Civil Services Mentor October

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Universal Immunization Programme

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Reinterpretation of Japanese Constitution Index

AUGUST,NOVEMBER, 2012 2014

Page No. 5 BRICS Summit CURRENT AFFAIRS Designed by: National Issues 7 Chandan Kumar “Raja” International Issues 19 India & the World 25 Economy 28 For Advertisement Contact at : Science and Technology 32 9958790414 Sports 35 Awards & Prizes 39 Join us at Facebook: In The News 42 https://www.facebook.com/iasexamportal Follow us at Twitter: https://twitter.com/iasexamportal Selected Articles from Various Newspapers & Journals 46 Page No. Disclaimer: 68 Editor and Publisher are not responsible Marrakesh Treaty for any view, data, figure etc. expressed in the articles by the author(s). Maps are notational . All Disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of competent courts and Page No. 69 fourms in Delhi/New Delhi only. Essential Commodities Act SOLVED PAPER General Studies UPSC MAIN 2012 Paper – I CSAT PAPER-II Model Paper For IAS Preliminary Examination–2015 GENERAL STUDIES PAPER-I Model Paper For IAS Preliminary Examination–2015 Study Material on Sangam Age for Preliminary Examination 2015 Join Online Coaching For IAS Pre & Mains Exams http://iasexamportal.com/civilservices/courses

UNIVERSAL IMMUNIZATION PROGRAMME

Indian public health has seen a 7. Pertussis; Japanese encephalitis virus are mild massive improvement since It was also announced in 2014 (fever and headache) or without independence. At the time of that four vaccines will be added to apparent symptoms, but sometimes independence Life expectancy was the program namely rotavirus, rubella 1 in 200 infections can result in severe only 32 years and we had a very high and Japanese encephalitis, as well as disease characterized by rapid onset child and infant mortality rate. Various the injectable polio vaccine. of high grade fever, headache, neck programs and initiatives from the Poliomyelitis (polio) is one of the stiffness, disorientation, coma, government and non-government disease covered under universal seizures, spastic paralysis and death. organizations have led to this immunization program. It is a highly Routine Immunization targets to development. Universal infectious viral disease, which mainly vaccinate 26 million new born every immunization program is one such affects young children. The virus is year and 100 million children in program which has helped in transmitted by person-to-person between age 1-5 years for UIP. To reduction of spread of disease spread mainly through the faecal-oral achieve this task millions of sessions covered under it. India started with route. are conducted. Around 90 percent the expanded Program of It multiplies in the intestine, immunization is done by public Immunization (EPI) in 1978 to from where it invade the nervous sector and rest by private sector. reduce child mortality. Under this system and causes paralysis. Initial Union Government of India procures program six vaccines were covered symptoms of polio include fever, the vaccine and supplies it to the state (Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), TT, fatigue, headache, vomiting, stiffness governments. In order to keep the DPT, DT, polio, and typhoid). in the neck, and pain in the limbs. In vaccines safe large number of cold Subsequently, in 1985 the Indian a small proportion of cases, the chains are involved. It is necessary to government included Measles disease causes paralysis, which is correctly forecast and predict the vaccination and launched the often permanent. There is no cure for requirement of state so that cold Universal Immunization Programme polio, it can only be prevented by chains are not overburdened. (UIP) and a mission to achieve immunization. In 2010 government Success of this programme depends immunization coverage of all infants started a drive against polio and in upon the ASHA and Anganwadi and pregnant women by 1990’s. It is 2012 programme achieved big workers, they mobilize eligible one of the largest immunization success when India was removed children to site and ensure that no program in the world in terms of from active polio list of WHO. Similar one is left out. Due to all these efforts quantities of vaccine used, the to polio, Japanese encephalitis(JE) India has drastically improved its number of beneficiaries, the is also a viral disease. It is transmitted health indicators, despite being a geographical spread. It was by mosquitoes in humans causing poor country. IMR and MMR has been launched in 1985 in a phased inflammation of the membranes reduced to 44 per 1000 live births manner. Under this program around the brain. Japanese and 212 per 100,00 live births government gives vaccine to children encephalitis is a leading cause of viral respectively. Although India has for seven diseases. Diseases covered encephalitis in Asia generally spread improved its health indicators but under this program are; from western pacific region in east to there is still a big scope for 1. Polio; Pakistan in west and from Korea in improvement. Targets set up by 2. Hepatitis B; north to Papua New Guinea in south. Millennium development goals are 3. Childhood TB; Japanese encephalitis is a still far off. In order to improve the 4. Tetanus; disease caused by a flavi virus that health conditions in India private 5. Measles; affects the membranes around the sector should have to contribute 6. Diphtheria; brain. Generally infections caused by more for it.

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REINTERPRETATION OF JAPANESE CONSTITUTION

With narrow land space and south east asia. In the 1970s relation ARTICLE 9 OF poor natural resources, Japan heavily between two of the present super CONSTITUTION OF JAPAN depends on the international powers of the world, U.S. and China, Article 9, The environment for its survival. It has no normalised, this led to normalisation Constitution of Japan (1947) other choice than to make persistent of ties between Japan and China. says that Japan endeavors toward international Various factors come together in “Aspiring sincerely to an harmony in order to ensure its International arena to make this international peace based on order, existence. Moreover, against the happen, factors include, the the Japanese people forever background of growing termination of the Vietnam War and renounce war as a sovereign right of interdependence among nations the events on the Indochinese the nation and the threat or use of today, Japan is strengthening its ties Peninsula, and disturbances in the force as means of settling international with the international community in Middle East and Africa. In economic disputes. In order to accomplish the every aspect of human life. As Japan’s sphere oil crisis led to spike in the aim of the preceding paragraph, land, economic strength grows, its position price of oil which has its bearing on sea and air forces, as well as other in the international community has all economies. war potential, will never be been strengthened accordingly. This Consequently, countries maintained. The right of belligerency owes much to the wisdom and efforts developed a tendency of becoming of the state will not be recognized.” of the Japanese people. protectionist. This lead to increase of Japan was defeated by USA in Since the end of World War II, inward looking tendency of many the world war II. United states asked country of Japan chose external countries including Japan. Japan to not to go to war again, and peace as a medium for their But today’s world is starkly Article 9 was written to guarantee development. National security has different from the world of 1980’s, in this. Japan however maintains army been maintained through by today’s world economic, political and for self defence, because Article 9 equipping itself with latest of international issues all are has been interpreted to mean that it technology and maintaining a close intermingled and they all encroach is acceptable to maintain purely relationship with USA, but all with in in each other’s area. It has become defensive military forces, with no extremely difficult to develop in the constitution of Japan. Japan also offensive capability. Presently it economic sphere without infringing has a poor land space and natural maintains around 2,70,000 armed into other countries interest. At this resources, it has to depend on men, which is relatively small juncture, Japan must, of its own peaceful international conditions. As compared to its size and army accord, make positive contributions economic capacity of Japan has maintained by its neighbours. increased a lot , it’s political strength to the peace and prosperity of the world through its economic strength But due to new challenges and has also been strengthened. In developments in present world and proportion to Japan’s strengthened and political influence. It is only by pursuing an active diplomacy in a China’s dispute in south china sea, political power internationally, other global perspective that Japan can Japan has reinterpreted its countries want that Japan should play find the way to ensure veritable constitution. Japanese Cabinet an active role in the international peace and prosperity in the rigorous approved a reinterpretation of the sphere. Every big nation has a international environment in the post-war imposed Pacifist responsibility towards world peace coming years. Constitution and changed right to self and order, Japan particularly has in

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Click Here to Subscribe PRINT COPY of Civil Services Mentor Magazine http://iasexamportal.com/civilservices/magazine Reinterpretation of Japanese Constitution defence to right to collective self Philippines, and India, and has cooperation guidelines at the basis defence. The reinterpretation now relaxed restrictions on the transfer of of their alliance and specify the allows for “collective self-defence” military technology. respective role of their military that would permit Japan to come to This would be a great establishments before the end of the the aid of its allies overseas. Japan’s development not only for Japan but year. Bilateral security cooperation decision will shape the way the Self also for world sphere, it will have between Japan and the United States defence forces cooperates not only effects throughout the world. The is thus likely to strengthen in the near with the U.S. military but with other first consequence for Japan’s policy future. The possibility for Japan of militaries in Asia. Japan has already change is a greater role for Japan in exercising the right to collective self- expanded its security consultations the alliance with the United States. defense will also help it engage in with a variety of regional powers, The United States and Japan are security and defense cooperation including Australia, South Korea, the planning to revise the defense with countries sharing similar security concerns.

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BRICS SUMMIT

The acronym “BRICs” was cooperation on economic and trade a mutual support and increase the initially quoted by Goldman Sachs. It issues within the BRICS. Along with financial stability of the countries. This was first coined in a report on growth that BRICS also has health and science Contingent reserve arrangement will prospects of Brazil, Russia, India and and technology forum. In these also help in stablise global financial China. According to the report these forums ministers of health and situation and it will complement the four countries have a great growth science and technology of BRICS existing institutions like IMF. prospects and they can become a nations meet and discuss the existing The initial total committed major stakeholders in the world challenges. resources of the CRA will be USD 100 economy in the 21st century. SIXTH BRICS SUMMIT billion, with individual countries Successful interaction at the margins contribution given below; Sixth brics summit was hosted of the General Debate of the UN i. China – USD 41 billion by Brazil, in the city Fortaleza. This General Assembly (UNGA)in 2006 by ii. Brazil – USD 18 billion four BRIC countries led the decision completes one cycle of full BRICS iii. Russia – USD 18 billion countries. Although Brazil hosted a that the dialogue was to be carried iv. India – USD 18 billion BRIC conference in 2010 but that was out at the level of Heads of State and v. South Africa – USD 5 billion without South Africa. Argentine Government in annual Summits. First Fortaleza summit also came up President Cristina Kirchner was a Summit was held in Yekaterinburg in with New Development Bank, this 2009, in 2011 BRIC formally became special guest of the summit. Various decision is in continuation with the issues and developments were BRICS with the induction of South decisions taken on 2012 New Delhi discussed in the summit and four Africa. Now BRICS has surpassed the summit and 2013 Durban summit. The important agreements were signed, reason for which it was initiated. bank will mobilize resources for they are given below; Initially it was only in economic infrastructure and sustainable sphere now has BRICS has become a 1. Treaty for The Establishment of development projects in BRICS a BRICS Contingent Reserve promising political-diplomatic entity. nations and other emerging and Arrangement Till now total of six annual developing economies. Bank will 2. Agreement on the New summits have been held by BRICS. support public and private projects Development Bank After the Yekaterinburg Summit, through loans, guarantee and other 3. Memorandum of other Summits were held at, Brasilia; instruments. Founding members of Understanding on Sanya; New Delhi; Durban; and the bank are BRICS nations and Cooperation among BRICS Fortaleza respectively. Durban membership of the bank will be open Export Credit Insurance summit in 2013 lead to the conclusion to any UN member. The New Agencies of first cycle of summits. First cycle Development Bank shall have an 4. Cooperation Agreement on has seen BRICS has come a long way, initial subscribed capital of US$ 50 Innovation now it has become a forum for geo- billion and an initial authorized capital BRICS Contingent Reserve of US$ 100 billion. The initial political, economic, scientific and Arrangement (“CRA”) is between the cultural exchange. Initiatives towards subscribed capital will be equally BRICS nations. The Parties agree to distributed amongst the founding reforming the international establish a self-managed contingent institutions for better representation members. The voting power of each reserve arrangement to look into any of BRICS has long been an agenda. member will be equal to its shares in actual or potential balance of the capital stock of the Bank. Along with that trade ministers also payment issue; this will also provide meet annually to expand http://www.iasexamportal.com 5 G.S. FOUNDATION COURSE (PRELIMINARY+ MAINS)

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National Issues

NATIONAL ISSUES

Govt. to consider UPSC gradation, and how this will be Kurian Joseph and Rohinton exam in all 8th Schedule implemented. Nariman, was hearing a writ Languages petition filed by NGO Jayati E-rickshaws Finally get the Legal Stamp Bharatam, seeking a SIT probe into incidents of conversion of Hindu girls into Muslims. ♣ The Chief Justice of India (CJI) told counsel Vishnu Shankar Jain, appearing for the NGO “this is a secular state. Don’t try to bring religion into the court. We are also concerned with the ♣ The Centre on Thursday said matter and you are also saying there was “force” in the The Delhi High Court on Friday it is serious. But the colour argument that the Civil Services ♣ advised the Delhi Government which you are giving is also Examination should be to organise camps for concerning us. We are conducted in all languages in registration of e-rickshaws to concerned with the law point. the Eighth Schedule of the protect the operators from Constitution and assured the Committee set up to further loss of earnings. Lok Sabha that this demand Review Parliament However, it refused to lift the would be considered. ♣ Security ban on them plying on the ♣ At present, while question Capital’s roads till the drivers papers are set in English and have licences, registration Hindi and the main certificates and insurance examination can be attempted papers in their possession. in any language in the Eighth Filing the draft guidelines to Schedule, the preliminary ♣ regulate the battery-operated examination are available only rickshaws, the Centre sought in English and Hindi. two months to finalise and ♣ As protests continued within notify them and urged the and outside Parliament over the Security of Parliament, which Court to let the vehicles ply ♣ Civil Services Aptitude Test was targeted by terrorists 13 during the this period. But the (CSAT), the government years back, is set to be Court declined. reiterated that the preliminary strengthened further with a examination would be held as Don t disturb country s special committee being set up scheduled on August 24. secular fabric, says SC to suggest measures for it within ♣ The Union Public Service The Supreme Court on Friday a month. Commission is yet to clear the ♣ cautioned non governmental ♣ The committee will be headed air on whether it has accepted organisations from making by former Union Home the government’s view that the allegations which would Secretary R.K. Singh and will English comprehension skill disturb the country’s secular include former Rajasthan DGP component of CSAT — paper fabric. Harish Chandra Meena and II of the prelims — should not A three-judge bench of Chief former Mumbai Police be counted for merit or ♣ Justice R.M. Lodha and Justices Commissioner Satyapal Singh.

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♣ The committee would give SGPC and HSGMC to open teaching-learning materials. suggestions on training, separate bank accounts with ♣ The Three-Language Formula adequacy of manpower and regard to the Gurdwaras under was devised in the Chief other relevant issues. It would their management and Ministers’ conferences in 1961. also review all security possession and deposit all the It was recommended by the equipments installed and future offerings in that account. 1968 policy under which the projections for further first language to be studied Three-language formula strengthening security. not implemented must be the mother tongue or ♣ In the previous Lok Sabha, a effectively: MHA the regional language; the committee on security in second one in Hindi-speaking Parliament complex, headed ♣ According to union govt., States would be some other by then Deputy Speaker Karia Implementation of the Centre’s modern Indian language or Munda, was set up in the Three-Language Formula for English, and in non-Hindi aftermath of the pepper spray schools all over the country has speaking States it would be attack inside Lok Sabha by a been uneven owing to various Hindi or English. Congress MP that sparked interpretations of the formula massive outrage. by different States. Government issues alert for early detection of ♣ This committee had examined ♣ In many States, it has been Ebola Virus security-related matters, which adopted as 3+/-1 formula, and also included ways to prevent for the speaker of (linguistic) bringing of dangerous and life- minority languages it has threatening material into the become a four-language chamber of the House by the formula as they have to learn Members of Parliament their mother tongue, the themselves.. dominant regional language, SC Restrains Haryana English and Hindi. SGMC from taking control ♣ The Union Minister said some of Gurdwaras boards/institutions permit even foreign languages such as Spanish, French and German in place of Hindi or Sanskrit. ♣ Listing the reasons for Union Govt. told Parliament ineffective implementation, ♣ that advisories were issued to Govt. said southern States like the State Disease Surveillance Puducherry and Tamil Nadu Units to be on alert for early besides Tripura were not ready detection and management of to teach Hindi and Hindi- travel related Ebola virus cases ♣ The Supreme Court restrained speaking States did not include reported from the community. the Haryana Sikh Gurdwaras any South Indian language in In view of the reports of Management Committee their school curriculum. Among ♣ outbreak of the disease in (HSGMC) from taking control of the other causes are the fear of Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone 51 of the 52 Gurdwaras in the heavy language load in the and Nigeria in West Africa, State. school curriculum; all the Govt. recommended that non- ♣ The bench, hearing a writ languages are not being taught essential travel to these petition questioning the compulsorily at the secondary countries be deferred till such constitutional validity of the law stage; duration for compulsory time that the situation is enacted by Haryana study of three languages varies; brought under control. government directed that status and the States, most often, do Though there is no vaccine or quo be maintained in respect not have adequate resources ♣ curative therapy for this of other Gurdwaras. for provision of additional disease, outbreaks can be ♣ The Bench also directed the language teachers and

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National Issues

contained through early It had planned to auction 54 ♣ However, all States will be detection and isolation of coal blocks with total estimated advised to develop syllabi and cases, contact tracing and reserves of about 18 billion Text Books keeping in view the monitoring, and following tonnes. New Education Policy, taking rigorous procedures for into consideration State SC agrees to hear plea on infection control. Extending Legal Limition specific concerns. ♣ The National Policy on Government to auction Abortion coal mines after Education (NPE) 1986, as Obtaining Necessary amended in 1992, has been the Approvals guiding document for the policies of the Central Government in the education sector. ♣ In the last twenty years, the education scenario has been a monumental change with the ♣ The Supreme Court on Tuesday emergence of several new to hear detailed arguments on paradigms like rights based a petition seeking to extend the approach to elementary ♣ The government will auction legal limit on abortion under education, the endeavour to captive coal mines to the Medical Termination of extend universalization to companies engaged in Pregnancy Act (1971). secondary education, reshape production of steel, cement ♣ The petition was filed by the the higher education scenario and sponge iron after obtaining NGO, Human Rights Law and its impact on the innovation necessary clearances and Network, on behalf of two environment and providing an detailed exploration of the women identified as only Mrs. impetus to skill development blocks. X and Mrs. Y, who suffered pain through vocational education. ♣ Notice Inviting application was and indignity caused by the India s first moored issued on February 26, 2014, 20-week limit on medical offering three coal blocks for observatory deployed in termination of pregnancy. Arctic mining to companies engaged ♣ The petition said this limit in production of steel, cement extends to even cases of severe and sponge iron. fetal abnormalities, forcing ♣ The Ministry of Coal had offered women to carry pregnancies to three blocks for auction for term even where the foetus captive use for steel, cement may not survive delivery. and sponge iron companies — New Education Policy on two in Jharkhand and one in the anvil: Smriti West Bengal. The mines have total reserves of 500 million ♣ Government is formulating a ♣ Country’s first multi-sensor tonnes. new Education Policy aimed at moored observatory IndARC ♣ Official auditor CAG had earlier meeting the challenges posed was successfully deployed in said allotment of 57 mines to by lack of quality, research and Kongsfjorden Fjord of the private firms without auction innovation in educational Arctic roughly halfway had resulted in a notional loss institutions. between North Pole and of Rs. 1.8 lakh crore to the ♣ Education being a subject in Norway. exchequer. the Concurrent List of 7th ♣ This observatory, designed and ♣ Last year, the government had Schedule of the Constitution, developed by ESSO-NIOT and allocated 17 coal mines to the responsibility of education ESSO-NCAOR with ESSO- Central and State public sector lies primarily with the State Indian National Centre for units, including four to NTPC. Governments. Ocean Information Services

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National Issues

(INCOIS), Hyderabad, was that 107 relief camps had been wants to open a new chapter deployed from the Norwegian set up. One composite column in India-Nepal relations , while Polar Institute’s research vessel (100 personnel) of army and air hoping to connect lives across R.V. Lance. force had reached Supaul and our open borders seamlessly. ♣ A team of scientists from the one Saharsa in the state and Earth System Science three more columns mobilised Organisation-National Institute from Sukna have gone to of Ocean Technology (ESSO- Katihar. NIOT) Chennai and ESSO- Centre constitutes National Centre for Antartic and committee to look into Ocean Research (NCAOR) changes in Lokpal rules termed the same as a milestone in India’s scientific endeavours ♣ A committee under the in the Arctic region. chairmanship of the Attorney ♣ Mr. Modi is the first Indian Prime General (AG) has been formed Minister to pay a bilateral visit Kosi floods: Centre by the Centre to look into the to Kathmandu in 17 years. The rushes relief teams to amendments in Lokpal search visit is significant, given he will Bihar panel rules, which were return to Kathmandu later this notified by the last United year for the SAARC Summit. Progressive Alliance (UPA) ♣ In his statement, Mr. Modi government. outlined the areas he hoped to ♣ The search panel is mandated forge agreements on: “trade to recommend names for and investment, hydropower, appointment of chairperson agriculture, environment, and members of the Lokpal. tourism, education, culture and This panel has faced some sports.” objection in the past, the ♣ The two sides are expected to ♣ The Centre rushed in essential search panel has to choose announce a power trading supplies, relief teams and other these persons from among the agreement, which will lead to assistance to Bihar to deal with panel provided by the the signing of a 900-MW Kosi flood situation and put on Department of Personnel and hydropower agreement during standby several aircraft to deal Training (DoPT). the visit with any emergency. ♣ As per the existing rules, an Modi offers $1-bn ♣ An assessment team eight-member search panel is package to Nepal comprising experts from tasked to draw up a panel of different fields is in Nepal to persons for consideration by ♣ Prime Minister Narendra Modi oversee the situation as an the selection committee led by on Sunday expressed India’s artificial dam created there on the Prime Minister for commitment and assistance to a Kosi tributary following a appointment of chairperson Nepal’s development and massive landslide has sparked and members of the Lokpal. promising to take the two fears of floods in Bihar. ♣ The government is likely to countries’ relations to a new ♣ Government also said eight empower the search height. National Disaster Response committee to also include ♣ Mr. Modi referred to the Nepal- Force teams have already been people from outside the list to India relationship as “older than deployed and seven will soon be provided by the DoPT for the Himalayas and the Ganga,” be sent. consideration by the selection even as he announced a $1 ♣ 44,000 persons had been committee. billion Line of Credit for Nepal’s evacuated by the Bihar PM hopes to link lives infrastructure development. government and the state across open borders Mr. Modi also promised to help administration was urged to Nepal in the field of speed up the process, adding ♣ Prime Minister Narendra Modi hydropower, infrastructure,

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space technology and Prime Ministers, the officials reservoirs is reported to be 57 agriculture. signed three memorandum of per cent of the total storage ♣ He assured that the work on understanding (MoU) – tourism capacity of these reservoirs. Pancheshwar Multipurpose development in Nepal, Goitre Average water levels on August Project would begin in a year. Control Programme in Nepal, 7 were 82 per cent of the After years of negotiations, and co-operation between the storage of the corresponding work on this joint venture state-controlled television period last year. project has not begun. Nepal channels – Doordarshan and SC to examine whether could prosper by selling Nepal Television (NTV). They two life sentences can be electricity to India. also exchanged terms of imposed for Repeated ♣ The Indian Prime Minister reference (ToR) on Murders assured Mr. Koirala that the Pancheshwar Development ongoing peace process in Authority. Nepal was entirely a Nepali ♣ Mr. Modi would offer prayers matter and should be at the Pahuspati Temple on concluded as per Nepal’s Monday before heading to the requirements. President’s Office to meet ♣ In the presence of the two President Dr Ram Baran Yadav. Monsoon picks up, so does kharif sowing

♣ The Supreme Court decided to examine an important question of law whether the trial court or the High Court can impose two life sentences on an accused for repeated murders. ♣ In this case the accused was initially awarded life imprisonment for murder committed in 1994. Even as he was undergoing the sentence, he committed another murder when on parole for a brief period. He was again ♣ With improvement in the August 8, monsoon was 18 per sentenced to undergo life term southwest monsoon, kharif cent below the long period consecutively after the sowing has picked up and is average with the highest completion of first life now only 8.89 per cent lower departure of 32 per cent in sentence. than last year. northwest India. ♣ Although under Section 427 ♣ Although there are still ♣ The shortfall in the sowing of (2) of Criminal Procedure Code “When a person already concerns about the lower coarse cereals, however, is still undergoing a sentence of sowing of oilseeds, pulses and high at 20.89 per cent over last imprisonment for life is coarse cereals, the paddy year. Sugarcane cultivation this sentenced on a subsequent plantation is less by only 5.18 year has been in 47.17 lakh conviction to imprisonment for per cent over last year and hectares compared to 50.32 a term or imprisonment for life, cotton sowing is higher by 1.9 lakh hectares in the the subsequent sentence shall per cent over last year. corresponding period last year. run concurrently with such According to the India ♣ ♣ The average storage in 85 previous sentence”. Meteorological Department, till

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Move to scrap Planning ♣ With this same end in view, the ♣ Google had not taken Commission raises Human Resource Development permission from SoI before Constitutional Questions Ministry has recently launched organising a mapping ♣ Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s an internship programme competition in February-March decision to scrap the Planning where college and research 2013 in which they asked Commission has raised students can work in various citizens to map their administrative and education departments and neighbourhoods, especially Constitutional questions that help in policy formulation. details related to hospitals and the Centre will have to address ♣ According to the Ministry, it restaurants. in the coming days. got 1,000 entries of which 10 ♣ As per the National Map Policy ♣ The first of these is what were shortlisted by a panel of 2005, “the responsibility for happens to the ongoing 12th field experts, artists and producing, maintaining and Five Year Plan? “The 12th Plan academics. disseminating the topographic is an ideologically-neutral, ♣ This is the second time that a map database of the whole NDC-approved, growth policy Ministry has crowd-sourced an country, which is the document with inclusion and advertisement for an occasion, foundation of all spatial data, sustainability as its pillars and the first instance was on World vests with the Survey of India”. technically the Centre cannot Day to Combat Desertification ♣ It was alleged that Google India on its own decide to junk it,” a on the request of Environment had launched a nationwide high-level source said. and Forests Ministry contest and people might have ♣ Second, since indications are passed on maps and other key that the role of making plan Google polluted Internet with classified material: details of strategic installations allocations to States for Survey of India located in other cities and development spending will be states to the U.S. company, the transferred to the Finance sources added. Ministry, there are likely to be ♣ For SoI, it was clarified that the implications of this for India’s company never took any federal system. Will the States, permission before undertaking especially those governed by the mapping exercise, and the Opposition parties, readily from national security point of accept allocations from the view, civil and military Vital Union Finance Ministry is the Areas, Vital Points (VPs) cannot question, says Y.K. Alagh, who be shown in the map/data was Planning Minister in the ♣ Surveyor General of India published in public domain Deve Gowda government. Swarna Subba Rao has alleged Women s quota Bill lapses Crowd-sourced ad for I&B that the Internet giant did not due to Lack of Consensus Ministry refrain from mentioning classified sites even after having been asked not to do so. ♣ The Survey of India, India’s national survey and mapping organisation under the Department of Science and Technology, is the complainant in the case. After initial probe ♣ Dashing the hopes of women ♣ The idea behind this exercise by the Delhi Police, the case and all other sections who is to involve people in was handed over to the CBI as espoused the cause, the governance and bridge the the investigation involved a Women’s Reservation Bill has divide between the rulers and company which is based in the lapsed. After being passed in the ruled. US.

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the Rajya Sabha in 2010, the or transiting through four West Six-member National Bill, which provides for 33 per African countries. Judicial Commission to cent reservation for women in ♣ With airlines forming the first Select Judges for Higher Parliament and Legislative line of defence against the Courts Assemblies, was sent to the Lok Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Sabha for approval, but did not India, the Directorate General see the light of the day for lack of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has of political consensus and will. become active in enforcing ♣ Article 107 (5) of the Government guidelines in this Constitution states: A Bill which respect. is pending in the House of ♣ In particular, the DGCA will People or which having being monitor whether airlines are ♣ The Judicial Appointments passed by the House of the keeping a record of all Commission Bill, 2014 passed People is pending in the passengers who are returning in the Lok Sabha provides for Council of States shall, subject to India after staying or setting up of a six-member to provisions of Article 108 transiting through four West National Judicial Commission to (joint sitting of both the African countries and are select and recommend judges Houses), lapse on a dissolution passing on the information to to the High Courts and of the House of People. Airport Health Officers. This Supreme Court. ♣ The Bill was approved in the will be tallied against Indian ♣ The Constitution (121st Rajya Sabha after missions in these countries Amendment) Bill, 2014 and the unprecedented pandemo- sending in advance details of ‘National Judicial nium leaving the Chairman with passengers boarding from the Appointments Commission Bill’ no option but to suspend seven affected countries. seek to give constitutional members of the RJD and the ♣ The DGCA has also supplied status to the NJC, comprising Samajwadi Party who were airlines with an announcement the Chief Justice of India adamant on stalling it at any format that has to be included (Chairperson); two other cost. in in-flight announcements. The senior-most judges of the ♣ It would now be an uphill task accent is on self reporting by Supreme Court; the Union Law for the NDA to take up the passengers whose symptoms Minister and two eminent initiative particularly as it is match with the onset of EVD. persons to be nominated by the ♣ Passengers are also being woefully short of majority in the Prime Minister, the CJI and the provided with a form in which Rajya Sabha for passage of a Leader of Opposition of the they have to fill their health controversial constitutional Lok Sabha. One of the eminent details in case they have visited amendment Bill. persons shall be nominated any of the four EVD hit from amongst the Scheduled DGCA issues Ebola countries over the past three Castes, the Scheduled Tribes, advisory for Airlines weeks. ♣ For people heading out to West Other Backward Classes, Africa, the advice is to avoid Minorities or women. travel to the EVD affected ♣ The object of constituting the countries if they are suffering Commission is to enable from flue or taking medicines participation of judiciary, to combat an infectious executive and eminent disease. This is because in both persons and will ensure greater cases there is a weakening of transparency, accountability immunity making the person and objectivity in the ♣ DGCA will monitor whether more susceptible to EVD. They appointment of judges to airlines are keeping a record of will also be asked to avoid higher judiciary. all passengers who are visiting hospitals treating EVD ♣ On the recommendations of returning to India after staying affected patients the Commission, the President

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National Issues

will appoint the High Court and ♣ With the objective to promote different parts of the country Supreme Court judges. a paperless regime and better along with amendment of However, if for some reason, human resource management, sections of IPC has been the President requests the the Department of Personnel suggested by M P Bezbaruah Commission to reconsider and Training (DoPT) has committee that was set up after certain recommendations and launched an e-service record increased attacks on citizens the recommendation is book portal for government from the region. reiterated the President is employees. ♣ Committee had recommended bound to make the ♣ Earlier documented in paper a new law based on an appointment. files, the service record observation by Delhi High ♣ The Bill mandates the provides information on various Court which said one person Commission to make regulations portfolios and posts held by a from a State must not be specifying the criteria of particular government discriminated in another State. suitability with respect to the employee. ♣ The Bezbaruah Committee was appointment of Judges of High ♣ In future, it would also prove to set up after the death of Nido Courts and Supreme Court, the be of great assistance in an Tania, 20, following an procedure and conditions for efficient management of altercation with shopkeepers selection and procedure for human resource. The system and others at the Lajpat Nagar transfer of judges from one can facilitate work allocation in south Delhi in January. Last High Court to another. based on the skills and week, another youth from experiences of the employees Manipur, Akha Salouni (29), BJP may extend under consideration for a was killed after he was Parliament Session to allegedly beaten by a group of enable passage of bills particular post or department. ♣ The DoPT has also launched a five men in a suspected case ♣ The current Session of Basic Leadership Skills Module of road rage in Kotla Parliament may be extended to for Central Secretariat Services Mubarakpur in South Delhi. enable the passage of bills, officers at the Institute of Government mulls Parliamentary Affairs Minister Secretariat Training and Amendments to anti- Venkaiah Naidu told BJP MPs . Management. The module is Dowry Law ♣ Government is keen to get expected to equip civil important bills passed like the servants with the skills that help National Judicial Appointments them function efficiently in a Commission Bill, the Juvenile complex and challenging Justice (Care and Protection of environment. Children) Bill, Apprentices ♣ A Learning Resource Centre has (Amendment) Bill, Constitution also been set up with a (121st Amendment) Bill, mandate to identify and adopt Repealing and Amending Bill, the leading national and Factories (Amendment) Bill, international practices in the ♣ Keeping in view the rising the Insurance Bill, the field of training techniques and number of complaints Securities Laws (Amendment) technologies to strengthen the regarding the misuse of anti- Bill and the Labour Laws Trainers Development dowry law, the Centre is mulling (Exemption from Furnishing Programme, to develop a cadre to introduce penal provisions Returns and Maintaining of high quality trainers. in the Act that will ensure Registers by Certain Panel suggests separate punishment or penalty to those Establishments) Amendment law to protect northeast who make false charges. Bill. people ♣ Earlier this month, the Supreme ♣ DoPT launches e-service Court had directed the State record system for govt. ♣ A separate law with specific governments to instruct police employees rovisions to protect people “not to automatically arrest from the northeast living in when a case under Section

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498A of IPC (dowry had directed the government ♣ According to the government, harassment) is registered but to to draft appropriate regulations the present process adopted satisfy themselves about the for sale of acid and by the collegium of judges is necessity for arrest under the rehabilitation of victims. beset with its own problem of parameters laid down flowing ♣ “There is laxity on your part. opacity and non- from Section 41 of Criminal Everyday, we have one or two accountability, besides Procedure Code.” such incidents of acid attack,” excluding the executive ♣ The Apex court had expressed CJI Lodha observed. entirely in the consultative concern over the misuse of the exercise for appointment of Indian among the pre- anti-dowry law by “disgruntled” finalists to receive judges. wives against her husband and Humanitarian Award ♣ Due to the inherent in-laws and noted that the Act deficiencies in the collegium, was being increasingly used to 275 judges’ posts harass in-laws. (approximately) in various High ♣ The amendments may include Courts are lying vacant, which widening the definition of has a direct bearing on the ‘dowry’ by changing the words justice delivery system. ‘in connection with marriage’ ♣ The meeting will consider to ‘given before the marriage, bestowing constitutional status at the time of marriage and at on the National Judicial any time after the marriage’. ♣ An Indian humanist is among Appointments Commission as ♣ Notifying the list of gifts the pre-finalists of a recommended by the exchanged during the humanitarian award worth $1 Parliamentary Standing wedding may also be made million to be handed over by Committee. mandatory and failure to do so Gonzaga University of ♣ The Judicial Appointments could invite heavy penalties northwestern United States in Commission Bill, 2013 seeks to including a three-year jail term October. set up a six-member body, not only to the bride and the ♣ The award is given on behalf of which includes Judges, groom but also to their parents. The Opus Prize Foundation executive, Leader of opposition that recognises faith-based in lok Sabha, for recommending Increase Compensation humanitarian work. to the President names of for Acid Attack victims: for Acid Attack victims: ♣ Gollapalli Israel, the Indian pre- individuals having outstanding SC inalist is a Baptist priest who legal acumen and impeccable leads the Janodayam Social integrity and credibility to the Education Centre in Tamil post of Supreme Court and Nadu and provides education High Courts judges. and human rights services to HSGPC: Centre may seek members of the Dalits. Presidential reference ♣ The other pre-finalists are U.S. based Joe Maier and Sister ♣ The Centre is exploring the Teresa Fitzgerald. option of making a Presidential ♣ The Supreme Court on Friday reference to the Supreme Collegium issued notices to State Court for its opinion on the System under Review governments on steps taken to validity of the controversial law enhance the rehabilitation and ♣ Eminent jurists, the enacted by the Haryana monetary compensation Chairperson and members of government to create a new awarded to acid attack victims the Law Commission will board to manage Sikh shrines struggling to survive and get review the working of the in Haryana. medical treatment. collegium system of ♣ Attorney-General Mukul ♣ In February 6, 2013, the appointments to higher Rohatgi gave an opinion that Supreme Court in another case judiciary. the Haryana Sikh Gurdwaras

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National Issues

(Management) Bill, 2014, Committee, with the SGPC Collegium system should which got the assent of the losing control over them. go - Law Ministry then Governor on June 14, was According to the Punjab ♣ ♣ At a high-level meeting unconstitutional. government, the SGPC is an between the Law Ministry and ♣ Mr. Rohatgi told the Centre that “inter-State body” as defined eminent jurists , absolute the Haryana Assembly did not under Section 72 of the Punjab consensus was reached that have the legislative Reorganisation Act, 1966, the collegium system should competence to pass the Bill as indicating that its jurisdiction go. the Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925, extends beyond Punjab and its ♣ The meeting saw came under the Union List. members are elected from parliamentarians and retired ♣ The gurdwaras in Haryana are places beyond the State’s Chief Justices of India managed by the Shiromani boundaries. And The move to participating along with Union Gurdwara Parbandhak set up a separate committee in Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Committee (SGPC). But, under Haryana was in contravention and Law Minister Ravi Shankar the new law passed by the with the provisions of the Prasad, Law Commission Assembly, 72 of them will be Reorganisation Act, as it Chairperson Justice A.P. Shah, managed by the Haryana Sikh affected the SGPC’s ‘inter- Attorney-General Mukul Gurdwara Prabhandhak State’ status. Rohatgi and Solicitor-General Farmers deserve a standing ovation: Narendra Modi Ranjit Kumar attended. ♣ The government was very clear in its assurance that it did not want to go back to the pre- collegium system days when the Executive had veto power over judges’ appointments. Members to 18 panels appointed unanimously ♣ NDA government managed the appointments of members to the various parliamentary committees “unanimously.” ♣ All the parties agreed to choose members through consensus rather than insist on an election, the last time such ♣ Prime Minister Narendra Modi animal husbandry. an initiative was pulled off was on Tuesday asked the scientific ♣ Bemoaning the supply- in 1984. community to set specific goals demand gap in pulses and ♣ Appointments have been for themselves to ensure that edible oilseeds, Mr. Modi asked made to 18 parliamentary lab research reaches farmers scientists to dedicate committees and government and helps raise their incomes. themselves in the research of bodies, which include the ♣ Mr. Modi said that Indian suitable variety so that the crucial committees – Public farmers deserve a standing country is not dependent on Accounts Committee, Public ovation for providing for the import of these commodities. Estimates Committee, Public nation and changing the face ♣ PM also highlighted the need Undertaking Committee – and of the country in the food and to conserve the water, he to the Committee on the farm sector. Yet, there is sighted the example form the Welfare of Scheduled Castes potential for more not only in history of Mahatama Gandhi. and Scheduled Tribes, Other crops but in fisheries and Backward Classes and the Official Languages.

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Law Commission representative from the level meeting to take stock of recommends fixed government side “to ensure that the situation. Ms. Swaraj Tenure for CJI the executive has a meaningful directed transfer of funds from voice”. the Indian Community Welfare Fund (set up by the Ministry of Kisan TV: Ideas Sought on Twitter Overseas Indian Affairs) for use by Indians in difficult ♣ Prasar Bharati Chief Executive circumstances in Libya. Officer Jawahar Sircar took to ♣ Libyan companies employing the social media to seek ideas about 450 Indian nationals had on the contours and content of agreed to allow them to return Kisan TV proposed in the to India, the MEA informed. Budget. ♣ Unknown kidnappers on ♣ This was following a need felt Wednesday seized a ♣ A.P. Shah has recommended, for a “reach out” strategy to de- Same retirement age of 65 for Philippine nurse in the Libyan bureaucratise schemes for the Supreme Court and High Court capital, held her for several Doordarshan’s channel. The judges; a “cooling-off period” hours and raped her. Union Finance Minister had set for judges after retirement; and aside Rs. 100 crore for the Sushma confronts a fixed tenure for Chief Justice channel. Kerry with Snooping of India. ♣ Kisan TV will be dedicated to ♣ Justice Shah reasons that the the interests of agriculture and retirement age of Supreme allied sectors. The idea is to Court judges was increased to disseminate real-time 65 as an “incentive” for High information to farmers on varied Court judges to leave the issues, including new farming comfort of their hometowns techniques, conservation and and come to New Delhi. This organic farming. consideration is no longer relevant, the note says. The First batch of Indians from Libya to return retirement age of High Court judges is 62. Elevation to the Supreme Court guarantees them an additional three-year ♣ In India’s strongest statement tenure. on the issue yet, External Affairs ♣ It recommends that the Chief Minister Sushma Swaraj called Justice of India should get a the U.S. surveillance of Indian fixed tenure of two years in entities “unacceptable”, and case their tenure as CJI is less said she had taken up the issue than two years. This step should ♣ The first batch of Indian of “snooping” by the National be implemented from August nationals stuck in conflict- Security Agency (NSA) with 26, 2022 after the junior-most ridden Libya is expected to Secretary of State John Kerry judge currently serving in the return before the weekend. during the fifth India-U.S. Supreme Court, and who is ♣ North African country is strategic dialogue. slated to be CJI, retires. witnessing the fiercest violence ♣ The U.S. Secretary of State’s ♣ The note says the JAC should since the fall of Muammar visit is first high-level interaction be a seven-member body with Qadhafi, several countries are at the political level after the the CJI as chairperson, and evacuating their citizens from new government came to three Supreme Court judges. Libya. power. Incidentally, the note has the ♣ External Affairs Minister ♣ No breakthroughs marked the Law Minister as the sole Sushma Swaraj chaired a high- strategic dialogue between

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National Issues

India and the U.S. on the trade First push to inland Bhagirathi-Hooghly stretch, facilitation talks at the WTO. waterways on cards which the Government is While talks were still in progress prioritising, envisages a large ♣ Government will give a decisive in Geneva, the deadline for push to make the Ganga- number of additions such as India to sign the Trade Hooghly waterway navigable navigation aids along the entire Facilitation Agreement expired for freight movement by tying 1,600-km-stretch and night on Friday. up for a World Bank loan that navigation between Tribeni Ms. Swaraj said, “There is ♣ could be as much as $1 billion. and Farakka, a GPS system and growing global partnership to repair facilities along the route. ♣ Developing inland waterways the relationship.” While Mr. is a key agenda for the National All Indian nationals told Kerry said “India and the U.S. Democratic Alliance to return from Libya are indispensable partners in Government as it pushes for 21st century. There are ♣ India has made arrangements decongesting communication incredible possibilities in our to fly out 58 nurses from Libya bottlenecks and opening up relationship.” and has asked all its nationals options for high volume freight. ♣ Given the lack of breakthrough to consider returning home ♣ These barrages will be part of in talks over WTO, pharma since the condition in the the Government’s recent concerns, patent rights and country has “deteriorated.” announcement of a series of U.S. restrictions on visas for barrages on the Ganga from skilled Indians, Mr. Kerry Allahabad to Haldia which will conceded, “We know we have facilitate movement of larger a lot of homework to do. We vessels. The plan has drawn need to break down barriers in criticism from trade.” environmentalists who have Batra s Panel to highlighted the dangers of Indianise Education sedimentation and the decline ♣ Ministry of External Affairs said of fisheries. the nurses would travel by road ♣ In a move parallel to the new ♣ Government believes that river to Tunis and then be flown back government’s reported transportation is the cheapest to India. decision to set up a commission available option and should be ♣ Government have arranged for, on educational reforms, the maximised to boost economic if it is required, a special flight controversial teacher-turned- growth. Already barges have to come to Djerba which is two activist Dinanath Batra decided begun supplying imported coal hours from the border of Libya. to form a “non-governmental” to Farakka super thermal power But the flight will be used if commission to “Indianise” plant in the absence of land there is enough planeload. education. based transportation However, if smaller numbers ♣ The Non-Governmental alternatives. continue, Govt. will then have Education Commission to take them to Tunis and then ♣ The plan for the Ganga- (NGEC) will have 31 members, fly them out. including Mr. Batra. ♣ Some of the courses recommended under these models have already been introduced in a few universities, he said. The Jalandhar-based Punjab Technical University, Mr. Batra said, had included Vedic Mathematics, Value Education and Integral Humanism.

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INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

WHO declares Ebola an and also at staving off “a fearful of the militants’ lightning International Health potential act of genocide,” in advance across the country. Emergency the Sinjar area where nearly ♣ British Prime Minister David 50,000 members of the Yazidi Cameron has welcomed the minority community were decision taken by the United trapped atop a mountain States to authorise “targeted besieged by IS fighters. strikes” against the Islamic militant forces in Iraq. The U.K. chaired a meeting in the United Nations Security Council on Thursday seeking a strong international response to the ♣ The World Health Organization crisis in Iraq. (WHO) declared the Ebola outbreak in West Africa to be Israel-Hamas truce ends; an international public health talks on Gaza Deadlocked emergency that requires an ♣ Mr. Obama said Washington had begun conducting ♣ A three-day truce between extraordinary response to stop Israel and Hamas has expired its spread. humanitarian airdrops at the request of the Iraqi government. after indirect talks in Cairo on ♣ The WHO announced the new border arrangements for Ebola outbreak the largest and ♣ Ahead of the airstrikes, the first direct military action by the the blockaded Gaza Strip hit a longest in history is worrying deadlock. enough to merit being U.S. in Iraq since troops pulled ♣ There was no apparent sign of declared an international out in 2011, which were a possible extension of the health emergency. WHO authorised by the U.S. Central calm as the truce expired at declared similar emergencies Command commander, the 0500 GMT on Friday. Just for the swine flu pandemic in U.S. also used one C-17 and before the end of the truce, 2009 and for polio in May. two C-130 aircrafts to airdrop ♣ Countries affected to date 5,300 gallons of fresh drinking Gaza militants fired two rockets simply do not have the capacity water and 8,000 ready-to-eat at Israel. to manage an outbreak of this meals near Mount Sinjar. ♣ Israel has said it is willing to size and complexity on their ♣ Iraqis welcomed the U.S. airlift consider easing border own, The current outbreak of of emergency aid to thousands restrictions but demands that Ebola began in Guinea in March of people who fled to the Hamas disarm. mountains to escape Islamic and has since spread to Sierra WTO imbroglio: India not extremists and called for Leone and Liberia for 1986-87 as base year greater intervention. In contrast U.S. is coming to Help: U.S. is coming to Help: to Washington’s decision to ♣ India has offered fixing of the Obama invade Iraq more than a base year for food subsidies on ♣ U.S. authorised a two-pronged decade ago, both the airdrop the basis of average of last military intervention in Iraq, and the authorisation of military three years, as opposed to aimed both at protecting action against the Islamic State 1986-87 as proposed by WTO, American personnel and assets group were widely welcomed as a way forward for an located in the conflict zones, by Iraqi and Kurdish officials agreement at the WTO.

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International Issues

♣ India did a ‘course correction’ on a lasting truce and located north of Iraq’s on the position taken at the Bali reconstruction for the war- second—largest city Mosul, ministerial conference. battered coastal territory. which fell to the militants on Explaining the changed stance, June 10. Fighting intensified in Iraqi militants seize the Govt. said India insisted on country s largest Dam the region after the nearby a ‘single undertaking principle’ towns of Zumar and Sinjar fell to ensure simultaneous to the militants. implementation of nine plus ♣ The al—Qaeda—breakaway one issues which the Ministers group has established its idea had agreed at Bali. of an Islamic state in the ♣ Govt said it is not alone in this territory it controls in Iraq and matter, it said that India and Syria, imposing its harsh other LDCs were willing to wait interpretation of Islamic law. till September 2014, for every Iraqi government forces, Kurds and allied Sunni tribal one to convince each other. ♣ Sunni militants from the Islamic militiamen have been struggling State group seized Iraq’s largest Israel agrees to extend to dislodge the Islamic State dam, placing them in control of Gaza ceasefire militants and its Sunni allies with enormous power and water little apparent success. resources and access to the ♣ The seizing of dams and river that runs through the heart reservoirs gives the militants of Baghdad. control over water and ♣ After a week of attempts, the electricity that they could use radical Islamist gunmen to help build support in the successfully stormed the Mosul territory they now rule by Dam and forced Kurdish forces providing the scarce resources to withdraw from the area. to residents. Or they could sell The Mosul Dam or Saddam ♣ Israel has agreed to extend ♣ the resources as a lucrative beyond Friday a 72-hour Dam as it was once known is source of revenue. ceasefire that has halted a Nepal landslide raises fears of floods in East India month of fighting in the Hamas- ruled Gaza Strip. ♣ The 72-hour ceasefire, which came into effect on Tuesday, has brought relief to millions on both sides after one month of fighting killed nearly 1,900 Palestinians and 67 people in Israel, mostly soldiers. ♣ United Nations chief Ban Ki- moon urged a permanent end to the cycle of Israeli and Palestinian violence. Indirect talks between Palestinian factions and Israel have been taking place, mediated by Egypt, to broker a long-term ♣ Rescue workers in eastern India neighbouring Nepal blocked a ceasefire. urgently evacuated tens of river that could burst its banks ♣ Israel and Palestine, both sides thousands of people after a and submerge scores of Indian are digging in their positions as deadly landslide in villages. negotiations continue in Cairo

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♣ Nepal’s army triggered three tunnels used to stage attacks. become “demilitarised,” controlled explosions on Israel says the last of the tunnels requiring the unlikely Saturday to allow some water has nearly been destroyed. cooperation of Hamas in giving to flow out of the lake, but much ♣ Israel has demanded that Gaza up its significant arsenal. of it remains trapped. Bihar Lights to go out across Government has asked all UK to Mark World War One Centenary government doctors and civil officials in threatened areas to cancel vacation plans. Soldiers, as well as air force helicopters and jets, were on standby for relief and rescue operations. ♣ The local government also invoked a law allowing authorities to forcibly evacuate villagers who refuse to leave their homes and property and move to higher ground or government-run relief camps. The government has so far evacuated 60,000 people and set up 120 such camps. ♣ The annual monsoon season, On August 4, the whole of machine heavily relied was which runs from June through ♣ Britain will be plunged in from India. Nearly 1.5 million September, is vital for the darkness for an hour in a Lights soldiers were drafted into the largely agrarian economies of South Asia but every year also Out initiative to mark the war effort. Of them 74,000 brings in floods and landslides centenary of the country’s died. entry into World War 1. that kill thousands and Close to 100 killed in ♣ Several official and unofficial submerge hundreds of villages. recent Xinjiang violence, events that have been planned China says Israel, Hamas accept over the last year will mark the Egyptian ceasefire plan day. They reflect and reinforce ♣ July 28 clashes in a remote town ♣ Israel and Hamas accepted an a war memorial sentiment that of the western Xinjiang region Egyptian ceasefire proposal appears as diverse as the forms had left close to 100 people meant to halt a bruising month- that memorialisation are taking killed, marking the worst long war that has claimed nearly in this country. violence to hit the Muslim- 2,000 lives, raising hopes that ♣ All these will in different ways majority region in more than the bloodiest round of fighting examine the legacy and lessons five years. between the bitter enemies emerging from World War 1 ♣ A large mob armed with knives could finally be coming to an (1914-1918), which claimed and axes attacked government end. the lives of 10 million soldiers offices, police stations and ♣ The war broke out on July 8, and impacted the lives of majority Han Chinese residents 2014 when Israel launched an countless others. in two townships in Yarkand air offensive in response to ♣ Commonwealth British citizens (Shache in Chinese), a county weeks of heavy rocket fire out have marshalled their own in the Kashgar Prefecture in of Hamas-controlled Gaza. It memories and histories of the Xinjiang’s west. expanded the operation on war experience. The largest ♣ Officials said the group had “set July 17 by sending in ground non-British component of the roadblocks” on highways to forces in what it described as a British fighting forces, and on stop vehicles, and attacked mission to destroy a network of which the imperial war passengers with knives. Some

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International Issues were seen carrying banners linked groups including Jabhat Outcry over police declaring “holy war”. al-Nusra in Syria. crackdown in Ferguson ♣ The violence in Yarkand is the ♣ The six men now subject to a biggest since July 2009, when global travel ban and asset large scale riots between freeze include four who either Uighurs and Han Chinese left recruited or helped finance al- at least 197 people killed. The Nusra — Abdelrahman government has blamed the Mouhamad Zafir al Dabidi al East Turkestan Islamic Jahani, Hajjaj Bin Fahd Al Ajmi, Movement (ETIM) and other Said Arif and Abdul Mohsen groups for organising the Abdallah Ibrahim al Charekh. attacks. ♣ Another man, Hamid Hamad Hamid al-Ali, was blacklisted ♣ A violent crackdown by law UNSC Resolution adopted enforcement authorities in to combat ISIS fighters for helping finance both al- Nusra and the Islamic State Ferguson, Missouri, after group. Abou Mohamed al protests over the shooting of an Adnani was blacklisted for unarmed teenager by a police financing and perpetrating acts officer on August 9, has raised supporting the Islamic State a national furore here, group. particularly after two journalists of major media outlets were U.S. fighting Alongside arrested and another television Terror Groups in Iraq? camera crew was hit with tear ♣ Responding to the growing ♣ In its intensifying battle in Iraq gas. terrorist threat in Iraq and Syria, against militant group Islamic ♣ After Michael Brown (18), an the U.N. Security Council State, the U.S. appeared to be African-American, was shot imposed sanctions on six men edging closer towards fighting multiple times by an unnamed for recruiting or financing alongside factions of Turkish police officer following a foreign fighters and threatened origin that the State scuffle near a squad car, additional sanctions against Department has designated as residents of Ferguson took to those supporting terrorist “terrorist” groups. the streets to protest what they groups. ♣ In recent days PKK fighters believed to be police brutality, ♣ The U.N.’s most powerful body, were said to be manning the prompting a fierce crackdown in a resolution adopted front line near Kirkuk and by SWAT teams armed with unanimously, also demanded “Aided by U.S. airstrikes on military-style weapons that the Islamic State extremist Islamic State positions, they including assault rifles and group and all al-Qaeda-linked also helped take back the key armoured cars. groups end violence and town of Makhmour from the ♣ Although the President called disarm and disband Islamic State.” for Ferguson police to be immediately. ♣ While lobbying efforts are “open and transparent” about ♣ The British-drafted resolution concurrently underway in the “heart-breaking” death of Mr. follows the recent offensive by U.S. to have the PKK de-listed Brown, the American Civil the Islamic State group, which from its terror designation, “that Liberties Union of Missouri has has taken control of a large act would require a political already initiated a lawsuit swath of eastern Syria and will that at present is lacking against the police demanding northern and western Iraq, and risks irking Turkey,” the that they release all public brutalising civilians and forcing Post said, leaving open-ended records on the case, to which hundreds of thousands to flee, the question about which they are entitled under state groups on the Kurdish list the as well as increasing terrorist law. U.S. ought to be covertly activity by other al-Qaeda- arming.

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International Issues UN Human Rights including around 2,800 the tallest in the world from the Council appoints Panel for children. point of view of pillar height Palestine Inquiry surpassing the existing tallest of Hamas Agrees to 24-hour Truce in Gaza Mala-Rijeka viaduct on Belgrade-Bar railway line in ♣ Israel extended the Europe where the height of humanitarian truce in Gaza for pillars is 139 m. another 24 hours at the request Indians in Libya told to of the United Nations, but Leave Country Hamas resumed rocket fire and rejected the move saying no ceasefire is valid without Israeli ♣ The UN Human Rights Council tanks withdrawing from Gaza as President Baudelaire Ndong conflict killed 1,050 Ella announced a three- Palestinians. member panel to investigate ♣ Hamas later agreed to observe the human rights violations in a 24-hour humanitarian truce as the occupied Palestinian fighting resumed and the two territory, particularly in the sides wrangled over the terms ♣ Amid spiralling violence in conflict-torn Gaza Strip. of a lull the international Libya, India’s mission in Tripoli ♣ Ms. Ella appointed Canadian community hopes can be advised its nationals to leave the William Schabas to serve as expanded into a more strife-torn country using all chair of the independent sustainable truce. available means and not to international commission of Construction of bridge travel to that country. inquiry, Xinhua reported. with world s tallest Pillar ♣ Andhra Pradesh government ♣ The commission also comprises begins wrote to External Affairs British lawyer Amal Alamuddin Minister Sushma Swaraj seeking and Doudou Diene from the Centre’s intervention to Senegal. evacuate people from the State ♣ The Council decided to who were working in the north establish the commission of African country. inquiry at its 21st special session ♣ Prior to the uprising in Libya, the July 23, 2014, to investigate all number of Indians engaged violations of international there was estimated to be more humanitarian law and than 18,000. international human rights law ♣ Construction of the world’s tallest railway bridge with the EU sanctions on Russia in the occupied Palestinian could self-harm territory, including East tallest pillar — it’ll be 141 Jerusalem, particularly in the metres-high — has begun near occupied Gaza Strip, in the Noney in Manipur. context of the military ♣ The bridge, which spans over operations conducted since a gorge with an overall length June 13. of about 700 meters, is part of ♣ The same session asked the the 111-km long Jiribam-Tupul- commission to present its Imphal broad gauge railway findings in March 2015. line under construction that will ♣ The present Israeli offensive in connect Manipur’s capital ♣ The impact of the new and most Gaza that began on July 8 has Imphal with the country’s comprehensive sanctions killed over 1,900 Palestinians railway network. against Russia, which the and left over 9,500 wounded, ♣ This bridge is slated to become European Union announced

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International Issues will do some self-damage, but transactions. Thus, the Corporation (UCC), finding that the burden of that should be concerns of at least one nation, the company could not be equally shared amongst France, will be addressed as sued for ongoing European economies, said U.K. the curbs on arms sale will not contamination from the ♣ The raft of sanctions was stop its sale of two Mistral chemical plant. announced by the EU. In their helicopter carrier warships to ♣ The Bhopal gas tragedy, statement, the 28 member- Russia under a contract signed considered India’s worst nations said, “It is meant as a in 2011. industrial disaster, occurred on strong warning: illegal December 2 1984 at the UCIL U.S. court rules in favour annexation of territory and of Union Carbide pesticide plant and in its wake deliberate destabilisation of a many thousands of people were neighbouring sovereign injured from exposure to country cannot be accepted in methyl isocyanate gas and other 21st century Europe. chemicals and several Furthermore, when the thousands were killed. violence created spirals out of ♣ While EarthRights International control and leads to the killing said that they were “confident of almost 300 innocent civilians [that evidence surrounding in their flight from the Couvaras’ role] will lead to a Netherlands to Malaysia, the reversal of the erroneous situation requires urgent and ♣ A New York court struck what decision on appeal,” Judge determined response.” appeared to be a deathblow Keenan further ruled that the ♣ The sanctions will “limit access to the case brought by victims Government of Madhya to EU capital markets for of the 1984 poison gas disaster Pradesh would also not be held Russian state-owned financial in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, liable for a clean-up of institutions, impose an when it ruled in favour of the contamination at the site of the embargo on trade in arms, defendant, the Union Carbide disaster. establish an export ban for dual use goods for military end- users, and curtail Russian access to sensitive technologies particularly in the field of the oil sector.” ♣ The EU had only last week put another 15 Russian individuals and 18 entities to asset freezes and visa bans on their list for “undermining Ukrainian territorial integrity and sovereignty.” ♣ Germany’s endorsement tilted the balance in favour of going for the higher level of sanctions. As the strongest EU economy, and the country with the biggest trade ties with Russia, its backing was crucial. ♣ The sanctions will not apply retroactively, but will take effect only for future

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India & The World

INDIA & THE WORLD

Great expectations from the East Asian region, Mr. and Indonesia. Modi s Japan trip Modi’s visit to Japan will be fol- ♣ “There are new leaders in lowed by a Vietnam trip by Indonesia and India. How their President Pranab Mukherjee in countries fare will affect the September. entire region. I look forward to ♣ External Affairs Minister working with them,” said Mr. SushmaSwaraj just concluded Lee referring to Indian Prime a visit to Vietnam. Minister NarendraModi and ♣ Top business leaders, includ- Indonesian President ing Mukesh Ambani, JokoWidodo in his annual GautamAdani and Kumar National Rally speech. ♣ India has “great expectations” Mangalam Birla, will travel sepa- ♣ Highlighting Singapore’s from Prime Minister rately to Japan in visits timed to concern about global NarendraModi’s five-day visit coincide with high-level busi- uncertainties, Mr. Lee said: “The to Japa, his first bilateral trip ness interactions Mr. Modi will world is in flux. Conflicts far outside the subcontinent. initiate with his Japanese coun- away could affect us.” ♣ Underlining the importance of terpart, Shinzo Abe. Japanese investment in India, Pakistan hold third flag meeting smart cities high on Modi agenda

♣ During his visit to Japan, from August 31 to September 3, Prime Minister NarendraModi is hoping to seal several bilateral agreements. ♣ According to diplomatic Officers of the Border Security denied the charge and drew sources, these will include Force and the Desert Rangers attention to the loss of life and infrastructural investment for of Pakistan held their third flag property in BSF shelling. the government’s “smart cities” meeting along the international ♣ Committed to working with initiative, with Japan proposing border that has witnessed Modi government, says project development agree- relentless ceasefire violations in Singapore PM ments on high-speed railways, the past month and a half. ♣ Singapore Prime Minister Lee more industrial corridors, and ♣ While the BSF complained HsienLoong re-affirmed his road-links and rail-links through about regular ceasefire commitment to working with the north-eastern States to violations, the Pakistani Rangers newly elected leaders in India ASEAN countries as well.

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India & The World

♣ The one aspect of the new of polluting the planet and grant the Most Favoured Nation government’s foreign policy finance technology transfer to (MFN) status to India as the that has moved from the past is the developing world. formalities on the matter had the tougher language of ♣ BASIC proposed joint action on already been completed. discourse with leaders. various issues including Pakistan is yet to reciprocate emission targets and other India’s grant of MFN status to it BASIC Ministerial meet on August 7, 8 plans to be set out by next year. in 1996. ♣ A joint statement issued here ♣ The PIJBF has constituted 10 after the two-day 18th task forces including for ministerial meeting said agriculture, banking and progress after the Warsaw finance, energy, visa climate talks was reviewed and facilitation, textiles, the 2015 outcome to be automobiles, engineering and adopted at the meeting in Paris IT that will recommend steps should be comprehensive, and policies that the two balanced, equitable and fair in neighbours could take for ♣ The twoday 18th BASIC order to enhance the effective increasing bilateral trade and countries (Brazil, South Africa, implementation of the United investments. Nations Framework Convention India and China) Ministerial India to draft 5-year plan Meeting will get underway to on Climate Change. of action to deepen ties discuss important issues relating ♣ India said all countries should with ASEAN to the current UNFCCC Climate ratify the second commitment Change negotiations specially period of the Kyoto Protocol on matters pertaining to the quickly and there should be full Adhoc Working Group on the operationalisation of the Green Durban Platform. Climate Fund. Under the ♣ The 17th BASIC Ministerial Durban Platform, the countries Meeting on Climate Change were expected to increase was held in Hanzghou, China their ambitions on emission cuts last October. but that is not happening, with ♣ The BASIC Ministerial meeting some like Japan reducing their In her address at the 12th India- provides an opportunity to En- targets. ♣ ASEAN meeting in Nay Pyi vironment Ministers to enhance India, Pakistan must Taw, External Affairs Minister coordination on important is- Negotiate FTAs sues in climate change nego- Sushma Swaraj said India would tiations and to arrive at a com- soon draft a five-year plan of mon position on such issues. action starting 2016 to take the The BASIC Ministers have been trajectories of common meeting regularly since the interests with ASEAN to a new Conference of Parties in level and particularly Copenhagen. ’ emphasised on improving connectivity in the region to Developed Nations must further boost trade and walk the talk on Climate people-to-people contact. Goals ♣ Co-chair of the India-Pakistan ♣ Strongly pitching for Joint Business Forum (IPJBF) improvement in connectivity, ♣ The BASIC (Brazil, South said that the two neighbours Indian said India wanted Africa, India and China) group should consider negotiating connectivity in all its reiterated that developed free trade agreements (FTAs). dimensions - geographic, countries should walk the talk He also expressed the hope institutional and people-to- on climate change goals, accept that Islamabad would soon their historical responsibilities people. She also referred to

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India & The World

5Ts of government of India — Singaporean counterpart K. and allocated Rs 7,060 crore Tradition, Talent, Tourism, Shanmugam held extensive for the ambitious project. Trade and Technology — talks on entire gamut of bilateral India, U.S. to discuss reflecting priority areas and relations and discussed ways to problems in nuclear noted that in foreign policy speed up air and maritime Trade connectivity precedes them all. connectivity and coastal ♣ The ASEAN-India strategic development. partnership owes its strength to the fact that India’s ‘Look East’ policy meets ASEAN’S ‘Look West’ towards India. ♣ The members of ASEAN include Brunei, Cambodia, Indo- nesia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines and Viet- ♣ Mr. Kerry will be meeting nam. India and the ASEAN have External Affairs Minister already implemented a free ♣ During their talks spread over a Sushma Swaraj along with a full trade agreement in goods and delegation for the fifth Indo- are set to widen its base and working lunch hosted by Mr. Shanmugam, the two leaders U.S. Strategic Dialogue. include services and invest- ♣ Mr. Kerry will also meet Mr. ments. The India-ASEAN Trade agreed to work towards a bilateral meeting between Jaitley, and sources said in Goods Agreement was discussions on defence signed in August 2009 and it Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Singaporean purchases that the U.S. is came into force on January 1, pushing, including helicopters, 2010. counterpart Lee Hsien Loong at missiles, and ultra-light ♣ There has been significant the earliest possible howitzer guns, are expected to progress in ties between India opportunity. be positive. and the ASEAN grouping in ♣ Singapore being the largest During the strategic dialogue, the last few years in diverse foreign investor last year, the ♣ India and the U.S. will try and sectors, particularly in trade and visit by Ms. Swaraj, who arrived iron out the issues in conduct- commerce. The bilateral trade on Friday night, is aimed at grew by 4.6 per cent from $68.4 further enhancing investment ing civil nuclear trade. Despite interest from companies such billion in 2011 to $71.6 billion to India in various infrastructure as Westinghouse and GE, trade in 2012. ASEAN’s exports were projects including the new has been blocked over U.S. valued at $43.84 billion and government’s ambitious 100 concerns on India’s suppliers’ imports from India amounted to smart cities venture. In the liability clause. India has al- $27.72 billion in 2012. The tar- budget, the new Indian ready been able to cross simi- get has been set at $100 billion government had proposed to by 2015 for ASEAN-India lar hurdles with France and develop 100 ‘smart cities’ as Russia. trade. satellite towns of larger cities India, Singapore decide to scale up trade ties

♣ India and Singapore decided to scale up ties in key areas of investment and trade which has witnessed a huge surge from $4.2 billion to about $19.4 billion in the last one decade. ♣ External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her

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Economy

ECONOMY Tata Value ties up with (HUPA) has proposed rolling Insurance Bill may be Snapdeal out a loan assistance scheme cleared by year-end that will for the first time help transgenders and economically weaker sections to secure home loans in urban areas.

♣ Online marketplace Snapdeal and Tata Value Homes, a ♣ Union Finance Minister subsidiary of Tata Housing with ArunJaitley has expressed focus on affordable housing , hope that Parliament will pass announced partnership to ♣ The Ministry has tweaked the the Insurance Bill for raising the enable users to buy houses existing Rajiv RinnYojna (RRY), foreign direct investment (FDI) online. which was launched as an limit to 49 per cent by the end ♣ As part of the partnership, instrument to aid the EWS of this year, the first major about 1,000 homes across (economically weaker economic reform proposed by projects in cities such as sections) and LIG (lower the NarendraModi Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, income group) segments in Government. Bangalore and Chennai will be urban areas, through enhanced ♣ The UPA Government had put up for sale on Snapdeal. credit flow and replaced it with originally proposed raising the These houses are priced a new scheme that will make it FDI cap back in 2008 when it between Rs.18 lakh and Rs.70 easier for the economically introduced the Insurance Laws lakh and range from 1 BHK to 3 weaker sections and minority (Amendment) Bill. However, BHK. groups to own homes. opposition from political ♣ Tata Value Homes will continue ♣ The RRY launched by the UPA parties, including the BJP, did to sell through its own portal as government with much fanfare not allow the Bill to be taken well. failed to take off and funds up in the RajyaSabha. ♣ Upon possession of the house, earmarked for it lapsed. ♣ The Modi Government customers buying the house ♣ The Ministry has now not only introduced a fresh Insurance through Snapdeal will get given it a new name — HOMES Laws (Amendment) Bill in Rs.10,000 a month for a year as (Home Owners Mortgage Parliament earlier this month. It an assured rent (whether they Equity Subvention Scheme) proposes a rider that stay on premise or lease it out) but has also made it more management control rests in the as part of the deal. attractive by enhancing the hands of an Indian promoter Centre to unveil home loan amount and increasing the alongside the eased FDI cap. loan Scheme for interest subsidy from 5 per ♣ After the introduction of the Transgenders cent to 5.5 per cent on loans Bill, the government moved 97 amendments because of which The Union Ministry of Housing granted to construct houses or ♣ it could not be passed. and Urban Poverty Alleviation extend the existing ones.

28 http://www.iasexamportal.com Economy Monthly cap on LPG of Rs. 1,000 and a higher wage had increased DA to 100 per cylinders Goes ceiling of Rs. 15,000 for social cent from 90 per cent with security schemes run by the effect from January 1, 2014, on ♣ The Union Cabinet lifted the February 28 on the basis of restriction of one LPG cylinder Employees’ Provident Fund agreed formula for revision of per month to a domestic Organisation will be the allowance. consumer. While households implemented from September 1. It will benefit 28 lakh will still get only 12 cylinders in Competition Commission pensioners. a year at subsidised rates. of India puts Sun- The government has raised the ♣ The monthly cap has been ♣ Ranbaxy deal under lifted in view of complaints maximum sum assured under public Scrutiny from consumers regarding the the Employees’ Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme to Rs. 3 lakh. ♣ The Competition Commission, limited access to LPG imposed which has put the multi-billion by the earlier restriction. ♣ This means in case an EPFO subscriber dies, his family will dollar Sun-Ranbaxy deal for ♣ Now consumers can avail be entitled to sum assured of public scrutiny, said the major themselves of their quota of 12 issue is whether the cylinders at any time of the Rs 3.6 lakh instead of existing Rs 1.56 lakh. combination would result in year. high market concentration of Govt to increase Smart cards to buy Milk certain molecules. dearness allowance to 107 p.c Labour issues can t be solved using police: HC ♣ The Government is likely to approve a hike in dearness allowance (DA) to 107 per cent from the existing 100 per cent, benefiting around 30 lakh Centre’s employees and its 50 lakh pensioners including ♣ Angry customers haggling with dependents. milk-booth operators for ♣ “The average rate of retail infla- change is a common sight. tion for industrial workers from July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014 ♣ Keeping this in mind and to works out to be 7.25 per cent. promote cashless transactions, ♣ “A labour problem cannot be Delhi-NCR’s largest milk sup- Thus the Central government will hike dearness allowance for solved using police force,” said plier, Mother Dairy, has teamed Justice P. Devadass of the up with the State Bank of India it employees by 7 per cent,” an official said. Madras High Court, while to make everyone’s life easier releasing on conditional bail with the help of a smart card. ♣ He said the Finance Ministry will now put a Cabinet proposal 167 workers arrested on the Higher minimum PF for approval of 7 per cent DA Independence Day for staging pension from Sept. 1 hike from July 1 this year as the a demonstration at the revised Consumer Price Index- Kancheepuram Collectorate. Industrial Workers data for June ♣ The judge said the arrested was released by Labour Minis- could not be treated as try on Saturday. hardened criminals as they did ♣ With increase in DA, the not possess any lethal weapon. pensioners will also gain as the ♣ The police or public or public benefit provided to them as officials were not their enemies. dearness relief will be hiked to They were airing their 107 per cent of basic pay. grievance against the ♣ The minimum monthly pension ♣ The previous UPA government management of a company.

http://www.iasexamportal.com 29 Economy L&T to bid for up a working group to study Gross Domestic Product Bullet Train Project various issues relating to (GDP). ♣ Larsen & Toubro (L&T) is gear- taxation of financial ♣ There were no “reliable” ing up to bid for the instruments. estimates of black money government’s ambitious bullet generated in India and held train project, its Executive within and outside the country, Chairman A. M. Naik, said. the government commissioned ♣ He said that L&T had emerged the National Institute of Public as the lowest price bidder for Finance and Policy (NIPFP) to the SardarVallabhbhai Patel’s estimate the black money in Statue of Unity project in India and held overseas by Gujarat though the contract Indians. was yet to be awarded. ♣ The working group is expected ♣ The capitation fees collected ♣ The company is also expecting to suggest appropriate by private colleges, on bigger opportunities from infra- rationalisation measures to management quota seats in structure projects, including boost private financial savings. professional courses, last year metro rail. It will review the current tax was around Rs 5,953 crore. 5 Indian firms among structure as applicable to Plan afoot to make Forbes most innovative various financial instruments Telcos Tighten companies issued in theIndian financial Verification Norms system. It will also identify ♣ Five Indian companies, possible ‘tax arbitrage’ among including Hindustan Unilever financial instruments under the and Tata Consultancy Services, extant tax structure. Also, it will are among Forbes’ list of the suggest rationalisation of tax world’s 100 most innovative treatment across financial companies that investors think instruments to promote are most likely to “generate big, financial savings and for new growth ideas”. minimising distortions, taking ♣ The annual ‘World’s Most into account the ♣ The Government is planning to Innovative Companies’ list, recommendations of earlier finalise and notify an upgraded released, has been topped by committees in this regard and penalty structure after its California-based global cloud the draft Direct Taxes Code. strategy of imposing fines on computing company ♣ BalbirKaur, Adviser, companies with unverified Salesforce for the fourth year Department of Economic and mobile phone subscribers paid in a row. Policy Research, Reserve Bank marginal dividends. ♣ The five Indian companies on of India, will be the convenor ♣ The Department of Telecom the list are consumer goods of the group. (DoT) has been invoking company Hindustan Unilever, ♣ It is expected to submit its licence conditions to impose which is ranked 14th, followed report within three months of penalties on companies slow in by IT major Tata Consultancy its first meeting. verifying whether subscribers Services (57), construction have complied with the Black Economy now services firm Larsen & Toubro formalities of providing their amounts to 75% of GDP (58), pharma major Sun Pharma residential address and other Industries (65) and Bajaj Auto ♣ Driven substantially by the details. (96). higher education sector, real ♣ The Department of Telecom RBI panel to study tax estate deals and mining has always drawn short when structure on financial income, India’s black economy penalising private companies. instruments could now be nearly three- Every year about two dozen quarters the size of its reported telecom operators attract ♣ The Reserve Bank of India, set

30 http://www.iasexamportal.com Economy penalties for various offences undertake organisational India . but the actual money flowing restructuring. ♣ The government is promoting to the Government Exchequer generation of renewable has hovered around the 15 to energy by providing various 20 per cent mark. fiscal and financial incentives ♣ According to DoT, these such as capital and interest phone companies have been subsidy, concessional excise unable to account for the and customs duties to identity and residence proofs encourage Indian and foreign of over 4.5 crore SIM cards. investors to invest in new Companies should have paid ♣ Asked if there is a timeline for renewable energy sector. heed to the country’s national the merger, the source said Govt seeks ways to security interests while there is no set timeframe but it increase use of competing with each other to might take one to two years. broadband capacity enrol more customers. ♣ Minister of Communications and IT Ravishankar Prasad had ♣ Concerned over under- PM announces Rs. 8,000- utilisation of broadband Crore Package also met the senior management of BSNL and MTNL re- capacity, the government ♣ Prime Minister Narendra Modi cently to discuss the blueprint sought suggestions from the waived off Jammu and for reviving the loss-making industry to enhance its usage Kashmir’s Rs. 60-crore liability PSU telecom companies. that is at around 50 per cent towards the Food Corporation level. India s largest solar of India and announced a Power plant Planned in special Central assistance of Rs. Madhya Pradesh 8,000 crore for four major road projects. ♣ Listing ‘Prakash’ (energy), ‘Paryavaran’ (ecology) and ‘Paryatan’ (tourism) as development boosters the State needs, Mr. Modi said the ♣ The government and other development of J&K was a top stakeholders have to find the priority for his government. ♣ Plans are afoot to set up the reason for under-utilisation of ♣ Mr. Modi also inaugurated two country’s largest ultra mega broadband by the private power projects — at Nemo solar plant in Madhya Pradesh’s sector “whether it is cost, Bazgo in Leh and at Chutak in Rewa district. The plant, to speeds of connectivity or is it Kargil — besides laying the produce 700 MW of electricity, devices that are very costly”. foundation stone of a Rs 1,788- would require an investment of ♣ The government is working to cr transmission line that would Rs 4,000 crore. connect all the 2.5 lakh connect entire Ladakh region ♣ Thirteen hectares of land panchayats with high speed to the northern grid via Srinagar spread over four villages of broadband network but and Drass. Barseta, Ramnagar, Latar and stakeholders need to ensure DoT working on Badwaar has been chosen for that the new infrastructure Modalities of locating the plant in Gurh tehsil being laid is utilised by people BSNL-MTNL Merger of Rewa. The State government in the rural areas. would set up the plant as a joint ♣ The government has plans to In a bid to revive BSNL and ♣ venture with the Ministry of set-up National E-governance MTNL, Department of Telecom New and Renewable Energy, Academy, knowledge portal is working on modalities to Power Grip Corporation and the on e-governance and enhance merge the two state-run Solar Energy Corporation of usage of social media platform. telecom companies and also

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Science & Technology

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

DGCA Surprise Checks library of Florida’s newest ♣ India is on the verge of Reveal Leading Airlines university. Welcoming its first developing a new climate Violating Safety students this week, Florida prediction model exhibiting Procedures Polytechnic University’s new climatic fluctuations on library houses not a single decadal timescales that have physical book. large societal implications, ♣ The ‘bookless’ library is not the ShaileshNaik, Secretary to the first in America: Library Journal Ministry of Earth Sciences, has also cites a bookless public li- said. brary in Bexar County, Texas, a ♣ Addressing the media, Mr. Naik school library in Minnesota and said scientists of various two NASA libraries. agencies led by the India India to get decadal Meteorological Department ♣ The Directorate General of Civil climate Prediction Model were on the final stage of establishing a model that could Aviation (DGCA) put up a Along with this, the Geological ♣ forecast the subtleties of presentation on safety Survey of India has been work- standards for airline ing on area-specific forecasting climate with a fair degree of representatives that revealed of landslides. accuracy. some glaring lack of safety First indigenously built stealth corvette inducted procedures by leading carriers. BMW launches updated version of X3

♣ German luxury carmaker BMW, launched the updated version of its sports utility vehicle X3. ♣ The new X3 is available only in diesel option, and is being ♣ Indigenously built stealth anti- ArunJaitley, Chief of Naval Staff locally produced at the submarine warfare corvette INS Admiral R K Dhowan, Flag company’s Chennai plant. Kamorta was commissioned Officer Commanding-in-Chief Florida s newest into the Eastern Fleet of the of Eastern Naval Command university opens bookless Indian Navy at a grand Vice Admiral SatishSoni, library ceremony. Controller of Warship ♣ Commander ManojJha read the Production and Acquisition ♣ There are no dusty bookshelves commissioning warrant in the Vice Admiral A Subedar and or piles of textbooks in the presence of Defence Minister Chairman and Managing

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Science & Technology

Director Garden Reach were recently tested about whether it’s right to use Shipbuilders and Engineers successfully in Panna Tiger untested treatments in people Rear Admiral (retd) AK Verma. Reserve and Kaziranga forest. sickened by a disease that has ♣ Following the breaking of ♣ Drones can also be used for no licensed treatment. Commissioning Penant, night surveillance and tracking Sierra Leone National Flag and Navy Ensign of many elusive and shy animals Declares Emergency were hoisted for the first time like the red panda and snow on the ship. leopard, which are very rarely seen by the human eye in their Drones to guard India s forests and wildlife natural wild habitat. Travelling at a speed of 40 km per hour, the drones can be used for around 40-50 minutes WHO says it s ethical to try untested Ebola medicines ♣ Sierra Leone leader Ernest Bai Koroma declared a state of emergency as the country struggled to contain the deadly ebola epidemic. ♣ Unmanned aerial vehicles or ♣ The impoverished country, drones will soon fly over India’s along with neighbouring forests to monitor poaching, Guinea and Liberia, is struggling track wildlife and even count to contain an epidemic that has the population of tigers. infected 1,200 people and left ♣ Scientists at the Wildlife ♣ The World Health Organization 672 dead across the region Institute of India (WII) are (WHO) said it’s ethical to use since the start of the year. coming up with a series of such unproven Ebola drugs and ♣ Mr. Koroma announced a raft drones which are being vaccines in the outbreak in of measures as part of the state customised indigenously to suit West Africa provided the right of emergency, including different types of forest conditions are met. quarantining ebola-hit areas landscape. ♣ The U.N. agency issued the and deploying security forces ♣ Under a joint collaboration with statement after holding a to protect medical workers. He the National Tiger Conservation teleconference with experts to banned all public meetings not Authority (NTCA) and discuss the issue. related to ebola and cancelled international environment body ♣ The WHO said that people can foreign trips by ministers and WWF, they are preparing a ethically receive such other government officials, detailed project report for treatments but sidestepped the exempting only “absolutely introducing drone monitoring questions of who should get essential engagements.” in 10 wildlife-rich areas across the limited drugs and how that ♣ The largest recorded Ebola the country. should be decided. outbreak in history has led the ♣ A drone can be put on ♣ In the biggest-ever outbreak of US Peace Corps to evacuate autopilot mode and sent as far Ebola, two Americans have hundreds of volunteers from as 40-50 km deep into the gotten an experimental Ebola three affected West African forest where it can record treatment never tested in countries. images and videos and transmit humans and two more ♣ Ebola has no vaccine and no them on a real-time basis. Its treatments were reportedly on specific treatment, with a movement can also be their way to treat two Liberia fatality rate of at least 60 per controlled through a GPS- doctors. The developments cent. based system. Such drones have raised ethical questions ♣ Fears that the outbreak could

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Science & Technology

spread to other continents said in a letter to his Russian December 8, 1987 by have been growing with counterpart Vladimir Putin in a erstwhile U.S. President Ronald European and Asian countries letter on Monday that Russia Reagan and Soviet leader on alert. had violated a 1987 arms Mikhail Gorbachev, and was control treaty when it allegedly considered to be an agreement Russia Violated Missile Treaty: U.S. ground-launched a cruise that would limit the risk of missile. strikes against Europe. ♣ The Obama administration’s ♣ This risk increased after the charge against Russia, Soviet Union achieved “rough described as the “most serious strategic parity” with the U.S. allegation of an arms control in the mid-1970s and then treaty violation,” made to date, began replacing older follows reports by U.S. officials intermediate-range SS-4 and that Russia began testing cruise SS-5 missiles with a new missiles as far back as 2008. intermediate-range missile, the ♣ U.S. President Barack Obama ♣ The INF Treaty was signed on SS-20.

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Science & Technology

SPORTS

India finish fifth with 64 Medals outstanding sportspersons of the country while former hockey skipper Ajitpal Singh is likely to be in charge of selecting the Dronacharya awardees. ♣ While Kapil, who bagged 434 wickets in 131 Tests in his 16- year-long career, got the Arjuna award in 1980, former Olympian Ajitpal was conferred the award in 1970, and awarded it in 1972. ♣ A source in the sports ministry said the government had issued a notification in writing to all persons concerned. The awards will be conferred on ♣ The CWG incidents took some Kapil Dev will head the Arjuna National Sports Day which is of the sheen off the impressive Awards selection committee August 29. 64 medal haul — 15 gold, 30 for choosing this year’s silver and 19 bronze — that ensured a fifth place finish in Kabaddi goes the leaderboard for India after International with World Kabaddi League England, Australia, Canada and hosts Scotland. ♣ It was India’s third best showing in the Commonwealth Games after the 100 plus bounty at home in Delhi four years back and the 69 medals they picked up at Manchester in 2002. Kapil to head Arjuna Awards Selection Committee

♣ It’s quintessentially Indian but ♣ Featuring eight teams, Kabaddi is all set to make waves including one from Pakistan, across three continents with the tournament will be played the first-of-its-kind World for four months in USA, Kabaddi League kickstarting in England, Canada, UAE and ♣ Former India cricket captain London . India.

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♣ The venues for the league citations andcash prize of ♣ Selection Committee for include eight international Rs.5 lakh each. Dronacharya Awards was (London, Birmingham, Dubai, ♣ Rashtriya Khel Protsahan headed by Shri Ajitpal Singh. New York, Los Angeles, Puruskar is given to the ♣ Selection Committee for Sacramento, Vancouver, corporate entities (both in Dhyan Chand Awards was Toronto) and six Indian (New private and public sector) and headed by Shri Ajit Mohan Delhi, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, individuals who have played a Saran , Secretary (Sports). Bhatinda, Amritsar, Mohali) visible role in the area of sports ♣ Selection Committee for cities. promotion and Rashtriya Khel Protsahan ♣ The tournament will follow the development. Recipients of Puruskar was headed by Shri double round robin format with Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Ajit Mohan Sharan, Secretary a total of 94 matches — 90 Puruskar will be given Trophies. (Sports). league games and four playoffs ♣ The awardees will receive their ♣ Based on the — and has 144 international awards from the President of recommendations of the players on its roster. India at a specially organized Committee and after due ♣ Every team will play the other function at the Rashtrapati scrutiny, the Government has seven thrice before the top Bhawan on August 29, 2014. approved to confer awards four qualify for the play-offs. ♣ Selection Committee for Rajiv upon the The final will be played in Gandhi Khel Ratna Award and following sportspersons/ Mohali on December 14. Arjuna Awards was headed by coaches/organizations: National Shri Kapil Dev. Sports Awards 2014 (i) Arjuna Awards 2014 ♣ National Sports Awards are given every year to recognize S. No. NAME OF THE DISCIPLINE and reward excellence in SPORTSPERSON sports. 1 Mr. Abhishek Verma Archery ♣ Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna 2 Ms. Tintu Luka Athletics Award is given for the spectacular and most 3 Mr. H.N. Girisha Para-Athletics outstanding performance in 4 Mr. V. Diju Badminton the field of sports by 5 Ms. Geetu Anna Jose Basketball a sportsperson over a period 6 Mr. Jai Bhagwan Boxing of four years immediately 7 Mr. R. Ashwin Cricket preceding the year during 8 Mr. Anirban Lahiri Golf which award is to be given. 9 Ms. Mamta Pujari Kabaddi ♣ Arjuna Award is given 10 Mr. Saji Thomas Rowing for consistently outstanding 11 Ms. Heena Sidhu Shooting performance for four years 12 Ms. Anaka Alankamony Squash preceding the year of award. 13 Mr. Tom Joseph Volleyball ♣ Dronacharya Award for 14 Ms. Renu Bala Chanu Weightlifting coaches for producing medal 15 Mr. Sunil Kumar Rana Wrestling winners at prestigious international sports events. (ii) Dronacharya Awards 2014 ♣ Dhyan Chand Sl. No. Name Discipline Award for life 1. Shri Mahabir Prasad Wrestling time contribution to sports development. 2. Shri N. Lingappa Athletics – Lifetime ♣ Arjuna, Dronacharya and 3. Shri G. Manoharan Boxing – Lifetime Dhyan Chand Awardees 4. Shri Gurcharan Singh Gogi Judo – Lifetime will receive statuettes, 5. Shri Jose Jacob Rowing – Lifetime

36 http://www.iasexamportal.com Sports (iii) Dhyan Chand Awards 2014 second track and field medal Sl. No. Name Discipline by clinching the silver in women’s discus throw of the 1. Shri Gurmail Singh Hockey athletic events of the 2. Shri K.P. Thakkar Swimming (Diving) Commonwealth Games. 3. Shri Zeeshan Ali Tennis ♣ The Indian had a season’s best throw of 61.61m off her fifth (iv) Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar 2014 effort as she finished second best behind Australian gold Entity recommended for Sl. Rashtriya Khel medallist Dani Samuels. Category No. Protsahana Purushkar, ♣ Samuels had a best of 64.88m 2014 through her fourth trial, to save 1. Employment of sports persons and sports welfare Oil and Natural Gas measures Corporation Limited the top place of the podium, (ONGC) after towering over the field all 2. Community Sports - identification and nurturing of J indal Steel Works (JSW) along. budding /young talent ♣ Krishna Poonia, the gold medal 3. Establishment and Management of sports academies Guru Hanuman Akhara, winner at the New Delhi Games of excellence Delhi in 2010, finished fifth with a 4. Other forms of sports activities not covered in the Child Link Foundation of four categories mentioned in the schemes India (Magic Bus) best effort of 57.84m against her name. (v) For Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna 2014, no sportsperson has been recommended. Sait Nagjee Indian Boxers in CWGs country its first medal of day 10 Trophy to be Revived of the 2014 Commonwealth Games on Saturday. ♣ Sakina lifted a total weight of 88.2 kg to finish third.

♣ Led by Olympic bronze medallist Vijender Singh, ♣ The SaitNagjee Trophy all-India Indian pugilists stole the football tournament, once one limelight on the ninth day of of the most important events in the competitions with four of India’s football calendar and a them assuring silver medals for huge hit in this football-crazy India while paddlers Achanta ♣ Esther Oyema (136kg) of city, is being revived after a gap Sharath Kamal and Anthony Nigeria took home the gold of 20 years. Amalraj bagged a silver in the while England’s Natalie Blake ♣ World varsity meet from Sept. men’s doubles event of the took home the silver with a 1 20th Commonwealth Games in 100.2kg lift. ♣ The eighth edition of the Glasgow. ♣ India with the latest addidtion World University squash Indian Powerlifter of medal take their tally to 52, championship will be hosted Sakina Wins Bronzed including 13 golds, 23 silvers by Squash Rackets Federation and 16 bronzes. of India at the ISA courts, ♣ Indian powerlifter Sakina Seema Punia takes Chennai from September 1 to Khatun won the bronze in the Discus Silver 7, in association with the women’s lightweight (up to Association of Indian 61kg) category to give the ♣ Seema Punia gave India a Universities.

http://www.iasexamportal.com 37 Sports National Sports Gogi (judo), Jose Jacob sports activities not covered in Awards Presented (rowing). the categories mentioned in ♣ Dhyan Chand award: the schemes). Gurmail Singh (hockey), K.P. Mudgal Committee Thakkar (swimming-diving), Files Report Zeeshan Ali (tennis). ♣ Tenzing Norgay Awards: Land adventure: SubedarJagat Singh, Passang Tenzing Sherpa; Air adventure: MWO Surender The awardees: Singh; ♣ Lifetime achievement: Wg. ♣ Arjuna award: Abhishek Cdr. (retd) AmitChowdhury. Verma (archery), Tintu Luka ♣ MaulanaAbulKalam Azad (athletics), H.N. Girisha (para- Trophy: Punjabi University, ♣ The Justice MukulMudgal athletics), V. Diju (badminton), Patiala. Committee filed a report in the Geethu Anna Jose (basketball), ♣ Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Supreme Court on its Jai Bhagwan (boxing), R. Puraskar: Oil and Natural Gas investigation into the roles of Ashwin (cricket), AnirbanLahiri Corporation (employment of ICC president N. Srinivasan and (golf), MamtaPujari (kabaddi), sports persons and sports 12 prominent players in the Saji Thomas (rowing), welfare measures); Jindal Steel Indian Premier League (IPL) HeenaSidhu (shooting), Works (community sports– betting and spot-fixing AnakaAlankamony (squash), identification and nurturing of scandal. Tom Joseph (volleyball), budding/young talent); Guru ♣ However, the census data for RenubalaChanu (weightlifting), Hanuman akhara 2011 show that only 144 million Sunil Kumar Rana (wrestling). (establishment and households, which means ♣ Dronacharya award:award:Mahabir management of sports about 300 million individuals, Prasad (wrestling); Lifetime academies of excellence); have access to banking achievement: N. Lingappa Child Link Foundation of India– services, indicating that many (athletics), G. Manoharan Magic Bus (other forms of have multiple accounts. (boxing), Gurcharan Singh

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Awards and Prizes

AWARDS & PRIZES

Ashok Chakra WADHWA, SIKH, 6 RR • 2897845N L/NK HAMMA RAM, • IC-65667P MAJ SANJAYA RAJ RIF, 18 RR • IC-72861M MAJ MUKUND KUMAR, GUARDS, 21 RR • 13623989L L/NK DHARMA VARADARAJAN, RAJPUT, 44 • IC-67047X MAJ RAHUL NAND PANDEY, PARA, 18 RR RR (POSTHUMOUS) SINGH, SIKH LI, 19 RR • 14439779F L/NK SANJAY Shaurya Chakra (POSTHUMOUS) KUMAR, ARTY, 62 RR • IC-68833H MAJ SREEKANT R, • 15157908W L/NK V ANTHONY • IC-64002M MAJ ABHISHEK RAJPUT, 44 RR NIRMAL VIJI, ARTY, 111 KUMAR, PUNJAB, 22 RR • IC-69885L MAJ PARAG ROCKET REGT • IC-65352L MAJ MANOHAR GOMBER, RAJ RIF, 9 RR (POSTHUMOUS) SINGH BHATI, SM, PARA, 31 • IC-70439W MAJ VIKAS • 15572631N L/NK WAGH RR KUMAR, ARTY, 1 AR KAILASH LAHU, 107 ENGRS • IC-72726Y MAJ SATNAM • IC-73196F MAJ HIMANSHU REGT (POSTHUMOUS) SINGH, ENGRS, 15 ASSAM PAREEK, ARMD, 53 RR • 18003189H L/NK DEEPAK RIFLES • IC-73754X MAJ VIRENDRA KUMAR VERMA, 70 ENGRS, • IC-73277F MAJ VISHAL SINGH CHANDEL, 703 FD COY (POSTHUMOUS) SINGH RAGHAV, RAJ RIF, 18 GRENADIERS, 29 RR • 2501110W SEP JAGDEEP RR • SS-42879N CAPT RINTOMON KUMAR, PUNJAB, 22 RR • JC-539962H SUB PRAKASH THACHIL, 21 PARA (SF) • 2502628W SEP AJIT CHAND, 8 KUMAON • IC-75916W LT PANKAJ KAPOOR, PUNJAB, 22 RR (POSTHUMOUS) KUMAR, 18 MAHAR • 4367466M SEP SENTIREMBA, • 4368146K NK ANSAIGRA • IC-76425M LT ABHAY 5 ASSAM BASUMATARY, 5 ASSAM SHARMA, 1 PARA (SF) • G/5002293K RFN CHAMAN • 5048243X L/NK BHARAT • JC-540555M SUB DHYAN LAL, 1 ASSAM RIFLES KUMAR CHHETRI, 3/1 GR SINGH ADHIKARI, KUMAON, • G/5010541K RFN PRASANAJIT • 3005411L SEP VIKRAM, 50 RR BAL, 1 ASSAM RIFLES RAJPUT, 44 RR • JC-612640N SUB TEK • 15164971N GUNNER (POSTHUMOUS) BAHADUR RANA, 2/4 GR MOHAMMED EJRAEL SHAIKH, ARTY, 111 ROCKET • 5352474K RFN PREM • 3192105Y HAV DULI CHAND, BAHADUR ROKA MAGAR, 2/4 2 PARA (SF) REGT • 15621991W GDSM SUNIL GR • 13622406L HAV WARKADE KUMAR, GUARDS, 21 RR Sena Medal (Gallantry) ASHOK SHANKAR, 2 PARA (SF) Operation Rakshak • IC-56366K LT COL PAONAM • 13622568W HAV SUNIL • IC-62911Y MAJ VIVEK ROMESH SINGH, KUMAON, 50 KUMAR SINGH, PARA, 18 RR YADUBANSHI, 3/1 GR RR • 2895600Y NK KARTAR SINGH, • IC-63075M MAJ MANI INDER • IC-63475Y MAJ ANIL KUMAR RAJ RIF, 18 RR YADAV, ARMY AVN, 37 (I) R & PAL, GRENADIERS, 29 RR • 2998440K NK SAMIR KUMAR • IC-63384P MAJ GAURAV O FLT MIDYA, 2 RAJPUT • IC-67051A MAJ AMANDEEP SOLANKI, 4 PARA (SF) • 4571766P NK GOURAB SEN, • IC-63960N MAJ SINGH, ASC, 30 RR 18 MAHAR • IC-70723M MAJ SUSHIL SUBHRAPRATIM BOSE, JAK • 13623908A NK MANILAL DEB CHAND, ENGRS, 6 RR RIF, 3 RR BARMA, 9 PARA (SF) • IC-72403W MAJ SIDDHARTHA • IC-64204N MAJ DUSHYANT • 2608053X L/NK MOHD FEROZ SINHA, 7 GARH RIF POONIA, ASC, 55 RR KHAN, MADRAS, 38 RR • 4078449N NK TRILOK SINGH, • IC-65062N MAJ KASHISH (POSTHUMOUS) 3 GARH RIF

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Awards and Prizes

• 4078472F NK CHATUR SINGH, • An Iranian-born mathematician awarded to two, three, or four 3 GARH RIF has become the first woman to mathematicians not over 40 • 9104594A NK TILAK RAJ, 17 win a prestigious global prize years of age at each JAK LI known as the Field Medal, the International Congress of the • 4283389X L/NK MANGRA International Congress of International Mathematical ORAON, 15 BIHAR Mathematicians has Union (IMU), a meeting that • 4286978Y SEP DHARMENDRA announced. takes place every four years. KUMAR YADAV, 15 BIHAR • Maryam Mirzakhani, a Harvard • The Fields Medal is often • 4581457A SEP MAGRE RAHUL educated mathematician and viewed as the greatest honour BHIMRAO, MAHAR, 30 RR professor at Stanford University a mathematician can receive. • 3009746A SEP PRASHANT in California, was one of four • The Fields Medal and the Abel KUMAR, RAJPUT, 44 RR winners announced at the Prize have often been de- • 4201803F SEP AJAY VEER, group’s conference in Seoul. scribed as the “mathematician’s KUMAON, 50 RR • An expert in the geometry of Nobel Prize” (but different at • 2502449W SEP JOGINDER unusual forms, she has come up least for the age restriction). SINGH MANHAS, PUNJAB, 53 with novel ways to calculate the • The prize comes with a mon- RR volumes of oddly-shaped etary award, which since 2006 • 4088524A RFN RAJESH hyperbolic surfaces, which can has been CS$15,000 (in Cana- SINGH, 3 GARH RIF be curved like a saddle or curly dian dollars). • 13771971F RFN ARVIND • The colloquial name is in PARIHAR, JAK RIF, 3 RR like a piece of crochet. • Fluent in a remarkably diverse honour of Canadian mathema- • 2703346N GDR UMRAV tician John Charles Fields. GURJAR, 5 GRENADIERS range of mathematical techniques and disparate Fields was instrumental in es- • 15619678M GDSM RAM LAL tablishing the award, designing MEENA, GUARDS, 21 RR mathematical cultures, she embodies a rare combination the medal itself, and funding • 13627254Y PTR GOVIND the monetary component. of superb technical ability, SINGH, PARA, 18 RR (POSTHU- • The medal was first awarded in bold ambition, far-reaching MOUS) 1936 to Finnish mathematician vision, and deep curiosity. • 15176479P GNR ANIL SINGH Lars Ahlfors and American • Mirzakhani was born in Tehran BHADWAL, ARTY, 18 RR mathematician Jesse Douglas, • 15498789Y SWR SIDHESWAR in 1977 and earned her PhD in and it has been awarded every PRADHAN, ARMD, 22 RR 2004 from Harvard University. four years since 1950. • She has previously won the Operation Meghdoot • Its purpose is to give recogni- 2009 Blumenthal Award for the tion and support to younger • 15427804Y NK GURSEWAK Advancement of Research in mathematical researchers who SINGH, AMC, 328 FD HOSP Pure Mathematics and the 2013 have made major contributions. (POSTHUMOUS) Satter Prize of the American • In 2014 Maryam Mirzakhani Mathematical Society. became the first woman as well Operation Hifazat • The Fields Medal is given out as the first Iranian, and Artur • 3407567P SEP RAJVINDER every four years, to four Avila became the first math- SINGH, 18 SIKH separate winners. ematician from Latin America to • The other three winners this be awarded a Fields Medal. Mirzakhani Won year were: Mathematics Field Medal 1. Artur Avila of France, Outstanding Parliamentarian Awards 2. Manjul Bhargava of Princeton University in New Jersey, and 3. Martin Hairer of the Uni- versity of Warwick in Brit- ain. ’ • The Fields Medal, officially known as International Medal for Outstanding Discoveries in Mathematics, is a prize Finance Minister Arun Jaitley

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Awards and Prizes

(for 2010), Congress leader Karan Singh (2011) and JD(U) President Sharad Pakistani Journalist Yadav (2012) are conferred with ‘Outstanding Parliamentarian Awards’ by Asma Shirazi Won 2014 the President Pranab Mukherjee on 12 August in New Delhi. The awards Peter Mackler Award were given for their invaluable contribution in discharge of their parliamentary duties. Operation Rhino

Asma Shirazi, Pakistan’s first female war correspondent and host of popular TV talk shows, was named 2014 Winner of Peter Mackler Award for Courageous and Ethical Journalism on 22 August. Shirazi is the second woman to win the award since its creation in 2008, after Honduran radio news editor Karla • IC-63148N MAJ KUSHVIR NANDA, 2 RAJPUT Rivas won in 2011. • 4374618L SEP DIPAK DEKA, 2 ASSAM • G/5005610L RFN M THANGBOY HAOKIP, 33 AR

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Awards and Prizes

IN THE NEWS

R.N. Ravi New Singh is almost identical to the Governors for 4 States findings of a Committee set up Chief Minister AkhileshYadav and headed by senior Minister Shivpal Singh Yadav that had come down heavily on the local MP and BJP workers for their role in the riots that left three dead and gutted hundreds of shops. D.M. Spolia

♣ Prime Minister NarendraModi- led Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has ♣ President Pranab Mukherjee approved the appointment of appointed Kalyan Singh, former Intelligence Bureau VajubhaiRudabhaiVala, Ch. Special Director R.N. Ravi as VidyasagarRao and chairman of the Joint MridulaSinha Governors of Intelligence Committee for a Rajasthan, Karnataka, period of three years. Maharashtra and Goa, ♣ The Ministry of Home Affairs ♣ The Joint Intelligence respectively. re-appointed D.M. Spolia as Committee functions under the ♣ Manipur Governor Vinod the Chief Secretary of Delhi to National Security Council Kumar Duggal will continue to replace S.K. Srivastava who is Secretariat. hold charge of Mizoram. currently holding the post. ♣ Mr. Ravi, a 1976-batch Indian Raghav Lakhanpal Mr. Spolia, a 1979 batch IAS Police Service officer from ♣ officer, who was removed from Kerala, has been appointed in the post by the AamAadmi the pay and rank of Secretary Party government in January, to the Government of India. He will take over with immediate retired as IB Special Director effect. in 2012. ♣ He was working as Financial Ramesh Chand Tayal Commissioner of the Delhi Government since January. ♣ The ACC has also cleared the proposal for appointment of ♣ The Meerut Commissioner in his Rona Fairhead senior IPS officer Ramesh report on last month’s riots in ♣ The British Broadcasting Chand Tayal as Central Reserve Saharanpur has reportedly Police Force Special Director- Corporation (BBC) Trust, the blamed the local BJP MP, body overseeing the world General. RaghavLakhanpal, for fanning ♣ The 1980-batch Assam- famous news corporation, is set tensions, besides accusing to get its first female head. Meghalaya cadre officer is district authorities of not presently posted as Additional ♣ Rona Fairhead, 53, a high-flying controlling the rioting mob. executive who sits on the Director-General of the ♣ The report of Meerut SashatraSeema Bal. boards of a number of blue- Commissioner Bhupendra chip companies, announced as

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In The News the prospective new Government Medical College ♣ Mr. Iyengar, who was admitted chairperson of the BBC Trust. here . to the Prayag Hospital last ♣ SajidJavid, UK secretary of state ♣ Mr. Puri was conferred the week, breathed his last at 3.15 for culture, is expected to Padma Bhushan for his contri- a.m., doctors attending on him officially announce Fairhead as bution in the fields of Literature said. He has been on dialysis government’s preferred and Education in 2005 and also since Sunday after renal failure. candidate to fill the slot, the Indira Gandhi award for Mr. Iyengar, who abhorred replacing Lord Patten, who national integration on October hospitals and clinics, failed to stepped down in May on health 31, 2009. respond to the treatment owing grounds. ♣ He was an author and co-au- to heart problems brought on thor of about 40 books and ap- by advanced age. BalrajPuri proximately 1,000 articles for ♣ Despite two massive heart- various dailies in India and attacks in 1996 and 1998, Mr. abroad. Iyengar, with his near- U.R. Anantha Murthy legendary regimen and (1932-2014) discipline, kept up a punishing teaching schedule, touring ♣ U.R.Anantha Murthy, the doyen Russia and China in recent of Kannada Literature and one years. of the pioneers of Navya movement in Kannada language is no Arvind Subramanian more. ♣ A steadfast thinker who with- stood many an assault, physical, verbal and virtual, gave a new ♣ Veteran journalist Padma BhushanBalrajPuri passed away thrust to Kannada literature and after prolonged illness at a cinema, to move towards the 21st Century.

Atul Verma ♣ The Modi Government is likely to name Arvind Subramanian, the Dennis Weatherstone Senior Fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics and senior fellow at the Centre for Global Development as its Chief Economic Advisor (CEA). Ravi Shastri

♣ Atul Verma won India its first of D’Almeida 7-3 in the final. Olympic archery medal — a B.K.S. Iyengar bronze — at the Youth Olympic Games at Nanjing. ♣ Legendary yoga exponent ♣ The gold went to Korean Lee B.K.S. Iyengar passed away at Woo Seok, who got the better a private hospital . He was 95.

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In the News ♣ In a damage-control move, the former Mumbai Police Arvind Apte BCCI has appointed former Test Commissioner Satyapal Singh. all-rounder Ravi Shastri Director Natwar Singh of Cricket in the Indian team for the five-match ODI series against England, beginning August 25. ♣ The Board’s dramatic action was a response to India’s disastrous 3-1 Test series defeat ♣ The BCCI condoled the death against England. of former Test player Arvind IromSharmila Apte, who passed away after Unfazed by the attacks on him fighting a prolonged battle with ♣ A local court ordered the ♣ by the Congress leadership for prostrate cancer. release of rights activist ♣ Arvind passed away in Pune. IromChanuSharmila, under his book which was sharply critical of Sonia Gandhi, Natwar He was 79 and is survived by a detention for attempting to daughter. commit suicide by fasting for Singh has decided to write a sequel “which will have many ♣ Arvind, born in Mumbai in 1934 nearly 14 years demanding and younger brother of another withdrawal of the Armed more disclosures” ♣ To be called ‘My irregular former India cricketer Madhav Forces (Special Powers) Act, Apte, was a reserve opener 1958. diary’, the sequel is expected to hit the market by next March, during India’s tour of England Arvind Gupta the former External Affairs in 1959. Minister said in New Delhi . ♣ An attacking opening batsman ♣ Former Indian Foreign Service with a wide range of strokes, officer Arvind Gupta was Hari Gautam he played only one Test match appointed as deputy National Finding the University Grants for India when he was selected Security Adviser, a post which ♣ Commission (UGC) ill- for the third Test against fell vacant following the equipped to address the England at Leeds following an resignation of Nehchal Sandhu. challenges posed by the injury to Nari Contractor. ♣ Mr. Gupta, a 1979 batch officer, manifold increase in the ♣ He scored just eight and seven will also be Secretary, National number of universities — in both the innings of the Security Council Secretariat particularly private universities match, his first and last for the (NSCS), an apex advisory body and deemed-to-be- national team. tasked with suggesting to the universities — the Human ♣ Arvind continued to play first- government on political, Resource Development (HRD) class cricket till the early 70s economic and strategic Ministry has set up a committee and finished with an aggregate security concerns. to restructure the apex of 2782 runs (33.51, including six centuries.) R K Singh regulatory body for higher education in the country. Rajni Razdan ♣ Security of Parliament, which ♣ The four-member committee was targeted by terrorists 13 will be headed by former UGC years back, is set to be chairman Hari Gautam and will strengthened further with a have as its members C.M. special committee being set up Jariwala (former head and dean to suggest measures for it within of law at Banaras Hindu a month. University), Kapil Kapoor The committee will be headed ♣ (former pro vice-chancellor of by former Union Home Jawaharlal Nehru University) Secretary R.K. Singh and will and the Joint Secretary in the include former Rajasthan DGP ♣ Rajni Razdan has been Higher Education in the appointed the next Union Harish Chandra Meena and ministry as its members. Public Service Commission

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In The News chairman. She will take the oath Smriti Irani industrialists in court. of office, replacing Professor ♣ Also honoured were D.P. Agrawal. Indonesian anthropologist Saur ♣ Ms. Razdan, a 64-year-old Marlina Manurung, National former Indian Administrative Museum of Afghanistan Service officer from the director Omara Khan Masoudi, Haryana cadre, has been a Filipino teacher Randy Halasan, UPSC member since April 19, and the Pakistani non- 2010. government group The Citizen’s Foundation. Justice Markandey Katju K V Chowdary

♣ The controversy over Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani’s educational qualifications has taken a new turn with her assertion that she also has a degree from the prestigious ♣ In a fresh controversy, Press Yale University in the United Council of India Chairman States. ♣ K V Chowdary has been Justice Markandey Katju ♣ Ms. Irani (38) made the remark appointed as the new blamed the former Chief Justice at the India Today Woman Chairman of the Central Board of India, K.G. Balakrishnan, for Summit 2014 here when asked of Direct Taxes (CBDT), the pushing the elevation of a to clear the “mystery” over her top policy making body of the former Karnataka High Court educational qualification. Chief Justice as a Supreme Income Tax department. Court judge. Hu Shuli ♣ The officer was till now working as the Member (Investigations) ♣ Justice Katju, who did not name An influential Chinese journalist ♣ of the direct taxes revenue the judge, in an apparent and a crusading environmental collection board. He has earlier reference to the collegium’s lawyer from China are among served as the Director General recommendation to elevate the this year’s winners of Asia’s of I-T (Investigations) in the former Karnataka High Court Magsaysay awards. national capital where he Chief Justice, P.D. Dinakaran, ♣ Among this year’s six awardees headed a number of high- also found fault with another is Hu Shuli (61), founder and profile tax probes, including former CJI, S.H. Kapadia, for editor of Caijing, a business the 2G spectrum allocation failing to prevent this despite magazine famed for its case and the HSBC Geneva being a member of the groundbreaking investigative taxpayers list along with a collegium. reporting that has had a number of cases dealing with profound impact on China. B. S. Sidhu black money and tax evasion. ♣ Another winner was Chinese ♣ CBDT has six members apart ♣ Uttarakhand Director General lawyer Wang Canfa (55), from the Chairman and is the of Police (DGP) B. S. Sidhu is founder of the Centre for Legal apex body for framing policy involved in a legal battle over Assistance to Pollution Victims, and administrative issues an alleged illegal purchase of which has handled thousands related to direct taxes and the forest land and the felling of 25 of environmental complaints Income Tax department. Sal trees on the land. and beaten powerful ♣ The case against Mr. Sidhu lies with the National Green Tribunal (NGT), where a hearing shall be held .

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Selected ArticlesSELECTED from Various ARTICLES Newspapers FROM& Journals VARIOUS NEWSPAPERS & JOURNALS

Of fact, Procedure, and the collegium is then sent up to the be at variance with that of the Principle government for its approval. This I am collegium. The disagreement, at this The practice followed by the told is the standard process that is stage, has to be on political grounds collegium of the higher courts, followed. Gopal Subramanium’s and not on facts. The procedure then before a candidate is recommended case, I suppose, went through the requires the government to place its for elevation and a panel of names is same process. disagreement before the collegium sent to the government for The principle for such which can either restate its earlier appointment, is as follows. The Chief empanelment was enunciated by the recommendation or revise it in the Justice initiates a consultation with the Supreme Court in the case of P.J. light of the arguments made. legal fraternity. Speaking in Thomas, nominee for the Central This second stage is confidence to senior advocates and Vigilance Commission (CVC), whose constitutionally sacrosanct since fellow judges, to both the bar and candidature was rejected in 2011 contained in it is the core principle the bench, a long list of possible when it described in detail the of the separation of powers. The candidates for elevation is prepared. process to be followed in the collegium has to deliberate on this Based on these recommendations the appointment to a position of contrary opinion of the government Chief Justice then invites the authority. Appointments to the and decide whether, by accepting candidates to determine their Supreme Court, I expect, fall into this or rejecting it, the independence of willingness to be considered. If the category. Here is what the judgment the judiciary is eroded or enhanced. candidates are willing then they are said — (vi) The empanelling authority, Both parties must give clear reasons required to furnish details about while forwarding the names of the for their positions so that the final themselves, such as their empanelled officers/persons, shall decision taken can educate the contributions to the law especially enclose complete information, public on the core issue of separation with respect to important cases, the material and data of the concerned of powers. The government’s reasons extent of their legal practice, their officer/person, whether favourable or and the collegium’s views, as well as annual income, their legal history, etc. adverse. Nothing relevant or material the facts of the matter, should be These details are then processed by should be withheld from the made public to serve, as the Supreme the court administration, during Selection Committee. It will not only Court in the P.J. Thomas case said, which time, I suppose, the court gets be useful but would also serve larger the larger public interest. inputs from relevant investigating public interest and enhance public Three basic issues for our agencies about whether they have confidence if the contemporaneous democracy emerge from this any legal proceedings against the service record and acts of controversy. The first is the issue of candidate, etc. other inputs that may outstanding performance of the public attitude. Are we prepared to make them ineligible for officer under consideration, even let it lie, to blow over because another consideration. with adverse remarks is specifically headline has grabbed its place or are Based on (i) the brought to the notice of the Selection we prepared to interrogate it further? recommendations of the legal Committee. (vii) The Selection This is not a partisan issue, of UPA fraternity, (ii) the willingness of the Committee may adopt a fair and versus NDA, since it perhaps points candidate, and (iii) the hard data transparent process of consideration to a growing disregard for our relating to the legal practice and of the empanelled officers. constitutional culture. When the public standing of the individual, the Assuming complete information confidentiality of the collegium’s file is placed before the collegium. was available to the collegium, we recommendation is treated lightly, The collegium then scrutinises the now have to consider the contrasting when the intelligence reports are information on record and, based on positions of the collegium and the leaked, when the President’s the highest standards of judicial government. Based on the same facts confidential actions are public scrutiny, arrives at a decision on considered by the collegium, the knowledge, we have reason to be whom to recommend and whom to government is at liberty to give an concerned about the disregard for ignore, from the names before it. Not alternative reading and argue for the constitutional propriety. Will those every name that comes up through unsuitability of a particular who leaked information be punished this process gets the approval of the candidate. This is legitimate since the to restore the sanctity of the process? collegium. The shortlist prepared by political lens of the government may Or are we moving toward what Paulo

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Friere calls the “culture of silence”? technological advancement with able to cater to only a small segment The second issue concerns the those who do not enjoy the same.” of the international launch market and doctrine of separation of powers. By He called for the development of a must launch its own heavy segregating the names, did the “SAARC [South Asian Association for communications satellites abroad. President give primacy to the Regional Cooperation] satellite” that But ISRO has risen to challenges executive over the judiciary? Was this would provide useful applications before, and can do so again. a question of political expediency and services to neighbouring Minimum Deterrent and trumping constitutional principles? countries. China, it should be noted, Large Arsenal With whom should the final decision, already uses its space capabilities for It is well-known that the BJP lays on who should be elevated, lie? The soft-power diplomacy, one example executive or the judicial fraternity? being an agreement with Brazil to great importance on national security, of which nuclear policy forms an Since the Emergency, when it had jointly build earth observation important component. Sooner or later touched its nadir, our democracy has satellites. Mr. Modi clearly intends to been struggling to restore the balance deploy India’s space technology as the new government will undertake, perhaps quietly, a review of our between the executive and judiciary. part of the country’s diplomatic nuclear doctrine. The current official We hope that the moment has outreach. However, before turning not passed for the collegium to the prime ministerial suggestion into nuclear doctrine, released by the Cabinet Committee on Security on enunciate on the principle of finality. hardware, ISRO would do well to get January 4, 2003, summarises our Mr. Subramanium’s withdrawal also inputs from the other South Asian highlights one of the knottiest nations about their pressing needs nuclear policy in eight succinct points. Of these, only a few of them problems of political philosophy. that could be effectively addressed really call for significant modification, Should he have been pragmatic, and with space technology. withdrawn to fight another battle, or The Indian space agency is because in recent years things have been relatively stable on the South principled, since a foundational well-placed to provide the sort of Asian nuclear front. principle was at stake? Is the cost of assistance that the Prime Minister standing up for the principle too high, envisages. From its inception, the This is despite the fact that both India and Pakistan continue to undermining other values that are also raison d’être of the Indian space produce weapons-usable Plutonium important, or is it necessary to stand programme has been the harnessing up for them regardless of the cost of space technology to meet the day- at the Dhruva reactor and the Khushab reactors respectively. since it would take society to new to-day necessities of a developing Pakistan may also be continuing to and higher morality? nation. Today, India is able to build and launch satellites for meteorology, produce some weapons-grade Laying out Space Goals Uranium at its centrifuge plants, earth observation and despite its overall Uranium ore The Polar Satellite Launch communications. Mr. Modi paid a Vehicle (PSLV), in its twenty-sixth tribute to the vision with which the constraints. All this fissile material is presumably being assembled into consecutive successful flight and the space programme was established, warheads. So both arsenals have fourth wholly commercial launch, put pointing out how modern the French earth observation satellite, communications, space imaging and been growing, as have all the attendant dangers of maintaining a SPOT-7, as well as four tiny satellites disaster management capabilities nuclear force. Nevertheless the from Germany, Canada and provided by Indian satellites had Singapore, into orbit with benefited the common man and situation has, by and large, just been “more of the same.” Therefore there characteristic élan. On hand at transformed policy planning and is no call for any radical change of Sriharikota to witness the launch was implementation. The Prime Minister Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In a was emphatic about enhancing these our nuclear doctrine. But a few features do need to be clarified and forceful speech immediately capabilities, as well as maximising others underlined. afterwards, the Prime Minister lauded their utilisation for governance and the space programme and held it up development. Apart from No First Use as an example of what the country developing more advanced satellites, Maintaining a doctrine of NFU, could achieve, observing that “our he wanted to see India become “the apart from being generally in tune space scientists have made us global launch service provider of the world.” with India’s non-aggressive ethos, has leaders in one of the most complex Turning these goals into reality will considerable diplomatic value. After areas of modern technology.” India not be easy; at present, the country is our 1998 nuclear tests elicited the must, he said, share “the fruits of our

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Selected Articles from Various Newspapers & Journals anticipated international smaller attack, that too on their own taken over by irrational extremists to opprobrium, the inclusion of NFU soil? It would be a disproportionate whom death of lakhs of civilians is thereafter in the 1999 Draft Nuclear response, which would go against our “acceptable”, then no arsenal, Doctrine helped soften the criticism, national sensibilities and attract however large, will deter them especially in comparison to Pakistan, widespread criticism from around the anyway. With respect to China, what which till today retains the option of world. Surely, there are more deterrence needs is not more bombs a first strike. proportionate non-nuclear ways of than what we already have, but longer However, although NFU has inflicting punitive retaliation. Yet, if range missiles capable of reaching moral and diplomatic value, there we do not counter attack after having major Chinese cities.) should be no illusions about its threatened to do so, that would invite As to credibility, large arsenals, impact on hard strategic decision derision that we are “a soft state” beyond a point, do not enhance it. makers on the other side. What incapable of hard nuclear decisions What does is a show of determination matters to them is not any statement and would erode the credibility of and toughness on other non-nuclear of intentions (like NFU) but the actual our future deterrence, not only fronts, such as terrorism or border capabilities of the adversary. Pakistani against Pakistan, but also against incidents. colleagues one meets in Track II China. The Geopolitics of the invariably say they set little store in It may therefore be better to Islamic State our NFU. It makes no operational limit massive nuclear retaliation only Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi difference in their nuclear plans. against nuclear attacks on our country What matters more for nuclear and say nothing in the Doctrine, one welcomed this Ramadan by declaring the formation of the Caliphate, with confidence building is the actual way or the other, about attacks “on him as the Caliph — namely the state of alert. India has been sensibly Indian forces anywhere.” Should the following a system of keeping its latter take place, we always have the successor of the Prophet Mohammed. It is the first return of a warheads de-mated from their option of some appropriate, Caliphate since Kemal Atatürk’s missiles and delivery aircraft. This measured retaliation. introduces a minimum built-in delay Next, consider the Turkish National Assembly abolished it in 1924. Al-Baghdadi, the nom de in launching an attack after the characterisation in our Doctrine of guerre for the leader of the Islamic decision to do so has been made. It our nuclear force as a “credible greatly reduces the risk of an minimum deterrent (CMD)”, where State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), has now announced that borders inside accidental or hastily decided launch. the requirement of “minimum” has the dar al-Islam , the world of Islam, The new government should been spelt out as what is needed to continue our policy of a de-mated de- “inflict unacceptable damage” to the are no longer applicable. He has been able to make this alerted posture. One clause currently adversary. These represent a very announcement because his fighters in the Doctrine merits some revision. judicious choice of words selected, It states that “ ....[our] nuclear in fact, by the last BJP administration. have now taken large swathes of territory in northern Syria and in north- weapons will only be used in It is designed in part to temper over- central Iraq, breathing down on retaliation against a nuclear attack on zealous weapon enthusiasts from Indian territory or on Indian forces going on an endless spree of building Baghdad, the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate (750-1258). anywhere...retaliation to a first strike nuclear bombs. It recognises the Al-Baghdadi’s declaration will be massive.” Now, threatening dangers of possessing an retaliation “against a nuclear attack on unnecessarily large arsenal of nuclear comes after ISIS threatened to make its presence felt outside the territory Indian territory” is one matter. It is the weapons, beyond what is essential it now controls. Bomb blasts in Beirut, basic component of nuclear for deterrence. The new government deterrence and should apply must ensure that the agencies Lebanon, hinted at ISIS’ reach. Jordanian authorities hastened to whether the attack on our territory is concerned respect CMD in spirit and crack down on “sleeper cells” for ISIS small or big, as long as it is nuclear. substance. However, a battlefield nuclear Unfortunately, our arsenal of as soon as chatter on social media suggested that there would be a attack will place India in a dilemma. nuclear bombs has already gone way push into Zarqa and Ma’an. Private Having threatened in our Doctrine to over the minimum required to “inflict inflict a “massive” nuclear retaliation, unacceptable damage” on any Kuwaiti funding had helped ISIS in its early stages, but now Kuwait can we really go ahead and kill lakhs rational government, be it Pakistan or hinted that it too is worried that ISIS of their civilians in response to a much China. (Should Pakistan someday be cells might strike the oil-rich emirate.

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When ISIS took the Jordan-Syria rebellion provided cover for Turkey’s the battle of ordinary people who are border posts, Saudi Arabia went into more enthusiastic approach to it. frustrated by the lack of opportunities high alert. There is no substantive Intoxicated by the possibility of what for them and by the lack of a future evidence that ISIS is in touch with al- Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet for their children. What motivates Qaeda in Yemen, but if such DavutogØlu favoured as “neo- these fights is less the petty coordination exists (now that al- Ottomanism,” the Turkish prejudices of sect and more the Baghdadi has fashioned himself as the government called for the removal of grander ambitions of regional control. Caliph) it would mean Saudi Arabia Assad and the emergence of a pro- Al-Baghdadi has announced that his has at least two fronts of concern. “All Istanbul government in Damascus. vision is much greater than that of the necessary measures,” says the Turkey opened its borders to the “rat- Saudi King or the government in Kingdom, are being taken to thwart line” of international jihad , with Tehran. He wants to command a the ISIS advance. planeloads of fighters from Libya and religion, not just a region. Of such While it is true that Assad’s Chechnya flying into Turkey to cross delusions are great societies and government released a number of into Syria to fight for ISIS and its cultures destroyed. jihadis in 2011, there is no evidence offshoots. ISIS spat in Turkey’s salt. A significant visit to suggest that he created ISIS. ISIS ISIS struck Turkey in 2013 with car French Foreign Minister Laurent is a product of the U.S. war on Iraq, bombs and abductions, suggesting Fabius has concluded a substantial having been formed first as al-Qaeda to Ankara that its policy has India visit which can help lift some of in Iraq by the Jordanian militant Abu endangered its citizens. In March, the the barriers that may be blocking the Musab al-Zarqawi. Deeply sectarian Governor of Hatay province, Mehmet emergence of a full-blown strategic politics, namely an anti-Shia agenda, Celalettin Lekesiz, called upon the partnership between the two characterised al-Qaeda in this region. government to create a new policy countries. Free from verbiage, Mr. Funded by private Gulf Arab money, to “prevent the illegal crossing of Fabius’ visit had a hard-nosed ISIS entered the Syrian war in 2012 militants to Syria.” His report was met businesslike feel to it. Cash-strapped as Jabhat al-Nusra (the Support with silence. France seemed focussed on trading Front). It certainly turned a civic Saudi policy vis-à-vis Syria and some of the blue-chip kernels of its rebellion into a terrorist war. Political Iraq repeats the Afghan story. Funds hi-tech industry. India, on its part, support from the West and logistical and political support for jihadis in the looking to bolster its military support from Turkey and the Gulf region came from the Kingdom and preparedness, energy security and Arab states allowed it to thrive in Syria. its Gulf allies. Saudi Arabia tried to international profile, was prepared to The West has been consistently stop its youth from going to the jihad calibrate a hard bargain. The naive in its public assessment of — a perilous mistake that it had made recognition by New Delhi and Paris events in West Asia. U.S. policy over with Afghanistan. On February 3, the that a win-win outcome was indeed Syria was befuddled by the belief King issued a decree forbidding such possible seemed to have yielded that the Arab Spring could be transit. But there is no pressure on significant progress during the visit understood simply as a fight between Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies to stop towards clinching the multibillion freedom and tyranny — concepts their tacit support of ISIS and its dollar Rafale aircraft deal, and the adopted from the Cold War. There cohort. Nor is there pressure on it to stalled contract for two French was a refusal to accept that the civic stop its financing of the harsh nuclear reactors. With a capacity to rebellion of 2011 had morphed quite repression in Egypt, sure to fuel more generate 1,650 megawatts of power decisively by late 2012 into a much conflict in the near future. The Arab each, a breakthrough in the deal for more dangerous conflict, with the world, flush with hope in 2011, is now the two reactors could clear the path radical jihadis in the ascendancy. It is drowning in a counter-revolution for the establishment of four of course true, as I saw first-hand, that financed by petrodollars. additional reactors of similar capacity the actual fighters in the jihad groups Meanwhile, sectarian lines are at the Jaitapur site in Maharashtra. An are a ragtag bunch with no special being hardened in the region. The installed capacity of nearly 10,000 commitment to this or that ideology. battle now does not revisit the ancient megawatts would not only boost They are anti-Assad, and they joined fight at Karbala. This is not an age-old French nuclear commerce, but also Jabhat al-Nusra or Ahra¯r ash-Sha¯m conflict. It is a modern one, over ideas make a vital contribution to satisfying because that was the group at hand of republicanism and monarchy, India’s energy hunger. with arms and logistical means. Iranian influence and Saudi influence. In dealing with the French, the The West’s backing of the Shadows of sectarianism do shroud Indian side has made it clear that it is http://www.iasexamportal.com 49

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not interested in a pure buyer-seller announced measures to stem the rice stocks. In distributing released relationship with France in the hi-tech price rise of onions. These included stocks, the government should think domain. As a result, complex fixing a minimum export price (MEP) about an incentive overhaul along the negotiations are under way — both of U.S. $500 per MT, distributing lines of what was done in on the Rafale and the European onions through the Public Chhattisgarh. The small State is a Pressurised Reactors (EPR) — that Distribution System, and advising leading example of a well- would not only give India the final State governments to delist fruits and functioning PDS system where product, but also implant frontier vegetable from the Agricultural leakages have been checked technology within the country Produce Market Committee (APMC) because of measures like colour through transfers of state-of-the-art Act.As much as these short-run coding of transport vehicles and know-how. The induction of the 126 measures are necessary, the problem raising the commission of PDS Rafale fighter jets would also help is more deep-rooted. Several shopkeepers. Over time, there must cement the air-dominance doctrine interrelated determinants such as low be a gradual movement toward a cash of the Indian Air Force (IAF), which agricultural productivity and yield, transfer system. This depends on has already benefited from the global price changes, scarcity of development of backend facilities inductions of the Russian Su-30 MKI resources such as land and water, such as bank outlets. multi-role planes and other advanced domestic price policies such as In food items with a high value, platforms. Mr. Fabius’ arrival in New Minimum Support Prices, and a case- by-case approach is needed. Delhi has provided an opportunity to stocking and trade policies (both While onions could be facing a quickly finalise the Indo-French international and domestic) have problem of excessive hoarding due nuclear deal, which is possible if the played a role in the increase of prices. to expectations of inflation, in two parties arrive at a formula that Food price inflation in India commodities like milk the cost push would lower the costs of atomic clearly underscores the need for might be playing a role. Dairy power generation at Jaitapur. During understanding the heterogeneities products such as oil cake and talks, India has demanded greater across food commodities. This molasses are increasingly being “localisation,” which would expand knowledge could be important to diverted to alternative uses or involvement of domestic industry in inform macroeconomic policy. For markets. Milk has been the prime the project, as well as provide greater example, the assumption in standard driver of inflation for many years and scientific and technical exposure to macroeconomic models — that though its demand has been rising Indian personnel to Light Water changes in relative prices of food and substantially (different estimates Reactor (LWR) technology that the fuel represent supply shocks — may show that it is the food item with the French have mastered. At a political not hold for many commodities as we highest income elasticity), there are level, the Minister’s visit has provided see them right now. Further, with a supply side issues that need to New Delhi an opportunity to advance persistent upward trend in inflation, explored for finding the right policy its ties with continental Europe, taking a long-term view rather than mix. which revolves around a Franco- focusing only on recent inflation Given the current government’s German core. This is significant, as episodes seems imperative. In all this, paradigm of accepting short-term Europe, despite undergoing a rapid one thing that is reasonably clear is pains to incur long-term gains, it political and economic transition, that it may not be sufficient to identify should seize this opportunity of high would continue to remain a major the sources for high prices at a broad food prices. Investing in the private player in a multipolar world, which level. Both macro policies like sector in cold chain or processing India needs to engage vigorously. monetary tightening by the RBI as well units needs to be encouraged. This Controlling rising Prices as commodity-specific measures will create rural jobs that are not farm- implemented by different branches related, and create more efficient Onion prices more than of the government (trade policies and value chains, giving a better deal to doubled in the last two weeks and domestic interventions in food farmers and consumers alike. Over the retail food inflation rose to 9.5 per markets) have to be used to deal with long run, streamlining wholesale cent in May as against 8.64 per cent inflation. markets under Agricultural Produce in April, giving the new government Faced with the current scenario, Market Committees, reducing more reason to worry. As the urban what are the remedial options? For limitations on private-sector working class bears the brunt of the one there seems to be little reason to procurement and storage, and rising and fluctuating food prices, not liquidate excessive wheat and checking on double taxation in Finance Minister Arun Jaitley quickly

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interstate movement, need to be on removing Governors and Five-judge bench of the considered. appointing their own men as new Supreme Court, headed by Chief Finally, as a weak monsoon is Governors. Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, in May 2010 being predicted, we must think of the The practice of dismissing on the issue of the removal of the long run. It is about time we gear up Governors with the change of guard Governor of a State. The judgment toward climate-smart agriculture at the Centre began in 1977 when emphasised that “The Governor (drought-resistant crops, the Janata Party came to power after cannot be removed on the ground conservation agriculture, etc.) to routing the Congress and took a that he is out of sync with the policies increase yields and income of decision to replace Governors and ideologies of the Union farmers. This will increase farmers’ appointed by the previous regime. government or the party in power at productivity while providing the Incidentally, in 1977, the decision/ the Centre. Nor can he be removed much-needed price stability to recommendation of the then Prime on the ground that the Union consumers. The promise of acche din Minister, Morarji Desai, and his government has lost confidence in for consumers and the agricultural Cabinet to dismiss Governors was sent him.” It is true that the same judgment industry need not be a far cry. back by then acting President B.D. also provided an exception that the Governors in the firing Jatti without signing it. Though the government can initiate the process line government managed to remove the of removal of the Governor by first Governors, as the acting President Jatti building a case file citing reasons for The controversy over the was constitutionally bound to sign the removal of the Governor. removal of Governors has receded the order when it was again sent back Does the new BJP government into the background only because the to him, it came as an embarrassment want to use that clause of exception issue which has hogged the limelight for the Janata Party government to remove a Governor? If the recently is the government’s rejection which had just assumed office. government wants to exercise this of the name of Mr. Gopal After coming to power in 2004, exception clause, the least it would Subramanium, recommended by the the United Progressive Alliance have to do is to write to the President Supreme Court collegium for (UPA) government initiated the spelling out the reasons for wanting appointment as a judge of the process of removal of four Governors, his/her (Governor’s) removal. But it Supreme Court, on account of Vishu Kant Shastri (Uttar Pradesh), seems the government is trying to adverse reports by the Intelligence Babu Parmanand (Haryana), Kidar bypass all these steps, remove the Bureau. Nath Sahani (Goa) and Kailashpati Governor by an indirect method and The Governor is appointed by Mishra (Gujarat), which BJP leaders initiate moves to come out clean in the President of India on the advice Mr. Lal Krishna Advani and Mr. Atal case there are issues over the move, of the Council of Ministers for the Bihari Vajpayee opposed and forced as no letters have been exchanged period of five years. Unlike the a discussion in the House under Rule or notices sent. But I am sure there is President of India, there is no 193. The UPA’s move was described still potential for the government to procedure for the impeachment of a by Mr. Vajpayee as a “big blow to face embarrassment as such a file/ Governor, but he/she could be democracy” while Mr. Advani called request for the removal of the removed by the President on the it “dangerous.” Now, Union Home Governor can be sent back by the advice of the Prime Minister on Minister Rajnath Singh is keen on the President to the government in the grounds of gross delinquency, removal of Governors appointed by first instance though, the President is namely corruption, bribery and the previous UPA government. Is this bound to sign it if the file is re-sent to violation of the Constitution. But the not a blow to democracy? Is this not him — as it happened in 1977. practice has been different from what unethical? We know that there is a Though most previous is laid down in the Constitution; change in generation, from Mr. governments have indulged in such Governors have been removed only Advani to Mr. Rajnath Singh, but does practice, the new BJP government due to a change of government such a generational change also mean could have easily refrained from such without citing any substantial reason. a change in the party’s ideology? If a move and set an example of good There is precedent. Even in the past, this is the case, why is the removal of governance. It has certainly missed a Governors appointed by previous Governors being done using the golden opportunity to present itself governments have been removed by backdoor approach rather than the before the people as being a the new government on assuming government being actively involved government with a difference. office after elections. The new in this effort? governments have expended energy

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On the of GDP being spent on social support developing countries, especially in Mythology of Social Policy compared with an average of 3.4 per Latin America and East Asia, have One reason why important facts cent for Asia’s lower-middle income gone through a similar transition in tend to be forgotten is that they are countries, 5.4 per cent in China, 10.2 recent decades. So have Indian at odds with the mythology of social per cent in Asia’s high-income States where the underprivileged policy cultivated by some sections of countries and a cool 19.2 per cent in have some sort of political voice, such the media. This mythology involves a Japan. If anything, India is among the as Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Many other number of fallacies. First, India is in world champions of social States, including Gujarat, are now danger of becoming a nanny state, underspending. The view that social learning from these experiences at with lavish and unsustainable levels spending is a waste has no factual varying speed. of social spending. Second, social basis either. The critical importance Coming to the fifth claim, there spending is largely a waste — of mass education for economic is little evidence that a rollback of unproductive “handouts” that don’t development and the quality of life is social programmes is part of the BJP’s even reach the poor due to one of the most robust findings of core agenda. As mentioned earlier, corruption and inefficiency. Third, economic research. From Kerala to many BJP leaders (including Mr. Modi this wasteful extravaganza is the work Bangladesh, simple public health as well as the new Finance Minister, of a bunch of old-fashioned interventions have brought down Mr. Arun Jaitley) have vociferously Nehruvian socialists and assorted mortality and fertility rates. India’s demanded a more ambitious National jholawalas who led the country down midday meal programme has well- Food Security Act. Some of this is the garden path during the United documented effects on school posturing of course, but the BJP’s Progressive Alliance (UPA) years. attendance, child nutrition and even willingness to support food security Fourth, the electorate has rejected pupil achievements. Social security initiatives is already well this entire approach — people want pensions, meagre as they are, bring demonstrated in Chhattisgarh. growth, not entitlements. Fifth, the some relief in the harsh lives of millions Nothing prevents it from doing the BJP-led government is all set to of widowed, elderly or disabled same at the national level. Similar reverse these follies and rollback the persons. The Public Distribution remarks apply to the National welfare state. System has become an invaluable Employment Guarantee Act: some These five claims have acquired source of economic security for poor BJP-led State governments did a an aura of plausibility by sheer households, not just in showcase relatively good job of implementing repetition, yet they have no factual States like Tamil Nadu but even in it, and the late Gopinath Munde basis. Let us examine them one by States like Bihar and Jharkhand where clearly expressed his support for the one. it used to be non-functional. Of Act as soon as he was appointed The idea that social spending course, there is some waste in the Minister for Rural Development. in India is too high would be amusing social sector, just as there is much Having said this, there are also if it were not so harmful. According waste in (say) universities. In both ominous signs of a possible backlash to the latest World Development cases, the lesson is not to dismantle against these and other social Indicators (WDI) data, public the system but to improve it — there programmes. Some overenthusiastic spending on health and education is is plenty of evidence that this can be advisers of the new government have just 4.7 per cent of GDP in India, done. already put forward explicit compared with 7 per cent in sub- The expansion of public proposals to wind up the Saharan Africa, 7.2 per cent in East services and social support in India, Employment Guarantee Act and the Asia, 8.5 per cent in Latin America such as it is, has little to do with any Food Security Act within 10 years, and 13.3 per cent in OECD countries. nostalgia of Nehruvian socialism. It is along with accelerated privatisation Even the corresponding figure for a natural development in a country of health and education services. As “least developed countries,” 6.4 per with a modicum of democracy. A if on cue, Rajasthan Chief Minister cent, is much higher than India’s. The similar expansion, on a much larger Vasundhara Raje recently sent a letter WDI database does not include scale, happened during the 20th to the Prime Minister questioning the social security spending, but the century in all industrialised need for an Employment Guarantee recent Asia Development Bank democracies (with the partial Act. The corporate sector also tends report on social protection in Asia exception of the United States). It to be hostile to social spending, if suggests that India is also an outlier in also happened in communist only because it means higher taxes, that respect, with only 1.7 per cent countries, for different reasons. Many or higher interest rates, or fewer

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handouts (“incentives” as they are Court has ruled. However, it has not issued by a Sharia court but by a called) for business. Corporate declined to ban these adjudicatory Muslim panchayat. However, an lobbies, already influential under the bodies, holding that Muslims desirous Islamic seminary endorsed the fatwa UPA government (remember the of obtaining the expert opinion of initially, and the AIMPLB claimed that person who said that the Congress Islamic scholars in Dar-ul-Qazas can the incident of rape did not occur at was his dukaan ?) are all the more continue to invoke their jurisdiction all. In some parts of the country, gung-ho now that their man, Mr. Modi, voluntarily. The ruling has thus Muslim women have formed women’s is at the helm. Even a casual reading clarified the correct status of these Sharia courts for themselves, of recent editorials in the business Sharia courts. They can exist and contending that orders of Sharia media suggests that they have high issue opinions, but are limited in their courts are invariably adverse to expectations of devastating “reforms” scope and applicability to individuals women. It is up to bodies like the in the social sector. That is what the who approach them voluntarily, and AIMPLB to reform the functioning of mythology of social policy is really not at the instance of third parties to the Sharia bodies. about. a dispute. These rules will hopefully ⇒ Key issues identified This is not to deny the need for protect individual Muslims, especially constructive reform in health, women, from possible persecution The Economic Survey 2013-14, education and social security. If one through controversial adverse orders, the flagship annual document of the thing has been learnt in the last 10 often issued without regard to their Ministry of Finance which reviews the years, it is the possibility of improving fundamental rights. Fatwas on performance of the economy over public services, whether by religious issues are acceptable, but the previous 12 months, released a expanding the right to information, no fatwa that violates fundamental day before the Union Budget, or introducing eggs in school meals, rights may be issued; they may not facilitates a better appreciation of the or computerising the Public be issued at the instance of third mobilisation of resources and their Distribution System, or ensuring a parties on issues that concern allocation in the Budget. Experience reliable supply of free drugs at individuals, and more importantly, suggests that the Survey, while primary health centres. But these they must not be issued to punish the flagging the key economic issues of small steps always begin with an innocent. the day, can offer advice and appreciation of the fundamental The Supreme Court has suggestions, which the Finance importance of social support in poor preserved the religious character of Minister may or may not incorporate people’s lives. these Sharia courts, noting that they in the Budget. The point has also been The forthcoming budget is an do not constitute a parallel judiciary, made that it is for the first time that opportunity for the new government but an “informal justice delivery the Survey has been prepared to clarify its stand on these issues. system with the objective of bringing without the guidance of a Chief Without enlightened social policies, about amicable settlement between Economic Adviser. For all its growth mania is unlikely to deliver parties.” It is important that the limitations, however, the Economic more under the new government than Supreme Court’s intervention, at the Survey 2013-14 has done a it did under the previous one. instance of a petitioner who wanted commendable job in delineating the contours of an economy that has End to illegal fatwas Sharia courts to be banned, is understood in the correct been struggling for more than two Personal laws ought to be perspective. The All India Muslim years to grow at more than 5 per cent. administered by the regular law Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), which A change in government has certainly courts and cannot be enforced in has set up most of these Dar-ul-Qazas, brought about a sharp variation in derogation of fundamental rights by has a duty to regulate their sentiment, but it is too early to assess religious courts that lack legal functioning and restrain them from the impact on the real economy. sanctity. This is the broad import of issuing edicts that violate Joining the Reserve Bank of India and the Supreme Court’s thoughtful ruling fundamental rights. It is true that in many professional forecasters, the on the legality of Dar-ul-Qazas, or the Imrana case, one of the three Survey expects GDP growth during Sharia-based courts, established in instances the Supreme Court has the current year (2014-15) to be different parts of the country to referred to, the controversial fatwa above 5 per cent. However, poor adjudicate disputes among Muslims. dissolving a marriage and ordering a monsoons, a deteriorating external Fatwas issued by Sharia courts are not woman to leave her husband after she environment, persistent inflation and legally binding on individuals averse was raped by her father-in-law was a poor investment climate pose major to submitting to their authority, the risks to growth and macroeconomic

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stability. In the event, GDP growth is debate is sterile because merely national defence, including defence likely to be at the lower end of a 5.4 liberalising FDI will not help. What is production and self-reliance, since to 5.9 per cent band. needed is an appreciation of the 2000. Clearly, the issue remained a Economic growth during 2013- characteristics of the defence priority for various governments, but 14 was dragged down by industry, industry and coordination among the the outcome has been meagre. which grew at just 0.4 per cent. A multiple stakeholders who drive, and Certainly, some responsibility rests deceleration in manufacturing have often distorted the decision- with former Defence Minister A.K. output and contraction in mining making process. Antony’s tendency to avoid decision- activities have been primarily The twin objectives of self- making if it could be postponed, but responsible for the sluggishness. sufficiency and self-reliance have there are underlying structural Reversing the serious downward been articulated, sometimes reasons too. Consequently, forward trend in industry has been a top interchangeably and at times movement during the last decade has priority for the government. The separately, since the early 1950s. In lacked purpose. budget is sure to take note of ongoing 1947, India inherited the Ordnance Since 2001, the total FDI initiatives and also bring in new ones Factories (OF) Organisation, which received in the defence sector is in this vital area. Inflation has come today consists of 41 OFs, nine below $5 million. Meanwhile, India’s down but is still above the RBI’s Defence Public Sector Undertakings defence expenditure has been comfort zone. Food prices have shot (DPSU) and 50 or so defence R&D growing every year; today, India has up very recently. The balance of laboratories under the Defence the eighth largest defence budget in payments position has improved Research and Development the world, accounting for 3 per cent considerably on top of a vastly Organisation (DRDO). The model of global defence expenditures and, improved current account. However, followed was “production of in recent years, has also emerged as much of the improvement in the technologies conceptualised by the the largest defence importer, with matter of the trade deficit is due to DRDO; projects nominated by MoD nearly 10 per cent of global defence lower imports of non-petroleum [Ministry of Defence] after consulting imports. With growing obsolescence products, a sure sign of the the Services; and assembly and and a 10 per cent annual rise in the slowdown. A bigger challenge lies in production of platforms under capital budget for equipment the area of fiscal consolidation. The licence from foreign OEMs (Original procurement, a conservative estimate Survey has suggested a new FRBM Equipment Manufacturers).” A task indicates that India will spend nearly legislation as well as rationalisation of force set up in 1998 concluded that $100 billion over the next eight years subsidies, among other measures. the public sector alone could not to modernise and equip its armed The previous UPA government’s deliver; licensed production had forces. During the 12th Five Year Plan, claims of pegging the deficit at 4.5 fostered neither indigenisation nor the defence capital account budget per cent in 2013-14 and targeting an innovation; and frequent blame is expected to go up from $15.9 ambitious 4.1 per cent for the current games between the Services, the billion to $25.6 billion. By the end of year have become controversial, and DRDO and the DPSUs were leading the 14th Five Year Plan, the at the very least cast doubts on the to delays in acquisition. cumulative capital expenditures over quality of fiscal estimates. These are The first instance of opening up 2012–27 are projected to exceed pitfalls which the new Finance of the defence sector came in 2001, $235 billion. Assuming that 80 per Minister will do well to avoid. with the domestic private sector cent is meant for platform acquisitions, ⇒ A blueprint for being allowed to produce defence of which 60-70 per cent is earmarked the Defence Industry items with FDI up to 26 per cent, for committed liabilities, this still subject to industrial licensing and leaves 30-40 per cent for new There are reports that the security clearances. This was schemes. To meet the target of 70 Department of Industrial Policy and followed by the announcement of a per cent self-reliance by 2020 Promotion (DIPP) is pushing to allow Defence Procurement Procedure in requires an indigenous defence 49 per cent FDI without transfer of 2002, a Defence Offsets Policy in industry worth $80-$100 billion, with technology, 74 per cent with transfer 2006, a Long Term Integrated a direct employment potential of 1.25 of technology, and even 100 per cent Perspective Plan (LTIPP) in 2009, a lakh skilled workers and indirect in cases involving the transfer of state- Defence Production Policy in 2011, support to a workforce of another five of-the-art technology and equipment, and eight committees/task forces set lakh. while the Defence Ministry would like up to look into various aspects of In addition are investments via it to be restricted to 49 per cent. This

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Selected Articles from Various Newspapers & Journals the Defence Offsets Policy. This property rights (IPR) generation, second Global Partnership for policy, announced in 2005, requires integration of SMEs, technology Education Replenishment Pledging the foreign company to invest 30 per acquisition through offsets), monitor Conference in Brussels. An estimated cent of the indicative cost in the implementation, and coordinate 58 million children, a large proportion request for proposals when the policy approaches by: a) creating of them from sub-Saharan Africa, are indicative cost is Rs.300 crore or more. uniform lists of defence products and still out of school. The announcement Initially, the offsets were for the related technologies; b) enabling the merely confirms Unesco’s own defence sector, but in 2009, the harmonisation of Indian lists with the admission last year on the odds ahead policy was diluted to permit offsets Munitions List and Dual Use in the task of realising this Millennium to civil aviation and internal and Technology List of the Wassenaar Development Goal. That admission coastal security sectors too. Its Arrangement, with the eventual aim was based on its finding that the top objectives are to improve the of securing India’s membership. An six donors had substantially cut back domestic defence R&D base; enabling framework already exists on their aid commitments since 2011. develop an internationally with India’s Special Chemicals, Two of the donor countries slashed competitive defence industry, and Organisms, Materials, Equipment and their allocations in this sector by 30 an industrial base covering dual use Technologies (SCOMET) export per cent; reductions made by the technologies (i.e. having both civilian control lists; c) amending the European Union were to a similar and defence applications). Offsets Industries (Development and extent. Unesco observed that the are implemented by raising domestic Regulation) Act to bring defence and momentum with respect to achieving procurement, generating exports, dual-use technology-related this target was lost since 2007, bringing FDI into related services and Industrial Licensing into sync with the implying that as in the case of several building local supply chains, above; d) amending the terms of the other basic human development transferring technology/equipment production licence for defence items indicators, the global economic to Indian entities, etc. to ensure that control of the entity meltdown may have contributed to In the Defence Procurement cannot be transferred without the situation. But the movement to Policy, special incentives to Government of India (GoI) approval, improve rates of retention in schools encourage the domestic private that all exportable items and services and to enhance quality of teaching sector, including government R&D will be available domestically, and seems to be gathering steam again, funding for product development, that exploitation of IP generated will as most of the donor states promised were announced. Some of the larger not be denied in India. These at the Brussels conference to step up enterprises (including TCS, Tata conditions would render the debate spending. But more significant, as Power, Godrej, HCL, L&T, Mahindra, of FDI levels irrelevant; e) promoting many as 60 developing countries that Kirloskar) are to be classified as Raksha the clustering of SMEs with industry were present in Brussels — India was Udyog Ratnas to enable them to be majors through targeted policies; f) not among them — agreed to boost treated on a par with DPSUs. In changing the role of the Department allocations in their domestic budgets addition there are about 6,000 Small of Defence Production, whose for primary education. and Medium Enterprises (SME), structure limits it to a mere Abolition of tuition fees, cash many of whom feel that they are administrative unit for OFs and transfers, teaching in the local nimbler and better suited to innovate DPSUs; g) integrating the working of language, increased financial outlays in niche areas. In fact, they oppose the LTIPP with defence R&D, and appropriate curriculum are limiting FDI to 49 per cent, the production, procurement and offsets among measures that have helped position supported by domestic policies; h) providing a degree of developing countries reduce the out- majors and the MoD. continuity and predictability in the of-school population among To make a new beginning, the policy framework for the next 10 children, according to the Education Modi government needs to take years instead of the annual revisions For All report. Clearly, then, there are charge by setting up a national that have afflicted the sector in recent diverse ways and means to realise the defence industry committee which years. goal of universal education. should resolve turf battles between Go for it now Governments found wanting in the various government agencies, requisite will to invest in the future of The target year of 2015 that was reconcile competing interests of their youngsters may be complicit in fixed to achieve universal primary SMEs and industry majors, set targets allowing children to be weaned away education will not be met, the United (including for SRI, intellectual by armed militias that have already Nations said at the recently held http://www.iasexamportal.com 55

Selected Articles from Various Newspapers & Journals

wreaked much economic havoc and existing urban systems cannot cope If the plan is to enable the private caused political instability in many with new challenges, have already sector to participate in a big way, then regions. A welcome new dimension taken this route. As a result, they are the State has to put in place a to the Replenishment Pledging far ahead in terms of innovation. detailed framework to guide Conference is the focus on the needs Rio de Janeiro has invested investment and demarcate of disabled children. Addressing this about U.S. $14 million to monitor the responsibilities. Funds are only one segment is both a moral and practical city in real time. Data from 30 part of the problem. The key imperative, considering that 15 per agencies stream into an operation challenge would be to overhaul cent of the world’s population has centre from where responses to urban governance and infrastructure, some form of disability, as per figures emergencies and accidents are both physical and digital. from a 2011 report on disability efficiently coordinated. Madrid plans If the state overlooks the brought out jointly by the World to invest about U.S. $20 million in a existing city and privileges new Health Organization and the World technology platform to manage a enclaves, the cities will be split into Bank. Around the world, about a range of public services such as street two unequal halves, and the smart third of those that are not in school maintenance, lighting and waste city project would turn out to be an have a disability, says the Global management. Using a sophisticated expensive real estate meant to serve Campaign for Education UK. Given supplier management model, it pays a few. Smart cities cannot only be such a large proportion of such each service provider according to about displaying technology and children, the relevant goal cannot be the level of services provided. Many delivering services; fundamentally, accomplished without special cities have focussed on reducing they have to be inclusive and provision being made to achieve it. energy consumption and offering equitable places to live in. Thus, there is a case to set separate convenient transport service. Some The urban future depends on targets factoring in disability in the like Tokyo are experimenting with making cities intelligent, and that post-2015 development agenda. technology to help the visually applies equally to both new and old A smart challenged to move safely. Special parts of the city. Given the fact that Idea for urban ills? white canes with embedded sensors, the existing cities, which which pick up signals from electronic accommodate a bulk of the The government has provided tags and markers placed at strategic population, waste a lot of resources Rs.7,060 crore to build 100 smart places in the city, help the disabled and are energy-inefficient, they cities as satellite towns on the navigate. urgently require smart solutions. It outskirts of large cities to Such smart city programmes would be better to treat the smart city accommodate the burgeoning urban require large investments and a proposal by the government as a kind population. Foreign direct thorough integration of various of urban experiment or a prototype, investment norms have been relaxed systems. Industry and cities have to whose lessons and experience could to attract investors to build them. come together and introduce be used to develop cities in general. Indian cities are in need of investment innovative products. Against these and innovation, and the Mean and complex demands, how will the petty labour reforms government’s attention to these proposal to set up smart cities fare? issues is welcome. The question is The National Democratic First, the sum allocated in the whether smart satellite cities would Alliance government, on June 5 and budget for the programme — about offer a panacea for urban ills and Rs.70 crore a city — is grossly June 17, notified the proposed whether the money allocated is amendments to the Factories Act, inadequate. Unless the amount adequate. 1948 and the Minimum Wages Act, provided is only seed money to kick- There is no firm definition of start the programme, and more funds 1948. Given that the process of what constitutes smart cities. The amendments began in 2008 and went are to be sanctioned later, the smart broad agreement is that places that through a number of expert city project would be a non-starter. mobilise information and Second, without the promise of good committees, one would have communication technologies to expected the amendments to be central funds, the State governments, deliver better services, reduce carefully thought-out. On the too, may not take this initiative carbon footprint, create sustainable seriously. Since land development is contrary, they are petty, anti-labour environments and improve living and poorly conceived. Given also that a State subject, enthusiastic conditions are considered intelligent. these are the Narendra Modi-led participation of the States is crucial. Many cities abroad, realising that government’s first pronouncements

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Selected Articles from Various Newspapers & Journals on labour, one can only lament the a part of the workforce. Domestic contract labour system is abolished absence of a vision that a global workers, for example, are not by the Board, the contract workers power ought to have: that increased covered. In a globalised economy will be regularised. The Supreme productivity comes from having one needs to shift to universal Court had condemned these satisfied workers, who produce coverage. What was needed was a categories of workers to permanent quality products. simple amendment saying that those servitude. They demand that child The Commonwealth Games not covered by the existing labour be abolished. These are some case decided by the Delhi High Court notifications would be covered by a of the long-standing democratic found workers living in conditions residual notification. This seems to be reforms pending consideration of the akin to bondage — without safety coming in by amendment. However, government. equipment, sleeping in sheds without this residual minimum wage will be Boost for infrastructure mattresses and fans, and using toilets the lowest of all the minimum wages The maiden budget of the without doors and water. This is the notified. Narendra Modi Government has reality of labour in India. There is also nothing to indicate allowed banks to raise long-term So what do the amendments to that the widespread non- funds from the market to finance the Factory Act suggest? Instead of implementation of this Act will be infrastructure projects. For funds thus suggesting that in globalised India, corrected, or that the endless raised, banks are freed from where workers ought to work for eight litigation in courts, at the end of which requirements with respect to hours as per the international norm, a petty fine is levied for non-payment Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR), Cash they suggest that Section 56 be of minimum wages, will be replaced Reserve Ratio (CRR) and Priority amended to increase the working day by a different procedure. The Sector Lending. The move is in tune to spreadover 10{+1}/{-2}hours to 12 exclusion of contract workers, who with the recommendations of the hours; that under Section 65(2), now cover 75 per cent of the Nachiket Mor Committee on compulsory overtime be increased workforce, from the minimum wages Comprehensive Financial Services from 50 hours per quarter to 100 enforcement seems destined to for Small Businesses and Low-Income hours, and that under Section 66, continue. The failure of the Act to Households. The panel had women not be allowed to work after effectively cover home-based and suggested the gradual phase-out of 7 p.m., unless a specific notification other forms of unorganised labour will SLR, and recommended CRR is issued qua a particular factory that also continue. application only on demand is capable of demonstrating that it has The labour movement also has deposits. The budget proposal has a facilities in place to guarantee the its agenda for reform. Labourers two-fold objective. For one, it seeks safety of women workers. demand the introduction of a ‘secret to address concerns over the asset- Thus, instead of statutorily ballot’ for determination of trade liability mismatch in banks’ lending making it the norm that men and union recognition. It is unfortunate to infrastructure projects, which have women work equal hours, women that even decades after long gestation periods. By freeing have been penalised. Though the independence, this simple banks of statutory obligations on those Supreme Court has laid down that democratic right remains elusive. funds, on the other hand, the budget storage in factories of hazardous They also demand that their right to aims to bring down the financing cost substances attracts strict liability or go to court should not be restricted for them. With projects facing no excuse standard for liability, by the requirement that they take overruns on cost and time fronts due Section 7(b) lays down that the permission from the government to assorted reasons in the wake of employer must ensure — “as far as under Section 10 of the Industrial economic slowdown, the banking practicable” — that the substance is Disputes Act. Seeking such system as a whole has come under safe. Section 99 enables an employer permission delays litigation by years. heavy stress. So much so that banks to employ children. They also demand that, by have been forced to restructure a The Minimum Wages Act, 1948, amendment, the two anti-labour substantial portion of their lending to was enacted to progressively judgments of the Supreme Court in infrastructure projects. The failure of introduce minimum wages in a the Umadevi case and the SAIL case infrastructure projects on a large situation where industries were be reversed, so that non-permanent scale has seen non-performing assets gradually being established. Thus, it workers who have put in long years (NPA) piling up in this sector. A did not cover all workers, but only in government services are entitled funds-starved government needs workers in notified industries — only to regularisation, and that when the private enterprises to give a big push http://www.iasexamportal.com 57

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to infra growth. Private enterprises Supreme Court in August 2013 and hydroelectricity is endangering the will move into the infra space only if on its instructions, the Ministry of health of the Ganga. Implementation long-term funds are available at Environment and Forests (MoEF) of the 69 hydro power projects will affordable rates and near-term appointed an expert body which said lead to 81 per cent of the Bhagirathi worries on repayment do not weigh that 23 hydropower projects out of and 65 per cent of the Alaknanda on them. Viewed against this the 24 it was asked to examine would getting affected. The IMG had backdrop, the budget proposal is a have an irreversible impact on the considered the need to have portions twice-blessed move. For, it benefits biodiversity of the Alaknanda and of the river free of hydro projects and banks as well as private enterprises. Bhagirathi basins and should not be recommended that six rivers should There is, however, a huge risk in constructed. be kept in pristine form. looking at the proposal from a micro In May, the Supreme Court In the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi prism alone. Is non-availability of long- reiterated its orders stopping work on basins, the report said that 17 dams term funds the sole reason for the the 24 hydropower projects have been commissioned with a total present predicament in the examined by the body. While all this installed capacity of 1,851 MW. infrastructure space? A host of factors amounts to shutting the stable door Fourteen projects of 2,538 MW — ranging from land acquisition to after the horse has bolted, it is a capacity are in different stages of green clearance and poor credit measure of recognition of the man- construction and 39 projects with an appraisal — have combined to derail made destruction wrought by installed capacity of 4,644 MW are in the infrastructure sector. Is the unplanned hydel power projects in different stages of planning. The monetary regulator — the Reserve a sensitive and fragile ecosystem. expert body report said that if all the Bank of India – on the same page with The State of Uttarakhand is a 450 dams in the State are completed, fiscal bosses on the issue of letting part of the Ganga basin and rivers about 252 projects will each have an banks go free on statutory obligations suffer from several depradations apart installed capacity of 5MW or more. for money raised to fund from dams in high places, including The vast majority of them will divert infrastructure projects? Even if it is in extensive pollution from untreated rivers through tunnels to power sync with the fiscal bosses, the RBI sewage. Despite huge amounts of houses downstream. Their combined may yet be keen to ensure that its money being spent, plans to clean impact will affect the landscape of ability to exercise control over the up the river have failed miserably. An Uttarakhand. The environment monetary aspects of the economy is IIT-led consortium has been set up management plans of individual not compromised. The RBI may do to prepare a master plan for the projects do not address the well to ensure that such selective National Ganga River Basin Authority cumulative impacts of multiple exemptions from statutory obligations (NGRBA), to restore its projects in a river valley. do not compromise the viability of the “wholesomeness,” as the extended With dams proposed on major banking system. The budget proposal summary of a draft Ganga River Basin rivers for every 20 to 25 kilometre must be taken forward in a composite Management plan says. Citing stretch, large fragments of these rivers way by all the stakeholders so that anthropogenic activities, it says dams could be left with minimal flow as infrastructure development is and barrages have snapped her almost all the river water is extracted facilitated. “longitudinal connectivity.” for producing hydroelectricity, the Dams without In its report of March 2013, the body’s report has said. Prof. Ravi Responsibility Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) on Chopra, chairperson of the body said Issues Relating to River Ganga says that that tunnelling is also controversial The devastation in Uttarakhand the development of new hydro and leads to damage with natural had already happened much before power projects has an impact on the springs being diverted and homes the cataclysmic events of June 2013. environment, the ecology, the developing cracks. The government The unprecedented rainfall and biodiversity, both terrestrial and has only looked at the need to floods and loss of life drew attention aquatic, and economic and social life. generate power and not the impact to the alarming situation in a State Crucially, it says that in the upper on the environment. On field visits, known for its pristine forests and reaches of the river — where the the body noticed scarred rivers. It also drew attention belatedly oxygenating abilities of the river are landscapes, dry river beds and a to the “bumper to bumper” dams in the highest — there are growing signs complete disappearance of riverine the mountains. of contamination. This suggests that ecosystems due to submergence at Construction on all dams in even here, water withdrawal for existing and under construction large Uttarakhand was halted by the

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Selected Articles from Various Newspapers & Journals hydropower projects such as Tehri construction, it must remember this. literature that is converted overseas. Stage I and Koteshwar on the It has to ensure that the quest for WIPO has just launched the Bhagirathi basin and the Srinagar dam hydropower cannot come without a Accessible Books Consortium to in the Alaknanda basin. responsibility to preserve a region that provide technical support for the Extensive deforestation and is limping back to life after a calamity production of suitable formats and to diversion of forest land too has posed aggravated by unplanned human create a global database of such problems. The body found that interventions neither scientifically transcriptions and to encourage 80,826.91 hectares of forests have assessed nor endorsed by the people publishers to participate in this been diverted for non-forest use in of the region. initiative. Uttarakhand since 1980. The Breakthrough for the All of the above potentially add diversion for hydropower production blind up to vast improvements on the is 5,312.11 ha. Most of the diversion present situation where published India under the Narendra Modi for roads and hydropower has been works are out of the reach of an in Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Chamoli government has become the first overwhelming majority of the blind. country in the world to ratify the and Pithoragarh districts, the areas The exception to this rule is the Marrakesh Convention that codifies most affected in the June 2013 extremely limited availability of disaster. exemptions to copyrights to benefit educational material. The worst- blind and vision-impaired readers. People have been agitating affected are people in developing The government should now build on against dams for years in the region, countries, which are home to 90 per notably Tehri. In 2010-11, and for the this momentum and enact the cent of the world’s blind population, comprehensive and path-breaking first time for any project, there were according to the World Health law, now before a Parliamentary three public hearings on the Devsari Organization. Moreover, barely 15 hydel project on the Pinder. After Standing Committee, that could countries world-wide have copyright transform the lives of millions of two hearings, the third one was exemptions as per a WIPO finding, people with various disabilities. This accepted by the government, and these are mostly in the advanced according to Vimalbhai of the Matu is imperative also because seven long economies. The full potential of this years have elapsed since New Delhi Jansangthan which led protests along convention will be realised ultimately ratified (it was one of the earliest to with the Bhu-Swami Sangharsh when large numbers of blind people Samiti. He says this was the first major do so) the United Nations Convention have full access to quality education, for the Disabled. The current treaty protest after the ones against Tehri. which is still a distant dream. The of the World Intellectual Property A public hearing was also organised treaty will not enter into force where many voiced their opposition Organization removes legal internationally unless it is ratified by restrictions on the conversion of to the dams and on the need to keep at least 20 countries. The lack of published works into any one among the undammed tributary of the backing from the United States from Ganga that way. He referred to the a range of alternative formats which the beginning of the negotiations the blind and vision-impaired may pathetic status of the catchment area, could prove to be a handicap in access. Ratifying countries are and the lack of studies on water flows canvassing wider support. The world and climate change impacts. The required to enact domestic laws to has indeed come a long way since overcome their own copyright people displaced by the Tehri dam WIPO began to contemplate limitations to further this objective. are still to get land rights or basic copyright exemptions some three amenities in their relocated homes, The treaty also eases hurdles for decades ago. cross-country exchange of books in he added. different formats so as to overcome BRICS for a New Bank Local people who have borne the brunt of the devastation due to the cost of duplication. This is a What might have been genuine concern, as non- dams and floods and environmental dismissed as an impossibility just five governmental organisations are by groups have questioned the years ago is now a reality. Defying feasibility of dams. By all accounts and large the principal service- sceptics and critics, five countries providers for the disabled. India there is cause for concern as that between them account for 40 amended its copyright law in 2012 reflected in many reports. Even as the per cent of the world’s population Uttarakhand government proposes to broadly on the lines of the Marrakesh and 20 per cent of its GDP have Treaty. Hence, the most direct approach the Supreme Court in a bid signed an agreement to create a benefit from its ratification of the to get a green signal for dam development bank to provide latter would be the access to financial assistance to developing http://www.iasexamportal.com 59

Selected Articles from Various Newspapers & Journals countries and emerging market more than apparent at the summit. projects have been some of the economies, mainly for infrastructure The only world grouping that is not noteworthy instances on this front. projects. As its name implies, the region, security or trade-based, its But there has also been a chain of agreement for the New Development members have come together with problems and allegations in the Bank, signed by Brazil, Russia, India, the determination to create a more implementation of such projects, or China and South Africa at their sixth multilateral global order. China and in terms of the concessions offered BRICS summit in Brazil, signals the Russia have backed the other three to promoters in the private sector or start of a new global financial order BRICS members on the issue of UN to foreign investors. that aims to be more inclusive than reform and Security Council No doubt, PPPs represent a the Western-focussed International expansion. But the grouping needs valuable device to leverage scarce Monetary Fund and the World Bank. to find a stronger political voice. The public funds with private funding to The $100 billion bank will have an Declaration came in the midst of the finance critical infrastructure initial subscribed capital of $50 bombardment, even if under grave projects. Prime Minister Narendra billion. The five members managed provocation, of Gaza by Israel, but it Modi has been a votary of the PPP to iron out their differences to agree is silent on this while calling for Israel model, and prides himself on on an equal share for each in the bank, and Palestine to resume negotiations including a fourth ‘P’ — ‘people’. This so no one member dominates the towards a two-state solution. puts the focus on a major problem. If institution. India and South Africa Revamping the only the people of the area are taken both wanted to host the PPP Framework on board in its planning, much of the headquarters. The eventual decision opposition and hurdles will In both the railway budget and to locate it in Shanghai was an disappear. More often than not, land the general budget, the BJP-led NDA acknowledgement that China’s is the acquisition and compensation biggest economy in the grouping. government has made it clear that payable for it emerge as the biggest Public Private Partnership (PPP) is the The Bank will also have an African problems, invariably leading to preferred mode for driving major Regional Centre in South Africa and public agitations or protest. Mr. Jaitley India will assume the first presidency infrastructure development projects. spoke of “the weaknesses of [the] PPP Finance Minister Arun Jaitley even of the bank. First mooted at the fourth framework, the rigidities in announced the decision to set up an BRICS summit in New Delhi in 2012, contractual arrangements, the need the Bank will certainly have an impact institution named 3P India with a to develop [a] more nuanced and corpus of Rs.500 crore, to provide on the existing arrangements put in sophisticated model of contracting support to mainstreaming PPPs. This place by the Bretton Woods and develop quick dispute redressal institutions, and will give more say to ‘Triple-P’ mode was a common thread mechanisms.” The other side of the in Mr. Jaitley’s speech as he went smaller countries. But BRICS also issue relates to user charges. These through several proposed initiatives appears to recognise that the NDB projects, notably those related to cannot replace the IMF, the World of the Modi government in sectors national highway development, are such as urban renewal, urban Bank or the regional development based on certain user projections. transportation, real estate, and even banks. Thus, the Fortaleza When the numbers do not add up on Declaration describes the NDB as a gas pipelines. Railway Minister D.V. the ground, the investor becomes Sadananda Gowda too held out the “supplement to the efforts of frustrated because the projected hope that major passenger and multilateral and regional financial return on investment may not institutions for global development.” consumer initiatives such as materialise. The government and its development of railway stations, A second financial instrument, agencies must work on a new terminals, or even connectivity to the Contingency Reserve framework for PPPs to make them Arrangement of $100 billion, has ports could be taken up through the attractive to investors, and at the same PPP route. To achieve the projected been set up to help developing time affordable to the users or 8 per cent growth in GDP, economies tide over “short-term consumers. liquidity pressures, promote further infrastructure development is of critical importance, and this calls for Towards a BRICS cooperation, strengthen the huge doses of investment across comprehensive Juvenile global financial safety net and Justice law complement existing international sectors. Successive governments have tried to parcel major projects The Juvenile Justice (Care and arrangements.” In its sixth year, BRICS through this route. The greenfield Protection of Children) Act, 2000 (JJ has a new confidence, and it was airports, private ports and real estate Act) has been amended twice: in

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2006 and in 2011. More demands to The JJ Bill, 2014, seeks to enact replaced with the word ‘child’ and amend the Act have been in the a law by consolidating and amending the expression ‘juvenile in conflict reckoning. There was, for instance, a the law relating to children who are with the law’ has been changed to public outcry demanding more in need of care and protection. It ‘child in conflict with law.’ While in stringent punishment for the prime seeks to cater to their developmental the JJ Act, 2000, juveniles in conflict accused, a juvenile, in the Delhi gang needs through proper care, with the law are defined as the rape case of 2012. Besides crimes protection and treatment by adopting ‘accused’, the draft Bill identifies a committed by juveniles, violence a child-friendly approach in the ‘child in conflict with law’ to be one against them is also emerging as an adjudication and disposal of matters, who has been found by the Juvenile important issue which needs to be and for rehabilitation through Justice Board to have actually redressed by strengthening the processes provided and institutions committed an offence. It also defines existing provisions. Protracted inter- established under the proposed new an ‘abandoned child’ as well as country adoption procedures in the enactment. ‘aftercare’. Chapter two is the most existing JJ Act need urgent legislative The Women and Child noteworthy characteristic of the resolution. While personal laws allow Development Ministry has posted on proposed Bill, providing for specific communities to adopt, other its website a proposed draft of The ‘Fundamental Principles for Care, persons can become guardians only Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection Protection, Rehabilitation and Justice under an archaic Guardians and of Children) Bill, 2014, suggesting for Children’. It incorporates Wards Act, 1890. A secular gender- broad amendments. The draft states internationally accepted principles of neutral adoption law for all people is that the increase in reported presumption of innocence, dignity required. incidents of abuse of children needs and worth, family responsibility, non- The apex court in a public urgent legislative action; that there are stigmatising semantics, privacy and interest litigation decided on March inadequate facilities, quality of care confidentiality, repatriation and 28, 2014, in Dr. Subramanian Swamy and rehabilitation measures in private restoration, equality and non- and others v. Raju and others , refused and government-run children homes; discrimination, and diversion and to read down the provisions of the JJ delays in various processes under the natural justice, among others. Act, 2000, in order to account for the JJ Act; delays in inter-country Institutionalisation is suggested as a mental and intellectual competence adoption process under CARA; and measure of last resort — juveniles are of a juvenile offender and refused to inadequate provisions to deal with to institutionalised only if no other interfere with the age of a juvenile offences against children, among family-based care option is possible accused, in cases where juveniles others. or available. were found guilty of heinous crimes. The draft incorporates the CARA has been made a statutory It was held by the Court that the principles of the Hague Convention body vested with functions of in- provisions of the Act are in on Protection of Children and country and inter-country adoptions. compliance with Constitutional Cooperation in Respect of Inter- Section 58 of the draft Bill lays down directives and international Country Adoption (1993) which was special emphasis on inter-country conventions. The Court further stated absent in the original JJ Act, 2000. adoptions, stating that all applications that the classification of juveniles as a The new JJ Bill, 2014, provides for for adoption shall be filed before a special class stood the test of Article application of the proposed Act in: Principal Magistrate of the 14 of the Constitution, and that the cases involving detention, concerned jurisdiction where the Court should restrict itself to the prosecution or penalty of registered adoption agency is legitimacy and not certainty of the imprisonment; matters relating to located. law. apprehension, production before However, the proposed In this backdrop, the court, disposal orders and restoration, provision for adoption orders to be Government of India is now procedures and decisions related to passed by the Principal Magistrate on contemplating re-enacting a new JJ adoption of children, and the first date of hearing itself, or Act, 2014, for which a review rehabilitation and reintegration of within a period of two weeks, failing committee has been constituted children who are in conflict with law which it will be construed by the under the Ministry of Women and or, as the case may be, in need of higher authority of the Principal Child Development. The baton has care and protection under other such Magistrate, “as dereliction of duty”, been passed on to Parliament to enact law. does not seem to be practical for a new law. The word ‘juvenile’ has been actual implementation. Judicial http://www.iasexamportal.com 61

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proceedings have to be regulated by (SDGs) must rest: economic, social Basic Human Needs, Foundations of the Code of Civil Procedure and no and environmental. Wellbeing and Opportunity. Each of fast-track procedure that bypasses Several alternative measures these has several clusters of specific rules of evidence can be proposed have been proposed to capture the indicators (as shown in the table). in contravention of law. Likewise, social dimension of development, The environmental dimension is transgenders need adoption rights. combined with or independent of partly incorporated into the Social The JJ Bill must encompass these economic indices. Bhutan has Progress Index (SPI) as a cluster of issues. embraced and espoused the indicators related to ecosystem The proposed Bill also prohibits concept of Gross National Happiness. sustainability. While there can be the media from disclosing the A World Happiness Report is now debates on which other indicators identity of children or propagating periodically published from the could have been included in any of any such information which would Columbia University which compares the clusters, the SPI does provide a lead to identifying them. All reports self-reported levels of happiness of list of key areas which need to be relating to children are to be treated people from different countries. A tracked and acted upon to ensure a as confidential. Corporal punishment composite Wellness Index was higher level of social progress. The and ragging, cruelty to children, proposed by noted economists index is still evolving, with validation employment of children for begging, Stiglitz, Sen and Fitoussi in response studies being conducted on data adoption without proper procedure, to a request from the then President from different countries. The authors and sale or procurement of children of France, Nicolas Sarkozy, for a have extended an open invitation to for any purpose are all acts that are measure of development that looks groups from anywhere in the world punishable under the draft Bill. beyond GDP. A Global to use their data sets for validation The draft Bill therefore provides Multidimensional Poverty Index was and suggest refinements. a comprehensive mechanism to deal developed at Oxford to gauge The designers of this index with children in conflict with law as inequity within and across societies. draw our attention to three well as children who are in need of However, none of these has overarching findings of their study so care and protection. However, only really caught on because economists, far: social progress is distinct from a stringent implementation can industrialists and politicians alike are economic development, though provide a meaningful disposition to conditioned to place a high premium correlated with it; some aspects of make it a true letter of law. on economic development as the social progress are more closely A new index to measure of progress and do not like related to the level of economic measure social progress to see the clarity of a single measure development than others; countries like GDP cluttered by a host of other have relative strengths and Is Gross Domestic Product indicators they view as imprecise or weaknesses in social progress, both (GDP) an adequate measure of a even irrelevant. So, an index of social across the major dimensions and country’s development across many progress is needed which does not across components within the dimensions? This has been debated try to displace GDP (not yet anyway) dimensions. vigorously in recent years. The but has additive value. Such an index Of the three domains, Basic discontent with GDP stems from the can be used to remind political Human Needs is best correlated with fact that it focusses exclusively on leaders that their bifocal vision must per capita GDP, Foundations of economic growth. Even there, it does accommodate both economic and Wellbeing being intermediate and not capture the level of inequity social progress as being important for Opportunity the least so. However, which can exist in a society despite a country, recognising, of course, that in each domain there is variability in overall economic growth. The these two tracks are closely the degree of correlation between inequity can in fact even be interlinked and sometimes the individual components and per exacerbated by it. More importantly, inseparable. capita GDP. As the developers of SPI it pays no attention to the social and Such an index of social progress affirm, the index offers a new tool to environmental measures of has recently been created by a group explore the complex two-way development which are as important of academics and institutions relationship between economic and as economic development. Indeed, constituting the Social Progress social progress. At the same time, it the United Nations has identified Imperativeprovides a metric for comparison of three pillars on which the post- 2015 (www.socialprogressimperative.org). countries, and States within a country. Sustainable Development Goals This index has three major domains: Even as the country commits

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itself to move on the fast track of Regulatory Authority of India Bill, introspect to be able to wisely choose economic growth, it must be mindful 2013, which provided for multi-level the world they want post 2015.” of the need to invest in improving the scientific assessments and an The survey contains (for the social indicators as well. We may appellate tribunal, has lapsed. third year running) an independent continue to measure GDP if that is still While the Central government chapter on ‘Sustainable considered the talisman of economic has not permitted the commercial Development and Climate Change’, progress by the worlds of politics and cultivation of Bt brinjal in India, the which contains a few more pearls of finance, but we must also recent case of neighbouring wisdom like the one quoted earlier. simultaneously measure social Bangladesh shows that regulatory It recounts in detail several goals set progress lest we end up as a soulless mechanisms must be put in place by the United Progressive Alliance society characterised by gaping before such crops are grown, (UPA) government (without inequality and glaring social whether for research or for the market mentioning it of course), especially backwardness despite gaining — and they must be functional. as part of the National Action Plan on wealth. Let GDP and SPI be the Although the licence to produce the Climate Change (NAPCC). Of inseparable Gemini twins that herald crop in Bangladesh required that the significance is the goal to reduce our ascent to higher levels of GM variety be isolated from “emissions intensity of GDP” quite balanced development. indigenous ones to prevent genetic substantially, meaning moving Trials and Regulations contamination, the condition was not towards a lower carbon emissions followed. Field trials in India, in which economy. The promise and performance the State governments have a say, The budget too has a few of genetically modified crops in must ensure that there are sufficient provisions to gladden the hearts of agriculture is once again under the safeguards against such violations. If “sustainable development” and spotlight, with the sanction given by GM food is allowed to be sold to “green economy” advocates, such as the Genetic Engineering Approval consumers, they must have the right cleaner energy technologies, a big Committee for confined field trials of to know what they are buying, and fund for cleaning the Ganga, a boost several food crops. In its last days, the labelling should be made mandatory. to watershed development and UPA government decided to end the Here again, the Bangladesh provisions for water purification in moratorium on trial cultivation of these experience shows that such a areas badly affected by toxic wastes. engineered varieties, and to allow condition may be difficult to enforce. Solar energy gets Rs.1,000 crore, experiments aimed at generating There is no consensus on the including for agriculture pump sets biosafety data. The GEAC has now performance of GM crops and the and water pumping stations. A taken further steps to allow field trials results have been mixed. They have doubling of the Clean Energy Cess of rice, brinjal, mustard, chickpea and had some beneficial impact on tillage (from Rs.50 per tonne to Rs.100 per cotton, and import of GM soyabean practices and in terms of curbing the tonne of coal) is aimed at financing oil. Clearly, there can be no credible use of insecticides, but as the Union “clean environment” initiatives. argument against scientific of Concerned Scientists in the U.S. Unfortunately, as in the case of experiments in agriculture that points out, they have created previous budgets and economic advance the goal of developing plant monocultures and may be affecting surveys, the few concessions given varieties that can withstand drought, birds and bees. All this underscores to securing our environmental future resist pests and raise yields to feed the need for a cautious approach — are overwhelmingly submerged by the growing world population. But one that fosters scientific inquiry, what is missing and, worse, what is this should be done through a allows for scrutiny and is contradictory. The survey’s chapter transparent regulatory process that is underpinned by regulation. Enacting on ‘Sustainable Development and free of ethical conflicts. Proponents a comprehensive law that covers all Climate Change’ appears to exist in of GM crops funding research in aspects of GM crops should be a isolation of the other chapters; agricultural universities represents priority. indeed, if the government was serious one such conflict. To aid about “sustainable development,” transparency, research findings The budgets ecological bankruptcy sustainability would run like a thread should be made available in the through all the sectoral chapters. A public domain for independent “While 2015 will be a landmark few examples will suffice to show that year for sustainable development and study. But India has taken only halting it does not. climate change policy, 2014 is the last steps towards establishing a strong The survey’s chapter on regulatory system; the Biotechnology chance for all stakeholders to

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Selected Articles from Various Newspapers & Journals industry acknowledges that it is a going to dirty sources like coal and a larger economic pie will help the cause of “natural resource depletion big hydro and nuclear. poor rise above the poverty line. The (fossil fuel, minerals, timber), water, The “Key Features of Budget fact that despite a blistering pace of air, coastal and marine, and land 2014-2015” document has no section growth through much of the 1990s contamination, health hazards, on the environment. Mr. Jaitley’s and 2000s, the employment situation degradation of natural ecosystems, speech mentions the environment worsened (latest figures show nearly and loss of biodiversity.” Yet, neither only in respect of coal, clean energy 15 per cent unemployment), and 70 in this chapter nor anywhere else is cess and mining. The promise of per cent of Indians remained there an indication of how this is to sustainability in the mining sector has deprived of one or more basic needs, be tackled. The chapter on been made for many years, but no appears lost on the proponents of agriculture and food has no mention government has taken serious such an agenda. And the fact that of the enormous health implications measures to implement it. We need such growth actually trashes the of the use of chemical fertilizers and to see whether the NDA does any ecological pie on which all of us pesticides, nor does the ‘Sustainable better. It will be surprising given the depend for our very lives, appears to Development and Climate Change’ other measures it is already taking or be of little consequence. Not even chapter say anything about the need proposing, such as faster the World Bank’s 2013 study to reduce emissions from fertilizer environmental clearances and even showing that environmental damage use. Indeed, the Union budget self-monitoring by companies which annually knocks off 5.7 per cent of makes an increased allocation for the have shown scant regard for even GDP growth, seems to have made a fertilizer subsidy, ignoring the mandatory provisions. dent in such thinking. repeated advice from both within The budget lays great stress on The NDA’s first budget has and outside government to begin industrial corridors. If Gujarat’s model thrown a few sops in the direction of moving towards organic, ecological is anything to go by, this will mean the environment and the millions fertilization measures (it does have a massive amounts of forcible or dependent on it. But much like its token provision of Rs.100 crore for induced land acquisition and predecessors, in painting the big organic farming in northeast India, pollution. This is a recipe for conflicts picture it remains embarrassingly peanuts when compared to the and social disruption. Early July has devoid of innovative ideas on how to Rs.70,000 crore plus subsidy for seen massive farmer protests in Raigad move India towards ecological chemical fertilizers). Nowhere in the district of Maharashtra, against the sustainability and justice. survey are the issues of dryland proposed acquisition of 67,500 acres The fallacy of autonomy farming or the importance of reviving for a part of the Mumbai-Delhi millets for the health of soils and Industrial Corridor. There can be good arguments people mentioned. The budget also initiates the for and against a four-year A lot more could be said about River Linking project (Rs.100 crore for undergraduate degree. In any case, the ecological bankruptcy of the Detailed Project Reports), which has for the time being the debate is Economic Survey; for instance, how been under discussion for many years. settled, in our very own messy style. can anyone gauge whether we are Mr. Jaitley’s speech lamented that The new National Democratic moving any closer to sustainability in India was “not uniformly blessed with Alliance government has used the the complete absence of any perennial rivers.” Both the UPA and same steamrolling tactics to reverse indicators to measure this? Tribal the NDA are ignoring expert opinion the decision that the earlier United welfare does get a substantial that warns of the enormous ecological Progressive Alliance government had allocation, but there is no indication disruption and social displacement used to push FYUP. Now we have a whether it will be allocated to that such a massive engineering controversy about the Chairman of the continuing the intricate nature- project would cause; equally Indian Council of Historical Research culture relationship of such peoples; important, they are turning a blind eye (ICHR). Tomorrow we can expect thus far it has not, and the NDA is to the hundreds of initiatives that have something else. The real issue is how unlikely to be any different. And what shown how water security can be we take big decisions on higher appears to be good news on the solar achieved through decentralised education that affect the future of energy front pales into insignificance solutions even in the driest of regions. millions of students. Governments when one realises that the allocation The focus is on growth through change but the ways of power do not. is only 0.6 per cent of the total energy making it easier for industry and Two years of a ringside view of budget, with the lion’s share still commerce, with the assumption that big decisions on higher education taught me something: governance is

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Selected Articles from Various Newspapers & Journals not about procedures, committees, autonomy of the university. and across the Atlantic. Europe’s rules and regulations; it’s all about Now the new government has largest economy is to enforce a winks and nods of the powers that nodded the other way. The tide has national minimum pay of •8.5 an hour be. This applies as much to turned, so has the Ministry and the from January. Such a guarantee would ‘autonomous bodies’ like the UGC as UGC. Interestingly, the same persons extend cover to the millions of it does to public sector undertakings continue to occupy key positions workers — mainly in the eastern or departments of the government. such as Chairman of the UGC and region — who remain outside the This was as true of the UPA Secretary (Higher Education). But negotiated wage settlement that government as it is of the current NDA they have suddenly discovered all defined post-War Germany’s government, or the various State the arguments against FYUP that they industrial model. Britain has had a governments. had dismissed last year. Those who national minimum wage law since The story of how FYUP was could not bear the thought of 1998. But ahead of the 2015 general introduced and then withdrawn interfering with the autonomy of the election, the opposition Labour Party, serves to illustrate how power university are now issuing diktats and which was the architect of the operates. The move to shift from the ultimatums with 24-hour deadlines. legislation, wants changes so that conventional three-year graduate The rolling back of FYUP was as those at the bottom of the workforce course to FYUP began in late 2012. whimsical and arbitrary as its rollout. may share the fruits of the economic Usually the university takes a couple The world of higher education is recovery. Neighbouring France of years to deliberate and decide divided into those who applaud one codified a legal guarantee in 1950, about any major change in syllabi. Last or the other. amended since in 1970. But Paris has time the DU overhauled the syllabi of This story is worth remembering recently floated the idea of a the existing three-year course, it took in the days to come, as the BJP would minimum wage across the European about three years to do so. But this extend its control over one institution Union, although a pan-European time, the vice-chancellor wanted the after another: UGC, then ICHR, then measure may not materialise any time entire process — from brainstorming Indian Council of Social Science soon given the legal prohibition in this to the announcement of the new Research, and of course the National area. The idea may well influence the course — to be completed within six Council of Educational Research and remaining six EU states — founder- months or less. Everyone in the Training. Scores of well meaning, member Italy, Austria, Cyprus, and the academic community was aghast. secular academics will cry foul and three Nordic countries — to stipulate Even teachers who were willing to protest against violation of their respective basic floor. Although look at the idea of a four-year degree institutional autonomy by the BJP or the Swiss rejected a proposal that favourably thought it was crazy to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. would have given the country the push the idea at this pace. Such protests will be justified and world’s highest minimum pay, the However, the vice-chancellor necessary. But they would also beg a plebiscite in May occasioned a lively was determined to go ahead. It was series of questions: do we have debate. U.S. President Barack said that he was the blue-eyed boy legacy of safeguarding institutional Obama’s bid to raise the federal of the then Minister of Human autonomy? Has the academic minimum wage was blocked by Resource Development. It was also community shown the courage to Congress. But there is evidence of said that the FYUP has the Minister’s defend its autonomy? What is our growing support among the nod. And everything fell in place. All record of using academic autonomy Republicans, who are anxious not to the formalities of consultation within as and when we get it? Can academic antagonise voters. the university were completed with autonomy be equated with self- The implications of a minimum- lightning speed. Protests by teachers indulgence of the ivory tower, secular wage floor on employment generation and departments were set aside. or otherwise? How do we look firmly and growth continue to divide Ministry officials were keen to assist into the future, unperturbed by nods opinion. This is true equally of in any which way and were unwilling and winks? Germany which is set to introduce to lend an ear to anyone who A minimum Wage Debate the new law in January, or Britain and protested. The President of India, the the U.S. which have put forth Visitor to DU, refused to intervene. Echoes of the statutory proposals to effect an increase in the The funny thing was the alibi used: universal minimum wage legislation existing amount. But growing everyone from Minister downwards adopted by Germany’s governing support on this contentious issue said they were respecting the grand coalition seem to reverberate cutting across traditional party lines beyond Berlin, in the European Union http://www.iasexamportal.com 65

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perhaps means there is greater have much in common? affiliated with it.From what has been recognition that minimum wages What they most need to announced, the BRICS Bank will take ought to keep pace with inflation, succeed is trust. Russia and India have a very democratic approach to average wages and productivity long histories of conflict with China. governance by giving each member growth. The imperative need to Brazil and Russia are not famous for equal voting rights. Undoubtedly mitigate the impact of the 2007-08 being creditworthy. South Africa is a there is value in such an equal economic meltdown on large solid neutral party, but also, frankly, a arrangement for symbolic solidarity, sections of the population in the lot less significant than the other as well as to avoid concerns about advanced economies has also members. So apparently their joint Chinese domination. strengthened support. A legal desire to plant a flag on the global Despite its shortcomings, this minimum pay remains a vital tool for economy sufficiently overcame arrangement may be the only way to the workforce in mature mutual differences. overcome their mutual trust deficit. democracies, even though these are The preponderance of the Mihir Sharma has already pinned the already underpinned by vibrant trade friction on lending policy at the BRICS Bank as a vehicle for the unions and high levels of social International Financial Institutions Chinese to commandeer the protection measures. However, for (IFIs) reflects typical lender- friendlier public image of the three the bulk of the wage-earners in the borrower conflict. Developed southern BRICS as a front for China’s developing world that is outside the countries, most often net lenders, foreign economic policy. On the organised sector of the economy, a want high standards to make sure other hand, can an institution survive legal guarantee of a minimum money is used responsibly and being funded primarily by China and subsistence pay seems morally non- repaid. The developing countries, Russia, the only two BRICS with negotiable. This is true even from the most often net borrowers, resent excess reserves, when their influence standpoint of the physical and mental outsiders imposing conditions on the is no greater than any other member? capacities that are paramount to use of money inside their own If adequate checks are put in place enhance overall productivity. country. to prevent Chinese dominance, will ⇒ For the BRICS bank, Any lender must pay attention China remain interested in this a tough road ahead to prudential concerns to survive. But project? given business practices in the BRICS This works as long as they see The announcement of a new — especially where government is long-term value in the institution. U.S. BRICS Bank displays the desire of involved — this cannot be taken for taxpayers would not accept such a emerging economies to move away granted. The BRICS governments bargain, but China and Russia have from Washington D.C.-style lending have not always been enthusiastic less need to answer to their own institutions. But between India’s about World Bank scrutiny and taxpayers. The BRICS clearly want bureaucratic efficiency and China’s transparency in the past. They must something tangible to demonstrate indifference to humanitarian, be vigilant to ensure that BRICS Bank their global prominence and the environmental and regional concerns, money is used wisely and gets repaid. power of non-Western values. Yet the they resemble John F. Kennedy’s tart Developed countries have also new BRICS Bank faces two critical characterisation of the very place imposed high-minded lending tensions. The first pits the desire to they hope to leave behind. Much values, the benefit of which can be be free of Western-imposed work lies ahead for the creators of more reasonably debated. High constraints on lending, versus the these new multilateral financial environmental standards, for instance, need for prudential lending. The institutions before the first loan can may feel like a luxury that poor second sets the high-minded desire be made. borrowing countries cannot afford. for equality of governance against the Simply reaching sufficient Some Western-imposed mandates reality that lack of Chinese dominance agreement to announce the new feel more like development fads. may result in institutional neglect by BRICS Bank represents a significant Most are legitimate values that the its primary benefactor. achievement for the six-year-old BRICS should aspire to follow. While the BRICS Bank project BRICS group. While it may seem silly If the BRICS are comfortable was put together in an impressively to organise a serious international with lowering their lending standards short two years, most of the difficult grouping based on a clever acronym, I do not doubt they will find plenty questions remain unanswered. These the BRIC countries are the four largest of projects to fund. But if they are, it tensions — critical to the bank’s economies in the developing world. is best that the existing IFIs are not viability — will not be easily resolved. They have economic heft, but do they

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I expect it will be several years before continuation of uranium enrichment uranium production as per its own the details are sufficiently ironed out up to the level necessary for power requirements. A foremost factor is the for the BRICS Bank to open its doors. generation was in sharp contrast to election last year of Iran’s moderate Keep talking Peace past UNSC resolutions requiring President Hassan Rouhani, which Tehran to freeze all enrichment. In almost coincided with the interim The four-month extension of return, Iran agreed to limit its nuclear nuclear agreement. A thaw in Britain’s talks to halt Tehran’s bid to make an programme and permit vigorous relations with Tehran could prove to atomic bomb is an indication of the multilateral inspections of its facilities. be a vital channel for the European positive if limited fallout from the Whereas U.S. President Barack powers and the U.S. to exert pressure historic late-2013 interim agreement. Obama insisted that such relief was on the radical Sunni Islamic groups Beneath that was well-founded and conditional and reversible, the in Iraq and Syria. These are factors deep scepticism — in the United Republican hard-liners and Israel with a strong potential to influence States, Europe and even among the decried the November agreement as the course of nuclear talks. The road Israeli intelligence — of any resort to a huge mistake. to long-term peace lies in eschewing brute force as a means to restrain There is evidently no guarantee hard positions; one that goes to the Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons. The that the November deadline would root of the global Nuclear non- five permanent members on the yield the outcome that all parties Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Nuclear United Nations Security Council envisage. Tehran has offered to weapon-states championing (UNSC) and Germany accordingly freeze the country’s operations at disarmament ought to tread a delicate decided to ease sanctions worth $7 current levels over the next three to line vis-à-vis potential aspirants in billion for six months. The readiness seven years and thereafter resume order to strengthen world peace. of the latter to relent on Iran’s

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Delhi University FYUP Row

MARRAKESH TREATY

Literary work requires lot of treaty is that it’s signatories should India has become the first effort and creativity, writers spend lot adopt a national law that will make country to ratify the Marrakesh Treaty. of energy and resources to reach available the published work in form The Treaty was initially adopted by desired product. Copyrights are that is accessible for the persons with 79 member countries and India issued in order to encourage this visual inability. Treaty also allows that ratified the treaty on june 2014. This creative work and they provide the publication should be made available treaty will benefite the educational mechanism to pass the benefits to the across border to the governmental or institutions, libraries and owner. non-governmental organizations organisations which are working for However, intellectual property working in this field. The majority of the benefit of persons with visual rights are also generally seen as an persons with visual impairments or impairment. infringement on the basic human with other print disabilities are Translation of material in rights of the people. Debate has been residing in counties which are in not accessible format along with import long present on how to build a correct economically developed. of material from member countries balance between the economic This treaty will be source of will be the medium through which benefits of owner and rights of development of people residing in benefits will be transfered. Once the customer. Some consider IPR as an poor and least developed nations. Marrakesh Treaty comes into force, it mechanism which is discriminatory There are differences in national will help the millions of blind, visually and it does not encourage the full copyright laws, the positive impact impaired and otherwise print participation of population. of ICT on the lives of persons with disabled persons in India, who wants Marrakesh treaty was signed in this visual impairments can only be felt to read but can not because material regard to allow the persons with through a treaty which is is not present in accessible format. visual impairments or with print internationally binding. Although India has amended its copyright act disability to get the benefits of many member countries have already in 2012, which is in line with the treaty development in technology. enacted such national laws but there signed in Marrakesh. Amendment This treaty proclaims the is a continuing shortage of available enabled the persons with disability “principles of non-discrimination, works in accessible format copies for to convert the work published in equal opportunity, accessibility and such persons. International treaty will India in a format that they can access, full and effective participation and also provide the benefit of cross which includes, braill, audio etc. But inclusion in society, proclaimed in the border accessibility in prescribed with Marrakesh treaty it will open Universal Declaration of Human Rights format. enormous amount of international and the United Nations Convention book resources. on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities”. Marrakesh treaty is an initiative of World intellectual property organization. Treaty will come into force once 20 countries ratify it. The main goal of Marrakesh Treaty is to create a set of mandatory limitations and exceptions for the benefit of the blind, visually impaired and otherwise print disabled. Basic condition of the

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Delhi University FYUP Row

ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES ACT

The Essential Commodities Act products; of these commodities will be con- was enacted by the Central Govern- ix) raw cotton; trolled. ment in 1955. Main purpose of the (x) raw jute:, Various agencies are involved in act was to control the price and trade (xi) any other class of commodity the execution of the act, but act for commodities which are essential which the Central Government authorises Food and civil supply au- for public at large. This act gives the may, by notified order, declare thorities to execute the Act. They power to governments at the center to be an essential commodity have been given the power to raid a and state to control the price, sup- for the purposes of this Act, premises of anyone in case of ply, production, trade etc. when the being a commodity with re- suspision of hoarding of any of the chance of price rise is present. Vari- spect to which Parliament has essential commodity. In case of price ous measures are provided to the power to make laws by virtue rise in any of the essential commod- governments in order to effectively of Entry 33, in List III in the Sev- ity, central government can prescribe discharge the functioned assigned in enth Schedule;. to the Consti- the stock limit. Generally the Centre the act. Government can impose tution; specifies upper limits in the case of stock limit, can issue license and dis- Government has made various stock holding and states prescribe tribute the commodity. Government amendments in the past either to re- specific limits.Sometimes we see the can also impose penalties in case of move or add some commodities with difference between centre and state stock keeping of essential commod- in the purview of the act. Herbicides, government emerge, in those situa- ity. fungicides and exercise books have tions the order of centre government Commodities which are cov- been removed from the purview of has overriding power. ered under the act are provided in the act while new commodities like At present, minor offences re- the essential commodities act, 1955 steel etc were added in order to lated to violations of provisions of this and new commodities are added to keep in tap with the changing time. act attract a punishment of jail term it through various amendments. Origi- The Act is again in the news, as between three months and a year. nal text of the Act says; “essential the Centre government is trying to While major offences attract the pun- commodity” means any of the follow- bring onions and potatoes under ishment up to seven years in jail. Ma- ing Classes of commodities: its purview. jor offences under the Act are non- (i) cattle fodder, including oil- Inflation in both these com- bailable as Criminal Procedure Code cakes and other concentrates;. modities has been a headache for the says offences attracting a jail term (ii) coal, including coke and other government and public at large for beyond three years are non-bailable. derivatives; last few years. So by bringing these The Central Government is of the (iii) component parts and accesso- commodities with the purview of the opinion that violation of the act ries of automobiles; act government is hoping that prices should be made Non-bailable. (iv) cotton and woollen textiles; (v) foodstuffs, including edible oilseeds and oils; (vi) iron and steel, including manufactured products of iron and steel; (vii) paper, including newsprint, paperboard -and straw board; (viii)petroleum and petroleum http://www.iasexamportal.com 69

Mock Paper CSAT PAPER-II MODEL PAPER For IAS Preliminary Examination–2015

Passage: Instruction for question- 1. According to passage. significant progress will read the following passage and 1. As of January 2011, it has be achieved in answer the questions that follow. been more than 12 eradicating the diseases. Your answers to the questions months since India Choose the correct option should be based on the passage recorded its last case of using codes only. poliomyelitis. (a) Only 1 In a sense, 2012 has the 2. India can dramatically (b) Only 2 potential to be call important impact global (c) Both 1 and 2 milestone; As of January, it has immunization efforts this (d) Neither 1, nor 2 year. been more than 12 months since 4. The year ‘2011’ was declared India recorded its last case of Choose the correct option as poliomyelitis. If 2012 passes using codes (a) Decade of polio vaccines without this record being (a) Only 1 (b) Decade of vaccines disturbed, India and the rest of the (b) Only 2 (c) Decade of small pox world would have made (c) Both 1 and 2 vaccines significant progress toward (d) Neither 1, nor 2 (d) Decade of TB vaccines eradicating only the second 2. According to passage. 5. India recorded its last polio human disease ever. As with small 1. The success in the battle pox, the primary tool that is being case in against polio coincides (a) 2012 employed is a highly effective with a moment of (b) 2010 Vaccine. It is because of their reckoning of vaccines tremendous public value that the (c) 2011 and immunization (d) 2009 famous economist Jeffrey sachs 2. India has the largest once called vaccines and other number of immunized Passage: Instruction for question- similar health interventions children in the world read the following passage and ‘weapons of mass salvation’. answer the questions that follow. Choose the correct option Your answers to the questions This potentially defining using codes should be based on the passage advancement in the battle against (a) Only 1 only. polio comes, coincidentally, at a (b) Only 2 moment of reckoning for vaccines (c) Both 1 and 2 Western sanctions once and immunization. In May 2011, (d) Neither 1, nor 2 ‘targeted’ and now blanket, are ‘the decade of vaccines turning into a form of collective 3. The author considers 2012 to collaboration’ was lunched at the punishment. They are designed, ‘ have the potential to be an World Health Assembly. With a we are told, to force the Islamic important milestone’ Variety of stakeholders- ranging government to return to the from United Nations agency to because. nuclear negotiating table. Western 1. The year has been labeled multilateral bodies, national policies also seen to believe the as the ‘year of governments to philanthropic punishing the Iranian people might intensification of routine institutions- this efforts hopes to lead them to blame their own immunization. maximize the power and potential government for their misery and of vaccines over the next decade, 2. If no cases of take it upon themselves to force a poliomyelitis are and expect full benefits of change in the regime’s behavior, recorded this year then immunization to everyone. or even a change in the regime

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Mock Paper itself. But as the old British maxim (b) Only 2 discussion on the ensuring change recognized, deprivation in Iran is (c) Both 1 and 2 in social and individual ethics, a receipe for the status quo Iran’s (d) Neither 1, nor 2 brought about by globalization; a government and its people have 8. According to author. change which is only too evident never been isolationists. But a 1. A change in regime would in daily life. If money is to be the sanctions take their toll on the make Iran resume nuclear major criterion of human worth, livelihoods of Iranians who want negotiations. then will the social ethic of earlier to continue to do business and times and situations have to be 2. Sanctions have made the communicate with the outside replaced by social ethic and mean Iranians less supportive of world, their energy to question the totality of the ethics of a America their government’s policies and to society. To treat globalization as (a) Only 1 agitate for change is waning. That entirely a matter of changing the means for fewer opportunities to (b) Only 2 economy is to hoodwink promote American values and win (c) Both 1 and 2 ourselves. (d) Neither 1, nor 2 minds, if not hearts (which we 11. Which is main part of the Americans have won in the past 9. The passage mentions which passage? but are now in danger of losing) country (a) Globalization has not 6. the passage mentions the “ (a) Iran removed the need for deprivation in Iran is a (b) Syria social ethics. recipe for the status quo”. (c) Iraq (b) Globalization has What does it imply? (d) None of these contributed to poverty in 1. Deprivation in Iran has 10. According to the passage. the country been a consequence of 1. The Iranians have started (c) Social ethics needs to the government’s rule blaming their own change with globalization there. government for misery. (d) Globalization and ethics 2. Deprivation in Iran does 2. Iran’s government and its do not go together. not have the effect that people have been 12. What does the author means western sanctions aim to isolationists. by ‘social ethics” achieve. Choose the correct option (a) How an ethical society Choose the correct option using codes evolves (b) Importance of ethics in a using codes (a) Only 1 society (a) Only 1 (b) Only 2 (b) Only 2 (c) Both 1 and 2 (c) Totality of ethics of a (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1, nor 2 society (d) Neither 1, nor 2 (d) Integration of a society 7. With reference to the PassagePassage: Instruction for question- with its ethics passage, consider the read the following passage and answer the questions that follow. 13. Consider the following following statements. Your answers to the questions statements: 1. Western sanctions need should be based on the passage 1. We welcome radical to be targeted to be only. change even if the way effective. population continues to We have welcomed the 2. Western sanctions have be below poverty line market and the radical change into been aimed to promoting 2. Globalization brought out American values. economy, even if half the social and political population continues to be below ethics. Choose the correct option poverty line or generally using codes impoverished. The important Choose the correct option using codes (a) Only 1 lacuna is that we have avoided

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Mock Paper

(a) Only 1 quasi-judicial decisions to public perception of his (b) Only 2 affected persons. This provision guilt. (c) Both 1 and 2 has no exemptions. The 2. Ajmal Kasab, the lone (d) Neither 1, nor 2 government erroneously denies convict of 26/11 Mumbai 14. What is major criterion of information to RTI applicants terror attack should not human? seeking reasons for its mercy have been hanged (a) Money decisions, taking shelter under secretly. (b) Development Article 74(2) which Only bars 3. The President’s decision (c) Social ethics inquiries by courts into Ministers’ to reject Kasab’s mercy (d) None of these advice to the President. petition doesn’t throw any light behind the reason of 15. Consider the following The last hanging in India was his doing so. statements: that of Dhananjoy Chatterjee in 4. Now a days prosecutions 1. To treat globalization in 2004. One of the journalists has are guided by media and entirely a matter of found from MHA files under the public perceptions. - changing the economy RTI Act that the briefs prepared for (a) Only 1 and 2 (b) 2. Social ethics implies that President Kalam provided an Only 1 and 3 totality of the ethics of a inaccurate and incomplete view (c) Only 1, 2, 3 society of the 10-year delay in his (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 execution, ignoring official Choose the correct option 17. According to the passage the using codes negligence. He suggests that a government is shying away (a) Only 1 reasoned and transparent decision from its duty to reveal the (b) Only 2 could have made it easy for the reason behind its mercy (c) Both 1 and 2 Supreme Court to intervene on the decisions under the ambit of- (d) Neither 1, nor 2 ground that relevant material was 1. Public perception, as in not placed before the President, the case of Ajmal Kasab’s Passage: Instruction for question- before executing Chatterjee. guilt. read the following passage and President Pranab Mukherjee 2. Article 74(2), which falls answer the questions that follow. missed an excellent opportunity under public domain. Your answers to the questions to contribute to the rule of law, should be based on the passage Select the correct answer by not publicly disclosing the from the codes given: only. reasons for his decision on Kasab. (a) Only 1 (b) Only 2 President Pranab Mukherjee’s Every death row convict has an (c) Both 1 and 2 decision to reject the mercy inherent right under Article 21even (d) Neither 1 nor 2 petition submitted by the lone if so far untested by the Courts - 18. Information from MHA files convict in the 26/11 Mumbai terror to be apprised of the reasons for under RTI Act reveals a attack, Mohammed Ajmal Kasab, the rejection of his mercy petition, lacuna behind the execution is an instance of how public which would deprive him of his of Dhananjoy Chatterjee in perceptions about a convict’s guilt life. Others are entitled to know 2004. This lacuna pertains to- can camouflage the government’s the reasons as well under the RTI (a) Non intervention of duty to explain the decision. The Act. Supreme Court in the President’s decision is shrouded 16. According to the passage- matter. in secrecy, throwing little light on 1. The government is trying (b) Hanging of Dhananjoy the principles which guided it. to neglect its duty of Chatterjee could have Under Section 4(1) (d) of the disclosing the reason been commuted to life Right to Information Act, every imprisonment on timely behind the rejection of - public authority shall provide mercy petition of Ajmal intervention of Supreme reasons for its administrative or Kasab by hiding under the Court. (c) An inaccurate and

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Mock Paper

incomplete view of the New health technologies- 20. Consider the following 10-year delay in his such as affordable and locally statement with reference to execution was presented adapted drugs, vaccines and the passage- before the President to diagnostics can also make a big 1. New health technologies- decide upon his mercy contribution to combating disease such as affordable and petition. in India. For some serious locally available drugs, (d) A reasoned and diseases, there are currently no vaccines and diagnostics transparent decision was effective drugs or vaccines, are helping India in made by the President in whereas for others, existing combating diseases like reviewing his mercy technologies are too expensive malaria and tuberculosis. petition. and require infrastructure that is 2. There is a need for 19. Consider the following not broadly available, or are ill subsidy of some sort for statement- suited in other ways to local Indian firms to develop 1. As per Article 21 a death needs. For instance there are no products that can combat row convict and general vaccines against malaria or less prevalent diseases. public are entitled to dengue fever and no affordable Which of the statements given know the reason behind and accurate point-of care tests above is/are correct? the rejection of his mercy for tuberculosis ‘India’s Role in (a) Only 1 (b) Only 2 petition. Global Health R&D - a report by 2. Article 74(2) undermines (c) Both 1 and 2 the Results for Development (d) Neither 1 nor 2 the RTI Act. Institute under its Centre for 21. The contribution of Indian Which of the statements given Global Health Research and above is/are correct.? Development Policy Assessment firms is inadequate as it does not address the problem of (a) Only 1 programme - suggests that the (b) Only 2 capacity of Indian firms and of the (a) developing more (c) Both 1 and 2 Indian biomedical system as a affordable or locally adapted versions of (d) Neither 1 nor 2 whole to create and bring new health technologies to market is existing products. Passage: Instruction for question- (b) development of new read the following passage and still limited. Indian firms require products for which answer the questions that follow. subsidy of some kind to work on technology is easily Your answers to the questions products with very small markets, available. should be based on the passage such as leishmaniasis or typhoid only. fever. Also, there is a class of (c) development of new products with a small neglected but useful disease Despite India’s rapid market. economic development and products that these firms see as commercially viable. (d) development of growing technological prowess, it international products continues to suffer from Indian firms are most able to which have a cost or widespread poverty and bears a contribute in three ways: by other advantage. burden of infectious diseases, developing more affordable or including tuberculosis, malaria locally adapted versions of 22. Which one of the following statements conveys the and many other neglected existing products; by bringing to diseases. The country will have to market some new products for inference of the passage? (a) India still, suffers from strengthen its health system to which technological barriers are reduce this burden and make not too high; and by participating widespread poverty and medicines accessible, especially in specific aspects of international bears a burden of infectious diseases. for the poor, a latest report on product development initiatives in India’s research and development areas where they have a cost or (b) No affordable and accurate point-of care has said. other advantage.

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Mock Paper

tests of tuberculosis is for cutting climate-altering 24. According to the passage- available in India. greenhouse gas emissions could 1. Country pledges for (c) Indian firms need some see global average temperatures cutting climate-altering kind of subsidy to rise by three to five degrees greenhouse gas emissions develop new health care Celsius this century, said a U.N. is not adequate at current products which are Environment Programme (UNEP) levels. technologically more report. The targeted limit is an 2. Even if swift action is sound and effective. increase of two degrees Celsius taken current estimated (d) The capacity of Indian on pre-industrial levels. The rate of emission of 50.1 firms and of the Indian World Meteorological billion tonnes per year is biomedical system as a Organisation (WMO) reported a unlikely to be reduced by whole to create and bring record increase of earth-warming 2020. new health technologies gases in the atmosphere, while the 3. Qatar is going to hold to market is still World Bank warned of the planet- world meet on climate constrained. wide devastation a rise of four change, to be attended by 23. Consider the following degrees Celsius wound cause. over 190 countries to statement- UNEP said swift action could renew the Kyoto Protocol. 1. For some serious diseases still see the world get back on 4. If swift action is not taken like malaria, dengue and track, but it would mean the emissions may reach chikungunya fever, there increasing pledges and slashing to 58 gigatones by 2020. are currently no drugs or emissions by 14 per cent to about Which of the statements given vaccines available in 44 billion tonnes in 2020 from an above is/are correct? India. estimated 50.1 billion tonnes per (a) Only 1 and 2 2. There is no affordable and year now. Scientists say global (b) Only 1 and 3 accurate point of care temperatures have already risen (c) Only 1 and 4 tests available for by about 0.8 degrees Celsius on (d) Only 2, 3 and 4 diseases like tuberculosis average. More than 190 countries 25. The key message conveyed and typhoid fever. will meet for two weeks in Qatar in the passage is- Which of the statements given seeking to draft a work (a) The goal of keeping planet above is/are true as per the programme leading to a new, warming in check is passage? global climate deal to be signed unlikely to be achieved (a) Only 1 by 2015 and enter into force by out of the upcoming Qatar (b) Only 2 2020. meet, due to lack of (c) Both 1 and 2 They will also seek to put in consensus among (d) Neither 1 nor 2 place a follow-up phase for the participating countries. Kyoto Protocol which binds rich (b) An alarming increase in Passage: Instruction for question- nations to greenhouse gas the earth-warming gases read the following passage and emission cuts but runs out on may worsen the situation answer the questions that follow. December 31, 2012. UNEP said the by 2020. Your answers to the questions should be based on the passage concentration of warming gases (c) A flurry of reports by the like carbon dioxide has increase UN and its organs may only. by about 20 per cent since 2000, endanger the upcoming The goal of keeping planet picking up after a slump during the global meet in Qatar even warming in check has moved economic downturn of 2008-9. before it commences. further out of reach, the U.N. said Barring swift action, emissions (d) World Bank estimates are in the latest of a flurry of reports were likely to reach 58 gigatonnes worrisome. pointing to looming disaster ahead in 2020. 26. With reference to the of talks in Qatar. Country pledges

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passage consider the Although genetic mutations in dissemination of another following statements- bacteria and viruses can lead to mosquito, Aedes albopictus. 1. The rise in average epidemics, some epidemics are 28. The passage suggests that a temperature this century caused by bacteria and viruses lack of modern sanitation could be one to three that have undergone no significant would make which of the degrees celsius more than genetic change. In analyzing the following most likely to the targeted limit at the latter, scientists have discovered occur? current rate of climate the importance of social and (a) An outbreak of Lyme altering greenhouse gas ecological factors to epidemics. disease emissions. Poliomyelitis, for example, (b) An outbreak of dengue 2. Concentration of warming emerged as an epidemic in the hemorrhagic fever gases like Carbon United States in the twentieth (c) An epidemic of typhoid dioxide needs to be century; by then, modern (d) An epidemic of paralytic checked if the targeted sanitation was able to delay polio among infants limit of average exposure to polio until temperature rise is to be adolescence or adulthood, at 29. According to the passage, the outbreak of dengue achieved on pre-industrial which time polio infection levels. produced paralysis. Previously, hemorrhagic fever in the 1950’s occurred for which of infection had occurred during Which of the statements given the following reasons? above is/are correct? infancy, when it typically provided lifelong immunity without (a) The mosquito Aedes (a) Only 1 (b) Only 2 aegypti was newly (c) Both 1 and 2(d) Neither 1 paralysis. Thus, the hygiene that helped prevent typhoid introduced into Asia. nor 2 (b) The mosquito Aedes epidemics indirectly fostered a 27. A slump in CO emissions aegypti became more 2 paralytic polio epidemic. during the economic numerous. downturn of 2008-09 Another example is Lyme (c) The mosquito Aedes resulted in disease, which is caused by albopictus became 1. 20% increase in carbon bacteria that are transmitted by infected with the dengue dioxide concentration as deer ticks. It occurred only virus. compared to 2000 sporadically during the late (d) Individuals who would estimates. nineteenth century but has recently normally acquire 2. an increase in global become prevalent in parts of the immunity to the dengue temperatures by about United States, largely due to an virus as infants ever not 0.8 degrees celcius on increase in the deer population infected until later in life. that occurred simultaneously with average. 30. It can be inferred from the the growth of the suburbs and passage that Lyme disease Pick your answer from the increased outdoor recreational following codes: has become prevalent in activities in the deer’s habitat. parts of the United States (a) Only 1 (b) Only 2 Similarly, an outbreak of dengue because of which of the (c) Both 1 and 2(d) None of hemorrhagic fever became an these following? epidemic in Asia in the 1950’s (a) The inadvertent because of ecological changes Passage: Instruction for question- introduction of Lyme read the following passage and that caused Aides-aegypti, the disease bacteria to the mosquito that transmits the dengue answer the questions that follow. United States. Your answers to the questions virus, to proliferate. The stage is (b) The inability of modern should be based on the passage now set in the United States for a sanitation methods to dengue epidemic because of the only. eradicate Lyme disease inadvertent introduction and wide bacteria. http://www.iasexamportal.com 75

Mock Paper

(c) A genetic mutation in United States? countries, they were finally Lyme disease bacteria (a) The deer population was successful. The huge temples were that makes them more smaller in the late carefully removed from their virulent. nineteenth century than in original site and moved to a safe (d) An increase in the number the mid-twentieth century. location so that the dam could be of humans who encounter (b) Interest in outdoor built. UNESCO is an agency of the deer ticks. recreation began to grow United Nations. The United 31. Which of the following can in the late nineteenth Nations is a partnership between most reasonably be century. countries from all over the world. concluded about the (c) In recent years the They are joined to help promote mosquito Aedes albopictus suburbs have stopped world peace, enforce human on the basis of information growing. rights, and help countries given in the passage? (d) Outdoor recreation develop. UNESCO is a part of the (a) It is native to the United enthusiasts routinely take United Nations that is concerned States. measures to protect with science and culture. (b) It can proliferate only in themselves against Lyme After their success in saving Asia. disease. the temples in Egypt, UNESCO (c) It transmits the dengue Passage: Instruction for question- went on to save more sites around virus. read the following passage and the world. They protected lagoons (d) It caused an epidemic of answer the questions that follow. in Venice, ruins in Pakistan, and dengue hemorrhagic fever Your answers to the questions temples in Indonesia. With in the 1950’s. should be based on the passage industrialization changing the 32. Which of the following best only. world rapidly, there were many sites that needed to be saved. describes the organization of In 1959, the government of Eventually, UNESCO formed the the passage? Egypt was working on a plan to (a) A paradox is stated, build a dam on the River Nile. It World Heritage Organization to protect important natural and discussed and left was called the Aswan Dam, and historic sites wherever it was unresolved. it was intended to generate necessary. By now, the World (b) Two opposing electricity and allow the river Heritage Organization has explanations are water to be used for agriculture. presented, argued, and There was one big problem with protected hundreds of sites ranging from beautiful natural reconciled. the plan, though. The dam would islands to buildings in large cities (c) A theory is proposed and flood a nearby valley that to ancient ruins. If you’re able to is then followed by contained ancient Egyptian visit any of the many protected descriptions of three treasures, including two enormous experiments that support stone temples. It can be difficult sites, you’ll agree it was worth it. the theory. for governments to choose culture 34. Why did UNESCO get (d) A generalization is stated and history over economics. involved in Egypt and is then followed by However, if countries always (a) Egypt was planning to three instances that made decisions like this, the build a dam that would support the majority of the world’s ancient harm ancient temples. generalization. sites would end up being (b) Egypt was planning to 33. Which of the following, if destroyed. Luckily, UNESCO build a valley for true, would most strengthen stepped in. They formed a agriculture and the author’s assertion about committee, that tried to convince electricity. the cause of the Lyme Egypt to protect its ancient (c) Egypt was planning to disease outbreak in the treasures. With support from many create a dam right on top of an ancient temple.

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(d) When the dam flooded a (c) To listen and interact in an in the department likes either Sony valley, several treasures informal way. or NDTV G likes Zee. F does not were discovered. (d) To be focused with like Sony. 35. What is meant by the line ‘It everyone. 41. Which channel does A like? can be difficult for 39. You presented an idea in (a) DD (b) NDTV governments to choose front of the board of (c) BBC (d) Zee Culture and History over directors. Your boss praises 42. In which department does F Economics’? you by saying that you have work? (a) Most governments prefer a ‘good style’ here? (a) Marketing(b) to sell their treasures. (a) Clean clear thinking Production (b) Money sometimes seems (b) Good and unique idea (c) finance (d) Marketing more important than all (c) Impressive way of or Finance other things. speaking (c) Governments are never (d) Fearless attitude 43. Which channel does F like? able to consider two (a) Zee (b) NDTV 40. You are the district (c) BBC things at once. magistrate of a remote (d) Data Inadequate (d) Governments usually district and you have to don’t know anything deliver a speech is one of the 44. Which of the following about their culture. remote villages ‘you will’ groups work in marketing department? 36. You have decided to (a) Use cheesy words and introduce computerization in fancy language. (a) B, A, C (b) B, G, E (c) H, B, E every department in your (b) Use formal words, office. But some staff is without much interactive (d) None of these opposing it. The main reason lines 45. In which Department does B for resistance is (c) Use familiar, native and work? (a) Lethargy (b) Habit simple words with a (a) Marketing(b) (c) Fear (d) Stubborn touch of interactive lines. Production 37. You are the CEO of a big firm (d) Use circumlocution and (c) finance (d) Data Inadequate and you want to form a team abstract words. to assign an important Direction: A, B, C, D, E, F, G Direction: Eight member A, B, project How will you and H are eight employees C, D, E, F, G and H belonging to choose the team leader? working in there departments- three families X, Y, Z go for (a) A person who has the marketing finance and production, weekend outing in three different potential to keep the in an organization with at least cars I, II, III four out of the eight member united two of them in any department members are females members of (b) A Responsible person Each of them different choice of any one family travels in different (c) An aggressive person TV channels from star, ZEE, ESPN, cars. Each car has at least one (d)An honest person DD, SONY, NDTV, Aaj Tak and male and one female member. 38. The best mode of BBC not necessarily in the same Each family has at least two communication with your order D likes ESPN and he works members. A belongs to family Y subordinates and coworkers in production department with and he travels in car III. D is wife at the workplace is only G. B and F do not work in of E and they travel in cars I and (a) To communicate in a the same Department. H likes DD II respectively. H is son of B who formal way and only that and does not work in marketing is wife of G and they belong to much, which is required department. E works with C in the family Z, C is daughter of F, who (b) To communicate in an same department and likes star. is wife of A. C travels in car II, G attentive and clear way B likes Aaj Tak and none of his * does not travel with F.

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46. Which of the following (a) 2 (b) 3 60. In a two digit number the groups of persons travels in (c) 0 (d) 1 digit in unit’s place is one car me? 54. Ajay is opposite to Mohan? more than twice the digit in (a) D, F, G (b) D, E, G (a) Vijay (b) Babu Ten’s place. If the difference between half of these two (c) D, G, H (d) D, F, H (c) Suresh (d) Mohan digit is 2, than what is half 47. Which car has only two 55. There are four candidates for of the numbers? members traveling in it? group leader in a team. One (a) 16.5 (b) 24.5 (a) I (b) II is to he selected by votes of (c) 18.5 (d) 12.5 (c) III (d) II or III 5 team members. The 61. In a party each person 48. Which of the following number of ways in which the shakes their hands with all members of families Y and votes can be given is other person. If the total Z travel in different cars? (a) 1048 (b) 1072 number of handshakes were (a) F, G (b) C, G (c) 1024 (d) None 66, than how many persons (c) F, H (d) C, F 56. In what proportion should were present in the party? 49. Which of the following water and juice at Rs 20.00 (a) 16 (b) 15 groups of persons in a group a litre he mixed to reduce (c) 13 (d) 12 of all females? the price to Rs 5 a litre? 62. A man crosses a stationary (a) B, D, G (a) 3 : 1 (b) 1 : 3 car in 35 seconds. The same (b) A, B, C (c) 2 : 3 (d) 4 : 7 car crosses a pole in 21 (c) B, E, F 57. Find the least number of seconds. What is the ratio of (d) None of these boxes of pens required to fill the speed of the car to the speed of the man? 50. Which of the following a rectangular floor of 15.17 (a) 3 : 5 (b) 5 : 3 members of families X and m length and 9.02m breadth? (c) 3 : 7 (d) 7 : 3 Y Travel in the same car? (a) 841 (b) 714 63. Ramashanker owned (a) C, F (b) D, F (c) 814 950gold coins, all of which (c) C, D (d) F, E (d) None of these he distributed amongst his 58. The age of Rahul is 60% more Direction: 6 Boys – Rajeev, three daughter Kavita, Rita than Ravi’s age and the age Mohan, Vijay, Suresh, Babu & Ajay and Sunita. Kavita gave 25 3 are sitting in a circle and facing of Roshan is times the age coins to her husband, rita towards the centre of the circle. 2 donates 15 gold coins and of Ravi. If the sum of ages of Rajeev is sitting to the right of sunita made jewellery out of Rahul, Ravi and Roshan is Mohan but he is not just to the left 30 gold coins. The new ratio 125 years, than what is ratio of Vijay, Suresh is between Babu of the coins left with them of the ages of Ravi to that of & Vijay, Ajay is sitting to the left was 20:73:83. How many Roshan? of Vijay. gold coins did Rita receive (a) 1 : 2 (b) 2 : 3 from her father? 51. Who is sitting to the left of (c) 3 : 4 (d) 4 : 5 Mohan? (a) 380 (b) 415 59. The ratio of the angles of a (c) 400 (d) 350 (a) Rajeev (b) Vijay quadrilateral is 3 : 6 : 4 : 7. (c) Ajay (d) Babu 64. The ratio of the present age Half the second largest angle of Tanu and Rakhi is 5 : 4. 52. Who is sitting between Ajay of the quadrilateral is equal Six years later, the ratio of & Mohan? to the smaller angle of the their ages will be 7 : 6. What (a) Rajeev (b) Vijay parallelogram. What is the is the difference between (c) Babu (d) Suresh value of the adjacent angle of the parallelogram? their ages? 53. There are how many boys (a) 2 Years (b) 3 Years between Vijay to Mohan (a) 126° (b) 136° (c) 94° (d) 96° (c) 4 Years (d) 5 Years from left to right?

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Diection: The pie chart denotes (a) 800 (b) 1800 74. What is the ratio of the distribution of students (c) 1000 (d) 900 investment of G and B of A to that of G and B of B? studying different disciplines iin Direction : Study the following (a) 63:17 (b) 78:65 a university. Answer to the graph carefully and answers to the (c) 55:31 (d) 65:78 questions that follows: questions – Graph shows the distribution of monthly income Direction: In each question into seven requirements of 2 below is given a statement familiar. followed by two assumptions numbered I and II. You have to A consider the statement and the G 18% 22% following assumption and decide F B which of the following assumption 7% 30% E is implicit in the statement. Given 8% D C 10% 5% answer. Ration of Male Female (a) If only assumption I is (A) Medicine 8 7 Monthly income of A 25,000 implicit Science 3 5 (b) If only assumption II is Commerce 2 1 A implicit 5% B Engg. 4 5 22 % (c) If neither I nor II is Management 1 2 G implicit 30% C (d) If both I and II are implicit 65. What is the total no of female 18% F D 75. Statement: The government students studying medicine? 8% E 7% 10% (a) 545 (b) 55 has instructed all the private

C (B) schools in the city to 87 o (c) 420 (d) 485 m 3%2%1 Monthly income of B 30,000 m maintain the current fees for 6 5133 % e r 66. The difference between the c at least two more years. e Engg. 70. Which family spends more Medi cine 30% no of students studying 10% on A and C together Assumption: science and Arts is: Arts (a) A (b) B (I) The authorities of private 18 % Science(a) 900 (b) 9245 18% schools may not follow MGMT. (c) Same 15% (c) 935 (d) 945 (d) Can’t be determined the govt. instruction as they are not dependent on Total number of Students67. How = 9000 many female students 71. How much is spend on E by govt. funds. study commerce? family A and B? (II) The parents of the students (a) 550 (a) 6500 (b) 5000 of private schools of the (b) 650 (c) 5500 (d) 7000 (c) 900 (d) 480 city may still be egger to 72. By what percentagw is B/s pay higher fees. 68. The number of female expense on N is more than 76. Statement: The municipal students studying A’s expencse on A ? authority has decided to engineering is what percent (a) 4% (b) 15% of the total number of demolish the old bridge on a bus road for construction students studying in the (c) (d) University? of new flyover. (a) 14% (b) 18.5% 73. What is the difference Assumption: (c) 14.6% (d) 16.6% between amount spend on C (I) The traffic department 69. Total number of female by A and that of C by B? may be able to divest students studying commerce (a) 4150 (b) 4510 movement of vehicles and management is- (c) 5140 (d) 4051 through alternate roads.

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(II) The people travelling in percent reduction on all may be able to demolish the nearby areas may food items during the there building as per demonstrate to protest weekend. schedule. against the authority’s Assumption: (II) The residents of these decision. (I) People may still prefer buildings may vacate and 77. Statement: The captain of buying food terms from stay elsewhere. the school football team other stores. 80. Statement: The railway selected only fourteen (II) A large number of authority has rescheduled players to play all eight customers may visit the the departure of many long matches of the interschool retail store and buy food distance trains and put up the football. items. revised fining on its website. Assumption: 79. Statement: The civic Assumption: (I) There may be adequate administration has asked the (I) The passengers may note number of football residents of the dilapidated the change in departure players for all the buildings to move out as time from the website. matches. these building will be (II) The passengers may be (II) The captain may be able demolished within the next able to notice the change to play in all the matches. thirty days. and board their 78. Statement: A major retail Assumption: respective trains before store announced thirty (I) The civic administration departure.

ANSWERS WITH EXPLANATIONS 1. (b) 2. (c) 3. (a) 4. (a) 5. (a) 6. (a) 7. (b) 8. (c) 9. (b) 10. (c) 11. (b) 12. (b) 13. (b) 14. (a) 15. (c) 16. (b) 17. (a) 18. (c) 19. (d) 20. (a) 21. (B) 22. (b) 23. (b) 24. (d) 25. (d) 26. (d) 27. (d) 28. (C) 29. (b) 30. (d) 31. (d) 32. (c) 33. (a) 34. (a) 35. (b) 36. (b) 37. (a) [The success of the project will depend on the unity with which the team ill perform] 38. (b) 39. (a) 40. (c) [As a DM, you should deliver your speech in such a language that it should be understandable by everyone] 41. (c) 42. (b) 43. (d) 44. (a) 45. (d) 46. (c) 47. (a) 48. (d) 49. (b) 50. (d) 51. (a) 52. (a) 53. (b) 54. (d) 55. (a) 56. (c) 57. (b) 58. (a) 59. (d) 60. (d) 61. (b) 62. (a) 63. (b) 64. (c) 65. (a) 66. (d) 67. (s) 68. (b) 69. (c) 70. (b) 71. (d) 72. (a) 73. (d) 74. (d)[(I) is implicit the cause of blocking the traffic is the gathering of a large number of devotees] 75. (c) 76. (a) 77. (a) (I) is implicit, otherwise more players would have been selected. 78. (b) 79. (d). (I) is implicit in the deadline given to the residents (II) is implicit in the notice given to the residents to move out 80. (d) Both are the assumption made by the railway authority while putting the revised timing on the website.

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1.1 . Why did the trade and goods imported into loss to the prestige of the industries of Bengal suffer Britain with a view to empire. heavily after the battle of make the export and sale (b) It exposed the hidden Plassey? of Indian goods in Britain weakness of the empire (a) Indian merchants faced an uneconomic to the Maratha Sardars and the foreign trading stiff competition from proposition the English. companies. (b) Indian merchants were 3.3 . Which of the following is (c) It ruined imperial at a disadvantageous incorrect? finances and adversely situation on account of (a) In 1859, the separate affected the economic life payment of duties by armies of the of the country. them while the English presidencies were (d) It destroyed all the trade was dutyfree. unified. initiative of –the (c) Producers were forced (b) The entire army of the impoverished nobles, th rough the u se of British Government in most of whom retired violent methods to sell India -was brought under from active court life. the control of the thei r, commodities at 6.6 . Match the following List-I Commander-in Chief lower prices. with List-II and answer as (c) For every three Indian. (d) All of the above per the code given below: soldiers, there was one 2.2 . The market in Britain was (d) None of the above. List-I List-II completely closed for the A. Eka Movement 1. N.G. Ranga 4.4 . By passing the Regulating goods produced in India. B All India Kisan Act of 1773, the British The device which was used and Sabha 2. Khoodi by the English for achieving Parliament tried: Mullah (a) To exercise its own the arrangement was: Shambhu Pal authority on the affairs of (a) Orders were issued that C. Pabna Revolt 3. Madari Pasi the ships carrying the company (b) To remove the evils D. Andhra Ryots4.Swami Indian goods would not Sahajanand found under the rule of be allowed to touch Code: ports in Britain. the company (c) To protect the Indian A B C D (b) The British Indian (a)3412 Governmenti t s e l f rulers from the high handedness of the (b)4312 purchased Indian goods (c)4321 officers of the company. and sold them in the (d)3421 markets in Africa at (d) To regulate the 7. Consider the following fabulous profits. company’s trade with statements: . (c) The British Indian India. 1. The revolt of Chhatar Government imposed 5. Which of the following was Singh, the governor of restrictions on the NOT one of the effects of Multan, precipitated the export of Indian goods. Nadir Shah’s invasion? second Anglo-Sikh (d) A he avy import dut y was (a) It caused an irrep arable 2. The ‘Indian War’ of imposed on Indian http://www.iasexamportal.com 81

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Independence’ was aroused the jealousy of Calcutta founded in written by V.D. Savarkar. other ruling princes. 1817, played an Code: (c) The land revenue policy important role in (a) Only 1 is correct was most popular. modernising the ongoing (b) Only 2 is correct (d) None of these movements in Bengal. (c) Both are correct 11. The main motive of the (B) David Hare, an associate (d) Neither 1 nor 2 is correct British Indian Government in of Rammohan Roy, took 8.8 . Match the following List-I developing modern road keen interest. in starting with List-Il and answer as and rail communication the Hindu College. per the codes given below: was: (c) Henry Vivian Derozio’s students, collectively List-I List-II (a) To improve the called the Young Bengal A. Delhi. 1. Colin Campbell general communication ridiculed all old social B. Jhansi 2. John Nicholson facilities available to the traditions and customs. people C. Lucknow 3. Hugh Rose (d) The young Bengal (b) To improve the D. Arra 4. Winset Taylor movement came to an Code: prospects of the end after Derozio’s A B C D Britishcompany’s trade dismissal from the Hindu (A)2314 and commerce in India College and his sudden (B)1342 (c) To improve trade. and death in 1831. (C)4123 commerce inside India (D)2341 (d) None of these 14. Which of the following is wrong? 9.9 . Which of the following 12. Which of the following is (a) Dayananda, whose movements can be said to incorrect? original name was Mula have initiated the process of 1. In 1877 the Prarthana Shankara, was born in associating the workers with Samaj of Bombay was Kathiawad in 1824. the wider nationalist struggle founded. (b) In 1863 Dayanand against British? 2. Two of its chief started preaching his (a) Swadeshi Movement architects were doctrine - there was only (b) Home Rule Movement Mahadev Govind Ranade one god who was to be (c)Non-Cooperation and Ramkrishna worshipped not in the Movement. Bhandarkar. form of images but as a (d) Anti-Simon Agitation 3. The leaders of the spirit. 10.1 0 . Which of the following Prarthana Samaj were (c) In 1875 he founded the was NOT one of the not influenced by the Arya Samaj in Lahore. administrative and “Brahmo Samaj. (d) The Satyarth-Prakash was economic causes of the 4. The Prarthana Samaj his most important book Rebellion of 1857? leaders condemned the (a) The Indian aristocracy caste system and the 15. Assertion (a): The early was deprived.of power practice of untochability. nationalists in the initial and position since all Code: phases paid relatively little high posts, civil and (a) 1, 2 and 3 attention to the question of military, were reserved (b) 2, 3 and 4 workers. for the Europeans. (c) 1 and 3 Reason (R): The early (b) The administration of (d) 3 and 4 nationalist did not wish to, Awadh after its 13. Which of the following in any way; weaken the annexation, received statement is wrong? common struggle against popular acclaim and (a) The Hindu College of B ritish rule , by creating any

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divisions within the ranks of century? 1. One significant the Indian people. 1. Cotton-Textile development in the 16. Consider the following 2. Jute second half of the 19th statements: 3. Coal-Mining century was 1. The period after 1858 4. Cement establishment of large witnessed a gradual Select.the answer from the scale machine based widening of the gulf codes given below: industries in India. between th e educated (a) Only 1 and 2 2. The first textile mill was Indians and-the British (b) Only 1 and 3 started in Bombay by Indian administration. (c) Only l, 2 and 4 Cowasjee Nanabhoy in 2. In 1876, Dadabhai (d) All the above 1863 and the first jute mill Naoroji organized The in Rishra (Bengal) in 19. Consider the following 1865. East India Association in statements: Code: London to discuss the 1. The All India Trade Indian question and to (a) Only 1 is correct Union Congress was (b) Only 2 is correct influence British public formed in 1920. men to promote Indian (c) Both are correct 2. Lokamanya Tilak, played (d) Neither 1 nor 2 is correct Welfare. an important role in the Code: formation of the AITUC 22. Which of the following (a) Only 1 is correct 3. Lala Lajpat Rai, was Acts authorized for (b) Only 2 is correct appointed as its first Governor-General to (c) Both are correct president. appoint Indian L a w (d) Neither 1 nor 2 is correct Code: Commission to study and 17. Consider the following (a) Only 1 codify various rules and statements: (b) Only 2 and 3 regulations prevalent in 1. The system of Dual (c) Only 1 and 2 India? Government established (d) All the above (a) Charter Act of 1813 (b) Charter Act of 1833 by the company in 20. Consider the following Bengal remained in (c) Charter Act of 1853 statements regarding the (d) The Act for the better operation for five years. Pitt’s India Act 1784: 2. The establishment of Government of India, 1. The Board of control was 1858 this masked system was established to control all a sign of the company’s civil, military and 23. Ass ertion (a): The unwillingness to revenue affairs of the Communist Party recognize that it had company. dissociated itself from the ceased to be a mere 2. In India, the chief Quit India Movement trading body and became government was placed launched by Gandhi ji in a ‘ruling power. in the hands of a August 1942. Code: Governor General and a Reason (R): With the Nazi (a) Only 1 is correct council of four. attack on the Soviet Union (b) Only 2 is correct Code: in 1941,: the communist (c) Both are correct (a) Only 1 is correct argued that character of (d) Neither 1 nor 2 is correct (b) Only 2 is correct the war had changed 18. Which of the following (c) Both are correct from an imperialist war to machine based industries (d) Neither 1 nor 2 is correct peoples war. were established in India, in 21. Consider the following 24. Consider the following the second half of the 19th statements: statements:

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1. The decision to boycott Ramgarh session of the Azad Hind Fauz was Simon Commission was Congress formed under the taken by the Congress in (b) The session presided by command of Kalpana its 1927 Bombay Session. MaulanaAbul Kalam Dutta. 2. Muslim League also Azad in 1940 launched Codes: decided to Boycott the Individual Satyagraha (a) Only 1 is correct Simon Commission. Movement (b) Only 2 is correct Which of the above (c) The first Satyagrahi of (c) Both are correct statements are correct? Individual Satyagrahi (d) Neither 1 nor 2 (a) Only 1 Movement was 31.3 1 . Match the List-I (Grasslands) (b) Only 2 Rajagopalachari and List-II (Regions) and (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Srikrishna Sinha, the choose the correct answer (d) Neither 1 nor 2 premier of Bihar during from the code given below. 25. Which of the following Congress rule below: participated in statements is wrong in the List I List II context of Karachi Congress Individual Satyagraha 1931? Movement (Grasslands) (Regions) (a) It was presided over by 28.2 8 . Which of the following was (a) Steppes 1. Australia Vithalbhai Patel not included in the Nehru (b) Pustaz 2. North (b) The congress decided to Report? America participate in the (a) India must be given (c) Prairies 3. Hungary Second Round Table Dominion Status. Conference. (b) The Governor General (d) Downs 4. Eurasia (c) The resolution on must be only the Code Fundamental Rights was constitutional head. A B C D passed (c) There was to be no (a)4321 (d) The fut ure economic separate electorate (b)3421 policy of the Congress (d) Dyarchy should be (c)4312 was also spelt out introduced both at the. (d)3412 26. Arrange the following centre as well as in the 32. Consider the following events chronologically: provinces statements: 1. Cripp’s Mission 29. In the elections held in 1. Polar climate exist 2. Cabinet Mission January-February 1937, poleward beyond 70° 3. Quit In dia Movement Congress failed to emerge as latitude. 4. Individual Satyagraha a party with absolute 2. The icecap climate 5. R.I.N Mutiny m ajority in which of the occurs over interior Select the correct following province? Greenland and Antartica. answer from the codes (a) Bengal 3. The main areas of marine given below: (b) Madras west coast climate are Code: (c) United Provinces Northwestern Europe, (a) 1-4-2-3-5 (b) 4-1-3-5-2 (d) Central Provinces Southern Chile, Southern Australia and New (c) 4- 1-3-2-5 (d) 4-1-2-3-5 30. Consider the following Zealand. 27. Which of the following is statements: not correct? 1. Sisir Kumar Bose formed Which of the above (a) The decision to launch the Indian Independence statements is/are correct? Individual Satyagraha League. (a) only 1 and 2 Movement was taken in 2. A women’s regiment of (b) only 1 and 3

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(c) only 2 and 3 water that falls on land statements is/are correct? (d) All the above returus to the (a) only 1 33. Consider the following atmospheret h r o u g h (b) only 2 statements about global evaporation from over (c) Both 1 and 2 warming: the oceans as well as (d) Neither 1 nor 2 1. Theprimary Greenhouse from other places. 38. Consider the following gasesare Chloroflu- 2. The percentage of lake’s statements: orocarbons, Methane, water is only 0.01 1. The oceans in the northen nitrous oxide and ozone. percent of the total hemisphere record 2. The largest concentration water. relatively higher of green houses in the Which of the above temperature than in the atmosphere is carbon statements is/are correct? southern hemisphere. dioxide (a) only 1 2. The average annual 3. The processes that warm (b) only 2 temperatures for the the atmosphere are (c) Both 1 and 2 northern and southern collectively referred to (d) Neither 1 nor 2 hemisphere are around as the green hou se 36. Consider the following 12°C and 19°C effect. statements: respectively. Which of the above 1. The temper ature of Which of the above statements is/are correct? surface water decreases statements is/are correct? (a) only 1 and 2 from the equator towards (a) only 1 (b) only 1 and 3 the poles because the (b) only 2 (c) only 2 and 3 amount of insolation (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) All the above decreases poleward. (d) Neither 1 nor 2 34. Consider the following 2. Cold ocean current raise 39. Consider the following statements: the temperature in cold statements: 1. The time taken for areas. 1. The salinity of water in atmospheric CO2 to 3. Warm ocean currents the surface layer of adjust to changes in decrease the temperature oceans depend mainly on sources to sinks is 40-60 in warm ocean areas. evapor ation and years. Which of the following percipitation. 2. It is estimated that the statements is/are correct? 2. Salinity of 20.7 percent global temperature will (a) only 1 and 2 has been considered as rise by between 1°C and (b) only1 the upper limit to 3.5°C by the year 2100. (c) only 2 and 3 demarcate brackish 3. The mean sea level may (d) All the above water. rise upto 100 cm by the 37. Consider the following Which of the above year 2100. statements: statements is/are correct? Which of the above 1. The average temperature (a) only 1 (b) only2 statements is/are correct? of surface water of the (c) Both 1 and 2 (a) only 1 and 2 oceans is about 21°C (d) Neither 1 nor 2 (b) only 1 and 3 2. The rate of decrease of 40. Consider the following (c) only 2 and 3 temperature with statements: (d) All the above increasing latitude is 1. The average salinity of 35. Consider the following generally 0.5°C per the Atlantic ocean is statements: latitude. around 36 percent. 1. Nearly 70 percent of the Which of the above 2. The average salinity of

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the Indian ocean is 37 human population. exploitation percent. 2. The tropical rain forests (c) The cultural & Which of the above contain 65 percent of the educational rights statements is/are correct? species on the earth. (d) The right to equality. (a) only 1 (b) only 2 Which of the above 47. According to the (c) Both 1 and 2 statements is/are correct? constitution of India the (d) Neither 1 nor 2 (a) only 1 (b) only 2 term ‘district judge’ shall not 41. Consider the following (c) Both 1 and 2 include. statements: (d) Neither 1 nor 2 (a) Chief presidency 1. Humbolt is a warm 44. Consider the following magistrate current of the pacific statements: (b) Sessions Judge ocean. 1. When the sun, the moon (c) Tribunal Judge 2. Benguela is a cold ocean and the earth are in (d) Chief justice of a small current of the Atlantic straight line the height of cause court. ocean. the tide will be lower. 48.4 8 . Which one of the following 3. Agulhas is a warm 2. Twice in a month, when statements is incorrect? current of the Indian the moon’s orbit is (a) Goa attainted full state ocean. Which of the closet to the earth hood in 1987 above statements is/are unusually high and low (b) Diu is an island in the correct? tides occur. Gulf of Khambhat (a) only 1 and 2 Which of the above (c) Daman & Diu were (b) only 3 statements is/are correct? separated from Goa by (c) only1 (a) only 1 (b) only 2 the56th Amendment of (d) All the above (c) Both 1 and 2 the constitution of India 42. Consider the following (d) Neither 1 nor 2 (d) Dadra & Nagar Haveli statements: 45. Consider the following were under French 1. Out of the total solar statements: colonial rule till 1954 insolation that reaches 1. An ocean current is 49.4 9 . If a new state of the Indian the earth’s surface only usually strongest at the union is to be created, 0.1 percent is fixed in surface and decreases in which one of the following photosynthesis. strength with depth. s chedules of the c onst itution 2. The producers include 2. Most current have speeds must be amended? green plants and less than or equal to 5 kw. (a) First (b) Second decomposers in an Which of the above (c) Third (d) Fifth ecosystem. statements is/are correct? Which of the above (a) only 1 (b) only 2 50. Which constitutional authority recommends the statements is/are correct? (c) Both 1 and 2 (a) only 1 (b) only 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 principles governing the (c) Both 1 and 2 grants –in- aid of the 46. Prohibition of revenues to the sates out of (d) Neither 1 nor 2 discrimination on groups of the consolidated fund of 43. Consider the following religion etc (Article 15 of the India? statements: constitution of India) is a (a) Inter- State Council 1. Tropical regions which fundamental right (b) Finance Commission occupy only about one- classifiable under (c) Union Ministry of Finance fourth of the total area of (a) The right to freedom of (d) Public Accounts the world, contain about religion Committee three-fourth of the world (b) The right against

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51. The tenure of Jammu & (a) All of the above privileges of a member Kashmir’s Chief Minister is (b) 1 & 3 of parliament. (a) 4 years (c) 2 & 3 (d) 1 & 2 2. He is prohibited to take (b) 5 years 57. Consider the following appointment as a (c) 6 years (d) 7 years statement about National director in any company. 52. By which Act was the public Song 3. He is not allowed to take service commission (1) It has an equal status w ith up private practice established for first time in Janagana- mana. Which of the above India? (2) First it was sung in 1896 statement is/are? (a) Indian Council Act 1892 session of the I.N.C (a) All of the above (b) Council Act 1909 Which of the above (b) 2 & 3 (c) Government of India Act statement is/are true? (c) 1 & 3 1919 (a) Both 1 & 2 (d) 1 & 2 (d) Government of India Act (b) Only 1 61. Consider the following 1935 (c) Only 2 statements about CAG: 53.5 3 . When was the Anti- defection (d) neither 1 nor 2 1. The CAG has control over Act passed? 58.5 8 . Match the following: the issue of money from (a) 1985. (b) 1986 Article Subject the consolidated fund of India. (c) 1987. (d) 1988 1. 14. a. Equal opportunity in 2. He is appointed by the 54.5 4 . According to Article 1 of the publicemployment. president for a full term constitution, India is a: 2. 15. b. Abolition of untouchables. of 6 years or 65 years of (a) Group of states 3. 16. c. No discrimination on age whichever is earlier. (b) Federation of states groundsof religion, Which of the above race, ease race. (c) Confederation of states statement is/are? (d) Union of states 4. 17. d. Equality before law. (a) Both 1 & 2 55. National Development (a) 1- a,2- b, 3- c, 4- d (b) Only 1 Council was constituted on (b) 1- d,2- c, 3- a, 4- b (c) Only 2 (a) 6 August 1950 (c) 1- b ,2- a, 3- d, 4- c (d) Neither 1 nor 2 (b) 1 April 1951 (d) 1- c,2- d, 3- b, 4- c 62.6 2 . Match the following. (c) 6 August 1952 59. Consider the following No. of Seats States (d) 16 August 1952 statement about Council Of in Lok Saba 56. Consider the following Ministers 1. 18 a. Bihar statement about National (1) Its function is determined 2. 16 b. Andhra An them by the cabinet. Pradesh (1) It was originally (2) It is collectively 3. 19 c. Maharashtra composed in English. responsible to the 4. 11 d. Gujarat (2) It was first sung on 27 Prime Minister. (a) 1-a, 2-b, 3-c, 4-d December 1911 at the Which of the above (b) 1-b, 2-a, 3-c, 4-d Kolkata session of the statement is/are true? (c) 1-c, 2-d, 3-a, 4-d Indian National (a) Only 1. (b) Only 2 Congress. (c) Both 1 & 2 (d) 1-d, 2-c, 3-a, 4-d (3) It was adopted by (d) neither 1 nor 2 63. Consider the following constituent assembly on 60. Consider the following statements 24 January 1950. statements about Attorney 1. Article 250 mentions that Which of the above General of India: the parliament can statement is/are true? 1. He is entitled to the legislate for the whole or

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any part of India or any Adjustment Facility” to bring in its monetary policy matter mentioned in the about changes in review in December, 2011 state list during the (1) CRR and SLR (1) It has deregulated interest period of emergency. (2) Repo and Reverse Repo rates on saving & 2. Article 338 mentions Rates deposits with banks. National Commission for (3) Bank Rate. (2) Ithas permitted banks to scheduled tribes. Select the correct maintain one percent Which of the above answer from the codes lower SLR in their books. statement is/are true? given below: (3) It has deregulated in (a) Both 1 & 2 (a) 1, 2 and 3 interest rates on saving (b) Only 1 (b) 1 and 2 only Deposits above Rupees (c) Only 2 (c) 1 only (d) 2 only one lakh. (d) neither 1 nor 2 67.6 7 . Consider the following with Select the correct 64. Consider the following reference to India: answer from the codes statements (1) Nationalisation of given below: 1. High court judges retire commercial banks. (a) 1 and 2 only at the age of 65. (2) Adherence to the Basel (b) 1 only 2. Out of 21 high court three norms by the banks. (c) 2 only having jurisdiction over (3) Adoption of village by (d) 2 and 3 only more than one state. banks branches. 70. Kasturba Gandhi Shiksha 3. Article 32 of the Which of the above can Yojana was launched in constitution grants an be considered as steps 1997-98 in a few district extensive original taken to achieve financial which of the following was jurisdiction of the inclusion? the criteria used to define Supreme Court. (a) 1, 2 and 3 only district as a unit for scheme Which of the above (b) 2 only implementation? statement is/are true? (c) 2 and 3 only (a) District should have low (a) All of the above (d) 3 only. female literacy rate (b) Only 2 68. The objective of labour (b) District should have low (c) 2 & 3 (d) 1 & 3 Alleviation scheme, which female literacy rate and 65. Consider the following was started in 1994, is best at least 50% females statements identified by the following: belong to SC/ST or OBC. 1. The appellate (a) proper employment for (c) Districts having low jurisdiction of the high those employed in females not more than court is both civil & hazardous work 50% of general criminal. (b) proper employment for population 2. According to article 227, those employed in (d) None of the above. every high court has the manual scavenging 71.7 1 . Which of the followi ng is power of (c) proper employment for Not correct with regard to superintendence over all families of labourers in the proposed Goods and court. factories and other services tax (GST) in India? Which of the above establishment. (a) Tax revenues would be statement is/are true? (d) properemployment shared between the (a) 1 Only (b) Only 2 for laboures of unorga- centre and states. (c) Neither 1 nor 2 nized sector. (b) Export will be zero (d) both 1 & 2 69. The RBI has taken the rated. 66. RBI uses its “Liquidity following policy initiatives (c) Imports will be zero rated.

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(d) It will be on the basis of (1) More lending by 78.7 8 . Which one of the following tax on value addition commercial banks. is pair of endangered 72.7 2 . Which of the following are (2) Mobi lization of more species? correct with respect to deposits by commercial (a) Garden lizard and National Maternity Benefit banks. mexican poppy scheme? (3) More liquidity in the (b) Hornbill and Indian (1) It was envisaged in1995 market aconite (2) Financial assistance of (4) Less liquidity I the market (c) Rhesus monkey and Rs.250 per pregnancy is Select the correct saltree given answer from the codes (d) Indian peacock and (3) It is a universal scheme given below: carrot grass with no distinction (a) 3 only 79. Genetic diversity in between BPLI APL or (b) 2 and 3 only agricultural crops are Rural/urban (c) 1 and 3 only threatened by: (4) It covers only Rural BPL (d) 1 and 4 only (a) Indroduction with high women 75.7 5 . Which of the following can yielding varieties. (5) It covers only BPL help in furthering the (b) Intensive use of households. objective of inclusive Fertilizers (6) It covers Rural and urban growth in India? (c) Extensive intercropping BPL households. (1) Expansion and (d) Intensive use of Select the correct strengthening of biopesticises answer from the code infrastructure. 80.8 0 . The presence of diversity given below: (2) Implementing the Right to of the junction of (a) 1, 2 and 3 only Education Act. territories of two different (b) 1 and 5 only (3) Promoting financial habitats in known as: (c) 1, 2 and 4 only inclusion. (a) Bottle neck effect (d) 1, 2 and 6 only. Select the correct (b) Edge effect 73. Consider the following answer from the codes (c) Junction effect statement: given below: (d) Pasture effect (a) 2 only (1) Rajrajeshwari Mahila 81. Species very near to Kalyan Yojana provides (b) 1 and 2 only (c) 2 and 3 only extinction, if conservation insurance projection to measures are not promptly (d) 1, 2, and 3 only women taken is: (2) House loan Account 76.7 6 . How many ‘Bio Geographic (a) Rare species Scheme was started in Zones’ in India? (b) Endangered species 1989 for providing (a) 8 (b) 6 (c) Vulnerable species housing facility. (c) 12 (d) 10 (d) Mreatend species Which of the stat ements 77. Ocean Biomes are very given above is/are 82. The main reason for saturated Biomes and also extinction of species is: correct? they are ideal type of (a) 1 only (a) Pollution Biomes. Find from following (b) Destruction of habitat (b) 2 only which are is pr imary (c) Both 1 and 2 (c) Hunting consumer in ocean Biomes? (d) Climate change (d) Neither 1 nor 2 (a) Phytoplanktons 83. 74. The lowering of Bank Rate (b) Zooplankton 83.8 3 . Animals and plants are best protected in by the RBI many generally (c) Necton result in (d) Benthos (a) Zoos

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(b) National Park Which of the above Which of the above (c) Botanical Garden statement/statements is/ statement/statements is/ (d) Sanctuaries are true? are NOT true? 84. Conservation and (a) Only i (b) Only ii (a) Only i (b) Only ii maintenance of wild life (c) Both i and ii (c) Both i and ii within the natural ecosystem (d) Neither i nor ii (d) Neither i nor ii is 88. The Sentinel Project aims 90. i) The New Pakistan Army (a) Ex Situ Conservation to improve our Chief is Major Shabbir (b) In Situ Conservation understanding of how many Sharif. (c) Botanical Garden children at each location of ii) The Italian Senate has (d) All of the above India have TB disease in its expelled three-time ex- 85. Which of the following is different forms. Premier Silvio not a characteristic of the ii) The Insurance Regulatory Berlusconifrom Parliament tropical rain forest Biome? and Development Authority over his tax fraud (a) About 200 cm of (IRDA) has been asked by conviction, ending, for now, precipitation The Union Health and his two-decade legislative (b) Canopy of full evergreen Family Welfare Ministry, to run but not his political trees remove, from its draft career. (c) Climbing linans circular, provisions that Which of the above (d) Permafrost exclude people living with statement/statements is/are 86. i) The cyclone ‘Lehar’ is HIV (PLHIV) from true? about to hit the states of purchasing health insurance (a) Only i (b) Only ii Tamil Nadu and Kerela and products. (c) Both i and ii its impact is likely is to be Which of the above (d) Neither i nor ii very severe. statement/statements is/are 91. i) A husband’s refusal to ii) Recently a case of sexual true? allow his wife to share the harassment and intimidation (a) Only i (b) Only ii household and stay with him was filed by a former (c) Both i and ii will amount to ‘domestic female employee of MY FM, (d) Neither i nor ii violence’ under the run by the Dainik Bhaskar 89. i) To curb dominance of a Protection of Women from group (DB corps), against single player in the cable Domestic Violence Act CEO Harish Bhatia . sector, broadcasting (PWD), as per a judgment of (a) Only i (b) Only ii regulator TRAI has Supreme Court . (c) Both i and ii recommended restrictions ii) In 2005, India amended the (d) Neither i nor ii on the market share that a Hindu Succession Act to 87.8 7 . i) Pakistan has announced single M ulti System give sons and daughters the setting up of an Air Op erato r can hold. equal rights in inheriting Defence Identification Zone ii) The Department of agricultural land barring (ADIZ) to bolster its claims Industrial Policy and five southern States — Tamil over parts of the disputed Promotion (DIPP) is taking Nadu, Kerala, Andhra territories. to the Cabinet on a Pradesh, Karnataka and ii) France’s ban on the proposal to ban complete Maharashtra which chose Islamic face veil (dating takeovers by foreign not to go forward with the back to 2011) was companies of critical law. challenged in an European lifesaving drugs production Which of the above court recently. facilities. statement/statements is/are true? 90 http://www.iasexamportal.com

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(a) Only i (b) Only ii government’s plea that its Which of th e above (c) Both i and ii district level environmental statement/statements is/are (d) Neither i nor ii committees be treated as true? 92. i) South Korea’s and competent authority for (a) Only i (b) Only ii Japan have gracefully grant of clearance for such (c) Both i and ii accepted China’s new air activity. (d) Neither i nor ii defence zone. Which of th e above 97.9 7 . i) China has been named ii) Iran has invited U.N. statement/statements is/are the country that accounts inspectors to visit its Arak true? for the largest number of heavy-water plant, in tune (a) Only i worldwide hacking with the spirit of the Geneva (b) Only ii incidents. agreement to be held in the (c) Both i and ii ii) The legislation, known beginning of the next year. (d) Neither i nor ii as the Ley Habilitante, or Which of th e above 95. i) Maharashtra batsman Enabling Act, would grant statement/statements is/are Vijay Zol has been named the Venezuelan President true? captain of the India Under- Mr. Maduro special powers (a) Only i (b) Only ii 19 squad for the ACC Asia which allow him to rule the (c) Both i and ii Cup in the UAE. country by decree. (d) Neither i nor ii ii) Malala Yousafzai has Which of the above 93. i) Odisha PCB has recently topped the list of Britain’s statement/statements is/are ordered the closure of TATA most influential Asian . true? Steel’s new blast furnace at Which of th e above (a) Only i (b) Only ii Dhenkanal district . statement/statements is/are (c) Both i and ii (d) Neither i nor ii ii) Wind turbine major false? Suzlon Group has signed a (a) Only i (b) Only ii 98. i) The Cabinet has contract with Mitsui & Co (c) Both i and ii unanimously rejected a for setting up 106.6 MW (d) Neither i nor ii proposal from the windfarm in Australia. 96. i) Emphasising that a live- Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) Which of th e above in relation ship is “neither a to ban complete takeovers statement/statements is/are crime nor a sin though socially unacceptable in by foreign companies of true? critical lifesaving drugs (a) Only i (b) Only ii this country”, the Supreme production facilities. (c) Both i and ii Court has urged (d) Neither i nor ii Parliament to consider ii) The CAD, which is the framing comprehensive difference between inflow 94.9 4 . i) To curb the growin g legislation to protect the and outflow of foreign menace of insider trading interests of women and exchange is likely to come activities in the stock children in such down below 3 per cent of market, regulator SEBI are relationships. GDP in the current fiscal. go ing to co me up with a new set of norms. ii) The Punjab and Which of th e above Haryana High Court has statement/statements is/are ii) The National Green accepted a petition to true? Tribunal said that the state debar the Sehajdhari Sikhs (a) Only i law can’t prevail over from voting in Shiromani (b) Only ii central rules on sand Gurudwara Prabandhak (c) Both i and ii mining as it dismissed Committee (SGP ) elections. (d) Neither i nor ii Madhya Pradesh

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99. i) HIV/AIDS Bill aims to Which of the above inspiring female political protect the rights ofpeople statement/statements is/are leader who has been able to infected and affected by HIV true? strike a perfect balance and was finalised by the (a) Only i (b) Only ii between her career and union health ministry in (c) Both i and ii family life, according to a 2006. (d) Neither i nor ii survey. ii) CCAMLR stands for 100.100.i) Pro-monarchy Rastriya Which of the above Commission for the Prajatantra Party is all set to statement/statements is/are Conservation of become the fourth largest true? Arctic Marine L i v i n g party in the new Constituent (a) Only i Resources and it’s meeting Assembly (CA) Nepal . (b) Only ii was held at Perth, Australia ii) Mamata banerjee has (c) Both i and ii this year. been voted as India’s most (d) Neither i nor ii

ANSWERS WITH EXPLANTIONS

1. (d) 2. (d) 3. (C) 4. (b) 5. (d) 6. (d) 7. (c) 8. (a) 9. (a) 10. (b) 11. (c) 12. (c) 13. (d) 14. (c) 15. (a) 16. (a) 17. (d) 18. (c) 19. (d) 20. (a) 21. (a) 22. (b) 23. (a) 24. (b) 25. (a) 26. (d) 27. (c) 28. (d) 29. (a) 30. (d) 31. (a) 32. (d) 33. (d) 34. (c) The time taken for atmospheric CO2 to adjust to changes in sources to sinks is 20-50 years. 35. (b) Nearly 59 percent of the water that falls on land returns to the atmosphere through evaporation from over the oceans as well as from other places. 36. (b) Warm ocean currents raise the temperature in cold areas. Cold ocean currents decrease the temperature in warm ocean areas. 37. (b) The average temperature of surface water of the oceans is 38. (a) The average annual temperatures for the northern and Southern hemisphere are around 19°C and 16° respectively 39. (a) Salinity of 24.7 percent has been considered as the upper limit to demarcate brackish water. 40. (a) The average salinity of the Indian Ocean is 35 percent. 41. (b) Humbolt is a cold ocean current of the Pacific Ocean. Benguela is a cold current of the Atlantic Ocean. 42. (a) The producers include all green plants, manufacture their own food through photosynthesis. 43. (a) The tropical rain forests contain 50 percent of the species on the earth. 44. (d) ) When the sun, the moon and the earth are in a straight line, the height of the tide will be higher, these are called Spring tides. 45. (c) 46. (d) 47. (c) 48. (d) 49. (a) 50. (b) Under the Article of 280 F.C Recommends the grants distribution. 51. (c) Under the provision of Article 370 of Indian constitution. 52. (c) Public Service commission is in Article 312. 53. (a) During the Prime Minister ship of Rajiv Gandhi.

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54. (d) 55. (c) N.D.C. headed by Prime Minister of India is not a 56. (c) originally composed in Bengali. 57. (a) 58. (b) 59. (a) It is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. 60. (d) He is allowed to take up private practice provided the other party is not the state. 61. (c) CAG has no control over the consolidated fund. 62. (b) 63. (b) 338-Schedule castes. 64. (c) H.C. Judges retire at the age of 62 65. (d) 66. (d) 67. (d) 68. (a) [The aim was to provide employment for those employed in hazardous work]. 69. (d) 70. (a) [Districts having lowest literacy rates, amongst females 71. (c) 72. (b) The scheme was launched with to desease maternal mortality Rate and improve the health of women specially those falling below poverty line. 73. (c) 74. (c) [Lowering of Bank Rate by RBI desease the Deposited by commercial & increase in the Liquidity in the Market]. 75. (d) 76. (d) 77. (b) Zooplanktons are primary consumers in ocean Biomes. 78. (a) 79. (a) High yielding crops variety decrease the diversity of old crops. 80. (b) Diversity at the junction of territories called edge effect. 81. (b) 82. (b) Due to destruction of habitats species dont survive they gonna extinct. 83. (b) Best protection for animals and plants are in National Park. 84. (b) In Situ Conservation 85. (d) 86. (b) 87. (a) 88. (c) 89. (d) 90. (b) 91. (a) 92. (b) 93. (b) 94. (c) 95. (d) 96. (a) 97. (b) 98. (c) 99. (a) 100. (a)

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The Sangam Age in India insignificant before emerging The group of ettuttogai witnessed the rapid development again during the 6th Century. consists of: of literary works in the southern With the rise of the Chola 1. narrinai regions. The literature that was dynasty, the dynasty of Pandyas 2. karuntogai created during this time came to again declined. They were in 3. aingurunuru be known as Sangam literature. constant conflict with the Cholas 4. padirrupattu The great poets, writers, etc. of and fought for their part of 5. paripadal this age have left behind invaluable territory. However, the Pandyas 6. kalittogai accounts of brilliant literature that found reliable allies in the form continue to enthrall historians and of the Cheras and the Sinhalese 7. ahanamuru scholars. The earliest literary and left no opportunity to disturb 8. puraanuru work dates back to 200 B.C. Read the Cholas with them. By the late The group pattupattu more about the history of 13th Century, the Pandyas were includes: Sangham Age in India. able to revive their position and 1. Tirumurugarruppadai The word Sangam has most gain back heir lost territories and 2. Porunararruppadai likely been derived from the Indo- riches. 3. Sirupanarruppadai Aryan word Sangha, which means One of the earliest written 4. Perumbanarruppadai an assembly. This word was scriptures in Tamil grammar is 5. Mullaipattu usually used for Buddhist and Jain known as Tolkappiyam. Another 6. Maduraikanchi monks. work known as Ettutogai or Eight 7. Nedunalvadai Roughly around 470 C.E an Anthologies is considered to be a academy called Dravida Sangha fantastic product of the Sangam 8. Kurinjipattu was established by a Jain called Age. Many poems were 9. Pattinappalai Vajranandi. The members of this composed during this age and 10. malaipadukanchi academy had much interest in some of the famous ones are Some scholars have included literature and Tamil language. In Manimekhalai, Shilpathikaram, tolkapium, the tamil grammatical early Sangam age poems, one Akananuru, Purananuru, etc. These treatise by tolkappiyar (supposed finds the mention of Jain poems speak about the political, to be the disciple of agastya, the cosmology and mythology. social, cultural and traditional famous saint who is said to have During the Sangam Age, the aspects of life during the Sangam crossed the vindhyas first and three empires that ruled the South age. Some poems also mention the propagated the brahmanical of India were that of Pandyas, fact that the Cheras formed a vital culture in the south), Cholas and Cheras. Though there trading center with Rome. Some patinenkilkanakku, the eighteen were constant wars among the of the great poets who deserve a didactical texts (comprising: different kings for dominion of mention are Avvaiyar, Kapilar, 1. nladiyar states and territory, they were all Mamulanar, Paramer, 2. nammanikkadigai promoters of literature and other Gautamanar, etc. 3. inna narpadu classical literary works. Under Important sangam works: 4. iniya narpadu their rule, Indian art and culture Ettuttogai (the eight anthologies) 5. kar narpadu flourished like anything. The early and patttupattu (the ten idylls) are 6. kalavali narpadu Sangam literature mentions the the two major groups of texts kingdom of the Pandyas. It is said included in the corpus of sangam 7. aintinai aimpadu that the kingdom became literature. 8. aintinai elupadu 9. tinaimoli aimpadu

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10. tinaimalai nurraimpadu elaborate information about the The kings power was 11. kainnilai (or innilai) tamil country which the author restricted by five councils which 12. kural calls damirike. were known as the ‘five great 13. tirikadugam Ptolemy wrote half a century councils’, also known as aimperunkulu. 14. acharakkovai later (150 AD) and his work marks a decided advance in the The ‘group of five’ was a 15. palamoli regularity and volume of trade recognized body of people, 16. sirupanchachamulam between the roman empire and composed of five divisions and 17. mudumo likkanchi India. The peutingerian tables, constituting a council. 18. eladi), composed in 222 AD, speak of a These five consisted of: Silappadikaram and temple of augustus on the west 1. ministers (armaichchar) manimegalai, the twin epics, coast of tamilaham. 2. priests (purohitar) remnants of poems like togadur Ptolemy’s accounts also show 3. army chiefs (senapatiyar) yattirai and bharatam of that the roman trade with east, 4. envoys or ambassadors perundevanar in the sangam which began sometime in the reign (dutar) corpus. of augustus had by the first quarter 5. spies (orrar). The ettutogai and pattupattu of the second century AD reached are together grouped as beyond India to indo-china and There was another institution melkanakku (the longer serials) Sumatra.The recent discovery of called enperayam which for they consist stanzas composed a ‘roman factory’ of the first consisted of: of metre which permits of a larger century AD in the proximity of 1. karanattiyalavar (accoun- numbers of lines. pondicherry deserves particular tants) Foreign Accounts metion. Musiri or muziris and 2. karumakarar (executive offi- tondi on the west coast of south cials) Megasthenes gives a quaint India, korkai and kaveripattinam 3. kanakasurram (treasury offi- account of the pandyan kingdom on the east were among the chief cials) “ruled over by the pandaiya, a ports of the tamil land where 4. kadaikappalar (palace daughter of herakles, to whom he foreigners crowded. The Chinese guards) assigned that portion of India writer pan kou (1st cen AD) which lies southwards and 5. nagaramandar (elderly per- mentions the kingdom of sons in the city) extends to the sea”. houangtche (kanchi) in his ‘Ts’ien He is the earliest non-indian 6. padaittalaivar (chiefs of the han chou’. The sri lankan infantry) to make any mention of a southern chronicle, mahavastu, read with kingdom. 7. yanai virar (chiefs of the the uraiperu katturai of elephantry) Strabo makes references to silappadikaram, gives us the clue 8. ivuli maravar (chiefs of the the pandyan embassies to the to a crucial datum in sangam cavalry) court of augustus. history, i.e. the senguttuvan- He also refers to the change gajabahu synchronism. It was Sangam Society of pandyan capital from korkai to gajabahu I of sri lanka who was The stratification in tamil madurai. present on the occasion of the sangam society was primarily Pliny the elder mentions installation of a temple to kannagi confined to the binary between the many tamil ports on the west the goddess of chastity, by the vyarntor (the high born) and coast. chera king senguttuvan. ilipirappalar (the low born). The periplus of the Gajabahu I is known to have Tolkappiyam list of four erythraean sea by an anonymous ruled in the second half of the 2nd categories (castes): author (80-96 AD) gives the most century AD.

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Andanar (brahmanas), arasar (marutum) was called menpulam freedom of movement in society (kings), vaisiyar (traders) and and the rest, excluding neital, were and the number of women poets velalar (farmers). collectively called vanpulam. of the age is sufficient indication Tamilham consisted of five Menpulam produced paddy that they were not excluded from tinais or physiographical divisions and sugarcane and vanpulam grew the best education then available. viz., kurinji (hilly backwoods), pulses and dryland grains. Sati (tippaidal – falling into palai (parched zones), mullai Full-time craft specialists in flames) was common. (pastrol tract), marutam (wet the poems: The worship of kannagi or land), and neital (littoral). • Pon-kolavan (goldsmith) pattini (‘the chaste lady’) was The kanavar, kuravar and • Kolavan(blacksmith) perhaps a very early institution vetar or kadar were the inhabitants • Kuyavam or kalace-kovan and was but an extension of the of the kurinji-tinai and hunting and (potter). worship of the goddess of gathering their form of chastity’. This become popular The basis of production subsistence. relations was kinship, signified by with senaguttuvana’s worship of Palai-tinai, the inhabitants ilaiyarum mutiyarum kilaiyutan kannagi and spread to distant places like sri lanka in the south were kalavar, eyinar and maravar tuvunri, which is a stock and malva in the north. living by plunder and cattle lifting. expression in the poems referring In the mullai-tinai the to the labour processes in any The images of the pattini devi inhabitants were ayar and idaiyar tinai. Illiyar means youngsters, were preserved in tamil temples subsisting on shifting agriculture mutiyar means elders and kilai till recently. The courtesans are and animal husbandary. means agnatic kin. The term kilai mentioned at many places in the Marutam-tinai were inhabited stands as the tamil counterpart of places in the texts, especially in by ulavar and toluvar subsisting jati. Grain was husked in hollows aham literature. They were called on plough agriculture. made in the ground (nila-ural), and parattaiyar or kanigaiyar. Neital-tinai was inhabited by converted into flakes (aval). Later works like the paratavar, valavar and minavar Appam (apupa) or rice-cake tolkappiyam and the kalaviyal say dependent on fishing and salt soaked in milk was a luxary. that the Aryans introduced the rituals and ceremonies of extraction. Mural paintings – ovaikkalai. marriage (karanam). We get a total of eight social Traveling troops of dances groups, viz., carried their yal (lute); padalai These works also mention the 1. k uravar (shifting agricultur- (one-sided drum). spontaneous coming together of the sexes (kamakkuttam), they ists) The dances of viralis distinguish secret marriage 2. vetar (hunters and food gath- (professional dancing-girls) took (kalavu) from the open alliance erers) place at night. contracted with the consent of 3. idaiyar (cattle-keepers) Different kinds of lutes like parents (karpu); last they refer to 4. kallar (plundering cattle lift- periyal, palai-yal and sengottiyal the eight forms of marriage known ing-people) are described in detail in different to the Sanskrit dharmasashtra and 5. ulavar (plough agriculturists) contexts. There is a full length show great ingenuity in fitting them 6. paratavar (fisherman) description of a padini, a singing into framework of the tamil 7. umnar (salt manufacturers) women of the panar community scheme. (viraliyar) in the 8. panar (wandering bards as- Though the gandharva form perunanuruppadai in which sociated with all the tinails) of marriage is easily equated to karikal himself is described as a On the basis of nature of ualavu (later known as yalor master of the seven notes of music. production the agriculture zone system), the other Aryan forms do Woman enjoyed much not fall in line so easily.

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The Pandayas pire. Pandyan kings even • He is credited to have built (Emblem - Fish) sent embassies to the Roman big irrigation channels by • The Pandyas were first men- emperor Augustus and Tro- means of building 160 km. tioned by Megasthanese. jan. long embankment along the who said that then kingdom Cholas river Kaveri. was famous for pearls. The (Emblem - Tiger) • He fortified the town the fa- Pandyan territory included mous sea port of Puhar at the • The Chola kingdom called as modern districts of mouth of the Kaveri. Cholamandulam was situ- Tirnelvelli. Ramanad and • These two great works were ated to the north-east of chiefly done by 12,000 Madurai in Tami Nadu it had Pandya kingdom between people brought as prisoners its capital at Madurai. Situ- Pennar and Vellar rivers. The of war from Sri Lanka. All ated on the banks of Vaigai Chola kingdom corre- this led to the growth of ag- river. sponded to modern Tanjore riculture, trade, commerce, • The Pandyan kingdom occu- and Tiruchirapalli districts. pied roughly the region of art and craft etc. • Its inland capital was • He was a great patron of lit- the modern districts of Uraiyaur a place famous for erature and education. He Tirunelveli, Ramnad and cotton trade. Puhar identical was a follower of Vedic re- Madurai in Tamil Nadu. The with Kaveripattanam was the ligion and performed many capital of the kingdom was main port of Cholas and Vedic sacrifices. Madurai. served as alternative capital • Nedunjeliyan is mentioned of Cholas. • The only other king after Karikala who is known as as a great Pandya king. The • The earliest know Chola king great king is Illanjetcenni Chera. Chola and five other was Elara who in 2nd century who captured two fortresses minor states combined B C conquered Sri Lanka and from the Cheras. against him and advanced ruled over it for nearly 53 against him at Madurai. But years. • But the fact remains, that af- he defeated the combined ter Karikala the Chola em- • The most distinguished of the forces. pire declined and the Cheras early Chola king was and Pandyas extended their • This great victory was re- Karikala. His two great territories at the cost of the membered for long and has achievements seem to be the Chola kingdom. even been mentioned in the crushing defeat he inflicted tenth century A. D. inscrip- upon the join forces of Chera • After the defeat at the hands tion. and Pandya kings and suc- of the Pallavas, the Cholas • He is also said to have per- cessful invasion of Sri Lanka. were reduced to u small ruling family from about the formed several Vedic sacri- • It appears that Karikala de- fourth to the ninth century A. fices. He may be taker to feated, in a great battle at D. have ruled around A. D. 210. Venni, near Tanjore, confed- • Under the Pandyas the capi- eracy of about a dozen rul- Cheras (Emblem - Bow) tal Madurai and port city ers headed by Chera and • The cheras also known as Korkai were great centres of Pandya kings and estab- Keralaputras were situated trade and commerce. The lished his supremacy over to the west and north of the Pandyan kingdom was very . the whole of Tamil land. Pandyan kingdom. The wealthy and prosperous. • Karikala maintained a pow- Chera country occupied the • The traders profited from erful navy and conquered Sri portion of both Kerala and trade with the Roman em- Lanka. Tamil Nadu

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• The capital of Cheras was and so earned the title Kadambas with their capital Vanjji. It’s main ports were Udiyangeral. at Vanavasi (near Goa). He Muzris and Tondi. The Ro- • The greatest of Chera king also fought a battle with the mans set up two regiment at however was Senguttuvan of father of the Chola king Muzris (identical with Red Chera. It is said that he Karikala. In this battle both Cranganore) in Chera coun- invaded north and even the kings were killed. try. The also built a temple crossed the Ganga. He also • According to the Chera tra- of Augustus at Muzris. founded the famous Pattini dition the greatest king of the • One of the earliest and bet- cull related to worship of Chera dynasty was ter known among Chera rul- goddess of chastity - Sengutturan. He is said to ers was Udiyangeral It is Kannagi. have subjugated the Chola said that he led both the • The Chera ruler Nedunjeral and the Pandya Kings. armies of Kurukshetra war Adan conquered the OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS 1. The megalithic culture is 4. Which of the following lan- (a) A. D. 310 mostly known for its burials. guages is the oldest among (b) B. C. 300 . These burials are marked by the spoken and literary lan- (c) A. D. 210 and abundance of guages of South India? (d) B. C. 200 (a) Iron tools (a) Kannada 8. Who of the following Chera (b) Bronze tools (b) Telugu kings conquered the (c) Black and red pottery (c) Tamil Kadambas with their capital (d) Both (a) and (c) (d) Malayalam at Vanavasi. He fought a 2. The earliest references that 5. Earlier its (Cholas) capital battle with Karikala? we find about the people was Uraiyar but subse- (a) Eroumporai and kingdoms of the area quently it was shifted to (b) Nedunjliyan Adan (South India) are preserved Puhar which came to be (c) Sengutturan in three forms, which are known as (d) None of the above (1) Ashokan inscriptions (a) Tiruchirapalli 9. According to the Chera tra- (2) Arthashastra (b) Kaveripattanam dition the greatest king of the (3)Megasthenese’s (c) Tanjavur Chera dynasty was accounts (d)Gangaikondach- (a) Erounporai (4) Sangam literature olapuram (b) Senguttaran Select the correct answer: 6. Which of the following (c) Nendunjliyan Adam (a) 1, 2 and 3 Chola kings built big irriga- (d) None of these (b) 1, 2 and 4 tion channels by means of 10. Who of the following Chera (c) 2, 3 and 4 building a 160 km. long em- kings is called (d) 1, 3 and 4 bankment along the river Imayavaramban? 3. In which of the Rock Edicts Kaveri? (a) Nendunjeral Adan does Ashoka mentions the (a) Elara (b) Sengutturan (c) Eroumporai Southern kingdoms of Chola, (b) Karikala Pandya, Satyaputra, (c) Rajendra I (d) All of the above Keralaputra and (d) Illanjetcenni ANSWERS Tambapanni? 7. Nendujeliyan is mentioned 1. (d) 2. (d) 3. (c) (a) Rock Edict II and IV as a great Pandya king who 4. (c) 5. (b) 6. (b) (b) Rock Edict VIII and IX defeated the combined 7. (c) 8. (b) 9. (b) (c) Rock Edict II and XII (Chera, Chola and others) 10. (a) (d) None of these forces. He ruled about

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SolvedSOLVED Paper General PAPER Studies UPSC MAIN 2012 Paper – I GENERAL STUDIES UPSC MAIN 2012 Paper I

1. Answer any five of the looking beyond the conventional look at the Indian model of following in about 250 way of doing things. Innovative innovation and make use of words each: 25×5 = 125 enterprises can fulfil unmet social concepts, ideas and solutions that needs by profitably, scalably, and are embedded in our history, (a) What do you understand by competitively engaging citizens at culture and traditional knowledge. the term “Innovation”? Discuss the bottom of the economic Thus it creates a need for National the need for launching a na- pyramid; through the creation of Innovation Policy in India. tional innovation policy in goods, services, employment, India. (b) Keeping in view the informal livelihoods, income and wealth. sector’s share in the total Ans: Successfully achieving this vision workforce of the country, Innovation is a discipline, a will unlock & unleash a class of critically examine the relevant body of knowledge you can capital other than philanthropy & inclusive measures initiated study, master and apply to various government grants for solving the by the Government of India challenges. Innovation is the problems of the poor and create and their effectiveness. discipline and process of a model for countries around the Ans: applying frameworks and world to emulate. Innovations are techniques for analysis, practices required in the country for creating The Census projection report that stimulate ideation, and a favourable ecosystem. shows that the proportion of methods of prototyping in order Whereas most global working age population between to conceive and develop original innovation systems are focused on 15 and 59 years is likely to solutions to problems. So, the process, nations like India increase from approximately 58 innovation is a process that uses need to lay equally emphasis on per cent in 2001 to more than 64 formal techniques and methods to purpose as well as process of per cent by 2021. In absolute come up with new ways of innovations; affordable numbers, there will be meeting needs. innovations for ensuring that the approximately 63.5 million new entrants to the working age group To prepare a roadmap for benefits of innovations reach as between 2011 and 2016. Further, innovation in the country, the many as people as possible have it is important to note that the bulk Prime Minister constituted the become necessary. There are of this increase is likely to take National Innovation Council whole lot of issues that we need place in the relatively younger age (NInC) in September 2010. Today, to think through in a different way. group of 20-35 years. From the India has unique challenges and Mahatma Gandhi, the father of our domestic angle, the chapter large unmet needs across diverse nation, understood the meaning of focuses on trends in social-sector areas such as health, education, innovation in a very different way spending both at central and state skills, agriculture, urban and rural and that is why he used the tools levels. It looks at social-sector development, energy and so on. of Satyagraha and Non-violence policies implemented by the All of which require innovative during the freedom struggle. government, particularly poverty approaches and solutions, and Therefore, we really need to

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Solved Paper General Studies UPSC MAIN 2012 Paper – I alleviation and employment the RSBY providing health Urban Poor (ISHUP), Integrated generation, health, education, insurance, JBY providing death Low Cost Sanitation Scheme rural infrastructure, development and disability cover and Indira (ILCS), etc. of the weaker sections of society, Gandhi National Old Age Pension (c) Examine the causes and the women and child development, Scheme (IGNOAPS) providing old extent of ‘desertification’ in and social security. age pension be extended to India and suggest remedial This section and the one that building and other construction measures. follows examine the major workers, MGNREGA workers, Ans: dimensions of inclusive Asha workers, Anganwadi development like poverty workers and helpers, porters/ Desertification was defined alleviation, employment coolies/gangmen, and casual and at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992 as generation, health, education, and daily wagers. degradation of drylands,the point social welfare besides reviewing Central government at which that land no longer can the progress of important expenditure on social services be returned to a productive state. government programmes in these and rural development (Plan and It results from complex sectors. Inclusive development non-Plan) has consistently gone up interactions between can be viewed in terms of over the years. It has increased unpredictable climate variations progress in social and financial from 13.38 per cent in 2006-7 to but primarily human activities. The inclusion. A large part of the 18.47 per cent in 2011-12. Central term desertification was first population, particularly segments support for social programmes coined by French scientists and like landless agricultural has continued to expand in various explorer Louis Lavauden in 1927. labourers, marginal farmers forms although most social-sector One of the major cause of continue to suffer social and subjects fall within the purview of desertification is overgrazing due financial exclusion. Accordingly, the states. Major programme- to the use of fences which has the government’s policies are specific funding is available to prevented the livestock from directed towards economic and states through centrally sponsored moving in response to availability social upliftment of these schemes. Some of the important of food. However, when used segments so as to enable everyone schemes are as follows: correctly, fencing is a good tool to reap the benefits of growth and The MGNREGA, of veld management. But the core bring marginalized sections of the Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar contention among all the society into the mainstream. This Yojana, Swarna Jayanti Shahari environmental issues faced by is also reflected in social-sector Rozgar Yojana, Aam Admi Bima planet Earth is Global Warming expenditure by the government. Yojana (AABY), Janashree Bima and consequent Climatic Change. The Unorganized Workers Yojana (JBY), Rashtriya Swasthya In its report the Inter- Social Security Act 2008 came into Bima Yojana (RSBY), The governmental Panel for Climatic force from 16 May 2009 with the Unorganized Workers Social Change (IPCC), formed out of the objective of providing social Security Act 2008, National Social Kyoto convention decades before, security to unorganized workers. Security Fund, Bilateral Social also said that The Unorganized Workers’ Social Security Agreements, Bharat Rise of average global Security Rules 2009 have also been Nirman, Jawahar Lal Nehru temperature melts polar ice and framed. Constitution of the National Urban Renewal Mission mountain glaciers, raises sea-level National Social Security Board in (JNNURM), Rajiv Awas Yojana and endangers coastal 2009 was another significant step. (RAY), Affordable Housing in submersion. A decrease or nil in The Board recommended that Partnership (AHIP), Interest the total amount of rainfall in social security schemes, namely Subsidy Scheme for Housing the drylands result in the destruction

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Solved Paper General Studies UPSC MAIN 2012 Paper – I of topsoil and vital soil nutrients trees planted on the dune will also (d) In the context of the growing needed for food production also decrease the wind velocity and demands for the ban of En- leading to desertification. prevents much of the sand from dosulfan in the country, criti- Deforestation and incorrect moving. More efficient use of cally examine the issues in- irrigation practices in arid areas existing water resources and volved. What, in your view, causing salinisation can prevent control of salinization are other should be done in the matter? plant growth which in turn triggers effective tools for improving arid Endosulfan has been used in desertification when coinciding lands. On a much larger scale, a agriculture around the world to with drought. “Green Wall,” which will control insect pests including eventually stretch more than 5,700 It also reduces the ability of whiteflies’, aphids, leafhoppers, kilometers in length, much longer land to support life, affecting wild Colorado potato beetles and than the famous Great Wall, is species, domestic animals, cabbage worms. Due to its unique being planted in northeastern agricultural crops and people. The mode of action, it is useful in China to protect “sandy lands”— reduction in plant cover that resistance management; however, deserts believed to have been accompanies desertification leads as it is not specific, it can created by human activity. The to accelerated soil erosion by negatively impact populations of World Day to Combat wind and water. Water is lost off beneficial insects. It is, however, the land instead of soaking into Desertification is celebrated considered to be moderately toxic the soil to provide moisture for every year on June 17 all over the to honey bees, and it is less toxic plants. Even plants that would world to highlight the urgent need to bees than normally survive droughts die. A to curb the process of organophosphate insecticides. reduction in plant cover also desertification and to strengthen In its response to a petition results in a reduction in the the visibility of this drylands issue filed by the Democratic Youth quantity of humus and plant on the international environmental Federation of India, the central nutrients in the soil, and plant agenda. The United Nations government has told the apex production drops further. As Convention to Combat court that endosulfan is unlikely protective plant cover Desertification (UNCCD) is the to cause any public concern or disappears, floods become more only internationally recognized, hazard and therefore, it is not the frequent and more severe. legally binding body that reason behind health problems in Desertification is self-reinforcing, addresses the problem of land Kasaragod, Kerala. In this regard, i.e. once the process has started, degradation in the drylands and the central government told that conditions are set for continual which enjoys a truly universal there is an overall weight of deterioration. membership of 191 countries. It evidence from in-vitro and in-vivo plays a key role in global efforts Desertification can be screening tests that Endosulfan is to eradicate poverty, achieve stopped, but unfortunately is not an endocrine disruptor. It is sustainable development and usually brought to public attention reported that Endosulfan is either reach the Millennium when the process is well carcinogenic or mutagenic. underway. Both individuals and Development Goals, in particular Endosulfan is a highly toxic governments can help to reclaim with regard to the eradication of chemical and poisonous to most and protect their lands. Covering extreme poverty.The need of the living organisms. The United the dunes with large boulders or hour is to treat desertification as States Environmental Protection petroleum will interrupt the wind a wake-up call and to try and take Agency classifies it as ‘highly regime near the face of the dunes it through strengthened community hazardous. It has been and prevent the sand from moving participation and cooperation at responsible for hundreds of in areas of sand dunes. Shrubs and all levels.

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Solved Paper General Studies UPSC MAIN 2012 Paper – I deaths worldwide, and significant and the pesticide was banned in to the their disruption of short and long-term human health Kerala as early as 2001 following communal mode of production impacts. Endosulfan kills a report by the National Institute was perturbed with introduction indiscriminately and is devastating of Occupational Health. In the of British legal concept of private to the environment, contaminating Stockholm Convention on property; The new land tenures soils, air and water, and damaging Persistent Organic Pollutants of originated new types of land mammals and other animals. 2011, when an international ownership and new social classes Endosulfan’s ability for long-range consensus arose for the global ban emerged in rural India. Land environmental transport, together of the pesticide, ironically India became a marketable commodity. with its adverse effects supports stood against this move owing to The circumstances drove the the need for concerted pressure from the endosulfan peasant into the clutches of the international action. To date, 62 manufacturing companies. This moneylenders and the trader. countries have already voluntarily flared up the protest, and while Thus, the peasant was pushed banned the use of endosulfan. India still maintained its stance, deeper into the depth of poverty. Because of its threats to human the global conference decided on India witnessed a number of health and the environment, a a global ban, for which India peasant revolts. global ban on the manufacture and asked a remission for 10 years. The first half of 20th century use of endosulfan was negotiated Later, on a petition filed in the saw workers and middle class under the Stockholm Supreme Court of India, the along with middle class got an Convention in April 2011. The ban production, storage, sale and use organizational character and will take effect in mid-2012, with of the pesticide was temporarily pressurized the colonial regime to certain uses exempted for five banned on 13 May 2011, and later change its policy. additional years. permanently by the end of 2011. (i) The emergence of new Although classified as a Endosulfan has killed, and trends in the national yellow label (highly toxic) will continue to kill and maim if it movement – particu- pesticide by the Central continues to be legal. National larly, the shift to mass Insecticides Board, India is one of prohibitions on use, together with politics and mass mo- the largest producers and the inclusion under the Stockholm bilization. largest consumer of endosulfan in Convention will ensure (ii) The economic and so- the world. Of the total volume endosulfan’s eradication from cial consequences of manufactured in India, three global use and an opportunity to the First World War companies — Excel Crop Care, protect people and their shared which adversely im- Hindustan Insecticides Ltd, and environment from this deadly pacted different sec- Coromandal Fertilizers — chemical. tions of the Indian produce 4,500 tonnes annually for (e) “The Indian independence people. domestic use and another 4,000 movement was a mass— (iii) The impact of Bolshevik tonnes for export. Endosulfan is based movement that encom- Russia and the growth widely used in most of the passed various sections of of socialistic ideas in plantation crops in India. Toxicity society. It also underwent the India. of endosulfan and health issues process of constant ideologi- The extremists had due to its bioaccumulation came cal evolution? Critically ex- developed systematic critique of under media attention when health amine. issues precipitated in the moderates and rightly emphasized Ans: Kasargod District (of Kerala) was the role of the masses and the need publicised. This inspired protests, The tribals participated due to go beyond prayer, petition and

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Solved Paper General Studies UPSC MAIN 2012 Paper – I procession. What they said, what Ans: the Planning Commission to they believed, what they In an important judgement, revise the chapter on health conceived was very much different the Supreme Court has banned all in the 12th Plan document.” from moderates but what they did tourism in the “core areas” of the Comment. was what moderates had already country’s 41 tiger parks. On its Ans: done. Therefore, they were face value the decision of the Definitely, considering the ideologically different but almost Court is worth welcome but we same in practice. The poor health condition and cannot deny the fact that the malnutrition, the 12th Plan must revolutionary terrorists have judgement will ultimately harm the take following measures like: consciously or unconsciously sent tiger population in the country. i. Improvement In the gover- a message of failure to both The presence of tourist and their nance structures, political Moderates and Extremists and support staff is a deterrent for will food security enhance- proved that a vacuum had been poachers involved in the trading ment and bringing women created and thereby a new of tiger teeth, skin, and bones, into the development pro- reorientation was needed. Thus which is a business worth millions cess with decision making they contributed to some extent of dollars. Along with forest powers. to the emergence of Gandhism. officials, tourists provide the They also gave the message to the additional eyes and ears to keep ii. Separate strategies for rural younger generation that role of poachers away. and urban areas must be patience is more powerful than chalked out. It is pertinent to role of impatience in Indian A complete lack of human involve the local govern- presence in the core zones would context and for a long drawn ment agencies viz. PRIs and movement this helped Gandhiji. mean no surveillance and would other stakeholders with ex- give poachers easy access to tigers pertise and interest in nutri- Gandhism was the most by co- opting forest officials. pragmatic solution to the existing tion and health; this will de- Finally, the economic centralize the operations of problems. It was a blend of disadvantage that comes with this our hunger and poverty el- moderatism, extremism and ban is that many local people evation programmes. revolutionary terrorism. The depend on tourism for their iii. Coordination, convergence revolutionary terrorism was the livelihood and hence stoppage of last trend before the Gandhism. Its and monitoring of all govern- tourism in core areas of tiger ment programs on poverty limited success proved that it reserves would result in loss of requires a different orientation in and malnourishment related such income leading to discontent issues. the national movement. The new which may pose a threat to iv. Care needs to be given right trend must be a conglomeration wildlife and forest. Thus, we need from the pregnancy levels, and combination of the past trend to strictly regulate and control the by addressing all the critical and for this Gandhism was wildlife tourism in the country, stages of the birth and devel- created. and placing a complete ban on any opment of the baby. This is (f) The issue of tourism in core kind of tourism activities in the at present taken by inte- areas of tiger reserve forests core areas will certainly not help grated child development in the country is a subject the wildlife of the tiger reserves. centres across the country. matter of debate. Critically 2. Answer any seven of the examine various aspects of v. Community participation following in about 150 and grass root level ap- this issue, keeping in view rel- words each: 15X7=105 evant recent judicial pro- proaches must be promoted. nouncements. (a) “There is an urgent need for vi. Iron fortification and iodine

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Solved Paper General Studies UPSC MAIN 2012 Paper – I supplements in the stage of Survey data said the child markets. Funds those should have pregnancy and early child- workforce during 2004-05 was tended to move into retiring hood. estimated at 9.07 million. government debt. This crowding vii. Improvement in the infant Banning any employment of out of investment has made the feeding, sanitation, clean children below 14 years will go a process of Gross Domestic water, affordable and acces- long way in enforcing the Right to Capital Formation (GDCF) even sible health services. Education Act, 2009 which more difficult. viii. We need to think on lines of mandates free and compulsory Taxes which could be used national nutrition strategy education of all children in the age to retire a part of debt have not group of 6-14 years. Cabinet’s ix. Use of neo-natology and pre- yielded enough. The general decision to ban child labour natal care technologies. tendency in a developing nation below age of 14 will also enable like India with respect to indirect (b) The Union Cabinet recently India to ratify ILO Convention 138 taxes has been on the regressive cleared the proposal to re- (minimum age for entry to side. Even direct taxes are not name and amend the Child employment) and Convention 182 sufficient to pool in resources. Labour (Prohibition and Regu- (prohibition of employment of Resources could be pooled in lation) Act, 1986. What are persons below 18 years in from the underdeveloped exports the salient features of the pro- hazardous occupations) market have rendered exports less posed amendments? (c) “Domestic resource mobiliza- competitive. Ans: tion, though central tothe pro- Quality-wise the exports A proposal to put a complete cess of Indian economic can’t compete. Moreover, frequent ban on employment of children up growth, is characterized by fluctuations in the value of to the age of 14 both in hazardous several constraints? Explain. currency also create weaknesses and non-hazardous work by Ans: in the management of fiscal amending an anti-child labour Act programme. Targeting public Fiscal management in the expenditure in programmes with has been approved by the Union Indian economy has been a Cabinet. In an important decision long gestation lags causes the challenge for the government since the Union cabinet has given its resources to be blocked for a long the beginning of economic reforms time. These tendencies again add nod to amend the Child Labour in 1991. Retirement of public debt, to the fiscal crunch. Inflationary Act and put a complete ban on managing the extent of fiscal employment of children up to the tendencies owing to supply side deficit and presenting excessive bottlenecks or demand-crunch age of 14 in any industry. As per crowding out of investment has have led to variations in rates of the existing Act, children below been the main target. Amongst the 14 years of age are allowed to interest and liquidity. Again the structural weaknesses that mar the work in industries not considered Government has to intervene into efficient management of fiscal the market. Deficit financing, if to be hazardous. Any violation situation in India, underdeveloped will be a cognizable offence, done, further adds to the capital markets are important. punishable with a maximum three disadvantages involved under Improper channelisation of inefficient fiscal management. years imprisonment or fine up to savings has led to widening gap a maximum of Rs. 50,000. It between savings and investment. (d) The ‘flute-playing Krishna’ should here be noted that Census This gap needs to be financed by theme is very popular in In- 2001 says that there were 12.6 pooling in of the resources in the dian art. Discuss. million economically active form of debt. RBI raises debt on Ans: children in the age-group of 5-14 behalf of GOI from its captive years while the National Sample In Indian culture, Lord

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Solved Paper General Studies UPSC MAIN 2012 Paper – I Krishna is portrayed as the eighth introduced in the Lok Sabha on from where the District Fo- avatar of Vishnu. Krishna’s December 16, 2011 by Mr. K.V. rum may perform its func- favourite musical instrument was Thomas. The amendment is tions. a flute and in all his forms he is aimed at speedier redressal of • The Bill permits online filing mainly represented as a flute consumer grievances by of complaints. player. His flute is considered the overcoming several shortcomings • The Bill increases the mini- most important epitome of our art, in implementing the existing mum age of members from culture and also has many social Consumer Protection Act. 35 years to 45 years in the manifestations attached to it. His • It seeks to amend Consumer case of State Commission flute teaches us three important protection Act, 1986 and from 35 years to 55 years lessons i.e. • The Bill defines unfair con- in the case of National Com- (i) A flute speaks only when tract to include a contract mission. we want it to speak. (ii) Whenever which has one or more of the • Under the Act, a maximum it speaks, it speaks sweetly, (iii) following clauses (i) exces- of 50 per cent of the mem- It always remains empty inside. sive security deposit; (ii) bers of the National Com- Since the times of Lord Krishna, imposition of disproportion- mission are required to be the flute has been envisaged as an ate penalty; (iii) refusal to persons having a ‘judicial embodiment of Indian culture. All accept early repayment of background.’ The Bill de- major ragas of Indian music have debt and; (iv) termination of fines the term ‘judicial back- some connection with Krishna’s contract without reasonable ground’ to include present flute. In Indian art forms, Krishna’s cause. and former judges of a High flute symbolizes the sound of • Under the Bill unfair trade Court or the Supreme Court serenity and love. The flute playing practice includes a (i) a fail- of India. Krishna is also an important ure to take back the goods • The State Commission embodiment in Indian dance or withdraw the services or the National Com- forms and it had shown its impact within a period of 30 days mission have been em- on Indian painting since the Bhakti after the receipt of the goods powered to seek assis- Vedanta period. It can be by the consumer; and (ii) distance from any indi- concluded that flute-playing closure of confidential per- vidual or organisation Krishna symbolizes his sonal information. if it believes that it in- involvement in human affairs, • Under the Act, a maximum volves the larger inter- feelings, and Indian art forms. Thus of two members are to be est of consumers. a beautiful melody that Krishna appointed to the District Fo- • The Bill provides that plays can span all the emotions rum. the orders of the District of a human lifetime in mere • Under the Act, the state gov- Forum, State Commis- minutes ernment appoints the mem- sion or National Com- (e) What are the salient features bers of the District Forum on mission shall be en- of the Consumer Protection the recommendation of the forceable as a court (Amendment) Bill, 2011 intro- Selection Committee. decree duced in the Lok Sabha in • The Bill empowers the state • The penalty imposed December 2011? government (in consultation shall not be less than Ans: with the State Commission) Rs 500 or 50 percent of to notify places other than the value of the order The Consumer Protection the district headquarters whichever is higher. (Amendment) Bill, 2011 was

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Solved Paper General Studies UPSC MAIN 2012 Paper – I • Under the Bill the Na- economic development. An The available renewable tional Commission estimated 100 million workdays energy sources in India: (i) Solar shall periodically fur- are lost due to illness. Society and Energy- It is a clean renewable nish to the Central Gov- the country also incurred a huge resource with zero emission, has ernment information cost due to TB. got tremendous potential of regarding the cases (g) Given the accelerated pace of energy which can be harnessed pending before it. development and demand for using a variety of devices. With (f) What do you understand by energy, would you consider recent developments, solar energy the term “Multi-Drug Resistant renewable energy as a viable systems are easily available for Tuberculosis” {MDR-TB)? option for India’s future? industrial and domestic use with the added advantage of minimum What measures would you Ans: advocate for its containment maintenance. Solar energy could and what are the implications Energy in India: India faces be made financially viable with of its spread in the commu- an acute energy scarcity which government tax incentives and nity? hampers its industrial growth and rebates. (ii) Wind Energy: Wind economic progress. Setting up of power is one of the most efficient Ans: new power plants is inevitably alternative energy sources. There As per recent World Health dependent on import of highly has been good deal of Organization estimates, India has volatile fossil fuels. Thus, it is development in wind turbine recorded about 63,000 cases of essential to tackle the energy technology over the last decade notified multi-drug resistant crisis through judicious utilization with many new companies joining tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in 2010, the of abundant the renewable energy the fray. Wind turbines have highest in the South East Asia resources, such as biomass become larger, efficiencies and region. As per data released by energy, solar energy, wind energy availabilities have improved and WHO, the percentage of MDR in and geothermal energy. Apart wind farm concept has become newly recorded TB cases in India, from augmenting the energy popular. It could be combined estimated to about 2.1 (1.7- 2.5) supply, renewable resources will with solar, especially for a total per cent, while the percentage of help India in mitigating climate self-sustainability project. (iii) Bio- MDR among previously treated change. India is heavily dependent mass Energy: Biomass energy can cases was 15 (13 -17) per cent. on fossil fuels for its energy needs. play a major role in reducing (a) political and administrative Most of thepower generation is India’s reliance on fossil fuels by commitments; (b) good quality carried out by coal and mineral making use of thermochemical diagnosis; (c) good quality drugs; oil-based power plants which conversion technologies. In (d) the right treatment, given in the contribute heavily to greenhouse addition, the increased utilization right way; and (e) systematic gases emission. Energy is a of biomass-based fuels will be monitoring and accountability. necessity and sustainable instrumental in safeguarding the Controlling TB in India is a renewable energy is a vital link in environment, creating new job tremendous challenge. The TB industrialization and development opportunities, sustainable burden in India is still staggering. of India. A transition from development and health Every year, 1.8 million persons conventional energy systems to improvements in rural areas. develop the disease, of which those based on renewable Biomass energy could also aid in about 800,000 are infectious; and, resources is thus necessary to modernizing the agricultural until recently, 400,000 died of it- meet the ever-increasing demand economy. (iv) Waste-To-Energy: 1,000 every day. The disease is a for energy and to address our Waste-to-energy plants offer two major barrier to social and environmental concerns. important benefits of

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Solved Paper General Studies UPSC MAIN 2012 Paper – I environmentally sound waste process used to change liquid Objectives of PMLA are as management and disposal, as unsaturated fat to a more solid fat. follows: well as the generation of clean Structurally similar to saturated • To provide speedy and cost electric power. Waste-to-energy fat, trans fatty acids may have a free dispensation of justice facilities produce clean, great impact on raising total and to women. renewable energy through thermo- LDL cholesterol levels. The • To generate awareness chemical, biochemical and examples include stick margarine among the public regarding physicochemical methods. and fats found in commercially conciliatory mode of dis- Moreover, waste-to-energy plants prepared cakes, cookies, and pute settlement. are highly efficient in harnessing snack foods. Total fat intake • To gear up the process of or- the untapped sources of energy should be no more than 30 ganizing the Lok Adalats and from a variety of wastes. percent of your daily calorie to encourage the public to There is an urgent need for intake. settle their disputes outside transition from petroleum-based The research, funded by the the formal set-up. energy systems to one based on British Heart Foundation (BHF), • To empower public espe- renewable resources to decrease found that ‘ultra-bad’ cholesterol, cially women to participate reliance on depleting reserves of called MGmin-low-density in justice -delivery mecha- fossil fuels and to mitigate climate lipoprotein (LDL), which is more nism. change. In addition, renewable common in people with type 2 energy has the potential to create diabetes and the elderly, appears The Parivarik Mahila Lok many employment opportunities to be ‘stickier’ than normal LDL. Adalat functions on the model of at all levels, especially in rural This makes it more likely to attach the Lok Adalat. The Commission areas. An emphasis on presenting to the walls of arteries. When LDL provides financial assistance to the real picture of massive attaches to artery walls it helps NGOs or State Women renewable energy potential, it form the dangerous ‘fatty’ plaques’ Commissions or State Legal would be possible to attract that cause coronary heart disease Service Authority to organize the foreign investments to herald a (CHD). Parivarik Mahila Lok Adalat. Green Energy Revolution in India. 3. Answer the following in (b) List the main objectives of the (h) Many food items contain about 50 words each: National Manufacturing Policy “trans fats”. What do you 5×11=55 (NMP), 2011. understand by this term? Ans: (a) What is the ‘Parivarik Mahila Which Indian food items con- Lok Adalat’? (i) The policy aims to create in- tain trans fats? What are the dustrial enclaves that will implications of trans fats on Ans: offer lower taxes, faster per- human health? The National Commission for mits, and easier labour laws Ans: Women (NCW) has evolved the to boost the share of manu- concept of Parivarik Mahila Lok facturing. Unsaturated fats may be Adalat, which in turn supplements converted to saturated fats by (ii) The policy aims to increase the efforts of the District Legal the sectoral share of manu- adding hydrogen atoms in a Service Authority (DLSA) for facturing in GDP to 25 per process known as hydrogenation. redressal and speedy disposal of This process creates saturated fats cent by 2025 from exisitng called trans-fatty acids. the matters pending in various 16 per cent. courts related to marriage and (iii) The policy seeks to em- Trans fats are by-products of family affairs. power rural youth by impart- hydrogenation, a chemical

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Solved Paper General Studies UPSC MAIN 2012 Paper – I ing necessary skill sets to observation was made that all the (4) Right to die: In P.Rathinam v. make them employable. three red, products seemed to be Union of India (1994): SC (iv) Sustainable development identical: Cantra or copper. In held that the right to live in and technological value ad- fact, Rasarnava had arranged six Article 21 of the constitution dition in manufacturing have metals: gold, silver, copper, iron, includes the right not to live received special focus in the tin and lead in the order of therefore the Section 309 of NMP. increasing rate of corrosion and the IPC was violative of Ar- ticle 21 and hence it is void. (v) The policy envisages specific poetically described high But in 1996 in the case of interventions broadly in the reactivity of sulphur with most of Gian Kaur v. State of Punjab areas of industrial infrastruc- the metals. SC overruled the ture development and im- (d) What are the Rights within the P.Rathinam’s case and held provement of the business ambit of Article 21 of the environment through ratio- Indian Constitution? that right of life under Article nalization and simplification 21 of the constitution does Ans: not include right to die or of business regulations. (1) Right to live with human dig- right to be killed. “The right (vi) A defining feature of the nity: In the Maneka Gandhi’s to die, inherently inconsis- policy has been the endeav- case SC added another di- tent with the right of life as our to improve the business mension to Article 21. It held is death with life. The apex regulatory environment by that the right to ‘live’ is not court made it clear that the providing single window merely confined to physical right to life including the right clearances. existence but it includes to live with human dignity (vii)The new policy proposes de- within the ambit the right to would mean the existence of veloping National Invest- live with human dignity. such a right up to the end of ment and Manufacturing (2) Right to livelihood: In 1993 natural life. Zones,or mega-industrial in the case of DK Yadav v. (5) Right to get pollution free parks that will reduce the JMA Industries the SC held water and air: In 1991 in the compliance burden on in- that the right to life enshrined case of Subhas Kumar v. dustry. under Article 21 includes the State of Bihar, it has been (c) Comment on the significance right to livelihood. The pro- held that public interest liti- of Rasarnava in studying the cedure prescribed for de- gation is maintainable for history of Indian Chemistry. priving a person of liveli- ensuring enjoyment of pollution free and air which in- Ans: hood must meet the challenge of Article 14 and so it cluded the right to live un- Rasarnava by an unknown must be right, just and fair der Article 21 of the consti- author, 11th-12th century AD text, and not arbitrary and illegal. tution. basically described a large (3) Right to privacy: In 1997 in (6) Protection of Ecology and number of equipment or a historic judgement in Environmental Pollution. apparatus, crucibles, furnaces People’s Union for Civil Lib- (7) Right of Education: etc., for processing of minerals erties v. Union of India and metals. Procedures were (8) Prisoner’s Right and Article (Phone tapping case) the SC 21: Even a convict is entitled described for making metal from held that telephone tapping maksika vimala, sasyaka etc., the to the precious right guaran- should not be restored to by teed by Article 21 and he first two being pyrites bearing the State unless there is pub- copper, and the third copper shall not be deprived of his lic emergency or interest of life or personal liberty ex- sulphate, and the wonderful public safety requires.

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Solved Paper General Studies UPSC MAIN 2012 Paper – I cept according to procedure the governed. The Act is a big step Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, established by law. towards making the citizens representatives of five state (9) Right to free legal aid: The informed about the activities of the governments (one each from the right to free legal aid and Government allowing to the share North, South, East, West and speedy trial are guaranteed power with the humblest and North-Eastern regions) and one FRs under Article 21. Article poorest of the society. union territory by rotation, five 39 A provides ‘equal justice’ (f) To implement one key recom- representatives each from senior and free legal aid’. It means mendation of the Mohini Giri citizens’ associations. The Council justice according to law. Committee, the Government will be anchored in the Social (10) Right against solitary con- has recently announced the Justice and Empowerment finement: SC in the case of constitution of a National Ministry. Sunil Batra v. Delhi Admin- Council. Highlight the com- (g) Comment on the recent istration (1978) held that position and the mandate of launching of the National Mis- whether solitary confine- this National Council. sion on Libraries (NML). ment imposed upon prison- Ans: Ans: ers who were under sentence of death was violative of Ar- In order to improve the social The government of India has ticles 14, 19, 20 and 21 of the sector reforms, the Union launched the National Mission on Constitution. government has given its approval Libraries (NML) with the aim and (11) Right to Speedy trial: Speedy to constitute the National Council intention to modernise and trial is the essence of crimi- for Senior Citizens to advise the digitally link almost 9000 libraries nal justice. In the case of AR Central and State governments on across the country in a bid to Antuley v. RS Nayak in 1992 issues relating to the welfare of provide readers access to books the SC held that the accused senior citizens. In order to and information. The launch of couldn’t be denied the right improve the quality of life of NML is very important for India of speedy trial merely on the senior citizens, the council will because it will assist in preparing ground that he had failed to form suitable policies, long term plans and strategies for demand a speedy trial. programmes, and legislative development of the library sector, measures. The major aim of the including conceptualization and (e) Comment on the significance council will be to promote the approval of projects and of the Preamble contained in physical and financial stability of preparation of a “National policy the Right to Information Act. our senior citizens so that they are on Library and Information Ans: able to live a dignified life. It is Systems for India”. The NML will The basic object of this Act here mentioned that setting up of focus on improvement of the is to empower the citizens, such a council was one of the public library system of the promote transparency and recommendations made by an country particularly concentrating accountability in the working of experts committee headed by on the states where library the Government and make our Mohini Giri in the draft National development is lagging behind. democracy work for the people Policy on Senior Citizens. The For the successful execution of in real sense. It goes without Council will be chaired by the NML it is quite important that the saying that an informed citizen is Social Justice and Empowerment state governments, and Minister and will include the better equipped to keep necessary municipalities and panchayats pay vigil on the instruments of Minister of State in the Social special attention towards setting governance and make the Justice and Empowerment up and maintenance of public government more accountable to Ministry, oldest members of the libraries, including community, locality, and village libraries.

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Solved Paper General Studies UPSC MAIN 2012 Paper – I

(h) What are the groups into Ans: possible by providing energy which musical instruments in For Zoroastrians (heat). India have traditionally been (Zarathushth-rians), fire is the It can also be a symbol of a classified? symbol of their religion. Almost power that can destroy by Ans: all religious ceremonies are consuming or changing, by performed in the presence of fire, selectively destroying evil it can ‘Instruments must speak’ was be a symbol of a purifying agency. the axion and if any instrument which may be a permanently Long before Zarathushtra failed to produce what the human consecrated fire of an Atash Behram or Atash Aderan or that preached his message, fire was voice could, it was part of the religious observances contemptuously referred to as which is consecrated for the of the Indo-Aryan society into Suska Vadyam-dry occasion. Fire holds the central place in a Zoroastrian temple and which he was born. It was used instrumentalism. Govind Dikshit the worship of God is performed during various rituals and fixed the frets of the southern vina, sacrifices and was an ancient so that all the ragas could be in front of it. The permanently religious symbol. It is still used played. Prior to this, the frets consecrated fires are objects of great reverence and the physical as part of rituals in many religions were movable and their numbers not only those arising from Indo- varied. A large number of fire is treated as a living being and Aryan origins but also others. Yet instruments particularly of the is referred to as Atash Padshah (king) by the priests in present only in Zoroastrianism is it such a stringed variety were evolved out powerful and respected symbolic of the old forms. Tradition links practice. When a physical object object. names of certain musicians with becomes such a powerful and respected symbol, it becomes some of these instruments like (j) Why is Laurie Baker called vicitra vina with Abdul Aziz Khan necessary to know exactly the ‘the conscience keeper of In- and Surabahar with Omrao Khan. meaning of the symbol. For dian architecture’? example, does the consecrated There is also some evidence to the Ans: fire represent God? Does it effect that dilruba, esraj and sarod Laurie Baker, an Indian were evolved during this period represent a particular aspect of architect of British origin is aptly and sarangi was lifted from its God? Does it represent a connection between the spiritual called the conscience keeper of place in the folk music and Indian architecture because he established as a respectable court and physical world? added modernity to Indian sense instrument. Vina has always been Fire as a physical object of architecture. India will always the foremost traditional gives out heat and light. If hot remain in debt to him as he instrument. The nom-tom in raga- enough, it can consume all focused on converting or alap of Hindustani music, the organic matter, converting it into replacing asylum into cost tanam in Karnataka music, the bols invisible gasses, and is able to effective architecture style. of tarana, the various gamaks or transform most inorganic matter. graces and other musical accents Because of these properties fire He gave the concept of in both Hindustani and Karnataka can be a symbol of illumination building affordable homes for the music are obviously based on with all the meanings of the word. poor; he was also a unique nuances which appeared in the For example, that which drives creative artist, who always had in perfecting of the accompanying away darkness — evil, that which mind the concept to create unique instruments. enlightens with knowledge, et sense of space for building low cost yield high architectural (i) Comment on the significance cetera. Or it can be a symbol of that which provides comfort quality homes for everyone. of fire in Zoroastrianism. (warmth) or that which makes life

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Solved Paper General Studies UPSC MAIN 2012 Paper – I (k) You are stationed in a small call an ambulance to ber of a State Legislative As- district town in the plains of rush him to hospital for sembly and of a Member of Northern India, The summer proper medication. Parliament in the Indian has been severe. Suddenly, a 4. Comment on each of the Presidential elections. colleague, who had been out following in about 20 Ans: since morning, returns to the words each: Determining the ‘value’ office complaining of head- 2×5=10 ache, restlessness and confu- assigned to the vote of a Member sion. Shortly, he becomes (a) The significance of of a State Legislative Assembly unconscious. His body tem- Patharughat in the Indian free- and of a Member of Parliament perature is 40°C. What first dom struggle in the Indian Presidential elections. Value of each MP’s vote aid steps would you take to Ans: revive him? = Total value of all MLAs / Elected Patharughat is a place in MPs or 5,49,474 / 776 = 708 Ans: Assam, where the peasant took (Lok Sabha + Rajya Sabha) My first task will be to British bullets while protesting identify what precisely has exorbitant taxes slapped on them Total value of votes for happened to my colleague. at Patharughat in Darrang district Parliament = 776 × 708 = 5,49,408 Judging by his conditions I will in 1894. It is also known as Total value of votes for MLAs not waste a single minute to Jallianwala Bagh of Assam. 140 = MLAs (4120) + M.Ps (776) = identify that he is suffering from unarmed peasants who fell to the 4896 heat stroke because when the bullets of British military police. Total value of 4896 electors body temperature reaches 104 It was J R Berington, officiating for the Presidential election 2012 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees commandant of the military = 549474 + 549408 = 1098882 Celsius), a person is believed to police, who ordered the firing be suffering from a serious against hundreds at Patharughat in Value of vote of each Member condition called heat stroke. Darrang district when they of Legislative Assembly (rejecting the remainder less than 500 but in (i) First aid must be imme- protested against the British creasing the number by one if the diate and consist of government policy of imposing measures to bring the exorbitant taxes. remainder is five hundred and more). temperature below at (b) Bagurumba folk dance least 102° F. (d) Significance of the SPOT-6 Ans: (ii) I will move my col- rocket launch for ISRO Bagurumba is the most league out of the sun Ans: and into a shady or air attractive dance of the Bodo SPOT 6 is a French Earth conditioned space. community of Assam. Girls dressed in colourful attires Observation Satellite capable of (iii) This will be accompa- perform this dance in tune of Bodo imaging the earth with a nied by rubbing the resolution of 1.5 metre. This latest victim’s skin with cold traditional musical instruments. It is also called “butterfly dance” generation optical remote sensing water or alcohol. because the combination of satellite is built by Astrium SAS, a (iv) I will give him plenty of costume colors and movements leading European space cold water or other resemble the movement of technology company. On non-alcoholic beverage butterflies. September 9, 2012, the Polar to drink, if he is able to. Satellite Launch Vehicle-C21 (c) Determining the ‘value’ as- (v) Meanwhile, I will also (PSLV-C21) blasted off carrying signed to the vote of a Mem-

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Solved Paper General Studies UPSC MAIN 2012 Paper – I SPOT 6 from Satish Dhawan Space Junior Rankings. The 17-year-old in Tata Sons, will take over the Centre of Sriharikota. ISRO has took a giant leap towards reins when Tata retires in sent 29 foreign satellites confirming that status with an December, 2012. successfully to the orbit, including incredible victory over newly- (d) Ashoke Sen SPOT 6. The launch of SPOT 6 on crowned Olympic champion Li board an Indian launch vehicle is Xuerui, 21-19, 9-21, 21-16, in the Ans: Ashoke Sen, a testimony to the commercial quarterfinals of the China Masters theoretical physicist and string competitiveness of the Indian Super Series in Changzhou. theorist at Allahabad’s Harish Chandra Research Institute, has space industry and is a tribute to (b) Aditya Kumar Mandi Indian innovation and ingenuity. been awarded with one of the The successful launch of SPOT 6 Ans: world’s most prestigious and would make ISRO’s PSLV rocket Winner of the Sahitya richest academic awards of $3 a strong contender to carry SPOT Akademi Award, 2011 for million, which is almost three 7 planned by Astrium SAS soon. Banchao Larhai in Santali. times higher than that of Noble Prize. (e) Issues highlighted through the (c) Cyrus Mistry work of Palagumrni Sainath (e) Mario de Miranda Ans: Ans: Ans: Cyrus Mistry, the Managing An Indian journalist and Director of Shapoorji Pallonji Legendary cartoonist of India photojournalist has mainly Group has been announced by Mario Miranda, who left an focused on social problems, rural Tata Sons to succeed Ratan Tata, indelible stamp of the Goan ethos affairs, poverty and the aftermaths when Ratan Tata retires. Cyrus on the national consciousness, has of globalization in India and Mistry, the son of Pallonji Mistry, died. He was conferred India’s supoose to be a great experts on Chairman of the Shapoorji Pallonji highest civilian awards - the famine and hunger. Group that holds 18 per cent stake Padma Shri in 1988 and the Padma Bhushan in 2002. 5. Why have the following been in the news recently?. (Answer to be in one sentence only). 1×5=5 (a) P.V. Sindhu Ans: Pusarla Venkata Sindhu (born 5 July 1995) is a badminton player from India. She trains at the Hyderabad’s Gopichand Badminton Academy and is supported by Olympic Gold Quest, a not-for-profit foundation that identifies and supports Indian athletes. She broke into the top 20 (20th) in the Badminton World Federation ranking which were released on 21 September 2012. She is also ranked 3 in the BWF

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