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UPSC Quiz- 2017 : IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 53] Archives Q.1) Recently, the Centre notified a new set of rules under the head Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017. Consider the following statements It replaces the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010 It calls for setting up of a State Wetlands Authority in each State and union territories Central Wetlands Regulatory Authority (CWRA) will be replaced by the National Wetlands Committee Select the correct statements 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above Q.2) Consider the following statements about Kaziranga National Park It is part of the middle Brahmaputra alluvial flood plains Wild Water Buffalo is only found in Kaziranga National Park It is a World Heritage Site Select the correct statements Only 3 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above Q.3) The National Regulatory Authority of India (NRAI) has been given the maximum ratings by global health body World Health Organisation for vaccine regulations. Which of the following comprises NRA in India? State drugs regulatory authorities Pharmaco-vigilance Programme of India Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation Choose the Correct code: 1 and 3 only 2 and 3 only 1 and 2 only All of the above Q.4) Consider the following statements about India's nutraceutical industry Nutraceutical is defined as a “food, or parts of a food, that provide medical or health benefits, including the prevention and treatment of disease Nutraceuticals are exempted from GST Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.5) Which of the following statements about Piperazine is/are correct? It is used for the treatment of worm infections The derivatives of piperazine are used as anti-depressants drugs Both (a) and (b) Neither (a) nor (b) To Download the Solution - Click here All The Best IASbaba
How can Indian Universities Improve their Global Standing? Archives In news: India slipped in World University ranking as its share of institutions marginally fell from 31 to 30 in global 1000 list of topped by Oxford and Cambridge. The annual world universities ranking release found India’s flagship IISC fell from 201-250 cohort to 251-300 grouping. This was attributed to its drop in research influence code and research income. IITs of Delhi, Kanpur and Madras also dropped by at least one band. Internationalization, which measures how successful a school is in attracting foreign students and staff, has affected India’s ranking majorly. This is because government has restricted policy to have limited number of students from abroad who can study in India. However, there might be an improvement in near future as research income and research quality has risen. Why Indian universities faring so poorly? Arts and humanities institutions have different functions and role in societies like India where there is an ongoing process of social transformation. Educational system is abiding by constitutional provisions- like reservations, quotas, bringing people from marginalised group, first generation learners etc. Those are the main targets. Here, there is a need for assessment system which is not typically quantitative ranking based carried according to some international standard of education but which takes into account the domestic needs and priorities. Today’s higher education in India is faced with crisis of quality. There are global challenges to higher education and therefore higher education in India has to be globally competitive and India specific too. Indian universities are catering to different kind of strata of Indian society. But this doesn’t mean that students coming from lower strata just need to be literate. The faculty has to be also more competitive to help them gain multi-dimensional knowledge. Infrastructure, competition within and competition outside, the kind of funding received plays an important role in university building. It may be a good idea to promote competition between public and private universities and their release combined rankings. Improvement of ranking is a real challenge as decline of institutions is a serious concern due to under-funding as well as limited teaching faculty. How to improve ranking?- These ranking are for students’ consumption The environment to have best research needs to be there. The parents are also to be blamed. The students go under rigorous coaching and have lost their imagination. There is no originality in the thought working in India. So then there has to be done incremental research to be competitive in the world. Original research requires lot of infrastructure and also people who can use that. This is not build in a day. Educational improvement will come from the bottom i.e. through students. The primary school training has to be there. Teachers are highly underpaid and hence people don’t chose this profession. Hence vast places in universities are filled by mediocre people. There is a legacy problem from British rule. Indian universities focus on teaching only more than research. Research and teaching are integral to universities and these have to go together. The moral and motivation of the academics have to be maintained. Not only attract the quality but also retain the quality of teachers. For this, the recruitment and the promotion policy has to be looked into. Recruitment policy on merit, kind of promotion on merit and in intervals would retain good teachers. Apart from it, the Indian industry needs to be more ambitious in terms of their own research capacities and ability to generate technology. Conclusion If universities become centre of fresh knowledge production then things change. Complete freedom of thought in direction and ideas is need of the hour. There is a prevailing culture that knowledge is finite and job of student is to master pre-existing knowledge. This has a limiting problem in educational culture which needs to be challenged. There is highly layered society where authority is very important. If somebody questions existing authority, it can shake entire social foundations of culture so there is scared of questioning. There is a need for system that allows freedom of questioning in all directions. The filter down approach since independence was that there should be good higher education. But then it was understood that it is the primary education that makes the difference. Additionally, it is not necessary that only outside agencies can conduct the survey. NIRF has also conducted the survey of its own. There is a need to rate the institutions on continuous basis to check their performance and set other benchmarks. Connecting the dots: Critically analyse why Indian education is faring poorly domestically as well as in international arena. Suggest practical measures to bring good standards in education sector.
Rote Learning – The Roadblock on Your Path to Success in CSE Imagine yourself as X Given a choice between, studying and playing, X would always pick up playing. And when exams would ring the doorbell, with much difficulty, X would unlatch the door and then prepare for its arrival. Years passed by, and X would memorise the answers just before the exam and sail through. While making his/her career choices, X's dad convinced to sit for the civil services examination. After going through the syllabus, X decided to start preparing for the same. As X had not just passed all the exams but had secured a rank in almost all of them, X was least bothered about failing CSE. All X wanted to do was memorise everything that he/she could, and everything else that he/she could lay his/her hands upon. …and years passed by. X could not even clear the first stage of the exam. There were times when X would take a peek into the prelims papers of the 90’s and think 'as to how easy the questions were'. Direct and no-brainer, at times. And still, X could not let go off his/her tendency to memorise the way he/she had always. It was difficult to break off. One day, X gave up feeling dejected, demoralized and defeated – the three D’s that can kill a life! What do you think X was doing wrong? Was it him/her? Was it his/her style of studying? Or was it the question papers of all those years when X sat to write the exam? I will tell you – Rote learning, mindlessly reciting information – sort of a quick-fix solution to learning. For some, math is never a process of logical discovery and thoughtful exploration, but a call-and-response game. Trigonometry and geometry are just a collection of non-rhyming lyrics to the dumbest sing-along song ever. Is the sine of π/2 really worth memorizing? Nah! Many of us make a mistake of memorizing things even without having the faintest of ideas behind its very existence. To learn anything in isolation is like rote learning a sentence, “The rivers are dying”, without understanding if rivers can even die in the first place or why are they dying exactly – no reasoning at all. This is what rote learning does to your personality – you know a way but you don’t learn, you know an answer but you don’t understand. How will you then be able to run a government institution or serve the society? Knowledge matters, hands down! A head full of facts is better than an empty one. But is there really any logic attached? No, I am not downplaying factual knowledge at all. As future civil servants, we must learn to reason critically with proper information. But one must understand that memorized knowledge isn't half as useful as the knowledge that's actually understood. And more than any other battleground, this conflict plays out at all the stages of CSE. All of this begs the question: Do you want to succeed in the CSE by being your own slave and tolerating the regular "drill and kill" routine? Or you have what it takes to leave out your procrastination to understand and learn? To defeat the love that you harbour for rote learning? Break the cycle – Defeat the 3 D’s Some reality check! ILP Plan is designed taking care of judicious coverage of the given syllabus. This is the least we could manage to effectively cover the portions. We have been consistently trying to provide quality assistance from our side. How far have you been able to reciprocate with it? Case 1- Those who have joined ILP from Day 1 You have been doing everything of the plan since its inception. Introspect on below points and ask yourself Are the past current affairs covered through DNA, AIR and RSTV issues in your command? How many of them? Check your productivity, not coverage. How many times you wrote or practised the Mains questions or Essay? Have you tried reviewing others answers? Have you got command on Mains SET 1 and SET 2 portions and have done a thorough reading of Mains synopsis or tried clearing concepts through them? Till now 6 Prelims Tests have been conducted covering around 600 questions and more than triple concepts- Are you having strong command on all of them? Are all the concepts that you learnt through ILP Tests in your command? Or you still contemplating that content provided in Babapedia/ILP Tests and other initiatives are not enough and won't be good enough to crack this exam? Or you still busy doing something else in the name of personal satisfaction. But mind you, the same happened with many aspirants in past and they are still to understand the reason behind their failure. Remember, you are part of this platform for some reason. Rejuvenate your faith to improve your learning curve and be different. Don't find yourself in the state of delusion over and over again because TIME won't stop for you. Case 2- Those who have joined ILP recently UPSC won't lessen the syllabus or allow some relief at any cost. The syllabus, format and other things remain the same for you. Real competition is not with the availability of less time but determined effort. Those who have joined from Day 1 don't stand a chance just because of this distinction. If your determination is strong, this pressure will provide an extra push for you to give fierce competition to others who are still in a dream world thinking, they have all the time! To succeed in CSE, one must be able to stop procrastinating and unlearn the habit of rote learning. There needs to be true learning from your end – not just understanding, but internalizing. Comprehend and Recall: Treat your study material like a storybook, i.e., try to comprehend everything that you read. Read not just sentences, but gain an understanding of the overall topic. After studying, try recalling it at various intervals of time. The more you are able to recall, the more you have understood. And if you are not able to recall anything, instead of demotivating yourself, go back and revise the topic again. Awareness: Be aware of whatever you are reading. Try to attach importance to the concepts and link them with things that you are already aware of. Connecting and integrating things with the knowledge that you have is the best way ahead. Use your own words: In this examination, it is not about producing the very same paragraph of the editorial from Hindu. It is more about how well you are able to relate that paragraph with your understanding of the concept, and craft an answer that deserves nothing but a thumbs up. Using your own words after comprehending, recalling and relating – will help you learn the art of writing as well as sharpen your analytical skills, which is very much expected out of a civil servant. Test yourself: Testing is a great learning strategy, as the more you struggle and take it up as a challenge, the more will it lead to a long-term learning. Are you ready to break the habit of rote learning? Do you really deserve to be tested in deeper conceptual things? Can you really afford to apply your knowledge in the development of a better society? So, question – innovate – problem-solve. After all, there is no one right answer – there could be multiple solutions and it might turn out that one of your ideas as a civil servant might lead to a better India! Always remember these words of beloved Dr Abdul Kalam
Rote Learning – The Roadblock on Your Path to Success in CSE Imagine yourself as X Given a choice between, studying and playing, X would always pick up playing. And when exams would ring the doorbell, with much difficulty, X would unlatch the door and then prepare for its arrival. Years passed by, and X would memorise the answers just before the exam and sail through. While making his/her career choices, X's dad convinced to sit for the civil services examination. After going through the syllabus, X decided to start preparing for the same. As X had not just passed all the exams but had secured a rank in almost all of them, X was least bothered about failing CSE. All X wanted to do was memorise everything that he/she could, and everything else that he/she could lay his/her hands upon. …and years passed by. X could not even clear the first stage of the exam. There were times when X would take a peek into the prelims papers of the 90’s and think 'as to how easy the questions were'. Direct and no-brainer, at times. And still, X could not let go off his/her tendency to memorise the way he/she had always. It was difficult to break off. One day, X gave up feeling dejected, demoralized and defeated – the three D’s that can kill a life! What do you think X was doing wrong? Was it him/her? Was it his/her style of studying? Or was it the question papers of all those years when X sat to write the exam? I will tell you – Rote learning, mindlessly reciting information – sort of a quick-fix solution to learning. For some, math is never a process of logical discovery and thoughtful exploration, but a call-and-response game. Trigonometry and geometry are just a collection of non-rhyming lyrics to the dumbest sing-along song ever. Is the sine of π/2 really worth memorizing? Nah! Many of us make a mistake of memorizing things even without having the faintest of ideas behind its very existence. To learn anything in isolation is like rote learning a sentence, “The rivers are dying”, without understanding if rivers can even die in the first place or why are they dying exactly – no reasoning at all. This is what rote learning does to your personality – you know a way but you don’t learn, you know an answer but you don’t understand. How will you then be able to run a government institution or serve the society? Knowledge matters, hands down! A head full of facts is better than an empty one. But is there really any logic attached? No, I am not downplaying factual knowledge at all. As future civil servants, we must learn to reason critically with proper information. But one must understand that memorized knowledge isn't half as useful as the knowledge that's actually understood. And more than any other battleground, this conflict plays out at all the stages of CSE. All of this begs the question: Do you want to succeed in the CSE by being your own slave and tolerating the regular "drill and kill" routine? Or you have what it takes to leave out your procrastination to understand and learn? To defeat the love that you harbour for rote learning? Break the cycle – Defeat the 3 D’s Some reality check! ILP Plan is designed taking care of judicious coverage of the given syllabus. This is the least we could manage to effectively cover the portions. We have been consistently trying to provide quality assistance from our side. How far have you been able to reciprocate with it? Case 1- Those who have joined ILP from Day 1 You have been doing everything of the plan since its inception. Introspect on below points and ask yourself Are the past current affairs covered through DNA, AIR and RSTV issues in your command? How many of them? Check your productivity, not coverage. How many times you wrote or practised the Mains questions or Essay? Have you tried reviewing others answers? Have you got command on Mains SET 1 and SET 2 portions and have done a thorough reading of Mains synopsis or tried clearing concepts through them? Till now 6 Prelims Tests have been conducted covering around 600 questions and more than triple concepts- Are you having strong command on all of them? Are all the concepts that you learnt through ILP Tests in your command? Or you still contemplating that content provided in Babapedia/ILP Tests and other initiatives are not enough and won't be good enough to crack this exam? Or you still busy doing something else in the name of personal satisfaction. But mind you, the same happened with many aspirants in past and they are still to understand the reason behind their failure. Remember, you are part of this platform for some reason. Rejuvenate your faith to improve your learning curve and be different. Don't find yourself in the state of delusion over and over again because TIME won't stop for you. Case 2- Those who have joined ILP recently UPSC won't lessen the syllabus or allow some relief at any cost. The syllabus, format and other things remain the same for you. Real competition is not with the availability of less time but determined effort. Those who have joined from Day 1 don't stand a chance just because of this distinction. If your determination is strong, this pressure will provide an extra push for you to give fierce competition to others who are still in a dream world thinking, they have all the time! To succeed in CSE, one must be able to stop procrastinating and unlearn the habit of rote learning. There needs to be true learning from your end – not just understanding, but internalizing. Comprehend and Recall: Treat your study material like a storybook, i.e., try to comprehend everything that you read. Read not just sentences, but gain an understanding of the overall topic. After studying, try recalling it at various intervals of time. The more you are able to recall, the more you have understood. And if you are not able to recall anything, instead of demotivating yourself, go back and revise the topic again. Awareness: Be aware of whatever you are reading. Try to attach importance to the concepts and link them with things that you are already aware of. Connecting and integrating things with the knowledge that you have is the best way ahead. Use your own words: In this examination, it is not about producing the very same paragraph of the editorial from Hindu. It is more about how well you are able to relate that paragraph with your understanding of the concept, and craft an answer that deserves nothing but a thumbs up. Using your own words after comprehending, recalling and relating – will help you learn the art of writing as well as sharpen your analytical skills, which is very much expected out of a civil servant. Test yourself: Testing is a great learning strategy, as the more you struggle and take it up as a challenge, the more will it lead to a long-term learning. Are you ready to break the habit of rote learning? Do you really deserve to be tested in deeper conceptual things? Can you really afford to apply your knowledge in the development of a better society? So, question – innovate – problem-solve. After all, there is no one right answer – there could be multiple solutions and it might turn out that one of your ideas as a civil servant might lead to a better India! Always remember these words of beloved Dr Abdul Kalam
There are very few teachings in the world that can claim absolute authority of offering a complete way of life. Gita is one such teaching. The practical wisdom for daily living Gita offers is unmatched. If only we can let go of our deep rooted prejudices and accept the teachings scientifically and practically, we will be able to see the immensity of this book. Gita is called as the celestial song illuminating creation, life and all other processes in between. In the most unusual of settings is the message of Gita delivered. In the middle of war; right in the middle of the war zone of the mind and life the greatest teaching is delivered. Gita is not a religious book. It is a book that contains the teachings that can illuminate all processes of life. Explore this great book to acquire the necessary wisdom to handle the daily challenges of your life. This is one book that will not disappoint you if you are willing to understand it with an open mind. “This Book Review is a copyright of The Ahamo Movement and IASBABA.”
UPSC Quiz- 2017 : IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 52] Archives Q.1) Union Cabinet has given its approval to EXIM Bank for signing Interbank Local Currency Credit Line Agreement. Consider the following statements The agreement is not binding in nature Exim Bank can enter into bilateral agreement with large development finance institutions to raise resources for its business Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2) Consider the following statements about Deep Space Gateway (DSG) It is a planned human-tended facility in cislunar space NASA and ESA signed an agreement supporting studies of the concept Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) Global Competitiveness Index is released by World Trade Organization World Economic Forum International Monetary Fund World Bank Q.4) Consider the following statements about Tourism in India ‘Adopt a Heritage’ Project plans to entrust heritage sites to the public sector and private sector companies and individuals for the development of tourist amenities. Incredible India 2.0 campaign will be focusing on specific promotional plans, with greater emphasis to be given to social media. India's travel and tourism sector ranks 7th in the world in terms of its total contribution to the country's GDP Select the correct statements 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above Q.5) Which of the following statements is/are correct? The water holding capacity of the soil which uses compost helps with drought-proofing Farmers using compost therefore need less quantity of pesticides Both (a) and (b) Neither (a) nor (b) To Download the Solution - Click here All The Best IASbaba
IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 28th Sep 2017 Archives 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 Molestation of women at BHU In news: An incident of alleged molestation of a women student of the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) has triggered a set of events which show the central university, particularly its vice-chancellor, the police and administration, in poor light. Images of male policemen charging female students have gone viral on social media, further fuelling anger over inaction of the authorities against the original complaint. Note the difference: A new wave and a greater assertion It is important to distinguish what is happening in BHU from similar struggles in elite universities in cosmopolitan Mumbai, Delhi or even Hyderabad. In JNU, for instance, even if the students belong to subaltern India, the institutional sub-culture promotes progressive ideas and collective bargaining with structures of power. In places like Benares, closer home for a majority of the protesting women students, an ultra-conservative culture permeates down to hostel messes where there is reportedly gender discrimination in quality and quantity of food served. These women in small towns and nondescript cities are battling structures and attitudes several shades more rigid and oppressive than in big cities where modernity has started to be viewed in the context of gender equality. Greater assertion: The BHU phenomenon is more noteworthy, more symbolic of the assertion of a new female identity in small-town India. The defiance exhibited by women students of BHU in the face of authority is a welcome collective assertion of their identity. The demand for a safe campus from young women from Gorakhpur or Deoria who simply want to walk alone, sometimes late in the evening, to think, or to chat with friends without fear of being molested shows a collective assertion for their own rights. A new wave- Of course, there are classes among women, and for every Akanksha Gupta there are countless others who are denied even primary school education, are married off at puberty and die in childbirth. But for those who do manage to break through these barriers, university education and learning are no longer just a certificate in the marriage market. These women are asserting their identity through attire, language and conduct. Certainly, the image of furious young women dismissing arguments curbing their freedom of movement and demanding safety, law and order, and dignity symbolises a new assertion. Official response: The comments of the proctor and Vice-Chancellor Girish Chandra Tripathi, reflect an inability to grasp the strength of these young women’s resolve to assert their freedom of movement in and outside the campus. If something happens to daughters, who is answerable? Security for boys and girls can never be at par. If we are going to listen to every demand of every girl, we won’t be able to run the university. All these rules are for their safety, all in favour of the girl students,” the VC asserted in response to the women’s demand for a safe campus. These official responses fit into the mindset that leads to the clamping of curfews, the tacit instructions for dressing “modestly”, and the setting up of ‘Romeo Squads’ supposedly to ensure safety for young women in a State that has reported a staggering 33 per cent rise in sexual harassment cases from 2014 to 2015, according to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). The VC has sought to underplay the complaint as a case of “eve-teasing” and not molestation. Such blind and bigoted view of a students’ protest is unlikely to help the university understand why the campus has become restive. The university seems to think that it can address the student unrest by somehow clamping down on legitimate demands for dialogue. It reeks of a mindset predisposed to fixed ideas about how adult female students should behave and a clear attempt to refuse them agency in matters concerning their life on the campus. Deep- seated problems: The case and the way it has been handled draws attention to the many problems that plague one of the country’s most revered institutions of higher education. University policies that discriminate against women. A campus environment that seemingly allows cover for rampant sexual harassment and violence. A state administration whose law enforcement officials have effectively proven themselves incapable of handling a sensitive situation. The official statements shows that the problem is more deep-seated. It goes beyond the BHU campus and manifests itself in just about every public space, from the college canteen to the office boardroom to the train station and the public park—the routine threatening and compromise of a woman’s safety and her dignity. Internalizing of patriarchal norms: The authority seeing no problem with different security protocols for men and women is an example of how it has internalized the many misogynistic and patriarchal norms of society. Indeed, it is this mindset that has also fuelled the other ongoing instance of campus unrest in the country. Justice for women: As the Vishakha guidelines had noted, there are structural barriers that prevent women from seeking justice. Several studies conducted across India by NGOs working on women’s issues, such as Saheli, Sanhita, Sakshi, the South Asian Research and Development Initiative, the Lawyers Collective and the Yugantar Education Society, have shown that sexual harassment goes largely unreported. A student abused by her teachers or a junior assistant molested by a senior partner in the office is often reluctant to speak out for fear of being penalized in class or losing a promotion. Those who still come forward to lodge a complaint are often faced with a system loaded against them—where an internal committee of nominated members, for example, has little incentive to pursue justice. Way forward: The idea should be to address the issue of institutional failure that has shockingly resulted in as many as 74 per cent of such cases going unpunished rather than shifting the blame onto the women. Authorities and institutions need to alter their attitudes accordingly. Conclusion: Considering the historical, geographical, political and social context, these young women in Banaras are challenging the patriarchal idea in its stronghold. This incident serves as a warning for the establishment that expects women or students to remain subservient to age-old social mores. We need to acknowledge the brave young women at BHU who have stood up to an oppressive system, made themselves heard, and are fighting for a better future. Young women asserting their rights in India is a welcome, irreversible force. Everyone else has to grow up. The times are changing, even if ever so slowly. Connecting the dots: Molestation case in BHU and the following incidents are disturbing and equally signifies a welcome change. Discuss. Women in Indian university come after overcoming various hurdles. However, the lack of security within university campuses not only deter them to move forward but also discourage others from allowing girls to go for higher education. Critically analyze. ECONOMY 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 Making GST good and simple Background: The GST was India’s second tryst with destiny and introduced with the great hope that it would help India achieve economic greatness. But with each passing week, the new complex tax system is getting increasingly difficult to implement. The GST came in the wake of extensive collateral damage inflicted by demonetisation. The consequence has been a serious setback to several sectors of the economy. Not-to-do list: If the GST has to be made “good and simple” it is suggested that the following “not-to-do list” be adopted, at least in the short term. E-way bills- The implementation of e-way bills should be postponed for at least a year. The existing electronic system is woefully inadequate and in case of an issue with the system it will be disastrous if every movement of goods requires access to a portal for generation of an e-way bill. Further, most transport operators have only a few trucks and it will be cruel to inflict this torturous system on them when the Centre and states are ill prepared. Monthly returns- The proposed system of filing GSTR-1, GSTR-2 and GSTR-3 — three returns per month — proved to be unworkable and necessitated the GSTR-3B return which is a monthly summary. This monthly return should be continued for a year till the electronic infrastructure is improved. It is also worth reconsidering the need to file 36 monthly returns per year per state. Matching of invoices- This system does not exist anywhere in the world and there is not a single logical reason why this should be implemented in India. It will place an intolerable burden on the electronic infrastructure and entail huge compliance costs for the small and medium sectors. Exports- No sector has been dealt with a more crippling blow than the export sector. Under the earlier system, non excise exporters, merchant exporters and service exporters could simply export goods and services. In the GST regime, an exporter has to execute a letter of undertaking subject to eligibility or a bond with bank guarantee just to export. The government promised instant refunds but this has not happened. Merchant exporters who could earlier procure goods without tax are required to pay the GST which is a cash outflow. Serious glitches in the electronic system have adversely affected the refund system resulting in serious working capital pressure on exporters. Unless the earlier system is restored, Indian exports will be seriously affected. To-Do list: Following steps can help make the GST business-friendly and more in tune with Indian ground realities. One cannot wish away the large unorganised sector and it is not practical to bludgeon them into becoming instantly tax-compliant by digitisation. A small hosiery shop in Mumbai cannot purchase banians or socks from Tirupur. And traders in places like Delhi and Goa will be unable to avail the scheme because most products have to be brought from other states. It is necessary to seriously consider a flat-tax GST rate of, say, 10 per cent, on all businesses with a turnover of upto Rs 2 crore regardless of the product or service. The GST paid thereon should also be eligible for input credit. Such a reduction will be a terrific boost to the growth of goods and services, while eliminating huge paper work and electronic overload. Stop making changes in procedure and adding new requirements- Seven amendments to the CGST rules in a span of less than three months and multiple amendments to notifications have only increased the confusion. The FAQs, published at great cost, must be binding on the Centre and the states as they ensure pan-India certainty. he multiple rates of taxation and an elaborate classification system are bound to lead to classification disputes. It is imperative that classification is shrunk to three or four categories with not more than three applicable rates. A lower rate of GST will stimulate demand and spur economic growth because high taxes are always counter-productive. Indeed, a major part of the revenue of the states is from petroleum products and excise duty on alcohol. The collection of sales tax on various other goods is substantially less. Therefore, having a maximum GST of 18 per cent will result in substantially more revenue than the present complex system of higher rates of taxes. The proposed system of shared administration will also lead to serious difficulties. It is better that the states are given exclusive jurisdiction to deal with assessees upto a turnover of Rs 10 crore or even Rs 25 crore so that the Centre can only deal with assessees with higher revenue. Conclusion: The present GST system faces many challenges in its implementation. It is dangerous to proceed with the hope that things will eventually settle down. Immediate steps are necessary to ensure that India’s second tryst with destiny does not become a tryst with disaster. Connecting the dots: The GST introduction is surely a transformative and revolutionary change. However, various issues remains to be resolved. Discuss in detail the problems being faced in its implementation and how it can be resolved. 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A wish list for Direct Taxes Code Archives TOPIC: General Studies 2 Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. In news: After indirect taxes, the government is now looking forward to overhaul the 56 year old direct taxes covering income and corporation tax as it seeks to make the Indian regime make more contemporary and tailor it to current requirements. Now, the finance ministry is in process of setting up a task force to write the new tax law. Background India needs a modern income tax law that is easy to enforce, fair to all and relevant to the current economic context. The Income Tax Act of 1961 has become somewhat outdated, and complicated with amendments and modifications introduced over the years. This is not the first time an overhaul of India’s direct tax regime is proposed. In the late 1990s, the Planning Commission set up a taskforce to review the income tax system In 2002, high-level panel under Vijay Kelkar suggested several radical measures to reform the tax system. It was last time started in 2009 when the direct taxes code was released which would sharply cut tax rates, remove exemptions and offer a transparent and predictable income tax regime. But tax reforms couldn’t be passed as the new government focused on indirect taxes. The complicated structure There are two things asked for corporate tax Rates are too high because there are many exemptions. So the effective rate is not near to the legislated rate. The plethora of exemptions-whether they all are necessarily well designed or distorting. The taxation has become more complicated and litigation oriented. This had to be avoided and make it as simple as possible. For this there is a need to remove exemptions. But the government will have an agenda every time- WHAT TO PUSH? Whether it is an industry at a particular place or which type of industry- like power sector and then there will be exemptions given and whole cycle of amendments will start. Replacing income tax act 1961 It was thought about in 2008 and 2009. But it was shelved as there was opposition from parties affected by removal of the exemptions. Two reasons for non-implementation of DTC 2009 Interest groups were trying to stall the process because the exemptions would be withdrawn When the tax reforms are talked about, it is about bringing the down the tax rates. The rate of foregone taxes in short term is very high. If economy is not doing well, then it will be disastrous as the risks gets further aggravated. In 2011, the economy was going down and government couldn’t introduce the DTC 2009. At present there is a problem of investment in corporate sector drying up. If at this point there is tinkering with incentive related investments, it may worsen the situation. Around the world, exports have begun to pick up but that is not seen in India. This is now of the biggest growth concern. Create a platform Recently, the Standing Committee on Finance tabled a report which said that without implementation of DTC, the intended gains of GST will not be felt. The purpose of a direct tax reform will be defeated that if the government kept on doing piecemeal amendments in income tax laws. The government can start to work out the tax reform and as it takes time to align the key stakeholders, then it’s a welcome move. The government is unlikely to move to the new regime at the start of 2019-20 financial year, but may want to complete the ground work. GST and DTC There is a connection between GST and Direct tax reform. GST will bring more people in formal payment system. The number of assesses and tax collection have gone up despite slowing down of economy. The success of new DTC will rest on success seen with GST. The anagram of Good and simple tax is yet to be made a reality. The GST has to be stabilised and wait for economy to recover. When this happens, the short term pains of GST will be taken over by long term benefits of GST. If GST becomes a success, in the next budget, the government can claim to validate this success. The customers will pay less. This would actually instead of having inflationary and demand-reducing impact, it could turn around and work as upping the demand. Then the government can do few changes in the DT like allow to reduce the number of slabs and increase standard deduction rates. Direct Tax reform in brief As far as broad concept of direct tax bill is concerned, the heads of the incomes should be rationalised. The expenditure should directly relate to the earning of the income by giving minimum exemptions. Exemption rates are also decided by finance ministry. Thus, at the end of the day it has to be said which things are to be taxed, which persons will be taxed and what would be there allowable expenditure. If it is made simple, it will go a long way in helping to boost direct tax collections and minimize litigation. Best practices adopted Treatment of income from capital. For eg exemption of dividend incomes with individuals and treatment of long term capital gains. There cannot be a situation of standardised rates when the people who own capital earn substantial income which are either de-facto tax exempt or taxed at low rate. For eg buy backs are not taxable as dividend income as it is counted as capital gains. This distortion in decision making at the corporate level should be avoided. There should be close look at the exemption to the corporate tax and way the income is treated from ownership of capital in the hands of individuals. Conclusion Any tax change should be equitable to the tax payers, transparent, free from manipulation and things that facilitate better enforcement. For corporates- a single tax structure would augment growth and if there is growth, everybody benefits. Positive impact on economy with tax structure changes. Make it a user friendly act. There cannot be tax on agriculture sector as it is beyond domain of parliament (It is with states), but many times agriculture income is used to launder money. So when the agricultural income crosses 1 or 2 lakhs a year, they should be made to file the return, even if they don’t have non-agricultural income. The income generated in many parts of farming sector are very high to justify. On a lighter note: A tax reform is the one which makes tax lawyers and CAs unhappy. Connecting the dots: What is the journey to have direct tax reforms till now? Critically analyse its implementation in current event of other economic reforms.
Prevention of Drug Abuse and Trafficking ARCHIVES Search 28th June 2017 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. Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive In news: International day for anti-drug abuse and illicit trafficking is observed on 26th June. The UNGA decided to observe this day, in 1987, as an expression of its determination to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of an international society free of drug abuse. Theme of 2017 is 'Listen First.' Drugs in India Drug menace is a global problem. Over the years, level has gone down in terms of publicity against drug proliferation. The drug consumption has gone up which is proved by empirical evidence. India is situated between two important drug supply centers: Golden crescent and golden triangle. Because of this, India has always been in transit as well as gradually a consumption point. So it is difficult to say that drug abuse has come down. The seizures have increased by different agencies. So when more amount of drugs are seized, it means there is a tendency for bringing more drugs. Picture credit: https://image.slidesharecdn.com/deaddictionproginindia-140723022827-phpapp01/95/deaddiction-programme-in-india-14-638.jpg?cb=1406082774 Picture credit: https://qph.ec.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-88ab01486c64a51ea3ad321b13961d8f There is basically seizure of heroine which comes from South West Asia, mainly Afghanistan and Myanmar. Other source is from illicit production of opium from illicit cultivation like Cannabis is sourced from Nepal. Another is internal production in India at high altitude area and some north east area. There are some African drug traffickers who get cocaine from Latin American companies. Besides this, there is a demand of synthetic drugs, party drugs. Drugs like amphetamine are synthetic drugs that are diverted from chemical factories. Some of them are medicinal drugs also which are consumed without prescription. Steps by narcotics to curb the menace NCB has small presence number wise. Not all state HQs are covered in their location. However, it broadly keeps an eye on big supplies. There is a responsibility of sharing information with international organization. There is collaboration and bilateral agreements with foreign countries. It also functions as a bureau- data collection and trend analysis is done. As per Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, the state police can conduct arrests and searches under this law. Some of the state organizations have anti-narcotics unit eg. Punjab. As NCB’s presence is less, it does coordination with state police and go after drug suppliers and traffickers. Ganja grows wild in some places. Some people also grow poppy. So NCB also coordinates with state agencies to destroy the illegal illicit poppy cultivation and commercial quality cannabis cultivation. Not only them, but certain types of authorized government officers (officials of customs, excise departments) also have the powers to conduct and arrest or search. Provisions of law to deter routine consumer and petty suppliers. The NDPS law covers commercial quantity and non-commercial quantity. There is schedule in that in which quantity of drugs is fixed and commercial quantity is defined. The punishment for possession of commercial quantity of narcotics drugs are very high and for peddlers and consumers is less. Ill effects of drugs It breaks the body Spoils the person emotionally, physically and socially. The drugs are addictive. Once addicted, the person cant live without it. This destroys the whole person and family. Way forward NCB in collaboration with state agencies and concerned ministries, organizes awareness campaigns. Awareness campaign is also a continuous process. Other agencies such as social welfare or health department have to also contribute in this fight against drug menace. De-addiction and demand reduction is important. Demand reduction is also a job that the government agencies will have to ensure. For demand reduction, there are addition centres. The ministry of social justice and empowerment gives money to some NGOs to work in this field. There should be rehabilitation in society. It is difficult to get the addicted people back to creative level so government has to make necessary and sufficient rehabilitation centres with required resources to bring people back to mainstream society. If a common man has information about drug supply chain or peddlers or wants to inform about someone suffering from this menace, they can contact NCB. For supply reduction, they can contact state director. Public campaign- anti-drug consumption campaign could be launched with more vigour, starting from school children particularly of higher grades. There are marathons, walkathons on this issue. There are advertisement placed in railways and metros. Collaborate at international and multilateral forums so as to ensure that those foreign jurisdictions also act to stop the supply into India. There are various bilateral agreements and treaties with countries in which sharing of information and facilitating investment is also important. Border guarding forces see that drugs don’t enter India. As a society, “say no to drugs”. Make efforts to take action against them who are involved in supplying drug to drug traffickers. At least the youngsters do not fall prey to this menace in the times to come should be the aim. It is not a cool thing to do which can be done once for trial and get out of it quickly. Also, they should be made aware to not get into peer pressure. Connecting the dots: Drug menace has the capacity to ruin India’s demographic dividend. Explain how India as a society and sovereign country tackle this issue.
