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THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 30 July 2020 (COVID-19 and a country club India must leave (The Hindu))



COVID-19 and a country club India must leave(The Hindu)


Mains Paper 2:Health 
Prelims level: Not much 
Mains level: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health

Context:

  • Billion Indians have experienced the pandemic sweepingand harming the lives of vulnerable in our country.
  • East Asia and Europe where the virus threatened and devastated have recovered well.
  • India isn’t alone in failing to contain the pandemic. We have Trump’s U.S. and Bolsonaro’s Brazil to give us company.

The poison of inequalities:

  • All these three are populous, federal, diverse and democratic. 
  • These three countries share is the toxic levels of historic inequalities which affect every structure of society including, most importantly, the health-care system.
  • The value of investing in a just public health-care system has never been as starkly obvious as now.
  • To be sure, there have been far deadlier epidemics which continue to kill many more people than COVID-19. 
  • Diseases like HIV, diarrhoeal diseases and tuberculosis, have mostly killed the poor and the marginalised, outside the conscious radar of those in power. 
  • More to the point, no previous epidemic brought the engines of the economy to a standstill.
  • If some poor person died of a horrible disease in some slum, C-grade town or village in the back of beyond, the stock market could not care less. 
  • However, on this occasion, for the first time, the wealthy and the powerful in their urban palaces have found themselves under pressure. 
  • And their high-tech doctors and “super-specialist” hospitals can do little to rescue them.

 On universal coverage:

  • What differentiates countries which have recovered from Covid from those, like ours, which remain still affected, is the commitment by both the state and civil society to the principles of universal health coverage. 
  • To be fair, if universal health coverage was understood with the simple existence of a publicly financed health-care system, then India, like the United States and Brazil, can already boastto have met this goal. 
  • However, this is not what universal health coverage means in spirit.
  • Only a system which all people, rich and poor, those in power and those who are powerless, can rely on to be given care with the same quality regardless of their station in society, can be truly considered “universal”.

 A question of quality:

  • Such a universal health coverage system does not exist in India, or the U.S. or Brazil. 
  • More than half the population in these countries, concentrated in the upper income groups, seeks health care in the fee-for-service private sector. 
  • The private sector in India provides almost 80% of outpatient and 60% of inpatient care, as a result of which falling ill is one of the most important contributors to indebtedness in the country. 
  • Health care in India has become a leading cause of poverty. 
  • Universal health coverage is recognised by many countries as a strategy to empower people to lift themselves out of poverty.
  • It is also the foundation of sustainable development. 
  • The fact that, despite this knowledge, the majority of our people prefer private care, is a hurting evidence to their experiences of the public health-care system.

 Major problems:

  • The titans of corporate medicine in India justify their costs by arguing that these are much cheaper than in the U.S. or Europe.
  • Such comparisons are ridiculous as they are obliviousof the fact that India’s per capita income places us as one of the poorest countries in the world. 
  • The clearly visible ills of the wholesale commercialisation of health care, standards of our infrastructure needs to be taken care. 
  • There are a host of other challenges to realise universal health coverage, the honesty and competency of health-care workers which contribute to the abysmalquality of care, in both the private and public sectors.
  • The pandemic has brought the scandalousquality of our health-care system to the fore.
  • Stories of pigs roaming freely and the absence of doctors in public hospitals to shameless profiteering and refusal to care by private hospitals are emerging out.
  • The proclivity of doctors to irrational medical procedures and drug prescriptions, the lack of dignity with which the poor are cared for, and the corrupt practices are well documented.

 No accountability:

  • At the heart of this patheticstate of affairs is the complete lack of accountability of either the private or public sector. 
  • And the absence of the stewardship role of the state in ensuring justice and quality of health care for all its citizens. 
  • It comes as no surprise that there is a fundamental breakdown of trust between civil society and the health-care system, exemplified at its most extreme by violence against health-care providers. 
  • Fixing the rot will need structural reforms far beyond the top-down “missions” and knee-jerkpunitive actions which have dominated our policy-making for over 70 years. 
  • But for this to happen, we will need a broad coalition across the political establishment and civil society, in particular the wealthy and ruling classes, to demand change.

Conclusion:

  • It is clear as how a dysfunctional, fragmented and unaccountable health-care system will ultimately destroy the economy itself. 
  • Even if the pandemic has hit the poor the hardest, it has also crippledthe nation. 
  • But we need more than just new money for while health care is the wisest investment for the economy.
  • Such an investment must be accompanied by a social compact that the same system catersto all. 
  • This philosophy of universal health coverage is already practised in diverse ways, including engagement of the private sector, by scores of countries.

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Prelims Questions:

Q.1)With reference to the e-commerce, consider the following statements:
1. All e-commerce entities have to ensure the mandatory declaration of country of origin of imported products sold on their respective sites.
2. The law relating to the issue was enacted under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 and the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: C

Mains Questions:
Q.1) In light of COVID-19 pandemic, know about what are the inequalities and similarities between the top three pandemic affected nations?

THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 29 July 2020 (Securing caregivers (Indian Express))



Securing caregivers (Indian Express)


Mains Paper 2:National
Prelims level:Not much 
Mains level: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education

Context:

  • On Sunday, Joginder Chaudhary, a junior resident doctor at Delhi’s Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital, lost his month-long battle with the novel coronavirus. 
  • That he was only 27, reportedly an athletic person without any co-morbidity, speaks of the unpredictable ways of the virus — young people, especially those who do not suffer any chronic ailments, are generally deemedless vulnerable to COVID-19. 

 No government data:

  • Chaudhary was placed under home quarantine initially, but the young physician’s condition deterioratedafter he complained of breathing difficulties. 
  • The capital’s medical fraternity had come together to pool in money for their colleague’s treatment at a private medical facility. 
  • But financial insecurity is just one of the risks that many workers at the frontline of the battle against the coronavirus — especially nurses and junior medicos like Chaudhary — face.
  • Reports have indicated insufficient protective gear, failure to receive timely treatment, deviation from safety protocols and unexpected deterioration of condition — like in the case of the young Delhi doctor — as reasons for doctors’ deaths.
  • But there is no government data on the healthcare workers who have succumbedto the coronavirus.

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Prelims Questions:

Q.1)With reference to the Retrofit of Air-conditioning to improve Indoor Air Quality for Safety and Efficiency (RAISE) national programme, consider the following statements:
1. It is a joint initiative of Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) and United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
2. Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) is under the union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: A

Mains Questions:
Q.1) The Indian healthcare system needs to go through a radical overhauling, where it can be more sustainable as well as responsive to the citizens. Examine.

THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 29 July 2020 (Stress test (Indian Express))



Stress test (Indian Express)


Mains Paper 3:Economy 
Prelims level:Financial Stability report
Mains level: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment

Context: 

  • In March 2020, the Reserve Bank of India had announced a moratoriumon the repayment of all term loans for both businesses and households, to ease their burden during the period of the lockdown. 
  • Initially allowed for a period of three months, it was subsequently extended till the end of August 2020. 

Financial Stability report:

  • Data from the RBI’s latest financial stability report shows that at the end of April around half of the customers of scheduled commercial banks, accounting for half of the outstanding bank loans, opted to avail of the relief measures extended.
  • Public sector banks shouldered a disproportionate burden of the moratorium with roughly two-thirds of borrowers availing of the facility, as opposed to less than half in the case of private banks. 
  • In subsequent months, as economic activity picked up following the relaxations of the restrictions, there has been an improvement in the situation, with those availing of this facility dropping steadily.

Gross Npas:

  • According to the financial stability report, NPAs were on a downward trajectory before the COVID shock.
  • While the economic slowdown is likely to adversely impact banks’ non-performing assets, greater clarity on the bank’s asset quality will emerge only once the moratorium period ends. 
  • While this is still some time away, the RBI has conducted a series of stress tests to project the possible impact of the economic shock on bank balance sheets. 
  • According to its estimates, banks’ gross NPAs may rise to 12.5 per cent by March 2021, up from 8.5 per cent in March 2020, if the economy contracts by 4.4 per cent this year. 
  • However, if the contraction worsens to 8.9 per cent, which some analysts are projecting, bad loans could rise to 14.7 per cent. 
  • Public sector banks are likely to witness a larger spurt in bad loans than their private sector counterparts, though the impact on the NBFCs/HFCs is also expected to be substantial. 
  • In the extreme scenario, five banks are unlikely to meet the minimum capital requirements, underlining the urgent need for banks to raise capital.

Extending the moratorium:

  • Owing to its fiscal constraints, the government is unlikely to recapitalise banks to the extent required. 
  • However, there is the possibility of the RBI extending the moratorium period or opting for a one-time restructuring of loans, especially for the stressed sectors. 
  • The latter will push back the requirement of banks having to raise additional capital. 
  • Proddingbanks to rampup lending despite data indicating their unwillingness to take on the credit risk in the economy, could further adversely affect their balance sheets. 
  • This weakness in the financial sector could slow down the economic recovery.

Key Concepts:

  • Moratorium period refers to the period of time during which you do not have to pay an EMI on the loan taken. This period is also known as EMI holiday. Usually, such breaks are offered to help individuals facing temporary financial difficulties to plan their finances better.
  • A nonperforming asset (NPA) refers to a classification for loans or advances that are in default or in arrears. A loan is in arrears when principal or interest payments are late or missed. A loan is in default when the lender considers the loan agreement to be broken and the debtor is unable to meet his obligations.
  • Regulatory capital is the minimum capital requirement as demanded by the regulators; it is the amount a bank must hold in order to operate. A regulator's primary concern is that there is sufficient capital to buffer a bank against large losses so that deposits are not at risk, with the possibility of further disruption in the financial system being minimized. Regulatory capital could be seen as the minimum capital requirement in a “liquidation / runoff” view, whereby, if a bank has to be liquidated, whether all liabilities can be paid off.
  • Capital Adequacy Ratio is also known as Capital to Risk Assets Ratio, is the ratio of a bank's capital to its risk. National regulators track a bank's CAR to ensure that it can absorb a reasonable amount of loss and complies with statutory Capital requirements. It is a measure of a bank's capital.

Conclusion:

  • RBI’s financial stability report underlines weakness that must be addressed, or it could slow down economic recovery.

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Prelims Questions:

Q.1)With reference to the National Statistical Office (NSO) report on “Household Social Consumption: Education”, consider the following statements:
1. On Accessibility to schools, 92.7% of the rural households have a primary school within 1 km as compared to 87.2% in urban areas.
2. The all India literacy rate among persons aged 7 years and above is 77.7%.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: C

Mains Questions:
Q.1) Write short note on following:Moratorium period, Capital Adequacy Ratio, Regulatory capital, Nonperforming asset.

THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 29 July 2020 (The South Asian-Gulf migrant crisis (The Hindu))



The South Asian-Gulf migrant crisis (The Hindu)


Mains Paper 2:International 
Prelims level:South Asian-Gulf migrant crisis
Mains level: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora

Context:

  • In early July, the Kerala High Court issued notice to the Central and State governments on a petition seeking to set up a mechanism to assist NRIs who had lost their jobs abroad and had returned to India, to seek due compensation. 
  • It seeks the court’s intervention to reclaim unpaid salaries, residual arrears, retirement benefits, and even compensation for relatives of migrant workers, who had died since the outbreak of COVID-19. 
  • This exposes the precariousconditions of migrant workers in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. 
  • Employers, particularly construction companies, have used the crisis as an opportunity to retrenchmasses of migrant labourers without paying them wages or allowances.

Living in misery:

  • The South Asia-Gulf migration corridor is among the largest in the world. South Asians account for nearly 15 million in the Gulf. 
  • According to the World Bank, in 2019, total remittances to South Asia was about $140 billion, of which India received $83.1 billion, Pakistan received $22.5 billion, Bangladesh received $18.3 billion and Nepal $8.1 billion. 
  • The South Asian labour force forms the backbone of the Gulf economies, but has had to go knocking on doors for food and other basic necessities. 
  • The pandemic, the shutdown of companies, the tightening of borders, and the exploitative nature of the Kafala sponsorship system have all aggravated the miseries of South Asian migrant workers. 
  • They have no safety net, social security protection, welfare mechanisms, or labour rights. 
  • In the initial days of the lockdown, the Kerala government was requested to send regular medicines for lifestyle diseases. 
  • Since medicines are expensive in the GCC, migrants often procure them from India and stock up for a few months. 
  • Now, thousands have returned home empty-handed from the host countries.

Repatriation:

  • Indians constitute the largest segment of the South Asian workforce. Gulf migration is predominantly a male-driven phenomenon. 
  • A majority of the migrants are single men living in congested labour camps. They share rooms and toilets, to save earnings to send back home. 
  • The COVID-19 spike in these labour camps has mainly been due to overcrowded and unsanitary living conditions. 
  • However, the most neglected segment turned out to be the migrant women domestic workers, whose untold miseries have increased in the present volatile situation. 
  • The Indian missions, with their inadequate administrative personnel, could not adequately cater to the needs of the migrants. 
  • The situation forced the Indian government to repatriate the NRIs through the Vande Bharat Mission. 
  • The Indian government has repatriatedover 7.88 lakh NRIs from various destinations. 
  • Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, etc. have also been repatriating their citizens.

 Rehabilitate, reintegrate, and resettle: 

  • The countries of origin are now faced with the challenge of rehabilitating, reintegrating, and resettling these migrant workers. 
  • To facilitate this, the Indian government has announced ‘SWADES’ for skill mapping of citizens returning from abroad, but implementation seems uncertain. 
  • Kerala, the largest beneficiary of international migration, has announced ‘Dream Kerala’ to utilise the multifaceted resources of the migrants. 
  • The past three major crises in the Gulf – the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, the global economic crisis, and Nitaqat in Saudi Arabia – had not triggered a massive return migration. 
  • However, the unprecedented nature of COVID-19 along with the fluctuation of oil prices has triggered unpredictable levels of reverse migration. 
  • In the past, high unemployment among the natives, the economic crisis, demographic imbalance, and the Arab spring triggered the movement for nationalisation of labour in the GCC countries. 
  • Now, the movement for nationalisation of labour and the anti-migrant sentiment have peaked. 
  • Countries like Oman and Saudi Arabia have provided subsidies to private companies to prevent native lay-offs. 
  • However, the nationalisation process is not going to be smooth given the stigma attached to certain jobs and the influence of ‘royal sheikh culture’.
  • Paradoxically, countries that are sending migrant workers abroad are caught between the promotion of migration, on the one hand, and the protection of migrant rights in increasingly hostile countries receiving migrants, on the other. 

 Conclusion:

  • The need of the hour is a comprehensive migration management system for countries that send workers as well as those that receive them. 
  • No South Asian country except Sri Lanka has an adequate migration policy. 
  • The pandemic has given us an opportunity to voice the rights of South Asian migrants and to bring the South Asia-Gulf migration corridor within the ambit of SAARC, the ILO, and UN conventions.

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Prelims Questions:

Q.1)With reference to the Inflamm-ageing, consider the following statements:
1. Inflamm-ageing is a chronic low-grade inflammation that develops with advanced age. 
2. The major cause of inflamm-ageing is accumulation of misplaced and misfolded self-molecules from damaged cells.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: C

Mains Questions:
Q.1) Highlights the significance of the South Asian-Gulf migrant crisis.What are steps taken by India to resolve the crisis?

THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 29 July 2020 (The cost of haste: On drugs, vaccines and regulators(The Hindu))



The cost of haste: On drugs, vaccines and regulators (The Hindu)


Mains Paper 2:Health 
Prelims level:SARS-CoV-2
Mains level: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health

Context:

  • So far-reaching are the effects of COVID-19 that it has harrieddrug regulatory authorities, usually the most risk-averse within the bureaucracy. 
  • ‘Do no harm’ is the driving principle of drug regulation and this is reflected in the thicket of documents and permissions that stand before the average novel drug or vaccine.
  • However, SARS-CoV-2, while mostly non-lethal, kills across demography and age-groups to confoundsophisticated care systems. 

Hastening:

  • This has sent a signal to drug companies, biomedical firms and governments to scramblefor anything with even the slightest chance of success. 
  • It is in this context that regulators, used to long timelines of testing new vaccines or drugs, are now under pressure to facilitate a solution. 
  • Usually the regulators stick to weighing and dwelling on evidence of efficacy and safety. 
  • India’s drug regulatory authority as well as the Department of Biotechnology, which also funds vaccine development and drug research, now collaborate on fast-tracking. 
  • For instance, if an Indian company has partnered with a foreign one in developing a vaccine, then any trials already conducted by the foreign unit would be considered in allowing Indian companies to avoid repeating them in India. 
  • For drugs, those that have been proven to be safe for treating one disease may skip a fresh, large human trial, or a phase-3 trial. 
  • Potential vaccines too are now allowed to combine stages of trials — normally, regulators must approve results of each stage — to permit those testing the drug to move to the next stage. 
  • The rush to compress timelines, in itself, is no guarantee that a workable vaccine or reliable drug will emerge any faster. 
  • Drugs and vaccine-development have historically been expensive because immunology is a complex, eternal struggle with disease, and with high failures.

 Emergency use:

  • There have been instances when disease mortalityis so high that not offering even a half-baked drug or a vaccine would be unethical. 
  • That is a call regulators have to constantly take. But not all emergencies are the same. 
  • There is now a situation, as in the case of itolizumab, a psoriasis drug repurposed for COVID-19, where the drug regulator has approved it for emergency use but the COVID-19 task force has expressed its reservations. 
  • Such dissonanceamong experts is unacceptable especially when they all have access to the same evidence. 
  • There is a tendency to view COVID-19 vaccine development or a new drug as a ‘race’ in which only the first vaccine to be out matters. 
  • Historically, vaccines, even those targeting the same disease, only get better over time.

Conclusion:

  • Will COVID-19 continuously lingeras an endemic disease or will it mutateinto oblivion.
  • If it is the former, scientists can continue to work on better drugs or improved vaccines. Haste does not aid science.
  • Regulators of drugs and vaccines should not have to sign off on low-pass filters.

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Prelims Questions:

Q.1)Which of the following hospital has started a video-consultation program with ICU doctors across the country called e-ICU?
(a) AIIMS New Delhi
(b) Sir Ganga Ram Hospital
(c) Apollo New Delhi
(d) None of the above

Answer: A

Mains Questions:
Q.1) Regulators of drugs and vaccines should not have to sign off on low-pass filters. Critically examine the statement.

THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 29 July 2020 (Digging deeper: On GST compensation (The Hindu))



Digging deeper: On GST compensation (The Hindu)


Mains Paper 3:Economy 
Prelims level:GST compensation
Mains level: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment

Context:

  • Four months into FY2020-21, the Centre has finally managed to pay States the compensation due to them for the previous year under the GST regime. 
  • This may come as a breatherfor States seeking to finance efforts to ramp uppublic health-care capacity and contain COVID-19’s detrimentaleffects on vulnerable sections. 

Compensation: 

  • The last instalment of ₹13,806 crore for March 2020 was paid out recently, taking the total payments for the year to ₹1,65,302 crore. 
  • To refresh, States were guaranteed compensation from the Centre for the first five years of the new indirect tax regime introduced in July 2017. 
  • Compensation was to be provided for the revenues they lost after the shift from the earlier system where States had the power to levy some indirect taxes on economic activity. 
  • This compensation assumed a 14% annual growth rate in a State’s revenue, with 2015-16 as the base year, and was to be paid out from a compensation cess levied on top of the specified GST rate on luxury and sin goods. 
  • With growth down over the previous fiscal year even before the pandemic waylaid the economy, the assumptions of the not-too-distant past are beginning to hurt. 
  • Compensation cessunder GST last year was almost ₹70,000 crore less than the payments due to States.

Daunting task:

  • This gap is likely to enlarge further this year with expected economic contraction dentingGST collections as well. 
  • Compensation cess inflows could shrink even more with people curbing discretionary spending on luxury goods in order to conserve capital or stay afloat in the pandemic-hit economy. 
  • A little over half of the shortfall in last year’s cess kitty has been pluggedby tapping cess balances from the first two years of GST implementation. 
  • The rest has been conjured upfrom the Consolidated Fund of India by debiting Integrated GST (IGST) funds that were lying with the Centre. 
  • IGST is levied on inter-State supply of goods and services and some of this levy collected in 2017-18 — the first year of GST when systems were still a tad ad-hoc— had not yet been allocated to States. 
  • Having thus drawn on these unintended contingent reserves, paying compensation to States this year is going to be even more dauntingfor the Centre. 
  • At the last GST Council meeting in June, Finance Minister had said the Council would convene again in July just to discuss the possible alternatives to deal with this particular conundrum. 
  • The chief solution officials have been fleshing out is for the Centre to raise special loans against future GST cess accruals in order to help meet its compensation promise to States. 
  • There is no sign of that meeting being scheduled yet. That the pandemic’s economic havoc has thrown up multiple challenges for North Block mandarinsis understandable. 
  • But with a third of the fiscal year almost over, it would help the Centre and the States to battle the virus more effectively if they had more certainty and clarity on the cash at their disposal.

 Conclusion:

  • With GST collections set to shrink, the Centre must find new ways to compensate States.

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Prelims Questions:

Q.1)With reference to the open sky agreement, consider the following statements:
1. National Civil Aviation Policy, 2016 allows the Government of India to enter into an ‘Open sky’ Air Service Agreement (ASA) on a reciprocal basis with SAARC countries and countries with territory located entirely beyond a 5000 km radius from New Delhi. 
2. Unlimited flights above the existing bilateral rights will be allowed directly to and from major international airports within the country as notified by Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) from time to time. 
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: C

Mains Questions:
Q.1) Highlights the significance of GST. What are the concerns between State and Centre in terms of financial matters and recent development in light of pandemic?

THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 28 July 2020 (Protect the peace (Indian Express))



Protect the peace (Indian Express)


Mains Paper 3:Security 
Prelims level:2015 Framework agreement
Mains level: Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security

Context:

  • Recent developments in Nagaland suggest that a tenuouspeace deal is increasingly coming under strain.
  • A government directive earlier this month that all its officials must declare if any relative was working for underground organisations has evokeda strong reaction from the NSCN (I-M). 
  • The state government has since clarified that the directive was issued on the order of the governor, R N Ravi. 

2015 Framework agreement:

  • The NSCN (I-M), the most powerful rebel group in the state and a signatory to the 2015 framework agreement, suspects that the government wants to reduce the Naga political cause to a law and order problem.
  • The framework agreement that promised a resolution of the Naga issue was hailed as “historic” by Prime Minister. 
  • But the differences that persisted between the Centre and the rebels could not be resolved in the past five years. 
  • An indication of the stress in the peace talks was a June 16 letter from Governor Ravi to Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio. 
  • In the letter, he spoke about rampant “extortions(loot) and violence” and “armed gangs” running “parallel governments” in the state. 
  • The state government said the assessment was not “factual”.

 NSCN (I-M):

  • The NSCN (I-M) described the government directive as “despicable”, “insulting” and “demeaning” and “incompatible with the spirit of Indo-Naga peace process”. 
  • The situation has turned worse after an anti-extortion squad of Nagaland Police shot an alleged member of NSCN (Khaplang) on June 23 in Kohima.
  • At the root of the present trouble is the perception regarding the status of rebel groups such as the NSCN (I-M) in Naga society. 
  • The rebels portray themselves as freedom fighters and believe that, as political workers, they have the right to “tax” people. 
  • Governor Ravi, who has worked tirelessly as the Centre’s interlocutor to bring peace to the state, has sought to diminish this claim and privilege the authority of the elected government over the rebels. 
  • This has the potential to delegitimise the claims of rebels, including the NSCN (I-M), in representing the Nagas in talks with the Centre. 

Conclusion:

  • The 2015 framework agreement, which built on the 1997 ceasefire between the Centre and the NSCN (I-M), has given rise to hope that the country’s longest surviving insurgency can be settled peacefully to the satisfaction of all the stakeholders. 
  • Peace has a large constituency in Nagaland, of course. 
  • However, this constituency may have also invested in the NSCN (I-M) to represent what they believe is the “unique history, culture and position of the Nagas and their sentiments and aspirations”.

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Prelims Questions:

Q.1)With reference to the World Health Organization (WHO), consider the following statements:
1. India’s contribution to the WHO is about USD 40 million, one-tenth of that of the US.
2. The United States has been a party to the WHO Constitution since June 21, 1948.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: B

Mains Questions:
Q.1) What is the track record of NSCM-IM? How has the Indian establishment reacted to the Naga cause?

THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 28 July 2020 (Modern tools, age-old wisdom: on India-Sri Lanka relations (The Hindu))



Modern tools, age-old wisdom: on India-Sri Lanka relations (The Hindu)


Mains Paper 2:International Relations 
Prelims level:Non-alliance foreign policies
Mains level: India and its neighbourhood- relations

Context:

  • The unique India-Sri Lanka relationship, de jureis between equals as sovereign nations. 
  • But it’s asymmetric in terms of geographic size, population, military and economic power, on the one hand, and social indicators and geographical location, on the other. 
  • It is steepedin myth and legend, and influenced by religious, cultural and social affinities. 
  • This is an opportune time for Sri Lanka and India to nourish the roots of the relationship using modern toolkits, but leveraging age-old wisdom and experience.

Historical ties:

  • History reveals that the advent of Buddhism to Sri Lanka during the time of Emperor Ashoka was the result of cross-border discourse.
  • For many centuries in the first millennia, the ancient capital city of Anuradhapura housed an international community which included traders from India, China, Rome, Arabia and Persia. 
  • Later, Buddhist monks from Sri Lanka travelled to India, China, Cambodia and Java leaving behind inscriptions. Buddhist temples in Sri Lanka, to this day, contain shrines for Hindu deities. 
  • The colonial expansion of European maritime nations reshaped the Sri Lankan economy. 
  • Labour from south India was brought to Sri Lanka to work in plantations. 
  • The Indian freedom struggle had its influence on Sri Lanka as well. 
  • There was cross-border support for the revival of culture, tradition, local languages, spiritual practices and philosophies, and education. 
  • Both countries transformed into modern nations with constitutional and institutionalised governance under colonial rule.

 Emergence of separatist ideologies: 

  • Most aspects of today’s globalisation existed in a different form in the pre-colonial era with free exchange of ideas, trade and intellectual discourse. 
  • However, process engineering by colonial powers for identification and categorisation of people was a factor in the emergence of separatist ideologies based on ethnicity, language and religion. 
  • This mindset is now ingrained and accentuatedin politics. 
  • Episodic instances of communal hostility are referenced often to suit tactical political gain. 
  • Around the world today, and not just in South Asia, policies and thinking are becoming communally exclusive, localised and inward-looking. 
  • The COVID-19 hit the world against this backdrop, allowing some leaders an opportunity to double down on insular thinking, ostensiblyfor providing local communities with better economic and social prospects, and security.

 In line with non-alliance foreign policies:

  • Meanwhile, governance models favoured by nations keep vacillating between fundamental freedoms-based democratic systems and quasi democratic, socialist authoritarian systems. 
  • In this regard, the people of Sri Lanka and India have been served well by long years of uninterrupteddemocratic governance. 
  • This has provided long-term stability for both countries and must not be vitiated.
  • Sri Lanka’s strategic location makes it apparent that not only economic fortunes but the security of both countries are inextricablylinked. 
  • Therefore, it is heartening that India and Sri Lanka constantly strive for excellence in neighbourly relations, recognising that a calamity in one country can adversely impact the other. 
  • Though robust partnerships with other countries must be sought in line with the non-alliance foreign policies of both countries, such efforts must be bounded by an atmosphere needed for peace, prosperity and stability. 
  • Among others, freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific together with a rules-based international order and peaceful settlement of disputes are of common interest. 
  • While avoiding advocacy of zero-sumsolutions on crucial issues, both countries must seek to harmonise strategic and other interests in line with common values and socioeconomic compulsions.

Addressing issues and imbalances:

  • The socioeconomic development of Sri Lanka has remained linked to India. 
  • But there are many options available to address issues of imbalance and asymmetries. 
  • For instance, Sri Lanka can encourage Indian entrepreneurs to make Colombo another business hub for them, as logistical capacities and facilities for rest and recreation keep improving in Sri Lanka. 
  • Integrating the two economies but with special and differential treatment for Sri Lanka due to economic asymmetries can be fast-tracked for this purpose. 
  • There is immense potential to accentuate or create complementariness, using locational and human resource potential, for harnessing benefits in the modern value chains. 
  • Robust partnerships across the economic and social spectrum can promote people-to-people bonhomie. 
  • And engagement of legislatures is essential for promoting multiparty support.

Conclusion:

  • With many countries recedinginto cocoons due to the pandemic, this is an opportunity for both countries to focus on the renewal and revitalisation of partnerships.

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Prelims Questions:

Q.1)With reference to the Kuwait’s draft residency bill, consider the following statements:
1. The draft bill proposes to reduces the number of expats in Kuwait from over 70% to 30% of the population.
2. The bill specifies country-wise caps designating a quota for how many people of a certain nationality can be allowed to work in Kuwait.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: C

Mains Questions:
Q.1) Highlighting about India- Sri Lanka relations. What are the key areas of cooperation? Describe it significance of the relations and areas of sourness in the relations. 

THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 28 July 2020 (Needed, a map for India’s foreign policy (The Hindu))



Needed, a map for India’s foreign policy (The Hindu)


Mains Paper 2:International Relations 
Prelims level:SAARC
Mains level: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests

Context:

  • Not long ago, India was seen as a natural rising power in South Asia and the Indian Ocean Region. 
  • It was the de factoleader of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). It has historical and cultural ties with Nepal. 
  • It enjoyed traditional goodwill and influence in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. 
  • It had made investments worth billions of dollars in Afghanistan and cultivated vibrant ties with the post-Taliban stakeholders in Kabul. 
  • It had committed itself to multilateralism and the Central Asian connectivity project, with Iran being its gateway. 
  • It was competing and cooperating with China at the same time, while the long border between the two countries remained largely peaceful.

Present times:

  • India is perhaps facing its gravest national security crisis in 20 years, with China having changed the status quoalong the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the western sector in its favour. 
  • The border saw violent clashes last month, leading to fatalities for the first time in 45 years. 
  • SAARC is out of joint. Nepal has turned hostilehaving adopted a new map and revived border disputes with India. 
  • Sri Lanka has tilted towards China, which is undertaking massive infrastructure projects in the Indian Ocean island. 
  • Bangladesh is clearly miffedat the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019. When Afghanistan is undergoing a major transition, India is out of the multi-party talks. 
  • Iran has inaugurated a railway link project connecting the Chabahar port, on the Gulf of Oman, to Zahedan (which India was to have constructed) without India. 
  • How did we get here? Specific reasons can be found for these setbacks. Also, foreign policy need not be static. 
  • There will be ups and downs depending on the changes in policy as well as the changes in global politics. 
  • But what makes the current downturn serious is that there is a relative decline in India’s smart power, especially in the neighbourhood and the extended neighbourhood, which demands a deeper perusalof the foreign policy trajectory itself. 
  • And when we dig deep, three problems can be found which are more or less linked to this decline — a closer alignment of policy with the U.S. line, coupling of foreign policy with domestic politics and hubris.

 The U.S. line:

  • India’s official policy is that it is committed to multilateralism.
  • Even after India started moving away from non-alignment, which it calls irrelevant in the post-Cold War world order, New Delhi maintained that strategic autonomy would remain the bedrock of its policy thinking. 
  • But there has been a steady erosion in India’s strategic autonomy, which predates the current government. 
  • When India started deepening its partnership with the United States (which was a historical necessity), New Delhi began steadily aligning its policies with U.S. interests. The case of Iran is the best example. 
  • The agreement to develop the Chabahar port was signed in 2003. 
  • But India, under pressure from the U.S., was moving slowly, despite the fact that the project offered India an alternative route to Central Asia bypassing Pakistan. 
  • India voted against Iran at the United Nations; scuttledan ambitious gas pipeline project and cut down trade ties drastically. 
  • After the Iran nuclear deal was signed in 2015, India immediately stepped up oil purchases and expanded works at Chabahar. 
  • In 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled to Tehran and signed a trilateral connectivity project with Afghanistan and Iran. 
  • But when U.S. President Donald Trump pulled the U.S. out of the Iran deal in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on the country, India toed the U.S. line, bringing down its oil imports to zero.

Changing Beijing’s Assessment of India:

  • This dilly-dallying to the tunes of policy changes in Washington co-existed with India’s deepening defence and military ties with the U.S. 
  • Washington wants India to play a bigger role in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific region to contain China’s rise. 
  • While India has been cautious of becoming an ally, it has steadily deepened military-to-military cooperation in the recent past — the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) is one example. 
  • These developments probably altered Beijing’s assessment of India. 
  • The border aggression at different points on the LAC could not be a localised conflict; it is part of a larger strategic move, initiated by the top brass of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). 
  • One of the reasons for the shift could be Beijing’s assessment that India has already become a de facto allyof the U.S. 
  • The forceful alteringof the status quo on the border is a risky message as much to New Delhi as it is to Washington.

Domestic politics:

  • At least two decisions taken by the government mainly keeping its domestic audience in mind have had foreign policy consequences. 
  • First, the passing of the CAA. The official narrative has been that India is offering citizenship to the persecuted minorities of select countries in its neighbourhood. 
  • There were two problems. 
  • One, this is regionalisation of the domestic problems of the countries in India’s neighbourhood, some of which are its long-time friends. These countries are genuinely upset with India’s move. 
  • Two, Muslims, including those sub-sects persecuted in neighbouring countries, were by design excluded from the citizenship programme. 
  • This drove new wedgesbetween India and the countries that had a Muslim majority and were friendly to India in the neighbourhood. 
  • Forget Pakistan, which is a traditional rival. 
  • Bangladesh took offence at the CAA and the National Register of Citizens (from which the government has temporarily backed off) and the political rhetoric in India against the “termites” from other countries. 
  • Bangladeshi media reported recently that the Indian envoy in Dhaka had tried to fix an appointment with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for four months but did not get one. 
  • There were anti-India protests even in Afghanistan.

 Abrogation of A-370:

  • The abrogation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. This was another popular move among those who form the support base of the ruling party. 
  • But it led to the suspension of fundamental rights in the Kashmir Valley for a prolonged period that damaged India’s reputation as a responsible democratic power and gave propaganda weapons to Pakistan. 
  • The move did not help India quellmilitancy either as the Valley continues to see violence nearly a year after the decision. 
  • More importantly, the change of status quo in Jammu and Kashmir, including the bifurcation and reduction of the erstwhile State into Union Territories, could be another factor that prompted the Chinese to move aggressively towards the border in Ladakh.

The perils of hubris:

  • Misplaced confidence does not do good for rising powers. Great powers wait to establish their standing before declaring that they have arrived. 
  • The Soviet Union started acting like a superpower after it won (with allies), the Second World War. 
  • China bided its time for four decades before it started taking on the mighty U.S. Since the 1970s, its focus has almost entirely been on its economic rise. 
  • India should learn from at least these modern examples. If it did, it would not have used high-handedness in Nepal during the country’s constitutional crisis and caused a traditional and civilisational ally to turn hostile. 
  • The updated political map which India released in November rubbed salt into the woundon the Nepal border.

Conclusion:

  • To address the current crises, India has to reconsider its foreign policy trajectory. It is a big power with one of the world’s biggest militaries. 
  • It is a natural naval force in the Indian Ocean. 
  • It does not lack resources to claim what is its due in global politics. What it lacks is strategic depth.

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Prelims Questions:

Q.1)With reference to the Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL), consider the following statements:
1. India’s largest commercial shipbuilder Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) has signed contracts for construction of two autonomous electric ferries for Norway-based ASKO Maritime. 
2. This Autonomous Electrical vessel project, partially funded by the Norwegian Government, is aimed at emission-free transport of goods across the Oslo fjord.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: C

Mains Questions:
Q.1) Relevance of India’s Foreign Policy at contemporary times and need for its reconsideration in the backdrop of setbacks, especially in the neighbourhood. Critically comment.

THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 28 July 2020 (In reverse gear: on draft EIA notification(The Hindu))



In reverse gear: on draft EIA notification(The Hindu)


Mains Paper 3:Environment 
Prelims level:Environment Impact Assessment
Mains level: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment

Context:

  • The Union Ministry of Environment has been in the spotlight on more than one occasion during the pandemic, as it worked to push through retrogradeenvironmental decisions in an atmosphere of general paralysis. 
  • In April, Environment Minister used a virtual conference to ensure that the National Board for Wildlife’s Standing Committee stampedits approval on several projects, with serious implications for conservation. 
  • He now wants to hurriedly make a fundamental change to the process of project approvals, by introducing a new Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification. 
  • Now in draft, it seeks to replace the existing EIA notification of 2006. 

New proposal:

  • The proposed provisions show that the Ministry has gone to great lengths to reduce or even remove public participation, and by extension independent expert opinion. 
  • Public reporting of violations may also not be taken cognisanceof before granting environmental clearances.
  • While there can be no argument about the importance of development projects, it has resorted to sophistryin classifying activity for exemptions. 
  • Section 26 provides a list of projects that would not attract environmental clearance or permission, including coal mining and seismic surveys for oil, methane and shale gas on some lands. 
  • Section 14 provides exemption for these and some other projects from public consultation, also limiting the scope of public involvement to the districts concerned, in the case of national parks and sanctuaries where pipeline infrastructure will pass. 
  • Roads and highways get liberal concessions. 
  • Further, it retains the clause that if a public agency or authority considers the local situation not conducive to participation by citizens, the public consultation need not include a public hearing.

Checks and balances:

  • In spite of the far-reaching nature of its proposed actions, the Centre has displayed unseemly haste to get them in place and Mr. Javadekar has not aided credibility by trying to shut down public responses to the draft early. 
  • It took a Delhi High Court order to extend the deadline to August 11. 
  • The exercise has been further muddiedby the mysterious blocking of some activist websites calling for the EIA proposal to be dropped, and demanding a new approach towards conserving natural resources for future generations. 
  • Clearly, the Centre’s attempts at weakening checks and balances are not new. 
  • A study of coal mining clearances shows that 4,302 hectares of forest were diverted during 2014-18, favouring extraction over conservation. 

Conclusion:

  • COVID-19 has powerfully demonstrated the value of nature for well-being: of lost forests and captured wildlife bringing virus reservoirs closer to humans and foul air destroying their health. 
  • While there might be a case for some changes, much of the proposed EIA system can only make things worse, and should not be pushed through.
  • The draft EIA notification needs wider consultation and progressive changes.

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Prelims Questions:

Q.1)With reference to the plague, consider the following statements:
1. Plague is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis, a zoonotic bacteria, usually found in small mammals and their fleas. 
2. Any person with pneumonic plague may transmit the disease via droplets to other humans.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: C

Mains Questions:
Q.1) What do you mean by environment impact assessment? Describe its process, and what is the recent dispute related to the proposed draft?

UPSC MAINS TOPIC WISE PAPER : Modern History

 

UPSC MAINS TOPIC WISE PAPER : Modern History

  1. Evaluate the policies of Lord Curzon and their long-term implications on the national movements. (UPSC 2020)
  2. Since the decade of the 1920s, the national movement acquired various ideological strands and thereby expanded its social base. Discuss. (UPSC 2020)
  3. The 1857 Uprising was the culmination the recurrent big and small local rebellions that had occurred in the preceding hundred years of British rule. Elucidate. (UPSC 2019)
  4. Examine the linkages between 19th centuries ‘Indian Renaissance’ and the emergence of national identity. (UPSC 2019)
  5. Many voices had strengthened and enriched the nationalist movement during the Gandhian phase. Elaborate. (UPSC 2019)
  6. Assess the role of British imperial power in complicating the process of transfer of power during the 1940s. (UPSC 2019)
  7. Throw light on the significance of the thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi in the present times. (UPSC 2018)
  8. Clarify how mid-eighteenth-century India was beset with the spectre of a fragmented polity. (UPSC 2017)
  9. Why did the ‘Moderates’ fail to carry conviction with the nation about their proclaimed ideology and political goals by the end of the nineteenth century? (UPSC 2017)
  10. Examine how the decline of traditional artisanal industry in colonial India crippled the rural economy. (UPSC 2017)
  11. The women’s questions arose in modern India as a part of the 19th century social reform movement. What were the major issues and debates concerning women in that period? (UPSC 2017)
  12. Highlight the importance of the new objectives that got added to the vision of Indian independence since twenties of the last century. (UPSC 2017)
  13. Explain how the Uprising of 1857 constitutes an important watershed in the evolution of British policies towards colonial India.(UPSC 2016)
  14. Discuss the role of women in the freedom struggle especially during the Gandhian phase. (UPSC 2016)
  15. Highlight the differences in the approach of Subhash Chandra Bose and Mahatma Gandhi in the struggle for freedom. (UPSC 2016)
  16. How different would have been the achievement of Indian independence without Mahatma Gandhi? Discuss.(UPSC 2015)
  17. It would have been difficult for the Constituent Assembly to complete its historic task of drafting the Constitution for Independent India in just three years but for the experience gained with the Government of India Act, 1935. Discuss.(UPSC 2015)
  18. The third battle of Panipat was fought in 1761. Why were so many empire-shaking battles fought at Panipat?(UPSC 2014)
  19. Examine critically the various facets of economic policies of the British in India from mideighteenth century till independence.(UPSC 2014)
  20. In what ways did the naval mutiny prove to be the last nail in the coffin of British colonial aspirations in India?(UPSC 2014)
  21. Defying the barriers of age, gender and religion, the Indian women became the torch bearer during the struggle for freedom in India. Discuss.(UPSC 2013)
  22. Several foreigners made India their homeland and participated in various movements. Analyze their role in the Indian struggle for freedom.(UPSC 2013)
  23. In many ways, Lord Dalhousie was the founder of modern India. Elaborate.(UPSC 2013)
  24. "The Indian independence movement was a mass-based movement that encompassed various sections of society. It also underwent the process of constant ideological evolution? Critically examine.(UPSC 2012)
  25. The significance of Patharughat in the Indian freedom struggle(UPSC 2012)
  26. Trace the salient sequence of events in the popular revolt that took place in February 1946 in the then, 'Royal Indian Navy' and bring out its significance in the freedom struggle. Do you agree with the view that the sailors who took part in this revolt were some of the unsung heroes of the freedom struggle?(UPSC 2011)
  27. Evaluate the influence of the three important women's organizations of the early twentieth century in India on the Country's society and politics. To what extent do you think were the social objectives of these organizations constrained by their political objectives?(UPSC 2011)
  28. Explain about:(UPSC 2011)

(a) 'Benoy-Badal-Dinesh' martyrdom
(b) Bharat Naujawan Sabha
(c) 'Babbar Akali' movement

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THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 18 July 2020 (A demand problem (Indian Express))



A demand problem (Indian Express)


Mains Paper 3: Economy
Prelims level: Trade surplus
Mains level: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment

Context:  

  • The latest trade data released by the ministry of commerce paints a worrying picture. 
  • While the contraction in exports observed over the past few months appears to be easing slowly, the implications of the continuing deep contraction in imports on end-demand are disquieting. 

Key Findings:

  • This growing chasmbetween export and import growth has led to India registering a trade surplus of nearly $800 million in June — this is the first time in almost two decades that the country has registered a trade surplus. 
  • However, this is indicative, not of a robust turnaround in exports, but of a collapse in domestic demand, despite the easing of restrictions on domestic activities during the “unlocking” phase.
  • At the aggregate level, India’s merchandise exports continue to witness an upward swing with the pace of contraction falling to 12.4 per cent in June, from 36.2 per cent in May and 60 per cent in April. 
  • A closer look at the data reveals that exports of items such as iron ore, drugs and pharmaceuticals, chemicals and various agricultural commodities saw an expansion in June. 
  • However, 18 of the 30 major export product categories contracted in June, including some labour intensive ones such as gems and jewellery, leather, and textiles — though some of these sectors have seen a healthy recovery from the April levels.

Impact of the domestic slowdown:

  • This upswing in exports could be indicative of a faster recovery of India’s export partners and probably because of the rush by Indian exporters to ship out orders to meet their seasonal deadlines. 
  • On the other hand, imports continue to remain deep in negative territory, contracting by 47.6 per cent in June, as compared to a decline of 52.4 per cent in May, and 59.6 per cent in April. 
  • Even more worrying, the contraction in non-oil exports has actually worsened — from 36.4 per cent in May to 41.4 per cent in June — with decline observed in both consumer and investment/industrial goods imports. 
  • Some movement is visible in imports of electronic goods, but those of machinery and transport equipment have not moved significantly.
  • Of the 30 main import items, while all items have contracted in the April-June quarter, only four registered mildly positive growth in June — indicative of the pace of the domestic slowdown. 

Conclusion:

  • As economic activities across the world will take time to return to normalcy, India’s exports will take time to reach pre-COVID levels. 
  • It seems that the chasm between exports and imports could persist, given the plateauing of the post-lockdown spurt in demand/production on account of the spread of infection.

Prelims Questions:

Q.1)With reference to the India Cycles4Change Challenge, consider the following statements:
1. The Challenge aims to help cities connect with their citizens as well as experts to develop a unified vision to promote cycling. 
2. The Challenge is open to all cities under the Smart Cities Mission, capital cities of States/UTs, and all cities with a population of more than 5 lakh population.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: C

Mains Questions:
Q.1)India registered a trade surplus. What are the major findings? What growing exports and falling import indicate?

THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 18 July 2020 (State of deluge (Indian Express))



State of deluge (Indian Express)


Mains Paper 3:Disaster and disaster management
Prelims level: Kaziranga National Park
Mains level: Kaziranga National Park, its location and significance

Context: 

  • In the last week of April, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal took stock of the state’s flood preparedness. 
  • Less than a month later, the river Brahmaputra swelled up and has been in spate ever since. 
  • In spite of the CM’s directives, the state administration seems to have been caught unawares.
  • At least 65 people have lost their lives. More than 35 lakh people in 26 districts of the state have been affected. Nearly 90% of the Kaziranga National Park is reportedly submerged.

Flood control measure:

  • Floods are a recurrent feature during the monsoons in Assam. 
  • In fact, ecologists point out that flood waters have historically rejuvenated croplands and fertilised soil in the state’s alluvial areas. 
  • But it’s also a fact that for more than 60 years, the Centre and state governments have not found ways to contain the toll taken by the raging waters. 
  • The state has primarily relied on embankments to control floods. 
  • This flood control measure was introduced in Assam in the early 1950s when the hydrology of most Indian rivers, including the Brahmaputra, was poorly understood.
  • There is, today, a substantial amount of scholarly work that has highlighted the problems of using large walls to check the Brahmaputra’s flow. 
  • The river changes course frequently and it’s virtually impossible to contain it within embankments. 
  • Moreover, the pressure of the surging water takes a toll on these walls and they need constant reinforcement — by all accounts, that hasn’t happened in Assam. 
  • Several of the state’s embankments were reportedly breached by the floods this year.

Unplanned expansion:

  • Large parts of Guwahati are under water. The city has been getting flooded during the monsoons since the past seven years. 
  • Its problems have less to do with the vagariesof nature. Guwahati’s topography — it’s shaped like a bowl — does make it susceptibleto water logging. 
  • But, as a document of “Mission Flood Control Guwahati” correctly points out, “the unplanned expansion of the city… has led to severe encroachments in the wetlands, low lying areas, hills and shrinkage of forest cover. 
  • The denudedhills and loss of wetlands lead to artificial floods”. 
  • The document also notes that rainwater from Meghalaya and the surrounding hills often causes flash floods in Guwahati. 
  • However, recognition of the problem has not led to any meaningful conversation between the two states on flood control. 
  • In fact, authorities in all the states that share the Brahmaputra basin need to urgently put their heads together to resolve the perennialproblem of floods in Assam.

Conclusion:

  • Assam’s flood problem cannot be entirely blamed on vagariesof nature. It needs to jettisonoutmodedflood control measures.

Prelims Questions:

Q.1)With reference to the types of F visa by United States of America, consider the following statements:
1. F-1 visas are granted only to nationals of Mexico or Canada and these visa holders may study part- or full-time.
2. F-2 visas are for spouses and children of F-1 visa holders — these are technically called "dependents”. 

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: B

Mains Questions:
Q.1) Describe the Assam’s flood problem and how it affects on people and environment? What are the key concerns associated with this? Explain.

THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 18 July 2020 (University examination guidelines that score low (The Hindu))



University examination guidelines that score low (The Hindu)


Mains Paper 2:National 
Prelims level: University Grants Commission
Mains level: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education

Context: 

  • The University Grants Commission’s (UGC) guidelines of July 6, 2020 on conducting final-year examinations for university students have created a storm.
  • The commission’s insistence on online or pen-paper or a blendof the two modes in conducting examinations, albeitwith a much-delayed timeline, has been widely criticised. 
  • Punjab, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Delhi, Odisha and Tamil Nadu have already raised objections. Uttar Pradesh has announced that its universities will hold examinations. 
  • Delhi University students have termed the decision arbitrary and discriminatory, and have challenged it in the Delhi High Court.
  • The guidelines state that performance in examinations is necessary for “reflection of competence, performance and credibility that is necessary for global acceptability”. 
  • In the latest UGC communication, 182 universities have already conducted the examinations and 234 are planning to hold them in August and September.

Ground realities:

  • It is a matter of concern that our education system continues to be examination-centric and these guidelines fail to take into account the fact that the validity of examinations fundamentally depends on their reliability. 
  • Most examinations in India merely test an ability to recall facts or information rather than an understanding of those facts or an ability to use them in practical situations. 
  • Most teachers too are not trained in setting good papers particularly for online open-book examinations. 
  • Certification through examination is important but cannot and should not be the sole goal of education. 
  • Hundreds of our students every year take unfortunate steps because of examination stress. 
  • A one size fits all cannot apply to our universities as we have all kinds of universities, i.e. unitary, affiliating, private and subject specific.

University Grants Commission:

  • There is nothing like the UGC in the United States. The UGC was fundamentally meant to be the fund granting institution as is clear from its nomenclature. 
  • But the UGC Act 1956 does confer on it the power of ‘coordination and determination of standards’ in universities as well and, therefore, it has become the regulator of higher education.
  • Today, the higher education sector is overregulated and underfunded. 
  • The present government at the Centre wants to replace the UGC with a higher education commission. 
  • The United Progressive Alliance too had introduced a bill on similar lines. 
  • Since universities are autonomous bodies, in these testing times this autonomy can help us in finding solutions keeping in view the specific situation of each university.

Guidelines:

  • The first set of guidelines regarding examinations and academic calendar was issued by the UGC on April 29.
  • It was demonstrative of UGC Chairman’s flexible and inclusive approach. 
  • It allowed universities to promote students in their final year, on the basis of a combination of internal evaluation and marks/grades in previous semesters. 
  • These guidelines gave much flexibility to universities and were welcomed. However, this scheme was not extended to final-year students.
  • Before the new UGC guidelines were released, Rajasthan, Haryana and Maharashtra had already cancelled examinations for final-year students.
  • Let the cooperative federalism rather than ego guide us in this matter.
  • While the decision has been justified by reference to other universities across the world, the systems that these universities are following are largely accommodative of students’ concerns. 
  • In foreign universities, each teacher has the freedom to devise his own evaluation mechanism. 

More discrimination possible:

  • In case the infection does not subside, it would mean that the UGC either extends the deadline further or universities are forced to conduct online exams. 
  • In the latter case, the UGC would have imposed a patently discriminatory policy on the students.
  • Issues with access to the Internet, electricity and study materials, as well as a lack of a study environment in homes would go unaddressed.
  • And it would only manifest the disparity prevalentin the education system. 
  • In the former case, it only furthers the uncertainty, and even if the UGC decides to allow universities not to conduct examinations, this entire exercise would be pointless.
  • In any case, the period of four to six months would have impacted students differently. 
  • The elite, with the privilege of being unaffected by the crisis caused by the infection as well as its economic ramifications will be much better placed than their peers without the same level of assuredness. 
  • The whole purpose of university acting as an equaliser will be lost. 
  • Students from a humble background, from remote areas and those with doctors/health workers as parents or are coronavirus positive in families would be at a disadvantage.

 Conclusion:

  • Finally, what is baffling is the idea that just one semester of examinations will be determinative of the integrity and value of a degree for which students would have worked hard for 6-10 semesters. 
  • It is difficult to understand why the last semester examination is so sacrosanctwhen our curriculum follows the cumulative rather than the hierarchical system.
  • We expect that better sense will prevail and the UGC will eventually take the decision that would be equitable, fair, pragmatic and beneficial and not one that is risky and exclusionary of any set of students. 
  • Unprecedented times call for bold steps and unprecedented decisions, and the UGC must act accordingly. 
  • Let the voices of sanity be taken into account and results be declared taking into account student performance in earlier semesters and internal evaluation of the final semester. 
  • Let the mental health of students and their anxieties be taken into account. 
  • Heavens are not going to fall if we discard the examination-centric view, at least in this emergency for just one semester.

Prelims Questions:

Q.1)With reference to the World Population Day, consider the following statements:
1. World Population Day, which is annually observed on 11 July, seeks to focus attention on the urgency and importance of population issues. 
2. It was established by UNESCO. 
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: A

Mains Questions:
Q.1) What are the ground realities of our higher education system maintained by UGC?

THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 18 July 2020 (Iran ties need quiet diplomacy (The Hindu))



Iran ties need quiet diplomacy (The Hindu)


Mains Paper 2:International Relations 
Prelims level: Ircon International Limited
Mains level: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests

Context: 

  • Recent reports that Iran had launched the track laying programme for the 628 km long rail link between Chabahar and Zahidan last week sparked concerns that India was being excluded from the project. 
  • Iran has since clarified that it is not the case and India could join the project at a later stage. 
  • This keeps the door open for Ircon International Limited (IRCON) which has been associated with the project even as India continues with the development of Chabahar port.

Connectivity for Afghanistan:

  • Providing connectivity for Afghanistan through Iran in order to lessen its dependence on Karachi port has enjoyed support in Delhi, Kabul and Tehran since 2003. 
  • Chabahar port on Iran’s Makran coast, just 1,000 km from Kandla, is well situated but road and rail links from Chabahar to Zahidan and then 200 km further on to Zaranj in Afghanistan, need to be built. 
  • With Iran under sanctions during the Ahmadinejad years (2005-13), there was little progress. 
  • IRCON had prepared engineering studies estimating that the 800 km long railway project would need an outlay of $1.6 billion. 
  • Meanwhile, India concentrated on the 220 km road to connect Zaranj to Delaram on the Herat highway. This was completed in 2008 at a cost of $150 million.
  •  Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action:
  • The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, known commonly as the Iran nuclear deal or Iran deal, is an agreement on the Iranian nuclear program reached in Vienna on July 14, 2015, between Iran and the P5+1 together with the European Union. P5- US, UK, France, China, Russia + Germany + EU.

 Sanctions:

  • Things moved forward after 2015 when sanctions on Iran eased with the signing of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or the Iran nuclear deal. 
  • A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed with Iran during Prime Minister’s visit to Tehran in 2016 to equip and operate two terminals at the Shahid Beheshti port as part of Phase I of the project. 
  • Another milestone was the signing of the Trilateral Agreement on Establishment of International Transport and Transit Corridor between Afghanistan, Iran and India. 
  • In addition to $85 million of capital investment, India also committed to provide a line of credit of $150 million for port container tracks. 
  • Phase I was declared operational in 2018 and India’s wheat shipments to Afghanistan have been using this route. 
  • A special economic zone (SEZ) at Chabahar was planned but re-imposition of U.S. sanctions has slowed investments into the SEZ.

 Delay in clearance:

  • India was given a waiverfrom U.S. sanctions to continue cooperation on Chabahar as it contributed to Afghanistan’s development. 
  • Despite the waiver, the project has suffered delays because of the time taken by the U.S. Treasury to actually clear the import of heavy equipment such as rail mounted gantry cranes, mobile harbour cranes, etc.
  • In fact, the railway tracks currently being laid are those supplied by IRCON. Iranian responsibility was for local works of land levelling and procurement. 
  • The MoU between IRCON and Iran’s Construction and Development of Transportation Infrastructures Company (CDTIC) expired last year. 
  • Further, Khatab al Anbiya, the Iranian company undertaking some of the works, was listed by the U.S. as special designated entity, leading IRCON to suggest to the Iranians to appoint another contractor.

 Extension:

  • Meanwhile, Iran has ambitious plans to extend the railway line from Zahidan to Mashad (about 1,000 km) and then another 150 km onwards to Sarakhs on the border with Turkmenistan. 
  • Another plan is to link it with the International North-South Transport Corridor towards Bandar Anzali on the Caspian Sea. 
  • In 2011, a consortium of seven Indian companies led by Steel Authority of India Limited had also successfully bid for mining rights at Hajigak mines in Afghanistan that contain large reserves of iron ore. 
  • However, developments at Hajigak remain stalledbecause of the precarioussecurity situation in Afghanistan continues.

 Why Iran needs China?

  • In January 2016, just as sanctions were eased, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Tehran and proposed a long-term comprehensive, strategic partnership programme. 
  • Such partnership would involve Chinese investment in Iranian infrastructure and assured supplies of Iranian oil and gas at concessional rates. 
  • Reluctant to be tied into too close a Chinese embrace, Iran kept the negotiations going for years. 
  • China patiently permitted a limited barter trade.
  • Meanwhile, tensions in the region have been growing since last year with missile strikes in Saudi Arabia claimed by the Houthis and a U.S. drone strike in January killing Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) chief.
  • During the last four weeks, there have been more than half-a-dozen mysterious explosions including at the ballistic missile liquid fuel production facility at Khojir, the advanced centrifuge assembly shed in Natanz and the shipyard at Bushehr. 
  • Reports attribute these to U.S. and Israeli agencies in an attempt to provoke Iran before the U.S. elections.
  • In May, the U.S. announced that it wanted the UN Security Council (UNSC) to continue the ban on Iranian acquisition of conventional weapons. 
  • UNSC Resolution 2231 was adopted in July 2015 by consensus to endorse the JCPOA and contains a five-year restriction on Iran’s importing conventional weapons that ends on October 18. 
  • Even though the U.S. unilaterally quit the JCPOA, it is threatening to invoke the automatic snapback of sanctions provisions of JCPOA. 
  • The United Kingdom and France have criticised the U.S.’s duplicity but are unlikely to exercise a veto. 
  • At the same time, Iran hopes that November (US elections) may bring about a change in the White House that opens options for dialogue.

 Tehran’s balancing Act:

  • For India, it has been a tricky exercise to navigate between the U.S. and Iran to keep the Chabahar project going.
  • Similarly, for the Rouhani administration has found it a difficult balancing act to manage the hardliners at home while coping with Trump administration’s policy of ‘maximum pressure’.
  • Russia and China are the only countries to veto the U.S.’s moves in the UNSC. 
  • Even so, the Iran- China comprehensive, strategic partnership road map has run into opposition in the Majlis.  
  • Hard liners have accused Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif of undue secrecy surrounding the agreement amid rumours that China may be taking over Kish island and that Chinese troops would be stationed in Iran to secure Chinese companies and investments.

Advantages and a lesson:

  • Iran may well be considering a long-term partnership with China, but Iranian negotiators are wary of growing Chinese mercantilist tendencies. 
  • It is true that China has greater capacity to resist U.S. sanctions compared to India but Iran realises the advantage of working with its only partner that enjoys a sanctions waiver from U.S. for Chabahar since it provides connectivity for land-locked Afghanistan. 
  • Iran and India also share an antipathyto a Taliban takeover in Afghanistan. 
  • This is why Iran would like to keep the door open. 
  • Nevertheless, India needs to improve its implementation record of infrastructure projects that it has taken up in its neighbourhood. 
  • There are numerous tales of Indian cooperation projects in Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, etc suffering delays and cost overruns that only make it easier for China to expand its footprint in India’s neighbourhood. 

 Conclusion:

  • The key is to continue to remain politically engaged with Iran so that there is a better appreciation of each other’s sensitivities and compulsions.

Prelims Questions:

Q.1)With reference to the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response (IPPR), consider the following statements:
1. The Panel will be co-chaired by former Prime Minister of New Zealand Helen Clark and former President of Liberia Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
2. At the historic 73rd World Health Assembly in May, Member States adopted a landmark resolution that called on WHO to initiate an independent and comprehensive evaluation of the lessons learned from the international health response to COVID-19.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: C

Mains Questions:
Q.1) What is the Chabahar project? What are the key implications with India Iran relations and why Iran dropped the project after finalising a sweeping 25-year economic and security partnership with China?

THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 18 July 2020 (Milestone of a million: On India’s COVID-19 numbers (The Hindu))



Milestone of a million: On India’s COVID-19 numbers (The Hindu)


Mains Paper 2:Health 
Prelims level: COVID-19 numbers
Mains level: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health

Context: 

  • India was hoping that the extended lockdown alone might help it win the battle against the novel coronavirus, but the microbe has been spreading with renewed vigour.
  • So much so that on July 16, the number of confirmed infections and deaths crossed grim milestones — one million and 25,000, respectively.  

About:

  • If a positivity rate is too high, that may indicate that the state is only testing the sickest patients who seek medical attention, and is not casting a wide enough net to know how much of the virus is spreading within its communities. 
  • A low rate of positivity in testing data can be seen as a sign that a state has sufficient testing capacity for the size of their outbreak and is testing enough of its population to make informed decisions about reopening.
  • A rapid antibody test or serology test looks for antibodies in your blood. These immunity agents develop in a body to fight an infection, in this case, COVID-19. The antibody test isn't looking for the virus but to ascertain whether your immune system, the primary line of defence in any human, has responded to the infection.
  • Current antibody tests cannot tell with certainty whether one is immune to COVID-19 as further research is needed to ascertain how long these antibodies might protect one against the virus.

Wide spread:

  • While the rising fresh cases reported each day could be ascribed(linked) to increased testing, the underlying reason for the case rise is undoubtedly the wide spread of the virus in the community. 
  • With surveillance not being commendable, the 10.3% test positivity rate nationally in the last few days shows that a very large pool of infections remains undiagnosed. 
  • Though the number of tests done daily has now crossed three lakh, the high test positivity rate underscores the need to increase the number of daily tests, by at least a few-fold. 
  • Any delay in tracing, testing and isolating the infected and their contacts will only lead to an unimaginable spread of the virus. 
  • As already seen in a few Indian cities, a cascadeof events beginning with a delay in disease detection can overwhelmthe health-care system.

Comparison between cities:

  • Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, which initially appeared to have contained the virus spread, have seen sharp surges.
  • If Bengaluru buckedthe trend in the early stage, it has now witnessing surge in cases and the system is not fully geared for the challenges. 
  • Aggressive tracing and testing helped Chennai reduce the surge. But the coming days will reveal if its 12-day lockdown in June had greatly contributed to this. 
  • While Delhi appears to have hammered down the test positivity rate in recent weeks, over-reliance on rapid antigen tests, which have low sensitivity, raises concerns about true case detection. 
  • Maharashtra appears to have pulled off a coupin Dharavi through outstanding work, but like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, the State has been witnessing a spike in other districts. 
  • With a 9.1% test positivity rate, Gujarat has made no attempts to greatly increase daily tests but instead appears to be disingenuously limiting the number of daily tests to keep fresh cases per day under check. 
  • Telangana too, with a test positivity rate of 18.4%, has made no great effort to increase daily tests, which have crossed 13,000 only in the last couple of days. 
  • Telangana defies the trend of rising cases during the pandemic, raising serious concern about its numbers. 

Conclusion:

  • Examples such as New York have shown that it is never too late to bend the curve. But for that, States need to fight the virus, not manage the data.
  • Deaths remain low, but India must fight the virus, not manage the data.

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Prelims Questions:

Q.1)With reference to the draft of 'Aids to Navigation Bill, 2020', consider the following statements:
1. The draft bill is proposed to replace the Lighthouse Act, 1927 to incorporate the best global practices, technological developments and India's International obligations in the field of Aids to Marine Navigation.
2. It does not provide for the identification and development of heritage lighthouses.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: A

Mains Questions:
Q.1) What is community transmission of the virus means? What are different tests used to detect the COVID-19 like one is Rapid-Antigen Test?

UPSC MAINS TOPIC WISE PAPER : Environment

 

UPSC MAINS TOPIC WISE PAPER : Environment

  1. How does the draft Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2020 differ from the existing EIA Notification, 2006? (UPSC 2020)
  2. What are the key features of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) initiated by the Government of India? (UPSC 2020)
  3. What are the salient features of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan launched by the Government of India for water conservation and water security? (UPSC 2020)
  4. Define the concept of carrying capacity of an ecosystem as relevant to an environment. Explain how understanding this concept is vital while planning for sustainable development of a region. (UPSC 2019)
  5. Coastal sand mining, whether legal or illegal, poses one of the biggest threats to our environment. Analyse the impact of sand mining along the Indian coasts, citing specific examples. (UPSC 2019)
  6. What are the impediments in disposing the huge quantities of discarded solid wastes which are continuously being generated? How do we remove safely the toxic wastes that have been accumulating in our habitable environment? (UPSC 2018)
  7. What is wetland? Explain the Ramsar concept of ‘wise use’ in the context of wetland conservation. Cite two examples of Ramsar sites from India.  (UPSC 2018)
  8. How does biodiversity vary in India? How is the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 helpful in conservation of flora and fauna? (UPSC 2018)
  9. ‘Climate Change’ is a global problem. How India will be affected by climate change? How Himalayan and coastal states of India will be affected by climate change? (UPSC 2017)
  10. Not many years ago, river linking was a concept but it is becoming reality in the country. Discuss the advantages of river linking and its possible impact on the environment. (UPSC 2017)
  11. Rehabilitation of human settlements is one of the important environmental impacts which always attracts controversy while planning major projects. Discuss the measures suggested for mitigation of this impact while proposing major developmental projects. (UPSC 2016)
  12. Give an account of the current status and the targets to be achieved pertaining to renewable energy sources in the country. Discuss in brief the importance of National Programme on Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). (UPSC 2016)
  13. The Namami Gange and National mission for clean Ganga (NMCG) programmes and causes of mixed results from the previous schemes. What quantum leaps can help preserve the river Ganga better than incremental inputs?(UPSC 2015)
  14. Should the pursuit of carbon credit and clean development mechanism set up under UNFCCC be maintained even through there has been a massive slide in the value of carbon credit? Discuss with respect to India's energy needs for economic growth.(UPSC 2014)
  15. Environmental impact assessment studies are increasingly undertaken before project is cleared by the government. Discuss the environmental impacts of coal-fired thermal plants located at Pitheads.(UPSC 2014)
  16. What are the consequences of illegal mining? Discuss the ministry of environment and forests' concept of "GO AND NO GO" zones for coal mining.(UPSC 2013)
  17. Enumerate the National Water Policy of India. Taking river Ganges as an example, discuss the strategies which may be adopted for river water pollution control and management. What are the legal provisions for management  and handling of hazardous wastes in India?(UPSC 2013)
  18. What do you understand by run of the river hydroelectricity project? How is it different from any other hydroelectricity project?(UPSC 2013)
  19. Explain the concepts "Environmental Sustainability" and "Sustainable Development of People".(UPSC 2012)
  20. Explain briefly the "Clean Development Mechanism" as provided under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).(UPSC 2012)
  21. What is Permaculture? Give at least three common examples where permaculture concepts are being put to use.(UPSC 2012)
  22. Given the accelerated pace of development and demand for energy, would you consider renewable energy as a viable option for India's future?(UPSC 2012)
  23. Analyse critically the interlinkages between the Convention on Biological Diversity and FAO Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.(UPSC 2012)
  24. Examine the causes and the extent of 'desertification' in India and suggest remedial measures.(UPSC 2012)
  25. In the context of the growing demands for the ban of Endosulfan in the country, critically examine the issues involved. What, in your view, should be done in the matter?(UPSC 2012)
  26. The issue of tourism in core areas of tiger reserve forests in the country is a subject matter of debate. Critically examine various aspects of this issue, keeping in view relevant recent judicial pronouncements.(UPSC 2012)
  27. The impact of climate change on water resources in India.(UPSC 2011)
  28. Phase-IV of the tiger monitoring programme in India.(UPSC 2011)
  29. The diminishing population of vultures(UPSC 2011)
  30. 'Billion Acts of Green(UPSC 2011)

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UPSC MAINS TOPIC WISE PAPER : Internal Security

 

UPSC MAINS TOPIC WISE PAPER : Internal Security

1. Human rights activists constantly highlight the view that the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) is a draconian act leading to cases of human rights abuses by the security forces. What sections of AFSPA are opposed by the activists? Critically evaluate the requirement with reference to the view held by the Apex Court.(UPSC 2015)
2. Religious indoctrination via digital media has resulted in Indian youth joining the ISIS. What is ISIS and its mission? How can ISIS be dangerous for the internal security of our country? (UPSC 2015)
3. The persisting drives of the government for development of large industries in backward areas have resulted in isolating the tribal population and the farmers who face multiple displacements with Malkangiri and naxalbari foci,  discuss the corrective strategies needed to win the left wing extremism (LWE) doctrine affected citizens back into the mainstream of social and economic growth.(UPSC 2015)
4. Considering the threats cyberspace poses for the country, India needs a "Digital Armed Force"to prevent crimes. Critically evaluate the National Cyber Security Policy, 2013 outlining the challenges perceived in its effective  implementation.(UPSC 2015)
5. The diverse nature of India as a multireligious and multi-ethnic society is not immune to the impact of radicalism which has been in her neighbourhood. Discuss along with the strategies to be adopted to counter this environment.(UPSC 2014)
6. International civil aviation laws provide all countries complete and exclusive severity over the airspace above the territory. What do you understand by airspace? What are the implications of these laws on the space above this airspace? Discuss the challenges which this poses and suggests ways to contain the threat.(UPSC 2014)
7. How illegal transborder migration does pose a threat to India's security? Discuss the strategies to curb this, bring out the factors which give impetus to such migration.(UPSC 2014)
8. In 2012, the longitudinal marking of the high-risk areas for piracy was moved from 65° East to 78° east in the Arabian Sea by International Maritime organisation. What impact does this have on India's maritime security concerns?(UPSC 2014)
9. China and Pakistan have entered into an agreement for development of an economic corridor. What thread does it dispose for India's security? Critically examine.(UPSC 2014)
10. Money laundering poses a serious threat to country's economic sovereignty. What is its significance for India and what steps are required to be taken to control this menace?(UPSC 2013)
11. What are social networking site and what security implications do these sites present?(UPSC 2013)
12. Cyber warfare is considered by some defense analysts to be a larger threat than even Al Qaeda or terrorism. What do you understand by Cyber warfare? Outline the cyber threats which India is vulnerable to and bring out the state of the country's preparedness to deal with the same.(UPSC 2013)
13. Article 244 of Indian Constitution relates to Administration of Scheduled areas and tribal areas.Analyze the impact of non-implementation of the provisions of fifth schedule on the growth of Left Wing Extremism.(UPSC 2013)
14. How far are India's internal security challenges linked with border management, particularly in view of the long porous borders with most countries of South Asia and Myanmar?(UPSC 2013)

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(E-Book) YOJANA MAGAZINE HINDI PDF - JUL 2020 (HINDI)

 (E-Book) YOJANA MAGAZINE PDF - JUL 2020 (HINDI)

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  • आत्मनिर्भर भारत के लिए नैतिक धन सृजन (डॉ कृष्णमूर्ति वी सुब्रमण्यन सुरभि जैन)
  • निर्यात रणनीति (डॉ अजय सहाय)
  • "जनधन, आधार व मोबाइल' तिकड़ी का कमाल (अंकिता शर्मा, हिंडोल सेनगुप्ता)
  • आत्मनिर्भर किसान (डॉ जगदीप सक्सेना)
  • ग्रामीण विकास (डॉ नकुल पराशर)
  • विशेष आलेख स्वास्थ्य में निवेश (डॉ मनीषा वर्मा सिद्धार्थ कुमार)
  • विनिर्माण में आत्मनिर्भरता (ऋषभ कृष्ण सक्सेना)
  • महात्मा गांधी की दृष्टि में आत्मनिर्भरता (डॉ डी पी सिंह मोनी सहाय)
  • स्वच्छ और स्मार्ट शहर (डॉ कृष्ण देव)
  • कोविड-19 से डिजिटल सुरक्षा (सौरभ गौड़, ऋचा रश्मि)
  • सत्यजित राय की फिल्में: शक्तिशाली पुरुष छवि की पड़ताल (डॉ देवजानी हाल्दार)

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  • UPSC APFC EPFO Question Paper 2016
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