December- 2018 Contents Issue-5 Seven Important Issues 1-21 Strategy for New India @ 75: NITI Aayog The Culture of Freebies: Is Undermining the Sanctity of Elections China-Myanmar Economic Corrider: An Overview Brexit Deal: Journey so Far Coal: Is Still the Secret of World Energy A Climate Rulebook: Towards Achieving Climate Targets The Gravity of Air Pollution in India is Becoming Severe Seven Subjective Questions with Model Answers 22-26 Seven Important National & International News 27-33 Seven Brain Boosters & Seven MCQ's Based on Them 34-42 Seven Important Facts For Prelims 43 State Election Results- 2018 44-46 Seven Practice Questions for Main Exam 47 Current Affairs : Perfect 7 SEVEN IMPORTANT ISSUES 1. STRATEGY FOR NEW INDIA @ 75: NITI AAYOG Why in News? sunrise sectors like fintech and ¡ In agriculture, shift the emphasis to tourism. It also called for increasing the converting farmers to ‘agripreneurs’ The NITI Aayog has unveiled its investment rate as measured by gross comprehensive national Strategy, by further expanding-National fixed capital formation (GFCF) from for New India, which defines clear Agriculture Markets and replacing present 29 per cent to 36 per cent of objectives for 2022-23. It is a detailed the Agricultural Produce Marketing GDP by 2022. exposition across forty-one crucial Committee Act with the Agricultural Produce and Livestock Marketing areas, that recognizes the progress Highlights of the Report already made, identifies binding Act. The overarching focus of the strategy constraints and suggested the way ¡ Give a strong push to ‘Zero Budget document is to further improve the forward for achieving the clearly stated Natural Farming’ techniques that policy environment in which private objectives. reduce costs,improve land quality investors and other stakeholders and increase farmers’ incomes. can contribute their fullest towards Introduction This has emerged as a tested achieving the goals set out for New India India is on the cusp of a major 2022 and propel India towards a USD 5 method for putting environment transformation. India has regained its trillion economy by 2030. The report carbon back into the land. position as the fastest growing large identifies 41 key areas, placed under ¡ To ensure maximum employment economy in the world. This is highly four categories: Drivers, Infrastructure, creation, complete codification commendable. However, to meet Inclusion and Governance. of labor laws and a massive effort the rising aspirations of our young must be made to upscale and population, India needs to achieve Drivers expand apprenticeships. and sustain a high rate of GDP growth The first section on 'Drivers' ¡ Launch a mission 'Explore in India' for the next three decades. There will focuses on the engines of economic by revamping minerals exploration be several milestones in this long and performance with chapters on growth and licensing policy. arduous journey. The first of these and employment, doubling of farmers’ milestones will be in 2022 when India incomes; upgrading the science, Infrastructure celebrates the 75th anniversary of its technology and innovation eco-system; The second section on independence. The government’s and promoting sunrise sectors like 'Infrastructure' deals with the physical goal for India is to be a USD 4.0 trillion fintech and tourism. economy when we celebrate the foundations of growth which are Some of the key recommendations crucial to enhance the competitiveness platinum jubilee of our independence. in the section on drivers include: of Indian business as also ensuring the The Indian economy grew at 6.7 ¡ Steadily accelerate the economy to citizens’ ease of living. per cent in 2017-18. Sound policy will achieve a GDP growth rate of about Some of the key recommendations always put the economy on track in 8% on average during 2018-23. This in the section on infrastructure which it will get perpetually people will raise the economy’s size in real out of poverty and give them a better terms from USD 2.7 trillion in 2017- include: quality of life. The development 18 to nearly USD 4 trillion by 2022- ¡ Expedite the establishment of the strategy includes doubling of farmers’ 23. Increase the investment rate 'Rail Development Authority (RDA),' income, boosting ‘Make in India’, as measured by gross fixed capital which is already approved. RDA will upgrading the science, technology and formation (GFCF) from the present advise or make informed decisions innovation ecosystem and promoting 29% to 36% of GDP by 2022. on an integrated, transparent and 1 December 2018 A Issue-5 Current Affairs : Perfect 7 dynamic pricing mechanism for the ¡ As already done in rural areas, give independence was achieved within railways. a huge push to affordable housing five years of Mahatma Gandhi ¡ Double the share of freight in urban areas to improve workers’ giving his call of 'Quit India' in 1942. transported by coastal shipping and living conditions and ensure equity The direct implication of ensuring inland waterways. Initially, viability while providing a strong impetus to rapid growth with inclusion is gap funding will be provided economic growth. that policymaking will have to be until the infrastructure is fully rooted in Indian ground realities Governance developed. Develop an IT-enabled and emphasize the welfare of all in platform for integrating different The final section on 'Governance' both design and implementation. modes of transport and promoting delves deep into how the governance ¡ Second, development strategy multi-modal and digitized mobility. structures can be streamlined and should help achieve broad-based ¡ With the completion of the 'Bharat processes optimized to achieve better economic growth to ensure Net' programme in 2019, all 2.5 lakh developmental outcomes. balanced development across gram panchayats will be digitally Some of the key recommendations all regions and states and across connected. It aims to deliver all in the section on governance include: sectors. This implies embracing new government services at the state, ¡ Implement the recommendations technologies fostering innovation district and gram panchayat level of the 'Second Administrative and upskilling. We will have to focus digitally by 2022-23. Reforms Commission' as a prelude on the necessary modernization of our agriculture and mainstreaming Inclusion to appointing a successor for designing reforms in the changing of regions such as the North East, The section on 'Inclusion' deals context of emerging technologies hilly states and the 115 Aspirational with the urgent task of investing in the and growing complexity of the Districts. The direct outcome of capabilities of all of Indian citizens. The economy. this will be improved regional three themes in this section revolve and inter-personal equity and ¡ Set up a new autonomous body, around the dimensions of health, elimination of dualism that has so viz., the Arbitration Council of India education and mainstreaming of far characterised our economy. We to grade arbitra linstitutions and traditionally marginalized sections of will put in place an economy that is accredit arbitrators to make the the population. predominantly formal, rule-driven arbitration process cost effective Some of the key recommendations and facilitates investment and and speedy and to preempt the in the section on inclusion include: innovation. need for court intervention. ¡ Successfully implementing the ¡ Third, the strategy when ¡ Address the backlog of pending 'Ayushman Bharat' programme implemented, will bridge the gap cases - shift part of workload out of including the establishment of between public and private sector regular court system. 150,000 health and wellness performance. The Prime Minister centres across the country and ¡ Expand the scope of 'Swachh has focused on putting in place a rolling out the 'Pradhan Mantri Jan Bharat Mission' to cover initiatives ‘development state’ in place of the Arogya Abhiyaan (PM-JAY)'. for landfills, plastic waste and ‘soft state’ that this government ¡ Create a focal point for public municipal waste and generating had inherited. In this context, health at the central level with state wealth from waste. the government has focused on counterparts. Promote integrative the efficient delivery of public Strategy for New India medicine curriculum. services, rooting out corruption The 'Strategy for New India @ 75' ¡ Upgrade the quality of the school and black economy, formalizing the education system and skills, captures three key message. These are: economy and expanding the tax including the creation of a new ¡ First, development must become base, improving the ease of doing innovation ecosystem at the ground a mass movement, in which every business, nursing the stressed level by establishing at least 10,000 Indian recognizes her role and also commercial banking sector back 'Atal Tinkering Labs' by 2020. experiences the tangible benefits to a healthy state, and stopping ¡ Conceptualize an electronic accruing to her in the form of better leakages through direct benefit national educational registry for ease of living. Collective effort and transfers and widespread use of tracking each child’s learning resolve will ensure that we achieve the JAN (Jandhan Aadhar Mobile outcomes. a New India by 2022 just like Trinity). December 2018 A Issue-5 2 Current Affairs : Perfect 7 Efficient, transparent and The Imperative for Strong, we have to allocate scarce resources accountable governance has come to Equitable and Sustainable carefully