural students, skill development and vocational training etc. 5. E-prisons project: Supplements the Prisoner Information Management system (PIMS), developed by National Informatics Centre, which provides a centralized approach for recording and managing prisoner information and generating different kinds of reports. The PIMS records Prisoner’s Basic Details, Family Details, Biometrics (fingerprint), Photograph, Medical Details, Prisoner Case History, Prisoner Movements, Punishment details etc. The availability of these details on an electronic platform will be useful to track the status of prisoners and smooth functioning of the prison system. 6. Multi-pronged approach for security arrangements at the Indo-Pakistan Border (IPB) and Indo-Bangladesh Border (IBB): Deployment of Border Security Force (BSF) Construction of border fence Construction of border roads Installation of floodlights Construction of border out posts (BOPs) Introduction of Hi-Tech surveillance equipments Providing weapons and Specialised Vehicles to Security Forces 7. River Sal: At Navelim town in Goa 8. Intensified Mission Indradhanush: To increase the full immunization coverage to 90% 9. Public Health & Hospitals: State subject 10. India State of Forest Report 2017: India is ranked 10th in the world, with 24.4% of land area under forest and tree cover, even though it accounts for 2.4 % of the world surface area and sustains the needs of 17 % of human and 18 % livestock population Andhra Pradesh (2141 sq km), followed by Karnataka (1101 sq km) and Kerala (1043 sq km) have shown the maximum increase in forest cover Madhya Pradesh has the largest forest cover of 77,414 sq km in the country in terms of area, followed by Arunachal Pradesh with 66,964 sq km and Chhattisgarh (55,547 sq km). In terms of percentage of forest cover with respect to the total geographical area, Lakshadweep with (90.33 per cent) has the highest forest cover, followed by Mizoram (86.27 per cent) and Andaman & Nicobar Island (81.73 per cent) 11. Chandrayaan-2 is the country's second mission to the moon. 12. National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change: To support concrete adaptation activities which mitigate the adverse effects of climate change. National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) is the National Implementing Entity (NIE) The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy under its scheme “Development of Solar Cities” has approved/sanctioned 60 Cities including 13 Pilot and 5 Model Cities up to 12th Five-year Plan period. 13. All-India Tiger Estimation 2018: The Tiger Estimation exercise is the world’s largest wildlife survey effort in terms of coverage, intensity of sampling and quantum of camera trapping. India conducts the All India Tiger Estimation every four years. The current assessment uses Android phone-based application and desktop version of M-STrIPES (Monitoring System for Tigers-Intensive Protection and Ecological Status) for collecting, archiving and analyzing data.  The phone application automatically records the track log of surveys and line transects, as well as authenticates the recorded data on signs and animal sightings with geo-tagged photographs. With increased camera trap density and the use of android technology, estimates arrived at are likely to be more robust – both in terms of accuracy and precision. 14. Defence Sector: Reform Measures: Based on the recommendations of the Shekatkar Committee, the Government has decided to restructure posts of different corps of Army. This will free up approximately 57,000 positions of Officers/JCO’s/OR’s and civilians which will be redeployed to improve the “teeth to tail” ratio of the Indian Army in future. Policy initiatives in respect of Defence Production: ‘Make in India’ in defence sector is primarily driven by providing preference to procurement from Indian vendors under the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP), promoting indigenous design, development and manufacture of defence equipment, and other policy measures such as liberalization of the licensing regime & FDI policy by raising the cap on FDI in the defence sector, simplification of export procedure, streamlining of defence offset guidelines etc. 15. New Weapons Procurement Policy: The new Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) - 2016 has been implemented by the Government.  DPP-2016, inter alia, focuses on institutionalizing, streamlining, and simplifying procedure to give a boost to the ‘Make in India’ initiative of the Government of India, through Indigenous design, development and manufacturing of defence equipment, platforms & systems.  The ‘Make’ procedure has been simplified to ensure increased participation of the Indian industry. In order to promote indigenous design and development of defence equipment, DPP-2016 has introduced a new category for capital procurement viz. ‘Buy (Indian-IDDM)’ (Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured).  While categorising a case, this category is accorded highest priority by the Buyer. 16. Scheme for Pension and Medical Aid to Artistes: To improve financial and socio-economic status of the old aged artistes and scholars who have contributed significantly in their specialized fields of arts, letters etc. in their active age or are still contributing in the field of arts, letters etc. but leading a miserable life or are in penury condition. The Scheme has also provision to provide medical aid facility to such Artistes and his/her spouse by covering them under a convenient and affordable Health Insurance Scheme of the Government. 17. Address by the hon’ble President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind on the occasion of inauguration of the Nobel Laureates Seminar Three things are needed for success. First, our scientists, from PhD students to senior technologists, must have a shared sense of purpose. They must address quality capacity building, participate in national missions, and take on frontier research. Fragmented, individual-driven approaches must move to building teams of the highest quality.   Second, our research institutes and universities must cooperate with intelligence and harmony to form research hubs. These hubs can set new standards of excellence not only for India but also for the world. The tech hub in Bengaluru is a case in point. We need many more. And third, because the world is constantly changing and ideas flow from every side, our scientists must be connected to the latest advances in research and technology. Science is nothing if not a global enterprise. It is this last point which is our focus today. How do we build world class institutions and universities and how do these connect to our society – both within our national boundaries and beyond? A quote to quote: India, which is a largest democracy in the world, is moving ahead with the formula of Reform, Perform and Transform with an able and stable government.

Feb 18, 2018 Motivational Articles

Creative Guidance – What is it to grow – Inspirational & Educative Articles

What is it to grow? Everything is changing within and around you. The whole movement and essence of life is change. If it doesn’t change then it is not life. If change is inevitable then knowing the direction of change is of paramount priority. If the change is in the right direction, it constitutes growth; the same change when it is happening in the wrong direction, it constitutes degradation. Growth is the only measure to understand the direction of change. As long as you are growing, physically, emotionally, psychologically, and spirituality you are moving in the right direction; the change is happening in the right direction. But, this is a growth we are all familiar with. Growing in competence is clearly visible and recognizable by people around you. Hence you are constantly reminded to keep growing in the direction that is acceptable to the world. There is another type of growth that is completely internal. There is a growth that can be recognized by nobody else but you and that is the true growth worth pursuing. This growth is the movement from instinct, to emotion, to intelligence, to awareness. There is no other form of growth other than this. All other growths are temporary except for this. True growth is all about climbing the ladder of your inner being through the muddled and confused zones of your thoughts and emotions. Spend some time observing how you react to situations to get an understanding of your current level of growth. If you respond to situations instinctively, without thinking or reflecting on why you are doing what you are doing, then you are at an instinctual level. This is the lowest level of human potential. If you are able to draw from the richness of your past experiences and you are able to respond to situations by weighing your emotions, then you are at an emotional level. Emotional level is one level higher than instinct. While instinct does not provide you any space to think and reflect, emotions offer an option to slow down and reflect. Intelligence is of course higher than both instinct and emotion. Intelligence provides you a lot more time and space to move around before you respond to situations. Also you can draw from not only your personal experiences of the past; you can draw from the experiences of others as well. Intelligence allows you to look at things objectively before reacting. In fact when you act out of intelligence, you are no longer reacting but acting on your own. The highest level of growth you can reach to is awareness. Awareness is the ability to simply be in the moment to respond to situations creatively. When you are in this state of awareness, you have complete control over your thoughts, emotions and actions. Movement from instinct, to emotion, to intelligence, to awareness is the true definition of growth. “The articles are a copyright of The Ahamo Movement and IASBABA.”

Feb 17, 2018 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

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

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs (Prelims + Mains Focus)- 17th February 2018 Archives (PRELIMS+MAINS FOCUS) Decline in sex ratio at birth in 17 states Part of: Mains GS Paper I- Social issues Key pointers: The sex ratio at birth (SRB) saw a decline in 17 out of 21 large states of the country, with Gujarat recording an alarming dip of 53 points, the 'Healthy States, Progressive India' report released by the Niti Aayog stated. According to the report, among the 17 states which recorded substantial drop of 10 points or more, are Gujarat, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Karnataka. According to the report, improvement in SRB was witnessed in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The sex ratio at birth is an important indicator and reflects the extent to which there is a reduction in the number of girl children born by sex-selective abortions. There is a clear need for states to effectively implement the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994 and take appropriate measures to promote the value of the girl child. There is a need to check sex-selective abortion. Article link: Click here Decline in forest cover in Western Ghats Part of: Mains GS Paper III- Environment, Conservation Key pointers: The Nilgiris district in Tamil Nadu, Kerala’s Idukki and Waynad districts, and the Dang district in Gujarat are the Western Ghats’ core revenue-generating districts today. These districts had a forest cover of more than 72 per cent of their total geographical area 12 years ago. A comparative study – the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) – a biennial publication of the Forest Survey of India (FSI), for 2005, 2015 and 2017, shows a significant decline in the forest cover in the last 12 years. The Nilgiris saw a decline of around 35,000 hectares of forest cover between 2005 and 2017. Reasons behind: The decline in the forest cover is mainly due to the commercial activities such as resort construction and home stays in the Western Ghats. Illegal felling of trees by the timber lobby. Development projects in the Western Ghats region, such as Yettinaholey river diversion project, are leading to the erosion of forest wealth. The Western Ghats region: The region, which ranges from Gujarat to Tamil Nadu, is a well-known biodiversity hot spot in the world. According to ISFR, the region is spread over 35 revenue districts in the country. Out of them, 30 districts share their physiographic zones with west coast, east coast, north deccan and south deccan in different States. The forest cover in the 35 districts range from 4 per cent to 77 per cent of their geographical area. Article link: Click here (MAINS FOCUS) INTERNATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2: India and its neighbourhood- relations. Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests India joins Ashgabat agreement: Significance Introduction: India recently joined the Ashgabat Agreement, which was instituted in 2011 to establish an international multimodal transport and transit corridor between Central Asia and the Persian Gulf. The Ashgabat agreement: The Agreement was first signed by Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Oman and Qatar in 2011. While Qatar subsequently withdrew from the agreement in 2013, Kazakhstan and Pakistan joined the grouping in 2016. The Ashgabat Agreement came into force in April 2016. Its objective is to enhance connectivity within the Eurasian region and synchronize it with other regional transport corridors, including the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC). Benefits of joining the Ashgabat agreement: Facilitating trade with Eurasian region: Accession to the Ashgabat Agreement will enable India to utilise the existing transport and transit corridor to facilitate trade and commercial interactions with the Eurasian region. It will synchronise with India’s efforts to implement the INSTC for enhanced connectivity. Operationalisation of INSTC: The Iran-Turkmenistan-Kazakhstan (ITK) railway line will be the major route under the Ashgabat Agreement. It has also been included as part of the INSTC. Therefore, the Ashgabat Agreement and INSTC will be easily synchronized. Thus, with Ashgabat agreement the operationalisation of the INSTC is inching closer to becoming a reality. INSTC: A 7200 km long multi-mode network encompassing ship, rail and road routes connecting India with Russia, Central Asia and Europe via Iran. The route primarily involves moving freight from India, Iran, Azerbaijan and Russia via ship, rail and road. The objective of the corridor is to increase trade connectivity between major cities such as Mumbai, Moscow, Tehran etc. Improved scope of Chabahar port: With the recent commissioning of the Shahid Beheshti terminal at Chabahar port and India’s joining of the Ashgabat Agreement, a greater prospect now opens up for enlarging both the operational and practical scope of Chabahar to become a vital gateway and the shortest land route to Central Asia. The operation of a multi-purpose terminal at Chabahar including India’s plan to build a 610 km north-south railway from Chabahar to Zahedan couldn’t have been realised unless India joined a Central Asian-led transport mechanism. Procuring resources from Central Asia: Joining the Ashgabat Agreement would make it easier for India to reach out to Central Asia which houses strategic and high-value minerals including uranium, copper, titanium, ferroalloys, yellow phosphorus, iron ore, rolled metal, propane, butane, zinc, coking coal, etc. Kazakhstan alone wants to increase its non-oil exports by 50 per cent by 2025. And, without direct transport access, India cannot procure the Central Asian riches needed for its manufacturing economy. Enhancing commercial ties: India’s current trade with Central Asia is minimal at a little over $1 billion and is not growing much. India’s share in Central Asia’s total trade is only about one per cent. Only by improving transport connectivity can the prospect of commercial ties with the region be enhanced. What more needs to be done? India must enlarge the strategic role of Chabahar port for evolving an integrated transportation network involving both the INSTC and the proposed transit corridor to Central Asia. India’s connectivity approach need not be limited to increasing trade and commerce but should aim to enhance investment and services, interlinking sources of raw material, centres of productions and markets between India and Eurasia. For example, a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) could spur the unhindered flow of raw materials as well as inflow of capital and technology through new industrial infrastructure along Chabahar and INSTC routes. Conclusion: Overall, India’s participation in Eurasian connectivity projects through the Ashgabat Agreement will serve to address the integration process in more viable ways. Connecting the dots: India recently joined the Ashgabat Agreement. Discuss its significance for India. HEALTH TOPIC:General Studies 2: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health Development processes and the development industry the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders Eliminating Malaria Background: For millennia, India suffered greatly from smallpox. In 1977, the country declared elimination of smallpox. Similarly, India was burdened by polio. In 2014, India declared polio eliminated. These are stunning achievements from which all Indians benefit immensely. Now is the time to take on malaria. At the East Asia Summit in 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi committed India to eliminating malaria by 2030, and last year, India launched its national strategic plan for malaria elimination. National strategic plan for malaria elimination: Launched in 2017 the plan gives year wise elimination targets in various parts of the country depending upon the endemicity of malaria until 2022. The strategies involve strengthening malaria surveillance, establishing a mechanism for early detection and prevention of outbreaks of malaria, promoting the prevention of malaria by the use of Long Lasting Impregnated Nets (LLINs), effective indoor residual spray and augmenting the manpower and capacities for effective implementation. Challenges: India faces daunting challenges in the fight against malaria. Recent reports cited that in 2017, there was an 18 per cent increase in malaria cases in Tamil Nadu — a State that has otherwise been a leader in fighting the disease. These malaria upsurges could jeopardise the successful elimination that neighbouring Sri Lanka has sustained, particularly given the frequent travel between south India and the island nation. The true numbers of malaria cases and deaths are not known. Estimates range from 1 million to 18 million cases and from 400 to 48,000 deaths per year. Malaria exists in all States in India, and 95 per cent of Indians are at risk. The scale and distribution of this devastating disease is not well documented. Problems related to malaria treatment by private sector: A related problem is that the majority of malaria in India is diagnosed and treated (or commonly misdiagnosed and mistreated) in the private sector. In 2015, 86 million malaria treatments were procured in the private sector, compared to just 2 million in the public sector. Private doctors and clinics have no obligation to follow government guidelines, use recommended drugs, or report malaria cases to State authorities. Malaria treatment by the private sector is especially problematic. In the private sector, all types of drugs are used, including those that are either worthless or harmful. For example, each year, the private sector procures nearly 10 million injections of artemisinin monotherapy — a treatment that is strongly discouraged in India and elsewhere because it accelerates the development of deadly drug resistance. The misuse of malaria drugs in India is an irony, given that India is by far the largest supplier of high-quality approved malaria drugs to the rest of the world. What needs to be done? India must declare a campaign and a determination to get the job done. National initiatives must promote innovative strategies, incentivise the appropriate use of diagnostics, drugs and insecticides, and ensure that all malaria cases are reported. The most affected States must aggressively bring their malaria down using effective vector-control and case management practices, combined with robust surveillance systems. The fight against malaria will require partnership between communities, civil society, private sector, and public health agencies. Intersectoral coordination is the key. Health ministry needs to work together with the other Ministries and Municipal Corporations to achieve the desired results. States must step in: States will have to tailor their programmes to achieve elimination, especially in tribal areas where the burden of malaria is often the highest. A single approach to malaria elimination will not work in any large country, especially in India where the biology, entomology and epidemiology of the disease vary considerably. Conclusion: India has been central to the fight against malaria since the beginning of the battle. The breakthrough discovery that malaria is transmitted by mosquitoes was made 120 years ago in Secundrabad, India. Since then, half of the world’s countries have banished malaria. Now is the time for India to do the same. Connecting the dots: While India has successfully eliminated small pox and polio over time. It is time coordinated efforts are put in to eliminate malaria. Discuss the challenges associated with the same. Also, suggest measures to address these challenges. MUST READ Water equity The Hindu Science should have the last word The Hindu Not a prescription for the poor The Hindu Lessons from a fraud Indian Express

Feb 17, 2018 RSTV Video

RSTV- The Big Picture : Hardselling India at Davos

Hardselling India at Davos Archives TOPIC: General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Important International institutions In news: India saw its PM attending the WEF first time in last 20 years. Today, Davos has emerged as an important platform for gathering of leaders- political and business. Political considerations feed into economic roles. Thus, this will help India get more direction and contribution to Make In India is welcomed. What is world business community expecting from India? India’s rise on world stage has been remarkable. It was PM’s opportunity to showcase India’s reform process and rapid growth due to its attractive business climate. Some of the crucial actions taken are- Liberalizing FDI Steps to resolve the stressed assets issue Launched the most difficult reform- GST Digitization of economy This is where a country’s economic agenda and political approach can be seen. At present, India is looking forward to its revival of the economy. Since India is a large market with its large domestic market, it is not difficult to do business in India. With India going up by 30 points in ease of doing business, it is a good sign for Indian business environment. Recently, India has signed the Australian wassenar agreement and the missile technology control regime. Thus, it seems India is going in the right direction and since the global economy is now reviving, the rest of world is looking at India as a market where lot of business can be done. Global concerns   Today, the global economy is scaling towards fourth industrial revolution and navigating in the multipolar world. There are eight things which Davos has asked to think about- Effects of the class privilege Emigration Harassment Religion Mental health Race Social stigma attached to disability Social stigma attached to LGBTQ Davos studies the economic and geopolitical areas. The other key issues are Crypto currency Investment opportunities in blockchain technologies Why are oil prices growing up Growing gap between rich and poor needs attention. Recently a report said that in India, top 1% has gained 73% of the total wealth. It is better than world numbers where globally 1% rich have 80% of total wealth. India, the focus Davos is the prestigious gathering of the business leaders of the world and where major political leaders come. This is the session where business leaders look at big and long term issues. India is going to be one of the three largest economy of the world in this century. In terms of potential demand and potential business, India is little ahead of china as India is underdeveloped. So for business leaders, India is very important. India no longer wants to be only a spectator but also wants to be a stakeholder. This is an opportunity for India at the highest level to make the point that India is rapidly reforming, responding to challenge, responsive to suggestions made by international community and India can do things which can impact positively on world economy. What has changed in recent time that India has emerged as a global player. India has been growing rapidly for last several years so there is a cumulative impact of growth that has propelled India into being the fifth largest economy in the world. Thus what India says or does in the sphere of economic policy or geopolitics is important. Challenges for India The outcome of the economic activities is more important than the fiscal deficit. The cost of logistics are as high as 14% of the sale value whereas globally it is 6%. The government is doing a lot for roads, waterways and ports. But right now these are bottlenecks in the sense that it takes away the competitiveness of country. Trade deficit of 2017 had reached to 14 billion rupees. It means that the imports that took place other than oil and electronics, the imports were actually replacing domestic supplies. Thus, the domestic supplies need to be encouraged. Job creation is very low. Though the EPO accounts are created, it is because lot of informal sector working people are now being formalized thereby increase in EPO accounts. Way forward The theme is ‘creating a shared future in fractured world’ as many countries are now looking forward to managing their domestic economy first. Countries are always competing for economic resources. There is healthy environment for it. India is now itself to the global economy, linking to world and optimizing its capacity to contribute. The message from India to the world is India is open for doing business more than it ever was. The manner in which polices have been liberalized, changed and tweaked shows India’s improvement in ease of doing business. The fine print would be to what extent the ecosystem of the county is correspondingly developed in the areas of infrastructure, red tape and bureaucracy, The social infrastructure-education, health, water development is critical as they complement the ecosystem created to invite the investors and foreign investments. Moreover, women have a large role to play in world affairs. The bigger economies are moving towards bilateralism from multilateralism. This has to be reversed and India has a huge role to play. As a responsible large player, India offers the most exciting business offers in the coming decades. Each of the weaknesses are the business opportunities. Thus, India has to convey a degree of commitment to overcoming the challenges and being a credible place to do business and a largest market in coming decades. Key notes World Economic Forum- Established in 1971 at Geneva It is an International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. Connecting the dots: India is selling itself to the world in terms of opportunities for increased business through its wide market. However, before the invitation, the ground work for its success has to be set. Examine the opportunities present in the challenges for India.

Feb 16, 2018 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

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

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs (Prelims + Mains Focus)- 16th February 2018 Archives (PRELIMS+MAINS FOCUS) Verdict on Cauvery dispute Part of: Mains GS Paper II- Inter-state water disputes Key pointers: In the much-awaited verdict on Cauvery dispute, the Supreme Court pronounced that Karnataka be given additional 14.75 TMC of the river water while 177.25 TMC of water be released for Tamil Nadu. The allocation of Karnataka which used to be 270 TMC has been increased to 284.75 TMC. Background: The verdict was announced on the appeals filed by Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala against the 2007 order of the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal (CWDT) on sharing of water. The dispute dates back to the Madras-Mysore agreements of 1924. It was in 1990 when the Centre created a tribunal to examine the conflict and address the water shortage. The CWDT had unanimously passed an order on how the water should be shared between the states after determining the total availability of water in the Cauvery basin. Article link: Click here Plans to launch National Energy Storage Mission Part of: Mains GS Paper III- Energy Security Key pointers: After a Solar and Wind Mission, the government now plans to launch a National Energy Storage Mission. The government is looking to establish this mission in financial year 2018-19. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has set up the Energy Storage Expert Committee to propose creation of the National Energy storage Mission for India. A viable commercial plan for storing renewable energy is required. Energy storage will help us significantly cut down import of fossil fuels once the storage of renewable energy is commercially viable. Policy push: The NITI Aayog has proposed a three-stage solution for promoting battery manufacturing in the country. The incentives on offer include land grants for direct awarding of land free of charge or at highly discounted cost to companies to develop manufacturing capacity. Sales and use tax exemptions, or tax credits per job created and lowering the number of permits required and lowering bureaucratic hurdles. Article link: Click here Dramatic decline in the Orangutan population Part of: Mains GS Paper III- Environment, conservation Key pointers: Hunting and killing have driven a dramatic decline in the orangutan population on Borneo where nearly 150,000 animals have been lost from the island’s forests in 16 years, conservationists warn. While the steepest percentage losses occurred in regions where the forest has been cut down to make way for palm oil and acacia plantations, more animals were killed by hunters who ventured into the forest, or by farm workers when the apes encroached on agricultural land, a study found. Researchers estimate that the number of orangutans left on Borneo now stands at between 70,000 and 100,000, meaning the population more than halved over the study period which ran from 1999 to 2015. Reasons behind: The forests of Borneo are being fragmented by new plantations and building projects. Female orangutans are occasionally killed for their young, which are sold on as pets. Far more of the apes die when they venture on to plantations, and into people’s gardens, where they are shot or killed with machetes. Note: Students can quote this an an example. More relevant for students with Geography as optional paper. Article link: Click here (MAINS FOCUS) NATIONAL/ECONOMY TOPIC: General Studies 3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Investment and Infrastructure Where does India stands in the Global Value Chain? Background: Vulnerable exports Indian exports have failed to evolve. India’s imports during April-December 2017 grew 21 per cent vis-à-vis an export growth of 12 per cent. The trade deficit increased by $3.6 billion as compared to the previous year. Despite India’s GDP being almost eight to ten times as that of Thailand’s or Vietnam’s, there is not much difference in their contribution to global exports. Exports and global slowdown: India often unfairly attributes its export movement to global slowdown. For example, while on the one hand India’s exports exhibited a negative growth of 1.5 per cent in 2016 over 2015, Vietnam’s increased by a whopping 35.5 per cent. Reasons behind declining exports: India’s increasing reliability on commodity-based exports does not contribute to the global value chain (GVC) and are highly susceptible to price sensitivity. Today, India faces increasing competition in its core exports segments such as textiles and agri-based products where costs and product compliance are a concern. This Budget definitely was a good opportunity to do a course correction and Where does India stands in the global value chain? According to OECD-WTO’s TiVA database, India’s GVC participation index stands at 43.1, as compared to 52.3 for Vietnam and 60.4 for Malaysia. The GVC index: The GVC participation index takes into account both goods and services. It displays a country’s integration into the GVC and is the sum of forward and backward linkages divided by total exports. Forward linkage- When industries of the exporting country provide inputs into exports of industries in the importing country, it is called forward linkages. Backward linkage- When industries in the importing country import intermediate products to be used in its exports, it is known as backward linkages. The value chain problem? An analysis of countries’ manufacturing share in gross exports shows India has the lowest share of the countries analysed in Asia. Within manufacturing, the foreign value-added (FVA) component for India remains as low as 18 per cent (29 per cent for Vietnam, 32 per cent for Thailand, and 33 per cent for Malaysia). The FVA exhibits the level of global participation in a country’s exports and constitutes imported intermediate goods utilised in the domestic industry’s exports. Why moving up the value chain matters? If India fails to move up the value chain, the products on the lower end of the value chain could be taken up by other emerging economies benefiting from scale and cost. Moving up in value chain is required to stay competitive. Competition from island economies such as Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia, leaving Indian trade vulnerable. The textile sector is a good example; with a 12-per cent share, it has the second highest share in India’s exports today. But this was was 25 per cent in 2000. The manufacturing sector integrated into the GVC, producing specialised items of a finished product, has potential to create more employment and contribute more to global export. Integrating into GVC gains more prominence given the negotiations on trade facilitation agreement under the WTO and India’s eagerness to participate in mega trade agreements. What needs to be done? Today, complex goods such as automobiles, aeroplanes and computers are made of inputs that are produced in various countries, which are finally assembled in yet another country. India in similar vein needs to get integrated in the GVC and produce specific and specialised products. Indian manufacturing requires being competitive and efficient, and take sustained, holistic reforms to exploit the advantages of integrating with GVCs. There is a need to attract global investors to value-added manufacturing sectors. Connecting the dots: A decline in Indian exports has been witnessed in recent times. One reason is the gloabl slowdown. But the major reason is failure of India to rise up in the global value chain. Discuss. INTERNATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2: India and its neighbourhood- relations. Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests India-Canada relationship: Issues & Potential Introduction: Justin Trudeau, Canada’s Prime Minister visiting India on February 17. This would be his first trip to India after he became Prime Minister in 2015. During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Canada in April 2015, both sides agreed to elevate their bilateral relations to a strategic partnership. The strategic cooperation is yet to be strengthened. The ties essentially rest on 3Es — economy, energy and education. Indian diaspora in Canada: Indian diaspora comprising 3.6% of the Canadian population is well-educated, affluent and politically suave. 19 persons of Indian origin have been elected to the House of Commons, of which 17 (15 Sikhs) represent Mr. Trudeau’s Liberal Party. He has rewarded four Sikhs with key Cabinet berths. The Khalistan issue: In recent times there has been resurgence in anti-India activities by emboldened Khalistani elements in Canada. Recent instances- The Ontario Provincial Parliament adopted a resolution terming the 1984 anti-Sikh riots as ‘genocide’. India described it as a “misguided motion based on a limited understanding of India, its Constitution, society, ethos, rule of law and its judicial process.” Mr. Trudeau once showed up at the Toronto nagar kirtan where Khalistani flags and pictures of slain terrorists like Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale were displayed. Former Prime Minister Stephen Harper had avoided such platforms during his years in office. The ‘Khalistani’ issue has figured prominently between India and Canada at all levels. However, Canadian political leaders and parties continue to protect the Khalisanti elements in the quest for electoral gains. The issue is that the current Liberal government seems to be going beyond the needs of political and electoral arithmetic in courting the radicals. This has naturally impacted bilateral relations. India-Canada cooperation: Potential- Canada has truly been a land of opportunity for the Indian diaspora: They have earned the affection and respect of Canadians, who are very inclusive. There many iconic rags-to-riches stories, like that of Prem Watsa, Chairman of Fairfax Financial Holding, who migrated from Hyderabad in the 1970s with a few dollars and is now known as the Warren Buffett of Canada. Economic relations: There has been a spike in investments by the well-endowed Canadian Pension Funds like CPPIB and CDPQ into India. Together, Canadian companies have have pumped in some $12-15 billion Canadian in India in sectors including real estate, financial services, distressed assets, modern logistics facilities and e-commerce. Way ahead: Early conclusion of the bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements (BIPPA), which have been under negotiation for several years, would boost our economic partnership. It would particularly open up the services sector allowing highly skilled Indian professionals, for whom there is a ready demand, to work in Canada. Energy security for India: India has started importing uranium from Canada, beginning 2015. Canada also has sizeable reserves of oil and gas. Over time Canada could become a key partner in India’s quest for energy security. Attractive for Indian students: With declining interest in Britain and some uncertainty over the U.S.’s policies, Indian students have begun heading for vocational and higher education to Canada in larger numbers. An added attraction for them is that Canada routinely provides a three-year work visa upon completion of studies, which opens up avenues of gainful employment and citizenship. Canada also continues with a liberal immigration policy. In 2016, some 40,000 Indian immigrants were admitted into the country. In agricutural sector: Till recently, significant quantities of Canadian pulses were being imported by India. Both nations also have some collaboration in agri-tech. Much more can be done. There exists complementary economies and capable human resources. Conclusion: There exists enough potential for stepping up cooperation in areas like information technology, science and technology, clean and green tech, aviation and outer space, cold-climate warfare, cybersecurity, counterterrorism and tourism. The need of the hour is to strengthen mutual trust and confidence, by taking a long-term view of the relationship. Connecting the dots: Discuss the potential of India-Canada relationship. Also analyze how Khalistan issue in recent times has impacted our bilateral ties. MUST READ A deepening crisis The Hindu Should Supreme Court proceedings be live streamed The Hindu Kitchen sets and cricket bats Indian Express 

Feb 16, 2018 AIR

All India Radio (AIR) : E-Sansad and E-Vidhaan

E-Sansad and E-Vidhaan ARCHIVES Search 8th January 2018 here http://www.newsonair.com/Main_Audio_Bulletins_Search.aspx TOPIC: General Studies 2 Parliament and State Legislatures - structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these. Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive In news: An 18th All India Whips’ Conference, 2018 was conducted where all the parliamentary affairs ministers and chief whips of political parties, recognized opposition parties in the parliament and state legislature were present. It was an important day in the history of digital India as its agenda was e-sansad and e-vidhan- a forum to discuss how to completely digitize the public database of parliament and legislators. Since inception of democracy, it is the scientific revolution that has led to institutionalization. Technology changes the society and so does the process of legislation. In the context of the present conference, 4 imp points were contemplated upon E-registration of voters which is an important component of entire process Formation of new political parties Provision of information about candidates Programme and services that improve the effectiveness of the representatives in legislature and parliament. Critical role of Parliament The major function of parliament is legislation. In the context of this, the representatives are importantly divided into categorization of treasury benches and opposition where opposition is also a part of government. Also, 15% of legislative members are ministers. In this way, there is co-relationship in the Westminster model followed between the legislature and the legislation and legislation and executive. The developmental role of members’ input in the legislative process in a developing economy has been critical in evolvement of the nation. In last 70 years of experiment with democracy, many different situations have been faced and the magnitude of public problem has been enormous. Parliament and legislatures have to be made more participative, more responsive, transparent, productive and accountable by moving the public database into the electronic platform which is accessible through computers, smartphones and other electronic devices. Role of technology in legislation Parliamentary constitution is very large. The communication between the representative and others becomes difficult due to the length and breadth of the nation and its unique issues. The technology will bring a sea change in the context of citizen participation and have a first hand information of problems of each constituency. For instance, the local problems remain local in nature in many constituencies. There are hilly areas, dry areas, areas with drought and flood problems. So in the context of this when similar challenges are experienced and solutions shared, the particular database will lead to Citizen alienation will diminish People who are active in politics will be able to perform their duties better. If the e-system of governance also becomes the e-system of the parliamentary process, then the credibility and effectiveness of governance will improve manifold. With technology and better supply of electricity, internet is spreading quite fast. There is digital literacy found in school across India- government schools as well as school in remote areas. There is a general awareness of what is happening and what is expected. So there is a balance between realty and the perceived reality. There is a parliamentary research service and the basic data is provided. The input will improve the quality of legislation. For instance, the information will be at fingertip and the depth of understanding will improve. The legislation has a problem of colonial backlog. Many of the legislations are interpreted differently. This leads to piling of cases in the courts. If there is an increased use of it, the process will become smoother and disposable of cases will be quicker. Most important input will be that the process of legislation will have less lacuna. There will be healthy debate on the basis of data and it will improve the climate of democracy. Because of lacunae, there are many cases happening in courts, and bitter litigation going on. With this kind of enormous database available in future, legislation making will become more improved, enlightened, or comprehensive. Way forward Technological outreach- India is multilingual, in the context of vernacular spread and also the spread of hindi, the technological revolution should not be restricted to English. There should be incorporation of main languages and then the effect will be much quicker. In the context of, if India can digitalise it, the essence of legislation will have a quantum jump. The judgements derived out of it will be near fool proof. Thus there is larger legitimisation process of democracy. The purpose of the parliament is to build the unity of the past present and future. So there can be better planning with required information access. The citizen redressal of the grievances will be taken note of. It is a holistic change coming in and not just technological topic. It changes the life of individuals and lead to upliftment of the nation. Social capital- if there are larger exchange of ideas and look up to criticism as confidence building up, then the nation gains in building up the social capital which is a primary ingredient for nation’s development. Conclusion Homi bhabha said that India has missed industrial revolution, but it cannot afford to miss the atomic revolution. India has the technology and technology upgradation skill and talent. If this is used technology properly, then India will become best functioning democracy. Connecting the dots: India’s democracy is the suitable example of ‘changing with times, but keeping the soul intact’. Explain in terms of new digitalization proposal in its legislature.

Feb 15, 2018 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs [Prelims + Mains Focus] - 15th February 2018

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs (Prelims + Mains Focus)- 15th February 2018 Archives (PRELIMS+MAINS FOCUS) Centre studying plea to ban PFI Part of: GS Mains III (Internal Security) (You can skip this article, but recommended to know the issue, especially if you are an IPS aspirant) In News: The proposal to ban Popular Front of India (PFI), a Muslim political organisation predominantly operating out of Kerala, has been gaining momentum over the last few months. Kerala has asked for a ban on PFI and the Centre is collecting more facts and evidence about the activities of the outfit before declaring it an “unlawful association”. The involvement of alleged members of the organisation in political killings, religious conversions and terror activities have been projected as the reason for the ban. Genesis of PFI: Even though PFI as an organization came to existence in 2006, the origins of the PFI dates back to 1993. Following the demolition of the Babri Masjid, a political organization by the name NDF (National Development Front) was created in Kerala - to protect the interests of the Muslim community in the state. Over the years NDF claimed to be an organization working for the socio-economic welfare of the state's Muslim community. However, the extremist nature of the organization came to light, after some of its members were arrested for rioting and murdering eight Hindus in Kazhikode in 2003. NDF's activities were limited to Kerala. However, a decision was made to create a unified organization, merging like-minded organizations from Kerala, Karnataka and TN. Thus in 2006, PFI was formed merging NDF with Karnataka Forum for Dignity and Maintha Neethi Pasarai in TN. Later organizations from other states merged. Despite the representations from different states, the activities of the PFI remain strongest in Kerala. There is also criticism and allegations that there has been strong association between PFI and SIMI. Other organizations which were banned earlier: Organizations like SIMI (Students’ Islamic Movement of India) and Indian Mujahideen – have been banned. SIMI started with the aim of working for the welfare of Muslim youth, there was a radical shift in its ideology in the 1980s. SIMI functions on three principles -- governing human life on the basis of Quran, propagation of Islam and Jihad for the cause of Islam. It is against ‘western ideals’ and rejects secularism, democracy and nationalism. Some of its oft-repeated objectives are restoration of the ‘khilafat’, (caliphate), emphasis on ‘ummah’ (Muslim brotherhood), and the need for a Jihad to establish the supremacy of Islam. Things to do: Try to know the genesis of Indian Mujahideen (IM) and why it is banned? For reference: https://www.thequint.com/explainers/explainer-why-government-wants-pfi-banned-popular-front-of-india Article link: Click here Special Category Status Part of: Prelims and GS Mains II – Indian Polity and Governance; Centre-State Relations A growing clamour for Special Category Status in Andhra Pradesh has led to State-wide protests, and heated debates in Parliament. Understanding basics: What is the special category status? The Constitution does not include any provision for categorisation of any State in India as a Special Category Status (SCS) State. ‘Special category’ status is a classification given by Centre to assist in development of those states that face geographical & socio-economic disadvantages. (Given below) The classification came into existence in 1969 as per the suggestion given by the Fifth Finance Commission, set up to devise a formula for sharing the funds of Central govt. among all states. The National Development Council (NDC) granted this status based on a number of features of the States which included: hilly and difficult terrain, low population density or the presence of sizeable tribal population, strategic location along international borders, economic and infrastructural backwardness and non-viable nature of State finances. What kind of assistance do SCS States receive? The SCS States used to receive block grants based on the Gadgil-Mukherjee formula, which effectively allowed for nearly 30 per cent of the Total Central Assistance to be transferred to SCS States as late as 2009-10. Following the constitution of the NITI Aayog (after the dissolution of the Planning Commission) and the recommendations of the Fourteenth Finance Commission (FFC), Central plan assistance to SCS States has been subsumed in an increased devolution of the divisible pool to all States (from 32% in the 13th FC recommendations to 42%) and do not any longer appear in plan expenditure. Centre bears 90% of the state expenditure (given as grant) on all centrally-sponsored schemes and external aid while rest 10% is given as loan to state. For general category, the respective grant to loan ratio is 30:70 where as external aid is passed on in the same ratio as received at the centre. Unspent money does not lapse and gets carry forward. What other States are seeking SCS status? Apart from Andhra Pradesh which is in the news lately, Bihar and Odisha had recently demanded SCS status but they have not been granted the same as they did not meet the criteria. Things to do: Try to find out which states have been accorded SCS status. India-Iran: India’s multi-dimensional engagement with West Asia Part of: Prelims and Mains GS Paper II: India-Iran relations; India and the World In News: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani will visit India from February 15 to 17. Rouhani coming exactly a month after Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Iran’s biggest rival) Rouhani visit signals India aims for balance in its ties in West Asia. India-Iran ties: Will seek to iron out issues on trade, connectivity, banking and energy. Access to Central Asia: Iran is not just important for India’s energy needs but also its only route for access to Central Asia. Chabahar Port project: progress of the $500-million Beheshti port project in Chabahar. Rupee-Rial Mechanism: The two sides are now discussing the possibility of a “rupee-rial mechanism”, in addition to the current channel through UCO Bank for rupee payments. Discussions on pending negotiations over the Farzad-B gas and oil fields that India has expressed its interest in. FATF meeting Iran is likely to seek India’s support at the upcoming meeting of the UN’s Financial Action Task Force, where Iran is hoping to exit a blacklist on money laundering and terror finance, even as India hopes to see Pakistan put on a “grey-list” at the meeting. Do you know? India is already routing a consignment of 1.1 million tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan through the existing facilities at Chabahar. European banks have refused to support the trade, given the uncertainty over fresh sanctions from the U.S. Things to do: Know about - Significance of Chabahar port (Click here) and UN’s Financial Action Task Force (Click here) Revise 13th Feb DNA (Growing importance of West Asia) – Click here Article link: Click here India-Iraq: India offers support for reconstruction of Iraq Part of: Prelims and Mains GS Paper II: India-Iraq relations; India and the World In News: India has called for a comprehensive political settlement and reconciliation in Iraq, at the International Conference for Reconstruction of Iraq in Kuwait. The Conference was attended by major world powers to chalk out a plan of recovery for the country. India’s support to Iraq: Iraq is yet to raise the resources for recovery from the destruction from years of foreign invasion and war with the Islamic State. Since the outbreak of the war in 2003, India had frequently responded to the humanitarian needs in Iraq and contributed in several ways, including providing $10 million in aid towards the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq (IRFFI) for investments, reconstruction and development in Iraq. India plays crucial part in the reconstruction and called for an end to global terrorism. Major projects - petrochemicals, health, education, infrastructure and other sectors. Do you know? Like UAE, Iraq also supports India’s proposed Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism in the United Nations. Things to do: Know about Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) – Click here Article link: Click here (MAINS FOCUS) GOVERNANCE TOPIC: General Studies 2: Issues related to welfare schemes 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 Economic Survey 2016-17 on Misallocation of centrally sponsored schemes (CSS) Introduction: Economic Survey 2018 has highlighted the weakness of existing welfare schemes which are riddled with misallocation, leakages and exclusion of the poor.  It has pushed the case for implementing UBI to weed out these problems. The below article analyzes the following – Weakness in resource allocation of centrally sponsored schemes (CSS) – especially misallocation of the government’s resources across different districts. What explains this misallocation of resources across districts? What are the consequences of such misallocation of resources? District-wise spending of the below provided six top CSS (for FY16) which accounts for more than 50% of total CSS spending has been analyzed in order to check if indeed there is misallocation of the government’s resources. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) Mid Day Meal Scheme (MDM) Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) and Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) Outcome of the result: The survey has found the following - Misallocation of resources across districts There is poor welfare-spending per person in different districts. In other words, the poor belonging to a poor district receive less welfare spending than the poor from richer districts. This can be observed in Figure 1 below. It shows the scatter plot of district-wise per poor spending under these six schemes against head count ratio. Ideally, “per poor” spending should be the same across districts (black line). It should not matter whether the poor person is a resident of district A or district B, welfare spending per person should be the same. However, the actual per poor spending is downward sloping (red line). Pic link: http://www.livemint.com/r/LiveMint/Period2/2018/02/15/Photos/Processed/g_oped_web.jpg What explains this misallocation of resources across districts? It is important to note that States have to provide for a matching grant to get funds from the Centre for CSS. States such as Bihar and Jharkhand have often represented that they have limited resources and are not able to provide the state’s share to enable them to access the required funds under CSS. Another important factor leading to this situation is the inefficient administrative capacity of poor districts leading to poor implementation of schemes. Economic Survey 2016-17 has observed that – Since richer districts have better administrative capacities, they implement schemes effectively. Their spending on welfare schemes is relatively greater than poor districts. (Fig2 explains this) As the own tax revenue (OTR) of states goes up, their per poor spending also goes up. Their capability to contribute towards matching the grant for CSS goes up because of which they can get more CSS funding from the Centre. What are the consequences of such misallocation of resources? According to the Survey, misallocation of funds may lead to exclusion error. For instance, in MGNREGA scheme – If a district’s share of total spending is greater than its share of total poor, it is classified as a “surplus district”, otherwise a “deficit district”. In this scheme because of misallocation, many of the rich districts are in “surplus”, while majority of the poor districts are in “deficit”. Economic Survey has observed that – In the “deficit” districts, the Head Count Ration (HCR) is 38% but the active to registered workers ratio is just 33%. On the other hand, in “surplus” districts, HCR is just 22% but the ratio of active to registered workers is 50% (numbers for 2015-16). The lower active-registered worker ratio in poorer districts implies that the chances of exclusion error are higher. The same trend is observed in other schemes as well. The way ahead: First, there is a need to rationalize existing welfare schemes. The Union government at present runs hundreds of social welfare schemes (675 Central sector schemes as per Budget 2017-18). A large majority of these are small in terms of allocation with the top six to seven schemes accounting for about 50% of total welfare spending. On top of this there are thousands of other schemes that different state governments run. Implementing such a large number of schemes efficiently, specially by states with weak administrative capacity, puts a tremendous burden on states. The B.K. Chaturvedi committee report (2011) had observed that – Welfare and other such schemes should either be weeded out or merged for convergence with larger sectoral schemes or be transferred to states, which can then continue with these schemes based on their requirements. Small outlays anyway do not achieve the objective of making an impact across the states. Second, Economic survey proposes for UBI, in place of many of the existing schemes. Connecting the dots: Can UBI fix the weakness of existing welfare schemes which are riddled with misallocation, leakages and exclusion of the poor? Critically examine. (or) Critically examine the need for rationalizing existing welfare schemes and implementation of UBI to weed out weakness of existing welfare schemes such as misallocation, leakages and exclusion of the poor. NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 3: Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices Inclusive growth and issues arising from it. General Studies 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. 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 Reducing Agrarian Distress: Budget 2018 Background: In recent years, the Centre has taken several initiatives such as the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), electronic National Agricultural Market (e-NAM), soil health card, neem-coated urea and so on to reduce agrarian distress. Such initiatives have definitely helped, but more needs to be done to truly address the issue of agrarian distress. Multiple dimensions to agrarian distress: Input costs have gone up significantly recently while the farm gate prices of agricultural produce have continued to remain subdued. (The farm gate price is the price received by farmers for their produce at the location of farm. Thus, the costs of transporting from the farm gate to the nearest market and market charges for selling the produce are not included.) The bulk of farming activities in India is undertaken by marginal farmers, share-croppers or landless agricultural labourers with limited access to institutional finance. The value chain in the agricultural sector has been exploitative as only one-third of the retail prices paid by final consumers reach the producers, unlike two-thirds in case of milk. The public distribution system does not have the capacity to undertake procurement operations for 24 crops for which minimum support price (MSP) is announced. Although PDS is inefficient, an alternative mechanism is yet to emerge, which can ensure MSP to farmers during a period of bumper harvest. Post-harvest technology is underdeveloped and farmers’ participation in such activities is limited. Monsoon dependency is very high, limiting crop diversification to a great extent. Agrarian distress in recent times has been aggravated despite India’s farm output being at its peak. This is a clear case of market failure for which farmers do not have any cover. PMFBY provides protection against crop failure. No such protection is currently available to farmers for distress sale. Government interventions: Lending to agriculture is a major component of priority sector lending in India. The target for bank lending to agriculture has been revised upwards every year. Lending cost to agriculture has been subsidised through interest rate subvention. The Government also provides fertiliser subsidy year after year besides food subsidy through PDS. Budgetary decisions: Diminishing the financial burden: The most vulnerable section in the farming community are marginal farmers, share-croppers and landless agricultural laborers. Having limited access to institutional finance they borrow from the informal sector leading to financial burden. Loan waiver hardly helps this group. Budget: This year’s budget has indicated that the NITI Aayog would devise modalities for extending credit to this segment of people from the formal sector. The budget has proposed to raise the MSP by at least 1.5 times the cost of production. Covering agricultural produce beyond the scope of MSP: Farmers produce several commodities that are outside the MSP. Budget FY19 has proposed the introduction of ‘Operation Greens’ for perishable commodities such as potato, tomato and onion to stabilise their prices, which can benefit both producers and consumers. Agricultural Marketing reforms: As proposed last year, the remaining APMCs will be linked to e-NAM by March 2018. As a part of revamping the agricultural marketing system, the idea is to upgrade 22,000 haats (local markets) to Gramin Agricultural Markets so that farmers can directly sell their produce to consumers without middlemen. As a part of diversification, sizeable allocations has been made for forestry, animal husbandry and the restructured National Bamboo Mission. Way ahead: In order to double farmers’ income, there is a need to involve them in post-harvest technology through innovative programmes. The value addition is large in the case of consumer products such as ketchup, jam, wafers, pickles and so on. Farmers can participate in this process through farmer producers companies (FPCs). In order to avoid distress sale farmers must be encouraged and trained to use the commodity market for hedging. Procurement too should be extended to crops other than major ones like paddy/rice and wheat, sometimes cotton, oil seeds, and pulses. Conclusion: Budgetary decisions if implemented effectively can help break the vicious cycle of agrarian distress. As the focus is on sustaining structural reforms rather than providing short-term relief through loan waivers, input subsidies and the like. Connecting the dots: In order to reduce agricultural distress, the focus should be on sustaining structural reforms rather than providing short-term relief through loan waivers, input subsidies and the like. Comment. In Budget 2018 the government has made important decisions related agricultural reforms. If implemented effectively can help break the vicious cycle of agrarian distress. Analyze. MUST READ Can sanitation reduce stunting The Hindu The ratings illusion The Hindu India in a corner Indian Express Misallocation of welfare schemes resources Livemint NHPS will not help its intended beneficiaries Livemint Maldives: India must wait and watch Business Line India's defence industry lacks fire power Business Line

Feb 15, 2018 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz- 2018 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 144]

UPSC Quiz- 2018 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 144] Archives Q.1) Consider the following statements about ‘The Theatre Olympics’ It was established in 1993 in Delphi, Greece India is hosting the 8th Edition of Theatre Olympics The theme of the 8th edition is ‘Beyond Borders’ Select the correct statements 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above Q.2) Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves (ISPR) are located in Mumbai Mangalore Chennai Select the correct code: 1 and 2 2 and 3 Only 2 1 and 3 Q.3) Hwasong-15 is an intercontinental ballistic missile developed by Japan China North Korea South Korea Q.4) Consider the following statements about Super Straw Management System (Super-SMS) It is a viable solution to the paddy stubble burning problem It is attached to self-propelled combine harvesters, which cuts the paddy straw into small pieces and spread the same Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.5) The primary function of the Finance Commission in India is to Distribute revenue between the Centre and the States Prepare the Annual Budget Advise the President on financial matters Allocate funds to various ministries of the Union and State Governments To Download the Solution – Click here All the Best  IASbaba