Aug 28, 2017 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs 28th Aug, 2017

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 28th Aug 2017 Archives 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 Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. General Studies 3 Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Puzzling State of Rural Economy Introduction: The state of India’s rural economy is puzzling. There is enough evidence to support two opposing statements: One, that the rural economy has improved; and, two, that the rural economy is in the doldrums. On the one hand, some indicators are positive- The unemployment rate has been falling while rural wages have been rising. On the other hand, instances of rural distress are rife and rural consumer sentiment has weakened. There has been a surge of demands for farm loan waivers. Four states have already announced waivers worth about 0.5% of national gross domestic product (GDP). Four more are threatening to do the same. What triggered the distress? The large fall in food prices and the resulting shift in the terms of trade (the cost of producing food versus the income derived) to the detriment of rural India triggered the distress. Causes of falling food prices: Immediate cause- The causes of falling food prices are one-time (for example, a bumper crop). Short lived cause (such as demonetization and goods and services tax related uncertainties). Long term cause: lack of structural improvements in food distribution. Solving the puzzling state of rural economy: About 70% of rural households own less than a hectare of land. (Let's call them landless). The landless rural population has a negative income-consumption gap, which basically means that its income is hardly enough to cover its consumption requirements. Those who have more than one-hectare land are more indebted as a group than the landless. They also use more formal sector sources of credit than the landless. A majority of the income for the landless comes from wages while that of the landed from cultivation. What explains the puzzling state? After a two-year drought, the good monsoon rains in 2016 increased the demand for labour. As a result, real wages have risen gradually and the unemployment rate has fallen in tandem. This has largely benefited the landless, given that the majority of their income is from wages. In contrast, the landed, who pay these wages and depend more directly on income from cultivation, have borne the brunt of falling food prices, as what they have received from selling farm produce has been lower than expected. Real indebtedness for this group has been growing at a faster clip than real incomes since FY14, which explains the growing clamor for bank farm loan waivers. The fact that the landed and landless are not yet moving in the same direction is throwing up confusing signals about the health of the rural economy. Farm loan waivers- More harm than good: They spoil the credit culture, making formal finance more nervous about serving rural India. They also erode macro-economic stability. In particular, a rapid rise in farm loan waiver expenses could bind India’s states in a vicious cycle, increasing their interest bill or lowering the quality of their spending, or both. and, if they do, waivers could rise to 0.75% of GDP, endangering a hard-won reduction in debt and deficit ratios. Way ahead: Off reforms cannot improve an economy. There needs to be a series of reforms, each supporting the other. One reform should be supported by other. Example: Inflation-targeting was a welcome reform with distinct economy-wide benefits. But the large fall in inflation that it helped engineer has hurt the indebted by increasing “real” indebtedness, i.e. debt relative to inflation. What is needed now is another spate of reforms to help those who have been hurt. Agricultural reforms, such as in irrigation and warehousing infrastructure, can help increase farm productivity and therefore incomes. They will not just help fund consumption expenditure, but will leave extra funds in the hands of rural India, which can then be used to service the higher real debt bill. Conclusion: Rural distress is a recurring theme in India. Every few years, farm loan waivers or a good monsoon provide some short-lived respite. Clearly, the benefits from neither are sustainable. The panacea for rural distress can only be reforms that will help raise farm productivity and incomes. Connecting the dots: Rural economy is in a puzzling state. While on one hand unemployment rate has been falling and on the other instances of rural distress leading to demand for farm loan waivers is on rise. Discuss the reasons behind. The panacea for rural distress can only be reforms that will help raise farm productivity and incomes. Critically analyze. 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 Understanding the rise of Dera Sacha Sauda sect: In news: The Dera Sacha Sauda sect headed by Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh is a fascinating phenomenon which cannot be analysed through the standard upper middle-class lens that dismisses it as a criminal or law and order problem. Cause of concern: The demographic emergence of millennial ashrams is a source of concern and curiosity. How do these ashrams, which deal with small-town meaning and modernity, appear and become global phenomena? How do they acquire so much freedom so as to become parallel communities which challenge the official? How long have they been beyond the scrutiny of law and order forces? How could so many of them assemble arsenal? It is almost as though these ashrams are enclaves of secession, of groups which have diffused their life and lifestyles as different from the mainstream. What leads to rise of such sects? Lack of public service delivery: The spirituality related to Baba Gurmeet Ram Rahim is just a front for something very real and very positive that the dera offers to its followers. Dignity, social support, medical help, and food security. These are precisely the things that the modern Indian state — at least in its Haryana/Punjab version — refuses to offer to the people. These sects cater to the diversity of livelihoods in a way that social workers cannot match. Democracy and modernisation have not delivered equality. The lower castes, the Other Backward Classes needed an imagination beyond the aridity of socialism and Marxism, the promises of equality that offer little. Dysfunctional system: It took fifteen years to decide upon a rape charge. This is an indicator of a dysfunctional state system marked by a dysfunctional system of justice. The Law Ministry (2016) tells us that this is to be expected given that there are only 18 judges per million population, while the Law Commission (1987) had recommended a minimum of 50 judges per million. This makes hard-pressed people reach out to deras and babas and panchayats to provide them a semblance of justice since the state refuses to improve its systems of delivery. To make matters worse, the foot soldiers of justice, the police, over-worked, understaffed, and politically compromised, simply do not have the capabilities to ensure that the authority of the state is asserted routinely, regularly, justly and without rancour. The leaders of the society are also complicit with the rioters — like Haryana Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma, who explained on the record, that “Section 144 cannot be imposed on faith”. Unpreparedness and ineffective handling: In allowing tens of thousands of followers of the Dera Sacha Sauda sect to gather for a show of strength when their leader, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, was awaiting a judicial verdict in a rape case, the Haryana government abdicated its responsibility of maintaining law and order, and protecting life and property. Prohibitory orders were not enforced, with the government evidently viewing the looming protests as pressure relief valves instead of as trigger points for violence. In the absence of preventive detention where appropriate, and of restriction on movement and assembly in public spaces, matters spiralled out of control once the court pronounced the cult leader guilty of rape. The government failed to foresee violence on such a large scale, and no viable security plan was in place until after several hours of lawlessness. Despite intelligence inputs about the Dera followers storing fuel, and knives and stones, the government machinery was woefully slow to react. Religious sects such as the Dera Sacha Sauda that command a huge following are often handled with kid gloves by governments as they can deliver votes in blocks. Clearly, godmen and cult leaders believe they are above the law. It is for the government and law enforcement agencies to disabuse them of that notion, especially when, as in the case of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, they face charges of rape and murder. Way ahead: We have to go beyond the knee-jerk celebrations and dismissals. The old notion of civil society of the secular NGO, the idea of public does not quite fit our democracies today. Our biggest NGOs are religious groups, which are often little multinationals in terms of the power they wield. Dismissing these groups as bad faith will not do. Connecting the dots: Rising of sects like Dera Sacha Sauda sect headed by self-proclaimed Godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh is a cause of worry for democratic and secular nation like India. Discuss. MUST READ Mission indefinite The Hindu How privacy stacks up The Hindu That old spark The Hindu No silver bullet Indian Express Supreme Court's  lost chance Indian Express Tall tale for farmers Indian Express Afghanistan and a new hyphenation Livemint Public health isn't about state-run hospitals Livemint Sterling judgement on right to privacy Livemint A brave new world of individual rights Business Line

Aug 28, 2017 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz- 2017 : IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 32]

UPSC Quiz- 2017 : IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 32] Archives Q.1) Consider the following statements about Banking Regulation (Amendment) Act 2017 It authorises RBI to issue directions to banks to initiate insolvency resolution process to recover bad loans. RBI can specify authorities or committees to advise banks on resolution of stressed assets and the members on the committees will be appointed or approved by the RBI. Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2) River Tungabhadra flows through Maharashtra Karnataka Madhya Pradesh Gujarat Q.3) Which of the following statements is/are correct? Rakhine State is a coastal state in Bangladesh Myanmar is bordered by India, China, Bangladesh, Thailand and Cambodia Select the correct code: 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.4) Consider the following statements about Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) All the members of ASEAN have a coastline ASEAN is an official United Nations Observer Select the correct code 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.5) Consider the following statements about Crime and Criminal Tracking Networks and Systems (CCTNS) Project Digital Police Portal is launched under the CCTNS Project It facilitates a pan-India search of crime and criminal records of individuals through a national database 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

Aug 28, 2017 PIB

IASbaba PIB Weekly: Press Information Bureau - 20th Aug to 26th Aug , 2017

IASbaba PIB Weekly: Press Information Bureau - 20th Aug to 26th Aug , 2017 ARCHIVES GS-1 Nuakhai Juhar (Topic: Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society) An agricultural festival mainly observed by people of Western Odisha in India Nuakhai is observed to welcome the new rice of the season This is the most important social festival of Western Odisha and adjoining areas of Simdega in Jharkhand GS-2 Digital Police Portal under CCTNS project launched (Topic: e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential) Enable citizens to register FIRs online Offer seven Public Delivery Services in 34 States & UTs, like Person and Address Verification e.g. of employees, tenants, nurses etc., permission for hosting Public Events, Lost & Found Articles and Vehicle theft etc. Enable restricted access to law enforcement agencies on topics such as Antecedent Verification and make assessment of FIRs Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS) Will provide investigator the complete record history of any criminal from anywhere across the country CCTNS portal will be a huge game changer, force multiplier and revolutionize the way Police works in the country CCTNS portal will form the backbone of the Criminal Justice System and this database will be subsequently linked with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MORTH) database on vehicle registrations Commission to examine the Sub-Categorization within OBCs (Topic: Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies) It has been set up under article 340 of the Constitution to examine the issue of sub-categorization of the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) Proposed terms of references of the Commission: To examine the extent of inequitable distribution of benefits of reservation among the castes/communities included in the broad category of OBCs, with reference to the OBCs included in the Central list. To work out the mechanism, criteria, norms and parameters, in a scientific approach, for sub-categorization within such OBCs, and, To take up the exercise of identifying the respective castes/communities/ sub-castes/ synonyms in the Central List of OBCs and classifying them into their respective sub-categories. Commissioning of Second Ship of Landing Craft Utility MK-IV ‘IN LCU L52’ (GRSE Yard 2093) (Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation) LCU L52 - Second Landing Craft Utility (LCU) Mk-IV class to be inducted into the Indian Navy The ship has been indigenously designed and built – another manifestation of the potential of the country’s indigenous design and ship building capability. An amphibious ship with the primary role to transport and deploy Main Battle Tanks, Armoured Vehicles, troops and equipment from ship to shore. Fitted with state-of-the-art equipment and advanced systems like Integrated Bridge System (IBS) and Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS) Will be deployed for multirole activities like beaching operations, search and rescue, disaster relief operations, supply and replenishment and evacuation from distant islands. The induction of these ships will contribute to the nation’s maritime security needs and is in consonance with the ‘Make in India’ drive. Regional Connectivity Scheme UDAN (Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation) UDAN – ‘Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik’; Key component of the National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) which was launched with the prime objective to facilitate / stimulate regional air connectivity by making it affordable for the masses Proposes that at least half the seats on every flight should have a fare cap of Rs2,500 per seat per hour of flying The government will provide subsidies to regional airlines to offer half the seats on a discounted rate. However, the subsidies will mainly be provided by taxing the air passengers on other domestic routes in the form of a ‘small’ levy. The subsidy to airlines will be provided through a reverse bidding process, which means if there is a demand from multiple airlines to fly on regional routes, the ones asking for the least financial support will get the subsidy. In routes where a proposal comes from only one airline, the government will give the subsidy based on normative pricing, meaning it will calculate the subsidy amount based on various parameters. Opportunities India has highly untapped civil aviation opportunities. In the first round of bids, 11 new or existing airline operators pitched for more than 200 routes. The Centre has approved 27 proposals from five players, adding 128 routes to India’s aviation map. The estimate is that this will add 6.5 lakh new seats with a subsidy of Rs.200 crore. Of these, six proposals for 11 routes don’t seek any subsidy under the scheme, proving there is an untapped economic potential. The benefits for tourist hotspots such as Agra, Shimla, Diu, Pathankot, Mysuru and Jaisalmer would now be just a short flight away, replacing cumbersome road or rail journeys. The multiplier effects of aviation activity, including new investments and employment creation for the local economies of other destinations could be equally profound. If this model is sustainable and more regional flights come up under the scheme, it will support the capacity-constrained airports such as Mumbai. The second airport at Navi Mumbai may help ease congestion. However, it is still years away and so initiation to develop such airports has to begin soon. In cities where new airports have been developed, such as Bengaluru, abandoned old facilities could be revived as dedicated terminals for low-cost and regional flights. Separately, new no-frills airports must be encouraged where traffic is expected to hit saturation point in coming years. It is time to revisit provisions that offer existing private operators of large airports (burdened by debt) the right of first refusal on any new airport proposed within 150 km. The regional civil aviation development must start a rethink within the Indian Railways, as it could now ease traffic on some routes. Even if there is less of passenger traffic, the cargo traffic will keep the airports alive. Challenges There still needs to be creation of enabling conditions for RCS to be successful. One of it includes right size of aircrafts. Many of the airports (identified for RCS) do not have big runways, so they can’t take regular aircraft. Thus there need to be smaller aircraft for short runways for short takeoffs and landings. However, such kinds of aircrafts are not present in India. Such aircraft needs specialized crew. There is shortage of pilots and crew which demands urgent attention. Training to the aviation personnel takes time. For training, there requires adequate infrastructure, trained manpower and sufficient funds to turn out pilots and crew. Viability Gap Funding under the RCS need to be extended from the proposed three to five years or more as these airfields might take even longer to become financially sustainable. There are fears that a flight from an UDAN location will be low priority for air traffic controllers in big cities. This may not be favourable for air carriers as well as passengers. Solve: Question India’s Exclusive Rights to Explore Polymetallic Nodules from Central Indian Ocean Seabed Basin Extended by Five Years (Topic: Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate) Exclusive rights are over – 75000 sq. km of area in international waters allocated by International Seabed Authority for developmental activities for polymetallic nodules. The estimated polymetallic nodule resource potential is 380 million tonnes, containing – 7 million tonnes of nickel 29 million tonnes of copper 55 million tonnes of cobalt 59 million tonnes of manganese Polymetallic Nodules: Known as manganese nodules, are rock concretions formed of concentric layers of iron and manganese hydroxides around a core Considered as the precipitates of hot fluids from upwelling hot magma from deep interior of the oceanic crust, discharged through mineralized paths Besides manganese and iron, they contain nickel, copper, cobalt, lead, molybdenum, cadmium, vanadium, titanium. Of these metals nickel, cobalt and copper are considered to be of economic and strategic importance India – First country to have received the status of a pioneer investor in 1987 and was allocated an exclusive area in Central Indian Ocean Basin by United Nations (UN) for exploration and utilization of nodules One among the top 8-countries/ contractors and is implementing a long–term programme on exploration and utilization of Polymetallic Nodules through Ministry of Earth Sciences. This includes survey and exploration, environmental studies, technology development in mining and extractive metallurgy, in which significant contributions have been made. Importance – Open up new horizons for resources of commercial and strategic value Enhanced presence in the Indian Ocean water where other major international players are also active Adopting blue economy strategies on par with international standards is a step in the right direction to balance economic development with environmental sustainability Open new doors for mining of oil and gas reservoirs which are potent for India’s energy security International Seabed Authority (ISA) UN body established in 1994, under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, to regulate the exploration and exploitation of marine non-living resources of oceans in international waters. India actively contributes to the work of International Seabed Authority. Last year, India was re-elected as a member of Council of ISA. United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) Also known as the Law of the Sea treaty or the Law of the Sea Convention It characterizes the rights and obligations of countries regarding their utilization of the world’s seas, setting up rules for organizations, the earth, and the administration of marine natural resources, and calls for innovation exchanges in the technological field from developed to undeveloped countries. Solve: Question 1 Question 2   MoU between India and Nepal on Drug Demand Reduction and Prevention of Illicit Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Topic: India and its neighborhood- relations) MoU On Drug Demand Reduction and Prevention of Illicit Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances and precursor chemicals and related matters Lists out the areas of cooperation on drug matters between the two countries and indicates the mechanism of information exchange and the competent authorities in the two countries who are responsible for the implementation of the MoU and exchange of any information The MoU provides that the Parties shall endeavour to: - Develop mutual cooperation with a view to effectively resolving the issue of illicit traffic in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors, cooperate in drug demand reduction through prevention, awareness, education and community based programmes, treatment and rehabilitation; and Exchange information of operational, technical and general nature in drug matters, exchange literature on their existing laws, rules, procedures, best practices and methods of curbing illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors and any further amendments to the existing legislation. GS-3 In-principle approval for Public Sector Banks to amalgamate through an Alternative Mechanism (AM) (Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment) Aim: Facilitate the creation of strong and competitive banks in public sector space to meet the credit needs of a growing economy, absorb shocks and have the capacity to raise resources without depending unduly on the state exchequer The decision regarding creating strong and competitive banks would be solely based on commercial considerations. The proposal must start from the Boards of Banks. The proposals received from Banks for in-principle approval to formulate schemes of amalgamation shall be placed before the Alternative Mechanism (AM). After in-principle approval, the Banks will take steps in accordance with law and SEBI’s requirements. The final scheme will be notified by Central Government in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India.   Tariff based competitive bidding process for procurement of solar power (Topic: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways ,etc.) Enhance transparency and fairness in the procurement process Protect consumer interests through affordable power Provide standardisation and uniformity in processes Provide a risk-sharing framework between various stakeholders involved in the solar PV power procurement Help in reducing off-taker risk and thereby encourage investments, enhance bankability of the Projects and improve profitability for the investors EESL to procure 50 lakh Smart Meters for realization of Smart Grids in India (Topic: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways, etc.) Help in reducing AT&C losses, power theft and also help in monitoring of round the clock power supply eventually leading to greater efficiency and 24X7 power, for all The meters are being procured for implementation of smart grid projects in the states of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh – these meters will help these states in not only significantly reducing their AT&C losses way of increased billing efficiency, but will completely change the way in which electrical energy is presently being consumed and paid for by the ordinary consumers. To make the entire project feasible and affordable, EESL has unbundled the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) project into two parts viz. procurement of smart meter and arranging the system integrator. Installation of these smart meters along with its associated communication and IT infrastructure will enable the DISCOMs to obtain real time energy consumption data of each consumer for subsequent analysis and will pave the way for initiating various smart measures by DISCOMs like Time Of Day (TOD)/Time Of Use (TOU) billing Prediction and management of peak demand Providing real time energy consumption data to consumer Prepaid billing facility Remote connection and disconnection of load Accurate billing Obviate the need for the meter reader’s visit to each and every consumer   Ministry of Defence approves delegation of Powers to Border Roads Organisation (Topic: Security challenges and their management in border areas) In News: Administrative and financial powers have been delegated to the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) right upto the level of Chief Engineer and Task Force Commander Reason: Revision of various powers of delegation will lead to improvement in the pace of road construction in border areas with the BRO being able to complete ongoing/new projects in compressed timelines Border Roads Organisation Functions under the control of the Ministry of Defence since 2015 Engaged in road construction to provide connectivity to difficult and inaccessible regions in the border areas of the country The Ministry of Defence intends to bring transformational changes in the organization in order to improve the pace of execution of works and to achieve the desired outcomes according to the requirement of the Armed Forces Solve: Question Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (Topic: Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management) SAMPADA (Scheme for Agro-Marine Processing and Development of Agro-Processing Clusters) has been renamed as "Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY)” Objective: To supplement agriculture, modernize processing and decrease agri-waste Creation of modern infrastructure with efficient supply chain management from farm gate to retail outlet Provide a big boost to the growth of food processing sector in the country Help in providing better prices to farmers and is a big step towards doubling of farmers’ income Create huge employment opportunities especially in the rural areas Help in reducing wastage of agricultural produce, increasing the processing level, availability of safe and convenient processed foods at affordable price to consumers and enhancing the export of the processed foods Food Processing Sector: Has emerged as an important segment of the Indian economy in terms of its contribution to GDP, employment and investment To provide impetus to investment in food processing and retail sector, govt. has allowed 100% FDI in trading including through e-commerce, in respect of food products manufactured and / or produced in India. This will benefit farmers immensely and will create back - end infrastructure and significant employment opportunities. Set up a Special Fund of Rs. 2000 crore in NABARD to make available affordable credit at concessional rate of interest to designated food parks and agro processing units in the designated food parks. Food and agro-based processing units and cold chain infrastructure have been brought under the ambit of Priority Sector Lending (PSL) to provide additional credit for food processing activities and infrastructure thereby, boosting food processing, reducing wastage, create employment and increasing farmers' income. Please Note “Sankalp Se Sidhi” programme – Being organized across the country to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of Quit India Movement. Doklam standoff – Between India and China 3Ds on which today's global engagements need to focus their energy upon – A common shared goal of De-carbonization of the energy space To look at more Decentralization of energy space More and more Digitalization of the energy space ‘Andhra Kesari’ – Tanguturi Parkasam, the first Chief Minister of Andhra State Mechi River – At Indo-Nepal border (Locate) National Sports Museum to be established at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi Rural Games or Grameen Khel Mahotsav will kick-start from Delhi NITI Aayog's Three Year Action Agenda: Published to recommend policy changes and programmes for action from 2017-18 to 2019-20, the last three years of the Fourteenth Finance Commission – Download the document Right to Privacy is a fundamental right: SC verdict – Read in detail here: Link Also read: Right to privacy: “I have nothing to hide” argument Plug Aadhaar loopholes with comprehensive privacy law on personal data protection RSTV- The Big Picture : Are Privacy Concerns over Aadhar Valid? IASbaba’s MINDMAP : Issue – Right To Privacy Solve: Question 1 + Question 2 + Question 3  

Aug 27, 2017 RSTV Video

RSTV- The Big Picture : India @ 70: The Challenges Ahead

India @ 70: The Challenges Ahead Archives Celebrating the 71st Independence Day, there is a need to look at what has India achieved and what is to be the goal now. The achievements Unification of India into one entity in 70 years. There was never a country even under British rule a country as large and as jointed as it is now. Even the Mughal Empire did not run through the length and breadth of the country. The consolidation of parliamentary and electoral democracy. Voter turnout has increased among the marginalized sections of society, women and lower castes. Judicial independence Relatively free media On economic front, in terms of technical, managerial competence, there is enormous improvement. On social side, some improvement in the status of women. Also, role of caste and communalism is much less than what it played for centuries. Participation by people who are otherwise deprived Diversity was recognised by firm principles of unification were there always. Improvement in life quality indicators Life expectancy increased to 69 years from 32 years. Literacy- 16% literate in 1947, 74% in 2011 IMR was 145.6 per thousand live births. This is now reduced to 40 in 2013 The challenges Much more could have been done on life of poor people, in terms of security, education and health. Though 700 million people have been brought above poverty line during this time yet, a significant 22% population, i.e. around 300 million people are still Below Poverty Line. On social side, even after 70 years, it is driven by caste, community, religion and ostracism. No section of society has converged to a mainstream of self-sustaining improvement i.e. Dalits, SCs, STs and other backward class. There are forces that take advantage of their backwardness to create problems. There is a need to engage them into the mainstream. The loss of scientific temper, the belief in magical remedies and godmen as not changed. Cross border terrorism Internal rebellion challenges have been not yet resolved inspite of technology and resources for development. India has made some errors in foreign policy which has been one of the reason for a volatile neighbourhood now. Indian democracy faces challenges, occasionally like in Kashmir where instead of democracy, there is force. The Kashmir problem is not because of unwillingness as part of any government. If the Kashmir is in turmoil, it is not only because of failure of Indian democracy but also because of dynastic rule, corruption, and export of terror from across the border, particularly after Bangladesh got liberated. The rise of dominating Wahabi Islam, Lashkar-e-Toiba, ISIS and Taliban had spilover effect in India. Changes across the world In 1980s came the globalisation where capital, goods and services began to move across the countries. Migration also happened at large scale. The internet came by the 1990s. This allowed much faster rate of growth for countries that were traditionally considered underdeveloped. However, India did not take full advantage of it as china. The global power balance shifted with collapse of USSR in 1991 to which India swiftly readjusted and rebalanced. India was now able to realign its priority with reality. The world has also changed especially in the last decade of 20th century. Things like socialism, commonwealth, cold war, nonalignment don’t make much sense now. What to be done now? Faster economic growth rate. Though India has 7% growth rate, there is a need to do much more to lift 22% of population above poverty. A more egalitarian process of development that has been adopted in last 25 years and should be continued further. A top down model to be supplemented and complimented by the state action to take care of people who cannot do themselves. India needs to be secured from external threats and internal problems. India is strategically autonomous today. No country is going to come to its rescue. So it formed alliances and partnerships and made collaborations to draw the technology is available in the world to protect itself. Soon after independence, India built up the technological capability. India is one of the few countries which can launch satellite into space. It has to further explore and develop its space capacity to protect its national interests as well as regional security. Reduce the tensions within the country which are either based on religion, deprivation, factions etc. The country shouldn’t be carried away by minor current issues but how things have changed over the years. India’s strength lies in its unity. Unity is not just the political unity of different parts of India but cohesion of Indian society. Genuine empowerment of groundlevel people of society. There were great leaders even at the state level and the states were at equal with center post few years of independence. Such kind of congeniality in the way which politics operates is now required. Policy makers at the centre and state need to make sure that more resources need to be spend and extensive use of technology has to be made in education and health care. The private sector cannot be expected to bridge the gap in these sectors. When the state concentrates on these matters, the other things happened on its own. In next 70 years, agriculture should be the focussed sector. Productivity of agriculture must be raised to tackle the population rise and economic burden. In the end, Respecting the plurality of the countrymen and celebrating the diversity is the answer for a peaceful and sustainable existence. Connecting the dots: Broadly outline the achievements and challenges of India in its post independence era. Critically analyse the factors which shall be the guiding light of India’s social and economic development.

Aug 26, 2017 RSTV Video

RSTV- The Big Picture : Legacy & Importance of August Revolution and Quit India Movement

Legacy & Importance of August Revolution and Quit India Movement Archives TOPIC: General Studies 1 Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues The Freedom Struggle - its various stages and important contributors /contributions from different parts of the country. Gandhiji’s vision while launching Quit India movement on August 9, 1942 was ‘the democracy in which I have envisaged is a democracy established by non-violence, there will be equal freedom for all. Everybody will be its own master. It is to join a struggle for such democracy that I invite you today.’ Background India’s fight against British rule is often seen as a long drawn battle developing since early 20th century, especially under the leadership of Gandhiji. At various phases, the movement saw itself gaining higher momentum, for instance the non-cooperation in 1920-22 and civil disobedience movement in 1930-32. However, the one call that moved India towards its ultimate freedom call was the rebel cry of the congress between early August 1942 and September 1944. In July 1942, the Congress Working Committee met at Wardha and a resolution was passed which was termed The Wardha Resolution. It is also known as Quit India Resolution which demanded, “The British Rule in India must end immediately.” And it declared that free India “will assure the success by throwing his great resources in the struggle for freedom and against the aggression of Nazism, Facism and perialism”. Thus, Quit India was about enabling India’s greater participation in the war for peace and in the war of liberation from fascism and nascism. Quit India was a civil disobedience movement launched at the Bombay session of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) by Mahatma Gandhi on August 8, 1942, demanding an end to British rule in India. While message of quit India was loud and clear, the call of ‘do or die’ infused the masses with a life of its own. Quit India is also called as India August Movement (August Kranti) Nationalism is love for one’s own country. It is a feeling of sacrificing for one’s own country if need be. In that context, the do or die was rooted in feeling of nationalism. The fight was for own nation, own freedom, against imposition of one’s will. Without nationalism or nationalist commitment, the Quit India movement might not have even taken a shape perhaps. Significance In 2017, Quit India movement completes 75 years. August 1942 was in the middle of World WarII. The speech for Quit India provided no hatred. It talked of the unorthodox India that Gandhiji envisaged. “Indians were to wage one last struggle to achieve independence, or die in that attempt. We shall either free India or die in the attempt: we shall not live to see the perpetuation of our slavery.” The movement assumed significance as it placed the demand for independence on the immediate agenda of the national movement. At the peak of violence, Gandhiji declared non-violence as their weapon. This holds true today more than in 1942. Intolerance, politics of hatred is what is seen now, which is absolutely against what was envisaged 75 years ago. Yet, the answer for these problems are the same as before, that is invoking inclusive democracy. How to have a vision of non-violence and peace in a world where war and intolerance domestically seems to be the guiding force. The content of the constitution of India is rich, where the form is inclusive but the gap is wide between thoughts and actions. Constitution is not aiming only at social kind of justice but also acting as instrument of removing social conflict and social inequalities. How to keep sentiments of 1947 alive today in 2017? In 1940s the highest and the lowest in the society were fighting for one single ideal. There is no national ideal today. There are ideals of the sectoral society as per their power and position acquired over past 150 years. The idea of India is sacrificed to sectoral and sectional interests. Hence it should be taken care that the values of liberty and freedom should not override values sovereignty, integrity and unity of society and nation. A sentiment of unity amongst all the sections of Indians is needed while conquering the challenges of 21st century India which mainly are problems of poverty, communalism and corruption that should quit India. Wishing you all Happy 71st Independence Day J Quit Fear and Be stronger Connecting the dots: Analyse the significance of Quit India movement in India’s struggle for independence. During the Quit India movement, the masses were united irrespective of their background. However, today, when India faces much severe challenges, the unity seems elusive. Identify the major challenges faced by Indian society today and how can they be forced to ‘Quit India’?

Aug 26, 2017 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs 26th Aug, 2017

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 26th Aug 2017 Archives NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector or Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. General Studies 1 Social empowerment Rajya Sabha standing committee's report on Surrogacy Bill In news: The Rajya Sabha standing committee’s report, having heard a wide cross section of society on the matter of surrogacy, has criticized the surrogacy bill and called for its redrafting. The standing committee’s report is noteworthy not only because of its content, but also the fact that the content of the report is informed by the wide variety of voices they have chosen to hear on the matter. Issues with the bill: It is a bill that reinforces every patriarchal and paternalistic notion of what women can and cannot do with their bodies. Far from “regulating” (as the term is properly understood), it is a bill to control women’s bodies and what they choose to do with it. The 228th Report of the Law Commission of India recommended that a bill makes the rights of surrogate women clear, but the belief that making a profit out of this activity is somehow unacceptable suggests that some forms of women’s labour are clearly less morally acceptable than others. The report clearly favours “altruistic” surrogacy over “commercial” surrogacy. Both these terms need some unpacking. The term “commercialization” in the context of surrogacy is a cause of concern. It suggests a distaste of women using their bodies in a particular manner to make a living. There is no justification as to why commercialization of surrogacy is intolerable. One weak defence offered is that a ban is necessary to prevent “misuse.” Not only does this completely devalue the labour and pain that a pregnant woman undergoes, but also the very real economic costs of a pregnancy. The surrogacy bill correctly points out by the standing committee as that of families in a patriarchal society forcing women to suffer the costs and pains of surrogacy with no recompense. It destroys the notion that there is anything inherently “altruistic” about surrogacy simply because the parties are related. It understands that, in a society where deeply unequal power relation exist in families, altruism is far less likely than coercion. Though the bill provides for the payment of medical expenses, insurance coverage, etc, this does not take away from the fact that the woman does not actually get compensated for the labour involved in a pregnancy. Indeed, as the standing committee rightly points out, “altruistic surrogacy,” as defined in Clause 2(b) of the bill, probably amounts to forced labour prohibited under Article 23 of the Constitution. While several judgments of high courts across the country have agreed that women who have children through surrogates are entitled to maternity benefits allowed to them under the law, there is no clarity on whether the same would be available for the surrogates themselves. The standing committee has rightly pointed out this gap and recommended that the law clarify that maternity benefits should be available to both the birth mothers and surrogate mothers. Surrogacy needs regulation: The standing committee too recognizes the very real difficulties and problems that can arise with regard to surrogacy. Indian courts have had to face difficult issues regarding what needs to be done when parents who wanted a child through surrogacy no longer want the child, and the birth mother cannot or will not bring up that child. In Baby Manji Yamada v Union of India (2008), problems that can be caused by the absence of clear demarcation of rights and liabilities of parties were highlighted. Here, a child born to an Indian surrogate mother was abandoned when her intended Japanese parents divorced and refused to take custody of the child. After the courts stepped in and put the matter before the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, it was eventually resolved with the grandmother receiving the custody of the baby. Conclusion: The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016, introduced ostensibly to provide a legal framework for surrogacy in India, is a regressive legislation that seeks to control women’s bodies. By limiting surrogacy to “altruistic surrogacy” only, it creates space for women being pressured to bear children for family members. While provisions of the law relating to adoption and childcare can be pressed into use, a law that clearly lays down the rights and obligations of all parties in clear and simple terms is definitely necessary. The hearings in the committees should also be given wide viewership through live audiovisual recordings, subject, of course, to concerns of privacy, confidentiality and secrecy. This would provide a platform for a truly participative democracy. Connecting the dots: The Rajya Sabha standing committee’s report, having heard a wide cross section of society on the matter of surrogacy, has criticized the surrogacy bill and called for its redrafting. Discuss its recommendations. HEALTH TOPIC: General Studies 2 Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health. Development processes and the development industry the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders. Rising H1N1 Cases In news: The reported cases and deaths due to the spread of H1N1 virus are on the rise in comparison with previous years' records. The number of influenza A (H1N1) virus cases and deaths reported from across India this year has already crossed 19,000 and 900, respectively. In the last month or so there has been a sharp increase in the number of cases and deaths. Gujarat is the worst-affected, with about 250 deaths recorded so far: Rajasthan, Punjab and Maharashtra and Delhi too have been badly hit. The number of H1N1 cases in the southern States is also high compared with last year, with Tamil Nadu reporting nearly 3,000 cases about a month ago. What is H1N1? Influenza A (H1N1) virus is the subtype of influenza A virus that was the most common cause of human influenza in 2009. H1N1 flu is also known as swine flu caused by swine influenza virus that is endemic in pigs. Issue: New Strain: According to the Pune-based National Institute of Virology, the virus has not undergone any significant mutation and the virulence has remained nearly unchanged. It has however undergone point mutations which resulted in a new strain — the Michigan strain — replacing the California strain that has been prevalent since the 2009 pandemic. It is a highly contagious disease and can easily spread from a patient through saliva and mucus. While both strains were co-circulating last year, as per surveillance data only the Michigan strain has been circulating this year. The increased caseload and mortality this year compared with last year could be because pre-existing immunity through exposure to the California strain is no longer effective, and people are therefore not immune to the new strain. While earlier vaccinations made people immune to the California strain, the circulation of the new strain is the cause of increased caseload and mortality. Despite the high numbers, there is no system in place to release data periodically and frequently. Compare this with the regular updates provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, especially during an epidemic. There has also been a near-complete failure on the part of governments to spread awareness about prevention strategies. Uptake of influenza vaccination by people, especially by those belonging to the high-risk category, has been extremely poor, with only about 10,000-12,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine sold in the last six months by the Pune-based vaccine manufacturer. Since the 2009 pandemic, H1N1 has become a seasonal flu virus strain in India even when the temperature soars during the summer months. Database - The numbers in the official report do not reflect the true reality. This is because it is not mandatory for the private hospitals to disclose all the deaths and the people affected, to the government’s database. Way forward: The government should do everything possible to take both preventive and curative measures to fight swine flu. More research is needed to fully understand the epidemiology of H1N1 caused by the Michigan strain, and who may be more vulnerable. Also, the composition of the swine flu vaccine will require changes as per the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommendation. There is a need for a system to record and release the actual number of cases for making appropriate response. Prevention - Being a communicable disease, swine flu can best be prevented with awareness generation by the governments. Uptake of influenza vaccination by people, health-care workers and especially by those belonging to the high-risk category, can go a long way in reducing the cases. High-risk categories include pregnant women, very young and old people, those who have had organ transplantation and those with certain underlying illnesses. They must be focused upon. Vaccination of health-care workers and people in high-risk categories is the only way to reduce the toll. Government should ensure that there are enough vaccines in various health centres. Keeping the environment clean to address poor hygiene and sanitation Sufficient lab facilities to diagnose H1N1 cases among both hospitalised and non-hospitalized population is essential. Conclusion: The high H1N1 flu toll points to a failure to put necessary systems and precautions in place. The guidelines for H1N1 vaccination of people belonging to high-risk categories such as pregnant women, very young and old people and those with certain underlying illnesses were released last month by the Health Ministry. It must be implemented in letter and spirit. Also, urgent measures are needed to ramp up preparedness in dealing with epidemics. Connecting the dots: The reported cases and deaths due to the spread of H1N1 virus are on the rise in comparison with previous years' records. Discuss the reasons behind it. Also elaborate on what preventive steps should be taken by the government. MUST READ Target section 377 The Hindu The constitution refreshed The Hindu Lessons not learnt The Hindu This thing called privacy Indian Express A grave abdication Indian Express Caste in new moulds Indian Express How we define Assam's flood problem Indian Express Curtailing the legislature Indian Express Creating a culture of research in India Business Line

Aug 26, 2017 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs 25th Aug, 2017

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 25th Aug 2017 Archives 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 Right to Privacy is a fundamental right: SC verdict In news: A nine-judge bench of the Supreme Court of India in K. Puttaswamy v Union of India case said in one voice and six judgements, that the right to privacy is inherent in our fundamental rights. The right to privacy is not just a common law right, not just a legal right, not just a fundamental right under the Constitution, It is a natural right inherent in every individual. Privacy is a fundamental right protected by Article 21 and Part III of the Constitution and is protected as an “intrinsic part of the right to life and right to personal liberty under Article 21” and also as a part of the other freedoms guaranteed in the chapter of fundamental rights. Background: The right to privacy was a constitutionally accepted and recognised by an interpretative device of the Supreme Court since 1975. Over the decades, more than 30 decisions of the apex court applied privacy as a bundle of rights that permitted liberty of thought and action. Some instances include safeguards against indiscriminate phone tapping, narco analysis and even bodily integrity. One of the lowest points in the history of the Indian Supreme Court has been when during the proclamation of Emergency, it refused to enforce fundamental rights. By its decision in ADM Jabalpur v. Shivakant Shukla the court agreed with the government to suspend fundamental rights thereby permitting it to hold people in detention, without any opportunity to move court. More importantly, it gave wide police powers to the government to pursue state interests at the cost of fundamental rights. However, about two years ago, in the midst of the hearings of the Aadhaar case the government disputed the very basis of the right to privacy. Arguments given by SC judges: Ensuring dignity and liberty: “Privacy with its attendant values assures dignity to the individual and it is only when life can be enjoyed with dignity can liberty be of true substance. Privacy ensures the fulfillment of dignity and is a core value which the protection of life and liberty is intended to achieve,” it states. At another place, it notes, “The dignity of the individual, equality between human beings and quest for liberty are the foundational pillars of the Indian Constitution”. The spirit of self-correction — and commitment to human dignity — are also behind the court’s decision to set aside its 2013 verdict that resuscitated Section 377. The court’s remarks will be seen as a long-awaited course correction: “In a democratic Constitution founded on the rule of law, their [minority] rights are as sacred as those conferred on other citizens to protect their freedoms and liberties. Sexual orientation is an essential attribute of privacy. Discrimination against an individual on the basis of sexual orientation is deeply offensive to the dignity and self-worth of the individual”. “Privacy enables each individual to take crucial decisions which find expression in the human personality. It enables individuals to preserve their beliefs, thoughts, expressions, ideas, ideologies, preferences and choices against societal demands of homogeneity. Privacy is an intrinsic recognition of heterogeneity, of the right of the individual to be different and to stand against the tide of conformity in creating a zone of solitude,” the court said. At a time when individuals are being told what to eat, who to love and marry, to respect or oppose, this assertion of the citizen’s autonomy sends out an important message to both society and the state. Privacy, the court holds, is about the reservation of a “private space to be left alone”. Recognising the full amplitude of the need for privacy, the court holds that “the ability of an individual to make choices lies at the core human personality”. Justice DY Chandrachud who wrote the majority judgment, said: “The refrain that the poor need no civil and political rights and are concerned only with economic well-being has been utilised through history to wreak the most egregious violations of human rights.” They have rejected any notion that the right to privacy is an impediment to social welfare in any way, and the idea that those who seek socio-economic security do not care about their civil and political rights. Three elements are considered as the core to the right to privacy- Person al autonomy, the freedom to make choices and the right to determine what happens with information about oneself. The judges found it to be reflected throughout Part III of the Constitution of India, which guarantees fundamental rights. Reasonable restrictions: Since the right to privacy is not located in Article 21 alone but in all freedoms, it will be subject to the limitations to which those rights are subject. Here too the judges wisely avoid spelling out limitations making them dependent on the right sought to be protected and the proportionality of the limitations imposed by law. Most importantly, the right to privacy can be curtailed in public interest only by a law which can be once again tested for its constitutional validity. The court does impose reasonable restrictions on the Right to Privacy. Justice Mathew held that the right to privacy could be curtailed only when there was “compelling State interest”. The nature and content of the law which imposes the restriction would now fall within the zone of reasonableness mandated by Article 14, which is a guarantee against arbitrary state action. A democracy can survive when citizens have an undiluted assurance that the rule of law will protect their rights and liberties against any invasion by the state and that judicial remedies would be available. Implications: The constitutional right to privacy is no longer in any dispute and stands on firm ground. Its breadth is established over the entire chapter of fundamental rights, which include equality, free expression, right to life, religion. This also means the Aadhaar cases will now proceed for arguments on their merits which were gridlocked due to this pending decision. This case goes far beyond Aadhaar and holds the promise of renewing the vitality of the complete spectrum of civil liberties. The Supreme Court, by stating that the state does not bestow privacy, also has limited its ability to take it away. While recognising that even natural rights are subject to limitations, high thresholds are prescribed. The consequence of this is also that the basis for state interference with privacy (by law or action) will have to meet the standards of the Constitution as interpreted by the Supreme Court over the years. The laws interfering with privacy will have to not only be just, fair and reasonable but also have to be based on the grounds enunciated in Part III. This expands the scope of judicial review of such laws and raises the burden on governments to ensure the constitutionality of laws. The implications of this judgment go far above and beyond just the question of whether the Aadhaar scheme and law are valid. In this judgment itself, the SC has affirmed that sexual orientation is a part of the right to privacy (casting serious doubts over the fate of Section 377 of the IPC) and affirmed the right to choose one’s food habits (indirectly approving the Bombay High Court’s striking down parts of Maharashtra’s beef ban). The principles laid down here will go a long way in striking down some of the most regressive and tyrannical laws on the books. A welcome aspect of the judgment is that it makes it clear that sexual orientation is part of privacy and constitutionally protected, and that the 2014 verdict upholding Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code is flawed. In doing this, it undercuts the basis of the Suresh Koushal v. Naz Foundation case, the court refused to strike down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code. It is now only matter of time when the case will be formally overruled. Way ahead: While the privacy judgement is a cause for celebration, its full benefit will only come when it is applied to actual state actions that undermine privacy. Adherence to constitutional principle requires a prompt protection of real rights and liberties. The true test of the privacy judgement will be in its subsequent application to state actions when it sets boundaries and provides safeguards. The right to privacy broadly encompasses physical privacy, informational privacy and decisional autonomy. The interplay of technological advances and the right to privacy in the digital age needs to be closely scrutinised. The nine-judge bench has rightly emphasised the need for data protection laws — a task now entrusted, at a preliminary stage, to the Justice Srikrishna Committee. Conclusion: What this judgment truly means will become clear in the days to come. If it is to mark a definitive turn in the understanding of fundamental rights, it will have to be applied uncompromisingly by the courts in the future. The burden of giving this landmark judgment full meaning rests with the judiciary itself as it is faced with laws that intrude into the lives of people. Connecting the dots: The recent historic judgment by Supreme Court on Right to Privacy will have far reaching implications. Discuss. SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY/NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. General Studies 3 Science and Technology‐ developments and their applications and effects in everyday life Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology. Building a culture of research in India Background: Whenever global rankings of universities are announced, there is always a discussion about India’s poor showing. Former President Pranab Mukherjee spoke about this in many forums, asking why quality of our academia cannot be as good as those in other countries. Issue: Research is one aspect that often got flagged, pegged by the observation that the number of publications and their citations are relatively less in India, in comparison with various developed countries. The reasons are many: A culture of research is largely missing in our institutions. Collegiality and a singularity of purpose among faculty members are important requirements to build that, where members need to be bonded by shared, research-related values and practices towards building a safe home for testing new ideas. Sadly, we lack clarity on “what developing research culture means?” Education administrators in India looked at this in many different ways, such as, (i) building research culture involves incorporating research into an organisational culture that has not previously considered that activity as part of its culture; (ii) implanting a research sub-culture within an organisational culture currently having a distinctive teaching sub-culture; (iii) having a ‘petri-dish’ culture — an environment into which we toss research and expect it to grow, just as we expect bacteria to grow in a petri dish. Unfortunately, none of these helps much. Instead of any comprehensive reviews and follow-up actions, we seem to mindlessly adopt some practices. A glaring example is rules requiring publication in international journals (and presentations at international conferences), as criteria for promotion. Trying to achieve this goal through international publications tends to undermine the longer-term goal of building an indigenous research culture to address the important problems of society. The policy of requiring international publications induces faculty to turn toward addressing unfamiliar problems of distant lands for the sole purpose of getting a publication or two so they can get promoted. This turns the very purpose of research on its head — instead of doing research in order to serve society, faculty start doing research so that they can get it published, treating publication as the end. In India, we seem to suffer from a tendency to treat research and publication as the same thing, which they are not. While good research is expected to generate publications in the top-rated journals the converse is not true. Because of this tendency, majority of our institutions do not have any institutional research thrust, unlike in the west. In India, publications happen due to individual initiatives — often driven by survival or promotional needs rather than being drawn out of purposeful collective effort. This happens because dealing with ‘paradox of scope’ often blurs the vision of our education administrators. The expanding periphery and contracting core of our colleges and universities stretches the already limited adaptive capability of governance structures to the breaking point. Data assessing several key dimensions of universities and colleges — full-time faculty, liberal arts and scientific education, student services that act in loco parentis, the library, etc. — demonstrate how the traditional core of the university is declining. Way ahead: The institution needs to define a strategy that specifies the domain in which it will operate. The risk inherent in the new competitive environment is that as the institution expands everywhere in the periphery, it will be successful nowhere. Unmistakably, research in India has become a victim to this peripheral growth. One common requirement of “developing a research culture” is to move from a few isolated individual researcher projects to an environment where research is so pervasive that it appears to be the activity of a large number of interconnected colleagues. We need steps in that direction. To move ahead, institutions must get empowered to look within rather than being cowed down by a regulator, in whatever name we may call it. Better will be to have a facilitating body instead of a regulating one if our aim is to promote a research culture. Connecting the dots: A culture of research is largely missing in India. Discuss reasons and way forward. MUST READ To read and write better The Hindu Endgame for Section 377 The Hindu Is Prasar Bharti its master voice The Hindu Don't fear trade deficit The Hindu Creating a culture of research in India Business Line Towards an electric vehicles only future Livemint  Triple talaq verdict has not gone the entire distance Livemint The geopolitical prowess of science and technology Livemint  

Aug 25, 2017 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz- 2017 : IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 31]

UPSC Quiz- 2017 : IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 31] Archives Q.1) Consider the following statements about Moombika Temple It sits on the banks of the Tungabhadra River It is located in Hampi Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2) Consider the following statements about ‘Washington Consensus’ It is a set of economic prescriptions made by the NAFTA to developing countries It advocates free trade and reducing government budget deficits Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3) Which of the following countries is/are not members of the G4? Brazil India South Africa China Select the correct code 1 and 3 3 and 4 2 and 4 Only 3 Q.4) Consider the following statements about Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) It is a statutory body It advises the Government on issues relating to wildlife crimes having national and international ramifications Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.5) Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) was in news recently concerned with India’s first private mission to moon Evolved Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (eLISA) Project Loon None of the above To Download the Solution - Click here All The Best  IASbaba

Aug 24, 2017 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs 24th Aug, 2017

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 24th Aug 2017 Archives INTERNATIONAL  TOPIC: General Studies 2: India and its International relations. Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests. Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora. Mr. Trump’s new assertive policy in Afghanistan In news: In a recent speech Trump had declared that the US “can no longer be silent about Pakistan’s safe havens for terrorist organisations, the Taliban and other groups that pose a threat to the region and beyond.” His announcement of the decision to send more troops to Afghanistan reflects a realisation that the U.S. does not have many options in dealing with its longest military conflict. New strategy: Mr. Trump's strategy can be summed up as Obama-plus — it builds on the premises of the Obama plan of additional troops and regional diplomacy. But unlike Mr. Obama, who set a timetable for the withdrawal of troops, Mr. Trump is ready for an open-ended engagement. Trump said the focus of the American mission should narrow down to fighting terrorists, not rebuilding Afghanistan “in our own image”. Trump directly called Pakistan a country that shelters terrorists. He demanded that Pakistan’s support to cross-border terror “will have to change” and “change immediately”. He also wants India to play a greater role in providing economic and developmental assistance to Afghanistan. Mr. Trump’s generals want to avoid the kind of vacuum left behind by the Soviet withdrawal in the late 1980s that plunged Afghanistan into a protracted civil war; the Taliban eventually took over. U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to deepen the country’s military engagement in war-torn Afghanistan signals a significant shift in the position he has held for years. Mr. Trump had campaigned to end American involvement in foreign conflicts and was particularly critical of the Afghan war, which he said was “wasting” American money. Precarious security situation in Afghanistan: Sixteen years since George W. Bush ordered the American invasion of Afghanistan and toppled the Taliban regime, the insurgents are on the ascendent again. More than half the country’s territory, mostly in rural, mountainous areas, is now controlled by the Taliban, while the Islamic State has set up base in eastern Afghanistan. In recent years, both the Taliban and the IS have carried out a number of terror attacks in the country, including at highly fortified military locations, raising questions about the very survival of the government in Kabul. Implications for India: On Pakistan: Delhi welcomed “President Trump’s determination to enhance efforts to overcome the challenges facing Afghanistan and confronting issues of safe havens and other forms of cross-border support enjoyed by terrorists.” India has welcomed Mr. Trump’s strategy, as the U.S.’s objectives in building a stable Afghanistan and ending Pakistan’s sponsorship of terrorism are exactly in line with India’s own goals for the region. If Washington has the political will to carry through the promised pressure on Pakistan to stop hosting terror sanctuaries on its soil is not yet known. Delhi has good reason to be cautious in its assessment of what the Trump Administration can compel the Pakistan Army to do today. On Trump’s affirmation that India ought to do more, Delhi pointed to India’s significant past efforts to promote economic reconstruction in Afghanistan. It added that India “will continue these efforts, including in partnership with other countries”. Few countries have gotten away so long with what Trump has accused Pakistan of doing: Pakistan shelters “the same organisations that try every single day to kill our people. We have been paying Pakistan billions and billions of dollars at the same time they are housing the very terrorists we are fighting.” Turning the words of that speech into actions of the ground will not be easy. The Pakistan Army will try and find ways to limit Trump’s fire and fury. It will not be easy, however, for Pakistan to abandon its investments in cross-border terror. It would try and finesse the issue of terror sanctuaries. On Afghanistan: It is equally important for Delhi to note the shift in Washington’s thinking on the Indian role in Afghanistan. When it came to Pakistan and Afghanistan, the Bush Administration drew a red line for India. It cautioned Delhi against too large a role in Afghanistan. The Obama Administration began with the proposition that the answer to Afghanistan might lie in promoting a resolution of Pakistan’s Kashmir dispute with India. It required intensive diplomacy from India to fend off these initiatives. Until recently, Washington believed that India’s rivalry with Pakistan is part of the problem in Afghanistan. Today Trump might be betting that by invoking a larger Indian role in Afghanistan, he might add to the pressures on Pakistan to cooperate with the US. For Delhi, the question is not whether Trump’s Afghanistan strategy is a glass half-full or half-empty. It is about seizing the opportunity opened up by his new policy to raise India’s profile in Afghanistan Way ahead: Delhi’s current emphasis must be on taking advantage of the Trump discontinuity in the American policy towards the Subcontinent. A positive Indian approach would involve three elements — economic, security and diplomatic. Economic: India must ramp up its economic diplomacy in Afghanistan to bring immediate benefits to Kabul amidst the deteriorating conditions in the country. Security: Delhi must step up security cooperation with Afghanistan, especially in the training of its police and armed forces and intelligence sharing. On the diplomatic front: India must counter the emerging argument that Trump’s new approach will intensify the “Indo-Pak rivalry” in Afghanistan and the old one that Kashmir holds the key to peace in Afghanistan. Delhi must remind the world of India’s commitment to regional cooperation with Afghanistan and Pakistan, in an atmosphere free of terrorism. Conclusion: Trump’s new Afghan strategy could be a potential game-changer for South Asia or a brief exception to the familiar pattern of US-Pak relations. While recognising the potential shadow between Trump’s words and deeds (as his strategy is not yet very clear despite the speech), Delhi must bet on its own activism that can influence future outcomes in Afghanistan. Connecting the dots: President Trump has in a recent speech declared that the US can no longer be silent about Pakistan’s safe havens for terrorist organizations, the Taliban and other groups that pose a threat to the region and beyond. Discuss how such a rhetoric against Pakistan can go a long way in solving Pakistan sponsored terrorism. ECONOMY TOPIC: General Studies 3 Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth Investment models. The Justice B.N. Srikrishna committee on bilateral investment treaty (BIT) Background: The recent report of the Justice B.N. Srikrishna committee, constituted to prepare a road map to make India a hub of international arbitration, has recommended many changes in Indian arbitration law and institutional mechanisms to promote arbitration in India. Its recommendations on bilateral investment treaty (BIT) arbitration assume importance as India is currently battling 20-odd BIT disputes. These recommendations are largely on the issue of managing and resolving BIT disputes. Recommendations of the Srikrishna committee: Dispute management: For better management of BIT disputes, the committee recommends the creation of an inter-ministerial committee (IMC), with officials from the Ministries of Finance, External Affairs and Law. It also recommends hiring external lawyers having expertise in BITs to boost the government’s legal expertise; creating a designated fund to fight BIT disputes; appointing counsels qualified in BITs to defend India against BIT claims; and boosting the capacity of Central and State governments to better understand the implications of their policy decisions on India’s BIT obligations. The most significant recommendation is the creation of the post of an ‘international law adviser’ (ILA) to advise the government on international legal disputes, particularly BIT disputes, and who will be responsible for the day-to-day management of a BIT arbitration. Issue: Augmenting the government’s expertise on BITs and designating a single authority to deal with all BIT arbitrations is a laudable suggestion. However, this recommendation will amount to duplicating the existing arrangement to offer advice on international law, including BITs, to the government. Solution: The Legal and Treaties (L&T;) division of the External Affairs Ministry is mandated to offer legal advice to the government on all international law matters including BIT arbitrations. Instead of creating a new office — which will only intensify the turf wars between ministries, and deepen red tape — the L&T; division should be strengthened. This division could be made the designated authority to deal with all BIT arbitrations and thus act as the coordinator of the proposed IMC. The IMC should have a member from the Commerce Ministry as well. This ministry, while dealing with India’s trade agreements — that also cover investment protection — works in tandem with the Finance Ministry. Thus it is only prudent that both be a part of an IMC on BIT dispute management. Dispute resolution: In resolving BIT disputes, the committee has made some useful interventions such as mentioning the possibility of establishing a BIT appellate mechanism and a multilateral investment court. Issue: The committee's conclusion that the investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) mechanism, given in Article 15 of the Indian Model BIT, provides an effective mechanism for settling BIT disputes between an investor and state is problematic for the following reasons: First, Article 15 requires foreign investors to litigate in domestic courts at least for a period of five years. Assuming that proceedings end in five years but the investor is not happy with the outcome, the investor can initiate a BIT claim provided it is done within 12 months from conclusion of domestic proceedings. Out of these 12 months, the next six months must be spent trying to amicably settle the dispute with the state. If not, then the investor has to serve a 90-day notice period to the state, and only after this can she actually submit the dispute for BIT arbitration. In short, even if an investor is extremely alert, she only has a window of three months to actually submit a dispute for BIT arbitration. Such strict limitation periods dilute the effectiveness of the ISDS mechanism. Second, there are many other jurisdictional limitations given in Article 13 that also limit the usefulness of ISDS. Third, the ISDS mechanism in the Indian Model BIT extends from Articles 13 to 30 covering issues such as appointment of arbitrators, transparency provisions, enforcement of awards, standard of review, which have a bearing on the efficiency of the ISDS mechanism. The report is silent on all these critical issues. Larger issue: BIT arbitration has three aspects: jurisdictional (such as definition of investment), substantive (such as provision on expropriation) and procedural (ISDS mechanism). While the commission’s mandate was to focus on BIT arbitration, i.e. on all the three parts, strangely, it narrowed it down to just the procedural aspect. Conclusion: Despite making some useful suggestions, the committee has lost an opportunity to push for the recalibration of the Indian BIT regime, which has oscillated from being pro-investor to being pro-state. Connecting the dots: The recent report of the Justice B.N. Srikrishna committee, constituted to prepare a road map to make India a hub of international arbitration, has been released. Discuss critically its recommendations on bilateral investment treaty (BIT). Also read: Bilateral Investment Treaties and concerns MUST READ Understanding work The Hindu Two cheers for the Supreme Court The Hindu A minute for Macaulay The Hindu Out on several LIMBS Indian Express Repair and recover Indian Express Sharing the future Indian Epxress Why India fails to deliver on health and education? Livemint We live in a fear of online mobs Livemint China reaching as far as it can go Business Line A just verdict Business Line

Aug 24, 2017 Daily Prelims CA Quiz

UPSC Quiz- 2017 : IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 30]

UPSC Quiz- 2017 : IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs Quiz [Day 30] Archives Q.1) Consider the following statements about ‘Padayani’ It is performed in honour of Bhadrakaali It is performed in Karnataka Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.2) Recently ‘Reindeer Police’ was in news concerned with which of the following countries? Sweden Norway Finland Greenland Q.3) Consider the following statements about National Intelligence Grid It is a counter terrorism programme, which utilises technologies like Big Data and analytics to study and analyse the data from various intelligence and enforcement agencies The information will be available in public domain to help track suspected terrorists and prevent terrorist attacks Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.4) Consider the following statements A mutual legal assistance treaty (MLAT) is an agreement between two or more countries for the purpose of gathering and exchanging information in an effort to enforce public or criminal laws Ministry of Home Affairs is the nodal Ministry and the Central authority for seeking and providing mutual legal assistance in criminal law matters Select the correct statements Only 1 Only 2 Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.5) Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) is under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Ministry of Food Processing Industries None of the above To Download the Solution - Click here All The Best  IASbaba