Jan 12, 2018 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs [Prelims + Mains Focus] - 11th January 2018

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs (Prelims + Mains Focus)- 11th January 2018 Archives (PRELIMS+MAINS FOUCS) Modifications in FDI rules  Part of: GS Mains Paper III- Indian Economy Key pointers: The Union Cabinet modified foreign investment rules Wednesday to allow 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in single-brand retail and real estate broking services through the automatic route. Investment up to 49 per cent under approval mechanism was allowed in Air India to facilitate its divestment process and Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) and Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) have been permitted to invest in power exchanges through the primary market. The measures, the government said, are intended to “liberalise and simplify the FDI policy so as to provide ease of doing business in the country”. In case of single-brand retail, while the current FDI policy allows 49 per cent FDI under the automatic route and FDI beyond 49 per cent and up to 100 per cent through the government approval route, the revised policy allows 100 per cent FDI under the automatic route. Foreign airlines can now invest up to 49 per cent under approval route in Air India subject to the conditions that the foreign investment in Air India shall not exceed 49 per cent either directly or indirectly. The government also liberalised FDI regime for medical devices. Pic credit: http://images.indianexpress.com/2018/01/fdu.jpg Article link: Click here Sub-national Logistics Performance Index (LPI) Part of: GS Mains Paper III- Infrastructure Key pointers: Logistics Performance Index (LPI) ranks states in terms of the logistical support they provide to promote trade. Prepared by the commerce ministry It will be a perception-based ranking and it is the first time in the world that it is coming at the sub-national level. The index will act as a dynamic toll for the ministry to identify bottlenecks in this area. The ranking is based on about eight parameters such as transportation facilities available in states and documentation procedures. The ranking aims at encouraging states to work and improving upon their logistics related infrastructure. Inadequate infrastructure is impacting the country's trade and investments. In this year's rankings- Gujarat has topped a perception-based index of mobility of goods and efficiency of logistics chain, closely followed by Punjab and Andhra Pradesh. World Bank's report: In the World Bank's Logistics Performance Index (LPI), India's ranking improved to 35th as against 54th spot it occupied in the previous report. The report came in 2016 as it comes once-in-two-years. Article link: Click here (MAINS FOCUS) NATIONAL/ECONOMY TOPIC: General studies 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes. General studies 3: Inclusive growth and issues arising from it Investment and Infrastructure Agrarian/Rural distress and Rural Development Role of construction sector in addressing rural distress Introduction: Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC) or Rural Census had highlighted that - ‘landlessness’ and ‘dependence on manual casual labour’ for livelihood - are key deprivations facing rural families. SECC data has shown worrying levels of rural poverty. SECC’s 7 Deprivation Indicators: SECC census aims to rank rural households based on 7 Deprivation Indicators. Households with only one room, kucha walls and kucha roof Households without an adult member in working age (between the ages of 16 and 59) Female headed households with no adult male member between 16 and 59 Households with a disabled member or without able-bodied adult Households of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST) Households without literate adults over 25 years the landless engaged in manual labour The more the number of above parameters on which a household is deprived, the worse its extent of poverty. Households with the highest deprivation score will Be first included in the BPL list. Be first given benefit of Government welfare schemes. According to SECC, 48.5% of all rural households suffer from at least one deprivation indicator nearly 30% have two deprivations, 13% have three only 0.01% suffer from all seven handicaps “Landless households engaged in manual labour” are the most vulnerable: According to SECC, nearly 54 million households are in the landless-labourer category and around 84% of all those who hold agricultural land are small and marginal farmers. Along with landless families, small and marginal farmers are getting pauperized (a state of extreme poverty or destitution) and more engaged in manual labour. The intersection of any of the six other handicaps with “landless labour” makes it more acute or worse (as shown below) 59% of households with kuchha houses are landless labourers 55% of those with no literate adult above 25 years are landless labourers 54% each of SC/ST households and female-headed households without adult male members are also landless households 47% households without an adult member of working age are landless labourers 45% of those with disabled members and no able-bodied adult members are landless labourers Small and marginal farmers, equally vulnerable The overall farm size of small and marginal farmers has been dropping since the early 1970s, and down from the 2.25 hectares (ha) average to a 1.25 ha average in 2010. It will continue to become even smaller. For these farmers, agricultural incomes are also likely to fall. Farmer distress has been growing, with the past year witnessing farmers protesting on the streets in several States. Non-Agricultural jobs to rescue: According to National Sample Survey (NSS) data, two demographic groups have done reasonably well in labour market outcomes both in terms of job growth as well as wage growth between 2004-5 and 2011-12. the young ones who were getting educated the older ones, (who were poorly educated add landless labour in agriculture) who shifted to non-agricultural jobs especially construction work However, a big question raises - Does the economy have the capacity to create non-agricultural jobs for both groups whose numbers will grow over the next decade until 2030? The young have been entering and remaining in education in unprecedented numbers for the last two decades. Hence, the young joining the labour force will indeed grow significantly. Also the numbers of landless and small and marginal farmers looking for non-agricultural work is also set to increase.  Construction employment According to National Sample Survey (NSS) and Labour Bureau data – The real net domestic product or the growth rate of the construction sector has steadily increased from 1970s to 2011-12. Employment in the construction sector increased 13 times during the past four decades. This led to its share in rural employment rising. This sector absorbed 74% of the new jobs created in non-farm sectors in rural areas between 2004-05 and 2011-12. Note: Number of rural workers in construction is higher as compared to manufacturing or services sectors – because there are fewer skill and educational requirements in construction. This was possible because of the sustained growth in investment in infrastructure, especially over the 11th Five Year Plan period (2007-12) of $100 billion per annum, two-thirds of which was public, and the remainder private. In addition, there was a real boom in real estate, residential and commercial, throughout the country. Construction is the main activity absorbing poorly educated rural labour in the rural and urban areas. However, construction jobs are growing more slowly since 2011-12, as public investment has fallen. And with the rising non-performing assets of banks, private investment has fallen as well. The result: fewer workers have been leaving agriculture since 2011-12. This is hurting landless labour and small and marginal farmers the most, since their households had benefited the most from the tightening of the labour market that had ensued in rural and urban areas because of rising construction jobs. The way ahead: The Union government should sustain rural development expenditure, especially for rural roads, under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana and rural housing under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban). The Surface Transport Ministry should also attempt to sustain public investment in infrastructure to generate construction jobs for growing surplus rural labour. Allocation for investment in infrastructure should be top priority in this Union Budget (which is to be presented on February 1) Because, investment in infrastructure will open new jobs in non-farm sectors and construction sector – which is vital for addressing rural distress. The Budget for 2018-19 should sustain this public investment effort. The announcement that the government plans to borrow an additional Rs. 50,000 crore in this financial year, is welcome. Hopefully, the intention here is to raise public investment, especially for infrastructure investment. Greater construction activities-rural roads, housing and irrigation-will also do a lot to raise rural incomes and jobs and to take the pressure off the farm sector. Connecting the dots: Does the economy have the capacity to create non-agricultural jobs for rural people whose numbers will grow over the next decade until 2030? Examine. Critically examine the role of construction sector in addressing rural deprivations. NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections Reservation System: Concerns and solution Background: The Gujjars in Rajasthan, the Jats in Haryana and the Patels in Gujarat have shown that politically powerful communities nurturing a sense of victimhood can mount a powerful challenge to the Indian state. It shows our incapacity and our growing powerlessness before vested interests that have acted together to take the system in completely different directions”. Basis of reservations: The 93rd Constitutional Amendment allows the government to make special provisions for “advancement of any socially and educationally backward classes of citizens”, including their admission in aided or unaided private educational institutions. Article 15(4) of our constitution empowers the government to make special provisions for advancement of backward classes. Similarly, Article 16(4) empowers the state to make special provision for the reservation of appointments of posts in favor of any backward class of citizens which in the opinion of the state are not adequately represented in the services. Concerns: Almost half, and in some instance even more than that, educational and job opportunities in the public sector going to candidates coming under the reserved category has raised concerns. This is a widely shared feeling across the country by communities feeling marginalised because of policy of reservation which was once limited, focussed as well as necessary but is now spiralling out of control. In the constitution is the term ‘backward classes defined. What actually constitutes a backward class? What are the determinants of a backward class? These questions remain unanswered and it is only with the help of judicial pronouncements that they have been given some meaning. Question arises how can reservations be made for something that has not been defined? Way ahead: What the young are looking for today is not more of the same — admissions to courses that lead to nowhere and low-entry jobs in the government. By empowering them with skills the world needs today and tomorrow, the government will be building the country’s human capital far more quickly than any more reservations ever can. The vocational training schemes in the country are inadequate and woefully behind the times with many addressing yesterday’s needs. There are some good schemes like those offered by the Nettur Technical Training Foundation (NTTF) in Bengaluru but they are simply too few. Technical training is also constrained by a small educational base — 70% of India’s workforce is without tertiary education — and a crippling lack of well-qualified trainers. Conclusion: We have lost more than a decade in not complementing a mass welfare scheme like the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) with a bigger programme to train the young for employment. One outcome of such neglect is that there is a clamour for more reservations, often with devastating effects. The government needs to acknowledge and address this soon. Connecting the dots: There have been demands of doing away with the reservation system, in its present form, by various sections of the society. Discuss the reasons behind it. Also, highlight how the issue can be addressed by providing training to the youth for employment. MUST READ Prescription for the future The Hindu The map of rural deprivation The Hindu Not a criminal act The Hindu The Bamboo curtain Indian Express Aadhaar of injustice Indian Express

Jan 11, 2018 AIR

All India Radio (AIR) : Global Conference on Cyber Space

Global Conference on Cyber Space ARCHIVES Search 23rd November 2017 here http://www.newsonair.com/Main_Audio_Bulletins_Search.aspx TOPIC: General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. General Studies 3 Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; money-laundering and its prevention In news: India for the first time hosted Global Conference on Cyber Space (GCCS), one of the world’s largest conferences in the field of Cyber Space and related issues. Today, government is focusing on providing services such as health, education and governance services backed by technology even in remote areas. The special emphasis on programs like Jandhan Accounts, linking Jandhan with Aadhar and mobile governance services have been quite successful. These programs have changed the way subsidies are given to the poor by removing middlemen. At the Conference on Global Cyber space, PM pointed out that government has saved 10 billion dollars through this various schemes and digital technology has emerged as a great enabler. Help by digital technology The government has given emphasis both on electronic governance as well as on mobile governance where the poorest of the poor and the disadvantaged in the rural areas can avail of the best services of the central government, state government and local government on their mobile phones or through common service centres. This is bringing about digital revolution in India to bridge the digital divide so that government services especially at the local level are taken to the consumer rather than the consumer having to make rounds of government services. The broadband revolution has helped a lot in bridging the digital divide. The government has laid out optical cable networks and connected Gram panchayats and private sectors are now to provide last mile connectivity, content in local languages and the applications in local languages. Cyberspace security Bharat Net Project is a good scheme wherein fibre connectivity to 1 lakh villages is already provided and by 2019 and remaining 1.5 lakhs villages to be connected. Private sector has to provide last mile connectivity from end point of the Optical Cable Connectivity. It is often deemed to provide wifi hotspots in villages and for this the government is giving them a subsidy. With all this initiatives taking place cyber security becomes important issue Cyber security is very big problem in India. Identity theft, financial frauds become extremely easy with increased computerisation. More the people avail access to the bank accounts over smart phones or over the internet, more they are going to have chances of cyber security frauds due to insufficient data protection mechanism as well as laws. Question on integrity and security of aadhar is another concern as identity theft is a major problem in India right now and using biometrics solely as authorisation and authentication is really fraught for danger. Challenges Providing e governance services to population of more than 80 crores Digital literacy- how fast government can penetrate among the poor and can go in remote areas. Issues of corruption and middle man Bureaucratic hurdles in the way of transparency Local language content and literacy Minimum private sector participation due to low ROI Role of state government There should be a great coordination between the state government and the central government. State governments like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu are forward looking so they are more receptive to the new development but some states have low interest in new technology and thus are not upgrading the service delivery mechanism. The local governments are little more responsive to the leads of the populace because its closest to them.  But the state governments have to take the lead especially in development of content in their local languages and in terms of developing their packages which the user can easily understand who is barely literate or handicapped or aged. They should easily understand what are basic rights, what basic subsidies are available, what are the pension schemes, what are the agricultural subsidies etc. Way forward There has to be a certain amount of technical proficiency as well as fluency in English in order to operate a laptop or mobile phone (easier option).  What really is required is local language content where all the government modules are being brought to popularise in their language. It has to be audio based or video based and not only text based because still literacy is low in the country. Most of that is functional literacy and there is a need for technological literacy. The content developed should be in easy to understand format of video, audio and text. Because of the digital revolution, citizens get their rights, services, benefits over the mobile phones over digital networks.  Transparency, accountability of local officials has increased. There is a national cyber security policy 2013 which says that India needs about half a million cyber security experts a year. The policy aims at creating secure computing environment and enabling adequate trust and confidence in electronic transactions and also guiding stakeholders actions for protection of cyber space. Cyber security mechanism needs to be in-built when the institution starts building complex databases and security system. It cannot be a temporary or knee jerk reaction every time to solve the cyberspace problems. Also Read RSTV- The Big Picture: India’s Cyber Security Challenge https://iasbaba.com/2017/12/rstv-big-picture-indias-cyber-security-challenge/ Connecting the dots: Government is promoting digital adoption for availing basic services without data security mechanism. Explain the challenges faced by lack of cyber space security in providing basic services.

Jan 11, 2018 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz- 2018 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 120]

UPSC Quiz- 2018 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 120] Archives Q.1) Consider the following statements about Special Marriage Act, 1954 It extends to intending spouses who are both Indian nationals living abroad It does not provide for divorce Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2) Consider the following statements about Consolidated Fund of India (CFI) All revenues received by the government by way of direct taxes and indirect taxes, money borrowed and receipts from loans given by the government flow into the CFI No money can be withdrawn from this fund without the Parliament's approval Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) International law identifies which of the following as ‘Global Commons’? High Seas Atmosphere Antarctica Outer Space Select the correct code: 1, 2 and 3 2, 3 and 4 1, 3 and 4 1, 2, 3 and 4 Q.4) Who wrote the book-‘the story of the Integration of the Indian States'? N. Rao Rajagopalachari Krishna Menon P. Menon Q.5) Yom Kippur War was fought between which sides/countries? Turkey and Greece Serbs and Croats Israel, and Arab countries led by Egypt and Syria Iran and Iraq To Download the Solution – Click here All the Best  IASbaba

Jan 10, 2018 RSTV Video

RSTV- The Big Picture : Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2017

Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2017 Archives TOPIC: General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. The Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2017 which seeks to bring about major changes in the Companies Act, 2013, was passed by RS. The bill, which was adopted by the Lok Sabha in July, will now have to receive the assent of the President to become law. The amendment seeks to strengthen corporate governance standards, initiate strict action against defaulting companies and help improve ease of doing business in the country. The bill is amongst the reforms that act towards targeted ease of doing business in India where ranking of India has already improved by 30 points according to WB report. The government now strives to make India an attractive destination for investments. Addressing the difficulties, i.e. the stringent compliances that were there in the initial draft of the bill in 2013, have been now removed. This bill now has made some practical changes keeping into account the problems faced by corporates and plugging loopholes. Ease of doing business is not only about everything being simplified but everything should be clear. Some major changes are: Simplification of the private placement process Rationalization of provisions related to loans to directors Aligning disclosure requirements in the prospectus with the regulations made by SEBI Stringent penalties in case of non-filing of balance sheet and annual return every year Wholly Owned Subsidiary (WOS) of foreign company can hold EGM outside India whereas Annual General meeting of unlisted company can be held anywhere in India. Thus, ease of doing business is being promoted. One of the impediments of doing business in India has always been India’s low performance in contract relation and enforcement. That in mind, government has brought in harmonization between companies act, SEBI, RBI rules and regulation. Employment generation is going to be boosted with contract business going to be biggest beneficiary. The act aims to usher into corporate governance regime, plug the loopholes in forms of defaulters and allow foreign investors to look at India as a destination to do business. Companies are now required to give preceding years’ annual average net profit towards CSR instead of preceding three years’ annual average. The penalties and the prosecution has been brought down as earlier they were too stringent and hence detrimental to business. The rules had been more stringent in terms of filing of financial returns. At the same time, certain penalties which were disproportional- for a minor technical inconsistency, there were huge penalties which have now gone. With such changes, the budding entrepreneurs have been given room to establish themselves. How helpful to entrepreneurs? Small businesses need more help, easier laws to comply with. It cannot comply with stringent and complicated laws with respect to small size of their business as too much burden is not beneficial for their flourishment. Definition of small business is going to create changes. The new Companies bill recognizes all sizes and types of companies existing. There are less court appointments due to simplified compliances. Also, self attestation has made great difference in saving time of businessmen as well as government. Sweat Equity Shares can be issued at any time. Currently it can be issued after one year from commencement of business. Relaxation has been given under Sec 185 (primarily deals with the subject of person to whom company cannot give loan) Sec 186 (enlists the exceptions and specifies the limits up to which a company can give loan), in company loans and deposits. Conclusion The main aim was that in name of control, the business should not be suffocated. Corporate governance strengthened with government support ensures business to flourish in an enabling environment. Connecting the dots: A strong corporate governance ensures increase in employment generation. Discuss.

Jan 10, 2018 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs [Prelims + Mains Focus] - 10th January 2018

IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs (Prelims + Mains Focus)- 10th January 2018 Archives (PRELIMS+MAINS FOUCS) Traffic safety management system (TSMS) Part of: Mains GS Paper III- Infrastructure Key pointers: Cameras with with their superior eyes will be installed on the roads to catch hold of speed junkies and those who jump signals. It will go live on a 14-km stretch in the national Capital. Maruti Suzuki will spend Rs. 15 crore on the system and will implement it with Delhi Police. While the carmaker will set up the system and maintain it for two years, its operation will be the preserve of Delhi Police. The project hopes to reduce accidents and fatalities, improve compliance of traffic rules, bring in transparency in enforcing the eChallan system, create awareness on commuter safety and surveillance of traffic movement. Background: Last year, around 1,495 people lost their lives to road accidents in Delhi, among the highest in the country. The TSMS project, the first of its kind in the Capital, is in line with the Centre’s focus on making roads safe and bringing down accidents and fatalities. Article link: Click here India's supercomputer Pratyush Part of: Mains GS Paper III- Science & Technology Key pointers: India unveiled Pratyush, an array of computers that can deliver a peak power of 6.8 petaflops. Pratyush is the fourth fastest supercomputer in the world dedicated for weather and climate research, and follows machines in Japan, USA and the United Kingdom. It will also move an Indian supercomputer from the 300s to the 30s in the Top500 list. A key function of the machine’s computing power would be monsoon forecasting using a dynamical model. This requires simulating the weather for a given month — say March — and letting a custom-built model calculate how the actual weather will play out over June, July, August and September. With the new system, it would be possible to map regions in India at a resolution of 3 km and the globe at 12 km. Pic credit: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article22399105.ece/alternates/FREE_615/TH09Cybercol Background: One petaflop is a million billion floating point operations per second and is a reflection of the computing capacity of a system. The Top500 list is a respected international tracker of the world’s fastest supercomputers. Article link: Click here "Drone" cameras to be used by Indian Railways Part of: Mains GS Paper III- Infrastructure Key pointers: Indian Railways has decided to deploy "Drone" cameras (UAV/NETRA) for various railway activities especially project monitoring and maintenance of tracks and other railway infrastructure. This is in-line with Railways' desire to use technology to enhance safety and efficiency in train operations. "Drone" cameras shall be deployed to undertake monitoring activities of relief and rescue operation, project monitoring, the progress of important works, conditions of the track and inspection related activities. It shall also be used to assess preparedness of Non-Interlocking (NI) works, crowd management during fairs and melas, to identify scrap and also for an aerial survey of station yards. It is going to be instrumental in providing real-time inputs related to safety and maintenance of tracks and other railway infrastructure. Under this initiative, West Central Railways with headquarter at Jabalpur (M.P) has become the first Zonal Railway to procure "Drone" cameras in Indian Railways. Article link: Click here (MAINS FOCUS) NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections. Issues relating to poverty and hunger. General Studies 3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it. Poor Internal Labour Mobility Introduction: India is becoming more integrated. Goods and services are beginning to flow more freely thanks to recent reforms. But, to increase economic growth and reduce poverty, people too need to move to where they are most productive. Even though the rate of migration doubled between 2001 and 2011 relative to the previous decade, state borders remain impediments to mobility: Labour migrant flows within states are much larger than flows across states. In China, for example, eliminating impediments to internal migration could boost national income by an estimated 10 per cent — a bigger gain than from reducing internal trade costs.  Poor internal labour mobility: Indians, particularly men seeking education and jobs, are surprisingly reluctant to cross state borders. Internal migrants represented 30 per cent of India’s population in 2001, the latest Census round for which comprehensive data on migration flows are available. Two-thirds were migrants within districts, and more than half were women migrating for marriage. Census data reveals that internal migration rates across states were nearly four times higher in Brazil and China, and more than nine times higher in the United States in the five years ending in 2001. Other researchers found that India ranked last in a comparison of internal migration in 80 countries. The restrictiveness of state borders: Migration between neighbouring districts in the same state is at least 50 per cent more than migration between neighbouring districts in different states. Consider Nagpur, a district in central India (Maharashtra) and close to three other states — Telangana, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. The four neighbouring districts in Maharashtra (Bhandara, Wardha, Amravati, and Chandrapur) sent a total of 31 per cent of Nagpur’s immigrants. The remaining three neighbouring districts in Madhya Pradesh (Balaghat, Chhindwara, and Seoni) sent a total of only 13 per cent. In fact, more migrants came to Nagpur from other districts in Maharashtra hundreds of kilometres away than from neighbouring districts in other states. Reasons behind: The entitlement programmes implemented at the state level: Major social benefits are not portable across state boundaries since they are administered by state governments, even when they are centrally funded. For example, access to subsidised food through the public distribution system (PDS), and even admission to public hospitals has been administered through “ration cards”, issued and accepted only by the home state government. We find that in states where the PDS offers higher levels of coverage, unskilled migrants are less likely to move out-of-state. For those seeking higher education and skilled jobs- Many universities and technical institutes are administered by state governments, and state residents get preferential admission through “state quota seats”. For example, the state quota in state medical colleges is more than 70 per cent in Maharashtra. The “domicile certificates” necessary for eligibility for the state quota require continuous residence in the state, ranging from three years in Uttar Pradesh to 10 in Rajasthan. Thus, the relative share of migrants moving out-of-state to seek higher education is lower in states with higher rates of access to tertiary education. In most states, more than three-fourths of government jobs are with the state rather than central government. State domicile is a common requirement for jobs in state government entities. The impact of the discrimination in state employment should diminish as the private sector grows. However, some states are coming up with “jobs for natives” policies. In 2016, Karnataka announced that both public and private sector firms would have to reserve 70 per cent of their jobs for state residents, or lose access to state government industrial policy benefits. Odisha, Maharashtra, and Himachal Pradesh have similar quotas for state residents in factory jobs. Way ahead: Portability of benefits- A nationally portable identity is an important step. The disincentive to move will disappear only when, say, someone from Bihar can access all social benefits when they move to Maharashtra. And those benefits would need to include access to public hospitals and schools even when people move from one state to another. Conclusion: India’s “fragmented entitlements” are likely to dampen growth and perpetuate pockets of poverty by preventing people from seeking the most productive opportunities across the entire country. Only when each Indian state grants all Indian citizens equal access to benefits, education and employment, will India really be on the move. Connecting the dots: Internal migration in India is very poor. Discuss the reasons behind and implications of the same. NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 1: Social empowerment 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 General Studies 3: Indian economy and issues related to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Low women's labour force participation: Conservative attitudes Introduction: Indian women’s labour force participation, at just 27 per cent, is ranked 170 out of the world’s 188 economies. Not only is Indian women’s labour-force participation among the lowest in the world, research suggests it may be declining. This is despite rising education levels and declining fertility. At the same time, it is not the case that women are not interested in working- According to India’s 2011 National Sample Survey, over one-third of women primarily engaged in household work expressed the desire to have a job. Cause of concern: For one, women cannot contribute to India’s economic growth if they are not fully participating in the workforce. Also, working women tend to have greater bargaining power in their households, which could translate to better outcomes both for their children and themselves. Evidence suggests that women with access to networks outside the home can gain a civic and political consciousness, which can benefit their communities and society. Explanations for low women’s participation in the labour force: For women in exploitative jobs, poor working conditions are clearly problematic. The widespread belief that women should not work outside the home is based on a conservative view that elevates a man’s status if the women in his household are “able” to stay at home. And although it is commonly assumed that education will break down conservative social attitudes, many among the educated ones also believe that women should not work outside the home. These attitudes of patriarchy have been internalised even by women and the most educated. What can be done to counter these conservative attitudes? The government must loudly and persistently condemn the visible and invisible ways in which patriarchal attitudes disempower women. Aggressive implementation of policies that will encourage women’s work is critical. -> For example, macroeconomic evidence from OECD countries suggests that childcare subsidies can stimulate female labour participation by raising the returns of work outside the home. But while crèches and daycare facilities in India are mandated as per policy, they are often non-functional or do not exist near the women who need them. -> There is also evidence that paid parental leave and job guarantees have a positive effect on female workforce participation. Although India’s new maternity leave policy is quite generous by international standards, it does not cover the vast majority of working women engaged in the informal sector, and its costs are to be borne wholly by employers, potentially hurting the demand for female labour. Lessons from developed countries may not apply in the deeply patriarchal Indian context. Thus, more data on women’s time use and perceived costs and benefits of being in the workforce is needed to make women’s contribution visible, learn about the constraints they face, and determine which policies are likely to expand work opportunities. Conclusion: Each one of us must engage in reflection and dialogue to recognise and counter gender inequality. By not addressing the attitudes that confine women’s choices and public presence, we are doing a costly mistake to so vastly limit India’s potential. Until women and women’s work are valued at par with men and men’s work, it is likely that many capable women will be left out of contributing to India’s development. Connecting the dots: Attitudes of patriarchy have been internalised even by women and the most educated, keeping women's labour force participation rate in India low. Discuss. Also suggest measures to counter these conservative attitudes. MUST READ  Agriculture needs a reform package The Hindu Question of equality The Hindu Crime and consent Indian Express Weathering the H1B challenge Livemint Reducing financial misallocation in India Livemint Aadhaar insecurities Business Line

Jan 10, 2018 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz- 2018 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 119]

UPSC Quiz- 2018 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 119] Archives Q.1) The United Nations Framework Conventions on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an international treaty drawn at: United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, Stockholm, 1972 UN conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 1992 World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, 2002 UN Climate Change Conference Copenhagen, 2009 Q.2) What are the official languages of the United Nations? English, French and Russian English, French, German and Russian English, French, Russian, Chinese and Hindi English, French, Chinese, Russian, Arabian and Spanish Q.3) Which one of the following does not border Panama? Costa Rica Pacific Ocean Colombia Venezuela Q.4) Which party was founded by Subhash Chandra Bose in the year 1939 after he broke away from the Congress? Indian Freedom Party Azad Hind Fauj Revolutionary Forward Block Q.5) Consider the following statements Frictional unemployment when workers move from one job to another job Invisible trade is a trade of the services like the banks, consulting and shipping companies 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

Jan 10, 2018 Important Articles

Official Announcement- UPSC Civil Services Examination, MAINS 2017 Result Declared!

Hello All, The result of MAINS 2017, UPSC Civil Services Examination has been announced. Kindly check it here Download the PDF– Click Hello Friends UPSC just announced the results of Civil Services Mains Examination, 2017 and with this, the anticipation surrounding the results is also over. The fate of over ten thousands aspirants has been locked by this PDF  We congratulate those who have found their names in this list and are all geared up for the next stage. We already have a lot many things in store for you. Go to the last two paragraphs of this write up to know about the plans that we have designed to help you cross the final barrier of UPSC. For those, who couldn’t clear the Mains, we only have one thing to say- No Success is Permanent, No Failure is Fatal. Your success depends upon your efforts as well as your luck. Only and only you can decide whether it was your lack of efforts that cost you dearly or was it your luck that betrayed you! If luck didn’t favour you, nothing can be done about it except repeating your attempt with full energy. This is UPSC my friends! Almost a million appear each year to qualify this examination but only few hundreds qualify. To say that the rest didn’t put effort would be unfair to all of them. You do need a bit of luck to get going in this race and can’t do much in case your luck hasn’t been kind to you. However, it is a saying that luck favours the brave. Don’t get too tempted to blame everything on luck alone. Identify the areas where you could have done better. Recognise your strengths and weaknesses, work hard for your next attempt and come out with flying colours. IASbaba is with you till you qualify this examination or you hang up your boots. If you think that it was due to the deficiencies in your writing practice that dragged you behind, we have something to offer. For those, who can afford to come to and stay back in Bengaluru, we have the Connect to Conquer (C2C) Programme, designed specifically for those who want mentorship based assistance to polish their answer writing skills. The programme is already running and we have served few seats for candidates who wanted to enrol after the declaration of results. You can find the details of this programme by contacting us at support@iasbaba.com   For those who can’t come to Bengaluru, our flagship online answer writing programme TLP is already going on. We will have the second phase of TLP soon after prelims. Its a programme designed to give you daily targets in terms of coverage and also an opportunity t get expert feedback from IASbaba and feedback from peers. You can be rest assured about one thing- if you follow TLP religiously, you will be at ease during Mains. For those, who have got Prelims blues, our flagship Integrated Learning Programme (ILP) and All India Prelims Test Series can be a  shot in the arm at this stage. After so much of efforts, you can’t afford to flunk Prelims this year. ILP gives you the cushion to remain in the race by letting you do smart work. ILP is still open for enrolment. For details of this programme click here. Our final word to those who couldn’t qualify Mains this time is that you must never lose faith in yourself. Only you can win this race, if not this time then next time for sure! Don’t lose your heart over it and start afresh. Remember- every moment in the life is a fresh beginning! Is this moment yours? Now, we come to those who have the final hurdle to cross- the Civil Services Personality Test. Before we tell you anything, let it be very clear that you have got a long way to go. Kudos to success but don’t let that overwhelm your senses. You have qualified Mains and so have a thousand others. Be focussed and concentrate on your next goal. As you must be aware that we are already midway to our online interview assistance programme i.e. the Think, Rethink and Perform (TRP) initiative, you can dig in the archives here to get hold of developments till date. This is a self realisation platform where you explore your personality by asking simple questions to yourself and also hone your response on issues of national and international importance by discussing the questions we post from current fairs on regular basis. For details of this programme click here. To help you more, we are pleased to announce that IASbaba would be conducting its interview workshops and mock interviews in Bengaluru and Delhi. The dates, venue and other details will be announced soon: Wish You Good Luck IASbaba

Jan 10, 2018

IASbaba’s Bimonthly Gist of Economic and Political Weekly (EPW)- Edition 4

Archives Hello Friends,  Continuing our effort towards right guidance and quality coverage to assist you in all possible ways, we are glad to introduce this new initiative where Frontline, IDSA and Economic and Political Weekly (EPW) will be covered considering the relevance of UPSC Examination. This initiative will also help you in Essay, Sociology and PSIR Optional as well. This is the Fourth edition of Economic and Political Weekly (EPW)- Bimonthly Magazine. Hope you all like it 🙂 DOWNLOAD THE MAGAZINE

Jan 9, 2018 AIR

All India Radio (AIR) : Anti-Profiteering Authority for GST

Anti-Profiteering Authority for GST ARCHIVES Search 18th November here http://www.newsonair.com/Main_Audio_Bulletins_Search.aspx TOPIC: General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. General Studies 3 Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life indigenization of technology and developing new technology. Over a dozen different kinds of taxes particularly excise, state VAT, service tax were subsumed into one single tax which is called Goods and Services tax. One of the objectives of GST was to introduce single market and single tax so that both businesses and consumers can transparently know what the taxes are and how the taxes are to be paid to be collected by government. Now along with the launch of GST, the question arose about undue advantages taken by trade and industry due to change in tax regimes. The international experience has shown that whenever such a tax is rolled out, there is an element of unscrupulous and unprincipled behaviour in trade and industry. It tries to take advantage of the new system by blaming it on GST or on the new tax system and thereby raising prices. So the government in its wisdom from experiences introduced the anti–profiteering authority which would keep an eye on whether trade and industry. National Anti-Profiteering Authority The National Anti-Profiteering Authority shall be a five member committee consisting of a Chairman who holds or has held a post equivalent in rank to a Secretary to the Government of India. It will be assisted by Safeguards authority (ministry of commerce) which has a mechanism to monitor the price behaviour pattern of the industry. This body will actually address all complaints from consumer, thereby acting as a consumer redressal body. This institution is not about tax collection or tax not being paid. It will monitor that price remain under check and businesses do not pocket all the gains from GST. For instance, GST council decides to reduce taxes on about 211 items. Thus it is expected that those things will become cheaper. But when it doesn’t happen and instead the trade and industry take advantage of it by saying that no such price reduction is actually going to happen, the consumers can take recourse to justice. It can use consumer protection act but it can go to the authority directly too. Establishing anti-profiteering It is going to be very difficult exercise for this authority because to establish profiteering is a difficult task. It will have secretarial help from the directorate general of safeguards. There is a thin line that separates profiteering and profits. Thus, the authority will have to establish that whether there was genuine profit in some cases or was it an act of profiteering. They will initiate the inquiry and the powers that they will have will not be the same powers as the GST directorate or the GST network people. They will have the power to recommend de-registration of trade and industry under GST so that will be probably the most extreme step because the de-registration means seize to do business. The success of the authority will lie in its effects of deterrence where a large number of trade and industry will desist from indulging any activity that might be taken to the anti- profiteering authority. If anti profiteering is established, the trade and industry has to return that money and if possible to identify the consumers who are affected so to reimburse their cost or ask the trade and industry to deposit that money in the consumer welfare fund. There was an unjust enrichment fund which set up in 1991, where penalties of industries not passing on the benefits of lower taxes were being deposited. So that fund already exist. Probably anti-profiteering authority will have to revive that fund and ensure if there is any anti profiteering case, the unjust gains of industry and trade can be deposited in that fund. So it’s like sanctioned rather than an acknowledgement of crime on the part of profiteers. There will be a penalty attached and non-compliance to rules means that business cannot be carried out any further. Establishment The cabinet has given a clearance and should be passed by parliament to become a statutory body. This has got a sunset clause that this body will exist only for period of 2 years from the date of it setting up. The idea is that in 2 years’ time, the new tax system will be settled smoothly with the trade and industry and therefore they will not indulge in any profiteering activities using GST as an excuse. A while ago, government reduced GST upto 10% in many products. Hence it is incumbent on the part of the government to see that the benefit are passed on to the consumers. For example the restaurants AC restaurants had to pay GST of 18% and there was widespread fear and concern that restaurants were inflating the bills even if they were not air conditioned by charging 18% GST. Now when this was reduced to flat rate of 5% but not entitled to any IPC, restaurants once again found a way to increase price by stating that as they did not get benefit, they have higher costs. This is a fit case for anti-profiteering authority to look into whether there is genuine extra costs incurring or it is just undue price gains. Conclusion Anti-profiteering authority must be backed up with a proper secretariat, investigation capacity, just like competition commission of India or any other regulator. This is an elaborate exercise and cannot be done in a hurry. It will require consultation, hearing process, investigation, establish facts there prices have exceedingly increase and justify the rise. It will have to examine the books of accounts and the trade and industry will have to justify and establish that any increase in prices is backed up by genuine increase in their costs or denial in benefits as the result of new GST regime. The functioning of the authority to act as rigid power that dilutes the principle of ease of doing business will not be helpful. Any inclination towards likes of inspector raj or harassments have to be completely eliminated. Connecting the dots: Determine the importance of anti-profiteering authority in GST.

Jan 9, 2018 PIB

IASbaba PIB Weekly : Press Information Bureau – 1st Jan to 7th Jan, 2018

IASbaba Press Information Bureau 1st to 7th January, 2018 ARCHIVES GS-2  Cabinet approves: MoU between India and Israel on Cooperation in the Oil and Gas Sector: To provide impetus to India - Israel ties in the energy sector. The cooperation envisaged under the agreement will facilitate promotion of investments in each other's countries, technology transfer, R&D, conducting joint studies, capacity building of human resources and collaboration in the area of Start-ups. MoU between India and the USA for co-hosting the Global Entrepreneurship Summit 2017 (GES-2017) in India: The MoU delineated the responsibilities, areas of co-operation including logistics and venue related requirements between the parties for smooth conduct of the Summit. The Summit – Provide opportunities for meeting with global industry leaders, networking of international entrepreneurs, innovators, investors. Provide forum for pitching competition, strategic workshops and sector-programmes to help in creating new collaborations amongst entrepreneurs and Investors. Provide for significantly increased economic opportunities for young entrepreneurs, especially, women entrepreneurs and start-ups. Agreement between India and Myanmar on Land Border Crossing: The Agreement will facilitate Regulation and harmonization of already existing free movement rights for people ordinarily residing in the border areas of both countries Movement of people on the basis of valid passports and visas which will enhance economic and social interaction between the two countries. Provide connectivity and enhance interaction of the people of North Eastern States of India with the people of Myanmar. Would give a boost to the economy of the North East and allow us to leverage our geographical connections with Myanmar to boost trade and people to people ties. Will safeguard the traditional rights of the largely tribal communities residing along the border which are accustomed to free movement across the land border. MoU between India and Belgium on Cooperation in the field of ICT&E: The MoU intends cooperation between India and Belgium including sharing of best practices in the area of ICT&E policy; Digital agenda technology and research with special emphasis on developing ICT&E manufacturing and services; e-Governance and e-Public Service Delivery, participation in conferences, study visits and exchange of experts, cyber security and to resolve issues of data adequacy, market access, trade and services. MoU between India and Italy on cooperation in the field of renewable energy: The MoU envisages establishing a Joint Working Committee to review, monitor and discuss matters relation to areas of cooperation. It aims for exchange of expertise and networking of information and helps in strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries. MoU between India and ‘Transport for London’: The MoU will help to improve the overall public transport system in the country, improve passenger services and promote the use of high capacity buses in India. It will go a long way in strengthening ties and promoting bilateral relations between India and United Kingdom. ‘Transport for London’ is a statutory body established under the Greater London Authority Act, 1999 (UK) to improve Public Transport in India. GS-3  Use of Bio-Diesel in Railways (Topic: Infrastructure: Railways) Indian Railways has tested the bio-diesel of different feed stock (Jatropha, Mahua, pongamia, waste cotton seed, Fish Oil, Soyabeen oil, Palm stearin etc.) The power performance of engine has been found satisfactory without any adverse impact on engine working. Bio-diesel is found to reduce certain emission parameters which would have otherwise caused pollution in environment. Key Advantages of Bio-Diesel: Renewable Energy source Derived from Vegetable oil Non-toxic & Biodegradable Contains no sulphur that causes acid rain Higher Cetane number, better ignition quality Used directly in unmodified Diesel engines, neat or blended in any ratio with HSD Higher Lubricity – Can prolong engine life Flashpoint higher than HSD-safer to store & transport Environment friendly-less emissions Has rural employment potential. Must Solve: Qn 1: The initial generations of Bio-fuels have been seen as a threat to the food security of the country. Comment on these various generations and explain how do the third generation bio-fuels address these food security problems? (200 Words, 10 Marks) Qn 2: Saumitra Committee recommendations propose for the shift towards alternate fuels to reduce India’s dependence upon petrol and diesel. Critically examine the recommendation and suggest a way forward. Milestone achieved by ISRO (Topic: Awareness in the fields of Space) In April 2016, seven satellites constellation for Navigation system NavIC was established. In August 2016, first experimental mission of Scramjet engine towards realization of Air Breathing system was successfully tested. In February 2017, 104 satellites were placed in a single launch. In May 2017, South Asia satellite was launched, which was a gift to neighbouring countries. In June 2017, GSLV Mk-III was launched successfully carrying GSAT 19 communication satellite. In June 2017, Cartosat satellite was launched successfully by PSLV C-38 Indian Space Programme has placed Astrosat, a multi-wavelength observatory in August 2015.  It observes universe in optical, ultraviolet, low and high energy X-ray region of the electromagnetic spectrum, whereas most other scientific satellites are capable of observing a narrow range of wavelength band. Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) is designed to orbit Mars. It is functioning well since its positioning in Mars orbit in September 24, 2014. The designed mission life of MOM was six months but has successfully completed more than three years and is expected to function further.  All scientific payloads continue to perform well. Please Note: Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP): For capacity augmentation of navigation on National Waterway-1 (NW-1) Issue: One of the major problems for a commercially viable and safe navigation on NW-1 is low depth upstream of Farakka due to low discharges from tributaries and difficult hydro morphological characteristics of river Ganga. Major Impact: Alternative mode of transport that will be environment friendly and cost effective - will contribute in bringing down the logistics cost in the country. Mammoth Infrastructure development like multi-modal and inter-modal terminals, Roll on - Roll off (Ro-Ro) facilities, ferry services, navigation aids. Socio-economic impetus; huge employment generation.  2. Mahaparinirvan Diwas: Death anniversary of Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar  3. Savitribai Phule – India’s first woman teacher A crusader for women empowerment, she broke all stereotypes and spent her life promoting the noble cause of women’s education Savitribai was married at a very young age of 9 to social reformer Jyotirao Phule. Jyotirao was 12 years old at the time of marriage. It was Jyotirao who helped her learn how to read and write. He helped her attain high levels of education and live her life with her head held high. Savitribai set up India’s first women’s school from different castes in Bhidewada, Pune and became first woman teacher in the country. In her lifetime she built 18 such schools in the region. She also worked towards preventing female infanticide and set up a home, Balhatya Pratibandhak Griha, to prevent the killing of widows. She also campaigned against child marriage and sati pratha, which undermined the existence of women. As part of the Satyashodhak Samaj, the Phule couple organised marriages without a priest, without dowry, and at a minimum cost. The wedding vows in these marriages were the pledges taken by both the bride and the bridegroom. In 2014, the Maharashtra government in a tribute to Savitribai Phule renamed Pune University in her name. 4. New Bureau of Indian standards (BIS) Act 2016: The Act establishes the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) as the National Standards Body of India and has enabling provisions for The Government to bring under compulsory certification regime any goods or article of any scheduled industry, process, system or service which it considers necessary in the public interest or for the protection of human, animal or plant health, safety of the environment, or prevention of unfair trade practices, or national security. For making hallmarking of the precious metal articles mandatory. Allows multiple type of simplified conformity assessment schemes including self-declaration of conformity against a standard which will give simplified options to manufacturers to adhere to the standards and get certificate of conformity. The Central Government to appoint any authority/agency, in addition to the BIS, to verify the conformity of products and services to a standard and issue certificate of conformity. There is provision for repair or recall, including product liability of the products bearing Standard Mark but not conforming to the relevant Indian Standard. The new Act will further help in ease of doing business in the country, give fillip to Make In India campaign and ensure availability of quality products and services to the consumers. 5. Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) Implementation by: Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Programme: A major credit-linked subsidy programme, aimed at generating self-employment opportunities through establishment of micro-enterprises in the non-farm sector by helping traditional artisans and unemployed youth. Since its inception, a total of 4.47 lakh micro enterprises have been assisted with a margin money subsidy of Rs 9326.01 crore providing employment to an estimated 37.32 lakh persons from inception till 2017-18 6. Online portal NARI: Will provide women citizens with easy access to information on government schemes and initiatives for women – tips on good nutrition, suggestions for health checkups, information on major diseases, tips for job search and interview, investment and savings advice, information on crimes and against women and reporting procedures, contacts of legal aid cells, simplified adoption procedures and much more. It will endow women with the power of information to build their life skills and facilitates them in taking full advantage of the services provided by the Government for them. 7. e-Samvad portal: To provide a platform for NGOs and Civil Societies to interact with the Ministry of Women & Child Development 8. Classical languages of India: Tamil, Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Odia A proposal for granting of classical status to Marathi language has been received from Marathi Language Department, Government of Maharashtra. The Criteria adopted by the Government to determine the eligibility of a language for granting classical language status, are as under: High antiquity of its early texts/ recorded history over a period of 1500-2000 years; A body of ancient literature/ texts, which is considered a valuable heritage by generations of speakers; The literary tradition be original and not borrowed from another speech community; The classical language and literature being distinct from modern, there may also be a discontinuity between the classical language and its later forms or its offshoots. 9. Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme It has been designed to meets the financial requirements of farmers at various stages of farming. The scheme aims at providing adequate and timely credit support from the banking system under a single window with flexible and simplified procedure to the farmers for their cultivation and other needs as indicated below: To meet the short term credit requirements for cultivation of crops; Post-harvest expenses; Produce marketing loan; Consumption requirements of farmer household; Working capital for maintenance of farm assets and activities allied to agriculture; Investment credit requirement for agriculture and allied activities. The KCC scheme also provides the facility of ATM enabled RuPay Card, one-time documentation, built-in cost escalation in the limit and any number of drawals within the limit. 10. Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY) To provide social security during old age and to protect elderly persons aged 60 and above against a future fall in their interest income due to uncertain market conditions. The scheme enables old age income security for senior citizens through provision of assured pension/return linked to the subscription amount based on government guarantee to Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC). Provides an assured return of 8% per annum for 10 years. The differential return, i.e. the difference between return generated by LIC and the assured return of 8% per annum would be borne by Government of India as subsidy on an annual basis. 11. Mission Raftar of Indian Railways: To increase speed of trains in Indian Railways; the mission envisages a target of doubling of average speed of freight trains and increasing the average speed of all non-suburban passenger trains by 25 kmph in the next 5 years. Must Read: National Health Policy, 2017 – Link 1 + Link 2 + Link 3 + Link 4 + Link 5