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BIHAR State GK Questions (Set-24) for BPSC Exam

BIHAR State GK Questions (Set-24) for BPSC Exam

Q.1 : बिहार में गाने - बजाने के बारे में "नगमत असफी" नाम की किताब किसने लिखी थी ?

(a) महाराजा नवलकिशोर सिंह ने
(b) महाकवि विद्यापति ने
(c) मशहूर गायक रजाशाह ने
(d) इनमें से कोई नहीं

Q.2 : बिहार में शिव का प्रसिद्ध स्थान "गुप्तेश्वर मन्दिर" स्थित है ?

(a) कैमूर की पहाड़ियों में
(b) खड़गपुर की पहाड़ियों में
(c) गिरियक की पहाड़ियों में
(d) जेठियन की पहाड़ियों में

Q.3 : बिहार में किस समुदाय का महान धार्मिक केन्द्र है ?

(a) जैनों का
(b) बौद्ध धर्मावलम्बियों का
(c) सिखों का
(d) उपरोक्त सभी का

Q.4 : बिहार संगीत नाटक अकादमी द्वारा किस वर्ष को "भिखारी ठाकुर वर्ष" के रूप में मनाया जाता है ?

(a) वर्ष 1995 को
(b) वर्ष 1999 को
(c) वर्ष 1985 को
(d) वर्ष 2001 को

Q.5 : अल्पसंख्यक आयोग को कानूनी अधिकार प्रदान करने वाला देश का पहला राज्य है ?

(a) गुजरात
(b) राजस्थान
(c) बिहार
(d) झारखण्ड

बिहार लोक सेवा आयोग प्रारम्भिक परीक्षा के लिए अध्ययन सामग्री

Study Kit for Bihar Public Service Commission Preliminary Examination

(The Gist of Kurukshetra) HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PM'S INDEPENDENCE DAY ADDRESS  [SEPTEMBER-2019]

(The Gist of Kurukshetra) HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PM'S INDEPENDENCE DAY ADDRESS 

 [SEPTEMBER-2019]

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PM'S INDEPENDENCE DAY ADDRESS

Introduction

  •  We are spoiling health of soil by the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. When Gandhiji has already shown us the path, can’t we reduce by 10%, 20% or 25% use of chemical fertilizers. I Am sure our farmers will oblige my wish.
  •  In the coming days, 1.5 lakh wellness centers will be created at villages. One medical college in the midst of three Lok Sabha constituencies, housing for two crore poor people, drinking water supply in 15 crore rural households and 1.25 lakh km roads in rural areas, besides connecting every village with broadband and optical fiber network are some of the targets to be achieved. More than 50,000 new start ups are also being planned.
  •  GST achieved the dream of 'One Nation, One tax'. We successfully attained 'One Nation, One Grid' in the power sector. We also developed 'One Nation, One Mobility Card' system and today there is a discussion in the country for 'One Nation, One Poll' and it should happen in a democratic manner.
  •  Population explosion can create new problems, especially for the future generations. But there is also an enlightened section of society which is aware of this challenge. We have to ponder on this issue taking along all the sections of the society.
  •  Corruption and nepotism have harmed the country beyond imagination. We have taken several steps driven by technology to fight this menace.
  •  Ease of living is the necessity of independent India. We should build an eco-system in which there should be less Government interference in daily life.
  •  The country can no longer wait for incremental progress but should strive for giant strides.
  •  For development of modern infrastructure, an amount of Rs. 100 lakh crore has been earmarked for this period which will create new job opportunities besides improving the living standards.
  •  India dreams of a 5 Trillion Dollar Economy. In the 70 years of independence, the country became a 2 Trillion Dollar Economy but in the last 5 years, we have made it a 3 Trillion Dollar Economy and at this pace, we can become a 5 Trillion Dollar Economy.
  •  By 75th year of independence, farmers' income should double, every poor should get a pucca house, every family should get electricity connection and every village should have optical fibre network and broadband connectivity besides facility of long distance education.
  •  We have to lay stress on Blue Economy (Ocean resources). Our farmers should become exporters and every district of the country should be an export hub. Value added goods from every district should reach global markets.
  •  I had flagged the issue of Swachhata from the ramparts of Red Fort in 2014 and a few weeks from now on the occasion of the150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on 2nd October, India will become and open defecation free nation.
  •  I wish the countrymen to pledge to make India free from single use plastic by 2nd October. For this every citizen municipalities and gram panchayats should come together.
  •  Our priority should be a 'Made in India' product. For a better tomorrow, can we think of consuming local products and also help improve rural economy and the MSME sector.
  •  Our digital payment platforms are evolving strong. We should lay stress on digital payments for our village shops small outlets and smaller city malls.
  •  In the coming days, 1.5 lakh wellness centers will be created at villages. One medical college in the midst of three Lok Sabha constituencies, housing for two crore poor people, drinking water supply in 15 crore rural households and 1.25 lakh km roads in rural areas, besides connecting every village with broadband and optical fiber network are some of the targets to be achieved. More than 50,000 new start ups are also being planned.
  •  Indian Constitution is completing70 years, the dream of Baba Saheb Ambedkar and this year is also important for the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Devji. Let us move forward by imbibing the teachings of Baba Saheb and Guru Nanak Dev for a better society and a better country.

Study Material for UPSC General Studies Pre Cum Mains

(The Gist of Kurukshetra) EMPOWERING FARMERS THROUGH INITIATIVES IN AGRICULTURE  [SEPTEMBER-2019]

(The Gist of Kurukshetra) EMPOWERING FARMERS THROUGH INITIATIVES IN AGRICULTURE

 [SEPTEMBER-2019]

EMPOWERING FARMERS THROUGH INITIATIVES IN AGRICULTURE

Introduction

  •  The new Government, at its very first Cabinet meeting, had announced a Rs. 10,000 crore pension scheme for 5 crore farmers. Under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Pension Yojana, small and marginal farmers will get a minimum fixed pension of Rs. 3,000 per month on attaining the age of 60 years. This is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme for small and marginal farmers across the country, with the entry age of 18-40 years. The Central Government will match the contribution from the subscribers.
  •  The Government has announced the PM-KISAN scheme under which it is offering Rs. 6,000 to 14.5 crore farmers in a year. During the last five years, for providing affordable loans to farmers, the amount of interest subvention has been doubled and the crop loan to farmers increased to Rs. 11.68 lakh crore.
  •  A 2 percent interest subvention was introduced for farmers engaged in fisheries and animal husbandry, with loans to be availed via Kisan Credit Card. Those who repay the loan timely will be eligible to get an additional 3 percent interest subvention.

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana:

  •  As half of the area under cultivation in the country is rainfed, there is a need to expand the area having access to water. Agriculture consumes 60 percent of available water resources. With about 47 per cent of agricultural land area under irrigation, schemes like Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) have made a great effort to bring in more area under irrigated agriculture. In 2017, approximately 1484 crores have been sanctioned under PMKSY scheme, aiming to cover 39 lakh hectare (ha) of land. This trend needs to continue.
  •  The micro irrigation scheme under the PMKSY has added 6 lakh ha in the current year against a target of 11 lakh ha. The scheme is beneficial for small and marginal farmers and in geographies where water sources are available. However, the need for strong water management techniques has become more important.
  •  Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana was started to address the challenges of the Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) and look at the water needs of agriculture in a holistic way. Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana is in place to ensure 'more crop per drop' which will cover 28.5 lakh hectare area under irrigation. Rs. 50,000crore is earmarked for ensuring that every farm gets water. Rs. 5,000 crore fund for micro-irrigation has been made available while there has been an encouragement for farmers to install solar pumps for irrigation.
  •  At present, about 14 percent of gross value added in agriculture is invested in the sector. This includes 78.1 per cent investments by farmers and 19.4 per cent by public sector.
  •  The private sector constitutes less than 2.5 per cent share in total investments in agriculture.
  •  In order to transform agriculture, corporate investments must be increased substantially. The Union Budget 2019 details that total allocations for agriculture and allied sector in the Budget have been increased to Rs. 1,51,500 crore, from Rs 86,600 crore (Revised Budget Estimate) in 2019
  •  This does not include fertiliser subsidy which has been raised by 14 per cent to Rs. 80,000 crore. There is 6- 50 per cent increase in core and central schemes for crops, livestock and fishery and for price intervention and MSP operations for crops other than wheat and paddy.

Increasing Production: Soil Health Card

  •  To ensure that the farmer reaps good yields, focus on strengthening sowing-related activities is imperative. The Government has taken various steps in this regard. Considering that the health of the soil plays a fundamental role in agriculture, the Government has dispatched more than 13 crore Soil Health Cards from 2015 to 2018. Soil Health Cards carry crop-specific recommendations for nutrients and fertilizers to help farmers improve their productivity.

Neem Coated Urea:

  •  Neem Coated Urea (NCU) is a fertilizer and an agriculture scheme initiated by the Government of India to boost the growth of wheat and paddy, and curb the black marketeering and hoarding of urea. Urea which is coated with neem tree seed oil is called neem-coated urea. In January 2015, the urea manufacturers were mandated by the Government to increase their neem coated urea production from 35 per cent to 75 per cent.
  •  Government of India has made use of neem-coated urea mandatory. It increases the efficiency of 10 per cent nitrogen usage compared to uncoated urea thereby saving 10 percent urea.
  •  Government is also working to increase Urea production as it has revived the defunct fertilizer plants and also set up new plants. Since the Government has implemented 100 per cent neem coating of Urea, it has resulted in improving the soil quality. There is a special arrangement of Rs. 10,000 crore to clear fertilizer subsidy.

Credit for Farmers:

  •  The Government has taken important policy initiatives to address the issue of farm credit and save farmers from being exploited at the hands of informal credit sources such as moneylenders.
  •  Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana is the biggest risk cover and safety net provided by the government. Under the interest subvention scheme, short-term crop loans up to 3 lakh with the interest rate of 7 per cent per annum up to one year has been made available.

Marketing the Farmers Produce(e-NAM):

  •  The Government's policy follows the next logical step after supporting the farmer at sowing time, which is to help farmers to get the right price for their produce. In July 2018, Government approved the historic MSP hike for Kharif crops to 1.5 times the cost, which will provide farmers a profit margin of 50 per cent over the cost of production.
  •  National Agriculture Market scheme known as e-NAM has integrated 585 markets across 16 States and 2 Union territories. More than 164.53 lakh tonnes of farm commodities have been transacted on e-NAM and more than 87 lakh farmers have been registered. Thus, it is cutting down the middlemen in agriculture trading to facilitate farmer get his due. 22,000 Rural Haats will turn into Gramin Agriculture Market which will benefit 86 per cent small farmers. Large investment in warehousing and cold chains to prevent post-harvest crop losses and value addition through food processing are also giving the farmers the essential edge on the market. To address the price volatility of perishable items like tomato, potato and onion 'Operation Greens' has been put in place.

Operation Green

  •  The fluctuating prices for key crops such as tomato, potato and onion (TOP) has resulted in the Government announcing Rs. 500 crores for initiating Operation Green. It aims to stabilise the demand supply situation for these crops and promote initiatives to control disparity.
  •  The situation requires fundamental changes beginning from crop variety selection (table variety v/s processing varieties), procurement mechanism, post-harvest handling and storage, processing of produce, market development, logistics services and distribution However, it remains to be seen how it will impact an average farmer. Take the example of tomato, India produces around 19 million tonnes of tomatoes every year.
  •  Leading producing States like Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh which contribute to around 30 per cent of the total production of India should innovate on implementation of these solutions. Another important aspect which needs to be considered is the development of large scale infrastructure to support the mass storage and movement of perishable items. Currently, the cold chain network needs to be more aggregated. Technology innovation for implementing low cost and durable multimodal solutions is one of the key challenges here.

Micro Irrigation Fund (MIF)

  •  A dedicated MIF created with NABARD has been approved with an initial corpus of Rs. 5000 crore (Rs. 2000 crore for 2018-19 and Rs. 3000 crore for 2019-20) for encouraging public and private investments in Micro irrigation. The main objective of the fund is to facilitate the States in mobilizing the resources for expanding coverage of Micro Irrigation.
  •  MIF would not only facilitate States in incentivizing and mobilizing resources for achieving the target envisaged under PMKSY-PDMC, but also in bringing additional coverage through special and innovative initiatives by State Governments. An Advisory Committee has been set up to provide policy direction and ensure effective planning, coordination and monitoring of the Micro Irrigation Fund.

Agriculture Contingency Plan

  •  Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA), ICAR has prepared district level Agriculture Contingency Plans in collaboration with State Agricultural Universities using a standard template to tackle the monsoon situations leading to drought and floods, extreme events (heat waves, cold waves, frost, hailstorms, cyclones) affecting crops, livestock and fisheries (including horticulture).
  •  Total 614 district agriculture contingency plans are placed in the 'farmer portal' of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India (http://www.farmer.gov.in) and also in the ICAR / CRIDA website (http://www.crida.in) for downloading the full plan by stakeholders for operational use.

Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)

  •  It is implemented with a view to promote organic farming in the country. To improve soil health and organic matter content and increase net income of the farmer so as to realise premium prices. Under this scheme, an area of 5 lakh acre is targeted to be covered through 10,000 clusters of 50 acre each, from the year 2015-16 to 2017-18.
    Focus on Allied Sectors
  •  As noted earlier, the focus has been laid on allied agriculture activities to boost farmers' income. Corpus of Rs 10,000 crore has been set up to create infrastructure in fisheries, aquaculture and animal husbandry. Integrated Development and Management of Fisheries with an outlay of Rs 3000 crore, the establishment of 20 Gokul Grams are some of the examples in this regard.

Growth in Production

  •  There are ample indications to suggest that the agriculture policy implementation has been yielding results. Agriculture production has touched a new high in 2017-18 with 279.51 million tonnes of foodgrain production. The extent of the buffer stock of pulses increased from 1.5 lakh tonnes to 20 lakh tonnes. Milk production has increased by 18.81 per cent in 2016-17 as compared to 2013-14.

The Future Landscape

  •  Digital Innovation in agriculture is one of the major trends to look out for economic growth. Digital agriculture is the use of new and advanced technologies, integrated into one system, to enable farmers and other stakeholders within the agriculture value chain to improve food production. The resulting combined data is analysed and interpreted so the farmer can make more informed and appropriate decisions.
  •  Currently, the Government is striving hard to streamline the policies, creating the necessary infrastructure and commercializing this innovation for the betterment of the masses. Many organizations are making strong moves in order to create incentives for adoption of this innovation in agriculture sector. The innovation in agriculture and food systems in the digital age like 3D Printing, Robots, Drones, Sensors, and Block chain are playing a significant role in helping farmers to generate profitable outcomes.

Conclusion

  •  This role of innovation in agriculture is transforming the infrastructure development space and supply chain management. An extra plus is being added to quality, traceability, logistics and distribution, and other areas of the value chain of the Indian agriculture.

Study Material for UPSC General Studies Pre Cum Mains

(GIST OF YOJANA) Reforming Governance [SEPTEMBER-2019]

(GIST OF YOJANA)  Reforming Governance

[SEPTEMBER-2019]

Reforming Governance

Introduction

  •  As many as 7 out of 41 chapters of the “Strategy for New India @75th document released by NITI Aayog, focussed exclusively on governance while in remaining chapters, most had emphasized on good governance for better service delivery and more effective outcomes. This article intends to highlight how recent measures for reforming governance can potentially transform India into a high growth economy capable of fulfilling the aspirations of people and facilitating achievement of not only Sustainable Development Goals in India (SDGs) emerging by 2030, amongst but also the most help developed countries by 2047 i.e. the 100th year of Indian Independence.
    Direct Benefit Transfer and Use of Aadhaar
  •  With Aadhaar now firmly in place especially in targeted delivery of subsidies, Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) continues to make major inroads into policy and service delivery framework of the country.
  •  Currently about 439 schemes across 55 Ministries are covered by DBT. Cumulatively about Rs. 7.66 lakh crore has been transferred to beneficiaries through DBT mode with estimated gains of Rs. 1.42 lakh crore. Of this, DBT in LPG alone has contributed Rs. 59,599 crore (42% of total savings by deleting 4.23 crore duplicate/fake connections) while Public Distribution System (PDS) has contributed Rs. 47,633 crore (34% of total savings by deleting around 3 crore ration cards). In 2018-19 there were 59 crore beneficiaries of DBT who got benefits in cash while more than 70 crore beneficiaries got it in kind (for instance, food and fertilizers).
  •  On July 23, 2019, the President of India has given his assent to the Aadhaar and other Laws (Amendment) Act 20 19 providing a strong regulatory framework for operation of Aadhaar and its voluntary use. States can also use Aadhaar for implementing their schemes. With 124 crore people having Aadhaar numbers, New India is expected to make increasing use of Aadhaar along with mobile numbers for better delivery of benefits in a leakage proof manner.

Outcome Based Monitoring

  •  Over the last few years, there has been a structural change in the budget making process with removal of Plan/Non-Plan distinction and rationalization of Centrally Sponsored and Central Sector schemes.
  •  A major step in this direction is introduction of Outcome Based Budgets since Union Budget 2017-18. This is in contrast to earlier mechanism of merely focusing on financial outlays, expenditures and outputs.
  •  This is a major step in improving governance as the thrust is on meeting the expectations of the people by focusing on outcomes and not merely on how much expenditure has been incurred under the respective schemes.

E-Governance

  •  With advancements in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) coupled with penetration of Aadhaar and mobile phones, it has been possible to provide many public services through online modes.
  •  Starting from biometric attendance of Government employees, digitizing database of beneficiaries across all schemes, seeding with Aadhaar numbers, using PoS machines for beneficiary authentication and finally transferring the funds to Aadhaar linked bank accounts, various initiatives have made marked improvements in the way services are delivered to the public.
  •  Digital India programme being implemented by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology is covering multiple projects of various Central Ministries/Departments and States/UTs.
  •  The programme is centered on three key vision areas like,
  •  Digital Infrastructure as a core utility;
  •  Governance and services on demand; and
  •  Digital empowerment of citizens.
  •  Key elements of this programme include connectivity for all 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats through BharatNet, providing Aadhaar numbers, setting up Common Service Centers including in each Gram Panchayat, Digital Lockers for every citizen, digital life certificates, DBT, digital payments, and so on.

Administrative Reforms

  •  Administrative Reforms are a key component to facilitate Transforming India. Reforms in civil services are a continuous process and several initiatives have been undertaken, such as introduction of a multi-stakeholder feedback performance evaluation, dispensing with interviews for lower level positions, introduction of online mechanisms for appraisals and filing of various returns by employees, implementation of e-office, and strengthening training and merit-based postings. NITI Aayog has taken the initiative of inducting highly motivated Young Professionals and Consultants on contractual basis in its workforce so as to provide a fresh perspective in the way Government thinks and operates. The same is also being replicated in a few other Ministries States.
  •  The Strategy for New India Starting from biometric attendance of Government employees, digitizing database of beneficiaries across all schemes, seeding with Aadhaar numbers, using PoS machines for beneficiary authentication and finally transferring the funds to Aadhaar linked bank accounts, various initiatives have made marked improvements in the way services are delivered to the public.
  •  @75 document of NITI Aayog has proposed transformative measures, such as improving teeth to tail ratio, promoting officer oriented culture, bringing down number of civil services and allocating candidates as per competencies, encouraging lateral entries and specialization, bringing down entry age, strengthening municipal cadres, training and skill assessments, institutionalization of goal setting and performance evaluation, greater suo motu disclosures, protection of civil servants, E-initiatives and probity. Measures have also been proposed to improve governance in cities besides data led governance without compromising on data security for citizens.

UPSC Pre General Studies Study Material

Law and Order

  •  Legal and judicial reforms would need to be attended on priority so as to ensure the safety of people and ensure access to justice in a timely and effective manner. Though law and order is a state subject. Government of India would need to continue engaging states to reform their policing. Some of the suggestions include adoption of the Model Police
  • Act of 2015, filling up vacancies and greater representation of women, reforms in FIR system with greater usage of IT, training/sensitization of police personnel and inducting a separate cadre for cyber-crimes, cyber threats and fraud.
  • In the area of judicial reforms, there is again a significant scope for improvement, especially with the use of IT. There is a need to reduce criminalization by compounding of minor offences with steep penalties that act as a real deterrent. Focus needs to be more on arbitration so that most cases get resolved out of court. The court processes all across the country need to be automated with electronic court and case management. Redundant laws need to be repealed and new laws need to be written in a simple manner.
  • Forensics and ballistics testing need significant improvements. Besides an All India Judicial Services examination on ranking basis, an Indian legal service may also be considered. The focus needs to move from litigation driven to creation of a law abiding society by sensitizing citizens right from the school level.

Conclusion

  •  Transforming India, as a mandate, is by no means an easy task. It requires clarity of vision, well thought out strategy and action plans dovetailed to achieve that larger vision. The Sustainable Development Goals, of which India is one of the signatories, lay out the roadmap for all countries including India, to achieve by 2030. Accordingly, India is also aligning its goals and targets to achieve SDG objectives.
  •  While good governance is pervasive across all goals, Goal 16 specifically deals with access to justice and building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions. This cannot be done by the Government alone and needs collaborative approach of all stakeholders be it judiciary, civil society, corporates, think tanks, academia, media or citizens themselves. Only then the objective of Transforming India can be achieved in its truest sense.

Complete Study Material For UPSC, IAS Exams

(GIST OF YOJANA) Water Conservation as a National Movement [SEPTEMBER-2019]

(GIST OF YOJANA)  Water Conservation as a National Movement

[SEPTEMBER-2019]

Water Conservation as a National Movement

Introduction

India is changing to a country when whole World recognizing it as New India. The world’s largest democracy is now fast transforming into a rich, self-reliant, developed, net exporter of food, transparent and vibrant country, while having a well developed infrastructure, skilled and dynamic youth, up-to-date communication, advanced health and educational systems, improved governance and growing economy.

  1. India in recent times has become a globally recognized hub of IT industry, health tourism, space research and use of satellite technology and several other sectors.
  2. India is not only committed to fulfill its international obligations towards biodiversity conservation, environmental management, climate change mitigation, human rights, social justice, equity as well as peace but at the same time it is fully geared for planned accomplishments essential for nation building and meaningful contribution towards global agenda on sustainable development.

Water Crisis - A Major Impediment

  1. India has just 2.4% geographical area of the world while harbouring nearly one sixth of the global population and the world's highest owner of livestock (512 million heads). Therefore, despite having made above cited notable progress and accomplishments in different sectors, India faces several limitations and global challenges in order to realize dreams, expectations and ever rising aspirations of its people.
  2. Amongst them, interrelated water crisis and food insecurity attract special attention as these attain highest risk values owing to burgeoning population, rapid urbanization; industrialization and infrastructure development; expansion and intensification of agriculture; loss of wilderness and degradation of natural resources (forests, grasslands, wetlands including rivers, marine and coastal ecosystems); large gaps between supplies and demands of various sectors and implications of climate change.

Water Conservation

  •  Water conservation is complex and daunting, particularly in a human dominated country like India having several competing demands.
  •  The result of excessive use, waste, pollution and allied activities have resulted in the current situation with reduced e-flow of majority of the country's dying rivers and other water bodies, deepening of water table and sites of unmanageable crowds at water distribution points.

Water conservation primarily involves the following three objectives:

  1. Enhance water availability - This could be mainly achieved by adopting a mixed strategy focussing on the protection and restoration of natural ecosystems (forests, grasslands and wetlands including rivers), increasing green cover aiming at source sustainability, managing riparian forest buffers, adoption of water efficient diversified agriculture, encouraging rainwater harvesting, undertaking massive soil and moisture conservation efforts, storage in reservoirs, water budgeting, recycling and reuse.
  2. Improve water quality - This means effective law enforcement and stringent regulations, pollution control, restrictions on pouring of sewage, urban waste, industrial effluents and even prohibition on use of toxics (pesticides and weedicides) in agriculture, establishment of STPs and water treatment plants and adoption of bioremediation techniques.
  3. Reducing water-related risks - Considerable area of the country is being annually impacted by droughts, floods, long dry. Spells and different health hazards. Adoption of integrated watershed management programmed, flood control mechanisms, climate resilient agriculture, promotion of alternate income generation activities and sustainable livelihoods can minimize risks and disaster management.

    UPSC Pre General Studies Study Material

Six priority actions are visualised for making water management sustainable in the country

  1. Institutions and Governance: Institutions working/contributing directly or indirectly towards water management would need strengthening and augmentation of manpower and financial resources and also a platform to bring in their efforts together for synergistic outcome. Governance at all levels would definitely matter to establish judicious water use and prevention and resolution of conflicts.
  2. Participatory Approach: The National movement certainly requires participatory approaches seeking involvement and empowerment of people so they can establish a mechanism to implement and enforce judicious use of water and efficient management of precious water resources.
  3. Knowledge Management: The complex subject of water resource management calls for collaborations/networking and institutionalising synergies between various entities for development and exchange of evidence-based knowledge on ecosystem functions and development of suitable technologies to improve water resource management to ensure source sustainability. Development of ‘Nature-Based Solutions’ for various aspects of water management offer better opportunities and would be of immense help.
  4. Ecosystem-Based Management Approach: The move from isolationist approaches to holistic approaches are desirable on a priority basis. Thereby, greater focus on river basins and riverscapes for planning, assessment and interventions are the need of the hour. The awareness and sensitization campaign on massive scale need to be undertaken for educating the masses on the significance of maintaining our ecosystem's integrity.
  5. Continuous Care: This aspect seeks concerted efforts towards conservation of existing water sources as well as rejuvenation of rivers/restoration/recharging of depleted water resources. Utmost care is required to be taken for retaining the water sources. making them sustainable and ensuring judicious use thereof.
  6. Capacity Development: The task of water management is tricky. Success towards countering water wastage and degradation of natural ecosystems could be accomplished by creating awareness and appropriate capacity development of various stakeholders. Specialised agencies can be deployed fur preparing the blueprint for budgeting the water resource within the framework of the legislation on the subject and then formulate strategies for its successful implementation.

    Complete Study Material For UPSC, IAS Exams

THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 11 october 2019 (On RSS’ language about lynching: War on words (The Hindu))

On RSS’ language about lynching: War on words (The Hindu)

Mains Paper 1: Society
Prelims level: Mob lynching
Mains level: Hindutva in Indian Secularism

Context

  • The annual Vijayadashami speech of its chief, the Sarsanghchalak, outlines the thinking of the RSS on critical issues. As incumbent chief Mohan Bhagwat noted on Tuesday, until 2014, these speeches did not attract much attention.
  • In the speech that spanned domestic politics, education, economy, foreign affairs, and culture there was nothing that would surprise those who have followed the Sangh.
  • But those views are today consequential as they get translated to state policies, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Mr. Modi, a former RSS pracharak, and the Home Minister were recipients of praise for ending the special constitutional status of Jammu and Kashmir.

Key highlights about the Speech made by RSS Chief

  • Mr. Bhagwat termed this year’s Lok Sabha election results a demonstration of a new resolve of the country. The Sarsanghchalak said too much discussion on the frail health of the economy would only cause more negativity.
  • A thread in his one hour speech was that certain enemies of the nation were trying to defame and weaken it. Some “chutput” - small incidents get publicised as lynching, which to him is a conspiracy to defame India, as “both sides are involved in such acts”. Lynching is a western construct.
  • The RSS chief is very particular about the words that are to be used and avoided, going by his speech. He insisted that India’s culture, heritage, diversity and life could be encapsulated in the word Hindu and no other word, including Bharatiya, could be a suitable substitute.
  • A considerable part of his speech called for unity, harmony, and dialogue among communities and sacrifice for the country. But he reiterated his position that such a worthy pursuit could be termed only Hindu Rashtra - the fundamental tenet of the Sangh.
  • Whether or not there is an equivalent word for lynching in any pristine indigenous language, what should concern anyone interested in the reputation of India, that is Bharat, is not the label but the act that is being described.
  • That act, which Mr. Bhagwat tiptoed around with verbose obfuscation, is mob violence against hapless individuals, mostly from the minority religious communities or Dalits.

Way ahead

  • It would be reassuring to know that the act of lynching is alien to India, but unfortunately, the ire was more against the word than against the act.
  • Explaining the concept of Swadeshi, Mr. Bhagwat said India would not hesitate to accept from foreigners what it does not have and cannot do without.
  • If lynching is a videshi act, then it might need a videshi label too. But this war on the word is reflective more of a concern about India’s reputation in the eyes of the world than of any alarm at the underlying acts of sectarian violence. For the sake of Bharat’s reputation, lynchings, by whatever name, must stop.

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THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 11 october 2019 (On maintaining the India-China stride length (The Hindu))

On maintaining the India-China stride length (The Hindu)

Mains Paper 2: International Relations
Prelims level: Wuhan 1.0
Mains level: Five pillars between India China relationship

Context

  • The recent calm in India-China relations might have erased images of the turbulent chapter that preceded it.
  • For much of the period between 2014 and 2017, uncertainty regarding the other side’s policies and intentions leading to tension, mistrust, and competition characterised the relationship.

Wuhan and after

  • Over the past decade, three historical forces have been shaping India-China relations. Some of these forces have been pushing both countries towards competition and some impelling them towards cooperation and collaboration.
  • The first is a changing world order and the rise of Asia, a phase that is generally traced to the period after the 2008 global economic crisis.
  • The second is the idea that with the West’s declining capacity and inclination to responsibly manage international and Asian affairs, India, China and other re-emerging powers are being thrust into new order building roles that would require coordination and cooperation to preserve global stability and co-develop new governance institutions and norms.
  • The third is a 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.
  • While all three factors contributed to the complexity of India-China relations in the period leading up to 2017, the region became the main arena of interaction, with both sides adopting 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.
  • In retrospect, the Doklam episode in the high Himalayas was really the culmination of a deeper festering question - how would India and China relate to each other as their footprints grew in their overlapping peripheries?
  • It was only with the outbreak of the border crisis and the possibility of a conflict that both leaderships undertook a sober assessment of the complex historical forces at play.

Creating some order

  • 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.
    Five pillars
  • The “simultaneous emergence of India and China”, two major powers with independent foreign policies is a reality.
  • The relationship has regained importance and become “a positive factor for stability” in the global power flux.
  • 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.
  • And finally, both sides would strive for “greater consultation on all matters of common interest”, which includes building a real “developmental partnership”.

Tactical move taken by China

  • It has also been claimed that China had tactical reasons for a truce with India in order to focus on strategic competition with the U.S. This is also true.
  • But what has not been emphasised enough is India too benefits from not having to overburden its military, weak economy, and under-resourced diplomatic corps from having to focus on two fronts in a region-wide rivalry with China.
  • As India’s Foreign Secretary stated in February 2018, “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.” In essence, Wuhan was grounded in realpolitik considerations.

Three-point road map

  • Going forward, India’s China policy should be guided by three grand strategic goals.
  • It is 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; and, geopolitical peace and sustainable economic development in the neighbourhood.
  • 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 these three ends.

Way forward

  • Unrestrained competition only benefits other powers. The recent stability in India-China relations is a choice made by both sides. Wuhan was meant to stabilise India-China ties at a time of major global changes; the basic understanding must continue.

Conclusion

THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 11 october 2019 (Going down together: On IMF’s slowdown warning (The Hindu))

Going down together: On IMF’s slowdown warning (The Hindu)

Mains Paper 3: Economy
Prelims level: Not much
Mains level: IMFs slowdown warning

Context

  • The International Monetary Fund has some words of advice for global leaders on how to resuscitate the faltering global economy.
  • India, along with Brazil, as witnessing a “pronounced” growth slowdown as global growth experiences a “synchronised” downswing.

IMF forecast

  • The IMF expects growth to slow down in nearly 90% of the world this year, in contrast to two years ago when nearly 75% of the world witnessed accelerated growth.
  • In fact, global growth is expected to hit its lowest rate since the beginning of the current decade.
  • In July, the IMF cut its FY 2020 growth forecast for the Indian economy by 30 basis points to 7%.
  • It would not be a surprise if, given the further deterioration in growth since then, the IMF cuts its India forecast once again.
  • The usual elements where slowing growth was blamed on various factors including the trade war between the United States and China, which is expected to shave off 0.8% from global GDP by 2020.
  • As the global economy slows, interest rates are near or below zero in much of the developed world and corporations and governments are burdened with unsustainable amounts of debt.
  • While she did warn about the risks posed by the sudden reversal of capital flows and high global debt, she still did not refrain from calling for more monetary and fiscal policy actions.

Way forward

  • From an Indian point of view, what is worth noting is the IMF chief’s emphasis on the need for structural reforms to boost growth, particularly in the emerging market economies.
  • The forthcoming “World Economic Outlook” report which estimates that the right structural reforms can double the speed at which emerging market economies such as India can catch up with the living standards of people in advanced countries by raising their productivity.
  • The government at the centre, which came to power on the promise of delivering big-bang structural economic reforms, will do well to heed such advice.

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THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 11 october 2019 (A Chennai setting: On Modi-Xi second summit (The Hindu))

A Chennai setting: On Modi-Xi second summit (The Hindu)

Mains Paper 2: International Relations
Prelims level: Wuhan summit
Mains level: Key highlights of the informal summit

Context

  • The second “informal summit” between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and China’s President Xi Jinping that begins on Friday is one such way for the two countries to deal with the ebb and flow in ties.
  • The leaders last held an informal summit in Wuhan, in the wake of the Doklam crisis, when the time they spent visibly improved the atmospherics around the relationship.

Background

  • In the months prior to and following the Wuhan summit, the two nations brought down tensions along the boundary, initiated a new dialogue on trade, which led to more market access and a small indent in the $53-billion trade deficit between them, and saw more international coordination including at the WTO, and on climate change and terrorism.
  • Earlier this year, China joined UNSC members in a statement condemning the Pulwama attack and then in May reversed its decade-old position by allowing the UNSC listing of the Jaish e Mohammad chief, Masood Azhar.

Effects from abolishing Article 370

  • Since the August 5 decision by the government on Article 370 and the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, and the strong reaction from China, these positive steps seemed to have been stalled.
  • If Beijing’s decision to raise the Indian government’s move at the UNSC was a clear break from the “Wuhan Spirit”, its subsequent statements including at the UN General Assembly have alienated New Delhi further.
  • Optics closer to the summit have been more troublesome, and Mr. Xi’s invitation to the Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan to visit Beijing in the same week that Mr. Xi meets Mr. Modi is clearly a negative signal ahead of the Chennai summit.
  • India’s decision to hold mountain combat exercises in Arunachal Pradesh just prior to the summit is another in the series of red flags raised, which had even cast a doubt over whether the summit would go ahead.

Way ahead

  • As a result, Mr. Modi and Mr. Xi have their task cut out for them: in restoring some of the bonhomie from last year, while charting a course for ties ahead. In the immediate future, it is hoped that
  • Mr. Xi will assuage India’s concerns on trade issues with a view to meeting the deadline for the ASEAN-led RCEP free trade agreement in November, and possibly direct special representatives on the boundary issue to speed up their talks.

Conclusion

  • It is important that they end the downslide in bilateral ties and set up more robust communication in order to address each other’s concerns in a timely manner.
  • If the Wuhan summit focused on a reset between India and China, the Chennai summit will be successful if it ensures that there is no rollback in the relationship.
  • A goal that will no doubt be aided by the Mamallapuram setting, which will remind the leaders of the ancient and traditional ties between the two countries based on trade, travel, and faith.

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THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 11 october 2019 (Affirmative action at the crossroads (The Hindu))

Affirmative action at the crossroads (The Hindu)

Mains Paper 1: Society
Prelims level: Reservation System
Mains level: US University admission discrimination plunge

Context

  • In 2014, it was alleged that Harvard University discriminates against Asian-American applicants in the undergraduate admissions process.
  • Harvard acknowledged that they did, indeed, use race as one factor among many, mainly to ensure a diverse student body.
  • This issue is very close to the issue of reservations in India and thus it is necessary to discuss the need for reservations n India, issues related to it and way forward.

Reservation in India

  • The Hindu Society since ancient times has been arranged into four Varnas, namely, Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras. Among these, Shudras were called the lower grade people and have been recipients to atrocities like being considered untouchables and polluting etc. This has transcended into Indian society.
  • The innumerable jatis we have today have the people designated as Scheduled Castes and Tribes as per the Indian Constitution who have safeguards in Schedules 5 and 6 of the Indian Constitution, National Commissions of SCs and STs under Articles 338 and 338A etc. This makes it necessary to provide reservations to the people who are educationally and socially backward.

Constitutional Provisions

  • Article 15(4) provides for reasonable restrictions and allows the state to provide special provisions for the empowerment of educationally and socially backward people of the society
  • Article 46 of the Constitution states that the State shall promote the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections of the society.
  • Article 16 provides for reservations for SCs and STs in employment etc.

Key issues

  • As mentioned earlier applications to Harvard were scrutinized based on race but this as per the management is necessary as the applications received for a limited number of seats have perfect scores and only academic criteria may not be enough.
  • In India, the reservations on cutoffs for admissions, jobs etc. are argued to be against the equality principle of the Indian Constitution as enshrined in Articles 14, 15 etc.
  • There is the issue of ‘Legacy admissions’ in which donations, recommendations and Alumni status of parents makes the entry path easier into educational institutions both in the US and India.

Conclusion

BIHAR State GK Questions (Set-23) for BPSC Exam

BIHAR State GK Questions (Set-23) for BPSC Exam

Q.1 : बिहार में इन्दिरा गांधी खुला विश्वविद्यालय कहॉं पर है ?

(a) मधेपुरा
(b) भागलपुर
(c) पटना
(d) आरा

Q.2 : बिहार में जयप्रकाश विश्वविद्यालय स्थित है ?

(a) दरभंगा
(b) पावापुरी
(c) पटना
(d) छपरा

Q.3 : भूपेन्द्र नारायण मण्डल विश्वविद्यालय कहा पर है ?

(a) दरभंगा
(b) आरा
(c) पटना
(d) मधेपुरा

Q.4 : वीर कुंवर सिंह विश्वविद्यालय की स्थापना कब हुई थी ?

(a) 1993
(b) 1992
(c) 1990
(d) 1982

Q.5 : बिहार में महात्मा गांधी सेतु किस नदी पर बना हुआ है ?

(a) गंगा नदी
(b) यमुना नदी
(c) सोन नदी
(d) गण्डक नदी

बिहार लोक सेवा आयोग प्रारम्भिक परीक्षा के लिए अध्ययन सामग्री

Study Kit for Bihar Public Service Commission Preliminary Examination

Uttar Pradesh PSC - 2017 Exam Final Results (ADVT. NO.A-2/E-1/2017)

LIST OF CANDIDATES SELECTED IN ADVT. NO.A-2/E-1/2017, COMBINED STATE/UPPER SUBORDINATE SERVICES EXAMINATION-2017

PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION,U.P.,PRYAGRAJ.
DATA PROCESSING CENTRE
COMBINED STATE/UPPER SUBORDINATE SERVICES EXAM. 2017
LIST OF SELECTED CANDIDATES

POST :: DEPUTY COLLECTOR

SL NO.

ROLL NO.

NAME

CATEGORY

REMARKS
1 184276  AMIT SHUKLA UR/GEN    PROV
2 201935  ANUPAM MISHRA UR/GEN    
3 008449   MEENAKSHI PANDEY UR/GEN FEM-UP  
4 305901 SHATRUHAN PATHAK UR/GEN    
5 390287 NIDHI DODWAL UR/OBC FEM-UP  
6 302233 BUSHARA BANO UR/OBC FEM-UP PROV
7 016192 GOVIND MAURYA UR/OBC    
8 162335 ANURAG PRASAD UR/OBC   PROV
9 245672 DIVYA OJHA UR/GEN FEM-UP PROV
10 350538 VINAY KUMAR SINGH UR/GEN   PROV
11 015978 YOGESHWAR SINGH UR/OBC   PROV
12 203695 ANUPAM KUMAR MISHRA UR/GEN    
13 357695 ANKIT SHUKLA UR/GEN    
14 015794 BARKHA SINGH SC FEM-UP PROV
15 286789 MAHIPAL SINGH OBC   PROV
16 065649 MANVENDRA SINGH OBC   PROV
17 026358 YOGESH KUMAR GAUR  OBC   PROV
18 126113 DEEPAK KUMAR PAL OBC   PROV
19 445303 RENU SC FEM-UP  
20 206971 JAGMOHAN GUPTA OBC    
21 382797 ABHINAV KANAUJIYA SC   PROV
22 398690 KANCHAN SC FEM-UP  
TOTAL CASES => 22

PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION,U.P.,PRYAGRAJ.
DATA PROCESSING CENTRE
COMBINED STATE/UPPER SUBORDINATE SERVICES EXAM. 2017
LIST OF SELECTED CANDIDATES

POST ::DEPUTY SUP. OF POLICE

SL NO.

ROLL NO.

NAME

CATEGORY

REMARKS
1 049269 MAYANK DWIVEDI UR/GEN   PROV
2 306576 AMBUJA TRIVEDI UR/GEN FEM-UP  
3 089719  VIDUSH SAXENA UR/GEN    
4 210605  RAHUL PANDEY UR/GEN    
5 238774 ASHUTOSH MISHRA UR/GEN    
6 431745 PRIYANKA BAJPAI UR/GEN FEM-UP PROV
7 451292 DEVVRAT VAJPAI  UR/GEN   PROV
8 193513 DANUSH BANSAL UR/GEN    
9 132075 APEKSHA NIMBADIA UR/GEN FEM-UP  
10 396258 VIKRANT DWIVEDI UR/GEN    
11 289201 SHEKHAR SENGAR UR/GEN    
12 179376 AMIT SINGH UR/GEN    
13 176701 SHIVAM MISHRA UR/GEN DFF    
14 347691 HARSHITA SINGH UR/GEN FEM-UP  
15 351136 AMAN SINGH UR/GEN    
16 444154 ARUSHI MISHRA UR/GEN FEM-UP  
17 107132 GAURAV KUMAR SHARMA UR/GEN    
18 162686 PRATIBHA MISHRA UR/GEN FEM-UP  
19 440618 VIKAS PARTAP SINGH CHAUHAN UR/GEN   PROV
20 250473 CHANDRA PRAKASH TIWARI UR/GEN    
21 324202 SANTOSH KUMAR SINGH UR/GEN   PROV
22 039955 ARUN DIXIT UR/GEN   PROV
23 169474 ATUL KUMAR PANDEY UR/GEN    
24 142002 SAUMYA SINGH UR/GEN FEM-UP  
25 036929 MAYANK TIWARI UR/GEN    
26 293126 PRAGYA PATHAK UR/GEN FEM-UP  
27 449211 GUNJAN SINGH UR/GEN FEM-UP  
28 358151 HARSH PANDEY UR/GEN   PROV
29 234296 AMIT KUMAR PANDEY UR/GEN    
30 438235 ANIVESH KUMAR SINGH UR/GEN    

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Uttar Pradesh PSC (Preliminary) Exam (GS Paper-1) Study Materials

उत्तर प्रदेश PSC (Preliminary) Exam (GS Paper-1) स्टडी किट

UPSC Mains 2019 Public Administration Optional Categorized Analysis (Paper-1)

 UPSC Mains 2019 Public Administration Optional Categorized Analysis (Paper-1)

SECTION A

Answer the following in about 150 words each: 10 x 5 = 50 Marks

Q1 (a) “Public Administration is constantly being reinvented because it is contextual.” Elaborate. 10 Marks (Introduction)
(b) “Bureau pathology denigrates competence in organization.” Explain. 10 Marks (Administrative Thought)
(c) “If there is ever to be a science of Public Administration it must derive from an understanding of man’s behavior”. Explain. 10 Marks (Administrative Behaviour)
(d) “Chester Barnard in ‘The Function of the Executive’ injected ‘the social’ in the study of organization. Explain in this context how the executive is expected to play a much greater role than a manager.” 10 Marks (Administrative Behaviour)
(e) “Delegated legislation has become a strategic tool in the hands of the executive despite its utility.” Comment. 10 Marks (Administrative Law)

Q2 (a) “Governance is neither a paradigm nor a panacea for all the ills of government. It may be a more useful approach when other methods fail in providing public service.” Critically evaluate. 20 Marks (Personnel Administration)
(b) With the entry of the concept of ‘good governance’ the discipline of Public Administration has shed its statist character. Explain. 15 Marks (Introduction)
(c) Has New Public Management failed in promoting a democratic polity? Analyze in the contexts of individuals as a citizen and individuals as a costumer. 15 Marks (Introduction)

Q3(a) “Globalization has constructed the administrative state to save and serve corporate power structure.” Discuss how transnational corporation impact government and public administration in the contemporary era. 20 Marks (Introduction)
(b) “Red light and Green light theories provide contrasting approaches to the role of administrative law.” Which of the two theories will be effective in achieving the objectives of administration law? Justify your choice. 15 Marks (Administrative Law)
(c) “The advent of the regulatory regimes indicates the demise of the arbitrator state.” Comment. 15 Marks (Organizations)

Q4(a) Contingency theory of organization is founded on the interplay of ‘external fit’ and ‘internal fit’. Discuss. 20 Marks (Organizations)
(b) Mary Parker Follett traced the foundational value of business and enterprise on her way to understand the organism of governmental machinery. Comment. 15 Marks (Administrative Thought)
(c) “Media the Fourth estate is in chains.” Examine the statement in the context of governmental accountability. 15 Marks (Accountability and Control)

Public Administration Study Kit in Hard Copy for IAS Mains Exam

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THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 10 october 2019 (Nipping it in the bud (Indian Express))

Nipping it in the bud (Indian Express)

Mains Paper 2: Health
Prelims level: E-cigarette
Mains level: Measures taken towards smoking related issues and problems

Context

  • The “ban on e-cigarettes is symptom of a larger malaise governing by the brute force of a hammer when the subtlety of a scalpel is required”.
  • We disagree.
  • The ban is targeted at removing a cancer that was threatening the life of unsuspecting users.

Problems with smoking related diseases

  • Smoking-related diseases rank among the greatest public health problems of the last century.
  • Smoking, it is feared, will kill around a sixth of the world’s population in the 21st century.
  • Commerce, social factors and the absence of state regulations play important roles in people getting hooked to tobacco. However, there are positive signs.
  • As per the second Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2016, India has seen the steepest decline in tobacco consumption (17 per cent) in any part of the world.
  • There could be several reasons for this, but certainly not because e-cigarettes, “offer a path to quitting” to older smokers.

About E-cigarette

  • E-cigarette is a nicotine containing device that is owned or promoted by the cigarette industry. The basis of e-cigarette promotion was its safety vis-a-vis conventional cigarettes.
  • E-cigarettes are claimed to contain nicotine minus the carcinogens in traditional cigarettes.
  • However, nicotine is even more addictive than cocaine. Currently, there is no treatment for nicotine addiction.
  • Moreover, nicotine even in its pure form is potentially carcinogenic. A dose of 30-50 mg of nicotine can kill an adult human.

Way ahead

  • Till date, there is no conclusive evidence that e- cigarettes prove beneficial in quitting cigarettes.
  • On the contrary, it is known that among those who use e-cigarettes to stop smoking, 25 per cent use along it with cigarette and 75 per cent continue to use it even after quitting smoking.
  • An e-cigarette, even if it’s proved to help people quit smoking, is a far more expensive proposition compared to medically-approved methods.
  • Fears that the end users will not be conventional cigarette users but youngsters who are the prime targets of the e- cigarette industry are not unfounded.

Conclusion

THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 10 october 2019 (Towards a strategic partnership (The Hindu))

Towards a strategic partnership (The Hindu)

Mains Paper 2: International Relation
Prelims level: India-Mexico ties
Mains level: Highlights of the India-Mexico ties

Context

  • Mexico and India have had 69 years of diplomatic relations based on mutual interest and understanding.
  • A new government began in Mexico last December and Prime Minister Narendra Modi was reappointed to a new term in May, setting the stage for a broader and deeper collaboration upon our shared democratic values.

Background

  • This week we will hold senior official consultations. Mexico’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Julián Ventura, is in New Delhi heading a delegation that includes representatives of the private sector and academia.
  • In this context, it is necessary to understand India-Mexico bilateral relations and the way forward.

India-Mexico relations

Diplomatic

  • Mexico and India have had 69 years of diplomatic relations based on mutual interest and understanding. In 2007, a Privileged Partnership was established between both countries and we are now working towards a Strategic Partnership.

Shared values

  • Both countries have shared democratic values and a common goal: social development and inclusion.

Trade

  • The trade has increased more than $10 billion in 2018.
  • Mexico has become India’s top trading partner in Latin America and it is the top investor from the region in India, while India is now for the first time among Mexico’s top 10 commercial partners.

Tourism

  • Indians have been among the top 20 visitors to Mexico, and Indian tourism to Mexico is exceeding that of many European countries.

Connectivity

  • Wide variety of flights and airlines connecting both countries.
  • The bilateral relations have been good at present but there need to be steps taken to elevate the same.

Way forward

  • We need to promote trade and investment in priority sectors.
  • We also need to improve market access, including for agricultural products;
  • Promote tourism between two courtural countries is also important.
  • To foster cooperation in many areas, such as energy, science and technology areas.

Conclusion

THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 10 october 2019 (A life in the balance (The Hindu))

A life in the balance (The Hindu)

Mains Paper 2: Polity
Prelims level: International Court of Justice
Mains level: Judiciary

Context

  • In July, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) had unanimously held Pakistan’s actions in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case to be violative of its obligations under the Vienna Convention.

Key Issues

  • In the present scenario of tensions with respect to the decisions on Jammu and Kashmir by the Indian Government has provoked the Pakistani side which has refused any further deliberations with respect to Mr Jadhav's case.

Way forward

  • India can approach the UN Security Council (UNSC) under the UN Charter.
  • A debate may ensue before the UNSC, and the defaulting state may also seek to advance arguments questioning the validity of the ICJ verdict.
  • This can be further moved to the UN General Assembly as has happened earlier when the USA refused to comply being a permanent member.
  • And while neither the UNSC nor the General Assembly will ever interfere with the judicial authority of the ICJ, the UNSC may make recommendations or decide upon measures to be taken to give effect to the judgment.

Conclusion

THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 10 october 2019 (The minimum wage solution (The Hindu))

The minimum wage solution (The Hindu)

Mains Paper 3: Economy
Prelims level: NREGA
Mains level: Arguments behind indexation of the NREGA wages

Context

  • The government made two recent announcements at two ends of the spectrum to mitigate the economic crisis.
  • One concerns a new indexation of NREGA wages meant to increase rural incomes.
  • The second is a reduction in corporate tax rate.

Why indexation of the NREGA wages is crucial?

  • Prices of commodities increase each year, so it’s important to accurately estimate how much a NREGA labourer should earn in 2020 if she earned ₹179 (national daily average NREGA wage) in 2019.
  • We need a good index to benchmark and revise the wages.
  • Indices are (weighted) averages of the prices of a basket of goods consumed and the index must be based on the main items of consumption for rural households.
  • NREGA daily wages are to be indexed with an updated inflation index called the Consumer Price Index-Rural (CPI-R) instead of the older Consumer Price Index-Agricultural Labourers (CPI-AL).
  • The calculation of CPI-AL involved more food items in the consumption basket while the calculation of CPI-R involves more non-food items such as healthcare and education.
  • CPI-R better reflects the rural consumption basket compared to CPI-AL.

Increase base wages

  • Although this new indexation is critical, it will have a sizeable impact on increase in rural incomes only if the base NREGA wages are high. For example, let’s assume a 10% increase in wages due to the new indexation.
  • Then NREGA wages in Kerala at ₹271 per day, one of the highest, would become ₹298.
  • However, if NREGA wages were equal to the State minimum wages, the wages in Kerala would increase from ₹490 to about ₹540.
  • A substantial increase in NREGA wages and subsequent indexation with CPI-R would be meaningful for the workers and the economy.
  • But barring three States/UTs, NREGA wages are still lower than the State minimum wages elsewhere, in violation of the law.

Case study

  • Minimum wages are neither a dole nor an act of charity.
  • They are a legal mandate that are arrived at by calculating the minimal nutritional requirement and basic needs of an individual.
  • The Fair Wages Committee of the Ministry of Labour (1949) noted in a progressive report that a “living wage” should also include education, healthcare and insurance besides the bare essentials. In Sanjit Roy v. State of Rajasthan (1983), the Supreme Court held that paying less than minimum wages is akin to “forced labour”.
  • In Workmen v. Management of Raptakos Brett (1991), it said that the aforementioned provisions must be added to arrive at a moral “living wage” to ensure basic dignity of life.
  • Yet, the current daily NREGA wages are just a quarter of the minimum daily living wage of ₹692 as outlined in the 7th Pay Commission.

Increase inequality

  • The current corporate tax cut will only widen economic inequality.
  • According to the Oxfam Inequality Report 2018, in one year, the wealth of the richest 1% in India grew by ₹20.91 lakh crore, which is equivalent to the 2017-18 Budget.
  • According to estimates by CRISIL, due to the recent tax cut, 1,000 companies would have annual savings of around ₹37,000 crore. In comparison, the last annual NREGA budget is ₹60,000 crore.
  • The estimated gains of more than a 1,000 companies would be equivalent to the annual earnings of around 7.2 crore NREGA labourers.
  • What is worse is that the budget allocation for NREGA gets exhausted by October of each financial year, leading to delays in payment of wages. These are all legal violations.
  • According to a 2015 IMF report, “if the income share of the top 20% (the rich) increases, then GDP growth actually declines over the medium term”, while “an increase in the income share of the bottom 20% (the poor) is associated with higher GDP growth”.
  • While corporate tax cuts and lower interest rates would give corporations some liquidity, it is unlikely that rural demand will increase.

Way ahead

  • On the contrary, without a substantial increase in NREGA wages, the wages would barely match inflation levels leading to wage stagnation in real terms.
  • It is therefore economically prudent to substantially increase the budget for public programmes such as NREGA.
  • This would lead to higher disposable income for the poor which in turn would have positive multiplier effects in the economy.
  • On economic, ethical, and legal counts, it behoves the government to pay attention to the poor.
  • In circumstances of unsustainable wages, the poor would be forced to become part of the migrant labour force eager to eke out a modicum of existence.

Conclusion

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