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THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 13 March 2020 (‘Governance’, ‘Good Governance’ and ‘Ethical Governance’ (Mint))



‘Governance’, ‘Good Governance’ and ‘Ethical Governance’ (Mint)



  • Mains Paper 4:Ethics 
  • Prelims level: Not much
  • Mains level: Types of governance

Context:

  • The term ‘governance’, ‘good governance’ and ‘ethical governance’ appears to be used interchangeably and are intrinsically interlinked. 
  • Yet, each of them signify different meaning in their own sense.  The same are discussed below with help of examples.

Defining the term governance: 

  • It is the exercise of economic, political and administrative authority to manage a country’s affairs.
  • It is also the process through which various stakeholders articulate their interest, exercises their rights and mediate their differences.

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Defining the term good governance:

  • In this context, 2nd ARC suggested various measures to improve governance, therefore the word ‘good governance’ implies:
  • Responsive, accountable, sustainable and efficient administration at all levels.
  • Further, transparency, accountability, rule of law, principle of subsidiarity and citizen first form basics of good governance. 

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Defining the term ethical governance:

  • Whereas, the concept of ‘ethical governance’ is value laden, it means:
  • Administrative procedures and policies shall fulfil criteria of ethical handling of public affairs.
  • Utilitarian approach (Bentham’s approach) is followed to serve maximum good and difference between ethical-legal is handled appropriately.

Conclusion:

  • Hence, governance shall be good as well as ethical.  

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General Studies Pre. Cum Mains Study Materials

THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 13 March 2020 (Don’t bottle it up(Mint))



Don’t bottle it up(Mint)



  • Mains Paper 4:Ethics 
  • Prelims level: Emotional intelligence
  • Mains level: Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in administration andgovernance

Context:

  • It is becoming increasingly difficult for students to maintain positive or healthy emotions. 
  • Negative emotions are surfacing to the point that they cannot be ignored. 

Emotional intelligence technique: 

  • Many students suppress their emotions as opening up would make them even more vulnerable. 
  • Unfortunately, in our society, the importance given to mental well-being is nowhere close to that given to physical well-being. Committing to a healing process can seem daunting and hopeless.
  • Coaching for competitive exams prepares one for academia and not necessarily emotional stability. Sometimes, managing this along with academics becomes too much to handle. 

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Reasons behind crumbling under pressure:

  • Many students crumbling under pressure due to multiple reasons: Bottled-up pressure to clear the JEE, which is imposed on the aspirant from every quarter; and, once past that hurdle, contending with the reality that clearing the JEE is not the end but only a beginning that leads to further pressure to perform.
  • Going through ongoing evaluations, a student may realise that he/she would be better off on a different career path. 
  • This realisation may evoke more guilt, lead to avoiding parents, seclusion and social anxiety, to name a few things.

Ways to tackle challenges:

  • Life keeps challenging us at every moment, but there are many ways to tackle these challenges. 
  • The first step is to acknowledge and understand the pressing concerns. 
  • The subsequent approach is to create a judgement-free space for conversations for the students. Being empathetic is the key.

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Will my parents understand this? 

  • Here, parents need to introspect. A peculiar pattern has been observed that needs urgent attention — the complacent attitude of parents who may think their role is only restricted to the competitive exam phase. 
  • But can you see your children as more than intellectual achievers? Undoubtedly, their well-being is more import than any salary “package”.
  • If your child reaches out to you, or the institute or college contacts you on their behalf, please listen without judging. 
  • Denial of legitimate concerns will invariably cause your child to feel invalidated. Seek appropriate help and follow through.

Way forward:

  • These days, most institutes of higher learning have a strong and proactive support structure for students. 
  • Practically all of the IITs have established student wellness or counselling centres. 

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General Studies Pre. Cum Mains Study Materials

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

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

  • Medium: Hindi
  • E-BOOK NAME : YOJANA MAGAZINE PDF -MAR 2020
  • Total Pages: 64
  • PRICE: 49/- FREE/- (only for few days)
  • Hosting Charges: NIL
  • File Type: PDF File Download Link via Email

Content Table:

  • केन्द्रीय बजट 2020-21 - बेहतरीन संतुलन (डॉ राजीव कुमार)
  • नए कर प्रस्ताव : आम आदमी के लिए फायदे का सौदा (डॉ अजय भूषण पांडेय)
  • शहरों की कायापलट (दुर्गा शंकर मिश्र)
  • भारत में परिवहन की आधारभूत संरचना (जी रघुराम)
  • उद्योग परिदृश्य (डा रंजीत मेहता)
  • आयकरदाताओं के लिए विकल्प की पहल (हरवीर सिंह, सुनील कुमार सिंह)
  • राजकोषीय निरंतरता की व्यवस्था (डॉ. अमिय कुमार महापात्र)
  • जमा पर ज्यादा सुरक्षा, सहकारी बैंक होंगे मजबूत (शिशिर सिन्हा)
  • आर्थिक सर्वेक्षण एक नज़र 
  • जल और स्वच्छता का अर्थशास्त्र (परमेश्वरन अय्यर)
  • सार्वभौमिक स्वास्थ्य कवरेज (डॉ इंदु भूषण)
  • शिक्षा की गुणवत्ता और उत्कृष्टता में सुधार (शैलेंद्र शर्मा, शशिरंजन झा)
  • कौशल विकास, रोजगार और मानव संसाधन विकास (दिलीप चिनॉय)
  • किसानों की समृद्धि के लिए कार्य योजना (डॉ जगदीप सबसेना)
  • पर्यावरण एवं वन (डॉ एस सी लाहिड़ी)
  • महिला सशक्तीकरण पर जोर (डॉ शादीन रजी, नौशीन रजी)

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Related E-Books:

(Answer Key) UPSC Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2019



(Answer Key) UPSC Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2019



Exam Name: Combined Defence Services Examination (I),

Year: 2019

Subjects:

  • General Knowledge
  • English
  • Elementary Mathematics

Click Here to Download General Knowledge Answer Key

Click Here to Download English Answer Key

Click Here to Download Elementary Mathematics Answer Key

(E-Book) KURUKSHETRA MAGAZINE PDF - MAR 2020

 (E-Book) KURUKSHETRA MAGAZINE PDF - MAR 2020

  • Medium: ENGLISH
  • E-BOOK NAME : KUKSHETRA MAGAZINE PDF -MAR 2020
  • Total Pages: 56
  • PRICE: 49/- FREE/- (only for few days)
  • Hosting Charges: NIL
  • File Type: PDF File Download Link via Email

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Related E-Books:

(E-Book) YOJANA MAGAZINE PDF - MAR 2020

 (E-Book) YOJANA MAGAZINE PDF - MAR 2020

  • Medium: ENGLISH
  • E-BOOK NAME : YOJANA MAGAZINE PDF -MAR 2020
  • Total Pages: 67
  • PRICE: 49/- FREE/- (only for few days)
  • Hosting Charges: NIL
  • File Type: PDF File Download Link via Email

Content Table

  • Union Budget 2020-21: A Fine Balancing Act (Dr Rajiv Kumar)
  • Tax Proposals: Benefits to Common Man (Dr Ajay Bhushan Pandey)
  • Union Budget to Transform Urban Landscape (Durga Shanker Mishra)
  • Transport Infrastructure in India (G Raghuram)
  • The  Industry Perspective (Dr Ranjeet Mehta)
  • Fiscal Sustainability Framework and Deficit Indicators (Dr Amiya Kumar Mohapatra)
  • Union Budget 2020-21: Safer Deposits, Stronger Cooperative Sector Banks & Major Boost to MSME (Shishir Sinha)
  • Sectoral Analysis of the Union Budget (Dr A K Dubey)
  • The Economics of Water and Sanitation (Parameswaran lyer)
  • India's Quest for Universal Health Coverage (Dr Indu Bhushan)
  • An Analysis of Education Sector Budget (Shalender Sharma, Shashiranjan Jha)
  • Skills, Employment and Human Resource Development -A Key Pillar In Budget 2020-21 (Dilip Chenoy)
  • Action Plan for Prosperity of Farmers (Dr Jagdeep Saxena)
  • Environment and Forest Dr S C Lahiry
  • Gender Budgeting and Senior Citizens (Dr Shahin Razi, Naushin Razi)
  • Key Highlights of Economic Servey 2019-20 Yojana Team
  • Accelerating the Holistic Development of the Northest (Shreeprakash Sharma)

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Related E-Books:

(Answer Key)  BPSC : BPSC 65th PRELIM Exam Answer Key 2019 General Studies (Booklet Series A, B, C, D)



(Answer Key)  BPSC : BPSC 65th PRELIM Exam Answer Key 2020

General Studies (Booklet Series A, B, C, D)



Question No. of Series-A

Question No.of Series-B

Question No.of Series-C

Question No.of Series-D

Answer

1

31

61

111

E

2

32

62

112

C

3

33

63

113

B

4

34

64

114

C

5

35

65

115

B

6

36

66

116

B

7

37

67

117

A

8

38

68

118

C

9

39

69

119

B

10

40

70

120

D

11

41

71

91

C

12

42

72

92

C

13

43

73

93

B

14

44

74

94

C

15

45

75

95

B

16

46

76

96

E

17

47

77

97

A

18

48

78

98

A

19

49

79

99

C

20

50

80

100

D

21

51

51

101

D

22

52

52

102

B

23

53

53

103

A

24

54

54

104

B

25

55

55

105

B

26

26

56

106

D

27

27

57

107

B

28

28

58

108

B

29

29

59

109

C

30

30

60

110

D

31

63

96

143

C

BPSC (Bihar Public Service Commission) Preliminary Exam Study Kit 

Question No. of Series-A

Question No. of Series-B

Question No. of Series-C

Question No. of Series-D

Answer

32

64

97

144

C

33

65

98

145

A

34

66

99

146

D

35

67

100

147

B

36

68

101

148

C

37

69

102

149

A

38

70

103

150

D

39

71

104

121

C

40

72

105

122

D

41

73

106

123

D

42

74

107

124

B

43

75

108

125

D

44

76

109

126

A

45

77

110

127

C

46

78

81

128

D

47

79

82

129

B

48

80

83

130

B

49

81

84

131

C

50

82

85

132

B

51

83

86

133

D

52

84

87

134

A

53

85

88

135

C

54

56

89

136

B

55

57

90

137

C

56

58

91

138

A

57

59

92

139

D

58

60

93

140

C

59

61

94

141

D

60

62

95

142

B

61

90

122

15

B

62

91

123

16

A

63

92

124

17

C

64

93

125

18

B

65

94

126

19

A

66

95

127

20

B

67

96

128

1

D

68

97

129

2

A

69

98

130

3

C

70

99

111

4

B

71

100

112

5

B

72

101

113

6

D

73

102

114

7

B

Question No. of Series-A

Question No. of Series-B

Question No. of Series-C

Question No. of Series-D

Answer

74

103

115

8

A

75

104

116

9

C

76

105

117

10

A

77

86

118

11

A

78

87

119

12

A

79

88

120

13

B

80

89

121

14

A

81

109

137

30

C

82

110

138

31

B

83

111

139

32

B

84

112

140

33

D

85

113

141

34

A

86

114

142

35

C

87

115

143

36

B

88

116

144

37

D

89

117

145

38

C

90

118

146

39

A

91

119

147

40

D

92

120

148

21

D

93

121

149

22

C

94

122

150

23

B

95

123

131

24

C

96

124

132

25

C

97

125

133

26

B

98

106

134

27

A

99

107

135

28

C

100

108

136

29

A

101

129

6

48

A

102

130

7

49

D

103

131

8

50

C

104

132

9

41

B

105

133

10

42

E

106

134

1

43

E

107

135

2

44

C

108

126

3

45

A

109

127

4

46

C

110

128

5

47

E

111

139

18

62

A

112

140

19

63

D

113

141

20

64

E

114

142

21

65

B

115

143

22

51

D

Question No. of Series-A

Question No. of Series-B

Question No. of Series-C

Question No. of Series-D

Answer

116

144

23

52

E

117

145

24

53

C

118

146

25

54

C

119

147

11

55

A

120

148

12

56

B

121

149

13

57

B

122

150

14

58

C

123

136

15

59

A

124

137

16

60

B

125

138

17

61

A

126

4

33

77

B

127

5

34

78

C

128

6

35

79

C

129

7

36

80

C

130

8

37

66

A

131

9

38

67

A

132

10

39

68

B

133

11

40

69

B

134

12

26

70

C

135

13

27

71

A

136

14

28

72

B

137

15

29

73

A

138

1

30

74

A

139

2

31

75

E

140

3

32

76

A

141

18

45

88

B

142

19

46

89

C

143

20

47

90

A

144

21

48

81

D

145

22

49

82

A

146

23

50

83

B

147

24

41

84

C

148

25

42

85

D

149

16

43

86

A

150

17

44

87

C

Answer Key :: General Studies – for exam dated 15.10.2019 :: Booklet Series A, B, C, D.

Answer Key :: General Studies – for exam dated 17.02.2020 :: Booklet Series A, B, C, D.

 Click here for Official Result

(Report) UPSC 69th Annual Report 2018-19 (English)



(Report) UPSC 69th Annual Report 2018-19 (English)



Contents

List of abbreviations ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- (ix)-(x)
Composition of the Commission during the year 2018-19 ----------------------------- (xi)

List of Chapters

1. Highlights 1-3
2. Brief History and Workload over the years 5-11
3. Recruitment by Examinations 13-18
4. Direct Recruitment by Selection 19-24
5. Representation of candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes,
Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes and Persons with Disabilities 25-28
6. Recruitment Rules, Service Rules and Mode of Recruitment 29-31
7. Promotions and Deputations 33-40
8. Disciplinary Cases 41-43
9. Non-acceptance of the Advice of the Commission by the Government 45-64
10. Delays in implementing advice of the Commission 65-67
11. Administration, Training and Finance 69-70
12. Miscellaneous 71-76
Acknowledgement 77

List of Appendices

1 Profiles of Hon’ble Chairman and Members of the Commission. 79-88
2 Recommendations made by the Commission – Relating to suitability of candidates/officials. 89
3 Recommendations made by the Commission – Relating to Exemption cases, Service matters, Seniority etc. 89
4 Examinations conducted by the UPSC in the year 2018-19. 90 

5 Examinations conducted by the UPSC in the year 2017-18 but completed/finalized in the Year 2018-19. 91
6 Number of candidates recommended during the year 2018-19 through reserve list in respect of Examinations in which reserve list rule is applicable. 92
7 Services covered by the Examinations held during the year 2018-19. 93-95
8 Comparative statement showing the medium of Examination (Indian Languages/English) of candidates who appeared in Civil Services (Main) Examinations – 2017 and 2018. 96-100
9 Civil Services (Main) Examination – 2017: Profile of Candidates. 101-113
10 Engineering Services Examination – 2018: Profile of Candidates. 114-123
11 Indian Forest Service Examination – 2018: Profile of Candidates. 124-131
12 Number of Engineering, Medical, Scientific and Technical and NonTechnical posts, Ministry-wise, which were advertised during the year 2018-19. 132
13 Engineering posts, Discipline-wise, for which recruitment were finalised during the year 2018-19. 133
14 Scientific and Technical Posts, Discipline-wise, for which the recruitment were finalised during the year 2018-19. 134
15 Non-Technical Posts, Discipline-wise, for which the recruitment were finalised during the year 2018-19. 135
16 Medical Posts, Discipline-wise, for which recruitment were finalised during the year 2018-19. 136
17 Computer Based Recruitment Tests and Recruitment Tests held during the year 2018-19. 137-138
18 Bulk Recruitment Cases finalised during the year 2018-19. 139-141 
19 Statement showing Cadres where no Select List of 2017 in r/o IAS (SCS), IPS & IFoS Cadre and IAS (N-SCS) was required to be prepared – Nil vacancy/None eligible. 142
20 Induction into the All India Services –Meetings held during the year 2018-19. 143-144

21 RSCM held in 2018-19. 145-146
22 All India Services – Selection Committee Meetings not held during the year 2018-19 in respect of Select Lists of 2017. 147-148
23 Ministries/Departments/Union Territories who did not forward the half-yearly returns of ad-hoc appointments made to Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’ posts/services during the year 2018-19. 149-152
24 Ad-hoc appointments to Group ‘A’ and ‘B’ posts/services in the Ministries/Departments which continued beyond a period of one year during the year 2018-19 and reported to the Commission  through half yearly returns.153
25 Statement showing Ministry/Department-wise break-up of vacancies reserved for Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe officers and the number of Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe officers recommended for appointment against reserved/unreserved vacancies by the Departmental Promotion Committees for the year 2018-19. 154-155
26 Recruitment of candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes/Other Backward Classes against vacancies reserved for them on the results of the Examination held/completed in 2018-19. 156
27 List of posts reserved for Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes/Other Backward Classes for which no such candidate applied during the year 2018-19. 157
28 Number of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes/Other Backward Classes candidates recommended against unreserved vacancies under Direct Recruitment by Selection during the year 2018-19. 158-160
29 Disciplinary cases dealt with during the year 2018-19. 161
30 Ministry-wise details of the advice tendered by the Commission, in disciplinary cases during the year 2018-19. 162-163
31 Statement showing the number of cases where the Recruitment Rules were not notified by the Government and the period of delay (position as on March 31, 2019) 164-168
32 Posts/Services excluded from the purview of the Commission since the issue of the UPSC (Exemption from Consultation) Regulations, 1958. 169-173

33 Cadre and Group-wise strength and detailed break-up of staff strength of posts of the Commission 174-179
34 Organization Chart of the Commission (as on March 31, 2019) 180-181 
35 Representation of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes & Other Backward Classes Employees and Persons with Disabilities. 182-183
36 Statement showing the receipts and expenditure of the Union Public Service Commission during the year 2018-19. 184
37 List of former Chairmen and Members of the Commission. 185-192

Jharkhand PSC Combined Civil Service Examination - 2017,18 & 2019 (Advt.No-01/2020)

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Jharkhand Public Service Commission



Jharkhand Combined civil Service Examination - 2017,18 & 2019 (Advt.No-01/2020)



Advt.No-01/2020

(डाउनलोड) यूपीएससी आईएएस (प्री) सामान्य अध्ययन परीक्षा पेपर UPSC IAS (Pre.) General Studies Exam Paper 2017 (SET-A)

IAS EXAM

(डाउनलोड "Download") यूपीएससी आईएएस (प्री) सामान्य अध्ययन परीक्षा पेपर UPSC IAS (Pre.) General Studies Exam Paper - 2017 (Paper - 1)

परीक्षा का नाम: UPSC PRE 2017 आईएएस (प्री)

विषय(Subject) : सामान्य अध्ययन (पेपर -1) General Studies (GS) Paper -1

Exam Date: 18-06-2017

BOOKLET SERIES: A

साल (Year): 2017

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Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 23 February 2020


Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 23 February 2020


::NATIONAL::

GoM discuss upon Juvenile Justice act 2015

  • A Group of Ministers (GoM) chaired by Home Minister Amit Shah met on Friday to discuss proposed amendments to the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) (JJ) Act, 2015. Women and Child Development Minister SmritiIrani steered the meeting.
  • The 2015 Act addressed two key issues — “apprehension, detention, prosecution, penalty or imprisonment, rehabilitation and social re-integration of children in conflict with law” and “procedures and decisions or orders relating to rehabilitation, adoption, re-integration and restoration of children in need of care and protection”.
  • A senior government official said the meeting was convened to seek views from all the senior Cabinet Ministers on Prime Minister NarendraModi’s suggestion. “The Prime Minister wants that there should be greater synergy between Ministries on proposed laws. There are certain amendments that are being brought to the JJ Act and the GoM under Mr. Shah met to discuss the fine print. Views from all Union Ministers were sought,” a senior official said.
  • Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, Food Processing Minister HarsimratKaurBadal, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Health Minister Harsh Vardhan attended the meeting.

PM hails balance between development and environment in the country

  • Prime Minister NarendraModi today underlined that the rule of law is the basis of social transformation and the changes in the system should be rational as per law. He said the law is supreme and the people of India have strong faith in the judiciary. 
  • He was addressing the two-day International Judicial Conference organised by Supreme Court in New Delhi. In an apparent remark on the recent Supreme Court's decisions on Ayodhya land dispute, the Prime Minister said, a lot of talks had taken prior to the decision. But people have accepted the verdict wholeheartedly.
  • The Prime Minister said, it is a matter of pride that the Indian judiciary, legislature and executive have been carrying forward the spirit of the Constitution by respecting each other's roles.  He also said, Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi's life was devoted to truth and service, which are considered the foundation of the judiciary.
  • Mr.Modi hailed the Supreme Court for redefining environmental jurisprudence saying the judiciary has struck balance between development and environment. 
  • He said there was a time when it was said that swift growth and the protection of the environment cannot take place together. But India has changed this perspective and the country is progressing swiftly while also increasing its forest cover.  The Prime Minister said, the Indian judicial system has embraced technology for effective delivery of justice. 
  • He said the government is trying to connect each court to the e-court Integrated Mission Mode Project.   Mr.Modi added that the National Judicial Data Grid will also make court procedures easier.  

::ECONOMY::

Gold jumps to 7 year high mark

  • Gold rose 1% on Friday to its highest in seven years as the spread of the coronavirus intensified concerns about its impact on economic activity and global growth, increasing the metal's safe-haven appeal.
  • Spot gold rose 1.1% to $1,636.60 per ounce as of 18:26 IST, after hitting its highest since February 14, 2013 at $1,636.66 earlier this session. U.S. gold futures jumped 1.2% to $1,639.60.
  • “There is a rise in risk aversion again due to fears that the COVID-19 disease will spread further. The virus poses a major risk for the global economy,” Commerzbank analyst Carsten Fritsch said. This is likely to force western central banks to maintain easy monetary policy, he added.
  • Meanwhile, China reported an uptick in new cases of COVID-19, boosted by over 200 people testing positive in two prisons outside of Hubei province, the epicentre of the outbreak.
  • The increase in number of new cases hit stock markets around the world, putting them on course for their worst week in four.
  • Among other safe havens, the U.S. government bonds gained as the benchmark 10-year treasury yields fell to its lowest since September.
  • Further spread of the disease could derail a “highly fragile” projected recovery in the global economy in 2020, the International Monetary Fund said on Wednesday.
  • Silver was up 1% at $18.53 and was set to register its strongest week since end-August. Platinum edged up 0.6% to $983.86 and was on track to post a weekly gain.

Atal innovation mission aims large scale contribution towards innovation

  • Atal Innovation Mission, the flagship initiative of NITI Aayog, has contributed immensely to promote innovation and entrepreneurship across the country. A cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister NarendraModi, had on 24th February 2016 given its approval for the establishment of Atal Innovation Mission. 
  • The Mission is establishing Atal Tinkering Laboratories in schools across India to foster curiosity, creativity and imagination in young minds and inculcate skills such as design mindset and computational thinking.
  • The Atal Tinkering Labs are dedicated innovation workspaces of 1200-1500 square feet where kits on the latest technologies like 3D Printers and Robotics are installed using a grant of 20 lakh rupees from the government. 
  • Students from Class 6 to Class 12 can tinker with these technologies and learn to create innovative solutions using these technologies. Atal Innovation Mission is setting up world-class Atal Incubators at the university, NGO, SME and Corporate industry levels that would trigger and enable successful growth of sustainable startups. 
  • The Mission is providing a grant of upto 10 crore rupees to successful applicants for setting up greenfield incubators or scaling up existing ones.

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::INTERNATIONAL::

France set to shutdown its oldest nuclear plant

  • French state-owned energy giant EDF today began shutting down the country's oldest nuclear power plant after 43 years in operation.
  • EDF said, it had disconnected one of two reactors at Fessenheim, along the Rhine river near France's eastern border with Germany and Switzerland, at 2:00 am (0100 GMT) in the first stage of the complete closure of the plant.
  • The second reactor is to be taken offline on June 30 but it will be several months before the two have cooled enough and the used fuel can start to be removed. The removal of the fuel is expected to be completed by the summer of 2023 but the plant will only be fully decommissioned by 2040 at the earliest.
  • Shutting down Fessenheim became a key goal of anti-nuclear campaigners after the catastrophic meltdown at Fukushima in Japan in 2011. 
  • Experts have noted that construction and safety standards at Fessenheim, brought online in 1977, fall far short of those at Fukushima, with some warning that seismic and flooding risks in the Alsace region had been underestimated.
  • Despite a pledge by ex-President Francois Hollande just months after Fukushima to close the plant, it was not until 2018 that President Emmanuel Macron's government gave the final green light.

South Sudan’s first vice president takes charge

  • In South Sudan, rebel leader RiekMachar was sworn in as first vice president today. The rebel leader returns as first vice president in a transition government which will serve for 36 months.
  • Four other vice presidents from the current regime and other opposition groups will also form part of a bloated government of 35 ministers, in addition to 550 lawmakers.
  • President SalvaKiir hailed the official ending of the war and said peace was now irreversible as the new unity government was formed after more than a year of delays.

::SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY::

National organic food festival begins in New Delhi

  • Ministry of Food Processing and Ministry of Women and Child Development jointly inaugurated the National Organic Food Festival in New Delhi.
  • The festival aimed at strengthening organic food produce in the country. It also aimed at encouraging women entrepreneurs in manufacturing organic produce.
  • More than 180 women entrepreneurs and self-help groups exhibited their organic products at the festival. It was announced at the festival that the organic sector is growing at a speed of 17% per year.
  • GoI has lately been taking several steps to export organic foods. In order to achieve this, JaivikKheti Portal has been included in the agriculturalbudget presented by the Finance Minister. 
  • Out of the 2.8 lakh crore allocated for agriculture, a part is to be used for JaivikKheti scheme.

::SPORTS::

Indian athletes perform well in Asian championship

  • On day 5 of the Asian Wrestling Championship in New Delhi, India earned one gold and three silver medals yesterday. 
  • In men’s freestyle 57 kg category, Ravi Dahiya won gold medal defeating Tajikistan’s HikmatulloVohidov by technical superiority in the final match at KD Jadhav Indoor Stadium. 
  • Earlier, India’s BajrangPunia, GouravBaliyan and SatyawartKadian won silver medals after losing in their respective finals.
  • India's biggest Olympic medal hope BajrangPunia faced a crushing 2-10 defeat at the hands of Japan's TakutoOtoguro in 65 Kg category.

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Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 24 February 2020


Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 24 February 2020


::NATIONAL::

Global study puts India at 131st rank in terms of children’s health

  • No single country is adequately protecting children’s health, their environment and their future, according to a recently released report by a Commission of more than 40 child and adolescent health experts from around the world. The Commission was convened by the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and The Lancet.
  • The report, titled A Future for the World’s Children?, finds that the health and future of every child and adolescent worldwide is under immediate threat from ecological degradation, climate change and exploitative marketing practices that push heavily processed fast food, sugary drinks, alcohol and tobacco at them.
  • The index shows that children in Norway, the Republic of Korea and the Netherlands have the best chance at survival and well-being, while children in the Central African Republic, Chad, Somalia, Niger and Mali face the worst odds.
  • In the report assessing the capacity of 180 countries, India stands 77th (sustainability index) and is at 131st position on a ranking that measures the best chance at survival and well-being for children.
  • The report says although India has improved in health and sanitation, it has to increase its spending on health. It also cautions that globally, the number of children and adolescents who are obese has increased from 11 million in 1975 to 124 million in 2016 — an 11-fold increase.

New highway poses threat to Arunachal tiger habitat

  • Even as work is under way since 2013 to lay a two-lane, 156 km road through the Namdapha National Park, India’s easternmost tiger reserve, a new highway project has been cleared through yet another big cat reserve in Arunachal Pradesh.
  • Documents received in response to an RTI inquiry by Seijosa-based green activist TanaJorjo Tara reveal that the BJP government in the State plans to build a 692.7 km highway through the 862 sq km Pakke Tiger Reserve (PTR) in East Kameng district.
  • The administrative office of the PTR is in Seijosa, a sub-divisional headquarters situated by the Pakhui or Pakke River.
  • Named the East-West Industrial Corridor, the highway aims to connect Bhairabhunda in West Kameng district and Manmao in Changlang district along Arunachal Pradesh’s border with Assam.
  • The project makes no mention of compensation for people likely to be displaced.What has set alarm bells ringing for environmentalists is a 40 km elevated stretch through the heart of the PTR as advised by a Gujarat-based firm.
  • Mr. Tara said the proposed highway had been realigned to bisect PTR after the NHPC turned down the original proposal to let the corridor pass near its hydroelectric project on the Subansiri River.

::ECONOMY::

Government set to make Chattisgarh a steel hub of the country

  • Union Minister for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Steel DharmendraPradhan has said that the government aims to make Chhattisgarh a steel hub of the country. 
  • Talking to media persons in Bhilai city today, Mr.Pradhan said that the steel industry has an important role to play in making India a five trillion dollar economy.
  • During his two-day visit to Chhattisgarh, Union Steel Minister visited the Bhilai Steel Plant in Durg district and held meetings with the plant officials. 
  • He directed the officials of Steel Authority of India Ltd- SAIL to draw an Action Plan to enhance production and ensure safety at its plants. 
  • The Minister also held a discussion with the representatives of MSMEs to promote steel ancillaries in the region by developing a supporting local eco-system.
  • Mr.Pradhan today visited iron ore mines of the Bhilai Steel Plant in Dallirajhra town in Balod district and laid the foundation of a beneficiation plant there.

IMF warns on COVID virus threat to global economy

  • International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned that the deadly coronavirus epidemic could put at risk the recovery of an already fragile global economy. 
  • IMF chief KristalinaGeorgieva said that global growth is poised for a modest rebound to 3.3 per cent this year, up from 2.9 per cent last year.
  • Speaking after a two-day meeting of G20 Finance Ministers and central bank governors in Riyadh yesterday, she said the projected recovery is fragile. 
  • Georgieva said the COVID-19 virus - a global health emergency - has disrupted economic activity in China and could put the recovery at risk.
  • At the meeting in Saudi Arabia, financial leaders also discussed ways to achieve consensus on a global taxation system for the digital era by the end of 2020. The gathered financial leaders vowed to enhance global risk monitoring of the outbreak.

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::INTERNATIONAL::

Israel claims airstrikes near Damascus airport

  • Israel has claimed to struck bases of the Islamic Jihad militant group near the Syrian capital Damascus. Syria, however, rejected the claims saying its air defences shot down enemy missiles. 
  • The Israeli army said in a statement yesterday that fighter jets struck Islamic Jihad terror targets south of Damascus following rocket fire from the Gaza Strip.
  • Islamic Jihad operates in both the Palestinian territories and Syria and fired more than 20 rockets from Gaza yesterday. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the attacks were near the Damascus international airport. 
  • The Syrian state news agency Sana said that most of the enemy missiles were shot down before reaching their targets. It stressed that no airport was struck.
  • Since the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011, Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes in Syria, mainly targeting government forces as well as allied Iranian forces and Hezbollah fighters. However, it is rare for them to claim such strikes directly.

China claims COVID virus is its biggest health emergency since 1949

  • The COVID-19 epidemic that has killed over 2,400 people is communist China’s “largest public health emergency” since its founding in 1949, President Xi Jinping said on Sunday.
  • It is necessary to learn from “obvious shortcomings exposed” during China’s response, Mr. Xi added at an official meeting to coordinate the virus fight — a rare acknowledgment by a Chinese leader.
  • Mr. Xi acknowledged that the epidemic will “inevitably have a large impact on the economy and society”, but he stressed the effects will be “short-term” and controllable.
  • South Korea has put the country on high alert after the number of infections surged over 600 with six deaths. A focal point was a church in the southeastern city of Daegu, where a 61-year-old member of the congregation with no recent record of overseas travel tested positive for the virus.
  • In Italy, the number of cases jumped to above 130 from just three before Friday. Authorities sealed off the worst affected towns and banned public gatherings in much of the north, including halting the carnival in Venice, where there were two cases, to try to contain the biggest outbreak in Europe.

::SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY::

Three species classified as endangered migratory species at CMS COP13

  • On February 20, 2020, Asian Elephant, Indian Bustard and Bengal Florican were declared as “Endangered Migratory Species” at the CMS COP 13. The proposal was accepted by 130 countries.
  • India declared Indian Elephant as “National Heritage Animal”. This provides highest degree of legal protection to the animal under Schedule I of Wildlife Protection) Act, 1972.
  • The Asian elephants are called Indian Elephants in the country. The threats to the Indian Elephants include habitat loss, human elephant conflict, habitat fragmentation, illegal trade and poaching.
  • The population of the species has declined greatly due to habitat loss. The Bengal Florican does not breed outside the protected areas today.It is listed as the critically endangered species under the IUCN list and is of the topmost conservation priority.
  • The Great Indian Bustard is also listed under critically endangered species in IUCN Red List. In order to protect the species, the Indian Government has declared their habitats as conservation reserves. According to the Wildlife Institute of India, there are only 150 Great Indian Bustards left in the country.

::SPORTS::

New Zealand beats India in first test

In cricket, India lost the first Test match against New Zealand by 10 wickets at Basin Reserve in Wellington today. After conceding a huge lead of 183 runs, India were bundled out for a paltry 191 runs in their second innings.

New Zealand scored nine runs required to win the match in just 10 balls to lead the two-match series one-nil. This victory marks the 100th Test win for New Zealand. Earlier, New Zealand were bowled out for 348 runs in their first innings in reply to India's 165 runs.

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THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 24 February 2020 (Two cheers for new income tax system (The Hindu))



Two cheers for new income tax system (The Hindu)



  • Mains Paper 3:Economy 
  • Prelims level: Faceless e-assessment
  • Mains level: Highlights of the new income system

Context:

  • In the Budget, a new personal income tax regime was announced. It has rationalised the tax rates and slabs, and has done away with myriad deductions and exemptions currently available to a taxpayer.
  • The structure has been made more continuous, with narrower income slabs and applicable income tax rates being lower for a relatively higher income threshold, compared to the old regime.

Aim of the new tax regime: 

  • The government has argued that since roughly 90 per cent of the taxpayers availed of exemptions of less than ₹2 lakh.
  • Under the new low-tax-minimal-exemption regime, the majority of taxpayers are likely to be better off since their disposable income may rise. 
  • From a macroeconomic standpoint, low tax rates are likely to promote greater tax compliance, potentially increase the tax base, and thereby accrue greater revenues to the exchequer.

Phased reforms:

  • Taxpayers can choose to either continue paying taxes according to higher slab rates and claim deductions and exemptions as they exists now, or switch to the new regime. 
  • Such an arrangement is likely to help taxpayers at different income levels optimise their net tax liability, taking into consideration their needs and capacity to invest in scheduled saving and investment instruments.
  • It is clear that the Budget signals a clear intent of the government to undertake structural reforms in the extant direct taxation regime, and replace the Income Tax Act 1961 with the Direct Tax Code (DTC), albeit in a phased manner. 
  • The idea of graduating to a simplified low tax-minimal exemptions regime is indeed the desirable way to move forward.

Faceless e-assessment:

  • Faceless e-assessment, which has commenced from early October 2019, shall necessitate a simple, unambiguous tax structure which precludes any possibility of exploitation of loopholes by the taxpayers. 
  • Further, in case of such misreporting, a simpler tax structure, with limited and specific deductions that are easier to track, will allow the algorithmic evaluation process to check compliance with low model risk (with lower cases of false positives and false negatives). Seen in this light, the new tax regime has taken the first step in the right direction.
  • The government also seems to have learnt from the bitter experiences of the demonetisation and GST implementation exercises, which revealed poor transition planning and management. 
  • Thus, by allowing taxpayers to exert choice in selecting between the old and the new regime, the government has attempted to minimise the shocks as it ultimately phases out the old regime, and thereby all deductions and exemptions, over the next few years.
  • The new income tax regime, in its current structure, is far from optimal as it is not going to increase the disposable income of taxpayers at low-income levels.

Marginal benefits:

  • The blue dashed line below indicates the tax saving (in the y axis) in the new regime over the old for a taxpayer with exemptions and deductions of ₹4.75 lakh — ₹50,000 in standard deduction, ₹1,50,000 in Section 80C, ₹50,000 in Section 80CCD (NPS), ₹25,000 in Section 80D, and ₹2,00,000 in home loan interest. The income in plotted in the x-axis.
  • The red solid line above indicates the tax saving (y axis) in the new regime over the old for a taxpayer with exemptions and deductions amounting to ₹2.25 lakh (₹50,000 in standard deduction, ₹1,50,000 in Section 80C, ₹25,000 in Section80D). The income in plotted in the x-axis.

The two lines represent two categories of taxpayers: 

  • Those who avail higher deductions and exemptions; and those who avail lower deductions and exemptions. 
  • The tax saving in the new regime over the old for any particular income can be found by moving along the x-axis to the particular income level and observing the y-axis value at that point.
  • It is found that those with higher exemptions and deductions (= ₹4.75 lakh, the blue line) will experience negative tax saving in the new regime over the old, if their income is above ₹5 lakh.
  • It is also found that those with lower exemptions and deductions (=₹2.25 lakh, the red line) will have have a negative saving over the old between an income of ₹5 lakh-₹13 lakh. 
  • In this category of taxpayers, those with income above ₹13.5 lakh would have positive tax saving in the new regime over the old; the tax saving will at the most work out to ₹7,500 at ₹15 lakh income.

Savings impact:

  • It is uncertain if the changes proposed in the new tax regime can boost consumption expenditure, but it is more likely to have a larger negative impact on the forced saving and investment behaviour of individuals or households, who actually had some incentive to save in the old regime, to avail benefits from the deductions and exemptions. 
  • Since most of the scheduled deductions (under Section 80C) were for government-backed small saving schemes, the inflow of funds to those schemes might get hurt. 
  • On the other hand, with decreasing ROI in such instruments, more savings might flow to the stock market, creating temporary price bubbles.
  • As the old regime is fully phased out in the next couple of years, the above concerns need to be addressed. 
  • A greater balance needs to be achieved between equity and efficiency through further rationalisation of tax rates across income slabs.
  • The new regime should build in some incentives to augment the rate of household financial savings (which has substantially come down from around 23 per cent of the GDP in 2012 to around 17 per cent in 2018) so that it does not exacerbate the saving-investment gap and lead to counterproductive effects on the economy.

Conclusion:

  • Therefore, the new tax regime will end up accruing only a marginal positive benefit (before cess and surcharge) to high-income taxpayers. 
  • This brings up the question of whether the intended number of taxpayers would actually choose the new regime over the old. 
  • As the Chart suggests, there is indeed a greater scope of rationalisation of the rates and the slabs to make it less regressive for low-income earners.

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Prelims Questions:

Q.1) With reference to the Neonatal Deaths, consider the following statements:
1. According to the National Health Mission (NHM), Odisha has recorded the highest percentage of newborn deaths in the past three years across the country.
2. The country’s average is 7%.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) None of the above

Ans: B
Mains Questions:
Q.1) Do you think the withdrawal of exemptions will only benefit high-income groups availing of low level of exemptions? Comment. 

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