IASbaba’s MINDMAP : Issue – Indias Leather Industry Archives NOTE – Instructions to download Mind Maps/Images Right Click on the image and ‘Open in a new tab’ Remove/Delete the resolution part from the URl. Eg. “-1024×869” and Press Enter/Load Again Afterwards the URL will look something like this – “iasbaba.com/…./…/..-IASbaba.jpg” Right Click and Save As/Download (You’ll get the maximum resolution)
IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs (Prelims + Mains Focus)- 8th December 2017 Archives (PRELIMS+MAINS FOCUS) NGT ruling on AoL's festival on Yamuna floodplains Part of: Mains G.S. Paper III- Environment and Ecology Key pointers: Sri Sri Ravishankar’s Art of Living Foundation (AoL) is “responsible” for “causing damage and environmental degradation” to the Yamuna floodplains due to its three-day World Culture Festival (WCF) held in March 2016, the National Green Tribunal said recently. The tribunal had earlier levied Rs 5 crore as environment compensation on AoL. Earlier this year, an NGT-appointed expert committee had noted that the rehabilitation of the floodplains would cost over Rs 42.02 crore and may take up to ten years. The tribunal said that AoL was responsible for “restoration and restitution of the flood plain limited to portion that was allotted” to it for the festival “in the original condition in which it was allotted to it prior to the event”. The judgment noted that the WCF had caused “serious pollution on the floodplain of the river” as nearly 35 lakh people had gathered at the site. The activities have led to “change in topography and habitat diversity, loss of waterbodies and wetlands, loss of floodplain vegetation and biodiversity, changes in substrata – nature of soil, consolidation and compaction, toxic substances and degradation and loss of ecosystem functions”. Article link: Click here Polluters Pays Principle Part of: Mains G.S. Paper III- Environment and Ecology Key pointers: The “Polluter Pays Principle” is now almost universally acknowledged in environmental jurisprudence. According to this, those who pollute the environment must be made to pay not just for the costs of remedial action, but also for compensating victims of environmental damage. Background: Some trace the Polluter Pays Principle’s origin to the Stockholm Declaration made at the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in June 1972, where Prime Minister Indira Gandhi drew a link between environmental pollution and poverty. The Stockholm Declaration asked signatory countries to develop international laws “regarding liability and compensation for the victims of pollution and other environmental damage”. The Principle emerges more strongly in the 1987 report of the Brundtland Commission, called Our Common Future. The Brundtland Commission, or the World Commission on Environment and Development, was established in 1983 to examine environmental issues resulting from rapid industrialisation. For the first time, “sustainable development” was defined. Alongside, the Polluter Pays Principle was emphasised. The 1987 report greatly influenced the Rio Earth Summit of 1992, which, for the first time, explicitly enshrined the Polluter Pays Principle. After Rio, the Polluter Pays Principle began to be applied explicitly in environmental jurisdictions. Article link: Click here Court overturns CIC verdict declaring Ministers as “public authorities” Part of: Mains G.S. Paper II- Parliament and State Legislatures – structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these. Key pointers: The Delhi High Court has set aside the Central Information Commission order declaring Ministers as “public authorities” and answerable under the Right to Information law. Directions issued by the CIC are also wholly outside the scope of the matter before the CIC, the judge said. CIC in 2014 on the question whether the Minister or his office was a “public authority” under the RTI Act gave the Cabinet Secretary at the Centre and Chief Secretaries in the States two months to appoint public information officers for each Minister’s office. Also, the CIC said each Minister should get a website of his/her own where information can be disclosed. Article link: Click here Khumb Mela: Listed as an Intangible Cultural Heritage under UNESCO Part of: Mains G.S. Paper I- Art & Culture Key pointers: After ‘yoga’ and ‘Nouroz’, Kumbh Mela/ KumbhMela, the largest congregation of pilgrims on the planet, has been listed as an Intangible Cultural Heritage under UNESCO. The Intergovernment Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage under UNESCO has inscribed ‘Kumbh Mela’ on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity during its 12th session held at Jeju, South Korea in December 2017. This inscription is the third in two years following the inscriptions of ‘Yoga’ and ‘Norouz’ on 1st December 2016. The Kumbh Mela is held in Haridwar, Allahabad, Ujjain and Nashik. Article link: Click here (MAIN EXCLUSIVE) Electoral Reforms TOPIC: General Studies 2: Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act. Indian Constitution? historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure Relooking at EVMs Background: In the recent local elections in U.P., the BJP won more in places where there were machines without the concomitant paper trail, and non-BJP parties won more where there were only ballot papers. Not only has the reliability of the machines been questioned, so has the credibility of the EC. It is for the first time in India’s electoral history that the EC has been suspected of bias in favour of a ruling party. Issue with EVMs: The EC has steadfastly maintained that the machines are perfect and that the software has been examined and re-examined by international experts. On the one hand, to reassert the integrity of the electoral process, the EC has introduced the paper trail for voters to cross-check their votes. Allegations- Engineers have shown how the machines can actually be manipulated by remote devices, or by inserting pre-programmed chips, or by selectively tampering with only 20% of them to secure a simple majority. So, only a few constituencies will have those “chosen” machines and that would be enough to tilt the balance in favour of the ruling party. The EC says these allegations are outrageous because the whole system and process have been shown to detractors and the matter is settled. The issue of credibility of EVMs has become quite complicated, with Mayawati, Arvind Kejriwal, and leaders from the Samajwadi Party and the Congress raising serious objections about the functioning of the machines. Importance of EVMs: Holding free, fair, and fast elections is a cornerstone of democracy and is guaranteed by the Constitution. Introduction of EVMs by due process of consultation and constitutional amendment in the 1980s and ’90s was a step in the right direction to further strengthen the democratic process in India, which is by far the largest democracy in the world with more than 800 million voters. The following is based on findings of different surveys. EVMs led to a significant decline in electoral fraud, particularly in politically sensitive States such as Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. In several constituencies, polling booths were routinely captured under the paper ballot system and ballot boxes were stuffed. As a result, political leaders, instead of working in the larger interest of the public, worked for the private profits of a small fraction of people who had the greatest capacity to commit fraud. Introducing EVMs transformed this. Rigging elections became extremely expensive. Political leaders could no longer do lip service to development; they had to commit to providing public goods and services. EVMs led to a significant increase in the provision of electricity, particularly in States that were more prone to electoral violence. EVMs empowered those from the weaker sections of society who were victims of political or electoral violence. In particular women, lower castes, and those less educated were more likely to participate in the electoral process when EVMs were used. EVMs made the electoral process more competitive. There has been a significant decline in the incidence of re-election, and winning margins have reduced dramatically. Way forward: EVMs have been in place for two decades and it is time to acknowledge that they have failed. Some European countries have acknowledged that EVMs have failed. Countries there started with EVMs and are now going back to the paper ballot. World over, countries are moving to paper ballots. Just as they are giving up on nuclear energy world over, countries realise that EVMs are problematic too, because they carry the risk of being tampered with. It is important to keep in mind that all political leaders, irrespective of caste, creed and religion, are driven only by the quest for power and they will use any means to attain it. Hence it is our collective responsibility to ensure that such powers are under check, else it does not take much for elected leaders to become despots. Our institutions, the EC, and the courts also share the responsibility to check the powers of popularly elected leaders to ensure that democracy does not become a mobocracy. Even though introduction of EVMs was a step in the right direction, it is not the final destination. The idea of trying to control electoral and political process with the help of technology is quite old. To overcome the dangers of manipulation, we must remain sceptical and accept the reality that the EVM issue is not simple. The fact that the issue is complicated necessitates a measure of caution in its application. Conclusion: We must remain skeptical and accept the reality that the EVM issue is far from settled. While it would be a retrograde step to roll back EVMs, we must not lower our guard. The very idea of democracy is based on trust and belief in the fairness of the electoral process where the losing party lives to fight another day. Any erosion of this trust and belief would be an irreversible process with an uncertain outcome. Connecting the dots: The reliability on EVMs is in question. Discuss the reasons behind and the way forward. In the light of recent issues related to EVMs, do you think rollig back EVMs would be a retrograde step. Critically analyze. NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. General studies 3: Banking & related Issues; Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it Aadhaar: Financial Inclusion or Exclusion Background: The deadline for linking Aadhaar number to bank accounts, demat accounts, mutual fund folios, life and general insurance policies, credit cards and post office account has been extended to March 31 2018. Rule shift: Aadhaar earlier was supposed to be compulsory only for citizens availing themselves of welfare schemes funded from the Consolidated Fund of India. Though Aadhaar’s original intent was to enable targeted subsidy delivery, the Centre has since decided to use it as a tool to track down black money. Curbing black money: In June, the new Prevention of Money Laundering (Maintenance of Records) Second Amendment Rules 2017 was notified. This required all financial firms to compulsorily collect Aadhaar and PAN details for Know-Your-Client requirements. If a client doesn’t possess an Aadhaar number, she must furnish proof that she has applied for one. Only those who are ‘not eligible’ to apply for Aadhaar are off the hook. Following this notification, regulators such as the RBI, SEBI and IRDA have ‘advised’ financial market participants to proceed with Aadhaar-linking. Problems in complying with the Aadhaar: Time-consuming- Aadhaar-PAN linking on IT returns was a two-step process, but linking Aadhaar to all of one’s financial savings entails well over a dozen steps. The process is time-consuming because key financial product providers and their regulators have not managed to create a centralised registry for investors. Digital divide- Using the online mode for Aadhaar-linking requires familiarity with digital banking, a robust internet connection and uninterrupted phone/email access. This poses severe problems for senior citizens and the poor who lack digital access. Even digitally savvy folk often find their attempts stymied by name/address mismatches between their investment accounts and the Aadhaar database. Security risks- The Aadhar Act 2016 takes a very serious view of misuse of collected data or the breach of confidentiality. The UIDAI is prohibited from sharing your biometric or demographic details with anyone, except under Court orders or national security considerations. Entities that collect Aadhaar are required to inform about the purpose, use it only for verification and refrain from storing or disseminating it. The Act specifies 3 years’ imprisonment and fines for any breach. But while the statute appears fool-proof, enforcing it is the uphill task. Biometric failures- Many Indian savers, despite being quite willing to enrol for Aadhaar find themselves unable to do so because their biometrics fail to read at the Aadhaar touchpoints. Folk beyond the age 50 complain of enrolments being rejected because their fingerprints have faded with age. Iris scanners are not widely available, and are known to trip up too. Biometric failures also foil attempts by the disabled or those engaged in physical labour from securing Aadhaar. The UIDAI dashboard reveals that, on a random recent day, its pan-India enrolment network rejected 1 application for every 7 that it accepted. Conclusion: The present government has achieved phenomenal success with financial inclusion, mainly because it has simplified the on-boarding process for aam aadmis seeking to open bank accounts. It would be an irony indeed if the Aadhaar, which has been so effectively used as an instrument of inclusion, now turns into an instrument for financial exclusion of Indian savers. Connecting the dots: The Aadhaar, which has been so effectively used as an instrument of inclusion, can turn into an instrument for financial exclusion of Indian savers. Critically analyze. MUST READ Is there a case for relook at EVMs The Hindu Defection, disaffection The Hindu Capital crisis The Hindu Fields of despair Indian Express An oversight problem Indian Express Labour intensive exports need a policy push Livemint
UPSC Quiz- 2017 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 98] Archives Q.1) Consider the following statements about Wassenaar Arrangement (WA) It is the first global multilateral arrangement on export controls for conventional weapons and sensitive dual-use goods and technologies The Arrangement is open on a global and non-discriminatory basis to prospective adherents It is the successor to the Cold War-era Coordinating Committee for Multilateral Export Controls Select the correct statements 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above Q.2) Digital Infopedia is associated with which of the following groupings? BRICS International Solar Alliance ASEAN BIMSTEC Q.3) The report, Trouble in the Making? The Future of Manufacturing-Led Development is released by World Economic forum World Bank World Trade Organisation IMF Q.4) Pratikar, a bilateral military exercise is between India and Nepal Nepal and Bhutan Nepal and Sri Lanka None of the above Q.5) Ashok Chawla Committee is concerned with Army Pay Scales Long Term Food Policy Banking Supervision Allocation of Natural Resources To Download the Solution – Click here All the Best IASbaba
IASbaba’s MINDMAP : Issue – HydroPower Archives NOTE – Instructions to download Mind Maps/Images Right Click on the image and ‘Open in a new tab’ Remove/Delete the resolution part from the URl. Eg. “-1024×869” and Press Enter/Load Again Afterwards the URL will look something like this – “iasbaba.com/…./…/..-IASbaba.jpg” Right Click and Save As/Download (You’ll get the maximum resolution)
IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs (Prelims + Mains Focus)- 7th December 2017 Archives (PRELIMS+MAINS FOCUS) India-Japan JWG on nuclear deal Part of: Mains GS Paper II- International relations Key pointers: India and Japan will soon form a joint working group (JWG) that will identify the location, create joint ventures and establish a roadmap for building nuclear reactors in the country. The JWG will comprise representatives from both private and public sectors of both countries. The liability issue still remains a major concern with the Japanese. One of the main objectives of the JWG will be to find a way to address this issue by working jointly with the Indian government. Indo-Japan nuclear deal: The nuclear deal, which culminated six years of negotiation, was signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Tokyo in November last year; it came into force in July 2017 after the Japanese Diet ratified it. Under this deal, India will be the first country that is not a signatory to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT) to obtain Japanese nuclear technology. Once implemented, the deal is expected to pave the way for smoother nuclear trade — not only in terms of nuclear technology but also nuclear material and nuclear equipment. This will also enable both sides to expedite negotiations for concluding the Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty. Article link: Click here Rape of minors to attract death in M.P. Part of: Mains GS Paper I- Social issues Key pointers: The Madhya Pradesh Assembly unanimously passed a Bill awarding death to those found guilty of raping girls aged 12 and below. With this, Madhya Pradesh becomes the first State where those convicted of such rapes will face the gallows. The Bill will now be sent to the President for his assent, after which it will become a law. All parties supported the Bill in Assembly. Article link: Click here Retreating Globalisation: U.S. Part of: Mains GS Paper II- International relations Key pointers: The U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to fully enforce its revised ban on people from eight nations from travelling to the country. President Donald Trump’s decision has been challenged on questions such as his legal authority to issue such an order and whether it constitutes a religious test and a Muslim ban, as promised by Mr. Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign. The Trump administration has argued before the courts that the travel ban is for national security. Six of the eight countries barred by the order are majority-Muslim — Syria, Libya, Iran, Yemen, Chad and Somalia. North Korea and Venezuela are the other two. Restrictions on travel by people from these eight countries vary in their details. Recently, President had also withdrew U.S. from the UN’s Global Compact on Migration. Article link: Click here UAE and Saudi Arabia forms a different group Part of: Mains GS Paper II- International relations Key pointers: The UAE on Tuesday and Saudi Arabia have formed a new economic and partnership group separate from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The move that can undermine the regional bloc amid a diplomatic crisis with Qatar. The new committee has been assigned to cooperate and coordinate between the UAE and Saudi Arabia in all military, political, economic, trade and cultural fields, as well as others, in the interest of the two countries. The UAE and Saudi Arabia have cultivated even-closer ties in recent years. Article link: Click here (MAINS EXCLUSIVE) 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 Getting realistic about UNSC Introduction: Primarily at our initiative, the question of Security Council reform, its expansion, has been under consideration since 1970s. There is near unanimous support for increasing the number of non-permanent seats. There are issues unresolved and challenges when it comes to getting a permanent seat for India at UNSC. Bodies of UN and their importance: The two most prestigious organs of the United Nations are the Security Council and the International Court of Justice. Security Council: The Security Council has 15-member states. Election to the UNSC is conducted only in the General Assembly and requires two-thirds majority to get elected. The UNSC is by far more important from the national interest point of view. It deals with questions of peace and security as well as terrorism and has developed a tendency to widen its ambit into other fields, including human rights and eventually environment. In addition to the Kashmir issue, which Pakistan forever tries to raise, there are other matters in which India would be interested such as the list of terrorists — Hafeez Saeed for example. ICJ: The ICJ has 15 judges. Election to the ICJ is held concurrently in the UNGA and UNSC and requires absolute majority of the total membership in each organ. Veto does not apply for election to the ICJ. The ICJ is required to represent the principal civilisations and legal systems of the world. The judges sitting on ICJ are expected to act impartially, not as representatives of the countries of their origin. That is why they are nominated, not by their governments but by their national groups in the Permanent Court of Arbitration based in The Hague. To have an Indian judge at the ICJ, when we have an active case on its agenda regarding our national in illegal custody of Pakistan might be of some advantage. Other bodies: There are other bodies in the UN that are not as well known but are important enough to be represented on. Like: The ACABQ (Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions) and the Committee on Contributions. The former consists of 16 members elected by the UNGA on the recommendation of the Fifth Committee of the UNGA dealing with the budget of the UN. The Committee on Contributions recommends the scale of assessments to the budget and the share of each member. This is a very important function, since the share decided by the UNGA applies to all the specialised agencies, etc. There is also the Human Rights Council; we have had almost continuous representation on it. The U.S. lost the election to it a few years ago; there is widespread resentment against the P-5’s presumption to a permanent seat on all bodies. Unresolved issues: The controversial question is about the increase in the category of permanent seats. The rationale for expansion has been accepted in-principle by nearly all, but the difficulty arises when the actual numbers and their rights are discussed. India, along with Brazil, Germany and Japan, has proposed an increase of six additional permanent seats, the other two being for Africa. The African group is demanding two permanent seats, recognised as reasonable by every member, but there are at least three and perhaps more claimants for the two seats. Then there is the question of the rights of the additional members. The G-4’s initial position was for the same rights as the present permanent members, essentially the veto right. Over the years, they have become more realistic and would be willing to forego the veto right. The firm position of the Africans is that the new members must have the same rights as the existing ones. This is a non-starter. Getting realistic about UNSC: The general membership of the UN wants to eliminate the existing veto; they will never agree to new veto-wielding powers. Variants of the veto provision have been suggested, such as the requirement of double veto, i.e. at least two permanent members must exercise veto for it to be valid. The P-5 are not willing to dilute their self-acquired right. Many member-states have been pledging support for our aspiration for permanent membership. Several P-5 countries have also announced support. The principal P-5 member opposing us is China. The P-5 will never agree to give up their veto right, nor will they agree to accord this right to any other country. (France supports veto for additional permanent members.) It has to be underscored that there is no way that India alone, by itself, can be elected as permanent member. It will have to be a package deal in which the demands of all the geographical groups, including the Latin America and Caribbean group which, like Africa, does not have a single permanent member, will have to be accommodated. Even if the America supports us, they will simply not lobby for India alone. They will try to get Japan also in. China will not support Japan’s candidature. The P-5 will play the game among themselves but will stand by one another, as was evident recently at the time of election to the ICJ. Conclusion: We should be realistic. If a permanent seat is not available, there are other proposals on the table. One proposal is for the creation of ‘semi-permanent’ seats, according to which members would be elected for six-eight years and would be eligible for immediate reelection. Given India’s growing prestige and respect, it should not be difficult for us to successfully bid for one of these seats; it might be a better alternative than to unrealistically hope for a permanent seat. Connecting the dots: India has been pursuing the UNSC reforms since 1970s. Off late New Delhi is eying a permanent seat at the UNSC. Though we have supporters to our claim, there are various challenges associated. In this light, India should get more realistic and try other options. Critically analyze. ECONOMY TOPIC:General Studies 3 Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth. Investment models and Inclusive Growth. Concept of Sovereign/Social wealth fund What is Social wealth fund or Sovereign wealth fund? A social wealth fund or sovereign wealth fund (SWF) is a state-owned investment fund that invests in real and financial assets such as stocks, bonds, real estate, precious metals, or in alternative investments such as private equity fund or hedge funds and whose dividends would be paid out directly to the citizenry. The funding for a sovereign wealth fund (SWF) comes from central bank reserves that accumulate as a result of budget and trade surpluses, and from revenue generated from the exports of natural resources. Unlike, the state-operated funds which are used in a discretionary manner that helps countries (for example Saudi Arabia) generate revenues and whose benefits end up flowing to the country’s richest. A social wealth fund would guarantee that the income from capital assets gets distributed widely—perhaps as a universal basic income. Background/History: The term "sovereign wealth fund" was first used in 2005 by Andrew Rozanov in an article entitled, "Who holds the wealth of nations?" Sovereign wealth funds have existed for more than a century, but since 2000, the number of sovereign wealth funds has increased dramatically. Establishment of SWF: The motives for establishing a sovereign wealth fund vary by country. For example, the United Arab Emirates generates a large portion of its revenue from exporting oil and needs a way to protect the surplus reserves from oil-based risk, thus it places a portion of that money in a sovereign wealth fund. Japan faces the dilemma of a growing elderly population combined with a dwindling labor force and negative government bond yields. The nation's public pension system is designed to have contributions from the working populace support its elderly citizens. Japan places these contributions as a SWF investing in global equities. Many nations use sovereign wealth funds as a way to accrue profit for the benefit of the nation's economy and its citizens. Objectives of SWF: The primary functions of a sovereign wealth fund are to stabilize the country's economy through diversification and to generate wealth for future generations. Every SWF has its own unique purpose and objective, but the general aim is to do something that will benefit the country as a whole. Some possible objectives include: Fund social or economic projects to boost growth and employment. Get political mileage and increase vote share. Provide long-term capital growth opportunities for the domestic market. Protect the economy from excess volatility due to revenues or exports. Provide stability against oil price fluctuations. Diversify portfolio with an aim to create savings for the future generation. Benefits: SWFs offer a variety of economic and financial benefits. The SWFs of several nations enable governments to augment resources and achieve strategic objectives. SWF’s earnings will diversify a country’s revenues and augment foreign exchange reserves or commodity revenues. It helps to acquire strategic stakes in oil and gold companies. They help avoid boom-bust cycles in their home countries, and facilitate the saving and transfer across generations of proceeds from fiscal surpluses related to commodity exports and privatizations. Countries such as China and Singapore have used SWFs to meet their commodity import requirements, promote the expansion of domestic companies overseas, attract foreign direct investment and increase government revenues. They help to combat inequality and provide macroeconomic stability. SWFs would be socially owned and could be used to finance a range of public projects that benefit society as a whole. These might include investment in economic and social infrastructure and urban regeneration and strengthening mechanisms that encourage upward social mobility. Conclusion: SWFs can generate a sizeable fund over time, enough to fund a range of social programmes and possibly an annual citizen’s dividend, through a modest contribution from a very privileged social group. Depending on how they are financed, these funds have the potential to be a powerful weapon in the anti-inequality armoury, they would boost social investment and greatly improve the overall balance sheet of the public finances in the process. The emergence of sovereign wealth funds is an important development for international investing, and as regulation and transparency issues are resolved in the coming years, these funds are likely to take on a major role in shaping the global economy. The Government of India (GoI) incorporating an SWF would facilitate achieving key political and economic goals. Connecting the dots: What do you mean by the term ‘Social wealth fund’ or ‘Sovereign wealth fund’? Discuss the objectives and benefits of establishing such a fund. For further reference: Click here MUST READ Recognise the technology The Hindu Universal health coverage is the best prescription The Hindu Ambedkar for our times Indian Express Incentivizing new vaccine development Livemint Distributive justice and welfare economics Livemint When ideas are hiding Business Line
UPSC Quiz- 2017 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 97] Archives Q.1) Global Education Monitoring report is released by QS UNESCO WEF NAFSA Q.2) Recently scientists have developed a new Graphene-based battery material. Consider the following statements about the Graphene-based battery in comparison with lithium-ion batteries Increase of charging capacity Decrease of charging time Stable temperatures Select the correct code: 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above Q.3) Amended Technology Upgradation Funds Scheme (ATUFS) is concerned with Textile Semiconductors Infrastructure Electric Vehicles Q.4) Consider the following statements with respect to ‘Predatory Pricing’ It is the pricing where a product is sold at a very low price, to drive competitors out of market It makes markets more vulnerable to a monopoly It leads to price war and it is not good for the consumers in the long run Which of the following statement is correct? 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above Q.5) Consider the following statements about Khangchendzonga National Park It is a UNESCO World Heritage site It is placed on the Montreux Record under the Ramsar Convention Select the correct statements Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 To Download the Solution – Click here All the Best IASbaba
Ease of Doing Business Report: India jumps 30 Spots Archives TOPIC: General Studies 3 Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it. picture credit: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/policy/India-makes-it-to-top-100in-ease-of-doing-business/article9935450.ece World Bank released its latest version of Ease of Doing business which saw India leapfrog 30 points to enter into top 100 destinations for ease of doing business’. In 2016, India was listed at 130 below countries like Ghana and Uganda. Path has not been easy In 2014, the government had said that it would focus on this index and come out with reforms to improve the ranking. It was disappointing in 2015 and 2016 when there was not much improvement in the ranking. Given that perspective, the present jump is encouraging. The jump shows that the sustained efforts do get the good results and they are not gained overnight. The new government which has vowed to remove red tape, eliminate procedures of delay and turn India into an investment destination has seen the results in context of the recent reforms undertaken and government’s commitment for the same. Why is the index important? The index essentially focuses on red tape and administrative hurdles. It is based on four essential sources of information The laws in the statute book Feedback from experts Consultation with national government Consultations with WB staff After the information from these places, the index is put in place. Limitations of the index for India This index is based on what is happening in two Indian cities- Delhi and Mumbai. India is yet to see the result of index which cover more than eight cities. Thus, to say that ease of doing business has improved dramatically for the whole of country would be exaggeration. A better indicator will come by WB which is called as Enterprise Survey which actually goes into details how enterprises in different part of the country perform. Thus, a broader picture of business in India will be known by merging the findings of ease of doing business and world bank enterprise survey. What to be done to reach next level? The push for digital governance should enable India to come into top 30 by 2022 in almost all parameters except two, bankruptcy and enforcement of contracts. Transition to digital functioning has a barrier in the political economy. But now the political establishments in all states would like to have investments and results of the same. So the situation is appropriate and right. For bankruptcy, the process is on and the legislative framework is there. So the system should work well enough with close monitoring and supervision. The real achievement will be to achieve the enforcement of contracts. It is tough one as it basically means bringing efficiency in Indian judicial system. From an economic perspective, the Indian judiciary has been highly inefficient and doesn’t deliver as per the changing times and needs. Challenges to ease of doing business Methodology challenge- expand the coverage of the index to make it more real. The kind of laws the index looks at are at state level laws and not national laws. So more importance has to be also given to the state level exposures and business performances. Need for factor market reforms- the areas of making the land available should be improved from 190 days. Land allotment, construction permits should be encouraged. The labour reforms- in terms of hiring and retrenching mechanism should be there. Cross border business, i.e. proper trade policy is required to enhance business opportunities. Way forward The perception across the world and within India is that there is a rent-seeking environment which makes it ineffective for people to enter into business or SMEs from Europe to come into India. That perception has to change very fast. That is the reason why very few people who are not in India choose to start new enterprises. Rent seeking environment can be altered partly through e-governance and political governance. Ease of doing business is a major building block but it is not enough. It is not sufficient for attracting investment and growth. This index is based on what is there on statute and rules. So the rules should go down to the reality and get implemented. The ease of doing business is directed only to cross-out the administrative hurdles. But to create an investment climate constitutes many other factors and ease of doing business is one of them. The improvement in ranking makes India a better investment destination because the foreign and domestic investors feel encouraged to do the business. At present the investment is stuck because of twin balance sheet problem. The banks are stressed and the corporate sector is overleveraged. Though the bank recapitalization was first good step, it has to be followed up with changes in how banks do their businesses. Enterprise Surveys An Enterprise Survey is a firm-level survey of a representative sample of an economy’s private sector. The surveys cover a broad range of business environment topics including access to finance, corruption, infrastructure, crime, competition, and performance measures. The findings and recommendations are helping policy makers identify, prioritize and implement reforms of policies and institutions that support efficient private economic activity. Key research topics of the unit include firm performance and job creation, legal gender parity for entrepreneurs and workers, informality, and export performance. Also Read: https://iasbaba.com/2017/11/iasbabas-daily-current-affairs-2nd-nov-2017/ Connecting the dots: Ease of doing business jump is not an achievement. The milestone and the goals are still afar”. Critically examine.
India, Iran & Afghanistan: Converging Interests Archives TOPIC: General Studies 2 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 In a significant sign of trilateral cooperation, the first consignment of wheat from India to Afghanistan, via the Iranian port of Chabahar thereby bypassing Pakistan. The new route follows an ship-train route corridor in India and Afghanistan since 2016. This will be to let afghan products reach India. The plan is to connect Chabahar by rail to Zahedan in Iran to Zaranj in Afghanistan and there onwards into Delaram which is also in Afghanistan. If Afghan goods come up to Zahedan, they can be transported by a 1,380-km rail link to Chabahar and shipped to India. The Chabahar port, located in the Sistan-Balochistan province on the energy-rich Persian Gulf nations southern coast, lies outside the Persian Gulf and can be easily accessed from India's western coast, bypassing Pakistan. Picture credit: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/India-ships-wheat-to-afghanistan-via-chabahar/article19945498.ece Strategic significance In 2002, the idea of connectivity to Afghanistan was conceived via Iran and through chabhahar. It was after Taliban was defeated in 2002. The vital component was construction by India of Zaranj’s Delaram road. The strategic significance is that Pakistan will be a constant blockage to reach Afghanistan via its land and yet India manages to bypass it to achieve the larger security and regional stability goal. It is a signal to china, Pakistan and Afghanistan that it will overcome all barriers when it comes to developing ties with Afghanistan. The move is also significant as it indicates India remains firm in delivering on its regional commitment through partnership with Iran, despite Iran’s ongoing tension with the United States. Additionally, now India is looked by US as an alternative to its support to itself in Afghanistan and stabilize the situation there. Picture Credit: http://www.livemint.com/r/LiveMint/Period2/2016/05/24/Photos/G-iraqmap(modi)web.jpg Importance of Iran Trump is looking at West Asia and Iran through Israeli prism where is if finding flaws with Iran. The world knows what Iran is to the development of the region. India has been dealing with Iran for decades. In past, before nuclear deal, there was huge pressure on India but it continued trading with Iran. Despite sanctions on Iran, India looks forward to widen its economic interests with Iran with oil, gas and trade and other sectors which have suffered since few years. Iran is critical for India’s access to Afghanistan and central Asia. Geopolitical change Pakistan army’s world-view is that it wont allow access via Punjab-wagah into Afghanistan. But denial of this access is harming Pakistan. If CPEC has to reach its full advantage then access will have to be given. But the geopolitical scene will change as India has access to Afghanistan and India is demonstrating its ability to state and pursue its objectives whatever be the obstacles. This is the new India which shows a greater commitment. Once that happens, the international community takes note of it and the geopolitics change. International community and convergence Japan, Australia, Iran- trying to have alternative to OBOR of china. There is another collaboration of Russia, Pakistan, china and Iran. Russia also wants a stable Afghanistan because of economic interest- Chinese are looking for trade in their natural resources like minerals which are yet to be explored. The strategic interests are they fear Uighurs being trained in Xinjiang province, Kashgar Urumqi and sent across border create trouble. Chinese problems? China and Pakistan were never happy of the Chabahar port development considering its nearness to Gwadar. However, it shouldn’t be overstated. China at this juncture has a great stake in stabilizing Afghanistan because as it is rising, it is realizing the problem of turbulence, instability in the region. A healthy competition will encourage more adherence to stability for shared prosperity of the countries in the region. Conclusion India has made it clear that it has an independent foreign policy with regards to North Korea, Iran. These are the things that are going to lead to stability and prosperity for entire region. Long-term viability of the project has to be seen when it comes to India Afghanistan project. Baluchistan has to be stable. These goods have to now go to central Asia too as a next step. Chabahar has to emerge as a transit port and give competition to Dubai where currently the bulk cargo is getting disembarked and then being distributed from there. This role has to be now taken up by Chabahar in near future and India has to cooperate and support in building capabilities for the same. India, Afghanistan and Iran can tackle terror together. India has sent out a signal that Pakistan cannot destabilize the region and there is going to be prosperity. It will be shut out of the development in the region. It feels that if India gets into Afghanistan, then it will have greater leverage in its internal affairs an will lose its chance to spread terror. Connecting the dots: A new partnership is being forged between India-Afghanistan-Iran to stabilize as well as develop region. Discuss your opinion on the same.
IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs (Prelims + Mains Focus)- 6th December 2017 Archives (PRELIMS+MAINS FOCUS) Change in definition of ‘employment’ Part of: Mains GS Paper III- Inclusive growth Need of changing the definition: The government’s data show that job creation in past three years in the formal sector was slowest in almost a decade It is felt the ground reality on jobs was not being ‘properly’ captured as the existing system takes into account only the formal sector. There is no fixed definition of formal workers currently in India. The ‘Task Force on Improving Employment Data’: The task force was set up in May 2017 under the chairmanship of Mr. Arvind Panagariya. The panel’s terms of reference included assessing the existing data systems and sources that provide information on jobs and job creation and then identifying alternate sources that could provide such data. The terms also included recommending mechanisms for capturing information on jobs and job creation on a regular basis for both the informal and formal sectors. All the economic activity in India, including in the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) and informal sectors, will get properly captured. Article link: Click here The ‘Dr Ambedkar scheme for social Integration through inter caste marriage’ Part of: Mains GS Paper I- Social issues Key pointers: The scheme was started in 2013, with a target to provide monetary incentive to at least 500 inter-caste couples, where either the bride or the bridegroom is a Dalit, per year. This was meant to “appreciate the socially bold step” and to enable them to “settle down in the initial phase of their married life”. The scheme’s stated purpose was to counter the Hindu practice of marrying on the “traditional grounds of jatis (castes) and up-jatis (sub-castes)”. The idea is derived from the teachings of Babasaheb Ambedkar, who said that caste and endogamy (custom of marrying within one’s own community) are the same thing. He had noted that, “prohibition, or rather the absence of intermarriage is the only one that can be called the essence of caste” and advocated “fusion” through intermarriage (exogamy). The target for each state is fixed in proportion to its share of Scheduled Caste population, though states are allow to exceed their targets. In a recent order, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment directed that “the condition that the total income of the newly-wedded couple will not exceed Rs 5 lakh per annum” be scrapped. Issue- Awareness about the scheme is very low, most of the proposals come from a few states such as Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Maharashtra. Article link: Click here Boost to Exports sector Part of: Mains GS Paper III- Trade & Infrastructure Background: With exports of goods lower than $300 billion in the last two years, the government is under pressure to give the sector a major boost. Exports in 2016-17 were $276.54 billion, compared with $314.14 billion in 2013-14. Key pointers: The government recently announced incentives totalling Rs 8,450 crore to help boost exports. The incentive rate has been raised by 2 per cent under the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS) and Services Exports from India Scheme (SEIS). The additional incentives have been provided for exports by small and medium enterprises, labour-intensive and agriculture-based exports among others. The mid-term review of the five-year FTP aims to promote exports by simplification of processes, enhancing support to high employment sectors, leveraging benefits of GST, promoting services exports and monitoring exports performance through state-of-the-art analytics. The government has set up a “state-of-the-art” trade analytics division set up in DGFT for data based policy actions, which will improve policy making process and making it a dynamic and evidence driven. Self-certification scheme for duty free imports. A single point electronic contact to traders with the Directorate General of Foreign Trade for trade and consignment related queries. Creation of a logistics division in the department of commerce. The government is also working on Ease of Trading rules to make processes simpler for exporters and importers. An e-wallet system to address the liquidity problem being faced by exporters is likely to be operational from April 1, 2018. MEIS: Under the MEIS scheme available to exporters, identified sectors are given duty exemption scrips, which are fixed at a certain percentage of the total value of their exports. These scrips can be used to pay duties on inputs and can be traded. Article link: Click here Google's outreach to India Part of: Mains GS Paper III- Science & Technology Key pointers: Google is all set to extend its free Wi-Fi services beyond railway stations to include entire cities as part of the company’s Next Billion User initiative. Google has already connected 227 railway stations in India through Google Stations to provide high speed connectivity. Google last year announced that it will be connecting 400 railway stations with high speed internet connectivity in partnership with the Indian Railways and its telecom arm Railtel. Pune will be the first smart city to receive free connectivity across the city from Google Stations initiative. While Google maintains that it does not plan to monetise Google Stations, it is testing out advertising and possibly paid upgrades to create a sustainable model for Google Stations. Similar to Google, Facebook has also been offering Wi-Fi services in several villages across the country. However, in order to make the initiative sustainable, the company charges users small fee such as Rs. 10 a day for 300Mb usage through its Express Wi-Fi initiative. Other initiatives by Google: Google has also announced that Google Assistant, the company personalised artificial intelligence-based assistance will be supported on the Reliance Jio Phone, including voice command in multiple Indian regional languages. The search engine giant also introduced a new Two-Wheeler Mode in Google Maps, which will offer navigation especially for two-wheeler riders. Two-wheeler mode has been launched in India initially and will be offered in other countries subsequently. The search giant also announced the availability of a special version of Android, the Android Oreo (Go edition), which will make entry-level smartphones. Article link: Click here (MAINS EXCLUSIVE) NATIONAL TOPIC:General Studies 3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it. Re-skilling India Background: Young and aspirational, the millennial generation that makes up about 40% of India’s population has long been regarded as the driver of future economic growth. Yet, the gap between the productive labour force and the employment and entrepreneurial opportunities available to them continues to widen. Cause of concern: The fourth Industrial Revolution has already made its mark on certain sectors. As technology continues to surge forward in leaps and bounds, both blue- and white-collar jobs will become increasingly sparse. The economic turmoil that could be brought on by further large-scale disruption should be a cause of concern. With prestigious and highly regarded Indian sectors such as IT amounting to little more than cyber “coolies”, the manufacturing and agricultural sectors are in an even more precarious situation. Much of India’s workforce is already hampered with outdated and irrelevant skills. Challenges faced by MSDE: Policymakers recognize the problem and have taken steps to combat it. The “Skilling India” programme aimed at accelerating the pace of skill development, creating new employment opportunities and reforming India’s archaic labour ecosystem is a positive step. However, the challenges faced by the ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship (MSDE) are complex and varied. In order to skill 400 million young Indians by 2022, the MSDE is forced to coordinate with 22 departments and ministries at the national level, and many more at the sub-national levels. The MSDE also must account for the possibility of intra-state migration, rapid urbanization and possible changes in social fabric as populations react to new job opportunities. A prime example of the worst-case scenario can be seen with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), an autonomous entity functioning under the MSDE. Tasked specifically with the responsibility of skilling 10 million people by 2020, the NSDC has struggled to achieve its goal. Way ahead: If India wishes to avoid economic stagnation and societal upheaval, following needs to be done. Additional policy measures must be undertaken to cut through bureaucratic red tape and bring clarity to the policy framework. Creating a coherent organizational structure—the NSDC, for example, has been tasked with managing the financing processes while also implementing the skilling programmes. Separating the two tasks and allowing the ministry of finance to manage the financial aspects would allow the NSDC to focus on its core competencies, allowing it to be more effective and efficient. MSDE should focus on implementing a multi-skilling aspect to its training programme moving forward. As job markets evolve at unprecedented rates, it is incumbent upon the MSDE to provide its trainees with more than one way to earn a living. The ministry should also explore the possibility of programmes aimed at skilling and reskilling older “educated” populations that might be left behind owing to disruption and technological advances. The curriculum and education system offered also needs to be overhauled. Industry sources claim that close to 90% of trainees have limited understanding of the business sectors they are entering. For many skill programme graduates, the training does very little to prepare them for their day-to-day jobs. Targeted initiatives focused on updating skills can help ensure that the training benefits its intended audience. A solutions-based approach, where instructors employ case studies and present relevant problems, would provide students with a holistic education, allowing them to compete at both the national and international levels. Implementation of licensing and regulation procedures can also help boost the Indian labour force’s chances globally. Most developed nations have systems in place to ensure that electricians, plumbers, agricultural machine operators and other skilled trade workers update their skills regularly through the licensing and regulatory mechanisms. Implementing such a system without creating additional layers of burdensome bureaucracy could be a key difference marker for the Indian labour force moving forward. Cutting away excessive bureaucratic fat, implementing structural changes to the pedagogy of the skill training system, and installing licensing and regulatory mechanisms are all important steps to help reskill India. Conclusion: The most important change needs to happen on a cultural level. Skill training should be viewed as a complementary part of mainstream education, rather than being regarded as an inferior alternative. Otherwise, India’s youth will be relegated to the same conditions that their grandparents were subject to. Connecting the dots: The gap between the productive labour force and the employment and entrepreneurial opportunities available to them continues to widen. This is despite the ongoing Skill India mission. Discuss the issues and way forward. NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 1: Social Issues General Studies 2: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections. Reforming criminal administration system in India Background: The annual publication of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), “Crime in India 2016”, which was released recently, presents a dismal picture of the key performance statistic with only 47% convictions in Indian Penal Code (IPC) crimes at the national level. Unresolved issues: Low conviction rates and a lack of a lawful definition of crime mark criminal administration in India. Low conviction rates- Case study- In Delhi, DNA testing, which can secure higher conviction rates, is, inexplicably, a low priority. There is only one forensic testing laboratory, with around 9,000 samples pending for examination. Over 5,000 are DNA samples. Delays in this crucial evidence, which plays an important factor in acquittals, are a setback as samples deteriorate with time. Systemic issues- Despite the recommendations of Law Commissions and the Supreme Court, as well going by experience in the developed world, we do not have separate wings for investigation of crime and for law and order. In most countries, the prosecutor, and not the police, has discretion on whether to press charges as they involve adjudication. Years ago, the Law Commission had suggested a directorate of prosecution independent of the police to guide investigation. There is still controversy over which kinds of conduct are best controlled by the application of criminal law and which kinds by other means. For example, special and local offences account for as much crime as under provisions of the IPC, with nearly 60% of cases under liquor and narcotics offences at the national level. Causing simple and grievous injures under rash driving accounts for 11% of IPC crimes; theft also accounts for 16.6% of IPC crime at the national level. The effectiveness of prisons is now being questioned. Nearly two-thirds of the prison population is awaiting trial and half the number of undertrials are normally acquitted. Over 80% of prisoners are sentenced to terms less than three months, 40% are under 30 years old, semi-literate and convicted under special and local acts. Short-term sentences expose such prisoners to criminal indoctrination in jail and social condemnation on release. Way ahead: The focus should really be on reorganising criminal administration. The key statistic of police performance is not merely correct reporting and recording but charge sheets and convictions. Thus the focus should be on reducing conviction rates. There is a need to distinguish between accountability and operational responsibility. For example, ‘the Mayor of London is responsible for setting policing priorities that will hold the Met Police Commissioner to account. Operational decision-making on day-to-day policing remains the responsibility of the Metropolitan Police Commissioner. The Police and Crime Plan 2013-2016 has clear performance measures that focus on results such as 20% reduction in key neighbourhood crimes, 20% reduction in delays in the criminal justice system, and 20% reduction in reoffending by young people leaving custody. The criminal justice system should be limited to crimes under the IPC, while enforcement of administrative law and social legislation requires a different approach involving summary trials, changing societal attitudes and modes of behaviour. For example, in Britain part-time lay judges outnumber full-time judges, leaving the judiciary to concentrate on the real crime. Conclusion: The main purpose of criminal administration should be the prevention of crime, and the police cannot be an instrument of social change. Administrative measures and fines levied will change behaviour better than penal action.Crime prevention is affected by conviction rate, beat patrolling, and by the police and community working together. Connecting the dots: The main purpose of criminal administration should be the prevention of crime, and the police cannot be an instrument of social change. In this light criminal administration in India needs to go beyond police reforms. MUST READ Fight for market economy status The Hindu Invitation to a jugalbandi Indian Express Artificial intelligence isn't a game changer Livemint Revolutionizing the Indian Housing dream Livemint
UPSC Quiz- 2017 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 96] Archives Q.1) Which of the following states is planning to develop a solar-wind hybrid project with battery back-up facility funded by the World Bank? Maharashtra Andhra Pradesh Tamil Nadu Gujarat Q.2) Recently, a material called ‘flink’, has been developed by scientists at ETH Zurich in Switzerland. What is it? A bacteria-containing ink A compact camera with 16 lenses & over 52 megapixel resolution A superhydrophobic coating None of the above Q.3) 'Operation Barga' was launched in Kerala Karnataka Rajasthan West Bengal Q.4) Consider the following statements about ‘Arogya 2017’ It is jointly organized by Ministry of AYUSH and Ministry of Commerce and Industry It is a comprehensive exhibition cum conference on Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddhha, Sowa Rigpa, Homoeopathy and wellness. Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.5) Consider the following statements about National Policy for Drug Demand Reduction It is drafted by Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment It proposes a system of Accreditation of de-addiction Centres in order to standardize the treatment/ facilities provided in coordination with Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and other stakeholders. 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
