Farmers up the Garden Path(Indian Express)

Mains Paper 3: Economy 
Prelims level: PM Kisan Maan Dhan Yojana 
Mains level: Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices

Context: 

• The rodomontadeabout heralding a new epochof prosperity six years ago is gradually evaporating.
• It appears the PM is in the dark about the delivery of his government’s policies, just as the Congress leadership seems clueless about issues on the ground.
• Four specific pain points unmask the gap between policy and impact on the rural economy.

Reorganising debt(Indian Express)

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

Context: 

• In order to ease the financial stress of cash-strapped businesses and individuals during the lockdown period, the RBI, in the last week of March, had provided a 3-month moratoriumfor instalments of all term loans.
• This facility was thereafter extended till the end of August.

What is in a NAM and India’s alignment(The Hindu)

Mains Paper 2: International 
Prelims level: Non-Aligned Movement
Mains level: Important International institutions, agencies and fora, their structure, mandate

Context: 

• India’s External Affairs Minister, said recently that non-alignment was a concept of relevance in a specific era and a particular context, though the independence of action enshrined in it remains a factor of continuity in India’s foreign policy.
• This is about as explicit an assertion as one is likely to get from our political leadership of an obvious post-Cold War fact: that non-alignment, as a foreign policy concept, is dead. 

Vaccine for all: On COVID-19 vaccine policy(The Hindu)

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

Context: 

• The race to a vaccine is a relay — at every stage, there are people passing on the baton, and it’s the government’s responsibility to grasp it at the last mile.
• Whether or not a vaccine for COVID-19 is around the corner, it is imperative that a vaccine policy is formulated for India, ensuring parity of access for all.

Safe session: On monsoon session of Parliament (The Hindu)

Mains Paper 2: Polity
Prelims level: Monsoon session of Parliament
Mains level: Parliament and State Legislatures – structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers and privileges and issues arising out of these

Context: 

• The Parliament session, from September 14, will see many firsts.

NEP is all good, but what about jobs? (Mint)

Mains Paper 2: Education
Prelims level: NEP 2020
Mains level: Issues relation development of education and relating to this sector 

Context: 

• India’s political economy has essentially not focused on quality education. 
• What has changed over the past few decades is the blast of aspiration and demand for education. In any case, that demand presently can’t seem to be channelized into institutional change. Our resistance to change has been stupendous. 
• The New Education Policy 2020 marks a quantum jump in democratizing education, one rooted in Indian ethos and traditions and, equally, in 21st century knowledge systems and technologies.

1. निम्न कथनों पर विचार करें-

1. सागर नितल प्रसरण की सकंल्पना सर्वप्रथम हैरी हेस द्वारा प्रतिपादित की गई थी 
2. प्लेट टेकनाॅटिकस सिद्धांत के अनुसार पृथ्वी का लिथोस्फीयर सात प्रमुख व कुछ गौण प्लेटों मे विभाजित है।

उपर्युक्त  में से कौन-सा/से कथन सत्य है/हैं?

a केवल 1
b केवल 2
c 1 और 2 दोनों
d उपर्युक्त में से कोई नहीं

2. निम्न कथनों पर विचार करें-

1. पृथ्वी की सतह का तीन चौथाई हिस्सा अवसादी चट्टानों से ढका है।
2. पृथ्वी की पर्पटी में पाये जाने वाले खनिजांे का 87 प्रतिशत सिलिकेट है।
3. अधिकांश अवसादी चट्टानों का निर्माण पानी के अंदर हुआ है।

उपर्युक्त में से कौन-सा/से कथन सत्य है/हैं?

a केवल 1
b केवल 1और 3
c केवल 1 और 2 दोनों
d उपर्युक्त सभी

3. निम्न कथनों पर विचार करें-

1. कार्बन डाई ऑक्साइड और जलवाष्प पृथ्वी की सतह से केवल 90 कि.मी. की ऊँचाई तक पाये जाते हैं।
2. ओज़ोन वायुमंडल का एक महत्वपूर्ण घटक है, जो पृथ्वी की सतह से 10 से 50 कि.मी. की ऊँचाई के बीच पाया जाता है।
3. ध्रुवों पर ट्रोपोस्फीयर की ऊँचाई 18 कि.मी. और भूमध्य रेखा पर 8 कि.मी. के आसपास है।

उपयुक्त में से कौन-सा/से कथन सत्य है/हैं?

a केवल 1 और 2
b केवल 1और 3
c केवल 2 और 3 दोनों
d उपर्युक्त सभी

4. निम्न कथनों पर विचार करें-

1. डोलोराइट एक आग्नेय चट्टान है।
2. एग्लोगाइट रूपांतरित चट्टान का एक उदाहरण है।
3. चूना पत्थर एक अवसादी चट्टान है।

उपर्युक्त में से कौन-सा/से कथन सत्य है/हैं?

a केवल 1
b केवल 2 और 3
c केवल 1 और 3 दोनों
d उपर्युक्त सभी

5. निम्न कथनों पर विचार करें-

1. महान रिफ्ट घाटी लाल सागर से होते हुए पूर्वी अफ्रीका से सीरिया तक लगभग 6000 किलोमीटर तक विस्तृत है।
2. विध्यांचल और हर्कीनियन मोड़दार पर्वत है।
3. नील गिरी और पारसनाथ ब्लाक पर्वत के उदाहरण है।

उपर्युक्त में से कौन-सा/से कथन सत्य है/हैं?

a केवल 1 और 3
b केवल 1 और 2 
c केवल 2 और 3
d उपर्युक्त सभी

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ANS: 1(d), 2(d), 3(a), 4(d), 5(b)

1. Under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) the sodium street lights have to be replaced by light Emitting Diodes (LED). What are the benefits of LEDs over sodium lamps?

1. Sodium lights emit poisonous gases such as mercury and they consume more power too, while there is no such hazard imply with the used of LEDs.
2. THe visibility is more in LED lights as it is confined within a certain area and the color of the produced light is white.
3. LEDs are more feasible during Fogs because the basic principle of LED is based on the LASER

Select the correct answer using codes given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

2. The new version of advanced television, beyond the High Definition television is 4K television. Consider the following statements in this regard:

1. The basic principle of 4K TV is Near Field Communication (NFC)
2. The term 4K refers to the horizontal resolution of the images, which are all on the order of 4,000 pixels.
3. If the screen is too big then the HD gives the blurred images because the resolution of the images and pixels are limited

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 3
(d) 1, 2 and 3

3. Consider the following statements

1. Identical twins are formed when one fertilized egg splits into two
2. Identical twins are formed when two sperm fertilized with two eggs.

Which of the above statement is/are?

(a) 1 Only
(b) Only 2
(c) 1 & 2
(d) neither 1 nor 2

4. Which of the following are not the functions of kidney?

(a) Removes nitrogenous metabolic wastes
(b) Removes bile pigments
(c) Removes excess salts & vitamins
(d) Limits the water removal   

5. Consider the following statements

1. Flame cells perform excretory function in the body of tapeworms.
2. Prawns have green gland and insects possess malpighian tubules as organs of excretion.

Which of the above statement is/are?

(a) 1 Only
(b) Only 2
(c) Both 1 & 2
(d) neither 1 nor 2

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ANS: 1(a), 2(b), 3(d), 4(a), 5(d)

Empower the youth first (The Hindu)

Mains Paper 2: Governance 
Prelims level: National Youth Policy
Mains level: Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability

Context: 

• On Independence Day, the Prime Minister belabouredhis government’s idea of an ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’.
• In today’s India, we can achieve that goal of self-reliance only if we enhance our citizens’ capabilities.
• Given our demographic composition, we must begin by empowering our youth.

China’s LAC aggression, India’s obfuscation(The Hindu)

Mains Paper 3: Defence and Security 
Prelims level: Line of Actual Control
Mains level: Security challenges and their management in border areas

Context: 

• BJP and the government led by it seem to be sending out confusing signals about the ongoing India-China stand-off on the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
• Media reports about the Chinese aggression started trickling in from April this year, and yet there continues to be little clarity even today either in the country’s strategic community or the general public on the exact nature of developments on the China-India border.
• Did the Chinese soldiers indeed cross the LAC and capture Indian territory?
• Is the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) currently in possession of Indian territory?
• What exactly are the two sides talking about in their discussions pertaining to ‘disengagement’? How does New Delhi plan to retake lost territory?

Test by choice: On rising coronavirus cases in India(The Hindu)

Mains Paper 3: Health 
Prelims level: Test positivity rate
Mains level: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health

Context: 

• On September 4, India crossed four million novel coronavirus cases, 13 days after crossing three million on August 22.
• On Saturday, the fresh cases reported surpassed China’s total recorded cases (90,070) so far.
• On Sunday, India surpassed Brazil to record the second highest number of cases in the world.

Financing economic recovery(The Hindu)

Mains Paper 3: Economy 
Prelims level: United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
Mains level: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment

Context: 

• As the socioeconomic impacts of the pandemic spread across Asia and the Pacific, finance ministries are continuing their efforts to inject trillions of dollars for emergency health responses and fiscal packages.
• With continued lockdown measures and restricted borders, economic rebound seems uncertain.
• Compared to 2019’s economic situation, over the past six months, countries in Asia and the Pacific have been experiencing sharp drops in foreign exchange inflows due to declines in export earnings, remittances, tourism and FDI.
• This is worrying as policymakers are tackling difficult choices over how to prioritise development spending, while continuing to expand their squeezed fiscal space.

Financing in three key areas:

• The United Nations is contributing through a global initiative, Financing for Development in the Era of COVID-19 and Beyond to articulate a comprehensive financing strategy to safeguard the Sustainable Development Goals.
• Governments are united to ensure that adequate financial resources are available to steer an inclusive, sustainable and resilient post-COVID-19 recovery.
• In the Asia-Pacific region, several countries have already adopted financing plans in three key areas.
• They aim to address the challenge of diminished fiscal space and debt vulnerability; to ensure sustainable recovery, consistent with the ambitions of the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda; and to harness the potential of regional cooperation in support of financing for development.
• The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) has recently launched its first-ever Regional Conversation Series on Building Back Better.
• We are joining forces with ministers, decision-makers, private sectors and heads of international agencies to share collective insights on sharing pathways to resilient recovery from health pandemic and economic collapse.
• To improve the fiscal space and manage high levels of debt distress, a growing call for extending the debt moratorium under global initiatives like the Debt Service Suspension initiative is timely.
• Central banks can continue to keep the balance of supporting the economy and maintaining financial stability.
• This further involves enhancing tax reforms and improving debt management capacities, while using limited fiscal space to invest in priority sectors.
• Exploring sustainability-oriented bonds and innovative financing instruments options such as debt swaps for SDG investment should be explored further.
• In addition to economic considerations, the policy paradigm must mainstream affordable, accessible and green infrastructure standards, while promoting social equality and environmental sustainability principles as enshrined in the Paris Agreement.
• As we scale up the use of digital technology and innovative applications, the financing support of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises must go hand in hand with these national job-rich recovery strategies.

Regional cooperation:

• No country can take this agenda forward alone. Regionally coordinated financing policies can restart trade, reorganise supply chains and revitalise sustainable tourism in a safe manner.
• Across Asia and the Pacific, governments must pool financial resources to create regional investment funds.
• Strengthening regional cooperation platforms to ensure that all countries receive an equitable number of doses of the vaccine on short notice to everyone everywhere is particularly essential.
• Through ESCAP, we can scale these efforts across the region, working closely with our member states, the private sector and innovators to build a collective financing response to mobilise the necessary additional resources.

Conclusion:

• Together, we can chart financing strategies of Asia and the Pacific which can enhance societal well-being and economic resilience of future pandemics and crises.

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Prelims Questions:

Q.1) Consider the following statements with reference to the Green Term Ahead Market (GTAM):

1. Transactions through GTAM will be bilateral in nature with clear identification of corresponding buyers and sellers, there will not be any difficulty in accounting for Renewable Purchase Obligations (RPO).
2. GTAM contracts will be segregated into Solar RPO & Non-Solar RPO as RPO targets are also segregated.

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)Describe the socio-economic impact of the pandemic and ways to address these challenges.

Mixed messaging: On India as an investment destination(The Hindu)

Mains Paper 2: Governance 
Prelims level: FDI policy 
Mains level: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation

Context: 

• Prime Minister last week elaboratelypitched India as an investment destination that could serve as a manufacturing hub at the heart of global supply chains.

Exploring supply-chain synergies:

• The pitch made at the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum comes in the backdrop of the government’s keenness to lurepotential investors, especially those looking to relocate from China, to India.
• This tack is consistent with recent initiatives to explore supply-chain synergies with other economies, including Japan, as an escalating border feudcasts a shadow over India’s economic and trade ties with China.
• The reasoning appears to be that if even a few multinational enterprises can be drawn to set up manufacturing bases, either by shifting facilities or as new additional plants, then not only does the Indian economy stand to gain FDI, new jobs and tax revenue but it also makes a statement.
• Clearly, officials must have advised Mr. Modi that U.S. businesses were the ideal target given the worsening relationship between Washington and Beijing and the ongoing trade stand-off between the world’s two largest economies.
• On the face of it, the approach seems inarguably sound. The rub, however, lies in the government’s recent ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative, of making India more self-reliant.

Import substitution:

• Over the decades, it has been established that global FDI investors prioritise and are even willing to pay a premium for policy stability and largely barrier-free access to local and international markets.
• The drive for self-reliance has spurred several Ministries to urge companies and industry sectors to replace imports with ‘Made in India’ substitutes.
• From the Shipping Ministry’s call for the design and manufacture of indigenous tugboats to auto component makers being told to abjureforeign parts, the thrust of the initiative is evidently ‘import substitution’.
• It is hard to imagine any potential foreign investor in manufacturing being ready to source capital goods locally — assuming they are available — even at the cost of possibly compromising on quality or price or both.
• Betraying the government’s anxiety, Mr. Modi took pains to stress that the push for self-reliance should not be interpreted as India turning its back on the world.
• Separately, from the market access perspective, India’s decision to not join the RCEP multilateral trade pact would put investor companies seeking to tap consumers in RCEP member countries at a tariff disadvantage.
• Interestingly, most of the recent FDI announcements have been by way of stake acquisitions in existing businesses, and predominantly in the services sector.
• Attracting FDI into manufacturing will require the government to convince investors that it is committed not merely in words but in deeds as well to an open, barrier-free global trade and investment order.

Conclusion:

• India’s efforts to attract capital will not result in a flood of FDI till investors see policy stability.

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Prelims Questions:

Q.1) With reference to the India and Finland relations, consider the following statements:

1. MoU signed between Indian and Finland for cooperation in the field of Geology and Mineral Resources.
2. It was signed between Geological Survey of India (GSI), Ministry of Mines and Geological Survey of Finland, Ministry of Employment and the Economy, the Government of Finland.

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 Foreign Direct Investment? What are the recent measures taken for enhancing the FDI incomings, data related to FDI, and how this FDI will benefit the nation?

Too close for comfort: On India-China border row (The Hindu)

Mains Paper 3: Defense and Security 
Prelims level: 
Mains level: Security challenges and their management in border areas

Context: 

• Following Friday’s talks in Moscow between the Defence Ministers of India and China, the prospects of an imminentdiplomatic solution to the continuing stand-off along the LAC do not appear bright.

Unprecedented Development:

• The statements issued by the two sides have underlinedthe sharp differences in how New Delhi and Beijing have continued to view the unprecedenteddevelopments along the border since May.
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh “categorically conveyed” India’s stand, emphasising that China’s actions “were in violation of the bilateral agreements”.
• He also expressed hope that both sides would be able to resolve the ongoing situation “peacefully through dialogue”.
• His Chinese counterpart, General Wei Fenghe, appeared to only reiteratethe stand conveyed by China in recent statements that it had no blame to bear for this summer’s developments.
• He said “the responsibility lies entirely with the Indian side”, while China “kept maximum restraint to prevent potential escalation”. He called on India to “immediately withdraw its troops”.
• He did, also, add that both sides should “stay committed to resolving the issue through dialogue and consultation” and “make joint efforts to meet each other halfway”.

Diplomacy:

• The External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said last week, diplomacy is the only way out of the crisis, and that can only happen “if both sides understand that it is in each of their best interests if the events of this summer are not repeated”.
• The problem, so far, has been a stark mismatch between China’s statements and the actions of its troops.
• Its consistent labelling of India as the aggressor this summer contradicts the reality that India has, since May, cededabout 1,000 square kilometres in Ladakh to Chinese control.
• If China’s diplomats have spoken repeatedly of the need to keep in mind “the big picture” of bilateral ties, the actions of its military on the ground have suggested an intent that is precisely the opposite.
• China have emphasized achieving tactical gains at the border over the broader strategic relationship.
• Until that calculus changes, India will have to be prepared to be tested along the border and to stand its ground over the long haul.
• India has signalled its intent to do so with the latest developments on August 29 in Chushul.
• If the statements following the Moscow meet did not exactly inspire confidence, both sides will have the chance to reassess the situation when Mr. Jaishankar will likely meet his counterpart, Wang Yi, at a meeting of SCO Foreign Ministers on September 10.
• Military talks can occasionally help to averta flare-up, but the two neighbours need to work toward a diplomatic solution to ensure undisturbed peace and quiet along the border.

Conclusion:

• India and China must lose no time in finding a diplomatic solution to their border disputes.

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Prelims Questions:

Q.1) Consider the following statements:

1. The government recently banned 118 more mobile applications, including the popular gaming app PUBG.
2. The decision to ban mobile apps taken under section 69A of the Information Technology Act and the relevant provisions of the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking of Access of Information by Public) Rules 2009.

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

A New Tax Pact (Indian Express)

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

Context: 

• An economic contraction this year will deal a severe blow to tax collections.
• With a shrinking tax base, any calibrationof rates or the tax base is difficult since a hurried approach can have wider consequences.
• In light of the limited policy space, the only tool available to the government to maintain its tax base is to urge voluntary compliance.
• Historically, compliance is achieved through a fine balance between enforcement and encouragement.
• In the past, while enforcement-driven measures have been implemented, the taxpaying population has remained at a fraction (6 per cent) of the total population.
• Thus, the only way to boost collections is to build trust between the administration and the taxpayer.
• To this end, the government has announced measures to usher in transparency in the system. This includes a taxpayer’s charter and faceless assessments.

Compliance:

• A taxpayer interacts with the system at numerous instances, therefore, compliance is also a function of the perception of the administration.
• Perceived complexity can discourage individuals from filing returns.
• This could reflect simply in the difference between the number of taxpayers and the returns filed — the former exceeds that latter by around 20 million. Such behaviour is bound to impact tax collection.
• With the lower withholding rate this year on certain incomes, it is important that taxpayers file their returns on time.
• In practice, a taxpayer’s charter is often perceived as a means to build taxpayer’s trust, especially in countries where compliance is an issue.
• Countries such as the UK and Canada had introduced a charter in the 1980s, while India earlier had a citizen’s charter.
• The charter is a document that lists a taxpayer’s rights and obligations. India’s citizen charter also specifies timelines for completion of different administrative processes.
• However, a charter does not necessarily translate into law.
• It remains, as in many countries with exceptions such as Germany, a document that lists the standards that the tax department imposes on itself. Therefore, these cannot be enforced, unless backed by legislation.
• While the rights and obligations mentioned in India’s new charter — such as confidentiality, right to representation and fair treatment — are in line with global practices, there are a few interesting additions.
• In the new form, India’s charter conveys a commitment to reducing compliance costs in administering tax legislation, holding its authorities accountable and publishing a periodic report of service standards.
• While these are important considerations for a taxpayer, it is critical that the details are spelt out concerning how these may be implemented in practice.
• Ideally, a tax ombudsman can ensure that some of these standards are met. However, in 2019, the cabinet approved the abolition of the quasi-judicial post.
• The other important element of the government’s proposal is faceless assessment. This tends to the taxpayer’s grievance that the assessment process is often bogged down by corruption and delay.
• To end personal interface, e-assessment was introduced in 2019, wherein a taxpayer could digitally respond to any query related to their return.
• Developing this idea further, faceless assessment now seeks to further automate the case selection and the distribution function of the assessing officer — assessment, scrutiny and drafting order — among various units located outside the jurisdiction of the taxpayer.

Divesting functions:

• The intent of this initiative is to divest and distribute the functions of a single assessing officer so that assessment is carried out in a fair manner.
• This does not apply to search and seizure cases, and cases related to tax evasion and international taxation.
• While this can perhaps alleviateconcerns of possible corruption, it is important that it does not undermine the concerns of taxpayers.
• Tax returns can be voluminous and the information contained therein can be unique. Therefore, taxpayers must ideally have an opportunity to explain their case in person.
• Further, for smoother functioning of the new system, swift co-ordination is necessary among various units.
• One of the major concerns for the taxpayer has been dispute resolution.
• There is evidence of inconsistent and delayed decisions often culminatingin the poor success rate of the tax department at various levels of dispute.

Conclusion:

• If the commitment to a fair and impartial system and a time-bound resolution of matters is to be met, the new processes, with reviews and anonymity, must ensure efficiency in case selection and consistency in assessment.

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Prelims Questions:

Q.1) With reference to the Question Hour, consider the following statements:

1. Question Hour in Rajya Sabha is held only on alternative days of the session.
2. There is no Question Hour on the day the President addresses MPs from both Houses in the Central Hall.

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 Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) 2010? Highlights its significance and why the government has suspended the FCRA clearance of Christian groups?

Unlocking the metro (Indian Express)

Mains Paper 2: Governance 
Prelims level: National Capital Region
Mains level: Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability

Context: 

• Nearly six months after they were suspended due to the COVID-19 induced lockdown, metro rail services are set to resume in Delhi.

Resumption:

• The Delhi government has, reportedly, been keen to restart operations since June but the Centre has favoured a more cautious approach.
• Now, as metro services commence in a “graded manner”, the yellow line will be the first to be functional and the trains on other routes will resume in the next five days.
• “Adequate dwell time at stations will be provided to enable smooth boarding/deboarding and ensuring social distancing.
• Metro rail corporations may also resort to skipping of stations to ensure proper social distancing,” an SOP issued last week says.
• Delhi’s transport minister Kailash Gahlot has assured that his government will make sure that the metro does not add to the spread of the pandemic.
• The Delhi government must also ensure that its medical infrastructure is equipped to deal with any uptick in the capital’s caseload.

Infection resurge:

• It’s more than two months that markets, restaurants and other business establishments have resumed operations in the National Capital Region (NCR).
• But the unlocking of public transport has not kept pace with the opening up of the economy.
• This has not only inconvenienced workers but also contributed to low customer footfall in several sectors.
• Getting the metro, which transports about 25 lakh passengers daily, back on track, therefore, had become critical to reviving business after the lockdown.
• At the same time, given the volume of commuters, the resumption of the metro’s services is also significant from a public health standpoint — especially because Delhi is witnessing another surge in infections.
• After being down to less than 1,000 cases for most of July and August, the city has been recording in excess of 2,000 cases daily for more than a week.
• Experts believe that the prolonged decline could have induced complacency, leading to a drop in compliancewith physical distancing norms.
• With the two rounds of sero surveys in Delhi indicating a large number of asymptomatic carriers of the infection in the capital, the metro authorities will have to be vigilantagainst any letting down of the guard.
• The Delhi government maintains that it is equipped to deal with any COVID-related emergency.
• That more than 1,000 COVID beds are vacant in the city’s hospitals, and these health facilities have adequate ventilators, offers hope that the situation will not get out of hand.
• Even so, the Delhi government and its residents must remain vigilant when the metro is back on the rails.

Conclusion:

• Resumption of rail services is a far-reaching step. Delhi’s government and people must not relax vigil.

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Prelims Questions:

Q.1) Consider the following statements with reference to the Coal India Ltd (CIL):

1. Coal India Ltd (CIL) will invest over 1.22 lakh crore rupees on development of nearly 500 projects related to coal evacuation, infrastructure, project development, exploration and clean coal technologies in the country.
2. Coal India has also identified 15 greenfield projects which will be operated under the Mine Developer and Operator (MDO) model.

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

Keep talking (Indian Express)

Mains Paper 3: Security 
Prelims level: Misplaced approach
Mains level: Security challenges and their management in border areas

Context: 

• The good news from the interaction between Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Chinese counterpart, Gen Wei Fenghe, in Moscow late last week is that talks will continue at all levels.
• The bad news, however, is that the talks don’t seem to be going anywhere. Beijing’s definition of the problem is rather different from Delhi’s.
• Unsurprisingly, the goals of the two sides are divergentand that makes it harder to end the current military standoff in eastern Ladakh, now into its fifth month.
• It is therefore unlikely that the scheduled talks between the external affairs minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, in Moscow this week will ease this stalemate.

1. Which of the following is not a characteristic of the tropical rain forest Biome?

(a)  About 200 cm of precipitation
(b)  Canopy of full evergreen trees
(c)  Climbing linans
(d) Permafrost

2.  Which of the following eco system has highest rate of gross primary production?

(a)  Coral reefs
(b)  Mangroves
(c)  Grasslands         
(d)  Educational forest

3.  In any food chain the largest population is that of

(a)  Primary consumers
(b)  Tertiary consumers
(c)  Producers           
(d)  Decomposers

4.  The circulation of elements in an ecosystem is known as

(a)  Geological cycling
(b)  Geo-chemical cycling
(c)  Biogeochemical cycling
(d) Nutrient cycling

5.  Atmosphere consists of

(a)  Lithosphere + Hydrosphere
(b)  Lithosphere + Stratosphere + Hydrosphere
(c)  Troposphere + Stratosphere + Ionosphere
(d) None of the above.

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ANS: 1(a), 2(b), 3(c), 4(c), 5(a)

1. निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए । 

1. सातवाँ संविधान 1956 से यह शक्ति मिली कि एक ही व्यक्ति एक से अधिक राज्यों का राज्यपाल बन सकता है
2. राज्यपाल किसी राज्य की कार्यपालिका का प्रमुख होता है 
3. संविधान का भाग 6 जम्मू कश्मीर में लागू नही है।

उपर्युक्त कथनों में सही है 

a. केवल 1
b. केवल 1 एवं 3
c. केवल 2 एवं 3
d. 1, 2 एवं 3

2. निम्न में से कौन स्पष्ट रूप से भारत सहायता क्लब की योजना के उद्देश्य को परिभाषित करता है ? 

a. भारत को आर्थिक मदद प्रदान करना
b. अनुसूचित जाति व जनजाति के विकास के लिए गहन नकद पैकेज प्रदान करना 
c. अल्पसंख्यको को शिक्षा के लिए मदद 
d. बच्चों ;6 वर्ष से कमद्ध व महिलाओं के लिए विशेष सहायता पैकेज

3. 1991 में प्रारंभ किए गए आर्थिक सुधर में निम्न शामिल हैः 

1. स्थायित्व कार्यक्रम
2. संरचनात्मक समायोजन कार्यक्रम 
3. आई. एम. एफ. / विश्व बैंक द्वारा शर्तें लागू करना

उपर्युक्त-प्

a. केवल 2
b. 2 व 3
c. 1 व 2 
d. 1, 2, 3

4. निम्न में से कौन ‘गहन कृषि क्षेत्र कार्यक्रम’ के उद्देश्य का सही विवरण देता है? 

a. कुछ निश्चित फ़सलों के लिए उर्वरकों का विकास
b. गहन सिंचाई अवसंरचना का विकास
c. गहन क्षेत्रा आधरित कृषि संवुफलो का विकास 
d. विशेष पफसलों का विकास

5. आर्थिक मंदी के संदर्भ में, भारत सरकार द्वारा मौद्रिक और वित्तीय उत्प्रेरण लागू किए गए थे। ये इस रूप में थे। 

1. विस्तारकारी मौद्रिक नीति
2. संकुचनकारी मौद्रिक नीति
3. विस्तारकारी वित्तीय नीति
4. संकुचनकारी वित्तीय नीति

नीचे दिए गए कोड से सही उत्तर चुनें

a. 1 व 4
b. 2 व 3
c. 2 व 4
d. 1 व 3

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ANS: 1(d), 2(a), 3(d), 4(d), 5(d)

Appropriate strategy: On India banning more China apps(The Hindu)

Mains Paper 2: International Relations 
Prelims level: China apps
Mains level: 

Context: 

• The blocking of a hundred more Chinese mobile applications suggests that the Indian government, not for the first time in recent months, wants to make it amply clear that it will not shy away from leveraging its position as a massive market for technology in dealing with potentially dangerous geopolitical issues.