Jun 2, 2017

IASbaba's 60 Day Plan- Prelims Test 2017 Science and Technology and Current Affairs [Day 59]

Hello Friends So, here we are with the 59th Day of 60 Days Plan. It is the third edition of 60 Days program but seems like the first one because of the excitement involved everywhere, including us :) We are equally excited and pumped. Our Team is working hard to make you realize your dream. Do not take it insincerely and let us down. Your faith and participation has to be in sync with the amount of hard work and effort we do. Let us pledge to make it a big game changer (better than last year) in the next 60 days! Importance of Self - Tracking: Learning from Last Year Last year, aspirants used to comment their answers in the comment box on daily basis. There were huge participation in discussion. Putting answers in comment box has been very effective to self track yourself after updating the score. In the end you can cross check your performance through disqus profile. It was highly effective in the last edition of 60 Days that propelled aspirants to monitor their performance and learn through discussion. Let you solve these questions with full honesty and write your result in the comment box. Interact with peers to know your mistakes. The importance of this initiative stands time bound and aggressive reverse engineering to learn the concepts. Many of you must be busy with your own strategy but let us tell you honestly that in the last two months, it is very important to revise and consolidate your learning. Just reading won’t suffice. So, take out few hours from your schedule and make it a revision exercise. How you can make the best use of it? Be honest to your effort and do not start competing with XYZ aspirants here just for the sake of marks. It is more important for you to introspect and check your learning than focusing on others. Try to answer the questions in 20 minutes only.  Do not get into negative feeling that I don’t have enough knowledge to answer these questions. Feel like you are taking the real exam. What would be your response then? The same will be replicated in UPSC exam. Here, you get marks only and nothing else matters. So make effort to know the answers of all questions. Do not cheat :P Baba's Gyan for REVISION Many of you, almost all, asks about effective revision strategy! Can there be any? Let us tell you something Baba does :D  You guys study a lot and there is no issue with the hard work that has been put in. But when it comes to input-output comparison, your performance is questionable. What to do? Just do this for a Week: Go to bed before stipulated time of your sleep, at least 1 hour before. Close your eyes and try to relax your mind. You should attain full comfort and calmness. Do this on the First Day: Imagine the full story of a recent movie that you have watched. Try to recollect from starting to end. See, whether you are able to depict the clear picture or not! Now, do the same for everything you learnt from morning specially the ones you struggled with. Since it is fresh, most of the things should flow into your mind smoothly. Check what is your recollecting capacity. For example, if you prepared Polity Day 2: Topics- Try to collect all important concepts and learning of the day. Trust us, this exercise if done with sincerity will give you immense confidence as well as boost your performance. There is no ideal time for revision and there cannot be any specific date put for it, as commonly done. This will always expose your weaknesses the very same day and if you tend to forget something, can always get back to consolidate and cement it. REPEAT IT FOR A WEEK & SEE THE MAGIC :D  Must to Do: Read the detailed article regarding Micro Analysis Matrix and follow the guidelines- Click Here Try to hold your nerves and learn to control the temptation. This is very important art to learn and implement! Are you ready? Let's start [Day 59]: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY & CURRENT AFFAIRS  ARCHIVES Q.1) What is metrino? A breed of sheep known for its wool A personal rapid transit system being developed in National Capital Region A high energy neutrino discovered by CERN A new subatomic particle found at IceCube Neutrino Observatory  Q.2) Consider the following statements about TRI-NETRA It is an assisted vision system for locomotive drivers It uses a combination of optical cameras, infrared cameras and radars based terrain mapping system The concept was developed by Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Choose the correct statement[s] 1 only 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Q.3) What are replicons? A genome segment that can replicate on its own independent of cellular chromosome A genus of bacteria capable of replicating itself The cells of umbilical cord which can develop which can develop into any organ The enzyme which assists the process of RNA replication Q.4) Facebook launched a solar powered drone for internet access. What is it called? Free Basics Internet Sathi Aquila Project Loon Q.5) What is TeamIndus Moon Mission? A group of scientists exploring the effect of moon’s gravity on powerful tidal waves on river Indus A team of scientists at ISRO studying the feasilibility of manned mission to moon A mission by a private company to send a robot to moon to explore at least 500m and transmit HD video image back to earth. A team of negotiators headed by former UN General Secretary Ban Ki Moon to facilitate talks between India and Pakistan over Indus Water Treaty Q.6 ) Hafnium Carbide and Tantalum Carbide are refractory ceramics known for their Semi conducting properties High heat resistance High electrical conductivity High malleability Q.7) Carnegie Mellon University has developed a material called Thubber. What is it? Rubber with high thermal resistance Rubber with metal like thermal conductivity A compound of thallium with ability to stretch to ten times its length Rubber specifically developed for insulation in thermal power plants Q.8) Low temperature thermal desalinization plants are operational in India in places like Lakshadweep and Chennai. What is the principle involved in these plants? Reverse osmosis at room temperature Water evaporates even at low temperature at low pressure Water evaporates even at low temperature when subjected to very high pressure Reverse osmosis at low temperature which is accelerated by application of pressure Q.9) Norway recently announced turning off analogue FM signals and shifting to Digital Audio Broadcasting. Which of the following statements are true regarding Digital Audio broadcasting? Digital signals give better audio quality and coverage in comparison to analogue FM signals Digital Audio Broadcasting suffers slightly higher losses due to interference from buildings and other obstructions when compared to FM signals Choose the correct statement[s] 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.10)  Indian scientists have developed a Ceramic Polyment Hybrid CASPOL. Consider the following statements about CASPOL It is developed by CSIR in collaboration with IIT-Kharagpur It is a water based, ready-to-coat and easy-to-use flame proof coating having both societal and advanced end-use applications. The material coated with CASPOL will be self-extinguished within 4 seconds after removal of flame Which of the above statements are incorrect 1 only 2 only 3 only None of the above Q.11) What is Lakshmi Robot? A robot to collect fees and other levies in all government offices developed by IISc A banking robot capable of answering queries related to account balance, loans, fixed deposits, payments etc. developed by City Union Bank A robot to perform repetitive, high volume and time consuming tasks developed by ICICI Bank A robot to monitor attacks on banking system developed by NPCIL Q.12) NASA recently announced a mission Parker Solar Probe scheduled for summer 2018. What is it? A mini satellite to monitor temperatures effect across the poles A mission to solar atmosphere A mission to probe sun like stars in close vicinity to solar system A mission to monitor solar radiation across tropical countries to identify areas suitable for large solar power plants Q.13) Consider the following statements about Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System CYGNSS developed by NASA It is a constellation of 7 mini satellites The 3 satellites are placed in geostationary orbit and four satellites in geosynchronous orbit CYGNSS will make frequent measurements of ocean surface winds in the tropics, with a primary objective of monitoring the location, intensity, size, and development of tropical cyclones Choose the correct statement[s] 1 only 1 and 2 only 1 and 3 only 3 only Q.14)  Extremely Large Telescope, the world’s largest optical telescope is being developed by European Science Observatory in which of the following countries? Netherlands France Chile Namibia Q.15) Scientists at IIT-Rourkee have developed low cost and more efficient solar cells using natural pigments present in Mulberry fruit Jamun fruit Coffee beans Black pepper Q.16) CORPAT is a bilateral naval exercise between India and Maldives India and Vietnam India and Indonesia India and Sri Lanka Q.17) Choose the incorrect statement with respect to GM Mustard It is the first edible food crop approved for commercial use by Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee It has been indigenously developed by Delhi University based Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants NITI Aayog in its three year draft plan had backed GM crops Sarson Satyagraha, a platform for organising farmers,consumers, scientists and others has raised concerns on commercialisation of GM Mustard. Q.18) What is integrated theatre command? Modernisation and Digitisation of old cinema theatres of cultural importance Computerised data bank of the available theatre buildings and spaces for performances Unified command of the three Services, under a single commander, for geographical theatres that are of security concern. Set of commands and instructions issued by Ministry of defence for all three services. Q.19) Rajasthan Government has set up a captive breeding centre for Great Indian Bustard(GIB). Consider the following statements First Captive breeding centre for GIB was set up in Haryana in 2015 GIB is a flightless bird GIB is listed as critically endangered in IUCN Red Data List Which of the above statement[s] is/are correct? 3 only 2 and 3 only 1 and 2 only 1, 2 and 3 Q.20) The Department of Telecom launched a portal to allow people to track radiation emitted from mobile towers within a locality. What is it called? Kiran Sphuran Tarang Sanchar Kiran Pramaan Tarang Path Download the Solution - Click here

Jun 1, 2017 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs 1st June, 2017

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 1st June 2017 Archives NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2 Issues relating to development and management of Social sector or Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. Twenty world- class "Institutions of Eminence" to be established In news: In a bid to improve the quality of education in India and provide better facility to students, the government has planned to set up 20 world-class “institutions of eminence” around the country.  The plan is to have 20 world-class universities—10 private and 10 public—with each requiring an investment of at least Rs5,000 crore over the next few years. While a select group of existing public institutions will be upgraded to the world class status, both existing and upcoming private institutions can bid for the tag. The institutions of eminence will have greater autonomy compared to other higher education institutions. They can be free from the clutches of the overarching regulatory regime of bodies such as University Grants Commission (UGC), AICTE, and Medical Council Of India (MCI). More autonomy in designing syllabi and deciding fee structure. Teachers would also be allowed to take up consultancy work among others. Public institutions will get financial support from the human resource development ministry. The private institutions under the project will enjoy two key freedoms: one, they can offer as much salary as they want to their teaching staff; and two, the course fee can be completely market linked. The government institutions, however, will have to follow the UGC scale of pay for permanent employees. For contractual staff including professors on contract, they too can pay as much as they wish. If a new institutions fails to make enough progress in the first 18 to 20 months, then the government will cancel its candidature. And the disqualified institution will be replaced from a reserve list of institutions. Higher education in India is in deep crisis: Most Indian graduates are unemployable because of poor quality of higher education. Research in both the sciences and the humanities is generally below par. Even elite Indian universities do not make it to the very top of global listings. Disparities in accessibility to higher education in terms of economic class, gender, caste, ethnicity etc. Reasons behind poor standard of higher education in India: An excess of regulation in the name of good governance. Absence of linkage between research institutes and universities. In the early years after independence, a conscious decision was made to keep research institutes separate from universities which were meant to focus only on teaching so that scarce resources could be directed in a targeted manner to stand-alone research institutes. While some of India’s scientific research centres, such as the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, and the Indian Institute of Science have done good work, the universities have suffered considerably. The separation of research from teaching provides very little incentive to faculty for becoming scholars, producing a poor generation of academics. Politicization of public institutions. Way ahead: If these institutions develop and deliver on suggested lines, eventually driving innovation and economic growth, they could potentially mark the beginning of a new chapter in India’s nation-building exercise. If not, they will be the missed opportunity that sets back India’s aspirations to be a great power. China makes for a good example. In an effort to revamp its tertiary education sector China marked out elite institutions for generous state funding, and changed its focus from quantity-oriented deliverables such as enrolment numbers to quality-oriented deliverables such as citations in respected peer-reviewed journals.  The results began to show in less than a decade. By 2008, it was already churning out the largest number of PhDs in the world. Liberalising education. As the government sets up these institutions(institutions of eminence) the fundamental structural problems related to over-regulation that continue to hobble the Indian education sector needs to be addressed. Establishing a link between research institutions and education sector. A commonly cited example of how research universities have incubated innovative ecosystems around them is that of Stanford University and Silicon Valley. Similarly, across the world in Israel, Technion University was the catalyst that sparked the start-up nation. Thus the new set of institutions must be structure in a way so as to emerge as research centres as well. An inter-disciplinary approach must be adopted by these institutions. For any development in higher education to bear fruit, it must be supported by the strengthening of primary education. An important reason why Chinese higher education has galloped ahead of India is that it strengthened its primary and secondary education systems first, which India is only now attempting to achieve. S.R. Subramanian committee has recommended that top-rated educational institutions in India be given greater autonomy including the freedom to fix salaries of their staff—a break from the controlled pay structure decided by bureaucrats sitting in New Delhi or in state capitals. Financial autonomy to institutions should be linked to their performance as recommended by the Subramanian committee. The institutions on the upper end of the scale of performance must be given total autonomy in all respects, including fixing faculty salaries, fee structure, entering into collaborations, etc. Regional and rural-urban disparities must be addressed while selecting institutions to be tagged as "institutions of eminence". GIAN(Global Initiative of Academic Networks GIAN) that brings talent pool of scientists and entrepreneurs, internationally must be engaged with the institutes of Higher Education in India so as to augment the country’s existing academic resources, accelerate the pace of quality reform, and elevate India’s scientific and technological capacity to global excellence. Conclusion: Development in educational sector is very crucial for the future of India and next generations in India. The attempts of improving the educational sector will always be beneficial to all the people living in India and mostly, to the children as good education has a strong link with better jobs and opportunities. The upcoming institutions are a step closer to a better India and its better future. A well-thought decision should be made with regarding the issues in the educational sector just like the decision of approval of word class institutions in India. Connecting the dots: Indian higher education is in need of major reforms if India has to reap the benefits of its huge demographic dividend. In this light discuss major reforms being proposed by the government and how helpful such steps will be in improving quality of higher education in India. Also read: The state of education in India 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. Better Evaluation System Introduction Today’s children are tomorrow’s citizens and they shape the future of the nation. Hence it is important that their development is sound and scientific from all fronts. Every year with annual results of 10th and 12th standard and the divide between rural-urban, haves-have nots’s are crucial. Issue: The use of moderation by the Central Board of Secondary Education while finalising Class 12 marks under a Delhi High Court directive poses the immediate question of how various State boards of education that have not adopted the practice will respond. It also points to the long-standing challenge of achieving comparability while assessing students for undergraduate studies from different systems. Some boards have already published the results without moderation, while others will resort to the practice, making it necessary for college authorities to make offsets while fixing admission criteria. Another substantive concern is the pattern of testing procedures placing high importance on a single external examination, without an assurance to all students that the same tasks are being assessed on the same standards. Across-the-board use of tools such as moderation also raises questions on the actual scores. It is extraordinary that tests for non-quantitative subjects such as English and Political Science yield perfect scores of 100% in the CBSE examination and elsewhere, giving the impression that the questions require to be answered only within a limited framework laid out in a textbook, leaving little scope for creative responses that reflect the quality of teaching in the classroom. Concerns: Moderation of marks under the CBSE policy has been followed partly to offset the ambiguity of questions and any errors, and to achieve parity in the evaluation process and the annual pass percentage. The Central Board recently decided to do away with the practice, in consultation with State boards, and sought the assistance of the Human Resource Development Ministry to make a complete shift. This is something the Ministry should take up on priority, since a consensus among the States would eliminate litigation on grounds of uneven competition — which is what invited judicial intervention on the issue of moderation this year. It is also relevant to point out that the emphasis on a single external examination has heavily influenced the learning process, tailoring it almost entirely to score marks. Built on a foundation of weak primary education, it does little to improve outcomes for the majority of students at the secondary school level. Learning Levels and impact: The Annual Status of Education Report, 2016 found, for instance, that among rural students in Class 8, only 43.3% could correctly solve a simple three-digit by one-digit division problem. What this makes clear is that encouraging performance on enrolment of students even in some of the backward States is not the same as achieving high outcomes in actual learning. There is also the issue of access to private tuitions for a better examination score, which affects less-privileged students. It is against the depressing backdrop of such distortions that India’s school system must prepare an evaluation mechanism for students. Reform should recognise the role of the teacher in ensuring genuine learning and encouraging creativity. An external test that evaluates sound learning is the answer, although the challenge is not to stifle educational innovation that individual State boards are capable of Conclusion: Policies should be done with due consultation and field expertise. Judicial intervention in the interest of a particular section is vested and narrow. It is important to formulate policies that are time tested and grants parity to the entire nation’s aspirants especially in education and future deciding courses. Connecting the dots: Critically discuss the impact of judicial interventions in education and course related aspects. Does it amount to judicial overreach? Elaborate. MUST READ Cow slaughter and the constitution Hindu This time for Africa Hindu In good faith Hindu Mentoring young India The Indian Express Curb your scepticism The Indian Express New army for new India The Indian Express Gm Mustard: Us, them, the farmers The Indian Express Assessing the new rules to solve the NPA problem Livemint Too many regulations are ruining CSR Livemint India's low carbon transition Livemint A job at hand Livemint Amrut can transform urban reforms Business Line Lets be wary of China's new silk road Business Line

Jun 1, 2017 AIR

All India Radio - Wildlife Conservation Day

Wildlife Conservation Day ARCHIVES Search 3rd March http://www.newsonair.com/Main_Audio_Bulletins_Search.aspx TOPIC: General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. General Studies 3 Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment Wildlife Conservation- A seemingly never ending issue Wildlife means all the flora and fauna, which are not domesticated by humans. It includes animals, plants and microorganisms. First passed in 1972, the Wildlife (Protection) Act is the primary legislation protecting the country’s unique flora and fauna. The Act established schedules of protected animals and plants, outlawed hunting and harvesting of species, and set up a notification process for new wildlife preservation areas. ISSUES: A holistic view of protecting and preserving our wildlife is missing: When it comes to laws related to national conservation on wildlife, we have a focus on bigger animals, we talk about the tiger, lion, elephants, rhinocerous etc. But there is a huge biodiversity that exists beyond these animals that is never a talk of. Ineffective implementation of laws: In India we have the Wildlife Protection Act. There is a mechanism in place but that is hardly followed. While the law is criminal in nature, the conviction rates for poachers and traffickers remains low because of poor quality of evidence. Also the penalties imposed for crimes as serious as poaching is not enough to disincentivise it. Many of the officers don’t have adequate training in the law or are not sensitised to the seriousness of the wildlife crime. Poor focus on smaller species: The WPA, 1972 has six schedules. The animals in 6th schedule have been given maximum protection, but the number of species covered in this schedule are less. GSI under the Minister for Environment forests and climate change records large number of species every year but they remain confined to the records in the book. In order to provide protection in an efficient manner we have to bring those recorded species into the mainstream. Focusing on larger number of smaller species is required. All species have to con-exist for a healthy ecosystem. A tiger can only exist when all other species of an ecosystem survives. If we have a focus on tiger, we should have an equally important focus on other species. Lack of Awareness: There is little awareness about the importance of wildlife conservation among the Indian citizens. This is more so true among the people living in remote areas. The violation of laws in the WPA 1972 is considered as a criminal act. But there is little awareness about the law. People don’t know whom to approach when a crime takes place. MAN-ANIMAL CONFLICT: The human-wildlife conflict has increased in the recent times. Reasons behind rising conflicts: Rapid deforestation- It has become a biggest threat to wildlifehabitat and also has reduced the food base of the wild animals, forcing them to enter into agricultural fields. Unplanned urbanization  Road Ecology-Rapid construction of roads disrupt natural migration and fragments habitats. Individual animals attempting to cross roads in order to migrate, find food or mates, or return to their breeding grounds are not always successful. Mining and quarrying-is causing degradation of habitat in areas like the Aravalli Range and the Western Ghats. All the above has resulted into fragmentation of wildlife habitat. Truth is that we have limited land mass and in this limited land mass we have to accommodate both human and wildlife population. Tackling Man-Animal Conflict: Discouraging Unplanned Urbanization: Urbanization should take place in a planned way. Effort should be made to ensure that the wildlife habitats gets disrupted as little as possible, Considering landscape in entirety: Rather than protecting only the protected areas, the national sanctuaries or communities of the Biosphere Reserve we need to consider the landscape in entirety. This will help in not only reducing the man and animal conflict but the larger biodiversity will also be protected. Maintaining road ecology: Fragmented habitats should be reconnected by using over- or under passes that allow the safe movement of animals across roads. Fencing can also be used to direct animals to safer places to cross or prevent wildlife-vehicle collisions in areas of highest risk. Wildlife Conservation- Steps required: Wildlife Protection and enjoying wildlife should be made part of our ethos. Increasing the level of awareness Running awareness campaigns at the state, district and local level. Awareness among people who are not so educated who are living in remote areas is low because they don't have access to any knowledge systems so we need to have campaigns through which they can learn, understand what is biodiversity, why do we need to protect them and about the importance of biodiversity in maintaining our agricultural ecosystems. Role of civil society in creating awareness especially in remote areas is immense. Catching them young In the school talk about environment and wildlife should be done more seriously. We need to actually take the children to the heart of biodiversity places so as to sensitise them. The school curriculum must include lessons on importance of wildlife and biodiversity and also steps required to conserve them. Amending the WPA,1972: The Wildlife Protection Act which is under Amendment for many years. It must be amended by incorporating provisions of the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites) and enhancing the penalties for offences such as poaching. Protecting the Wildlife Corridors: It vital to protect critical wildlife corridors. Large infrastructure projects that cut across well-known wild animal passages—such as the construction of a new highway, train line or power plant—must be sanctioned after thorough scrutiny. Adopting landscape protection approach: As sixty percent of the country's wildlife exist outside these protected areas, GOI needs to have more of a landscape protection approach rather than just concentrating and focusing on the national parks and the protected areas. CONCLUSION We need to marry the question of biological diversity, its preservation, the protection of wildlife and healthy well being for human beings all together from the level of citizenry. Conservation is not a project, but a long-term commitment and relationship to a landscape. It's not just based on science and laws, but has a strong grounding in society. A lot also depends on how human beings who are not in government react to the issue of wildlife. The quality of wildlife can be improved by not only protecting them but by ensuring that the citizens actually enjoy the wildlife as something that is their heritage   Connecting the dots: How should a country of 1.2 billion people, one-third of the world’s poor, and roughly 7% of the world’s wildlife (including more than 100 varieties of endangered species) manage rapid development without irreparably damaging the delicate environment and ecosystem? Discuss.  

Jun 1, 2017

50+ Students from IASbaba clear UPSC Civil Services Exam 2016

Hello Friends When you a get a rank in UPSC, you feel at the top of the world. It is a feeling that is indescribable. You have to be there, in the shoes of that person, to feel it and cherish the moments that come along. But can you think of the joy and excitement of the teacher whose students came out with flying colours in large numbers? Just imagine the feelings of that GURU! His happiness and satisfaction is much more than the collective joy of all his students combined. His joy isn’t only made of success but also love and care. We are feeling the same today friends! We can’t describe the extent of our delight. To see our students excel and secure high ranks in UPSC is nothing sort of magic to us. We extend our heartiest congratulations and greetings to all those who have made us proud. We are delighted to announce here that more than 50 candidates from IASbaba have secured ranks in CSE, 2016 and the numbers are still counting...! We will come up with the final figure soon. But then, it’s not about numbers today! It’s about satisfaction and elation. We might end up at a figure of 100 but what matters is that our efforts have shown up. We worked hard along with our students, mentored them, counselled them, showed them the right path and today they succeed. It could happen only because of our honesty and he dedication of our students. IASbaba has been a trusted name and our performance adds even more weight and credibility to our reputation. We have been an organic set up and don’t believe in mechanised solutions. We believe in personal touch, our USP. It is the result of our personal guidance and mentoring that ensured continuous evaluation and monitoring of our candidates, resulting in their success. Here, we present the list of all the successful candidates along with few testimonials. Please bear in that the list is partial and provisional. The final list along with more testimonials will follow soon. List of Candidates 1 Saumya Pandey 4 2 Vishwanjali Muralidhar 11 3 Ganga Singh 33 4 Naveen Bhat 37 5 Zaffar Iqbal 39 6 Swaran Prabhat 105 7 Nikhil B 107 8 Bisma Qazi 115 9 Hitika Vasal 121 10 Mani Agarwal 126 11 Nitesh Pandey 141 12 Vishram Kumar Meena 146 13 Priyanka M 149 14 Amogh Gopinath 171 15 Praveen Kumar K J 173 16 Sundeep Kaushal 174 17 Vijay Niranjan 244 18 Arsh verma 251 19 Meghshree D R 289 20 Santosh B M 307 21 Sumit Balecha 368 22 Kaustav Phany 381 23 Nimishmabha 386 24 Kishore 468 25 Nithan Raj 476 26 Manisha Tomar 514 27 Rutvik 542 28 Minhajuddin Nizami 546 29 Nitin Kudain 563 30 Sher Singh Meena 580 31 Srishti Gupta 594 32 Upasana 596 33 Shahabaaz 603 34 Inabat Khalique 604 35 Haris Bin Zaman 646 36 Naveen Soni 660 37 Lakkapa Uddapa 688 38 Pooja Kumari 692 39 Ravi Kumar Meena 694 40 Ezaz Ahmad 697 41 Ashwini Gotyal 698 42 Hanumatha Raju 748 43 Ajay Bidari 768 44 Monisha T M 779 45 Dyamappa Airani 780 46 Kuldeep Singh Gunawat 802 47 Md Mustaque 836 48 Jyoti 872 49 Rena Jamil 882 50 NupurAishwarya 886 51 Pramod Nayak 923 52 Nikhil Srivas 1016 53 Nayana 1036 54 Sangeeta Meena 1040 It was also a proud day for us for a different reason. IASbaba featured on Television. See Yeshwant Gurukar, co-founder, IASbaba talk about IASbaba and its students. Important Message for All Those who couldn’t taste success in this attempt must realise that their achievements are no small. Having secured a position in top 0.75% of the total candidates is no small success. But yes, some more effort is required to break into the much coveted PDF released by UPSC every year and we are sure that you will do it. IASbaba is there to act as your guide, friend and philosopher. Keep a tab on the announcements made by IASbaba regarding various online and offline programmes. We are soon starting our OFFLINE CLASSES for 2017 Mains (After Prelims) and 2018 OFFLINE CLASSES (Integrated, Full Time). We are also going to launch our trademark and much famous Integrated Learning Programme (ILP) for 2018 ONLINE Aspirants. This time, it will be better, bigger and even ore comprehensive. Stay connected and stay tuned for new updates. Again our heartiest congratulations to all the successful candidates. Enjoy. You have earned it! 2015 Results IASbaba IASbaba Team Note: IASbaba is facing issues with Disqus since yesterday, you might not be able to comment. We are working on this.

Jun 1, 2017

Rank 4 , CSE -2016: SAUMYA PANDEY from IASbaba's ILP Program

Dear All, Bingo ! Its raining ranks at IASbaba ! It is the heartiest moment for IASbaba's community that, Saumya Pandey has secured Rank-4 in UPSC CSE 2016. She was one of our ILP-2016 Program-2 Student. We also Congratulate all those who figured on the merit list. For those who did not IASbaba is always with you and we will next time! We are happy to announce that IASBaba has got outstanding results for 2016. We are delighted to announce that IASBaba has got outstanding results for 2016. We will be sharing complete list by End Of Day (EOD). Here we are sharing Saumya Pandey (Rank 4 ) ILP admission credentials. In a time when each and every one wants to claim the successful and disown the failed, IASbaba wants to set the right standard. Her success is even more special to us as she is our Online student. We had a vision that a even candidate sitting in a remote Indian town/ village should be able to clear CSE with our help. Her success is a testimony to our vision and we can't be happier. Integrated learning Program (ILP) is a complete and only comprehensive program online!! We promise that we will make it even better and more comprehensive for 2018. Thank You IASbaba team

Jun 1, 2017

IASbaba's 60 Day Plan- Prelims Test 2017 Economics and Current Affairs [Day 58]

Hello Friends So, here we are with the 58th Day of 60 Days Plan. It is the third edition of 60 Days program but seems like the first one because of the excitement involved everywhere, including us :) We are equally excited and pumped. Our Team is working hard to make you realize your dream. Do not take it insincerely and let us down. Your faith and participation has to be in sync with the amount of hard work and effort we do. Let us pledge to make it a big game changer (better than last year) in the next 60 days! Importance of Self - Tracking: Learning from Last Year Last year, aspirants used to comment their answers in the comment box on daily basis. There were huge participation in discussion. Putting answers in comment box has been very effective to self track yourself after updating the score. In the end you can cross check your performance through disqus profile. It was highly effective in the last edition of 60 Days that propelled aspirants to monitor their performance and learn through discussion. Let you solve these questions with full honesty and write your result in the comment box. Interact with peers to know your mistakes. The importance of this initiative stands time bound and aggressive reverse engineering to learn the concepts. Many of you must be busy with your own strategy but let us tell you honestly that in the last two months, it is very important to revise and consolidate your learning. Just reading won’t suffice. So, take out few hours from your schedule and make it a revision exercise. How you can make the best use of it? Be honest to your effort and do not start competing with XYZ aspirants here just for the sake of marks. It is more important for you to introspect and check your learning than focusing on others. Try to answer the questions in 20 minutes only.  Do not get into negative feeling that I don’t have enough knowledge to answer these questions. Feel like you are taking the real exam. What would be your response then? The same will be replicated in UPSC exam. Here, you get marks only and nothing else matters. So make effort to know the answers of all questions. Do not cheat :P Baba's Gyan for REVISION Many of you, almost all, asks about effective revision strategy! Can there be any? Let us tell you something Baba does :D  You guys study a lot and there is no issue with the hard work that has been put in. But when it comes to input-output comparison, your performance is questionable. What to do? Just do this for a Week: Go to bed before stipulated time of your sleep, at least 1 hour before. Close your eyes and try to relax your mind. You should attain full comfort and calmness. Do this on the First Day: Imagine the full story of a recent movie that you have watched. Try to recollect from starting to end. See, whether you are able to depict the clear picture or not! Now, do the same for everything you learnt from morning specially the ones you struggled with. Since it is fresh, most of the things should flow into your mind smoothly. Check what is your recollecting capacity. For example, if you prepared Polity Day 2: Topics- Try to collect all important concepts and learning of the day. Trust us, this exercise if done with sincerity will give you immense confidence as well as boost your performance. There is no ideal time for revision and there cannot be any specific date put for it, as commonly done. This will always expose your weaknesses the very same day and if you tend to forget something, can always get back to consolidate and cement it. REPEAT IT FOR A WEEK & SEE THE MAGIC :D  Must to Do: Read the detailed article regarding Micro Analysis Matrix and follow the guidelines- Click Here Try to hold your nerves and learn to control the temptation. This is very important art to learn and implement! Are you ready? Let's start [Day 58]: ECONOMICS & CURRENT AFFAIRS  ARCHIVES Q.1) Which of the following is/are non-tariff barriers? Quota Phyto-sanitory measures Embargoes Select the correct answer using the codes given below: 1 only 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3  Q.2) Reserve Money includes which of the following? Currency in circulation Bank deposits with the RBI Deposits in commercial banks. ‘Other’ deposits with the RBI. Select the correct answer using the code given below: 1, 2 and 3 only 1, 2 and 4 only 2, 3 and 4 only 1, 2, 3 and 4 Q.3) Which of the following is correctly matched? Sector Regulator 1.      Capital Market Reserve bank of India 2.      Government Securities Market Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) 3.      Commodity Market Forward Market commission (FMC) Select the appropriate using the code given below 1 only 3 only 1,2 and 3 None of these Q.4) Consider the following statements: Nominal Effective Exchange Rate (NEER) is the weighted average of nominal exchange rates, adjusted for inflation. Real Effective Exchange Rate (REER) is the unadjusted weighted average rate at which one country's currency exchanges for a basket of multiple foreign currencies. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.5) Which of the following come under fiscal consolidation? Increasing Debt to GDP ratio Decreasing fiscal deficit Consolidating revenue deficit Increasing public expenditure in creating capital assets to stimulate growth Select the correct answer using the codes given below: 1, 2 and 3 only 1, 2, 3 and 4 2 and 3 only 2, 3 and 4 only Q.6) The difference between the market prices and factor cost is equal to – Indirect taxes paid Indirect tax paid minus subsidies received Subsidies received Indirect taxes paid plus subsidies received Q.7) Arrange the following sectors in the decreasing order of total electricity consumption in India: Industrial sector Domestic sector Commercial sector Agriculture sector Choose the correct option: 1-2-3-4 4-3-2-1 1-2-4-3 3-4-1-2 Q.8) With reference to Enforcement Directorate, consider the following statements: It looks after investigation cases related to Foreign Exchange Management Act, FEMA and Prevention of Money Laundering Act, PMLA ED cannot arrest the offenders in relation to PMLA offence It falls under Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 only 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Q.9) Which of the following industry must be located near the market? Brewing industry Sugar industry Cotton industries Choose the correct option 1 only 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Q.10) Non Banking Financial Company - Micro Finance Institutions (NBFC-MFIs) can serve which of following purposes in India? Education loans Loan for Income generation activities Savings account for the poor Choose the correct answer using the codes below: 3 only 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Q.11) India’s GDT Act contains an ‘Anti – Profiteering’ clause. Which country was the first to incorporate this clause into its GST Act? France Canada Australia China Q.12) In management parlance, the ‘Clive effect’ refers to Shareholder democracy Profitability Executive remuneration Dominating leadership Q.13) Which of the following statement are correct regarding switch over/transfer of Employee provident fund (EPF) to National Pension Scheme (NPS)? Only central and State Government employees are eligible for this. Those who switch over can also reverse this switch once. The switch to NPS will not attract any income tax. Those who switch back to EPF will be treated as new EPF subscribers. Select the code from below: 1,2 and 3 2,3 and 4 1,3 and 4 All of the above  Q.14) Which of the following countries instituted the World’s first central Bank? England USA Sweden Germany  Q.15) Which of the following currency pairs are colloquially called ‘Cable’? Euro – British Pound Dollar – British Pound Dollar – Euro Dollar – Yen Q.16) PM unveiled translated volumes of Vachana, penned by 12th century social reformer Basavanna and other saints in 23 Indian languages. Consider the following statements in this regard: Anubhava mantapa started by Basavanna is considered as “first parliament concept of the world” Basavanna was the first to use vachana form of literature The philosophy propounded by Basavanna is called Shakti Vishishtadvaita Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only 1 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Q.17) IRB InvIT became India’s first infrastructure investment trust (InvIT) fund to offer IPO. Consider the following statements regarding InvITs: They are similar to mutual funds allowing investors to invest in infrastructure projects like road and power. They are restricted to under-construction infrastructure projects. It ensures fixed compensation to investors despite project delays. Which of the above statement[s] is/are correct? 1 only 1 and 2 only 1 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Q.18) Consider the following statements on new series of IIP Base year has been moved from 2004-05 to 2011-12 2011-12 now serves as the common base year for GDP, IIP, CPI and WPI Choose the correct statement[s] 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.19) Which one among the following statements about the SAMPADA scheme is correct? It is launched by ministry of culture to preserve ancient literary pieces and manuscripts It is a scheme of Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation to improve access to drinking water in drought hit areas It is a scheme of Ministry of agriculture to boost farm income It is a scheme of Ministry of Food processing to modernise agriculture, processing and decrease agri-waste Q.20) e-VIN (Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network) of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is being considered the global best practice in immunisation. Consider the following statements: It is an indigenously developed technology system in India that digitizes vaccine stocks and monitors the temperature of the cold chain through a smartphone application. It supports Universal Immunisation Programme The technological innovation is implemented by World Health Organisation Choose the correct statement[s] 1 and 2 only 1 and 3 only 1 only 1, 2 and 3 Download The Solution - Click here

May 31, 2017 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs 31st May, 2017

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 31st May 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. General Studies 3 Economics of animal‐rearing Prevention of Cruelty of Animals Introduction The government has been showing special interest in protecting breeds of cattle. The recent rules are notified only with respect to cows and this has risen concerns. There should a holistic and ground level policy made with specific interests to all sectors. Issue: The Centre’s move to notify new rules to regulate livestock markets under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 (PCA) is either extremely poorly thought out or much too clever for its own good. In a way, both. On the surface, the notification, which spans eight pages, reads like a general document on the regulation of the sale of all kinds of livestock bought and sold in animal markets, with some welcome prohibitions on the cruelty inflicted in the transport and treatment of animals. But parse the rules, and it is evident that cattle — a category that includes cows, buffaloes, bulls and camels — come under a slew of special restrictions which, when effected, could have an extremely serious impact on the meat and livestock industry, not to mention the livelihoods and dietary choices of millions of people. Surprisingly, only the purchase or sale of cattle for slaughter in animal markets has been prohibited. This raises suspicions that the Centre has attempted to conceal, or at least soften perceptions about, an extremely controversial provision, in the guise of passing a seemingly inoffensive, even enlightened, body of rules relating to animal cruelty. The rules framed for the sale of cattle are so cumbersome — for instance, buyers must verify they are agriculturists, and sellers must furnish photo identity proof and written declarations stating that the cattle are not brought to the animal market for slaughter — that one wonders whether the objective is to surreptitiously throttle the entire cattle trade in an elaborate ream of red tape. Is the ban on the sale of cattle for slaughter in animal markets intended to act indirectly as an absolute ban? Is the notification, stripped of its generalities and niceties, really about the BJP government’s pet concern, cows? Livestock and animal husbandry Such questions are bound to be raised given the way the rules were notified. If the main subject of the notification was the regulation of livestock markets, why was it issued by the Ministry of Environment and not the Animal Husbandry Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, which deals directly with this issue? Moreover, on what ground can the slaughter of any animal for food be prevented under the PCA, when it explicitly recognises that animals may constitute “food for mankind”? What the Act prohibits is only the “infliction of unnecessary pain and suffering” when animals are consumed as food. Such legal infirmities are bound to be challenged in court, but meanwhile the economic costs of this decision will merit a close watch. If estimates that 90% of slaughtered buffaloes are bought and sold in animal markets are correct, then the trade will be crippled. The Centre must address the concerns of the trade as well as of those who suspect the notification is a part of a Machiavellian plot to influence and curb food choices. While there is a case to retain most of the rules prohibiting the cruel treatment of animals, the ban on the sale of cattle for slaughter in animal markets must go. Impact: The ban will hurt the farmer, cattle trade, meat exports and the leather industry. The cattle population in India is estimated to be around 190 million, and going by the practice of not keeping animals beyond eight or nine years of age, it accounts for about 22-23 million deaths every year. The new rules effectively limit access to buyers, particularly for small stock-keepers, who will no longer be able to sell their non-productive animals at cattle markets. A dairy farmer is now expected to feed an animal that is no longer productive, which will hurt his primary income. A large percentage of a dairy farmer’s income also comes from sale of unproductive animals. The directive will disrupt his production cycle, as farmers sell and procure cattle largely from local livestock traders or cattle markets. Conclusion: Government policies towards any sector should be well thought out and the impact on other sectors should be studied in detail. Hence the present legislation is not complete and transformative. There is need to address concerns at the earliest. Connecting the dots: Critically discuss the impact of new rules w.r.t. prevention of cruelty of animals act. Elaborate the impact on society in general.   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 Plug Aadhaar loopholes with comprehensive privacy law on personal data protection Aadhaar: Why in news again? A report released by The Centre for Internet and Society had revealed that over 135 million records from India's Aadhaar national ID systems had already leaked online. The leaks didn't take place because of a flaw in the national Aadhaar system, but through government agencies that handle Aadhar data. There is strong debate about – Whether the implementation and execution of the Aadhaar Act is error-free? Are government and extra-governmental agencies sticking to the various protective provisions of the Act? What steps are required to plug loopholes of present Aadhaar system? Background: The Aadhaar national database is one of the richest government-operated databases across the globe, holding more than just our basic identity details. Set up in 2008, the Aadhaar system assigns each Indian a 12-digit ID in the form of XXXX-XXXX-XXXX, and records information such as home addresses, information on all bank accounts, mobile phone numbers, and all the biometrics details you can imagine, ranging from eye color to fingerprints, and from height to iris scans. When it was first launched, the program was advertised as a database of Indian citizens' details which the government could use to pay subsidies and other benefits. Each user could register and assign a bank account to his Aadhaar ID, where to receive social benefits. Eight years after the program's inception, the Indian government has pushed the adoption of the Aadhaar system in almost every facet of day-to-day life. How insecure is Aadhaar data- A case study: Aadhaar can be one of the single-most transformative reform measure taken by the Indian government or it can be the very embodiment (or expression) of an ultra-intrusive state, spying on every action of its citizens. The future reality could simultaneously be both, either or neither. Empowering individuals: By providing millions of disenfranchised and invisible Indians with an identity, Aadhaar may be tremendously empowering. (OR) Empowering the state at the cost of the citizen: If not implemented carefully, it has the potential to alienate, empowering the state at the cost of the citizen. The Kerala Sevana Pension website displayed the following information about pensioners: name, pension ID, bank, branch, account number, Indian financial system code (IFSC) number, and Aadhaar number. The display of Aadhaar number is a clear violation of the Aadhaar Act. However, a greater cause of concern is the disclosure of the pension database itself. This is a common feature in all the recent “leaks” that have been alleged—personal information unrelated to Aadhaar has been disclosed by user agencies. Protection of information under the Aadhaar Act,2016: The Aadhaar Act, 2016 contains an entire chapter dedicated to protection of information, becoming the first modern-day statute in India to explicitly do so. It obliges both the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) as well as the range of agencies which collect Aadhaar data to keep data secure. It incorporates standard fair information practices of collection limitation, purpose specification, use limitation, access and correction, recognized by the A.P. Shah Committee and widely accepted as the bedrock of data protection in the world. However, despite these facets, the Aadhaar Act has failed to protect the information and secure privacy. For Aadhaar to succeed, India needs a separate, comprehensive privacy law on personal data protection. A law on personal data protection is required: India, being the host and the biggest platform of data outsourcing needs an effective and well formulated mechanism for dealing with cyber crimes, data stealing etc. Data Protection laws may be defined as the laws which are enacted for safeguarding and protecting the data present on the internet. Presently, the IT Act, 2000 and rules there under cover the existing framework on privacy and data protection in India. Sections 43A, 69 and 72A of the IT Act embody the law on data protection. In 2014, a bill named, The Personal Data Protection Bill, 2014 was introduced in Parliament which had a limited focus. With every innovation in technology, an innovation in the art of misuse and fraud, also takes place. India, unlike countries such as the UK, Australia and other European countries, does not have a dedicated Data Protection Law. A robust machinery for enforcement of technology-agnostic data protection norms must be established in the country. The Aadhaar Act or UIDAI should be supposed to protect all data strictly unrelated to Aadhaar itself cannot be the case. It does not comes into the mandate of UIDAI, as it is no data protection agency. It is into this breach that the law on personal data protection needs to step in. Compelling interest to have such law exists in India today. With over a billion Aadhaar numbers issued and demonetisation catapulting India into the digital economy, vast amounts of demographic data will be generated and used. A data protection law is also in the interest of national sovereignty. With approximately 450 million people online today, India presents a combination of a large number of Internet users coupled with low digital literacy. The absence of a data protection regime means that several private companies collect and use personal data in a manner quite unknown to the individual. An example: logging into the “My Activity” section in the Google suite of products recently, one can access a full profile of where he/she was a year to the day—the restaurant visited, the hotel stayed in and the distance driven. All this has been stored technically with ones consent—so Google isn’t violating the law—but the protection of the data is now the benefaction of Google’s privacy policy. Conclusion: A new legislation dealing specifically with the protection of data and information present on the web is the dire need of the day. As an emerging global power that has aspirations to be at the vanguard of the information technology age that we live in, India needs to set the rules of the game. If set right, the fruits of the digital economy, including the benefits of Aadhaar and big data, will work for the citizen. If the Aadhaar project is to achieve its core objective of uniquely identifying every Indian resident we need to have a robust mechanism for data protection in place. Connecting the dots: Discuss the need to have a comprehensive Data Protection Law in India. Also Read: Time to formulate a law for data protection http://iasbaba.com/2017/02/iasbabas-daily-current-affairs-9th-february-2017/ MUST READ Beyond the language conflict Hindu The flow of funds in India Hindu   Marks and standards Hindu Shocking cover-up Hindu Illegal and senseless The Indian Express Cities at crossroads: Don't just light the fire The Indian Express The sting of Zika The Indian Express   Why nuclear power still makes sense for India Livemint Three years of Narendra Modi's foreign policy Livemint Don't choke the hospitality sector Business Line Iran stands taller today than ever Business Line  

May 31, 2017 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs 30th May, 2017

IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs – 30th May 2017 Archives NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 1 Effects of globalization on Indian society, Social empowerment Urbanization, their problems and their remedies. General Studies 2 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. General Studies 3 Disaster and disaster management Urbanisation and disaster management Introduction As an emerging economy and continuous influx of people into urban areas in search of jobs and livelihoods has increased pressure on resources. Especially with unabated construction there is threat of increasing disasters with damage. Issue: It is not unusual to see people settle down in the shade of a tree-filled traffic island for some respite in the company of a tweeting bird, a resting dog or a nestling cat. Little ecosystems, the heartbeat of a thriving city are surviving today. Unabated deforestation: The green healers of the city face the axe everyday to make way for Metro trains, housing, industry and so on. It is the classic stand-off between citizens, and so-called development planned ostensibly in the name of citizens. But the disturbing urgency with which the trees are being felled have many residents questioning if there isn’t a better way to improve connectivity in the city without damaging its very lungs. There are enough examples in the country that have shown us up for our shortsightedness in urban planning. Floods in Mumbai and Chennai throwing life and work out of gear. Delhi saw schools shut down because of smog. It may seem like a playback of something we learnt in junior school, but trees and mangroves hold onto soil, clean up the air we breathe, and recent studies are only increasing the list of public health roles that trees play in our lives, on our physical and mental well-being. An unsustainable approach to infrastructure projects (cutting trees, encroaching riverbeds and wetlands, filling water bodies) has resulted in climate change which today threatens our cities with floods, malaria, heat exposure, air pollution, etc. Progressive governments around the world know they need to address climate change by doing things differently, sustainably. And that’s the reason why the green agenda needs to feature prominently on our ‘development’ map too. Conclusion: The need is inclusive infrastructure in cities and thus establish a regime of sustainable living. Habitats have to embrace sustainable standards of livings and thus governments have to be responsible in the same direction. Connecting the dots: Critically discuss the impact of ecological imbalance by deforestation and unsustainable urbanisation.   INTERNATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2 Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests. Taking India Israel relationship to the next level Overview: The year 2017 marks the 25th year of diplomatic relations between India and Israel. PM Narendra Modi, who is likely to visit Israel in July, will be the first Indian PM to visit the country. This year also marks important anniversaries for Israel: the Balfour Declaration of 1917, the first official British declaration recognizing the need for a Jewish state; 1947 when the United Nations passed a resolution in support of a Jewish state, a year before its creation; and 1967, which saw the Six-Day War resulting in an overwhelming Israeli victory over Arab aggressors, establishing Israel’s control over all of Jerusalem, West Bank, Gaza, Golan, and Sinai. Holistic nature of the relationship India and Israel established full diplomatic relations in 1992 and since then the bilateral relationship between the two countries has blossomed at the economic, military, agricultural and political levels. Both countries see themselves as isolated democracies threatened by neighbors that train, finance and encourage terrorism, therefore both countries also view their cooperative relationship as a strategic imperative. Strategic and defence cooperation has understandably dominated the conversation between both countries, since they face similar threats, in the past two decades. Yet, this relationship is no longer restricted to the strategic sphere. Both countries are developing increasingly close linkages in areas like agriculture, and there is immense potential in other areas like Information Technology. There is a strong Indian diaspora in Israel (the total number of Jews of Indian origin is estimated at 45,000). A significant number migrated post Independence from states including Maharashtra, Mizoram and Kerala. Jewish heritage in India and educational linkages between both countries are likely to play a pivotal role in this relationship. Link: http://iasbaba.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/India-Israel-relationship-min.jpg Security linkages between Israel and India There is not an iota of doubt that security ties play a key role in the bilateral relationship. Israel is the third largest supplier of arms to India, having bagged orders worth $1 billion for India in the past three years. On April 6, 2017, both sides signed an agreement. The state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries will provide the Indian military with an advanced air defence system (including medium-range surface-to-air missiles). Two other deals are likely to be finalised over the next two months - spike anti-tank missiles for India’s Army and Barak-8 air defence missiles for the Indian navy. Agriculture: The Key Driver It is in the sphere of agriculture, which is likely to be high on the agenda during Modi’s Israel visit in July, that states have been playing an important role in India-Israel ties. Israel has already set up a number of centers of excellence in different states after signing an agreement with India in 2006 for the Indo-Israel Agricultural Project. The project is a joint endeavor of MIDH (India’s Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture) and MASHAV, Israel’s agency for international development cooperation, which is under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Many states of India have shown great interest in Israeli technology in agriculture and managing scarce water resources. The R&D in these areas has been one of important elements in the bilateral relations. Cooperation between states is not just restricted to agriculture. Israel is interested in participating in India’s Make in India Program and has also expressed a keen interest to invest in India’s IT sector. New areas of cooperation for mutual benefit Education, particularly higher education in technology and advanced science. New and pioneering forms of renewable energy Collaboration in sports technology Areas of pharmaceuticals and life sciences Tourism industry Apart from science & technology, defence and trade, there is literature and culture where two countries share profound relations. Conclusion: Over the past 60 years, India’s Israel policy has been rooted in pragmatism.  Although India initially opposed the creation of Israel, strategic cooperation caused Indo-Israeli relations to warm from the 1960s onward without alienating the Arab World.  Today India maintains close relationships with both Israel and Arab nations.  Due to its close ties with both parties, India has the potential to play a major role in the peace process between Palestinians and Israelis.  India is in a position to serve as an honest, unbiased broker, a role that the United States has struggled to fill. The India-Israel relationship provides a valuable lesson in international politics, especially for states whose ideological alliances prevent them from forging solely pragmatic ties.  India has shown that the evenhanded pursuit of diplomatic, military, and economic interests is the way to garner diplomatic credibility and popular good will without damaging other strategic relationships. Also refer: http://iasbaba.com/2017/01/india-radio-india-israel-bilateral-relations/ Connecting the dots: India and Israel have come a long way in establishing themselves as important partners in world. Critically evaluate the bilateral relation between two countries. Do you agree with the view that Israel is a “natural ally” of India? Agriculture and Defence are the two pillars which determined the relationship of India with Israel. Comment. India needs to develop a strategic relationship with Israel? Analyse the statement with reference to cross border terrorism in India. MUST READ Marks and standards: the need for a better evaluation system Hindu Beyond the language conflict: the need for a clear language policy Hindu Raja Mandala: European liaisons Indian Express Renewing The Community Indian Express Ban-wagon effect Indian Express What India can learn from Israel Livemint   The Aadhaar legal framework is broken Livemint Animal farm Business Line India is China’s final market frontier Business Line   Time we taught farming in schools Business Line  

May 31, 2017

IASbaba's 60 Day Plan- Prelims Test 2017 Economics and Current Affairs [Day 57]

Hello Friends So, here we are with the 57th Day of 60 Days Plan. It is the third edition of 60 Days program but seems like the first one because of the excitement involved everywhere, including us :) We are equally excited and pumped. Our Team is working hard to make you realize your dream. Do not take it insincerely and let us down. Your faith and participation has to be in sync with the amount of hard work and effort we do. Let us pledge to make it a big game changer (better than last year) in the next 60 days! Importance of Self - Tracking: Learning from Last Year Last year, aspirants used to comment their answers in the comment box on daily basis. There were huge participation in discussion. Putting answers in comment box has been very effective to self track yourself after updating the score. In the end you can cross check your performance through disqus profile. It was highly effective in the last edition of 60 Days that propelled aspirants to monitor their performance and learn through discussion. Let you solve these questions with full honesty and write your result in the comment box. Interact with peers to know your mistakes. The importance of this initiative stands time bound and aggressive reverse engineering to learn the concepts. Many of you must be busy with your own strategy but let us tell you honestly that in the last two months, it is very important to revise and consolidate your learning. Just reading won’t suffice. So, take out few hours from your schedule and make it a revision exercise. How you can make the best use of it? Be honest to your effort and do not start competing with XYZ aspirants here just for the sake of marks. It is more important for you to introspect and check your learning than focusing on others. Try to answer the questions in 20 minutes only.  Do not get into negative feeling that I don’t have enough knowledge to answer these questions. Feel like you are taking the real exam. What would be your response then? The same will be replicated in UPSC exam. Here, you get marks only and nothing else matters. So make effort to know the answers of all questions. Do not cheat :P Baba's Gyan for REVISION Many of you, almost all, asks about effective revision strategy! Can there be any? Let us tell you something Baba does :D  You guys study a lot and there is no issue with the hard work that has been put in. But when it comes to input-output comparison, your performance is questionable. What to do? Just do this for a Week: Go to bed before stipulated time of your sleep, at least 1 hour before. Close your eyes and try to relax your mind. You should attain full comfort and calmness. Do this on the First Day: Imagine the full story of a recent movie that you have watched. Try to recollect from starting to end. See, whether you are able to depict the clear picture or not! Now, do the same for everything you learnt from morning specially the ones you struggled with. Since it is fresh, most of the things should flow into your mind smoothly. Check what is your recollecting capacity. For example, if you prepared Polity Day 2: Topics- Try to collect all important concepts and learning of the day. Trust us, this exercise if done with sincerity will give you immense confidence as well as boost your performance. There is no ideal time for revision and there cannot be any specific date put for it, as commonly done. This will always expose your weaknesses the very same day and if you tend to forget something, can always get back to consolidate and cement it. REPEAT IT FOR A WEEK & SEE THE MAGIC :D  Must to Do: Read the detailed article regarding Micro Analysis Matrix and follow the guidelines- Click Here Try to hold your nerves and learn to control the temptation. This is very important art to learn and implement! Are you ready? Let's start [Day 57]: ECONOMICS & CURRENT AFFAIRS  ARCHIVES Q.1) Which among the following statements regarding Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) are correct? It is an arm of the IMF. It is an arm of the World Bank Group. It encourages foreign investment in public sector only. It provides insurance to foreign private investors against the loss caused by political risks. Select the correct answer using the codes given below: 1 and 3 only 2 and 4 only 1, 3 and 4 only 2, 3 and 4 only Q.2) Which among the following is/are matched correctly? World Development Report -           World Bank Global Financial Stability Report -           IMF World Investment Report -           UNCTAD Global Competitiveness Report -           World Economic Forum Select the correct answer using the codes given below: 1 and 3 only 1, 2 and 4 only 2 and 4 only 1, 2, 3 and 4 Q.3) Which of the following countries is/are NOT a part of RCEP? India Russia China Japan Select the appropriate option using the code below 2 only 1 and 4 only 2 and 3 only 2 and 4 only Q.4) A member's quota in IMF determines that country’s financial and organizational relationship with the IMF. Consider the following related to Quota system in IMF. Member’s quota subscription determines the maximum amount of financial resources the IMF is obliged to provide to the member. It determines member's voting power in IMF decisions. A member cannot access more finance than its allotted quotas. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct? 1 and 2 only 2 only 2 and 3 only All of them are correct. Q.5) Consider the following statements related to New Development Bank? It was established during the sixth BRICS Summit in Fortaleza (2014). Its Headquarter is in Beijing, China. At present, China has highest voting rights among all the members. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct? 1 only 1 and 3 only 2 and 3 only 1,2 and 3 only Q.6) Consider the following about Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) mechanism: ISDS is a mechanism to settle investor disputes which relies on arbitration rather than public courts. The system allows governments to drag companies to international arbitration without exhausting the local remedies. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.7) Consider the following statements: Protectionism refers to government actions and policies that restrict or restrain international trade, often done with the intent of protecting local businesses and jobs from foreign competition. Import substitution industrialization (ISI) is a theory of economics typically utilized by developing countries or emerging market nations seeking to decrease dependence on developed countries and to increase self-sufficiency. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.8) SARTTAC (South Asia Training and Technical Assistance Centre) is a collaborative venture between the member countries and which among the following organisation? World Bank (WB) International Monetary Fund (IMF) World Trade Organization (WTO) United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Q.9) Consider the following definitions related to different trade agreements: PTAs are arrangements between two or more countries that primarily agree to reduce or eliminate customs tariff and non tariff barriers on substantial trade between them. Custom union is the arrangement in which partner countries may decide to trade at zero duty among themselves; however they maintain common tariffs against rest of the world. Economic Union is a common market extended through harmonization of fiscal/monetary policies and shared executive, judicial & legislative institutions. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 only 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Q.10) With reference to Multidimensional Poverty Index, consider the following statements: MPI was developed by World Bank in collaboration with OECD. The MPI can help in the effective allocation of resources and implement some SDGs strategically. It complements monetary measures of poverty by considering deprivations in access to water, sanitation, and electricity. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 only 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Q.11) Agreement on Agriculture have identified different subsidies on the basis of colour. Which of the following statements are correct about these subsidies? All domestic support measures considered to distort production and trade (with some exceptions) fall into the Amber Box. Developed Countries are not at all allowed to provide such subsidies to their farmers. Select the code from following: 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.12) The China led Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has approved first set of loans. Which of the following countries have received loans from AIIB? Indonesia Tajikistan Pakistan Bangladesh Select the code from below: 1 and 2 1,2 and 4 2,3 and 4 All of the above Q.13) Consider the following statements regarding Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement: It sets out the basic rules for food safety and animal and plant health standards. It is a multilateral agreement which comes under World Health Organisation (WHO). Which of the above statements are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.14) Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) is a trade agreement between Pacific rim countries. Which of the following statements are correct about this? The TPP contains measures to lower both non-tariff and tariff barriers to trade. USA is the first country to ratify TPP. Select the code from following: 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.15) Which of the following statements are correct about The Copyright (Amendment) Act 2012? Lyricists and singers will be given royalty if their creation is reused rather than a one time compensation by music director. Effective protective framework for physically challenged or disabled persons by exempting works prepared for the good of the physically challenged in special formats such as Braille, from copyright Students are exempted to use the artistic, literary or dramatic or cinematographic works for research purposes under expanded concept of “Fair Use”. Select the code from below: 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 All of the above Q.16) Consider the following statements regarding Sri Ramanuja Acharya He was a Hindu theologian, philosopher, and one of the most important exponents of the Shaivism tradition within Hinduism His philosophical foundation was qualified monism and is called Vishishtadvaita in the Hindu tradition A postage stamp was recently released to celebrate his 1000 birth anniversary Which of the given statements is/are correct? 1 and 3 2 and 3 1 and 3 1, 2 and 3 Q.17) What is the name of the tropical cyclone that made landfall in Bangladesh recently? Cyclone Mora Cyclone Phaline Cyclone Tora Cyclone Humsa Q.18) Consider the following about International Day of UN Peacekeepers The theme for the 2017 International Day of UN Peacekeepers is "Investing in Peace Around the World". It is celebrated on 30th of May The day is marked at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City with the presentation of the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal Which of the given statements is/are correct? 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 1, 2 and 3 Q.19) There are over 500 tribes (with many overlapping communities in more than one State) as notified under article 342 of the Constitution of India, spread over different States and Union Territories of the country, the largest number of tribal communities being in the State of Maharashtra Madhya Pradesh Orrisa Chhattisgarh Q.20) Consider the following statements regarding the removal of Supreme Court Judge A judge of the Supreme Court can be removed from his office by an order of the President on a resolution by Parliament Ground for removal of judges is ‘violation of constitution’ Judges of Supreme Court can be impeached Which of the given statements is/are incorrect? 1 and 2 2 and 3 1 and 3 1, 2 and 3 Download The Solution - Click here

May 31, 2017 PIB

IASbaba Press Information Bureau (PIB)- 30th April to 6th May, 2017

IASbaba Press Information Bureau (PIB) – 30th Apr to 6th May 2017 ARCHIVES GS-1 Basav Jayanthi (Topic: Art and Culture) About: Basavanna, 12th-century poet-philosopher, and the founding saint of the Lingayat religion. Basava took birth on third day of Vaisakha month of the Anandanama (Samvatsara) year in Rohini (Nakshatra) star. [year 1134 A.D.]. Since a new era began with the birth of the great prophet Basavanna, the people have adored that year as ‘Basava Era’. Significance Vishwaguru Basavanna was a great revolutionary who established spiritual democracy called “Anubhava Mantapa” in the 12th century in India (Anubhava Mantapa – which is also called as the “FIRST PARLIAMENT CONCEPT OF THE WORLD“. Basava-Tatva is never ending inspiration to achieve the welfare of mankind. His teachings are time tested, scientific and proven. In news: PM unveiled translated volumes of Vachana, penned by 12th century social reformer Basavanna and other saints in 23 Indian languages. Vachana is a prosaic form well known in the Kannada literature which propagates values of universal brotherhood. This style of writing was used by Basavanna for spreading social awareness and brings equality in the society in the 12th century. Lingayat Lingayatism is a distinct Shaivite religious tradition in India. The adherents of this faith are known as Lingayats. It emphasized on qualified monism and bhakti (loving devotion) to Shiva, with philosophical foundations similar to those of the 11th–12th-century South Indian philosopher Ramanuja. The terms Lingayatism and Veerashaivism have been used synonymously, and Lingayats also referred to as Veerashaivas. Lingayatism shares beliefs with Indian religions, such as about reincarnation, samsara and karma. Lingayatism was founded by the 12th-century philosopher and statesman Basava and spread by his followers, called Sharanas GS-2 Health Ministry launches ‘Test and Treat Policy for HIV’ (Topic: Issues related to health) About: In this initiative, as soon as as a person is tested and found to be positive, he will be provided with ART irrespective of his CD count or clinical stage. This will be for all men, women, adolescents and children who have been diagnosed as a HIV + case. Out of 21 lakh estimated with HIV, we know only 14 lakh. To detect remaining, Health ministry has revised national HIV testing guidelines and are aiming to reach out to people in community and test them where they are, with proper counselling and consent. Health ministry has adopted the 90:90:90 strategy that will help to identify 90% of those infected, place 90% of these on treatment and ensure 90% have their virus under control. This strategy will offer an opportunity to work towards the commitment during HLM and WHA on “ending AIDS by 2030” as a part of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG). Real Estate Act comes into force from 1st May 2017 (Topic: Govt Acts and Policies) About: With Real Estate (Regulation & Development) Act,2016 coming into force, it involves regulation of real estate sector involving over 76,000 companies across the county. From now, developers shall get all the ongoing projects that have not received Completion Certificate and the new projects registered with Regulatory Authorities within three months i.e by July end. This enables the buyers to enforce their rights and seek redressal of grievances after such registration. The Act ushers in the much desired accountability, transparency and efficiency in the sector with the Act defining the rights and obligations of both the buyers and developers. Some of the major provisions of the Act, besides mandatory registration of projects and Real Estate Agents include: Depositing 70% of the funds collected from buyers in a separate bank account in case of new projects and 70% of unused funds in case of ongoing projects; Projects with plot size of minimum 500 sq.mt or 8 apartments shall be registered with Regulatory Authorities; Both developers and buyers to pay the same penal interest of SBI’s Marginal Cost of Lending Rate plus 2% in case of delays; Liability of developers for structural defects for five years; and Imprisonment of up to three years for developers and up to one year in case of agents and buyers for violation of orders of Appellate Tribunals and Regulatory Authorities. Stats: As per industry information, between 2011 and 2015, real estate projects in the range of 2,349 to 4,488 projects were launched every year amounting to a total of 17,526 projects with a total investment of Rs.13.70 lakh cr in 27 cities including 15 State capitals. About ten lakh buyers invest every year with the dream of owning a house. Launch of “One IP- Two Dispensaries” and “Aadhaar Based Online Claim Submission” Schemes on International Labour Day (Topic: Issues related to health) About: One IP- Two Dispensaries– ESIC has given an option to an Insured Person (IP) to choose two dispensaries, one for self and another for family through an employer. This will benefit all IPs, especially migrant workers who are working in other than home State, while their families are living in their native States. Because of non-availability of option of second dispensary, the dependant members of family are often deprived of medical benefits. Aadhaar based Online Claim Submission- all EPF Members who have activated their UAN and seeded their KYC (Aadhaar) with EPFO will be able to apply for PF final settlement (form19), Pension withdrawal benefit (Form10-C) and PF part withdrawal (Form31) from the their UAN Interface directly. The three forms collectively form more than 80% of EPFO’s claim workload. VIDYA VEERTA ABHIYAN (Topic: HRD) About: Ministry of Human Resource Development to encourage varsities to display portraits of Param Veer Chakra-decorated soldiers to instill sense of “nationalism” and “patriotism” among the students. MHA advisory to States/UTs on Prison Reforms (Topic: Govt Acts and Policies) About: The 5th National Conference of Head of Prisons of States and UTs on Prison Reforms was held in September 2016. Some important resolutions were adopted for guidance and implementation by the State/UT Prison authorities The nomenclature of ‘Prisons Department’ may be changed to “Prisons and Correctional Administration”, which should have integrated prison, correctional and probation services. Every State should establish a Welfare Wing under Prison Department comprising Welfare Officers, Law Officers, Counselors and Probation Officers. To ensure basic uniformity, all States and Union Territories should revise their existing Prison Manuals by adopting the provisions of Model Prison Manual, 2016 The Prisons should be linked with Courts through video conferencing for expeditious trial and to save costs in escorting under-trials to the Courts. The existing vacancies in all ranks of Prison Departments to be filled up expeditiously. Prison e-system should be integrated with Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS) as well as e-Courts on priority basis. Combined training of Prison, Police, Health Department and Judiciary on under-trial Management to be conducted periodically. The States and UTs have been advised to make concerted efforts to implement the same in a time bound manner, which will go a long way in alleviating the condition of prison inmates and bring the desired improvement in prison administration. GS-3 National Standards Conclave (Topic: Economy) Objective: To bring awareness and prepare Industries, Central Government Ministries, State Governments, regulatory/standards setting and conformity assessment bodies on the growing importance of “Standards” in the changing scenario of global trade. Organised by: Department of Commerce in collaboration with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB) About The Standards Conclave is being held in the backdrop of diminishing importance of tariffs and rising influence of standards and regulation both in goods and services trade The Conclave would also aim at preparing an Indian National Strategy for Standardization (INSS) document to enable the development of a harmonized, dynamic, and mature standards ecosystem in India. India and Marshall Islands (Topic: International Relations) About: India’s dialogue with Pacific Island Countries (PIC) under the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) through the FIPIC-I Summit held in Suva in November 2014 and FIPIC-II Summit held in Jaipur in August 2015 has given India and Marshal island to  work together to address issues and challenges currently being faced by Pacific Island  Countries. India has initiated in creating a Centre for Excellence in Information Technology and solar electrification of two hundred houses through the efforts of “Solar Mamas”. Solar Mamas: It is a group of women who were trained in batches over the years in India’s Tilonia township of Rajasthan in fixing and maintaining solar lamps, bulbs and panels. They then returned to their villages where they have since been working as solar engineers—helping their communities harness the power of solar energy to light up their homes and villages. Nuclear disarmament issue– it complained in ICJ against India and other eight countries for not complying with international legal provisions on disarmament of nuclear weapons. As of 2016, 191 nation states became signatory to the treaty. India along with Israel, Pakistan, South Sudan and North Korea refused to sign. On the basis of India’s refusal to disarm, the island nation decided to take up the matter to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in Hague, Netherlands. India countered that the claim is beyond the jurisdiction of the court. Even though India is not party to the disarmament treaty, the country is bound to keep checks on nuclear activities under customary international law. Department of Telecom (DoT) Launches Tarang Sanchar (Topic: S&T) About: It is a web portal for Information sharing on Mobile Towers and EMF Emission Compliances. It will help in clearing the myths and misconceptions of public on mobile towers and emissions from them. There are over 25,000 studies by WHO in the last 30 years on the subject and there is no proof that EMF radiation has any harmful effect on human health. In future, it will help in identifying the blind spots and it is also environment friendly as no paper work is required for this. For realising the vision of Digital India, it is necessary to have more and more mobile towers in every nook and corner of the country as mobile phone today has become an essential requirement for all including the poor in the remotest corner of the country The portal will allow users to get a tower or base station checked for radiation emission, for a fee of Rs 4,000. The portal also has ‘EMF Overview’ and ‘Learn’ Sections, which provide numerous articles, booklets and videos, to further educate the citizens about EMF and coverage of telecom services. In addition to Government to Citizen (G2C) services, portal also facilitates Government to Business (G2B) service delivery in a transparent and eco-friendly manner. National Steel Policy 2017 (Topic: Growth and Development) About: Union Cabinet has given its approval for National Steel Policy (NSP) 2017 which enshrines the long term vision of the Government to give impetus to the steel sector. NSP 2017 seeks to enhance domestic steel consumption, ensure high quality steel production and create a technologically advanced and globally competitive steel industry. Key features of the NSP 2017: Create self-sufficiency in steel production by providing policy support & guidance to private manufacturers, MSME steel producers, CPSEs Encourage adequate capacity additions Development of globally competitive steel manufacturing capabilities Cost-efficient production Domestic availability of iron ore, coking coal & natural gas Facilitating foreign investment Asset acquisitions of raw materials Enhancing the domestic steel demand Highlights Indian steel sector has grown rapidly over the past few years (Production in 2016-17= 100 MT) It is third largest steel producer globally, contributing to about 2% of the country’s GDP. NSP 2017 aspires to achieve 300MT of steel-making capacity by 2030. It seeks to increase consumption of steel and major segments are infrastructure, automobiles and housing. Steel Ministry will facilitate R&D in the sector through the establishment of Steel Research and Technology Mission of India (SRTMI). With the roll out of the National Steel Policy-2017, it is envisaged that the industry will be steered in creating an environment for promoting domestic steel and thereby ensuring a scenario where production meets the anticipated pace of growth in consumption. Background Steel is one of the most important products in the modern world and forms the backbone to any industrial economy. The sector is of strategic importance to India due to its extensive application right from construction, infrastructure, power, aerospace and industrial machinery to consumer products. Owing to the strategic importance of the sector along with the need to have a robust and restructured policy in present scenario, the new NSP, 2017 became imminent. Though, National Steel Policy 2005 sought to indicate ways and means of consolidating the gains flowing out of the then economic order and charted out a road map for sustained and efficient growth of the Indian steel industry, it required adaptation in view of the recent developments unfolding in India and also worldwide. SAMPADA (Scheme For Agro-Marine Processing And Development Of Agro-Processing Clusters) (Topic: Agriculture) About: Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has given its approval for re-structuring the schemes of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) under new Central Sector Scheme – SAMPADA for 2016-20 coterminous with the 14th Finance Commission cycle. The objective of SAMPADA is to supplement agriculture, modernize processing and decrease agri-waste. SAMPADA is an umbrella scheme incorporating ongoing schemes of the Ministry like Mega Food Parks, Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure, Food Safety and Quality Assurance Infrastructure, etc. It now also includes new schemes of Infrastructure for Agro-processing Clusters, Creation of Backward and Forward Linkages and Creation / Expansion of Food Processing & Preservation Capacities. The implementation of SAMPADA will result in creation of modern infrastructure with efficient supply chain management from farm gate to retail outlet.