1st August 2019 Inter-State river water disputes Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS- II – issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure In News  Lok Sabha passed a bill to establish a single central tribunal for inter-state water disputes in place of the numerous existing ones so as to speed up resolution process  The tribunal can set up multiple benches for different disputes  Composition of Central tribunal – Chairperson (retired SC judge), a vice-chairperson, three judiciary members and three experts.  Appointment of tribunal members – by the Central government on recommendation of a selection committee comprising the PM, CJI and ministers of law & justice and Jal Shakti  The bill proposes to set up a dispute resolution committee of experts, headed by a secretary-level officer of the government.  Once a dispute arises, it would be referred to this committee, which would have a year to resolve it, with an extension of six months If the committee fails to arrive at a conclusion, the matter would be referred to a Central tribunal whereby final award will be delivered in two years and whenever it gives the order, the verdict will be notified automatically.  The decision of the tribunal would be binding on states and have the ―same force as an order of the Supreme Court‖ Concerns raised by Opposition  A major concern has been over data collection from river basins, the core of adjudication.  Centralization of powers as the selection committee to recommend tribunal members does not have any representation from the States Do you know?  India has 18 % of the world‘s population but only 4% replenishable water  At present, there are nine tribunals including those on Cauvery, Mahadayi, Ravi and Beas, Vansadhara and Krishna river.  Of the nine tribunals set up to adjudicate such disputes, only four have given their awards and the time taken to do so ranged from seven to 28 years  Centre has constituted a National Water Informatics Centre on March 2018, which will collate data from all organizations including the Central Water Commission, IMD and state departments. Happiness Classes Part of: Mains GS II- Issues relating to development and management of Education. In News  ‗Happiness Utsav ‘was organised by the Delhi government to celebrate a year since the launch of happiness classes in Delhi government schools.  ―Without happiness, education can never be complete.‖ CJI Ranjan Gogoi said while speaking at the concluding ceremony  Happiness classes in schools is need of the hour as India‘s position on the World Happiness Index has dropped from 118 to 140  WHI is an annual publication ofBRICS the United Nations Sustainable Development IAS Solutions Network.  Four states -Manipur, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry and Nagaland – have planned to replicate Delhi‘s Happiness classes in their state-run schools. Equalization Levy Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS III- Indian economy and Government Budgeting In News  Domestic SMEs and start-ups have written to centre complaining about the equalisation levy as foreign companies continue to invoice Indian start-ups and SMEs from their overseas office.  The equalisation levy, introduced in 2016, is a direct tax on payments made by residents to non-resident companies for online advertisement, provision of digital and advertising space or any other facility or service for online advertisement.  Indian start-ups and SMEs are required to deposit 6% equalisation levy (TDS) on behalf of these foreign companies which leads to additional compliance and cost burden on these firms  Since this is a levy, these firms are unable to claim Input Tax Credit for this cost incurred  In order to rectify this, the start-ups have requested the government to mandate that ―any global corporation having sales and marketing operations in India must be required to invoice their customers in India from a registered entity in India.‖ Do you know?

www.bricsias.com 814216009911

 Market for online ads on which a 6% equalization levy is applied is up from ₹9,800 crore in FY18 to ₹11,870 crore till February 2019  The idea behind the equalization levy is to tax services of digital service providers in foreign markets which has customer base in India INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS Fortifying the Africa outreach Context:  This week two important Indian dignitaries began their respective visits to Africa. President Ram Nath Kovind commenced his seven-day state visit to Benin, Gambia and Guinea-Conakry (July 28 to August 3) and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Maputo on a three-day visit (July 28 to July 30) to Mozambique. Concerns:  There seems to be a conspicuous disconnect between Indian developmental assistance to and India‘s economic engagement with Africa Economic ties of India and Africa:  During the past five years, Indian leaders have paid 29 visits to African countries.  Forty-one African leaders participated in the last India-Africa Forum Summit in 2015  India agreed to provide concessional credit worth $10 billion during the next five years. Trade ties of India and Africa:  By 2017, India had cumulatively extended 152 Lines of Credit worth $8 billion to 44 African countries.  India has also unilaterally provided free access to its market for the exports of 33 least developed African countries  India escalated its commitments to Africa in an era of low-commodity prices when most other partners, including China, have scaled back theirs.  India‘s trade with Africa totalled $63.3 billion in 2018-19.  India was ranked the third largest trading partner of Africa having edged past the United States during the year. Issues in India and Africa Relations:  India is neither a rich country nor has its hands been tainted by a history of slavery, colonisation and the exploitation of Africa.  In fact, it is a developing country with similar domestic challenges of poverty, infrastructure deficit and underdevelopment.  India‘s funds committed and seats in our prestigious academic institutions offered to Africa are at the expense of the tax-paying Indians.  India‘s aid to Africa should be reciprocated by acknowledgement and quid pro quo in terms of goodwill (beyond the easy-flowing official rhetoric), and institutional preference.  India cannot simply be a cash cow for Africa, particularly when its own economy is slowing down. Steps to be considered by India: 1. we need to take direct control of our development programme instead of handing our funds to intermediaries such as the African Union, the African Development Bank Group and the Techno-Economic Approach for Africa-India Movement (TEAM 9), whose priorities are often different from India‘s To make an impact, our aid should be disbursed bilaterally and aligned with national priorities of the recipient state, which should be a substantialBRICS stakeholder and co-investor in schemesIAS and projects from initiation to operation. 2. India‘s development assistance should prefer the countries with its substantial interests, both existing and potential For Example: Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, Ghana, Angola and Algeria are India‘s top six trading partners in Africa, accounting for nearly two-thirds of its trade and half its exports to the continent; yet, they do not figure commensurately in India‘s developmental pecking order. India‘s own needs for raw materials, commodities and markets should be factored in its aid calculus 3. We ought to prefer aiding countries which are willing to help us — from access to their natural resources to using our generics. 4. The aided project selected should be compatible with local requirements. They should be cost-effective, scalable, future ready and commercially replicable. 5. For greater transparency, India should prefer its public sector to implement the aid projects. 6. The Indian Head of Mission in the recipient African state must be an integral part of the aid stream including project selection, co-ordination and implementation. 7. The aforementioned should not distract us from our duty to provide the needed humanitarian assistance to Africa to be rendered promptly and with sensitivity, but without noise. Conclusion  There seems to be a conspicuous disconnect between Indian developmental assistance to and India‘s economic engagement with Africa.

www.bricsias.com 814216009922

 The time has now come to integrate these two axes for a more comprehensive and sustainable engagement.  It would also facilitate aided pilot projects being scaled up seamlessly into commercially viable joint ventures.  The simultaneity of the two visits may be a coincidence, but it also indicates enhanced priority to Africa. This should be welcomed. AGRICULTURE Concept of Farm ponds Context:  Ponds can be an effective tool for rainwater harvesting Concerns:  With an increased variability of monsoons and rapidly depleting groundwater tables, large parts of India are reeling under water stress.  A number of peninsular regions like Bundelkhand, Vidarbha and Marathwada have been facing recurring drought- like situations.  There is a need to implement innovative water management measures, stressing particularly the importance of rainwater harvesting both at the household and community levels. What are Farm Ponds?  A farm pond is a large hole dug out in the earth, usually square or rectangular in shape, to harvest rainwater and store it for future use.  It has an inlet to regulate inflow and an outlet to discharge excess water.  Farmers build ponds for many reasons: irrigation, water for livestock, fire protection, erosion control, aquaculture, wildlife value, recreation and aesthetics.  The size and depth depend on the amount of land available, type of soil, the farmer‘s water requirements, cost of excavation, and the possible uses of the excavated earth.  Water from the farm pond is conveyed to the fields manually, by pumping, or by both methods. Retention of water through Farm ponds:  Farm ponds retained water for 8-10 months of the year; thus farmers could enhance cropping intensity and crop diversification within and across seasons.  The area used to cultivate vegetables and other commercial crops also increased  In parts of peninsular India, They are being used as intermediate storage points, accelerating groundwater depletion and increasing evaporation losses as the groundwater is brought to the surface and stored in relatively shallow structures. Why it is necessary to have inlet and outlet provisions to the Farm ponds?  Farm ponds cannot arrest the excess run-off if there is no inlet, and therefore they cannot be used effectively for rainwater harvesting as the same happened with Maharastra  Further, farmers line them at the bottom with plastic, restricting seepage and converting the ponds into intermediate storage points.  Such farm ponds have an adverse impact on the water tables and accelerate water loss.  The usual practice here is to lift water from a dug well and/or a borewell, store it in the pond and then draw it once again to irrigate the fields, often using micro-irrigation. What are the advantages of Farm Ponds?  Farm ponds can be cost-effectiveBRICS structures that transform rural livelihoods. IAS  They can help enhance water control, contribute to agriculture intensification and boost farm incomes  They aided in superior water control through the harvesting not just of rainfall but also of surface run-off and subsurface flows especially in the states of Jharkhand and west Bengal.  They functioned exclusively as recharge points, contributing to groundwater replenishment.  They also helped in providing supplemental irrigation in the kharif season and an enhanced irrigation coverage in rabi.  The yield of paddy, the most important crop in kharif, stabilised, thus contributing to greater food security. Conclusion: Overall, farm ponds can act as effective harvesting structures and also yield healthy financial returns. But if they are promoted merely for on-farm storage of groundwater and canal water, they could accelerate, rather than reduce, the water crisis in the countryside. 2nd August 2019 Triple Talaq Act Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS- I – Indian Society In News  President has given his assent to the Triple Talaq Bill that makes giving instant oral triple talaq a criminal offense with provisions of jail term up to three years.

www.bricsias.com 814216009933

 The triple talaq law or the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights On Marriage) Act, 2019, has come into effect retrospectively from September 19, 2018.  The law now gives a police officer the power to arrest the offender without requiring a warrant  However, to check misuse, the police takes cognisance only if the complaint is filed by the aggrieved woman or any of her relation by blood or marriage.  The Bill also provides for bail by a magistrate but only after hearing the aggrieved woman  The aggrieved woman is entitled to demand a maintenance for her and her dependent children under the Act Do you know?  In August 2017 the Supreme Court, by a majority of 3:2, set aside the practice of triple talaq in Shyara Bano Case.  The judgment held triple talaq to be unconstitutional under Article 14 read with Article 13(1) and concluded that the practice is not essential to the practice of Islam(Article 25)  The practice of ―triple talaq‖ was abolished in 38 countries including Muslim-majority countries of Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Afghanistan and Pakistan National Medical Commission(NMC) Part of: Mains GS II – Issues relating to development and management of Health. In News  National Medical Commission Bill was passed by Rajya Sabha.  The bill proposes to repeal Indian Medical Council Act, set up an NMC replacing MCI  Proposed NMC will approve medical colleges, conduct MBBS examinations, regulate course fees  The bill has a provision for constitution of 4 autonomous boards. These boards will look after issues related to UG education, PG education, assessment & accreditation of institutions, registration of practitioners.  The bill proposes a common final-year MBBS exam, the National Exit Test (NEXT), before an individual starts practising medicine and for seeking admission to post-graduate medical courses.  The NMC will regulate fees for half of the seats in medical colleges at both MBBS and postgraduate level in all private and deemed universities.  The bill empowers the government can grant licence to Community Health Providers (CHPs) to practice modern medicine for primary and preventive healthcare,  This means CHPs (presently 2.5 lakh) can then prescribe limited allopathic medicines –a power which so far possessed only by those who hold an MBBS degree. Chimera Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS III- Science & Technology  Chimera is an organism containing a mixture of genetically different tissues, formed by processes such as fusion of early embryos, grafting, In News  The Japanese government has allowed to conduct human-animal embryo experiments, with the ultimate goal of someday creating organs to be transplanted into humans  The cutting-edge — but controversial — research involves implanting modified animal embryos with human ―induced pluripotent stem‖ (iPS) cells that can be coaxed into forming the building blocks of any part of the body  The research involves generating animal embryos — mice, rats or pigs — that lack a particular organ such as a pancreas. BRICS IAS  The modified embryos are then implanted with human iPS cells that can grow into the missing pancreas.  The embryos would be transplanted into wombs where they could theoretically be carried to term with a functioning human pancreas. Indus Script Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS I- Indian Culture In News  Discovered from nearly 4,000 ancient inscribed objects, including seals, tablets, ivory rods, pottery shards, etc., the Indus inscriptions are one of the most enigmatic legacies of the Indus Valley civilization  They have not been deciphered due to the absence of bilingual texts, extreme brevity of the inscriptions, and ignorance about the language(s) encoded by Indus script.  A new research says that a majority of these inscriptions were written logographically (by using word signs) and not by using phonograms (speech sounds units)  The inscribed seals and tablets were used in some administrative operation that controlled the commercial transactions prevalent in the trade-savvy settlements of the ancient Indus valley Civilisation.  The research points out that the inscriptions can be compared to the structured messages found on stamps, coupons, tokens and currency coins of modern times.

www.bricsias.com 814216009944

ECONOMY Micro- Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Context:  The low rate of greenfield investment could reflect poor demand for credit and supply-side problems among NBFCs What are MSMEs  Micro- Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are small sized entities, defined in terms of their size of investment.  They are contributing significantly to output, employment export etc. in the economy.  They perform a critical role in the economy by providing employment to a large number of unskilled and semi- skilled people, contributing to exports, raising manufacturing sector production and extending support to bigger industries by supplying raw material, basic goods, finished parts and components, etc. How MSMEs are classified? The MSMEs are classified in terms of investment made in plant and machineries if they are operating in the manufacturing sector and investment in equipment for service sector companies. Though the primary responsibility of promotion and development of MSMEs is of the State Governments, the center has passed an Act in 2006 to empower the sector and also has formed a Ministry (Ministry of MSMEs).

Manufacturing sector Enterprises Investment in plant & machinery Micro Enterprises Does not exceed twenty five lakh rupees Small Enterprises More than twenty five lakh rupees but does not exceed five crore rupees Medium Enterprises More than five crore rupees but does not exceed ten crore rupees Service sector Enterprises Investment in equipments Micro Enterprises Does not exceed ten lakh rupees: Small Enterprises More thanBRICS ten lakh rupees but does not exce edIAS two crore rupees Medium Enterprises More than two crore rupees but does not exceed five crore rupees New Classification:  A micro enterprise will be defined as a unit where the annual turnover does not exceed five crore rupees;  A small enterprise will be defined as a unit where the annual turnover is more than five crore rupees but does not exceed Rs 75 crore;  A medium enterprise will be defined as a unit where the annual turnover is more than 75 crore rupees but does not exceed Rs 250 crore.  Additionally, the Central Government may, by notification, vary turnover limits, which shall not exceed thrice the limits specified in Section 7 of the MSMED Act. Organizational structure  The primary responsibility of promotion and development of MSMEs is of the State Governments  The role of the Ministry of MSME and its organisations is to assist the States in their efforts to encourage entrepreneurship, employment and livelihood opportunities and enhance the competitiveness of MSMEs  The Ministry of MSME consists of Small & Medium Enterprises (SME) Division, Agro & Rural Industry (ARI) Division, Integrated Finance (IF) Wing and Data Analytics and Technical Coordination (DATC) Wing, the Office of the Development Commissioner (DCMSME) and other attached organizations. What is the potential of India‘s MSME sector?

www.bricsias.com 814216009955

 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) play a vital role in the growth of Indian economy by contributing 45% of industrial output, 40% of exports.  It employs 60 million people, creates 1.3 million jobs every year and produces more than 8000 quality products for the Indian and international markets.  There are approximately 30 million MSME Units in India and 12 million persons are expected to join the workforce in the next 3 years. Importance of MSME in India:  It creates large-scale employment: Enterprises that are inclusive in this sector require low capital to start up new business. Moreover, it creates a vast opportunity for the unemployed people to avail. India produces about 1.2 million graduates per year out of which the total number of engineers are around 0.8 million. There is no economy so far that could provide that large number of freshers in one year only. MSME is the boon for the fresh talent in India.  Economic stability in terms of Growth and leverage Exports: It is the most significant driver in India contributing to the tune of 8% to GDP. Considering the contribution of MSME to manufacturing, exports, and employment, other sectors are also benefitting from it. Nowadays, MNCs are buying semi-finished, and auxiliary products from small enterprises,  Encourages Inclusive Growth: The inclusive growth is at the top of the agenda of Ministry for Medium, and small and Medium-sized enterprises for several years. On the other hand, poverty and deprivation are a deterrent to the development of India. Besides, it includes marginalized sections of a society which is a key challenge lying before the Ministry of MSME.  Cheap Labor and minimum overhead: While in the large-scale organizations, one of the main challenge is to retain the human resource through an effective human resource management professional manager. But, when it comes to MSME, the requirement of labor is less and it does not need a highly skilled laborer. Therefore, the indirect expenses incurred by the owner is also low.  Simple Management Structure for Enterprises: MSME can start with limited resources within the control of the owner. From this decision making gets easy and efficient. On the contrary, a large corporation requires a specialist for every departmental functioning as it has a complex organizational structure. Whereas a small enterprise does not need to hire an external specialist for its management. The owner can manage himself. Hence, it could run single-handedly.  The main role in the mission of ―Make in India‖: The signature initiative by the Prime Minister of India ―Make in India‖ has been made easy with MSME. It is taken as a backbone in making this dream a possibility. In addition, the government has directed the financial institution to lend more credit to enterprises in the MSME sector. The list of the problems that are faced by existing/new companies in SME sector are as under:  Absence of adequate and timely banking finance  Limited capital and knowledge  Non-availability of suitable technology  Low production capacity  Ineffective marketing strategy  Constraints on modernisation & expansions  Non availability of skilled labourBRICS at affordable cost IAS  Follow up with various government agencies to resolve problems due to lack of man power and knowledge etc The problem of low investment in MSMEs and what we can do Structural problems retarding growth in pre-existing MSMEs:  The Economic survey is more about the structural problems retarding growth in pre-existing MSMEs rather than the immediate problem, which is the lack of fresh investment.  The chapter 3 of Economic survey provides evidence that firms in India, whether they start out above or below the 100 worker line, do not grow as much over time as they do elsewhere because of these restrictions  One of the many reasons why the generalized fear of being laid off from a job is particularly intense in India is because, until recently, pensions under the Employees‘ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) often died with the job, since the EPFO number was not portable. An age-related sunset clause to downsizing flexibility (as recommended by the ES) could switch off investment in MSME:  A start below the downsizing threshold, despite the scale economies of being bigger, could be because of high downside risk to demand projections, which would vary by sector.  Then there is also a spatial dimension to the issue. Investment within agglomerations is less risky than stand-alone units in a provincial location  Provincial MSME startups may be especially sensitive to an age-related sunset to downsizing flexibility.

www.bricsias.com 814216009966

 there are multiple thresholds that a small, young firm may not wish to cross. The goods and services tax (GST) has added another threshold, defined in terms of turnover, below which compliance is less burdensome.  All these thresholds would have to carry age-related sunset clauses for the incentive to work, but the most likely impact would be to discourage MSME startups altogether. On the supply of credit: Since banks have to now move in where NBFCs fear to tread, there could be process delays resulting from difficulties in due diligence, especially for locations spatially removed from major urban centres. Steps taken by the Government:  Credit Guarantee Trust Fund for Micro & Small Enterprises (CGTMSE): Ministry of MSME and Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), established a Trust named Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) to implement Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme for Micro and Small Enterprises and provide financial assistance to MSMEs.  A Scheme for Promoting Innovation, Rural Industry & Entrepreneurship (ASPIRE): It aims to set up a network of technology centers, incubation centres to accelerate entrepreneurship and also to promote start-ups for innovation and entrepreneurship in rural and agriculture based industry  Micro & Small Enterprises Cluster Development (MSE-CDP): It aims to support the sustainability and growth of MSEs by addressing common issues such as improvement of technology, skills and quality, market access, access to capital, etc.  National Manufacturing Competitiveness Programme: The objective is to develop global competitiveness among Indian MSMEs. This programme targets at enhancing the entire value chain of the MSME sector.  SFURTI-SI (Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries, Credit Guarantee Scheme): The scheme aims to organize the traditional industries and artisans into clusters to make them competitive and provide support for their long term sustainability and economy of scale  Technology Centre Systems Programme (TCSP): Under this programme, technology centres have been developed for giving technical education and support to MSMEs  MUDRA (Micro Units Development & Refinance Agency Ltd.): The establishment of the MUDRA (Micro Units Development & Refinance Agency Ltd.) bank under the Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana has been a major initiative. The Bank gives loans for working capital and additional requirements to income generating small business activity in manufacturing, processing, services or trading.  Credit Linked Capital Subsidy Scheme (CLCSS): CLCSS aims at facilitating technology upgradation of Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) by providing 15% capital subsidy (limited to maximum Rs.15 lakhs) for purchase of Plant & Machinery.  Prime Minister‘s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP): The major objective is to generate employment opportunities in rural as well as urban areas of the country through setting up of new self- employment ventures/ projects/ micro enterprises.  Udyog Aadhaar Memorandum (UAM): It is a simple one-page registration form aimed at easing out registration process.  MSME SAMADHAAN: The Ministry of MSME launched a portal samadhaan.msme.gov.in. to facilitates MSEs to file their delayed payments related complaints online.  Market assistance Scheme: It aims to help MSMEs to participate domestic and international exhibitions/trade fairs etc. Conclusion: BRICS IAS  MSME is the backbone of the Indian economy. This sector has proven the instrumental in the growth of the nation, leverage exports, creating huge employment opportunities for the unskilled, fresh graduates, and the underemployed.  It also extended the opportunities to banks for giving more credit to enterprises to MSME Sector.  The government should take the special care by addressing the importance of MSME in terms of providing more and more MSME Registration advantages by implementing better regulations and enable financial institutions to lend more credit at less interest rate for sustainability of this sector. 3rd August 2019 Institutions of Eminence Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS- II – Issues relating to development and management of Education In News UGC recommends 20 institutions for Institutes of Eminence Background:  After no Indian University found a place in World University ranking in 2017, the government decided to set up Institutions of eminence in India  A notification released by UGC in Sep 2017, proposed to establish 20 such world class institutes (10 public and 10 private).It provides for Greenfield category too.

www.bricsias.com 814216009977

Benefits of the status  Autonomy: The IOE will enjoy greater autonomy in terms of deciding their fee structure and course duration & structure.  They will be exempt from approvals of government or UGC for academic collaboration with foreign institutions  Funding: The 10 public institutions selected will get Rs 1000 crore each from HRD ministry to achieve world class status. No financial assistance will be offered to private institutions Census 2021 Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS II – Issues relating to development and management of Human resources. In News  Census 2021 is unlikely to collect ―caste wise‖ data as a similar exercise conducted in 2011 threw up about 40 lakh caste names that were difficult to tabulate  Census 2021 exercise will be done in three phases House Listing phase: comprising 34 categories, It will be done from April to September 2020 Enumeration phase: Comprising 28 categories will be held between Feb 9 and 28, 2021 Revision: It will be done from March 1 to 5,2021  Government teachers will conduct the exercise (nearly 3 million enumerators)  There will be a third gender category this time  Data will be conducted on web based application developed under the Registrar General  Every citizen is compelled by law to participate in the exercise and denial could lead to criminal action Do You know?  The responsibility of conducting the decennial Census rests with the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India under Ministry of Home Affairs  The results of Census 2011 took nearly nine years to be published. The digitisation of process will ensure that most parameters of 2021 census will be available by 2024-25  The 2011 caste data, collected as part of the Socio Economic Caste Census (SECC), is yet to be released by the Centre  The SECC, 2011 was conducted through a comprehensive programme involving the Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, The Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India and the State Governments. Khanij Bidesh India Ltd. (KABIL) Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS III – changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth. In News  A joint venture company KABIL has been set up with the participation of three Central PSEs to ensure supply of critical and strategic Minerals to Indian domestic market.  These CPSEs are National Aluminium Company Limited(NALCO), Hindustan Copper Limited(HCL) and Mineral Exploration Company limited(MECL).  The equity participation between NALCO, HCL and MECL is in the ratio of 40:30:30  Among such twelve minerals identified as strategic minerals, which have meagre resource base, Lithium Cobalt are significant given the recent push for Electric Vehicle Mobility in India  The KABIL would carry out identification, acquisition, exploration, development, mining and processing of strategic minerals overseas for BRICScommercial use and meeting country‘s IAS requirement of these minerals. ENVIRONMENT/FOREST The taproot of conservation justice Context  Cutting down the Forests Right Act will only weaken the conservation regime and affect the rights of forest dwellers What is Forest rights Act?  The Forest Rights Act (FRA) is a piece of social legislation which aims to address the historical injustice that our forest dwelling communities have had to face for nearly 150 years by providing them with security of tenure over land for cultivation and habitation through individual right  It also provides access to a variety of resources through more than a dozen types of community forest rights.  The FRA also empowers forest dwelling communities to protect, regenerate, conserve and manage any community forest resource which they have been traditionally protecting and conserving for sustainable use.  It has the provision for creating critical wildlife habitats within protected areas which currently is the strongest conservation provision among existing laws of the country. Background of Forest Rights Act

www.bricsias.com 814216009988

 In the colonial era, the British diverted abundant forest wealth of the nation to meet their economic needs. While procedure for settlement of rights was provided under statutes such as the Indian Forest Act, 1927, these were hardly followed.  As a result, tribal and forest-dwelling communities, who had been living within the forests in harmony with the environment and the ecosystem, continued to live inside the forests in tenurial insecurity, a situation which continued even after independence as they were marginalised.  The symbiotic relationship between forests and forest-dwelling communities found recognition in the National Forest Policy, 1988.  The policy called for the need to associate tribal people in the protection, regeneration and development of forests.  The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, was enacted to protect the marginalised socio-economic class of citizens and balance the right to environment with their right to life and livelihood. Related Acts and Provisions: Wildlife protection Act 1972  This act prohibits the capturing, killing, poisoning or trapping of wild animals.  It extends to the whole of India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir  It also regulates and controls trade in parts and products derived from wildlife. 1988 National Forest Policy  The policy aims at maintaining of environmental stability.  It looks at conserving the natural heritage of the country by preserving the remaining natural forests.  Increasing forest/tree cover in the country through massive afforestation and social forestry programmes.  Creating a massive people‘s movement for achieving these objectives and to minimise pressure on existing forests. The Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Schedule Areas) Act 1996 (PESA)  It safeguards and preserves the traditions and customs of the people, and their cultural identity, community resources, customary mode of dispute resolution.  PESA empowers Gram Sabha/Panchayat at appropriate level with right to mandatory consultation in land acquisition, resettlement and rehabilitation of displaced persons.  PESA seeks to reduce alienation in tribal areas as they will have better control over the utilisation of public resources.  It will help minimise exploitation of tribal population as they will be able to control and manage money lending, consumption and sale of liquor and also village markets.  PESA looks to promote cultural heritage through preservation of traditions, customs and cultural identity of tribal population. What does the Forest Rights Act provide for?  The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act or FRA was passed by the Parliament in 2006 and came into effect in 2008.  It was intended to correct the ―historical injustice‖ done to forest dwellers from the colonial times.  [The traditional rights of such communities were derecognised by the British Raj in the 1850s.]  The Act recognises and vests BRICS the forest rights and occupation in forestIAS land in the forest dwelling Scheduled Tribes.  It also covers other traditional forest dwellers who have been residing in such forests for generations but whose rights could not be recorded.  The Act recognises – individual rights to forest land and livelihood community rights to forest ‗land‘ exercised by their gram sabha community forest ‗resource‘ rights, giving gram sabhas the power to protect and manage their forest  Conservation plans and developmental projects in these areas would have to be approved by gram sabhas. Rights under the act There are different rights recognised under the act which can be summarised as following  Title rights– i.e. right to ownership to land farmed by tribals or forest dwellers subject to a maximum of 4 hectares, ownership is only for land that is actually being cultivated by the concerned family and no new lands will be granted.  Use rights– to minor forest produce (also including ownership), to grazing areas, to pastoralist routes, etc.  Relief and development rights– to rehabilitation in case of illegal eviction or forced displacement and to basic amenities, subject to restrictions for forest protection  Forest management rights– to protect and conserve forests and wildlife

www.bricsias.com 814216009999

Legal challenges  It is extremely unfortunate that the very constitutionality of the FRA was challenged in the Supreme Court in 2008 by about half a dozen conservation organisations.  The court has tagged many other cases including from several High Courts which are currently being heard jointly.  The court‘s order of February 13, 2019 since put in abeyance by its order dated February 28, 2019 highlights the very tardy implementation of the FRA by the State governments.  One of the key arguments of the petitioners has been that it is beyond the legislative competence of Parliament to enact the FRA as ‗land‘ is a state subject.  Tenuous as this is, if this argument of the petitioners is accepted, the Wildlife Protection Act and the entire architecture of forest laws will have to be dismantled as ultra vires as all of them deal with ‗land‘, including the Indian Forest Act and the Forest (Conservation) Act. Criticism of FRA  The FRA has been savagely criticised as a land distribution legislation, which it is not.  The FRA very clearly states that forest dwellers who are either Scheduled Tribes or Other Traditional Forest Dwellers are only entitled to claim both individual and community forest rights through a clear process of submitting a claim and after its verification and subsequent approval or rejection.  For the rejected cases, an appeal process has been outlined.  The FRA aims to only confirm tenure and access rights which in some sense the forest dwellers have been exercising de facto but under severe restrictions and control especially by the forest department.  In fact, it is the failure of the state to settle pre-existing rights under existing forest and conservation laws that created the situation of historical injustice.  The FRA does not sanction any fresh clearance of forest, as individual rights over land will only be granted if the forest dweller was in possession of that parcel of land on December 13, 2005.  It also limits the extent of land that can be granted to the area that was occupied on December 13, 2005 and places an upper limit of four hectares per claimant for individual rights.  These provisions are often overlooked or deliberately suppressed by those who criticise FRA. Conclusion:  The FRA, by design, has tremendous potential to strengthen the conservation regime across India by recognising rights of forest dwellers over land and community forest resources, a key factor for conservation to succeed as shown both by research and practice in many countries.  By democratising forest governance and conservation through the provision of rights and authority to local communities and gram sabhas for conservation and management of forests, the FRA will empower gram sabhas of the forest dwelling communities to halt the destruction of forests, as especially highlighted in the Niyamgiri case.  Implementing the FRA in letter and spirit with empathy for forest dwellers will be a decisive step by India to achieve conservation justice. ECONOMY Explaining the Asian rate cuts wave Content:  Policy makers across Asia should ensure enough ammunition to manage a prolonged economic downturn Concerns:  The latest International Monetary Fund (IMF)-World Economic Outlook update in July 2019 has confirmed a growing belief that global growth has decelerated and dark clouds seem to be looming in the near term.  BRICS IAS Specifically, the IMF has downgraded global growth multiple times since October 2018 and now projects it to be 3.2% compared to 3.6% in 2018. The China Factor  China is one of the few major economies that is expected to continue to decelerate into 2020 (along with Japan which is faced with acutely unfavourable demographics and seems unable to escape persistent deflationary pressures).  The country has faced strong headwinds to growth both because of the ongoing supply-side reforms, including dealing with financial risks (reining in of shadow banking and hidden debt of local governments), as well as the negative effects of escalating tariffs and their consequent impact on its exports and investment.  While there have been some short-term beneficiaries of the export and trade diversion from China to countries such as Vietnam, the global external demand slowdown has more than outweighed these gains. Asian banks to the rescue  In response to the global economic slowdown as well as generally subdued inflationary pressures, many Asian central banks (India, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Korea) have begun to ease monetary policy.  The recent wave of rate cuts in Asia is consistent with research which suggests that emerging economies tend to be cautious about lowering interest rates

www.bricsias.com 81421600991010

 when the base country (usually the U.S.) does not do so as they are concerned about potential capital flight and sharp currency depreciations which in turn could have negative repercussions on domestic firms and other entities with unhedged external borrowings in foreign currencies.  However, when interest rates in the base country decline, while emerging economies may experience massive surges in capital inflows if they stand pat on interest rates, they can maintain monetary policy autonomy via a combination of sterilised foreign exchange intervention (leading to sustained reserve accumulation) as well as tightening of capital controls and/or use of macro prudential policies (MaPs)  Alternatively, if the emerging economies are themselves faced with an economic slowdown, they are comfortable lowering their interest rates along with the base country, as is the case currently in Asia.  This said, it is wise for Asian policy makers to ensure that they have enough ammunition to manage a prolonged downturn given that 2020 is ―precarious‖ with many downside risks Where does all of this leave India?  On the one hand, since India has not been well-integrated with the Asian and global supply chains, it has not been as impacted directly by the China-U.S. trade war.  On the other hand, given existing acute domestic bottlenecks, policy missteps and ongoing structural challenges, India has not been able to reap significant benefits as an alternative production and export platform to China.  On the back of a prolonged downturn in the capex cycle, the IMF has downgraded projected growth for India to 7% in 2019.  This is broadly in line with the forecasted range by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). While this growth is admirable relative to other major countries, it is well below the country‘s likely potential growth of 7.5% and 8%. The concerns here however have been threefold. 1. Despite the rapid interest rate cuts, India‘s real interest rates are still higher than most other countries, though it remains unclear what the neutral real interest rate consistent with India‘s potential output actually is. 2. More than most other countries in the region, an ongoing concern for India is that interest rate policy transmission to bank rates tends to be rather slow and limited.This is likely due to a combination of factors: 3. The banking system has been faced with a deterioration in asset quality and remains saddled with bad debts. 4. There has been and anaemic deposit growth. 5. There is limited scope to reduce deposit rates. 6. Despite the interest rate cuts, India‘s real effective exchange rate (REER) has actually appreciated somewhat (around 7%) since October 2018, consistent with the fact that real interest rates have not declined Way forward:  If India is to succeed in its ambition of becoming a $5-trillion economy by 2024-25, there can be no substitute for undertaking the necessary structural reforms needed to jump-start private investments and longer-term growth.  However, in the short term, in all likelihood, monetary policy will have to remain accommodative (more so than what it is currently) and much greater attention will be needed to be paid on how to revive public capex without raising the cost of capital further.  In the face of constraints in raising revenues in a slowing economy, the government‘s preferred solution seems to be to issue overseas sovereign bonds rather than streamline subsidies and revenue expenditures.  The proposed $10 billion sovereign issuance is manageable vis-à-vis the countries stock of forex reserves, while India‘s sovereign external debt (as share of GDP) is modest at present.  However, increases in external borrowings add an additional element of risk to the economy.  Such a move also likely complicatesBRICS monetary policy further, as any adverseIAS exchange rate movements will lead to a ballooning of interest payments on government debt which is already eating up around a quarter of budgetary spending. It is not clear that the current policy mix is ideal for India. 5th August 2019 One Nation-one Ration Card scheme Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS- III – Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping In News  Centre launched the One Nation-One Ration Card scheme on a pilot basis in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat  Families who have food security cards can buy subsidized rice and wheat from any ration shop in these states.  Their ration cards should be linked with Aadhar Number to avail this service.  The Centre is intended to extend the programme to all states by August next year so that the portability of the food security card implemented.  The national portability of ration cards will ensure all beneficiaries especially the migrants in getting access to PDS across the nation from any PDS shop of their own choice Quick reaction surface-to-air missiles (QRSAM) Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS III – Security issues In News

www.bricsias.com 81421600991111

 DRDO successfully flight-tested its state-of-the-art QRSAM against live aerial targets from Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur.  The all-weather and all-terrain missile, can be mounted on a truck and stored in a canister, is equipped with electronic counter measures against jamming by aircraft radars  The systems are equipped with indigenously-developed Phased array radar, Inertial Navigation System, Data Link & RF seeker.  The system is being developed for Indian Army with search and track on move capability with very short reaction time  QRSAM uses solid-fuel propellant and has a range of 25-30 km Genome India initiative Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS III – Science & Technology In News  The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) plans to scan nearly 20,000 Indian genomes over the next five years, in a two-phase exercise, and develop diagnostic tests that can be used to test for cancer.  The programme is expected to formally launch in October, with an estimated budget of ₹250-350 crore for the Phase-1.  The first phase involves sequencing the complete genomes of nearly 10,000 Indians from all corners of the country and capture the biological diversity of India  In the next phase, about 10,000 ―diseased individuals‖ would have their genomes sequenced.  This vast data would be compared using machine learning techniques to identify genes that can predict cancer risk and other diseases that could be influenced by genetic anomalies.  Agencies involved: 22 institutions, including those from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the DBT  However, the data generated would be accessible to researchers anywhere for analysis.  This would be through a proposed National Biological Data Centre envisaged in a policy called the ‗Biological Data Storage, Access and Sharing Policy‘, which is still in early stages of discussion. AGRICULTURE/SOLAR ENERGY From Plate to Plough Context :  Helping farmers produce solar energy can help realise the government‘s target of doubling farmers‘ incomes.  In July, two interesting things happened that can help Indian farmers to a large extent in augmenting their incomes  The First one, the Union Finance Minister (FM) in her maiden budget speech asked why the annadata (farmer) cannot become the urjadata (producer of solar power) The second one, in Parliament, the agriculture minister for state, responding to a question on the prime minister‘s promise of doubling farmers‘ income (DFI) by 2022, admitted that the existing set of policies cannot double farmers‘ real incomes by 2022. Concern:  Existing set of policies cannot double farmers‘ real incomes by 2022. Doubling the Farmer‘s income  Committee headed by Ashok Dalwai in April 2016 was setup.  The Committee clarified real incomesBRICS will need to be doubled over sevenIAS years (over a base income of 2015-16), which requires a growth rate of 10.4 per cent per year.  The Committee submitted its final report in September 2018. It comprises of 14 volumes (almost 3,000 pages) and 619 recommendations.  The FM‘s statement on the annadata becoming the urjadata, the policy has the potential to double farmers incomes within a year or two. In the Past:  The PM has also set a target of producing 100 GW of solar power by 2022.  He wants the country to be one of the frontrunners in the International Solar Alliance for clean energy.  So far, the model that has been adopted to develop solar power is inviting bids from large business players. And big players did enter, ranging from Mahindra and Mahindra to the Adanis and so on.  Some of them, who entered early into power purchase agreements (PPA) with state governments, had to burn their hands when the costs came down and state governments forced them to revise the costs of PPA downwards, upsetting their economic calculations.  But this model of generating solar power was not very inclusive. The land is locked for solar panels for almost 25 years, and the benefits go only to a few investors. What can be done?  The alternative model is to help farmers produce solar power on their lands, making annadata an urjadata.  This model will be much more inclusive and can help augment their incomes significantly.

www.bricsias.com 81421600991212

 There are two variants of this: o One, replace all pump-sets, especially diesel ones, with solar pumps and the excess power generated through solar panels can be purchased by state governments at a price that gives the farmer a good margin over his cost of producing solar power. o Second, encourage farmers to grow ―solar trees‖ on their lands at a height of about 10-12 feet in a manner that enough sunlight keeps coming to plants below. Under this variant, the farmer can keep growing two irrigated crops as he has been doing, but the solar tree generates a lot of excess power that can be purchased by the state government.  The power generated under the second variant is multiple times more than under the first variant, and therefore the income augmentation can also be several times more than under the first variant. Challenges to adopt this model  The problem is of mobilising enough capital to instal these solar trees. In one acre you can have 500 solar trees in such a manner that even tractors can move through those and farmers can keep growing their normal two crops. It does not impact their productivity as there is ample sunlight coming from the sides for photosynthesis.  The second pre-condition is that the state should be ready to do the power purchase agreement. Key notes:  The Delhi government actually announced a policy to that effect. As per their calculations, 500 trees can be put on an acre of farmer‘s land; the investment in solar panels (trees) will be done by other business people. The only thing that the farmer has to assure is that for 25 years he will not convert his land to other uses  The economic calculations suggest that farmers can be given Rs one lakh/acre per annum as net income, with a six per cent increase every year for the next 25 years. This can easily double their income. About Solar energy in India:  India facing problems in fulfilling its energy demand, solar energy can play an important role in providing energy security.  With its pollution free nature, virtually inexhaustible supply and global distribution, solar energy is very attractive energy resource.  India‘s Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC‘s) commitment include 100 GW of solar power out of 175 GW renewable energy by 2022 Advantages  Solar Energy is available throughout the day which is the peak load demand time.  Solar energy conversion equipments have longer life and need lesser maintenance and hence provide higher energy infrastructure security.  Low running costs & grid tie-up capital returns (Net Metering).  Unlike conventional thermal power generation from coal, they do not cause pollution and generate clean power.  Abundance of free solar energy in almost all parts of country.  No overhead wires- no transmission loss Challenges in adoption  India‘s solar story is largely built over imported products.  India‘s domestic content requirement clause ia facing legal challenge at WTO.  India is facing challenge to balance Prioritising domestic goals and WTO commitments.  The dumping of products is leading to profit erosion of local manufacturers.  Indian domestic manufacturers aren‘t technically and economically strong to compete with Chinese companies.  BRICS IAS China‘s strong manufacturing base is giving stiff challenge to domestic manufacturer.  Land availability in India for solar plant is less due to high population density.  India‘s solar waste is estimated to be around 1.8 million by 2050 also needs to be tackled. Government initiatives  Ministry of new and renewable energy is the nodal agency to tackle India‘s renewable energy issues.  National Solar Mission is a major initiative of the Government of India and State Governments to promote ecologically sustainable growth while addressing India‘s energy security challenge.  The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) is a Non-Banking Financial Institution under the administrative control of this Ministry for providing term loans for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.  National institute of solar energy is created as autonomous institution under MoNRE is apex body for R&D.  Establishment of solar parks and ultra major solar power project and enhancing grid connectivity infrastructure.  Promotion of canal bank and canal tank solar infrastructure.  Sustainable rooftop implementation of Solar transfiguration of India (SRISTI) scheme to promote rooftop solar power projects in india.  Suryamitra programme to prepare qualified workforce.  Renewable purchase obligation for large energy consumer customers.  National green energy programme and green energy corridor.

www.bricsias.com 81421600991313

Conclusion  Strong financial measures are required to finance the solar projects, innovative steps like green bonds, institutional loans and clean energy fund can play a crucial role.  Promotion of research and development in renewable energy sector, especially in storage technology.  Proper mechanism should be provided to tackle China‘s dumping of solar equipments.  Framework to avoid unnecessary delays in policy decision making and implementation. INTERNAL SECURITY Mob lynching Context:  Rajasthan‘s effort to criminalise mob lynching is a good start  The Rajasthan government has introduced the Rajasthan Protection From Lynching Bill, 2019. If it gets passed, Rajasthan will be the second State after Manipur to have a dedicated law criminalising mob lynching as a special offence, in addition to other offences under the Indian Penal Code. What is lynching?  Lynching is defined as an act or series of acts of violence or aiding, abetting or attempting an act of violence, whether spontaneous or planned, by a mob (two or more persons) on the grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth, language, dietary practices, sexual orientation, political affiliation and ethnicity.  Lynching is an egregious manifestation of prejudice, intolerance, and contempt towards the rule of law.  There have been many incidences of Mob Lynching for issues with respect to cow, children kidnappers , etc and not only common people but also the police personnel became victims of it.  Some of the cases of mob lynching: o ‗Go to Pakistan‘: 20–25 men barge into Gurgaon home, assault family o Assam: Mob thrashes man in Biswanath Chariali for allegedly carrying Beef; forced to eat Pork o Jharkhand: Old ox dies, mob kills a man, three injured are booked for bovine slaughter  Amnesty International India documented 721 such incidents between 2015 and 2018.  Last year alone, it tracked 218 hate crimes, 142 of which were against Dalits, 50 against Muslims, 40 against women, and eight each against Christians, Adivasis, and transgenders. Causes of mob lynching  Prejudices in Indian society are age old and deep rooted. These prejudices are based on various identities like race, gender, caste, class, religion, etc.  Social media or technological advances help in the process of ‗confirmation bias‘ – it is the confirmation of a prejudice or a bias  The strategic silence of the State and the ineffective law and order machinery has further given legitimacy to mob lynching.  Lack of digital literacy among common people.  Political mobilization of fringe groups and Politicization of lynching and strategic silence. The Supreme Court condemned mob lynching incidents across the country and urged Parliament to enact a law to deal with the crime that threatens rule of law and the country‘s social fabric. Supreme Court in the case of Tehseen Poonawala v Union of India, has provided a 11-point prescription for preventive, remedial and punitive measures and has asked Parliament to legislate a separate offence for lynching and provide adequate punishment for the same.  The state governments shall designateBRICS a senior police officer in eachIAS district for taking measures to prevent incidents of mob violence and lynching.  The state governments shall immediately identify districts, sub-divisions and villages where instances of lynching and mob violence have been reported in the recent past.  The nodal officers shall bring to the notice of the DGP any inter-district co-ordination issues for devising a strategy to tackle lynching and mob violence related issues.  It shall be the duty of every police officer to cause a mob to disperse, which, in his opinion, has a tendency to cause violence in the disguise of vigilantism or otherwise  Central and the state governments should broadcast on radio and television and other media platforms including the official websites that lynching and mob violence shall invite serious consequence .  Curb and stop dissemination of irresponsible and explosive messages, videos and other material on various social media platforms. Register FIR under relevant provisions of law against persons who disseminate such messages.  Ensure that there is no further harassment of the family members of the victims.  State governments shall prepare a lynching/mob violence victim compensation scheme.  Cases of lynching and mob violence shall be specifically tried by designated court/fast track courts earmarked for that purpose in each district. The trial shall preferably be concluded within six months.  To set a stern example in cases of mob violence and lynching, the trial court must ordinarily award maximum sentence upon conviction of the accused person.

www.bricsias.com 81421600991414

 If it is found that a police officer or an officer of the district administration has failed to fulfill his duty, it will be considered as an act of deliberate negligence. Rajasthan Protection From Lynching Bill, 2019:  The Bill follows the Supreme Court‘s recommendations in authorising the setting up of special courts, appointment of a dedicated nodal officer, and stipulating enhanced punishments.  its scope is more comprehensive as it not only criminalises acts of lynching, dissemination of ‗offensive material‘ and fostering of a ‗hostile environment‘, but also provides for relief, legal aid, compensation and rehabilitation.  some of the Bill‘s provisions might attract legal scrutiny. Section 8(c) of the Bill says that whoever commits an act of lynching, where the act leads to the death of the victim, shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for life and a fine not be less than Rs. 1,00,000 and which may extend to Rs. 5,00,000  Section 9 of the Rajasthan Bill stipulates, inter alia , the same punishment for lynching and ―attempting‖ an act of lynching. Conclusion  Lynching is an egregious manifestation of prejudice, intolerance, and contempt towards the rule of law.  With all its limitations, the Rajasthan Bill is evidence of political will by the State government. It is expected that deliberations help in the enactment of a more constitutionally robust Bill.  However, legislation cannot act as a panacea; what is required is political commitment. It is high time that the other States and the Centre show some urgency so that creeping threats are prevented from metastasising into an out-of- control monster 6th August 2019 Surrogacy (regulation) bill, 2019 Part of: Mains GS- I – Society – Women issues In News  Lok Sabha has passed the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2019 that prohibits commercial surrogacy, but allows altruistic surrogacy.  Surrogacy: Surrogacy is a practice where a woman gives birth to a child for an intending couple with the intention to hand over the child after the birth to the intending couple.  Commercial Surrogacy: It refers to any surrogacy arrangement in which the surrogate mother is compensated for her services beyond reimbursement of medical expenses.  Altruistic Surrogacy: In this a woman volunteers to carry a pregnancy for intended parents without receiving any monetary compensation in return. Most altruistic surrogacies are between family members or close friends.  The bill provides for constituting a National Surrogacy Board, State Surrogacy Boards, and the appointment of appropriate authorities for the regulation of the practice and process of surrogacy.  The offences under the Bill include undertaking or advertising commercial surrogacy, exploiting the surrogate mother and abandoning, exploiting or disowning a surrogate child. Do you know?  India has emerged as a hub for surrogacy in recent years with 2000 to 3000 surrogacy clinics running illegally in the country.  Commercial surrogacy is banned and considered illegal in many countries including New Zealand, the United Kingdom, China, South Africa, Spain, and Switzerland. Draft national resource efficiency policy Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GSBRICS III – Environment Conservation IAS In News  The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change has proposed a draft National Resource Efficiency Policy 2019 which aims to streamline the efficient use of these resources with minimum negative impact on environment.  The draft policy comes in the backdrop of India increasing its material consumption to six times from 1.8 billion ton in 1970 to 7 billion ton in 2015.  Aim: to minimize this inherent cost of economic growth on the natural environment by transforming country‘s waste management sector into a secondary resource recovery sector.  National Resource Efficiency Authority (NREA) will be set up whose mandate will be developing and implementing resource efficient strategies for material recycling, reuse and land-filling targets for various sectors and set standards for reuse of secondary raw materials  NERA would be supported by an Inter-Ministerial National Resource Efficiency Board to guide on the aspects critical to its implementation.  Other measures include tax benefits on recycled materials, green loans to small and medium Enterprises (SMEs) and soft loans to construct waste disposal facilities, apart from setting up Material Recovery Facilities (MRF) Do you know?  India‘s resource extraction of 1580 tonnes/acre is much higher than the world average of 450 tonnes/acre, while material productivity remains low.

www.bricsias.com 81421600991515

 The country‘s recycling rate is just about 20-25% compared with 70% in developing countries in Europe. Resource Assistance for Colleges with Excellence (RACE) Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS II- Issue relating to Education In News  Rajasthan government has launched a new higher education model titled Resource Assistance for Colleges with Excellence.  This model is utilized for distribution of faculties and movable assets among the government colleges at the district level to rationalise the availability of resources.  The model will create a pool for sharing of facilities which will benefit the colleges lacking infrastructure.  The colleges in need will submit their requirement to the nodal college in the district, which will send the teachers on deputation, if needed, and provide the facilities such as projectors, digital libraries, equipment and technicians.  RACE will give autonomy to small colleges and help them find solutions to their problems at the local level. JAMMU AND KASHMIR/ARTICLE 370 Context  Jammu and Kashmir has lost its special status, and reduced to two Union Territories  Special status was withdrawn by invoking the same Article 370 which had been seen as firewalling the autonomy of Jammu and Kashmir. What is the significance of Article 370?  The most important feature of federalism in the United States was the ―compact‖ between the 13 erstwhile British colonies that constituted themselves first into a confederation and then into a federal polity under the country‘s 1791 constitution.  India‘s Supreme Court in State of West Bengal v. Union of India (1962) attached the highest importance to an ―agreement or compact between states‖ as an essential characteristic of federalism.  In SBI (2016), the apex court accepted the presence of this compact for Kashmir.  Article 370 was an essential facet of India‘s federalism because, like the compact in the United States, it governed the relationship of the Union with Jammu and Kashmir.  The Supreme Court has held federalism to be part of the basic structure of India‘s Constitution  The original draft of Article 370 was drawn up by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir.  A modified version of the draft was passed in the Constituent Assembly of India on May 27, 1949. Moving the motion, N Gopalaswami Ayyangar said that if the accession was not ratified by a plebiscite, ―we shall not stand in the way of Kashmir separating herself away from India‖.  On October 17, 1949, Article 370 was included in India‘s Constitution by the Constituent Assembly. Some critics of Article 370 have argued earlier that Kashmir joined India in 1947 without any conditions, and Article 370 unnecessarily gave it special status.  However, the drafting of the Constitution ended on November 26, 1949 — Article 370 had been included before the Constitution was adopted. What did the Instrument of Accession say?  The Indian Independence Act, 1947, divided British India, i.e., the territories under the direct administration of the British, into India and Pakistan.  The 580-odd princely states that had signed subsidiary alliances with the British had their sovereignty restored to them, and were given the options of remaining independent, joining the Dominion of India, or joining the Dominion of Pakistan.  BRICS IAS Section 6(a) of the Act said joining either India or Pakistan would have to be through an Instrument of Accession.  States could specify the terms on which they were joining one of the new dominions. Technically, therefore, the Instrument of Accession was like a treaty between two sovereign countries that had decided to work together.  The maxim of pacta sunt servanda in international law, which governs contracts or treaties between states, asks that promises must be honoured.  Monday‘s Presidential Order under Article 370 is a negation of the constitutional pact that India signed with Maharaja Hari Singh.  The Maharaja, the Hindu king of a Muslim-majority state, had initially wanted to stay independent. He signed the Instrument of Accession on October 26, 1947, after Afridi tribesmen and Pakistan Army regulars invaded the state, and India agreed to help only after he acceded.  The Schedule appended to the Instrument of Accession gave the Indian Parliament power to legislate for Jammu and Kashmir on only defence, external affairs and communications.  Article 370 was a constitutional recognition of the conditions mentioned in the Instrument of Accession, and reflected the contractual rights and obligations of the two parties. But wasn‘t Article 370 just a temporary provision?  Article 370 is the second Article of Part XXI of India‘s Constitution, which is titled ―Temporary, Transitional and Special Provisions‖. Article 370 was temporary in the sense that the Constituent Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir

www.bricsias.com 81421600991616

was given the right to modify/delete/retain it. The Constituent Assembly of Kashmir decided in its wisdom to retain it.  The other view was that it was ―temporary‖ until a plebiscite had been held to ascertain the wishes of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. In a written reply to Parliament last year, the government had said there was no proposal to remove Article 370.  In Kumari Vijayalakshmi Jha vs Union Of India (2017), Delhi High Court rejected a petition that argued that Article 370 was temporary, and that its continuation was a fraud on the Constitution.  In April 2018, the Supreme Court said that the word ―temporary‖ in the headnote notwithstanding, Article 370 was not temporary.  In Santosh Kumar (2017), the apex court said that due to historical reasons, Jammu and Kashmir had a special status.  The Supreme Court in SBI v Zaffar Ullah Nehru (2016) observed that the federal structure of the Constitution is reflected in Part XXI. The court also said that J&K has a special status, and that Article 370 was not temporary. The court referred to Article 369 of Part XXI that specifically mentions the period of five years; no time limit is mentioned in Article 370. The court observed that Article 370 cannot be repealed without the concurrence of the Constituent Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir.  In Prem Nath Kaul (1959), a five-judge Bench of the Supreme Court observed that Article 370(2) shows that the continuance of the exercise of powers conferred on Parliament and the President by the relevant temporary provisions of Article 370(1) is made conditional on the final approval of the Constituent Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir.  In Sampat Prakash (1968), the apex court decided that Article 370 could be invoked even after the dissolution of the Constituent Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir. ―Article 370 has never ceased to be operative,‖ the five-judge Bench said. Has Article 370 been scrapped?  The Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 2019, issued by President Ram Nath Kovind ―in exercise of the powers conferred by Clause (1) of Article 370 of the Constitution‖, has not abrogated Article 370.  While this provision remains in the statute book, it has been used to withdraw the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.  The Presidential Order has extended all provisions of the Indian Constitution to Jammu and Kashmir. It has also ordered that references to the Sadr-i-Riyasat of Jammu and Kashmir shall be construed as references to the Governor of the state, and ―references to the Government of the said State shall be construed as including references to the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir acting on the advice of his Council of Ministers‖.  This is the first time that Article 370 has been used to amend Article 367 (which deals with Interpretation) in respect of Jammu and Kashmir, and this amendment has then been used to amend Article 370 itself. What is the status of Article 35A now?  Article 35A stems from Article 370, and was introduced through a Presidential Order in 1954. Article 35A does not appear in the main body of the Constitution — Article 35 is followed by Article 36 — but appears in Appendix I. Article 35A empowers the Jammu and Kashmir legislature to define the permanent residents of the state, and their special rights and privileges.  Presidential Order has extended all provisions of the Constitution to Jammu and Kashmir, including the chapter on Fundamental Rights.  Therefore, the discriminatory provisionsBRICS under Article 35A are nowIAS unconstitutional. The President may also withdraw Article 35A. What has changed in Jammu and Kashmir?  The state of Jammu and Kashmir will now cease to exist; it will be replaced by two new Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. UTs have become states earlier; this is the first time that a state has been converted into a UT. The UT of Jammu and Kashmir will have an Assembly, like in Delhi and Puducherry.  Not only has Jammu and Kashmir lost its special status, it has been given a status lower than that of other states. Instead of 29, India will now have 28 states. Kashmir will no longer have a Governor, rather a Lieutenant Governor like in Delhi or Puducherry. Can the Presidential Order be challenged in the Supreme Court? On what grounds?  It will most likely be challenged. However, the Supreme Court will consider that Article 370 does, indeed, give sweeping powers to the President. It might also take two to three years for a Constitution Bench of the court to decide such a challenge.  The possible grounds of challenge could include the argument that the conversion of Jammu and Kashmir into a Union Territory is in violation of Article 3, as the Bill was not referred by the President to the state Assembly. Also, can the Constituent Assembly mean Legislative Assembly? Are the Governor and the state government one and same?

www.bricsias.com 81421600991717

 The constitutional relevance of Instrument of Accession will also be examined by the court. Whether Article 370 was part of the basic structure will likely be considered. The use of Article 367 in amending Article 370 will also be examined. How would the status of J&K as a Union Territory (and Ladakh too as a non-legislature UT) affect the governance of these States?  There are two models – Puducherry and the National Capital Territory of Delhi – which can guide the proposed Legislative Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir on becoming a Union Territory.  While the former seems to be having no restriction with regard to framing laws on police, public order and land, the latter is specifically barred from making laws on the three subjects.  It was through an enabling provision – 239 A – that the Puducherry legislature was formed, whereas, in the case of Delhi, the provision – 239AA – spells out the contours of powers of the legislature and council of ministers.  In respect of Ladakh, where there is no Legislative Assembly, the role of the Administrator or Lt. Governor will be greater than that of Jammu & Kashmir. His source of authority is the President. Conclusion:  Article 370 is the bedrock of the constitutional relationship between Jammu and Kashmir and the rest of India.  It has been described as a tunnel through which the Constitution is applied to J&K.  India has used Article 370 at least 45 times to extend provisions of the Indian Constitution to J&K. This is the only way through which, by mere Presidential Orders, India has almost nullified the effect of J&K‘s special status  Thus, the move is bound to have a significant impact on the demography, culture, and politics of J&K. The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2019 CONTEXT:  The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2019 was introduced by the Minister of Health and Family Welfare,  The Bill defines surrogacy as a practice where a woman gives birth to a child for an intending couple with the intention to hand over the child after the birth to the intending couple. Regulation of surrogacy:  The Bill prohibits commercial surrogacy, but allows altruistic surrogacy.  Altruistic surrogacy involves no monetary compensation to the surrogate mother other than the medical expenses and insurance coverage during the pregnancy.  Commercial surrogacy includes surrogacy or its related procedures undertaken for a monetary benefit or reward (in cash or kind) exceeding the basic medical expenses and insurance coverage. Purposes for which surrogacy is permitted: Surrogacy is permitted when it is:  For intending couples who suffer from proven infertility  Altruistic  Not for commercial purposes  Not for producing children for sale, prostitution or other forms of exploitation; and  For any condition or disease specified through regulations. Eligibility criteria for intending couple: The intending couple should have a ‗certificate of essentiality‘ and a ‗certificate of eligibility‘ issued by the appropriate authority. A certificate of essentiality will be issued upon fulfilment of the following conditions:  A certificate of proven infertility of one or both members of the intending couple from a District Medical Board  BRICS IAS An order of parentage and custody of the surrogate child passed by a Magistrate‘s court; and  Insurance coverage for a period of 16 months covering postpartum delivery complications for the surrogate. The certificate of eligibility to the intending couple is issued upon fulfilment of the following conditions:  The couple being Indian citizens and married for at least five years  Between 23 to 50 years old (wife) and 26 to 55 years old (husband);  They do not have any surviving child (biological, adopted or surrogate); this would not include a child who is mentally or physically challenged or suffers from life threatening disorder or fatal illness; and  Other conditions that may be specified by regulations Eligibility criteria for surrogate mother: To obtain a certificate of eligibility from the appropriate authority, the surrogate mother has to be:  A close relative of the intending couple;  A married woman having a child of her own;  25 to 35 years old;  A surrogate only once in her lifetime; and  Possess a certificate of medical and psychological fitness for surrogacy. Further, the surrogate mother cannot provide her own gametes for surrogacy. Appropriate authority:

www.bricsias.com 81421600991818

The central and state governments shall appoint one or more appropriate authorities within 90 days of the Bill becoming an Act. The functions of the appropriate authority include;  Granting, suspending or cancelling registration of surrogacy clinics;  Enforcing standards for surrogacy clinics;  Investigating and taking action against breach of the provisions of the Bill;  Recommending modifications to the rules and regulations Registration of surrogacy clinics:  Surrogacy clinics cannot undertake surrogacy related procedures unless they are registered by the appropriate authority. Clinics must apply for registration within a period of 60 days from the date of appointment of the appropriate authority. National and State Surrogacy Boards: The central and the state governments shall constitute the National Surrogacy Board (NSB) and the State Surrogacy Boards (SSB), respectively. Functions of the NSB include,  Advising the central government on policy matters relating to surrogacy;  Laying down the code of conduct of surrogacy clinics; and  Supervising the functioning of SSBs. Parentage and abortion of surrogate child: A child born out of a surrogacy procedure will be deemed to be the biological child of the intending couple. An abortion of the surrogate child requires the written consent of the surrogate mother and the authorisation of the appropriate authority. This authorisation must be compliant with the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971. Further, the surrogate mother will have an option to withdraw from surrogacy before the embryo is implanted in her womb. Offences and penalties:  The offences under the Bill include:  Undertaking or advertising commercial surrogacy;  Exploiting the surrogate mother;  Abandoning, exploiting or disowning a surrogate child; and  Selling or importing human embryo or gametes for surrogacy.  The penalty for such offences is imprisonment up to 10 years and a fine up to 10 lakh rupees. The Bill specifies a range of offences and penalties for other contraventions of the provisions of the Bill. Laws Governing Surrogacy in Different Countries While countries like Britain, America, Australia, the Netherlands and Denmark are among those where altruistic surrogacy is legal, countries such as France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Bulgaria prohibit all forms of surrogacy.  Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Russia, Ukraine allow both altruistic and commercial surrogacy.  Kenya, Malaysia and Nigeria do not prohibit surrogacy but have no formal law to regulate the practice.  The Czech Republic, Colombia, Chile and Hungary are among countries with unregulated surrogacy. In Britain  Commercial Surrogacy is not legal in the United Kingdom.  The surrogate is the child‘s legalBRICS parent at birth. Legal parenthood canIAS be transferred by parental order or adoption only once the child is born. In USA  The surrogacy laws vary from state to state.  Surrogacy friendly states allow both commercial and altruistic surrogacy. Arkansas, California, New Hampshire are some such surrogacy-friendly states.  New York does not allow commercial surrogacy and Michigan forbids absolutely all surrogacy agreements. In Canada  Canada‘s Assisted Human Reproduction Act permits only altruistic surrogacy.  Surrogate mothers may be reimbursed only for approved expenses.  However, all surrogacy arrangements are illegal in Quebec in Canada. Conclusion:  The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill 2019 cements the ban on commercial surrogacy, but it fails to effectively tackle the larger social, physical, psychological, emotional and economic issues that continue to challenge the welfare and safety of both the surrogate mother and the child.  Just the removal of the commercial aspects in the current surrogacy arrangements does not remove the chances of exploitation. So the rights of surrogate mother and child born must comprehensively be formulated, along with that ART must be regulated thoroughly. 7th August 2019

www.bricsias.com 81421600991919

Abortion Part of: Mains GS- I – Society – Women issues In News  Government has initiated the process for an inter-ministerial consultation on raising the gestation period for terminating a pregnancy to 24 weeks, from 20 at present, in case of health risk to the mother or foetus.  The Supreme Court, in 2017, had declined to amend the Medical Termination Pregnancy (MTP)Act which prohibits termination of pregnancy beyond 20 weeks, saying that the issue fell within the legislative realm.  The amendment in the MTP act aims to provide equal reproductive rights and also a provision for unmarried females and widows to undergo legal abortion.  Presently, woman must seek legal recourse if the pregnancy has gone over 20 weeks to terminate the pregnancy.  Due to slow judicial process a pregnant woman is unable to get the abortion done thus pushing her to depend on illegal service providers for termination of unwanted pregnancies Do you know?  A research paper recently published in The Lancet Global Health said a total of 15.6 million abortions were carried out in India in 2015. Of these, 11.5 million took place outside health facilities.  The Parliamentary committee on Woman‘s health noted that awareness about abortion is very low and about 80% of women do not know that abortion is legal in India  According to the ministry of health and family welfare, abortion deaths constitute 8% of all maternal deaths per year in India. Consumer Protection Bill Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS II- Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies. In News  The Consumer Protection Bill 2019, already passed by Lok Sabha, was approved in the Upper House and will replace the Consumer Protection Act, 1986.  Aim: To protect the interests of consumers by establishing authorities for timely and effective administration and settlement of consumers‘ dispute.  New Bill- Benefit to Consumers  Presently Consumer only have a single point of access to justice, which is time consuming. Additional swift executive remedies are proposed in the bill through Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA)  CCPA will be empowered to investigate, recall, refund and impose penalties. It will regulate matters related to violation of consumer rights, unfair trade practices, and misleading advertisements.  Provision for class action law suit for ensuring that rights of consumers are not infringed upon  Deterrent punishment to check misleading advertisements and adulteration of products  Product liability provision to deter manufacturers and service providers from delivering defective products or deficient services  Ease of approaching Consumer Commission and Simplification of Adjudication process (Filing from place of residence, E-filing, Videoconferencing for hearing)  Scope for early disposal of cases through mediation (ADR mechanism, Mediation cells to be attached to Consumer Forum)  Provision for rules for new age consumer issues: e-commerce & direct selling Coal Plants and green norms Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GSBRICS III- Environmental Conservation IAS In News 1. Current rules say that coal-fired power plants have to ensure that they curtail sulphur dioxide and nitrous oxide emissions by implementing appropriate technology by 2022 2. A report prepared by International Institute of Sustainable Development and the Council on Energy, Environment and Water has shown that implementing clean technology in coal-fired power plants can cost at least ₹73,000 crore 3. This could mean a minimum of 10% hike in electricity bills for consumers 4. Though cost of retrofitting plants may be high, not doing so would mean around 300,000 to 320,000 premature deaths and 5.1 crore hospital admission cases due to respiratory disorders between 2019 and 2030. Do you know? 1. India‘s installed power capacity as of March 2019 is 194,000 MW. 2. According to the Central Electricity Authority, 166 GW of capacity requires retrofitting with flue gas desulphurisation (to meet sulphur oxide emission norms) and 66 GW with modifications or enhancements to reduce particulate matter emissions 8th August 2019 Coastal zone management Part of: Mains GS III- Environmental Conservation In News

www.bricsias.com 81421600992020

 The Environment Ministry has unveiled a draft Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF)  ESMF which is a part of World Bank funded project will dictate how prospective infrastructure projects situated along the coast ought to be assessed before they can apply for clearance.  The document was prepared by the Society for Integrated Coastal Management, an Environment Ministry-affiliated body.  The document seeks to assist the Government of India in enhancing coastal resource efficiency and resilience, by building collective capacity (including communities and decentralised governance) for adopting and implementing integrated coastal management approaches,  So far three coastal States, namely Gujarat, Odisha and West Bengal, have prepared Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Plans with support from the World Bank. Such plans would be prepared for the selected coastal stretches in other States/UT. River inter-linking Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS- II – Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. In News  Tamil Nadu has been allotted 83 thousand million cubic feet (tmcft) of water under the proposed Godavari- Cauvery link, according to a draft detailed project report  The report was prepared by National Water Development Agency (NWDA), a Central government organisation entrusted with the task of preparing proposals for linking rivers.  As per the current NWDA proposal, a total of 247 tmcft is sought to be diverted from the Godavari, through the Krishna river, to the Pennar basin.  As much as 163 tmcft will be set apart for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, and the balance will be given to Tamil Nadu.  The report, which has been circulated to the States concerned for views, has not provided comfort to Tamil Nadu which has been demanding 200 tmcft of water. Giant parrots Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS- III– Biodiversity In News  The remains of a super-sized parrot that stood more than 3 feet tall (half the height of average human) and roamed the Earth 19 million years ago have been discovered in New Zealand.  The parrot has been named Heracles inexpectatus to reflect its Herculean size and strength — and the unexpected nature of the discovery  The bird was approximately the size of the giant ―dodo‖ pigeon and twice the size of the critically endangered flightless New Zealand kakapo, previously the largest known parrot.  Last year, scientists found the remains of a giant burrowing bat that lived millions of years ago in the same region.  New Zealand, home to the now-extinct flightless bird moa which was up to 3.6 metres tall with neck outstretched, is well known for its giant birds. Biodegradable Plastics Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS III- Environmental Conservation. In News  Researchers from the University of Valle de Atemajac in Zapopan, Mexico have created a biodegradable plastic from the juice of the prickly pear cactus (which is emblazoned on the country‘s flag)  BRICS IAS The pulp of the prickly pear is mixed with non-toxic additives to produce sheets that can be used for packaging (replacing single use plastics).  The new material begins to break down after sitting in the soil for a month and when left in water, it breaks down in a matter of days.  Also, it doesn‘t require crude oil like traditional plastics.  Researchers are still conducting tests, but hopes to patent their product and look for partners in early 2020, with an eye towards large scale production. Do you know?  It‘s estimated that between 1.15 million to 2.41 million tonnes of plastic are entering the ocean each year from rivers.  Biodegradable plastic is plastic that decomposes naturally in the environment. This is achieved when microorganisms in the environment metabolize and break down the structure of biodegradable plastic.  Biodegradable plastics are made from all-natural plant materials. These can include corn oil, orange peels, starch, and plants.  In March, UN member states committed to ―significantly reduce‖ single-use plastics over the next decade.  Subsequently many Indian states like Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu have banned such plastics 9th August 2019

www.bricsias.com 81421600992121

Bharat Ratna Part of: GS Prelims In News  The President of India presented Bharat Ratna Awards to Nanaji Deshmukh (posthumously), Bhupendra Kumar Hazarika (posthumously) and Pranab Mukherjee  The Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award of the Republic of India. Bharat Ratna recipients rank seventh in the Indian order of precedence  The award was instituted in 1954  The first recipients of the Bharat Ratna were C. Rajagopalachari, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, and C. V. Raman, who were honoured in 1954.  The award is conferred in recognition of exceptional service/performance of the highest order in ―any field of human endeavour‖.  The award was originally limited to achievements in the arts, literature, science, and public services, but this was changed in 2011.  Though usually conferred on India-born citizens, the Bharat Ratna has been awarded to one naturalised citizen, Mother Teresa, and to two non-Indians,Pakistan national Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan and former South African President Nelson Mandela.  There is no formal nomination process. The recommendations for the award can only be made by the Prime Minister to the President.  A maximum of three nominees can be awarded per year.  Recipients receive a certificate signed by the President and a medal. There is no monetary grant associated with the award. Dixon Plan of 1950 Part of: Mains GS III- Internal Security In News  Parliament adopted bill to make Jammu and Kashmir into two UT with carving out of Ladakh from the rest of State  The idea of dividing J&K into two or more parts traces its origin to the Dixon Plan of 1950  Owen Dixon, an Australian Jurist chosen by the United Nations to mediate between India and Pakistan on the J&K issue, in his report of September 1950 suggested a package which did not find acceptance from India  The plan had assigned Ladakh to India and norther areas and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to Pakistan, besides splitting Jammu into two.  It has proposed a plebiscite in the Kashmir Valley  However, B.R.Ambedkar,after quitting as law minster from the Nehru Ministry, had suggested the formation of three zones: the area held by Pakistan, the Valley and Jammu-Ladakh  Ambedkar had also favoured a plebiscite only in the valley. Measles Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS- III- Health. In News  Sri Lanka has become the fourth country in the Asian region –after Bhutan, Maldives and Timor-Leste – to eliminate measles  Measles is a highly contagious viral disease  It is transmitted via droplets from the nose, mouth or throat of infected persons  BRICS IAS Initial symptoms include high fever, running nose and bloodshot eyes. Several days later, a rash develops on the face and upper neck slowly spreading downwards  It can cause life threatening complication including encephalitis (an infection that leads to swelling of brain), severe diarrhea, and dehydration, pneumonia, ear infections and permanent vision loss  The disease is preventable though two doses of safe and effective vaccine  Measles is considered to be eliminated when a country interrupts transmission of an indigenous virus for three years Waste Recycling Part of: Mains GS- III– Environmental Conservation In News  IIT Madras student designs system to recycle Urine,  The project titled Water Chakra won the Indian Innovation Growth Programme 2.0 in July  The concentrated urine is stored for three days to allow for the urea to get converted into ammonia  By a process of steam distillation, the ammonia is segregated and this commercial grade liquid can be used to make cleaning products such as detergents or in rubber manufacturing  Through electrochemical process 90% of the water content is recovered and can be used for gardening purposes and flushing  The technology can be used in community toilets to generate funds for its own maintenance

www.bricsias.com 81421600992222

Drug resistant TB Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS III- Science and Technology In News  The test developed by MedGenome Labs can provide a detailed analysis of every single mutation present in any TB Bacteria causing drug resistance directly from the sputum  This Whole-Genome Sequencing- based Test-SPIT SEQ enables doctors to quickly and accurantely prescribe the most effective drug to a TB patient  The existing sputum smear microscopy, Cartridge Based Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (CB-NAAT) and culture tests are not only time-consuming but do not provide a detailed analysis of resistance developed by the patient to every single mutation in the bacteria.  With India having the largest number of multidrug resistant (MDR-TB) TB cases, SPIT SEQ can help to achieve India‘s SDG goal of eliminating TB by 2025. 10th August 2019 National Crisis Management Committee Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS-III Disaster Management In News  Recently Cabinet Secretary chairs NCMC meeting to review flood situation in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala and Gujarat.  At the national level, Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) and National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) are the key committees involved in the top-level decision-making wrt Disaster Management (DM).  NDMC is a temporary committee set up in the wake of a natural calamity. Its key function includes Effective coordination and implementation of relief measures and operations. Overseeing the command, control and coordination of the disaster response.  Composition of NDMC: Cabinet Secretary (Chairperson). Secretaries of Ministries / Departments and agencies with specific Disaster management responsibilities Sex-ratio at birth Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS I – Society In News  The sex ratio at birth (SRB) in the country, defined as the number of female births per 1,000 male births  SRB improved from 914 to 919 between the third and fourth National Family Health Surveys (NFHS), carried out in 2005-06 and 2015-16respectively  The highest improvement was in Punjab at 126 points to reach SRB of 860  Second highest improvement in SRB was in Kerala, by 122 points from 925 in 2005-06 to 1,047 in 2015-16 (the highest SRB among all states)  The sharpest decline was in Sikkim, where the SRB dropped 175 points to reach 809, (the lowest SRB among all states)  SRB has been falling in states like Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh and Assam  Projects such as Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC-PNDT) Act, Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act Article 371F Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GSBRICS II – Indian Federalism IAS In News  Sikkim CM assures people of state that Centre will not interfere with Article 371F and also rejected any possibility of merger of Sikkim and Darjeeling hills,  Article 371F of the Constitution, is the result of the agreement in 1975 between the Union of India, the king of Sikkim and the State‘s political parties  Article 371F (36th Amendment Act, 1975): To protect the rights and interests of various sections of the population of Sikkim, Parliament may provide for the number of seats in the Assembly to be filled only by candidates from those sections Do You know?  Articles 369 through 392 (including some that have been removed) appear in Part XXI of the Constitution, titled ‗Temporary, Transitional and Special Provisions‘.  Article 370 dealt with ‗Temporary Provisions with respect to the State of Jammu and Kashmir‘ which was read down recently by Presidential order.  Article 371, Maharashtra and Gujarat: Governor has ―special responsibility‖ to establish ―separate development boards‖ for ―Vidarbha, Marathwada, and the rest of Maharashtra‖, and Saurashtra and Kutch in Gujarat.  Articles 371A through 371J were incorporated subsequently.  Article 371A (13th Amendment Act, 1962), Nagaland  Article 371B (22nd Amendment Act, 1969), Assam

www.bricsias.com 81421600992323

 Article 371C (27th Amendment Act, 1971), Manipur  Article 371D (32nd Amendment Act, 1973, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana  Article 371E: it allows for the establishment of a university in Andhra Pradesh by a law of Parliament. But this is not a ―special provision‖ in the sense of the others in this part.  Article 371G (53rd Amendment Act, 1986), Mizoram  Article 371H (55th Amendment Act, 1986), Arunachal Pradesh  Article 371J (98th Amendment Act, 2012), Karnataka  Article 371I deals with Goa, but it does not include any provision that can be deemed ‗special‘. Prevention of money laundering act (PMLA) Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS II – Public administration In News  The Centre has issued a notification on certain changes in PMLA  An explanation added to Section 45 clarifies that all PMLA offences will be cognisable and non-bailable.  Therefore, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) officers are empowered to arrest an accused without warrant, subject to certain conditions.  New change does away with the pre-requisite of an FIR or chargesheet by other agencies that are authorised to probe the offences listed in the PMLA schedule.  Now, under Section 44, the Special Court, while dealing with the offence under this Act shall not be dependent upon any orders passed in respect of the scheduled offence, and the trial of both sets of offences by the same court shall not be construed as joint trial.  The scope of ―proceeds of crime‖, under Section 2, has been expanded to empower the agency to act against even those properties which ―may directly or indirectly be derived or obtained as a result of any criminal activity relatable to the scheduled offence‖. Virasat-e-Khalsa Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS II – Public administration In News  The Virasat-e-Khalsa museum is set to find a place in Asia Book of Records for becoming the most visited museum in the Asian sub-continent on a single day.  Virasat-e-Khalsa was built to commemorate the rich history and culture of Punjab and Sikhism.  It was inaugurated in 2011 and located in Anandpur Sahib town in Punjab  This would be the third entry for the museum in record books. Earlier, Virasat-e-Khalsa made it to Limca Book of Records in the February 2019 edition and India Book of Records. Every child to get Rotavirus vaccine Context:  Health Minister plans to provide it across all States and UTs by this September Concerns:  In India, every year, 37 out of every 1,000 children born are unable to celebrate their 5th birthday, and one of the major reasons for this is diarrhoeal deaths. Out of all the causes of diarrhoea, Rotavirus is a leading cause of diarrhoea in children less than 5 years of age Rotavirus  Diarrhoea was one of the biggest killers in children and Rotavirus was one of the most common causes of severe diarrhoea in children less than 2 years of age.  It is estimated that Rotavirus causeBRICS 8,72,000 hospitalisations; 32,70,000 IAS outpatient visits and estimated 78,000 deaths annually in India. Rotavirus diarrhoea can be prevented through vaccination What is Rotavirus?  Rotavirus can cause diarrohea, which can lead to dehydration (not having enough water in the body).  Rotavirus is a contagious disease that spreads easily from child to child.  Rotavirus spreads when a person comes in contact with the feces of someone who has rotavirus and then touches their own mouth. For example, rotavirus can spread when a child with rotavirus doesn‘t wash their hands properly after going to the bathroom and then touches food or other objects. Symptoms  Severe diarrohea  Throwing up  Dehydration  Fever  Stomach pain World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that the first dose of rotavirus vaccine be administered as soon as possible after 6 weeks of age, along with DTP vaccination (diptheria, tetanus and pertussis). WHO has recommended the inclusion of rotavirus vaccine in the National Schedules of the countries where under five mortality due to diarrhoeal diseases is more than 10%. Currently, two vaccines are available against rotavirus:

www.bricsias.com 81421600992424

 Rotarix (GlaxoSmithKline): is a monovalent vaccine recommended to be orally administered in two doses at 6-12 weeks.  Rota Teq (Merck) is a pentavalent vaccine recommended to be orally administered in three doses starting at 6-12 weeks of age. Monovalent vaccine and Pentavalent vaccine  Monovalent vaccines are designed to immunize against a single antigen or single microorganism.  Pentavalent vaccine provides protection to a child from five life-threatening diseases – Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Hepatitis B and Haemophilus Influenzae type b (Hib). Initiatives to be taken by the government:  The Health Ministry has drawn an ambitious plan under the 100 days agenda of the newly elected government, wherein it has been decided to provide Rotavirus vaccine to every child across all States and Union Territories by September, 2019  Rotavirus vaccine along with proper sanitation, hand washing practices, ORS and zinc supplementation will go a long way in reducing the mortality and morbidity due to diarrhoea in children.  The government was also committed to increasing the full immunisation coverage and ensuring that the benefit of the life-saving vaccines was provided to every child.  Diarrhoea can be prevented through general measures like good hygiene, frequent hand washing, safe water and safe food consumption, exclusive breastfeeding and vitamin A supplementation.  Rotavirus vaccine was introduced in 2016 in a phased manner, beginning with 4 States initially and later expanded to 7 more States.  The Rotavac has been introduced in India‘s Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) including Inactivated Polio Vaccine(IPV), Measles, Rubella (MR) vaccine, Adult Japanese Encephalitis (JE) vaccine, Tuberculosis, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Hepatitis B, Pneumonia and Meningitis due to Haemophilus Influenzae type b (Hib). 12th August 2019 Uber for tractors Part of: Mains GS-III – e-technology in the aid of farmers. In News  Government to launch app to aid farmers where expensive agricultural equipment can be hired through the mobile application.  Successful demo runs has been conducted in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Punjab  A laser-guided land leveller harnesses technology to accurately flatten a field in a fraction of the time used by a traditional oxen-powered scraper; Happy Seeder aims to prevent stubble burning that causes air pollution and Solar dryers can help farmers process and preserve their produce  Farmers can save precious groundwater and increase productivity by 10 to 15% by using such farm equipment.  The hurdle? Such hi-tech machines cost at least ₹3 lakh, way beyond the reach of the average small farmer.  There are now more than 38,000 custom hiring centres (CHCs) across the country, which rent out 2.5 lakh pieces of farm equipment every year.  Ministry of Agriculture plans to launch a new mobile app to efficiently connect farmers with these CHCs, just like Uber connects you to cabs  The Ministry‘s app will also create an invaluable database for policy-makers, who can track the use and cost of equipment. Reusable Launch System BRICS IAS Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS III- Science and technology In News  Chinese start-up LinkSpace completed its third test of a reusable rocket RLV-T5 in five months, stepping up the pace in the race to develop a technology key to cheap space launches  The reusable design of its next-generation rocket could lead to a predicted cost reduction of 70% (from $25 -30 million to $4.25 million)  China envisions constellations of commercial satellites that can offer services ranging from high-speed Internet for aircraft and rural areas to tracking coal shipments and commuter traffic.  LinkSpace‘s test flight came on the heels of a historic delivery of a satellite into orbit last month by privately owned Chinese firm iSpace.  SpaceX (US private firm) has already used recoverable rockets on a number of orbital missions since a historic launch early in 2017 Do you know?  ISRO‘s Reusable Launch Vehicle – Technology Demonstration Program (RLV-TD) is a series of technology demonstration missions that have been considered as a first step towards realizing a Two Stage To Orbit (TSTO) fully re-usable vehicle.  ISRO‘s TSTO fully re-usable vehicle has different approach from SpaceX & Blue Origin. o ISRO‘s approach to a reusable launch vehicle is a winged body space plane.

www.bricsias.com 81421600992525 o Whereas SpaceX and Blue Origin are recovering and reusing stages of their existing rockets, in order to reduce launch costs. Kajin Sara lake Part of: GS Prelims In News  A newly-discovered lake in Nepal is likely to set a new record of being the world‘s highest lake  As per the measurement of the lake taken by the team, it is located at an altitude of 5,200 metres, which is yet to be officially verified. It is estimated to be 1,500-metre-long and 600-metre-wide.  Currently Tilicho Lake holds the title of the world‘s highest lake. it is situated at an altitude of 4,919 metres in Nepal. Arctic wildfires Part of: Mains GS-II – Environmental Conservation In News  Wildfires ravaging parts of the Arctic are threatening to accelerate the melting of ice and permafrost — the permanently frozen ground layer — releasing greenhouse gases stored for thousands of years.  Although wildfires are frequent in the northern hemisphere between May and October, scientists estimate the magnitude of this season‘s burn is higher than any other in the 16-year-record  Fires are burning farther north, and scientists worry the forest fires are igniting peat fires.  Peat stores large amounts of carbon, which is burning and releasing record amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere.  As the planet warms, more and more frozen peat and permafrost has thawed, releasing large amounts of carbon.  Permafrost: Frozen soil, rock and plant material remaining below 0oC for atleast two years. As permafrost thaws, microbes decompose organic material releasing Carbon dioxide and methane into atmosphere. Tardigrades Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS III – Environment In News  Tardigrades may have survived spacecraft crashing on moon  The Israeli spacecraft called Beresheet was meant to be the first private lander to touch down on the moon.  However, mission controllers lost contact in April which led the spacecraft to crash onto moon.  Now it‘s been revealed that the mission was carrying a cargo of dehydrated microscopic lifeforms known as tardigrades which may have survivedthe crash.  Tardigrades are a phylum of water-dwelling eight-legged segmented micro-animals. They are colloquially known as water bears or moss piglets.  They are tiny animals that can withstand extreme temperatures, extreme dryness, and lack of food.  They can withstand both the vacuum of space, and pressure as powerful as that at the deepest point in Earth‘s ocean. They are also resistant to radiation Translocation of Buffaloes Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS II – Environmental Conservation In News  Five female wild buffaloes will travel more than 1,500 km crossing five States from Manas National Park in Assam to the Udanti Wildlife Sanctuary in Chhattisgarh  This is being done to help reviveBRICS the waning population of Chhattisgarh‘s IAS State animal and expand its territory across States.  With just nine buffaloes, including three females, left in the Udanti Wildlife sanctuary, their revival across central India, a historical habitat, rests on hassle-free translocation, successful breeding and subsequent restocking of other habitats in the region  The estimated population of the wild buffaloes (Bubalus arnee) in the Northeast is around 3,000-4,000, the largest in the country and accounting for 92% of the world population.  It is listed under Schedule 1 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, and classified as endangered in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species PM-JAY Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS-II – Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health In News  Cancer treatments will soon be covered under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY)  PM-JAY is the Central Government‘s health insurance scheme that aims to give medical cover to over 10 crore poor and vulnerable families of approximately 50 crore beneficiaries.  The scheme provides insurance coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation.

www.bricsias.com 81421600992626

 So far, 16,000 hospitals have been empanelled, nearly 34 lakh beneficiaries have been admitted, and 9 crore e- cards have been issued.  Government figures note that the estimated number of people living with cancer stands at around 2.25 million, with over 11 lakh new cancer patients registered each year.  In India, the risk of developing cancer before the age of 75 years for males stands at 9.81% and females at 9.42%. Total deaths due to cancer in 2018 was 7,84,821 (Men: 4,13,519; Women: 3,71,302).  Lung cancer is the most common type of cancer in India, followed by breast cancer and oral cancers. Government realised that cancer care costs were causing massive financial crisis among people and thus aims to bring cancer within the fold of PM-JAY 14th August 2019 Perseids Meteor shower Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS-I – Geography In News  The Perseid meteors appears as streaks of light in the sky.  These start around every year around late July and will peak on August 12 night to August 13.  The meteor shower appears as the Earth passes through the cosmic dust left by the comet Swift-Tuttle.  The Perseids are widely sought after by astronomers and stargazers because most years at its peak, one can see 60 to 100 meteors in an hour from a dark place.  They are visible in the Northern Hemisphere and can be viewed in skies all across.  As NASA explains, Meteor showers take their name from the location of the radiant. The Perseid radiant is in the constellation Perseus.  For example, the Geminid meteor shower, which is observed each December, is named for a radiant in the onstellation Gemini. Repo-linked deposit and lending rates Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS II- Indian Economy In News  Public sectors banks(PSB) SBI, Syndicate Bank, Bank of India, Union Bank and Allahabad Bank have announced to link their deposits and loans to the repo rate.  The RBI has been looking at various ways in which banks can be made to transmit repo rate cuts to depositors and borrowers.  Given that banks source only about 1 per cent of their funds from RBI‘s repo window and the bulk of deposits from the public, PSBs used to complain that they cannot slash their lending rates unless their deposit rates also reduced.  Curbing inflation or stimulating growth by raising or lowering the repo rate is the key objective of monetary policy.  However, hikes or reductions in the repo rate by India‘s Monetary Policy Committee have had only a marginal impact on the economy because of the partial transmission of these cuts by banks.  This action of PSBs linking savings account interest rates to the repo rate partly solves this problem of transmission of rate cuts by RBI  Using an external benchmark like the repo rate makes the process more transparent to retail borrowers and depositors.  On the flip side, both savings bank account and loan rates will swing with the repo rate making it volatile.  Concern: SBI, for instance, applies it only to depositors who have a balance of over Rs 1 lakh in their savings accounts. This make up less thanBRICS 10% of its deposit base and is bound toIAS lead to partial transmission. Do You know?  Repo Rate is the rate at which the RBI lends money to commercial banks  Decrease in deposit rate will discourage people to deposit their savings in bank deposits and instead adopt informal channels like gold.  Decrease in lending rate will boost credit uptake and increase the investment & production activity in an economy. Regulatory sandbox Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS III- Economy In News  The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued the final framework for regulatory sandbox  A regulatory sandbox usually refers to live testing of new products or services in a controlled/test regulatory environment for which regulators may permit certain regulatory relaxations for the limited purpose of the testing.  The objective of the sandbox was to foster responsible innovation in financial services, promote efficiency and bring benefit to consumers.  RBI will launch the sandbox for entities that meet the criteria of minimum net worth of ₹25 lakh as per their latest audited balance sheet  The entity should either be a company incorporated and registered in the country or banks licensed to operate in India.

www.bricsias.com 81421600992727

 While money transfer services, digital know-your customer, financial inclusion and cybersecurity products are included, crypto currency, credit registry and credit information have been left out. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS-III – Indian Economy In News  Centre had recently amended the Company Law to make CSR spend mandatory for companies. It also stipulated that non-compliance could be treated as a criminal offence and attract penalties.  A High-Level Committee CSR constituted in Sep 2018 under the chairmanship of Injeti Srinivas to review the existing framework on CSR has submitted its report  Some of its recommendations include CSR spends should be eligible for tax deduction under the income tax law. Currently, income tax law does not allow CSR spends as tax deductible amount. Allowing the carry-forward of unspent balance for a period of 3-5 years Aligning Schedule 7 of the Companies Act (which outlines the kinds of activities that qualify as CSR) with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Companies having CSR-prescribed amount below ₹50 lakh may be exempted from constituting a CSR Committee Violation of CSR compliance may be made a civil offence and shifted to the penalty regime. Introducing impact assessment studies for CSR obligations of ₹5 crore Registration of implementation agencies on the Ministry of Corporate Affairs portal 15th August 2019 Swachh Survekshan Grameen Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS-II – Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. In News  Government launched the ‗Swachh Survekshan Grameen 2019‘, which will be three times bigger in scale than the previous edition of the rural sanitation survey.  It‘s not just a survey but an opportunity to encourage behavioural change and take sanitation to the secondary level, beyond the concept of ODF villages  In the first edition in 2018, the survey covered over 6,000 villages across the country.  This year the survey aims to cover 18,000 sample villages — approximately 30 per rural district — and take feedback from over 2.5 crore villagers.  The effort is to look beyond toilets and to kick off the Open Defecation Free Plus (ODF+) phase — focussing on solid and liquid waste management  The ODF-Plus programme has four verticals — biodegradable waste management, plastic waste management, greywater (household waste water) management and faecal sludge management.  For Swachh Survekshan Grameen 2019, Citizen feedback will account for 35% of the ranking of districts.  Another 30% weightage is being given to direct observations by surveyors from third party Ipsos, who will look at the prevalence of plastic litter and water-logging as well as the availability and usage of toilets.  The remaining 35% will be drawn from service-level progress measuring the final activities of the original Swachh Bharat mission. Do You know?  Ever since the Swachh Bharat BRICS Abhiyan was launched on Gandhi JayantiIAS in 2014, its main focus has been on eliminating open defecation by constructing toilets and promoting their usage through widespread behaviour change programmes.  With the October 2, 2019 deadline looming near, and the original goal is almost achieved and the mission is moving on to its next phase (ODF+) Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN). Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS III – Issues in Indian Federalism In News  A joint committee of Naga civil society groups has warned the Nagaland government against changing the cut-off date for including people in the RIIN  The Nagaland government had, through a notification on June 29, 2019, decided to undertake the exercise to update the RIIN with December 1, 1963, as the cut-off date for inclusion of people in the register.  RIIN is a master list of all indigenous inhabitants of the State of Nagaland with the aim of preventing fake indigenous inhabitants‘ certificates.  Based on detailed survey, it will have records of indigenous residents from rural and urban areas  The process will be done as part of the online system of Inner Line Permit (ILP), which is already in force in Nagaland.  This provisional list will then be collated and published on the government websites by September 11, 2019

www.bricsias.com 81421600992828

 Unique Identity: All indigenous inhabitants of Nagaland would be issued a barcoded indigenous inhabitant certificate Do You know?  Nagaland was carved out of Assam as a State on December 1, 1963.  The State government had in April 1977 issued a notification that laid down the criteria for issuing indigenous inhabitant certificates to the residents when the State was formed  Inner Line Permit (ILP) is an official travel document required by Indian citizens residing outside certain ―protected‖ states while entering them.  ILP‘s origin dates back to the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulations, 1873, which protected the British Crown‘s interest in tea, oil and elephant trade. It prohibited ―British subjects‖ or Indians from entering into these protected areas.  After Independence, in 1950, the word ―British subjects‖ was replaced by Citizens of India and the focus of the ban on free movement was explained as a bid to protect tribal cultures in north-eastern India. India‘s water scarcity challenge Part of: Mains GS III- Environmental Conservation In News  India, the world‘s largest groundwater user, is seeing levels declining across the country with farmers in Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan facing the prospect of having no groundwater left for irrigation by 2025.  More than 90% of the rice-wheat areas in north-west India are irrigated using groundwater.  Groundwater, the source of 40% of India‘s water needs, is depleting at an unsustainable rate, according to Niti Aayog,  India accounts for 12% of global groundwater extraction, pumping some 230 billion cubic metres each year. At this rate, by 2030, nearly 60% of the aquifers will be in a critical state.  Consecutive years of weak monsoons, massive deforestation, poor rainwater harvesting and pollution of rivers and lakes have led the country to depend on groundwater. Paddy stubble burning Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS-III – Environment In News  Burning of paddy crop residue, one of the major causes of air pollution, declined by 41% last year over 2016- level in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi-NCR with the help of a ₹1,151 crore central scheme.  23 million tonnes of rice residue were being burnt in rice-wheat cropping system (around 4.1 million ha) in this region to clear the field for conventional wheat sowing because of the narrow window (about 10-20 days) between rice harvesting and wheat sowing.  Crop residue burning in north-west India contributes to air pollution, health hazards, disruption of transportation, school closures and soil degradation.  To tackle this issue, government launched Central Sector Scheme – ‗Promotion of Agricultural Mechanization for In-Situ Management of Crop Residue in the State of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and NCT of Delhi‘  The scheme involved Distribution of in-situ crop residue management machinery to the farmers on subsidy Establishment of Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs) of in-situ crop residue management machinery Undertaking Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities for creating awareness among farmer  ICAR is implementing the schemeBRICS through 60 Krishi Vigyan Kendras IAS (KVKs) of Punjab (22), Haryana (14), Delhi (1) and UP (23).  More than 4500 villages in Punjab and Haryana were declared as Zero Stubble Burning Villages during 2018 as not a single crop burning incident was reported from these villages during the year.  In addition to the above Scheme, separate funds are being allocated to the States for crop residue management under Sub-Mission on Agriculture Mechanization by the Department of Agriculture Cooperation and Farmers Welfare 16th August 2019 Chief of Defence Staff Part of: GS Prelims  PM Narendra Modi announced that government has decided to establish the post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDF) for the three services — the Indian Army, the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force.  CDS is a post that will act as the single-point advisor to the Government of India.  CDS will be in a position to advise on matters related to all the three services — Army, Navy and Air Force — thus making India‘s armed forces integrated.  CDS will be a ‗first among equals‘, a fourth four-star officer who will be senior to the three other service chiefs  The post is aimed at ensuring better coordination between the three services.  The intention is to ―reconcile possible differences‖ in service-specific opinions to enable the government to arrive at considered military decisions.

www.bricsias.com 81421600992929

 The institution of a CDS will also foster inter-services jointness in terms of budgeting, equipment purchases, training, joint doctrines and planning of military operations- necessary for strategizing a robust and cost- efficient national defence policy. Do You know?  The recommendation for creating the post of CDS was first made after the 1999 Kargil War.  A group of ministers that was formed in 2001 to explore necessary reforms required to improve India‘s national security had also favoured creating the post of CDS  In 2012, the Naresh Chandra Task Force recommended that post of a permanent chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee (CoSC) should be created.  The CoSC comprises chiefs of the Indian Army, Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force. The senior-most among them would act as the chairman. Tax Administration Part of: Mains GS-II – Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. In News  All notices and orders of Income Tax Department issued on or after the 1st of October, 2019 shall carry a computer-generated Document Identification Number (DIN)  It was found that majority of IT notices/orders have been issued manually, without maintaining a proper audit trail of such communication  The initiative of DIN is intended to maintain proper audit trail of all such communication from IT department  Under exceptional cases where manual communication is required to be issued, the reason for issue of manual communication without DIN has to be specified alongwith the date of obtaining written approval of the Chief Commissioner / Director General of Income-Tax.  This is step taken by CBDT will bring greater transparency in the functioning of the tax-administration and improvement in service delivery Competition Law Review Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS II – Governance In News  The Government constituted a Competition Law Review Committee on 1st October, 2018 to review the existing Competition law framework and make recommendations to further strengthen the framework to inter alia meet new economy challenges.  The Committee was chaired by Shri Injeti Srinivas  The committee has submitted its report and some of its key recommendation are:  Introduction of a ‗Green Channel‘ for combination notifications to enable fast-paced regulatory approvals for majority of mergers and acquisitions having not much adverse effects on competition.  Introducing a dedicated bench in NCLAT for hearing appeals under the Competition Act  Introduction of express provisions to identify ‗hub and spoke‘ agreements as well as agreements that do not fit within typical horizontal or vertical anti-competitive structures to cover agreements related to business structures and models synonymous with new age markets.  CCI to issue guidelines on imposition of penalty to ensure more transparency and faster decision making which will encourage compliance by businesses.  Strengthening the governance BRICSstructure of CCI with the introduction IAS of a Governing Board to oversee advocacy and quasi-legislative functions, leaving adjudicatory functions to the Whole-time Members.  Merging DG‘s Office with CCI as an ‗Investigation Division‘ as it aids CCI in discharging an inquisitorial rather than adversarial mandate. However, functional autonomy must be protected.  Opening of CCI offices at regional level to carry out non-adjudicatory functions such as research, advocacy etc. and interaction with State Governments and State regulators. Do You know?  Competition Act, 2002 provided for the establishment of a Commission to prevent practices having adverse effect on competition, to promote and sustain competition in markets, to protect the interests of consumers and to ensure freedom of trade carried on by other participants in markets, in India.  The 2002 act replaces ―The Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Act, 1969‖ Microplastics Part of: Mains GS III- Environmental Conservation In News  Tiny pieces of plastic (shreds less than 5mm in length ) was found in Arctic snow and the Alps  The research predicts that microplastic particles are transported tremendous distances through the atmosphere.  These particles are later washed out of the air by precipitation, particularly snow.  The team‘s hypothesis for airborne transportation builds on past research conducted on pollen, where experts confirmed that pollen from near the equator ends up in the Arctic.

www.bricsias.com 81421600993030

 Similarly, dust from the Sahara desert can cover thousands of kilometres and end up in northeast Euro.  The study raises concern as to whether and how much plastic we‘re inhaling. 17th August 2019 Reservations in Chhattisgarh Part of: GS Mains II – Social issues  Chhattisgarh government announced an increase in reservations for OBCs and Scheduled Castes in state government jobs and education  It will increase the quota for SCs by 1 % while nearly doubling reservation for OBCs from 14 % to 27 %. The quota for STs remains at 32 %.  Once in effect, Chhattisgarh will have a total of 72 % reservation (32 % for STs, 13 % for SCs and 27 % to OBCs), the highest in the country and far above the 50 % cap on quotas mandated by the Supreme Court  The state government is still considering the 10 % centre mandated EWS quota for the general category. if implemented, it would take the reservation to 82 %.  According to government, this has been done to keep it in line with the population demographic in the state. The percentage of OBCs is close to 47 %, who along with STs form the major chunk of the population. Space Commerce Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS III – Science and Technology In News  NewS pace India Ltd launched a formal search for industry consortia which can regularly manufacture and deliver entire PSLV satellite launch vehicles for its parent organisation, ISRO  NSIL is looking for experienced companies or consortia to produce the launchers end to end: their job starts from component procuring, electronics, to large stages and finally the assembly, integration and testing (AIT) of the vehicles  NSIL is a public sector space business company formed in March 2019 to promote Indian space commerce.  NSIL will initially outsource five PSLVs — Indian rockets that can lift light payloads to ‗low earth orbits‘ some 600 km in space.  The four-stage PSLV is needed to place both Indian remote sensing satellites and small satellites of foreign customers to space.  ISRO currently sources separate rocket parts from around 500 big and small vendors and does the AIT itself at its facilities in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.  For almost a decade, ISRO has been planning to hand the production over to public and private industries and itself focus on its core job of space R&D. National Essential Diagnostics List (NEDL) Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS II – Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health In News  India has got its first NEDL finalised by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)  It aims to bridge the regulatory system‘s gap that do not cover all the medical devices and in-vitro diagnostic device (IVD) as the current system is equipped to manage only few notified devices.  India has become the first country to compile such a list that would provide guidance to the government for deciding the kind of diagnostic tests that different healthcare facilities in villages and remote areas require.  NEDL would enable improvedBRICS health care services delivery through IAS evidence-based care, improved patient outcomes and reduction in out-of-pocket expenditure  NEDL would also lead to effective utilisation of public health facilities; effective assessment of disease burden, disease trends, surveillance, and outbreak identification; and address antimicrobial resistance crisis too.  NEDL builds upon the Free Diagnostics Service Initiative and other diagnostics initiatives of the Health Ministry to provide an expanded basket of tests at Public health system  Key challenges anticipated during implementation of the National EDL include — Adoption by States and harmonisation with local standard diagnostic protocols and treatment guidelines, provision of requisite infrastructure, processes and human resources. Do You know?  WHO released first edition of essential diagnostics list (EDL) in May 2018 which acts a reference point for development of national EDL  To improve the availability of accessible and quality diagnostics in public health facilities, Union Health Ministry under the aegis of National Health Mission (NHM) launched the Free Diagnostics Service Initiative (FDI) in July 2015  Under this initiative, the NHM is supporting all states to provide essential diagnostics – laboratory and radiology at their public health facilities, free of cost Fertility rate Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS I – Social Issues

www.bricsias.com 81421600993131

In News  During his Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi underlined challenges posed by population growth in the country  Total Fertility Rate (TFR), defined as the number of children born to a woman until the end of her child-bearing age  For four successive years (2013-2016) the TFR had stagnated at 2.3.  The latest data estimates (2017) show the TFR dropping to 2.2. This figure is only marginally higher than the fertility rate (2.1) required for replacement of the existing population.  TFR is calculated from data of the Sample Registration System (SRS) undertaken by the Office of the Registrar General of India.  Even the states that have a higher TFR — Uttar Pradesh (3.0), Bihar (3.2), MP (2.7), Rajasthan (2.6), Assam (2.3), Chhattisgarh (2.4) and Jharkhand (2.5) — have been witnessing a declining trend in fertility rates.  Two more states, Gujarat and Haryana, recorded a TFR of 2.2, which is above the replacement rate but is equal to the national average. Taken together, these nine major states account for 52 per cent of the 2011 population.  This means that in the states barring these nine, and accounting for almost half the population, the replacement level is either 2.1 or has gone below it.  States with a lower TFR include Kerala (1.7), Tamil Nadu (1.6), Karnataka (1.7), Maharashtra (1.7), Andhra Pradesh (1.6), Telangana (1.7), West Bengal (1.6), Jammu and Kashmir (1.6) and Odisha (1.9). Do You Know?  The SRS also looks at other indicators such as crude birth rate, general fertility rate, age specific/marital fertility rate, gross reproduction rate along with sex ratio at birth.  While Census figures provide the total population every decade, the regular SRS estimates provide dynamic trends underlying the population growth. 19th August 2019 Iran-West tensions Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II – International relations  An Iranian oil super tanker that was seized by the UK nearly a month ago amid escalating tension between Tehran and the West, was released on Sunday and was moving away from Gibraltar.  The ship, now renamed Adrian Darya 1, was previously known as Grace 1. It has a cargo of at least $130m worth of light crude oil.  British Royal Marines had seized the vessel in Gibraltar in July on suspicion that it was carrying oil to Syria, a close ally of Iran, in violation of EU sanctions.  The decision came after Gibraltar‘s government said it had received written assurances from Iran that the ship would not be headed for countries ―subject to European Union sanctions‖. Do You Know?  Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory and headland, on Spain‘s south coast.  In 1704, Anglo-Dutch forces captured Gibraltar from Spain during the War of the Spanish Succession on behalf of the Habsburg claim to the Spanish throne. The territory was ceded to Great Britain in perpetuity under the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713  The seizure of Grace 1 triggered a sharp deterioration in relations between Iran and the United Kingdom.  Tehran subsequently detained the British-flagged tanker in what was seen as a tit-for-tat move. That tanker, the Stena Impero, is still in Iranian custody.  BRICS IAS US court had issued a warrant for the seizure of the Iranian Oil tanker, on the grounds that it had links to Iran‘s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which US has designated a ―terrorist‖ organisation.  Gibraltar‘s government however said that it could not comply with the US court‘s warrant because of European law. India-Bhutan Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS II – International relations In News  PM Modi during his recent visit to Bhutan has said that that India and Bhutan are ―natural partners‖ in bringing prosperity to their peoples  The two countries also signed 10 MoUs to expand their bilateral relationship and infuse new energy in their ties. Some of the key MoUs include:  Inauguration of the Mangdechhu hydroelectric power plant. Most of the electricity generated by it will meet the energy requirements of Bhutan and the surplus electricity will be exported to India.  Launch of the RuPay Card in Bhutan to further enhance bilateral relationship in digital payments, and trade and tourism.  Currency Swap limit increased: additional $100 million will be available to Bhutan under a standby swap arrangement to meet the foreign exchange requirement.

www.bricsias.com 81421600993232

 Space cooperation: Inauguration the Ground Earth Station and SATCOM network, developed with assistance from ISRO for utilization of South Asia Satellite in Bhutan.  MoU signed for interconnection between India‘s National Knowledge Network and Bhutan‘s Druk Research and Education Network. Geographical indication (GI) Part of: GS Prelims In News  The Geographical Indication (GI) under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade has recently registered 4 new GIs.  Palani Panchamirtham: Palani Panchamirtham, an abishega Prasadam, is one of the main offerings for the presiding deity of Arulmigu Dhandayuthapaniswamy Temple, situated in palani Hills in Dindigul District of Tamil Nadu. It is a combination of five natural substances, namely, banana, jaggery sugar, cow ghee, honey and cardamom in a definite proportion. This is the first time a temple ‗prasadam‘ from Tamil Nadu has been bestowed with the GI tag.  Tawlhlohpuan: Tawlhlohpuan is a medium to heavy, compactly woven, good quality fabric from Mizoram. It is known for warp yarns, warping, weaving & intricate designs that are made by hand. Tawlhloh, in Mizo language, means ‗to stand firm or not to move backward‘  Mizo Puanchei: Mizo Puanchei is a colourful Mizo shawl/textile, from Mizoram. It is an essential possession for every Mizo lady and an important marriage outfit in the state. It is also the most commonly used costume in Mizo festive dances The weavers insert the designs and motifs by using supplementary yarns while weaving to create this textile  Tirur Betel leaf: Tirur betel mainly cultivated in Malappuram District of Kerala, is valued both for its mild stimulant action and medicinal properties. Even though it is commonly used for making pan masala for chewing, it has many medicinal, industrial and cultural usages Know India programme (KIP) Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS I – Indian Society In News  A group of Indian Origin youth have visited India under the 54th Edition of KIP, scheduled from 1st August to 25th August, 2019 in association with the partner sates of Punjab and Haryana  KIP is a 25-day orientation programme organized by the Ministry of External Affairs in partnership with the states of India.  The objective of the programme is to make Indian diaspora (aged between 18-30 years) aware about India, its cultural heritage, art and to promote awareness about the progress made by India in various fields such as Industry, Education, ICT, Climate and Power & Renewable Energy etc.  Since 2004, the Ministry has conducted 53 editions of KIP with participation of 1821 Overseas Indian youth.  In 2016, the scheme was revamped to increase duration from 21 to 25 days, with a 10-day visit to one or two States and preference given to PIOs from Girmitiya countries.  BRICS IAS Since 2016, six KIPs are being organised in a year.  A maximum of 40 Indian Diaspora youth are selected for each programme and provided full hospitality in India. Do You Know?  ―Girmitiyas‖ or Indentured Labourers, is the name given the Indians who left Indian in the middle and late 19th Century to serve as labourers in the British colonies, where the majority eventually settled.  Mauritius, Fiji, Suriname, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago are known as Girmitiya Countries. 20th August 2019 Sulphur dioxide Pollution Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains III – Environmental Pollution In News  A new report by Greenpeace India shows that India is the largest emitter of sulphur dioxide in the world  More than 15% of all the anthropogenic sulphur dioxide hotspots detected by the NASA OMI satellite (Ozone Monitoring Instrument) lies in India  Almost all of these emissions in India are because of coal-burning  The vast majority of coal-based power plants in India lack flue-gas desulphurisation technology to reduce air pollution  The Singrauli, Neyveli, Talcher, Jharsuguda, Korba, Kutch, Chennai, Ramagundam, Chandrapur and Koradi thermal power plants or clusters are the major emission hotspots in India

www.bricsias.com 81421600993333

 India had introduced, for the first time, sulphur dioxide emission limits for coal-fired power plants in December 2015.  But the deadline for the installation of flue-gas desulphurisation (FGD) in power plants has been extended from 2017 to 2022.  Of the world‘s major emitters, China and the United States have been able to reduce emissions rapidly. They have achieved this feat by switching to clean energy sources. Direct Tax Code 2.0 Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains III – Economy In News  The Task force headed by Akhilesh Ranjan submitted its Direct tax code (DTC) report to Finance Minister  In order to review the Income-tax Act, 1961 and to draft a new direct tax law in consonance with the economic needs of the country, a Task Force was constituted by the Government in November, 2017.  Proposed DTC to have far fewer sections than over 700 in the Income Tax Act  Addressing disruption caused by the US tax reforms last year, the panel has pressed for a corporate tax cut for domestic and foreign firms to 25 per cent. Presently it is 30 per cent for large companies and 40 per cent for foreign firms.  However, foreign firms may have to pay branch profits tax on the amount repatriated to their foreign partner.  The panel has recommended Dividend distribution tax may be done away with.  The task force suggested replacing the concept of assessing officer with assessment units, besides faceless scrutiny of cases picked through centrally and randomly allotted mechanism.  Aimed at reducing tax litigation, it proposes a new concept of settling disputes through mediation between the taxpayer and a collegium of officers. Do You know?  The US had cut the rate from 35 per cent to 21 per cent last year  FM in 2019-20 Union budget had cut corporate tax for firms with an annual turnover of up to Rs 400 crore to 25 per cent from 30 per cent, covering 99.3 per cent companies.  Large companies (turnover larger than Rs 400 Crore) continue to be taxed at 30% along with surcharges & cess. Legislative Councils Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II – Indian Federalism In News  The Madhya Pradesh government has indicated that it plans to initiate steps towards creation of a Legislative Council.  Currently, only six states have Legislative Councils  Under Article 169, Union Parliament has the power to create or abolish the Legislative Council on the basis of resolutions adopted by special majority in the Assembly of the concerned State.  Under Article 171 of the Constitution, the Legislative Council of a state shall not have more than one-third of the number of MLAs of the state, and not less than 40 members.  Like Rajya Sabha, it is a permanent House and its members are elected indirectly by people  Favour of Second House: It can help check hasty actions by the directly elected House, and also enable non- elected individuals to contribute to the legislative process  Against Second House: A Legislative Council can be used to delay legislation, and to park leaders who have not been able to win an election. BRICS IAS Do You Know?  Unlike Rajya Sabha which has substantial powers to shape non-financial legislation, Legislative Councils lack a constitutional mandate to do so; Assemblies can override suggestions/amendments made to a legislation by the Council  Andhra Pradesh‘s Legislative Council, set up in 1958, was abolished in 1985, then reconstituted in 2007.  The Odisha Assembly recently passed a resolution for a Legislative Council.  Proposals to create Councils in Rajasthan and Assam are pending in Parliament. Parker Solar Probe Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS III – Science and Technology In News  On August 12, NASA‘s Parker Solar Probe completed a year in service.  It is part of NASA‘s ―Living With a Star‖ programme that explores different aspects of the Sun-Earth system.  The probe seeks to gather information about the Sun‘s atmosphere which will help better understand Sun  It is also the closest a human-made object has ever gone to the Sun.  The mission‘s central aim is to trace how energy and heat move through the Sun‘s corona and to study the source of the solar wind‘s acceleration.  The mission is likely to last for seven years during which it will complete 24 orbits Do You know?

www.bricsias.com 81421600993434

 Arranged in layers, the sun varies in temperature: It is hottest at its center, and cooler in its outer layers — until it strangely reheats at the fringes of the sun‘s atmosphere (Corona)  The centre of the Sun: about 15 million kelvin (K).  Radiative Zone: Temperature falls from about 7 million to about 2 million K across this zone.  Convection Zone: drops from 2 million K to 5800K in this zone.  Photosphere: about 5800K, although sunspots are about 3800 K  Chromosphere: 4300 to 8300 K from inside edge to outside edge  Corona (outermost layer of the Sun): about 2 million K 21st August 2019 Aadhaar-social media profile linking Part of: GS Mains II – Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability In News  There is growing demand to link social media profiles of users with their Aadhaar numbers to check circulation of fake, defamatory and pornographic content, as well as material that is anti-national or related to terror activities.  As a result, petitions – to link aadhar & user profile – have been filed against Social media platforms (like Facebook) in different High Courts of India  Facebook has in turn filed a plea in Supreme Court, to transfer all such petitions pending before different high courts to Supreme Court for adjudication.  Facebook contended that there were four petitions – two in the Madras High Court and one each in the Bombay and the Madhya Pradesh High Courts – on the issue.  There was a risk that the different High Courts may arrive at conflicting decisions on the issue of Aadhaar linkage. It would be better to have the SC take the final call.  The Supreme Court stressed the need to find a balance between the right to online privacy and the right of the State to detect people who use the web to spread panic and commit crimes.  Governments response on the issue is crucial given that SC has upheld the right to privacy as a fundamental right in 2017 Electric Vehicles Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains III – Economy In News  Low-quality Chinese batteries could slow down India‘s EV drive  Chinese government has nudged its battery makers to move up the value chain by recalibrating its subsidy regime.  China used to provide subsidies to e-scooters with small batteries of short range and with 25kmph speed.  Now they have stopped the subsidies on those low-technology EVs and are providing subsidies only to high-range, high-density batteries and to EVs with a longer range  As a result, manufacturers of older models unable to sell their products in their domestic market (China) are exporting their low quality batteries to India  As batteries dominate costs of electric vehicles, some Indian developers tend to buy poor quality Chinese modules to meet cost pressures and timelines.  This comes against the backdrop of India‘s FAME 2 scheme—to expand commercial vehicle fleet—announced with an outlay of ₹10,000 crore in March.  It is imperative to get cell cost and parameters like energy density (size and weight), lifecycles, safety, temperature tolerance right, so that its batteriesBRICS are manufactured in India and suited IAS to Indian conditions. Do You know?  India is currently giving final touches to a plan to build Tesla-style giga factories to develop its own domestic battery manufacturing ecosystem.  This involves a raft of incentives such as concessional financing options, friendly tax regimes and a suitable basic customs duty safeguard  According to NITI Aayog, India will need six such gigawatt-scale facilities (of 10GWh each) by 2025 and 12 by 2030.  Besides electric vehicles, such battery storages will cater to electricity grids, given the intermittent nature of electricity from clean energy sources such as solar and wind. Lake Conservation Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains III – Environmental Conservation In News  The Odisha Wetland Authority has approved implementation of an integrated management plan for Chilika and Ansupa lakes at an estimated cost of Rs 180 Crore.  Chilika, country‘s largest brackish water lagoon, is spread over 1,100 sq km. Lakhs of tourists visit the lake to watch endangered Irrawaddy dolphins and migratory birds during winter  Ansupa, Odisha‘s largest freshwater lake, is spread over almost 2 sq km. Ansupa is famous for its sweet water fish and is also the wintering ground for 32 species of migratory birds.

www.bricsias.com 81421600993535

 The five-year management of lakes is intended at strengthening livelihood of thousands of fishermen relying on the two water-bodies. Besides, tourism promotion and conservation of ecology will be taken up. Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) & Extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS III – Science and Technology In News  Treating drug-resistant tuberculosis – like MDR-TB and XDR-TB – got a boost after U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new drug Pretomanid.  Pretomanid is only the third new anti-TB drug approved for use by FDA in more than 40 years.  The drug was developed and tested in clinical trials by New York-based non-profit organisation TB Alliance  The duration of treatment for drug-resistant TB can be drastically cut from 18-24 months to just six-nine months when pretomanid drug is used along with two already approved drugs — bedaquiline and linezolid.  The all-oral, three-drug regimen can also vastly improve the treatment success rate (presently it is 30% -50%) and potentially decrease the number of deaths due to better adherence to treatment. Do You know?  Worldwide, TB has surpassed HIV-AIDS as the leading cause of death due to infectious diseases. In 2017, over 13 lakh people died of the disease.  People with TB who do not respond to at least isoniazid and rifampicin, which are first-line TB drugs are said to have MDR-TB.  People who are resistantto isoniazid and rifampin, plus any fluoroquinolone and at least one of three injectable second-line drugs (amikacin, kanamycin, or capreomycin) are said to have XDR-TB.  According to WHO reports an estimated 4.5 lakh people across the world have MDR-TB and nearly 37,500 people have XDR-TB.  India has 24% of MDR-TB cases in the world. 22nd August 2019 Kutch Desert Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains I – Ancient History In News  A recent study has shown that the hot arid desert of Kutch was once a humid sub-tropical forest with a variety of birds, freshwater fish and possibly giraffes and rhinos. The fossils, consisting mostly of ribs, and parts of teeth and bones, were unearthed from Palasava village of Rapar taluk in Kutch, Gujarat. Overall, the fossil finds from Palasava suggest that a rich diversity of fauna and flora sustained in warm, humid/wet, tropical to sub-tropical environmental conditions during the Middle Miocene (14 Million years ago) The bulk of fossils unearthed in Kutch have so far been mainly marine organisms, due to their proximity to the Arabian Sea. Geological changes eventually closed off the salt-flats‘ connection to the sea and the region turned into a large lake, eventually becoming salty wetlands.  Significance of the findings  Kutch is a potential treasure trove of mammal fossils with possible continuity to vertebrate fossils in the Siwalik, spanning Pakistan to Nepal. BRICS IAS It also points to clues on how mammals dispersed between Africa and the Indian subcontinent when part of India was in the Gondwanaland supercontinent that existed nearly 300 million years ago. State rooftop solar attractiveness Index (SARAL) Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains III – Environmental Conservation In News  SARAL Index evaluates Indian states based on their attractiveness for rooftop development  It has been designed collaboratively by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation (SSEF), Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) and Ernst & Young (EY).  SARAL currently captures five key aspects –

1. Robustness of policy framework 2. Implementation environment 3. Investment climate 4. Consumer experience 5. Business ecosystem  The Index would incentivise rooftop solar by creating healthy competition among the States. Do You know?

www.bricsias.com 81421600993636

 India has set a target of 175 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2022, of which 100 GW solar power is to be operational by March 2022, of which 40 GW is expected to come from grid connected solar rooftops.  Karnataka has been placed at the first rank in SARAL Index. Telangana, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh have got 2nd, 3rd and 4th rank respectively. NISHTHA Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II – Issues relating to Education In News  Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister launched NISHTHA to build capacities of 42 Lakh government teachers across the country.  National Mission to improve Learning Outcomes at the Elementary level (NISHTHA) is the world‘s largest teachers training programme of its kind  Under it, teachers will develop their skills on various aspects related to Learning Outcomes, School Safety and Security, ICT in teaching-learning including Artificial Intelligence, Environmental Concerns and School Based Assessment in a joyful learning manner.  Training will be conducted directly by 33120 Key Resource Persons (KRPs) and State Resource Persons (SRP) identified by the State and UTs, who will in turn be trained by 120 National Resource Persons identified from NCERT, NIEPA, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS), CBSE and NGO.  It objective is to motivate and equip teachers to encourage and foster critical thinking in students. 23rd August 2019 Amazon Wildfires Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II- Environmental Conservative In News  Man-made fires in the world‘s largest rainforest have sent smoke to populated cities and the Atlantic coast  It is not unusual to see fires in Amazon forests at this time of year due to high temperatures and low humidity which creates dry favourable conditions for natural wild fires.  However, wildfires raging in the Amazon rainforest have hit a record number this year, with 72,843 fires detected so far. Forest fires in the region have doubled since 2013, and increased by 84% compared to the same period last year.  Environmental activists blamed President Bolsonaro for the current situation, saying he encouraged loggers and farmers to clear the land by burning down the forests.  The largest rainforest in the world, the Amazon is a vital carbon store that slows down the pace of global warming.  The Amazon rainforest produces approximately 20% of oxygen in the Earth‘s atmosphere.  It is also home to about three million species of plants and animals, and one million indigenous people, which is now under threat due to encroachment by the Brazil government, foreign corporations and governments with economic interests in the resource-rich region, and local farmers Sabka Vishwas Scheme Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains III – Indian Economy In News  Union Government had announced the Sabka Vishwas (Legacy Dispute Resolution) Scheme in its 2019-20 budget, which will be operationalised from September 1 till December 31, 2019.  The two main components of the scheme are dispute resolution and amnesty  The dispute resolution componentBRICS is aimed at liquidating the legacy IAS cases of central excise and service tax that are subsumed in GST and are pending in litigation at various forums  The amnesty component of the scheme offers taxpayers the opportunity to pay any outstanding tax and be free of any other consequence under the law  It provides substantial relief in the tax dues for all categories of cases as well as full waiver of interest, fine, penalty and complete amnesty from prosecution  The scheme offers a relief of 70% from the duty demand if it is less than ₹50 lakh and 50% if it is more than ₹50 lakh for all cases pending adjudication or appeal in any forum.  The scheme aims at reducing tax litigation and improving ease of doing business, needed at this time where businesses are facing an economic downturn. Ordnance factory Board (OFB) Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains III – Indian Economy In News  More than 80,000 workers of the 41 ordnance factories across the country are on strike, protesting against the proposed restructuring of the OFB  The OFB established in 1775 is currently a department under the Defence Ministry. These factories manufacture weapons, ammunition, explosives and other equipment like armoured vehicles for the defence forces as well as foreign clients

www.bricsias.com 81421600993737

OFB in its present structure of a departmental organisation is not efficient in utilization of resources and competing with rivals in the private sector who have all the managerial and technical flexibility  The government plans to convert it into one or more corporate entities fully owned by the government, like the other public sector units  At least three expert committees — T K S Nair Committee (2000), Vijay Kelkar Committee on Defence Reforms (2005), and the Raman Puri Committee (2015) — had suggested such a move  The argument is that corporatisation would improve efficiency, make products cost-competitive, enhance quality, provide operational freedom and flexibility to the OFB  One of the fears of employees is that corporatisation is a step towards privatisation and they fear job losses One Nation, One Ration Card (ONORC) Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II – Issues relating to Public Distribution System In News  Last week, the government launched the pilot project for the inter-state portability of ration cards between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, and between Maharashtra and Gujarat, as part of its ‗One Nation, One Ration Card‘ scheme  A ration card is issued to the head of the family, depending on the number of members in a family and the financial status of the applicant.  It is used by households to get essential food grains at subsidised prices from designated ration shops (also called fair price shops) under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS).  Over the years, different types of ration cards were issued depending on the level of deprivation  However, in 2013, when the National Food Security Bill was passed, different ration cards were compressed to just two — priority and Antyodaya (for the most poor).  The responsibility of identifying eligible families and issuing ration cards to them rests with the state/UT government.  This implied that beneficiaries could procure food grains only from the designated ration shops within the concerned state  ONORC scheme has been launched keeping in mind the internal migration of our country, since people keep moving to different states in search of better job opportunities and higher standards of living.  ONORC scheme helps the beneficiary to buy food grains from ration shops located in any part of the country Do You Know?  Ration shops can be privately owned or owned by cooperative societies or by the government.  Ownership licenses are issued by the concerned state government.  Presently, commodities including wheat, sugar, rice and kerosene are being allocated as part of the TPDS. State governments have the discretion to provide additional commodities 24th August 2019 Composite Water Management Index 2.0 Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains III –Environmental Conservation In News  NITI Aayog has released the second Round of Composite Water Management Index  Gujarat hold on to its rank one in the reference year (2017-18), followed by Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.  80% of states assessed on the BRICS Index over the last three years have IAS shown improvement in water management scores, with an average improvement of +5.2 points.  In North Eastern and Himalayan States, Himachal Pradesh has been adjudged number 1 in 2017-18 followed by Uttarakhand, Tripura and Assam.  The Union Territories have first time submitted their data and Puducherry has been declared as the top ranker. Do You Know?  Nearly 600 million Indians faced high to extreme water stress and about 2,00,000 people died every year due to inadequate access to safe water.  NITI Aayog first launched and conceptualized the Composite Water Management Index in 2018 as a tool to instill the sense of cooperative and competitive federalism among the states.  The ‗index‘ aims at capturing how well States have done on groundwater and surface water restoration, implementing major and medium irrigation projects, watershed development, participatory irrigation management, on-farm water use, rural and urban water supply, and policy and governance.  The 16 low-performing States collectively account for 48% of the population, 40% of agricultural produce, and 35% of economic output for India. World Youth Conference on Kindness Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS-IV – Ethics In News

www.bricsias.com 81421600993838

 The President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, inaugurated the first World Youth Conference on Kindness in New Delhi on August 23, 2019.  The conference is organised by UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP) and MHRD  The aim of the conference is to impart critical competencies (i.e. empathy, compassion, mindfulness and critical inquiry) in global youth to inspire, empower and enable them to transform themselves and build long-lasting peace in their communities.  Youth leaders, representing over 27 countries, are participating in this Conference Do You Know  The MGIEP is UNESCO‘s category 1 Research Institute that focuses on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4.7 towards education for building peaceful and sustainable societies across the world.  Vision: ‗Transforming Education for Humanity‘ – to mainstream Social and Emotional Learning in education systems, innovate digital pedagogies and to put youth as global citizens at the centre of the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development. Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II – International issues In News  Terror funding watchdog FATF Asia-Pacific Group ‗blacklists‘ Pakistan  Pakistan has been placed on the lowest rung, or ―Enhanced Expedited Follow Up List (Blacklist) of the Financial Action Task Force‘s Asia Pacific Group (APG)  The APG is one of nine regional affiliates of the FATF  APG has found Pakistan non-compliant on 32 of the 40 compliance parameters of terror financing and money laundering  While the placing does not bring any new punitive measures on Pakistan, it will mean quarterly reporting to the group on improvement in its financial safeguards.  In June, the FATF had warned Pakistan that its failure to complete its action plan on terror financing could possibly lead to the country getting blacklisted  The Paris plenary of FATF in October will decide whether to remove Pakistan from the greylist, continue the listing, or downgrade it to a blacklist of non-cooperative countries  Officials said the downgrade might not occur, given that any three countries in the FATF can veto it, and Pakistan is likely to secure the backing of China, Turkey and Malaysia.  Nevertheless, the APG decision on Friday would make it difficult for Pakistan to extricate itself from the greylist. Do You Know?  FATF is an intergovernmental organization founded in 1989 on the initiative of the G7 to develop policies to combat money laundering.  In 2001 its mandate expanded to include terrorism financing. OCEAN ENERGY Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains III – Energy Security In News  Minister of New and Renewable Energy has approved a proposal to declare ocean energy as Renewable Energy.  Government has clarified to all stakeholders that energy produced using various forms of ocean energy such as tidal, wave and ocean thermal energy conversion will be considered as Renewable Energy.  BRICS IAS It will be eligible for meeting the non-solar Renewable Purchase Obligations (RPO).  The decision will give a boost to ocean energy in the country.  Total identified potential of Tidal Energy is about 12455 MW, with potential locations identified at Khambat & Kutch regions, and large backwaters, where barrage technology could be used Do You Know?  Tidal Energy: The tidal cycle occurs every 12 hours due to the gravitational force of the moon. The difference in water height from low tide and high tide is potential energy  Current Energy: Marine current is ocean water moving in one direction. This ocean current is known as the Gulf Stream. Tides also create currents that flow in two directions. Kinetic energy can be captured from the Gulf Stream and other tidal currents with submerged turbines  Wave Energy: Wave energy is generated by the movement of a device either floating on the surface of the ocean or moored to the ocean floor.  Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC): It uses ocean temperature differences from the surface to depths lower than 1,000 meters, to extract energy. A temperature difference of only 20°C can yield usable energy. 26th August 2019 India-Bahrain ties Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II –International relations In News

www.bricsias.com 81421600993939

 PM Narendra Modi paid a state visit to Bahrain on 24-25 August 2019, which was the first ever Prime Ministerial visit from India to Bahrain.  Both India & Bahrain called on global community to reject use of terrorism against other countries as both sides agreed to further enhance cooperation in the field of security, counter-terrorism and the exchange of intelligence and information  They also said that regional connectivity projects should be based on international law, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, in an apparent reference to China‘s BRI project  Both agreed to enhance cooperation to strengthen maritime security in the Gulf region, vital for the security and safety of sea lanes and pressed for UN reforms  India also welcomed the interest of Bahrain to join the International Solar alliance.  India also launched the renovation of Shree Krishna temple in Manama, the oldest in the Gulf region.  An MoU was also signed between BENEFIT, a Bahrain company handling ATM and POS transactions among others, and National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) for launch of RuPay card in the Gulf Kingdom.  The two countries also signed MoUs on cultural exchange programme, space technology, solar energy Do You Know?  India-Bahrain bilateral trade has been on the rise for the last few years, reaching about US$ 1.3 billion in 2018-19  About 3.5 Lakhs Indian national reside & work in Bahrain, which is the largest expatriate community in Bahrain.  The presence of over 3,000 Indian-owned/joint Ventures in Bahrain indicates the intense economic engagement between the two countries  Gulf Cooperation Council: is a regional intergovernmental political and economic union consisting of all Arab states of the Persian Gulf except Iraq, namely: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates Naga Peace Process Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS-II – Issues related to Federalism In News  A Naga extremist group (NSCN-IM) has for the first time said a ―separate flag and Constitution‖ were necessary for an ―honourable solution‖ to the 22-year-old Naga peace process.  Centre ended Jammu and Kashmir‘s special status that allowed it to have its own Constitution and a flag, by abrogating Article 370 on 5th August 2019  The Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) had signed a Framework Agreement with Union Government on August 2015. Do You Know  The peace process began when NSCN-IM announced cease fire in 1997 and framework agreement was believed to have taken that process to a critical stage. However, both the Centre & the outfit has not divulged the contents of the agreement  The Khaplang faction of the NSCN ceased to be a part of the peace process after it walked out of a 14-year-old truce in March 2015.  The Khaplang faction is primarily based in Myanmar while most of the leaders and cadres of the Isak-Muivah group are from Manipur.  The Centre had a year ago insisted that the peace process would be incomplete if at least six other Naga extremist groups, some of whom are dormant, were not taken on board the negotiations. Akademik Lomonosov BRICS IAS Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains III – Science & Technology In News  Akademik Lomonosov is a Russian powership to be operated as the world‘s first floating nuclear power station  It will be deployed at Pevek, in the Chukotka region in Russia‘s Far East and is planned to come online in end of 2019 as the nearby Bilibino Nuclear Power Plant is shut.  It intends mainly to serve the region‘s oil platforms as Russia is expanding the exploitation of hydrocarbons in the Arctic.  Nuclear agency Rosatom says the reactor is a simpler alternative to building a conventional plant and it intends to sell such reactors abroad.  Rosatom plans to store spent fuel onboard of ship and thus any accident involving this fuel might have a serious impact on the fragile environment of the Arctic.  Environmental groups have long warned of the dangers of the project, dubbing it a potential ―Chernobyl on ice‖ and a ―nuclear Titanic‖ as it is additionally vulnerable to storms Do You Know?  Global warming and melting ice has made the Northeast Passage — which connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific along Russia‘s northern coast — more accessible.  The ship was named after Academician Mikhail Lomonosov who was a Russian polymath, scientist and writer in 18th century

www.bricsias.com 81421600994040

 The Chernobyl disaster was a nuclear accident that occurred at nuclear reactor in the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, near the city of Pripyat in the north of the Ukrainian SSR on April 1986  It is considered the worst nuclear disaster in history and is one of only two nuclear energy disasters rated at seven— the maximum severity—on the International Nuclear Event Scale, the other being the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in Japan. Swatantra Sainik Samman Pension Scheme Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains I – Society In News  The Supreme Court has slammed the Centre for harassing a 90-year-old freedom fighter who was struggling to get his pension under Swatantra Sainik Samman Pension Scheme  The scheme was introduced with the object of providing pension to freedom fighters and families of martyrs  The scheme is not to ―reward‖ patriotic men and women who threw their lives into the Freedom Movement, but to honour them and mitigate their suffering.  As of March 2019, a total 1.7 lakh freedom fighters and their eligible dependents have been sanctioned the central samman pension so far.  It is implemented by Ministry of Home Affairs (Freedom Fighters Division) Do You Know?  Government of India introduced the ‗Ex-Andaman Political Prisoners Pension Scheme‘ in 1969 to honour the freedom fighters who had been incarcerated in the Cellular Jail at Port Blair.  In 1972, to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of Independence, a regular scheme for grant of freedom fighters‘ pension was introduced.  Since 1980, a liberalized scheme, namely the ‗Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension Scheme, 1980‘ is being implemented. 27th August 2019 India-G7 Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II –International relations In News  The 45th edition of G7 Summit is currently being held in France. The host country typically gets to invite dignitaries from outside the G7 to attend the Summit  PM Modi was invited to attend the G7 Summit as a special guest of French President Emmanuel Macron  The G7 or ‗Group of Seven‘ are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.  It is an intergovernmental organisation that was formed in 1975 by the top economies of the time as an informal forum to discuss pressing world issues.  The Group was initially formed as an effort by the US and its allies to discuss economic issues, which in the late 1970s included battling a global oil crisis  Since then, the scope of G7 discussion has enlarged to include financial crises, economic changeover of ex-Soviet bloc nations, terrorism, arms control, and drug trafficking, among others.  The G7 does not have a formal constitution or a fixed headquarters. The decisions taken by leaders during annual Summits are non-binding.  The rise of India, China, and Brazil over the past few decades has reduced the G7‘s relevance, whose share in global GDP has now fallen to aroundBRICS 40% IAS Do You Know?  The G7 was known as the ‗G8‘ for several years after the original seven were joined by Russia in 1997. The Group returned to being called G7 after Russia was expelled as a member in 2014 following the latter‘s annexation of the Crimea region of Ukraine.  The G20 is a larger group of countries, which also includes G7 members. The G20 was formed in 1999, in response to a felt need to bring more countries on board to address global economic concerns  Apart from the G7 countries, the G20 comprises Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, and Turkey.  India is slated to host a G20 summit in 2022. Cardiovascular disease burden (CVD) Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS-II – Issues relating to Health In News  Three-quarters of CVD-related deaths happen in lower-middle income countries, according to the WHO, which classifies India among such countries  In India, the leading CVD diseases are ischaemic heart disease and stroke, contributing 61.4 % and 24.9 % of total DALYs (Daily Adjusted Life Years) lost from CVDs  The research study found that among Indian states, West Bengal, Odisha and Tripura have the highest burden whereas Mizoram, Sikkim and Delhi have the lowest burden of strokes in terms of crude DALY rates.

www.bricsias.com 81421600994141

 In the case of ischaemic heart disease, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Haryana have the highest burden while Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya have the lowest Do You Know  DALY = Disability Adjusted Life Year = the sum of years of potential life lost due to premature death, and the years of productive life lost due to disability.  DALYs are used to measure the combined quantity and quality of life of a population.  One DALY can be thought of as one lost year of ‗healthy‘ life.  The sum of these DALYs across the population, or the burden of disease, can be thought of as a measurement of the gap between the current health status and an ideal health situation where the entire population lives to an advanced age, free of disease and disability – WHO Conservation of Otters Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains III – Environmental Conservation In News  The Eighteenth Conference of the Parties (CoP18) of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)was recently held in Geneva.  Members at the Conference have voted to move the smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) from CITES Appendix II to CITES Appendix I, a species native to the Indian subcontinent and some other parts of Asia  This is done as otters are considered to be facing a high risk of extinction and is detrimentally affected by international trade, as well as habitat loss.  The other proposal that was passed was to include the Tokay gecko (Gekko gecko) in CITES Appendix II, as it faced threats from hunting and collection for use in traditional medicine.  The CITES is as an international legally binding agreement aimed at ensuring ―that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival‖. However, it does not take the place of national laws.  The text of the Convention was agreed in Washington, DC, in 1973 and entered into force in 1975. Thus, the convention is sometimes referred to as the Washington Convention. CITES Appendix:  Appendix I includes species ―threatened with extinction‖. Trade in specimens of these species is permitted only in exceptional circumstances.  Appendix II provides a lower level of protection.  Appendix III contains species that are protected in at least one country, which has asked other CITES Parties for assistance in controlling the trade.

BRICS IAS

National Digital Library(NDL) Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II – e-governance In News  Bangalore University plans to launch an e-library, where students and staff can download books available online through the university‘s library app  The university has taken up this project under the National Digital Library of India initiative  Human Resource Development Ministry under its National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology launched NDL in 2018  NDL is the Single Window Platform that collects and collates metadata from premier learning institutions in India and abroad, as well as other relevant sources.  NDL is a digital repository containing textbooks, articles, videos, audio books, lectures, simulations, fiction and all other kinds of learning media.  Anybody can access the digital library anytime and anywhere absolutely free of cost and is a step towards ―Padhe Bharat Badhe Bharat‖.  As of now, there are more than 3 crore digital resources available through NDL  More than 50 lakh students have registered themselves in the National Digital Library with about 20 lakh active users.

www.bricsias.com 81421600994242

 NDL has been integrated with UMANG App Do You Know?  UMANG stands for Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance developed by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)and National e-Governance Division (NeGD) to drive Mobile Governance in India  UMANG provides a single platform for all Indian Citizens to access pan India e-Gov services ranging from Central to State to Local Government bodies and other citizen centric services. 28th August 2019 Child well-being index Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains I –Society In News  The index is prepared by NGO World Vision India and research institute IFMR LEAD to measure and tracks children‘s well-being comprehensively.  The index contains 24 indicators based on three key dimensions of healthy individual development, positive relationships and protective contexts.  Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh and Puducherry topped the index rankings whereas Meghalaya, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh were at the bottom of rankings  The report helps States to prioritise the areas of interventions with respect to improving the status of children  Some of the key indicators that need to be studied in the future include mobile usage, digital access, financial literacy, mental health and quality of relationships per se, between parents/peers and children Bonn Challenge Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS-III – Environment Conservation In News  India for the first time will be hosting the 14th session of the Conference of Parties (COP-14) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) from 2nd -13th September 2019  Bonn Challenge is a global effort to bring 150 million hectares of the world‘s deforested and degraded land into restoration by 2020, and 350 million hectares by 2030  At the UNFCC COP 2015 in Paris, India also joined the voluntary Bonn Challenge pledge to bring into restoration 13 million hectares of degraded and deforested land by the year 2020, and additional 8 million hectares by 2030.  In India about 29% or about 96.4 million hectares are considered degraded (soil becoming unfit for cultivation)  Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, Soil Health Card Scheme, Soil Health Management Scheme and Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana are some of the schemes to tackle land degradation. Do You know?  United Nations has 3 Rio Conventions namely, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).  Established in 1994 UNCCD is the only legally binding international agreement linking environment and development issues to the land agenda  In 1994, the United Nations General Assembly declared 17 June the ―World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought‖ to promote public awareness and the implementation of the UNCCD Fedor BRICS IAS Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains III – Science & Technology In News  Fedor short for Final Experimental Demonstration Object Research is a Russian humanoid robot which has recently reached International Space Station(ISS).  Fedor weighing 160 kg & standing 180 cm tall, was sent in an unmanned Soyuz capsule from the launch pad at Russia‘s space facility in Baikonur, Kazakhstan.  It will copy human movements and will help with high-risk tasks at the ISS specially to work on the outside of the ISS  While Fedor is Russia‘s first robot in space, in 2011, NASA sent up Robonaut 2 and in 2013 Japan sent up a small robot called Kirobo into Space. Do You Know?  The International Space Station is habitable artificial satellite in low Earth orbit.  The ISS programme is a joint project between five participating space agencies: NASA – USA Roscosmos – Russia JAXA – Japan ESA – Europe CSA – Canada

www.bricsias.com 81421600994343

 The ownership and use of the space station is established by intergovernmental treaties and agreements  The ISS serves as a microgravity and space environment research laboratory in which crew members conduct experiments in biology, human biology, physics, astronomy, meteorology, and other fields Xenotransplantation Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains III – Science & Technology In News  Xenotransplantation is the transplanting of organs from one species to another  Pioneering transplant surgeon Sir Terence English, who had performed the first heart transplant in the United Kingdom in 1979, declared that his team would transplant a pig‘s kidney into a human‘s body by end of 2019.  The first attempts at animal-to-human transplants were made in 1838, when the cornea of a pig was transplanted into a human.  Over the past century there has been unsuccessful attempts to transfer organs from pigs, goats, sheep, monkeys, chimpanzees, baboons and pigs into humans  With a lack of human cadavers as donors, researchers are looking at animal organs as viable alternative.  A pig‘s genetic make-up and internal organs are similar to a human‘s. Its weight, lipids, arterial pressure, heart rate, renal function, electrolyte balance, and digestive system match those in the human body  Disadvantage with xenotransplantation: fear of transmission of viruses from animals to humans and high rejection rate (human body‘s immune system starts working against any foreign organ) Do You Know?  India‘s national registry shows 1,945 liver and 7,936 kidney transplants were conducted in 2018.  However, India needs 1.8-2 lakh kidney transplants every year, as per the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare data.  In 1997, Dr Dhani Ram Baruah attempted pig-to-human heart transplant on a patient in Guwahati who died a week later due to infection. He was held guilty of an unethical procedure, culpable homicide, violation of the Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1994 and sent to jail. 29th August 2019 Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II – International Organisations In News  Mr. Modi has been invited by Mr. Putin as the chief guest of the EEF to be held in Vladivostok (in Russia‘s Far East) on September 5.  EEF is an international forum held each year, which was established by decree of the President Putin in 2015 to support the economic development of Russia‘s Far East  The Russian Far East comprises the eastern Russian territory between Lake Baikal in eastern Siberia and the Pacific Ocean. This region bordering China is rich in mineral resources like diamonds, borax materials, gold, tungsten, fish and seafood  In EEF, India and Russia are likely to seal a military logistics support agreement, the Agreement on Reciprocal Logistics Support (ARLS),  ARLS will facilitate access to each other‘s‘ military facilities for exchange of fuel and provisions on mutual agreement, simplifying logistical supportand increasing operational turnaround.  A pact may be signed where Russia will construct six nuclear power plants in India, apart from the six being set up in Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu.BRICS IAS Do you know?  India signed the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Understanding (LEMOA) with the U.S. in August 2016  Russia has assured that it be delivering the S-400 Triumph air defence missile system to India by 2023 despite the US pressure on New Delhi not to acquire the system.  America has threatened to impose sanctions on India (for S-400 defence deal) under the CAATSA (Countering America‘s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act) legislation Anti-microbial resistance Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS-II – Issues relating to Health In News  The government has commissioned a ₹9.3 crore study to check antibiotic resistance in along the entire length of the river Ganga.  Agencies involved: Motilal Nehru Institute of Technology, Allahabad; the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nagpur; Sardar Patel Institute of Science & Technology, Gorakhpur and two private companies Phixgen and Xcelris Labs.  The aim of the research project is to indicate the type of ―contamination‖ (sewage and industrial) in the river and ―threat to human health (antibiotic resistance surge) and identifying sources of Eschericia coli  Eschericia coli is a type of bacteria that lives in the gut of animals and humans. Though it is harmless, some species have been linked to intestinal disease as well as aggravating antibiotic resistance.

www.bricsias.com 81421600994444

Do You know?  Residues of antibiotics reach water bodies through waste discharged from households and industries  These antibiotics in water lead to evolution of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics, which then grow in numbers and spread in the environment.  Research has shown that levels of resistance genes that lead to ―superbugs‖ (antibiotic-resistant) were about 60 times greater during the pilgrimage months of May and June than at other times of the year. Sisir Kumar Mitra Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains III – Science & Technology In News  Chandrayaan-2 took photos of various craters on the moon while it was flying over its north pole.  One of the craters it scanned over was a lunar impact crater named Mitra, after the noted Indian physicist, Sisir Kumar Mitra  The Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (WGPSN), an arm of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) had named the crater after Mitra in 1970.  Mitra was the first to introduce radio communication in India and was pioneer in the field of Ionospheric Science and Radio Technology.  The ionosphere is a region of the upper atmosphere which extends from 60 km to several thousand kilometres above the earth.  Ionosphere reflects short radio waves, enabling transmission to be made around the curved surface of the earth by sky waves, and its presence is vital for long-distance radio communication.  Other Indian scientists who have their names etched on the moon is Dr Vikram Sarabhai. Jan Aushadhi Sugam Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II – e-governance In News  Union Minister for Chemicals launched a mobile application ―Jan Aushadhi Sugam‖to enable people to search Jan Aushadhi generic medicine stores.  The app also enables search of Janaushadhi generic medicines, analyse product comparison of Generic vs Branded medicine in form of MRP & overall Savings, etc  Government also announced that ―Jan Aushadhi Suvidha Oxo-Biodegradable Sanitary Napkin‖ will now be available at only One Rupee per pad (earlier cost was Rs 2.50 per pad).  Jan Aushadhi Suvidha comes with a special additive, which makes it biodegradable when it comes in contact with oxygen after being discarded. Do You know?  About 28 million girls are reported to be leaving education because of lack of availability of good quality Sanitary Napkin‖ pads at reasonable cost.  Jan Aushadhi Suvidha is being made available for sale in more than 5500 PMBJP (Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana) Kendras across the country.  Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI) is the implementing agency of PMBJP  BPPI was established as an independent society in December, 2008 under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Government of India. 30th August 2019 Coalition for Disaster ResilientBRICS Infrastructure (CDRI) IAS Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains III – Environmental Conservation In News  PM Modi will launch an International CDRI during the UN Climate Action Summit in New York on September 23.  The Coalition‘s secretariat will be set up in New Delhi.  The CDRI will create a mechanism to assist countries for upgrading their capacities and practices with regard to infrastructure development in accordance with their risk context and economic needs.  It will bring together technical expertise from a multitude of stakeholders.  The charter of the CDRI will be finalized by the National Disaster Management Authority (in consultation with Ministry of External Affairs) after taking inputs from potential member countries  India will provide support of Rs 480 crore (approx. $ 70 million) to the CDRI so as to support research projects, setting up secretariat and covering recurring expenditure over a period of five years from 2019 to 2024.  Potential: A clear niche for a Global CDRI would simultaneously address the loss reduction targets under the Sendai Framework, address a number of SDGs and also contribute to climate change adaptation. Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF) Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS-II – Issues relating to Federalism In News

www.bricsias.com 81421600994545

 The Union Environment Ministry on Thursday transferred ₹47,436 crore to 27 States for afforestation as a part of CAF  Levies are imposed on firms (under Forest Conservation Act 1980) that seeks to divert forest land for developmental activities, which are accrued in the CAF  The amount to be paid by industry depends on the economic value of the goods and services that the razed forest would have provided.  These funds were supposed to be disbursed to states to plant trees elsewhere so as to compensate the loss of forest due to development projects  Only a fraction of this corpus had actually been disbursed to states, due to the lack of a legal framework (until CAF Act, 2016) and instances of States using it for non-forestry purposes.  The CAF Act 2016, established an independent authority — the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority — to execute the fund.  The rules governing the management of the fund were finalised in August 2018.  The release of fund to States will boost the efforts of the Government towards restoration and enhancement of forest wealth, enhance bio-richness, water availability and secure ecological security of the country  The funds will also help in creating the additional carbon sink to meet the nation‘s INDC of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent through additional forest and tree cover by the year 2030. Do You know?  The rate of diversion of forest land for non-forestry activities is roughly 20,000-25,000 hectare per year in India (as per Minister of Environment in 2016)  90% of CAF funds will flow to States & UT afforestation fund which can be used for catchment area treatment, wildlife management, forest fire prevention, soil and moisture conservation work in the forest  However, it cannot be used for payment of salary, travelling allowances, making buildings and buying office equipment for forest officers  10% of CAF funds will be utilized by Centre for monitoring mechanism and R&D activities Foreign Direct Investment(FDI) Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains III – Economy In News  In an effort to get economic growth government has liberalised FDI rules in various sectors  Digital media: Government approved FDI up to 26% under the ―government route‖ for digital media companies that upload or stream news and current affairs.  Digital news media was unregulated & thriving with 100% FDI was allowed in such start ups.  Coal mining: Government permitted 100% FDI under automatic route for sale of coal, for coal mining activities including associated processing infrastructure  This will result in FDI inflow along with updated technology, and increase India‘s coal production thus reducing coal imports. It will also enhance Coal India Limited‘s (CIL) competitiveness and efficiency.  Contract Manufacturing: Government has decided to allow 100% FDI under automatic route in contract manufacturing in India.  Single Brand Retail Trading (SBRT): All procurements made from India by the SBRT entity for the single brand shall be counted towards local sourcing, irrespective of whether the goods procured are sold in India or exported. Do You know?  Print media and news broadcast television companies in India have had FDI caps of 26% and 49% respectively.  BRICS IAS In India, it takes at least six years from getting a mine allocation to actually starting mining operations.  In 2018-19 India spent about $8 billion on importing 125 million tonnes of coal for non-coastal thermal plants.  State-owned Coal India and Singareni Collieries Company together accounted for 91.6% of the total coal produced in the country during FY2017-18  Total FDI flows into India in 2018-19 i.e. US $ 64.37 billion (provisional figure) is the highest ever FDI received for any financial year. Lucy Part of: GS Prelims In News  A 3.8-million-year-old skull named MRD was discovered at a palaeontological site in Ethiopia in 2016  Research on MRD could now clarify the origins of Lucy, the well-known ancestor of modern humans which is estimated to be 3.2 million years old.  The finding helps bridge a big gap between the earliest-known human ancestors (about 6 million years old) and species like Lucy.  The dating suggests that MRD‘s species could have coexisted with Lucy‘s for some 100,000 years.  It is possible that a small group of MRD‘s species became genetically isolated from the rest of the population and evolved into Lucy‘s species, whose population eventually out-bred MRD‘s species Do You know?

www.bricsias.com 81421600994646

 The age of MRD was determined by dating minerals in layers of volcanic rocks near the site.  Researchers also combined field observations with analysis of microscopic biological remains to reconstruct the landscape, vegetation, and hydrology in the area where MRD died,  Scientists have reconstructed MRD‘s facial features and described him as ―a mix of primitive and derived facial and cranial features‖ 31st August 2019 Angikaar campaign Part of: GS Prelims In News  The Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry has launched the ‗Angikaar campaign‘.  The campaign aims for social behaviour change, focusing on issues such as water & energy conservation, waste management, health, tree plantation, sanitation and hygiene for beneficiaries of completed houses under PMAY (U).  The campaign will include door to door activities, ward and city level events.  For this purpose, the campaign will converge with schemes and Missions of other Ministries dealing with these subjects, especially Ujjwala yojana for gas connection and Ayushman Bharat for health insurance.  It will be initiated in all target cities on 2nd October 2019 and culminate on the occasion of Human Rights Day, 10th December, 2019. Do You Know?  PMAY- Urban envisions provision of Housing for All by 2022, when India completes 75 years of its Independence  The scheme has following four verticals Slum rehabilitation of Slum Dwellers with participation of private developers using land as a resource.  Promotion of Affordable Housing for weaker section through credit linked subsidy.  Affordable Housing in Partnership with Public & Private sectors. Subsidy for beneficiary-led individual house construction /enhancement. Fit India Movement Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS-II – Issues relating to Health In News  Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Fit India Movement on the occasion of National Sports Day.  The campaign is aimed at encouraging people to integrate physical activity and sports in their everyday lives.  Technology has contributed to a sedentary lifestyle which has led to increase in lifestyle diseases like diabetes & hypertension, thus fitness is the need of the hour.  The 28-member government committee headed by Sports Minister has been formed to take the movement forward.  National Sports Day is celebrated on 29th August, the birth anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand.  On this Day, President confers the National Sports Awards, National Adventure Awards, Arjuna Award, Khel Ratna, Dronacharya Award and Dhyanchand Award to recognise the exceptional achievements of Indian sportspersons. BRICS IAS

www.bricsias.com 81421600994747

UN Population report Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains I – Society In News  The World Population Prospects 2019 which gives global population estimates and projections was released by United Nations  The world‘s population is expected to increase from 7.7 billion currently to 9.7 billion in 2050 and the overall growth rate will continue to fall.  The countries expected to show theBRICS biggest increase in population are India,IAS Nigeria and Pakistan  Also, fertility rates are falling worldwide from 3.2 in 1990 to 2.5 in 2019, and is projected to fall further to 2.2 births by 2050.  In 2018, for the first time, persons aged 65 years or over worldwide outnumbered children under age five.  By 2050, the number of persons aged 65 or over will also surpass the number of adolescents and youth aged 15-24.  Life Expectancy (LE): Although overall LE will increase (from 64.2 years in 1990 to 77.1 years in 2050), LE in poorer countries is projected to continue to lag behind.  Sex ratio: Males are projected to continue to outnumber females until the end of the century, but the gap will close Do You know?  Early marriage, absence of reproductive and sexual rights has a major and negative repercussions on Indian women‘s education, income, safety and their overall empowerment.  India‘s Maternal mortality ratio in 2015 was 174 deaths per lakh live births (down from 448 in 1994) while the global MMR in 2015 was 216.  While 28 of every 1,000 Indian adolescent women (age 15-19) gave birth between 2006 and 2017, the global adolescent birth rate was at 44 per 1,000.  India‘s fertility rate in 2019 is 2.3 births per woman, compared to 2.5 worldwide Mergers of Public sector banks(PSB) Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS-III – Economy

www.bricsias.com 81421600994848

In News  Government announced mega bank amalgamation plan that merged 10 PSBs into four larger entities  Banks have been merged on the basis of likely operating efficiencies, better usage of equity, geographical synergies and their technological platform  There are four new sets of mergers Punjab National Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce and United Bank of India to merge to form the country‘s second-largest lender. These three banks are technologically compatible as they use Finacle Core Banking Solution platform. Canara Bank and Syndicate Bank to amalgamate; Union Bank of India to acquire Andhra Bank and Corporation Bank;  Indian Bank (Strong presence in South India) to merge with Allahabad Bank (strong presence in East & North India) – To maximise geographical synergies.  Government also announced to infuse 55,250 crore in these banks to enable them to grow their loan book  The government also unveiled governance reforms in PSB, providing their boards greater autonomy, flexibility to fix sitting fee of independent directors, longer term to directors at management committee of boards etc. Do You Know?  Out of the 10 banks that the government has decided to merge to create four, nine have net non-performing assets (NPAs) of over 5%.  Government had merged Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank with Bank of Baroda on January 2019, creating the third- largest bank by loans in the country.  With these series of mergers, the number of state-owned banks is down to 12 from 27.  Narasimham Committee of 1998 had proposed a three-tier banking structure for India – Three large banks of international size, eight to 10 national banks and a large number of regional banks.

JUNE 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS UPSC—PRELIMS CUM MAINS 1st June 2019 ECONOMY TOPIC: General studies 2 and 3  Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.  Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Economic Reforms 2.0 Introduction: The BJP now has an overwhelming majority in the Lok Sabha, hopes have picked up again of a radical reorganisation of the economy that improves the ―collective good‖. There is a long list of reforms that often appear on wish-lists, each discussed for decades.  For example, the problems of the railways have been repeatedly documented, their criticality for the economy highlighted, and suggestions for ending the government‘s monopoly, splitting it, corporatising it, listing it or privatising it have been made.  Administrative reforms were first discussed more than five decades ago.  India‘s laggard manufacturing BRICShas similarly dominated economic literatureIAS and the voices of commentators for a long time.  The challenges of power distribution: Notoriously inefficient state-government monopolies; or on agriculture, where India‘s workforce remains disproportionately large. Moving towards conclusion: There are a few areas where significant background work has been done, and the process needs to move towards conclusion.  Labour reforms: More than 40 laws with often contradictory clauses are to be replaced by four new laws (or codes); The first of these (the code on wages) now needs to be legislated. The code on labour could be next.  There are some long-standing issues like urban infrastructure and affordable housing where intent has been shown and efforts made, but with limited success so far: Continued focus would be of the essence.  The realisation in the past few years that there is scope for significant improvement in the abysmally low direct tax to GDP ratio also needs to see some follow-through. Recent challenges: India‘s growing dependence on imported energy:  One cannot grow economically without consuming more dense forms of energy, and India either does not have domestic sources of dense energy, or does a poor job in extracting and using them. As a result, import dependency is rising, creating growth risks. PSUs dominated financial systems:

www.bricsias.com 81421600994949

 The government tried to privatise PSUs by selling the shares to private banks and NBFCs. This had worked (even if unintentionally) in airlines and telecom, but once the NBFCs growth slowed due to a funding crunch, the problems in this approach have become obvious.  The recent economic slowdown is perhaps worsened by a lack of financial capacity in the system: A decisive approach on the financial architecture in India is necessary. Slowing foreign capital inflows:  Total capital inflows as a share of GDP last year fell back to 2002 levels, and can become a cap on economic growth.  The objective should not just be to attract more foreign capital, as it can cause undesirable volatility, but to prudently assess which risks are worth taking, given the changing domestic and global environments. Better measurement and transparency:  Everyone being on the same page on where our fiscal deficits are, where our growth is, and if we are creating enough jobs, is important.  Even if some of the distrust on growth metrics is politically generated, there is no doubt that the Indian economy is very hard to measure, and that the time spent debating whether the economy is growing or not is a waste. Challenges:  Reforms are disruptive, and the more radical ones almost by definition involve uncertainty. Issues in execution can imperil even the best intended changes.  Given that reforms use up political capital, or goodwill of the masses, it is tempting to target incremental improvement.  Even steps that improve the ―collective good‖ have interest groups that would lose economic power. The losers can exert more pressure in the near term than the beneficiaries whose gains can be more diffuse. Conclusion: Spending the political capital earned by the new government to push through some long pending decisions will act as a stimulus for our economy. Connecting the dots:  Various economic reforms have been taken in recent times; the process needs to move towards conclusion. In the same light the recent challenges need to be tackled with in order to make Indian economy robust. Comment. AGRICULTURE/ECONOMY TOPIC: General studies 2 and 3  Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.  Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.  Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies Agri Reforms 2.0 Background: Series of reforms such as e-NAM and the price deficiency payments scheme to deal with farmers‘ distress over falling prices were introduced by the last government. The Centre, taking a leaf out of States such as Telangana and Odisha, introduced income support, indicating a paradigmatic shift in the direction of farm support policy. Key Issues and Solutions: Issues of overproduction: BRICS IAS A statistical analysis points out that farming has become drought-resilient, with food and horticulture output rising since 2015-16, despite a succession of below-normal or deficient monsoons. The output of milk, fish and eggs have increased sharply over the last decade. Farmers‘ income has not improved because of-  The absence of demand.  Absence of supply chain that can ensure viable farm gate prices while reaching the produce in time to the consumer. Solutions:  Agri-marketing reforms need to be foregrounded, going beyond the e-NAM initiative.  Measures to promote self-sufficiency in crucial crops such as pulses from a nutritional point of view need to be kept up. Pulses are a big plus for soil fertility and for their low water requirements.  The sharp spurt in horticulture output should be sustained by improvements in marketing channels as well as in crop insurance. It is possible to introduce product differentiation in crop insurance schemes.  Cold storages need more attention than ever before with rising horticulture potential.  The state of food processing parks needs to be reviewed.  It should also be ensured that all States implement the Model Agricultural Produce and Livestocks Marketing Act, 2017, and encourage investments in agri-processing. Doing away with APMC yards, without anything to take their place, is not a good idea as Bihar‘s experience has shown.

www.bricsias.com 81421600995050

Low export growth: Despite record-high food production, policy mis-management has seen agri imports growing at 9.8 per cent CAGR in the last five years while exports growth has been muted at 1.1 per cent CAGR.  Institutional reforms such as creation of farmers‘ producers organisations can help in breaking credit, logistics and marketing bottlenecks.  Centre should come up with long-term policies on exports and imports that help producers deal with non-tariff barriers. Inappropriate crop choices: Subsidies for paddy and cane in rainfed regions, such as free electricity, have led to inappropriate crop choices.  The Centre must adopt a holistic approach towards water management and agriculture. Haryana‘s incentive scheme for shifting away from paddy is worth emulating. Conclusion: The Centre is on the right track in its farm policies; its policy mix needs to be fine-tuned. Continuity in income support and workable agri-marketing policies are called for. Connecting the dots:  While multiple reforms have been taken keep agricultural sector as a priority, more needs to be done. Comment. 3rd June 2019 NATIONAL/ECONOMY TOPIC: General studies 2 and 3  Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.  Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Making India energy robust Introduction: India faces a variety of challenges related to energy and environment. Below are some initiatives that the next government could contemplate early on its term. Initiatives to make India energy robust: (On the policy front)  Integrating energy and environment policy: This will help doing away with the current soloed approach to energy policy and enable the new government to view the sector through an integrated and holistic lens. It could more easily track and evaluate the systemic implications of changes in any one or more component variable.  An ―Energy and Environment Security Act‖ should be passed at the earliest possible opportunity. The objective of such an act should be to bring energy and environment into the national narrative; to set out the road map for managing and mitigating the emergent challenge of balancing economic development and energy demands with the goal of environmental protection; and, to mobilise public support for the policy and regulatory changes required to hasten the transition to a non-fossil fuel based energy system.  Decarbonisation, demand management and efficiency should be the watchwords of the new government‘s energy policy. The focus should be on generating electricity from solar and wind, incentivising electric vehicles, curtailing diesel consumption in agriculture, enforcingBRICS standards and emission norms, IAS redesigning buildings and factories to make them carbon neutral and influencing behavioural change towards energy conservation.  The ―clean energy fund‖ which is currently funded through a cess on coal production should be augmented through the issuance of ―green bonds‖ and a clean energy tax. This is to intensify research and development on clean energy technologies (battery storage, carbon capture and sequestration, hydrogen, coal gasification, modular nuclear reactors, etc.) and to fund the transmission and distribution infrastructure required for absorbing the flow of clean energy.  The fund is currently managed by the ministry of finance. It should be managed by those who have domain expertise.  Energy data is scattered across various government departments. This hinders policy and investment. The new government should establish an integrated energy data centre, whose data should be regularly updated and made available to all players on commercial terms. On International front: Energy diplomacy:  The levers of energy and, in particular, oil policy, are today in the hands of autocratic leaders. The local actions of leaders now have global, supply-related ramifications.  The new government should, therefore, look to develop a specialised cadre of ―energy diplomats.‖  Unshackling the energy public sector units from intrusive bureaucratic oversight will enable their management to respond with agility to unexpected market developments.

www.bricsias.com 81421600995151

 Establishing strong personal relations with the leaders of oil exporting states. Increasing domestic capabilities: Intensifying exploration and enhancing recovery:  The government should replace the current revenue-sharing model with a production-sharing model for new exploration.  It should link investment in the marginal and smaller discovered fields with access to the domestic retail market.  It should contemplate bidding out Mumbai High and other major producing oil and gas fields to international players with proven enhanced oil recovery technologies. The current recovery rates of production from these fields are well below the global average. Increasing competition:  Coal India Limited (CIL) is a major producer of coal but faces huge legacy issues (labour unions, mafia, politics and organisation) which constrain its ability to fully and efficiently harness the country‘s indigenous coal reserves.  The new government can allow private sector companies into commercial coal mining. The consequent pressure of competition will bear positively on the performance of CIL. Natural gas:  Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) should be unbundled into a monopoly gas pipeline company. It should be divested of its upstream (production/ re-gassification of LNG) and downstream (petrochemicals) operations.  The ―common access‖ principle must be fairly enforced. Every player, private or public, must have equal access to gas pipelines.  The price of gas should be determined on the basis of market and competitive principles.  A gas trading hub should be expeditiously established.  Special energy courts should be established to expedite adjudication of disputes and ensure sanctity of contracts. Connecting the dots:  India faces a variety of challenges related to energy and environment. In order to make India energy robust actions needs to be taken on policy front. Comment. INTERNATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2  India and the World  International Relations  Policies of developed and developing countries and their impact on India’s interests  Indian Economy and related issues India and RCEP Background: India‘s participation in the mega-trade agreement, Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) has long been debated. If finalised, the RCEP will result in the largest free trade bloc in the world accounting for 25 per cent of global GDP and 30 per cent of world trade. Issues:  India‘s trade deficits with nations have always widened after signing free-trade-agreements (FTAs) with them, citing the cases with ASEAN, Japan, Korea, and Singapore, most of which are RCEP nations.  It has also been pointed out thatBRICS India‘s vulnerable agriculture and IAS dairy sectors, which are not in positions to compete with Australia and New Zealand, will be exposed to vagaries of global trade.  Indian manufacturing is not competitive enough to face the vagaries of a free trade regime. Even after 27 years of liberalisation, inefficiency prevails due to a host of unimplemented reforms in the product and the factor markets. On the factor side, labour market reforms are incomplete. Labour productivity in manufacturing is still one of the lowest in the world with spatially fragmented labour laws are escalating the costs of doing business. Given this, Indian industry is hardly in a position to compete in the level-playing ground in a free-trade region. Differences:  India apprehends that, given its $60-billion trade deficit with China, the RCEP demand to reduce tariffs on 90 per cent of the traded goods to zero will have a disastrous effect on its already struggling MSME sector. India is especially apprehensive about Chinese goods swamping its market, forcing domestic producers to cut production or shut down.  India has expressed its reservations over inclusion of e-commerce in the RCEP talks. The RCEP draft is opposed to data localisation, while India fears the monopoly power of digital giants which includes the likes of Tencent and Alibaba. ASEAN+3:  India could be out of the mega trade deal (RCEP).

www.bricsias.com 81421600995252

 China has started pushing for a free trade pact between ASEAN + 3 (which includes the ten-member ASEAN, China, Japan and South Korea).  This would effectively mean that among the 16 countries negotiating the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), all except India, Australia and New Zealand would get included in the proposed pact.  China may be trying to push for an ASEAN + 3 arrangement to speedily create a new order in the region with itself at the helm to counter the challenge posed by the US with which it is engaged in a trade war. Conclusion: India‘s trade diplomacy needs to be reviewed, with both the US and China applying pressure to secure access to its markets. The earlier multilateral consensus has collapsed. India must support exporters through WTO-compatible means in these uncertain times. Connecting the dots:  India‘s participation in the mega-trade agreement, Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) has long been debated. Discuss the issues around it. 4th June 2019 ECONOMY TOPIC: General studies 3  Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.  Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Structural reforms for tackling economic slowdown Background: Economic slowdown:  Official estimates released recently show GDP growth slowed to a five-year low of 6.8% in 2018-19, even as the unemployment rate rose to a 45-year high of 6.1% in 2017-18.  Agriculture gross value added (GVA) growth is estimated at negative 0.1% and manufacturing GVA growth at 3.1% in the January-March quarter.  The economy is struggling with an investment and a manufacturing slowdown, rural distress, unremunerative farm incomes, stagnating exports, a banking and financial mess and a jobs crisis.  Sales figures from fast moving goods makers and continuing production cuts at car manufacturers confirm that consumption spending have slowed. The economic priority for the new government ought to be credible course correction in policy — its formulation, articulation and the setting of goals. Reforms taken in past:  Structural reforms — spanning an overhaul of labour and land policies and a much-needed manufacturing push, ‗Make In India‘, for absorbing the slack from the farms — had been abandoned by the end of 2015.  The initial energy and enthusiasm gave way to misadventures such as demonetisation and the poorly designed rollout of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime.  The decrepit public banking system and the problems of the financial sector received little policy attention.  Even the insolvency and bankruptcy reform, a sound economic reform, that got rolled out rather gradually and tentatively is already in danger of getting diluted.  The Constitution was hurriedly amended for rolling out reservations based on economic criteria and that fiscal giveaways for middle class Indians and farmers dominated the Interim Budget presented in February without considering the magnitude of theBRICS challenge on the economic front. IAS Way ahead: Generating sustainable livelihoods:  Public provision of toilets, cooking gas connections and dwellings or Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) wage jobs and income supplement schemes are temporary sources of relief. They are not an economic growth model or strategies for reducing poverty. They can help the poor survive by providing meagre resources for subsistence.  Reducing poverty needs economic growth to generate sustainable livelihoods for the poor. And this cannot be remedied by redistributive taxation policies alone.  The government‘s ‗Make In India‘ strategy was a step in the right direction, and needs to be revived. Done right, it can absorb the slack from the farms.  Few organised sector jobs get generated in India because industries prefer capital-intensive production despite the economy‘s relative abundance of low-wage labour.  If production were less capital-intensive, more organised sector jobs would be created. Plus, labour‘s bargaining power would improve. The government needs to take up the backlog of economic reforms pending since the first burst in the 1990s.  For the role they play in jobs creation, smaller firms ought to be incentivised with easy credit and taxation norms. Data collection

www.bricsias.com 81421600995353

 Lastly, no evolution of the policy paradigm will be possible if the crisis of credibility in the collection, estimation and presentation of official statistics is not addressed appropriately. Conclusion: The new government must leverage the public trust voters have placed in it to get the economy on track. Structural reforms with meticulous planning and proper implementation will help. Connecting the dots:  Official data shows India is facing an economic slowdown. Structural reforms ensuring more job creation will help. Elucidate. NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2  Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation  Development processes and the development industry- the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.  Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections. NREGA 3.0: Part I Background:  In the run up to the elections, a plethora of redistributive programmes, including farm loan waivers, cash transfers and minimum income guarantees came to the forefront as campaigners sought to suggest solutions for rural distress.  Amongst these is a proposal to launch a revised NREGA 3.0, in which 150 days of employment would be guaranteed to the rural poor.  Almost 15 years after it was enacted, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) its time we analyse its impact on the poor. What does the NREGA intend to do?  Enacted as a legal right, the NREGA‘s primary goal is social protection for the most vulnerable.  India has had relative success with workfare, with the Maharashtra Employment Guarantee Scheme being the most important precursor to the NREGA.  The primary advantage of workfare programmes over farm loan waivers, cash transfers and minimum income programmes is that the poor self-select themselves into the programme, thus reducing the identification costs.  The ability of a programme to parsimoniously target the ultra-poor without elaborate means testing is critical for its long-term success, particularly when fiscal resources are scarce. Crucially, the most basic tenet of the NREGA — its self-targeting mechanism — does work. Poorer and disadvantaged households are more likely to seek NREGA work. Issue of demand-supply gap:  In practice, however, not all those who demand NREGA work receive it. In 2009/10, almost half the households in rural India wanted NREGA jobs but only a quarter received them, according to estimates by Liu and Barrett (2016). More recently, employment provided under NREGA in 3,500 panchayats in 2017/18 was a third less than that demanded. Impact of NREGA on poverty: BRICS IAS Three available national counterfactual-based studies show modest increases in household per capita expenditures and consumption in the first few years of the programme, the picture is entirely different for marginalised groups, who have benefited greatly due to NREGA.  A study shows Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe recipients increased their real monthly per capita expenditure by 37 per cent in the lean season of 2008, cutting poverty by almost half.  Likewise, state-level studies show NREGA favours the most disadvantaged. The poorest SC/ST households and those with a disabled member saw higher growth in consumption and nutritional intake in the short-run, and in the medium-term, substantially increased their non-financial assets.  In Bihar, a study estimates that NREGA reduced poverty by roughly 1 percentage point in 2009. Reducing vulnerability:  Aside from its impact on the poorest, NREGA also plays a critical role in reducing vulnerability.  Research indicates that NREGA provides employment after an adverse rainfall shock, enables workers to smoothen their consumption with variations in rainfall, and reduces risk during the lean season. Conclusion:  Despite been severely rationed, NREGA acts, as per its mandate, as a very desirable social protection mechanism amongst the most disadvantaged classes.  Compared to other proposals on the table, NREGA efficiently allows the most disadvantaged to spur their consumption in times of rural distress.

www.bricsias.com 81421600995454

 As a new administration weighs policy options at a time of rural unemployment and weakening consumption, pre- monsoon, it would be prudent to substantially ramp up NREGA so all those who demand jobs, receive them. Connecting the dots:  NREGA provides a vital safety net and the dignity of rightful employment to those who are most vulnerable. 5th June 2019 NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2  Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.  Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.  Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. Better implementation of the Right to Education Act Background: In India, the right to education was made a fundamental right by inserting Article 21A by the Constitution (Eighty- sixth Amendment) Act, 2002. It was enabled with the subsequent enactment of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009. However, its implementation has been a challenge for most States as they have discretion in how the Act gets implemented. No child left behind:  The RTE Act bears many similarities to the U.S.‘s No Child Left Behind Act, including school accountability, assessment standards and teacher training. Like the U.S., in India too States have been given major leeway in deciding the course of implementation.  Section 12 (1) (c) of the Act mandates all private schools (except for minority schools) to allocate 25% of their seats to economically weaker sections, i.e. those families with an income of less than Rs. 2 lakh a year, and other disadvantaged groups like Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and the physically challenged. The State government will then reimburse these schools for students admitted under this provision, at an amount per month that is determined by the State rules. Issues to be addressed:  A problem that recurs every year is mandated access to underprivileged sections of society. The process for admission under Section 12 (1) (c) is far from perfect. This is evident in the large number of vacancies in several cities in the country. For instance, on the last day of admissions under the RTE Act, under the first lottery there were 20,835 vacancies in Maharashtra.  Despite the use of GIS tagging, several parents complain that the system is faulty in identifying nearby schools.  Financial problems continue to mar the system — many schools collect money for textbooks and uniform though this is part of the State-stipulated fees. This is a chain reaction: the Centre is supposed to release up to 70% of the funds for this programme which is often delayed.  While moving the system online has led to transparency, in many States the management committee as per the RTE Act has not been notified.  BRICS IAS RTE rules also state that unfilled seats can be filled again in September but governments have no conspicuous public announcements regarding this.  There have also been several grievances regarding the ‗1 km radius‘ criterion, especially for rural residents who may not have any private schools in their vicinity. Leading by the example: Tamil Nadu, which has always been at the forefront of educational progress in India, has made certain strides in the implementation of Section 12 (1) (c).  It has widened the ambit of ―disadvantaged sections‖ to include HIV positive children and transgenders.  A centralised database has been created by the State where people can access all the matriculation (State board) schools in the State which lie within 1 km of their residence.  Another notification has been issued to bring all schools affiliated to boards other than State boards under the control of its Director of School Education for RTE implementation. Going forward:  The procedure for admission should be made through a single-point window online for all school boards, with computer kiosks to assist parents who may not be able to fill the form online. A mobile application should be built with live information on the number of seats available in each school under the 25% quota.

www.bricsias.com 81421600995555

 An RTE compliance audit should be conducted for all schools every year by the State Education Department. Any aid given to private schools must be tied to the levels of compliance achieved by the school.  Several schools do not adhere to the 25% quota. These schools should be penalised and derecognised if continuous violations occur.  Every school should declare prominently that it is RTE compliant — and the admission procedure, including deadlines, should be displayed at the school premises.  On the government side of things, funds need to be released in a timely manner, so that it inspires confidence in schools to fill all the vacancies. Conclusion: Section 12 (1) (c) of the RTE Act recognises the need for inclusion, and explicitly establishes responsibility on all stakeholders to contribute towards this goal. Its only after all the stakeholders involved work in cooperation and in true spirit that the RTE Act will serve its purpose. Connecting the dots:  Complications related to various provisions of the RTE Act need to be addressed in order to ensure that education in India become inclusive. Elucidate. NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2  Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.  Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.  Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. The draft National Education Policy, 2019 In news: The draft National Education Policy, 2019 is out in the public domain, with comments sought from all stakeholders. Drawing inputs from the T.S.R. Subramanian Committee report and the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), the K. Kasturirangan Committee has produced a document that is comprehensive, far-sighted and grounded in realities. Unique features of the policy: The draft policy seeks to revamp all aspects of the sector and suggests brave new ideas. The idea that lifelong education is based on four pillars — learning to know, learning to do, learning to live together and learning to be — has inspired the committee to cover every aspect of the education sector: school, higher, vocational and adult education. It also includes the whole gamut of professional education — engineering, medicine, agriculture, law, etc.  Early childhood education: In school education, the idea is to cover children of 3-18 years [instead of the present 6-14 years under the Right to Education (RTE) Act], three years under early childhood care and education (ECCE) and four years under secondary education.  Restructuring the 10+2 educationBRICS structure into a 5+3+3+4 structure soIAS that the five years from ages three to seven or till the end of Std 2 are seen as one ―foundational stage‖. The next two stages, of three years each, are ―preparatory‖ and ―upper primary‖, first ensure the acquisition of foundational skills and then their development. These stages are not only consistent with the development of children, but they are also useful to meet the overall goal of ensuring basic learning outcomes stage-by-stage.  Higher education: The aim is to double the Gross Enrolment Ratio from 25% to 50% by 2035 and make universities the hubs of research. – Tier I universities/institutions devoted primarily to research and some teaching. – Tier 2 universities devoted to teaching and some research,. – Tier 3 institutions comprising mainly colleges that are to be converted gradually into degree-giving autonomous institutions.  Achieve ‗universal foundational literacy and numeracy‘ through initiatives like the National Tutors Programme and the Remedial Instructional Aides Programme.  Introduction of school complexes, a system of modular Board Examinations to allow flexibility, setting up Special Education Zones in disadvantaged regions, recognising teachers at the heart of the system, moving teacher education into the university system, and stressing the importance of learning new languages are among the key recommendations.

www.bricsias.com 81421600995656

 The policy recommends community and volunteer participation in collaboration with schools to overcome the current crisis. Schools generally work in isolation from the community they serve.  The policy recognises the crucial importance of liberal arts (it recommends setting up five Indian Institutes of Liberal Arts offering four-year courses) and the study of modern and classical languages (it recommends setting up National Institutions for Pali, Prakrit and Persian).  It proposes separate institutions for regulation, funding, standard setting and accreditation, a National Research Foundation, and a Rashtriya Shiksha Aayog/ National Education Commission.  Vocational education, meant for 50% of the students, is sought to be integrated with school and higher education. Challenges in implementation:  Doubling of public funding to 6% of the GDP and increasing overall public expenditure on education to 20% from the current 10%. This is desirable but does not appear to be feasible in the near future given that most of the additional funding has to come from the States. Though innovative financing schemes have been proposed, involving the private sector, how those schemes will shape up remains to be seen.  Expanding coverage under the RTE Act is extremely important, but should be introduced gradually, keeping in mind the quality of infrastructure and teacher vacancies.  The idea of regulation being brought under the National Higher Education Regulatory Authority, standard setting under the General Education Council and funding under the Higher Education Grants Council may require a revisit so that there is synchronisation with the current Bill for the Higher Education Commission of India.  Language issues have to be handled sensitively in view of their emotional overtones, as witnessed recently. Conclusion: The ―learning crisis‖ is very deep. The education system — public and private — has been deteriorating rapidly and has affected the quality of our human resources. If this trend is not reversed, the dysfunctional system will become more and more expensive but will not deliver the goods. It will require a huge commitment and conviction to make it happen. Connecting the dots:  Discuss unique features of the draft National Education Policy, 2019. Also comment on the challenges in implementation of suggested recommendations. 6th June 2019 INTERNATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2 and 3:  India and the World  International Relations  Policies of developed and developing countries and their impact on India‘s interests  Indian Economy and related issues Reviving SAARC Background: The government has shown its commitment to its strategy of ―Neighbourhood First‖ by inviting the leaders of neighbouring countries for the second time to Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s swearing-in ceremony. While in 2014 the invitation went to the leaders of the eight-member South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), In 2019 it wentBRICS to leaders of the seven-member BayIAS of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). BIMSTEC includes five SAARC members (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka), and Myanmar and Thailand, while leaving SAARC members Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Maldives out, due to the geographical location of the Bay of Bengal. SAARC Importance, Success and Failures: SAARC, as an organisation, reflects the South Asian identity of the countries, historically and contemporarily. This is a naturally made geographical identity. Equally, there is a cultural, linguistic, religious and culinary affinity that defines South Asia. Therefore, just as rivers, climatic conditions flow naturally from one South Asian country to the other, so do the films, poetry, humour, entertainment and food. Since 1985 when the SAARC charter was signed, the organisation has developed common cause in several fields: agriculture, education, health, climate change, science and technology, transport and environment. Each area has seen modest but sustainable growth in cooperation. For example, from 2010, when the South Asian University began in Delhi, the number of applicants for about 170 seats has more than doubled.

SAARC Failures: SAARC‘s biggest failure comes from the political sphere, where mainly due to India-Pakistan tensions, heads of state have met only 18 times in 34 years; it has been five years since the last summit in Kathmandu.

www.bricsias.com 81421600995757

BIMSTEC Importance: BIMSTEC, on the other hand, is not tied up in the identity of the nations that are members. It is essentially a grouping of countries situated around the Bay of Bengal, and began in 1997 (Bhutan and Nepal joined in 2004), a decade after SAARC. With India‘s growing frustration over cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan, it hopes to build more on BIMSTEC‘s potential. BIMSTEC is unlikely to supplant SAARC: One of BIMSTEC‘s two founding principles is: ―Cooperation within BIMSTEC will constitute an addition to and not be a substitute for bilateral, regional or multilateral cooperation involving the Member States.‖ Its official literature describes it as ―a bridge between South and South East Asia‖ and a ―platform for intra-regional cooperation between SAARC and ASEAN [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] members.‖

What explains the deep resistance to SAARC in India?  Terrorism emanating from Pakistan is the biggest stumbling block cited by the government. Mr. Modi cancelled his attendance at the last planned SAARC summit in Islamabad in 2016, after the attack on the Indian Army‘s brigade headquarters in Uri. Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Bhutan followed suit. This principled stand by India, however, doesn‘t extend to other organisations such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), into which India and Pakistan were inducted in 2017.  Another reason is the logjam because of Pakistan‘s opposition to connectivity projects such as the Motor Vehicles Agreement (MVA), energy sharing proposals and others such as the South Asia Satellite offered by India. Going forward:  SAARC could adopt the ―ASEAN minus X‖ formula — members who are unwilling to join the consensus can be allowed to join at a future date, while members who wish to go ahead with connectivity, trade or technology cooperation agreements are not impeded.  In a region increasingly targeted by Chinese investment and loans, SAARC could be a common platform to demand more sustainable alternatives for development, or to oppose trade tariffs together, or to demand better terms for South Asian labour around the world.

Conclusion: SAARC needs to be allowed to progress naturally and the people of South Asia, who make up a quarter of the world‘s population, are enabled to fulfil their destiny together. Connecting the dots:  SAARC still has the potential to become a platform for South Asian interests and shared growth. Critically analyse. NATIONAL TOPIC:General Studies 2:  Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.  Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections  Issues relating to developmentBRICS and management of Social Sector/Services IAS relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. Better implementation of the Right to Education Act Background: In India, the right to education was made a fundamental right by inserting Article 21A by the Constitution (Eighty- sixth Amendment) Act, 2002. It was enabled with the subsequent enactment of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009. However, its implementation has been a challenge for most States as they have discretion in how the Act gets implemented. No child left behind:  The RTE Act bears many similarities to the U.S.‘s No Child Left Behind Act, including school accountability, assessment standards and teacher training. Like the U.S., in India too States have been given major leeway in deciding the course of implementation.  Section 12 (1) (c) of the Act mandates all private schools (except for minority schools) to allocate 25% of their seats to economically weaker sections, i.e. those families with an income of less than Rs. 2 lakh a year, and other disadvantaged groups like Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and the physically challenged. The State government will then reimburse these schools for students admitted under this provision, at an amount per month that is determined by the State rules. Issues to be addressed:

www.bricsias.com 81421600995858

 A problem that recurs every year is mandated access to underprivileged sections of society. The process for admission under Section 12 (1) (c) is far from perfect. This is evident in the large number of vacancies in several cities in the country. For instance, on the last day of admissions under the RTE Act, under the first lottery there were 20,835 vacancies in Maharashtra.  Despite the use of GIS tagging, several parents complain that the system is faulty in identifying nearby schools.  Financial problems continue to mar the system — many schools collect money for textbooks and uniform though this is part of the State-stipulated fees. This is a chain reaction: the Centre is supposed to release up to 70% of the funds for this programme which is often delayed.  While moving the system online has led to transparency, in many States the management committee as per the RTE Act has not been notified.  RTE rules also state that unfilled seats can be filled again in September but governments have no conspicuous public announcements regarding this.  There have also been several grievances regarding the ‗1 km radius‘ criterion, especially for rural residents who may not have any private schools in their vicinity. Leading by the example: Tamil Nadu, which has always been at the forefront of educational progress in India, has made certain strides in the implementation of Section 12 (1) (c).  It has widened the ambit of ―disadvantaged sections‖ to include HIV positive children and transgenders.  A centralised database has been created by the State where people can access all the matriculation (State board) schools in the State which lie within 1 km of their residence.  Another notification has been issued to bring all schools affiliated to boards other than State boards under the control of its Director of School Education for RTE implementation. Going forward:  The procedure for admission should be made through a single-point window online for all school boards, with computer kiosks to assist parents who may not be able to fill the form online. A mobile application should be built with live information on the number of seats available in each school under the 25% quota.  An RTE compliance audit should be conducted for all schools every year by the State Education Department. Any aid given to private schools must be tied to the levels of compliance achieved by the school.  Several schools do not adhere to the 25% quota. These schools should be penalised and derecognised if continuous violations occur.  Every school should declare prominently that it is RTE compliant — and the admission procedure, including deadlines, should be displayed at the school premises.  On the government side of things, funds need to be released in a timely manner, so that it inspires confidence in schools to fill all the vacancies. Conclusion: Section 12 (1) (c) of the RTE Act recognises the need for inclusion, and explicitly establishes responsibility on all stakeholders to contribute towards this goal. Its only after all the stakeholders involved work in cooperation and in true spirit that the RTE Act will serve its purpose. Connecting the dots:  BRICS IAS Complications related to various provisions of the RTE Act need to be addressed in order to ensure that education in India become inclusive. Elucidate. 7th June 2019 NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2:  Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.  Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections  Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. The draft National Education Policy, 2019 In news: The draft National Education Policy, 2019 is out in the public domain, with comments sought from all stakeholders. Drawing inputs from the T.S.R. Subramanian Committee report and the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), the K. Kasturirangan Committee has produced a document that is comprehensive, far-sighted and grounded in realities.

www.bricsias.com 81421600995959

Unique features of the policy: The draft policy seeks to revamp all aspects of the sector and suggests brave new ideas. The idea that lifelong education is based on four pillars — learning to know, learning to do, learning to live together and learning to be — has inspired the committee to cover every aspect of the education sector: school, higher, vocational and adult education. It also includes the whole gamut of professional education — engineering, medicine, agriculture, law, etc.  Early childhood education: In school education, the idea is to cover children of 3-18 years [instead of the present 6-14 years under the Right to Education (RTE) Act], three years under early childhood care and education (ECCE) and four years under secondary education.  Restructuring the 10+2 education structure into a 5+3+3+4 structure so that the five years from ages three to seven or till the end of Std 2 are seen as one ―foundational stage‖. The next two stages, of three years each, are ―preparatory‖ and ―upper primary‖, first ensure the acquisition of foundational skills and then their development. These stages are not only consistent with the development of children, but they are also useful to meet the overall goal of ensuring basic learning outcomes stage-by-stage.  Higher education: The aim is to double the Gross Enrolment Ratio from 25% to 50% by 2035 and make universities the hubs of research. – Tier I universities/institutions devoted primarily to research and some teaching. – Tier 2 universities devoted to teaching and some research,. – Tier 3 institutions comprising mainly colleges that are to be converted gradually into degree-giving autonomous institutions.  Achieve ‗universal foundational literacy and numeracy‘ through initiatives like the National Tutors Programme and the Remedial Instructional Aides Programme.  Introduction of school complexes, a system of modular Board Examinations to allow flexibility, setting up Special Education Zones in disadvantaged regions, recognising teachers at the heart of the system, moving teacher education into the university system, and stressing the importance of learning new languages are among the key recommendations.  The policy recommends community and volunteer participation in collaboration with schools to overcome the current crisis. Schools generally work in isolation from the community they serve.  The policy recognises the crucial importance of liberal arts (it recommends setting up five Indian Institutes of Liberal Arts offering four-year courses) and the study of modern and classical languages (it recommends setting up National Institutions for Pali, Prakrit and Persian).  It proposes separate institutions for regulation, funding, standard setting and accreditation, a National Research Foundation, and a Rashtriya Shiksha Aayog/ National Education Commission.  Vocational education, meant for 50% of the students, is sought to be integrated with school and higher education. Challenges in implementation:  Doubling of public funding to 6% of the GDP and increasing overall public expenditure on education to 20% from the current 10%. This is desirable but does not appear to be feasible in the near future given that most of the additional funding has to come from the States. BRICS IAS Though innovative financing schemes have been proposed, involving the private sector, how those schemes will shape up remains to be seen.  Expanding coverage under the RTE Act is extremely important, but should be introduced gradually, keeping in mind the quality of infrastructure and teacher vacancies.  The idea of regulation being brought under the National Higher Education Regulatory Authority, standard setting under the General Education Council and funding under the Higher Education Grants Council may require a revisit so that there is synchronisation with the current Bill for the Higher Education Commission of India.  Language issues have to be handled sensitively in view of their emotional overtones, as witnessed recently. Conclusion: The ―learning crisis‖ is very deep. The education system — public and private — has been deteriorating rapidly and has affected the quality of our human resources. If this trend is not reversed, the dysfunctional system will become more and more expensive but will not deliver the goods. It will require a huge commitment and conviction to make it happen. Connecting the dots:  Discuss unique features of the draft National Education Policy, 2019. Also comment on the challenges in implementation of suggested recommendations. ECONOMY TOPIC: General Studies 3:

www.bricsias.com 81421600996060

 Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. The Nandan Nilekani panel on deepening digital payments In news: The RBI constituted the five-member committee in January to review the status of digitization of payments, identify gaps in the ecosystem, and suggest ways of plugging them. It was tasked to suggest a medium-term strategy for deepening digital payments and measures to strengthen safety and security. The high-level committee on deepening of digital payments, led by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani, has recommended a reduction in costs to widen the acceptance infrastructure and improve digital financial inclusion. The report noted that while the digital payments ecosystem has made substantial progress on the issuance side, there needs to be an improvement on the demand or acceptance side of the ecosystem. Background: Per capita digital transactions stand at 22 in March 2019 and are expected to increase to 220 by March 2022, according to the committee. This will lead to an increase in the number of users of digital transactions from 100 million to 300 million. At present, India has a large currency in circulation to GDP ratio, when compared with other countries. Recommendations: Reduction in Fees & Taxes:  15-basis-point cut in the interchange fee for use of banks‘ ATM networks by customers of other banks make sense.  A major suggestion to increase both digital acceptance and tax compliance is that businesses be provided with tax incentives calibrated on the proportion of digital payments in their receipts.  Removal of all charges on digital payment transactions for the convenience of customers.  The government should continue the current scheme to refund the merchant discount rate for small value transactions (under₹2,000) beyond December 2019 for another two years. Improving ease of usage:  To move away from plastic, and let the merchant use only the phone and a QR code. This will make digital payments seamless and convenient for customers. Merchants can generate their own code that will be interoperable with banks, doing away with card-swipe terminals.  The panel also recommended the creation of a No-KYC wallet with a maximum value of ₹2,000 in the wallet and maximum spending capped at ₹10,000 per month, with the aim of boosting digital payments. Expanding the horizon:  To expand the UPI payments platform to foreign currency remittances by the NRIs and to settle residents‘ payments when they travel overseas — just as Chinese users can use WeChat — makes eminent sense.  Another is that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) consider setting up an acceptance development fund, which is used to develop new merchants in poorly served areas.  Creation of a digital financial inclusion index so that progress in an area can be measured along a common scale, indicating the evolution of the users and steps taken for correcting the imbalance.  The government, being the single-largest participant in payments, take the lead on all aspects of digitisation of payments. Need to provide citizens with the option to pay digitally for all payments to government and public sector agencies. Improving security:  BRICS IAS The RBI and the Centre to put in place a mechanism to monitor digital payment systems and make aggregated information based on blocks and PIN codes, available to all players on a monthly basis. Conclusion: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the government must target growth in the volume of digital payments by a factor of 10 in three years, leading to doubling in value relative to gross domestic product (GDP), as per the committee. This growth will be driven by a shift from high-value, low-volume, high-cost transactions to low-value, high-volume, low-cost transactions. Connecting the dots:  The digital payments ecosystem has made substantial progress in India. In this light discuss the recommendation of the Nandan Nilekani panel on deepening digital payments. 8th June 2019 NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2:  Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.  Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes.

www.bricsias.com 81421600996161

 Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.  Important aspects of governance and related issues. Creating a Welfare State Background: Housing, sanitation, gas connections (Ujjwala), direct benefit transfers (DBT), income support (PM-Kisan) —were few of the welfarist programmes launched by the last government. In their implementation, these schemes had ambitious targets, tight centralised monitoring and outreach resulting in an accelerated pace of activity. But they also brought to the fore deeply contested questions about the architecture of the welfare state, its functions and capability. The effectiveness of welfare policy will rest on the government‘s willingness to invest in building state capacity. Building a competent welfare bureaucracy:  Targeted programmes like PM-Kisan require bureaucrats to identify eligible beneficiaries. To do this, critical data like land records and socio-economic caste census needs to be regularly updated and disputes between claims of citizens and official records should be negotiated.  Getting the DBT architecture right requires bureaucrats to engage citizens and coordinate across departments — a skill that Indian bureaucrats simply do not possess.  Countries like Brazil and Mexico have invested in large cadres of social workers at the local government level to do just this. But in the rush to bypass bureaucrats through DBT and transfer cash directly into bank accounts, this crucial investment has been ignored. Solution: The success of welfare programmes in Modi 2.0 will depend on willingness to recognise that building a competent welfare bureaucracy, even if it‘s only task is to move money, will require empowering local governments with skills and resources. Active citizen participation: Responsive governments require active citizen participation. Digitised efficiency risks casting citizens as passive recipients of government largesse rather than active claimants of rights. Digitised welfare systems genuinely risk closing off spaces for citizens to complain, protest and demand accountability when rights are denied. Solution: A balance needs to be struck between efficiency gains through centralised control and responsiveness through decentralised, citizen-centric governance. Health sector: With Ayushman Bharat, a significant step was taken towards an architectural shift in India‘s welfare system, away from direct provisioning towards financing citizens and regulating private providers. But can a state that struggles with routine tasks regulate a sector as complex as healthcare? The staffing requirement, in Uttar Pradesh alone, would amount to 10,000 employees. Importantly, in a sector like health where predatory practices are rife, well-functioning government hospitals are a necessary check and balance. Regulation cannot be a substitute for investing in public systems. Ayushman Bharat must be complemented with a concerted focus on strengthening public hospitals. Flexibility to States: BRICS IAS The multiplicity of central schemes has served to entrench a silo-driven, one-size-fits-all approach that is inefficient as it fails to capture state-specific needs.  Addressing overlaps and complementarities within existing schemes needs to be checked.  The World Bank‘s social protection analysis calls for developing a national social protection strategy with a core basket of schemes that states can adapt to their needs.  Greater flexibility to states was also recommended by the Niti Aayog‘s chief ministers sub committee report in 2016. Implementing these recommendations will require a radical shift in the role of the central government away from designing and controlling schemes to strategic thinking and supporting states. Resolving India‘s learning crisis: The newly-released national education policy emphasises the urgent need to ensure all students achieve foundational literacy and numeracy. This needs to be adopted and implemented in mission mode. Conclusion: India doesn‘t need new schemes, rather it needs consolidation and balancing between competing welfare strategies. Getting this right will require significant investments in state capacity. Connecting the dots:  In order to create a welfare state it is must that the government invests in building state capacity. Elucidate. 10th June 2019

www.bricsias.com 81421600996262

All states, union territories can now set up foreign Tribunals Part of: Prelims and Mains GS Paper II Polity In News  In the backdrop of updation process of National Register of Citizen in Assam, Ministry of Home Affairs has amended the Foreigners (Tribunals) Order, 1964. Amendments:  The amended order has empowered District Magistrates in all States and Union Territories to set up tribunals to decide whether a person staying illegally in India is a foreigner or not. Earlier, the powers to constitute tribunals were vested only with the Centre.  The amended Foreigners (Tribunal) Order, 2019 also empowers individuals to approach the Tribunals. Do you Know? National Register of Citizens (NRC)  National Register of Citizens, 1951 was a register prepared after the conduct of the Census of 1951.  Any citizens whose does not find his/her name in NRC shall be considered as foreigner under Foreigner‘s Act, 1946 and shall be liable for deportation.  NRC regards all migrants who have come to India after March, 24, 1971 as illegal irrespective of their religion. Such illegal immigrant needs to be deported back to their home country as per Assam Accord Sportswear giant set to tap Indian firms‘ PET project to cut virgin plastic use Part of: Environment and Ecology, Mains GS paper III: Environmental conservation In News:  Adidas aims at eliminating the use of virgin plastics in its products by 2024.  According to the United Nations, around 300 million tonnes of plastic are produced every year with eight million tonnes of plastic waste ends up in the oceans.  PET bottles are the main contributors to plastic waste globally and in India.  It is taking help of Polygenta Technology Limited, a Maharashtra based company which is the only one company in the country to produce yarn out of discarded PET bottles. Recycling in India; Downcycling and Upcycling  PET material collection rate in India is nearly 80% — among the best in the world — but a good portion of these bottles are downcycled, eliminating the possibility of further recycling.  Downcycling is reuse of waste in a manner that the recycled product is of lower value than the original material.  The PET recycling by PTL uses an upcycling process which consumes 86% less water and 75% less energy than conventional manufacturing. However, it costs approximately 10% more. Miscellaneous  Mula Mutha River: ₹990-crore river cleaning project, a ‗gift from the Centre‘, has been fast-tracked  Formalin, used to preserve fish, is harmful to human and ecosystem health NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 3:  Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices  Inclusive growth and issues arising from it. General Studies 2:  Government policies and interventionsBRICS for development in various sectorsIAS and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Indian Agriculture: Improving global competitiveness Background: Indian industry is today complaining that the rural demand is collapsing. Tractor sales are down by 13 per cent, two-wheeler sales are down by 16 per cent, car sales are down by similar percentage, and even FMCG (fast move consumer goods) sales are down in April 2019 over April 2018. One of the reasons is that India has never had any major agri-reforms and farmers‘ incomes have remained very low. So, if industry wants to prosper, we must aim at an agri-GDP growth of more than 4 per cent. Issues:  Need to raise farm productivity in a manner that can cut down unit costs and make Indian agriculture more competitive, enabling higher exports. Officials managing agri-trade need to pay heed to this massive failure as it has implications not only for overall agri-GDP growth, but also for slowing down of manufacturing growth due to sluggish demand for industrial products in rural areas.  Restrictive policies constrain the private sector from building direct supply chains from farms to ports, which bypass the mandi system. This leads to a weak infrastructure for agri-exports. The net result of all this is that Indian farmers do not get full advantage of global markets.

www.bricsias.com 81421600996363

 An obsessive focus on inflation targeting by suppressing food prices through myriad controls works against the farmer. Improving global competitiveness:  Investment in agri-R&D. Today, India spends roughly 0.7 per cent of agri-GDP on agri-R&D and extension together. This needs to double in the next five years. The returns are enormous. Example: The meagre investments in Pusa Basmati 1121 and 1509, for example, have yielded basmati exports between $ 4 and 5 billion annually. The returns from the sugarcane variety Co-0238 in Uttar Pradesh are similarly impressive. The recovery ratio has increased from about 9.2 in 2012-13 to more than 11 per cent today.  Massive investments are also needed in managing our water resources more efficiently, to produce more with less.  Investment in infrastructure for agri-exports value chains. Conclusion: Augmenting productivity should be accompanied with pushing for export markets. Improving competitiveness in Indian agriculture is must if the dream of doubling farmers‘ income by 2020 needs to be achieved. Connecting the dots:  Indian agriculture lacks global competitiveness. Analyze critically. INTERNATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2:  India and the World  International Relations  Policies of developed and developing countries and their impact on India‘s interests Foreign Policy Challenges Background: The world looks more disorderly in 2019 than was the case five years ago.  U.S. President Donald Trump‘s election and the new dose of unpredictability in U.S. policy pronouncements.  The trade war between the U.S. and China which is becoming a technology war.  Brexit and the European Union‘s internal preoccupations.  Erosion of U.S.-Russia arms control agreements and the likelihood of a new arms race covering nuclear, space and cyber domains.  The U.S.‘s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal and growing tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Above are some of the developments that add to the complexity of India‘s principal foreign policy challenge of dealing with the rise of China. Redefining neighbourhood: Pakistan:  Despite good planning there is always the risk of unintended escalation as Balakot (this year) and the downing of an Indian Air Force (IAF) MiG-21 showed. In the absence of communication channels between India and Pakistan, it appears that the U.S., Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates played a role in ensuring the quick release of the IAF pilot, Wg. Cdr. Abhinandan Varthaman, thereby defusing the situation. Unless the Modi government wantsBRICS to outsource crisis management to externalIAS players, it may be better to have some kind of ongoing dialogue between the two countries. Other neighbours: Translating India‘s natural weight in the region into influence was easier in a pre-globalised world and before China emerged in its assertive avatar.  It is preferable to work on the basis of generating broad-based consent rather than dominance. This necessitates using multi-pronged diplomatic efforts and being generous as the larger economy.  It also needs a more confident and coordinated approach in handling neighbourhood organisations — SAARC, BIMSTEC, the Bangladesh, the Bhutan, India, Nepal Initiative, the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Forum for Regional Cooperation, the Indian Ocean Rim Association.  Above should be preferably in tandem with bilateralism because our bilateral relations provide us with significant advantages. Managing China: China will remain the most important issue, as in 2014. The policy followed was of growing economic, commercial and cultural relations while managing the differences on the boundary dispute through dialogue and confidence- building measures, in the expectation that this would create a more conducive environment for eventual negotiations. The Doklam stand-off was a rude reminder of that the assumption behind the policy followed for three decades could no longer be sustained.

www.bricsias.com 81421600996464

 The informal summit in Wuhan restored a semblance of calm but does not address the long-term implications of the growing gap between the two countries.  Meanwhile, there is the growing strategic rivalry between the U.S. and China unfolding on our doorstep. We no longer have the luxury of distance to be non-aligned. Managing U.S.: A number of issues have emerged that need urgent attention.  As part of its policy on tightening sanctions pressure on Iran, the U.S. has terminated the sanctions waiver that had enabled India to import limited quantities of Iranian crude till last month.  The Generalised System of Preferences scheme has been withdrawn, adversely impacting about 12% of India‘s exports to the U.S., as a sign of growing impatience with India‘s inability to address the U.S.‘s concerns regarding market access, tariff lines and recent changes in the e-commerce policy.  The threat of sanctions under the Countering American Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), were India to proceed with the purchase of the S-400 air and missile defence system from Russia.  The reconciliation talks between the U.S. and the Taliban as the U.S. negotiates its exit from Afghanistan raise New Delhi‘s apprehensions about the Taliban‘s return, constituting another potential irritant. Way forward: India lacks the ability to shape events around it on account of resource limitations. These require domestic decisions in terms of expanding the foreign policy establishment though having a seasoned professional at the top does help.  We need to ensure far more coordination among the different ministries and agencies than has been the case so far.  Our record in implementation projects is patchy at best and needs urgent attention.  The focus on the neighbourhood is certainly desirable, for only if we can shape events here can we look beyond. However, the fact that China too is part of the neighbourhood compounds Mr. Modi‘s foreign policy challenges in his second term. Employing external balancing to create a conducive regional environment is a new game that will also require building a new consensus at home. Connecting the dots:  Recent developments have added to the complexity of India‘s principal foreign policy challenge of dealing with the rise of China. Discuss strategies to deal with the situation. 11th June 2019 SEBI mulls norms to reward whistle-blowers Part of: Prelims and Mains GS III Indian Economy In news: The Capital Market regulator, SEBI has proposed an informant mechanism to blow the whistle on insider trading cases. What is Insider Trading?  Insider trading is defined in the SEBI (Prohibition of Insider Trading) Regulations, 2015 (‗PIT Regulations‘) to mean trading of securities while in possession of unpublished price sensitive information (‗UPSI‘).  Insider trading is essentially a malpractice wherein trade of a company‘s securities is undertaken by people who by virtue of their work have access to the otherwise non-public information which can be crucial for making investment decisions.  As per the SEBI Act, insider BRICS trading is punishable with a penalty IAS which shall not be less than 10 lakhs. The maximum penalty could be as high as Rs 25 crore or three times the amount of profits made out of insider trading, whichever is higher. The Act also prescribes that insider trading is punishable with a prison term of up to 10 years. SECURITY TOPIC: General studies 3:  Security challenges and their management; linkages of organized crime with terrorism  Challenges to internal security  Linkages between development and spread of extremism. Defence Preparedness in India Background: With the Modi Government returning to power, expectations of deeper and far-reaching reforms are high across various ministries and departments. The Ministry of Defence (MoD), which has already undertaken a plethora of reforms during the last five years, is expected to walk along the reform path and build on previous initiatives to further strengthen defence preparedness and build a credible defence industrial base. Defence Planning: In April 2018 the Defence Planning Committee (DPC) was set up under the chairmanship of the National Security Advisor (NSA). The purpose of the powerful DPC is to facilitate comprehensive and integrated defence planning. Its mandate is to

www.bricsias.com 81421600996565 articulate a national security strategy, develop a holistic defence plan, keeping in view the critical requirements of the armed forces as well as resource constraints. Defence Budget: A very large portion of the defence budget is earmarked for manpower costs, which has also witnessed a hefty rise after the implementation of the recommendations of the Seventh Central Pay Commission (CPC) and the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme. As a result, the capital procurement budget, which is critical for defence modernisation, has seen a marked fall in its share in the budget. Defence Acquisition: The present Defence Procurement Management System and the Defence Procurement Procedures (DPP), have come a long way since their creation in 2001. The established structures and procedures have streamlined many aspects of acquisition through the periodic revision of the DPP. Issues:  In performance audit report of 2019, the CAG has pointed out that the existing organisation has ―resulted in diffused accountability‖ as it involves numerous agencies that are accountable to different administrative heads.  The auditor has also pointed out the lack of objectivity and fair play in technical evaluation.  The acquisition machinery also suffers from lack of professional expertise to undertake the assigned tasks. Make in India in Defence: Under the Make in India initiative, the government has already taken a large number of initiatives to promote indigenous defence manufacturing.  These include a streamlined industrial licensing process; a hike in the foreign direct investment (FDI) cap from 26 to 100 per cent; a level-playing field for the private sector vis-à-vis public sector entities in payment and tax matters and a new procurement category to enable domestic industry to focus on indigenous design and higher level of indigenisation.  The MoD has also announced an ambitious defence production policy that aims at arms production; launched two defence industrial corridors; identified a number items in which local suppliers would enjoy purchase preference; and announced a number of initiatives to support start-ups and innovation. The MOD should now build on the initiatives already taken to further strengthen India‘ defence manufacturing base. Way forward:  The Defence Planning Committee (DPC) should articulate the national security strategy and a set of holistic capability, R&D and manufacturing plan documents.  Rationalising the current manpower-driven defence expenditure. To provide greater momentum to the modernisation of the armed forces, there is a need to enhance defence spending.  The MoD should explore the option of generating revenues by putting to commercial use the unused and underused defence land.  Making the acquisition apparatus more accountable and professional.  Strengthening the defence manufacturing base to meet the requirements of the armed forces. Conclusion: Given its volatile security environment and the changing character of warfare, India cannot afford to lower its military guard. The last five years have witnessed an unprecedented number of reforms to enhance defence preparedness and equip the armed forces with indigenously sourced arms. These reforms need to be deepened so as to meet India‘s security threats effectively and throughBRICS arms made in India. IAS Connecting the dots:  Major reforms have been taken by the government in recent times to strengthen India‘s defence preparedness. Its time these reforms are deepened to meet India‘s security threats effectively. Comment. NATIONAL/AGRICULTURE TOPIC: General Studies 1:  Role of women and women‘s organization,  Poverty and developmental issues,  Social issues; vulnerable sections of the society General studies 2:  Government policies and issues arising out of their design and implementation

Declining female employment In news: It is a national tragedy that women unable to find work are dropping out of the labour force.  As per labour force survey data, rural India is in the midst of a gender revolution in which nearly half the women who were in the workforce in 2004-5 had dropped out in 2017-18.

www.bricsias.com 81421600996666

 The 61st round of the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) recorded 48.5% rural women above the age of 15 as being employed either as their major activity or as their subsidiary activity — but this number dropped to 23.7% in the recently released report of the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS). Reasons behind:  Mechanisation and land fragmentation have reduced agricultural work opportunities for both men and women.  Other work opportunities, except for work in public works programmes, are not easily open to women. This challenge is particularly severe for rural women with moderate levels of education. A man with class 10 education can be a postal carrier, a truck driver or a mechanic; these opportunities are not open to women.  The 2017 Maternity Benefit Act cover only 8 per cent of the Indian organised sector workforce and left out 92 per cent of the unorganised and informal workers.

Way ahead:  Establishment of the Cabinet Committee on Employment and Skill Development is a welcome move by the new government. It is to be hoped that this committee will take the issue of declining female employment as seriously as it does the issue of rising unemployment among the youth.  One of the most powerful ways in which public policies affect rural women‘s participation in non-agricultural work is via development of transportation infrastructure that allows rural women to seek work as sales clerks, nurses and factory workers in nearby towns.  An expansion in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme. Since MGNREGA is a self-targeted scheme, women looking for work would automatically look to enrol themselves in it.  A further boost to female labour force participation could be provided by increasing wages for women in the MGNREGA scheme. Conclusion: We need to focus on multi-sectoral reforms that have a positive impact on women‘s work opportunities. The potential gender dividend could be far greater than the much celebrated demographic dividend. Connecting the dots:  Indian women unable to find work are dropping out of the labour force. Comment. 12th June 2019 New agency to develop space warfare weapon systems Part of Prelims and mains GS III: Science and Technology In news  To enhance the capabilities of the armed forces to fight wars in space, the government has approved the setting up of a new agency which will develop sophisticated weapon systems and technologies.  The Defence Space Research Agency (DSRO) has been entrusted with the task of creating space warfare weapon systems and technologies.  The agency would be provided with a team of scientists which would be working in close coordination with the tri-services integrated Defence staff officers.  It would be providing the research and development support to the Defence Space Agency (DSA) which comprises members of the threeBRICS services. IAS Amitabh‘s Twitter data put on dark web Part of Prelims: Science and Technology, Mains: GS Paper III– Science and Technology What is Dark Web?  The dark web is the World Wide Web content that exists on darknets, overlay networks that use the Internet but require specific software, configurations, or authorization to access.  The dark web forms a small part of the deep web, the part of the Web not indexed by web search engines, although sometimes the term deep web is mistakenly used to refer specifically to the dark web. Quad one way to fix regional issues: Australian envoy Part of Prelims: International relations, Mains: GS Paper II – International relations. In news  Quad, ASEAN and RCEP are common interest areas of India and Australia.  There is need for flexibility, agility and speed in solving regional problems and the Quad is one of many such small groupings in solving them.  A successful conclusion to negotiations on RCEP would help shape the regional rules and norms governing trade, investment and the broader economy. About Quad: It is considered as an informal grouping among India, Japan, Australia, and the United States. It has been seen as a prospective coalition among the four countries with a political and security perspective in the Indo- Pacific region.

www.bricsias.com 81421600996767

The group is currently only a proposal, and has not taken form of an official alliance/organization or any other designated international group. About RCEP Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is a proposed arrangement between ASEAN and six Asia- Pacific countries including India and Australia. Mainly with the focus on trade and investment. Virendra Kumar is Pro-tem Speaker Part of Prelims and mains GS II: Indian Polity In news:  Virendra Kumar will be the Pro-tem Speaker of the Lok Sabha.  As Pro-tem Speaker, he will preside over the first sitting of the Lok Sabha, administer the oath of office to the newly elected MPs, and oversee the election of the Speaker. Do you know?  After a general election and the formation of a new government, a list of senior Lok Sabha members prepared by the Legislative Section is submitted to the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, who selects a pro tem speaker. The appointment has to be approved by the President.  The first meeting after the election when the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker are selected by members of the Parliament is held under the pro tem Speaker. NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2:  Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. The 5G Wave Introduction: 5G is the next generation of mobile standards being defined by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) – a specialized agency of the UN for information and communication technologies responsible for allocation of global radio spectrum and development of technical standards. Along with high data rate, 5G will also reduce latency, save energy, and enable massive device connectivity, paving the way for next-generation applications such as autonomous vehicles, smart homes and cities, and massive machine- to-machine communications for industries. It is estimated that the total economic impact from 5G in India can exceed $1 trillion by 2035. Is India 5G Ready? India, with the second largest mobile phone subscriber base globally, has also joined the race for 5G. The delayed adoption of previous generations of mobile networks. The commercial launch of 3G services took place in Japan in 2001, but arrived in India only in December 2008. 4G roll-out in 2012 came three years after the first commercial launch in 2009.  The telecom industry is under severe financial distress, with falling Average Revenue Per User (ARPU), declining revenues, mounting losses and increasing debt. The import duty for equipment such as base stations, optical transport gear, 4G LTE products, gateway controllers, carrier Ethernet switches etc., has further been increased to 20 per cent. 5G deployment is a costly affair and debt-ridden telecom service providers have to work their finances out before they chart out plans for acquiring 5G spectrum or investing in equipment.  One of the fundamental requirementsBRICS for timely and effective 5G deployment IAS is optical fibre based strong backhaul infrastructure. Optical fibre kilometres per capita in India is around one-tenth that in China and one- fifteenth of that in Japan. As mentioned in the National Digital Communications Policy 2018, the fibre-to-the-tower programme is supposed to enable at least 60 per cent of telecom towers thereby accelerating migration to 4G/5G. The government‘s flagship Bhara tNet programme also plans to link 2.5 lakh gram panchayats through optical fibre network. However, to achieve these targets a major change is necessary in existing construction and clearance processes. High Level 5G India 2020 Forum: It was set up in 2017 to evaluate and build a roadmap or action plan for 5G deployment in India by 2020. The report laid out three priority areas in 5G:  Deployment – An early roll out of 5G services to maximise the value proposition of 5G as a technology.  Technology – To build indigenous industrial and R&D capacity, especially for the design and Intellectual Property.  Manufacturing – To expand the manufacturing base for 5G technologies, which includes both semiconductor fabrication and equipment assembly and testing. Way ahead:  Bringing the full benefits of 5G to the people and economy at the lowest cost and in the shortest time possible. It is in India‘s benefit to not exclude any players from the small set of 5G equipment vendors. It is to our

www.bricsias.com 81421600996868

advantage to keep competition high, telecom equipment pricing low, and access to the full range of technology options open.  Minimise any security risks to critical telecom infrastructure. India can consider forming a techno-diplomatic alliance with countries at risk from the same telecom products and create an information sharing and competency building agreement with them — Russia, Japan, France, and Germany are some of the potential partner countries.  Maximising India‘s opportunities for value creation from the global 5G revolution. India has limited intellectual property in 5G technologies and is largely going to be a buyer of this technology. However, the size of the Indian market and our strengths in services and software create some opportunities for symmetric dependencies and value creation.  The government should encourage capacity building in Indian companies for ―5G deployment services‖ such that Indian talent can be used across the world. Global deployments of 5G are expected to continue over the next decade and will require skilled labour to design, install, and monitor these networks. Conclusion: Telecom technology generations evolve in decade time-frames. It will take foresight and strong execution of a national plan to make India a relevant player in the next evolution of telecom technology. If India plays this situation right and plays to win, we can not only bring timely and affordable 5G to India, but do it with due consideration to our security concerns and even get an upside from our engagement with the global 5G revolution. Connecting the dots:  India, with the second largest mobile phone subscriber base globally, has joined the ongoing race for 5G. Is India ready for the same? Discuss. INTERNATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2:  India and its neighbourhood- relations  Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India‘s interests, Indian diaspora. India and Middle East Introduction: The government in last few years had invested considerable political capital, time and resources in cultivating critical players in the Middle East, namely, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar and Iran in the Persian Gulf region, and Israel in the Levant. It is time to reap the fruits of political investments and elevate the engagements to a higher level. Challenges and Solutions:  Iran has been a major foreign policy challenge since the end of the Cold War. The Trump Administration is determined to halt Iran‘s oil exports completely. The government needs to devise a balanced approach vis-à-vis the United States and its demands on Iran. India also needs to enhance its financial commitments to the Chabahar Port project.  Sash the bureaucratic cobwebs and enable the flow of investments from the UAE and Saudi Arabia, which have committed to invest up to US$ 75 and 100 billion, respectively, in India. If the Ratnagiri refinery does not take off due to land issues, the government should explore other western coastal states to facilitate Saudi-Emirati investments in the mega refinery project.  BRICS IAS The ongoing intra-Gulf crisis over Qatar does not serve India‘s interest. Given its economic, political, energy and expatriate links, an early resolution of the Saudi-Qatari standoff is in India‘s interest. During his first term in office, PM Modi had established a personal rapport with all key players involved in the crisis. The government should leverage this to initiate a dialogue process with the leaders in the region.  China has managed to entice the Gulf Arab countries to endorse and partake in its ambitious Belt and Road Initiative. India will have to expand its trade basket and move into investment projects with the Gulf Arab countries. The Indo-Omani joint fertiliser company in Sur and India‘s economic partnership with Jordan presents a model and precedent for more energised Indian investment in the Gulf economies. The government should also encourage the private sector to expand its presence in the Middle Eastern economies, especially the Persian Gulf region.  India should expand its presence in the Israeli economy and technology market through selective but aggressive investments aimed at technology acquisition. A robust cybersecurity cooperation with Israel should be explored.  India‘s growing political engagements with the Middle East must be given more extensive publicity within the country. This will not only generate broader domestic support for it but also enhance India‘s influence in the region

www.bricsias.com 81421600996969

Conclusion: While the government has engaged actively in last few years with the Middle Eastern countries, it is now time for action. Connecting the dots:  The government in last few years had invested considerable political capital, time and resources in cultivating critical players in the Middle East. It is time to reap the fruits of political investments and elevate the engagements to a higher level. 13th June 2019 DRDO conducts maiden test of hypersonic technology demonstrator Part of Prelims and mains GS III; Security In News  The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted the maiden test of an indigenously developed Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV) along with several technologies  Under this project, DRDO is developing a hypersonic vehicle that will be powered by a scram-jet engine.  This is dual-use technology, which when developed, will have multiple civilian applications. It can be used for launching satellites at low cost. It will also be available for long-range cruise missiles of the future,  In scram-jet technology, combustion of fuel takes place in a chamber in the missile at supersonic speeds.  This is different from a ram jet system where the system collects the air it needs from the atmosphere during the flight at subsonic speeds and the propellants burn in the combustion chamber. Jalan panel report on RBI reserves Part of Mains: GS III – Indian Economy and related issues In news  The Bimal Jalan committee, which is looking into the size of capital reserves that the RBI should hold, will have one more meeting before finalising its report to be submitted to the apex bank by the month-end.  The six-member panel, under former RBI Governor Jalan was appointed on December 26, 2018, to review the economic capital framework (ECF) for the Reserve Bank after the Finance Ministry wanted the RBI to follow global best practices and transfer more surplus to the government. NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2:  Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.  Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.  Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. Indian Education system: Rote learning Background: The importance accorded to school-leaving examinations in India puts enormous pressure on students to score the highest possible marks. Bagging a rank among lakhs of students is accepted widely as a mark of excellence. But how scientific is the examination system at determining the progress of students? Exam system in India: BRICS IAS The first mention of the educational system being throttled by exams was in 1904 in the Indian Educational Policy, at the time formulated by the Governor General in Council. After that this was mentioned in every commission and report. As far as reliability of children‘s understanding, acquiring knowledge and ways of formulating knowledge are concerned, the examination system doesn‘t leaves much scope. Children do acquire snippets of information, but whether they construct that into knowledge remains seriously doubtful. Steps taken:  A recent attempt made in the Right to Education (RTE) Act to introduce Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) was an important step but this was not welcomed by a large number of schools and State authorities.  The idea that the RTE introduced — that we will not have a Board examination up to Grade 8 — has now been amended by Parliament. States are now once again free to introduce a Board exam. Some have already moved towards that by reintroducing at Grade 5 and Grade 8 levels an exam that can classify children into pass and fail categories. Compared with other countries:  European systems, including the British system on which we were modelled originally, have moved on to far more holistic and humanistic ways of assessing each child‘s own growth trajectory right from the beginning. Even where there are public exams, they are taken with much greater care for objectivity and justice for every child.

www.bricsias.com 81421600997070

The GCSE [General Certificate of Secondary Education] in Britain, for example, makes sure that each child‘s work and performance gets a fair chance to be assessed properly by more than one evaluator.  The assessment systems in Finland, the U.K., and some States in the U.S.- A kind of continuous assessment which feeds back into the teaching-learning process and a kind of taking care of the child‘s continuous progress is in place.  In the public exam, the questions are on concepts, critical thinking and various ways of looking at the avenues of knowledge, and [there are] criteria for judging the veracity of that knowledge. Our emphasis is on speedy reproduction of information. I Conclusion: Two things needs to be reformed— the structure of the school and the curriculum. An alternative way should be found to ameliorate the high competition in the parents‘ mind. There is a possibility of reforming the system in such a manner that it is more insightful and less stressful. Connecting the dots:  The Indian examination system is hardly scientific at determining the progress of students. Comment. NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2:  Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.  Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures. Lateral Entry in Bureaucracy In news: After selection of nine lateral entrants as joint secretaries in various ministries/departments on contract basis, the government plans to extend such induction of private sector domain experts to the lower-level deputy secretary and director posts as well. The Department of Personnel & Training has been tasked with opening up as many as 400 posts — out of the 1,300- odd at these levels under the Central Staffing Scheme — for lateral hiring. If implemented, this would constitute the single biggest reform of public administration in independent India. Need:  The current administrative system, wherein top positions are manned by career bureaucrats having little specialised knowledge and recruited through a common civil services examination, has outlived its utility. A liberalised economy requires not generalists, but people who understand industrial processes and new technologies, taxation, finance, trade and investment in a dynamic, globalised setting.  Even the old ―steel frame‖ model of governance needs revisiting in favour of more nimble, entrepreneurial public service organisations focusing on performance and delivery by incorporating private sector management practices.  The jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none approach to public administration needs to be dispensed with and is, indeed, an unfinished task of reforms and liberalisation. It also fits into the ―minimum government, maximum governance‖. There can be no better means to achieving that goal than by deepening expertise and expanding the scope of lateral appointments in government. Going forward:  The process of selecting candidatesBRICS for lateral entry, which has to beIAS transparent, robust and credible. Filling 400 posts without conducting formal competitive exams can invite legal challenges, more so if they are seen to be at the expense of the ―natural‖ All-India or Central Civil Services claimants to these jobs.  Striking a balance between merit and ensuring adequate representation for disadvantaged communities is necessary even in a regime of lateral entry.  Alternatively the ―generalists‖ can be turned into ―specialists‖ through mid-career professional development programmes or extended tenures in particular departments/fields. Connecting the dots:  Lateral entry once implemented would constitute the single biggest reform of public administration in independent India. Comment. 14th June 2019 Modi, Xi meet in Bishkek, agree to speed up boundary talks Part of Mains GS II: International Relations In news  India and China agreed to expedite the dialogue on the India-China boundary issue for securing a ―fair‖ solution.  The two leaders met in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, where they will participate in the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).  The two leaders discussed the status of the bilateral relationship since the Wuhan summit of April 2018, which came in the backdrop of tension following the 73-day Doklam standoff.

www.bricsias.com 81421600997171

 China highlighted the need for regional cooperation and connectivity and singled out the Bangladesh-China-India- Myanmar (BCIM) economic corridor as an example for expanding the India-China ties, which had entered a ―new phase‖ after the Wuhan informal summit.  The two sides should adhere to the basic judgment that China and India are the opportunities for development and do not pose a threat to each other.  Russia invited India to take part in the Vladivostok Forum in September Do you Know? Vladivostok Forum Eastern Economic Forum is an international forum held each year in Vladivostok, Russia, for the purpose of encouraging foreign investment in the Russian Far East. India will have its own space station, says ISRO chief Sivan Part of Prelims and mains GS III: Science and Technology In News  India plans to have its own space station, and the modalities for it will be worked out after the first manned mission, Gaganyaan, scheduled for August 2022.  The ISRO would also join the international space community for a manned mission to the moon and beyond.  A Gaganyaan National Advisory Council has been created with members from different institutions and industries. Selection of two to three crew members would be done in six months. They would then undergo training for 1-1.5 years after that  A GSLV Mk-III launch vehicle will be used to launch the Gaganyaan. Prior to that, two unmanned missions would be undertaken, one in December next year and the second, six months after that.  The Gagayaan mission aims to send a two or three member crew to space for a period of seven days. The spacecraft would be placed in a low earth orbit of 300-400 km. Do you know? The only countries that have had space stations so far are the US, Russia, China and a consortium of nations that own the International Space Station (ISS). Low Earth Orbit: Low earth orbits (LEO) are satellite systems used in telecommunication, which orbit between 400 and 1,000 miles above the earth‘s surface. They are used mainly for data communication such as email, video conferencing and paging. They move at extremely high speeds and are not fixed in space in relation to the earth. Microgravity: Microgravity is when the pull of gravity is not very strong. In microgravity, it is easy to move heavy objects. The studies help show what happens to people and other things in space. Microgravity does things to the human body. For example, muscles and bones can get weaker. Astronauts on the space station spend months in microgravity. Govt makes changes to Employees State Insurance Scheme Part of Prelims: Indian Economy In news The Government has recently decided to reduce the contribution of the employees and employers under the Employees State Insurance Scheme. The reduced rates will come into effect on July 1, 2019. Do you know? Details about Employees State Insurance Scheme What is it? Employees‘ State Insurance SchemeBRICS of India is a multi-dimensional Social IAS Security Scheme tailored to provide Socio- economic protection to the ‘employees‘ in the organized sector against the events of sickness, maternity, disablement and death due to employment injury and to provide medical care to the insured employees and their families. Who administers the Scheme? The ESI Scheme is administered by a statutory corporate body called the Employees‘ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC). How is the Scheme financed? The ESI scheme is a self-financing scheme. The ESI funds are primarily built out of contribution from employers and employees payable monthly at a fixed percentage of wages paid. Coverage of the Scheme It extends to all the factories employing 10 or more employees. Further, it covers all the employees with wages up to Rs 21,000. TRAI asked to revisit spectrum auction recommendations Part of Prelims and mains GS II: Governance, GS III: Economics In news The Digital Communications Commission (DCC) — the highest decision-making body at the Department of Telecom, on Thursday asked the TRAI to reconsider its entire recommendation on the forthcoming spectrum auctions that includes reserve price and methodology, keeping in view the larger objective of Digital India. DCC seeks 5G for rural health and education.

www.bricsias.com 81421600997272

Do you know? About Digital Communications Commission The ‗National Digital Communications Policy-2018‘ re-designated the ‗Telecom Commission‘ as the ‗Digital Communications Commission‘ to ensure effective implementation and monitoring of the National Digital Communications Policy-2018. The Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Telecommunications is the ex-officio Chairman of the Digital Communications Commission. The Digital Communications Commission is responsible for:  Formulating the policy of Department of Telecommunications for approval of the Government;  Preparing the budget for the Department of Telecommunications for each financial year and getting it approved by the Government;  Implementation of Government‘s policy in all matters concerning telecommunication. Asiatic Golden cat wears new colours Part of Prelims: Environment and Biodiversity In News Scientists have discovered six different ‗colour morphs‘ of the Asiatic golden cat in Arunachal Pradesh. Do you know? Asiatic Golden cat is a medium-sized wild cat native to north-eastern Indian subcontinent and is listed as ‗Near Threatened‘ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Colour morphs are basically occurrence of two or more discrete colour forms of the animal within a population, due to a genetic mutation. For example- Black panther is a color morph of the common leopard. National TOPIC: General studies 2  Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes;  Mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections. Justice that heals: Why cases under POCSO law should deploy restorative justice Introduction A district court in Madhya Pradesh sentenced a person to death under the POCSO (Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences) Act was doing the rounds, research conducted by the Counsel to Secure Justice (CSJ) and National Law University Delhi (NLUD) offered significant insights. Meaning of Justice The meanings of ―justice‖ tend to vary for the victim, offender, family, and community. The survivors or their families did not necessarily want the death penalty — or even strict punishment — for the accused. Rather, in many cases, they wanted the offenders to acknowledge their wrongdoing or tender an apology for their act. Restorative Justice Restorative justice is emerging as a powerful tool in the criminal justice process, especially with regard to conciliation and mediation. The concept involves bringing the victim and offender together to remedy the harm — it makes the offender accept his/her offence. Restorative justice involves the victim, offender and the community in its quest for solutions, which are about repairing, reconciliation, and reassurance.BRICS IAS Punitive Justice Punitive options, including the death penalty, are not the product of the concerns of victims or their families — they are notions of the state and therefore, driven by political considerations. Punishment seldom matches with the idea of justice held by the victims, their families or the community. Victimisation leads to trauma, shame, insecurity, and several other social and emotional consequences. The study revealed that families of victims often felt that the offenders usually do not experience any remorse or guilt even after undergoing the severest of punishments. The stakeholders in these communities felt that, apart from harsh punishment, measures like community service, education — or even treatment for the offender — and restorative programmes ought to be initiated. Current justice system The current justice system often ignores the need to restore relationships that were broken, because family members blamed victims and failed to support them. The aim of the criminal justice process ought to be the creation of peace and, more importantly, enabling the community to deal with the effects of crime — as well as preventing it. Communities often perceive the system as corrupt, dismissive of the poor and insensitive towards victims and their families. The study presents a powerful case for applying restorative justice, especially because re-victimisation and secondary victimisation, including discrediting crime victims during cross-examination, results in more harm than good — they discourage victims from reporting abuse. Victims believe that the system shares the society‘s victim-blaming culture.

www.bricsias.com 81421600997373

POCSO and Restorative justice In 90 per cent cases of child sexual abuse, the offender is not only known to the victim but is also a close relative. Many organisations worldwide have ―victim offender reconciliation programmes‖ or ―sentencing circles‖. These involve trained facilitators who make the parties discuss possible solutions by driving the offenders to own up to their offence. A restorative justice approach would require the POCSO Act to concentrate on the victims‘ needs — material, financial, emotional and social. POCSO ought to recreate or restore a community that supports the rehabilitation of victims and offenders — and in doing so, prevent crime. Adoption of such strategies will also obviate the costs and delays associated with the current legal justice system. Conclusion Restorative justice programmes enable the victim, the offender and affected members of the community to be directly involved in addressing the situation that arises after a crime. They become central to the criminal justice process, with government officers and legal professionals serving as facilitators of a system that aims at offender accountability and reparation. This restorative process — that often involves face-to-face interactions between all parties — is a powerful way of addressing not only the material loss as a result of the crime, but the social and emotional trauma caused by it. Connecting the dots: Restorative Justice versus Punitive justice: Which one side would you take? Justify your stand. 15th June 2019 Modi, Imran exchange pleasantries at Bishkek Part of: Prelims and mains GS II: International relations In news Fight against Terrorism:  Addressing the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit, PM Modi highlighted the spirit and ideals of the SCO to strengthen cooperation in the fight against terrorism.  To combat the menace of terrorism, countries will have to come out of their narrow purview to unite against it, he said.  Prime Minister called on the SCO member states to cooperate under the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) against terrorism.  The Bishkek Declaration urged the international community to encourage global cooperation to fight terrorism, without politicisation and double standards; with respect for the sovereignty and independence of all countries.  It sought the support of the member countries to work towards a consensus on adopting the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism.  The summit signed a document titled ‗Roadmap for Further Action of the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group.  The other agreements on sports, mass media, coordination of humanitarian affairs, tourism, healthcare were signed. Do you know? Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS): The Regional Antiterrorism Structure (RATS) was established in the year 2004 at the Tashkent Summit. SCO-RATS is a permanent body established to bring about coordination and interaction between member states in ensuring security in the region. The Regional Antiterrorism Structure works on information sharing and joint counter terrorism measures between the member BRICS states. Post the Astana summit declarationIAS of 2005, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation has emerged as a regional security organization. India to impose retaliatory tariffs on 29 American goods Part of Prelims and mains GS II international relations and GS III Economics In news  The US has withdrawn the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) benefits to India, effective 5th June.  India has accepted the decision of the US to withdraw GSP benefits gracefully, and would work towards making the exports competitive.  It was also clarified that the duty hikes were against the tariff hikes on steel and aluminium products by the U.S. and not because it withdrew duty-free benefits to Indian exporters.  America had in March last year imposed 25 per cent tariff on steel and a 10 per cent import duty on aluminium products. As India is one of the major exporters of these items to the US, the US decision has revenue implication of about $240 million on Indian steel and aluminium products.  India had repeatedly postponed the imposition of retaliatory tariffs since they were first announced in June 2018.  India has also dragged the US to the World Trade Organisation‘s (WTO) dispute settlement mechanism over the imposition of import duties on steel and aluminium.  India‘s exports to the US in 2017-18 stood at $47.9 billion, while imports were at $26.7 billion. The trade balance is in favour of India.

www.bricsias.com 81421600997474

PM hits out at trade protectionism; Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Part of Prelims: International relations Mains: GS Paper II – International relations In news Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday hit out at unilateralism and trade protectionism, and said there is a need for a rules-based, anti-discriminatory and all inclusive WTO-centred multilateral trading system. Economic cooperation is the basis of our people‘s future… We need a rule-based, transparent, anti-discriminatory, open and all-inclusive WTO-centred multilateral trading system focused so that the interests of every country, specially the developing ones, can be taken care of. India‘s stand India is committed to ensuring a favourable environment for the economic cooperation between the SCO member- countries. SCO members stand The SCO member-states said the situation in global politics and economy remains turbulent and tense, and the process of economic globalisation is being hindered by the growing unilateral protectionist policies and other challenges in international trade` The Bishkek Declaration of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation stressed the importance of deepening cooperation to build a transparent and stable environment for trade. NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2  Government policies and issues arising out of their design and implementation. General studies 3  Conservation, environmental degradation, environmental impact assessment Reversing the scale of priorities: Balancing Sustainable development Introduction The Madras High Court in P.V. Krishnamoorthy v. The Government of India Case quashed the notifications that were issued by NHAI for acquiring land for a proposed eight-lane expressway connecting Chennai to Salem. The Case now has gone to the Supreme Court whereby NHAI had challenged that verdict of the Madras High Court. However, for now the SC has refused the request of NHAI for a stay on the Madras High Court judgment. Sustainable development In 1987, a United Nations-backed committee led by the former Norwegian Prime Minister Gro Brundtland proposed a long-term strategy which called for sustainable development, among other things. This programme titled ―Our Common Future‖, defined the principle of sustainable development as an endeavour to ensure that any development that ―meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs.‖ Amartya Sen wrote: While the prominence accorded to sustainable development may be laudable, we must equally ask whether ―the conception of human beings implicit in it is sufficiently capacious‖. Madras High Court‘s judgment and the concerns raised The Madras High Court‘s judgment in P. Krishnamoorthy case is well reasoned, whereby the HC has raised several questions about procedure with regards to environmental impact assessment (EIA) being carried out for developmental projects. 1st Concern: BRICS IAS There was a failure to obtain an environmental clearance for the project before acquiring land. Whereby, according to the government, power to acquire land under the National Highways Act, 1956, was unconditional. There was no law mandating an EIA before efforts are made to acquire private land. The Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986, which required an EIA for the construction of a new highway (green field), did not decree such an assessment for the purposes of securing the land. 2nd Concern: Sustainable development meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs. Moreover, the SC in Vellore Citizens‘ Welfare Forum Case (1996) has asserted that Sustainable Development is intrinsic to India‘s constitutional structure. However, it has been difficult to implement in practice the concept of sustainable development. Whereby what has happened is that a balance has been tried to be maintained between environment and the development project and in most cases the balance has been tilted towards development projects. So what happens is that if a development project that depletes groundwater or increases pollution but creates jobs, the project is undertaken whereby it is considered that current and even future generations would prefer a better economy rather than cleaner air or easier access to drinking water. Conclusion:

www.bricsias.com 81421600997575

The Judgment tilts the balance in Sustainable development towards the environment. It has raised concerns over environmental impact of the project with cutting down of trees, poaching of animals, fragmenting forest land, apart from other environmental concerns. As Amartya Sen rightly wrote, ―there is need for anti-emission policies that could help future generations to have the freedom to enjoy the fresh air that earlier generations enjoyed.‖ Connecting the dots: The protection of environment stands in a higher pedestal when placed on scale with that of the economic interest. Comment. NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 3  Indian Economy and issues relating mobilization of resources Full disclosure: On SEBI norm for financial disclosure Introduction In the backdrop of IL&FS crisis, SEBI issued regulating norms for credit rating agencies in November 2018. Again now in June 2019 further disclosure norms issued by SEBI. Do you know? A credit rating agency is an entity which assesses the ability and willingness of the issuer company for timely payment of interest and principal on a debt instrument. The rating is assigned to a security or an instrument. The Credit rating agencies are regulated by SEBI. Based on the norms issued by the SEBI in June, 2019, the credit rating agencies will have to:  The CRAs would now be required to provide their rationale for the rating.  The Disclosure of probability of default by the companies has been made mandatory for all the CRAs.  The CRAs have also been asked to disclose all the sensitive factors which could possibly trigger changes in credit ratings.  In order to improve the transparency in the ratings, the CRAs have been asked to disclose all the liquidity related parameters such as access to credit, liquidity coverage ratio, adequacy of cash flows for servicing maturing debt obligation, etc.  The adequacy of the liquidity is to be denoted in terms of standard terminologies such as Superior, Adequate, Stretched & Poor. It would address the problem of ambiguity.  The CRAs must publish information on their performance in the rating of debt instruments compares with a benchmark created by SEBI. Remaining concerns to be addressed:  The ―issuer-pays‖ model where the entity that issues the instrument also pays the ratings agency for its services often leads to a situation of conflict of interest.  The credit rating market in India has high barriers to entry leading to lack of competition and hence adversely affects the interests of the investors.  The Credit rating agencies have to come up with lucrative business models which put the interests of the investors above the interests of borrowers.

Connecting the dots: What are credit rating agencies? Regulating credit rating agencies will have positive effect on debt and securities market. comment. BRICS IAS 17th June 2019 G20 agrees to tackle ocean plastic waste Part of: Prelims and GS mains III environment and pollution In News  Group of 20 Environment Ministers agreed to adopt a new implementation framework for actions to tackle the issue of marine plastic waste on a global scale.  One of the top issues was ocean plastic waste as images of plastic debris-strewn beaches and dead animals with stomachs full of plastic have sparked outrage with many countries banning plastic bags outright.  The new framework is aimed at facilitating further concrete action on marine waste, though on a voluntary basis, after the G20 Hamburg Summit in Germany adopted the ―G20 action plan on marine litter‖ in 2017. Life-cycle approach  Under the new framework, G20 members will promote a comprehensive life-cycle approach to prevent and reduce plastic litter discharge to the oceans through various measures and international cooperation.  They will also share best practices, promote innovation and boost scientific monitoring and analytical methodologies. Assam temple bids adieu to rare turtle hatchlings Part of: Prelims and Mains GS III: Environment and Ecology In news

www.bricsias.com 81421600997676

 The Ugratara Temple, one of the city‘s landmarks, organised a special darshan of 34 hatchlings of the freshwater turtle, Black softshell turtle.  Members of the temple committee and devotees turned up for what was essentially a ceremony to welcome and bid goodbye to these hatchlings.  The welcome was because the eggs of black softshell were collected from temple ponds for incubation at the Assam State Zoo. And the goodbye was because these hatchlings will be reintroduced in the wild, never to return.  Jorpukhuri translates into twin tanks, one of which abuts Ugratara Temple that is dedicated to Goddess Tara, a ‗fiery‘ avatar of Kali.  The black softshell turtle is extinct in the wild. The few that remain are in the ponds of some temples in Assam.  A similar homecoming of 11 hatchlings of the equally endangered Indian roofed turtle (Pangshura tecta) and the Indian tent turtle (Pangshura tentoria) was organised at the Hayagriv Madhab Temple in Hajo, Assam. Do you know?  Black Softshell Turtle: IUCN Extinct in wild  Indian roofed turtle: IUCN Least Concern  Indian tent turtle: IUCN Least Concern PM Modi invites chiefs of all parties to deliberate upon ‗one nation, one election‘ Part of: Prelims and mains GS II: Polity and governance In news  Ahead of the first session of the 17th Lok Sabha, Mr. Modi addressed leaders of the Opposition at an all-party meeting.  An all-party meeting is a customary procedure before the beginning of every session of Parliament to ensure its smooth functioning.  The meeting has been called to discuss ―one nation, one election‖ issue, celebrations of 75 years of India‘s Independence in 2022 and 150 years of Mahatma Gandhi‘s birth anniversary this year. Bhutan on relations with India and China Part of Prelims and Mains GS II: International Relations Background India Bhutan relations rest on the mindset of the visionary leadership in two countries. Bhutan is also part of the BIMSTEC grouping that India says it is now promoting over the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). India Bhutan Relations Mangdechhu Hydropwer project in Bhutan, with the contribution of India, is in the final stages of completion now. Other bilateral projects that are being worked on:  The South Asia Satellite programme,  A stand-alone, multi-disciplinary hospital India is willing to support  Another government-to-government mega-hydropower project on the Sankosh river Issues in India Bhutan Relations:  Tariffs and Cross-border Trade in Electricity (CBTE) policy that first came out in India (in 2016) wasn‘t friendly to Bhutan‘s interests.  After Bhutan requested some changes, New Delhi agreed to change them.  On BBIN: Bhutan need connectivity to enhance economic growth, but it is the smallest country in this partnership, and they have a BRICS very high commitment to environmental IAS conservation. They are committed to balance their desire to preserve our environment, tradition and culture too.  Geographically, South Asian countries are grouped together but they aren‘t doing well economically together. On border issues (with China):  Bhutan stick to their stand that the status quo must be maintained. No side should do anything without informing the other side at the border.  Bhutan does not have diplomatic relations with any of the P-5 (UN Security Council Permanent members), which is our policy. NATIONAL TOPIC:General studies 3  Bio-technology  Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation The mysterious case of GM Brinjal cultivation Introduction Brinjal production is extensively affected by insects: Brinjal fruit and shoot borer. Use of conventional chemical pesticides damaged the environment & affected human health. About BT Brinjal  BT Brinjal was developed to combat Brinjal fruit and shoot borer & minimizing the use of chemical pesticides.

www.bricsias.com 81421600997777

 Mahyco, the largest seed company in India, in which Monsanto Co. has a 26% stake, developed the first BT Brinjal.  It was approved for commercialization in India in 2009, but a moratorium on its release was issued until further, unspecified, tests were conducted. BT Brinjal was approved for commercial release in Bangladesh in 2013. Application of biotechnology in Agriculture of India In India, application of biotechnology in agriculture is being dealt with by three different Ministries/Dept.: (1) Min. of Agriculture; (2) Min. of EF&CC & (3) Department of Biotechnology, Min. of S&T. Development, cultivation and transboundary movement of GM crops is regulated so as to ensure the safety of animal health, human health and biodiversity. In India, such regulations are provided in the Rules for Manufacture, Use, Import, Export and Storage of Hazardous Microorganisms (HM) Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells, 1989 under the Environment Protection Act (1986). The rules cover: All activities involving research and development of products containing GMOs including transgenic crops. Appraisal of Genetically engineered products The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) functions in the MOEF&CC. As per Rules, 1989, it is responsible for appraisal of activities involving large scale use of hazardous microorganisms and recombinants in research and industrial production from the environmental angle. The committee is also responsible for appraisal of proposals relating to release of genetically engineered (GE) organisms and products into the environment including experimental field trials. Connecting the dots: Brinjal or BT Brinjal: why it is debated? Give your opinion. INTERNATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2  India and its neighborhood- relations  Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India‘s interests Bishkek lessons Introduction The SCO brings together two of the world‘s great powers — China and Russia — and four central Asian nations — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan — with India and Pakistan. Launched by China and Russia nearly two decades ago, the SCO has also been billed by some as the ―Alliance of the East‖ and as a continental counter to the US and more broadly, the maritime West. India with ―Maritime West‖(SCO) and ―Maritime East‖(US)  India has moved steadily closer to the US in recent years and embraced the Indo-Pacific maritime construct.  India‘s navigation between the two competing worlds had become even more difficult as the US ratchets up tensions with both China and Russia.  But India is very optimistic about Its emerging possibilities in the new dynamic with SCO. India at SCO  India continued its stand on opposing the Belt and Road Initiative and turning down China‘s advice to begin talks with Pakistan.  With Russia, India sought to expand the strategic partnership to new areas of defence and energy.  India joined with China and RussiaBRICS in opposing the new threats to globalIAS trade from new American unilateralism under Trump.  India‘s bilateral engagement with the SCO summit host Kyrgyzstan underlined the new political commitment to realise the full potential of India‘s relations with the Central Asian republics.  Bishkek summit also revealed India‘s deepening challenges with Afghanistan and Pakistan, while India continues to emphasise an ―Afghan-owned and Afghan-led‖ peace process.  On a positive note, the forum strongly endorsed India‘s concerns on cross-border terrorism. Conclusion Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is constructing a new region, now widely described as Eurasia. In recent years, India tilted more towards US. Therefore the need to manoeuvre between Moscow, Beijing and Washington is now a permanent condition for Indian diplomacy. Connecting the dots: The need to manoeuvre between Moscow, Beijing and Washington is now a permanent condition for Indian diplomacy. Comment 18th June 2019 India to host UN meet on land degradation in September Part of Prelims and mains GS III Environment and ecology In news

www.bricsias.com 81421600997878

 India for the first time will host the 14th session of the Conference of Parties (COP-14) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in September 2019.  It will see participation from at least 5,000 delegates from nearly 197 countries and will be held between September 2 and 14 in Delhi  One of the primary functions of the COP is to review reports submitted by the Country Parties, detailing how they are carrying out their commitments. India will takeover the COP presidency from China for two years until the next COP in 2021. India and UNCCD Ahead of the COP-14, India launched a flagship project, part of a larger international initiative called the Bonn Challenge, to enhance India‘s capacity for forest landscape restoration (FLR). It will be implemented during a pilot phase of three-and-a-half years in Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Nagaland and Karnataka. The project will aim to develop and adapt the best practices and monitoring protocols for the country, and build capacity within the five pilot States. This will eventually be scaled up across the country India faces a severe problem of land degradation, or soil becoming unfit for cultivation. A 2016 report by the Indian Space Research Organisation found that about 29% of India‘s land (in 2011-13) was degraded, this being a 0.57% increase from 2003-05. At the previous edition of the COP, India had committed to restore 13 million hectares of degraded and deforested land by the year 2020, and an additional 8 million hectares by 2030. The Bonn Challenge The Bonn Challenge is a global effort to bring 150 million hectares of the world‘s deforested and degraded land under restoration by 2020, and 350 million hectares by 2030. The three sister conventions The United Nations has three major Conventions: the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). Established in 1994, the UNCCD is the only legally binding international agreement linking environment and development issues to the land agenda. India to actively curb ‗conflict‘ diamonds Part of Prelims and mains GS II: International peace and security In news India has committed to play an active role to curb the circulation of ‗conflict diamonds‘ or ‗blood diamonds‘ in the international market by further strengthening the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS). The 4Cs [cut, clarity, colour and carat] of diamond may soon be expanded to 5Cs with the fifth C being ‗conflict-free‘. And the 5Ps of diamond marketing [precious, popular, prestige, priceless] will include ‗peace‘ diamonds. KPCS Intersessional Meeting is an annual mid-year event of KPCS, which unites administrations, civil societies and diamond industry to reduce the flow of conflict diamonds used to finance wars against governments around the world, mostly in African countries. India is the KP chair for 2019. The ‗blood‘ or ‗conflict‘ diamonds had been almost excluded from global trade and now account for only 2%. Every rough diamond is accompanied by a certificate confirming its non-conflict origin, and export-import procedures in most of the countries are now subject to rigorous control. Do you know? The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) is the process established in 2003 to prevent ―conflict diamonds‖ from entering the mainstreamBRICS rough diamond market by UnitedIAS Nations General Assembly Resolution 55/56 following recommendations in the Fowler Report. Bitcoin use causing huge CO2 emissions: Study Part of Prelims and mains GS III Environment and ecology, Technology Background: Bitcoin mining has increased rapidly in recent years, raising the question of whether it is imposing an additional burden on the climate. The use of Bitcoin — a popular virtual currency — emits over 22 megatonnes of carbon dioxide annually, comparable to the total emissions of cities such as Las Vegas and Vienna, a study has found. For a Bitcoin transfer to be executed and validated, a mathematical puzzle must be solved by an arbitrary computer in the global Bitcoin network.The network, which anyone can join, rewards the puzzle solvers in Bitcoin. The computing capacity used in this process — known as Bitcoin mining — has increased rapidly in recent years. Statistics show that it quadrupled in 2018 alone. The power consumption of the network depends primarily on the hardware used for Bitcoin mining. The annual electricity consumption by Bitcoin, as of November 2018, to be about 46 TWh. Naturally there are bigger factors contributing to climate change. However, the carbon footprint is big enough to make it worth discussing the possibility of regulating cryptocurrency mining in regions where power generation is especially carbon-intensive.

www.bricsias.com 81421600997979

To improve the ecological balance, one possibility might be to link more mining farms to additional renewable generating capacity Global Peace Index 2019 Part of Prelims: International relations, Mains: GS Paper II – International relations In news  Global Peace Index 2019 is Published by Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP)  This is the 13th edition of Global Peace Index which ranks 163 independent states and territories according to their levels of peacefulness.  It ranks countries and regions on three broad based themes: 1. Extent of conflict 2. Safety and Security 3. Level of militarisation According to the report,  For the world as a whole, 2019 was the first time the peace score has improved in the last five years.  West Asia and North Africa is the least peaceful region of the world followed by South Asia. Europe is the most peaceful region of the world.  Afghanistan was the least peaceful country of the world in 2019. Earlier it was Syria. While Iceland remains the most peaceful country in the world. India:  India‘s rank: 141 (Down 5 ranks from 2018)  India‘s ranking and scores have deteriorated largely due to internal conflicts, the country‘s relation with Pakistan and border tensions with China.  In 2018, the report noted India‘s score was high on the ‗Political Terror Scale‘. NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2  Governance  Government policies and issues arising out of its implementation and design In the absence of good law Background What is public procurement? Public procurement refers to the purchase by governments and state-owned enterprises of goods, services and works. As public procurement accounts for a substantial portion of the taxpayers‘ money, governments are expected to carry it out efficiently and with high standards of conduct in order to ensure high quality of service delivery and safeguard the public interest. Policies of the government  Establishment of GeM: Government e Marketplace (GeM) is an online procurement platform for government ministries and departments, and the most widely used channel for public procurement in India. MSMEs, DPIIT recognised startups and other private companies can register on GeM as sellers and sell their products and services directly to government entities.  Public Procurement Policy for Micro and Small Enterprises (MSME) order 2012: The Public Procurement Policy for Micro and Small Enterprises (MSME) order 2012 has mandated Every Central Ministry/Department/PSU shall setBRICS an annual goal for procurement from IASthe MSE sector at the beginning of the year, with the objective of achieving an overall procurement goal of minimum 25 per cent of the total annual purchases from the products or services produced or rendered by MSEs.  Government has issued Public Procurement (Preference to Make in India), Order 2017 Under this purchase preference shall be given to local suppliers in all procurements undertaken by procuring entities in the manner specified. As per the order the minimum local content shall ordinarily be 50%. The Nodal Ministry may prescribe a higher or lower percentage in respect of any particular item and may also prescribe the manner of calculation of local content. The margin of purchase preference shall be 20% . Lacunas in the Present system and steps needed  Procurement by the government accounts for 30% of the GDP; yet there is no comprehensive parliamentary legislation till date to regulate such public procurement by the Central government.  Charges of corruption are common and instead of legislation, there is a maze of regulations, guidelines and rules.  Existing constitutional provisions are themselves no great help in this area. While Article 282 provides for financial autonomy in public spending, there are no further provisions that address any guidance on public procurement principles, policies, procedures or for grievance redress.  State public procurement is regulated by a State Act only in five States: Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Assam. The grievance redress mechanisms provided in these Acts are not confidence- inspiring as they are neither independent nor effective.

www.bricsias.com 81421600998080

 Frequent Litigations: Courts have imposed stringent self-imposed restrictions in the area of judicial review vis-à- vis tenders that the power to interfere is very sparingly exercised, if at all.  The procuring officer is empowered by judicial principles such as ―Government must be allowed a play in the joints‖. Hence the legal framework is feeble.  In such a depressing legal scenario, it is no surprise that public procurement tender awards are often challenged in constitutional courts.  Hence need of the hour is to provide efficacious remedy to redress grievances. Need of Legislation Parliamentary legislation to regulate public procurements which provide adequate means for aggrieved parties to challenge inequities and illegalities in public procurement needs to be put in place. The United Progressive Alliance had introduced the Public Procurement Bill in the Lok Sabha in 2012, ―to regulate public procurement with the objective of ensuring transparency accountability and probity in the procurement process‖. The National Democratic Alliance, in 2015, revamped the provisions of the earlier Bill to come up with the Public Procurement Bill, 2015; but it is pending. Conclusion Public procurement is a crucial pillar of services delivery for governments. Because of the sheer volume of spending it represents, well governed public procurement can and must play a major role in fostering public sector efficiency and establishing citizens‘ trust. Well-designed public procurement systems also contribute to achieving pressing policy goals such as environmental protection, innovation, job creation and the development of small and medium enterprises. Connecting the dots: Public procurement is a crucial pillar of services delivery for governments. Do you think there is need of a well designed public procurement policy? Elaborate. NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2  Parliament and State legislatures—structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these. Qualifying for Leader of the Opposition Background With the formation of the 17th Lok Sabha, the question of a formally recognised Opposition party and Leader of the Opposition (LoP) of the Lok Sabha under the Salary and Allowances of Leaders of Opposition in Parliament Act, 1977, will arise. The Act extends to LoPs in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. What is Leader of Opposition?  Opposition party and Leader of the Opposition (LoP) of the Lok Sabha is appointed under the Salary and Allowances of Leaders of Opposition in Parliament Act, 1977.  The 1977 Act defines LoP as that member of the House who is the ―Leader in that House of the party in opposition to the Government having the greatest numerical strength and recognised as such by the Chairman of the Council of States or the Speaker of the House of the People, as the case may be.‖  The Act extends to LoPs in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha the same official status, allowances and perks that are admissible to Cabinet Ministers. Appointment of Leader of opposition  BRICS IAS In the case of the Lok Sabha, this is subject to recognition of the leader by the Speaker. The Speaker‘s decisions in this regard have so far been determined by Direction 121(c) which laid down one of the conditions for recognition of party or group as having ―at least a strength equal to the quorum fixed to constitute a sitting of the House, that is one-tenth of the total number of members of the House‖.  The Leaders and Chief Whips of Recognised Parties and Groups in Parliament (Facilities) Act, 1998 also refers to a recognised party in the Lok Sabha as a party that has not less than 55 members.  It is important to note that the single party and not an alliance must meet the 10% seat criteria in this regard. Significance of Leader of opposition A party might not be able to form the government at the center because of the lack of majority, but that doesn‘t take away the responsibility of acting as a watchdog of the ruling party. For a healthy Parliamentary democracy it is always considered essential that there should be a strong opposition, which should always be in a position to saddle itself in authority. The incumbent should offer constructive criticism of government policies. He/she has to ensure that House proceeds expeditiously and holds adequate debate on pressing issues. Recommendations for improvement In order to get the designation as the Opposition party, the party must have secured at least 10% of the total number of seats in the parliament. Thus the ―party‖ should be replaced ‗party or pre-poll alliance‘.

www.bricsias.com 81421600998181

Pre-poll alliances have credibility and legitimacy the President and Governors while deciding on who to call first for forming the government in cases where no party secures a clear majority support in the House, move to call pre-poll alliance. Proposed benefits It has the potential for the growth of a sound two- or three-party (or alliance) system. It could end the present system of having more than 2,000 parties being registered with the Election Commission. It may provide for candidates of an alliance contesting on a common symbol and an agreed common minimum programme with only national alliances or parties contesting for the Lok Sabha. Connecting the dots: Considering the importance of role played by the leader of opposition in Lok Sabha, do you think there is need to modify eligibility criteria for recognition of leader of opposition? 19th June 2019 Uptick for India on sanitation in UN report Part of prelims and mains GS II health and welfare, public services and governance In news: According to joint moitoring report by UNICEF and WHO, India has made great gains in providing basic sanitation facilities since the start of the millennium, accounting for almost two-thirds of the 650 million people globally who stopped practicing open defecation between 2000 and 2017. Repord card of India:  With regard to sanitation, India‘s record has been better. The country is responsible for almost single-handedly dragging the world towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal of ending open defecation.  The millions of new toilets which mark the progress of the Swachh Bharat mission are producing large amounts of solid and liquid waste that India simply does not have the ability to treat and dispose of safely. Only 30% of the country‘s waste water is treated at plants providing at least secondary treatment, in comparison to an 80% global average.  There has been absolutely no growth in the population with access to piped water facilities over that period, while large inequalities remain between rural and urban areas. India‘s way ahead:  Swachh Bharat programme had four reasons for its success that we can share with the rest of the world: political leadership, public financing, partnerships and people‘s participation.  Solid and liquid waste management will be the focus of Swachh Bharat phase 2.  The contours of a new scheme, tentatively called Nal Se Jal, are being drafted. India to be most populous by 2027: UN Part of Prelims and mains GS I: Population, GS III international relation In news: UN World Population Prospects 2019 report released. Accoring to report, India is set to overtake China as the most populous country by 2027. Findings of the UN report Demographic dividend:  India will have almost 1.64 billion inhabitants by 2050.  Moving from geographical areas to age cohorts, India is still among the countries where the working-age population (25-64 years) is growingBRICS faster than other groups, creating IAS an opportunity for accelerated economic growth.  However, the ―demographic dividend‖ will peak by 2047 in South Asian region, meaning that countries such as India must rush to invest in education and health, especially for young people. Pressure on social protection system:  Globally, people aged above 65 are the fastest growing age group, putting pressure on social protection systems as the proportion of the working-age population shrinks.  By 2050, one in six people will be above 65, compared with one in 11 people in 2019. Population growth rate:  While India may have the highest absolute increase in numbers, its rate of growth is slowing.  The rate of population growth is the highest in sub-Saharan Africa, where the fertility rate stand at 4.6 births per woman over a lifetime. The sub-Saharan African region is expected to double its population by mid-century. Libra is Facebook‘s cryptocurrency Part of Prelims and Mains GS III technology In news  Facebook is leaping into the world of cryptocurrency with its own digital money, designed to let people save, send or spend money as easily as firing off text messages.

www.bricsias.com 81421600998282

 ‗Libra‘ — described as ―a new global currency‖ — was unveiled on Tuesday in a new initiative in payments for the world‘s biggest social network with the potential to bring crypto-money out of the shadows and into the mainstream.  The initiative has the potential to allow more than a billion ―unbanked‖ people around the world access to online commerce and financial services NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2:  Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.  Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure.  Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability Simultaneous Elections: Pros and Cons In news: Not even a month after the world‘s largest elections in history were over, the debate around ―one nation, one election‖ has been resurrected. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had continued to flag the issue for the last five years, has now called for a meeting on the subject with leaders of other political parties. The Law Commission had recommended simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha, Vidhan Sabha and the local bodies as far back as in 1999. The matter was examined by a Parliamentary Standing Committee in December 2015, and was also referred to the Election Commission of India (EC). Both supported it in principle. Merits in the idea:  It is becoming more and more difficult to contest elections. The 2019 general election was the most expensive on record; a whopping Rs. 60,000 crore was reportedly spent on the whole exercise. Given that there is no cap on the expenditure incurred by political parties, they spend obscene amounts of money in every election. It is argued that simultaneous elections would help reduce this cost.  Frequent elections hamper the normal functioning of the government and disrupt civic life. This happens because the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) comes into operation as soon as the EC announces the election dates. This means that the government cannot announce any new schemes during this period. This results in what is often referred to as a policy paralysis. The government cannot make any new appointments or transfer/ appoint officials. The entire government manpower is involved in the conduct of elections.  Having simultaneous Parliament, Assembly, civic and Panchayat polls once every five years and completed within a month or so would save money, resources and manpower.  Elections are the time when communalism, casteism and corruption are at their peak. Frequent elections mean that there is no respite from these evils at all. The hurdles:  How will ―one nation, one election‖ work in case of premature dissolution of the Lok Sabha, for instance, as happened in late 1990s when the House was dissolved long before its term of five years was over? In such an eventuality, would we also dissolve all State Assemblies? Similarly, what happens when BRICSone of the State Assemblies is dissolved? IAS Will the entire country go to polls again? This sounds unworkable both in theory and in the practice of democracy.  Frequent elections ensure that the politicians have to show their faces to voters regularly. The most important consideration is undoubtedly the federal spirit, which, inter alia, requires that local and national issues are not mixed up. Going forward: Suggestions to deal with the problems that arise due to frequent elections.  The problem of uncontrolled campaign expenditure: 1. Introducing a cap on expenditure by political parties. 2. State funding of political parties based on their poll performance also is a suggestion worth considering. 3. Private and corporate fund collection may be banned.  The poll duration can be reduced from two-three months to about 33 to 35 days if more Central armed police forces can be provided. Violence, social media-related transgressions and issues related to the enforcement of the MCC which are unavoidable in a staggered election will vanish if the election is conducted in a single day. Conclusion: It is undeniable that simultaneous elections would be a far-reaching electoral reform. If it is to be implemented, there needs to be a solid political consensus, and an agenda of comprehensive electoral reforms should supplement it. The pros and cons need to be appropriately assessed and practical alternatives sincerely considered.

www.bricsias.com 81421600998383

Connecting the dots:  The ongoing debate on simultaneous elections is useful as it could result into other reforms to cleanse the electoral process. Analyze.  It is undeniable that simultaneous elections would be a far-reaching electoral reform. The pros and cons need to be appropriately assessed and practical alternatives sincerely considered. Comment. ECONOMY TOPIC: General Studies 3:  Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.  Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth  Investment models. A case for balanced BITs Background: Indian economy faces enormous challenges.  The GDP growth rate is at a five-year low.  Domestic consumption is sinking.  The business confidence index has plunged.  India has recorded its highest unemployment rate in the last 45 years.  Foreign direct investment (FDI) equity inflows to India in 2018-19 contracted by 1%, according to the government‘s own data. To add to this list of woes is a claim made by Arvind Subramanian, India‘s former Chief Economic Adviser, that India‘s GDP has been overestimated. Lost opportunity: The contraction in FDI inflows comes at a time when global supply chains are shifting base as a result of the ongoing trade war between the U.S. and China. India has failed to attract firms exiting China. Many of these supply chains have relocated to Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Indonesia. India is clearly not the natural/first option for these firms for a host of reasons, such as poor infrastructure, rigid land and labour laws, a deepening crisis in the banking sector and a lack of structural economic reforms. Termination of BITs: The decline in the FDI growth rate has coincided with India‘s decision, in 2016, to unilaterally terminate bilateral investment treaties (BITs) with more than 60 countries; this is around 50% of the total unilateral termination of BITs globally from 2010 to 2018. Unilateral termination of BITs on such a mass scale projects India as a country that does not respect international law. India also adopted a new inward-looking Model BIT in 2016 that prioritises state interests over protection to foreign investment. The decision to terminate BITs and adopt a state-friendly Model BIT was a reaction to India being sued by several foreign investors before international arbitration tribunals. (A bilateral investment treaty (BIT) is an agreement establishing the terms and conditions for private investment by nationals and companies of one state in another state.) Bad regulation:  A large number of issues aroseBRICS either because of inordinate judicial IAS delays in deciding on the enforceability of arbitration awards or because judiciary ruled in certain cases without examining India‘s BIT obligations such as en masse cancellation of the 2G telecom licences in 2012.  The government got the income tax laws retrospectively amended in 2012 to overrule the Supreme Court‘s judgment in favour of Vodafone and cancelled Devas Multimedia‘s spectrum licences in 2011 without following due process, thus adversely impacting Mauritian and German investors. These cases are examples of bad state regulation. Way ahead:  The Ministry of Finance and Corporate Affairs should invest extensively in developing state capacity so that the Indian state starts internalising BITs and is not caught on the wrong foot before an international tribunal.  True, India‘s BITs gave extensive protection to foreign investment with scant regard for state‘s interests. This design flaw could have been corrected by India negotiating new balanced treaties and then replacing the existing ones with the new ones instead of terminating them unilaterally, which has created a vacuum.  In correcting the pro-investor imbalance in India‘s BITs, India went to the other extreme and created a pro-state imbalance as evident in the Model BIT. Correcting this imbalance should be high on the reform agenda of the government. Conclusion: Clarity, continuity and transparency in domestic regulations and a commitment to a balanced BIT framework would help India project itself as a nation committed to the rule of law, both domestically and internationally, and thus shore

www.bricsias.com 81421600998484 up investor confidence. As the 2019 World Investment Report confirms, since India is fast becoming a leading outward investor, balanced BITs would also help in protecting Indian investment abroad. Connecting the dots:  Balanced Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) would help in improving the inward FDI. Comment. 20th June 2019 Cancer Cell detection ‗dots‘ developed from coal Part of Prelims and mains GS III Science and Technology In news  A team of scientists in Assam has developed a chemical process that turns ‗dirty‘ coal into a biomedical ‗dot‘ to help detect cancer cells.  It is a chemical method of producing carbon quantum dots (CQDs) from cheap, abundant, low-quality and high- sulphur coals.  CQDs are carbon-based nanomaterials whose size is less than 10 nm, or nanometre.  Carbon-based nanomaterials are used as diagnostic tools for bio-imaging, especially in detecting cancer cells, for chemical sensing and in opto-electronics.  CSIR-NEIST team developed fluorescent carbon nanomaterials at one-twentieth the cost of imported CQDs  The CQDs that the CSIR-NEIST team developed emit a bluish colour with ―high-stability, good-conductivity, low-toxicity, environmental friendliness, and good optical properties.  CQDs are futuristic materials whose demand in India has been increasing leading to a considerable volume of import. NATIONAL/ENVIRONMENT TOPIC: General studies 2:  Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. General studies 3:  Conservation, Environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.  Water Pollution, Wastewater management Water Crisis in the making Background: While water deprivation is especially acute in regions like Marathwada in Maharashtra, it afflicts large parts of India with varying degrees of severity.  Some parts of Karnataka, for example, shut schools for an extra week on account of water scarcity.  Incidents of violence over water have been reported from across the country.  In Madhya Pradesh, which has had several water related clashes, the state government asked superintendents of police of all 52 districts to guard water sources. This is unprecedented. It also portends a future of worsening strife over what many of us take for granted. 2018 NITI Aayog report: The scale of the water crisis in perspective  India has only 4% of the planet‘s fresh-water for 16% of its population.  According to the NITI Aayog report, India is the world‘s biggest groundwater extractor.  As things stand, it forecasts thatBRICS 21 cities, including Delhi, Bengaluru, IAS Chennai and Hyderabad, will run out of groundwater by 2020.  40% of our citizens will have no access to drinking water by 2030.  As many as 600 million people are already estimated to face ―high-to-extreme‖ water stress every year. Crisis in the making: This crisis had been in the making for decades, with ecologists who warned of development myopia brushed aside in favour of concrete signs of economic success.  All manner of structures have encroached upon lakes and rivers with impunity, while industrial waste and sewage inflows render various water bodies toxic.  The problem is compounded by the large-scale adoption of thermocol and plastic plates and glasses even in the countryside, the non-biodegradable wastes ends up killing rural pools of water that have traditionally served entire villages.  Groundwater levels, meanwhile, have fallen calamitously. In the farm sector, because of the practice of flood irrigation and switchovers to water-soaking crops such as sugarcane and rice.  Water theft by tanker gangs does much of the harm. Water-tanker operators profit by digging borewells, often illegally and under political patronage, to sell water at scandalous prices to the needy. The phenomenon is so rampant that the pace of groundwater extraction invariably outstrips the rate of aqueous recharge. Conclusion:

www.bricsias.com 81421600998585

The government‘s aim of assuring every citizen piped water by 2024 is indeed laudable. For that goal to be met, however, many challenges need to be overcome.  Agriculture would need to conserve water through drip irrigation and other methods.  Groundwater replenishment will have to be done in mission mode.  Rainwater harvesting must turn voluminous.  For now, perhaps tanker gangs could be put out of business by state water supplies. Connecting the dots:  Water deprivation afflicts large parts of India with varying degrees of severity. In this light comment on the challenges to achieve the goal of piped water to every citizen by 2024. NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2:  Parliament and State Legislatures – structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these. Securing neutrality and security of tenure for the Speaker Background: A watchful Parliament forms the foundation of a well-functioning democracy. The presiding officers of Parliament are the key to securing the effectiveness of this institution. The MPs look to the presiding officers (Speaker in LS and Chairman in RS) to facilitate debate, protect their rights and uphold the dignity of Parliament. Importance of securing neutrality and security of tenure:  The primary challenge before the Speaker is to conduct the proceedings of the Lok Sabha free from disruptions. To do so, the Speaker will have to earn the trust of the Members of Parliament: One way to earn the trust of MPs will be by being neutral, both in practice and perception while running the House.  With no security in the continuity of office, the Speaker is dependent on his or her political party for reelection. This makes the Speaker susceptible to pulls and pressures from her/his political party in the conduct of the proceedings of the Lok Sabha. Securing the neutrality of the Speaker: It is a question that experts in India have been grappling with for 60-plus years.  In his 1952 acceptance speech as Speaker of the first Lok Sabha, G V Mavalankar said: ―We have yet to evolve political parties and healthy conventions about Speakership, the principle of which is that, once a Speaker he is not opposed by any party in the matter of his election, whether in the constituency or in the House, so long as he wishes to continue as Speaker.‖  In 1951 and 1953, the Conference of Presiding Officers of legislatures in India passed a resolution for the adoption of the British Convention. It was unable to make much headway. British Convention: In Britain, the promise of continuity in office for many terms is used to ensure the Speaker‘s impartiality.  By convention, political parties (usually) do not field a candidate against the Speaker at the time of general elections.  The Speaker can continue in office, until deciding otherwise.  The Speaker also gives up the membership of his/her political party. Conclusion: Maintaining neutrality of speaker towards all the political parties and securing his/her tenure is a reform long due. The government should reBRICS-think on introducing IAS the British convention. Speaker needs to be vigilant to defend the sanctity of the institution and also have the vision to strengthen it. In this challenging journey, the guiding light should be the Constitution and the rules of procedure of Lok Sabha. Connecting the dots:  Discuss the importance of securing neutrality and security of tenure for the Speaker in Lok Sabha. 21st June 2019 India‘s first solar cruise vessel to be rolled out soon Part of: Prelims and mains GS III infrastructure, environment and pollution In news:  Kerala is gearing up for the launch of the country‘s premier solar-powered cruise boat by December 2019.  The hybrid vessel will be powered by a motor that can source energy from solar panels, battery, and generator,  Solar vessels do not create air and noise pollution. The double-deck, double-engine catamaran-type vessel adheres to norms specified by the Indian Registry of Shipping (IRS).  The initiative comes from the State Water Transport Department (SWTD), whose solar ferry Aditya in the Vaikom-Thavanakadavu route has proved to be a success. Navy to build 6 submarines Part of Prelims and mains GS III Defence and security In news:

www.bricsias.com 81421600998686

 The Navy issued an ‗Expression of Interest‘ for shortlisting potential strategic partners for the construction of six P-75 (I) submarines.  This is the second project being undertaken under the latest Strategic Partnership (SP) Model, with the first being the procurement of 111 naval utility helicopters (NUH)  This will provide a major boost to the indigenous design and construction capability of submarines in India, in addition to bringing in the latest submarine design and technologies as part of the project.  The SPs have been mandated to set up dedicated manufacturing lines for these submarines in India with an aim to make India the global hub for submarine design and production. Do you know? Strategic Partnership (SP) Model Strategic Partnership Model aims to revitalise defence industrial ecosystem and progressively build indigenous capabilities in the private sector to design, develop and manufacture complex weapon systems for the future needs of the Armed Forces. It lays emphasis on incentivisation of transfer of niche technology and higher indigenous content Global Majors, who in collaboration with Indian Partners are ready to make India a Regional / Global manufacturing hub for the platform will also be incentivized. This will give a major fillip towards encouraging self-reliance and aligning the defence sector with the ‗Make in India ‗ initiative of the Government. Pompeo to pave way for Modi-Trump meet Part of Prelims and mains GS II International Relations In news  U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo‘s visit from June 25 to 27 will give a boost to the engagement between the political leaderships of India and the U.S.  The bilateral trade between India and US had grown over the years to about $150 billion. Major concerns to be discussed during meetings and on the sideline of G20 summit  Difficult issues on trade such as Generalised system of preferences, etc.  5G telecommunications; U.S. concerns about Chinese company Huawei‘s participation in the 5G roll-out in India on the economic and security aspects.  India‘s planned purchase of the Russian S-400 anti-missile systems and US offer of high-technology hardware such as the F-35 combat aircraft.  U.S. concerns on data localisation and a possible quid pro quo with H-1B visas for IT professionals.  The Iran sanctions and India‘s concerns on energy security ‗Iran made a very big mistake by shooting down U.S. drone‘- Trump Part of Prelims and mains GS II International relations and Current events of national and international importance In news Iranian state media said the ―spy‖ drone was brought down over the southern Iranian province of Hormozgan whereas according to a U.S. official the drone had been downed in international air space over the Strait of Hormuz. Do you know?  Strait of Hormuz lies between Iran and Oman.  About a third of the world‘s seaborne oil exits the Gulf via Strait of Hormuz. Himalayan glaciers are melting twice as fast since 2000: study Part of: Prelims and mains GS III BRICSEnvironment and Ecology IAS In news: Comparing data obtained by Cold War-era spy satellites with images from modern stereo satellites, scientists have shown that Himalayan glaciers have lost more than a quarter of their ice mass since 1975, with melting occurring twice as fast after the turn of the century as average temperatures rose. Background  In the 1970s, at the height of the Cold War, the U.S. had deployed spy satellites that orbited the globe and took thousands of photographs, using a telescopic camera system, for reconnaissance purposes.  More than four decades later, scientists are using those same images to show the devastating impact of a warming Earth on the Himalayan glaciers.  The study goes on to assert that rising temperatures are responsible for the accelerating loss. WHO writes new prescription to prevent misuse of antibiotics Part of: Prelims and mains GS II Health GS III environmental concerns In news: WHO estimates that more than 50% of antibiotics in many countries are used inappropriately for treatment of viruses, when they only treat bacterial infections, or are the wrong choice of antibiotic (broader spectrum), thus contributing to the spread of antimicrobial resistance. ‗Access, Watch and Reserve‘

www.bricsias.com 81421600998787

 WHO has suggested the adoption of ‗Access, Watch and Reserve‘, an approach that specifies which antibiotics to use for the most common and serious infections, which ones ought to be available at all times in the healthcare system, and those that must be used sparingly, or reserved and used only as a last resort. This approach will reduce the spread of antimicrobial resistance, adverse events and costs.  The new campaign aims to increase the proportion of global consumption of antibiotics in the ‗Access‘ group to at least 60%, and to reduce use of the antibiotics most at risk of resistance.  Using ‗Access‘ antibiotics lowers the risk of resistance because they are ‗narrow-spectrum‘ antibiotics (that target a specific microorganism rather than several). They are also less costly because they are available in generic formulations.  In India, the Health Ministry has made it mandatory to display a 5mm-thick red vertical band on the packaging of prescription-only drugs to sensitise people to be cautious while buying these medicines that are widely sold without prescriptions. NATIONAL/ECONOMY TOPIC: General studies 3:  Inclusive growth and issues arising from it  Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Creating a valuable economy Introduction: At the meeting of the Governing Council of the NITI Aayog last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the target of a $5 trillion economy for India by 2024. What we would hope to find once we have reached our destination is the question. A quantum leap in the size of the economy cannot be achieved easily. It will require design, funding and governance. In this path the pursuit should be to create a valuable economy. Characteristics of a valuable economy:  Indians should feel empowered by the economy. India is placed very low in the United Nations‘ World Happiness Report. Happiness, best understood as a sense of well-being, is directly related to empowerment, or being able to undertake the functioning‘s we value. This is, in the first instance, related to being educated and experiencing good health. We are in India facing an education sector that is broken down and the majority are battling with almost non-existent public health infrastructure. The private sector has some worthy initiatives in these areas but they await an effective public presence on a gigantic scale. So, the first attribute of the valuable economy would be access to quality health and education for all.  Equality of opportunity: For over three decades now income inequality has been rising in India. Now some part of inequality of opportunity is related to unequal distribution of income but a part of it is not. Gender inequality manifested as women having less opportunity in life is not going to go away with a re- distribution of income along class lines or across social groupings. India is a serious outlier in this regard, and becoming richer as a society may do little to change the status quo. Shockingly, a sex ratio, already unfavourable to women, has shown a secular worsening since 1947. Inequality in India can only be ended by equalising capabilities across individuals. Concerted public action via education is the means to this outcome.BRICS Income transfers, pushed relentlessly IAS by policy entrepreneurs, evade the issue altogether.  Conserving nature An economy, whatever its size, cannot be meaningfully evaluated independently of the extent of presence in it of natural capital. Two-thirds of the world‘s most polluted cities are in India, when we accept less than a fifth of its population. Air pollution shortens lives and lowers productivity, reducing the capacity to earn a living when alive. The poor are the most affected as they cannot afford to live in gated communities that somehow manage to commandeer scarce natural resources. Conclusion: Any improvement in the life of the majority would require a re-alignment of the growth process so that it is less damaging. This would very likely require that we have slower growth but the process can be configured to channel more of it towards poorer groups. We may end up in a situation of less tangible goods in the aggregate than otherwise but one in which more people are happier than in the past. Such an economy is more valuable. Connecting the dots:  The economy must be evaluated in terms of how much it contributes to the ease of our living. The pursuit should be to create a valuable economy. Comment.

www.bricsias.com 81421600998888

NATIONAL/SOCIAL ISSUES TOPIC: General studies 1:  Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India. General studies 2:  Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector or Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.  Issues relating to poverty and hunger. Importance of Yoga Introduction: As over 170 countries around the world celebrate the fifth International Yoga Day on June 21. Recognising that ―yoga provides a holistic approach to health and well-being‖ and also that wider dissemination of information about the benefits of practising yoga would be beneficial for the health of people all over the world, the UN proclaimed June 21 as the International Day of Yoga via Resolution 69/131. Quite appropriately, the theme of the 2019 International Yoga Day is ―Climate Action‖. Establishment of the first India-China Yoga College at the Yunnan Minzu University in Kunming in China and the India-Turkmenistan Centre for Yoga and Traditional Medicine in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan are a few of the important first steps in the efforts to spread the benefits of yoga. What is yoga? Practised in various forms around the world and continuing to grow in popularity, yoga is essentially an ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in India possibly around the 5th century BC. The word yoga comes from Sanskrit and means ―to join‖ or ―unite‖. The science of yoga joins different facets of human existence. The word was first mentioned in the Rigveda , but its philosophy, science and grammar were first provided by Patanjali in his magnum opus, Patanjali Yoga Sutra . Importance of yoga: Much more than a workout: It is a comprehensive approach to achieve wellness. It recognises the vital connection between the body and the mind. It aims for balance and equanimity, peace, poise and grace. It is a sublime expression of the quest for excellence, for synthesis and harmony. Maintaining the balance: We are living in times of great challenges, of unprecedented change in unpredictable directions. The way we live, learn, work and enjoy is changing rapidly. Lifestyles are getting transformed through technology. However, as the global community started drafting its development agenda in 2015, it realised that we have been missing a big component of ―development‖. There was a need for balance.  Need for caring for the poor.  Need for caring for the planet.  Need to look for gross national happiness in addition to gross national product.  Need to avoid excesses, avoid reckless exploitation of nature, avoid excessive consumption. Our individual lifestyles and patterns of global governance needed to be rebooted.  Sustainability has become the new mantra. ―Balance‖ is at the heart of sustainability. And that ―balance‖ in all spheres startingBRICS with physical well-being is whatIAS yoga is all about. Yoga is an approach to life that focuses on physical balance, mental equilibrium and working towards a harmonious synthesis of diverse elements including the protection of the environment. Effective ground for sustainability:  Yoga is a way of thinking, a way of behaving, a way of learning and a way of problem-solving. It is a unique way of connecting ourselves with the external environment and generating positive synergies of thought and action. It creates stability, enhances ability and promotes conviviality. It can serve as an effective ground for sustainability. All is one : Yoga is something beyond physical health and material wealth. The human persona is not only a body; it is also a mind, an intellect, and a soul. Yoga attempts to harmonise all of them. Yoga means to join. Its ultimate goal is to experience the unity of individual and universal consciousness. Yoga teaches us to recognise the fundamental unity between human beings and humankind, humans and the environment, and ultimately recognise a total interconnectedness of everything. The essence of this realisation is to experience that all is one. There is no ‗us‘ and ‗they‘ — everything is us. This is an integral or holistic approach. Conclusion: Apart from emphasising the normal benefits of yoga, International Yoga Day should be utilised to think about how a peaceful transition can be achieved for peace, harmony and happiness. Connecting the dots:  Yoga is much more than a workout. Comment.

www.bricsias.com 81421600998989

22nd June 2019 Kaleshwaram project inaugurated in Telangana Part of: Prelims and Mains GS III Infrastructure In news  The Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP), claimed to be the world‘s largest multi-stage and multi-purpose lift irrigation scheme, was inaugurated on June 21, 2019.  It is meant to irrigate over 37 lakh acres of new and existing ayacuts and supply drinking water to Hyderabad and villages en route. Do you Know?  Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project is a multi-purpose irrigation project on the Godavari River in Kaleshwaram, Telangana, India.  This project starts at the confluence point of Pranahita River and Godavari River i.e, at Kaleshwaram village in Telangana.  Pranahita river in itself is a confluence of various other smaller tributaries like Wardha, Penganga and Wainganga Rivers. Over 12,000 suicide deaths by farmers in three years: Maharashtra Part of: Prelims and Mains GS III Farmers‘ issues In news  In Maharashtra, despite spending over ₹19,000 crore on farm loan waiver, a total of 12,021 farmers have died in the State due to suicide between 2015 and 2018.  First three months of this year (2019) saw 610 deaths of farmers. Steps taken by Maharashtra government  Over 50 lakh farmers would benefit from the loan waiver scheme and ₹24,000 crore will be spent for this.  Of the total number, 43.32 lakh farmers have actually received benefits worth ₹19,000 crore.  Out of 12,021 farmer suicides, a total of 6,888 cases qualified for compensation as per the norms.  Out of these, kin of farmers in 6,845 cases have been paid ₹1 lakh aid. Despite the loan waiver scheme and increasing expenditure on the agriculture sector, the farmer deaths in the state have not stopped. FATF warns Pak., but keeps it off the blacklist Part of: Prelims and Mains GS II International Relations In news  Pakistan has avoided being placed on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) blacklist during the multilateral financial watchdog‘s plenary meetings in Orlando, Florida held from June 16 to 21.  The FATF expresses concern that not only did Pakistan fail to complete its action plan items with January deadlines, it also failed to complete its action plan items due May 2019.  The FATF strongly urges Pakistan to swiftly complete its action plan by October 2019 when the last set of action plans are set to expire. Otherwise, the FATF will decide the next step at that time for insufficient progress.  The mention of transnational terrorist financing is significant in light of India‘s efforts to isolate Pakistan on the international stage in the context of its support for terror in Kashmir. Background In June 2018, Pakistan was placed on a FATF greylist of countries whose laws do not adequately deal with money laundering and terrorist financing BRICSand agreed to a 10-point action plan IASto strengthen its anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism and proliferation regime. Blacklist, greylist criteria  To stay off of the FATF blacklist, the support of at least three of a total of 36 (excluding two regional organisations) FATF members is required.  Fifteen members need to support a country‘s move off of the greylist, as per the FATF charter.  Currently Iran and North Korea are in the Blacklist. India placed on ‗Tier 2‘ in Human trafficking report Part of: Prelims and Mains GS II International reports, Policies affecting weaker sections of the society In news The U.S. State Department has released its 2019 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report, highlighting the need for action against domestic trafficking. The national nature of trafficking (Based on ILO data):  In 77% of the cases, victims are trafficked within their own countries of residence, rather than across borders.  Victims of sex trafficking were more likely to be trafficked across borders while victims of forced labour were typically exploited within their own countries. The report categorises countries into three groups based on the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), U.S. legislation, based on efforts to meet minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking viz. Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3.

www.bricsias.com 81421600999090

India continued to be placed in Tier 2 on the country trafficking scale. Recommendations for India  Amend the definition of trafficking in Section 370 of the Penal Code to include forced labour trafficking and ensure that force, fraud, or coercion are not required to prove a child sex trafficking offence.  Establish Anti-Human Trafficking Units in all districts with funding and clear mandates. Miscellaneous  NITI Aayog had recommended special assistance of ₹19,205 crore to Mission Bhagiratha, intended to supply piped drinking water to every household, and ₹5,000 crore to Mission Kakatiya, meant to restore over 45,000 tanks in the State.  Mission Bhagiratha: It is a project for safe drinking water for every village and city household in Telangana State.  Mission Kakatiya: It is a programme for restoring all the minor irrigation tanks and lakes in Telangana State. NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2:  Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation  Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources  India and its neighbourhood- relations  Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests Developing a shared vision for SDGs in South Asia Background: South Asia covers only about 3.5% of the world‘s land surface area but hosts a fourth of its population, making it a region of significant importance for international development. In spite of the geographic proximity countries in this region enjoy and their common socio-cultural bonds, this is one of the world‘s least integrated regions. Intra-regional trade is a meagre 5% of the total trade these countries do globally, while intra-regional investment is less than 1% of the region‘s overall global investment. South Asia‘s average GDP per capita is only about 9.64% of the global average. Accounting for more than 30% of the world‘s poor, the region faces myriad economic and environmental challenges. Lack of initiatives: While the countries share a host of common development challenges, economic cooperation remains less than adequate. While, A few noteworthy regional initiatives such as the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC ) and the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) Initiative have been undertaken to bring the countries closer together, economically and socially, there is scope for much more. For a region with common development challenges of inequality, poverty, weak governance and poor infrastructure, a shared vision of attaining the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provides enormous opportunities for cooperation, collaboration, and convergence (3C). Need of shared vision:  The 17 goals and their 169 targets under SDGs are inter-connected and cannot be implemented by countries working in isolation. Many are transnational in nature and require regional efforts. South Asian countries could benefitBRICS a lot by adopting a regional framework IAS of cooperation that can support, strengthen and stimulate the SDGs. In the SDG Index 2018, which is an assessment of countries‘ progress, among 156 countries only two South Asian countries, Bhutan and Sri Lanka, are in the top 100. India is ranked 112th.  Varying performances & Similarities: A closer look at the country-level data shows that India is performing well in Goal 1 (no poverty), Goal 6 (clean water and sanitation), Goal 12 (sustainable consumption and production), Goal 13 (climate action) and Goal 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions) while doing poorly in goal 2 (zero hunger), Goal 5 (gender equality) and Goal 9 (industry, innovation and infrastructure). There are a lot of similarities among these three big economies(India, Pakistan and Bangladesh) of South Asia with respect to achieving some specific SDGs as well as exhibiting poor performance in some common goals. Challenges:  Most South Asian countries have made good progress in ending extreme poverty, but they face persistent challenges to goals related to industry, innovation and infrastructure, zero hunger, gender equality, education, sustainable cities and communities and decent work and economic growth.  These apart, most of South Asia continues to be vulnerable to climate change and climate-induced natural disasters. Way ahead: A regional strategic approach to tackle common development challenges can bring enormous benefits to South Asia.

www.bricsias.com 81421600999191

 SDGs related to energy, biodiversity, infrastructure, climate resilience and capacity development are transnational, and here policy harmonisation can play a pivotal role in reducing duplication and increasing efficiency.  Bangladesh has undertaken exemplary initiatives for analysing its available resources and additional funding requirements for SDG implementation, suggesting that the country requires an additional $928 billion to fully implement the SDGs. The study identifies five possible sources for SDGs financing: public sector, private sector, public-private partnership, external sector and non-government organisations.  Similarly, India has formulated some pragmatic plans and initiatives to improve food and nutrition security from which many of the neighbouring countries can benefit. To address institutional and infrastructural deficits, South Asian countries need deeper regional cooperation. On financing the SDGs in South Asia, countries can work towards increasing the flow of intra-regional FDI. The private sector too can play a vital role in resource mobilisation. Conclusion: If the countries of South Asia, the fastest growing region of the world, can come to a common understanding on regional integration and cooperation in achieving the SDGs, it can unleash a powerful synergistic force that can finally make South Asia converge. A convergence towards achieving a common socio-economic agenda gives hope that no one in South Asia will be left behind in the journey towards eradicating poverty and enduring dignity to all. Connecting the dots:  For the South Asia region, which has common development challenges of inequality, poverty, weak governance and poor infrastructure, a shared vision of attaining the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provides enormous opportunities for cooperation, collaboration, and convergence (3C). Comment. NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2 :  Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation  Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions  Issues and policies related to health The debate on Bihar tragedy: Reasons behind In news: While Bihar loses hundreds of children to AES(Acute Encephalitis Syndrome) every year, there were sharp spikes in 2012 and 2014, when 395 and 372 children, respectively, lost their lives. Through the years, AES cases have been reported from several districts in Bihar: Gaya, Patna, Aurangabad, Saran, East Champaran, Sitamarhi and Vaishali. Encephalitis refers to an inflammation in the brain due to a viral or bacterial attack. It causes fever and almost never a drop in blood sugar. In the current epidemic, as well as in previous ones in Muzaffarpur, the doctors have marked cases of and deaths by hypoglycaemia (drop in blood sugar), which is unusual. Possible reasons behind: Ongoing heat wave: It could be the ongoing heatwave — several parts of Patna, Gaya and even Muzaffarpur have recorded temperatures in excess of 4-5°C over what‘s normal for this time of the year. At least 80 people have succumbed to the heatwave. The added heat and humidity could haveBRICS made young children particularly susceptibleIAS to dehydration. Debating the litchi link: Spike in AES cases and in fatalities can be a result of malnourished children suffering brain damage after eating litchis, particularly unripe or overripe ones. In 2016, a detailed investigation, published in The Lancet Global Health by the National Centre for Disease Control, India, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, found ―confirmation‖ that litchis contained a chemical called methylene cyclopropyl glycine (MCPG). These are naturally occurring toxins that cause hypoglycaemia and metabolic derangement in children. When a child is malnourished, her body, having exhausted its reserves of glucose from the digestive tract and the liver, typically turns to fatty acids in biochemical desperation to supply blood sugar to the brain. MCPG, the theory goes, blocked this mechanism. This can send the brain into hypoglycaemic shock triggering convulsions and, if unaddressed, even death. Virus or biological agent: Several parents of the ailing children have been categorical that their children did not eat litchis. If malnutrition and litchi consumption were the causes, then there ought to have been a fairly constant number of deaths every year. This has not been observed. ―A peak and an ebb in cases and deaths is what we see. And that‘s more typical of a biological agent.‖ Poor health record:

www.bricsias.com 81421600999292

Irrespective of whether a biological agent or malnutrition is to blame, Bihar‘s poor track record in ensuring that the poorest have access to adequate nutrition and distrust in the public health care system are major causes for the deaths.  Doctors in several primary health care centres are ―afraid‖ of doing anything beyond the bare minimum to rescue a child. ―Because the primary health care centres and health centres are located in a village or community, there‘s a greater chance of violence in case a child dies. Over the years, this has led to a lack of trust among people in their nearest health facility and they opt for tertiary care.  Bihar‘s position at the bottom of national health indices makes novel diseases harder to detect and known diseases harder to treat. According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) of 2015-2016, 48% of children in Bihar were stunted, compared to the national average of 38%. Bihar also performed poorly in terms of its ability to spend and implement schemes that provided nutritious food to children and expectant mothers. Two-thirds of eligible children did not get healthy meals, the NHFS report noted. Way ahead: In 2016, a government-constituted committee prescribed guidelines:  Children shouldn‘t be allowed to skip their evening meal, they should avoid stepping out in the heat.  Local public healthcare centres must stock up on anti-convulsion drugs as well as dextrose. These were adhered to in 2017 and 2018. And that‘s why there were relatively fewer reports of AES. Treating it as a disaster: The NDMA (National Disaster Management Authority) which was set up in 1999 has its brief to co-ordinate the response to ―man-made and natural disasters‖. Muzaffarpur is facing a disaster which is partly natural and certainly aggravated by being man-made. But it does not qualify. ―Disaster‖. Floods and earthquakes elicit immediate response, but not long epidemics or drought. Muzaffarpur is a national tragedy, as much as the Gujarat earthquake was, or the Kerala floods and it should be treated as one. Conclusion: The debate on the underlying reason for so many deaths is an ongoing one. With a spike in deaths every year it is clear that the State has failed Muzaffarpur‘s children. It is time a scientific study is carried out and steps be taken accoridnly. Connecting the dots:  Bihar loses hundreds of children to AES (Acute Encephalitis Syndrome) every year. Discuss the possible reasons behind. Also comment on the challenges involved in tackling the issue. 24th June 2019 Scientists decode genome of ‗miracle plant‘ Part of Prelims and Mains GS III Science and Technology In news  ‗Arogyapacha‘ (Trichopus zeylanicus) is endemic to the Agastya hills, and is known for its medicinal properties.  This ‗miracle plant‘ is known for its traditional use by the Kani tribal community to combat fatigue.  Studies have also proven its anti-oxidant, aphrodisiac, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumour, anti-ulcer, hepatoprotective and anti-diabetic properties. Do you know? Kani is a tribe living in the Western Ghats area of Kerala, India. Their use of the forest plant arogyapacha (trichopus zeylanicus) as a key ingredient in aBRICS herbal remedy called Jeevani was noted IAS by visiting scientists. ILS develops antibodies against Chikungunya infection Part of Prelims and Mains GS III Science and Technology: Health In news The Institute of Life Sciences (ILS), which functions under the Department of Biotechnology, has entered into a non- exclusive license for product commercialisation after having successfully developed antibodies against the Chikungunya viral (CHIKV) infection. Significant impact It will help researchers unravel myriad aspects of virus pathogenesis. Moreover, with greater light shed upon the CHIKV infection biology using these antibodies, research communities are now a step closer to developing efficacious antivirals and other control strategies against the Chikungunya virus. Ambubachi Mela, Assam Part of Prelims and Mains GS I Art and culture In news A floating replica of the historic Kamakhya Temple, installed on the Brahmaputra river on the occasion of the annual four-day Ambubachi Mela at Amingaon, near Guwahati. Do you know?

www.bricsias.com 81421600999393

The Ambubachi Mela is an annual Hindu mela held at Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati, Assam. This yearly mela is celebrated during the monsoon season that happens to fall during the Assamese month Ahaar, around the middle of June . It is the celebration of the yearly menstruation course of goddess Kamakhya. It is believed that the presiding goddess of the temple, Devi Kamakhya, the Mother Shakti, goes through her annual cycle of menstruation during this time stretch. Cabinet nod for wage code Bill likely Part of Prelims and Mains GS III Labour laws In news  Looking to bring in a fresh wave of labour reforms, the Labour Ministry is likely to seek Cabinet approval for the Code on Wages Bill.  The wage code Bill is one of four codes envisaged by the government which would subsume 44 labour laws with certain amendments.  The four codes will deal with wages, social security, industrial safety and welfare, and industrial relations. INTERNATIONAL TOPIC:General studies 2 and 3:  India and the World  International Relations  Policies of developed and developing countries and their impact on India’s interests Weathering the incoming geopolitical storm Introduction: The nature and dynamics of Southern Asian geopolitics are undergoing a radical transformation, slowly, steadily and in an irrevocable manner. Is New Delhi adequately prepared to weather the incoming geopolitical storm? Growing uncertainty in Southern Asian geopolitics:  There is a sharp power competition in the region. The U.S. is caught between its reluctance to part with its fading glory on the one hand and unwillingness to do what it takes to maintain its regional influence on the other. When challenged by China and Russia in the regional geopolitical landscape, the U.S.‘s superpower instinct is to push back, often leading to short-sighted decisions and confused policies. Russia and China are jointly and individually challenging the U.S.‘s pre-eminence and drafting smaller countries of the region into their bandwagon/s. The resultant geopolitical competition for space, power and influence in the regional scheme of things is undoing the traditional geopolitical certainties in Southern Asia.  The China pivot: While, Washington‘s role as the regional pivot and power manager is becoming a thing of the past with Beijing increasingly able and willing to assume that role. Regional geopolitics, from Iran to Central Asia and from the South China Sea to the Indian Ocean region, is increasingly being shaped by China. China is the new regional hegemon with states in the region jumping on its bandwagon without much resistance. When new powers are on an ascendance, its neighbours tend to recalibrate their policies and old partnerships and alliances. Regional holdouts andBRICS challengers such as India will need toIAS balance themselves tactfully to steer clear of the rising hegemon‘s ire.  The presence of an extreme trust deficit among the various actors in the region. India and Pakistan, or China and India do not trust each other. Aa trust deficit exists between even seemingly congenial partners such as the U.S. and India, Russia and China, and among traditional partners such as Iran and India, and Russia and India. The varying degrees of trust deficit when combined with other factors such as unresolved conflicts, misunderstandings or the occurrence of a crisis could easily push the region towards more conflict and friction, and obviously less cooperation and regional integration.  The rising war talk in the region: The possibility of a military conflict between Iran and the U.S., which in turn would draw many more countries in the region into it leading to widespread instability, potential for India-Pakistan border skirmishes and possible escalation, an escalating China-U.S. trade war, and the many proxy and cold wars in Afghanistan and West Asia will keep the temperature high in the region for the foreseeable future. In sum, a power transition in the Southern Asian sub-system, an extreme trust deficit and the escalating war talk pose ominous signs for the region. Way ahead: India needs to adopt a slew of balancing acts in order to weather the incoming geopolitical storm.

www.bricsias.com 81421600999494

 India would need to balance its innate desire to get closer to the U.S. with the unavoidable necessities of not excessively provoking China both in the maritime and continental domains. Clearly, getting too close to the U.S. will provoke China, and vice versa.  Driving India‘s West Asia policy: Taking care of its energy and other interests (including the Chabahar project) with Iran and not alienate the U.S., Saudi Arabia and Israel by doing so. While Iran‘s share in India‘s energy imports is steadily decreasing, alienating Iran might not suit India‘s strategic interests in the longer run.  Dealing with the Russia-China partnership: It will be crucial for India‘s continental strategy, be it with regard to arms sales, the Afghan question or checking Chinese dominance of the region. New Delhi should be clever enough to exploit the not-so-apparent fissures between Beijing and Moscow. A related concern should be the growing relationship between Pakistan and Russia which must be dealt with by smart diplomacy rather than outrage.  Srategic partnership between Pakistan and China: China, being a rising superpower and an already status quoist power in the region, could potentially be persuaded to check Pakistan‘s revisionist tendencies. This again requires a great deal of subtle effort from New Delhi to convince Beijing that it has great stakes in regional strategic stability. What must be noted is that both Beijing and New Delhi, despite their sharp differences and unavoidable strategic competition, share a stake in the region‘s stability. Therefore even a small measure of rapprochement between them, as it seemingly exists today, could stabilise the region to a great extent.  Handling Afghanistan: If India is serious about having a say in Afghanistan‘s future, it would need to enact several balancing acts there: between Russia and China, China and Pakistan, the Taliban and Kabul, and the Taliban and Pakistan. In a constantly changing Afghan geopolitical landscape, the contents of India‘s interests should also evolve. Conclusion: A benign unipolarity or a balanced multipolarity with some amount of great power concert is generally better than unbalanced multipolarity. Unbalanced multipolarity when combined with a situation of power transition in the regional sub-system, as is perhaps the case today, might prove to be destabilising. New Delhi should be careful to avoid getting caught in a nutcracker geopolitical situation in the region. Engaging in a delicate balancing game is undeniably the need of the hour. India needs to see through many balancing acts to deal with regional tensions. Connecting the dots:  A power transition in the Southern Asian sub-system, an extreme trust deficit between regional players and the escalating war talk pose threatening signs for the region. In such a scenario, India needs to adopt balancing acts. Discuss. SOCIAL/ECONOMY TOPIC: General studies 1 and 2:  Women empowerment BRICS IAS  Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. General studies 3:  Indian economy and employment; Gender parity; Women participation in workforce Women Empowerment in New India Background: As the government plans actions to transform India — and politics — it needs to pay more heed to women‘s field- voices and needs.  For the first time ever, a critical-half of voters constituted women, near-parity to male numbers with many exhibiting independent decision-making in vote-casting. This outpouring — despite 20 million women claimed as missing from voters‘ lists — testifies to the maturity of women‘s political agency. It is a self-propelled contribution to nation-building, notwithstanding lack of adequate support to women‘s political contestation from any major political party.  The 17th Lok Sabha has the highest tally of women since Independence — 78. This still amounts to a mere 14 per cent of 543 members.  Further, as a recent study highlights, with the current rate of increase it will take 40 years for women to reach 33 per cent participation in Parliament/legislatures. (Thirty-three percent being the minimum threshold for critical- mass enabling gender impact.)

www.bricsias.com 81421600999595

Way ahead:  The Women‘s Reservation Bill: Demands to revive and pass the Women‘s Reservation Bill are already making the rounds. The vision of 21st century New India needs women-leaders as harbingers of harmony and progress; gender-parity not fractional reservation.  New India also needs to urgently put in place measures to reverse the massive drop in women‘s work- participation and threats to freedom of movement. A major issue identified by many pre-election surveys, perhaps a key propelling factor for voting in such large numbers, was the concern about physical security and safety.  The plummeting work-force participation in past years, the resonating #MeToomovement, highlight growing insecurity for women in coming out onto the streets, in workplaces/public places, which are their birthright to access.  Besides emphasising women‘s fundamental and constitutional right to dignity and security, bridging the gender gap in work-participation, according to a McKinsey estimate, would add $770 billion to the Indian economy by 2025. Naya India cannot be built unless women hold-up-half-the-sky.  There is growing threat to women‘s personal and bodily integrity within homes and neighbourhoods. Building home-toilets was one key step towards women‘s physical security and it resonated. But cleansing the Internet and social media platforms of the pornography invading homes and turning fathers, brothers, sons, neighbours and of course, strangers into predators, is a burning issue yet left untracked. This is a national security-threat that requires prioritised strategic-action.  Attention to women‘s issues, including equitable political representation, could spearhead other vital democratic reforms desperately required to cleanse the system of the unabashed growth of money-and-muscle-power, a principal inhibiting factor for women-contestants – and equally, less-muscular-moneyed-men — in the electoral process. Conclusion: Women‘s rights are fundamental human rights, not to be examined in silo fashion. A holistic, interconnected and intrinsically Indian vision cross-cutting sectors and issues needs articulation with time-bound implementation deadlines as a major national priority. It could become the global exemplar. Connecting the dots:  As the government plans actions to transform India — and politics — it needs to pay more heed to women‘s field- voices and needs. Comment. 25th June 2019 ‗Defaulter count in PSBs has risen 60% since FY15‘ Part of Prelims and Mains GS III Indian Economy In news  The number of wilful defaulters in nationalised banks has increased by more than 60% to 8,582 to March 2019 from 2014-15.  By the end of the 2014-15 fiscal, the figure had stood at 5,349. Wilful defaulter A wilful defaulter is an entity or a person that has not paid a loan back despite the ability to repay it.A wilful defaulter is an entity or a person that has not paid a loan back despite the ability to repay it. Mortality malady BRICS IAS Part of Prelims and Mains GS II Governance and public health In news Do you Know? Some of the targets to be achieved under SDG 3:  By 2030, reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per100,000 live birth  By 2030, end preventable deaths of new borns and children under 5 years of age, with all countries aiming to reduce neonatal mortality to at least as low as 12 per 1,000 live births and under-5 mortality to at least as low as 25 per1,000 live births  By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being  Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all Terminology  Infant mortality rate (IMR) is the number of deaths per 1,000 live births of children under one year of age.  Neonatal mortality rate: is the number of deaths per 1,000 live births of children under 28 days of life.  Under-Five Mortality (U5MR) or child mortality is the number of deaths per1,000 live births of children under five year of age.

www.bricsias.com 81421600999696

 Maternal mortality rate: The number of registered maternal deaths due to birth- or pregnancy-related complications per 100,000 registered live births.  According to the just released SRS (Sample Registration System) bulletin, IMR of India has declined, from 37 per 1000 live births in 2015 to 33 per 1000 live births in 2017. Reasons for high mortality rates: Which accounted for 62% of all child deaths  Pneumonia  Prematurity, low birth weight  Diarrhoeal diseases  Neonatal infections  Birth asphyxia & birth trauma NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2:  Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein. Strengthening Fiscal Federalism Background: India‘s Constitution-makers thought of India as a union of States with a centripetal bias, done, advisedly, to preserve the unity and integrity of a newly fledged nation. Since then, the Indian economy, polity, demography and society have undergone many changes. It is in this context that India‘s fiscal federalism needs to be re-visited. Imbalances in India‘s fiscal federalism:  A vertical imbalance arises because the tax systems are designed in a manner that yields much greater tax revenues to the Central government when compared to the State or provincial governments; the Constitution mandates relatively greater responsibilities to the State governments. For example, in India, post the advent of Goods and Services Tax (GST), the share of States in the public expenditure is 60% while it is 40% for the Centre to perform their constitutionally mandated duties.  The horizontal imbalances arise because of differing levels of attainment by the States due to differential growth rates and their developmental status in terms of the state of social or infrastructure capital. Traditionally, Finance Commissions have dealt with these imbalances in a stellar manner. Way ahead: Removing the imbalance Strengthening NITI Aayog: In the past, the Planning Commission used to give grants to the States as conditional transfers using the Gadgil- Mukherjee formula. Now with the Planning Commission disbanded, there is a vacuum especially as the NITI Aayog is primarily a think tank with no resources to dispense, which renders it toothless to undertake a ―transformational‖ intervention. On the other hand, it is too much to expect the Union Finance Commission to do the dual job. There is an urgent need for an optimal arrangement.  NITI Aayog 2.0 should receive significant resources to promote accelerated growth in States that are lagging, and overcome their historically conditioned infrastructure deficit, thus reducing the developmental imbalance. In short, the NITI Aayog should be engaged with the allocation of ―transformational‖ capital in a formulaic manner.  NITI Aayog 2.0 should also be mandated to create an independent evaluation office which will monitor and evaluate the efficacy of the utilisationBRICS of such grants. In doing so, it shouldIAS not commit the mistake of micro- management or conflicts with line departments. It must be also accorded a place at the high table of decision-making as it will need to objectively buy-in the cooperation of the richer States as their resources are transferred to the poorer ones. Ushering in decentralisation: The above perspective will have to be translated below the States to the third tier of government. This is crucial because intra-State regional imbalances are likely to be of even greater import than inter-State ones. Decentralisation, in letter and spirit, has to be the third pillar of the new fiscal federal architecture.  De jure and de facto seriousness has to be accorded to the 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments.  The missing local public finance must be birthed. One of the ways for this is through the creation of an urban local body/panchayati raj institutions consolidated fund. The Centre and States should contribute to the consolidated fund of the third tier.  Further, the State Finance Commissions should be accorded the same status as the Finance Commission and the 3Fs of democratic decentralisation (funds, functions and functionaries) vigorously implemented. This will strengthen and deepen our foundational democratic framework. Fine-tuning the GST: It is to the credit of our democratic maturity that the GST Bill was passed unanimously by Parliament; but in its present form, it is far from flawless.  It needs further simplification and extended coverage.

www.bricsias.com 81421600999797

 We need to achieve the goal of a single rate GST with suitable surcharges on ―sin goods,‖ zero rating of exports and reforming the Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) and the e-way bill.  The GST Council should adopt transparency in its working, and create its own secretariat with independent experts as its staff. This will enable it to undertake further reforms in an informed and transparent manner. Conclusion: NITI Aayog can play an important role in refreshing India‘s fiscal federalism. It is time we reboot the institution. Connecting the dots:  India‘s fiscal federalism needs to be re-visited in order to check the imbalances between the states and also between centre on one hand and states on the other. Comment. SCIENCE AND TECH/DEFENCE TOPIC: General studies 3:  Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.  Defence and Security issues India as a space power Introduction: Space has undoubtedly become a military theatre. The US, Russia, China and, since March, India, have shown that they have the capability to physically destroy satellites in orbit. The post-Cold War space arms race is underway. What does it mean to be a space power? It is ―the ability to use space while denying reliable use to any foe‖. India already has significant ability to use space. But our ability to deny its use to an adversary is, understandably, negligible. The exceptional route India took: The US, Russia, China and Europe developed space capabilities for military purposes first, and then put those technologies to civilian use. India‘s space quest, on the other hand, was focused on civilian use—weather forecasting, broadcast, telecommunications and remote sensing. It was only in the mid-1980s that technology from the Indian Space Research Organisation‘s (Isro) Satellite Launch Vehicle-3 was employed in the Agni ballistic missile. When it comes to satellites, India has a handful of military satellites in operation, compared to over 40 civilian ones. Our first dedicated military satellite was launched only in 2013. Rethinking our approach: Just like India was late to militarize space, it has been late to we aponize it. That‘s not a bad thing, but in the changed circumstances of the 21st century, it is time to rethink our approach. India‘s unstated space doctrine is to use space to promote development and the well-being and prosperity of its people. What we must do now is to include the word ―security‖ in that sentence. In doing so, the policy goal will change from having a space presence to being a space power. Way ahead:  India must protect and secure two kinds of space assets—those that belong to us and those that are crucial to our economy and national security. Future designs of satellites must certainly factor in the risk of attack by hostile forces.  In order to effectively defend our space assets, India must have the most reliable and accurate capabilities to track space objects, from debris and spacecraft to celestial bodies. This crucial capability must be developed indigenously.  BRICS IAS For space defence to be effective, India must acquire a minimum, credible offensive capacity across the various types of space weapons, physical, electronic and cyber.  Our broader space policy must acquire a new seriousness in improving launch capabilities and spacecraft design. The ability to place large satellites in geostationary orbits should become highly reliable. ISRO‘s budgets must be enlarged. Also, private entrants must be encouraged in everything from launches to specialized payloads. Conclusion: The government‘s decision to set up a Defence Space Agency (DSA) with command over the space assets of the Army, Navy and Air Force is the most significant development in India‘s defence establishment since the operationalization of the nuclear arsenal around 15 years ago. It is time the DSA starts working on the path of making India a space power. Connecting the dots:  Space has undoubtedly become a military theatre. India‘s policy goal should change from having a space presence to being a space power. Discuss. 26th June 2019 ‗Healthy States, Progressive India: Report Part of Prelims and Mains GS II Governance and public services In news

www.bricsias.com 81421600999898

The report ‗Healthy States, Progressive India: Report on Rank of States and UTs‘ has ranked states in three categories — larger States, smaller States and UTs ―to ensure comparison among similar entities‖. The Index ranks the States and Union Territories based on 23 health-related indicators, including neonatal mortality rate, under-five mortality rate, etc. Findings of the report  In Union Territories Chandigarh topped the list this year with a score of 63.62, followed by Dadra and Nagar Haveli at number 2 position with a score of 56.31. Dadra and Nagar Haveli was the worst performer last time with a score of 38.64.  Lakshadweep, which topped the list last time, slipped to the third position, followed by Puducherry, Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar, and Daman and Diu.  Kerala continued to top the list for the best performing State in the health sector among the 21 large States, which got an overall score of 74.01, was followed by Andhra Pradesh (65.13), Maharashtra (63.99), Gujarat (63.52) and Punjab (63.01), Himachal Pradesh (62.41), Jammu and Kashmir 62.37, Karnataka (61.14) and Tamil Nadu (60.41).  Uttar Pradesh continued to be at the bottom of the list with its score falling to 28.61. Other States at the bottom of the list were Bihar (32.11), Odisha (35.97) and Madhya Pradesh (38.39).  The report stated that only about half the States and UTs showeds an improvement in the overall score between 2015-16 (base year) and 2017-18 (reference year). 31.4% of Indian children will be stunted by 2022: report Part of Prelims and Mains GS II Governance and public services In news  Almost one in three Indian children under five years will still be stunted by 2022 going by current trends, according to an analysis of the country‘s food and nutrition security.  India must double its rate of progress to reach the target of 25% by 2022.  The report, which is a baseline analysis of the country‘s progress in achieving the second Sustainable Development Goal to end hunger, was prepared by the UN World Food Programme in collaboration with the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.

BRICS IAS

Findings of the report:  Country is self sufficient in food grain production but, unfortunately, the consumer‘s access to rice, wheat and other cereals has not increased at the same rate, due to population growth, inequality, food wastage and losses, and exports.  The average per capita consumption of energy among the poorest 30% of the population is 1811 kilo calories, much lower than the norm of 2155 kilo calories per day.  In States like Bihar (48%) and Uttar Pradesh (46%), almost one in two children are stunted, while it is only one in five children in Kerala and Goa (20% each).  There are high rates of stunting among children in the poorest wealth quintile (51.4%), Scheduled Tribes (43.6%) and Scheduled Castes (42.5%), and children born to mothers with no education (51%). Cash in circulation fell post note ban: FM Part of Prelims and Mains GS III Economics In news

www.bricsias.com 81421600999999

 Demonetisation, coupled with increased digital transactions and the reduced cash usage in the informal economy, led to a reduction in currency in circulation by ₹3.4 lakh crore, according to Finance Ministry  The level of currency in circulation as of May 31, 2019, was significantly lower than what it would have been if demonetisation had not happened.  The Reserve Bank of India data shows that the number of counterfeit bank notes detected decreased from 762,072 pieces in 2016-17, to 522,783 in 2017-18 and 317,389 pieces in 2018-19 and hence ―demonetisation resulted in curbing of the counterfeit currency‖.  Growth of digital transactions in terms of value has increased to ₹188.07 lakh crore in September 2018 from ₹112.27 lakh crore in November 2016. Digital transactions in terms of volume have increased to 241.88 crore in September 2018 from 91.83 crore.  The demonetisation led to a ―significant positive impact on most theatres of violence‖ in the country since illegally held cash formed a major chunk of terror-funding.  The note ban rendered the cash held with terrorists worthless. NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2:  Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary Ministries and Departments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity.  Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.  Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability. State of Indian prisons In news: A data-driven report, the Prison Statistics India 2016, was published by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) recently. The report raises a number of red flags signalling the rot in India‘s prison system. Who are our prisoners?  The report tells us that at the end of 2016, there were 4,33,033 people in prison; of them 68% were undertrials. These are people who have yet to be found guilty of the crimes they are accused of. India‘s under-trial population remains among the highest in the world.  There has been rise in the number of people held under administrative (or ‗prevention‘) detention laws in Jammu and Kashmir (a 300% increase), with 431 detainees in 2016, compared to 90 in 2015. Administrative, or ‗preventive‘, detention is used by authorities in J&K and other States to unfairly detain persons without charge or trial and circumvent regular criminal justice procedures.  The 2016 report doesn‘t include demographic details of religion and the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe status of prisoners, which are crucial to understanding India‘s prison population. The report of 2015, for instance, said that Muslims, Dalits and Adivasis accounted for 55% of the under-trial population even though they made up only 50% of the convict population and 38% of the total Indian population. Section 436A of the Code of Criminal Procedure: The report records the number of prisoners eligible to be released and actually released, under Section 436A of the Code of Criminal Procedure. In 2016, out of 1,557 undertrials found eligible for release under Section 436A, only 929 were released. Sec 436A allows undertrials to be BRICSreleased on a personal bond if they haveIAS undergone half of the maximum term of imprisonment they would have faced if convicted.  Spreading awareness- Research by Amnesty India has found that prison officials are frequently unaware of this section and unwilling to apply it.  In 2017, the Law Commission of India had recommended that undertrials who have completed a third of their maximum sentence for offences attracting up to seven years of imprisonment be released on bail. Mental health concerns: The number of ―unnatural‖ deaths in prisons, which doubled between 2015 and 2016, from 115 to 231. The rate of suicide among prisoners also increased by 28%, from 77 suicides in 2015 to 102 in 2016. The report states that there was only one mental health professional for every 21,650 prisoners in 2016, with only six States and one Union Territory having psychologists/psychiatrists. It is an indicator of the magnitude of mental health concerns within prisons.

Conclusion: The report has important information which can be used to facilitate a dialogue on improving prison policies. It is essential to uncover torture and other forms of ill-treatment, increase transparency and balance the power asymmetry in prisons. Connecting the dots:

www.bricsias.com 8142160099100100

 The Prison Statistics India 2016 report published by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) presents a sorry state of Indian prisons. Discuss. NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2:  Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.  Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections Data Protection: Importance, Global debate, India‘s stand Introduction: The IT Ministry‘s Bill on data protection is scheduled to be introduced in Parliament during the current session. Worldwide, the data flow debate is playing out at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and G20. Why is data valuable? Data is any collection of information that is stored in a way so computers can easily read it. These days, most people refer to data to mean information about their messages, social media posts, online transactions, and browser searches. Big data refers to the immense amount of data that can now be collected, stored, and analysed to find patterns.  This large collection of information about people‘s online habits has become an important source of profits. Your online activity can expose a lot about who you are, and companies find it valuable to use the information to target advertisements to you.  Governments and political parties have also gained interest in these data sets for elections and policymaking. What exactly about data laws are countries debating? Data is stored in a physical space. Data is also transported across country borders physically, traveling through underwater cables. These aspects of data flows — where it is stored, where it is sent, where it is turned into something useful — determines who has access to the data, who profits off the data, who taxes the data, and who ―owns‖ the data. With these questions in mind, individual governments are developing their own domestic rules and negotiating with each other on a global stage, raising values of national security, economic growth, and privacy. Where does India‘s domestic policy on data stand? India‘s recent drafts and statements have strong signals for data localisation, which means that data of Indians (even if collected by an American company) must be stored and processed in India. Along with a Reserve Bank of India directive to payment companies to localise financial data, the Ministry of Commerce‘s draft e-commerce policy is currently in public consultation. The IT Ministry has drafted a data protection law that will be introduced in Parliament and has also framed draft intermediary rules. China has developed similar laws, which proponents say allow for a flourishing domestic economy of data centres and data processing by blocking foreign players out. This is why Indian companies, like Reliance and PayTM, usually support data localisation. Arguments for localisation:  Localisation will help law enforcement access the data. Currently, India has to use ―mutual legal assistance treaties‖ (MLAT) with the US to get the data of Indians that are controlled by American companies. By requiring a copy of the data to be storedBRICS in India (data mirroring), the government IAS hopes to have more direct control over these companies, including the option to levy more taxes on them.  The government also argues for data localisation on the ground of national security, to prevent foreign surveillance and attacks. Counter-arguments against data localisation:  The US government and companies want cross-border flow of data. It would allow companies to store the data of Indians in the most efficient place in the world. Proponents of free flow of data worry that if all countries begin to protect their data, it may backfire on India‘s own companies that seek global growth.  Another caution is that these laws could bring increased state surveillance, like India‘s draft intermediary rules that would require WhatsApp to change its design to proactively filter messages. The company says messages are currently encrypted, meaning neither the company nor any government can see them. What is happening at the global forums? Trade tensions worldwide are escalating, giving the data flow debate new relevance at the WTO and G20. WTO member countries are negotiating rules about e-commerce, which is the buying and selling of goods and services online. Digital trade contributes more to global GDP than physical trade. India is one of the fastest growing markets, with e-commerce expecting to reach $1.2 trillion by 2021. These laws raise questions about where companies can store, process, and transport data about transactions.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099101101

 In their proposals, the US and the EU have called to prohibit customs duties on online transactions while China and Pakistan have called for allowing them.  The US has also recommended not having overly burdensome data standards nor localisation requirements, while the EU wants data localisation requirements.  From the G20 meeting in Tsukuba, the Ministerial Statement on Trade and Digital Economy favored cross-border flow of data. India‘s stand: India submitted a November 2017 document opposing any WTO e-commerce negotiations. The digital divide within and across nations is a serious impediment for developing countries to benefit from Digital Trade. Capacity constraints in developing countries, can be overcome, with timely support of training, and creation of digital infrastructure. This is important, for facilitating a level playing field, in the digital economy, for all countries to take equitable advantage of data free flows. Developing countries need time and policy space to build deepest understanding of the subject and formulate their own legal and regulatory framework before meaningfully engaging in e-commerce negotiations. Connecting the dots:  A global debate on data protection is ongoing. Why is data valuable? Discuss arguments and counter-arguments for data localisation. Also discuss India‘s stand on the same. 27th June 2019 54 nations back India for UNSC non-permanent seat Part of Prelims and Mains GS II International Relations In news  India has won the unanimous support of all countries in the 55-member Asia-Pacific Group at the United Nations in support of its bid for a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council (UNSC) for a two-year term in 2021-22.  The development is particularly significant given that Pakistan and China, both countries with which India has had diplomatic challenges at the UN, supported the move.  India will need the vote of two-thirds of the 193 UN General Assembly members to win a non-permanent seat on the UNSC.  India has been keen to hold the seat in 2021-22 to coincide with the 75th anniversary of Independence in 2022.  It will be hosting the G-20 meeting in New Delhi in 2022. India and U.S. resolve to work through their trade differences Part of Prelims and Mains GS II International Relations In news  India and the U.S. resolved to ―work through‖ their differences.  Issues discussed were including tariffs and counter-tariffs imposed by both the countries on each other in the past year, as well as the U.S.‘s specific concerns with India‘s proposed laws on e-commerce and data localisation, on price caps and market access.  Both sides had come away with a ―better understanding‖ of each other‘s concerns on a wide variety of issues besides trade, including energy, defence, investment concerns and people-to-people contacts, as well as the growing conflict in the Gulf with Iran and the peace process in Afghanistan.  India will take its decision on the purchase of the Russian S-400 Triumf anti-missile system in its own ―national interest‖.  India‘s concerns over growing U.S.-Iran tensions and their impact on India‘s energy security were also raised.  BRICS IAS India has zeroed out all oil imports from Iran since the U.S. sanctions deadline ran out on May 2, it has maintained a cordial and close relationship with the Iranian government. 75 student satellites may fly to space as India turns 75 Part of Prelims and Mains GS III Space research In news Up to 75 tiny satellites built by students of Indian universities could fly to the skies between late next year and 2022 in batches. Seventy-five by 75:  This is the dream project that the Indian Technology Congress Association (ITCA) has conceived to celebrate the nation‘s 75th birthday. That is also to be the year of Gaganyaan, the first trip of Indian astronauts to space.  Students of participating institutions would come from different disciplines and get to build nano satellites weighing between 3 and 12 kg. They may demonstrate a novel concept, science experiment, or technology in orbit.  The ITCA, a technology promotion body based in Bengaluru, has roped in around 40 engineering colleges to form a consortium. It is also in the midst of discussing launch contracts with the Indian Space Research Organisation and working out Israeli finance for its ‗75 Student Satellites Mission 2022′. Significance  For the colleges, it can mean a branding exercise and a permanent ground infrastructure on their premises.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099102102

 For the students, an out-of-the-world learning experience, exposure to an elite job market, and a chance to turn entrepreneurs who can attract space majors, with frugal satellite services.  Space-based solutions reach people in remote areas where many other technologies do not reach or work.  Students can learn to design small satellites that can offer simple, meaningful, and low-cost solutions to soldiers, farmers, boatsmen, forest personnel, or students.  ISRO wants to offload satellite assembly to the private sector.  In the last three to five years, other countries launched about 3,500 student satellites that demonstrated innovative technologies; another 2,500 could be in the offing.  Indian universities have so far built and launched only nine satellites of fleeting lifespans.

Centre set to roll out ‗Jal Shakti‘ scheme for water-starved areas Part of Prelims and Mains GS III Space research In news  The Centre is set to initiate the Jal Shakti Abhiyan to ramp up rainwater harvesting and conservation efforts in 255 water-stressed districts from July 1, 2019.  Though water is a State issue, the campaign will be coordinated by 255 central IAS officers of Joint or Additional Secretary-rank, drawn from ministries as varied as Space, Petroleum and Defence, etc. About ‗Jal Shakti‘ campaign  The campaign seems to follow the model of last year‘s Gram Swaraj Abhiyan, where central officials monitored the implementation of seven flagship development schemes in 117 aspirational districts across the country.  The campaign will run from July 1 to September 15 in States receiving rainfall during the south-west monsoon, while States receiving rainfall in the retreating or north-east monsoon will be covered from October 1 to November 30.  The Jal Shakti Abhiyan would aim to accelerate water harvesting, conservation and borewell recharge activities already being carried out under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme and the Integrated Watershed Management Programme of the Rural Development Ministry, along with existing water body restoration and afforestation schemes being undertaken by the Jal Shakti and Environment Ministries.  Progress would be monitored in real time through mobile applications and an online dashboard at indiawater.gov.in  A major communications campaign on TV, radio, print, local and social media will be carried out, with celebrities mobilised to generate awareness for the campaign. NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2:  Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. General studies 3:  Conservation, Environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.  Water Pollution, Wastewater management Tackling water-crisis being faced by India Background:  Chennai has been in the news recentlyBRICS for its water crisis. Scuffles andIAS suffering have been reported from different parts of the city.  Water crimes in Ranchi have also hit the headlines.  Cities in Madhya Pradesh have seen stabbings and killings over water, and the police has been called upon to guard water tankers and water sources. Reports:  The 2030 Water Resources Group on ―Charting Our Water Futures‖ set up by the erstwhile Planning Commission in 2009 had projected that if the current demand pattern for water continues, by 2030, the available water will meet only about half of India‘s demand for water.  The Niti Aayog has projected that the groundwater of 21 cities will run out by 2020 (that is, next year) and the cities include Bengaluru, Delhi, Chennai and Hyderabad.  The BBC in February 2018 listed 11 cities most likely to run out of water. This list included Bengaluru. Insufficient usage of water: Water scarcity in India has come about not so much from insufficient supply as from the way in which we manage the water we have.  Agriculture uses 78 per cent of India‘s water, and uses it very inefficiently. About two-thirds of water used for irrigation comes from groundwater. Huge electricity subsidies for farmers to pump groundwater and the fact that groundwater is largely unregulated have led to a steady explosion in groundwater use through tube-wells for irrigation over the past several decades.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099103103

 Urban India‘s inefficiency in water use arises from inadequate, old and dilapidated distribution networks, inefficient operations, inadequate metering, incomplete billing and collection, and a general state of poor governance.  Another source of inefficiency comes from not treating wastewater and using the recycled water for specialised uses such as horticulture, and also for flushing toilets. Under-pricing of urban water also contributes to wasteful use. If something is under-priced, users will use more of it.  Tankers: Access to treated tap water is available to only 62 per cent of urban households (Census 2011). Those who are unconnected to the piped network have to rely on buying water from tankers at exorbitant rates. This leads to increasing but unaccounted use of groundwater by extensive digging of borewells to meet the demand deficit. Way ahead:  Expanding pipeline coverage to the ―unconnected‖ population. Expansion and renovation of the infrastructure of the distribution network.  Additional supplies of water, especially because the groundwater that is currently being used to supply this population is expected to dry up.  Pricing water is important both for demand management and for economic viability of water delivery systems. Even if the capital cost of the infrastructure is made available either through National Missions or public-private partnership, the operation and maintenance cost of running the system (and in the case of PPP, a large part of the capital cost) will have to be recovered through user charges.  Mobilising more supply of water from basic natural sources. Only then can greater connectivity result in piped water delivery to all in urban areas. The mobilisation of additional supplies poses a major challenge since the natural recharge zones are increasingly eroded because of unplanned urbanisation.  Dealing with the supply constraints arising from the neglect of the rivers, lakes, ponds and other waterbodies in and around our cities that feed the reservoirs which are the bulk sources of water. These water bodies need to be protected from encroachment so that our catchment area for water storage and rainwater harvesting is not reduced. Strict vigilance on land-use planning and building permissions in our cities , warrant removal of existing encroachments will help.  An important role has to be played by the state governments concerned, including ensuring compliance with the environmental guidelines laid down by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change and the National Green Tribunal.  Above all, increased water-use efficiency in agriculture is critical to release water supply from agriculture for other uses. Issue of poor quality of water: The quality of water issue is also very significant because of its serious implications for public health.  Only about 30 per cent of the municipal waste water or sewage is treated and the rest is released untreated into the rivers and/or the ground.  Because of the density and concentration in urban areas, contamination from wastewater happens much faster. Way ahead:  Ensuring that untreated sewage is not dumped into open stormwater drains through which it is carried and discharged into water bodies.  Surveys of groundwater in recentBRICS years show higher and higher levelsIAS of microbiological contamination. It is essential to ensure that the wastewater is treated before it finds its way back into our basic source of water and contaminates it.

Conclusion: Reshaping water governance will require state governments and local governments to take coordinated action in a federal system. What is needed is a political compact between the Centre and states to jointly address the challenges of saving India‘s water, while actively involving local governments and engaging with the communities of water users. Connecting the dots:  The water crisis is here and it is taking its toll in rural as well as urban areas of India. Reshaping water governance is needed. Comment. NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2 :  Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation  Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions  Issues and policies related to health

www.bricsias.com 8142160099104104

Universal access to public healthcare Introduction: Government‘s flagship health insurance scheme, Ayushman Bharat, officially called the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), has been widely lauded since it was launched last year. Various states are in the process of rolling it out. It aims to pick up the illness bills of 500 million of the country‘s most vulnerable. The sorry picture presented by Bihar in dealing with a deadly encephalitis outbreak among children of poverty- stricken families, attention has been drawn back to the ramshackle state of public healthcare facilities. These remain abysmal in most parts of the country. Issues:  Severe shortage of medical personnel, including doctors and nurses, as well as a dearth of hospitals and hospital beds. This shortage is especially stark in rural areas.  In many places, primary health centres, community health centres, and sub-centres are located too far from people‘s homes. Even in the big cities, patients often have to run from one hospital to another in search of a particular facility or a bed.  Private facilities are the preferred option for most, if only because of treatment is assured. The poor, however, typically find themselves shut out not just by steep prices—which Ayushman Bharat expects to overcome—but also invisible class barriers. Way ahead: Free or nominally priced public services as a right  Making public health services so easily accessible and of such reliable quality that only the well-off opt for the extra comfort of private sector facilities. Achieving this would be a long haul, no doubt, but several middle- income countries have done it. The government needs to upgrade healthcare infrastructure in the country at two levels.  Ensruing that the quality of public healthcare services can be trusted by everyone, regardless of socio-economic status. Quality signals are best sent out by celebrities and public representatives using these facilities themselves.  The authorities must ensure that enough healthcare centres or hospitals are operational across the country within reasonable reach of residential areas— urban and rural. Along with the number of hospitals, the number of beds also needs to rise sharply. The financial pooling of illness risks is all very well, but the wherewithal to deal with illness itself must come first. Conclusion: By budget figures of the last fiscal year, India spends just a shade over 1% of its gross domestic product (GDP) on healthcare. This includes central expenditure on the Ayushman Bharat scheme. The Interim Budget for this year upped the percentage, but only slightly. The government set a goal last year of 2.5% of GDP by 2025. For progress to be made towards that objective, however, this year‘s budget need to pencil in a significant hike in the country‘s health outlay. Healthcare needs to be fixed in mission mode. Every child‘s life claimed by a treatable disease is one life too many. Connecting the dots:  Healthcare needs to be fixed in mission mode. Ensuring universal access to public healthcare and upping the health budget is needed. 28th June 2019 National mission on natural language translation soon Part of Prelims and Mains GS III ScienceBRICS and Tech IAS In news The Ministry of Electronics and IT will soon place before the Union Cabinet a proposal for Natural Language Translation — one of the key missions identified by the Prime Minister‘s Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC). The national mission on natural language translation  The national mission on natural language translation aims to make science and technology accessible to all by facilitating access to teaching and researching material bilingually — in English and in one‘s native Indian language.  To achieve this, the government plans to leverage a combination of machine translation and human translation.  The IT ministry is the lead agency for implementation of the mission along with Ministry of Human Resource Development and Department of Science and Technology. Significance  Translation activities can also help generate employment for educated unemployed.  The mission would help not just students who find it difficult to access knowledge because of language barrier, but also teachers, authors, publishers, translation software developers and general readers. PM-STIAC The PM- STIAC is an overarching body that identifies challenges in certain areas of science and technology.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099105105

Police station in Satara tops SMART police survey Part of Prelims and Mains GS II Polity and governance In news  Recently the Quality council of India, executed a survey based on the SMART police concept.  In the survey , the Kalu police station in Rajasthan‘s Bikaner topped the survey followed by PS in Andaman and West Bengal.  The survey was commissioned by Union Home Ministry and was executed by the Quality council of India. Do you know? About SMART Police Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014 called for making the police a ‗SMART‘ force — Strict and Sensitive, Modern and Mobile, Alert and Accountable, Reliable and Responsive, Techno savvy and Trained. About QCI Quality Council of India (QCI) was set up in 1997 by Government of India jointly with Indian Industry as an autonomous body under the administrative control of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade. Indian industry is represented in QCI by three premier industry associations namely ASSOCHAM; CII; and FICCI.

NATIONAL TOPIC:General studies 3  Government policies and interventions  Economic Growth and Development UK Sinha Panel on MSMEs In news: The RBI-appointed U K Sinha panel on micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) has made a slew of sensible recommendations. From a new code to rid the sector of inspector raj to improving credit access and tackling distress, the report covers a lot of ground. MSMEs: Key engine of growth The micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector in India is not only a key engine of growth, contributing more than 28% of the GDP and about 45% to manufacturing output. It is also a true reflection of economics where people really matter. Providing employment to about 111 million people, the sector‘s health is crucial to the economy‘s vitality and society‘s well being. Multiple challenges faced by the sector includes the absence of formalisation, stilted access to credit, delayed payments and infrastructural bottlenecks. Recommendations:  13-year-old law, the MSME Development Act, 2006 — be changed to prioritise market facilitation and ease of doing business. Observing that many Indian start-ups that are at the forefront of innovation are drawn to look overseas, given the conducive business environment and the availability of infrastructure and exit policies, the committee suggest that a new law ought to address the sector‘s biggest bottlenecks, including access to credit and risk capital.  Reimagining solutions to improve credit flow to MSMEs. Repurposing the Small Industries Development Bank of India. In its expanded role, it is envisaged that the SIDBI could not only deepen credit markets for MSMEs in under-served regions by being a provider of comfort to lenders including NBFCs and micro-finance institutions, but also become a market-maker for SME debt.  BRICS IAS The panel has made a case for greater adoption of technology-facilitated solutions to a plethora of problems encountered by the sector.  To address the issue of delayed payments, the mandatory uploading of invoices above a specified amount to an information utility has been recommended. The aim is to name and shame buyers of goods and services from MSMEs to expedite settlements to suppliers.  Expediting the integration of information on the Government e-Marketplace, or GeM, platform with the Trade Receivables Discounting System. The goal here is to boost liquidity at MSMEs.  Banks should switch to cash flow-based lending, especially once account aggregators are operational and able to provide detailed data on borrowings. The report has suggested banks to base credit decisions on cash flow rather than collateral.  Doubling collateral-free loans for MSMEs to Rs 20 lakh, raising the loan limit sanctioned under Mudra to Rs 20 lakh, creating a stressed asset fund of Rs 5,000 crore and a government-sponsored fund of funds of Rs 10,000 crore to support MSME equity. Conclusion: The RBI and the Centre should act on the above recommendations in order to help actualise the sector‘s true economic potential. Connecting the dots:

www.bricsias.com 8142160099106106

 The micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector in India is a key engine of growth. In this light discuss the recommendations of UK Sinha panel. DISASTER MANAGEMENT TOPIC: General studies 3:  Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation  Disaster and disaster management.  Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment. Funding Disaster Management Background: Cyclone Fani wreaked havoc in Odisha in May last year. In the current year, more than 10 states have faced drought conditions. Natural disasters are increasingly affecting large parts of the country. The impact of these is asymmetric as the poor suffer more. Effective management of disasters is not only required for preserving growth, but equally for addressing poverty and reducing inequality. The sine qua non for effective disaster management is adequate funding. Three stages in disaster management:  Disaster mitigation—taking long-term steps such as putting in place early warning systems and rainwater harvesting structures to reduce the impact of disasters.  Disaster relief—affected persons are provided assistance and essential services are restored.  Disaster reconstruction—damaged infrastructure is rebuilt. The Disaster Management Act, 2005, requires that a disaster management plan and a mitigation plan be formulated at the district, state and national levels. Each is to be supported at every level by disaster relief and mitigation funds that must be set up. Thus, six plans and six funds are required to be created to manage disasters in India. Issue: Disaster management plans have been formulated. The National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF) and State Disaster Relief Funds (SDRF) have been set up. However, mitigation plans have not been prepared at any level. Also, the corresponding funds have not been set up. When disasters occur, states are driven to unorthodox sources of funding for following reasons.  The NDRF through which the centre assists states when they face severe calamities is available only for disaster relief and not for mitigation or restoration. A similar provision applies to the SDRF. States must meet outlays for disaster mitigation and restoration, which are as important as relief, on their own.  State governments underestimate the probability of adverse events occurring. They do not make adequate provision in their budgets for mitigation and reconstruction.  The borrowing capacity of states is constrained under the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act. Unorthodox measures adopted by states:  The Kerala government levies a cess of 1% on its SGST for up to two years after approval from GST council. Such a cess will not be eligible for input tax credit and militates against the very idea of GST. Further, other states may make similar requests. No longer will it be ―one tax for one nation‖. This option is thus not sustainable.  Kerala issued rupee-denominated bonds overseas (masala bonds). Such an instrument of debt infringes Article 293(1) of the Constitution, which prohibits state governments from borrowing outside the territory of India. Way ahead: BRICS IAS States facing calamities of rare severity should receive additional assistance. Such assistance should be drawn from a strengthened NDRF, which is financed by the National Calamity Contingency Duty (NCCD), the proceeds of which have fallen sharply after the introduction of GST. As its own resources are limited, the centre may consider expanding the tax base of the NCCD. This is a sustainable option to fund disaster management nationally. It will enable the creation of a national disaster mitigation fund as envisaged and required. In parallel, India‘s states should set up state disaster mitigation funds on their own. Connecting the dots:  When disasters occur, states are driven to unorthodox sources of funding. In this light highlight the importance of funding disaster management. 29th June 2019 President‘s rule for 6 more months in J&K Part of: Prelims and Mains GS II Polity and Governance In news  The Lok Sabha on 28 June 2019 approved the extension of President‘s rule in Jammu and Kashmir for another six months, beginning July 3.  The democratic, free and fair Assembly elections will be held in the State by the year-end. Do you know? President‘s rule

www.bricsias.com 8142160099107107

 According to Article 356 of the constitution, President‘s rule can be imposed in a state ―if a situation has arisen in which the government of the state cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the constitution.‖  In other states, the Centre invokes Article 356 to impose President‘s rule. Governor‘s Rule in J&K  In Jammu and Kashmir the failure of governmental function results in Governor‘s rule under Section 92 of the constitution of Jammu and Kashmir. The Governor later obtains the consent of the President of India.  It is only when the Governor‘s rule is not revoked for six months that the President‘s rule is imposed in the state under Article 356.  In Governor‘s rule, lawmaking power, financial power, budgetary sanction, all these powers are with the Governor. Once President‘s rule is imposed, lawmaking power is transferred to the parliament; the Budget is also passed by Parliament. Meetings on the Sidelines of G20 Part of: Prelims and Mains GS II International Relations In news India-US Meet  Leaders of both the countries acknowledged the breadth and depth of bilateral ties, including economic, trade, energy, defence and security, counterterrorism and space.  They reiterated their commitment to provide strong leadership to address global challenges and build prosperity for their citizens in the decades to come. On Iran It is in India‘s fundamental interest to maintain peace and stability in the region. India‘s intrests in the region:  Indian diaspora in the region  Energy requirements  Economic interest in the region India‘s stand on 5G and data storage On technological issues such as data storage and 5G network, India ranged itself across the divide from Japan and the U.S., and alongside leaders of BRICS (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa). Data storage The need for framing rules on data within the WTO and not at the G-20, running counter to Japan‘s initiative as the host of this year‘s G-20 summit, to push for ―Data Free Flow with Trust, (DFFT)‖. Prime minister Modi refered data as a ―new form of wealth‖. 5G Technology On the issue of 5G technology, where the U.S. has demanded that countries ban Chinese telecom major Huawei‘s 5G network because of its ability to spy on them, India had given no assurances to US. On BRICS informal meeting Terrorism as the biggest threat to humanity Describing terrorism as the biggest threat to humanity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the scourge not only kills innocents but also severely affects economic development and social stability. There is a need to stop all the mediums of support to terrorism and racism. Three major challenges  First major challenge; InstabilityBRICS and downfall in the global economy. IAS Unilateralism and competitiveness are overshadowing the rule-based mutilateral global trade systems.  The second challenge is to make development sustainable and all-inclusive.  Terrorism is the third major challenge. ‗SHE Team‘ on the patrol in Odisha Part of: Prelims and Mains GS II Polity and Governance In news ‗SHE Team‘, the innovative pilot project launched by Odisha‘s Gajapati district police to ensure safety and security of young girls and women. About SHE Team  SHE stands for ‗Safety, Health and Environment‘. This project is modelled on the lines of Hyderabad ‗SHE Team‘.  The ‗SHE Team‘ is headed by a lady sub-inspector and includes mobile patrolling teams. Four female and three male police personnel will assist her. They will patrol schools, colleges, other local institutions and public places, where young girls and women are allegedly subjected to eve teasing, stalking and harassment.  The website of ‗SHE Team‘ has been launched and a mobile app is under construction.  ‗SHE Team‘ will also try to prevent harassment of working women at workplaces and public places where they move for their job. It will teach self-defence and cyber space safety to young girls and children.  It will visit child care institutions and make children aware about sexual abuse.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099108108

NASA to send a drone to Saturn‘s largest moon Part of Prelims and Mains GS III Science and Tech In news For its next mission in our solar system, NASA plans to fly a drone copter to Saturn‘s largest moon Titan in search of the building blocks of life. The Dragonfly mission  The Dragonfly mission, which will launch in 2026 and land in 2034, will send a rotorcraft to fly to dozens of locations across the icy moon, which has a substantial atmosphere and is viewed by scientists as an equivalent of very early-era earth.  It is the only celestial body besides our planet known to have liquid rivers, lakes and seas on its surface, though these contain hydrocarbons like methane and ethane, not water.  NASA said the vehicle would have eight rotors and fly like a large drone.  During its 2.7-year baseline mission, Dragonfly will explore diverse environments from organic dunes to the floor of an impact crater where liquid water and complex organic materials key to life once existed together for possibly tens of thousands of years. NATIONAL TOPIC:General studies 2  Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.  Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections Redefining & Rethinking Poverty Introduction:  According to the Tendulkar poverty line, poverty is today around 4.5 per cent of the population or less than 70 million.  According to the World Bank poverty line poverty in India is estimated at 31 per cent down from 57 per cent in 2011/12. There is a 26 ppt decline in poverty over six years. Rethinking poverty:  We are not a poor country any more, not with just 4.5 per cent of the population classified as poor (the Tendulkar poverty line of Rs 44 per person per day in 2017-18 prices).  We have always considered food consumption as the ultimate criterion of poverty. Hence, we have built up an elaborate (too elaborate) ecosystem of food production, consumption, and distribution. Time has come to dismantle this ecosystem — an ecosystem that is biased against the poor farmer, against climate change mitigation and also against efficient use of water and energy.  Poverty is now not just about food but living standards — sanitation, housing, piped water, electricity, education, health, and jobs. And on each of these elements, the focus should shift to quality, not quantity.  Defining poverty in relative, not absolute terms. Most European nations have a relative definition of poverty — that is, a fixed proportion of the median income. Contribution of the DBT system:  A large part of this decline took place due to better targeting of government programmes — made possible by expanded (and extensive) use of direct benefit transfers (DBT).  BRICS IAS The direct benefit transfer mechanism has been able to resolve targeting problems for a bulk of the 430 government schemes and subsidies.  The current PM-Kisan programme that provides income support to approximately 14 crore farmers is an example of how, through DBT, the government can provide direct income support as its focal policy towards poverty alleviation. Such a policy is likely to help in rationalising and consolidating poverty reduction programmes, thereby freeing up resources for other sectors in the economy. Going forward: Targeted basic income programme:  The new approach towards poverty alleviation should involve targeted income transfers.  The government can transfer the poverty gap (difference between per capita consumption of the household and the poverty line faced by the household) into the bank account of the poor.  The cost of such a programme is likely to be between Rs 2.5 and 3 trillion and it will ensure nobody has a consumption below the poverty line. India‘s current expense on poverty alleviation programmes is approximately Rs 3.4 trillion.  A basic income programme is likely to cost substantially less that the current policies. Bringing more people under the tax net at the higher income brackets:

www.bricsias.com 8142160099109109

 To improve revenue realisation from direct taxes, the government should focus on improving compliance by reducing the highest slabs of the tax rate.  The Indian economy requires adequate investments in critical areas such as road, railways and water. Therefore, the government needs to rationalise its expenditure and tax rates to ensure reallocation of resources. Conclusion: Our pace of poverty reduction has improved over the last five years. We can augment this through a targeted basic income policy and free up resources for other sectors of the economy. Times have changed and so should our policies towards poverty alleviation. Connecting the dots:  While India has seen a great decline in poverty rates over last few years. It is time we rethink on the definition of poverty and on the policies intended to remove it. Comment. SOCIAL ISSUES TOPIC: General studies 2:  Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections. Basic rights for all What are basic needs?  Needs are different from wants. You may want a chocolate every morning but don‘t need it. But basic needs are different: their non-fulfilment can cause great harm, even kill. The failure to get an antibiotic if you have a bacterial infection can hurt badly.  Wants are subjective. Needs depend on the way human bodies are constituted. They are a solid necessity; one cannot get on without them. Nor can they be fulfilled by substitutes. For us, nothing can take the place of water, food and air.  People suffer if basic needs are met inadequately or with delay. They are then denied a minimally decent life. Elementary justice requires that before anything else, the state does everything at its disposal to satisfy all basic needs of its citizens, particularly of those who cannot fend for themselves. What are Basic rights?  A right is something that is owed to us; it is not a favour. Basic rights are claims on the state to provide us with goods and services that satisfy our basic needs.  When something is identified as a basic right, it puts the state under a duty to enable its exercise. The state becomes its guarantor. When society and government reneges on its commitment to do so, we hold them accountable. Basic rights:  The right to minimum economic security and subsistence, that includes clean air, uncontaminated water, nutritious food, clothing and shelter. Credible threats to these rights can be reduced by the government by establishing institutions and practices that assist the vulnerable; for example, by setting up hospitals with adequate number of doctors, nurses, beds, medical equipment, intensive care units, essential drugs and emergency treatments.  Vulnerability, accountability- The right to free public expression of helplessness and frustration, if deprived of other basic rights. The right to make one‘s vulnerabilityBRICS public, be informed about theIAS acts of commission and omission of the government regarding anything that adversely affects the satisfaction of basic needs, to critically examine them and to hold state officials publicly accountable is a basic right on a par with right to physical security and subsistence and inseparably linked to them. What needs to be done:  Like the constitutional principle of a basic structure, it is time to articulate an equally robust doctrine of basic rights.  These basic rights must be viewed primarily as positive, rights not against interference from the state (negative rights) but to the provision of something by it.  Just as individuals are punished for legal violations, the government of the day must also be punished for the violation of these basic rights. Defaulting governments must be held legally accountable. The systematic violation of basic rights must be treated on a par with the breakdown of constitutional machinery. Conclusion: The above basic rights can be summed up in a single phrase, the right to a minimally decent life. The point of having a threshold of minimal decency is that our life must not fall below a certain level of existence. Anything short of a minimally decent life is simply not acceptable. Governments must be made accountable when they undermine the exercise of these basic rights. Connecting the dots:

www.bricsias.com 8142160099110110

 What in your definition are basic needs? In order to fulfill these needs it is time to articulate an equally robust doctrine of basic rights. Critically analyse.

JULY 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS—UPSC—PRELIMS CUM MAINS

1st July 2019 GST enters its third year Part of Mains GS III Indian Economy In news:  The Goods and Services Tax (GST) has entered its third year.  There is a need to ease the complexity surrounding procedures, especially with regard to registration and return filing.  Addressing procedural complexities of the GST portal system, implementation concerns and making compliance easier will further accelerate ease of doing business for industry in India  A key highlight of the new indirect tax system, according to trade bodies, has been the way the GST Council, the nodal body deciding rates and procedures, has addressed industry‘s concerns and modified rules to make the system easier.  While the proactive manner in which the GST Council has addressed concerns has put industry at ease, there are still several procedural issues that need resolution. NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 1  Changes in critical geographical features(including water-bodies and ice-caps) and the effects of such changes. General studies 3  Environmental degradation and conservation Things to do to avoid another water crisis Introduction  Chennai has been reeling under its worst water crisis in decades with its four main reservoirs nearly empty.  Groundwater too has been over extracted. Background Rainwater harvesting is mandatory in Tamil Nadu since 2003. This meant that building approval for new apartments and dwellings were not to be granted by the Chennai City Corporation unless the building plan included a RWH component. The order also mandated that all existing buildings in Tamil Nadu install RWH structures. Sixteen years later, an audit by the non-governmental organisation Rain Centre has shown that most government buildings in Chennai do not have a functioning RWH structure; these include several police stations and municipality buildings. Do you know? Rain Water Harvesting Rain water harvesting is collection and storage of rain water that runs off from roof tops, parks, roads, open grounds, etc. This water run-off can be either stored or recharged into the ground water. Suggestions to solve water crisis BRICS IAS Need for water governance  According to a recent NITI Aayog report, 21 Indian cities will run out of groundwater by 2020 if usage continues at the current rate. Water governance in cities across India has been ad hoc.  Learning their lessons from the Chennai crisis, other metropolitan cities should now set up urban water planning and management boards, a permanent body similar to urban development authorities, that regulate the supply, demand and maintenance of water services and structures.  The authorities shall monitor and regulate groundwater supply in these metropolitan areas.  Desalination plants must also be set up especially in coastal cities to increase drinkable supply of water for citizens.  Increased supply of drinking water will reduce the dependency on water tankers which in times of crisis charge exorbitant prices.  Considering opinion of experts, beds of existing lakes can be deepened for greater water storage and better water percolation.  The urban water management board should also oversee the desilting of lakes in the city on a regular basis. Water Tariff  Government can apply water tariff on the line of electricity supply especially in areas where there is extreme water crisis.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099111111

 Government can apply differential pricing and cross-subsidise households based on per capita income and water usage. Practices adopted across the world We can benefit from best practices adopted in cities across the world facing severe water crisis. For eg. Cape Town introduced the idea of Day Zero to reduce water usage and manage water consumption as per need. Day Zero refers to when most of the city‘s tap will be switched off. Nal se Jal Scheme Providing drinking water to all households including rural areas is an important mission for the new government and in this regard Nal se Jal scheme aims to provide piped drinking water to every rural home by 2024. Jal Shakti Abhiyan  The Centre is set to initiate the Jal Shakti Abhiyan to ramp up rainwater harvesting and conservation efforts in 255 water-stressed districts from July 1, in line with the government‘s promise to focus on water.  Though water is a State issue, the campaign will be coordinated by 255 central IAS officers of Joint or Additional Secretary-rank, drawn from ministries as varied as Space, Petroleum and Defence, according to a notification issued by the Department of Personnel and Training.  The campaign will run from July 1 to September 15 in States receiving rainfall during the south-west monsoon, while States receiving rainfall in the retreating or north-east monsoon will be covered from October 1 to November 30.  It would aim to accelerate water harvesting, conservation and borewell recharge activities along with existing water body restoration and afforestation schemes.  Progress would be monitored in real time through mobile applications and an online dashboard at indiawater.gov.in  A major communications campaign on TV, radio, print, local and social media will be carried out, with celebrities mobilized to generate awareness for the campaign. Conclusion  The issue with any crisis in India is the fire-fighting strategy that we adopt in response as opposed to systematised solutions. These stop-gap arrangements are soon forgotten when things temporarily go back to normal instead of making an attempt to deeply ingrain these practices in the system.  The scarcity of essential resources not only leads to economic losses but also social unrest.  A sustainable governance solution to this problem along with public participation is essential to ensure that our future generations do not suffer as a result of our failures. Connecting the dots:  Comment on the need of Water governance in India. NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2  Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors  Development processes and the development industry  Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance, applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential A digital power Introduction  The visionary initiative of DigitalBRICS India was launched in 2015. Digital IAS India strives to bring inclusive growth and bridge the digital divide by leveraging technology solutions that are low cost, developmental, transformative and designed to empower ordinary Indians.  Four years down the line, the success of Digital India is finding global resonance and its transformative character is being appreciated. Achievements of Digital India Internet connectivity  One of the largest digital infrastructures of the world was conceived to connect all the 250,000 gram panchayats by a high-speed optical fiber network.  Today with 3.40 lakh km of optical fiber laid, Bharat Net has reached 1.29 lakh gram panchayats.  India of 2019 is recognised as a country with the second largest internet user base, and which offers internet access, data and mobile at the cheapest tariffs in the world. Aadhaar and Mobile  Aadhaar-based eKYC has made it easy to open bank accounts or to get instant mobile SIMs without any paperwork.  The Aadhaar-linked universal account number (UAN) has made it a hassle free transfer of provident fund deposits.  The eHospital services have made it easy to take online appointments in 322 major hospitals.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099112112

 The UMANG mobile app has created a mega digital mobile platform where 362 services of 18 states and the union government can be accessed in 13 Indian languages.  Online scholarships, e-Visa, soil health cards etc. have made the delivery of services faster.  The trinity of Jan Dhan, Aadhaar and Mobile (JAM) has facilitated direct benefit transfers of financial entitlements of various government schemes directly into the bank accounts of beneficiaries.  This has resulted in saving of Rs 1.41 lakh crore of tax payers‘ money by plugging leakages, curbing corruption and eliminating fake beneficiaries. PMGDISHA  The world‘s largest digital literacy programme, the Pradhan Mantri Grameen Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA), which aims to train six crore rural adults, has trained 2.21 crore beneficiaries. Common Service Centres  Retired persons can withdraw their pensions from common service centres (CSC) in villages by making a simple biometric authentication.  About 3.76 lakh CSCs started offering a wide variety of digital services like banking, insurance, utility bill payment, pension, MGNREGA wage payments, ticket booking, digital skilling, public Wi-Fi in villages, tele- medicine services and are playing a key role in developing digital villages.  This has created a new breed of rural digital entrepreneurs across the country, and have created 12 lakh jobs locally. Digital payments  In March, 2019, the total number of digital payment transactions hit an all-time high of 332.34 crore. India‘s home grown fin-tech innovation, BHIM-UPI, whose humble beginning in December, 2016, is scaling new heights of popularity. IT industry and BPO  To promote the IT industry beyond a few big urban clusters, and to provide IT jobs to youth in semi-urban areas, a humble beginning was made under the BPO promotion scheme.  Today 202 BPO centres at 100 locations across India are giving jobs to thousands of young men and women. Electronics manufacturing  Electronics manufacturing in India has doubled in last few years. India was home to only two mobile phone manufacturing units in 2014.  Now, India stands tall in the global community as the second largest mobile phone manufacturer, with 268 mobile handset and accessories manufacturing units having started functioning in last five years. Future Skills  Changes in the economy due to growing digitisation will also require frequent training and retraining of human resources.  Future Skills online platform has been launched for continuous skill development and upgradation of workforce. Way forward  Digital initiatives like smart cities, digitisation of governance, digital villages, high speed internet in every part of India, digital inclusion and digital empowerment shall be fueled by emerging technologies like the internet of things, data analytics and artificial intelligence.  The next level of digitisation in governance will strive to digitise internal processes of the government.  The use of data analytics and artificial intelligence will also help in effective monitoring of performance and develop system automation for future.  BRICS IAS Besides friendly policies, the government shall strive to explore more ways to improve participation of India‘s startups in the digital transformation.  India‘s growing digital profile has made it a data powerhouse. A personal data protection law should be brought soon that will not only address the privacy concerns of individuals, curb misuse of personal data, but will also be an enabler for creating a vibrant data economy. Conclusion Creating a faceless, paperless, cashless and digital interface between government and citizens has immensely helped in curbing corruption, delays in service delivery and leakages. India has taken a leap towards digital transformation. Its successes in leveraging digital technologies for transforming governance and lives of ordinary Indians is being appreciated by the world. Connecting the dots:  India is emerging as a data powerhouse. Comment in the light of achievements of ‗Digital India‘. 2nd July AFSPA in Nagaland extended Part of: GS Prelims and Mains Paper II and III – Polity, Governance issues and Internal Security In News:  The Ministry of Home Affairs has extended the operation Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in Nagaland for another six months.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099113113

 The Centre had declared the state a ―disturbed area‖ to extend the Act. Important Value Additions: About Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA)  AFSPA was enacted in 1958 to bring under control what the government of India considered ‗disturbed‘ areas.  The state or central government considers those areas as ‗disturbed‘ by reason of differences or disputes between members of different religious, racial, language or regional groups or castes or communities.  Section (3) of AFSPA empowers the governor of the state/Union territory to issue an official notification declaring the state or a region within as a ―disturbed area‖, after which the centre can decide whether to send in armed forces. Do you know?  The AFSPA offers powers to the Army and Central forces deployed in disturbed areas to kill anyone acting in contravention of law, arrest and search any premises without a warrant.  These armed forces are immune from prosecution unless Union Government provides sanction to the prosecuting agencies.  Currently, AFSPA Act, 1958 is operational in the whole of Nagaland, Assam, Manipur (excluding seven assembly constituencies of Imphal) and parts of Arunachal Pradesh. Panel of CMs to suggest agriculture reforms Part of: Main GS Paper III – Government Policies & Interventions; Agriculture In News:  The Centre has set up a high powered committee of seven chief ministers, led by Maharashtra‘s CM as its convenor, to suggest measures to transform Indian agriculture and raise farmers‘ income. Terms of reference (ToR) of the panel  The panel will suggest on modalities for adoption and time-bound implementation of two key model Acts (a) agriculture market reforms act and (b) contract farming act by the states.  The panel will also examine various provisions of Essential Commodity Act (ECA),1955 and suggest a mechanism for linking of market reforms with e-NAM, GRAM and other relevant centrally sponsored schemes.  The panel will also recommend policy measures to boost agricultural exports, raise growth in food processing and attract investments in modern market infrastructure, value chains and logistics.  The panel will also suggest measures to upgrade agri-technology to global standards and improve access of farmers to quality seed and proposing any other relevant reforms for transformation of agriculture sector and raising farmers income.  The panel will also study various proposals of the inter-ministerial committee on Doubling Farmers‘ Income (DFI) which had suggested specific action points for reforms in the farm and allied sector. EWS quota: SC to hear pleas for Constitution Bench Part of: Main GS Paper II– Indian Polity – Constitution and Amendment; Fundamental Rights In News:  The Supreme Court has agreed to hear plea to have a Constitution Bench to examine the validity of a constitutional amendment providing 10% economic reservation in government jobs and educational institutions.  The Constitution (103rd Amendment) Act provides for 10% reservation in government jobs and educational institutions for the economically weaker section in the unreserved category.  The Act amends Article 15 and 16 to provide for reservation based on economic backwardness. Do you know?  BRICS IAS The petitioner has said that economic reservation violated the 50% reservation ceiling limit fixed by a nine-judge Bench in the Indra Sawhney case. Further,the 1992 judgment had barred reservation solely on economic criterion.  The petitioner has also said that the bill violates the basic feature of the Constitution as reservation on economic grounds cannot be limited to the general category.  The Centre has defended the amendment by stating that the newly inserted provisions are in conformity with the principle of affirmative action.  The government said that the argument that EWS quota will breach 50% limit of reservation is not true as this limit imposed by the Supreme Court in Indira Sawhney case is not applicable after constitution amendment.  The Centre also negates the petitioners argument that reservation cannot be provided only on the basis of economic criteria.  It highlighted that several Committees have been set up wherein quantifiable data has been collected highlighting the need for having reservation for the economically weaker sections of the society. Go Tribal campaign Part of: GS Prelims and Mains Paper II – Issues Related to SCs & STs Key PT pointers:  The campaign aims to create awareness and promote tribal arts and crafts as aid in socio economic welfare of over 700 Indian tribes. Central focus:

www.bricsias.com 8142160099114114

 The Tribal Affairs Ministry and Trifed has launched the Go tribal campaign in association with Amazon Global.  The event also saw the global Launch of Tribes India through Amazon Global Selling under which Tribes India and Amazon Global Marketing will launch TRIBES India products globally. Note:  The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) was established in 1987.  The basic objective of the TRIFED is to provide good price to the products made or collected from the forest by the tribal peoples. International Whaling Commission (IWC) Part of: GS Prelims and Mains Paper III – Coastal Security; Environment and Biodiversity; Conservation of biodiversity In News:  Japan has resumed commercial whale hunts after more than three decades.  This came after Japan has withdrawn from the International Whaling Commission in 2018. About International Whaling Commission (IWC)  IWC is an international body set up under the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW).  It aims to provide for the proper conservation of whale stocks and thus make possible the orderly development of the whaling industry.  The main duty of the IWC is to keep under review and revise as necessary the measures laid down in the Schedule to the Convention which govern the conduct of whaling throughout the world.  The commercial whaling was banned by the IWC in 1986 after some species were almost driven to extinction.  IWC consists of 89 countries and all the member countries are signatories to this convention.India is a member of the IWC. Miscellaneous: 1. Body cameras for cops  Delhi High Court asked the Centre and the Delhi government to consider the suggestion of an advocate for providing body cameras to police officials to monitor their conduct as also of the public. (Example for Police Reforms)  Body cameras will help to monitor and ensure proper conduct, behaviour of officials as well as public and to ensure foolproof and transparent prosecution in case of any violation. Do you know? ‗Police brutality‘ is a civil rights violation that occurs when a police officer acts with excessive force by using an amount of force with regards to a civilian that is more than necessary. 2. App to track your carbon footprint to be launched  Maharashtra government to launch app that will track citizens‘ carbon footprint and reward those who achieve an emission neutral status.  The move aims to reduce pollution and carbon emission in Maharashtra.  The idea of the app was initiated after Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised international organisations to bring India‘s pollution levels to 2005 levels by 2030.  The footprints of an individual, as per the app, will include his use of electricity, air conditioning, kitchen activities among others. Do you know?  India has, as part of the Paris Summit,BRICS promised to reduce green house IAS gas emission by 20% to 25%. NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2  Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education, Human Resources. It‘s time to act, not do more research: On National Education Policy Background  Government has begun to rethink of higher education policies through the draft NEP (National Education Policy) and EQUIP (Education Quality Upgradation and Inclusion Programme).  Before this draft education policy and EQUIP, there are many reports aimed at improving higher education in independent India such as Radhakrishnan Commission of 1949, the National Education Policies of 1968 and 1986, the Yashpal Committee of 2009, the National Knowledge Commission in 2007, etc.  Recommendations of most of these reports are similar. Therefore the time, energy and resources that EQUIP will require can be better spent on implementing rather than further research. Challenges before Current Higher Education System Inadequate allocation of funds  Higher education in India has been chronically underfunded — it spends less than most other BRICS countries on higher education. Inadequate funding is evident at all levels.  The last Budget allocated only ₹37,461 crore for the higher education sector.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099115115

 Other related ministries and departments such as Space, Scientific and Industrial Research, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Science and Technology, Health Research and Agricultural Research have been allocated only modest support.  Funding for basic research, which is largely a Central government responsibility, lags behind peer countries. Low enrollment and Non completion  At present, India‘s gross enrolment ratio is 25.8%, significantly behind China‘s 51% or much of Europe and North America, where 80% or more young people enroll in higher education. India‘s challenge is even greater because half of the population is under 25 years of age.  It is interesting to note that while the draft NEP aims at increasing the gross enrolment ratio to at least 50% by 2035, EQUIP targets doubling the gross enrolment ratio to 52% by 2024.  The challenge is not only to enrol students, but to ensure that they can graduate. Non-completion is a serious problem in the sector. Standard of quality of education  It is universally recognised that much of Indian higher education is of relatively poor quality. Employers often complain that they cannot hire graduates without additional training. Poor quality and commercial interests of private sector  The private sector is a key part of the equation. India has the largest number of students in private higher education in the world. But much of private higher education is of poor quality and commercially oriented. Structure and governance of higher education system  There is too much bureaucracy at all levels, and in some places, political and other pressures are immense. Professors have little authority and the hand of government and managements is too heavy. At the same time, accountability for performance is generally lacking. Way forward India needs;  Dramatically increased funding from diverse sources, and the NEP‘s recommendation for a new National Research Foundation is a welcome step in this direction;  Significantly increased access to post-secondary education, but with careful attention to both quality and affordability, and with better rates of degree completion;  Longitudinal studies on student outcomes;  To develop ―world class‖ research-intensive universities, so that it can compete for the best brains, produce top research, and be fully engaged in the global knowledge economy;  To ensure that the private higher education sector works for the public good;  To develop a differentiated and integrated higher education system, with institutions serving manifold societal and academic needs;  Reforms in the governance of college and universities to permit autonomy and innovation at the institutional level;  Better coordination between the University Grants Commission and ministries and departments involved in higher education, skill development, and research. Connecting the dots:  What are the challenges before current higher education system of India? Critically analyse in context of draft national education policy 2019. NATIONAL BRICS IAS TOPIC: General studies 2  Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Human Resources, etc. Self care in India: Miles to go Introduction  World Health Organization has released self-help guidelines for sexual and reproductive health. Need of self care  With the ability to prevent disease, maintain health and cope with illness and disability with or without reliance on health-care workers, self-care interventions are gaining more importance.  Millions of people, including in India, face the twin problems of acute shortage of healthcare workers and lack of access to essential health services.  According to WHO reports over 400 million across the world already lack access to essential health services and there will be a shortage of about 13 million health-care workers by 2035. About Self care  Self-care would mean different things for people living in very diverse conditions.  While it would mean convenience, privacy and ease for people belonging to the upper strata who have easy access to healthcare facilities anytime, for those living in conditions of vulnerability and lack access to health care, it becomes the primary, timely and reliable form of care.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099116116

 The WHO recognises self-care interventions as a means to expand access to health services. Soon, the WHO would expand the guidelines to include other self-care interventions, including for prevention and treatment of non-communicable diseases. Self care in India Pregnancy and abortion  India has some distance to go before making self-care interventions for sexual and reproductive health freely available to women.  Home-based pregnancy testing is the most commonly used self-help diagnostics in this area in India. Interventions include self-managed abortions using approved drugs that can be had without the supervision of a healthcare provider.  While the morning-after pills are available over the counter, mifepristone and misoprostol are scheduled drugs and need a prescription from a medical practitioner, thus defeating the very purpose of the drugs. HIV self test  The next commonly consumed drug to prevent illness and disease is the pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention. India is yet to come up with guidelines for PrEP use and include it in the national HIV prevention programme.  One of the reasons why people shy away from getting tested for HIV is stigma and discrimination.  The home-based testing provides privacy. WHO approved the HIV self-test to improve access to HIV diagnosis in 2016. Conclusion Self-care, which mostly happens outside the formal health system, is nothing new. India has some distance to cover before making self-care interventions freely available. Connecting the dots:  Self-care interventions can act as a means to expand access to health services. Comment. 3rd July 2019 U.P. move to shift 17 OBCs to SC list ‗unconstitutional‘ Part of Prelims and mains GS II constitution and governance In news  The Uttar Pradesh government decided to relist 17 OBCs (Other Backward Classes)in the Schedule Caste list.  Union Ministry for Social Justice and Empowerment opposed the move of UP government stating it as unconstitutional.  Under Article 341 sub clause (2) of the Constitution, the power to make changes in the SC list lay only with Parliament.  Even the President of India does not have the power to tinker, alter or make changes in the list. Hong Kong protests undermine rule of law, social order: China Part of Prelims and mains GS II International events In news  People in Hong Kong are protesting over controversial Extradiation Bill.  Beijing denies interfering, but for many Hong Kong residents, the extradition Bill is the latest step in a relentless march towards mainland control.  China condemned violent protests in Hong Kong as an ―undisguised challenge‖ to the formula under which the city is ruled. BRICS IAS ―One country two system‖ formula  The former British colony of Hong Kong returned to China in 1997 under a ―one country, two systems‖ formula that allows freedoms not enjoyed in mainland China, including freedom to protest and an independent judiciary.  1 July 2019 was the 22nd anniversary of the handover. About protest in Hong Kong  Millions of people have taken to the streets in the past few weeks to protest against the now-suspended extradition Bill that would allow people to be sent to mainland China to face trial in courts controlled by the Communist Party.  Lawyers and rights groups say China‘s justice system is marked by torture, forced confessions and arbitrary detention.  The business, diplomatic and legal communities fear the corrosion of the legal autonomy of Hong Kong and the difficulty of guaranteeing a fair trial in China. Lithium-ion giga units mooted Part of Prelims and mains GS III Science and Tech, Industry In news  To push the adoption of electric mobility in the country, government think-tank NITI Aayog has proposed the establishment of giga factories in India for the manufacture of lithium-ion batteries in the next couple of years.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099117117

 The recommendation is part of the Aayog‘s much debated proposal that only electric (lithium-ion or other advanced battery chemistry only) three-wheelers would be sold in the country after March 31, 2023, and all new sales of two-wheelers below 150cc would be electric post March 31, 2025.  It is a sunrise industry and India needed to start building capabilities to become a globally competitive player in this area. NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2  Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education, Human Resources. Lessons from Bhutan Introduction  Bhutan has recently announced a policy wherein Bhutan‘s teachers, doctors and other medical staff will earn more than civil servants of corresponding grades.  This is a novel move as no other country has accorded teachers and doctors such pride of place in its government service, both in terms of remuneration and symbolism. About the policy  The policy‘s has been referred in Bhutan‘s 12th Five Year Plan (2018-23), published by its Gross National Happiness Commission, the country‘s highest policy-making body.  The commission‘s strategy is to achieve desired national outcomes through education. The strategy opens with the notation, ―making teaching a profession of choice‖. Therefore the proposal aims to achieve the country‘s human developmental objectives.  The decision also comes in the wake of high levels of teacher attrition. Clearly, the government has formulated the policy to put a stop to such fall in numbers of teachers. Significance  As per The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development‘s (OECD) Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) there is distinct correlation between student outcomes in a country and the status that its teachers enjoy.  Further already Bhutan spends about 7.5% of its GDP on education. The fiscal implications of the new salary structure are unclear now.  OECD‘s ‗Education at a Glance 2018‘ report says that, ―The quality of education can be a strong predictor of a country‘s economic prosperity‖. Can India afford a similar policy?  India currently spends about 3% of its GDP on education, accounting for about 10% of the Centre‘s and States‘ budgetary expenses and salaries of teachers and other staff constitute a large portion of this expenditure.  The NITI Aayog in its report last year recommended that India raise this to 6% of GDP by 2022.  Paying teachers significantly higher salaries may seem like a difficult task, but the Central and State governments could consider rationalising both teacher recruitment and allocation of funds to existing programmes.  Some programmes may have outlived their purpose, while others could be better directed. In fact, improving accountability in the system could lead to reduction in cost.  A World Bank study found that teacher absenteeism in India was nearly 24%, which costs the country about $1.5 billion annually.  Absenteeism could be the resultBRICS of many factors, including teachers IAS taking up a second job or farming to boost incomes, providing parental or nursing care in the absence of support systems, or lacking motivation.  Hence, the incentive of a desirable income with strong accountability, can help mitigate many ills that plague the system, free fiscal space and help meet important national developmental objectives.  Further, implementing a policy may be easier in a smaller State such as Delhi.  Education is a key focus area for the Delhi government; the State invests 26% of its annual budget in the sector (much more than the national average).  The administration has also worked on improving teacher motivation as a strategy for better educational outcomes. The base has been set.  Moreover, since the State is highly urban and well-connected, it would be easier to enforce accountability measures. Conclusion  No investment that enables an educated, healthy, responsible and happy community can be deemed too high by any society.  Improving teacher status by offering top notch salaries to attract the best to the profession could be that revolutionary policy-step forward, which Bhutan has shown a willingness to take. Connecting the dots: The quality of education can be a strong predictor of a country‘s economic prosperity. Substantiate.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099118118

NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2  Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to health, etc. Don‘t blame the litchi: On deaths in Bihar Introduction Muzaffarpur in Bihar is famous for litchis and infamous for children dying due to annual seasonal brain disease outbreaks. Outbreakes  The common brain diseases in children with high mortality are meningitis, encephalitis and encephalopathy.  These three have clear-cut differences and very different treatments. Trained paediatricians know how to distinguish the three.  If diagnostic criteria are not applied for various reasons, then the three are not distinguished by doctors.  That is when an easy diagnostic term covering all three — ―acute encephalitis syndrome‖ (AES) is used. Viral attack or Encephalopathy The disease description; 1. Only under-nourished children are affected; 2. Only children between two and 10 years are affected 3. The onset of convulsions and unconsciousness is always between 4 am and 7 am These are clear pointers against any virus infection causing the disease. Viruses, including JE, do not respect nutritional status, age and diurnal rhythm. Encephalopathy (Brain disease)  The early morning onset and frequent finding of low blood glucose level (hypoglycaemia) point to a biochemical disease related to glucose metabolism.  Several hours after food intake (early morning) is when the body tends to develop hypoglycaemia.  In addition, there is brain swelling caused by toxic damage to brain cells — encephalopathy, specifically, ―hypoglycaemic encephalopathy‖.  If the fasting interval is longer than 6-7 hours, because some children were not given a night meal, the situation becomes more severe.  Malnourished children do not have glucose reserves in the liver, which makes matters worse.  Moreover, many children were referred to Muzaffarpur medical college, and the long delay in reaching there resulted in many deaths. Prevention is simple, as is treatment. Prevention is possible  In 2016 and 2017, a simple intervention — all grass root health workers consistently teaching rural families not to allow children sleep without a cooked meal — had brought down the case numbers drastically.  If doctors had treated the sick and unconscious children with a 10 per cent glucose infusion within four hours of onset, all the children would have recovered.  The high blood glucose level created with 10 per cent glucose actually turns off the fatty acid oxidation cycle immediately, so no more amino acids accumulate to further damage brain cells. Malnutrition and Litchies  The external stimulus that blocks the fatty acid oxidation cycle for glucose synthesis is methylene cyclo-propyl glycine, present in the edible pulp of litchies.  Normally-nourished children orBRICS adults suffer no adverse effects from IASlitchis. Only when malnutrition and skipping the night meal come together does the litchi eaten the previous day become the last straw.  The socio-behavioural risk factors are the real cause of the outbreak.  Where litchi orchards and gross malnutrition are not superimposed, like in Punjab and Haryana, hypoglycemic encephalopathy is not a problem. Way forward Following interventions can reduce the impact of outbreak;  Training of the doctors for immediate treatment  Increase in availability of health care services within the reach of patients  Curbing malnutrition  Addressing the socio-behavioral risk factors Connecting the dots: The outbreak of ―acute encephalitis syndrome‖ in Bihar is preventable healthcare disaster. comment. 4th July 2019 Soon, read Supreme Court judgments in your language Part of: Prelims and Mains GS II – Judiciary In news  In a novel measure, the Supreme Court will translate its judgments into all vernacular languages for the benefit of the public and litigants across the length and breadth of the country.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099119119

 The app, similar to Google‘s text translation, is likely to be launched in a single phase and cover all vernacular languages.  The project included not only translating the apex court judgments into Hindi and other vernacular languages but also to provide summaries of the apex court‘s verdicts.  This will also benefit litigants, who after fighting their cases for years, were left unable to read the judgments in their own cases for the sole reason that they did not know English. Improper planning, lack of monitoring defeating aim of green power, says CAG Part of: Prelims and Mains GS III – Infrastructure: Renewable energy In news  An audit report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) on setting up small hydro projects on public- private partnership (PPP) basis said due to improper planning and inadequate monitoring, the objective of harnessing the green power with the help of private sector was largely defeated.  According to report against the estimated installed capacity of 417.85 MW, only 36.85 MW installed capacity was achieved.  There was time overrun ranging from 39 to 53 months in respect of two ongoing projects The CAG‘s recommendations  The feasibility study in respect of listed projects be completed in a time-bound manner.  The government may address the issue of less release of water so as to have fair terms for PPP projects.  There is a need to focus on the issues at hand and work out a solution to take the project forward or short-close the same if a feasible solution is possible. NASA tests launch-abort system for its moon mission Part of: Prelims and Mains GS III – Science and Technology; Space In news  NASA carried out a successful test of a launch-abort system for the Orion capsule designed to take U.S. astronauts to the Moon.  The three-minute exercise at Cape Canaveral in Florida aimed to test in almost real-life conditions the evacuation of astronauts from the capsule in the event of an explosion or rocket booster failure.  In real-life conditions, parachutes would open to ease the manned capsule‘s fall toward the Atlantic Ocean. 27% of children with disabilities have never been to school: UNESCO Part of: Prelims and Mains GS II – Services related to Health and Education In news According to a report by UNESCO and the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, more than one in four children with disabilities between ages 5 and 19 in India have never attended any educational institution, while three-fourths of five- year-olds with disabilities are not in school. Findings of the report  There are more than 78 lakh children with disabilities in the country between 5-19 years.  Only 61% of them were attending an educational institution. About 12% had dropped out, while 27% had never been to school at all.  The number of children [with disabilities] enrolled in school drops significantly with each successive level of schooling. There are fewer girls with disabilities in school than boys.  Differences remain among various types of disabilities. Only 20% of children with visual and hearing impairments had never been inBRICS school. However, among children withIAS multiple disabilities or mental illness, that figure rose to more than 50%. Lacunae in policy  The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan teacher is supposed to visit and check students seeking home based education, but they rarely visit.  The Right to Education Act mandates enrolment, but not the provision of resources needed for the actual education of a child with disabilities.  The government data on enrolment includes home-based education, which often exists only on paper for children with disabilities. Recommendations  Amendments to the RTE Act, 2009 to make it align with the Right of Persons With Disabilities Act, 2016 are among the major recommendations of the report.  Report recommends structural, funding and attitudinal changes to ensure that no child is left out of the right to education. NATIONAL TOPIC:General studies 3  Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development Not by wishful thinking: On $5 Trillion Economy Target Background

www.bricsias.com 8142160099120120

 PM in a recent NITI ayog meeting has set an economic target of $5 trillion by 2024 for Indian Economy.  It means ₹350,00,000 crore of gross domestic product (GDP) at current prices, at ₹70 to a U.S. dollar exchange rate.  The target implies an output expansion by 84% in five years, or at 13% compound annual growth rate.  The required growth rate in real, or inflation-adjusted, terms should be 9% per year. In last five years India officially grew at 7.1% only. Thus the target is an ambitious one. What efforts are required?  China in its best five years, during 2003-07, grew at 11.7%; South Korea, between 1983 and 1987, grew at 11%. In the same way India needs to grow with double digit growth rate.  In the last five years, on average, the domestic saving rate was 30.8% of gross national domestic income (GNDI), and the investment rate (gross capital formation to GDP ratio) was 32.5%.  India will have to turn into an investment-led economy as it happened during the boom last decade (2003-08) before the financial crisis, or like China since the 1980s.  India has low domestic savings rate. India requires nearly 8-9 percentage point boost to saving and investment rates.  In order to accelerate its growth rate, India would require an increase in the domestic saving rate to close to 40% of GDP. Which means investment in the economy should be based on domestic resources.  Although FDI can fulfil important gaps in investment. However it cannot be a substitute for domestic resources as has been witnessed in the Chinese growth story. Challenges  The domestic saving rate has declined from 31.4% in 2013-14 to 29.6% in 2016-17; and gross capital formation rate from 33.8% to 30.6% during the same period.  The banking sector‘s ability to boost credit growth is limited by non-performing assets (NPAs) and the governance crisis in the financial sector.  Export to GDP ratio has declined rapidly, with a looming global trade war on the horizon. Conclusion The $5 trillion target appears challenging . To achieve such a target policymakers should focus on stepping up domestic saving and investment, and not just relying on FDI-led growth accelerations in uncertain economic times. Connecting the dots:  Suggest a roadmap for India to achieve $5 Trillion Economy Target. NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2  Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes General studies 3  Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health Healthcare‘s primary problem Background The deaths of 154 children in Bihar due to acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) has been linked to two factors:  Litchi consumption by starving children and  a long ongoing heat wave BRICS IAS Prevention of AES AES is largely preventable both before and just after the onset of the disease and treatable with high chances of success on availability of medical intervention within 2-4 hours of symptoms. Therefore, the first signs of an outbreak must prompt strong prevention measures. These include:  A robust health education drive  Replenishing primary health centres (PHCs) with essential supplies,  Extensive deployment of peripheral health workers (ASHA workers)  Ambulance services to facilitate rapid identification  Management of suspected cases.  Vacant doctor positions in PHCs must be urgently filled through deputation.  Short-term scaling-up of the Poshan Abhiyaan  The supplementary nutrition programme which makes available hot, cooked meals for pre-school children at Anganwadis along with take home ration for mothers and distribution of glucose/ORS packets in risk households. Nearly every one of these elements lies undermined in Bihar. Crumbling healthcare in Bihar

www.bricsias.com 8142160099121121

 In Bihar, one PHC caters to about 1 lakh people rather than the norm of 1 PHC per 30,000 people. Furthermore, it is critical for such a PHC, catering to more than three times the standard population size, to have at least two doctors.  Three-fourths of the nearly 1,900 PHCs in Bihar have just one doctor each.  Muzaffarpur has 103 PHCs (about 70 short of the ideal number) with 98 of them falling short of basic requirements outlined by the Health Management Information System.  Bihar, one of the most populous States, had a doctor-population ratio of 1:17,685 in 2018, 60% higher than the national average, and with only 2% of the total MBBS seats in the country.  There is also a one-fifth shortage of ASHA personnel, and nearly one-third of the sub-health centres have no health workers at all.  While the State reels under the highest load of malnutrition in India, a study found that around 71% and 38% of funds meant for hot, cooked meals and take home ration, respectively, under the supplementary nutrition programme, were pilfered.  Meals were served for just more than half the number of prescribed days, and only about half the number of beneficiaries on average actually got them.  Even those PHCs with adequate supplies remain underutilized. Perennial subscription to selective healthcare services by PHCs, like family planning and immunization, have cultivated the perception that PHCs are inept as centres of general healthcare.  This leads patients either directly to apex government hospitals situated far away or to unqualified private providers. This results in a patient losing precious time in transit and landing up in a hospital in a critical and often irreversible stage of illness. Way forward  Revamp primary health infrastructure  The solution lies in building more functional PHCs and sub-health centers;  Scaling-up the cadres of ASHA workers;  Strict monitoring of nutrition programmes;  Addressing the maldistribution of doctors, medical colleges and vacancies.  The resultant robust primary care system can then be geared towards being more responsive to future outbreaks.  We should also bolster our technical capacity to better investigate the causes of such outbreaks and operationalise a concrete long-term strategy.  Decades of hospital-centric growth of health services have eroded faith in community-based healthcare. In these circumstances, even easily manageable illnesses increase demand for hospital services rather than PHCs. Conclusion  Merely strengthening the tertiary care sector will be inefficient and ineffective.  Primary healthcare should be the strong foundation of health development narrative.  There is need to work on inculcating confidence in community-based care. Connecting the dots:  In the context of the breakout of the acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) in Bihar, analyse the shortcomings of healthcare sector. 5th July 2019 Survey sets out blueprint for $5 tn economy Part of Prelims and mains GS III IndianBRICS Economy IAS In news  The Economic Survey 2019 focusses on moving to a ―virtuous cycle‖ of savings, investments and exports to transform India into a $5 trillion economy in the next five years.  According to the survey, India‘s GDP is forecast to expand by 7% in fiscal 2019-20, slightly higher than the 6.8% in 2018-19. Virtuous and Vicious cycles of economy  When the economy is in a virtuous cycle, investment, productivity growth, job creation, demand and exports feed into each other and enable animal spirits in the economy to thrive.  In contrast, when the economy is in a vicious cycle, moderation in these variables dampen each other and thereby dampen the animal spirits in the economy. Investment led economy  Private investment was a key driver for demand, capacity, labour productivity, new technology adoption, and for job creation.  Investment by the private sector cannot happen unless there is no crowding out because of the government.  Moving the economy into a virtuous cycle would require the adoption of certain practices and norms on data, legal reforms and policy certainty, and some micro-economic aspects such as boosting MSMEs and reducing the cost of capital. Fiscal glide path

www.bricsias.com 8142160099122122

There is emphasis on private investment because the government had and would stick to its fiscal consolidation glide path. It has committed to a fiscal deficit of 3.4% of GDP in 2019-20, and 3% each in the subsequent two years. On ―Data‖  The data of societal interest is generated by the people, it can be created as a public good within the legal framework of data privacy.  The government must intervene in creating data as a public good, especially of the poor and in social sectors.  The Survey made the point that data must be viewed as a public good and used in a concerted way to deliver services.  The Survey talked about merging the distinct datasets held by the government into a single dataset, which would generate ―multiple benefits.‖ On MSME sector  The ‗dwarf‘ firms (with less than 100 workers), accounted for more than 50% of all organised firms in manufacturing by number.  Despite this, their contribution to employment was just 14% and to productivity a mere 8%.  Large firms, on the other hand, are just 15% in number but account for 75% employment and close to 90% of productivity.  Therefore, there is a need to ―unshackle‖ MSMEs and enable them to grow into larger firms. Employment and labour reform  Capital investment fosters job creation since capital goods production, research and development, and supply chains also generate jobs.  The factories in States that have flexible labour markets are much more productive than those in States with rigid laws. Therefore there is need of labour reforms. Govt. can sell PSU land, reduce majority stake to boost non-tax revenue: CEA Part of Prelims and mains GS III Indian Economy In news  According to Chief Economic Advisor, the government can sell land held by PSUs and potentially reduce its majority stake in some companies to make up for the significant shortfall in tax revenues.  The non-tax revenues have a significant potential to expand, especially because many of the PSUs are sitting on large pools of land which can be monetised.  There is also an opportunity for greater returns from divestment. The government could reduce its holdings in some PSUs to below the majority stake of 51% of direct control. ‗Greying India must delay retirement‘ Part of Prelims and mains GS II Social protection schemes GS III Indian Economy In news  India may have to raise the retirement age as the country sees a rapid increase in the size of the elderly population over the next two decades due to the slowing down of the population growth rate, according to the Economic Survey 2018-19.  It is forecast that the population rate will grow less than 1% from 2021 to 2031 and under 0.5% from 2031 to 2041.  This is primarily due to the fall in the total fertility rate (TFR).  TFR is projected to decline between 2021-2041 and fall below replacement level fertility at 1.8 as early as 2021. Replacement level fertility rate BRICS IAS The total fertility rate of 2.1 is called the replacement level fertility below which populations begin to decline. Replacement level fertility rate for India  For India, the effective replacement level fertility is slightly higher than the normal benchmark due to the skewed gender ratio and is at 2.15-2.2.  The current TFR in 14 out of the 22 major States is already below the effective replacement level fertility.  At the State level, southern States as well as West Bengal, Punjab, Maharashtra and Himachal Pradesh have below replacement level fertility and will see TFR decline to 1.5-1.6 by 2021.  By 2031, all States are likely to see below replacement level fertility. Change in demography  The working-age population is expected to see a large increase leading to India‘s demographic dividend peaking around 2041, when the share of those in the age group of 20-59 is expected to hit 59%.  The size of the elderly population, 60 years and above, is expected to nearly double from 8.6% in 2011 to 16% by 2041.  The population size of those between 0-19 years, which is on the decline, is likely to drop from as high as 41% in 2011 to 25% by 2041. New policy Challenges  Provisions for health and old-age care  Access to retirement-related financial services

www.bricsias.com 8142160099123123

 Public pension funding  Retirement age, etc. Suggestions  Increasing the retirement age for both men and women going forward could be considered in line with the experience of other countries.  It would also help increase female labour force participation in the older age-groups.  Many countries such as the U.S., Germany and France have already raised the retirement age to reduce the burden on pension funding.  Additional jobs will have to be created to keep pace with annual increase in working-age population of 9.7 million during 2021-31 and 4.2 million during 2031-41. Needed: a well-designed minimum wage system Part of Prelims and mains GS III Indian Economy In news  As per economic survey, a well-designed and streamlined minimum wage system is required to reduce wage inequality in the country.  Currently, the minimum wage system, under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, in India is complex, with 1,915 different minimum wages defined for different job categories across States.  According to ILO, one in every three wage workers in India is not protected by the minimum wage law.  For instance domestic workers were covered under minimum wage laws in only 18 States and Union Territories.  While the law did not discriminate between men and women, analysis of different wages showed a bias. An example of bias Women dominate in the category of domestic workers while men dominate in the category of security guards. While both these occupations fall within the category of unskilled workers, the minimum wage rate for domestic workers within a State is consistently lower than that for the minimum wage rates for security guards. Recommendations of survey  Minimum wages should be decided on the basis of skills and split across geographical regions.  The government is in the process of bringing the Code on Wages Bill in Parliament, the rationalisation of minimum wages proposed by the Bill should be supported.  The government should notify a ―national floor minimum wage‖ across five regions, after which the States can fix their own minimum wages, but not lower than the floor wage.  This would bring uniformity and make States almost equally attractive from the point of view of labour cost for investment as well as reduce distress migration. Call to ease legal logjam for better contract enforcement Part of Prelims and mains GS III Indian Economy In news  Contract enforcement remains the single biggest constraint to improve India‘s Ease of Doing Business (EODB) ranking, which currently stands at 163 in the world ranking.  In spite of a number of actions to expedite and improve the contract enforcement regime, economic activity was affected by the long shadow of delays and pendency across the legal landscape. Recommendations  According to economic survey, two key issues need to be dealt with in order to make the judiciary more efficient;  Firstly, the courts must achieveBRICS a 100% case clearance rate (CCR) IAS so that there is zero accumulation to the existing pendency.  Secondly, the backlog of cases already present in the system must be removed.  It suggested improving the efficiency of the courts, increasing number of working days of courts, establishment of Indian Courts and Tribunal Services, and deployment of technology in legal system. Case clearance rate (CCR) CCR is the ratio of the number of cases disposed of in a given year to the number of cases instituted in that year. ‗Shift focus to water productivity‘ Part of Prelims and mains GS III Indian Economy In news  The Economic Survey 2018-19, regarding agriculture, suggested that the country should shift its focus from land productivity to irrigation water productivity and on devising policies to incentivise farmers to adopt efficient ways of water use.  This should become a national priority to avert a looming water crisis.  Agriculture remains the predominant occupation in terms of number of people employed. Also, agriculture is dependent highly on water. So, appropriate mechanism needs to be framed for economical use of water among small and marginal farmers. Government policies and Cropping pattern  The cropping pattern in India is highly skewed towards crops that are water-intensive.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099124124

 The incentive structures like minimum support price, heavily subsidised electricity, water and fertilizers have played a significant role in the misalignment of crop patterns in the country.  The water guzzlers, paddy and sugarcane, consume more than 60% of irrigation water available in the country, reducing water availability for other crops.  States such as Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, which have high land productivity, tend to have very low irrigation water productivity, reflecting inefficient use of water and the need to re-calibrate cropping pattern. India could host ‗Detroit‘ of EVs Part of Prelims and mains GS III Indian Economy In news According to economic survey, with the right policies, it‘s possible that one of India‘s cities could become the ‗Detroit of electric vehicles‘. National Electric Mobility Mission Plan 2020 (NEMMP) and FAME  India has a ―National Electric Mobility Mission Plan 2020 (NEMMP)‖ in place to ―achieve sales‖ of 60-70 lakh units of electric vehicles (that includes buses, two-wheelers and cars) by 2020.  In 2015, the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric vehicles (FAME) scheme was launched to fast-track the goals of NEMMP.  FAME India Phase II, with an emphasis on electrification of public transport, was also launched from April 1, 2019. Global scenario  Globally, the sales of electric cars have grown from just over 2,000 units sold in 2008 to over 10 lakh in 2017.  The market share of electric cars is around 2% in China while it is around 39% in Norway. In India  Electric two wheelers have been the major part of EV sales with sales of around 54,800 in 2018.  Indian market share in electric cars is only 0.06%.  Uttar Pradesh topped the list of the States with highest EV sales of 6,878 units in 2017-18. Renewable energy in India  India‘s adoption of electric vehicles was part of its larger thrust towards increasing the share of renewable energy and reducing carbon dioxide emissions.  The share of renewables (excluding hydro above 25 MW) in total power generation was around 10% in 2018-19 compared with around 6% in 2014-15.  India stands fourth in wind power, fifth in solar power and fifth in renewable power installed capacity. NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2  Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation A scheme for farmers that has not reached most farmers Introduction PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) was launched in budget 2019 to ameliorate farm distress. The scheme‘s original objective to supplement the financial needs of the small and marginal farmers has been broadened to include all the categories of agricultural landowners. Reasons of farm distress or agrarian crisis and the need for the scheme:  BRICS IAS Falling farm incomes due to decline in international prices  Low domestic food inflation  Fragmented land holdings  Increasing indebtedness, small and marginal farmers usually take credit from informal channels at usurious rates.  Farmer suicides Envisaged benefits of the scheme:  Providing structured income support to the small and marginal landholding farmers for procuring inputs such as seeds, fertilisers, equipment, labour and technological up gradation.  Farmers will avoid falling in debt trap. Features of the scheme:  Annual support of Rs 6,000 to be provided in three Rs 2000 instalments each.  Entirely funded by Union Government.  Applicable from retrospective effect from December 2018  Allocation of Rs 20,000 for the current financial year (2018-19) and Rs 75,000 crore in 2019-20. Challenges for the scheme:  Land records not adequately digitised.  Implementation issues  Fiscal space

www.bricsias.com 8142160099125125

Positive aspects of the scheme:  This support is over and above all the existing schemes for the farming sector.  Pan India coverage; approximately 12 crore farming families to benefit  Assured income support to the farming class will provide sense of confidence.  Family is taken as a unit, hence in large joint families the accrued benefit may be larger. Negative aspects of the scheme:  Support of Rs 500 per family is not enough to alleviate farm income  Tenant farmers and landless agricultural labourers will not this benefit.  The cash transfer is not linked to the size of the farmer‘s land, unlike  Telangana‘s Rythu Bandhu scheme, under which farmers receive ₹8,000 per annum for every acre owned.  Telangana‘s RYTHU BANDHU scheme and Odisha‘s KALIA scheme offer more than PM-KISAN.  It would be recurring expenditure as it is hard to roll back. Also, it would add to fiscal deficit. Lacunae in implementation  There are 125 million farming households, who constitute the scheme‘s original intended beneficiaries. However, at present, the list of beneficiaries includes only 32% (40.27 million) of these households.  A majority of the intended beneficiary households are yet to receive even their first instalment of ₹2,000.  Implementation in certain States has been prioritised. U.P., for instance, accounts for one-third of total beneficiary households. A total of 17 States have received a negligible share of the first instalment, accounting for less than 9%. Way forward  For the scheme to be effective, PM-Kisan needs to be uniformly implemented across regions.  Tenants constitute 13.7% of farm households and incur the additional input cost of land rent. There is a strong case to include landless tenants and other poor families.  There is need of the necessary link with scale of production (farm size).  If income support is indeed the objective, the most deserving need to be given precedence. Connecting the dots: Critically examine the provisions and implementation of PM-KISAN scheme. NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 3  Challenges to internal security through communication networks and cyber security  Security challenges and their management in border areas Not a bloodless option for India (Cyber Attacks) Introduction  Recently, USA resorted to Cyber strikes on Iran and avoided military response when its drone was grounded by IRAN‘s Army.  Such usage of Cyber strikes has been termed as Bloodless War. It is speculated that the strikes targeted Iran‘s military command and systems such as those that control Iran‘s missile and rocket launchers.  Whether India can adopt a similar strategy against Terror attacks? India‘s strategy for response against terror attacks by Pakistan In recent responses by India against terror strikes by Pakistan an implicit criteria of India‘s approach has been observed. The criteria are: pre-emption, non-military nature, and deterrence. Justifications of these criteria  BRICS IAS Pre – emption – It allows India to justify any operation on International Forums. It is an exception of Article 2(4) of the UN Charter and is related to Self-defence.  Non – military – the operational aim has never been to target the Pakistani people or even the Pakistani military  Deterrence – Any operation should lead to substantial damage on the enemy so as to create deterrence. Can India conduct retaliatory Cyber strikes like USA? How would India Justify such an act on International Forums?  The conduct of U.S. cyber command was aimed at the Iranian establishment, specifically targeting its military installations.  If India conducts a cyber-strike against Pakistan‘s military command or systems, it will be termed as one against Pakistan and not the terrorists. This will not be in line with the criteria of Pre-emption and non-military response.  Further, a cyber-strike against Pakistan will call for counter-cyber strikes.  Instead of the intended deterrence, it will likely lead to an escalation. Thus it has been argued that a cyber-attack is not an option for India as of now. Conclusion  Most of the terror groups depend upon computers, networks and the Internet.  Terrorist groups use the Internet for propaganda. Thus India‘s Cyber-attacks should be targeted against them.  Further the ability of Indian armed forces in conducting such an operation is still not Known. However this secrecy will create an element of surprise if India chooses such retaliatory option.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099126126

Connecting the dots: Cyber attacks, a new way of warfare. Analyse the costs and opportunities for India. 6th July 2019 Step by step Nirmala‘s maiden Budget is all about incremental measures Part of Prelims and mains GS III Indian Economy In news Budget proposes higher income tax on rich Part of Prelims and mains GS III Indian Economy In news  The Union Budget has propose to increase surcharge on individuals having taxable income from ₹2 crore to ₹5 crore and ₹5 crore and above so that effective tax rates for these two categories will increase by around 3% and 7% respectively.  According to the government, this increase in the surcharge is expected to earn the government an additional ₹12,000 crore a year.  The direct tax collections are now growing in double digits every year.  Companies with a turnover of up to ₹400 crore a year would now have to pay tax at 25%. This turnover limit was earlier ₹250 crore a year. The new limit will now cover 99.3% of companies.  This is a welcome move towards bridging the gap of corporate tax with the ASEAN countries.  A number of measures were announced, such as electronic face-less assessments, to improve transparency in income tax assessment process and also to ease the return filing process for tax filers.  To start with, such e-assessments are to be carried out in cases requiring verification of certain specified transactions or discrepancies. Aadhaar can be interchanged with PAN for filing tax returns Part of Prelims and mains GS III Indian Economy In news  More than 120 crore Indians now have Aadhaar. Whereas, according to data with the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), 42 crore PAN cards have been issued, of which only 23 crore have been linked with Aadhaar.  The Union Budget 2019-20 has proposed to make Aadhaar interchangeable with PAN, thereby allowing people without PAN to file income tax returns using only their Aadhaar.  The Income Tax Department shall allot PAN to such persons on the basis of Aadhaar after obtaining demographic data from the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).  It has been made clear that the intent is not to replace PAN with Aadhaar as the primary identity proof when it comes to income tax.  It has been proposed allotting Aadhaar to non-resident Indians, arriving in India, on an expedited basis.  So far, non-resident Indians with an Indian passport had to wait for 180 days after their arrival in India before they can apply for Aadhaar. The Budget proposed to remove this waiting time. Government eases angel tax norms Part of Prelims and mains GS III Indian Economy In news  To encourage start-ups in the country, a series of measures has been announced for the sector, including easing of the much-debated angle tax.  Now, the start-ups who file BRICS requisite declarations will not be subjectIAS to any kind of scrutiny in respect of valuations of share premiums.  Additionally, the issue of establishing identity of the investor and source of his funds will be resolved by putting in place a mechanism of e-verification. Angel Tax  Angel tax is applicable to unlisted companies that have raised capital through sale of shares at a value above their fair market value.  This excess capital is treated as income and taxed accordingly. This tax predominantly affects start-ups and the angel investments they attract. Channel for start-ups  The Finance Minister has also proposed to start a television programme within the DD bouquet of channels exclusively for start-ups.  The proposed programme on start-ups will serve as a platform for promoting start-ups, discussing issues affecting their growth, matchmaking with venture capitalists and for funding and tax planning, etc.  The channel will be designed and executed by start-ups themselves. Fiscal deficit target revised downwards to 3.3% Part of Prelims and mains GS III Indian Economy In news

www.bricsias.com 8142160099127127

 The government is estimating a fiscal deficit of 3.3% of GDP in financial year 2019-20, lower than the 3.4% estimated earlier in the interim Budget presented in February.  The main reason for this is an increase on the revenue side, while expenditure is being controlled.  To achieve this goal(of 3.3%), it is relying on one-off disinvestment income, as well as higher taxes on the rich, and increased excise duties on petrol, diesel, precious metals and tobacco products.  Also, the government had budgeted a dividend from the Reserve Bank of India amounting to about ₹90,000 crore.  The government has cut the allocations for several major schemes. Most significant of these is the ₹4,334 crore cut for the Swachh Bharat scheme. Slew of steps to boost digital payments Part of Prelims and mains GS III Indian Economy In news  To push digital payments, multiple measures has been announced including levying 2% tax deducted at source on cash withdrawals exceeding ₹1 crore in a year from a bank account.  The business establishments with an annual turnover of more than ₹50 crore shall offer low-cost digital modes of payment such as BHIM UPI, UPI-QR Code, Aadhaar Pay, certain Debit cards, NEFT and RTGS, to their customers and no charges or Merchant Discount Rate shall be imposed on customers as well as merchants.  These measures would help create a robust payments infrastructure in the country. But there is need for sufficient Internet penetration and data reach to achieve the aspirations. RBI can supersede NBFC board Part of Prelims and mains GS III Indian Economy In news  Non-banking finance companies that are facing a crisis of confidence saw a slew of measures from the Budget to restore investor confidence.  The Reserve Bank of India also stepped in as it announced additional liquidity support to the sector through banks to the tune of ₹1.34 lakh crore.  The government has decided to give more powers to the Central bank to regulate the non-banking finance companies.  According to the Finance Bill, if the RBI is satisfied that in the ‗public interest‘ or to prevent the affairs of an NBFC being conducted in a manner detrimental to the interest of the depositors or creditors, the board can be superseded for a maximum five years and an administrator can be appointed.  The RBI will also regulate housing finance companies which are under the purview of the National Housing Bank.  The budget also proposed that foreign institutional investors and foreign portfolio investors will be allowed to invest in debt securities by shadow banks, which help NBFCs to raise more funds.  The budget also provided some tax incentives to the NBFCs by treating them on par with banks. Big boost for disaster management Part of Prelims and mains GS III Security and disaster management In news  Budgetary allocation for Home Ministry up by 5%, special focus on disaster management, cybercrime infrastructure and freedom fighters‘ pension.  An amount of ₹100 crore hasBRICS been allocated for the Indian Cyber CrimeIAS Coordination Centre, compared to ₹6 crore in the last fiscal.  Total funds for disaster management have been earmarked at ₹577.93 crore, a jump from ₹284.82 crore last year. Of this, the component for National Cyclone Risk Mitigation has been increased from ₹3.03 crore to ₹296.19 crore. Private funds needed for Swachh Bharat Part of Prelims and mains GS III Indian Economy, GS II Governance In news  99.2% of rural India is now open defecation-free & therefore the next goal of the Swachh Bharat should be to have 100% safe and scientific disposal of solid and liquid waste.  The safe and scientific disposal of solid and liquid waste would include improvement in working conditions for sanitation workers and manual scavengers, sewer construction and water availability, treatment of industrial effluence, drain bio-remediation, river surface cleaning, apart from other measures.  Government must also allocate adequate resources to undertake such measures and apart from this, private partnerships such as through corporate social responsibility, crowd funding aligned with local government financing, among other measures can be undertaken to finance scientific disposal of waste. Reward top taxpayers, shame defaulters Part of Prelims and mains GS III Indian Economy In news

www.bricsias.com 8142160099128128

 The Economic survey highlights the usage of behavioural economics to bring a social change among people in India.  The economic survey highlights the Swachh Bharat Mission, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and other government schemes and policies that have been successful in changing the social mindset within India.  Similarly, the economic survey intends to ensure a social change or a change in mindset of people in India to achieve three main goals: Gender equality, Healthy India and increase in tax compliance.  Using behavioural economics, Economic Survey proposes for social change: o From BBBP to BADLAV (Beti Aapki Dhan Lakshmi Aur Vijay Lakshmi); o From Swachh Bharat to Sundar Bharat; o From ―Give it up‖ for the LPG subsidy to ―Think about the Subsidy‖; and o From tax evasion to tax compliance.  An example in Economic Survey is to provide services to high tax paying individuals that honors them such as expedited boarding privileges at airports, fast-lane privileges on roads and toll booths, special ‗diplomatic‘ type lanes at immigration counters, etc.  It added that the highest taxpayers over a decade could be recognised by naming important buildings, monuments, roads, trains, initiatives, schools and universities, hospitals and airports in their name.  Apart from this, tax evaders can be publicly shamed to nudge them and make other tax evaders fearful of tax evasion. NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 3  Awareness in the fields of IT, Space Expanding India‘s share in global space economy Introduction From a modest beginning in the 1960s, India‘s space programme has grown steadily, achieving significant milestones. These include fabrication of satellites, space-launch vehicles, and a range of associated capabilities. ISRO‘s thrust areas Since its establishment in 1969, ISRO has been guided by a set of mission and vision statements covering both the societal objectives and the thrust areas. First Thrust Area: Satellite communication  It is to address the national needs for telecommunication, broadcasting and broadband infrastructure.  INSAT and GSAT are the backbones of India‘s satellite communication.  Gradually, bigger satellites have been built carrying a larger array of transponders to provide services linked to areas like telecommunication, telemedicine, television, broadband, radio, disaster management and search and rescue services. Second Thrust Area: Earth Observation  It is to use space-based imagery for a slew of national demands, ranging from weather forecasting, disaster management and national resource mapping and planning.  These resources cover agriculture and watershed, land resource, and forestry managements.  With higher resolution and precise positioning, Geographical Information Systems‘ applications today cover all aspects of rural and urban development and planning.  Beginning with the Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) series in the 1980s, today the RISAT, Cartosat and Resourcesat series provide wide-field and multiBRICS-spectral high resolution data for land,IAS ocean and atmospheric observations. Third Thrust Area: satellite-aided navigation  The GPS-aided GEO augmented navigation (GAGAN) is a joint project between ISRO and Airports Authority of India.  It augmented the GPS coverage of the region, improving the accuracy and integrity, primarily for civil aviation applications and better air traffic management over Indian airspace.  This was followed up with the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), a system based on seven satellites in geostationary and geosynchronous orbits.  IRNSS is also named as NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation). Fourth Thrust Area: space science and exploration missions  It includes the Chandrayaan and the Mangalyaan missions, with a manned space mission, Gaganyaan, planned for its first test flight in 2021.  These missions are not just for technology demonstration but also for expanding the frontiers of knowledge in space sciences. Launch Vehicle Technology  Beginning with the Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV) and the Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV), ISRO has developed and refined the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) as its workhorse for placing satellites in low earth and sun synchronous orbits.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099129129

 The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) programme is still developing with its MkIII variant, having undertaken three missions, and is capable of carrying a 3.5 MT payload into a geostationary orbit. ISRO and Industry  Over the years, ISRO built a strong association with the industry, particularly with Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) like Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Bharat Electronics Limited, etc. and large private sector entities like Larsen and Toubro, Godrej and Walchandnagar Industries.  However, most of the private sector players are Tier-2/Tier-3 vendors, providing components and services. The Assembly, Integration and Testing (AIT) role is restricted to ISRO.  ISRO set up Antrix, a private limited company, in 1992 as its commercial arm to market its products and services and interface with the private sector in transfer of technology partnerships.  Today, the value of the global space industry is estimated to be $350 billion and is likely to exceed $550 billion by 2025.  Despite ISRO‘s impressive capabilities, India‘s share is estimated at $7 billion (just 2% of the global market). New Space and New developments  Developments in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and big data analytics has led to the emergence of ‗New Space‘ — a disruptive dynamic based on using end-to-end efficiency concepts.  A parallel is how the independent app developers, given access to the Android and Apple platforms, revolutionised smartphone usage.  The New Space start-ups discern a synergy with government‘s flagship programmes like Digital India, Start-Up India, Skill India and schemes like Smart Cities Mission.  They need an enabling ecosystem, a culture of accelerators, incubators, Venture Capitalists and mentors.  Another revolution under way is the small satellite revolution. Globally, 17,000 small satellites are expected to be launched between now and 2030.  ISRO is developing a small satellite launch vehicle (SSLV) expected to be ready in 2019.  Ministry of Defence now setting up a Defence Space Agency and a Defence Space Research Organisation, ISRO should actively embrace an exclusively civilian identity. Conclusion A new Space law for India should aim at facilitating growing India‘s share of global space economy to 10% within a decade which requires a new kind of partnership between ISRO, the established private sector and the New Space entrepreneurs. Connecting the dots: ISRO has completed 50 years of its journey in India‘s space research and explorations. Explain briefly its achievements. Suggest some measures for its way ahead. 8th July 2019 Road to agricultural and rural prosperity Part of Prelims and mains GS III Indian Economy In news A truly agriculture and rural development-focussed Budget, it has adequately met the twin objectives of growth and inclusiveness. The crux of the Budget is ‗sustainability‘ in every aspect, be it agriculture practices or economic viability. Farmer producer organisation  An announcement of formation of 10,000 new FPOs over the next five years is a step towards the same.  BRICS IAS With this, the economies of scale can be harnessed to achieve the goal of doubling farmer‘s income by reduction in input costs and assuring better price realisations by the farmers for their output. Women SHGs  The incentives proposed for women SHGs will not only lead to livelihood generation and women empowerment, but also nurture first-generation entrepreneurs though the MUDRA loans of ₹1 lakh.  With the proposed interventions, not only farmers, but also rural entrepreneurship will get the necessary boost. Fisheries A new scheme ―Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana‖ will give enough confidence to those who are in fisheries sector, to enhance their income with better fisheries management, infrastructure creation, increasing production and productivity, improved post-harvest management bringing economic viability of the sector. Artisans and agripreneurs  The government has shown that every person having potential to bring economic revolution will be given an equal opportunity. SFURTI is an attempt in this direction.  Rural artisans have received a holding hand from the government in a cluster-based development approach that will upgrade regional and traditional industries, benefiting about 50,000 artisans.  Enhancing the prospects of agripreneurs, the ASPIRE scheme will create 50,000 skilled rural entrepreneurs, especially in the rural agriculture sector. Power generation

www.bricsias.com 8142160099130130

 To expand the income sources of our farmers, there is a proposal to enable them to take up power generation activities on their field to transform the ‗Annadata‘ to an ‗Urjadata‘. Connectivity and marketing  Now, under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, a road network of 1.25 lakh km will bring more villages to rural markets.  For relieving farmers from uncertain prospects, the States will be forced to implement e-NAM mechanism for better operations under the APMC Act. Zero budger farming  The concept of zero-budget farming, which some farmers have exemplarily proved to be viable, will boost the confidence of farmers.  With conventional means, the farmers will be able to enhance their income levels by keeping the input costs under control. Jal shakti Abhiyan  Integration of funds from various Ministries to fund the Jal Shakti Abhiyan may see critical water blocks being regained. Indo-Afghan trade chokes on U.S. curbs Part of Prelims and mains GS III Indian Economy, GS II International relations In news  The government‘s decision to slash its allocation for Iran‘s Chabahar port by two-thirds will be a further blow to India-Afghan trade, already hit by Pakistan‘s decision to ban airspace rights to most flights to and from India, and U.S. sanctions on Iran.  The government, which had been allocating ₹150 crore for the port each year for the past few years, has slashed its allocation to just ₹45 crore in the Budget for 2019-20. Waiver of little help  Technically, the U.S. has issued India a waiver to develop the Chabahar port, to promote trade with Afghanistan as part of its ―South Asia‖ strategy.  In practice, however, the cancellation of all waivers for oil and crippling economic sanctions imposed by the Trump administration, have all but frozen deals.  Afghan banks are hesitant to open credit lines for shipments, and shippers and cargo handlers are staying away from servicing the Iranian port.  As a result of Pakistan‘s airspace ban, Afghan fruit and agricultural products that had made up a bulk of the cargo on flights between Kabul and Delhi are being shipped to other international markets. Outlay for child welfare sees a meagre increase Part of Prelims and mains GS II Social justice In news  The outlay for children in the Union Budget has shown a marginal increase of 0.05%, going up from 3.24% in the last fiscal to 3.29%.  The share is less than the low share of 5% that the National Plan of Action for Children, 2016, has recommended.  A detailed analysis of the budgetary grant carried out by Child Rights and You shows that allocations are insufficient for the ambitious plan for nutritional development.  The share of education has increased marginally to 68.54% from 68.2%, but has declined by more than 10 percentage points from the 79.02%BRICS of 2015-16. These include schemesIAS such as Samagra Shiksha, National Programme of Mid-day Meal in Schools and Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti.  Health-related financial allocation as a share of the child health budget has shown a decline of 0.39 percentage point — from 3.9% last fiscal to 3.51%.  The Anganwadi services and the Poshan Abhiyan (Nutrition Mission) are among the most important government programmes aimed at reducing stunting, anaemia, low weight and low birth weight. Budgetary allocation for both has increased.  National Child Labour Project Scheme registered a budgetary cut of 16%. Making a pitch for PPP model in railways Part of Prelims and mains GS III Indian Economy In news Union Finance Minister has proposed a capital expenditure of more than Rs. 1,60,000 crore forthe Railway Ministry for 2019-20. This is the highest ever allocation for Indian Railways. Railways network will require an investment of Rs. 50 lakh crore till 2030. Thus, to ensure such big investment in modernising Indian railways and its network, the route of public-private partnership (PPP) model has been pitched to achieve faster development. The money required for Indian Railways will be provided from different sources such as 1. Budgetary support 2. Nirbhaya Fund

www.bricsias.com 8142160099131131

3. Internal resources 4. Extra budgetary resources Ways to improve Indian Railways To modernise and ease congestion of Indian railways, there is a need for constructing new railway lines, gauge conversions (mostly from meter gauge to broad gauge), doubling the present single line, maintain rolling stock and improving signalling and telecommunication along the railway tracks. There is also need to improve passenger amenities, modernise railway stations and completion of existing dedicated freight corridor projects. Such freight corridor will free up some of the existing railway network for passenger trains. FM highlighted that completing all sanctioned projects will take decades considering its capital nature of investment. Thus, in such projects PPP model will help in unleashing faster development for completion of work on tracks, rolling stock manufacturing and delivery of passenger freight services. The government expects that its earnings from Indian Railways will improve primarily from  Growth in number of passengers  Growth in freight volume Suburban Railways: For growth of Indian Railways in suburban India, Finance Minister has encouraged to invest more in Suburban railways through Special Purpose Vehicles (SPV) structures like Rapid Regional Transport System (RRTS) which is presently proposed on Delhi- Meerut Route. Metro Railways: Enhancement of metro railways initiatives was also proposed by encouraging more PPP initiatives andensuring completion of sanctioned works. While supporting the growth of metro railways network, theminister also supported transit oriented development to ensure commercial activity around such transithubs. Income inequality among farmers Part of Prelims and mains GS III Indian Economy: Agriculture In news NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 3  Government Budgeting.  Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment Bucks for the banks: Union Budget Introduction The 2019-20 budget has many interesting features, but it does not have a defining central theme. There were expectations of a big growth push through either tax cuts or large expenditure programmes even if it meant a rise in the fiscal deficit. But the Finance Minister has chosen to be fiscally conservative, opting to play the long-term game, though it could lead to pain in the short term. Banking sector and NBFCs  Budget provided for ₹70,000 crore capital infusion in banks. It is hoped that it will spur lending to growth sectors in the economy.  It has comprehensively addressed the important issues of liquidity, solvency and poor governance in the NBFC sector.  A liquidity window of ₹1 lakh crore has been made available to public sector banks through the Reserve Bank of India to buy pooled assets of NBFCs and offered a one-time credit guarantee for first loss of up to 10%.  To enable better supervision BRICS of the sector, housing finance companies IAS will come under the RBI‘s regulatory ambit.  A long-standing demand of NBFCs for equitable treatment with banks in the matter of taxing interest receivable on bad loans has been conceded.  They will not need to maintain a Debenture Redemption Reserve on public placements that was leading to locking-up of funds, which is their raw material for business.  The big problem faced by NBFC financing infrastructure is the lack of long-term funding sources to match their lending tenure.  This pushed them into borrowing short-term funds to lend to long-term projects, leading to asset-liability mismatches.  The proposal to set up a committee to study the issue, including the experience with development finance institutions, is welcome. Do you know? Debenture Redemption Reserve A debenture redemption reserve (DRR) is a provision stating that any Indian corporation that issues debentures must create a debenture redemption service in an effort to protect investors from the possibility of a company defaulting. Strategic disinvestment The government reiterated its commitment to strategic disinvestment and the declared that it is willing to allow its stake to fall below 51% in non-financial PSUs.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099132132

Aadhaar and PAN  The government seems to be moving towards a single identity card for citizens in the form of Aadhaar, which will now be interchangeable with the PAN card.  Taxpayers who do not have a PAN card can file returns quoting their Aadhaar number, which effectively can be a substitute for PAN in all transactions. Faceless e-assessment of tax returns  Another reform measure is the introduction of faceless e-assessment of tax returns taken up for scrutiny.  This will eliminate the scope for rent-seeking by officers as there will be no interface between assessee and official.  In fact, the assessee will not even know the identity of the officer scrutinising the return.  This is an absolutely welcome measure but needs to be closely watched for implementation. Start-ups and corporate sector  Start-ups can heave a sigh of relief as the angel tax is practically off the table.  The corporate sector has got a minor sop with the turnover limit for the 25% tax bracket being raised to ₹400 crore per annum from ₹250 crore.  The expectation was that this would be extended to all companies irrespective of size.  It appears that the government wants to wait for the finalisation of the Direct Taxes Code, which is being examined by a committee. Real estate sector  Real estate companies may have reason to cheer as the generous tax concession for affordable housing may create demand, especially in the smaller metros. Nudge theory The ‗nudge theory‘ of economist Richard Thaler, mentioned extensively in the Economic Survey 2018-19, has been put to use to push forward two of this government‘s pet themes — increasing digitalisation of money and promoting electric mobility. Nudging for digitalization  On the first, there will now be a 2% tax deducted at source when withdrawals from bank accounts exceed ₹1 crore in a year.  This is a commendable measure, but it could lead to genuine problems for businesses such as construction and real estate that are forced to deal in cash for wage payments. Nudging towards electric vehicles  Here those taking loans to buy one will get a tax deduction of up to ₹1.5 lakh on the interest paid by them.  But the fact is that there are not too many electric vehicles in the market now. And even for those that are there, the waiting period to deliver one is long.  Besides, there is no ecosystem, such as charging points, even in the major cities. The government‘s hope seems to be that this incentive will create a market for e-vehicles that will then lead to the development of the ecosystem. Fiscal deficit  The budget documents show that the government has stuck to the glide path for fiscal deficit, which will be at 3.3% this fiscal. This is, however, based on exaggerated growth projections in tax revenues.  It will be possible with a comfortable buffer if the Bimal Jalan committee that is going into the sharing of RBI‘s reserves with the government comes up with favourable recommendations.  The government also appears BRICSto be sliding into a protectionist mode, IAS going by the increase in customs duty on many things. Connecting the dots: The Union Budget 2019-20 is hoping to spur the economy by revitalising the financial sector. Analyse.

9th July 2019 Netanyahu expected in Delhi in September Part of Prelims and mains GS II International Relations In news Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is planning to travel to India in September 2019. India Israel relations  India-Israel relations have been growing rapidly in the past few years. India Israel relationship is moving in an ―upward trajectory‖.  Mr. Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Israel in 2017, a visit Mr. Netanyahu returned in January 2018, which marked 25 years since the establishment of full diplomatic relations. Bilateral talks  In the run-up to the visit, bilateral talks on defence issues have focussed on the emergency procurement of ‗Spike‘ anti-tank missiles and the purchase of more precision-guided munitions.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099133133

 The two sides are also discussing a long-pending proposal to buy 2 Phalcon AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System).  Israel is expected to make a case for India to align itself less with Tehran to join Israel and the U.S. in putting pressure on the regime there.  Israel considers Iran as number one threat to regional and global peace & security. India‘s stand While India has fallen in line with the U.S. sanctions on cutting its oil imports from Iran, it retains a strong relationship with the Iranian government, and has publicly expressed its concerns over the impact of a war in West Asia on the millions of Indians living and working in the region. Odisha plans scheme for witness protection Part of Prelims and mains GS II Judiciary In news  The Odisha government has come up with a special ‗Witness Protection Scheme‘ to provide security to witnesses facing threat during the course of a legal battle.  According to the notification, a district-level standing committee, chaired by a district and sessions judge, with the district police head as its member and the head of the prosecution in the district as its member secretary, will take a call on the need for protection. Procedure Analysis and report  The district police chief will submit a report with regard to the seriousness and credibility of the threat to the witness or his/her family members if the person applies in a prescribed form.  The report will detail the nature of the threat to the witness or his/her family members, their reputation or property.  Besides, the intent and motive of the person issuing the threat and the resources available with him/her to execute it will figure in the analysis.  The threat analysis report, prepared with ―full confidentiality‖, will reach the competent authority ―within five working days of its order for inquiry‖.  Based on the report, the authority will pass an order for protection of identity of the witness.  The Witness Protection Cell will then ensure that the identities of the witness and his/her family members, including names, parentage, occupation, address and digital footprints, are fully protected.  Provision of relocation of the witness to a safer place has also been made in the scheme.  In appropriate cases, where there is a request from the witness for change of identity, based on the threat analysis report, a decision can be taken to confer a new identity upon the witness through a competent authority. Dedicated cell and fund  A dedicated cell of the State police or Central police agencies will be assigned with the duty of implementing the witness protection order.  The ‗Witness Protection Fund‘ proposed to be created will bear the expenses incurred during the implementation of the protection order.  In case the witness has lodged a false complaint, the State home department could initiate proceedings for recovery of the expenditure from the applicant. RBI board finalises ‗Utkarsh 2022‘ Part of Prelims and mains GS III Indian Economy, Banking In news  BRICS IAS The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) board finalised a three year roadmap to improve regulation and supervision, among other functions of the central bank.  This medium term strategy, named Utkarsh 2022, is in line with the global central banks‘ plan to strengthen the regulatory and supervisory mechanism. Details  Worldwide, all central banks strengthen the regulatory and supervisory mechanism, everybody is formulating a long-term plan and a medium-term plan.  RBI has also decided it will formulate a pragramme to outline what is to be achieved in the next three years.  An internal committee was formed to identify issues that needed to be addressed over the next three years.  While around a dozen areas were identified by the committee, some board members felt that areas could be filtered and lesser number of areas can be identified for implementation in the next three years.  The idea is that the central bank plays a proactive role and takes preemptive action to avoid any crisis.  RBI board finalised the three -year medium-term strategy document of the Reserve Bank, which covered, inter- alia, its mission and vision statement.  Other matters discussed by the board included issues relating to currency management and payment systems, etc. INTERNATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2  Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099134134

 Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India‘s interests, Indian diaspora Reclaiming the Indo-Pacific narrative Background At the 34th summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Bangkok in June 2019, its member states finally managed to articulate a collective vision for the Indo-Pacific region in a document titled ―The ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific‖. However, it is a non-binding document. ASEAN reluctance ASEAN has been reluctant to frontally engage with the Indo-Pacific discourse as the perception was that it may antagonise China. But there was soon a realisation that such an approach might allow others to shape the regional architecture and marginalise the ASEAN itself. And so the final outlook that the ASEAN has come up with effectively seeks to take its own position rather than following any one power‘s lead. Indian Response: India has welcomed the ASEAN‘s outlook on the Indo-Pacific as it sees ―important elements of convergence‖ with its own approach. Significance  The ASEAN‘s intent to be in the driving seat is clear as it seeks to manage the emerging regional order with policy moves.  ASEAN to reclaim the strategic narrative in its favour in order to underscore its centrality in the emerging regional order.  The rise of material powers, i.e. economic and military, requires avoiding the deepening of mistrust, miscalculation and patterns of behaviour based on a zero-sum game.  Should also complement existing frameworks of cooperation at the regional and sub-regional levels.  Quick conclusion of a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, an increasingly contested maritime space which is claimed largely by China and in parts by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia. Tensions continue to rise over the militarisation of this waterway.  The ASEAN outlook does not see the Indo-Pacific as one continuous territorial space, it emphasises development and connectivity, underlining the need for maritime cooperation, infrastructure connectivity and broader economic cooperation. Connecting the dots:  Explain briefly: The significance of ASEAN in Indo-pacific. NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2  Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability  Human rights and justice system General studies 3  Security challenges and their management – linkages of organized crime with terrorism. Crimes that India‘s statute books have failed to define Introduction While pronouncing the judgment in State v. Sajjan Kumar (2018), Delhi high court expressed with grief that neither ‗crimes against humanity‘ nor ‗genocide‘ has been made part of India‘s criminal law. It is a lacuna that needs to be addressed urgently. Crimes left out  BRICS IAS Crimes against humanity like genocide or mass killing of people which are usually engineered by political actors with the assistance of the law enforcement agencies. Eg 1984 Sikh genocide.  Internationally such crimes are dealt with under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). They are defined as offences such as murder, extermination, enslavement, deportation, torture, imprisonment and rape committed as a part of ―widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population, with knowledge of the attack‖.  Since India is not a part of the Rome statute it is under no obligation at present to enact a separate legislation dealing with CAH.  India has ratified the Genocide Convention (1948), yet has not enacted it in domestic legislation. Reasons for reluctance  India did not become a party in the negotiation process on a separate Convention on CAH, which started in 2014, because the convention adopted the same definition of CAH as provided in the Rome Statute.  The Indian representatives at the International Law Commission (ILC) have stated that the draft articles should not conflict with or duplicate the existing treaty regimes.  India had objected to the definition of CAH during negotiations of the Rome Statute on three grounds. Three grounds for rejecting Rome statue  First, India was not in favour of using ‗widespread or systematic‘ as one of the conditions. It wanted it should be ‗widespread and systematic‘, because it would require a higher threshold of proof.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099135135

 Second, India wanted a distinction to be made between international and internal armed conflicts. This was probably because its internal conflicts with naxals and other non-state actors in places like Kashmir and the Northeast could fall under the scope of CAH.  Thirdly, India did not want the inclusion of enforced disappearance of persons under CAH. Though India is a signatory to the UN International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances , it has not yet ratified it. Hence including it in convention would as it would put the country under an obligation to criminalise it through domestic legislation. Conclusion  India‘s missing voice at the ILC does not go well with its claim of respect for an international rules-based order.  Turning a blind eye to the mass crimes taking place in its territory and shielding the perpetrators reflect poorly on India‘s status as a democracy.  It would be advisable for India to show political will and constructively engage with the ILC, which would also, in the process, address the shortcomings in the domestic criminal justice system. Connecting the dots: Neither ‗crimes against humanity‘ nor ‗genocide‘ has been made part of India‘s criminal law, a lacuna that needs to be addressed urgently. Comment 10th July 2019 SC to decide if illegal migrants can be given the status of refugees Part of Prelims and mains GS II International Relations In news  Two Rohingya men filed a prtition against the government‘s proposal to deport their 40,000-strong community to their native land of Myanmar, where ―discrimination and possibly summary executions await them‖.  According to the petitions, the Centre‘s move violated the constitutional guarantee that the Indian State should ―protect the life and liberty of every human being, whether citizen or not‖.  The Rohingya, who fled to India after violence in the State of Rakhine in Myanmar, are settled in Jammu, Hyderabad, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi-NCR and Rajasthan.  The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had also issued notice to the government on the proposed deportation. Do you know? Status of refugee in India:-  India is not a party to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees or the 1967 Protocol, nor does it have a legal framework and national refugee status determination system.  As a result, UNHCR processes claims for refugee status in India.  The UNHCR carries out a Refugee Status Determination (RSD) procedure, which starts with registration as asylum seekers. Following the registration, UNHCR will then conduct interviews with each individual asylum seeker accompanied by a qualified interpreter.  This process provides a reasoned decision on whether refugee status is granted or not, and gives the individual an opportunity to appeal a decision if the claim is rejected. CPCB pulls up 52 firms over handling of waste Part of Prelims and mains GS III Environment and ecology In news The Central Pollution Control BoardBRICS (CPCB) has pulled up 52 companies, IAS including Amazon, Flipkart, Danone Foods and Beverages and PatanjaliAyurved Limited, for not specifying a time line or a plan to collect the plastic waste that results from their business activities. Do you know? Facts:  According to CPCB estimates in 2015, Indian cities generate about 15,000 tonnes of plastic waste per day and about 70% of the plastic produced in the country ends up as waste.  Nearly 40% of the plastic waste is neither collected nor recycled and ends up polluting the land and water. The Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, (which was amended in 2018)  Rural areas have been brought in ambit of these Rules since plastic has reached to rural areas also. Responsibility for implementation of the rules is given to Gram Panchayat.  First time, responsibility of waste generators is being introduced. Individual and bulk generators like offices, commercial establishments, industries are to segregate the plastic waste at source, handover segregated waste, pay user fee as per bye-laws of the local bodies.  Plastic products are left littered after the public events (marriage functions, religious gatherings, public meetings etc) held in open spaces. First time, persons organising such events have been made responsible for management of waste generated from these events.  Extended Producer Responsibility: Earlier, EPR was left to the discretion of the local bodies. First time, the producers and brand owners have been made responsible for collecting waste generated from their products. They

www.bricsias.com 8142160099136136

have to approach local bodies for formulation of plan/system for the plastic waste management within the prescribed timeframe. DRDO gets clearance for missile test facility in A.P. Part of Prelims and mains GS III Science and tech, GS II Defence and security In news The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has granted environment and Coastal Regulatory Zone clearances for setting up Missile Testing Launch Facility on the Bay of Bengal coast and Technical Facility at Gullalamoda village in Krishna district. Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary is in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh Honour for ‗Plan Bee‘ that helped save jumbos Part of Prelims and mains GS III Environment and ecology In news Plan Bee, earned the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) the best innovation award in Indian Railways for the 2018-19 fiscal. Need of Plan  There are 29 earmarked elephant corridors with the operating zone of NFR spread across the north-eastern states and parts of Bihar and West Bengal. Trains are required to slow down at these corridors and adhere to speed specified on signs.  But elephants have ventured into the path of trains even in non-corridor areas, often leading to accidents resulting in elephant deaths. Plan Bee  Under this plan, a device was designed to generate the amplified sound of honey bees audible from 700-800 metres.  It is an amplifying system imitating the buzz of a swarm of honey bees to keep wild elephants away from railway tracks.  NFR now has 46 such devices installed at vulnerable points. 88 manual scavenging deaths in 3 years Part of Prelims and mains GS II Social justice In news  The number of deaths of sanitation workers while cleaning septic tanks and sewers has risen, despite a ban on manual scavenging, with 620 cases reported since 1993, of which 88 occurred in the past three years, according to the Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry.  On casualities due to manual scanvenging, some States had not reported and some had reported nil, leading to the possibility of the actual deaths from manual scavenging being higher.  Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 had laid down a mechanism of monitoring its implementation through vigilance committees and monitoring committees at different levels. Karnataka offers quota for girl children of trafficked women Part of Prelims and mains GS II Social justice In news Recently Karnataka government has announced for providing 1% reservation for girl children of women who were victims of sexual assault or were Devadasis in all State-run universities. It will be enforced by universities inBRICS the 2019-2020 academic year in all undergraduateIAS and postgraduate programmes. Devadasi system in India  According to the Indian National Commission for Women(NCW), there are still at least 44,000 active devadasi in India.  Although the numbers are difficult to confirm due to the practice being not only underground but also difficult to differentiate from non-religious prostitution, the practice is particularly concentrated in a few states.  According to the NCW, the majority of active devadasis are in Karnataka (22,491 individuals), Andhra Pradesh (16,624 individuals), and Maharashtra (2,479 individuals). NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2  Government policies and interventions and issues arising out of their design and implementation. A regrettable conviction Background: The conviction of prominent pro-LTTE politician Vaiko on the charge of sedition, based on a typically impassioned speech he had made in Chennai a decade ago, is a worrying development. Even though Section 124A, the IPC section that makes sedition an offence, attracts either a three-year term or imprisonment for life, the trial court sentenced him to a somewhat lenient one-year jail term. Sedition has been defined in Indian Penal Code under section 124A:

www.bricsias.com 8142160099137137

Whoever, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or otherwise, brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards the Government established by law, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, to which fine may be added, or with imprisonment which may extend to three years, to which fine may be added, or with fine. Article 19: It gurantees freedom of speech and expression subject to reasonable limitations under Article 19(2) on the grounds of,  In the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India,  The security of the State,  Friendly relations with foreign States,  Public order, decency or morality or  In relation to contempt of court,  Defamation or  Incitement to an offence Section 124A should be scrapped  There is greater recognition now than in the past that Section 124A is neither relevant nor needed today.  The Law Commission released a consultation paper highlighting arguments for its reconsideration.  There is a body of opinion that a modern democracy does not need a free speech restriction based on political concepts such as disloyalty and disaffection towards the state.  Britain, which introduced the offence of sedition in India in 1870 to check the use of speech and writing to criticise its colonial administration, has abolished it. Conclusion: In recent years, there has been an alarming rise in sedition charges being used to quell political dissent. In a modern democracy like India, there no need of restrictions on freedom of speech based on political concepts. Connecting the dots: What do you understand by sedition? Critically comment on the way section 124a is being used politically. INTERNATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2  Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.  Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India‘s interests, Indian diaspora A shot at economic logic Background The 12th Extra-Ordinary Summit of the African Union (AU) which concluded on July 8 at Niamey, the capital of the Niger Republic, saw 54 of 55 of its member states signing the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) for goods and services. What is African Continental FTA? The 18th session of the African Union, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in 2012 adopted a decision to establish a Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) by 2017. Most of the African countries signed the African Continental Free Trade Area and the Protocol establishing the African Economic Community in Kigali, Rwanda in 2018. This led to the Kigali Declaration. Objectives of AfCFTA:  Create a single continental market for goods and services  Free movement of business persons and investments  BRICS IAS Accelerate the establishment of the Continental Customs Union and the African customs union  Expand intra African trade  Coordination among members for trade facilitation regimes and instruments  Enhance competitiveness at the industry and enterprise level on Pan-African level  Exploiting opportunities for scale production and continental market access Hurdles & Roadblocks for AfCFTA:  The African Union has been largely ineffective in dealing with the continent‘s various problems & therefore, AU past failures and ineffectiveness raises concerns whether it can successfully implement AfCFTA.  AfCFTA has to work against the ongoing global protectionist trends as seen in the U.S.-China trade conflict, Brexit and the problems in WTO functioning.  The intra-African trade currently comprises just about 15% of the continent‘s trade. This is quite low when compared to regional trade in other continents – roughly 67% in Europe, 58% in Asia and 48% in North America.  The exports of most African countries are predominantly primary commodity. This would need to be pared down in international trade and adjusted among members.  Most African countries currently lack in additive manufacturing, automation and other fourth industrial revolution innovations. This issue is highly un-likely to be resolved by CFTA.  Negotiations on important issues like intellectual property rights, tariffs for some goods, are still on-going among AU members.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099138138

 Nigeria and South Africa, the two largest economies of Africa have shown reluctance for AfCFTA. AfCFTA impact on India:  Africa is an important economic partner for India with total annual merchandise trade estimated at $70 billion & with India as Africa‘s third largest trading partner.  India‘s global exports have weakened due to the economic slowdown, however India‘s exports to Africa has increased.  Africa has a strong demand market for goods and services that India produces such as automobiles, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, IT/IT-Enabled Service, health care and education, among other.  AfCFTA would ensure African economies would become more formalised and transparent and this would be in India‘s interest.  Local manufactured items and services may ultimately compete with Indian exports, however it also provides Indian firms an opportunity for joint ventures with African firms.  India had donated $15 million to Niger to fund the Niamey AU Summit & similarly India can also help the African Union to prepare the requisite architecture, such as common external tariffs, competition policy, intellectual property rights, and natural persons‘ movement.  India can identify various African transnational corporations which are destined to play a greater role in a future continental common market and engage with them strategically.  India can augment its economic strength in Africa by engaging with Indian diaspora in Africa.  After the AfCFTA is accepted & implemented in Africa, both India and Africa can negotiate for an India-African FTA. Conclusion If taken to its logical conclusion, this audacious project would eventually create an African Common Market of 1.2 billion people and a GDP of over $3.4 billion — the metrics are comparable to India‘s. The AfCFTA would be world‘s largest FTA, and in a world dependent on African markets and commodities, it would have global impact. Connecting the dots: Analyse the significance of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) for India and the world. 11th July 2019 Worker safety code Bill gets Cabinet approval Part of Prelims and mains GS II social justice GS III labour reforms In news  A Bill that seeks to merge 13 labour laws into one code on occupational safety, health and working conditions that would apply to all establishments with 10 or more workers was approved by the Union Cabinet.  The Code on Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Bill, 2019, which would impact ―40 crore unorganised workers‖, was approved at a Cabinet meeting.  The Bill was the second of four proposed codes that aim to merge 44 labour laws, with the Code on Wages Bill, 2019 that was approved on earlier being the first.  The decision will enhance the coverage of the safety, health and working conditions provisions manifold. Applicable to  While the code will be applicable to all trades, including IT establishments and service sector, where more than 10 workers are employed.  It will be applicable to mines and docks that employ even one worker.  The code also framed rules forBRICS women workers working night shifts. IAS Bengal port records country‘s highest sea level rise in 50 years Part of Prelims and mains GS III Global warming and climate change In news  According to the data from the Ministry of Earth Sciences, four ports- Diamond Harbour (5.16 mm per year), Kandla (3.18 mm), Haldia (2.89 mm)and Port Blair (2.20 mm)- recorded a higher sea level rise than the global average.  Chennai and Mumbai recorded a sea level rise far below the global and the national averages at 0.33 mm per year (1916-2005) and 0.74 mm (1878-2005) respectively.  While recent studies reveal that sea level rise in the country has been estimated to be 1.3 mm per year along India‘s coasts during the last 40-50 years. Cause and effects  Sea level rise is said to be linked with global warming and as per the fifth assessment report of the International Panel on Climate Change, the global sea level was rising at an average rate of 1.8 mm per year over the last century.  Rising sea levels can exacerbate the impacts of coastal hazards such as storm surge, tsunami, coastal floods, high waves and coastal erosion in the low lying coastal areas in addition to causing gradual loss of coastal land to sea.  The sea level rise is higher in West Bengal, particularly in the Sunderbans delta because of the deltaic sediment deposition as a result of the mixing of fresh water and saline water.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099139139

 Global warming not only causes melting of ice and glaciers, but also leads to internal expansion of water in oceans and thus a rise in the sea level. Single tribunal to hear water disputes Part of Prelims and mains GS II interstate relations and governance In news  The Union Cabinet has approved the Inter-State River Water Disputes (Amendment) Bill, 2019 that will help adjudicate disputes relating to waters of inter-State rivers and river valleys.  The Bill seeks to amend the Inter State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 to streamline the adjudication of inter- State river water disputes. Need to amend 1956 Act  There are about a dozen tribunals that now exist to resolve disputes among States on sharing water from rivers common to them.  The standalone tribunal so envisaged will have a permanent establishment, office space and infrastructure so as to obviate with the need to set up a separate tribunal for each water dispute – a time consuming process.  The Bill can also affect the composition of the members of various tribunals, and has a provision to have a technical expert as the head of the tribunal.  Currently all tribunals are staffed by members of the judiciary, nominated by the Chief Justice. Adjudication process  A key feature of the Bill is the constitution of a single tribunal with different Benches, and the setting of strict timelines for adjudication.  The Bill also proposes a Dispute Resolution Committee set up by the Central Government for amicably resolving inter-State water disputes within 18 months.  Any dispute that cannot be settled by negotiations would be referred to the tribunal for its adjudication.  The dispute so referred to the tribunal shall be assigned by the chairperson of the tribunal to a Bench of the tribunal for adjudication. NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 3  Challenges to internal security  Role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges  Security challenges and their management The growing power of the lumpen Introduction  Increasing cases of mob violence in the society based on discrimination on different fronts have raised concerns on law and order situation in the country including safety of the vulnerable sections of the society. A rising graph Studies of hate crimes in India show that they have steadily risen over the past five years.  Amnesty International India documented 721 such incidents between 2015 and 2018.  Last year alone, it tracked 218 hate crimes, 142 of which were against Dalits, 50 against Muslims, 40 against women, and eight each against Christians, Adivasis, and transgenders.  The more common hate crimes, they found, were honour killings and ‗cow-related violence‘, that was rare earlier but has become more frequent over the past five years. One of the causes and solution  BRICS IAS Worldwide data show that hate speech encourages or legitimises acts of violence and a climate of impunity.  France has a draft Bill to prohibit hate speech, and Germany has already enacted one. Supreme Court direction  Supreme Court in the case of Tehseen Poonawala v Union of India, has provided a 11-point prescription for preventive, remedial and punitive measures and has asked Parliament to legislate a separate offence for lynching and provide adequate punishment for the same. Do you know? Separate law on mob lynching by Manipur  On the lines of Supreme Court judgment, State Government of Manipur has legislated a separate law to make lynching a criminal offence.  Definition of Mob as per Manipur law – The Act has defined lynching in a comprehensive way and covers many forms of hate crimes. It covers any act or series of acts of violence or aiding, abetting such act/acts whether spontaneous or planned, by a mob on the grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth, language, dietary practices, sexual orientation, political affiliation, ethnicity or any other related grounds.  As per the law, mob means a group of two or more individuals, assembled with a common intention of lynching. However, the law does not cover solitary hate crimes carried out by one individual. Punishments Provided under the Manipur Law  Victim suffering from hurt: For a term which may extend to 7 years + fine, which may extend upto Rs. 1 lakh

www.bricsias.com 8142160099140140

 Victim suffering from grievous hurt: For a term which may extend to 10 years + fine, which may extend upto Rs. 3 lakhs  Death of the victim: Rigorous imprisonment for life + fine upto Rs. 10 lakhs Committee headed by Home Secretary on Mob Lynching  Four Member Committee of secretaries headed by Home Secretary was formed in July 2018 to look into the incidents of mob violence and lynchings and submit recommendations on ways to tackle the challenge.  The committee has submitted its report to the Group of Ministers (GoM), headed by Home Minister who will now examine the recommendations of this panel.  The Committee was constituted in wake of Supreme Court judgment where the Court directed the Centre to draft strong legislation to make lynching a separate offence and also to take preventive measures to control the spread of fake messages on social media platforms, after a series of mob lynching incidents took place. Responsibility of states As per the Constitutional scheme, ‗Police‘ and ‗Public Order‘ are State subjects. State Governments are responsible for controlling crime, maintaining law and order, and protecting the life and property of the citizens. They are empowered to enact and enforce laws to curb crime in their jurisdiction. Conclusion  For a demographically diverse country such as India, hate crimes, including crimes of contempt, are a disaster.  Each of our religious and caste communities number in the millions, and crimes that are directed against any of these groups could result in a magnitude of disaffection that impels violence, even terrorism.  Far less diverse countries than India are already suffering the result of hate ‗moving into the mainstream‘, as UN Secretary General António Guterres recently highlighted. Connecting the dots: For a demographically diverse country such as India, hate crimes are a disaster. Discuss. NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 1  Population and associated issues  Poverty and developmental issues General studies 2  Issues relating to poverty and hunger The malaise of malnutrition Introduction A new report, ‗Food and Nutrition Security Analysis, India, 2019‘, authored by the Government of India and the United Nations World Food Programme, paints a picture of hunger and malnutrition amongst children in large pockets of India. Vicious cycle poverty, malnutrition  The report shows the poorest sections of society caught in a trap of poverty and malnutrition, which is being passed on from generation to generation.  Mothers who are hungry and malnourished produce children who are stunted, underweight and unlikely to develop to achieve their full human potential.  According to a study in the Lancet, these disadvantaged children are likely to do poorly in school and subsequently have low incomes,BRICS high fertility, and provide poor careIAS for their children, thus contributing to the intergenerational transmission of poverty.  In other words, today‘s poor hungry children are likely to be tomorrow‘s hungry, unemployed and undereducated adults. Effects of malnourishment on cognitive development  The effects of malnourishment in a small child are not merely physical.  A developing brain that is deprived of nutrients does not reach its full mental potential.  According to Lancet study, undernutrition can affect cognitive development by causing direct structural damage to the brain and by impairing infant motor development.  This in turn affects the child‘s ability to learn at school, leading to a lifetime of poverty and lack of opportunity. Progress so far  India has long been home to the largest number of malnourished children in the world. Some progress has been made in reducing the extent of malnutrition.  The proportion of children with chronic malnutrition decreased from 48% percent in 2005-06 to 38.4% in 2015- 16.  The percentage of underweight children decreased from 42.5% to 35.7% over the same period.  Anaemia in young children decreased from 69.5% to 58.5% during this period. But this progress is small. An ambitious target

www.bricsias.com 8142160099141141

 The government‘s National Nutrition Mission (renamed as Poshan Abhiyaan) aims to reduce stunting by 2% a year, bringing down the proportion of stunted children in the population to 25% by 2022.  A year after it was launched, State and Union Territory governments have only used 16% of the funds allocated to them.  Fortified rice and milk were to be introduced in one district per State, this had not been done.  Anganwadis are key to the distribution of services to mothers and children. But many States, including Bihar and Odisha, which have large vulnerable populations, are struggling to set up functioning anganwadis, and recruit staff. Pattern of socio-economic exclusion  Malnutrition is a reflection of age-old patterns of social and economic exclusion. Over 40% of children from Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes are stunted.  Close to 40% of children from the Other Backward Classes are stunted.  The lack of nutrition in their childhood years can reduce their mental as well as physical development and condemn them to a life in the margins of society. The problem is access to food  As Amartya Sen noted, famines are caused not by shortages of food, but by inadequate access to food.  For the poor and marginalised, access to food is impeded by social, administrative and economic barriers  In the case of children and their mothers, this could be anything from non-functioning or neglectful governments at the State, district and local levels to entrenched social attitudes that see the poor and marginalised as less than equal citizens. Conclusion UN report punctures the image of a nation marching towards prosperity. It raises moral and ethical questions about the nature of a state and society that, after 70 years of independence, still condemns hundreds of millions of its poorest and vulnerable citizens to lives of hunger and desperation. The poorest two-fifths of the country‘s population, that is still largely untouched by the modern economy which the rest of the country inhabits. Connecting the dots: Despite rapid economic growth, declining levels of poverty, enough food to export, and a multiplicity of government programmes, malnutrition amongst the poorest remains high. Comment. 12th July 2019 Can‘t be pushed into a decision: Speaker Part of Prelims and mains GS II structure and functions of State assemblies In news  In the context of ongoing ruckus in Karnataka assembly, the Supreme Court asked Karnataka Speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar to meet 10 rebel legislators from the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) and take a decision on their resignations.  Mr. Ramesh Kumar insisted that he had a responsibility to understand whether the resignations were genuine and voluntary, as prescribed in the Constitution.  Mr. Ramesh Kumar confirmed that all the 10 fresh resignation letters tendered by the rebel legislators were in accordance with the Rules and Procedure of Conduct of Business in the Assembly. Do you know? Article 190 (3)(b) If a member of a House of the LegislatureBRICS of a State, resigns his seat IASby writing under his hand addressed to the Speaker or the Chairman, and his resignation is accepted by the Speaker or the Chairman, his seat shall thereupon becomes vacant: Provided that in the case of such resignation the Speaker or the Chairman is satisfied that such resignation is not voluntary or genuine. Death penalty for child abuse Part of Prelims and mains GS II social justice In news Cabinet approves Amendment in the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act 2012 Do you know? Key features of the Act  The POCSO Act, 2012 was enacted to Protect the Children from Offences of Sexual Assault, Sexual harassment and pornography with due regard for safeguarding the interest and well-being of children.  The Act defines a child as any person below eighteen years of age, and regards the best interests and welfare of the child as matter of paramount importance at every stage, to ensure the healthy physical, emotional, intellectual and social development of the child.  The act is gender neutral. Amendment  It will make punishment more stringent for committing sexual crimes against children including death penalty.  The amendments also provide for levy of fines and imprisonment to curb child pornography.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099142142

Impact  The amendment is expected to discourage the trend of child sexual abuse by acting as a deterrent due to strong penal provisions incorporated in the Act.  It intends to protect the interest of vulnerable children in times of distress and ensures their safety and dignity.  The amendment is aimed to establish clarity regarding the aspects of child abuse and punishment thereof. Bill to tackle Ponzi schemes Part of Prelims and mains GS III Economic Issues In news  The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister had earlier given its approval to move official amendments to The Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill, 2018, after the recommendations of the Standing Committee on Finance (SCF).  The 2019 Bill will replace the The Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Ordinance 2019.  The 2019 ordinance helped in the creation of a central repository of all deposit schemes under operation, thus making it easier for the Centre to regulate their activities and prevent fraud from being committed against ordinary people.  The ordinance allowed for compensation to be offered to victims through the liquidation of the assets of those offering illegal deposit schemes. Background  The Finance Minister in the Budget Speech 2016-17 had announced that a comprehensive Central legislation would be brought in to deal with the menace of illicit deposit taking schemes.  This was because in the recent past, there have been rising instances fraud by illicit deposit taking schemes across India. The worst victims of these schemes are the poor and the financially illiterate, and the operations of such schemes are often spread over many States. The Unregulated Deposit Schemes Ordinance 2019 – Important features  The ordinance aims to provide for a comprehensive mechanism to ban unregulated deposits schemes and thereby protect the interests of depositors.  The Ordinance bans Deposit Takers from promoting, operating, issuing advertisements or accepting deposits in any Unregulated Deposit Scheme.  A prize chit or money circulation scheme banned under the provisions of The Prize Chits and Money Circulation Scheme (Banning) Act, 1978 shall also be considered an unregulated deposit and has been banned accordingly.  The Ordinance enables creation of an online central database, for collection and sharing of information on deposit-taking activities in the country. The law also makes it incumbent upon newspapers to verify the advertisements placed in them to ensure that none of them is for unregulated deposit schemes. The Bill creates three different types of offences: 1. Running of Unregulated Deposit Schemes, 2. Fraudulent default in Regulated Deposit Schemes, and 3. Wrongful inducement in relation to Unregulated Deposit Schemes. IAF to adopt ASRAAM missile for fighter fleet Part of Prelims and mains GS III Science & Technology In news The Indian Air Force‘s (IAF) moveBRICS to integrate British Advanced ShortIAS Range Air-to-Air missile (ASRAAM) to Russian-origin Sukhoi Su-30 MKI fighter jets. IAF is looking to replace the Russian-made Vympel R-73 missile with the ASRAAM in phases. Do you know? About ASRAAM  ASRAAM is widely used as a Within Visual Range (WVR) air dominance missile with a range of over 25km (Short range).  It is air-to-air missile.  It is an imaging infrared homing (―heat seeking‖) missile. Green light for rural roads Part of Prelims and mains GS III Inclusive growth, rural infrastructure development In news  PMGSY-III scheme was announced by the Finance Minister in Budget Speech for the year 2018-19.  Objective: It involves consolidation of Through Routes and Major Rural Links connecting habitations to Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs), Higher Secondary Schools and Hospitals.  Impact: This would facilitate easy and faster movement to and from Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs), Higher Secondary Schools and Hospitals. Roads constructed under PMGSY would also be maintained properly.  Project period: 2019-20 to 2024-25. Do you know?

www.bricsias.com 8142160099143143

Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) PMGSY was launched in December, 2000 with an objective to provide single all-weather road connectivity to eligible unconnected habitation of designated population size (500+ in plain areas and 250+ in North-East, hill, tribal and desert areas as per Census, 2001) for overall socio-economic development of the areas. 97% of the eligible and feasible habitations have already been connected by all-weather road. NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 1  population and associated issues General studies 2  Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. A demographic window of opportunity Background According to the UN Report released recently, India is expected to overtake China as the most populous country by 2027. In this regard, this article discusses as to how the Indian Government must manage its human resources efficiently. How to reduce the Population Growth rate? Punitive actions such as such as restriction on maternity leave, disqualification from panchayat elections for more than 2 children in some states etc. cannot lead to decrease in population growth rate. Such disincentives are not strong enough to overcome the desire for children as the people who desired larger families go ahead in spite of consequences. There are sharp differences in the Total Fertility rate (TFR) among the different socio-economic groups in India. The TFR of the poorest women was 3.2 as compared to TFR of 1.5 of richer women. The lower TFR among the richer households is because of their desire to invest in their children‘s education and future prospects that seems to drive people to stop at one child. Richer individuals see greater potential for ensuring admission to good colleges and better jobs for their children, inspiring them to limit their family size. Thus, we must focus on reducing the TFR among the poorer households by improving the access to education and ensuring better jobs for their children. Such efforts have to be substantiated by provision of contraceptive services. Integrating Population policy into Development Policies The 15th Finance Commission has planned to use the 2011 census data for the distribution of taxes among the states. However, it has been opposed by the Southern states since such a policy would penalize them for taking efforts to reduce the population and it would implicitly reward the populous states which may not have implemented the population control measures strictly. Continuing with the 1971 census-based allocation would be mistake on the basis of following grounds: Varying Stages of Demographic Transition: Different states in India are at different stages of demographic transition. States such as Kerala and TN are already past their demographic dividend stage, while in next 20 years states such as Karnataka would have window of opportunity. States such as UP and Bihar are expected to have peak in their demographic dividend much later. The states with higher share of workers would be able to contribute to higher revenue to the centre and such revenue can in turn be used to support the states with higher share of ageing population. For example, workers in Haryana would be able to support ageing populationBRICS of Kerala in future. IAS Conclusion Presently, the states with higher fertility rates and higher population growth need to be supported by the Centre so as to enhance human capital formation in the form of Education, health etc. By sticking to 1971 census, we would not be able to address the demands of such states. Connecting the dots: In India, investing in the laggard States will ensure their role as being the greatest contributors of the future. Comment in context of demographic differences. NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 3  Infrastructure  Energy Going electric Background The Union Budget has announced a bold move to make a transition to electric vehicles, and offered a tax incentive for the early adopters. Its stated vision to leapfrog into an era of electric mobility and domestic vehicle manufacturing, led by public transport and commercial vehicles, is forward-looking.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099144144

It is also inevitable because poor air quality and noise pollution have sharply affected the quality of life, and pose a serious public health challenge. Deadline As the NITI Aayog has stated, the goal of shifting to electric vehicles cannot make progress without deadlines, and a market-driven approach sought by some sections of the automotive industry will leave India‘s capabilities and infrastructure for e-mobility trailing others, notably China. With 2030 as the outer limit, the imperative is to fix a realistic time-frame by which scooters, motorcycles, three- wheel carriages and, later, all new vehicles will be battery powered. Incentives An additional income tax deduction of ₹1.5 lakh is now offered on interest paid on loans to purchase electric vehicles, and the GST Council has been moved to cut the tax on e-vehicles to 5% from 12%. Both demands were made by the industry earlier. Budgetary allocation There is a significant outlay under the second iteration of the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing (of Hybrid and) Electric Vehicles (FAME) plan of ₹10,000 crore, to give a fillip to commercial vehicles and to set up charging stations. Way ahead Affordable charging will make these vehicles and commercial three-wheelers attractive because operating costs are a fraction of petrol and diesel equivalents. Swapping the battery at convenient locations with one that is pre-charged, especially for commercial vehicles that run longer and need a quick turnaround, is worth considering. A longer-term policy priority has to be the setting up of lithium battery production and solar charging infrastructure of a scale that matches the ambition. Connecting the dots: India is moving ahead to become a world leader in electric vehicles industry. Critically analyse the issues and challenges in front of Indian automobile industry to shift to electric vehicles. 13th July 2019 ISRO‘s lunar touchdown has dry run on soil fetched from Tamil Nadu Part of Prelims and mains GS III: Science and Technology Background More than a decade ago, even as the Chandrayaan-1 orbiter mission of 2008 was being readied, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) created a proto-Lunar Terrain Test Facility (LTTF) at its advanced satellite testing unit, ISITE, in Bengaluru. This, it did, by modifying a balloon research lab, about 30-40 m high, long and wide. Lunar Terrain Test Facility (LTTF) and need of lunar soil  Equipping the LTTF and making it look and feel like being on the moon was the first challenge.  It needed lunar ‗soil‘ with almost all its features and texture, lunar temperatures, low gravity and the same amount of sunlight as on the moon.  On the Moon, the metre-long rover, weighing 27 kg, must move for about 500 metres during its expected life of 14 Earth days (one lunar day). Lunar soil  For recreating the terrain, an option was to import simulated lunar soil from the U.S. at an exorbitant price.  BRICS IAS ISRO decided to find its own solution at a lower cost.  Geologists of various national agencies had found that a few sites near Salem in Tamil Nadu had the ‗anorthosite‘ rock that somewhat matches lunar soil in composition and features.  To simulate the lunar surface at the Bengaluru test facility, professional crushers broke down the rocks brought from around Salem in Tamil Nadu to the micro grain sizes. Two from Araku test positive for Anthrax Part of Prelims and mains GS II issues related to health In news Two persons from Araku mandal of Andhra Pradesh, tested positive for the disease cutaneous anthrax. What is anthrax? Anthrax is a serious infectious disease caused by gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria known as Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax can be found naturally in soil and commonly affects domestic and wild animals around the world.  According to officials from the Health Department, anthrax can spread in three forms — cutaneous anthrax (through the skin), pulmonary anthrax (through inhalation), and gastrointestinal anthrax (through the stomach).  In Cutaneous anthrax, anthrax spores get into the skin usually through a cut or a scrape, which can happen when a person handles infected animals.  After consumption of affected animals‘ meat, there are chances of contracting gastrointestinal anthrax.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099145145

New Constitution calls Kim head of state instead of ‗supreme leader‘ Part of Prelims and mains GS II International Relations In news  Kim Jong-un has been formally named head of state of North Korea and the Commander-in-Chief of the military in a new Constitution observers said was possibly aimed at preparing for a peace treaty with the United States.  North Korea has also long called for a peace deal with the United States to normalise relations and end the technical state of war that has existed since the 1950-1953 Korean War concluded with an armistice rather than a peace treaty.  A previous Constitution simply called Mr. Kim ―supreme leader‖ who commands the country‘s ―overall military force‖ Warming threatens Greenland‘s archaeological sites, says study Part of Prelims and mains GS III Climate change In news  In Greenland, climate change is not just a danger to ecosystems but also a threat to history, as global warming is affecting archaeological remains, says a study.  There are more than 1,80,000 archaeological sites across the Arctic, some dating back thousands of years, and previously these were protected by the characteristics of the soil.  Because the degradation rate is controlled by the soil temperature and moisture content, rising air temperatures and changes in precipitation during the frost-free season may lead to a loss of organic key elements such as archaeological wood, bone and ancient DNA.  In addition to organic elements, such as hair, feathers, shells and traces of flesh, some of the sites contain the ruins of Viking settlements.  The remains, some of which provide a glimpse into the lives of the first inhabitants of Greenland from around 2,500 BC, are at risk.  Study predict that average temperature could increase by up to 2.6 degrees Celsius, leading to higher soil temperatures, a longer thaw season, and increased microbial activity within the organic layers. NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 3  Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation Picking out plastic: on recycling and waste management Background The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has put 52 producers, brand owners and importers, including big online retailers such as Amazon and Flipkart, and companies such as Patanjali Ayurveda and Britannia, on notice, for failing to take responsibility for their plastic waste. Issue –  The retail sector expects e-commerce to grow from about $38.5 billion-equivalent in 2017 to $200 billion by 2026. Given the role played by packaging, the waste management problem is likely to become alarming.  Plastics are less expensive than other inputs in manufacturing, but recycling them into new products extends their life and provides a substitute for virgin material.  In spite of legal requirements, municipal and pollution control authorities fail to see this and mostly pursue business-as-usual waste management methods.  Recyclable waste is rendered useless when it gets mixed with other articles.  BRICS IAS Online retailers have not felt compelled to take back the thousands of polybags, plastic envelopes and air pillows used to cushion articles inside cardboard boxes.  This is in contrast to more developed markets where they are trying out labels on packages with clear recycling instructions. Extended producer responsibility – The concept of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) was incorporated into the Plastic Waste Management Rules, but municipal and pollution control authorities have failed to persuade commercial giants to put in place a system to collect and process the waste. What is EPR? Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a policy approach under which producers are given a significant responsibility – financial and/or physical – for the treatment or disposal of post-consumer products. Assigning such responsibility could in principle provide incentives to prevent wastes at the source, promote product design for the environment and support the achievement of public recycling and materials management goals. Do you know? PLASTIC WASTE MANAGEMENT RULES, 2016: SALIENT FEATURES –  Increase minimum thickness of plastic carry bags from 40 to 50 microns and stipulate minimum thickness of 50 micron for plastic sheets also to facilitate collection and recycle of plastic waste;

www.bricsias.com 8142160099146146

 Expand the jurisdiction of applicability from the municipal area to rural areas, because plastic has reached rural areas also;  To bring in the responsibilities of producers and generators, both in plastic waste management system and to introduce collect back system of plastic waste by the producers/brand owners, as per extended producer‘s responsibility;  To introduce collection of plastic waste management fee through pre-registration of the producers, importers of plastic carry bags/multi-layered packaging and vendors selling the same for establishing the waste management system;  To promote use of plastic waste for road construction as per Indian Road Congress guidelines or energy recovery, or waste to oil etc. for gainful utilization of waste and address the waste disposal issue;  To entrust more responsibility on waste generators, namely payment of user charge as prescribed by local authority, collection and handing over of waste by the institutional generator, event organizers. Solutions:  The two prongs of the solution are packaging innovation that reduces its use by using alternatives, and up scaling waste segregation, collection and transmission.  These companies can form waste cooperatives in India, employing informal waste-pickers.  In such a model, consumers will respond readily if they are incentivised to return segregated plastic waste.  Making municipal and pollution control authorities accountable is also equally important. Connecting the dots: Plastic pollution is a pressing environmental concern that requires our collective action. Do you think implementation of PLASTIC WASTE MANAGEMENT RULES, 2016 failed to achieve its objectives? Critically comment. NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 3  Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment. Jobless growth becomes more systemic Jobless economic growth was a phenomenon that was earlier seen mainly in the organised sector. However, according to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (2017-18), this jobless economic growth has spread to other sectors of the economy mainly the unorganised sector. Varous statistics about unemployment Labour force participation  The two biggest issues shown in the Periodic Labour Force Survey is that there is a decrease in share of the labour force and that there is rising unemployment.  The labour force participation rate (% of people working or seeking work in the above-15 years age category) in the earlier survey of 2012 was 55.5%. This has shrunk to 49.7% in 2018. There is an absolute decline in the number of workers from 467.7 million in 2012 to 461.5 million in 2018.  The decline in women‘s labour force participation from 31% to 24% means that India is among the countries with the lowest participation of women in the labour force.  Similarly, self-employment has also decreased. Do you know? Periodic Labour Force Survey:  From 2017 onwards, a nationwideBRICS Labour Force Survey called PeriodicIAS Labour Force Survey (PLFS) was launched by the NSSO.  The PLFS has been launched with an objective of measuring quarterly changes of various labour market statistical indicators in urban areas as well as generating annual estimates of these indicators both for rural and urban areas, which can be used for policy making. Urban vs rural and men vs women unemployment  The highest unemployment rate of a severe nature was among the urban women at 10.8%; followed by urban men at 7.1%; rural men at 5.8%; and rural women at 3.8%.  Severe unemployment among men at 6.2% was higher than among women at 5.7%. Unemployed youth  Youth unemployment rate (unemployment among those in the 15-29 years age category) has reached a high 17.8%. Educated unemployed  Educated unemployment Defined as unemployment among those with at least a secondary school certificate.  The unemployment rates go up as levels of education go up.  Compared to the earlier 2012 survey, unemployment of educated men has more than doubled in both rural and urban areas.  Unemployment among those with at least a secondary school certificate, it is at 11.4% compared to the previous survey‘s figure of 4.9%.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099147147

 Unemployment rates have gone up in basic educated youths. Among those with secondary school education, it is 5.7% but jumps to 10.3% when those with higher secondary-level education are considered.  The highest rate is among the diploma and certificate holders (19.8%); followed by graduates (17.2), and postgraduates (14.6%). Burden on women  Highest burden of unemployment is on women.  The highest unemployment rate of a severe nature was among the urban women at 10.8%; followed by urban men at 7.1%.  In educated unemployment, urban women (19.8%) followed by rural women (17.3%), rural men (10.5%) and urban men (9.2%).  Among the educated, women face a more unfavourable situation than men despite a low labour force participation rate.  In youth unemployment, women unemployment rate of 27.2% is more than double the 2012 figure of 13.1%. The rate for urban men is at 18.7%. Conclusion The overall conclusion here is that the trend of ‗jobless growth‘ that was till recently confined largely to the organised sector has now spread to other sectors of the economy, making it more generalised. This calls for a thorough re- examination of the missing linkages between growth and employment. Connecting the dots: The nature of economic growth in India in recent times often projects jobless growth. Critically comment. 15th July 2019 Visa-free year-long access for pilgrims to Kartarpur Sahib Part of Prelims and mains GS II International Relations In news  Pakistan agreed to give year-long visa-free access for Indian pilgrims to the holy Gurdwara of Kartarpur Sahib.  It was agreed to allow visa-free travel for the Indian passport-holders and OCI card-holders seven days a week. Do you know?  The Kartarpur Corridor is a proposed border corridor between the neighbouring nations of India and Pakistan, connecting the Sikh shrines of Dera Baba Nanak Sahib (located in Punjab, India) and GurdwaraDarbar Sahib Kartarpur (in Punjab, Pakistan).  Currently under planning, the corridor is intended to allow religious devotees from India to visit the Gurdwara in Kartarpur, 4.7 kilometres (2.9 miles) from the Pakistan-India border, without a visa.  The Kartarpur Corridor was first proposed in early 1999 by the prime ministers of India and Pakistan, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Nawaz Sharif, respectively, as part of the Delhi–Lahore Bus diplomacy.  The corridor will reportedly be completed before the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev in November 2019.  Currently pilgrims from India have to take a bus to Lahore to get to Kartarpur, which is a 125 km journey, despite the fact that people on the Indian side of the border can physically see GurdwaraDarbar Sahib Kartarpur on the Pakistani side. An elevated platform has also been constructed for the same on the Indian side, where people use binoculars to get a good view. India set for new lunar trophy hunt Part of Prelims and mains GS III ScienceBRICS and Tech IAS In news  Indian mission takes its first step towards touching the moon, with a leggy lander and a six-wheeled rover.  The mission will hunt for minerals and water ice deposits that Chandrayaan-1 confirmed.  Chandrayaan-2‘s journey, beginning at 2.51 a.m. on Monday, will last about 52 days.  When it lands on the moon, Chandrayaan-2 will make India the fourth country to safely land on lunar terrain.  No space agency has landed on the south pole of the moon to date, making the landing spot also historic. About Chandrayaan-2  Chandrayaan-2 Called to be the most complex mission from India so far.  Chandrayaan-2 will have two modules stacked together inside a launch vehicle — an orbiter and a lander. It will have a third module, the lunar rover.  ISRO has named the lander ‗Vikram‘, after India‘s space pioneer Vikram Sarabhai and rover ‗Pragyan‘, which in Sanskrit means wisdom.  The heavy-lift rocket Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle – Mark III (GSLV Mk III), which will carry Chandryaan-2 to the Moon, is nicknamed as ‗Baahubali‘.  The first Indian lunar mission to land on Moon is being headed by two women — mission director RituKaridhal and the project director MuthayyaVanitha.  Chandrayaan-2 Moon mission will explore for signs of water and helium-3 on the lunar surface and analyze crust samples. The rover will send pictures of the lunar surface within 20 minutes of landing.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099148148

Tirupati may run out of water in a month Part of Prelims and mains GS III Environment and ecology In news  The temple city, which attracts thousands of pilgrims every day, will run out of water in a month, if the monsoon continues to remain elusive.  At present, residents receive water in their taps once in three days. With Kalyani dam reaching the dead storage level.  After, Bangluru, Chandigarh, and Chennai, Tirupati will be the next Indian city to face water crisis. Nearly half of sex offence cases not being investigated in time Part of Prelims and mains GS II Social Justice In news  Investigation into nearly half the sexual offences cases are not being completed within the stipulated 60-day period, according to an analysis of crime data of seven States.  In many States, the fast-track courts designated to handle rape cases are also handling other criminal cases leading to delay in verdicts.  The Supreme Court noted that trial had been completed in only 4% of the 24,000 cases of sexual offences that were filed from January to June. Steps Taken by Government  The Home Ministry launched an analytics tool — Investigation Tracking System for Sexual Offences (ITSSO) to monitor and track time-bound investigation. It is part of the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and System (CCTNS) that connects over 15,000 police stations across the country.  To check sexual crimes against women and children, the Centre approved the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018 last year which prescribed the time-limit for completion of investigation. Speed restrictions and sound alerts mooted for protection of dolphins Part of Prelims and mains GS III Environment and ecology In news  Restricting the speeds of vessels and blowing sirens and horns is how the Ministry of Shipping plans to safeguard the population of the Ganges River Dolphin, in the country‘s one dolphin reserve through which National Waterway-1 connecting Haldia to Varanasi passes.  The other mitigation measures, according to the Ministry, include fitting vessels with propeller guards and dolphin deflectors to minimise dolphin accidents and using non-toxic paints for painting vessels. The Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary (VGDS)  The Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary (VGDS), from Sultanganj to Kahalganj on the Ganga in Bihar is the only dolphin sanctuary in the country.  Experts have pegged the population of the Ganges dolphin in VGDS from 150 to 200.  The habitat of the Ganges dolphin is not limited to the sanctuary. Criticism Dolphins are difficult to spot and even after they are spotted if sirens are sounded it will not only disturb them more but also a number of other migratory birds and aquatic fauna. Do you know? About Gangetic Dolphin  Ganges River Dolphin is placed under ―Endangered Category‖ in the IUCN Red List.  BRICS IAS The Ganges River dolphin, or susu, inhabits the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems of Nepal, India, and Bangladesh.  It is threatened by removal of river water and siltation arising from deforestation, pollution and entanglement in fisheries nets, etc. NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 3  Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment. Ecological perils of discounting the future Background  In a report last year, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) called the Chennai floods of 2015 a ―manmade disaster‖, a pointer to how the encroachment of lakes and river floodplains has driven India‘s sixth largest city to this ineluctable situation.  The Chennai floods are a symbol of consistent human failings and poor urban design which are common to most urban centres in India if not urban centres across the world.  Now, Chennai is in the midst of another crisis — one of water scarcity. Visibility of environmental degradation Unlike issues such as traffic congestion or crime which are visible, environmental degradation is not what most people can easily see or feel in their every day lives.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099149149

Therefore, when the consequences of such degradation begin to wreak havoc, it becomes difficult to draw the correlation between nature‘s revenge with human failings. Causes of Water crisis throughout India  In Chennai, more than 30 waterbodies of significance have disappeared in the past century.  Concretisation or the increase in paved surfaces has affected the percolation of rainwater into the soil, thereby depleting groundwater levels to a point of no return.  Urbanisation without vision; Urbanisation at the cost of reclaiming water bodies is a pan-India phenomenon.  In Bengaluru, 15 lakes have lost their ecological character in less than five years according to a High Court notice.  The lakes, which are now encroached areas, find use as a bus stand, a stadium and, quite ironically, as an office of the Pollution Control Board.  In Telangana, the byzantine network of tanks and lakes built by the Kakatiya dynasty has disappeared over the years. Some of the successful case studies Mission Kakatiya  In Telangana, tanks have been the lifeline of the State because of its geographical positioning.  The State‘s topography and rainfall pattern have made tank irrigation an ideal type of irrigation by storing and regulating water flow for agricultural use.  The Chief Minister of Telangana launched a massive rejuvenation movement in form of ―Mission Kakatiya‖ which involves the restoration of irrigation tanks and lakes/minor irrigation sources built by the Kakatiya dynasty.  From the perspective of inter-generational justice, this is a move towards giving future generations in the State their rightful share of water and, therefore, a life of dignity. Sustainable hydraulic model  The city of Hyderabad is now moving towards a sustainable hydraulic model with some of the best minds in the country working on it.  This model integrates six sources of water in a way that even the most underdeveloped areas of the city can have equitable access to water resources and the groundwater levels restored in order to avoid a calamity of the kind that has gripped Chennai now.  Hyderabad and the larger state of Telangana rebuild its resilience through a combination of political will and well- designed policies such as the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme and Mission. Corporate social responsibility and PPP  Bengaluru reclaimed Kundalahalli lake (once a landfill) through corporate social responsibility funds in a Public Private Partnership model. Way forward  Other urban centres should not shy away from adopting, remodelling and implementing some of the best water management practices to avoid disaster.  The is tendency of policymakers to discount the future and they are obsessed of focussing on the here and now.  It is estimated that in just 30 years from now, half of India will be living in cities therefore long term vision is necessary. Conclusion  If we truly envision a great futureBRICS for this country, we must not riskIAS the lives of half of our people and the next generations who could be facing a life in cities parched by drought, stranded by floods, mortified by earthquakes or torn by wars over fresh water.  What has happened in Chennai now or what happened in Kerala last year in the form of floods are not a case of setting alarm bells ringing, but one of explosions.  If we do not wake up now, we have to be prepared to face the consequences of nature wreaking great havoc on humanity. We would not need nuclear bombs for our extermination. Connecting the dots:  Water crisis in major Indian cities is a wake-up call for policy makers. What are examples of sustainable steps being taken to contain the future crisis? NATIONAL TOPIC:General studies 2  Parliament and State legislatures—structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these. Karnataka conundrum: Resignation, Disqalification and defection Introduction  In the backdrop of the ongoing crisis in Karnataka, Supreme Court ordered the Speaker of Karnataka to not to decide the issue of MLAs‘ resignation or disqualification.  It was argued in court that ―the rebel MLAs are trying to avoid disqualification by tendering resignations.‖

www.bricsias.com 8142160099150150

 This is surprising, as the penalty for defection is loss of legislative office.  Quitting the current post before joining another party is a legal and moral obligation. Disqualification vs Resignation  A disqualified member cannot become a Minister without getting elected again, whereas one who resigns can be inducted into an alternative Cabinet without being a member.  Accepting a resignation is a simple function of being satisfied if it is voluntary, while disqualification is decided on evidence and inquiry.  Converting resignation into a disqualification matter is an attempt to deny a member‘s right to quit his seat in the legislature before joining another party, even if the crossing-over is a politically expedient measure. Role of Speaker  The Speaker already enjoys extraordinary powers under the Constitution.  In addition to immunity from judicial scrutiny for legislative matters, such as whether a Bill is a money bill, presiding officers get to decide whether a member has incurred disqualification under the anti-defection law.  Though the decision is subject to judicial review, many Speakers have evaded judicial scrutiny by merely not acting on disqualification matters.  The question whether the Speaker‘s inaction can be challenged in court is pending before another Constitution Bench.  Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have instances of Speakers not acting on disqualification questions for years. Do you know? What is the anti-defection law?  Aaya Ram Gaya Ram was a phrase that became popular in Indian politics after a Haryana MLA Gaya Lal changed his party thrice within the same day in 1967.  The anti-defection law sought to prevent such political defections which may be due to reward of office or other similar considerations.  The Tenth Schedule was inserted in the Constitution in 1985. Tenth schedule  It lays down the process by which legislators may be disqualified on grounds of defection by the Presiding Officer of a legislature based on a petition by any other member of the House.  A legislator is deemed to have defected if he either voluntarily gives up the membership of his party or disobeys the directives of the party leadership on a vote.  This implies that a legislator defying (abstaining or voting against) the party whip on any issue can lose his membership of the House. The law applies to both Parliament and state assemblies. Are there any exceptions under the law?  The law allows a party to merge with or into another party provided that at least two-thirds of its legislators are in favour of the merger.  In such a scenario, neither the members who decide to merge, nor the ones who stay with the original party will face disqualification. Connecting the dots:  The anti-defection law and issuance of whips by political parties curtail the freedom of independence of mps. Critically analyse. 16th July 2019 BRICS IAS Debate on the National Investigation Agency (NIA) (Amendment) Bill, 2019 in loksabha Part of Prelims and Mains GSIII security issues In news  The Lok Sabha on July 15, 2019 passes The National Investigative Agency (Amendment) Bill, 2019. This Bill gives NIA officers power to investigate offences committed outside India too, and mandates the setting up of Special Courts.  During the debate over the bill, erstwhile Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) was also became part of the political discussion. Do you know? ―Prevention of Terrorism Act‖ (POTA), 2002  Came after the IC-814 hijack and 2001 Parliament attack.  A suspect could be detained for up to 180 days by a special court.  A separate chapter to deal with terrorist organisations was included.  Union government was mandated to maintain a list of organised that would fall under the act‘s radar and had full authority to make additions or removals. National Investigation Agency (Amendment) Bill, 2019 provides for the following:  ―In order to facilitate the speedy investigation

www.bricsias.com 8142160099151151

 prosecution of Scheduled Offences, including those committed outside India against the Indian citizens or affecting the interest of India  To insert certain new offences in the Schedule to the Act as Scheduled Offences which adversely affect the national security, it has become necessary to amend certain provisions of the Act.‖ National Green Tribunal (NGT) constituted a committee on illegal construction on the floodplains Part of Prelims and mains GS III Environment and ecology In news National Green Tribunal (NGT) has constituted a committee to look into a plea alleging illegal construction on the floodplains of river Kosi in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, by a private university Do you know? National Green Tribunal is a statutory body established by a Government Notification using the powers of Section 3 of the NGT Act 2010. Objective  To provide effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forestsand other natural resources including enforcement of any legal right relating to environment.  Giving relief and compensation for damages to persons and property Other Related Matters. River kosi  Kosi River is known as the ―Sorrow of Bihar‖  These include the Tamor River originating from the Kanchenjunga area in the east and Arun River and Sun Koshi from Tibet  The Kosi is 720 km long and drains in Tibet (China), Nepal and Bihar (India). NGT directs Army to shift ammunition dump Part of Prelims and mains GS III Environment and ecology In news  National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Army to shift its ammunition dump in Raiwala, Uttarakhand to ensure restoration of the Chila-Motichur Elephant Corridor.  The ammunition dump was a threat to the wildlife and ecology of the Chilla-Motichur corridor. Do you know? Chilla-Motichur corridor  It is a part of Rajaji national park  Loctedin uttarakhand  It an elephant corridor , Declared free of human habitation Vaccine trials started to check Tuberculosis spread Part of Prelims and Mains GS II Governance; Health services In news:  Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has started a TB vaccine trial with a view to preventing the occurrence of tuberculosis among the close contacts of a patient.  Trial is being conducted to come up with the first TB vaccine for adults as the BCG vaccine is only for new- borns.  Two vaccines — VPM1002 and Mycobacterium Indicus Pranii (MIP) — had been short-listed for the phase III trial among the healthy household contacts of a sputum smear-positive patient. Do you know?  BRICS IAS India contributes to 27% of global TB population.  Few TB drugs of TB are Isoniazid, Rifampicin.  Nikshay is a web based solution for monitoring TB, launched by the Health Ministry.  India want to end TB by 2025 About Tuberculosis (TB)  A serious infectious bacterial disease that mainly affects the lungs.  TB is an infectious disease usually caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB)  Spread when an infected person. Through airborne respiratory droplets (coughs or sneezes) and by saliva (kissing or shared drinks).  TB is Curable and preventable, when medicines are provided and taken properly. ‗Blue Flag‘ challenge for Indian oceans Part of Prelims and Mains GS III Environment and ecology In news  Union Environment Ministry has selected 12 beaches in India for a ‗Blue Flag‘ certification, an international recognition conferred on beaches that meet certain criteria of cleanliness and environmental propriety About Blue Flag  The Blue Flag programme for beaches and marinas is run by the international, non-governmental, non-profit organisation FEE (the Foundation for Environmental Education).

www.bricsias.com 8142160099152152

 It started in France in 1985 and has been implemented in Europe since 1987  Spain tops the list with 566 such beaches; Greece and France follow with 515 and 395, respectively What is the criteria to achieve this Blue Flag certification  Nearly 33 criteria that must be met to qualify for a Blue Flag certification  Such as the water meeting certain standards such as waste disposal facilities, disabled-friendly facilities, first aid equipment and no access to pets in the main areas of the beach. Some criteria are voluntary and some compulsory To help Indian beaches meet these criteria  The Union Ministry has allowed structures such container toilet blocks, change rooms, shower panels, mini greywater treatment plants in an enclosed structure, mini solid waste recycling plants and off-grid solar photovoltaic panels to come up, provided they are a minimum 10 metres from the high tide line. NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2  Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health A WASH for healthcare Introduction Healthcare facilities are many and varied. Some are primary, others are tertiary. Many are public, some are private. Some meet specific needs, whether dentistry or occupational therapy, and some are temporary, providing acute care when disaster strikes. Adequate water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) amenities, including waste management and environmental cleaning services, are critical to their safe functioning. Impacts of lack of WASH facilities  When a healthcare facility lacks adequate WASH services, infection prevention and control are severely compromised.  This has the potential to make patients and health workers sick from avoidable infections.  As a result, efforts to improve maternal, neonatal and child health are undermined. Lack of WASH facilities also results in unnecessary use of antibiotics, thereby spreading antimicrobial resistance. Current scenario  According to a report, published this year by the World Health Organization and the UN Children‘s Fund (UNICEF) jointly, outlines WASH services in many facilities across the world are missing or substandard.  According to data from 2016, an estimated 896 million people globally had no water service at their healthcare facility.  More than 1.5 billion had no sanitation service.  One in every six healthcare facilities was estimated to have no hygiene service. While data on waste management and environmental cleaning was inadequate across the board. Need of WASH services  In WHO‘s South-East Asia region, efforts to tackle the problem and achieve related Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets are being vigorously pursued.  Improving WASH services in health-care facilities is crucial to accelerating progress towards each of the region‘s ‗flagship priorities‘, especially the achievement of universal health coverage.  Improving WASH services was deemed essential to enhancing the quality of primary healthcare services, increasing equity and bridging the rural-urban divide. Resolution to provide WASH servicesBRICS IAS A World Health Assembly Resolution is hoping to catalyse domestic and external investments to help reach the global targets. These include ensuring;  At least 60% of all healthcare facilities have basic WASH services by 2022;  At least 80% have the same by 2025; and  100% of all facilities provide basic WASH services by 2030. Way forward  Member states should implement each of the WHO- and UNICEF-recommended practical steps.  Health authorities should conduct in-depth assessments and establish national standards and accountability mechanisms.  Across the region, and the world, a lack of quality baseline data limits authorities‘ understanding of the problem.  Health authorities should create clear and measurable benchmarks that can be used to improve and maintain infrastructure and ensure that facilities are ‗fit to serve‘.  Health authorities should increase engagement and work to instil a culture of cleanliness and safety in all health- care facilities.  Alongside information campaigns that target facility administrators, all workers in the health system — from doctors and nurses to midwives and cleaners — should be made aware of, and made to practise, current WASH and infection prevention and control procedures (IPC).

www.bricsias.com 8142160099153153

 Modules on WASH services and IPC should be included in pre-service training and as part of ongoing professional development.  In addition, authorities should work more closely with communities, especially in rural areas, to promote demand for WASH services.  Authorities should ensure that collection of data on key WASH indicators becomes routine.  Doing so will help accelerate progress by promoting continued action and accountability.  It will also help spur innovation by documenting the links between policies and outcomes. Conclusion As member states strive to achieve the ‗flagship priorities‘ and work towards the SDG targets, that outcome is crucial. Indeed, whatever the healthcare facility, whoever the provider, and wherever it is located, securing safe health services is an objective member states must boldly pursue. Connecting the dots: Without adequate water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) amenities, infection control is severely compromised in India‘s healthcare system. Comment. INTERNATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2  Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests.  India and its neighborhood- relations. India‘s foreign policy needs rework in the next five years Introduction The geopolitical scenario of the world is changing and this has brought up new global issues for India deal with. Therefore, various aspects of India‘s foreign policy also is required to be changed to fit the changing geopolitics of the world. Earlier Scenario: Strategic autonomy  In the past, India did manage a shift from non-alignment to multi-alignment.  We could improve our relations with the United States without jeopardising our long-term relationship with Russia.  We could paper over our prickly relations with China without conceding too much ground; all the while maintaining our strategic independence. Current Scenario – Impact of U.S. conflict with Russia/ China  Deepening India-U.S. relations today again carry the danger of India becoming involved in a new kind of Cold War.  According to the author, the earlier policy of multi-alignment based on strategic autonomy has now become unsustainable.  Firstly, it is due to rise in confrontation between the US with Russia & China. And Secondly this earlier policy needs to be changed because of the recent policies of Donald Trump.  Even the definition of a liberal order seems to be undergoing changes. Recommendations:  South Asia, the region of our highest priority, needs close attention.  Began engagement with Pakistan.  Involve India further in Afghanistan to secure India‘s interest in expected US withdrawal from Afghanistan.  Ensure resistance to BRI among India‘s neighbours.  BRICS IAS Avoid alignment in the new Cold War between US with Russia and China.  India should focus on developing disruptive technologies such as AI, cyber technology, etc as part of its defence policy.  Focus and build India‘s economic power.  India must ensure that it does not become a party to the conflicts and rivalries between the U.S. and a rising China, the heightened tensions between the U.S. and Russia, and also avoid becoming a pawn in the U.S.-Iran conflict. Connecting the dots: With the change in global political scenario, India must also change its strategy of foreign relations. Comment. 17th July 2019 Pakistan opens its airspace after 6 months Part of : Mains GS paper II – India and its neighbourhood- relations In news :  Pakistan reopened its airspace for all flights early after a gap of six months  Pakistan shut its airspace in February after India carried out an air strike against what it said was a terrorist training camp in Pakistani territory. How does the curb affect India?  Airlines had to take a longer route to their destinations and burn more fuel,

www.bricsias.com 8142160099154154

 stop midway for refuelling  Roster more pilots and cabin crew as their duty hours are regulated.  An increase in fuel expenses, which constitute 40% of an airline‘s operational costs Advantage of lifting the curb on airspace  The move will benefit Indian carriers as well as the airlines that enter or exit Pakistan from its eastern border with India.  Flights between Delhi and the west will see travel times drop by up to four hours Close polluting units in critical areas: NGT Part of: Prelims and Mains GS paper III – Environmental pollution and degradation In news:  National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to shut down all polluting industries in ―critically polluted‖ and ―severely polluted‖ areas within three months.  It also directed all States and Union Territories to furnish a report on the amount of biomedical waste generated and asked them to set up common treatment and disposal facilities, if not done yet. Do you know?  National Green Tribunal was established in 2010 under National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 to dispose of cases having environmental ramification.  Its headed by retired judge of supreme court or being chief justice of high court and almost 20 experts and 20 judicial members. Mandate of NGT  To dispose of cases dealing with any environment law violation, conservation of forests and natural resources. Eg:  The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974  The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974  The Environmental Protection Act ,1986  The Biological Diversity Act, 2002 etc.  Indian forest act, 1927 and wildlife protection act, 1972 are out of purview from this jurisdiction. Powers:  Recommend penalties and fine  Recommend policies for environment protection  Disposal of cases within 6 months  Enforcement of any legal right relating to environment  Giving relief and compensation for damages  Has power of civil courts Significance  Helps reduce burden on higher courts  Faster resolution of cases  Specialised member brings efficiency to justice  Less expensive than courts Fulfils constitutional provision like article 21 i.e. right to clean environment and article 48(a) i.e. protection of environment and safeguarding of forests The rapid pace of development is harmingBRICS the environment. The NGT providesIAS a check and balance for this. It takes suo – moto cases like banning the crackers, directing states to speed up action to clean Ganga. All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) demanded that the Centre scrap the Manual for Drought Management, 2016 Part of : Mains GS paper III – Agricultural produce and issues In news :  Manual for Drought Management, 2016, had changed the way that droughts are declared and the circumstances under which Central help can be sought by affected States. Data:  Data from the India Meteorological Department show over half the country‘s land area still faces rainfall deficits of more than 20% this monsoon season.  Saurashtra and Kutch are the worst affected region, with a 60% deficit Before 2016, it was considered a drought year in a particular area if there was deficient rainfall and the crop yield was less than 50% of the average of the previous 10 years. Manual for Drought Management, 2016 parameter  States are required to assess conditions using five indicators: rainfall, agriculture, soil moisture, hydrology and crop health.  The Manual allows States to request for support from the National Disaster Response Fund if a drought is declared as ―severe‖. This can only happen if three impact indicators (apart from rainfall) fall into the ―severe‖ category,

www.bricsias.com 8142160099155155

These conditions are so stringent that an area may not be officially declared as facing a severe drought even while its farmers are suffering Centre, Assam move SC for sample re-verification of NRC Part of : Mains GS paper II – Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. In news :  The Centre and the State of Assam made an urgent mention before the Chief Justice of India for an extension of the deadline for final publication of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) for the State from July 31, 2019 to a ―future date‖. Why? To conduct a ―sample re-verification process‖ in relation to names included in the draft NRC published on July 30, 2018. Background: The first draft of the updated National Register of Citizens (NRC) of Assam has been published recently by the Office of the State Coordinator of NRC on December 31, 2017. The objective behind updating and publishing the 1951 NRC is to compile a list of the names of genuine Indian citizens residing in Assam and, in the process, detect foreigners (read Bangladeshis) who may have illegally entered the state after March 24, 1971. The publication of the initial NRC list is the outcome of a long-standing demand of the Assamese people to detect and deport illegal Bangladeshi migrants from their state.  The Assam Accord of 1985 did not contain any specific mention of updating the NRC.  The Government of India constituted a number of Tribunals and Appellate Courts under both the Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunals) Act of 1983 and the Foreigners Tribunal Act of 1964 to detect illegal Bangladeshis.  In May 2005 that the first step towards updating the NRC of 1951 was taken, when a tripartite meeting between the Centre, the Assam government and AASU was held to review the progress made in the implementation of the Assam Accord.  Successive governments have been extremely reluctant to update the NRC of 1951 due to various political considerations and vested interests. Supreme Court ordered the Union and State governments to begin the process of updating of the NRC in Assam.  Accordingly, the Ministry of Home Affairs, issued the notification for starting the work of updating the NRC. The Supreme Court constituted a Committee ―to take care of any clarification that would be required with regard to the modalities in the preparation of the NRC.‖ ENVIRONMENT TOPIC: General studies 3:  Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation  Impact of Climate Change and Global Warming Reducing Carbon emissions from road transport Introduction: Congested streets and polluted air are common experiences in India‘s metropolises. Delhi tops the charts and emissions are more than twice as high as other Indian megacities, such as Mumbai, Bengaluru or Ahmedabad. India‘s road transport emissions areBRICS small in global comparison but is increasingIAS exponentially. The Global Carbon Project reports that India‘s carbon emissions are rising more than two times as fast as the global rise in 2018. Reducing CO2 emissions of road transport leverages multiple co-benefits, for example, improving air quality and increasing physical activity, which are critical for well-being, particularly in urban areas. Factors:  Climate action requires an understanding of how emissions vary with spatial context. Income and urbanisation are the key determinants of travel distance and travel mode choice and, therefore, commuting emissions.  The way cities are built and the design of public transit are critical for low-carbon mobility systems.  Average per capita commuting emissions are highest for the most affluent districts, which are predominantly urban, and that heavily use four-wheelers for commuting. In contrast, average per capita commuting emissions are lowest for Indian districts that are poor, and commuting distances are short and rarely use three-wheelers. Way ahead:  Focusing on well-being: Mayors and town planners should organise cities around public transport and cycling, thereby improving mobility for many, while limiting car use. Uptake of non-motorised transport emerges as a sweet spot of sustainable development, resulting in both lower emissions and better public health in cities. According to the recent National Family Health Survey (2015-16), nearly 30% of all men are overweight or obese in southwest Delhi, but only 25% in Thiruvananthapuram and 13% in Allahabad. These data correlate with high reliance of car use in Delhi and low demand for walking.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099156156

Increase in cycling will lower chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, while also abating emissions. Car use, in contrast, correlates with higher rates of diabetes. Fuel price increases, congestion charges or parking management could be a strategy that improves the well-being of individuals living in urban areas.  Technology transition: India should double down in its strategy to transition to electric two and three-wheelers. India is the third-largest market for automobiles and is one of the world‘s largest producers and consumers in two- and three- wheelers and Indian companies can take a leading role in switching to electric vehicles. This will also help in transforming India‘s vision of ‗Make in India‘.  City planning: Compact cities improve accessibility and reduce emissions from transport and even the building sector. Most Indian cities are already very dense, with few benefits expected by further high-rise. City managers should ensure that existing urban areas provide short routes and fast access to schools, hospitals and jobs, otherwise, residents would be required to travel long distances. Conclusion: Providing access to public service, choosing rapid transit over car driving in cities and supporting the rise of electric two and three-wheelers will help drive India to a modern and low-carbon transport system fit for the 21st century. Connecting the dots:  Reducing CO2 emissions of road transport leverages multiple co-benefits, for example, improving air quality and increasing physical activity, which are critical for well-being, particularly in urban areas. Comment. NATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2:  Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation General studies 3:  Indian agriculture Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (KUSUM) Introduction: Earlier this year, the Cabinet approved the Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (KUSUM). With a Budget allocation of Rs. 34,000 crore, and a similar contribution expected from the States, KUSUM aims to provide energy sufficiency and sustainable irrigation access to farmers. It is also essential to achieve the country‘s 100 GW solar target by 2022. Present situation:  At present, despite burgeoning farm power subsidies, nearly 30 million farmers, especially marginal landholders, use expensive diesel for their irrigation needs as they have no access to electricity.  More than half of India‘s net sown-area remains unirrigated. Three components of the scheme:  10,000 MW of de-centralised ground- mounted grid-connected renewable power plants.  Installation of 17.50 lakh standalone solar powered agricultural pumps.  Solarisation of 10 lakh grid-connected solar-powered agricultural pumps Way ahead: BRICS IAS  Addressing inequity between States: KUSUM should aim to reduce the existing disparity among States with regard to solar pumps deployment and irrigation access. Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan together account for about half of the two lakh solar pumps currently deployed in the country. On the other hand, States such as Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, where penetration of diesel pumps is among the highest, have not managed to deploy any significant number of solar pumps. This disparity highlights poor State budget allocation towards solar pumps and the lack of initiative by State nodal agencies. To encourage more equitable deployment of 17.5 lakh off-grid pumps by 2022, the Centre should incentivise States through target-linked financial assistance, and create avenues for peer learning.  Addressing inequity within a State: 90% of Bihar‘s farmers are small and marginal. Yet, they have received only 50% of government subsidies on solar pumps. On the other hand, in Chhattisgarh, about 95% of beneficiaries are from socially disadvantaged groups due to the mandate of the State. Learning from these contrasting examples, a share of central financial assistance under KUSUM should be appropriated for farmers with small landholdings and belonging to socially disadvantaged groups.  Addressing inequity between farmers: Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, KUSUM should provide greater financial assistance to smaller farmers.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099157157

KUSUM proposes a 60% subsidy for the pumps, borne equally by the Centre and the States, and the remaining 40% will be the farmer‘s contribution — 10% as down payment and 30% through loans. This unilateral financing approach will exacerbate the inter-farmer disparity given the inequity in access to credit and repayment capacity between small and large farmers. A higher capital subsidy support to small and marginal farmers and long-term loans with interest subsidies for large and medium farmers would be a more economical and equitable alternative. KUSUM should not woo a certain section of farmers with short-sighted objectives.  Solarising existing grid-connected pumps, as proposed under the scheme, needs a complete rethink. Existing grid-connected farmers, who have enjoyed power subsidies for decades, would receive the same financial support as that received by an off-grid farmer. In addition, they would earn regular income from the DISCOM on feeding surplus electricity, furthering the inequitable distribution of taxpayers‘ resources.  Solarising grid-connected pumps must include replacement of the pump. Poor efficiency levels of the existing pumps would mean unnecessary oversizing of the solar panels and lesser available energy to feed into the grid.  It is also essential that distribution companies pay fair rates to farmers for the electricity they purchase from their solar arrays. The scheme holds the potential of enabling farmers to become exporters of clean solar energy from importers of subsidized energy. Conclusion: If designed better and implemented effectively, KUSUM holds the potential to catapult the Indian irrigation economy from an era mired in perpetual subsidy, unreliable supply, and inequitable distribution of resources to a regime of affordable, reliable, and equitable access to energy and water. Connecting the dots:  KUSUM could radically transform the irrigation economy if the government chooses an approach of equity by design and prudence over populism. Analyze. 18th July 2019 Kulbhushan Jadhav case and ICJ ruling Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – India and its neighbourhood- relations; India and Pakistan relations In news:  The International Court of Justice ruled that Pakistan should ―review and reconsider‖ Kulbhushan Jadhav‘s conviction and death sentence.  ICJ also ruled that Pakistan should give the Indian government consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav. Do you know?  Jadhav, a retired Indian Navy officer, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of ―espionage and terrorism‖ after a closed trial in April 2017.  His sentencing evoked a sharp reaction in India.  India moved the ICJ in the same year for the ―egregious violation‖ of the provisions of the Vienna Convention by Pakistan by repeatedly denying New Delhi consular access to the 48-year-old Indian national. Important Value Additions:  ICJ is the ―principled judicial organ of the United Nations‖ (ICJ, 1945), and is based at the Hague in the Netherlands.  Statute of the International CourtBRICS of Justice, which is an integral part IASof the United Nations Charter established the ICJ.  The ICJ is made up of 15 jurists from different countries (elected to nine-year terms by Permanent members of the UNSC) and no two judges at any given time may be from the same country. The court‘s composition is static but generally includes jurists from a variety of cultures.  The function of the ICJ is to resolve disputes between sovereign states. Karnataka crisis: What‘s a ‗whip‘, and what does it do? Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – Indian Polity; Parliament – Whip In news:  Amid a looming trust vote in the Karnataka Assembly, former chief minister Siddaramaiah appealed to postpone the motion of confidence as the Supreme Court‘s decision did not shed light on his rights to issue a whip. What is a whip?  A whip in parliamentary parlance is a written order that party members be present for an important vote, or that they vote only in a particular way.  The term is derived from the old British practice of ―whipping in‖ lawmakers to follow the party line.  In India all parties can issue a whip to their members.  Parties appoint a senior member from among their House contingents to issue whips — this member is called a Chief Whip, and he/she is assisted by additional Whips. Do you know?

www.bricsias.com 8142160099158158

 The office of ‗whip‘, on the other hand, is mentioned neither in the Constitution of India nor in the Rules of the House nor in a Parliamentary Statute. It is based on the conventions of the parliamentary government.  Every political party, whether ruling or Opposition has its own whip in the Parliament. He is appointed by the political party to serve as an assistant floor leader.  He is charged with the responsibility of ensuring the attendance of his party members in large numbers and securing their support in favour of or against a particular issue.  He regulates and monitors their behaviour in the Parliament. The members are supposed to follow the directives given by the whip. Otherwise, disciplinary action can be taken. Kinds of whips A whip can be classified into three types, based on the number of times it has been underlined. One-line whip  A one-line whip, which is underlined once, is issued by the party to inform its members of an important vote in the pipeline, so that a quorum can be established. (A quorum is the minimum number of legislators that need to be present do that a vote can be held.)  A one-line whip allows the legislators to abstain from voting if they decide to go against the party line. However, they cannot, under any circumstance, vote against the party. Two-line whip  A two-line whip, which is underlined twice, demands that party members be present in the House at the time of voting.  Abstention from voting, in this case, invites more scrutiny from party‘s high command as compared to a one-line whip. Three-line whip  A three-line whip, which is underlined thrice, is the gravest of the whips.  This places the party members under an obligation to toe the party line and is usually employed when critical bills are tabled in the House or during a motion of no-confidence. What happens if a legislator does not follow the whip?  Defying a three-line whip can not only lead to expulsion of the member from the party, but also risk his/her membership in the House.  Under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution of India, the Speaker of the House can disqualify a member who goes against the party line under the anti-defection law.  The only exception is when more than one-third members decide to vote against the directive. Bimal Jalan committee on RBI‘s economic capital framework (ECF) Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III – Indian Economy and issues related to it; RBI In news:  Bimal Jalan panel was formed to address the issue of RBI reserves, one of the sticking points between the central bank and the government.  The expert panel to suggest how the central bank should handle its reserves and whether it can transfer its surplus to the government.  Jalan panel to submit its report soon. Issue:  The government has been insisting that the central bank hand over its surplus reserves amid a shortfall in revenue collections.  BRICS IAS Access to the funds will allow finance minister to meet deficit targets, infuse capital into weak banks to boost lending and fund welfare programmes.  Therefore, the Jalan panel was set up to decide whether RBI is holding provisions, reserves and buffers in surplus of the required levels. Ebola outbreak a global health emergency: WHO In news:  World Health Organization declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo a public health emergency of international concern. About Ebola  Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often fatal illness in humans.  The Ebola virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human- to-human transmission.  The Ebola virus causes an acute, serious illness which is often fatal if untreated.  There are currently no licensed Ebola vaccines but 2 potential candidates are undergoing evaluation. Dam Safety Bill Part of: GS Mains II and III – Government schemes and policies; Disaster Management In news:

www.bricsias.com 8142160099159159

 The Centre is set to introduce the Dam Safety Bill, 2019.  The Bill aims to put in place a systematic procedure to ensure that India‘s 5,600 dams are made and maintained safely.  The Bill provides for establishment of a National Dam Safety Authority as a regulatory body to implement the policy.  The Bill lays the onus of the dam safety on the dam owner and provides for penal provisions for wilful ―commission and omission of certain acts.‖ National Medical Commission Bill Part of: GS Mains II – Health sector; Education reforms; Government schemes and policies In news:  Centre plans to introduce the National Medical Commission Bill (NMC Bill) and repeal the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956.  NMC Bill was first introduced in Parliament in December 2017 and had provoked widespread protests over a proposal for bridge courses to allow AYUSH practitioners to prescribe allopathic medicines. However, the 2017 bill lapsed with the dissolution of the 16th Lok Sabha.  The current Bill proposes to convert the final year MBBS examination into a licentiate exam, which will be a requirement for doctors to practise medicine.  The examination, to be called the National Exit Test (NEXT), will also be used for entrance into post-graduate medical courses, and act as a screening test for foreign medical graduates. Miscellaneous Person in news: Hafiz Saeed In news:  Pakistan recently arrested Hafiz Saeed, the alleged mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai terror attack that killed 166 people.  Hafiz Saeed has been declared a global terrorist by the U.S. and the UN  He is currently held in terror financing case. Dibang Multipurpose Project in Arunachal Pradesh In news:  Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the ₹1,600-crore pre-investment expenditure for the Dibang Multipurpose Project in Arunachal Pradesh, India‘s largest hydropower project.  Dibang River is a tributary of the Brahmaputra that originated and flows through the Mishmi Hills & northeast India from the state of Arunachal Pradesh. INTERNATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2  Role of UNSC; International organization

 International Relations  India and the World India‘s agenda as an UNSC member Context:  India secured UNSC non-permanent membership for 2021-22 with support from Asia-Pacific group including Pakistan and China.  BRICS IAS Each year the 193-member UN General Assembly (UNGA) elects five non-permanent members for a two-year term at the high-table.  India has been at the forefront of the years-long effort to reform the security council saying it rightly deserves a place as a permanent member of the council, which, in its current form, does not represent the geopolitical realities of the 21st Century. Concerns:  Currently, the world is in a greater state of disorder than at any time since the end of World War II.  Fear, populism, polarisation, and ultra-nationalism have become the basis of politics in many countries.  The benign and supportive international system that followed the Cold War has disappeared.  India finds itself in a troubled region between West and East Asia – a region with insurgencies, terrorism, human and narcotics trafficking, and great power rivalries (ranging from turmoil in Gulf, Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Daesh), Iraq and Syria issue to Afghanistan‘s peace process).  India also faces issues in Asia such as strategic mistrust or misperception, unresolved borders and territorial disputes, the absence of a pan-Asia security architecture, and competition over energy and strategic minerals. Role of UNSC:  Prime function of the UNSC should be to maintain international peace and security.  It should also focus on shared goals, especially international social and economic cooperation.  Try to bring coordination between 193 sovereign member nations.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099160160

To this end, the permanent members (P-5) as also other UN members must consider it worth their while to reform the Council. What should India aim to do? Studies and reports predict that – by 2050, China will be the world‘s number one economic power, followed by India. UNSC permanent seat will come India‘s way more by invitation and less by self-canvassing. As a non-permanent member of UNSC, India‘s objectives should be –  to help build a stable and secure external environment  to promote regional and global security  to promote growth and its own people‘s prosperity  to promote a rule-based world order  to emerge as a partner of choice for developing and developed countries alike India must leverage this latest opportunity to project itself as a responsible nation. Agenda as a member of UNSC Increase financial contribution  India will have to increase its financial contribution, as the apportionment of UN expenses for each of the P-5 countries is significantly larger than that for India.  Although India has been a leading provider of peacekeepers, its assessed contribution to UN peacekeeping operations is minuscule. Provide effective leadership  At a time when there is a deficit of international leadership on global issues, especially on security, migrant movement, poverty, and climate change, India has an opportunity to promote well-balanced, common solutions. Responsibility to Protect  India must help guide the Council away from the perils of invoking the principles of humanitarian interventionism or ‗Responsibility to Protect‘. Work towards rules-based global order  Given the fragile and complex international system, which can become even more unpredictable and conflictual, India should work towards a rules-based global order. Sustainable development and promoting peoples‘ welfare should become its new drivers. Ensure sanctions  India should push to ensure that the UNSC Sanctions Committee targets all those individuals and entities warranting sanctions. Rational internationalism  Having good relations with all the great powers, India must lead the way by pursuing inclusion, the rule of law, constitutionalism, and rational internationalism.  India should once again become a consensus-builder, instead of the outlier it has progressively become.  It should find a harmonised response for dealing with global problems of climate change, disarmament, terrorism, trade, and development. Conclusion:  A rules-based international order helps rather than hinders India.  India will be a rich country in the future and will acquire greater military muscle, but its people will remain relatively poor.  India is a great nation, but not a great power.  BRICS IAS India cannot stride the global stage with confidence in the absence of stable relations with its neighbours.  Besides whatever else is done within the UN and the UNSC, India must lift its game in South Asia and its larger neighbourhood.  India must prepare for this contingency, but, at the same time, it must champion a return to the older rules-based global order. Connecting the dots:  What do you understand by the term or concept – ―Rules-Based International Order‖? Also discuss the challenges to the rules-based international order and its impact on India.  India is a great nation, but not a great power. Do you agree? Elucidate your opinion.  Does the composition and rights in the Security Council represent 21st century world dynamics? Critically examine.  Why is the permanent membership in UNSC so important for India? Do you think India‘s claim to permanent membership is valid? Elucidate. 19th July 2019 Centre had announced hike in surcharges paid by high net worth individuals Part of: GS Mains Paper III – Government Budgeting In News  Centre had announced hike in surcharges paid by high net worth individuals.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099161161

 The increase in surcharges effectively increases the combined tax rate by 2% for those earning between Rs.2 crore and 5 crore and by 7% for those earning more than Rs 5 crore annually.  The higher tax will only apply to individuals and FPIs registered as trusts, which are also treated as individuals.  However, the FPIs that are registered as companies will not be affected.  The decision to increase rates drew criticism that it would lead to outflow of foreign funds from India because there would be decreased income as they have to pay more taxes now. Do you know?  Surcharge is an additional charge or tax levied on an existing tax. For Example: A surcharge of 10% on a tax rate of 30% effectively raises the combined tax burden to 33%  Cess is also tax on tax. However, the difference is that Cess is levied temporarily for a specific purpose. Once the purpose has been fulfilled, cess is no longer levied. However, surcharges are general and permanent in nature.  The revenue earned via surcharge is solely retained by the Centre and, unlike other tax revenues, is not shared with States.  The proceeds of surcharges flow into Consolidated Fund of India.  Surcharges, in India, are used to make the taxation system more ‗progressive‘ (average tax rate increases as the income increases) as they are generally levied on wealthy individuals and companies.  Foreign Portfolio Investments are those investments which hold less than 10% in a company, beyond which it is regarded as FDI (Foreign Direct Investment).  FPI hold a short term view on the company and generally participate through the stock markets and gets in and out of a particular stock at much faster frequencies. They are volatile in nature.  The authority monitoring the guidelines for FPI regulation is the Securities and Exchange Board of India. Misuse of Money Bills Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – Parliament and State legislatures—structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers and privileges and issues arising out of these. In News:  The opposition has charged that the 2019 finance bill had provisions to amend a number of laws including the Benami, SEBI and PMLA Acts and that these amendments to laws were not related to finance but brought as part of financial bill to avoid proper scrutiny. Types of Bills Constitution Amendment Bills: These are Bills which seek to amend the Constitution. Money Bills: A Bill is said to be a Money Bill if it only contains provisions related to taxation, borrowing of money by the government, expenditure from or receipt to the Consolidated Fund of India. Article 110 deals with Money bills. Do you know?  Money bill can only be introduced only in Lok Sabha with prior recommendation of the President and must be passed by simple majority.  Rajya Sabha can only recommend changes to the bill, which Lok Sabha may reject if it chooses to.  If such recommendations are not given within 14 days, it will have deemed to be passed by Parliament Who decides if a Bill is a Money Bill?  The Speaker certifies a Bill as a Money Bill, and the Speaker‘s decision is final. Financial Bills: A Bill that contains some provisions related to taxation and expenditure, and additionally contains provisions related to any other matter is called a Financial Bill. Article 117 deals with Financial bills. There are two categories of Financial bills under ArticleBRICS 117 IAS Article 117(i) – Can only be introduced in Lok Sabha with prior recommendation of President. Rajya Sabha can reject or modify it Article 117(iii) – Can be introduced both in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha with prior recommendation of the President. Rajya Sabha can reject or modify it. Ordinary Bills: All other Bills are called ordinary bills. This can be introduced in either of the Houses of Parliament. No prior recommendation of President is required and requires simple majority to pass the bill Man-made highlands come to rescue of animals during floods Part of: Main GS Paper III – Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment; Disaster management In News:  During monsoon season, Brahmaputra rivers overflows and floods the adjacent regions including the Kaziranga National Park. As a result, most of the animals seek safe places during these floods.  In order to keep animals above the water level, forest department has constructed highlands which were designed scientifically with provision of adequate grass and plants yielding fruits.  These islands have turned into islands of relative safety whereby animals move to such highlands during floods. This has prevented huge loss to wildlife and sustenance of Kaziranga ecosystem. Do you know?

www.bricsias.com 8142160099162162

 Floods are considered as necessary evil in Kaziranga, which comprises mix of wetlands, grasslands and forests. The flood water flushes out the aquatic plants and weeds that choke its ecosystem.  Kaziranga National Park is known for being the residence of ‗Big Five‘ animals, ie, Great Indian One horned Rhinoceros, Indian Elephant, Royal Bengal Tiger, Eastern Swamp Deer and Wild Water Buffalo. Structural reforms in Agriculture Part of: Main GS Paper III – transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e- technology in the aid of farmers In news: CM‘s panel tasked with recommending sweeping reforms in the agriculture sector has suggested the following measures at the recently held NITI Aayog meet:  Scrapping of the Essential Commodities Act for the food sector  Review of agricultural subsidies (The total outlay on fertilizer subsidy alone is around 70,000 crore rupees in 2018-19)  Dismantling of market monopolies (which ensures that farmer‘s bargaining power increases fetching him more price for his produce)  Steps to increase private investment and investment credit in the sector (through tax benefits and subsidised credit). This will enhance private sector‘s participation in supply chain infrastructure thereby reducing wastages and leakages in the process.  Obstacles to the implementation of the digital e-NAM system to be removed. Do you know?  National Agriculture Market (eNAM) is a pan-India electronic trading portal which networks the existing APMC mandis to create a unified national market for agricultural commodities. More Information about Essential Commodities Act  The ECA was enacted way back in 1955.  It has since been used by the Government to regulate the production, supply and distribution of a whole host of commodities it declares ‗essential‘ in order to make them available to consumers at fair prices.  The list of items under the Act include drugs, fertilisers, pulses and edible oils, and petroleum and petroleum products. Here‘s how it works:  If the Centre finds that a certain commodity is in short supply and its price is spiking, it can notify stock-holding limits on it for a specified period.  Anybody trading or dealing in a commodity , be it wholesalers, retailers or even importers are prevented from stockpiling it beyond a certain quantity. It thus empowers authorities to crack down on hoarders and black- marketeers of such commodities during crisis period.  The ECA gives consumers protection against irrational spikes in prices of essential commodities. Miscellaneous Gender Equality Part of: Main GS Paper I – Role of women and women‘s organization In News  Presently women officers cannot be posted immediately on board ships as there are no separate facilities.  In order to induct more women into services, Navy has recently issued tender for cadet training ships which has facilities catered for women  BRICS IAS This initiative will go a long way in increasing women participation in Navy who presently constitute only 6.7% of the Navy officers National Parks in news: Pench National Park in Madhya Pradesh and Bandipur wildlife sanctuary in Karnataka  India is spending 1300 Crore rupees to build 9 kilometres underpass on National Highway passing through Pench National Park in Madhya Pradesh to provide safe passage for wildlife (especially Tigers) in the region.  Similar demand is being made to build underpass on the National Highway between Mysuru and Waynad to protect tigers in Bandipur wildlife sanctuary. Concerns  In a developing country like India with limited resources and nearly 23% of our population living below poverty line, we need to balance our developmental needs with our responsibility to protect the ecology. INTERNATIONAL TOPIC: General studies 2  Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests  India and the World ; India and its neighbourhood- relations.  Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora  Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate

www.bricsias.com 8142160099163163

Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) report to Xinjiang on Uighurs Context:  The below article deals with OIC record on China‘s Xinjiang province, which is in the news on account of alleged violations of human rights and curbs on religious freedom of Uighurs and other Muslim ethnic groups.  A Human Rights Watch report issued in September 2018 had also criticised Beijing‘s policies in Xinjiang. About OIC  The OIC, represents 57 member states and a population of about 1.8 billion people.  It is the world‘s second-largest intergovernmental organisation after the UN  It is committed to protect the interests of the Muslim world.  It routinely expresses solidarity with Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and Bosnia, as well as with the peoples of the Turkish Cypriot state, Kosovo and Jammu and Kashmir Who are Uighurs?  The Uighurs are a minority Turkic ethnic group originating from and culturally affiliated with the general region of Central and East Asia.  The Uighurs have been recognized as native to only one region, the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People‘s Republic of China Indian and OIC:  India became the ‗Guest of Honour‘ at the 46th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) held in Abu Dhabi in March.  The final declaration ignored the customary reference to Jammu and Kashmir. Reasons for the ignorance  The strong personal and state-to-state ties built by the Indian government with important OIC states, especially the UAE.  However, one of the resolutions did refer to Kashmir and expressed concern at the situation of Muslims in India. OIC‘s report on China‘s Xinjiang province:  The main Abu Dhabi declaration, like the Dhaka Declaration, made no reference to China or its Muslim minorities.  It is fascinating to come across the resolution passed at Abu Dhabi which chose to commend the efforts of the People‘s Republic of China in providing care to its Muslim citizens.  China has defended its policies and claimed that it‘s so-called ‗internment camps‘ are actually vocational centres meant to ―to educate and save the local people of Xinjiang who were influenced by religious extremism‖. Reasons for favouring China:  China is a major power  It is a permanent member of the UN Security Council  It has a large market for hydrocarbons and a source of arms and investment  Moreover, China refrains from preaching to others about human rights or systems of governance.  As China‘s continued import of oil from Iran suggests, countries under U.S. pressure and sanctions often turn to China for relief. In return, they do their best to guard China‘s interests at the OIC. Do you know?  Recently Pakistan‘s Minister for Religious Affairs urged China to lift restrictions on Muslims in Xinjiang.  Pakistan chief raised concerns about the Uighur issue with the Chinese Ambassador that has cone has deep embarrassment to the OIC. BRICS IAS Connecting the dots:  What is Organisation of Islamic Cooperation? Discuss its objectives and also discuss the significance of OIC‘s first-time invitation to India. 20th July 2019 Supreme Court questions the need for re-verification of NRC Part of: GS Mains Paper II – Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation In news:  The Centre and the State of Assam had urged the Supreme Court more time to conduct sample re-verification process of NRC.  However, the Supreme Court has questioned the need for re-verification of NRC. With exam point of view, one needs to focus on the following –  About NRC and background  Benefits of NRC  Why has the National Register of Citizens (NRC) been in controversy lately?  Issues/Challenges with NRC process  Conclusion We have already learnt about NRC

www.bricsias.com 8142160099164164

National register of citizens is a register containing names of all genuine Indians residing in India. Assam faced influx from Bangladesh, to remove the illegal migration from neighbouring countries NRC as prepared in 1951. Benefits of NRC:  Detection of illegal immigrants, inclusion will be a shield against harassment and a ticket to enjoying all the constitutional rights and safeguards and the benefits of government schemes.  To safeguard the indigenous population and civilization.  Illegal activities like terrorism, human trafficking, drug trafficking can be checked.  To safeguard Voting rights and properties such as land and house. Controversies related to the National Register of Citizens (NRC):  Laborious process: Adding a person to NRC is complex procedure because of presenting many documents and layers of verification.  Document verification: ―Family tree verification‖ has become difficult process for left out children.  Rejection of certificate: More than 40 lakh people are rejected for panchayath residency certificates.  Citizenship related: Failed to ensure legal clarity over the manner in which the claims of citizenship could be decided.  Role of Supreme Court: lack of monitoring process, inability to comprehend political and policy actions in case of loss of citizenship.  Huge population: Given the size of India‘s population, implementation of the NRC will be a mammoth task and demands a detailed analysis. Criticism of the NRC:  The first report was announced on December 31-January 1, 2017, the removal of 40 lakh people leads to a major social and political crisis.  The mass insecurity and social crisis stalking the 40 lakh people of Assam.  Many people are in stake who lives in strategic and sensitive border state. Their documents are being ambiguous.  Assam has a peculiar problem of villages getting ravaged, or disappearing, due to annual floods unleashed by the fiery Brahamaputra. Documents get destroyed, geographies shift, addresses change.  Several cases of transparent injustice whereby families have been divided – some declared Doubtful Voters and foreigners, others as bonafide citizens.  Widespread perception that specifically linguistic and religious minorities are being targeted – namely, Bengali speaking Muslims and Hindus. Conclusion It is important and essential for the union government to proactively come out with an equitable, predictable and transparent plan on the way forward, for those who will be identified as ‗foreigners‘. The left out from the NRC must be handled carefully on humanitarian basis. The Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Bill 2019 Part of: GS Mains Paper II – Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies. Amendments proposed:

Provisions under original Act Amendments proposed

Under the current Act, the chairperson of the NHRC The Bill seeks to provide that a person who has been Chief is a person who has been a ChiefBRICS Justice of the Justice of the Supreme IAS Court, or a Judge of the Supreme Court

Supreme Court. will be the chairperson of the NHRC.

The Act provides for two persons having knowledge The Bill seeks to allow three members to be appointed, of which of human rights to be appointed as members of the at least one will be a woman. NHRC.

Under the Act, chairpersons of various commissions The Bill provides for including also the chairpersons of the such as the National Commission for Scheduled National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC), the Castes(NCSC), National Commission for Scheduled National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights

Tribes(NCST), and National Commission for (NCPCR), and the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Women(NCW) are members of the NHRC. Disabilities as members of the NHRC.

The Act states that the chairperson and members of The Bill reduces the term of office to three years or till the age the NHRC and SHRC will hold office for five years of seventy years, whichever is earlier. or till the age of seventy years, whichever is earlier.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099165165

Do you know?  NHRC is established under the Protection of Human Rights Act (PHRA), 1993.  The act defines Human Rights as the rights relating to life, liberty, equality and dignity of the individual guaranteed by the Constitution or embodied in the International Covenants and enforceable by courts in India. The Chairperson and members of the NHRC are appointed by the President of India, on the recommendation of a committee consisting of:  The Prime Minister (Chairperson)  The Home Minister  The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha (Lower House)  The Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha (Upper House)  The Speaker of the Lok Sabha (Lower House)  The Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha (Upper House) Bill to help Transgender introduced in Lok Sabha Part of: Mains GS Paper I – Social empowerment In News:  The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2019, was introduced by Social Justice and Empowerment Minister in Lok Sabha  The Bill has defined transgenders and has ensured family life for transgender children, made provisions for sex reassignment surgeries, psychological counselling and protection against any form of discrimination against transgender people Highlights of the Bill  The Transgender Persons Bill gives a person the right to choose to be identified as a man, woman or transgender, irrespective of sex reassignment surgery and hormonal therapy  The government has ensured that a person does not have to appear before a district screening committee to be declared a transgender (This was part of earlier draft that received criticism from human rights activists). The new bills has recognised a person‘s ―right to self-perceived gender identity‖.  The bill de-criminalised begging by transgenders.  The bill provide for major education, social security and health facilities for transgender people. The government has decided to pay for medical care facility including sex reassignment surgery and hormonal therapy for transgender people through a health insurance scheme.  The Bill also provides protection for transgender children. Section 12 (1) says: ―No child shall be separated from parents or immediate family on the ground of being a transgender. Do you know?  Transgender was declared as third gender only recently in 2014, through a Supreme Court judgement in National Legal Services Authority v. Union of India case.  Moreover, the court also held that because transgender people were treated as socially and economically backward classes, they should be granted reservations in admissions to educational institutions and jobs. Miscellaneous Happiness Department of Madhya Pradesh  It has always been felt that material prosperity alone can never be the yardstick of measuring happiness and wellbeing. For a holistic and happy human existence, inner wellbeing is of utmost significance along with our material advancement.  BRICS IAS People need to be exposed to well researched behavioural tools and time tested ethical practices, which would help them stay positive, sustain adversities and lead fulfilling balanced lives.  Madhya Pradesh has set a precedence in the country to have a government organization – Rajya Anand Sansthan (State Happiness Department) – dedicated towards the aforesaid purpose. Rajya Anand Sansthan  RAS came into existence for this purpose in August 2016 and has since been engaged in providing tools and techniques of incorporating positivity and joyful healthy habits for holistic growth and overall peace.  Soothing the tempers of government officials since its inception, the Rajya Anand Sansthan has now opened its doors to the general public. AGRICULTURE/ECONOMY TOPIC: General studies 3  Indian Economy, Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.  Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management).

A Sign of economic growth and Improvement Context:

www.bricsias.com 8142160099166166

 The growth of key sectors by shifting gears as the current economic conditions are smooth in terms of macroeconomic stability to expand growth.  The adequate investment reforms in primary sectors.  There by, accomplishing the vision of a $5-trillion economy by 2024. Concerns:  Adequate Investment in primary sector is the need of hour.  Insufficient investment in the agriculture sector in most developing countries over the past 30 years has resulted in low productivity and stagnant production as per FAO.  Agriculture remains the most trusted sector in helping alleviate poverty, hunger and malnutrition and ensuring better income distribution. Food and Agriculture organisation:  It is a UN body  It leads international efforts to defeat hunger  Established in 1945 and its headquarters is in Rome, Italy.  FAO is also a source of knowledge and information, and helps developing countries and countries in transition modernize and improve agriculture, forestry and fisheries practices, ensuring good nutrition and food security for all.  There are a total of 197 members comprising 194 member nations, 1 member organization and 2 associate members.  India is a member of FAO Key areas of investment  Investment is the key to unlocking the potential of a developing economy  Investment in Agro-processing, Agro-startups and Agri-tourism Outcomes:  Boosts Agri-tourism by attracting tourists towards farm staff and farm operations  Generates in-situ employment. Investment in Agri-education and research Outcomes:  It would also serve as a stage to demonstrate resource conservation and sustainable use through organic, natural and green methods, and also zero budget natural farming. Investment in livestock technology Outcomes:  Productivity enhancement  Conservation of indigenous germplasm, disease surveillance, quality control, waste utilisation and value addition. Investment in renewable energy generation Outcomes:  It would help reduce the burden of debt-ridden electricity distribution companies and State governments,  Enables energy security in rural areas. Private investment to agriculture Outcomes:  Linking Farm business organisations with commodity exchanges would provide agriculture commodities more space on international trading platforms .  BRICS IAS It reduces the burden of markets in a glut season, with certain policy/procedural modifications Barriers for the Investments:  Issues of enumeration, maintenance and accessibility to help maintain agri-data on various fronts.  There also needs to be a centralised institutional mechanism to help maintain farm level-data available for real time (virtual) assessment, while also helping plug the loopholes in subsidy distribution, funding and unrealistic assumption in production estimation.  It needs dedicated investment in behavioural farm research sets  There is a need to converge fragmented investments (public, private and foreign) to address the structural weaknesses in the agriculture sector. Conclusion:  Agriculture and its allied sectors are believed to be one of the most fertile grounds to help achieve the ambitious Sustainable Developmental Goals (SDGs).  However, with the current pace of agriculture growth, India requires ‗patient capital‘, as financial returns to investment are unlikely to materialise in the initial years.  An inclusive business model facilitating strong investor-farmer relations should be created, with a legal and institutional framework for governance.  Expanding institutions is essential to accommodate the developmental impacts of foreign agricultural investment. Connecting the dots:

www.bricsias.com 8142160099167167

 Investment is the key to unlocking the potential of a developing economy. Elucidate. 22nd July 2019 Vaccination for rotavirus Part of: Main GS Paper II- Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population  Around 20 lakh children in the Maharashtra State will be vaccinated against rotavirus.  Annually, 3.34 lakh children succumb to diarrhoeal diseases in India, of which close to one lakh die of rotavirus diarrhoea.  Vaccination is a step towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goal target of reducing Child (under 5 years) Mortality rate to 25 or less per 1000 live births by 2030. Do you know?  India‘s Under Five Mortality (U5MR) declined from 125 per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 43 per 1,000 live births in 2015.  In 2016, India‘s infant (0-1 year) mortality rate was 44 per 1,000 live births.  To achieve full immunization coverage for all children and pregnant women at a rapid pace, the Government of India launched ―Mission Indradhanush‖ in December 2014.  Under Mission Indradhanush vaccination is being provided against eight vaccine-preventable diseases nationally, i.e. Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Polio, Measles, severe form of Childhood Tuberculosis, Hepatitis B, meningitis & pneumonia caused by Haemophilus influenza type B; and against Rotavirus Diarrhea and Japanese Encephalitis in selected states and districts respectively Delhi takes major share in electoral bonds Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – Polity; Governance issues 80.6% of the electoral bonds bought last year (₹5,851.41 crore) were redeemed in New Delhi, where the headquarters of major parties are located. This shows that the scheme is biased against regional parties. Additional concerns raised with respect to Electoral bonds scheme  Non transparent – anonymity-based funding scheme as neither the donor discloses to which party it has donated nor the political party discloses the source of bond.  It opens up the possibility of black money being and foreign capital donated to parties through shell companies.  May lead to Corporate capture of Politics: scheme did away with the statutory limit on corporate donations to parties (7.5% of three years‘ net profits)  Favours the ruling party: as it alone is in a position to identify the donors and, therefore, well placed to misuse such information. (Presently electoral Bonds are only available through Government owned SBI)  May pose a formidable entry barrier to new contenders in the political arena as this scheme is available only to parties that won 1% of the votes in the preceding election Do you know? The below reports have recommended State funding of elections to establish a fair playing field for parties with less money.  Indrajit Gupta Committee on State Funding of Elections (1998)  Law Commission Report on Reform of the Electoral Laws (1999)  National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution (2001)  Second Administrative Reforms Commission (2008) DEFXPO – India‘s mega Defence exhibition Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III – Defence  th BRICS IAS 11 Defexpo will be held in 2020 at Lucknow.  It is held biennially, the previous two editions were held at Chennai (2018) and Goa(2016)  It helps to showcase India‘s defence manufacturing capabilities, promote export of India‘s defence systems and attracts foreign players to invest in India.  India is developing two defence industrial production corridors to promote the defence sector. One is Tamil Nadu (linking Chennai and Bengaluru) and the other in Uttar Pradesh Revamp of Army Head Quarters (AHQ) Part of: Main GS Paper III – Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate Army has initiated the process of reforming its Head quarter structure, whose objective is to:  Ensure holistic integration of all divisions of army  Enhance the operational and functional efficiency  Optimise budget expenditure,  Facilitate force modernisation and  Address aspirations of the army personnel. POLITY/GOVERNANCE TOPIC: General studies 2  Indian Constitution—Historical Underpinnings, Evolution, Features, Amendments, Significant Provisions and Basic Structure.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099168168

 Important Aspects of Governance, Transparency and Accountability, E-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; Citizens Charters, Transparency & Accountability and institutional and other measures. The Right to information (Amendment) Bill, 2019 Context  The government introduced in Loksabha the Right to Information (Amendment) Bill, 2019, which proposes to give the Centre the powers to set the salaries and service conditions of Information Commissioners at central as well as state levels. Concerns:  Amendments have been proposed since 2006, just six months after the law was implemented and many times thereafter.  The deliberate dismantling of this architecture empowers the Central government to unilaterally decide the tenure, salary, allowances and other terms of service of Information Commissioners, both at the Centre and the States About Right to Information Act:  Article 19(1) of the Indian Constitution specifies that the Right to Information (RTI) is a part of the fundamental rights. It says that every citizen has freedom of speech and expression.  In 1976, in the Raj Narain vs the State of UP, it was held by the Supreme Court that people cannot speak unless they know. Hence the Right to Information is embedded in Article 19  RTI Act provides machinery for exercising this fundamental right.  As per the RTI Act 2005, every citizen has the right to receive a timely response from the government for any information that is sought by them with respect to the functioning of the government.  An RTI portal is created by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions in order to facilitate the process of RTI.  Besides access to information related to RTI, published disclosures by various public authorities under the state and the central governments, it acts as a gateway for obtaining information on the details of first Appellate Authorities, Principle Information Officers etc The basic objectives of RTI is  Empowerment of the citizens  Promotion of transparency and accountability in the functioning of the government  Prevention and elimination of corruption  Making the democracy work FOR the people in its real sense.  Under the RTI, every citizen is empowered to:  Seek information / ask questions to the government  Request for copies of government documents  Inspect government documents and works  Request for samples of materials of any government work Importance of RTI:  The RTI has been used brilliantly and persistently to ask a million questions across the spectrum — from the village ration shop, the Reserve Bank of India, the Finance Ministry, on demonetisation, non-performing assets, the Rafale fighter aircraft deal, electoral bonds, unemployment figures, the appointment of the Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC), Election Commissioners, and the (non)-appointment of the Information Commissioners themselves.  BRICS IAS The information related to decision-making at the highest level has in most cases eventually been accessed because of the independence and high status of the Information Commission.  The RTI movement has struggled to access information and through it, a share of governance and democratic power.  The Indian RTI law has been a breakthrough in creating mechanisms and platforms for the practice of continual public vigilance that are fundamental to democratic citizenship. Recent moves of RTI:  All the provisions related to appointment were carefully examined by a parliamentary standing committee and the law was passed unanimously.  Section 13 states that salaries, allowances and other terms of service of ―the Chief Information Commissioner shall be the same as that of the Chief Election Commissioner‖, and those of an Information Commissioner ―shall be the same as that of an Election Commissioner‖.  The Bill amends Sections 13 and 16 of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005. Section 13 of the original Act sets the term of the central Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners at five years (or until the age of 65, whichever is earlier).  Section 16 of the original Act deals with state-level Chief Information Commissioners and Information Commissioners. It sets the term for state-level CICs and ICs at five years (or 65 years of age, whichever is earlier).

www.bricsias.com 8142160099169169

 It was on the recommendation of the parliamentary standing committee that the Information Commissioner and CIC were made on a par with the Election Commissioner and the CEC, respectively.  The mandatory pre-legislative consultative policy of the government has been ignored. Major issues:  The separation of powers is a concept which underscores this independence and is vital to our democratic checks and balances.  When power is centralised and the freedom of expression threatened no matter what the context, democracy is definitely in serious danger.  The Commission which is vested by law with status, independence and authority, will now function like a department of the Central government, and be subject to the same hierarchy and demand for deferential respect.  Apart from Section 13 which deals with the terms and conditions for the Central information Commission, in amending Section 16, the Central government will also control through rules, the terms and conditions of appointment of Commissioners in the States. This is an assault on the idea of federalism.  The RTI community is worried. But the sword of Damocles is double-edged. It is an idiom originally used to define the hidden insecurity of an autocrat. Questions are threats to unaccountable power. Conclusion:  The RTI has unshackled millions of users who will continue to use this democratic right creatively and to dismantle exclusive power.  The RTI has been and will be used to withstand attacks on itself and strengthen the movement for transparency and accountability in India.  The RTI has resulted in a fundamental shift — empowering a citizen‘s access to power and decision-making. It has been a lifeline for many of the 40 to 60 lakh ordinary users, many of them for survival. Connecting the dots:  Has RTI been successful in bringing transparency into governance? Critically evaluate.  Don‘t you think Right to Information (RTI) stifles decision making? Critically examine.  The RTI in its current form and shape requires certain changes to make it more effective. Do you agree? Substantiate. 23rd July 2019 Chandrayana-2 Part of: GS Prelims and Main GS Paper III- Science and Technology Key PT Pointers:  Chandrayaan-1 (only Orbiter) launched in 2008 was ISRO‘s first mission to the moon  Chandrayaan-2 consists of an Orbiter, Lander (named as Vikram) and Rover (named as Pragyan), all equipped with scientific instruments to study the moon  The lander and rover are designed to work for only 14 days(1 lunar day), while orbiter will remain in orbit for a year  With Chandrayaan-2, India will become only the fourth country in the world to land a spacecraft on the moon.  Chandrayaan-2 will make a landing at a site near the South pole of the moon, where no earlier mission has gone,  The south pole of the moon o holds the possibility of the presence of water o It is also supposed to have ancient rocks and craters that can offer indications of history of moon, and also contain clues to the fossil BRICSrecords of early solar system. IAS Cryptocurrencies to be banned Part of: GS Prelims and Main GS Paper III- Science and Technology Key Pointers:  Subhash Chandra Garg Committee was constituted on November 2, 2017 to look into the legality of cryptocurrencies and blockchain.  The report says cryptocurrencies do not have any intrinsic value of their own and lack any of the attributes of a currency. They neither act as a store of value nor are they a medium of exchange in themselves  The committee thus recommended that private cryptocurrencies be banned in India.  It has, however, said the government should keep an open mind on the potential issuance of cryptocurrencies by the Reserve Bank of India. Conservation efforts to revive gharial population Part of: GS Prelims and Main GS Paper III- Environment and Conservation In news:  Five gharials, were bred at the Nandankanan Zoological Park, Odisha and released into into the Satkosia gorge of Mahanadi.  The gharials are individually marked and fitted with radio transmitters for future identification and tracking of their migration route  Gharials are ―critically endangered‖ species of crocodile.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099170170

 Odisha is the only State in India having all three species — gharial, mugger and saltwater crocodile. SOCIAL JUSTICE/GOVERNANCE TOPIC: General studies 2  Governance and related issues  Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections. An unbalanced view of the technical interventions in MGNREGA Context:  Economic Survey has presented an unbalanced view of the technical interventions in MGNREGA  The Survey draws heavily from the Indian School of Business‘s working paper titled ―A Friend Indeed: Does The Use of Digital Identity Make Welfare Programs Truly Counter-Cyclical?‖ Concerns:  Economic survey presents a skewed and unbalanced view of the programme‘s technical interventions instead of taking a comprehensive view of the implementation.  The Survey completely ignores numerous instances where technology has resulted in violation of workers‘ rights under the MGNREGA. About MNREGA  The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, earlier known as the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act was passed on 7th September 2005 to augment employment generation and social security in India. It covers all districts of India except the ones with 100% urban population.  ―Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act‖, MGNREGA), is an Indian labour law and social security measure that aims to guarantee the ―Right to Work‖. MGNREGA History: In 1991, the P.V Narashima Rao government proposed a pilot scheme for generating employment in rural areas with the following goals:  Employment Generation for agricultural labour during the lean season.  Infrastructure Development  Enhanced Food Security This scheme was called the Employment Assurance Scheme which later evolved into the MGNREGA after the merger with the Food for Work Programme in the early 2000s. Objectives of MGNREGA: The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) has the following objectives:  MGNREGA guarantee ―Right To Work‖ for at least one member of family for 100 days annually, 150 days for SC/STs during non-agricultural seasons .  Employment provided within 15 days of enrollment , failing to which the government will give unemployment wages to work-seekers  Increase economic security  Decrease migration of labour from rural to urban areas Changes in MNREGA structure  By 2009-10, MGNREGA wages were only 90% of market wages for males, but 26% higher than market wages for females.  BRICS IAS By 2011-12, they were lower than market wages for both category of workers, but for females, they were close to market levels.  The 2017-18 PLFS estimates show that private market wages for males were higher than MGNREGA wages by 74%, and female market wages were higher than MGNREGA wages by 21%.  Clearly, no male worker is going to demand MGNREGA work when he can get a much higher daily wage with the same effort .  However, women continue to demand and work under MGNREGA, though market wages are higher, because of non-availability of work and discrimination as well as exclusion from the private labour market. Six reasons why the Economic Survey‘s presentation of the MGNREGA is misleading 1. Lack of adequate financial allocation, pending liabilities and low wages.  20% of the Budget allocation in each of the last five years is of pending wage liabilities from previous years  MGNREGA wages in many States are about 40% lower than the Ministry of Labour‘s national minimum wage.  Instead of sufficiently funding MGNREGA, a legal right, in times of severe drought, there is disproportionate attention by the government 2. Misrepresentation of continuous technological interventions in the MGNREGA since its inception  Electronic funds transfer started as far back as in 2011 through the Electronic Fund Management System (eFMS), which became symbolic of the Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT).  In 2016 National Electronic Fund Management System (N-eFMS) has been

www.bricsias.com 8142160099171171

 The Survey uses the term ―ALP‖ for Aadhaar-linked payments and conflates it with the DBT .  The merging of two terms prevents one from making an honest assessment on the effect that different interventions have had. 3. The Survey makes strong assertions that timely payment of wages have positively impacted worker participation.  The Survey makes claims on reduction in payment delays due to the introduction of Aadhaar  Wage payments to MGNREGA workers happen in two stages  First stage: it is the time taken by the blocks to generate the electronic Funds Transfer Orders (FTO) and send it digitally to the Central government.  Second stage: it is the time taken by the Central government to process these FTOs and transfer wages to workers‘ accounts.  Delays in the first stage have reduced, those in the second stage continue to be unacceptably high(takes more than 50 days). 4. An increase in demand for and supply of work in drought-affected areas to Aadhaar ignoring other crucial factors.  Judicial-administrative directives, which came into effect after Aadhaar was introduced, played an important role in the increase in the MGNREGA work uptake in drought areas.  Examples: o In Rajasthan- 67% increase in employment generated and a record number of households having completed 100 days of work under the MGNREGA as a part of ‗work demand cmapaign‘ o In Karnataka- There is a three-fold increase in employment generation in Karnataka in 2019 compared to 2018. 5. The Survey rightfully acknowledges the nature of positive targeting of the MGNREGA — with women, Dalits and Adivasis benefitting the most — it wrongfully attributes it wholly to the introduction of Aadhaar. 6. Aadhaar-linked payments identifying ―ghost beneficiaries‖ is exaggerated as an RTI query showed that they accounted for only about 1.4% of total households in 2016-17. Conclusion  Overlooking the fundamental issues, cherry-picking studies and using flawed analyses to justify technocracy is an example of ethical paralysis.  The Economic Survey harps about an ill-designed technological pipeline, the fact is that a landmark labour programme is being put on a ventilator. Connecting the dots:  ―Technology is neither good nor bad; nor is it neutral‖ Elucidate?  In the Light of continuation of MNREGA in the present year. Discuss its achievements and limitations  MNREGA- is a great example of proactive disclosure of information through its Management Information System (MIS). Discuss  MNREGA, despite of all the limitations and failure, it is in agreement with sustainable development. Elucidate. 24th July 2019 Measles-Rubella Vaccination Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – Health issue Key pointers:  Measles-Rubella vaccination drive started in Rajasthan to cover 2.26 crore children up to 15 years of age.  BRICS IAS Measles and rubella are contagious viral infections preventable by vaccine and best known by its distinctive red rash.  The drive helps in achieving the UN SDG target of reducing Child (under 5 years) Mortality rate to 25 or less per 1000 live births by 2030. Do you know?  India accounted for 36% of deaths of the world‘s children by measles.  To achieve full immunization coverage for all children and pregnant women at a rapid pace, the Government of India launched ―Mission Indradhanush‖ in December 2014.  Under Mission Indradhanush vaccination is being provided against eight vaccine-preventable diseases nationally, i.e. Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Polio, Measles, severe form of Childhood Tuberculosis, Hepatitis B, meningitis & pneumonia caused by Haemophilus influenza type B; and against Rotavirus Diarrhea and Japanese Encephalitis in selected states and districts respectively Opposition to privatization of Ordinance Factory Part of: GS Mains II and III – Government schemes and policies; Defence In News:  West Bengal CM has written to PM opposing government‘s initiative to privatise Indian Ordnance Factory Pros of Privatization  Privatisation will lead to increase in efficiency of the operations of factories

www.bricsias.com 8142160099172172

 It will help modernise the domestic weapon and ammunition manufacturing process  This will encourage private sector participation in Defence industry (Make in India scheme) and helps spur jobs & investment  Disinvestment in these firms will lead to revenue earnings for government Issues with Privatization  Strategic sector such as defence equipment manufacturing should remain under the control of government in the interest of National Security and defence of country  Ordnance Factory Board, with its 41 factories across India employs around 1.6 lakh officers. Their employment and pension aspects needs to be taken care of Do you know?  Ordnance Factory board was founded in 1775 with its HQ in Kolkatta to make military weapons and ammunition  It is under Ministry of Defence  It is considered to be the world‘s largest government set-up for manufacturing arms and ammunition. Water-grid project in Maratwada Part of: GS Prelims and Mains I and III – Geography; Water conservation In news:  Maratwada region of Maharasthra

Context:  Maratwada, has traditionally been a low-rainfall area primarily due because of its geography – lies in rain shadow region of western ghats  The grid project aims to create an integrated piped network to supply water for drinking, industrial and agricultural purposes all through the year.  The work would be taken up on hybrid annuity model, which involves an investment by private players also. Do you know ?  During 2016 drought, a train named Jaldhoot supplied more than 70 lakh litres of water to Latur in Maratwada region  Hybrid annuity means that theBRICS government makes an upfront of 40%IAS of the project cost and pays a fixed annual installment(annuity) for certain years for operation and maintenance (reduces traffic risk), while 60% of project cost is borne private player. Government in process of finalising OTC drug policy Part of: GS Prelims and Mains II – Health issue; Government schemes and policies In news:  The practice of self-medication is rampant in India  Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs are medicines sold directly to a consumer without a need of prescription from a healthcare professional  In the absence of a legal framework, chemists are selling some commonly used ‗prescription only‘ drugs like paracetamol as well as other drugs over the counter  Thus, lack of well-defined regulation for OTC medicines is impacting patient safety  Drugs that are known to have negligible side effects can be classified as OTC so that access to them becomes easy and wide.  When drugs for common viral infections, sore throat, acidity, indigestion, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, injury, cuts, wounds, burns, acne etc are made available under OTC, people will get access to the right medication Concerns  Rise of antibiotic resistance due to use of over-the-counter drugs

www.bricsias.com 8142160099173173

 An antibiotic is a drug meant to treat a bacterial infection.  This will further strengthen the practice of self-medication Do you know?  The Union health ministry‘s Anti-Microbial Resistance awareness campaign urges people not to use medicines marked with a red vertical line, including antibiotics, without a doctor‘s prescription – Red Line Campaign

Miscellaneous: Growth Forecast reduced  IMF cuts India‘s growth forecast for 2019-20 from 7.3% to 7%  The reduction is primarily due to weaker-than-expected outlook for domestic demand  The growth engine of an economy is said to run on four wheels – Private consumption expenditure (domestic demand), private investment, government expenditure and exports  World Economic Outlook report is released by IMF NATIONAL/HEALTH ISSUE TOPIC: General studies 2  Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation  Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources  Issues and policies related to healthBRICS IAS  Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate Loosening strength in anti-AIDS march Context  The commitment to end the AIDS pandemic by 2030 needs strong and fearless leadership Concerns  The Joint UN programme on AIDS, commonly known as UNAIDS, is facing one of the worst challenges afflicting the global AIDS response  Appointment a new executive director after the departure of Michel Sidibé in May 2019 on the recommendation of the programme.  The commitment to end AIDS by 2030 is ambitious but not impossible to achieve because every year there are about 1.7 million new infections. About UNAIDS:  UNAIDS is leading the global effort to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals.  It started operations in 1996  UNAIDS provides the strategic direction, advocacy, coordination and technical support needed to catalyse and connect leadership from governments, the private sector and communities to deliver life-saving HIV services.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099174174

Achievements of UNAIDS:  It has successfully mobilised world opinion to mount an exceptional response to an epidemic.  The slashing of prices of AIDS drugs by Indian generics have brought treatment within the reach of many countries by the Creation of GFATM.  Preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV has become an achievable goal by 2020. Challenges to reach the goal to end AIDS pandemic by 2030:  The organisation has started to falter in its strategy.  Regions such as Eastern Europe and Central Asia and West Asia are nowhere near reaching the goal of ending AIDS.  It is forgotten that AIDS affects the poor, the marginalised and criminalised communities in accessing the ‗test and treat‘ programmes.  Funding for non-governmental organisations and community-based organisations working on prevention has been gradually decreased.  The weakening of country leadership of UNAIDS in many high-prevalence countries. Suggestions  The strategy to end AIDS should go back to the World Health Organisation (WHO) where it originally belonged to some 25 years ago.  And that the new executive director should be equipped with an exit strategy to wind up the organisation.  The new executive director has to work relentlessly to place prevention of the epidemic and empowering communities at the centre of global response.  The new executive director should strive for the strengthening of organisation presence at country level. Conclusion:  The commitment to end AIDS by 2030 is ambitious but not impossible to achieve.  We need to re-energise UNAIDS with a strong and fearless leadership from a person of high integrity and commitment along with a sincere effort to remove the deadwood from the organisation. Connecting the dots:  What is HIV and how is it a life threatening disease? How has India battled against HIV? Critically examine.  Elaborate on the Policy actions initiated by the government w.r.t. HIV AIDS and the necessary concerns associated. Highlight the provisions of the recent legislation  ‗AIDS affects the poor, the marginalised and criminalised communities‘. Discuss the challenges and solutions with respect to the statement. EDUCATION

TOPIC: General studies 2  Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.  Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education How not to educate India? Context  Draft National Education Policy ignores key issues of learning Draft National Education Policy:  The draft of New National EducationBRICS Policy has been recently submitted IAS by the Committee led by the Chairman Dr. Kasturirangan on education policy. Need for DNEP  The extant National Policy on Education, 1986 modified in 1992 required changes to meet the contemporary and futuristic needs of India‘s large youth population.  A New Education Policy is designed to meet the changing dynamics of the requirements in terms of quality education, innovation and research.  The policy aims at making India a knowledge superpower by equipping students with the necessary skills and knowledge.  It also focuses on eliminating the shortage of manpower in science, technology, academics and industry.  The Draft Policy is built on the foundational pillars of Access, Equity, Quality, Affordability and Accountability. Why we should know about DNEP?  It has implications for India‘s ability to reap its ―demographic dividend‖.  Accelerated economic development is dependent upon youthful labour force, this can be achieved only by investments in human development, including education. Key changes proposed in DNEP  The committee has proposed to rename the Ministry of Human Resource Development as Ministry of Education (MoE).  Curriculum – In school education, a major reconfiguration of curricular and pedagogical structure was proposed.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099175175

 The policy calls for an Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) as an integral part of school education.  A 5+3+3+4 curricular and pedagogical structure based on cognitive and socio-emotional developmental stages of children was proposed.  RTE Act – The committee recommends Extension of Right to Education Act 2009 to cover children of ages 3 to 18 (currently, 6-14).  The committee proposes for massive transformation in teacher education.  Institution – A new apex body Rashtriya Shiksha Ayog is proposed.  The National Research Foundation, an apex body, is proposed for creating a strong research culture  National Higher Education Regulatory Authority will be the only regulator for all higher education including professional education  UGC is to be transformed to Higher Education Grants Commission (HEGC).  The policy proposes to create an accreditation eco-system led by a revamped NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council).  Language – Promotion of Indian and classical languages and setting up three new National Institutes for Pali, Persian and Prakrit were proposed.  Indian Institute of Translation and Interpretation (IITI) has been recommended.  The policy called for the proper implementation of the three-language formula (dating back to 1968) in schools across the country.  Accordingly, students in Hindi-speaking states should learn a modern Indian language, apart from Hindi and English. Issues not addressed in DNEP Five issues that the draft must consider incorporating: 1. Financing of education  This report lost an opportunity to discuss the advantages of public investments in elementary and high school education that generate ―public good‖, as against the university-level policy focus on promoting ―private good 2. Privatisation-  Reckless and unregulated private schools and colleges, besides compromising on quality, will only increase (not reduce) social inequalities in India.. 3. Technology (ICT) as a leveler and equity enhancer 4. English as a medium of instruction  This issue was discussed that too mostly by undermining the role and importance of the English language. 5. The state‘s responsibility in educating the masses. What can be done?  Education reform must focus on certain fundamental principles like personalised learning, literacy and numeracy, scientific temper that promotes competition and collaboration  Technological platforms must be immediately harnessed to impart equitable access at primary, elementary and high school levels and to increase the quality of education  Regular assessment of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.  A new ―public-private-partnership‖ model will succeed in achieving the objectives of quality, affordability and equality of access.  It should emphasise enough the role and importance of state governments in imparting education to the masses. Conclusion:  BRICS IAS Education is a powerful instrument for reducing poverty and inequality; and it enhances competitiveness in the global economy.  Ensuring access to quality education for all is central to the economic and social development of India, according to the World Bank. Connecting the dots:  Discuss unique features of the draft National Education Policy, 2019. Also comment on the challenges in implementation of suggested recommendations?  Education is a powerful instrument for reducing poverty and inequality- Analyse. 25th July 2019 Reservation in Private Jobs Part of: Mains GS-II – Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors In News:  Andhra Pradesh becomes First State to Reserve 75% Private Jobs for Local Youths  According to the new law, if a company does not find the necessary skills in locals, then it will need to train them in association with the state government,  The law is applicable to all industrial units, factories, joint ventures and PPP projects.  The step is positive in that it promotes local hiring

www.bricsias.com 8142160099176176

 This helps in addressing the discontent among native youth about loss of jobs to migrant labour from other states (like UP, Bihar) Issues  It is against the spirit of free-market economy  If required skills are not found in local youth, then industries have to skill them increasing their cost of operations  This will discourage major industries from outside the state to set up its unit in the state of AP  Similar laws are proposed in other states like Madhya Pradesh, which cumulatively impacts the unity of India and freedom of its citizens (Article 19(1)(d), 19(1)(e),19(1)(g)) Prandhan Mantri Laghu Vyapari Maan-dhan Yojana (PMLVMDY) Part of: Mains GS-II – Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes. In News:  The centre‘s pension scheme for small traders (PMLVMDY) has been notified and being introduced on trial basis from this week  The scheme assures a minimum monthly pension of Rs. 3,000/- month after attaining the age of 60 years  Who can enrol for this scheme? o All small shopkeepers and self-employed persons as well as the retail traders with GST turnover below Rs. 1.5 crore and age between 18-40 years  Potential of the Scheme? o The scheme would benefit more than 5 crore small shopkeepers and traders.  Simplified process of enrolment– based on self-declaration as no documents are required except Aadhaar and bank account. Interested persons can enrol themselves through more than 3.25 lakh Common Service Centres spread across the country.  Government of India will make matching contribution in the subscribers‘ account  LIC has been chosen as pension fund for this scheme. Do you know?  Only 7.4% of the working age population in India is covered under a pension program( 65% for Germany & 31% for Brazil) according to the 2017 WEF‘s report on Global Human Capital.  Demographically, India will transition slowly from a ‗young‘ to a ‗greying‘ country, where persons above the age of 60 would increase from 8.9% of the population now to 19.4% by 2050  Ramadorai Committee on Household finances – India is sitting on a ticking pension time bomb, whereby demographic dividend can become demographic concern Concerns associated with Sugarcane Industry Part of: Mains GS-III – Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and MSP In News  Centre has decided to halt the trend of rising MSP for Sugarcane  Centre also to expand the buffer stock of sugar Why such decisions?  To correct the demand-supply imbalances – estimated production of sugar this year is 32.95 million, whereas domestic demand is just 26 million tonnes.  To Stabilise retail prices – bumperBRICS harvest combined with high IAS rates of recovery of sugar from sugarcane leading to glut in supply leading to crash in prices  To Reduce payment arrears from mills to farmers – Centre announces the minimum price that mills must pay to sugar cane cultivators (large vote bank- hence subject to populism leading to loss for mill owners) India rises in global innovation ranking Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS-III – Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development. In news:  India has improved from its previous year rank of 57 to 52 in the Global Innovation Index 2019  There has been consistent improvement in past few years – 81 in 2015, which rose to 66 in 2016, 60 in 2017 and 57 in 2018.  Major innovation drivers are ICT services exports, graduates in science and engineering, the quality of universities, gross capital formation and creative goods exports  The report is brought out by the UN World Intellectual Property Organisation, INSEAD and CII Miscellaneous News Milkyway‘s violent birth decoded  Our galaxy Milkyway merged with another small galaxy nearly 10 billion years ago, according to studies based on data from Gaia space observatory

www.bricsias.com 8142160099177177

 This collision increased our galaxy‘s mass by about a quarter and triggered a period of accelerated star formation lasting about 2 to 4 billion years,  Galaxies of all types began to form soon after Big Bang explosion (marked the beginning of Universe some 13.8 billion years ago)  Gaia is a space observatory of the European Space Agency, launched in 2013

POLITY TOPIC: General studies 2  Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.  Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein.  Parliament and State Legislatures – structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.

The limits of anti-defection Concerns:  The prolonged political crisis in Karnataka has demonstrated the ways in which the nearly 35-year-old anti- defection law can be used and abused. Context  The political crisis that began in Karnataka with the resignation of 15 MLAs that took five days and multiple missed deadlines to be put to vote  This underscored the tortuous working of India‘s anti-defection law and threw up a range of associated legal and constitutional questions.  The incident calls for an interpretation of the three provisions of the Constitution: Article 190 (vacation of seats), Article 164 (1B), and the Xth schedule of the Constitution. Anti-defection law:  The seeds of the anti-defection law were sown after the general elections in 1967.  Anti-defection provisions in India were first introduced in 1985 through the 52nd amendment to the Constitution.  It lays down the process by which legislators may be disqualified on grounds of defection by the Presiding Officer of a legislature based on a petitionBRICS by any other member of the House. IAS  The practice so far is that courts do not interfere until a decision regarding disqualification is taken  The anti-defection law does not specify a timeframe for Speakers to decide on defection proceedings.  When the politics demanded, Speakers were either quick to pass judgment on defection proceedings or delayed acting on them for years on end. Grounds of disqualification under Anti-Defection law:  A legislator is deemed to have defected if he either voluntarily gives up the membership of his party or disobeys the directives of the party leadership on a vote. This implies that a legislator defying (abstaining or voting against) the party whip on any issue can lose his membership of the House. The law applies to both Parliament and state assemblies. Exceptions under the law:  Legislators may change their party without the risk of disqualification in certain circumstances.  The law allows a party to merge with or into another party provided that at least two-thirds of its legislators are in favour of the merger The amendment, by which the Tenth Schedule was inserted in the Constitution, did three broad things.  Firstly, it made legislators liable to be penalised for their conduct both inside (voting against the whip of the party) and outside (making speeches, etc.) the legislature — the penalty being the loss of their seats in Parliament or the state legislatures.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099178178

 Secondly, it protected legislators from disqualification in cases where there was a split (with 1/3rd of members splitting) or merger (with 2/3rds of members merging) of a legislature party with another political party.  Thirdly, it made the Presiding Officer of the concerned legislature the sole arbiter of defection proceedings Early attempts at a law to find the solution to the defections:  The first one was made by Indira‘s Home Minister Uma Shankar Dikshit in 1973;  The second,in 1978, by Shanti Bhushan, Minister for Law and Justice in the Janata Party government of Morarji Desai.  The third attempt which was successful —was made in 1985, after the Congress won more than 400 seats in Lok Sabha in the aftermath of Indira‘s assassination. The 2003 Amendment  The last step in the legislative journey of the anti-defection law came in 2003.  A Constitution Amendment Bill was introduced in Parliament by the government of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to address some of the issues with the law.  A committee headed by Pranab Mukherjee examined the Bill. Pranab Mukherjee Committee observations:  It is observed that the lure of office of profit plays dominant part in the political horse-trading resulting in spate of defections and counter defections.  The one-third split provision which offered protection to defectors was deleted from the law on the committee‘s recommendation.  The 2003 Amendment also incorporated the 1967 advice of the Y B Chavan committee in limiting the size of the Council of Ministers, and preventing defecting legislators from joining the Council of Ministers until their re- election. Way Forward:  Politicians found loopholes in this law and used it for their own benefit. It is high time that a watchdog should be provided to our Parliament and there is a need for our constitutional pundits to revisit the issue to combat the menace of corruption and defection which has eroded the values of democracy.  There is need to build a political consensus so that the room for political and policy expression in parliament for an individual member is expanded. Conclusion  The anti-defection law seeks to provide a stable government by ensuring the legislators do not switch sides.  However, this law also restricts a legislator from voting in line with his conscience, judgement and interests of his electorate.  Such a situation impedes the oversight function of the legislature over the government, by ensuring that members vote based on the decisions taken by the party leadership, and not what their constituents would like them to vote for.  The long drawn-out events in the Karnataka Vidhan Sabha have shown that even after three decades, the anti- defection law has not been able to stop political defections Connecting the dots:  Discuss the concerns against anti-defection laws suggest the possible reforms that can be made to anti-defection law?  Even after three decades, the anti-defection law has not been able to stop political defections. Critically analyse the given statement? BRICS IAS HEALTH TOPIC: General studies 2  Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources

 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

Healthcare system needs more healing hands Context:  The fault lines of the Indian healthcare system, especially those of our understaffed and under-skilled health workforce, are in urgent need of repair Concerns:  The Supreme Court has averred that health is a human right, while expressing its anguish at the spate of child deaths in Muzaffarpur.  The tragedy in Bihar comes at a time when doctors and patients are locked in an aggressively adversarial relationship across the country.  These are strict reminders that we need to urgently repair the fault lines in our health system.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099179179

 One of the major drawback is in terms of lack of health care workforce. How many health workers do we need? As per Millennium Development Goals (MDGs ):  The minimum number of health workers needed per 1,000 populations is 22 as per world health organisation.  The services includes maternal and child health as well as major infectious diseases.  India‘s National Health Mission too pursued the restricted MDG agenda, in which nearly 80% of population health needs were unaddressed. As per Sustainable development Goals(SDG):  The minimum number of health workers needed per 1,000 population are 44.5 as per WHO.  This was based on 12 health indicators and the need to deliver universal health coverage.  The services include non-communicable diseases, mental health and other conditions. About WHO:  World Health Organisation is a specialised agency of UN  Established in 1948  HQ : Geneva, Switzerland  It is concerned with international public health  It acts as coordinating authority on international public health  India is a founder member of WHO.  It is a member of UN Development Group (UNDP). Recent statistics from National Sample Survey of 2016:  Qualified allopathic doctors are overall 4.5 per 10, 000 Population, but only 1 per 11,000 in the public sector.  The ratio of nurses and midwives to doctors is 1.7, while it should be at least 3:1  India needs 2.5 million midwives, there are a total of only 1.3 million nurses overall, with many of them lacking adequate midwifery skills.  Midwifery has been subsumed under general nursing, after independence. How do we overcome these challenges?  The reconstituted Medical Council of India, with a nominated Board of Governors, is doing a commendable job in reforming a moribund regulatory system of medical education.  It proposes now to permit consortia of large private institutions of repute to start medical colleges or even partner with existing medical colleges to train more undergraduate students.  It is necessary to upgrade district hospitals in these states and make them robust training facilities for undergraduate and postgraduate medical and nursing education as well as allied health professional training  The National Health Mission should consider recruiting fresh medical graduates into a 3-year short service commission to provide for flexibility in posting to underserved states and areas.  There is a need to revive midwifery training programmes to full potential by enhancing scale, skills, scope, social status and salaries.  Digital technology, with decision support systems, management algorithms and tele-consulting, can greatly amplify their effectiveness.  Advanced clinical nursing, needed for multiple specialities, can be developed by starting diplomas and fellowships affiliated to the NBE. Conclusion:  There are far less healthcare providersBRICS than needed and those available IAS are severely maldistributed across states, and between rural and urban areas.  As the number of health workers raises and the country‘s health system needs are saturated, the surplus may also invigorate the global health workforce as countries with ageing populations and shrinking workforce stretch their hands to seek support from India‘s demographic bounty. But till then, India and Bihar first. Connecting the dots:  Discuss the challenges faced by health care system in India. Suggest the measures to address the challenges  While the private sector dominates healthcare delivery across the country, a majority of the population living below the poverty line (BPL) continues to rely on the under-financed and short-staffed public sector for its healthcare needs, as a result of which these remain unmet. Comment. Also suggest ideas to improve the status of public healthcare in India.  ―Health is a Human Right‖. Elucidate the statement  Discuss the goals and objectives of National health policy 2017 26th July 2019 Drug Menace Part of: Mains GS-I – Population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues In News  Northern States decided to set up joint working group to effectively combat drug menace in the region

www.bricsias.com 8142160099180180

 The joint group would undertake joint operations at inter-state borders, strengthen information sharing on drugs and drug dealers for effective crackdown against them  Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir, Delhi and UT of Chandigarh are part of this group  The joint group would initiate a major awareness program and strive to make eradication of drugs a people‘s movement Issues/Impact of Drug Abuse  India is in close proximity to the Golden Crescent (Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan) as well as the Golden Triangle (Myanmar, Laos and Thailand) makes it vulnerable to drug trafficking.  Wastage of economic potential/productivity of young population as drug abuse leads to physical, psychological, moral and intellectual decay  Increase in crime and violence rates – leading to domestic violence against women and child abuse  Increase in health burden of State – Increase in incidences of HIV, hepatitis B and C and tuberculosis due to narcotics addiction BRICS Foreign ministers meet Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS-II -Important International institutions. In News  Foreign Ministers of BRICS meeting to take place in Rio de Janerio  The goal is to prepare for the summit of the BRICS leaders, scheduled in November at Brasilia, Brazil‘s capital city  Digital economy – 5G and data localisation- will dominate the BRICS foreign ministers meeting Do you know?  US has banned Chinese telecom company Huawei (forerunner in 5G technology) on allegations of theft of Intellectual property, financial fraud and National security risk  India is yet to clarify whether it will include Huawei in its trials of 5G equipment scheduled to start in September  Data localisation – RBI has passed guidelines that financial data pertaining to Indians is stored only in Indian servers  BRICS is an informal grouping of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa formed in 2006  BRICS countries represent 41% of global population and together contribute nearly 23% of gross world product Overseas Sovereign bonds Part of: Mains GS-II – Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources In News  PMO has asked the Finance Ministry to conduct a detailed survey on the issuance of overseas sovereign bonds in light of criticism raised by experts  The government had announced in the 2019-20 budget to raise a portion of gross borrowing by issuing overseas sovereign bond What is Overseas foreign bond?  A sovereign bond is a specific debt instrument issued by the government.  It promises to pay the buyer a certain amount of interest for a stipulated number of years and repay the face value on maturity.  When sovereign bonds are denominated in foreign currency and can be settled in foreign markets, it is generally referred to as Foreign sovereignBRICS bonds IAS Criticism of Foreign Sovereign bonds  A government bond issued in foreign currency (mostly in US dollars) shifts the currency risk (exchange rate risk) from investor to issuer (in this case, the government)  It makes the nation reliant on foreign inflows and vulnerable to global uncertainties Merits of Foreign Sovereign Bonds  Indian government‘s debt to GDP ratio (~68%) is not very high, the exchange rate is stable, and foreign exchange reserves are high – Thus, there is Macro-economic stability to absorb any global shocks  Also, foreign investors‘ holdings in Indian debt has been low (3.6% of outstanding government securities) – thus scope for expansion of foreign debt  Indian government‘s domestic borrowing is crowding out private investment, thus tapping into foreign funds frees up credit space for domestic private investors  It may facilitate the inclusion of India‘s government bonds in the global debt indices which would also improve the attractiveness of rupee-denominated sovereign bonds.  The rates at which the government borrows overseas will act as a yardstick for pricing of other corporate bonds, helping India Inc to raise money overseas Miscellaneous News Dracaena cambodiana : India‘s first dragon blood-oozing tree  Researchers have discovered Dracaena cambodiana, a dragon tree species in West Karbi Anglong, Assam.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099181181

 The plant yields dragon‘s blood — a bright red resin used since ancient times as medicine, body oil, varnish, incense and dye  Several antifungal and antibacterial compounds, antioxidants, flavonoids, etc., have been extracted from various parts of the plant. POLITY/GOVERNANCE TOPIC: General studies 2  INTER-STATE RIVER WATER DISPUTES  Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein.  Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions.

Single tribunal to settle inter-state water disputes Context:  The Inter-State River Water Disputes (Amendment) Bill, 2019, which seeks to amend the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956, proposes setting up of a Central tribunal. Concerns  Setting up a tribunal, and awarding of the case, can take anything between six and 20 years  There are nine tribunals. Four tribunals took 10-28 years to deliver their awards. There is no time-frame to adjudicate disputes, and tribunals are extended indefinitely. Inter- state river water disputes: The Inter-State River Water Disputes are one of the most contiguous issues in the Indian federalism today. In extreme cases, it may hamper the relationship between the different states. India‘s Federal Water Institutions The relevant provisions of the Indian Constitution are  Entry 17 of State Listdeals with water i.e. water supply, irrigation, canal, drainage, embankments, water storage and water power.  Entry 56 of Union List empowers the Union Government for the regulation and development of inter-state rivers and river valleys to the extent declared by Parliament to be expedient in the public interest. According to Article 262, in case of disputes relating to waters:  Parliament may by law provide for the adjudication of any dispute or complaint with respect to the use, distribution or control of the waters of, or in, any inter-State river or river valley.  Parliament may, by law provide that neither the Supreme Court nor any other court shall exercise jurisdiction in respect of any such dispute or complaint as mentioned above. Parliament has enacted two laws according to Article 262: 1) River Board Act, 1956  The purpose of this Act was to enable the Union Government to create Boards for Interstate Rivers and river valleys in consultation with State Governments. The objective of Boards is to advise on the inter-state basin to prepare development scheme and to prevent the emergence of conflicts. Note: Till date, no river board as per above Act has been created. 2) Inter-State Water Dispute Act, 1956  Provisions of the Act: In case, if a particular state or states approach to Union Government for the constitution of the tribunal:  BRICS IAS Central Government should try to resolve the matter by consultation among the aggrieved states.  In case, if it does not work, then it may constitute the tribunal. Note: Supreme Court shall not question the Award or formula given by tribunal but it can question the working of the tribunal Mechanism of Inter-State River Water Disputes Resolution The resolution of water dispute is governed by the Inter-State Water Disputes Act, 1956.  According to its provisions, if a State Government makes a request regarding any water dispute and the Central Government is of opinion that the water dispute cannot be settled by negotiations, then a Water Disputes Tribunal is constituted for the adjudication of the water dispute.  The act was amended in 2002, to include the major recommendations of the Sarkaria Commission.  The amendments mandated a one year time frame to setup the water disputes tribunal and also a 3 year time frame to give a decision Major interstate river water disputes River (s) States Ravi and Beas Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan Narmada Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan

www.bricsias.com 8142160099182182

Krishna Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana Vamsadhara Andhra Pradesh & Odisha Cauvery Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Godavari Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha Mahanadi Chhattisgarh, Odisha Mahadayi Goa, Maharashtra, Karnataka Periyar Tamil Nadu, Kerala Issues with the Inter State River Water Dispute Act, 1956  Under this Act, a separate Tribunal has to be established for each dispute. There are eight inter-state water dispute tribunals, including the Ravi and Beas Waters Tribunal and Krishna River Water Dispute Tribunal.  Currently there is no time limit for adjudication or publication of reports.  Only three of the eight tribunals have actually given awards accepted by the states.  Tribunals like those on the Cauvery and Ravi Beas have been in existence for over 26 and 30 years respectively without any award.  There is no upper age limit for the chairman or the members.  The disputes‘ resolution generally has not been effective- Disputes have recurred, there have been long delays in adjudication and States have not complied with verdicts of tribunals. Delays in resolving the water disputes Extreme delays have been a very costly feature of the process of resolving inter-state water disputes in India. There have been three components or dimensions of delay.  There has been extreme delay in constituting tribunals .For example: In the case of Cauvery dispute, two of the basin states, Tamil Nadu and Kerala had asked for reference to a tribunal back in the 1970s. The tribunal was constituted only in 1990, after the Supreme Court mediated  Tribunals have taken long periods of time to give their awards. For example :It took nine years from reference in the case of the Narmada Tribunal, four years in the case of the Krishna Tribunal and ten years in the case of the Godavari Tribunal.  There have been delays in notifying the orders of tribunals in the Government of India‘s official gazette; this has resulted in delays and uncertainty in enforcement. For example: The process took three years in the case of the Krishna Award and one year in the case of the Godavari Award. These delays naturally tend to complicate the dispute settlement process Provisions of the Inter-State River Water Disputes(amendment bill)2019:  The new Bill proposes to reduce the time it takes to constitute a tribunal by forming a permanent agency, comprising benches that will be permitted to hear more than one dispute.  The total time period for adjudication of a water dispute by the Tribunal has been fixed at a maximum of four- and-a-half years.  The decision of the Bench of the Tribunal shall be final and binding on the states with no requirement of the publication in the Official Gazette. Conclusion  Current Indian water-dispute settlementBRICS mechanisms are ambiguous andIAS opaque.  A cooperative bargaining framework suggests that water can be shared efficiently, with compensating transfers as necessary, if initial water rights are well-defined, and if institutions to facilitate and implement cooperative agreements are in place.  Delay in the dimension of agreement over water can encourage inefficient, non-cooperative investments in dams, irrigation, etc. Connecting the dots:  Can the setting up of a single tribunal help in resolving river water sharing issues? Discuss.  Inter-state river water disputes have remained a contentious issue post-independence. Can you suggest few measures to address those?  Is politicisation of inter-state water disputes contributing to change in tribunals‘ functioning? Give your opinions  Inter-State River Water Disputes in India: Is it time for a new mechanism rather than tribunals? elucidate. POPULATION TOPIC: General studies 1  Population and associated issues General studies 2  Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099183183

Population control Context:  On July 11, World Population Day, a Union Minister expressed alarm, in a Tweet, over what he called the ―population explosion‖ in the country, wanting all political parties to enact population control laws and annulling the voting rights of those having more than two children Concerns  A large and growing population is at the root of a nation‘s problems as more and more people chase fewer and fewer resources  The damage done when mishandling issues of population growth is long lasting. What does Economic survey 2018-19 says about population control?  The Survey notes that India is set to witness a ―sharp slowdown in population growth in the next two decades‖.  States with high population growth are also the ones with the lowest per capita availability of hospital beds. What‘s the fact?  The fact is that by the 2030s, some States will start transitioning to an ageing society as part of a well-studied process of ―demographic transition‖ which sees nations slowly move toward a stable population as fertility rates fall with an improvement in social and economic development indices over time. Dangers of population explosion:  A large and growing population is at the root of a nation‘s problems as more and more people chase fewer and fewer resources.  It does not take much to whip up public sentiment which in turn can quickly degenerate into a deep class or religious conflict that pits the poor, the weak, the downtrodden and the minorities against the more privileged sections. Population policies:  Population Policies formulated to address the unmet needs for contraception, health care infrastructure, and health personnel, and to provide integrated service delivery for basic reproductive and child health care.  The main objective is to achieve a stable population at a level consistent with the requirements of sustainable economic growth, social development, and environmental protection.  India is the first country in the world to begin a population control programme in 1952. It emphasized the use of natural devices for family planning.  The National Population Policy (NPP) 2000 provides a policy framework of achieving goals and prioritizing strategies during the next decade to meet the reproductive and child health needs of the people of India along with the target to achieve the net replacement levels (Total Fertility Rate). It aims at stable population by 2045.  It was forward-looking National Population Policy (NPP)which was introduced in 2000 when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister. The following national socio-demographic goals were formulated to be achieved by 2010:  The ‗total fertility rate‘ to be reduced to 2.1.  The high class birth control services had to be made available publically so that the standard of two children could be adopted.  The infant mortality rate had to be reduced to 30 per thousand.  The mother mortality rate had also to be reduced to below 100 per one lakh.  The late marriage of girls had to be encouraged. The essence of NPP(2000)  BRICS IAS Voluntary and informed choice and consent of citizens while availing of reproductive health care services‖  Target free approach in administering family planning services Argument of NPP The lifecycle framework‖ which looks to the health and nutrition needs of mother and child not merely during pregnancy and child birth but ―right from the time of conception till the child grows and carrying on till the adolescent stage and further This argument is not about denying services but about offering choices and a range of services to mother and child on the clear understanding that the demographic dividend can work to support growth and drive opportunity for ordinary people only when the population is healthy. Crucial connections  Family health, child survival and the number of children a woman has are closely tied to the levels of health and education of the parents, and in particular the woman  So the poorer the couple, the more the children they tend to have.  The poor tend to have more children because child survival is low, son preference remains high, children lend a helping hand in economic activity for poorer households and so support the economic as well as emotional needs of the family. What does National Family Health Survey-4 (2015-16) says in this context?  It says that there is depth of the connections between health, education and inequality

www.bricsias.com 8142160099184184

 women in the lowest wealth quintile have an average of 1.6 more children than women in the highest wealth quintile  wealthiest total fertility rate is 1.5 compare to that of the poorest which was 3.2 children  Women with no schooling have an average 3.1 children, compared with 1.7 children for women with 12 or more years of schooling. Conclusion  Turning this into a problem that needs to be controlled is exactly the kind of phraseology, mind set and possibly action that will spell doom for the nation.  It will undo all the good work that has been done and set the stage for a weaker and poorer health delivery system — exactly the opposite of what a scheme such as Ayushman Bharat seeks to achieve.  Today, as many as 23 States and Union Territories, including all the States in the south region, already have fertility below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman. So, support rather than control works. Connecting the dots  Population truly becomes a thriving resource; the life blood of a growing economy. Elucidate  Does India have a population policy? What are its objectives? What is the need of having a population policy? Elucidate. 27th July 2019 Inter-state water cooperation Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS- II – issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure. In News  Punjab will reline its Ferozepur feeder for the Indira Gandhi Canal (IGC)system, so as to increase its water carrying capacity Do you know?  IGC previously known as the Rajasthan Canal aims to bring Himalayan rivers (Sutlej & Beas) flowing in Punjab to arid regions of Rajasthan  IGC is the longest canal in India which traverses through states of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan  IGC is considered as a major step in reclaiming the Thar Desert and checking desertification of fertile areas  However, excessive irrigation and intensive agriculture have caused new environmental problems like water- logging caused by increased seepage from canal and increase in salinity of ground water. Measures to improve quality of Education Part of: Mains GS II- Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education In News  Substandard teacher training colleges to be shut down  The National Council for Teacher Education(NCTE) has begun the process, as recommended by draft National Educational Policy  A reduction in quantity is needed to boost quality – India produces 19.5 lakh teachers every year, though the annual requirement is less than 3 lakh Other measures required to improve Teacher education  To choose 700 colleges — at least one per district — as model teacher training institutions so as to guide other such institutes  Review the outdated curriculum of teacher training through o Inclusion of more practical component o BRICS IAS Incorporate digital technological advances into teaching method o Child centric curriculum  Launch of the four-year integrated B.Ed programmes Do you know?  NCTE is a statutory body under NCTE Act,1993. Earlier it used to function as advisory body under NCERT  NCTE functions for the central as well as state governments on all matter with regard to the Teacher Education Private member‘s bill Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS II- Parliament In News  Private member bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha to amend Representation of People‘s Act, which makes two key proposals  One, the current per candidate expenditure limit of ₹70 lakh for Lok Sabha election should be lifted  Two, there should be state funding to ensure a ―cleaner polity‖, which is a public good. Reasons for such amendments  Capping of expenditure is like prohibition which is counter-productive as it pushes the elections expenditure underground  This leads to vicious cycle of black money, cronyism, corruption and criminalisation of politics.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099185185

 State funding of elections addresses the unfair advantages enjoyed by National Political Parties vis-à-vis regional parties Do You know?  A bill introduced by a legislator who is not a part of executive is called Private member bill  Only 14 private members bill have been passed by both House and become law in the history of Indian Parliament.  The last such bill was the Supreme Court (enlargement of criminal appellate jurisdiction) Bill passed in 1970

Rise of China BRICS IAS Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS II- International Politics In News  China and Cambodia have signed a secret agreement that allows Beijing exclusive use of Ream Naval base of Cambodia located in Gulf of Thailand  This will be China‘s first dedicated naval staging facility in South East Asia Do You Know?  China has proposed to build Kra Canal that would connect the Gulf of Thailand with the Andaman Sea across the Kra Isthmus in southern Thailand.  All these initiatives are to counter the USA‘s dominance of Malacca Strait – important shipping lane which carries about 25% of the world‘s traded goods  South China Sea dispute involves contesting claims, both maritime and islands, by 7 countries viz. Brunei, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099186186

BRICS IAS

POLITY TOPIC: General studies 2  Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.  Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary Ministries and Departments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity.  Parliament & State Legislatures – structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges & issues arising out of these Private Bill urges state election funding Context:

www.bricsias.com 8142160099187187

 Equating the expenditure limit on election expenses with prohibition, Congress MP Rajeev Gowda on Friday moved a private member‘s Bill in the Rajya Sabha that seeks removal of the limit and state funding of elections as part of reforms to the way polls are financed in India. Concerns:  The limit of funding was counterproductive and only helped those with black money to bribe individual voters and crippled honest candidates, What is private member bill in the parliament?  Private member‘s bills are piloted by non-Minister MPs.  Their purpose is to draw the government‘s attention to what individual MPs see as issues and gaps in the existing legal framework, which require legislative intervention. Who are private members?  Any MP who is not a Minister is referred to as a private member.  Parliament‘s key role is to debate and make laws.  Both Ministers and private members contribute to the law making process.  Bills introduced by Ministers are referred to as government bills.  They are backed by the government, and reflect its legislative agenda. Procedure for introducing private member bill in parliament:  The admissibility of a private member‘s Bill is decided by the Rajya Sabha Chairman and in the case of Lok Sabha, it is the Speaker; the procedure is roughly the same for both Houses.  The Member must give at least a month‘s notice before the Bill can be listed for introduction; the House secretariat examines it for compliance with constitutional provisions and rules on legislation before listing.  Up to 1997, private members could introduce up to three Bills in a week. This led to a piling up of Bills that were introduced but never discussed; Chairman K R Narayanan, therefore, capped the number of private member‘s Bills to three per session.  While government Bills can be introduced and discussed on any day, private member‘s Bills can be introduced and discussed only on Fridays.  Private member‘s Bills have been introduced and discussed in Rajya Sabha on 20 days in the last three years  Upon conclusion of the discussion, the Member piloting the Bill can either withdraw it on the request of the Minister concerned, or he may choose to press ahead with its passage.  In the latter case, the Bill is put to vote and, if the private member gets the support of the House, it is passed. Private member bills introduced till now:  In 1977, Rajya Sabha passed a private member‘s Bill to amend the Aligarh Muslim University Act.  The Bill then went to the sixth Lok Sabha, where it lapsed with the dissolution of the House in 1979.  In 2015, Rajya Sabha passed The Rights of Transgender Persons Bill, 2014 as a private member‘s Bill.  The Bill is now pending before Lok Sabha.  The last time a private member‘s Bill was passed by both Houses was in 1970, which was the Supreme Court (Enlargement of Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction) Bill, 1968.  Fourteen private member‘s Bills, five of which were introduced in Rajya Sabha, have become law so far.  Some of the important legislations among them include 26th amendment, which related to abolition of privy purses and 61st amendment, which reduced the voting age from 21 to 18. Some important laws that were introduced as private member bills  The first private member billBRICS to become a law was the Muslim IAS Wakfs Bill, 1952 aimed to provide better governance and administration of wakfs, it was introduced by Syed Mohammed Ahmed Kasmi in the Lok Sabha and was passed in 1954.  Proceedings of Legislature (Protection of Publication) Bill, 1956, brought by Feroze Gandhi in the Lok Sabha;  The Salaries and Allowances of Members of Parliament (Amendment) Bill, 1964, introduced by Raghunath Singh in the Lok Sabha and  The Indian Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, 1967 introduced by Diwan Chaman Lall in the Rajya Sabha. What is state funding of Elections ?  The idea of state funding of elections is a concept designed to reduce corruption by funding elections with government money as opposed to individual campaign contributions.  Many recommend that state funding of elections can be the best way to achieve transparency in political funding.  It is also believed that state funding is a natural and necessary cost of democracy. It brings new and growing parties in par with the established parties, thus ensuring fair elections.  If parties and candidates are financed with only private funds, economical inequalities in the society might translate into political inequalities in government. State funding of elections – Past recommendations:  Indrajit Gupta Committee on State Funding of Elections (1998): Endorsed state funding of elections in order to establish a fair playing field for parties with less money. The Committee recommended two limitations to state funding.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099188188

o Firstly, that state funds should be given only to national and state parties allotted a symbol and not to independent candidates. o Secondly, that in the short-term state funding should only be given in kind, in the form of certain facilities to the recognized political parties and their candidates.  Law Commission Report on Reform of the Electoral Laws (1999): it strongly recommended that the appropriate regulatory framework be put in place with regard to political parties before state funding of elections is attempted.  Ethics in Governance, a report of the Second Administrative Reforms Commission (2008):Recommended partial state funding of elections for the purpose of reducing ―illegitimate and unnecessary funding‖ of elections expenses.  National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution, 2001: Did not endorse state funding of elections but concurred with the 1999 Law Commission report that the appropriate framework for regulation of political parties would need to be implemented before state funding is considered. What are the challenges of state funding?  In theory, State funding would provide a level playing field for political parties and cut out money power from the equation, but in practice, things may not work out so linearly. India collects only about 16% of GDP as a tax.  The state expenditure on many essential public goods such as primary health care and public health engineering is very small.  Given this situation, the public resources have to be channeled towards and not diverted from such essential services, and that too to finance something that already gets abundantly financed.  Further, the state funding of elections will not prevent parties from lobbying and getting undisclosed supplementary private funding, with associated implications.  Therefore State funding is not the solution to the opaque funding of politics in India. Congress MP Mr. Gowda‘s Arguments about state election funding:  He raised the discussion on the Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill with two key proposals. o The current per candidate expenditure limit of ₹70 lakh should be lifted and o There should be state funding to ensure a ―cleaner polity‖, which is a public good.  He argued that instead of imposing a limit, transparency should be brought in. All the expenses should be put in the public domain.  The candidates should be allowed to legitimately raise funds  Political parties too needed resources and the country simply refused to recognise the amount of money spent in elections.  He proposed a National Election Fund, under which each political party could be allotted funds according to their recent electoral performance. Conclusion:  Partial State funding of elections as Indrajeet Gupta Committee recommended way back in 1998 can be a solution.  Experiences of the countries having partial and complete state funding should be used to derive some formula for state-based funding of political parties in India.  Strong disclosure norms, strict statutory limits on election expenses and ceiling on corporate donations to political parties can further strengthen the Electoral System in India Connecting the dots:  BRICS IAS What are various electoral and political funding reforms which need to be under taken to bring in transparency and accountability in the Indian political environment. Describe.  Why only few private member bills became laws despite of more number of bills introduce in parliament? Explain. SECURITY TOPIC: General studies 3  Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime with terrorism The terrorist tag Context:  India needs tough laws to combat terror, but the proposed amendments could be misused Concerns:  The idea of designating an individual as a terrorist, as the latest amendments to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act propose to do, may appear offensive.  However, designating an individual as a terrorist raises serious constitutional questions and has the potential for misuse.  There is no set procedure for designating an individual a terrorist What is terrorism?

www.bricsias.com 8142160099189189

Terrorism is the systematic use of violence to create a general climate of fear in a population and thereby to bring about a particular political or social objective. Adverse consequences of a terrorist tag:  Terrorist tag may be worse for individuals than for organisations.  Individuals may be subjected to arrest and detention; even after obtaining bail from the courts,  They may have their travel and movements restricted, besides carrying the taint.  A wrongful designation will cause irreparable damage to a person‘s reputation, career and livelihood. The Lok Sabha has passed the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill, 2019.  The Bill amends the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, providing special procedures to deal with terrorist activities, individuals and groups that foster terrorism in India.  The Bill is yet to be tabled in the Rajya Sabha. Key Features of the Bill  It empowers the government to designate individuals as terrorists if the person o commits or participates in acts of terrorism, o prepares for terrorism, o Promotes terrorism or is otherwise involved in terrorism.  This has been done as it is seen that when a terrorist organization is banned, its members form a new organization to spread terrorism.  The law allows the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to go to any state without taking permission from state police concerned for checking anti-terror activities.  Under the Act, an investigating officer is required to obtain the prior approval of the Director General of Police to seize properties that may be connected with terrorism.  The Bill adds that if the investigation is conducted by an officer of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the approval of the Director General of NIA would be required for seizure of such property.  Under the Act, investigation of cases may be conducted by officers of the rank of Deputy Superintendent or Assistant Commissioner of Police or above.  The Bill additionally empowers the officers of the NIA, of the rank of Inspector or above, to investigate cases.  The Bill adds another treaty to the list. This is the International Convention for Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (2005).  Opposition has said that the bill provisions were against the federal structure of the country  Under the Congress government led by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) was originally passed in 1967. Eventually, amendments were brought in 2004, 2008,2013 Conclusion  While none will question the need for stringent laws that show ‗zero tolerance‘ towards terrorism, the government should be mindful of its obligations to preserve fundamental rights while enacting legislation on the subject.  States must ensure that any measure taken to combat terrorism must comply with all obligations under international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law. Connecting the dots  Do you think terrorism poses a great threat to globalisation? Critically examine  Is terrorism a feature of democratic society or consequence of governmental use of terror as a political weapon? critically analyse. 29th July 2019 BRICS IAS RCEP negotiations Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS- II – International Relations In News:  Australia is leading a negotiation team of RCEP countries so as to convince India to commit to the deal (Free Trade Agreement) by this year end. About RCEP:  Regional Comprehensive Cooperation agreement – is a proposed free trade agreement between 10 members of ASEAN and its five FTA partners (China, India, Australia, Japan, New Zealand)  RCEP negotiation was formally launched in 2012, whose member states together account for 3.4 billion people and approximately 40% of world‘s GDP. Do you know? Members of Indian Industry are resisting RCEP due to following concerns  Flooding of the market with Chinese goods impacting domestic manufacturers  Lack of access to Indian services in the RCEP countries (Services is India‘s strong area and has huge potential to tap into RCEP market) Cyber security – Agent Smith Part of: Mains GS III- Challenges to internal security through communication networks In News:

www.bricsias.com 8142160099190190

 Agent Smith is the latest malware to creep into android phones.  This malware can replace apps on android phones with malicious versions without the user‘s knowledge.  As of now Agent Smith is only infiltrating mobile phones with the intention of throwing up advertisements (sudden rise) for other apps.  However, once the malware has control over a cell phone, it can do anything, including stealing banking details or other sensitive data, liable to its misuse.  It is estimated to have already impacted 25 million devices, Indian constituting nearly 60% of them.  Users are thus advised against downloading third party apps and keep their operating system updated. Railway reforms Part of: Mains GS III- Infrastructure: Railways In News  Government is contemplating to start import of complete train sets from foreign suppliers if they agreed to establish the coach manufacturing facility in India.  Railways would evolve standard eligibility criteria for propulsion systems as was done by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs that operates the Metro Railway. Do You Know?  Centre plans to corporatize production units of Indian railways like – Integral Coach Factory in Chennai (Largest such facility in the world) , Modern Coach Factory in Rae Bareli, and Rail Coach Factory in Kapurthala.  Corporatization is the process of transforming government assets into corporations.  In this case, the production units of Indian Railways will be converted into government-owned company  Advantages of corporatization: Managerial autonomy, superior operational efficiency, attract investments, bring in start-of-the-art technology and export capability  Opposition to Corporatization: Opposition by trade unions due to increased vulnerability of their jobs, considered as first step of privatization which would increase cost for consumers Himalayan conclave at Mussorie Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS II- issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure In News  Himalayan states gathered together and made the following demands to the centre o A separate Union ministry to deal with problems endemic to them o A green bonus in recognition of their contribution to environment conservation.  Rationale behind such demands o Most of the country‘s rivers originate in the Himalayan states and thus they have to play significant role in water conservation efforts o Also large part of their land fell into eco-sensitive zones where developmental activities are severely restricted o A green bonus is thus needed to compensation for their disadvantages Do You Know?  11 Himalayan states of India are – Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakahand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagalaland, Tripura, Mizoram and Manipur  Ministry of Jal Shakti was formed in May 2019 so as to holistically resolve water crisis  Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) to be started from September 2019 is a time-bound, mission-mode water conservation campaign.  BRICS IAS JSA will focus on five aspects – o Water conservation and rainwater harvesting o Renovation of traditional and other water bodies o Reuse of water and recharging of structures o watershed development, and o Intensive afforestation Hurdles in Colistin ban Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS III- Economics of animal-rearing. In News  Kerala is gearing to implement the Union Ministry‘s ban on Colistin and its formulations, for food producing animals, poultry, aqua farming and animal feed supplements.  However, the actual implementation of the ban is fraught with challenges due to lack of any control on the imports of Colistin from China Do you know?  Colistin is a valuable, last-resort antibiotic that saves lives in critical care units.  Off-late there has been rise in patients who have exhibited resistance to this drug (ineffective against pathogens)  Colistin is highly misused in poultry industry as a growth promoter which is one of reason for increasing antibiotic resistance in India

www.bricsias.com 8142160099191191

 The poultry market in increasing in India due to poultry integration, a kind of contract farming wherein integrators supply chicks, feed, veterinary aid, medication and other inputs to farmers and then buy back the birds after five weeks. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY TOPIC: General Studies 3  Awareness in the fields of IT  Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology. Ban or regulate crypto currency? Context  An inter-ministerial committee (IMC) that was set up to assess the viability of virtual currencies has recommended that India should ban private crypto currencies such as Bitcoin. Concerns:  Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the government doesn‘t consider them legal tender.  The Reserve Bank of India has repeatedly warned the public of the risks associated with dealing with cryptocurrencies.  There have been cases of consumers being defrauded, including in India. What are virtual currencies?  A virtual currency is a digital representation of value that can be digitally traded and functions as o a medium of exchange, and/ or o a unit of account, and/or o a store of value,  But, unlike fiat currency like the rupee, it is not legal tender and does not have the backing of a government.  A cryptocurrency is a subset of virtual currencies, and is decentralised, and protected by cryptography.  There are block chains which are online registers and through these online registers, people can actually buy these currencies and mine the currencies and use them as instrument of exchange. There are about 9-10 crypto currencies in the world right now.  Bitcoins is the largest cryptocurrency in the world because they are computer generated currencies and the codes are completely secret, so nobody masters it.  Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ripple, Ethereum, PPcoin, Dogecoin, Coinye, Namecoin etc. are some of the examples of cryptocurrencies. Important terms related to cryptocurrency: Distributed Ledger Technologies  DLT refers to technologies that involve the use of independent computers (also referred to as nodes) to record, share, and synchronise transactions in their respective electronic ledgers. All virtual currencies use DLT. Blockchain technology  It is a specific kind of DLT that came to prominence after Bitcoin, a cryptocurrency that used it, became popular.  Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin use codes to encrypt transactions and stack them up in blocks, creating Blockchains.  It is the use of codes that differentiates cryptocurrencies from other virtual currencies Transactions  A transfer of funds between twoBRICS digital wallets is called a transaction. IAS That transaction gets submitted to a public ledger and awaits confirmation. Mining  In simple terms, mining is the process of confirming transactions and adding them to a public ledger. In order to add a transaction to the ledger, the ―miner‖ must solve an increasingly-complex computational problem (like a mathematical puzzle). Benefits of cryptocurrencies  Ownership: Cryptocurrencies hold the promise of making it easier to transfer funds directly between two parties in a transaction, without the need for a trusted third party such as a bank or credit card company  Low transaction fee: Fund transfers are done with minimal processing fees, allowing users to avoid the steep fees charged by most banks and financial institutions for wire transfers.  Identity Protection: Paying with credit/debit cards requires submitting sensitive banking information that could be stolen or compromised. Cryptocurrency can be sent directly to a recipient without any information other than total amount you want to send.  Risk-free for sellers: Payments using Cryptocurrency can‘t be reversed, which means merchants don‘t have to worry about stopped payments. The blockchain makes it difficult for you to be defrauded. Demerits of Cryptocurrency

www.bricsias.com 8142160099192192

 Accessibility: Since cryptocurrency mining and transactions can only happen on network, illiterate people will find it difficult to understand the working mechanism. Also rural areas that do not have access to internet will not be able to perform cryptocurrency transactions.  Threat of hacking: using bitcoins, providing a data structure for this ledger that is exposed to a limited threat from hackers and can be copied across all computers running Bitcoin software  Volatility: Cryptocurrency exchange rates can vary greatly, which means the amount you pay or receive one day could be wildly different next day. What is the IMC‘s view on DLT and cryptocurrencies? The first thing to understand is that the IMC recognises the potential of DLT and Blockchain.  The IMC accepts that internationally, the application of DLT is being explored in the areas of trade finance, mortgage loan applications, digital identity management or KYC requirements, cross-border fund transfers and clearing and settlement systems.  To that extent, it recommends the Department of Economic Affairs (within the Finance Ministry) to take necessary measures to facilitate the use of DLT in the entire financial field after identifying its uses.  The IMC also recommends that regulators — RBI, SEBI, IRDA, PFRDA, and IBBI — explore evolving appropriate regulations for development of DLT in their respective areas.  The IMC‘s view is that it ―would be advisable to have an open mind regarding the introduction of an official digital currency in India‖.  It noted that the RBI Act has the enabling provisions to permit the central government to approve a ―Central Bank Digital Currency‖ (CBDC) as legal tender in India. Second, scaling up such a currency system over a large population would require crippling levels of energy resources. Currencies such as Bitcoin require humongous processing power.  According to a report by the Bank of International Settlement, Bitcoin processing already uses as much energy as is used by Switzerland; it called this an environmental disaster. Third, the IMC is worried that if private cryptocurrencies are allowed to function as legal tender, the RBI would lose control over the monetary policy and financial stability, as it would not be able to keep a tab on the money supply in the economy Fourth, the anonymity of private digital currencies make them vulnerable to money laundering and use in terrorist financing activities while making law enforcement difficult. Fifth, there is no grievance redressal mechanism in such a system, as all transactions are irreversible. The inter-ministerial committee believes it is, going so far as to draft a law that mandates a fine and imprisonment of up to 10 years for the offences of mining, generating, holding, selling, dealing in, transferring, disposing of, or issuing cryptocurrencies. Conclusion:  An outright ban on cryptocurrency may not be a good idea. If new currency is popular, it would be wise to take note of it, accept the advent of technology, recognize the rise in popularity of cryptocurrency and then introduce safeguard, measures and regulatory structure by which people do not feel that they should have something to fall back on.  The government will see opportunities for revenues as large number of people have made gains through cryptocurrency. Connecting the dots:  Cryptocurrencies are bound toBRICS fail as a medium of exchange for IAS its speculative nature and digital existence. Comment.  What are crytpocurrencies ? what are the risks associated with crytptocurrency?Discuss India‘s stand on cryptocurrencies. SECURITY/BORDER MANAGEMENT TOPIC: General Studies 3  Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.  Security challenges and their management in border areas Army‘s first Integrated Battle Groups Context:  The new concept of Integrated Battle Groups (IBGs) which the Army plans to create as part of overall force transformation is close to implementation, More about Integrated Battle Groups (IBGs):  IBGs are brigade-sized, agile, self-sufficient combat formations, which can swiftly launch strikes against adversary in case of hostilities.  IBG would be tailor-made based on Threat, Terrain and Task and resources will be allotted based on the three T s.  The IBGs will also be defensive and offensive. 

www.bricsias.com 8142160099193193

o While the offensive IBGs would quickly mobilise and make thrust into enemy territory for strikes o Defensive IBGs would hold ground at vulnerable points or where enemy action is expected.  The concept of IBGs has already been test-bedded by 9 Corps.  They will be able to mobilise within 12-48 hrs based on the location  They need to be light so they will be low on logistics,  A command is the largest static formation of the Army spread across a defined geography, a corps is the largest mobile formation. Typically each corps has about three brigades.  The idea is to reorganise them into IBGs which are brigade-sized units but have all the essential elements like infantry, armoured, artillery and air defence embedded together based on the three Ts  An IBG operating in a desert needs to be constituted differently from an IBG operating in the mountains. Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat has initiated four major studies to undertake overall transformation of the force. Aim: The aim is holistic integration to enhance the operational and functional efficiency, optimise budget expenditure, facilitate force modernisation and address aspirations. 1. Restructuring of Army Headquarters 2. Force restructuring which includes creation of Integrated Battle Groups (IBG) 3. The cadre review of officers and 4. Review of the terms and conditions of Junior Commissioned Officers and Other Ranks Conclusion  The overall transformation will also see a reduction in the size of the 1.3 million Army  After the Parliament attack, the Indian military undertook massive mobilisation but the formations which were deep inside took weeks to mobilise losing the element of surprise.  IBG Groups to be structured by end of next month Connecting the dots:  What in your opinion should be the selection principle in critical organisations like defence? Critically evaluate.  Do you think that the Integrated battle groups serves the purpose in overall transformation of the force. Critically analyse. 30th July 2019 Geographical-Indication Tag (GI Tag) Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS- III – Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources. In News  After West Bengal(2017), Odisha gets GI tag for its version of Rasgulla  The GI tag for the same product to both the neighbouring states recognizes the two distinct varieties of Rasgullas in taste and texture Do you know?  A GI is a distinctive sign used to differentiate goods on the basis of its unique characteristics  A GI tag helps in the branding and marketing of a local product  It attracts penalties if copied by anybody outside that geographical region.GI enjoys legal protection under GI of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999  While Bengalis claim the sweet was invented by Nobin Chandra Das (Birth: 1845) at his residence in Kolkata, Odias cite the tradition dating back to 12th century of rasgulla being offered at the Puri Jagannath Temple Tiger census Part of: Mains GS III- ConservationBRICS of Environment IAS In News  Tiger count rises by 33% in India with 2,967 tigers in the wild (2014 census-2226)  However, the rise is uneven across states.  MP had the highest rise of 218 tigers, reaching an estimated 526, while Chhattisgarh saw drastic fall in its count from 46 to 19  No tigers were found in Buxa (West Bengal), Dampa (Mizoram) and Palamau (Jharkhand), reserves that had very low numbers in earlier assessments  Poaching(accounting for 24% of Tiger mortality), lack of protection and management measures, pressure on forests for expansion of human settlements are some of the hurdles in Tiger conservation Do You know?  Tiger Census of India is considered to be the world‘s largest wildlife survey, covering 381,000 sq. km  India along with 12 other tiger range countries had committed to doubling the population of tigers in their respective countries by 2022, as part of the WWF programme Tx2  India completed its Tx2 target 4 years earlier  India with 50 tiger reserves in 18 states has over 80% of the global tiger population which stands at 3,159  International Tiger Day is celebrated on 29 July annually to raise awareness about Tiger conservation National Commission for Minorities (NCM) Part of: Mains GS II- Mechanism for protection of vulnerable sections of society

www.bricsias.com 8142160099194194

In News  NCM has refused to entertain a plea to declare Hindus a ―minority community‖ in those States where they do not form a majority of the population.  NCM has no power/jurisdiction to declare new minority communities, such powers lie with the Central government.  NCM instead works to ensure the progress and development of minorities and protect their religious, cultural and educational rights.  Supreme Court in its judgement in the Bal Patil Vs Union of India case of 1999 had said that NCM‘s role was to maintain the unity and integrity of India by eliminating the need for identifying communities as majority and minority Do you know?  According to 2011 Census, Hindus are in monitory in eight states — Lakshadweep (2.5%), Mizoram (2.75%), Nagaland (8.75%), Meghalaya (11.53%), J&K (28.44%), Arunachal Pradesh (29%), Manipur (31.39%), and Punjab (38.40%).  Constitution of India doesn‘t define the word ‗Minority‘ but has used the word minorities considering two attributes religion or language of a person  The Union Government set up NCM under the NCM Act, 1992 (Statutory body)  Six religious communities, viz; Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Zoroastrians (Parsis) and Jains(6) have been notified in Gazette of India as minority communities all over India Economic Census Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS III- Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources In News  The government started off the 7th Economic Census (EC) from Tripura. It will be launched in other states and UT in August and September  EC is the complete count of all establishments/units located within the geographical boundaries of India  Agriculture is not covered in Economic Census  It is being conducted by Ministry of Statistics and Program implementation (MoSPI)  MoSPI has partnered with Common Service Centres, CSC e-Governance Service India Ltd(SPV of Ministry of Electronics & IT) as the implementing agency for EC  The data will be collected through door to door survey of each household and commercial establishment under the provisions of Collection of Statistics Act, 2008 Do You know?  Six Economic Censuses have been conducted till date: 1977,1980,1990,1998,2005 and 2013  The EC is the only source of information on the significantly large unorganized sector in the economy  As per the last EC conducted in 2013, there were 58.5 million establishments employing around 131 million workers ENVIRONMENT/ECOLOGY TOPIC: General Studies 3  Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment Tiger census Context  The four-year tiger census report,BRICS Status of Tigers in India, 2018, releasedIAS by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, shows numbers of the big cat have increased across all landscapes. The total count has risen to 2,967 from 2,226 in 2014 — an increase of 741 individuals (aged more than one year), or 33%, in four years. Concerns:  More than 80% of the world‘s wild tigers are in India, and it‘s crucial to keep track of their numbers More about tiger conservation: Why is a tiger census needed?  The tiger sits at the peak of the food chain, and its conservation is important to ensure the well-being of the forest ecosystem.  The tiger estimation exercise includes habitat assessment and prey estimation.  The numbers reflect the success or failure of conservation efforts.  This is an especially important indicator in a fast-growing economy like India where the pressures of development often run counter to the demands of conservation. How the tiger census was carried out? The census was carried out in four phases. Phases 1 and 2  It covered forest beats, generally spread over 15 sq km each, by Forest Departments, to collect signs of tiger presence like scat and pugmarks. Enumerators walked paths called line transects to estimate the abundance of prey.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099195195

 This was followed by sampling of plots along the transects to assess habitat characteristics, human impact, and prey dung density. Phase 3  The information was plotted on the forest map prepared with remote-sensing and GIS application. Sample areas were divided in 2-sq-km parcels, and trap cameras were laid in these grids. Phase 4  Data were extrapolated to areas where cameras could not be deployed. Which states/regions have done bad?  Only one of the 20 tiger-bearing states has seen a fall in numbers — Chhattisgarh, where the census counted 19 tigers, significantly fewer than the 46 of 2014.  The report has cited law and order as the reason — large parts of the state are hit by the Maoist insurgency.  Greater conservation efforts are needed in the ―critically vulnerable‖ Northeast hills and Odisha.  No tiger has been found in the Buxa, Palamau and Dampa reserves. Which states have done good?  The biggest increase has been in Madhya Pradesh — a massive 218 individuals (71%) from 308 in 2014 to 526.  In Maharashtra, the number has gone up from 190 to 312 (64%), and  In Karnataka, from 406 to 524 (118, or 29%).  Uttarakhand has gained over 100 tigers (340 to 442; 30%)  Madhya Pradesh‘s Pench sanctuary and Kerala‘s Periyar sanctuary emerged as the best managed tiger reserves in the country. Why Pench sanctuary was considered best for tiger reserves?  Pench was a well-managed reserve because it had a season-wise biodiversity plan as well as flying squads and tactical patrolling for managing security.  There were regular meetings with local communities and funds collected from tourism were largely making it to the authorities for conservation purposes. India‘s five tiger landscapes : 1. Shivalik Hills and Gangetic Plains, 2. Central Indian Landscape and Eastern Ghats, 3. Western Ghats, 4. North-East Hills and Brahmaputra Plains, 5. The Sundarbans. Why the tiger population has been increased?  Due to increased vigilance and conservation efforts by the Forest Department.  The rehabilitation of villages outside core areas in many parts of the country has led to the availability of more inviolate space for tigers.  organised poaching rackets have been all but crushed  According to Nitin Desai of Wildlife Protection Society of India, there has been no organised poaching by traditional gangs in Central Indian landscapes since 2013.  The increased protection has encouraged the tiger to breed.  Also, because estimation exercises have become increasingly more accurate over the years App developed to estimate tiger population:  Wildlife officials used mobileBRICS application M-STrIPES (Monitoring IASSystem For Tigers-Intensive Protection and Ecological Status) to estimate the big cat population  The M-STrIPES, the application used by forest guards, is GPS-enabled and helps to capture data relating to tiger sightings, deaths, wildlife crime and ecological observations while patrolling.  This mobile app records the track a forest official walks and geotags the sightings of tigers and even other animals or signs which helps in the estimation  The other software used for tiger estimation was Spatially Explicit Capture Recapture (SECR) and Extract Compare, which helps differentiate between the stripes of tigers as each has a different pattern. Key notes: Project Tiger  Aims at conserving India‘s national animal i.e. Tiger.  Launched in 1973  The tiger reserves are constituted on a core/buffer strategy.  The core areas have the legal status of a national park or a sanctuary, whereas the buffer or peripheral areas are a mix of forest and non-forest land, managed as a multiple use area.  The Project Tiger aims to foster an exclusive tiger agenda in the core areas of tiger reserves, with an inclusive people oriented agenda in the buffer.  It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change providing central assistance to the tiger States for tiger conservation in designated tiger reserves.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099196196

 The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is a statutory body of the Ministry, with an overarching supervisory / coordination role, performing functions as provided in the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.  The All India tiger estimation is carried out once in every four years. Action and initiatives were taken by the government for Tiger conservation The government of India has taken several steps which includes legal steps, administrative steps and financial steps to ensure and promote Tiger conservation in India. 1. Legal initiatives The Wildlife Protection Act 1972 was amended in 2006 to provide enabling provisions and constituting National Tiger conservation authority. Also, tiger and other endangered species crime control bureau were created through this amendment. The punishments for cases of offences related to the Tiger Reserves and its core area was increased. 2. Administrative Actions  The government has taken steps for preventing poaching activities which includes a special strategy for monsoon patrolling etc.  Under the chairmanship of respective Chief Ministers, state-level steering committees have been established along with the establishment of the Tiger Conservation Foundation.  A special Tiger Protection Force was created by the Union budget 2008. 3. Financial initiatives The Government of India is providing financial and technical Support to the state Governments under the centrally sponsored schemes such as Project Tiger, and integrated development of wildlife habitats etc. Conclusion:  Tigers are terminal consumers in the ecological food pyramid, and their conservation results in the conservation of all trophic levels in an ecosystem  We have to create a healthy balance between sustainability and development. Connecting the dots:  Discuss the challenges for the conservation of Tiger and suggest the measures to conserve the tigers? INTERNATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2  International Relations  Bilateral, regional & global groupings & agreements involving India &/or affecting India’s interests

Regional Comprehensive Economic partnership (RCEP) and India Context  Australia is leading diplomats from various countries involved in the negotiations for the 16-member Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) free trade agreement to convince India to commit to the deal by the end of the year. Concerns:  Serious concerns, including worries over the flooding of the market with Chinese goods  The lack of access for Indian services in the RCEP countries What is RCEP?  The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is a proposed mega-regional Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between 16 Asia-Pacific countries.  BRICS IAS Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) was established in order to broaden and deepen the engagement among parties and to enhance parties‘ participation in economic development of the region.  It was established by the leaders of 16 participating countries on November 12, 2012 at Phnom Penh summit.  The RCEP will include all the nations with which the ASEAN has trade deals — New Zealand, Australia, China, India, Japan and South Korea.  The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has free trade agreements with six partners namely People‘s Republic of China (ACFTA), Republic of Korea (AKFTA), Japan (AJCEP), India (AIFTA) as well as Australia and New Zealand (AANZFTA).  The Partnership will account for nearly 45 % of the global population with a combined gross domestic product of $21.3 trillion How RCEP benefits India?  It is expected to provide market access for India‘s goods and services exports and encourage greater investments and technology into India.  It would also facilitate India‘s MSMEs to effectively integrate into the regional value and supply chains.  On the other hand, India is not a member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) which is a grouping of twenty-one countries in the Asia Pacific region with an aim to deepen and strengthen economic and technological cooperation amongst APEC member countries.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099197197

 The RCEP negotiation includes: trade in goods, trade in services, investment, economic and technical cooperation, intellectual property, competition, dispute settlement, e-commerce, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and other issues.  India has consistently focused on services trade norms, such as those allowing the free movement of trained professionals across national boundaries.  This would effectively allow Indian professionals — such as chartered accountants, teachers and nurses — to practice in other RCEP nations without the need for bilateral mutual recognition agreements.  Since India has an abundance of trained labor that is interested in migrating while sending remittances back home, this is a prime focus area for the country. What are the hurdles where the India got stuck?  The talks have seen little movement since partner nations have been unwilling to concede on crucial issues under planning since 2012.  The crucial issues of goods, services including easier movement of professionals and, investment are also the areas of negotiation.  The main bone of contention is market access for foreign goods and reduction of import duties on them.  This is the discussion area where India is gravely cautious since manufacturing powerhouse China is part of the arrangement.  India fears the RCEP pact will allow China to push its products at lower prices and finally capture the market.  At present, India‘s import barriers remain high to Chinese products.  The $63 billion trade deficit with China remains a burning political issue for the government and security concerns have also arisen over Chinese conglomerates dictating market trends in sectors such as telecommunication.  On the other hand, richer nations like Australia and New Zealand have remained adamant on issues such as seeking more leeway in selling specific products such as dairy and fruits in India.  India has also moved slowly on investment norms, especially dispute settlement guidelines. The Australian High Commissioner to India :  It was the industry‘s responsibility to use the FTAs well.  Australia is leading diplomats from various countries to convince India to commit to the deal by the end of the year.  Indian negotiators like any good negotiators can get the best deal in their own country‘s interests.  But the second part is that industry has to use the access that they gain from the agreement to extend their reach Conclusion:  Despite the challenges to be faced by industry, the government is keen to be part of the pact as once implemented the RCEP could be the largest free trade zone in the world as member countries account for 25 per cent of global GDP, 30 per cent of global trade, 26 per cent of global foreign direct investment (FDI) flows and 45 per cent of the total population. Connecting the dots:  Discuss the gains of India from joining RCEP negotiation table and what are the challenges to India?  How RCEP is important for India? Discuss. 31st July 2019 First CAG report on GST Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GSBRICS- III – Indian Economy and issues relating IAS to planning, mobilization, of resources. Some of the findings of the report are:  Government had failed to try out the system before its rollout, leading to inadequate compliance mechanisms, and lower tax revenues  Even after two years of rollout of GST, system validated Input Tax Credit through ‗invoice matching‘ is not in place.  The complexity of the return mechanism and the technical glitches resulted in rollback of invoice-matching, rendering the system prone to Input Tax Credit frauds  Without invoice matching and auto generation of refunds, assessments, etc, the envisaged GST tax compliance system is non-functional (resulting in falling number of returns filed month after month)  The government had not been following the rules set out regarding the transfer of revenue to the States.  There has been lack of coordination between the Department of Revenue, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs and the GST Network Do you know?  The new indirect tax regime – GST – had kicked in July 2017.  The transformation tax structure is aimed at reducing tax cascading, ushering in a common market for goods and services and bringing in a simplified, self-regulating and non-intrusive tax compliance regime.  CAG is a Constitutional body constituted under Article 148 appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099198198

Bills to curb Mob lynching Part of: Mains GS I- Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism. In News  Rajasthan State Assembly has tabled Bill against mob lynching, making them cognizable, non-bailable and non- compoundable offences with life imprisonment and fine up to Rs 5 lakh.  The Bill defines a ―mob‖ as a group of two or more individuals.  ―Lynching‖ is described as an act or series of acts of violence, whether spontaneous or planned, by a mob on the grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth, language, dietary practices, sexual orientation, political affiliation and ethnicity  The statement of objects and reasons of the Bill mentions the Supreme Court‘s recommendation to enact legislation against the mob lynching.  In recent past there has been spurt in mob lynching resulting in loss of livelihood, injuries and death of persons at the hands of mob  A dedicated legislation along with provisions of India Penal Code will help nip the evil in bud and provide support for victims of such cases Electric Buses Part of: Mains GS III- Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc. In News  Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant announced that an inter-ministerial panel has sanctioned 5,645 electric buses for operations in 65 cities and for intercity operations to 8 state transport undertakings.  This will give huge impetus to automobile sector, clean up our cities & drive Make in India.  Some of the measures taken to popularise environment-friendly electric vehicles are:  GST Council headed by Finance Minister decided to cut the tax rates on e-vehicles from 12 per cent to 5 per cent with effect from August 1, 2019  In the Union Budget 2019-20, the government proposed additional income tax deduction of Rs 1.5 lakh on the interest paid on loans taken to purchase electric vehicles  Certain parts of EVs have been exempted from customs duty  The Centre has also approved Rs 10,000 crore under the FAME II scheme, which aims to encourage faster adoption of such vehicles by right incentives and charging infrastructure Do you know?  EVs are considered as sunrise opportunity as India has over 72% two-wheelers.  Niti Aayog has proposed that two-wheelers below the capacity of 150cc sold in the country after March 31, 2025, should be electric ones only.  It also proposed that three-wheelers sold in the country after March 31, 2023 should be electric ones. Hyperloop Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS III- Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways In News  The Mumbai-Pune Hyperloop project received a push with the Maharashtra Cabinet approving to appoint a consortium of DP World and Hyperloop Technologies as its Original Project Proponent (OPP).  With Hyperloop travel the 150-km journey between Mumbai and Pune will be cut down to just 23 minutes, turning the region into one megacity.  Project is given a ‗public infrastructure‘ status, which will enable it an easier access to funds and concessions.  BRICS IAS The project will improve connectivity for the 2.6 crore residents of both cities, and expect 15 crore people to use the service annually.  If all goes well India could be the first country in the world to officially commission a hyperloop.  The project is being carried out by the Pune Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (PMRDA) and is said to have a total investment of Rs 70,000 crore.  Hyperloop is a high-speed mode of transportation, where a pod-like vehicle travels through a sealed tube at near the speed of an airline. TRIPLE TALAQ TOPIC: General Studies 2  Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.  Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes Triple Talaq Bill passed in Rajyasabha Context:  The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019, better known as the Triple Talaq Bill, was passed in the Rajya Sabha. What is triple talaq?

www.bricsias.com 8142160099199199

 ‗Triple Talaq‘ or ‗Oral talaq‘ is a procedure of divorce mentioned under the Sharia Law which is a body of the Islamic law. Under this, a husband can divorce his wife by pronouncing ‗Talaq‘ thrice. What is instant triple talaq?  In the practice of talaq-e-biddat, when a man pronounces talaq thrice in a sitting, or through phone, or writes in a talaq-nama or a text message, the divorce is considered immediate and irrevocable, even if the man later wishes to re-conciliate. However, Women cannot pronounce triple talaq and are required to move a court for getting the divorce under the Sharia Act, 1937.  There are three forms of talaq (divorce) in Islam: Ahsan, Hasan, and Talaq-e-Biddat (triple or instant talaq). Ahsan and Hasan are revocable but talaq-e-Biddat is irrevocable.  Thus, since Shariat Act had recognised triple talaq, it was no longer a personal law to remain free of the fetters of the fundamental rights rigour but a statutory law which comes under the ambit of Article 13(1) of the Constitution Background:  In the Shah Bano case in 1985, the SC granted Shah Bano, a 62-year old woman the right to alimony from her husband.  But in 1986, the government passed the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act which diluted the positive impact created by the Shah Bano case.  In 2001, in the Danial Latifi & Anr versus Union of India case, the SC upheld the validity of the Shah Bano judgement.  In August 2017, a five-judge bench of the SC declared the triple talaq as unconstitutional in a majority 3:2 judgement. This was the culmination of a petition filed by Shayara Bano, whose husband of 15 years had divorced her through a letter where he pronounced talaq three times, to declare the divorce as void. Triple Talaq bill  During the proceedings of the case, the centre had told the bench that it will come out with a legislation to regulate the marriage and divorce among Muslims. As reported by various the newspapers, the centre is all set to table the bill in the Lok Sabha. The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill 2017 seeks to criminalise instant triple talaq.  The bill will make instant triple talaq a cognizable and non-bailable offence  The bill seeks to impose a prison term of up to three years and fine for any Muslim man who divorces his wife through instant triple talaq  It also makes a provision for alimony i.e. subsistence allowance for the Muslim women and also grants her the custody of minor children What does the supporters of triple talaq say? All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), a non-governmental body that supervises the application of Muslim personal law, in an affidavit before the court had maintained that courts could not decide matters of religious practices and it is for legislature to frame a law. AIMPLB is also of the opinion that the issue has been blown out of proportion by the media and the far rightist groups. Many community leaders also see this as interference in what they call as religious rights of Muslims as India has a provision for personal laws for all religious communities. They have also claimed that practice will continue as before, irrespective of the legal opinion. Empowering Muslim Women Supreme Court: In August 2017 the Supreme Court in a landmark verdict had held that the practice of triple talaq violates the constitutional rights ofBRICS Muslim women.The triple talaq must comeIAS under ambit of Article-13.The personal law can no longer privilege over fundamental rights. Further SC directed central govt to enact a law which make triple talaq an offence. Giving rights to women: The triple talaq bill passed by parliament, it will protect women who suffer from instant talaq. Talaq will not be unilaterally, the women can also put their ground. The judgment will be given in accordance with law and none of partner will suffer. The other laws for women are Anti dowry Act 1961 and The Domestic Violence Act 2005 Arguments against triple talaq  It goes against the rights of equality and women‘s empowerment. It propagates the dominance of men over women.  According to a study, 92% of Muslim women in India wanted the triple talaq to be banned.  It gave men the right to arbitrarily divorce their wives without any valid reason.  New-age technology has given birth to new modes of triple talaq such as through skype, text messages and email.  Many Islamic countries have outlawed this practice including Bangladesh, Pakistan and Indonesia. There is no reason for a democratic and secular India to continue this lopsided practice.  It goes against the constitutional principles of gender equality, secularism, right to life of dignity, etc. It goes against Article 14 (Right to Equality) and Article 15(1) which states that there shall be no discrimination against any citizen on the basis of gender, race, etc. and this kind of talaq is biased against the interests of women.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099200200

 The constitution of the country says that it shall strive to bring a uniform civil code for the entire country. Doing away with triple talaq will definitely be a step closer to the constitution-makers‘ dream of having a uniform civil code for all citizens.  However, the National Commission of Women says that this matter cannot be linked to uniform civil code. Nevertheless, it should be banned in order to protect the interests of Muslim women.  The Supreme Court has also declared that this practice is unconstitutional and not protected by Article 25 which regards the freedom of religion. Also in December 2016, the Allahabad High Court had said that no personal law board was above the constitution.  Experts also opine that only the essential or integral features and aspects of a religion are protected by the Constitution. Triple talaq was not an integral feature of Islam. Challenges in banning triple talaq:  Religious groups infer the banning of a traditional practice sanctified by Sharia as interfering in the religious aspects of minorities.  The courts should decide two things basically:  o Whether personal law can be subject to the constitution or not o How to view the relationship between triple talaq and Muslim personal law The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019 This was introduced in Lok Sabha by the Minister of Law and Justice, Mr. Ravi Shankar Prasad on June 21, 2019. It replaces an Ordinance promulgated on February 21, 2019. The Bill makes all declaration of talaq, including in written or electronic form, to be void (i.e. not enforceable in law) and illegal. Key Features  The Bill makes declaration of talaq a cognizable offence, attracting up to three years‘ imprisonment with a fine. (A cognizable offence is one for which a police officer may arrest an accused person without warrant.)  The offence will be cognizable only if information relating to the offence is given by: 1. the married woman (against whom talaq has been declared), or 2. any person related to her by blood or marriage.  The Bill provides that the Magistrate may grant bail to the accused.  The bail may be granted only after hearing the woman (against whom talaq has been pronounced), and if the Magistrate is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for granting bail.  The offence may be compounded by the Magistrate upon the request of the woman (against whom talaq has been declared). Compounding refers to the procedure where the two sides agree to stop legal proceedings, and settle the dispute.  The terms and conditions of the compounding of the offence will be determined by the Magistrate.  A Muslim woman against whom talaq has been declared is entitled to seek subsistence allowance from her husband for herself and for her dependent children. The amount of the allowance will be determined by the Magistrate.  A Muslim woman against whom such talaq has been declared, is entitled to seek custody of her minor children. The manner of custody will be determined by the Magistrate. Conclusion Triple talaq has been one of the mostBRICS debated issues in past couple of yearsIAS in India as it is also connected with other issues such as secularism and uniform civil code etc. However it is important to keep in mind that what is at stake here is the dignity of women and their rights and any move to politicise the issue will undo the efforts and fight of Muslim women for equal rights. Connecting the dots: 1. Women rights are increasingly creating space in male dominated society. Identify areas which speak of women‘s fight for their rights and analyse it. 2. Triple talaq verdict has been hailed as a progressive judgement. Analyse your opinion regarding the same WOMEN EMPOWERMENT TOPIC General studies 1:  Role of women and women’s organization, women related issues, Social empowerment General studies 2:  Mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections ODISHA MODEL OF EMPOWERING WOMEN Context  Other States could take a cue from Odisha, which has empowered women politically and financially Concerns

www.bricsias.com 8142160099201201

 The number of women taking leadership roles in India is rather small compared to the global average.  The representation of women MPs in the 17th Lok Sabha has seen an improvement from 11% in 2014 to 14% in 2019, but it is still lower than the world average of 24.3%.  In 2019, 715 women candidates contested the Lok Sabha election, while the number of men who contested stood at 7,334. Achievements of Odisha model by empowering women: Political:  State government was among the first to reserve 50% of seats in Panchayati Raj institutions for women.  Further, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik nominated women for one-third of the seats in Lok Sabha election.  Thus, seven candidates out of 21 fielded by the party for the 2019 election were women.  The success rate among the women candidates was higher than for men, as five out of seven won the elections. Economical  As of now, Odisha has six lakh self-help groups with seven million women under its flagship ‗Mission Shakti‘ programme.  The programme aims at empowering women by helping them start income-generating activities.  The self-help groups are linked to the Odisha Livelihoods Mission and Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society.  Members of the self-help groups are encouraged to sell products at fairs and exhibitions organised by the State round the year.  This gives them an opportunity to travel across different parts of the State and gain greater exposure.  The State government had announced an interest-free loan of Rs. 3 lakh in January 2019 to each of the self-help groups.  This amount was increased to Rs. 5 lakh just before the general election.  The Women and Child Development Department has been rechristened as the Women and Child Development and Mission Shakti Department.  The state government has announced several sops like smartphones, award of work contracts, and higher entitlements in the State‘s health insurance scheme, arguably superior to the national level scheme, Ayushman Bharat.  The State government has announced an accident insurance scheme for all members of self-help groups Conclusion:  In the process of empowerment women should consider their strengths and weakness opportunities and threats and move forward to unfold their own potential to achieve their goals through self-development . in our country empowering women through enterprise development has become an integral part of our development efforts due to three important advantage entrepreneurs , economic growth and social stability . Connecting the dots:  SHGs in India are the living embodiment of a concept that has led to women empowerment. However, the success stories are few and far in between. Do you agree? Do you think the successful models of SHGs should be adopted on a much wider scale? What are the constraints?  Real empowerment of women lies in ensuring their economic liberty. Do you agree? Substantiate.

1st October 2019 BRICS IAS Kerala bagged the top spot on the School Education Quality Index (SEQI) Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – Education In News  SEQI assesses States on the basis of learning outcomes, access, equity and infrastructure and facilities, governance processes using survey data, self-reported data from States and third-party verification.  It is developed by NITI Aayog through a collaborative process, including key stakeholders such as Ministry of Human Resource and Development (MHRD) and World Bank.  Some of the findings of the Index are  o Among the large States, Kerala bagged the top spot with 76.6 per cent and while Uttar Pradesh with 36.4 per cent scored the lowest for 2016-17. o Among the small States, Manipur (68.8 per cent) emerged as the top performer while Arunachal Pradesh (24.6 per cent) came last in the category. o Among Union Territories, Chandigarh (82.9 per cent) stood at the top position while Lakshadweep ranked lowest (31.9 per cent).  The index provides instructive feedback to State authorities to drive reforms in crucial sectors and encourage innovation in cost-effective policy approaches

www.bricsias.com 8142160099202202

Paleochannel Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains I – Geography In News  The Union Water Ministry has excavated an old, dried-up river in Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad) that linked the Ganga and Yamuna rivers.  The discovery was made last December by a team of scientists from the CSIR-NGRI (National Geophysical Research Institute) and the Central Groundwater Board.  A palaeochannel is a remnant of an inactive river or stream channel that has been filled or buried by younger sediment.  Paleochannels typically act as pathways for groundwater movement and provide a potential source of groundwater. Their presence can be helpful in identifying areas suitable for recharge.

Commutation Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS-II – Polity In News  The Ministry of Home Affairs has decided to commute the death sentence of Balwant Singh Rajoana, who was convicted for the assassination of former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh, to life imprisonment  Beant Singh, credited for ending terrorism in Punjab, was assassinated on August 31, 1995, in an explosion in Chandigarh. About Presidential Pardoning Powers  Article 72 says that the President shall have the power to grant pardons, reprieves, respites or remissions of punishment or to suspend, remit or commute the sentence of any person convicted of any offence 1. Commutation: It means reducing the punishment by changing the nature of punishment. For example, punishment to death may be changed to life imprisonment. 2. Pardon: It removes both the sentence and the conviction and completely absolves the convict from all the sentences, punishments and disqualifications. 3. Remission It implies reducingBRICS the period of sentence without changing IAS its character 4. Respite It denotes awarding a lesser sentence in place of one originally awarded due to some special fact, such as the physical disability of convict or the pregnancy of a woman offender. 5. Reprieve It implies a stay of the execution of a sentence (especially that of death) for a temporary period. its purpose is to enable the convict to have time to seek pardon or commutation from the President. Eight core industries‘ output contracts (negative growth) by 0.5% in August 2019 Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS-III – Indian Economy In News  The eight core sector industries are coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertiliser, steel, cement and electricity.  The eight core sector industrieshad expanded by 4.7 per cent in August last year  The contraction indicates weakness in industrial activity and may spur RBI to cut REPO rates in its next Monetary Policy Review. Do You Know?  These eight sectors have 40.27% of the weight of all sectors that figure in Index of Industrial Production (IIP)  The IIP index is computed and published by the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO) on a monthly basis  The base year used for IIP calculations is 2011-12.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099203203

 Repo rate is the rate at which the central bank of a country (RBI) lends money to commercial banks in the event of any shortfall of funds (MAINS FOCUS) EMPLOYMENT & AGRICLUTURE TOPIC: General Studies 3:  Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. The link between jobs, farming and climate Context:  Slowing economy is taking place, growth has slowed for the past two-and-a-half years  Unemployment is the biggest crisis that India is facing today Data:  Periodic Labour Force Survey point to a dramatic rise in the unemployment rate since 2011-12  Unemployment is the highest in the 45 years since 1972-73  Unemployment in ‗Rural Males‘, in 2017-18, is four times the average for the 40 years up to 2011-12. Causes for the slow growth in rural income:  Since 2008-2009, crop agriculture activity has recorded zero or negative growth in five years not seen anything like this since 1947.  Other causes include low export growth , the state of the banking sector etc  Decline in investment rate (due to poor agricultural growth)  ecological factors like land degradation involving loss of soil moisture and nutrients, and the drop in the water table, leading to scarcity which raises the cost of cultivation  excessive fertilizer use caused over-abuse of the earth‘s resources.  increasingly erratic rainfall, due to climate change Measures to be taken :  Recent Reduction in the corporate tax rate. ( but large part of corporate sales is driven by rural demand )  The future growth of demand for much of industrial production is likely to come from rural areas so the rural picture matters Way Forward:  Govt must strive to increase rural income  Intelligent governance, resource deployment and change in farmer behaviour is a need of the hour  Draw in the public agricultural institutes and farmer bodies for their views on how to resuscitate the sector.  Policy focus is disproportionately on the tax rate, the ease of doing business in the non-agricultural sector which must be turned towards agricultural sector Did you know:  In the average country of the OECD, an increase in unemployment of such magnitude would have triggered a nationwide debate and agitation on the streets. Connecting the dots : It is imperative to focus on agricultural production in devising a long-term solution to the problem of unemployment. Substantiate . POLITY General Studies 2: BRICS IAS  Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act.  Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.. The EC‘s order on Sikkim CM‘s disqualification Context:  Sikkim CM Prem Singh was found guilty of misappropriation of government funds in a cow distribution scheme while he was the minister of animal husbandry in the 1990s.A case was registered in 2003 under the Prevention of Corruption Act  Sikkim CM Prem Singh Tamang‘s disqualification period of 6 years, which began on August 10, 2018, was to end on August 10, 2024  Tamang‘s SKM party won the assembly elections held in April, took over as CM in May.  He has to contest assembly polls within six months of becoming the chief minister to hold the office  Tamang had requested the poll panel to waive his disqualification period under Section 11 of the Representation of the People Act.  The EC reduced Sikkim chief minister Prem Singh Tamang‘s disqualification period by almost five years under a provision of the electoral law, paving the way for him to contest the state assembly elections. Did you know?

www.bricsias.com 8142160099204204

Section 11 of the RP Act states, ―The Election Commission may, for reasons to be recorded, remove any disqualification under this Chapter 1 (except under section 8A) or reduce the period of any such disqualification.‖ EC‘s stand:  The legislature has, in its wisdom, deemed it necessary to vest this Commission with this power with the understanding that socio-economic-political factors may, in certain peculiar circumstances, warrant that the general disqualification prescribed by statutory rule should be removed/reduced by exercising this extraordinary power.‖ The Prevention of Corruption Amendment Act 2018 The Bill incorporates the recommendations given by the 20th Law Commission headed by Justice (retd) AP Shah in its 254th Report.  The Bill makes bribing a punishable offence.  It redefines provisions related to criminal misconduct.  It makes mandatory for taking prior approval of relevant Government or competent authority to conduct any investigation into offence.  It modifies definitions and penalties for offences related to taking bribe, being habitual offender and abetting offence. The Representation of the People Act, 1951  Article 327 of Indian Constitution  For the conduct of election of the Houses of Parliament and to the House or Houses of the Legislature of each State,  The qualifications and disqualifications for membership of those Houses,  the corrupt practices and other offences at or in connection with such elections  It was introduced in Parliament by law minister Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. Rationale behind the relief:  Argument was that law prevailing at the time of his offence entailed disqualification only if the sentence was for a term of two years or more; and that the amendment in 2003, under which any conviction under the anti-corruption law would attract the six-year disqualification norm, should not be applied to him. Criticisms:  Morally wrong and a dangerous precedent that may end up reversing the trend towards decriminalising politics  Tamang was convicted under the Prevention of Corruption Act for and his one-year prison term was upheld by the High Court and the Supreme Court.  Disqualification from contest is a civil disability created by electoral law to keep those convicted by criminal courts from entering elected offices.  EC decision also goes against the grain of a series of legislative and judicial measures to strengthen the legal framework against corruption in recent years.( apex court has described corruption as a serious malady and one impinging on the economy.) Concluison:  The EC is already battling a perception that its actions are partisan and this action is bound to further strain its credibility. Connecting the dots:  Today, we have 43% of the people sitting in the Lok Sabha with pending criminal cases. Do you think the EC‘s act of removing the disqualification of a convict is morally wrong and a dangerous precedent that may end up reversing the trend towards decriminalisingBRICS politics? Elucidate . IAS 2nd October 2019 Delhi-Lucknow Tejas Express Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Infrastructure In News  This is the first train which is not operated directly by the Railways. IRCTC will be operating this train.  IRCTC has promised Tejas passengers compensation for delays – Rs100 will be paid if the delay is for over an hour and ₹250 if delay is more than 2 hours  The IRCTC has announced a slew of offers, including free travel insurance worth ₹25 lakh and on-board infotainment services, doorstep baggage collection, local food and no tatkal quota, to make the travel on its first train attractive ahead of its first commercial run on October 5. Do You know?  In Japan and Paris, a delay certificate is issued to passengers by railway companies as proof that a train arrived at a station later than stated in the timetable (even for delay as little as five minutes)  The document can be shown in schools or offices for late admission at university exams.  In the U.K., rail passengers are entitled to get automatic compensation for delayed journeys. Parichay (Identity) Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II – Polity In News

www.bricsias.com 8142160099205205

 In an innovative collaboration, law schools from across the country have come together to launch legal aid clinic named Parichay( Identity) with HQ in Guwahati to help people excluded from NRC  More than 19 lakh out of a total of 3.3 crore applicants were left out of the Supreme Court-monitored NRC that was published on August 31.  Those who were left out are required to file appeals against their exclusion within 120 days of receiving their rejection order from the NRC authority.  Parichay is envisaged to function as a clearing house of litigation and research assistance for lawyers filing appeals against exclusion from the NRC.  Parichay consisting largely of student volunteerswill assist lawyers in drafting appeals, conduct research on pertinent questions of the law, assist in training lawyers and paralegals, and generate documentation on the functioning of Foreigners‘ Tribunals. SC recalls verdict diluting SC/ST anti-atrocities law Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS-II – Polity In News  The Supreme Court had diluted the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act of 1989 in March 20, 2018 verdict in Subhash Kashinath Mahajan vs State of Maharashtra case  The 2018 judgement had provided o To grant anticipatory bail to accused persons and o Directed that the police should conduct a preliminary enquiry on whether complaint under the 1989 law is ―frivolous or motivated‖ before registering a case.  Both the above conditions were not part of the original legislation.  The judgement had created widespread protests and the Centre also filed a review against the judgment citing dilution of safeguards provided under the legislation  SC in a review petition has now recalled the verdict given earlier. Do You know?  ‗Review‘ of a Supreme Court judgment is done by the same Bench.  ‗Overruling‘ means that the law laid down in one case is overruled in another case.  When a higher court on appeal alters the judgment of a lower court, it is called ‗reversal.‘  A crime is committed against an SC every 15 minutes.  Six SC women are raped every day on an average.  Between 2007 and 2017, there was a 66 per cent growth in crimes against SCs Climate change is prompting a habitat change in Himalayas.  The butterfly named Himalayan tailless bushblue was known to occur at an altitude between 1,300 m to 2,400 m in Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand.  Recent studies however, have located the species at 3,577 m in Askot Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttarakhand, at least 1,200 m higher than it‘s known range.  Most of the species that were found at lower attitude had moved up possibly due to climate change, according to research  Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies) are known as potent ecological indicators Humans pollute more than volcanoes  The Deep Carbon Observatory (DCO), a 500-strong international team of scientists, noted that Human activity churns out up to 100 times carbon each year as all the volcanoes on Earth.  BRICS IAS Manmade emissions in 2018 alone topped 37 gigatonnes.  By comparison, the CO2 released annually by volcanoes hovers around 0.3 and 0.4 gigatonnes  Modern manmade emissions were the ―same magnitude‖ as past carbon shocks that precipitated mass extinction. (MAINS FOCUS) EDUCATION TOPIC: General Studies 2:  Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. NITI Aayog‘s Education Index  Niti Aayog released the school education quality index (SEQI) aimed at evaluating the performance of states and Union Territories (UTs) in the school education sector.  The top five performing states are Kerala, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Assam. Background:  The School Education Quality Index (SEQI) was developed to evaluate the performance of States and Union Territories (UTs) in the school education sector.  The index aims to bring an outcomes focus to education policy by providing States and UTs with a platform to identify their strengths and weaknesses and undertake requisite course corrections or policy interventions.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099206206

 To foster the spirit of competitive and cooperative federalism, the index strives to facilitate the sharing of knowledge and best practices across States and UTs.  SEQI aims to drive policy reforms that will improve the quality of school education.  The index seeks to institutionalise a focus on enhancing education outcomes by driving improvements in learning levels, access, equity, infrastructure and governance processes. Indicators  The indicators are categorized into Outcomes and Governance Processes Aiding Outcomes (GPAO).  Outcomes include learning outcomes, access outcomes, infrastructure and facilities for outcomes and equity outcomes,  GPAO includes the support system necessary for learning to take place like training and availability of teachers, attendance of students and teachers, administrative adequacy etc. A case study In Haryana:  Among the lakhs of employees on the payrolls of State governments in India, the education department, unarguably, has the largest share of employees.  Any effort to introduce education reforms must ensure that the incentives of all stakeholders are aligned throughout the system to ensure their participation. Ex : Haryana, which has created a race among its administrative blocks to be declared as ‗Saksham‘ (Hindi for abled/skilled), i.e.  Block have 80% or more students who are grade level competent.(appropriate level of competence for a particular grade)  If Officials are confident that their block has achieved the 80% target, state officials nominate their block for the ‗Saksham Ghoshna‘.  Then followed by rigorous rounds of third party assessments to check their claims.  If a block is found to be ‗Saksham‘, the block officials are recognised and honoured by the State administration.  when all blocks in a district are declared as ‗Saksham‘, the entire district is also accorded the ‗Saksham‘ status.  At present , 94 blocks out of a total of 119 in Haryana have been declared ‗Saksham‘. Conclusion:  The index recognises that school education is a subject on the Concurrent List and that State-level leadership is crucial for improving outcomes in a cost-effective manner.  The index will serve as a regular and transparent review of the status of school education quality across the States and UTs. Connecting the dots :  The NITI‘s Aayog‘s State ranking not only encourages competition among States but also rewards and motivates other States to consistently improve. substantiate. LAW TOPIC: General Studies 2:  Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections SC reverses dilution of SC/ST Act Context:  In 2018, the Supreme Court ofBRICS India banned immediate arrest of aIAS person accused of insulting or injuring a Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe member to protect innocents from arbitrary arrest.  Why? A number of cases of misuse of this Act has been reported from different parts of the country as mentioned  The Supreme Court has recently recalled its directions Did you know?  In August, 2018, the parliament of India passed the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill, 2018, to bypass the ruling of the Supreme Court of India laying down procedures for arrests under the Act. In what manner had the 2018 judgment diluted provisions for arrest?  Keeping in view the special nature of crimes against Dalits , anticipatory bail under Section will not be available to an accused under the Act. Supreme Court laid in 2018 down safeguards, including provisions for anticipatory bail and a ―preliminary enquiry‖ before registering a case under the Act  In 2018 SC ordered that neither is an FIR to be immediately registered nor are arrests to be made without a preliminary inquiry by an SSP. An arrest can only be made if there is ―credible‖ information and police officer has ―reason to believe‖ that an offence was committed. Now SC rejected the need of an SSP‘s approval for arrest. Justice Goel had observed that ―interpretation of Atrocities Act should promote constitutional values of fraternity and integration of the society. This may require ‗check on false implication of innocent citizens on caste lines‘.‖ Terminologies:

www.bricsias.com 8142160099207207

 ‗Review‘ of a Supreme Court judgment is done by the same Bench.(Generally, a review is heard in the judge‘s chamber, but may be heard in open court in important cases — as in the Sabarimala and Rafale cases, in which no order has been pronounced yet)  ‗Overruling‘ means that the law laid down in one case is overruled in another case.  When a higher court on appeal alters the judgment of a lower court, it is called ‗reversal.‘ Justice Mishra said ―despite various measures to improve the socio-economic conditions of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, they remain vulnerable. They are denied number of civil rights. They are subjected to various offences, indignities, humiliations and harassment. They have, in several brutal incidents, been deprived of their life and property‖ Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989  The Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 is an Act of the Parliament of India enacted to prevent atrocities against scheduled castes and scheduled tribes  It was enacted when the provisions of the existing laws (such as the Protection of Civil Rights Act 1955 and Indian Penal Code) were found to be inadequate to check these crimes (defined as ‗atrocities‘ in the Act).  Recognising the continuing gross indignities and offences against Scheduled Castes and Tribes, the Parliament passed the ‗Scheduled Castes and Schedule Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989.  The practice of untouchability, in its overt and covert form was made a cognizable and non compoundable offence, and strict punishment is provided for any such offence.  The purpose of the Act was to help the social inclusion of Dalits into Indian society Data :  A crime is committed against an SC every 15 minutes.  Six SC women are raped every day on an average.  Between 2007 and 2017, there was a 66 per cent growth in crimes against SCs. Conclusion:  The Supreme Court can lay down guidelines only in cases of legislative gaps. But where the field is occupied by parliamentary legislation, the judiciary is bound by the text of law. Connecting the dots:  Interpretation of Atrocities Act should promote constitutional values of fraternity and integration of the society. Justify 3rd October 2019 OPEN-DEFECATION FREE (ODF) Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II- Health In News  On the occasion of 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, PM Modi announced that rural India and its villages have declared themselves open-defecation free (ODF). What is ODF?  A village is ODF when: (i) there are no visible faeces in the village, and (ii) every household as well as public/community institution uses safe technology options for faecal disposal.  After a village declares itself ODF, states are required to carry out verification of the ODF status of such a village. This includes access to a toilet facility and its usage, and safe disposal of faecal matter through septic tanks. Do You know?  In 60 months, more than 60 crore people were provided with 11 crore toilets.  BRICS IAS According to UNICEF report, there is a positive impact, worth Rs 20 lakh crore, on the Indian economy due to the Swachh Bharat campaign.  It has created opportunities of 75 lakh jobs out of which a majority have been availed by the rural population‖ Vayoshreshtha Samman Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS-I – Society In News  These are given to eminent senior citizens and Institutions involved in rendering distinguished services for the cause of elderly persons.  The series of awards were instituted by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in the year 2005 and were elevated to the level of national awards in 2013.  Generally, the awards are conferred by the President of India on the 1st October i.e. on the occasion of International Day of Older Persons (IDOP).  This year Tamil Nadu is given the award for the best State in implementing the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007  Tamil Nadu State has set up maintenance tribunals under the Act in each sub-division, but half of the cases are resolved through conciliation.  The municipal council of Unhel, in Ujjain district of Madhya Pradesh, will receive the award for the best urban local bodyfor itsprovision of medical services, income generation schemes and pension to seniors.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099208208

India hails U.K. verdict on former Nizam Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains I – Modern History In News  The case relates to the transfer of £1,007,940 (now worth £35 million) and nine shillings by the Nizam‘s envoy and foreign minister in Londonon September 16, 1948 to Pakistan which the bank processed on September 20, 1948  However, Hyderabad‘s armed forces had already surrendered to India on September 17, 1948 after a military operation known as ―Operation Polo.‖  Within days of surrender, Nizam sent a message to Bank demanding that the money be transferred back to his account which was objected by Pakistan Do You Know?  Nearly 560 Princely states acceded to India at the time of Independence- except Junagadh, Hyderabad and Kashmir. Later these three states were integrated into India through Plebiscite, Military action and Signing of Instrument of Accession respectively  India‘s external boundaries has changed only three times—when Goa was subsumed into the Indian Union in 1961, Pondicherry in 1962 (officially) and Sikkim in 1975 Inter-State portability for ration cards launched Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II – Governance In News  An inter-State portability for ration cards has been launched for Rajasthan and Haryana to facilitate the distribution of foodgrains to beneficiaries of the National Food Security scheme.  Labourers in the unorganised sector, migrating from one State to the other in search of work, will mainly benefit from the scheme Do You Know?  In August 2019, Government of India launched the One Nation-One Ration Card scheme on a pilot basis in four States namely Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat.  This will provide freedom to the beneficiaries as they will not be tied to any one PDS shop and reduce their dependence on shop owners and curtail instances of corruption. Monsoon Prediction Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains I – Geography In News  The new monsoon model, called the Coupled Forecast Model (CFS), deployed by the IMD under the National Monsoon Mission (NMM) has failed to forecast the excess rainfall received during August-September 2019.  India this year may have recorded its highest monsoon rain in 25 years. India ended up with 10% more monsoon rain (or 110% of the long period average LPA of 887 mm) than usual National Monsoon Mission (NMM)  It was launched by Ministry of Earth Sciences to build an ocean atmospheric model for o improved prediction of monsoon rainfall on extended range to seasonal time scale (16 days to one season) and o improved prediction of temperature, rainfall and extreme weather events on short to medium range time scale (up to 15 days).  Dynamical models also called CFS relies on capturing the interactions between the land, ocean and atmosphere and tracking how the changes in each affect the other for forecasting the monsoon.  The land, atmosphere and oceanBRICS state at a particulate time, generally IAS March, is mathematically simulated on supercomputers (Prithvi High Performance Computers at Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology Pune) and extrapolated into the monsoon months. Pyrofuse Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains III –Science & Technology In News  Cutting off power in an accident is key in Electric Vehicles to prevent car occupants, rescuers from suffering electric shock  Pyrofuse are small devices that ―blow out‖ whole sections of the cable connection to the high-voltage battery by means of miniature explosive charges, thus quickly and effectively shutting off the power circulation  For example, if the airbag sensor detects an impact, the tiny devices — measuring no more than 10 mm by 10 mmand weighing a few grams — trigger the pyrofuse.  This sets off little explosions that drive a wedge into the high-voltage cable between the battery unit and the power electronics, disconnecting the two.  By thus cutting off the flow of power, the risk of electric shock or fire is fully eliminated. ‗Einstein Challenge‘  Albert Einstein‘s famous words on Gandhi: ―Generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth‖  PM announced Einstein Challenge to ensure the ideals of Gandhi are remembered by future generations

www.bricsias.com 8142160099209209

 In this he invited thinkers, entrepreneurs and tech leaders to take the lead to spread Gandhi‘s ideas through innovation. Community fridge  To mark Gandhi Jayanti, South Western Railway in association with Feeding India NGO, installed a community fridge at Bangalore Railway Station  Anyone can keep excess food in the fridge and people in need of it can take it.  The move will benefit migrant labourers, daily wage workers, and poor people. Bioswale  These are vegetated channels to manage rainwater, recommended as long –tern sustainable solution for urban floods (Patna Floods)  They are long, channeled depression or trench that receives rainwater runoff and has vegetation (such as grasses, flowering herbs, and shrubs) and organic matter (such as mulch) to slow water infiltration and filter out pollutants  Bioswales are the most effective type of green infrastructure facility in slowing runoff velocity and cleansing water while recharging the underlying groundwater table. (MAINS FOCUS) INDIA‘S FOREIGN RELATIONS TOPIC: General Studies 2:  India and its neighbourhood- relations.  Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India‘s interests India-Bangladesh ties to move to the next level Context:  Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will embark on a four-day visit to India beginning from with an aim to further intensify bilateral relations between the two countries.  There is scope for India-Bangladesh ties to move to the next level, based on cooperation, coordination and consolidation Did you know:  Bangladesh shares land borders with India to the west, north and the east and Myanmar to the east, whereas the Bay of Bengal lies to its south.  Bangladesh‘s land border with India is quite long stretching up to 2,582 miles.  Indian states Assam, Tripura, Mizoram, Meghalaya, and West Bengal share the India-Bangladesh border.  The country‘s geography is dominated by the Ganges delta which empties into the Bay of Bengal the combined waters of several river systems, including those of the Brahmaputra and the Ganges  The endangered Bengal tiger, the national animal..  The borders of modern Bangladesh were established with the separation of Bengal and India in August 1947, when the region became East Pakistan as a part of the newly formed State of Pakistan following the Boundary of the Partition of India. Later the rise of the Bengali nationalist and self-determination movement led to the Liberation War and eventually resulted in the emergence of Bangladesh as an independent sovereign in 1971  Bengalis, who speak the official Bengali language, make up 98% of the population of Bangladesh  Islam is the country‘s established religion  In the recent years Bangladesh has registered notable success in using Microcredit as a tool for poverty alleviation, women empowerment, generation of income through export of RMG, population control, reducing child mortality and combating natural disasters;  BRICS IAS The country continues to face the challenges of Rohingya refugee, terrorism, corruption, and erratic climate change India- Bangladesh relations:  Common members of SAARC, BIMSTEC, IORA and the Commonwealth.  The two countries share many cultural ties. (esp :Bengali-speaking)  In 1971, the Bangladesh Liberation War broke out between East Pakistan and West Pakistan; India intervened in December 1971 on behalf of East Pakistan and helped secure East Pakistan‘s independence from Pakistan as the country of Bangladesh.  Since 2015, the notable developments have taken like resolution of long-pending land and maritime boundaries.  Observed increase in bilateral trade from US$9 billion to US$10.46 billion in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2018-19, followed by US$7 billion to US$9 billion in FY 2017-18, an increase of 28.5 percent. Present scenario:  India and Bangladesh today enjoy one of the best periods of their relationship, with positive development in the areas of diplomatic, political, economic and security relations.  The current Bangladesh government has uprooted security threats and acts of insurgency against India  The India-Bangladesh border is one of India‘s most secured  The signing of the Land Boundary Agreement in 2015 was a milestone  Land Boundary Agreement in 2015  Bilateral trade was a little over $9 billion in FY 2017-18 and Bangladeshi exports increased by 42.91%.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099210210

 Indian export of electricity increased by another 500 MW. A 1,600 MW power station with a dedicated transmission system is being developed to boost power trade.  Train services are doing well, Five additional bus services were introduced in 2018  Bangladeshi tourists accounted for 21.6% of the total percentage of tourists visiting India in 2018  Bangladesh contributes 50% of India‘s health tourism revenue  Border killings have decreased.  Since 2010, India has approved three lines of credit to Bangladesh of $7.362 billion to finance development projects. Due to bureaucratic red tape, just $442 million has been disbursed till December 2018  Memoranda of understanding were also signed for cooperation between the naval forces. Issues yet to be settled : 1. Teesta Water Sharing Agreement.  Teesta River long river that rises in the eastern Himalayas, flows through the Indian states of West Bengal and Sikkim through Bangladesh and enters the Bay of Bengal.  West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee‘s refusal to endorse water-sharing terms agreed upon by Prime Minister Modi in 2015 has resulted in the current impasse. IMPORTANT ISSUE OF CINCERN : India- Bangladesh: Time to Look at Teesta  Having resolved the longstanding issue of enclaves during the prime minister‘s recent visit to Bangladesh, New Delhi has to focus now on other bilateral issues, the most contentious one being the sharing of Teesta waters.  In the case of Teesta River, which originates in Sikkim and flows through West Bengal into Bangladesh, settlement has not been arrived at for decades now.

BRICS IAS What is the Teesta Issue all about?  In 2013, an agreement was drafted which allowed for the 50:50 allocation of teesta waters between the countries during the lean season, when the real problems of allocation crop up. However, that was not acceptable.  India and Bangladesh share 54 rivers between them.  West Bengal has been opposing the treaty fearing that the loss of higher volume of water to the lower riparian would cause problems in the northern region of state, especially during drier months.  It is estimated that the Teesta River has a mean annual flow of 60 billion cubic meters but a significant amount of this water flows only during wet season(June-Sept) leaving scant flow during the dry season(October-May) wherein the average flow gets reduced to about 500 million cubic metres (MCM) per month.  This creates issues of equitable sharing during lean season.  Bangladesh has claimed that West Bengal‘s Gazaldoba barrage is ‗unilaterally‘ channelizing a large volume of water on the Teesta, due to which the country‘s historic flow has been reduced to only 10% and its Teesta Irrigation Project has suffered.  This is further compounded by the downstream nature of Bangladesh wherein any construction by India affects the water flow available to Bangladesh.  Furthermore, there are proposals to build 31 dams in the upper catchment area of the Teesta in Sikkim, along with the 4 dams that are already underway.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099211211

 One of the important factors responsible for diminishing flow of water is the building of about 12 hydel power projects over the Teesta in Sikkim where the river originates.

What proposals are made to augment the river flows during the non-monsoon months?  The deficit in flows can be met by the transfer of water from other water-endowed basins.  In this connection, the proposals made in the Indian River Linking (IRL) project could be considered.  The Manas-Sankosh-Teesta-Ganga (MSTG) link canal is one of the links proposed under the Himalayan component of the IRL.  It envisages diversion of the surplus waters of the Manas and Sankosh rivers to the Teesta, Ganga and beyond, to meet the requirements of water-deficit areas.  By making suitable provisions in the link canal, it should be possible to release the required water into the Teesta during the summer to augment river flows, thus meeting the requirements being proposed for water-sharing with Bangladesh. What is Indian River Linking Project (IRL)?  The Indian Rivers Inter-link is a proposed large-scale civil engineering project that aims to link India‘s rivers by a network of reservoirs and canals and so reduce persistent floods in some parts and water shortages in other parts of India.  The Inter-link project has been split into three parts: 1. a northern Himalayan rivers inter-link component 2. a southern Peninsular component and starting 2005 3. An intrastate rivers linking component. What is (MSTG) link canal?  The Manas-Sankosh-Teesta-Ganga (MSTG) link canal is one of the links proposed under the Himalayan component of the IRL.  The Manas-Sankosh-Teesta- Ganga link canal envisages diversion of surplus water of Manas and Sankosh rivers with supplementation from the intermediate major streams for the benefit of augmenting the flows of Ganga at Farakka.  It aims to further transfer it to water short areas of Krishna, Pennar and Cauvery basins and providing irrigation facilities to the enroute command areas.  This link will comprise two dams on rivers Manas and Sankosh inside Bhutan territory and a gravity flow canal for diverting substantial quantum of water to river Ganga upstream of Farakka barrage. How is India working for a permanent solution?  A possible option considered was that since the regeneration of flow in the river channel between the Gajoldoba and Dalia barrages is about 25 per cent, which would be available at the downstream barrage the additional 25 per cent demanded by Bangladesh could be released by West Bengal from the upstream barrage.  But the state had its own compulsions for meeting irrigation needs as the summer flows are generally erratic.  Hence, West Bengal did not want to commit to releasing water from the upstream barrage, at the cost of its major project envisaging the irrigation of 9.22 lakh hectares in the ultimate stage.  Thus, the water-sharing arrangement got embroiled in domestic hydro-politics, stalling further action to find an acceptable solution to the dispute.

IMPORTANT VIEW  BRICS IAS Teesta water is an absolute right of Bangladesh, which is recognised by many international instruments and customary international law.  Earlier, Indo-Pakistan Krishenganga water sharing disputes was settled under the World Bank as a third party.  Now it is high time for Bangladesh to seek remedy by such kinds of international Organizations and International courts. Connecting the Dots:  Historically, the progress of the India-Bangladesh relationship has always hinged on issues of water-sharing. Critically Analyze.  Discuss all the realistic concerns that make it essential for the Indian government to provide a fair deal to Bangladesh.

2. National Register of Citizens (NRC)  The National Register of Citizens (NRC) has left out 1.9 million Assamese from the list with a group labelled as ―illegal immigrants from Bangladesh‖ living in Assam post-1971.(Bangladesh refuses) 3. Rohingya issue  The Rohingya issue and India‘s remarks in 2017 on the issue have been upsetting for Bangladesh .  The Indian government is concerned over Rohingyas‘ stay in India for security regions, it is looking for ways to deport over 40,000 Rohingyas living in the country illegally.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099212212

Way forward:  Removal of non-tariff barriers will help Bangladeshi exports such as harmonising the standards for goods accepted by India  Approved lines of credit to Bangladesh must be cleared on time  Both countries must reach consensus on the issues like NRC, Rohingya and Teesta rivers. Conclusion:  In a neighbourhood where distrust and cynicism prevail over friendship and hope(Pakistan & China), the relationship between the two countries(India & Bangladesh) has given hope for optimism. Connecting the dots:  India-Bangladesh relations have matured in the last decade with development in many areas of cooperation. Substantiate. HEALTH TOPIC: General Studies 2:  Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared India ―open defecation-free‖. Context:  Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the villages in India have declared themselves open defecation free.  The prime minister made the announcement in the presence of over 20,000 village heads at an event to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi at Sabarmati Riverfront in Gujarat.  The prime minister said that 99 per cent of rural India was open defecation free Background:  Open defecation and contamination of drinking and bathing water has been an endemic sanitary problem in India.  In 2014, India was the country with the highest number of people practicing open defecation, around 530 million people Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (SBA) or Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM):  A nation-wide campaign in India for the period 2014 to 2019 that aims to clean up the streets, roads and infrastructure of India‘s cities, towns, urban and rural areas.  The objectives of Swachh Bharat include eliminating open defecation through the construction of household-owned and community-owned toilets and establishing an accountable mechanism of monitoring toilet use.  The mission aimed to achieve an ―open-defecation free‖ (ODF) India by 2 October 2019, the 150th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi, by constructing 100 million toilets in rural India at a projected cost of Rs 1.96 lakh crore (US$28 billion)  The mission will also contribute to India reaching Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6), established by the UN in 2015.  The mission has two thrusts: Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (―gramin‖ or ‗rural‘), which operates under the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation; and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (‗urban‘), which operates under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.  Volunteers, known as Swachhagrahis, or ―Ambassadors of cleanliness‖, have promoted indoor plumbing and community approaches to sanitation (CAS) at the village level.  In the past five years, the Indian government has built a 100 million toilets. With a country as large as India, this is a big achievement. BRICS IAS Survey in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh:  Between 2014 and the end of 2018, latrine ownership in the region had increased by 34 percentage points  States that had already been declared open defecation-free, the actual coverage was far below 100%.  the percentage of people defecating in the open declined by 26 percentage points, but close to half still reported to be relieving themselves in the open  The programme barely managed to bring any change in the behaviour of latrine owners. Like in 2014, about a quarter of people who own a functional latrine continued to defecate in the open Criticisms:  With unrealistic targets pushed down from the top, ―Swachh Bharat Mission beneficiaries‖ were facing coercion.  Many rural Indians were threatened with or even denied their legal rights, such as PDS ration, for not building a latrine.  Government officials at every level faced immense pressure and threats from their bosses  one in every four families told that they have heard of government benefits being withdrawn for not having a latrine. Conclusion:  The spirit of bidding farewell to open defecation as a gift to Gandhi deserves accolades. But we must not forget that there are still miles to go.  India needs to have a sanitation policy that focuses on reducing open defecation.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099213213

Connecting the dots:  How is access to toilet and better sanitation under the Swachh Bharat Mission leading to socio-economic transformation of rural India? Explain. 4th October 2019 PRAKASH PORTAL Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III- Economy In News  PRAKASH stands for ‗Power Rail Koyla Availability through Supply Harmony‘.  The Union Minister for Power and the Union Minister for Coal & Mines jointly launched PRAKASH portal for transparency and better coordination in coal supplies to power plants.  The Portal aims at bringing better coordination for coal supplies among all stakeholders viz – Ministry of Power, Ministry of Coal, Coal India, Railways and power utilities.  PRAKASH Portal is developed by NTPC and sources data from different stakeholders such as Central Electricity Authority (CEA), Centre for Railway Information System (CRIS) and coal companies. VANDE BHARAT EXPRESS Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS-III -Infrastructure In News o Union government started New Delhi-Katra ‗Vande Bharat‘ Express to give boost to religious tourism in Jammu. o Katra is a small townlocated 42 km from the city of Jammu which serves as the base camp for pilgrims who visit Vaishno Devi.  The coaches of this train are indigenously manufactured at the Chennai Rail coach factory.  Vande Bharat Express has been tested at 180 kmph and can run upto maximum speed of 160 kmph on passenger service. All Coaches are equipped with automatic doors; GPS based audio-visual passenger information system, onboard hotspot, wi-fi for entertainment purposes, and very comfortable seating.  This is the second ‗Vande Bharat‘ express after the New Delhi – Varanasi semi-high speed train was started in February this year. NH 766 Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains III – Environment Conservation In News  NH 766 is a key highway between Karnataka and Kerala that passes through the Bandipur Tiger Reserve in Karnataka.  Kerala‘s Wayanad district has witnessed a series of protests against a ban on night traffic on the forest stretch of NH 766.  Although the night ban was first enforced a decade ago, the immediate trigger for the current agitation was a recent Supreme Court direction to the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change and NHAI to suggest alternative routes so that NH 766 could be shut down permanently Bandipur Tiger Reserve:  Spread over 990.51 sq km, Bandipur Tiger Reserve is part of interconnected forests that include Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu), Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala) and Nagarhole National Park (Karnataka).  A large variety of wildlife including the elephant moves from one stretch to another, cutting the states. Do You Know?  BRICS IAS Night traffic would affect behaviour biology such as breeding and parental care of animals, disrupt their life cycle and make them stray to human habitats.  Using the central Motor Vehicle Act read with the Karnataka Motor Vehicle Rules, traffic was banned from both sides of stretch from 9 pm to 6 am

www.bricsias.com 8142160099214214

In economic growth, Bangladesh leads South Asian group Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II –International Relations In News  Since 2016, Bangladesh has been growing at 7%-plus every year, and its growth is likely to cross the 8% mark both in this and the coming year, according to the Asian Development Bankreport.  Garments accounted for 84.2% of Bangladesh exports  Over this same period, India has seen a secular decline in growth rates, even though an uptick is expected in the coming year.  Sri Lanka has been the worst performing South Asian economy in terms of growth Asian Development Bank (ADB)  The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is a regional development bank established on 19 December 1966.  ADB is headquartered in Manila, Philippines. It aims to promote social and economic development in Asia.  ADB now has 67 members, of which 48 are from within Asia and the Pacific and 19 outside.  It is modeled on the World BankBRICS and has a similar weighted voting systemIAS where votes are distributed based on member‘s capital subscriptions.  As of 31 December 2018, Japan and United States hold the largest proportion of shares at 15.571%. China holds 6.43%, India holds 6.32%, and Australia holds 5.77%.  ADB provides financing to both Sovereign Nations and private companies.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099215215

Drone cameras threatening Nilgiris wildlife Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains III – Environment Conservation In News  Birds may get injured when they attack drones of photographers which may lead to endangering of species and abandoning nesting sites,  Use of drone cameras or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles mounted with filming equipment in forest areas, without the permission of the Chief Wildlife Warden is a criminal offence. Niligiris  The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve was the first biosphere reserve in India established in the year 1986  It forms a part of Western Ghats shared among Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka  Main vegetation of the region is montane grasslands and shrub lands interspersed with shola forests  Niligir Tahr (enadangered species) is endemic to Nilgiri hills. It is also State animal of Tamil Nadu Blood4Pet – mobile app that brings together canine blood donors  In order to bridge the gap between canine-blood demand & supply, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (Tanuvas)has launched a mobile app — Blood4Pet — to bring ‗pet-parents‘ together across the country.  There‘s also a provision in the app for calculating the amount of blood required. A dog can safely donate blood once in three weeks.  The app will help both pet owners and veterinarians to find suitable donors for dogs and thus help save lives of dogs Repatriation Mizoram Bru refugeesBRICS IAS  Over 30,000 Bru, also known as Reang, refugees are now housed in camps in north Tripura, since they fled ethnic violence in Mizoram in September 1997.  Initiatives to repatriate the Mizoram Bru refugees back to their homes in Mizoram have failed as the refugee leaders refused to return citing mainly security reasons in their home State. (MAINS FOCUS) NATIONAL TOPIC: General Studies 2:  Development processes and the development industry- the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) under RTI Purview Context:  Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) receiving substantial financing from the government are bound to give information to the public under the RTI Act, the Supreme Court.( D.A.V. College Trust and Management Society Vs. Director of Public Instructions)  Institutions like schools, colleges and hospitals which receive substantial aid from the government both directly or indirectly in the form of land at discounted rate are also bound to give information to the citizens under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099216216

Why?  Several schools and colleges and associations running this educational institution have moved the apex court claiming that NGOs are not covered under the RTI Act Do you know?  Non-governmental organisations which were substantially financed by the appropriate government fall within the ambit of ‗public authority‘ under Section 2(h) of the Right to Information Act, 2005.  Under this section of the RTI Act, ‗public authority‘ means ―any authority or body or institution of self- government established or constituted by or under the Constitution and included… any non-government organisation substantially financed directly or indirectly by funds provided by the appropriate government.‖  ‗Substantial‘ means a large portion which can be both, direct or indirect. For instance, if land in a city is given free of cost or at a heavily subsidised rate to hospitals, educational institutions or other bodies, it can qualify as substantial financing. Political parties:  The Law Commission opines that political parties are the lifeblood of our entire constitutional system.  Political parties act as a conduit through which interests and issues of the people get represented in Parliament.  Since elections are predominantly contested on party lines in our parliamentary democratic polity, the agenda of the potential government is set by them. Transparency in Political parties:  In 2010, the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) filed an application under the RTI to all national parties, seeking information about the ―10 maximum voluntary contributions‖.  None of the national political parties volunteered to disclose the information.  Consequently, ADR and RTI activist Subhash Agarwal filed a petition with the Central Information Commission (CIC).  In 2013, a full bench of the CIC delivered a historic judgment by declaring that all national parties came under ‗public authorities‘ and were within the purview of the RTI Act.  Notwithstanding the binding value of the CIC‘s, none of the six political parties complied with it  Finally, in 2019, a PIL was filed in the Supreme Court seeking a declaration of political parties as ‗public authority‘ and the matter is sub judice Ambedkar‘s remarks: ―The working of a Constitution does not depend wholly upon the nature of the Constitution. The Constitution can provide only the organs of State…The factors on which the working of those organs of the State depend are the people and the political parties they will set up as their instruments to carry out their wishes and their politics.‖ Implication:  It can be argued that national parties are ‗substantially‘ financed by the Central government.  If an entity gets substantial finance from the government, there is no reason why any citizen cannot ask for information to find out whether his/her money which has been given to the entity is being used for the requisite purpose or not. Connecting the dots:  The creation of an ‗informed‘ citizenry, containment of corruption and holding of government and its instrumentalities accountable to the governed is a need of hour .Justify. ECONOMY TOPIC: General Studies 3: BRICS IAS  Indian Economy and related issues  Investment models Foreign Direct Investment 2.0 Context : Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved the proposal for the review of Foreign Direct Investment in various sectors.  This will result in making India a more attractive FDI destination, leading to benefits of increased investments, employment and growth.  As of now (March 2019), Singapore remains India‘s top FDI source, twice that from Mauritius. Situation demanding policy response:  Emergence of Internet Multinational Companies (MNCs) such as Microsoft, Google, Facebook and Twitter that are based on ‗winner-takes-all‘ platform business models. These firms are characterised essentially by inequitable dynamics, since they distribute most gains to themselves vis-à-vis their host countries.  In 1978, the Indian government adopted a policy that required equity dilution by 100% foreign-owned companies. This led to the ‗Listing of MNCs‘, and many of which then provided handsome returns to both MNCs and Indian shareholders. In China:  China banned Internet MNCs.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099217217

 China strategically deploys a quid pro quo policy.  MNC firms are mandated to transfer technology, share patents and enter into 50:50 joint ventures with Chinese partners in return for market access. Foreign direct investment (FDI)  It is an investment from a party in one country into a business or corporation in another country with the intention of establishing a lasting interest.  Lasting interest differentiates FDI from foreign portfolio investments, where investors passively hold securities from a foreign country.  Foreign direct investment can be made by expanding one‘s business into a foreign country or by becoming the owner of a company in another country. FDI 2.0  100% FDI under automatic route is permitted for sale of coal, for coal mining activities including associated processing infrastructure.  The government has allowed 100% FDI through the automatic route for contract manufacturing.  It will augment the Make in India initiative and will attract global companies in India looking to establish alternative manufacturing hubs Merit: FDI 2.0 could deploy ‗List or Trade in India‘ as a strategic policy tool to enable Indian citizens become shareholders in MNCs such as Google, Facebook, Samsung, Huawei and others, thus capturing the ‗upside‘ they create for their platforms and companies. This is equitable to all, since Indian consumers contribute to the market value of MNCs. Proposals:  (List in India): Majority (more than 51%) foreign-owned Indian-listed MNCs could be eligible to domestic company tax rate whereas unlisted MNC subsidiaries could be subjected to a higher tax rate. Many countries such as Bangladesh, Vietnam and Thailand have used tax incentives to attract listing by MNCs.  (‗Trade in India‘ i.e. U.S. dollar-denominated parent MNC Shares to be ‗Admitted for Trading‘ on Indian bourses): In , Indian investors could buy shares of parent MNCs (where global profits and value get consolidated). This can be permitted within the $250,000 Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) limit. What needs to be done?  Indian bourses could admit only S&P 500 stocks. The Mexican Stock Exchange allows trading of international shares listed in other stock exchanges. India could replicate such models Measures for successful implementation of above mentioned ―Trade in India‖:  Permit Indian bourses to implement international trading system on the lines of Mexico.  Parent MNCs in S&P 500 with business interests in India could be mandated to facilitate trading of their shares in India. MNCs would readily agree as it does not envisage listing in India.  For taxation purposes, no distinction should be made between transactions in comparable domestic and foreign securities.  LRS implementation for buying foreign stocks in GIFT City/NSE/BSE could be simplified and work as single click functionality.  Educate Indian investors about the value of diversification of their portfolio in international stocks for achieving better risk adjusted returns. Problem with implementation:  BRICS IAS For Indian citizens, U.S. estate taxes @40% apply above portfolio value of $60,000. Solution:  National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL) could design a sovereign trust for holding parent MNC stocks.  The NSDL could then issue BharatShares to retail investors. Nominees of the government of India would get voting rights in parent MNCs.  In addition, the government could make available a ‗Fully Disclosed Model‘ for holding foreign stocks in line with our NSDL/Central Depository Services Ltd (CDSL) system.  The prevalent ‗Omnibus model‘ carries the risk of U.S broker default because investors‘ shares are held in the U.S. broker‘s name. For this reason, it could also lead to higher tax liabilities in Indi What is the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) of USD 2,50,000?  Under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme, all resident individuals, including minors, are allowed to freely remit up to USD 2,50,000 per financial year (April – March) for any permissible current or capital account transaction or a combination of both.  Further, resident individuals can avail of foreign exchange facilities for the purposes mentioned in Para 1 of Schedule III of Foreign Exchange Management(Current Account Transactions) Amendment Rules 2015, within the limit of USD 2,50,000 only. Way forward:

www.bricsias.com 8142160099218218

 Increasing Indian equity ownership of MNCs would offer diversification benefits and make Indians more prosperous.  Wealth distribution through mutual funds would create a virtuous cycle of innovative ideas, entrepreneurship, employment, consumption, higher taxes, social and physical infrastructure for the benefit of Indian society.  MNCs would earn the goodwill of Indian consumers while expanding their investor base. Connecting the dots:  List or trade in India‘ should be used as a strategic policy tool to enable Indians to become shareholders in MNCs. Comment. 5th October 2019 Fourth bi-monthly monetary policy statement, 2019-20 Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III- Economy In News  Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has decided to reduce the policy repo rate under the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) by 25 basis points to 5.15 % from 5.40 %  Consequently, the reverse repo rate under the LAF stands reduced to 4.90 %, and the marginal standing facility (MSF) rate and the Bank Rate to 5.40 %.  It also revised its growth forecast for the current financial sharply, from 6.9% projected in the August policy, to 6.1%. Growth forecast for the first quarter of the next financial year was also trimmed to 7.2% from 7.4%. About MPC  MPC is a six-member committee constituted by the Central Government (Section 45ZB of the amended RBI Act, 1934).  Of these, three members are from RBI while three other members are nominated by the Central Government.  The MPC determines the policy interest rate required to achieve the inflation target  Before establishment of Monetary Policy Committee, the final decision on interest rates etc. would come from RBI Governor‘s desk.  The quorum for the meeting of the MPC is four members. Each member of the MPC has one vote, and in the event of an equality of votes, the Governor has a second or casting vote. India‘s first e-waste clinic will come up in Bhopal Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS-III –Environment Conservation In News  The Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) have joined hands to set up the country‘s first e-waste clinic in Bhopalthat would enable segregation, processing and disposal of waste from both household and commercial units.  The clinic is being conceived in compliance with the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016  Electronic waste will be collected door-to-door or could be deposited directly at the clinic in exchange for a fee. The CPCB will provide technical support at the unit Do You Know?  It is estimated that 50 million tonne of e-waste will be generated globally in 2018. Half of this is personal devices such as computers, screens, smartphones, tablets.  India is ranked 5th in the world among top e-waste producing countries-USA, China, Japan and Germany.The volume of e-waste is growing at an estimated 21 per cent annually.  The concept of Extended ProducerBRICS Responsibility (EPR)- under 2016IAS E-waste (Management) Rules – mandated producers of electrical and electronic equipment to register and specified targets to collect back e-waste generated and to ensure that it is channelised to authorized recyclers ELECTRIC VEHICLE (EV) CHARGING GUIDELINES Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains III – Infrastructure In News  Union Minister for Power has approved amendments in Electric Vehicle Charging Guidelines and Specifications.  At least one Charging Station to be available in a grid of 3 Km x 3 Km in the cities and one Charging Station at every 25 Km on both sides of highways/roads.  All Mega Cities & expressways connected to these Mega Cities to be taken up for coverage in first phase, other big cities to be taken up in second phase.  For inter-city travel, Fast Charging Station to be installed at every 100 Kms.  Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), a statutory body under Ministry of Power has been nominated as the Central Nodal Agency to facilitate installation of Charging Infrastructure. MICROFINANCE Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II –Economy In News  RBI has decided to raise the lending limit per borrower from ₹1 lakh to ₹1.25 lakh to enable more borrowers to avail loans from microfinance institutions (MFI)

www.bricsias.com 8142160099219219

 RBI has also proposed to increase the household income limit for borrowers of NBFC-MFIs from the current level of ₹ 1.00 lakh for rural areas to ₹ 1.25 lakh and from present level of ₹ 1.60 lakh for urban/semi urban areas to ₹ 2.00 lakh.  RBI said the decision was taken after taking into consideration the important role played by MFIs in delivering credit to those at the bottom of the economic pyramid and enable them to play their assigned role in a growing economy.  Microfinance institutions (MFIs) are financial companies that provide small loans to people who do not have any access to banking facilities ChangthangPrahar (assault)  It is an all arms integratedexercise in a ―super high altitude‖ area near Chushul in eastern Ladakh, featuring tanks, artillery guns, drones, helicopters and troops, as well as para-drops.  The exercise encompassed employment of mechanised forces with force multipliers integrating high technology platforms  Changthang is a plateau in western and northern Tibet that extends into SoutheasternLadakh  Another major combat exercise called ―Him Vijay‖ will be held by the Army in Arunachal PradeshduringOctober second week, which will see the force testing its new integrated battle groups in mountain warfare in conjunction with the IAF (MAINS FOCUS) INDIA‘S FOREIGN RELATION TOPIC: General Studies 2:  India and its neighbourhood- relations.  Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India‘s interests India-China informal summit Context:  Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping two-day India-China informal summit  The second informal summit between leaders of India and China is scheduled to take place in the coastal town of Mamallapuram, south of Chennai.(first was wuhan)  The summit would take place in the wake of the recent India-US bonhomie and growing China-Pakistan partnership. Why Mamallapuram?  Mamallapuram, or Mahabalipuram in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.  An ancient historic town and one of two major port cities by the 7th century within the Pallava kingdom (Pallavas also had trade relations with the Chinese.)  Now UNESCO world heritage site and one of the most visited towns in South India  Renowned for its architecture, widely admired across the world.  Wuhan was picked by President Xi Jinping as the venue last year to demonstrate China‘s economic resilience and might.  Mamallapuram is symbolic of India‘s ‗soft power‘. BRICS IAS

Did you know:

www.bricsias.com 8142160099220220

 Mamallapuram and the Pallava dynasty are also historically relevant, for the earliest recorded security pact between China and India (in the early 8th century) involved a Pallava king (Rajasimhan, or Narasimha Varma II), from whom the Chinese sought help to counter Tibet, which had by then emerged as a strong power posing a threat to China. Issue of concern:  Doklam and the disputed border between the two countries remains an issue of concern.  China and India continue to compete and have a contradictory outlook on many strategic and civilisation issues. Like Asian security, regional stability and the role of the U.S. in the region  The recent announcement by India of an ―all arms integrated‖ exercise ‗codenamed Changthang Prahar (assault)‘ in a ―super high altitude‖ area near Chushul in eastern Ladakh, featuring tanks, artillery guns, drones, helicopters and troops, as well as para-drops, is almost certain to be read suspiciously by China.  The reopening of the Advance Landing Ground at Vijoynagar in Arunachal Pradesh for the use of military aircraft  A proposed major combat exercise, in Arunachal Pradesh, in which the new Integrated Battle Groups will be seen in operation Wuhan summit:  The first Informal Summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and China‘s President Xi Jinping was held in Wuhan in 2018  The purpose of meeting was to exchange views on overarching issues of bilateral and global importance and to elaborate their respective visions and priorities for national development in context of current and future international situation.  Since the Wuhan Summit, little has changed as far as India-China relations are concerned.  Political situation in Afghanistan deteriorates, China, along with countries like Pakistan, remains more intent than ever on ensuring that India has no role to play there. Aftermath  Relations between China and the U.S. have sharply deteriorated.  Majority of nations in the West have cooled off towards China.  strengthening of India-Russia ties.  New triangular relationship of Russia, India and Japan.  China‘s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has also come under increasing attack. Challenges in China:  China‘s domestic scene is marked by heightened anxiety  The economy is far more fragile than in early 2018, as exemplified by the jitters emanating from China‘s equity and currency markets  The decline in growth rates.  Internal security concerns such as unrest in Tibet, inroads made by radical extremist groups in Xinjiang  Turn of events in Hong Kong  The relentless attack by the U.S. and President Trump on China‘s economic practices has aggravated this mood of pessimism. China‘s concern:  India‘s relations with the U.S. have attained a new high.  Relations with Russia have acquired a fresh dimension, incorporating economics alongside a longstanding military relationship.  BRICS IAS India‘s relations with Japan have greatly strengthened.  The Quadrilateral (the U.S., India, Japan and Australia) has gained a new lease of life. Way forward:  India, needs to proceed with utmost caution  India must ensure that it does not provoke China to the point where it would be inclined to indulge in ‗adventurism‘.  China‘s efforts are more than likely to be directed towards ‗disruption‘, primarily concentrating on disrupting the strategic alliances that India has forged, or strengthened, recently. Conclusion:  With preparations and proper handling, the forthcoming meet could, on the other hand, provide India‘s leaders with a realistic estimate as to where India-China relations are headed. Connecting the dots:  Informal summits have their use as trust-building exercises. Elucidate RBI TOPIC: General Studies 3:  Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099221221

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cut the repo rate Context:  The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cut the repo rate or key lending rate by 25 basis points while maintaining an accommodative stance.  The reverse repo rate was reduced to 4.9%.  This is the fifth consecutive rate cut by the apex bank this year, aggregating to 135 bps.  The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) also cuts GDP growth forecast for the current fiscal year 2019-20 to 6.1% from 6.9% earlier. Highlights of MPC:  A repo rate cut allows banks to reduce interest rates for consumers and lowers equal monthly instalments on home loans, car loans and personal loans.  Central banks around the world are loosening monetary policy to offset a global slowdown made worse by U.S.- China trade tensions  RBI will take a fresh look at cooperative bank regulations and take it up with the government  The RBI has allowed domestic banks to freely offer foreign exchange (forex) prices to NRIs  The continuing slowdown warrants intensified efforts to restore the growth momentum.  On the crisis in the Punjab & Maharashtra Cooperative Bank (PMC), the RBI governor said one incident cannot be and should not be used to generalise the health of the co-operative banking sector.  PCA(Prompt Corrective Action) is an opportunity for the bank to correct itself.  Appealed members of the public and all depositors that our banking system remains sound and stable, there is no reason for unnecessary panic.  RBI has decided to create a separate category of NBFC, viz., Non-Banking Financial Company-Micro Finance Institution (NBFC-MFI).  It acknowledged ―the negative output gap has widened further‖ Negative output gap:  A negative output gap indicates surplus capacity in the economy. A widening of this gap means the industry is unable to use much of its capacity due to poor demand. What is Prompt Corrective Action?  To ensure that banks don‘t go bust, RBI has put in place some trigger points to assess, monitor, control and take corrective actions on banks which are weak and troubled.  The process or mechanism under which such actions are taken is known as Prompt Corrective Action, or PCA. Present scenario:  Inflation is well within the target giving space to the RBI to focus on growth  Crude oil prices are back in the comfort zone, retreating from the spike in mid-September, and food prices are projected to remain soft on the back of a good monsoon. Crux:  If the projection of 6.1% for 2019-20 is to be met, the economy has to grow by about 7% in the second half which does not look very likely.  The problem is that the central bank can only facilitate lower rates and push banks to lend. It cannot force borrowers to borrow and this is evident from the soft trends in credit offtake in the last few months. Way forward:  Recent measures announced by BRICSthe government are likely to help strengthen IAS private consumption and spur private investment activity, the continuing slowdown warrants intensified efforts to restore the growth momentum Connecting the dots: Its commentary on the state of the economy and its outlook too has qualitatively changed — from being ―optimistic‖ in April to expressing ―concerns‖ in August and calling for ―intensified efforts to restore the growth momentum‖ in October. Substantiate 7th October 2019 Multidisciplinary drifting observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate (MOSAiC) expedition Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS-III –Environment Conservation In News  Vishnu Nandan, a 32-year-old polar researcher from Kerala, will be the only Indian among 300 scientists from across the world aboard the MOSAiC expedition  The aim of the expedition will be to parameterise the atmospheric, geophysical, oceanographic and all other possible variables in the Arctic, and use it to more accurately forecast the changes in our weather systems.  MOSAiC, the largest ever Arctic expedition in history, will be the first to conduct a study of the North Pole for an entire year. Previous studies have been of shorter periods as the thicker sea ice sheets prevent access in winter.  Under it, the German research vessel Polarstern has locked itself into a large sea ice sheet, before the winter, and will drift along with it

www.bricsias.com 8142160099222222

 Spearheaded by the Alfred Wegener Institute in Germany, scientists from 17 nations will take part in the year- long mission. NATIONAL e-ASSESSMENT CENTRE (NeAC) Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III- Economy In News  Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated National e-Assessment Centre (NeAC) in New Delhi.  With this, Income Tax Department is introducing faceless e-assessment to impart greater efficiency, transparency and accountability in the assessment process. There would be no physical interface between taxpayers and tax officers.  Under the new system, taxpayers have received notices on their registered emails as well as on registered accounts on the web portal, with real-time by way of SMS on their registered mobile number,specifying the issues for which their cases have been selected for scrutiny.  Replies to the notices can be prepared at ease by taxpayers at their own residence or office and sent by email to the National e-Assessment Centre by uploading the same on the designated web portal. Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains III – Security In News  The Navy‘s IFC-IOR is a single point centre linking all coastal radar chain networks along the 7500km Indian coastline and in some neighbouring countries  The FC-IOR was inaugurated in December 2018 at Gurugramand has now started functioning as an information sharing hub of maritime data and ―cuing incident responses‖ to maritime security situations through a collaborative approach  The IFC tracks and monitors 75,000-1.5 lakh shipping vessels in real timeround the clock  The IFC actively interacts with maritime community and has already built linkages with 18 countries and 15 multinational and maritime security centres  India has asked neighbours to draw upon it and consider it as their own facilityrather than duplicating it. This statement is important in the context of reports that Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are considering setting up similar fusion centres. (MAINS FOCUS) CITIZENSHIP TOPIC: General Studies 2:  Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure Citizenship amendment bill Context:  Mr. Amit Shah recently said ,that the new government would re-introduce, and pass, the citizenship amendment bill in the next parliamentary session, or soon thereafter. How is citizenship determined?  Citizenship signifies the relationship between individual and state. It begins and ends with state and law, and is thus about the state, not people. Citizenship is an idea of exclusion as it excludes non-citizens.  There are two well-known principles for grant of citizenship. While jus soli confers citizenship on the basis of place of birth, jus sanguinis gives recognitionBRICS to blood ties. From the time IASof the Motilal Nehru Committee (1928), the Indian leadership was in favour of the enlightened concept of jus soli. The racial idea of jus sanguis was rejected by the Constituent Assembly as it was against the Indian ethos.  Citizenship is in the Union List under the Constitution and thus under the exclusive jurisdiction of Parliament.  The Constitution does not define the term ‗citizen‘ but gives, in Articles 5 to 11, details of various categories of persons who are entitled to citizenship.  Unlike other provisions of the Constitution, which came into being on January 26, 1950, these articles were enforced on November 26, 1949 itself, when the Constitution was adopted. However, Article 11 itself confers wide powers on Parliament by laying down that ―nothing in the foregoing provisions shall derogate from the power of Parliament to make any provision with respect to the acquisition and termination of citizenship and all matters relating to citizenship‖. Thus Parliament can go against the citizenship provisions of the Constitution.  The Citizenship Act, 1955 was passed and has been amended four times — in 1986, 2003, 2005, and 2015. The Act empowers the government to determine the citizenship of persons in whose case it is in doubt.  However, over the decades, Parliament has narrowed down the wider and universal principles of citizenship based on the fact of birth. Moreover, the Foreigners Act places a heavy burden on the individual to prove that he is not a foreigner. So who is, or is not, a citizen of India?  Article 5: It provided for citizenship on commencement of the Constitution. All those domiciled and born in India were given citizenship. Even those who were domiciled but not born in India, but either of whose parents was born

www.bricsias.com 8142160099223223

in India, were considered citizens. Anyone who had been an ordinary resident for more than five years, too, was entitled to apply for citizenship.  Article 6: Since Independence was preceded by Partition and migration, Article 6 laid down that anyone who migrated to India before July 19, 1949, would automatically become an Indian citizen if either of his parents or grandparents was born in India. But those who entered India after this date needed to register themselves.  Article 7: Even those who had migrated to Pakistan after March 1, 1947 but subsequently returned on resettlement permits were included within the citizenship net. The law was more sympathetic to those who migrated from Pakistan and called them refugees than to those who, in a state of confusion, were stranded in Pakistan or went there but decided to return soon.  Article 8: Any Person of Indian Origin residing outside India who, or either of whose parents or grandparents, was born in India could register himself or herself as ab Indian citizen with Indian Diplomatic Mission.  1986 amendment: Unlike the constitutional provision and the original Citizenship Act that gave citizenship on the principle of jus soli to everyone born in India, the 1986 amendment to Section 3 was less inclusive as it added the condition that those who were born in India on or after January 26, 1950 but before July 1, 1987, shall be Indian citizen. Those born after July 1, 1987 and before December 4, 2003, in addition to one‘s own birth in India, can get citizenship only if either of his parents was an Indian citizen at the time of birth.  2003 amendment: The then NDA government made the above condition more stringent, keeping in view infiltration from Bangladesh. Now the law requires that for those born on or after December 4, 2004, in addition to the fact of their own birth, both parents should be Indian citizens or one parent must be Indian citizen and other should not be an illegal migrant. With these restrictive amendments, India has almost moved towards the narrow principle of jus sanguinis or blood relationship. This lays down that an illegal migrant cannot claim citizenship by naturalisation or registration even if he has been a resident of India for seven years.  Citizenship (Amendment) Bill: The amendment proposes to permit members of six communities — Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan — to continue to live in India if they entered India before December 14, 2014. It also reduces the requirement for citizenship from 11 years out of the preceding 14 years, to just 6 years. Two notifications also exempted these migrants from the Passport Act and Foreigner Act. A large number of organisations in Assam protested against this Bill as it may grant citizenship to Bangladeshi Hindu illegal migrants Logic behind this:  Both the text of the Bill and its ‗Statement of Objects and Reasons‘ refers to ―minority communities‖ from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.  The logic appears to be that as these three countries are Muslim-majority, they may be subject to persecution on account of their faith, and, therefore, need refuge in a country such as India. Crux: Citizenship Amendment Bill does two things:  it shields a set of individuals from being declared illegal migrants (and, by extension, shields them from detention or deportation);  It creates a fast-track to citizenship for these individuals.  It does so on an explicitly communal basis: it categorically excludes Muslims from its ambit. Implication: If the government goes ahead with its plan of implementing a nation-wide National Register of Citizens, then those who find themselves excluded from it will be divided into two categories:  BRICS IAS (predominantly) Muslims, who will now be deemed illegal migrants,  all others, who would have been deemed illegal migrants, but are now immunised by the Citizenship Amendment Bill, if they can show that their country of origin is Afghanistan, Bangladesh or Pakistan. Criticism:  The Citizenship Amendment Bill explicitly, and blatantly, seeks to enshrine religious discrimination into law, contrary to our long-standing, secular constitutional ethos.  If the objective is the protection of minorities, then there is no explanation for why Jews and atheists (to take just two examples) have been left out.  There are Muslim religious minorities within these countries who are subjected to grave and serious persecution: Ex : Ahmadis in Pakistan.  Lately, the Rohingya community in Myanmar, another neighbouring country, has been subjected to prolonged persecution, ethnic cleansing, and potentially genocide. However, the government has been openly hostile towards the Rohingyas and has even argued for their deportation before the Supreme Court.  The Bill, will be the first time that religion or ethnicity will be made the basis of citizenship. That would do grave damage to the very idea of India as an inclusive and diverse polity, where religion has no bearing on who can become a full member of society. Hence it is religious discrimination, plain and simple. Constitutionality:

www.bricsias.com 8142160099224224

 Article 15 of the Constitution — that bars religious discrimination — applies only to citizens.  But ,Article 14 of the same Constitution, which guarantees to all persons equality before the law, and the equal protection of law.  Discriminatory treatment and especially, discrimination that is arbitrary, and classifications that are unreasonable violate the essence of the equal treatment clause. Conclusion:  A nationwide NRC will replicate the flaws of the Assam NRC on a much larger scale; and for those who find themselves on its wrong side, the discriminatory Citizenship Amendment Bill will protect some — but only some — based on their religion. Connecting the dots:  During the framing of the Indian Constitution, it was agreed that the primary basis for Indian citizenship would be jus soli — or, citizenship by birth (in the territory of India). Over the years this principle has been diluted . Analyse. LAW TOPIC: General Studies 2:  Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure. Section 124-A (Sedition law)  An FIR has been lodged in Bihar‘s Muzaffarpur against a group of eminent personalities, including historian Ramchandra Guha, filmmakers Shyam Benegal and Aparna Sen among others, who had written an open letter to PM Narendra Modi against the incidents of lynching in the country.  The FIR filed under various sections of IPC related to sedition, breach of peace and hurting religious sentiments History:  Sedition laws were enacted in 17th century England, when lawmakers believed that only good opinions of the government should survive, as bad opinions were detrimental to the government and monarchy. This sentiment (and law) was borrowed and inserted into the IPC in 1870.  The law was first used to prosecute Bal Gangadhar Tilak in 1897. That case led to Section 124A of the IPC (which deals with sedition) being amended, to add the words ―hatred‖ and ―contempt‖ to ―disaffection‖, which was defined to include disloyalty and feelings of enmity.  In 1908, upon conviction for sedition in another case, and imprisonment, Tilak reportedly said, ―The government has converted the entire nation into a prison and we are all prisoners.‖ Gandhi, too, was later tried for sedition for his articles in Young India, and famously pleaded guilty.  The Supreme Court highlighted these debates in 1950 in its decisions in Brij Bhushan v the State of Delhi and Romesh Thappar v. the State of Madras.  These decisions prompted the First Constitution Amendment, where Article 19(2) was rewritten to replace ―undermining the security of the State‖ with ―in the interest of public order‖.  In 1962, the Supreme Court decided on the constitutionality of Section 124A in Kedar Nath Singh v State of Bihar. It upheld the constitutionality of sedition, but limited its application to ―acts involving intention or tendency to create disorder, or disturbance of law and order, or incitement to violence‖  In 1995, the Supreme Court, in Balwant Singh v State of Punjab, acquitted persons from charges of sedition for shouting slogans such as ―Khalistan Zindabaad‖ and ―Raj Karega Khalsa‖ outside a cinema after Indira Gandhi‘s assassination. Instead of lookingBRICS at the ―tendency‖ of the words to causeIAS public disorder, the Court held that mere sloganeering which evoked no public response did not amount to sedition About Section 124-A and Criticism on it  Rulers everywhere tend to treat trenchant criticism as attempts to excite disaffection and disloyalty.  That is perhaps the only reason that Section 124-A of the Indian Penal Code, enacted under colonial rule, remains on the statute book.  The foremost objection to the provision on sedition is that its definition remains too wide. ‗Overbroad‘ definitions typically cover both what is innocuous and what is harmful.  Under the present law, strong criticism against government policies and personalities, slogans voicing disapprobation of leaders and stinging depictions of an unresponsive or insensitive regime are all likely to be treated as ‗seditious‘, and not merely those that overtly threaten public order or constitute actual incitement to violence.  In fact, so mindless have some prosecutions been in recent years that the core principle enunciated by the Supreme Court — that the incitement to violence or tendency to create public disorder are the essential ingredients of the offence — has been forgotten.  However, as long as sedition is seen as a reasonable restriction on free speech on the ground of preserving public order, it will be difficult to contain its mischief. Misuse of Section 124-A

www.bricsias.com 8142160099225225

 There have been repeated instances of its misuse. Regimes at the Centre and the States have often been shown in poor light after they invoked the section against activists, detractors, writers and even cartoonists.  Since Independence, many have seen the irony of retaining a provision that was used extensively to suppress the freedom struggle.  Despite all this, Section 124-A has tenaciously survived all attempts by successive generations to reconsider it, if not repeal it altogether.  In particular, it has raised the pertinent question: how far is it justified for India to retain an offence introduced by the British to suppress the freedom struggle, when Britain itself abolished it 10 years ago? Law Commissions‘ observations  The Law Commission, for the third time in five decades, is now in the process of revisiting the section.  Its consultation paper calls for a thorough reconsideration and presents the various issues related to it before the public for a national debate.  In an earlier report in 1968, the Law Commission had rejected the idea of repealing the section.  In 1971, the panel wanted the scope of the section to be expanded to cover the Constitution, the legislature and the judiciary, in addition to the government to be established by law, as institutions against which ‗disaffection‘ should not be tolerated.  The only dilution it mooted was to modify the wide gap between the two jail terms prescribed in the section (either three years or life) and fix the maximum sanction at seven years‘ rigorous imprisonment with fine. Way forward:  The law and its application clearly distinguishes between strong criticism of the government and incitement of violence.  Even if the letter is considered hateful, or contemptuous and disdainful of the government, if it did not incite violence, it is not seditious Conclusion:  The broad scope of Section 124A means that the state can use it to chase those who challenge its power, and the mere pressing of sedition charges ends up acting as a deterrent against any voice of dissent or criticism. Connecting the dots:  The threat of sedition leads to a sort of unauthorised self-censorship. Analyse  We must protect our right to dissent as fiercely as we protect our right to live. If we fail to do so, our existence as a proudly democratic nation is at risk. Justify 9th October 2019 India formally received the first Rafale fighter jet Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains III – Security In News  The DassaultRafale is a French twin-engine, canard delta wing, multirole fighter aircraft designed and built by Dassault Aviation of France  Equipped with a wide range of weapons, the Rafale is intended to perform in-depth strike, anti-ship strike and nuclear deterrence missions  In September 2016, India and France signed a €7.87 billion Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) for 36 Rafale multi-role fighter jets in fly-away condition following the surprise announcement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in April 2015.  The first batch of the jets will arriveBRICS in India only in May 2020. By FebruaryIAS 2021, India will receive 18 Rafale jets and by April 2022, India will get all the 36 Rafale. Do You Know?  Rafale has been selected for purchase by the Indian Air Force, the Egyptian Air Force, and the Qatar Air Force.  The Rafale has been used in combat over Afghanistan, Libya, Mali, Iraq and Syria. INFORMAL SUMMITS Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS-II – International Relations In News  Second Informal India-China Summit scheduled to take place in Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu on October 11-12.  The two countries convened their first Informal Summit in central China‘s Wuhan in April 2018.  By definition, informal summits lack the pomp, protocol and ceremony of formal ones, including delegation-level talks and a pre-set agenda for discussions.  No agreements are signed, and there is no joint statement or press conference. The two leaders involved hold one-to one discussions, sometimes with only translators present.  It allows for quietly discussing contentious issues away from media glare and publicity. About Mamallapuram  Mamallapuram is also known as Seven Pagodas or Mahabalipuram.  It was one of two major port cities by the 7th century within the Pallava kingdom.  It has been declared as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099226226

 Some important structures include: Thirukadalmallai, Descent of the Ganges or Arjuna‘s Penance, Varaha Cave Temple, Krishna‘s Butterball, Shore temple and Pancha Rathas (Five Chariots). HINDU-KUSH-HIMALAYAN (HKH) REGION Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III- Environmental Conservation In News  The India Meteorological Department (IMD) will collaborate with meteorological agencies in China and Pakistan to provide climate forecast services to countries in HKH region  HKH region spans Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.  The HKH region is considered the Third Pole [after the North and South Poles], and has significant implications for climate.  It contains vast cryospheric zones, is also the world‘s largest store of snow and ice outside the polar region, and the source of 10 major rivers.  There are proposals to establish a regional climate centre that will provide forecasting services and climate analyses, which will be under World Meteorological Organisation

2019 NOBEL PRIZE FOR PHYSICS Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III- Science & Technology In News  Three scientists, James Peebles, Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz have won the Nobel Prize 2019 for Physics for their contribution to the understanding of the evolution of the universe and earth‘s place in the cosmos. Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB):  Canadian-American cosmologist James Peebles, 84, won one-half of the Prize for his theoretical work helping us understand how the universe evoBRICSlved after the Big Bang. IAS  His work is focused largely on Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) radiation, which is electromagnetic radiation left over from the early universe once it had cooled sufficiently following the Big Bang. Exoplanet:  The other half went to Swiss astronomers Michel Mayor, 77, and Didier Queloz, 53, for their discovery of an exoplanet that challenged preconceived ideas about planets.  Using a spectrograph, ELODIE, they predicted the planet by observing the ―Doppler effect‖ — when the star wobbles as an effect of a planet‘s gravity on its observed light.  Today, exoplanets are being discovered very frequently — over 4,000 are known — which is remarkable progress from three decades ago, when not even one exoplanet was known.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099227227

2019 NOBEL PRIZE IN MEDICINE Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III- Science & Technology In News  The 2019 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to scientists William G Kaelin, Jr, Peter J Ratcliffe and Gregg L Semenza.  They received the award jointly for their discoveries of ―how cells sense and adapt to oxygen availability‖. They established the basis for our understanding of how oxygen levels affect cellular metabolism and physiological function.  Their research has paved the way for promising new strategies to fight anaemia, cancer and many other diseases.  It is the 110th prize in the category that has been awarded since 1901. (MAINS FOCUS) AGRICULTURE TOPIC: General Studies 3:  Major crops cropping patterns in various parts of the country, different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints The truth about ZBNF (zero budget natural farming) Context:  National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, based on a brainstorming session that included industry representatives, sent a letter to BRICS Prime Minister Narendra Modi opposing IAS Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) recently History:  It was after the pioneering work of Justus von Liebig and Friedrich Wöhler in organic chemistry in the 19th century that chemical fertilizers began to be used in agriculture.  In the 20th century, the criticisms levelled against Green Revolution technologies were criticisms of the increasing ―chemicalisation‖ of agriculture.  Claims were made that alternative, non-chemical agricultures were possible. Ex : Organic farming , Rudolf Steiner‘s biodynamics, Masanobu Fukuoka‘s one-straw revolution and Madagascar‘s System of Rice Intensification (SRI).  In India, such alternatives and their variants included, among others, homoeo-farming, Vedic farming, Natu-eco farming, Agnihotra farming and Amrutpani farming. Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) About ‗zero budget natural farming‘ (ZBNF): Pioneered by Subhash Palekar, an innovative farmer from Maharashtra.  The technique replaces fertilisers and pesticides with concoctions of cow dung, cow urine, jaggery and pulse flour, and ensure perfect soil conditions for plant growth.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099228228

 It does so by keeping the top soil covered with crop residues to increase water retention, coating of seeds with cow dung and urine, concoction made of dung, urine, jaggery and pulse flour to multiply soil microbes, concoction to protect plants from pests etc. Logic behind this: Soil has all the nutrients plants need. To make these nutrients available to plants, we need the intermediation of microorganisms. For this, he recommends the ―four wheels of ZBNF‖: Bijamrit, Jivamrit, Mulching and Waaphasa.  Bijamrit is the microbial coating of seeds with formulations of cow urine and cow dung.  Jivamrit is the enhancement of soil microbes using an inoculum of cow dung, cow urine, and jaggery.  Mulching is the covering of soil with crops or crop residues.  Waaphasa is the building up of soil humus to increase soil aeration.  Includes three methods of insect and pest management: Agniastra, Brahmastra and Neemastra (all different preparations using cow urine, cow dung, tobacco, fruits, green chilli, garlic and neem).  98.5% of the nutrients that plants need is obtained from air, water and sunlight; only 1.5% is from the soil.  All nutrients are present in adequate quantities in all types of soils. However, they are not in a usable form.  Jivamrit, Mr. Palekar‘s magical concoction, makes these nutrients available to the plants by increasing the population of soil microorganisms.  Because of ZBNF‘s spiritual closeness to nature, its practitioners will stop drinking, gambling, lying, eating non- vegetarian food and wasting resources.

Mr. Palekar‘ arguments:  All knowledge created by agricultural universities is false. He calls Liebig as ―Mr. Lie Big‖.  He labels chemical fertilizers andBRICS pesticides as ―demonic substances‖, IAS cross-bred cows as ―demonic species‖ and biotechnology and tractors as ―demonic technologies‖,  He is critical of organic farming,‖ is ―more dangerous than chemical farming‖, and ―worse than [an] atom bomb‖.  He calls vermicomposting a ―scandal‖ and Eiseniafoetida, the red worm used to make vermicompost, as the ―destructor beast‖.  He also calls Steiner‘s biodynamic farming ―bio-dynamite farming‖. Research argues:  Indian soils are poor in organic matter content.  About 59% of soils are low in available nitrogen;  About 49% are low in available phosphorus;  About 48% are low or medium in available potassium.  Indian soils are also varyingly deficient in micronutrients, such as zinc, iron, manganese, copper, molybdenum and boron. Solution:  Location-specific solutions to nurture soil health and sustain increases in soil fertility.  Scientists suggest soil test-based balanced fertilisation and integrated nutrient management methods combining organic manures (i.e., farm yard manure, compost, crop residues, biofertilizers, green manure) with chemical fertilizers.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099229229

Criticisms of ZNBF:  ZBNF is hardly zero budget. Many ingredients of Mr. Palekar‘s formulations have to be purchased.  There are no independent studies to validate the claims that ZBNF plots have a higher yield than non-ZBNF plots.  Field trials have recorded a yield shortfall of about 30% in ZBNF plots when compared with non-ZBNF plots.  The Jivamrit prescription is essentially the application of 10 kg of cow dung and 10 litres of cow urine per acre per month. For a five-month season, this means 50 kg of cow dung and 50 litres of cow urine. Given nitrogen content of 0.5% in cow dung and 1% in cow urine, this translates to just about 750 g of nitrogen per acre per season. This is totally inadequate considering the nitrogen requirements of Indian soils. Way Forward:  We need steps to check wind and water erosion of soils.  We need innovative technologies to minimise physical degradation of soils due to waterlogging, flooding and crusting.  We need to improve the fertility of saline, acidic, alkaline and toxic soils by reclaiming them. We need location- specific interventions towards balanced fertilisation and integrated nutrient management. Conclusion:  While we try to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers in some locations, we should be open to increasing their use in other locations. But such a comprehensive approach requires a strong embrace of scientific temper and a firm rejection of anti-science postures.  In this sense, the inclusion of ZBNF into our agricultural policy by the government appears unwise and imprudent. Connecting the dots:  Zero Budget Natural Farming has no scientific validation and its inclusion into agricultural policy appears unwise. Analyse. INDIA‘S FOREIGN RELATIONS TOPIC: General Studies 2:  India and its neighbourhood- relations.  Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India‘s interests China‘s role in Bangladesh while shaping its ties with Dhaka Context:  Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping to meet in two-day India-China informal summit  The second informal summit between leaders of India and China is scheduled to take place in the coastal town of Mamallapuram, south of Chennai.(first was wuhan)  The just-concluded visit (October 6) to India by Bangladesh‘s prime minister, Sheikh Hasina. Wuhan summit:  The first informal summit between the two leaders was held at Wuhan in April 2018, necessitated by the earlier military stand-off between the Asian giants at Doklam.  Prudence at the highest political level enabled the two nations to arrive at a modus-vivendi in Wuhan, though the long-festering territorial dispute and an unresolved 4,000 km-plus Line of Actual Control are tenaciously alive. History:  In the run up to the 1971 Bangladesh war, the US and China, which had begun their own rapprochement, supported Pakistan, and were opposed to Indian assistance to the East Pakistan political leadership — symbolised by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.  Yet, with support from Russia,BRICS India achieved what may be described IAS as a spectacular military victory — it liberated Dhaka and handed over power to Mujibur Rahman. India – China – Bangladesh-Pakistan :  Indian military victory of 1971 led to a strategic reappraisal in Beijing about its democratic neighbour, whom it had militarily humiliated in October 1962.  The seeds of the strategic-security anxiety in China about India were sown at that time.  Beijing‘s response was to invest in Pakistan and, in the intervening decades, a deep and opaque Sino-Pak strategic and security relationship was nurtured  This in turn emboldened Pakistan , to embark upon a proxy war against India (with terrorism as a tool) that began in 1990 and has continued to-date.  Bangladesh is an active partner of the Xi Jinping-led BRI (Belt and Road Initiative) .  In the security sector, Bangladesh is also a major recipient of Chinese military inventory, including submarines. Recent visit of Bangladesh PM takeaways:  Provides an instructive cue as to how the strategic ties between India and China have evolved and future lessons to be drawn from this bilateral relationship.  Despite some missteps and hesitation, the bilateral is currently described as the ―best ever‖ and a template for India‘s ties with its other neighbours Way forward:

www.bricsias.com 8142160099230230

 India‘s abiding regional strategic objective ought to be one which ensures that Bangladesh does not morph into a Pakistan, either by way of being compelled into choosing Beijing over Delhi; or nurturing radical Islamic ideologies domestically.  The maritime domain, and the Bay of Bengal in particular, with Dhaka as the coxswain, ought to be envisioned at Mamallapuram. Connecting the dots:  The Bangladesh-India-China triangle is often obscured by the high visibility accorded to Pakistan in the uneasy relationship between the two Asian giants. Analyse. 10th October 2019 Slowdown effects more pronounced in India: IMF Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains III – Economy In News  The new IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva warned that the global economy is witnessing ―synchronised slowdown‖ which will result in slower growth for 90% of the world this year.  Widespread deceleration meant that growth this year would fall to its lowest rate since the beginning of the decade.  Despite this overall deceleration, close to 40 emerging market and developing economies are forecast to have real GDP growth rates above 5% — including 19 in sub-Saharan Africa. Also, in the U.S. and Germany, unemployment is at historic lows. Do You Know?  World Economic Outlook by IMF to be released by mid-October would show downward revisions for 2019 and 2020.  The RBI has recently lowered India‘s GDP growth estimate for the year to 6.1% from the earlier 6.9% due to the ongoing period of economic slowdown. Data localisation Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS-II – International Relations In News  India‘s data localisation plans will hang on balance if it agrees to e-commerce provisions of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership(RCEP)  Thiswould mean India won‘t be allowed to impose data localisation rules on companies looking to do business in India.  In its April 2018 notification, the RBI had said that ―all system providers shall ensure that the entire data relating to payment systems operated by them are stored in a system only in India.‖  This data is to include the full end-to-end transaction details, information collected, carried, or processed as part of the message or payment instruction.  India is negotiating in the RCEP talks, being held in Bangkok, to change the relevant provision so as to enable space for national rules and regulations over data. GEMINI system to warn fishermen of danger Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III- Disaster Management In News  To avoid communication blackouts during disasters like cyclones, slew of government departments, research agencies and private companies have developed GEMINI, a portable receiver linked to ISRO satellites, that is ―fail-proof‖ and warn fishermen of danger.  BRICS IAS GEMINI works on GAGAN and is an India-made global positioning system. It relies on the positioning system of ISRO‘s GSAT satellites.  The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), a Hyderabad institute collaborated with Accord, a private company, to develop a box-shaped receiver that has an antenna and in-built battery that can last three to four days.  When GEMINI is connected to an app, it also lets fishermen know the probability of fish catch in the surrounding seas.  At ₹9,000 a device, it‘s relatively expensive but attempts are on to subsidise it by as much as 90%. About GAGAN  GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation (GAGAN), developed by ISRO and Airports Authority of India(AAI) is a regional Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS).  The GAGAN‘s goal is to provide a navigation system to assist aircraft in accurate landing over the Indian airspace and in the adjoining area and applicable to safety-to-life civil operations.  GAGAN is inter-operable with other international SBAS systems.  GAGAN covers the area from Africa to Australia and has expansion capability for seamless navigation services across the region.  GAGAN makes airline operations more efficient and effective, increase air safety, and fuel efficiency.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099231231

2019 NOBEL PRIZE FOR CHEMISTRY Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III- Science & Technology In News  Three scientists on were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their contributions to the development of lithium-ion batteries  These batteries have reshaped energy storage and transformed cars, mobile phones and many other devices in an increasingly portable and electronic world.  The prize went to John B Goodenough of the University of Texas; M Stanley Whittingham of the State University of New York at Binghamton; and Akira Yoshino of Meijo University in Japan.  At 97, Mr. Goodenough is the oldest Nobel winner.  The Nobel committee said the lithium-ion battery has its roots in the oil crisis in the 1970s, when Whittingham was working to develop methods aimed at leading to fossil fuel-free energy technologies. Do You Know  Prize founder Alfred Nobel, a Swedish industrialist who invented dynamite, decided the physics, chemistry, medicine and literature prizes should be awarded in Stockholm, and the peace prize in Oslo.  The prizes come with a 9-million kronor ($918,000) cash award, a gold medal and a diploma that are conferred on December 10 — the anniversary of Nobel‘s death in 1896 — in Stockholm and in Oslo, Norway. India slips 10 places in global competitiveness index Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III- Economy In News  India has moved down 10 places to rank 68th on an annual global competitiveness index, largely due to improvements witnessed by several other economies  While Singapore has replaced the U.S. as the world‘s most competitive economy.  Global Competitiveness Index compiled by Geneva-based World Economic Forum (WEF),  Some of the findings of WEF study are: o India is ranked also high at 15th place in terms of corporate governance, while it is ranked second globally for shareholder governance. o In terms of market size, India is ranked third, while it has got the same rank for renewable energy regulation. o The healthy life expectancy, where India has been ranked 109th out of total the 141 countries surveyed for the index, is one of the shortest outside Africa and significantly below the South Asian average. o With a ratio of female workers to male workers of 0.26, India has been ranked very low at 128th place. o India is also ranked low at 118th in terms of meritocracy and incentivisation and at 107th place for skills.  In overall ranking, India is followed by some of its neighbours including Sri Lanka at 84th place, Bangladesh at 105th, Nepal at 108th and Pakistan at 110th place. Saturn has the most numbers moons in our Solar System Part of: GS Prelims and GS-I- Geography In News  The International Astronomical Union‘s Minor Planet Center confirmed 20 new moons orbiting Saturn, making it the planet with the most moons in our Solar System, at 82.  Until their confirmation, the planet with the most moons was Jupiter, at 79  Our Solar System‘s planets together have 205 confirmed moons now.Saturn and Jupiter, with 161 between them, account for nearly 80% of these.  BRICS IAS Another 20% are orbiting Uranus (27) and Neptune (14). Of the remaining three moons, one is Earth‘s own while the other two are with Mars.  Mercury is so close to the Sun and its gravity that it wouldn‘t be able to hold on to its own moon. Any moon would most likely crash into Mercury or maybe go into orbit around the Sun and eventually get pulled into it.  It is not yet clear, however, why Venus does not have a moon. (MAINS FOCUS) CONSERVATION TOPIC: General Studies 3:  Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment Aarey milk colony controversy  A metro car depot proposed at Aarey milk colony in Mumbai is an important electoral issue in the upcoming state elections.  The project will wipe out 2,646 trees, which environmentalists say will destroy Mumbai‘s ―green lungs‖ and floodplains of Mithi river. They have recommended alternative sites be used for the metro project.  Aarey not a notified forest, a claim that some environmentalists are disputing, the state government plans to go ahead with the project and notes that the metro will ease the congested suburban railways.  The Supreme Court on October 7, ordered a halt on any further cutting of trees until the next hearing. Aarey Milk Colony

www.bricsias.com 8142160099232232

 The Aarey Milk Colony is a neighbourhood situated in Goregaon , a suburb of the city of Mumbai, India.  It was established in 1949 to revolutionize the processing and marketing of dairy products in the city.  Inaugurated by the then Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru  Aarey‘s trees, grassland, bushes and marshes are also home to leopards, migratory birds, snakes, scorpions, spiders, butterflies and more species.  The area has more than 290 wild species of flora and fauna, such as leopard and rusty-spotted cats (classified as vulnerable). Objective:  Shifting of cattle/buffalo from the city limits,  Supply of better quality milk to the citizens of Mumbai at comparatively cheaper cost, and  Maintenance of these animals on scientific and modern animal husbandry practices.

Critics:  The car shed will gradually open up the entire Aarey for construction which will be a disaster for Mumbai. A large part of the Aarey Milk colony has already been encroached upon.  Rich biodiversity like Aarey takes hundreds of years to build up and cannot be re-planted overnight. Metro shed can‘t be built at the cost of Mumbai‘s largest natural air purifier  Floodplain of the Mithi river will be impacted by the construction at Aarey  Aarey is home to over 3,500 families of Warli adivasis and other tribal groups spread over 27 hamlets. Many of them face displacement now. Data:  The state estimates that over 7.5 million people travel in Mumbai‘s suburban trains daily and the upcoming metro will serve as many passengers as suburban rails by 2034 easing the pressure off from the world‘s most congested railways BRICS IAS Arguments:  The government claims that Aarey is not a notified forest and hence the land can be used by the government for the metro project but the activists claim otherwise.  The activists say they are not against the metro depot but the MMRCL‘s choice of land for the same. ―There are plenty of non-residential and industrial locations where car shed can be constructed,‖  Aarey Colony which was categorised as ―unclassed forest in the SGNP‖(Sanjay Gandhi national park) was included in the SGNP in 1969, as per a government document obtained through the Right to Information (RTI) Act. An unclassed forest is recorded in land records as forests, but not reserved or protected by the government.  In 1969, the revenue and forests department (which still allots land in this same area) transferred 2,076 ha of land to the Borivali National Park.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099233233

Conclusion:  Rational cost-benefit assessment of any large project calls for transparency and engagement between policymakers, civil society, scientists and business in the development planning process.  What must be considered are the ecosystem services Aarey provides to Mumbai and how these are impacted by the diversion of 33 hectares, roughly 2% of the total area.  The benefits of augmenting Mumbai‘s public transport system compared to cost of diverting a section of the green belt, and other options of locating the infrastructure, must be considered. Connecting the dots:  The Aarey forest imbroglio is a clear example of the failure to appreciate the need to balance the demands of economic development and environmental protection. Analyse. INDIA‘S FOREIGN RELATION TOPIC: General Studies 2:  India and its neighbourhood- relations.  Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India‘s interests India-China informal summit 2.0 Context:  Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping meeting at India-China informal summit  The second informal summit between leaders of India and China is scheduled to take place in the coastal town of Mamallapuram, south of Chennai.(first was wuhan) Why Mamallapuram?  Mamallapuram, or Mahabalipuram in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.  An ancient historic town and oneBRICS of two major port cities by the 7th centuryIAS within the Pallava kingdom (Pallavas also had trade relations with the Chinese.)  Now UNESCO world heritage site and one of the most visited towns in South India  Renowned for its architecture, widely admired across the world.  Wuhan was picked by President Xi Jinping as the venue last year to demonstrate China‘s economic resilience and might.  Mamallapuram is symbolic of India‘s ‗soft power‘.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099234234

Did you know:  Mamallapuram and the Pallava dynasty are also historically relevant, for the earliest recorded security pact between China and India (in the early 8th century) involved a Pallava king (Rajasimhan, or Narasimha Varma II), from whom the Chinese sought help to counter Tibet, which had by then emerged as a strong power posing a threat to China. Wuhan and after  Three historical forces have been shaping India-China relations.  Some of these forces have been pushing both countries towards 3 Cs competition cooperation and collaboration Like,  changing world order and the rise of Asia, (after the 2008 global economic crisis)  Idea that with the West‘s declining capacity and inclination to responsibly manage international and Asian affairs  Changing South Asia with China‘s 2013 and 2014 policy declarations of deepening ties with its periphery including with subcontinental states, followed soon after with the ambitious Belt and Road initiative and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor in April 2015. These three factors led to :  Antagonistic approaches and strategies.  Much of this acrimonious build-up can be traced to China‘s decision to expand linkages with its southwestern periphery and India‘s perception and reaction to that process. Ex: The Doklam episode Solution Wuhan 1.0:  Lessening of regional tension  Hence,the April 2018 ―informal summit‖ in Wuhan, where both sides decided to arrest the deterioration in the relationship and attempt to chart a fresh course.  Wuhan 1.0 was an attempt to articulate some norms that could serve as a renewed set of guidelines to policymakers and bureaucracies in both countries. It was built on five pillars  ―simultaneous emergence of India and China‖.  The relationship has regained importance and become ―a positive factor for stability‖  Both sides recognise the ―importance of respecting each other‘s sensitivities, concerns and aspirations‖.  Both leaderships would provide ―strategic guidance to their respective militaries‖ to manage the border peacefully.  Both sides would strive for ―greater consultation on all matters of common interest‖, which includes building a real ―developmental partnership‖. Way forward:  An inclusive security architecture in Asia that facilitates a non-violent transition to multipolarity without disrupting economic interdependence;  A fair and rules-based open international order to better reflect Indian and developing economy interests;  Geopolitical peace and sustainable economic development in the neighbourhood Conclusion:  China is important to the successful pursuit of each of these goals, and the principal task before Indian policymakers is to envisage and execute a policy framework that allows for progress on the three ends mentioned above Connecting the dots:  BRICS IAS India has to find and define for itself a relationship with China which allows us to maintain our foreign policy objectives and at the same time allows us a policy that is prudent enough that does not lead us to conflict on every occasion. Justify 11th October 2019 SURAKSHIT MATRITVA AASHWASAN (SUMAN) Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains II – Health In News  Union Minister for Health along with several State Health Ministers launched SUMAN initiative for Zero Preventable Maternal and Newborn Deaths.  The initiative aims at assuring dignified, respectful and quality health care at no cost and zero tolerance for denial of services for every woman and newborn visiting the public health facility in order to end all preventable maternal and newborn deaths.  Under it, pregnant women, mothers up to 6 months after delivery, and all sick newborns will be able to avail free healthcare benefits.  The government will also provide free transport from home to health institutions.  The pregnant women will have a zero expense delivery and C-section facility in case of complications at public health facilities.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099235235

DHRUV Programme Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS-II – Education In News  Pradhan Mantri Innovation Learning Programme – DHRUV is a 14-day learning programme launched by Ministry of HRD in ISRO HQ in Bengaluru.  It aims to further sharpen innovative imagination, skills and knowledge of the students to bringsolutions to socio- economic, political and environmental issues in the country.  60 brightest and talented students from Science, Mathematics and Performing Arts have been chosen for the programme through rigorous selection process  Every student to be called ‗DHRUV TARA‘ will be mentored by renowned experts. Invasive weeds threatening tiger habitats in Adilabad, Telangana Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III- Environment In News  Invasive weeds affect population of herbivores which are prey to the big cats  As a result, there is increase in influx of tigers from forests across the border in Maharashtra.  It was way back in 1992 at the Rio de Janeiro Convention on Biodiversity that biological invasion of alien species of plants was recognised as the second worst threat to the environment after habitat destruction. About Invasive Species  Those species whose introduction into an ecosystem successfully out-compete native organisms and harms ecosystems. Common characteristics are:  o Rapid reproduction and growth, o High dispersal ability, o Phenotypic plasticity (ability to adapt physiologically to new conditions) Assam tea estates violating labour laws Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III- Economy In News  A report by Oxfam, a confederation of independent charitable organisations focussing on the alleviation of global poverty, has flagged violation of labour rights in the tea estates of Assam.  The report noted that the Assam government‘s commitment to increasing the minimum wages of tea plantation workers to ₹351 met with hurdles of financial viability in the sector.  The researchers found that despite working for over 13 hours a day, workers earn between Rs 137-167  Tea brands and supermarkets ―typically capture over two-thirds of the price paid by consumers for Assam tea in India — with just 7% remaining for workers on tea estates‖  Oxfam asked consumers, supermarkets and brands to support the Assam government‘s move to provide living wages to workers and to ensuring more of the price paid by the consumers trickle down to them.  State government is trying to increase the wages of tea plantation workers through the upcoming Occupational Health and Safety Bill. BRICS IAS

NOBEL PRIZE IN LITERATURE  Austria‘s Peter Handke won the 2019 Nobel Prize for Literature, and the postponed 2018 award went to Polish author Olga Tokarczuk.  Austria‘s Peter Handke won the 2019 prize for ―for an influential work that with linguistic ingenuity has explored the periphery and the specificity of human experience‖.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099236236

 Polish author Olga Tokarczuk won the 2018 prize – delayed by one year after a sexual assault scandal rocked the award-giving Academy – for ―a narrative imagination that with encyclopaedic passion represents the crossing of boundaries as a form of life.‖  Olga Tokarczuk, the 15th woman to win the Nobel Literature Prize, also won the International Booker Prize in 2018.  The Nobel Prize in Literature is a Swedish literature prize that is awarded annually, since 1901.  It is awarded to an author from any country who has produced ―in the field of literature the most outstanding work in an ideal direction‖. Motor Vehicles bill 2019 Context:  The Motor Vehicles Bill 2019 seeks to amend the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 to provide for road safety.  The Act provides for grant of licenses and permits related to motor vehicles, standards for motor vehicles, and penalties for violation of these provisions.  The bill suggests a new National Transportation Policy, which may replace the existing National Urban Transport Policy, 2014. Background:  The past two decades have witnessed a huge rise in road accidents, fatalities and other safety concerns in India.  A government committee estimated that road accidents rose by about 50% between 2005 and 2015.  2014 that the National Urban Transport Policy (NUTP) committee proposed a new legislation, incorporating all modes of transportation, multi-modal integration, road safety, etc. Following that, the Road Transport and Safety Bill was drafted in 2014. Amendment: The amendments in the Bill mainly focus on issues relating to improving road safety, citizens‘ facilitation while dealing with the transport department, strengthening rural transport, last mile connectivity and public transport, automation and computerization and enabling online services. Road Safety: In the area of road safety, the Bill proposes to increase penalties to act as deterrent against traffic violations. Stricter provisions are being proposed in respect of offences like juvenile driving, drunken driving, driving without licence, dangerous driving, over-speeding, overloading etc. Vehicle Fitness: The Bill mandates automated fitness testing for vehicles. This would reduce corruption in the transport department while improving the road worthiness of the vehicle. Penalty has been provided for deliberate violation of safety/environmental regulations as well as body builders and spare part suppliers. The Bill also provides for compulsory recall of defective vehicles and power to examine irregularities of vehicle companies. Recall of Vehicles: The Bill allows the central government to order for recall of motor vehicles if a defect in the vehicle may cause damage to the environment, or the driver, or other road users. Road Safety Board : The Bill provides for a National Road Safety Board. The Board will advise the central and state governments on all aspects of road safety and traffic management Protection of Good Samaritan: To help road accident victims, Good Samaritan guidelines have been incorporated in the Bill. The Bill defines a Good Samaritan as a person who renders emergency medical or non-medical assistance to a victim at the scene of an accident, and provides rules to prevent harassment of such a person. Cashless Treatment during Golden Hour: The Bill provides for a scheme for cashless treatment of road accident victims during golden hour. Third Party Insurance : The BillBRICS has included the driver‘s attendant IAS in 3rd Party insurance. re will be no cap on liability of insurers. There will be a 10 time increase in insurance compensation, from Rs 50, 000 to Rs 5 lakh. Motor Vehicle Accident Fund: The Bill requires the central government to constitute a Motor Vehicle Accident Fund, to provide compulsory insurance cover to all road users in India. Improving Services using e-Governance: Provision for online driving licenses, Process of Vehicle Registration, Drivers Training Taxi aggregators: The Bill defines aggregators as digital intermediaries or market places which can be used by passengers to connect with a driver for transportation purposes (taxi services). The Bill provides guidelines for Aggregators.

Aftermath:  All these amendments are intended to reduce traffic crashes by at least 50% by 2030 (a target set by the United Nations).

www.bricsias.com 8142160099237237

 Out of the many amendments proposed in the Act, the increased penalties have been implemented in many States from September 1, 2019; at the same time, many States have decided to ―dilute‖ the suggested increase in penalties. Criticisms:  The idea of higher fines as a deterrent to traffic crashes is based on the assumption that a driver is careless and that the fear of a higher penalty will encourage ―careful‖ behaviour while on the road. This goes against current scientific understanding in reducing traffic crashes that promotes the design of a system which can forgive mistakes made by road users.  Road safety experts suggest that road designs such as lane width, shoulder presence, number of lanes and median design influence driving behaviour such as operating speeds, lane changing, etc.  In the past two decades, there have been major investments in expanding the national highway system in India. Yet, fatalities have continued to grow.  The MVA amendments do not address the reliability of crash estimates, which form the basis of designing preventive strategies Data:  A Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) report of 2018 has listed 1,51,430 fatalities. However, for the same year, the World Health Organisation estimates nearly 300,000 deaths.  A government of India study by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India (‗The Million Death‘ study) also reports at least a 50% under-reporting of traffic fatalities Way forward:  ‗Roads themselves play an important role in road safety, and improved geometry design and infrastructure could in turn help to improve road safety.  Stricter penalties and intensive driver training cannot reduce the risk of driver fatigue. However, road engineers can change the road design to reduce boredom and monotony.  Recognition of human frailty, acceptance of human error, and creation of a forgiving environment and appropriate crash energy management. Conclusion:  If there is to be a reduction in India in traffic crashes, it requires establishing a system or institutional structure which enables the generation of new knowledge-new road standards thereby ensuring safe highways and urban roads. Connecting the dots:  In spite of the ambitious provisions in the amended Motor Vehicles law, safe road behaviour is still miles away. Analyse. 12th October 2019 Industrial output shrinks by 1.1% in August 2019 Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains III – Economy In News  The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) contracted 1.1% from a year earlier, following a growth of 4.3% in July. Industrial output had grown 4.8% in August 2018.  Industrial production slipped into a contraction in August, driven in large part by poor performances in the mining, manufacturing and capital goods sectors  Within the Index, the mining sector saw growth decelerating to 0.1%, from a 4.9% expansion in July.  The manufacturing sector, hamperedBRICS by poor demand, witnessed a contractionIAS of 1.2%, compared with a growth of 4.2% in July and a 5.2% expansion in the year-earlier period. About IIP  IIP is a composite indicator measuring changes in the volume of production of a basket of industrial products over a period of time, with respect to a chosen base period.  It is compiled and published on a monthly basis by the Central Statistical Office with a time lag of six weeks from the reference month.  Coal, Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Refinery Product, Steel, Cement and Electricity are known as Core Industries. The eight Core Industries comprise nearly 37.9 % of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP). NOBEL PEACE PRIZE Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS-II – International Affairs In News  Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali was awarded the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize for ―his important work to promote reconciliation, solidarity and social justice‖  When Abiy became Prime Minister in 2018, Ethiopia had been locked in conflict with Eritrea for 20 years. In July that year, he stepped across the border in Eritrea and in cooperation with Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, worked out the principles of a peace agreement.  Ethiopia is landlocked country, while Eritrea has a sea coast which connects the Middle East.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099238238

 Through the years of conflict, Ethiopia had depended heavily on Djibouti for access to the Gulf of Aden and onward to the Arabian Sea.  The peace deal opened up Eritrean ports for Ethiopian use.  In domestic achievements, he lifted Emergency, granted amnesty to thousands of political prisoners, discontinued media censorship, dismissed leaders suspected of corruption, and increased the influence of women in political and community life. Do you know?  Ethiopia is the most populous landlocked country in the world and the second-most populous nation on the African continent.  Its capital and largest city is Addis Ababa, which serves as the headquarters of the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. RTI violations go unpunished Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – Governance In News  As the RTI Act marks its 14th anniversary on Saturday, a report card analysing its performance showed that government officials face hardly any punishment for violating the law by denying applicants the legitimate information sought by them.  The ‗Report Card on the Performance of Information Commissions in India‘ was prepared by the Satark Nagrik Sangathan and the Centre for Equity Studies.  The State and Central Information Commissions, which are the courts of appeal under the Act, failed to impose penalties in about 97% of the cases where violations took place in 2018-19.  The State Commissions of Tamil Nadu, Sikkim, Mizoram and Tripura did not impose penalties in any cases at all.  The report showed that there were 2.18 lakh cases pending with the commissions in March 2019, in comparison with 1.85 lakh pending cases a year earlier.  Any new appeal would have to wait more than one-and-a-half years for resolution. The backlog is exacerbated by the fact that four out of 11 CIC posts are yet to be filled.  This destroys the basic framework of incentives and disincentives built into the RTI law, promotes a culture of impunity and exasperates applicants who seek information at a high cost and often against great odds (MAINS FOCUS) INDIA‘S FOREIGN POLICY TOPIC: General Studies 2:  India and its neighbourhood- relations.  Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India‘s interests. Mamallapuram Summit Context:  Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi held ―productive‖ talks as part of the second India-China informal summit in the southern coastal town of Mamallapuram in Tamil Nadu  Modi took Xi to three iconic monuments in the historical coastal city—Arjuna‘s Penance, Panch Rathas and the Shore Temple. The monuments date back to the Pallava era (4th-9th century CE). One of the reasons for choosing Mamallapuram was to highlight the contacts between the Pallava kings and China‘s Fujian province where Xi served as governor once.  Talks between Modi and Xi were aimed at building on the relationship reset that began in Wuhan in April last year.  BRICS IAS The broad agenda included their unresolved border dispute, trade and people-to-people contacts besides regional and global issues. Concerns:  summit was clouded by a series of irritants including a statement by Xi telling Pakistan‘s Prime Minister Imran Khan that he was watching the situation in Kashmir and would support Pakistan on issues related to its core interests  India has termed it as its internal matter and issued a sharp response to Xi‘s comments, that was also notable for its timing—less than 48 hours ahead of Xi‘s arrival in India.  China, on its part, has been reportedly unhappy about Indian military exercises in Arunachal Pradesh, some 100km from the undemarcated border between the two countries. China claims the whole of Arunachal Pradesh as part of its territory.  The U.S. and China were in a better relationship. Beijing‘s focus was entirely on economic development and ―peaceful rise‖. It was also the beginning of the golden age of globalisation and free trade that softened borders between big trading and investment partners. Now, U.S.-China ties have turned hostile at a time when India is steadily enhancing its strategic partnership with US. Challenges:  Relations with Beijing are doubly critical for India as China is both a neighbour and a rising great power.  There are structural problems in ties — the boundary dispute, the Pakistan factor, and historical mistrust.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099239239

 Deepen Tactical engagement further, and for that they should not allow strategic glitches dictate terms for a bilateral partnership.  U.S wants India to swing to its side and join its Indo-Pacific strategy, the undeclared aim of which is to contain China‘s rise. China, obviously, doesn‘t want India to swing to the other side.  The Pakistan factor looms large over ties. With Mr. Modi‘s hyper-nationalist government taking an aggressive approach towards Pakistan and cracking down on Kashmir, China‘s Pakistan card is now stronger Trade and border:  Since 1990, Ind-China have decided to strengthen ties in Economy.  Economy, as in the early 1990s, India, following China‘s footsteps, started liberalising its economy.  Trade ties between the two countries boomed over the years (it touched $95 billion last year), though it‘s largely skewed towards China as the latter was fast emerging as an industrial and technological powerhouse.  The border has been largely peaceful during this period. Way forward:  China must make investments in India, especially in building infrastructure and fifth generation technology architecture.  India, wants greater market access in China,  India-China cooperation in projects in third countries.  India should engage with Pakistan, which will not only calm down its borders but also weaken China‘s Pakistan card  Plan to take economic ties to the next level, addressing mutual concerns. Example:. In the 1950s and ‘60s, the U.S. tried everything it could to weaken and isolate Mao Zedong‘s China. But it didn‘t stop President Nixon(U.S) from visiting China in 1972 that led to a remarkable turnaround in Sino- American ties. Conclusion:  India should turn the focus to its rise and building capacities, not on conflicts and rivalries.  If it‘s driven by such a broader but a realist vision, India could expand the avenues of deep tactical engagement with a powerful China. Connecting the dots:  Should India compete with China for dominance of Asia or should it stay focussed on its own rise in which competition with China will be a part? Analyse.  A nation can pick its friends, but not its neighbours. Elucidate ECONOMY TOPIC: General Studies 3:  Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.  Inclusive growth and issues arising from it. Downturn in India‘s economy Context:  Gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the first quarter of 2019-20 at 5% was the lowest in six years, even less than the last quarter of 2018-19 at 5.8%, which was the lowest in five years.  The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has reduced its 2019-20 growth forecast from 6.9% to 6.1%. BRICS IAS

Moody‘s  Moody‘s Investors Service on slashed its 2019-20 GDP growth forecast for India to 5.8 per cent from 6.2 per cent earlier, saying the economy was experiencing a pronounced slowdown which is partly related to long-lasting factors.  The projection is lower than 6.1 per cent that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had forecast  Investment-led slowdown that has broadened into consumption, driven by financial stress among rural households and weak job creation.  private investment has been relatively weak since 2012, consumption — which makes up about 55 per cent of GDP — had remained robust  Asian Development Bank and the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development lowered 2019-20 growth forecast for India by 50 basis points and 1.3 percentage points to 6.5 per cent and 5.9 IMF:  IMF said global economy now in ‗synchronized slowdown‘  Global growth will fall to its lowest rate in this decade  Slowdown is emerging markets like India and Brazil to be even more pronounced  In 2019, IMF expect slower growth in nearly 90 per cent of the world.

www.bricsias.com 8142160099240240

 Economic activity is softening in advanced economies, such as the US, Japan and, especially, the eurozone,  while in other emerging markets, such as India and Brazil, the slowdown is even more pronounced this year.  China‘s accelerated growth is experiencing a gradual decrease Impacts on India:  A prolonged period of slower nominal GDP growth constrains the scope for fiscal consolidation  Keeps the government debt burden higher for longer compared with our previous expectations  General government deficit, which is likely to remain wide  Affected the disposable income of households, so that the increase in private consumer expenditure has witnessed a slump, dampening growth further from the demand side.  The consequences for the automobile sector, which is the driver of manufacturing, and for construction, which is an important source of employment creation, are now being felt.  Investment rates as a percentage of GDP are progressively lower. So are savings rates. The stagnation in the dollar value of exports continues. Criticisms:  The government has been in denial mode about the slowdown.  The Union budget presented in early July, was a missed opportunity, did little,  Since then, as a consequence of significant changes introduced in the budget, stock markets have plummeted and business sentiment has floundered.  Theory and experience both suggest that tax cuts work with a time lag and do not ever lead to an equivalent increase in investment. (Because Higher profits emanating from lower taxes could be used by firms to restructure debt and clean up their balance sheets, increase dividends paid to shareholders)  Tax cut increase the fiscal deficit by 0.7% of GDP, compared with budget estimates for 2019-20. Measures taken by govt:  Measures to boost the economy,  Correcting for mistakes on taxation,  Decriminalizing defaults on corporate social responsibility obligations,  Simplifying laws related to labour, companies and the environment,  Streamlining government procedures,  Facilitating capital flows in financial markets  The government slashed corporate income tax rates. The effective rate, including the surcharge, was reduced from 35% to 25%. Connecting the dots:  Economic downturns do have political consequences. Analyse

BRICS IAS

www.bricsias.com 8142160099241241